Eating on the Edge

Vegans are eating on the cutting edge of culinary development. Pushing the envelope of eating. New food products are being developed that take into account ethics and the environment, in addition to flavor and texture and nutrition.

Vegan cheese and meats are being refined, and the more people choose these alternatives, the better the quality, availability, and price will become.

protein in perspective

A picture with frames, each frame containing a quantity of food containing recommended daily amount of protein. Example frames: Frame 1: fried chicken, Frame 2: tofu stir fry with rice, Frame 3: nuts and fruits, Frame 4: beans and vegetables.

There are two points to this. One is to illustrate that it takes less animal flesh to supply a day's worth of protein than most people eat. Two is that there is a good amount of protein in vegetables, whereas many people have the misconception that protein is only found in meat and beans.

Subtitles may include a warning about the effects of eating too much protein, although serious athletes will want to take in more protein to build muscles. Or something along the lines of "choose wisely"

class: vegan food appreciation

learn to break free from the cultural negatives associated with vegan foods and be able to enjoy a variety of vegan foods. class will begin with philosophical approach to the aesthetics of taste and texture to allow for better appreciation of all foods and discussion to encourage an open minded approach to trying vegan food. next, a tasting session including vegan foods in regional styles from around the world. some suggestions for simple substitutions for common non-vegan foods are offered (such as soy milk, veggie cold cuts/burgers/dogs, egg subs)

Going vegan for the economy

How can going vegan help revive the economy? By putting money into everyone's pockets! American families are spending lots of money on food, more than they need to. In days of yore, families would have meat on the table only on special occasions, because it was expensive, and it still is expensive to put meat on the table. Families can save money by learning to cook using inexpensive vegetables. Dry bulk beans and grains, produce from the farmer's market, home made breads, oatmeal for breakfast. These can save money, allowing families to afford their mortgage, put money into savings, and spend on their local economies.

There are even bigger long term savings on health care expenses as these kinds of foods are healthier too. Without looming health problems and costs people will also be more productive and innovative.

EPA protecting environment from cows?

I was just watching The Daily Show and Lisa P. Jackson, head of the EPA, was the guest. They were talking about regulating carbon dioxide and Jon said 'I emit carbon dioxide..will I be regulated?' funny, she said 'EPA is not looking to reach down into individual lives and change individual livestocks(?), nor are we going to regulate cows, that's a favorite one too' that was the only mention of animal agriculture, but I was thinking, huh, if cows were polluting the environment, you'd think the EPA would have the authority to regulate them. The factory farm, confined animal feedlot operations, produce loads of waste which ends up in our water from runoff or overuse in agriculture. The vast amounts of land it takes to produce their feed at home and worldwide has pushed animal agriculture above the entire transport sector in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA could go a long way in reducing and reversing global warming by placing environmental costs into the cost chain of animal agriculture.

Exercises in imagination and empathy

Imagine how a dog experiences the world. Sniffing with so much sensitivity, they can tell much about their environment through their nose. At their height everything must appear quite tall. Meeting eyes with humans who sometimes shy away, sometimes look with love, sometimes look with disdain.

Imagine yourself as a new born calf, standing on wobbly legs for the first time. Seeking the comfort of mother. Seeing the first sunset over plains of green grass. Learning to use muscles by playing with other calves.

Remember your experience as a baby, or imagine how it might have been to be so vulnerable, so loved and comforted. Fumbling hands and sounds as you push the envelope of possibility and attempt to mimic those you see.

Man as a natural hunter

Nature isn't really what's important here, nor is history, what's important is living healthy right now. Being Vegan is healthier.

History may have been built on bloodshed, but that doesn't mean we are incapable of changing when we realize the stakes of our steaks.

It takes a magnitude greater quantity of resources to produce the meat that seems so happily sitting around. Our freshwater, arable land, rain forest are becoming scarce. People can change and conserve, or they can create more violence.