For some WARM and VEGAN boot picks check out my Warm Vegan Boots Post. This post is a little more frivolous as I wonder how I could justify $350.00 boots to my husband. It's not like you wear the Kailia-Chiara in the ice and snow!! Think of it as a "donation" to a compassionate Vegan Company??? I have to keep thinking because my mouse keeps leading me to those boots!!!!
For More boots check out Warm Vegan Boots Post. It has links to my Kamik Boots (for COOOOLLLLD) weather and some other functional picks! What are your favorite Vegan Boots???
Why Vegan Boots??
Our very own Kinship Circle (an incredible group, please visit the site), started by one of my heroes, just came out with this new video. People start eating plant based diets for lots of reasons but sometimes in the beginning, before you are acquainted with everything, you might have doubts, or slip, or lose your conviction. If you go vegan for the animals, or it is at least part of your desire to become more plant based, it seems easier to stick with it. In the end I don't have enough conviction to eat uber perfect all the time for my health, and I don't have enough discipline to never buy new clothes or shoes (although I try to buy hemp & bamboo now from nice people!), but it is very easy for me to eat plants so there is less suffering in the world. I don't want an animal to suffer because of my daily choices. Veganism is an incredibly powerful form of armchair activism. We don't each to 90 minutes of yoga each day, stand on our heads or chant peaceful songs, but we do all eat and wear clothes. Nearly all of us use money in some way. Every time we buy something, or eat something, we are given the choice to increase or decrease suffering in the world.
Recently we went to Taste of St. Louis, which we would never go to prior, but we knew of at least a couple places serving some vegan eats this year. The only all Vegan place was VegaDeli which is one of only TWO vegan places in St. Louis. It is under new ownership (the other owners have PuraVegan now!) and so they have different hours. I think the hours may be more accommodating but Chesterfield is still a little far for us unless we are out that way. Their food is pretty healthy and you can get comfort food like mac & cheeze (which is GLUTEN FREE!!!!) or fresh juices and raw dishes. It's close to the Whole Foods out that way. You will love it!! Also chock full of Gluten Free options.
The Crowd.
Lots of folks trying vegan food today!
Raw Pad Thai (Zucchini Noodles), Vegan Burger.
Raw Tacos. (For the "Taste" the shell was not raw)
Vegan Sweets. Chocolate Chip Cookies and Pumpkin Bites.
This looked great be we refrained!
The Raw Vegan Pad Thai with Zucchini Noodles. Yum!
Pumpkin Bite. The Pumpkin Balls were divine. I went home and made butternut squash smoothies for an entire week because I craved Pumpkin after that!
The Raw Tacos had a regular Tortilla, which was delicious. Some sort of nut pate with avocado, tomato, & cabbage. Yummy and not oily at all. No guilt there.
Good Ol' St. Louis
Meskerem Ethiopian Food. Rumor had it that they have Gluten Free Injera (made with only Teff) upon request. Problem was I requested to the gal who took the order but she just nodded her head yes and put regular injera on the plate. We had some miscommunication. But.....I did ask another girl because I wasn't feeling 100% about it (that I ended up with GF bread) and she actually got a gluten free injera that was not out with the main bread. So yes, they do offer GF but you must really make sure that is what you are getting! The GF Injera was much darker than the normal injera.
Cabbage. Good but everything has a little too much oil for me (at nearly every restaurant!). This dish is mild.
Now we are talking.....Wats.......Spicy Lentils.
Collard Greens.
The Veggie Ethiopian food tends to be Vegan. I have been told that during certain times of the year dairy is not used at all. And who doesn't love to eat with their hands!
And Mayuri. And Indian Joint that we have never actually been to-and with Raj's and Gokul's, there is no need. I prefer to eat at Veggie Only places, if it is possible. Mayuri had some Chana Masala. My take was a nada. Tasted like canned tomatoes and too red and watery and oily. Hubby's take was yes, he liked it. It was different than some other Chanas, but he was fine with it. The flavor itself was actually okay, as it was heavily spiced. But I am so spoiled with being able to make my own Chana Now (with "The Indian Slow Cooker" Book) that it was hard for me to accept this!
But as I said, Hubby liked it. So taste is purely subjective. It wasn't his favorite though. He LOVES Anupy's Chana! Plus I make it oil free which fits in his super clean eating right now.
Why should you eat plants?? The video below is just one of the example of how what the government tells you to eat or what they subsidize may not be coming from their concern for your health.
And a recent clip of Bill Clinton talking about his nearly vegan diet on David Letterman.
Also stay tuned for Dr. Oz this week as he will be having Julieanna Hever, author of Plant-Based Nutrition (Idiot's Guide) on his show this Friday, October 28, 2010. Set your DVR's!
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