Vegan profile #3: Fernando Cuenca

July 7, 2014 by Jean Coburn

Name: Fernando Cuenca
Age: 35
Occupation: Engineer

How long have you been vegan? Around 14 years

Why did you choose to be vegan?

To me veganism is the extension of the struggle for justice to non-human animals. For the vast majority of people the need (not desire) to consume animal products is non-existent. That unnecessary killing is unjust. I was first introduced to the concept of veganism through a hardcore band called Earth Crisis, but never considered a viable choice until I started attending anti-bullfighting protests in my hometown. Once I had that aha moment, I never went back.

Biggest challenge:

Two things. First, eggs. Not actually craving eggs, but the fact that they are in so many things that you really need to be careful to avoid them. Second, going vegan in two different languages. When I first went vegan I was back in Colombia, where I am from, and had to learn a lot of new terms regarding animal ingredients. When I moved to the US it was almost like going vegan again. It was a lot of new words that didn’t tell me anything about their origin (whey for example, which in Spanish is proteína de leche – protein from milk). I had to spend long hours at the supermarket reading labels with the help of an animal ingredients list.

Best reward:

My family and friends. My wife is also vegan (we are a Veggiedate success story) and we have a 4-year-old son that has been vegan since birth. I also have friends who in the beginning didn’t understand why I chose this lifestyle and when they expressed interest I gave them information that made them go vegan themselves. They have gone on to be outspoken about animal rights, start their own vegan families and raise vegan children. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to know that our impact will spread beyond our own lifespans.

Are you involved in animal rights, vegan outreach, or other types of activism or education?

In Colombia I used to run a vegan outreach group with some of my friends called Verdadera Compasión (True Compassion). Since moving to the US I have done volunteer work for PETA, also been involved in Farm Sanctuary’s Walk for Farm Animals (first in New York City, now in Seattle). I currently volunteer for NARN and with my wife we run a Meetup group called Seattle Area Vegan and Vegetarian Families.

Advice for new vegans:

Don’t let it overwhelm you. I think that in every vegan journey there’s a point in which you see that animal exploitation and abuse is pretty widespread. At that point it is very easy to get depressed, to feel that your efforts are worthless, not making any difference. But push through it, see the positive in what you do. Enjoy the fact that you can look at an animal in peace, visit a sanctuary if you can (there are quite a few around Seattle). Tell someone or get involved, it may change their lives and the lives of countless animals forever.

Parting words:

If you are vegan, the animals thank you! If you are not, please consider it, it will be one of the most impactful decisions you will ever make.

Thanks Fernando–for agreeing to the interview and for all you do for the animals!

To contribute to this feature, check out the profile intro page and drop me a line.

Touring the Field Roast HQ

June 29, 2014 by Jean Coburn

I love the vegan options in Seattle. In addition to tons of vegan restaurants, we’ve got a vegan grocery store, and a thriving group of activists.

Well, did you know that Field Roast is a Seattle company? It is, and I visited their new location in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood for an open house and BBQ.

Field Roast prides itself on making great products using grain meat. Grain meat got its start in 7th Century China. Seattle chef David Lee honed his recipes using barley, wheat and oats and adding a more European flavor to his foods. Foods like sausages, roasts, deli slices and burgers.

The tour was fantastic (no photos were allowed inside though). I arrived at the same time as a few other friends so we walked through the facilities together. I bet you wouldn’t enjoy seeing the inside of a typical sausage factory. But Field Roast is different; it was more like a bakery. We saw an immaculate series of rooms with industrial equipment like mixers and ovens. It smelled like all the wonderful spices in the Field Roast products.

We saw how the food is cooked, packaged and frozen for shipping. We toured the warehouse, test kitchen, and offices. I especially liked the sports wall–look at all the stadiums that carry Field Roast products!

Then, we were treated to an all-vegan BBQ!

I use Field Roast products a lot. I’ve blogged about how their sausages are great for making traditional recipes vegan. And their soft herbed cheese will win over omnivores every time. When I eat at Blue Star Café and the Georgetown Liquor Company, I order items made with Field Roast. Even the cafeteria at my work offers Field Roast!

After eating my delicious burger (like the one pictured above–that was one I had at Blue Star), the Seattle Cookie Counter arrived to give us dessert. Their a brand new vegan ice cream sandwich company that sells delectable treats out of a vintage VW bus!

I’m so grateful to have had a chance to see how Field Roast is made. I’m especially pleased to support a local, vegan company (they employ 65 people) that is ethical and progressive. Barbecuing might be an American pastime, but Field Roast will help make All-American Vegetarian the new way to think about BBQs.

Have you tried Field Roast products?

Vegan profile #2: Luke Jones

June 26, 2014 by Jean Coburn

Name: Luke Jones
Age: 22
Occupation: I’m a blogger at my site Health Room, where I explore and share ideas in plant-based nutrition, moving freely, living mindfully, and existing sustainably. I write a little for Mind Body Green and Natural News too. I have also just published my first eBook about plant-based nutrition, so I guess you could say I’m an author now as well, which sounds a bit surreal to me…

How long have you been vegan?

I first tried the vegan diet a few years ago in 2012. I initially did it for 6 months, then switched to a more of a paleo type diet for a couple months, just to see how that made me feel. I definitely preferred the vegan diet for a number of reasons, so changed back to that, and I haven’t looked back since!

Why did you choose to be vegan?

I’ve had a few health problems since my late teens, and they worsened whilst at university. I would get run down a lot of the time, with mouth ulcers and stomach issues. It wasn’t too fun!

So I initially turned towards the plant-based diet to help with these health problems, after reading about it on the web and listening to Rich Roll on the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast. And I can definitely say that the change in diet has helped significantly.

I also noticed that it improved my athletic performance. I’ve always been really active, and love martial arts, bodyweight strength training, climbing, football, yoga… All sorts of things. I feel that this diet lets me perform better for longer, and helps me recover quicker.

And aside from the benefits to me personally, there are also those wider impacts on the planet and the other species we share our home with. It’s staggering how much energy, land and water is needed to sustain the standard western diet. Being vegan significantly reduces the impact we’re having on the planet, and I think that’s great.

Then there’s also the ethical benefits, which are becoming increasingly important to me. I’m thriving on a plant-based diet, and I can’t justify taking a life when I don’t need to. I think everyone is naturally compassionate, and no one wants to cause unnecessary suffering, but there’s such a disconnect between what goes on in the slaughter houses and what arrives on people’s plate. Most people have such strong ingrained habits that they will turn a blind eye to what’s going on. But I don’t want to be a part of that if I can help it.

Best reward:

Aside from the benefits I mentioned above, I love the fact that I can share this message with others, and help them realise their health potential. It’s always great to hear stories from readers who have taken charge of their life, maybe losing unwanted weight or curing a lifelong illness. It’s amazing the power of a few changes in diet and lifestyle.

And it’s not people just online I get to interact with. I love that I get the chance to share this experience with those closest to me – my friends, family and my beautiful girlfriend (who is also vegan). Making meals with her and sharing similar views is so awesome, I’m very lucky.

Biggest challenge:

I actually didn’t really struggle with the change to a vegan diet. I had been interested in nutrition for a few years prior, so had already cut out dairy, reduced the amount of processed foods, and upped my fruit and veggie intake. So the transition was pretty smooth. I also knew that it would benefit my health massively, and the thought of that was much stronger than any cravings for chicken.

The only challenge now I think is seeing so many people who are basically poisoning themselves and their children with unhealthy foods, often because no one has told them otherwise. It’s quite difficult to watch that happen all around you, every day. But I do still feel optimistic for the future!

Favourite vegan food:

You can’t beat some ripe bananas and juicy medjool dates. In terms of cooked meals though, it’s a tie between homemade Mexican burritos and homemade Indian food. I’m getting hungry now…

Are you involved in animal rights, vegan outreach, or other types of activism or education?

I’m not involved in any activism as such, but I try my best to share the positive message and educate others via my site, Health Room.

I try my best to present the information in an accessible way and avoid preaching. I wanna help people, but I think there’s a fine line between educating and forcing our views on others. Sometimes it can be hard to find that balance.

I don’t ever want to tell people what they have to do. So I try to share what has worked for me, and then let the readers make their own decisions. Take what resonates with them and throw away the rest.

Advice for new vegans:

Firstly, thanks for making the decision to try a vegan diet! It could be the best thing you ever do for your health, and for the planet.

Secondly, don’t be afraid to make the transition slowly. Go at your own pace, maybe cut out dairy first, then cut out meat when you feel comfortable. Do what you need to do to make your changes sustainable.

Finally, try your best to eat mainly whole foods. Fruits, veggies, legumes, whole-grains, nuts and seeds. Being vegan is great, but being a healthy vegan is even better. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are plenty of people out there willing to give a hand, me included 🙂

Parting words:

Eat more plants. Move your body. Laugh, smile and help others. Go after your dreams. Don’t leave a trace. And create more than you consume.

Thanks Jean for the opportunity, and keep up the great work!

Thank you, Luke! Your profile is inspiring!

Interested in having your profile featured? Check out the profile intro page and contact me!

Vegan travel tips

June 22, 2014 by Jean Coburn

Sometimes, TWV (traveling while vegan) is easy. In New York City, there was no shortage of vegan restaurants (Candle 79, the Chelsea neighborhood, and Williamsburg area of Brooklyn are examples). Savannah, Georgia was a bit harder, but far from impossible.

I’ve travelled to Costa Rica and Vancouver, and lots of places in between–and I’ve always found vegan food. As summer travel heats up, I thought I’d share some travel tips with you:

Book it

Flying? When you book your flight, don’t forget to request a vegan meal. On short flights, or when food is sold à la carte, see the next tip, wich is:

Pack snacks

In order to eat healthy and never be famished, I pack snacks for the plane and for the trip. I’m never without a Luna bar (or 5) and a bag of almonds. They keep me energized between meals, and on the off-chance I can’t find more than a flimsy salad to eat, I get by with what I pack.

Research

Veg Dining and Happy Cow are great resources. You can even download their apps for your smartphone so you’ll never be left wondering. Look up the city or country you’ll be traveling to and plan to visit vegan, vegetarian, or veg-friendly restaurants.

Shop

I generally don’t eat out three times a day when I’m on vacation. I look for farmers markets and grocery stores so I can stock up on nibbles like hummus and carrots, fresh fruit, soy yogurt and other healthy foods. Most will fit in a hotel room mini fridge so you have something to turn to throughout your stay. Camping? The world is your oyster (just don’t eat the oyster!). Veggie dogs, instant oatmeal, and vegan marshmallows will keep you happy.

Ask

I prefer to support vegan restaurants, but I’ve found vegan meals in the least likely of places. Even meat-centric restaurants will assemble a special meal upon request. I’m always polite, grateful, and tip accordingly. I’ve found that people are usually happy to accommodate my requests.

Network

Between friends and social media (FB, Yelp, web searches for vegan resources in the place you’re visiting), I get a lot of tips and suggestions.

Armed with these tips, you’ll be ready for your vacation. Do you have any other ideas for a smooth vegan holiday?

Vegan profile #1: Carmen Coburn

June 15, 2014 by Jean Coburn

This is the first in a series of vegan profiles I’m sharing on my blog. To contribute to this feature, check out the profile intro page.

Name: Carmen Coburn
Age: 62
Occupation: Dance instructor

Carmen Coburn (holding sign) at a Ribfest in Ontario

How long have you been vegan? Ten years

Why did you choose to be vegan? My daughter Jean (editor’s note: that’s me!) gave me a book Diet for a New America and I found out the cruelty inflicted on animals, particularly cows and hens.

Biggest challenge: Giving up cheese and yogurt, which I ate on a daily basis because I didn’t think my vegetarian lifestyle harmed animals.

Best reward: Peace in my heart, knowing that I don’t contribute to the misery of farm animals (or any animals). Health.

Are you involved in animal rights, vegan outreach, or other types of activism or education? Yes, I have helped organize Animal Rights Day in the city where I live, I marched in Toronto for animals, I bear witness to the tortuous treatment of pigs before they are slaughtered in a nearby slaughterhouse. It breaks my heart.

Carmen Coburn (right) at the Toronto March to Close all Slaughterhouses

Advice for new vegans: Find like-minded people; eat a healthy, plant-based diet.

Parting words: Go vegan: for health, for the animals, for our environment. It’s a win win win situation!

Carmen (right) and friend, bearing witness at a slaughterhouse

Thank you, Carmen (Mom!), for all you do for the animals and for being such an inspiration and vocal proponent for animal rights and veganism! And thanks for being the first vegan profile on my blog!

Be sure to check out Carmen’s blog, Fashionable Over 50, where she shows how to be a healthy and stylish vegan.

Vegan profiles

June 15, 2014 by Jean Coburn

Ever since I started this blog, I’ve wanted to use it to share other vegans’ stories with the world. I’m finally doing so with a feature I call Vegan Profiles.

I’d like to showcase a variety of vegans in this feature because I want to break stereotypes and give people role models. We’re all different and we all have different tales to tell. Hopefully some resonate with you.

Like a tulip in the grass, I know you stand out. You’re unique; you’re interesting; you’re vegan!

If you’d like your profile to be considered for this feature, contact me. I’d love to hear from you.

To be included, I’ll I ask is that you follow a vegan lifestyle. I’ll include profiles that fit the nature of the blog. Drop me a line and I’ll send you the questions!

The winner of the Farm Dog Naturals giveaway is…

June 9, 2014 by Jean Coburn

…Anika from Seattle Vegan Score!

Congratulations to Anika for winning the Farm Dog Naturals contest I held a couple of weeks ago. Anika tweeted about the giveaway, which got her name added to the draw.

Farm Dog Naturals is an all-natural, all-vegan line of herbal dog care products. You can learn more about them on their website and in my original post in this blog.

I want to thank everyone who participated in the giveaway. If you didn’t win, you can still try Farm Dog Naturals. They sell products on their site and have a list of retailers who carry their products.

Anika has a very special dog. When the products arrive at her place, she’ll use them to pamper Louise.

Three-year-old Louise knows how important it is to have safe and gentle products that aren’t tested on animals. You see, she is a former laboratory dog and knows first-hand how bad life can be.

I can’t think of a better winner for the contest. Louise will enjoy her calming remedy and soothing salves. Anika can use the sage smudge stick and odor remover.

Congratulations again Anika and Louise!

Dining at Café Flora

June 3, 2014 by Jean Coburn

One of the auction items I won at the Hoot! chimpanzee fundraiser was a Café Flora gift card. So last Saturday, I went out with my husband to enjoy dinner at Flora, a great vegetarian restaurant in Seattle’s Madison Vally neighborhood. I’m not the only one who thinks that: They were voted best vegetarian restaurant in 2014 by Seattle Magazine. Travel + Leisure Magazine also lists them as one of the top vegetarian restaurants in the US.

The only way they could be better is if they were an all-vegan restaurant. Still, there were lots of vegan options and we had a great time.

We started with drinks–and they didn’t disappoint. Hubby stuck with his martini and I tried a refreshing springtime mule, a vodka-based cocktail with home-made ginger beer and raspberry bitters.

We gobbled up the paté platter so fast I didn’t get to take a picture. It centered around a lentil-pecan paté and included red onion confit, pickles, olives, red pepper and apples.

I suspected I might want dessert too, so I made a salad my main course. Vegan Caesar salads are few and far between so this was a real treat! Hubby loved his Italian black bean burger.

Several vegan dessert options tempted me, but the chocolate brownie with mint chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate sauce was irresistible.

On the way out, I saw the Café Flora Cookbook on display, along with a fantastic vegan children’s book: That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals. I bet the cookbook is fantastic, and I recommend the kids’ book for all the little animal lovers in your life. I’m glad Flora had a copy on display. It’s a great way to talk to kids about the ways animals are exploited and how to help.

If you’re in Seattle, check out Café Flora!

Veganniversary

May 29, 2014 by Jean Coburn

I missed my vegan anniversary (veganniversary?). April marked 14 years that I’ve been vegan.

In my mind, that’s a good thing. Losing track means being vegan is no biggie; it’s a natural part of my life. I’m not trying hard to make it to the next milestone. It is part of who I am.

Of course it’s vegan! (I took this picture at Violet Sweet Shoppe–and then I added the 4)

I remember the date, only because April is the month I moved from Canada to the USA. I’d read John Robbins’ Diet for a New America in 1998 and immediately cut out milk. I stopped eating eggs (except the ones hidden in baked goods). Cheese was the one thing I hung onto.

But a big move, an empty fridge, new grocery stores, restaurants, friends, and habits. What a perfect time to draw a line in the sand, step over it, and go vegan.

I’ve never successfully reinvented myself (partly because I bring myself with me everywhere I move); however, I did use April 2000 as a time to reinvent my eating habits.

I was already a staunch animal advocate and long-time vegetarian. Moving and “starting over” was a great impetus for taking the big leap.

After I settled down in Seattle, I connected with the Northwest Animal Rights Network (NARN), met some terrific (smart, funny, passionate) animal rights people, and plugged into AR events around town.

That was it. It stuck. But it wasn’t a chore. It was–and is–an uplifting experience. Being vegan fills me with joy! I’m healthier for it, and I know I’m making a difference to animals who have no voice.

Sure, I’ve seen my share of unspeakable horrors in undercover videos and exposés. I’ve read about injustices and cruelty to animals that I never could have imagined in my worst nightmares. But I need to know the truth–and fight for those who can’t. Turning away doesn’t stop the cruelty.

I’ve also learned that it’s easy to burn out. So I make sure I lead a balanced life, complete with hobbies, interests, friends, and work. As important as it is to fight for animals, I know it’s also important to unwind, relax, recharge, and enjoy life.

I really believe we’re on the cusp of the next big social justice movement. I want to be on the right side of history. When generations from now, people ask why these evils happened, and who fought for the animals, I will know that I did. In some small way, I will have played a part in changing the world.

Grandiose? Perhaps. But hope and optimism fuel me. Well, that and delicious vegan food.

Farm Dog Naturals review and giveaway

May 27, 2014 by Jean Coburn

I met up recently with Rita Hogan, cofounder of Farm Dog Naturals, an all-natural, all-vegan line of herbal dog care products. I got to test some of the products and I’m also offering a giveaway so you can try them too!

Farm Dog Naturals offers safe, effective herbal remedies for dogs. All products are natural, sustainable (herbs are grown on a local herb farm), free of animal products and GMOs. I love supporting small businesses with ethical practices, so I was thrilled to take home a sampling of their wares.

Relief is a pet urine and odor remover–and it smells like lavender! It’s ideal for removing (not masking) odors left from accidents. I sprayed it on Frankie’s dog bed and in the litter boxes. A few spritzes in my car got rid of the dog odor in there. Frankie wanted to help test the product too so, as if on cue, he rolled around in bird poop. I wiped him off and deodorized him! That’s how gentle and safe the products are. Of course I kept the spray away from his eyes.

Relief is sold in a 24 oz bottle with a small amount of concentrated formula in it. Just add water and you’ve got your supply. When you need more, you can order a refill–the concentrate in a small bottle. Farm Dog encourages reusing containers (plus, it cuts down on shipping costs). Brilliant!

Rejoice is a smudge stick handcrafted from California white sage. I lit my stick and waved it around to get rid of kitty litter odors and what I call “old dog smell.” It’s great for getting rid of cooking odors too.

Salvation and Restore are two salves that every dog should have. Salvation soothes irritated skin and sore paw and is great for tender ears and crusty noses. It speeds healing and hair regrowth and helps heal topical yeast in ears, wrinkles and in between toes. Restore is great for wounds, hot spots, itchy skin, flea dermatitis, and lick granulomas. It stops itching on contact.

I love that there are natural products for common issues that we often run to the vet for. Why put a dog on antibiotics, steroids, or other harsher regiments? I personally don’t like to go to the doctor for every little thing. Having a few safe tricks in my pocket to help my dog (and help him avoid the vet) is wonderful.

Relax is a stress and anxiety remedy that is applied directly to a dog’s ear flaps and neck. It’s great for nervous dogs, especially before fireworks, thunderstorms, a trip to the vet, or when company comes over.

I really appreciate their minimal packaging and how 2% of each sale goes toward a tree-planting initiative at Sound Forest.

Farm Dogs was founded in 2007 by two like-minded women. Rita, whom I met with, was working in pug rescue in Tennessee when she met Lynn, the owner of an all-natural dog supply store and dog wash. They had similar needs for natural, sustainable dog products and decided to fill the void themselves.

Giveaway

To enter the giveaway, like or comment on this post, on the Instagram write-up, on my Facebook page or tweet @jeaniebellini and tell me why you’d like to try Farm Dog Naturals (use the hashtag #Farmdognaturals in your tweet).

On June 5th, 2014, I’ll randomly select a winner from the entries and I’ll send the winner the sample package: a 4 oz bottle of Relief, a mini Rejoice smudge stick, 1 oz jar of Salvation, a 1 oz jar of Restore, and a 1 oz container of Relax. Open to US residents.

If you don’t win, you can look for Farm Dog Naturals at one of the retailers listed on their site, or order directly from Farm Dog Naturals.