24 January 2008

Deliciously Vegan!

Not all meat eaters are cold, cruel, selfish individuals insensitive to animal suffering. Many, if not most, of the meat eaters I know are deeply concerned about the fact that the animals they eat are raised in factory farm conditions. They realize that factory farming is inhumane. They don't want to contribute to the unnecessary pain, suffering, and death of the animals they eat, but they simply can't imagine life without meat. When they think of a meatless meal, they see an otherwise empty plate with a small side dish of vegetables, and that's it. Life without meat seems unbearable to them.

Meat eaters (and even some lacto-ovo-vegetarians) think this way because they mistakenly think that vegans eat an austere, bland diet consisting mostly of twigs and seeds with occasionally some plain tasteless tofu thrown in. Nothing could be further from the truth. Vegan food can be every bit as succulent as your favorite meat-based or cheese-based dish, only the vegan dish won't be loaded with artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol. Granted, making the change to a vegan diet requires creativity and imagination, since most people aren't used to cooking exclusively with whole grains, vegetables, legumes and fruits. Fortunately, that creativity and imagination has already been done for you. If you want to see just how delectable vegan food can be, check out the Walking the Vegan Line blog. Be prepared. One look, and you'll be hungry.

Bon Appetit!

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