![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
Question: My husband says that he's too busy and has too much on his mind to care about animals. Veganism and animals' rights are strong values for me. I'm horrified that he knows about factory farming and still won't ditch meat and dairy. I've told him every reason I can think of to go vegan, and he's very resistant to that. I'm most shocked though that he doesn't care. Any suggestions? Should I just drop the subject?
Answer: I know how frustrating and shocking it can be to hear something like that, but unfortunately, it’s not uncommon. And, I can see where people are coming from when they mention things like this… there really are so many tragedies going on around us all the time, and it can be hard to see how adding another worry to the list can be worthwhile.
However, since this is a strong value for you, I don't think you should simply back down.
In a situation like this, what I think it really boils down to is that the person hasn’t quite thought about the process. They may know about factory farming, but they may also be putting up a wall in their brain so they don’t really thinkabout the process. If that same person were to actually witness the cruelty behind factory farms, I don’t think there’s any way they could stand behind their own philosophy of not caring.
Paul McCarney said, "If slaughterhouses had glass windows, we'd all be vegetarians."
Almost no humans can deal with watching needless suffering, and those who can are often mentally disturbed or simply conditioned from years of taking part in the process.
Because Paul McCartney is completely right, we are never allowed to see the killing process. I do know of a few smaller farms that allow viewers, and they make the process much more humane. But, on the vast, vast majority of farms, the suffering any of us would see would surely be too much to stomach.
The best way to handle this type of situation is to approach it from the viewpoint of how it affects that specific person.
After all, that's what they are saying they care about... themselves, and possibly the lives of other humans. They might be interested in the environmental affects of animal farming, but often I find these same people are not really interested in the global affects of their diets either.
So, I approach things like this from the health angle. There are numerous studies about the benefits of a vegan diet and the drawbacks of diets heavy in animal products. You can read up on the studies that show how animal-heavy diets are dangerous for your health and on how plant-based diets can lead to longer, healthier lives.
Vegan Nutritionista Downloadable EBooks
Vegan Meal Plans for Spring/Summer
Vegan Meal Plans is a complete meal plan for one month vegan weekday dinners. It includes 64 recipes, pictures, nutritional information, grocery lists, and tips and techniques. Everyone from those beginning a vegan diet to those veterans who want fresh menu ideas love this ebook. It focuses on fresh, local, and seasonal vegetables and uses all normal ingredients-- no fussy or gourmet skills needed. Download a copy for only $9.75 here.
Just the Menus Ebook Package Deal
Just the Menus Ebook Package allows you to have both Vegan Nutritionista meal plans, one for the fall/winter and one for the spring/summer at a discounted rate. Download your copy for only $16.99 here.
This massive, complete vegan grocery list is the only one you'll ever need. Print out copies of it to hang on your fridge, and then mark what you need as you go throughout the week. Download a copy for only $0.99.
Entire Collection of Ebooks Deal:
Get A Fresh New Vegan You, Vegan Meal Plans and Vegan Meal Plans for Spring with a free copy of the massive Vegan Grocery List for only $39.75. Save Big! Download this package here.
"What should I eat for my school lunches?"
Question: I'm 13 and recently became vegan:) But the only problem is my school lunches! Once in a blue moon they'll serve salads and I'll eat, but otherwise I will go throughout the WHOLE Day without eating and I get really hungry! I try to chew gum to take away the hunger but it dosn't seem to work! What should I do?!?!?! HELP!
Answer: Congratulations on becoming vegan... but I do have to warn you to be very careful. You should definitely, definitely not stop eating food at lunchtime simply because the school lunches are inadequate. That's really dangerous for your health and can cause your body a lot of serious issues.
I understand that it can be difficult to find food in the vast wasteland of the school cafeteria, so my best suggestion is to start packing some lunches. It can actually be really easy and quick to make lunches. If you're in a worst case scenario, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich will do just fine. Throw in an apple, a bag of crunchy rice chips/any chips you like, and you have a pretty decent lunch that will keep you fuller than gum:)
If you are up for getting creative, you can cut up some vegetable slices and pack a small container of hummus for dipping. Or, throw hummus on some bread and stuff it with spinach or lettuce, and that makes a nice sandwich.
You could also check out Jennifer McMann's amazing Vegan Lunch Box,
I hope that helps! And please do eat all three full meals. Not only are you doing the right thing for your body, but you are now representing the vegan community as a whole. You have a chance to show people that vegans are healthy, happy, and we never go hungry!!
Please do share here any other suggestions you have for what she could eat for lunch.
_____________________________ Have unresolved questions about veganism? Join in the discussion on our site by asking and answering questions, as well as commenting on other answers. It's fun and helpful!
_________________________________________________________________
Recipe of the Month: |
![]() |
One of our readers asked me this week for recipes using escarole and beans as she keeps finding them in her CSA basket. I love escarole; to me it tastes like a soft, light lettuce leaf with a bit more flavor. If you can’t find it, you can substitute any green in for escarole in this soup; kale, collards, or chard would all be amazing.
I adapted this recipe from one of Giada De Laurentiis's soups This makes a delicious springtime soup, and it’s hearty and filling enough to be served on its own.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for about a minute. Add the escarole and sauté until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add a pinch of salt.
Add the vegetable broth, the beans, and the nutritional yeast. Cover and simmer until the beans are thoroughly heated, about 5 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
________________________________________________________________________
The following pages are created just for Vegan Bytes Insiders... they are special hidden pages that only you can see, and it's my way of thanking you for reading each month.
The following pages are password-protected and will require a password from you. This password will change occasionally and you will always find the most current password in the most current Vegan Bytes Newsletter.
CURRENT PASSWORD = pineapple
p.s. case sensitive
Vegan Chemical-Free Gas Remedies
The one negative drawback to eating a vegan diet is that you often eat more fiber than the typical person. Doesn't sound negative, right? Well, it can be for your digestive system. Never fear though... I have researched and found several amazing, natural, chemical-free gas remedies.
Take A Fruit Bouquet Workshop
Fruit Bouquets are a creative way to show someone you care, without having to cut flowers or buy chocolates. Take this workshop to learn how to make your own fruit baskets, including pineapple daisies, chocolate-covered strawberries, and grape tulips.
Learn All About Nut Cheeses
Vegan cheeses are abundant in grocery stores across the world, but most of them are still lacking something. Tree nut cheeses
are the fabulous and new (somewhat) addition to the vegan world, and their flavor is unparalleled.
____________________________________________________________________________
![]() |
Like many websites, Vegan Nutritionista is constantly growing and changing, and if you signed up for this newsletter a long time ago, you might not have read our new information. Our blog page keeps you up-to-date with new articles on the site.
Click here to go to our blog for updates on the site.
We also now have a vegan forum where you can find topics submitted by users for discussion, answers, and places to add your own input. There is no member name required to participate, so you can jump right in and join in the discussion now.
Follow our updates on Twitter:
![]() |
![]() |
Vegan Essentials is one of my very favorite places to shop for vegan supplies. They have everything from clothes and shoes to vegan cheese, and their prices are the best around.
I am an affiliate for them, so anytime someone buys something from Vegan Essentials after using a link from our site, I make a small commission on it. But, I do promise that I would never recommend something that I don't use and love myself.
So if you see a link to Vegan Essentials or any other company on our site for something you like, you can support their company and the running of Vegan Nutritionista as well, or you can always choose to go directly to the company.
_________________________________________________________________
That's all for this month!! I hope you enjoyed reading it.
Comments? Feedback? Ideas? I'd love to hear from you. My website is here to help you, and I love to hear feedback on how to better do so. Just use my contact page and let me know what you think.
Note: This is an auto-responder email so you can't reply directly to this email.
Have a great month!
Cathleen