Say Hi to Michelle from VeganBreak! April 13, 2009
Posted by Ryan at April 13, 2009 4:49 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBackAs a former college student group president, Michelle got lots of experience talking to people about veganism and animal rights. Of course, she wasn't going to let a pesky little thing like graduation stop her from helping students both locally and nationally. Enter, VeganBreak.com.
For a quick taste of what Michelle does to help animals online, check out this fun video she put together about finding vegan dining options on campus, and then make sure to read the interview I did with her below!
How important do you think it is for students to ask their school for better vegetarian and vegan options on campus?
I believe it is incredibly important for students to speak up and ask their schools for better veg options on campus. You are paying for that food and the dining halls are catering to the students, so if they hear that students want more veg options, they have every reason to listen! By making your college more veg-friendly, you not only improve your own veg experience, but you make it easier for other students to go vegan too. And for those of you who are shy (like me) don't be afraid to speak up, even if your voice shakes. Remember, you're not just speaking for yourself. You are speaking for the animals, who have no voice. They need you.
You were the president of your college student animal rights group. What kinds of things did your group do to promote veganism on campus?
My college group, the Case Animal Rights & Ethics Society, focused a lot on vegan outreach. By far the most effective form of outreach we did was leafleting where we passed out literature about animal agriculture and veg starter guides. We also presented movie nights with free vegan munchies and sponsored speakers.
Which foods do you think every college student should have in their mini-fridge?
Some great vegan goods to keep stocked in your mini-fridge are soymilk, hummus, carrots, pita bread, veggie dogs or other meat substitutes, soy yogurt, and tofutti cream cheese. Soy pudding is also delicious if you can find it. And if you've got a mini freezer as well, be sure to stock up on some Tofutti Cuties (delicious vegan ice cream sandwiches)!
But the most valuable foods to keep on hand in college are foods that don't need to be refrigerated—foods that you can carry around with you all day and that you can order online if you don't have access to a good grocery store. Some of my favorites are Tings, Clif Bars, Nana's Cookies, Annie Chung's Noodle Bowls, and Amy's soups. I'm currently working on an e-store for VeganBreak.com that will feature a bunch of these foods and will hopefully be a great resource for college students, so look out for that!
The peta2 Advice Blog: Surviving the Dinner Table November 25, 2008
Posted by Marta at November 25, 2008 4:35 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
vegetarian Holidays advice dinner
Dreading sitting down to the dinner table with your not-too-vegetarian-friendly family? Check this out!
I've been vegetarian for a few months now, and I love it! However, I'm really worried about the holidays. I know my entire family will give me a hard time about not eating meat. I don't want to cause a blow-out at the dinner table, but what can I do? - Worried About the Holidays
Just because our dinner table is free of flesh doesn't mean we can't enjoy a fantastic meal and share our culinary creations with our families. This Thanksgiving, I am bringing a Tofurky Roast and vegan stuffing to Thanksgiving dinner at my Uncle's house. I find that delicious food is a way to anyone's heart, and bringing your own animal-free dishes is a great way for your family to try new things. Once they try your version of a Thanksgiving meal, they'll be sure to stop giving you a hard time! - Shan
Family dinners can be tough—luckily my parents were very tolerant towards my even more 'fussy eating habits' when I decided to become vegetarian. You should definitely be open to a friendly discussion about your food choices, as being vegetarian is a normal everyday thing for you, and hopefully your family will see that it needn't be a big deal. If you've already talked about it and are getting fed up with going around in circles, then it's probably a good idea to set some limits. Point out that there may be other topics more interesting than what you eat if you want to avoid getting further into an argument. Shan's right about offering some of your food to them too—how could they resist!! - Sar
One thing that I have learned (the hard way) is to not start a debate about vegetarianism at the dinner table. Telling your family that eating meat is gross and nasty and mean at the Thanksgiving dinner table definitely will not win anyone over to vegetarianism. Instead, talk up how delicious the vegan options are, and ask your family to give it a try. The way to ones heart is definitely through their stomach! - Lara
Have a question (that relates to animal rights, of course!) that you're dying for us to answer? E-mail peta2@peta2.com with the subject line "Help me peta2! I need advice!" and your question just may be answered by us in our next advice blog!
Comment with your own advice for Worried About the Holidays! And to read past installments of the advice blog, click here.
♥ The peta2 Advice Blog October 17, 2008
Posted by Marta at October 17, 2008 9:09 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
cruelty-free Animal Testing advice
We all could use a little advice from time-to-time. Check out what peta2 staffers have to say to a Street Teamer below.
I was over at my best friend's house and noticed she has a bunch of products that are tested on animals! I really want to say something, but I don't want to make her feel bad or offend her. Suggestions? - Doesn't Know What To Do
Ah, I totally know where you're coming from. I freaked out when I first went through all my products after I went vegan and realized I had a bunch of stuff that was tested on animals. My suggestion is to take our "How Cruelty-Free Is Your Morning Routine?" quiz with her. That way, when she takes the quiz, she'll see all the products she already owns that are cruelty-free, and then you can work from there. After the quiz, be sure to tell her about any great products you use that are cruelty-free—I'm sure she'll appreciate that. Sending her a link to a contest to win cruelty-free products won't hurt, either. :o) - Marta
This is always a tough situation! But I'm sure your friend wouldn't want to buy products that are tested on bunnies, cats, monkeys, and other adorable animals if she only knew :o). Buying cruelty free is one of the easiest things you can do to be more compassionate to animals—and we make it even easier with our cruelty-free shopping guide. I always tell my friends when something is tested on animals, because all of them, veg or not, love animals, and don't want them to suffer for something as lame as hairspray or hand soap. This should be an easy win for you! :o) - Rachel
Well, it seems clear to me that your friend is simply unaware of which products support cruel tests on animals, and which don't. Why else would she buy them? As such, the best thing you could do would be to lead by example, and show her some of the cruelty-free products that you pick up at the grocery store (for me, that means Method, Tom's of Maine, and White Rain). Make sure to mention why you pick cruelty-free products (I can think of millions of good reasons), so that your friend will learn how to be über-cool, just like you! - Ryan!
Have a question (that relates to animal rights, of course!) that you're dying for us to answer? E-mail peta2@peta2.com with the subject line "Help me peta2! I need advice!" and your question just may be answered by us in our next advice blog!
Comment with your own advice for Doesn't Know What To Do! And to read past installments of the advice blog, click here.
The peta2 Advice Blog! September 18, 2008
Posted by Marta at September 18, 2008 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBackNot sure what to do if your uniform contains leather or some other animal product? See what you can do!
I'm in color guard at my school, and I found out that our pole gloves are made of leather! I love being in guard and don't want to quit, but I need gloves. What should I do? - Doesn't Want to Be Left Guardless
For this season, ask your coach if you can purchase your own non-leather gloves that are the same color to stay within uniform. This site has some non-leather glove options. For next season, ask your coach if he or she would consider non-leather gloves to be part of the uniform for the whole team. Explain why leather is cruel, and show them the many skin-free options! - Lara
You'll be surprised how easy it is to get animal-friendly non-leather gloves if you just ask, like Lara suggested. But if the chump in charge of the uniforms isn't understanding of your ethical objection, drop us a line and we'll help you step up the pressure with leaflets, flyers, and other resources. Them fools better recognize, peta2's got your back! - Pulin
This is a tricky one! Most people don't know how cruel it is to wear leather, and even more people are okay with just accepting it as tradition. With so many cruelty-free alternatives made now, it makes your job a bit easier though. You can let your school know that leather comes from cows that are abused, and exploited for silly things like coats, seats, and in your case, gloves. Who wants to wear dead animals' skin? Not me, not you—and I'm sure some of your newly informed fellow color guard members will agree that your school should get an alternative. Hand out leaflets and look online with your school for faux leather gloves! - Rachel
Have a question (that relates to animal rights, of course!) that you're dying for us to answer? E-mail peta2@peta2.com with the subject line "Help me peta2! I need advice!" and your question just may be answered by us in our next advice blog!
Comment with your own advice for Doesn't Want to Be Left Guardless! And to read past installments of the advice blog, click here.
The peta2 Advice Blog September 5, 2008
Posted by Marta at September 5, 2008 1:25 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 6 ) | TrackBackYour grandma's a sweet lady, but she doesn't quite get your animal rights activism. What should you do?
My grandma continues to buy me animal products (like wool sweaters and leather shoes), even though I've told her I won't wear them. How can I get the message through to her without being mean? I know she means well. - Doesn't Want to Hurt Gram's Feelings
This is a tough one that we all have to deal with. What worked for me was discussing with my mom exactly what I can and cannot wear as a vegan (she had no idea that I couldn't wear silk). She then passed along this information to the rest of my family when they asked her for advice about presents. With her fully educated on the ins and outs of vegan clothing I have many less returns come holidays and my birthday! If you don't think that same strategy will work for you, I would recommend shopping or looking at magazines with your grandmother and pointing out things that you do and don't like. Make sure to emphasize things like "Oh I love those shoes! And they are made of man-made materials, so I can wear them!" or "That sweater is really pretty but I it looks like it has wool in it so I couldn't wear it". She'll get the hint eventually! - Ashleigh
I agree with Ashleigh! This was a reoccurring issue for me over the years because I wasn't assertive enough to address it with family members. It wasn't until very recently that I finally decided to say something at any given opportunity, but without sounding preachy (that's the last thing people want to hear!) When a family member mentions wool, leather, silk, or fur—I always find a way to mention alternatives. More often than not, if your family is anything like mine, you may be bombarded with questions surrounding your reasons for choosing alternatives to those fabrics. See this as an opportunity for education! Most of my family members had absolutely no idea about what's happening behind closed doors in the fur industry—and unfortunately, most people don't think about the fact that they're wearing chemically treated animal skin (seriously, wtf?) when they're wearing leather. To give you an example of how this can quickly take a turn for the better—my mother is now seeking a pleather coat for the winter, and no longer wears any products that are leather. Good luck! - Shan
Some people can be fairly set in their ways—however, that doesn't mean they can't/won't change! Usually it just takes some patience and time. As Ashleigh and Shan mentioned, be sure to talk up all the animal-friendly alternatives to your Gram. Maybe she doesn't even really realize they exist. Explain to your grandma that you really appreciate her presents, but preventing animal suffering means a lot to you, too, and you, under no circumstances, are willing to wear dead animals. Be firm, but nice. C'mon, what grandparent can't appreciate their grandkid standing up for something that's important to them? - Marta
Have a relationship question (that relates to animal rights, of course!) that you're dying for us to answer? E-mail peta2@peta2.com with the subject line "Help me peta2! I need advice!" and your question just may be answered by us in our next advice blog!
Comment with your own advice for Doesn't Want to Hurt Gram's Feelings! And to read past installments of the advice blog, click here.
The peta2 Advice Blog! August 21, 2008
Posted by Marta at August 21, 2008 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBackGot some friends who like to give you a hard time? Check this out!
My friends make fun of me ALL THE TIME for being a vegetarian. Usually I can deal with it just fine, but it really gets to me sometimes! What can I do to get them to back off (at least a little) without alienating myself? - Feeling Helpless
I used to have friends like this—that is, until they became vegetarians too. :) Anybody who would make fun of a friend for speaking out against cruelty to animals clearly doesn't understand what happens behind closed doors. Next time you go to your friend's house, pull Meat.org up on the computer screen. Even if they don't go vegetarian immediately (though, of course, that'd be swell), they will at least be more informed and begin to understand that vegetarianism is a statement against cruelty, and something you can be proud of! - Ryan
When I first went vegetarian, I had no idea how many people around me would feel offended. Before you knew it, I was badgering them all and making myself look crazy. It wasn't until I calmed down and just acted like my compassionate and calm self, that people around me started to open up. Slowly, every single one of my good friends went vegetarian, and are now mostly vegan—just because they knew I was, and started to ask questions. The sad fact is, most people never think about why they shouldn't eat corpses. Inform them, but make sure you stay positive and confident. You know you're doing the right thing but some people will want you to question your decision—don't! You don't have to do anything other than stay positive, and answer their questions politely, and you'll see a huge difference, I promise! - Rachel
I know exactly what you're going through—I dealt with this too, and still do! Tell them that if they want to harass you about it, then they should get their facts straight first—once you show them a video or a leaflet, then they might better understand where you're coming from. Sometimes, people come around later, even if they don't seem interested right away. That's why it's important to be patient with your friends and try to answer any questions they may have. Just remember not to force anyone to see things your way—you'll end up pushing them further away! Trust me, the older you get, the less other peoples' opinions will matter. If you're feeling alone, you can always join the peta2 boards and connect with other people that feel the same way you do! Don't forget that here at peta2, we're always here to help and support you; no matter how many times you get teased, we will always think you're rad for caring about animals! Love, Liz <3
Have a relationship question (that relates to animal rights, of course!) that you're dying for us to answer? E-mail peta2@peta2.com with the subject line "Help me peta2! I need advice!" and your question just may be answered by us in our next advice blog!
Comment with your own advice for Feeling Helpless! And to read past installments of the advice blog, click here.
The peta2 Advice Blog August 7, 2008
Posted by Marta at August 7, 2008 9:29 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBackHave a mom who's having trouble accepting your new eating habits? Read on.
My mom seems to be considering me going vegan as a personal attack on her because I don't eat a lot of the food she made me when I was younger. What should I do? - Wants to Reassure Mom
I would suggest cooking a vegan meal for your Mom. That way you can let her know that you still love and appreciate her and show her the deliciousness of vegan cooking! After the meal, tell her all of the reasons why you decided to go vegan, and make it clear that it’s nothing personal. - Lara
I think the best thing to do is explain all the health benefits of a vegan diet so your mom knows your choice helps keep her child healthy! And make it clear that you don't think her food tastes bad, it's just that there's so much cruelty involved in meat, eggs, and dairy. There's a simple solution and that's to help your family veganize some of their favorite meals. If you're especially inspired, you can even check out VegCooking.com for more recipes! - Pulin
Put yourself in your mom's shoes: You're not eating her homemade Sloppy Joes and Lasagna you used to devour as a kid. In her mind, she might feel like you're rejecting her because you're "rejecting" her cooking. I suggest you 1) Sit down with your mom and explain that your choice to go vegan isn't because you hate her or her cooking. Tell her you'd love to veganize her old family recipes with her, and 2) Actually make time to cook with your mom! For instance, with the lasagna recipe, use tofu instead of Ricotta cheese and burger crumble instead of ground beef. You'll get to educate your mom about veganism, spend some quality time bonding together, and hey—maybe you'll even stumble upon a new family favorite! - Marta
Have a relationship question (that relates to animal rights, of course!) that you're dying for us to answer? E-mail peta2@peta2.com with the subject line "Help me peta2! I need advice!" and your question just may be answered by us in our next advice blog!
Comment with your own advice for Wants to Reassure Mom!
The peta2 Advice Blog: Kissing Meat-Eaters July 24, 2008
Posted by Marta at July 24, 2008 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 11 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
meat vegetarian kissing advice relationship
Feel uncomfortable kissing someone who has just eaten meat? This is for you!
I feel weird kissing my boyfriend knowing he just ate a cheeseburger. How should I handle that?
-Doesn't Like Burger Breath
So your boyfriend just ate a cheeseburger. First of all, ew. Believe it or not, I have dealt with this a few times in my years, and after shedding some light on factory farming for the boy, you'll be a master at turning boys vegetarian (seriously, I rule at this!). Sitting down together and watching something like "Earthlings" or "Meet Your Meat" is a good way to educate. Sometimes seeing a visual rather than simply hearing it has a lot more impact. If your boyfriend is anything like mine, he'll give up the meat in a second—even if it's simply out of respect for you! xoxo, Shan (the queen of turning boys veg)
I couldn't agree with you more and to be honest I think your boyfriend should have a little more respect for you than to try to kiss you after he has just eaten a cheeseburger. I would just let him know that you think it's gross and I think he will be more interested in kissing you than eating a burger in the future. - Martin
I have a whole list of rules on the conditions under which my boyfriend will get a kiss—if he's eaten vinegar, baked beans, brown sauce, ketchup (the list goes on and on) he's going to get the hand block right in the face! However, with a meat eating boyfriend, these boundaries are all the more important. There's nothing more repulsive that finding a rogue piece of hamburger caught up in that bit of fluff on his top lip (which he refers to as his "moustache")! If you lecture your lad about his meat eating, you'll just push him away so I would try the "softly softly" approach by taking your fella out to a veggie restaurant and treating him to a vegan chicken sandwich, or soy cheese Pizza, and then smothering him with kisses! He'll soon make the connection that when he eats cruelty free, he can have his (vegan) cake and eat it, without facing the hand block! - Violet
Have a relationship question (that relates to animal rights, of course!) that you're dying for us to answer? E-mail peta2@peta2.com with the subject line "Help me peta2! I need advice!" and your question just may be answered by us in our next advice blog!
Have advice for Doesn't Like Burger Breath? Comment away!
The peta2 Advice Blog! July 9, 2008
Posted by Marta at July 9, 2008 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
vegetarian parents advice boyfriend
Yes! Here's your 2nd installment of the peta2 advice blog! Without further ado...
I'm supposed to go to my boyfriend's house for dinner to meet his parents for the first time. The thing is, they're definitely not vegetarian. I really want to make a good first impression, but there's no way I'm going to eat meat. HELP!
-Don't Want to Offend the Omnivores
This has happened to me before. Don't stress—the solution is easy! All I had to do was ask my boyfriend to tell his parents that I was a vegetarian beforehand so that they could plan accordingly. It worked! They made me delicious bean burritos, and I didn't have to settle with just eating the vegetable side dish! -Lara
Ask ahead of time to see what's on the menu at the parents' house. If it's something that can easily be made vegetarian, like a pasta dish, have your boy toy recommend this option to his parents. If it's something unquestionably meat-heavy (steak, pot roast, guinea pig, etc.), offer to bring Gardenburger BBQ "riblets" for yourself (all you do is microwave them for 2 minutes). Each box has two riblets, so you'll even have extra to share! :) -Ryan
This isn't anything to fret about...yet. I mean it's not like they've made some horrible derogatory comment about their son's weirdo vegetarian girlfriend, right? (Right? Have they? If so you just let us know because I've got some, um, choice words for them!) Anyway, talk to your boy and find out if his parents would be cool adding a fleshless dish for you, or if they'd be cool with you bringing a yummy veg dish to share as Ryan suggests. Chances are they'd have no problem with your request and you just may score some extra points for wanting to make things easier on the chef by helping with the meal. Bon Appétit! xox Patricia
Have a relationship question (that relates to animal rights, of course!) that you're dying for us to answer? E-mail peta2@peta2.com with the subject line "Help me peta2! I need advice!" and your question just may be answered by us in our next advice blog!
If you have any advice for Don't Want to Offend the Omnivores, comment away!
Introducing the peta2 Advice Blog! June 26, 2008
Posted by Marta at June 26, 2008 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 6 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
relationships advice
If you're anything like us, you're constantly looking for advice about the many different relationships you deal with in your life—boyfriends, girlfriends, best friends, parents, sisters, brothers, whatever! It can get tricky, though, when animal rights issues come into play with those relationships. That's where the peta2 advice blog comes in—we're here to answer your questions in a bi-weekly advice blog. Enjoy our very first installment, and keep an eye on the blog for future posts!
"I really like this guy but he refuses to listen to me about animal rights at all! What should I do?"
-Desperately Seeking Vegan Love
I feel ya. This can be a rough situation. Try sneaking animal rights into conversations. For example, say he says something like, "Cars are so bad for the environment! I wish people rode their bikes more." You can respond with, "I agree! And did you know that going vegetarian is better for the environment (and animals) than switching to a hybrid car? Really makes you think twice, doesn't it?" Or you can sit down and explain that you think it's unfair that he won't listen to you talk about something that's so important to you—find out why he feels uncomfortable. Maybe you just need to go easy on the brutal stuff at first and ease into it. Meet him halfway! - Marta
Animal rights issues seem to be a huge part of who you are. If this guy likes you then he should like everything about you—including your activism for animals! I agree with Marta—let him ease into animal rights. Let him get to know you, and your views, gradually. Don't forget that at one point you too were probably oblivious when it came to animals! If after a few months he shows absolutely no interest in learning about the plight of animals and seems to genuinely not care about animals or your views then I say ditch him and find someone who has a heart! - Ashleigh
What's there to like about someone who refuses to listen to you about animal rights? You think someone who supports cruelty to animals will be a fun date? Heck no. It's one thing if the person is too shy to go to a protest with you, but there's no excuse for total ignorance. Compassion = Hot. Ignorance = Not. - Pulin
Have a relationship question (that relates to animal rights, of course) that you're dying for us to answer? E-mail peta2@peta2.com with the subject line "Help me peta2! I need advice!" and your question just may be answered by us in our next advice blog!
And if you have any advice for Desperately Seeking Vegan Love, be sure to comment with it!
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