Like everyone else, I hate Whole Foods, I had a mixed experience with them this week.  They were completely out of things like black beans, and in house soy (the only kind that comes in recyclable containers).  I went to the kiosk and told the woman behind the counter, she was very apologetic and told me there were major changes going on in the grocery department, but was otherwise ineffective.  I made it clear that I was thinking about no longer doing the bulk of my shopping there, and I was told to try again later.

Instead, I am probably going to place a bunch of bulk orders with my small really cool natural food store.  I think I am going to give up on recyclable soy milk containers, and kill the environment with my waste until I learn how to make my own soy.

Anyways, I want to order canned goods, that often contain refined sugar, the ones I order obviously wouldn’t.  I’d get a case of canned corn, and petite diced tomatoes.  Along with a couple pounds of raw sugar, bulgar wheat, quinoa, rice noodles, barley, a case of pure lemon juice, and pure lime juice.  I might also consider getting a new freezer for the basement and bulk ordering some Amy’s vegan meals.   Oh and several cases of Vitasoy.

I have another local resource for a lot of vegan cosmetics and body products, and everything else I should be able to get at my local grocer, except lemon grass, damn lemon grass!

However, my bathroom is supposed to get ripped to hell starting this coming Tuesday, to become beautiful within the next several weeks, so this may need to be a piecemeal thing.  I also have no idea how much of this she would be willing to order for me at once.  However I think it’s a grand idea.  Avoid Whole Foods, and patronize some local businesses.

Today we decided to head over to my parents’ house. Along the way I knew I would be hungry so we stopped by David’s Natural Market to pick up some bulgar and some lunch. It was kind of a sad homecoming, I used to work there, and when I did the cafe was nearly completely vegan. I had a rough time finding something I could eat there and had to order my food without bread because the only options were whole wheat, which usually contain honey. However, their soups were vegan, and were very delicious. David’s continues to have a very large selection of foodstuffs, though the staff these days don’t seem to be as knowledgeable, though the management is largely the same.

I got a new winter coat today, picture to come, it isn’t anything special, and comes from JC Penney’s. So the labor practices are somewhat questionable. The coat is mostly synthetic (though I prefer cotton), and is very nice looking but practical. It also has a removable lining, and is of course, vegan. It was on sale for $80, which is pretty good for a new versatile, completely machine washable winter coat. Since I lack photos, here is one. I know I could do better, but this was what was feasible this time around. I’ve been searching the union and fair trade companies on the internet and haven’t found anything comparable to this.

Then we went and got new glasses, that actually match our plates, and also I got some bar mops for the kitchen, several different kinds. I am hoping to phase out paper towels completely, but I know that will take awhile. I will soon also be making my own laundry detergent using Dr Bronner’s, Borax, and washing soda (equal parts). I’ve already switched to using citrus cleaner in the kitchen, and it has been working really well. Not only are these products vegan, and not tested on animals, they are also better for the environment which I think is important as well. I say it in nearly every post so I will stop the spiel there.

When we got home I hit the kitchen and started making Seitan and Portabello Stroganoff, from a recipe I got from Vegan with a Vengeance. It came out 110% delicious. Today was also the day we decided to do Thanksgiving at my parent’s house and I will be making a ton of vegan dishes to contribute to the meal. Over the past few weeks I have become so confident in my cooking abilities. I am now tackling more complex recipes, and feeling comfortable making some adjustments. Considering that I started this process barely able to cook at all, I think I am living proof that cooking is a learned skill just like everything else. I don’t think I will ever be a cooking genius, but in a short period of time I feel like I’ve become confident.

Today I consumed at least three servings of fruit, in about three minutes, without chewing a single bite.  After work I want a tasty snack, and all that was available to me was the 7-11.  Tropicana, which I’m not terribly fond of ended up providing me with a fruit smoothie and pure orange juice (most likely from concentrate).  Though something to keep an eye out on with the smoothies, see carmine is all natural, unlike red 40.  AND carmine comes from beetles, unlike red 40.  This is one of those instances where the all natural route becomes a cruel route.

Not to mention I don’t like to eat things with high fructose corn syrup or dye anyways, I find it disturbing.  Such ingredients also wreck my skin and make me feel gross.  Being vegan is not an excuse to eat processed crap just because it’s vegan, no matter what PETA says.  I use veganism as a means to know what is going into my body, and eating purer foods.

I still eat potato chips, but only the kind where the ingredients read potatoes, *insert veggie oil here*, and salt.  Because I am sick of this confusing, so processed it makes my head hurt to find out where it comes from, crap.  Same with juices and candies, though candy usually disappoints me with mysterious sugar-like ingredients.

However, since going vegan and increasing the amount of fruit I eat has decreased my desire to eat sweets.  I can’t remember the last time I ate something that contains high fructose corn syrup.  I’ve had chocolate a handful of times.  I am eating better, and it’s an indirect consequence of me eating more ethically.  I know it’s not good for the environment, and possibly not even vegan to eat highly processed crap like high fructose corn syrup, so I don’t consume it.  Veganism to me is not just about animals, it’s about the environment and people as well.  Not to mention that people are indeed animals.

Being vegan (to me) means making a conscientious effort to recycle, it means making the effort to buy from companies that don’t use sweat shop labor, it means promoting unions, buying eco-friendly products, it is all a part of one big package.  Because what kind of world will we have if we have liberated animals but everything else is falling a part?

The week I went vegan, when the idea was merely a spec in my eye, I decided to replace my dying sandals and mary janes. I went ahead and ordered two pairs of Ragazzi shoes from Vegetarian Shoes and Bags. Yes, it took a month before they were finally the right size and on my feet, though that mostly has to do with me not priority mailing them back to California, and the fact that they are in California! I keep finding awesome strappy heels at my favorite thrift store Killer Trash, in Fells Point, though I stopped at buying one pair, because I already have a pair in black.

Shoes amazingly were an impetus for veganism. Because ordering them, while it involved a lot of patience, was incredibly easy, and didn’t break the bank. Every day the world gets a little friendlier towards vegans, and I can’t help but think that’s because there are more vegans in the world. And that new FDA regulation requiring allergens to be listed in bold on food packaging.

Beauty products abound, I have now been reunited with my once favorite Tea Tree Oil in the form of Dr. Bronner’s soap. I also found out that Gabriel Cosmetics that they carry at one of the Whole Foods around here are supposedly vegan, so I’s can gets some concealer and more pretty eye shadow. Not to mention that I love my Beauty Without Cruelty products. Sadly now that I have found alternatives that I don’t need to order through the mail, I may not be patronizing them as much anymore. However, I do recommend them.

Then there is the food! In one month of vegan cooking I have reached the point where I am modifying recipes for the better, and I will be posting my two latest creations shortly. One I have renamed Sun-dried Tomato Balsamic Couscous, and then there is Sun-dried Tomato Hummus with Cayenne Kick. Both have been taste tested and held in high regard. Cooking has become a soothing activity, and I have found that even though there are three highly regarded places to obtain vegan friendly food in Baltimore (look out for a post on this too), that I actually prefer my own cooking, which is a first for me, and I have been largely doing my own cooking since I was 15.

Other than the initial shock of people hearing the word “vegan” my freak status doesn’t last long. Once people smell my food reheating in the microwave they want to know what it is, how to make it, and possibly try some. There has been a ripple effect of people dappling with meat reduction in their diet, which while that term makes me cringe, it is the first logical step towards a plant-based diet.

My awareness of my body has increased, so has my awareness of my closely held beliefs. I don’t directly credit veganism, but I do believe that change begets change. I sadly contemplated going vegan for 10 years before doing it, was smoking cigarettes for just about as long. Quit and vegan after a decade makes life’s other quandaries seem simple to solve. Also to me true veganism is not just about the animals, it’s about the environment and people too (though really we’re included in the animal category).

For instance we’ve started recycling and using natural products to handle our cleaning, our trashcan is filled with decaying produce and other vegan matter, there is actually an exothermic reaction occurring in our trash can, as in you can feel heat when you stick your hand through the swivel door. This has convinced my husband and I to go one step further and begin composting as well. Though we still need to do our research and get the necessary supplies, it is an idea in the making. Going vegan started out as an idea too.

Lastly about two months ago I was speaking with a vegan friend about the possibility of me making the leap, we talked about how humans are creatures of habit, and unlikely to change. It was during that conversation I said “Maybe in September”, and here we are.