It's World Vegan Day today, and in honour of our soya-loving friends, I thought I'd share this great list of common misconceptions about vegans.
I'd love to go vegan myself, but being overly fond of cheese, I can't quite kick the dairy habit (the vegan stuff just still isn't cutting it, I'm afraid, and oh how I've tried to like it). But for today only, I'm avoiding all cow-related products, option for soya, veggies, tofu and nuts. Perhaps you're doing the same? Do send in any tips and tricks about making the vegan experience a bit more enjoyable. Meanwhile, here's that list...
1. “Vegans are an anaemic bunch”
No way Jose! Get yourself a bucket of cold water before you click into Vegan bodybuilders website. Olympic champion Carl Lewis, gorgeous Alicia Silverstone and hot Joaquin Phoenix (need I say more??) are amongst famous vegan hotties. You can see a longer list of vegan celebs here if you need further convincing.
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Tomorrow (November 1st) is World Vegan Day. A number of organisations are planning events on or around the day itself - and if you want to help raise the profile of veganism even more, or indeed if there's simply nothing much going on around where you live, there are plenty of things you can organise yourself. For event details, and suggestions for campaigning activities, ActiVeg.org has a handy page here.
Don't forget that the whole of next month is also Vegan Month, so if you can't manage to sort anything out for tomorrow, you've still got plenty of time to organise the necessary resources to set up a literature stall, or leaflet local businesses. For even more campaigning tips, I would suggest that you order yourself a Vegan Society activist pack.
One organisation which is going all-out in recognition of World Vegan Day is cosmetics company Lush, whose staff are all adopting a vegan diet for the day - with some braver employees even planning to don giant vegetable outfits! Vegetarian campaigning group Viva! has also offered its support, and has sent Vegan Starter Packs to every Lush store, as well as setting up a helpline for Lush staff who want more information on following a vegan lifestyle. Lush products - although not all vegan - are guaranteed vegetarian and cruelty free, so with any luck this move will persuade a number of their already veggie workforce to go a step further! It would be nice, too, to think that this could be a sign that Lush may one day feel inclined to eschew entirely the honey and milk-based ingredients it uses in some of its products, and finally offer an entirely vegan product range.
If you want something saucy to spice up your browsing time, but aren't keen on looking at the flesh of flesh-eaters, then VegPorn.com should be your first port of call! An adult site made by veggies and vegans, and with a strict policy of only using veggie and vegan models, the site strives for the arguably oxymoronic title of a morally sound porn site. The site's creators also insist on a policy of using all shapes and sizes of model, so you can rest assured that no human cruelty - in the unpleasant form of body facism - is involved in the making of the site, either. In an amusing, Nigella-esque sexing-up of the culinary arts, there's even a section where you can see models cooking delicious vegan meals!
When you've got yourself adequately hot under the collar - or even if you're just more interested in the veggie/vegan flesh of your beloved than of strangers on a website - then it's probably time to follow the 'Store' link and visit The Sensual Vegan where you can choose from a range of vegan lubes, condoms, massage oils and sex toys.
Related: Vegan condoms
If you're a vegetarian, you're probably already starting to think about what you'll do for Christmas dinner this year. Is it going to be Linda McCartney sausages with all the trimmings (as usual) or will you make yourself unpopular by trying to concoct a separate, home-cooked main course alongside the turkey in an already over-full kitchen?
If either both these options fail to inspire you, Quorn has stepped in just in the nick of time. The new vegetable roast is a hearty, substantial main dish that you can enjoy smothered in veggie gravy as the cold nights draw in. It contains a blend of Quorn mince, oatmeal, sweet potatoes and bulgar wheat, making it a low-fat and tasty alternative to meat. Quorn vegetable roast can be found in the freezer cabinets at Sainsbury's, priced £2.99.
Want to wish a chocoholic vegan a happy birthday in style? Or perhaps you've a friend's wedding coming up, and want to give them something to nibble on when the last remains of the eggless wedding cake have all been eaten up?
Well, look no further than the Troody Skrumptious website for the answer to your prayers. Troody Skrumptious will make up a special box with a personalised gift card for any occasion, and send it to the lucky recipient of your choice. You've 17 different flavours of chocolate to choose from - including such divine-sounding treats as Cointreau, Coconut and Cherry, Fudge and Kahlua flavoured chocs - and Troody Skrumptious's chocolates are all freshly made to order. 150gm bags of chocolate start at £4.10 plus postage, and gift boxes start from £11.
Whether you're a new vegetarian hopelessly devoid of any culinary inspiration beyond endless plates of beans on toast, or a lifelong meat-dodger keen on expanding on your existing expertise, the Vegetarian Society's Cordon Vert cookery classes will no doubt prove an enjoyable experience.
The Society offers one and two day courses for amateur cooks, team building cookery days for large groups, and training for professional chefs. The courses usually take place at the Vegetarian Society headquarters in Parkdale near Manchester, although every once in a while a course will be held at the Society's London venue. A visit to the Vegetarian Society website will bring up a list of upcoming courses.
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