Going Vegan! Why not try it on for size and see how you feel yo!!!

    For those of you who live under a rock, this is what a vegan will not eat or dabble in:
Meat
Poultry
Fish
Milk
Eggs
Cheese
Honey
*Also avoid: leather, fur, silk, wool, soaps and cosmetics derived from animal product

One reason to think about this as a way of life for yourself  is for the simple fact that research has shown that people who follow a vegetarian diet are at a lower risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, diverticulosis, renal disease, some cancers (including lung and breast), and gallstones. Vegetarian diets have also been shown to benefit people who already have type 2 diabetes. In one study, 43% of the people with type 2 diabetes who ate a low-fat vegan diet reduced their need for diabetes medications.

The reason for these health benefits comes from the lower intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol and the higher intakes of complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, certain minerals, and phytochemicals. Cholesterol is only found in animal foods, so vegan diets are completely cholesterol-free.

Then there is of course the reason for most vegan's and that is compassion.  "Well" you say, "how bad can it be", "well"," I say"
Most beef cattle spend the last few months of their lives at feedlots, crowded by the thousands into dusty, manure-laden holding pens. The air is thick with harmful bacteria and particulate matter, and the animals are at a constant risk for respiratory disease. Feedlot cattle are routinely implanted with growth-promoting hormones, and they are fed unnaturally rich diets designed to fatten them quickly and profitably. Because cattle are biologically suited to eat a grass-based, high fiber diet, their concentrated feedlot rations contribute to metabolic disorders.

Not going into the real nasty stuff, but if you would like to find out for yourself this is one heck of a flick to watch just to be a educated consumer of DAS meat!

http://www.earthlings.com/

So after deciding for myself to take a ride on the veggie highway, I have found lots of resources and recipes  that I would love to share..

Books:

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Quantum-Wellness-by-Kathy-Freston

http://www.skinnybitch.net/

http://www.eatinganimals.com/










Believe you me there are several more, but these are such easy reads that really got my engine going!

Cookbooks:

http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Vegan-Sumptuous-Recipes-Favorites/dp/0762752815

http://www.babycakesnyc.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Soul-Kitchen-Creative-African-American/dp/0738212288

Just to name a few of my go to's..  Quantum Wellness is a great tool for beginners with great recipes to try it on for size!!!

And my final tip is finding good deals, I found a almost groupon esque site for vegan deals everyday that I think is pretty fun...

http://blog.vegancuts.com/

Places to eat and other stuff soon to come.
Give it a whirl.
The cows at Cowshawitz  i.e. harris ranch will thank you, and so will mother earth..

Tread lightly ;)