All the recipes on this blog are vegan--for lots of reasons. I was first brought to vegetarianism as an 8-year-old who didn't like the bare idea of eating animals, and as I've learned more and more about animal agriculture systems in the United States I have become increasingly compelled by the idea that veganism is the best basis for an ethical and healthy diet.
Ethical Issues
For me, the most important issue that I consider when choosing my food is animal suffering and exploitation. Most Americans don't realize the extreme abuse that is continuously inflicted on animals raised for food. A very small percentage of animals are raised on the family farms that populate our collective farm-animal imaginations; most animals are born and die in factory farms where they are mutilated, abused and beaten, and where they suffer from illnesses and deformities brought on by genetic modification, inappropriate food, and a continual regime of antibiotics. I don't want to put photos of suffering onto this blog but I would encourage all my readers to take this invitation and learn about where your "food" comes from, if you don't already know. I recommend clicking here, here, and here.
Animal agriculture systems are also extreme users of land, water and energy, and are linked to climate change, air and water pollution, and threats to biodiversity. A vegan diet, especially one that relies heavily on home-grown and local food sources, is far gentler on the environment than a traditional American omnivorous diet.
Health Issues
As a teenage vegetarian, I didn't have a very healthy diet. I ate lots of refined flours, pasta, white rice, and cheese. As a result I often struggled with anemia, which seems to be something many people fear when they consider eliminating animal products from their diet. I now have much more information that allows me to create healthy, nourishing, abundant vegan dishes for my family and friends. The recipes on this blog will mostly be healthy (although I'm sure I won't be able to resist putting up the occasional vegan dessert recipe)!
A well-balanced vegan diet has been linked to decreased rates of heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and certain autoimmune disorders. Even organizations like the American Institute for Cancer Research are beginning to recognize the strongly-substantiated link between meat consumption (especially processed meats) and certain kinds of cancers. In addition to improving your overall health and well-being, virtually all cases of food poisoning and bacterial contamination can be linked back to animal agriculture.
