My Blog Has Moved! 08/02/2010
Well, I finally decided to move my blog to a different blog site. It's been nice knowing ya Weebly, but now it's on to Blogger. :) Oh, and just in case you're wondering, I've transferred all of my old posts and links, etc from this site to the new one. Please come by and check it out here: http://thespacegreen.blogspot.com/ Thanks! Emily Add Comment  Yay, new post! Okay, so the original title of this article is: "How to Win An Argument With a Meat-Eater". I decided to change it up a bit, though, because the point that I'm trying to make here is not that vegetarians/vegans and carnists (a.k.a. meat-eaters) should be arguing about who's right or who's diet is better. The point is that vegetarians/vegans and meat-eaters alike should be aware of these powerful facts (a.k.a. "arguments"). Thanks for reading. :) Reasons Why Vegetarians and Vegans Eat the Way They Do: The Hunger Argument Number of people worldwide who will die as a result of malnutrition this year: 20 million Number of people who could be adequately fed using land freed if Americans reduced their intake of meat by 10%: 100 million Percentage of corn grown in the U.S. eaten by people: 20 Percentage of corn grown in the U.S. eaten by livestock: 80 Percentage of oats grown in the U.S. eaten by livestock: 95 Percentage of protein wasted by cycling grain through livestock: 90 How frequently a child dies as a result of malnutrition: every 2.3 seconds Pounds of potatoes that can be grown on an acre: 40,000 Pounds of beef produced on an acre: 250 Percentage of U.S. farmland devoted to beef production: 56 Pounds of grain and soybeans needed to produce a pound of edible flesh from feedlot beef: 16 The Environmental Argument Cause of global warming: greenhouse effect Primary cause of greenhouse effect: carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels Fossil fuels needed to produce meat-centered diet vs. a meat-free diet: 3 times more Percentage of U.S. topsoil lost to date: 75 Percentage of U.S. topsoil loss directly related to livestock raising: 85 Number of acres of U.S. forest cleared for cropland to produce meat-centered diet: 260 million Amount of meat imported to U.S. annually from Central and South America: 300,000,000 pounds Percentage of Central American children under the age of five who are undernourished: 75 Area of tropical rainforest consumed in every quarter-pound of rainforest beef: 55 square feet Current rate of species extinction due to destruction of tropical rainforests for meat grazing and other uses: 1,000 per year The Cancer Argument Increased risk of breast cancer for women who eat meat daily compared to less than once a week: 3.8 times For women who eat eggs daily compared to once a week: 2.8 times For women who eat butter and cheese 2-4 times a week: 3.25 times Increased risk of fatal ovarian cancer for women who eat eggs 3 or more times a week vs. less than once a week: 3 times Increased risk of fatal prostate cancer for men who consume meat, cheese, eggs and milk daily vs. sparingly or not at all: 3.6 times. The Cholesterol Argument Number of U.S. medical schools: 125 Number requiring a course in nutrition: 30 Nutrition training received by average U.S. physician during four years in medical school: 2.5 hours Most common cause of death in the U.S.: heart attack How frequently a heart attack kills in the U.S.: every 45 seconds Average U.S. man's risk of death from heart attack: 50 percent Risk of average U.S. man who eats no meat: 15 percent Risk of average U.S. man who eats no meat, dairy or eggs: 4 percent Amount you reduce risk of heart attack if you reduce consumption of meat, dairy and eggs by 10 percent: 9 percent Amount you reduce risk of heart attack if you reduce consumption by 50 percent: 45 percent Amount you reduce risk if you eliminate meat, dairy and eggs from your diet: 90 percent Average cholesterol level of people eating meat-centered-diet: 210 mg/dl Chance of dying from heart disease if you are male and your blood cholesterol level is 210 mg/dl: greater than 50 percent The Natural Resources Argument User of more than half of all water used for all purposes in the U.S.: livestock production Amount of water used in production of the average cow: sufficient to float a destroyer Gallons of water needed to produce a pound of wheat: 25 Gallons of water needed to produce a pound of California beef: 5,000 Years the world's known oil reserves would last if every human ate a meat-centered diet: 13 Years they would last if human beings no longer ate meat: 260 Calories of fossil fuel expended to get 1 calorie of protein from beef: 78 To get 1 calorie of protein from soybeans: 2 Percentage of all raw materials (base products of farming, forestry and mining, including fossil fuels) consumed by U.S. that is devoted to the production of livestock: 33 Percentage of all raw materials consumed by the U.S. needed to produce a complete vegetarian diet: 2 The Antibiotic Argument Percentage of U.S. antibiotics fed to livestock: 55 Percentage of staphylococci infections resistant to penicillin in 1960: 13 Percentage resistant in 1988: 91 Response of European Economic Community to routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock: ban Response of U.S. meat and pharmaceutical industries to routine feeding of antibiotics to livestock: full and complete support The Pesticide Argument Common belief: U.S. Department of Agriculture protects our health through meat inspection Reality: fewer than 1 out of every 250,000 slaughtered animals is tested for toxic chemical residues Percentage of U.S. mother's milk containing significant levels of DDT: 99 Percentage of U.S. vegetarian mother's milk containing significant levels of DDT: 8 Contamination of breast milk, due to chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides in animal products, found in meat-eating mothers vs. non-meat eating mothers: 35 times higher Amount of Dieldrin ingested by the average breast-fed American infant: 9 times the permissible level The Ethical Argument Number of animals killed for meat per hour in the U.S.: 660,000 Occupation with highest turnover rate in U.S.: slaughterhouse worker Occupation with highest rate of on-the-job-injury in U.S.: slaughterhouse worker The Survival Argument Athlete to win Ironman Triathlon more than twice: Dave Scott (6 time winner) Food choice of Dave Scott: Vegetarian Largest meat eater that ever lived: Tyrannosaurus Rex (Where is he today?) Source: "Diet For A New America" by John Robbins (http://www.johnrobbins.info/) New events on the calendar :) 07/03/2010
Happy 4th of July weekend! I've posted some new events for the month of July. Just FYI. :) (Hey, that rhymes..heh heh.) Water Conservation Tips for Summer :) 07/02/2010
 "When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water." ~ Benjamin Franklin "Children of a culture born in a water-rich environment, we have never really learned how important water is to us. We understand it, but we do not respect it." ~ William Ashworth Alright people, now that summer is finally here (yay!!), and it's raining less (well, except it's sprinkling today, naturally), it's important that we're extra conscious about our water consumption. Here are some tips I've gathered and wanted to share with you all. Please check them out, and remember this fact: only 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WeighingWater/). Plus, when you use less water you save money on your utility bill. It's a win-win! So, let's all make sure that we're using this precious natural resource wisely. :) Indoors:
http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c=51031&a=265705 http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php http://www.bonnieplants.com/LearnGrowLibrary/GardeningMadeEasy/tabid/79/ID/236/categoryId/46/Drought-Busters-Respond-with-Many-Good-Ideas.aspx http://www.plantanswers.com/calvin/WaterSourcesforPlantsjuly.htm http://www.goveg.com/environment-wastedresources-water.asp 10 Green (Parenting) Tips :) 05/28/2010
 Wow, so once again, I haven't posted anything in a loooong time! Sorry 'bout that. I'm still super busy these days, but hopefully I'll have more time to blog this summer. :) Anyways, here is an article that I wanted to share, from E Magazine (May 2010). And, yes, I realize that this article is speaking to parents...but, I feel that most--if not all--of the tips apply to everyone, whether you have kids or not. My favorite tip is probably number 5. It's sad, but so true! Happy reading. :) Ten Green Parenting Tips Often, by choosing to go green as parents, we are actually able to save money as we are cutting down on consumption and waste. We’re also teaching our kids important lessons about protecting the earth and being conscious. 1. Serve organic and locally grown food at home and try to limit processed food. Food grown with pesticides can impact a child’s development and locally grown food will be fresher and in season and will help give your child a taste for fresh fruits and vegetables. Processed chips, snacks and sodas are loaded with salt and sugar and contribute to everything from childhood obesity to attention deficit disorder. 2. Cut down on lunch packaging. Use refillable drink containers instead of juice boxes, and fill your own containers with apple sauce and yogurt. And limit the amount of plastic bags and packaging by filling your own snack containers with crackers, pretzels and other snacks instead of buying “snack sizes.” 3. Buy non-toxic toys. Choose toys from local U.S. companies, check on recalls and choose wood or hard-plastic toys over the soft plastic toys (like rubber ducks) which contain PVC and may impact a child’s hormone development. 4. Turn waste into art. Have the kids reuse materials that would otherwise be wasted: turn old socks into puppets, plastic jugs into watering cans and paper towel rolls into shakers. Using old materials is a great way to get creative and learn about protecting the planet. 5. Get outside! Kids are suffering from “nature deficit disorder”. On average, kids spend just 30 minutes of unstructured time outdoors each week—but they spend 40 minutes a day in front of the TV. Whether hiking and camping as a family, or simply running around the backyard, regular outdoor activity can have huge positive health benefits. 6. Use non-toxic cleaners. Read the labels on cleaners and make sure that they disclose the ingredients, and buy from companies like Seventh Generation whose products you can trust. Cleaners should not contain ammonia or bleach or even artificial fragrances which can cause reactions in kids, particularly those with asthma. You can also make your own safe household cleaner from distilled white vinegar and water. 7. Carpool. Kids are going to so many different lessons and events, but that’s no reason to make tons of separate car trips. New online services like www.dividetheride.com are making it possible for parents to use less gas, save on stress and help conserve energy. 8. Plant a garden. Even a few tomato plants grown outside in pots can help teach kids about the process of growing, the importance of soil, water and sunshine and the reward of caring for plants that then produce flowers and food. 9. Cut down on consumption. Instead of always buying the latest gadgets, get involved in swapping toys with other parents as kids outgrow them, purchasing used toys, or making alternative toys, like playhouses, out of cardboard boxes. 10. Get active! Encourage your local school to serve healthier lunch options in the cafeteria, campaign to get soda companies out of the schools and to use non-toxic cleaners in the classrooms and organic lawn products on the playing fields. See www.sustainabletable.org for ideas. New updates to the site :) 04/17/2010
 Hi all! Sorry for the delay, but I'm finally posting a blog about the end of our 30-day vegan trial. First, I thought I'd start out with some lessons that I learned from this experience: 1) Eating vegan can make shopping easier and harder at the same time. Shopping becomes easier, because eating vegan means that you there are almost whole sections of the supermarket that you can bypass (i.e. dairy, meat). On the other hand, eating vegan means that you also have to carefully read all product labels (unless they are labeled as 'vegan') and avoid anything that contains eggs, milk, or animal byproduct (i.e. gelatin). The whole reading-the-labels part wasn't very hard for Dave and I, because we already do that anyway (to avoid things like msg and high fructose corn syrup, etc). But, it was especially hard for Dave when we couldn't buy certain things because they contained only a small amount of egg or dairy, etc. He wasn't exactly a big fan of having his food choices so limited. ;) I, however, found it kind of an adventure to weed through the thousands of product options and pick from what was suitable for our vegan diet. To me, it felt like it helps me to have limits on what I could eat, because all of the different product options were no longer as overwhelming. 2) Recipes can require some creativity. Eating vegan can often mean that you need to substitute different ingredients for ones that you have become accustomed to using (i.e. nut milk instead of cow's milk, applesauce instead of eggs). This can take some time to adjust to, especially when your recipes don't turn out quite like they used to. For me, I enjoyed this, because I knew that we were eating healthier and I didn't actually notice much of a taste different. Dave's taste buds weren't as fond of these changes, though, but he was a very good sport in trying these 'vegan' recipes. 3) Eating vegan isn't boring, and does not (and should not) have to be a sacrifice. I guess if you're just trying out veganism for a bit, it can seem like it's a sacrifice to have to give up meat and dairy, etc. But, the way I look at it is that if you go into it with the right attitude and reasons for doing so, it can be fun and it can even help you to get out of old eating habits and develop some new ones. Besides, there are plenty of recipes and dishes out there that are already naturally vegetarian or vegan. And, if you find a vegetarian recipe you like, the only change you have to make is to find a cheese substitute or just replace the cheese with some entirely different. For instance, when Dave and I had rice and beans for dinner one night, Dave added avocado, cilantro, and different spices (instead of cheese, as he loves to do), and it tasted awesome! 4) Educating yourself is key. The library became my new best friend before and during our 30-day vegan experience. I think it's so important that you educate yourself about various issues that you are interested in. I started out reading a couple books about veganism for fun, and I learned so much from them that I just kept reading until I finally realized that I needed to experience it for myself. It was really fun to read about other people's experiences with becoming vegan, and it was also very eye-opening to read all the facts behind the start of veganism and the vegan movement. And, I realize that a lot of people--for various reasons--would just rather not hear about the cruel treatment of animals in factory farms, or what the consumption of meat and dairy can do to your health, and that it completely their choice. But, I would highly suggest, that if you are at all curious, to check out a couple books from your local library, so you can see what all the fuss is about and decide for yourself what the information means to you. Our month of vegan eating taught me a lot, and I am very glad that Dave and I were able to experience it together. And even though it wasn't always fun or easy, I think we both learned a lot from it and it helped us to have a better appreciation for what we eat and why. As a result of our vegan experience, Dave has decided that he is going to be a "mostly-vegetarian" (aka, a "flexitarian). Cheese is something that he just cannot live without, so being a vegan permanently is out for him. He did find out, though, that he just doesn't really enjoy eating meat as much as he used to. However, he does still love his bacon (bacon sure is powerful stuff!), and says that he will eat it every once in a while. He also wants to eat chicken now and then (i.e. pad thai with chicken). I, on the other hand, have discovered that I don't enjoy eggs or cheese as much as I used to. I think the combination of not eating them for a month, plus all the information that I have read, has made me more aware of what I am eating and they are just not as appealing to me anymore. However, I have also realized that eating completely vegan is not going to work for me right now. It definitely puts a bit of strain on shopping trips and family get-togethers, and I am also just not ready to make that kind of commitment at this time. What I have decided to do instead, is to become flexi-vegan (or a vegan "flirt", as Alicia Silverstone calls it). :) This means that I am a permanent vegetarian, and that I will eat vegan when I can. I do definitely enjoy eating vegan, because I just feel a lot more healthy and less-sluggish and tired. Plus, I just feel better about the fact that I am not helping to support the awful practices of factory farms or the destruction of the environment. Since, I don't like milk at all anymore, and because I'm now not a big egg fan either, I will only really eat these two items when they are used to make things (i.e. cookies). I will, however, probably eat cheese on it's own from time to time. I really love fresh (hormone and anti-biotic free of course!) mozzarella, and I enjoy eating it every once in a while. During our vegan month of eating, I did also discover, though, that I love vegan pizza! I really prefer to eat pizza without the cheese, and instead I of add pesto and lots of veggie toppings (plus, nutritional yeast, which tastes a bit cheesey). It is sooo tasty! So, there you have it, Dave and I have lived and learned from our month of vegan eating, and we have now decided to change our eating habits for the better. :) Oh, and did I mention that I'm now reading about the raw food revolution? I used to think that eating raw food seemed a bit extreme, but after reading Ani's Raw Food Kitchen, I have developed a newfound interest in it. :) I will share more later, but for now be sure to check out my Links and Books/Films sections for more info. Thanks for reading!  Almost-Vegan Valentine's Day ;) 02/20/2010
 Sorry for my lack of blog posts lately. :P So, for those of you who may have been keeping tabs, our month of vegan eating actually ended about a week ago. I know, I know...I meant to post something earlier, so I promise I will be writing a separate post very soon. But first, I thought I would share some pictures from our Valentine's Day. :) Since last Sunday (Valentine's Day) was the first day after our vegan-eating month ended, Dave and I did end up eating some non-vegan foods, particularly cheese (well, and bacon for Dave). But, not everything we ate that day was non-vegan. My awesome husband was very sweet and bought me several different kinds of vegan, fair trade and/or organic chocolate (some of which I mentioned in my previous post about Valentine's Day gift suggestions). :) In the picture above is some sparkling wine we got from New Season's and a bar of Equal Exchange chocolate. The wine was okay, but the chocolate sure was tasty...and it sure didn't last very long.  Dave also bought me these awesome, local, vegan truffles from Wingnut Confections. You can order them online, or buy them at some stores, such as People's Food Co-op. I highly, highly recommend them! Our favorites were the Peppermint and Rogue Hazelnut Spiced Rum truffles. :) And, even if you're a little skeptical about eating "vegan" chocolate, trust me, it's just as good--if not better, in my opinion--than regular chocolate. It just has a much more rich, chocolate taste...and less of the sugary, milky taste that most mainstream chocolate brands have (which I'm not a big fan of anyway). But, don't take my word for it, try it for yourself. :)  And, last but not least (by any means), for dessert we made vegan chocolate covered strawberries! I found this recipe online, so we decided to give it a try. Since we don't have a double boiler, we did have a little difficulty melting the chocolate...but Dave just added more coconut oil and they turned out great. They tasted even better the next day, after being in the refrigerator longer. Oh, and we ended buying semi-sweet chocolate chips (and not adding any honey), but next time I definitely want to try using unsweetened chocolate instead. I recommend trying this, or a similar, recipe. Yummmmy. :) Hope you all had a very Happy Valentine's Day! Go "Green" This Valentine's Day :) 02/05/2010
 Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so I thought I'd post some resources for those of you who'd like to be a little "greener" this holiday. :) 1.) Chocolate: Instead of buying the usual Hershey's--or even See's or Godiva--chocolate this year, please consider buying fair trade and organic chocolate. Sure it costs a bit more, but it tastes a whole heck of a lot better and it's better for people and the planet. Brands I love: Endangered Species, Equal Exchange, Divine, Dagoba, Green & Blacks (organic and almost-fair-trade) And, for those of you (like me) who'd like vegan chocolate, check out these local (yay!) fair trade vegan chocolate companies: Wingnut Confections, Missionary Chocolates 2.) Flowers: If you can't buy your loved one local flowers from your nearby farmer's market, here is a great online company to buy them from: Fair Trade Certified Flowers 3.) Cards: If you aren't up for making your own Valentine's cards this year, but want to save some trees and some money, think about sending an e-card. My faves: Care2, The Nature Conservancy, E-Cards 4.) Jewelry: Awesome fair trade, recycled jewelery (and more!) can be found at these great sites: Global Exchange, Greater Good Happy Almost-Valentine's-Day! Emily Yummy vegan recipe :) 02/02/2010
 I forgot to share this in my previous post, so I thought I'd give this recipe its' own little blog post. :) The recipe is for yummy vegan "raw balls"! I know, I know...the name's a little odd, but trust me, the taste is anything but weird. And, even if you're a little skeptical of carob (a great chocolate alternative), I can almost guarantee that you'll love these. I loooove carob, myself. Here is the recipe, courtesy of Alicia Silverstone (from her new, must-read book, The Kind Diet): Raw Balls Makes 10 to 12 Balls 1/2 cup walnuts 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup pitted dates 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt Scant 1/2 cup raw carob powder 1/2 cup whole almonds Scant 1/2 cup maple syrup 2 cups shredded unsweetened 1/2 cup almond butter coconut Place the walnuts in a food processor and process until coarsely ground. Add the dates, and pulse until well combined with the nuts. Add the carob powder, syrup, almond butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Process until the mixture is thick and smooth. Add the almonds, and pulse a few times until combined; you want them to remain in crunchy chunks. Form the mixture into golf-ball-size [or smaller] balls with your hands. Roll the balls in coconut. Place in a sealed container in the freezer until hardened. FYI: Make sure that you have a powerful food processor, and that you only make one batch at a time! The first time I made these, the motor of the little food processor Dave and I bought at Target died. And the second time I made these, I tried to make a triple batch with our new, more powerful food processor and the motor stopped working (the mixture can get quite thick and sticky). Luckily, though, I was able to save the mixture and the food processor started working again...and everything turned out fine. Phew! | AuthorHi all! If you'd like to find out more about me and the site, please see the About page. :) Thanks for stopping by The Green Space!  ArchivesAugust 2010 CategoriesAll |
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