hey,
I'm Becky, a 12 year old vegetarian girl from Devon! I'm making this section for other young veggie kids to post their veiws, get some tips and just have a look at what I've got to say!
I have been veggie all my life, because my parents have brought me up that way, but the thought of eating dead animals sickens me!
I go to a fairly large secondary school near our house and I only know three other veggie kids that go to my school! (1 of which is my sister!)
I hope that in 5 years time our world is more aware of vegetairian issues and many more people become veggie or vegan and save thousands more innocent lives!
If anybody ever teases me about being a vegetairian (which has happened in the past) I simply say "well at least I know I'm not eating a dead carcass" and that soon shuts them up! hee hee!
Remember to be proud that you are saving lives through your food! Together people like us can change the world for the better!
=D
here is a favourite poem of mine that i can really relate to.
Pride
I've got no bodies inside me
All of me is me,
I will not eat no body else
So i am what you see.
I do not plan to eat young sheep
I will not eat a hen,
I'm so proud of what i am
I must say once again.
I've got no bodies inside me
All of me is me,
I will not eat no body else
So i am what you see.
By Benjamin Zephaniah
a great poet
and inspiration
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Saturday, 25 August 2007
London for vegetarians!
We have just returned from a 3 day theatre trip to London - wow! We went to see 'We Will Rock You' and we stayed at the Radisson Grafton Hotel at the top of Tottenham Court Road. What an experience. The choice of eating places for veggies spoilt us completely. Here are a few that we tried:
After arriving at Paddington Station we took a Taxi to Neal Street, Covent Garden. We went to 'Food for Thought', which is where the picture on the left was taken. Lovely noodles! We all ate well.
The picture on the right was taken at Sagar, a South Indian vegetarian restaurant in Percy Street, just off the Tottenham Court Road. We were their first customers! We can really recommend Sagar, friendly staff, excellent Indian food.
After arriving at Paddington Station we took a Taxi to Neal Street, Covent Garden. We went to 'Food for Thought', which is where the picture on the left was taken. Lovely noodles! We all ate well.
The picture on the right was taken at Sagar, a South Indian vegetarian restaurant in Percy Street, just off the Tottenham Court Road. We were their first customers! We can really recommend Sagar, friendly staff, excellent Indian food.
The next picture was taken at Mildreds. Our favourite so far. Unfortunately it is in a seedy area of Soho (Lexington Road) but well worth braving the area for! We had heard it was good and it really was! The Summer fruit pudding with whith chocolate sauce was to die for. Lots for vegans too. We will definitely go here again when next we are in London.
My last picture was taken at Neals Yard Salad Bar, Covent Garden. Lovely location, music and food. Plenty for vegans. Unfortunately they do do 'non-vegetarian' options, but this is mainly a vegetarian establishment. Close by is the 'World Food Cafe' which looked really good too.
Monday, 23 July 2007
Vegetarian Places to Stay and Eat
I can recommend the following guides:
http://www.vegetarianguides.co.uk/index.shtml
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/feb/29/vegetarian.bandbs.uk
I can personally recommend the following places:
Barnstaple: Cafe Libri
A vegetarian cafe has opened in Barnstaple. It's called 'Cafe Libri' and it is to be found in Maiden Street. Lovely scrummy food and friendly staff. The soups are a particular favourite of mine, closely followed by the cakes! There are always a tasty specials and filling vegetarian or vegan paninis available. Unfortunately this has now CLOSED! Oh how we miss you Cafe Libri, oh how we miss you!
Bath: Demuths
http://www.demuths.co.uk/
Quality vegetarian cafe/restaurant in Bath. Lovely atmosphere, great food!
Dartington, Devon: Cranks
http://www.cranks.co.uk/dartington.html
Located at Dartington Cider Press this is a lovely place to eat. Their products are sold at various outlets and we were delighted to find Cranks food on our last holiday to Center Parcs.
Edinburgh: The Greenhouse
http://www.greenhouse-edinburgh.com/
Top quality vegetarian bed and breakfast with friendly, helpful hosts. Fantastic selection of breakfasts.
I only wish they did evening meals as well, although with David Banns within walking distance it doesn’t really matter.
Edinburgh: David Bann
http://www.davidbann.com/
The most stylish, trendy vegetarian eatery I have had the pleasure to visit. A must if you are in Edinburgh. I only wish we lived a little closer and we would be eating here to celebrate every occasion.
Exeter, Devon: Herbies
Great selection of food. Popular cafe with a hippy feel. Living in Devon this is one of our favourite places to eat, even if it does involve an 80 mile round trip!
Exeter, Devon: The Plant
http://www.veggieheaven.com/guide/exeter.html
Open all week, Sundays as well (when Herbies are closed). Fantastic view of Cathedral and lovely selecton of tartlets, paninis, slads etc.
Grasmere, Cumbria: Lancrigg
http://www.lancrigg.co.uk/
We have been here three years running now - unbeatable. The 5 course eveing meals are so innovative and to die for.The location is totally beautiful. Fantastic walks on the door step. Cumbria, we love you!
I have included some pictures to show how lovely the hotel and area are.
Here are some views of Lancrigg, its beautiful garden, and our walk up the nearby waterfall - glorious!
Ilfracombe, Devon: Grassroots
http://www.thebestof.co.uk/barnstaple/42095/1/1/the_best_of.aspx
We are so pleased to have a really good vegetarian cafe in North Devon again.
Keswick, Cumbria: Lakeland Pedlar
http://www.lakelandpedlar.co.uk/
Unique, busy, unmissable vegetarian cafe and bicycle centre. I was so impressed I bought the t-shirt! Fantastic selection of vegetarian and vegan meals.
Llanidloes, Wales
Great, value for money eatery. Daily specials are really tasty and the portions are generous. We very much enjoyed the noodles on our first visit and the vegetable korma on our second. This is a popular, busy, well run veggie cafe minutes away from the beautiful Elan Valley.
Machynlleth, Wales: Centre for Alternative Technology
http://www.cat.org.uk/
Vegetarian food for the future from this forward thinking, environmentally friendly attraction. Lots of good information, lots of good food!
Meshaw, North Devon: Fern Tor
http://www.ferntor.co.uk/
Even though we live in North Devon we have stayed at this friendly B&B just so that we can enjoy the superb breakfast and evening meals.
St Ives, Cornwall: The Coast AND The Bean Inn
http://www.coastcornwall.co.uk/
St Ives is such a beautiful place to stay and this B&B and cafe are perfect. Lovely vegan dishes, the vegan cheesecake is particularly memorable.
http://www.vegetarianguides.co.uk/index.shtml
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/feb/29/vegetarian.bandbs.uk
I can personally recommend the following places:
Barnstaple: Cafe Libri
A vegetarian cafe has opened in Barnstaple. It's called 'Cafe Libri' and it is to be found in Maiden Street. Lovely scrummy food and friendly staff. The soups are a particular favourite of mine, closely followed by the cakes! There are always a tasty specials and filling vegetarian or vegan paninis available. Unfortunately this has now CLOSED! Oh how we miss you Cafe Libri, oh how we miss you!
Bath: Demuths
http://www.demuths.co.uk/
Quality vegetarian cafe/restaurant in Bath. Lovely atmosphere, great food!
Dartington, Devon: Cranks
http://www.cranks.co.uk/dartington.html
Located at Dartington Cider Press this is a lovely place to eat. Their products are sold at various outlets and we were delighted to find Cranks food on our last holiday to Center Parcs.
Edinburgh: The Greenhouse
http://www.greenhouse-edinburgh.com/
Top quality vegetarian bed and breakfast with friendly, helpful hosts. Fantastic selection of breakfasts.
I only wish they did evening meals as well, although with David Banns within walking distance it doesn’t really matter.
Edinburgh: David Bann
http://www.davidbann.com/
The most stylish, trendy vegetarian eatery I have had the pleasure to visit. A must if you are in Edinburgh. I only wish we lived a little closer and we would be eating here to celebrate every occasion.
Exeter, Devon: Herbies
Great selection of food. Popular cafe with a hippy feel. Living in Devon this is one of our favourite places to eat, even if it does involve an 80 mile round trip!
Exeter, Devon: The Plant
http://www.veggieheaven.com/guide/exeter.html
Open all week, Sundays as well (when Herbies are closed). Fantastic view of Cathedral and lovely selecton of tartlets, paninis, slads etc.
Grasmere, Cumbria: Lancrigg
http://www.lancrigg.co.uk/
We have been here three years running now - unbeatable. The 5 course eveing meals are so innovative and to die for.The location is totally beautiful. Fantastic walks on the door step. Cumbria, we love you!
I have included some pictures to show how lovely the hotel and area are.
Here are some views of Lancrigg, its beautiful garden, and our walk up the nearby waterfall - glorious!
Ilfracombe, Devon: Grassroots
http://www.thebestof.co.uk/barnstaple/42095/1/1/the_best_of.aspx
We are so pleased to have a really good vegetarian cafe in North Devon again.
Keswick, Cumbria: Lakeland Pedlar
http://www.lakelandpedlar.co.uk/
Unique, busy, unmissable vegetarian cafe and bicycle centre. I was so impressed I bought the t-shirt! Fantastic selection of vegetarian and vegan meals.
Llanidloes, Wales
Great, value for money eatery. Daily specials are really tasty and the portions are generous. We very much enjoyed the noodles on our first visit and the vegetable korma on our second. This is a popular, busy, well run veggie cafe minutes away from the beautiful Elan Valley.
Machynlleth, Wales: Centre for Alternative Technology
http://www.cat.org.uk/
Vegetarian food for the future from this forward thinking, environmentally friendly attraction. Lots of good information, lots of good food!
Meshaw, North Devon: Fern Tor
http://www.ferntor.co.uk/
Even though we live in North Devon we have stayed at this friendly B&B just so that we can enjoy the superb breakfast and evening meals.
St Ives, Cornwall: The Coast AND The Bean Inn
http://www.coastcornwall.co.uk/
St Ives is such a beautiful place to stay and this B&B and cafe are perfect. Lovely vegan dishes, the vegan cheesecake is particularly memorable.
Inspirational books
I would like to recommend the following books as particularly informative and inspirational:
The Great Compassion: Buddhism and Animal Rights by Norm Phelps
I am interested in Buddhism and found this book covered the much debated question of whether Buddhists should be vegetarian very thoroughly.
Bloodless Revolution: radical vegetarians and the discovery of India by Tristram Stuart
This book covers vegetarian history in a very methodical way. I learnt a lot about some very interesting characters who were waving the vegetarian flag centuries ago.
Extended Circle: Dictionary of Humane Thought by Jon Wynne-TysonThis is a reference book of thoughts and quotations on the theme of animal rights and vegetarian ethics
The Great Compassion: Buddhism and Animal Rights by Norm Phelps
I am interested in Buddhism and found this book covered the much debated question of whether Buddhists should be vegetarian very thoroughly.
Bloodless Revolution: radical vegetarians and the discovery of India by Tristram Stuart
This book covers vegetarian history in a very methodical way. I learnt a lot about some very interesting characters who were waving the vegetarian flag centuries ago.
Extended Circle: Dictionary of Humane Thought by Jon Wynne-TysonThis is a reference book of thoughts and quotations on the theme of animal rights and vegetarian ethics
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Introducing Myself
I became a vegetarian 22 years ago, when it first became clear to me how in-humane animal production for meat is, and also how unnecessary. Now as the mother of 2 healthy, intelligent, life-long vegetarian girls and being married to a fit vegetarian man, I can really appreciate the healthier life-style that our diet has afforded us, which makes the cruelty involved in meat production seem even sadder.
To quote Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) : “Studies have shown that vegetarians have stronger immune systems than meat-eaters and that meat-eaters are far more likely to die of heart disease and 40 per cent more likely to die of cancer. Meat and dairy consumption is also linked with diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, clogged arteries, obesity, asthma and impotence. A 21-year-long study comparing meat-eaters and vegetarians showed that the greater the meat consumption, the greater the death rate from all causes combined.”
My blog is aimed at those of you who would like to find out more about vegetarianism. It will contain links to all those sites that I have found useful in the past, plus a lot of personal information about how we, as a family, have coped.
To quote Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) : “Studies have shown that vegetarians have stronger immune systems than meat-eaters and that meat-eaters are far more likely to die of heart disease and 40 per cent more likely to die of cancer. Meat and dairy consumption is also linked with diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, clogged arteries, obesity, asthma and impotence. A 21-year-long study comparing meat-eaters and vegetarians showed that the greater the meat consumption, the greater the death rate from all causes combined.”
My blog is aimed at those of you who would like to find out more about vegetarianism. It will contain links to all those sites that I have found useful in the past, plus a lot of personal information about how we, as a family, have coped.
Medicine!
I never cease to be surprised at how many commodities include animal ingredients. When I first became veggie I didn’t consider checking cosmetics and medicines! Even when I did think about medicine I thought if I avoided gelatine capsules I would be alright. I’m afraid it’s not quite so simple. You may like to check your medicines for the ingredients listed on
http://www.ivu.org/faq/maybe-animal-derived.html and
http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=72 .
After consulting the Vegetarian Society I now take Aspro Clear, or other dispersible pain killers, so as to avoid stearates etc. It’s a minefield!
http://www.ivu.org/faq/maybe-animal-derived.html and
http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=72 .
After consulting the Vegetarian Society I now take Aspro Clear, or other dispersible pain killers, so as to avoid stearates etc. It’s a minefield!
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Eating Out
Unfortunately in my home town there are no vegetarian cafes or restaurants. We have tried several omnivorous caterers here and have found the following problems:
Cheese! Most veggie options offered in your non-veggie eatery seem to entail cheese smothered vegetables in the guise of a vegetarian lasagne, crumble or pasta. All well and good until you come to ask if the cheese is suitable for vegetarians, whereby we are usually met with a blank stare, maybe an “I expect so” or a non-committal shrug. There seems to be a general lack of knowledge regarding rennet and its origin (calves stomachs).
Contamination. Three times now, and in three different establishments I have found meat on, or in, my vegetarian dinner. The first time it was something ham looking stuck to the bottom of my toasted panini – obviously the toasting device wasn’t cleaned between dishes. The second time something chicken-like had found its way into my panini – I don’t know how and neither did the cook! The third time my vegetarian lasagne was a meat one cooked in error. Obvious after one taste, whereupon I sent it back and felt utterly sick for the rest of the day, a not so lovely birthday treat!
Lack of vegan options. If you don’t want the salad you’re rather hard done by as a vegan. Even soya milk is hard to come by. Thank you to the Boston Tea Party, the only eatery in town with soya milk. How I love the soya coffees they do there!
Knowing that your veggie food is being cooked right there with the meaty stuff! When you’ve been a vegetarian for a while this really does become repulsive. It might be splashed with meat juices (I have seen this happen at the serving-up point., so who knows what happens in the kitchens! When we had what could have been a tasty veggie option from a carvery, slices of meat dripping with gravy and goodness knows what were being carelessly served across the vegetables. We actually had to collect our veggie option from the man carving meat, he passed it to us with his meaty hands – it just kind of puts you off!).
My advice every time – if you’ve got the choice go to a dedicated vegetarian café/restaurant. I will always remember the first time I went to one, the joy of being able to pick anything on the menu, the wide choice of dishes available, the not having to ask the waitress questions about the ingredients and then trust that what she told me was true. The knowledge that your meal is prepared in a completely meat-free kitchen, where no contamination is possible. Heaven! And no dishes to wash either!
Cheese! Most veggie options offered in your non-veggie eatery seem to entail cheese smothered vegetables in the guise of a vegetarian lasagne, crumble or pasta. All well and good until you come to ask if the cheese is suitable for vegetarians, whereby we are usually met with a blank stare, maybe an “I expect so” or a non-committal shrug. There seems to be a general lack of knowledge regarding rennet and its origin (calves stomachs).
Contamination. Three times now, and in three different establishments I have found meat on, or in, my vegetarian dinner. The first time it was something ham looking stuck to the bottom of my toasted panini – obviously the toasting device wasn’t cleaned between dishes. The second time something chicken-like had found its way into my panini – I don’t know how and neither did the cook! The third time my vegetarian lasagne was a meat one cooked in error. Obvious after one taste, whereupon I sent it back and felt utterly sick for the rest of the day, a not so lovely birthday treat!
Lack of vegan options. If you don’t want the salad you’re rather hard done by as a vegan. Even soya milk is hard to come by. Thank you to the Boston Tea Party, the only eatery in town with soya milk. How I love the soya coffees they do there!
Knowing that your veggie food is being cooked right there with the meaty stuff! When you’ve been a vegetarian for a while this really does become repulsive. It might be splashed with meat juices (I have seen this happen at the serving-up point., so who knows what happens in the kitchens! When we had what could have been a tasty veggie option from a carvery, slices of meat dripping with gravy and goodness knows what were being carelessly served across the vegetables. We actually had to collect our veggie option from the man carving meat, he passed it to us with his meaty hands – it just kind of puts you off!).
My advice every time – if you’ve got the choice go to a dedicated vegetarian café/restaurant. I will always remember the first time I went to one, the joy of being able to pick anything on the menu, the wide choice of dishes available, the not having to ask the waitress questions about the ingredients and then trust that what she told me was true. The knowledge that your meal is prepared in a completely meat-free kitchen, where no contamination is possible. Heaven! And no dishes to wash either!
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