'The human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future: deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilisation of communities and the spread of disease,' the Worldwatch Institute has warned.
See full article on http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/food.meat
Monday, 8 September 2008
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Country House Montali, Vegetarian Paradise!
We have just had the most fantastic holiday ever at Country House Montali, a vegetarian paradise in Umbria. The setting, pictured left, is stunning. Close to Lake Trasimeno, Perugia and Assisi there are many beautiful and interesting places to visit just a short trip from here.
The food is heavenly! Imaginitive and extremely tasty 4 course dinners that we will never forget. We came home with a copy of the proprietors book 'The Vegeterranean' and have started experimenting with their recipes already.
Our stay was luxurious, the swiming pool divine. The proprietors, Alberto Musacchio and Malu Simoes and their team of chefs and staff did us proud. We can't wait to return and would highly recommend this holiday to anyone, especially us vegetarians who are usually disappointed with holiday food. This is the place we have been looking for, this is heaven.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Fuel in relation to plant and vegetable protein
I thought I would share this interesting article from the Guardian. It gives many good economic and environmental arguements for considering a vegetarian lifestyle. Here is an extract:
"A University of Chicago study argued that the average meat eater in the US produces about 1.5 tonnes of CO[squared] more than a vegetarian per year. That's because animals are hungry and the grain they eat takes energy, usually fossil fuels, to produce. It takes 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy to produce a single calorie of plant protein, according to researchers at Cornell University. And lots of that plant protein is required to make animal protein. For chicken, the ratio of energy in to protein out is 4:1. For pork it's 17:1. For lamb, 50:1. For beef, 54:1."
For the full article see:
http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,,2286172,00.html#article_continue
"A University of Chicago study argued that the average meat eater in the US produces about 1.5 tonnes of CO[squared] more than a vegetarian per year. That's because animals are hungry and the grain they eat takes energy, usually fossil fuels, to produce. It takes 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy to produce a single calorie of plant protein, according to researchers at Cornell University. And lots of that plant protein is required to make animal protein. For chicken, the ratio of energy in to protein out is 4:1. For pork it's 17:1. For lamb, 50:1. For beef, 54:1."
For the full article see:
http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,,2286172,00.html#article_continue
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
Vegan diet and Arthritis
I've come across anecdotal information to support the theory that a vegetarian/vegan diet helps arthritis sufferers before, so I was very interested to read the following news report on this subject: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7301188.stm
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
How does Eating Meat Harm the Planet?
This information is supplied by Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).How Does Eating Meat Harm the Planet?
Eating meat leaves behind an environmental toll that generations to come will be forced to pay.
Eating meat leaves behind an environmental toll that generations to come will be forced to pay.
Resources
While 40 million tonnes of food would eliminate the most extreme cases of world hunger, 540 million tonnes are fed to animals in Western countries every year. The world's cattle alone consume the same amount of calories as it takes to nourish 8.7 billion people - more than the entire human population on Earth.
Water
It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat, but only 25 gallons to produce a pound of wheat. A totally vegetarian diet requires 300 gallons of water per day, whilst a meat-eating diet requires more than 4,000 gallons of water per day.
Land
Of all agricultural land in the UK, 90 per cent is used to raise animals for food, and we still need more food, so we import it from developing countries which often cannot even feed themselves. Using precious land to raise animals for food is wasteful. On 10 hectares, you can produce meat to feed just two people, maize to feed 10 people, grain to feed 24 people or soya to feed 61 people. Overgrazing of livestock has led to desertification around the globe.
Pollution
Raising animals for food causes water pollution as slurry leaches into the waterways. In some parts of Europe, slurry is the single greatest cause of acid rain. The methane produced by the world's cows is a major contributor to global warming.
Deforestation
Since 1950, half of all the world's rain forests have been destroyed to make way for grazing animals. After just six or seven years, the soil is so damaged that it can no longer support grass. It turns to dust. Tribal people are forced to move on as their habitat is sold off to the meat industry. In the UK, hedgerows are being cut down for the same reason, and 98 per cent of the forests that once covered most of the British Isles have been cut down.
While 40 million tonnes of food would eliminate the most extreme cases of world hunger, 540 million tonnes are fed to animals in Western countries every year. The world's cattle alone consume the same amount of calories as it takes to nourish 8.7 billion people - more than the entire human population on Earth.
Water
It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat, but only 25 gallons to produce a pound of wheat. A totally vegetarian diet requires 300 gallons of water per day, whilst a meat-eating diet requires more than 4,000 gallons of water per day.
Land
Of all agricultural land in the UK, 90 per cent is used to raise animals for food, and we still need more food, so we import it from developing countries which often cannot even feed themselves. Using precious land to raise animals for food is wasteful. On 10 hectares, you can produce meat to feed just two people, maize to feed 10 people, grain to feed 24 people or soya to feed 61 people. Overgrazing of livestock has led to desertification around the globe.
Pollution
Raising animals for food causes water pollution as slurry leaches into the waterways. In some parts of Europe, slurry is the single greatest cause of acid rain. The methane produced by the world's cows is a major contributor to global warming.
Deforestation
Since 1950, half of all the world's rain forests have been destroyed to make way for grazing animals. After just six or seven years, the soil is so damaged that it can no longer support grass. It turns to dust. Tribal people are forced to move on as their habitat is sold off to the meat industry. In the UK, hedgerows are being cut down for the same reason, and 98 per cent of the forests that once covered most of the British Isles have been cut down.
You can find out more from http://www.peta.org/pdfs/leafletback.pdf
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Veggie Kidz
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
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
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.
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