The Plight of Michael J » Vegan/Vegetarian

The Amazing Avocado

michael — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 23:43:33 +0000

Studies have shown avocados contribute nearly 20 different types of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that can help your body function normally. A one-ounce serving (approximately one-fifth of an avocado) is just 50 calories.

Nutritional Benefits:

Vitamin C 4% antioxidant / connective tissue formation / immune system
Iron 2% oxygen transport / immune system / prevents one type of anemia
Vitamin E 4% antioxidant / muscular development / tissue repair
Thiamin 2% metabolism / cardiovascular health
Riboflavin 4% protein, carb and fat processing / skin health
Niacin 4% digestion / skin health / nervous system
Vitamin B6 4% nervous and immune systems / prevention of one type of anemia / oxygen transport
Folate 8% metabolism / prevention of one type of anemia / prenatal health
Pantothenic Acid 4% nutrient processing / red blood cell formation
Phosphorous 2% bone health / teeth formation
Magnesium 2% muscle and nerve function / bone health / sustains regular heartbeat
Zinc 2% immune system / wound healing / supports reproduction and growth
Copper 2% normal blood pressure / regulation of heart rate
Manganese 2% bone health
(Sources: Nutrition.gov, NIH, American Cancer Society)

Avocados give your favorite foods a delicious, creamy taste. It is a very versatile fruit in that it can be added to everything from salads and sandwiches to dips and salsas.
“There is absolutely no nutrient, no protein, no vitamin, no mineral that we know of, that cannot be obtained from plant-based foods.” –Michael Klaper, M.D.

Bottom line: The avocado, pound for pound, has more energy than unprocessed meat. (what does that tell you?!)

“I’m hatin’ it”

michael — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:48:41 +0000

To torture or not to torture? That’s the question.

In McDonald’s slaughter houses chickens are dumped from their crates and hung upside down in metal shackles.

Sir, Would you like fries with that ?

Hundreds of millions of chickens are killed for McDonald’s restaurants every year. Many of these gentle birds have their throats cut while they’re still conscious. Expose what really happens under the Golden Arches.

Learn more at www.mccruelty.com.

Not so Fun Fact: 10 billion is a lot huh? Try to imagine….

michael — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:46:31 +0000

Every year, 10 billion domesticated land animals are slaughtered for food in the United States—27 million each day and 19,000 every minute. We should be down right ASHAMED.

This CAN all be changed

10 Billion, 27 Million, and 19,000:

Every year, 10 billion domesticated land animals are slaughtered for food in the United States—27 million each day and 19,000 every minute.

50 Billion and 1,680:

Worldwide, the yearly slaughter count is more than 50 billion. Every second, 1,680 animals are killed for food.
Most farmed animals are killed when they are barely adolescents or even younger, such as the “broiler” chickens raised for meat who are slaughtered at only 6–7 weeks old.

250 Million Chicks:

The U.S. egg industry suffocates, gases, or grinds up alive 250 million male chicks each year; they are not profitable because they will never produce eggs and are not bred to grow at an unnatural speed like broiler chickens.

5.5 Million Calves:

The 4.5 million calves in Europe and 1 million calves in the United States annually destined to become veal are forcibly pulled away from their mothers—dairy cows—within hours, or at most 1–2 days, of birth. The milk produced naturally by the mother’s body for her calf, who normally would suckle for 6 to 12 months, is to be taken for sale to humans, so the calf is fed nutritionally deficient formula. His movement is severely restricted, to give his flesh the texture and color desired by human consumers.

90 Percent of Soybeans and 80 Percent of Corn:

More than 90 percent of soybean meal grown in the United States is used to feed animals being raised for human food; these animals also consume 80 percent of corn grown in the United States.

Maybe we should….open up our eyes perhaps??

Vegetarian Opinion Post.

michael — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:55:43 +0000

Baby Steps……

This is a video I did trying to explain my opinions on becoming a vegetarian and my reasons why. Its a little long but I think I got my point across somewhere in there. ”The Circle of Life has been broken people”…and guess what…WE broke it.

Primo Veggie Dish Sighting: “Perfect Guacamole”

michael — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:37:44 +0000

Yeah baby...wipe the drool from your mouth and go buy some Utz tortilla chips to tear up!!

INGREDIENTS

2 ripe avocados

1/2 red onion, minced (about 1/2 cup)

1-2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced

2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped

1 tablespoon of fresh lime or lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

A dash of freshly grated black pepper

1/2 ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped

Garnish with red radishes or jicama. Serve with tortilla chips.

METHOD

1 Cut avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avacado from the peel, put in a mixing bowl. (See How to Cut and Peel an Avocado.)

2 Using a fork, mash the avocado. Add the chopped onion, cilantro, lime or lemon, salt and pepper and mash some more. Chili peppers vary individually in their hotness. So, start with a half of one chili pepper and add to the guacamole to your desired degree of hotness. Be careful handling the peppers; wash your hands thoroughly after handling and do not touch your eyes or the area near your eyes with your hands for several hours.

Keep the tomatoes separate until ready to serve.

Remember that much of this is done to taste because of the variability in the fresh ingredients. Start with this recipe and adjust to your taste.

3 Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole to prevent oxidation from the air reaching it. Refrigerate until ready.

4 Just before serving, add the chopped tomato to the guacamole and mix.

Serves 2-4.

SOOOOO……WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? ENJOY!

Primo Veggie Dish Sighting: Lightly Spicy Tofu Nuggets

michael — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:29:28 +0000

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes

Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

1 (16 ounces) package extra firm tofu, drained and pressed

2 cups of vegetable broth

3 tablespoons of vegetable oil

1/2 cup of all purpose flour

4 tablespoons of nutritional yeast

1 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon of sage

1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Cut pressed tofu into 1/2-inch thick slices; then cut again into 1/2-inch wide sticks. Place tofu in a bowl, and pour broth over the top. Set aside to soak.

2. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, yeast, salt, pepper, sage, and cayenne.

3. Warm oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

4. Remove tofu sticks from broth, and squeeze most (but not all) of the liquid from them. Roll sticks in breading. (You may have to roll sticks twice to end up with a fairly dry outer layer of breading.) Place tofu in hot oil; fry until crisp and browned on all sides. Add more oil if necessary.

They are better when they are extra crispy. Vegan goodness.

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” —Albert Einstein

Not So Fun Fact

michael — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:13:49 +0000

Billions of animals are abused and violently killed because you eat meat.

55,000,000 killed per year

The above photo is PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) protesting the eating of animals by packaging themselves. If you wouldn’t eat a dog, why eat a pig?