Editors' Blogs
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VT Review: Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
11/03/09
After years of dabbling with vegetarianism, well-known author Jonathan Safran Foer and his wife seriously committed to it when expecting their first child, realizing that their wavering food habits were confusing and contradictory.
Foer’s newest non-fiction work
Eating Animals vividly narrates his journey investigating the food we eat. His tale extends beyond your expected pro-vegetarian handbook. He humorously and compellingly describes his childhood associations with food and his first realization about where meat comes from. He walks you through the evolution of large-scale farming and its disturbing impact on the environment, America’s health, and small family farmers.
While the book includes plenty of facts and figures, it’s above all a story about people and about food’s role in upholding central traditions that bind families and culture. Foer forms close relationships with family farmers, factory farm workers, and slaughterhouse hands to develop a clear picture of the entire industry. The heart-wrenching realities surely ignite or reinforce a passion for vegetarianism. Moreover, he uncovers a dismal truth: family farms are almost extinct, and factory farms continue to oust honest businesses off the market.
Foer understands that numbers fall short when trying to promote change. He concludes: “Being human, being humane, is more than an exercise of reason. Responding to the factory farm calls for a capacity to care that dwells beyond information, and beyond the oppositions of desire and reason, fact and myth, and even human and animal.”
To purchase the book, click
here.
—Anna Monette Roberts, Editorial Intern
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The Preg Veg: New Grad--Eager to Labor
11/2/09
My husband and I have officially completed our
birthing class! Equipped with a stockpile of knowledge, we have been set free to face labor, which if we can just manage to remember it all, will undoubtedly make the birthing experience much more pleasant. Not only will we be in the know about everything that is going on, we will also be prepared with solutions to remedy any problem that arises.
To help avoid any complications or confusion between the hospital staff and yourselves, it’s also a good idea to create a birth plan, (which you can give to the medical staff when you arrive). A typical birth plan contains your wishes on how to proceed in pretty much every possible scenario. Here’s a
sample birth plan so you can get an idea, and when you’re ready to create one you can use any of the many Web sites, including
birthplan.com and
earthmamaangelbaby.com, to help you get one down on paper.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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The Preg Veg: Mobile Madness
10/30/09
I’ll admit that I’ve spent a good amount of time (OK, way too much time) looking around for the perfect mobile to hang over my peanut’s crib. I mean after all it’s got to entertain and delight day after day and night after night on a mere second’s notice. So it better be good, right? Well, the early mobiles that contain only red, white, and black weren’t doing it for me, and although I did find some good colored ones, they wouldn’t work for the first six months.
I ended up finding the solution at
Spool Sewing’s blog, which features an adorable bird mobile pattern. All you really need is a needle, one spool of thread, a handful of small fabric squares (8 in. x 5 in.), and something soft to stuff them with (cut up old clothes will work fine). I’m starting out with five red, white, and black birds on two branches, and plan to add on more colored ones when my peanut’s vision develops enough to see the full range of colors.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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In a Nutshell
Photo: the California Walnut Board.
10/27/09
Green walnut hulls lay scattered on the muddy ground we navigated through gusts of rain. A storm had upended the best-laid plans of our hosts, representatives of the California Walnut Board, for our group of nutritionists and journalists to observe the harvest of omega-3-rich walnuts on an 160-acre orchard in California’s Central Valley.
Orchard owner Frank Rebolo, one of 4,000 growers in California—the state produces 99 percent of the country’s commercial supply of walnuts—is hands-on when it comes to harvesting the crop. As we huddled in a shed around Frank and his wife, Elza, he showed us samples of hulls that easily split open to reveal the walnut shell, a sign the crop is ripe. After the walnuts are hulled, in sheds like the one sheltering us, they await hours of drying before they’re ready to be trucked to processing plants for shelling, sorting, and packing. Truly enormous reserves of patience are required of famers like Frank. It takes five or six years for a walnut tree to even begin its productive life.
Timing is critical: a year’s harvest must be accomplished in just a matter of weeks, from roughly late September to early November. Here it was mid-October, and because of the storm, work at Frank’s orchard would be delayed several days, until the mud dried sufficiently for him and his crew to operate their equipment. Vehicles that clamp onto trees and shake the walnuts loose from their branches play a significant role in the harvest. On our way back to our bus, we noticed a “shaker” slumped in the mud.
News of a farm crop lost to inhospitable weather always struck me as unfortunate, but at a remove. Now, having met Frank and Elza, it’s personal.
—Amy Spitalnick, Associate Editor
To learn more about walnuts, visit
walnuts.org.
Here are a few fantastic
VT walnut recipes to try:
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The Preg Veg: What Are You Dreaming About?
10/26/09
I woke up the other night sure that I had just seen vivid details of my baby’s face through my stomach. It seemed like a rare moment in time, but not something that was physically impossible. Well, until I thought about it with a fully awake mind.
As I approach my due date, there’s no question that I’ve had more dreams about my pregnancy and my child. No doubt one reason is that it is more often on my mind (since the effects are always with me now). But that’s not the only reason.
Increased progesterone and more frequent interruptions of REM sleep both cause dreams to become more vivid during pregnancy.
So, if you too have been having dreams about what your peanut looks like, or even what sex it is (if you’ve left that TBA), rest assured you’re amongst a large crowd of pregnant women. And that goes for nightmares, too.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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The Preg Veg: Stretching the Limits
10/23/09
Who ever thought a belly could stretch so much? I know I didn’t, but there it is every time I look down.
No doubt my skin is being taxed by this natural feat. So, in order to help it manage the task without causing any lasting damage—like stretch marks—I have started using
Out of Africa’s Pure Shea Butter. It helps restore skin elasticity, prevents stretch marks, and comes in unscented (if you’re still having issues with scents like I am). It’s also a good excuse to get your partner to give you a little belly massage, which both you and your baby are sure to love.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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The Preg Veg: Poop Happens, but Diapers in Landfills Do Not Have to
10/19/09
Good news! There’s at least
one government out there that’s trying to get proactive about the diaper landfill issue. In Sweden, a motion has been submitted to the Parliament to give a $75 subsidy to families that opt for cloth diapers. The subsidy aims to reduce the amount of trash going into landfills as well as government spending on garbage pick up.
Covering all tracks, Sweden has looked into the debate as to whether cloth diapers are really greener than disposables. Their calculations show that a disposable diaper uses about three times more natural resources than a cloth diaper.
Hopefully, the United States will look into offering such a rebate in the near future, but until then be assured that you’ll still be saving a lot of money by opting for washable cloth diapers over disposables.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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The Preg Veg: Sweet Dreams
10/16/09
I finally found the perfect mattress for my chestnut’s crib. I say perfect because it met my two most important desires:
1) If my baby is going to spend 16 hours a day doing something, it should be in a nice, healthful atmosphere.
2) I’d rather support an ethical, small business, than a large or conglomerate company.
With those criteria in mind, I decided on
an organic cotton and wool innerspring crib mattress made by Organic Grace. Unoiled springs are covered with layers of organic cotton and wool; the wool is both flame-retardant and antibacterial. The mattress comes with a 10-year warranty and, at $259, it’s still cheaper than its Naturepedic counterpart. Knowing all this, I should sleep as well as my babe.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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The Preg Veg: One Breath at a Time
10/12/09
The continuation of my
birthing class this weekend had us diving into breathing techniques. We practiced several, including the Bradley Method, which is steady and evenly paced, and Lamaze, which tends to have quicker and shorter breaths. The best technique to use is of course the one that works best for you. Also, keep in mind this may vary as your labor progresses.
One of the universal breathing practices at the beginning and end of every contraction is to take a
cleansing breath. This consists of a long and deep inhale, followed by a similar exhale. Benefits of this breath is to offer extra oxygen to the baby, and to help you and your partner know when a contraction is beginning.
The explanation of why we do any breathing techniques at all, was the most interesting to me:
The main purpose is to keep the mother focused on something besides the pain, which is achieved with the rhythmic pacing of the breathing, as well as the mental distraction of trying to remember what to do. There’s nothing like a little diversion to keep your pain at bay.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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The Preg Veg: Must Remember to Relax
10/9/09
Many of us barrel into our third trimester like we’re Lynda Carter with a magic lasso and a pair of deflecting bracelets, but now, more than ever, is the time we should be slowing down to smell the roses.
Rather than getting caught up in the approaching deadline or the ever-growing discomforts, let me suggest taking a moment each day to contemplate the amazing occurrence happening right under your nose.
And as those pleasing thoughts calm your mind, why not lengthen that moment into a restful retreat. Consider taking a warm bath, getting a massage, or just kicking up your feet to read a favorite poem or book, or listen to your favorite music.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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Veganize It: Toffee Apples
When I first laid eyes on
VT’s recipe for
Toffee Apples, I knew I had to make them that very evening. They were just
too cute, and the process seemed surprisingly easy. There was just one caveat: as a vegan, I don’t eat dairy; however, the recipe called for 2 Tbs. unsalted butter.
Veganizing a non-vegan recipe isn’t always easy, which is why I usually stick to making recipes that are vegan from the get-go. But don’t discourage: any recipe can be veganized. It just takes a bit of culinary know-how and creativity.
VT’s
Ingredient Substitution Guide not only makes it a cinch to veganize any recipe, but can also help you make any recipe meatless, low-fat, allergen-free, or alchohol-free. And, it also offers simple swaps for hard-to-find ethnic ingredients. In addition to the
Ingredient Substitution Guide, I have the added bonus of being able to walk down the hall or send off a quick email to ask
VT’s Food Editor Mary Margaret Chappell for an extra helping of expert advice.
About the
Toffee Apples, Mary Margaret thought it would be fine to sub vegan margarine (I like
Earth Balance) instead of butter, but suggested waiting to add it until after the sugar, water, vinegar, and salt had reached crack stage (290°F). She knew for sure the sugar would work that way.
Now that I was confident with my substitution plan, my only dilemma was getting my hands on the most crisp apples around and enough chopsticks to spear them on.
Fortunately, I found some amazing Jonagolds (a cross between Golden Delicious and Jonathan) at my local Whole Foods and my stash of leftover chopsticks from takeout deliveries proved plentiful. My vegan
Toffee Apples couldn’t have turned out any prettier or more delicious. For variety, I rolled half of them in crispy brown rice cereal and the other half in shredded coconut. Not only was it love at first sight, but love at first bite too!
—Jolia Sidona Allen, Associate Editor and Web Editor
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The Preg Veg: Class is in Session
10/5/09
I was so excited yesterday to finally begin my birthing class and learn more about my magical upcoming event, and it did not disappoint. My instructor, Judy Chapman, a RN, certified nurse midwife, certified Lamaze Childbirth educator, and founder of the
Chapman Family Center, had our cozy group of seven couples engaged right from the start.
In the first three-hour session we learned all kinds of crucial stuff like smart pillow placement for better sleeping; things to bring to the hospital that can make a difference when you’re in labor, including a tennis ball for back massage; and the importance of doing Kegel exercises to build up your pelvic floor muscles for an easier delivery.
Judy also focused on the fear of giving birth, wanting to quickly dispel any myths or unwarranted worry. Apparently, all the Hollywood birth scenes with incessant screaming have tainted women’s view of labor. Go figure. There’s nothing like the calm, cool head of experience to convince expecting mothers otherwise.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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The Preg Veg: Hitting the Big 3-0 (weeks)
10/2/09
With only 10 weeks more to go, my peanut is more like a chestnut these days—at least it’s keeping seasonal. The baby’s new size and weight has ushered in frequent bouts of heartburn, simply due to the fact there’s more pressure on my stomach and intestines. To help keep this malady at bay the
American Pregnancy Association suggests eating smaller meals, waiting at least an hour after eating before lying down, and avoiding spicy and fatty foods.
I’ve also found that allowing a good three hours between my last meal and bedtime helps a lot. As for the salsa and hot sauce, I’ve stashed it away for another day, but the restrictions have also inspired me to find some new, delicious recipes, including this one:
Chilean Corn and Un-turkey Chowder at vegetariantimes.com.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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The Preg Veg: Natural Products Go Ga Ga
9/29/09
This past week I attended the Natural Products Expo East in Boston, and although it was a bit smaller than last year, it had no shortage of baby products. Here’s a highlight of a few companies I discovered to help save you some time on finding the perfect eco item for the one you love:
Green Sprouts has a wide range of eco friendly gear, from cornstarch hand teethers to adorable organic cotton wrist rattles.
I Play carries cute babywear items like organic cotton layettes adorned with forest friends and fruits and veggies. They even have an Itsy Bitsy Yoga line, which contains colorful animal print rompers and bodysuits, as well as matching yoga mats.
Jackson Reece makes an all-natural flushable and biodegradable baby wipe, which at the moment is only available in the UK, but they’re working on getting it into America soon.
I didn’t see any eco diaper products there, but rest assure I will be searching through the available options
tout de suite to determine the best way to deal with the inevitable, mess of—baby output. Until then, enjoy the pleasant scents of autumn.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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The Preg Veg: Eco Design on a Dime
9/21/09
The baby’s room is finished and by finding everything on Craigslist I’ve avoided the further manufacturing of products and saved myself a lot of cash. One really big score was the pre-shopping of a yard sale that had a ton of kids’ furniture. Not everyone is willing to let prospective buyers shop the day before, but if they are, it’s the way to go. Not only do you have first pick of everything, you also don’t have to fight through a crowd.
The walls of the room got a new look too. Since I don’t know the sex of my baby, I opted for gender-neutral colors, and used a combination of the
Little Yolo Sprout paint, with zero VOCs, and
Tierrafino’s Ipaint, an all-natural clay paint. The clay paint added a wonderful texture to the room and was a breeze to put on, and the bright orangey-yellow of the Sprout paint adds a bit of sun, even when there is none.
I’m waiting on bringing a crib in until my babe outgrows the cradle that I found. According to its previous owner the cradle has rocked over 25 infants to sleep (although you’d never know it from the great shape it’s in). Now I just need to replace the vinyl mattress with an eco friendly option to avoid any harmful chemicals near my baby—an investment which can easily made, since I saved so much on the other stuff.
—Gabrielle Harradine, Market Editor
Gabrielle Harradine is VT's Market Editor and, more recently, The Preg Veg. She's navigating the joys and challenges of her very first pregnancy, and she's blogging here about her efforts to keep it healthy, green, and vegetarian.
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