Vegetarian Star

Michelle Obama‘s gardening adventures in the White House backyard started a trend of local eating, sustainable practices and a return to the basics of cooking among ladies worldwide.

Will Tobey Maguire be the one to lead the men to get their fingers dirty?

The vegetarian actor is helping launch The Teaching Garden, a initiative that, according to iVillage, will, “promote ecologically sound food and lifestyle choices.”

The organization was founded by Tobey’s wife’s stepmother and inspired by the First Lady’s move to reduce obesity in children.

Maguire, along with pro volleyball player Gabrielle Reece, L.A. Laker Derek Fisher and Iron Chef America’s Cat Cora will cook with elementary school children in California and plant a vegetable garden at a kickoff event next week.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Meatless Mouthful–Scott Jurek Compares Health To Running (Video)
• Chloe Coscarelli Does A Vegan Hostess Cupcake (Video)
• Kellie Pickler, Veggie Gals Make “Maxim” Hot 100
• Jillian Michaels Says Go Easy On Dairy For A Flat Belly
• Alicia Silverstone On Juice Beauty With Pop Sugar (Video)

The SeaWorld tragedy from February that resulted in a trainer being killed by an orca whale still has many forming opinions over whether parks that keep marine animals in captivity are worth the risks to the animals and humans.

Eli Roth has written a letter to the CEO of The Blackstone Group, the company that owns SeaWorld, that questions the educational value of the exhibits, and asks for a release of the animals into a sanctuary.

“I can assure you that there are many humane alternatives available to introduce the public to orcas without having to hold them in captivity for a lifetime against their will. CGI technology, animatronics, and other state-of-the-art virtual reality exhibits could be used in place of the current live-animal shows to provide park visitors with an exciting, educational experience. In fact, showing visitors a more realistic version of what life is like for real marine mammals rather than displaying the captive animals’ unnatural and repetitive behavior patterns which are linked to their oppressive environment is actually more educational, with no risk to human life.”

Eli’s entire letter can be read at RadarOnline.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Morrissey Says “SeaWorld Sucks”
• “Seal Wars” On Animal Planet This June (Video)
• Channing Tatum “Magic Mike” Body Without Tomatoes, Eggplants
• Shaquille O’Neal Raises Lemur Awareness (Video)
• Obama Urged to End Factory Farming

Kristen Bell attended the Humane Society’s Genesis Awards this weekend.

The awards are meant to recognize celebrities for their work in animal rights and animal welfare.

Bell took the time to pose with Major Brian Dennis, who met a dog he named Nubs while in Iraq and fell in love.

According to Just Jared, Bell was almost a rescue parent herself.

She and fiance Dax Shepherd found a dog at a gas station near her home and returned it to its rightful owner.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Morrissey Says “SeaWorld Sucks”
• “Seal Wars” On Animal Planet This June (Video)
• Alicia Silverstone On Juice Beauty With Pop Sugar (Video)
• Shaquille O’Neal Raises Lemur Awareness (Video)
• Nikki Reed Has Genuine Vegetarian Vampire Birthday

Russell Brand‘s a pro at being vegetarian and constantly shows up on PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian Alive contest lists.

So when the foul mouthed meatless bad boy was seen wearing what appeared to be snakeskin boots at the Vanity Fair Oscars bash, he had to do some serious PR moves, quick.

“They’re fake. Specially made, don’t panic.”

The Veg Star never doubted Brand for a minute!

Possibly Related Posts:

• Morrissey Says “SeaWorld Sucks”
• Channing Tatum “Magic Mike” Body Without Tomatoes, Eggplants
• Meatless Mouthful–Peter Dinklage Makes Kind Food Choice
• Joel McHale Gets Eco Lecture From Kristen Bell
• Michael Clarke Duncan PETA Ad For Vegetarian Diets (Video)

If you’re a health conscious cinema fan, it’s tough going to the theatre these days.

Just when you’ve devised the perfect scheme to sneak your tofu jerky, soy milk and veggies in, the cap falls off your tightly sealed wrapped container, leaving you smothered with ranch dip.

A Sony executive wants to change that and says although he’s not here to spoil the tradition of popcorn and candy at the big screen, he’d like to see healthier options on the menu too.

Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton said, “I don’t mean to close the window for popcorn, soda and candy. Audiences love them and should always be able to buy them at your theaters.” Lynton added that “bringing healthier snacks into your concession stands, you would be helping our country meet an urgent public health need.”

Lynton suggested theatres offer veggie and dip, fruit cups and granola.

Sony conducted a survey of 26 theatres and found that 42% of parents would spend more at the concession stands if healthier items were available.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Meatless Mouthful–Scott Jurek Compares Health To Running (Video)
• Chloe Coscarelli Does A Vegan Hostess Cupcake (Video)
• Kellie Pickler, Veggie Gals Make “Maxim” Hot 100
• Jillian Michaels Says Go Easy On Dairy For A Flat Belly
• “Seal Wars” On Animal Planet This June (Video)

Rachael Ray threw a food party at the annual South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

There are no official vegetarian chefs on the Food Network yet, but thankfully there are several chefs who are highlighting healthier, flexitarian options and incorporating vegetarian recipes into their repertoire.

Ray featured a vegetarian option at the SXSW fest, something she says is normal for any party she caters for.

“I always do a meat, a vegetarian and a poultry item,” Ray told Wall Street Journal.

This year Ray offered vegetarian taquitos that she said were, “really tasty to snack on.”

If you couldn’t make it to SXSW to sample the taquitos, have a festival at home with this Potato Soyrizo Taquito recipe.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Meatless Mouthful–Scott Jurek Compares Health To Running (Video)
• Chloe Coscarelli Does A Vegan Hostess Cupcake (Video)
• Kellie Pickler, Veggie Gals Make “Maxim” Hot 100
• Jillian Michaels Says Go Easy On Dairy For A Flat Belly
• Alicia Silverstone On Juice Beauty With Pop Sugar (Video)

Barack Obama doesn’t want to hear a lecture about his cholesterol, but Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, has given him one anyway.

Besides the gentle nudge to give up cigarettes, Dr. Barnard explains that the best way for the President of the United States to get his numbers to an acceptable range is to accept more vegetables–and less meat.

Dr. Barnard points out that going vegetarian, even part time, will impact Obama’s cholesterol more than genes and exercise.

“First, exercise won’t lower your cholesterol. It may bump up “good” cholesterol slightly and improve your basketball game or your stride, but you definitely can’t count on it to lower your “bad” cholesterol. It won’t.”

“Second, we almost certainly cannot blame genes. For the vast majority of people, high cholesterol comes down to diet.”

And while less red meat is great, you really need to go veg all the way to get the full benefits of diet on cholesterol.

“Third, switching from beef to chicken and fish has almost no effect on cholesterol. It lowers “bad” cholesterol only about 5 percent–and that’s not enough.”

“The answer is behind your house, in the White House garden. Foods from plants have essentially no cholesterol and are free of the animal fat that causes the body to make cholesterol. If you skipped meat, dairy products, and eggs for even a few weeks, chances are your cholesterol would drop right into the normal range.”

Hope Obama is convinced.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Meatless Mouthful–Scott Jurek Compares Health To Running (Video)
• Chloe Coscarelli Does A Vegan Hostess Cupcake (Video)
• Kellie Pickler, Veggie Gals Make “Maxim” Hot 100
• Jillian Michaels Says Go Easy On Dairy For A Flat Belly
• Alicia Silverstone On Juice Beauty With Pop Sugar (Video)

Justin Timberlake brought sexy back to food when he grabbed a bite to eat with a friend at vegan restaurant Real Food Daily.

Justin’s no newbie to enjoying vegetarian food.

Months ago, he and Jessica Biel shared a vegan strawberry rhubarb pie and ate lunch at Vancouver’s famous veggie restaurant, The Naam.

Is JT expanding his palate to include seitan several times a week instead of steak?

Or is going veggie all the way?

Possibly Related Posts:

• Meatless Mouthful–Scott Jurek Compares Health To Running (Video)
• Morrissey Says “SeaWorld Sucks”
• Chloe Coscarelli Does A Vegan Hostess Cupcake (Video)
• Kellie Pickler, Veggie Gals Make “Maxim” Hot 100
• Jillian Michaels Says Go Easy On Dairy For A Flat Belly