Vegetarian Star

"Sweet Freedom" Ricki Heller

Ellen DeGeneres recently featured Ricki Heller‘s book, Sweet Freedom: Desserts You’ll Love Without Wheat, Eggs, Dairy or Refined Sugar, on her website.

When she’s not teaching or working as a part time cooking instructor and chef, this PhD in Modern American Literature blogs at dietdessertsndogs.

Although some might believe a vegan diet is exclusive, Heller believes its the only way of eating that can include the most people. Here’s what she’s has to say:

“Vegan food is more inclusive than non-vegan food. An omnivore can certainly join in on a vegan meal, but the opposite isn’t true. So presenting vegan recipes means presenting recipes anyone can enjoy.”

Desserts are the perfect example of vegan never leaving anyone out.

When was the last time you saw someone turn down a cupcake?

Some examples of Heller’s non dessert recipes, including veggie patties and kale and avocado salad, can be found here.

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Miles Davis

The Miles Davis exhibit “We Want Miles” is currently on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts at 1380 Sherbrooke St. W. in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The photography, art, album covers and artifacts of the famous trumpeter will be on display until August 29, 2010.

Miles and Cicely Tyson were married in 1981, and when Miles suffered a stroke and was temporarily unable to play the trumpet, Tyson mandated a vegetarian diet and Chinese medicine to put him on the road to recovery, according to the Vancouver Sun.

The combination of the diet and Tyson’s recommendations that Miles paint to exercise his fingers allowed him to recover and play again even though doctors were convinced his music career was over.

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Kimberley Locke‘s life has changed much since her appearance on season 3 of American Idol, especially her diet.

No longer having the insatiable appetite for the southern fried foods her mother frequently cooked at home, these days the AI top three finalist has traded Hardees for Hemp protein and even dabbles in vegan food.

“Since losing weight post Idol I have definitely read up on supplements and incorporated some new ones into my regimen,” Locke told the Bay Area Healthy Living Examiner. “I take a multi-vitamin, b-6, b-12, zinc, magnesium…. those are just a few. My favorite is a hemp shake that I found at Erewhone. It has 14 grams of fiber! In world of over processed foods this is my most important supplement.”

“I even have a favorite vegan restaurant in Los Angeles that I really enjoy!”

Erewhone is a natural foods store in Los Angeles that offers groceries, organic produce and natural remedy products such as herbal mixtures.

Locke has also lost 40 pounds since American Idol.

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You’ve heard of the hit Lady Gaga song “Bad Romance,” but have you ever been in a “Cat Romance” starring Lady Meow Meow?

This video with the San Francisco SPCA has Lady Meow Meow asking, “Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow. Want a cat romance?” and urging animal lovers to go adopt a cat.

The San Francisco SPCA not only takes in homeless cats and dogs, but educates the public about issues such as neutering and spaying to reduce the number of these animals.

Take a look at the adoption promo and compare it with Gaga’s below, which also features a cat around minute 2:38 and some creepy,  hopefully fake bear skin being dragged across the floor at minute 3:40.

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Fat Mike "NOFX" Credit: Squirrelza on Wikimedia Commons

Although we’re still trying to figure out why the “Fat Mike” burger on the Thistle Hill Tavern menu is a beef one given the NOFX musician turned to vegetarianism several years ago, reviews of the restaurant in Brooklyn are good.

Martini Boys states that, “Chef Rebecca Weitzman has constructed a menu to appease both carnivores and legitimate vegetarians,” and recent reviews on Yelp! are praising the vegetarian options.

“For dinner, we had the vegan burgers – my fiance had his with bleu cheese, and i had mine with cheddar. we both agreed they were the BEST veggie burgers we’ve ever had! the buns were homemade and tasted like it! the fries were thick, crispy, and perfectly seasoned. and to top it off – the ketchup was also homemade! unbelievably good.”

And maybe even the meat eaters will trade the Fat Mike grass fed burger for the vegan one sometime.

“I think the coolest thing about the menu is that there is a ton of vegetarian options. I’m a meat eater, but don’t want a steak everytime I go out. More importantly, each of those meat-free dishes looked tempting enough to me to forgo meat for the night. I will definitely be back, and I will definitely bring friends.”

Green Pea Falafel, zucchini pancakes, charred kale and spiced nuts and seeds are several other  meatless options available.

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Einstein Bros. Bagels

Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, which owns several bagel and coffee chains, including Einstein Bros., has made the announcement it’s switching to cage-free eggs at its 680 locations in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

“We’re proud to be launching this initiative and believe that moving in this direction will help improve the treatment of hens,” said James O’Reilly, chief concept officer for ENRG.

The Humane Society of the United States commended ENRG for making the switch towards better welfare for chickens.

“Einstein Noah’s decision to phase in cage-free eggs represents an important step,” said Josh Balk, corporate outreach director of The HSUS’ factory farming campaign. “The Humane Society of the United States applauds the company for improving the lives of farm animals.”

According to the HSUS website, there are about 280 million hens in factory farm cages so small, they cannot even spread their wings.

Cage-free is not the most ideal environment, as birds may still have their beaks cut off and may be prohibited from going outside, but they have 2-3 times more space than caged hens, allowing them to perform normal behaviors such as walking, spreading wings and laying eggs in nests.

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Martha Stewart had some experience with adding vegetarian sources of iron into meals when her daughter Alexis chose to become vegetarian.

One reader on her Martha Stewart Living column who happened to be a mother of a vegetarian daughter, was afraid her child wouldn’t get enough iron if she didn’t eat red meat.

Certain traditional vegetarian foods like soy may interfere with iron absorption, due to the presence of phytate, and calcium from dairy products can do this as well.

“There are plenty of iron-rich foods outside the animal kingdom, and a well-planned vegetarian diet can provide an ample amount,” the article reads. “Spinach, kale, collard and similar leafy greens are all good sources, as are beans, nuts, and whole grains, including quinoa and wild rice. Iron-fortified cereals and pastas are also worth seeking out.”

Getting plenty of Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables is actually favorable for a veggie, as this increases absorption.

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Leona Lewis is one ambitious woman.

Besides being a multi-platinum selling artist and multiple Grammy nominee who’s working on her own line of ethical clothing, the vegetarian singer has expressed interest in running a horse sanctuary and feels she must have been one of the big creatures in a past life.

According to The Sun, Leona said, “‘I’d love to have a sanctuary because they’re such big animals – they require a lot of work and a lot of space.”

“I definitely think I was a horse in a past life – I feel a very deep connection with them.”

Is there a type of sanctuary you’d open if given the opportunity?

What kind of animals would you take in?

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