DB: Vegan Life
“I can’t usually get ‘em [cheese burgers] myself because my girlfriend’s a vegetarian which pretty much makes me a vegetarian. But I do love the taste of a good burger. Mm-mm-mm. You know what they call a Quarter Pounder with cheese in France?” ~Jules Winnfield, Pulp Fiction
A Royale with cheese. This quote moves me in my life right now for two reasons. One, my girlfriend is vegan, (which pretty much makes me a vegan) and two; because she just got home from a vacation in France (where, incidentally, based on their equation of fast food with royalty, it is extremely difficult to find vegan food.)
In Tacoma there are quite a few places where we can dine out, and she has managed to develop a relationship with several cooks in town that are more than willing to appease her culinary desires (or, un-desires as it were).
There is always Quickie Two on hilltop, which is anything but quick, but a veritable feast for vegans and vegetarians alike. Marlene’s Deli is nice if you want something lunch-ish, even for dinner, and they even have things like cold cut meats for boyfriends (and spelt bread!). Taco bells everywhere can instantly make their bean burritos vegan by holding the cheese, and Shakkabra Java’s magic potatoes can be made without cheese (and plus grilled tofu) which are cheap and a meal unto themselves.
Veganism is a diet choice usually based on ones feelings about the nature of life and our animal friends. It is a step beyond vegetarianism that hopes to discontinue the use of all products or foods made from animals or with animal byproducts. In my admittedly carnivorous eyes, it is a request for peace with the planet and an evolution toward something beyond the instinctual food chain. It is an act of will, much like Gandhi’s hunger strike, that puts ones carnal desires in their place for a moment for the higher good of the surrounding environment.
Let me put this into perspective. On a Sunday hike through the lush green valley provided by a massive Puyallup park, my girlfriend asked me what my favorite kind of meat was. I began to imagine the feelings I associate with the consumption of animal flesh and realized that while much of it was about taste, there was a visceral feeling of dominance over my fellow earth inhabitants that I feel when devouring a bloody steak. A primal, perhaps instinctual need to prove my validity as top of the food chain, it dawned on me that this trait desire to be The Man, is something that actually repulses me when I see it in others.
While that dominance is satisfying and lovely, there is a greater satisfaction from an end-health-result standpoint that I get from eating raw fish … and an even greater satisfaction from a socio-spiritual standpoint that I get from eating fresh veggies from the farmers market.
For me this all cycles back to the huge discussion of where my food comes from, or what it is I’m actually putting in my body. I perhaps do not share the same affection for my four legged friends as most vegans, but I am rather disgusted by things such as factory farming) and the food system at large. Somewhere my soul (yes, my soul) is convinced that a happy chicken that lived a happy life and was killed with gratitude in a nearby farm, is better for me than a terrified chaotic robotchicken shipped to me from nevada with clipped wings and a burned off beak and etc … (the fact that we don’t like to think of these things is proof of their inherent error).
It can be argued that there isn’t enough nourishment in the vegan diet to sustain ones self, but this is actually (scientifically proven) hearsay seeing as vegetarians are usually the healthiest people I know, and we live in a day and age where what we cannot find in our food is readily available in pill form. Besides the people who say stuff like that are usually feeding their kids hotdogs and koolaid (the fortified with vitamins kind, of course). Wikipedia sez, “According to the US National Institute of Health, ‘with appropriate food choices, vegan diets can be adequate for children at all ages’.” and conversely “appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.” Both of these quotes are followed by warnings about researching the vitamins you need to stay healthy, so, while I’m not saying the choice is the simplest or the cheapest, it does not necessarily mean you will be unhealthy.
Unless you are in Paris, of course, where they think cheese grows out of the ground.
Filed under: DB
36 comments
K Katy March 31, 2009
Probably some better local options than Taco Bell might be useful for those inspired to try some good vegan food.
I recommend:
Gateway to India; they are always willing to work with vegetarian/vegans.
Gari of Sushi: they have a great and delicious variety of vegetarian and vegan rolls
Tempest Lounge: Heath works hard to have at least one amazing vegetarian/vegan entree on the menu and they homemake their hummus.
Upper Crust: their salads, calzones, pizzas and breadsticks can all be made without cheese and meat and they’re yummy.
Rosewood Cafe: often, Rosewood has a vegan soup on the menu and Barry is always willing to accomodate vegans.
MSM Deli: yummy sandwiches to order.
East and West Cafe (and Le Le and Wild Orchid): will always leave out the eggs and substitute their tasty tofu for meat.
Tatanka Take-out: Incredible rice/bean/tofu burritos.
Than Brothers Pho: the only place I’ve found in town that does vegan pho.
Infinite Soups: always have an impressive selection of vegan soups
Corinna Bakery: check out the pumpkin loaves and the occasional vegan cakes.
And many more!
Also, Terry’s Berries farm share and Terra Organics home delivery make it easy to create tasty, local, vegan delights at home.
M Melanie March 31, 2009
Word up. As a vegan sister I found this article funny, romantic, smart, and respectful. I like guys that eat meat and also eating into vegan. Strong AND sensitive!
Y You're Welcome April 1, 2009
I had a big ol’ problem with starving to death in France too.
So Daniel! Are you thinking about getting married and raising a litter of vegan pups with this girl?
S Sandy April 1, 2009
“So do not worry saying ‘What shall we eat?’…all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Mt6:31-32
When I was in Paris I ate bunny. I did not want bunny. Bunny is on the “unclean” meats list, but I was a guest in the home of a gentleman who worked hard to bring bunny home. I was raised to know to eat the bunny.
That said, it is true vegan diet is wise stewardship of the earth’s resources. The 1970’s book “Diet for a Small Planet” (although mainly a vegetarian rather than vegan publication) clearly and simply explains the wisdom of eating low on the food chain and I recommend it for anyone interested in heading that direction.
Thanks Daniel and Katy for the tips on where to find vegan grub!
Caution:
I have known some teenage vegan “pups” who have attempted to use a vegan dietary claim to make stealth on an eating disorder.(only kidding themselves and their co-dependents)
On the flip side of that, please don’t freak out if you find a Royale with cheese stuffed in your teenage son’s sock drawer!
R RR Anderson April 1, 2009
if god didn’t want you to eat cheeseburgers he wouldn’t have made them out of meat.
or:
you can take my cheeseburger… out of my cold dead hands.
M Mofo from the Hood April 1, 2009
Sandy @4 “When I was in Paris I ate bunny. I did not want bunny.”
I think this is the dilemma that Daniel Blue’s girlfriend is presenting:
Eat bunny or eat bunny food.
Men are evolved bunnies?
No way.
V Vlorg, the Mighty April 1, 2009
Veganism fails the basics of Darwinism.
If we humans ate a strictly vegan diet, we’d all be about 4’ 7”, unable to survive the last several ice ages, and we’d live in small hunter-gatherer tribes still.
Modern physical size, strength and neurolgical development require a higher protien diet than veganism can provide. Modern population levels require more protien.
But what about Asia you ask? They don’t eat much meat…
Bullocks. Most Asian nations eat several times more seafood and poultry than we do. Last I checked, flesh is flesh regardless of what animal it comes from.
And don’t get me started on Africa… they don’t eat much meat either, and there’s 400 million people starving over there.
When times get rough, it’s the people who are most adaptable that survive. Folks who will eat meat or greens without prejudice are they who will thrive.
I’d bet a side of beef that if it realy, truly came down to eating bacon or starving, you vegans will go for the meat. It’s not an insult, it’s basic biology. You brain and body will do what it takes to survive.
M Mofo from the Hood April 2, 2009
Let’s not leave out a major source of protein of which our continent rarely enjoys–insects.
D dni April 2, 2009
For myself, my food choices are not political. I don’t eat certain things because I don’t trust the process in which it is harvested.
I grew up in Puyallup where we raised our own cattle and grew most of our own fruits and veges. My mom and grandmothers canned most of what we couldn’t eat during the season. My dad also fished, so we had salmon and beef, along with venison in storage. Little did we know how wealthy we were then. We were quite poor in cash, and very rich in quality of food sources. Believe it or not, this wasn’t that long ago!
V Vlorg, the Mighty April 2, 2009
The slogan for 2009:
Trust no GMO.
I trust less the origins of food than the processes. I’ll eat out of the dumpster behind Gateway to India for a year before I knowingly eat anything involved with Monsanto.
M Mofo from the Hood April 2, 2009
McDonald’s Restaurant $1.00 Menu is one of the great achievements in food processing history.
D DMS April 2, 2009
In response to Vlorg, I would argue that veganism may not have been a suitable diet for all the stages of our development as a species, but it increasingly looks like the way forward. To adapt to a diet that is more supportive of our physical health, and at the same time much easier on the environment does, in our present circumstances, pass the Darwin test.
E Erik S April 2, 2009
Without getting into the whole eat meat vs don’t argument, is there a vegan out there that can explain to me/us the deal with spelt? Have I lived a lie all my life by imagining that there are no animal parts in wheat?
Full disclosure: I have yet to eat a spelt product that wasn’t nasssty, so I’m not converting either way. I’m just curious.
A altered Chords April 2, 2009
I wanted a banana for breadfast but did not have one. So I grabbed an ultimate bacon cheeseburger from Jack in the Box.
Growing boys like me need protein.
T Thorax O'Tool April 3, 2009
When I think of vegans, I keep getting the memory of my ex’s aunt and uncle… both of them look like cancer patients. They’re scrawny as all get up, look about 15 years older than they are and their skin has this strange dullness to it.
Maybe it’s just them, maybe it’s the lifestyle… I don’t know. Either way, the vegans I have met have all looked somewhat emaciated and generally unhappy.
No thanks.
A argyle April 4, 2009
I don’t wanna start a war on here but the whole vegan lifestyle just doesn’t make sense to me. I can understand the motivation of not wanting to cause suffering to animals and have tried to make steps in that direction in my own life.
If you think about it though, you’ll realize that things like birds, bees and grazers are necessary for healthy land. So, assuming that these animals are being treated in a humane and respectful fashion, why not eat honey, milk and eggs and wear wool?
M Mofo from the Hood April 4, 2009
In the history of the Olympic Games, how many champions were vegans?
D DMS April 5, 2009
A quick Google search had the following results: Carl Lewis nine time gold medal winner. Dave Scott, considered to be the world’s greatest triathlete. Edwin Moses, the gold medalist who went eight years without losing the 400-meter hurdle competition. Murray Rose who, at age 17, won three gold medals in the Olympic swim competition. Seba Johnson, alpine ski racer. Along with Scott Jurek, two time winner of the most grueling ultra-marathon on earth.
M Mofo from the Hood April 5, 2009
In the history of the Olympic Games, how many champions were not vegans?
A argyle April 5, 2009
Well played DMS.
S Squid April 7, 2009
Just for the record, DMS lists three vegan Olympic Champions.
The others on the list either were never Olympians (Scott & Jurek) or not a champion (Johnson).
A altered Chords April 7, 2009
My meat eating olympians can beat up your vegan olympians. (if only because there are many more of them)
D DMS April 8, 2009
Squid is right, they were not all Olympic medal winners. What I was hoping to point out was that there are many examples of healthy, strong people who eat a vegan diet. This in response to the post that vegans are “emaciated” or look “generally unhappy”.
S Squid April 8, 2009
Not trying to hack on you DMS. It’s just a sensitive point with me. having once been one of those who aspired thusly, I know how difficult it is and what an exclusive club. I bristle when admission is granted unfairly.
I think it was the inclusion of Seba Johnson that set me off. That’s like including Eddie the Eagle on a list of Oly Champion ski jumpers. Athletically, she should not appear in the same paragraph as Edwin Moses.
In fairness, those unhappy and emaciated vegans would likely be the same regardless of their carnivorous inclinations.
D DMS April 8, 2009
That makes sense Squid. To be honest I hadn’t heard of Seba, but found her in a list of vegan Olympians. Definitely not a champion. Thanks for your clarification.
V Vlorg, the Mighty April 8, 2009
Are we still going on about this? It’s been a week plus.
If you want to be a vegan, please do. You can have all peanuts, honey and dandelion salads as you like.
Meanwhile I will eat my weight in beef annualy and continue on my quest to be an amature powerlifter (without roids). I’m up to 315lbs on the bench press, and I assure you I could not do it by eating nothing non-plant based.
A altered Chords April 8, 2009
Vlog – I am trying to increase my bench. Because I’m also trying to reduce my “bad” cholesterol, I’m eating alot of tuna, salmon and turkey. For me to increase the amount of weight I can bench would you recommend that I not do it by not eating non-plant based foods that are non-poultry or non-fish? Or would I not find that my bench is not not increasing?
S Squid April 9, 2009
Um, no honey. Animal product.
S Squid April 9, 2009
AC: Lipitor.
A altered Chords April 9, 2009
Squid – Do not call me “honey” in public anymore.
S Squid April 9, 2009
Was that out loud?
S Squid April 9, 2009
Vlorg, The mighty
T Thorax O'Tool April 10, 2009
315?
That’s 90 over the best I ever did back in high school.
An amateur body builder who used to work for Charles Schwab… can he fly too?
Now I want to meet this guy.
A altered Chords April 11, 2009
Thorax – wrong website for meet ups.
T Thorax O'Tool April 12, 2009
Wrong thread too, it seems.
P Princess Adora April 12, 2009
Vlorg? Oh come on. I can think of a dozen better names than that.
But onto topic. I’m pretty strong (for a chick) and I’m vegetarian.
Sorry, I like cheese to much to ever go vegan.