“Being that wolves are mainly carnivores in the wild and ​share a common ancestor with dogs, many people have the preconceived notion that dogs require an animal-based diet to be healthy, but is this the truth?”

Read what the research has to say—Vegan Dog Food: The Science, Our Experience & Best Brands.

By Nicole Hadden, Guest Contributor

A popular question from an omnivore, “Is being a vegan hard?” Easy answer from a seasoned vegan, “Of course not.” We say this because abstaining from animal products is not a matter of will, it’s a choice we’ve made at some point and has become a way of life. We can peruse most menus and find something to eat, we’ve attended many Thanksgivings with ease, and have endured the endless stream of questions about protein intake.

I credit the ease of my vegan lifestyle to experience, but mostly to the fact that I live in an area where vegan-friendly products are readily available. However, all of that changed when I was sent on a six-month deployment on the USS Carl Vinson to the Korea Operating Area. Aboard the ship were 6,000 individuals living in cramped, dirty, uncomfortable conditions. I was told from the very beginning that I would have to give up my vegan diet because the food on the boat barely nourishes an omnivore, let alone a vegan.

I met many individuals aboard who said they had to give up veganism because it was impossible to do so on a ship away from a kitchen, family, and any semblances of familiarity. Therefore, I am sharing what I did, learned, and what I recommend for other Navy officers who want to continue—or begin—a plant-based lifestyle in this type of restricted environment.

The Beginning

I have been conscious of my health for as long as I can remember. Exercise and eating healthy are a part of my everyday routine. I had a nutritional enlightenment over 10 years ago when I read The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell, PhD. It basically told me what I had suspected for some time—that plant-based diets support optimal health and vitality. I was lucky enough to transition in Southern California where you can really let your vegan light shine! Not only does this area have plenty of vegan-friendly restaurants and stores, but you can easily find people who encourage the lifestyle.

The Navy

Fast forward to 2015 and all that changed when I joined the Navy. It was a big transition not only because of my diet, but also because I was so used to having total control over my life—now the Navy was in charge. It’s estimated that about 1 to 2% of the U.S. population are practicing vegans. And considering there are only about 2% of U.S. citizens serving in the military, it is not hard to imagine that the Navy doesn’t see many vegans cross their path.

I didn’t let that stifle me though. I love eating plant-based, and I never found anything that made me feel so good in so many ways. I feel healthy, and I get to help the environment and animals—wins all around! Military or not, I was committed to maintaining this lifestyle.

To continue reading Nicole’s story, click here.

By Nzinga Young, Greater NYC Community Engagement and Events Coordinator

At Vegan Outreach, volunteers are the some of the most important members of our team. You can find them leafleting college campuses, tabling at local events, and using their unique talents to raise funds for Team Vegan—our annual team fundraising campaign.

Today we meet one of Vegan Outreach’s indispensable volunteers, Merari Ordaz—a holistic health practitioner who lives in Bakersfield, CA. Merari and her father run YORNS, a holistic health center where they help clients address their health concerns with plants.

“I think vegan is the best way to be healthy, not just physically, but emotionally,” Merari says. “I take care of my home, my body, so I can take care of the home, our planet.”

Her vegan journey began in 1998 when her father became more aware of the positive health effects a vegan diet can have for humans. He wanted to make a change in his family’s health, so he removed all meat from the household.

Merari had the opportunity to learn about holistic health alongside her father. “Being homeschooled gave me the opportunity to travel with my dad as he was learning. I attended a doctors’ conference, and there was a video shown on how animals are killed for food. That’s when I told my sister, ‘I’m going vegan.’ ”

Nine years later, Merari is still a proud vegan who spreads the message every chance she gets. She hands out leaflets and plays vegan documentaries in her family’s office so clients can learn the ethical side of adopting a vegan lifestyle.

“I’m really happy as a vegan, and I like to share it with everyone.”

Recently, Merari traveled to Japan to participate in an international competition for Karate. She received her diploma for a first-degree black belt and brought home a silver medal in combat.

Earlier in the year, Merari was the keynote speaker at an event held for the Wendale Davis Foundation. After giving her speech, she and a few friends and family members performed an incredible dance routine—sporting their vegan outreach t-shirts!

We thank Merari for all she does to spread the word about veganism. Her positivity, dedication, and can-do attitude are an inspiration to us all.

By Lori Stultz, Communications Manager

Awareness about the benefits of choosing a vegan lifestyle—for the animals, the environment, and personal health—is growing!

Much of the change can be explained by large public education programs, such as the distribution of 30 million VO booklets, as well as big name celebrities and large companies getting involved in promoting vegan living.

Also playing a huge role are the normal, everyday people who—through their daily actions—play a crucial part in raising awareness about veganism. Their personal influence over friends and neighbors creates powerful change. It’s hard to beat the power of a friend sharing a vegan pie with you!

Now, we’d like to highlight the every “Day” family of Eric and Wendy Gabbe Day, whose efforts of raising awareness about veganism have made a tremendous impact!

Parents of two thriving, young children who never seem to stop moving, Eric and Wendy still find time to teach cooking classes, make videos, care for an adorable rescued mutt named Clover, tend a fabulous organic garden, homeschool their kids, and so much more…phew!

Eric and Wendy played a critical role in creating the movie, Vegan: Everyday Stories, that screened throughout the country exposing thousands to compassionate living, and Wendy has contributed delicious recipes to Vegan Outreach’s Vegan Living and Advocacy Blog. Wendy has created these recipes herself and hosts her own website, Lively Days, which provides kid-friendly vegan recipes.

A few months ago, as we were putting together our What is Speciesism booklet, we couldn’t find good pictures for most of the food we wanted to showcase and our print deadline was quickly approaching. We reached out to Eric and Wendy, and within a few short days, they’d taken an entire set of mouth-watering, professional food pictures!

Thank you, Eric and Wendy, for being such amazing everyday vegans—you’re making a huge difference for the animals!

By Melissa Li, Vegan Outreach Board Member

Finally—a vegan with a sense of humor!

I’m joking, of course, but as many of us know, vegans are often accused of taking things too seriously and lacking a sense of humor.

In The Skeptical Vegan, Eric Lindstrom proves that one can be vegan and also skilled at making other people laugh. Providing hilarious anecdotes and advice, he details the journey from someone who could’ve easily entered—and won—a chicken wing eating contest to a full-time animal advocate.

The author makes it clear from the beginning that he didn’t go vegan to improve his health, or out of love for animals. His vegan journey started because he made a bet with his girlfriend—now wife—that he could eat vegan for 30 days. If he won the bet, they agreed he wouldn’t have to do house chores for three months.

A few examples of humorous topics in the book include a classification system for different types of vegans—the Freegan Vegan, the Beegan Vegan, and others most people have probably never heard of—and eating vegan at popular fast-food chains.

Reflecting on his vegan journey, Lindstrom describes what it’s like for an over-the-top meat-eater to overcome the challenges of becoming vegan. And although he mentions his personal history of hypertension and high cholesterol, he doesn’t lead heavily with discussions about the health benefits of eating a vegan diet, animal rights, or other dietary ethics—which makes this a great introductory and non-threatening resource for vegan skeptics!

In the midst of reading Lindstrom’s book, I had the pleasure of attending the 2017 Animal Rights National Conference. To my surprise, he was one of the speakers at the conference. His presentation was titled, “The Power of Art and Photography,” and he discussed his individual advocacy. Later in the conference, he was one of the emcees for the closing banquet. He had a comedic timing that was instantaneous and spontaneous, making the audience burst out in laughter.

After a previous career as a content strategist at Cornell University, Lindstrom is now the marketing director for Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM). His book doesn’t delve into his current work with FARM, but it compellingly narrates a life transformed by veganism. And with a sense of humor firmly intact!

To get your own copy, of The Skeptical Vegan, click here. You won’t regret it!

Vegan Outreach has conducted a large randomized, prospective study examining diet changes three to five months after reading a variety of booklets promoting veganism and awareness of animal suffering.

We compared four booklets: Your Choice, Even If You Like Meat, Speciesism, and A Simple Way to Live (focused on chicken reduction).

Although few significant differences between booklets were observable in a population of this size (n=1,539), large, measurable decreases in animal consumption were readily seen.

The study also showed that people who newly avoid eating mammals due to reading the booklets are also likely to avoid eating chickens.

In this population, an average of one person reduced their consumption of all non-vegan foods to less than once per week for every 75 Vegan Outreach booklets read.

Details Here

By Lisa Rimmert, VO Director of Development

If you’re trying to cut dairy out of your diet, it won’t be much of a sacrifice with all the great plant-based cheeses on the market today!

There’s such a wide variety and—thanks to websites like Vegan Essentials—they’re even accessible to those who don’t live near a grocery store that carries them.

Right now, get 10% off your order of vegan cheese—and any other vegan products—from our friends at Vegan Essentials!

Use the discount code “VO” for 10% off your order.

I recommend starting with Field Roast’s Vegan Chao Cheese Slices and Kite Hill’s Artisan Vegan Cream Cheese Style Spreads.

While you’re shopping, check out Vegan Essentials’ selection of vegan meats, like Gardein’s Crispy Chick’n Sliders, Match Meat’s vegan Ground Beef, and, of course, Tofurky’s delicious Deli Slices.

Enjoy your vegan meats and cheeses, and let us know how they tasted!