Plant-based Isn't Just for Vegans. It's for the Planet.

Mothers Out Front met with WEN, Women's Environmental Network,  on Thursday evening, January 24, for Green Movie Night for kids and mothers--and most of all for the environment! 

Thanks to the SFVS, I knew to suggest Cybelle's pizza, which they ordered!  A little boy was wondering why there were two vegan pizzas when there weren't that many vegans at the meeting, and I explained, "The plant-based pizzas aren't just for vegans.  They're for the environment because animal agriculture is a major cause of climate warming."  He nodded, as if he sort of understood.  It gives me hope that kids will get crucial messages like this much earlier than my generation did!

Monica Chen and Kiely Smith of FFAC. were also at the meeting.  They are wonderful!

Vegan Activists at the Sequoias

I've written to the vegan activists, led by Marilyn Kriegel at the Sequoias, a retirement community in San Francisco, and I got a very nice and informative response: 

Hi Tina

Thanks for asking about the continuing evolution of plant based foods here at The sequoias.

Three years ago Betty Carmack and I started a Veggie Network here. We held an organizational meeting inviting everyone from the community to see if there was any interest. We set out ten chairs and 36 people showed up!

We have dedicated ourselves to educating the residence and dining services community on the benefits of a plant based diet. We’ve had panel discussions, shown movies, had a “How to Build Your Own Salad” informational lunch, etc. 

The next time you are coming for dinner let us know and we can talk about all things VEGAN:-) And we can share some of our specific program materials. Or, your friend at Rossmore is welcome to write and ask for some ideas in getting food servicces up to date!

I’m copying the members of our Veggie Network steering committee. They were all delighted to know that the positive changes that have occured in our community have been noticed.

Best,

Marilyn

I wrote back.

I'm so glad we've made contact, and congratulations on what you've accomplished.  

I was very busy around December 27th, when my son and I ate with Patty and Joe at the Sequoias, and as a result I never wrote to Vangie Tejada, one of the people in charge of the dining room who seemed receptive to questions and suggestions.  But I have a question about the new notation--Saying FIT but not saying Vegan or Vegetarian.  For example, on the squash, it said only "FIT" but it didn't say Vegan or Vegetarian, which I think it was.  

I took some pictures in 2016 and again last year.  Here's the link.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7kcblhl744pd9zm/AAAJDsn1JcaFmu0UkdMeHwi8a?dl=0

I think the signs in 2016 made it clearer which dishes were and were not vegan.  But I think the signs in 2018 added something good in the way of promoting the plant-based dishes.

The Sequoias, much to your credit, has come a long way, and if people are vegan only for health reasons, it's probably fine not to have much in the way of dessert.  But if diners are vegan for animal welfare and the environment, they may still want to have something sugary at the end of the meal, and the Sequoias offers only fruit.  (Fruit, of course, is naturally sugary, but I'm talking about real decadence.)   I wonder whether they would consider coconut-based ice cream, which they could just buy and wouldn't have to make.  I imagine they would not be willing to make pastry free of egg and dairy.  I'm thinking of this because the others at my table enjoyed an affogato, the expresso on top of ice cream (speaking of decadent).  I want to send the message that people who follow a plant-based diet can enjoy everything other people enjoy.

I also want you to know that I was bragging about you to chefs at the Kensington a couple of years ago.  They had next to nothing in the way of plant-based dishes, but one of the chefs himself was vegan and was delighted to hear about what you'd accomplished at the Sequoias.

Keep up the good work, and thank you!

Tina

Another Reason to Love the Factory Farming Awareness Coalition

The responsiveness of the FFAW today gave me another reason to love them.

I first contacted them to find out whether they had a contingent in tomorrow's Women's March and was a bit surprised that they didn't.  But I appreciated Katie Cantrell's taking the time to explain why they hadn't formed one, and she thought they might be able to give me some leaflets to distribute--something that didn't work out.

Then I told them about the need to reach out to KQED.  Monica Chen gave me another suggestion for Leesa Richer's donation drive:  Flying Falafel!

I gave them further CCSF contacts to reach the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program--Keith Hammerich and Trinh Tran, who (I just found out) teaches nutrition in the Culinary Arts program.
I think Kiely Smith, (who is now the Bay Area Director of the FFAC, taking the place of Monica Chen, who's now the National Program Director) will be contacting her.  She's already sent out a letter to all the CCSF instructors, offering a presentation.  I hope Trinh Tran will accept the offer.

City College of San Francisco Can Help the Planet by Providing More Plant-Based Dishes

Because retirees of CCSF are the volunteers on February 7, the CCSF Culinary Arts Program will be providing food--probably a heavy-on-the-dairy lasagna. 

I love CCSF, and I think the Culinary Arts Program is wonderful.  But I wish they'd help the planet by donating a plant-based dish.

Instant Pot Isn't Marijuana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2DaXMTOBHM#action=share

So...Aleandria Ocascio-Cortez is asking for recipes for Instant Pot, not for instant pot, I found out this morning!

Shame on KQED for being intransigent.--Amended

I just got a call from Lisa Richter of KQED, who was responsive to my concerns for the environment, so I would like to amend what I wrote below.

 We had a good conversation, and she was open to including plant-based restaurants in her drives for donations.  Greens is the only vegetarian restaurant that makes donations, and of course they're not vegan.   

This is what I sent her to get started:

Loving Hut (on both Irving and at the Westfield Shopping Center)   (415) 731-1957

Gracias Madre on Mission near 18th Street   (415) 683-1346

Cybelle's Front Room on 9th Avenue near Judah (They're not entirely vegan, but the manager's daughter became vegan and wanted to enjoy everything she'd ever loved in food, so they have a very extensive vegan menu.)  (415) 665-8088

Cha-ya on Valencia  (415) 252-7825

Shizen on 14th near Valencia (415) 678-5767

I told her that I would be happy to subsidize a donation if restaurants aren't forthcoming.  

I also told her that the plant-based revolution is an important one for our planet and that  it's exciting to try new ways to satisfy food cravings.  

I just sent this message to Katie Cantrel and Monica Chen of the Factory Farm Awareness Coalition.

Dear Katie and Monica,

Once again I'll be doing minor volunteer phone work for KQED, and it disturbs me that  this "educational" channel hasn't progressed since last year, when I wrote the letter below.  

You have much more clout than I do, and maybe you have a more diplomatic (by which I mean less off-putting) approach.

I would like to donate plant-based food for their volunteers to help KQED get out the word that for environmental reasons (not to mention animal welfare and other considerations) we need to move towards a diet free of meat and dairy.  KQED still says "Vegetarian options are usually available"  for the volunteers they feed.  Plant-based should be the default, and it's not even mentioned as "usually available."  They still don't seem to understand the difference between vegetarian and vegan, which places them about 20 years behind the times.

Because  they depend upon food donations to feed their volunteers, why don't they reach out to plant-based restaurants? Since they don't reach out, what would it take to get vegan restaurants to make donations?

I don't have "special dietary requirements."  I've chosen vegan because I think the plant-based movement is essential to human and non-human welfare.

Can you communicate more effectively with KQED than I have?

Many thanks,

Tina

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Tina Martin <tina_martin@sbcglobal.net>

To: member@kqed.org <member@kqed.org>

Sent: Friday, May 11, 2018, 9:01:55 AM PDT

Subject: Member Services Inquiries/Comments

Dear KQED,

When I sent you an e-letter on May 5, I received the automated response that I'd be hearing from you within 72 hours, but I haven't gotten a response.

For this reason, I'm pasting a copy of my comments, which I hope will get your attention.  I'm sure you're busy, but I'd really appreciate a response..

Dear Staff at KQED,

In spite of my phone-phobia, I plan to join a group of volunteers to phone bank this coming Friday, May 11, and I've noticed that you kindly provide dinner.  I also noticed this paragraph:

FOOD: KQED provides food appropriate to the shift. Keep in mind that all food is donated so if you have special dietary requirements, please make other arrangements. The morning shifts will be 
provided with Bagels & coffee and the afternoon shifts will be served dinner. 

There is usually a vegetarian option.

I'd like to be sure that volunteers always have a vegan option--for the good of the environment and for animal welfare.  

The COP 23 in Berlin acknowledged that at an environmental conference most of the food served should be vegetarian.  (I hope in the future they'll make that plant-based.)  At least 60% of the food was.

Beside each food item, they gave the carbon footprint to make people aware that what we eat affects the environment.

It would be wonderful if KQED could lead in environmental awareness too--specifically in letting all viewers, members, and donors know how what we eat affects our planet. 

 I know getting donations is not easy under any circumstances, but it would be great if you could let donors know that you'd especially like plant-based food and let them know why.  

I would like to donate $500.00 so that you can begin to assure volunteers "There is always a plant-based option."

Thank you for all the good work you do. 

Tina Martin

When I donated online, I had the chance to comment in 255 characters.  This is what I wrote:

For the good of the environment and animal welfare, please use this donation to begin to provide plant-based snacks and dinners for volunteers. Also, please provide more programming to educate viewers on the impact of diet on the planet.

Longing to Go to Slutty Vegan in Atlanta

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/17/slutty-vegan-hit-atlanta-city-barbecue

Nils Zacharias on Chris Hedge's Show

https://www.rt.com/shows/on-contact/448171-food-crisis-animal-farming/

Joshua Johnson: Planting a Seed: The Vegan Diet in 2019

I'm pasting this so I can read it later!

Monday, Jan 07 2019 • 10:20 a.m. (ET)

Planting A Seed: The Vegan Diet in 2019

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People queue to buy vegan food at a food truck during the Calais Vegan Festival. PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

A few dietary prognosticators are saying 2019 might be the year of the vegan.

Already, the animal product-free diet has some pretty famous fans.

People reports that in the introduction to a new book by their personal trainer, Jay-Z and Beyoncé embrace veganism.

“Having children has changed our lives more than anything else,” they wrote. “We used to think of health as a diet – some worked for us, some didn’t. Once we looked at health as the truth, instead of a diet, it became a mission for us to share that truth and lifestyle with as many people as possible.”

But vegans aren’t just following celebrity advice. The Atlantic reports “there’s no disputing the fact that a diet rich in plant-based, unprocessed food is a smart diet.”

[The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics]( says that a well-planned vegan (and vegetarian) diet is “healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”

Veganism isn’t yet a national phenomenon.— only three percent of Americans identified as vegan in 2018, according to a recent Gallup poll — but businesses are betting big on the diet.

From The Economist:

McDonald’s has started selling McVegan burgers. Sales of vegan foods in America in the year to June 2018 rose ten times faster than food sales as a whole. Giant food firms are clambering onto the bandwagon, creating vegan lines of their own, buying startups, or both. Tyson Foods, a meat behemoth, has a 5% stake in Beyond Meat, which sells meat-free patties to TGI Friday’s, a restaurant chain. Even Big Meat is going vegan, it seems.

So could this be the year for an entirely plant-based diet?

We’re deconstructing the economic, environmental, and ethical aspects of being vegan.

A show on veganism is one of our most-requested programs, so we’re excited to get to do it. If you’d like to pitch us a show, you can do so here.

Guests

• Dr. Walter Willett Professor of epidemiology and nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School.
• Afya Ibomu Nutritionist; author, “The Vegan Remix” and “The Vegan Soulfood Guide to the Galaxy”
• Stephanie Tarnowsky Sous chef, The Fancy Radish

David Attenborough Says We Should Give Up Meat

https://www.livekindly.co/humans-need-stop-eating-meat-reduce-climate-change-crises-planet-earth-host-david-attenborough/?utm_source=LIVEKINDLY+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=6344831303-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_11_23_05_31_COPY_07&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8051ea5750-6344831303-135814975