Misleading Headline Damns Vegans

This misleading headline from the Tampa Times damns vegans: 

Cape Coral vegans charged with murder after baby starves to death

The dead toddler’s parents told police they eat only raw fruits and vegetables.

The baby didn't die because it wasn't given meat and animal products.  It died because they neglected it.  But by focusing on "vegans" and eating only raw fruits and vegetables, the article gives the impression that it was the plant-based diet that killed the baby.

A Vegan Walk, Anyone?

I walked the first segment of the 17-Mile Crosstown Trail last week, too, and that's much more "country" than the new and improved 49-Mile Scenic Route, with fewer places to snack, but it got me to thinking about how great it would be to have a vegan trail in the city--a walk that would get people acquainted with the city in a new way but also lead to plant-based snacks.

I'd like to help develop a SF Vegan Walk or at least a vegan version of the 49-Mile Scenic Route, which takes in Beep's Burgers.  (I'm less offended by that now that I realize it's a historic place--1962.  They have a veggie burger, but I'm not sure it's vegan.)

Maybe this could be a vegan culinary walk.

Suggesting a Vegan 49-mile Route or 17-mile Crosstown Trail

Here's my letter to Rachel Shippee of the Factory Farm Awareness Coalition, which is having an annual gala dinner this Saturday.

Dear Rachel,

A lot was going on the day I responded to your message about Saturday's gala dinner.  But now I want to thank you for noticing that my effort to reserve two dinners hadn't "taken."  You saved me a lot of last-minute embarrassment.

I'm sure you're really busy right now, but for future reference I also wanted to mention something about the 49-Mile Scenic Route Heather Knight and Peter Harlaub have been promoting in the SF Chronicle.  I love their idea of walking (biking, etc) rather than driving this route, and I like the changes in the choice of paths too.  But it made me cross my eyes when I saw where they were suggesting that we stop to eat--a burger place.  Beef, of course, is the very worst thing for the environment, and part of their avoiding driving was the emissions.

I would love to help create a vegan route through the city.  Have you all thought about that?

Tuesday I walked the first section of the Crosstown Trail, and I didn't notice any vegan places along the route.  

See you Saturday!

Tina

My Letter to Dear Abby

Regarding the reader who is unhappy that her vegan family members don't offer meat and dairy,  I know that my friends and family who eat animals are good people, but I would no more provide meat and dairy dishes for them than I'd provide bumper stickers saying "Climate change is a hoax" or "Animals don't suffer in factory farms."  We should all move towards a plant-based diet and thank the friends and family who are helping us do that.  Every time we eat a plant-based meal, we're doing volunteer work for the environment and animal welfare.

This is my response to the Dear Abby Column below.

DEAR ABBY: Some of my extended family members have become vegan. When they come to my home, I make sure to have appropriate food for them, in addition to nonvegan food for others. When I am invited to their homes for a celebration, they offer only vegan selections. No one is allowed to bring nonvegan or meat-based dishes to their home.

It has reached the point that I no longer want to go there when a meal is involved. I have tried talking to them about this, but their reply is, "No meat allowed in our home." I now leave before mealtime because I don't like a lot of their dishes.

Is it common for vegans to prohibit guests from ever taking other food into their home? Thanks for any light you can shed on this. -- MEAT LOVER IN HOUSTON

DEAR MEAT LOVER: People become vegans for a variety of reasons. Some do because they feel it is unethical to kill animals for food. Others do it because they feel raising animals for slaughter is harmful to the planet. People also become vegans for health reasons.

Individuals who adopt this way of life often feel as your relatives do, and that's their privilege. If it impinges on your freedom or limits your enjoyment of these celebrations, forgo them and either participate in get-togethers that don't include food or go to an accommodating restaurant.

Vegan Eggnog Ice Cream on Fillmore near the Clay Theater