Features | Veggin' Out And About

Vegan Food Quest: Veggin’ Out and About In Southeast Asia!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Mar 14, 2014 in Vegan Food Quest: Veggin' Out and About Southeast Asia! | 0 comments

VEGGIN’ OUT AND ABOUT IN TRANG, THAILAND!

by VeganMush Caryl

In terms of finding delicious and inspiring food, Bangkok was a total success but TravelMush (my husband) and I (aka VeganMush) set off on the train to explore the south of Thailand with a niggling feeling that once out of a big international city, it might be harder to get good vegan food. Starvation might be in the cards. Dramatic, perhaps, but still…

Trang Vegetarian Restaurant Exterior

Our first stop was a town called Trang. Trang is not a usual destination for most tourists, other than to stop over for one night on their way to one of the nearby islands. However, TravelMush and I had fond memories of a visit over a decade ago and decided that we’d stay longer than is usual. Trang is an ordinary Southern Thai town and I wanted to see how hard it might be to be a vegan in this sort of place.

Trang Vegetarian Restaurant with Mock Tuna

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Gotta Run!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Mar 7, 2014 in Gotta Run! | 0 comments

A MARATHONER’S GUIDE TO FOOD AS FUEL!

by Andrea Medalie

Andrea Medalia at Food Station

As a runner who has been around the block a few times, I have often heard the phrase…”I want to start running to lose weight but I hate running!” And that’s when I quickly reply, “then if you hate it, don’t do it!!!” I say that because although runners, no matter the distance, seem to develop a love/hate relationship with the sport, at the end of the day, the love, passion and dedication are at the core of every successful runner. It is indeed possible that this strenuous activity can grow on you, but if you haven’t caught the running bug at a certain point, chances are, you may never fully embrace the sport to the extent of seeing noticeable results and worse, you run the risk of resenting it altogether.

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Gotta Run!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Feb 8, 2014 in Features, Gotta Run! | 0 comments

VEGANS HAVE NO ENDURANCE? SAY, WHAT…?

by Andrea Medalie

As an endurance athlete (VeGAL!), I am proud to say that a whole foods (with the exception of French fries), plant-based diet has contributed greatly to my success over the years. Not loving to toot my own horn, I feel it necessary to make my point. As a ranked runner in my division in the state of Florida, I have recently completed my 31st full marathon. In addition, I have done 2 ultra marathons (another in 2 weeks) and countless shorter distances like half marathons, 10k and 5k races. I ran the both the Boston and the NYC Marathons twice! I also earned a black belt in Northern Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu. All utilizing plant fuel! Not too shabby, huh?!!! So, for anyone to even question my endurance would be absurd. Yet, surprisingly, I still encounter skeptics from time to time. My hope is that through my accomplishments, I am able to touch the lives of fellow athletes, or even just one, perhaps even enough to inspire them to make the leap to a plant-based lifestyle as well.

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Vegan Food Quest: Veggin’ Out and About In Bangkok, Thailand!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Feb 7, 2014 in Features, Vegan Food Quest: Veggin' Out and About Southeast Asia! | 1 comment

by VeganMush Caryl

Caryl Eyers Embarking On Her Vegan Adventure!

So here begins the Vegan Food Quest, my search for vegan food around the globe. I’m traveling with my husband, who after many years of living with me has become somewhat of an expert in seeking out of food I can eat. So, he’s been recruited to be in charge of logistics, which plays to his strengths of being super organized, observant and adventurous all at the same time. After months of planning and packing and a few weeks of emotional goodbyes, we left our home in England and flew to Bangkok where as soon as we stepped off the train from the airport, we were bombarded by all sorts of smells and sounds from the busy streets which were packed with people cooking food, selling their wares and going about their daily business. Its an experience that I will never tire of.

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VeGAL – Vegan Girl Athletes Unite!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Feb 5, 2014 in Features, Living Plant-Strong! Profiles & Articles, Vegan | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

What is a VeGal and Why Would Anyone Want To Be One?

“VeGAL,” according to founder Andrea Medalie, “captures the essence of the female as it pertains to health, nutrition, fitness, beauty. As women, we have our own set of unique issues. VeGAL deals with issues and concerns unique to women. It is a delicate balance at best. When you factor in our plant-based diets, our health issues and nutritional needs along with our strong beliefs pertaining to animal rights and the environment, it becomes very complex. We need to have a resource in which women can come together, unite and offer each other support, information and inspiration.”

VeGAL embodies women of all ages, all disciplines, all levels, and all sizes who want to maintain a healthy vegan lifestyle and remain active.

Andrea Medalie – Original VeGAL

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A Vegan Dog Food? You Bet Your Pooch & Planet!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Feb 3, 2014 in Features, Living Plant-Strong! Profiles & Articles, Vegan | 2 comments

by Danielle Bussone

When a vegan friend harassed me into trying v-dog, a non-GMO, vegan dog food, I was more than a little skeptical. It seemed to me that it was animal activism taken a bit too far. Don’t dogs require meat to survive? The answer came as a surprise. They don’t, actually.

v-dog 20 lb. bag

In fact, two papers which were published in 2013, roughly three months apart, one from the University of California at Davis (one of the leading veterinary schools in the country) and the other from the University of Uppsala, in Sweden, came to the same conclusion. Modern dogs, the product of 14,000 years of evolution, have developed an enzyme composition which allows them to digest starch. Wolves do not share this trait. Wolves, like cats, are true carnivores. Unlike their wolf ancestors, dogs are omnivores. They cannot only survive, but thrive, on a plant-based diet.

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