NuGo Nutrition and the New Vegan

Five years ago this month I started working for Woodhouse, a timberframe company, as their Vice President of Marketing and Communications. This point in time, and its significance in my life, appears throughout my forthcoming book, The Skeptical Vegan.

It was my first week of being vegan.

During my initial meeting and interview with the company president we had a lunch meeting that would be the very first time I ate out as a vegan (see Chapter Two for more details). Also, an ill-fated trip as a new vegan to a Minneapolis steakhouse with a group of burly builders made for some interesting off-menu ordering (see Chapter Three) and it was during my hour and a half commute to my office in Pennsylvania when I first made “the connection” while staring down a hillside of cows (see Chapter Four).

January 2012 was when it all began.

In case you’re looking for product placement in this blog post, you might think it’s my forthcoming book, The Skeptical Vegan, which is available for preorder NOW (comes out in July) and which I keep mentioning. However, the real product placement for this chapter of my vegan journey belongs to: NuGo.

NuGo Nutrition is an Oakmont, PA-based protein bar manufacturer whose “Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt” pretty much kept me alive for that first year of being an on-the-road vegan, driving to and from Woodhouse.

As a new vegan I was struggling to find something I could grab quick on the road (after dropping our foster twins off at daycare) that was nutritious, delicious, filling, and satisfying (and available at 7:30 am on my way out of town).

My regular stop took me to Wegmans (on the way) and for the first two weeks I would buy a soy vanilla latte and a couple bananas. Then I would expand into more fruits with the latte but it never felt like I was eating a “meal.” I craved more. A few failed attempts at finding a vegan AND gluten-free protein bar finally led me to NuGo. And I’ve been a fan of all their products ever since (still most in love with the pretzel, FWIW).

They have Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Coconut, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Mocha, Peanut Butter Cup and more! Getting hungry? Then don’t click here.

Each delicious bar features:

• REAL dark chocolate for vegans with a sweet tooth
• High protein for vegans who think about things like protein
• Low fat for vegans who want to lose some weight
• Vegan for vegans
• Pareve for vegans who look for this kind of thing
• Certified gluten-free for GF/Vs
• Certified Kosher for Jewish vegans
• Antioxidant rich for vegans who need more antioxidants!
• … and their bars are non-GMO-certified!

Every morning I would buy two bars (pretzel) and my latte and listen to satellite talk radio, trying to make all three last me an hour as I drove into northern Pennsylvania to my office. Since I currently live just an hour from the Pennsylvania border, I recently mapped to see how long it would take to get to the NuGo factory so I could stop in and act like Charlie at the chocolate factory but, alas, it’s 5 1/2 hours from home.

Next time I am in the Pittsburgh area … I will hopefully have a chance to stop in and thank the good people of Nugo for helping me become (and stay) vegan.

#GoVegan.

LOOK for The Skeptical Vegan from Skyhorse Publishing this July and PREORDER now at Amazon or Barnes and Noble!

Healthier BeyondMeat Meets GlutenFree Vegan Risotto all Day Long

For the new year Jen and I decided to kick up our vegan diet a notch and go full-on, whole-food plant-based (WFPB). Being vegan was just becoming too easy (also, I had to wean myself from french fries somehow and this seemed like a great time). We’re sticking to this every day of the year with the exception of the first of the month and special events (potlucks) and holidays (Groundhog Day, Arbor Day, etc.).

So far, we’ve successfully made it through Day One with the help of this delicious and very simple risotto. This creamy recipe is 100% WFPB (until you add the optional, but totally worth it, BeyondMeat chicken strips at the very end).

You’ll need:

• 1 1/2 cups arborio rice (risotto rice)
• One 38 oz. container of vegan vegetable stock
• 1/2 sweet onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup cremini mushrooms, finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• One 6 oz. package of triple washed organic baby spinach
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (nooch)
• One package of BeyondMeat grilled “chicken” strips (defrosted)
• Salt and pepper to taste

In a large non-stick cooking pan add 1/4 cup of the vegetable stock and bring to a boil (you can also use a tablespoon of EEOV here but that’s not on our diet … damn it). Add the chopped onions, garlic, and mushrooms and sauté until soft (about five minutes, stirring). Stir in the arborio rice and cook for an additional five minutes over medium-high heat, coating the rice (you’ll start to hear popping sounds … since this recipe is poppin’).

Pour in one cup of the vegetable stock and lower the heat to medium. Stir constantly and with purpose. From here on out you’re going to be feeding the rice the vegetable stock and stirring (adding ingredients along the way). It’s an excellent arm workout.

Once the first cup of liquid has been absorbed, add a second cup (see what I mean?). After the third cup, add the chopped basil and the spinach (the spinach is going to look huge in the pan but will cook down as you introduce it to the rice and stock). See what I mean?

Once the spinach has been completely incorporated, add another cup of vegetable stock. This entire “feed the risotto vegetable stock” process will take approximately 40 minutes (and you will end up using the entire carton of stock). After the final drops of vegetable stock have been added, stir in the nooch until full incorporated (you should have a creamy, cheesy texture at this point). If it seems like it needs more liquid, add a little water or squeeze a half a lemon into it (citrus gives any dish a burst of flavor and freshness).

Test the texture of the rice (perfect, isn’t it?) and finish off by stirring in the whole package of torn BeyondMeat chicken strips into the finished risotto. Heat for an additional five minutes until the BeyondMeat has warmed up. Salt and pepper to taste. If you want … top with some vegan parmesan and a sprig of basil. Your friends are going to be so impressed by you: 1) You made a delicious gluten-free vegan risotto; 2) You topped it with a sprig of basil which is called “garnish” and you’ve never done that before.

They’re all impressed and, after dining on this dish, they’ll all want to #GoVegan.

LOVE this recipe? Want more like it? Pre-order The Skeptical Vegan NOW! Available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble! More than 25 of my favorite meaty dishes … veganized and made simple!

I’ve Joined the FARMily!

As 2016 comes to a close and I reflect back on my own vegan journey over the past few years (more on this available this Fall in graphic detail in my forthcoming book, The Skeptical Vegan), I’m amazed at how many doors have been opened for me as I dig deeper and deeper into the animal rights movement.

Having gone from unapologetic meat eater, to herbivore, to vegan, to ethical vegan and then evolving my business interests in the same direction, I’m excited to announce that since mid-October, I’ve been on board as full-time Marketing Director for Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM).

Who is FARM? I’ll explain that in a bit but for now, watch this video (it’s well-worth the 7 minutes):

This 40th Anniversary video, that premiered at a New York City event this past October, says more than I could ever say about this amazing organization that was founded by Alex Hershaft. Since 1976 (started as the Vegetarian Information Service), FARM has been committed to saving farm animals through a wide-array of programs: 10 Billion Lives, Vegan Support, Fast Against Slaughter, Seasonal Days of Action, and the Animal Rights National Conference to name just a few.

Started in 1981, the Animal Rights National Conference is the world’s largest and longest-running animal rights event. With 100 speakers and 60 organizations represented, the conference is open to a diverse array of viewpoints on animal liberation. Conferences are held each year, alternating between the East and West coasts and bring together over 1,500 caring people each year to network, share wisdom and learn new skills. It will be held in Alexandria in 2017 and I’m looking forward to finally attending.

This opportunity working with FARM has allowed me to take my over twenty years experience in marketing and communications, and further apply it to my personal mantra: Animals are not food.

As 2016 comes to an end, I would like to encourage you to support FARM moving forward. Each donation this year will be matched by a very generous donor so every dollar you give is given again toward saving more animals. Click here to give.

Finally, someone asked me the other day what I’ve been up to and I replied with two meaningful words: “Saving Animals.”

One vegan at a time.

I am now at the forefront of a world that respects and recognizes animals as sentient beings, a world that fully understands that our own environment is at risk, and a world that understands that nearly every major disease can be controlled, reversed, or cured with a plant-based diet.

Being a part of the FARMily has opened more doors for me to help more animals to be free.

#GoVegan

Watch for the release of The Skeptical Vegan from Skyhorse Publishing in fall 2017! Pre-order The Skeptical Vegan NOW! Available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble! More than 25 of my favorite meaty dishes … veganized and made simple for simple people. And smart people, too … like you!

2017: The Year of the Vegan Book

V“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” ~ Toni Morrison

The number of vegan book titles available these days is just incredible and this list is expanding at an amazing rate each year. Just over the last few years some of the most anticipated books, by some of the most respected names in veganism (Gene Baur, Jason Wrobel, Mary Mattern, Jackie Sobon, Ruby Roth, and so many more), were released and this upcoming year is going to prove to be one of the most exciting years yet. Everything from ethical veganism to plant-based cuisine to Dave Loves Pigs, there is a wide selection of books for every taste to round out your own personal collection.

Or, better yet, get some of these books into the hands of your friends to spread the word!

Below is my own list (so far) of titles you can expect to see. If you have any to add, please comment below so I can update the blog post and we can keep this current through the coming months!

From the good people at Vegan Publishers, 2017 is going to prove to be a very exciting year with new titles like:

• Farm to Fable by Robert Grillo. This book, written by the director of Free From Harm, who formerly worked in the advertising industry, is about the many fictions we are taught about non-human animals.
• The Skinny on Soy by Marie Oser. This book counters a massive amount of misinformation about soy that has been put out there by those with connections to the meat and dairy industries.
• Millennial Vegan by Casey Taft. My next book will be a guide for younger vegans that provides support, tips for navigating in a non-vegan world, and tips for advocacy.
• Dave Loves Pigs by Carlos Patino. This is a follow up to the popular Dave Loves Chickens, and is about a monster from outer space who can’t believe that humans eat these amazing animals we call pigs.
• Libby Finds Vegan Sanctuary by Julia Feliz. As far as we know, this is the first every vegan-themed board book for young children. It’s about a turkey who is rescued and brought to a vegan sanctuary.

And from BenBella Books, expect:

• PlantPure Kitchen from the same people who brought us the amazing PlantPure Nation film, cookbook, PlantPure Summit, and so much more.
• The China Study Family Cookbook from the same people who brought you the China Study film, cookbook, and so much more. Someone should come out with a Campbell’s soup or something.
• Kushi Institute Cookbook founded in 1978 by Michio and Aveline Kushi, Kushi Institute has offered guidance and support to thousands of individuals, families and organizations. The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company is among those organizations which have engaged Kushi Institute to instruct and guide their chefs in creating healthful macrobiotic menu choices which meet the Institute’s  guidelines.

And from Book Publishing Company, check out these titles:

• ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS and RECIPES: Using the Power of Plant Foods to Heal and Prevent Arthritis, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Chronic Pain  by Beverly Lynn Bennett
• HERBAL ANTIVIRALS: Strengthen Your Immunity Naturally by Sorrel Davis

From Skyhorse Publishing:

• Mouthwatering Vegan Burgers (Cookbook)
• The 40-Year-Old Vegan (Cookbook)
• Vegan Love (Self-help/guide)
• The Skeptical Vegan (Memoir/Cookbook) – Available NOW! Available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble! More than 25 of my favorite meaty dishes … veganized and made simple.

Other upcoming titles include:

• NYC Vegan by Michael Suchman and Ethan Ciment (VeganMos): NYC Vegan brings New York’s fabulous foods to the plant-based table. The book was written by native New Yorkers as a tribute to the city they love. From the diners and delis of Brooklyn to the traditions of Little Italy and Chinatown, the foods of New York are the foods of the world.
• The Vegan Air Fryer: Healthier Versions of Your Favorite Comfort Foods by JL Fields
• 15 Minute Vegan by Kate Beskow
• Now available!MeatLess: Transform the Way You Eat and Live–One Meal at a TimeGo Vegan by Kristy Middleton
• No Meat Athlete Cookbook from Matt Frazier. From the founder of No Meat Athlete: plant-based recipes packed with nutrition to help athletes perform better and recover faster! ORDER here!

#GoVegan

Crowded Specialty Coffee Market? Maybe There’s Not Mushroom.

Every so often a product comes along that gets your attention and you know you have to give it a try. This product (for obvious reasons) is the Mushroom Coffee Mix from Four Sigmatic:

Four Sigmatic was founded with the goal of cutting through all of the hype and helping people eat more of the world’s most scientifically studied superfoods, like mushrooms. We wanted to make these incredibly powerful foods taste better and be easier to use, so that they can be simply incorporated to upgrade your existing habits. In other words, no more fads, no more pills, and no more capsules.

Our first mission in accomplishing this was to popularize drinking (yes, drinking) mushrooms.

Of course, why didn’t I think of that? Drinking mushrooms? Well, probably because it sounds disgusting. I’ve made my fair share of smoothies with some pretty strange ingredients but I can honestly say that mushrooms was never one of them.

Which, as Four Sigmatic would tell you, is a shame since mushrooms are so good for you. In fact, the list of health benefits from mushrooms is so extensive, I’m only going to list some of the most incredible ones here:

• Anti-inflammatory. Which means it aids in controlling or managing asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, renal failure, and stroke damage
• Weight management. Just one cup a day (of mushrooms, not mushroom coffee) can help individuals lose weight and keep the pound off.
• Vitamin D. Increased throughout your entire diet just by adding mushrooms.
• Improved immune system function. Will even fight off salmonella poisoning.
• Cordyceps benefits (which are found in the mushroom coffee) also called caterpillar fungus or Tochukasu, is a favorite of athletes because it increases ATP production, strength and endurance, and has anti-aging effects
• Happiness. When mushrooms top your vegan pizza you become happy.

Add a 40mg dose of caffeine into all this and you can clearly see the inspiration behind this otherwise strange combination.

Now, to be completely honest here, when Four Sigma Foods sent me the two sample boxes of two types of Mushroom Coffee (each contain ten 7oz. cups of coffee) and the one box of Reishi (ten 8oz. pouches) to try, they didn’t know I am a certified a coffee snob. Having worked for years for one of the leading Third Wave coffee roasters in the U.S., I’ve acquired pretty refined taste when it comes to coffee.

Does this instant coffee taste as good as an Ethiopian single-source, freshly-ground, Chemex-prepared pour-over being hand-crafted by a tattooed, bearded hipster humming a Two Door Cinema Club song? Of course not. It’s instant coffee. Is this a delicious (and incredibly nutritious) and easy-to-prepare instant coffee made from 100% Arabica beans better than other instant coffees I’ve tried? Totes.

This would be the coffee to bring camping, boating, hiking, to the office, or anywhere you’re on-the-go. Just add hot water, stir, and enjoy!

But who knows, maybe one day you’ll walk into your local Starbucks and order a Mushroom Spice Latte with Soy Milk? Probably not, so you’re better off getting your fix from Four Sigma Foods.

In addition to the mushroom coffees I got to sample their mushroom “tea” called Reishi (Superfood Mushroom Drink Mix). With reishi extract, star anise, wild mint, licorice and stevia, this hot drink is a delicious, nutritions and sweet start to your day! You really should buy a box of this! Not only is it delicious but the inside of the box is so informative, this whole experience with these #funguys has made me smarterer.

Ready to shop? Get started and click here. Want to receive a special MeatyVegan.com discount code? Comment below and I will hook you up!

Go vegan.

Watch for the release of The Skeptical Vegan from Skyhorse Publishing in fall 2017!

Got GlutenFree Vegan Sourdough? Vegan Mario’s Has You Covered.

Our household is gluten-free and vegan. Jen was diagnosed with celiac over a decade ago, my dad has celiac, and one of our babies has celiac. I am predisposed to have it, too. For obvious reasons, we keep wheat gluten out of our kitchen and create meals that are just as delicious by finding amazing replacements.

Finding amazing replacements for gluten-free, vegan bread is almost impossible.

However, every so often we discover a new product that is both gluten-free and vegan and we immediately have to try it. This was the case with Vegan Mario’s sourdough bread from Vegan Mario’s Gluten Free Shop in Oak View, California. While Vegan Mario’s is no longer open to walk-in customers they have shifted focus to their wholesale orders and online storefront (LOCALS are welcome to come in and pick up anything they see on their site and can use promotional code “CALOCAL” to remove any shipping charges) and I highly recommend placing an order today!

An innovative organic, gluten-free, vegan bakery like Vegan Mario’s is just one more reason to move to California.

The loaf arrived simply slid into a white paper bag, adding to the authenticity of the bread itself. No plastic liner. Not frozen solid. A loaf of bread the way nature intended. In a white paper bag. It was as if Mario’s was right here in Upstate New York dropping it off to us.

The loaf we tried was their quinoa, brown rice and it was delicious. I can now say was, because we finished it within a couple of days. The hand-written note from the bakery said we could “refresh the bread” by putting it in the oven at 350° for 12 minutes.

Instead, we sliced it and started eating it right away.

Jen spent many years living in California and is no stranger to the nuanced properties of a great sourdough and this bread from Mario’s did not disappoint. We toasted, grilled, sliced, buttered, baked, sandwiched, and grill cheesed it … just to make sure it could hold up to any culinary challenge.

It did.

A real delicious loaf of organic, gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan sourdough available at any time online? Yes. We’ll be back to Mario’s for more! Visit them at the Ojai Certified Farmers Market, on their website to see their other amazing options, and get to know them better on Facebook today!

Go vegan.

Watch for the release of The Reluctant Vegan from Skyhorse Publishing in fall 2017!

The Return of the Reluctant Vegan

“The Skeptical Vegan”

I haven’t been blogging all that much lately but with very good reason. I’ve, instead, been pounding away at the manuscript for my upcoming book! An actual book. About becoming vegan. Overnight.

Let me back up a bit.

A month or so ago I was contacted by Skyhorse Publishing in New York City. They stumbled onto my blog (this blog) and asked me if I would consider sending them a proposal for a book about becoming vegan. Skyhorse — with its thirteen imprints (Allworth Press, Arcade Publishing, Carrel Books, Gary Null Publishing, Good Books, Helios Press, Hot Books, Night Shade Books, Not For Tourists, Sky Pony Press, Sports Publishing, Talos Press, Yucca) now boasts a backlist of more than 6,000 titles!Since its founding, Skyhorse has published an eclectic and maverick list that includes books on history, politics, rural living, humor, and more. With its imprints, the Skyhorse program now includes business, art, fiction, regional books, and children’s books.

And soon The Skeptical Vegan (based on The Meaty Vegan based on The Reluctant Vegan)!

I tried to act all laid back but, of course, I said yes. Enthusiastically.

Skyhorse currently has 39 titles on the New York Times bestsellers list and I’m now committed to being #40! The book is a mashup of a memoir of a man who went vegan overnight (reluctantly) to eventually become an ethical vegan. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll wish your copy was signed (don’t worry … just let me know, I’ll sign it).

The 300+ page (?) book is ideal for the person who is considering going vegan and for the person who wants someone to go vegan (you all know who you are). It’s an honest and candid, personal story about the challenges, and triumphs, of being vegan. It will also include over 25 meaty vegan recipes.

The Blurb:

What happens when a 40-something man goes from notorious meat eater to tofu munching vegan overnight? “The Skeptical Vegan” covers everything from late-night cravings and surviving no-oil, no-salt, no-nightshades, no-nuts, gluten-free, plant-based potlucks; to weight loss and erections. This semi-autobiographical book, complete with more than 25 easy-to-prepare meaty vegan recipes, proves that anyone, at any age, can turn their lives around and go vegan for their health, the environment, and the animals.

At this point, I am roughly 55,000 words into a contracted 81,000 words and, so far, all the words are in the right order and spelled right.

According to Skyhorse (of course they haven’t read the manuscript yet), the book will be released August 2017! Their designers will send mockup cover designs next month and their marketing department will officially sign-off on the title of the book (which may or may not be The Skeptical Vegan). I will post updates here as they happen.

I want to thank all the followers of this blog for continuing to tune in, share, and comment on my writing. This all happened because of you.

I am beyond excited to share this vegan journey with the world.

Go vegan.

UPDATE: 84,000 word count reached and manuscript will be sent on 10/5/16 to Skyhorse!

JANUARY 2017 UPDATE: PRE-ORDER NOW available!

@RemedyFood Project Hosts #PlantBased Thought Leaders in #Toronto this June!

REMEDY FOOD PROJECT Brings Whole Food, Plant-Based Thought Leaders to TORONTO JUN. 17-19

The Remedy Live Event is the largest of its kind in Canada

Remedy Food Project will host the Remedy Food Toronto Live Event in downtown Toronto, Ontario June 17-19 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. The event brings together internationally recognized leaders from the whole food, plant-based movement including physicians, clinical researchers, celebrity chefs, and athletes, many of which were featured in the well-known documentary, “Forks Over Knives.” The reputable slate of presenters, together with more than 250 registered attendees, will mark the largest gathering of its kind in Canada.
The Atlanta-based nonprofit Alliance to Repair the American Diet (d.b.a Remedy Food project) was founded by Benji Kurtz. Obese his entire adult life, Kurtz watched “Forks Over Knives” in 2013, inspiring him to embark on a whole food, plant-based diet. The WFPB diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds and excludes all animal products. Kurtz lost more than 130 lbs. within eighteen months, a journey that has been featured on CNN, HLN, The Daily Mail and other news outlets worldwide. Today, Kurtz is leveraging his entrepreneurial background to raise awareness about the growing body of research linking poor food choices to chronic disease through the Remedy Food Live Events.

“Though few in number, there are studies out there that prove plant-based eating can halt and even reverse coronary artery disease,” says Kurtz. “This conference is the first event of its kind to bring these all-stars of plant-based eating to Canada, some of whom continue to develop research for this cause.”

Attendees will learn how a plant-based diet can positively alter the progression of lifestyle-related diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and autoimmune disease. Celebrity chefs and cookbook authors will demonstrate easy, economical plant-based food preparation techniques.

Attendees will enjoy sessions with more than 16 world-class speakers including Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., MD, author and director of the Cardiovascular Prevention and Reversal Program at The Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute; Drs. T. Colin and Tom Campbell discussing the best-selling The China Study; local Toronto chef, author and entrepreneur Doug McNish; Matt Frazier the “No Meat Athlete”; Lindsay Nixon, “The Happy Herbivore”; Jason Wrobel; Dr. Michael Greger discussing How Not to Die, and many more.

Conference registration is open to the public, and continuing education credit is available to physicians and dietitians. Registration fees include healthy, plant-based meals and “Dinner and a Movie Night.” A complete roster of speakers, registration information and more can be found at www.remedyfood.org.

Celebrate a Vegan Cinco de Mayo with Chef’d and BeyondMeat!

Cinco de Mayo is in just under two weeks but don’t fret, Chef’d and Beyond Meat have you covered for your dinner party needs. In fact, read on to get your own special DISCOUNT CODE and a UNIQUE LINK to save on your order with delivery by May 5th! You don’t even have to go shopping! Can you think of a better way to celebrate independence?

But wait.

As I was writing this blog post, Jen asked me if I knew what Cinco de Mayo is. My normative whiteness had me thinking forever that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day, a day that most celebrate through block parties, sombreros, mojitos, margaritas, tacos, nachos, Corona, and flamenco guitars, where we think we are showing how “multicultural” we are by celebrating a holiday that isn’t ours to begin with and that very few Americans actually know anything about.

I’ve been schooled. Cinco de Mayo is really the commemoration of the Battle of Puebla.

The celebration of Cinco de Mayo by white European Americans marginalizes Mexicans through cultural appropriation. If we took the time to educate ourselves about Mexican cultural holidays such as Cinco de Mayo and Dieciseis de Septiembre (the real Mexican Independence Day and this Wiki entry starts with “Not to be confused with Cinco de Mayo” and is in September), we would recognize these are holidays of great importance to Mexican and Chicano communities, beyond an excuse for Americans to party, eat tacos, and get drunk on tequila.

So if you want to be an ally to Mexican and Chicano communities, you can start with this history lesson. And when you celebrate Cinco de Mayo with your friends and family, remember to be culturally sensitive and aware of the possibility of appropriating what isn’t yours.

At that party you can tell your friends what you know about Cinco de Mayo and that the victory was viewed as a symbol that proved to the world that national sovereignty would not be compromised (I know you Bernie and Trump supporters can relate to this).

Chef’d has made it easy and fun for vegans to commemorate Cinco de Mayo cruelty-free with their Beyond Meat Feisty Beefy Crumbles meals. An easy-to-make and delicious meal delivered right to your door. When I say this bright orange box comes with everything you need, I’m not kidding. Onions, shallots, garlic cloves (peeled? yes!), Romaine lettuce, oregano, cilantro, limes, spices and more!

And, of course, Beyond Meat Feisty crumbles that are heated and folded into the included tortillas and topped with Follow Your Heart cheddar cheese. Everything you need!

And, as a follower of Meaty Vegan, you can redeem a 15% DISCOUNT on any of these meals when you use discount code TACOS. There are three different Cinco de Mayo bundles for you to choose from and the one featured here is the Beyond Meat Feisty Tacos.

Pre-sale STARTS TODAY (4/22) and ends 5/1 at 11 am PST. Boxes will be delivered 5/3 and 5/4 to ensure you’ll have your meal in hand before 5/5. Just as a reminder, they ship EVERYWHERE in the continental US!

Click this link to PRE-ORDER your Cinco de Mayo Chef’d party!

Go vegan (and don’t vote Trump).

Did you hear? Meaty Vegan is going to be a book! Release scheduled for August 2017! Stay tuned here, follow on Twitter, or email me for more information!

Swimming Offered at North Carolina Pig Farm

[WARSAW, NORTH CAROLINA] In a surprise decision by North Carolina officials, the 2016 Summer Tourism Season is starting with an unusual splash. According to a recent press release, many rural areas of the state will now be offering recreational swimming in, what are known as, waste contamination pools associated with the abundant pig farming in these communities.

“We’re looking at budget cuts this year and, since these pools are in every county anyway, we decided to open them to the public,” said Derrick VanderPool, Director of North Carolina’s Parks and Recreations. “The members of these communities are already immune to the adverse health effects associated with waste contamination pools so we decided this was the next logical step.” VanderPool added, “Swimmers also enjoy complimentary fresh bacon and pork rinds with every parking lot validation.”

In a related CivilEats feature, last fall, Ann Edmondson, a spokeswoman for the North Carolina Pork Council, told North Carolina Health News that it doesn’t see its operations as endangering the health of nearby residents.

“More than 80 percent of North Carolina’s hog farms are owned and operated by individual farm families, almost all of whom live in close proximity to their swine or in communities where their swine operations are located,” she said, “It strains credibility to believe our hog farmers are risking the health of their own families, along with their neighbors’ health, in order to make a living.”*

North Carolina officials also cited another advantage of swimming in waste pools, “We don’t need lifeguards and that alone is saving the state upwards of $75,000 per season,” VenderPool said.

#GoVegan

 

* Amazingly, this is true.

BREAKING NEWS: Man Dies; Veganism Blamed

[BUFFALO CITY, OK] Harper County Police and the Harper County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating the death of a Buffalo City man this morning.

A 92-year-old Buffalo City resident was found dead in his modest prairie home earlier this week. Local authorities believe his vegan lifestyle may have contributed to his unexpected death. David Nash, retired postal worker for Buffalo City, was discovered deceased in his reclining chair by a neighbor who felt “something was just not right.”

“I considered David a friend, in spite of the fact he only ever brought hummus and veggie burgers to our community cookouts,” said Daryl Leno, a neighbor of Nash’s. “Considering the bizarre diet he was on, I’m pretty sure that’s what killed him. I mean, come on, what is hummus anyway?”

The County medical examiner confirmed upon closer inspection of Nash’s home, they could only find whole foods, beans, rice, fruits, vegetables, and some form of…

View original post 235 more words

The Genesis of Bonobo

Bonobo: The Game.

The story of how BONOBO, the new card game from American Game Author Dave Yearick, and the Kickstarter campaign that launched this week needs to be told. So much went into what is now an amazing game design, and crowdfunding campaign, it’s almost impossible to believe.

The real story started over 20 years ago when I first met Dave. My design firm had postered our services downtown and one of the flyers ended up in Dave’s hands. The timing was perfect as he needed a company to help him redesign Tribond, a game he and two friends invented while at Colgate University; a game that eventually went on to become the number five board game in the country.

Since that time, Dave and I have worked together on a number of board game projects and have remained good friends throughout the years. I have actually worked the floor with him a couple of times at ToyFair (which is happening THIS weekend and Dave is there with his outdoor game, djubi) and we have a mutual respect for each other unlike any relationship I have with anyone.

Flash forward to about a year ago. During one of our “how’ve you been?” phone calls, I mentioned to Dave how crowdfunding (Kickstarter) might be a good way to bring one of his new games to market. I told him if he ever had an idea he thought solid enough to experiment with, I’d love to collaborate with him to see what happens.

Shortly after that, Dave called me with a brilliant idea for a new card game based on the 1980’s Genesis hit song and record: ABACAB.

A unique word with three of one letter (A), two of another (B), and one of the final (C) that is catchy and carries over nicely into a proven game concept Dave had already created. Perhaps playing off the Genesis song and creating a game based on this interesting word would be the hit we needed to see some small percent of the success seen by Exploding Kittens (a runaway Kickstarter success, fetching an amazing $8,000,000).

Dave and I immediately went into design mode, hiring an illustrator to draw caricatures of the members (Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks) of the band while we worked on typography, an outer box design, and hired a videographer and actor to play a “Genesis roadie” in the Spinal Tap-inspired video.

All of these elements came together brilliantly as I was making the request for music rights for the song from my contact in New York City. It was at this point that I felt we should probably check in with Genesis’ agent, Tony Smith Personal Management, in the U.K.

That week, I got on the phone with Tony’s personal assistant who said that Tony was reviewing my request and would get back to me soon.

Soon was taking too long. Later that same week, I emailed Tony directly asking if he had reviewed the idea and what he thought about the overall game concept, to which he replied, “cease production of the game immediately,” copying his London attorneys.

Not wanting to roll over easily, I emailed back the following day with designs attached and asked again if we could use the song title and the likenesses of the band members in our game.

To which Tony replied, “no.” Is that your final answer?

Disappointment led to ONE final email attempt directly from Dave (something like, “I understand you’ve been contacted by my associate …”) which received a slightly more polite response “admiring our perseverance” but the answer was still no.

That same day I finally got a call back about the music rights for ABACAB from New York City. They provided me a very reasonable quote to use one minute of the music for our video but would have to still get final approval on usage from, you guessed it, Tony Smith. 

ABACAB was dead. 

Weeks passed as Dave and I tried to come up with other fun words with the same letter combination (PEPPER … BANANA … BANANA PEPPER). And then somewhere along the process, we discovered the word (and the amazing story behind) BONOBO.

Bonobo apes are the closest relatives to humans and are on the endangered species list. Living in the Congo, these highly intelligent and extremely social apes’ lives are at risk of extinction in our lifetime. These facts allowed for Dave’s passion for game design to align with my veganism and personal love for all animals.

BONOBO became the perfect word and perfect message for us to build a new game around … so Dave and I got back to work.

Weeks later, in addition to striking new, flat-colored graphics and an over-the-top video (produced by Hark Productions) for the campaign, we were fortunate to align ourselves with the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI) in DC and the U.K. (hello again, Tony Smith). Working with BCI, we’re able to provide a portion of proceeds from our successful campaign to BCI to help save the bonobos.

And this is where you come in. Visit the campaign page, watch the video, back the campaign (ANY dollar amount helps) and SHARE the link:

www.GoBONOBO.com

We need to reach goal to bring this fun and challenging new game to market and exceeding the goal means more retail outlets and MORE money to help the bonobos!

Can you spell BONOBO with your cards while linking either identical color or identical abstaining ape? As you craft your own strategy to spell BONOBO, your opponent has their own plans (and they may also have a GRAB card and could swing in to take any of your cards). It’s a fun party game and the incentive rewards on the Kickstarter campaign are … well … just check them out for yourself!

Shuffle. Deal. Go Ape.

Feel free to cut and paste these snippets below for social media shares or simply share this blog post! We have high expectations and are very excited to bring BONOBO to market. Your pledge will help! Remember, Kickstarter is an “all or nothing” crowdfunding platform so we need to reach our goal in order to secure the funds.

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#BONOBO is live on @Kickstarter! Watch, back, and share this wild campaign and you’ll also be supporting the Bonobo Conservation Initiative! www.GoBONOBO.com. Shuffle. Deal. Go Ape.

For vegan posts:

Just launched a Kickstarter for a wild new card game that: A) was designed by a #vegan design firm; B) is giving back a portion of proceeds to help the endangered bonobo ape!

Check it out at www.GoBONOBO.com!

Go Vegan.

#cr8: Always Hatching Ideas.

For the past 20 years I have been developing designs and managing marketing for small to mid-sized businesses around the world. Today, ThankTankCreative.com expands on this rich history by offering complete consulting, award-winning graphic design, and marketing support alongside social media management, product and package design, as well as complete marketing plans. Some of our recent clients include:

• ASI Energy
• By Any Greens Necessary
• Campbell Plan
• Cornell University
• Center for Nutrition Studies
• Great Life Cookbook
• Honeycomb Consulting
• Miyoko’s Kitchen
• New Moon Harvest
• Nuttin’ Ordinary
• Optimized Partners
• Plant Based Solutions
• PlantPure Nation
• Vegan Business Media
• VoltageXchange

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ThankTank Creative. Ideas in Action.