Vegan Crayons

The crayons found in regular supermarkets contain tallow (animal fat). I recently found out that Melissa and Doug company makes vegan crayons, which are non-toxic.

I wanted to double-check, so contacted Melissa and Doug company to find out if the crayons are vegan. They replied quickly and said that "Our crayons do not contain any animal products" .

I'm so happy that I purchased these cute crayons for my toddler. The moment I gave these crayons to my toddler, he put it right into his mouth!

I purchased these cruel-free crayons at Whole Foods. You can also buy it through Amazon or Melissa and Doug website.

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone's blog - The Kind Life , is filled with ideas, tips and recipes to make our beautiful Earth happy.

Alicia Silverstone recently wrote a vegan cookbook - The Kind Diet . The Kind Diet vegan cookbook is filled with nutritious and tasty cruel-free recips.

If you want to protect our Earth, and if you want to lead a healthy lifestyle , you should read the wonderful blog - The Kind Life

Turmeric Milk

While growing up in Bangalore, whenever I was suffering from cold and cough, my mom used to give me some hot dairy milk to which a dash of turmeric, salt and crushed black pepper was added. I used to feel so nice drinking hot turmeric milk. Turmeric milk used to provide so much relief for my sore throat.

I guess the magic ingredient "Turmeric" was the key to give me such a relief from the cold. Turmeric is commonly used in Indian cooking. I always use a dash of turmeric in my curries, and sambars.

I no longer get terrible cold and cough, as I don't consume dairy milk. I still love to drink turmeric milk when the weather turns cool. I often make turmeric milk with rice milk.

Visit here to find recipe for Turmeric milk.

Vegan Diet

Decades ago it was considered that meat is absolutely required for a healthy body. Vegetarians were considered to be pale and sick. Everyone from doctors to dieticians discouraged people not to be a vegetarian.

These days everyone seems to endorse vegetarian and even vegan diet. Vegan diet is not only good for you but it also helps our beautiful planet - Earth. Vegan diet is considered to be "Green"

The American Dietetic Association states that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life-cycle including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence and for athletes.

Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

It's been a long time since I made some cookies. Today I made some vegan oatmeal raisin cookies. These cookies were so crunchy and tasty. I felt as if I was eating delicious coconut cookies from Bangalore bakeries.

Madhuram uses flax seed meal as one of the ingredients. I did'nt use it in the recipe since I don't buy flax seeds.

Madhuram's blog Eggless cooking is filled with numerous delicious vegan recipes - cookies, cakes, breads and muffins.

Incredible Vegan Carrot Cake

I start to bake cakes and cookies once the weather turns cold. I recently baked Incredible Vegan Carrot Cake from Vegweb website. The cake was spongy and delicious. I'm sure I will be making this cake atleast a couple of times in the coming months!

Vegetable Puff

Growing up in Bangalore, I frequently enjoyed eating savory vegetable puffs from bakeries. Vegetable puffs are very popular across India.

I often make vegetable puffs using Pepperidge farm puff pastry. The vegetable puffs are really a breeze to make using puff pastry. If you are looking for a quick Indian snack , I think you should try this.

You can find many great recipes for the vegetable puffs on the internet. You can find my favorite vegetable puff recipe here.

Fatfree Vegan Kitchen

According to some surveys the number of vegans is increasing every year. I sometimes feel Susan's delicious vegan blog, Fatfree Vegan Kitchen is the reason for increase in the number of vegans.

Fatfree Vegan Kitchen is a vegan food blog brimming with yummy and nutritious recipes.

Recently many bloggers made vegan dishes - soups, salads, side-dishes, appetizers and desserts, by following the recipes from Fatfree Vegan Kitchen.

Visit Vaishali's blog - Holy cow , to see tasty vegan dishes. You can get all the recipes at fatfree vegan kitchen

Eating Vegan Food Every Day

After celebrating Earth Day, everyone from kids to adults want to go green. Eating vegan food everyday is a great way to go green.

Thriving on a vegan diet every day is not only great for our beautiful Earth, but also great for our health.

How can vegan diet help the Earth?

A UN report, Livestock's long shadow reports that animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of total greenhouse gas emissions, more than all transportation in the world combined. Visit here to read more about this report.

Thousands of people in many countries die every day because of hunger. A pound of wheat can be grown with 60 gallons of water, whereas a pound of meat requires 2,500 to 6,000 gallons . So if the number of vegans increase, the production of plant-based foods will be sufficient for the growing population.

How can a vegan diet help one's health?

According to the American Dietetic Association , vegetarians have lower blood cholesterol levels, lower rates of hypertension , diabetes, and prostrate and colon cancers.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its webpage states that,
"Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases." American Heart Association states that, "Vegetarian diets can be healthful and nutritionally sound if they’re carefully planned to include essential nutrients."

What do vegans eat?

Vegans just don't eat salads and fruits. Most vegans love cupcakes, cookies and cakes. Once you become a vegan, each day you will explore variety of grains, beans, fruits , and vegetables.

Any blogs and websites for vegan recipes?

Internet is brimming with wonderful vegan blogs filled with delicious vegan recipes.
Fatfree vegan kitchen , vegan dad , Holy cow , Have cake will travel

Is it very hard to be a vegan in United States?

It's really very hard to be on a vegan diet in India or Pakistan, because delicious food items such as vegan icecream and vegan butter is not available. On the other hand, it's very easy to thrive on a vegan diet in United States because you can easily get variety of non-dairy milk, non-dairy ice creams and great vegan chocolates in almost all the supermarkets across the country.

Any inspiring vegan blogs ?

Urban vegan , Veganlunch box , Dinner with Dilip , Vegan doctor

Any magazines and E-zines about vegan lifestyle?

Vegnews
and Vegfamily

Himalaya Herbal Healthcare

During my recent visit to Bengaluru (Bangalore), I came across numerous personal care products such as shampoo, creams, and lotions produced by Himalaya Herbal Healthcare. Even though I grew up in Bangalore, I was seeing Himalaya herbal products for the first time.

Himalaya products are made by following the ayurveda principles. Luckily, all these products doesn't contain horrible chemicals and animal products. In short, Himalaya products are suitable for vegans. According to Grace Ormstein, the Herbal consultant for Himalaya Herbal Healthcare, osteocare is not suitable for vegans.

Well, you don't have to travel to Bangalore to buy these great products. Himalaya natural personal care products are available in stores across United States. Visit Himalaya Herbal Healthcare.

VegFest in Michigan

I live near Detroit, and it's easy to thrive on a vegan diet. These days almost all the major grocery stores carry vegan food itmes, everything from non-diary milk to ice cream.

If you are in Michigan and if you are interested to know more about the positive impact of plant-based diet on your health and on our planet, then you should attend the great event - VegFeast.

VegFest is organized by VegMichigan, the largest vegetarian organization in Michigan . VegFest is on April 26 in Ferndale . To know more about this wonderful event go to VegFest

PetaDishoom

In India, it's very easy to thrive on a vegetarian diet. In India where milk is considered sacred , It's really challenging to be on a vegan diet. People think you are weird if you tell them that you don't consume milk and milk products.

Thanks to Peta. Peta is showing people the torture cows endure to produce milk. During my recent visit to India, I did not come across even a single vegan. But, I did see some youngsters thriving on a vegan diet in India when I visited Peta's website Petadishoom . Visit PetaDishoom if you plan to visit India to know more about vegan food items.

Cadbury's Bourville - Vegan Chocolate in India

I love chocolates. While growing up in India, I used to frequently eat Cadbury's dairy milk bars. Even though you can find variety of chocolates in the market , Cadbury's chocolates are sill very popular in India.

Last year I could not find any dark chocolates suitable for vegans in India. I wondered why Cadbury's does not make dark chocolates(vegan chocolates), which not only tastes great but also good for our health .During my recent visit to India, I was surprised to find Cadbury's dark chocolates in supermarkets. I was very happy to savour delicious Cadbury's Bournville fine dark chocolate.

Cadbury's Bournville dark chocolate is available in four varieties: rich cocoa, raisin and nut, hazelnut and almond. I tasted all the four varieties, and these chocolates tastes so rich in cocoa - so delicious!

Visit Cadbury Bournville

Barack Obama and Vegan Diet

Barack Obama, the young president of United States is inspiring youngsters from Boston to Bangalore. Barack Obama eats meat, but feels that plant-based diet is great for our environment and economy.

Visit youtube to hear what Obama has to say regarding vegan diet