Many Jains are Becoming Vegan

Today, many Jains (Followers of Jainism religion) are going vegan in western countries and also in India.  Non-violence is a important virtue for Jains. After seeing the horrible condition of cows in dairy farms across the world, thousands of Jains have stopped the consumption of milk and milk products such as ghee, butter, yogurt and cheese.

Please read these amazing websites and blogs to know more about  Jainisim and Jain vegans...

1. https://veganjains.com/

2. http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/jain/monu.htm

Go Vegan, and Save Polar Bears!

Polar Bears are such cute animals. Unfortunately, Global Warming is causing damage to polar bear habitat. The ice is slowly melting in arctic region...

All of us can combat global warming by thriving on plant-based diet (vegan diet). Studies have shown that vegan diet is great for our Environment . And vegan diet is also good for our health.

Here are few thought-provoking articles...

1. http://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/meat-climate-change-polar-bears-eating-dolphins/

2. https://www.globalanimal.org/2017/02/27/everyday-ways-to-save-the-polar-bear/

3. https://polarbearsinternational.org/get-involved/actions-with-impact/

4.  https://www.instagram.com/polarbearsinternational/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/polarbearsinternational/?hl=en

Tasty and Nutritious Vegan Food

Many people assume that vegan food (plant-based food) is boring . Folks assume that vegans thrive on salads!

I have been a vegan for the past ten years, and every few days, I'm exploring variety of fruits, vegetables, ancient grains and millets. It is really so interesting and exciting to be a VEGAN!

Thanks to amazing vegan videos and pictures. These days youtube, Instagrams, facebook and blogs are awash with mouth-watering vegan recipes and enticing vegan fare.

Next time when your friend or cousin says that vegan food is boring. Just show them these amazing vegan food pictures...

1. https://www.instagram.com/ohsheglows/

2. http://theminimalistvegan.com/high-quality-vegan-blogs/

3. https://www.facebook.com/yumveganrecipes/

4. http://www.veganricha.com/

5. https://holycowvegan.net/

Delicious Vegan Ice Cream

Vegan ice cream is becoming popular everywhere! Thanks to great vegan websites, blogs and youtube for delicious vegan ice cream recipes...

Yes, You can make yummy vegan ice cream at home!

Here are few recipes. I hope you try making vegan ice cream...

1. http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/vegan-ice-creams-to-try/

2. http://www.veganricha.com/2013/07/kesar-kulfi-indian-ice-cream-with.html

3. https://sharan-india.org/recipes/healthy-vegan-ice-cream/

4. https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2011/04/28/vegan-almond-milk-ice-cream-3-recipes/

Anjum Anand - Popularizing Vegetarian and Vegan Food in England

Anjum Anand is a popular T.V. Chef and Food Writer from England. Brits crave Indian food, and Anjum Anand shows that Indian dishes are easy to cook through her Television series, Indian Food Made Easy.

Anjum Anand is passionate about Indian food. Anjum Anand is not a vegan, but her recipe books and websites are loaded with delicious vegan recipes from Indian cuisine. Anjum Anand is the author of 8 cookbooks, including Indian Vegetarian Feast. Every day, Anjum Anand cooks simple and nutritious vegetarian or vegan dishes for her family.

Today, I read an interesting article - Top 10 Tips for Indian and Vegan Cooking by Anjum Anand

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/vegan/anjum-anand-i-love-india-1041762.html

Two Great Reasons to go on Vegan Diet in 2017

1. Vegan Diet is Good for Health : Unprocessed vegan food brimming with fruits and vegetables is rich in antioxidants. Studies have shown that diet rich in vegetables and fruits has the capacity to keep everything from heart disease and diabetes and cancer to obesity at bay.

According to American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics , that appropriately planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. These diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood, and for athletes.

Start you day with a bowl of fruits or green smoothy. Lentils, beans and vegetables such as brocolli and kale is loaded with proteins. So, try to consume veggie salads and lentil  soups for lunch. Indian cuisine and Mediterranean diet is awash with delicious and healthy plant-based recipes.

Here are some great websites for nutritious vegan recipes...

a. http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/recipe-index

b. http://www.veganricha.com/category/popular

c. http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/awesome-green-monster-smoothies/

2. Vegan Diet is  Great for Environment : Studies have shown that vegan diet(plant-based diet ) has less impact on environment. Animal agriculture is causing water pollution and air pollution . Raising animals for meat consumes large amount of water compared to grow lentils and beans.

According to 2006 report by the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) , raising animals for meat is the cause for greenhouse gases such as carbondioxide and methane. In short, animal industry and dairy farms across the world is causing global warming. Today, United Nations is urging people to eat less meat and consume less milk products. 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by the the United Nations .  January 18, 2017 will be the second ever Global Pulse Day, a global event to celebrate pulses and continue the momentum of the International Year of Pulses. And ,World Hunger can be eradicated if everyone thrives on plant-based diet (vegan diet) !

Here are some interesting articles about global warming and environment friendly "vegan meat"

a. http://www.miaminewtimes.com/restaurants/meat-is-drowning-miami-new-omnivore-founder-says-animal-agriculture-is-the-leading-cause-of-climate-change-8293327

b.  http://grist.org/briefly/the-vegan-meat-market-really-beefed-up-in-2016/

c.   http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/-frontier/5-things-you-can-change-t_b_12961192.html

d.  http://www.nbcnews.com/health/diet-fitness/vegan-eating-would-slash-cut-food-s-global-warming-emissions-n542886

Vegan Sweets For Diwali

Diwali - Hindus biggest festival is all about Love,  Non-Violence, Family, Friends and Food. Thanks to growing vegan concept in India, these days you can get "vegan sweets" in many stores!

Terra Earth Food has vegan sweets in Chennai. Here is the link ,
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-downtown/vegan-sweets-for-deepavali/article9246670.ece

You can also make yummy Vegan Indian sweets without ghee, butter and milk. I'm planning to make vegan almond burfi, carrot halwa , and Kaju Katli for Diwali. The blogs - Vegan Richa , Manjula's Kitchen and Holy Cow are filled with many delicious vegan Indian sweet recipes...

 http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-10-23/recipe-vegan-anjeer-barfi-to-celebrate-diwali

http://veganontheprowl.blogspot.com/2013/10/richas-brilliant-vegan-diwali-sweets-e.html

http://www.veganricha.com/2016/09/vegan-carrot-halwa-gajar-halwa-recipe.html

http://holycowvegan.net/vegan-indian-sweets

 http://pyjamapeople.in/index.php/2016/10/05/vegan-baking-101/

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/try-this-at-home-vegan-desserts-for-the-party-season-christmas-new-year/1/548255.html

Vegan Mango Lassi

Mango lassi is a refreshing summer drink in India. In Atlanta, all the Indian restaurants make Mango lassi with dairy milk and yogurt. So, I just enjoy delicious vegan food in Indian restaurants...

Today, I made delicious vegan mango lassi with home-made almond milk and delicious mango. Both my son and I relished it...

You can find many delicious vegan mango lassi recipes on the internet.

You should really try this delicious Indian drink, before summer ends...

http://www.veganricha.com/2014/02/mango-lassi-and-so-delicious-coupon.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.in/smriti-kirubanandan/try-this-vegan-mango-lassi-for-a-glassful-of-goodness/

https://veganthom.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/vegan-mango-lassi/

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/vegan-mango-lassi

Richa Hingle , Indian - American Vegan Food Blogger

Richa Hingle blogs about delicious and nutritious vegan dishes in the blog - Vegan Richa. The blog Vegan Richa inspires people to try plant-based fare (vegan fare). Richa is the author of the amazing vegan cookbook, Vegan Richa's Indian Kitchen. You can find delicious recipes for vegan gulab jamun , and vegan ras malai.

In an interview Richa says, "I chose to be vegan when I realized how I was giving profound love and compassion to one animal (my adopted dog) and causing death, and eating another animal or animal product,” .

Richa says ,“Meat and dairy industries are not only responsible for torture and death of 59 billion animals per year, but they also affect the environment, the planet, and one’s own health. Animal agriculture is the leading producer of greenhouse gasses causing climate change, much more than fossil fuels.” You can read the full interview here, http://www.india.com/food-2/food-blogger-richa-hingle-on-creating-vegan-recipes-for-the-indian-american-audience-1034882/

Richa is also involved in improving the global community. She supports Karuna Society, Wildlife SOS ,  and Asha For Education .

You will be tempted to try Vegan Diet, when you visit Vegan Richa,
http://www.veganricha.com/

Vegetarians and Vegans in Pakistan

I grew up in Bangalore, India . While going to school in the morning, my friend Faiza Sultana often told me stories about Pakistan. She told me that are forefathers were from Pakistan. Faiza wished to visit Pakistan to see her distant relatives. Pakistan is India's neighboring country. I also want to visit Pakistan sometime, as I want to see some ancient Hindu temples near Karachi and Lahore.

My friend has not yet visited Pakistan, but she keeps track of everything from cricket to Lollywood and politics to fashion , of Pakistan. Faiza recently sent me the facebook link to Vegan and Vegetarian Pakistan

I was so happy to see the facebook link to Vegan and Vegetarian Pakistan . I grew up with the notion that Pakistani food is synonymous with non-vegetarian food.

Recently, I read another article in outlook India, which reports that the demand for vegetarian food is growing rapidly in Pakistan. I'm so happy that educated Pakistanis are exploring plant-based diet, good for health and our environment.