Jess Parsons's Blog

Vegan Minecraft cake - mine own crafting

2012-05-20T05:06:17Z

Our son's Minecraft birthday cake was the sincerest form of flattery - idea stolen from a recent Facebook post from a mother friend.

Usually, my talented sister artistically bakes and decorates all our vegan birthday creations, but this time life got in the way. But she let me use all her gear, for which much thanks.

Inspiration

I searched for a model - one problem is that Minecraft itself has a cake object (mines, cakes, I'm sure you see the link at least as well as I do), and that cubical cake was the most common example. But I wanted to make a piece of the Minecraft block world for my little Minecraft addict.

Sadly, most of the pictures of Minecraft world cakes were messy-looking and not very inspiring. I naturally feared that I was about to add another such example to the Minecraft mixup, but I pressed on.

My son picked the right birthday to love Minecraft - I imagined I could design a 7 into the blocks of the cake. I wouldn't have aimed for any other digit. Except 1, and even in our house, the 1-year-olds aren't hooked on computer games.

Planning

I designed the blocks, discussed my plan in a special session with another friend (recently graduated from a short decorating course), then redesigned the blocks.

You could use this basic stepped design for any year. Grass on the ground, 1 level of rock blocks, and one level of grass blocks. My aim was for big blocks and a simple structure.

And the bit I cut out from the first layer could be the second layer! What could be simpler?

Chocolate!

I made a chocolate cake, because:

Chocolate is the only cake worth making
Chocolate was the dirt for the grass blocks.

And of course, I used the Vegan 101 Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe (good for cake or cupcakes).

I used a professional "snow creme" icing product, and thinned and tinted it (pale gray and grass-green). I knew that you get a better look from pre-formed layered icings, but I wanted it to taste good.

For this big a cake, I used my own medium sized roasting pan (the only one left in my decluttered kitchen because our oven is so petite).

I baked a full day in advance of the party, since I knew that for cake sculpture, cool cake (or even cold cake) is a must. I mixed up loads of chocolate batter and several cups of icing (just in case.

Luckily, each step went pretty well to plan.

Lesson #1 - lots of batter gangs up on you and escapes.

Baking

Whew, successfully out of the pan in one piece!

Marking

Cutting

Constructing and Decorating

I didn't take any pictures of these stages, because my hands were covered in icing the whole time. And because I was too busy thinking "Oh sh*t!" and "this looks awful."

Moving the cutout bottom layer onto the presentation platter was a two-person job and was still nerve-wracking.

Lesson #2: The cutout was geometrically simple, but because of the 7, it was structurally very weak (one long skinny arm of cake hangs on by just one cake square). But it survived.

I iced the whole rock level first.

Lesson #3: in shaped cakes, allow for the thick layer of icing that will wreck the measurements of your precision design.

Then I placed the second cake level (the cutout) on top. Scattering chocolate crumbs all over the icing on the first level. I iced the second level and the ground level with green, plus more green from a grass nozzle.

The rest was damage control, adding more and more icing to the rock layer until it looked respectable.

Lesson #4: large spaces of plain pale icing are like white clothes; every spot shows.

The steadier hand got the detail work done.

I had not planned the green grass line around the base of the rock layer, but it was crucial. As well as completing the illusion of the ground grass level beneath the rock, it also drew the eye to the deep colour and away from the many imperfections in the pale rock level. Rock's meant to be a lumpy and spotty, right?

Lessons Learned

While I got compliments on the cake, and it was delicious, I was totally stressed during the process about how many things had to go right for it to work.

Here's hoping big sis is back on the job next year!

Vegan Minecraft cake - mine own crafting

2012-05-19T20:28:21Z

Our son's Minecraft birthday cake was the sincerest form of flattery - idea stolen from a recent Facebook post from a mother friend.

Usually, my talented sister artistically bakes and decorates all our vegan birthday creations, but this time life got in the way. But she let me use all her gear, for which much thanks.

Inspiration

Planning

I graphically designed the blocks, discussed my plan in a special session with another friend (recently graduated from a short decorating course), then redesigned the blocks.

You could use this basic stepped design for any year. Grass on the ground, 1 level of rock blocks, and one level of grass blocks. My aim was for big blocks and a simple structure, so I had half a chance of succeeding.

And the bit I cut out from the first layer could be the second layer! What could be simpler?

Chocolate!

I made a chocolate cake, because:

Chocolate is the only cake worth making
Chocolate was the dirt for the grass blocks.

And of course, I used the Vegan 101 Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe (good for cake or cupcakes).

For this big of a cake, I used my own worn medium sized roasting pan (the only one left in my decluttered kitchen because our oven is so petite).

I baked a full day in advance of the party, since I knew that for cake sculpture, cool cake (or even cold cake) is a must. I mixed up loads of chocolate batter and several cups of icing (just in case.

Luckily, each step went pretty well to plan.

Lesson #1 - lots of batter gangs up on you and escapes.

Baking

Whew, successfully out of the pan in one piece!

Marking

Cutting

Constructing and Decorating

I didn't take any pictures of these stages, because my hands were covered in icing the whole time. And because I was too busy thinking "Oh sh*t!" and "this looks awful."

Moving the cutout bottom layer onto the presentation platter was a two-person job and was still nerve-wracking.

Lesson #2: The cutout was geometrically simple, but because of the 7, it was structurally very weak (one long skinny arm of cake hangs on by just one cake square). But it survived.

I iced the whole rock level first.

Lesson #3 - in shaped cakes, allow for the thick layer of icing that will wreck the measurements of your precision design.

The rest was damage control, adding more and more icing to the rock layer until it looked respectable.

Lesson #4 - large spaces of plain pale icing are like white clothes; every spot shows.

The steadier hand did the detail work.

I had not planned the green grass line around the base of the rock layer, but it was crucial. It made it look like there was grass under all the rock, and it also drew the eye away from the many imperfections in the pale rock level. Rock's meant to be a lumpy and spotty, right?

Lessons Learned

While I got compliments on the cake, and it was delicious, I was totally stressed during the process about how many things had to go right for it to work.

I'm definitely hoping big sis is back on the job next year!

Vegan Minecraft cake - mine own crafting

2012-05-19T20:28:21Z

Our son's Minecraft birthday cake was the sincerest form of flattery - idea stolen from a recent Facebook post from a mother friend.

Usually, my talented sister artistically bakes and decorates all our vegan birthday creations, but this time life got in the way. But she let me use all her gear, for which much thanks.

Inspiration

Planning

I graphically designed the blocks, discussed my plan in a special session with another friend (recently graduated from a short decorating course), then redesigned the blocks.

And the bit I cut out from the first layer could be the second layer! What could be simpler?

Chocolate!

I made a chocolate cake, because:

Chocolate is the only cake worth making
Chocolate was the dirt for the grass blocks.

And of course, I used the Vegan 101 Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe (good for cake or cupcakes).

For this big of a cake, I used my own worn medium sized roasting pan (the only one left in my decluttered kitchen because our oven is so petite).

Luckily, each step went pretty well to plan.

Lesson #1 - lots of batter gangs up on you and escapes.

Baking

Whew, successfully out of the pan in one piece!

Marking

Cutting

Constructing and Decorating

I didn't take any pictures of these stages, because my hands were covered in icing the whole time. And because I was too busy thinking "Oh sh*t!" and "this looks awful."

Moving the cutout bottom layer onto the presentation platter was a two-person job and was still nerve-wracking.

Lesson #2: The cutout was geometrically simple, but because of the 7, it was structurally very weak (one long skinny arm of cake hangs on by just one cake square). But it survived.

I iced the whole rock level first.

Lesson #3 - in shaped cakes, allow for the thick layer of icing that will wreck the measurements of your precision design.

The rest was damage control, adding more and more icing to the rock layer until it looked respectable.

Lesson #4 - large spaces of plain pale icing are like white clothes; every spot shows.

The steadier hand did the detail work.

Lessons Learned

While I got compliments on the cake, and it was delicious, I was totally stressed during the process about how many things had to go right for it to work.

I'm definitely hoping big sis is back on the job next year!

Vegan Minecraft cake - mine own crafting

2012-05-19T20:28:21Z

Our son's Minecraft birthday cake was the sincerest form of flattery - idea stolen from a recent Facebook post from a mother friend.

Usually, my talented sister artistically bakes and decorates all our vegan birthday creations, but this time life got in the way. But she let me use all her gear, for which much thanks.

Inspiration

Planning

I graphically designed the blocks, discussed my plan in a special session with another friend (recently graduated from a short decorating course), then redesigned the blocks.

And the bit I cut out from the first layer could be the second layer! What could be simpler?

Flavor

I made a chocolate cake, because:

Chocolate is the only cake worth making
Chocolate was the dirt for the grass blocks.

And of course, I used the Vegan 101 Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe (good for cake or cupcakes).

I thought I'd borrow some big pans from my expert sister, but for the size I planned I used my own worn medium sized roasting pan (the only one left in my decluttered kitchen because our oven is so petite).

Luckily, each step went pretty well to plan.

Lesson #1 - lots of batter gangs up on you and escapes.

Baking

Whew, successfully out of the pan in one piece!

Marking

Cutting

Constructing and Decorating

I didn't take any pictures of these stages, because my hands were covered in icing the whole time. And because I was too busy thinking "Oh sh*t!" and "this looks awful."

Moving the cutout bottom layer onto the presentation platter was a two-person job and was still nerve-wracking.

Lesson #2: The cutout was geometrically simple, but because of the 7, it was structurally very weak (one long skinny arm of cake hangs on by just one cake square). But it survived.

I iced the whole rock level first.

Lesson #3 - in shaped cakes, allow for the thick layer of icing that will wreck the measurements of your precision design.

The rest was damage control, adding more and more icing to the rock layer until it looked respectable.

Lesson #4 - large spaces of plain pale icing are like white clothes; every spot shows.

The steadier hand did the detail work.

Lessons Learned

While I got compliments on the cake, and it was delicious, I was totally stressed during the process about how many things had to go right for it to work.

I'm definitely hoping big sis is back on the job next year!

Vegan Minecraft cake - mine own crafting

2012-05-19T20:28:21Z

Our son's Minecraft birthday cake was the sincerest form of flattery - idea stolen from a recent Facebook post from a mother friend.

Usually, my talented sister artistically bakes and decorates all our vegan birthday creations, but this time life got in the way. But she let me use all her gear, for which much thanks.

Inspiration

Planning

I graphically designed the blocks, discussed my plan in a special session with another friend (recently graduated from a short decorating course), then redesigned the blocks.

And the bit I cut out from the first layer could be the second layer! What could be simpler?

Flavor

I made a chocolate cake, because:

Chocolate is the only cake worth making
Chocolate was the dirt for the grass blocks.

And of course, I used the Vegan 101 Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe (good for cake or cupcakes).

Luckily, each step went pretty well to plan.

Lesson #1 - lots of batter gangs up on you and escapes.

Baking

Whew, successfully out of the pan in one piece!

Marking

Cutting

Constructing and Decorating

I didn't take any pictures of these stages, because my hands were covered in icing the whole time. And because I was too busy thinking "Oh sh*t!" and "this looks awful."

Moving the cutout bottom layer onto the presentation platter was a two-person job and was still nerve-wracking.

Lesson #2: The cutout was geometrically simple, but because of the 7, it was structurally very weak (one long skinny arm of cake hangs on by just one cake square). But it survived.

I iced the whole rock level first.

Lesson #3 - in shaped cakes, allow for the thick layer of icing that will wreck the measurements of your precision design.

The rest was damage control, adding more and more icing to the rock layer until it looked respectable.

Lesson #4 - large spaces of plain pale icing are like white clothes; every spot shows.

The steadier hand got the detail work done.

Lessons Learned

While I got compliments on the cake, and it was delicious, I was totally stressed during the process about how many things had to go right for it to work.

I'm definitely hoping big sis is back on the job next year!

Vegan Kids, Breastfeeding, and SEX!

2012-05-14T21:37:19Z

I've posted before about how breastfeeding, and in particular a natural weaning process (years, not months), is a strong building block for a healthy vegan child.

Basically, if you continue to breastfeed your child along with the solids they eat, you are providing perfectly-designed nutrition. There's no need to add other milks, particularly milks from other animals, with their associated health risks and institutional cruelty.

But very few families choose natural weaning. Unlike traditional cultures worldwide, our culture has primarily sexualised breasts, mainly for commercial use. So to most, breastfeeding past infancy is icky, weird, and probably perverted. Of course, a child with a bottle of cows' milk would pass unnoticed.

The recent uproar about the breastfeeding Time cover mother is living proof of how squirmy people get when seeing a big kid attached to his mother's human nipple.

Well, I've been there, done that, and had my motivations examined with a very dirty microscope. It's time we talked about these judgements openly. I hope you'll read my frank discussion on breastfeeding mothers and sex and find it valuable in the big picture of cultural bias vs raising the next vegan generation.

Language and animals - who hears a who?

2012-05-05T19:15:39Z

I just learned something new. In MS Word, a sentence with the phrase “a hen who slept at the foot of the bed” shows a grammar error on “who” – the grammar rules recommend “that”. Change it to “man” and look! “Who” is OK.

I kept experimenting. These language rules systematically strip individual identity from animals, giving them the same grammatical status as a table.

Dogs, cats, and mice are also not whos. Neither are birds (no, not even parrots), lions, or tigers. Strangely, a monkey is a who. But not a chimp or a gorilla.

It’s a fun game for a few idle moments – try to find an animal that MS Word deems worthy of being a who. Sorry, Horton and Dr Seuss, but an elephant is not a who.

A person's a person, no matter how small. Is an animal a thing, no matter how tall?

Who cares?

When I write about animals, I deliberately go against my conditioning and use identity and gender language to regift these creatures with their natural birthright.

A hen or a cow is a “she” and a bull is a "he" – how hard can that be? If I don’t know an animal’s gender, I can at least pay the same respect I do to human creatures and use s/he or other techniques.

See how easily we can reject this judgement that humanity is clinging to for its own convenience and profit – that animals don't matter enough to care whether they are male or female?

Who is an animal? Who is a piece of meat?

We all know common words that objectify animals in the animal industry:

Nobody eats a cow, they eat beef, or steak, or (hamburger) mince.
Nobody eats a sheep, they eat mutton or chops.
Nobody eats a pig, they eat pork or bacon.
Even a lamb is just called lamb, and a chicken is just chicken.

If you think that last one is quibbling, think about what you picture when you hear “a lamb” or “a chicken,” compared to “lamb” and “chicken.” That simple word “a” assigns identity to the animal – and it’s taken away just as simply.

And you’ll love this. According to MS Word, a hen is not a “who.” But a rooster is.

Who’s writing this stuff? (And yes, I checked: a software programmer is a who.)

Wallet minimisation and handbag sexism

2012-04-26T04:48:52Z

My wallet and backpack featured last year on The Everyday Minimalist's Minimalist Wallet series.

That exercise showed me that I could downsize several items. But in the unstuffed wallet, the important cards get lonely and slip out of their pocket when not carefully handled.

More recently, my husband minimised his wallet from a traditional trifold to a simple bifold card wallet. He's given that bifold to me now... so now I get to put my money where my minimalism is.

Handbag sexism

While we're on the topic of what we carry around, ponder this. Handbags are a hot feminist issue (along with women's pockets) Women are burdened by bags full of makeup and stuff for everything that could happen to us or anyone around us.

Men have always carried wallets, heedless of their clothing profiles. Few take even a comb along with them because their morning's grooming is good enough.

These bags bind us as much as high heels - you can't run very fast with either.

And just like any space, you start with what you actually want, and the unplanned items sneak in until you're forced into maintenance. Bigger is not better.

I don't need to carry nappies and clothes changes everywhere I go anymore. When I do need to carry water bottles and a snack, I've downsized from the daypack featured earlier to this child-sized backpack (of course, one of my many Secondhand Smarts buys).

So on to the shrinking wallet...

Old wallet

Trifold wallet with numerous pockets, contains:

Cash
NZ driver’s license
Credit card
Cashpoint card
Automobile Association card
Library card
Supermarket points card
Bulk store membership card
Explorers clubday concession card (card stock)
Health food store loyalty card (keychain size)
Airline points card
2 store loyalty cards
Food preferences card designed by my sister for giving to restaurants not familiar with the McDougall Program. Never so far used.
Medical insurance membership card

New wallet

I kept everything I used on a weekly basis or more and the auto card for emergencies. The airline points card is new to me and still to prove itself.

I released

2 store loyalty cards (not local)
Food preferences card
Medical insurance membership card
Cashpoint card (credit card is dual purpose)

The rest fits pretty nicely. I could add a little more.

Advantages

Beautiful...

As well as the obvious, it's much easier to carry in that rare creature: the women's clothing pocket!

Risks and downsides

There's no place to keep much cash or receipts I want to save. I've already wasted a trip thinking I had a cheque in my wallet - and I didn't! Then, I coudn't find the cheque for some hours afterward.

This is truly an experiment - wish me luck!

My ideal wallet would be a bifold that also has a long side pocket for bills - anyone know where I can get one?

Beat 7 traps for healthy kids

2012-04-07T07:26:22Z

How do you and your kids rate on the 4-Leaf scale? Modern life can make it very hard to keep to a simple and healthy diet for your family. Once you're in the know, you can at least avoid these common traps.

1. Wholegrains have too much fibre for kids

It's only recently that we could be wasteful enough to refine foods, and it wasn't a positive step for anyone, healthwise. Not only fibre but also vital nutrients get stripped out.

Yet...

"Too much fibre fills up kids' stomachs and they don't eat enough..."

"Too much fibre stops nutrients being absorbed, so kids will suffer..."

Where is the evidence for these endlessly repeated theories? I can't even find the study which apparently started it all, where a child was unwisely given lots of high bran cereals and fibre supplements (not wholegrains).

This review of the scientific literature asks: should we worry about high fibre for children? Answer: No, we should encourage more fibre.

That could be the last word, but it's worth noting the media hype of a recent UK study on nursery food and nutrition - when they found that nurseries were feeding children lots of fruits and vegetables and not much fat and saturated fat, did they applaud in relief? No, their nutritionist said this risked the children's health.

Headlines include

This study did not examine a single child for starvation, poor nutrition, or poor development. The food served was simply held up against the current nutritional recommendations (strongly influenced by food lobbies for meat, milk, and sugar) and declared wanting.

Some great advice from PCRM - they recommend you encourage a taste for whole grains and avoid sugars and highly processed foods. It's much harder to get into the whole foods habit if you've always had the softer, sweeter version, but here are some tried and tested hints for transitioning to whole grains.

2. Kids shouldn't be on a lowfat diet

Humans do need some fats, and young children do need more than adults. One important natural source of fat for young children is breast milk. I follow the WHO's recommendations to continue breastfeeding until age 2 and beyond, and one reason is so my children get this vital source of perfectly-designed fats and other nutrients.

But foods today are fattened up in the factory like foie gras geese. If children need more fats to grow, does it follow that we should remain unaware of a child's fat consumption?

You decide....

New Zealand (2006/7) - 1 in 5 children overweight; 1 in 12 children obese
USA (2008) - 1 in 3 children overweight; 1 in 5 obese

A healthy diet means far more than just fat levels. But fat has 9 calories per gram compared to 4 for carbohydrates and protein.

Some healthy fats come from whole grains, nuts, seeds, and avocados. But most are refined fats added to processed foods to improve both the mouthfeel of the foods (so your child will want more) and the profit margin for international conglomerate food companies.

So reducing fat in a child's diet is hardly medically risky or child abuse - quite the opposite.

3. My kids aren't fat or unhealthy

Congratulations! Your kids are young and active, and they're burning off the calories they eat so far.

But their taste buds have been in training since birth. They taste the flavours of the food their mother eats when they drink breast milk, and they learn to like the solids they're fed thereafter. They won't always be tiny power racers!

Again from PCRM -

"Eating habits are set in early childhood...Children raised on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes grow up to be slimmer and healthier and even live longer than their meat-eating friends."

4. My kids won't eat healthy food

Perhaps not. Mine do eat healthy food as well as more traditional treats, and here's how it happened. Only you know your family's eating story, but consider the following:

Do they see you eat and enjoy fruits, vegetables, roots, and whole grains every day?
Do they get to choose to eat the fruits and vegetables they like?
Do you present them with care and attention?

As per school rules for healthy eating, I prepared a fruit platter for my son's class for his birthday. They were truly excited to see fresh pineapple, watermelon and cantaloupe (rockmelon), cherry tomatoes, and grapes.

You have power over this - even over strong advertising messages.

5. If you make kids eat good food, they will just rebel later

OK, I see how that works!

If you make your kids play outside or do sports, they'll become couch potatoes later.
If you make your kids learn their school lessons, they'll never read or write again.
If you make your kids be polite and kind and clean up after themselves, they'll become really rude messy teenagers... OK, slippery slope there.

We show our kids habits when they're young, and they're more likely to continue whatever habits they learned - healthy or not.

Parental influence is very important - learn what works and what backfires.

6. If you restrict unhealthy foods, they will only want them more

While there is some psychological truth to the forbidden fruit theory, remember, that was fruit.

There is a famous study from the 1930s showing that children given a range of basically healthy foods to choose from will eventually select a variety of balanced nutrition.

But your child is in the uncontrolled study called life - and often a child is presented with far more unhealthy choices. There is no natural appetite limiter for refined sweet and fatty foods like doughnuts, chocolate, and fries. By the time your body says enough, you've already eaten too much. It's worse for a child, who has more enthusiasm and a smaller stomach.

Of course, like an adult, each child has different tastes - enjoying food is key.

7. All the other kids eat this way

Remember what your mother said:

If all the other kids jumped off a cliff, would you jump too?

Peer pressure can help you. Young children are particularly likely to eat what their peers are eating, and that goes for vegetables too.

Crucially, you and your kids can be the change we need to see - wouldn't it be great if all the other kids could be eating (and enjoying) healthy food too?

How do you encourage your kids toward your dream of a healthy diet?

Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell B Esselstyn, Jr., M.D. - Book review

2012-03-26T20:46:43Z

Last time I reviewed an exciting book by this man’s son (Engine 2 Diet, Rip Esselstyn). This book is more technical but in its way, just as exciting.

Dr Esselstyn Jr doesn’t waste any time. He starts with a colleague’s heart attack experience. Right there on the first page of the first chapter, he says, “coronary artery disease need not exist, and if it does, it need not progress.” That’s a powerful message given the heartbreaking disease statistics in this country – accounting for 40% of deaths.

The basics

In just four pages he simply summarises all the information you need to make yourself heart attack proof.

You may not eat:
•   anything with a mother or a face (no meat, poultry, or fish)
•    dairy products
•    oil of any kind – not a drop
•    (generally) nuts or avocados.

You can eat:
• All vegetables, legumes, and fruits except avocado
• All whole grains and products (as long as they have no added fat)

You don’t actually need to read the rest of the book. But it helps.

Current medical model

He continues with the case study of this colleague and his cure from cardiovascular disease through diet. Then he exposes an inside view on how the current medical model nearly excludes nutrition in favour of drugs and surgery – and how patients continue to sicken and die. Yet successful nutrition therapy is called radical.

History

Next is the history chapter. Dr Esselstyn Jr’s father and father in law were both also prominent doctors – but between them “they had diabetes; strokes; prostate, colon, and lung cancer; and coronary artery disease.” He describes his own “epiphany” where he decides to follow a diet along the lines of his own research.

Diet on trial

Then we learn about the clinical trial with patients suffering advanced coronary artery disease. Dr Esselstyn provided an unusual amount of personal support for his patients to help them achieve such a radical change in diet. The individual patient histories make sobering reading – except where one hospital dietician had prescribed a stick of corn oil margarine a day!

Dr Esselstyn has coined the phrase “Moderation Kills.” This chapter gets quite biological (some may not want to know about nitric oxide and the effect on your endothelial cells) but it thoroughly explains why the popular attitude of “everything in moderation” has led directly to chronic disease. Cutting back to 29% fat does not promote health.

Results!

The results chapter is amazing – according to the cholesterol levels and angiograms (photos included), all compliant patients halted or reversed their disease and increased their quality of life. For some perspective, the study was performed in the mid ‘80s and this book in 2007. Almost all the compliant patients are now in late life and healthy. The control group receiving standard medical treatment experienced the standard steady worsening of cardiovascular disease.

Politics and power

Next is some big picture analysis of the politics of medicine and the power of the status quo. National health policy is set not according to scientifically known facts but to a blend of financial and cultural pressure. The animal industry is in charge of health and diet information. Dr. Esselstyn and his colleagues (in particular including Dr T Colin Campbell) want to stop diluting the message based on what people might want to hear and instead tell the simple truth about the optimal diet. I’m sure that philosophy will resonate with many committed vegans!
He then supplies more details about exactly what his curative diet contains: “no” foods, “yes” foods, and a few supplements. A handy FAQ chapter includes some questions familiar to any vegan.

Healthy oils?

The myth of healthy oils is debunked next. He specifically addresses the study used to promote some oils as healthy choices and introduces further comprehensive data. While diets minus animal products but including oil show health improvement, removing oil improves health markedly again. Consuming “healthy oils” can lead to as much disease as saturated fats.

Teamwork

I enjoyed his salute to other professionals in his industry who deliver the nutrition-based approach to health against the tide of the Western approach. Dr Campbell, Pritikin, Dr McDougall, Dr Ornish, Dr Attwood, Dr Demas. He also presents an inspiring vision of health care aimed at eliminating chronic illness (instead of simply treating the symptoms with expensive drugs).

The diet prescribed for a healthy heart has been shown to prevent many other chronic diseases often simply blamed on aging, including weight gain, stroke, impotence and even dementia. And he presents some hope with increasing signs that the message is slowly getting through.

The food

Part two is all about the food itself. First are a few useful strategies for making major dietary changes with no exceptions, including advice from Ann Esselstyn. Then comes the usual wide-ranging and tasty recipe book. Nearly all recipes are strictly vegan, with honey mentioned as one option in several desserts.

I highly recommend this book as an accessible route to a plant-based diet for anyone concerned with their health (or the health of a loved one).

Read an excerpt or buy the book.

Originally published in Autumn, V Magazine, Vegan Society of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Six Clean Energy Sources Need More Power - Mad Like Tesla Book Review

2012-03-19T20:59:52Z

2012 is the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Mad Like Tesla, by Tyler Hamilton, salutes people dedicated to finding cleaner alternative energy sources.

Nikola Tesla was an extremely quirky inventor full of mad ideas about the world - many of which eventually proved to work. Tesla didn't stop what he was doing if others ridiculed him. He invented the AC induction motor, radio, remote-control (teleautomation) and more. In 1931, at age 75, he published a design for a geothermal power plant and a way to generate power from the ocean's temperature differential.

These new energy source developers follow in Tesla's footsteps. Most of them have left successful mainstream positions to pursue clean energy using ideas generally considered impractical in our time.

You don't have to be a geek to enjoy this book, but it helps. The language is accessible, but even technology-lite can get a bit heavy. But I felt genuinely educated by the end of it.

Mad Like Tesla presents mini-documentaries on real projects in:

Nuclear fusion

The dream big brother to dirty and dangerous nuclear fission power - the sun does it, so why can't we? Fusion has a bad reputation from past false hopes - including the truly ideal cold fusion concept.

There are two main approaches to fusion, magnetic fusion and inertial fusion, and the US government oversees projects using each kind. But Dr Michel Laberge believes his smaller and much nimbler General Fusion has a real chance (well, 50% and rising). General Fusion has mixed the best of both worlds into magnetized target fusion - which notably removes the most expensive parts from the design.

Solar power from space

Asimov wrote about it in 1941 - huge amounts of solar energy could be generated in orbit and beamed down to us. Technology (and demand) may again have caught up with Asimov's imagination.

Get even more energy with the rest of the review...

Eco-friendly packaging - an investment in our future

2012-03-13T00:10:25Z

The winner!

Last year I was lucky enough to win a beautiful set of eco-friendly bamboo party ware from Friendlypak in New Zealand. This substantial set arrived packed in their own compostable product - popstarch. By the faint fragrance, this is made of potato starch like their compostable trays and bowls. I've been happily reusing this packaging in my own boxes.

FriendlyPak specialises in compostable containers - stores and food providers can use these instead of plastic (which often goes unrecycled due to food contamination). They even have shopping and dog waste bags! And how cool is it that they link to The Story of Stuff on their website?

Basic scary facts on packaging waste:

US Waste Facts - "Every year, Americans throw away enough paper and plastic cups, forks, and spoons to circle the equator 300 times."
European Packaging Waste "On average every citizen in the 27 Member States EU-27 generated 164 kg of packaging waste in 2008."
NZ Packaging Waste "Each New Zealander throws away 83 kilograms of used packaging every year."

If we continue to ignore packaging waste, we're going to be up to our necks in it.

Packaging choices under pressure

I don't run a store. But I could use reusable packaging like the lunch wraps from 4MyEarth. I have already chosen waxed paper (which can even be reused for a few days) over plastic wrap for the kids' sandwiches. I need to do some more research on reusable vs compostable.

One New Zealand survey shows that consumers are concerned about too much packaging but feel ill-informed to act on that concern.

Another study takes a hard look at the eco-friendly claims for various types of packaging - there's lots to learn here even for those of us who might think we're already savvy.

Counting the cost

This packaging discussion finds that cost is still the biggest factor when people choose disposable packaging over more eco-friendly choices. They also point out that as waste pressures rise, the real cost of waste disposal will motivate more consumers to choose better packaging.

In Auckland, the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan includes charging us each time our bin is emptied instead of (as present) a flat cost each year. As a pretty good waste minimiser already, I'm a fan!

And, of course, the more we support these eco-friendly industries, the cheaper their products will be.

Thanks!

So here is my public thank you to FriendlyPak for this prize, and also my heartfelt message to FriendlyPak, 4MyEarth and companies like them:

Thank you for providing us with genuine green consumer choices. Thank you for developing products to support the vision of a thriving green economy. Thank you for helping us put our money where our mouth is instead of into the same old poisonous products.

Minimalist dilemma

As a minimalist, I still had a serious decision to make. These bowls and trays are beautiful, but I already have a set of functional and attractive party bowls. The prize bowls also needed a home. In the rush of the holiday season, they simply sat in a stack on the downstairs sofa.

So was their home in my home or someone else's?

Stay tuned to hear all about Workout #4 in Productive New Year's Workouts, and how it all eventually worked out.

Everyone's doing it - what's your best tip to reduce your waste footprint?

Happy Vegan Birthday!

2012-03-06T05:24:32Z

I’m a vegan with two young vegan children. We all love having parties and being invited to them, but of course it’s never a party without food. So how do you keep the party spirit when not everybody in the world is vegan yet?

This sort of gathering can be an opportunity to show just how festive even simple vegan treats can be. Also, everyone has so much more party energy when they’re not loaded down with heavy fatty foods.

Kid’s Birthdays - Attending

Goals

What is your goal for this party? For example:

My child must eat nothing with any animal products at the party
My child must not eat meat or dairy foods but may have baked goods that probably have some animal products (my own compromise as my children do not have dangerous allergies)
My child must…?

Now that you have your goal, what needs to happen to achieve it? Is it a home party or an outing? Who’s in charge of the food and can help you out?

You might need to come to all parties with your young child to ensure your goal.

One goal I have along with my vegan goals is, “My child could be invited back to this house.”

Communication

You can talk to your host beforehand and explain what foods are absolutely off limits.

This gives the host time to plan and is your chance to offer to bring something vegan that everyone will enjoy.

Also talk to your child about what you expect and why. Give them permission to ask for help from an adult if they’re not sure what they may eat. If you can’t be there at the party, this level of communication might be the biggest factor when your child is faced with a dizzying array of attractive party treats.

Kid’s Birthdays - Hosting

Oh, this is much easier. You’re buying! We all know vegan food is amazing. The only limit on your lavish vegan kiddie feast is your imagination. And your budget, of course, but vegan food is cheaper.

If you’re planning an outing party, be aware that some venues will not let you bring your own food but will insist that you buy their expensive animal junk food for the helpless guests. Think of the children and vote with your dollars – somewhere else.

I’m a bit of a health foodie as well as a vegan and I can’t bring myself to serve up
double helpings of pure party junk. From my minimalist party advice:
“Serve some real food. Serve it before the sweets appear.”

My parties have a generous snack table available for filling up on – and nothing to
make a kid go “Ewww, what’s that?”

Snacks

Crackers - Rice, Corn thins, Snax (Ritz), Pretzels
Chips - Salted corn chips, Salted potato chips
Dips - Hummus, Mexican bean dip, Guacamole
Dried fruit - Raisins, apricots, banana chips
Fresh fruit - Grapes, strawberries, melon...
Nuts - cashews, peanuts, pistachios
And of course there are vegan options for traditional kid party favourites like sausage rolls.

Sweets

Sugar free is great, but that’s not one of my party goals. Instead, I let the snacks stay out and get refilled before bringing out jellybeans (non-gelatine) and lollipops.

At one recent party, I already had a bulk box of ice cream cones and the kids loved serving themselves cones full of the sweets.

Enough is enough, and there’s still cake to come.

Cake

I can make a pretty good vegan cake and there is no shortage of great recipes.

Luckily my sister can make an amazingly delicious and stunningly decorated one.

My 40th birthday

When I throw a party for mixed company, I often have a barbecue so I don’t have to do the cooking and people can eat however they like.

But for my extra special day, I wanted it all vegan, all the way and all special. I didn’t want any of the party budget going on animal foods.

So I approached Alice Leonard of Angel Food to do some extra special vegan catering.

She gave me a lot of great suggestions for the menu and I chose:

Savoury
•   Mini sweet corn fritters topped with smoky tomato salsa
•   Mini falafel topped with aioli and chives
•   Mini filo parcels filled with herbed potato
•   Sushi with gingered carrot slaw and bbq tempeh

Sweet
• Lemon curd tarts
• Caramel cream tarts

I could also have had
•   fresh spring rolls
•   cucumber slices topped with guacamole
•   cocoa-coconut meringues
•   choc-dipped marshmallow hearts

I bulked out the extra special food with my own food:
•   the usual snacks, just like for the kids’ parties
•   oven baked ready-made spring rolls
•   spicy Thai potato chunks

And my sister came up trumps again with a special vegan Earth cake (with New Zealand in full focus!)

Remember, unless you wish, there’s no need to point out that you’re only serving vegan food (except to brag to your other vegan friends – who may expect it anyway). Nobody of any dietary persuasion will go away feeling they’ve missed out.

Party on!

Originally published in the Summer 2011 V Magazine of the Vegan Society of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Frugal Vegan Transformers - Beyond Leftovers

2012-02-22T23:56:55Z

Save time and money in your vegan kitchen!

You know you don't want to forget your lurking leftovers - that means mess and waste. You can munch them yourself for lunch or serve them at the end of the week for "take it or leave it day."

Or you can take charge - don't let them gang up on you, transform them into a new delicious meal right away.

These transformers are tested in my very own home.

The secret life of the humble potato

First - steamed or mashed potatoes. I steam as many potatoes as I can possibly fit into our large pressure cooker. My family loves mashed potatoes and gravy! I make them special by mixing in very small pieces of a vegan sausage. Mashed potatoes can easily be shaped into a heart or other designs that will win over the kids.

What next? Presto change-o, potato pancakes. Mix your mashed potatoes with a bread/flour binder and fry them up. Hint: My pancake technique often fails to satisfy, so I use my waffle iron for instant crunchy success.

What next? Curry! It's pretty easy to save a cup of mashed potatoes from the lot. I add a can of Indian flavoured tomatoes, some soymilk, and blend. Make lots of rice (think extras!) and serve dinner.

Rice is still nice

What next? That rice is still fresh enough to serve with a Chinese sauce on the side. If you're really pressed for time, plain soy sauce will do, especially if you also serve some cashews or peanuts.

What next? Fill your Mexican nachos or tortillas with leftover rice along with all those healthy vegetables and beans.

What next? Fried rice takes tired leftover rice for a carnival ride. It's also wonderful for hiding lots of veggies inside, chopped finely.

What next? Everything - and I mean EVERYTHING - transforms into soup!

Safe handling of leftovers - this is easier for vegans but still worth a read...

The 99% don't need models

2012-01-12T22:52:42Z

This controversial story about model sizes is the news of the day on my social networks - opinions range from "I still prefer skinny women" to "it shouldn't matter what size you are as long as you're healthy" and anywhere you like in between.

Statistics prove that model sizes have been getting skinnier and skinnier, and the outrage stampedes away.

Many of us care deeply about our body's health and attractiveness. Many in the vegetarian and vegan world enjoy that their food helps them increase their health and attractiveness. And there's no question that the pictures we see influence what we consider beautiful.

But there's a gigantic assumption behind this controversy - so let's question it.

Why do we have models?

It could be....

They help us choose our clothes by showing us what the clothes look like.

Well, this is the only possible excuse there could be for the entire modelling industry. If only it weren't a total con.

At any size, a model doesn't look like me...or you

For the 99%, no model is your size or shape. S/he has been picked specifically to look really good in clothes and in pictures. When s/he wears clothes, they don't look like they will on you. And that's before posing, lighting, makeup, hairstyle, and airbrushing.

The only thing a model sells is a fantasy - a hope that you will look that good if you bought those clothes.

It works - advertisers know it.

At a logical level, most of us know the truth. That model does not help you pick clothes that suit you. But that professional image goes straight through your logical brain without touching the sides and makes you want what you never needed and will not get.

To your health and happiness

Of course, pursue your own best road to a healthier body and life.

But that doesn't include an argument over anorexic models vs overweight (average) models. They're all unreal commercial images, unworthy of your personal aspiration and acceptance. There are lots of beautiful people in the real world, and that includes you!

If you are concerned about our society's runaway body image problems, stop supporting the industries who use models. There are enough good-quality and attractive secondhand clothes to get you through the rest of your life.

You really don't need to see what they look like on the model first.