Hey animal lovers....looking for a meaningful 2012 New Year's Resolution that will help animals? Make this the year that you really put your beliefs into action. Read on for some suggestions...


People everywhere will be ringing in the New Year by celebrating the memories of the past year and creating hopes and resolutions for the coming year. This year, how about creating the ultimate resolution to help animals, and I mean really help animals….by leaving meat, dairy and eggs off your plate, or at least reducing your consumption. If you are already a vegetarian, push yourself further-- consider a vegan diet to help end even more cruelty. Involve your family in this resolution-- kids will love being part of something big, and they'll be excited to participate and contribute.

In a society so saturated with meat, dairy and eggs, it’s easy to understand why people are so reluctant to change their eating habits. Most of us have grown up eating animal products, so it’s what we’re used to and comfortable doing. And most of us have never questioned it; it’s the norm. We can’t underestimate the power of habit and tradition-- it is perhaps the greatest deterrent to change. But it’s a new year….and you’re looking for a meaningful change, right? You can make a change for some animals who desperately need an ally, while also helping the environment and even your own health. It's a win-win (and win!).

New Year’s Resolutions guaranteed to make a positive difference for animals:

Meatless Mondays:  Give up meat (and dairy and eggs) just one day a week. Check out the official Meatless Monday website for tips, resources, support and recipes. In addition to individuals, many hospitals, restaurants, K-12 schools and universities are participating in Meatless Mondays, including all 14 of restaurateur, Mario Batali’s restaurants across the country. Sign the pledge.

Swap out: Swap out a few animal products in your kitchen for vegan products. For example, switch out your Land O’ Lakes butter for Earth Balance which is sold in most mainstream supermarkets. Switch out cow’s milk for soy milk or almond milk; many brands actually contain 50% more calcium than cow’s milk. I also highly recommend the Boca chik’n patties which are also sold in most supermarkets.

Go Vegetarian: Don’t waste time remembering which days you can eat meat, and which days you can’t. Keep it simple and just ditch meat entirely to help animals every day. You can also download a Vegetarian Starter Kit online, or order one through the mail. Read through this list of 101 Reasons to go Veg for inspiration.

Go Vegan: Be the person that doesn’t want to be connected to animal cruelty in any shape or form; the person who refuses to buy products that contribute to animal suffering. Drop meat, dairy and eggs from your diet. It’s easier now more than ever… there are tons of meat alternatives that taste just like the “real” thing, and there are also substitutes for milk, butter, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise and cheese.  And when you focus on veggies, grains and other plant-based food, a whole new palette of flavors will be waiting for you. Check out this post I wrote for Girlie Girl Army about stepping it up; it also includes suggestions for common food substitutes.

21-Day Vegan Kickstart: Want to test the waters first before diving right in? Then sign up for The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine’s (PCRM) free 21-Day Vegan Kickstart. You’ll receive a meal plan, tips and recipes. There is also an online community forum to connect with others, get support, and have your nutrition questions answered by PCRM experts. You can also download the free iPhone app that compliments the online program.  There’s really no good reason not to try this, especially if you call yourself an “animal lover.”

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The American Dietetic Association (ADA), the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals has given the stamp of approval not only to a vegetarian diet, but also a fully vegan diet. In their own words … It is the position of the American Dietetic Association 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.

It’s always easier to do this with a buddy, so encourage a friend or coworker to join you. Or involve your whole family and make this a special, fun mission that your kids will be excited about participating in. But if you can’t find anyone to join you, be strong on your own, and consider the animals you are saving to be your “buddies.” You’re doing it for them, afterall.

Here are a few vegan recipe sites to get you started: VegWeb, VegNews, PCRM, All Recipes, Vegsource, PETA, The Kind Life (Alicia Silverstone), Post Punk Kitchen, and Meet the Shannon’s who are veganizing The Betty Crocker Cookbook!

There are also tons of vegan blogs filled with every recipe you can imagine, so google until you find what you’re looking for. To get started, kick off the New Year with this amazing vegan mac & cheese. It doesn't contain any cheese (real or fake!). It's healthy, and soooo delicious. I made it for my family on Christmas Eve, an everybody LOVED it! It was a huge hit!



Don't forget to pick up a copy (or order a subscription) of VegNews: the leading source for all things vegetarian/vegan.

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Remember, this isn’t about perfection. It’s about making a positive difference for animals whenever and wherever you can. It’s about voting with your dollars. If you “fall of the wagon” get right back up again and don’t give up on yourself….or the animals. 


Happy New Year…may it be filled with compassion and respect for all!

Welcome to my new website focused on raising vegetarian/vegan kids who care about the well-being of animals. This is my first blog post.

I created this website as a guide for parents who are interested in raising compassionate kids who care about animals, specifically those who are currently raising vegetarian/vegan kids or who are interested in raising vegetarian/vegan kids but need some more information. The website will have resources and tools to help parents, including sample meal plans for all age groups including  pregnancy, book suggestions for parents and children, animal-friendly travel ideas, traditional holiday recipes made vegan, a slideshow of adorable veg babies and kids, and much more. I will also be writing a blog covering current topics, organizations, and products related to raising veg (and compassionate) kids.

This website will serve as a space for parents who are living by similar values and principles to exchange ideas and learn from each other. I hope this website will inspire and empower parents to make incremental changes in their everyday- lives through their purchases and the activities they choose- to help end the suffering of animals. The site is a work in progress, but my ultimate goal is to create a community for parents to read articles, testimonials, advice, and real life experiences about raising veg kids.

For vegans living in a non-vegan world, routine events can sometimes be challenging, especially for kids. So the site will provide helpful tips and suggestions for navigating certain social situations, such as holidays, birthday parties, field trips, play dates, school functions, and more. Kids don't want to feel left out or different in the negative sense; they want to fit in. That being said, if "fitting in" means dropping your morals off at the door and participating in cruel or unethical systems, then as parents, isn't it our job to encourage our children not to fit in? Being a vegan parent can sometimes feel like a balancing act: You're trying to do what is in the best interests of your child, but also what's in the best interests of the animals. At the end of the day, we should acknowledge our imperfections and just strive to make the best decisions we can under the circumstances. We should feel comfortable and proud of the intentional choices that we do make, as we vote with our dollars. As parents we need to embody the message we are trying to teach our children, and hopefully they will follow by example.

My inspiration for this site is my daughter, Charlotte. My husband and I are raising her vegan because we want to instill in her a sense of respect for animals, and also a sense of personal responsibility in her actions. We want to give her the strength and tools she needs to develop into someone who is compassionate, doesn't turn her back on injustices, and makes conscious
decisions based on how they affect animals (as well as other people and the environment). Our family believes that animals are not here for our use (and abuse, which is most often the case). We value animals and their right to exist separate from us, and we believe that they have their own interests, needs, and desires, which are often at odds (to say the least) with the situations that humans put them in. For example, cows and chickens don't want to live in factory farms and be killed for our food, elephants don't want to do stupid tricks in a circus, dolphins don't want to jump through hoops in a tiny concrete pool at an
amusement park, rabbits don't want to be electrocuted to give us the fur off their backs, mice in labs don't want to have toxic substances poured down their throats and into their eyes, lions don't want to live boring, lonely lives in artificial enclosures in zoos, and chimpanzees don't want to be trained to be in commercials. It's that simple. I want to teach my daughter (as well as raise awareness so that other parents will do the same) to recognize these as truths as she innately will and have the courage and confidence to stand up against these industries, even in the face of so much opposition and constant messages that steer us in the opposite direction. I hope that future generations of children will feel empowered and inspired to truly live according to their values.

Stay tuned in the coming days for guest posts written exclusively for our site by PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk, Jessica Almy
from VegBooks.com, the Founder of the Vegan Product Guide, and the authors ofThe Secret Life of Mitch Spinach and That's Why We Don't Eat Animals, and many more. 

If you are a vegetarian/vegan parent, teacher, or kid who is interested in writing a blog post, please contact me. I'd love to hear from you!

Thank you for visiting my site. Please check back often for updates and new blog posts.

Compassion for all!