Tales of Vegetarian Woe

BBC News published an article today about vegetarians having to suffer all kinds of difficulties while traveling abroad. One "complainer" was kind enough to mention Malaysia as a place where vegetarian food is hard to come by. I guess there's a reason tourists are tourists: they don't know the good places to eat. And hasn't the bloke ever heard of Happy Cow's vegetarian restaurant directory? Malaysian veggie restaurants feature prominently in it. Travel tip: do your homework before getting on that plane!

Worst Textbook In The World?

A textbook used in Indian schools alleges that non-vegetarians lie, cheat and commit sex crimes, according to an article by NDTV. The article points out that the textbook also praises Japan for its vegetarianism (huh?) and advocates that girls marry between age 18 and 25.

In response to this preposterous textbook, I can only say that many religious figures (such as Buddha and Mother Theresa) were not vegetarians, but have been immortalised in many hearts and minds for their good deeds and spiritual achievements. Strange that the textbook doesn't mention that. 

I seriously hope the Indian government bows to media pressure and removes this ridiculous textbook from schools in the country. It's not becoming of an education system that has long been respected for its quality.

The Seven Cruelest Foods On Earth

Eggs are among the cruelest foods produced today

nickwheeleroz / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for over 11 years now and truth be told, I still feel I'm not doing enough to alleviate animal suffering. That's because due to this recent article, I still consume two of the seven cruelest foods on earth: milk and eggs.

The obvious path to take for someone who feels the way I do would be veganism. But I have to admit that I'm not mentally and emotionally prepared to become a vegan just yet.

So what is a lacto-ovo vegetarian to do? Simply this: do the best you can. First, you can limit your consumption of dairy and egg products, by switching to alternatives such as soy or rice milk to replace dairy products. For me, the first step is to switch to organic milk, as research has proven that cows on smaller, organic farms are treated more kindly than cows on commercial dairy farms.

The same goes for eggs. Instead of buying regular eggs, buy organic eggs that come from free-range chickens. Free-range chickens are chickens that are allowed to roam free on farms, instead of being trapped in battery cages, where they cannot even spread their wings.

If you're unable to find organic milk or eggs in your local store, consider shopping online at http://organic4u.com.my/eshop/index.php, an online organic store which sells a variety of fresh organic produce. 

Do the right thing today, go organic!

Easy Vegetarian Pate Recipes

One of the most challenging parts of being a vegetarian is entertaining. Oh, the main meals and dessert are a cinch, but for small crowds, I always have problems preparing a starter or appetizer. One starter I miss as a vegetarian is pate. Which is why I was thrilled when I stumbled across this article from The New York Times. The lentil pate is especially yummy!

Top Vegetarian Restaurants in Hong Kong

Stumbled across this article today while trawling the web for new vegetarian places to eat. Happy reading!