Meatout Mondays!

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Meatout Mondays

 

Kick the Meat Habit - One Day at a Time!

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July 17, 2006

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Recipe: Onion-Olive Tapenade

 

Mediterranean food is rich in plant-based ingredients, relying heavily on

olive oil

as a primary source of healthy monounsaturated fat. Virgin olive oil is

minimally

processed, retaining the fruitÂ’s natural antioxidants and nutrients. Many

Mediterranean dishes can be served cold and make ideal meals for hot

summer days.

This Olive Tapenade features kalamata olives in addition to onions, garlic

and an

array of fresh seasonings. It can be used as a dip with pita or chips, a

spread on a

sandwich or toast, on top of a mixed greens salad, or as a topping for

rice, baked

potato, or pasta.

 

Ingredients:

 

1/2 cup Vidalia onions, finely chopped

1/2 cup sweet red onions, finely chopped

1 3/4 cups kalamata olives, pitted and chopped

2 Tbs. capers, rinsed and drained

3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice

2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

1 Tbs. fresh parsley, chopped

1 Tbs. fresh oregano, chopped

1/4 tsp. fresh lemon zest

1 clove garlic, crushed

freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

2 Tbs. red or orange bell peppers, finely chopped

 

Directions:

 

In a small bowl, mix the onions, olives, and capers.

Pulse lemon juice, oil, parsley, oregano, lemon zest, and garlic in a food

processor

for 3 to 5 seconds, then pour over onion-olive mixture and combine with a

fork.

Place mixture in a serving bowl, season with pepper to taste, top with

chopped

peppers, and serve.

 

For this and other great veg recipes, visit www.All-Creatures.org!

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Product: Fantastic Foods Falafel Mix

 

Enjoy one of the best Middle Eastern foods in less than 20 minutes with this

incredibly delicious falafel mix by Fantastic Foods. Put these in a pita

for a

delicious sandwich, put on a bed of saffron rice, or just drizzle tahini

on top for

a scrumptious exotic meal.

 

You can find this and other great veg products at Vegan Essentials, an

exhibitor of

the Animal Rights 2006 National Conference. Vegan Essentials offers a wide

variety

of cruelty-free items, including footwear, t-shirts, accessories, food, and

vitamins.

 

Check out the online catalog at www.VeganEssenials.com!

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Health: Go Greek for Good Health

 

Mediterranean-style diets, rich in healthy fats from olive oil or nuts,

may be

better for the heart than low-fat regimens, a new study shows. Spanish

researchers

found that the traditional Mediterranean diet bested a low-fat diet in

helping older

adults improve their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. The

findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, add to evidence

that diets

rich in healthy fats from plant-based foods offer a better heart

prescription than

diets that limit fat altogether.

 

Mediterranean-style eating typically includes plenty of fruits, vegetables

and whole

grains, limited amounts of meat and processed foods, and a relatively high

amount of

fat from olive oil and nuts. Studies have shown that people living in the

Mediterranean region have lower rates of heart disease, despite their high

fat

intake. Experts believe the benefit stems from the fact that the

unsaturated fats

found in olive oil and nuts actually help protect the cardiovascular system.

 

The study also revealed that people who got most of their fat from olive

oil also

had a decline in a blood substance called C-reactive protein, a marker of

chronic

inflammation in the body.

 

To read the full article, visit

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/07/06/mediterranean.diet.reut/index.html

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Inspiration: Ashley Fruno - Making Changes

 

Ashley Fruno of Vancouver makes helping animals a part of her daily

routine. By

volunteering with the British Columbia SPCA as a child, Ashley learned

that animals,

like humans, feel pain, suffer, are conscious beings, and above all

deserve respect.

She became vegetarian at the age of 12 and slowly worked her way toward a

vegan

diet.

 

AshleyÂ’s first taste of activism was when she was in the 9th grade and

visited a

local pet store to discover a gumball machine that offered rabbits, hamsters,

anoles, goldfish, and guinea pigs as prizes. Determined to put an end to

it, she

called every animal rights organization and encouraged everyone she knew

to write

letters and drew up a petition. She ended up collecting over one hundred

signatures

and within two weeks, the gumball machine was giving out nothing more than

gumballs.

Ashley states, “From then on, I knew that I could make little differences

in the

world around me.”

 

She has since formed her own animal rights group, been interviewed by

dozens of

local and national media outlets, and organized dozens of demonstrations.

 

To read more about Ashley, visit

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=a193f50a-24e\

4-4c98-94c0-fb26659448a6

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