We know gluten free flour can be a little confusing, just ask Umberto…

Kudos to the vegan food bloggers at Vegan Kitchen Magick!

Those numbers may sound staggering, but some of the top health centers in the world are making strides in recognizing the importance of plant based diets to prevent, manage, and sometimes reverse chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.  Numerous studies  demonstrate that plant based eating promotes heart health and can help prevent and manage diabetes and other diseases.

• Harvard studies in men and women show that regular meat consumption increases colon cancer risk by roughly 300 percent
• Eating any red meat was found to increase the chances of dying from heart disease by 16% and eating processed meat increased the mortality rate to 20%
• The results of The China Study indicate that plant based eating notably reduces risks for chronic diseases
• Since these illnesses can be expensive to manage and treat and relatively inexpensive to prevent with a vegetarian/ vegan choices, at least one insurer has expressly stated that “a vegetarian diet can save you money especially when it comes to health insurance.“

Even for people unmoved by the ethical arguments against eating animals, it’s noteworthy that lifestyle changes toward vegetarian/vegan eating are being more widely studied and recognized for preventive health benefits. The life you save could be your own.

This cat does not provide medical advice.

News flash: a promise to change isn’t change. Commitment without follow through has a name: con job.

Veal crates confine young calves, who are yoked by the neck to restrict movement during the extent of their short, 16 week lives. Hens in battery cages do not have adequate room to spread their wings -at all. Pigs confined to gestation crates live in a space so restricted that they cannot turn around. These animals are living, breathing, social, sentient beings. Pigs – widely proven to be as intelligent and as social as dogs – are  even smart enough to play video games.

Tell agribusiness that ten years is long enough to carry out a plan. Sign the petition opposing HB 5987 and demand they keep their promises.  If you live in Michigan, follow up with your state senator and state representative today urging them to speak out against this bill. Find your legislators’ phone numbers.

While legislation is vital to promoting animal well being, you also make a choice to support these cruel practices every time you sit down to a meal.  The pending bill in Michigan provides a glimpse into a larger problem. No matter how many pictures of happy cows are painted on billboards, agribusiness lobbies are not made up of small family farmers growing sustainable food on green pastures. Agribusiness lobbyists ensure that the biggest factory farms are well subsidized, leaving out many smaller, rural produce farmers who are growing food that people will eat (as opposed to the monocultures grown for cows, pigs, and other animals).  According to a recent report, “60 percent of agricultural subsidies in recent history have directly and indirectly supported meat and dairy production. Less than 1 percent have gone to fruits and vegetables“ even as recommended nutrition guidelines encourage the exact opposite of that practice (meaning, eat more produce, less meat and dairy).  That means more subsidized food is grown for animals even though food insecurity (hunger) impacts roughly 1 in 8 households in the US.  Agribusiness depends on subsidized government assistance, even while agribusiness is indisputably linked to notable environmental destruction, brutal conditions for poorly paid workers, and numerous hazards to nearby residents and families –that’s all in addition to the countless horrific cruelties animals suffer.   In 2016 the US Dairy Industry was caught in a price fixing scheme, killing cows and cheating consumers, to artificially inflate dairy costs; annual million dollar bailouts that assist these flailing industries by purchasing excess commodities. You want to make a difference in hunger, environmental degradation, poor working conditions, and unfair bailouts to exploitive corporations? Make the connection: take action today, and remember to eat more plants.

In addition to yummy sandwiches and salads and lighter fare, you’ll enjoy generous portions and creative cuisine that leaves no craving unmet, with vegan versions of comforting favorites like Mac & Cheese, Chicken Parmasan, Chicken & Waffles. Wow. Check out the decadent menu, and be sure to leave room for the vegan cheesecakes… Yes, cheesecakes. You’ll also find that many items on the menu can be easily adapted for GF diners, so there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy.

This is a one of a kind experience on the Space Coast of Florida that proves ANYTHING can be 100%  vegan and 100% delicious.

About U-Turns

The folks at CLAWtheory are so grateful to the amazing people we’ve discovered who are changing the world one bite at a time!  There are more than 7 million vegetarians/vegans in the U.S., roughly 7% of the population, with oodles of inspirational chefs are inspiring veg life U-Turns everywhere we go!  Whether you eat veg for health, environmental, or ethical reasons, every meal choice has an impact.  U-Turns was launched with gratitude for the work of all the incredible people making Meatless Mondays so delicious!  Ready for a U-Turn?  We hope you enjoy exploring these favorite Meatless Monday destinations and find inspiration along the road.