10 Questions w/ Superstar Pro Wrestler Austin Aries!

So, I had the pleasure of talking with professional wrestler, Austin Aries, former WWE superstar, and widely known vocal vegan in the health food community. Whether you know him for his high-flying pro-wrestling moves or as the animal rights and healthy living advocate that he is, this interview where we talked about his new book FOOD FIGHT: My Plant Powered Journey from the Bingo Halls to the Big Time (which is described as a book "...not about veganism. It's not really about wrestling, either. It's about a decision every person has to make: Will you blindly color inside the lines that society has drawn for you? Or will you question the system, think for yourself, and have the bravery to make your own rules?"), his veganism and his future plans after the WWE, is a must read for you.

Photo Credit: Austin Aries

I didn't really know what to expect of talking to Austin, I mean he is a huge superstar and also has a reputation for being a badass, but to be completely honest, he was one of the warmest people I've spoken with in a while. His telephone style was real chill and laid back, mixed in with cool, smart, informed, "woke", and we laughed too. He was really easy to talk to, like an old friend that you can just sit around and shoot the breeze with. So here is what we chatted about and the questions I asked him; I bet you're dying to know!

1) What got you into wrestling and was it your first sport?

When Austin Aries was 4 years old, playing with GI Joe toys in fatigues, he recollected his first memory of experiencing wrestling, "I saw this guy come into the ring, I instantly became a fan and it consumed me", he also mentioned that when he first broke out into the wrestling world and when the opportunity presented itself, "I didn't really look back."

2) Is wrestling your passion or are you now finding your way to something else, like writing?

Austin Aries grew up playing baseball and he wasn't fully sure what he wanted to do, but when wrestling became a passion, he said, "It provided me a platform for bigger things that provides a platform to do bigger things; spread a message." He talked about wanting to get people who aren't in a healthy place to "think about what we are putting into out bodies" and start focusing more on health and obesity, especially in youth. He wants to urge kids to, "...put down the soda and pick up a pressed juice", leading us to chat about his new book.

3) Your new book FOOD FIGHT is so interesting. If you had to sum up the book to your readers, in terms of what to expect and what it means to you, what would you say about it?

"My journey came from normal circumstances and humble self discovery. By questioning what [food] is put in front of me, or, 'what is it?' and [the book] is about how I got here [as] a professional athlete on a plant-based diet; how the seeds were planted. And I want to plant seeds using my platform. It's about understanding you have a choice in your life and about your health."

4) It's so cool that you eat plant-based. How did you find this lifestyle and adopt it as your own?

He started laughing and cheekily told me the answer to that is in chapter 3 and throughout the book, so people have to buy it to find out; we both had a good chuckle. More seriously, he explained that his journey to veganism was a "learned behavior" and gave an analogy as an example, "Put me in the crib at 3 years old with a kitten, puppy, and piglet; I'm not gonna pet the kitten and make bacon, I'm gonna hug them all." He mentioned that eating meat is also a learned behavior and recalled how he grew up in a hunting environment, but as a child didn't feel right about it, it felt "weird and gross" to him. He also strongly stated that we must invest in our health and the food we eat, noting how important food is to us, but it seems like not all people are paying attention, "I see in front of me unhealthy people everywhere; at the airport food court there are shorter lines for the healthy options and long lines for the unhealthy choices. No one has ever had protein deficiency - what is the downside to improving our diets?" Amen!

5) Is your wrestling more improved since becoming an herbivore? How has your body and performance changed?

"I stopped eating meat when I started wrestling. I liked to think it was keeping the inflammation down...", then Austin's cardiologist reported to him that his results were like that of a high schooler, so he knew for sure that the "Plant-based diet is where it's at." We also discussed how there has been the same debate in the medical world, early on, about tobacco and cigarettes, and we know now that they aren't good for your health; same thing with eating meat.

Then I had to know...

6) What's your favorite veggie food?

"Pizza with cashew cheese or different personal pizza combos with veggie pepperoni or tempeh." Nice.

Then I had to address the elephant in the room. I knew you all wouldn't let me live it down if I didn't ask him...

7) I read in the news and it was also a trending topic all over social media, that you and the WWE parted ways. In your words, what is the real scoop and what is next for Austin Aries?

*cue ALL the nervous laughter*

"No scoops, unfortunately. No scoops of cashew ice cream in my cone." BUT he did say that he has some other "big scoops" like exciting book stuff, a multi-city book tour, and a really exciting piece of news - he is acquiring a cold press juice company based out of Milwaukee that will specialize in organic yummies delivered right to people's homes! Austin also mentioned that his wrestling is on hold right now and he will focus on his book and the book's message.

8) Exciting stuff! I hope everyone gets themselves a copy of FOOD FIGHT. If you had to describe your book in 3 words, what would they be?

"Interesting. Funny. Healthy (mind, body and spirit)."

9) If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what are they?

"Sarcastic. Passionate. Caring."

10) To wrap up, what piece of advice would you give to all of your fans, that you would want them to truly listen to, take to heart, and take away?

"Invest in yourself and believe in yourself. What you put in your body, food, are building blocks. Being healthy and mindful will pay us back in so many different ways. Believe in yourself and don't take no for an answer." Well said.

Austin Aries was such a nice person to talk to and the conversation was so relaxed and easy. I told him that I didn't get a sarcastic vibe from him like he describes himself and he mentioned he thought he was being sarcastic a few times in our chat; I think he's just a really awesome dude with a good sense of humor. His passion and enthusiasm about life was also super motivating and inspiring. It is always refreshing to talk with people who embrace compassion, health and veganism the way Austin Aries does. Be sure to check him out on Twitter and he has info there about his book and upcoming projects.

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off - I hope your day is Austin Aries cool.

Hey Chili's - Chilli Isn't the Only One Who Wants More Vegan Food!

Did you hear the news that Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas of the group, TLC, asked Chili's restaurant to add more vegan options to the menu?

How CrazySexyCool of her! She speaks for many of us in the vegan community who dine at Chili's restaurant and are so bored with what they have to offer their plant-based guests.

Chilli asked Chili's to add vegan "chicken" and other more exciting animal-free food to their offerings, and I really hope the chain eatery takes notice of this message from the famous singer as well as the vegan community as a whole. Whether people dining at Chili's are vegan or not, society is going in the direction of more plant-based, for lots of reasons. I'm hearing more people than ever say that they are avoiding animal products for health and environmental reasons in addition to having compassion for animals. People who are battling health issues are being told by their doctors to go vegetarian to help lower cholesterol and help their health in many other ways. I've spoke to people who have trouble with allergies or acne and are being advised to avoid animal products like dairy to clear up their medical issues. So it would be a smart business move for Chili's to offer decent vegan options for EVERYONE. Just like diners have the choice between a variety of dishes, several plant-based ones should be offered as well. Think about it, restaurants have lots of different chicken or beef dishes on their menu, so why have only one vegan one to choose from? If someone wants chicken they have 10 options or more, but a person who wants to eat vegan at that meal, only has one option - that's not fair at all. I can even argue that it is discriminatory, Chili's.

I personally would love to see some of the menu items that I used to enjoy before going vegan, offered as a vegan option. I also think that all restaurants should have this; a dish, then the option to have it animal products OR plant-based. It's not hard to make it almost the same way, but use the vegan ingredients when the customer chooses their meal that way. That would make it fair and equal for ALL patrons and would also drive sales and profits through the roof. There's a whole group of people who feel they can't dine out much or at all, especially at chain restaurants, and make most meals at home or only visit vegan restaurants - because let us face it, dining out is expensive these days, so why waste your hard earned money on an overpriced salad when that is the only crappy option available for vegans? Maybe Chili's will be the restaurant to change that.

Hey Chili's, let me know if I can work with you on creating some exciting vegan options for your restaurants. As a vegan chef, former vegan bakery owner, pastry chef, longtime vegan and expert, and cookbook author, I know a thing or too about vegan cuisine - plus I'd LOVE to help with something like this!

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. I hope your day includes a vegan quesadilla or two!

The Dirty Vegan Cookbook

Howdy!

For anyone who hasn't read the news about my vegan cookbook on social media, it is coming along very well and will be released this Fall.

This cookbook is everything you'd expect from me: cheesy, gooey, buttery, sweet, savory, delicious (and everything in between) recipes for any occasion. This book will change the world, I just know it. Veganism has been scientifically proven to be the best lifestyle for the health of humans, the environment and of course for the animals. My cookbook is your one-stop resource for how to eat and cook vegan in the easiest way possible. I've taken the guesswork out of it because it is crucial to be including animal-free products in your diet, and I want everyone to be able to do it. You don't need fancy or hard-to-find ingredients to follow any of these recipes; this book is unlike any other vegan cookbook. Put it this way, if you make any one of these recipe for a non-vegan, I bet you'll make a believer out of them.

Here is the link to sign up for e-mail news about The Dirty Vegan Cookbook and you can also pre-order from this page as well. I recommend reserving your copy to ensure you won't have to wait or struggle to find a copy when they sell out, and you'll be able to get your copy when it is released. 

The Dirty Vegan Cookbook is available everywhere books are sold. If you are unable to pre-order online, you can call your local Barnes and Noble or book retailer and reserve over the phone or in person. I've personally called the wonderful folks at B&N to confirm this because I know people like to visit the store to do things in person, I prefer that interaction as well. 

Also, sorry if I have neglected this blog for a couple of months - writing a cookbook is much harder work than I thought it would be. But you know what they say, the best books are the ones that the author absolutely obsessed over, making it an easy and effortless read for the user. Maya Angelou said something like that, about when she wrote her books. Hang on, let me go get the actual quote because I think I absolutely butchered that one - be right back...

Got it! I'm not going to admit how long it took me to find this excerpt:

"Will I write a sentence that will just float off the page? Easy reading is damn hard writing. But if it’s right, it’s easy. It’s the other way round, too. If it’s slovenly written, then it’s hard to read. It doesn’t give the reader what the careful writer can give the reader." -Maya Angelou

I have been agonizingly particular about every tiny detail of this book. It is very important to me that, for animals, for the cause, this cookbook is perfect. I wanted it to be such fun to read and with instructions so detailed but simple and easy to understand, that anyone can go vegan, and they'll be absolutely compelled to. Please check it out: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/557574/the-dirty-vegan-cookbook-by-catherine-gill/

Also, there is another reason for my brief hiatus on this page - well two actually. One: they deleted the Blogger app, which made it so easy for me to post anywhere or anytime. Two: I discovered the new plant-based social app, Vegan Amino, which is void of politics or trolls and is all vegan, all the time. Here's a link to my Amino page, you should definitely check it out; this is where I've been microblogging (besides on Twitter, which is where I hang out most): http://aminoapps.com/page/vegan/2520449/thedirtyvegan

But no worries, I will be posting here on thedirtyvegan.com regularly once again, going forward. I've been told by many people that they use this website as a recipe archive and resource due to how well I labeled the posts, so I'm happy that even when I took a little time off from blogging to write this book, this site is still a useful vegan source.

Ok, that's all for today. You know how I can go on-and-on. And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Peace and love.

Attachment Parenting? Just Me Being Mom.

Before I had my baby, I hadn't ever heard about Attachment Parenting. Apparently, calling it this is a "new thing" these days. I prepared very well for the arrival of my little one. I read lots of books and articles but mostly learned about infant care. I chose to leave most of my actual parenting method to instinct. My instinct told me to nurse my baby on demand, pick her up when she cries, and basically love her with every fiber of my being. I've recently discovered that I have been Attachment Parenting all along and hadn't even realized it.

For me, this is the easiest thing you can possibly do. I guess from what I am reading, this style is not for everyone (maybe because our society lacks patience and compassion?), but it works awesome for us. I actually find that following my instinct as a mother, makes parenting pretty simple. Baby cries, you figure out why, and soothe your baby. If all else fails, breastfeeding fixes everything. It is like magic! Nourishment, hydration, comfort, soothing, bonding, cuddling, love, all in one. Personally, I can't fathom the so called "cry it out" method, if you even want to call that a method, it's arguably child abuse. I say that because scientifically when babies cry their blood pressure rises and they get very stressed out. Then a baby will actually lose hope and withdraw if he or she cries for too long and doesn't get help. That is just sad. Do you really want to instill a lack of hope in your child this early? Also, statistically you are not able to spoil a baby until about 1.5 years old. However, what mother doesn't want to spoil their child with love? Babies are only this age for such a short period of time and all they want is you; you are their everything. So go ahead and pick up your baby for crying out loud (no pun intended)! Your instinct is telling you to. Did you know that a baby's cry is designed to make mom and dad feel unsettled and anxious? It is human survival in order for a baby to be cared for. In fact, a human baby's development is the longest of all mammals. Think about it, babies take a long time to build up the strength to do things like hold up their head and neck, crawl, and walk. Scientifically, human babies should be cared for this way since they are built for it. However, on a purely emotional level, I am absolutely head-over-heels in love with my baby. I don't want to see or hear her cry because I want her to be happy and to feel safe and loved. It is my instinct to care for my baby in a way that makes this time about her. Again, such a short time.

Other cultures have been Attachment Parenting since forever. Why is our society so rigid and strict? Why so much hate on AP from all these Joan-Crawford-types?

Maybe it is just the way that I was raised. But if that is the case, it is more of a motivation to be a loving mother because then your child might grow up to be a loving parent. Around the holidays, my father was sitting with us and talking with us about babies. Basically preparing us for our adventure. He told me and my husband, "Babies mostly sleep the first few weeks or so. Then, they have a crying phase. But you discover that, that is the most beautiful sound in the world, because far too soon you are sitting on your child's couch, in their home, and they are having a baby of their own. They are starting their family." This brought tears to all of our eyes. It also put a lot of things in perspective for me. This time is so precious and brief. Cherish the time with your family. Most days I'm exhausted and running on fumes, however I'm always smiling. I am a happy and blessed momma. How can you not smile to see the face of your baby? If your baby is crying, be grateful that your baby needs you and begin to soothe your baby quickly and lovingly. That little sound is your superhero siren calling. You are truly the entire world to your child. You come to the rescue. In your child's eyes, you are the most wonderful and important person ever. I think Attachment Parenting, or parenting by instinct, keeps it that way. I think in your child's eyes you will always be a hero, because you are not perfect but you try to be. And as long as you try your best, that is perfection.

Mayim Bialik - a voice of Attachment Parenting and author of Beyond the Sling, puts it perfectly, AP is an "umbrella term" its not an all or nothing parenting method.

Love Mayim Bialik! What a rock-star. What she says here just sums it up and is short and sweet but super powerful. I myself personally, can totally relate to her method. People do need to understand that parenting methods are flexible and different for everyone. Everyone does what works best for them and for their lifestyle. I just so happen to be a very go-with-the-flow type of person, so an instinctual parenting method works awesome. I have so much love to give and often think I was born a mother. One of my mother-in-law's, Marilyn, said something that really touched my heart and made my day recently. We were sitting there as I was breastfeeding and we were chatting about babies and motherhood and she said, "You were made for this. For breastfeeding, for motherhood. This is what you were built for and it suits you.". It is nice to find a place where I belong and motherhood just feels right. And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Sending big hugs and peek-a-boos your way!

Questions That I Would Ask Famous People

I meet "famous" people. In fact, tons of well-known vegans at benefits, parties, galas, etc. I say famous in quotations, because I believe famous people are just like you and me...except someone decided to make them "famous" for whatever reason. Sometimes fame comes from talent, sometimes from looks, sometimes from being original or being the first person to do something weird and be eaten up by the public (i.e. the Chocolate Rain guy), and many other reasons. Some may even call me a little "famous" - hey I've been addressed as the Dirty Vegan by people while shopping in Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. People tell me all the time that they read my blog or know me from being co-founder of Dirty Vegan Foods, from being in the newspaper, or in an online article, or someone's blog, or just as a local entrepreneur and socialite who likes to spread veganism, meet people, and network. Therefor I now answer to Dirty Vegan and barely anymore to my name that I was born with (Do you have any idea how funny it is when I make a business call and say I'm calling on behalf of Dirty Vegan Foods and I hear, "hey it's the Dirty Vegan on line 1"?). Now I just go with it, what the heck else can I do? I imagine this sort of thing happened to Carrot Top or maybe even Weird Al. So, I don't get all starstruck when I meet a public figure. I consider myself equal to "famous" people, even though I am on the Z-list. You should consider yourself no lower than a "famous" person - because after all, we are all only human.

So as I was thinking about "famous" people, I thought, boy would I love to meet certain "famous" people, to ask them certain questions. You always hear the question asked, "what celebrity would you want to meet?", or hang out with, or spend a day with, etc. So here are some people I would want to meet, and questions I would ask them...

My Questions For "Famous" People

Alica Silverstone - Who, what, why, and how??? Who do you think you are? What makes you vegan? Why do you wear vintage wool and leather, and eat fish and dairy on "occasion"? And how do you profit off being vegan when you are sometimes a vegan and sometimes not? Girl, I just want to call the Vegan Police on you (like in Scott Pilgrim VS. the World)!

BTW...

-Recently someone on Twitter called me an "Elitist Vegan" because I drank a fair-trade iced coffee with soy milk from a chain coffee house. Now, can you think of better people to call elitist?

-I actually did meet Alicia at a book signing and told her all that I do in the vegan community and she wrote something nice in my book. She wrote, "thank God for you". So I don't want to bash her, I just want to ask her these questions and most certainly will if I ever canoodle with her again.

Kathy Freeston - How do you figure honey is vegan-friendly? And, are you crazy?

Rachel Bilson - You have such amazing style. Why can't you be a vegan-friendly fashionista and save a whole lotta animals' lives? If you did become vegan I would propose marriage to you. Sorry hubby, its vegan Rachel Bilson! She is basically my girl crush.

Stella McCartney - How did you become some sort of ambassador for veganism when you recently hosted a party and served duck and dairy and your clothing line is also full of silk?? Yes you have vegan pieces and I commend you for it, but why not go all the way and really make a statement?

Woody Harrelson - You are awesome! Just the fact that you wouldn't even take a bite of a Twinkie in Zombieland and they made you an almost inedible vegan substitute for the filming, is just great and makes you such a cool vegan! My question is, why haven't you tried my Winkie yet?!??

So have you ever met a "famous" person before? Yeah, who? And also, what question(s) are you longing to ask your favorite star?

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Dine Like You're Famous!

"I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me, papa-paparazzi. Baby, there's no other superstar you know that I'll be, papa-paparazzi" -Lady GaGa

 A quick bite with your fellow famous friends and/ or lover before a night on the town?

 A business lunch to go over your newest project?

Lunch with your girlfriends (and/ or boyfriends!) during your day of shopping at the hottest stores?

We've all seen the tabloid pictures of celebrities and socialites like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Mila Kunis, Rachel Bilson, Miley Cyrus, and Britney Spears dining at hot California restaurants such as Koi, The Ivy, and Mr. Chow. And how about New York City eateries like Butter and Il Cantinori? Have you ever wanted to have the superstar experience yourself, but maybe are stuck in a state like Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or New Jersey? Also maybe you are wondering how to dine like a celebrity when you are vegan. Well have no fear - Papa Razzi is here!

Papa Razzi Trattoria & Bar in Cranston, RI is super swanky, chic, and the place to see and be seen. And it just to happens to be located in the glamorous Garden City Center where you can find sophisticated retail locations such as Anthropologie, Williams Sonoma, Whole Foods, Starbucks, and lots more, to fulfill your wildest Rodeo Drive fantasies. The perfect day? Shopping at these glammy stores and boutiques then waltzing into Papa Razzi just in time for your reservation...and possibly getting your photo snapped by the paparazzi! Well you do look fabulous in those designer shades, with shopping bags from the hottest stores, dining at this stylish establishment, with the tastiest vegan options. And yes I said vegan options...read on for details!

The experience at Garden City is definitely very celebrity, but when you approach the restaurant, the swank-factor gets taken up a notch; even more when you step inside. You first will notice the luxurious and hip decor. The bar is really modern and cool if you just want to go in for drinks and a bite. Also, something that caught my eye immediately was the gorgeous staff - but since you are a beautiful vegan socialite yourself, who else better than other gorgeous people to be a part of your dining experience? The bathrooms are clean and lavish also. But I know you didn't come here to only hear about the hot staff and the decor; you want to hear about the vegan-friendly food!

There are an assortment of sumptuous salads to choose from; my favorite is the Spinachi which is baby spinach, fresh strawberries, shiitake mushrooms, and vinaigrette (just ask for it without the goat cheese). There are also a variety of pasta dishes that can be made vegan upon request. What I love about this restaurant the most is the friendly and approachable vibe. The waitstaff and management are so helpful and accommodating  That is very important to me when dining out, and the fact that Papa Razzi is so kind to people with alternative diets, means a lot. For dinners you can also get wood-fired, thin crust pizzas without cheese (I do this at Bertucci's too and they taste amazing!). The vegan possibilities are so great when you are at an elegant restaurant like this with a huge selection of ingredients and wonderful people willing to serve you up tasty veg-friendly dishes! Right on the Papa Razzi menu they encourage you tell them if you have any special requests, which is awesome for a restaurant to do. And you all know how proud of my Italian heritage I am (hence most of my recipes on here are Italian dishes and/ or heavy on the Daiya cheese!), so it is cool for me to be vegan and find a cool Italian restaurant willing to accommodate my diet. And seriously, what's more celebrity than getting a custom made vegan dish that a talented Italian chef creates for you? Chefs love doing that stuff, but rarely people ask them to.

There are other Papa Razzi locations (like upscale Newbury Street in Boston and even locations in DC!), but if you are in the Cranston, RI area, I do recommend this one for the whole experience at the Garden City Center and the exceptional restaurant service. I hope you enjoy being fabulous and almost famous! You can tell them the Dirty Vegan sent you, but I can't guarantee the VIP treatment is from me - you may just feel fancy saying it. For now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Champagne dreams and tomato sauce wishes to you, my Friends!

Good luck in ducking the paparazzi, all you Fabulous Naughty People!

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Talk Show Vegans

We've got a new breed of vegans in town. Talk Show Vegans. They are typically fairly new to the game and are the perfect package for talk shows. They will oblige to withholding all the gory details about factory farms (the facts) and are just the most appealing thing ,since sliced bread, on camera. These Talk Show Vegans tend to focus on weight loss and veganism as a diet rather than a moral choice. I am happy when people choose veganism for any reason, because it save animals and is better for the environment, but I have some bones to pick with these Talk Show Vegans.


The problem I have is that by presenting veganism as a diet or a trendy new way to lose weight, leaves the person with the inevitable downfall of their "diet". Let's be real, how many people really stick to a weight loss diet forever? Its not really healthy to be losing weight forever or to be trying to. The key is to get to a healthy place and stay there. I know personally, when I was on weight loss diets, I would get so fed up or sick of them, that I would do the opposite of what the stupid book or video told me to do; I would rebel. So now, the people who are not presented with veganism as a moral decision to save the lives of animals, might rebel against this way of life once their weight loss diet fails, and could possibly go back to eating more animal products than ever before.


I know that anyone who sees a video from a factory farm, and sees the abuses against animals, will make some kind of decision. They will either choose right there and then to stop eating animals and stop supporting abuse, or they will choose to continue to eat animals and try to ignore what was just imprinted into their mind. However, the neat little package that is Talk Show Vegans, present little to none of the facts about the industry and why most of us choose this lifestyle in the first place. I personally gave a crap less about health, I saw a video of a chicken supplier, the abuses were awful (I had no clue before then), I immediately changed my lifestyle that very moment and never turned back. I do not have cravings for "meat", because "meat" to me is not food, it is a carcass of a dead animal who once was; a tortured dead animal at that. The health benefits of veganism are an awesome bonus that I enjoy, but not my motivation whatsoever. I ensure I get the proper amounts of all my nutrients, protein, fruits, veggies, carbs, omegas, etc. and I also take a vegan multivitamin with all my B vitamins (although I get them all pretty much from food) and you all know that I am a big fan of liquid aminos for amino acids - but I do all that so that I remain in excellent health so I can continue to fight for animals for as long as I possibly can. You all know I eat my junk food and I love it!


Now, what I think, is that talk shows that choose to talk about veganism, should incorporate or completely focus on the animals (which is the importance of this) and convenience/ family friendly foods; the things that really concern most people who are weary about this lifestyle. Show people what is easy, where to get vegan products, what to do with them, tips and tricks, etc. Help take the guesswork out of it. A lot of people in America live on Pillsbury brand - show them which Pillsbury items are vegan! Yeah of coarse quinoa is a lot healthier than crescent rolls, but people will get there, lets stop throwing all of our fancy vegan foods/ words at people because we have been doing this for a while and its so easy for us (now).


These Talk Show Vegans lure people in with promises of weight loss and health benefits (which will absolutely happen), so people happily buy their quinoa, kombucha, burdock, daikon, kombu, etc. to lose weight, but get easily turned off or frustrated when their own (normal human) willpower gives into a decadent cookie or a crescent roll! How about first teaching principles of compassion and some factual talk or footage about animal cruelty then we can focus on being a squeaky clean vegan. I lose weight sometimes. I eat clean sometimes. I use macrobiotic or raw principles for a few days after being really Dirty. But that is not a starting point for new vegans. If it works then I am glad; all I want is to see animals being liberated from their abuse and tortures. But people who are introduced to veganism solely as a weight loss diet run the risk of "falling off the bandwagon" and "cheating" to eat something naughty. For them, all they know is "clean=vegan", "dirty=non-vegan". I would like to see people start off by seeing veganism as normal, learn how to make all the foods (including Dirty, yummy, cakey, crumby, greasy, convenient - and also the healthy stuff), so when they feel the urge to be "bad", they can eat something that's bad and also vegan. It is better for you because it won't have cholesterol whatsoever, but at least people will be going into veganism the right way, for the right reasons. I personally know people who were gong-ho veg and are no longer.


If you are vegan for health or weight loss; great! I hope you keep it up forever. This post is directed towards the Talk Show Vegans and talk show hosts who influence so many and encourage people to do things; just start including some facts about the lives of these animals, will ya?

There is definitely a vegan "trend" happening right now. Every talk show, newspaper, article, is talking about it. I love that the word vegan is becoming more mainstream, but I fear the disappointment I will feel if it phases out and people who have turned "vegan" now, turn to something else instead. What do you think about it? If you are vegan, how does it make you feel? How about if you were vegan for a very long time, before it was trendy? Do you think this will last; is this a major turning point for this social movement? Let me know what you think; I look forward to reading your comments. Have a Dirty day!

Go eat something good, will ya? When I say good I really mean bad-in-a-good-way.

Dirty Vegan Foods

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The Rich. The Famous. The Fabulous. The Vegan.

Famous Vegetarians

Have you seen anyone more fabulous and full of life, than a vegetarian, particularly, a vegan? You may look at some celebrities who are not veggie and think they are gorgeous looking, but when you really look at people and become perceptive after doing this thing for so many years, you see that they look worn. They typically look older than they should look. However, vegans tend to look much younger and wear their age extremely well, don't they? I get mistaken for a high schooler all the time and I am in my late 20s!


When you eat living foods, whole and healthy foods, you eat life not death. When you eat death, I am sorry, but it just helps your body deteriorate faster. And is that not what we are doing? Everyone is dying, face it. Aging is deterioration of sorts, however vegetarians seem to slow and in some cases stop that process. Here are just a few famous people who either have confirmed or are rumored to currently be vegan or vegetarians:

Alanis Morisette

Veggie Badass! Looks fabulous and full of youth, especially for her age.

Alicia Silverstone

Kind Vegan. Looks the same as her Aerosmith music video and Clueless days! Wowzers!

Carrie Underwood

Practically Ageless Vegetarian! Look at that glow! 

Woody Harrelson 

Activist Multi-tasker Vegan! Gives off great vibes and spirit!

Natalie Portman

Forever Young Vegan! Looks amazing always, and makes a line of vegan shoes!

Some other rumored vegetarian celebs include Fiona Apple, Pam Anderson, and Reese Witherspoon, just to name a few. There are and have been so many famous vegetarian people in history. The general public must have missed the memo. I would advise society to get on the bandwagon, because let's face it, you are not getting any younger! And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off.

One Smart Beatle

I read an interview with Paul McCartney where he was talking about how he became vegetarian...and it was brilliant! He hit the nail on the head. This is an excellent article to read and I encourage you to do so whether or not you are vegetarian or plan to become vegetarian, that doesn't matter, to hear a topic as such, eloquently discussed by the famous Beatle, is amazing. This is a must read for any Beatles fan!

Click here to read Paul's interview!