TKoch's profile

More About Me

Reasons why I prefer to eat vegetarian or vegan:

We watched Forks over Knives as a family along with Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. Those films started me on a quest for more information. I sought out vegan sites, literature and medical reports. After reading The China Study, Engine 2, and Neal Barnard's books, I knew it was something we had to do, not only for ourselves, but for the planet. I cleaned out the fridge, pantry and cabinets. I donated a ton of food. We went cold turkey and never looked back.I'm nearly 50 and had to relearn how to cook. I raised six children, four of whom predated the move to veganism.I now feel badly that I didn't know earlier, as they would all now be vegan had the timing been different.I have introduced all the members of the family, including my 80 something parents and his Mom, to the vegan world. My Dad is the biggest carnivoire and reluctantly admitted that some of the vegan food is good. He was surprised...

I joined HappyCow Members Community because:

When we first became vegan, I felt very unsupported by the local environment and critics. I sought out vegan communities and websites. Happy Cow became a lifeline for us when travelling. None of the other restaurant rating sites track vegan restaurants. I needed immediate feedback from people who were already vegan and eating out. This is the only site I've found with that information.Since I use it, I'm happy to post what I've learned for others to use.

Here are some places I've been that I liked... and places that I would like to visit one day:

I've lived all over the country. I like the deep south for its laid back attitude and friendly people who are always willing to help out. I like California for its gorgeous forests and mountains.Jamaica was incredibly beautiful, but very sad.The native population live in squalor and the fat Americans gate themselves off.Someday, when I'm done raising children, I'd like to go to Europe. The history and architecture fascinate me.If money were no object, I'd travel round the world sampling the vegan fare everywhere.Travel enriches and expands you, as you are submersed in a novel culture.

Some of my favorite veg*n foods include:

The taco plate(adapted to my non-spicy palate) from Cafe Gratitude in Santa Cruz,as well as,their apricot torte and ginger lemonade.The green salsa verde from their cookbook.My almond salad dressing/pasta sauce, my portabella mushroom, zucchini and basil lasagna, my stuffed zucchini,tom kai soup and deep fried tofu "catfish". The sweet potato curry, green papaya salad and cheesecake from Blossom Vegan in Pleasanton. The baba ghanoush, hummus and eggplant stew from Casbah in Livermore.

Here are some books, movies, magazines, and my favorites that I would recommend to other HappyCow members:

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, Forks over Knives,the movie, books and cookbooks, everything written by Dr. Neal Barnard, Whole, The China Study and the China Study cookbook, Finding Ultra by Rich Roll, the Get Healthy, Go Vegan cookbook, the Happy Herbivore cookbooks, the cookbooks from Cafe Gratitude.