By Jon Camp, Executive Vice President

Great news! Aramark, a food catering company serving over 500 college campuses, will be dramatically expanding its vegan menu. Some of the new options include Vegan Home-Style Pancakes, Butternut & Black Bean Chili, Sesame Noodles, and an assortment of vegan desserts.

This change comes amidst increasing demand for vegan options. According to Scott Jahren, Aramark’s Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Development, “Based on Aramark’s propriety customer feedback platform and dining surveys, the number of students interested in vegan options has continued to steadily increase over the past several years.”

Thank you, Aramark! And thanks to all of you who continue to get out there and do outreach to today’s college students — your work is playing a vital role in these exciting changes we’re seeing.

As part of our ongoing How Do You Vegan? blog series, this week Vegan Outreach’s newest Outreach Coordinator, Lori Stultz, conducts an interview with her grandfather Joe Stultz, who went vegan last year at age 90! Read on to learn about Joe, who proves you are never too old to try something new!

Describe your lifestyle a little so we can get to know you better.

I am a 91 year-old, healthy, happy vegan. I live by myself in an apartment complex designed specifically for retired individuals like myself. I have low-vision (I am what they call “legally blind”) due to a degenerative eye disease called Macular Degeneration. Despite the difficulties my low-vision creates, I live independently and maintain a social and active lifestyle.

How long have you been vegan?

About one year.

What made you decide to go vegan?

Last summer my granddaughter, Lori, sent me CDs and DVDs that had information on the widespread animal abuses that take place today. These were abuses I was not aware of, I quickly decided that I did not want to take part in those torturous acts.

It was very easy for me to transition into a vegan diet because preparation of meat-free meals was simple for me. Having low vision, I need the easy meals that I can I fix for myself. In adopting a vegan diet I did not have to deal with the grease or muck that comes with preparing and consuming animal products. Dicing potatoes, opening up cans of beans and bags of frozen vegetables, and throwing it all together in a crock pot requires little to no clean-up, and that was a huge selling point for me!

What were the easiest and hardest parts of going vegan?

The easiest part of going vegan was the meal preparation. It has gotten to the point where I just don’t have to think about my meals anymore! Knowing that I was making an impact for animals also made going vegan very easy.

The hardest part about being vegan is when I got out to restaurants with a big group of friends and they all order pizza and hamburgers. Fortunately for me, I have a friend who chooses to abstain from alcohol, so when we go out to eat, she and I like to remind each other of the importance of our choices; we are simply saying “no” to foods and drinks that are not in line with our values.

Why do you want to contribute to this series?

The short answer, I chose to contribute because my granddaughter asked me. I take a great deal of joy in it, though, because outside of discussing veganism with Lori I am not presented with many opportunities to talk about why I eat what I eat. I like to tell my friends about my vegan lifestyle, but most of the time they do not ask many questions.

What does a normal week of eating look like for you?

Because of my low vision, my meals are quite simple. In the morning, I like to eat a couple pieces of whole wheat toast with a glass of soy milk or bowl of Cheerios with soy milk (I enjoy having a bowl of cheerios for lunch sometimes, too).

For lunch, I like to have a couple slices of whole wheat bread with vegan cheese slices in the middle. I will eat that alongside a big glass of soy milk. And, on occasion, I will heat up a veggie burger or a veggie hot dog, but, quite frankly, my hunger is satisfied just as well with a vegan cheese sandwich!

For my evening meal, I dice up potatoes and dump a few cans of beans and frozen vegetables into my crock pot. I do this earlier in the day and let it sit for a few hours until the potatoes are cooked and I am hungry for dinner. I pour myself a glass of soy milk and enjoy eating a hearty helping of healthy carbs, protein, and veggies!

What tips can you give to a person who identifies with your lifestyle to make eating vegan easy, fun, affordable?

The crock pot is a useful tool to make various types of protein/carb/veggie combinations. The different meal combinations you can put together using canned and frozen food are inexpensive and easily accessible. And, I personally think it is fun because there is very little clean-up and/or preparation needed to make good, healthy meals.

What is your favorite thing about being vegan?

For starters, my favorite part of adhering to a vegan diet are all the health benefits I have experienced since making the transition. I lowered my overall cholesterol levels from 300 mg/dL to 160 mg/dL. I am no longer on the blood pressure medication I was taking when I was consuming meat and dairy, and the inflammation in my joints, which was causing a notable amount of pain at night time, lessened significantly. Overall, I do not have to worry about my health as much I see my friends worrying about theirs.

Another one of my favorite things about being vegan is that it is inexpensive. Since I have gone vegan, I am not buying as much food because the meals I am making are keeping me feeling fuller longer. Overall, I am eating less quantities of food then what I was eating when I was consuming meat and animal by-products.

I also like knowing that I am a part of a very important and necessary movement that is growing and is going to improve the world on so many levels.

photo by IGP Photos

By Toni Okamoto

On Saturday afternoon, I had the privilege of watching our very own office manager, Josie “Colt 45” Moody, dominate the rink in the last bout of her derby season. Although I’ve always known that she was serious about her sport, it was incredible to see her fierceness and determination in action.

Josie is a great representation for veganism, demonstrating maximum endurance and strength on a plant-based diet, in such a physically demanding contact sport. Congratulations Oakland Outlaws on your tough win, and thank you B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls for making Vegan Outreach the beneficiary of your raffle proceeds!

By Lisa Rimmert, Director of Development

Tamara McFarland is a longtime supporter of Vegan Outreach who plays a big role in our annual Team Vegan campaigns. She also volunteers as a mentor in our Vegan Mentor Program, which connects knowledgeable vegans with people looking to go vegan or take steps in that direction. Let’s meet Tamara!

Tell us about yourself, Tamara.

I’m married with two kids, ages 4 and 9, plus three dogs, two bunnies, one duck, and an assortment of rescued chickens. I love to garden in the summertime, knit in the wintertime, and spend time at the beach year-round.

Tell us about your business.

I operate McFarland Designs from my home studio. I make handmade custom wedding and engagement rings with an ethical/fair-trade/recycled emphasis. My studio is solar powered and I donate 5 percent of my gross sales each month to various charities (including Vegan Outreach each Spring). I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram – I’d love to connect with more vegans on any of those platforms!

Share with us the story of your vegan journey.

Despite having been vegetarian for about 10 years previously, I had honestly never considered the cruelty that was inherent in dairy and egg production until I met my dear friend Jennifer Raymond around 2001. Through her example and gentle but honest explanations, I felt that I had no choice but to embrace veganism – it was so inline with everything I valued. I have been vegan for nearly 15 years now with absolutely no regrets! Becoming vegan back then was a little more challenging than it is now, and it definitely forced me to become a much better cook, which is a skill I appreciate every day. In more recent years, I feel that by having opened my consciousnesses to veganism, I became more receptive to learning about (and acting upon) other issues such as labor exploitation, environmental issues, dirty mining, and circus abuse, so it really has played a huge role in the person I have become in adulthood, and in how I am raising my children.

How did you first get involved with Vegan Outreach?

Hmm… I don’t remember what the catalyst was – just that it has been many years! I’m sure that I found VO by researching charities doing effective outreach for veganism – you are the clear leader in that regard! I have leafleted at local colleges a few times and found all of my interactions with VO over the years to be just great.

You’ve supported VO for years. What inspires this?

It’s easy to become overwhelmed, depressed, or demoralized when you become aware of the overwhelming cruelty in the world. For me, being able to continue moving forward in my own life without becoming completely paralyzed with sadness is only achievable when I feel like I’m working towards the solution. Being involved with VO is a big part of how I do that.

What advice would you give to someone reading this who is considering adopting a vegan diet?

1. You have nothing to lose by giving it a try! Most likely, like me, you will never look back, and find yourself feeling physically and emotionally better for it.
2. Find a vegan friend or mentor. It’s so much easier with help.
3. Do what works for you. If embracing the vegan meat and dairy analogues makes it better for you, do that! If you feel best on a totally whole foods diet, do that! And don’t feel bad for how you make veganism yours – no matter how you do it, you’re doing more for animals, the planet, and your own health than 95% of the population and that’s something to feel good about!
4. Don’t think of veganism as an exercise in achieving purity or perfection, and don’t let others reduce it to that in conversation with you. Do the best you can, but know that it’s impossible for any of us to completely eliminate our impact on the environment, and therefore, on animals. All we can do is our best.

Finally, share with us your absolute favorite meal.

Just one??? It’s too hard to choose!!! When I’m eating out, I love to order spicy potato tacos at Mexican restaurants (and who can beat the simple perfection of chips and fresh guacamole?), or all varieties of veggie sushi (bonus points if it contains avocado and/or nut butters).

At home, a few of the things that have been big hits for my family (and omnivorous guests) include Cold Udon Noodles with Peanut Sauce and Seitan (Vegan With a Vengeance), Lasagna Americana (Everyday Vegan Eats), homemade sushi, and various versions of enchiladas (vegan sour cream is mandatory!). My #1 crowd-pleasing dessert is the Fruit Tart I have on my blog – though I also make a mean chocolate cake.

Thank you, Tamara!

By Alison Leyton Mercer, VO Supporter and Volunteer

“A vegan and a CrossFitter walk into a bar. I only know because they told everyone within two minutes.”

I’ve heard variations of that joke multiple times from colleagues at my job. Since becoming vegan 2 ½ years ago, in my non-vegan work environments I’ve been known as the vegan, our vegan, and, the one that gets me every time, the vay-gun. I feel like I’ve heard every joke, question, and comment. I was recently told in jest by an older gentleman that works in my office suite that the only way he can make sense of me liking tofu is that I’ve been brainwashed. I’ve lost count of the amount of times colleagues have asked me if I’ve visited the local zoo, and when I responded one time by saying I’m not a fan of zoos, the person looked at me baffled and asked if I don’t go because I don’t like animals.

If you see blood trickling from my tongue it’s because I’m biting it so hard to stop myself from saying something rash. I wind up smiling and not saying anything to people that make these types of remarks because I’m looking at my reflection in the mirror from 2 ½ years ago. I used to be a patron of both the zoo and aquarium, and before eating a vegetarian diet I used to eat chicken at most every meal. How can I pass judgment on my coworkers who do the same things I used to do just a few years ago?

I’m a professional fundraiser in the higher education setting and a large part of my job is cultivating relationships with supporters of the university. I always tell people that I’m not only in the business of raising funds, but I’m also an expert apologizer. If someone calls me, upset that they received an unwanted solicitation, I have to put on a face and be cordial for the sake of the organization. This is undeniably parallel to what I have to do when coworkers talk to me about veganism – I have to be irrefutably kind in order to be the best advocate as possible for the animals.

One time at a student event, the organizers served a buffet-style lunch. I had a dry salad with fruit and steamed veggies – not the most appealing meal, but I made it work. One of the students went back for seconds and when he sat down at the table with his plate of food that looked exactly like my lunch, a faculty member from across the table said, “What are you – vegetarian?!” The student responded by saying that he was not, but that he wanted to fuel up on some fruits and veggies. I jumped in and asked politely, “Even if he was, is that such a bad thing?” It got the conversation going and we wound up talking about Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, a documentary that the faculty member watched not long before our conversation, and surprisingly he was interested to know more about me being vegan! I’ve learned that sometimes it’s the most defensive people who crave information on changing their ways with food.

Truthfully, I haven’t always had this kind of demeanor toward people’s unkind, judgmental comments. Confession time: I used to be an angry vegan and even though it was short lived, I will not let myself go down that dark and lonely path again. Dr. Melanie Joy truly changed my life when I saw her presentation on carnism a few years ago. She helped me realize that we can only plant seeds of the truth that will hopefully inspire others to make a change in their own lives.

I’ve applied Dr. Melanie Joy’s philosophies to my everyday work life. I’ve come to realize it’s the small steps of change that are going to make the most positive impact. For instance, the women in my department at a previous job participated in Meatless Mondays and shared photos with me of vegan dishes they cooked for themselves and their families, which led to one of them trying tofu for the first time. That’s not all: I’ve also recently suggested to someone at work to try Field Roast, prompting her to buy it that same day – and she absolutely loves it! She keeps telling me the different dishes she’s making with it and all I keep thinking is that’s an animal’s life that is spared when she opts for Field Roast instead of meat. Not to mention, I’ve made vegan cookies, pumpkin bread, and pasta salad for my office mates before and the food gets gobbled up within a few hours of being in the office kitchen. These are just a few examples, and I encourage you to find your own cases of hope for the animals in your non-vegan workplace – I know they are out there if you just search a little.

I’ve put together a few tips below on how to thrive as a vegan in a non-vegan workplace so we can all continue to plant seeds to grow a beautiful, compassionate world.

1. Volunteer: Leafleting for organizations like Vegan Outreach, as well as doing other types of outreach outside of work is a great outlet for vegans, and is one of the most effective methods of advocacy.
2. Donate: One of the best things you can possibly do for the animals is donate money to animal protection organizations. Your donations cover the costs of programs and outreach that spare millions of animals a lifetime of suffering.
3. Advocate through food: Bring in your favorite vegan dish to share with coworkers to show them how easy and delicious vegan food can be. Be sure to print out the recipes so they can make it themselves!
4. Educate: Open up dialogue in a natural, unforced way. Being a resource of information for people when – or even if – they are ready to hear it tends to be the best way to reach out to coworkers.
5. Manage stress: Be sure to take care of yourself so you can be the best advocate as possible for the animals. Exercise, eat healthy, and do something fun during your free time to relieve the stress that occurs from the workplace.

By Jon Camp, Executive Vice President

When Nicolas Tomas, a Vegan Outreach volunteer and Cal Poly Pomona student, had his First Amendment rights to leaflet on campus severely restricted, he took matters into his own hands. With the help of the Foundation For Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), Tomas filed a lawsuit against his school to get full access to leaflet. On July 23, a settlement was reached, and Cal Poly Pomona agreed to restore the First Amendment rights for all its students and pay Nicolas $35,000 in damages and attorney’s fees. Thank you, Nicolas, for defending animals and standing up for our First Amendment rights!

Only one day remains to purchase this one-of-a-kind, limited edition shirt design by FLOAT – For Love Of All Things.

$8 from each shirt purchased goes to support Vegan Outreach and our grassroots outreach for animals. We’re more than halfway to our goal of raising $1,000, and we need your help to get there!

Order your t-shirt or tank top now and be one of the only people to sport this design, which puts farmed animals right next to companion animals, showing that all animals deserve compassion.

Order now before time runs out!