You know if Oprah is doing it, then half the soccer moms in the Western world are soon to follow. Oprah Winfrey is several days into a 21-day vegan cleanse. She will eat no meat, dairy, eggs, sugar, gluten, or caffeine. Good for Oprah!

Read the full story on People

This is the same woman who went to court with Howard Lyman, the "Mad Cowboy," over her comments that information about cows being fed to other cows "stopped me cold from ever eating another burger." Does anyone know if she stuck with that promise?

You go, Oprah!

If you've spent any time reading my blog, you probably noticed that I'm a bit of a health fanatic. I love learning about new ways of healthy living and healthy eating. It's been something of a hobby for me for the past few years.

About a year ago, I was reading a health food book and started feeling overwhelmed by all the information I was taking in. It was all fascinating. I was learning so much that I wanted to apply to my diet. But how would I possibly remember it all for long enough to benefit from it?

And so, foodscout.org was born.

I started to create a database for all the foods I was reading about along with their nutritional value and the health benefits they provide. It was becoming so handy that friends would often ask me for advice and information from my food database.

It finally occurred to me to put this information out on the internet and share it with the world. I hope it helps you on your path to better health!

Check it out at http://www.foodscout.org.

When I was more involved with animal activism and outreach, the issue of lobster tanks in restaurants and grocery stores would periodically come up. Some activists took particular offense to the idea of consumers picking out a lobster while it is alive, and then eating it. I could never understand why this was a greater crime than choosing from a whole slew of dead animal parts that had been slaughtered out of site.

This New York Times article asks this same question, albeit in a much more gruesome way. In this case, a chef slaughtered a chicken on British television. Another chef performed cruel factory farm practices on animals in order to educate viewers about the true cost of cheap meat and eggs.

Some people are outraged about these chefs' participation in the killing or torturing of animals. But is this really worse than the chefs who participate indirectly by purchasing meat and dressing it up as culinary artwork and shielding their customers from the cold reality of what they are eating?

I believe that the more people who know about and are reminded of where meat comes from, the fewer of them will participate. At the very least, more of them will insist on supporting only those farms that at least give animals a quality natural life before their much-too-early deaths. This alone would decrease meat consumption, because it would be more expensive and less convenient.

Perhaps those who oppose this more open approach to animal slaughter are afraid that people will see this cruelty first-hand and will still not care. For those of us who have shown friends the horror of factory farming only to see them continue to support it, we know this is a real possibility. I have faith that enough people are genuinely compassionate toward all animals that society would shift in the animals' favor if people could no longer escape the reality of what they are eating.

Cafe Indigo isn't easy to find, tucked away in the back of a business park, but it is definitely worth going out of the way for. The menu offers fairly standard items, such as eggless egg salad, lentil soup, veggie burger, and faux meat wraps, as well as a nice selection of baked goods and desserts, but the flavor and texture make this some of the best vegan comfort food I've ever had.

The restaurant is owned by two carnivores who became inspired by their vegan children to create delicious vegan food. The fact that they still remember what non-vegan food tastes like, is probably what has allowed them to recreate these old favorites so successfully.

Much like the people in New Hampshire, the restaurant owner, who was also our server, was incredibly welcoming and helpful. She catered to my gluten allergy needs by bringing me a menu with the gluten-free options labeled. She assisted my less adventurous omnivore friend by making suggestions about what she might be comfortable eating.

After talking me into ordering the best vegan cheesecake in the entire known universe, she brought my lunch companions a complementary mini-slice to try as well, which they happily devoured. The owners apparently spent 3 weeks experimenting with taste and texture to get this blueberry cheesecake just right - and they did.

Anyone planning a trip to New Hampshire should definitely make an effort to stop into Cafe Indigo.

See also my vegan restaurant tour.

In the 13 years that I've followed a vegan diet, the question most commonly asked of me has been, "where do you get your protein?" Meat-eaters, vegans, and aspiring raw foodists alike, all seem to ask that question. There is a lot of disagreement and controversy surrounding what kinds of proteins are best and how much protein individuals require. For an interesting discussion on protein and the benefits of eating essential amino acids from plant sources versus whole proteins from animal sources, I highly recommend the book Green for Life, by Victoria Boutenko. This is a list of protein sources that have worked well for me. I usually include 2 or 3 of these foods in my diet every day.

• Green smoothies: Not only are leafy greens very high in all the essential amino acids that form complete proteins, but they are also excellent sources of other nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, K, calcium, and fiber. They are also very cleansing to the body. It helps to have a high power blender like a Vita-Mix or K-Tec, but even a regular cheap blender will do the job if you chop the greens and fruit well before blending.
• Cooked whole grains: Quinoa and amaranth are great protein sources and are alkaline-forming grains. Acidic diets promote disease, while alkaline diets promote health. Just 1 cup (after cooking) of quinoa has 8 grams of protein. Amaranth is even higher. I enjoy amaranth for breakfast, cooked with banana slices. Wild rice is also a good source of protein, but not quite as good as quinoa.
• Sprouted grains: I haven't quite gotten into a regular habit of sprouting grains, but I have tried some sprouted grain breads such as Manna Bread, which makes for a tasty, filling, nutrient-dense treat that is high in protein and fiber. Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grain products, including breads and pastas, can be found in most natural food stores. I often make porridge out of soaked oat groats, which have 6 grams of protein per 1/4 cup (before soaking).
• Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds provide significant amounts of protein, but since they are also high in fat, they can weigh you down if you rely on them for protein. Pumpkin seeds are a better choice because they are also high in iron, copper, magnesium, and some other minerals. About 1/5 cup has more protein than a serving of wild rice. Almonds are a good protein source as well.

Before becoming more health conscious, most of my protein came from processed fake meats and soy products. Beans are another common vegan protein source, but most are difficult to digest and contain a lot of toxins. It's not hard to find adequate vegan protein sources, but if you're trying to improve your health, steer away from the processed foods and beans and give some of these ideas a try.

Make sure to look into herbal remedies for common health problems. Sometimes the benefit of organic food is that it has fewer additives that cause health issues. Even simple herbal teas can help you maintain better day to day health.

When I went vegan in 1995, it was pretty easy to find tasty and healthy vegan food, but there wasn't a lot of variety. Now, the market is full of vegan versions of everything you can possibly imagine. It's easier than ever to satisfy all your food cravings, while maintaining a cruelty-free diet.

Even if you live in the middle of nowhere, chances are there is a little health food store tucked away somewhere that has some vegan options. If not, the internet is your friend. I now eat almost entirely raw vegan food, but before then, here are the online stores where I found all the vegan food I needed:

• Vegan Essentials - They are constantly getting in all the latest tasty snacks and treats and their prices are usually pretty good.
• May Wah Healthy Vegetarian Food - They have the most incredible selection of fake meat. Check the ingredients because not everything here is vegan. Shipping is very expensive so buy in bulk or order with friends to share the shipping cost.

I can't go anywhere without checking out as many vegan restaurants as I can find. So many are popping up in all corners of the world, that I will never hit them all. But here are my reviews of those that I have been lucky enough to try so far. I only list restaurants with a vegan menu. No half-assed vegetarian restaurants find their way onto this particular list.

Washington D.C. | San Francisco, CA | Concord, NH | New York, NY | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX | Houston, TX | Salt Lake City, UT | Seattle, WA | Canada

Vegan restaurants in the U.S.

• Washington D.C.
  • The Vegetable Garden
    11618 Rockville Pike
    Rockville, MD 20852
    (301)468-9301
    This is the first vegan restaurant I ever ate at. I was so blown away by the food, I almost cried. Several pages of options, including several desserts. Lots of fake meats of various types. I had the veggie duck. It was amazing.
• San Francisco, CA
  • Cafe Gratitude
    3 locations. See website for locations in
    San Francisco and Berkeley, CA.
    (415)824-4652
    I was in San Francisco for about 48 hours and I tried all 3 of the Cafe Gratitudes in the area. This is definitely, without a doubt, my favorite restaurant of all time. It's almost entirely raw, which I'm all about now. The prices are very cheap considering how amazing the food is. I could eat there every day and never get tired of it. I even bought the recipe book they sell.
  • Millenium
    580 Geary Street
    San Francisco, CA
    (415)345-3900
    If you want to get seated, make a reservation. This place is pretty swanky. Very expensive but worth it for an occassional great meal. Their entrees look like artistic sculptures. Delicious too.
  • Herbivore
    983 Valencia
    San Francisco, CA
    (415)826-5657
    This was a nice casual, inexpensive restaurant. I have no complaints. The menu was varied and the food was good. Not overly memorable to me, but a lot of people love it.
  • RAW Living Food Restaurant
    1224 9th Avenue
    San Francisco CA 94122
    (415)OMJ-JAYA
    If you like raw food, you'll probably love this place. It's the only raw restaurant I've ever been to, so I don't have much to compare it to. I was very surprised at how much flavor the food had. It was so intense, I could barely eat it. I didn't love it, but I am very very glad I tried it.
• Concord, NH
  • Cafe Indigo
    128H Hall Street
    Concord, NH
    (603)224-1770
    Cafe Indigo isn’t easy to find, tucked away in the back of a business park, but it is definitely worth going out of the way for. The menu offers fairly standard items, such as eggless egg salad, lentil soup, veggie burger, and faux meat wraps, as well as a nice selection of baked goods and desserts, but the flavor and texture make this some of the best vegan comfort food I’ve ever had. They offer several gluten-free choices. I highly recommend the blueberry cheesecake, which has an unbelievable taste and texture (the crust is not gluten-free). See also my full review of Cafe Indigo.
• New York, NY
  • Angelica Kitchen
    300 E 12th St (1st Avenue)
    New York, NY
    (212)228-2909
    I haven't spent that much time in Manhattan as a vegan, but I must have eaten at Angelica at least four times. It seemed expensive, but for New York I think it was fairly cheap. Especially when you consider that everything on the menu is organic. This is one of my favorite restaurants. The menu is full of vegan versions of old favorites. Everything I ever ordered was amazing, especially the desserts. But don't keep pointing to items, asking the staff if it is vegan. They hate that.
  • Vegetarian Paradise 2 (VP2)
    144 W 4th St
    New York, NY
    (212)260-7130
    Chinese food with convincing fake meat. Not necessarilly what I would want to eat all the time, but if you don't mind greasy fattening food, it's great. They have healthier items as well.
• Austin, TX
  • Casa de Luz
    1701 Toomey Rd
    Austin, TX
    (512)476-2535
    Even without the food, Casa de Luz is a great place. You can't spend time there without feeling calm and pleasant. You can't eat the food and leave feeling unhealthy. It is mostly macrobiotic and organic. Much of the food comes from their own garden. There is no menu, you just get a plate of whatever they are serving that night with soup and salad. The difference in meals from day to day is subtle, but I never got tired of eating there.
• Dallas, TX
  • Spiral Diner
    1401 Jones St
    Fort Worth, TX
    (817)3-Eat-Veg
    Spiral Diner is your basic burger and sandwich shop and offers other old favorites, like spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, and baked potatoes. I didn't love the carrot cake, but the meatballs were just how they should have been. I highly recommend trying anything with their hummus in it. I know, you can get hummus anywhere, but trust me, theirs is special. They also sell vegan cat food.
• Houston, TX
  • Wonderful Vegetarian Restaurant (now Tien Ren)
    7549 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77063
    (713)977-3137
    Wonderful Vegetarian was a favorite place to eat after animal rights protests. By that time we were starving and tired so the food tasted great. But it was a fairly typical chinese buffet. A decent selection and some good desserts. A bit on the greasy side. If you're stuck in Houston, try it. Don't go out of your way.
    I am told that this restaurant closed and reopened as Tien Ren, also completely vegan. The buffet, menu, baked goods, and atmosphere received high marks from at least one family so it might be worth checking out.
  • Green Planet Vegetarian Cafe
    9013 Westheimer Road
    Houston, TX
    (713)783-6622
    This one is another Chinese buffet, but they also have a dinner menu. I didn't care for it. It wasn't interesting at all. It's possible that I am getting these two places mixed up, but it almost doesn't matter.
• Salt Lake City, UT
  • Sage's Cafe
    473 E 300 S
    Salt Lake City, UT
    (801)322-3790
    Not only does Sage's Cafe have great food, but it is run by the nicest people in the restaurant industry. During the long road trip from Austin to Seattle, we were heading toward Salt Lake City, trying desperately to arrive in time to try Sage's. They were about to close when we were still twenty minutes away. Hungry, we called them to ask if they could recommend a place where we could get some vegan food late at night. Rather than directing us to some grocery store, they read the menu to us over the phone, took our orders, and stayed open an extra half hour just so we could eat. Unbelievable. And so was the food. I had the Mushroom Stroganoff for dinner, then went back for breakfast and had French Toast. Some day, I would like to go back to Salt Lake City long enough to try everything on the menu. If you go anywhere near Utah, find a way to make it to Sage's.
• Seattle, WA
  • Araya's Vegetarian Place
    4730 University Way NE
    Seattle, WA
    (206)524-4332
    Araya's is great Thai food. Unfortunately, I don't care for Thai food. I don't hate it, it just doesn't excite me at all. But if you like Thai, I highly recommend trying it.
  • Bamboo Garden
    364 Roy St
    Seattle, WA
    (206)282-6616
    Everyone raves about the Bamboo Garden and it always wins in the polls. I think it's mediocre at best. In a town with no other options, I would be glad to have it. In Seattle, I won't waste my money on it again. Their balls of fake meat are pretty good, but every dish on the menu is the same, and not very interesting.
  • Cafe Ambrosia (Closed)
    2501 Fairview Ave E
    Seattle, WA
    (206)325-7111
    Ambrosia's menu is pretty small, but I haven't ever tried anything there that didn't impress me. From appetizers to desserts, the food is amazing. Their brunch is even better. Everything, including the beer and wine, is organic.
  • The Globe
    1531 14th Ave
    Seattle, WA
    (206)324-8815
    The Globe is a great cheap place to eat a filling breakfast. Their grits are fantastic. I'm not a huge fan of their lunch menu, but I eat breakfast there all the time.
  • Good Morning Healing Earth (Closed - now Rainy Day Vegan Cafe)
    901 NE 55th St
    Seattle, WA
    This is another favorite. Best gravy in town. He makes his own tofu and seitan and it is delicious. Great for lunch and breakfast. Prices are reasonable. But don't skimp on the tip or there will be hell to pay.
  • Hillside Quickies
    4106 Brooklyn Ave NE
    Seattle, WA
    (206)632-3037
    I love Quickies! Good, cheap, greasy sandwich shop. If they happen to have the tofu pot pie, order it. Otherwise, any sandwich on the menu will satisfy.
  • In The Bowl
    1554 E. Olive Way
    Seattle, WA
    (206)568-2343
    In the Bowl has a huge menu, and as far as I can tell, everything on it is tasty. Almost all dishes come with a choice of tofu, fish, prawn, duck, or beef - the faux kind, of course. The food is fairly cheap.
  • Rainy Day Vegan Cafe
    901 NE 55th St
    Seattle, WA
    (206)524-0204
    This is quickly turning into one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Their menu is interesting and almost everything I try is fantastic. What's even better is they are always experimenting with new dishes. Specials have included grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken parmesan. Prices are reasonable, service is great. My only complaint is that the portions are sometimes inconsitent.
  • Mighty-O Donuts
    2110 N 55th St
    Seattle, WA
    (206)547-0335
    A vegan donut shop? I never thought I would see the day. The donuts are a lot more like cake than donuts though. They are great desserts, but don't expect them to be anything like Dunkin.
  • Pizza Pi
    5500 University Way NE
    Seattle, WA
    (206)343-1415
    I couldn't stay away from Pizza Pi if I tried. I don't know how he makes the vegan cheese, but it makes me wonder why all the vegan cheeses you find in stores taste like vomit. Ordering at Pizza Pi is just like ordering at any other Pizzaria, except when you ask for sausage, bacon, or other meat, no animals suffer as a result. The calzones are great too. I highly recommend trying the white garlic sauce in place of the regular red sauce. But don't ask for both. He hates that. "No, I can't make pink sauce!"
  • Teapot Vegetarian House
    125 15th Ave E
    Seattle, WA
    (206)325-1010
    I may be the only vegan in Seattle who doesn't like this place. Aside from the rose chicken, which is just like the real thing, I have never had an entree I liked. Their mango cheesecake is the best vegan cheesecake I've ever had though.
  • Vegan Garden
    1228 S Jackson St
    Seattle, WA
    (206)726-8669
    There are so many items on the menu that it's really difficult to choose. It's mostly faux meat, Asian style. If you're feeling like having delicious but greasy fried food, this is the place for you.

Vegan restaurants in Canada

• Victoria, BC
  • Green Cuisine
    #5 - 560 Johnson St.
    Victoria, BC V8W 3C6
    (250)385-1809
    Buffet style dining. Pay by the gram in Canadian dollars. If you're an American, you probably won't have any clue how to estimate how much you're spending for a meal in American dollars. I sure didn't, but I'm pretty sure it was probably cheap. And if it wasn't, that's ok because the food is worth the price. Good variety and everything I tried was satisfying and tasty.
  • Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant
    617 Johnson St.
    Victoria, BC V8W 1M5
    (250)380-9293
    If you show up right before 3pm when they are no longer refilling the buffet, you can get lunch for super cheap, as long as you don't mind eating the dregs of the buffet. I also tried Lotus Pond for dinner. It is more or less your standard Asian-style vegan restaurant, but the menu is extensive. Lots of fake meat dishes. Good portion sizes. The water chestnut cake is definitely not cake, and it isn't very good. Enjoy your entree at Lotus Pond, but get your dessert down the street at Green Cuisine.

Whether you are looking for great Chicago restaurants that are vegan friendly or you are more interested in Denver restaurants for a vacation there's sure to be a restaurant for you! There are also great Denver hotels available so ue the white pages today and find the best ammenities!

Plenty. Leather isn't just leftovers that will be thrown away if they don't make shoes out of it - they've got special cows suffering just for that purpose. Leather isn't natural or environmentally friendly - the tanning process is extremely toxic to the earth. The cows suffer greatly, regardless of your rationalizations, so don't buy leather.

• Cows Are Cool - A Peta site dedicated to the topic of leather.
• India's Cruel Leather Trade - This is another Peta site. Apparently cows aren't all that sacred anymore in India. And a huge portion of western leather comes from India.
• Earthlings (the movie) - This movie touches on a whole lot of animal cruelty issues. The leather segment is particularly good.

No, I don't wear leather shoes. No, I don't wear cheap plastic shoes that fall apart after 2 months. It just isn't that hard anymore to find high quality non-leather shoes. The best outdoor shoe companies routinely carry several synthetic shoes that are durable, comfortable, and stylish. But there are plenty of cheap vegan shoes out there too. You don't have to throw away all your perfectly good leather shoes. But if you're going to buy new ones, buy something cruelty-free next time. Here are some suggestions that have worked well for me:

• Crocs - Best shoes ever. I bought my Crocs over a year ago and I've barely worn anything else since. It's like wearing slippers all day long. If it rains, I just wear them without socks. They go with everything and last a long time.
• Keen Footwear - They have many many vegan options and are even more versatile than Crocs. You can find them online or at REI. Great for hiking or walking around town. They go with everything.
• Vegan Essentials - Chances are they've got the shoes you're looking for. Vegan Essentials has a great selection and updates it often. If you don't like buying shoes without trying them on, try them on in a local corporate store before buying online. I just bought a pair of Garmont winter boots that I am very happy with.
• Payless ShoeSource - I remember what it was like to be a broke vegan college student. If you need non-leather shoes but you can't spend a fortune, Payless is full of cheap vegan shoes.

Yes, your cats and dogs can be healthy on a vegan diet. My cats and dogs were vegan for years with no problems. But don't be stupid about it. Especially with the cats, make sure they are eating enough food and urinating properly. Get regular check-ups to make sure they are getting what they need. Don't try to switch your animal's diet overnight. Don't get the Vegetarian PetGuard for dogs - they just don't like it.

• Vegan Essentials - They took over operations for vegancats.com, which was the very first company to sell commercial vegan catfood online.
• Down Bound - They are a great company, with great ethics. Among other things they have a good selection of vegan pet food.
• Obligate Carnivore - A great book about the vegan diet for cats. A must read for anyone struggling with the decision to put their cats on a vegan diet.