| eLifelines February 2012 |
| Sunday, 01 January 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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February is ironically known for two things that, at first glance, may seem like oxymorons: Valentine's Day (aka: chocolate and other sweet treats) and Heart Health. But, if it's dairy-free and egg-free treats you're sharing, the two can actually be a nice compliment to one another. In fact, we've got a healthy recipe for hot chocolate pancakes to share! Lucky for us, there's plenty coming up to celebrate both. If you're looking to get your sugar fix, head to Vegan Rock, a fundraiser concert and vegan bake sale for the Toronto Vegetarian Association, or stop by our vegan bake sale in the TVA Resource Centre happening in March during Meatout. Balance the sugary treats by learning about the health benefits of a plant-based diet from Forks Over Knives, which will be on sale for only $15! Recognizing just how healthy a plant-based diet is, Oakland University in Rochester is now offering a vegan nutrition course for students of their nursing program, a major revolution in the medical school industry considering that most nurses and doctors can go through their entire training with almost no focus on preventative nutrition. Don't Miss These Upcoming Events!Vegan Rock is happening Thursday, February 23rd at 9 pm, and Sadie's Diner is hosting a chili fundraiser just for TVA on February 28th! Find out more in the TVA in Action section or on Facebook.
This Month... TVA in Action - February is known for sweets and there's certainly no shortage of vegan options for those in the GTA! Vegan Rock, a fundraising concert and bake sale, is happening February 23rd, soon followed by a Sadie's Diner Chili Fundraiser for TVA on February 28th (all you can eat chili for $10!). The fun keeps going in honour of Meatout in March, with yet another vegan bake sale and special deal on Forks Over Knives DVDs at the TVA Resource Centre. In the News - There's plenty of good news to celebrate this month. Recognizing just how heart healthy a plant-based diet is, a university in Rochester is finally launching a vegan nutrition course as part of its nursing program. It seems the rest of the world is catching on too, as a report recently showed meat consumption in the US is finally in decline! Not only health but also ethical issues are being acknowledged, as Maple Lodge Farms has been charged by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for the cruel deaths of chickens during transport. Nutritious Food of the Month - Crazy Addictive Cacao Recipe - Hot Chocolate Pancakes Discount Profile - Cruda Cafe: 10% off with the Vegetarian Discount Card Reader's Classifieds - If you're single and looking to mingle, check out this vegan Valentine's Day Mixer. Two vegetarian apartment rentals are available in the west end. The York Students for Animals are presenting a three speaker panel on alternatives to animals in research.
TVA In ActionUpcoming Events
Vegan Rock This year's Vegan Rock has a new lineup of compassionate local musicians, along with the usual tantalizing bake sale! Come out to hear some great music and get some great vegan goodies, all the while supporting a great cause: The Toronto Vegetarian Association! All proceeds support TVA, funding programs like the Veggie Challenge, community outreach and our drop in resource centre. When? Thursday, February 23rd, 9 pm Where? The Boat (158 Augusta Avenue in Kensington Market). We regret that the venue is not accessible. How much? $10 to get in, costs of baked goods at the bake sale will vary. Find out more and RSVP on Facebook.  Sadie's Diner Chili FundraiserCome get some all you can eat chili and chips for only $10 from one of Toronto's favourite vegetarian restaurants! All proceeds will be donated to TVA. When? Tuesday, February 28th from 6:30 to 9:30 pm Where? Sadie's Diner (504 Adelaide Street West) Forks Over Knives Sale in Honour of Meatout 2012 Help us celebrate Meatout 2012, when thousands of caring people in more than two dozen countries get active to host educational events, distribute free food, and ask their friends, families, and neighbors to "kick the meat habit” and explore a wholesome and compassionate diet. People have been talking for months about the powerful documentary Forks Over Knives, and now you can finally get your own copy! Whether you want to watch it for the first time, or have it on hand to share with friends and family, this is your chance to save big time on your very own copy! When? Wednesday, March 21st from 6 to 9 pm Where? The TVA Resource Centre (17 Baldwin Street, second floor). We regret that the RC is not wheelchair accessible. How much? Forks Over Knives will be only $15. Come early, as quantities are limited! There will also be a vegan pay-what-you-can bake sale. Find other veg-related event listings at veg.ca/events. TVA Group EventsTVA Reads will meet Monday, February 13th to discuss The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary by Andrew Westoll. Location to be announced. Please contact Shân at tvareads@veg.ca for more information. The new Vegetarians of High Park will hold their first meeting at Friendly Thai on Tuesday, March 6th at 6:30 pm. Email highpark@veg.ca to RSVP by Thursday, March 1st. Also check their website for updates. Join one of TVA’s social groups. Directory UpdatesA new vegetarian restaurant has been found in Markham! Tenon Vegetarian Cuisine, a Japanese vegetarian restaurant, is located on Kennedy, just south of Highway 7. Plus word is starting to get out about some Valentine's Day dinners and events being hosted by a variety of local vegetarian restaurants. Learn more about these and other updates in the Directory Updates. In the NewsMeat and Poultry ConsumptionOne Green Planet has gathered stats from the USDA that US per capita beef consumption is down 13% from 10 years ago and a whopping 25% from 1980! Click here for more information. Maple Lodge Farms Charged for Cruel Animal DeathsAlthough human food safety more than animal cruelty is likely the impetus behind the charge, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is taking action again Maple Lodge Farms for the deaths of thousands of chickens who died during transport. There are 60 charges being laid against the company for violating animal health regulations. Read the Toronto Star's report of the charges here. New Vegetarian Nutrition Course at Oakland UniversityVegNews Magazine reports that Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan is now offering a class on vegan nutrition at it's nursing school! The 7 week online course is one of the first at a mainstream university to finally address how a plant-based diet fights chronic illness. Nutritious Food of the MonthCrazy Addictive CacaoCare of Laura Wright Cacao powder (the more minimally processed version of cocoa powder) is a magical ingredient. It makes people crazy, makes them fall in love and most notably, it makes them crave chocolate non-stop. It comes from the tropical plant theobroma cacao (translates to “food of the gods”), which produces large oval pods with all of the sticky cacao goodness inside. It's important to seek out the minimally processed cacao powder if you wish to reap all the healthy benefits. Aside from being dark, mysterious, complex and delicious, it has a lot going for it nutritionally. IngredientsIt's loaded with vitamins and minerals: Cacao is one of the best sources of magnesium found in nature! It also has notable amounts of calcium, zinc, iron, copper, sulfur and potassium. It's a potent antioxidant: In its minimally processed form, cacao contains more antioxidant flavonoids than blueberries, red wine, goji berries and green tea. That's a whole lot of free radical absorption going on. It can make you pretty amorous: cacao stimulates high levels of serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitters that help with regulating mood and helping you feel the good vibes. If you ask me, working more chocolate into the morning is the stuff of champions. Breakfast is a pretty romantic meal too. Maybe not as showy and sparkly as a fine dining dinner excursion, but there's a degree of comfort involved in the routine of it. It's more casual and it sets the tone for the day. I'd say starting off on a chocolatey and indulgent note for Valentine's day, or any day for that matter, is pretty ideal. Who wouldn't love you for that? Click here to join TVA and receive the print Lifelines, which offers more nutritional info, recipes and cookbook reviews. Find more nutritional information at veg.ca/nutrition. RecipeHot Chocolate PancakesServes 2
Directions: Mix the non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl and set aside to curdle, about 5 minutes. Find links to more recipes at veg.ca/recipes. Discount ProfileCruda CafeCare of Angela Del Buono
If you’ve never been to the St. Lawrence Market, it can be a bustling and often overwhelming place. Vegetarians are advised to stick to the lower level and forgo the sight of carcasses. But once you reach the lower level you can enjoy organic produce and bulk foods at Dominos, beans and rice at Rubes, and organic, hand-made tofu at Ying Ying, but don’t head home yet.. the best is still to come. In the North-East corner you'll find Cruda Cafe, an all vegan & raw cafe that will dazzle your palate. They offer juices & smoothies, Rawraps (my favourite of which is the Sundried Tomato Wrap; seasonal veggies, organic raw pate, avocado and sunflower sprouts), salads and entrees like Sweet Potato Mesquite Sandwich (slices of their dehydrated bread, homemade guacamole, seasonal veggies, homemade vegan kombucha cheese.) Don't forget dessert! So many treats, my favourite of which is the pictured Mint Nainamo Bar. Head down Saturday morning for brunch items. Seating is food-court style with lots of great people watching. Use your Vegetarian Discount Card for 10% off everything, including their Un-Cooking Classes. Discount: 10% off with the Vegetarian Discount Card Veg Status? Vegan Where? On the lower level of the St. Lawrence Market (92 Front St. E, 905-447-6501) Reader's ClassifiedsA new vegan catering company, Kiss Me! Caterers is hosting a Vegan V-Day Mixer on February 12th! They'll have savoury finger foods and decadent desserts made with love. Wheelchair-accessible, and cash bar on-site. York Students for Animals presents three guest speakers on alternatives to animal research: Olivier Berreville, Nick Wright and Liz White. Tuesday, February 14th from 2:30-4:30 in room 430 of the Student Centre at York University. Contact yustudentsforanimals@gmail.com for more information. If you're looking for a 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom apartment rental, a vegetarian home in the west end of the city has both available. The house is at Dufferin/Landsdown and Bloor. The 1 bedroom rents for $1230/month, including utilities and has a walk out to a back porch and garden. The 2 bedroom is on the second floor and rents for $1240/month. The house is newly renovated with hardwood floors, on a quiet, tree-lined street, a few minutes walk from either Dufferin or Landsdowne subway station.No smoking, must be vegetarian. Laundry in the basement. Contact Jack at 416-729-9903 if you're interested. Join the Toronto Vegetarian Association today!
Founded in 1945, the Toronto Vegetarian Association is a volunteer-driven charitable organization devoted to providing information and support to people who are interested in making healthier, greener, more peaceful food choices. By becoming a member of TVA, you'll support vital programs such as the largest annual vegetarian food fair in North America, the vegetarian directory, a volunteer-run vegetarian resource centre and the Veggie Challenge. You'll also receive our quarterly print newsletter Lifelines, and be entitled to a free, customized subscription to VegE-News. Plus, you'll have the option to purchase our Discount Card, offering savings at over 80 veg-friendly businesses in the GTA. All donations of $20 or more are tax-deductible. Join the Toronto Vegetarian Association today and help us inspire people to choose a healthier, greener, more peaceful lifestyle.
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