Local vegans learning new ways to spice up animal-friendly living

February 21, 2007

BY JANET CAGGIANO TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 21, 2007 Anna Kushner (left), a junior at King William High School, enjoys a vegan

lunch while classmates Jessie Demmitt (center) and John Deemy prefer burgers and fries. "If you are going to help animals, you should go the whole way," Anna said.EVA RUSSO/RTD Lois Angeletti still craves crumbled blue cheese. Since going vegan in 1990, though, she's learned to ignore the yearning. "There are so many substitutes out there these days, like soy cheese, that make it easy," she said. "To me, there's no excuse." Angeletti founded the Vegetarian Society of Richmond in 1990 hoping to educate others about the healthful benefits of giving up animal products. About 25 people joined the first year. Today, the group has about 150 members, most of whom are vegan. They avoid animal products because of concerns for animal rights or the environment and for health, political or

religious reasons. RELATED Local vegans learning new ways to spice up animal-friendly living Silken Tofu Chocolate Mousse Afghan Spinach and Tofu Lois Angeletti's Manicotti with Spinach and Herbed Tofu and Marinara Sauce Staying the course can be difficult Vegan morsels "Most people start out with health reasons, but the more they become educated, they are interested in the other reasons, too," Angeletti said. While vegetarians don't eat meat, vegans go a step further: They avoid using animals and animal products for food, clothing and

other purposes. That means they don't consume dairy products, including milk and cheese, and they refuse to wear leather. Most won't purchase products that have been tested on animals. "I feel going vegan has helped clear my skin, and I don't get colds," Angeletti said. "Going vegan just makes sense." The sentiment seems to be catching on. Forbes magazine reports that vegetarian food sales have doubled since 1998, hitting $1.6 billion in 2003, the last year for which figures are available. But just how many Americans refuse meat? No official census exists, but according to a CNN poll, 4 percent of Americans are vegetarians and 0.2 percent are vegans. "For a long time, I wasn't educated about nutritional issues," Angeletti said. "I thought you needed milk for calcium. I did the research, and a whole world opened up." The American Dietetic Association reports that well-planned vegan diets can meet current recommendations for all nutrients. The key is to eat a wide variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, beans, rice and whole grains. "Vegans have to learn to combine grains, nuts, vegetables and soy in the same meal or snack for 22 essential amino acids," said Sharon Upton, a registered dietitian in Richmond. "If

you combine your protein sources appropriately, you can have a very healthy diet as a vegan." Many vegans mix in spices along the way to jazz up their dishes. They learn to substitute mashed tofu or applesauce for eggs, soy milk for whole milk and soy burgers for ground beef. But don't they miss the smell of steaks sizzling on the grill or the taste of an ice cream sundae? We peeked into the lives of three local animal lovers to see how they handle the challenges of going vegan.Peter H

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