Archive | May, 2010

Vegan 101 with Joanne Rose

12 May

Joanne Rose is an Australian born actress based in LA, USA. She is the founder of Vegan Vision. We caught up with Joanne recently to find out more about her journey to veganism and her work.

How long have you been vegan and what prompted you to make the switch to an animal-free diet?

I became vegan in 1994 back when there weren’t alot of products available or as accessible as they are today. I was vegetarian for a short while prior to becoming vegan. I was always a huge animal lover. It wasn’t until my teens that I learned the realities of the meat and dairy industry. I vowed there and then to go vegan.

2.What words of encouragement would you give to people who are thinking about becoming vegetarian or vegan but are a bit unsure?

I would encourage them to act from the heart. If you want to live a cruelty free existence, veganism is the way. To truly value life and strive for a healthier planet to benefit all living kind, you are doing so much by going vegan.

3.We hear in the media and from many sources that we are facing a critical moment in history. Climate change and food and water shortages are just some of the issues facing humanity as a whole. Is it possible that if people switch to a vegan diet they could help solve these problems?

Making the choice to go vegan would certainly help solve alot of the problems we are facing today.

4.What is your favourite vegan recipe?

I love big tasty colorful salads topped with avacado, walnuts and tahini dressing, followed by a Thai coconut (aka young coconut) for dessert.

5.What is the vision of Vegan Vision and your series Vegan 101? Anything exciting coming up in 2010?

Vegan Vision is a Film/TV production company I founded to write and produce positive media projects. We certainly need more inspirational entertainment out there. Vegan 101 is a comedic web series offering witty and some times screw ball humor. I wanted to play with real life encounters many of us vegans have faced and highly exaggerate them in a comical sense. Laughter is so important. We need to keep strong and hopeful. Too often we become so focused on the doom and gloom of the world. I have some very exciting projects coming up in 2010. I am shooting new episodes of Vegan 101 in Los Angeles, there will be the official release of my vegan children’s book, Tommy Tofu Saves The Day. I am hosting an event in March for the Green Lifestyle Film Festival in Los Angeles, as their official spokesperson.

6.Who inspires you and why?

River Phoenix is my greatest vegan inspiration. Through my admiration of his work, I learned more about what a vegan was in interviews he did. I am also inspired by comedic genius, Ricky Gervais. I love his hilarious take on serious things in life.

7.What is your favourite vegan beauty product? Any beauty tips you would like to share with us?

My favorite vegan beauty product would be the vegan items at Lush. I love their Baby Face Cleansing Bar, Love Lettuce Mask and irresistable Karma perfume. As for beauty tips, I swear by 8 – 10 glasses of water a day, vegan lifestyle, yoga, pilates, sunblock, laughter, adopting a rescue animal (I adopted a rescue cat – a Chinchilla Persian a couple of years ago in Los Angeles – she is my world).

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For more information about Joanne’s projects see:

www.veganvision.net

www.koldcast.tv- Vegan 101 can be viewed here!

Vegan beauty Amanda Rootsey talks all things vegan.

10 May

Amanda Rootsey is a vegan model and one of the founders of Vegan Era. We were lucky enough to catch up with Amanda recently who shared with us some of her beauty and health tips.

1. What do you feel are the main benefits for people who make the switch to a plant based diet?

There are so many benefits- on a personal level you just feel so so good! You feel great physically, your head feels clearer and you feel good because you know you are doing the most important thing for the planet and saving the beautiful animals.

2. What is your favourite vegan recipe?

Shepherd’s Pie! :
4 Large potatoes, diced
1 Cup rice milk
½ Cup vegetable stock
2 Onions chopped
1 Large chilli
2 Carrots, sliced
2 Celery stalks, sliced
½ Teaspoon Paprika
1 Can chopped tomatoes
Salt & Pepper
1 Can kidney beans
2 Tablespoons Tamari

Directions:


Dice potatoes and steam until tender . Mash, adding enough soymilk so
it is smooth and spreadable. Add salt to taste, and leave to side.
In a large pot, heat vegetable stock and cook the onions f or 3 minutes.
Add the chilli , carrot, and celery and cook for 5 minutes over medium
heat. Cover, and simmer for a further 7 minutes, stirring occasional l y.
Preheat oven at around 200 degree Celsius.
Place the vegetables into a 9” x 13” baking dish and spread the mashed
potato evenly over the top. Sprinkle with paprika, bake for 25 minutes.

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Recipe from Compassionate Cooking for a Vegan Era. www.veganera.com

3. Do you have a favourite vegan restaurant or cafe?

Loving Hut in Brisbane

4. What has been the highlight of your modelling career so far?

Working in Italy and Germany at the beginning of this year. It was such a great experience to live and work in another culture and explore a bit of the world at the same time.

5. Do you have any beauty tips you would like to share with our readers?

A balanced vegan diet without too many processed foods or sugar. For your skin and hair, make sure you include some Flaxseed Oil in your diet as well. I will have a book online soon called A Modern Girl’s Guide to Healthy Eating. It will be available at www.veganera.com. I also recommend using all natural, vegan products in your skin care routine, as your pores can absorb a lot of the chemicals found in many skin care products. There are many options available now that are inexpensive, such as Natural Instinct, Sukin, Pure Earth Noosa, etc.

6. What is your must-have beauty product that you do not leave the house without? Paw Paw Ointment

7.  Please tell us a bit about Vegan Era?

Vegan Era was established in 2009 to bring the earth and animal – saving message to the world. Vegan era offers free starter kits and cook books, informative videos and nutritional information about leading this compassionate lifestyle. My partner, David Rafter and myself felt there was a need to lighten up the world with the latest news and opinions on transitioning to this beautiful life. We also love bringing like minded people together and watching the Vegan community grow. One of our main goals was to keep it pretty light and fun.

8. What kind of response have you had?

We’ve had an overwhelming response and it has continued to grow. We now have a large community who receive our regular e-newsletters and knowledgable contributors to the site from all over the world. We also have an online store selling fair-trade and hand made organic clothes and jewelry, all designed by us and created in the most earth-loving, people-friendly and, of course, animal-loving manner.

9. What’s coming up for Vegan Era?

Adopting the ‘think global, act local’ attitude by bringing our friends around the world together to share one common goal in issuing in a vegan era!

Thanks Amanda!

You can check out Amanda’s vegan website at www.veganera.com

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