Argh - I haven't updated in a while, but that's okay.  (I actually haven't had any vegan revelations, downfalls, or what have you, to post about. )  There are three books that I am thinking about buying, though:

Animal Ingredients A - Z: Animal Ingredients A to Z is the bible for vegetarians, vegans, and caring consumers. More and more, we find our everyday foods containing peculiar -ingredients-many of which are animal derived. As well as a comprehensive listing of animal ingredients, this easy-to-navigate guide contains supplemental information on vegan nutrition, food alternatives, and contact information for animal advocacy groups. Carol Adams, author of The Sexual Politics of Meat and Bruce Friedrich, director of Vegan Outreach at PETA, offer introductions to this newly expanded edition. Finally, consumers can brave the labels at their local market with confidence. (from amazon)

Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating: Hard-hitting and factually based, this book outlines the health, ethical, and ecological reasons for adopting a vegan lifestyle. The author outlines many practical reasons for making this conscious choice- among them is that 70% of all Americans are dying from illnesses related to diet. As heart disease is one of the leading killers, the author suggests a link between animal protein consumption and heart disease. He also gives extensive documentation of cruelty to the animal population by visiting several slaughterhouses and animal farms. The author's writing style appeals to the reader's compassion. It seems at times to be almost political in its agenda. Change your eating habits and become a better person is the final message I am left holding onto at the end of the book. Whether you consider the author's suggestions to be radical or rational, he speaks from personal experience. As noted in the foreword of the book by Howard Lyman, he felt an awakening to the concept of eating vegan when he was lying in a hospital bed. He felt that he could no longer ignore the killing on his family's farm and had to make a lifestyle change. He has the support of many in the medical fields, including Dr. Dean Ornish, care-giver to many celebrities and high-profile public figures and leading author of NY Times Bestselling books, Eat More, Weigh Less and Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease. Ornish suggests that healing qualities exist with a combination of vegetarianism and meditation, and was the first in his field to present findings suggesting that heart disease can be reversed through diet and lifestyle changes, free of surgery and drugs. Four new food groups are introduced, excluding the meat group. He suggests that protein, calcium, as well as other nutritionally essential elements in a person's diet can be met without the addition of animal food products. While this book is educational, it lacks recipes to show how tantalizing food can be without the addition of meat. However, the lengthy resource list at the end of the book suggests much research and achieves the objective of retraining the reader to think before eating. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.  (from amazon)

Meat Market: Animals, Ethics and Money: Meat Market elevates the debate over animal agriculture. Erik Marcus exposes and clears away the exaggerated claims and counterclaims put forth by the meat industry and its opponents. In the process, Marcus presents a thorough examination of animal agricultureÕs cruelties and its far-reaching social costs. Marcus then considers the discouraging progress made by the animal protection movement. He evaluates where the movement has gone wrong, and how its shortcomings could best be remedied.  (from amazon)

Tuesday's Menu:
Breakfast: coffee with non-dairy creamer and sugar; one everything bagel with buttery spread
Lunch: Peanut Satay Noodles; hot tea
Dinner:  vegetables in orzo, veggie tempura and salad; iced green and white tea


Wednesday's Menu:
Breakfast: coffee with sugar and soy milk; one everything bagel with buttery spread
Lunch: Kung Pao noodles; hot tea
Dinner: Sesame tofu, ma po tofu, hunan tofu with sticky rice; iced green and white tea

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HOLY CRAP!  I have found the best donut holes in the whole world!  They're Carob Glazed Chocolate Donut Holes by Nutrilicious Natural Bakery, Inc.  I just had one for the first time yesterday and I can't stop eating them.  My cube mate reluctantly had one when I told him how good they were, and he said that they're pretty tasty!  And this is coming from a guy who is far from vegan and who has never had anything besides plain or honey glazed doughnuts...ever.  Anyway, you can buy a single pack of them at Whole Foods (that's where these came from) or, if you have a huge chocolate craving, you can buy a case of 12 boxes for $39 direct from the company that makes them.