Natalie Portman has been a vegetarian for twenty years, but was recently inspired to become a vegan by Jonathan Safran Foer's first nonfiction book, Eating Animals. Portman wrote an essay for the Huffington Post in which she compares the book favorably to Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma (previously on the blue), and makes this specific criticism of the latter book:

But he reminds us that being a man, and a human, takes more thought than just "This is tasty, and that's why I do it." He posits that consideration, as promoted by Michael Pollan in The Omnivore's Dilemma, which has more to do with being polite to your tablemates than sticking to your own ideals, would be absurd if applied to any other belief (e.g., I don't believe in rape, but if it's what it takes to please my dinner hosts, then so be it).

[more inside]
posted by Halloween Jack on Oct 28, 2009 - 283 comments

A Vegan Radical Cookbook Project - Share your favorite recipes here! Eat well, and enjoy this spring's nighttime gardening.
posted by sheauga on May 12, 2002 - 26 comments

Veganism nearly kills baby? A New york couple is charged with reckless endangerment after there baby is taken to the hospital underdeveloped and near death. The article doesn't specifically say veganism was the reason for the baby's poor health but strongly impies it. [link via plastic]
posted by drezdn on Apr 30, 2002 - 55 comments

Lettuce ladies want to slim (clap) you up! I didn't know Elizabeth Berkley was the original lettuce lady. Heck, I didn't even know they existed at all. I noticed the site has some false advertising, though -- on the front page, it says "wearing nothing but strategically placed lettuce leaves..." but how in the world would those tops stay on with straps of lettuce? I guess "wearing nothing but lettuce and green colored underwear" doesn't have the same ring to it.
posted by jragon on Nov 29, 2000 - 11 comments

From the "You learn something new everyday" file: apparently, if you're a vegan, you can't drink most red wines. Luckily for them, there's people selling vegan friendly wines. I've been a vegetarian for about 10 years now, and I was a vegan for a few months until I heard that you're not supposed to eat honey. That was a bit much for me, but like most things, there's always someone willing to take it even further.
posted by mathowie on Feb 8, 2000 - 2 comments