Compassionate Cooks
Food for Thought - Vegetarianism and Animal Rights
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The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
Best known for his novels, such as The Picture of Dorian Gray; his plays, such as "The Importance of Being Earnest," "An Ideal Husband," and "Salome"; his poetry, such as "The Ballad of Reading Gaol"; and his 50,000-word letter, called "De Profundis," Oscar Wilde is not widely acclaimed for his chil …
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Five Favorite Foods: Carrots, Dates, Walnuts, Oats, Brussels Sprouts
My main criterion for my "favorite foods" are foods that I consume practically every day, and though my list may seem pedestrian, one thing I've discovered in the many years I???ve been doing this work is that even the most basic foods are still foreign to people. So, today I talk - at length! - abo …
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"Pig": A Short Story by Roald Dahl
Though he???s most well-known for his children's stories (James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Roald Dahl was also a prolific writer of short stories for adults, many of which are a bit on the macabre side. Today's story, "Pig" is one of these darker stories bu …
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Are You Serious?
Vegetarians learn pretty quickly that when they "come out" - when they declare their vegetarianism publicly - they become the recipient of some statements or questions that are, let???s say, not very well thought out, such as "If everyone went vegetarian, the world would be overrun with farm animals …
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Two-Year Anniversary Show: A Veritable Lovefest
In celebration of the two-year anniversary of our podcast, I feature the letters of listeners who have been informed and inspired by "Food for Thought." The stories are as diverse as the listeners and reflect varied ages and backgrounds, but they all share common threads of hope and transformation. …
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The Taming of the Cattle
Though we tend to forget, cattle (cows, bulls, and steers) did exist first as wild animals before humans began domesticating them for our own purposes. Before we got our hands on them and turned them into a commodity for human gain, what was their history? What was their background? What is their an …
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To Serve Man
A diplomatic delegation from another planet comes to Earth, bringing with them technology to end hunger, disease, and war and - ostensibly - asking for nothing in return. A short story written in 1951 by Damon Knight, "To Serve Man" was adapted into a popular "Twilight Zone" episode in the 1960s and …
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Definition: Vegan
"Can you eat bread?" These are some of the common questions non-vegetarians ask vegans, and here's the short answer: We can eat whatever we want. We're "allowed" to have whatever we want. Nobody???s stopping us. It???s not illegal. We don???t follow a set of dietary laws, and we are technically quit …
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The Anarchist - His Dog
Today's story demonstrates the lengths to which people will go to protect the ones they love. In her stories and plays, Susan Glaspell (1876-1948), bestselling novelist and Pulitzer-prize winning playwright, created many sympathetic characters who make principled stands. And that is why I chose this …
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I Eat Only "White Meat" - In Defense of Chickens
Though in many ways we admire so much about chickens (the maternal instinct of mother hens, the irresistible "cuteness" of baby chicks, the iridescent plumage of rooters), unfortunately our admiration doesn't translate into kindness towards them. Chickens born, kept, and killed for their flesh and f …
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To Florida: An Apology
Lest I offend the good people of Florida and Montana, I humbly offer my sincerest apology. Except for that one mean lady at the bed and breakfast (whose name shall remain anonymous), we enjoyed many wonderful meals in the fare state of Florida.
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The Vegetarian Philosophy of Pythagoras, as told by Ovid in "The Metamorphoses"
Everything we know about the Greek philosopher Pythagoras (ca. 580 B.C.- ca. 490 B.C. - he died when he was 90 years old!) comes from those who lived many years after him, and fortunately, his philosophy of vegetarianism is beautifully memorialized in Ovid's great epic poem, The Metamorphoses. Early …
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On the Road: Traveling as a Vegan
Join me today as I share some of my adventures on the road, in the sky, and in a far-off place called Florida. We learn why eating a whole foods plant-based diet works not only at home but also "abroad," we explore the abundant resources out there for planning a vegan voyage, and I offer some tips o …
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The Slaughterer: A Short Story by Isaac Bashevis Singer
Isaac Bashevis Singer was born in 1902 in Poland and emigrated to the United States in 1935. Publishing at least 18 novels, 14 children's books, and a number of memoirs, essays and articles, he is best known for his short stories. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1978. For the last 35 years of his …
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Favorite Foods: Beans!
You wouldn't believe how much there is to say about beans. Take a listen to see what all the fuss is about! Learn how easy it is to make beans "from scratch," get permission to eat canned beans, learn a number of fast dishes you can make with black beans, white beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, blac …
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Marks of Domination: The Branding of Human and Animal Slaves
The practice of branding animals and humans has a long history, dating back 4,000 years to the Egyptians. The Greeks, Romans, and Anglo-Saxons carried on the tradition, it was a regular form of punishment and identification during the European/American slave trade, and it continues to this day on ra …
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The Practical Aspects of Being Vegan
Now that I'm vegan, what do I do with my leather couch, my leather shoes, and my wool sweaters? What should I do with the meat and other animal-based products in my kitchen? How do I know about animal-derived ingredients on food labels? Can I still call myself "vegan" if I eat something like honey? …
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A Passionate Life
In her broken, mutilated body, shooting for normalcy as though it were within her reach, seeking to be involved in absolutely everything, every meal, every exchange of affection, every single conversation, Louise sang. Responding to every single sound in her environment, tuned into the world's pitch …
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Thanksgiving FOR the Birds
Most people don't know that our contemporary customs at Thanksgiving, namely the serving of turkeys, were shaped and popularized by a magazine editor, Sarah Josepha Hale, in the mid-1800s. Whatever meaning we attribute to this Thanksgiving holiday is most certainly not lost (in fact, it is enhanced) …
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Compassionate Clich??s
A culture???s language reflects the values of that society, and our shared use of that language reflects our agreement with those values. Today I want to examine how our use of common idioms and proverbs denigrates animals and contributes to our violence against them; I'd like to take a look at the …
Compassionate Cooks
