So here it goes. Seven months into veganism, and I have realized that a cruelty-free lifestyle is one worth spreading. Amazingly, thus far, I've only been asked where I get my protein from by two people. I'll chalk that up to living in Portland, OR; people are just far more familiar with the lifestyle in these parts of the country. However, I won't let that fool me. I know that misconceptions about veganism are widespread. Most people couldn't imagine a life without meat, dairy, or without eggs. And let's not even talk about cochineal or castoreum (ingredients that come from crushed up beetles and glands near beaver buttholes, respectively). I don't expect everyone who reads this to go vegan. All I aim to do is educate, let people know what is out there as far as plant-based alternatives to their animal-based meals and products. Hopefully I can dispel some myths, and maybe get some people thinking about what they are putting into their bodies. I won't claim to be an expert, every day is part of the learning process, but all I can do is share what I've learned.

Today I'm going to start off simple. No recipes or anything like that, just two vegan products that I've come to enjoy in the past few months. The first is Tofurky's "Pepperoni" Pizza (please ignore my reflection in the window, I took this photo before I decided to actually buy the thing.)

I'll be honest. If I gave this to an omnivore, they would know right away that they weren't eating a "real" pizza, but different doesn't mean bad! It's made with Daiya cheese, and cubed bits of Tofurky's soy-based faux pepperoni. Daiya has yet to replicate the true meltiness and smokiness of mozzarella, and Tofurky still has a bit of an issue with capturing the spice that a good pepperoni has. But does it satisfy my pizza craving. Well, that is to say, I don't really crave pizza, something about curds of cow lactation and chunks of random pig parts are just not that appealing to me anymore. What I do crave is something quick that I can throw in the oven and eat with my hands, and that's where Tofurky's pepperoni pizza comes in. I recommend the instructions for a crispier crust, the first one I made was a bit soft for my liking, and maybe even leave it in the oven a few minutes longer than suggested, but I do love a crispy pizza, so do what makes you happy. An interesting note: as I mentioned, Daiya, who produces the dairy-free cheese for this product, as well as Tofurky's Vegan Cheese Pizza and their Sausage and Veggie Pizza, has recently begun producing their own line of frozen pizzas. I am very curious to see if this means that the partnership between Daiya and Tofurky is ending, or if Daiya will continue to be the producer for Tofurky's vegan cheese. I love good competition between vegan companies, but if that means the quality of one has to suffer at the expense of another. Daiya by far makes the best vegan cheese that I have tasted.

I'd also like to talk about a non-food product. A few days ago I finished my bottle of Old Spice body wash, and I promised myself I wouldn't be tempted by the flashy packaging and sweet smells of products from the likes of Unilever and Proctor and Gamble, companies known for testing their soaps and deodorants on animals. I almost gave up hope, there didn't seem to be anything that said it wasn't tested on animals in the section of the aisle with all of the body washes geared towards men. But way down the other end of the aisle I found a brand called "Every Man Jack". I had my doubts when I saw the bottle. I didn't think anything claiming to be a manly brand (after all the thing is shaped like a flask) would go out of its way to point out that they don't test their products on animals. With little I picked up the bottle and check out what the notes on the label had to say. "No animal testing." I couldn't believe it. I thought I'd have to find some patchouli smelling soap in some hippie shop on Portland's east side, but at the moment I was going to give up, Every Man Jack saved me. If you are a guy looking for a cruelty-free body wash or shampoo, check out this brand. (Please excuse the embarrassing Instagram-y template I used for the photo, I promise the quality of images will improve)