It's VegWeek!

If you haven't already heard, today marks the kickoff of VegWeek, an opportunity to take the 7-day veg pledge.  It's easy to start the week with Meatless Monday... then all you have to do is carry it through for a few more days to see how it feels.

For 7 days, celebrate the many benefits of choosing plant-based foods -- for your health, the planet, and the animals.  It's a fun way to discover new and delicious meat-free meals.  You can make it official by signing up for the Veg Pledge right here, where you can receive a VegWeek starter pack with literature and free coupons.  You may even win prizes from some of the awesome sponsors like Gardein, The Vegg, and Field Roast, to name but a few.

A great recipe to start the week off with is my Gluten-free Black Bean Quinoa Cakes.  They're packed with protein, easy to make, and are a great alternative to frozen veggie burgers.  Plus, they're so delicious you may never want to go back to eating hamburgers!  Give them a try, and take the Veg Pledge today!

Gluten-free Black Bean Quinoa Cakes with Fresh Salsa and Guacamole

Meatless Mondays at the White House?

(source: NY Times)

This spring, First Lady Michelle Obama planted the first organic veggie garden at the White House since the days of Eleanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden. Nearly 60 varieties of plants have been incorporated into the 1,100 square foot plot, and food has already been harvested by local schools and community groups.

“I wanted to be able to bring what I learned to a broader base of people," Mrs. Obama said. "And what better way to do it than to plant a vegetable garden in the South Lawn of the White House?”

(source: NY Times)

The Obamas will feed their love of Mexican food with cilantro, tomatillos and hot peppers. Lettuces include red romaine, green oak leaf, butterhead, red leaf and galactic. There's also spinach, chard, collards and black kale. For dessert, a patch of berries has been planted. And herbs will include some more unusual varieties, like anise hyssop and Thai basil.

Now. . . with all that produce available for the First Family and the White House kitchen, it would only seem logical to make eating veggies a regular part of the White House menu. Mrs. Obama advises that “by eliminating processed food, trying to cook a meal a little more often, trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables,” one can live more healthfully. I couldn't agree more!

But may I also suggest, Meatless Mondays? I'd be happy to help with the menu. How about a raw vegan spread of Sunflower Seed Pate in Romaine Lettuce Leaf Tacos, Mexican Mole, and Strawberry Salsa with Cilantro Vinaigrette.

Join the movement, and spread the word. And let the First Family know you'd like to see Meatless Mondays on the Menu at The White House by submitting your comment here.