Happy Independence Day (The Vegan Way)

Capitol Reef National Park

“If we can live healthy, happy, productive lives without harming others, why wouldn’t we?” ~ Jenny Brown

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While I am still working on several long-ish posts to deliver to your inboxes soon, we are still in full-on summer mode here, visiting friends and family and spending a whole lot of time outside in the time in between. Today, the entire DirtNKids household wishes you a happy and safe 4th of July in America.

As you enjoy whatever traditions you’ve become accustomed, why not celebrate our own freedoms by setting another free? You can easily start with those enslaved for your taste pleasure alone.

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• Get dairy ice cream alternatives to top your vegan apple pie. Vanilla coconut or vanilla soy are flavorful and are melt-y and delightful on the tongue with a warmed-up slice. No need to steal from babies, sentencing them to their deaths (or a future of enslavement).

Photo Credit: Fried Dandelions
Click it for a Vegan Apple Pie recipe

• Hot dogs or burgers? Try the meatless variety. I personally wouldn’t call Smart Dogs ‘healthy,’ but charred on a skewer over an open flame and served with all the fixin’s — even meatless chili and dairy-free cheese — my brain and taste buds don’t know the difference. Same goes for many ready-made frozen bean burgers grilled over charcoal and topped with sauteed mushrooms and onions, avocado slices for some extra oomph. DeeeLISH. (Psst. Bean burgers are healthy, and you can easily make these at home.) Want a burger that really tastes like a beef burger? Beyond Meat has the most amazing-tasting solution!

Photo credit: Beyond Burger

• Just Mayo makes the best egg-less mayonnaise for your hot dogs and burgers, just don’t use it for your free-range deviled eggs — kind of defeats the purpose of a cruelty-free dish (no matter what the egg producer wants you to believe). We find ours at Wal-mart or our local grocery.

• Watermelon, cantaloupe, and honey dew melons grown locally (find them in rural farm stands near you) don’t necessarily require the enslavement of another to grow for your enjoyment. They are the best summer fruits for cooling off. Chill them first, then dive in!

Photo credit: Prathyush Thomas