Hey Vegans, Can We Be Friends?

January 18, 2010

in eating out,My story,product review,USC

I knew I shouldn’t have ended my last post practically inviting people to say I’m full of bullshit. A couple of you just couldn’t resists, huh? Lol! ;-)

But I was pleasantly surprised when Averie mentioned that it was “brave” of me to welcome people to disagree with me. Because I didn’t realize that I had gotten a lot more open-minded to different views and opinions over the last few years.

I remember I used to get into debates with my friends all the time, and none of them could get a word in. Whether it be something trivial like the best car in the world, or something more significant like religion, I refused to listen to other people’s thoughts because I was just so convinced that I knew everything, and that I was totally right.

Of course, maturity has played a big part in my ability to be more open-minded. The older I got, the more people I met, I realized that jeez, I’m really not that smart after all. I’m still young and inexperienced, and I’m imprisoning myself by restricting myself to my own perspectives, which usually turn out to be narrow, misinformed, and selfish.

I also realized that there really is no fun in being “right” all the time. Hearing and pondering over other people’s thoughts and opinions on different subject is what keeps my mind active, and what keeps the topic consistently fascinating.

Another thing I found out is that honestly, some things are just not worth getting so opinionated about. Take food, for example (since this is a food blog). Am I really going to get hot and worked up arguing which place has the best burgers in town? That would be wasting a good 30 minutes of my time and energy and emotions invested in something that really has no point to it.

But what about stuff that really is worth fighting for, like your morals, your beliefs, your relationships and life? Well, even so, the worst thing you can do is try to impose them on others; it’d only cause them to become defensive and reject your arguments, no matter how reasonable they may sound. Ironically, people actually do become interested when you keep silent about it, and maybe even resist sharing your views a little. So long as you yourself stay true to them and live them out, people will inevitably be intrigued and more welcoming to your ideas.

Back to the topic of food. Now, I’ve met some pretty extremist vegans around. You know, those people who obsess over eating xx% raw each day, who bring a bunch of sprouts and bananas with them to social dinners, who spend hours a day sprouting and juicing, who give you the disapproving eye as you chew on your delicious medium-rare steak. That was enough to turn me off.

But at the same time, I also became an extremist myself by condemning them as a self-binding diet for eating disordered individuals who was using veganism as an excuse to entrench themselves in their disorders.

Of course, I was wrong. There are myriads of reasons why someone might go vegan. For people like myself, it may be detrimental and frankly, hell. For others, it may actually be necessary for their health, and they may find it beneficial and enjoyable.

So this is my apology to all vegans out there. I still love my hot dogs and cheese, but I hope we can still be friends. And as a treaty of peace, I hereby swear I shall eat your food with an open mind and stomach. So here it is: vegan baked goods and a raw product review.

Anyone ever heard of Babycakes? It’s this popular vegan bakery in New York City. It became so popular that it even has its own cookbook, and has recently opened its sister bakery here in Los Angeles. Which is sort of funny, since you would think Los Angeles would be the first to effect health products on other states.

But anyway. When I first heard that it was opening, I decided to pay it a visit, despite my skepticism towards vegan food and my dislike to desserts. I also used this opportunity to review it for the Daily Trojan.

It’s located in sketchy downtown LA, tucked away in the corner of run-down, stinky streets, and I missed it two times in a row. But luckily, just before the sun went down, I finally spotted it:
IMG_2359 It was a tiny, girly little shop, all frills and laces. The employees were dressed in cute baby-doll uniforms with pink stripes and a bow. Cute.
IMG_2332Keeping up with the “cute” and “girly” theme was a giant painting of poodles:IMG_2339 Uh, hello. I suppose you think I’m gonna coo and ga-ga at you. Sorry, I’m just here for the food, and you’re distracting. Moving on…
IMG_2338 Besides cupcakes, there were also donuts:
IMG_2334  Cinnamon buns:IMG_2335

Cranberry loaf breads and cornbreads:

IMG_2336 All of them vegan: egg-free, sugar-free, wheat-free, gluten-free (some of them), dairy-free, and casein-free. Yeah. What the hell? They stripped a dessert of everything that makes a real dessert! 

But these people seemed to be enjoying themselves, so I took comfort in their joyful expressions:
IMG_2333I was intrigued. And obviously, acutely alert for any weird, “vegan-y” taste.  
IMG_2337Per
Ellie’s recommendation, I ordered the spelt carrot cupcake and the cornbread, but I also ordered an agave-sweetened brownie.
IMG_2340 Okay, no lie, I was totally knocked off by how…”unhealthy” they tasted. They may be made with spelt and garbanzo flour and sweetened with agave nectar without any butter or eggs, but they tasted a lot like nostalgic, homemade goodies.
IMG_2352The spelt carrot cupcake was chock-full of real, grated carrots, and the cake itself was just the right amount of sweetness. 
IMG_2342
IMG_2341 The icing, however, was still a tad too sweet for me. But again, taste is subjective and I have a more sensitive palate to sweetness.
IMG_2343
IMG_2358 The cornbread was one of their limited savory options, and needless to say, my favorite.
IMG_2348 I love the gritty coarse cornmeal in them—they’re not at all like the commercial kinds that taste more like pound-cake flavored with corn, but is definitely very much like real, home-baked cornbread.
IMG_2350 The only thing is, they were just a bit on the dry side. But nothing a mug of coffee or tea can’t fix.

The agave-sweetened brownie was cute, with a dollop of chocolate ganache on top.
IMG_2345 This was my least favorite. I just can’t get affectionate with brownies. I didn’t like how intensely chocolatey and rich it was. Which again, will probably be a “yay” factor to most people.
IMG_2346
And here’s where the criticism comes. So
Babycakes is good. Delicious, even. But honestly, I will not pay this much money (~$4 for a single tiny cupcake!) for something I can bake myself at home.

Look at how small it is!
IMG_2353 And look at the tiny brownie too:
IMG_2351See, it’s not like I like to eat cupcakes every single day. We eat these things as an occasional treat, so I’d rather save money and bake my own with real butter, sugar, and eggs. But that’s just me. I suppose some other person would just rather spend a bit more money for that occasional treat. To each her own.

Now, moving on to a more extreme case of veganism: raw food veganism.

Kaia Foods recently sent me a whole package filled with various raw goods. This company’s mission is to keep food as minimally processed as possible, and that includes keeping cooking temperatures low so that the nutrients in foods will be intact.
IMG_2318 Here’s what they say:

“We sprout, mix and dehydrate our organic foods at low temperatures so that they remain ‘raw.’ No baking, frying, bleaching, or weird processing steps!”

So far, it doesn’t sound like a science experiment. Cool.

They sent me a variety of organic fruit leathers:

IMG_2325 Goji Orange, Lime Ginger, Spiced Apple, and Vanilla Pear.

I loved it. It was like nature’s gummy candy. This was made by pureeing whole organic fruits and dehydrating them at low temperatures. The ingredients list for this was: Pear, banana, and vanilla extract. That’s it! No sugars or HFCS or fruit concentrate! Dang, I was impressed.
 
IMG_2360 My favorite was the vanilla pear. It was a pleasant mix of sweet and sour, with an intense fruity flavor, and lovely chewiness. Mmm.

Next are the raw buckwheat granolas: Cocoa Bliss, Dates & Spices, and Raisin Cinnamon.

Here’s the Cocoa Bliss:
IMG_2322 Made with: Buckwheat, agave nectar, raisins, dried coconut, cacao powder, ground flax seed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, natural vanilla extract, spices, and mineral salt. 

Whoa. I feel healthier just munching on this already. And it wasn’t half-bad! It had a great chocolate flavor without being too overwhelming, and it was barely sweet.

The Dates & Spice:
IMG_2324 Made with: Buckwheat, dates, agave nectar, ground flax seed, dried coconut, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, natural vanilla extract, spices, and mineral salt.

And the Raisin Cinnamon:
IMG_2323 Made with: Buckwheat, raisins, agave nectar, ground flax seed, dried coconut, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, natural vanilla extract, natural orange extract, spices, and mineral salt.

They were all good. But I won’t lie and say they are better than regular granola. They lack that crunchy, toasty texture and flavor that I love in granola. These definitely had a raw taste, and they definitely had too much of that “healthy” factor to them.

But if you like barely sweetened granola bars, these are for you. They are chewy and dense rather than crunchy and light, so they make for a great snack when your mouth is just bored and need something good to chew on. For me, I would just prefer less dried fruits and more nuts and buckwheat.

Now on to the BEST product ever: Sprouted sunflower seeds.
IMG_2319 They came in four flavors: garlic & salt, sweet curry, teriyaki, and cocoa mole.

All until now, I have thought that these healthified versions were just a substitution for less-healthy products. But with these freaking amazing seeds, I think it should be the other way round. These are the bomb, I tell ya!

Cocoa mole was more like dessert-ish:
IMG_2320 It was almost like a granola. Sticky, crunchy, intense, kind of sweet. Yum.

Teriyaki was interesting:
IMG_2327 It was smoky and savory. I loved sprinkling it on top of my side salads like this:
IMG_2330 But the best flavor was, hands down, the sweet curry:
IMG_2326 Holy freakawlicious! This was RAWsome! You can tell how excited I am about it when I start using corny expressions!!

You can eat it by themselves like a snack, but I find myself desperately trying to make them last, so I only allow myself to sprinkle some on my salads.
IMG_2331 Seriously, guys. I’m dreading the day I’m done with them. They are that good.

Oh, and another great fact about Kaia Foods: they invest 1% of sales in fighting hunger. They are currently donating to The Hunger Project and to the United Nations World Food Program.

Well, that was certainly fun, interesting, and eye-opening. I’m liking this open-minded adventures into different diets. But for myself, I don’t think I can conform to them, just enjoy them once in awhile like an exotic cuisine.

Question of the day: Are you a vegan? Why did you become one?
And i
f you’re not a vegan, what is your honest view on veganism?

Oh, and please check out my Daily Trojan review on Babycakes here.

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{ 118 comments… read them below or add one }

Christina January 19, 2010 at 8:23 am

I’ll have to say that I was totally expecting you to slam Babycakes! I’ve heard about it a million times but never saw pictures of the actual place. I love how girly it is! I might make a trip to its NYC sister :)

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teresa January 19, 2010 at 8:37 am

i’m not a vegan, i’m not even close to a vegetarian, but i admire people that choose that lifestyle and are able to stick to it, because i’m sure it’s not easy. great review, i really want to try some of that fruit leather, it sounds wonderful!

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Mari January 19, 2010 at 8:48 am

WOW everything looks so freaking good!

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brandi January 19, 2010 at 8:48 am

Not vegan or veg, but I don’t knock other people’s choices. It’s so personal and often has to do with health reasons or issues and is none of my business.

love the review!

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Pam January 19, 2010 at 9:05 am

Yum – what a bunch of tasty treats, great review. I can’t imagine going vegan but good for people who do.

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BroccoliHut January 19, 2010 at 9:07 am

I tried being vegan once. Considering the frequent appearance of Greek yogurt on my blog, I obviously didn’t stick with it for very long. I found that it left me feeling weak and tired, so I incorporated small amounts of dairy back in to my diet. I honestly believe that a vegan diet is the best for our environment, and I think veganism is a healthy lifestyle that encourages people to try new foods they might not have even considered before. However, it’s not for everyone; everyone has a different body and different ideal lifestyle.

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Kim January 19, 2010 at 9:36 am

I think it’s awesome that you reach out to others with different points of view. I’m not vegan, but I consider myself a somewhat-loose vegetarian. I will eat fish on occasion. I only stopped eating meat because thinking of the animals started to gross me out. I actually get more calories now than I did as a meat-eater actually, mostly because I’ve had to get more creative. I’ve thought about going vegan, but this is just too restrictive for me, I fear. Getting enough calcium is very important to me since I’m small-boned naturally (and years of anorexia has probably not helped matters). I need/like yogurt, cottage cheese, CHEESE, etc. I don’t want to rely on soy all the time. That said, I don’t judge anyone for their eating choices. The only thing that DOES bug me is when I’m made to feel guilty for the way I eat (for still eating fish while being “vegetarian,” for example). It’s nobody’s business but my own. We all have different bodies. It would be pretty hard for me to get the calories I need eating vegan.

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Danielle (Coffee Run) January 19, 2010 at 10:42 am

I just read your last post and I totally respect you for voicing your opinion. I’ve heard people tell me I’m wrong and that I’m slowly killing myself but it doesn’t really matter what others say because it’s MY life and I know this is what works for me!
I became vegan for so many reasons and ironically, animal rights wasn’t at the top of the list. Health, beliefs, environment <– those were my main reasons. But as I learn more and more, the animal cruelty thing can be added to the list of reasons.
Great post, as usual :)

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Natasha - 5 Star foodie January 19, 2010 at 10:52 am

Yum, scrumptious treats in that bakery! I probably couldn’t go completely vegan as my love for cheese is too great, but we do eat vegetarian a few times a week and even more if it’s just my daughter and I when my husband is out of town.

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Gabriela January 19, 2010 at 11:30 am

I’ve been meaning to venture over to Babycakes in NYC for AGES…this made me want to go even more!

I’ve been nearly vegan for awhile now…I say “nearly” because I’ll still eat dairy if it’s served to me, and I’m not one to go to a restaurant and order a green salad and nothing else. That being said, I don’t really use meat or dairy cooking for myself. But hey, to each their own. Obviously, meat and animal products can be elements of a healthy diet, since a lot of the healthiest people I know eat them, it’s just a preference I have!

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Laura January 19, 2010 at 12:22 pm

I think its great to be confident enough to voice your opinion and stand up for what you believe in but its also important to remember that everyone has their own ways and beliefs and that should be respected. I have no problems in listening to other peoples points of view as long as they understand mine.

Im not a vegan and have never really considered it actually, I like my chicken to much :-) . I have no problems with people who are vegans though, I just dont really know enough about it and would find it very difficult to stick to a vegan diet. Each to their own.

xox
Laura

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Anais January 19, 2010 at 12:49 pm

I’m not a vegan and I don’t think I could ever be one, but I like having vegan meals as much as I can. And on the topic of all those yummy goodies in your post, that’s one of the reason why I love vegan/vegetarian foods. While you can still find some unhealthy versions I’m sure, most of them try to maximize the taste of the REAL food that they’re made from and I love that :)

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homecookedem January 19, 2010 at 1:12 pm

One thing I’m learning is that it is very important to stay open minded in the food blog world. No 2 people eat exactly alike, have the same taste, same beliefs, etc. – we all have different backgrounds – and that’s what makes us all so interesting! ;)

Those vegan treats look so yummy!! :)

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Soph January 19, 2010 at 1:20 pm

hey sophia! well im not a vegan, not a veg, but i do stay away from pork & beef if that counts :P but i do agree that people who are vegan are pretty strong and deticated because im really sure that its not the easiest task in the world! all the stuff from the bakery looks so amazing[: i lovvve cupcakes nommmi. all those RAWsome treats- loving it! have a great tuesday night xoxo soph

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Susan January 19, 2010 at 2:17 pm

I totally want to try that carrot cupcake. That looks divine. I’m also eyeing those cocoa mole sunflower seeds up there ;)

I was a vegan for a month once. To be honest, it was awful. I was a vegetarian at the time, so technically all I had to cut out was dairy and eggs. But I went hardcore and cut out anything processed with animals. No white sugar or salt. My kitchen skills were still developing then, so my food was kinda awful. Now I eat all meat and am much more happy :)

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Vanilla Swirl January 19, 2010 at 3:11 pm

Hi!

1) 4$ for a frickin’ cupcake???!! I bet that with the cost of everything you bought in the bakery, you could’ve bought some nice cheese…x)But thanks for the review! Even though there’s no Babycakes bakery here in Canada (we have nothing except maple syrup)

2)Woah, those fruit leathers have some very cool flavours! ‘Vanilla pear’ is the most ‘name-exciting’! x) And the ‘Lime Ginger’ too :)

3)My point of view on veganisim: Honestly, I don’t consider myself as vegetarian/vegan/ovo-lacto-whatever, even though I eat like one, because that’s how my mom was raised and how she raised us. Funny story: when my mom was little, each member of the family had a rabbit. Then one day, she discovered that the meat she had on her plate was…her little bunny. Then she wouldn’t eat meat for a very long time, and then slowly reincorporate meat, such as chicken. Occasionnaly a little bit of pork (for the Ma-Po Tofu…I don’t know if you know this dish).
I think vegetarism is very good for the environnement (I did a research on this and wow!) but I don’t think I’ll give up my chicken and tuna anytime soon. :)

xo
Vanilla

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Naomi(onefitfoodie) January 19, 2010 at 4:53 pm

it looks SO godo!! i am not vegan or raw or vegetarian for that matter, but I do LOVE experimenting with everything! i think that I could be vegetarian for a week or vegan for a day, i love doing that type of stuff and love all the ‘hippie; food, but in no way do I have a regimented way that I eat. the carrot cake cupcake does look DARN tasty!

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Spotty Prep January 19, 2010 at 5:01 pm

$4 for that itty bitty cupcake!!!? I thought $3 for a jumbo one from the bakery by my house was bad!

I’m totally ok with veganism. Honest. But my dog is also my child. (Seriously, my mom tells me constantly to let him be a dog, not a person). So I can definitely see how people who are passionate about their pets translate that to other animals. I’ve tried veganism, and it’s just not for me. I like Cuban sandwiches and a nice filet with boursin cheese every so often. I bake vegan cookies and cupcakes, because eggs, butter and milk go bad in my house and oil and flax don’t (All the calories and possibly even more of the fat! Ha!). To each their own!

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OysterCulture January 19, 2010 at 6:31 pm

What fun -I had heard of Babycakes, but did not know much about it until your very informative post. Looks positively blissful!

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Faith January 19, 2010 at 6:34 pm

Oooh, those carrot cake cupcakes look incredible! (Carrot cake always calls my name, lol!) I agree though, $4 is a little steep, especially for that little brownie bite!

I’m not (and have never been) vegan, but I can totally understand why people would make that choice. And I have to say that before the vegan trend my great grandmother made the best ever chocolate cake that was vegan (although it probably wasn’t given the term vegan back then, lol!). They just knew it as really amazing chocolate cake.

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Holly January 19, 2010 at 7:14 pm

i LOVED your last two posts miss sophia! after being way too hyper about things for way too long, i had to decide what was important to me. ya know what? i love my cow’s milk. however, i just try to make it organic. live without cheese the rest of my life? NO THANK YOU. however, i can cut down on processed foods to enjoy the things i love. so its really just all a balance. extremism has never been for me.

however, it might be for me if i got some of the fabulous packages you got. amazing – everything looks SO GOOD!

so much love to you girl – mwah!

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FoodFitnessFreshair January 19, 2010 at 7:27 pm

Yum, vegan treats! They just opened a vegan bakery in Philly. I love raw granola..sometimes made with some type of sprouted grain. I’m a vegetarian, but I really don’t find the need to push my opinions on other people. Like you say, food doesn’t need to be argued about. It’s all about making food fun in your own life!

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Shannon January 19, 2010 at 7:49 pm

i’m not vegan (love eggs and yogurt, oh and cheese), but i have no problem with them :) in fact, alot of their desserts rock!

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Juliana January 19, 2010 at 7:52 pm

I am not a vegan and honestly can not see myself as one, since like a big a juice steak once in a while :-) but I do respect people choices!

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Angelalovesfood January 19, 2010 at 8:07 pm

Thanks for the the comment, I’m glad you emphasized that I look like your “good” friend, rather than bad or bitchy friend. ha

I’ve seen the babycakes cook book, and I think it’d be a good idea to just bake batches from the recipe than to actually buy the $4 tiny cupcake. At least you tasted the hype!

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Carolyn Jung January 19, 2010 at 9:01 pm

I’m a meat-eater and a believer in full fat in desserts (hah!), but because I’ve heard so many great things about Baby Cakes, I’ve been curious to try it, too — vegan or no vegan! Glad to hear you found so many of their treats to be so wonderful.

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John January 19, 2010 at 9:09 pm

Do I count as a vegan Sophia? lol jk but yea being a vegan isn’t really as bad as it sounds. But my opinion is biased because of the way I grew up.

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So Spiffy (Girl Japan April Marie0 January 19, 2010 at 10:08 pm

Your titles always make me laugh OUTLOUD. I am not sure I could be a vegan, but if I was, it would be so difficult here…. = (

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daintyvegan January 19, 2010 at 11:20 pm

I’m a vegan although I tend to slip up now and then.. only on the dairy aspect though. This is my second time going vegan. The first time was because I was trying to restrict the food I could eat. Stupid reason to go vegan. The second time, now, I did it because I actually DO believe in it. Oddly enough, I’m finding it harder to be vegan now than the first time I did it. Which is annoying in a way since this time I’m doing it because I feel good about it.

PS. I would have LOVED to take that brownie off your hands! I’m the total opposite of you. Baked goods? YES PLEASE! Savory foods? Meh..

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coco January 20, 2010 at 4:11 am

I’m not vegan and I don’t want to be. from personal experience, I’m not healthy when I don’t eat animal source protein. But I don’t judge people who are, everyone knows the best what’s good for them at the moment. If they’re healthy that way, let that way be their way. I think in the blog world, there’s an over appreciation to the people who are vegan, thinking that they’re healthier or better person… for me that’s so not true…. there are tons of non-vegan who are great person. It’s just a style of life that every choose, just like hair style :)

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Simply Life January 20, 2010 at 5:57 am

wow that place looks like a bit of vegan dessert heaven!

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Amy B @ Second City Randomness January 20, 2010 at 6:23 am

It’s strange, but I’m not a huge fan of fruits and things of that nature. And I love wheat-based things and dairy- so veganism would inevitably be the slow and untimely death of me. I think I admire their dedication to the beliefs behind it, though. Also, with yummy-looking places like Babycakes, maybe it’s not as hard as I think it is?? :)

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thenomadGourmand January 20, 2010 at 6:53 am

curry one is yr fav?? Haha, sista ya an Asian true and thru!

seriously tho, seeds & nuts wiht salads are the bomb! Love ‘em!

And yea, with technology these days, even healthy stuffs can actually be really tasty.
But we knw tht it doesnt quite beat eating the full indulgent version ;p
gimme mah butter babY!

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Erica @ Fashion meets Food January 20, 2010 at 7:05 am

Wow that cupcake place looks so cute, and your cupcake is adorable! Your Kaia loot is crazy! :]

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Margie January 20, 2010 at 8:10 am

I am jealous that you got to eat at Babycakes. I love cupcakes and I heard they are good. Those sprouted sunflower seeds sound great. I love sunflower seeds on my salads. Now I’m going to have to consider trying them.

As for your question on veganism, I have considered going vegan on and off. But do to my issues with food, I have decided this would not be a smart idea. I considered going vegan, because I don’t like meat that much. I am also upset with our food industy when it comes to meat cleanliness, overall treatment of animals, and their lack of responsibility they portray to guarantee that the consumer receives a quality product. That was the reason I go high vegetarian or vegan a lot of the times. But if I was to travel to another country that provides great meat practices, I will have some. Nothing should be off-limits, because everyone is different and unique.

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Sagan January 20, 2010 at 8:17 am

I’m glad that you no longer assume that all vegans have eating disorders. Also, there are a LOT of vegans that don’t have any connection to the raw food lifestyle. Just FYI.

I eat a mostly vegan diet, and the reason for that is because I prefer it- it’s cheaper, I don’t WANT much dairy or meat in my life (for taste reasons, cooking preparation reasons, and also to reduce my carbon footprint and because I feel my best when I don’t have large quantities of them). But I don’t completely eliminate them. I just don’t eat that stuff when I’m at home.

My honest thoughts on veganism: it can be as healthy or as unhealthy as you want it to be, just like any other way of eating.

About the raw foodism: it doesn’t take hours each day to juice and prepare raw food. It takes the same amount of time or less time to make raw food as it does to cook food. I’ve learned that with my current raw food challenge :)

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Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) January 20, 2010 at 9:04 am

I’m not a vegan but I have so much respect for people who are. Mainly because I think it would take a ton of willpower! (But that’s just the omnivore in me talking, I think!)

Babycakes sounds intriguing but $4 for a tiny cupcake? no thanks, man!

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Jen @ Tiny Urban Kitchen January 20, 2010 at 10:17 am

I find that I tend to prefer my meals to have a much larger percentage of veggies vs. meat. However, it would be really difficult for me to give up things like milk products (I LOVE ice cream & yogurt), cheese, and sushi. I guess I could be a pescatarian!

As for vegan desserts possibly tasting too sweet, that’s not a surprise. Typically sugar is added to things that lack a certain ingredient to make up for the flavor loss. Just look at fat free cookies!

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lesley January 20, 2010 at 10:28 am

I have yet to try Vegan food, but I have to say I find myself ordering a vegetarian dish when we eat out, it makes such a refreshing change, especially as Baz is a butcher’s son lol. I would love to try those cupcakes! x

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Beth @ DiningAndDishing January 20, 2010 at 11:36 am

ha, you’re right because i LOVE vegan brownies. probably for the same reasons you were not so much a fan :)

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Sarah (Finding My Balance) January 20, 2010 at 12:35 pm

i love all these reviews. i like that you viewed trying these new and unfamiliar foods as “exotic treats”–it made me smile.

i would never go vegan because i truly LOVE dairy products. life without milk, eggs, or cheese would NOT be fun for me. but i admire and respect people who follow a vegan diet for whatever their reasons. it’s not an easy thing to do, but if it makes you feel good inside, go for it!

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Diana @ frontyardfoodie January 20, 2010 at 1:28 pm

I’m a vegan but it was a personal choice that I don’t expect anyone to take unless they’ve researched and found it was right for them. I have no problem with people eating meat since that’s what we’ve done for all of history but I do think that everyone should look for WHERE their meat came from and be sure it was a humane, clean place because nothing good comes of an animal being killed in a stressful dirty factory.

I love your posts and think it’s great that you’re letting everyone have their viewpoint. I NEVER look down on anyone for eating meat or dairy and I expect that same sort of respect for me NOT eating them.

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Blond Duck January 20, 2010 at 1:38 pm

I’m glad you’re open minded. I’m not. I am staunchly NON vegan, as you know. And let me tell you, while my favorite aunt is a Vegan, I don’t trust those folks when it comes to food. I went to a Vegetarian run restuarant Monday with a buddy and had fish tacos–barely any fish for $7…Duckie was NOT amused.

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mal January 20, 2010 at 1:41 pm

great blog… i am NO VEGAN… i eat about 80% MEAT!~

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Michelle(Snacks&Field) January 20, 2010 at 2:04 pm

I really admire that you were able to say everything in the beginning of this post about opinions- I definitely agree and think that you addressed everything very well! That bakery looks really yummy- but I’m SO not willing to spend $4 on a cupcake:/… and I still can’t get over how great your pictures always look!! :)

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Louise January 20, 2010 at 3:06 pm

Well said, Sophia. I don’t believe you missed a thing. “Live and let live” as the saying goes. There are many interesting components when it comes to choosing the vegan lifestyle. I don’t think I would have ever tried tofu if not for my vegan friends. I’ve learned much from them and I have a feeling they from me. (some of my friends still “borrow” my vegan cookbooks:)

Thank you for getting it all out in the open. Lucky for us, companies keep sending you gifts to share. I doubt I will ever get to Babycakes now that I’m no longer in New York. However, I will be searching for a recipe for spelt carrot cake. It sounds quite interesting. As for the Kaia products, each sounds better than the other!!! Thanks for sharing…

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Island Girl Eats January 20, 2010 at 3:13 pm

What a great place to get a treat. It looks like had a lot of fun there!

You got spoiled with your samples. What a great selection!

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Joanne January 20, 2010 at 3:45 pm

Well. I am obviously not a vegan. At all. By any means. But the way I feel about veganism is the way I feel about most things. i have my beliefs. You have yours. And as long as we agree to disagree, I’m okay with it. I don’t like being judged or to have someone try to impress their beliefs on me. And likewise, I promise not to do it either.

Babycakes looks delicious! I’m going to have to try the one in NY. And I want some of those free samples! They sound like the perfect snack.

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kcjones January 20, 2010 at 4:04 pm

I was vegetarian once, but I did it to lose weight… I might be able to be vegetarian, but I would definitely not be able to do raw foods and not relapse into my ED (I think, anyway.) I know that for some people, it really helps their health, so I just say, “to each their own…”

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Tara January 20, 2010 at 5:01 pm

Your posts are always so inspiring, even when the point is so simple! Thank you for sharing your thoughts <3 Babycakes looks really cute!! Good for you making the decision that works best for you, and live your life eating with out obsessing. I agree with Avery how great it is that you opened up your blog for people to disagree with you! Isnt is awesome seeing yourself grow!! Keep on being you girl! <3 <3 <

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