Wanting to discover what the males of Ohio University truly think about foregoing meat, dairy and all animal byproducts (and whether they know what veganism even is), one discovered that perhaps not all faith in the male population is lost.

Between sips of chilled Bud Light, Patrick Harris, a senior studying visual communication, admits that he’s never thought of going vegan. “I hate vegetables,” Harris says. “I eat, like, olives and corn.” Harris isn’t alone in his thoughts of never going vegan.

“I think you miss out on essential nutrients, but as far as fat content, you’re better off going vegan or vegetarian,” Jamie Miller, a 22-year-old graduate student studying sports medicine, said. When pressed to unveil what nutrients he thinks are missing in a vegan’s diet, Miller was less than confident. “Iron, protein, magnesium, I have no idea.” Have no doubts that Miller was then schooled as to how vegans get plenty of iron, protein and magnesium via dark leafy greens, beans and nuts.

A time and place that makes it spectacularly more difficult for these men to understand a diet that consists of chickpeas and almonds as protein is during the holidays. Namely, Thanksgiving poses as a challenge, as its main star is the turkey. While humans exchange love and thanks with and for each other, an averaged 45 million turkeys are killed in the U.S. every year for the holiday, according to a Compassion Over Killing report. College-aged men don’t plan on ending that tradition any time soon.

Miller and Harris both said they’d still have a turkey for Thanksgiving if their girlfriends were vegan, yet had opposing views on food preparation.

“I wouldn’t make her cook it because I enjoy cooking, and I’d probably be the cook,” Harris said. Unfortunately, not all men have the same culinary desires.

“I don’t make my girlfriends do anything. I might ask her nicely, and sometimes I do like to have bacon in the morning,” Miller said. Unlike Miller and Harris, though, another young gentleman wouldn’t force the turkey-fest upon his supposed vegan girlfriend at all.

Nicholas Campagna, a 22-year-old student studying music education, said he wouldn’t make his significant other buy or cook a turkey. “I’d find something alternative for her, something soy or tempeh,” Campagna said.

Though the men were overwhelmingly steak fans—even the understanding Campagna− they didn’t seem to abhor other’s non-flesh-eating ways.

“I just want [vegans] to be happy. I want everyone to be happy,” Harris affectionately said.

Campagna and his friend contemplating veganism.

Harris and his thoughts.

A product about which I’d heard rave reviews but hadn’t tried was the so-called addicting Hermits. As I made my weekly (and unnecessary) trip to the Farmacy Monday, I gathered an acorn squash, an apple and oat bran, and then I spied a glorious package I simply had to purchase:

Hermits, you're now mine.

Having snacked on these a few times over the past two days, I felt as though a proper review was in order.

Newman’s Own Organics Hermits Original

Cost, monetarily: $4.59. This is far too expensive, but I have an issue. If I’ve really wanted to try a foodie product for a long time, I get impulsive and buy it eventually. I’m only this way with food, I swear.

Cost, nutritionally:

Hmm. Did not check stats before eating. Whoops.

I’m not one for abiding serving sizes, counting calories, counting carbs or counting sugar grams (been there, done that, not going back). However, Newman’s seems to have stuck to the hermit theme, as a serving size is one solitary cookie. Additionally, that one cookie has 80 calories, 10 grams of sugar (which means I’ve consumed 30 grams of sugar today, solely from these Hermits!) and little fiber and protein. In comparison to its more commercial competitor, Fig Newtons, this doesn’t look so hot. According to the Daily Plate, one can enjoy two Fig Newtons for 90 calories and 12 grams of sugar. While I’d rather have two for closer to the caloric price of one, I’d also like pure ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic unbleached wheat flour,  organic raisins, organic molasses, organic sugar, organic palm fruit oil, oats, organic figs, raisin paste, spices, leavening (baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), salt, rice bran extract. Having taken a closer look at this, it can be seen that a lot of the sugar comes from raisins, molasses, figs, raisin paste and, well, still sugar. It makes me feel a teeny bit better.

Size and appearance:

Keep in mind I have man hands.

This seems to be a decent, snack-sized cookie that’s rather dense. Take a closer look:

I spy whole raisins.

The rich molasses color automatically made me think this is going to be delicious. Throw whole raisins and visible oats in the mix, I was more than ready to taste it.

Taste and texture: The first flavor that overwhelmed me was ginger. Ginger isn’t listed on the package, but it’s very present. Cinnamon hung in the background while the sweetness of raisins sang front and center. The molasses wasn’t as strong as expected, nor was the cookie as sweet as “10 grams sugar” would have one think. The texture was perfectly chewy and dense, as bits of oats give the outer layer a bit of bite. In fact, the texture is what makes these suckers addicting for me.

Overall: The true test of what I think about these cookies can be proven with the answer to one question: Would I buy these again? Despite my concern with the single serving size and grams of sugar, yes. Because as long as I’m eating relatively healthy ingredients in delicious goodies, I’m happy.  Now I just want to try the two other Hermits flavors as well. Cinnamon and Ginger, I will find you.

The Newman’s crew couldn’t have said it better:

Truth.

Question: What new-to-you food product have you tried lately?

1. Does what your significant other eat matter to you?
Yes, I want my partner to be relatively healthy. However, I find that whenever I discuss my eating habits with a guy, he’s often boggled by the fact I don’t eat meat or dairy. “Well what do you eat?” is what I hear most. Maybe the problem is that most of these conversations take place at Broney’s, but let’s ignore that. Most guys talk about how much they love steak, and that’s fine, but don’t think I’m a freak for not wanting to eat a slab of meat.

2. Can you be affectionate with someone who has just eaten a quarter pound of ground beef?
OK, this sounds a little crazy, but it’s a real concern among those who are steadfast in their ethical stance. Many vegans I’ve known have been repulsed by the thought of kissing someone who’s eaten meat, and therefore will date or marry only vegans or vegetarians. I, on the other hand, could get past this with some Altoids.

3. Would you try to force your eating habits upon your other half?
No. No one forced me to be vegan; I discovered that path on my own. If the guy I date eats meat, I say let him enjoy it. I haven’t tried to make my parents stop their carnivorous habits, so I don’t see myself forcing seitan down my man’s throat.

4. You, a vegan, are preparing dinner for you and your carnivore of a partner. Would you ever prepare a meat dish for him/her?
Ehhh I have no idea! I gag whenever I’m around raw chicken or beef, so I can’t imagine marinating and cooking it for anyone. This also transitions to that far-off time when I have children. Because I believe in letting kids make their own decisions as far as what they want to do activity- and wardrobe-wise, I’d like them to discover their healthy likes and dislikes in food. Whether this means letting them try meat is still a tricky subject. Can I just worry about this when the time comes?

5. Would it bother you if your partner hadn’t a care in the world about the slaughter of animals for food?
He needs to at least understand where I’m coming from. I’ve always been one to cry over the horses falling and dying in war movies, not necessarily the humans. (And don’t get me started on Marley & Me.) The thought of animals dying intensely affects me. I don’t expect the prospective male about which I’m talking to have the same feelings, but he needs to not make fun of me for actually being concerned. Because trust me, I’ve been teased about this before. (It was buh-bye to anyone who responded in that manner.)

6. So what is it? To date or not to date a carnivore?
Above all– vegan, vegetarian, carnivore, pescatarian, locavore, what have you– I will always be one thing: a foodie. One who is excited about food, who loves it, who wants to talk about it, who gasps when she finds ingredients or new products for which she’s been searching for weeks is who I’ll always be. I wouldn’t mind finding another foodie. If he loves a good prosciutto, I can accept that.

What’s your stance?

Mumsy and I picked up my ravenous brother and cousin from his dorm room at NKU and drove to the nearest restaurant. There once was a time I enjoyed going to places like Perkins every now and then. Who doesn’t want pie? But as a fledgling vegan, I knew this would be a challenge.

The menu was…daunting. Once I got past my frustration with fried green beans as an appetizer option, I honed in on what could have been a safe section, the salads. Every single salad had chicken, bacon, egg, cheese or ham on it and without it, it would be nothing. So I ordered a side “nothing” with a cup of fruit:

I'm pretty sure those croutons weren't even safe.

The fruit was actually ripe and delicious and the salad was crisp and, uh, lettuce-y, but something was missing. Oh that’s right! Substance. I helped my cousin finish his fries because my duo of salads was more of an amuse bouche.

To restaurants like Perkins across the nation, I beg you to please consider those who don’t eat meat or cheese. I know, we’re kind of crazy and we’re a minority, but it would be nice to sit through a meal with my family without being distracted by how I could gnaw on my arm I’m so hungry. Can we get a veggie patty at the very least? Some black beans? Anything? Also, when we ask for the Grilled Chicken Chimi salad without the grilled chicken, could you please not charge us for the meat we aren’t consuming? That would be fabulous, thanks.

QUESTION: Do you customize your orders when dining in restaurants? How do you feel about chain restaurants’ offerings?

Athens’ restaurants have spoiled me, in a way. For such a tiny town, it has a small but strong current of a vegan and vegetarian community. However, like most towns, the majority of menus still cater to meat eaters. Over my past three years and some odd months of eating in Athens, I’ve experienced the delicious and the not-so-delicious.

Below you’ll find a map that highlights five vegan-friendly restaurants in pink, and five vegan-challenging restaurants in blue:

Five Best:

1. Casa Nueva- First off, I can eat baskets of chips and salsa, and Casa is happy to supply me with as much of each as I want. Aside from my chippy obsession, Casa’s menu marks what’s vegan and what’s vegetarian. If you let your server know you’re vegan from the get-go, they are always happy to accommodate your requests and needs. The menu item to which I always turn when I want something hearty and filling is dinner platter two, a two-layer enchilada complete with peanut tofu, vegan cremoso, veggies and salsa. I’m all over that.

2. Restaurant Salaam- A huge fan of Mediterranean fare, I’m like a shopaholic in Nordstrom whenever I dine here. Baba gannouj, dolmas, hummus, falafel, papadum…I want it all–and that’s just the meze portion of the menu. If I feel like eating an actual entree, the vegan Harira fills me up with lentils and clears my sinuses with punchy spices.

3. Della Zona- Maybe I’m a little biased toward anything that involves my beloved sweet potato, but a pizza that combines the sweet root with tempeh sausage, maple rhubarb, greens and Chile garlic sauce is downright genius. Sure, you can order a pizza anywhere sans cheese, but it doesn’t come with the creativity and thoughtfulness of Della Zona’s pizzas.

4. Village Bakery & Cafe- Conveniently located next to Della Zona, Village Bakery not only has macaroons and cookies that are marked vegan or “dairy, gluten and wheat-free,” but also delivers a cafe menu with drool-inducing vegan options. Who doesn’t want to get down and dirty with a barbecue tempeh sammie loaded with homemade slaw and maple barbecue sauce? That’s what I thought.

5. O’Betty’s Red Hot- After a night of dancing, I need some hefty grub. There are few things more satisfying than fresh French fries smothered in veggie chili, and O’Betty’s fries alone are the best in town. What’s even better is that you can sub any regular dogs with tofu dogs and seriously chow down.

Five Worst:

1. Wendy’s- In stark contrast to the late-night deliciousness that O’Betty’s offers is the lackluster lameness that Wendy’s supplies. It’s true that you can order a baked potato or a salad, but having to eat them naked (sans toppings or dressing) is a complete bore. And goodness knows that is not what I want after a night out.

2. Red Brick- The last time I ate at Red Brick was when I still occasionally ate meat. Now, if I’m ever in the mood for a nosh alongside my Mega Mug (Red Brick’s claim to Athens fame), I’m out of luck. I could do enough re-working of a salad to have something decent, but that’s not the weakness on the menu that has landed it in the “worst” category. It is the atrocity known as “The Monster” that has me hatin’ on the Brick. Any place that rewards a person who tries to eat three pounds of ground beef is nowhere I need to spend my dwindling stash of cash.

3. Court Street Diner- Before caring about butter, milk or egg usage, I used to seize any opportunity to eat at the Diner. Plates of pancakes, omelets and French toast were dominated by moi with happiness and glee. Unfortunately, when I try to go now, I’m faced with an internal battle of wanting to be healthy and mindful, yet wanting something extraordinarily delicious. The only items with substance are of the potato variety, and those are neither healthy nor substantial enough for my likes (and when I want fries you already know where I’m heading). Perhaps I have an unusually voracious appetite, but a plate of hash browns is not going to last me long. Sorry, favorite restaurant of my younger years.

4. Buffalo Wild Wings- Yeah, this restaurant comes as a big “duh” when it comes to worst places for vegan eats. A personal pet peeve of mine is when every entree-worthy salad’s title has the word “chicken” in it. B dub’s salads are as follows: “Honey BBQ Chicken”, “Chicken Tender Salad,” “Grilled Blackened Chicken Salad,” “Grilled Chicken Salad,” “Chicken Caesar Salad” and the inevitable “Garden Salad.” Allow me to share that the garden salad comes with “a blend of cheeses and croutons.” I can hardly wait to try to join my friends for a brew, a game and a crouton and cheese-blend-less garden salad.

5. Applebee’s- I always have such a hard time ordering here that I’ve dubbed it Crapplebee’s. Before I get hate mail for this, know that I spent countless Friday nights after high school football games downing chicken fajita roll-ups and apple chimi cheesecakes (remember those? So. Freaking. Good.). Nowadays, though, I am forced to order large plates of spinach or romaine with a dressing on the side. Also, Applebee’s and similar chains across the country, please don’t charge me for the chicken I requested to have taken off the salad. This is infuriating. Thanks bunches.

No, it has nothing to do with my costume and the fact I don’t have it yet. Last year a dashing Samantha Ronson look came together quite nicely very last minute. This year’s plans to be either Rachel Zoe or Mrs. Officer (in honor of one of my all-time favorite Weezy F. Baby songs)– maybe even both– should be as fun and easy to pull off. But as I said earlier, this is not what’s plaguing me.

The real issue? I want candy. I want fun-sized milk chocolate-coated nougat that has a chewy caramel layer specked with crunchy peanuts, and I want eight of them. (Because for some peculiar reason I’ll always be able to eat countless mini versions of Snickers, but never a whole candy bar.) Thanks to veganism, I will not be able to indulge in my favorite trashy candies this year. This post is dedicated to those who will be sorely missed.

Candy corn, why must you be made with honey? I realize that tricks a lot of people into thinking your friendly tri-colored self is somewhat healthy. Obviously, you’re not, but I once liked to believe that– if not for my physical health, then at least for my mental. You were a loyal study companion, always at the ready to be popped into my mouth. I’ll miss your tooth-ache-inducing addictiveness.

Reese’s peanut butter cups, you contain two of my favorite things on the planet: chocolate and peanut butter. It’s truly the most joyous flavor combination. Ever. Unfortunately, you also host a myriad of milk and milk-derived ingredients that won’t work for me. Don’t you remember how I fought for you/stole you from my little brother’s pillowcase after a long night of trick-or-treating? Did that mean nothing? And it’s completely unfair that I discovered your younger sister Fast Break only a year ago.  Let’s not go there.

Baby Ruth, I apologize for not recognizing your deliciousness until later in my life. As a child, I dismissed you for your baseballish name. I had no idea something so masculine-sounding could call to my feminine needs tastes for sweet silky chocolate and give-my-jaw-a-workout caramel so well. Later, I convinced myself I was getting a solid dose of protein by consuming all those peanuts wrapped in your chocolate coating, though in actuality, I’d never glanced at your nutrition stats.

M&M’s, Hershey’s bars, Reese’s Pieces, I’ll miss you too. Know that I haven’t forgotten about you. I’m just allocating my energy to vegan geniuses in hopes that they come up with alternatives soon. They’ve already dominated the marshmallow and Snickers, so I shall remain confident in their abilities.

Until then, milk chocolate candy of yore, I’ll wish I hadn’t gone vegan every time I see an empty wrapper of yours smashed on the sidewalk. Thankfully, I have lists like the one supplied by VegNews to point me to sugary ways to happily get through this not-so-vegan holiday. But really, Twizzlers and Dum-Dums are far cries from the rich, melt-on-my-face (not in my hand or in my mouth) cheap chocolates of my previous 18 Halloweens. That’s assuming I could eat candy at age three. Oh, and will power, I’m counting on you.

Question: What’s your favorite candy of all time?

For every fledgling foodie and vegan, there is that one book that changed it all. As soon as I spied its title on another blog, I looked it up on Amazon and ordered. It was a joyous day when this baby arrived at my doorstep:

It really is the ULTIMATE vegan cookbook.

Veganomicon may be single-handedly responsible for most of my vegan knowledge. I’m not kidding.

At the front of the book there is a section titled “Stocking the Veganomicon Pantry.” In it, I discovered basic dairy and meat substitutes (um, tempeh– had no idea what that was beforehand), how beans come in handy and what baking essentials a vegan kitchen needs. The authors, Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, then move on to explain what works best for vegan cooking, as in how to reduce fat, make dishes full-flavored and full-bodied and how to cook veggies, grains and beans. This was exactly what my kitchen-curious self needed.

After flipping through the book and researching online which recipes were best, I tried my hand at what would become a filling, warm, spicy and ultimately wintery favorite: Snobby Joes. Although I can’t reprint the recipe here, I can send you over the the Post Punk Kitchen’s site for the Snobby Joe low-down. Thanks to easy-to-follow symbols and directions that read like instructions from your best friend, I’ve been able to whip up Joe’s with ease:

Supah snobby with some spinach.

Among the recipes that have turned me from a novice cook to a, um, lazy yet more confident cook are:
-White Bean Aioli
-A Hummus Recipe
-Tofu Florentine
-Black Bean Burgers (fast and easy)
-Chile Cornmeal-Crusted Tofu Po’ Boy
-Marinated Italian Tofu
-Chickpea Cutlets (make extra and freeze ‘em- you’ll want them all the time)
-Double Pea Soup with Roasted Red Peppers
-Southwestern Corn Pudding (so good you may not want to share)
-Lower-Fat Banana Bread (ridiculous)
-Pumpkin Crumb Cake with Pecan Streusel (MAKE THIS! I ate it all by myself last winter break)

Alright, so maybe I haven’t really made that much from the outrageously huge cookbook. No matter, this book has made college cooking easy. That is, when I’ve wanted to cook. Now that I’ve looked back on what I have and haven’t made, I realize I still have a lot of Veganomicon ground to cover.

At least it’s taken the scariness out of vegan cooking, and thus helped me think: “Veganom-I-Can.”

What was your first cookbook? What’s your favorite cookbook?

The comment:

“Do you not only pay attention to food ingredients but also cosmetics and other items that are used in every day life that aren’t vegan? You haven’t really talked about that, mainly food… but I feel that a big part of being vegan is also living the vegan lifestyle of paying attention to ALL products.”

This person brings up an excellent point. Living a vegan lifestyle should encompass paying attention to every facet of one’s life. What you eat, what you wear, what you use to brush your teeth, wash your face, clean your clothes, swipe under your armpits, make up your face, what you use to cover your bed and so on. The list is neverending. And I’ve tried. Really, I’ve tried.

When I lived in San Francisco over the summer, I worked for VegNews Magazine. The office was chock full of glorious vegan products ranging from yoga mats to dog food. The office was also full of dedicated, lovely vegans. We always talked about the best vegan lip balms, bags and deodorants in addition to the non-stop food talk (my favorite). Being surrounded by such powerhouses of information made it easy for me to follow their lead.

I spent more money on vegan versions of deodorant, toothbrushes, lip balm and tee shirts than I ever would have on non-vegan versions. Don’t get me wrong– I think the extra cost is definitely worth it. It ensures that your Crazy Rumors Fresh Squeezed Limeade lip balm is both beeswax- and cruelty-free. (And yes, it happens to be the lip balm I can’t be without.) I also indulged in far-too-expensive-for-my-budget L’Oreal Ever Pure shampoo and conditioner, which is 100% vegan and smells divine. It also made my hair very happy. I loved buying cruelty-free products. It made me feel thoughful, yet empowered.

I loved this until I realized my bank account was dwindling faster than a fresh keg of Nati Light at a frat house. And when I moved back to school? My money priorities quickly turned to covering the cost of my text books, rent and water bill.

Money is not a good excuse for my ignorance of the ingredients of my Dove shampoo, but my budget is what I have to work with for now. I will spend extra money for dairy-free cream cheese and meat-free meatballs, but I can’t be as benevolent with my budget in absolutely every area. For me, what I ingest is the most important to me. And I’m still learning and figuring out my own veganism.

If I get bombarded with accusations of not being vegan enough, that’s fine. I’m vegan enough for me.

As anyone who’s given veganism a go can tell you, things get a bit hairer the more closely you pay attention to your food. Goodies you’d never assume to contain animal products do, and the names of animal byproducts range from the easy-to-recognize whey to the innocent-sounding casein.

Looking to healthify her body, my best friend Ashley decided to eliminate dairy and meat from her once cheesy diet. Throughout the month of September she tried her best at what she thought was a mostly vegan diet. She shares her experience below:

As you can tell, Ashley’s efforts were noble. However, she ran into the speed bumps those transitioning often do. She failed to pay close attention to labels when purchasing groceries. This is something that has challenged me from day one, and still plagues some of my Walmart or Trader Joe’s trips.

One day over the summer, I returned home from TJ‘s with bags full of what I thought were all-vegan groceries. It isn’t hard to mess up salad and sandwich ingredients, or so I thought. Much to my dismay, the whole-wheat English muffins were baked with honey, as were my Ak-Mak crackers. This, obviously, was my own rookie mistake. What infuriated me, though, was the specifically labeled “non-dairy” American “cheese” that I bought. I didn’t think twice to read the ingredients, as the product’s packaging touted its non-dairy-ness. As I was rolling a neon piece with a Torfukey Deli slice, I had the urge to read the soy-cheese label. Casein, a protein found in milk, was one of the top ingredients.

Part of me was annoyed with my lack of attention to detail, but most of me was angry that the producers of said cheese substitute would mislead customers into believing the rubbery “cheese” was a fabulous dairy alternative. Those allergic to dairy would most likely be affected by consumption of this “cheese,” and vegans across the country would not consider the product to be dairy-free.

Instead of tossing the “cheese” into the trash, I continued to eat it. I wrote it off as a beginner’s mistake, not wanting to waste any of my college-student budget. I also ate the English muffins and the Ak-Mak‘s. Because I didn’t intentionally seek non-vegan items, I found this to be acceptable.

That probably makes me a bad vegan, but I think we all have to learn in our own ways, making our own mistakes and running into little speed bumps along the way.

Questions: Do you read food labels closely? Why or why not? If you aren’t vegan, is paying such close attention to labels and ingredients one of the reasons you aren’t?

I know, college students and beer go hand in iPhone-clad hand. When I say I want a good brew, I’m not referring to a Bud or Nati Light. No, I need something hearty and delicious.

My fascination with solid brews started when I turned the ripe age of 21. I promise. This finally gave me ample chances to test what I truly enjoy in a beer. Throughout winter 2009, I spent a descent chunk of money sampling home brews at Jackie O’s, which led me to the discovery that light, slightly sweet and wheaty is for me.

When not indulging in somewhat pricey homemade brews, I started to order other beers in other establishments. I vetoed many, settled on few, but was overall happy with the occasional Guinness, Newcastle or Leinenkugel.

In June 2009, when I became vegan, the flitty freedom of vegetarian days came to a halt. Shocked to find that not all beers are vegan, I immediately questioned by favorite carbonated beverage. Why some companies use milk, eggs, isinglass or gelatin to process beer was (and is) beyond me (and the addition of honey is unfortunate, but at least it’s a bit more understandable). All I knew is that my flabbergasted self needed a solution.

Thankfully, the vegan community is super friendly and helpful and I was pointed in the direction of Barnivore.com in no time.

This incredibly easy-to-navigate is the key to a successful vegan night out, or vegan homecoming, in my case. All you have to do is type in what brew or booze you have in mind, and up pops an email response from the company of the product in question.

Before rushing out for happy hours, I’ve learned that the milkshake of beers, Guinness, may not be vegan, but most of my easy-to-find favorites such as Blue Moon, Leinenkugel and Stella Artois. Now that I’ve properly researched my beverage of choice, I’m completely ready to get my school spirit on and be the best beerleader OU’s ever seen:

Drink responsibly! (And that's definitely a Leinenkugel in my hand!)

What’s your favorite brew? Do you care whether it’s vegan?