Lunch and such

Hello, again! In an attempt to keep this a regular going-on, I've challenged myself to post every. single. day. for an amount of time yet to be determined. Anyway, following logically from last time, I figured we should get down to talking about lunch. I love a gigantic, juicy burger as much as every other American. A random fact for you all: in 2009 the US consumed around 80 pounds of chicken and 60 pounds of beef per capita. That's a ton, you guys! More than a pound of beef AND chicken each week. Assuming rates remain steady or increase slightly, that number is still valid in 2012. Not only is this consumption habit extremely unhealthy, it is completely detrimental to the environment (we'll save the environmental chit chat for another time).

So, in what will probably turn out to be a vain attempt to change this statistic, I'll offer up my alternative to that grease-laden, fat-filled burger we've all come to know and love over the years.

Quick Vegan Cheeseburgers:

I won't lie to you here, if you're not already a vegan this recipe is going to require a trip to the grocery store. Don't be lazy, people! This is your health we're talking about! Do you want to be that old geezer who is perma-glued to their wheelchair scooter that has the oxygen tank attached to the back?! Or do you want to be that 90 year-old who is still walking around and climbing mountains and shit?! I repeat: don't be lazy! Moving on, here's the actual recipe.

You will need:
Vegan hamburger buns (I use sprouted wheat sesame buns, available at Whole Foods)
Vegan veggie burger patties
Vegan cheese slices
1/2 cup ORGANIC spinach (less if you're making one burger)
Vegenaise (or comparable vegan mayo substitute)
ORGANIC ketchup (no sugar added)
Other vegetables like tomatoes, onions and whatever else you love.

Firstly, wash your veggies. I say this for your own benefit, especially if you're using organic produce. Prepare the patty according to packaging instructions, add cheese and other ingredients and enjoy. Your final product should look something like this:

I like to bake sweet potato fries, or regular potato fries and season them with herbs and olive oil (another recipe for another day. We need to start small here, everyone) as a side. Enjoy! And especially enjoy the fact you're eating something cruelty AND cholesterol free.

If you would like to visit the site where I acquired the information about U.S. meat consumption, you can find it here: The Daily Livestock Report