By Janice Au Istanbul is no doubt a great place for shopping. Have a walk in the Grand Bazaar, a virtual labyrinth of fascinating shops; it’s easy to be drawn by the carpets, copper and brassware, jewelry and all kinds of ceramics. Hmm, no. My story is not titled ‘Shopping in Istanbul’. I’m more interested [...]

You see them on every box of food you pick up, especially if your diet and lifestyle requires it. Labels — we are bombarded by them every day. But what do they really mean? You may not even know some of these labels that help us make more conscientious choices with food practices: Certified Vegan: [...]

Thanksgiving is a time to give, what else, but thanks. It’s in the name. We are thankful for our families, friends, the food on the table, the clothes that we wear and the heat in our homes. But it also should be a time to thank Mother Earth. She provided all of it, with her [...]

Trying a vegetarian or vegan diet is difficult! I would know: I’m on day 150 (or there about.) I am learning the hard way that there are essential ingredients you always need in your kitchen. As the weeks seem to go by slow and fast at the same time, and responsibilities pile up, you need [...]

You can make authentic-tasting Italian food, and eat it, too! When it comes to real Italian food, you may picture the Olive Garden commercials. However, “Italy” Italian food has a lot of veggies and not as MUCH less cheese. That doesn’t mean you can’t eat carb-filled fake cheese-erific dishes. With the winter winds starting to [...]

The wind is blowing, sweaters are being pulled out of the back of closets, and harvest time is here! This also means it’s “hearty food time.” The summer was all about cooler, simple, refreshing meals. As the temperature chills the bones, our bodies crave heavy, pipping-hot dishes to warm our bellies and souls. This time [...]

Skinny Bitch, have you read it? I discovered this no-nonsense book after a friends of mine gave me “Skinny Bitch in the Kitch,” a recipe book that complements the New York Times bestseller. Whereas it’s a tough-love approach to changing the diets of the human race for their health and the sake of animals, I [...]

One of the biggest ways a person can impact the environment and the planet in a positive way is eating less meat. I know it’s clear that I am vegan, and I am prone to taking this stance, but the numbers and research can’t lie. First of all, whereas there a number of health risks [...]

Breakfast for dinner is always fun, and so I decided to make some. Breakfast for vegans can be a bit difficult, because most dishes contain eggs, different in a way that cakes and cookies contain them. However, I found a good recipe for french toast, my favorite morning dish. What makes this even better is [...]

Tis the season for potatoes and soup. When the temperature drops, I love eating a big bowl of something steaming, that will keep me full and warm, without spending a lot of money. Soup is such a great go-to eats when you can stand it, because its easy to make a huge batch and then [...]