The Ant's Meow

A call for compassion toward animals

Promoting animal rights, plant-based diets and pets looking for forever homes.

My First Vegan Stop on Koh Lanta: Happy Veggie

September 24, 2018 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

Happy Veggie, happy tummy. That's what's in store for you at this unique fusion restaurant in Koh Lanta, Thailand. Although it has only been open for a year, it has become the must-try restaurant among vegan, veg-curious, and health-conscious locals and tourists. It’s also within walking distance to Lanta Animal Welfare, which makes it irresistibly convenient for tourists—especially vegans—visiting the dog and cat rescue, or anyone who’s worked up an appetite after volunteering to walk dogs in the tropical heat.

Follow Your Heart Vegan Scrambled Eggs

November 01, 2017 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

Do you miss breakfast egg burritos? Now you can have your egg and eat it too…the vegan way. Follow Your Heart has an egg substitute that, when mixed with water, blends into a nice, fluffy consistency that resembles the texture of scrambled eggs. It has a neutral flavor that goes well with any of your favorite seasonings, spices and sauces. As for its appearance, thanks to nutritional yeast, which gives it a pale-yellow color, it comes pretty close to a regular scrambled egg once cooked.

Vegan Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe →

October 02, 2017 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

Thai food is by far my most favorite cuisine, especially ever since I became vegan. There are just so many vegan friendly Thai restaurants around as well as vegan Thai food dishes—from fresh vegetable spring rolls and tofu satay to curry and vegetable tom kha soup. Earlier this week, I had a sudden craving for vegan Thai pineapple fried rice.

Here's a recipe adapted from Yup It's Vegan blog

Hope for a Vegan World: A Realization After a Honeymoon Train Adventure

July 18, 2017 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

Although we traveled along the Pacific Northwest in cities where there are substantial options for vegan food, we also found ourselves in areas or situations where our options were limited. It gave me hope knowing that even in the unlikeliest places, a growing demand of vegan food exists ... and that perhaps a vegan world isn't too far in the distant future.

Garden Grove, California: A Treasure Trove of Vegan Food

March 12, 2017 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

Last week, my cousin was in town from New York and was staying at a hotel near Disneyland, which is in Anaheim and next to Garden Grove. Maybe I've been in my L.A. bubble too long, but I thought that finding vegan food in that area might be a challenge. I couldn't be more wrong!

Apparently, Garden Grove is a treasure trove of vegan food (now that I think about it, the name of the city is so fitting).

Vegetable and Tofu Stew: A Practically Foolproof Recipe

January 09, 2017 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

Calling all you culinary-challenged people! This vegan sofrito recipe is the easiest, fastest meal to make that's both healthy and hearty. So no excuses about not having the time or not knowing how to cook. All it takes is cutting veggies, mixing things up, and voilà: your healthy vegan stew is ready. I'll admit, I took a shortcut using bottled tomato sofrito sauce (Ferrer Tomato Stew Sauce with Vegetables, to be exact), but I'm more determined than ever to help those who really don't know how to cook, don't have the time, or are just outright lazy, to eat healthy using simple ingredients.

Dealing with the Emotional Side of Being Vegan During the Holidays

November 23, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

The holiday season is fast approaching, with Thanksgiving kicking it off tomorrow. Last year, my main concern was how I was going to get through a Thanksgiving meal as a new vegan. What was I going to eat? Would I be able to resist the foods everyone else was eating?

This year, the sadness and struggle are different. They stem from something much deeper … and more depressing. In the past year, I’ve seen so many forms of animal abuse that were once unimaginable to me (well, many still are).

My level of awareness was heightened, and so was my sensitivity and empathy for the billions of innocent animals who are mercilessly abused, mistreated, exploited and violently killed every second of every day.

And so, in the past year since I first celebrated Thanksgiving as a new vegan, I’ve changed.

If you’re like me in this stage of veganism, how do you cope with the emotions of being around non-vegan loved ones during the holidays?

Happy 1-Year Veganniversary to Me!

November 01, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

I think it's fitting that my veganniversary is on November 1st, which happens to be World Vegan Day. I didn't even know about that when my boyfriend (now fiancee) and I decided to make November 1st our official start date for our vegan journey. We watched Gary Yourofsky's Best Speech You Will Ever Hear on YouTube, which gave us the final push and resolve to make the full transition from vegetarian to vegan.

Now, one year later, I reflect on my journey to veganism: the different stages I've gone through (as Colleen Patrick-Goudreau presents in her podcast--check it out at the bottom of this post), the ongoing struggle to remain hopeful in an overwhelmingly cruel world, my unexpected culinary skills, the joy of finding new flavors and ingredients in vegan dishes, increasing activism, and so much more.

Julia's Restaurant: Best Vegan Food in Monterey, California

October 17, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

Homestyle cooking. Homey hospitality. Delicious vegan food.

That's what you're treated to at Julia's vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Monterey, California. It's technically in the neighboring city of Pacific Grove, but if Monterey is your destination and you're in search of vegan food, this place is a must on your checklist.

Breaking the Myth that Being Vegan is Expensive

August 08, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

In a world where healthy eating seems to cost us more money (e.g., Whole Foods has been referred to as “Whole Paycheck”, whereas convenience stores filled with cheap processed foods and fast food restaurants are vastly more accessible, especially in lower income neighborhoods), it’s easy to believe the myth that being vegan is also more expensive than a meat-, dairy- and egg-filled diet.

However, there are many articles and blog posts already out there that debunk this myth. I’m just going to add to them with my own experience of being vegan on a budget.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry and Kind at the LA Vegan Beer and Food Fest

June 21, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

On Saturday, my boyfriend (now my fiancé but I don’t like that word) and I went to the Los Angeles Vegan Beer and Food Festival at the Rose Bowl, making it my second vegan food fest this year. There I met up with fellow blogger Evelyn, of Vegan Simplified, who actually told me about the event.

Elevate Your Taste Buds at eLOVate Vegan Kitchen & Juicery

June 05, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

I’ve been trying to find a new favorite vegan restaurant ever since the news broke out about Gracias Madre, Café Gratitude and Sage Organic Vegan Bistro sourcing from and operating a farm that kills animals.

Aside from Veggie Grill (which is great for quick, healthy and affordable bites) and LA Vegan (also a no-fuss vegan staple), when it comes to celebrating special occasions or happy hour at a good vegan joint, eLOVate Kitchen fits the bill.

Vegetable and Lentil Hodgepodge Soup

May 25, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

The other night, my boyfriend and I made a hearty, healthy vegan lentil and vegetable soup served over fluffy seasoned quinoa. It was delicious and perfect for the early June gloom we've been experiencing in May (I'll take gloomy weather over scorching summers any day). And since we used lentils that were already pre-cooked, it made the process a lot faster. Best of all, we cooked enough food for the both of us to last through most of the week!

Black Bean and Veggie Coconut Wrap

May 19, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

The other night, after seeing mold dot the entire flour tortilla I had just opened days ago, I discovered a new way to eat a burrito. Sunfood Superfoods Raw Vegan Coconut Wrap is super versatile and is a great low-carb, gluten-free alternative to tortillas, wraps and bread.

VegFest Los Angeles: Where Long Lines are a Sign of Hope for Humanity

May 07, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

I don't normally like to go to food festivals because I always feel like I'd come away disappointed: long lines, overpriced food, stingy portions, and dreaded porta potties. However, I was willing to make an exception for vegan food festivals.

As soon as my boyfriend and I turned onto the street the festival was on, we saw hundreds of cars already parked along both sides of the roads including the unpaved median strip.

Aside from the huge turnout that early in the day (with an estimated total of 12,000 in attendance), it was also cool seeing the diversity there: vegans/vegetarians of all ages and from all walks of life. And whether or not everyone there was vegan/vegetarian, it was inspiring to see that there is a strong interest in plant-based foods and a more compassionate diet and lifestyle.

It was kind of surreal seeing change makers within the vegan and animal activism community all in one place. Non-profit organizations and animal rescues I read about and support were stationed at tents, one after another. It really gave me that warm, fuzzy feeling of community—of being around like-minded people with a common, philanthropic goal.

Vegan Road Trip Through Arizona

April 21, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

Road tripping when you’re vegan calls for some preparation and planning. It’s not hard, and it actually helps you save money while traveling.

All you need is a giant cooler and a trip to the grocery store before you hit the highway. It’s also important to book a hotel that has a refrigerator and microwave in your room—otherwise you’ll have no way of heating up your food and you’ll be left constantly refilling your cooler with ice to prevent your food from going bad.

Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut Sprinkles

April 12, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

I made my first attempt at baking a vegan dessert for my boyfriend’s birthday last week. I decided to continue with the theme of homemade gifts from our Valentine’s Day celebration (when he cooked for me all day instead of treating me to one meal at a restaurant). Since I hadn’t baked in years and this was my first time baking anything vegan, I was part nervous and part excited.

I initially thought about making a vegan version of my mom’s black forest cake, a popular request of my family for special occasions. But I figured it would be safer to use a recipe originally meant for vegans. Thankfully, the one I chose delivered on simplicity and flavor! I went with Naked Cupcake’s vegan black forest cupcake recipe that was inspired by a recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. I also ended up using my mom’s recipe for the icing/topping instead of the cherry pie filling the recipe originally called for.

How to Veganize Your In-N-Out Burger

April 01, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

Have you ever gone grocery shopping at In-N-Out? What’s that, you say? Ever since I became vegan, and discovered that their sponge bread is vegan (oh happy day), that’s what my boyfriend and I have been doing when we treat ourselves to a meal there. We laugh about how we're just basically buying the ingredients from In-N-Out to make our own vegan burgers.

Vegan Homemade Pizza: Better than Delivery and DiGiorno

March 23, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

It’s not delivery and it's not DiGiorno either … it’s a vegan homemade pizza!

Although there are a handful of restaurants that sell delicious vegan pizzas that give traditional cheese pizza a run for its money, my boyfriend and I decided to make our own and choose the toppings to our vegan hearts’ content! Well, almost. I would've loved to have added mushrooms and black olives, but they happen to be the two ingredients my boyfriend doesn’t like.

Nutritional Yeast: The Vegan Source of Vitamin B12 and Other Nutrients

March 22, 2016 by The Ant's Meow in Vegan

Ever since I quit eating meat, my mom who’s a nurse has been concerned about my B12 intake. While it’s not as popular of a question for vegans as “Where do you get your protein?”, “Where do you get your B12?” is still something vegans and vegetarians are asked pretty frequently.

I was first introduced to nutritional yeast—the holy grail of Vitamin B12—from a couple recipes from Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz.