New on Island

 

(sunset from my apartment)

I have recently met some wonderful people that have just moved to Guam. Yes, it is challenging to live here when you first arrive. It can be daunting, especially for vegans/vegetarians, but finding other like-minded people is key.

Being an herbivore on this island has its challenges. Here are some things that I've done to acclimate to local life:

• Going to a barbeque, fiesta, or party: You might want to ask if you can bring a dish to share. That way, you have something to eat besides salad and dessert. Or you can always eat before you arrive. People here are accomodating and will feel like bad hosts of they don't have something for you to eat.

• Meeting friends at a restaurant: Call the restaurant ahead of time to make sure there are choices for your diet. There are often appetizers that are vegetarian or vegan. If not, it would be wise not to show up famished and to have a backup plan for your meal. Also, next time you go out with friends, you should pick the restaurant!

• Introduce your new friends to herbivory: I love to convert my carnivorous friends to herbivory. I do this through my cooking, rather than preaching. Experiencing veganism through taste has reached far more people than talking has ever done. I am proud to say I am well known for my vegan chocolate cakes, and an invitation to share a meal at my place is much coveted, especially during the holidays. 

• Share your food: One of my friends has been made a spectacle during lunch at work. "What will the vegan eat today?" is what is on their minds. Don't take this the wrong way. People are curious and may tease you. It is a part of being friendly. Think of this as your opportunity to show them a new and healthy way of being. Bring extra food to share during lunch or bring a whole dish that you made for the lunch room. Tantalize them through taste...

•  Know where to shop: The Payless at Micronesian Mall is great for one-stop shopping. They can be a bit pricey, but they have most everything. To save a buck on fresh produce, go to American Grocery in Dededo. I walk out of there with three full bags of vegetables and fruit and $30 less in my wallet. For specialty nonperishables, I go to Simply Food and Healthy Hearts. If any of these places they don't carry something, they can order it for you.
  

With an increasing interest in healthy lifestyles on Guam, it won't be long before being vegan is the new sexy and thing. We are just way ahead of the curve!

Recycling, Yes Please!

 (image borrowed from guampdn.com)

Let's face it. We live on an island, and the space needed to store our garbage will overflow into our daily lives, if it has not already. The Ordot Dump is beyond capacity, and we still need a place to throw our trash. Why not recycle? Sure, it takes a little more effort, but the rewards will pay off for us in the future.

For those of us who have already made recycling a habit, why not extend that recycling arm other aspects of our lives? Such as starting to recycle at work, church, or places that we frequent.

We can also make an impact to businesses by voicing our opinion about trading styrofoam and plastics for compostable plant based disposables. If you want to go an extra step like some of my superstar friends, you can bring your own reusable container to pick up take out food and use reusable bags to carry your groceries.

It is easier to recycle if you have a community of people committed to doing it. How do you meet these wonderful people? Why not volunteer?

"The iRecycle program and the Green Army are looking for people who can simply stand at a recycling atoll and help carnival-goers put their recyclables in the correct bin and trash in the right can. When the bags get full, the volunteers pull them out. Volunteers at the end of the night help gather all the bags together as far as I understand.

Volunteer shifts vary depending on the day but we need a lot of help in the evening hours. The carnival runs every day so don't worry about there not being space for your help!

See either Peggy Denney at 484-9415 or Ann Marie (email below) If you would like to sign up for a night. If you don't feel like signing up, just show up and find Peggy. She is down there every night!"                                               - from Tammy Jo

In the end, these will not be small gestures if we all contribute to helping our island.

Did you know...
Where to Recycle on Guam
Aluminum Can Recycling Helps Schools on Guam

Vibrant Living Food Tasting VII, “A Lighter Affair”

When:               Sunday, June 28, 2009
Time:                11am ~ 2pm
Where:             Café Havana (Adjacent To The Hyatt Hotel – Old TJ’s)
Price:                $25 Per Person/ $10 Kids (6-12 Yrs Old).  Cash Only Please!!
                         Tickets Are Being Sold In Advance At Healthy Hearts In Dededo
Contacts:          Marc, Marcgutierrez72.Com
                         Ruthe, Rpaeste@Yahoo.Com
   

MENU

SALADS:         Kefir veggies, organic mix greens, local cherry tomatoes, local cucumber, sprouts,     
                           organic  dressings, chop chae, “sashimi.”
STARTERS:     Buko crackers, pesto, salsa.
BREAKFAST:  Local fruits, granola w/nut milk, manna bread w/breakfast spreads, “champuladu”,                                ginata’an.
MAINS:             Raw pizza, “fried” rice, nut meat patties, Thai curry.
DESSERT:        Latiya, fudge bars.

Our Superfood Smoothie Menu Will Also Be Available!!
~Eat Healthy, Live Vibrant!~

Vegan Booze

Is your drink vegan friendly?

Some alcohols contain these following animal products:
isinglass from sturgeon fish bladders
gelatin, an animal derivative (also found in gummy bears)
albumin from eggs, dried blood, or casein/potassium caseinate (from milk products)
glyceryl monostearate, an anti-foaming agent that may be an animal derivative
pepsin, a heading agent that may be derived from pork
sugar, which may whitened using bone char
 
Other additional ingredients may include:
flavorings
caramel
honey
lactose
colorings
preservatives

Some vegan friendly alcohols include:
Captain Morgan's Rum
Absolut Vodka
Blue Moon Beer

Please see Barnivore for a complete list of vegan friendly alcohols.

BEST Pizza on Guam!

From Guam Vegan

Do you like designing your own pizza? Or challenging the chef with unusual ingredients like kim chee on your pizza? Bring your ingredient to Sunset Grill, where the chefs will bring you a delectable adventure for your tastebuds.

Sunset Grill made me a thin crust pizza, grilled. It was topped with hummous, avocado, fresh tomato, and garlic oil. I dare say, it was the best pizza I've ever had. Free extras that enhanced my meal included the sun setting on the water, beach bar atmosphere, and the charming personalities.

From Guam Vegan

Sunset Grill gets fresh ingredients daily; whether they are from the market or homegrown, you can expect that kind of quality and attention to detail. He is vegetarian/vegan friendly telling me, "I know how to cook healthy... I just don't eat healthy." Well, never trust a skinny chef!

The service is slow, but well worth the wait to ensures quality pizzas.  The atmosphere is friendly and inviting, where I might even think of it as my own beach bar.

From Guam Vegan

On weekend nights, the grill is packed so get there early or the best ingredients will be gone before you know it.

Sunset Grill is located in Asan on the beach, and they can be reached at 472-3202.

See you at my beach bar!

Photos by S. Larkin

June Specials at Simply Food

Come check out our new shipment of RAW products. Ranging from snacks and energy bars to cereals and seeds.

Think and live healthy.

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All Lunch Specials are $6.49!  (Small salad or small soup: add $2.50)
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Monday            Chamorro:  “Chicken” Kelaguen, Chalakilis, Spinach, & Brown Red Rice
Soup:  Tomato Rice & Bean
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Tuesday        Tofu Steak w/Brown Rice & Seasoned Vegetables
Soup:  Tahini Minestrone
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Wednesday      Indian:   Brown Rice and Curry
Soup:  Asian Lentil
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Thursday         Whole Wheat Pizza w/Veggies & “Sausage”
            Soup:  Broccoli Ginger Seaweed
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Friday            Whole Wheat Spaghetti w/Veggie Burger Marinara & Garlic Bread
Soup:  Shiitake Noodle 
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Phone/Fax #: 472-2382

Coffee Beanery Bombs

There is a shortage of franchised coffee shops on Guam. However, one chain that we have on island is the Coffee Beanery located at Micronesian Mall. They also have two in Tumon (next to Denial's Night Club and across from Ballscratchers; another one in Pacific Breezeway).

Coffee Beanery's success on Guam is bewildering to me. Ok, I get it, they have tasty blended coffee drinks for $5 that could make anyone an addict on the high sugar, fat (cream), and caffeine content.

But they don't offer soymilk as an alternative, nor do they offer ANY organic coffee or teas. After speaking to the owner of this cafe about offering soymilk, he declined, saying that it was not profitable to keep it in stock for the few people that ask for it! He said he would not stock it, leading me to believe he cares little for his customers, and more about the profit he makes selling his addictive drinks to our people, leading the way to increase disease for our islanders.

And what is with using styrofoam cups that NEVER biodegrade? Doesn't the owner and Coffee Beanery corporation care about the environment?  Coffee Beanery on Guam probably sells 100 cups of coffee a day, that leads to 36,500 styrofoam cups a year into our Ordot landfill that will never biodegrade! For shame!

Their food selection is minimal with sugary and fatty pastries, muffins, and cakes. I did not see any fruit. Luckily they offer Minute Maid 100% juice in cans, vitamin water, and bottled water.

The atmosphere is busy, so busy that the uncomfortable and worn furniture pushed agains the walls remains in disarray. The space is set up to allow the herd to feed their addiction.

My conclusion is that Coffee Beanery does not care about the health of our people or the environment. And if they do, they should make some healthy changes to their menu and change their styrofoam into biodegradable options

 As a big slap on the wrist for Coffee Beanery for polluting our environment, I would also ask that a portion of the profit be put into cleaning up our island, encouraging recycling, and supporting healthy alternatives for our people.

I will personally boycott Coffee Beanery as well as encourage others to do so until some positive changes are made that will benefit the our islanders.

C'mon Coffee Beanery, you can go green.