An official switch-on event on Friday morning marked the introduction of four new DAB digital radio transmitters for Leicestershire.

Together they will reach 250,000 listeners throughout the area, a fact which was celebrated at a special event at Brownlow Primary School in Melton Mowbray.

Cat James, presenter of drivetime on Gem 106, Tom Watts and Claire Chambers of Capital East Midlands drivetime with Tom & Claire, and Helen McCarthy of BBC Radio Leicester, pressed the big green digital radio switch at 9am to signify the launch of the fourth and final digital transmitter, which has boosted local DAB coverage in Melton Mowbray, in front of pupils and staff from Brownlow Primary School.

The expansion of coverage means that many listeners can now receive ten further radio stations BBC Radio Leicester, Capital East Midlands, Gem 106, Heart East Midlands, Smooth East Midlands, Gold, Chill, LRB Digital, Sabras and Sanskar Radio on DAB digital radio for the first time.

Over the last 18 months local DAB coverage has increased from 63% of households to 82% across the county and an additional 250,000 people have been brought in to coverage. There have been four new transmitters in total, with the final one launching in Waltham, near Melton Mowbray.

In the photo:

Cat James, Gem 106 Ellie Codling, Smooth East Midlands James Lloyd, Capital East Midlands Tom Watts and Claire Chambers of Capital East Midlands drivetime show Ford Ennals, CEO, Digital Radio UK Damien Turrell, Headteacher, Brownlow Primary School Helen McCarthy, BBC Radio Leicester Children from Brownlow Primary School

Here are the quotes on the event:

Damien Turrell, Headteacher, Brownlow Primary, said: The pupils have loved meeting our local radio presenters and finding out more about digital radio. Were delighted to have hosted such an exciting occasion on behalf of the county at our school and to have welcomed Leicestershires local stations.

Sophie Shardlow, Editor, BBC Radio Leicester, said: BBC Radio Leicester has been a part of life in the county for 50 years and its great news that now even more listeners can tune in to our hugely popular presenters, delivering the local news, sport, music and conversation that they love on DAB digital radio.

Dick Stone, Managing Editor, Capital East Midlands, said: Were delighted that the increase in DAB digital radio coverage allows us to bring the UKs biggest commercial radio brands Capital, Heart and Smooth as well as Gold to more people in Leicestershire. Its great news for listeners and for Global.

Ali Forshaw, Regional Managing Director, Smooth Radio East Midlands, said: Its fantastic to see that the people of Leicestershire can now enjoy Smooth Radio East Midlands on DAB digital radio. We know that our listeners love our mix of relaxing music combined with local programming at the times they want it most. They can now tune in to DAB digital radio for our popular presenters, Gareth Evans at Breakfast and Emma Caldwell at Drive.

James Brownlow, Content Director, Gem 106, said: It is brilliant that 250,000 listeners in Leicestershire will be able to hear Gems original entertainment and variety of music on DAB. Gem is the only commercial radio station in the East Midlands that both produces and broadcasts its shows and music 24/7 from right here in the region, so it feels right the listeners in the area get to enjoy Gem in fantastic clear digital quality.

Cat James, Presenter, Gem 106, added: Gem is very much a part of the Leicestershire community and I get to enjoy that when on-air playing them music they love and getting them home with a smile each weekday. To allow the people of Leicestershire to be able to hear a variety of music they wont get anywhere else in lovely, clear brilliant, digital audio is the very least this great audience deserve.

Ford Ennals, CEO Digital Radio UK, said: Today we are celebrating the transformation of the coverage of local stations on DAB digital radio across the county. Its great news that a further 250,000 listeners across Leicestershire will now be able to hear these much-loved stations, which play such an important role in serving the local community, on digital radio.

Richard Johnston, Head of Commercial Radio, Arqiva, said: Arqiva has been extremely busy over the last year building hundreds of additional national and local DAB transmitters across the UK to bring DAB digital radio into millions more homes and thousands of miles of the road network. We are proud of our role in delivering the infrastructure needed for a vibrant digital radio market and are delighted to complete the expansion of local DAB coverage in Leicestershire, enabling over 250,000 more people to receive their local stations on DAB.

See more here:

New transmitters turned on in Leicestershire - Radio Today

Campbell Soup Co. said Thursday it has agreed to acquire organic counterpart Pacific Foods for $700 million in cash.

The deal would be Campbells fifth acquisition in the last five years, and the fourth of a natural/organic food company, as it attempts to remake its portfolio around the burgeoning health-and-wellness movement.

Pacific, based in Tualatin, Ore., makes organic broth and soup, shelf-stable plant-based beverages and other meals and sides. It had sales of $218 million in the 12 months ended May 31. Campbell described Pacific as natural foods industry pioneer with strong health and well-being and organic credentials, particularly with younger consumers.

Pacific is an authentic brand with a loyal consumer following, Denise Morrison, Campbells president and CEO, said in a statement. The acquisition allows us to expand into faster-growing spaces such as organic and functional food. Moreover, Pacific Foods is an excellent fit with Campbell strategically, culturally and philosophically. It advances our strategic imperatives around real food, transparency, sustainability and health and well-being.

Campbell said it plans to bring its scale to Pacific Foods and invest in the business to drive full force growth. The company expects to expand distribution; boost marketing support for brand building to engage consumers and shoppers; and invest in R&D and the supply chain.

Pacific Foods will become part of Campbells Americas Simple Meals and Beverages division, which includes Campbells soup, simple meals and shelf-stable beverage units in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. The division is led by Mark Alexander, president, and includes leading brands including Campbells, V8, Swanson, Prego, Pace and Plum Organics.

Pacific was founded in 1987. CEO and co-founder Chuck Eggert will stay on as a supplier of key ingredients through his family farms. Weve spent the past 30 years focused on making nourishing foods with an emphasis on simple, organic ingredients and authentic, rich flavors, Eggert said. Looking ahead, a future with Campbell means we can maintain what we value while accelerating growth of the brand in a way that we couldnt do alone, reaching more people while increasing our impact on sustainable agriculture.

Campbell acquired Bolthouse Farms in 2012, organic baby-food company Plum in 2013, and fresh salsa and hummus maker Garden Fresh Gourmet in 2015. Campbell also acquiredthebiscuit company Kelsen in 2013, which boosted its international brand portfolio.

See original here:

Campbell to acquire organic soupmaker Pacific Foods - Supermarket News

Cleveland Tinker @ClevelandTinker

Dealing with social justice issues associated with organic farming has been at the core of Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers of Gainesville's work since the group's creation.

Known as FOG, the nonprofit this month will celebrate 30 years of fighting for organic farmers, farm workers rights and for people on the lower rung of the economic ladder to have access to healthy food.

Both the Gainesville and Alachua County commissions declared July FOG Month.

Marty Mesh, executive director of the Gainesville-based organization, said it was established to support and promote sustainable organic agriculture through educating consumers, farmers, businesses, policy makers and the general public about issues associated with organic farming.

We decided to collaborate with farm worker organizations and other groups to promote organic farming standards domestically, Mesh said.

As part of its ongoing efforts to educate people about and promote certified organic farming, FOG will host two workshops this month.

The first, co-sponsored by the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, will be held from 1-4:30 p.m. July 24 at the Straughn Professional Development Center at 2142 Shealy Drive on campus.

It will focus on organic vegetable production and high-tunnel research results, and discussion topics will include benefits and challenges of high-tunnel production; disease and pest management; economic considerations; high tunnel structures; organic certification and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cost Share program and soil fertility and crop nutrient management.

High tunnel farming allows farmers to extend the growing season of their crops by using a conservation practice available through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program offered by the USDA.

The second workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon July 27 at Frog Song Organics at 4317 NE U.S. Highway 301 in Hawthorne. It will focus on organic tomato grafting and high tunnel production.

Vegetable grafting is a horticultural technique combining parts from two plants to form one plant.

Both workshops are free, and those interested can register by calling 352-377-6345, extension 123, or emailing tyler@foginfo.org.

People from out of town attending the first workshop will be able to get reimbursed for their travel by the USDA, said Tyler Nesbit, FOGs education and outreach coordinator.

To celebrate its 30-yearanniversary, FOG will host an Organic Food and Farming Summit Sept. 17-19. It will be an opportunity for farmers to interact with innovators and leaders in organic agriculture to gain knowledge and training through farm tours, workshops, a trade show and a day of presentations on available resources, Mesh said.

FOG has spent its first three decades fighting for social justice in organic agriculture, primarily ensuring that healthy food gets to people most in need, educating organic farmers on issues and policies that affect them and educating and promoting the public about issues related to organic agriculture and improved food systems.

FOG, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, oversees the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program in Florida. The program provides financial help to those obtaining or renewing their certification with the National Organic Program.

To be eligible for reimbursement this federal fiscal year, producers or handlers must have received or renewed certification between Oct. 1, 2016 and Sept. 30 of this year. The amount of reimbursement is 75 percent of certification costs, up to a maximum of $750.

For information about cost on the cost share program, email costshare@foginfo.org.

FOG also offers a program that makes fresh, local produce more affordable and accessible to low-income families. The Fresh Access Bucks program increases the purchasing power of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamp) recipients by providing a dollar-for-dollar match for Florida-grown fruits and vegetables.

For instance, a SNAP recipient who spends $10 of their benefits at the farmers' market gets an additional $10 in Fresh Access Bucks to buy more fruits and vegetables, Mesh said.

The program is part of the Alachua County Farmers' Market, held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at 5920 NW 13th St.

For more information about Fresh Access Bucks, email info@freshaccessbucks.com.

Local residents can also get fresh organic fruits and vegetables from the Community Supported Agriculture program through Siembra Farm in southeast Gainesville just south of T.B. McPherson Recreation Center.

Cody Galligan, owner of the 20-acre farm, said $30 gets buyers an assortment of fruits and vegetables delivered to their homes.

Its a great way to support local farmers and for families to get fresh organic fruits and vegetables at a reduced price, Galligan said.

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FOG celebrates 30 years of healthful food - Gainesville Sun

ELKHART Its confining to describe Red Oak Farm as a farm as this urban ag operation is more than planting and harvesting.

Nicole Bauman is one of six adults who live in two houses on a large city lot at 1721 Prairie St. The group of friends who call themselves the Prairie Wolf Collective due to nearby street names, divides tasks among themselves. Baumans task is to operate the farm.

The farm consists of an adjacent vacant lot that is leased from the city of Elkhart. That lot of less than 1/8th of an acre produces all sorts of vegetables and herbs for community-supported agriculture members who arrive each Thursday to fill bags and boxes. The members purchase a share in the garden in the spring and then are entitled to a box full of produce each week.

The shares can even be purchased by people using food stamps.

So far, 14 people have purchased shares this year, according to Bauman. She has several more shares available on a pro-rated basis because the garden is very productive this year.

Fresh produce is also available for purchase by the public each Thursday afternoon when the supply allows.

Community-supported ag

Such small-scale urban food producers are part of the community-supported agriculture movement that has popped up in the nations urban centers, according to Bauman.

We are trying to do a little bit of intentional community and experimenting with different sustainability practices, she said. And trying to be connected in this neighborhood where there is a long history of organizing and community building.

Bauman reaches out to the community by holding occasional classes on food preservation and canning. This fall, she will provide educational sessions for students at the nearby Roosevelt Elementary School. The Prairie Wolf Collective is also working on lead paint abatement projects.

Close by

Some of Red Oak Farm's neighbors have become good customers.

Kathee Kirchner lives just down the street. You can see her front porch from the collective's front yard.

You cant get any fresher than this, she said of the greens she was placing in bags.

Kirchner pointed out that Bauman raises exceptional okra, which she likes to share with friends.

Kirchner said she used to get organic produce from another local farm, but that business stopped its delivery service, so she found Red Oak Farm a few doors from her home.

Organic food is a staple in Kirchners diet, and she enjoys Red Oaks vegetables and herbs while they are in season.

There was a lot of love put into it, she said of the farm.

Out of season, Kirchner said she turns to organic foods she finds in local markets.

There are some market chains where we can get organic food from, but its just not the same, Kirchner said.

The other aspect of that is I love supporting the horticulture in the community, Kirchner said. Having a farm in the neighborhood. Jason (Nicoles partner) and Nicole do everything they can to conserve resources and to share with people in need.

Second season

This is Baumans second season of gardening on the property. Before that she was employed at another local organic farm.

Organic growing is something Bauman has experience with, having grown up on a small Ontario, Canada, farm that specialized in organic products. She sold microgreens to restaurants when she was in high school.

She said Red Oak Farm is not certified as an organic producer because the cost is prohibitive for such a small producer, but the practices used are totally organic.

For instance, her technique for controlling cabbage beetles is to plant small plots of the garden staple and then patrol the plants daily and pick any bugs off by hand. She said, so far, she has only lost one small planting of tomatillos to an insect infestation.

Thats fine, she laughed. That is part of the game.

She foregoes the use of pesticides, even those concoctions gardeners mix up themselves or purchase from suppliers of organic products.

Even that will harm beneficial insects, Bauman said. Like pollinators. So I just keep trying to build my soil. The healthier your soil is the healthier your plants are and the less the bugs are going to harm them.

Small vs big

The community-supported agriculture movement is ideal for small ag operations such as Red Oak Farm, according to Bauman.

People can go to the grocery store and buy a whole lot more for the same amount of money than purchasing here, Bauman said. Which has to do with farm subsidies, which is why that food is really cheap and also is not the same quality. Yes, it is a challenge for sure.

For small food-production operations like hers, Bauman said she cant afford to subsidize the cost of food for her customers as she is barely making minimum wage now. So she relies on the her payment plan through the CSA program to make it easier for people to purchase her fresh produce.

She is also optimistic that local low-income residents will see the value in Red Oak Farm products.

It is an opportunity for there to be truly fresh organic produce right here, Bauman said. I am set up to accept SNAP benefits, often called food stamps, WIC vouchers and seniors farmers market nutrition program vouchers. So people on those programs can come and purchase stuff.

Re-use and beauty

Eight years ago the city of Elkhart demolished a vacant house at where the garden is now, Bauman said. She believes Red Oak Farms repurposing of the lot is sending a positive message to the south side neighborhood.

It is an exciting thing for the people in the neighborhood to see that Oh, this space matters to people and this neighborhood is not forgotten and there can be business initiatives and environmental initiatives and beauty right here.'

And people in the neighborhood seem to have noticed the garden, according to Bauman.

I have experienced a lot of community building around it to, she said. By being out here all the time I get to know our neighbors better. ... I see neighbor kids and they stop by to see what I am doing and try a radish or a carrot. It builds a lot of connectedness.

Follow Roger on Facebook and also on Twitter @rschneider_TGN

Originally posted here:

THANK A HOOSIER FARMER: Red Oak Farm is a consumer-supported organic ag business - Goshen News

By Our Representative Gujarat police on Friday detained two senior farmers leaders, Sagar Rabari of the Khedut Samaj Gujarat (KSG) and Alpesh Thakor of the OBC Ekta Manch, along with some of their colleagues soon after they began a 25-km farmers footmarch from Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, the state capital. They were demanding farm loan waiver. The footmarch, which began at Khet Bhavan near Gandhi Ashram, first went to the Gandhi Ashram, where farmers garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. However, no sooner they moved out of the Gandhi Ashram and proceeded towards Gandhinagar, they were stopped by the cops standing off the Ahmedabad district collectors office. The police said the reason for the detention was the organizers did not taken requisite permission for taking out the rally. The farmers leaders, however, said they were forced to begin moving towards Gandhinagar in a peaceful rally because they were not granted permission, which is normal in Gujarat today. Jayesh Patel, president KSG, said, The Gujarat police routinely deny permissions, and cracks down on protests in the state, which has become a norm. The voice of dissent in Gujarat is sought to be smothered and democratic rights of people are under stress. Giving reason for starting the farmers protest rally, Patel said, The issues of farm distress in Gujarat are multiplying. Farmers are committing suicide, reeling under the enormous burden of nearly two decades of neglect of the farm sector by the ruling dispensation. He added, Instead of addressing their issues and, at the very least, entering into a dialogue with them, the state government is using every repressive tactic at its disposal. The agitation was organized part of series of protest actions rallies, demonstrations, footmarches to highlight the pitiful conditions of farmers in the state at various locations in Gujarat. On Wednesday, police detained hundreds of farmer-activists across Gujarat after they poured thousands of litres of milk on roads, demanding a waiver of all farmer loans in the state, where essential commodities have seen a sudden spurt in prices. Led by Alpesh Thakor, the agitation was dubbed Doodhbandi and Doodh Roko. Thakore also heads Kshatriya Thakor Sena. Thakore and 50 supporters were detained in Ahmedabad after his group blocked roads and poured hundreds of litres of milk on the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, which connects Ahmedabad with the state capital. The agitation was simultaneously held some several other towns. Earlier, On July 2, a group of 100 middle class women led by Hetal Parikh, were denied permission to hold demonstration at two different spots, after which they went and sat on dharna at Gandhi Ashram. Parikh told Counterview, We wanted to hold peaceful protest against Goods and Services Tax (GST), which has affected women most. However, Parikh said, No sooner we sat in Gandhi Ashram with banners, the police came and dismantled the banners and asked us to go, telling us that if we did not go, we would be detained. We had no other option but to move out.

Here is the original post:

Gujarat farmers' leaders detained off Gandhi Ashram for holding footmarch to Gandhinagar "without permission" - COUNTERVIEW

Theyre not regular vegans, theyre sexy vegans.

Since celebrities cant just be a thing without being the most beautiful or sexiest version of said thing, PETA has released its annualSexiest Vegan title for 2017. And this year, its an-woman, three-way tie for the top spot.

The three lucky meat-and-dairy-free ladies are Ruby Rose:

David Livingston via Getty Images

Noel Vasquez via Getty Images

Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images

The activist group has typically named one man and one woman as its sexiest vegetable-lover of a given year. Last year, for example, Liam Hemsworth and Jhene Aiko took the top spots for sexiest vegetarians.

Were all about celebrities standing up for what they believe in and living the way they please, but calling them out for being sexy while doing so seems just slightly unnecessary.Congrats?

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Here Are PETA's Sexiest Vegans Of 2017, For Some Reason ... - HuffPost

It all began with a butthole.

A woman named Chelsea Bartley left a two-star Google review of Memphis Imagine Vegan Cafe, during which she said she enjoys the restaurant and will probably return but that, during this particular visit, a bare butt naked baby showed her its butthole [sic]. She also had an issue with the childs dirty feet padding across tabletops and an older kid yodeling and staring at me during my meal. All in all, its more of a funny review than a scathing one.

Had it all stayed here, people wouldve had their fun and everyone wouldve moved on by now. Unfortunately, Imagine Cafes owner indulged their inner Trump by promising to start calling out the names and pictures of people who leave us bad reviews. But then more comments started pouring in, one of which states that the same child shat on the floor during one couples meal.

See it all below:

The owners comments were similarly vitriolic, essentially saying that those who wouldnt tolerate glimpses at a childs butthole in an eating establishment are about themselves. On its website, Imagine Cafe does emphasize that [s]ometimes there may be children running around your table, singing very loudly.

Finally, Imagine Cafe offered up its own interpretation of the situation, which offers a reasonable explanation (the baby learned how to undo her diaper) without providing assurance that such a thing will never happen again (really all anyone wants from an establishment in which they hope to dine).

Of course, the owners vitriol mobilized the webs unsullied, who took it upon themselves to try and destroy a business that responded poorly after finding themselves in a gross, but ultimately funny, situation. The attacks on their social media accounts were so unrelenting that Imagine Cafe deleted them all. And their Yelp page is now filled with one-star reviews filled with elaborate jokes about buttholes from people whove never even been to the restaurant.

Pretty much everyone is handling themselves poorly here, except, maybe, for the kid, who was just acting like a little kid in the first place.

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Baby shows its butthole in a vegan restaurant, unleashing social media hell - A.V. Club

Ive always felt different from other women. Growing up I didnt have many female friends. The girls I did become close with were, as I describe them, the kinds of girlfriends who call each other dude. In middle school and high school I strived to revel in my otherness, shouting (figuratively, desperately), Im a tomboy! I like punk music! Im one of the only black people at my school! When I went to college I shrouded myself with other unique identifiers. I loosely adopted Buddhism, developed a serious yoga practice, got several tattoos, and went vegetarian .

Following a vegetarian diet was easy for me. It was a conversation starter, it was a political statement, and it was an invisibility cloak. Giving up meat was an easy way to maintain my slim figure; something I hadn't had to think about when I was practicing daily for the high school dance team. It was something to take my mind off of my depression , which, despite being treated with medication, completely crippled me during the winter and whenever I was in a relationship.

Id see her everywhere, it seemed. We made eye contact as we passed each other walking across the quad between classes and eating Lucky Charms on opposite sides of the residence hall cafeteria, but we never spoke. I still dont know who she isthe only thing I remember about her is that she had shoulder-length dark hairbut when I look back on my diary entries around this time, it was clear she awakened my same-sex attraction:

Women are magnetic. They have this mysterious and hypnotic nature about them, some sort of sorcery...A woman is as the water. Sea-smooth waves, curving like a wake. And it be not an ocean without a little salt . Personal diary entry, April 15, 2008

That year I tried, timidly, to come out to my mom and best friend. They responded with a measure of skepticismafter all, Id only dated men until then. Its not the response you hope for when you entrust someone with a secret. Being a people-pleaser, I adopted their doubt as my own and went back into the closet, quietly identifying as bisexual but dating only men because "thats what you do."

I was running from myself. Because the basic need to eat is woven throughout each day, carefully curating what I consumed according to the tenets of veganism made me feel like my life was in order even when my mental health was not. I was using veganism as a distraction devicea challengeinstead of a positive lifestyle change, and because of that I never learned how to eat intuitively. When, years later, veganism hadnt cured my struggles with body image and depression, I decided to try bodybuilding to get the physique I wanted and thereby become happy, finally.

The classic bodybuilding diet consists of lean meat, eggs, rice, and oatmeal, a clear departure from my past of plant-based eating. I felt some guilt about abandoning the diet and philosophy I had ascribed to for eight years, but the structure of the new program felt comfortable. I resigned myself to the fact that food was no longer for enjoyment; it was for fuel. I loved the attention I got from other people: They gawked at my newly muscular upper body, questioned my pill chest full of vitamins and supplements, and admired my ability to eschew donuts at the office in favor of reheated cod and green beans.

Forcing myself to eat the same meals every day and bullying my body to grow provided a masochistic sense of satisfactionone that seemingly paid off when I achieved International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) professional status in 2015, my second year competing. That kind of rapid success is unheard of in the bodybuilding industry, and I should have been prouder of myself than I was. Instead, I was still terribly depressed and in and out of relationships that made my self-loathing worse.

Last winter I reached my all-time low. I was in a relationship with a man who was exactly the type of person my family would want me to be withsuccessful, stable, handsomeand I was about to begin training for my second pro bodybuilding show. But none of it was fun. I couldnt get out of bed; I was cripplingly depressed. I made an appointment with a doctor to have my depression medication dosage increased, but I couldnt get in for another month. In the meantime, I began to prepare for my upcoming competition, but I still wanted to start feeling better. So, I started to dig.

I downloaded an app that let me chat with a listener about my feelings, a different one with guided meditations, and still another that allowed me to track my feelings daily and view the trends as a line graph. At the beginning of the yoga class I started taking each week, Id set my intention for the class: Be happier. In trying to remember how exactly to be happy, I romanticized my past, thinking that reclaiming veganism was the answer. I got into green smoothies, traded chicken for tofu, and lost myself in aspirational vegan lifestyle YouTube channels like those of Ellen Fisher and Kate Flowers . Eating vegan againfueling my body with whole foods straight from the earthwas exhilarating. I felt healthier in a sense, just as I had the first time I went vegan ten years prior. But because I was only immersing myself in a vegan diet as a form of self-control again, I ultimately still felt like an empty shell.

One day my boyfriend and I got in our weekly fight about me avoiding intimacy. Id slunk off to cry and snuggle my cat, and when he found me he said, I dont understand why you can show love to your cat like that, but not to me. At first I was indignant, but he was right. I was avoiding intimacy with him, thinking there must be something wrong with me for not wanting to be close to him. Id made all those sudden changes in my lifethe meds, the yoga, the veganismto try to fix myself when the real problem was that I thought I needed fixing. I stood in the shower that night sobbing, with the words Im gay repeating over and over in my mind like a twisted mantra.

Over the next month, I came out to myself again and again, floating through my daily activities with a new lens of queerness. Im gay, Id think as I cooked breakfast, scooped the cat box, or did Sun Salutations. I came out to my mom next, then my closest friends, and finally, excruciatingly, to my boyfriend. I know why Ive been acting the way I have, I sputtered through tears, Its because Im gay.

Dealing with the aftermath of that discussion was one of the most difficult things Ive done. I moved all my belongings out of a home Id made with someone, intending to marry him. I broke his heart in the process. I drew flow charts to ensure I was absolutely, positively gay and not just situationally depressed. I sought refuge in the words and company of other women who had also come out late in life, and knowing I wasnt alone allowed me to release the shame I felt for my decade of denial. I worked on respecting my body and finding a balance between eating for fun and eating for fuel. Yes, coming out was hard. But sitting here today as an out lesbian, my depression has almost completely subsided. I finally feel free.

And if youre wondering, I still drink a green smoothie every day, lift weights, and do yoga, but I also eat pepperoni pizza when I feel like it. And best of all, now I kiss girls.

Related:

You might also like: How to Make High-Protein Oatmeal with No Protein Powder

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I Became Vegan to Hide the Fact That I'm Gay - SELF

Wisconsins only exclusively vegan restaurant is moving to Baraboo.

The Cheeze Factory Restaurant will relocate to downtown Baraboo after its current building lease in Wisconsin Dells expires Labor Day weekend. Restaurant leaders hope to have the new location at 618 Oak St. up and running by Thanksgiving.

The popular vegan eatery serves a variety of plant-based, non-GMO dishes. It was founded 25 years ago as a vegetarian restaurant by members of the Course in Miracles Academy.

The Academy is a spiritual group based in Wisconsin Dells that studies religious scriptures from around the world, with a primary focus on the Bibles New Testament and A Course in Miracles. Cheeze Factory staff is made up of former and current Academy members.

Jubilee Dominic-Charles, an Academy teacher and publicist for the Cheeze Factory, said the spiritual group opened the restaurant in a former Wisconsin Dells cheese factory as a way to get involved with the community. Academy members were practicing vegetarians at the time, so they opted to create a menu without meats, she said.

It was quite an anomaly, and a lot of people didnt think that we would last, said Sage-Louise, a founder and head chef at the Cheeze Factory.

The restaurant defied early expectations and became a premier vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Americans dairyland. The establishment remained vegetarian until 2013, when Cheeze Factory leaders ramped up efforts to minimize animal suffering by transitioning to a completely plant-based menu.

Even though we werent supporting the killing of animals, we were supporting the torture of animals, Sage-Louise said. Chickens that are raised for their eggs and cows that are raised for their milk are treated even more cruelly than animals that are slaughtered for meat.

Sage-Louise said she wasnt always a vegan, and worked in several five-star restaurants in New York before she made her way to Wisconsin Dells. She said the experience provided her with a unique perspective on creating dishes with limited ingredients.

What I know is that, unless it tastes good, nobodys going to want to eat it, regardless of what it is, she said. If it tastes delicious, people are going to eat it regardless of what it is.

To meet her standards, Sage-Louise said all Cheeze Factory ingredients must be entirely plant-based, and taste really, really good. Everything else on the menu is subject to change when she finds inspiration.

Sage-Louise said Cheeze Factory leaders explored several venues throughout the area before deciding on Baraboo. She said the restaurant will sacrifice about 8,000 square feet moving from its spacious location in the Dells to the 2,000 square-foot venue downtown. While the reduced space will create challenges, Sage-Louise said the restaurant is ready to make the change, and eventually will transition to a 100 percent organic menu once the new location opens.

Follow Jake Prinsen on Twitter @prinsenjake

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Wisconsin Dells vegan restaurant relocating to downtown Baraboo - WiscNews

Food For Thought d3sign/Getty Images

When I went vegan a couple years ago, I was living in New York City. I was privileged to have a well-paid job and (relatively) cheap rent, which meant I went out to eat at least a couple of times a week. There was a whole new world of amazing vegan cuisine to discover in New York City, and far from feeling deprived of animal products, I discovered a whole new culinary world of possibility and ate my way through its many options.

While there are so many places I would recommend for you toeat vegan in New York, these are the spots I find myself most nostalgic for now that I live in L.A. (even though Im far from deprived here L.A. is basically the only place in the United States that has even more vegan options). While not every restaurant on this list is fully vegan, most are at least vegetarian or vegan-leaning.

Here are my picks for the best places to eat vegan in New York City, no matter your craving.

Any place that makes you take off your shoes is off to a great start in my book. Hangawi is located in Koreatown, and is a truly elevated experience. Each dish is purposefully and carefully crafted. You can get classic Korean dishes like the Tofu Kimchi Hot Pot, or more unusual dishes like the Dandelion and Avocado Salad, Mushroom and Vegetable Wrap, and Zen Noodles.

Runners-Up: Have a slightly less-expensive but still elevated meal at Francia, or choose the vegan options at the casual lunch/dinner buffet at Woorijip (where I probably ate most often).

God, I love this place. It is cheap, unpretentious, classic Buddhist Chinese food which is vegan! I always loved the watercress, and the lamb is definitely worth tryingeven if youre not into mock meat. I also found the soy cheesecake for dessert to be delicious. Seriously, just go here anytime youre in Chinatown.

Runner Up: Lucky Vegetarian in Sunset Park, Brooklyn is also excellent.

The homemade nut cheeses are downright amazing, and the freshly-baked crust from the wood-burning oven is chewy and perfect. If you want a classic Italian/New York-style pizza, elevated with interesting flavor combinations (I especially recommend the White Pizza) and a killer wine bar ambiance to match, this East Village gem is your place. Take anyone here who says they could never be vegan because theyd have to give up pizza.

Runners-Up: People also swear by Paulie Gees and Screamers Pizzeria in Greenpoint.

If you work anywhere near Koreatown, my favorite takeout lunch spot would definitely be Woorijip. Its cheap, delicious, and the vegan options abound. You can try a little bit of everything vegan, and they just weigh it at the end. They even have rice, salads, and other sides for as little as $1 each, to-go.

Runners-Up: If more standard American lunch fare is your style, Blossom DuJouris asolid pick for a delicious burger, wrap, or sandwich.If you happen to be near Downtown Brooklyn, Id also highly recommend the simple Indian food at Govindas Vegetarian, which is only open during the week for lunch.

Peacefood Cafe was my go-to for dinner out with a friend. The ambience is both casual and chic, the menu is large and appealing to all kinds of cravings and tastes (the Chickpea Fries are a must), and the dessert well, lets just say the Raw Key Lime Pie had both me and my non-vegan friends coming back.

Runners Up: For healthy and tasty raw or cooked food, Id also recommend Sacred Chow in The West Village, Sun and Bloom in Prospect Heights, and Quintessence in the East Village.

How Beyond Sushi isnt in L.A. yet is beyond me and I miss it! If you think vegan sushi isnt possible, try one of Beyond Sushis four locations in New York City for a casual lunch or dinner, and prepare to be both satisfied and amazed. My favorites were the Spicy Mango Rolls, the Green Tea Noodle Salad, and the Sweet Potato Brownie for dessert.

This Bedstuy joint is vegan comfort food at its best. Try the amazing Yeah Dawg! (best vegan hot dog, hands-down), the BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sandwich, or the Fried Cauliflower. Whatever your craving, they have you covered at this hole-in-the-wall.

Runner Up: Uptown Veg in Harlem.

Though Van Leeuwens isnt entirely vegan, they have a huge selection of vegan flavors and they are the richest, creamiest, tastiest around. Seriously, I defy anyone to tell the difference between this and dairy ice cream (except for the amount of bloating afterwards). My favorite flavor is the Dark Chocolate, but you seriously cant go wrong here.

Runners Up: I also like Chloes soft serve as a lighter all-fruit soft-serve option in Union Square, and Ample Hills Creamerys vegan coconut fudge sorbet (which is really the richest dark chocolate coconut milk ice cream Ive tasted).

Pretty much the only category where I think New York Citys vegan cuisine beats L.A., hands-down, is fine dining. (And by fine dining, I mean anything where you might drop $100 on dinner, because I am not rich).

Dirt Candy, however, is worth saving up for. While you can get out for less money by ordering tapas-style, Id recommend saving up for the vegan tasting menu. If you want to know what avant garde vegan cooking looks like right now, you will not be disappointed or leave hungry. A different vegetable is showcased at the center of every plate, the food is always seasonal, and the flavors are complex and amazing. This is a fantastic restaurant.

Runners Up: Avant Garden, Mother of Peal, Kajitsuare all also nice nights out and absolutely delicious, offering truly unique tapas, upscale Polynesian food, and shojin Japanese cuisine, respectively.

Located in Greenpoint, Bunna Cafe is all-vegan, all-amazing Ethiopian food simply some of the best Ethiopian Ive had. Go there for the coffee ceremony and live music, stay for the veggie sampler.

Chennai Garden is just delicious, dependable Indian food, reasonably priced, and located in Murray Hill. Any curry is delicious, but South Indian dishes also are a specialty, with a vegan thali and Gunpowder Masala Dosa sure to please anyone who loves their potatoes.

Runners Up: Dosa Delight in Jackson Heights is great, and Saravana Bhavan, which is actually a chain in India, is also very tasty.

Not surprisingly, L.A. is crushing NYC when it comes to competition in this category, but V SPOT holds it down as a solid and reasonably-priced brunch, lunch, and dinner spot with three locations in New York City. Whether youre craving brunch, arepas, tamales, quesadillas, empanadas, or a big burrito, this place will hit the comfort food spot without leaving you with a stomachache.

Ital Kitchen is the kind of place you cant really describe until you experience it for yourself but Ill try anyway. Yes, the Ital food (thats Rasta vegan food), cooked by Chef Michael Gordon, is delicious (I like the Jerk Chicken or Stir It Up Nice) but it is the ambience and community in this Crown Heights gem that will keep you coming back.

This place has one of those rare backyards where new friends are made, and every night feels fated. Your server and soon-to-be friend, Mik, will make you feel welcome, and the music is always just what you need to relax. Of all the many places I ate in New York City, only one became my second home, the only place I truly miss. See it for yourself, but dont be surprised if you also have the impulse to keep it a secret, for fear of ruining its hidden magic.

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Here are some of the best places to eat vegan in New York City - HelloGiggles