Meditation can help cancer survivors fight fears the disease will recur, a study finds. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo

Practicing meditation and other relaxation techniques can reduce cancer survivors fear that they will face a recurrence of the disease, a new study has shown.

The findings, presented on the first day of the worlds largest annual showcase for the latest cancer research, are part of a new push by specialists to improve the psychological wellbeing of patients.

Patients reduction in fear was large enough to improve survivors psychological and emotional wellbeing, said Dr Jane Beith, a medical oncologist at the University of Sydney in Australia.

The study was conducted primarily with young survivors of breast cancer, and used muscle relaxation, meditative relaxation, and visualization to try to reduce fear of cancer recurrence.

Fear of recurrence is significant, especially in young survivors of breast cancer. The studys authors said 70% of this group had a fear of recurrence so distressing that it negatively affects medical follow-up behavior, mood, relationships, work, goal-setting, and quality of life.

Fifty per cent of all cancer survivors characterized their fear of recurrence this strongly.

Researchers randomly split 222 cancer survivors into two groups. In one group, a trained therapist delivered five sessions of 60- to 90-minute relaxation sessions. The second group received no psychological interventions.

Researchers used a standard metric to measure fear of cancer recurrence (called an FCRI test), in which higher scores indicate more fear, and scores for patients in the relaxation group dropped significantly. The average FCRI score for the group that went on to receive relaxation treatment was 82.7 before it started, versus 85.7 for the group that received no treatment. After the sessions, scores of patients in the Conquer Fear program reduced by 18.1 points on average, versus 7.6 points for the group that did not receive therapy.

The gains also appeared to appreciate over time. Patients who had received therapy reported a drop of 27.2 points after six months, compared to 17.8 points on average for the group that did not receive therapy.

Meditation is just one of several psychological treatments being presented to cancer specialists at the American Society of Clinical Oncologys (ASCO) annual conference, the worlds largest such gathering. Increasingly, oncologists have looked to psychologists to treat depression, anxiety and fear borne out of a cancer diagnosis.

In a way, were rediscovering the wheel, said Gary Rodin, a psychiatrist, head of the department of supportive care at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada, and the lead author of another study presented at ASCO. The medical advances in cancer care became much more developed, medicine became more technologized, and I think until recently there was less attention to the psychological and social aspects of cancer quality of life.

It really was a movement from patients and families to have this aspect of cancer care be taken as seriously as the other aspects, chemotherapy and surgery, he said.

At least three studies presented at ASCO highlight oncologists move toward psychology in treatment, ranging from face-to-face psychotherapy to relaxation techniques to online programs.

Modern psychologists first began work with cancer specialists by designing awareness campaigns about preventable cancers. For example, nearly one-quarter of worldwide cancer deaths are attributable to tobacco alone, according to the World Health Organization.

Psychologists then began surveying and treating the emotional well-being of cancer patients, part of a steady rise in psychology research centered on cancer prevention and treatment in the 1990s. The studies presented at ASCO represent both psychologists most recent work to improve the emotional lives of cancer patients and oncologists increasingly mainstream adoption of such techniques.

Another study presented at ASCO, authored by Rodin, found patients with advanced cancer could benefit from psychotherapy. The Canadian study of 305 cancer patients found up to six sessions of therapy delivered over the same period of months reduced depressive symptoms in 52% of patients, versus 33% who received usual cancer care.

The sessions were delivered by nurses, oncologists, psychologists or social workers, and were meant to prepare patients for end-of-life care. Rodin said he has trained workers in 20 countries on the model, with hopes to continue studying the therapeutic model internationally.

Although cultures differ, religions vary by country the closer one gets to being a patient with advanced disease, the more similar the problems, he said. If youve had a family member go through an advanced and progressive cancer, you know this.

A third study looked at the possibility of using the internet to deliver some psychic relief to cancer patients. The study of 129 cancer patients looked at whether an eight week, online psychology program could relieve some cancer patients most potent psychological symptoms: fatigue, anxiety and depression.

The majority of patients in the study were women with early stage breast cancer. Though anxiety and depression were not quelled by the online program, a scale used to measure fatigue, seen as a major quality of life marker for cancer patients, improved significantly.

Delivery of psychological support to patients at this early time in the course of their cancer care is hampered with lack of access, time, and resources on both the patients and the providers side, said the lead author of the study, Viviane Hess, a medical oncologist at the University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland. With this online intervention, we aim to close that gap.

Authors of the study on fear of recurrence also acknowledged that therapy was time intensive. Authors who used relaxation techniques and therapy hoped other formats, such as delivery via internet, in a group, or by phone, may be possible.

For Hess, the success of an online program pointed to a need to standardize and translate such programs for the next generation of patients at-risk of cancer: millennials.

Online psychological support will be much more important in the years to come, as the digital generation reaches the age when they are at higher risk of cancer, Hess said. This, she said, was an intervention that could deliver much-needed psychologist support in the comfort of the patients living rooms or other favorite wifi spots.

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Meditation reduces cancer survivors' fear of disease coming back, study finds - The Guardian

Do you have trouble concentrating or recalling information when youre stressed or under deadline pressure? If so, youre not alone. It happens to everyone at one time or another, from students to professionals, elite sportspersons to military personnel.

Stress forces the brain into alertness overdrive to deal with unexpected situations in what it perceives to be a hostile environment, be it an exam hall, boardroom, stadium or conflict zone.

The situation may vary, but everyones physical and emotional response is the same. Fear takes over the amygdala, the area in the brain that controls emotion and motivation. Neurotransmitters carry the fear impulse from the amygdala to the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the bodys fight or flee response, which kicks into action by diverting the blood away from the brain to the muscles, and releasing hormones like adrenaline that push up blood pressure, heartbeat and breathing to physically prepare the body to confront the crisis.

As the body takes charge to fight or flee in order to survive, memory and attention falter.

Since we cant wish away stressful situations or allow our minds to wander just when we need them functioning at their best, we have to learn how to control this. Two new studies involving India, one using meditation and the other teaching adults to read, show that the brain is never too old to adapt to new tricks, and situations.

Thought control

Brain training can improve concentration in four short weeks, found a US study that recommends the ancient Indian technique of meditation for peak brain performance.

It found that meditation works better than online games and apps that promise to train your brain, especially in high-stress situations when memory falters and concentration dips.

Using meditation or mindfulness, where people are trained to focus attention on the present moment and dispassionately observe their thoughts and feelings, boosts concentration in high-stress situations far better than relaxation techniques, found a US Army-funded study led by University of Miami neuroscientist Amishi Jha.

The study found that in four weeks, meditation made college football players mentally and emotionally tougher and more resilient when faced with intensive academic and physical demands. Regular doses of breathing exercises and mindful-awareness sessions sustained their concentration and prevented attention lapses under duress.

The study also found that while simple relaxation exercises, place-guided imagery and music did not improve concentration, they prevented stress-related mood problems such as anxiety and depression, much like meditation does.

Reading between the lines

Learning a new language or simply learning how to read alters the wiring of the adult brain, noted scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, after studying brain scans of a small group of illiterate adults taught to read and write in India.

Brain scans of 21 adults in Uttar Pradesh before and after the six-month Hindi literacy project showed an increase in activity in the cortex, the outermost layer of the brain, which is involved in learning, researchers reported in the journal Science Advances.

The surprise finding was that the thalamus and the brain stem, two parts of the brain not involved in learning, also showed changes, in regions that process vision. These two brain parts coordinate information from the senses, movement and environment, and get stimulated by reading and writing because these activities involve close hand-eye coordination. The most dramatic changes were seen in those people who progressed the most in their reading and writing skills, showing that practice makes perfect.

Fighting fit

While all types of exercise improves brain function, aerobic activity is the quickest way to boost brain power. Walking, running, cycling and other forms of aerobic exercise that push up the heart rate increase brain size and function in six months, found US researchers who used high-resolution magnetic resonance images to measure anatomical changes in the brain before and after six months of aerobic exercise four times a week.

Exercise boosts brain function by increasing blood flow, which prevents brain cells from age-related atrophy by stimulating the formation of new brain cells. Until recently this was not believed possible in adult brains.

All three studies underline the fact that the mind, like the body, needs regular exercise if it is to stay cognitively and emotionally fit.

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How meditation powers the brain and boosts concentration - Hindustan Times

NEW DELHI: The crawl at Ashram just ahead of the DND Flyway may cease to be a bane for people living in the vicinity of what is among the city's busiest roads. PWD now plans to extend the Ashram flyover till the DND Flyway, making traffic flow on Ring Road smoother, while providing quick access to the main road for residents of Kilokri village located a stone's throw from DND. This will help them avoid a 2-km detour to get on to Mathura Road or to go towards Lajpat Nagar, both of which are actually less than a kilometre away from the village.

According to the plan, the current flyover will be extended by constructing an elevated road that will touch down at a point where the DND Flyway starts. "It will be a kilometre-long span from Ashram flyover. Under the extended portion, we will construct a U-turn that residents of Kilokri village and neighbouring colonies, such as Siddharth Extension, can use to go towards Mathura Road or Lajpat Nagar," said a PWD official.

Near DND, the extended portion will split into two arms one going towards DND Flyway and the other towards Sarai Kale Khan.

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Ashram flyover to meet DND - Times of India

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Car on Hire and Car on Rent in Ashram Road | Car Rent Ahmedabad - Good Herald

In July 2016, The Washington Post published a story about an Italian couple who lost custody of their 14-month-old son.

The boy had been admitted to the hospital weighing about as much as an average 3-month-old baby.

He required emergency surgery for a congenital heart condition aggravated by low calcium levels.

The reason for the low calcium levels and general malnourishment?

His parents had been keeping their young son on a strict vegan diet since birth without providing any supplements to make up for the nutrients he was missing out on.

According to the Post, this case was not unique.

In fact, it was the third case of a child in Italy being hospitalized as a result of a vegan diet.

And there have been similar cases around the world dating back to 2004. In one case, a couple in the United States was sentenced to life in prison after their baby died as a result of malnourishment.

Read more: Best vegan blogs of 2017

At the 50th annual meeting of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) earlier this month, experts decided to speak up about the dangers of a vegan diet for children without proper supplementation.

It is difficult to ensure a healthy and balanced vegan diet in young infants, and parents should understand the serious consequences of failing to follow advice regarding supplementation of the diet, Dr. Mary Fewtrell, chair of ESPGHANs nutrition committee, said in a press statement. The risks of getting it wrong can include irreversible cognitive damage and, in the extreme, death.

Dr. Myriam Van Winckel, a professor in the department of pediatrics and medical genetics at Ghent University in Belgium, had something similar to share.

The more restricted the diet of the child, the greater the risk of deficiency, and this is by far highest in vegan children, Van Winckel said in a press statement. But the risk does not stop there. Vegan mothers who breastfeed also need to be aware that their children can develop vitamin B-12 deficiency between 2 and 12 months because of the lack of reserves in their body at birth, even if the mother is not showing any signs of deficiency herself.

Officials at ESPGHAN are not the only ones to sound an alarm.

A 2010 article by the Canadian Paediatric Society showed data compiled from several studies of strict vegan preschoolers and school-age children.

Concerns were raised regarding protein, fiber, essential amino acids, iron, zinc, calcium, fat, fatty acids, vitamins B-12, D, A, and riboflavin.

The researchers added that energy levels may be impacted as well, requiring calorie dense foods to provide for adequate growth.

The article concluded that while a vegan diet can be safe for children, those children should be closely monitored for appropriate nutrition, growth, and energy levels.

Read more: 8 great sources of vegan protein

Members of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also expressed their concerns.

Childhood is a critical time for growth and brain development, Dr. Sheela Magge, an endocrinologist at Childrens National Health System, told Healthline. There are critical vitamins and minerals which can be deficient in a vegan diet, particularly vitamin B-12, vitamin D, iron, calcium, zinc, and riboflavin. Vegan diets can also increase the risk of vitamin A deficiency. B-12 comes from milk and eggs and is a specific concern for people on a vegan diet. A lack of sufficient vitamin B-12 can lead to neurological symptoms. Children on vegan diets may also have slightly higher protein requirements than non-vegan children.

She added that the first few months and years of life are particularly important.

Infancy is a special consideration, Magge said. The ideal first nutrition for babies is breast milk, but if a mother does not or cannot feed the baby breast milk, the only other option is a soy-based formula. Also, during infancy and weaning the amount of food needed to meet energy needs on a vegan diet may be increased and can exceed gastric capacity. Therefore, frequent feeds are recommended.

Read more: The 10 most vegetarian-friendly cities

So what are the options for parents who are committed to a vegan lifestyle?

According to Magge, it can be done but only with careful monitoring.

A child can be on a vegan diet safely, but it should be done in consultation with the childs pediatrician or primary caregiver, she said. A nutritionist may also be involved. Childhood is a critical time for growth and development, and it is very important that adequate amounts of critical vitamins and minerals are taken in the childs diet at specific times in development.

Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD, a licensed, registered dietitian, who is a wellness manager at the Cleveland Clinic, agreed, but she added parents need to carefully assess the willingness of the child to go along with such a strict dietary plan.

This plan will most likely not work in a very picky eater and could lead to nutrient deficiencies, she said.

When considering a vegan diet for a child, experts say consulting with a pediatrician is the best way to ensure proper nutrition.

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Is a Vegan Diet Safe for Children? - Healthline - Healthline

When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 3.

Where: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, 300 W. Lakeside Ave., Cleveland.

Tickets: Free ($5 donation suggested).

Info: clevelandvegansociety.org.

This just in: We live in a divisive society.

The combative dynamic includes politics, lifestyle and even food.

For proof of the latter, just mention veganism. Reactions can include an eye roll followed by a staunch defense of eating chicken or steak.

One local group looking to create awareness about the life choice is the Cleveland Vegan Society, which presents its fifth annual free Vegfest June 3 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

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We wanted to create an event that would introduce people in the Northeast Ohio area to veganism and its principles environmental sustainability, justice for animals, plant-based health, social justice, food justice, Cleveland Vegan Society President Amy Wagar Cinch said.

At our event, we do touch on how animal agriculture is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases and how eating a plant-based diet is considered one of the healthiest ways to live. It can reduce chronic disease. We talk about how agricultural subsidies are influencing the way people eat, and how it disproportionately affects disenfranchised groups. Those are all important topics we address.

The all-day affair features nationally renowned speakers, cutting-edge nutrition advice, engaging food demonstrations, a food court, a cruelty-free marketplace, live music, yoga, a kids activity area and a screening room.

For the better part of the last decade, Cinch has lived a vegan lifestyle, which, she said, on a daily basis seems to be getting easier to do thanks to more restaurants listing a vegan option on menus. Also, grocery stores are stocking more items on their shelves.

Unquestionably, the lifestyle is gaining momentum and acceptance. Gone are the days where a stereotypical vegan wore a First Light T-shirt with Birkenstocks and smelled like patchouli.

Our circle is getting larger, and its really a function of how many vegan people a person knows, Cinch said. If they are new to the idea, it just seems alien to them, but I find that if people have several friends or acquaintances that are vegan, its not seen as such an extreme lifestyle anymore.

There are vegans of every walk of life, shape, size, socio-economic background. Veganism is spreading.

Thats due in part to the efforts of the Cleveland Vegas Society. The nonprofit acts as a liaison between the vegan community and restaurants and businesses. As far as VegFest is concerned, interest has grown. Just five years ago, 3,000 people showed up at Cleveland State University. This year, expectations have more than 7,000 attendees visiting the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

Cinch said the reason behind that increase is simple.

Most people are eating vegan things even if theyre not vegan these days, Cinch said. Theres a meme going around where people are asked, Why are you vegan? The response is, Why are you not vegan?

From our perspective, there really isnt a good reason not to be vegan. From every perspective, it makes sense.

When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 3.

Where: Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, 300 W. Lakeside Ave., Cleveland.

Tickets: Free ($5 donation suggested).

Info: clevelandvegansociety.org.

>> Where to pick strawberries in Northeast Ohio, 2017

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Cleveland Vegan Society hosting latest Vegfest at Huntington Convention Center - News-Herald.com

Alicia Silverstone has been an outspoken advocate for veganism for years, even writing a book in 2011 called The Kind Diet that explains why she chose a plant-based way of eating that doesnt include meat, fish, seafood, poultry, dairy, or eggs. Now, the Clueless actress is discussing her decision to feed her 6-year-old son, Bear Blu, a vegan diet, too.

Knowing the truth about where our food comes from is just so disturbing to me, she says in a video for the non-profit Farm Sanctuarys Compassionate Meals program, as she and Bear eat veggie burgers and kale salad. Once you see it, theres no way to go back from that for me. Bear is also asked what his favorite thing about being a vegan is. His response: That you dont have to eat yucky meat.

Silverstone says its easy for her to feed Bear vegan foods, and she regularly makes easy-to-assemble meals like tacos and stir-fries. I can make all those things based on whats in the fridge, she says. You always have a bean, you always have a whole grain. Silverstone says being vegan has turned me into a health nut because you feel so good, you feel so different, adding, being able to do something that is good for the Earth, good for the animals, and good for you all at the same time seems like such a no-brainer. Its like the biggest Duh!'

According to a 2016 Harris Interactive Poll commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group about 3.7 million American adults identify as vegan . But the decision to put children on a vegan diet frequently comes under fire.

A law proposed in Italy in 2016 would make it illegal for parents to put their children on a vegan diet, which lawmakers referred to as "a diet devoid of elements essential for healthy and balanced growth," per Reuters . The proposed law came after several high-profile cases in the country involving undernourished children on vegan diets. In one case, a 1-year-old on a vegan diet only weighed as much as a 3-month-old and, in another, a father alleged that his 12-year-old sons growth was stunted due to a vegan diet chosen by the boys mother.

Silverstone has faced criticism in the past for feeding Bear a vegan diet, and she told People in 2014 that her son loves the food I give him. Hes not being deprived of anything. For him, having amazing fruit is like candy.

Some people claim that children who are raised on a vegan diet wont get enough nutrients they need to grow into strong adults, while others say it simply encourages healthy eating in children.

So, is it a good idea to feed kids a vegan diet? Ashanti Woods, M.D., a pediatrician at Baltimores Mercy Medical Center, tells SELF that it depends. Children who consume a vegan diet are generally as healthy, if not more healthy, than children who have a normal diet, he says. Dr. Woods points out that there are various lay definitions of vegetarianism and veganism , but pediatricians pay special attention to true vegans, i.e., those who swear off all animal products. The more restrictions on a diet, the more pediatricians become concerned because these children are at risk for nutritional deficiencies, he says.

When done properly, vegan diets can be a step up from the standard American diet, Dana Simpler, M.D., a primary care practitioner at Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center, tells SELF. Dr. Simpler says that peopleand childrendont need animal protein in their diet provided that theyre getting all their important minerals and nutrients.

The key is having a diet that is well thought out, Lauren Fiechtner, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Nutrition at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, tells SELF. If the diet is well-planned and monitored by a registered dietitian, this can be safe for children, she says. Worth noting: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are healthy for infants and toddlers.

In the long-term, vegetarian and vegan diets have been linked with lower cholesterol levels, a lower risk of heart disease , a lower risk of high blood pressure, and lower risk of type 2 diabetes, Dr. Fiechtner says. Theyre also a good way to promote eating enough fruits and vegetables. In the United States, most children do not meet their goal intake of five servings of fruits or vegetables per day, and so this could also be a benefit, she says.

There are also other potential benefits. Lauren Blake, an R.D. at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF that vegetarian and vegan teens typically eat more fiber , iron, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin C than their meat-eating counterparts. They also tend to eat fewer sweets, fast foods, and salty snacks.

This is why Dr. Woods urges parents of his patients who are on a vegan diet to be mindful that their children get enough of certain nutrients, including vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and vitamin D. Low levels of iron can lead to anemia , low calcium and vitamin D levels can cause poor bone health, and low levels of vitamin B12 can lead to neurologic complications in severe cases, Dr. Woods says. Dr. Fiechtner points out that vegan diets are low in omega-3 fatty acids , which are commonly found in fish or eggs. Failure to have enough of these fatty acids has been linked to poor cardiovascular health, as well as issues with eye and brain development. To meet the gaps in a vegan childs diet, Dr. Simpler recommends vitamin supplementation.

Children on a vegan diet are also at risk of not taking in enough daily calories, which is why Dr. Woods recommends that vegan children eat three snacks a day in addition to three meals a day.

Overall, experts say its fine to raise children on a vegan diet, provided youre mindful that theyre getting everything they need. It just takes an effort, Dr. Woods says. If you have questions about putting your child on a vegan diet, get in touch with their pediatrician or a registered dietitian who can help steer you in the right direction.

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Alicia Silverstone: Feeding My Son a Vegan Diet Is a 'No Brainer' - SELF

Lincoln Taproom will host an adults-only Vegan Prom Saturday. View Full Caption

Creative Commons/Flickr: dok1

LAKEVIEW Dust off those rhinestone-studded heels: It's prom time. Just make sure they're not made of leather.

While high schoolers might be winding down their sanctioned springtime ritual, the grown-ups are just getting started with an adults-only Vegan Prom in Lakeview Saturday.

Lincoln Taproom, 3010 N. Lincoln Ave., will host night of dancing, drinking and an "I Love U '80s" theme that is a perfect excuse to give your puffed satin sleeves one last night of glory.

Dressing up isn't required, and neither is being a vegan or having a date. Proceeds from the third annual Vegan Prom benefit Chicago VeganMania, a free all-vegan food festival in Edgewater.

Want to dress up but have nothing to wear? Try thrift shops for a last-minute gem organizers are encouraging guests to get festive in '80s wear, prom attire or "whatever makes you feel rad."

While a DJ jams to '80s music, prom-goers can enjoy finger foods, desserts, a photo booth, a raffle and a cash bar. Sponsors for the event include Pie, Pie My Darling, Alice & Friends' Vegan Kitchen and Follow Your Heart, so the night is sure to include some tasty treats.

Tickets are $20 at the door, and guests must be 21 years or older.

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Relive Your Prom Glory Days (But With Booze And Vegan Food) At Adult Prom - DNAinfo

Baseball is one of Americas most significant pastimes. Even if you arent a fan of baseball, its very likely that youve experienced moments in your childhood where the family gathered around the television to watch the local team play. You probably also have at least one relative whos a staunch baseball devotee or maybe youre that devoted fan.

Considering baseballs importance in American culture, one would never expect to find a veggie burger at a baseball stadium. After all, the Standard American Diet is notorious for being high in both meat and dairy and how much more American can you get that sitting in a baseball stadium with a big ol carton of chili cheese fries and a corn dog? But in recent years, baseball stadiums have stepped up their games in terms of offering vegan food options. PETA recently released a list of the top 10 vegan-friendly ballparks in the United States and surprisingly, Global Life Park in Arlington, Texas, is at the top of the list.

And now, atPNC Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA the home of the Pirates guests will be able to attend the stadiums first vegan event, Veggin Out at the Park!The evening is hosted in collaboration with Meatless Monday Pittsburgh, where for $45, the park will serve a full vegan menu, followed by a Pirates vs. Orioles game.

Items on the menu include veggie burgers, Buffalo cauliflower, sweet potato tacos, and more. Plus, anyone who buys tickets will also get corner box seats for the big game! Were happy to see PNC Stadium taking this step in showing Pirates fans that plant-based food is more than just salad its fun, innovative, and most importantly, delicious! Veggin Out at the Park will take place on Tuesday, September 26th. For more information, visit their official website.

Curious to see whats vegan at your local stadium? Then, check out Veggie Happys guide to vegan and vegetarian options at MLB baseball parks.

Cant make it to the event? You can still make classic ballpark food! We highly recommend checking out the Food Monster App, which is available for bothAndroid and iPhone. With over 8,000 vegan recipes (and over 10 new recipes added daily), youre going to find something you love!

Lead image source: Wikimedia Commons

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This MLB Team is Hosting a Vegan Food Night and We Just ... - One Green Planet

The words Vegan Batman Light may sound like something out of sci fi, butits 100 percent real and 100 percent radical.

Basically, the lightisa giant projector that displays powerful vegan messageson building surfaces (a la the bat signal). The idea was dreamed up by activist Connie Spence last year, and shes been shining the light of truth in cities across the country ever since.

Spence came up with the concept after the election when an artist shone an anti-Trump message on a hotel in Atlanta. Because it was only light, itwasnt considered vandalism, and therefore wasntillegal. In that moment I knew I had to figure out what this equipment was and how to do the same all over walls in Los Angeles [where she lived at the time].

After a lot of technical trial and error, she got the equipment together and did her first light in mid-December of 2016.

The first time it was done on the pig slaughterhouse in L.A. and boy was that moment eventful, says Spence. The light could be seen over their courtyard fence inside the slaughterhouse. The police that come each night walked up and said WOW, that is a game changer and lets everyone know how serious you guys are. I have now been doing the light three to five timesa week since.

In Los Angeles, shesshone the lighton the Staples Center, over freeways, on slaughterhouses, in Hollywood, and on the 3rd Street Promenade; shes brought it tothe Vegas Strip and Downtown Vegas (over the famous Heart Attack Grill); and shes displayed messaging on the Diamondbacks stadium in Phoenix. She continues to travel and bring the light to new locations. Shes had countless interactions with curiouspeople, many of which have been caught on video and are posted to Facebook.

Currently, Spence is raising funds via Go Fund Me to start new chapters of the Vegan Batman Light. She wants as many people as possible to get involved in bringing the concept to cities across the globe. This recipe of activism works, she says, in part because she talks TO people not AT them.I learn their name, shake their hand, ask them how they feel, ask them if theyve been to a slaughterhouse, ask them why they havent contemplated animals being abused before this moment. I learn about them and their defenses and I pivot to any excuse or justification they have. I spend a lot of time remembering stats and practice rebuttals to make sure that I know how to handle every objection. And on top of it all, I try to stay calm, but direct and always try to maintain peace.

Shes done it over 50 times and dealt with more than 30 police interactions, yet shes only been shut down once.

So what does she recommend as far as effective activism? Talk to every person and imagine they are your child. You really have to talk to people and unwire them and to do this, be as patient with their knee-jerk defense mechanisms as you would be to an 11-year-old child. This is how I prevent myself from surrendering to arguments and you will find even with the worst initial reactions, I almost always get people to come full circle and understand veganism.

Also, she says, use simple language. Your audience is always speciesist and you will rarely win someone over when you use language like rape, holocaust, slaveryor enslavement.I do not need to have my audience turn away from my message because they think Im downgrading an experience they went through or feel strongly about. This isnt an ego war on words and so you will NEVER catch me using that language, ever. Also, I never push pamphlets at anyone. Ive never seen my collateral on the ground. I only give out my cheat sheets and Go Vegan Pamphlets when the person is sold on the philosophy and motivated to go on a Vegan Journey. I have never seen any of my cheat sheets on the ground or trash.

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Vegan Batman Light Changing Hearts and Minds Across the US - Latest Vegan News