Sources
Good, Clean Food
Amazon
Plug "vegan" into the search field of the Web site and a whole universe of dried goods, snacks, and pantry products awaits you.
Barnivore
Is your booze vegan-friendly? This online tool lets you plug in your favorite beers, wines, and spirits to find out which ones are free of animal products.
Bob's Red Mill
Find any grain- or gluten-free product from amaranth to xanthan gum at this Oregon-based company's Web site.
Eden Organic
Eden Organic offers more than 250 organic ingredients and snacks that can be ordered online.
Food Fight!
Can't find a favorite vegan product? Get thee to the online store for this Portland, Oregon-based vegan shopper's paradise.
Frontier Natural Products Co-Op
While these spices and seasonings are available in most natural supermarkets, this Web site allows you to order such hard-to-find items as gumbo file or green peppercorns.
HappyCow
Locate a vegan-friendly restaurant no matter where you are in the world with this user-based collection of eateries.
Kalustyan's Spices and Sweets
Don't live in an ethnic shopping mecca? Don't worry. Kalustyan's Spices and Sweets in New York City is now open for business online, offering an enormous selection of Middle Eastern and Indian ingredients.
LocalHarvest
Log on to this site to find a comprehensive directory of farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food around the country.
MexGrocer.com
If you feel like hosting a fiesta but can't find all the ingredients, get the goods at this Mexican grocery source.
Pangea: The Vegan Store
The one-stop online shop offers everything from vegan candy and cheese to books, fashion, body care, and vitamins.
VeganEssentials
Find your favorite vegan ingredients—and discover some new tasty treats—at this vegan superstore.
VegetarianVitamin.com
Avoid the pitfalls of potentially non-veg vitamins and supplements with one click. This online resource offers a wide range of products and brands and all are veg.
VegGuide.org
No matter where hunger hits, this community-maintained guide to veg restaurants around the world will lead you to someplace good to eat.
Vegan Nutrition, Community, And Education
AnimalFreeZone
This British Web site is like an all-veg Wikipedia with definitions, answers to common questions, and regularly updated entries and articles.
Natural Gourmet Institute
www.naturalgourmetinstitute.com
With a plant-based curriculum that focuses on healthful vegan and vegetarian cuisine, this accredited cooking school in New York City is an excellent starting place for up-and-coming vegan chefs.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
From animal welfare news to advice on cruelty-free living, PETA, the largest animal rights organization in the world, puts information in your hands so you can make educated lifestyle choices.
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
PCRM is a nonprofit organization of physicians and laypersons working together to promote the health benefits of a vegan diet and advocate higher ethical standards and effectiveness in research.
USDA National Nutrient Database
www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
Want to know exactly how many calories a bowl of rice has versus a bowl of quinoa? Can't decide if spinach or kale is the best source of iron? Get nutritional values on this Web site maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture.
The Vegetarian Resource Group
Got a veg question? Log on to this educational Web site for answers on everything from how to eat right when you're pregnant to where to find vegan marshmallows.
Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group
The veg branch of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) provides information and support for nutrition professionals and registered dietitians.
Tools That Rule: Kitchen Must-Haves
Lots of cookbooks provide a compendium of kitchen gadgets that often read more like wish lists than cooking essentials. We've limited ourselves to items you might or might not have but we really, truly, couldn't live without in a vegan kitchen.
Bamboo Steamer
These simple, stackable bamboo baskets let you steam everything from Asian dumplings to fresh vegetables, and you won't burn your fingers trying to get the cooked items out.
Cast-Iron Skillet
The original non-stick pan. Seasoned and cared for properly, it will last a lifetime (or several).
Digital Kitchen Timer
Why do you need a timer that isn't attached to the stove or microwave? So that you can walk away from the kitchen when something's simmering or roasting and not worry about forgetting to come back in time.
Dutch Oven
Yet another cast-iron tool that's virtually indestructible. With a 7-quart Dutch oven, you can boil pasta, make a big batch of chili, or can your own jams and preserves—just to name a few uses.
Food Processor
This kitchen workhorse slices prep time to a fraction of what it would be if you were chopping, mashing, or puréeing by hand.
Immersion Blender
Inexpensive and easy to store, this handheld blender can be dipped straight into the pot or saucepan, which means less time, effort, and mess. We like models that come with a chopping attachment that's perfect for small batches of fresh herbs and nuts.
Microplane Classic Series Zester/Grater
When this gadget hit the market a decade ago, celebrity chefs hawked it like they were infomercial hosts. And with good reason: it's the best tool ever created for grating citrus zest, Parmesan, fresh nutmeg, and fresh ginger.
Silicone Baking Mats
So long stuck-on cookies and baked goods! These long-lasting baking mats let you bake cookies, scones, and even meringues without worrying they'll stick to the pan—and without cooking spray.
Vita-Mix High Performance Blender
Yes, it may be a bit pricier than other blenders, but a Vita-Mix doesn't just blend. It purées fruits, juices vegetables, and pulverizes nuts with high-speed power that can't compare to other kitchen appliances. Raw food chefs swear by their Vita-Mixes to make their delectable creations.