Photos © Ace Ronnen

Charlotte and Kristyn catch a ride to the beach with Charlotte’s brother, Chet. It’s scorching hot outside so Charlotte and Kristyn put the sun shade up—to keep the car cooler and to remind other beachgoers not to leave their dogs in their cars.

The blazing sun promises to burn—cruelty-free sunblock to the rescue! Charlotte and Kristyn steer clear of animal-tested Coppertone and Bain du Soleil, buying instead from compassionate companies like Jason Natural Cosmetics and the Body Shop.

Charlotte always picks up trash, knowing that it can injure and kill aquatic animals. She makes sure she cuts apart six-pack rings, which can strangle wildlife.

Thirsty from the heat, Charlotte and Kristyn stop for a Snapple and meet Max. They give him some water and wait with him until his guardian comes back. Charlotte and Kristyn politely remind her that it’s never safe to leave a dog tied up on a sidewalk. Max could have been hurt—or stolen!

Kristyn packed veggie "hamwiches" (made with Yves meat-free ham slices), and Charlotte found lots of other animal-friendly veggie treats along the boardwalk.

They’re greasy and they’re grimy, they’re altogether slimy!
A judge in England found McDonald’s “responsible” for cruelty to animals, but the fast-food giant still hasn’t cleaned up its act. Here are just a few of the things that make the animals that go into Happy Meals so miserable.

Kids everywhere are telling Ronald McDonald what they think!

Ethan and Emma Franklin, 8 and 5, told customers at this DeKalb, Ill., McDonald’s why there’s nothing happy about a Happy Meal.

Fifteen-year-old Nathan Runkle urged customers at a Columbus, Ohio, McDonald’s to “chicken out.”

Dakota Bailey of Denver is only 4, but he knows how to send a message!

The hens who lay McDonald’s eggs live with three to six other hens crammed into cages not much bigger than a desk drawer—they can’t even spread a wing!

Some mother pigs on “old McDonald’s farms” spend their entire lives in hard cement stalls unable to turn around. They are tied to the front of the stall and often go crazy from boredom.

Some animals never make it to the slaughterhouse—they die in the trucks from freezing or rough treatment.

Help us demand that McDonald’s stop hurting animals! Ask McDonald’s to take steps to protect animals killed for its restaurants. Write to: Jack Greenberg, CEO, McDonald’s Corporation, McDonald’s Plaza, Oak Brook, IL 60521-1900. Get everyone you know to write, and send us copies of responses. Ask the managers of your local McDonald’s to offer veggie burgers. If they agree, let us know. Next time your friends or parents want to grab some food, skip the Golden Arches and grab a bean burrito at Taco Bell, a veggie pizza at Papa John’s or Little Caesar’s, or a veggie sub at Subway (add Tofurky slices to it—wow!). Ask United Airlines to stop serving McDonald’s Happy Meals on its flights. Call 800-241-6522. Organize a demonstration at a McDonald’s restaurant. We can help. Put a frown on the clown with PETA's new stickers. Okay, they're kinda gross, but so is life for animals in the "hamburger patch." Order some today!

Vegetarian Shania Twain would never eat a fast-food burger. Even her dog is veg!

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If you’ve got the peanut butter blues, keep reading! With just a little imagination, you can transform your lunchtime sandwiches from so-so to sensational. For the center of your sandwich, try anything from hummus and bean dips to guacamole, seasoned tempeh and tofu, meat-free “deli slices,” stir-fried veggies—you get the idea. Salsa, salad dressings, barbecue sauce, and other creative condiments give your sandwich a kick. Hold everything together with bagels, tortillas, or pita pockets. Even peanut butter can be perked up, as you’ll see below. Here are two great sandwich ideas to get you started—and for the grand finale, the best brownies you’ve ever tasted!

1 whole wheat pita pocket
4 Tbsp. vegan cream cheese (we recommend Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese)
Your choice of cucumber slices, tomato slices, diced bell peppers, and/or grated carrots
Sprouts (such as alfalfa, sunflower, or broccoli)

Cut the pita pocket in half, and spread the cream cheese inside each half. Add your favorite veggies and top with sprouts. Eat!

1/4 cup peanut butter
2 Tbsp. frozen orange juice
concentrate, thawed
Dash of ground cinnamon

Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Serve immediately on your favorite bread, or store in the fridge for snack attacks.

6 squares (1-oz. each) semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine
2/3 cup sugar
Egg replacer equivalent to 2 eggs (such as Ener-G Egg Replacer)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Microwave the chocolate and margarine in a large bowl on high for 2 minutes, or until the margarine is melted. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted.

Stir the sugar into the chocolate mixture. Mix in the egg replacer and vanilla until well blended. Stir in the flour and spread into a greased 8-inch square pan.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the pan comes out with fudgy crumbs. Be careful not to overbake. Cool, then cut and consume!