[The Newark Advocate]

NASHVILLE -- When Nathalie VanBalen was growing up in Pataskala, she was curious about the vegetarian lifestyle.

In grade school, she started a cycle where she would eat meat for a period of time and then not eat it.

Looking back at that time, VanBalen, who is now a vegan and eats plant products only, wishes she had been able to read more vegetarian-based literature.

"When I was a kid my family was supportive, but I certainly didn't have any books, media or toys that spoke to me."

VanBalen, who graduated from Watkins Memorial and Denison University, in Granville, and now lives in Nashville, wrote a children's book she hopes will fill that void in the lives of other youngsters.

The book, titled "Garlic-Onion-Beet-Spinach-Mango-Carrot-Grapefruit Juice," follows a family of five (Thora, a big-eyed doll, two "tweeter" birds and two non-typical Vikings who do not wear horned helmets).

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full story:
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/ 20101222/COMMUNITIES01/12230308