Vegan Gifts for Dad on Father's Day

June is here and that means it's time for another Hallmark moment. It's Dad's turn to celebrate his ability to procreate and your turn to devote three winks in choosing between a necktie or a Hawaiian print shirt. Lampooning aside, finding a Father's Day gift can be hard enough, contending with a vegan lifestyle on either side of the fence is far worse.

If you're a vegan and dad is not, then you certainly don't want to compromise your character by taking dad out for a steak dinner. Just because you're not eating it or wearing it doesn't mean you want to contribute to it. Bottom line: if you're a hardcore vegan, you're not going to purchase or endorse non-vegan wares.

On the flip side, If dad's a vegan and you are not, then be sure to respect his lifestyle. The effort will mean as much or more than the actual gift. You may not agree with his stance, but this is after all, his day. Don't wait until the last minute either. Fifteen minutes in a department store isn't going to cut it.

Before we get started, the first thing to remember if you are not vegan, is what the term means. In a nutshell, a vegan is an individual that does not wear or consume animals or animal byproducts. Simply put: no meat or dairy! Keep this in mind when you're shopping! Hence, no milk chocolate, no leather belts and no egg ridden cakes!

If dad likes to read, there are an array of vegan themed books at your disposal. This is where the larger e-tailers like amazon.com will come in handy. A "vegan" book query will quickly pull up over 8,000 results, including everything from vegan cookbooks to bodybuilding (if dad likes to cook, pair this up with some vegan cooking ingredients!). This is a great way to go if you're on a budget and easy enough not to replicate if you take a peek at the family bookshelf.

Does dad have a sweet tooth? There's no reason why dad can't have a tooth crumbling basket of Easter Bunny proportion! You can buy pre-made vegan gift baskets online at places like Pangea (www.veganstore.com), or Vegan Essentials (www.veganessentials.com)or make your own. In most cases you can purchase items like cupcakes, candy bars, donuts, brownies, cookies and nuts individually. A quick stop at the "dollar store" for a basket and some wrap and you're set!

Another popular gift for dad that is often exclusive to such an occasion is the renowned cologne set. There are in fact vegan-friendly colognes, gels, body sprays and shaving creams on the market. Manufacturers such as Herban Cowboy (www.herbancowboy.com) offer vegan alternatives that are not only vegan conscious, but environmentally friendly as well. You can purchase the Herban Cowboy line in most health food stores or online. Cruelty Free Gifts (www.crueltyfreegifts.com)even offers a Herban Cowboy gift basket just for him.

And finally, you can't forget about dinner! If you're handy in the kitchen, why not pick up a vegan cookbook for yourself and cook dad some homemade vegan vittles? Hint: "Vegan With a Vengeance" is one of the top rated cookbooks on the market!

Of course, whipping up a meal isn't practical for everyone. Reservations are easy if you know where you're going, but if you've never been to a vegan restaurant things can get complicated. Like any restaurant, there are good and there are bad. Throwing just any slop on pop's plate just because it's vegan isn't going to suffice. There are many online resources devoted to vegan cuisine. Most list location, contact information and reviews. Here's a head start for you...

Friends of Animals lists vegan restaurants by state.

Vegan World Order includes ratings and prices.

And, if you can't find a vegan restaurant in your area, the following link will outline vegan-friendly foods at popular (non-vegan) restaurants.

Remeber, there is ample information and plenty of resources out there. If you plan ahead, you'll be a hero!

Go Vegan!