It seems I have reached the 30th day of my 30 day challenge, and as a matter of fact, it is also my Birthday!! I had an amazing weekend full of fun and lovely vegan food!
Have I cheated at all this month???
...
.....
.....
nope. not a drop.
I'm super proud of myself, and best of all, I'm going to continue. I have never felt better in my life. I've lost 8 pounds without working out at all, my skin is clear and bright, my stomach/digestive system is wonderful- no tummy aches anymore! And its not hard... so why should I stop?
I have learned a lot this month and continue to learn more every day about how to be more conscious of what to put in your body and how it effects you and your health. I've also learned so much about how to better the world and be cruelty free. Things you never think about, like how feather hair-extentions can be a violent act, never crossed my mind before just a few weeks ago, and now I am being more open to the world around me.
Thank you for following me in my journey. I plan on continueing the blog to let you know how things go along the way. More fun recipes and treats to come! :)
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Dr. Oz Show
I'm not a huge fan of the Dr. Oz Show or The Doctors, but people are trying to get healthy, get fit, look hot and feel good! So check this out! Even Dr. Oz agrees that Veganism will save your life!
Check out this video.
to learn more!
Check out this video.
to learn more!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Importance of Water in Any Lifestyle Diet
Did you know that yoru bones consist of 22% water and your muscles consist of a whopping 75% water, and blood consists of an enormous 83% water?
Water is the most beneficial thing you are putting into your body every day. It not only detoxifies your system, allowing you to feel more energized, and help you lose excess fats, but it also helps regulate your body temperature, protects your organs, assists with your metabolism and much more.
This site highlights the benefits of drinking water and the harmful effects that dehydration can take on your body.
This site goes into a lot more detail and I love it :)
How do you feel when you are dehydrated? How many glasses do you drink a day?
Water is the most beneficial thing you are putting into your body every day. It not only detoxifies your system, allowing you to feel more energized, and help you lose excess fats, but it also helps regulate your body temperature, protects your organs, assists with your metabolism and much more.
This site highlights the benefits of drinking water and the harmful effects that dehydration can take on your body.
This site goes into a lot more detail and I love it :)
How do you feel when you are dehydrated? How many glasses do you drink a day?
Thursday, January 19, 2012
2 more pounds down!
Perhaps its all the head-bobbing I do in my cube all day, but its seems that I've dropped another 2 pounds! I was 147.8 last night and (Shhhh!) still havent been going to the gym. Oh my, I do need to get on that.
I'm telling you right now its from eliminating the cheese. a cup of diced chedder cheese (that i might eat with some crackers and salsa) has about 44 grams of fat!
Who knew?
Even reduced fat Sour Cream ( that I used to stick in Tacos, enchiladas, dips and even my guac sometimes, has almost 30 grams itself!
So yeah, with that on top of not eating any candy bars or cakes found around (which contain milk chocolate and eggs) is really helping me drop the pounds! Once I get back into my gym routine I should be well on my way to my goal of dropping 20 pounds by March 20th ( before my trip to Ultra Music Festival)
Enough about me- what do you think about Fat Vegans or Junk Food Vegans? Do you think they exist? Do you know any?
I'm telling you right now its from eliminating the cheese. a cup of diced chedder cheese (that i might eat with some crackers and salsa) has about 44 grams of fat!
Who knew?
Even reduced fat Sour Cream ( that I used to stick in Tacos, enchiladas, dips and even my guac sometimes, has almost 30 grams itself!
So yeah, with that on top of not eating any candy bars or cakes found around (which contain milk chocolate and eggs) is really helping me drop the pounds! Once I get back into my gym routine I should be well on my way to my goal of dropping 20 pounds by March 20th ( before my trip to Ultra Music Festival)
Enough about me- what do you think about Fat Vegans or Junk Food Vegans? Do you think they exist? Do you know any?
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Vegan Dinner and Movie Night
Yesterday I went to Hamden to visit a friend of mine for a dinner and movie night. She is a vegetarian, so when she found out I was vegan, she was up for the challenge to make a delicious dinner for us. She told me she was making her famous Christmas Casserole. I didn't know what to expect. Would there be ginger snaps involved? I was excited to see.
Kate prepared a simple, nutritious and tasty meal in just about 20 minutes total.
She cooked up some Quinoa (Keen-wah) which is like a more nutty and grainy cous-cous or rice, with some Sesame oil. Put it in a cassarole dish and then layered Fresh Baby Spinach and canned and drained Diced Tomatoes ( hence the Red and Green for xmas!) some some crushed Ritz Crackers on top! Then she popped it in the open until the spinach began to wilt and the dish was hot, and served it up!
I thought this dish was perfect for on-the-go people, or college students, or anyone who doesn't have time or the want to cook super tricky dishes. I bet the whole thing probably cost around $4 ( and she definitely had left overs!)
We enjoyed our Christmas Casserole over the movie Meet Bill ( which I loved)
Check it out and make yourself some Christmas in January!
Thanks Kate!
Kate prepared a simple, nutritious and tasty meal in just about 20 minutes total.
She cooked up some Quinoa (Keen-wah) which is like a more nutty and grainy cous-cous or rice, with some Sesame oil. Put it in a cassarole dish and then layered Fresh Baby Spinach and canned and drained Diced Tomatoes ( hence the Red and Green for xmas!) some some crushed Ritz Crackers on top! Then she popped it in the open until the spinach began to wilt and the dish was hot, and served it up!
I thought this dish was perfect for on-the-go people, or college students, or anyone who doesn't have time or the want to cook super tricky dishes. I bet the whole thing probably cost around $4 ( and she definitely had left overs!)
We enjoyed our Christmas Casserole over the movie Meet Bill ( which I loved)
Check it out and make yourself some Christmas in January!
Thanks Kate!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Healing Benefits of Herbs and Spices
My mom suggested I read this article about the Healing Benefits of Herbs and Spices and I found it quite interesting!
I use a ton of herbs and spices when I cook, simply because I love the way they taste, but I really had no idea of the additional benefits they had in store!
Check out this article to learn more!
I use a ton of herbs and spices when I cook, simply because I love the way they taste, but I really had no idea of the additional benefits they had in store!
Check out this article to learn more!
Relaxing and Refreshing Weekend
This weekend was full of delicious foods that refreshed my body into a new state of happiness and restfulness.
On Saturday, we spent the evening with my parents, cooked dinner and watched the Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which was a really interesting movie and also makes the animal-activist in me reinforce my beliefs. We don't want a bunch of crazy Apes realizing how terrible us Humans are, do we? It could be a very scary situation if you ask me...
Anyway- back to the food!
Whenever I come over, my parents always ask me to make my famous Guacamole. (Now, I don't know why exactly people go nuts over my guac, but the trick is to add a little more garlic and cilantro than you think you should!)
So here's the recipe:
Guacamole:
4 Avacados
4 medium Cloves of garlic
1 handful of Cilantro
2 plum tomatos
1/2 lime
salt and pepper to taste.
Cut the avacados in half and use a knife to "chop" the seed so it gets wedged in there. Pop out the seed and use a spoon to scoop out the fruit into a large bowl. Do this for all four Avacados. Use a garlic press to press the 4 Garlic cloves into the bowl. Cut the Cilantro with scissors into the bowl. Squeeze the lime on top. Mash this mixture with a Potato Masher. Chop the tomatos into small chunks and toss into the bowl. Mix with spoon. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Then eat with your favorite tortilla chips!
*WARNING: My favorite tortilla chips used to be the Tostidos with a Hint of Lime... NOT VEGAN. They add sour cream into the chips.
For dinner I made two recipes from Sarah Kramers cook book (that I have been using for a few years now) called La Dolce Vegan!
For the main entree I made a Coconut Curried Vegetable and Rice dish, and for the side, a light and refreshing Bean and Corn Salad. We also decided to make some Roasted Sweet Potatoe Chips as a side.
It was absolutely Delicious!! And a success! My parents really enjoyed the meal, despite their terror of a vegan lifestyle.
Recipes to follow!
On Saturday, we spent the evening with my parents, cooked dinner and watched the Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which was a really interesting movie and also makes the animal-activist in me reinforce my beliefs. We don't want a bunch of crazy Apes realizing how terrible us Humans are, do we? It could be a very scary situation if you ask me...
Anyway- back to the food!
Whenever I come over, my parents always ask me to make my famous Guacamole. (Now, I don't know why exactly people go nuts over my guac, but the trick is to add a little more garlic and cilantro than you think you should!)
So here's the recipe:
Guacamole:
4 Avacados
4 medium Cloves of garlic
1 handful of Cilantro
2 plum tomatos
1/2 lime
salt and pepper to taste.
Cut the avacados in half and use a knife to "chop" the seed so it gets wedged in there. Pop out the seed and use a spoon to scoop out the fruit into a large bowl. Do this for all four Avacados. Use a garlic press to press the 4 Garlic cloves into the bowl. Cut the Cilantro with scissors into the bowl. Squeeze the lime on top. Mash this mixture with a Potato Masher. Chop the tomatos into small chunks and toss into the bowl. Mix with spoon. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Then eat with your favorite tortilla chips!
*WARNING: My favorite tortilla chips used to be the Tostidos with a Hint of Lime... NOT VEGAN. They add sour cream into the chips.
For dinner I made two recipes from Sarah Kramers cook book (that I have been using for a few years now) called La Dolce Vegan!
For the main entree I made a Coconut Curried Vegetable and Rice dish, and for the side, a light and refreshing Bean and Corn Salad. We also decided to make some Roasted Sweet Potatoe Chips as a side.
It was absolutely Delicious!! And a success! My parents really enjoyed the meal, despite their terror of a vegan lifestyle.
Recipes to follow!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Breakfast of Champions! French Toast and Scramble!
This morning I made a delectable Vegan Breakfast! My all time favorite Weekend Breakfast is French Toast, and although I was never huge into eggs- Tony is, so I decided to make a Tofu-Scramble as well.
Here's what you'll need:
French Toast:
1/2 loaf of bread ( I used wheat, but would recommend Italian Bread, or something a little stale for better hold)
4 Tbsp Vegan Butter (Try Earth Balance)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp raw sugar (or Agave)
1/4 cup of tofu (any kind will work, but silken or soft is best)
1/2 banana
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
I used a magic bullet for this, but you can use a blender food processor or whatever you have. Put Tofu, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Banana, Sugar, and Vanilla in Blender and blend until smooth. Pour this mixture into a shallow bowl. Dip bread evenly on each side. Melt butter in Medium Heat Pan. Place bread evenly on pan and cook until lightly browned. Flip bread and cook over side.
*If you are making the Tofu Scramble after this and you dont want your French Toast to get cold, turn on your over to Warm with a cooking sheet inside, and put the french toast on the cooking sheet to keep it warm.
Tofu Scramble:
1 block Firm Tofu
1 tablespoon Nutritional Yeast
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 Tsp fresh, minced garlic
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup fresh chopped baby spinach
In pan, heat olive oil and add in onions, peppers and garlic and stir until onions are translucent and browned. Squeeze most of the water out of the tofu with your hands. (It doesn't have to be completely dry- you want it to taste fluffy) Crumble the Tofu into a bowl and add to the veggie mixture. Add in your spices and mix. Add in chopped spinach and Nutritional Yeast and mix. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy your breakfast, you Champion!
Last weeks Dinner and Game Night
I was just thinking, I completely forgot to share a wonderful experience I had last Sunday. On New Years Eve, I spent the night with some close friends at a small get together. We all shared snacks, toasted our champagne and watched the ball drop- excited for the new year to come.
That same night, I had shared with my friends my Challenge for the New Year. They thought I was crazy, as they knew I was a big fan of Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip and Fresh Mozzerella and Tomato Sandwiches; however, I told them that I had been researching and that I was prepared and confident that I could master this challenge. They asked a lot of questions regarding the differences between vegetarians and vegans, and what I could and could not eat and why I was doing this. They were respectfully curious and eager to learn, but still, they were very unfamiliar and uncomfortable with the idea of nixing all animal products and bi products all together.
At the end of the night, as we were leaving, we all decided that we would get together the next Sunday as well and have a dinner night. My friends all insisted that we have a Vegan Dinner and Game Night, so that was the plan.
The whole week I was graced with text messages with questions about my lifestyle and what I could and could not digest. Some questions as simple as "You can eat rice, right?" I was excited to see what everyone was going to make and almost expected that someone slip up and add some parmesan cheese, or butter or something. I know how hard it is to try to be an almost-perfect vegan, and sometimes you can still purchase something that has an animal bi-product, so with just a week to prepare and learn, I went into the dinner night, expecting to consume at least a smidge of animal bi-product from the cuisine.
To my excitement and surprise, my friends were more than prepared. They even kept the recipes they had used and the containers of food they used so I could check the ingredients. My friends made a delicious Vegetable Lasagna with tofu-ricotta (let me tell you, it tasted JUST like ricotta), some grilled asparagus with roasted garlic, A bountiful green salad, and a fluffy Mushroom Risotto. All Completely Vegan! Tony and I contributed our favorite recipe for Eggplant Balls, which taste like a combination of a meatball and eggplant parm all in a little ball of joy. For dessert we had a refreshing and colorful Fruit Salad!
I felt so completely honored and touched by how my friends went out of their way to learn about my lifestyle and contribute into it. It was one of the most solid, tangible forms of friendship I had ever experienced and I am grateful to have such a supporting group of friends. We ended the night with an intense round of Apples to Apples- which has become our new found favorite game, and ended our night with leftovers to take home.
I hope that if any of you are thinking about moving towards a more vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, that you are met with love and support the same way I have.
Peace.
That same night, I had shared with my friends my Challenge for the New Year. They thought I was crazy, as they knew I was a big fan of Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip and Fresh Mozzerella and Tomato Sandwiches; however, I told them that I had been researching and that I was prepared and confident that I could master this challenge. They asked a lot of questions regarding the differences between vegetarians and vegans, and what I could and could not eat and why I was doing this. They were respectfully curious and eager to learn, but still, they were very unfamiliar and uncomfortable with the idea of nixing all animal products and bi products all together.
At the end of the night, as we were leaving, we all decided that we would get together the next Sunday as well and have a dinner night. My friends all insisted that we have a Vegan Dinner and Game Night, so that was the plan.
The whole week I was graced with text messages with questions about my lifestyle and what I could and could not digest. Some questions as simple as "You can eat rice, right?" I was excited to see what everyone was going to make and almost expected that someone slip up and add some parmesan cheese, or butter or something. I know how hard it is to try to be an almost-perfect vegan, and sometimes you can still purchase something that has an animal bi-product, so with just a week to prepare and learn, I went into the dinner night, expecting to consume at least a smidge of animal bi-product from the cuisine.
To my excitement and surprise, my friends were more than prepared. They even kept the recipes they had used and the containers of food they used so I could check the ingredients. My friends made a delicious Vegetable Lasagna with tofu-ricotta (let me tell you, it tasted JUST like ricotta), some grilled asparagus with roasted garlic, A bountiful green salad, and a fluffy Mushroom Risotto. All Completely Vegan! Tony and I contributed our favorite recipe for Eggplant Balls, which taste like a combination of a meatball and eggplant parm all in a little ball of joy. For dessert we had a refreshing and colorful Fruit Salad!
I felt so completely honored and touched by how my friends went out of their way to learn about my lifestyle and contribute into it. It was one of the most solid, tangible forms of friendship I had ever experienced and I am grateful to have such a supporting group of friends. We ended the night with an intense round of Apples to Apples- which has become our new found favorite game, and ended our night with leftovers to take home.
I hope that if any of you are thinking about moving towards a more vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, that you are met with love and support the same way I have.
Peace.
Friday, January 13, 2012
BANANA "ICE CREAM" !!!
MMMmmmmmmm...
Okay, let me first off be honest and say this isnt a new Vegan thing for me. I've been doing this for awhile. You could say I'm a pro.
Here's what you need:
3 Peeled and frozen bananas
*It also helps if they were cut into pieces before freezing
1/4 cup Almond Milk
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp raw sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Wanna get real fancy? Add in some Dark Chocolate and chopped walnuts!
In a blender, food processor or your Magic Bullet put in banana pieces, almond milk and vanilla extract.
Pulse and blend until smooth.
*If you want it to be more creamy and smooth you can add a smidge more almond milk.
Scoop mixture into bowls and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar.
***If you want it to be more like a gelato consistancy, put the blended mixture into a tuperware and freeze for 3 hours. Then scoop out and eat. This will make it a bit firmer, but still creamy.
Ta-DA! Deliciousness...
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Fur is Never Cool to Wear
Watch this to learn about fur.
and this video to learn a little bit about where the "fashionable" fur comes from.
Spread the word. Wear Faux-Fur.
and this video to learn a little bit about where the "fashionable" fur comes from.
Spread the word. Wear Faux-Fur.
Yesterdays Lunch and Dinner
Yesterday I had some good old fashioned childhood favorites for lunch and dinner.
For lunch, I packed myself a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich on Whole Wheat bread with some grapes, a banana, and some pistacios.
For dinner I made the rest of my Gardein Chicken with lemon juice, mashed a potatoe with some almond milk, parsley, salt, pepper and fresh garlic, and cooked up some frozen peas and corn. Simple and definitely comfort food!
Today I brought a can of Tomato soup with some of my left overs from last nights dinner. Easy and cheap!
----
Body Changes:
I've noticed that since I've started my Vegan diet I have been feeling much better, stomach-wise. You know when you have that bloated,nausious feeling after eating and you just don't feel like moving for awhile? I used to get that All The Time... but I havent gotten that feeling once since I've began this diet.
It makes me think that maybe dairy and eggs just werent agreeing with my body, but that I wasnt listening very carefully to what my body was trying to tell me. I know now that I was so obsessed with dairy and eggs in almost everything I ate, that I didnt even think twice that those products could be the reason why I was feeling so lathargic, bloated, nauscious or feeling pain in my stomach.
All in all, feeling great. The challenge of going out to eat will always be there, but I feel like the more experience I have, the better I can prepare to overcome that obsticle as well!
For lunch, I packed myself a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich on Whole Wheat bread with some grapes, a banana, and some pistacios.
For dinner I made the rest of my Gardein Chicken with lemon juice, mashed a potatoe with some almond milk, parsley, salt, pepper and fresh garlic, and cooked up some frozen peas and corn. Simple and definitely comfort food!
Today I brought a can of Tomato soup with some of my left overs from last nights dinner. Easy and cheap!
----
Body Changes:
I've noticed that since I've started my Vegan diet I have been feeling much better, stomach-wise. You know when you have that bloated,nausious feeling after eating and you just don't feel like moving for awhile? I used to get that All The Time... but I havent gotten that feeling once since I've began this diet.
It makes me think that maybe dairy and eggs just werent agreeing with my body, but that I wasnt listening very carefully to what my body was trying to tell me. I know now that I was so obsessed with dairy and eggs in almost everything I ate, that I didnt even think twice that those products could be the reason why I was feeling so lathargic, bloated, nauscious or feeling pain in my stomach.
All in all, feeling great. The challenge of going out to eat will always be there, but I feel like the more experience I have, the better I can prepare to overcome that obsticle as well!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Dinner Parties
Last night I went to a fantastic dinner party for a good friend of mine who just turned 23. (Happy Birthday Suz!) The house was an old beautiful house in East Rock, right by Peabody Museum, and it was soon filled with a lively bunch of eclectic music lovers, comics, and pedestrians, as well as a great spread of food.
Suz knew going into this that I was on a new Vegan journey, and told this to her parents, who were preparing the feast. However, there was a LOT of temptation going on, on my part.
When I first walked in, I grabbed a glass of white wine and stood by a table that held platters of crispy, flaky, and gooey Spanikopita. Mmmmmm. Can I tell you I used to LOVE Spanikopita? (Not to mention the word itself.) It. Smelt. Delicious. But I helped host them out and soon enough, they were gobbled up.
There was also a hearty couple of cheese chunks with crackers on a large platter, with a small tray of olives that sat daintily next to it. Beside that was a small bowl of nuts. I grazed delicately on the olives and nuts, and sipped healthily on my wine to avoid the cheese.
Finally the dinner bell rang- An annoucement from Suz:
"How many Vegans and Vegetarians do we have here?"
(About 7 hands raise) *Woot! we're growing!
"Okay, we are going to have the vegans and Vegetarians get food first, because there are only a few dishes they can eat"
Cue groans from the meat-eaters.
My herbivore friends and I lined up and were excited to find a delicious Scottish Turnip Stew with a side of Tofu and Veggie Fried Rice! (There was also Mashed Potatoes and Biscuits for the Vegetarians)
* I think I was the only Vegan there, but I stocked up on a good bowl of soup and sank into the rich flavors, later to thank Suz's dad for the masterpiece.
The hardest temptation of all was the cake. It looked as though it was a rich, chocolate cake- definitely made with eggs. I shyly turned around and ignored the various "mmmmm"'s and "wow"'s and decided the cake was dry and disgusting.
The party was a blast- I was able to catch up with friends, and left feeling excited that I had overcome yet another obsticle. I am definitely stronger because of it.
Suz knew going into this that I was on a new Vegan journey, and told this to her parents, who were preparing the feast. However, there was a LOT of temptation going on, on my part.
When I first walked in, I grabbed a glass of white wine and stood by a table that held platters of crispy, flaky, and gooey Spanikopita. Mmmmmm. Can I tell you I used to LOVE Spanikopita? (Not to mention the word itself.) It. Smelt. Delicious. But I helped host them out and soon enough, they were gobbled up.
There was also a hearty couple of cheese chunks with crackers on a large platter, with a small tray of olives that sat daintily next to it. Beside that was a small bowl of nuts. I grazed delicately on the olives and nuts, and sipped healthily on my wine to avoid the cheese.
Finally the dinner bell rang- An annoucement from Suz:
"How many Vegans and Vegetarians do we have here?"
(About 7 hands raise) *Woot! we're growing!
"Okay, we are going to have the vegans and Vegetarians get food first, because there are only a few dishes they can eat"
Cue groans from the meat-eaters.
My herbivore friends and I lined up and were excited to find a delicious Scottish Turnip Stew with a side of Tofu and Veggie Fried Rice! (There was also Mashed Potatoes and Biscuits for the Vegetarians)
* I think I was the only Vegan there, but I stocked up on a good bowl of soup and sank into the rich flavors, later to thank Suz's dad for the masterpiece.
The hardest temptation of all was the cake. It looked as though it was a rich, chocolate cake- definitely made with eggs. I shyly turned around and ignored the various "mmmmm"'s and "wow"'s and decided the cake was dry and disgusting.
The party was a blast- I was able to catch up with friends, and left feeling excited that I had overcome yet another obsticle. I am definitely stronger because of it.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Wonderful Things I've Stumbled Upon Today!
First of all, check this out! I watched a few videos about this home farm, right within a city, and they are simply amazing. My future goal is to be able to live like them- provide my own food for myself and live with little detrimental effects to the Earth.
Secondly,
This video is hilarious! Just goes to show you that people don't really think about where what they put in their mouth is coming from!
Secondly,
This video is hilarious! Just goes to show you that people don't really think about where what they put in their mouth is coming from!
NEWS FLASH! Protein found in Veggies and Fruits!
Protein isnt found just in meat? You mean, I can get my protein from foods other than steaks, and chicken wings and veal?
YEP!
Check this out! It tells you about 7 Veggies that are high in protein. ( Not to mention, almost zilch on fat and no cholesterol!)
Oh yeah, fruits too!
But don't forget about your nuts and beans, my friends. You know what they say about beans!
YEP!
Check this out! It tells you about 7 Veggies that are high in protein. ( Not to mention, almost zilch on fat and no cholesterol!)
Oh yeah, fruits too!
But don't forget about your nuts and beans, my friends. You know what they say about beans!
Lost 5 pounds!
Well, well, well, mi-oh-my! I am happy to annouce that in ten days I have lost 5 pounds...(without even touching the gym! whatttt?) I start going back to the gym tomorrow, but strangely enough, even though I havent been going to the gym, and spent the last weekend at Foxwoods, of all places, I stepped on the scale this morning to reveal 150.00 pounds flat. Bettah than nothin, right? (I think about it as half way to ten!)
Nutrition Facts of the Day!
Bananas are wonderful and healthy raw fruit to enjoy. They fill you up because they have a good dose of fiber. But thats not all! Check out the benefits here!
Grapes are also one of my favorite daily snacks. Want to anti-age? Not a super power I would mind having... It is super high in Manganese and Vitamin K. "Areas of benefit in grape research include the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, immune system, inflammatory system, blood sugar regulating system, and nervous system. Another area of special benefit is cancer prevention, with risk of breast, prostate, and colon cancer emerging as the most likely areas of grape anti-cancer benefits." Read more here about the benefits!
Nutrition Facts of the Day!
Bananas are wonderful and healthy raw fruit to enjoy. They fill you up because they have a good dose of fiber. But thats not all! Check out the benefits here!
Grapes are also one of my favorite daily snacks. Want to anti-age? Not a super power I would mind having... It is super high in Manganese and Vitamin K. "Areas of benefit in grape research include the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, immune system, inflammatory system, blood sugar regulating system, and nervous system. Another area of special benefit is cancer prevention, with risk of breast, prostate, and colon cancer emerging as the most likely areas of grape anti-cancer benefits." Read more here about the benefits!
Weekly Grocery Shopping
This week, (because we planned really well on Jan 1st, and bought a lot of pantry stuff) we only spent $28.00 on groceries!
We mainly just needed a few fresh ingredients and such:
Oranges, avocados, bananas, potatoes, kale, raw almonds, stop and shop soy milk, silk almond milk, pizza dough, onions, natures promise vegetable stock, and 2 cans coconut milk.
I forgot to mention that I made an awesome Vegan Pizza the other day!
I rolled out the dough with some wheat flour, we put Marinara on half and Daiya Cheese with some Olive oil on the other half. Sliced some small vine tomatoes on the pizza, sprinkled on some Basil, salt and pepper, and tossed on a few pieces of "pepperoni" we had left from the other pie. Baked it at 350 and munched it up!
Prettayyy good!
We mainly just needed a few fresh ingredients and such:
Oranges, avocados, bananas, potatoes, kale, raw almonds, stop and shop soy milk, silk almond milk, pizza dough, onions, natures promise vegetable stock, and 2 cans coconut milk.
I forgot to mention that I made an awesome Vegan Pizza the other day!
I rolled out the dough with some wheat flour, we put Marinara on half and Daiya Cheese with some Olive oil on the other half. Sliced some small vine tomatoes on the pizza, sprinkled on some Basil, salt and pepper, and tossed on a few pieces of "pepperoni" we had left from the other pie. Baked it at 350 and munched it up!
Prettayyy good!
Aaloo Mattar Dinner (Potato and Peas, silly!)
This was an easy dish I made last night with a few simple ingredients and spices! The recipe is from Sarah Kramer's third Cook Book "La Dolce Vegan!" And I've been using this book for about over 2 years now, even though I've just entered this Vegan journey. Her recipes are easy, fun and quick, but of course, best of all- delicious!
I'm doing this from memory, so bare with me :)
Ingredients:
1 cup brown rice
1 large onion
1 large potato
1 large or 2 medium tomatos
1/2 cup frozen Peas
1/4 cup fresh Cilantro
1/4 cup veggie broth
1 tsp Masala
1 tsp Masala
1 tsp Ginger
1/2 tsp Paprika
1 tbsp oil
Salt to taste
Cook the rice accordingly. In a pan, saute onions in oil until translucent. Add in Masala, Ginger and Paprika, continueing to stir to prevent burning. Add in Veggie Broth, cubed potatoes, and minced tomatos, mix and cover with lid for 8-10 minutes until potatoes soften. Add frozen peas and Cilantro. sprinkle salt to taste. Cover again until rice is ready. Plate rice with Veggie mixture on top. TA-DAH! What an Indian Delight! :)
*The rice I cooked took about 45 minutes, but here's a tip. If you cook extra rice for the week, you can have it for future recipes and save a lot of time! The veggie mixture only took 15 minutes including the chopping!! And this meal only cost about $5.00 with 4 good servings, so Tony and I have it for lunch today as well!
Dining at Foxwoods
This past weekend I attended a training session for a local camp I volunteer at called Camp Rising Sun. Foxwoods is one of our wonderful sponsors for the camp, and they graciously allow us to stay there for two nights and do our trainings in their meeting rooms. There, we plan for the camp week in entirety, review First Aid and CPR training, and talk about fun activities we can run for the kids. It was a wonderful experience, as usual, however, the challenging part was to keep true to my 30 Day Vegan Challenge. I took my book with me and thought about options I could put in my tummy with junk and fast food completely surrounding me, and prices at all time highs.
For dinner, friday night, a group of friends and I decided to eat dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. They seemed to have a good amount of veggie choices, when glancing at their menu, so we gave it a whirl.
They actually have a Vegetarian and Vegan menu that outlines what is okay and what to look out for. I was really worried about ordering a pasta dish and the pasta having egg in it, but according to the Vegan menu, all noodles except the multigrain penne are Egg-Free! SO I went with the Baby Broccoli, sundried tomatoe Fuselli (I asked for this without any cheese, because it originally comes with parm). And it was delicious!!
We also were able to get the White Corn Guacamole and Chips, which was an interesting take on guacamole, considering there was far more corn than avacado- but it was still a great snack! All in all, it was a great dinner.
All in all, my pasta dish cost $10.00 and my Guac and chips were $3, so not bad at all!
---
Breakfast was a difficult task, because not only did I want to keep it Vegan, but I additionally wanted to keep it Healthy! Dunkin donuts' surrounded me in the casino. You have to first understand that before this journey, I was an addict to the Large Iced Caramel Latte with Skim Milk at D&D, and my usual breakfast would be an Egg and Cheese on a Crescent Roll. Not too healthy, and certainly not vegan.
I decided to take a short walk to the Panera Bread on the other side of the casino. (It felt more like 3 miles in heals) But once I got there, I was kindly rewarded with choices of Fruit Cup and Steel Cut Oatmeal! They have a Nutrition Calculator on their website that allows you to pick what you would eat and you can view all ingredients and the nutritional information. The only thing I worried about was the Cinnamon-sugar that was sprinkled on top of the oatmeal, but it seemed pretty gritty, so I'm pretty sure it was raw. It doesnt specify on the site. However, the pecans and strawberries in the oatmeal totally made it worth the $4.00 I payed. The Fruit Cups were another great option, because the fruit was very fresh and tasty!
---
For lunch Saturday Foxwoods provided our group with a buffet of food. I was initially very upset to find that the large salad at the beginning of the line had Feta mixed into it! But i figured there had to be at least a steamed veggie or something I could eat. I grabbed a breadroll and slowly moved down the line, walking past Eggplant Parm, Philly Cheese Steak, Chicken, and A veggie stew that smelt like it was in beef broth. I still had an empty plate and felt very discouraged. My friends pleaded me to take the Eggplant Parm, but I was committed to this, and if I was going to eat bread for now,and grab something later, I was willing to do that.
Finally, I reached the end of the table, where a staff member was ladeling soup into bowls. I was very skeptical.
"Excuse me, but what kind of soup is that?"
"Minestrone"
"Is it cooked in vegetable broth"
"Yes"
I carefully examined the bowl of soup in front of me. All veggies and a little pasta. I didnt know if the pasta contained egg but at this point, it was pretty much my only option, and it certanily wasnt egg-noodles, so I figured I was good to go! I had him load up my bowl and sat down, very pleased!
----
For dinner we went to the main Buffet at Foxwoods where there was an array of food. I build a beautiful salad with peppers, tomatos, cucumbers, mixed greens and wasabi peas! There was a delightful Kale and Potato soup, and I also had some vegetable fried rice (w/o egg), a cabbage roll, and some pasta with marinara. ( I know, not the healthiest choices after the salad and soup, but it was pretty good!)
Then I was back to Panera in the morning!
All in all, I did very well with my weekend at Foxwoods. I avoided the icecream, and coffee drinks I constantly crave, and said no to cheesy pizza yet again. I feel reenergized, and ready to conquer the world!
For dinner, friday night, a group of friends and I decided to eat dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. They seemed to have a good amount of veggie choices, when glancing at their menu, so we gave it a whirl.
They actually have a Vegetarian and Vegan menu that outlines what is okay and what to look out for. I was really worried about ordering a pasta dish and the pasta having egg in it, but according to the Vegan menu, all noodles except the multigrain penne are Egg-Free! SO I went with the Baby Broccoli, sundried tomatoe Fuselli (I asked for this without any cheese, because it originally comes with parm). And it was delicious!!
We also were able to get the White Corn Guacamole and Chips, which was an interesting take on guacamole, considering there was far more corn than avacado- but it was still a great snack! All in all, it was a great dinner.
All in all, my pasta dish cost $10.00 and my Guac and chips were $3, so not bad at all!
---
Breakfast was a difficult task, because not only did I want to keep it Vegan, but I additionally wanted to keep it Healthy! Dunkin donuts' surrounded me in the casino. You have to first understand that before this journey, I was an addict to the Large Iced Caramel Latte with Skim Milk at D&D, and my usual breakfast would be an Egg and Cheese on a Crescent Roll. Not too healthy, and certainly not vegan.
I decided to take a short walk to the Panera Bread on the other side of the casino. (It felt more like 3 miles in heals) But once I got there, I was kindly rewarded with choices of Fruit Cup and Steel Cut Oatmeal! They have a Nutrition Calculator on their website that allows you to pick what you would eat and you can view all ingredients and the nutritional information. The only thing I worried about was the Cinnamon-sugar that was sprinkled on top of the oatmeal, but it seemed pretty gritty, so I'm pretty sure it was raw. It doesnt specify on the site. However, the pecans and strawberries in the oatmeal totally made it worth the $4.00 I payed. The Fruit Cups were another great option, because the fruit was very fresh and tasty!
---
For lunch Saturday Foxwoods provided our group with a buffet of food. I was initially very upset to find that the large salad at the beginning of the line had Feta mixed into it! But i figured there had to be at least a steamed veggie or something I could eat. I grabbed a breadroll and slowly moved down the line, walking past Eggplant Parm, Philly Cheese Steak, Chicken, and A veggie stew that smelt like it was in beef broth. I still had an empty plate and felt very discouraged. My friends pleaded me to take the Eggplant Parm, but I was committed to this, and if I was going to eat bread for now,and grab something later, I was willing to do that.
Finally, I reached the end of the table, where a staff member was ladeling soup into bowls. I was very skeptical.
"Excuse me, but what kind of soup is that?"
"Minestrone"
"Is it cooked in vegetable broth"
"Yes"
I carefully examined the bowl of soup in front of me. All veggies and a little pasta. I didnt know if the pasta contained egg but at this point, it was pretty much my only option, and it certanily wasnt egg-noodles, so I figured I was good to go! I had him load up my bowl and sat down, very pleased!
----
For dinner we went to the main Buffet at Foxwoods where there was an array of food. I build a beautiful salad with peppers, tomatos, cucumbers, mixed greens and wasabi peas! There was a delightful Kale and Potato soup, and I also had some vegetable fried rice (w/o egg), a cabbage roll, and some pasta with marinara. ( I know, not the healthiest choices after the salad and soup, but it was pretty good!)
Then I was back to Panera in the morning!
All in all, I did very well with my weekend at Foxwoods. I avoided the icecream, and coffee drinks I constantly crave, and said no to cheesy pizza yet again. I feel reenergized, and ready to conquer the world!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
How do Factory Farms affect Humans workers???
Vegans, Vegetarians and Animal lovers a like always share how terribly factory farming is for our animal friends, but did you ever wonder how factory farming may be affecting the Humans that work in them?
The majority of humans who work in factory farms have minimal education and need the job to support their families. They become trapped in the job, and desensitized to the idea of killing animals, but many suffer from high anxiety and mental disorders due to the stress and moral dilemmas of the job itself.
Check out this article to learn more about this.
Do you think you could ever work for a factory farm? Why?
This website also offers some general information on Factory Farms and links to ways you can learn more and make a difference.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Vendor Lunches
Many of us work in cube-worlds where vendors and managers bring in snacks, lunches, and coffees for us all to enjoy. It's wonderful, really, until you think about all the calories.
But we rationalize it. It's only every ONCE in a while, and its FREE!
I had to get that out of my system, especially when I chose this 30 Day Vegan Challenge.
Yesterday a vendor came in with deli sandwiches. Only 1 of the sandwiches was vegan... and when i finally got on ( on the second round) I realized that there was some sort of unknown dressing on the inside bottom of the wrap, so decided to put it down.
Yesterday night, we also had dinner planned with some close friends of ours. We went to Willington Pizza, up by the UCONN campus. I've heard great things about their deep dish, red potatoe, white pizza.
And when my small, marinara and garlic pie rolled out, I was less than pleased, compared to looking at the large, cheesy, potatoey pie that stood above mine.
Dining out can be difficult, I'm not going to lie here. BUT, I gotta say, I felt really accomplished when i left that pizza restaurant still Vegan strong! I felt a sense of self control that I've never had before. And if felt good!
Keepin strong.
But we rationalize it. It's only every ONCE in a while, and its FREE!
I had to get that out of my system, especially when I chose this 30 Day Vegan Challenge.
Yesterday a vendor came in with deli sandwiches. Only 1 of the sandwiches was vegan... and when i finally got on ( on the second round) I realized that there was some sort of unknown dressing on the inside bottom of the wrap, so decided to put it down.
Yesterday night, we also had dinner planned with some close friends of ours. We went to Willington Pizza, up by the UCONN campus. I've heard great things about their deep dish, red potatoe, white pizza.
And when my small, marinara and garlic pie rolled out, I was less than pleased, compared to looking at the large, cheesy, potatoey pie that stood above mine.
Dining out can be difficult, I'm not going to lie here. BUT, I gotta say, I felt really accomplished when i left that pizza restaurant still Vegan strong! I felt a sense of self control that I've never had before. And if felt good!
Keepin strong.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Red Lentil Bake with Dill Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli
Tony made me a Scrumptious dinner last night, that he calls a Red Lentil Back.
(We thought we'd have a competition for who plated better. His is the white plate. You can tell me which one you like best! ha!)
Here are his directions:
In a pot, bring 1.5 cups red lentils, 2 cups vegetable broth, 1 diced onion, bay leaf to boil.
Reduce heat to low and let simmer till all liquid is absorbed.
Stir frequently.
Remove bay leaf and stir in 1 cup vegan cheese until well mixed. ( We used a Daiya Pepperjack Shredded Cheese) ZIPPY!
Place into 9" pie plate greased with olive oil.
Bake for 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until top is golden brown and bubbly.
Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
Open can of sliced potatos.
Saute in pan with olive oil and lots of Dill, some salt, pepper and spices! ( We used fresh dried dill saved from the summer! yum!)
Steam some broccoli and stick it all on your plate.
CHOW DOWN! :) Its delicious, nutricious, and soooo nice.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Vegan Bodybuilding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-L-LKrfpevg
Ever think that vegans cant get enough protein and are weak and sickly? Check out this video to see a Vegan woman who could probably beat you up! :)
Ever think that vegans cant get enough protein and are weak and sickly? Check out this video to see a Vegan woman who could probably beat you up! :)
Almond flavored Hot Cocoa!
Last night, after our delicious meal, Tony made me some awesome hot cocoa! (yep. vegan!)
He used Silk Almond Milk
Cocoa Powder
a small block of Dark Chocolate
a few drops of vanilla
and some raw cane sugar.
It was sooo good! And the hint of almond was such a good combo!
Try it yourself!
Silk Pure Almond® Original Almondmilk
Nutrition FactsServing Size 1 cup (240mL)
Amount per Serving
Calories
60
Calories from Fat
25
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2.5g
4%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.5g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 150mg
6%
Potassium 60mg
2%
Total Carbohydrates 8g
3%
Dietary Fiber 1g
4%
Sugars 7g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A
10%
Vitamin C
0%
Calcium
45%
Iron
4%
Vitamin D
25%
Vitamin E
50%
Riboflavin
25%
Vitamin B12
50%
Magnesium
4%
Zinc
10%
Copper
2%
Manganese
4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
Calories:
2,000
2,500
Total Fat
less than
65g
80g
Saturated Fat
less than
20g
25g
Cholesterol
less than
300mg
300mg
Sodium
less than
2,400mg
2,400mg
Potassium
less than
3,500mg
3,500mg
Total Carbohydrates
300g
375g
Dietary Fiber
25g
30g
Calories per gram:
Fat 9
Carbohydrate 4
Protein 4
Ingredients: All Natural Almondmilk (filtered water, almonds), All Natural Evaporated Cane Juice, Calcium Carbonate, Sea Salt, Locust Bean Gum, Sunflower Lecithin, Gellan Gum, d-alpha-Tocopherol (natural vitamin E), Zinc Gluconate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D2.
****
Did I mention that between my Cocnut Yogurt and Almond Milk, I've attained my complete needs for B12 and Calcium without harming any animals?! :)
****
He used Silk Almond Milk
Cocoa Powder
a small block of Dark Chocolate
a few drops of vanilla
and some raw cane sugar.
It was sooo good! And the hint of almond was such a good combo!
Try it yourself!
Silk Pure Almond® Original Almondmilk
Nutrition FactsServing Size 1 cup (240mL)
Amount per Serving
Calories
60
Calories from Fat
25
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2.5g
4%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.5g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 150mg
6%
Potassium 60mg
2%
Total Carbohydrates 8g
3%
Dietary Fiber 1g
4%
Sugars 7g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A
10%
Vitamin C
0%
Calcium
45%
Iron
4%
Vitamin D
25%
Vitamin E
50%
Riboflavin
25%
Vitamin B12
50%
Magnesium
4%
Zinc
10%
Copper
2%
Manganese
4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
Calories:
2,000
2,500
Total Fat
less than
65g
80g
Saturated Fat
less than
20g
25g
Cholesterol
less than
300mg
300mg
Sodium
less than
2,400mg
2,400mg
Potassium
less than
3,500mg
3,500mg
Total Carbohydrates
300g
375g
Dietary Fiber
25g
30g
Calories per gram:
Fat 9
Carbohydrate 4
Protein 4
Ingredients: All Natural Almondmilk (filtered water, almonds), All Natural Evaporated Cane Juice, Calcium Carbonate, Sea Salt, Locust Bean Gum, Sunflower Lecithin, Gellan Gum, d-alpha-Tocopherol (natural vitamin E), Zinc Gluconate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D2.
****
Did I mention that between my Cocnut Yogurt and Almond Milk, I've attained my complete needs for B12 and Calcium without harming any animals?! :)
****
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Chicken Semolina, Spinach-Basil Pasta and Rubbed/roasted carrots
Tonight I made this delicious meal! Here is the recipeIngredients:
1/2 lemon
2 tbsp 'butter'
Gardein Chicken
1 small can of sliced mushrooms
6 large carrots, peeled and cut in thirds
1 lb of Spinach speghetti
4 small tomatoes
1 tbsp of Basil
1/4 cup of white wine
A spice rub made from brown sugar and mixed spices
Cut the carrots in thirds, spray with a light cooking spray and sprinkle and mix with rub. Bake in over at 450 for 40 minutes.
Saute Chik'n in 1 tbsp oil in pan, until lightly browned.
Add white wine. squeeze 1/2 lemon onto chicken in pan.
Add 'butter'
Cook Spinach pasta for 11minutes. Drain and place back in pot. mix with 2 tbsp of oil and 3 tbsp of basil. (dry or fresh)
in a small pot, saute mushrooms with some of the sauce from the chikn. Add in the tomatoes, cut in 1/2 or 1/4s depending on how large.
place pasta on the plate with the chikn on top. drizzle the tomato, mushroom mixture ontop and place the carrots on the side.
YUM! :)
Vegan Deal of the Day
This website offers a ton of deals that are great for vegetarians, vegans, gluton-free, lactose intollerant, or people who are just looking to make healthy choices.
Check out the deal of the day! :)
Check out the deal of the day! :)
Day 3. First Cube-Day
Well, Today is my first day back at work since the start of my 30 day Vegan Challenge!
I ate some quick oatmeal (5.9g protein, 12% iron, calcium 2%) with cinnamon (Calcium 2%, iron 1%) and a handful of raisons (Iron 1%, calcium 1%) for breakfast
Total:
5.9g protein,
14% iron
5% calcium
I packed a great lunch :)
I packed some of my Vegan Chili (Recipe is a few posts back)
a cup of Coconut Milk Yogurt (35% b12, 1g protein, 6%iron)
Some Mixed Bluberries (2% iron, 1g protein, 3.5g fiber)
and Strawberries (3% iron, 3g fiber, 1g protein)
Pistachios (26.4g Protein, 30% iron, 13.2g fiber)
and Almonds! (6g Protein, 6% iron, 3.6g fiber)
So thats:
35% of my b12
39% iron
34.4g Protein
23.8g Fiber
and thats not even counting my Chili that is PACKED with protein, fiber, iron and a whole lotta love. :)
Vegan Chili Breakdown:
Black beans (7g protein, 15% iron, 7g fiber, 6% calcium)
Brown rice (4.5g protein, 6%iron, 2% calcium, 3.5g fiber)
Red Pepper (Vitamin A 79%, Vitamin C 385%, Protein 1.2g, iron 3%)
Onion
Cilantro
Tomato Paste (Protein 1g, Iron 4%, Fiber 2g)
Total:
13.5g Protein
24% iron
6% calcium
385% Vitamin C
79% Vitamin A
By the end of the work day I have consumed:
53.8g Protein
77% iron
35% b12
24g Fiber
385% Vitamin C
79% Vitamin A
I ate some quick oatmeal (5.9g protein, 12% iron, calcium 2%) with cinnamon (Calcium 2%, iron 1%) and a handful of raisons (Iron 1%, calcium 1%) for breakfast
Total:
5.9g protein,
14% iron
5% calcium
I packed a great lunch :)
I packed some of my Vegan Chili (Recipe is a few posts back)
a cup of Coconut Milk Yogurt (35% b12, 1g protein, 6%iron)
Some Mixed Bluberries (2% iron, 1g protein, 3.5g fiber)
and Strawberries (3% iron, 3g fiber, 1g protein)
Pistachios (26.4g Protein, 30% iron, 13.2g fiber)
and Almonds! (6g Protein, 6% iron, 3.6g fiber)
So thats:
35% of my b12
39% iron
34.4g Protein
23.8g Fiber
and thats not even counting my Chili that is PACKED with protein, fiber, iron and a whole lotta love. :)
Vegan Chili Breakdown:
Black beans (7g protein, 15% iron, 7g fiber, 6% calcium)
Brown rice (4.5g protein, 6%iron, 2% calcium, 3.5g fiber)
Red Pepper (Vitamin A 79%, Vitamin C 385%, Protein 1.2g, iron 3%)
Onion
Cilantro
Tomato Paste (Protein 1g, Iron 4%, Fiber 2g)
Total:
13.5g Protein
24% iron
6% calcium
385% Vitamin C
79% Vitamin A
By the end of the work day I have consumed:
53.8g Protein
77% iron
35% b12
24g Fiber
385% Vitamin C
79% Vitamin A
Monday, January 2, 2012
Vegan Pizza!
Today I made a delicious vegan pizza with just a few key ingredients.
A whole wheat pizza crust
A red bell pepper
some marinara sauce
Easy! And it tasted great :)
Breakfast and Nutrition Facts
This morning a had a great bowl of cereal breakfast!
Spelt
Amaranth
Quinoa
Evaporated Cane Juice
Brown Rice Flour
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Flour
Vegetable Oil
Almonds
Salt
Natural Flavors
I got a box of Yogi Cherry Almond Crunch for $1.99 (omg, so cheap for cereal!)
and a Half Gallon of Silk PureAlmond milk $3.00
with some fresh Blueberries $2.00
You can also get a coupon for Silk Milks at: http://www.silkpurealmond.com
Nutrition Facts:
Cereal
Calories 240
Fat: 6g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 70mg
Total Carb: 42g
Dietrary fiber 3g
Sugars 12g
Protein 5g
Calcium 2%
Iron 6%
Ingredients: Oats
BarleySpelt
Amaranth
Quinoa
Evaporated Cane Juice
Brown Rice Flour
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Flour
Vegetable Oil
Almonds
Salt
Natural Flavors
Almond Milk:
| Silk Pure Almond® Original Almondmilk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nutrition Facts Serving Size 1 cup (240mL) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount per Serving | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calories | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calories from Fat | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| % Daily Value* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Fat 2.5g | 4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trans Fat 0g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monounsaturated Fat 1.5g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sodium 150mg | 6% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Potassium 60mg | 2% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Carbohydrates 8g | 3% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sugars 7g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Protein 1g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin A | 10% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin C | 0% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calcium | 45% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iron | 4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin D | 25% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin E | 50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Riboflavin | 25% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin B12 | 50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Magnesium | 4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zinc | 10% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copper | 2% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manganese | 4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hey look at that!!! 50% of my B12 vitamins! woot.
And Blueberries
Click blueberries for nutrition facts.
So my Breakfast had 7g protein, 12% of my daily iron intake, and over 50% of my needed b12 intake. And thats just what mostmeat eaters worry about, so I wanted to highlight it, but there are so many more benefits!
Oh, and no pus in my milk! :)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Vegan Chili Recipe!
For those of you who Love a good chili on a cold winter night, this one is one of my favorites!
It's from the cookbook La Dolce Vegan! "Vegan Living Made Easy" by Sarah Kramer. My good friend Sarah gave it to Tony and I three years ago and we absolutely love it.
1 Small onion, chopped
1 Tbsp Olive oil
1/2 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup water or vegetable stock
1 cup Apple juice
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 3.8oz can of picked green chiles
1 19oz can black beans, drained and rinse
1 5.5 oz can tomato paste
1/4 cup basmati rice (or any other rice in a pinch)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro , minced
1/2 cup vegan "cheese," grated (optional)
In a large saucepan on medium heat, saute onions in oil until translucent. Add red peppers and saute for an additional 2-3 mins. Add water, juice, oregano, cumin, salt, cayenne and green chiles. Bring to aboil, then reduce heat and simmor for 5 min. Stir in the beans, tomato paste and rice. Cover with lid and simmer 15-20 mins. or until rice is cooked. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Stir in cilantro just before serving and and top each bowl with some vegan cheese. makes 2 large or 4 small servings.
I usually double or triple the recipe so I have it for the week. You can also freeze it and save it for later!!
Enjoy :)
Day 1: What did I eat??
I woke up this morning excited for my new journey.
Breakfast: I ate a bowl of oatmeal with craisons and a glass of water.
Lunch: a BLT sandwich with wholegrain toast, iceburg lettuce, tomatoes and Smartlite Veggie Bacon, with Nayosaise spread. with a glass of POM juice
Snack: Reduced Fat Wheat Thins with homemade Hummus.
*We had the Wheat Thins from before, and I only looked up afterward that they contain Sugar, and therefore are most likely not vegan. Gotta Nix them.
One of my goals in this whole process is to eat less processed foods in general so that will go hand and hand with avoiding white sugar, white flour etc.
Week 1 shopping List
Many people have told me that being vegetarian or vegan is expensive and you can only shop at Whole Foods to get what you need to eat. That is incorrect! I save a lot of money by shopping at Ocean State Job Lot, Xpect Discounts, Trader Joes, and Stop and Shop for what I need.
Ocean State Job Lot:
Vegetable Broth: 2.00
Salada Tea 2.50
Progresso Lentil Soup 1.50
Progresso vegetable Soup 1.50
13 oz bag of Almonds 2.99 x 2
Bob's Redmill Flaxseed Meal 2.99
12 oz bag of Pistachio 4.50
Black Pepper 1.00
Almond Extract 1.00
22.97
Xpect Discounts:
Mama Marys Whole Wheat Pizza crust 2 pack 3.39
Yogi Cereal- Digestive Health- 1.99
Yogi Cereal- Almond and Cherry- 1.99
Simply Orange Juice 3.50
Mayers Brothers Apple Juice 1.79
Frozen Chopped Broccoli 16oz 1.00
Head of Lettuce .99
Red seedless Grapes 2.35lbs - 5.38
Strawberry 1 lb 2.00 x2
Tomatoes 2.00
Blueberries pint 2.50 x2
Bananas, 2.5lbs 1.23
Scalfani Tomatoe paste .49 x 2
Portbello Mushrooms 2.29
Carrots, 1lb .99
Hanover Black Beans .79
Hanover Red Beans .79
Finest Garbanzo beans .67
Garlic bulb .48
Mixed Bell Peppers 5.23
44.48
Stop and Shop:
Quorn Naked Chikn Cutlet : 4.79
Cucumber: .99
"Nayonaise" 3.69
Smart Bacon 3.99
16.95
Total Weekly Grocery Cost: 84.40
Week One- Shopping List
Now this list is going to be a little more full since its my First time going vegan. Next week should be lighter.
Canned goods:
Canned Beans (Chicpeas, kidney, black, cannellini, navy, green northern, black eyed peas, pinto, soybeans, vegetarian refried beans.
Canned Tomatoes: (Whole peeled, stewed, crushed, fire-roasted, tomato paste.)
Canned Soups: (Split pea, lentil, minestrone, carrot, tomato, bean, chili)
Sauces and Dressings:
Marinara and Pizza Sauces
Salad Dressings
Curry paste
Stir-fry sauce
salsa
Hummus
Condiments:
Tamari soy sauce
Tahini
Eggless Mayonnaise
Barbecue sauce
Vegan Worcestershire sauce
Spreads and Syrups
Liquid sweeteners: Agave nector, maple syrup and brown rice syrup
Jams, Jellies, Perserves
Nut and seed butters: almond, peanut, cashew, macadamia, sunflower seed, and hemp seed butters.
Vinegars:
Seasoned rice
Balsamic
apple cider
Oils:
olive,
sesame,
canola,
coconut
Herbs, spices and vegetable stocks
Meal ideas (Week 1)
Week One
Breakfast Ideas:
Oatmeal with raisons or crasons or with apples and cinnemon.
Cereal or granola with almond or soy milk
Fruit Smoothies
Non-dairy Yogurt with Fresh Fruit, Granola, Nuts, Seeds, and Ground Flaxseeds
Toasted Whole-grain bread or Bagel with Tofutti Cream Cheese or Vegan Margarine
Blueberry pancakes
Tofu Scramble
Banana chocolate chip muffins
Lunch Ideas:
Better-Than Tuna Salad Sandwich: with eggless mayonnaise.
Green Salads
Soups
Peanut Butter and Jell sandwich
Veggie Grain or Pasta Salad
Tomato Sandwich (or BLT with vegan bacon)
Dinner ideas:
Pasta with Marinara sauce ( and eggplant balls!)
Quick no-queso Quesadillas
Veggie Fajitas
Easy Asian Menu: Thai salad with orange ginger vinaigrette, miso soup, with edamame.
Veggie burger with french fries
Bean Chile
Marinated Portobello mushroom steaks
Assessment: Pre 30 Day Vegan Challenge
Happy New Year! I hope you are all ready to start a brand new, fresh and wonderful 2012!
In Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's book The 30 Day Vegan Challenge, she asks you to evaluate yourself before you start the challenge, to see where your starting point is. Since today is my first day, and I just woke up, ( I know, kinda late, but its New Years Day!) I am going to write down my self-evaluation now.
How do I feel now?
-Physically: I feel fat, tired, and lazy. I just have this heavy feeling to me, and its hard to get out of bed in the morning. I feel like I'm always tired. I have also had really bad dry skin on my scalp lately, and its really uncomfortable.
-Emotionally: I feel like I need a change. (Which is why this is good) I feel stuck- like something is holding me down, and a little empty. Sometimes I feel emotionally stable, other times I feel completely lost. I wish I could stabilize my emotions.
-Spiritually: Spiritually I feel like I am in an okay place. I am not a very religious person; this is to say I dont believe in one specific God or religion- I simply try to live my life in the most positive light as possible and pass that good around. I'd say I'm good in this area, but could always use more positive light.
What are my intentions for doing the 30 Day Vegan Challenge:
My intentions for doing the 30 Day Vegan Challenge are to feel better physically ( I just want to Feel more Awake, energized, and clean) and challenge myself to do something difficult that I might not have done otherwise. I know it is going to take a lot of strength and self control in order to complete the 30 Day Challenge, so I want to find that strength within me and learn as much as I can about the benefits of a Vegan diet, nutritionally, and morally.
What goals do I want to attain by the end of 30 days:
My goals are to:
Lose 8 pounds in the 30 days.
Lower my BMI
Learn 10 new Vegan recipes
Post daily or bi-daily about my progress.
What am I most afraid or anxious about?
Right now, sitting here, it being my first day- I am nervous about what I am going to eat today. I want to make sure I have choices to eat and I am anxious about letting go of cheese LOL, and also that many products have hidden whey and milk or eggs in them, and that it will be hard to dissect everything to tell if it is vegan or not.
I am also anxious that my family and friends wont be accepting or open to my diet change, and will be defensive or offensive about it.
What am I anticipating being the most challenging aspects of these 30 days?
Not eating cheese, and dissecting processed foods from dairy and egg products as well as Going out to eat at certain restaurants that may not necessarily be vegan-friendly.
What am I anticipating being the most exciting aspects of these 30 days?
Committing to a positive changes. I am excited to feel physical positive changes in my body. I anticipate feeling more energy and I am excited about learning about the positive effects of veganism in the world.
*When I have completed the 30 days, I have another assessment I will fill out.
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