Veganism Debunked :)

I'm putting this on Veganista, so I thought I'd share with you, too!

Sometimes Matt and I catch flack for our diet choices.  When most people find out that we eat a plant-based whole foods diet, they think we're stinky hippies.  That, and they don't understand why we do what we do.  But always, there is the inevitable question that makes me want to scream: "But, if you don't eat meat, how do you get enough protein?".  It's not their fault, they have bought into what years over Western overeating has preached.  This is extremely annoying to Matthew and me.

I was told by someone who had never researched or done so much as to read one article about plant-based diets that I was unhealthy.  Really?  Every time my blood pressure is taken people are astonished, I'm not skin and bones, heck, I eat a TON, and my body glows from the inside out.  I'm perfectly fine.  Maybe you should read a little more...

And there is always the, "What are you going to do when you get pregnant?".  Ummm, DUH.  If I think this diet is best for me, and I want the best for my child, I'm going to continue eating healthy.  Maybe a little more soy ice cream than normal, but what gives?  Vegan moms produce healthier birthweight and laboring babies.  

As for my children, ah, yes.  This is tricky.  You want the best for your kids, right?  But you also want them to make their own choices.  So we've decided on raising our children as vegans.  When they procure their own money they may spend it on whatever they want.  If it's a cholesterol filled burger, so be it.  That's their money, not mine.  They are affecting their own health, not mine.

My Twink, aka Sarah Flory, recently posted this infographic on Pinterest, and it actually led me to the post.  Click HERE!

A big shout out to my parents who laughed when I became a vegetarian in high school, rolled their eyes when I joined PETA, but always supported my decision.  Thanks for putting up with me when I won't eat things you labored over (the roast and veggies looked and smelled great, but they were marinated with the meat...sorry!), and for listening to me when I rag you about a plant-based diet (Dad).  But most of all, thanks for being proud of me for daring to be a little out there.  LOVE YOU!

Soul Food

Yet again, I had to indulge. I miss home so much!! My favorite foods of all time are typical southern treats. Well, besides the fried stuff ;)

So tonight I made steamed green beans, black eyed peas and rosemary sweet potato nuggets (like the fries, but in home fry form).



Oh, and don't forget the fresh tomato slices!

Next time you are craving soul food, fear not veggie lover. You can have your heritage and eat it, too!

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Southern Delights

The other night I was craving some soul food from back home. So, I decided to make a goulash of sorts.

Because we don't have fresh Southern veggies (WAH!) I had to resort to the frozen variety. I dumped two cans of diced tomatoes in a pot, then added a bag of frozen butter beans as well as a bag of frozen okra. After seasoning (I use the Spicy Mrs. Dash and Texas Pete) and cooking on medium heat for about 45 minutes, it was ready to go!



In honor of NOLA tradition, I put it all on top of a serving of quinoa, in place of rice.

YUM TOWN!



Add some fresh steamed green beans, and you have a feast!!

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The Pup's Officially a Vegan!

For the past few months, Matt and I have been trying to track down some reasonably priced organic vegan dog food. The task proved a lot harder than we anticipated. But we found it! And it just came in yesterday :)



It only cost a couple of dollars more than what we were feeding him, and there is free shipping! It only took a week for the food to get here. How awesome is that!?

It's called V-Dog, and I actually found it via PETA's website.

In addition to the food change, I've switched Patton from his daily Fish Oil to Flax Seed Oil.



He loves it! He always thinks vitamins are candy, anyways.

As always, Pup adores his veggies. He'd do anything for a sweet potato, red bell pepper or banana. We are so lucky to have such an accommodating and healthy pup!
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Fasting and Miso

I've been fasting this week, and no, it's not because of Ramadan.  I just finished a FANTASTIC book called Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr, and learned so much about the benefits of fasting!

Fasting is basically consuming liquids and cleaning out your system, usually when you're feeling a bit sluggish and "gunky" - at least, that's what I call it :)

After a couple of weeks of indulging on processed treats, fasting seemed like the natural solution.  That being said, one should consider their health when fasting.  Those who are ill or elderly should be more careful.  Pregnant women should not fast at all.

So what does a fast include?  First of all, LOTS of water!!  Drink more than you usually do.  Flush that system out!  You can cater a fast to your own preferences, but check out Crazy Sexy Diet or Crazy Sexy Life for more information.

For me, it includes drinking a cup of water before I get out of bed.  It's best if this water is warm, even better if it has a squeeze of lemon or apple cider vinegar.  Then, when I get hungry, I drink a juice smoothie.  I just throw an apple, pear, banana, fresh berries, spinach, carrots, and a teaspoon or so of spirulina into the trusty Vitamix.  Ummmm!  

This juice smoothie keeps me wired and full until lunch.  Then, I indulge in one of my favorite meals ever - miso soup!  You can make your own with miso paste, or buy it in packets.  I prefer paste, but whatever you like is best.  I add a few pieces of nori (seaweed) and slurp away.  DELISH.  And yes, nori is not liquid, but it is SO important to eat your sea veggies!!

Through the rest of the day, make sure you are drinking tons of water, and if you get hungry, drink fresh fruit juice or a smoothie or another bowl of miso soup.

For dinner, I usually eat some tasty veggie soup.  Yes, solids again.  But, the majority is liquid, and I feel you benefit more from the beans and veggies.  Legumes have so much protein, and help move things right out of your colon.  Terrific!  But they also use a lot of water, so make sure you are hydrating.

If I'm craving dessert (ummm, ALWAYS!) I drink a glass of rice milk with some Nesquick mixed in.  Yes, it has sugar :(  But it has vitamins, and most important - chocolate!  Plus, if you aren't indulging every once and a while, you are sure to go overboard one day.  

Check out Crazy Sexy Life for more information.  And next time you're feeling gross, consider a fast, and if you're really brave,  a colonic!   

Market!

Yesterday, Brett and I went to the local market. Kaiserslautern's Farmer's Market is on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Saturday is the standard day for us, and they have more vendors then. But we were out of town this weekend and needed veggies stat, so we headed downtown.

Let's start with the artichokes. Aren't these simply gorgeous?!


Then I picked up some random beans. They were pretty, and I love beans, so I thought, why not?


And of course, I got a kilo and a half of tomatoes. You can never have enough!

This is what our kitchen looks like after a market day:


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Vegan Derby Pie

So my mother and mother-in-law make this FANTASTIC dessert called a Derby or Kentucky Derby Pie. It is basically a chocolate chip pecan pie, and tis the best thing that ever came out of the South (besides collard greens, of course).

Most desserts I try to veganize fail the first few times. I often give up or just wait a few months to try it again because I'm not a dessert person, and if I have sweets lying around, I or my darling sweet tooth of a Hubby will devour them within a couple of days.

This confection, however, is a family favorite. And because it's been so long since we've had one of mom's famous Derby pies, we decided to make one ourselves.

I cannot give out our family's secret recipe, but if you are interested, I'm sure Google can appease you.

To veganize, simply substitute Ener-G for eggs and Smart Balance vegan substitute for margarine.

We started with dry...


Added in the wet ingredients...


Baked...


And ATE!


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