I had a bunch of odds and ends laying around in open bags and not a lot of airtight containers. So I threw this together, mixed it up, and it was delicious!
Rye chips, flavored with garlic salt.
Raw sunflower seeds.
Raw almonds
Sesame sticks
Chives
Ground peppercorn
Seriously, amazing. And my normal, non-vegan roommate can vouch for it!
I think some sea salt, raisin, currants, or dried bananas would make it even better, but I couldn't reach the raisins or currants and don't have banana chips or sea salt:/
Peace, passion and love.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Two Months!
I wish I had a happier two month review for you, I really do. Unfortunately, during tech week, I fell of just about every wagon you CAN fall off of (except for meat). I decided to just ride it out for tech week, my plan was to cleanse all day on Monday, and then jump to twice a week only for dairy. My cleanse did not go as anticipated, mostly because I was away from my green cleansing juice for a large part of the day, a part in which I got fairly hungry. My meal wasn't anti-vegan, persay, it just wasn't cleansing. I've been...okay this week. Honestly, changing my eating habits has been a lot harder the second go round. I don't know why. I'm craving things I haven't craved in weeks prior to falling of the dairy and junk food wagon, and I'm exhausted even on days that I AM eating well. It's not fun.
Yesterday, for my two month anniversary, I went to get some Mexican food and I WAS good then. I just had veggie fajitas with guacamole, and it was freakin' delicious, so that did make me feel better. I'm still determined to stick to it, it's just, for whatever reason, a lot harder right now.
Part of it may be that I had no money for groceries prior to this week, and no time to grocery shop until today. Who knows, I'm going to go grocery shopping in a bit, and hopefully that will make things better :)
On the bright side there are incentives to going back. I've been told I look better, I DO remember feeling better, etc. So we'll see what this upcoming week brings.
Yesterday, for my two month anniversary, I went to get some Mexican food and I WAS good then. I just had veggie fajitas with guacamole, and it was freakin' delicious, so that did make me feel better. I'm still determined to stick to it, it's just, for whatever reason, a lot harder right now.
Part of it may be that I had no money for groceries prior to this week, and no time to grocery shop until today. Who knows, I'm going to go grocery shopping in a bit, and hopefully that will make things better :)
On the bright side there are incentives to going back. I've been told I look better, I DO remember feeling better, etc. So we'll see what this upcoming week brings.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Comfort Food
Hello All,
Tonight I bring you healthy but comforting food, straight from my own adventures in trial and error!
My current obsession is oatmeal, but not those irritating little packages. Get the giant, flavorless kind but then doctor it up. I like to put a teensy bit of REAL peanut butter (IE, one where the ingredient list is "peanuts" and nothing else) and a dollop or so of maple syrup. SO good, and tastes like something your mother would make you while you were ill (in a good way).
Speaking of stuff your mother used to make, make your own vegetable soup. Honestly, I don't have a fool proof recipe, but if you use a vegetable broth base alone, it can, admittedly be a little flavorless. Solution? Throw some organic tomato paste in there as well as as many vegetables as possible.
Whole wheat toast with hummus. Simple, smooth, yummy.
Organic mashed potatoes. Use rice milk instead of milk, olive oil instead of butter, and then doctor it any way you like! I like adding garlic and rosemary (for the really ambitious, roast your added ingredients separately).
Real/whole apple sauce. Self-explanatory, I think.
If your like me and love the taste of espresso but hate how much caffeine there is, as well as how much sugar lattes end up with, try a "watered down" homemade version. Brew some coffee, and while it's brewing steam your own not-milk (for taste, I'd go almond milk, for health I recommend rice milk) by heating over medium heat and whisking until boils. Keep whisking after you turn down the heat. It should make it frothy through most of it. Then simply combine in a coffee mug/cup/wine glass.
Don't lose pasta just because your losing weight! A big part of my diet is organic, whole-wheat rotini and various healthy sauces; marinara, olive oil and wine, etc. etc.
I hope some other vegans will add their own thoughts and ideas! I actually had a lot of fun compiling this list, and would love to include more some day.
Tonight I bring you healthy but comforting food, straight from my own adventures in trial and error!
My current obsession is oatmeal, but not those irritating little packages. Get the giant, flavorless kind but then doctor it up. I like to put a teensy bit of REAL peanut butter (IE, one where the ingredient list is "peanuts" and nothing else) and a dollop or so of maple syrup. SO good, and tastes like something your mother would make you while you were ill (in a good way).
Speaking of stuff your mother used to make, make your own vegetable soup. Honestly, I don't have a fool proof recipe, but if you use a vegetable broth base alone, it can, admittedly be a little flavorless. Solution? Throw some organic tomato paste in there as well as as many vegetables as possible.
Whole wheat toast with hummus. Simple, smooth, yummy.
Organic mashed potatoes. Use rice milk instead of milk, olive oil instead of butter, and then doctor it any way you like! I like adding garlic and rosemary (for the really ambitious, roast your added ingredients separately).
Real/whole apple sauce. Self-explanatory, I think.
If your like me and love the taste of espresso but hate how much caffeine there is, as well as how much sugar lattes end up with, try a "watered down" homemade version. Brew some coffee, and while it's brewing steam your own not-milk (for taste, I'd go almond milk, for health I recommend rice milk) by heating over medium heat and whisking until boils. Keep whisking after you turn down the heat. It should make it frothy through most of it. Then simply combine in a coffee mug/cup/wine glass.
Don't lose pasta just because your losing weight! A big part of my diet is organic, whole-wheat rotini and various healthy sauces; marinara, olive oil and wine, etc. etc.
I hope some other vegans will add their own thoughts and ideas! I actually had a lot of fun compiling this list, and would love to include more some day.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Seven Weeks!
...Fell off the wagon this week, with tech rehearsal for a show I'm directing, and just grabbing grabbing grabbing. HOWEVER, I am going to do a detox on Monday/Tuesday after the show ends and then go off of dairy except for once a week, and completely off of other animal products. So stay tuned, because the eight week mark should be epic!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Six Week Mark
Tomorrow, or 'today' as most of you reading will refer to it, marks the six week anniversary of The Great Cheese Cutback/My Vegan Transformation/The Latest Crazy Thing I'm Doing. It has been slightly tumultous, but not nearly like I thought it would be. I did a form-type thing again, but I added some grocery list samples to lighten the mood a bit.
Biggest Change I Consciously Made:
~Probably cutting out soda cold-turkey. This isn't even a vegan thing, but I'm really secure in this decision as part of my overall goal to be healthier and happier.
Biggest Change I Subconsciously Made:
~After I cut back on cheese, it made more sense to me to start cutting back on all dairy and introducing substitutes already. I also completely stopped using dairy or eggs in my own cooking, only when others cook for me or I go out to eat have I consumed them. I never set out to reach levels of this journey that I have so quickly, but I am glad that it's happening.
Things I Need Improvement On:
~Remembering how little coffee it takes to actually boost my energy now; cutting back on refined sugar; reading ingredient lists to avoid accidental ingestion; talking about it less and driving non-dieting/non-vegan people less crazy; keeping fruits and veggies stocked so I'm not tempted to backslide; adding an exercise plan (to go into effect immediately upon my show closing).
Old List of Grocery Staples:
~Milk, eggs, coffee creamer, coffee, three different kinds of cheese (at least), pasta, pasta sauce, bananas, fake meat, bread, a certain soda.
New List of Grocery Staples:
~Nuts, Rice milk, bananas, blood oranges, coffee, chocolate rice milk (as opposed to creamer), pasta, pasta sauce, brown rice, more veggies than I feel like taking the time to list, whole-grain bread or whole-grain tortillas, real juice.
How I Feel:
~Pretty great, actually! I've said before that the results of eating healthy and sticking to my guns far outweigh the instant gratification that I used too (and occasionally still do, it just has a different form) seek from food, and it still rings true. Additionally, I do have a good bit of energy that I'm not used too. I get out of bed at a decent hour (according to my lifestyle) naturally, and even after a draining rehearsal I still have energy to hang out with people/get a little more work done/attempt some late-night yoga/etc. This is a huge and amazing change in my life.
Things I'm Still Not Happy About:
~Some substitutes are a little pricey; eating out is a little tricky (although I'm getting my footing pretty well); figuring out the balance of nutrients is a bit time-consuming; I am utterly terrified to travel out of the Twin Cities and see what happens, restaurant-wise. This is a major issue for someone who gets as wanderlusty as me, but I am hoping around mid-March to be able to force myself to face it; I am trying to fix a mental issue (dependance on food for comfort/reward/punishment) physically (cutting out problem foods), which can be done by sheer force of willpower. It's not a perfect method, however. I still struggle not to let me old demons rear their nasty head, and It's made for some pretty emotional nights. However, the end result of nights that I DO resist is a surge of self-esteem and empowerment, and that almost makes it worth it.
I think that just about covers everything. I bared my soul a little towards the end there, but don't be too sad for me! I'm doing pretty good and feeling pretty good-who could ask for more?
Peace, passion, and love.
Biggest Change I Consciously Made:
~Probably cutting out soda cold-turkey. This isn't even a vegan thing, but I'm really secure in this decision as part of my overall goal to be healthier and happier.
Biggest Change I Subconsciously Made:
~After I cut back on cheese, it made more sense to me to start cutting back on all dairy and introducing substitutes already. I also completely stopped using dairy or eggs in my own cooking, only when others cook for me or I go out to eat have I consumed them. I never set out to reach levels of this journey that I have so quickly, but I am glad that it's happening.
Things I Need Improvement On:
~Remembering how little coffee it takes to actually boost my energy now; cutting back on refined sugar; reading ingredient lists to avoid accidental ingestion; talking about it less and driving non-dieting/non-vegan people less crazy; keeping fruits and veggies stocked so I'm not tempted to backslide; adding an exercise plan (to go into effect immediately upon my show closing).
Old List of Grocery Staples:
~Milk, eggs, coffee creamer, coffee, three different kinds of cheese (at least), pasta, pasta sauce, bananas, fake meat, bread, a certain soda.
New List of Grocery Staples:
~Nuts, Rice milk, bananas, blood oranges, coffee, chocolate rice milk (as opposed to creamer), pasta, pasta sauce, brown rice, more veggies than I feel like taking the time to list, whole-grain bread or whole-grain tortillas, real juice.
How I Feel:
~Pretty great, actually! I've said before that the results of eating healthy and sticking to my guns far outweigh the instant gratification that I used too (and occasionally still do, it just has a different form) seek from food, and it still rings true. Additionally, I do have a good bit of energy that I'm not used too. I get out of bed at a decent hour (according to my lifestyle) naturally, and even after a draining rehearsal I still have energy to hang out with people/get a little more work done/attempt some late-night yoga/etc. This is a huge and amazing change in my life.
Things I'm Still Not Happy About:
~Some substitutes are a little pricey; eating out is a little tricky (although I'm getting my footing pretty well); figuring out the balance of nutrients is a bit time-consuming; I am utterly terrified to travel out of the Twin Cities and see what happens, restaurant-wise. This is a major issue for someone who gets as wanderlusty as me, but I am hoping around mid-March to be able to force myself to face it; I am trying to fix a mental issue (dependance on food for comfort/reward/punishment) physically (cutting out problem foods), which can be done by sheer force of willpower. It's not a perfect method, however. I still struggle not to let me old demons rear their nasty head, and It's made for some pretty emotional nights. However, the end result of nights that I DO resist is a surge of self-esteem and empowerment, and that almost makes it worth it.
I think that just about covers everything. I bared my soul a little towards the end there, but don't be too sad for me! I'm doing pretty good and feeling pretty good-who could ask for more?
Peace, passion, and love.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Healthy Tips!
Here are some of my favorite tips to aid you in any dietary journey you may be on...or just for general health and wellness!
-Use miso paste instead of soy sauce on anything you would normally put soy sauce on. It'll be just as delicious, but is jammed packed with nutrients.
-"An apple a day..." doesn't have to be an apple, but I try to pack at least one fruit into my diet every day (usually more). It sounds kind of "duh" but fruit gets so overlooked. It's not meal food, most people don't want it for desert...but if you can remember to snack on it, you'll be in good shape.
-Cook lots of food at once, refrigerate and have fast meals for a few days.
-Ban "Canola" or other comparable oils from being in your house. Focus on olive oil, sesame oil, flaxseed oil, etc. Healthier oil helps you absorb vitamins better and is lower in fat.
-Sneak spinach into everything. Not a huge fan of greens? I have to be in the mood for them, so I DO understand. However, I like to chop up spinach really fine and throw it into everything I possibly can. It's essentially tasteless and textureless this way but gives you iron and other essentials that you might be missing out on.
-Throw away everything you know about meal composition. As a child we are taught that dinner is something very specific: A vegetable, a meat, a starch, and bread. Instead think of it as : a serving or two of healthy protein, as many vegetable and whole grains as your little heart desires. The end. Or mix it all together. Or, best yet (even though I never practice what I preach here) don't eat three meals a day. Eat as many SMALL meals as you can.
-Raw nuts are better for you than peanut butter or something comparable. Truth.
-Don't avoid healthy fat! Chickpeas, avocados, and certain oils should be your best friend if you're trying to be healthy.
-Try new things. I don't think any diet can be successful if you only cut things out. You must introduce new, healthy foods to your diet! If you know something is good for you but have never tried it, then do. This goes double for cooking methods and spices.
-GREEN TEA SHOULD BE YOUR BEST FRIEND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. Cold or hot. It jump starts your metabolism, fend off sickness, and soothes any existing sickness. I like mine plain, but adding a teensy bit of honey, agave nectar, or sweetened rice milk isn't the worst thing you could do.
-Remember that you love yourself. Why is this a health tip? Because what would you feed your child, your best friend, or your mother if their health were your primary concern? The same thing should go for yourself.
Some of these I've spoken of before, but repeat tips often help me really get them engrained, so I thought it might help you too!
-Use miso paste instead of soy sauce on anything you would normally put soy sauce on. It'll be just as delicious, but is jammed packed with nutrients.
-"An apple a day..." doesn't have to be an apple, but I try to pack at least one fruit into my diet every day (usually more). It sounds kind of "duh" but fruit gets so overlooked. It's not meal food, most people don't want it for desert...but if you can remember to snack on it, you'll be in good shape.
-Cook lots of food at once, refrigerate and have fast meals for a few days.
-Ban "Canola" or other comparable oils from being in your house. Focus on olive oil, sesame oil, flaxseed oil, etc. Healthier oil helps you absorb vitamins better and is lower in fat.
-Sneak spinach into everything. Not a huge fan of greens? I have to be in the mood for them, so I DO understand. However, I like to chop up spinach really fine and throw it into everything I possibly can. It's essentially tasteless and textureless this way but gives you iron and other essentials that you might be missing out on.
-Throw away everything you know about meal composition. As a child we are taught that dinner is something very specific: A vegetable, a meat, a starch, and bread. Instead think of it as : a serving or two of healthy protein, as many vegetable and whole grains as your little heart desires. The end. Or mix it all together. Or, best yet (even though I never practice what I preach here) don't eat three meals a day. Eat as many SMALL meals as you can.
-Raw nuts are better for you than peanut butter or something comparable. Truth.
-Don't avoid healthy fat! Chickpeas, avocados, and certain oils should be your best friend if you're trying to be healthy.
-Try new things. I don't think any diet can be successful if you only cut things out. You must introduce new, healthy foods to your diet! If you know something is good for you but have never tried it, then do. This goes double for cooking methods and spices.
-GREEN TEA SHOULD BE YOUR BEST FRIEND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. Cold or hot. It jump starts your metabolism, fend off sickness, and soothes any existing sickness. I like mine plain, but adding a teensy bit of honey, agave nectar, or sweetened rice milk isn't the worst thing you could do.
-Remember that you love yourself. Why is this a health tip? Because what would you feed your child, your best friend, or your mother if their health were your primary concern? The same thing should go for yourself.
Some of these I've spoken of before, but repeat tips often help me really get them engrained, so I thought it might help you too!
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