These Are A Few of My Favorite (Vegan) Things.

This journey has been a wee bit challenging in it's second week, but more on that tomorrow. I wanted to just post some of my favorite things (products, brands, general things) that have really helped me stay on track, and why they're good for me. Maybe it will even help some of you add some life back into your own diet.

• Hummus. While slightly higher in fat than I should be eating, it's mostly healthy fat. Additionally it's packed with vitamins, is low-ish in calories, and you can cram it full of other veggies to sneak some in.
• Smoothies! Eating a plant based diet makes me feel wonderful, but sometimes I just don't have time to sit down and prepare this many fruits and veggies in a day. Enter smoothies.
• Onions and garlic. Not ideal date food at all, I am well aware. However, adding onions to your food adds a lot of water, fiber, and a ton of Vitamin C. Garlic is heart healthy, and adding these to your food adds a lot of flavor that otherwise vegan food could potentially be lacking.
• Blood oranges. Delicious, and a very potent punch again of water, fiber, and Vitamin C.
• Trader Joe's! This grocery store is seriously the best thing that ever happened to healthy people. I spent only $25 there and managed to get vegan bread, vegetarian meatballs, wine, vegan foccaccia, really yummy and healthy juice, ginger tea, agave nectar, whole wheat pasta, and coconut milk creamer. Additionally, I saw things I had just bought at a rival store for a dollar or two cheaper on the item and kicked myself. Hard.
• Multi-vitamins. I honestly don't have the time to calculate my food and how much of every good thing there may or may not be in it, and plan and cook accordingly. I think people should do it, but I just can't right now. So I have a multi-vitamin formulated for vegetarian women. I don't think the brand is important, so much as what's in them and how soluble they are. However, there is one thing about vitamins that people don't realize; you need to be drinking a ton of water and eating enough healthy fat for most vitamins to dissolve and be absorbed properly by your body. I am in no danger of this being an issue, but people who are relying solely on black coffee and the carb-ier side of things may not be doing their body any good by taking a multi-vitamin. As such, I also take Omega 3 supplement for vegetarians, just to cover my bases. (And yes, there are such vegetarian/vegan formulas. Check your health food store, or do some googling, find a brand that sounds good, and see what the closest one to you is).
• Miso paste. I loved miso soup already, and this is still my favorite form to use it in. While some forms of soy product are not great for you, miso is healthy for virtually everybody. It regulates your hormone levels, has been thought to prevent many types of cancer, contains a lot of B vitamins, easily soluble protein, and when used with seaweed (like in miso soup and certain miso pastes) it also helps regulate cholestrol and lower blood pressure. I am trying to eat mostly superfoods, but this is one of the most "super" foods I have found. It tastes great when mixed in sauces for veggies, rice, soups, ethnic noodles, etc.
• Ginger root. Any time you majorly change your diet, your stomach may have an adverse reaction at first even if you are being really healthy. This is normal and passes quickly but is still unpleasant. Ginger aids digestion healthily and naturally, and you won't even notice your stomach digesting differently.
• Agave nectar. Lighter than honey, better for you than sugar. 'Nuff said.
• Anything from Cascadian Farms, especially the granola bars and cereal. SO yummy, and completely organic.
• Coffee. I am unable to go completely off caffeine for a number of reasons. PCOS means extreme fatigue sometimes, my body is probably addicted, my lifestyle means a lot of late nights followed by moderately early mornings (and this is a career thing as much as a chosen lifestyle thing), etc. etc. Coffee is really not that bad for you if you don't doctor it up with a ton of sugar and cream. In fact, a lot of studies show that it can help prevent diabetes (which was a large reason I even started this journey), and it is just as rich in immune system boosting antioxidants as some juices. Furthermore, I use creamer made from coconut milk (BEWARE OF POWDERED NON-DAIRY CREAMER. IT IS NOTHING BUT LAB-FORMULATED CHEMICALS AND TASTES TERRIBLE), which is less sugary than other creamer. Just make sure if you imbibe very frequently that you drink a ton of water.
• Other vegan/healthy lifestyle blogs. My friends have been unendingly supportive, but none of them are on this journey with me. The fellowship of the blog stratosphere is the closest thing I've got, but you know what? It's been wonderful.
• Tea! Tea! Tea! Even before I went health nut I touted the wonderful effects of tea on my life. For awhile I was drinking a cup or more of green tea every single night, and I lost about ten pounds that month without even really trying. I got a little lazy, and am trying to get back to it now. Green tea especially should be an important part of your diet. It is loaded with antioxidants, and it kicks your metabolism up a huge notch. Additionally, it is a tasty way to sneak more water into your diet. You still need to drink water, but tea helps get you there quicker. The steam alone can also be really good for your sinuses, any muscle pain, or any chest congestion.
• Minneapolis/St. Paul. While not strictly vegan, there are so many wonderful, healthy, and still affordable options for groceries, restaurants, and general merriment.

That's it for now. I am still excited to be on this journey, but honestly there have been a few more difficult days. I will blog more about the process tomorrow as it marks the end of my second week!