Do you remember the first pair of sneakers you bought that molded to your feet and hardly felt like shoes at all? You wore them long past the time you should have thrown them away. Or maybe instead you have a favorite book, one that you return to over and over, simply because it speaks to you like no other book does.
When you find something you love, it's hard not to keep coming back to it. I hope you finally found the will to toss the sneakers, but chances are you'll never pitch the book. That's the way I feel about foods I've grown to love. Now, don't get me wrong. I'd much rather eat whole foods that I've prepared myself, but I'm also realistic. Some days I just don't have time to prepare an entire meal from scratch. Or maybe I can, but I don't want to also bake a loaf of bread from scratch every time I put together dinner. There's something to be said for the age of convenience.
That doesn't mean, though, that all convenience foods are equal (you know exactly what I mean). When I buy those types of foods today, I'm looking for products that are healthy, preferably organic, and vegan (of course!). Here is a list of some of my favorite brands:
Alvarado Street Bakery breads: Not all of their breads are vegan (some contain honey), but many are. My local grocery store right now only carries their breads, but I hope they begin carrying some of their other products soon (like bagels and tortillas). What I really like about their products is that many of their breads are made from sprouted seeds (like sprouted rye or sprouted wheat). When you eat sprouted seeds rather than flour, your body digests it more easily. They also don't use GMO (genetically modified) foods, and that is a huge plus for me. Most of their products contain no dairy or eggs, so most of their goods are vegan. YAY! If you're curious, you can check out Alvarado St. yourself!
Amy's Kitchen products: Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while will find this entry as no surprise. Not all of Amy's products are vegan, but a good many are. More than that, though, Amy's prides itself for using natural and organic ingredients, and none of their ingredients are genetically modified. Amy's makes frozen foods, canned foods (like soups), and other products. Those products of Amy's that are not vegan are vegetarian. Some of my favorite Amy's products include the Bean and Rice Non-dairy Burrito (I will never grow tired of these!), the Black Bean Vegetable Enchilada entree, and the No Chicken Noodle Soup. And what would I do without their Roasted Vegetable Pizza? They label their vegan products so you can find what you need without wondering. Want to see their website yourself? Amy's Kitchen.
Kashi: Not all of their products are vegan, but like Amy's, they label the ones that are. I have to admit it: I love several of their frozen vegan entrees. On nights where I feel like I just can't do another thing, it's nice to be able to pop one of their entrees in the microwave. My faves include Black Bean Mango (so unusual but really good!), Mayan Harvest Bake (again, strange, but in a good way), and the Tuscan Veggie Bake (more traditional if your taste buds just want good old-fashioned comfort food). You can check them out here: Kashi.
Galaxy Nutritional Foods Rice Vegan American Flavor "Cheese" Slices: Most vegans I know worship at the alter of Daiya. Daiya's not bad, but it doesn't taste like cheese to me. I don't know how to describe it, but my taste buds are not fooled for one second. I still use their cheddar and mozzarella shreds, but I just can't embrace them as the vegan cheese. I've tried lots of vegan cheeses, and few have satisfied that occasional craving I get. That is, except one. When I use Galaxy's rice vegan American slices in a sandwich, I can believe I'm eating a good ol' slice of American cheese. I can't just have a grilled cheese sandwich, but if I have a veggie sandwich with a slice of rice vegan (or make a plate of nachos with refried beans, salsa, and rice vegan), I am happy! I have to go out of town to buy this cheese, so I'm glad I don't eat it a lot, but I'm looking forward to the day when my local health food store carries Galaxy products.
Boca: I'd almost bet there isn't a vegetarian out there who hasn't heard of Boca (well, American veggies, at any rate). I don't like all Boca products, but they do have a few I like. If you buy Boca, you'll notice that they package their non-GMO soy products differently, and those are the ones I buy. They are in brown packages, whereas their regular products are in red. Sometimes, dang it, I want a burger and fries, and I don't care how unhealthy they are, but my burger still has to be vegan. Some Boca products I love (all the non-GMO soy versions): Vegan Meatless Burger, Original Chik'n Patties, Original Chik'n Nuggets, Spicy Chik'n Patties, and Ground Crumbles. I don't know what I'd do if they didn't have non-GMO versions! I used to love Morningstar Veggie Patties, but they use egg products (and probably GMO products as well), so I hope someday Morningstar jumps on the vegan, non-GMO soy bandwagon...but I'm not holding my breath. Thank goodness Boca did!
505 Southwestern: I'm a sucker for a good salsa. Heck, I'm a salsa junkie. There. I admitted it, and I feel better now. 505 products aren't targeted toward vegan audiences, so I guess they're what PETA would call "accidentally vegan." My favorite products are both of their medium salsas, regular and chunky. I use them in and on so many foods. Their products are all natural, and any products that has just a few ingredients is better than a food that has dozens! For instance, that medium salsa I told you about? Seven ingredients, and one of them is water! So it's not an entire meal...but it can make any blah meal awesome! Check out 505 yourself and see what you think.
As I complete this list, I realize I've left off some products that aren't registering with me right off the bat. I think this list will give you a good idea, though, so next time you're too tired to whip up an entire meal from scratch, consider one of these products!
Showing posts with label eating vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eating vegan. Show all posts
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Monday, February 28, 2011
Attacked by Carnivores
The other day, I was talking to a new vegetarian friend of mine (she's not newly vegetarian, just a new friend!). She was talking to another woman at work about vegetarianism in general. I was passing by and she stopped me, asking how long I'd been a Vegi. She and her husband have been vegetarians for a couple of years. I told her that (as of now!) I've been vegetarian for two years and purely vegan for about seven months now (I did have vegan days and weeks during my vegetarian days--heck, I even had them when I was an omnivore!).
She then asked me something like this: "Have you ever noticed that non-vegetarians are sometimes kind of nasty when you mention that you're vegetarian?"
"Yes! Absolutely. Why is that?"
My friend then went on to say that she thought it is probably because non-vegetarians feel like we're judging them automatically, because of the choice we've made (which, by the way, is not a decision we took lightly). That's not entirely true. If anyone asks, I will tell them my thoughts, feelings, and rabid opinions about my eating choice, but you know what? I was a regular American for a good chunk of my life, eating everything the American diet had to offer. How can I judge someone who is living a life like I did? Do I think meat eaters are bad people? Absolutely not.
So...it was nice to hear another Vegi's thoughts on the whole attack issue. Do I sometimes feel attacked by people when I tell them I'm vegan? Sure, yeah. Does it break my heart? Not even. But it is nice to have a better understanding of perhaps the motivations behind the anger. And, I guess, if my presence makes them a little uneasy, that's fine too. Maybe that will lead them to question their decisions. And a little thought never hurt anyone.
She then asked me something like this: "Have you ever noticed that non-vegetarians are sometimes kind of nasty when you mention that you're vegetarian?"
"Yes! Absolutely. Why is that?"
My friend then went on to say that she thought it is probably because non-vegetarians feel like we're judging them automatically, because of the choice we've made (which, by the way, is not a decision we took lightly). That's not entirely true. If anyone asks, I will tell them my thoughts, feelings, and rabid opinions about my eating choice, but you know what? I was a regular American for a good chunk of my life, eating everything the American diet had to offer. How can I judge someone who is living a life like I did? Do I think meat eaters are bad people? Absolutely not.
So...it was nice to hear another Vegi's thoughts on the whole attack issue. Do I sometimes feel attacked by people when I tell them I'm vegan? Sure, yeah. Does it break my heart? Not even. But it is nice to have a better understanding of perhaps the motivations behind the anger. And, I guess, if my presence makes them a little uneasy, that's fine too. Maybe that will lead them to question their decisions. And a little thought never hurt anyone.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Confused about What Vegan Really Is?
Okay...so this story makes me feel a little guilty. Stick with me!
Earlier this week at work, one of the women from another department brought me a bag of homemade cookies. She had apparently been passing out little bags of cookies to lots of different people. When she came to my office, she said, "I know you're vegan, so I made you these special cookies." I thought that was very sweet. She started naming off ingredients like quinoa flour and such, and then she said honey. I couldn't help it, but I just blurted out, "I don't eat honey." It's true. I don't. Most vegans don't. It's animal protein (even though it's an insect and not a large animal), but I also don't appreciate what bees go through when we steal their honey. Daniel Hammer, in his article entitled "Is Honey Vegan?", explains it best:
She frowned and said, "What? You don't eat honey? Why not?"
I replied, "It's an animal product."
She said, "Animal?"
I then said, "Yes, lots of vegans don't eat honey."
Again: "Why not?"
"Do you know what they do to bees to get their honey?"
Then her tone completely changed and she said, "Oh. You're one of those PETA vegans, huh?"
I'd been reading Rory Freedman (an outspoken well-known vegan) earlier that day and felt empowered. I kept my tone calm and said, "I am vegan for every reason there is to be a vegan--for health, the planet, and animals."
Anyway, both she and I agreed that my carnivorous children would enjoy the cookies, and the next day I composed a Thank You card where I simply thanked her for the thought and told her I appreciated it. But I felt guilty. Guilty because I'd looked a gift horse in the mouth. Guilty because someone had done something so completely selfless and unsolicited. Guilty because I could have simply just said, "Thank you." But I didn't. I told her my feelings. Even without the honey, I don't eat a lot of sugar anyway. I suppose it would have been easy enough (I guess) to simply say thanks. In fact, when I related the story to my husband and daughter, they slapped their foreheads (a la "I coulda had a V-8") and said I should have simply thanked her.
But it's not that easy.
You see, the longer I am vegan, the more firmly I feel about my eating convictions. And I wanted to set the record straight. This woman told me a while back that her daughter is vegetarian. Well, what if her daughter becomes vegan? If the daughter were to become vegan, well, at least her mom will have a heads up about honey. And, while we're on that subject, not all sugar is vegan either. In fact, most cane sugar is not vegan, and it's because of the filtering process. When I use sugar, I usually use Sugar in the Raw (which is vegan) or Sucanat. If you're curious to learn more, you can read "The Great Sugar Debate: Is it Vegan?"
So, I suppose I need to be calmer, but if you're going to cook for a vegan, you might want to find out what that means. For example, I would have been perfectly happy with Agave in those cookies! :)
Earlier this week at work, one of the women from another department brought me a bag of homemade cookies. She had apparently been passing out little bags of cookies to lots of different people. When she came to my office, she said, "I know you're vegan, so I made you these special cookies." I thought that was very sweet. She started naming off ingredients like quinoa flour and such, and then she said honey. I couldn't help it, but I just blurted out, "I don't eat honey." It's true. I don't. Most vegans don't. It's animal protein (even though it's an insect and not a large animal), but I also don't appreciate what bees go through when we steal their honey. Daniel Hammer, in his article entitled "Is Honey Vegan?", explains it best:
Honeybees . . . are able to experience pain and suffering . . . . Honey, beeswax, bee pollen, royal jelly, propolis and venom are taken from bees for human uses. In the process of acquiring these, beekeepers regularly disturb the bees’ homes by removing the honeycombs from the hive. When this is done some bees will inevitably be injured or crushed, and any bees who sting the beekeepers will also die.So, anyway, I blurted out, "I don't eat honey," implying that I wouldn't eat the cookies.
She frowned and said, "What? You don't eat honey? Why not?"
I replied, "It's an animal product."
She said, "Animal?"
I then said, "Yes, lots of vegans don't eat honey."
Again: "Why not?"
"Do you know what they do to bees to get their honey?"
Then her tone completely changed and she said, "Oh. You're one of those PETA vegans, huh?"
I'd been reading Rory Freedman (an outspoken well-known vegan) earlier that day and felt empowered. I kept my tone calm and said, "I am vegan for every reason there is to be a vegan--for health, the planet, and animals."
Anyway, both she and I agreed that my carnivorous children would enjoy the cookies, and the next day I composed a Thank You card where I simply thanked her for the thought and told her I appreciated it. But I felt guilty. Guilty because I'd looked a gift horse in the mouth. Guilty because someone had done something so completely selfless and unsolicited. Guilty because I could have simply just said, "Thank you." But I didn't. I told her my feelings. Even without the honey, I don't eat a lot of sugar anyway. I suppose it would have been easy enough (I guess) to simply say thanks. In fact, when I related the story to my husband and daughter, they slapped their foreheads (a la "I coulda had a V-8") and said I should have simply thanked her.
But it's not that easy.
You see, the longer I am vegan, the more firmly I feel about my eating convictions. And I wanted to set the record straight. This woman told me a while back that her daughter is vegetarian. Well, what if her daughter becomes vegan? If the daughter were to become vegan, well, at least her mom will have a heads up about honey. And, while we're on that subject, not all sugar is vegan either. In fact, most cane sugar is not vegan, and it's because of the filtering process. When I use sugar, I usually use Sugar in the Raw (which is vegan) or Sucanat. If you're curious to learn more, you can read "The Great Sugar Debate: Is it Vegan?"
So, I suppose I need to be calmer, but if you're going to cook for a vegan, you might want to find out what that means. For example, I would have been perfectly happy with Agave in those cookies! :)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Using What You Have on Hand to Make a Meal
I myself have a hard time doing this, but I'm getting better. Where I live, we have an organic farmer who works with local vendors and supplies a bag of organic, fresh fruits and vegetables delivered to my door once a week. That practice in itself has taught me to use what I have before it goes bad.
You see, in the past, I've made purchases of fruits and veggies on sale with the best of intentions. Then, a week or so later, it wouldn't be uncommon to also find me pitching that food, moldy and slimy, into the garbage or the compost bin. What a waste! A waste of money and good food.
The good news is I can buy grains and beans and they'll last for a while, but veggies are perishable. Perishable soon. So they have to be used fairly quickly. So I've begun buying staple veggies--lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, for example--every week that I know will get used that week, no matter what's scheduled for a meal. But other veggies that I buy on sale, I've started finding recipes for, whether in one of my cookbooks or online. That way, I find new ways to use those vegetables before they go bad (and so I'm saving instead of wasting money), and I also get to try new foods. I hope you can find ways to do that too!
You see, in the past, I've made purchases of fruits and veggies on sale with the best of intentions. Then, a week or so later, it wouldn't be uncommon to also find me pitching that food, moldy and slimy, into the garbage or the compost bin. What a waste! A waste of money and good food.
The good news is I can buy grains and beans and they'll last for a while, but veggies are perishable. Perishable soon. So they have to be used fairly quickly. So I've begun buying staple veggies--lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, for example--every week that I know will get used that week, no matter what's scheduled for a meal. But other veggies that I buy on sale, I've started finding recipes for, whether in one of my cookbooks or online. That way, I find new ways to use those vegetables before they go bad (and so I'm saving instead of wasting money), and I also get to try new foods. I hope you can find ways to do that too!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Vegan Snacks
Just because I'm vegan now doesn't mean I don't like to snack! The problem is that most snacks found in the snack aisle are just plain bad for us! Most snacks are loaded with preservatives, sugars, fats, and lots of other hidden (bad!) ingredients. But here are a few ideas that aren't so bad and some that are even good!
- Potato chips...yes, I know there are better ways to eat a potato, but once in a while, a chip craving hits. A potato chip is arguably better than other snacks loaded with sugar, dairy, salts, and fats. Potato chips, as long as they're plain and only have salt and some type of healthy vegetable oil, are better than a lot of snacks a person could grab! Besides, there are lots of organic, earth-friendly companies who make potato chips, and they're pretty upfront about what's in their bags!
- Still thinking chips? How about tortilla chips and salsa or bean dip? In fact, I'd even consider the dips--homemade, of course--to be healthy!
- Nuts! Peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds...there are so many snacks to choose from that balance healthy amounts of plant protein and fats. Now, you don't want to overdo it with nuts, but they definitely should be part of a vegan's diet.
- Popcorn. I'm talking made-at-home popcorn and not the microwavable kind...that kind is full of nasty fats and chemicals. Enough said. But if you make your own the old-fashioned way, with a little coconut oil and sea salt, I think this could be considered a decent snack! Air-popped corn is good too but sometimes a little bland.
- Celery and peanut butter. Who can resist the crunch?
- Pickles (dill or sweet), olives, and other canned finger foods. These can be crunchy or tangy and can definitely fill that empty spot!
- Fruit! Put a bowl of fruit in the middle of the dining room table for a quick snack anytime. Bananas, oranges, apples, grapes, or any other fruit that grabs your fancy. Fruit is a natural snack. Raisins are great too and sometimes have that little extra kick of sugar we sometimes crave!
- Hummus and crackers.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A Former Meaty Cook Transforms into a Vegan
So how do we do that? I had hundreds of dishes that I was "famous" for...recipes like green chili (with pork), chicken and dumplings, and spaghetti that I adapted from my mother and other recipes that I discovered and adapted over the years...things like chicken piccata and arroz con pollo. See the theme here? Meat, eggs, cheese all over the menu. So even though I relished becoming vegetarian and then vegan, I had a few things I was sad to let go. But no fear. Really. I am slowly adapting every last one of my recipes and changing them to vegan. And you know what? They taste just as good to me.
Take my green chili, for instance. I thought I could never (and would never) eat it again. But my husband said he was really missing it, so one day I thought to myself, "Why not just make it? Just leave out the pork." And you know what? It was freaking awesome!!! I'll admit I did increase the amount of anaheims I used to use and I added a little bit of jalapeno, but other than that, it was the same recipe. I did something different then with chicken and dumplings (because my daughter was complaining that she missed them) and arroz con pollo. I bought some Boca Chik'n Nuggets and substituted them for chicken. I don't think the chicken and dumplings will ever be the same (but they weren't bad!), but the arroz con pollo was perfect.
Those dishes are fairly simple to adapt, in my opinion. My fear was baking. And I kept telling myself that I'm vegan now. I shouldn't have a bunch of baked stuff. But you know what? I can and I will. Don't worry--I'm still getting lots of raw, nutritious foods (I eat plenty of raw fruits and veggies every day as snacks!), but why can't I have baked goods on occasion? There's no good reason not to. So now I'm starting to slowly adapt those recipes. Take my cornbread, for instance (there's a picture early in the blog, after the Week One menu). It used to use milk and eggs, and it was slathered with butter after it was cooked. It was full of animal protein and fat. Well, why not change that? I did. I simply removed the eggs, so it was a little heavier than the original version, but I'm okay with that. It makes it feel heavier and more filling. And I used soy milk instead of regular milk. Then I topped it with vegan margarine instead of butter. And I was happy!
So...the lesson here? If you have chosen to become vegan like I have, go for it. Don't worry about missing old favorites. You'll figure out how to adapt them at some point, and you'll be glad you did. Happy eating!
Take my green chili, for instance. I thought I could never (and would never) eat it again. But my husband said he was really missing it, so one day I thought to myself, "Why not just make it? Just leave out the pork." And you know what? It was freaking awesome!!! I'll admit I did increase the amount of anaheims I used to use and I added a little bit of jalapeno, but other than that, it was the same recipe. I did something different then with chicken and dumplings (because my daughter was complaining that she missed them) and arroz con pollo. I bought some Boca Chik'n Nuggets and substituted them for chicken. I don't think the chicken and dumplings will ever be the same (but they weren't bad!), but the arroz con pollo was perfect.
Those dishes are fairly simple to adapt, in my opinion. My fear was baking. And I kept telling myself that I'm vegan now. I shouldn't have a bunch of baked stuff. But you know what? I can and I will. Don't worry--I'm still getting lots of raw, nutritious foods (I eat plenty of raw fruits and veggies every day as snacks!), but why can't I have baked goods on occasion? There's no good reason not to. So now I'm starting to slowly adapt those recipes. Take my cornbread, for instance (there's a picture early in the blog, after the Week One menu). It used to use milk and eggs, and it was slathered with butter after it was cooked. It was full of animal protein and fat. Well, why not change that? I did. I simply removed the eggs, so it was a little heavier than the original version, but I'm okay with that. It makes it feel heavier and more filling. And I used soy milk instead of regular milk. Then I topped it with vegan margarine instead of butter. And I was happy!
So...the lesson here? If you have chosen to become vegan like I have, go for it. Don't worry about missing old favorites. You'll figure out how to adapt them at some point, and you'll be glad you did. Happy eating!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Environmental Reasons to Become Vegan
This article was originally published on Suite101.com. To see the article in its entirety and its original state, click on this link: Environmental Reasons to Become Vegetarian.
There are many reasons people become vegetarian--most often, people stop eating meat because of their health or for ethical reasons. But sometimes people become vegetarian for environmental reasons.
The term "sustainable agriculture" is often used when vegetarians speak of their choice to be meatless to save the environment. The idea is that farming should be self-sustaining (sustainable farming can include raising cattle). Because a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle requires less water and pollutes less, it is considered to be more sustainable.
Go Vegetarian to Save Water
Ed Ayres, in the Time Magazine article “Will We Still Eat Meat?” lays out the facts in no uncertain terms. He says, "To produce 1 lb. of feedlot beef requires 7 lbs. of feed grain, which takes 7,000 lbs. of water to grow." Note that he equates 7,000 pounds of water to raising just one pound of beef to maturity. Considering many feedlot cows can end up weighing well over 1,000 pounds, it's not hard to see how much water is used to simply fatten up cows for slaughter.
Global Warming Concerns
Most people have heard that global warming is caused by an increase in the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and carbon-specifically carbon dioxide (CO2)-is usually identified as a culprit. Some people don't know that methane is also a large contributor to global warming. The Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook cites John Robbins's arguments that cattle on the planet "produce nearly 100 million tons of methane." Robbins's organization, the EarthSave Foundation, also mentions that cattle are just one of many other animals that are consumed by human beings.
Deforestation
The Vegetarian Society claims that meat eating causes deforestation in two ways. The first is that land (such as rainforest) is cleared to grow grain to feed cattle; the second is that land is also cleared to raise cattle. They mention that one "third of the world’s land suitable for growing crops is used to produce feed for farmed animals." It is "inefficient" to use land to feed animals that become food for human beings when using the land to directly feed people would result in more food and less land use.
Environmentalism Can Start With One's Diet
It really is possible to save more water and contribute less to global warming by going vegetarian or--at the very least--reducing one's consumption of meat than by doing many other things that help lessen one's carbon footprint.
(Original article publication date: September 20, 2009.)
Friday, October 8, 2010
Being a Vegan in a Meat-eating Family
No, it's not easy. My teenage daughter pokes fun at me (it's all in fun, yes, but she's so darned picky and she hates veggies. I suppose if that's her extent of rebellion, I should be happy!). My husband misses the days when I cooked with meat (although he does like some of my new dishes and is quite supportive, even when he does feel a little deprived). My boys are a little more supportive than my daughter, but the entire family (except for yours truly!) enjoys the occasional (shudder) White Castle burger. And when we go to grandma's (my mother)? They bemoan to her about how I've abused them with tomatoes and cauliflower, bell peppers and wild rice...
All joking aside, it's easier now than it was when I first converted. My carnivorous family eats meat a few days/nights a week (I teach at our local community college two nights a week, so they can cook animal flesh to their hearts' delight without a look or word from me); when I cook, they know there won't be any animal protein at all. And seriously...there's a lot less complaining now than there was at the beginning. In fact, the family's beginning to like a few of the dishes I make. When I made "Chipotle-clone" burritos, for example, they chowed down! (We don't have a Chipotle in our town, or we'd probably eat there A LOT! We hunt them down whenever we have to head to the big city.) As I perfect my new versions of my old favorites, they're beginning to enjoy as I learn from my mistakes. For example, I've made and re-made spaghetti sauce and chili, experimenting with herbs and spices and different veggies, figuring out how to make the perfect meatless version. The last time I made chili, there wasn't a drop left. All I had to do was add fresh jalapenos (not many), and voila! (Is that proper chef etiquette to use three languages in the same sentence?)
So if any of you are lonely vegans like I was, take heart. If you can get clever, you can keep them eating with you. I'm not a huge tofu fan (but I will eat it on occasion), so it's not like the food I make for my meat-eating family is "strange" or "yucky." They like tortillas. They like pasta. They like lettuce, tomatoes, and watermelon. I just have to show them that I don't need meat or dairy to make a delicious, hearty meal. And I get better and more versatile every day.
One last thing...I was never a huge mushroom fan (I liked the flavor but hated actually chewing on them). Now I can't get them enough. Isn't that crazy? And now eating a piece of steak grosses me out. Funny how things change!
All joking aside, it's easier now than it was when I first converted. My carnivorous family eats meat a few days/nights a week (I teach at our local community college two nights a week, so they can cook animal flesh to their hearts' delight without a look or word from me); when I cook, they know there won't be any animal protein at all. And seriously...there's a lot less complaining now than there was at the beginning. In fact, the family's beginning to like a few of the dishes I make. When I made "Chipotle-clone" burritos, for example, they chowed down! (We don't have a Chipotle in our town, or we'd probably eat there A LOT! We hunt them down whenever we have to head to the big city.) As I perfect my new versions of my old favorites, they're beginning to enjoy as I learn from my mistakes. For example, I've made and re-made spaghetti sauce and chili, experimenting with herbs and spices and different veggies, figuring out how to make the perfect meatless version. The last time I made chili, there wasn't a drop left. All I had to do was add fresh jalapenos (not many), and voila! (Is that proper chef etiquette to use three languages in the same sentence?)
So if any of you are lonely vegans like I was, take heart. If you can get clever, you can keep them eating with you. I'm not a huge tofu fan (but I will eat it on occasion), so it's not like the food I make for my meat-eating family is "strange" or "yucky." They like tortillas. They like pasta. They like lettuce, tomatoes, and watermelon. I just have to show them that I don't need meat or dairy to make a delicious, hearty meal. And I get better and more versatile every day.
One last thing...I was never a huge mushroom fan (I liked the flavor but hated actually chewing on them). Now I can't get them enough. Isn't that crazy? And now eating a piece of steak grosses me out. Funny how things change!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Reasons to Become Vegan
This article was originally published on Suite101.com. To see the article in its entirety, click on this link: Reasons to Become Vegetarian. If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re already vegan or on your way, so you might decide to skip this post!
TheUnited States
People Become Vegetarians for Health Reasons
Due to the increased fiber found in most vegetarian diets, other benefits include fewer gastrointestinal problems or discomfort. The above website also states that vegetarians have fewer problems with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, food-borne illness (such as E. coli and salmonella), and strokes. Considering that-according to the Centers for Disease Control-heart disease, cancer, and stroke are the top three causes of death in America (diabetes is number six on the list), many people have good reasons for avoiding the consumption of meat.
People Become Vegetarians for Environmental Reasons
Many people worry about the impact a meat-based diet has on the environment. Considering recent concerns about climate change and global warming, it's no wonder many people look to their eating habits and decide to change.
GoVeg.com boldly states, "The most serious environmental problems of our time are all directly linked to eating meat." The website outlines the grave environmental impact a meat-based diet causes. Some vegetarians who aren't necessarily concerned about their health worry about their carbon footprint and choose a meatless diet for that reason alone.
People Become Vegetarians for Ethical Reasons
Some vegetarians--many of them vegans--choose not to eat meat for ethical reasons. These people often object to eating meat because it means that an animal had to die to feed them, and sustaining their own life by killing an animal is not a good enough reason to eat meat. Many vegans also feel that eating dairy products (including eggs) or other animal products (like honey) exploits animals and, thus, choose not to eat any animal-based foods.
Becoming a Vegetarian is a Personal Choice
Some vegetarians have chosen this lifestyle not for one but multiple reasons. Whatever the case, there is no end to the amount of information available to anyone who decides to change her eating habits.
The
People Become Vegetarians for Health Reasons
Perhaps one of the most common reasons people choose a vegetarian lifestyle is for health reasons. Consider this fact: "The total direct medical costs in the United States
Due to the increased fiber found in most vegetarian diets, other benefits include fewer gastrointestinal problems or discomfort. The above website also states that vegetarians have fewer problems with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, food-borne illness (such as E. coli and salmonella), and strokes. Considering that-according to the Centers for Disease Control-heart disease, cancer, and stroke are the top three causes of death in America (diabetes is number six on the list), many people have good reasons for avoiding the consumption of meat.
People Become Vegetarians for Environmental Reasons
Many people worry about the impact a meat-based diet has on the environment. Considering recent concerns about climate change and global warming, it's no wonder many people look to their eating habits and decide to change.
GoVeg.com boldly states, "The most serious environmental problems of our time are all directly linked to eating meat." The website outlines the grave environmental impact a meat-based diet causes. Some vegetarians who aren't necessarily concerned about their health worry about their carbon footprint and choose a meatless diet for that reason alone.
People Become Vegetarians for Ethical Reasons
Some vegetarians--many of them vegans--choose not to eat meat for ethical reasons. These people often object to eating meat because it means that an animal had to die to feed them, and sustaining their own life by killing an animal is not a good enough reason to eat meat. Many vegans also feel that eating dairy products (including eggs) or other animal products (like honey) exploits animals and, thus, choose not to eat any animal-based foods.
Becoming a Vegetarian is a Personal Choice
Some vegetarians have chosen this lifestyle not for one but multiple reasons. Whatever the case, there is no end to the amount of information available to anyone who decides to change her eating habits.
(Original article publication date: September 10, 2009.)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Toxic Standard American Diet
We're poisoning ourselves everyday. I'm not talking about smoking or pollution, drinking, illicit drugs, or exposure to the sun or radiation. I'm talking about our food, the food we eat everyday.
Yes, our food. Dare I say we all have food poisoning?
If there are any carnivores out there reading this, you might consider stopping, but you should keep reading for your health's sake. Americans eat meat and other animal products, for starters. Hundreds of years ago, it used to be that the rich died of the diseases we all do now. Why? Because they ate the foods that all Americans eat now, things like meat and dairy products. Rich and poor can afford to eat these foods now, because the price of meat and dairy products are artificially deflated (along with certain crops) because they are subsidized by the U.S. government. Don't believe me? Find an independent farmer out there. Ask how much a steak or fryer costs from them wholesale. You'll probably be surprised. It's not just due to the savings of mass production (and I promise not to get on my soapbox about CAFOs here).
More than meat, look at all the refined sugars and other products in our diets, along with chemicals, and so many additives and preservatives, it's not even funny. And today we also have to deal with genetic modification of our foods. It's a wonder we live to be 50!!!
Here's a short list of junk you can find in most "safe" foods:
For more information, you can find all kinds of articles online. I have written a few articles on what is in our processed food (one such article, for example, talks about the "Common Hidden Ingredients" in microwaveable burritos). Some people purchase foods like this at the store every day. There are so many other horrible things we eat, sometimes things we think are healthy (like many salad dressings!). Frozen dinners and pizzas, soda, chips--yes. We know those things are bad. But even the items labeled "healthy" usually aren't.
Can we go too far? I'm not sure. Depends on how long you want to live but more than, how well you want to live while you're here. Many of these ailments/diseases are caused (directly and indirectly) by the food we eat and the personal care products we use (whether the mainstream media will admit it or not--I recommend checking out the website Natural News for more info). Some of these you'll know, but others you won't, and if you don't believe me, do a little digging. It'll shock you:
Yes, our food. Dare I say we all have food poisoning?
If there are any carnivores out there reading this, you might consider stopping, but you should keep reading for your health's sake. Americans eat meat and other animal products, for starters. Hundreds of years ago, it used to be that the rich died of the diseases we all do now. Why? Because they ate the foods that all Americans eat now, things like meat and dairy products. Rich and poor can afford to eat these foods now, because the price of meat and dairy products are artificially deflated (along with certain crops) because they are subsidized by the U.S. government. Don't believe me? Find an independent farmer out there. Ask how much a steak or fryer costs from them wholesale. You'll probably be surprised. It's not just due to the savings of mass production (and I promise not to get on my soapbox about CAFOs here).
More than meat, look at all the refined sugars and other products in our diets, along with chemicals, and so many additives and preservatives, it's not even funny. And today we also have to deal with genetic modification of our foods. It's a wonder we live to be 50!!!
Here's a short list of junk you can find in most "safe" foods:
- Animal fats and proteins (many of them hidden)
- Sugars, and sucrose is no longer the most common
- High fructose corn syrup
- Genetic modification (one of the most common is soy)
- Flavorings (just because it's natural, don't assume it's healthy or safe)
- Colorings (why do we have to add more color our food, for heaven's sake?)
- MSG
- Crazy amounts of additives, many of which are unnecessary and very likely unsafe
- Saturated fats
- Trans fats
For more information, you can find all kinds of articles online. I have written a few articles on what is in our processed food (one such article, for example, talks about the "Common Hidden Ingredients" in microwaveable burritos). Some people purchase foods like this at the store every day. There are so many other horrible things we eat, sometimes things we think are healthy (like many salad dressings!). Frozen dinners and pizzas, soda, chips--yes. We know those things are bad. But even the items labeled "healthy" usually aren't.
Can we go too far? I'm not sure. Depends on how long you want to live but more than, how well you want to live while you're here. Many of these ailments/diseases are caused (directly and indirectly) by the food we eat and the personal care products we use (whether the mainstream media will admit it or not--I recommend checking out the website Natural News for more info). Some of these you'll know, but others you won't, and if you don't believe me, do a little digging. It'll shock you:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Alzheimer's
- Osteoporosis
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Stroke
- Depression
Monday, October 4, 2010
Why Veganism?
I was raised in a meat-eating family. In fact, my dad hunted for food--deer, elk, antelope, and occasionally other animals like rabbits or quail. And it was viewed as acceptable on all levels--the USDA, for example, recommended so many servings of meat/meat protein daily; the Bible says that God had given us animals for food (Genesis 9:3); and my father had come from a very meat-and-potatoes background. Don't get me wrong--they ate lots of vegetables too, but a meal without meat just wasn't considered a meal.
So I was never taught--on any level--that there was anything wrong with eating animals. And understand this as well: I don't judge people who eat meat, but anyone who gets in my face about being vegetarian will get it back from me!
One of my first memories of eating meat is of chewing on a piece of steak. I don't know if it was gristly or not, but I remember chewing and chewing on the stupid thing and it wouldn't break down enough to go down my throat. And I came from an "eat-everything-on-your-plate" family, so I didn't dare spit it out. So I chewed and chewed and chewed some more. I think I might have finally given up. I don't really remember. But even at a young age, I was a vegetable fan. I didn't like green salads too much, but I loved just about any kind of vegetable I could get my mouth wrapped around, even the ones most other kids hated, like spinach, broccoli, and asparagus. Sure, I had my dislikes, but overall, I loved 'em.
When I left the nest to attend college, I found myself eating very little meat. Sure, I ate some. I had more at the cafeteria when I lived on campus (and it was usually in a dish, like Turkey Tetrazzini), but when I moved off campus, my meat eating really dropped. I worked for a pizza restaurant and had the occasional slice of pepperoni or ham and cheese sandwich, but I ate a lot of salads, pasta, and breadsticks. It was at the age of 20 that I realized I wasn't a huge fan of eating meat. I didn't usually admit it out loud, but I knew it in my heart even then.
When I married and had children (again, remember I was taught to cook the meat-and-potatoes way!), I found that ground beef was one of the cheapest meats out there (I didn't know at the time that meat is subsidized by the government so that its price is artifically deflated). So I became a master chef with hamburger, inventing dishes like Meatball Stew and perfecting old favorites like Spaghetti. I bought chicken once in a while and inherited fish and game meat from my parents. After cooking and eating this way for years and years, I began not feeling as healthy as I used to, particularly in the gastro-intestinal sense. My stomach bothered me a lot. I often felt uncomfortable and bloated after eating. And even after I stopped smoking (YAY!), I still had a lot of stuffy nose-type problems.
My husband asked me to put him on Atkins a few years ago. Ugh. It sounded too good to be true and it was. I lived with eating meat for my entire life, but eating this much meat, cheese, and eggs pushed me over the edge. Eggs quickly dropped off my list as did ham. I decided just a month into Atkins that I never wanted to eat those two things again! I didn't lose any weight (my husband lost a lot, though), and I felt miserable and totally unsatisfied. After a year of "doing Atkins" fairly faithfully, I decided it was definitely not for me.
Then, one day about a year and a half ago, my husband had been researching healthy eating again, and he came across a PETA challenge to eat vegan for thirty days. I jumped on the chance, as I had been considering vegetarianism anyway. So I prepared. I tried to cook all the meat in our freezer before we started. I bought a vegetarian cookbook. I stocked up on dried beans and frozen veggies. And I planned a thirty-day menu.
Well, a lot of the recipes were lacking flavor, but I was starting to feel better by the end of the month. The rest of my family, though, was feeling deprived. At the beginning of the next month, they resumed eating meat and I did not.
I feel lots better. But I didn't stop there. It was just the beginning of a long journey for me. I started researching the effects of a vegetarian and vegan diet. I now understand the health and environmental implications of a carnivorous diet. I have become a vocal advocate for healthier eating. I do try not to push my views on others (although my kids and husband will argue otherwise and, in their case, it's true), but I'm always happy to discuss it, and I write articles about vegetarianism regularly. And, let's face it--cheese comes from milk, and milk is taken from cows. Bottom line? It's exploiting cows.
And finally I have made it to being vegan. I said for a long time that I didn't think I could give up cheese (things like milk and eggs were easy), but--in my research--I've discovered that a lot of cheeses are not vegetarian (most cheeses use a product called rennet to culture them; rennet comes from cow and calf stomachs). In addition to that, cheese just really isn't healthy on many levels, from all the animal protein we ingest to its addictive qualities. In addition to that, though, cheese comes from milk, and milk comes from cows. Bottom line (and why many vegans are vegans): eating cheese exploits an animal, whether it's a cow or a goat. I breastfed all four of my children, and when I think of cows being milked their entire lives, it's very easy for me to say no to milk products. I felt that it was important that my children be breastfed, but I wouldn't want to breastfeed hundreds of people for the rest of my life! It's not natural!
So now you know. Am I radical? Maybe. I didn't used to be. But I'm glad I've become vegan. There's just too much stuff out there that we have to dig to find out...about eating meat, drinking milk, how our food is raised, grown, treated. Reading Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation started opening my eyes (I read that a few months before the PETA vegan experiment, so I was primed!), and I keep reading. I urge you to as well! And if you're becoming vegan and are still somewhat new to it (like I am) or are still considering it, good luck! It's not too hard once you get started. And now? I'll never go back!
So I was never taught--on any level--that there was anything wrong with eating animals. And understand this as well: I don't judge people who eat meat, but anyone who gets in my face about being vegetarian will get it back from me!
One of my first memories of eating meat is of chewing on a piece of steak. I don't know if it was gristly or not, but I remember chewing and chewing on the stupid thing and it wouldn't break down enough to go down my throat. And I came from an "eat-everything-on-your-plate" family, so I didn't dare spit it out. So I chewed and chewed and chewed some more. I think I might have finally given up. I don't really remember. But even at a young age, I was a vegetable fan. I didn't like green salads too much, but I loved just about any kind of vegetable I could get my mouth wrapped around, even the ones most other kids hated, like spinach, broccoli, and asparagus. Sure, I had my dislikes, but overall, I loved 'em.
When I left the nest to attend college, I found myself eating very little meat. Sure, I ate some. I had more at the cafeteria when I lived on campus (and it was usually in a dish, like Turkey Tetrazzini), but when I moved off campus, my meat eating really dropped. I worked for a pizza restaurant and had the occasional slice of pepperoni or ham and cheese sandwich, but I ate a lot of salads, pasta, and breadsticks. It was at the age of 20 that I realized I wasn't a huge fan of eating meat. I didn't usually admit it out loud, but I knew it in my heart even then.
When I married and had children (again, remember I was taught to cook the meat-and-potatoes way!), I found that ground beef was one of the cheapest meats out there (I didn't know at the time that meat is subsidized by the government so that its price is artifically deflated). So I became a master chef with hamburger, inventing dishes like Meatball Stew and perfecting old favorites like Spaghetti. I bought chicken once in a while and inherited fish and game meat from my parents. After cooking and eating this way for years and years, I began not feeling as healthy as I used to, particularly in the gastro-intestinal sense. My stomach bothered me a lot. I often felt uncomfortable and bloated after eating. And even after I stopped smoking (YAY!), I still had a lot of stuffy nose-type problems.
My husband asked me to put him on Atkins a few years ago. Ugh. It sounded too good to be true and it was. I lived with eating meat for my entire life, but eating this much meat, cheese, and eggs pushed me over the edge. Eggs quickly dropped off my list as did ham. I decided just a month into Atkins that I never wanted to eat those two things again! I didn't lose any weight (my husband lost a lot, though), and I felt miserable and totally unsatisfied. After a year of "doing Atkins" fairly faithfully, I decided it was definitely not for me.
Then, one day about a year and a half ago, my husband had been researching healthy eating again, and he came across a PETA challenge to eat vegan for thirty days. I jumped on the chance, as I had been considering vegetarianism anyway. So I prepared. I tried to cook all the meat in our freezer before we started. I bought a vegetarian cookbook. I stocked up on dried beans and frozen veggies. And I planned a thirty-day menu.
Well, a lot of the recipes were lacking flavor, but I was starting to feel better by the end of the month. The rest of my family, though, was feeling deprived. At the beginning of the next month, they resumed eating meat and I did not.
I feel lots better. But I didn't stop there. It was just the beginning of a long journey for me. I started researching the effects of a vegetarian and vegan diet. I now understand the health and environmental implications of a carnivorous diet. I have become a vocal advocate for healthier eating. I do try not to push my views on others (although my kids and husband will argue otherwise and, in their case, it's true), but I'm always happy to discuss it, and I write articles about vegetarianism regularly. And, let's face it--cheese comes from milk, and milk is taken from cows. Bottom line? It's exploiting cows.
And finally I have made it to being vegan. I said for a long time that I didn't think I could give up cheese (things like milk and eggs were easy), but--in my research--I've discovered that a lot of cheeses are not vegetarian (most cheeses use a product called rennet to culture them; rennet comes from cow and calf stomachs). In addition to that, cheese just really isn't healthy on many levels, from all the animal protein we ingest to its addictive qualities. In addition to that, though, cheese comes from milk, and milk comes from cows. Bottom line (and why many vegans are vegans): eating cheese exploits an animal, whether it's a cow or a goat. I breastfed all four of my children, and when I think of cows being milked their entire lives, it's very easy for me to say no to milk products. I felt that it was important that my children be breastfed, but I wouldn't want to breastfeed hundreds of people for the rest of my life! It's not natural!
So now you know. Am I radical? Maybe. I didn't used to be. But I'm glad I've become vegan. There's just too much stuff out there that we have to dig to find out...about eating meat, drinking milk, how our food is raised, grown, treated. Reading Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation started opening my eyes (I read that a few months before the PETA vegan experiment, so I was primed!), and I keep reading. I urge you to as well! And if you're becoming vegan and are still somewhat new to it (like I am) or are still considering it, good luck! It's not too hard once you get started. And now? I'll never go back!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Challenge
I've been a vegetarian for a year and a half and have been gradually becoming a vegan. I have now made the commitment to becoming entirely vegan. My family, though, are meat eaters and will eat vegan when I'm cooking. So, my challenge is to show my family (and anyone else) that eating vegan can be exciting and delicious.
I plan to create a dinner menu for every day of the year that is full of variety and nutrition, that is tasty, delicious, and mouth watering. You see, I've had a difficult time over the last year with coming up with recipes that continue to satisfy my carniverous family. I've managed to create a few hits.
Part of the challenge came from converting my old favorites. Most of my old dishes utilized some form of meat base. While not using meat for flavor was hard at first, I've adapted. And a lot of my old favorites are my new favorites in different form. Another part of the challenge was finding dishes that emphasized flavor. I bought a vegetarian cookbook, but some of the ingredients were too exotic or the dishes too bland. But more than that, just planning a meal was hard.
Not anymore. But I still meet lots of people who refuse to even try vegetarianism because it seems so boring. Well, it's not. And giving up dairy isn't too big a problem either once you have some ideas about what to make.
Part of my inspiration came from Women's Day magazine. I used to read that magazine a lot when I was first married, and one thing I liked was the monthly menu they included. It gave ideas for dinner meals every day of the month, sometimes even having dinners as "planned-overs," using food left over from the day before. I would like to do that too, only these menus will be vegan. My goal is to give you 365 menus with no repeats. By "no repeats," I mean no dinner will every be exactly the same. They might be similar (maybe you'll have the same salad twice, for example, but the rest of the meal will be completely different). I'll also include an occasional breakfast and lunch here and there in addition to the menu. I might even list a dessert here and there.
My goal for now is to write out a weekly menu. I'll include recipes (or links to recipes) when and where I can or at least give you the basics. Let's see just how many dinner ideas I can come up with. Happy reading (and eating)!
I plan to create a dinner menu for every day of the year that is full of variety and nutrition, that is tasty, delicious, and mouth watering. You see, I've had a difficult time over the last year with coming up with recipes that continue to satisfy my carniverous family. I've managed to create a few hits.
Part of the challenge came from converting my old favorites. Most of my old dishes utilized some form of meat base. While not using meat for flavor was hard at first, I've adapted. And a lot of my old favorites are my new favorites in different form. Another part of the challenge was finding dishes that emphasized flavor. I bought a vegetarian cookbook, but some of the ingredients were too exotic or the dishes too bland. But more than that, just planning a meal was hard.
Not anymore. But I still meet lots of people who refuse to even try vegetarianism because it seems so boring. Well, it's not. And giving up dairy isn't too big a problem either once you have some ideas about what to make.
Part of my inspiration came from Women's Day magazine. I used to read that magazine a lot when I was first married, and one thing I liked was the monthly menu they included. It gave ideas for dinner meals every day of the month, sometimes even having dinners as "planned-overs," using food left over from the day before. I would like to do that too, only these menus will be vegan. My goal is to give you 365 menus with no repeats. By "no repeats," I mean no dinner will every be exactly the same. They might be similar (maybe you'll have the same salad twice, for example, but the rest of the meal will be completely different). I'll also include an occasional breakfast and lunch here and there in addition to the menu. I might even list a dessert here and there.
My goal for now is to write out a weekly menu. I'll include recipes (or links to recipes) when and where I can or at least give you the basics. Let's see just how many dinner ideas I can come up with. Happy reading (and eating)!
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