Recipes!

After attending CT Veg Fest last weekend, I went out to eat with my non-vegan friends to Giovannis in Glastonbury, CT. It has been a long time favorite of mine and I asked the waitress if I could order cheese-less pizza and she informed me that I could! I ordered mushroom, onion, green pepper, and spinach pizza. Surprisingly I liked it BETTER than their pizza with cheese! I was so pleased with how accommodating they were.

Last Sunday I also attended the Somer's Chili Cook Off with my boyfriend and a bunch of friends. Although their was no Vegan Chili, I got to sample a lot of different types of Vegan friendly salsa. I also got to try some delicious mushrooms soaked in vinegar and chili spices.

Two recipes I have tried over the past two weeks and LOVED are:

Tofu Teriyaki Stir Fry (Self-created)


1 packet of cubed tofu (found in the produce section)
2 green squash
2 cups of chopped broccoli
Splash of vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 packet of Simply Asia Ginger Teriyaki Stir Fry Sauce
1 packet of Success brown rice (makes 3.5 servings, found at Stop N Shop)

I heated a frying pan and cooked the tofu on medium heat until it began to slightly brown, then I mixed in the rest of the ingredients and used vegetable oil only to prevent the ingredients from burning. Throughout the entire time I cooked (about 15 minutes total) I stirred in the sauce packet until I was satisfied with the consistency of the veggies and the Tofu. Cook for less time if crunchy veggies are desired and cook for longer for softer ones. I prefer crunchy. I cook the tofu first in order to get it to toughen up a bit, I don't like it too soft. I boiled the rice separately then added it into the frying pan near the end.
The meal lasted me about 3 days and it was phenomenal. It was a little high in salt but it was savory and filling.

Brown Rice Risotto (based on the recipe I got from The Whole Food's cooking demo)

1 small yellow onion, sliced into half moons
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 cup cremini mushrooms
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bag of Success Rice
2 cups of organic unsweetened Almond Milk
1/2 cup of kale
Sea salt to taste
Ground pepper

I boiled the rice ahead of time. Over medium heat in a wok (you can also use a large skillet but I didn't have one) I steam fried onions until they were translucent, and added veg broth to keep from sticking. I added mushrooms and cooked them until the juices were released (so cool to watch!) then added garlic. When the garlic became fragrant (30 secs later), I added 1-2 splashes of veg broth. I then added the rice, and stirred in about 1/2 cup of almond milk. I stirred for about 12 minutes and added a bit more veg broth and almond milk to keep a creamy consistency, and near the end I added the kale and stirred until it wilted. I added sea salt and pepper to taste.

This meal was so incredibly easy to make and so tasty that it has boosted my confidence in my ability to cook. The creamy consistency simulates a comfort food experience when eating it without the added calories or fat! I loved this meal so much that I was actually sad when I ran out of it. It lasted about 4 meals. Before the question is asked I want to respond that no the Kale does not taste bitter at all in this recipe, the almond milk and veg broth seem to mute the strong taste that this powerfully nutritious vegetable usually has.

Bon appetit!

CT Veg Festival

I attended the 2012 CT Veg Festival this past Saturday and I have to say that I was in Vegan heaven! I was surrounded by like-minded individuals, and experts in nutrition and wellness.

I attended the speaking topic: The Seven Habits of Healthy Vegans 7 presented by Ginny Messina, MPH, a dietitian specializing in vegan nutrition. She is the author of Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-based Diet. I found her to be very inspiring, intelligent, and an expert in her field. She also writes a blog titled: The Vegan R.D. where she shares information on the vegan lifestyle from a professional perspective. In the 45 minutes I spent listening to her speak, I learned a world of vital information. Mostly importantly, she recommends every Vegan take a B12 supplement (25micograms per day or 1,000 micograms 2-3xwk), iodine supplement (90mg-150mg 3-4xwk), vitamin D2 supplement, and a DHA & EPA (from algae) supplement in order to maintain optimal health. What I liked most about her what her was her genuine honesty when she revealed health studies that highlighted vitamin deficiency in Vegans. Though she had plenty of reasons to promote the lifestyle, she did make sure the audience was aware of the risk factors for developing vitamin deficiencies. I will deficiency be following her blog.

I also attended a food cooking demo presented by local Whole Food's stores. I learned how to make Black Bean Orzo, Brown Rice Risotto, Creamy Avocado Salad Dressing, and Chocolate Pudding! You'll never believe it but the chocolate pudding was made out of dates, avocado, almond milk, and vanilla extract....that's it! It was wonderfully sweet thanks to the dates and creamy thanks to the Avocado. I have already tried the Brown Rice Risotto recipe at home which I will share with you in my next blog entry this week. All of those recipes and more can be found on their "Health Starts Here" section of their website. All of the recipes were full of flavor due to the variety of vegetables and spices they used. I left feeling armed with ideas and new cooking skills.

Walking around and visting a number of exhibitors and trying a number of food samples a few stuck out to me. Mama Micki's All Natural Bakery cookies were so incredible that I bought a bag of the Vegan Chocolate Orange with Walnuts. The cookie literally melts in your mouth with flavor. I am usually not a huge fan of nuts mixed in with my treats but the pieces of walnut are so finely added in that they provide just a nice gentle crunch to the treat. Soya Foods were also memorable to me, especially their Jamaican Jerk tofette sample which is causing my mouth to water even as I just write about it. I am looking forward to purchasing some at the store and following one of their recipes that they have posted on their website. I was also able to try a number of tortilla chips at Pan De Oro All Natural Tortilla Chip's table, and purchased a bag of their pre-release herb and garlic chips. It took me about two days to polish those off, they paired well with refried beans and guacamole dip. Last but certainly not least, Vegan Pockets also made the list of my favorites. I am a fan of convenience foods that are packed with nutrients and flavor when faced with a busy day or no time to create a healthy meal. I can see Vegan Pockets being real life savors in a crunch for time! All of the products I mentioned can be found in local health food stores including Whole Foods.

Their was so much more to see and do that I ran out of time to participate in any more of the activities or attend anymore of the speakers. I look forward to returning next year and also attending similar events in the near future!

Coming Soon: My experiences enjoying pizza with non-vegan friends, enjoying a chili festival, and recipes!

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Vegan Eating in Cape Cod!

Hello Folks! Sorry it has been so long since I have updated, I have been very busy but I have a lot of great Vegan experiences to share with you! My sister invited me to a weekend getaway in Chatham, Cape Cod with her and her friends and I spent 3 gorgeous days sampling the local cuisine. I was pleasantly shocked at how easy it was to maintain my dietary commitment in a place that is known for its excellent seafood restaurants.

Friday:
My sister's friend and I drove to Chatham to meet the rest of the party after my grad class Friday afternoon, and arrived around dinner time. We chose the to eat our dinner at Camparis and I was able to order a simple marinara pasta seasoned with basil, garlic, and oregano. It was pretty tasty and paired perfectly with two nice glasses of red pinot nior.

Saturday:
We woke up early and visited the Lazy Lobster for breakfast. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of choices I had to create my own breakfast. I combined a number of side dishes which included black beans, a fruit bowl, and hash browns. The meal was wonderfully satisfying and packed with enough fiber, protein, and vitamins to prepare me for a long busy day.

We took a trip to Truro Vineyards and stopped to check out some local shopping stores along the way. The vineyard was beautiful and we were lucky enough to enjoy a wine tasting outdoors under the warm spring sun. On our way back we stopped in Wellfleet Cape Cod to visit The Bookstore Restaurant. Their was not anything strictly vegetarian or vegan offered on the menu but I was able to ask to modify a Turkey Avocado Wrap to make it Vegan friendly. I asked the waitress to eliminate the turkey, cheese, and mayonnaise which left me with a avocado, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pepper wrap. It was really tasty although I regretted not asking her for balsamic vinaigrette to dip it in.

For dinner we decided to visit Hyannis and try Embargo Marinis & Tapas Restaraunt. I am sure glad we did because the food was so excellent that my mouth is actually watering as I begin to write about it. Their were so many options available for both non-vegan and vegan eaters that our table sent the waitress away more than once while we struggled to decide on our orders. For anyone who is unfamiliar with tapas, they are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold or warm and are typically shared and combined to make a full meal. I finally settled on ordering a dish called the "Tree Hugga" which consisted of vegetable sushi rolls and hummus with lemon, herb & tabouli Salad and flat bread. The hummus was packed full of flavor and tasted amazingly fresh. The sushi rolls were voluptuous and satisfying. The whole party left feeling fat and happy. Embargo is now officially my favorite Cape Cod restaurant, and one I recommend everyone to try.

Sunday:
Before heading out we visited Chatam Coffee Company which I also fell in love with. Everything there is fleshly made in view behind the ordering counter and they pay attention to using natural ingredients and even had some Vegan food items. The atmosphere of the place made me feel at home and was decorated with creative recycled store items. I ordered a Cinnamon raisin bagel with marmalade jelly. I also grabbed a Vegan apple cinnamon square because it looked irresistible. On our way back home we visited some outlet stores and did some shopping (window shopping for me) and then got back on the road to travel home. We didn't stop for lunch so I ate my apple cinnamon square which was incredibly filling and perfect comfort food for a cold rainy Sunday afternoon drive.

After arriving home, my boyfriend Luc asked me to join him and our friends at India Kitchen in Manchester. I love Indian food so much that I frequently purchase Amy's Kitchen frozen Indian cuisine meals. Words can really not describe how incredible India Kitchen's food is. They had an entire page in their menu dedicated to vegetarian dishes! We ordered vegetable samosas for an appetizer along with garlic nan bread. I ordered mild Kadai Vegetable Curry which was phenomenal. It was sweet and yet spicy at the same time with a plentiful variety of vegetables and huge satisfying chunks of potatoes. The food was so incredible that if my budget allowed for it, I'd eat their 4 times a week at a minimum. The food is a bit on the pricey side but really is valued quite accurately. Our waiter told us to check Living Social and Groupon for discounts. The couple we ate with told us that the restaurant was responsible for turning them on to Indian food. For anyone living in the area, if you haven't already done so, please give this place a try, your taste buds will thank you.

Coming up this week: I plan to try a new self-created vegan recipe. I am also planning on attending Connecticut's Vegiterian and Healthy Living Festivle this weekend. Admission is free with a donation of a non-perishable vegan/vegetarian food item!

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Traveling Tastebuds

My posts have slowed down quite a bit due to being busy with grad school. This is going to be another long update but again, I probably will not post for another week. I had a wonderful weekend and was able to try a lot of yummy Vegan foods.

Friday:

I was able to recruit my boyfriend Luc, and our two best friends to try a a vegan restaurant in downtown New Haven, CT called Claire's Corner Copia. I ordered Tostada Frijoles which consisted of a crisp corn tortilla topped with organic refried beans, and salsa, served over organic greens, with chopped tomatoes, organic cucumbers, and red onion. I loved it and managed to clean my plate but I was disappointed by the lack of vegetables. It was mostly a large plate of refried beans on top of a tostada. I love refried beans so I could not complain but they did not provide an adequate portion of salsa and I had to really search for the veggies mixed in. For desert, I had a chocolate muffin which I found to be sort of dry and not very flavorful.

My friend Katy ordered a non-vegan Fire Island Sandwich which consisted of roasted spicy buffalo soy chicken, with roasted organic bellpeppers, and our queso blanco, melted cheddar and mozzarella. She rated it a 6 on a scale from 1-10 and stated that she loved it at first but after awhile she started to taste something that reminded her of rubbing alcohol and had to put the sandwich down.

My friend Mike ordered a non-vegan BBQ Soy Chicken Pizza which included Spicy soy chicken with barbeque sauce, red onion and cheddar cheese. It was his first time trying soy chicken and he stated that he was surprised by how much he enjoyed it. He didn't care for the cheddar cheese that they used stating that it didn't taste very good.

Luc ordered a cheese pizza which he described as: "ok." I guess he was not feeling up for a culinary adventure that day.

Claire's menu is humongous and I would like to return there sometime in the future to try some of the other dishes. The food was inexpensive and perfect for a vegan/vegetarian on a budget. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to get there seeing as their was not anything especially memorable about the food or the environment. The dining area was noisy and I had to watch my table mates eat their meals while I waited for mine due to the fact that they got my order wrong the first time.

Saturday:

I spent the day with two of my friends at the Danbury mall. We hadn't seen each other in a long while so we decided to treat ourselves to a lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. I was a little skeptical of what I may be able to find due to the name of the place but I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many options their actually were! I had a difficult time deciding but settled on an appetizer of guacamole with a meal of Mushroom Lettuce Wraps which consisted of shitakke mushrooms, green onion, ginger, garlic, and water chestnuts sauteed with mushroom soy. Serviced with crisp lettuce leaves. I thought my taste buds had died and gone to heaven. The appetizer and the meal were phenomenal! The guacamole was fresh and full of flavor. The mushroom lettuce wraps were difficult to eat and I made a mess at the table but it was worth the extra effort and the embarrassment. The best part was the price of my whole meal (appetizer, drink, and meal) was less 15 dollars which is incredible for a place that is usually reserved for the special occasions budget.

For dinner Luc and I went to Natori Sushi restaurant in Manchester, CT which is my favorite place to get sushi other than Sakura Garden in Glastonbury. I ordered Miso Soup along with asparagus and cucumber rolls. Once again, the cost of the meal was low. So far becoming a vegan has saved me a lot of money which I did not expect. One of the biggest excuses I hear from others about why they do not consume more plants is that they cost too much. So far, I have found the opposite to be true!

Saturday night I did attend a birthday party and was a little sad when I couldn't enjoy a piece of ice-cream cake but it didn't bother me enough to put a damper on my evening. The birthday girl also ended up ordering pizza for the party but I find that the longer I abstain from cheese the less appealing it is to me. Turning down the cake and pizza sparked a lot of talk about my Veganism. I enjoyed answering questions and teaching the people there that it was not such a strange and unusual commitment. After their curiosity peaked they became bored with it and the topic of conversation shifted away from what I do and do not eat.

As soon as I am finished with my grad class at the end of the week, I plan to buy a Vegan cookbook and start experimenting with recipes. I cannot wait to blog about those experiences.

My Mostly Vegan Easter Weekend!

I enjoyed a wonderful Easter Weekend exploring new places and eating a lot of Vegan-friendly food. It was also the first time I introduced my new vegan lifestyle to my family members. This entry may be a little long but I do not plan to write another post for a few days while I work on a major final paper that is due for my grad class in 2 weeks.

I enjoyed a wonderful Easter Weekend exploring new places and eating a lot of Vegan-friendly food. It was also the first time I introduced my new vegan lifestyle to my family members. This entry may be a little long but I do not plan to write another post for a few days while I work on a major final paper that is due for my grad class in 2 weeks.

Friday:

For lunch, my boyfriend Luc and I decided to check out a highly acclaimed Vegan restaurant in Hartford called Fire N' Spice. The family that owns the restaurant follows a Rastafarian way of life that goes back to their ancient roots in Ethiopia. The restaurant is alive with the Rastafarian culture and the seating area is very inviting, I felt like hanging out there all day. My boyfriend ordered jerk tofu, fried rice with lentil and two samosas (Thin flaky dough crust is stuffed with lentils, onions, ginger). I ordered sesame tofu with quinoa and chickpeas. We both shared our meals and ate every last bit of them. I preferred the jerk tofu because it was spicy while my boyfriend preferred the Siamese tofu because it had a sweeter taste to it. I had never tried samosas and WOW were they a treat! It I hadn't felt so full, I would have wanted to try one of the many deserts they had on display. I left the restaurant feeling satisfied, energized, and happy. Already, I can say that this place is a favorite of mine. I plan to return in the near future and hope to try everything they have to offer.

After lunch, Luc and I spent the afternoon walking around Bushnell park and exploring Hartford. We then decided to visit Devine Treasures, a organic chocolate store found in the Manchester shopping parkade. They had a wonderful selection of vegan friendly candy. We purchased two chocolate covered smores, one chocolate kitty, and one small bag of jelly beans. Everything tasted amazing and I now know where to go when I need a chocolate fix.

Friday evening we met my mother, my step father, my sister, and my 2 year old nephew for an early Easter celebration dinner at Applebee's in Manchester. I called ahead and asked if their menu included any vegetarian options and was told about a number of seafood dishes, cheesy pasta dishes, and then a vegetable burger (FEW!). I wanted to know whether or not I should eat before arriving in case all I could get was a house salad. I wasn't at all tempted by my family's meal choices and was happy for the opportunity to educate them on my new vegan lifestyle. The most difficult part was watching my nephew and my sister split a hot fudge oreo sundae. My veggie burger was a little bland but I enjoyed the company of my family and the time spent with my little nephew.

Saturday:

Luc and I went to Imagination Nation in Bristol with my sister and my little nephew. We were asked to go last minute so I scarfed down a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast for lack of having anything else quickly available. We all had a blast at the kid's place and again I had to watch my sister and nephew split a yummy hot fudge oreo sundae. (I ended up getting some coconut ice cream from the grocery store today just so I could fulfill my ice-cream craving!)

For lunch, Luc and I went to Whole Food's in Glastonbury for their buffet. I enjoyed vegetable spaghetti, grilled balsamic tofu, spring quinoa, and seaweed salad. I have always been a huge fan of seaweed which is a powerhouse of nutrients. For anyone who has yet to check out the buffet that most Whole Food's stores offer, I recommend it! It cost about the same as visiting a typical Chinese buffet. You can always put a cover on the tray and save whatever you do not finish if your eyes are ever too big for your stomach, which is almost always the case with me.

For dinner, we all met my Dad at an Irish Pub in Glastonbury called Hanafins. I did not get a chance to call ahead and falsely assumed they wouldn't have any vegetarian options. I assumed wrong, and was actually able to order a veggie wrap that was absolutely phenomenal. It was packed with tomatoes, huge savory mushrooms, spinach, and onions. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful, I was pleasantly surprised.

Easter Sunday:

For breakfast, I went to Dunkin Donuts and ordered a Pumpernickel bagel but was upset to learn that they do not have margarine or any other butter substitutes. I ended up eating the bagel with regular butter. I also had a red velvet cupcake tonight at work. For the rest of the day I consumed a nice fruit platter, celery sticks with Mediterranean hummus, and an Amy's Kitchen bean burrito.

Overall, I was happy to learn that my family is very supportive of my decision to become a Vegan. Entering the weekend knowing that I would be spending a lot of time with them at the dinner table, I worried it may make things awkward or uncomfortable. I realized however, that what was most important was that we were all able to spend time together. Nobody ostracized me for my vegan food choices or isolated me from any conversations because of it. I spent the whole weekend feeling energized, happy, clear minded, and full of life because I was treating my mind, body, and soul well, and because I was able to spend time with the ones I love.

Relapse

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. -Winston Churchill

I was asked by a friend of mine to begin posting my blog on The Ellington-Somers Patch. The link can be found here. I will continue to post on both sites for now but so far I am receiving a lot more feedback from The Patch, so I may discontinue this one after awhile.

Working in the behavioral health field with individuals who are struggling with drug & alcohol dependence it comes naturally for me to refer to dairy (especially cheese) and meat as addictive substances. I experienced an unusual night of intense cravings for something sweet coupled with a donation of a large package of Reese's Peanut Buttercups (my favorite) to the staff. An hour or so after, the evening intern brought in a box of assorted munchkins from Dunkin Donuts. I couldn't help but notice staff members and clients munching on both of the delicious treats all night long. At about 11:45pm I couldn't resist any longer, I gave in and ate 3 chocolate munchkins. Then...I stopped at Taco Bell on the way home from work and ordered a cheesy bean burrito and a crunchy beef taco.

Now, their is no use in beating myself up over the relapse but I do believe it is important to reflect on the major differences I noticed right away, and then this morning. After consuming all of the non-vegan food I felt nauseous, bloated, and disgustingly full. I experienced a restless night of tossing and turning, and had to force myself to get up this morning because I did not want to sleep the whole day away. Now, my thinking is clouded and I am having difficulty starting the most important meal of the day....breakfast. Basically, the 5 minutes of chocolate munchkin consumption and the 10-15 minutes of Taco Bell consumption has not been worth the mental, emotional, and physical consequences that may last up to 24 hours. In a way I am happy I had this experience because it will definitely sit in the forefront of my mind the next time I am tempted to consume fast food. I am surprised by how quickly my body adjusted to eating mostly vegan food and how upset it became when it was given the addictive substances. Sure they tasted great but they did not feel great and still don't.

During the day yesterday I created a new vegan meal that will last me the next few days. It consisted of:

• 1 bag of rice noodles (found in the produce section of any grocery store)
• 2 chopped green squash
• 1/2 chopped onion
• 4 chopped garlic cloves
• 1/2 package of Edamame (boiled & salted soy beans found in the produce section of any grocery store)

I softened the noodles by warming them on the stove for 10 minutes. I boiled the green squash for only a few minutes because I wanted to retain some crunchiness. I added the Edamame, chopped garlic, and chopped onion to the squash and noodles. I further seasoned the whole combination with lemon juice, lime juice, a splash of sea salt, and some grounded pepper. It is absolutely delicious! The garlic and the onion add a nice punch to the taste and the Edamame which is packed with protein keeps me feeling full for hours.

Fun Facts about onions:

• Onions have a variety of medicinal effects. Early American settlers used wild onions to treat colds, coughs, and asthma, and to repel insects. In Chinese medicine, onions have been used to treat angina, coughs, bacterial infections, and breathing problems.
• Onions are a very rich source of fructo-oligosaccharides. These oligomers stimulate the growth of healthy bifidobacteria and suppress the growth of potentially harmful bacteria in the colon. In addition, they can reduce the risk of tumors developing in the colon. Cardiovascular Help Onions contain a number of sulfides similar to those found in garlic which may lower blood lipids and blood pressure. In India, communities that never consumed onions or garlic had blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels substantially higher, and blood clotting times shorter, than the communities that ate liberal amounts of garlic and onions. Onions are a rich source of flavonoids, substances known to provide protection against cardiovascular disease. Onions are also natural anticlotting agents since they possess substances with fibrinolytic activity and can suppress platelet-clumping. The anticlotting effect of onions closely correlates with their sulfur content. Cancer Prevention Onion extracts, rich in a variety of sulfides, provide some protection against tumor growth. In central Georgia where Vidalia onions are grown, mortality rates from stomach cancer are about one-half the average level for the United States. Studies in Greece have shown a high consumption of onions, garlic and other allium herbs to be protective against stomach cancer.
  Chinese with the highest intake of onions, garlic, and other Allium vegetables have a risk of stomach cancer 40 percent less than those with the lowest intake. Elderly Dutch men and women with the highest onion consumption (at least one-half onion/day) had one-half the level of stomach cancer compared with those consuming no onions at all.
• Western Yellow, New York Bold, and Northern Red onions have the richest concentration of flavonoids and phenolics, providing them with the greatest antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity of 10 onions tested. The mild-tasting Western White and Vidalia onions had the lowest antioxidant content and lowest anti-proliferative activity. The consumer trend to increasingly purchase the less pungent, milder onion varieties may not be the best, since the onions with a stronger flavor and higher astringency appear to have superior health-promoting properties. (http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/onions.php).

Today is a new day that I greet with renewed enthusiasm for the vegan diet. I am going to be kind to myself today, and appreciate the fact that I did not end up getting sick, and feel happy that I can treat my mind, body, and soul well today.

Check back for more posts!

Yumtastic!

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Last night I had a strong craving for chocolate chip cookies so my boyfriend and I ran out to Stop n Shop and found a box of Cherrybrook Kitchen cookie mix. The box specifies that it is an egg free, milk free, and lactose free product. After reading the full ingredient list I found that it made the cut for being Vegan. They were SUPER easy to make! 1/4 cup of water, half the cookie mix, 1/4 cup of Earth Balance Butter, mix and bake for 10 minutes! They came out perfect...warm and soft in the middle! I LOVED them and my boyfriend who again is not vegan, ate 3 he loved them so much! They completely satisfied by sweet tooth and for anyone who is concerned bout weight loss, they are only 80 calories per cookie!

My boyfriend and I also tried Amy's Soy Cheese frozen pizza which I did not find particularly yumtastic. I have read and heard that soy cheese does not melt well and I definitely found this to be the case with the pizza. Amy's Dairy Free frozen pizza is amazing but I just don't think I will ever be a fan of soy cheese.

The beginning of the week started off rough for me as I was stuck working a double on Sunday night. I went into work at 3:30pm and did not leave until 8:00am Monday morning. I was not prepared for such long work hours but had to stay because someone had called out. When this has happened in the past my extreme exhaustion usually causes me to crave intensely sweet and salty junk foods. Oddly, I did not crave either, I found that I was thirsty and craving fruit or vegetables with high water content. After pulling an overnight shift I usually treat myself to an indulgent fast food breakfast but instead I went home and went to bed. Junk foods are definitely loosening their grip on me. My body and my brain are less willing to relapse on food that does not provide them with powerful nutrients.

That's all for now! Check back soon!

My Mostly Clean Weekend!

I enjoyed a really great weekend of mostly Vegan eating. I am lucky enough to live near a really great local grocery store in Vernon which is stocked with healthy veterinarian, local, organic, and vegan foods. It sort of like a Ma and Pa Whole Foods. On my way to school Friday, I stopped and purchased a vegan banana walnut & chocolate chip muffin which was amazing and took me an hour to eat because it was so filling and rich. Throughout the day I munched on a veggie spread much like the ones I prepared all week long, and for lunch I enjoyed an almond butter with flax and blueberry jelly sandwich. For dinner I went to Moe's and enjoyed a rice bowl with pinto beans, black beans, onions, mushrooms, pico, and guacamole. I am looking for more ways to incorporate flax into my diet because of it's powerful nutrient base. This product below can be purchased at any grocery store. It is creamy and sweet; it also pairs wonderfully with any jelly.

Fun Facts About Flax:

Flax Fights Cholesterol

The consumption of flaxseed is associated with a reduction in total cholesterol, including the LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. Study after study has shown a positive response to eating ground flax seed daily. Eating low fat foods, increasing your exercise, limiting the salt, sugar and eating flax seed daily are a few ways that you can win the battle against high cholesterol.

Flax Fights Diabetes

Nutritionists are instructing their diabetic patients to eat flax daily. It has been discovered that the omega-3 fat and high fiber in flax may play a role in the fight against diabetes. In a study conducted by the University of Toronto, participants who ate flaxseed bread had blood sugar levels 28% lower an hour after eating than their counterparts who ate bread made with wheat flour!

Flax Fights Cancer

Flaxseed is high in lignans, up to 800 times the amount as in any tested plant food. Lignans (a phytoestrogen) have been called by H. Adlercreutz (in his article “Phytoestrogens: Epidemiology and a Possible Role in Cancer Protection”), natural cancer-protective compounds. Flax seed is also high in alpha linolenic acid (ALA) which has been found to be promising as a cancer fighting agent. The American National Cancer Institute has singled out flaxseed as one of six foods that deserve special study. Flax seed's high fiber aspect is also beneficial in the fight against colon cancer. Epidemiological studies note that diet plays a major role in the incidence of colon cancer. Research has shown that increasing the amount of fiber in your diet reduces your colon-cancer risk. Flax seed, high in fiber, lignans, alpha linolenic acid, is a key player in the fight against cancer, particularly breast and colon cancer.

Flax Fights Constipation

Flax is high in both soluble and insoluble fiber. One ounce of flax provides 32% of the USDA’s reference daily intake of fiber. Flax promotes regular bowel movements because it is high in insoluble fiber. Flaxseed's all natural fiber helps to absorb water, thereby softening the stool and allowing it to pass through the colon quickly. When adding fiber to your diet, it is important to make sure that you are drinking at least eight glasses of water daily. Without enough liquids, fiber can actually cause constipation! In the fight against constipation exercise, eat fruits and vegetables, drink eight glasses of water daily and add two to four tablespoons of flax to your daily regime!

Flax Fights Inflammation

Flax is high in Omega 3 essential fatty acids. That’s good news for people who suffer from inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis. Health experts, such as former Surgeon General C. Evertt Koop, recommend eating foods high in Omega 3’s for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. It is the inflammation within the joints that cause so much of the pain associated with arthritis. The January 1996 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that the participants in a study that took flax oil daily reduced inflammatory responses by as much as 30%.

Flax Fights Menopausal Symptoms

Hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, moodiness…ah, the joys of menopause. Can flax really help? Yes it can! Flax, like soy, is a phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogens are estrogen-like substances that are found in plants. Flax is the richest known plant source of phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens act as a natural hormone therapy and help to stabilize hormonal levels. This stabilization of hormonal levels helps to lesson the symptoms of menopause.

Flax fights Heart Disease

Heart disease, the number one killer in America, has claimed the lives of too many of our family and friends. Years of a sedentary lifestyle, super size meals and processed foods has finally caught up with us. Can flax help? Yes it can. Numerous studies have been done on the effect of flax on heart disease, yielding many positive findings. Flax has been found to help reduce total cholesterol, LDL levels (the bad cholesterol), triglycerides. Flax helps to reduce clotting time and thereby reduces the chance for heart attacks and strokes. Regular intake of flax protects against arrhythmias and helps keep the arteries clear and pliable!

Flax and the Immune System

Across the table, your co-worker sneezes, no tissue in sight, you feel a light spray hit your face and shudder. Standing in a crowded elevator, in a busy mall, or in an airplane, you sometimes feel like you can’t escape getting at least one or two colds each year…or can you? Research has found that eating flax daily favorably affects immunity, the body’s ability to defend itself successfully against bacteria and viruses. Two components of flax, lignans and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), have been found to affect immune cells and compounds that control immune reaction.

Flax fights “The Blues”

It’s that tired feeling that a good night's rest won’t shake… that listless down in the dumps feeling that you just can’t get rid of. We call it “the blues”, otherwise known as atypical depression, the most common form of depression. Preliminary research suggests that eating a diet rich in flax could slash your risk of ever feeling “down in the dumps”. Follow up studies show that just 2-3 tablespoons of flax daily can help up to 2/3rds of severely depressed women bounce back within eight weeks. Flax, says Udo Erasmus, PhD, has a mood boosting ingredient: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that is essential for the proper function of brain cells, yet up to 85% of women aren’t getting enough of it. Early research conducted by Dr. Martha Clare Morris of Chicago’s Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center notes that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids is believed to be important for brain development. She stated that some participants in the study saw a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s from eating a diet high in Omege-3 fatty acids(Flax is the richest source of Omega 3’s in the plant kingdom). More research is needed in the area of flax and its relation to depression and brain function, however preliminary research is very promising. (http://www.flaxhealth.com/howflaxhelps.htm)

Saturday I enjoyed wonderful Vegan pancakes at the local grocery store I mentioned earlier. For lunch I munched on refried beans, guacamole, and Garden of Eat'n chips. For dinner my boyfriend made mashed sweat potatoes, broccoli, and Veggie Path Chick'n Cutlets featured below.

The Chicke'n Cutlet is made out of soy, vegetables, and a combination of processed food and non-food ingredients. It tasted absolutely amazing and is perfect for someone transitioning to a vegan lifestyle such as my self. It is obviously not a natural or raw food but it was definitely a satisfying alternative to a piece of chicken. I would recommend this product to anyone and I would also recommend checking out some of their other products which my boyfriend who is not a vegan or a vegetarian is a huge fan of. They can be found in the produce section of any grocery store. Their website offers recipes, great information about their products, and their philosophy: VeggiePatch.Com

Non-vegan food consumption this weekend consisted of M&M's, Dark Chocolate, and some trail mix that had some milk chocolate pieces mixed in. So, clearly chocolate is an issue for me. I understand that vegan chocolate exists and I am currently on the search for it.

In the recent past I have treated my weekends as a time to indulge in greasy, cheesy, chocolatey, salty foods. I noticed this weekend that I experienced better sustained energy levels, better sleep, consistent moods, and significantly less hunger. I also saved money because I prepared a lot of the food at home, instead of eating out. So far, I have experienced instant gratification from this transition.

That's all for now! Check back for more posts!

My Mostly Clean Week

I have mostly been consuming the same foods I posted previously throughout the day. I have enjoyed them immensely and have gained complete satisfaction from their consumption. I did consume some non-vegan food items yesterday which included some Girl Scout Cookies (Thin Mints) and some baked Cheetos. I had a bad day and I wasn't feeling good and I had a moment of emotional eating. I read somewhere that when your upset you should not eat. I wish I had practiced that but it's okay, I am still in transition.

One product I have become obsessed with is...
Synergy Organic & Raw Chia drinks!

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 8 fl. oz.
Servings Per Container 2
Amount Per Serving
Calories 30
Calories from Fat 0
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 10mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 8g (2%)
Sugars 3g
Fiber 4g
Protein 2g

ADDITIONAL NUTRIENTS (per bottle):
Folic Acid 25%
Vitamin B1 20%
Vitamin B2 20%
Vitamin B3 20%
Vitamin B6 20%
Vitamin B12 20%

PROBIOTIC CONTENT:
Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086: 1 billion
S. Boulardii: 1 billion

ANTIOXIDANTS & ORGANIC ACIDS
EGCG 100mg - Glucuronic Acid 10 mg
L(+) Lactic Acid 25mg - Acetic Acid 30 mg

These drinks contain Chia seeds which are a super nutrient dense food. Top benefits Include:

1. Help Stablize blood sugar and reduce junk food cravings - The gel forming that the Chia seeds produce when soaked in water is due to soluble fiber in the chia. In your digestive system, this gel actually slows down the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar, thus helps to stablize blood sugar. By eliminating the peaks and valleys of your blood sugar, you get a more consistent energy level and reduced cravings.
   
2. Help your concentrate and improve your mood- Chia is an excellent source of Essential Fatty Acids, which are critical for concentration and other brain functions.
3. Energize now, Sustained energy later! -Chia has great nutrients like proteins, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber, and complex carbohydrates to energize you. Chia can provide good stamina and energy over time due to its slowing of the sugar conversion mentioned in point 1. In fact, it has been called the runners food and was used by the Aztec Indians for long distance runs and endurance.
   
4. Fills you up - Chia seeds actually swells in water and help to make you feel full and potentially eat less. Take a look at the chia seed picture again and see how much each seed actually swells in just a ew minutes
   
5. Lower your cholesterol and heart health - Remember what is causes chia to swell in water? Chia is high in soluble fiber. Soluble fiber has been shown to help lower cholesterol.
   
6. Digestive Health - Chia has both soluble fiber (which forms the outer gel), and insoluble fiber. Both types of fiber are healthy for the digestive system. The insoluble fiber helps cleans the intestinal tract. The soluble fiber can act as a prebiotic and help feed the good bacteria in your digestive system.
   
7. Help build lean muscle mass - Chia is high in protein and helpful in a weight loss or muscle building diet. It is even low-carb and vegetarian.
8. Get Better nutrition from other foods - Remember the gel in point 1? Well, by maintaining the proper level of hydration and electrolytes in your stomach you actually optimize your bodies ability to effectively absorb other nutrients. Also. the essential fatty acids in chia help the body emulsify and absorbs the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
   
9. Build strong bones - Chia not only contains calcium, but it also contains the trace mineral boron, which speeds the rate at which calcium is absorbed and utilized by the body.
10. Healthy nails, skin, and hair - Remember that chia seeds are loaded with over 60% essential fatty acids? Not only are they good for your mental clarify, those same essential fatty acids help skin, nails, and hair grow strong and healthy. They are also a great source of protein, which is essential to grow healthy hair, nails, and skin.
11. Maximum hydration - Chia is said to help maintain hydration which can be helpful for endurance athletes. Presoak chia seeds before your workout and consumption(http://blog.thrivefoods.net/2009/07/chia-seeds-top-10-benefits.html)

Chia Nutrition Information

1. Super Soaker - Chia seeds can soak up to ten times their weight in water! Look at the picture above and you can see how in just a few minutes chia swelled to several times it size. If it were to soak for a half an hour or so, the gel effect is even more dramatic. The gel is actually soluble fiber that is swelling in the water into hydrophylic colloid that has a medicinal affect for many digestive health issues.
   
2. Excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Chia seeds are the best plant source of omega-3's known. They contain over 60% essential fatty acids. They contain more omega-3's than flax seed. Omega fatty acids are important for concentration and brain health as well as other metabolic processes.
   
3. Easy access - Flax seed is fantastic (if you don't know it's benefits, you should do a bit of research or give it a try). However, Chia seed is even better than flax in in terms of ease of access to the nutrition. Chia seeds do not need to be ground for their nutrients to be available to the body. Plus, chia is very shelf stable without the need for fancy packaging or concern of rancidity.
4. Antioxidant protection -Loaded with antioxidants
   
5. Vitamins and minerals - Chia seeds provide calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, zinc, and even boron (which helps the absorbing of calcium by the body).
   
6. Gluten Free - Chia is a gluten free source of fiber and nutrition. If you have food allergies, check with your doctor, but chia is generally beneficial to the digestive system.
   
7. High source of protein - Chia is composed of over 20% protein, which is about 2 to 3 times higher than other seeds and grains. If you are a vegetarian looking for protein sources, check out chia! Plus, the protein source in chia is readily digestible and available to the body. So, if you are pregnant or a weight lifter, chia can provide benefits.
   
8. Low glycemic index - Chia has an extremely low glycemic index of 1, and actually helps to lower the rate at which other carbohydrates are converted to sugars.(http://blog.thrivefoods.net/2009/07/chia-seeds-top-10-benefits.html)

For anyone wondering how I would obtain my omega 3 and probiotic nutrients without consuming fish or yogurt now understand that I can obtain those nutrients and more from consuming this product. Chia seeds are also delicious when baked into foods or added to oatmeal. I prefer to consume them in a drink as the gelatin substance that they form inside of a liquid behaves like a sort of sticky gum substance in the body that sticks to toxins and carries them out as it naturally passes through. The consistency of the Synergy Chia drinks takes some getting use to but the flavor is wonderfully fresh and delicate.

Check back again for more posts!

Monday Yumday!

I woke up feeling very excited to prepare and try some of the foods I bought at the grocery store yesterday. I overate last night (on non-vegan foods) and so only had a banana and a cup of black coffee to begin my day. Side note- it is important to always begin the day with something to eat/drink in the morning because it is what breaks your sleeping fast and starts your metabolism. It is important because it is a way of waking up all of the body's organs and processes so it can preform at it's optimal level. Even after slipping up as I did and pigging out on junk food the night before and waking up full and nauseous, it is still important to get something in the body. I did feel significantly better after eating the banana and coffee. I don't mind black coffee, I actually have preferred it ever since I spent a summer in Spain and became accustomed to it there.

This is what I had for lunch....and I LOVED it! Spicey refried beans with tortilla chips! The beans were made with jalapenos, garlic, pinto beans, and sea salt. I have been eating Garden of Eatin' blue corn chips for years now, they are organic and made with 3 or 4 simple ingredients. I love them and the combination of the chips and beans were out of this world.

For tonight's dinner which will also last me 2 more meals for the week I prepared....


a brown rice, bean sprout, broccoli, and tofu combo. For seasoning I used garlic, lemon juice, and lemon & pepper salts. This is a recipe I completely made up, I love it but I am not sure it would win any taste tests for the general public. I fried the tofu and boiled the broccoli and of course the rice. I threw in the bean sprouts just as they were without adding anything to them or cooking them. It's very light and delicate in taste with an extra zing in it due to the garlic.

Fun Fact Time: "Garlic is nature's wonder drug. Its medicinal value has been understood by herbalists for at least 2000 years. While modern research is confirming this ancient tradition, don't expect to hear much about it from the pharmaceutical companies or their puppets: allopathic doctors (i.e. "conventional medical doctors"). Garlic cannot be patented and exploited as such. They will attempt to find an "active ingredient," derive a drug from it, and patent and promote that. Vitamin and supplement companies, on the other hand, are extolling some of the virtues of garlic and promoting their "deodorized" products. But these products are not nearly as effective as raw garlic. Once again, the best source for proper nutrition comes from food itself. "
Consuming it as a food can:

• Prevent cancer
• Lower your cholesterol level
• Reverse high blood pressure
• Boost your immune system
• Overcome fatigue
• Resist colds and flus

(http://quanta-gaia.org/reviews/books/powerOfGarlic.html).

For snacks today I prepared...



A mixed bowl of cucumbers, grapes, raspberries, apples, and clementine pieces. I also cut up some celery that I plan to use for dipping in hummus. Not featured is a bag of unsalted pistachios that I also plan to munch on throughout the day.

No, I am not timing out meals or snacks and no I am not worried about the amount of calories I am consuming. Whatever I don't finish I'll save for the next day and if I find myself feeling hungry I'll add more healthy snacks. I am eating when my body feels hungry and choosing the sweeter or more salty items, or the softer or more crunchy items to munch on whenever my body calls for it or a craving strikes. Part of eating healthy and naturally is listening to what my body desires and when. I am not doing this to deprive my body, to punish it, or to make it fit into smaller clothes, I am doing it to nourish it and show it love (a little hippyish I know but true!).

That is all for now folks! Questions and comments are always welcomed!

Hungry For Change - Part 1

The Start of The Beginning!

I will be updating this blog much more frequently as my diet begins to shift more drastically but over the last week I only managed to make a few changes worth describing. Because I had already purchased a lot of items that contained dairy in it, I didn't completely eliminate it from my diet yet as I do not want to be wasteful. I haven't consumed any meat since march 17th but I did eat a piece of salmon in a Mediterranean Salmon Salad that a good friend of mine bought for me at Panera. I was shocked at the lack of veg choices at Panera. Most of them contain some type of dairy in it which is depressing for me because it was one of my favorite places to grab a quick bite.

I did go out for sushi with my sister this past Friday night and instead of ordering Spicy Tuna & Salmon Rolls I ordered Avocado Rolls and Vegetable Rolls in addition to some yummy Miso Soup. I felt extremely satisfied after the meal and surprisingly did not crave any more food.
Fun Fact Time:
"The undeniably most medicinal soy food is miso. Current scientific research now supports its historical health claims. This delicious food is an effective therapeutic aid in the prevention and treatment of heart disease, certain cancers, radiation sickness and hypertension. Miso soup consumption is linked with up to a 50% reduced risk of breast cancer according to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute." (http://www.rebeccawood.com/food-as-medicine/miso-a-delicious-and-healing-food/)

Saturday I went out for lunch to a new Chinese/Japanese restaurant that opened up down the street from my home. I ordered Miso soup and mixed vegetables with bean curd and rice. I learned that bean curd is another term for tofu. It was delicious and again I felt completely satisfied. I did not suffer from any gastrointestinal issues that sometimes occur when I order other things on a typical Chinese food menu, and I did not feel sluggish or tired. I actually noticed that I felt more mentally alert and content.

I went grocery shopping today and stocked up on even more vegetables and fruit than usual. I also picked up some rice noodles, hummus, edamame, non-salted pistachios, refried organic "vegan friendly" beans in a can, a dairy free frozen pizza made by Amy's Kitchen, and some other dairy free frozen meals made by Amy's Kitchen that are mostly bean and vegetable base. I will be reviewing some of these items and the recipes I follow on this blog. I am terrible cook hence the presence of frozen meals in my grocery list. It is something I plan to work on though and hopefully master at some point. Whether Vegan or not, frozen meals are not healthy to live on and should only be used when necessary. While I am in transition I think frozen meals might be my life savors as I experiment with new foods, new recipes, and with just cooking in general.

That's all for now Folks, I promise to post more updates as I continue on my journey! Please feel free to post any questions or comments.

A little plug for Amy's Kitchen:
Check out their website to learn more about their products and the philosophy behind them!

I also urge anyone reading this to check out this free online movie:
Hungry For Change
All you have to do is enter a name and an emailing address into the registration box and you will instantly be granted access to the movie. The film is life-changing and full of easy to understand critical information. I have also included a trailer to the movie posted above.

Socially Responsible & Committed to Feeling Great!

So! When this blog was originally created it was titled "Plants For Life" and it cataloged my 6 day juicing challenge. After I finished my juicing challenge which consisted of consuming nothing but 74 ounces of juiced plants and vegetables for 6 days I returned to eating grains, a fair amount of sugar (but not as much as before), some fast food again (significantly less then before), some meat (about once or twice a week), and a LOT of dairy (all day, every day).

What I learned was the juicing fast was a temporary fix for my not-s0-temporary problems which include the following:
Oversleeping
Periods of exhaustion that come and go all day long
Mental Fog (difficulty concentrating/focusing, having difficulty articulating my thoughts at times, forgetting things frequently, etc)
Lack of sustained energy when working out & running
Debilitating menstrual cramps
Periods of irritability

I am convinced these problems are associated with my diet more than ever because during the 6 day juice fast and for about 14 days after I felt amazing and completely "symptom free". I enjoyed less sleep, sustained energy, mental clarity, amazing work out sessions & long runs, a menstrual cycle completely absent of pain (!!!!), and mood stability.

So why VEGAN?

I have been reading a lot of research on the benefits of a Vegan diet which include experiencing everything I have listed above. Additionally, I have learned more about the devastating impact that meat (and dairy) consumption has on the environment, and animal cruelty in agriculture. I have also ready a number of research articles that not only identify known carcinogens in meat (and dairy) but also connected the consumption with an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, dementia, and autoimmune disorders. I have even read that countries with litte-no meat (and dairy) consumption happen to have little-practically no rates of cancer or obesity and significantly reduced rates of heat disease.

One easy to read book that really explains everything I have mentioned cohesively and with supporting evidence is Alicia Silverstone's book titled: "The Kind Diet". I was a little skeptical at first, after all she is a celebrity and I was almost expecting some crazy antidote for how to become skinny by following a restrictive diet that claims to help the environment. That is not at all what this book is about. It is a genuine case for becoming a Vegan supported by case studies, empirical research, and exploitation of the ways in which media manipulate American Society into consuming meat (and dairy) after being funded by meat and dairy big wig providers. It does not suggest that meat and dairy consumption is destroying our precious Earth, it proves it to you.

In no way do I believe I could jump right into becoming a full-time Vegan overnight. Being the cheese, egg, and ice-cream junkie that I am, I know it is going to take some time. I plan to blog about my transition, and hopefully cultivate support. I also plan to share articles, quotes, other blogs, and books that I come across that are relevant to this journey.

I thank you in advance for coming on this journey with me! As a little disclaimer I'd also like to add that in no way do I intend to push a Vegan diet on anyone else.

Links:
Purchase The Kind Diet Here!
The Kind Life . Com

For The Love of Plants!

Day 7! Still feeling great physically and still successfully combating cravings for my favorite foods. Yesterday was tough because I spent most of the day with Luc (my boyfriend) and I had to be present while he ate some of my favorite foods. For lunch he had broccoli cheddar soup from Panera and for a late night snack he had nachos with blue corn chips. Oh how I miss cheese! I am contemplating whether or not to renter solid food back into my diet tomorrow or not. 7 days was my initial goal and I have successfully completed it. I have greatly improved my quality of life and feel confident that I can maintain a healthy diet now. After today, I will have to restock my fridge if I decide to continue. Being that this is the first time I have ever fasted, I am not overweight, and I have achieved the benefits I was looking to obtain, it may be an appropriate time to stop.
Yesterday's 90 ounces consisted of:
6 scallions
2 yellow squash
2 green squash
2 cucumbers
9 celery ribs
10 grapes
10 grape tomatoes
10 baby carrots
7 blackberries
7 raspberries
1 handful of kale
1 orange
2 lemons
1 lime
4 asparagus stalks
7 beets
2 apples
1 pear
1 kiwi
2 pineapple chunks
1 peach
It tasted great to me! I will make a decision on whether or not to continue juice fasting later tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Upgrade

Upgraded my juicer from the Breville compact to the Beeville juice fountain plus with a pulp catcher! I am so excited to try it out, the compact was not able to handle the amount of juicing I was conducting, but I think the plus is up for the job!

The Weekend is Here!

My weekend has begun and I will now be off of work until Tuesday due to the holiday. I have been doing exceptionally well I think in part because I have been following a routine but now I have a whole four days open to plan activities for leisure and entertainment. I do not want to have to plan my days around juicing, I'd rather juice around my days. I think I am going to continue to make the bulk of my juice for the day in advance so I can just take it with me wherever I go. My weekends lately have revolved around going out to eat, going out for drinks with friends, and splurging on deserts. Obviously, this weekend will have to be different and I am looking forward to new experiences.

Yesterday (Day 5) I added some new plants to my juices and I found that I enjoyed them. The recipe consisted of:
4 scallions
1/3 leek
1 handful of bok choy
1 handful of kale
2 cucumber
6 celery ribs
10 grapes
10 blueberries
8 raspberries
8 blackberries
15 grape tomatoes
1 broccoli stalks
1 kiwi
2 apples
1 pear
2 pineapple chunks
10 cherries
6 beets
1 yellow squash
1 green squash
1 red pepper
6 asparagus pieces
1/2 cabbage

The scallions overpowered the entire taste of the drinks. At first, I did not like it but as the night went on I actually developed an appreciation for it. It sort of reminded me of drinking some sort of zesty soup. I researched scallions and learned that they contain allicin the active nutrient in garlic that has been found to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal activities. Allicin also decreases blood vessel stiffness which can reduce blood pressure, protect the body against developing blood clots, and prevent coronary artery disease and stroke. (http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/scallions.html)

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

1) How much have you been spending?
Since Sunday, I have spent $180.00 which should last me until Saturday (7 days/1week). This figure may appear high but I usually spend $100.00/1week on groceries, $100/weekend on drinks and restaurant food, and anywhere between 20-40/1week on fast food and coffee. This totals to $200-240/1week on food. So, overall, I am saving a lot more money than I am spending.

2) Do you purchase organic or non-organic vegetables and fruit?
I have been shopping at Stop n Shop and a local natural food store located in my town. They both only offer a certain amount of organic fruit and vegetables and whatever I can find, I get. Otherwise, I have no choice but to purchase conventional (non-organic) plants. It ends up being about 50/50. It is important to choose organic whenever possible due to the amount of toxic pesticides and chemicals that are used on conventional produce, however it is also important to consume an adequate variety of plants to guarantee proper nutrition. Unfortunately their are not enough varieties of organic plants to limit myself just to them.

3) Are you tired all of the time without carbs and meat?
No! In fact, I have gone from sleeping 10-13 hours a night without feeling rested to 7 hours per night and waking up feeling completely rejuvenated. I also feel sustained energy throughout the day and only yawn when it gets late into the night. I use to be one of those people who yawned all day long, I had people constantly telling me I needed more rest.

4) Do you feel hungry all of the time?
No! I feel comfortably satisfied throughout the day. I do not experience hunger pangs or feel dizzy from lack of solid food. I have noticed however, that my body sometimes has a physical reaction to a food I like. For example, my co-worker last night was eating beans and rice, it looked and smelled phenomenal. Even though, I had been consuming my normal amount of juice my mouth began to water and my stomach began to growl. I have learned that drinking an adequate amount of water will cease any beginning signs of hunger during a juice fast.

5) How often are you drinking juice throughout the day?
I consume about 90 ounces of juice in total each day. I sip the drinks slowly throughout the day. If I am busy I will go no longer than 3 hours without having some juice. I also have been drinking about 70 ounces of water in between and about 24 ounces of tea in between as well.

I would be happy to answer any other questions!

That is all for now folks, time to get on with day 6!

Tea Time!

In between juicing I have been drinking these two teas and I love them! They taste great and its nice to sip something warm. Almost as nice as a warm burrito bowl from chipotle...ok not quite but still satisfying!

Day 5!

Woah! I cannot believe I have made it to day 5! I am so proud of myself and I cannot believe how easy it has been for my body. I have barely felt any physical discomfort! I figured out that I am probably drinking about 90 ounces of juice a day in case anyone was wondering which seems to be the proper amount for my size. In a few minutes I must venture out into the rain storm to buy some more vegetables to juice for my night. I feel like this challenge has made me into a warrior.

Day 4: Mother nature's gift to women arrived yesterday which is important to mention because it usually brings moderate-severe pain with it. Pain so intense, I usually am forced to overdose myself on Extra Strength Excedrin and lay in bed for half of the day. I have called out of work and missed classes due to the pain. Yesterday however, when I felt it coming on, I researched fruit and vegetables that might ease the pain when juiced. I found out beets, apples, carrots strawberries, pineapple, and broccoli to be helpful so I loaded my drinks with them. Guess what?! I experienced MILD pain for about 45 minutes and then nothing the rest of the day or night! I kept thinking it was too good to be true and that any minute I would delve over in pain, but it never happened! I have a new found appreciation for fruit, vegetables, and this juicing challenge. I was prepared to take some Excedrin should I needed to but I did not need to. Never, have I ever been this pain free during this time of month. For any male readers this may be TMI but for the women out there who may be able to relate to what I disclosed, your quality of life can greatly improve during your time of month if you add some juiced drinks into your week with the right ingredients! I am sure that the absence of excessive salt and sugar, processed foods, and caffeine are also contributing factors.

My 90 ounces of drinks yesterday consisted of:
20 blue berries
20 grapes
10 blackberries
9 strawberries
1 handful of kale
4 cups of spinach
10 raspberries
1 orange
1 grapefruit
1 line
1 lemon
2 broccoli stalks
8 beets
2 squash
1 green pepper
15 carrots
5 pineapple chunks
1 kiwi
2 apples
1 pear
1 avocado
1 handful of cabbage
1 apricot

It was yummy! I enjoyed it, the fruit seems to overpower the taste of the veggies. I am going to look for different plants to add today when I go to the store.

More Plants

It is the end of day 4 and I am feeling good. I added some new plants to my drinks. I will disclose the entire ingredient list tomorrow along with how my day went. I have a lot to share but I am exhausted from a stressful night at work. Check back for a full entry tomorrow. Goodnight!

Day 2 & 3

Day 2 was not too bad, I made drinks that consisted of the same ingredients that I posted on day 1. My whole day and night went pretty smoothly. My co-worker was very supportive of me and even ate her dinner outside of the office we were sharing. My energy levels were good and no headaches, I felt pretty comfortable overall but I did continue to crave salty foods.


Day 3 has been MUCH more interesting!

I had forgotten that I had to work 1st shift today and did not have enough time to juice enough fruit and veggies for my 8 hour shift. I also was not able to juice when I returned home from work last night at 12:30 because it would have been too noisy. After only getting 5 hours of sleep before waking up at 6:00am I had no other choice but to supplement my day time drinks with store bought Bare Naked drinks. It was the purest juice I could find and it claimed to have no added sugar or preservatives in it but who really knows. I thought they tasted pretty good, and similar to the drinks I have been making myself which gave me some indication that they may have been as pure as they claimed. I expected to struggle through the day with relentless exhaustion as I usually do when I have to report to work for a 1st shift after completing a 2nd shift the night before. I even brought some green tea bags with me thinking it may be an acceptable desperate alternative to relapsing on sugary coffee. However, not only did I not need the green tea but my energy levels were completely adequate! I choose the word adequate because I didn't feel invigorated or super energetic, but I did have plenty of energy for the day, and did not yawn once! On days like today I am usually sucking down coffee, energy drinks, sugary snacks, and soda just to stay awake long enough to make it home at 4:30 where I then collapse into my bed for a long nap. I am still shocked that I have gotten through this day without any caffeine. I am truly beginning to understand the power of fruit and vegetables and how badly my body needed this detox.

So, my day went great but my night has been a little less smooth. I came home and made my last evening meal in my juicer which consisted of:
8 grapes
8 black berries
8 grape tomatoes
4 celery ribs
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 yellow squash
and right when I went to add my 1 apircot...BOOM, I hear a loud awful noise, and immediately begin to smell something akin to burning rubber. I quickly turn off the juicer, wait until the blades stop spinning, and remove the top only to discover that a huge chunk of the plastic shoot had broken off and was starting to grind up in the blades! 3 days of hardcore juicing and the thing broke on me! I was still able to consume my drink....thank goodness. Afterward, I washed the machine, packed everything up, and went to Best Buy to return it. They gave me a hard time despite having purchased the product replacement plan, which supposedly does not include "accidental damage". After speaking with 3 different employees I was finally able to get them to replace it but was not allowed to just completely return it.

I will definitely not be recommending the juicer that I have now to anyone I know, clearly it is not capable of handling any juicing challenge, but I am stuck with it for the time being. You know who is capable of handling juicing challenge? ME! I am proud of myself for overcoming the obsticles I faced today and sticking with the challenge. When I realized I didn't have enough time to prepare drinks for my shift at work today I thought about stopping for an egg and cheese on an english muffin at dunkin donuts for breakfast, and ordering cheese pizza at lunch with my co-workers. When the machine first broke, I thought to myself..."F it, let me just go get some fries". Both times though, I stopped myself and told myself I had already come too far. I refuse to be somebody who stops when the going gets tough, I am the one who keeps going dammit! I am a resourceful and resilient women, who will stop at nothing to get to day 4!