Spinach Strawberry Salad for Lunch

I had the best homemade salad for lunch today!  My husband loved it, too!  I will definitely be packing this for lunch for work when school starts.

What was in my salad?

fresh spinach leaves

strawberries

walnuts

almonds

craisins

sweet balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Lasagna Dinner & Choco Dessert

Being off for the summer, thank you teaching career, gives me a chance to focus on domestic things more. ;)
So, I felt like cooking a good meal for my family. I decided to do a lasagna and dessert.
I got the lasagna recipe from this video, which is a cool way to get a new recipe.

And the dessert idea came from here:  http://www.rawfoodrecipes.com/recipes/highraw-vegan-avocado-carob-haystacks.html

Broccoli is my five-year-olds favorite veggie, so I steam veggies as often as possible. My boys don't like veggies in their lasagna or I would have loaded it full of vegetables!

All said and done it was a great dinner!!
Point for vegan mom!

Snacking is my vice.

I can control my desserts and alcohol intake easily. I don't miss those things when I'm eating healthy. But, I love to snack!!! I want crunchy and salty which usually means chips. Although many chips, especially tortilla chips, are vegan, they're still not good for you. I'm really trying to eat foods that help my body thrive and not bog it down.
To satisfy that crunchy need, try Mary's Gone Crackers.
I also eat a lot of carrot sticks and hummus. I also like Wasa whole grain crackers. I add almond butter for a sweeter treat if needed. 
I LOVE pretzel crisps, which I compared to pita bread and the pretzel crisps were much less harmful.  ;)

 

Now this is a snack plate to live by!

 

Eating Vegan Cures Cancer!?

Not a guaranteed cured, but there's medical research to show that what you eat can effect the growth of cancerous cells, thereby preventing, or stopping the growth of cancer!  That fact alone was worth investigating the topic of a vegan diet.  I turned to this book for more details.

This woman, Kris Carr, was diagnosed with cancer at a very young age.  Terminal cancer.  The rare kind without an optimistic plan of treatment or cure.  So, she went into hyper clean and vegan eating and well, she's as healthy as can be now!  Definitely worth a read!

Breakfast Tacos

I woke up needing more than a smoothie for breakfast. I hit the Internet searching for vegan breakfast recipes. Since going vegan, I have missed breakfast sandwiches and tacos! I found a great recipe for both, but only had the ingredients for the tacos. So, here are the pics and the link to the recipe...
They were amazing!!!!

View the taco recipe by clicking HERE.

View the sandwich recipe that I have pinned for later by clicking HERE.

Veggie wrap for lunch

Yesterday, when I went to the store, I stocked up in lots of fresh veggies. So, today for lunch, I made a veggie wrap. I used whet tortillas and...
Lettuce
Green and red peppers
Banana peppers
Mushrooms
Cucumbers
Hummus

And carrot with humus on the side to satisfy my need for crunchy! It was light and deli ships! Banana peppers are my secret weapon to keep veggies from tasty too boring. They add juicy spice!

The Kind Diet Says...

I'm reading The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. I've never been a big fan of hers other than watching Clueless 50 times in the last decade and a half. ;). However, when it comes to caring for the planet and your body, she's got it right! Here are some quotes and facts thy stood out to me as I read.

"42% of fresh water available to the US is used for agriculture. It takes 441 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef. One 16-ounce steak uses the amount of water you need for 6 months of showers!"

"Rain forests used to cover 14 percent of the earth, but now it covers only 6 percent. You see, every hamburger requires a plot of land the size of a small kitchen to be cleared. Is that burger worth it?"

"Our intestines are 20 fee long; when we eat meat, it takes a full 72 hours to pass through us. That's 3 days, and your body, my friend, is 98.6 degrees inside! It's like having a steak sit out in the hot sun for 3 days straight. Eventually it'll start to rot and putrefying. And that's what's happening inside of you."

Krogering

This is a pretty typical shopping trip. Maybe a little less than normal. I do have 4 boys to feed at my house! ;)

Stir-fry dinner

Tofu
Veggies
Brown rice

Homemade Freebirds!

My husband and I absolutely love Freebirds. It's a great place to eat vegan and eat a lot!! We decided to make our own burritos at home. They were amazing!!!
We used...
Wheat tortillas
Brown rice seasoned with cayenne pepper
Peppers and onions
Guacamole
Tomatoes
Jalapeños
Black beans
Lettuce
Salsa
Green Tabasco sauce

OMG Ice Cream!

This ice cream is absolutely amazing! Who needs dairy ice cream when you can buy this!? Kroger healthy/organic section rocks.
My son loves the cookies and cream kind, but it's made with coconut milk and has a strong coconut taste that's not my favorite. But it's a kid pleaser!

Weekday Lunch

I need easy to pack and eat lunches to take with me to school. Here's an example of one day's lunch. I also bring many things I can snack on as I get hungry throughout the day so I don't get weak and make bad choices!!!! ;)

Lunch contents: hummus, blueberries, carrot sticks, cucumbers, green and re peppers, pretzel crisps, almond milk- chocolate flavor, to cover my sweet craving, and fruit juice. I often bring the frozen and microwaveable single servings of edemame, too! Yum!

After a lunch like this I feel light and not tired like most heavy meals.

Must Read: The China Study

The reasons to choose a vegan diet are so varied and obvious... at least now that my husband and I have spent time researching and honestly reflecting on the food we eat. This book, The China Study, is the scientific answer to all doubters answers. Dr. Campbell goes into great detail about how cancerous cells grow. He explains the research behind the conclusion that a high protein animal based diet can be a catalyst to cancerous cell growth while a plant based diet can prevent and even slow down or allow reversal of cancerous cells!!! If there's anything I can do to prevent cancer for myself or my family, I'm going to do it! How deep the regret would be if I didn't at least ponder these possibilities when choosing the food I feed my family. What if??? There are many other life threatening and life changing diseases that Dr. Campbell will discuss as preventable by choosing a plant based diet. This books will convince you to adamantly choose healthy foods and it'll give you the answers and statistics needed when sharing your vegan choice with others. Happy reading!

Vegan Ribs!

These meatless and dairy-free ribs are amazing!! We are having these for dinner with steamed broccoli and ranch style beans! (Watch out for animal fat in beans!)

A crunchy snacky find!

My husband and I suffer from a need for crunchy and salty foods. It's often our downfall. We found these yummy treats in the organic section of Kroger. Kroger has been good to us as far as healthier and organic options go.
Check these out.

The Vegan Society - Great Resource

The Vegan Society website says...

Why Vegan?

Do you have to choose between a healthy, fun, modern lifestyle and a fair, sustainable, compassionate lifestyle? No, you can have it all!  Have a look at the Vegan Society's film, 'Making the Connection', to explore the reasons why people choose to become and stay vegan.  

You can watch the flim in chapters on our website or straight through with Play All on our YouTube playlist. 

What is a vegan?

A vegan is someone who tries to live without exploiting animals, for the benefit of animals, people and the planet. Vegans eat a plant-based diet, with nothing coming from animals - no meat, milk, eggs or honey, for example. A vegan lifestyle also avoids leather, wool, silk and other animal products for clothing or any other purpose.

Some of the main reasons for choosing a vegan lifestyle

It’s a healthy choice

A balanced vegan diet (also referred to as a ‘plant-based diet’) meets many current healthy eating recommendations such as eating more fruit, vegetables and wholegrains and consuming less cholesterol and saturated fat. Balanced vegan diets are often rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fibre and can decrease the chances of suffering from diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Well-planned plant-based diets are suitable for all age groups and stages of life.

There are many more reasons listed on the website.  You can also join the vegan society, donate, shop, and learn.  Check it out.  

Veggie Sub

When I'm out and about or road trippin' and evil fast food temptations are everywhere, I turn to Subway. I kick the meat and cheese and ask for all the veggies! Even the pickles and jalepenos. It makes for a delicious and satisfying sandwich! And I feel better than usual after restaurant lunches, because I ate lighter and healthier. But, it keeps me full for hours!

Well, as a teacher, I don't get to eat a lot of food from the outside world. ;). You either bring your lunch or buy the yuck from the cafeteria that passes for nutrition for kids! Ah! That's a different discussion and post to come. ;)

Anyway, I wanted the satisfied feeling i get from Subway at school, so I decided to make my own veggie subs! They turned out amazing. Wrap them up well and they travel in my insulated lunchbox perfectly!

My sandwich fixin's include...
spinach leaves and any other green leaf I have available
cucumbers
red and green pepper slices
pickles
jalepenos
and...

avocado!

Meatless Meatball Subs

I have three growing boys and a busy schedule. I need quick and kid-pleasing meals! This is a quick go-to that always satisfies!

I used wheat sub bread I found at Kroger.  I carefully read the ingredients for milk and eggs.  All clear! I used marinera sauce.  Again, I carefully scanned the ingredients for milk, eggs, and too much sugar content.  The meatless meatless meatballs have changed our lives, or at least the lives of our pasta dishes.  Now, if they look and taste too good to be vegan, well that's because they aren't 100 % vegan.  They contain egg whites.  :(  Booooooo!  I know.  Why am I even teasing you with this?  Well, part of becoming vegan is finding substitutions for previously meat-heavy meals.  This is one way to break the habit of using meat, while still making delicious and satisfying meals.

The vegan mozzarella cheese came from Trader Joe's.  I love a trip to Trader Joe's!  Find one near you.

I toast the subs in the oven a little, and I use the middle part that I cut to make garlic bread sticks.  A winning touch with my boys!

In Honor of National Meatball Day

In Honor of National Meatball Day… A Veggie Patch Giveaway!

I just missed missed national meatball day, but this is the very best meatball I have ever had!  Even better than meatballs made of animal meat!

My Favorite Vegan Dinner!

I LOVE Mexican food!!! It's an obsession that goes back to my childhood. ;) I'd eat it every night! This is one of my very favorite meals that I have turned vegan. Veggie fajita burritos

Black refried beans
Whole wheat tortillas
Avocado
Salsa/Hot sauce
Peppers and onions

So easy and satisfying!

Groceries

It takes a lot longer to shop when trying to be healthy. Reading all the labels to check for milk or eggs can be time consuming. But, eating healthy foods feels so good that it's worth the extra time and effort!

Here's a picture of my shopping cart from yesterday's healthy trip to Kroger!

Tonight's Vegan Meal

Being off for spring break gives me time to focus on being a good mom and wife.  Tonight, I wanted to come up with something new to cook for dinner.  We get in such a rut eating the same meals we know are good and healthy during the regular work week.  I decided to actually try one of the million meals I have pinned.

Click on the images below and you will go to my pin board.  Click the image again and you'll go to the recipe.

The main dish was meatless meat loaf.  It doesn't look nearly as good here as it was in person.

Source: themightyvegetarian.com via Audrey on Pinterest

On the side, we had mashed cauliflower & green beans.

Source: andloveittoo.com via Audrey on Pinterest

The recipe says "twice baked" and that it should be broiled, but I didn't do that extra step, and it was still amazing! I am shocked that cauliflower tastes so good!

All in all, it was a very successful vegan dinner!  I'd gladly eat it again.  Great combination of foods.

My Day Eating Vegan

Yesterday was my first day off for spring break! Hallelujah! I slept in big time... 7:30! ;) Then worked out while I finished reading a book and watched the news. (You know you're busy when watching the news is a rare luxury.) I ate Special K Red Berries with Almond milk for breakfast.

  

After a mild but uplifting workout, I finished the laundry and did the dishes.  What is it about finishing these little house maintenance things that make me feel accomplished!  ;)

Before heading out to run errands and check off my many "free-time to-do's" I had a lunch date with Pinterest while I ate a veggie burger with avocado and veggie cheese.  I eat my burgers on sandwhich thins, because it's delicious and cuts the carbs and calories a lot!  

      

Check the label on the veggie burgers you buy, because they're not all vegan.  Many brands are made with dairy and/or eggs.

To wash it all down I had water with fresh squeezed lemon.  If you haven't learned the benefits of fresh lemon juice, please google it!

10 Reasons Why You Should Drink Lemon Water in the Morning

I snacked on a banana as I left Target.

Source: fuckyeahveganlife.tumblr.com via Loy on Pinterest

When I got home carrying many shopping bags, I snacked on left over vegan chicken salad with Ritz crackers! Yum!

For dinner, I cooked up some frozen peppers and onions and warmed black refried beans. Artisan multigrain tortillas and guacamole made a fabulous combo for vegan fajitas! I topped them off with Fuzzy's brand taco sauce! YUMMY!!!!

Today, I started my day with cheerios and a banana, followed by a brief workout.  I have lunch plans for Panera where I will carefully choose a vegan-friendly salad.  Tonight for dinner... hmmm... I'm thinking vegan enchiladas!  We'll see!

I don't always post my daily food log, but when I do, I post vegan!

Stay healthy my friends.

Dangers of Soy?

We all need to do our research and make the best decision we can, but please, please, make an educated decision about what you put in your body. I've heard many times that I need to research the dangers of eating too much soy. Now that I'm not eating meat, soy is the natural crutch to turn to. Well, in my quest to try to eat mostly healthy foods, too much soy is a real worry for me as well. I'd hate to trade one evil, meat, for another evil, too much soy. I think the true answer is balance, healthy choices, and mostly fruits and vegetables grown organically.

Click on the image below, and then again, to read an article about the dangers of soy.

Source: foodrenegade.com via Audrey on Pinterest

Wondering About a Vegan Diet?

Source: peta.org via Dorothea on Pinterest

Collection of Websites

Ellen on Becoming Vegan

Ellen Degeneres was interviewed by Katie Couric about why she became a vegan.





Go here to watch Earthlings, free, online.

I completely agree with Ellen that we have a disconnect from what we eat, and where the food comes from, and how it gets to us.

I also highly recommend reading Skinny Bitch. It's a funny, easy read. http://www.amazon.com/Skinny-Bitch-Rory-Freedman/dp/0762424931

Watch Food, Inc.

Watch Food, Inc. Trailer on PBS. See more from POV.

Not a nugget.

I used to laugh when I'd see these bumper stickers.  I use to make fun of these hippies with their VW bugs.
Now... I get it.

Top 10 Reasons to Ditch Meat & Dairy

These ARE in a certain order based on my opinions formed from the research I have done about food and people.  I'm doing this "Letterman" style.

10. I feel more peaceful and calm eating healthy foods.
9.  Save the environment.  Research shows animal raising and slaughtering and distributing hurts our environment.  Plants help it!
8.  Lose weight and feel better about your body!  I lost 5 pounds, no sweat, and have kept it off without any work.
7.  What if all the hippie doctors are right!?
6.  It's cool.  It's the hip new thing that "enlightened" people are doing.  Join the club!
5.  What would Jesus do?  Biblically speaking, Adam and Eve were given a garden... not a meat farm.  Think about it...
4.  Because really, eating dead animal carcass!?  Have you seen what you're eating come right off the animal!?  GAG!
3.  Save Bambi & Babe from torturous lives and cruel deaths.
2.  Prevent cancer and diseases.  Get off your meds!
1.  Take the best care of yourself that you can.  This is the only body you get.  The only life you get.  Make the best of it!  No regrets!  (Don't we often regret eating that cheesecake, that whole pizza, that double cheeseburger and shake??)

Now that you've read my list, check out PETA's list.

Food Sympathy

I am always amused when I'm eating with others, non-vegans, and they make "sounds of sympathy,"while I eat: "ohhhh, awwww, I'm sorry."  When we're eating pizza, queso, or burgers, and I say, "Oh, not for me," they respond with sympathy:  "Oh, so you can't have this?"  Ha!  Can't?!?!  I CHOOSE not to have that stuff!  :)  That's what I respond with.  I tell them, "I CAN have it, but I choose not to."

Vegan Chicken Salad

My husband and I love chicken salad, but there are a few essential ingredients that are strictly forbidden in my vegan diet.  Again, I CHOOSE this diet, so don't feel bad for me.  ;)

Here are the ingredients I use to make my vegan chicken salad:

Dairy-free & egg-free mayonnaise

Almonds - walnuts are also delicious

Vegan sour cream - Tofutti

Craisins

Celery

Seetan (meat alternative) - I get mine at Kroger and stock up when they're on sale & freeze them.

Pepper

I use my handy manual food processor to chop up the Seitan strips.

I combined some mayo and a little sour cream (2 parts mayo & 1 part sour cream) with craisins, chopped celery, chopped almonds, pepper to taste, and then stir in the seitan crumbles.  I let it chill in the fridge before eating out of personal preference for cold chicken salad.