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Being Vegan is NOT just for Hippies

Being Vegan is NOT just for Hippies

by | Apr 20, 2023 | My Story

First things first, I use the term hippie with love. I was born in the 60’s and even though I was a little late to that party, I did catch the tail end of it. In fact, I saw the Grateful Dead (or offshoots thereof) around 50 times from 1983-1995. (And I still enjoy a good Dead cover band!)

Let’s turn the clock back to 1975. I had the great good fortune of attending sleepaway summer camp.

My counselor was vegetarian, and she had containers filled with nuts and seeds in our cabin. At the time I assumed that was all she ate. Maybe it was, but I doubt it. It was likely just her snacks. But I didn’t understand why she ate bird food. Nuts and seeds. In Tupperware containers.

So that’s the type of person I assumed was a vegetarian. No one else I knew was.

In college, inspired by the book, Animal Liberation, I attempted to be vegetarian for a bit, but I wasn’t committed. Little by little after college I stopped eating meat, then fish and I was finally a vegetarian. That took years! 

I met a few vegetarians along the way, and in 2015 joined Vegan Toastmasters. Most of the members were vegan and while they were accepting of me still being vegetarian, I wasn’t ready to take the plunge. I left Vegan Toastmasters for a couple of years and then rejoined in 2019 which coincided with me going fully vegan.

By that point in my life, I knew a lot of vegans and I would say that most of them have no idea who the Grateful Dead are. Or if they do, it’s not their thing.

Now there are vegan actors and actresses (A-listers!), musicians (Moby just produced a wonderful new film called A Punk Rock Vegan Movie!), athletes, famous chefs, doctors and millions of regular non-hippies.

There are political, social and moral reasons why hippies may have chosen vegetarianism and veganism back then. And many of those reasons still stand. Increasingly, regular people (like you and me) are choosing compassionate ways to eat and spend our dollars. And we are learning about the health benefits of a whole food plant-based lifestyle.

Choosing to be vegan or eat plant-based can be for everyone. It is no longer difficult to find plant-based foods or learn how to cook them. (We even started offering cooking classes to make it easy and accessible for everyone!)

Plant-based food is no longer bird food or rabbit food. It’s nutritious and delicious and bountiful and the best way we can move our planet and her inhabitants forward with grace. 

PEACE

My Biggest Regret

My Biggest Regret

by | Mar 22, 2023 | My Story

My biggest regret is that I didn’t go vegan sooner.

For years I knew about the suffering caused by animal agriculture, yet I turned away.

It is easy to turn away. The people involved with farming and animal slaughter do a damn good job of hiding the brutal realities. All we see is a package in the supermarket labeled as food. We call it meat.

Every step of the way I justified why I was still eating animal products:

🌿 It’s easier to eat what everyone else eats.

🌿 I don’t want people to think I’m any weirder than they already do.

🌿 I’m healthy eating the way I eat. Why would I change?

🌿 Chickens aren’t cute, fish aren’t land animals and really, how much pain do they feel…
blah blah blah

What did it for me?

Little by little I could no longer justify. I watched films and read books. The reality was right there in front of me.
Making the moral choice to stop eating animals was the first step. Then I learned that vegan could also be healthy and there was no going back. 

What do I know now?

⭐ I know that there is overwhelming evidence that living a healthy plant-based lifestyle is the healthiest option.

⭐ I know that I look and feel my best when eating whole food plant-based.

⭐ I know that animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change, responsible for at least 87% of         greenhouse gas emissions annually.*

⭐ I know that millions of animals are slaughtered every day.

⭐ I know that I can get enough protein without eating animals.

⭐ I know that when I eat whole grain carbohydrates I feel satiated and I do not gain weight.

⭐ I know that it’s a heck of a lot easier to eat plant-based today than even a few years ago. (It’s actually fun!)

⭐ I know that cooking and eating plant-based brings me joy (as does sharing it with others!).

⭐ I know that eating plant-based (not processed foods) is cost-effective.

And I know that having taken a cooking class made it all a lot easier for me to learn how to cook plant-based. (So much so that we’re offering our own, affordable classes now. Click here to find out more.)

I have had to learn to forgive myself for not doing it sooner. And, I had to forgive myself that I didn’t raise my children with this awareness.

I’m not alone in my regrets either. I hear this over and over from other vegans and plant-based eaters. 

Instead of living in the regrets, however, we now rejoice in our decision. 

If you are just dipping your toe in looking for a new recipe or two, I applaud you!
If that recipe or two turns into mostly plant-based, then great. It all makes a difference.
And if you decide that you can no longer eat animal products and join the growing community of 100% plant-based eaters and vegans, we welcome you with open arms.

Whatever your choice, remember to have compassion for yourself. We’re all doing the best we can with what we have in this moment.

*https://climatehealers.org/the-science/positioning-papers/

My Top 15 Go-To Plant-Based Meals

My Top 15 Go-To Plant-Based Meals

by | Feb 28, 2023 | Food & Ingredients, My Story, Whole Food Plant Based

Some people love to cook.

Others do not and will not cook anything. Ever.

And many people fall in between.

Where do you see yourself? 

What’s Plant-Based Cooking Good Looking? was created to support people who are interested in cooking and eating more plant-based. Ideally we will all cook more so that we have more healthy options, plus more variety. Yet, there are days and weeks that cooking is just not going to happen.

Here are some of my go-to quick plant-based meals for those days: 

Breakfast:

  • Cold cereal- Be sure to find the healthiest cereal, plant-based milk and add fruit. My go to is: Ezekiel flax and I add fresh blueberries
  • Hot Cereal- Oatmeal is great. Sometimes I make a big pot so I just have to reheat portions for a few days after that. When I eat plain oatmeal I add flax and walnuts. Trader Joes has a rolled oats with ancient grains and seeds that’s good. Qi’a has individual breakfast packets. My favorite flavor is: Superseeds and Grains. Years ago, I used to add sweetener but now I just top it with fresh berries.
  • Whole grain breads or waffle topped with a nut butter. 

Lunch:

  • Homemade salad. It only takes a few minutes to assemble, and you can add lots of different toppings and sample different vinegars or low oil/oil free dressings.
  • Whether we cook or order in, I usually make or order enough to have lunch for the next day. I almost always have brown rice and a roasted vegetable around.
  • Prepared food from the market. Most supermarkets have a prepared food section with a variety of choices. Trader Joes has a few salads, Whole Foods has some options, and our local farmers market has a few stands with wonderful choices too.
  • Soup (I love Amy’s soup and am trying to eat the low sodium options). I like their lentil and pea soups. 

Snack:

  • Crackers or soft Tortilla (like Ezekiel) with hummus or bean dip. Healthier cracker options are: Mary’s Gone Crackers or Flackers
  • Almonds and fruit
  • Or an apple or banana with some peanut butter
  • Edamame

Dinner:

  • Veggie burger. Our local hamburger joint makes a homemade vegan veggie patty and I get it in a salad bowl with avocado, sprouts and Dijon balsamic dressing.
  • Sushi restaurant: miso soup, edamame, salad, and an avocado and cucumber roll. See if they can make it with brown rice.
  • Thai food- I love Pad Thai and most places can make a vegan version. Call ahead and ask. I also love curry and many can be made vegan.
  • Pasta is always easy. I love pasta and there are so many whole grain and gluten free options to try nowadays. A simple marinara is great, or a plant-based pesto

These are just a few suggestions to get you thinking about all the options out there. It is far from an exhaustive list. When I was first vegan I pretty much lived on the above choices, but I really wanted to have more options.

That’s when I learned how to cook plant-based meals which changed everything for me. Now I have dozens of recipes that I love to cook again and again and I’m constantly trying new ones.

We have been sharing recipes regularly with our community. But sometimes just having a recipe in front of you isn’t enough.

That’s why we will be offering cooking classes so that you can learn how to cook delicious plant-based meals too. It’s so much easier than you realize, and we will be here to help you as you go.

Stay tuned for details!

What if I love cheese and can’t imagine giving it up?

What if I love cheese and can’t imagine giving it up?

by | Feb 15, 2023 | Food & Ingredients, Whole Food Plant Based

Have you thought, “I could be plant-based except I can’t imagine giving up cheese?” If you have, you are not alone. I hear this all the time and I was where you are not that long ago. 

Cheese is delicious and found in so many dishes. But it comes at a cost. Not only is dairy cheese bad for your health, its production is also bad for the environment and of course the animals. (I’m not going to get into the animal element in this post, but you can read this article to learn more.) 

That’s the bad news. 

The good news is there are TONS of plant-based options that you can make yourself or purchase in a store which we will explore. Now you can enjoy your favorite cheeses, pizzas, nachos and more without the guilt. 

Let’s start with what is found at retail.

There are a growing number of plant-based cheese manufacturers, and you may wish to try a few brands to see which one(s) you prefer.

Some examples are: Violife (they make a good mozzarella that I used to doctor up a lasagna); Kite Hill cream cheese -one of my friends prefers it to dairy cream cheese, though I actually prefer Tofutti brand; among a variety of cheeses, Miyokos makes fun party cheese wheels (see photo to the left) and many other cheeses including mozzarella (see top image), Parmela Creamery makes a sliced cheddar that is good, Philadelphia brand just launched a plant-based cream cheese… the list goes on. Of course, your local supermarket or co-op may carry different brands but, you can check them out (or see what you can find online). 

Next, I was blown away when I made my first plant-based cheese in a cooking class. I assumed that it would be a long and laborious process and it was anything but. A few ingredients (softened cashews, nutritional yeast, a bit of coconut oil and some herbs) in the blender, pour into a dish, refrigerate and voila, cheese. Is it exactly the same as dairy cheese? No way. But it is delicious and when I share it with omnivore friends comments range from: “this is yummy” to “who even needs dairy if I have this.” I’m not sure I would have attempted it the first time without the cooking class, but I’m glad I attended the class because it gave me the confidence to do it on my own. 

Cashew allergies or aversions? No problem! Carleigh Bodrug from Plant You just posted a video with a cheese recipe using pine nuts. She substitutes pine nuts for cashews. Pine nuts are technically seeds, but some people who cannot tolerate cashews can tolerate pine nuts. You may be one of those people, but please do your due diligence. (Her method is similar to the description above by tossing everything into a blender then pouring into a dish or a small mold and then chilling. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s on the list!) 

Lastly, for now, are plant-based artisan cheeses that you can either find in a specialty retailer or have shipped to you. The brand I’ve had and love is Peaceful Rebel based in Colorado. I tried a few of their flavors and they are all unique. These cheeses are made from tofu, so they have a different consistency than cashew-based cheeses. The creator of Peaceful Rebel is so darn creative with their flavors and textures. Their website has recipes and suggestions too. So check it out and try some Peaceful Rebel cheese for yourself. Great to bring to parties!  

I also just learned of another company called Rebel Cheese (not to be confused with Peaceful Rebel) based in Austin, Texas. I have not tried their cheese, but they do offer subscription boxes which could be fun. 

Have you tried any plant-based cheeses? Have you made any yourself? I’d love to know your favorites!

Why the Hawaii Story Stuck With Me

Why the Hawaii Story Stuck With Me

by | Jan 25, 2023 | My Story, Whole Food Plant Based

Let’s begin with a story. 

Years ago, I was in a tennis group and one of the men had just returned from Hawaii where he almost drowned in an undertow. While he was churning in the water, he thought to himself: If I’m going to die this way at a relatively young age, why did I eat so healthfully all these years? 

Apologies for the scary visual, but it got me thinking. 

It struck me that we want to eat healthfully to gain and maintain optimal health and increase our chances of extending and enjoying our lives. But for me, and many people, food is also fun and a way to be creative and social. 

Thus, my motto is everything in moderation. 

As we have previously discussed, for me eating plant-based means ONLY plants. Zero animal products. That is non-negotiable. So, everything in moderation applies to vegan vs. whole food plant-based. 

When I first began eating plant-based it was simply a vegan diet: Anything that wasn’t animal-based was an option.

Sure, I ate oatmeal for breakfast and salads for lunch a few days a week. But before I learned how to cook plant-based, there was a lot of ordering from restaurants, or eating pre-packaged vegan food. 

EATING VEGAN WAS AN EXCELLENT FIRST STEP TOWARD EATING PLANT-BASED.

No animals were harmed on my behalf and the foods I ate did not contribute to climate issues like factory farming does. 

In the beginning, I did miss some of my usual foods, and sought to replicate them via the veganized version. 

Examples are: tofu-based egg salad sandwich with vegan mayo; teriyaki tofu from Sam Turnbull at It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken; plant-based cheese.  All of these foods are SO delicious and I still make all of them. And for the record, I don’t miss dairy cheese, chicken or eggs with that vegan yumminess in my life. 

But none of these recipes are super healthy- they all contain oils or sugars. 

For the longest time, this was totally fine with me (and I didn’t know the difference anyway). 

Then I attended the online Plant-Based Nutrition program at Cornell. The education gave me a much better understanding of the difference between vegan food and eating whole food plant-based. 

And, once you know something, you cannot unknow it. As a result, I have chosen to move toward a cleaner whole food plant-based lifestyle. 

I do my best to eat cleaner, but I still eat meals in restaurants, and we get take-out too. 

For some of you reading this, the idea of eating exclusively plant-based is already challenging and whole food plant-based is out of the question. Others may be horrified at the idea of not eating whole food plant-based because for you, food is solely a source of nutrition. Or maybe you share my motto: everything in moderation. 

And for the record, this is not to say that eating whole food plant-based isn’t yummy. I have learned to make some amazingly healthy meals that are also delicious. There are incredibly creative chefs using spices and food combinations that are unbelievable. It’s just a balance. 

We all have our reasons for being where we are on our plant-based or vegan journeys. At some point most of us were Pregan (pre-vegan). Maybe this can also be an opportunity to practice non-judgment of other’s choices. 

That’s why I love Veganuary. It’s an opportunity to try something new, or double down on your resolve to eat only plants, or to up your game and eat closer to whole food plant-based.  Check out the books and films we have been sharing each week in our group and newsletter. They can be enlightening. 

As always, we are here to support you wherever you are on your plant-based journey!