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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!

How’s Veganuary going for you?

How’s Veganuary going for you?

by | Jan 18, 2023 | Whole Food Plant Based

How’s Veganuary going for you?

Is it easy? 

Awesome!

🌿 What makes it easy?

🌿 Were you looking forward to trying to eat plant-based for the month?

🌿 Do you already enjoy plant-based foods and you just needed to commit to eating this way regularly?

🌿 What is your reason for being vegan for the month (or all the time if you already eat plant-based)? Is it for your health? Compassion for the animals? The environment? All of the above?

🌿 Is eating this way new to you?

🌿 What are you enjoying?

🌿 Are you cooking? Eating in restaurants or getting takeout? A combination of the two?

If it’s not easy, what are your challenges?

🌱 Are there certain meals that are easy and others that confound you?

🌱 Have you not yet discovered foods that you enjoy?

🌱 Are you traveling and it’s too difficult to commit?

🌱 Are you with family and it’s too difficult to commit?

🌱 Do recipes seem too difficult or ingredients too foreign?

🌱 Do you need more tips? Recipes? Ideas? Guidance? Support? If so, please let us know.

We have already posted a bunch of plant-based recipes with tips and suggestions in our Facebook group and have been emailing them out to our newsletter recipients. And each day this month we’ve been sharing a little dose of inspiration.

I know this post asks a lot of questions. Sometimes we aren’t aware of what’s holding us back from what we want until someone brings it to our attention. 

For me, my heart wanted to be vegan a long time ago but I had tons of excuses. Vegetarian seemed to be sufficient until I learned about the horrors of the dairy and egg industry as well as the health detriments. I remember feeling unaligned with my values by continuing to consume any animal products.

Once I was eating 100% plant-based, I actually looked forward to the foods I could eat. I don’t miss animal products at all. There are so many good options nowadays both in the supermarket and in restaurants. There are countless excellent recipes and helpful videos to walk us through the process too. 

Let us know if we can help you align your lifestyle with your values too! We are here to help.

Plant-Based? Vegan? What does it mean?

Plant-Based? Vegan? What does it mean?

by | Jan 11, 2023 | Food & Ingredients, Whole Food Plant Based

When I was in college in the 80’s, I attempted to be vegetarian. I remember reading about the horrors of the chicken industry and something clicked. I had finally made a connection between living, sentient beings and what I was choosing to put in my mouth.

It didn’t last long though. Ultimately it was easier not to be vegetarian and I went back to full omnivore. (So, if you are conflicted or finding it difficult, I GET IT!) 

After college I stopped eating red meat. (It wasn’t for health reasons as much as I had a hierarchy of animals that I didn’t want to eat, and cows were at the top.)

Years later I dropped eating fowl. Then around 2014 I stopped eating fish and was vegetarian. 

The terms vegan or plant-based weren’t on my radar. It seemed so fringe and weird and difficult. 

Then in 2018 I decided to go for it. Milk was easy to forego, though I did miss cheese. (Sound familiar?) Eggs were tough at first. I had been eating a lot of eggs because I thought my body needed the protein. I was getting a little sick of them actually and was happy to have the break. The only thing that tripped me up was desserts. Ordering a plant-based meal in a restaurant was easy enough by 2018, but what was I to do when my friends ordered dessert and I couldn’t partake? So, I was a convenient vegan for about a year. 

Then I stopped eating all dairy and eggs including desserts. I learned how to bake or find plant-based desserts when I wanted them (which is much less frequent now than in the past). 

For me, eating plant-based means ONLY choosing plant-based foods.

For other people, eating plant-based means usually choosing plant-based foods but still consuming animal products from time to time or even regularly. 

In my perfect world everyone only eats plants. There is no reason for us to harm animals or the earth for our eating pleasure. Plus, knowing what I know from studying plant-based nutrition through Cornell, a whole food plant-based lifestyle is the healthiest option. Whole food plant-based is a healthier version of eating plant-based which can still include processed foods. 

And even though we don’t discuss it too often at What’s Plant-Based Cooking Good Looking?, going fully vegan means not purchasing any animal-based products, like clothing, accessories or household or cosmetic products. It requires reading labels, but in the end, it’s worth it.

Some people watch a film and that’s it. They’re done eating meat, dairy and eggs because they are horrified by what they learn either about animal agriculture or their health.  

How did I do it? It was a slow process for me. Years! Decades! I kept justifying. Until I couldn’t justify any longer.

And now I sleep at night and trust that I am consuming the best possible foods for my health.

Where are you in the process? Please let us know what kind of support or words of encouragement you may need. We are here for you!

Is Anything Holding You Back?

Is Anything Holding You Back?

by | Jan 4, 2023 | Whole Food Plant Based

Where are you in your plant-based eating journey? Do you need ideas of what to eat? Recipes? Variety? Just to make the decision to go for it? What is your reason for even making the switch? The animals? The planet? Your health?

For me, it was a long slow process. I knew in my heart I didn’t want to eat animals, but it was so hard eliminating certain foods. It was also the societal stuff- like friends and family teasing, or asking questions that I did not have the answers to. Plus, there wasn’t a lot of good food to choose from way back when.

But then I decided to go for it and I began discovering new plant-based foods. Once I learned how to cook with some of the ingredients that intimidated me, I felt much more comfortable.

Then I attended the Cornell plant-based nutrition online program and with a bit of fine tuning to the vegan choices, now live a lifestyle that is also best for my health. I even look forward to all the plant-based foods I eat and don’t miss any of the animal-based foods I used to eat.

I want to share something from Charity Morgan’s cookbook, Unbelievably Vegan. I just got it and haven’t cooked anything yet though I have tagged a few recipes to try. She’s very cool and here are some excerpts from her introduction:

“I found myself always trying to explain my decisions and felt the frustration from my clients too. They wanted to try something new but didn’t want to tell people they were vegan or plant-based because with that statement comes judgment (which is why many people go vegan quietly).

…So the rebel that I am, I created a new category. I called it Plegan [plant-based and vegan]. It’s a term for people growing in their awareness and consciousness, making an effort to discover the healthiest and most sustainable way of eating.

… I don’t blame anyone for feeling overwhelmed or for not being a ‘perfect vegan.’ In the meantime, it’s nice to know you can keep the animal products off your plate and continue to grow in a loving, inclusive environment where you can make your own conscious decisions about your impact on animals, the environment and yourself.”

I share this with you because I like the sentiment. It’s how I feel too.  Do what’s best for you and let us know how we can help make it simpler and more enjoyable!

Veganuary is Coming!

Veganuary is Coming!

by | Dec 21, 2022 | Whole Food Plant Based

Veganuary is Coming and I wanted to let you know we will be celebrating and giving away a few prizes at the end of the month.* 

I never thought much about Veganuary since I already eat plant-based year-round. Upon further reflection, however, it’s a great way to introduce plant-based eating.  

What is Veganuary? Veganuary is an organization that encourages people to try vegan for January and beyond. Learn more here. Their website has a ton of information and recipes galore. 

For more tasty recipes, lots of support and a fun month, hang out with us at What’s Plant-Based Cooking Good Looking?! 

If the idea of eating plant-based for a whole month is foreign to you, here’s a reframe: 

Don’t think of it as what you are giving up. Rather, think of it as what you are gaining: 

🌿 A whole new repertoire of foods to try,

🌿 Recipes to cook if you are interested in cooking,

🌿 An exploration into how living a healthy plant-based lifestyle can do wonders for your health,

🌿 Feeling empowered that you are contributing to healing, not harming, the earth by the foods you consume.

🌿 And of course, the ability to sleep at night knowing you didn’t harm an animal for your food.

There’s more, but that’s a good place to start. 

Plus, it’s only one month and if at the end you decide it’s not for you, then you can go back to eating whatever animal products you were eating before. 

BUT, you might also decide that it’s not as hard as you thought. Or, you might see some improvements in your health and want to stick with team plant-based. Or you might learn about the atrocities of the animal food industry and decide you no longer wish to participate. Or, or, or… 

Yes, there is a lot of wacky information out there about what is healthy. And yes, there is a lot of misinformation about the animal agriculture industry (such as how we are lead to believe that it’s humane). 

Yet, what I hear over and over from people who are now 100% plant-based or vegan is that their biggest regret is that they didn’t do it sooner. I’m one of those people. 

Join us here for the month. We’ll be posting something every day on social and that same post will go out to our newsletter recipients. 

Plus- we are offering prizes for anyone who wishes to eat plant-based for the month. All you have to do is take photos of your plant-based meal and email to me. *We will be posting the rules for the raffle at the end of the month. Details below.

Raffle eligibility:

🌱 Take a photo of your vegan meal and email it me, with the name of the dish in the subject line.

🌱 Be sure your first name (not just your email address) is apparent in the email (so we know who is entering.)

🌱 If you send a photo in every day, you will automatically win a small prize, be entered to win the grand prize, and receive discounts on future offerings.

🌱 The top 10 people with the most entries will be entered to win the grand prize. (Something yummy.)

🌱 The top 10 people will also receive a discount on our new offerings in February.

🌱 There will be two runner-up prizes. (One of my favorite ingredients.)

🌱 Raffle will be held on January 30th and announced January 31st.

🌱 By sending in your recipe via email, you agree to receive emails from What’s Plant-Based Cooking Good Looking?.

🌱 Physical Prizes mailed early February to US addresses only. (The discounts are available to everyone.)

 Prizes:

🎁 A gift basket of some of my favorite vegan ingredients and prepared foods. (Nothing that will spoil in the mail.)

🎁 Daily entry winners: A favorite cooking ingredient plus discounts on any courses we launch in 2023