Sushi or Su-shit?

I made vegan sushi today.
It was seaweed, sweet potato and asparagus.  Of course with wasabi and ginger on the side.
And I was all happy because only one piece exploded on me.
And I posted it on facebook.
Then I get the comment  "i'd try it but i like fish"
And I do not know how to respond to that.

It is kind of rude. And at the very least annoying.  I am not posting it because I want to push a vegan agenda.  I was posting it because this is my third attempt at making sushi and the first time it didnt turn into su-shit.

And I would love to see more people make sushi at home, especially since most people lack the knowledge that it needs to be sushi/sushi grade fish.  Which means deep frozen for a set amount of time to kill parasites.  Mainly thats an American concept as in Japan it is not deep frozen, but why take chances of getting a parasite? 

I also do not understand what the point of making the fish comment was about when sushi bars sell sweet potato rolls and asparagus rolls? 

Really why even bother wasting the energy?

Also most people do not realize that when they crave a particular food it is because they want the flavor of the sauce the food is cooked in.
Hence the wasabi and soy and ginger. 

Open minds people.
Also not everthing a person does on facebook is a slight to another group of people.
Food for thought.

Carnivorous Cannibalism

Someday this will be seen as a social and mental disease....  

Perhaps people will look at this image with disgust and think how savage.  Much like how civilization today looks upon the act of cannibalism.

Forks Over Knives

I am unable to put into words what I have learned from that documentary.  I think it is a great film to put on your netflix. 
It does NOT show animal abuse as I cannot watch those kinds of films, but it delves into the health aspects of veganism and how it benefits society and the self.
It is scientific but easy to understand.
It also shows the trail of money as to why the USDA doesnt care to advocate a meat free diet.
Since money is the root of all evil it was nice to pull out that weed.

Some day.... some day....
People will get it.

Also...
a girl at my job is going veggie for new years first to see if she can do it.  Im not sure if I have the faith in her to suceed but its the fact she cares enough to try.  She wants to be a hardcore tofu person...and I dont think tofu is nutritionally sound or really that good for you...and she has a possible wheat allergy..she and I kinda brainstormed some meal ideas, but I had to warn her that most veggie alternative premade "meats" are wheat based...
and i had to give her a run down on what gluten was..i was like omg.
she never heard of gluten.

i miss living in a cave.

i need to get a degree in nutritional science.

Update on mystery illness

No doctor knows what I have.  It is almost like the flu but not.  I was basically just really sick on my stomach and had weird aches and a fluttery heart.  I am doing better now that they have given me a script for zofran.  I have been able to eat again and my strength is back.
They also did a complete check up of my blood since I am vegetarian.

All my stats are perfect.
Iron, calcium,folate, b-12 ect...
She was impressed with my calcium stat.
So way to go veggie diet!!!

The doctor even knew what wheat protein was.  I was impressed with her.  Most of the doctors just tell me to eat more kidney beans, when you should actually eat more spinach (or kale) and black eyed peas.  And seitan is unheard of.

It is frustrating when doctors are not up with a simple vegetarian diet.  Imagine trying to explain vegan to them.  That would be very annoying. 
The seeds to make vegetarian a normal instead of a california hippy thing, were planted in my generation back in the 90's.  There was also a big push to teach my generation to recycle and other enviroment friendly things.
Some of those seeds are blooming now.
Are vegetarians the new weed in the proverbial garden...or a new breed of flower?

Egg Sandwhich Time Saver

This is why I love eggs.
Follow this link to a page that shows how to make a weeks worth of egg sandwiches in 15 mins.

http://www.efficientlifeskills.com/make-a-weeks-worth-of-healthy-egg-breakfast-sandwiches-in-15-minutes/

I really love the ideas they have about adding spinach or broccoli. Eggs are a great source of protein and b-12.

Confession

I ate a piece of meat.
It was a thin slice of steak, and it did not taste at all like I remember meat tasting.
It was bitter and it didnt even look appealing.
But I have been feeling ill so I thought mabe I need this.
Now my stomach really hurts.

Whatever I did.
I made it worse.
Meat is not the answer.


The meat wasnt bad. But I just don't remember it tasting like that.  I think that gardein beef tips was a lot better.

Ch Ch Ch CHIA!

These are the best little seeds ever.
I love their flavor. 
Such a simple addition to smoothies, salads, muffins or a topping to pudding. Just sprinkle and go.
And POOF
omega 3 without eatting fish.

Also they gel up when allowed to sit in a liquid.
Which is amazing.
I sprinkle them into ALL my juice drinks or kombucha teas and wait about 10-15 mins for them to gel and its amazing.  It makes the drink slightly meal like and filling.

Omega 3's are good for brain health.

Nooch ie nutritional yeast

Nooch makes me sick.
I love it though.
Its a conundrum.

It tastes great sprinkled on popcorn and over potatoes and on salads. Its cheesy without the cheese.
But it makes me feel like I am dying when I eat it.  Which makes no sense since I can eat kombucha tea just fine.  So I wonder...what it is that makes me sick...
other forms of yeast dont make me sick.
kombucha beer bread ect...
but vitamin supplements make me sick.
so maybe..its the addition of vitamins that make me sick.
I think that could be why I am feeling ill right now. I had been eatting the nooch a bit too much.
I need to throw that shit out.

Most people dont haave issues with it though.

It is the BEST source of B12 for vegans though and kinda a necessary diet supplement.

Sick Sick Sick

I am sick with some sort of cold or something.
I feel weak and sick. My nerves ache. My muscles ache.
And I cannot tell if its from lack of something in my diet or illness as it is cold and flu season again.
SO I am going to wait it out. Take multivitamins.
The only new thing that has happened around here is that the temperatures have dropped and I am cold all the time.  Despite the wood stove.
So...time will tell.
I might relapse and eat some fish for a quick fix since I have  no appetite.
Why is vegetarianism such a struggle for me?
I guess I shold just be happy it is not a cow or chicken (pork is never an option for me).

My thought process is telling me to get some hot n sour soup from a Chinese restaurant.

Being sick is no fun.
I have no energy to cook.

I have a story to tell about my hike to Annapolis Rock and Spring. But that will have to wait until I have the energy.  I learned a lot about water and culture.

The Value of Eggs

Being vegan means not eating any foods from animals as well as not eating animals.
There is controversy over honey but the majority of vegans believe that honey is not okay to consume as well.
My personal stance on eggs is that they are okay to eat if you have your own chickens and you know eggsactly (haha! exactly...get it?) how they are treated.
Which I do because my grandmother has a chicken coop.
And it is interesting to get a first hand look at how they are raised and how they interact with the world around them.
She has 20 chickens and never clipped their wings and treats them as pets.  She has her favorites and they seem to favor her too.  She feeds them chard that she grows from the garden as a treat just for them.  And even table scraps left over from dinner.   Their coop is heated in the winter and they all just hang out all day long enjoying life.
They are food producing pets and she does not plan to kill them to make into dinner once they stop laying eggs.
And they even protect the family from snakes as they have killed several copper heads over the summer!
What a better symbiotic relationship! Two species working together, human and chicken.

I feel no guilt eating these eggs.

Because if the family does not remove the eggs then the chickens try to eat them.  Which causes a mess in the coop.  Eggs are messy to clean up.

However, eggs from the store cause me a few issues.  The female chickens are not allowed to walk around and enjoy life.  They do not get to enjoy life.  They are killed after their egg baring time is over.
It is common knowledge that as chicks are sorted for egg laying, the male chicks are basically sorted and sent to their deaths and blended alive.

It is a cruel practice.  Mass production of food has created a cruel and inhumane environment for other living creatures.
If humans are so advanced then it is time to move past hurting any other sentient being for food.   If my grandmother chose to not have chickens anymore then I would not eat eggs anymore.  And I refuse to support eggs from the supermarket at all.

The grey area in this, are locally produced eggs.
I would need to see how the chickens are treated before I could pass judgment on if I would want to eat the eggs.  Some people are no better than a large commercial farm and treat the chickens as a commodity not a life.  Others are just people over run with eggs that they cannot get rid of.  This is an area that leaves wiggle room for people who want to eat eggs and have the eggs from humanely treated chickens.
A small amount of research is going to go a long way.

Create your own value system when it comes to eggs.

Veggie is the New Sexy

A girl at work today actually told me I was going to die if I did not get enough iron in me and that by not eating meat I would die.
I tried to explain that Iron comes in a few different forms, one if I was anemic (I am not) I could just take a multivitamin or something man made.
But, instead I tried to educate, a very unintelligent low class person, and I am not trying to be judgmental but this girl cannot even understand that heroin is bad for you.  How the hell can I explain to her in terms she would understand that meat is bad for you? 
All you need to know about her is that she is a hooker on the side, a heroin addict and her boyfriend pimps her out because she isnt even intelligent enough to be a freelance whore.  You know, or work a fast food job and get welfare at least.
But I digress...

Legumes: lentils, soybeans, tofu, tempeh, lima beans

Grains: quinoa, fortified cereals, brown rice, oatmeal

Nuts and seeds: pumpkin, squash, pine, pistacio, sunflower, cashews, unhulled sesame

Vegetables: tomato sauce, swiss chard, collard greens,

- See more at: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/iron-for-vegetarians/#sthash.iyXCbRfp.dpuf

 There are VEGAN sources of Iron...just try to toss in some Vitamin C to better absorb it.
Edamame is my favorite.  Because its  snack, a salad topping or an addition to a wrap.
Lentils
Spinach
various nuts.

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/iron.php
http://www.nomeatathlete.com/iron-for-vegetarians/

And boom you got yourself some iron.
So stop sweating it. You are not going to die.
It is funny because she is bruised all up and down from the stage and I am not, plus I am toned.  Jus sayin Veggie is the new Sexy.

Legumes: lentils, soybeans, tofu, tempeh, lima beans

Grains: quinoa, fortified cereals, brown rice, oatmeal

Nuts and seeds: pumpkin, squash, pine, pistacio, sunflower, cashews, unhulled sesame

Vegetables: tomato sauce, swiss chard, collard greens,

- See more at: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/iron-for-vegetarians/#sthash.iyXCbRfp.dpuf

Legumes: lentils, soybeans, tofu, tempeh, lima beans

Grains: quinoa, fortified cereals, brown rice, oatmeal

Nuts and seeds: pumpkin, squash, pine, pistacio, sunflower, cashews, unhulled sesame

Vegetables: tomato sauce, swiss chard, collard greens,

- See more at: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/iron-for-vegetarians/#sthash.iyXCbRfp.dpuf

Legumes: lentils, soybeans, tofu, tempeh, lima beans

Grains: quinoa, fortified cereals, brown rice, oatmeal

Nuts and seeds: pumpkin, squash, pine, pistacio, sunflower, cashews, unhulled sesame

Vegetables: tomato sauce, swiss chard, collard greens,

- See more at: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/iron-for-vegetarians/#sthash.iyXCbRfp.dpuf

Legumes: lentils, soybeans, tofu, tempeh, lima beans

Grains: quinoa, fortified cereals, brown rice, oatmeal

Nuts and seeds: pumpkin, squash, pine, pistacio, sunflower, cashews, unhulled sesame

Vegetables: tomato sauce, swiss chard, collard greens,

- See more at: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/iron-for-vegetarians/#sthash.iyXCbRfp.dpuf

Spread Some Good Karma Today

Respect for self
Respect for others
Responsibility for all you actions

Most people live a hurried life and they are very self absorbed.  It is hard for others too look outside themselves and see the big pictures. 
I was at the coffee shop this morning and they only had one barista and 3 people in line (me being the 2nd person in line).  The person behind me was giving off some bad vibes.  She was huffing and tapping her foot with her arms crossed.  She had parked in the handicap spot and I could see her car from the door and I knew she had no sticker to park there while there was ample parking around.
Basically this person was part of the rat race.
She needed to go go go and me me me.
This creates a bad vibe to others around..  It actually made me start getting anxious.  But I was determined to keep the coffee shop as my happy place.  I do not allow negativity there at least what I can control.
So she said under her breathe..."They only have one barista working?"
And I turned and said, "Yea, typically they have a change over around 10 am because it gets kinda dead. "
She replied,"I am used to star bucks where they get you in and out."

I do not personally like starbucks as I feel the chain has killed the spirit of a local coffee shop and is nothing more than a coffin of what a coffee shop is. Impersonal and dead.

But I was refusing to give in to this negativity..so I asked her"Would you like to get in line in front of me?"
My drink generally takes a bit longer to brew because I do not imbibe in the drip coffee. I have a latte addiction.
She at first did not want to get in line but I convinced her to go ahead since she had somewhere to be and she did.   She said thank you and went about her day.

To me that is passing on good karma.
I kept her happy, so maybe she will see that the local coffee shop is a nicer place than starbucks.  The coffee speaks for itself and it better.  I got the coffee shop a few more $$ that might have otherwise walked out the door, which helps keep my favorite place in business.
And even if I do not see the immediate effects of passing on some good will, the fact is that energy is out there.

Pass on some good karma.
That is your homework for today.

I luv Rice!

I just have to take a moment and show some gratitude for rice.
And i dont care what kind.
Jasmine rice is my favorite.
But I like a hearty brown too.

It it the perfect addition to just about everything I eat.
Stirfry
Soup
Sauteed veggies/tofu/legumes

Plus I am guaranteed a great meal at any Chinese or Mexican restaurant.

I finally found something that has curbed my hunger and gives me energy.
I am in love.

Dealing with Family Functions and Holidays

Sometimes I just want to scream.
Why does every single festivity have to be centered around food?
Holidays, birthdays, celebrations, funerals, graduations, weddings, ect...
All centered around food.  And I do not have a supportive family.  Meaning I am the only real vegetarian.  There is no support person to back me up on anything.
Even when I am surrounded by omnivores spouting off the most asinine bull.
It is exhausting.
I have taken to bringing my own awesome dish.

But heaven forbid you are at a BBQ and you bring a marinated portobello mushroom so you can have a burger too.
And if you are vegan it is even worse.
Everything has cheese o eggs hidden somewhere.
IT can be very frustrating.
The easiest thing to do is to bring a dish like a casserole that anyone can enjoy so that you are guaranteed a meal.
Or you can have your own party and make everything delicious and vegan/veggie.

How do other people deal with he frustration?
This website offers a plethora of recipes to share with omni- famiy and friends.

And tips for dealing with a functional family that cares about one another.

It is a bit harder with a hard headed family.
But sometimes you have to resign yourself to go without and just reward yourself with a nice meal at home later and a kombucha tea.

Why be protein obsessed?

Questions I ask myself and encounter about protein can include anything from...where do you get protein in a vegan diet? Are you crazy you are going to get sick without protein!! Protein digest slower so you feel full longer, aren't you hungry all the time?  You aren't going to deprive your child of protein and nutrients are you?

And ect...

But the real question is why is everyone so obsessed with protein?
Is protein even healthy for  you?

From body builders who add protein why to their after workout drinks, to the Atkins diet, Americans especially are obsessed with this notion that diets need to be high protein and that usually means eating meat.  Usually it is typical for Americans to over eat.

Eating to much protein can cause an array of health issues.

*Weight Gain being the most common.

*High protein diets like Atkins, promote the build up of ketones that can shut down the kidneys.
I only have one kidney so that is important information to me.

*Dehydration from kidneys not functioning properly
*Seizures
*Increased liver enzymes


A person needs about 40-70 grams a day.
one 100 calorie serving of seitan is 20 calories.  That is half of my needs in one meal. Not including the protein from the rest of the meal.
So do not worry about me friends. I am good.
But I should be asking you why do you want to overdose on protein so badly?

Self Imposed Rules...A new way of being

At an early age, it is taught to just about everyone that a meal consists of a main meat dish, a veggie side and some starch or grain like noodles or potatoes.

However, when a person goes veggie this thinking needs to change for obvious reasons.

It is not unusual for me to have issues creating a dinner plan.  When I alter my thinking on dinner it makes it a bit harder with new “rules” in place.  These old rules are self-imposed. 

Gardein and their line of mock meats helps a lot.  However, it is hard to think of beans or tofu as the new main course because it is not.  Tofu and beans are an addition to the dinner.

A nutritious meal is all about balance.

Salads get old quick and they are not calorie dense enough to fill you up for long.

Mushrooms are great filler and fill you up but are mainly water and very low calorie.

Potatoes are great.  They are very filling. Sweet potatoes are best and a staple of many vegan diets.

I am going on my second month of being veggie and I am feeling very overwhelmed about what to make to eat.  Almost obsessive compulsive and slightly anxious about food.  Which is odd because I was never conscious about food this much.  I believe it will pass after I get into the groove of eating veggie.

I hope. I cannot stand focusing on what to eat all the time. I want this to just become a natural way to be. 

But it is hard to break old self-imposed rules and create a new way of being.

Being Hungry Makes me MEAN

Today I have been snappy and mean.
I have woken up hungry every day for the past 2 days.
This is my biggest issue is that I do not feel like I am ever full.  And I realize that veggies have less calories in them than most processed foods and are quicker to digest than meat.
So today I broke down and bought an AMY's veggie meal for lunch and had fake steak tips and potatoes for dinner.  Fake steak tips are basically just seitan but loaded with protein. It is almost like real steak which is my go to food....the veggie version is much cheaper.
I love it.

I am under a lot of stress right now.  Worrying about things out of my control.
I have been mean and snappy.

I havent had any kombucha tea is over 4 days.
No black dog coffee in 2 days.

Those are the staples I need to live...well at least the kombucha the probiotics in them really help my tummy feel good.

I yelled at someone before I had a chance to eat lunch. Being hungry is no good for me.
I have to make it a point to make time to eat.
That is hard for me because I get full so fast but get hungry later in the day.  I have no idea how to combat this.
Other than by eating more.

Cows are Angels--Dairy is the Devil

Everyone around me can thank dairy for being the scourge of evil that made me want to become Vegan.
I got my first taste of animal rights violations from a video I viewed of the Conklin Farms in Ohio and their mistreatment of the dairy cows and their calves.
It did not help I was pregnant at the time.
I felt this weird kinship with cows when I was pregnant.
And to see mother cows being stabbed with pitchforks, and forced to watch as their calf's heads where being stomped on by grown men, who should know better.
You could hear the calves screaming and the mother cows mooing in response.
I can imagine their terror and confusion and I could feel it.
And since I was pregnant when I viewed this, it made it much more harrowing.
I watched this video that can be found on youtube now. And I almost fainted. And I cried and I freaked out. And I vowed to kill this "farmer" and his employees.
And I tossed out all the milk and cheese and other dairy in my house.
Since I was pregnant, my stomach would go tight if I had a heightened emotional state and I could barely breathe.

I had never seen people performing atrocious acts on animals before.
I had no idea how cruel these industries are.
I had no idea how cruel people could be.
I had no idea that this happened.
I was blind.

But my eyes opened.

I was already having a severe reaction to milk while pregnant and seeing that sent me over the edge to not wanting milk in the house ever again.

It does not help the dairy industry, when I found it is in bed with the veal industry.
Calves are of no value to the dairy farmers as they take the milk. So what to do with them?
Sell them out for veal or to veal farmers. Who chain them down and not let them enjoy life.
Veal is cruel...that is common knowledge.
But if you drink milk you might as well eat veal. Because you are supporting them indirectly.

Milk can be hard to give up for most people.  It has addictive properties.  Cheese especially.
But dairy and its products are not healthy for most people.  It is full of deadly cholesterol and too many calories. Not to mention the hormones the cows are forced to get to produce more milk.  This in turn creates mastitis which requires antibiotics which weakens the strength of antibiotics for human use over time.

Think twice about that bowl of ice cream you are enjoying and realize that it is fill with tears and terror.

Cows are a wonderful creature that have allowed humanity to progress during our darkest days.  They are to modern humans what the Buffalo was to the American Indians.  The provider of clothing, and food.  An animal to be treated with respect. DESERVING of respect.
They are the spirit animal of the mother.
Never disrespect your mother.

Where do you get your protein?

*Vegans get all the omega-3s they need from chia seed oil, flaxseed oil, linseed oil and walnuts.  No need for supplements or fish.

*The vegan diet provides iron through spinach, kale, and beans. Compared to these plant foods, meat is an inferior source of iron on a per-calorie basis, and therefore unnecessary.

*A person can get all the protein they need from eating a varied diets of whole foods so there is no need to rely on meat.  All food has some protein in it, some more than others.  Beans, seitan, tofu and veggies! Some people prefer meat analogues such as Gardein meatless meat but it unnecessary.


 When transitioning to a meat free diet many people will question how you are getting a nutritionally sound diet.  It can be annoying.  Especially since this lifestyle is new and strange to older people in extended families.
I am finding it hard to navigate family functions and holidays as they are centered around food.  Since I have a child I cannot just stop going to these functions, though I would love to have a life not so focused on food  .
Literally just yesterday I had to spend 20 mins explaining that I do not care if my boyfriend wants to eat what I do or not, he is an adult and can care for himself or he can eat what I do.   It is not my job to cook a separate meat based meal to perpetuate outdated standards of living.
However I cannot get mad at my boyfriend for not wanting to stay omni as I was not veggie when I met him and this is a huge life change.
Change can be scary for some people.
Some people feel attacked because I dont want to eat their meat foods.
Some people don't care.
I am surounded by the former.

I cant describe the abuse I have taken in the name of Veganism.
But I do it because I want to change the world and in order to do so I need to become the change I want to see in the world.


Why do you do it?
Feel free to comment.