If I thought going vegetarian would provoke a number of
questions, it was nothing in comparison to going vegan. “WHAT do you EAT?”, “HOW
do you get your protein?” and “WHY did you decide to DO this?” are probably the
most frequent questions.
Every day, someone brings up the subject
with a very good question! I actually have to laugh because it’s so
unbelievable that the subject keeps coming up! If there is one thing I have
learned, it is that people are very accustomed to our “American diet” which
doesn’t include many vegetables at all. There was a time when my diet consisted
of meat and potatoes and not much else so I understand. So – at first – going Vegan
can seem a little daunting! You might ask yourself questions like, WHAT am I
going to EAT?”, “HOW will I get my protein?” and “WHY did I decide to DO this?”
But it does get easier - I promise!
WHAT do I EAT?
I have found so much more to eat than I ever did with my
standard BBQ chicken and mashed potatoes with a veggie on the side. Now, I have
tried various ethnic cuisines from Mexican enchiladas to Ethiopian stews! The
possibilities really are endless, once you start to look differently. It is a
change of mindset. I enjoy cooking so it’s
a lot of fun to try new recipes. However, it’s pretty easy to eat pasta with cannellini
beans instead of beef. I like sandwiches made with avocado, tempeh bacon and
tomatoes. Here is a list of the simpler recipes in our home:
Avocado, Tempeh Bacon & Tomato Sandwiches
Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Cannellini Beans
Whole wheat pizza with Mushrooms, Garlic and Daiya Mozzarella
Cheese
Kale Salad with Miso-Agave Dressing
Three Bean Chili (Made on Sunday so we have leftovers during
the week)
Smoothies, Oat Meal with Fruit, Cereal
Tonight I made Chili – perfect for a cold winter evening. It
was great because I was able to throw in everything I had in the fridge and
didn’t want to waste. Try this recipe or a variation of your own!
What is Left in the Fridge
Chili:
In a Dutch oven, chop and add 1 medium onion, 1 carrot, 2
celery stalks, 1 Leek, ½ cauliflower head, 1 cup button mushrooms and stir occasionally
until tender.
Add 2 cloves garlic – finely chopped
Add 1 tablespoon canola oil (or olive oil or water) to the Dutch
oven
1 ½ tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon each - cumin, coriander,
dried oregano. Next add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper.
Add 1-28 oz can of plum tomatoes, chopped
Finally, add two cans of rinsed red kidney beans until warmed and sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese.
Makes 6 main dish servings. Serve with warm bread on the
side and a glass of wine!
HOW do I get my
protein?
Protein is in vegetables (they have protein too) and beans
and non-dairy milks, tempeh, tofu, pasta and more! You have to check out Forks
Over Knives website and the movie if you haven’t see it! It helped me to understand
more about protein and healthy eating! http://www.forksoverknives.com/
I also highly recommend Colleen Patrick Goudreau’s 30 Day
Vegan Challenge. It is filled with helpful information on how to eat and live
vegan. She is awesome and makes it so simple! http://www.compassionatecook.com/
Why did I decide
to DO this?
Because I love animals so much and they need our voice! If I
don’t speak for them, if you don’t speak for them, then who will? I know I can
impact their well-being by deciding what to eat and what to buy. I’ve never
felt better and I am so happy with my decision to go vegan.
Everything I do is primarily about the animals, our health and helping others to see how easy it can be.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more recipes soon!
