The Vegan Pyramid

I am constantly looking up vegan nutrition and approved vegan foods and found this pyramid that I thought was cool and it is helpful to see what vegan's should be eating and what amounts.

The Vegan Food Pyramid may look somewhat familiar. You've likely seen one very similar that's designed for non-vegans. But the cool thing about the Vegan Food Pyramid is that all the animal foods found in the original pyramid have been replaced with plant foods that contain key nutrients that are very similar to those found in animal products -- without a smidge of cholesterol, of course!!

Yes, it's THAT easy to eat a balanced vegan diet that provides the nutrition you need!

Yummy Vegan Cherry Torte

Dessert is my favorite..so here is a delicious vegan dish that everyone can enjoy!

This recipe originally called for 1 package of Dream Whip Whipped Topping, made according to package directions. But it was recently brought to my attention that Dream Whip is no longer vegan (it contains casein and whey).

For a vegan version of Dream Whip, use Soyatoo Whipping Cream. Please note this is found in a small aseptic-type box (like the one on the right) that you whip up with a mixer, not the stuff in the spray can. If you cannot find it locally, you will find it atVeganEssentials.com.

*CRUST*
• 2 sticks non-dairy butter (preferably non-hydrogenated too)(1 cup)
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 2 Tablespoons Sucanat, or other granulated sugar
*FILLING:
• 1 package Dream Whip -or- 2 packages Soyatoo Soy Whip, made according to package directions
• 1 (8 oz.) package dairy-free cream cheese
• 1 cup organic powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 can prepared cherry

1. Crust: Combine ingredients in a bowl. Pat into 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 350 F for 20 min.

2. Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla.

3. Prepare whipped topping according to package directions. Fold into cream cheese mixture.

4. Spread cream cheese/whipped cream combo over cooled crust. Cover with cherries. Refrigerate overnight, or at least several hours. Cut into squares and serve.

Serves: 16

Variations:

• Try it with blueberry or other fruit filling
• Sprinkle dairy-free chocolate chips over the just-from-the-oven warm crust -- OMG!!!

Vegan Men

I've said before that the book Skinny Bitch was the reason I turned vegan and it became like a bible to me. The authors have come out with a book to relate to men called Skinny Bastard. It has tips on getting rid of...the ever so hard to get rid of gut and also helps to explain the effects of eating a lot of protein and animal meats...so ladies...if your man is fillin out in all the wrong places this might be the book for him!


So check it out....
A Kick in the Ass for Real Men Who Want to Stop Being Fat and Start Getting Buff -
http://www.skinnybastard.net/

What A Surprise!

When I read the list of vegan friendly foods from the link below I was so surprised and how many things were vegan. I love how many cookies are dairy free! Finding these helpful sites make it easy on putting together a shopping list...

http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/default.asp

Cows' milk contains ideal amounts of fat and protein for young calves, but far too much for humans. And eggs are higher in cholesterol than any other food, making them a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease. The American Dietetic Association reports that vegetarian/vegan diets are associated with reduced risks for all of these conditions.
-Vegan Action http://www.vegan.org/about_veganism/health.html

Where Do You Get Your Protein?

"So you're vegan..well where do you get your protein?"

That is probably the most common question I get asked and I'm sure every vegan gets the same response when they say they're vegan. But have you ever heard of someone suffering from a deficiency of protein? I have done a lot of research on eating right as a vegan and what I need for a well balanced diet and the truth is we don't need a massive amount of protein. And too much protein-especially animal protein can impair our kidneys; leach calcium, zinc, vitamin B, iron; and cause osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, and obesity. And on top of it all can contribute to faster aging! Who wants that? But we do need protein in our diet and it's easy to get. Here is a list of high protein foods:

Lentils

Beans

Nuts

Seeds

Fruits

Vegetables

Whole Grains

Soy Products - edamame, tofu, imitation cheeses and meats

When you eat a well-balanced meal consisting of these foods, you will get a sufficient amount of protein.

A link to a starter guide on cruelty-free eating.

http://www.veganoutreach.org/guide/

Facts from the book Skinny Bitch

Giving It Up

It can be hard to give up the type of diet you have been eating your entire life but the change can be a positive one. Whether an individual chooses to become vegan for moral reasons due to animal cruelty or health reasons, it will bring many benefits. I noticed that once I started eating this way I had more energy, my skin was clear, my hair was stronger, I lost weight, and overall I felt better. With these results it became a no brainier to me to continue eating this way. The first thing I did was I threw out all the junk in my fridge and pantry that wasn't on my list of approved foods. If it was there for me to see then I would be tempted. The first few months are the hardest and takes dedication so it's easier when you don't have to look at it when you are at home. Then I went shopping...and that can be a lot of fun because you get to try out new things and find what you like most. I found many substitutes for my dairy such as soy milk and soy cheese and also imitation meat. Plus there are great non dairy cookies and ice cream so I never felt deprived of sweets and snacks. But don't get me wrong I went through many rounds of bad imitation cheeses and meats until I found the one I liked. There are great places to shop for vegan friendly foods like Mother's Market, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods. But local grocery stores also have a small section that carry these products as well. So if this is the path you are on then try and have fun with it!

Despite the common belief that drinking milk or eating eggs does not kill animals, commercially-raised dairy cows and egg-laying chickens, whether factory-farmed or 'free range,' are slaughtered when their production rates decline.

Vegan Action - http://www.vegan.org/about_veganism/index.html

Being Vegan

I thought I would start my blog by introducing myself and talk a little bit about my life as a vegan. My name is Amber, I live Orange County, I am 26, and I'm vegan and love it!! But I haven't always been so anti meat and dairy. I actually grew up on chicken and potatoes, which I would wash down with a tall glass of milk. My dad grew up on a farm so he sort of carried that country life style into our home and therefore we ate the "all American" type of food in my house. I was at Barnes and Nobles one day looking up nutrition books and came across the book Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin and it quickly became my bible! I bought the book on a Tuesday and was vegan by Thursday and haven't looked back. It will be 3 years this July and I can't ever see myself eating meat again. For those who don't know what a vegan diet is like let me explain. No meat, eggs, or dairy products..so basically no animal products at all. It's not as bad as it seems and it really is not hard to eat like this, it just takes some getting use to and learning what you like. Once you figure out what works for you it becomes a way of life not a diet.

why VEGAN? Veganism, the natural extension of vegetarianism, is an integral component of a cruelty-free lifestyle. Living vegan provides numerous benefits to animals' lives, to the environment, and to our own health–through a healthy diet and lifestyle.

- Vegan Action - http://www.vegan.org/about_veganism/index.html