When Was the Last Time You Ate Meat?

This week, a friend of mine (who knows that I am eating a vegetarian/vegan diet now) asked me when was the last time I ate meat. What an interesting question! I have not even thought about how long it has been. I recall having one bite of a grilled piece of local flank steak on Wednesday because my husband said it was  delicious and I had to try just one bite. But aside from that bite and maybe a few other small bites over the past month or two, I have not eaten meat. Surprisingly, I do not miss eating meat at all. The piece of meat that my husband said was delicious did not really taste like anything to me (but do not tell him that!).

During the conversation with my friend, I mentioned that I used to be a big chicken and fish eater. Wow, I cannot believe that I am actually saying I "used to be" a big chicken eater. I never planned on becoming a vegetarian/vegan. I stumbled upon it. A series of events, bloggers, friends, and maybe a little Divine intervention, and I am now a vegetarian/vegan.

I call myself both a vegetarian and a vegan because quite honestly, I mostly eat a vegan diet. The only dairy I consume is cheese and butter. I discovered that a vegetarian/vegan diet is easy on my digestive system. I have also found that I feel better overall.

>> If you are a vegetarian, vegan, or even a carnivore, when was the last time you ate meat?

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Hoppin' John Salad [Recipe]

Not only is this scrumptious salad part of a Southern New Year's Day tradition, but it is Vegan! I made the Hoppin' John Salad tonight, as it was one of the first recipes on the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart menu. I love the mix of rice, peas, and vegetables. I add a couple dashes of cayenne pepper for a bigger kick.

Hoppin' John Salad

Serving size: about 10 1/2-cup servings

2 cups cooked black-eyed peas, or 1 15-ounce can black-eyed peas, drained
1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice
1/2 cup finely sliced green onions
1 celery stalk, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 tomato, diced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-2 garlic cloves, crushed 

Combine black-eyed peas, rice, green onions, celery, tomato, and parsley in a mixing bowl. In a small bowl, mix together lemon juice, oil, salt, and garlic and pour over the salad. Toss gently. Chill 1 to 2 hours if time permits.

Nutrition per 1/2-cup serving

• Calories: 91
• Fat: 1.9 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
• Calories from Fat: 18.5%
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Protein: 3.7 g
• Carbohydrates: 15.4 g
• Sugar: 1.3 g
• Fiber: 3.6 g
• Sodium: 68 mg
• Calcium: 20 mg
• Iron: 1.2 mg
• Vitamin C: 5.4 mg
• Beta Carotene: 137 mcg
• Vitamin E: 0.4 mg

Source: Turn Off the Fat Genes by Neal D. Barnard, M.D.; recipe by Jennifer Raymond M.S., R.D. via NutritionMD

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21 Day Vegan Kickstart - Grocery List [Challenge]

I was excited to receive my first email from the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart. Since the start is only a couple days away (January 2), I need to do some grocery shopping to prepare. I am going to Whole Foods today for groceries, so I will add the following items to my list.

FRUITS

Apples

Bananas

Grapes

Oranges

Cantaloupe

Strawberries (or any kind of berries you like, including frozen fruit) for smoothies

Mango/peaches (frozen, for second and third weeks)

Dried fruit (like raisins) for oatmeal

VEGETABLES

Sweet potatoes

Salad greens

Carrot sticks

Edamame (frozen or fresh)

Bag of frozen vegetables

Toppings for a veggie burger and hummus sandwiches (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, etc.)

GRAINS

Oatmeal and/or cold cereal

Frozen vegan waffles

Whole grain toast

Rice cakes and/or pita bread

Brown rice

Barley

Whole wheat/brown rice pasta

Quinoa

Couscous

BEANS/LEGUMES

Dried or canned red, green, or other variety lentils, kidney, pinto, garbanzo (chickpeas), black, black-eyed peas, or other variety of beans

OTHER

Plant milk: Pick from rice, almond, soy, oat, hemp or other varieties

Vegan cup/can of soup: McDougall’s cup of soups, Amy’s, Healthy Valley, or some other vegan, low-fat soup (bonus for low-sodium)

Vegan veggie burger: vegan Boca brand or other vegan variety

Apple butter, jam, or mustard for low-fat topping of toast/rice cakes and sandwiches

Agave nectar or maple syrup for oatmeal, pancakes, or waffles

Jar of marinara sauce, aim for low-fat or fat-free

Snacks: Soy/rice yogurt, oven-baked tortilla chips; popcorn kernels (look in fruit/vegetable category for additional snacks)

Spices: cinnamon for oatmeal, curry powder or nutritional yeast to top popcorn

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21 Day Vegan Kickstart [Challenge]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am challenging myself for the month of January. Over the past few months, I have been eating more vegetarian and vegan meals. When I heard about the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart from a friend of mine, I was intrigued.

 

The 21 Day Vegan Kickstart, brought to you by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), is a program that challenges me to eat vegan for 21 days. By signing up for the program, I will receive daily messages that include medical expert advice, a 21-day menu, nutrition webcasts, and a chance to win coupons to the PCRM Marketplace. I will also have the support of the online community forum, Facebook, and iPhone app.

I look forward to discovering new vegan recipes and trying to sneak them in among the usual non-vegan/vegetarian fare I create.

Disclosure: This post is part of my personal challenge is not sponsored by any company or individual other than me.

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4 Steps to Cure a Food Hangover

I find it really hard to avoid overeating during the Holidays. Between the stick-to-your-ribs sides and the homemade Christmas cookies, we often times forget to be mindful of what and how much we are eating. When you wake up in the morning after the annual family holiday party and you feel stuffed, bloated, and sluggish, follow this 4-Step Food Hangover Plan and you will feel better in no time.


1. Begin with Exercise

Do something active for 45 minutes, like a brisk walk, run, or a cardio workout at the gym. Moving around will help with bloating, burn calories to offset overeating, and release mood boosting chemicals so you can forget all about your food hangover.

2. Choose Protein and Potassium for Breakfast

Do eat something for breakfast, even if you still feel stuffed from last night. Think of dairy products for protein and fruits and vegetables for potassium. Both will help with bloating.

3. Drink Green Tea

Caffeinated green tea helps to satisfy your appetite and fills you up. Green tea has also been found to boost your metabolism and also reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs.

4. Eat Your Vegetables

Choose non-starchy vegetables (spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, carrots, mushrooms, bell peppers) to avoid becoming more bloated. These will fill you up for just a few calories.

>> What are your strategies to combat a food hangover?

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Fasting for Your Health

Fasting comes in many different forms and for many different reasons. From juice fasting to completely abstaining from food, fasting provides numerous health benefits. Fasts are defined as extended periods of time in which a person abstains from all or certain foods and drinks. This post will illuminate the good, the bad, and the hungry on fasting. You can also read about my first few days of the St. Philips/Nativity Fast.

The Good

1. Fasting detoxifies your body. Organs such as the liver, kidney, and spleen remove and neutralize toxins from the body to keep cells healthy. Fasting reduces input from additional toxins.  
2. Fasting may help your heart. Fasting for one day a month may prevent heart disease and insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. During fasting, fat is used for fuel. In the long run, you have fewer fat cells in your body. This means less insulin resistance and lower risk of heart disease later in life.
3. Abstaining from meat and meat products helps the environment.
4. Fasting provides spiritual gains. Removing food as a pleasure brings us closer to spiritually.
5. More benefits.

The Bad and The Hungry

1. Abstaining from food and/or water for long periods of time can lead to kidney and liver damage because your blood becomes more acidic.
2. Fasting will NOT help you lose weight and keep it off. This is basically yo-yo dieting. The small drop in weight will return once you start eating normally.
3. Fasting does NOT replace healthy eating. Fasting lowers levels of important nutrients like Vitamin D, Calcium, and Omega-3 fatty acids. 
4. Fasting is NOT recommended for those who are ill, pregnant, nursing, training for any athletic event.
5. Abstaining from food can cause fatigue and crankiness.

Important Disclaimer: Fasting is NOT for everyone! I am not promoting that you abstain from food and liquids. Check with your physician before beginning any type of fast where you abstain from foods and liquids. It is critically important that you understand how to fast safely and as part of a healthy lifestyle.

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Advent Fasting - Day 1 and 2

This year, I am committed to fasting for Advent (also known as St. Philips Fast or Nativity Fast). Orthodox Christianity provides strict guidelines for fasting. Although, the level to which you fast depends on factors such as your country, parish, or personal devotion. I am only beginning to learn all of the ins and outs of fasting, so I will continue to post my experience because there ARE eco-friendly reasons for fasting!

The December fasting schedule is to the right.

My experience is below.

Day 1 (December 6) - Fish Allowed

Breakfast: Homemade whole wheat bread with dried fruit, yogurt.
Lunch: Greens with smoked trout and goat cheese.
Snacks: Fruit, dried fruit, nuts.
Dinner: As the oven-roasted Turkey breast was cooking, I realized that I could not eat meat. I ate bread, cheese, and cranberry sauce.

Thoughts: Dairy and oil are not allowed, so I need to abstain from these also.

Day 2 (December 7) - Strict Fast (bread, veggies, fruit)
Breakfast: Oatmeal made with water, added banana, cinnamon. Recipe

Lunch: Pickled cabbage, bread with hummus, bread with peanut butter and honey

Dinner: Chipotle, rice, veggies, guacamole. No sour cream or cheese.

Thoughts: The strict fast is definitely hard, but I realized that I am pretty much eating Vegan! How cool is that! Two birds, one stone! I also need to ask my dad about sweeteners and grains.

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