I will eat eggs and dairy from time to time. (Although I don't buy them to cook with.)
However, I have to say after watching this video, I could never bring myself to purchase any type of egg product anymore, knowing that I'm supporting this.
For those of you that think that eggs are produced from loving farms where the chickens roam free in grassy pastures- think again.
I guarantee you will not think of them the same way again, unless of course you have literally no soul.
The video is below.
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2009/09/modern-day-nazis/
And that is pretty mild considering the practices that go into meat slaughterhouses...
Like, I understand how people say things like "Oh well just because you don't eat it doesn't mean it won't still happen!"
Because yes, that's true. BUT- I have a choice I have to make when given a circumstance such as this. Will I continue to purchase and support such a horrific practice when I know what is going on, and be able to live peacefully about it? Or, will I make a stand and have a clear conscience with the food that I eat, and eat the foods that are naturally grown from the earth that are free of any harmful animal fats- rejuvenating, life-bringing foods in which nothing was harmed for me to eat?
I think I'll take the latter option.
I'm absolutely DISGUSTED by the meat/animal food industry as a whole, and it's because of reasons shown in the video above. Cruelty is not cool. No matter WHAT kind of animal it is. I think, personally, that people need to stop rationalizing animal cruelty and categorizing "farm" animals as different than their own personal pets. How would you feel if someone took your new puppy and threw him in a grinder because he wasn't able to make them money? Or someone took your cat and stripped his skin off of him while still alive in order to produce a nice juicy dinner?
They are all animals, have life, feel pain, and are intelligent. A a cow or pig deserves the same life that your treasured family pet has.
I choose vegan/vegetarianism not only because the health benefits are amazing, but because I cannot live my life peacefully knowing I'm supporting a practice which is causing thousands of innocent animals to have their lives taken in inhumane, horrible ways. I could never again look at a piece of meat on my plate and feel good about it.
People think that I am "sacrificing," or that I'm being some sort of martyr for giving up meat. When in reality, I would not eat it if you PAID me, or if you said that nobody would ever find out- I just couldn't do it. It's really disgusting more than anything, honestly.
Now that being said, of course I don't have an issue with people eating it around me of course, and I will not make any remarks about what they are eating and say "EWW MEAT," etc. That is their personal choice to eat it just like I make a personal choice to eat a black bean burger, or avocado sandwich, etc.
And I'm also not going to look down on you or make you feel guilty for eating eggs or egg products. I mean, it's not fair for me to push my personal dietary beliefs on people. People get really touchy about that sort of thing, you'd be surprised. So you know, I write my little blog. :)
If something I say on this blog is offensive and makes you feel guilty- you should know that's not the intent and secondly, you can only feel guilty about something that you know is not right to begin with. Nobody has ever felt guilty for eating an apple. Food for thought!
But mainly the reason I showed this video is to just let you know that this is what is going on behind closed doors. It's unsettling, but why should you blind your eyes to the truth? You need to wake up and see that everything is not all rainbows and cotton candy and YOU have the ability to make conscious decisions about what you do. Don't let the media and what is considered "normal" dictate your life.
That is all :)
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
New recipe!
Okay, so today I bought a bunch of produce from Marvin's Market ( my favorite place to get produce! 3 bags FULL of fruits and veggies for about $13! Can't beat that!) and I was thinking... hmm... what do I want to make? I haven't cooked a large dish in awhile, lately I've been eating alot of salads and sweet potato with kale/spinach sauteed with mushrooms/chickpeas. I guess that's "cooking," but to me, what I count as cooking is more like an art form. I love to just put things together and try to create interesting combinations of foods. It's like an experiment! Over the past year and a half I've become quite a good cook if I say so myself- I am able to not follow recipes anymore and I enjoy just coming up with my own types of things based on the knowledge that I now know.
Today I came up with something especially tasty so I thought I would share! :)
I'm not sure what to call it really- it's some sort of mix between a chili/stew paired with organic red quinoa that I got at the Fresh Market. (Quinoa, like I'm sure I've mentioned before, is a type of grain that is akin to rice that is an amazing source of protein- especially great for vegan/vegetarians!
But anyways this is what you will need.
1/2 cup Quinoa
1 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 green bell pepper
half a can of black beans
1 small onion
1 clove of garlic
2 roma tomatoes
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 tbs. cumin
1 tbs. chili powder
1/3 tbs. red pepper flakes
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic salt
(I threw in some extra cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes bc I love some HEAT!)
To start,bring 3/4 cup water to a boil, then add the quinoa and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
While the quinoa cooks, sautee the onion in olive oil in a large pan on medium/high heat for about 5 minutes, then add garlic, bell pepper, tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, and spices. Bring down to medium heat and let it cook for about 15 minutes. Continue tasting and add whatever spices you want. When it's done, you can either mix the quinoa and stew mixture together in the pan, or serve it by putting quinoa on a plate and putting the mixture on top. Either way it will be mixed together!
This dish is very healthy and very flavorful! It contains a ton of protein with the quinoa and black beans, and lots of veggies as well. It sure beats trying to swallow down mushy mixed veggies from a can. And it's pretty cheap to make- while a bag of quinoa may be around $4-5, it lasts for a long time and making this dish barely puts a dent in it. (This dish makes 3-4 servings, too!)
Black beans are cheap too, as well as the veggies. (I'm telling you, Marvin's Market is amazing. it's beside B. Merrell's on Veterans, close to Moon Rd.)
So there you go! I hope maybe someone out there in the interwebs tries this recipe! Let me know how you like it. I don't know how good I am at translating the things I just throw together into a calculated recipe haha.
Today I came up with something especially tasty so I thought I would share! :)
I'm not sure what to call it really- it's some sort of mix between a chili/stew paired with organic red quinoa that I got at the Fresh Market. (Quinoa, like I'm sure I've mentioned before, is a type of grain that is akin to rice that is an amazing source of protein- especially great for vegan/vegetarians!
But anyways this is what you will need.
1/2 cup Quinoa
1 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 green bell pepper
half a can of black beans
1 small onion
1 clove of garlic
2 roma tomatoes
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 tbs. cumin
1 tbs. chili powder
1/3 tbs. red pepper flakes
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic salt
(I threw in some extra cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes bc I love some HEAT!)
To start,bring 3/4 cup water to a boil, then add the quinoa and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
While the quinoa cooks, sautee the onion in olive oil in a large pan on medium/high heat for about 5 minutes, then add garlic, bell pepper, tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, and spices. Bring down to medium heat and let it cook for about 15 minutes. Continue tasting and add whatever spices you want. When it's done, you can either mix the quinoa and stew mixture together in the pan, or serve it by putting quinoa on a plate and putting the mixture on top. Either way it will be mixed together!
This dish is very healthy and very flavorful! It contains a ton of protein with the quinoa and black beans, and lots of veggies as well. It sure beats trying to swallow down mushy mixed veggies from a can. And it's pretty cheap to make- while a bag of quinoa may be around $4-5, it lasts for a long time and making this dish barely puts a dent in it. (This dish makes 3-4 servings, too!)
Black beans are cheap too, as well as the veggies. (I'm telling you, Marvin's Market is amazing. it's beside B. Merrell's on Veterans, close to Moon Rd.)
So there you go! I hope maybe someone out there in the interwebs tries this recipe! Let me know how you like it. I don't know how good I am at translating the things I just throw together into a calculated recipe haha.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Debunking Stereotypes/myths of Vegetarianism.
As a vegetarian, I get all sorts of questions, comments, etc. from people that are for lack of better word, ignorant.
I just decided to take it upon myself to debunk certain myths and explain certain things that confuse people that have not taken time to research nutrition. I am including several resources from doctors and respected health sites.
1.) "Where do you get your protein?"
Ah. The oft-asked question. Well, my friend, I'll tell you how.
In other words, as long as you are eating RIGHT, which means the majority of your diet being fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, and nuts, etc.- you will definitely get your protein. All these things have protein, not JUST meat, eggs and cheese. In fact, most Americans actually get TOO MUCH protein, which has harmful effects. Interestingly, however, getting too much protein from plant based products do not have these harmful effects:
"High protein intake is also associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis due to calcium loss. When protein is digested, amino acids break apart and pass into the blood making the blood slightly acidic. Since your body needs to have a balanced pH level, calcium is pulled from the bones to neutralize acidity. Therefore, the more protein you have in your diet, the more acidic your blood will be and the more calcium that will be needed. Animal proteins (i.e. meats) are the main culprit of this cycle; grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits act as calcium savers." (2001), Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
"Most Americans already eat more protein than their bodies need. And eating too much protein can increase health risks. High-protein animal foods are usually also high in saturated fat. Eating large amounts of high-fat foods for a sustained period raises the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer. People who can't use excess protein effectively may be at higher risk of kidney and liver disorders, and osteoporosis." American Heart Association
2.) How you get iron? Isn't meat the only source?
The American Dietetic Association and the British Medical Association have stated that vegans are not at any greater risk to suffer from iron deficiency anemia than non-vegetarians. The China Study agrees- it found that the Chinese, with their predominantly vegan diets, got 34 milligrams of iron on average compared to the 17 milligrams averaged by Americans.
"Vegetables that are good sources of iron are potatoes with their skin, bok choy, spinach, kale, watercress, broccoli, savoy cabbage, peas, turnip greens, mung bean sprouts, and tomato juice. Baked beans, adzuki beans, black beans, chick peas (garbanzo beans), kidney beans, lima beans, navy beans and pinto beans also provide iron to the body. Soya in its many forms, whole grains like whole grain bread or brown rice, black treacle, fortified breads, cereals and grains..." Fehmida Zakeer
3.) What the heck do you eat?!
Take one second and pry your brain away from the standard American diet of hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, and fries and you will find yourself with a whole WORLD of new and exciting foods out there. And you don't even have to eat tofu or any other meat substitute either. I barely EVER do. Ethnic foods are the best! Here are some of my favorite foods:
-Veggie fajitas with zucchini, onions, and peppers, loaded with gaucamole salad and salsa
-Veggie pizza
-Many Indian dishes are vegetarian or vegan, consisting of curried lentils and other veggies and/or rice, and are so flavorful and delicious!
-Also, there are many Thai dishes that can be enjoyed without meat, pad thai with veggies or tofu, curries, stir fry with veggies, etc.
-Burritos with black beans, avocado, spinach, and tomato
-Vegetable Stew
-Chili with no meat but full of beans, and sweet potatoes
-Avocado Sandwiches with spinach and tomato and garlic salt.
-Peanut butter sandwiches
-Whole grain apple-cinnamon pancakes
-Oatmeal
-Quinoa with beans
-Falafel, a middle-eastern meal made out of mini fried chickpea patties, stuff them in a pita and they are delicious!
-Black bean burgers topped however you want
-Zucchini "crab" cakes, (sounds crazy, but they taste like crab cakes and are DELICIOUS)
-Whole grain Spaghetti or Penne with sauteed veggies, I especially love to sautee spinach and zucchini and throw it in there.
-Baked Sweet potatoes
-Hummus with carrots or another raw veggie
-Stuffed peppers
-Guacamole and chips
You get the point, I hope.
4.)“Life's not fair. It's survival of the fittest, and the strong kill the weak.”
People used to be raised to be slaves- is that okay?
Here are some more nice factoids:
I never try to force my beliefs on anyone. I never make fun of or ridicule people for eating meat. I don't think it makes me better than anyone, it is just my personal decision. If someone decides they don't like green beans, then they just don't eat green beans. Nobody harasses them about not eating green beans, they just don't eat them. Vegetarians don't eat meat. It's simple. I don't make a big deal about it. I just personally don't see the difference between any animal. A pig is equal to a cat is equal to a chicken. They all deserve life, to me. The negative health effects that eating meat can bring is even more of a reason to not eat meat. Any vitamin meat provides, you can get it in plant products WITHOUT the saturated fat/antibiotics/hormones/chemicals/etc. In not eating meat, I choose to not ingest something that has been tortured suddenly, that has possibly been sick, that has grown up in a dirty factory and has all this negativity surrounding it. I feel like if I would eat meat, I would eat all that negative energy...as hippieish as that sounds haha. When I eat something that is delicious, meat-free, with lots of good-for-you ingredients- I know that nothing was harmed for my pleasure, and that I am actually doing myself and my body a service by giving it what it needs and wants. It makes me feel GOOD to eat it. I don't go through life begrudgingly "giving up" meat. I don't WANT it. I think alot of people don't understand that. I'm not trying to be a martyr here. Meat is not looked at by me as some sort of "forbidden fruit" type of thing. It's not appetizing at all. Obviously, I can deal with people eating it around me, and working in a burger restaurant I have to deal with it as well, I just don't personally want to eat it myself.
And I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
Sources:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11234
http://www.nwhealth.edu/healthyU/eatWell/protein_1.html
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm
http://www.veg
family.com/health/boost-iron-intake.htm
http://users.erols.com/epastore/veg/nutrition.html
I just decided to take it upon myself to debunk certain myths and explain certain things that confuse people that have not taken time to research nutrition. I am including several resources from doctors and respected health sites.
1.) "Where do you get your protein?"
Ah. The oft-asked question. Well, my friend, I'll tell you how.
"It is very easy for a vegan diet to meet the recommendations for protein. Nearly all vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds contain some, and often much, protein. Fruits, sugars, fats, and alcohol do not provide much protein, so a diet based only on these foods would have a good chance of being too low in protein. However, not many vegans we know live on only bananas, hard candy, margarine, and beer. Vegans eating varied diets containing vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds rarely have any difficulty getting enough protein as long as their diet contains enough energy (calories) to maintain weight."-Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D.
In other words, as long as you are eating RIGHT, which means the majority of your diet being fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, and nuts, etc.- you will definitely get your protein. All these things have protein, not JUST meat, eggs and cheese. In fact, most Americans actually get TOO MUCH protein, which has harmful effects. Interestingly, however, getting too much protein from plant based products do not have these harmful effects:
"High protein intake is also associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis due to calcium loss. When protein is digested, amino acids break apart and pass into the blood making the blood slightly acidic. Since your body needs to have a balanced pH level, calcium is pulled from the bones to neutralize acidity. Therefore, the more protein you have in your diet, the more acidic your blood will be and the more calcium that will be needed. Animal proteins (i.e. meats) are the main culprit of this cycle; grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits act as calcium savers." (2001), Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
"Most Americans already eat more protein than their bodies need. And eating too much protein can increase health risks. High-protein animal foods are usually also high in saturated fat. Eating large amounts of high-fat foods for a sustained period raises the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer. People who can't use excess protein effectively may be at higher risk of kidney and liver disorders, and osteoporosis." American Heart Association
2.) How you get iron? Isn't meat the only source?
The American Dietetic Association and the British Medical Association have stated that vegans are not at any greater risk to suffer from iron deficiency anemia than non-vegetarians. The China Study agrees- it found that the Chinese, with their predominantly vegan diets, got 34 milligrams of iron on average compared to the 17 milligrams averaged by Americans.
"Vegetables that are good sources of iron are potatoes with their skin, bok choy, spinach, kale, watercress, broccoli, savoy cabbage, peas, turnip greens, mung bean sprouts, and tomato juice. Baked beans, adzuki beans, black beans, chick peas (garbanzo beans), kidney beans, lima beans, navy beans and pinto beans also provide iron to the body. Soya in its many forms, whole grains like whole grain bread or brown rice, black treacle, fortified breads, cereals and grains..." Fehmida Zakeer
3.) What the heck do you eat?!
Take one second and pry your brain away from the standard American diet of hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, and fries and you will find yourself with a whole WORLD of new and exciting foods out there. And you don't even have to eat tofu or any other meat substitute either. I barely EVER do. Ethnic foods are the best! Here are some of my favorite foods:
-Veggie fajitas with zucchini, onions, and peppers, loaded with gaucamole salad and salsa
-Veggie pizza
-Many Indian dishes are vegetarian or vegan, consisting of curried lentils and other veggies and/or rice, and are so flavorful and delicious!
-Also, there are many Thai dishes that can be enjoyed without meat, pad thai with veggies or tofu, curries, stir fry with veggies, etc.
-Burritos with black beans, avocado, spinach, and tomato
-Vegetable Stew
-Chili with no meat but full of beans, and sweet potatoes
-Avocado Sandwiches with spinach and tomato and garlic salt.
-Peanut butter sandwiches
-Whole grain apple-cinnamon pancakes
-Oatmeal
-Quinoa with beans
-Falafel, a middle-eastern meal made out of mini fried chickpea patties, stuff them in a pita and they are delicious!
-Black bean burgers topped however you want
-Zucchini "crab" cakes, (sounds crazy, but they taste like crab cakes and are DELICIOUS)
-Whole grain Spaghetti or Penne with sauteed veggies, I especially love to sautee spinach and zucchini and throw it in there.
-Baked Sweet potatoes
-Hummus with carrots or another raw veggie
-Stuffed peppers
-Guacamole and chips
You get the point, I hope.
4.)“Life's not fair. It's survival of the fittest, and the strong kill the weak.”
"There is little difference between this opinion and the idea that it is justifiable to kill, hurt, or otherwise violate any person you want as long as you can get away with it.
The "life's not fair" argument is the logic of such wonderful people as Fascists, military dictators, murderers, rapists, school-yard bullies, and self-centered people in general. If the philosophy of vegetarianism goes against the philosophy of this sort of people, then that is just another tremendous benefit of vegetarianism.
Indeed, it is reasonable to assume that people who are willing to consider the moral consequences of killing animals are more likely to restrain from violence against other human beings if at all possible. Vegetarianism inherently encourages peaceful thought and thus peaceful action. Conversely, it is not unreasonable to assume that thoughtlessly killing creatures by the thousands for nothing more than pleasure and convenience might lend to generally more violent thoughts and behaviors." Ed Pastore
5.)Animals are raised to be meat, so it's okay.People used to be raised to be slaves- is that okay?
Here are some more nice factoids:
The Mayo Health Clinic states: "Vegetarians have lower rates of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Vegetarians are also less likely to have gallstones, kidney stones and constipation and they weigh less on average."
The American Institute for Cancer Research provides a list of guidelines for a diet which helps prevent cancer. These guidelines recommend eating a "predominantly plant-based diet," eating a wide variety of vegetables, and limiting meat consumption.
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association states that, "...appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, are nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases." The article then goes on to describe a variety of ways in which vegetarianism is a healthier lifestyle, citing lower mortality from and incidence of a variety of diseases and conditions.
The American Cancer Society states:
- Scientific data show that vegetarian diets reduce not only obesity and constipation, but alcoholism and the risk of lung cancer as well. There is also evidence that diets excluding animal fats reduce the incidence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, type II diabetes and gallstones.
- Vegetarian diets are healthful primarily because they reduce or eliminate fat derived from animal products, while containing almost the full range of vitamins and minerals essential to good health.
I never try to force my beliefs on anyone. I never make fun of or ridicule people for eating meat. I don't think it makes me better than anyone, it is just my personal decision. If someone decides they don't like green beans, then they just don't eat green beans. Nobody harasses them about not eating green beans, they just don't eat them. Vegetarians don't eat meat. It's simple. I don't make a big deal about it. I just personally don't see the difference between any animal. A pig is equal to a cat is equal to a chicken. They all deserve life, to me. The negative health effects that eating meat can bring is even more of a reason to not eat meat. Any vitamin meat provides, you can get it in plant products WITHOUT the saturated fat/antibiotics/hormones/chemicals/etc. In not eating meat, I choose to not ingest something that has been tortured suddenly, that has possibly been sick, that has grown up in a dirty factory and has all this negativity surrounding it. I feel like if I would eat meat, I would eat all that negative energy...as hippieish as that sounds haha. When I eat something that is delicious, meat-free, with lots of good-for-you ingredients- I know that nothing was harmed for my pleasure, and that I am actually doing myself and my body a service by giving it what it needs and wants. It makes me feel GOOD to eat it. I don't go through life begrudgingly "giving up" meat. I don't WANT it. I think alot of people don't understand that. I'm not trying to be a martyr here. Meat is not looked at by me as some sort of "forbidden fruit" type of thing. It's not appetizing at all. Obviously, I can deal with people eating it around me, and working in a burger restaurant I have to deal with it as well, I just don't personally want to eat it myself.
And I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
Sources:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11234
http://www.nwhealth.edu/healthyU/eatWell/protein_1.html
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm
http://www.veg
family.com/health/boost-iron-intake.htm
http://users.erols.com/epastore/veg/nutrition.html
Friday, July 30, 2010
Scary, huh?
I haven't done much research on this "population control" theory, (not that I doubt that it would be true as I feel as if the government and medical and big industries really don't care about the American people as a whole and I am a bit of a conspiracy theorist), so that is not my main point with this video- but all the information about food is definitely true.
Stop eating processed junk and diet sodas! You are literally eating chemicals and doing damage to your body.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Easy Schmeasy Pizza!
Okay, so I was kind of craving a pizza-like meal a little bit ago, and created this really easy, small portioned pizza- (you know, one of those that you won't be tempted to say "just oooone more slice..."
It is quite tasty and super duper easy and super healthy as well!
Here's what I did.
1.) Take a piece of bread (I used sesame Ezekiel bread. This may not work with most breads, especially soft breads because it is the "crust." I really would recommend using Ezekiel or another really hearty crusted bread for this so it doesn't fall apart! Although it may work with other bread, I just haven't tried it. Pita bread should work too. Just not like, Wonder bread or Sunbeam or something of the sort.)
2.) Anyways. Put some spaghetti sauce or tomato sauce on the bread. Then put some toppings on it! I put sliced zucchini, diced onions, and oregano. No cheese. You really don't need it. But if you want, feel free! I also drizzled some extra virgin olive oil on top of the veggies.
3.) Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for about 10-15 minutes.
And voila! A yummy roasted veggie pizza. I guess it is equivalent to about 1 slice instead of a whole pizza, but what a delicious slice it is!
Enjoy!
It is quite tasty and super duper easy and super healthy as well!
Here's what I did.
1.) Take a piece of bread (I used sesame Ezekiel bread. This may not work with most breads, especially soft breads because it is the "crust." I really would recommend using Ezekiel or another really hearty crusted bread for this so it doesn't fall apart! Although it may work with other bread, I just haven't tried it. Pita bread should work too. Just not like, Wonder bread or Sunbeam or something of the sort.)
2.) Anyways. Put some spaghetti sauce or tomato sauce on the bread. Then put some toppings on it! I put sliced zucchini, diced onions, and oregano. No cheese. You really don't need it. But if you want, feel free! I also drizzled some extra virgin olive oil on top of the veggies.
3.) Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for about 10-15 minutes.
And voila! A yummy roasted veggie pizza. I guess it is equivalent to about 1 slice instead of a whole pizza, but what a delicious slice it is!
Enjoy!Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Take two.
Ok. So you know my last post?
I'm going to be completely honest. It did not last as long as I had originally planned.
I got back into the routine of going out, eating chips and dip and ice cream like a crazy person (let alone, MOES all the time), going out for cocktails which add up in calories as well- so yeah. I ended up GAINING some more weight, and feeling really gross.
Well, those times are definitely over. All it took was a quick re-read of "Skinny Bitch," a new mentality on food, and I am on the road to being healthy and slim(mer) again.
I also made a realization about the way I eat: whenever I have food in front of me, I usually just scarf it all down. Everything that's in front of me. And I can do it in about 5 minutes flat. Now, what usually happens, especially at places like Moe's where you have a gargantuan amount of food is that I eat it so fast before my brain realizes that I am full- (You are supposed to take 20 minutes to eat so that your brain can process it!) and I over-eat. I thought that I just had a large appetite, but to be honest I was just over-eating. all. the. time. And in the process I'm sure I have been stretching out my stomach as well, causing me to continue this bad habit.
Well, like I said, I'm done with over-eating and stuffing myself. A strategy that I am going to use is using smaller plates to put food on, and just limiting myself in general. I don't HAVE to have a piece of toast AND fruit AND dessert with my bowl of pasta- I can just have the bowl of pasta. And eat it slower. Alot slower. I'm actually eating as I speak- some quinoa with chickpeas and diced tomatoes (Quinoa is a whole grain and a complete protein that is kind of like rice) on a small plate, and taking a little break between bites. I also drank a bottle of water before my meal, and I am already starting to feel full on alot less than usual.
I'm the type of person that can be very influenced by my own mindset- I mean like I can make a mental 180 pretty easily if I want to, so I really think that this may be a turning point for me. I'm sure at some points I will just want to ravenously scarf down everything in sight, but right now I seem to be doing pretty well. I just have this bad relationship with food where I just want to eat eat eat, instead of eating to sustain myself and my body.
I'm also going to go back to going primarily vegan again. Lately I have been sneaking in dairy products and eggs alot more than in the past, and I really feel like I have noticed the effects on my body. So no more dairy ice-cream, omelettes, or anything like that. Which will be hard in a way, but in another way not really. I have been used to eating really big extravagant breakfasts lately, but I am going to be paring that down to just 1 or 2 pieces of fruit, which is essentially the perfect food and is easier to digest on an empty stomach.
So when I say primarily vegan, I mean that I am not going to consciously eat dairy products if I can help it, however if I am offered something to eat that has trace amounts, I won't be totally anal about it!
I decided that it was beneficial for me to get rid of this excess weight I have put on, especially in the industry that I am going into. I know to the average person I seem "skinny" or whatever, but it is just depressing when you can't fit into your jeans that you used to be able to fit into, and clothes just aren't looking as good, and you see pictures of yourself that are just unflattering.
SO I have a new positive mindset and outlook and am ready to get super healthy again and kick these horrible summer habits to the wayside. Hopefully I can start working out again soon once I get my hip checked out- it still hurts to walk sometimes and I don't want to aggravate it too much until I know what is going on there.
OH! A new feature of this blog is to provide a recipe with each post. So in honor of what I'm eating right now, I'll post that!
Quinoa with Chickpeas
-1/2 cup Quinoa
-1 can chickpeas
-3/4 can diced tomatoes
-half an onion
-couple cloves garlic
-Bring the quinoa to a bowl in 1 cup water, then let it simmer for about 15 minutes. While that is cooking, sautee some onions and the garlic in another pan for abut 4 minutes. Add the chickpeas and tomatoes, and bring to low heat.
-Once the quinoa is done cooking, transfer it to the pan and add spices such as cayenne pepper, cumin, crushed red pepper, black pepper, salt, and chili powder to taste. ( I like everything a little spicy!)
And voila! You can also add veggies or whatever you want, and since Quinoa is a complete protein and chickpeas are pretty hearty- you can eat just that as your meal.
You can find Quinoa at Publix in the pasta section if you're wondering =]
I'm going to be completely honest. It did not last as long as I had originally planned.
I got back into the routine of going out, eating chips and dip and ice cream like a crazy person (let alone, MOES all the time), going out for cocktails which add up in calories as well- so yeah. I ended up GAINING some more weight, and feeling really gross.
Well, those times are definitely over. All it took was a quick re-read of "Skinny Bitch," a new mentality on food, and I am on the road to being healthy and slim(mer) again.
I also made a realization about the way I eat: whenever I have food in front of me, I usually just scarf it all down. Everything that's in front of me. And I can do it in about 5 minutes flat. Now, what usually happens, especially at places like Moe's where you have a gargantuan amount of food is that I eat it so fast before my brain realizes that I am full- (You are supposed to take 20 minutes to eat so that your brain can process it!) and I over-eat. I thought that I just had a large appetite, but to be honest I was just over-eating. all. the. time. And in the process I'm sure I have been stretching out my stomach as well, causing me to continue this bad habit.
Well, like I said, I'm done with over-eating and stuffing myself. A strategy that I am going to use is using smaller plates to put food on, and just limiting myself in general. I don't HAVE to have a piece of toast AND fruit AND dessert with my bowl of pasta- I can just have the bowl of pasta. And eat it slower. Alot slower. I'm actually eating as I speak- some quinoa with chickpeas and diced tomatoes (Quinoa is a whole grain and a complete protein that is kind of like rice) on a small plate, and taking a little break between bites. I also drank a bottle of water before my meal, and I am already starting to feel full on alot less than usual.
I'm the type of person that can be very influenced by my own mindset- I mean like I can make a mental 180 pretty easily if I want to, so I really think that this may be a turning point for me. I'm sure at some points I will just want to ravenously scarf down everything in sight, but right now I seem to be doing pretty well. I just have this bad relationship with food where I just want to eat eat eat, instead of eating to sustain myself and my body.
I'm also going to go back to going primarily vegan again. Lately I have been sneaking in dairy products and eggs alot more than in the past, and I really feel like I have noticed the effects on my body. So no more dairy ice-cream, omelettes, or anything like that. Which will be hard in a way, but in another way not really. I have been used to eating really big extravagant breakfasts lately, but I am going to be paring that down to just 1 or 2 pieces of fruit, which is essentially the perfect food and is easier to digest on an empty stomach.
So when I say primarily vegan, I mean that I am not going to consciously eat dairy products if I can help it, however if I am offered something to eat that has trace amounts, I won't be totally anal about it!
I decided that it was beneficial for me to get rid of this excess weight I have put on, especially in the industry that I am going into. I know to the average person I seem "skinny" or whatever, but it is just depressing when you can't fit into your jeans that you used to be able to fit into, and clothes just aren't looking as good, and you see pictures of yourself that are just unflattering.
SO I have a new positive mindset and outlook and am ready to get super healthy again and kick these horrible summer habits to the wayside. Hopefully I can start working out again soon once I get my hip checked out- it still hurts to walk sometimes and I don't want to aggravate it too much until I know what is going on there.
OH! A new feature of this blog is to provide a recipe with each post. So in honor of what I'm eating right now, I'll post that!
Quinoa with Chickpeas
-1/2 cup Quinoa
-1 can chickpeas
-3/4 can diced tomatoes
-half an onion
-couple cloves garlic
-Bring the quinoa to a bowl in 1 cup water, then let it simmer for about 15 minutes. While that is cooking, sautee some onions and the garlic in another pan for abut 4 minutes. Add the chickpeas and tomatoes, and bring to low heat.
-Once the quinoa is done cooking, transfer it to the pan and add spices such as cayenne pepper, cumin, crushed red pepper, black pepper, salt, and chili powder to taste. ( I like everything a little spicy!)
And voila! You can also add veggies or whatever you want, and since Quinoa is a complete protein and chickpeas are pretty hearty- you can eat just that as your meal.
You can find Quinoa at Publix in the pasta section if you're wondering =]
Monday, June 28, 2010
Starting anew.
Dating, as we all can probably attest to, takes a toll on your diet. A dinner out here, a night out on the town there, random trips for ice cream...they all are things you do on dates, and especially in the summer, when you have time. As much as I enjoy these outings...I do have to say I may have gained a little weight. Not enough to where people notice, apparently, but just enough to where I feel... "ugh!" Alot of the time. Granted, I also haven't been working out as much as I usually do. I attribute this all to my lazy summer mentality and my loss of the gym membership I used so much last summer... also it has been challenging living with 3 roommates, one who bakes frequently, leaving sweet treats on the table for me to resist (or not resist, which is the more popular option.) Having pizza lying around the place is also not an uncommon sight.
Of course, I try to still eat healthy and I predominantly do, but I will let myself "slide" occasionally. But it seems here lately, I've been sliding down a slippery slope! So in effort to combat this, I've put on my dietitican hat and created a menu for myself for the week!
Here it is, in case you are curious and/or want to go along with me!
Breakfast:
-Egg White Omelette with sauteed Spinach, baby portobello mushrooms, green bell pepper, and onion, 1 slice sesame Ezekiel bread
Lunch:
-Raw green smoothie with strawberry, banana, and spinach, corn and black bean salad (Recipe here)
Dinner:
-Spinach and apple salad (Recipe here), slice Ezekiel bread with natural peanut butter
Evening snack: Carrots with hummus, pear, 1 Tofutti cutie (basically a low-calorie, dairy-free ice cream sandwich that is very very yummy and will satisfy my ice cream cravings! I feel like it will be impossible for me to cut out ice cream all together, or else I will go crazy one day and gorge on it, so I have to include it every day to stay sane. But this version is alot healthier than normal ice cream!)
Basically the evening "snack" is another meal, because I get super hungry at night. And I know it will be impossible for me to stick to a "no eating after 8 PM" type of rule because I stay up so late. And this is going to be the hardest part for me to stick to I have to say. But we'll see!
Of course, I try to still eat healthy and I predominantly do, but I will let myself "slide" occasionally. But it seems here lately, I've been sliding down a slippery slope! So in effort to combat this, I've put on my dietitican hat and created a menu for myself for the week!
Here it is, in case you are curious and/or want to go along with me!
Breakfast:
-Egg White Omelette with sauteed Spinach, baby portobello mushrooms, green bell pepper, and onion, 1 slice sesame Ezekiel bread
Lunch:
-Raw green smoothie with strawberry, banana, and spinach, corn and black bean salad (Recipe here)
Dinner:
-Spinach and apple salad (Recipe here), slice Ezekiel bread with natural peanut butter
Evening snack: Carrots with hummus, pear, 1 Tofutti cutie (basically a low-calorie, dairy-free ice cream sandwich that is very very yummy and will satisfy my ice cream cravings! I feel like it will be impossible for me to cut out ice cream all together, or else I will go crazy one day and gorge on it, so I have to include it every day to stay sane. But this version is alot healthier than normal ice cream!)
Basically the evening "snack" is another meal, because I get super hungry at night. And I know it will be impossible for me to stick to a "no eating after 8 PM" type of rule because I stay up so late. And this is going to be the hardest part for me to stick to I have to say. But we'll see!
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