DAY 1- plant based promise

Hi friends
As with any kind of special eating - preparing ahead of time is key.  This lesson was thoroughly reinforced for me today.  


Just this first day was full of temptations-
-my friend sent me an awesome recipe for a gluten free protein bar that had chocolate chips and yogurt as ingredients (not that those aren't fine to include--but not included in this almost vegan adventure)
-Tiff's treats and other cookies offered
-watching everyone else eat MahiMahi on top of their veggies!


Breakfast at home- easy, oatmeal with 1 c blueberries, a few sliced almonds and hard boiled egg white.
Lunch- a meeting at work...we have an awesome chef, so my veggie plate was delish--yet, since I am not even eating cheese or seafood--there was no significant protein in my meal.
THEREFORE- I was starving when I arrived home and pretty much ate all afternoon until I overate at dinner! UGGGH
My dinner was cornbread, black beans, green beans, raw spinach salad, tomatoes, avocado & salsa. I still have a headache from getting too hungry.  
PLAN:
1-I have researched some more vegan based recipes and plan to shop accordingly.
2-If I have a lunch meeting, I will bring something to round out the meal before or after if it doesn't have all the nutrients I need.
By the way, this type of planning works for anyone trying to follow a special diet, gain weight, lose weight, gain muscle or avoid foods due to allergy--just look at it as required homework--like laundry with more flavor!

Vegetarian?--hold me accountable

Hi all
I am posting this so my friends can hold me accountable.  I am going to try going a month eating only
plant based foods..... 
Wait, there is NO TRY, only DO (per Yoda...)  
So, let me rephrase--
I AM going to eat only plant based foods for roughly a month.
Those of you that know me, my diet is actually not terribly off from that--
Yet, wine screams to me..."EAT CHEESE!"...so my weekend treat of wine will be lonely...maybe hummus will work as its new friend?  I also love to have animal protein on my yummy green salads. 


WHY? you ask...well, some would say--she'll eat less calories--ummmm...most likely NOT... 
Have you ever seen my salads? It is true, that plant based foods are high in nutrition value.  It is also a fact that you can eat too much of anything, whether it be hummus or cheese dip.
Unfortunately, I do have to make one exception--I'll still eat eggs.  Due to some health constraints, I probably wouldn't get enough protein otherwise. Those same health issues direct me towards gluten free....I do not have Celiac disease- but am much healthier when I significantly limit gluten.


Ok, I still haven't answered WHY....
It is nothing profound...really just as a personal challenge and to help me guide my vegetarian clients from actual experience.  Who knows, maybe I'll feel so great I'll go longer than a month :)

School & Slow?

School and Slow seems like an oxymoron...
Yet- I'm talking about Healthy meals with your SLOW COOKER!
Lean meat turns out tender and the flavors will meld into tasty goodness without salt!
You will have more time to SLOW down to enjoy a meal with your family, as most of the work will be done while you are AWAY...
Eating Well has a great slideshow WITH SEVERAL RECIPES on their website--check it out!
 http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/easy_slow_cooker_crock_pot_recipes


 "Rotisserie" / roasted chicken in your crock pot is also a DELISH and economical meal! and...we ALL know how many different meals you can throw that cooked chicken into... :)  The trick is to have a few balls of foil for the chicken to set on while cooking...or you can use some veggies instead!  Below is a link of a video showing just how easy this is....
http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Secrets-of-Success-for-Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Video/Detail.aspx

A low carb diet based on Animal Protein may INCREASE Death Risk

News From The Annals Of Internal Medicine: September 7, 2010

07 Sep 2010   

A Low-carb Diet Based on Animal Protein May Increase Death Risk 

Evidence shows that a low-carbohydrate diet produces weight loss and improves some cardiovascular risk factors. However, health effects of a low-carbohydrate diet may depend on the type of protein and fat consumed. Researchers followed 85,168 women and 44,548 men on a low-carbohydrate diet for 26 and 20 years respectively. The patients ate either an animal-based (emphasizing animal sources of fat and protein) low-carbohydrate diet, or a vegetable-based low-carbohydrate diet. The researchers found that diets that emphasized animal sources of fat and protein were associated with higher all-cause mortality in both men and women. A vegetable-based low-carbohydrate diet was associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality rates. The researchers conclude that while major macronutrient content may be similar in both diets, the source of the macronutrients can result in large differences in dietary components that may affect mortality such as specific fatty acids, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and phytochemicals. 

Plantain and broccoli fibers may block key stage in Crohn's disease development

Plantain and broccoli fibers may block key stage in Crohn's disease development