Hey Vegans!

[HoopsTer]

So, I am going to attempt to go vegan for one month, starting March 1st. I just want to see how the change effects my body.

Any tips?
Favorite recipes?

It will be easy for me to not eat meat products for a month....but I am really nervous about dairy! I am a cheese addict and I really enjoy fresh butter! Any fake cheese or fake butter suggestions??

:plain:

Thanks :)

[Erinisme]

Earth's Balance for butter! I'm not a vegan, in case you didn't know lol, and love love love this 'butter' it's all expeller pressed oils...and still tastes like butter.

My neiece suggests you stay away from cheeses (she is a vegan...medically necessary), she used to love one brand and now they suck...changed something

for cream cheese try toffuti...it's good!

Good luck
I've toyed with the idea of being veggie for a month...maybe i'll start april 1st(can't imagine being on 'vacation' and thinking about what i can/can't eat)

[HoopsTer]

Earth Balance doesnt use hexane in their expeller pressing, does it? :huh:


Thanks Erin! it's going to be a challenge! :eek:

[sure-ur-rightdancer]

hexane (or other solvents) is used in solvent extraction processing not pressing

[HoopsTer]

Not always :undecided:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-expeller-pressed-oil.htm

[sure-ur-rightdancer]

what that article says is that many companies use expeller pressing on the oil first and then they solvent extract the remainder (since pressing does not remove all of the oil).... pressing is just that - you mechanically press the seed to remove all the oil you can - you can then run a solvent extraction to get the remaining oil out however then you are doing two processes (expeller pressing and then solvent extraction)
if a company is saying they ONLY used pressed oil (aka extra virgin) then it is only the oils that come out when pressed
if a company is saying that they use pressing AND other methods then they could use hexane or other solvents (generally if they are ambiguous they are using solvent extraction - its cheaper and you get a much higher yield also many seeds cannot be pressed)

[HoopsTer]

thanks for the clarification, Carla :)

[sure-ur-rightdancer]

no problem.... I actually work at an oil (vegetable) refinery! I teach all about oils to cosmetic people all day long and this is actually a pretty common question/ issue -- even the chemists I work with don't really understand the differences in oils (refined, unrefined, pressed, solvent extracted etc) and what that means to your finished product..... and that doesn't even touch on the differences in the starting raws

if you are ever interested in a very long (and possibly boring) talk on oil I am your girl!

[Patchoulia]

When I went vegan, I was sure the dairy thing would be difficult, but it really wasn't (in terms of missing it)...the only difficulty was finding "hidden" dairy in things, particularly in restaurants (many of whose staff are ignorant about the contents of their meals and/or what veganism "no dairy" is).

"Is this vegetarian?" "Yes." "What kind of stock is used to make it?" "Chicken."

Um. Chicken's not a vegetable.

On products, be sure to look out for casseine and its derivatives--casseine is dairy.

As far as "fake" meat and dairy products, Tofutti is good and there are a lot of good "veggie" products in the U.S. that are not just palatable, but delicious!

Good luck!

[Jersey Thug]

i like Tofutti...both the sour cream AND the cream cheese.

[JohnBoy]

A good tip is to remember that humans are the only living creature in the world that consume another creatures milk. and to top it off humans are the only living creature that consumes milk after being a baby.

When buying products always look for the certified vegan heart label.

there are tons of different soy based cheeses and other dairy products out there.

also dont forget about your body products as well. alot of them use animal byproducts.

[HoopsTer]

A good tip is to remember that humans are the only living creature in the world that consume another creatures milk. and to top it off humans are the only living creature that consumes milk after being a baby.

When buying products always look for the certified vegan heart label.

there are tons of different soy based cheeses and other dairy products out there.

also dont forget about your body products as well. alot of them use animal byproducts.

What does the vegan heart label look like?

and I am pretty particular about my body products. I only use green/natural. I either use Shaklee/Kiss my face/EO. :)

[JohnBoy]

make sure to check out the kissmyface products on the database, they use a few ingredients that have large data gaps.

as for the vegan label i hope this workshttp://www.vegan.org/campaigns/certification/IMAGES/subpage_mainphoto.gif

[kramer]

i'm obsessed w/ chana masala-- a spicy curried chick pea dish. you can make your own or you can buy frozen dinners in the freezer section. both equally yummy.

i recommend Patak's jarred Tikka Masala sauce if you'll be making your own -- just get some onions and chick peas, fry that shit up! you can even throw in some broccoli, etc...

yum. packed w/ flavor and protein... really good over cous cous...

[kramer]

also, when i was eating vegan one summer, i had a black bean and avocado burrito almost EVERY day :) you can get yummy whole wheat wraps, cook some beans and hot sauce together, add big slices of avocado, chopped tomato, salsa, sprouts, corn if you like... omg, my favorite meal :)

[kramer]

i have never found a soy cheese i liked :(
however, i have been (almost) dairy free since January 1st of this year, and I can honestly say, except for ONE big pizza craving a few weeks ago, I haven't missed cheese. you can do it! :)

[Erinisme]

Earth Balance is pretty damn fruity tutty organic :) They don't use anything creepy. I don't like soy garden, Earth Balance (the whipped spreads easier)

[Luna]

Hoops if you could i suggest trying to go vegetarian first for a week or so, get used to it and then go for full vegan, may make the transition easier on you.

Also be careful of eating to many meat and cheese alternatives which are primarily made with soy. To much soy can sometimes make you sick, it did for me. Soy is the largest GMO crop in the U.S. Look for organic types whenever you can.

All that said -- good for you-- you're going to have a lot of energy and just feel lighter! It's a dedication I just cant do. Good luck.

[HoopsTer]

I am on day 6. :grin:

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, they're all really helpful.

Erin- I got the earth balance - it does the trick perfectly!
I also got the tofutti sour cream. Alone it tastes gross, but with my quinoa and beans and salsa it's just fine!

I didn't think the lack of meat would be a big deal for me, and it hasn't been. It was the lacto/ovo portion that I have been most worried about. The lack of cheese hasn't been as terrible as I thought it would be. I found a pretty good sliced soy cheddar that is good on baked potatoes. I'm pretty sure I miss eggs more than I miss cheese. I think the weirdest thing is that "going vegan" for a months seems to be MUCH MUCH easier than going on a diet to lose weight. I think it's just that this is a health challenge rather than a "diet" Diets are so surrounded with negativity. I dont have the urge to cheat the way I do on "diets"

Here's something semi gross. I usually have really hard poop bullets. :funny1: my vegan poo is long and lanky and firm, but not hard. :funny1:

I definitely feel lighter! :grin:

and the best part.....Stephen FINALLY agreed to go to Kayas with me....and now he loves it and craves it.
yay!
:bliss:

[georgi]

I think the weirdest thing is that "going vegan" for a months seems to be MUCH MUCH easier than going on a diet to lose weight. I think it's just that this is a health challenge rather than a "diet" Diets are so surrounded with negativity. I dont have the urge to cheat the way I do on "diets"

Really? That's interesting! Hmm!

[musicmomma]

i totally hear you on the poop thing terra... :heart:

[Luna]

Congrats Terra!! You might inspire me to try it again :)

[KrisNYG]

I think the weirdest thing is that "going vegan" for a months seems to be MUCH MUCH easier than going on a diet to lose weight. I think it's just that this is a health challenge rather than a "diet" Diets are so surrounded with negativity. I dont have the urge to cheat the way I do on "diets"

Really? That's interesting! Hmm!
That means no Filet-O-Fish Georgi! :funny1:

[MistyMountain]

Hi Terra!
How's the vegan trial going?
I figured I'd pop in here and offer you some tips based on my own experience of being a raw vegan for 3.5 yrs.
I know you're just doing the vegan thing (not raw) but I think some of these tips may be helpful anyway...

First, make sure you eat plenty of dark leafy greens! Atleast a pound a day-- two pounds would be ideal (I know that sounds like a lot of greens, but trust me your body will love you). In addition to making bomb-ass massaged kale salads (PM me if you want a recipe), I like to sneak greens into my smoothies. Green smoothies are soo good. I blend up a mix of fruit like bananas, apple, pears, or frozen berries with water and a handful of greens like spinach or kale or romaine, etc. I know it may sound (or look) gross but it is really delicious and an excellent way to get more greens into your diet. Make sure you rotate your greens too. An excellent book which I highly recommend to anyone trying to get more greens in their diet is 'Green For Life' by Viktoria Boutenko.

Eat the spectrum! Make sure you're eating lots of different colors of veggies. This is something that I just naturally started to gravitate towards. It's very counter-intuitive for me to eat a salad that has just green veggies in it. It just doesn't feel right. My body says to me, what about the purples (like cabbage), reds (tomato, bell pepper), orange (carrot), etc? In order to ensure you are getting a variety of vitamins and minerals, eat the rainbow (and I know you love rainbows!).

Hemp & flax seeds and oil are excellent sources of EFAs. Hemp in particular has an amazing nutritional profile. I know hemp can be pricey but it's totally worth it-- it's so good for you :). Avocados are also good for EFAs (not to mention they are insanely delicious!)

Quinoa is king when it comes to protein. It is a complete protein, and even though I don't believe in all the hype over protein (if anything, Americans are eating too much protein, but that's a whole 'nother conversation) it's nice to know that you can get all of your essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein!) from this grain. So if anyone asks you "where you getting your protein from??" (you have no idea how many times I've hear that), you can tell them quinoa! (and hemp! and dark leafy greens!).

For calcium I recommend tahini or sesame seeds (also high in iron). Chia seeds are also great-- they have 5 times as much calcium as milk.
And for iron, I recommend dark leafy greens, broccoli, and stinging nettle (which grows wild, and is truly one of Mama Earths "superfoods").

Try to get some good fermented foods in, like miso or saurkraut. I was never a big 'kraut fan before I went raw but I just started getting into making my own saurkraut (which is ridiculously easy to do) and let me tell you it tastes and feels so good-- its kind of addicting too (like kombucha). I know my body is getting exactly what it needs because my immune system freakin' rules-- I can't tell you the last time I got sick, it's been years.

Okay that's all I got for now.. hope that helps! let me know if you have any other questions.

Blessings,
Missy

PS- I highly recommend reading 'The China Study' by T.Colin Campbell and 'Diet for a New America' by John Robbins.

Enjoy the journey! :):jamguy:

[moonstone]

Drinking a smoothie now.... second one of the morning. :jamguy:

1.5 frozen banana (freeze them when they are very ripe)
1/4 mango
handful of ice
handful of almonds
1-2 cups water
generous spoon of tahini

BLEND and ENJOY

[MistyMountain]

YUM, Carolyn that sounds delish! (by the way, how the hell have you been?! It's been way too long...)


Oh yeah, and Terra I just thought of one more thing... nutritional yeast is good for b12 (and it tastes cheesy too!).

Get this y'all... I just scored loads and loads of organic fruits and veggies for FREE, thanks to the Seattle Food-Not-Bombs. Each Sunday a crew of generous FNB folks make their rounds to the local co-op and health food stores in the area and collect the produce that they are about to toss in the dumpster and then they bring it over to this city park and redistribute it to the public. It's AMAZING how much food they end up with-- and of course some of the fruit is very ripe and some of the greens are a tad wilted, but most of the food is in good condition and yet it was just going to thrown away to make room for more food! Meanwhile, so many people are going to bed hungry each night, or eating processed and pesticide-filled fast/junk food because they can't afford to pay for organic! Isn't that disturbing?

Anyway, sorry for that tangent but I'm shocked by how wasteful this country is, yet I'm feeling blessed to have access to heaps of free organic produce each week.

Check out your local Food-Not-Bombs chapter at www.foodnotbombs.net. Or start a chapter of your own, here's how: http://www.foodnotbombs.net/seven.html

Peace & greens,
Missy

[MistyMountain]

PS- Beware of partially-hydrogenated soybean oil in Tofutti products!!! :eek:

OK I'll shut up now.... :)

[georgi]

That means no Filet-O-Fish Georgi! :funny1:

:cry:

[HoopsTer]

OMG Missy! I was thinking about you all day yesterday!! To the point of wishing I had your cell number so I could shoot you a text to say hi :funny1:

I was at weekend 4 at IIN and David Wolfe spoke for 4 hours. (this is what made me think of you!) Holy amazing energy. I have such a crush, omg! HAHAH. Though he did break my heart by telling me all the terrible things (that I was already aware of ) about my prescious java. I think once the weather really turns I am going to give the raw thing a swing. I am not sure it's a way of eating that I can or want to adapt to for all 4 seasons living in New England, but I definitely want to check it out. :)

I eat quinoa almost daily....it's usually my breakfast I have a quinoa, millet and rolled oats blend with kelp flakes (taraleigh taught me that!), blueberries and a litte agave.

Ive been trying not to eat a lot of soy products. I am one of those persons that has a really hard time digesting it- my belly usually feels like a rock a half hour after I eat it.

This morning I had a smoothie with Pure Synergy (superfoods supplement that I usually drink), banana, blueberries and mango with coconut water (that David gave us yesterday!) and wheat grass. It was delicious! :)

I read the China Study for one of my IIN warm up classes :)

And don't shut up you're being soooo helpful!! Can you recommend some good outdoorsey herbalist books? Ie living off the land and sustainability? I know you guys just did that awesome training - so jealous btw! and there are so many books out there I don't know which to choose!

And yes, Carolyn....how are you?!?!!!

Ty everyone! :heart:

[HoopsTer]

I am munching on these right now:

http://2momsintheraw.com/productimages/garden_herb_photo.jpg

They're really yummy!!!
http://2momsintheraw.com/index.html

[sums]

i made a really good vegan crock p.ot lentil soup yesterday. it made a ton so you might want to cut the recipe in half at least ;)

1 lb lentils (picked through and rinsed thoroughly). the store i went to didn't have og lentils so i bought red lentils instead. they are yummy!
1 onion, chopped or minced (depending on how fine you like your onion) i used a red onion
5 or 6 garlic cloves, quartered
4 carrots, sliced
3 big bay leaves
1/2 TBS kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
7 cups liquid which could be water, veggie stock or a combo

throw it in the crock and cook on low for 7 hours
then add: 1/2 cup olive oil
4 TBS balsamic vinegar

cook on low another 2 hours

serve over rice

yum!!!

[HoopsTer]

Thanks, Sums!
I have a new found love for lentils :)

[MistyMountain]

Terra-- How cool that you were thinking of me, and I just happened to swing by here on a whim (I haven't been on these boards in months). How interestingly syncronistic ;)

I bet David Wolfe was amazing... I have yet to see him speak but I've only heard great things. He really has a radiant, glowing energy about him that just makes you want to join him in having the best day ever :). I've been meaning to check out his 'Sunfood Diet Success System' book. So many books to read, it's overwhelming sometimes... (I'm a nutrition/self-help book junkie) :lol: I'm sure David was pushing cacao, too (I'm also a cacao junkie :eek: really, I need to kick that habit soon!)

hell yeah, Pure Synergy rules! It's a staple in my diet too. One of the best & highest quality raw superfood supplements out there, IMO.

Have been to Bonobos near Madison Square Park in NYC? http://www.bonobosrestaurant.com/main.html I love that place-- delicious raw food for an excellent price (I'm turned off by pricey raw food restaurants, they make the movement seem elitist, which it shouldn't be since raw organic fruits and veggies come straight from the earth and shouldn't cost much!). Definately check it out if you haven't yet! It is an excellent cafeteria-style lunch spot.

If you decide to give the raw thing a swing, keep in mind that you don't have to do it 100% to see great results. There are a lot of raw gurus out there that preach the "all or nothing" approach and I don't necessarily agree with that. I went 100% raw overnight and that works for me but we are all different and 100% doesn't work for everyone (obviously). Even 80% raw (all raw food until dinner) is fantastic and it seems to be an apporach that is a lot more do-able for many people. (Check out Natalia Rose's 'The Raw Food Detox Diet'). If you can do 100% then that is awesome. If not, do what works for you. It's also important to keep in mind your ayurvedic constitution-- for example, raw foods in winter can be imbalancing for vatas. Gabriel Cousens does a nice job of blending Ayurvedic principles with raw food principles-- check out 'Concious Eating' or 'Spiritual Nutrition', if you haven't already.

And as far as wild edibles/foraging goes, I suggest getting in touch with a local naturalist and having them take you around so you can properly ID wild edibles in your area. There are a lot of good books out there but sometimes the pictures can be misleading so it's best to get someone to show you so that you don't misidentify anything (and possibly eat something poisonous). Wildman Steve Brill gives wild edible tours in the NYC area- check out his site: www.wildmanstevebrill.com. Foraging & consuming wild edibles is not only extremely nourishing (they have much greater nutritional value than cultivated plants) and empowering, it is also a bit of a spiritual experience-- it is a way to really connect with nature and get back in touch with our ancestral ways. Just the act of foraging in itself is healing/nourishing and it just feels so good and right!:heart: I feel really blessed to live in a place where wild edibles are insanely abundant-- it's like a jungle out here! :)

Whew-- once again I've managed to practically post a novel on here. I swear I can talk about nutrition/food/naturalism/spirituality for hours. One of these days maybe I'll look into attending IIN-- it's too bad it's in NYC though.. I don't see myself moving back to the East coast anytime soon.

Anyway Terra, good luck with everything, keep us updated and have the best day ever ;):heart::lol::jamguy:

[HoopsTer]

HAH! Spiritual Nutrition is on my bookshelf, I never finished it but after listening to David Wolfe, I've dusted it off.

:heart:

Oh- I would say that minority of the people in my class are actually from NYC! Most travel in from out of town for school weekends. there's tons of people that come from the west coast and beyond! :)

[MistyMountain]

wow that's hardcore! too bad it would be insanely expensive for me to fly from Seattle to NYC once a month! :eek:. Joshua needs to start and IIN on the left coast! ;)

[HoopsTer]

Yeah, I totally dont know how the people do it! It's amazing. I do know that people that have to travel great distances get a lower tuition price....and lots of the out of towners actually board together and share other expenses which i guess is nice.

I shouldn't bitch about my hour drive from Red Bank into the city. :lol:

[moonstone]

Hey ladies.... I'm doing great... living a lovely life in Sunny Florida... I have a job I love... the freedom I want... and I'm financially secure... did I mention I'm in love.... :V::heart::dance:

I'm with Missy on expensive raw food restaurants!!! I reserve eating out for special occasions these days. And I enjoy making food too much.

I'm still kicking it with raw, but have added some cooked grains, beans and veggies into my diet.

I'm sipping a smoothie right now. I dig them with tahini in them. Weird, you have to get used to taste, but yummy.

Missy, what the hell is up with you? I want a report please. :smile:

Terra, how is your vegan month going? Has your BF come around yet? I have mine thinking vegan is cool... he still eats some lean meats which I'm fine with, but he likes to brag when he eats a vegan or raw meal. He sometimes tells me, "you know, I'm a raw foodists so I only eat" so and so. He is cute.

Okay gals.... carry on.... love yall. :heart:

[MistyMountain]

Carolyn! Sounds like you are livin' it up in FL (still in Sarasota?). Congrats on the job.. what sort of work are you doing? Congrats on being in love too, that's wonderful! What's your man's name?

As for me, Pat and I are still living in Duvall, WA (about 40 mins from Seattle) and we are Teaching Apprentices at the Wilderness Awareness School. Last year we did their 9-month Residential Program, where we were completely immersed in very experiential, community-based learning in the areas of naturalism, survival skills, mentoring, and so much more.. it was life-changing, to say the least. This year, as Teaching Apprentices, we are supporting the lead teachers in passing along those same skills to the students of the school's homeschool programs. So basically I get to run around the woods all day, build shelters, make friction fires, teach about plants and their uses, and track wild animals with 4-9 yr olds. Kind of like what we did at Nature's Classroom, Carolyn, but a lot cooler because these are local homeschooled kids (homeschooling is huge in WA) and so I get to mentor the same kids week after week and watch them evolve and grow. It's amazing and extremely rewarding :)

So there's the "full report"! If you are ever in the Pacific Northwest let me know!

Back to vegan food! I love tahini in smoothies too! Frozen banana + tahini= YUMMM.

Got any other good smoothie recipes? I'm always up for trying new simple tasty combos :) (((((I Heart My Vita-Mix)))))

[HoopsTer]

Vita-Mix eh?
My mom is getting me a blendtec for my birthday, it's not until August, but I cant wait! http://www.blendtec.com/TotalBlender-Black.aspx I'm psyched that it makes soup and ice cream! woohooo!

I haven't tried tahini in my smoothies yet. I will have to investigate! Lately I've been on a bit of a coconut water kick. I am going to have to experiment with tossing some veggies into the mix too.

Stephen is cute. I was extremely concerned about the amount of milk that he drank (like 3-4 glasses a day) not only because of the long term effects, but because he's lactose intolerant and refuses to believe it (digestion issues AND ear aches!!!). I feel kinda guilty, but I made some comment about pussy udders or drinking cow puss or something of that nature and it ruined his milk for him. :blush: I want to laugh, but I feel terrible at the same time. lol. I also introduced him to Kombucha. He has been drinking 1 Kombucha in the morning instead of milk and he says he feels great! AND he's now addicted to Kayas Kitchen - we usually go once a week for our date night. :heart:

slow and steady.

I don't know that this will be a forever life style for me. I think when I decide to stop, I will on occasion enjoy cheese and perhaps "from the farm" meat and eggs-I'm pretty positive that the only animal protein I will consume again will be from a farm where I can go pick up the meat myself.

This little life style change has made me even more picky about it organic and local than I was before. I went to pick up food for Cheyenne last night and thought I would save time by going to A&P instead of Deans Natural Foods. I walked in with my bags, couldnt find what I knew to be an organic produce section, had a mini anxiety attack over it and left :lol: So I spent the time going in the opposite direction to pick up food that I knew was organic and for the most part, local. :)

I cant wait until May when my farmers market opens!!!

Im glad everyone is enjoying life and happy!!! :heart:

[HoopsTer]

I made a yummy dinner last night that Im eating for lunch today too!

Fresh Spring rolls-

I used vietnamese rice paper and filled them with buckwheat soba, lettuce, sprouts, red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers and shredded purple cabbage.

The only thing it was missing was cucumers...but I couldnt find any good ones.

[Patchoulia]

*giggle*

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/022908/eating-cold-twigs.gif

[Luna]

Carolyn! Sounds like you are livin' it up in FL (still in Sarasota?). Congrats on the job.. what sort of work are you doing? Congrats on being in love too, that's wonderful! What's your man's name?

As for me, Pat and I are still living in Duvall, WA (about 40 mins from Seattle) and we are Teaching Apprentices at the Wilderness Awareness School. Last year we did their 9-month Residential Program, where we were completely immersed in very experiential, community-based learning in the areas of naturalism, survival skills, mentoring, and so much more.. it was life-changing, to say the least. This year, as Teaching Apprentices, we are supporting the lead teachers in passing along those same skills to the students of the school's homeschool programs. So basically I get to run around the woods all day, build shelters, make friction fires, teach about plants and their uses, and track wild animals with 4-9 yr olds. Kind of like what we did at Nature's Classroom, Carolyn, but a lot cooler because these are local homeschooled kids (homeschooling is huge in WA) and so I get to mentor the same kids week after week and watch them evolve and grow. It's amazing and extremely rewarding :)

So there's the "full report"! If you are ever in the Pacific Northwest let me know!

Back to vegan food! I love tahini in smoothies too! Frozen banana + tahini= YUMMM.

Got any other good smoothie recipes? I'm always up for trying new simple tasty combos :) (((((I Heart My Vita-Mix)))))

that sounds like an amazing job!! How did ya get involved in something like that? Im looking to make a career change and that kinda field sounds perfect

[MistyMountain]

that sounds like an amazing job!! How did ya get involved in something like that? Im looking to make a career change and that kinda field sounds perfect

Hi Luna. I first got involved with environmental education right after I graduated college in 2004. Actually, it's funny how it happened.. I met Carolyn (moonstone) at GOTV that summer and we were drunkenly discussing what the hell we were going to do with our lives next (she had just graduated college too). So she was like, "I just got a job with this science camp place on Lake George called Nature's Classroom. You should do it, they hire anyone and you don't need to know anything about science". Which was great, because I was a Sociology major and didn't know shit about natural sciences, but I loved being outdoors and I thought it would be cool to work with kids. So I applied and got hired, and it was fun as hell. But the hours were looong (like 14hr work days) and the pay was kinda shitty so by the end of the season I was a little burnt out. However, from that experience I realized my passion for sharing nature with children. And I also realized that I had a lot to learn.. I really didn't know anything about nature! So after that I got an internship at the NJ School of Conservation, where I was once again teaching kids about the environment (only this time the hours were a lot better). I learned a decent amount there, but I still felt like something was missing. I wanted to know more. I craved a deeper, more intuitive understanding and connection to the natural world. I wanted to know all the plants and how to use them, what birds I was hearing , how to track animals, etc! And then one day, somehow the universe directed me to The Wilderness Awareness School's website and I knew right then that they were offering exactly what I was looking for. So I signed up for their ninth-month Adult Residential Program. And when Pat heard about it he was like, "wow that sounds cool. I wanna do it!" So we did it together, which was awesome. The experience has proven to be exactly what I was looking for, and oh so much more. Now Pat and I are both mentors for the school's youth programs, and I feel truly blessed to be a part of such nourishing, world-changing work.

So that's how I got here. It's funny how life works sometimes. One thing just leads to another, which leads to another, and before you know it you are exactly where you are meant to be. And it feels damn good. I guess if I hadn't met moonstone, I may have never gotten here. Or maybe I would have, in some other way. Either way, thanks Carolyn! :heart:

Luna, let me know if you have any other questions about environmental education or WAS, etc. It's interesting... now that there is this new wave of consciousness going on, people are starting to realize that they are really disconnected from nature and that their kids are suffering from Nature-Deficit Disorder, so the demand for environmental educators is finally on the rise. Time for us to change the world! :jamguy:

"If you are thinking one year ahead, sow a seed. If you are thinking 10 years ahead, plant a tree. If you are thinking 100 years ahead, educate the people."

~Chinese Poet, 500 B.C.:heart:

[Luna]

Thanks so much! You have PM

[HoopsTer]

This thread is chocked full of great stuff!!! :heart:

[MistyMountain]

This thread is chocked full of great stuff!!! :heart:

indeed :heart:
sorry for all the tangents on my end!
your spring rolls sound delicious (and colorful!) i make a similar roll with a side of natalia rose's "peanut' sauce:

1 cup raw and creamy almond butter (MaraNatha or other good brand)
2 tablespoons fresh ginger
1/2 cup water (to thin)
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons Nama Shoyu
4 teaspoons sesame oil (optional)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 jalapeño pepper

blend at high speed 'til smooth. SOOOOO good!

P.S.- I bet you're pumped to get your BlendTec, Terra! (they rule) :jamguy:

[HoopsTer]

OMG so psyched about the blendtec!!!! I cant believe I have to wait until august for it!

The spring rolls turned out great but were a bit messy I think it's going to take practice to wrap them so they stay together. :lol:

That "peanut" sauce sounds YUM!
What is Nama Shoyu?


and, I like the tangents :)

[MistyMountain]

Nama Shoyu is fermented, unpasteurized non-GMO soy sauce. I use it (sparingly) for a salty Asian flavor. Or I sub with Dark Miso.

[Patchoulia]

I have a peanut sauce recipe that I looooove...I think I've posted it here before...it's great as a dip but I also use it as a sauce for pasta/veggies:

1/2 cup peanuts
3 cloves garlic
2 tbls tamari
4 tsps white vinegar
1 tbls brown sugar (unpacked)
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/2 cup water

Blend! (Modify to your taste). :)

[Erinisme]

one of my favorite recpies which is vegan is beer sauce!

sautee onions and garlic in evoo (1 med onion, 3-4 cloves of garlic minced)
when soft add 1.5 peppers (sliced fairly thin)
sautee until peppers are soft.
Add 1 can del monte stewed tomatoes
1 can del monte diced tomoates
1 can tomato paste
italian seasoning
1 tsp sugar
1 bottle beer(any kind works, i use yulening)

Cook for an hour or so until all the beer flavor is gone.

Super yummy :)

[Patchoulia]

Note: Not all beers are vegan. ;)

Most are, just not all.

[HoopsTer]

Note: Not all beers are vegan. ;)

Most are, just not all.

JULIA!!!!

I did not know this! What's in them to make them non-vegan??

[Patchoulia]

Well, the obvious ingredient is honey..lots of beers have honey in them..some folks don't consider honey "non-vegan" but it is from an animal so it's not technically vegan.

However...that's not all...

http://www.healthylivingnyc.com/article/284

If you’ve ever had a Guinness, you’ve probably heard a variety of rumors as to where it gets its distinctive flavor. Two of my favorites involve brewers tossing hunks of venison into the vats and rats tossing themselves in only to drown while going on a booze cruise.

The good news is that neither of those is true. The bad news is that Guinness is, in fact, not vegan. Neither are Bass, Harp, and many of your other favorite Irish and British beers.

For the most part beer is vegan, and there are very few beers brewed in America or the European mainland that are not. However, the British brewing industry extensively uses a fish derivative called isinglass for clarification in their cask brewing process. Isinglass, which is made from the ground swimbladders of cod, helps to settle the yeast to the bottom of the cask where it can be removed. While very little isinglass remains in the finished product, there are traces, making most British brews undrinkable for vegetarians.

[MistyMountain]

i think some companies use fish bladder (or something like that) to filter the beer. i'm pretty sure that's how (most) wine is traditionally made.

[MistyMountain]

patchoulia knows whats up! thanks for the info!

[HoopsTer]

Thanks guys!

glad to know that there aren't hunks of venison floating aorund in guiness!!!


I am a bad test-vegan. I know honey isn't vegan, but I have not avoided it.

[MistyMountain]

i eat honey. i guess that makes me bee-gan, not vegan. ;)

[Patchoulia]

Yeah, I've always been down with honey, too. I just don't think of it that way.

[MistyMountain]

PS- Today is Meatout Day! www.meatout.org

[HoopsTer]

PS- Today is Meatout Day! www.meatout.org

:lol:
Awesome.

Stephen and I are going to kayas for dinner tonight.
It has become our weekly *date night* routine :funny1:

The other night I watched Death on a Factory Farm http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/deathfactoryfarm/index.html
:cry: :puke: Reminders like that make it easier to make the veggie choices. :undecided: I will NEVER eat corporate produced pork again....actually, I will most likely never eat any corporate produced animal protein again.

[Luna]

Well, the obvious ingredient is honey..lots of beers have honey in them..some folks don't consider honey "non-vegan" but it is from an animal so it's not technically vegan.

However...that's not all...

http://www.healthylivingnyc.com/article/284

If you’ve ever had a Guinness, you’ve probably heard a variety of rumors as to where it gets its distinctive flavor. Two of my favorites involve brewers tossing hunks of venison into the vats and rats tossing themselves in only to drown while going on a booze cruise.

The good news is that neither of those is true. The bad news is that Guinness is, in fact, not vegan. Neither are Bass, Harp, and many of your other favorite Irish and British beers.

For the most part beer is vegan, and there are very few beers brewed in America or the European mainland that are not. However, the British brewing industry extensively uses a fish derivative called isinglass for clarification in their cask brewing process. Isinglass, which is made from the ground swimbladders of cod, helps to settle the yeast to the bottom of the cask where it can be removed. While very little isinglass remains in the finished product, there are traces, making most British brews undrinkable for vegetarians.

:eek: gross

[Luna]

i eat honey. i guess that makes me bee-gan, not vegan. ;)

:lol:

[musicmomma]

hey, i just started a facebook group for a vegetarian/vegan recipe exchange if you're interested in joining. :smile: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95353106687

[moonstone]

So that's how I got here. It's funny how life works sometimes. One thing just leads to another, which leads to another, and before you know it you are exactly where you are meant to be. And it feels damn good. I guess if I hadn't met moonstone, I may have never gotten here. Or maybe I would have, in some other way. Either way, thanks Carolyn! :heart:



:heart::heart: Living with you was definitely a great experience. :heart::heart:

Missy, remember at that camp fire that one night when people were like "how do you know each other" and you were all "THE INTERNET" :lol: before it was "cool" to meet people on the internet. :lol::lol::lol:

[MaxCreek!]

Guinness is not vegan. Pabst Blue Ribbon is though, and it's union made. it just tastes nasty:clapping:

[MistyMountain]

:heart::heart: Living with you was definitely a great experience. :heart::heart:

Missy, remember at that camp fire that one night when people were like "how do you know each other" and you were all "THE INTERNET" :lol: before it was "cool" to meet people on the internet. :lol::lol::lol:

aww:heart: i had such a blast living & working with you too!
i love how the two of us would leave and go to shows every weekend :lol:
remember all of our drunken post-show "entertainment"? ("it was a beach party from a 60s movie!")
those were some riculously hysterical times :lol:
and yes, i loved people's reaction when i told them we met on the internet :lol:
good times:dance: