Ask a Vegan: Part 2

So our second feature is one of my long time best friends. Kristi means more to me than words can express! She lives in LA and we met in Texas. We get to see each other in less than a month when we pain Vegas Vegan. Woooottttttt!

Name: Kristi T.

Age:32

How long have you been vegetarian/vegan?
Three years.

What made you decide to take the plunge?
It’s been a long road for me. As a kid I never really liked meat, so I gave up eating pork and beef at age 10. When I was in college I experimented in vegetarianism, but unfortunately I was more a carbatarian (the one who ate a lot of bread and pasta instead of veggies). Finally three years ago when my younger son was 4 months old and I was starving (as nursing mothers tend to be) I drove through Mc Donald’s to get a chicken sandwich. I bit into it finding it to be completely raw and frozen on the inside. After that I knew I could never eat meat again. Going vegan was pretty easy. I and my sons are lactose intolerant, so dairy is pretty much a non issue. And then of course eggs have always creeped me out.

Do you have a personal philosophy?
You get back what you put in. When I was in college someone told me this I thought it was total crap (give me a break, I was 18). But it’s true in just about any aspect in life. If you want to be a good athlete/musician/parent/etc you have to spend time honing your skills. You will reap the rewards of the time that you have invested. ( I love this-truer words were never spoken!)

Do you have a blog you’d like to share?
While I am personally still working on getting my own blog up and running, I am a huge fan of Vegan Dad’s blog. He has a ton of amazing recipes that are kid friendly.

Favorite vegan website?
http://www.nomeatathlete.com/

Favorite food?
Tough one. I think that if I had to narrow it down I would go with my crispy gnocchi with fire roasted tomatoes, garlic, and basil. One part spicy, one part fried gnocchi goodness, all parts amazing. Yuuuum!

Least favorite food?
Leeks. They look like a giant green onion so you would think they are stinky and savory, alas they are more on the sweet side. Yuck.

Favorite vegan junk food?
Oooohhh, vegan nachos all the way! I pile my nachos with beans, a vegan taco “meat”, a kick ass chipotle cheeze sauce, guacamole, tomatoes, and green onions. I could seriously eat this everyday if it wasn’t attrocious for my waistline.

What other stereotypical hippie thing do you do?
I don’t wear deodorant and haven’t for about 3-4 years now and I don’t stink (trust me, I have asked several people around me, lol). I also make a lot of my own beauty and cleaning products. For me being a vegan is all about being good to your body. You don’t eat crap why would you put crap on your body or in the air that you breathe?

Tell me something totally awesome about yourself:
I run a lot. I have run 10ks, half marathons, and full marathons on a vegan diet. So many athletes think that you need meat in order to compete but it’s simply not true. I run further and have posted more PR’s (personal records) on a vegan diet than I ever did as a meat eater. This is totally awesome! Your fitness has always been an inspiration! Kristi whipped my ass into shape before and during my second pregnancy.

My Vegan Valentine

Our Valentine's day this year was really awesome! I've been making an effort to use less and consume only what I have to. This means that my gift to hubby was a clean house and a man meal for lunch! One of meaty Dean's favorite meals was Philly cheese steak, so I threw together a mega easy lunch that was a huge hit. To make your own:

Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich

• Whole wheat bread or buns(Kaiser rolls would have been nice, but I didn't have any)
• One package seitan (Seitan is a wheat gluten protein product that is firm and chewy and is a nice sub for beef. People can make their own, but mine have been gross so far. I've tried a few brands-the first one I liked has been Green Earth brand.) Sliced
• One tbs olive oil
• One small onion, cut into half moon slices
• 1/2 green and red pepper, sliced
• your favorite bbq sauce
• Vegan mayo
• Daiya mozzarella style cheese

Heat your oil pan on medium heat, saute sliced Seitan until it browns slightly. Add onions and peppers and saute until softish. (You might need a little bit of water to prevent sticking). Add enough bbq sauce so it's saucy but won't be sloppy. Cover and cook until peppers and onions are fully cooked. To assemble: toast your bread/buns, and apply mayo to taste. Use about 1/4 cup of your seitan mixture and top with Daiya. If you're me, stop to photograph. If you're anyone else-dig in and get ready for sandwich awesomeness!

So the other memorable thing about this Valentine's day is that Bean and I took our first road trip alone since having our kiddos. I don't know that we were totally ready-but I won a contest! The Toronto Vegetarian association had a contest in which you submitted a poem about vegetarianism and your valentine. Ummm....those two don't really go together in my world! Regardless, I've been known to write a little ditty and well-I'm a sucker for free stuff. The winner got dinner for two at the fabulous L.A.B in Toronto, so I gave it a go. Turns out, they thought it was better than I did ha! So, despite me feeling like a preteen baring my cheezy soul for all to read-here it is!

My Veggie Valentine

Passion. Strong, burning and free.

This is what your love and veganism are for me.

Both are so different, and yet the same,

A force of feelings that I can’t contain.

Both built on commitment and instinctual love,

And choosing someone else above;

A craving, convenience or what other people do.

This poem is a pledge of my devotion to you.

For both of my loves I profess my thoughts.

Animals, please don’t think of humanity’s have nots.

I’m sorry that one person can’t do more,

But please be patient-changes are in store!

We won’t eat you or wear you or laugh at your pain,

Speaking out and activism won’t be in vain.

My Valentine’s wish is for change to come fast,

Compassion to spread and our message to last.

Now this for my love of the human kind,

We have what others are trying to find.

It’s not best expressed with chocolates or clichés,

But the kind acts you show in so many ways.

Roses mean love but loose petals one by one,

Our partnership is better expressed with laughter and fun.

Collective dreams, support and forgiveness,

Makes 10 years of a person much better to live with.

I love you, I love you, and one more for good measure,

Dreaming of both my loves and a lifetime together.

Ok, so there it is. Laaaaame. However, the meal was awesome! I got to try things that I normally would have been too intimidated by. The appetizer is not pictured, as we got lost in downtown Toronto and was so hungry I couldn't stop to smell the flowers. My Thai Tom Ka soup was lovely. Next up I had the Bimibibop. I know right?! What the hell is that. Even when it came, I was still asking "what the hell is that". But the taste, oh it was amazing! The only thing is that I'm a girl with a big appetite, and this was the kind of place where you get quality and mad cooking skillz over quantity. I could have eaten an entree two times the size!

My honey had the risotto, which was apparently really good and had all kinds of neat sauces on it. The photo quality is embarrassing, but the lighting was less than ideal for food photos!

Lastly, we had the apple cobbler-which was both weird and really tasty. It had paper thin dehydrated apple hats. It had sorbet that had all the flavor of a traditional crumble topping, but in an icey concoction. It had apple cider smear and fried oats. Weird, but so am I and people still love me. So, I hope your Valentine's was even close to as great as mine was!

Ask a Vegan! First edition

So any time I meet a vegan out and about, the first thing I do is inundate them with questions! I love hearing about other's journeys and how they got there, and I hope you will too! I also hope that it will help people see that most vegans are just like regular people and not some freaks living on the fringe. Well, except my first featured guest. Total freak :) The wonders of the internet brought us together, and today is her birthday! Lets show her some love!

Name: Kim (Though I would appreciate if we called her by her internet moniker: Sassy Big Butt Beauty)

Age: 37

How long have you been vegetarian/vegan? 5 months as of today! (Happy birthday and veggieversary baby!)

What made you decide to take the plunge? I went vegetarian at first because I just couldn't stand the thought of eating flesh anymore. During those first weeks I joined lots of groups to make sure I was eating properly and to get support. I saw a lot of articles and videos about farming practices and realized that it wasn't just the meat but animal products in general. For me, eliminating one but eating things like eggs and cheese started to feel really hypocritical. So, after 2 weeks of being vegetarian, I went full vegan.

Do you have a personal philosophy? I have the word "yes" tattooed on the inside of my left wrist. It's to remind me that no matter what, life is worth saying yes to. That doesn't only include my life, either, but other living creatures.

Is there anything you struggle with as a vegan? My family is omni and my kids are still young enough that I can't just send them off to make their own meals. I do make them a lot of vegetarian fare but after 5 months of trying to get them to eat certain things I finally had to accept that they aren't ready to join me on this journey just yet.

Do you have a blog you’d like to share? I'm also gluten free and sometimes being GF and Vegan can be a tough combo. This website is more of a compilation of GF Vegan blogs and I've found value in all of them. http://xgfxcommunity.blogspot.com/

Favorite vegan website? I really like the Vegan Society. http://www.vegansociety.com/

Another one I like is Farm Sanctuary. It isn't advertised as a 'vegan' website, but they are and they do great work rescuing and caring for farm animals.

Favorite food? Sushi. Or Veggie fajitas. Or ice cream. Hmmm... I can't pick just one. I love food. ( Ha, is there anyone more obsessed with what they eat than vegans ? :)

Least favorite food? I'm really not a fan of Tempeh. (I'll make you a believer yet!)

Favorite vegan junk food? Coconut Bliss Cookie Dough Ice Cream

What other stereotypical hippie thing do you do? I cloth diaper :)

Tell me something totally awesome about yourself: Since it's my birthday today I'm reminded of my 16th birthday and what happened on that day. I was at church and a woman in the congregation had a heart attack. Long story short, there were only 2 of us that knew CPR; me, who didn't want to go on my birthday, and a respiratory therapist who hadn't been to church in over 10 years and randomly chose our church that morning. Miss Erlene lived that day and I always thank God for making sure I was where I needed to be at that moment. I always think of her on my birthday! (What an amazing story! Wow.)

Thanks so much for your wisdom and for being a great sport Kim-Love you!

Healthy vegan eating = Not a given

I'm trying desperately to find this blog that I was reading yesterday but the internets aren't giving it up! In it, she challenged readers to take a hard look at their diets, and truly up their game for February. She was talking about a nutritional upgrade. Being vegan doesn't necessarily mean healthy. I can't tell you how many times times someone has told me that they used to be vegan/vegetarian but had to start eating meat because they got sick/didn't feel well/weren't healthy. Many times, this lies in the fact that whole nutrition isn't a given, and one can still find vegan options in most mainstream places that are devoid of anything good for you. The following things are vegan: French fries, potato chips, Oreos, pretty much all sodas, sour peaches, watermelons, cherry blasters, lots of dark chocolate, etc etc. The first time I went vegetarian as I teenager, add diet coke and you have just covered all my food groups. I am completely guilty of non nutritive eating still-I have a sweet tooth that rages inside me like a cracked out junkie. I'm constantly making sweets or thinking about making something sweet. I do try to give them away where possible and only eat things I make myself, but still. I keep making better choices as I learn how-and see my kids picking up both my positive and negative eating habits. Bean very much likes the analog products -fake meats, burgers, hot dogs and cheeses. Many new vegetarians use these products often for convenience and to continue cooking foods you and your family are familiar with. Over time, we generally learn new cooking techniques and rely less on these products which are both expensive and processed. For Bean's birthday this month, we had tacos made of fake everything. Turns out they made me feel awful. So I'm going to do it, February I'm getting serious. Whole foods, less packaging and eating foods with ingredients I can pronounce!

Where are you at in your food journey? Do you think you're where you'd like to be to look and feel your best? Where do you start? Where would you put yourself on a scale of one to ten? (One being: fast food frequently, soda, chips and packaged sweets are almost always on your grocery list. Five being: Pretty good. Indulge frequently and don't really pay much attention to labels/nutritional stuff. Ten is: Completely whole foods. You eat while levitating.)


My friend Tricia is a high raw vegan, which means she eats very little food that is cooked. This preserves it's nutritional integrity, and much to my surprise is really delish! I'll post more on raw eating at another time, maybe Tricia can even stop by some time soon. She calls eating raw a nutritional upgrade, and I think that's perfect. Every time you take steps to change your diet for the better-be it learn a new technique, choose to learn more about whats in your food, or try a new X-you've just upgraded baby! February for me means change and challenge! What does it mean for you?

Vegan Travel

People are always very curious on the nuts and bolts of a vegan lifestyle. What do you eat? What do you do when you travel? I was born in Thailand, and that pretty much set the stage for my life. I've lived in Bangladesh, have been on four round the world trips, traveled extensively in Asia, lived in all Canadian provinces west of Quebec, plus Idaho, Washington and Texas. When I'm not traveling, I'm dreaming about traveling. In 2010 alone, I (we) were on four airline trips, two of which were across North America. Not great for the environment, but good for scratching the itch. One might think that being a vegan while traveling might be the world's biggest pain in the ass. Turns out that one of my biggest fears has become one of the very best things about this lifestyle. Here's why!

Christina, circa 2004

Road trip! When hungry, we'll stop at a fast food place off the highway. Mmmm. When we stop
for the night, we enjoy a fine dining experience at East Side Marios. Not that great, but lots food and an atmosphere that says "you know what to expect". It's close to the hotel, and we don't have to worry about any uncomfortable situations like getting lost or having to dig out the high school french! Road snacks include gas station hot dogs and packaged cheese and pepporonis.

Please note, photo is not of an actual road trip. I just like to shamelessly plug my self and friends looking cute in our early 20s.

Christina circa 2010

I'm a mother! There are two little children along for the journey. I've finally found my sense of adventure and my ability to be prepared! I cook healthy food the day before that travels well. High protien sandwiches, tofu nuggets, tabbouleh salad, fresh fruits and nuts, and cookies or muffins. Before I left, I visited thehappycow.net and wrote some addresses of veg friendly restaurants in the cities we'd pass through. We program our GPS and in we go! Great chance to stretch our legs and explore a new place. We have eaten at some truly incredible restaurants and drove through the most amazing neighborhoods. One of my favorite things to do is check out architecture in other locations. House porn!
One of the standouts for me was Beets cafe in Austin Texas. Beets is a totally raw menu, and I was able to try some fancy and delicious new cuisine. Even if you don't eat vegetarian, I urge you to go out of your comfort zone more often when travelling! I lament often on my things I've missed out on because I was afraid to try.

I wanted to share with you a clip from the cooking chanel. I found it through the ieatGrass.com, which is also pretty awesome. This episode features Austin Texas and Beets cafe! Ch-ch-check it out, and poke around while you're there. I love the blog about being Vegan in a zombie apocalypse!

Weddings *siiiiiigh*

When I met Bean, I was but a high senior with no idea who I was or what I stood for. We dated for five years before becoming engaged-then eloped to Thailand while he was deployed and we were on vacation. It was wild, and like all the craziest things you've ever done-makes a great story. Our dinner reception featured fish head curry, and the entire ceremony was in a language we didn't understand. After the reception, the entire wedding party goes up to your room with you, and your elders "show you what to do" if you get my drift. By drift, I don't mean a live sex show-but horrifying all the same. They then wait to see you start the fun (kiss etc.) before they leave. I couldn't even make this stuff up! Our room shared a door with a room full of drunken Asian business men (and my limited Thai didn't serve me well in rural Thailand trying to explain the situation), so our wedding night consisted of episodes of dubbed McGyver and getting drunk. Since our Thai wedding wasn't legally binding, we had a second wedding on Vancouver Island where my grandfather married us beside the ocean. It was lovely and non traditional, and so us.Despite going the non traditional route, I was and still am obsessed with weddings. I adore wedding dresses and to this day cause near accidents each time I the window of the bridal salon. Is it the crinoline? The sparkles? The opportunity for everyone you know to be in one place to eat/drink/dance/celebrate(which happen to be my favorite things in all the world)? I'm not sure. Most likely, it's the societal ideal that's impressed upon us since the dawn of Disney princesses. Not even kidding, there are already plans in place for April 29th at 6 am when Prince William gets married. Royal Wedding!!! Double sigh!
So you can imagine my excitement when wedding season rolls around, and I get to revel in some vegan weddings...Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeal! Nothing in the world gets me more excited than extravagant vegan food, eco friendly wedding decor and cake! Woot! Check out some wedding porn here! And for the love of God, if you have a vegan wedding-invite ME!

Book Review: Appetite for Reduction

I've been a bit of a slacky blogger as of late, so to make it up to you- I'm going to sift through some food porn, write up some of my favorite dishes and hopefully blow your ever loving mind with vegan goodness. Before I do that, I have to gush about my favorite Christmas present. I've been an obsessive fan girl since I picked up Isa's first book "Vegan with a vengeance". At that time, I was a new vegetarian with the cooking skills of a seventh grader. A lot of the recipes sounded amazing, but had weird ingredients that required some searching and a lot of trying strange things. They also required skills and time management in the kitchen that I didn't have yet. So I made lists, went on ingredient treasure hunts and dove in feet first. I had so many delicious results that I had to have each book as they came out (many were co-authored by the awesome Terry Hope Romero, who me and Jules got to see in person at the Toronto Veg fest) :Veganomicon, Vegan brunch, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World, and Vegan Cookies Take Over Your Cookie Jar. I couldn't even begin to choose a favorite. Veganomicon is a vegan Bible, with basics like how to cook rice and beans plus recipes for just about every veggie or occasion under the sun. Vegan brunch has the best tempeh bacon in the world. As for cupcakes and cookies, I use these about every other day. Certainly not healthy, but amazingly delicious! When I want to show people how fantastic vegan food can taste, I look no further than these two. Appetite for Reduction doesn't have deserts, but it makes up for it with incredible, fast and easy recipes. All are under 400 calories and many are under 200; if you care about that sort of thing. Our favorite so far has been the Caesar Chavez salad with eggplant bacon. It's creamy, it's smokey, it made me weep with happiness. We also loved the blackened tofu with butternut squash coconut rice. Epic win! Isa started off in Brooklyn, and an international flavour in her cuisine really shines through.Check out some food porn from the book here. If you are just starting your vegan journey, are veg curious, or just looking for some great new cookbooks-I highly recommend picking up one of these bad boys. You might start a novice, but you'll leave a pro!