Ice Cream, a dessert that never gets old. It takes me back to a time when I was a kid playing outside in the hot summers hoping for the ice cream truck to pull up with it's sweet siren-like melody. As soon as I heard the music it was like clockwork, all of my friends would stop whatever it was we were doing and run home quickly to grab our dimes and quarters that we kept along with our most precious treasures; paper clips, crayons, an old barbie shoe.
After our business dealings with the ice cream man (we didn't call him an ice cream person, because we weren't politically correct) were over we would sit quietly, enjoying our delicious treats slowly of course, so as to make it last. It was probably one of the few times in the day that you'd find us sitting quietly.
Ice cream was and continues to be one of those magical treats that takes us to far off places and times. It's creamy sweetness is unlike anything else. It was something I knew I would miss when I decided to change to a vegan lifestyle. My only other option I thought, was to be destined to a lifetime of fruit sorbet flavors. How could I survive? I began looking up vegan ice cream and what I found shocked me.
As it turned out, just like there are a variety of alternative milk products there are also a number of vegan ice cream products. Not only could I still have my delicious treat but I wouldn't have to feel guilty about it! I also found that they were actually good for you, and far less fattening!
Like alternative milk products they come in a variety of bases. The ones I'm familiar with are soy, rice, almond, and coconut. All different and unique in their own way but yet all wonderful and delicious. Here are three of my favorite brands:
So Delicious: Turtle Mountain is a company that creates a line of coconut milk based ice cream called So Delicious. I not only like the taste and texture of this ice cream, but I also feel like I'm doing something good by supporting this company. Turtle Mountain is dedicated to promoting healthier eating and makes donations throughout the year to a variety of schools and organizations. Enjoy a dessert and change the world! Always a plus.
Larry and Luna's Coconut Bliss: One of my favorite store bought brands is Larry and Luna's Coconut Bliss. Every one of their flavors is amazing. The texture is creamy and smooth. I would dare say it's better than any Baskin-Robbins or Cold Stone Ice Cream I ever had. They too donate a percentage of their profits to support local education and sustainability focused groups as well as an array of non-profit organizations throughout the year. Awesome!
Almond Dream is another wonderful ice cream brand. Their ice cream is made from almonds and is therefore high in protein. It's very creamy and dairy like. This is one that anybody who is new to vegan ice cream will surely enjoy.
Again, those are just three of my favorite brands. I didn't post any specific flavors because honestly they're all good it's just a matter of what you're into.
Once I'd finished trying just about every flavor of ice cream and brand available, I got so into the whole healthy vegan ice cream idea that I purchased my own ice cream maker for about $40 bucks at my local Bed, Bath, and Beyond. It was one of the best purchases I ever made. I'm able to create my own flavors and know exactly what goes into each batch. Personally, when you make it yourself it tastes better than anything store bought, unless you just don't have the time and patience I suggest going with homemade. As for recipes there are a number of online videos and recipes to get you started.
Tonight I will share with you one of my all time favorite ice cream recipes, Coconut Ice Cream. Made from real coconut!
Melissa
Our Daily Veg
Monday, July 25, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Dairy Free Strawberry Banana Yogurt
Yogurt has always been one of my favorite foods. It's not a heavy dessert and it makes a great snack. For this recipe make sure the canned coconut milk you use is not light milk otherwise it will end up too runny. The consistency of this dairy free yogurt is not as thick as regular yogurt. However, for being dairy free it comes pretty close. You can eat this on it's own or over a fruit salad.
2 Bananas
1 cup frozen Strawberries
1 can (14 oz) Coconut Milk
Place all of your ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serve. Eat. Enjoy! Love it always!
Try it and let me know what you think!
Melissa
Our Daily Veg
2 Bananas
1 cup frozen Strawberries
1 can (14 oz) Coconut Milk
Place all of your ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serve. Eat. Enjoy! Love it always!
Try it and let me know what you think!
Melissa
Our Daily Veg
Milking It
Day 3 yeahhhhhh!
Cow milk is something most of us grew up on. It's claim is that if you drink a glass a day you will lose weight. But is that really true? In nature, a cow produces milk for her calf which will one day grow into a 1400 lb. cow. I don't know of any human who should weigh that much. Humans were not meant to drink cow milk. Also, milk is packed with hormones. Hormones have been linked to a variety of health problems. The good news is there are other options. Today we will be focusing on alternative milks.
Alternative milks, you've probably seen them at your local grocery store. The varieties seem endless and overwhelming. Which one tastes better? What's the difference? Will I get high if I drink the Hemp Milk? The following milks have the consistency and look of regular cow's milk. It can be daunting at first, but you can use these milks exactly as you would regular cow's milk.
Soy Milk: This is the milk that everyone has heard of. The good thing about soy is it's made from soybeans which are on their own complete proteins. The bad, the bean itself is genetically modified to withstand certain weed killers while it's growing in the ground. Studies show that it can have an effect on the body and let's face it, do you really want to put something in your body that's been genetically modified. No thanks, I'll leave that for a sci-fi movie starring Jeff Goldblum. Look I eat soy products, it's still better than a lot of other things, but if there is another alternative then I'll take the healthier option. Also if you must have a soy product look for the word organic, this ensures the product has not been genetically modified.
Nut Milks: These come in a variety of nuts. I've seen Hazelnut Milk, Cashew Milk, and Almond Milk. Almond Milk is a staple food out our house. We use it for everything; cereal, cooking, everything. I like these milks because they're not genetically modified and they are made primarily with nuts which are high in protein. Nutritionally this is a good alternative.
Hemp Milk: The name alone sounds like your living on the edge. As the name claims, this milk is made from hemp seeds. Yes, as in marijuana. Fortunately, (or unfortunately for some of you) the seeds contain no trace of THC, which is what gives the hallucinogenic drug effect. So it's safe to drink and you don't have to worry about getting the munchies at 4:20. This milk is a good alternative to nut milk for anyone who has nut allergies. Hemp milk is a good source of Omega's and amino acids, making it a high source of protein. This milk also has a nutty flavor and nutritionally it is nothing but pure awesomeness.
Rice Milk: Rice milk is made from tun-ta-da-da rice! Because it's made from rice it is naturally sweet which makes this a good milk for baking and desserts. Rice milk is usually fortified with vitamins and is high in carbohydrates. This is one I don't particularly drink, only because nutritionally it doesn't compare with the other milks, still not a bad option especially for those with allergies to nuts.
Coconut Milk: Best tasting milk ever! If I had only one choice of milk it would be this one. This one can always be found in our refrigerator. I can drink a whole carton of this on it's own. As the name says it's made from coconut and tastes amazing, at least in my opinion. It has a sweet flavor (it is high in sugar) and it's got a nice texture. This milk is great for everything! Nutritionally, I'd take this over cow's milk, but in the world of alternatives it's probably not as awesome as nut and hemp.
Canned Coconut Milk: This is a much thicker version of coconut milk. I don't recommend drinking it straight out of the can, unless you're into a really thick consistency. This milk is more for smoothies and cooking.
Give alternative milk a chance and see what you think. If you've tried all these milks and simply cannot give up cow milk then I would suggest looking for milk that is hormone free. When you look at the label make sure it is labeled "NO rBGH." This will ensure that the milk you are drinking is not chock-full of nasty hormones.
Tonight I will be sharing with you a very easy to make Dairy-free yogurt recipe!
Melissa
Our Daily Veg
Cow milk is something most of us grew up on. It's claim is that if you drink a glass a day you will lose weight. But is that really true? In nature, a cow produces milk for her calf which will one day grow into a 1400 lb. cow. I don't know of any human who should weigh that much. Humans were not meant to drink cow milk. Also, milk is packed with hormones. Hormones have been linked to a variety of health problems. The good news is there are other options. Today we will be focusing on alternative milks.
Alternative milks, you've probably seen them at your local grocery store. The varieties seem endless and overwhelming. Which one tastes better? What's the difference? Will I get high if I drink the Hemp Milk? The following milks have the consistency and look of regular cow's milk. It can be daunting at first, but you can use these milks exactly as you would regular cow's milk.
Soy Milk: This is the milk that everyone has heard of. The good thing about soy is it's made from soybeans which are on their own complete proteins. The bad, the bean itself is genetically modified to withstand certain weed killers while it's growing in the ground. Studies show that it can have an effect on the body and let's face it, do you really want to put something in your body that's been genetically modified. No thanks, I'll leave that for a sci-fi movie starring Jeff Goldblum. Look I eat soy products, it's still better than a lot of other things, but if there is another alternative then I'll take the healthier option. Also if you must have a soy product look for the word organic, this ensures the product has not been genetically modified.
Nut Milks: These come in a variety of nuts. I've seen Hazelnut Milk, Cashew Milk, and Almond Milk. Almond Milk is a staple food out our house. We use it for everything; cereal, cooking, everything. I like these milks because they're not genetically modified and they are made primarily with nuts which are high in protein. Nutritionally this is a good alternative.
Hemp Milk: The name alone sounds like your living on the edge. As the name claims, this milk is made from hemp seeds. Yes, as in marijuana. Fortunately, (or unfortunately for some of you) the seeds contain no trace of THC, which is what gives the hallucinogenic drug effect. So it's safe to drink and you don't have to worry about getting the munchies at 4:20. This milk is a good alternative to nut milk for anyone who has nut allergies. Hemp milk is a good source of Omega's and amino acids, making it a high source of protein. This milk also has a nutty flavor and nutritionally it is nothing but pure awesomeness.
Rice Milk: Rice milk is made from tun-ta-da-da rice! Because it's made from rice it is naturally sweet which makes this a good milk for baking and desserts. Rice milk is usually fortified with vitamins and is high in carbohydrates. This is one I don't particularly drink, only because nutritionally it doesn't compare with the other milks, still not a bad option especially for those with allergies to nuts.
Coconut Milk: Best tasting milk ever! If I had only one choice of milk it would be this one. This one can always be found in our refrigerator. I can drink a whole carton of this on it's own. As the name says it's made from coconut and tastes amazing, at least in my opinion. It has a sweet flavor (it is high in sugar) and it's got a nice texture. This milk is great for everything! Nutritionally, I'd take this over cow's milk, but in the world of alternatives it's probably not as awesome as nut and hemp.
Canned Coconut Milk: This is a much thicker version of coconut milk. I don't recommend drinking it straight out of the can, unless you're into a really thick consistency. This milk is more for smoothies and cooking.
Give alternative milk a chance and see what you think. If you've tried all these milks and simply cannot give up cow milk then I would suggest looking for milk that is hormone free. When you look at the label make sure it is labeled "NO rBGH." This will ensure that the milk you are drinking is not chock-full of nasty hormones.
Tonight I will be sharing with you a very easy to make Dairy-free yogurt recipe!
Melissa
Our Daily Veg
Friday, July 22, 2011
Green and Lean Dipping Sauce
Hi everybody!!!! So today I continued with foods that don't require chewing. I was craving a big ol' leafy green salad. I had a dilemma. I thought why not make it and then blend it all up, dressing and all! The result, magic! This is a recipe you can eat alone, as a dressing, or as a dipping sauce for bread and veggies. Use it as you would a salsa. The best part is that it not only tastes like pure awesomeness, it's super good for you!!!!! Enjoy!!!!
1 package (5oz) prewashed Spring Lettuce Mix
1 medium Tomato, de-seeded
1 Lemon peeled and de-seeded
1/4 cup Virgin Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Thyme
1/2 teaspoon Dill
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
Place all your ingredients in a blender. Blend. Done. Easy. Eat it! Enjoy it! Love it always!!!!!
Try it and let me know what you think!
Melissa
Our Daily Veg
Green and Lean Dipping Sauce
1 package (5oz) prewashed Spring Lettuce Mix
1 medium Tomato, de-seeded
1 Lemon peeled and de-seeded
1/4 cup Virgin Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Thyme
1/2 teaspoon Dill
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
Place all your ingredients in a blender. Blend. Done. Easy. Eat it! Enjoy it! Love it always!!!!!
Try it and let me know what you think!
Melissa
Our Daily Veg
Milk, Did It Do Your Body Good?
Wow, day two of blogging!!! Having a blast. Thanks to everybody who gave me such positive comments they're keeping me going.
Let me say this before I get into the subject of dairy. This blog is not meant to put down anybody who isn't vegan. Nor, is it my goal to convert you. The goal of this blog is to introduce you to a different way of life and to inform you that there are a variety of options out there. You don't have to eat dairy every day. You have choices. How you make them is up to you. I am giving you the information I have learned for myself. If it changes you great, if not hey at least maybe you got a good recipe out of it!
All right let's do this!
Like most Americans I was raised eating dairy, a lot of it! I grew up listening to slogans like "Milk, it does a body good." I remember a particular milk campaign that consisted of a variety of commercials where the premise was basically some kid complaining about his or her body and as they complained their older self would appear and let them know how life was going to be great if you just quit crying and chugged that milk down your throat like there was no tomorrow. Milk would not only get you strong bones and awesome abs but also some great arm candy as well. Well, I listened. I ate a ton of dairy products because after all, I didn't want to end up a social reject. I didn't drink much milk, but man did I eat a ton of cheese. I put cheese on everything. I would make a grilled cheese sandwich and then throw some more cheese on top of that. Cheese not only tasted good but it would also get me a social life!
Fast forward to my high school years. All was seemingly well until my junior year in high school when I began to have acne break outs. Normal right? No. I had very bad cystic acne that went on into my college years. Not only did I have acne, I began developing different skin conditions. This would be the beginning of my health deteriorating. I had no idea that the root of all my problems was yeast.
Yeast is a fungus living in humans. You eat, and it grows. Aww, cute! It's all very Alien-like. Our bodies can't get rid of it completely and it serves no purpose to us. However, you can control the amount of yeast in your body and it's what you eat that contributes to that. Apparently, yeast is fond of dairy and meat products. What?! Noooooooooo! My beloved cheese was working against me. I knew then I had to do something about my diet or I would probably die a slow and painful death.
I learned this four years ago. Well, I removed dairy from my diet completely and the results were astonishing. Within two weeks my skin cleared up and I had more energy. Even my bones stopped creaking. I felt great. Removing dairy from my life was the best thing I could have done. This marked the beginning of my health improving.
As good as I felt, I couldn't help think about my bones. What was happening to them. Sure they had stopped creaking but milk is supposed to decrease your chances of osteoporosis right? Wrong! In actual fact, studies show that milk may actually cause bone loss, http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/milk-for-your-bones. You can google it yourself and find tons of information on the subject.
I was disgusted by the idea of fungus taking over my body. Yeast is like that house guest that asks to sleep on your couch for a day. The house guest stays a second day, then a third, then stuff begins to take over your living room, your bathroom, your closet. Until wham, you've been taken over and now you're the one sleeping on the couch. But, that's another blog.
I realized that milk was not good for me, nor was it good for anyone else. It contributes to bone loss, bad skin, and other yeast related infections.
Milk did not do my body good. It made me feel self conscious about the way I looked. I was left with acne scars that serve as reminders and taught me that good diet starts at an early age, but with the knowledge that there is always time to change. I'm no longer bothered by my scars I've learned to live with them. They're part of who I am, and who I will never be again.
Melissa
Our Daily Veg
*Follow my blog by signing up. Tomorrow I will talk about how you can substitute certain dairy products for more healthy options.
Let me say this before I get into the subject of dairy. This blog is not meant to put down anybody who isn't vegan. Nor, is it my goal to convert you. The goal of this blog is to introduce you to a different way of life and to inform you that there are a variety of options out there. You don't have to eat dairy every day. You have choices. How you make them is up to you. I am giving you the information I have learned for myself. If it changes you great, if not hey at least maybe you got a good recipe out of it!
All right let's do this!
Like most Americans I was raised eating dairy, a lot of it! I grew up listening to slogans like "Milk, it does a body good." I remember a particular milk campaign that consisted of a variety of commercials where the premise was basically some kid complaining about his or her body and as they complained their older self would appear and let them know how life was going to be great if you just quit crying and chugged that milk down your throat like there was no tomorrow. Milk would not only get you strong bones and awesome abs but also some great arm candy as well. Well, I listened. I ate a ton of dairy products because after all, I didn't want to end up a social reject. I didn't drink much milk, but man did I eat a ton of cheese. I put cheese on everything. I would make a grilled cheese sandwich and then throw some more cheese on top of that. Cheese not only tasted good but it would also get me a social life!
Fast forward to my high school years. All was seemingly well until my junior year in high school when I began to have acne break outs. Normal right? No. I had very bad cystic acne that went on into my college years. Not only did I have acne, I began developing different skin conditions. This would be the beginning of my health deteriorating. I had no idea that the root of all my problems was yeast.
Yeast is a fungus living in humans. You eat, and it grows. Aww, cute! It's all very Alien-like. Our bodies can't get rid of it completely and it serves no purpose to us. However, you can control the amount of yeast in your body and it's what you eat that contributes to that. Apparently, yeast is fond of dairy and meat products. What?! Noooooooooo! My beloved cheese was working against me. I knew then I had to do something about my diet or I would probably die a slow and painful death.
I learned this four years ago. Well, I removed dairy from my diet completely and the results were astonishing. Within two weeks my skin cleared up and I had more energy. Even my bones stopped creaking. I felt great. Removing dairy from my life was the best thing I could have done. This marked the beginning of my health improving.
As good as I felt, I couldn't help think about my bones. What was happening to them. Sure they had stopped creaking but milk is supposed to decrease your chances of osteoporosis right? Wrong! In actual fact, studies show that milk may actually cause bone loss, http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/milk-for-your-bones. You can google it yourself and find tons of information on the subject.
I was disgusted by the idea of fungus taking over my body. Yeast is like that house guest that asks to sleep on your couch for a day. The house guest stays a second day, then a third, then stuff begins to take over your living room, your bathroom, your closet. Until wham, you've been taken over and now you're the one sleeping on the couch. But, that's another blog.
I realized that milk was not good for me, nor was it good for anyone else. It contributes to bone loss, bad skin, and other yeast related infections.
Milk did not do my body good. It made me feel self conscious about the way I looked. I was left with acne scars that serve as reminders and taught me that good diet starts at an early age, but with the knowledge that there is always time to change. I'm no longer bothered by my scars I've learned to live with them. They're part of who I am, and who I will never be again.
Melissa
Our Daily Veg
*Follow my blog by signing up. Tomorrow I will talk about how you can substitute certain dairy products for more healthy options.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Welcome!!!
First off, welcome to my blog!!!! This is my first blog ever and I am very excited to start this new adventure with you. My name is Melissa and I am a vegan, except for the 10% of the time when I go vegetarian :). I am trying to become 100%. Being vegan means not only no meat, but no animal products (cheese, eggs, milk, etc.)
People always say to me "Well I would be a vegan but I just can't go without meat or cheese." Well I thought the same thing too until one day, I actually tried it. We have sooooo many options and substitutes now at our grocery stores that it's amazing the amount of products there are out there that taste just like meat and cheese, if not better.
Some people say, "Yeah, but I tried those veggie burgers and they taste like cardboard." I know, I used to eat meat too and I've never tasted a great piece of meat that was cooked without using any seasonings. People forget that seasonings are your best friend, carnivore or vegan.
Another question I get is, "Where do you get your protein from?" Well let me just say this, I'm not a doctor so please don't take this as medical advice but I've never heard a doctor say to me or anyone else, "You have a protein deficiency." Besides that a lot of our veggies already contain protein, as well as legumes, grains, and nuts. Shocked? Look it up. The one thing you do have to watch out for is your B12 intake. You do need to take a B12 supplement if you're going to be on a vegan diet.
Like I said, I'm not a doctor but I have read a lot of info and lived it for the past 4 years. It's been a fantastic journey. Never could I have imagined how amazing fruits and vegetables can taste. I look back at a time when I used to say, why can't cauliflower taste as good as mashed potatoes..........
People always say to me "Well I would be a vegan but I just can't go without meat or cheese." Well I thought the same thing too until one day, I actually tried it. We have sooooo many options and substitutes now at our grocery stores that it's amazing the amount of products there are out there that taste just like meat and cheese, if not better.
Some people say, "Yeah, but I tried those veggie burgers and they taste like cardboard." I know, I used to eat meat too and I've never tasted a great piece of meat that was cooked without using any seasonings. People forget that seasonings are your best friend, carnivore or vegan.
Another question I get is, "Where do you get your protein from?" Well let me just say this, I'm not a doctor so please don't take this as medical advice but I've never heard a doctor say to me or anyone else, "You have a protein deficiency." Besides that a lot of our veggies already contain protein, as well as legumes, grains, and nuts. Shocked? Look it up. The one thing you do have to watch out for is your B12 intake. You do need to take a B12 supplement if you're going to be on a vegan diet.
Like I said, I'm not a doctor but I have read a lot of info and lived it for the past 4 years. It's been a fantastic journey. Never could I have imagined how amazing fruits and vegetables can taste. I look back at a time when I used to say, why can't cauliflower taste as good as mashed potatoes..........
The day I turned a cauliflower into mashed potatoes.....
I recently had my wisdom teeth removed and had been told my dentist to keep a soft foods diet. I knew I had to get creative if I was going to survive. For the past 8 days I have been eating smoothies. Smoothie fruit drinks, smoothie veggie drinks, etc. Today I went in for my checkup and the dentist said I was recovering quite nicely. I am now able to eat harder foods. It's been fun eating soft foods and so just as a precaution and because I'm losing weight by eating all day (that's right, eating allllll friggin day) I'm going to keep it up for a couple more days. Did I mention I also have more energy and I eat allllllllll friggin day?
Today, I decided I would eat the cauliflower that was sitting in my refrigerator. What I made surprised me. It looked just like mashed potatoes. It even tasted like mashed potatoes! Wow, how could a veggie taste so good and be so good for you? Try it, let me know what you think!
1 Medium Sized Cauliflower
1/4 cup Coconut Oil
2 cloves of garlic (More if you want to kick it up a notch)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Place the whole cauliflower (leaves removed) into a pot of boiling water. Boil cauliflower for 5 minutes. Drain. Immediately place the cauliflower in a food processor, or blender. Add oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Process using the S blade on your processor. If you're using a blender hit the liquefy button, stopping and mixing as needed. Once you get a mashed potato consistency you are done! Enjoy!!!!!
*I used a blender when I made this recipe. It worked, but the processor would have probably been faster. Not by much though.
Today, I decided I would eat the cauliflower that was sitting in my refrigerator. What I made surprised me. It looked just like mashed potatoes. It even tasted like mashed potatoes! Wow, how could a veggie taste so good and be so good for you? Try it, let me know what you think!
Cauliflower Not Mashed Potatoes
1 Medium Sized Cauliflower
1/4 cup Coconut Oil
2 cloves of garlic (More if you want to kick it up a notch)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Place the whole cauliflower (leaves removed) into a pot of boiling water. Boil cauliflower for 5 minutes. Drain. Immediately place the cauliflower in a food processor, or blender. Add oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Process using the S blade on your processor. If you're using a blender hit the liquefy button, stopping and mixing as needed. Once you get a mashed potato consistency you are done! Enjoy!!!!!
*I used a blender when I made this recipe. It worked, but the processor would have probably been faster. Not by much though.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)