21-Day Vegan Kickstart / a Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) site

The 21 Day Vegan Kickstart is about to begin – now they start the 1st of every month. Just goes to show that I haven’t done one for quite sometime. But it’s time to get back to basics and cleanse the palate and gut with new foods and spices.
Here’s the grocery list for the Kickstart – if you’re allergic to certain foods, don’t buy then just substitute a similar food plant based food from that food group. Organic is best cause we don’t want any extra chemicals or altered food in our body. Food is our medicine to help us live at optimal health.
Join me in 21 days of changing up our food choices and eating a plant based diet (I already do that). If the list looks too tough, then just start shopping (except for the fresh food) a bit at a time and start next month.

21-Day Vegan Kickstart / a Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) site.

Harvard Nurses’s Health Study

Check out this video regarding the Harvard Nurses’s Health Study at NutritionFacts.org. The #1 killer for women is heart disease, which I don’t feel gets enough attention. I haven’t read the whole study, but am very interested.

This caught my eye on my Facebook post from the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart page with a link to the study and this post:

What Women Should Eat to Live Longer:
1 egg = 5 cigarettes a day;
1 cup of oatmeal = 4 hours of jogging a week.

The above info came from the Harvard Nurses’s Health Study video on Nutrition Facts (see above links).

Enjoy!!

21 Vegan Kickstart India – Coming Soon

Another treat coming our way from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).  The 21 Day Vegan Kickstart India begins June 4th, so check out the site, join, and get ready for some amazing meal plans and food.

I will be traveling to a family wedding, although have signed up and plan to be as active as possible.

Jamacian Stir-Fry

I have been all over the place on the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart this time around. today I finally got around to trying Jamaican Stir-Fry from week two. Here is my version, since I didn’t have all the suggested ingredients and not a lover of plantains.

Jamaican Stir-Fry

adapted from 21 Day Vegan Kickstart Jamaican Stir Fry

1 red pepper sliced

1/2 yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

3 stacks of celery, slices at an angle

Stir fry in water – stirring often so the steam helps quickly cook the veggies. When turned darker and cooking add:

1 tsp chopped fresh ginger

1 tsp thyme

1/2 inch chopped jalapeno pepper

1 tsp hot or reg. curry (I used hot)

1/8 c. almond milk

stir until mixed well and cook on low heat to meld the flavors.

Serve over brown rice. YUM!!

I think tomorrow it will taste even better.

Serves two or one with leftovers for lunch the next day. I ate dinner and here’s a picture of what I have left for tomorrow.

21Vegan Kickstart – What’s Hot off the Stove

Crazy Busy!!!! I’m sure you don’t want to hear about my week. Pretty sure you may have had a busy week too!

This week I was dreaming a bit ’cause the 21 Day Vegan  Kickstart has lots of new recipes to try during this kickstart. I was excited about a variety recipes this week and was a bit over rambunctious about my goals. I had 5 dishes I really wanted to try, but don’t have much time to cook once the work week starts. Additionally, I don’t need too much food each week (that’s why the dishes below look half full/empty.

I actually cooked Cuban Black Bean and Potato Soup, Basic Tomato Sauce, and Penne al Forno. I prepared the soup Sunday evening and took a couple pictures while cooking, but forgot the final picture, so will post that later.

21 Day Vegan Kickstart – Did you Take the Challenge?

Awww. it’s always tough to make changes to our diets and our mindset. In case you didn’t sign up for the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart you could purchase the kickstart book or another book of interest by Neal Barnard, M.D..

I have had a very busy week at work and didn’t get my cooking done last Sunday. I will admit I was working on Jim Lahey’s pizza dough recipes and baking pizza. Vegan,  no oil… just didn’t get my kickstart food prepped.

Next week will be on the kickstart and following a modified plan, since I am allergic to soy and often cooking just for myself. I usually pick 2-3 recipes a week and that’s plenty for me. I have oatmeal every morning, so don’t need a lot of variety of breakfast.

 

This is no April Fools Joke: Kick on over to PCRM

Happy April Fools – I loved this day as a kid and still do as an adult. Haven’t pranked anyone today, darn!

Today is prep day for the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart. If you haven’t signed up, give it a try and if you have then you have made a choice to join many in their new or continued venture into a plant-based diet. I’ve joined several times and have learned new things each time about myself, my diet and the choices I make on a daily basis.

The member’s blog is worth joining as well. No only do the organizers post a wealth of information, other members share their experiences and information to the forum. I learned  that coffee raises cholesterol levels (that was from anther member on the member’s blog). I have eaten a plant-based diet for over 20 years and my cholesterol rises and falls, so now know another factor. Have to get it checked again this month.Enough about me.

Do yourself a favor and give it a try – even if you just take a baby step in to see what it’s all about. Hope you check back here as I blog about another kickstart.

Bon Appetite!

21 Day Vegan Kickstart

Another Kickstart is about to begin! I will write more about it today.  Great way to be more mindful of the way we eat and bring awareness to our food.

PCRM For Not Starting

Interesting name for a post, huh? I was just checking my stats and saw that someone used PCRM For Not Starting as a search. Oh, the excuses I’ve used for not signing up or not successfully finishing a 21 Vegan Kickstart. Really, it’s out there for anyone to try for a day for 21 or for the rest of our lives. The only thing to not starting is the personal ANTS (automatic negative thoughts) we often inflict on ourselves;  Dr. Daniel Amen introduced me to ANTS in one of his books. Yeah, well, these aren’t good things, so better to sign up and try the kickstart. A new one is beginning in April 2nd and I am looking forward to another Kickstart.

Why? Well, even though I am a vegan it’s easy to grab processed food. The 21 Day Vegan Kickstart brings me back to center with eating whole foods and connecting to wonderful folks on the forum.

April 2nd is the next Kickstart so jump on over and sign up!! Success is taking a step and then another and another – often it’s just one step. Take it!

 

A Vegan’s Saturday

Today was feeling a bit lazy. I’ve just finished the 21 Day Vegan Kickstart and was diligent about cooking on the plan. After 21 days of having menus and recipes prepared (of course I felt  it is just for me) I stumble around wondering what to prepare for the next week. I do have a whole shelf of Vegan Cookbooks and lots of vegan sites. Sometimes, Saturdays are good for roaming after a long week at work.

I have some new library books: Vegan Soul Kitchen by Bryant Terry, Raw Energy by Stephanie Tourles, and Vegan Express by Nava Atlas. After perusing the three am going to start with the Vegan Soul Kitchen. He has a spicy cornbread that sounds divine, Gumbo Z, and Roasted Root Vegetables with Roasted Garlic-Lime Dipping Sauce. Those are my top three recipes that I just have to try first. One more mention about the Vegan Soul Kitchen: he has soundtracks listed for each recipe. How awesome is that! My taste buds are imaging the food and am searching the music pathways for the songs. I suspect Bryant has soul music playing as he cooks and I just may download some soul music for a full experience of his cookbook. Let the good times roll….

So, back to feeling a bit lazy. There’s a very good Vegan/vegetarian restaurant/coffee shop  in Tacoma, WA Caffe Dei. I don’t go there often, but today was craving their deep rich coffee (served in real cups for staying in) and their Vegan Ruben (they make their own vegan sausage). A real treat and had mid afternoon so took care of lunch and dinner. They serve vegan baked goods, but after a sandwich I’m fully satisfied and have no sugar cravings (which may mean they don’t heavily salt their food). My thought.

I am also going to post my Vegan Superbowl Menu very soon!! Hint – I am quite certain those roasted veggies and garlic-lime sauce will be featured. I’m hoping it will turn out as well and my brain and palate are expecting. Stay Tuned