Down with Dairy!

Dairy is Dead! Well not yet anyway. The word is out about dairy, its unhealthy and more people are realizing they are lactose intolerant. Consumers are looking for alternatives and this brings many to plant based milk products and other non dairy food alternatives.

Evolving with Fraser Bayley

Originally from New Zealand, Fraser Bayley is a plant based bodybuilder and fitness enthusiast who openly discusses his transition to Veganism. He is also very enthusiastic about providing resources for people to make the transition into full plant based nutrition.

The Perfect Red Velvet Cake

Not only is this cake Vegan it is gluten free and allergen safe. That is because the chef who came up with this recipe specializes in creating pastries that are safe for all dietary restrictions. Nicole Maree has a dairy and gluten intolerance, so she knows first hand the struggle of missing out on pastries and confectionery treats, so she wrote a cookbook intended to address this common problem, The Healthy Convert. The principle she follows is "It’s about replacing ingredients, rather than giving up your favorite foods". See this sample recipe below for a delectable Red Velvet Cake that is again free of dairy and gluten free.

Turin! Italy's first Vegan City.

Picture it, Italy. A picturesque and historic country with a long and famous culinary tradition. Prosciutto, mozzarella cheese, antipasto, tiramisu, all delicious foods but hardly fitting for plant based nutrition, right? Well look to the north Italian city of Turin. This city has gone through some serious gastronomical changes as more and more dining venues have eliminated meats and dairy products from their menus.

Earth Burger is on the Rise!

Founded by Mike Behrend, aka Chef Big Mike, a chef with over 20 years of restaurant industry experience, having opened several traditional and concept style restaurants and diners in the San Antonio, TX area. Behrend decided to become a vegetarian for environmental and personal health reasons. He opened Green, a vegetarian restaurant with his family which expanded into three locations.

Is Chocolate Vegan?

A question coming in at a close second to the infamous "Where do you get get your protein?" concerns the favorite sweet treat, Chocolate. The answer though here is, it depends. Chocolate itself comes from the cocoa bean plant so in essence it is a plant based food. The issue is what happens after it is harvested. The popular chocolate candy bars that are widely available are NOT vegan as they are combined with dairy additives like milk and casein. what many do not realize is that these additives easily reduce the quality of the chocolate flavor as there is a reduced level of actual chocolate in the candy. This is clearly not the best choice for Vegans.

Vegan Powerhouse from Down Under

Mike Case is a personal trainer based in Melbourne, Australia. Active in competitive athletics since adolescence, Case learned to love using his physicality and mind to achieve specific goals.

"I wanted to live a life where I worked on my passion and walked what I talked."

Benefits of the Cabbage Patch

A popular main ingredient for sauerkraut Green Cabbage is a tough leafy green cruciferous vegetable, part of the brassicaceae. Also popular shredded into salads, soups and stews this vegetable offers a deep rich flavor to a range of meals. What may be surprising is cabbage has tremendous health benefits offered by the cabbage.

Improve digestive health with Rejuvelac

Probiotics are a great inclusion to plant based nutrition. Foods that are active with live cultures of healthy bacteria are highly beneficial to human intestinal flora as they can help improve digestion. These foods also improve the assimilation of nutrients from all other foods. Even better these sorts of foods have a gentle laxative effect relieving constipation and help breakdown other potential undigested waste material. There are a wide range of food sources of probiotics that typically come in the form of fermented foods. Foods like yogurt and sauerkraut are great sources but can be expensive if store bought and challenging to create from scratch at home. Fortunately there is a great source of these precious probiotic nutrients in an easy to make drink. Rejuvelac.

Vegan Athlete Antjuane Sims

Another plant based athlete, Antjuane Sims proudly proclaims that he is able to achieve superior athletic performance without meat dairy or drugs. Previously after years of consuming a wide range of meat products Sims came to a breaking point. He noticed his body did not digest the animal proteins well, as if his body was not able to break down the meat completely. The very texture of meat began to bother him not to mention the process of having to prepare it. With nothing to look forward to but troubled digestion Sims realized he had to make a serious change in his nutrition.

Vegan JELL-O!

Vegans are well aware the gelatin is never an option. Though many of us grew up with this fun cool and often colorful treat as a dessert or snack. Well now here is a food that can easily take the place of that youthful treat and avoid those messy mashed up bones and animal hooves it takes to make traditional gelatin.

Get Turnt-Up with Turnips

Enjoyed since ancient times, the turnip is a round, apple-sized root vegetable from the Brassicaceae family. It’s white at the bottom with a light purple blush around the top, which appears when the plant has been exposed to sunlight. Native to northern Europe, turnip was a staple of ancient Greek and Roman diets. Turnips thrive best in cold weather and grow up to two feet high, with long and slender hairy leaves, you can buy them all year long. Like other root vegetables, turnips are a great storage vegetable that you can stock before winter arrives. When buying this root crop, make sure to look for firm and heavy roots that have a smooth skin, a sweet aroma, and crisp green tops.

Home Grown Ginger

Historically, ginger has a long tradition of being very effective in alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal distress. In herbal medicine, ginger is regarded as being excellent at promoting the elimination of intestinal gas and relaxing and soothing the intestinal tract. Modern scientific research has revealed that ginger possesses numerous therapeutic properties including antioxidant effects, an ability to inhibit the formation of inflammatory compounds, and direct anti-inflammatory effects. Considering these amazing health benefits it is probably a great idea to have as much of this plant readily available as possible.

Vegan Bodybuilder Garren Rimondi

Garren Rimondi is a competitive bodybuilder and fitness trainer who has been thriving as a plant based athlete. Surviving childhood cancer taught Rimondi that through proper individualized nutrition, moving one’s body, and keeping a positive, self-familiar mindset, anyone can overcome anything. Diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at the age of four years old he went through ongoing treatment until he was eight years old. Successfully cured in 1994 he has now been in remission for almost 21 years. His experience being treated for cancer influenced his attitude regarding his health. being forever grateful for surviving childhood cancer. He has since been motivated to seek out the best way to maintain and improve his health.

Gluten-Free Vegan Pancakes

Here is a wonderful gluten free pancake recipe using two awesome alternative grains. The next time you are in the mood for preparing a fancy breakfast for your family try this recipe out.

Get Juiced! With Grain Grasses

Sprouted grasses provide incredible health benefits. Containing an abundance of vitamins and minerals and bio-available protein. The best and most efficient way to access these nutrients is by juicing them. The liquid that flows from these leafy blades goes on a direct feed as it is quickly digested and utilized by the human body. Many are familiar with wheat grass but are not familiar with the wide range of grain grasses available. Best of all these grasses can be easily grown at home at a low cost.

Vegan Thanksgiving Recipe

As the holidays approach many vegans will be looking for new recipes that will allow us to remain plant based and enjoy a festive meal this season. Have a look at this delicious holiday recipe courtesy of the Vegan Family House.

Why is Juicing so good for you?

Juicing is becoming more and more popular. Being a regular feature topic on talk shows segments, news articles, and dedicated social media groups advocating the practice. Though some are still not convinced or understand why the practice of juicing carries so many benefits. Read on to improve your understanding.

Gluten Free Tapioca

Tapioca. This is a great food. Versatile and easy to access tapioca can be used as a base in a lot of baking recipes with minimal ingredients and best of all it is gluten free. If this is your first time hearing about this remarkable food here is a brief primer. Tapioca is a starch which comes from the cassava root plant, native to temperate climates such as South America, the Caribbean Islands and parts of Florida.

Feed your Skin.

Many plant foods are extremely healthy. They can provide a full host of vitamins and minerals and help maintain optimum health of the human body. Ever considered what some of these foods can do for the outside of the body though? Skin is the biggest organ on the human body after all. Providing a direct feed of nutrients will benefit long term skin health. So here are a couple of plant based foods that human skin will happily devour.

Buy this, save Bees!

Vegan Honey? That's right, honey has always been a subject of contention among vegans because it is produced by an insect. By the way, Honey is NOT Vegan! Moreover collecting honey can be damaging to bees because it can cause colony collapse consequently destroying and killing entire bee colonies. Bees are incredibly important to the ecosystem as pollinators. If all bees went extinct they would leave a huge hole in the ecosystem that could not be effectively filled by other means of pollination. In addition to that there are so few food crops which reproduce with wind pollination. Fortunately there is a product that will reduce the commercial strain placed on bees.

Vegan Yogurt from Almonds

As remarked in previous entries, dairy products can be difficult to separate from when becoming vegan, yogurt is no exception. A good source of healthy digestive bacteria cultures, yogurt is also a delicious source of protein. Unfortunately these benefits come with the unhealthy saturated fats and hormones of dairy foods. Thank goodness, much like non dairy milks, there is a way to make plant based yogurt. Now vegans can enjoy all the benefits of this healthy food. Yogurt is a great nourishing food that is perfect for breakfast. Mix with fruit and granola its a great first meal of the day. Try using as an ingredient in smoothies and baked goods for added protein.

Salad spun right

Leafy green vegetables. Kale, lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, cabbage. These foods are some of the healthiest foods that any person can consume. They provide a diverse array of vital nutrients such as calcium, vitamin C, iron, potassium not to mention the highly valuable fiber. These foods are affordable and easy to access. Though if you are vegan you may find it difficult to incorporate leafy green vegetables into your regular meals. Why is this? The likely reason is that it can be a very tedious chore to wash chop and prepare these foods. Also with  the time it might take to prepare your favorite vegetables by hand patience may ware thin.

Let the Sunshine (seed) in!

Sunflower seeds are a wonderful source of plant based protein and healthy fats. Easy to obtain and relatively cheap these seeds should be a regular part of a vegan's meals. Especially when sticking to the out of shell variety. Despite all this sunflower seeds are a still pretty new to many people and there may not be a full understanding of how to eat this food. This article should clear up any confusion about sunflower seeds and open you up to this nutritious solar themed food.

Luck of the Irish, Moss

Irish Moss. Sounds weird, right? Well this oddly named substance is actually a type of seaweed. Historically famed for its popularity during the Irish famine this seaweed is often used as a nutritious thickening agent for foods. This seaweed is typically found growing in the colder waters in the North Atlantic. It has been used as an ingredient in soups, broths and many flavored drinks.

Holy Basil Batman!

Many initially go vegan for animal welfare concerns but soon its realized that plant based nutrition offers tremendous health benefits. Becoming vegan can be the first step to a healthier life. This naturally spurs an interest in other means of fending off disease and illness with herbal supplements. Imagine an herb that provides energy, suppresses illness, and increases overall well being. Holy Basil does all of that and more. Also known by the name Tulsi this herb has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Known for its remarkable healing properties Holy Basil perfectly supplements vegan nutrition.

Another Pro Athlete goes Vegan!

Michael Porter Jr. and his brother, Jontay, are now college basketball players. Therefore, their mother, Lisa, wanted to make sure that her sons were on the best diet as they prepare to play at Missouri.

Meet Forest Crosbie

Forest Crosbie, an accomplished athlete and fitness trainer, and the best part is he is vegan. A vegetarian since childhood and transitioning to full vegan a few years ago. As a member of the PlantBuilt Team, Crosbie competed in the 2017 Naturally Fit Games in Austin, TX. The team collectively won 32 medals in various events such as bodybuilding, power-lifting and CrossFit. His accomplishment has added to the growing number of impressive plant based athletes.

This fitness program will change Everything!

Anyone who has been following this blog realizes by now that vegan plant based nutrition provides all the required nourishment people will need to be healthy. Plant based foods are especially beneficial for athletic individuals as the fruits and vegetables are a rich source of carbohydrates and lack saturated fats.

Craig Robinson Goes Vegan

He put down the drink and picked up the veggies!

Funnyman Craig Robinson stopped by Harry Connick Jr.'s new talk show Harry to discuss his paranormal new comedy Ghosted and the host couldn't help but notice the comedian's slimmed-down figure.

NBA All-Star goes Vegan!

Point guard for the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers, Damian Lillard has made quite the name for himself on the court, he was named NBA All-Star twice – and now Lillard is making a name for himself off the court too. The professional basketball star has been eating a vegan diet in the hopes of improving his game. Recently, Lillard was on The Late Late Show with James Cordon where he revealed he’s been eating plant-based for a whole week. Hey, you gotta start somewhere!

Amaranth Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Here is a wonderful baking recipe for Amaranth. Quick and easy with only a few ingredients its a vegan and gluten free version of a dessert favorite.

Power of Black Pepper

The king of spices known to offer a number of health benefits while providing an excellent depth of flavor to any dish. The use of black pepper in your diet helps to promote weight loss, aid indigestion, relieve cough and cold, and increase metabolism. After reading this you will be quicker to add this spice to your meals and even supplements. Read on to learn the power of black pepper.

The spice carries a huge host of health benefits. For starters a rich source of minerals like manganese, copper, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, potassium, zinc and vitamins like, riboflavin, vitamin C, K and B6. Black pepper has a high content of dietary fiber. Black pepper possesses a lot of antioxidants which facilitate cellular repair. This can prevent cancer and cardiovascular problems as well as prevent of signs premature aging .

Vegans with Appetites

This is a site that every new Vegan should get aquanted with. Victoria & Adam are Vegans with Appetites who travel extensively and share their exposure to international Vegan cuisine. Some of their finds include a vegan sushi spot in Warsaw Poland, vegan momo's in Nepal, and vegan by the slice focaccia pizza in Lisbon Portugal.

Halloween Candy 2017

Are you planning on going trick or treating this Halloween? Many vegans are aware that candy often contains that terrible gelatin. What's more there are a lot of candy brands that include dairy products like milk and whey. If you are getting ready for Halloween this year and don't want to compromise your vegan card keep this list handy when collecting this year's assortment of festive seasonal goodies.

Crunch Wrap Supreme: Vegan style

If you are like a lot of people who have made the commitment to their own health and gone Vegan, you may occasionally miss some junk food items made popular by fast food chains. In this case Tex-Mex. The popular Crunch Wrap Supreme is essentially a soft-shell taco sandwich. With this in mind it should be easy to create a vegan version. Follow this recipe, but feel free to substitute or add any of your favorite Tex-Mex seasonings and ingredients.

Kiwi Fruit! far more than you realize

First named the Chinese Gooseberry this fruit was first introduced to western cultivation in New Zealand in the early 1900's. The first major exports to major markets happened in the 1950's. Produce entrepreneur, Frieda Caplan, found the original name of the fruit unmarketable and pushed for a new name. As New Zealand was the site of Caplan's source for the fruit she had the idea to rename the fruit after the native Kiwi Bird, as the furry brown skin was similar to the bird's appearance. Thus the new band identity for the Kiwi Fruit was born. In the 1980's kiwi fruit experienced a rise in popularity and was shipped to many western countries like the United States. Despite the new popularity and unmistakable appearance of the kiwi fruit it still does not receive proper credit for its incredible health benefits.

Stay Vegan while traveling

If you're among the estimated 8 million vegetarians and 1 million vegans in the United States, don't think that you have to stick close to home to maintain a plant-based diet. A growing number of resources online and on the ground, as well as changes in the hospitality industry, are making veg-friendly travel easier than ever before.

Becoming a Vegan

“I want to go Vegan but...” This phrase has been appearing in increased abundance lately, especially after the release of the sensational documentary, What the Health. People are more aware than ever that their nutritional choices have a direct effect on their health, and quality of life. People feel highly overwhelmed and confused about nutrition because there is a lot of false information in circulation. People really want to become vegan but they may assume its unattainable or beyond their means. If you are reading this and ready for some practical advise advice and guidance this article may usher in a huge change for you. Becoming vegan. Easier said than done? More like, easier to do than you think.

"I can't live without Cheese..."and here is why

But, I could never give up cheese...This is a typical remark made by people who are interested in plant based nutrition. Unfortunately it is also a major obstacle for many to become vegan. What people don't understand is that cheese creates an actual addiction in people. Milk contains a protein called casein that breaks apart during digestion and releases opiates called casomorphins.

Healthy Meals in Jars

Looking for healthy, convenient, quick meals? This article may be a game changer for you. All it will take is some glass jars. You may have seen some pretty posts online of salads piled up in jars like layers of lasagna. This is a new approach to meal prep that is proving very convenient. What is even better is how easy it is to do and can be done with just about any kind of meal. 

Almond Milk Nutrition - Easier Cheaper and on Demand

Soya Milk, Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, or even Hemp, or Oat milks the list goes on and on. An essential of all Vegans, plant-based milks are delicious, softly flavorful and a superior choice to dairy milk. People may have their preferred brand when they go grocery shopping, but ever try making it yourself? Plant-based milks bought at the store can be costly, typically three dollars and change. Also, most brands use preservatives to keep their product shelf stable. Homemade plant milk is easy to make has no questionable ingredients.

The Amazing and Ancient Amaranth

Here is another nutritious grain alternative. Hearty and filled with a host of vital nutrients Amaranth is claimed to have been revered by the Ancient Aztecs. With the texture quality of a grain Amaranth is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to a wide range of meals. A source of fiber protein and iron, Amaranth is also gluten free. Very similar to the popular Quinoa in nutritional profile the texture of Amaranth is very different. Amaranth holds more starch so it can be very thick lending to a more robust fuller flavor.

Tame meat cravings

When transitioning to plant-based, vegan nutrition many people struggle with getting away from animal based foods, specifically various meats. This craving often unfortunately causes people to give up on being vegan. Though it is important to understand how this craving functions in order to break through this nutritional barrier. 

The Sweet taste of Chick-Peas

You're probably already a pro at sneaking good-for-you ingredients into your treats, whether it's adding kale to your cocktail, cucumber to your ice pops, or zucchini to your chocolate cake. The next step? Making desserts out of chickpeas.

A case for Millet

As people search for healthy sources of nourishment in the form of grains may they have sought out the popular Quinoa. Though Quinoa has a great nutrient profile it can be very expensive. It is mostly grown in South America, where it is native, and its transported a great distance into the northern hemisphere for retail. The increased demand for the crop has created other problems for the local farming communities that harvest the grain for profit. So what other options are there exactly.

How to Eat Vegan for a Week (at Trader Joe’s) With Only $20

This week I decided to see just how much food I could get for $20 at Trader Joe’s. Since this grocery chain is nationwide, there’s a pretty good chance you have one near you. Below, I list what I bought (obviously) but also how I think it could be used in different meals, assuming you have some oil and a few spices or sauces in the house.

Tony Horton To remain Vegan indefinately

The fitness celebrity is drinking vegan protein shakes and has eliminated animal products in the pursuit of ultimate health and wellness.

Founder of extreme fitness program P90X Tony Horton has been following a vegan diet for more than two weeks. “I’m in the midst of a little vegan experiment,” Horton announced last week via a video on Instagram. Horton revealed he committed to follow a vegan diet for two weeks but chose to extend his “experiment” indefinitely. “So far so good,” Horton said. “I feel amazing!”

What about B12?

Frequently people who choose to become Vegan are faced with the question of vitamin B12. This is a serious issue because B12 is needed for proper brain and nervous system health and development. Many who oppose exclusive plant based nutrition think they have found a figurative Achilles heel in Vegan nutrition.

Seafood for Vegans

The ancestor of nearly all plant life in the world, algae has proven itself to be a remarkable organism. Scientific research has proven that algaes and sea plants have many uses such as atmospheric reduction of carbon emissions in the atmosphere, useful oil production and even the promise as an alternative to fossil fuels. A more incredible application for sea vegetables is as a food source. Algae is loaded with an abundance of valuable nutrients like protein and iron. Since it so easy to produce many sea vegetables they are more sustainable than many other available food crops.

As a crop algae for example is twenty times more productive than other crops grown on land. Algae reproduces rapidly doubling in volume every 24 hours. All the plant essentially needs is access to carbon dioxide, sunlight and a water medium to grow in. These plants are are available whole and in supplement form. This food source can be very beneficial to people who are trying to maintain plant based nutrition. These seaweeds contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals as well. Also seaweeds are a source of Iodine which is vital to a healthy well functioning thyroid gland. Have a look at this variety list of seaweeds, and algeas. This is sure to lead to new options to build better vegan nutrition.