She's finally here. The new and improved Soul Searching Vegan. Please join me at
Soul Searching Vegan or http://soulsearchingvegan.wordpress.com/
I hope you like it!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Week 2: What it has done for me
Sunday fun day! How was your weekend? Did everyone celebrate their Valentine's Day this weekend or are you all waiting for the real deal on Monday?
After tonight, it will be officially two weeks completed of February-In-The-Raw and I must say it has been an experience so far. Here is what has happened to me throughout the past two weeks...
-My skin has taken a beating - my face has broken out almost as bad as it did when I was a teenager, but as long as all these toxin are getting out of my body whether through my face or however, so be it. Get them out!
-I have been an emotional roller coaster - I can't seem to be able to keep my emotions in check at all, one minute I'm happy-go-lucky the next I'm crying about something the Z man said or my chai tea latte not being warm enough. Needless to say, I've been a little temperamental.
-My workouts have been phenomenal - I haven't had workouts like the ones I've experienced these past two weeks ever! I can run my miles or do the elliptical and not feel like a walking zombie afterwards. I have so much more energy to workout, allowing myself to actually enjoy my workouts - even my long runs. I don't feel like I have to just sit and watch TV to zone out because I'm so physically and emotionally exhausted.
-I have so much energy - like I said, I've been able to do and enjoy my workouts because I have had so much more energy. I can run, do my yoga, and still go for an evening walk (just because I can not because I feel I have to).
-I don't feel bogged down, bloated after eating, or emotional towards food - raw food has a way of making me feel light and satisfied without feeling overly full. Feeling full would tend to make me feel anxious towards my food and body, as if I'd eaten too much (meaning I felt I would gain weight) but eating raw foods allows me to eat nutritionally dense foods in adequate and satisfying amounts keeping me sanity intact. (Plus who ever heard of gaining weight from eating too many greens anyways)
-I don't have cravings - like I said eating the raw foods makes me feel light while still being full and satisfied. Before I'd eat just what I thought I was supposed to eat and then I'd get cravings to eat cookies, candies, cakes, anything that I restricted (or not sometimes). But now I feel fulfilled with my meals I can actually turn down the cookies or french fries, and save them for when I truly want them.
I also would get cravings to binge (on anything) and to get that feeling of fullness (due to my typical restricting of food), but my meals are filled with such varieties of fruits and vegetables, fats and proteins, that I feel satisfied - meaning no cravings.
-I go to the bathroom a lot - This may be a little TMI but I have been going to the bathroom a LOT meaning I am removing built up toxins from within my body and allowing my digestive system to work the way it is supposed to. I feel lighter then ever (not in regards to my weight though, I have no idea what is has done for that nor am I concerned).
These are the things I have experiences and I am excited for what the next two weeks has in store. Hopefully a little more steadiness with the emotions and some calmness with the skin situation, but if not, I know this is doing great things for me so it is all worth it.
What has eating raw foods done for you? Have you felt any differences? What have experienced as far as side-effects, if any?
After tonight, it will be officially two weeks completed of February-In-The-Raw and I must say it has been an experience so far. Here is what has happened to me throughout the past two weeks...
-My skin has taken a beating - my face has broken out almost as bad as it did when I was a teenager, but as long as all these toxin are getting out of my body whether through my face or however, so be it. Get them out!
-I have been an emotional roller coaster - I can't seem to be able to keep my emotions in check at all, one minute I'm happy-go-lucky the next I'm crying about something the Z man said or my chai tea latte not being warm enough. Needless to say, I've been a little temperamental.
-My workouts have been phenomenal - I haven't had workouts like the ones I've experienced these past two weeks ever! I can run my miles or do the elliptical and not feel like a walking zombie afterwards. I have so much more energy to workout, allowing myself to actually enjoy my workouts - even my long runs. I don't feel like I have to just sit and watch TV to zone out because I'm so physically and emotionally exhausted.
-I have so much energy - like I said, I've been able to do and enjoy my workouts because I have had so much more energy. I can run, do my yoga, and still go for an evening walk (just because I can not because I feel I have to).
-I don't feel bogged down, bloated after eating, or emotional towards food - raw food has a way of making me feel light and satisfied without feeling overly full. Feeling full would tend to make me feel anxious towards my food and body, as if I'd eaten too much (meaning I felt I would gain weight) but eating raw foods allows me to eat nutritionally dense foods in adequate and satisfying amounts keeping me sanity intact. (Plus who ever heard of gaining weight from eating too many greens anyways)
-I don't have cravings - like I said eating the raw foods makes me feel light while still being full and satisfied. Before I'd eat just what I thought I was supposed to eat and then I'd get cravings to eat cookies, candies, cakes, anything that I restricted (or not sometimes). But now I feel fulfilled with my meals I can actually turn down the cookies or french fries, and save them for when I truly want them.
I also would get cravings to binge (on anything) and to get that feeling of fullness (due to my typical restricting of food), but my meals are filled with such varieties of fruits and vegetables, fats and proteins, that I feel satisfied - meaning no cravings.
-I go to the bathroom a lot - This may be a little TMI but I have been going to the bathroom a LOT meaning I am removing built up toxins from within my body and allowing my digestive system to work the way it is supposed to. I feel lighter then ever (not in regards to my weight though, I have no idea what is has done for that nor am I concerned).
These are the things I have experiences and I am excited for what the next two weeks has in store. Hopefully a little more steadiness with the emotions and some calmness with the skin situation, but if not, I know this is doing great things for me so it is all worth it.
What has eating raw foods done for you? Have you felt any differences? What have experienced as far as side-effects, if any?
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Making today great
Far too many of us will have a bad day whether that is through eating too much of something "bad", eating too much in general, or not eating much at all. Whatever your vice, we all have them and we all tend to have an all or nothing mentality - we've already done the damage we'd might as well keep rolling with it and "start over" tomorrow. (Sound familiar?)
I know I have had far too many of these types of day and I always vow to myself that it's the last one or that I'll do better tomorrow. Unfortunately my vows tend to be short lived and those days still keep creeping in every once in a while. But no matter how down I get or how blue I might be feeling, I somehow always am able to look at tomorrow in a positive light. Even better, I've been really working hard on rather than waiting for tomorrow, I'm trying to take what is left of that day and make it great.
My point is we all have difficult days and in a span of 24 hours can overdo it due to our emotions - or underdo it - but it's what we do with the rest of our 24 hours that are important. Contrary to (my) many's beliefs, we do not gain or lose a significant amount of weight in a day regardless of what we did within that day.
In light of searching for a new home for the Train and I, trying to find what it is that I want to do with my life career wise, saving for our wedding, planning our wedding, school, a social life, a relationship, and blogging, I've been feeling a little stressed and slightly beaten. I've always been the type to have a plan, know where I'm going and what I want to do, and how I'm going to get there. But as of recent, my plans are basically nonexistent. This is driving the anxiety levels sky rocketing causing me to have emotional episodes that tend to cause me to take steps back in my soul searching journey.
But no matter how stressed, anxious, sad, or down I get, I know that I am making progress. With each step back, I'm making strides forward in my soul searching.
Moral of the story, don't let one bad day turn into two, and even if you have a bad episode regardless of what it is, do what you can to change your situation then and there rather than beating yourself up and dumping the whole rest of the day, try making the rest of the day great!
**I apologize for being MIA recently, it's been somewhat a crazy couple of days. I'm actually working on a new blog site for all of you to enjoy. It'll still be the Soul Searching Vegan but with more to offer all you readers! Stay tuned! :-)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Raw Apple Chai Spice Bar
Oh man it is could outside. I hope everyone makes a steaming cup of chai tea with their homemade almond milk to keep warm. I made two today!
I've been doing some research on what I want to do with my leftover almond pulp from my homemade almond milk. The options are endless. Do I want to make a vegan nut loaf or maybe a raw nut pate? While I was scrutinizing my many choices, I munched on my favorite Larabar and the light bulb lit up. Here I was complaining over how much I spend on almond milk when I'm spending far too much on these delicious packaged portable treats. I think the decision was made for me, I'm going to try my hand at a raw bar. And being my passion for all things chai spiced, the vote was unanimous, a homemade apple chai spiced larabar was the ballet winner.
Raw Apple Chai Spice Bar
2 apples - very thinly sliced
1 c almond pulp
2 tsp chai seeds - soaked in 4 tsp of water
1/2 c dates
1 scoop Vanilla Chai vegan protein powder
2 tsp pure maple syrup
Heat the oven as low as it can go. Place the sliced apples on a sheet pan and put into the oven with the door propped open with an inflammable object to assure the temperature does not get too high. "Bake" for 2 hours.
While the apples are baking, soak the chai seeds in a small shallow bowl. Meanwhile, place the dates into a food processor along with protein powder and combine.
Once the chai seeds have gelatinized - an hour or so -, add them to the food processor along with the dates and protein powder and combine.
Next, place the mixture into a bowl and stir in the almond pulp and maple syrup.
After the apples have "baked" chop them in food processor until they are the consistency of a thick chunky apple sauce/paste. It shouldn't be very wet due to the apples being dehydrated by the "baking". Add the apples to the mixture and combine well.
Place a third of a cup of the mixture into individual pieces of saran wrap or, as I did, in individual baggies (I was out of wrap) and form into 1/4'' thick bars. Place them in the fridge overnight to allow to come together . Store them in the fridge so they keep well.
Here is a picture of the real thing.
And here is my delicious (money-saving) clone.
Not exactly the same, but none-the-less just as tasty, healthy, and portable. A satisfying treat on the go, or delicious treat with a chai tea latte. No matter how you enjoy it, this recipe is definitely one to add to the books. Now, what to do with my other cup or so of leftover almond pulp? Any thoughts or suggestions? Anything you would like to see veganized or raw-ified?
I've been doing some research on what I want to do with my leftover almond pulp from my homemade almond milk. The options are endless. Do I want to make a vegan nut loaf or maybe a raw nut pate? While I was scrutinizing my many choices, I munched on my favorite Larabar and the light bulb lit up. Here I was complaining over how much I spend on almond milk when I'm spending far too much on these delicious packaged portable treats. I think the decision was made for me, I'm going to try my hand at a raw bar. And being my passion for all things chai spiced, the vote was unanimous, a homemade apple chai spiced larabar was the ballet winner.
Raw Apple Chai Spice Bar
2 apples - very thinly sliced
1 c almond pulp
2 tsp chai seeds - soaked in 4 tsp of water
1/2 c dates
1 scoop Vanilla Chai vegan protein powder
2 tsp pure maple syrup
Heat the oven as low as it can go. Place the sliced apples on a sheet pan and put into the oven with the door propped open with an inflammable object to assure the temperature does not get too high. "Bake" for 2 hours.
While the apples are baking, soak the chai seeds in a small shallow bowl. Meanwhile, place the dates into a food processor along with protein powder and combine.
Once the chai seeds have gelatinized - an hour or so -, add them to the food processor along with the dates and protein powder and combine.
Next, place the mixture into a bowl and stir in the almond pulp and maple syrup.
After the apples have "baked" chop them in food processor until they are the consistency of a thick chunky apple sauce/paste. It shouldn't be very wet due to the apples being dehydrated by the "baking". Add the apples to the mixture and combine well.
Place a third of a cup of the mixture into individual pieces of saran wrap or, as I did, in individual baggies (I was out of wrap) and form into 1/4'' thick bars. Place them in the fridge overnight to allow to come together . Store them in the fridge so they keep well.
Here is a picture of the real thing.
And here is my delicious (money-saving) clone.
Not exactly the same, but none-the-less just as tasty, healthy, and portable. A satisfying treat on the go, or delicious treat with a chai tea latte. No matter how you enjoy it, this recipe is definitely one to add to the books. Now, what to do with my other cup or so of leftover almond pulp? Any thoughts or suggestions? Anything you would like to see veganized or raw-ified?
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Week 1: February-In-The-Raw
How did your first week of February-In-The-Raw-Go? Mine, well let's just say, bring on the emotional detox...
I stated here, when one does a raw diet, some experience a sort of detox due to the cells releasing all the harmful substances, both physically and emotionally, that they had been housing for how ever many years. This detox can cause some intense physical and emotional effects to occur. To say that this release of toxins was a gentle process for me would be a complete understatement. Bring on the tears (poor Z man, he's so patient with me, Thanks Brat).
I have been an emotional roller-coaster. One second I'm riding high and on the up and up, and then next I'm am soaring at a rapid speed in a downward spiral. And I know that my emotions may be a little irrational to put it lightly, but I can't help but feel these intense sensations no matter how ridiculous they may be. It took me a few tears to figure out why I was having such highs and lows, but once it dawned on me I was releasing years of unhealthy toxins it made me feel less of a wack-a-doo. Now I am just trying to ride the coaster and let the tears fall - I've cried more in this week than I have in the 5 years the Train and I have been together. I'm actually talking about my emotions and getting them out. I think of the tears as washing the toxins out of my body. Everyday, I'm getting farther and better than I ever have before.
Have you been experiencing any emotional tidal waves? What do you do when you're emotional to feel better? Cry? Shop? Exercise?
Now, let's talk Almond Milk.
Isn't it funny that we complain about $2.99 a gallon for gas, but some of us are willing to pay some where up to $3.50 for a 16 oz carton of almond milk? I'm not a math wizard by any means so I'm not even going to attempt to do the breakdown on this equation. But I do know what thing, the equation looks a little like this: Crazy-outrageous-overly-priced + sweet-healthy-nutty-deliciousness = spending far to much on almond milk in the stores. The solution? Make it yourself!
I stated here, when one does a raw diet, some experience a sort of detox due to the cells releasing all the harmful substances, both physically and emotionally, that they had been housing for how ever many years. This detox can cause some intense physical and emotional effects to occur. To say that this release of toxins was a gentle process for me would be a complete understatement. Bring on the tears (poor Z man, he's so patient with me, Thanks Brat).
I have been an emotional roller-coaster. One second I'm riding high and on the up and up, and then next I'm am soaring at a rapid speed in a downward spiral. And I know that my emotions may be a little irrational to put it lightly, but I can't help but feel these intense sensations no matter how ridiculous they may be. It took me a few tears to figure out why I was having such highs and lows, but once it dawned on me I was releasing years of unhealthy toxins it made me feel less of a wack-a-doo. Now I am just trying to ride the coaster and let the tears fall - I've cried more in this week than I have in the 5 years the Train and I have been together. I'm actually talking about my emotions and getting them out. I think of the tears as washing the toxins out of my body. Everyday, I'm getting farther and better than I ever have before.
Have you been experiencing any emotional tidal waves? What do you do when you're emotional to feel better? Cry? Shop? Exercise?
Now, let's talk Almond Milk.
Isn't it funny that we complain about $2.99 a gallon for gas, but some of us are willing to pay some where up to $3.50 for a 16 oz carton of almond milk? I'm not a math wizard by any means so I'm not even going to attempt to do the breakdown on this equation. But I do know what thing, the equation looks a little like this: Crazy-outrageous-overly-priced + sweet-healthy-nutty-deliciousness = spending far to much on almond milk in the stores. The solution? Make it yourself!
Almond milk is so easy to make, you're going to be kicking yourself for spending so much for so long (I know I was). I said yesterday that the overall process is slightly time consuming, but this is only due to the fact that you need to soak your almonds overnight. Here's the breakdown.
Homemade Almond Milk:
1 cup almonds - soaked overnight
4 cups water
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
2 tbsp agave or 1 packet stevia - you can use honey but know that it's not truly vegan at this point (optional)
Start off by placing your almonds in a large bowl and covering completely with water. Place in the fridge overnight (8 - 12 hours).
Drain the soaking water, the almonds should have almost doubled in size. Place the soaked almonds in a blender along with the 4 cups of water on high speed for 5 minutes.
Place a couple of paper towels or a cheesecloth over a colander and place the colander over a large bowl. There should be enough room between the bowl and colander to allow the milk to drain. Strain the almond milk. After it has strained, wring out the paper towels or cheesecloth to assure you have gotten all the milk.
Place the milk back into the blender along with the vanilla and agave. Blend for another 5 minutes. Place the milk in an old milk carton (cleaned and rinsed). The milk will keep for a week. A week of inexpensive, fresh, luscious straight from the source almond milk. And keep the leftover almond pulp because I have some really great things we can do it!
It really is that simple.
Tomorrow I'll show you what you can do with that leftover pulp. I'm thinking raw nachos or maybe homemade chelseabars, my take on a larabar. We'll just have to see.
Homemade Almond Milk:
1 cup almonds - soaked overnight
4 cups water
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
2 tbsp agave or 1 packet stevia - you can use honey but know that it's not truly vegan at this point (optional)
Start off by placing your almonds in a large bowl and covering completely with water. Place in the fridge overnight (8 - 12 hours).
Drain the soaking water, the almonds should have almost doubled in size. Place the soaked almonds in a blender along with the 4 cups of water on high speed for 5 minutes.
Place a couple of paper towels or a cheesecloth over a colander and place the colander over a large bowl. There should be enough room between the bowl and colander to allow the milk to drain. Strain the almond milk. After it has strained, wring out the paper towels or cheesecloth to assure you have gotten all the milk.
Place the milk back into the blender along with the vanilla and agave. Blend for another 5 minutes. Place the milk in an old milk carton (cleaned and rinsed). The milk will keep for a week. A week of inexpensive, fresh, luscious straight from the source almond milk. And keep the leftover almond pulp because I have some really great things we can do it!
It really is that simple.
Tomorrow I'll show you what you can do with that leftover pulp. I'm thinking raw nachos or maybe homemade chelseabars, my take on a larabar. We'll just have to see.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
A night of chili and football
Happy Super Bowl Sunday! I'm not sure if everyone grew up in the midwest surrounded by football or had 6'2 300lb D-lineman brother, but I did and I love football, meaning I love Super Bowl Sunday (it's usually my birthday too!).
Tonight was spent in a very cooked fashion meaning, vegan chili with some cold beers, followed with some obscenities yelled at the television - and the Train - and sadly, very few laughs at the commercials (was it just me or were they particularly bad this year?). But don't worry, I went into tonight prepared. I had a giant green smoothie for breakfast and a giant salad loaded with greens and things. So, I did not lack in the raw department today. And to be honest, I needed a little chili to warm me up - or maybe that was the beers. Either way, I feel good.
Anyways, I don't have much to write tonight, but I did want to prepare you all for what is to come your way tomorrow. Homemade Almond milk.
Yes, you can stop throwing away $3.00 for a 16 oz box of this glorious drink and start making it yourself to throw into your smoothies, oats, and baked goods. I will warn you, it is somewhat of a time consuming process, but that is only because you need to soak your almonds at least 12 hours in the fridge. Otherwise, it's a few minutes in the blender and ta-da, rich, creamy, straight from the source almond milk. Not to mention, the things you can do with the left over almond pulp. But that is another post for another day.
Did the Super Bowl turn out to your liking? Did you watch the Super Bowl? What's your favorite way to use almond (or any kind) milk?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
A little rant followed by 2 recipes
It's Thursday! I hope you're all excited for the weekend to begin - even those of us (me) who have only worked one day this week.
So I have to start today by getting something off my chest. I'm a little anxious right now because today I have been a bottomless pit. I have been hungry all day long no matter what I seem to eat. For some ease these hunger pains (it could have been that 6 miler I did yesterday, but logic is hard to come by right now). This usually kicks me off my path of wellness, I'd say 8 times out of 10 time, letting the ED voice ring loud and clear, but today I stood strong by allowing myself to sooth the pains with food. Without even a second thought at that too, well, until now.
Night time usually is my hardest time because I would usually rehash everything that I'd done for the day to calculate what I needed to/could do tomorrow - what I could eat, how long and how hard I needed to workout, etc. But tonight I'm trying to just sit and feel. Feel the fullness of my stomach, the satiety from a wonderful dinner, feel the emotions - anxiety and all - that are racing through my heart and head. I have to admit in the back of my mind the ED wants me to do something bad, but in my heart - and the rest of my mind - I know that I'm going to be ok (ED 0, Burns 1.7 million!).
Yes, I'm going to be ok.
Thank you for letting me get that out. I'm still a little anxious, but like I said I know I'm going to be ok.
So I have to start today by getting something off my chest. I'm a little anxious right now because today I have been a bottomless pit. I have been hungry all day long no matter what I seem to eat. For some ease these hunger pains (it could have been that 6 miler I did yesterday, but logic is hard to come by right now). This usually kicks me off my path of wellness, I'd say 8 times out of 10 time, letting the ED voice ring loud and clear, but today I stood strong by allowing myself to sooth the pains with food. Without even a second thought at that too, well, until now.
Night time usually is my hardest time because I would usually rehash everything that I'd done for the day to calculate what I needed to/could do tomorrow - what I could eat, how long and how hard I needed to workout, etc. But tonight I'm trying to just sit and feel. Feel the fullness of my stomach, the satiety from a wonderful dinner, feel the emotions - anxiety and all - that are racing through my heart and head. I have to admit in the back of my mind the ED wants me to do something bad, but in my heart - and the rest of my mind - I know that I'm going to be ok (ED 0, Burns 1.7 million!).
Yes, I'm going to be ok.
Thank you for letting me get that out. I'm still a little anxious, but like I said I know I'm going to be ok.
For example, I love beans and right now I haven't gotten to sprouting yet so I take the route more traveled and do the cooked beans. Vegetables have a great amount of protein, but I need the beans to satisfy and get my nutrients. So until I have my own kitchen to do my own sprouting, I'll put these in my 20% cooked category for that meal. I also happen to love oats for breakfast - or any time really - so until I find the time to soak them, I'll resort to cooking them. And I'm ok with that, 80/20 after all.
Today I wanted to share with you a raw wrap that is so good and so easy, you'll be wondering why you hadn't been doing this sooner.
Wraw Wrap:
1 large collard green
2 - 3 tbsp hummus
Any and all vegetables you can fit in it (I used an avocado, a tomato, and a carrot)
First, remove the fibrous stem (about 1/3 the way up into the actual greens) from the collard green like so.
Next, cover with the hummus followed by your vegetables. Then fold the two longer ends up over the vegetables and roll together as you would a tortilla. And enjoy!
I had to wrap mine in foil (please recycle if you do too) because I got a little over zealous with the hummus - oops - a delicious mishap. The collard green has a slight sharpness and spiciness to it, but it has much more flavor than a store-bought tortilla. Talk about a great way to get some more greens in your day.
The second recipe I have for you all tonight is seriously going to change the way you think of mousse again - and avocados come to think of it. This is my raw carob mousse recipe adopted from Gena's and Lyne's recipes of chocolate pudding.
Raw Carob Mousse:
2 ripe avocados
8 medjool dates - pitted and soaked in 2 cups very warm water
2 heaping tbsp carob powder - you can use cocoa powder if you don't have carob but make sure it's fair trade and organic
1/2 tbsp vanilla
2 tsp raw turbinado sugar
1/2 - 1 cup water from the dates
pinch of salt
Start by soaking the pitted dates in the warm water for about 20 minutes so that they can reconstitute.
Place the ingredients into a food processor or a blendor starting with 1/2 cup of the date water. Turn on high speed and slowly add the other 1/2 cup of water 1/4 at a time. You probably have to stop every few minutes to scrape down the side. Once it has all come together it should look like this.
It looks super rich and decadent and a little soft and fluffy too.
But refrain from taking a spoon to it yet. It has to refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the fats from the avocado to solidify. I promise, it's worth the wait.
After an hour it should look more like this, very rich and decadent, silky and creamy, and oh so chocolatey.
I'm still working on getting the necessary ingredients for my tofu recipe I want to try so I can give you a tutorial on using tofu. Until then, enjoy these two easy, very nutritious, and super delicious raw recipes!
Did you try something raw today or maybe even something different?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)