Party Season and Vegan Diet

I have a party to attend tonight and there will be a wide variety of food but I am wondering what I can eat. Have gotten in the habit of eating a little before I go just in case there are no or very limited vegan-safe offerings.
Having a late lunch from local Chinese restaurant. They have a nice selection of both vegan as well as gluten free offerings(good for 2008). Will have a little "something" in my belly and be set while visiting and schmoozing. A good practice as Christnas and Thanksgiving approach
Tofu, veggies and rice will do the trick.

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Spent 20 Minutes Reading and Studying the Bulk Bins at Natural Food Store

Going GlutenFree as a Vegan may not be as challenging as I worried.

At the small downtown natural store I counted 15+ bulk bins of great grains that are gluten free and will make good staples and can be used for breads or crusts or other fun carbs.

Now I need to practice and get ready to change 44 years of habits as I back away from breads rolls and crackers. Now have to LOOK FIRST-Read and go to the next shelf as needed.

Marty

http://www.charlottesvillerunningcompany.com/

http://www.badtothebone.biz/

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A Bag of City Market ( Farmers) Goodies and a Crock Pot

This past weekend I made to our City Market ( summer farmers market) and loaded upon parsnips, radishes, beets, leeks, onions and other goodies. Got home and cranked up the crock pot and started some veggie/miso broth going on the stove and got to chopping.

Also had a fresh picked butternut squash and started chopping and rinsing and soon the crock was almost full and I added the broth a little more water, a cup of dried quinoa and sesame seeds and stirred and closed the lid.

Came out great and was delicious and is still 4 days later.

Thinking and Dreaming

I was thinking of food and future as we have decided to go gluten free in the new year as well as continue on our vegan journey.

So i started checking out some blogs and other related sites and will give links as I find fun stuff.

A favorite Vegan blog is http://eatair.blogspot.com/ . Of course not gluten free as noted by recent delicious picnic menu that included some (apparently) tasty fried seitan.

We also hiked over the weekend but were not so elaborate with our food. We brought some low-sodium veggie chips, soy yogurt with fruit and raw trail mix.

Now looking for vegan and gluten free sites and blogs.

harvest Season Almost Over- farmers market Over Soon

A large bulk of my weekly fruit and veggies come from a local farmers Market (City market in Charlottesville). Not sure what to do for winter.

There is a local retail space that is an outlet for a produce distributor and may have to serve for the off-season. Looking for organic at a reasonable price will all become an even greater challenge.

I have enjoyed the vegan diet and the fun of experimenting and playing with my food. Now we are looking into gluten free and after some review and research i am not as worried as I once as with such and effort. My biggest concern will be breads and rolls. i am in a 44 year habit of having bread, rolls, toast etc. Will experiment with the available products and maybe even make some of my own.

Make mine Applesauce

I recently purchased a bushel of apples to help a swim team fundraiser. Now I am a big eater but a bushel of apples- Mr Ed couldn't eat that many before they went soft.

What can I make with the apples? AH HA ! Applesauce. So i did a little looking and the first batch I made was approximately 4 parts apples and 1 part corn meal ( polenta) with water a pinch of salt in a crock pot on low over night.

It came out great and was good served with a little honey(maple syrup or molasses would work too). Was also good served hot with a cup of soy milk.

As I ate it for lunch later in the day I thought it would be great to tak a small scoop and add some more corn meal to it and fry it on a hot pan like a pan cake or even a fritter. I will try that next time. May even add a some savory ingredients(dried pepper, turmeric, garlic and serve with a soft tofu cream sauce..

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO WITH THE APPLES ?

Figs and Cherries for a Morning Snack

I am standing at the computer buzzing and brimming with energy as I have eaten a handful of fresh sweet cherries and 5-6 figs (black mission). They are like popping a handful of jelly beans, a couple gummy bears and washing it down with jolt cola. WOW.

I think I will try to use these for future running foods, even race day fuel out on the trail.

I have tried dates as race/running fuel and they worked well and I am sure these would too. Would these kick it up they they are today? Gotta love that kind of energy.

This morning after a little workout and some stretching I ate some cherries, a banana and sun butter on sesame crackers. Good fuel and now 4 hours later this fruit is pumping me up.

Trail Mix -- From the store or the Bulk Bins?

I have been a fan of trail mixes for years but have recently found a couple of great "parts" for a mix in the bulk bins of 2 local health food stores. I started by adding the goodies (soynuts were one) to prepacked mixes and then made my own.
The best mix I have made so far has been : raw peanuts. cashews, dried blueberries/cherries/ bananas/papaya/apricots, almonds, sunflower seeds, unsalted soynuts, coconut.

Have added sesame sticks, wasabi peas and a few salted items as well.

Makes it fun to eat and it is a little different each time.

I have also done the same with cereal mix- Made Marty's Muesli( with oats, groats or other whole grains and added dried fruits nuts.... Then eat for snack with soy milk or of course at breakfast. Great if soak a bowlful over night with soymilk then eat cold or hit it in then microwave then eat.

Lost in Summer- Eggplants a Plenty

I love the summer and the abundance of fresh veggies at farmers market. With my current diet and eating plans this makes Saturday a day in Nirvana. Looking forward to the next weekend but fearing the coming fall and the end of the local produce.

Looking into a way to store fresh stuff for winter eating- will do some freezing, maybe drying and canning. At least for now I will enjoy.

Getting creative with eggplant- love it when it is big and hard and almost ripe so the flesh is very firm and perfect for the grill.

I wonder if Baba Ghannouj will freeze. if so I can grill a bunch and make a lot of that wonderful mix for Christmas parties and Super Bowl dipping..

Fun and challenge of Vegan food lifestyle.

Now that I am beyond the half year mark in the new life and it is going well.
I have gotten a little more comfortable carrying food or finding convenient vegan snacks when hungry around town.
There is always water.

I have subscribed to a few email services that send daily or weekly recipes and ideas for vegetarian living. www.vegweb.com has a nice weekly collection of recipes that i have been experimenting with.
I have trouble following recipes, drives my girlfriend nuts, I add 2 cups of this and 1/2 cup of that but use my nose and eyes and add more pepper or use sesame oil instead of EVOO,,,,

I have fun, eat well and enjoy myself.

MMM lovely Seed Pate-

I never really got into Pate in my meat eating days but found few versions of this recipe and adapted and made this a few times.

Friends have loved it and it is becoming a staple in my diet.

I am going to experiment with other nuts and seeds.


Sunflower Pate
Tools- Container to soak seeds, Food Processor

INGREDIENTS
1. 2 cups sunflower seeds, soaked 8 hrs.2. 1 apple, chopped3. Small red onion, chopped4. 3 stalks celery, chopped5. 6 dill pickles, chopped6. 2 Tablespoons lemon juice7. 2 Tablespoons Dulse granules 8. 2 teaspoons Wasabi

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Soak the seeds in filtered water a least 8 hours
2. Chop apple onion, pickles, celery.
3.Juice a lemon
4 Put soaked Seeds in Processor and grind to a smooth paste, add all chopped ingredients- drizzling juice in to smooth
5. When chopped and smooth add wasabi and Dulse Granules Options-
Substitute medium seeded cucumber,dry mustard and fresh dill
For creamier feel and taste add ¼ to ½ cup soaked/spouted beans {play with colors here}

Serving Ideas-
Serve on tomato and cucumber slices, Serve on crackers/bread, toss into a salad.
Combine with salsa to make tasty nachosServes 8-10

Summer Blogging- oops I got busy

Have had a great summer with the food and diet- The changes in the City Market/farmers market have been fun as the season progresses and the veggies and fruit emerge.
Loads of great squashes and cucumbers and still getting some root crops( beets, turnips, radishes, potatoes) and great greens.

I need to start digging a basement at the house and wire it for a walk in fridge so I can buy a weeks worth of food or 2 vegans.

Been eating lots of spreads on bread, veggies and crackers, hummus, raw sunflower seed pate,butters.
Fun to experiment and create goodies.

First Beets of the Season

I have always loved fresh fruit and vegetables but now as a vegetarian the activity weekly City Market (farmers market) is a focus in my schedule.
I look forward to the progress of the season as each new item becomes ready- Today the Beets arrived and MMM MMMM I am ready for them.
I have gotten some sweet potatoes, turnips, plants to put in my garden, and a few greenhouse grown goodies(tomatoes,cukes) and lots of greens. I look forward to each week and the coming summer when the market expands to Wednesday evening as well.
Can' wait to get home and chow down on some beets and green and other goodies.

Food Combining and health

Food Combining and digestion have come to my attention again. Now that many of my meals are raw fruit/veggies I "tripped" over a book on how to eat to aid digestion and of course health.
My switch to vegan diet was made for health and fitness reasons so I want to do the best I can.

The basics as I see(from 3 different books and some web info):
1) Chew completely when eating solid foods{ I even "chew" smoothies and juices}
2) eat most liquid items first - juices, soups, broths
3) Higher water content items next (leafy greens, veggies , fruit) Combos of these matter as well.
4) Eat in a peaceful manner and environment ( not in car or at desk) no TV and calm music
5) Solid foods and heavier proteins later

These make sense and I have been experimenting and so far so good. No major changes in energy but have noticed some digestive changes -feelings and elimination. Improvements.\

More trials and experiments.

Tupperware and Ziploc bags for flavor

I have always used the storage containers to store food for later meals or for lunch at work but have be using them lately as meal prep tools.
Love marinating tofu, seitan or tempeh before cooking or grilling. The new grill pan( birthday gift in April) has been a great new toy as the taste impact of searing grill marks into tofu is great. Love the flavor and the texture I have gotten after marinating then grilling tofu and veggies before serving over a pile of grain or greens or in a bread as a sandwich.
Some years ago saw a chef grilling veggies in such a pan and assembling a great looking sandwich. Adding tofu or a dressing made from it will help me keep up the protein especially when eaten as a recovery meal{ sandwiches are a personal fave}

Just some general wandering thoughts - had to get out and get back to work.

Farmers market and Vegan Athlete

In Charlottesville, Virginia from April to October we have a weekly market that is loaded with a variety of fresh picked veggies, fruits and greens along with plants, flowers and homemade items.
As a new Vegetarian I was excited when April arrived and I was able to shop the outdoor market April the 6th. The snow that morning may have scared off a few vendors and some shoppers but I made it bright and early.
This morning I purchased some greenhouse Green Tomatoes to fry with corn meal, some big asparagus to peel, marinate and grill and some greenhouse cherry tomatoes and cucumbers for a salad. I will use the grill pan tonight and cool these goodies along with the tofu I have marinating at home.
Gotta love spring and summer as a vegetarian.

Back on Target and back on Track

Recent events that we produce and direct have kept me busy and distracted over the last 2 weeks (www.charlottesvillemarathon.com) .
Now I have eaten OK but not very diverse. My workouts fell apart but are back on track and my life is almost back to normal.
Really learned how much effort it takes to be Vegan while on the run. I am learning more and more and I recently signed on at vegan fitness.net and in my first day I learned 3 great new ideas to help my training, pain management and food issues.(sandwich fillers).

I recently had a birthday and got 2 great vegan cookbooks and one is loaded with easy fun recipes that I can carry as well as enjoy at home. I need o learn and get strong before I travel to Colorado in the summer for a big running event but I feel confident.

Detox for Spring or after "Sinful Eating"

During recent weeks I have been busy and involved in some hectic and frantic events and as a result i know I have eaten some highly processed and sugar/fat filled goodies. In addition I am sure some of them were filled with all variety of milk and eggs. Whey, dry milk, casein, buttermilk, cheeses , egg white, egg yolks etc....
I was feeling it and over the past weekend I realized my actions as I Felt the results in me and in the way my body worked and in my elimination. I need to stop and clean up and Clean out.
Spring Cleaning like homeowners do ,I am doing with my body. I am doing moderate exercise. Some lifting and body-weight exercises and walking and rowing machine and other low impact low stress exercise. AND I am cleansing internally.
The cleanse includes organic fiber source mixed into water and juice a few times a day and some organic herbs in capsule form throughout the day. I have also included a good veggie Omega oil capsule and wheat grass and chlorella tabs. I have seen and felt some benefits so far and look forward to to fresh start in a few days.
My food has consisted of fresh, raw fruits and veggies in moderation, nothing cooked for a few days.

Restaurants and vegan Athletes

I have had a few recent challenges when going out to eat. When I have the opportunity to make the restaurant decisions I can do OK in food options but when I am a guest I have to look carefully and ask questions- sadly many places have employees that have no idea what is in the foods.
I have often had an old reliable piece of fruit or Optimum bar in the car or just ate the salad after making sure it had no cheese. bacon bits or egg in it.

In fact i am doing a 3-4 cleanse to take care of any sneaky eggs or dairy in recent restaurant choices. My workouts have taken a hit lately as the marathon approaches and we are in the last stages of preparation. To the gym tonight for a quickie to deal with the stress and pressure that is building up as we are under 2 weeks.

Honey- Not Vegan????

As a lifetime honey fan I am curious why honey is left out of the vegan diet.
I understand that it is made by bees, BUT then again it is made by bees in the process of bees helping many other plant foods germinate and grow.

I have loved honey as a sweetener for coffee/teas/oatmeal. Long before the industry packaged carbo/electrolyte gels I used honey as a fuel before, during and after exercise / races. I love trying different honeys from different areas and different plant-flower sources.

Nutrition a Vegan Diet and Endurance Sports

As I continue on this journey as an endurance athlete and novice vegan I wonder about the nutritional balance in my diet. I also wonder if I am getting enough to replace what I burn in exercise and what I lose to perspiration and other body functions.
In reading Vegetarian Sports Nutrition and other books and websites I have learned much about food nutrient content. I have also learned a few tricks to getting enough calories to maintain a healthy body weight and have sufficient fuel for workouts and work.
The challenges I have had since becoming vegan include:

1. Energy later in day
2. evening-nighttime eating and dietary balance
3. cravings
4. What to eat in the morning
5. Vegan junk food
6. Eating in "regular" restaurants

Now these are not terrible challenges or big problems but they are the things I have been dealing with. The best thing I have done is purchase several vegetarian cookbooks and surfed for vegetarian websites or athletes and food.

I am glad I made this decision and look forward to the future and results of the new diet and lifestyle.

Energy, Fuel and Calories

As I continue on this new journey I have seen variations in my energy level as I have eaten in different ways. I have also seen weight fluctuations as I try different foods and meals.
While reading Vegetarian Sports Nutrition by D. Ennette Larsen-Meyer she noted the value of multiple meals and good snacks to get the proper calories and fuel for work and for the day. I also got some good ideas from Brendan Brazier's, THRIVE. One of the best was eating raw almonds with dried apricots. What a boost and if I use a variety of fruits I get a nice all day snack. Occasionally sprout the almonds and eat with the fruit. I feel an extra jolt.
Another area of question or effort is when to eat, especially in relation to the workout. I am doing single daily workouts. I have been leaning on prework carb-heavy fuel and immediate post workout recovery food,i.e. smoothies with protein, fruit and oils. A little bit later a solid meal with a good balance. And all with adequate hydration. My lips are a great measure of my hydration. As they chap from cold I pay attention but if they crack I am "dry". Th same works in the summer but I am usually overdoing the drink in summer to keep safe with liquid and electrolytes.

A review of progress and some challenges

I was thinking about this blog and my progress and the impact of the dietary change on my life and my body. I continue to lose weight and would lose more if I avoided some "vegan" goodies that are nothing but empty calories.
Corm tortillas rolled with rice and grilled veggie filling and covered with sauce are good, tortilla chips (the whole bag) NOT SO GOOD. I find a safe bread or cracker product for peanut butter, hummus or other spread and eat the whole bag or box with a bunch of the spread.
I have also experienced a few digestive issues that may be related to eating some hidden dairy/eggs in a food grabbed while out. I am spending a little more time planning to reduce or eliminate the bad or dangerous snacking and see the results of being strictly vegan.

I found this cool blog with lots of food and menu /recipe ideas. I will keep and eye on it and see what I can learn and maybe find some other Vegan athletes and compare notes and ideas.
http://eatair.blogspot.com/
This seems to be local to my area in Virginia and that is also encouraging and hopeful for finding folks to chat with.

Thai Food and Exercise

I have found a few local Thai restaurants make some great Vegetarian dishes and they taste great. I love the Hot and even native Thai spice level since it makes me sweat and even cranks up the endorphins and adrenaline , But it is tasty and doesn't dissolve my tongue.
The only problem is I have not been able to duplicate the dishes at home. I am hoping to find some good basic Thai recipes in the cookbooks I have and find a few new ones as well.
I would like to do them myself because I can cut the veggies and tofu pieces to sizes I like and in proportions I like and serve with a variety of brown rices.
Tonight after a race today I plan to eat brown rice with a basic stir fry with tofu and veggies and a peanut sauce with soy.

Smoothies and Energy for Large Vegan Runner

I have this great book that I found during my research and prep prior to becoming Vegan.
I have tried a few smoothies and adapted them to my taste and available supply of veggie/fruits.
It is Green for life by Victoria Boutenko.

Raw Food and winter chill

As I have switched to a vegan diet I have read and am reading a wide variety of books for vegetarians and vegetarian athletes. One of the ideas that pops up is Raw Food. It makes good sense to me- I am not sure I can do it completely but I never thought I could go vegan either.
Now that the beauty and joy of the winter cold is upon us I wonder what it might be like to eat a raw prepared Pad Thai or soup as compared to the 4 bean, corn and tempeh veggie chili I am making for the Super Bowl and serve with a pesto roasted parsnips and potatoes..
Time will tell and it will be fun to see how it all works out.

Found this fun blog and enjoyed it. http://athenadiaries.blogspot.com/ Fun stuff from a like minded athlete.

Resources for Vegan Athlete and Fuel...

My Girlfriend bought the Vegan Lunchbox box and found this blog and the link to magic loaf studio- now I can make a few great loaves for meals and save slices to carry to work and in the future for fuel during a hike or training/race run.
I am looking forward to playing with these and having fun with them and as a vegan.
http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/

http://www.veganlunchbox.com/loaf_studio.html

Noodles Beautiful Noodles

Now as a vegetarian athlete I read labels and when I find egg and dairy free noodles I load up and I have found a few great products. Some of my favorites are Asian products and I have been using them in Asian inspired dishes and they serve a great purpose as meal for athletic efforts.
I have been playing with many different grains and have found noodles made with a variety of grains and they all have great qualities and taste.

Tortilla Chips may be vegan but....

I found myself slipping into vegan snacks this weekend and away from the good stuff. The results was stiff joints and a painful tight back. need to be aware of the content of what I am eating beyond the animal products.
I bought 2 books on raw food and food prep and will dig into them and get busy with the raw diet a couple of days a week. There are some really good looking meals available in the raw books. I have experimented with a few things I got of the net and now have 5 books to work with at home and then I will make notes for things that work for me, and don't.
I am also soaking some seeds for homegrown sprouts for foods and smoothies. Grow long enough I get the salad greens loaded with great stuff and if eat as soon as the pop I get many other powerful benefits. This will be fun.

DAIRY No More - Must Stop the Cow

The more I read on vegan diet and look at my life and career in athletics.
I realize that I survived dairy but may have thrived with a different diet in those days.
I can't go back but I can go forward and do better for myself and work to reduce the impact of dairy on the world.
Enemy #1 is the dairy council and all of the Milk Mustaches and Got Milk brainwashing.

Now looking for anyone that has peer reviewed studies of the null or negative impact of dairy in the human diet.
Please send any links of info that could build a basis for promoting the end of dairy and promotion of dairy for calcium, health and God forbid--- Weight Loss.

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ME.... A Vegetarian ??

Now that I am a few weeks into the Vegan life I am thinking about the fact that I am now Vegan. It seemed OK to remove dairy products 2 years ago. At that time it it seemed a medical decision since pain and inflammation were ruining my life.
Now that it is a general health decision for a happy future and hopefully a successful running future. Success is defined as completing a few events and having fun in the process and aftermath.
I look back to my past as a football player and after that in my early running and racing life and the way I lived and ate then. First I used to drink beer, whiskey and tons of sugar soda. Then my basic diet was a huge amount of milk (2-4 gallons a day), eggs by the carton, meat in large quantities and multiple full meals to maintain a desired body weight with all of the workouts and stresses. The memory of that eating causes at least a small challenge in my attempt to go in this direction.
The first steps were successful in re-setting my diet thermostat to a smaller amount of different food. I eat several times a day and eat smaller amounts at these meals. The impact in the last few months has been positive as I have adapted my style and even dropped a few pounds.
I am looking forward to the fun in this adventure and the benefit to my body and life as I do this switch.

Weekend Vegan Efforts

As this busy weekend is coming to a close I realize that the new vegan diet can be successful.
Made a great rice/ wild rice dish with red lentils and a veggie rich Miso soup. Very delicious and energizing.
About a month into the vegan way of eating and it gets easier with each trip to the store.
Hoping for more foods that have no animal products to be labelled vegan but for now doing a lot of reading and memorizing the ones that work.
Workouts continue to go well and the soreness from the changing exercise has abated but will return in a few weeks when I change it up and shock the muscles. Feeling good and hope to see an improvement in the weight at the end of the month.

Sneaky Eggs and Dairy

During the 2 years I switched from dairy I found lots of sneaky dairy in many foods. Usually with research and reading but occassionally from friends or articles.
Whey powder in many products, casein in soy cheese and milk powder in many items.
Now looking for those but also some "acceptable " items during the last 2 years had eggs and now I am doing more digging.
It is a fun and informative time as I learn more about food and how it is made and what it does for me. I am leaning toward a significant portion of my diet being raw then the processing is no longer a concern.

New Vegan and Lifelong Athlete

As I start tisnew lifestyle I wonder how it will impact my active life.
Will my health improve? It has been 2 years without dairy and the reduction in inflamation and associated pain has been spectacular.
I look forward to similar improvements. I have seen a few changes in the few weeks I have been vegan. I have also not had a difficult time of it at the start. Planning and Prepping while contemplating the switch has made a huge difference.
I have also changed my workout plan and regimen and am interested in seeing the results on a monthly basis. I have started with a weight that I do not like so that is a key target. I will take "before" photos and a set of body measurments and ee what happens.
I Look forward to the fun and challenge.