Try new things

Since I flirted with veganism, I have been more willing to step out of my comfort zone and try foods that looks or sounds kinda freaky. When I was at blue nile they had steamed vegan collard greens. Collard greens are one of the healthiest greens for you and I have been curious about them. So I dove in and ordered them. The verdict: delicious! I would definitely order them again. Maybe one day I will even be brave enough to try making some myself. Also at blue nile they have a small raw menu and they have a sandwich on it that consists of raw onion bread, tomatoes, avacodo and sprouts. When I saw it I was thinking man that sounds like one healthy meal so I ordered it. It was pretty good, however, the onion did get to me about halfway into the sandwich. I was glad that I ventered out and tried something new. Veganism opens up the mind and I like that. I am thinking I will try to be strict vegan after thanksgiving for a few weeks. We shall see!

Seeing double...chin

Since it is Halloween I thought I would post this scary picture. Do you ever have a picture that you see and you can't believe that you look like the image in the picture? Well this picture made me want to hide in my house and never come out. I have a double chin...Yikes, how did this happen? On a positive note my mom and sis do look rather cute. This picture made me decide it is time to kick up my workout and try to get rid of this double chin before the holidays. I am going back to bootcamp starting tomorrow and I hope it will do the trick. I have also gone back to the daily green smoothie for breakfast. Happy Halloween!

Going Bananas

Sorry that I have been MIA for a while. Here is the thing, the last few weeks I haven't been eating as well as I should have. I wasn't doing anything too crazy, but I wasn't getting in my fruits and veggies like I needed. Then this week came and I had a new rush of motivation to get back to healthy regiment. I went out and bought some greens so I could make my green smoothies for breakfast and I bought some other veggies and fruit to snack on. It feels good to be back. Next step was to find some new yummy recipes to try so I browsed over fat free vegan ( my new favorite site) and I stumbled upon a few recipes I am going to try this week. This morning I made the banana french toast recipe from the site and it was so yummy! It tasted like banana bread, yummers! Bananas make everything so good. And to my surprise Josh was willing to give the vegan french toast a try and he really liked it too. He topped his off with maple syrup and I went for a less sugary route and put a little almond butter and strawberries on mine. The next recipe I am going to try from fat free vegan is the pesto pasta salad. I am in total L-O-V-E with pesto but it is so high in fat because of the oil content. Well the recipe on fat free vegan uses silken tofu instead of oil, which means a lot less fat and more protein. That's what you call a win, win situation. I will let you know how it goes. So here is my thought for the day: if you are lacking motivation, find a new yuumy recipe that inspires you to eat some good veggies. I know its such a deep thought...ok well I need to make my grocery list and hit up whole foods with my mom and sis. I will try to do better at updates and not wait a month to blog.

Sandwich

When Reins and I started eating vegan I had this dreaded thought that I would never be able to eat a sandwich ever again ( besides PB and J). I mean the whole basis of the sandwich is meat and cheese, so I figured vegans had no hope for partaking in a delicious sandwich...but I was proved wrong. It was hot and sunny Friday afternoon when Reins, mom and I went to Pomegranate cafe and what we discovered that day would change our lives forever. First off, they had a mini bagel sandwich that was vegan and so scrumptious; it had hummus. basil pesto ( anything with pest is divine!) avocado, cucumber and lettuce. Not only was this probably the healthiest sandwich I had ever eaten, but it was one of the yummiest too. Thank you Pomegranate cafe for making me realize that yummy vegan sandwiches can be done. But there was something at Pomegranate cafe that was even better than the sandwich...they had raw vegan chocolate cheesecake. OMG its true! It was so creamy and delightful. Pomegranate cafe has now made the list of our favorite dining joints and I recommend checking it out. It is far, but worth the trip.

Easy Homeade Vegan Ice Cream

As you probably guessed from the post title, my sugar strike is over. It only lasted 2 weeks. What can I say, when the weekend rolls around I start thinking about sweets. Everyone deserves a litttle something sweet on the weekend, right? Maybe I could have stuck with it longer if more people would have joined in the strike ( Olivia)! So Sunday Josh and I made some homeade vegan icecream that was totally delicious, you wouldnt even know it was dairy free ( Josh loved it too) My mom is the one that told us about the recipe so I have to say Thanks to her. Give the recipe a try:

Vanilla Vegan Ice Cream

64 oz of Mocha Mix ( you can find this in the milk section next to the coffee creamer)
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbs vanilla

Its simple and delicious, but definitely not healthy. Speaking of healthy I tried that diet my nutritionist told me to do and didn't get any results. I am so fed up with trying to eat well and exercising and still not getting any results. It is the worst! But I am proud of myself for being healthy and so I am going to stick with veganism/vegetarianism.

Sugar Strike!!!

Have you ever had one of those weekends where you totally binge out on junk food? Yes that was me this weekend. And after its all said and done you just feel crappy. I do believe sugar is evil. A while back Reins and I went a month without sweets and it felt good. So I am inviting anyone who wants to join me on a sugar strike! I am going to start tomorrow and the goal is to see how long I can say no to sweets. I am hoping to make it a month at least....maybe longer. Its time to say hello to fruit for dessert and goodbye to chocolate. SO come on and join in on the strike. If you do decide to join I would love to hear your comments on your progress. Good luck!

New Status

Yes I have been on hiatus, its summer and I rarley take time to hang on the computer. But I decided it was time to tell the world that I am transitioning from being vegan to becoming vegetarian. Its true. I went to a nutritionist because I have had issues loosing weight ( regardless of hours at the gym and healthy eating) and she looked at my food log and said I needed to add more protein to my meals. So I am adding nuts into my daily regime and I plan on eating some occasional organic string cheese and organic plain greek yogurt to my menu. She also recommend adding free range eggs to my diet when I do become pregnant. So I plan on eating vegan most of the time still, I am still using dairy alternatives instead of milk and I have been adding tofu to my diet. I feel so grown up when I eat it. I was nervous at first, but the truth is, it can be really good. Reins and I have transitioned out of eating fake meat ( we indulge ourselves maybe once a week) and I plan on making some tempah dishes this week and some seitan dishes as well. Reins is keeping up with being full fledge vegan. I am so proud of her! I still believe it is such a healthy way to eat and I am sad that I will no longer be able to say I'm vegan, however,I did have some string cheese today and it was delightful. I will let you know if this new plan helps me loose some pounds.

summer vegan, had me a blast!

So what's new:

1. I am in complete total love with my vitamix ( I better be for how expansive those things are). I seriously use it 2 times a day at least. In addition to my green protein smoothie that I make for breakfast, I usually make a real fruit sorbet everyday for dessert. You just throw in some frozen fruit, soy milk, ice and a little juice and you get a yummy refreshing summertime treat! Loves it! If you want to get a little naughty you can throw in some unsweetened cocoa powder, stevia extract, soy milk and ice and it taste like a milk shake ( and the best part is there is no guilt). I have also made some 100 % fresh fruit syrup which was yummy. Just a little advice, don't use the vitamix to make your mashed potatoes. I tried that yesterday and it made the potatoes so starchy because of how much it got mixed. Hey I am learning as I go.

2. I was able to check out a vegan restaurant called Beets when I was in Austin and it was Amazing! It was not only vegan but Raw. I got pizza and a caesar salad and it was totally scrumptious, seriously I think it is the best vegan meal I have so far. I went there with my sister in laws and 2 of my nephews. My nephews ordered some raw chocolate almond milk and when they took a sip they totally winced. I think its safe to say they weren't big fans. They did like their food though and I was able to steal their choc milk so I scored on that deal.

3. I am curious if I will be able to do the vegan diet when I get pregnant. I have done lots of research that is for it and other research that is against it. So when I do get preggo I am hoping to hit up a nutritionist and see what they say.

Enjoy all the yummy summer fruit and goodbye for now!

-Elisha

Watch Out...

because eating chips and salsa for dinner every night can make you fat ( who knew). Yes my friends I have managed to gain 4 pounds in 2 weeks. So why can't I ever manage to even loose 2 pounds in 2 weeks, not fair.

This could be the beginning of a wonderful friendship

I have been making myself green smoothies for breakfast lately. My blender has done a pretty good job, but I use it almost everyday and sometimes twice a day and I think my blender is wanting a break. I have been dreaming of buying a vitamix. Unfortunately they are seriously expensive. I did manage to earn a few extra bucks coaching youth football so I think I am going to indulge and buy myself this wonderful machine. I am reading a book about green smoothies and they flat out say they reccommend a vitamix. I mean my life will be so much more fulfilled so I guess I just have to do. Right now its at costco for 50 bucks off and I plan on strolling up there on Saturday to buy my new best friend. I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Smoothies and summer time go hand in hand.

-Elisha

MIA because...

I haven't posted for a while and if you read my regular blog than you know why. I have currently been plagued with total junk food cravings. The good news is I am still managing to get in my daily greens and fruits with my morning smoothie. The bad news, I have chips and salsa daily. It has become my vice. Being vegan I feel that I should be eating healthy and responsibly all of the time, but lately I have failed. Its time to post the hard facts, even though I am vegan I still have a fat personality. I think about and want junk sometimes. However, I have experienced some relief by becoming vegan. At least I know if I am eating chips and salsa for dinner that I already had some veggies and fruit. Nobody is perfect. I hope on day to become a total health freak, but for now I am going to settle and sit on the couch watching my favorite shows while dining on a some Tostidos chips and salsa.
-Elisha

BLOG

Yes, I am still vegan and loving it! The reality of the situation is that it is hard to come up with good blog topics, especially in this economy. Thanks for your understanding. Stay tuned... REINS

Black beans Suprise

Some weeks you find yourself having a major sweet tooth. To my dismay I had one of those weeks last week. I couldn't get chocolate off my mind, so I settled on a more natural sweets...

I was searching for a more wholesome treat when i stumbled upon black bean brownies. You heard me right. I went for it and I actually like them :) I wouldn't recommend bringing them to a party, but I would definitely make them again ( don't knock it till you try it). I added some vegan choc chips to my recipe to give it even more chocolate and I think that helped them taste better. You can find the recipe at

http://www.greenereating.com/. I have fallen head over heels for this site because it has tons and tons of vegan recipes. Being vegan has really brought out my adventurous side!

-Elisha

FYI for Az Vegans

If you are a novice vegan living in az, there is a helpful site that I recommend checking out: http://azvegan.com/. This site has a list of local restaurants and it tells what vegan food they offer. This weekend I went to Chipolte after discovering that there vegetarian burrito is vegan as long as you omit the cheese. Oh my, it was delightful. Maybe not the healthiest thing I have had lately, but my taste buds were pretty happy about it. Speaking of un healthy foods, Reins and I have discovered the yumminess of Cherry Brook sweets http://www.cherrybrookkitchen.com/ not only are they vegan but they are also gluten free. We made their chocolate cake this weekend on our girls day and it the cake left us totally satisfied. Thanks Cherry Brook!
-Elisha

"Ice Cream"

If you are in the mood for something cold and sweet, nothing beats "ice cream". I have to say that I do miss the dairy version of ice cream. But if you are going to indulge this is my advice

Rice Dream is lame! Seriously just skip it. I was so bummed out by it.

Do go ahead and buy yourself some Purley Decadent Mocha Ice cream. This one was totally yummy. And just a little tip, ice cream always taste better when you dish it up in a pretty glass and drizzle some coco sauce on top.

-Elisha

First timer

How do you celebrate your first official weekend back to eating sweets.... You try the red velvet cupcake from Sprinkles. It was our fist taste and it was delightful. How great that they decorate the cupcake with V for Vegan!

I just couldn't help myself...yum cream cheese frosting

I made my first vegan recipe this last week! Yes I have to say I am quite proud of myself, I really need to step it up and cook some recipes more often. I tried 2 recipes this week...

The first recipe was the Ceaser Salad from teh Kind Diet. It had quite a zing to it, I might lessen the garlic. However, I did enjoy the salad and felt so proud that I managed to eat 12 ounces of greens in one sitting. Unfortunealty it left me with worse garlic breath than the pitta jungle hummus. Its was serious business. So lock yourself up for day after you eat the salad, otherwise you may loose all your friends. Don't say I didn't warn you
Recipe 2 came from Ruthann. It was simple and quite good and it was my first time using tofu. On a happy note one serving packed in over 15 grams of protein. But the bad side is each serving was about 500 calories, which is a little over kill for me.

Here is a picture of the finished product: Cold Sesame pasta salad.

My goal for this week: introduce myself to the green smoothie. Not really sure how it will taste, but I do know I still need to amp up my greens intake. One green smoothie can pack in 2-4 cups of greens. I'll let you know how it turns out!

-Elisha

Hello Dessert!

About this time tomorrow Reins, mom and I will be feasting at Green. whats even better than that news? The fact that this time we will be able to indulge in a tsoynamis. Yes my friends, its been one month with out our delicious treat and this renion is going to be so sweet. Unfortunatly Reins and I only survived 3 weeks without giving in to sweets, but hey we figured thats close enough! Tomorrow is going be a fablulous day!
-Elisha

A Time to Give Thanks

I would like to dedicate this post to my friend Lo! The reason being is that I will be referencing one of her beloved singer/songwriters Alanis Morrisette!! Lo be loving some Alanis! This post is basically a little opportunity to give thanks to all my homies who have supported me being vegan! I would NOT like this post to be in any way similar to Alanis morrisette's song "Thank U" circa 1998! Nice as it was for Alanis to say thanks,that song was the worst! It made my ears bleed so... Ok thank you's bring it! I am lucky in my life to have such great friends! Honestly to all my pals, thanks for your positivity and encouragement! I really enjoy being vegan! My sister and I are having a nice time and feel great! I even really appreciated my green salad two days in a row! It is a rare thing that I did not have to force feed myself those leafy greens! A life change is happening! No, not menapause. Come on, I am only twenty eight. - Reina

Simple yet Delicious

I have yet to mature and start making some recipes. The good news is there have been some vegan meals that are totally simple yet quite delicious....

Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Hot cereal has a cream of wheat texture and it also packs in lots of nutrition ( unlike cream of wheat)....

Add some SO Delicious Coconut Milk ( this milk is sweet and creamy and definitely the best dairy alternative I have found. It doesn't have the funky after taste that soy milk does)....
Then sprinkle it with some berries and you've got yourself a yummy and feeling breakfast. This has been one of my staples since being vegan

Josh was kind enough to make us dinner this week ( this is only the second time we have eating dinner together since I turned wholesome) he sauteed some asparagus and some onions with olive oil and seasoning and they were some of the yummiest veggies I have experienced. I even ate up all of the rings of onions he made ( that is new for me, i used to run the other directions whenever onions were present). We topped of the veggies with a brown rice blend. Just some advice for veggie lovers check out the superstition market on Higley and Main, it may change your life forever! They have herbs for 25 cents and bell peppers for 15 cents sometimes and much much more.

Here is me with my veggie vegan pizza from whole foods. My face looks hungry like a wolf...Speaking of wolves reins and I concluded that finding fellow vegans is just darn amazing! When you find out someone is vegan you have this automatic bond and connection, friend at first sight kind of thing. I know what you are thinking, " what does that have to do with wolves?" Let me tell you. Reins and I are team Jacob ( twilight reference), we have been ever since we read New Moon years ago. When we go to twilight events/movies and see other Team Jacobs it is like we have stumbled across gold! When you see a Team Jacob you just know that they are a good time and have to have some personality because well, Jacob is lots of fun. Now we have the same feelings toward fellow vegans. If you are vegan than you have an understanding of why the heck we eat they way we eat and no explanation is needed. So to you all you fellow vegans and team Jacob's, Hollah!

I HEART Whole Foods!

Since the beginning of our vegan journey Whole Foods has had a special place in our hearts. They have every product you could ever need as a vegan. However, last Friday I made a discovery that made me fall completely head over heels for Whole Foods! Josh was kind enough to go shopping with me as part of our date night. We hit the whole foods in Chandler. They have a smoke house in one section where they smoke meatloaf and hot dogs and other goodies which Josh was checking out. And so I decided to check out their deli/pizza food area and what I discovered was beautiful! Whole foods makes fresh vegan meals to order which include pizza, burritos, salads and sandwiches. I could actually order food from somewhere besides Green and Pita Jungle! SO I ordered myself a few slices of vegan cheese/veggie pizza and we picked up Hungry Howies for Josh on our way home. We sat eating our pizzas and watching a movie and it was fabulous. Now Josh and I can hit up whole foods for date night and he can order from the smokehouse and I can order from the deli. Thank you whole foods for making delicious vegan fare, I truly love you for it!

xoxo,

Elisha

P.S. to our dissapointment we found out that the whole foods in Tempe does not have the smokehouse or the vegan pizza's and burritoes

Tsoynami Break

Ok ladies Elisha and I did it! We went to green this weekend and did not get Tsoynamis! It was different for sure. I NEVER see people walk out of that place without delving head first into a Tsoynami of their choice. It was nice to be back at Green. Elisha and I have not been for a few weeks,and I missed it dearly!! My meal was so delicious as well! Do not get me wrong, I am not giving up Tsoynamis forever. I am not that strong. We are jut taking a month long break...not a full on break up. I still have very Strong feelings for the Tsoynami. I just need a little time to think about things and get my priorities straight. -REINA

Easter...Our First Holiday as Vegans

Eater will be a little different this year. Last year we made homemade easter chocolates, died eggs and dined on ham. This year we are letting the pigs be safe ( no ham for us) and giving the chickens a day off from laying eggs. Though I do have to say I will miss me some deviled eggs- those things are so scrumptious. But the truth--no matter how cheesy it sounds--is that when I see pictures of bunnies and chickens I feel good inside to know that I will no longer cause harm to them. I have no judgement for those of you who will be feasting on animals this weekend, I am just saying that the vegan diet does give you a sense of peace. To further complicate Easter Reins and I are off sweets :( however, we have never gone a holiday without a treat so we will see how this pans out....Reins and I are trying to come up with a recipe to make for our Easter feast, but no ideas yet. Where is Alicia Silverstone when you need her? Happy Easter to you all!

(animals love us so much that they let us dress them up in doll clothes and take pictures. Jut one of the perks of being vegan) Have a Happy Easter!

-Elisha

Recipes are hard

I have something to admit. I feel as though I should simply get this off my chest. I had posted previously that Elisha and myself were going to make one of Silverstones recipes. Well in all reality that was the goal. We went to Whole foods with the "The Kind Diet" in hand. First of all, we are such novices at the vegan grocery items. It takes us a long time to locate the foods we desire. Honestly I did not know half the items needed in the recipe. We had to ask a Whole Foods expert his advice. Eventually with some hard work and determination we got what was needed and checked out. By the time we were driving home, the fire was no longer lit under us. Elisha and I discussed how we were too hungry to make a new recipe from scratch. I wish I could tell you we made a delicious dish. Nope,too lazy. We decided to try for this coming weekend...stay tuned. This blog has more cliffhangers and drama than the "Hills". - Reins

And the Academy Award goes to...

So there are a few people/things I would like to thank for helping me stay on this vegan journey

1. Trader Joes- you have made being vegan a lot lighter on the wallet. Even though you don't carry as many items as whole foods or sprouts, the items you do have cost far less and I love you for it!

2. Pita Jungle and Green- you make going out to eat easy for me since so many other restaurants have no options for me

3. Morning star "chicken"- you are delicious to the taste and you are packed with protein just like the real deal

4. Alicia Silverstone- your book and blog are inspiring to me

5. The China Study- this is the book that has made me decide to stick with veganism ( at least for now). If you are contemplating going vegan I recommend this book. If you think going vegan is just plain crazy that is ok too. After reading this book I think that being vegan is the healthiest choice for me. However, I don't plan on being a die hard. There may come a day when I just need some cheese pizza or frozen yogurt and I will have to give in to the urge. But the other 98% of the time I will eat vegan. So I guess I am 98% vegan.

6. The fans- thanks for all the supportive comments on the blog. It is always nice to feel supported when doing anything in life

7. Reins- she is the person that got me started on this healthy kick and she is a die hard 100% vegan- you go girl! Without her I don't know how long I would stick through this, but having each other makes it so much easier. We used to be the type that would get together and just love to eat junk food ( yes we still love junk food) but now we get together and come with healthy meals to make or try. We won't be giving up our tsoynamis, I mean come on nobody is perfect.

8. Fruit Leather- you have helped me survive no sweets for my first week. And can I just say i missed treats on the weekend, however, I ate less than usual on the weekend and was very proud of Reins and I for sticking it out. We thought about making chocolate covered strawberries but we stayed strong.

So the winner of the vegan support academy award goes to Reins! I love our moments together!

-Elisha

The Joker continues

My sister told a little story to me. I will now tell you. I guess it is pay it forward story style. It goes a little something like this... Elisha was at our parents house on Friday afternoon. She was waiting for me to arrive. Joker and Elisha started having a little conversation about her last day of veganism. Joker said a little something like this "Are you glad it is over? I wish Reina would be done with it." Elisha asked Joker why. "Well I just want her to eat fish or something." I guess Joker is not getting over this fish thing. I imagine if a genie granted Joker three wishes, me eating fish would be one of them! I will not be eating fish any time soon. Sorry Joker. You have to move on. On a vegan note, My sister and I are going to be trying some new recipes from Silverstones book this weekend! I am personally not much of a cook. Should I be wearing a hair net in the kitchen? - Reina

Fruit is my Candy

Going on day 3 of no sweets, which isn't hard for me during the weekdays but I think it will be a challenge once the weekend hits. The good news is I am a fruit lover! SO anytime I feel my sweet tooth kicking in I munch on a piece of fruit, or better yet, I make a soy milk fruit smoothie--Yums! If you are interested in a refreshing treat just blend up a cup of vanilla soy milk with frozen fruit and it is delicious. I mean its no Jamba Juice but they add frozen yogurt and sherbet to their smoothies so....Also I have been getting in my daily salad this week so hopefully my health is increasing as a write this. I guess Pop Eye the sailor man was right about the power of spinach!

-Elisha

Being Vegan Can Transform You!

I feel that being vegan for the last month has opened my eyes to a few things. For one, it has made both Reins and I become a little more natural. I don't mean that we don't wear make up and gave up showering. What I mean by natural is that we prefer to use items that aren't infested with chemicals. Here is a list of the few natural items I have switched over to:

1. Shampoo and Conditioner ( which I purchased at the local sprouts)

2. Deodorant- I bought some deodorant that is made with natural oils and goats milk at the Farmers market on main st

3. Toothpaste- Trader Joes has their own line of natural toothpaste that is cheap and is fluoride free

In addition to becoming more natural, Reins and I have decided to take the diet to the next level. Drum roll please....We are giving up sweets for 4 weeks! This is going to be really hard on us because that means no more tsoynamis on the weekend :( but it will be great for the body. Sugar is the devil and I am such a sugar addict so this is going to be harder than doing vegan for me. By the way I am no longer vegan since Saturday, I have begun life as a flexatarian. Saturday I had some ice cream and a chicken sandwich from chick fila and Sunday morning I woke up with a burning stomach ache, I think it was the ice cream and other junk that caused the acid stomach, yuck. Today I am back on eating healthy and today is also day one of no sweets. Oh chocolate how I will miss you! Luckily I have some fruit leather to get me through the cravings.

-Elisha

Sister Sister

Do not let this blog title fool you ladies. This post is not about that 1990s Disney sitcom starring Tia and Tamara. I would like to take this opportunity to discuss my sister Elisha. We are bff forever and do not need the necklaces to prove it. We have had a great time together on this vegan journey! She was a bit skeptical when I first told her I was going to try the vegan way. I am glad she decided to try it out with me. Who else is going to discuss the Tsoynami menu with such excitement as if it was the newest installment of a vampire book series. Speaking of vampire books. Yeah I have seen the Eclipse trailer and am feeling great about it. I am not afraid to say Team Jacob. Using the word "team" may be overdone,but in this case it is a must so... Back to my sister, I know her vegan full throttle is coming to an end. However she is still all about doing Green Saturdays with me since I will be continuing vegan circa 2010. We are actually getting matching tattoos that say "Veganaise changed my life". It is very sweet and a beautiful memory that we can keep with us. SIDE NOTE: The tattoo is a joke mom. I do not want you to panic and start saying" ever since this vegan thing you have wanted to get all inked out" . Rest easy momma -Reina

Food Controversy

So lately I have been reading up on nutrition and watching some documentaries about it too ( Thanks to netflix for all of the watch now documentaries!) and I have concluded that what is "healthy" is controversial. For instance, there are plenty of studies done that prove low fat dairy promotes weight loss. However, most of these studies are backed by the Dairy industry, so who knows if they can be trusted? Then there are studies that have been done that actually link drinking milk to osteoporosis. Meat is one of the only foods that has vitamin B12 and that is a complete protein ( means it contains all nine essential amino acids). Vegans have to eat select food and food combinations to ensure they attain all the amino acids. So that seems like an argument for eating meat. On the other hand, there have been studies done that show people with cancer and other diseases have been cured following a vegan diet that is full of fresh fruits and veggies. Everything seems so contradicting. If I had the funds I would back to school and study nutrition for fun and knowledge. So this is what I have to say about the matter. If you want to eat meat, then eat it. If you want to be vegan more power to you. Reins and I have noticed there are a lot of negative attitudes towards veganism and the thing is most vegans stop eating animal products because they love animals and care about the environment. Vegans are caring, what is the problem with that? Lay off people. Go Vegans! Cheers to you Reins for living the kind life.

-Elisha

Mystery Solved

I guess if I was not a dental assistant I could possibly be a detective. Let me explain... A few posts ago I discussed the matter of our Green restaurant neighbors partaking of a Tsoynami that I could not take my eyes off of. I was so curious and really wanted to know the Tsoynami flavor. Yeah curiosity killed the cat,but I am human so it's fine. Not that I do not feel bad for the cat. I am vegan. Animals like me,and even sometimes tell me their secrets. It is nice. OK back to my detective work,so I have been studying the Tsoynami menu for possible clues to this mystery. In my mind the obvious choice was the Eclair flavor. It seemed to have the right ingredients to what I was searching for. I knew if I figured this out, my life would somehow be complete. Elisha and I went to Green on Monday. I had discussed with her that I felt in my heart I needed to get the Eclair flavor. Elisha and I ended up splitting the Eclair Tsoynami and it was indeed the "one". It was exactly what I saw the neighbors eating a week ago. Mystery solved. I feel great about it!The grass seems greener,the flowers smell better,I can run faster and jump higher. -REINS

Final Week

So we have made it to the end of our month long vegan diet. Friday is our last official day. Reins is going to stay vegan for life, she has become a convert. I am doing a flexatarian diet ( which means I limit my dairy and meat to once or twice a week). So the good news is that we will be continuing the blog, hope your not sick of us yet. I have been reading this diet/health book called Eat to Live and I really enjoyed it. I am going to try to stick with the diet recommendations from that book. Which means I need to fill up on fruits and veggies all day long, I can have grains/starches at one meal a day, one serving of nuts a day( preferably raw) and aim for one cup of beans a day. You can have dairy twice a week and meat once a week. So my goal is to follow that routine. Which means I plan on eating myself some salad every day this week in additions to lots of other veggies. By the way Green has a bbq/ranch salad that I loved. Thank you for vegan ranch--yummy! And a shout out to Amy for introducing me to the Eat to Live diet, you look amazing! I used to live to eat but I am trying to turn that around and eat to live. Hope that I can fall in love in with salad just like Romeo and Juliet fell in love with each other. Except instead of love at first sight, I am hoping for love at first bite!

-Elisha

If your vegan than your weird

Last night Josh and I were talking about where to got eat on our date for tonight. ( Our Friday night dates always consist of the same formula of going out to eat, going to the mall or something like that to walk around and then coming home to watch a movie or play video games. Its only been four years and we are already so boring) We were discussing our options and I was asking Josh what he felt like eating and he went off about how he wanted chicken wings and he was over this vegan thing. He thinks its weird how much time I spend planning my meals and trying to be healthy. He hates that I have to ask the waiters questions about ingredients in the food I order and he doesnt like how much healthy food costs. He has been so supportive up until this point and I suprised by his little outburst. Well here is what I have to say about it: eating healthy does cost more and takes more time and planning but its something I really want to stick with. And even though I only have one vegan week left, I am still going to be limiting my dairy and meat. The conclusion: I am weird!

Elisha

This might be a message of hope and love

The time has come... PMS and cravings have arrived. I worried about how it would all go down with the vegan/PMS combo. Well I took a trip to SPROUTS and got some vegan chocolate chips. They taste really good as a matter of fact. I almost got some Ginger snaps that are vegan friendly,but decided against it because I knew my hand would be in that bag constantly. Just writing about the ginger snaps has made me gain a few pounds. Great. Anyways I have been using the vegan chocolate chips for dipping strawberries. The past few nights have been magical with those chocolate dipped strawberries. I will miss them when the time ends. Sometimes when you love something you have to let it go. The love will flourish if it is meant to be. I love you chocolate strawberries. I hope to meet again next month. - Reina

Did someone Fart?

Yesterday when Johsy came home from work he walked in the house and when he came to greet me the first thing he said, " Have you been farting a lot, it smells in here?" ( Sometimes he can be so sweet) And the answer to his question is NO. It just so happens I had been eating cilantro hummus...and as I've previuosly stated in other posts hummus has a stench. Eating healthy yet fragrant foods is all part of the glamorous vegan life. Onions, garlic, hummus are all part of my routine. So I warn you next time you see me you may need to keep your distance from me.

-Elisha

The observation of a Mom

Tonight my mom and I were making dinner. I had just boiled some wheat organic noodles and was draining them over the sink. That is when the debacle of March 9, 2010 6:30 p.m. happened. Half of the noodles fell into the sink. This annoyed me and the phrase "son of a b" came out of my mouth. Yeah I used foul language. Sometimes in the line of duty it happens. I am not saying it is a good choice. My moms reaction to me was the best! This was her reply to my less than honorable language, "Reina ever since you decided to go vegan you have been using more swear words." I of course just started laughing and telling her that was the greatest thing . I reiterated that I am just the same as always. Most of the time I use good nice words,sometimes bad ones. I expressed to her that I must blog about this. She said "At least I gave you some material." Yes she did. -Reina

It takes a while to get there

Reins and I are on week three of our journey. Positive changes I have noticed are: my appetite is slightly decreasing and my cravings for junk food occur less often. I still have a lot of growing up to do as a vegan though. I am working on increasing my veggie intake and hopefully I will get to the point where I am consuming as much greens as a cow does, but it will take some time. I still haven't figured out a daily routine that gets me my protein needs. I did start incorporating a protein shake that I have in place of dinner, but even with that I was short a few grams of protein yesterday. However, I feel like by the time the month is up I will finally have this diet down. My goal next week is to eat a big salad every day (I am becoming so responsible) . I have concluded that I haven't lost any weight is because I need more veggies and less whole grains and starchy veggies ( sweet potatoes are my fave). Once our month is up, I plan on being a flexatarian-I will eat meat and animal products a few times a week but not regularly. Reins and I both have total food brains, we think about food all the time. For example, when February came around I kept thinking about chocolates because I love myself a box of chocolates for valentines. Now my food brain is thinking about how to incorporate veggies and protein. I like the change of gears. Yes we still think about junk food too, but mostly just about tsoynamis from Green ( what flavor am I going to try this week...). any way if you have made it through all my rambling, my point is a change this big takes some time and effort, but I am confident I will get the results I want. Till next time.

-Elisha

No,I am not staring at you,just the food on your plate

I am not going to lie, I love looking at the food on peoples plates when dining at a restaurant. I like to visually see what food looks good. I really enjoy plate stalking at Green, because there are so many endless vegan options there. I can not help myself. While waiting in line to order, I will look at your food. That is just how I live my life. This weekend my sister and I were once again at Green. We actually went twice on Saturday,but that is really nobodies business. Anyway while eating our food,Elisha and I noticed our table neighbors Tsoynomi. It looked very delicious and nicely decorated with soy whip on top. I had the urge to ask the kind neighbors what flavor it was. I mean it really is a compliment,but instead of saying "I like your blouse" you are saying "I like your food". It is a win/win situation. I feel great about solving the mystery,and they feel great because they order food choices that intrigue others. The reality is I did not end up asking them about the Tsoynami,and I am still wondering about what flavor it was to this day. I guess you can put it on my list of regrets. There is a saying that life is too short to have regrets. OOPS! - Reina

Salad Envy

Yes this is another post about salad, but give it a chance. So Friday night Josh and I went out to eat at on the border. They have a salad that I could eat that sounded yummy; it had a fat free mango citrus vinaigrette dressing. I have not been into eating salad lately and was looking forward to having a new yummy meal with healthy greens. Plus, I got to enjoy chips and salsa and some fresh guacamole. Josh ordered a chicken taco salad, which looked delicious! Our meals came and I was ready to dig in. I had so much anticipation and excitement for my salad. I put a bite in my mouth and experienced total disappointment. The dressing on the salad reminded me of Fat free Italian dressing. I overdosed on fat free Italian dressing while doing weight watchers. It has no points, so I used it on ever thing and to this day I can't stand the way it tastes. Yuck! However, I spent 10 bucks on this salad so I tried a few more bites, but I just couldn't handle it. As I watched josh eat his salad filled with creamy ranch dressing, I felt a little envious. It was the first time on the diet that I really wanted to be able to eat something that I couldn't have. Lucky for me, the chips and guacamole were yummy and made me full. I have got to get this salad thing down. One step at a time, I will get there!

Protein Power!

Debbie downer is gone! I have made up with the vegan diet and we are back to being friends. I was having a stressful moment and I took it out on MR. Vegan, but I apoligized and we decided we would remain together for the next 2 weeks. So as you read yesterday I have been concerned that I am not getting enough protein. So I tried really hard yesterday to eat foods that had protein and I ate 50 grams! I was still a few grams short, but its just good to know that I can do this. I have also decided if I really want to loose the weight than I am going to have to eat less vegan cookies ( bummer). I am going to allow myself one to two treats a week, which is what I did on week one of this diet. This week the vegan cookies were needed because I was having a mood emergency. Just a side note, do not eat cookies before going to bootcamp because you may feel like vomitting every time you do a squat jump or wind sprint. Week 3 is all about being positive, eating protein, getting more salad and saying goodbye to weekday treats!
-Elisha

Sob Story

Warning: This post is just me going on a rant and complaining so you may not have too much fun reading it!

I have been so moody and frustrated this week! For one, I have not lost any weight on this diet yet (oh man) for two I have not been feeling great either. I have had a major headache the last 2 days (not saying the diet is to blame, headaches happen) and my stomach has been crampy throughout the day because I have to poop like 50 times but I refuse to do that at work. Josh has been experience my moodiness and being very sweet to me. Yesterday when I was done with bootcamp, I walked in the door and smelt cookies ( one of the best fragrances ever!). Josh had made me some vegan chocolate chip cookies, which did help me feel better, but won't help me with the whole weight loss thing. So ended up eating 3 cookies and a grapefruit for dinner. I tell myself that it was ok because the cookies were made with whole wheat flour, oatmeal and peaunut butter instead of butter...I need this one, ok. I am beginning to wonder if I am doing this whole thing right because I just dont feel myself lately. I am having difficulty getting to sleep which has never really happened to me before. So I am wonndering if my body isnt getting engough nutrients. When I read the Skinny Bitch diet they said that people don't really need that much protein so I haven't been worried about it...till this week. So I went back through the book and did the math equation they gave which said I needed a minimum amount of 56 grams a protein a day. I would consider 56 grams a buttload of protein. I dont even think I got that much before I went vegan. So today I have been keeping track of my protein and between breakfast, my snack and lunch I am at 21 grams and I dont think I will be eating 35 grams of protein for dinner. Whats a vegan to do? Josh wants me to give it up, but we are almost half way there and I am no quitter. I will give it some more time, maybe my body is just detoxing, who knows. Heres to hoping next week brings a better mood and a lower number on the scale.

-Elisha

I am not mature quite yet...maybe later

Salad. It should not be complicated at all...unless you are me. I am a girl who likes a salad at restaurants. Yeah that is right,the kind of salad that has more calories than the hamburger. Well with going vegan and all,I have tried to be better about eating vegetables. I wanted to get more involved with healthy salads as well. I thought it would be no big deal. I thought wrong folks. Sunday I was at my parents house and decided to have a nice salad. I wanted it to have lots of greens and such. I topped it off with an organic raspberry dressing. OK now picture this,my first bite reminded me of a child taking cough medicine. I was groaning and saying how yucky it tasted. Honestly I was just trying to get through it as fast as possible. I knew I needed to eat it,but the taste! Oh that awful taste! All those greens shaped like leaves! It still haunts me as I write this. My parents were just watching,and laughing at me while I chomped on the darn salad. Today I decided it was time to try again. I CAN NOT JUST GIVE UP. What does not kill you makes you stronger,and possibly may make you dry heave if it tastes like grass. My salad today consisted of mainly romaine lettuce with bell peppers and cucumbers. Serious greens were in there as well,but not overwhelming. I took the first bite and...it was an absolute success! I was into the salad! I guess the moral of the story is that I am growing up and getting more mature day by day. Also I used the word SALAD a ridiculous amount of times in this post. Try to play a game with it and count how many times I used that word. Yeah that is a dare and not a threat. I am vegan after all. -Reina

The opinion of a Joker

I am going to tell you all a little life experience I had yesterday. There are of course two sides to every story...on this blog you get my side. The experience is as follows- I had just gotten off the phone with my bff Amy. We had a great convo and I was in a lovely mood. There I was sitting on my parents couch minding my own vegan bussiness,when my dad(I CALL HIM JOKER) comes into the room. He just blurts out of nowhere "I think you should just eat a little bit of fish sometimes". I am not sure why he brought it up,but you never know with Joker. I replied "Well I probably will not be doing that. I do not want to eat fish or meat". Joker than brings out the big guns, "That is not what the scriptures say to do". I guess since I am now vegan,it is providing me with a one way ticket straight to Hell. I am just hoping that there will be soy ice cream and pita burritos,maybe even some veganaise waiting for me when I arrive. Truth be told,I have not tried veganaise yet. I just simply like saying the title. Anyways, that is my side of the story and I am sticking to it. Sidenote: most likely being vegan does not send you to outer darkness. Love, Reina

Food Temptation

The upside of veganism is that it has taken away a lot of the food temptation I experience. I always try to be calorie concious and eat well, however, there are moments when I just give in and eat some junk. Over the Holidays I gave in way too many times and it is still haunting me. Moving on. So when josh brought home this huge goey carmel brownie and offered me a bite, I knew it wasnt vegan so I passed. A few days later when he came back from his friends with homeade bbq pizza and talked about how yummy it was and that I could have some I also passed. If its not vegan than I dont do it. It actually makes giving up things easier. There is no thought about how much I want to eat the brownie but I shouldnt because its not healthy but it is so tempting... I know I cant have it and I dont have to worry about the food temptations and it is so freeing. With the vegan diet it is all or nothing. Reins and I have been doing our vgan adventure for one week and so far I have enjoyed it. I weighed myself today and still no progress ( what the Frac) maybe I will have to give up my tsoynami's but I just dont think I can. Hopefully week 2 brings some better results!

No longer a Vegan Treat Virgin

This weekend has some great moments in it. For one, my mom, sister and I devoured a Tsoymani at Green restaurant and it was simply delicious. Its made with soy ice cream and mine had peanut butter, chocolate and vegan oreos. Who says a vegan can have their cake and it it too. Yummy!

I spent 3 and half hours (literally) at whole foods this weekend. Josh was patient enough to go with me friday night and then I went back on saturday with reins and mom. Whats in the bag you ask? I will show you a few items....

Some fake meat. I plan on making some beef and broccoli this week with some wild rice. I think its gonna be good!

Some bars in case I find myself starving and have no other food around. These bars are all natural with no added sugar. They are made from nuts and dried fruit. I will keep some at work so that I dont have to buy chex mix again when I find myself starving.



And the best part--TREATS. I felt it was time to give in and get serious. The cookies (fabes) I got are sweetened with fruit juice instead of sugar. They were a lot less sweet than I was used to, but acutally quite good and moist and they left me satisfied. Ice cream is by far my favorite treat so I got some soy delicous. It was very light and fluffy ice cream and I really liked it. but the tsoynami at Green is definitley the best treat i have had so far. It was a fun weekend of food exploration and I am no longer a a vgan treat virgin. I am officially in the club!

PITA BURRITO

Yeah,I realize the title is very clever since I am writing about the pita burrito. This friday my pal Kelsey and I went on a little friend date. We decided to eat at Pita Jungle. I am a fan of the place,even though our waiter had so much facial hair I clould have lost my appetite. Luckily the losing of the appetite rarely happens for me. PJ has a list of vegan friendly dishes,and so I decided upon the pita burrito. Besides the zztop waiter getting in the way,I was very attracted to the burrito. It did not disappoint. The pita burrito was just as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside. Who said this blog is not deep? Kels and I had a great lunch and felt good about our food picks! It did take forever to get the check though. I thought maybe the waiter was just in the back shaving his intense beard,no such luck. Later that day I went to Sprouts to get some ice cream. I drove to my parents after and started delving into my treat. My nephew J.J. said "Reina is that ice cream?" Why yes J. you want to have a bite?" He gets a spoon and takes a taste,one taste was all he needed. I guess he is not ready to join the vegan ice cream club. I was hoping to get the family to form a vegan cult. Oh well. Saturday Elisha,my mom,and I went to Green. It is our home away from home. I guess you can compare it to the Peach pit for Brandon and Brenda,or The Max for Zack,Kelley,Slater,Lisa,Jesse,and unfortunately Screech. We had a great time once again! I know I said vegan without the dreadlocks,but just after a week of this and my hair is naturally forming the dreads. I also pierced my nose and gaged my ears. I thought I should let you know. -Reins

A few Vegan Sats

This is what I have noticed about going vegan:

On tne negative side-

1. The number of dishes I go through has doubled ( now I actually have to stop being lazy and do the dishes like every day. I know its a hard life)

2. The amount of time I spend in the kitchen preparing my meals has tripled ( but I never spent much time cooking befor, so if you already cook lots than this would not apply to you)

On a positive note-

1. I have doubled the amount of fiber I eat and therefore been poopimg twice as much too ( yes sometimes on this blog we get really personal)

2. I tripled doubled the amount of fruits and veggies I eat

The stat that I really want to hit is to decrease my weight by 10% but there is no knowing if eating vegan will do the trick. Its been 5 days and my weight has not gone down yet. But if I start loosing I will let you know.
-Elisha

Livin La vegan loca

This post title is honoring my mexican heritage. That is right geneology I am doing it, and I am about a 16th mexican! I am a person who likes to be very prepared. For example and proof,I set my clothes out the night before to be ready for the next day. Today I was pondering pms. That is right girls.You have all been there done that, as the saying goes. I was thinking about my new vegan choices and how that is going to change everything when the pms arrives. It could get weird. It is time for me to start preparing myslef. I do not want to be some junky all pasty and sweating going through Reeces and gummy bear withdrawls. That is right, I did say gummy bears. I enjoy the gummy bears,worms,and anything in the gummy genre. This blog is about being honest and open. I am not afraid. Now if I liked Good 'N Plenty then I might have to keep that a secret, anybody would. I guess now when the time comes I will be binging on organic peanut butter. Like I said ,livin la vegan loca. -REINS

Tried and tested

When we first decided to go vegan I was wondering what in the world we were going to eat. But lucky for us it turns out there is lots of stuff you can eat when your vegan ( going out to eat is the tricky part). Here are a few items that I have tried recently and really enjoyed.

Red chille and corn tamales
Mock chicken nuggets ( it may sound scary but it was yummy and a lot healthier than real ones)
10 grain hot cereal ( So yummy with fruit and almond milk)
Almond Milk ( I would still prefer reg milk, but whats a veg to do)

And on Friday Josh and I are going out and we are going to make a stop at whole foods. I plan on spurging and buying myself some vegan ice cream. Even vegans need a yummy treat on the weekend! On the menu for tomorrow is peanut butter whole wheat pasta stir fry. Its been 4 days and I am not skinny yet...I guess I will just have to give it a little more time. Patience is key.
-Elisha

The Bachelor-not vegan

Warning: the following post is based on Reinas opinions and does not reflect the opinions of vegans in general- This post may be a bit serious. Stay strong. Lets have a little heart to heart about the Bachelor. You all know him, Jake the pilot. I realize this is not a vegan food related topic,but here is where it ties in. Jake is as bland as the plain soy milk i used on my cereal. That is not a compliment. Plus he wears that necklace sometimes which makes me kind of nauseated. He is a nice guy,just a boring nice guy.Vienna is a highschool student disguised as a 23 year old. She can bungee jump though. I guess that is all that really matters. Unlike eggs and meat,I just can not quit the Bachelor. I know it is just as harmful to my digestion as dairy. However i keep watching. What is a girl to do? -Reina

the break up

Ok time to open up and get personal folks,as you read this post imagine a sentimental song playing in the background. I envision this enrty like a scene in a movie or tv show when a character is about to reveal something special. Do not be afraid to go there with me. Start scene- I know this type of food choice may not be for everyone. The reason I decided upon it is because in all reality my life would most likely feel better without dairy and eggs. I like both products,but get sick most the time when eating such things. I be loving me some ice cream and dairy queen,however it hates me. So I would like to break up and see if I can find something that treats me better. I need to feel loved and respected. Sorry dairy but you are such an A##hole sometimes!-End scene There it is,a little piece of my mind,heart,and soul. I hope I did not make you shed too many tears. -Reina

Good news: Chex Mix is Vegan!

The whole point of going vegan is to eat lots of fruits and veggies and just be healthy. So for lunch today I brought some butternut squash bisque that is super good for you. Joshy helped me make it yesterday. It turned out pretty yummy. But today I was not feeling it and I couldn't get myself to finish it off ( I did eat about 1 cup full). Unfortunately this left me with a hungry stomach. So I did some research and chex mix is vegan! I ran to the staff lounge to buy a bag out of the vending machine. It saved my life today! Better luck with tomorrow's lunch. I plan on bringing a whole wheat bean, avocado, corn, tomato burrito.
-Elisha

Warning: Eating red pepper hummus will give you dragon breath

I love the hummus from pita jungle, its the yummiest you will taste. So Reina and I stopped by there yesterday to pick some up for future snacks and meals. Being that today is Sunday I am so snacky. What is it about Sundays and eating that just go together? So i decided to eat some of my hummus. I have had the hummus in the past and know it wreaks havoc on your breath, so right after I ate it I brushed my teeth and put in some gum. When Josh came to cuddle next to me on the couch he said how my breath smelt like garlic ( that is so sexy). So I used some mouth wash, but he could still smell it. I plopped another piece of gum in my mouth and he said that my breath was better but not great. Eating healthy is great for the body but bad on the sex life (I'm kidding here). So if you are in the mood to skip some bed action with the husband I recommend dining on some delicious red pepper hummus.

-Elisha

My vegan lifestyle has begun

What do you do to prepare for this big change. Let me tell you.

Step 1: The week before you begin be sure to binge on all your favorite non-vegan foods. For me that meant I ate chocolate, cheese and last night I had some frozen yougurt. Saying goodbye to dairy is BIG DEAL for me. But I am so excited to give this vegan thing a try.

Step 2: Make a list of some vegan foods/meals that you want to make or buy. I went to the superstition market--which has the cheapest produce around and I am so in L-O-V-E with that place--and stocked up on some of my favorite veggies. I plan on making some butternut squash bisque tomorrow and eating lots of salad and beans.

Step 3: Get started. Today I woke up and had a half serving of plain oatmeal with some strawberries and almond milk, followed by a cup of fresh squeezed orange juice. It was a great start to day 1 of being vegan.

Step 4: Read a book to keep you motivated. I read the Skinny Bitch diet and loved it! It was really funny and quite a kick in the pants if I may say so.

Well my life as a vegan ( or rather month) has been great so far--granted it is only been about 12 hours but who's counting. the good news is I am one day closer to being healthy, the bad news is I keep feeling hungry. Filling up on fruits and veggies does not last as long as a hamburger in the stomache, but I think I will get used to it. Stay tuned for updates on our little vegan adventure. And thanks Oprah for the inspiration.

THANKS SILVERTSONE

Why vegan you ask... Ok I am pretty private but I will tell you anyways. One fine day I was watching an episode of Oprah. It was dedicated to the topic of organic foods etc. Alicia Silverstone(star of the hit movie Clueless circa1995) made a guest apperance discussing her book about the vegan lifestyle. I decided I was going to let Silverstone give me a makeover like she did Ty on Clueless. However she would not be changing me out of baggy pants and belly shirts,but more of a diet makeover. Stay with me folks. In her book she says to try and flirt with vegan foods,try it for a bit. Well not to get graphic ,but I plan on doing more than flirt. I am going to roll around with the vegan lifestyle. Maybe get the big O! Settle down ladies I meant O as in Organic. Today Elisha and I went to GREEN. It is a nice vegan restaurant full of delicious foods and lots of facial hair...not in the food. Shout out to my best friend Amy who is the best and introduced me to GREEN. My sister and I then spent quite sometime in the WHOLE FOODS. I bought a special bag of peas as you can see in this photo. Well I actually bought more than just peas,but lets not get detailed. I feel special to be in this vegan club. People are starting to take me more serious. I can feel the change. Thanks for taking the time to visit. Reins