Today I let/made a friend edit my online dating profile for me. When she added a line about how I like to blog, it occurred to me that I haven't actually blogged in a while. I haven't had much to write about honestly, but it hit me when I was watching ABC and a preview of the soon to be airing craptastic sitcom, Work It.
I can't find the words to explain it, but you can watch the preview here. This trailer makes me so angry that I'm considering quitting watching my beloved Desperate Housewives because of how irresponsible ABC is for airing a sitcom that promotes the ideas that 1. women are more likely to find gainful employment than men and 2. the idea of watching a male born person wear heels and traditionally feminine clothing is just so absurd that it's hilarious.
I found a (very brief) article about the show on a pharmaceutical site that points to unemployment as an ongoing issue and notes that "women now outnumbering men in the workforce" causes these two characters to dress as women to beat the mancession. Yes, that's right. MANcession. Because it's apparently more difficult for men to get jobs in a tough economy than women. Nevermind that women still get paid 77 cents for every dollar that men get paid, or that women outnumber men in the US population by over 5 million. No no, that couldn't possibly explain more women in the workforce.
Actually, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data women are slightly less affected by unemployment than men - probably owing to the fact that the economy is shit and women are cheaper to hire. 33% cheaper.
Rest assured, women who are pissed off that the gender wage gap is still huge even in the year 2011 - at least you have a job - even though when the 'mancession' ends men will more than likely resume making more than you after they endured the horrible pain of wearing traditional feminine clothing that you are expected to wear by society.
I once got into an argument with a former employer, who I won't name, that mentioned working for a cross-dressing boss who made her uncomfortable (solely because of his cross dressing - he didn't do it every day and she was perfectly fine with him on days that he dressed 'like a man.'). After explaining to me that it was unprofessional of him to dress 'like a woman' at work, I believe my exact response was That sounds like your professionalism problem not his, if you can't respect your boss regardless of what he wears. She proceeded to continue arguing with me, and obviously my response calling her out on discriminating based on gender didn't change her mind. The point is - wear what you want to wear to work, if you're lucky enough to have a job. Respect your colleagues regardless of gender presentation. But don't make a mockery of male born people who choose to express gender in a more feminine way, or imply that women somehow have it easier in the workforce when they still make considerably less than men.
Seriously ABC? There are real people who are bullied in schools, turned down for jobs, harassed, beaten, or killed by strangers for the way they present their gender. For something as trivial as whether one chooses to wear make up or not, wears pink or blue, how one styles their hair.... our society literally beats and kills people over these choices if they are seen as the 'wrong' ones. It's not a fucking joke to watch men fake a gender expression and act like it's completely absurd and hilarious for men to fall outside a typical gender presentation. I really hope to see this show canceled before it airs.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Whoops.
Occasionally, I am just more of a jackass than a Spiteful vegan.
In this post, I rambled some constructive (okay, perhaps not so constructive) criticism about a vegan/plant-based/healthy foods event I attended that was actually quite delicious.
So, I want to say a couple of things about that.
1. I'm sorry. It was rude. I was in an uber sarcastic critical mode and I have a habit of sometimes thinking my exaggerations and sarcastic musings and criticism are funny, when they actually are just rude (ask my mother, who's been wondering since I became a teenager why I am such a pain in the ass).
2. In no way am I a legitimate food critic. I write about the things I like to talk about, which happen to include food and my opinions on food, but no I haven't attend culinary school, taken a nutrition class, or even worked in a restaurant. That is, my opinions on food are from an every day vegan and not to be taken as legitimate food criticism from someone who...knows food. Maybe I should stick to the feminist musings that are actually well thought out and that I have a fairly educated opinion on, but I'll probably keep writing about food because it's yummy and interesting and important to me.
I'm spiteful but not unable to apologize.
I'm bummed that there aren't more 20 somethings who take an interest in attending events like the one I blogged about recently, but that's proooobably not a good reason to criticize people who put the event together. Would I like to see them reach out to a younger demographic? Yes. Is that their obligation or did that make their event a fail? No. And I'm sorry that my post made it sound that way. Just look at the pictures of tasty food and let your mouth water.
In this post, I rambled some constructive (okay, perhaps not so constructive) criticism about a vegan/plant-based/healthy foods event I attended that was actually quite delicious.
So, I want to say a couple of things about that.
1. I'm sorry. It was rude. I was in an uber sarcastic critical mode and I have a habit of sometimes thinking my exaggerations and sarcastic musings and criticism are funny, when they actually are just rude (ask my mother, who's been wondering since I became a teenager why I am such a pain in the ass).
2. In no way am I a legitimate food critic. I write about the things I like to talk about, which happen to include food and my opinions on food, but no I haven't attend culinary school, taken a nutrition class, or even worked in a restaurant. That is, my opinions on food are from an every day vegan and not to be taken as legitimate food criticism from someone who...knows food. Maybe I should stick to the feminist musings that are actually well thought out and that I have a fairly educated opinion on, but I'll probably keep writing about food because it's yummy and interesting and important to me.
I'm spiteful but not unable to apologize.
I'm bummed that there aren't more 20 somethings who take an interest in attending events like the one I blogged about recently, but that's proooobably not a good reason to criticize people who put the event together. Would I like to see them reach out to a younger demographic? Yes. Is that their obligation or did that make their event a fail? No. And I'm sorry that my post made it sound that way. Just look at the pictures of tasty food and let your mouth water.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Healthy Taste of LA! Food, good; website, bad.
Last night I attended part 1 of Healthy Taste of LA (part 2 is a day long conference today that I didn't attend to save money/because I am on call for work). I enjoyed a 7 course vegan meal, all prepared with no oil, and a Q+A sessio with Dr. Colin Campbell, author of the China Study. Campbell is a contraversial scientist/nutritionist who posits the radical idea that what we eat affects our health. I may write more on him later but for now I want to concentrate on the delicious healthy foods I enjoyed - as it is rare to find a 7 course gourmet, healthy, vegan meal that is all prepared for you by some of the most amazing vegan chefs in existence.
Course 2: Baked onion rings, that apparently I forgot to take a picture of. I HATE onion rings. They are greasy and disgusting - yet I ate every single bite of these onion rings. They were oil free, baked, and "battered" in whole wheat bread, cornmeal, and chickpea flour - so they actually contained some whole grain nutritional value. Yum!
Course 3: Lentil loaf with a shittake mushroom pate (the jelly looking thing), with pickles, radish, and chia seed/sunflower seed crackers.
This dish contained a number of things that I've never considered using in food (chia seed? all that makes me think of is growing 'chia pets' into the shapes of famous faces, etc as a child). But again, I ate every single bite - even the mushroom pate, and I generally have a rule that mushrooms/fungus does NOT go in my mouth. However, I also have a rule that I eat what I pay for, and at a $75 dinner, there was no way I wasn't going to try it. To my surprise, it was amazing. Lentils tend to be a bit bland, so the pickle garnish and pate jelly were the perfect complement.Course 4: Butternut squash soup and roasted parsnip soup, garnished with arugula and pumpkin seed.
Did you know you can put TWO different soups in the same bowl? The left side is parnip and the right side is butternut squash and ginger. Both delicious, and I maintain that soup is one of the most unappreciated yet delicious (and nutritious, depending on what you put in it) ways to serve food. If I ever get my act together and open my all vegan oil-free restaurant, the signature dishes will obviously be soups.
Course 5: Chef AJ's Hail to the Kale salad.
Ahhh the thing that started it all for me. I'm constantly searching for tasty ways to consume green veggies, because for a vegan, I'm rather disgusted by healthy vegetables. This salad is amazing (and the recipe is free on Chef AJ's site and I thinkon you tube). Many people don't like the bitter taste of kale, but the accompanying dressing balances out the bitterness perfectly - with a little bit of sweet, a little bit of savory. It's strange to see a salad whose focus is so clearly the greens - typically we use that as a base but smother it in creamy things like cheese and ranch dressing. I challenge the kale naysayers to NOT like this salad; I'll even make it for you!
Course 6: Grilled portobello mushroom over a spekt berry and black bean salad with salsa verde, and a soft polenta.
Again, I rarely find a reason to ingest fungus, but I willed myself to at least try it after shelling out 75 bucks for a meal. I ate every single bite. And liked it. I'm now having an identity crises after consuming 2 courses containing mushrooms last night, and loving every single bite. The winter squash in the black bean salad along with mandarin oranges, and the tangy salsa verde actually made the fungus worth eating. I still think mushrooms are stupid - why would you eat something called fungus that has virtually no nutritional value? But if I have to eat it, this is the way to do it.
Course 7: German Chocolate Cake
While the food was tasty, I wouldn't be Stephanie if I didn't have some criticisms of this event.
First: don't tell me how much better a plant based diet is for the environment, then serve 7 courses on disposable plates. I understand that the church basement venue may not have provided a huge kitchen full of restaurant size dish washing spaces, but then you need to find a new space next year. Please don't tell me in one sentence that the hole in the ozone layer can be 51% attributed to factory farming practices, and 2 minutes later bring out the 7th disposable plate to serve my (delicious) dessert.
Second, the marketing for this event was absolute crap. Chef AJ - I love you, but why does your website look like it was built in 1991? I paid $75 for a ticket to a dinner, and couldn't find anywhere on the website the actual TIME of the dinner. Really? The materials were unsophisticated to my generation's eye, and even though I can't get on board with twitter personally, you need to learn new technology if you want to, as you claim, encourage Americans to eat healthier. My guess is 90% of the people at this event were aged 50 or above, and many, I gathered switched to a plant-based diet after enduring serious health problems. If, as you claim, nutrition can help us avoid these problems in the first place, reach out to a younger demographic who still has a chance of avoiding serious health problems if they commit to a healthy diet now.
Third, the recipe book provided for the dinner attended is also crap. Half of the recipes are there, half aren't - when you clearly told me at dinner last night that I'd get a book with all these recipes. To the untrained vegan chef, who has no clue what would go in vegan mushroom pate or has never heard of all the fancy vegetables used in the sushi - this book is virtually useless. There are some decent recipes, for sure, but they are inconsistent at best. Some of the best dishes from last night aren't in here, and while half the recipes provided useful nutritional facts about sodium or protein content, the other half don't. Don't tell me to KNOW what I'm eating and make choices to use plant-based whole foods, then not tell me what the hell you're actually feeding me.
I appreciate the talents and innovativeness of these amazing vegan chefs, but I'm thoroughly confused in 2011 as to how famous book-writing Doctors or nutritionally knowledgeable chefs could have such a hard time writing their own recipes down or marketing effectively.
At the beginning of the dinner, I sat down at a table by myself. A few minutes later, Chef AJ announced to the room "That girl is sitting by herself!! Someone sit with her!" She then pointed out that I was knitting, and when I went to talk with her later during the event, said "Oh, you're the knitter!" After briefly wishing the floor would open up and swallow me whole as I flushed red of middle school like embarassment, sitting alone and knitting at a social event, I realized the problem. Despite my old-lady like proclivity for knitting, I was the youngest person in the room by a good 20 years until a handful of teens, dragged by their parents, showed up just before the event started.
Here's some advice. Don't think of me as the knitter. Hire me as the event planner, because this group needs it. Thanks for the tasty food - now get your administrative act together and practice what you preach: teach nutrition to people, not just old people recovering from health problems.
Love,
Stephanie
Friday, 4 November 2011
Twice Baked Avocado Mashed Potatoes with Cranberry Relish
Tonight I got creative with a few recipes. My friend Amanda and I frequently discuss how avocado is basically the most delicious thing ever, and mashed potatoes are pretty tasty too. She recently sent me this recipe for avocado mashed potatoes, assuring me that it was delicious.
Since I'm vegan and trying to avoid salt and oil, I adapted the recipe a little. And since I was feeling innovative, I went with twice baked avocado mashed potatoes instead of regular old mashed potatoes. I garnished them with Chef AJ's cranberry relish (which she recommends with twice baked sweet potatoes).
My recipe:
5 small/medium potatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 of a small onion, chopped
Cranberry relish (below)
Bake potatoes at 350 for about an hour, after poking them with a fork few times (which is my favorite part... a healthy way to get out aggression).
While the potates are in the oven, scoop out the 2 avocado insides and throw into a food processor with a splash of lemon juice - process until smooth.
When the potatoes are ready, cut in half and scoop out the insides into a bowl, and mash (I mixed about half with a mixer and mashed the other half with a fork, because I like it smooth with some yummy potato chunks). Stir in the chopped onion and minced garlic, and the avocado/lemon juice mix.
Fill the potato skins with the avocado/potato filling, and bake again at 350 for 15-20 minutes, until slightly browned.
Tasty!
For an extra flavor kick, garnish with Chef Aj's cranberry relish.
Cranberry Relish:
12 oz cranberries
2 oranges, with zest (I almost threw in the peel haphazardly - make sure to google what 'zest' is if you don't know)
2 tablespoons psyllium husk
Throw it all in the blender. Easy. And super flavorful, so I actually cut this recipe in half and it was more than enough to eat on my potatoes.
Since I'm vegan and trying to avoid salt and oil, I adapted the recipe a little. And since I was feeling innovative, I went with twice baked avocado mashed potatoes instead of regular old mashed potatoes. I garnished them with Chef AJ's cranberry relish (which she recommends with twice baked sweet potatoes).
My recipe:2 avocados
1 splash of lemon juice5 small/medium potatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 of a small onion, chopped
Cranberry relish (below)
Bake potatoes at 350 for about an hour, after poking them with a fork few times (which is my favorite part... a healthy way to get out aggression).
While the potates are in the oven, scoop out the 2 avocado insides and throw into a food processor with a splash of lemon juice - process until smooth.
When the potatoes are ready, cut in half and scoop out the insides into a bowl, and mash (I mixed about half with a mixer and mashed the other half with a fork, because I like it smooth with some yummy potato chunks). Stir in the chopped onion and minced garlic, and the avocado/lemon juice mix.
Fill the potato skins with the avocado/potato filling, and bake again at 350 for 15-20 minutes, until slightly browned.
Tasty!
For an extra flavor kick, garnish with Chef Aj's cranberry relish.
Cranberry Relish:
12 oz cranberries
2 oranges, with zest (I almost threw in the peel haphazardly - make sure to google what 'zest' is if you don't know)
2 tablespoons psyllium husk
Throw it all in the blender. Easy. And super flavorful, so I actually cut this recipe in half and it was more than enough to eat on my potatoes.
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Keeping Up With... Stephanie's thoughts on marriage
You probably already know that I have an opinion about virtually everything. I think my parents, in fact, might regret encouraging my education because I won't ever shut up if I think I know something (kidding, the rents are actually very supportive and proud - and I absolutely always know everything).
One area of exception has always been pop culture for me - I don't know, I don't care, I'm not hostile nor excited about celebrities of any kind. I don't watch reality shows or know the names of the actors in the shows that I do watch. I don't Keep Up with the Kardashians, and I only know the name of their show because it was a topic of conversation in my former workplace (miss you, tele-land!), and okay - because Kim Kardashian was on Ellen not too long ago.
I find all this is starting to change. Partly, I blame Marco for getting me addicted to The A List: Dallas, which is both horrible and impossible to stop watching. But mostly, I think it's the lack of homework for the first time in my life that prompts me to spend my evenings making spinach smoothies and channel surfing.
So, I was slightly more aware than you'd expect when I started seeing the endless facebook posts about Kim Kardashian's short lived marriage - I knew who she was (sort of, I'm still not entirely sure how she or her family came into the limelight and no, I don't care to find out) and from her recent Ellen visit, knew she had recently been married and had rumors circulating that her marriage was already about to end. On Ellen, she asserted that these rumors were false. Recently I learned that she filed for divorce, and took personal offense to the fact that someone would dare lie to Ellen.
But, I'm still rather opinionless on her actual marriage. I get the same-sex marriage advocates who criticize that a 72 day marriage is superficial, while geniuinely lasting relationships between same-sex couples are (mostly) not acknowledged as legitimate. I get it. But really - really, do we want to spend our time criticizing someone else's motives for getting married? Is it fair to say so and so's marriage wasn't legitimate? Um, is that what you want someone saying about a same-sex marriage? Does it really feel like a good use of time to hate on someone else's marriage while working so that one day, your own can be recognized?
You can say that a 72 day marriage hurts the institution of marriage - but marriage can't be hurt. Marriage is not a living being, with feelings. Marriage cannot be damaged, except for within your own relationship and your own idea of what it should look like (if you can't get it out of your thick head that your way is not the right way for everyone). Marriage cannot get its feelings hurt and marriage can mean different things to different people without it affecting your life or your personal desires in the slightest. Same sex marriages, Kardashian marriages, traditional marriages - I really don't understand why we could give a crap.
We should all be able to choose if, when, how, why, and to whom we get married. But don't tout that you support marriage freedom for same-sex couples, then spend all the livelong day posting hateful tweets and facebook posts about Kim's shortlived marriage because you personally don't think she got married for the right reasons. If you don't want money in Kim's pocket for allegedly stunt weddings designed to raise ratings and attract corporate sponsors - then don't watch her show and don't give advertisers a reason to give her money.
Kim - I can only guess that your show is ridiculous, stupid, annoying, yet with a touch of addictive. I think consumerism and greed are probably ruining our country, and people like you are perpetuating an absurd fascination and longing for wealth and material items - and while you perpetuate this longing you're rolling around in riches while others can't find jobs. But whenever, to whomever, and for whatever reasons you decide to get married - do what you feel. I expect the same respect in return related to my decisions if, how, when, why, or whom I choose to marry. Hell, maybe I'll try to marry into your family to share the wealth one day.
One area of exception has always been pop culture for me - I don't know, I don't care, I'm not hostile nor excited about celebrities of any kind. I don't watch reality shows or know the names of the actors in the shows that I do watch. I don't Keep Up with the Kardashians, and I only know the name of their show because it was a topic of conversation in my former workplace (miss you, tele-land!), and okay - because Kim Kardashian was on Ellen not too long ago.
I find all this is starting to change. Partly, I blame Marco for getting me addicted to The A List: Dallas, which is both horrible and impossible to stop watching. But mostly, I think it's the lack of homework for the first time in my life that prompts me to spend my evenings making spinach smoothies and channel surfing.
So, I was slightly more aware than you'd expect when I started seeing the endless facebook posts about Kim Kardashian's short lived marriage - I knew who she was (sort of, I'm still not entirely sure how she or her family came into the limelight and no, I don't care to find out) and from her recent Ellen visit, knew she had recently been married and had rumors circulating that her marriage was already about to end. On Ellen, she asserted that these rumors were false. Recently I learned that she filed for divorce, and took personal offense to the fact that someone would dare lie to Ellen.
But, I'm still rather opinionless on her actual marriage. I get the same-sex marriage advocates who criticize that a 72 day marriage is superficial, while geniuinely lasting relationships between same-sex couples are (mostly) not acknowledged as legitimate. I get it. But really - really, do we want to spend our time criticizing someone else's motives for getting married? Is it fair to say so and so's marriage wasn't legitimate? Um, is that what you want someone saying about a same-sex marriage? Does it really feel like a good use of time to hate on someone else's marriage while working so that one day, your own can be recognized?
You can say that a 72 day marriage hurts the institution of marriage - but marriage can't be hurt. Marriage is not a living being, with feelings. Marriage cannot be damaged, except for within your own relationship and your own idea of what it should look like (if you can't get it out of your thick head that your way is not the right way for everyone). Marriage cannot get its feelings hurt and marriage can mean different things to different people without it affecting your life or your personal desires in the slightest. Same sex marriages, Kardashian marriages, traditional marriages - I really don't understand why we could give a crap.
We should all be able to choose if, when, how, why, and to whom we get married. But don't tout that you support marriage freedom for same-sex couples, then spend all the livelong day posting hateful tweets and facebook posts about Kim's shortlived marriage because you personally don't think she got married for the right reasons. If you don't want money in Kim's pocket for allegedly stunt weddings designed to raise ratings and attract corporate sponsors - then don't watch her show and don't give advertisers a reason to give her money.
Kim - I can only guess that your show is ridiculous, stupid, annoying, yet with a touch of addictive. I think consumerism and greed are probably ruining our country, and people like you are perpetuating an absurd fascination and longing for wealth and material items - and while you perpetuate this longing you're rolling around in riches while others can't find jobs. But whenever, to whomever, and for whatever reasons you decide to get married - do what you feel. I expect the same respect in return related to my decisions if, how, when, why, or whom I choose to marry. Hell, maybe I'll try to marry into your family to share the wealth one day.
Day: I like processed peanut butter.
At our staff meeting every week, the RAs and I read from the kudos box - a little box where we put appreciation (and some silly) notes throughout the week. Today we read a note from Becky, expressing that I am brave and strong for sticking to my unprocessed diet.
Although a sweet note, this was particularly embarrassing timing as I announced to my staff tonight that I've fallen off the unprocessed wagon - back to the delicious processed wagon full of sugars, salts, and oils.
Why?
I'm freaking hungry.
And it's not that the unprocessed foods aren't filling or tasty or a better choice - they most definitely are all of those things, but I'm broke, I have a meal plan, and the dining hall already has these things prepared for me at the end of a long day when all I have the energy to do is eat and watch Ellen.
Which gets me thinking - what is wrong with our culture (and me) when meal times are an inconvenient burden. I wasn't a psyc major but I feel like I remember Maslow's hierarchy of needs putting a pretty high level of importance on food.
I want to stick to this while thing and stop using time and convenience as excuses, but I also want to use my free meals (or meals that are actually compensation for my time rather than 'free') so I can spend more money on luxuries like cable tv and mini-vacations to Vegas with the fabulous Matt Jeffries. And that is selfish, and probably indicates some messed up priorities if eating the way I should/want to be eating interferes with those other things that Maslow says is less important (actually I'm not sure where trips to Vegas ranked on that pyramid - it was probably pretty important now that I think about it).
I don't want to imply that I ate healthily when I was in England just over a year ago (as that's far from the truth) but I recall having a much better work/life rythym and I wonder what steps we could take in this country to make it so we actually have the energy to say, cook a healthy meal for dinner. I think it's probably inevitable in an individualistic and capitalistic culture that we are constantly working harder and to achieve more things - rather than living to be happy and healthy. If the message we get every day is to work hard and achieve more things - money and prestige, mainly, how can we be expected to live whole and fulfilling lives?
I don't have the energy to get into a critique of the pros and cons of capitalism, so that's an observation, not a criticism at the moment. I have to go watch The Daily Show.
Although a sweet note, this was particularly embarrassing timing as I announced to my staff tonight that I've fallen off the unprocessed wagon - back to the delicious processed wagon full of sugars, salts, and oils.
Why?
I'm freaking hungry.
And it's not that the unprocessed foods aren't filling or tasty or a better choice - they most definitely are all of those things, but I'm broke, I have a meal plan, and the dining hall already has these things prepared for me at the end of a long day when all I have the energy to do is eat and watch Ellen.
Which gets me thinking - what is wrong with our culture (and me) when meal times are an inconvenient burden. I wasn't a psyc major but I feel like I remember Maslow's hierarchy of needs putting a pretty high level of importance on food.
I want to stick to this while thing and stop using time and convenience as excuses, but I also want to use my free meals (or meals that are actually compensation for my time rather than 'free') so I can spend more money on luxuries like cable tv and mini-vacations to Vegas with the fabulous Matt Jeffries. And that is selfish, and probably indicates some messed up priorities if eating the way I should/want to be eating interferes with those other things that Maslow says is less important (actually I'm not sure where trips to Vegas ranked on that pyramid - it was probably pretty important now that I think about it).
I don't want to imply that I ate healthily when I was in England just over a year ago (as that's far from the truth) but I recall having a much better work/life rythym and I wonder what steps we could take in this country to make it so we actually have the energy to say, cook a healthy meal for dinner. I think it's probably inevitable in an individualistic and capitalistic culture that we are constantly working harder and to achieve more things - rather than living to be happy and healthy. If the message we get every day is to work hard and achieve more things - money and prestige, mainly, how can we be expected to live whole and fulfilling lives?
I don't have the energy to get into a critique of the pros and cons of capitalism, so that's an observation, not a criticism at the moment. I have to go watch The Daily Show.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
I'm not a quitter, I was on hiatus
I haven't blogged in 6 days. I haven't done the math, but I bet that's a significant percentage of my 30 day challenge.
Being on call in student affairs doesn't go well with daily blog commitments.
Anyway, I'm back... and blogging wasn't the only thing I took a hiatus from. Yesterday when having dinner with a student group in between the 'end' of the work day and an evening meeting and a Halloween decorating program, I ate dining hall foods that most definitely had things I am striving not to eat. Typically I eat salads for lunch, and get some sort of fresh produce from the dining hall, bring it home, and turn it into dinner with some tasty, filling grains. There was no time for that yesterday, so I caved. A hungry Stephanie is a grouchy Stephanie. A sleepy Stephanie is also a grouchy Stephanie. (Is 'Hungry' one of the seven dwarfs? If not, it should've been).
I enjoyed less than a sip of butternut squash soup before I realized it tasted like it had a pound of salt in it. Anna, one of my RAs and vocal supporter of my unprocessed challenge, encouraged me not to eat it if it tasted gross - a rational conclusion, but I don't like waste (if you need more evidence of my distaste for wasting stuff, ask any of my RAs about how I acquired an extra cell phone that has the same battery but not the same charger as my current phone, and how I charge the battery in the unused phone and swap it out with my other cell battery every day - rather than buy a working charge for my current phone).
So I pushed the should-be delicious butternut squash soup aside and gobbled up some cooked veggies and quinoa. That seemed close enough to unprocessed - probably cooked in a bit of oil and salt (two things I'm not eating right now), but other than that legit.
Or so I thought, until I went home to quickly watch Ellen before another meeting, and began to feel like someone was karate chopping me in the stomach over and over again. I'm not blaming the dining hall, because I actually don't think it makes since that a teeny bit of oil and salt cooked with veggies would make me sick after 2 weeks of eating mostly raw veggies, or ones cooked in water. The only rational explanation is that someone secretly fed me meat which made me super sick and made for a very unpleasant morning of nausea and stomach pains (I feel great now, thanks for asking!).
In other news, I made vegan cupcakes for the RAs tonight and didn't even eat one (because they are processed - though vegan and delicious). This is progress. I don't remember ever not participating in desserts in my life, if it was an option. My mom can back me up on that.
Being on call in student affairs doesn't go well with daily blog commitments.
Anyway, I'm back... and blogging wasn't the only thing I took a hiatus from. Yesterday when having dinner with a student group in between the 'end' of the work day and an evening meeting and a Halloween decorating program, I ate dining hall foods that most definitely had things I am striving not to eat. Typically I eat salads for lunch, and get some sort of fresh produce from the dining hall, bring it home, and turn it into dinner with some tasty, filling grains. There was no time for that yesterday, so I caved. A hungry Stephanie is a grouchy Stephanie. A sleepy Stephanie is also a grouchy Stephanie. (Is 'Hungry' one of the seven dwarfs? If not, it should've been).
I enjoyed less than a sip of butternut squash soup before I realized it tasted like it had a pound of salt in it. Anna, one of my RAs and vocal supporter of my unprocessed challenge, encouraged me not to eat it if it tasted gross - a rational conclusion, but I don't like waste (if you need more evidence of my distaste for wasting stuff, ask any of my RAs about how I acquired an extra cell phone that has the same battery but not the same charger as my current phone, and how I charge the battery in the unused phone and swap it out with my other cell battery every day - rather than buy a working charge for my current phone).
So I pushed the should-be delicious butternut squash soup aside and gobbled up some cooked veggies and quinoa. That seemed close enough to unprocessed - probably cooked in a bit of oil and salt (two things I'm not eating right now), but other than that legit.
Or so I thought, until I went home to quickly watch Ellen before another meeting, and began to feel like someone was karate chopping me in the stomach over and over again. I'm not blaming the dining hall, because I actually don't think it makes since that a teeny bit of oil and salt cooked with veggies would make me sick after 2 weeks of eating mostly raw veggies, or ones cooked in water. The only rational explanation is that someone secretly fed me meat which made me super sick and made for a very unpleasant morning of nausea and stomach pains (I feel great now, thanks for asking!).
In other news, I made vegan cupcakes for the RAs tonight and didn't even eat one (because they are processed - though vegan and delicious). This is progress. I don't remember ever not participating in desserts in my life, if it was an option. My mom can back me up on that.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Day 13: Swedish Fish
I accidentally ate some swedish fish today, which I'm fairly certain is not allowed in my unprocessed diet, though I didn't actually read the ingredients.
The weird thing is, I don't really even like swedish fish. I just was in my colleague's office and she has a bowl of swedish fish. Every time I go in there, I grab a handful and eat a few while we chat. It's just because they're there.
The other day I accidentally had salt (in a food I thought was unsalted at the dining hall) and it was horrible. Awful. Ridiculously salty. 14 days ago, I would've laughed if you told me something could possibly be too salty. The bad news with the sugar - I couldn't taste it. May be even harder to kick than the salt problem.
The weird thing is, I don't really even like swedish fish. I just was in my colleague's office and she has a bowl of swedish fish. Every time I go in there, I grab a handful and eat a few while we chat. It's just because they're there.
The other day I accidentally had salt (in a food I thought was unsalted at the dining hall) and it was horrible. Awful. Ridiculously salty. 14 days ago, I would've laughed if you told me something could possibly be too salty. The bad news with the sugar - I couldn't taste it. May be even harder to kick than the salt problem.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles!
I made these scrumptious Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles tonight!
It's impossible to describe how tasty they are so you'll have to make them for yourself or visit me for a taste.
Four ingredients: dates, (unsweetened) almond milk, cocoa powder, peanuts.
Another fabulous Chef AJ recipe.
One pound of pitted dates, soaked for a few hours in unsweetened almond milk. Then, blended together until smooth. Then, add 1 cup of (unsalted, no sugar) peanut butter, 1/2 c. cocoa powder (unsweetened), and 3/4 c. unsweetened almond milk, blend until smooth. I put in the freezer for about 45 minutes, then rolled into truffle sized balls, rolled in chopped peanuts.
Super easy, and one of the most delicious truffles I've ever had. I know alot of people don't like the taste/texture of dates, but they honestly tasted like a deliciously sugary chocolate truffle.
Four ingredients: dates, (unsweetened) almond milk, cocoa powder, peanuts.
Another fabulous Chef AJ recipe.
One pound of pitted dates, soaked for a few hours in unsweetened almond milk. Then, blended together until smooth. Then, add 1 cup of (unsalted, no sugar) peanut butter, 1/2 c. cocoa powder (unsweetened), and 3/4 c. unsweetened almond milk, blend until smooth. I put in the freezer for about 45 minutes, then rolled into truffle sized balls, rolled in chopped peanuts.
Super easy, and one of the most delicious truffles I've ever had. I know alot of people don't like the taste/texture of dates, but they honestly tasted like a deliciously sugary chocolate truffle.
I should be President.
I'm currently watching a Republican CNN presidential candidate debate. What strikes me the most is the number of times I hear people say something to the effect of this was the intention of our forefathers.
If you went to grad school with me, you may know that I have absolutely no patience for the "this is the way it's always been done" argument. Or maybe not. I might've been too busy chugging caffinated beverages to share my thoughts.
It doesn't matter the political party; we hear the 'this is what people intended for us over 200 years ago' argument ALL the time.
When I was at Chef AJ's vegan cooking demo a few weeks ago, she made a similar point. Someone mentioned that we had been eating excessive sugars and processed foods for decades - why should we stop now? Chef AJ's response was We also enslaved people for hundreds of years. Do you want to argue with me that because we've done it for a long time that makes slavery okay?
This vegan is really tired of the status quo argument. That shit is for catchy High School Musical songs.
I think governing documents and policies are important, but doesn't it make more sense for us to continually evaluate what makes sense in the present rather than pride ourselves on rule based on a 200+ year old piece of paper? Maybe I'm just losing my mind since my veins are full of Kale instead of delicious table salt.
If you went to grad school with me, you may know that I have absolutely no patience for the "this is the way it's always been done" argument. Or maybe not. I might've been too busy chugging caffinated beverages to share my thoughts.
It doesn't matter the political party; we hear the 'this is what people intended for us over 200 years ago' argument ALL the time.
When I was at Chef AJ's vegan cooking demo a few weeks ago, she made a similar point. Someone mentioned that we had been eating excessive sugars and processed foods for decades - why should we stop now? Chef AJ's response was We also enslaved people for hundreds of years. Do you want to argue with me that because we've done it for a long time that makes slavery okay?
This vegan is really tired of the status quo argument. That shit is for catchy High School Musical songs.
I think governing documents and policies are important, but doesn't it make more sense for us to continually evaluate what makes sense in the present rather than pride ourselves on rule based on a 200+ year old piece of paper? Maybe I'm just losing my mind since my veins are full of Kale instead of delicious table salt.
Monday, 17 October 2011
Herman Cain's arteries are full of nacho cheese
Recently Herman Cain commented that we should curb illegal immigration by installing an electric fence between the US and Mexico. He then retracted the statement, saying that he was kidding, after critics accused him of deeming murder an appropriate solution to illegal immigration. I'd cite this but you can just google Herman Cain immigration and read it from whichever news source you prefer, with whatever political bias you prefer.
I just want to point out that I was RIGHT when I quoted Stephen Colbert, whose quote resonated with me the other day. Herman Cain doesn't have room in his heart for immigrants because it's full of nacho cheese. Or pizza.
That's why all vegans support immigrants.
I just want to point out that I was RIGHT when I quoted Stephen Colbert, whose quote resonated with me the other day. Herman Cain doesn't have room in his heart for immigrants because it's full of nacho cheese. Or pizza.
That's why all vegans support immigrants.
A non-anemic vegan?
Today, for the first time in my life, I had bloodwork done where NOTHING was abnormal. No anemia. No high cholesterol. Everything was perfecto.
So, I'd just like to say to anyone who ever feigned nutrition expertise and told me I wouldn't get such and such nutrient as a vegan... EAT IT. Your words, that is. Not foods that will cause you to have high cholesterol.
To be clear, it is the spitefulness in this vegan that makes me exicted about my beautiful lab tests. I am less excited for my health, and more excited to spite all those who think they are nutrition experts and inform me that vegans can't possibly get all the nutrients they need. Spite. Is a wonderful thing.
So, I'd just like to say to anyone who ever feigned nutrition expertise and told me I wouldn't get such and such nutrient as a vegan... EAT IT. Your words, that is. Not foods that will cause you to have high cholesterol.
To be clear, it is the spitefulness in this vegan that makes me exicted about my beautiful lab tests. I am less excited for my health, and more excited to spite all those who think they are nutrition experts and inform me that vegans can't possibly get all the nutrients they need. Spite. Is a wonderful thing.
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Day 8: I will survive
I've gotten alot of questions about what I 'count' as processed or unprocessed. Basically, if I can make it in my kitchen or grow it in my backyard (theorietcally, in real life I kill every single plant in my yard skillfully) it's not processed.
My experiment with millet tonight started because I was annoyed last night at eating homemade hummus with veggies. A nutritious snack but I really wanted something heartier, like pita bread. Which of course I can't have because it's processed with salts and chemicals or whatever else they put in there.
So I found this recipe for millet flatbread and thought I'd try it. My grocery store however didn't have millet flour, but they did have millet. Never having seen the substance before, it looked pretty simple to me. I purchased it and figured I'd turn it into 'flour' in my food processor in 3 seconds flat. Fyi - grinding millet, while possible in your own kitchen, is not worth the trouble. Just buy the damn flour.
My experiment with millet tonight started because I was annoyed last night at eating homemade hummus with veggies. A nutritious snack but I really wanted something heartier, like pita bread. Which of course I can't have because it's processed with salts and chemicals or whatever else they put in there.
So I found this recipe for millet flatbread and thought I'd try it. My grocery store however didn't have millet flour, but they did have millet. Never having seen the substance before, it looked pretty simple to me. I purchased it and figured I'd turn it into 'flour' in my food processor in 3 seconds flat. Fyi - grinding millet, while possible in your own kitchen, is not worth the trouble. Just buy the damn flour.Verdict - bland, but tasty with some basil rolled into the dough and topped with hummus.
Other than that, it's day 8 and I am having rapid food mood swings; one minute I'm feeling great and the next I am convinced that I will die if I don't have some salts or oils or chemicals in me. It's the start of week 2 and I want some fake vegan cheese.
Friday, 14 October 2011
Day 7
This is never going to work.
I just saw a commercial for Cici's pizza and saw a slice of pizza topped with macaroni and cheese. I haven't been a cheese eater for almost a year, and now all I can think about is that cheesy mac and cheese pizza because I need SALT.
I can't do this. I need processed foods.
But no that's okay. I'll just sit here and eat these stupid grapes.
I just saw a commercial for Cici's pizza and saw a slice of pizza topped with macaroni and cheese. I haven't been a cheese eater for almost a year, and now all I can think about is that cheesy mac and cheese pizza because I need SALT.
I can't do this. I need processed foods.
But no that's okay. I'll just sit here and eat these stupid grapes.
The better to eat you with, my dear
I wish I had carniverous teeth, so I could bite my dentist.
Several weeks ago, I went to the dentist to get a temporary crown put in. This is the infamous day I complain about, in which I spent 4 hours at the dentist only to return home and have the crown immediately pop out.
Because I don't have enough to complain about, today I found out that my appointment to put in the permanent crown was canceled. Why? Because the impression they took the first time wasn't clear enough. I got a call to schedule a new appointment, to take new impressions and start the whole process over again. Apparently my dentist is not qualified enough to spend 4 hours perfecting a temporary crown and creating a mold for a permanent one.
Luckily, I don't need teeth any more. In this whole unprocessed diet I can just create smoothies out of fruits and veggies.
Several weeks ago, I went to the dentist to get a temporary crown put in. This is the infamous day I complain about, in which I spent 4 hours at the dentist only to return home and have the crown immediately pop out.
Because I don't have enough to complain about, today I found out that my appointment to put in the permanent crown was canceled. Why? Because the impression they took the first time wasn't clear enough. I got a call to schedule a new appointment, to take new impressions and start the whole process over again. Apparently my dentist is not qualified enough to spend 4 hours perfecting a temporary crown and creating a mold for a permanent one.
Luckily, I don't need teeth any more. In this whole unprocessed diet I can just create smoothies out of fruits and veggies.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Day 5
Yum!
I know I've been kind of acting like Chef AJ's groupie, but I'm starting to think one day I can outdo her. My recipes kick ass.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Day 4: I'm coming out as.... a sugar addict
Happy National Coming Out Day!
I recently discovered that oatmeal can be made from oats. I know it sounds common sensical, but it never occured to me that oats could be attained outside of the small brown Quaker oatmeal packets, and actually used to... make stuff. You don't even have to BUY the packets. Just dry oats (see the package your own food section of your grocery store - the part without the little kids sticking their hands in candy) and water.
And what's even weirder than being able to make your own oatmeal - it actually tastes good. I've never been a fan of oatmeal. It's weird looking, messy, and only tastes good smothered in butter, cinnamon and sugar, in my past experience. But the stovetop oatmeal I made from oats and water, with a little cinnamon sprinkled in after, is delicious. It makes absolutely no sense.
I made a birthday cake for an RA today, vegan but obviously containing processed yummies such as sugar, so I couldn't eat it. It was the ultimate challenge not to lick the batter from the bowl and spoon, but accomplished with relatively little whining. And I only had to walk out of the kitchen to take a break from the temptation twice.
I did however, instinctively lick a spoon with icing when I was done frosting the cake. I immediately realized my absent minded error and attempt to wipe the icing off my tongue before swallowing. But from what I tasted, that crap is way too sweet.
Sugar addict progress.
I recently discovered that oatmeal can be made from oats. I know it sounds common sensical, but it never occured to me that oats could be attained outside of the small brown Quaker oatmeal packets, and actually used to... make stuff. You don't even have to BUY the packets. Just dry oats (see the package your own food section of your grocery store - the part without the little kids sticking their hands in candy) and water.
And what's even weirder than being able to make your own oatmeal - it actually tastes good. I've never been a fan of oatmeal. It's weird looking, messy, and only tastes good smothered in butter, cinnamon and sugar, in my past experience. But the stovetop oatmeal I made from oats and water, with a little cinnamon sprinkled in after, is delicious. It makes absolutely no sense.
I made a birthday cake for an RA today, vegan but obviously containing processed yummies such as sugar, so I couldn't eat it. It was the ultimate challenge not to lick the batter from the bowl and spoon, but accomplished with relatively little whining. And I only had to walk out of the kitchen to take a break from the temptation twice.
I did however, instinctively lick a spoon with icing when I was done frosting the cake. I immediately realized my absent minded error and attempt to wipe the icing off my tongue before swallowing. But from what I tasted, that crap is way too sweet.
Sugar addict progress.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Hypocrisy
Tonight I served milk chocolate covered strawberries to a room full of sophomores in hopes of coaxing out secrets to getting sophomores to come to my Celebrating Sophomores events.
In unwrapping 13 hershey bars, melting them down, and had dipping a crap ton of strawberries into them, I did not sneak a single taste of unvegan processed goodness.
I should get a medal for that. Or you know, a slap in the face for feeding students the processed ingredients that I refuse to eat for fear they'll kill me.
In unwrapping 13 hershey bars, melting them down, and had dipping a crap ton of strawberries into them, I did not sneak a single taste of unvegan processed goodness.
I should get a medal for that. Or you know, a slap in the face for feeding students the processed ingredients that I refuse to eat for fear they'll kill me.
Day 3: If someone dipped their finger in salt, I might bite it off.
Seriously, I think I could go from plant-based whole food unprocessed diet to cannabilism in 3 seconds flat.
And I'm not even hungry I just WANT salt. Ugh.
And I'm not even hungry I just WANT salt. Ugh.
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Day 2: My first recipe
Last night I made an okay, but unacceptably bland lentil loaf for dinner.
Today I decided to create my own recipe; if I'm going to do this unprocessed thing I have to trick my taste buds into thinking they're getting some salt. It actually turned out quite tasty, so I wanted to share:
Stephanie's quinoa avocado dish:
I cooked 3 ice cream scoops full of quinoa (all my measuring cups were dirty, and I was too hungry to wash them right then!) in 6 ice cream scoops of water. Chopped up a tomato and threw that in (juice and all) to cook with and flavor the quinoa. Put a stalk of celery in to flavor the quinoa (a friend suggested this might make my food taste salty, and she was right! I removed it after cooking because I don't really like the texture of celery, but you could also chop it up and add to the mix). Added a handful of cooked chickpeas (unsalted) just before the quinoa was done.
While quinoa was cooking, made this sauce:
1/2 an avocado
1 teaspoon lime juice (I like the pseudo salty taste of lime, but just a splash of it might suffice for someone who's not a salt fiend).
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons basil
1 clove garlic (a little overpowering, I would omit if you're not a big garlic fan)
a handful of chickpeas (unsalted)
-Blend this all in a food processor until smooth. I actually meant to add some kale to this mix for extra greens but forgot. It'd make it a bit bitter but probably still tasty.
Poured the sauce over the qunioa when done cooking. There you have it! Protein, healthy grains, veggies and no added salt, sugar or oil. And I actually ate and enjoyed it. Weird. Super flavorful and made me feel healthy :) 30 days... piece of (raw, unprocessed) cake.
My poor recipe writing skills aside (I basically just pour things in when I cook, so the above amounts are totally made up), I'm pretty sure I could be on the verge of a new career as an unprocessed vegan chef.
Today I decided to create my own recipe; if I'm going to do this unprocessed thing I have to trick my taste buds into thinking they're getting some salt. It actually turned out quite tasty, so I wanted to share:
Stephanie's quinoa avocado dish:
I cooked 3 ice cream scoops full of quinoa (all my measuring cups were dirty, and I was too hungry to wash them right then!) in 6 ice cream scoops of water. Chopped up a tomato and threw that in (juice and all) to cook with and flavor the quinoa. Put a stalk of celery in to flavor the quinoa (a friend suggested this might make my food taste salty, and she was right! I removed it after cooking because I don't really like the texture of celery, but you could also chop it up and add to the mix). Added a handful of cooked chickpeas (unsalted) just before the quinoa was done.
While quinoa was cooking, made this sauce:
1/2 an avocado
1 teaspoon lime juice (I like the pseudo salty taste of lime, but just a splash of it might suffice for someone who's not a salt fiend).
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons basil
1 clove garlic (a little overpowering, I would omit if you're not a big garlic fan)
a handful of chickpeas (unsalted)
-Blend this all in a food processor until smooth. I actually meant to add some kale to this mix for extra greens but forgot. It'd make it a bit bitter but probably still tasty.
Poured the sauce over the qunioa when done cooking. There you have it! Protein, healthy grains, veggies and no added salt, sugar or oil. And I actually ate and enjoyed it. Weird. Super flavorful and made me feel healthy :) 30 days... piece of (raw, unprocessed) cake.
My poor recipe writing skills aside (I basically just pour things in when I cook, so the above amounts are totally made up), I'm pretty sure I could be on the verge of a new career as an unprocessed vegan chef.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Day 1: Kids are gross
Today I started my official 30 days without processed foods.
I had a chocolate smoothie for breakfast (a few teaspoons of cocoa powder to cover up the taste of the green veggies that probably wouldn't taste great as a beverage). It was delicious. But the downside of nutrient rich fruits and veggies is they have no calories. I spent most of mid morning trying to get full off snacks of fruit, nuts, and finally, a bowl of chickpeas for lunch.
At this point I realized I probably needed groceries to make this work. I headed over to Sprouts to bag my own lentils and brown rice. In the midst of bagging some ground flax seed while looking longingly at the various kinds of delicious treats nearby, I noticed a child sticking his hands in a barrell of candy. He threw the candy up and down, digged his hands in deeper, picked up as much as he could and let it drop back into the communal barrell. I looked around in search of a parent for this child, and finally one yelled at him to get his hands out of there. I advise never touching communal containers full of candy. If you're going to eat sugary treats, spend the extra money on pre-packaged. It's not very green, but might save you some gross illnesses. I have enough doubt about a kid's desire to run their fingers through lentils or flax seed to trust those bins more.
I had picked out an unprocessed dessert recipe involving dates, which I quickly realized... I don't know what they look like. I briefly debated asking a store employee where I could find dates, but backed out for fear they'd interpret it romantically, as I didn't see anyone around that I was interested in, in that way.
I came home and made this for dinner. Yum! I totally have this unprocessed food thing down. Stay away from things kids like and touch and lick in public.
I had a chocolate smoothie for breakfast (a few teaspoons of cocoa powder to cover up the taste of the green veggies that probably wouldn't taste great as a beverage). It was delicious. But the downside of nutrient rich fruits and veggies is they have no calories. I spent most of mid morning trying to get full off snacks of fruit, nuts, and finally, a bowl of chickpeas for lunch.
At this point I realized I probably needed groceries to make this work. I headed over to Sprouts to bag my own lentils and brown rice. In the midst of bagging some ground flax seed while looking longingly at the various kinds of delicious treats nearby, I noticed a child sticking his hands in a barrell of candy. He threw the candy up and down, digged his hands in deeper, picked up as much as he could and let it drop back into the communal barrell. I looked around in search of a parent for this child, and finally one yelled at him to get his hands out of there. I advise never touching communal containers full of candy. If you're going to eat sugary treats, spend the extra money on pre-packaged. It's not very green, but might save you some gross illnesses. I have enough doubt about a kid's desire to run their fingers through lentils or flax seed to trust those bins more.
I had picked out an unprocessed dessert recipe involving dates, which I quickly realized... I don't know what they look like. I briefly debated asking a store employee where I could find dates, but backed out for fear they'd interpret it romantically, as I didn't see anyone around that I was interested in, in that way.
I came home and made this for dinner. Yum! I totally have this unprocessed food thing down. Stay away from things kids like and touch and lick in public.
Friday, 7 October 2011
Day 0
Yea it was supposed to be day 1. But I advise the Jewish Cultural Life Committee and they bought Challah today, including a vegan challah. It'd be rude of me as an advisor not to try it right?
Salt and sugar are definitely addictive.
Salt and sugar are definitely addictive.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
30 day challenge
For the next 30 days I am giving up sugar, salt, oil, and all processed foods.
In short, if it doesn't grow in the ground or on a tree, I'm not eating it. Already having a year of veganism under my belt, this might not seem like such a big deal. But I LOVE processed food, especially anything with sugar.
It's easy to be a vegan and rationalize that veganism is healthy and therefore it's okay to dump a pound of vegan margarine with several cups of sugar into a baked good, or to sneak shots of Himalayan sea salt into your mouth while cooking (actually, you don't have to sneak it if you live alone!). Rationalizing that oreos are vegan, and since I don't eat the tasty sugary treats with dairy or butter, it's okay to consume copious amounts of oreos because I had vegan sausage (a highly processed unnatural food) for breakfast.
Last night I went to a vegan cooking demo at a Whole Foods, with an amazing chef advocating an unprocessed diet. It's really not rocket science, if it's a chemical, it's not meant to be digested. Things that are highly processed, even if originally a natural ingredient, have the nutrients squeezed out of them and replaced with addictive quantities of salt, sugar and/or fats. And, as Chef AJ pointed out on the topic of dairy causing weight gain, "Drinking milk is for calves to turn into thousand pound cows."
I wouldn't be very good at being me if I didn't impulsively try to make huge lifestyle changes and start new blogs whenever I have nothing better to do with my free time.
I told my friend Marco I was giving up processed foods and he accused me of "being such a consumer," understandble since on a whim after sitting through Chef AJ's demo and buying her book, I decided to change my entire diet. But the REAL consumer Stephanie would buy addictive processed foods and let the food industry manipulate her into spending money on products that can barely be considered food that they insist, she needs.
At least, that's what I read in the book I bought yesterday.
Chef AJ writes in her book that most of us will probably continue to kill ourselves with processed crap marketed as food. She says if I'm not ready to change the way I eat, that's okay. She says some people would rather die than change.
And though I can see through her thinly veiled reverse psychology in Chapter three of Unprocessed, I am actually spiteful enough to buy into it. Supposedly it takes 30 days to change your palate, so I guess the trick here is get me to do it for 30 days and I'll miracoulously find kale delicious (I do find it delicious now, but only smothered in olive oil and salt) and never have any desire to go back to eating salt out of the shaker.
In preparation for Day 1 of my 30 day unprocessed challenge starting tomorrow, I went to the grocery store tonight for some spinach, kale, fruits, and other healthy crap that won't clog my arteries. It was a strange feeling depositing my items onto the conveyer belt. Normally, I avoid eye contact - you know that feeling when the cashier rings up your bottle of wine, tub of vegan margarine, and pack of oreos (when you went to the grocery store for some fresh veggies, but forgot them and then by the time you're at the register you don't want to walk allll the way back to produce)? Ahhh grocery guilt. A long time staple of my shopping trips. This time I felt... acceptance? pride? Whatever that feeling is when you're buying stuff that you're not ashamed of.
30 days starts in t-minus... 3 minutes! I'm off to finish labeling all the processed crap in my pantry with "This will kill you, but go ahead and eat it if you want," or "What would Chef AJ think?" (I don't actually want to throw the stuff out until I see how the 30 days goes). Wish me luck!
In short, if it doesn't grow in the ground or on a tree, I'm not eating it. Already having a year of veganism under my belt, this might not seem like such a big deal. But I LOVE processed food, especially anything with sugar.
It's easy to be a vegan and rationalize that veganism is healthy and therefore it's okay to dump a pound of vegan margarine with several cups of sugar into a baked good, or to sneak shots of Himalayan sea salt into your mouth while cooking (actually, you don't have to sneak it if you live alone!). Rationalizing that oreos are vegan, and since I don't eat the tasty sugary treats with dairy or butter, it's okay to consume copious amounts of oreos because I had vegan sausage (a highly processed unnatural food) for breakfast.
Last night I went to a vegan cooking demo at a Whole Foods, with an amazing chef advocating an unprocessed diet. It's really not rocket science, if it's a chemical, it's not meant to be digested. Things that are highly processed, even if originally a natural ingredient, have the nutrients squeezed out of them and replaced with addictive quantities of salt, sugar and/or fats. And, as Chef AJ pointed out on the topic of dairy causing weight gain, "Drinking milk is for calves to turn into thousand pound cows."
I wouldn't be very good at being me if I didn't impulsively try to make huge lifestyle changes and start new blogs whenever I have nothing better to do with my free time.
I told my friend Marco I was giving up processed foods and he accused me of "being such a consumer," understandble since on a whim after sitting through Chef AJ's demo and buying her book, I decided to change my entire diet. But the REAL consumer Stephanie would buy addictive processed foods and let the food industry manipulate her into spending money on products that can barely be considered food that they insist, she needs.
At least, that's what I read in the book I bought yesterday.
Chef AJ writes in her book that most of us will probably continue to kill ourselves with processed crap marketed as food. She says if I'm not ready to change the way I eat, that's okay. She says some people would rather die than change.
And though I can see through her thinly veiled reverse psychology in Chapter three of Unprocessed, I am actually spiteful enough to buy into it. Supposedly it takes 30 days to change your palate, so I guess the trick here is get me to do it for 30 days and I'll miracoulously find kale delicious (I do find it delicious now, but only smothered in olive oil and salt) and never have any desire to go back to eating salt out of the shaker.
In preparation for Day 1 of my 30 day unprocessed challenge starting tomorrow, I went to the grocery store tonight for some spinach, kale, fruits, and other healthy crap that won't clog my arteries. It was a strange feeling depositing my items onto the conveyer belt. Normally, I avoid eye contact - you know that feeling when the cashier rings up your bottle of wine, tub of vegan margarine, and pack of oreos (when you went to the grocery store for some fresh veggies, but forgot them and then by the time you're at the register you don't want to walk allll the way back to produce)? Ahhh grocery guilt. A long time staple of my shopping trips. This time I felt... acceptance? pride? Whatever that feeling is when you're buying stuff that you're not ashamed of.
30 days starts in t-minus... 3 minutes! I'm off to finish labeling all the processed crap in my pantry with "This will kill you, but go ahead and eat it if you want," or "What would Chef AJ think?" (I don't actually want to throw the stuff out until I see how the 30 days goes). Wish me luck!
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