I have not adopted a vegan or a vegetarian lifestyle. I still enjoy my fish, my eggs and milk in my caffeinated tea.  However, I enjoy these things less often.  After having lived like a vegan, I discovered some new foods and genuinely enjoy them.  While I ate tofu before, I always had it as a meat substitute.  When I was cleansing, I did not eat soy–I had to find other alternatives like beans and nuts.  And while some people go on and on about the health benefits of soy, I’m not convinced. Like everything else–meat, caffeine, dairy, alcohol–soy is okay in moderation.  

In fact, too much soy can be unhealthy. Not only do some experts think it can be linked to cancer and increased estrogen levels in women.  I cannot comment on these claims because I am not a nutritional expert or an expert on soy, but I would caution against always using soy as a meat substitute or as a protein.  

Unfortunately, though, after reading this release on soy from Health Canada I’m not sure I want to eat any soy anymore as Health Canada has approved genetically modified soy for sale.  

I’m not going off meat and soy will be a treat–not something I keep in the house. 

The final verdict?  One thumb down! Soy’s not soy good after all! (sorry–terrible pun?)

Have a look at this article from the UKs Telegraph

I thought that UCLA’s Dr. Arab made a great point that “if we can find a way to prevent the stroke, or prevent the damage, that is simple and not toxic, that would be a great advance.”

I am not opposed to conventional medicine, but if there is something natural that works, it’s a great thing.  For example, if I have a bad headache, I take advil or tylenol…but I wash it down with a cup of strong tea.  For me, the heat of the tea is very comforting.  Plus, if I have a bad headache I’m sensitive to some smells so anything strong smelling or sweet smelling (like some herbal teas) make me feel nautious.  I drink less tea since the cleanse, I think three cups of tea sounds reasonable…especially if it reduces my chances of stroke!

Thanks to Flickr for this pic!

Please check out this very interesting article in Time magazine about the benefits of a plant-based diet.

One great fact from Time’s Bryan Walsh:

“A meal at McDonald’s produces more carbon than your trip to the drive-through.” 

An interesting point: “The most efficient way to shrink the carbon footprint of your menu is to eat less meat, especially beef. Raising cattle takes a lot more energy than growing the equivalent amount of grains, fruits or vegetables: most produce requires about 2 calories of fossil-fuel energy to cultivate per 1 calorie of food energy; with beef, the ratio can be as high as 80 to 1. What’s more, the majority of cattle in the U.S. are reared on grain and loads of it–670 million tons in 2002–and the fertilizer used to grow that feed creates separate environmental problems.”

After reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma, my eyes were opened to the sorry diet that most cattle are receiving. But I wonder if a vegetarian world is the answer?  After all, if none of our land animals were eating, would this not produce problems?  What would happen to our wonderful Canadian beef farmers?  Our dairy farmers?  I think that people should eat less meat–it should be a side dish, perhaps, rather than a main–but I’m not convinced that meat should be removed from our diets altogether.

Instead of buying lunch on Thursday February 26, 2009, consider donating it! 

Check out this website for more info on Second Harvest’s Lunch Money Day 

Big thank to Breanna for bringing this worthwhile cause to my attention!

If you’re not sure what to make for dinner, try this easy recipe. I grew up with this dish and it has become a family favorite. It’s perfect for a dinner party because it can be left as a vegetarian main or have meat/fish added for extra protein.

Yields two servings.

Boil enough brown rice for two people (approximately 1/2 cup of uncooked rice per person).

1 tsp each of  cumin, chili powder and black pepper.

On a separate plate, arrange sides such as raw, cut-up vegetables like peas, red and yellow pepper, carrots etc.

On another plate, serve protein such as chicken, shrimp and/or sliced hard-boiled egg.  For vegetarians, raw nuts like almonds are a great alternative. Serve with a generous slice of lemon to squeeze over rice.

The picture below was taken at my mum’s place where I had spiced rice for dinner!  (We had hard-boiled egg and almonds for protein and sliced, raw peppers, orange, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots and celery).

Whether you’re diet rehab-bing, vegan, vegetarian or maybe just have severe allergies, you spend a lot of time thinking about food. As I have noted in previous entries, going out for the day is difficult if you have any dietary concerns and there are times when brown-bagging is the only way to go.  

I have also mentioned how difficult eating out can be–it’s difficult to find appropriate items on the menu.  But it’s also hard to wave goodbye to your social life just because you’re choosing to eat differently.  What’s the happy medium?

After trying a few vegan/vegetarians restaurants myself, I understand why carnivores prefer not to dine at them (apart from the odd self-righteous vegan and canvas shoe–wink). Since the majority of my friends and family are meat-eaters I feel that if I’m invited to someone’s place, it’s my duty to mention if I’m not eating meat or if I have an allergy to something and I would follow up that up with an offer to bring something to the dinner party.  

Going to a restaurant is different–or so I thought. The other evening–at a high-end Toronto restaurant known for steak and seafood–I noticed a woman pull out a tupperware container and start to eat her dinner. I was appalled and thought that it was the height of rudeness.  

Why would she agree to come to that particular restaurant if she’s vegan/vegetarian? If her friends really wanted to eat with her (but also have meat) wouldn’t it have been better for her (the veggie) to eat at home and maybe just order a salad and a drink while her friends ate dinner? Or, remind her friends that she doesn’t eat meat and suggest they dine somewhere else? 

I would love to know your opinions on this issue–am I totally wrong?

I received an email from someone about chocolate mug cake and it struck me as something interesting to share.  Following Meghan’s advice, I no longer use my microwave–it is still in my kitchen, but is unplugged. I have read a bit on microwaving and since it does not make my food any better, I decided it is not worth it–especially since it sometimes makes food worse. Apart from taste, etc., the worse thing about microwaving (for me) is how quickly food heats up, only to cool down so quickly. When I heat things in the oven, they seem to retain their heat for longer periods of time. Additionally, it bothers me when microwaved food changes as it cools. Sometimes starchy foods like pasta either get super-floppy or unusually crisp. Either way, I don’t like it.

I would never indulge in the following recipe because it seems quite disgusting:

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar 
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

“Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at anytime of the day or night!”

I have problem with this recipe for a few reasons (besides the fact that it’s microwaved). 
(1) I am trying to get away from foods being ‘bad’, ‘forbidden’, ‘dangerous’ and ’sinful.’  Food cannot be any of these things and it is a bad habit to get into relating eating–even unhealthy or unwise eating–with morality.
(2) No one needs chocolate cake at any time of day or night. To think in these terms is, again, dangerous and also gluttonous. As Meghan has helped me to see, there is nothing wrong with wanting to have cake (within reason), but go about it in a healthy way. Take time to prepare a great cake with good quality ingredients and invite friends and family over to share–don’t make sad and personal cake in a coffee mug.

Please check out this article from CTV.

There is going to be a lot of publicity surrounding ‘healthy’ foods as Heart and Stroke week approaches.  According to CTV,  Canadians are paying between double and nearly six times the average price for healthy foods, depending on where they live.

The report finds price discrepancies across Canada and within provinces. It also found many Canadians have difficulty accessing healthy foods at their local grocery store. 

One of the most startling differences is the prices of apples: six apples cost $0.90 in Peterborough, Ont., but $7.64 in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Obviously, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet decreases your chances of heart and stroke dramatically–but, for some Canadians, healthy eating truly is not an option.

Big thanks to Breanna for passing along this article from The Toronto Star. 

Writer Vanessa Lu reports on the idea of growing organic food in public spaces like on the side of the Gardiner or on grassy medians like those on University Avenue. 

It’s a great idea, but I’m not sure I would be so enthusiastic about eating a salad that had been washed in commuter traffic pollution.  The idea of growing locally is great, but it has to be practical and I just don’t see how this would work.  

In addition to the problem with pollution, who would do the weeding and other necessary care for the plants? How would the food be sold? How would theft be prevented? Would it cause yet more rodent infestations in our city?  

Details aside, I love the idea of garden sharing. I do not have any green space and it’s something I dearly miss once summer hits the city.  Does anyone in the Annex need help in their garden?  I would be interested in an exchange of labour for food!

So last week I wrote about how disappointing carob “chocolate” is in place of chocolate.  Thanks to Jane–who suggested I try Dance in the Rain Chocolate–I found some fantastic, organic, guilt-free chocolate. 

This week, my friend Nicki suggested cocoa bean chips.  Since the chips are made from whole, cracked cocoa beans, there are no unwanted extras like white sugar or other nasty additives or preservatives. The chips are not sweet at all, but they provide all of the chocolate-y goodness I sometimes crave and they smell so good!

The cocoa chips do not get two thumbs up over the Dance in the Rain chocolate, but they’re a good alternative and better than carob! 

Thanks to Panos Voudouris on Flickr for the pic!