The V Word

Hi everyone!  It's time for a lesson.  This lesson is not for the vegans.  This is for the people who think they are vegan even though they aren't.  I am sure I am not the only person who has written a blog post about what a vegan is.  And I am sure I won't be the last.  But here it is: my talk about what it is to be a vegan.

Here's the reason for the lesson on what a vegan is: over the past few years, there have been an increasing number of people who say they are vegan, but then say that they eat eggs or wear leather, etc.  I have even heard of people saying they are vegan part time, but then eat meat on the weekends.  But here's the thing - if you are engaging in any of those activities, you are not a vegan.  In the last case, you aren't even a vegetarian.

Let's break down some things:

Vegetarian: A vegetarian is one who doesn't eat meat.  Yes, that includes chicken, fish, turkey and shellfish.  If it was at one point an animal, vegetarians don't eat it.  If you eat eggs, milk or dairy you are still a vegetarian.

Strict vegetarian (also called plant-based diet): A strict vegetarian, or person who follows a plant based diet, does not eat any meat, eggs, dairy, or other animal ingredients in any way shape or form.  Their diet revolves around fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and other plant based foods.  However, they will still use animal products in their clothes, makeup, hair care products and other aspects of daily life.

Vegan: Simply put, a vegan is one who does not eat any animal products and doesn't wear fur or leather or any other item made out of animals.  They use makeup, hair care products and other items that are free from animal products and that are not tested on animals.  Vegans are ethically opposed to the use of animals in the forms of circuses, zoos and other areas where animals are seen as property instead of sentient beings.  Vegans believe that all non-human animals deserve to be treated with love, respect and dignity.


So, if you are reading this post and wondering what a vegan is, hopefully that clears it up.  If not, talk to me.  Ask me questions.  I want to help people learn everything they can about being vegan, and hopefully educate people enough that they wish to transition to veganism.  Because, really, the more vegans there are in the world, the better.

Recipe Share - Guacamole

Hi all!  So, we all know that sometimes buying certain items at the grocery store can cost an arm and a leg.  I balk at how expensive it is to get guacamole.  So, in an effort to help you out with some good, less expensive guacamole, here's a recipe:

1/2 avocado per person (you can use 1 per person of they are small or you just really, really love guacamole.  No judgements ;)
1 lemon
1 clove of garlic
1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne pepper 

Make sure the avocado(s) you are using are ripe.  Mash up the avocados - this can easily be done with a fork.  Squeeze the lemon over the mashed avocado.  Finely chop the garlic and add that.  Add the cayenne pepper and mix it all together.  Enjoy!

You can always add or substitute other items depending on what kind of flavor you want your guacamole to have.

Chickpea Sandwich Recipe

Who loves chickpeas?  I sure do!  If you love chickpeas, you are in for a real treat.  This is my version of a chickpea sandwich I first tasted at a coffee shop in Fargo that I love.  I made it up so that I could eat it whenever I wanted!

This sandwich mix will make three sandwiches, easy.  But let’s be real: if you are anything like me, you’ll want to eat it all yourself!

You need:

1 15 oz can of chickpeas

3 tablespoons of vegenaise

3 tablespoons of mustard

½ teaspoon paprika

Vegan bread

Drain the chickpeas and pour them in a bowl.  Mash them up slightly with a fork, then mix in the vegenaise, mustard and paprika.  You can change the amounts if you’d like, depending on what flavor you want the mix to have.  Once you have it all mixed up, warm it up slightly and scoop some onto some very lightly toasted bread and enjoy! 

Hummus Recipe

You love hummus – admit it!  But, you know that buying hummus at the store can get expensive.  So, here’s a way to make your own and save money.

You will need:

1 15 oz can of chickpeas (organic if you can find it)

1 Lemon

A couple tablespoons of tahini

1 clove of garlic

Drain the chickpeas and pour them in a food processor.  Add two or three tablespoons of tahini and pulse them together.  Squeeze in some lemon juice and add the garlic clove and pulse them into the chickpeas and tahini. 

Additions:

If you want to mix it up, you can add in some other things like cayenne pepper, diced up red pepper or anything else that you love in hummus.

Once it’s done, enjoy!  Since this hummus is fresh, it should be enjoyed within a couple of days as that is when it tastes best. 

Composting

This is more of an environmental post, but it's still something every vegan should think about.

Even if you've never tried it, you've probably at least heard of composting.  It is something that more and more people are doing.  Composting can cut way down on the garbage and thus decrease the amount of things that end up sitting in a large pile at the landfill.

How do you compost, you ask?  Easy, peasy!

1. Get or build a simple container.  You can even make it out of chicken wire.

2. Get the ingredient mix right.  Compost piles should have a mix of brown and green material.

3. Take care of your compost pile.  Run little shovel through it and mix it around every week or two to keep it "fresh."

Since I am a compost newb, here is a link to a site that goes more in depth about how to compost:

http://www.planetnatural.com/composting-101/


And here are some images that tell you what you can put in your compost pile and WHY you should compost.

Thrifty Shoes

Since the point of this blog is to save money being vegan, I am going to take a minute to write about shoes that are inexpensive.  This is not a food related post, but important nonetheless.



How many of you love to buy shoes?  I don't, but I'm not much for shopping in general.  Okay, that's a lie - kind of.  I love to shop for books and new yarn.  But stick me in a shoe or clothing store and I get a bit uncomfortable.  I like to know what I need before hand so I can get in and out as quickly as possible.



Well, that being said, we all know that shoes are a necessity.  I live in a cold weather state, so for many months out of the year, it's not possible to be outside without shoes.  However, it can be tough to find sturdy, inexpensive, (warm), vegan shoes. 


http://www.gojane.com - There are a lot of really cute vegan shoes here that are inexpensive.  My favorite is the sneaker section.


http://www.lulu.com - If you are one of those ladies who loves sparkly, feminine shoes, lulu.com has a great selection of vegan shoes that are cute!


http://www.planetshoes.com/vegan - This site has a host of vegan shoes to choose from. 


If you don't like shopping online, have no fear: Payless shoes is like heaven for vegans.  They have tons of shoes made from man made materials, that are completely affordable!  A lot of times, you can score vegan shoes for $10 or less.

Menu Planning and Cooking

I started out this post thinking about how cooking in bulk and in advance could save you money, but in reality that's a better time saver than anything.  So, this is *mostly* about menu planning with some cooking advice thrown in.

Have you ever gone to the grocery store hungry?  Have you ever purchased items only to throw them out because you didn't use them?  I think everyone is guilty of doing this. 

To eliminate food waste, here are some things you should do:

1. Don't shop while you're hungry.  I know, this is a cliche, but it's true.  When I shop while hungry, I spend more money on food that I don't eat, and it's a waste of money, and a waste of food.  You can save yourself even just a little bit of money by NOT shopping while you are hungry.

2. Make a list, and stick to it.  Sit down before you go grocery shopping and write down everything you need.  When you go to the store, by the items on your list.  If you start veering from the list, the money can really add up. 

3. Plan your weekly menu before you go shopping.  By doing this, you will also be able to stick to your list, because you will know exactly what you are eating for the week.  Make sure you add a variety of items to your menu.  It is important to get variety even while saving money.


These items can help you save money on food in the long run.  Something else you can do to save yourself some TIME is to cook in advance.  For example, take a look at your menu and check what you'll be eating Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Cook the meals for those three days in advance.  You can freeze the items and pull them out the morning of.  You'll have time to do other things on these days instead.

Now, what are you waiting for: get out and plan those menus ;)