Veg Option Allies and Advocates - Vegetarian Food Festival NYC

Nicole Eisenberg has been a vegan advocate for seven years. Realizing how difficult it could be for those with a plant-based lifestyle to have conversations with omnivores, she founded Veg Option Allies & Advocates (VOAA).

VOAA aims to knock down walls between vegans and non-vegans by joining them together to break bread at delicious events to respectfully engage in conversation.

Hear more about VOAA and upcoming events from Nicole at the Vegetarian Food Festival in NYC.

http://www.voaa.org

Social Media @vegallies

Sweet and Spicy Cauliflower Karaage with Scallion Pancakes

I love the reduced produce section of my supermarket. I always end up with a ton of something random for really cheap. This time it was cauliflower. I had JUST finished watching an episode of Shokugeki no Soma where there was a karaage competition, and I was inspired!

Plant Based Cool Chocolate Mint Cake Topped with Pudding and Strawberries

When I want treats, I just mix things together in the kitchen. I'm no chef, and I don't do measurements. I've just cooked enough in my life to know what amounts sorta work, what causes issues, how textures and thicknesses of batters are supposed to be, etc. So if you are new to baking, or meticulous about measurements, you will hate me. 

But if you are an experienced, clean eating, and plant-based kind of person, the experiments I do around here will give you some ideas. One day I will get more organized for a cookbook, until then, meh.

This chocolate, peppermint gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free, egg-free, dairy-free, oil-free and sugar-free cake with a coconut cream pudding and fresh strawberries was such a wonderful summer goodie. It actually would have been better if the mint was put in the pudding, and not baked in with the cake, but still tasty. 

Gluten Free, Soy Free Asian Dumplings and Noodles

I never spend time cooking for just myself. Seems like a whole lot of time wasted just to eat. Eh, I don't need to impress myself with a fancy meal. If it can't get thrown together in less than 10 minutes or be put in a slow cooker, I don't want it.

However, after I saw a recipe for gluten free dumpling skins from Girl With Spoons official website, I had to get busy! I am not gluten intolerant, just a little sensitive to it, so I try to save my gluten for certain meals I must have and can't make good enough gluten free.

Kickin' Creamy Raw Carrot Pasta Sauce

• Fresh baby carrots

• Cashews (sunflower seeds work well too if allergies are an issue)

• Paprika

• Thyme

• Hemp seed powder (why not?)

• Garlic powder

• Black pepper

• Cayenne pepper (omit if you don't want your pasta kickin'!)

• Sea salt

• Water  

Awesome Accidental Vegan Instant Pudding

This creation started after a botched smoothie a few months ago. The Indian markets in my neighborhood have Psyllium Husk, which had a packaging that had always intrigued me. I like old school graphics, and they sold me. I looked up what exactly it was, and it turns out, its pretty damned good for me too, so I picked up a box. 

Psyllium Husk is the husk of the seed of the Plantago herb. It it a good source of fiber, and has a lot of intestinal and colon cleansing benefits. Seemed like a good thing to put into my smoothies, so I made one of my favorites; peanut butter banana rice milk. I sprinkled a bit of the husks and chia seeds in it and Vitamixed it up adding rice milk as necessary until it was slightly less thick than I wanted it to be. Chia seeds tend to soak up moisture and thicken it after it sits.

Better Belly, Gut Healing Juice

I've been feeling all shades of whack since a gluten intolerance has sprung up. The more that I research about gluten and symptoms, the more sense the way I have been feeling makes. 

Gluten seems to be tied in with a bunch of little things, and even cutting it out for the few days that I have so far has me feeling improved. In those that are gluten intolerant, a reaction happens that blocks the absorption of vital nutrients and minerals such as Vitamin B12, Vitamin-D, Calcium and Zinc. As a vegetarian who doesn't eat dairy, these are very important to me as they are the ones I need to go out of my way to make sure I'm getting. If gluten is blocking them from me, it could be responsible for a mess of gunk I've been going through. Plus some vitamins are responsible for the absorption or process of other vitamins, so your body can get deficient in one if you're deficient in the other. SCIENCE!!!

Why March Against Monsanto? Millions Protest Memorial Day Weekend

This Memorial Day weekend several million people all around the globe gathered for a worldwide march against multinational chemical, pesticide, herbicide and agricultural biotech company, Monsanto.

March Against Monsanto - Union Square, NYC

Monsanto is known for it's production of Saccharine, Agent Orange, Pesticides, Herbicides and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). All of which are associated with various cancers, allergies, intolerances, and chronic illnesses.

In the case of Agent Orange, diseases and disorders have occurred in Vietnam soldiers who were physically exposed to it, as well as their offspring conceived after the war. In Vietnam, citizens continue to get sick, and birth defects have become the norm land as well.

(Related - What is GMO?)

So why is a chemical company with a less than desirable track record in charge of our food supply? With chronic diseases, illnesses and medical issues on the rise, people are beginning to question their food. How is it made, where does it come from, and is it safe? With all roads leading back to Monsanto, concerned citizens have taken to the streets to ask questions, start discussions, bring awareness, and ultimately come together to grow a safer, healthier world without GMO's, pesticides and harmful chemicals in our environment.

What Foods Are Eating You?

photo by mst7022 - CC BY 2.0

Eating is something we do every day and sometimes even take for granted. Some of us also have spoiled our taste buds and are so set in our ways that we find it hard, impossible or unnecessary to modify our diets. It is usually for that reason that we don't attribute a new, sick feeling to something we have always eaten in the past. It is possible to get new sensitivities to old foods. I am living proof! Cue lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity, and soy allergy. Really, body?! I can still eat gluten, but I turn into a raging bitch for about three days. Different foods have an effect on our moods, but that is a different post entirely.

We are all unique with unique bodies and internal plumbing. What is good for you, may not be good for your neighbor. What was good for you yesterday may not be what will be good for you tomorrow. Maybe you have been feeling mucky lately and not sure why. Maybe you feel good, but are not against the idea that it is possible for you to feel even better.  Whatever the case, here are some simple things you can do to figure out how to be gentler on your tummy...

Green Festival Keeps On Giving

This passed weekend I went to Green Festival in NYC.  went there with my video camera and microphone to get some interviews, and shoot some footage for a YouTube channel I'd like to connect to my blog. Unfortunately, my computer isn't handling Final Cut Pro very well, and it will take longer than expected. I hope I don't have the great exhibitors I met waiting too long!

Otherwise, I spent this week organizing all of the reading materials, coupons, business cards and free samples. There sure was a lot to take in at the festival!

I only wish that I had more money to bring home a lot more than free samples. Although, not for nothing, those free samples came in very handy this week.

Green Festival in NYC This Weekend

Buy tickets at tickets.greenfestivals.org

Green Festival, in cooperation with Green America and the Global Exchange, is America's largest and longest-running sustainability and green living event. For the past 13 years, Green Festival has committed to helping people and communities in America find solutions for living that are physically, socially, economically and environmentally healthy.

The Green Festival launches its third year in New York City April 26 through the 27th at a new venue, Pier 94 with other dates in four cities around the country in the upcoming months. With Earth Day just passing on the 22nd, let's keep it going every day by soaking up some fresh ideas and inspiration at Green Festival! Tickets are only $10 for an incredible event that will change the way you think about your everyday decisions. In addition, this coupon code for 50% off (at the time of posting) makes it even easier for you to save a little green. Use code NATAWKNY14 at checkout. 

At Green Festival, there is the widest selection of services and products that fully support a green lifestyle from work to play. Expect to see exhibits of fashion, food, health, construction, and design. Enjoy vegetarian and vegan cooking demos as well as a meatless food court, a sustainable wine and beer garden, educational activities for kids, discussion panels, inspirational speakers, live entertainment and more green fun than you can shake a daisy at...

FREE Health and Wellness E-books

You know what they say, if it's free it's for me! I am always digging around for free stuff, and now that I have a Kindle app on my phone, it makes getting my e-book on really easy. 

Currently on Amazon, the following Kindle books are free. Thanks to Amazon Cloud Reader, and Kindle Apps for phones and desktops, you don't need a Kindle to enjoy an e-read.

I skimmed through most of these, so I can't give you a review of any of them. I always download things that get decent Amazon reviews, and are FREE. There is always something useful inside, information I can use as reference, or something that sparks some ideas. All good things! Click on the any book cover to view it on Amazon. 

I have a whole jar of quinoa I don't know what to do with. Rice and pasta is not something I eat much of these days, and thought I'd give quinoa a try for something different. Every time I make it, I ruin it, so I'm hoping this book can give me a few ideas for improvement!    

While I don't subscribe to any particular diet (Paleo, Gluten Free, Atkins, etc), I think there are benefits to incorporating a bit of their principles into your lifestyle. Since I don't eat much in the way of bready types these days, and want to incorporate more fresh foods into my life, I was intrigued by this no-cook gluten-free book. I'm not the type of person to follow a recipe, by the way. I don't think anyone should feel intimidated by recipes and measurements. To me, they are all just a basic guide. Except when you are baking, then it's like a freaking science lab you need to be specific about!

First Crack at DIY Pistachio Milk - WIN!

So, I'm a Vegetarian Now.

I never thought that I would, but in the last few months I started eating wayyy less meat. I'll have fish on occasion but otherwise I've been getting creative with making meatless foods with a good degree of success. Vegan recipes are helpful although I am not vegan. I still eat eggs as well as yogurts and cheeses in small amounts because I'm lactose intolerant. I try to make these things organic because it if I'm going to eat animal products, I would like them to be of a little higher quality.

Why the change? I was always into the different effects that natural food has on the body, and have been researching and reading about such for years. From there, I eventually found my way into documentaries about our food and the business of it.

After watching how animals and food were being handled in factory-farms, I felt a little squeamish. Not because of any emotional or physical stress on the animals (although, that's upsetting an upsetting symptom of high meat demand) but the fact that my meat could be dirty or contaminated with germs and a ridiculous amount of grossness. Between unsanitary conditions, animals being pumped full of who-knows-what, arsenic in chicken feed, and my fruits/vegetables being genetically modified, I was skeeved out, man. Totally skeeved out.

Avoid Wearing Santas Pants This Christmas

Christmas is an evil evil Holiday. If you are visiting family, friends, or work in an office with a cafeteria, people are going to have treats and desserts all over the place. Recipes full of eggs, cream, butter, Butter and more BUTTER. Things covered with chocolate and filled with peanut butter makes this holiday one big fat fest.

Why do you think Santa is a fat jolly man? He takes all the cookies left out for him on Christmas and eats them ALL YEAR. I think he might appreciate if you would cut some of the fat for him.

An Apple a Day Makes the Doctor Stay

I've seen on the news the last two days how they have found high levels of unsafe arsenic in commercial apple and grape juice. I didn't know there was "safe" arsenic! Brands that exceeded the limit include Apple & Eve, Motts, Walmart's Great Value, Walgreens and Welch's. Some even contained lead!

Arsenic in Apple Juice: A New Report Suggests Widespread Exposure

Tsk. Tsk. We already know that since processed foods were introduced that heart disease, diabetes and many cancers have been on the rise. This is just another reason to go fresh, and go organic if you ask me. Organic samples did not test positive for unsafe amounts of arsenic. Hmm... wonder if it has anything to do with the freaking pesticides.

I'm going to make my own apple juice to play it safe. In ancient times apple seeds were ground up and used to make poison by assassins and such murderous douches. It takes a lot seeds to make a deadly batch, but wow. This is because apple seeds contain small amounts of cyanide. While we are protected by the seeds hard shell, chew them up and you'll be exposed to the toxin. Since my juicer grinds up seeds, and sometimes stuff gets into the juice, it may be a good idea to core the apple first. I may be paranoid, and it is said that our bodies can easily detoxify the small amounts of cyanide we consume in seeds, but I say there aren't enough conclusive long term studies on the subject to be sure. Everyone's body is different from the next, and who's to say that any one person wont detoxify efficiently and have the toxin build up and weaken their system over time?? Better safe than sorry.

The farmers market at Union Square in NYC has a 3lb bag of apples for ONE DOLLAR. Ima shove them in my juicer and call it a day.