My Struggle with Transitioning My Kids to Vegan Eating

I struggle a lot with whether or not I should be more proactive in ensuring that my kids eat only vegan meals, even though we eat a lot better as a family than we did just two short years ago.  Like I mentioned in a previous post, it's routine for my boys to eat a vegan diet at home, but when I send them out into the world, that's a different story.

My two oldest sons spend about two weekends a month (and holidays) in Maryland with their dad, who is not a vegan/vegetarian.  They have an awesome dad, and enjoy their visits, but often return home vomiting or complaining about stomach aches since eating on those visits is very different.  My kids don't eat meat or much fast food here, so their little bodies go into shock when those foods are reintroduced. 

The logical response may be to pack their food for the weekend, but I know in the long run this biweekly task isn't very realistic (at least 8 meals and snacks would need to be packed).  Or, I could ask their dad to not give them any dairy, eggs, or meat, but that may be overwhelming being that he isn't a vegan. Also, since I refuse to allow anyone to tell me what to feed my kids, I owe him the same respect as their father. 

I know my children weren't born into a vegan household, but that still isn't an excuse for me not to teach them about food as I learn. One of the major reasons a vegan lifestyle is important for our family is for health reasons, but there are a few other concerns I have that cause me to battle myself about them consuming animal products.

Some of those ethical reasons are:

Knowing that much of the grain production in this country is being given to cattle raised for food opposed to starving humans is unsettling to me.

Knowing that nearly 70% of deforested land in the Amazon is exploited for grazing, resulting in destruction of fragile ecosystems and excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is unsettling to me. Source

Knowing that diseased animals are being exploited and forced to live in tight quarters to line the pockets of food companies in bed with the government is unsettling to me.

I wish I could write this with a clear solution for other families that may be going through this very thing, but as of now, I don't have any solid answers.  

I guess the point of this post is to show that everything isn't always perfect when adapting to this way of eating; especially when you're a blended family.

Thanks for reading! Any suggestions or feedback is greatly appreciated.  Leave a comment below or connect with me on Facebook or Twitter.

Want to see me cook delicious vegan meals with my family?  Subscribe to my Youtube channel to stay up to date.

Loving Bulk Bins

I discovered the appeal of bulk bins last year after my grocery store ran out of pre-packaged almonds.  I never paid much attention to this area and was surprised at the variety of products offered.

Save money

The bulk bins can get expensive if you don't weigh your products before buying.  I write out my menu and estimate the amount of cups I need before pulling the lever or grabbing the shovel.

On average,  I spend about $50 per month on raw organic nuts, grains, and seeds. That may sound like a lot of money, but keep in mind that we're a family of five and not buying meat, eggs or dairy.  The money we would typically spend in those areas is being diverted to more whole foods.

Be sure to store your bulk bins finds in a dark, air-tight and cool location.

Exploring new options

I don't think I would have been so open to try quinoa (which I love now!) or couscous, if it wasn't for the bulk bins.  I purchased about a 1/2 cup of both and experimented at home. Both purchases came up to about a $1 each.

My grocery store also offers bulk tea!

We (me & The Hubs) drink tea daily and save a lot of money by purchasing the loose-leaf tea in the bulk area. I shovel out my desired amount, weigh it, and spend only about $6 per month.

When it comes to tea, don't let the per pound amount scare you off. My store has tea ranging from $20 per lb to $200! You would need a whole lot of tea to ever pay that expensive amount. According to the labels, a half pound of tea will get you 90-100 cups.

Recent tea run-this will last about 2 weeks

 Talk to y'all later. I have a cup of tea waiting for me.

Happy bulk shopping!

What are your bulk bin favorites? Do you feel like you're saving money?  Let's discuss it in the comments below or on my Facebook or Twitter page.

Vegan While Out: Asian Diner-Lunch with Fam

I had lunch with my sisters and cousin yesterday and they discuss eating tofu for the first time. Enjoy!

Don't forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel for recipes and food talk. 

What I ate:

Basic salad with lettuce, cucumber & red onion

Dressing was tomato, carrots, and ginger

Avocado Roll

Sesame Tofu-lightly battered fried tofu with sesame seeds and broccoli 

Happy New Year! Start Today

I hope everyone had a great holiday. I did some organizing, cleaning, and worked on Day #1 of the 31 Day Reset Your Life challenge.  I've never been big on resolutions but I do want to make some improvements in the new year.

I plan to read more for fun and education, spend less time online (that will be a challenge for me-Can we say ADDICTED?), explore more raw vegan meal options, exercise more (blah! lol), keep my vision board up to date, and go back to school.

This is also the time of year many people focus on improving their diet and health.

What can you do TODAY to start making changes to your diet?

*Make smoothies-Start off your day with an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables or make a smoothie for a snack opposed to reaching for sugary foods. Smoothies are excellent in helping to lose weight and a natural energy booster.

*Replace your cow milk with nut milks like almond, soy, or hemp for cooking. Cow's milk is designed for the development of a 400 pound calf.  Cows wouldn't drink our milk, so why are we drinking theirs? Further information on why dairy shouldn't be the standard

*Replace your dairy based butters with a vegan margarine like Earth Balance.  The taste is the same and you won't notice the difference by making this simple change.

*Replace at least one meal per week with beans- Beans are very inexpensive and filling, so consider them when making tacos, burritos, or any other dish calling for shredded chicken or ground beef. Not only will you save money per pound, but your body will likely digest the vegetable protein more efficiently than from animal sources.

This year, I will strive to bring you many delicious meals that focus on convenience and cost without sacrificing taste or your wallet. I will also focus on why vegan eating is so important to our health, human & animal rights, and the environment.

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Any questions or suggestions? Leave a comment below or let's connect on Twitter.

I truly appreciate all of your support this past year and look forward to working with all of you.

Lots of love,

Monique

Checking Ingredients

When I first eliminated dairy from my diet, checking labels for everything became overwhelming.  Unlike many people who check labels for vitamins and calories, I was looking for milk and other animal byproducts. I never realized items as simple as bread and spaghetti sauce contained so much dairy and eggs.

Recent grocery store finds

Here's a few tips to make your next grocery trip a little smoother: 

There's no need for label reading when you do the majority of your shopping in the produce section-Find meals centered-around produce, grains, and legumes to not only save money, but ensure that you're getting a well rounded plant-based diet.  Also, it's easier to stay on a food budget when you hang out in the produce or near the bulk bins. Now that the weather is getting colder (at least it is here) you can focus on making veggie soups and stews from items found in these sections. 

USDA labels makes it easier-Since so many people have food allergies, companies are now required to list ingredients such as milk, soy, and eggs in bold print on their labels.  This works out very well for me in the store because I can quickly get an idea of the major ingredients to avoid.

Find a brand you like and stick with it- Once you find a vegan-friendly brand you enjoy, stick with it to save time while grocery shopping.

Don't be hard on yourself- Changing the way you eat is a journey, not a race. Making simple changes like using nut-based milks opposed to dairy milk, buying more produce, and going meatless on Mondays, are all steps in the right direction.

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