Good Morning! I just woke up and made a quick waffle breakfast before getting on the road to go home. I’m happy to go home today/tonight because this week has been exhausting and I need some r&r! Hopefully the weather will be nice today to just lay by the pool and read. Ryan is on the board for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and today is one of their events, so at 12:00 we will be driving some young girls with cancer to the mall for a “shopping spree” and then picking them up around 3:00. Its always pretty humbling to be around these kids because it makes me realize how small the things are that I complain about! These kids have the most wonderful spirit and positive attitude.
For breakfast I toasted up two of my new Flax Plus waffles (lifestream brand) and ate them with maple syrup, banana and a small cup of hemp milk. What a sweet and tasty breakfast!
Alright–gotta get on the road!
VeggieGirl
February 24, 2008 at 1:56 pmAww, so nice that you’ll be able to go home for some much-needed R&R – enjoy every minute of it!! And that shopping-spree sounds amazing – those girls are lucky to have such a caring individual like you, to take them to the mall!! That’s so heartwarming and wonderful.
Enjoy your breakfast meal; and most importantly, enjoy the rest of your weekend! :0)
kay
February 24, 2008 at 2:55 pmThat is really nice of you and Ryan! I feel the same way, we really do worry about little things.. I know that but sometimes I forget and get frustrated!!
What recipes do you like the most from “Yogi in the Kitchen”? I just bought the book for $5.99 on amazon (new!) and it is coming to me soon!! I am so exited! I also bought Veganomicon… $$
Have you noticed any changes since you became a vegitarian again, like more energy etc??
Have a nice relaxing Sunday!! 🙂
Sara
February 24, 2008 at 3:29 pmThat is very nice of you guys, I love volunteering and feeling like I am actually making a difference in someone’s life.
I am not a vegetarian anymore (was for four years when I was a teen) but I have to say that your blog has been even more interesting to me since you’ve gone back – I think I am headed back in that direction and am definitely going to pick up Veganomicon soon!
Question for anyone who wants to provide some advice:
I recently started a new job – my old one allowed me to prepare a lot of food at work and eat more elaborate snacks at my leisure so I became spolied with that! Now I am insanely busy and have a lot less time so I need more ‘snacks on the go’ that hold me over longer. I’ve been doing things like Kashi crackers or carrots with hummus, apples or bananas with peanut butter, trail mix, etc. but find that they don’t keep me full too long. And sometimes I want more of a ‘treat’.
So anyway I cam across these two different bars, both are very low in calorie and high in protein and fiber:
http://www.thelowcarbgrocery.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=132_23_283&products_id=1825&osCsid=b5fcfe0b82ab3095e1168af2636f086a
http://www.thelowcarbgrocery.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=132_23_266&products_id=1708&osCsid=b5fcfe0b82ab3095e1168af2636f086a
Have any of you tried these? I am really bad with ingredients, so if anyone can offer some insight on how good the ingredients are/if you have tried them, or if you can recommend anything better that would be great! 🙂
living2thetruth
February 24, 2008 at 3:59 pmI need to lose weight, and a friend told me to try weight watchers. I am allowed 18 “points” per day (400 breakfast, 300 lunch, 400 dinner, 100 snack) and I am starving! Is it normal to always hungry when trying to lose weight? I am eating high fiber foods, but still so hungry.
Ashley H
February 24, 2008 at 4:30 pmLiving the Truth- The diet your on only allows you to eat 1200 calories. Thats pretty low that could be why youre hungry. You could also look into also getting more food for your assigned calories. Like eating loads of vegetables. Also dont fall for diet food. Eat healthy whole foods and you’ll notice the difference!
Annie
February 24, 2008 at 4:34 pmSara, I looked up those bars you were looking at, and saw the ingredients list. Its pretty long, with a lot of words that you cant realy say (which is never good) Im not an expert by any means, but I put “fractionated palm kernel oil” into google., and from the results I got back I believe that its basicly the same thing as partially hydrogenated oil (bad fats).
I would suggest for just a couple calories more to try some bars from kashi, they have all natural ingredients, no high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils, and they do hold you pretty long.
HOpe that helps, but again Im not an expert on these things, but if you just type some of the ingredients into google you can get a pretty good idea to what some of them are. Ive found that alot of the time low cal foods have a lot of junk addd to them that you dont really want in your body.
Ashley H
February 24, 2008 at 4:36 pmHey Jenna I was wondering what goes through your mind when you are putting together a grocery list? ( like do you buy just enough to last you through the week or what?) Thanks
SawSaw
February 24, 2008 at 5:05 pmSara-
You should try Gnu Bars–they are low in calorie (130-140 calories per bar) and really high in fiber (12 grams). Go to http://www.gnufoods.com
-SawSaw
Meghan
February 24, 2008 at 5:11 pmHey all, I have to do a persuasive speech for school. I wanted to do something about nutrition. I was thinking about how vegetarians are all-around more healthy than meat eaters (even though I eat meat) but I’m not sure. Does anyone have any ideas on a topic or any helpful websites or articles that could support my original idea? Thanks all!
P.S. Jenna, those waffles look AMAZING. I’ve really been wanting some waffles lately…looks like it’s time to pick some up!
Becky
February 24, 2008 at 5:28 pmI was wondering if anyone could post that vegan cookie recipe from a while back. Thanks!!
Becca A
February 24, 2008 at 5:36 pmAah hemp milk…as I made my breakfast this morning and started to shake up my hemp milk…it somehow opened and I found myself drenched in it and half my kitchen counter…funny now…not so funny then…haha this happen to anybody else before (I’m looking your way VeggieGirl)…
sounds like you have a great day planned Jenna!
nicole
February 24, 2008 at 5:55 pmMeghan,
you could give your speech on how a healthy lifestyle is best when there’s a COMBINATION of proper diet and exercise. Most people seem to think one can compensate for the other…like I can “eat this Big Mac and kill myself in the gym” or “I eat right so I shouldn’t have to exercise if I’m not trying to lose weight”…b/c to me, it should be a joint effort 🙂 maybe that made sense?!
Sara
February 24, 2008 at 5:58 pmThanks Annie & SawSaw! I did pick up some Kashi bars the other day but haven’t tried them yet, hopefully they will do the job.
The Gnu Bars look great byt unfortunately they do not ship to Canada 🙁
Alyssa
February 24, 2008 at 6:01 pmHere is the cookie recipe, it was posted yesterday too. I might have to try it!
http://viveleveganrecipes.blogspot.com/search?q=chocolate+chip+cookie
Courtney
February 24, 2008 at 6:27 pmhi everyone! i was just wondering what your thoughts are on 100% pure maple syrup vs. sugar free maple syrup. I know 2 tbsp. of pure maple syrup is about 100 calories and it has almost 30 g of sugar in it. I was just wondering if anyone really knew the sugar difference in both, obviously sugar free uses splenda, but it’s less calories and doesn’t seem too unhealthy. is it best to just use the natural stuff even though it contains a ton of sugar? i need some education on this.. thanks!!
Annie
February 24, 2008 at 6:32 pmHey Courtney,
I use the sugar free maple syrup, but when I do I use about 1 Tbsp at a time, and maybe twice a week, if that. I think most peole see artificial sweetners as a personal choice. A lot of people would say that natural, organic products are always the best way to go, while others will eat tons of artificial things like the SF syrup.
The syrup is usually the only artifical sweetner I consume (I dont use splenda, and my diet is mostly fruits, vegis, and grains), so I just allow myself to use it once in a while.
I would say look at your own diet, and based on how many other artificial sweetners you consume like splenda or sugar free products, base it off that. I think its fine in moderation, like everything else.
Just my opinion, but hope that helps!
VeggieGirl
February 24, 2008 at 6:42 pm**Becca A:
Haha, yes, this HAS happened to me (and one more than one occasion) – just be sure to firmly press the lid/cap-thing down, and hold it shut while you shake that hempmilk :0)
Becky
February 24, 2008 at 7:18 pmSo I found a different recipe for vegan cookies that I thought you guys would enjoy! http://www.recipezaar.com/147033
I edited the ingredients a little- I added about 2 tablespoon more of both the flour and peanut butter. I also changed the baking time and temperature to 375 for 19 mintues ( bar cookies). Let me tell you, these cookies are TO DIE FOR!!!!!
Becky
February 24, 2008 at 7:18 pmOh, and I also added a bit more milk too!
blueberrybabe
February 24, 2008 at 8:00 pmHey girls! Just saying hi from florida (not new york). Although it is raining here right now 🙁 I MISS checking the blog everyday! Since it seems like most of todays food questions have been answered i just wanted to share a non-food related tidbit of info: DONT GO SEE THE MOVIE VANTAGE POINT. awful is an understatement. i can’t imagine anyone who would like this movie!!!
ok fine one food thing: i LOVE beans, but i am very intimidated about how to cook them. i was wondering if anyone had a recipe that is like beans and rice (brown obvi) and veggies… i guess something like a “jambalaya???” although i’m not exactly sure about what that refers to or how to spell it. thanks and hopefully see you soon!
RB
February 24, 2008 at 8:05 pmSara:
I looked at the ingredients of the Chocolite and saw that it contained maltodextrin, heavy cream, and maltitol which aren’t great for your body. The Soy Rocks is better but still contains maltodextrin. I would go more natural.
I would recommend that Larabars or the new Dr. Weil’s Naturepath bars. Check them out at:
http://www.naturespath.com/products/bars/dr_weil_fruit_and_nut_bars
arimcg
February 24, 2008 at 8:11 pmSara – you could also try KIND, Luna, or Bora Bora bars.
Kelly T.
February 24, 2008 at 9:04 pmmeghan-
where di you get the idea that vegetarians are healthier than meat eaters? if that were true, dont you think doctors would recommend everyone go veggie? i wouldnt pick that as my topic because its not entirely true. I like Nicole’s idea better.
Annie
February 24, 2008 at 9:23 pmHey, so I just had a question for anyone. I was at the grocery store today, and I saw a cactus pear, and got one. Does anyone have any idea how to eat these?? Thanks!
Beth
February 24, 2008 at 9:39 pmI too have had my hemp milk explode all over my kitchen while shaking it!! Funny that it has happened to so many of us!
Amy C.
February 24, 2008 at 10:16 pmlol I haven’t had the hemp milk explode yet. I usually keep my finger over the part that can come up and then I shake it. I must have had it happen at some point to think of doing that but I can’t recall when!
Courtney, I use sugar free syrup. I’ve never liked real maple syrup so I just use the sugar free stuff when I make french toast or waffles. It’s the only artificial sweetener I use so I don’t have a problem with it. I’m also hypoglycemic so I think the real stuff would make my blood sugar drop too quickly. It’s just a personal choice to use sugar free. Also, I don’t want to spend so many calories on syrup! 🙂
Jenna, I drove to WF today and bought Tofurkey. I’m making a sandwich tomorrow for lunch. I’ll have to report back and tell you what I think. I’m excited to try them! I also got Luna teacakes to try as a snack during class tomorrow night. I love trips to WF!
Romina
February 25, 2008 at 2:59 amFlax Plus are my favourite waffles, they’re so guilt free because of the Omega-3’s! Sounds like a great breakfast to start your day with. =)