Vegan Belly

News and ideas..

2007-06-15T18:58:00.000+10:00

I can't believe how long it's been since we've posted on here...I would say this is mostly my fault! Well it initially got delayed because we moved at the end of March and at the end of Feb I started a full time Masters, which has really consumed me, most of all because I am still working full time. Rob has been incredibly supportive and taken on the role of house keeper! because I am otherwise occupied with studying and learning how to be a primary teacher.
In any case, today I finished my last assignment for the semester and I had a great conversation with a work colleague that inspired me to blog here again. I also have high hopes of maintaining this site and upagrading it, it will give me something to do over my break from uni, because I know I will go crazy after having something to do every hour and now having nothing to do after work!
In any case, I'm extremely happy with new career path. I love everything I've learned although it's been insanely busy and consuming because it is completely different from the science and humanities subject I studied at uni. It's all very practical and hands on, and you just have to keep on top of it all otherwise you fall behind. No more cramming at the last minute and cruising through, like most of my undergrad years. At least I'm taking this much more seriously and I think it is because I really want to do it..I have always read about people who find their passion in life and now it is nice to finally find mine.
Anyway what does this have to do with veganism? Well, last year when we decided to become a teacher, it was a life changing decision. I wish I could say I've always had a life long desire to be a teacher, but I haven't.. It has always been at the back of my mind though, but mostly drowned out by people telling me it wasn't a good career choice. But something opened up with this change, and then we decided to become vegetarian and then vegan, to me this was part of my new 'life' experience, and I think because I made it with honest intentions that it has been easy for me to follow and stick to- not that I don't get frustrated from time to time, I do. Not because I miss meat but because of the lack of choice in places such as restaurants and takeaways and sometimes the reactions of people around us, although most of the time it has been positive . In any case, I could never go back. I can't be an animal lover who eats animals, not matter what rationalisation you bring to it. I hope that in my time as a teacher I get to pass on to young children the importance of caring for animals, not necessarily from a vegan perspective but just from an overall importance of valuing life around us. I know the RSPCA does a lot of work on this, and when they came to see us at uni I already stocked up on their primary level books. I'm just happy that with this new career, I will be able to live my values..I think that's what life is all about..

Easy Vegan Pancakes

2007-02-10T14:01:00.000+11:00

Pancakes are great for an easy and filling breakfast, especially on the weekend when you wake up late and are starving!
I found this great vegan recipe for pancakes and we tweaked it a bit, it's actually quick and very easy! They taste like normal pancakes, so you won't be making any taste sacrifices!

Use:
*I cup of flour (I used wholemeal but wholewheat is better if you have it.
*2 tspn of raw sugar
*2 tblspn of baking powder
*1/8 tspn of salt
*1 and 1/4 cups of soy milk
*2 tblspn of Olive Oil

1. Combine all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt and baking powder) and mix thouroughly with a fork.
2. Add soy milk slowly as you mix and then add oil.
If the mixture is too thick add another teaspoon of soy milk, but thick means they'll be thick and fluffy pancakes.
3. Heat a flat pan and spray with cooking spray. Once it's heated, pour a spoonfull of pancake mix and cook for about 1.5 to 2 mins on each side..depending how brown you want them.
4. Enjoy!!

For a fruity alternative, add a 1/4 cup of frozen berries or strawberries.
Serve with maple syrup or vegan butter (our favourite is Nuttlelex).

On board.

2007-02-01T20:47:00.000+11:00

I'm glad we started this blog to track our 'journey' into this new lifestyle- that's what I like about Vegan-ism (although I really don't like the word 'Vegan', I'm a bit of a linguist and in my opinion it's not a nice sounding word!), is the fact that it's a bit of a lifestyle change. This can be hard initially, and it is a big adjustment but it really opens your eyes into a whole new world that is out there.
Like Rob, I'm doing this because I hate the way animals are farmed for meat, and secondly for health reasons. When he started reading Fast Food Nation I was intrigued, what was the book about and why was it so popular? For a while I had been thinking about going vegetarian, only because I have a deep love for animals, and I felt like a real traitor eating them. I think it started when my family got our cat Perikles, a beautiful Russian blue, who is affectionate, playful and insanely handsome! I thought, if I love this cat so much and I love all animals in general, how can I eat them?
But I never thought for a moment that Rob would go along with it, so I did some more thinking (I was doing a lot of thinking at the time, I've also embarked on a new career path!) and when Rob mentioned everything he was reading in Fast Food Nation it hit home..Coincidentally, the movie had come out. I remember saying to him, "I"m sure if I watch this movie I'll never want to eat meat again". So off we went, I remember the last meat meal we had was Spaghetti Bolognese, and then we came back, talked about it and we were both on the same wavelength. Let's do this! I can't eat meat anymore...'it's just not natural'. ( I have to say that's one of my favourite phrases!)
So starting as vegetarians we kept reading up on it, and then realised, that if we still ate dairy (which is so insanely unhealthy) then we were only half way there..so after much thought and discussion (and a lot of kicking and screaming on my part because i'm such a cheeseaholic) we gave up dairy too. But, despite my great love of cheese, I just could not eat it, knowing what was in it and how it's made... so we went 'Cold Tofu' - as Bob and Jenna Torres say in their awesome book.
If you're thinking of becoming Vegan/Vegetarian here are some great resources:
Vegetarian Network Of Victoria
John Robbins- love his writing style and this book
Cruelty Free Shop vegan summary
This shop is great and we buy stuff there! one of the few places in Sydney near us you can get so many Vegan goodies, and Jessica (lady who owns it) is really nice and helpful.
Next time I'll write some recipes and name some of the other books we have...
Oh i have to finish off by saying, I really dont' miss meat at all...and I was a pretty big meat eater..(it's in my genes) I thought it would be the hardest thing I'd ever had to do and that I'd lose so much. Instead, I've gained such a deeper understanding of food, health and the enviromenment that I am kicking myself for not doing this sooner.

destination: vegan

2007-01-31T22:15:00.000+11:00

Well, what started out as an attempt to cut down on junk food intake by reading Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation book, has blossomed into a new found interest in food and diet, as well as an unexpected turn to vegetarianism, with an end goal of becoming vegan!

To give perspective on what kind of change that is, six months ago I was eating meat as the largest portion of my diet, and very few vegetables. I grew up refusing to eat any vegetables that my mother (hi mum!) put on my plate, and no doubt I've given her a few grey hairs from my recent reversal.

The last time I ate meat (or fish) was November 5th, 2006. 88 days and counting. I can't say I would ever look back to eating meat, and I've certainly had no cravings for it. I've been lucky enough to have my girlfriend with me taking the same step, and providing great ideas on new meals and foods to try (ask me about quinoa!). Thanks babe, I wouldn't know what to do without you! We'll both update this page with recipes and information on the foods that we have tried along the way, including successes and failures.

Veganism isn't hard, and if you care for animals, the environment or your health, becoming vegan is something to consider.