Happy 1 Year Anniversary Veggie Girl!

SOOO guess what??? I completely missed that Oct 20,2008 was my 1yr Vegetarian anniversary!! i thought it was the 27th for some reason and was looking forward to celebrating it...damn..i guess i dont need to celebrate food wise anyway. But in honor of this accomplishment i want to reflect a bit;

When i started this journey, i told myself i was just doing a "diet" and it wouldnt be permanent, i didnt believe i could really give up meat AND dairy, but giving up meat was surprisingly easy. there are so many other wonderful food options and combinations that exist without being "flavoured" by meat! most people dont realize that 90% of the food at restaurants are meat dishes that dont really need to be meat- is this because they cant think of creative dishes without it??

My favorite questions to hate are; HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITHOUT MEAT???!!, How do you get your protein?? You must get sick often?? You're weird!, Ewwww thats gross!, So what do you eat?? salads and stuff?? And of course; id DIE if i couldnt eat meat and cheese!!
um--how about you'll probably die sooner then me if you do!

HELLO!!!?? people!! i eat Soy protein, Tofu, Legumes, Whole grains, and Fruits and Vegetables. DUH!! didnt you know there was protein in vegetables?? Also Phytochemicals and Nutrients!! i actually hate having to explain this to people because it only makes them doubt their diet and get defensive instead. Soo annoying.

My goal being vegetarian has always been to continue to create tasty flavourful dishes which i think i have accomplished, i never feel im missing out and continue to find new foods to enjoy. Being vegetarian was the best choice for my health, i have learned so much and become so clean and healthy- i have loads of energy, little pain and discomfort, rarely get sick, can cook amazing vegan food and don't need to rely on supplements to get a balanced diet.
I also never expected to become the crazy vegetarian kind that i have become which is; mostly organic, non processed, vegan, sugar free, artificial fat free and sodium free!! So of course eating with me is a nightmare! but i swear i cook good food :) So thanks to Eat To Live for that and for converting me to a Nutritarian. Its amazing how i've picked up little tips along the way like a sponge. Eat to Live by Dr.Fuhrman is seriously the best thing in the world! i'd recommend it to anyone.

Im so glad i read skinny bitch 1 year ago and finally took the plunge. I truly believe that vegetarian is best for health and have the research to prove it!! i will not judge people who eat meat still-- but they cant truly know the health benefits till they take the 30day challenge like i did and end up here! it feels great. Im finally below 130 for for the first time in my life THANKS to being vegetarian :)

Im really proud to be vegetarian/newly Nutritarian and am excited to be a vegetarian nutritionist so i can teach people the benefits of this lifestyle! its a great tool for losing weight, getting healthy and preventing disease.
heres to 1 more year veg :)!

Resources that i recommend:
-Skinny Bitch <--for a start, easy to read and gives you the basics in a funny relatable way
-Eat to Live <--get serious about your health and make the switch for good -The China Study <--amazing research and PROOF that vegetarian IS healthy -www.blog.fatfreevegan.com <--amazing food that will change your view on vegan cooking -www.diseaseproof.com <--recipes for eat to live and loads of great health information

*Nutritarian- What is she talking about!!??
http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/healthy-food-what-is-a-nutritarian.html
http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/healthy-food-eat-for-health-a-nutritarian-is-different-than-a-vegetarian.html

Thankful

Its Thanksgiving and i nearly forgot the meaning of the celebration! to be thankful, so here i will take a few moments and note what im thankful for this year:

1- My Health; being vegetarian was the best decision for me and i've come very far in achieving my goals and have seen MAJOR health benefits; more energy, no getting sick, lower body weight, light TOM :), cleaner and healthier feeling; i've become an incredible cook.
2- My Friends; online or in the real world, i've met some great people who support my lifestyle, inspire me to keep pushing, and give me the confidence to push for my dreams. Thank you to all of them
3- My Family; who always support me and try to make me happy-who will always be there even when im old and shouldn't depend on mommy and daddy- they will always make sure i dont have to struggle, financially or mentally
4- My Breakup; i've gone back and forth deciding if i should be depressed about this but i'm leaning to the positive side. he gave me the opportunity at having myself back! stronger then ever, and the next person who i find will love and cherish me as i deserve to be treated everyday
5- My Home; i have the most beautiful house to live in! and the coziest bed anyone could hope for, what a luxury!
6- My Job; i work with amazing nice people who genuinely care about me and their job! we all get along and support each other, im thankful they let me go to school and still keep my hours and im happy that i've worked there for 2 years! Also; i have the money to spend on all the things that i love- good food, good clothes
7-My Life!; i've been so blessed to never suffer any hard ship, very little bad luck, and have been mostly unscathed by the cruelty of life. Im so thankful that i live in a safe and peaceful place. And that i get to go to school and actually live my dream of becoming a nutritionist and helping people!

And finally
im thankful for myself!
i am a gentle healing presence
my imagination is a vast and infinite resource
i see clearly and feel with pure emotions

happy thanksgiving everyone!! and remember, be thankful for everything you have, you never know when it may be gone!

Astrology & The Quest for Spiritual Enlightenment

I never really paid to much attention to astrology but latley a few things have happened in life that make me believe that its not just a load of BS!
My interests are becoming more and more spirtual, artistic and creative which is exactly where my horoscope puts me, very very interesting. So i'm going to be spending more time working on these qualities. and im posting them!

PISCES: Your strengths now are: your imaginative talents; being able to think with the heart; compassion and forgiveness. Your vulnerabilities now are: a tendency to let others steer the ship; the impulse to check out of reality; being easily discombobulated
This month brings some calm, relatively speaking, and a time to catch your breath. In fallow periods, use this to try meditation or healing modalities that help you unravel any tensions and negativity

SUN-naturally artistic bent toward life. Exquisite emotional sensitivity is a gift that needs the balance of self-protection and healthy choices
MOON-instinctual empathy for others, and is vulnerable to the emotional atmosphere around them. Needs lots of time to dwell in the private world of the imagination, nap, dream, take baths and contemplate the mystery
MECURY-A sensitive, compassionate thinker that can become confused with too much stimuli or negative influences.

very interesting!!

AND- i'm reading the book of secrets- depak chopra. Very good stuff!! this will force my out of my comfort zone and push me to start living my life in a pure and divine way.

RECIPES
Zucchini-Tomato Herb Soup
-1md Yellow onion, 1 garlic; chopped
-1 Zucchini Squash; cut in thin chunks
-5-6 Ripe fresh tomatoes; cut in chunks
-4c 'Chicken' broth
-1-2tbs Fresh; basil, oregano, sage
--> simmer for about 10min and puree the lot; s & p to taste

Orange Kale Salad
-2-3 stalks Kale; cut up leaves
-1md head Broccoli
--> Steam lightly
-2-3tbs Sliced Almonds; toasted
-1 orange; sections (skin off)
-red onion slices; grated carrot on top
Dressing; Balsamic-Miso-dijon; 1tbs balsamic, 1tsp white miso, 1tsp dijon mustard; shake shake

Cajun Black Bean Salad
-3-4 White mushrooms; sliced
-2-3 Bell peppers; red, orange or green; chopped
-1/2 White onion; sliced
--> saute in water; cajun spice mix
add: 1/2c Brown Rice; cooked
3/4c Black beans; rinsed
1-3tbs Tomato paste
--> heat; pour on top of Romaine lettuce + or Spinach

Enjoy!
LOVE LOVE LOVE.
xoxo

Lazy Sundays

i haven't decided if sundays are good or bad- good in that i do my weigh in, evaluate my progress of the week, think of new goals for the next week, and balance and re-focus.
BAD- in that i have a tendancy to loose control. (ie. TODAY) WTF!!! i totally binged my little heart out on my Vegan Chocolate Zucchini cake, which is friggen amazing.
But i totally lost control! i was doing so good today, had my body-mind-and spirit all balanced out from a rejuvinating session of Vinyasa Flow hot, and then i just screwed it. Not to mention i have ZERO motivation to do anything useful today!!

SO- Immediate action is required to get back on a happy track for this week
--> Quit feeling sorry for yourself, ppl eat cake- move on.
--> Think positive- food is good, you will find a balance that works
--> Dont have any bad feelings towards certain people who are no longer in your life, everything happens for a reason
--> DONT STRESS!!

Ok- Done venting. What a wacky blog for the first post, anyone reading this is going to think im insane! Normally i'm quite a happy positive person.

RECIPES: Since i havent found a useful way to post them yet:

Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Cake <--ETL Recipe (modified)

2/3c W/W Flour
3tsp Baking Soda
1tsp Baking Powder
1tsp Cinnamon
3tbs Cocoa Powder
2c Zucchini; shredded
3/4c Carrots; shredded
1c Walnuts; chopped
1 1/2c Water
---> Combine

2c Dates
1c Pineapple Chunks
1c Applesauce; unsweetend
1 Banana
1tsp Vanilla
---> Blend up to liquid

--> Combine the wet & dry-350f 1hr. Yummilicious!

Curried Cheesy Cauliflower Soup:
1sm Yellow Onion
1/2head Cauliflower
1 Parsnip
4c Water
2tsp 'chicken' stock
1tbs Curry powder
1/2tsp Tumeric
1/4tsp Smoked Paprika
2tbs Nut. Yeast
2tbs Cashews
s & p to taste
--> Doesn't take longer then 15min, puree all the ingredients, season to taste