So here we have some really yummy basics. I am part Hispanic and have been brought up with quick and traditional meals. The problem with that is, quick traditional food is greasy with lots of cheese, cream, and red meat. Here we have Light Life Smart Ground soy bits or "ground beef". I couldn't believe how similar the texture and taste was to real ground beef. Next we have the Tofutti sour cream. The consistency is a bit thicker than dairy based sour cream but softer than cream cheese and the taste is like a more bland watered down sister to dairy sour cream. But what do you expect? All natural food isn't plagued with nasty chemicals and artificial flavors, give and take, people. Lastly, the Tofu Rella cheese, this is my favorite! There are few other vegan cheeses like soy, veggie, and rice, but tofu is the closest substitute to the real deal. Melting and taste are again watered down, but you really can't get any better than that.
I bought these tonight at Ralph's in their little vegan section next to the vegetables and dairy cheese. So far this has been my go to store for my food. Downside is the cost; it's much pricier than Trader Joe's and I have been told that Sprouts is the best place for selection and value. I'd say Whole Foods and Bristol Farms would be the priciest but obviously the creme de la creme of all foods vegan or not.
Next we have pretty basic, just your ordinary vegetables. Before transitioning, I did a ton of research to what specific foods are best for nutrients as well as best weight loss benefits. Apparently, high carb low fat diets are best for the weight savoy herbivores. On the flip side, I am starting to train again for 5 and 10k races (running) like in high school, so healthy carbs are very ideal. With the vegetables, you generally want to pick the ones that are high in fiber like broccoli, peppers, lettuce and stay away from veggies that are high on the GI scale such as carrots. GI stands for Glycemic Index by the way, you can look up GI charts and see which veggies work best for you. I read that potatoes are super good to keep your energy up and hunger down, french fries/potato chips need no apply. Now, baked potatoes loaded with sour cream, chives, cheese and butter are totally out of the question, unless you use a little bit of the previous soy and tofu based goodies. I boil my potatoes in plain water and eat them with light salt and pepper. Lastly, my favorite; lentils. The woman that raised me used to make these all the time when I needed to get the ol' bowels moving again. Yes, ew gross ick! Everybody Poops, every heard of the book? Word. Get on that! In all seriousness, these are packed with fiber which helps move all the undigested waste in our colon, in turn, that cleans our blood and even helps our immune system.
I absolutely love sweets. I am definitely a recovering emotional eater, but through transitioning to the vegan lifestyle, I have gotten that under control. Anywho, here is the one sweet vegan dessert that I have tried twice now and absolutely love it. Trade Joe's brand coconut ice cream, they have soy based, almond milk, and probably rice (like mochi) but so far this is my favorite. It is much fluffier, lighter and to me, sweeter than dairy based. So far, this is really the only sweet I have been eating, generally I've been sticking to the the previous two sections with lots of variations and different styles of food. I would love to try vegan/gluten free cookies and other baked goods soon. Any suggestions?
As for drinking, I try and at least drink a gallon of water throughout the day if not more or else I get dehydrated now. Some friends have advised against drinking soy milk and opt out for almond milk instead, however I really love your standard Silk Vanilla soy milk. I stay away from juice unless I ran organic fruits and vegetables through my juicer; fruits in general are high in sugar, so watch out for those little bastards.
These are just a few examples of what I throw together, but the food possibilities are totally endless when it comes to being a vegan! Even if you are not in it for animal rights, you can totally substitute items here and there if you are watching your waistline for the imminent spring and summer. I'd say those are the top two reasons I became a vegan and the others will be further explained the 1st of February...
Make sure to follow me on Instagram to see the daily vegan selections I consume. From pizza to ice cream, to salad and stir fry, you'll be sure to pick up some great ideas or have a blast watching this crazy new journey I've embarked in!
xoxo Drift Bunny
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