Vegan traveling is becoming a popular topic these days, as the world slowly opens again after two years of a global pandemic. Traveling as a vegan takes a bit more planning, but it’s pretty easy once you think about it. Traveling also means out for a day in the forest, beach, or mountains. Go for a day hike with breaks every 50 minutes – 5 minutes breaks and then an hour’s lunch. Your body will thank you.
Check out these cool tips to keep you feeling great:
I do admit, one of my weak spots is to make a menu with a corresponding shopping list. I know it is the only sensible thing to do when I want a varied and healthy diet, not to mention save money. But every time I begin just to think about it, I procrastinate. The Internet is a great place to seek help. I found a 21-day Vegan kickstart menu with recipes and shopping lists.
Not only is it useful as a kickstart kit, but also a fine program to get back to, if you fall out of your good habits. Which I tend to do after returning from a great holiday.
Each day during the Kickstart, we provide recipes and suggestions for every meal. Don’t let this overwhelm you. We want you to know there are tons of options, but you get to pick and choose how many recipes you make each day or week—and how much of each recipe you make. For those of you cooking for four to six people, the serving size of the provided recipes will be spot-on. But if you are cooking for just yourself or one other person, you may consider cutting the recipe in half or making the full amount and freezing it. We recommend trying to cook a big batch and eating off of it for a few days. This will save you time and keep you eating healthy meals. And for those of you cooking for one, check out the book.
Get the 21-day Vegan Kickstart Menu and Shopping lists at pcrm.org
Photo credit: Bruce Turner
If you, as I, want an old fashion paper book, where you can make your notes and look at photos, then I recommend “The Daily Vegan Planner: Twelve Weeks to a Complete Vegan Diet Transition“. There is also a Kindle version, yet, isn’t easy to use. Books with recipes, diagrams, charts, and workbooks can not simply be copied from the print version to the electronic version. With this book, the daily meal plan and the recipes span multiple pages, no matter how I adjust the font and the charts cannot be filled out. So the paperback is what I recommend.
Before we start the list, there’s a few things I would like to make clear:
We need about 1000 mg of calcium per day for healthy and strong bones, everyone does, not only vegans. As we age we need more: An intake of a minimum of 1200 mg of calcium is recommended for women over 51 years and for men over 70 years.
There is a trap; if you do not know of it, you might be eating loads of calcium but it will *not* be absorbed in your body, here goes: Oxalic acid, which is found in spinach, rhubarb, chard, and beet greens binds with the calcium in those foods and reduces its absorption. These foods should not be considered good sources of calcium. Calcium in other green vegetables is well absorbed. Dietary fiber has little effect on calcium absorption though.
Protein’s effect on calcium needs and bones remains uncertain.
To maintain strong and healthy bones it is recommended you do regular weight-bearing exercise such as walking. You will also need to keep an eye on your sodium intake because it increases the amount of calcium lost in urine (about 20 mg of calcium are lost with each gram of sodium in the diet) and higher dietary sodium is associated with lower bone density.
How much sodium do we need? Well, the answer is “we do not know exactly.” Look at these figures:
So… there is definitely a consensus among these organizations that we should aim for less than 1500 mg of sodium per day, and definitely not more than 2300 mg.
1500 mg of sodium equals about 3/4 teaspoons or 3.75 grams of salt per day, while 2300 mg equals about one teaspoon and 6 grams of salt per day.
And you will need Vitamin D together with calcium for best absorption; the best source is the sun and you get that with a nice walk.
Without further ado let’s go to the list: (1 cup = 2.3 dl.)
1. Kale (1 cup contains 180 mg)
2. Collard Greens (1 cup contains over 350 mg)
3. Blackstrap Molasses (2 tablespoons contains 400 mg)
4. Tempeh (1 cup contains 215 mg)
5. Turnip Greens (1 cup contains 250 mg)
6. Fortified non-dairy milk (1 cup contains 200-300 mg)
7. Hemp milk (1 cup contains 460 mg)
8. Fortified orange juice (1 cup contains 300 mg)
9. Tahini (2 tablespoons contains 130 mg)
10. Almond butter (2 tablespoons contains 85 mg)
11. Great northern beans (1 cup contains 120 mg)
12. Soybeans (1 cup contains 175 mg)
13. Broccoli (1 cup contains 95 mg)
14. Raw fennel (1 medium bulb contains 115 mg)
15. Blackberries (1 cup contains 40 mg)
16. Black Currants (1 cup contains 62 mg)
17. Oranges (1 orange contains between 50 and 60 mg)
18. Dried apricots (1/2 cup contains 35 mg)
19. Figs (1/2 cup contains 120 mg)
20. Dates (1/2 cup contains 35 mg)
21. Artichoke (1 medium artichoke contains 55 mg)
22. Roasted sesame seeds (1 oz. contains 35 mg)
23. Adzuki beans (1 cup contains 65 mg)
24. Navy beans (1 cup contains 125 mg)
25. Amaranth (1 cup contains 275 mg)
Sources:
Holiday time is approaching and we will be jumping on planes, trains, buses or ferries to go to our holiday destination.
As vegans we cannot always rely on getting vegan foods. So we will have to get creative because often time we get a simple salad served, which is not bad but not filling either.
Our flight left early in the morning, so for breakfast I made us peanut butter and banana sandwiches on sprouted bread, which we had at the airport after getting through security. I also made big zip lock bags of delicious spiced roasted garlic chick peas for the plane ride, and granola for when we would be site seeing and walking around. On the plane, we munched on our chick peas while reading our books and it was enough to satisfy our hunger pains while up in the air. The recipe below is what I made for our trip.
Go to the article to get the recipe: http://www.happycow.net/blog/how-to-eat-vegan-while-traveling/
OTHER TIPS FOR A VEGAN TRAVELER
Most restaurants in the airport are accommodating. Ask the server to omit an ingredient or to make a different variation of something.
Some airline menus will offer a salad option, simply have it with no or very little dressing.
Print out a list ahead of time of vegan restaurants, health food stores, and grocery stores from Happy Cow (and you can download their app too).
Stores located inside airports will have convenient snacks in a pinch, but remember to read those ingredients. Things like trail mixes can contain lots of sugars and oils.
Read full article at http://www.happycow.net/blog/how-to-eat-vegan-while-traveling/
Photo Credit: Mike Linksvayer
Vegan aphrodisiacs and recipes with these colorful, stimulating ingredients can enhance any mood. One belief is that aphrodisiacs evoke or stimulate sexual desire. Yet, there’s no scientific evidence. Experts say that aphrodisiacs can work in two ways. There are those that create sexual desire by working on the mind, and there are those that create desire by affecting parts of the body. This post covers the latter. A common belief is that these eight vegan foods are aphrodisiacs. At the end of this post, I have added a dinner suggestion. Enjoy!
Almonds
This nut is one of the earliest cultivated foods and regarded as a symbol of fertility throughout history. In fact, the tradition of having almonds at a wedding began during Roman times. Guests would throw the nuts at newlyweds. It is also thought that the smell of almonds incites passion in women.
Asparagus
Touted as an aphrodisiac as early as the 17th century, asparagus boosts potassium and folic acid. The latter to boost histamine production, a necessary component in reaching orgasm for both sexes. Bridegrooms in the 19th century France were served three courses of asparagus at their prenuptial dinner.
Avocados
Avocados boast the famous feminine shape and are high in omega-3 fatty acids and potassium, as well as vitamin B6, which increases male hormone production. They are so effective, in fact, that Spanish priests used to forbid their parishioners from eating them.
Bananas
Regarded as a symbol of fertility by Hindus. The banana has a sensual shape and is chock full of potassium and B vitamins, both needed to produce sex hormones. Additionally, bananas contain the male libido-enhancing bromelain enzyme.
Basil
This member of the mint family helps promote circulation, which stimulates sex drive. In Moldavian folklore, a man will fall in love with a woman if he accepts a sprig of basil from her.
Chocolate
Chocolate is a staple Valentine’s Day gift for a reason. The food is full of compounds including anandamide, a psychoactive feel-good chemical. And phenylethylamine, a chemical that releases dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain, and produces feelings of excitement and happiness. Cacao also contains tryptophan, which is essential for the brain to release serotonin, a “happiness” chemical.
Figs
Believed to have been in the Garden of Eden, figs were also Cleopatra’s favorite fruit. The ancient Greeks associated them with love and fertility. Figs are a great source of flavonoids and antioxidants, and some believe that figs can increase sexual stamina.
Garlic
This member of the onion family contains allicin, an ingredient that increases blood flow. Both in Hinduism and Jainism beliefs, garlic can increase desire, also good for warming the body. It is well known, that this little bulb creates some strong breath when eaten. Steer clear on a first date.
Try out all these (in the) mood-boosters in one fell swoop with these tasty dishes.
Start out the evening with some almond stuffed mushrooms and easy bruschetta, before moving on to apple fig walnut rocket salad.
For the main course, treat your lover to sesame-glazed tofu with sides of grilled avocado with roasted veggies and rroasted asparagus salad.
Let’s not forget dessert! Chocolate Fondue with figs, bananas, and strawberries, and Chocolate Turtle Truffle Torte are two sweet choices for your lucky honey.
Easy, cheap, healthy vegan meals… watch eco-vegan gal and see how it’s done.