Kick Those Cravings

So a friend of mine has recently decided to try being vegetarian! You can't see it, but I'm doing a happy dance behind the screen. And its not exactly graceful, but it is joyful. Anyway she has been making leaps and bounds in her health lately, and we've been seriously nerding out over some nutrition talk. Back when I started writing this blog, I asked her if she had any ideas for content matter. She came back with an idea about cravings. We all have them right? They can be potentially bad when you make a big change in your lifestyle like cutting out meat and/or eggs, milk, and cheese. I thought it was an idea worth discussing! So here goes my first advice piece.

 Besties in Whatever Weather 

Chicken:  If you live in the western world you have access to all kinds of faux meats including chicken. But be careful! Some brands like Quarn can contain egg. Make sure to always read the ingredients list. I usually cook my faux nuggets in the oven a little longer than the prescribed time to make them crispy. (I think it mimics the texture better this way, but to each his own).  If you want something 'mas economico' you can make fake chicken at home. I use carne de soya, which is basically soy meat, or TCP if you live in the states. (Textured Soy Protein.) I cook it in a little bit of veg stalk, or vegan chicken stalk, and then saute in a pan with olive oil and garlic to simmer for a while. After I like to make some fried rice with broccoli and onions and toss in the 'chicken.' It would also probably be good in pasta with a vegan white sauce.

Pan Fried Faux Chicken on Salad 

Steak: Now I was never a huge steak fan, but my family always was. My dad always had to cook my meat to very well done until there not even a hint of the animals blood left. Something about a bloody steak always freaked me out. But I understand that sometimes people might want something thick and  meaty like this! For those people I highly suggest portabella mushroom. Throw that sucker whole on a grill with just a small brush of olive oil, and in no time it will have a very steaky flavor and texture. I like mine on a toasted bun with sandwich fixins. Add some steak sauce and vegan cheese, and you basically have a steak melt! I've also made it in the oven before. Be careful not to cook it too long or the mushroom will pass the point of tenderness and get hard. You can also chop it up and saute it if you want a meaty stir-fry or pasta.

Grilled Portabella with Salad

Bacon: Like chicken, there are vegan versions of this comfort food. In appearance they resemble dog treats, but the favor is actually pretty on point. When I lived in the states I liked to fry mine extra crispy and crumble it over a spinach salad, or put in a sandwich with avocado. If you want a DIY version, I've heard that saitan can be made into some pretty convincing bacon strips when fried with the right flavors. I can't attest to this personally, but I have seen some pretty amaxing pictures and recipies online. Give it a google and let me know what you think!  Extra Tip: Put your veg bacon on your steak sandwich.  @.@

Cheese: Oh cheese... So I feel that I must admit to you guys that I am a born cheese lover, and cheese head from Wisconsin. Go pack go!

This is My Sexy Face ;) 

 Right now I'm currently toughing out the cheese cravings because I don't have access to the things I am about to suggest to you, but if you are lucky enough, I suggest trying every different food you can! If you live in a big city like Minneapolis, Chicago, or London you probably have access to vegan pizza in stores as well as restaurants. I know even in Duluth Minnesota there is a pizza place that offers TWO kinds of vegan cheese to top their pizzas as well as gluten free crust for my gluten free peeps. (Pizza Luce, and it is glorious) If you want to make your own pizza many grocery stores offer vegan cheese in many forms like slices, grated, and spreadable. I've never tried this, but I've heard that its pretty touch and go with different brands of vegan cheeses. Some are good, and some are blah. 

My personal favorite thing to substitute for cheese is Nutrtional Yeast. If you don't know what this is, its just what it sounds like. Its a yeast, which a distinctly cheesy flavor, and a texture kind of like dry parmasion. (It is also a complete form of protein, all 9 essential amenio acids!) I sprinkle this over pasta, and I'm usually good to go. Im not sure if normal grocery sores stock this, but you can get it in the bulk isle of your local co.op and it's pretty cheap. If you are feeling crafty, you can make homemade vegan cheese. The recipies usualy involve soaking cashews or white beans overnight, and having a nice blender. Ive seen some really clever recipies online, some that include nutritional yeast! Give it a google, and post pictures of the finished product! I'd love to see what you come up with.

Spaghetti with Nutritional Yeast

Milk: Pshh. Dont even get my started on this one. There are so many kinds of vegan milks that are amazing in cereals, smoothies, and just to drink. Your options are usually: Soy, Almond, Rice, Cashew, Hemp, Oat, and Coconut. And many of these come in chocolate options. Personally I really like almond and coconut. Extra Tip: Try heating up some chocolate almond milk like you would hot chocolate. Oh. My. LOOORD! yum.  ^.^

Eggs: Chickpea flour works really well for an egglike consistency. Mix it with some water and you can make omelets or scrambled eggs with all the veggies your heart desires. Plate it with some vegan bacon or sausage and you got yourself a pretend carnivorous breakfast.

Burgers: I saved my favorite for last. Veggie Burgers! I love veggie burgers. Personally I think they are better than their beef originals. There are so many different kinds, the options are almost endless! You can buy veggie burgers in stores, but personally I don't think it's worth it and they are pretty pricey. Once I started making my own veggie burgers I never went back to those weird, grey, boxed kinds. Veggie burgers are really easy to make, and so much cheaper when homemade. You can use, beans, lentils, potatoes, nuts seeds chopped veggies, and basically anything plant based. I can oversell how much variety a veggie burger can have! Its once of my favorite things to make, and I must admit I so enjoy the complements I get when I cook veggie burgers ;)

Curried Lentil & Spinach Burger (scroll down for recipe) 

Thanks for reading, now you know know just how many options you have whether you like to cook or not. Personally I love cooking, all the examples on here were created by yours truly! One of my greatest pleasures in life is when I get an omni to admit that vegan food can be delicious! So many people out there think that vegans only eat salad, and I hope to use this blog to bust that myth!  Vegan food is endless in variety, has all the flavors that the earth affords us, and frankly is better for your health anyway  ;) Scroll down for recipes I've already written, or use the search bar to find what you are looking for. I also highly encourage you to look on Youtube for how to cooking vids. If you have a craving I missed on here, please let me know in the comments! Stay tuned for Cravings Part 2: Science and shiz.

Quillabamba Market 

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Birthday Celebration and Black Bean Burgers

Hello my veg enthusiasts! This is your favorite traveler updating you on her adventures, and sharing another recipe. So it was my birthday recently, and I had tons of fun going out with my Peru Crew! Not only did I go out for some amazing food (Vegan 'pizza' and veg sushi takeout for later)  I even went on a midnight hike! It happened to be the full moon that night, and what better place to view this magnificent sight, than from the ruins of Temple of the Moon. Now I know I have talked about Temple of the Moon in another post, but seeing Temple of the Moon at midnight is like seeing the ruins for the first time ;)

Not cheesy, but Still Good Pizza 

The night was an absolute blast but Temple of the Moon is quite a walk uphill, and I woke up the next morning with sore quads. (I may have been skipping and running up the mountain a bit...or a lot.)  But I guess its a good excuse to post another high protein meal! This recipe is an oldie but a goodie. It's one of my weekend grilling staples I pull out when I need to impress but don't have a lot of time or ingredients. I've made it bunches of times for my friends and I can assure you that it is a hit with omni's and veggies alike! Get ready for a blast of southwest flavor with my Black Bean Taco Burgers! 

Black Bean Taco Burgers

Cooking Montage (Photo Credit Shelby Ayde) 

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: Grill-20 Pan-15
Serves: 5-8 burgers


Ingredients

*2 cans black beans, rinsed

*1 can chili beans, rinsed

* Half can corn

* Egg Replacement (1 tbsp ground flax mixed with 3 tbsp water) 

*Taco Seasoning

*Salt and black pepper

Instructions

1. Drain and rinse beans. Pat dry with paper towel, or do this step the night before and let beans dry in the fridge. (To be honest I've actually used a hair direr to dry the beans when I was in a pinch for time. Just make sure the beans don't fly everywhere  >.<) 

2. Mix flax with water and put in fridge for at least 15 minutes. If you don't have flax, ground chia seeds will also work. You can grind either of these things in a coffee grinder if they are not pre-ground. This substance is what will bind your mixture. 

3. Smash your beans. A spoon would work, otherwise  your hands, a meat tenderizer, and a potato masher are all also options. Try and make sure their aren't any whole beans left. Add in corn and mix it up. 

4. Mix your seasonings and flax mixture into your beans. Be generous with your taco seasoning, I would shake in at least 6 tablespoons or more. Salt and pepper to taste. Make sure there is enough pepper!

5. Form patties on a plate, and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the fridge. Let set for at least 2 hours before cooking. 

6. Cook! If you make these on the grill, be careful when flipping so they don't fall apart. You can also fry these on the stove-top with some oil, or bake them until crispy in the oven. Toast your buns ;) and add your burger toppings. Some sort of chipolte sauce would be amazing! 

Official Taste Tester  :) 

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy my version of a black bean burger! Make sure you don't add too much corn, or the big pieces will make it so your patties don't stick well. These patties are definitely versatile, so if you want to try other spices than what I listed, feel free! I highly recommend topping these with avocado, bell-pepper (cooked or raw) and a slice of red onion. 

 If you try this recipe and you like it, I would love to hear about it! Please feel more than free to post your amazing pictures in the comments. :) 

Love from the Peru Crew 

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Salad! Cried the Crabby Old Man

So the post today is a bit of a story.  I 'm sure that all vegans and vegetarians have their share of experiences dealing with people who are totally ignorant about their lifestyle. The story I'd like to share with you today was particularly offensive, and I hope by passing it along that instances like this will be reduced, or at least you will feel more prepared for peoples' blatant rudeness when it is forced upon you.

The story begins with a 12 hour bus ride. 12 hours without many stops, without much food, and with virtually no sleep. My friends Cassie, Sarah and I are all currently residing in Peru, and we were required to cross the border and come back to renew out visas. We decided to go to Chile for the weekend, so we could get in a little beach time. Cusco Peru is pretty far from any significant body of water, and we were itching to get out of Peru's rainy season and into some nice weather further south. So we bought our tickets about a week in advance, and hopped a bus to Arica, the closest Chilean city to us. 

Long Bus Ride, but Great Views 

Needless to say we arrived, tired disheveled and hungry. The bag of peanuts, almonds, and oranges I brought with me on the bus didn't last me nearly as long as I hoped. We promptly hopped a taxi and headed to out nearby hostel, Hostel Sunny Days. (This is a real place). We found it to be just what we needed, really clean and quiet. I've stayed at many hostels in my travels, and this one'd poshness took me by surprise.

After dropping off our stuff, we hit the town to explore our food options. We didn't go far, as we were all but starving at this point, and picked the first menu place we came to. To those not familiar with this type of establishment, many restaurants in South America serve a set menu with maybe one or two different options for an entree. What you lack in options is usually made up for by the extremely reasonable price, and quick arrival of the food. After explaining to the waiter that Cassie and I don't eat meat, we were assured that the cook could throw something together for us.

When I first arrived in Peru, I was always nervous about explaining my diet to people at restaurants. But I found that if the  restaurant has the means, the cook will usually accommodate you. And while the options aren't always good (see photo below, meal is generally a conglomeration of sides) they are usually able to come up with something if you explain and are polite. They want your money, and they will do what they can for you!

My Meal after Hiking the Salt Mines in the Sacred Valley (At Least They Tried v.v ) 
CAAAAAAAARBS! 

I wish I could say this respect continued to be afforded to us for the rest of our trip to Chile. However, I suppose this would be a pretty boring story if there were no conflict, eh? After our very late breakfast, and a trip to the beach for a lot of of body boarding, swimming and sun tanning, we headed back to the hostel for a shower and a little discanso (rest) as the South Americans say.

Arica Beach on the South Pacific 

After all the swimming, we were starving again and ready for a proper meal. We knew that since Arica was a semi-tuouristy area, especially so near the beach, there had to be a few sit-down restaurants. We headed to the front of the hostel where we encountered one the the two owners (the husband) of Hostel Sunny Days. We approached him and I politely inquired where we might find a restaurant that would have some veggie options. There was an awkward pause, after winch he replied. "You are vegetarians?" In a voice like he was asking us if we were lepers. "Yes" my friend Cassie responded, clearly a bit uncomfortable. There followed and even longer pause after which he asked us in all seriousness "Well, what are you going to do when you get pregnant?"

 I think I may have seen red for the rest of the exchange. My friend Cassie basically had to take over the conversation after this. The owner launched into a personal anecdote about how is daughter used to be vegetarian, but had to quit because she "wasn't getting enough protein" when she got pregnant. After,  he lectured us about how we must not understand the extent of protein requirements for pregnant women (which was even more ironic considering he lacked a uterus). Putting aside the fact that most of what he was saying was completely incorrect, I couldn't get over how inappropriate the whole exchange was. 

To top it all off, he didn't even give us any restaurant recommendations. He just said we could get salads at the nearby market. It didn't matter how many times we told him we wanted a restaurant, he kept pushing the salads. After a while, we just left and resolved to find something ourselves. So there you go, two stereotypes in one. We weren't getting enough protein, and we would be satisfied with only salads for dinner. 

Its hard for me to even begin to sum up why I was so offended, and I feel like if I try to explain in narrative, this post could go on for a while. So here it is in bullet point form 

* He's in management. And not only did he not give us what we asked for, he engaged us on totally inappropriate topics, and put our lifestyle choices down. 

*The whole conversation was operated under the assumption that because we were women, we would inevitably get pregnant, and that our lifestyles should cater to that eventuality. *cue feminist outrage* 

*That even if we did choose to have babies, he knew better about the requirements for caring for said baby. *Feminists are up in arms at this point* 

*All of the nutrition facts he was spouting were incorrect. Women don't need much extra caloric intake when they're pregnant. For the first 6 months of pregnancy, you don't need any extra calories. Then in your third trimester, you need roughly 200 more calories than you were eating before, depending on your weight. (This is less than a bagel with peanut butter a day).

*He didn't give us a restaurant recommendation, he just kept pushing the salad stereotype on us. We didn't want any damn salads. We'd just gotten a bunch of exercise. 

One good thing did come of this though, Cassie and I now have a couple great inside jokes.

"Anastasia, you're looking a little protein deprived. You better head over to San Pedro market and get a salad."

"Cassie! What are you eating? You know you can't have that when your pregnant! Because that could happen at any moment you know!"

Needless to say, his business got a less than perfect review on Trip Advisor. I wasn't unfair, and I didn't attack him, I simply stated the facts of the exchange. The hostel itself was nice, clean and convenient, but I couldn't overlook the uncomfortable exchange we had with one of the owners.

On a positive note note, we did have a good time at the beach, though we were all a bit sunburned, and we made it back over the border ok and even got back in time for work in the morning. (We rolled into Cusco at about 6:30 a.m. after about 14 hours of driving up into the mountains from sea level).

The Weary Travelers Make it Back Just After Dawn 

I hope you enjoyed this little story. You'll be glad to know we did find a restaurant right on the beach with a couple options that suited us.  ;)  Stay tuned for a post where I bust the myth about vegans and salads!

*My source for the pregnancy info: Baby Center UK Nutrition Info

*Check out my post on protein for more nutrition information.

Curried Lentil & Spinach Burger

Something that keeps a lot of people from going vegan is believing that they have to without the foods they are used to. (I know cheese is particularity a toughy for me, being from Wisconsin.) But I'm here to tell you that you don't have to give everything up! There are vegan versions of pretty much everything you can think of.

Today I will start off with...

 Sunday Dinner with the Roomies

Yep Burgers!

Nothing says American like burger. Makes you think of barbecues, 4th of July, fire works. Maybe a 2:00 a.m. adventure to the local fast food place after a bit too much to drink ;)

Food is personal and emotional part of our lives. From Christmas to birthdays to everyday dinners with family and friends, food is an important part of our social interactions and our relationships. So whatever happy memories a burger may conjure, It's imperative you have a burger recipe at the ready for you next gathering!

I used to grill my burger creations back home with a friend of mine down the block. I don't have access to a grill here, so I now use a frying pan.

 Southwest Taco Bean Burgers on My Friends Grill Back Home 

When I arrived in Peru I was worried about finding vegetarian food. I needn't have worried! I found a great little place that serves Lentil Burgers. They are made from a home-crafted, super secrete recipe, and they are beyond delicious. They've got different options, all are vegetarian and several are vegan, or can be made vegan by removing the cheese.

Pura Vida Burger from Prasada

However delicious Prasada is, it's 12 soles for a burger. (About 4 dollars American, a bit spendy for a meal here) A bit much to indulge in every time I get a nostalgic craving. So I was determined to create my own home crafted version of the lentil burger. 

Get Ready to Be Delicious Burger Patties! 

Now that I live in Peru, I don't have as much access to ingredients at I did in the states, but I was determined to create a veggie burger that would appease my hunger and my 4th of July like craving. It took a couple attempts, but I figured out a way to get the patties to hold together really well with out any cholesterol filled eggs!

Burgers Crackling Happily in the Pan

Alright! I think I've kept you waiting long enough. Without further adieu, here is my recipe for curried lentil spinach burgers! (Again, I need to come up with more creative names eventually) 

Ingredients

* 1 Bag (About 3ish cups) uncooked lentils

* 3/4  cup toasted quinoa powder

* 2-3 cups spinach
* 6-7 Tbs. Curry Powder 

* Salt and Pepper

* A type of frying oil

* Burger Toppings! (I used garlic guac and tomatoes) 

Instructions

1. Soak your lentils for at least a couple hours before you begin. Rinse well. 

2. Start a pot of boiling water. Add lentils cook for around 30 minutes, or until the lentils become soft. 

3. Drain lentils. Rinse off excess water. Allow to dry for several hours, or pat dry with paper towel. 

4. Wash your hands, then get into those lentils! Squish 'em up good! A meat tenderizer might also work well for this step. 

5. Add just a bit of water to your toasted quinoa powder, mix until is gets a porridge like texture.

7. Saute spinach in a pan over low heat to rid it of moisture.(I didn't use any oil for this) Add a little curry and salt. Set aside to cool. 

8. Add the quinoa mixture to the smooshed up lentils and mix it up! It should start to feel nice and thick. Add the salt, pepper, and curry powder. Add cooled spinach. Form this mixture into patty shapes. It should make 5-6 big patties, or several smaller ones. I prefer big patties! 

9. Fry in a pan with a generous amount of oil for several minutes on each sides, turning when necessary. Wait for them to turn a bit brown and crispy! Remove from pan and remove excess oil with a paper towel.

10. Toast your bun, and add burger patty. Add your favorite burger toppings! Serve to your amazed friends and family. 

If you have time, I would consider doing steps 1,2,3 the night before you plan to cook, and steps 4,5,6,7,8 a couple hours before you plan to serve your burgers! You can keep these in your fridge for about a week. I haven't tried freezing them because my freezer doesn't work, but I think that you probably could if  so desired. If you don't have toasted quinoa powder, any type of plain hot cereal and a bit of water might work, otherwise some flour. 

The Finished Project

This is a delicious and simple burger that packs in about 33 grams of protein and only about 7 grams of fat (This includes white bread and guacamole), and it does have a little bit of prep time, but the cooking process is actually really easy. Afterwards you can have a few friends over, or put the extras in your fridge and save them for your next few lunch breaks! I recommend serving them with crispy sweet potato like shown in the picture above  ;) If you come up with your own version of the lentil burger, I'd love to hear about it! Feel free to post your amazing pictures in the comments below! 

Myth Busting: PROTEIN

So there are tons of misconceptions that people have about vegans. That they are all either hippies, or super militant animal activists comes to mind. (I will a address this another time.)

 But I thought I'd start with the number one most annoying, and most misunderstood stereotype.

  Peace and Love and Stuff

So the myth that I am talking about is "vegans don't get enough protein."

I mean, do you even lift Bro?  >.< 

But seriously...

I don't know a lot of people are under the impression that vegans only eat iceberg lettuce, and sprout sandwiches...but seriously we don't.

Places vegans get protein

* Beans
* Nuts
* Seeds
* Legumes
* Lentils
* Dark leafy greens
* Whole Grains
*Soy and Soy Products Ex: Tofu, Tempeh, Seitan,

There are also many types of faux meats that can be good when you are transitioning, but I wouldn't recommend eating those on a daily basis. They are helpful with cravings especially at the beginning, but they are highly processed foods. In general I would stick to wholefood meals, especially if you are looking to be active! Here is an example of a great breakfast:

Protein Packed Breakfast (Fruit, Nut, Seed Oatmeal and Whole Grain Pesto Toast) 

  

And while the list I created contains the best plant sources of protein, many types vegetables I didn't mention also contain protein.

And its not like we eat these by themselves. (Steamed broccoli all day yo!)  Its easy to mix and match these things into wonderful recipes that can satisfy even a super athletes needs. (Check out my available recipes!)

Below is a snapshot from cron-o-emer, the online app I use to track my nutrition. I have focused in on the protein section so you can get an idea of my daily intake of protein from eating a plant based (mostly whole) food diet. On cron-o-meter you enter a bit about your lifestlye, and then the foods you eat, and Tah-Dah! It keeps track of everything from calories and fat to vitamins and minerals. You can even enter your exercise.

 I just want to add a disclaimer that I didn't set out that day to try and get an impressive amount of protein. It is just an example of how I usually eat.

Just Another Day in the Life of a Culinary Genius    

I recommend checking out this website if you are unsure about your nutrition intake!

 Again while I selected this day as a good example, I didn't set out to eat any differently that day. I just entered my intake. Based on my weight 110, and active lifestyle it was recommended that I get at least 46 grams of protein daily. I usually intake around 70ish grams. Now I live a fairly active lifestyle, so I air on the side of caution with protein making sure to get enough. For the average person cutting meat out of their diet, I really don't believe protein to be a serious obstacle.

The fact that you need meat to stay fit is a myth. In fact I highly recommend you check out my favorite vegan athlete Tim 'Livewire' Sheiff.

Click here! Tim Sheiff: Parkour Champ

I drool a bit every time I watch one of his videos...

As you can tell, I probably care a bit more than the average person about my health. So when I get put down by the average Burger King eating, multiple video game hour playing, cigarette smoking, uninformed citizen that I must not be getting enough protein, its quite difficult for me not to become upset. I usually just appease myself by rolling my eyes and feeling superior  ;)

Queen of the World, Yo. 

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for some protein packed recipes for the athletic vegan, more myth busting, and travel advice and stories.  :)  

The First Couple Days (and a New Recipe!)

Hey all!  Checking in to keep you informed on my progress. Its day 3 of the vegan challenge, and so far its been pretty easy. The first day though, I actually didn't eat much because I was feeling a little under the weather.  (I may have had a bit too much fun heralding in the New Year with my friends.)

Here in Peru, they are really REALLY into fireworks. So, a couple burn holes in my sweater later, I was ready to start the new year as a vegan!

Pretty colors!

So, happy 2016 everybody! It's day three already. After a lazy day one and two, I decided to get out and get some fresh air, reconnect with nature and all that jazz. So today I laced up my boots, filled my water bottle, and headed out of town for a solo hike up to Temple of the Moon.

 Some friends I met along the way! 

The ruins of Temple of the Moon are only about a half day trip, but far enough out of town you can get out of the hustle and bustle of Cusco, and its mostly a straight uphill climb (with ample opportunity for a little free climbing.) So you can get in some good cardio.

The view from the first place I free climbed

I got a bit sunburned on the way, but it was worth it for the sights at the top.

You can take horse tours to many of the ruins

Cusco from a great distance

 I worked up quite an appetite on my trek, so for dinner tonight I had a protein and carb packed meal.
Chickpea Curry! (I have yet to come up with a more clever name for it.) I used to make a crockpot soup version of this back in the United States, but this is a simplified version served over rice. Perfect to keep as leftovers, or put in a container to go! If you need something delicious and full of protein after a long day outside, check out the recipe below!

Chickpea Curry (About 3-4 big servings)

Ingredients

* 2 Cans or 1 bag dried chickpeas
*1 Cup uncooked spinach
* 2 cups Broccoli
*1.5 cups rice
*Curry Powder
*Soy-Sauce
*Salt
*Pepper


Instructions

1. If you are using dried chickpeas, they must be soaked overnight and then cooked according to the package. This usually takes several hours so plan ahead. If you are using canned chickpeas, make sure they are rinsed well, and skip this step.

2.  Cook rice according to package. I like to use brown, but you can use whatever kind you want. Let it cool for a bit. When you are ready to put the recipe together, stirfry with a bit of souse soy-sauce and black pepper for flavor. (You can just stir in the soy-sauce and pepper without frying the rice if you want.)

3. Boil the broccoli for about three minutes, and while you do this heat up a pan with olive oil (Or other oil.)

4. When the broccoli looks bright green, add broccoli, chickpeas, and spinach to the pan with the oil. Cook over medium heat, adding in several good shakes of curry powder, salt, and pepper. When the chickpeas start to look toasty, and the spinach looks wilty, serve atop your rice. Feel free to mix it all together if you want!

5. Enjoy with lots of water to recover from your hike!

Now I know that this isn't the most extravagant curry dish out there, but again I live in Peru and don't have access to a lot of spices. My dishes are mainly going to be for people who want something simple, but healthy and delicious!

Thanks for reading! I plan to make lots of dishes that would be good for an active or athletic vegan, so stay tuned!

Greetings Reader! (An Introduction From Yours Truly)

Hey All! If you have come across this blog, you're either friends and family checking in to make sure I'm not withering away from protein deficiency, or perhaps your a vegetarian, vegan, or someone looking to make the leap to a healthier, more compassionate lifestyle. Either way I'm glad you're here!

A little bit of background! My name is Anastasia, I'm originally from Northern Wisconsin, and I'm currently living and working abroad in Cusco, Peru

Helloooo!  :) 

I've been a vegetarian for a little over three years now,and within the last six months, I've been transitioning to vegan by cutting animal products from my diet  (milk, eggs, cheese etc.)
It's actually not that hard now, since the milk and cheese in Peru are pretty, well, nasty.  (Its not even refrigerated at stores or in the market.)


Yesterday December 31, was my last day of having animal products in my diet.

A picture of my last non vegan meal here.


 

This pita falafel contains tatziki (A yogurt based Mediterranean sauce) so I will have to get it without next time. It will probably be just as good with extra hummus!


In this blog I plan to record my journey. You will find recipes and pictures, as well as well informed commentary on animal rights issues, nutrition, and challenges facing a vegan abroad. I'm kind of a nutrition nerd, so there might be a lot of that in here.

*Cue the scores of people freaking out about a vegan's protein*

 Warning! I plan on posting photos from the local markets in Peru that may be disturbing to some animal loving viewers. I will always warn you ahead of time.

So without further ado, I welcome you to the page! I hope you find something in here that you can apply to your own journey to a more healthful, sustainable existence.  :)