Happy Sunday! Hope you’re having a great weekend! I think we’re gonna get more stuff done on the house today and catch up on laundry. And I’m hoping things will settle down a bit at work next week and grateful I’m not on call because it’s been interesting this week. Some simple eats from this week include this Tofurky Italian Sausage and marinara stir fry with hemp seed “parm” topping.
Miso tofu oil free stir fry.
Explore Asian Soybean Spaghetti soup with carrots and broccoli.
Friday night we stepped out for Thai food and parked next to a car with this worn sticker.
I love it, but not sure I’m gutsy enough to put anything like that on my car yet!
Spicy Thai tofu with brown rice – yum.
I’ve been trying to get more adventurous rotating a variety of fruits and veggies into our diet, so I grabbed a papaya at Trader Joe’s for our smoothies. It has a mild flavor, but smooth texture that blended nice with protein powder, broccoli, carrots, banana, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and fennel seeds this this hearty smoothie!
The dogs weren’t impressed, they were content to have a lazy weekend morning in the office with me frustrated by the strong winds outside.
After the gym yesterday, we had to stop by Grocery Outlet for vegan deals and didn’t get into too much trouble, but I found more cheap peanut powder for smoothies.
Then I made an odd lunch of Mexican seasoned stir fry stew to use up a container of slow cooked black beans in the fridge. I simmered black beans, tomatoes, and carrots with water, miso paste, cumin, chili powder, hot sauce, and nutritional yeast.
It looks funky, but it was actually good!
And last night we got to have fun being big kids at my nephew’s birthday party at a laser tag place. Trying to get a picture in a dark, black lit smokey course is not easy!
I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy laser tag, but it was fun! Like an active live action video game where you run around this huge, multi-level indoor course shooting at the opposing teams targets and players. It was also hot! Most of the adults had sweat stains from wearing the laser vests – ick! The not-so-fun part was the food! Not only was it not vegan friendly, it was not health friendly! Basically they only served pizza, soda, and birthday cake to kids. And the only topping options for the pizza was cheese, pepperoni, and sausage – no veggies at all or even pineapple. And very strict rules that you can’t bring in your own food for the parties ousting anyone with a dairy or gluten allergy, on a plant based diet, or on any type of healthier diet! Parents can’t even bring salad, fruit, or a healthy side to counter the crap served to kids. I get a place like that might have limited food options, but jeez – let people bring healthier options for their kids and adults attending the party if they want! It’s not easy watching kids build negative eating habits that will be tough to overcome when they’re older.
Hubby and I had a snack before arriving and left a little early to grab a healthy dinner from Whole Foods!
It was fun trying something new and hanging with my sisters, but having better food options or just being able to bring our own food would have been nice! Anyway, to the list!
Dr. Greger discusses the importance of dietary diversity here and this is an area that I’m trying to improve in more specifically alternating the grains, fruits, and veggies I buy each week and always looking for something new to try in the produce department.
He also combats the protein myth in this informative video and takes a disturbing look at how the egg industry spins health studies.
Use tofu for awesome vegan waffles.
I like Michelle Pfeiffer’s anti-aging tricks.
Running really is good therapy.
Things vegans are tired of hearing.
The high cost of cheap food … like the crap from the laser tag place.
An interesting look at food cravings.
6 things before running your first marathon.
This woman overcame challenges to become an inspiring runner.
I have legit not eaten enough today, as I got up super easy this AM for an EARLY FLIGHT and now I am a total zombie to the world. But you just made me EXTREMELY HUNGRY! haha!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Haha, you’re welcome! Hope it was a safe trip!
I can’t get behind papaya. I tried last summer and bought some when I went “raw” vegan for a month…but I wont buy it again. Just not my fruit of choice. I love the links! Thanks for sharing the one about the first marathon, I need it!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Papaya does have an interesting texture, but worked really well in smoothies. Sure and me too on the marathon link!
Don’t give up on papaya! It is a really finicky fruit. You need to get it right when it is ripe, otherwise it tastes chalky and awful! I went on a kick for awhile of a papaya and mango salsa that I would use in tacos. Maybe I need to revisit that recipe! It’s been years!
Ughhh, tons of laundry around here too. I thought the bumper sticker was super interesting. I actually have been seeing a few people (women) wearing t-shirts and sweatshirts that just says “Vegan” really big on them. Regardless, the more plants you eat, the better off you are. There can be no doubt about that!!!! I’ve been eating sea kelp these days and you gotta think it’s helping me!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Yeah, I’m noticing more vegan fashion around here too and it’s great, better for health, environment, and compassion. More fruits and veggies are always good!
I’m not yet ready for the vegan car sticker but I bought a ferocious vegan tank with a bunny on it that makes me laugh. It’s my first one and I only wore it once so far but I’m not as worried as I used to be that someone on the street with yell at me about it.
Love that celebs are saying how good a vegan diet is. Most people want to look good like Michelle Pfeiffer’s – they should give the vegan diet a chance. :)
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
I have a few vegan tank tops I rotate at the gym and have gotten only positive compliments on them and my Plant Based Athlete shirt I wear for races. It took a little bit of time to really feel comfortable wearing them.
Agreed on Michelle Pfeiffer, looking good is good into old age, but really feeling good and having the health and energy to enjoy retirement is important to me.
Kids parties can be tough (especially if your kids have allergies). My daughter is allergic to peanuts, and she frequently chooses on her own not to eat at parties. We always grab her something better afterwards ;)
The food all looks delicious and healthy. So much variety! I definitely have a hard time getting so many different foods into my diet.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Allergies are tough in situations like that too, thank goodness Whole Foods was nearby. Thanks on the food. :-)
I am a little surprised they don’t allow outside food, well, because of allergies. I feel like they would allow it because of the possibility of lawsuits of a guest having an allergic reaction on their property. Sadly lawsuits are usually what makes businesses make big changes.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
I thought that was strange too and maybe food allergies are the reasons for the severe limitations – I worked for a private school that would not let anyone bring anything on campus with nuts for kids with peanut allergies. But it’s sad to limit the healthy options too and set such a terrible example for a healthy lifestyle.
Mmmmm…..fresh papaya reminds me of tropical vacations and the freshest fruit breakfasts. I really need some warm weather in my life right now.
Thanks for the great links about training for a marathon, and running in general.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Mmmm, yes, like a Hawaiian vacation! It’s getting warm here already and I’m not sure I’m ready for the triple digit heat around the corner!
I would like to find a simple “V” sticker or static cling for my car. That way the vegans will get it and the vegans won’t LOL :)
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
I like that, a sticker for vegans to find each other!