One Month of cruelty free eating- great work!

So today is the last day of our challenge- how do you feel? Have you noticed a change in your mood, digestion, skin, weight, or others concerns? Knowing that you've moved a step closer to reducing the cruelty towards farmed animals and decreased your carbon footprint must feel pretty good too. Congrats- and keep up the good work! Whether it's having a few vegetarian nights per week, or deciding to remain vegetarian, or even vegan- know that you are making positive choices for your health, for the animals, and for our environment. Great work!

Keep up the good work vegetarians!

Oprah's vegan challenge.
Read here to see how Oprah and her staff did on their vegan challenge! http://www.pcrm.org/newsletter/feb11/guidelines.html

Bean Burgers

Hello Vegetarians! How did week 1 go?
Here's a recipe the whole family is sure to love- just serve with a side of sweet potato fries and you're set!

Bean Burgers
Makes 6 burgers

1 cup cooked chickpeas
1 cup cooked brown rice
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

6 tablespoons Tofu Mayo or other mayonnaise substitute
vegetable oil spray
6 whole-wheat burger buns
6 tablespoons stone-ground mustard
6 tablespoons ketchup
6 tomato slices
6 red onion slices
6 lettuce leaves


Drain garbanzo beans and mash coarsely. Mix with brown rice, oats, celery, onion, garlic, soy sauce, paprika, and black pepper.

Form into six patties. Cook in a vegetable oil-sprayed non-stick skillet over medium heat until lightly browned on both sides.

Warm up the buns, then spread with Tofu Mayo or mayonnaise substitute, mustard, and ketchup. Place a burger patty on each bun then top each with a tomato slice, onion slice, lettuce leaf, and top bun.
enjoy!

Compassionate Cuisine Workshop

Compassionate Cuisine with Renee Trepanier:

Join Renée Trepanier, yoga instructor and raw food culinary artist, for an informative workshop on the yoga of eating. Learn how simple it is to achieve optimal health by incorporating delicious, nutritious and compassionate food into your daily life.

Workshop Details:
Date: February 6th, 2011
Time: 4:00-6:00pm
Location: Eastside Yoga Studio
Cost: $30 in advance ($35 at the door)

This interactive workshop includes a food preparation demonstration, recipe sharing and food tasting. To purchase your tickets please call 519-478-0087 or email Dianne@eastside-yoga.com. Spaces are limited so book your place soon

Day 2: What's for dinner?

Hello fellow vegetarians! I hope yesterday was a success for you, and that you're becoming more accustomed to thinking like a herbavore. Did you enjoy the split pea soup? Remember, if you didn't have time to cook ahead, there are 'convenience foods' available so dinner can be ready quick- veggie burgers, amy's organic soups, etc. or a great variety of restaurants that offer vegetarian options- if you're not sure, just ask! One month will fly by fast, so stay focused and use this month as a time to take better care of yourself and your planet- we're worth it!

Info Night was a great success!

Thankyou to all who came to the Vegetarian Challenge night- we had a great turnout and it looks like it's going to be a successful month of delicious eating! Below are the links that I had mentioned last night:
The New 4 food groups: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttfn5AEBdhY
How Green is your diet? http://features.peta.org/VegetarianStarterKit/index.asp (click on #4)

Over the next month, this blog is open for everone to use, so feel free to post some of your favorite recipes, tips, or questions. Looking forward to hearing how everyone is doing!

Vegetarian Cooking Class

Taste Bud Food is offering a cooking class with us vegetarians in mind!

Wednesday, January 26th Vegetarian Cooking
6-8:30pm

Carrot-Coconut Soup
Tuscan White Bean Soup with Rosemary and Kale
Soba Noodle and Peanut Salad
Mixed Grain Salad with Sundried Tomatoes and Walnuts
Sweet Potato and Portobello Mushroom Focaccia with Honey Mustard Tofu Mayo
Cheesy Swiss Chard and Walnut Canelloni
Chickpea and Vegetable Curry over Quinoa
Ratatouille and White Beans over Potato Latkes

$40
Call 519 253-3665 or visit www.tastebudfood.com for more details.

What to eat on a vegan diet

Check out these links for a preview of what's to come over the next month!
Peta's online Vegetarian Starter Kit: http://features.peta.org/VegetarianStarterKit/index.asp
PCRM's kickstart program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttfn5AEBdhY

Great Recipe Resources

Over the next month, you'll be trying great new tastes and flavors your taste buds will love! Here are some recipe books that i've enjoyed that will help you create some delish meals:
1. Refresh, Ruth Tal
2. Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook, Alissa Segersten & Tom Malterre
3. Skinny Bitch, Ultimate Everyday Cookbook, Kim Barnouin
4. The Vegetarian Collection, Canadian Living
5. The Kind Diet, Alicia Silverstone

Healthy Lifestyle/ Healthy Environment Videos

As a preview to our event next week, check out these videos:
1. Food Inc. http://www.foodincmovie.com/
2. Food Matters http://www.foodmatters.tv/
3. www.meat.org
4. Sharkwater http://www.sharkwater.com/
5. Supersize Me http://super-size-me.morganspurlock.com/
6. Earthlings http://www.earthlings.com/
7. Voyage To Betterment http://voyagetobetterment.com/