Mini RANT then Traveling Tips

Warning mini rant (so skip this paragraph if you don't want to read my complaint):
Has anyone seen the show on Style Network called What I Hate About Me?  While flipping through the channels I stumbled upon this show with the premise that the host helps a woman change the top ten things that she hates about her (her looks, life, clothing, job, etc).  For example this woman hated that she and her family ate unhealthy, processed food so she had a private cooking class with a personal chef.  And then she hated her yellow teeth so a cosmetic dentist gave her veneers.  I sat in amazement as the host and the woman changing herself used the words "hate" and "me" in almost every sentence.  After ten minutes I had to turn the television off and reflect on the insanity that I just witnessed.  The title of the show, What I Hate About Me, sends a HORRIBLE message to anyone watching the show.  Everyone has little aspects of his/her life that drives them crazy or invokes desires of change or unhappiness.  However, hate is such a strong word and I don't think that a television show should be asking a woman what she hates about herself.  Maybe she is unhappy with the fact that she has yellow teeth but the fact that she associates hate and herself because of her teeth is horribly unhealthy.  As women now-a-days we are held to insanely high standards to be super mothers while maintaining an active social life, fantastic careers, keeping our "men" happy, maintain a strict workout routine, perfect figure, and never eating anything but carrots and apples.  So now, we have to find the ten little things that aren't perfect and we have to fix them.  Of course eating healthy is a fantastic goal for everyone but because you eat a cookie every once in a while doesn't mean you should hate yourself.  The word "hate" especially in regards to yourself is horrible, would you tell your best friend ten things you hate about her and how she should fix them?  I think that we should embrace the all parts of ourselves and our lives.  And maybe those little parts that don't completely satisfy us, can either be our little quirks that we grow to love or as motivation to make little changes as in eating more fruits and vegetables rather than a candy bar. Anyways, rant over (has anyone seen this show??)

Traveling tips time :) I'm leaving for Denver tomorrow for a work related conference.  In November, I went on my first "business" trip to San Antonio, Texas when I learned many lessons about traveling for work.  San Antonio is not the most vegetarian friendly city and I ended up losing four pounds in the couple days I stayed there.  So this time, I decided to go to Denver more prepared with food in case I have difficultly finding healthy food (though according to my vegan co-worker who lived in Denver, there are numerous vegetarian/vegan restaurants and cafes...yay).  First, the breakfast menu at my hotel includes bacon, sugar laden cereal, waffles, bagels, and sausage...not my ideal breakfast.  So I'm coming prepared with:

Instant Oatmeal-just add boiling water which you can get by running water through a coffee maker without any coffee grinds (yes it's Wal-mart brand-DC living is expensive)

Squeezable Applesauce to put in my oatmeal plus I plan on purchasing bananas at the Starbucks near my hotel to round out my breakfast.

Now at these conferences there aren't too many healthy snack options.  I'm not a huge sweets person and I don't want to eat cookies and pastries if I need a snack so I'm coming prepared with:

Apple Cinnamon Clif Z Bars which is the best flavor ever!!

Whole unflavored almonds and cocoa roasted almonds both of which I can also add to my oatmeal 

(yummmm healthy fat)

Meat free jerky in case I have difficulty finding non animal protein in restaurants (major problem in San Antonio because I could never find beans or lentils or tofu and CVS acted as the only "grocery" store)

Travelling as a healthy eater (or vegetarian or vegan) can be incredibly difficult.  So I've begun packing food help me survive time away from kitchen and fridge.  Just by finding some little snacks and very expensive squeezable applesauce (ah, Whole "Paycheck"), you can survive.  Plus I've found that smiling and asking very nicely will typically let you customize your food choices at restaurants.  Goal for Denver: do not lose weight (oh and do the networking/learning for my job...).

Do you have any tips for travel?  Business or pleasure?  Or any restaurant recommendations for Denver?

And in the spirit of my mini rant, tell the ten thing you LOVE about yourself and your life.  I'll start:

1. My strong body 

2. My wonderful family and friends

3. The fact that I have a good job, car, and apartment in this economy

4. My bright blue eyes 

5. My blistered, dry feet (my trophy of all my athleticism)

6. My active and curious mind

7. Cooking fun and whole foods that make me feel good inside and out

8. My book collection

9. All the museums, buildings, restaurants, activities, etc I have access to in DC

10. My journal to record all my hopes and aspirations and feelings

Reading in the Rain

Due to long days of inclement weather (aka it's cold and rainy) thus killing any motivation to venture outdoors except to the gym or work or the grocery store, I've been doing lots and lots of reading.  Fortunately, my library is close and often has a decent selection of books and the capability to transfer books from other libraries in my county.  I've always been interested in nutrition but I've never done much research into vegetarian/vegan nutrition.  And I've realized that I'm not eating enough during the day.  I've also discovered that RDs and nutritionists are incredibly expensive even with help from insurance (over $100 for 45 minutes...I don't think so).  So what's a modern girl to do?  Pull out her library card and do research!  I didn't go to college for nothing...lol.  So I found this book Vegan & Vegetarian Faq: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions edited by Reeds Mangels and Davida Gypsy Breier with the Vegetarian Resource Group.   I greatly enjoyed reading this book especially all the questions that were answered by the authors.  Questions range from nutrition questions to questions regarding vegan tattoo ink.  Though this book did not provide advanced nutritional facts/plans for Vegan/Vegetarians it did provide an insight into the Vegetarian/Vegan lifestyle.  I highly recommend this book if you are a vegan/vegetarian, contemplated becoming a vegan/vegetarian, or just have questions regarding a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle.  I would like to find a good Vegetarian nutrional book that would give me meal ideas and tricks to eating properly throughout the day.  Any suggestions?


On a more serious note, I seem to have a problem  eating enough during the day so I often over eat at night for example I ate an entire container of hummus with rice cakes this afternoon!  I work all day with limited access to food (unless I bring it in).  Do you have suggestions for good snacks or meal ideas that will help me eat more throughout the day?

DC Vegan Cafe

In case you were wondering, I survived the massive blizzard that overtook Washington DC.  I bunkered down in my parent's house which is closer to my office than my apartment where I basically slept, ate, read, watched TV, repeat.  Fortunately I managed to get some gym  time in thanks to my mother's SUV and Michigan winter driving skills.  Plus hiking in snow up to your waist for a couple miles is a fantastic workout. And walking up and down the stairs for an hour gets your heart-rate going even though your parents look at you like you're crazy...

Just for an idea of how much snow the DC metro area received here are some comparison photos.

My little Hyundai Accent Friday night in the first couple hours of snow fall:

Here's my car Saturday morning as snow still kept falling:

Needless to say my car would not move without massive assistance.  So my Dad and two teenage brothers removed all the snow from around my car and moved it into the driveway...while I sat in the warmth of my parent's house stamping cards with my mother!  My mother provided a bounty of food including 30000 containers of hummus which I proceeded to devour over the next week (some with veggies and some with massive amounts of pita chips).  But after a couple days, I got massive cabin fever and finally managed to return to my apartment and make a connection with the outside world!  So when my friend E. asked me to go to another Vegan cafe in downtown DC, I became ecstatic to be a social human being (not that I don't love my time with my family) and finally try Java Green!

Java Green considers itself an organic eco-cafe that does not serve any products with meat, fish, or eggs.  Plus there are numerous Vegan, Gluten free, and Raw options for everyone (well except omnivores looking for steak).  Plus all of their takeout silverware and dish ware are biodegradable and the cafe provides recycling bins.  It's a tiny cafe perfect for grabbing a quick healthy lunch (though seating is limited so I wouldn't go during the week during prime lunch hours).  After browsing the menu (so many yummy options) I finally chose the seaweed soup with kelp, seaweed, mushroom, and scallions in veggie broth.

And trust me, it's as delicious as it looks!  A huge bowl of soup on a windy, winter day in DC satisfied my soul plus reminded me that I still knew how to behave in social situations and wear real clothes not just my brother's sweatpants and a ratty hoodie. My friend E. chose the organic tofu scramble (which is a very popular brunch item...yum vegan brunch).

She seemed to enjoy the scramble (she spiced it up with Java Green original hot sauce) but I had a little taste and I thought it needed some kick minus the hot sauce as I am a spicy wimp.  I would have covered the scramble in garlic (as I typically do with all food I consume including popcorn).  We both sipped on brewed hot teas and chatted about how we survived the blizzard of 2010!

I immensely enjoyed Java Green and contrary to some opinions on Yelp, I found the staff to be friendly and knowledgeable about the food and customer's dietary restrictions.  I am definitely returning (even though the food prices were a little pricey-$10 for my huge bowl of soup) because there are so many other options I want to sample including raw pizza, mango kale salad, etc.  Plus I'd rather pay a little more money for food that is good for me and the environment!  Though I typically will avoid all the dishes with faux meat products.  I've found that many faux meat products are too processed for my taste though I love Quorn's frozen "chicken" tenders.

Have you tried any faux meat products?  If so what are you favorites or which ones don't you like?  And do you have any tips for surviving long snow days without eating your weight in hummus?

And if I can get my act together I should be back sometime this week with a book review!

Eco-Vegan-Vegetarian-Carnivore Friendly Haven

As a vegetarian, it can be difficult to find restaurants that will satisfy my culinary demands as well as my meat eating friends.  For example-Outback Grill last weekend...I'm not paying $10 for an iceberg lettuce salad!  One of my co-workers (he's a vegan) told me about a restaurant in Arlington (VA neighborhood right outside of DC) called Toscana Green (Grill).  So one of my friends and I decided to check it out one night after happy hour.

Sorry I didn't get any pictures of the interior but picture a smaller, cozier restaurant with lots of booths and various shades of green...really cute :) It wasn't crowded and our waiter was incredibly attentive.  Both my friend and I just drank water (boring but healthy) and munched on some whole grain bread appetizers.  I didn't try the oil-so I can't pass judgement:

 Finally our meals came.  I love the idea of pasta but pasta typically upsets my stomach...it's too heavy for me!  But when I saw raw zucchini pasta with basil marinara I knew I had to try it!!

.

The dish was super yummy but the marinara sauce was a little watery yet the fresh basil was an amazing addition to the sauce.  I'm going to add fresh basil to all of my tomato sauces!! But I was still really hungry after I finished all my meal (and I hardly ever finish a restaurant portion meal).  I need some non meat protein and fat (so I might have snacked on some hummus when I returned home).

My friend ordered the curry risotto which included mushroom, onion, and carrots in a curry cream sauce over brown rice.  

I stole a little bit and I loved it!  Typically I'm not a huge rice fan (I prefer to get my grains in the form of popcorn...lol).  The curry tasted amazing: not too heavy and creamy and complimented the veggies and brown rice perfectly.  I'm definitely going back to Toscana Green and sampling some of the other vegetarian/vegan dishes.

What's amazing about Toscana Green is the variety of options!  There are pasta dishes, entrees, salads, soups for every diet including carnivores, vegans, vegetarians, gluten free, raw foodies, etc.  It's the perfect place for a mixed group of culinary demands.  Prices were typical for a more casual DC restaurants (I paid around $15 for my entire meal including tip).   Though my pasta was not super filling, I loved the flavors of my dish and the risotto.  And I definitely have a couple ideas for my next meal at Toscana Green: the asparagus risotto caught my eye.

Do you eat a different diet from your friends?  And if you do, how do you pick restaurants that everyone will enjoy??

Warm Moroccan Nights

Nothing is more wonderful than returning home from a long day of work on a cold and blustery day to the wonderful aroma of dinner cooking away.  A slow cooker is an essential tool in any kitchen especially for those crazy busy days with no time to cook.  I got my slow cooker last Christmas and it's been one of most favorite presents (Thanks Mom)!  With a little planning and prep work, on those busy days you can avoid the "drive thru" and come home to a nutritious, delicious meal.  Even if you don't have a family to feed (I'm a single gal cooking for me, myself, and I), slow cooker leftovers can often be frozen and saved for an emergency lunch or dinner!  Plus nothing is more tasty than a yummy stew seasoned with the tastes of a warm foreign country so I introduce


Moroccan Squash and Spinach Stew.

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped carrots (about 3 medium)

1 medium butternut squash cubed (about 2.5 lbs)

5.5 cups shredded spinach

1 cup low sodium veggie broth

4 cloves chopped garlic

14.5 oz can no salt added diced tomatoes

1 tsp cumin ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp red pepper flakes

15 oz can no salt added garbanzo beans

Directions:
1. Peel and chop butternut squash into half inch cubes and place in slow cooker
2. Chop 3 medium carrots (about one cup) and place in slow cooker
3. Chop/shred about 10oz of spinach (equals about 5.5 cups shredded) and place in slow cooker
3. Chop garlic gloves and place in slow cooker
4. Add 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes UNDRAINED to slow cooker
5. Add 1 (or 1.5) cups low sodium vegetable broth to slow cooker
6. Add spices and mix all ingredients
7. Cook on low for 5-6 hours depending on your slow cooker (very difficult to over cook-I cooked mine for almost 8)
8. Add 15 oz can of garbanzo beans and cook on high for five minutes
9.  Season with salt and pepper (I used garlic salt...muwhahahaha-I love garlic)
10. DEVOUR :)

Makes approximately 6 generous 1 cup servings.

Nutritional Stats (from Spark People): 163 calories, 1.6 grams fat, 10 grams fiber, 6.8 grams protein

In the slow cooker (doesn't it look pretty):

Because I'm lazy in the mornings, I chopped everything up the night before and put the pot from my slow cooker in my fridge overnight.  So the next morning, I popped it into the slow cooker and let it cook away while I was at work all day :)  It was a wonderful aroma to come home too especially on a cold, yucky, rainy day.  I put individual servings in containers and tossed them in the freezer so the next time I need a last minute meal-I have yummy stew waiting.

Do you have any good slow cooker recipes that you rely on?

The Happiness Within Me

"Find happiness within yourself.  Then share yourself with others."

I love my Yogi tea and it's inspiration messages on the tea bag.  And I found the happiness within me today from my yummy dinner and now I'm sharing the secret of my yummy happiness with you: Cava Mezze Hummus.

I absolutely adore hummus.  I could live on hummus (and popcorn) for the rest of my life and die happy :) Now I'm a hummus snob and when I'm too lazy/tired/busy to make my own hummus there are only certain brands of hummus I purchase.  Typically I purchase Tribe Roasted Red Pepper Hummus or the ultimate "crack" hummus Sabra hummus (especially the Spinach artichoke hummus) BUT one of my fantastic coworkers introduced me to Cava Mezze hummus which is made locally in Rockville, MD (very close to my company's HQ).

This hummus is creamy, flavored to perfection with only a slight tahini aftertaste (I do not like strong tahini tastes in my hummus even though I know it's what defines hummus).  And check out these nutritional stats (per 2 tablespoons): 30 calories, 1 gram fat, 1 gram protein.  It's ingredient list is even more impressive: garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, kosher salt, garlic, and citric acid (I can pronounce all of those)!  This is definitely a case where less (ingredients) is more (taste, awesomeness, health benefits).

Now how do I consume my hummus? The real question is how I don't consume only hummus.  Well tonight I made one of my favorite hummus inspired meals:

Salad beast (hummus, spinach, brocoli slaw, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, balsamic vinegar) & grilled pita with hummus (plus a pear on the side).

I've shared with you the happiness within me (trust me there is plenty of this hummus in me).  Now what are some of your favorite hummus inspired meals? Or brands? Or recipes?

Southwestern Spaghetti Squash

For a long time I was scared of making any dishes involving spaghetti squash.  First, how did I get the noodles?  What would happen if I burnt the squash?  What if I hated the taste?  Finally I convinced myself that 2010 would be the year of eating outside the box and I was going to tackle the Spaghetti Squash.  I created a Southwestern Spaghetti Squash dish that was not only healthy and delicious but very easy with only a few ingredients.  Here's the recipe:

Sarah's Southwestern Spaghetti Squash  

Ingredients:
-1 small spaghetti squash (2 cups of "noodles")
-0.5 cup black beans (I used Goya)
-0.5 cup chopped onion
-0.5 cup chopped mushrooms
-0.5 cup salsa (I used mild-but super spicy foods do not agree with my tummy)
-0.5 tsp taco seasoning

Directions:
1. Chop spaghetti squash in half. Place squash cut side down in a baking pan filled with an inch of water. Roast squash at 400 F for 45-50 minutes.

2. Remove spaghetti squash from oven and use a fork to make "spaghetti noodles".  Place spaghetti squash noodles in a strainer.

3. Chop mushroom and onion. Spray a skillet with cooking spray and saute onion/mushrooms for  a minute or two.  Add the black beans and taco seasoning.

4.  Add 2 cups of spaghetti squash "noodles" to the skillet.  Saute for another two minutes.

5.  Turn off the stove and place contents of skillet on a plate.  Add 0.5 cup of salsa and mix.

6. Devour!!

It took all my self control not eat this dish in five seconds!  The salsa and taco seasoning added just enough spice to my veggies and black beans.  This dish is easy and very adaptable to individual tastes (and fridge contents).  A combination of red peppers and cilantro could be yummy :) Plus if you like super spicy, add some red pepper flakes and/or chili powder.

Here are the nutritional stats (from Spark People): 249 calories, 1.9 grams fat, 14.3 grams fiber, 12.7 grams protein.

Have you ever tried spaghetti squash?  If so what, are you favorite recipes??  Plus do you have any food resolutions for 2010?

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