June is for Joining

135

Replies

  • Mihani
    Mihani Posts: 4,100 Member
    Pretty bird, Austin.

    I am heading to the office bright and early today. Get-together this evening and still need to figure out what I'm taking to share so I can go to the store on the way home.

    Plan for today...
    B - oats with the usual additions
    L - salad, an apple
    D - not sure yet, I'll see what I can eat at the gathering besides whatever I take, will have a glass or two of wine
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    edited June 2019
    Oat Clusters:
    Chiquita. - Banana, 110 cal
    Walnuts, 0.25 cup, ground 131 cal
    flaxmeal - ground flax, 1 tbsp 37 cal
    Dates, medjool, 2 date, pitted 133 cal 
    Thrive Market - Organic Rolled Oats, 0.5 cups 200 cal 
    Add Food Quick Tools

    Calories: 611 Protein: 14 Fiber: 14 Trans Fat: 0 Fat: 20 Carbs: 106

    Totals for SIX COOKIES. So divide by six.

    I did not include 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon & vanilla

    The walnuts are optional...so you can drop the cal by eliminating them.

    I am going to make a double batch tomorrow and freeze them. I now trust myself enough to not eat an entire batch.

    I am very new to being totally WFPB/Vegan...but each day my conviction about why I am doing what I am doing strengthens. Thus, making it so easy to pass up food that no longer fits our lifestyle.

    I think going forward, I am going to try and just not talk about it...and just do. No one I know in real life eats like this...and only will upset me by challenging me if it is brought up. I am just going to go quietly about my business.

    Later, mates.

    PS I forgot my oat milk at home today to go with my cereal. Just used water. Not as good, but ok.

    Love your bird, Austin. I love watching the antics of all the birds on facebook. So fun. I had a parakeet growing up. I got him, Max, when I was five. Had him for 13 years. Wow. We grew up together. RIP sweet Max.




  • Cindy781
    Cindy781 Posts: 530 Member
    Hi everyone!

    Austin - The yogurt came out perfect! Just love it, so easy too. I use shelf stable soy milk and one probiotic capsule. I was using Cultures of Health yogurt starter but the probiotic capsule works just as well and is cheaper.

    I enjoy reading everyone’s menus each day and am learning a lot about my new way of eating. Thank you all for sharing!

    Have a great Saturday everyone!
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    Cindy781 wrote: »
    Hi everyone!

    Austin - The yogurt came out perfect! Just love it, so easy too. I use shelf stable soy milk and one probiotic capsule. I was using Cultures of Health yogurt starter but the probiotic capsule works just as well and is cheaper.

    I enjoy reading everyone’s menus each day and am learning a lot about my new way of eating. Thank you all for sharing!

    Have a great Saturday everyone!

    Cindy, I would love to make yogurt in my insta pot...it's brand new...and I haven't a clue. Can you point me in the right direction...or if you can, give me step by step directions. Thanks so much.

  • Cindy781
    Cindy781 Posts: 530 Member
    Hi Magic! I buy Westsoy Soy Milk, it only has soybeans and water for ingredients. My pot holds 3 pint jars. I pour the milk into my blender and turn on the lowest setting. As it mixes I add the yogurt starter, 1 packet. Cultures of Health is a great one. I then pour the milk in the jars and put them in my Instant Pot.

    Press the yogurt button, it defaults to 8 hours which is fine for me. If you like tart yogurt you can leave it to ferment longer.

    Here is a link to Jill McKeever’s video which helped me a lot.

    https://m.facebook.com/SimpleDailyRecipes/posts/10155570083518563
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    Thanks so much @Cindy781 I will check out the link.
  • bisky
    bisky Posts: 1,090 Member
    Wonders never cease. My 76 y/o sister is making homemade hummus! Not only that she likes it oil free! Plus she cooks her chickpeas in a rice cooker I bought her for xmas!
  • Mihani
    Mihani Posts: 4,100 Member
    Hi Everyone... I stuck to the plan last night. The grilled veggies looked SO good, but they had oil so I just had a bunch of the raw veggies and cashew dressing dip that I took, and I also made baked tofu fingers and had BBQ sauce for dipping which everyone really liked. Had two glasses of wine. I was up half a pound this morning, but I'm down 15 overall. I am finding that eating tofu (or too many starches) tends to stall my weight loss or make me bounce up, which is unfortunate because I love tofu and starchy carbs! But since my focus has become more about health and less about weight loss (although I still have 25 or so pounds to lose) it doesn't discourage me when the scale isn't responding. I always try to remember Dr. F's wise words from the ETL book... focus on your efforts, the results will follow.

    That's very cool your sister is making her own no oil hummus, Donna.
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    I think the whole losing weight thing will happen...the deeper one gets into this WOE it will happen. For me, I can see where certain things might make me go up slightly, go down slightly and stay the same. So being consistent with what helps me lose will be the key.

    The most important thing is that I have completely given up all animal products and keep processed and or fake foods to a minimum. Speaking of the Daiya mozza here.

    I made a double batch of oatmeal clusters...got 17 out of the double batch, about 71 cal each. Freezing them. Two-three a day with tea or coffee of ice cold oatmilk. Great treat to look forward to.

    Today's Plan:

    black coffee
    oatmeal with the usual stuff homemade oatmilk
    spaghetti with carrot/celery/mushrooms/onions marinara sauce
    grapes and plums
    Joe's Mean Green
    Three Oat Clusters
    Romaine salad when I get home from work.

    Have a great Father's Day everyone. To my dear dad, who I miss terribly, thank you so very much for the best childhood ever. What a super dad you were, never ever too busy to help me out whenever. I love you!
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    On the Menu:

    Breakfast: oatmeal
    Lunch: Grilled cheese (Follow your Heart slice) in air fryer, massaged kale salad
    Dinner: Tu NO by Kathy Fisher...recipe on her website: Straight Up Food

    Snacks:
    Joe's Mean Green
    Air Fried sweet potato
    Fresh Fruit
    Air Fried corn tortillas and salsa

    3-700ml bottles water. This is where I need to step up my game. I do not drink enough water.

    Have a great day everyone!
  • AustinRuadhain
    AustinRuadhain Posts: 2,595 Member
    edited June 2019
    Happy Tuesday!

    @magic71755 - Your remembrance of your dad was so sweet. I am reminded to be grateful my dad is still here.

    Your plan for today looks delish!

    @bisky - I am so delighted for you, as regards your sister and hummus! I think you may be more influential than you thought!

    @Mihani - " I always try to remember Dr. F's wise words from the ETL book... focus on your efforts, the results will follow." A big YES to this!

    @Cindy781 - Thanks for the yogurt recipe. I'll be trying this!


    My day so far:
    B - smoothie (spinach, broccoli, flax seed, blueberries; I was thinking about Dr F and his advice to blend cruciferous veggies); cup of coffee; golden berries and goji berries on the side
    L - steamed mustard greens topped with the last of the chickpeas and a few black-eyed peas, fire roasted tomatoes, Dr Greger Savory Spice mix; my vegan 'ceviche' (diced cooked zucchini; diced raw grape tomatoes; vinegar pickled onions -- I threw some black pepper seeds, cumin seeds and peppercorns into this batch, and they are quite flavorful); apple slices
    D (planned) - massaged kale salad
    S (planned; workout break during long exercise session this evening) - walnuts and apple slices

    I started a couple of vegan ferment recipes on Sunday:
    - I am trying out this recipe for Curtido, a fermented slaw/kraut. If you are able to misbehave and have salt, this may interest you. I left out the oil and am going to play, next time, with less salt. I mostly stay salt-free, but left it in for this recipe. It should be ready to try for the first time tonight or tomorrow.
    - Hmm. Sometime soon I'll try a small batch of simple cabbage kraut with water and no salt, to see how it works.
    - I am also trying out this Fermented Hot Sauce. My husband is excited. It won't be ready to try until this coming Sunday.
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    Decided to make spaghetti sauce...had mushrooms and zucchini ...used Trader Joe's Recipe #99 and the base... added onions and garlic...used TJs organic brown rice spaghetti. Made a lot.

    Later.
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    edited June 2019
    Menu turned out like this:

    black coffee

    71 ounces water today

    sweet potato thin slices in the air fryer
    romaine salad
    spaghetti (organic brown rice and quinoa spaghetti from Trader Joes) ... #99 recipe sauces with mushrooms, onions, garlic and a huge chopped zucchini.

    Dessert Orange Good Pop Vegan from Costco

    Night all.
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    edited June 2019
    If anyone is making oat clusters...the flax is a ratio of 1 to 3. 1T flax meal 3 T water.
    The recipe is:
    1 mashed very ripe banana
    1/2 tsp cinnamon
    1 /2 tsp vanilla
    1 cup oats (I used GF rolled organic oats)
    3 dates chopped
    Flax egg 1 T flax meal with 2 T water 1Tablespoon flax meal 3 Tablespoon water Let sit to absorb for about 15 minutes
    1/4 c chopped walnuts optional

    Mash banana really well ...add wet ingredients (egg and vanilla) and then add all the stuff. Bake at 350 for 20 min and then flip.
    I baked in air fryer...they started to burn at 350 so I turned down to 300 and did not have to flip. Really good. I like em cold...and stored in the freezer so not so easy to get to. I have been very good about not eating too many. (There is a video a page or so back that shows how to, step by step).


    HAGDE.
  • AustinRuadhain
    AustinRuadhain Posts: 2,595 Member
    Hello, all!
    My ETL day went according to plan for the rest of the day yesterday!

    I had been unsure about how to handle dinner on a night when I leave for a long evening workout at 5:15 (this is a new thing), and am not home until about 9, as I try not eat that late (I aim for a 13-14 hour fasting window, and for sure feel better if I don't go to bed with a full stomach). So I went ahead and had my big salad just before I left. Class kicked off at 6 with about 45 minutes of strenuous, continuous exercise. I had been worried about it not working to have eaten before class, but it was just fine. As perspective, timing eating used to be a problem for me when I was running and eating meals that were mostly a chicken breast or egg whites; I had to allow a lot more time after eating (2+ hours) or I felt awful when working out. My usual gigantic massaged kale salad sat just fine. I felt great and had the energy I wanted.

    TL;DR Woohoo! More evidence that this is a great way of eating for me!
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    edited June 2019
    Love the review, @AustinRuadhain ...you gave me the push I needed to go to Sprouts and get more fresh kale. My body loves it when I feed it a massaged kale salad daily. Just not always easy to pick it up. Some days I go late, and the kale is all soft ...not fresh. Best time is early...but sometimes, I am too early and it isn't out yet. Timing, timing, timing!

    Off to Sprouts to get two bunches...one to make salad today...one goes in the Debbie Meyers green bag.

    Glad your workout and eating is working so well for you!
  • AustinRuadhain
    AustinRuadhain Posts: 2,595 Member
    magic71755 wrote: »
    Love the review, @AustinRuadhain ...you gave me the push I needed to go to Sprouts and get more fresh kale. My body loves it when I feed it a massaged kale salad daily. Just not always easy to pick it up. Some days I go late, and the kale is all soft ...not fresh. Best time is early...but sometimes, I am too early and it isn't out yet. Timing, timing, timing!

    Off to Sprouts to get two bunches...one to make salad today...one goes in the Debbie Meyers green bag.

    Glad your workout and eating is working so well for you!

    Interesting! I get my kale at my local grocery store (organic friendly, but not their specialty), and it is always pretty perky. They have misters to keep the some of the produce humid/watered, and the kale is in that section. Maybe your kale is just dehydrated? You could try misting it a bit and see if it perks back up.
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    Just got back...all fresh out...the market is a Farm Fresh Market...Sprouts...I actually do not recall misters, now that I think of it. Anyway, I bought three bunches...all perfect. Made up one bunch for today and tomorrow. Bagged the other two with Debbie Meyer green bag and paper towel.

    Today looks like this menu wise:

    black coffee
    Joe's Mean Green
    oat and the usuals
    Dr. Praeger veggie burger with LTO on Ezekiel...maybe lettuce wrap.
    fruit
    marinara and pasta
    good pop
  • Mihani
    Mihani Posts: 4,100 Member
    edited June 2019
    Hi y'all... work is super busy plus trying to catch up on a few things around the house. Pretty much sticking to oats with the usual goodies for breakfast, some raw veggies and fruit for lunch, and a big ol' salad with beans for dinner. Weight loss stalled again. Once I get through next week and can start making exercise a priority I think things will go better.
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    It's almost July and you get some relief, @Mihani ... hang in there.

    Making today a lighter day...emphasis on fruit and veggies.

    Will report back at end of day. Later, mates. Have a good one.
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    Today went like this
    Black coffee
    Green juice
    Massaged kale salad
    Romaine salad with quesadilla
    Watermelon
    Cauliflower steaks with zero sos bbq sauce
    Oatmeal

    I’m trying something different by having my oatmeal as my late night dessert snack I’m hoping this helps me with my snacking late at night.
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    Today's Plan

    black coffee
    green juice
    massaged kale salad
    Lotus Brand organic ramen with marinara
    peaches and cuties
    pistachios
    oatmeal and the usual stuff ... at about 8:30 tonight, after work.

    Have a great 1st day of Summer!
  • AustinRuadhain
    AustinRuadhain Posts: 2,595 Member
    Hey there! Happy First Day of Summer!

    I had a good ETL day yesterday:
    B - black coffee; spinach & blueberry smoothie; small side of dried goldenberries & goji berries
    L - black-eyed peas; turnip greens with diced turnips, topped with some fire-roasted tomatoes; small helping of Salvadoran Cabbage Relish (Curtido); salad of cooked summer squash and raw grape tomatoes; Pink Lady apple slices
    S - Kanzi apple slices and walnuts
    D - massaged kale salad; more squash and tomato salad; dessert of steamed butternut squash and apple

    Today's big cooking project is an ETL-friendly berry crisp that I am taking to our quarterly martial arts celebration tomorrow. I need to decide on what berries. Topping will be chopped pecans and almonds, I think. Or maybe walnuts and almonds? Not sure what would go best. I'll go do some recipe surfing to see if other peopel have opinions.
  • Mihani
    Mihani Posts: 4,100 Member
    Long day and long week... hanging in there. I may not be 100% 6 week plan strict (caffeine and too many starches for that) but I've been 100% WFPB and I think I'm going on over a month with NO oil, NO refined grains. The longer I go the less "tempted" (for lack of a better word). I have had fleeting thoughts, but I ask myself whether I want to blow this streak for "this" or "that" and the answer is always no.

    I will likely be a bit scarce here for another week, but I am SO looking forward to my life after the new employee starts. Right now work is extra crazy and I'm struggling to get through it all.
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    Menu today:

    black coffee
    Ezekiel quesadilla
    green juice
    kale salad
    ramen with marinara
    peaches
    oatmeal

    The oatmeal after work last night seemed to work...much more enjoyable at home than at my desk. I love the blueberries frozen so they chill the milk nicely.

    HAGDE! (have a great day everyone)
  • AustinRuadhain
    AustinRuadhain Posts: 2,595 Member
    I had a small ETL victory today! I took an "on my ETL plan" dish to after-class potluck at my martial arts school, and was told it was tasty by one of the kids! It was baked chopped apples (Kanzi & Fuji) tossed with lemon juice and cinnamon, topped by a small amount of chopped pecans, chopped dates and cinnamon.

    Menu today:
    B - black coffee, green smoothie (spinach, flax seed), goldenberries, goji berries
    S - walnuts, pecans and apples
    L - Mustard greens, savory baked tofu, steamed zucchini and raw grape tomato salad, curtido, steamed mushrooms
    D - huge massaged kale and romaine salad with lots of other veggies, plant-based dressing, steamed butternut squash & apples with cinnamon
  • Mihani
    Mihani Posts: 4,100 Member
    Good morning, I'm off to the office today. I ended up staying home yesterday and caught up laundry and tackled a few other projects around here. I am hoping maybe by August with the new help I'll be taking most weekends off. I don't mind going in on weekends now and then, but this is getting really old.

    Yesterday I ate a sandwich for every meal. Toasted ezekiel bread, pickled onions, lots and lots of lettuce, and a cashew caesar dressing for sandwich spread. They were so good I wanted to eat them all day!

    That's very cool that your apple dish was a hit Austin. Sometimes people turn their noses up at my food, but if they try it they are like oh, this is good!

    I too like oats any time of day, Magic. I have been adding my daily turmeric and black pepper to my oats with frozen berries and chia seeds. Love the savory/sweet flavor. I don't often use plant milk just add hot water and let them sit for a few so they stay firmer.
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    edited June 2019
    I can hear a bit of enthusiastic anticipation in your post, @Mihani 😉. Yay!

    Getting ready for my Thursday.

    I watched a really good YouTube about how we eat and dementia/Alzheimer.

    While I am not losing like I could be (a few too many higher calorie dense foods)...the WFPB vegan lifestyle got a definite booster shot after watching this.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCfr15xxbcM&lc=z22pxheibzetgl54s04t1aokgvabc2bqvfnrfr1dbxmkbk0h00410

    Good to play in the background as you do your prep work...at least for me it most certainly helped. Also, at 70, I feel that working is truly contributing to my mental health care. So, I now have a refreshed positive attitude about working long after retirement age.

    Have a great day, everyone!

  • AustinRuadhain
    AustinRuadhain Posts: 2,595 Member
    @Mihani - Good for you for taking care of yourself as you work all these weekends. I know you are looking forward to the extra help and having things settle down. I am so glad that's now in the foreseeable future! Your cashew Caesar dressing sounds delightful. Is that a specific recipe?

    Hey @magic71755 and @Mihani , I saw this recipe for Vanilla Oatmeal Ice Cream, and thought of you. It sounds fun. I may try it on the 13 year old when he gets home from camp this week. I could add leftover cinnamon apples, and make it especially festive:
    https://www.feastingonfruit.com/vanilla-oatmeal-ice-cream/

    My culinary adventure this morning was finishing up a batch of fermented hot sauce that I started last Sunday. I used a mix of serrano, poblano, anaheim, jalapeno and habanero pepper (just one habanero). I discard the brine, so this does not end up salty, but I know this still might not work for some, as some will have gotten on the veggies. My next ferment, sauerkraut, I am going to make @Cindy781 's yogurt first, and use that, having found an article on no-salt fermentation. Anyway, I had a spinach and cauliflower smoothie this morning with some of my new hot sauce, and was super excited. It came out very flavorful and not super hot (I am actually a wimp about hot sauces).

    Laundry is going, and my husband is going to take me to the garden center after he gets done with the next step in his woodworking project. It's going to be a lovely ETL day!

    Menu
    B - black coffee with a splash of cashew milk, savory green smoothie (cauli, spinach, flax, plus 2 T my new hot sauce!), plus some blueberries, golden berries and goji berries
    L (planned) - mustard greens, savory baked tofu, zucchini & tomato salad
    S (planned) - walnuts and apple slices
    D (planned) - massaged kale salad, veggie-based dressing
  • magic71755
    magic71755 Posts: 3,970 Member
    edited June 2019
    @AustinRuadhain the ice cream looks great...she does say we need an ice cream maker...think that is something that would be perfect for non dairy treats...I did have one, but gave it away. Cuisinart has not too expensive one. Maybe later this summer.