Be As Vegan As You Can

Happy Weekend, my friends!  It's going to be a little bit toasty out there today, stay cool and hydrated!

If you have been following me, you may have read one of my recent blogs about my meatless general tso's chicken.  I still can't stop thinking about how good it was.  I made enough for 4 lunches this past week, and I loved every single bite of it.  I'll be making it again soon.

Although I highly encourage to be vegan, I know that for some of us there may be huge obstacles to being 100% vegan.  I am not 100% vegan.  I will never turn down a Reese's or a chocolate chip cookie.  If something has eggs in the recipe, I may still have it.  I do draw the line with meat products for myself.

There could be many reasons for not being able to be completely vegan.  Economic class, access to grocery stores (many people live in "food deserts"), unsupportive friends/family, or simply not being able to give up that one food choice.  And, of course, there are many other reasons/barriers.

Be as vegan as you can.  If you simply cannot give up cheese, that's ok.  If it is harder for you to buy more vegetables, get what you can.  If you can be vegan for breakfast and lunch but not dinner, that's ok.  Little changes can make a big impact.  

I try my best not to judge other people's choices, I don't know their story.  Yes, I wish we all could be completely vegan.  The world would be so much better.  However, any step in the direction in progress.  Do what you are able.

Thank you so much for reading, I truly appreciate that you have taken the time out of your day to ready my blog.

If you would like, please feel free to leave any positive/constructive feedback in the comments section.  Also, you can email me at blhutton4@gmail.com.  

Make it a good day!

My Plant Based Journey Part 1

 Good day, friends!

I hope everyone is doing well today.  What was one good thing that happened in your day?

Some of you may have followed my original blog site and may kind of know my story.  However, some of you may be new to me and I wanted to talk about my plant based journey with you.

I would like to think that for most of my life, I have consumed a somewhat healthy diet.  I live in western Pennsylvania.  So yes, I consumed animal products.  But I wouldn't say it was the standard American diet.  I loved chicken wings, burgers, and steaks.  I also loved my veggies.  I liked the healthy food (veggie burgers included), but I certainly wouldn't turn down a bacon burger. 

Maybe about 3-4 years ago,  I decided to try a low carbish diet.  I didn't want to go low carb, my body needs the energy.  Plus I never thought it made much sense to exclude fruits and vegetables just because they may have had a higher sugar content.  When I started this eating plan, I also researched food in general and kind of stumbled upon the plant based diet.  Now I really don't like the word diet, because it implies that you are depriving yourself of something.  I like to focus on what I can eat, so I like to say eating plan.

The first time I tried the plant based eating plan, I still was being mindful of the amount of carbs I was eating.  If you are following a plant based eating plan, you know that you really aren't worrying about carbs (as long as they are healthy carbs).  In fact, it's a lot of carbs.  Since I was trying to be mindful about being low carbish, it didn't work.  I was always hungry and went back to eating meat.  But in my heart, I knew that the plant based eating plan was the right path.

Since this getting to be a longer story, I have decided to break this up into separate parts.  Myself, I like reading shorter blogs.  Once they get to be too long, it gets hard for me to focus.

Thank you so much for reading, I am truly enjoying sharing my thoughts with you.  I hope that I am inspiring you in some form.

Feel free to leave positive/constructive feedback in the comments section.

Also, you can find me on instagram at plantbased_brandi

My Favorite Breakfast (At Least Right Now)

 Good day, my friends!

I hope all is well out there!  They are calling for possibly some strong storms in my area this evening, as if we haven't had enough rain lately.  If only I could send some of the rain out west, they sure need it there.

Anywho, today's blog is brought to you by........ Steel Cut Oats.  Up until recently, I had not been a fan of oatmeal.  I would have it once in a blue moon, but never really was fond of it.  I was trying to find ways to have a more filling, protein filled breakfast.  I'm trying to be as vegan as I can, so a breakfast of eggs and bacon was not going to happen.  I was hooked on peanut butter and jelly for a bit, but I would end of feeling like I was starving an hour or so before it was time for lunch.

After doing some research on the World Wide Web, I stumbled upon the traditional oatmeal, but mixing in peanut butter while making it.  Hmmmm, that sounded tasty.  It also called for some chia seeds thrown in, and adding some granola on top.  I'm a texture person, so I liked the idea of adding some crunch to it.   The recipe also recommended using steel cut oats, they're supposed to be better for digestion.

I am not a fan of cooking, so thankfully this only takes about 10 minutes to make enough for 2 breakfasts. I use about a 1/2 cup of quick cook steel cut oats with 2 cups of water.  I add a little bit of maple syrup for the sweetness and add a large scoop of Justin's honey peanut butter.  I add some chia seeds.  After tinkering with the recipe, I now also add some ground flax seeds and a dash of cinnamon.  I bring it to a boil, and then simmer and stir for about another 5 minutes.  Once I turn the heat off, I then add some protein powder.  I still have some leftover whey protein powder that I hate throwing away, so I am using that.  Once that is gone, I have some plant based chocolate protein powder.

After splitting it up into 2 containers, I let it cool for a bit.  Once it has cooled, I then add some berries to it.  I prefer my oatmeal cold, so I put it in the fridge.  The next morning, I'll put it in my lunchbox.  Right before I start work, I'll throw some granola on top.  And there you have it.  A delicious protein packed breakfast.  For the most part, it does keep me full until it's time for lunch.  

What do you like for breakfast?  Do you have a favorite oatmeal recipe?

Let me know what you think.  Positive/constructive criticism is welcome.  I am working on getting ads added to my site.  Once you see them added, please click on them to support my page.  Just clicking them gives me credit.

Thank you so much for reading and I'll see you on the flippity-flip.