Veggie Recipe

Our home grown tomatoes are in excess amounts and our eggplants are going well too but they need to be used so I’m wanting a simple vegan recipe to use them. Any suggestions?

Diabetes affects people of all ages and both genders, from all walks of life and backgrounds. Though the disease usually does not show up until later in life it can affect children as well. If you are diabetic then you already know that you must choose every food you eat very carefully. On a meal-to-meal basis your choices can affect your overall health.

If your diabetes is left un-treated it can cause symptoms such as wounds taking longer to heal than they should. Longer implications are blindness and ultimately kidney failure.
Your diet is one of the most important ways that you can control your diabetes, and a vegetarian lifestyle, with an emphasis on a low fat, high fiber and nutrient rich menu can be very complementary to your continued good health.

With more than 30 million people worldwide affected by diabetes, the vegetarian lifestyle could be a wonderful way to control their diabetes. One of the effects of this disease is that it inhibits the body from processing foods correctly. In a person without diabetes the body digests the food they take in and converts it glucose which is used by the body for energy.

The hormone insulin that is produced by the body then helps the glucose pass through to the cells. Diabetics cannot control the amount of glucose in their blood because their bodies do not convert the sugar in the foods they eat correctly or in the right proportion.

The insulin needed for this conversion process is either insufficient, ineffective or absent entirely. The result of this are a glucose build up in the bloodstream or a higher level of blood-sugar. This can lead to weakness, a loss of coordination and blurry vision. An incorrect balance can also lead to low blood sugar levels, which can lead to coma and death if not taken care of.

Although diabetes is incurable it can be controlled successfully through diet and exercise, oral medications, insulin injections or a combination of the above. Diabetics can’t just count calories. They must calculate their total intake of carbohydrates. No less than half of their food intake must be complex carbohydrates.

Many diabetic vegetarians have discovered that, as a result of their meatless diet, they’ve had to use insulin injections less, which gives them a feeling of power and control over their disease.

Diabetics that have turned to the vegetarian lifestyle have discovered that as a result of a meatless diet, that are able to reduce their insulin injections. This has given them a sense of control over this dreaded disease. So changing your diet to a meatless diet can help you with your diabetes as well as many other benefits of not eating meat.

ALWAYS consult your physician before making any drastic changes to your diet.

For more on the vegetarian lifestyle please visit.



By: Paul Webb

Some people may consider the vegetarian lifestyle a bit off beat and think that giving up eating meat would be complete drudgery.

That is certainly a big misconception because although meat is excluded in the vegetarian diet, it is not about the food that you don’t eat, rather it is all about the food that you do eat which makes vegetarianism so effective.

If you have spoken at length with a vegetarian, you may have discovered that probably not eating meat would be the least of what they will emphasize. The reason is that vegetarianism is about living healthy for the environment and for the vegetarian’s body.

Non vegetarian people do not now much detail about vegetarians. People might understand the basic reasons of why people turn to vegetarianism; animal rights, spiritual and health, etc; but there is still a great deal to discover. Many of the benefits of being vegetarian are still undiscovered by the masses.

Some of benefits can include:

o Vegetarians have natural ways of overcoming depression.
o Unlike others, they are not disturbed by weight issues.
o Vegetarians are well-informed about nutritional aspects and good recipes.
o They require lesser hours of sleep than non-vegetarians/meat-eaters and are more active.
o Vegetarians have lesser risks of digestive disorders, heart diseases and cancer.
o Vegetarians longer lives than meat-eats.

Another example of a vegetarian secret is the benefits of walnuts. Walnuts have a certain chemical known as serotonin, a powerful antidepressant.

A Doctor-prescribed artificial antidepressant might cost you lots of money and could also create a chemical dependency. Whereas, you can couple a walnut with a hot cup of tea if you want a relaxing drink that does not hurt your pocketbook.

Half of a walnut mixed in your tea enriches the drink with serotonin. Perhaps drinking this tasty drink would be the difference between a natural treatment and that of a chemical related one.

Theories on diet will tell you to use low fat salad dressings or not to use dressing anymore on salads.

However, vegetarians knowledgeable of the effects of the foods they eat are aware that the true values of salads are the natural vitamins contained in the leafy vegetables known as carotenoids. But scientific studies show that in order to draw carotenoids out the vegetables, higher fat salad dressings can be use. As such, vegetarians are able to enjoy the flavor of those ‘fatty’ dressings.

Green tea is also a vegetarian secret. It promotes better digestion, combats depression and accelerates weight loss… just look at all the green tea marketing campaigns going on these days. The Chinese and the people in India have long discovered green tea’s secret… now the vegetarians… and now it is also the time for us to learn from the non-meat-eaters.



By: T. J. Lashley

Teens around the world are increasingly making the transition to a vegetarian lifestyle. But like any diet, vegetarianism requires that teens develop good eating habits. With the right knowledge, teens can become vegetarians without relying on a diet of soda and potato chips.

Being a teen vegetarian can be healthy and rewarding. The American Dietetic Association says, “Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence”.

Here are some tips for embarking on a well-planned vegetarian diet.

There are several different degrees of vegetarianism. Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat dairy and egg products along with plant-based foods. Lacto vegetarians eat dairy products but pass on egg products. Conversely, ovo vegetarians eat egg products but not dairy. Finally, there are vegans, or pure vegetarians, who abstain from eating any type of animal product.

Teens who plan on going vegetarian may go “cold turkey” (don’t mind the pun), but it is recommended that teens ease the transition by slowly phasing out animal products. For example, limit meat consumption to three times a week for the first couple weeks, then two times a week and so on. Teens who choose to go vegan may do the same with dairy and egg products.

Since becoming a vegetarian entails a significant lifestyle change, teens’ nutritional intake will change upon making the transition to a vegetarian diet. For example, since vegetables are typically high in nutrients like vitamin C and fiber, teen vegetarians will usually get more than enough of these nutrients. Also, a vegetarian diet may reduce a teens’ intake of saturated fats and cholesterol, since few plant foods contain saturated fats and no plant foods contain cholesterol.

However, teen vegetarians should be aware of their intake of nutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin B-12, since these nutrients are not always present in all vegetables.

Calcium is important for healthy bones. For vegetarians who include dairy in their diets, calcium will be easy to come by. For those teens who forgo dairy, calcium can be found in fortified soy milk, tofu and green leafy vegetables such as spinach.

Iron is also an important nutrient. Girls in particular should be conscious of their iron consumption since loss of iron occurs during the menstrual cycle. Iron can be found in fortified cereals, whole grain foods and in beans.

Zinc can be found in whole grain foods, miso, sunflower seeds and nuts and legumes, which are also high in healthy monounsaturated fats.

Since vitamin B-12 occurs naturally in animal products, it is an important nutrient for vegetarians and especially vegans. Luckily, the human body only requires a very minuscule amount of this vitamin to function. B-12 can be found in fortified foods such as soy milk, orange juice and cereal.

A multivitamin, which can be found in virtually any grocery store, is a good option for teen vegetarians. Taking one multivitamin a day will ensure that teens get the recommended daily allowance of most important nutrients.

Another legitimate concern for teen vegetarians is the question of where to eat out. Because of the increasing demand for vegetarian food, many restaurants offer at least one vegetarian entree. To be sure, teens or their parents should call the restaurant they’ll be visiting beforehand and ask them if they have vegetarian options. To avoid confusion vegans should specify that they do not eat meat, dairy or eggs.

When a vegetarian option cannot be found on the menu, teens should explain to the server that they do not eat meat (and/or dairy and eggs) and ask if the chef can prepare them something. In most cases, restaurants will be happy to accommodate vegetarians even if there are no vegetarian options on the menu.

Although being a teen vegetarian in a world of meat eaters has its challenges, going vegetarian should be a fun and exciting experience. For many teens, going vegetarian is a decision that opens up the doors to a more healthy and fulfilling life.



By: Michael Russell

As obesity continues to rise alarmingly, it places extreme pressure on our health systems and medical facilities. In the United States alone nearly two-thirds of adults are now classed as being overweight and half of these (more than 72 million people) are considered obese. Obesity, once a disease of old age and high living is now affecting younger and younger slices of the population. For the first time in history we could see a whole generation of children develop diseases at an earlier rate when they become adults.

The reasons for this rise in obesity are many and varied but center largely on the fact that many people are now less active than they used to be, preferring to sit in front of the television and watch sport rather than participate in it. Of course, one of the other major reasons is the availability of a huge variety of fast and convenient foods containing high levels of saturated fats, salt, sugar and cholesterol. This means that the we are not burning off the calories consumed each day, leading to weight acceleration.

Some experts on this subject argue that dieting is not the solution as most dieters set themselves unrealistic expectations and when they do not achieve their goals, tend to blame the diet and give up altogether. Losing weight gradually at one or two pounds a week (1kg) is fine but anything more than this is simply not realistic or sustainable in the long term.

A change of mindset is required to successfully lose weight and keep it off. The bottom line is, you have to make serious lifestyle changes that include include your eating habits and a regular exercise regime. Reduce the quantity of food you are eating and/or replace high calorie foods with low calorie alternatives. Combine this with regular exercise to burn off more calories and you will lose weight.

Starting this new lifestyle should be a gradual change, however as people become more motivated and have more energy, they tend to appreciate these new feelings that have been absent from their lives for a long time.

Many simple vegetarian recipes can be of value in controlling obesity. They are generally high in nutrition and energy, tasty, low in fat and calories.

You should now leave the word “diet” out of your vocabulary and think more about a “change in your lifestyle” in order to conquer your weight problem and look forward to a healthy and prolonged life.



By: Bill Hansen

He is newly vegetarian, and his girl friend is vegan. I know he’d be thrilled if I presented a special meal honoring her choice.

He wants to have a meal with her and watch a movie on our tv with her. That movie is about Palestine, if that helps inspire a theme, but that’s not a necessary theme.

What would you recommend? Please explain techniques/ingredients that might not be readily familiar to a middle aged American.

Thanks so much for your thoughtful replies.

Corn, Onion, pee’s, green beans, brustle sprouts, and Garlic?

(sorry it’s all I have right now till pay day XD)

I have other ingredients too, any ideas?

Something that could be enjoyed by children and adults too?

Can you body build and still be a vegan?

If you have not looked at the possibility, you are probably among those people who do not consider vegetarians to be able to be bodybuilders. The prevailing culture in large measure believes that a vegan diet lacks all of the nutrients needed for a healthy body and that such a diet cannot develop the lean muscle sought after by body builders.

We have a tendency to think of a vegan bodybuilder as the 98 pound weakling by the shore taking another face full of sand. Vegan body builders are quickly correcting that view.

Vegan diets exclude all animal products including meat, milk, and dairy derivatives. Because of this, many meat eaters consider that a vegan diet is inferior when it comes to building muscle just because it does not contain animal protein. However, there are many complementary sources of vegetable protein available.

Protein is used by the body to repair torn muscle tissue and to boost the immune system as well as to build lean muscle tissue. It is also important for the bodybuilder choosing a vegan lifestyle to make sure that he or she is getting sufficient quantities of other necessary nutrients in their diet.

A well balanced vegan diet has all of the essential amino acids required by the body for the synthesis of protein. There are also numerable vegan protein supplements available in the stores so vegan body builders should have no difficulty meeting the body’s requirement for protein.

While supplements can play an important dietary role in a vegan bodybuilding diet plan, you can also get many necessary nutrients from fresh fruit and vegetable juices, Gatorade and Spirtein. Soy products are also a great source of protein, not only for vegetarians but for anyone wanting a more heart healthy lifestyle. Nuts are also a delicious alternative source of protein that are sometimes overlooked.

Vegan diets are not without controversy for muscle building. In spite of the recognized health benefits of soy, some authorities believe that soy may have long-term negative effects. There is more evidence of its health benefits however than of any harmful side effects. Each person thinking about a vegan diet for muscle building should do some independent research and then decide for themselves.

Adequate nutrition is more important to a bodybuilder than the amount of time you spend on a workout or even what you do there. Basic muscle building requires that you take in more calories than you burn or else you lose weight. If you are not eating enough, the more you workout, the more weight you lose! For vegetarians, this means you have to eat a lot of fresh foods and use protein replacement products.

Protein replacement products are not to be confused with the muscle building supplements sold in muscle magazines and on the internet to those people seeking a magic pill. There is no magic pill and for the most part the supplements are useless and often actually harmful.

It can become discouraging to look through those magazines and see the ads for the latest “muscle enhancing” pill and the accompanying photos of beautiful bodies. Keep in mind that while the buffed bodies are nice to look at they are not attainable by the ordinary builder and the ads are targeted toward the common meat-eating, supplement-using bodybuilder.

If a magazine or web site is not advocating natural bodybuilding, you should go elsewhere. There are many good sources of guidance for the vegan bodybuilder and you do not need to take the advice of the steroid and HGH peddlers. Just make sure that you consume adequate nutrients and supplements in the right quantity to give you the beautiful sculpted body you desire!



By: Gerry Marsh

I know it’s hard to make gluten free and vegan stuff but I’m willing to try:)
Do you have any good recipes or even some good links.
It would be great if it was vegan but it’s fine if it’s not.
THANK YOU!
As I said it needs to be gluten free.