Camping

So I am mainly doing this post for myself. This weekend I am going camping. So excited and I cannot wait. I always love camping, but this time around it is going to be a little different. Grilling pretty much goes hand-in-hand when it comes to camping. I am stressing about what I am going to eat all weekend when everyone is chowing down on burgers, hot dogs, and beef jerky..Then it came to me. I can enjoy the same things..vegetarian style..I can grill a veggie burger or dog! And maybe I can convince someone to try one. :) I have been doing a lot of searching and found some great food options while camping.
Breakfast:
Pancakes (surprisingly most are vegan)
Oatmeal
Fruit (if you are able to keep fresh)
Granola Bars
Scrambled Tofu
Lunch:
PB&J
Grilled cheese w/avocado (tastes so much better over fire!)
Soup
Hummus w/pitta or crackers
Dinner:
Veggie Burger/Dog
Chili
Pasta (with roasted veggies, fresh greens, beans..)
Corn
Snacks:
Popcorn (popped over the fire!)
Tofu Jerky
Trail Mix or Nuts 
Fresh Fruit
Now that I made a little list I feel a lot better about going into this weekend. 

Egg Substitutes

Eggs are in everything! Ever since I was a little kid the only time you saw me eat an egg is when it was cooked in something. No egg salad, omelets or egg sandwiches for me.  It even took me a while to eat foods like french toast and fried rice, because I thought it had "to much egg" in them. Eggs are supposed to be good for you. They are heart healthy (egg whites that is)! But honestly, I could not stand the smell. Why would you eat something that smells like rotting food? It's not the fact that the egg could have been a baby chicken. I just don't prefer the taste, smell or texture of them. I have used a few of these substitutes myself, but not all of them. Applesauce and bananas are the only ones I have used. That is only because those are the most common and well known.  Some I don't know much about, like arrowroot powder? and vinegar? That just doesn't sound good to me. I could be wrong though. I am planning on trying the flax seed this weekend. Lately I have been sneaking flax seed in everything! In some things it could alter the taste and texture a bit, but you notice it more when you are tasting for something different. I would suggest make your dish and don't tell anyone. See what they say. :)

Replacement In	With Ingredients like	How to Replace
Brownies	Silken Tofu/ Tofu( 1/4 cup blended silken tofu = 1 egg )	Process in a blender until completely smooth and creamy, leaving no graininess or chunks. You will want to attach other wet ingredients to this mixture to return with it to blend properly.
	Applesauce(1/3 cup applesauce = 1 egg or ¼ cup Applesauce + 1 tsp Baking Powder )	If chocolate in the brownies overpowers the flavor of applesauce so it can be safely used, and is in fact, one of the best egg substitute in brownie mix.
	Soy Yogurt/Plain Yogurt( ¼ cup Yogurt= 1 EGG )	If you are a vegan, you may opt for soy yogurt. Otherwise plain yogurt will do the trick. Just beat it well and add it to the brownie mix.
	Flax seeds(1 tbsp ground Flax seeds +3 tbsp Water =1 egg	Grind the flax seeds in a coffee grinder, and mix with water. Allow it to rest till it becomes gelatinous, then use.
	Bananas(½ pureed Banana, abt 1/4 cup = 1 egg)	Just mash it smooth, and use it but the addition of banana will alter the flavor of the brownies
	Commercial Egg Substitute	Use as per instructions on pack. Many people who have used this find it to leave behind a peculiar taste. However, there have been exceptions to this case.
Breads	Bananas (½ pureed Banana, abt 1/4 cup = 1 egg)	Recipes: Banana Blueberry Bread
	Soy yogurt(1/4 cup soy yogurt = 1egg)	Soy yogurt works deeply like whiz tofu as an egg replacer.Helps to make it moist
	Water(one egg with 1/4 cup water.	Recipe:Vegan Banana Nut Bread
	Flax seeds(1 tbsp ground Flax seeds +3 tbsp Water =1 egg	Adding ground flax seeds to any recipe add Omega-3′s to the recipe! You can buy ground flax seeds in the health section of most grocery stores. Recipe: Whole Wheat Honey Walnut Pumpkin Bread
Cakes  (eggs mostly serve as leavening agents in cakes, helping to make the end product light and fluffy)	Applesauce (1/3 cup applesauce = 1 egg or ¼ cup Applesauce + 1 tsp Baking Powder )
	Bananas (½ pureed Banana, abt 1/4 cup = 1 egg)	Recipe: Wholegrain Banana Cake
	Soy yogurt/Yogurt(1/4 cup soy yogurt = 1 egg)	Soy yogurt works deeply like whiz tofu as an egg replacer. It makes things moist. Recipes: Blueberry Boy Bait; Strawberry Yogurt Cake
	Water(one egg with 1/4 cup water.)
	Vegetable Oil(1/4 cup = 1 egg)	Recipes: Banana Cupcake
	Buttermilk	Buttermilk is one of the preferred egg substitute used for eggless cake recipes. What you need to do is add half a cup of buttermilk (instead of one egg) and follow the same directions as you did for baking regular cakes. The only thing is to add less amount of water for making the dough. With buttermilk, the resultant cake will be very soft and tasty.
	Pureed Fruits(3 tablespoons of pureed fruit = one egg )	In cases when you don’t like using eggs and buttermilk in cakes then a good egg substitute for baking cakes is, adding pureed fruits. Use 3 tablespoons of pureed banana (for one egg) and follow the same tips for baking cake. Even without eggs, you will surely serve a soft and delicious cake with pureed fruits.
	Gelatin (Non Vegetarian)(1 tablespoon gelatin + 3 tablespoons lukewarm water = 1 egg)	Another popularly used egg substitute in baking is unsweetened and unflavored gelatin. Most vegetarians prefer adding Agar Agar instead of Gelatin as a substitute in cake, instead of the other options. For using gelatin in baking cake, mix together one tablespoon gelatin with three tablespoons lukewarm water. Add this mixture for making the cake dough.
	Flaxseed(1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil+ 3 tablespoons water = 1 egg)	Stir the flaxseed mixture well and allow it to thicken for a few minutes. Strain the seeds by using a muslin cloth and use the filtrate for baking cake.
	Vinegar and Baking Powder	Use this egg substitute in cake, only when you require more than one egg for baking. Mix one tablespoon each of white vinegar and water in a glass. To this, add one teaspoon of baking powder and stir well until the mixture blends well. Now, use this egg substitute for your cake recipe.
	Potato Starch(2 heaped tbsp potato starch = 1 egg)
	Arrowroot Powder(2 heaped tbsp arrowroot powder  = 1 egg)
	Soy flour(1 heaping tablespoon of soy flour + 2 tbsp water = 1egg)
	Soda Pop	A regular-sized (12 oz.) can of soda pop can be used as a substitution for 3 eggs in your baking recipes. Additionally, one regular-sized (12 oz.) can of soda pop can be substituted for the oil/egg combo required by most boxed cake mixes.
Cookies (eggs mostly act as binding agents in cookies and adding moisture)	Vegetable Oil(1/4 cup = 1 egg)
	Cornstarch(1 tablespoon of Cornstarch + 2 Tablespoons of Water = 1 egg)
	Soy flour(1 heaping tablespoon of soy flour + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg)
	Ener-G Egg Replacer(follow package instructions)	It seems to work best surrounded by cookies, or things that are supposed to be a little crispy.Otherwise, there have been complaints that it tends to add certain aftertaste noticeable more in other bakes like a chalky taste.
Muffins (eggs mostly act as binding agents in Muffins and adding moisture )	Applesauce(1/3 cup applesauce = 1 egg or ¼ cup Applesauce + 1 tsp Baking Powder )
	Pumpkin(1/3 cup of cooked pumpkin = 1 egg)	This works almost for all baked goods but especially for muffins leaving a subtle Pumpkin flavor in the muffins (depending upon the eggs substituted)
	Soy yogurt/Yogurt(1/4 cup soy yogurt = 1 egg)	Soy yogurt works deeply like whiz tofu as an egg replacer. It makes things moist Recipes: Cranberry Walnut Muffins
	Water(one egg with 1/4 cup water.
	Vegetable Oil(1/4 cup = 1 egg)
	Soy flour (1 heaping tablespoon of soy flour + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg)
	Banana(½ pureed Banana, abt 1/4 cup = 1 egg)	Recipe:Strawberry Banana Quinoa Muffins
	Flaxseed(1 tbsp ground Flax seeds + 3 tbsp Water = 1 egg)	Recipes: Vegan Pear Walnut Muffins
Pancakes	Flax seeds(1 tbsp ground Flax seeds + 3 tbsp Water = 1 egg	Adding ground flax seeds to any recipe add Omega-3′s to the recipe! You can buy ground flax seeds in the health section of most grocery stores.
	Soy flour (1 heaping tablespoon of soy flour + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg)
	Banana(½ pureed Banana, abt 1/4 cup = 1 egg)
Savory Dishes(as binders/ coating)	Mashed Potatoes	When a recipe in any savory dish like Vegetable Loaves or Burgers calls for eggs as a binding agent, then any of these will work as an substitute for eggs. When used for Frying (as an coating of eggs and flour), you can use a mix of all purpose flour + water to form into a paste and apply that as coating instead of beaten eggs.
	Bread Crumbs
	Cooked Oatmeal
	Cooked Rice
	Tomato Paste
Chocolate pies, Quiches, pudding	Tofu	Tofu is great for egg substitutions in recipes that call for a lot of egg. To substitute for only one egg in a recipe, whip or blend 1/4 cup soft tofu and add to your cooking.
Salads/ Sandwiches/Omelet	Tofu	Diced or mashed tofu can replace chopped hard-boiled eggs in some salad and sandwich recipes. Scrambled tofu makes a delicious alternative to scrambled eggs.

Eat More Fruit

Kale

Okay lately I have been eating Kale. I was at the farmers market a few weeks ago with a friend and we walked by a stand with a bunch of Kale. We both hadn't tried it before and decided too. I thought it had a different taste then normal greens, but I really like it. You can make a salad or put it in a smoothie. Today I made some kale chips and they were amazing. You just drizzle the kale with extra virgin olive oil, pop it in the oven for 5 mins and sprinkle some parmesan cheese on them! So easy and delicious! Kale is like a super vegetable. It is so healthy for you. It is high in Calcium, vitamin K, C and A. It is also the highest amount of antioxidants in foods that you can get.

Health benefits of Kale:
*Strengthens Bones
*Combats Cancer
*Protects Eyesight
*Aids in Weight Loss
*Boosts Immune System
                                     

Hungry for Change

"Hungry For Change"

This looks like a really good documentary. I have not watched it yet but I plan on watching it soon.  :)

Butter

Butter 

I found this extremely interesting..Everyone I know mostly uses margarine, including myself..I will think twice about this next time I am at the grocery store and I pick up the "I can't believe it's not butter..


Butter- Cream, Salt
Margarine- Liquid Canola Oil, Water, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Plant Stanol Esters, Salt, Emulsifiers,(Vegetable Mono-and Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin), Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Cirtic Acid and Calcium Disodium EDTA to Preserve Freshness, Artificial Flavor, DL-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitamin A Palminate and Colored with Beta Carotene
       What is All of that stuff??


The 20 Health Benefits of REAL Butter:
1. Butter is rich in the most easily absorbable form of Vitamin A necessary for thyroid and adrenal health.
2. Contains lauric acid, importatn in treating fungal infections and candida.
3. Contains lecithin, essential for cholesterol metabolism.
4. Contains anti-oxidants that protect against free radical damage. 
5. Has anti-oxidants that protect against weakening arteries.

6. Is a great source of Vitamins E and K.

7. Is a very rich source of the vital mineral Selenium.

8. Saturated fats in butter have strong Anti-Tumor and Anti-cancer properties.

9. Butter contains conjugated linoleic acid, which is a potent anti-cancer agent, muscle builder, and immunity booster

10. Vitamin D found in butter is essential to absorption of calcium

11. Protects against tooth decay.

12. Is your only source of ant-stiffness factor, which protects against calcification of the joints.

13. Anti-stiffness factor in butter also prevents hardening of the arteries, cataracts, and calcification of the pineal glad.

14. Is a source of iodine in highly absorbable form.

15. Is a source of Activator X, which helps your body absorb minerals.

16. May promote fertility in woman.

17. Is a source of quick energy, and is not stored in our bodies adipose tissue.

18. Cholesterol found in butterfat is essential to children's brain and nervous system development.

19. Contains Arachidonic Acid (AA) which plays a role in brain function and is a vital component of cell membranes.

20. Protects against gastrointestinal infections in the very young or the elderly. 

Avocado

Avocado

All right guys this is my first blog post!Lately I have been eating a lot of avocados. They taste good with everything and they have so much healthy benefits for you. 

Facts about Avocado:

1. Protein

Avocados provide all 18 essential amino acids necessary for the body to form a complete protein. Unlike protein in steak, which is difficult for most people to digest, avocado protein is readily absorbed by the body because avocados also contain fiber.  If you are trying to cure down on animal sources of protein in your diet, or if you are a vegetarian, vegan or raw foodist seeking more protein, avocados are a great nutritional ally to include not merely as an occasional treat, but as a regular part of your diet.

2. Beneficial fats

Avocados provide the healthy kind of fat that you body needs. like olive oil, avocados boost levels of HDL (the good cholesterol). HDL cholesterol can help protect against the damage caused by free radicals. This type of cholesterol also helps regulate triglyceride levels, preventing diabetes. A study published early this year in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that a vegetarian diet, which includes HDL fats, can reduce levels of LDL (the bad cholesterol) as effectively as statin drugs.

3. Carotenoids

Avocados are an excellent source of carotenoids. Although many people associate carotenoids only with re and orange produce, avocados are also an excellent source of this phytonutrient. Avocados also know as alligator pears, offer a diverse range of carotenoids including not only rhe better know ones such as beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and lutein, but also lesser know varieties of this type of phytonutrient. Every time you consume foods rich in carotenoids, you deliver high quality vitamin A to your body, thereby protecting eye health.  Carotenoids also enhance the function of the immune system and promote healthy functioning of the reproductive system. Since carotenoids are fat soluble, eating avocados optimizes the absorption of these nutrients. 

4. Anti-Inflammatory

The combined effect of the deluxe package of nutrients contained in avocados offers powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. Avocados unique combination of Vitamins C and E, carotenoids, selenium, zinc, phytosterols and omega-3 fatty acids helps guard against inflammation.  This means they can help prevent or mitigate against both osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis. 

5. Heart Health

The fat content, which causes some uninformed health "experts" to deem avocados as unhealthy, actually provides protection against heart diseases.  Studies have shown that oleic acid improves cardiovascular health.  Oleic acid is the primary fatty acid in avocados.  Many peopel now take supplements in order to consume more omega-3 acids to lower their risk of heart disease.  Avocados are rich in omega-3, delivering 160  milligrams per cup of alpha-linolenic acid.

6. Choosing and Eating

To get the most nutritional value from avocados, avoid those which have become over-ripe. You can identify these at the store because they will have dents and feel overly soft when you hold them. A ripe avocado should have no dents in its skin and will feel slightly soft when squeezed. You can also buy unripe avocados, which feel very hard when gripped, and permit them to ripen at home.  The portion of the avocado closest to the skin is the most dense in nutrients, so be sure to scrape the skin clean before discarding it. 

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