Coleslaw

It’s super easy. It’s a side, a condiment and salad. Eat slaw. Eat it because you’re a winner. And winners eat slaw.

You don’t need awesome knife skills to make great slaw. It helps, but if you have a food processor, a chopped slaw is sometimes better than a shredded one.

Get this

1. 1 head of cabbage (purple is prettier)
2. 2 big carrots
3. 1 Cup of Vegenaise (mayo if you’re not plant-based)
4. 1 Teaspoon of apple cider vinegar

Do this

1. Break the carrots into thumb sized pieces.
2. Pulse the carrots in your food processor until they look like rice.
3. Cut the core out of the cabbage. See pictures.
4. Add the cabbage and pulse until everything is about the same size.
5. Add the Vegenaise, vinegar and S&P to taste.
6. Pulse until mixed.
   

Don’t Do This

• Process the cabbage before the carrots—You’ll end up with pureed cabbage and chunky carrots.
• Use a blender—Use a food processor or a knife. Blenders won’t give you the texture you want.

Put it on

Veggie dogs—veggie burgers—tempeh tacos—fried potatoes—beans and rice

Coleslaw impresses people. Nobody knows why, but it does. It only gets better in the fridge, so make a bunch on Sunday and enjoy it through the week. It’s an easy way to get people to eat more plants. So make it and show off your new kitchen skills.

Eat more plants. Eat less flesh.

Be well,
Veg VA

How To Cook Tofu

Sometimes tofu is gross. It’s not the fu’s fault. The blame lies with the cook. Here are 3 steps to guarantee that you don’t end up with mush.

Dry your tofu.
Remove it from the package, drain the water and then wrap it in a clean towel. Put a dinner plate on top to gently force water out of the fu faster. Do this at least 30 minutes before you start cooking.

Tip: Cut the tofu into bread-like slices, and wrap each piece in its own towel. This will cut drying time in half.

Cut tofu into cubes.
The cubes give you more surface area to brown. Follow the pictures.

Here’s your fu.

Slice it like bread.

Make carrot sticks

Turn.

Chop into cubes.

Books

Use a HOT pan.
If you have a normal stove top, crank it to 7-8. If your burners run hot, go for 5-6. The key is to cook the tofu at a high temperature to avoid mushy fu. An iron skillet will get super hot and give you a nice crispiness.

Do This:

Use a few tablespoons of oil.
Season with salt & pepper while cooking.
Stir occasionally.

Don’t Do This:

Use a stainless steel pan.
Skip the drying process.

It may take a few times before you get it right, but keep working. Tofu is a finicky mistress. Treat her well, and she’ll take care of you.

Eat more plants. Eat more tofu.
Be well,
Veg VA

 

 

Tangy Raw Kale

This is shockingly easy, so I’ll keep this post short.

Get This:

-1 bunch of Kale
-2 TBSP tahini
-2 TBSP Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
-2 TBSP lemon juice
-2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
-4 TBSP nutritional yeast
-2 cloves chopped garlic

Do This:

1) Mix everything together.
2) Eat.

food

Skills for Vegetarianism

It’s not difficult. It’s not expensive.  Anybody can be a vegetarian. Here are a few bullets to help you on your vegetarian path.

Learn to cook.

If you don’t know how to cook at least a couple of meals, grow up and learn how to cook. If you want to eat healthy food, cooking is a must. Have enough money to eat all your meals out? Learn how to cook anyway. It’s good for you. Warning: If you’ve never cooked tofu, don’t give up after your first attempt.

Prepare When You Travel

Gas stations and airports are filled with temptation. If you’re hungry, you’ll grab any food to kill the craving, even if you know it’s not vegetarian. Pack some snacks. It might take effort in the beginning, but you’re a maverick. And mavericks pack their lunch. Good travel foods: almonds, fruit, chips and salsa, hummus.

Read Labels

Reading labels is a proactive move that will keep you from eating junk. Good rule: if it doesn’t sound like food, it probably isn’t.

It get’s easier.

Starting anything new is a challenge, including a change in your diet. But like getting to the gym everyday or reading more, the challenge becomes more manageable with each small victory. Cutting out all animal products from your diet might be too much for you right now. Start small and work your way towards your goal incrementally. Focus on adding veggies instead of cutting out meat. You’ll get there eventually, but the goal is to achieve lasting change.

Be Nice

Eating a vegetarian diet is seen as an extreme position to some people. Some people take it personally. People will say you’re making a mistake. They’ll pressure you try something that you know has meat in it. They’ll tempt you with bacon. What you need to know is that not everybody will ally themselves with you on this journey. Eating a vegetarian diet isn’t for those who aren’t willing to stick to their guns.

Find Other Vegetarians

Farmers markets. Health food stores. Vegetarian restaurants. Go where you must to find people that support who you are. You’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with, so choose friends that build you up and support your choices.

Again, our goal is to eat more plants and cut out the meat.

Be well,
Veg VA