|
|
Vegetarian TipsRead these 505 Vegetarian Tips in 27 categories ranging from Becoming Vegetarian to Veggie Kids. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Vegetarian tips and hundreds of other topics. Gluten Can Be Your FriendBy Betsy S Because of the tiny minority of people with celiac disease (currently estimated at 1 out of 133 people in the U.S.), and another five to ten percent who have some form of gluten intolerance, gluten has been receiving very bad press. Many people whose bodies have no trouble at all with gluten may still assume that it presents a health hazard. Do You Know What's in Your Soap?Store-bought soap is generally made with "tallow." Tallow is a nice way of saying "rendered animal fat." Because the FDA does not consider soap a cosmetic, the ingredients do not have to be disclosed to consumers. Despite this, some "soaps" have voluntarily disclosed their ingredients. (I say "soap" because most of the so-called soap on the market today is so mutated that it can no longer be lawfully labeled soap. They now label themselves "Deoderant Bar," "Beauty Bar," and "Antibacterial Bar.") We know that Irish Spring, Dove, Camay, Dial, and Lever 2000 are not vegan because they contain tallow. Both Ivory and Jergens refuse to disclose their ingredients, so you might as well cross those ones off your list as well. And, don't forget Camay, Ivory, Oil of Olay, and Zest all test on animals. So what's left? Your best bet is home-made soap (which is readily available in health food, novelty, and online stores). Dr. Bronner's and glycerin soap are generally recommended; however, be careful. Many homemade and glycerin soaps contain harmful dyes and colorants that you probably also want to avoid. Just because something is homemade doesn't mean it's healthy! To avoid supporting factory farming, make sure you buy soap that discloses its ingredients. There are many affordable, healthy, vegan soaps available. Try: www.TomsofMaine.com/products/soap.aspx If you want to learn how to make your own soap, which many people are doing these days, there are a number of books, websites, and free videos with all the instruction you need. Try: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORlegT0hGy0 (free Expert Village video series called "How to Make Lye Soap") Tofurkey Italian SausageIf you've read my Lifetips book, you know I love anything by Tofurkey! These are the only tofu-based meat substitutes on the market (most are based on unhealthy, processed soy mutations like "soy protein isolate," "soy protein concentrate," "texturized vegetable protein," or "hydrolyzed vegetable protein.") When most people think of Tofurkey, they think of fake turkey. But this Italian sausage by Tofurkey is a total home run. It contains 50% less fat than typical pork Italisn sausage. Also, the Tofurkey sausage has NO cholesterol, while pork sausage usually has about 65 mg. One serving (which is one link) contains 29 grams of protein...and is delicious! Tofurkey uses non-genetically modified soy beans and other non-gmo ingredients. The sausages contain sun-dried tomato, basil, garlic, and other spices! The flavor is unbeatable and very fresh. Plus, they make great hot dog substitutes. Learn more at www.Tofurkey.com. You can't lose when you cook these Tofurkey Italian sausages. Cook them cut up in bite-size pieces (my preference) or as they are (in links the size of hotdogs). You can grill them on a low temp in the skillet (they brown quickly). Cut them up into a veggie egg scramble. Unlike a lot of other fake meats, these sausages do not need to be over-cooked to avoid being mooshy. Like animal meat, once they're golden brown, they're done. Enjoy! Tofurkey Italian SausageIf you've read my Lifetips book, you know I love anything by Tofurkey! These are the only tofu-based meat substitutes on the market (most are based on unhealthy, processed soy mutations like "soy protein isolate," "soy protein concentrate," "texturized vegetable protein," or "hydrolyzed vegetable protein.") When most people think of Tofurkey, they think of fake turkey. But this Italian sausage by Tofurkey is a total home run. It contains 50% less fat than typical pork Italisn sausage. Also, the Tofurkey sausage has NO cholesterol, while pork sausage usually has about 65 mg. One serving (which is one link) contains 29 grams of protein...and is delicious! Tofurkey uses non-genetically modified soy beans and other non-gmo ingredients. The sausages contain sun-dried tomato, basil, garlic, and other spices! The flavor is unbeatable and very fresh. Plus, they make great hot dog substitutes. Learn more at www.Tofurkey.com. You can't lose when you cook these Tofurkey Italian sausages. Cook them cut up in bite-size pieces (my preference) or as they are (in links the size of hotdogs). You can grill them on a low temp in the skillet (they brown quickly). Cut them up into a veggie egg scramble. Unlike a lot of other fake meats, these sausages do not need to be over-cooked to avoid being mooshy. Like animal meat, once they're golden brown, they're done. Enjoy! Cooking Green VegetablesIf you prefer to cook your vegetables you should know how to test them to be sure they are neither undercooked or overcooked. Steam or boil until your greens are tender but still a little crispy. After about 4 minutes of cooking test them by piercing a small piece with the tip of a sharp knife, or take a bite and if it resists slightly then they are ready. To stop cooking as well as maintain their color, rinse with cold water immediately after draining. Pears are High in FiberAccording to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a medium pear, which is about the size of a tennis ball, contains on average six grams of fiber -- about 24 percent of the recommended daily intake for most adults. It also contains on average 190 milligrams of potassium and 26 grams of carbohydrates. |
