Category Archives: Meals

Pilaf!

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I really love rice. I have been a rice eater since childhood. I could eat rice everyday along with broccoli and lentils.

During my teenage years in the 90’s I came across Near East brand boxes of rice in a local neighborhood health food store I used to frequent long before the product hit the major supermarkets and other stores.

Since then, I have loved their varieties of rice. Currently I do not eat them very often as I do not cook with salt and limit my salt intake with foods that contain salt. I have never had high blood pressure and would like to keep it that way as I grow older.

We all need an adequate number of salts and sugars in our body, but I try not to overdo it.

Anyway, last week I had two boxes- one box never does it for me the portion is too small I have to cook two boxes of the contents- of Near East brown rice pilaf.

It was delicious as usual.

Yesterday I purchased two boxes of the original rice pilaf then cooked it for dinner in the evening- and, of course my meal was again delicious as usual!

Black Pepper: Spice It Up!

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I never cook by adding salt. I love to add pepper to my preparations, though.

I love spice- yet not too much spice. Just enough to give a satisfying flavor to my tastebuds.

I enjoy the mild hotness of pepper by not over-sprinkling the spice into my various dishes.

Aside from livening up food, pepper offers us a few great benefits that serve our health to the fullest.

 

Enough For What Is Needed

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I remember as a kid when my mother used the expression “You have a Champaign taste with a Kool-Aid pocketbook”.

We were not poor, but we were not rich either. We had our temporary normal days of drought from time to time, yet we always had what we needed to live comfortably.

We never went without thanks to God I know my mother would say.

My family ate good.

I do not currently eat expensively, but food can add up to be expensive when it comes to price. I know how to budget.

Just because I can afford something does not mean I will waste money on what I do not feel is necessary. I am not one who is into foolish splurge, though I do have elegant taste and choose nice, quality things.

I enjoy the pleasant dinners I prepare at home that are suitable to me. I do not put garbage into my body.

Cozy evenings, in front of the television set at peace while I eat.

 

“Bean Me Up!”

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Rice is a grain I have loved and never tired from.

Of course, there are times when I take a break from eating rice though I am one who can constantly eat this grain on a routine schedule.

I am a lover of beans too and incorporate these plant-based gems into my diet quite frequently.

I like to mix things up a bit.

For a long time now, I have purchased Bob’s Red Mill 13 Bean Soup mixture of fresh dried beans.

I buy the 13 bean Jack Rabbit brand of beans regularly also.

There are rich, hearty servings of navy beans, black beans, red beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, baby lima beans, large lima beans; black-eyed peas, yellow split peas, green split peas; and brown and red lentil beans.

Altogether they are extremely high sources of fiber and protein in a daily, or weekly meal.

I crave my rice and beans and they satisfy my hunger pains.

 

 

 

Black-Eyed Peas

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If one is from the south, black-eyed peas may be a favorite staple.

I am a born and raised New Yorker, but my mother’s side of the family came from Virginia (My father’s side of the family who I did not grow up around are from South Carolina. My great-grandmother on my mother’s father’s side came from North Carolina).

I had plenty of that delicious variety of hearty southern rooted grub during childhood on up in my household.

I still love and eat black-eyed peas till this day.

These legumes are so quick to prepare compared to other beans and peas and they are very tasty.

Black-eyed peas naturally come with health benefits that impart adequate nutrition toward one’s lifestyle.

One of the downsides of eating peas and beans regularly is that it can cause a build-up of intestinal gas.

Nevertheless, over time some of our bodies learn to adapt and we experience less bloating and other discomfort.

I remember back in the day my mother’s family used to cook neck-bones with black eyed peas, oxtail with black-eyed peas and stew beef with black-eyed peas or potatoes.

I currently love and eat my black-eyed peas seasoned with pepper, onion, garlic, oregano and a little basil over rice.

I never cook with salt.

To me, the flavor of prepared dry black-eyed peas is good enough to go without any herbs or spices added to them.

 

 

 

A Heart To Heart ❤

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It is so important to take care of the heart and to keep those arteries as clean as possible.

Some people are genetically predisposed to have coronary events and one never knows when a heart attack or stroke may strike.

It does not matter what age we are it all depends on how we treat and care for our bodies by eating the proper foods, doing suitable exercise, getting significant rest, refraining from toxic substances which in the short term or long run cause harm or premature death, and avoiding unnecessary situations that can or will cause stress.

Go to the doctor for regular check-ups, always inquire them to further investigate anything that seems abnormal/out of range where health professionals may overlook or not pick up right away or at all.

Get second opinions on things too if need be.

We cannot afford to let the beats of our lives conk out on us. We must keep that clock ticking for as long as the beat goes on!

 

 

Roasted Rainbow Carrots

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An Italian lady that I work with fixed me a plate of organic multicolored carrots roasted in olive oil earlier in the week.

She knows that I am vegan and took it upon herself to fix me lunch.

The carrots that were in their natural shades of golden-yellow, creamy white, deep burgundy and jeweled orange tasted pretty good.

I liked the yellow carrots cooked the most.

They had a flavor like a cross between potatoes and yellow squash.

I have always been fond of fresh orange carrots. So, I am a carrot-eater in general.

It feels good to enjoy a healthy meal.

Wholesome Fun With Food

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It is a wise idea for parents to teach their children early the importance of healthy eating.

Let it be a part of bonding or a hobby when it comes to spending quality time with one another.

Whether it is shopping at the grocery, preparing recipes, or cooking meals, make eating a fun and exciting activity that outlines the benefits of what good nutrition has to offer.

 

 

Lentils: A High Fiber Meal

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Lentils are delicious and incredibly nutritious. I absolutely love lentils.

In fact, I had a bowl of lentil soup for lunch yesterday afternoon.

I cook and eat these legumes on a regular basis.

I sometimes prepare them with rice, vegetables or other types of beans.

Lentils are also a satisfying dish to create all by themselves without anything extra being added to them.

 

 

 

 

In The Mood For Oat Bran

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I had recently gotten back into the habit of eating hot oat bran cereal after getting tired of it a while back.

The cereal tastes so good boiled with plain organic soymilk.

My bowl of oat bran comes out creamy and filling.

It is nice when what we eat can both be satisfying to the taste buds and beneficial to the health.

Oat bran is whole grain and high in fiber, a very wholesome and nutritious meal to enjoy regularly.

 

The Best Times To Feed Our Dogs?

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If we were to directly ask our dogs when is the best time they’d like to eat I am sure their response would be, “Anytime is just fine with me!”- latoya lawrence 

 

I do not want to generalize because dogs all have their own dispositions and distinct preferences just as us people do.

However, I am pretty sure that if most dogs had it their way, they would be ready to eat all day long if we allowed them to.

So, while pet owners have various types of personal relationships with their dogs- some strict, some lenient, some a bit of both, some who just take natural moments of love, care, patience and attentiveness as they come.

Everyone does not tend to feed their dog on a precise day to day schedule, or even three times a day.

Some people feed their dogs throughout the day.

All that matters is what works out best for the pet, their owners, or the family.

If the dogs are being fed a healthy diet with portions suitable to their requirements everything should be fine.

One dog of mine would always get fed regular meals yet still make rounds in the house to other family members for extras.

I remember occasionally her belly would be so full that we could see it, and we would laugh and joke about how she hustled additional food from everybody.

Once she was satisfied, she went and nonchalantly rested her body in total contentment.

This was a healthy dog who ate table food and lived for a long time.

 

 

 

 

All Fried Out

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Shit! Excuse my language- or should I say excuse my “French?”

My mouth waters in memory just to think about it. Those crispy fried potatoes- golden, steaming hot, salty or unsalted

I use to be a French fry-acholic during my teenage and early adulthood.

I was hooked on French fries.

I stopped a long while back as I cut down on fried foods period. I never ate too much fried food frequently to begin with, though I would sometimes indulge heavily at times on certain things that I enjoyed to eat.

I was informed during early adulthood how fried foods could harden arteries yet that did not stop me from consuming those yummy fries. I took the warning seriously I just was not able to resist my favorite so-called junk food.

I was already limited in what I ate as I was a vegan/vegetarian.

A day came when the desire for French fries subsided. Then once in a while I would get the urge to peel, cut and fry my own, or go buy a frozen bag from the supermarket.

Nowadays, even though I may sometimes hunger for a fry, I do not even try.

Luckily, I am within good health, far from any heart disease and I would like to keep it that way.

I have always eaten pretty healthy and nutritiously but there are always specific foods we should be careful of and eat within moderation if not at all after a while.

Watch the fried foods, refined sugars, saturated fats and other harmful, no-good additives and ingredients.

 

 

Mushrooms: A Fantastic Fungi!

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Back in the day, when I was around fourteen, my mother used to buy me this great-tasting yellow-colored vegetable rice from a diner she would frequent.

This vegan dish had tiny cut mushrooms prepared within the variety of vegetables that were intertwined.

Prior to eating this rice, I had only had foods with a mushroom flavor that I enjoyed without the actual particles of mushrooms themselves.

As an adult, I tried certain mushrooms that I just could not tolerate. I didn’t like the taste nor the texture.

 

I don’t know what type of mushrooms that were in the rice years ago or how it was cooked I just know I was able to eat them and chew on them satisfactorily.

Mushrooms are extremely beneficial to one’s health.

They are excellent for brain health, digestive and immune health, heart health, cancer and all-around longevity in general.

I began to take Mushroom supplements years ago. They are wonderful and safe (unless one has a particular allergy)!

If one chooses to incorporate a mushroom supplement into their diet just know to purchase those with the fruiting body extracts instead of mycelium.

 

 

Mushrooms are inherently comprised of mycelium, but supplements made from mushrooms are not equivalent to ones made from mycelium.

The fruiting body of the mushroom contains high concentrations of beta-glucans, triterpenes, and other particular compounds such as cordycepin.

Mycelium is the vegetative bit of the mushroom.

The fruiting body is the bit that grows from the ground. It is able to be harvested.

 

Eat And Run

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Some people are so in a hurry to attend to their daily schedule that they leave the house without eating.

I am guilty of this action myself. Even when I do have the time I may not eat.

If one does not eat or drink something before they leave the home, be sure to pack or grab something nutritious to keep up energy levels.

It is important to fuel the body with nourishment especially when continuously out on the go.

 

 

 

A Fruit And Vegetable A Day

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I know that everyone who may want to eat healthy cannot always afford to.

Prices for everything is sky high these days. It is hard to just get by sometimes.

There are fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts that are priced reasonably when sales aren’t being advertised.

It is beneficial, necessary and even vital in some circumstances for one to eat at least one or more fruits and vegetables a day every day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How We Consume Does A Body Good Or Bad

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Everything that may smell good, look good, or taste good may not be good for one to consume.

The same goes for in dealing with people but, that is another story.

One may be busy on the run, get hungry, or need to eat.

It may be too hot to cook, one may be tired, or even just a bit lazy.

Whatever the reason it is perfectly normal.

One may just want to order out, desire some fast food or stick some packaged frozen cuisine in a microwave, saucepan, or conventional oven and eat.

 

The only thing is these foods whether from a restaurant or our local supermarket may not offer the best ingredients or are prepared in ways that are not suitable to our health.

There may be excess sugar, sodium, fat, artificial flavorings, chemicals and so on.

One just has to be careful in deciding on what to purchase and consume when it comes to eat-out and take out.

There are healthier options out there nowadays, although these type of stores or restaurants may not always be within a location near to us.

Nevertheless, if we’re going to eat certain fast foods do it in moderation and with precaution.

What we may take for granted early on with our health and body could affect us later on in the long run.

No one wants that.

 

Relief In The Bathroom

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You do not have to spend an eternity or eventually die on the toilet from a strenuous or relentless effort to relieve yourself of fecal elimination.

Bowel movements can be very difficult at times with constipation and bowels that sometimes feel confined within the intestines, refusing to come out. It often makes one feel bloated or uncomfortable.

I cured my occasional constipation issues a long time ago with Turmeric.

When I was in my twenties, I pooped three times a day with no problem. If I would eat too much starch here and there, I had to deal with the strain of emptying my bowels. From time to time or once in a while I would get a high level of constraint or restriction with a pronounced lack of ease or no ease at all. It is then that I had to take serious action. I was in my thirties when this circumstance had taken place.

Constipation is usually associated with hardened feces or large ones with softness in texture unable to thoroughly pass through the rectum completely.

When I had my severe constipation years ago where I had to literally take my finger and hand to dig out the doo-doo, I put an end to the condition by fortunately coming across Turmeric. Even after I had stopped consuming the curcuma longa supplements, I didn’t have a problem with excretion until once more years following.

Aside from Turmeric, the second most simple solution is to just consume more high fiber foods into your diet. At least that was and is the other remedy for me.
A lot of my favorite foods happen to be fiber-rich and I go to the bathroom very frequently and with total ease and relaxation.

The fact that I have been a vegan/vegetarian for thirty-three years may contribute to my healthy digestive system, although fiber and/or Tumeric can and will do great wonders for anyone who properly balances them within their daily lifestyle.

So, gulp down copiously on healthy fruits, vegetables, seeds, beans/legumes and grains that are heavily loaded with beneficial fiber. Your body not only will be producing comfort in the bathroom, but satisfactory within overall health as well.

Fiber and Turmeric both do a body well.

You can safely and naturally choose one or the other, or both, according to one’s own different personal need, preference, and/or bodily toleration.

Junk Food Diet And Childhood Obesity

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When I was a very young child, before I became a vegan, junk food was not a regular part of my household diet. Yes, I had Burger King, Mc Donald’s, pizza, ice cream, sweets, and potato chips from time to time, but a steady habit was never made out of eating those particular foods.

I was a well-fed child raised on home-cooked vegetables, fruit, meats, poultry and seafood such as lamb chops, cube steak, meat loaf, stew beef and potatoes, chicken, turkey and certain types of fish.

My mother kept me healthy and I was slim in size within proportion, and within accordance to my age and specific nutritional needs.

To each his or her own, however, it is not wise for parents or guardians over young children to allow them to constantly indulge within the routine of consuming unhealthy junk foods on a regular basis.

Lifestyle behaviors as these promote overall ill-health, including serious ailments like heart disease and diabetes early on or later in life. Some may even be prone to eventual premature death.

A diet poor in nutritional value and high in fat will also contribute to obesity.

No child should lay around to constantly spend all or most of their day lazy and inactive from exercise to just desire a continuous appetite for food.

Yesterday Evening Dinner

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I had a nice and quiet enjoyable evening yesterday. Full of peace and comfort.

I stopped personally-in my heart-celebrating Thanksgiving years ago (just like all the repetitive holidays), it’s just another day to me.

Nevertheless, I fixed and served sliced turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy along with string beans and diced carrots.

I didn’t eat any turkey or mashed potatoes.

I ate a purely vegan meal last night. When I eat mashed potatoes for myself I cook and eat them without the use of any animal fats or ingredients.

 

 

Delicious Healthy Oats!

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Above is an actual camera photo I took earlier today of my delicious steel cut oats!

They came out so perfect within taste. As usual, I mixed in some extra thick whole grain rolled oats without any sugar, milk (vegan) or fruit.

I only use and eat Bob’s Red Mill oat products. “Nature’s Path” original instant oatmeal and “Mom’s Best Cereals” quick oats are also both high quality non gmo brands I purchase for my aunt who loves and eats the instant version of oatmeal.

When I purchase oats I look for only natural 100% whole grain oats without any fortified vitamins or sugar added into the product.

I’d rather add my own extra ingredients that I choose to if preferred than to have over-processed unhealthy amounts of derivatives sneaked or placed into my food.

Oatmeal

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Ever since childhood I’ve been a fan of oats/oatmeal ingredients. I loved oatmeal cookies and oatmeal granola.

Now as an adult I’ve developed the taste for hot oatmeal cereal. I didn’t like oatmeal for breakfast growing up. When a lady where I worked at offered and made me a bowl months ago I was hooked.

Wheat farina is what I was raised up on and loved. Then, once I had gotten older and experimented with hot oat bran cereal I no longer desired the farina, and now that I have sampled hot oatmeal again in my latter years I don’t really want anymore of the oat bran cereal too often.

One of my aunts loves oat meal too, she’s always been a fan of the breakfast cereal, though. I fix her a bowl or two just about every day. She eats the instant. I don’t care for the instant oatmeal I eat steel cut oats and mix it in with extra thick rolled oats when I cook them, and those steel cut oats make the cereal all so delicious.

I don’t need or eat my oatmeal with any additives. I boil the oats with water without the use of sugar, milk (vegan) or fruit as the choice is just my preference.

 

 

Morning Start

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We should wake up each day giving our thanks and praise to the Lord. Then, we should continue to speak to him all throughout the day as often as possible.

We need his comfort and guidance. He is always with us his children, ready to hear and to instruct us within our daily walk with him. -latoya lawrence

 

After my initial morning talk/prayer to God, the first thing I did when I got up this morning was take my vitamins then I fixed me some breakfast.

I peeled and ate five tangerines along with two bananas, and then a while later, I made myself a full small pot of oatmeal.

By the grace of God I’ve been eating even healthier meals. Mostly fruits, vegetables and legumes.

It’s important for us to watch the things we eat and to prepare our own nutritious meals instead of buying heavily processed foods that aren’t beneficial to a good well-being.

 

 

Rice And Beans

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Whether it’s kidney, pinto, white, navy, lima (green in particular), green (string beans), peas (black-eyed) or green (string beans) beans are a wonderful tasting high-protein food. They taste great alone or enhanced by other combined meals.

The most complimenting dish, of course, is the many variety of rice and bean preparations.

White, yellow, brown or red (mixed with tomato sauce) rice specifically dressed and spiced up in numerous flavorings set those beans and peas off fantastically, especially when beans and peas create a saucy textured gravy/infusion to additional combination foods when cooked to an extended tender.

 

 

Vegan Pasta With Broccoli

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Broccoli has always been one of my all-time favorite’s food. I love broccoli with rice, broccoli with shrimp, and broccoli with spaghetti noodles dressed in garlic, olive oil and oregano.

When I first tasted vegetarian lasagna many years ago, I loved every bite of it. As a pasta lover, having the dish prepared with broccoli just added a further appeal to me. The broccoli had taken the place of the meat usually included within traditional lasagna.

Ziti is another favorite pasta dish of mine and the noodles covered, packed, and melted in vegan cheese is just a wonderful satisfaction to my taste-buds.

Vegetable, Pasta, And Grain Meal Preparations

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I had white rice and corn last night for dinner. I love rice and corn!

I sautéed the corn in a lovely sweet and tangy dressing before covering it over the rice. Corn tastes so good mixed in with rice; peas, beans, and broccoli also go delectably well with all types of rice.

Vegetables bring out the best in rice and I don’t normally eat my rice cooked with salt either. The vegetables themselves usually give my rice its own nice complimentary flavor.

Vegetables bring out the best in many other dishes too.

Vegan/vegetarian lasagna is also an inviting meal that could include broccoli and whatever other vegetables of choice that may add to a fabulous dinner. Lasagna pasta crafted and baked with broccoli, shrimp, and vegan cheese is another great idea for the ever-tempting appetite!

Some individuals even like spinach or numerous other types and blends of vegetables and/or tidbits in their vegan or vegetarian lasagnas.

Grains, pastas and vegetables are such great combination foods when designed together effectively.

Ah, Delicious!

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Last night I prepared white rice and breaded shrimp for dinner. I boiled my rice to a nice firm texture and I baked my shrimp to a nice firm juicy crisp.

Over my rice I drenched a tasty marinade consisting of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, basil and spices.

It was one of those meals that once in a while come out just perfect, and I enjoyed every bite until I had gotten full.

Biscuits And Soup

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I love biscuits. I love them plain, I love them buttered, and I love them stuffed with any hot or melted delicious preference of choice.

Biscuits make great appetizers to the experimentive and creative mind.

Soup is another versatile meal. We can have soup with biscuits as well as with crackers.

Soup is a wonderful flavoring to dress over foods as a gravy, and it is a delectable adornment, giving certain dishes a pretty appearance.

I would frequently pour my garden vegetable or minestrone soup over white rice, or mix the rice into a hot pot of soup once both foods were done. It turns out to be such a good meal that I’ve enjoyed for years.

Curry Rice And Chicken

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Last night I colored my rice with curry powder, not too much, because I’m not fond of food too spicy, just enough to give my rice a nice yellow tint.

I added some rosemary, basil, and thyme, then boiled a separate pot of two chicken thighs lightly salted and peppered.

I like my chicken, shrimp, and fish once in a while as I predominantly eat vegan.

Last night I ate pollo pescetarian and I healthily enjoyed myself.

Spaghetti, I’m Ready!

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The night before last, I made two delicious pots of spaghetti with garlic, basil, oregano, and tomato sauce.

I just love spaghetti, I buy the thin spaghetti, and I break my noodles up small.

It’s been a while since I had tomato sauce over my spaghetti as I like to change things up a bit with my food as I experiment with flavor and recipe.

Lately, I’ve been sprinkling herbs and spices over my noodles then dressing my dish in olive oil or plant butter.

I love my spaghetti noodles mixed with shrimp on occasion.

Sandwiches And Cold Cuts

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I was up and about early yesterday morning trotting around in Manhattan, New York

I had gotten my hands on a heated, cutely packaged, and healthily prepared sandwich.

The roasted onion, garlic, tomato, kale, olive oil and mozzarella melted on chicken layered inside of hero bread was what I picked out to bring as a treat home to my mother.

She praised the sandwich. “It’s on the style of a vegetarian type of sandwich”, she had said to me after eating the food.

My mom loves her sandwiches and I often inspire her to eat healthy.

I buy her boar’s head cold cuts to put on whole wheat bread or the stonefire brand of roasted garlic naan flatbread I introduced her to, though, I’ve never actually eaten the product myself.

I have an eye for what I know she’d probably like and she really enjoyed the flatbread so I continued to get it for her from time to time.

I always read ingredients before making a purchase, however, my mother isn’t as picky as I am when it comes to certain food, and she isn’t vegan, vegetarian, or pollo pescetarian, but she does like vegan and vegetarian dishes.

What I appreciate about boar’s head is they don’t use animal rennet for their cheese only vegetable rennet.

They also have an organic non gmo selection of natural crafted cold cuts to choose from. I purchased the “Simplicity” mild cheddar cheese and roasted turkey breast once.

 

Yellow Rice With Herbs And Spices

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I cooked and ate three plates of yellow rice that I prepared earlier this afternoon.

I colored white rice naturally with turmeric spice. I added oregano, cumin, thyme, parsley, garlic, onion and plant butter to boil along with the rice to give it a flavor.

I didn’t put in any salt as some may prefer.

The yellow rice came out nice to my liking I love all kinds of rice anyway, even plain white rice. Brown rice tastes good too if seasoned and crafted well.

Next time I am going to mix some vegetables along with the dish. Green peas, corn, and broccoli taste great mixed with yellow rice and rice pilaf.

Hazardous Workplace

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About a week or two ago I was asked by one of my employer’s, because I do both retail and healthcare work, if I’d cover a three day fill in shift.

So I agreed to work the temporary assignment and I was given a little prior information and detail into the case.

When I arrived to my client’s residence I inhaled the strong odor of urine as soon as I walked through the door.

The mother of my client greeted me, lead me toward her son’s bedroom, then introduced me to him.

On the way through the home, I also inhaled a nasty odor reeking from the woman who was up in age.

The man was in his fifties and paralyzed on one side of his body due to a stroke. He was also overweight and wore a diaper.

I told him the diaper was too small as the fasten wasn’t reachable to cross over to the other side.

The man had gotten slightly offended by my words and uttered out to me, “I hate when people come and tell me the diaper is too small. These diapers are not too small I’ve been wearing this size diaper for years”.

I hadn’t meant any harm but the diaper was a bit too small to give him adequate protection to urinate and to move his bowels within.

In all honesty, I don’t know if manufacturers actually designed disposable diapers large enough to accommodate someone of his measurements.

Anyhow, we got past the disagreement, and I helped him out of bed with his diaper that didn’t properly fit, and all.

I helped him dress, put his leg brace on, I helped him balance himself, then I motioned him into his wheelchair and wheeled him into the porch to take his medication.

His mother was unable to push his wheelchair around the house because of his heavy weight. He needed someone to attend to him day and night. I was only there for the day shift he already had someone scheduled to come later on within the evening.

I’m between one hundred and thirty-five pounds to one hundred and forty yet I was able to lift him by the back of his pants to give him a jolt and I was able to push his chair.

It was all about technique to me, though, the man was indeed quite a load to bear, especially carrying the dead weight on one side of the body.

A physician came later that morning as a routine visit. This is how I found out exactly how much my client weighed. The doctor acknowledged the man was five hundred and thirty-five pounds, also addressing that he was morbidly obese, and since he was unable to proficiently stand or walk there was no way for him to exercise sufficiently.

He would just have to sit and lay and accumulate more pounds and additional health problems.

My mother didn’t understand how in the hell I helped to lift and push my client’s five hundred pound ass around his residence and tolerate the foul smells in which I professionally did.

The mother and the son were both nice and welcoming toward me and the man had apologized for his earlier attitude. The rest of the time that I had spent there had turned out very well, and the family was looking forward to my return.

However, I never made it back there. It just wasn’t meant to be. I had to call out for the other two days I was supposed to show up. My spirit just wouldn’t allow for me to go back under those hazardous conditions.

I also couldn’t take the chance of my client getting nervous due to the man’s confidence issues that he had revealed to me.

What if an accident occurred and he happened to have fallen on me? Then I may have been the one in need of attention and medical care.

Appetizers

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It’s exciting to have more options to choose from and that cater to our lifestyle, health, and special diets, nowadays, whether we are vegan/vegetarian/pollo pescetarian or just plain gluten free, and so on.

I love plant milk, preferably soy and cashew, the vanilla flavors suit me best. I don’t like almond milk at all.

I also love cashew cheese and olive oil crafted buttery spreads.

I tend to come up with ideas and tasty plans to create then to put into effort within my foods.

I’m just glad I can experiment with a variety of plant sources without sacrificing great flavor.

So go and get that plant-based milk, cheese, and butter if it’s befitting to a preference or way of living.

 

Silver Dollars

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I haven’t eaten pancakes in a long while now but when I use to prepare them I made them small.

I didn’t like the average size pancakes.

After mixing up the batter I’d dip in a table spoon and scoop out about the same equivalent within measure and let the slight thickness of the mixture empty into the grease of the pan.

I’d create what my family called “silver dollar” pancakes, cute and with volume.

I wouldn’t put too much milk (plant-based milk can be used) or water into the mix just enough to provide a good and preferable consistency for my pancakes to come out nicely textured.

The pancakes always tasted better cooked in a butter (plant-based butter or margarine can be used) compared to vegetable oils.

I would eat those pancakes anytime of the day, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Whenever my appetite called out for them.

It didn’t matter whether or not I used syrup over the pancakes they were delicious either way.

Most of the time I ate them without any topping, and I’d fix and eat multiple silver dollar crafted pancakes until I had gotten thoroughly full.

 

Olive Oil

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Real olive oil will leave a specific recognizable tingle within the back of the throat I’ve experienced this numerous times. It is a sign of the purity and pungency of the oil.

I continuously prepare and use olive oil in a lot of my foods. I first began using olive oil during my teenage years. I had got it in the tin can it use to come in.

I don’t just buy any olive oil displayed on the shelves of the supermarket because I know for a fact all oils labeled as 100% pure olive oil are actually not legitimate.

There are many popular well known brands who claim to sell authentic olive oil yet their statements are false and have been proven so.

There are only two olive oil companies I have trusted and bought from for over a long period of time now and they are California Olive Ranch, and Lucini. I had researched them prior to purchasing their oils. They both have the harvest dates as well as expiration dates located on their glass bottles.

Of course, there are other legitimate brands out there who do sell authentic olive oils these are just the particular two I frequently buy.

I also look out for the seals and certifications such as Non Gmo, Certified Extra Virgin Olive Oil Associations, USDA and so on.

Potatoes

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One can do so many things with potatoes.

They can be baked, fried, boiled, mashed and turned into a variety of scrumptious dishes to enjoy.

I just made some potatoes yesterday. I cut eight whole potatoes in half and placed them into a pot of water seasoned with onion, garlic, cumin, thyme, pepper, salt, oregano and parsley.

When they were done and the majority of water had boiled out of the pot I scooped them onto a plate and spread a plant-based butter made with olive oil over them and they came out fantastic. They were the texture of luscious baked potatoes, they had boiled perfectly.

My favorite of all potato dishes have and will always be French fries.

There is nothing like homemade fries cooked in sunflower oil. I peeled, cut up, and fried so many potatoes when I was younger that I knew which type of oil brought out the best taste within them above all the others.

I even fried and ate so many homemade French fries one night that my body had absorbed too much grease and my stomach felt like it was split in half. I’m so glad my mother knew exactly to give me an alka seltzer back then it had cured the problem almost immediately.

Cheesy Delight (Cheesylicious!)

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As a youngster, during my very early years, I grew up eating cheese loving and enjoying the delicious meals which are made with the ingredient.

Some of my favorites were macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, parmesan cheese sprinkled over my spaghetti, baked ziti, lasagna and cheesecake.

Once I came to know and was aware of how cheese was actually processed it was a complete turnoff  to me aside from becoming a vegan/vegetarian at the age of fourteen.

For those vegetarians who do eat dairy cheese they are able to, of course, purchase the brands that are made with vegetable rennet. I know Cabot, Boar’s Head, and Land O’ Lakes wasn’t using animal rennet (the stomach lining of calves and goats) I had phoned up these companies years ago inquiring about the matter.

Nevertheless, I only eat non dairy plant based cheese.

I love cashew mozzarella style vegan cheese.

We can still delight within our favorite dishes if we choose or prefer not to eat old fashion traditionally manufactured cheeses.

 

Vermont Bread Company English Muffins

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Of course, one can’t always judge a book by its cover though I usually have a good eye and judgement for what is of quality.

As living the life of a vegan or vegetarian at times gets quite expensive I often catch and look out for sales.

There was some Vermont Bread Company brand english muffins that are constantly priced at $5.00 for two packs at one of my local Stop and Shops.

I had never purchased or ate any of the Vermont company breads and would pass up on their items. About three weeks ago, I had a relative shop with me and convinced me to try out the English muffins due to the price of five dollars for each that were six in a pack.

I only relented because it’s hard to commonly find vegan non gmo breads unless you’re at a store which specializes in those type of products.

So she bought two packs, one whole wheat and one white, I bought two whole wheats.

Those muffins stayed inside my fridge for two weeks before I went to open them up. I was hesitant as something within me just didn’t have a desire or attraction for them. If they had have been Dave’s Killer Muffins I would have been all over them the instant I brought them home.

On the day I finally decided to give the Vermont whole wheat English muffins a go I dolled them up with some herbs and olive oil and when I put them inside the toaster oven to heat they gave off an unpleasant smell which stunk.

I was even more hesitant to eat these muffins after that. After I took two or three bites of those disgusting english muffins I threw them into the trash.

I read reviews (which, of course, is not wise to always go by) about how good the Vermont Bread Company english muffins were even though I personally doubted I’d like them from the way they had appeared. I honestly don’t know what those people were talking about maybe they were paid to post that shit.

They’re always 2 for $5 for a reason.

Sometimes one has to pay a little extra for the good stuff when it’s not running a course of a discount.

I was so happy to recently get my usual Dave’s Killer Bread organic classic english muffins that smell and taste so good I even bought my relative a pack and she loved them and agreed that they were much better than that nasty tasting Vermont shit.

 

Obese Children

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I come from a very large family and in the summer of 1983 some relatives from down in my grandmother’s (my mother’s mother) hometown state of Virginia came up to New York to visit us for a week.

It was one of my grandmother’s sisters, her niece, her niece’s husband, and their two sons.

The youngest son was three years of age and looked to be about one hundred pounds. The little boy was so heavy that he had to crawl backwards just to make it down from the staircase.

His mother had brought along for their vacation his packed items of unhealthy snacks which were four cans of corn chips, cheese balls, and some other junk food.

What happened to the old hearty home cooked nourishing meals the family use to constantly prepare, serve, and feed off to the rest of the family?

I guess my grandmother’s niece hadn’t picked up on the tradition of her own mother’s household from years back.

Nevertheless, why let your kid get fat off of a bunch of unhealthy junk food? Shouldn’t she have been feeding him meat and vegetables and feeding him junk snacks sparingly if it was necessary at all for his young age?

I was about eight years old at the time and the three year old boy who was my second cousin cried at the time because I had eaten some dinner that was made for everyone. The child was so spoiled from constantly being fed all kinds of shit by his mother that he wanted to eat up everything there in sight.

My mother nicknamed him butterball.

It wasn’t until I got older and was strolling through the aisle in the supermarket that I realized she was referring him to the likes of a Butterball Turkey.

The mother of this young child was one of my mother’s first cousins, and to me, this kind of behavior was a form of child neglect and abuse. This kid who actually appeared to be one hundred pounds had no business getting to be that size for three years of age.

He was too big and had gained too much weight from eating too much of the wrong things.

My mother had to send her relatives home sooner than the week that was planned for them to stay at our home. The boy was causing too many problems as he whined from walking down the street.

His weight made him tired, sore, and lazy just from keeping mildly active. When he couldn’t get out of the car that his parents drove his mother asked my mother to pick him up and bring him out of the vehicle.

His mother was also on the heavy side and was a bit too lazy herself to go and lift up her son.

We all had took an outing on the circle liner boat ride in Manhattan and he had a fit about getting his way, and so on.

So my mother sent them all on home packing early one 4am morning.

 

 

Snack Attack Tip

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I love potato chips and cookies and cake once in a while yet I’ll only eat those within vegan and non gmo form.

The sweets have to be made on the healthy side and a homemade preparation is usually the best suitable route on desserts when it comes to optimal nutrition since one is inserting their own actual ingredients.

Nevertheless, everything within moderation and within personal tolerance is the way to go.

What I mostly enjoy snacking on above all else is fresh fruits, I love all kinds from green apples to grapes, watermelon, oranges, bananas, pineapples, honeydew melons and plenty more.

Fruit tastes delicious and is so good and beneficial to the body and I constantly incorporate these foods into my meal plan as well as a healthy snack tip to myself when I get hungry for a quick bite.

 

 

I’ll Pass On The Gas

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I love granola bars yet it was hard for me to find ones acceptable to the ingredients that I’m finicky about eating and that was vegan.

Those in which I had come across within the past were either too sugary or not good enough within taste.

I use to love Nature’s Valley’s peanut butter, maple, and oat granola bars but they weren’t labeled as vegan even though the ingredients showed no visible indication that they weren’t, however, I wasn’t so sure about how the sugar was processed so I had stopped eating them.

Not to mention how some products are prepared with hidden content.

I not too long ago discovered a box of Kashi peanut butter vegan granola bars and was satisfied with the ingredient label.

I had read online reviews though about how nasty Kashi peanut butter granola bars had gotten upon the new recipe change and how people no longer desired the product.

I had never tasted the original recipe as I took notice of the product at a later time so I went further online to come up with what was first listed within the ingredients when the granola bars had first hit the market.

Once I found a listing of the old contents I was disappointed in the recipe and would not have chosen to buy Kashi as I didn’t prefer those other ingredients.

When I ate into the new and improved version of Kashi peanut butter granola bars I loved them!

I didn’t agree with the majority of online reviewers opinions of the now changed product.

I don’t know what they tasted like before but they weren’t hard in texture or nasty within flavor to me. They were soft and good, and delivered a satisfying peanut taste.

And I also like how they butchered the unnecessary non vegan contents that were in there prior.

I purchased and ate quite a few boxes of Kashi peanut butter granola until one day I passed a little gas after consumption and an odor shot out with the smell of a rotten hard-boiled egg.

The same thing happened with my favorite Late July brand multi-grain vegan tortilla chips. I use to eat a lot of them too until they also had me fart out a rotten egg smell.

I knew something was wrong after that and left both products alone because I don’t usually pass gas with a reek as such.

I haven’t let out a stench like that since then either.

 

Wow! For WowButter!

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I recently wrote a post that mentioned wowbutter, a peanut butter substitute that is plant-based and how the product was good but a little runny within the consistency and that I wished the butter made from soy was thicker and stiffer.

Well I just purchased another jar of wowbutter yesterday and just opened it up today and noticed how thick and stiff the texture was and I was thrilled.

So either the product was improved or I just happened to buy a particularly oily batch last time around. It could have also been the temperature during shipping or within the supermarket that had made it runny and drippy.

Nevertheless, I spread the wowbutter on lightly toasted thin vegan slices of Dave’s Killer Organic multi-grain bread and enjoyed every bite.

I like the wowbutter better than peanut butter I love how it’s not sweet or sugary tasting. The product has its own unique similar taste, and like I said before, the soy within wowbutter has more protein than actual peanut butter making it an even healthier choice of preference.

Milk And Cereal

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I just got finished eating four cups of dairy- free Silk alternative vanilla yogurt a few hours ago earlier this morning after I got home.

The product is so delicious. The vanilla beans are visibly mixed in with a satisfying flavor that doesn’t get boring.

I love the consistency of the product such a perfect smooth thick texture when stirred.

I hadn’t  purchased any in a while had to pick some up today along with a container of Silk vanilla soy milk that I ran out of to go along with my creamy wheat Bob’s Red Mill Farina that I eat at any time of the day.

Sometimes I’ll mix it with a portion of the Bob’s Red Mill Oat Bran those two hot cereals taste good cooked together over the stove blended in with a little brown sugar and ginger.

 

 

 

 

Lifestyle

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People that observed me, especially many within my work environment, have stated to me and others that “I eat very healthy”.

Even those who hadn’t been around me very long would mention and make reference to how I take care of myself.

It’s just the way I’ve always been at one time in my youth I had the desire to become a dietitian. My mother had even purchased a professional medical book on the subject to get me more informed and prepared if that was the field I decided to actually go into.

During my teenage years when my mother purchased my first Hamilton Beach juicer, not too long after, she bought me a book on juicing that included tons of detail and facts about fruits, vegetables, vitamins and how they utilize and how our constitutions benefit from them, and more.

My mother was always supportive and encouraging toward whatever I wanted to do.

Well-being is what’s in and it is delightful to point that out.

When I go to Whole Foods down at 59th Columbus Circle in Manhattan, New York that place is constantly packed with people spending a small fortune on a host of befitting items. And I have been shopping at Whole Foods from time to time for years now.

Yesterday, I had a great tasting meal of white rice and beans with a savory sauce.

I like to put my own creative ideas together.

Later today, before I head to work, I’m going to prepare and fix myself a few plates of thin spaghetti noodles dressed in onion, garlic, oregano, rosemary, basil, a little pepper, and olive oil.