Savvy Vegan

I don't recommend this.

Tips for a happy, smooth-sailin' vegan lifestyle.

1) Next time you hit the road for a long stretch, pack some oatmeal in a travel mug and add hot water at the gas station when it's time to fill up. 

2) If you love cereal, try it with Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla. It's my absolute favorite milk alternative and it'll save you a lot of unwanted sugar. 

3) Always have tasty sauces and dressings prepared and ready to go. It's SO much easier to eat a fiber-rich diet when you've got creamy avocado dressing or mango salsa to play with. 

4) Make meals that yield leftovers so you're not always in the kitchen. Store in glass containers. 

5) Become well acquainted with the bulk aisle. It's a magical place where you can stock up on organic dried goods for cheap (well, most of them -- check the prices).

6) Superfoods are awesome. They're also super expensive. Yes, chia seeds are blissfully high in omega 3's, but flax isn't far behind and it's way more affordable. 

7) Kale chips are also very pricey, but they're SO easy to make. I'm talkin' 3 ingredients:  kale, olive oil, sea salt. Kale Chips Recipe

8) Freeze your fresh, in-season produce if you've got too much on your hands. No need to buy a $9 carton of blueberries in November.

9) If you know you're going to be eating at a restaurant that isn't very vegan-friendly, pack your favorite dressing and salad toppings and turn that plate of steamed vegetables into something impressive.

Portion Cup by Eco Products **Sprinkles are not a good choice for salad toppings.

10) Finding great vegan restaurants is totally doable now that Happy Cow exists.

11) Don't get in a beans & rice rut. Plan meals ahead of time and keep things exciting. Even if you just LOVE homemade bean burgers...give 'em a rest for a while.

12) Experiment! Ever made spaghetti squash pasta?

13) Make your meals more personal. Use herbs from the herb garden or check out the local farms for pick-your-own.

14) When you make something spectacular, share it!

15) Don't show up at Thanksgiving empty-handed. (This is totally your chance to show how appetizing vegan food is)

16) If you're at a festival, head to the place that makes wraps and ask them to make a vegan one with roasted vegetables. OR go for a bean & rice burrito. YUM.

17) Be sure to ask for roti instead of naan at Indian restaurants. (Some naan IS vegan. You can get vegan naan at Whole Foods)

18) Amaranth and quinoa are great pre and post-workout. Combine with Kidney beans and watch those muscles GROW.

19) Green smoothies can be heavenly. Go easy on the greens at first and then add more to your liking. My favorite: banana + mango or pineapple + 2 c spinach + 1 tsp green superfood + ice water

20) Rinse canned beans with water before heating them to reduce sodium content.

21) Get a good knife set. Chop, chop!

22) Always ask for extra veggies at non-vegan restaurants.

23) For a well-muscled bod, be sure to eat plenty of beans and extra-firm tofu. A protein bar or hemp smoothie will give you protein, too...but should be treated more like a "treat."

24) Keep processed foods to a MINIMUM and eat healthy fats, such as avocados, almonds, amaranth, quinoa, oats, tempeh, tofu and Udo's oil.

25) Trader Joe's sells the cheapest organic tofu and canned beans that I know of.

26) Shake up your salad in a bowl with a lid to get a small amount of dressing evenly dispersed.

27) Pasta + pasta sauce + Boca burger = vegan bolognese (courtesy of R)

28) Soak your beans and grains. Soaking neutralizes anti-nutrients while enhancing all the good things beans and grains have to offer.

29) Whipped Earth Balance Buttery Spread and Reduced-Fat Vegenaise are rich and flavorful. Opt for those instead of Original (full-fat).

30) Get a water bottle that you love and keep yourself hydrated. I love the glass water bottles at Lifefactory.