What's the difference between vegan and plant based?

These days there are so many different terms out there: vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, fruitarian, plant predominant, plant based, whole food plant based. The list seems endless and can be so confusing for those who are just starting on this journey.

Let’s take two of these terms and define them.

What is the difference between vegan and plant based?

By definition someone who is vegan “abstains from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals” (Wikipedia). In other words, someone who is vegan doesn’t eat animals (or byproducts) or use them in other areas of their life (cosmetics, furniture, clothing, etc.).

Does vegan mean healthy? No, not necessarily.

Most people who go vegan do it for the animals, and not necessarily for their health. In today’s world, there is a plethora of vegan options and you can live off of vegan burgers, ice cream and pizza. While these options are so much better than eating animals, they aren’t the healthiest options on a day to day basis.

On the other hand, most people go plant based for their health but they may not care about animals. Someone following a plant based diet eats a diet rich in whole grains, legumes, fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds. They may still include a small amount of animals in their diet and use animals in clothing, furniture, cosmetics, etc.

So what do you think? Would you consider yourself vegan or plant based? I like to call myself a plant based vegan. I deeply care about the animals but also want to be as healthy as possible <3

Surprising Health Benefits of Going Vegan

I originally made the full transition to a vegan diet in 2016 after my dog died.  When I was watching him suffer, I realized that I never wanted to contribute to an animal's suffering for as long as I lived.  I also made the connection that "meat" came from an animal, an animal who was tortured and killed for my five minutes of pleasure.

Although the animals were absolutely enough to keep me vegan for the entirety of my lifetime, I truly love the health benefits of being vegan as well.  I had hoped that I would feel better but some of these benefits were truly unexpected.  My body has completely transformed inside and out.  I will take you through just some of the major health benefits that I have experienced over the last two years.

Lyme Disease Remission: for those of you who haven't been following my blog for long, you may not know that I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2015 (for more information on this please click here). I had awful symptoms including severe leg pain, digestive distress, anxiety, brain fog, insomnia, memory loss and fatigue.  I spent $1000's on treatment and at one point was taking over 90 supplements per day.  Within a few months of switching to a vegan diet, almost all of my symptoms disappeared.

Less constipation and bloating:  okay this may seem like TMI, but going to the bathroom is a really important part of our health.  On a diet that consists mostly of animal products, we are not getting the fiber that we need (meat, dairy and eggs contain 0g of fiber!!!!).  This can lead to constipation and bloating.  (Side note: did you know that a healthy person should go to the bathroom 3 times per day?!).  Going vegan definitely helped me with this issue.

No more thyroid pills: just like many people around the world, I was put on thyroid medication at a very young age. I had been taking thyroid medication for 15 years prior to going vegan.  After a year of being (mostly) a whole food plant based vegan, my thyroid had healed itself and my doctor took me off of my medication.  No more of those nagging pills!

Clear skin and strong nails: this one may not seem very important but I am sure that most of us know what it feels like to wake up with a giant pimple on the center of your face!  It can truly halt your confidence and put a damper on your day.  Whenever I would consume dairy, I would almost immediately develop cystic like acne on my face and body.  My skin has cleared up dramatically since being vegan.  In addition, my nails are stronger than ever!!!

Less pain during that time of the month: I can vividly remember the days of curling up in a ball on the floor because my menstrual cramps were trying to kill me!  This would happen every single month and I truly dreaded my period.  Nothing seemed to help including Midol or chocolate.  Although I still get a tiny little cramping, it is nothing like it used to be.

Transitioning to a vegan diet has truly been one of the best decisions I have ever made.  I love the feeling of saving animals, but it has improved my health dramatically, and in only two years.  I cannot wait to see what the future holds and to see how my health will improve from here.  I bet that it will just keep getting better and better <3

I would love to hear from you; what health improvements have you seen from switching to a vegan diet?

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Garlicky Rosemary Potato Soup

This is an old recipe but is still one of our favorites.  It is delicious, comforting and is perfect for those upcoming Fall evenings.

We found this recipe in The No Meat Athlete Cookbook and it has quickly become one of our favorites.  It's easy to make and is incredibly filling.  Enjoy it with a warm piece of vegan toast :)

Garlicky Rosemary Potato Soup (The No Meat Athlete Cookbook)

Serves 4-6

Ingredients: 

• 1 tablespoon olive oil (Optional. Or use ¼ cup/120 ml of the broth listed below)

• 1 large yellow onion, chopped fine

• 1 celery rib, chopped fine

• 8 garlic cloves, chopped

• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped and minced

• 2 pounds waxy potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, peeled and diced

• One 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 bay leaf

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• ¼ cup Cashew Cream: 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water for 1 hour, then drained, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ to 1 cup water….blended together Click here for quick demo on how to make Cashew Cream

• ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions: 

• Place a medium stockpot over medium-high heat.  Add the oil, then add the onion, celery, garlic, and rosemary.  Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.  Add the potatoes, beans, bay leaf, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and stir to combine.  Add the broth, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil.

• Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in cashew cream.  (If you prefer a smooth texture, puree half the soup in a blender).

• Add ¼ teaspoon salt and season with more pepper. Discard the bay leaf before serving.

Click here to purchase your own copy of The No Meat Athlete Cookbook.

EASY Vegan Recipes and Importance of B12

I have a confession to make:  I am in a total food rut and could literally eat the same thing every, single day.  However, I know that this is not a good thing because it deprives me of important nutrients without a variety of foods.  So, I am challenging myself to try some new recipes and I am taking you with me :)

In this video, I share some EASY VEGAN RECIPES with simple ingredients and little prep time.  In addition, I will discuss the two supplements that I think you should be including in your diet every day.

I hope that you enjoy this video and that you can incorporate these meals into your routine.

More food videos coming soon :)

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