segunda-feira, 9 de agosto de 2010

Preparing Vegan Smoothies

A whole foods diet has many of the same characteristics of a vegan diet. Whole foods are natural foods focusing on healthy fats, fresh produce, whole grains, and avoiding chemicals, animal byproducts and refined starches. A vegan diet is geared towards completely avoiding any and all animal products. That means no meat, no oils or fats from animals, no dairy, honey, gelatin, and many other foods derived from animals.

When making the change to a vegan diet, whether for health or for ethical reasons, one of the most challenging aspects of the day is breakfast. After all traditionally breakfast is eggs, cereal, toast with butter, sausage, bacon, or any number of foods that are not appropriate for vegans. When trying to maintain a vegan diet while also eating only whole foods you have to watch out for refined sugars and other starches in breads, sugar for coffee, and even the artificial chemicals in nondairy creamer.

It is plain to see that having a balanced meal to start the day may be almost impossible. But it is not. Even as a vegan, you can still drink a homemade smoothie. All you need is some fresh produce, a blender, a little practice and a few other products to add to give you any missing vitamins or proteins for the day. When learning how to make smoothies the first step is to wander around the produce aisle at the store and decide which fruits you enjoy. Strawberries, bananas, and melons all make great additions to any smoothie. Many other fruits can work great as well including peaches, grapes, kiwi, and other berries. Also consider juicing fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons or limes. Buying fruit juice from the store is usually not a good idea when on a whole foods or vegan diet. But juicing your own at home can be a great way to avoid preservatives and other chemicals.

After deciding on your favorite fruits, now decide what else you can throw in your smoothies for extra nutrition. It is easy to eat several servings of vegetables per day by simply hiding milder ones in your smoothies. Spinach, alfalfa sprouts, chard, and lettuce are common in stores and are generally easy to add. One thing to keep in mind when on any vegan diet is to get enough vitamins and proteins. Without being careful many people find themselves not eating enough Vitamin B12, Iron, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iodine, or Omega 3 Fatty Acids. You can counter this by grinding certain beans, nuts, healthy oils, or supplements into your morning smoothie. Some supplements, like fish oil, may be better taken in capsule form.

Breakfast, lunch, or any meal on the go does not have to be impossible for someone on a vegan and whole foods diet. Stocking your house with fresh produce, buying a strong blender, and learning which supplements you may need may be all it takes to enjoy a healthy meal. And best of all, it takes only minutes to prepare, is very portable, and cleanup is very easy!

RV Washington pitching machines 3g mobile phones spyware blockers serengeti sunglasses Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses Buy Patio Furniture arthritis neck pain Female Hair Loss Remedy Home Exercise Equipment

Sem comentários:

Enviar um comentário