Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potatoes, as you know are my one true love in life, so I try to find different ways to eat them. Roasting them is probably one of my favorites, they are so great with seasonings, or just plain. Also, they make for a great transportation for dip to my mouth. Yumm!

I encourage you, if you try this recipe, to experiment with different seasonings.
Some of my suggestions are:
     Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger
     Chili powder, cumin, paprika
     Garlic, rosemary, sea salt, pepper

but definitely let your inner chef take control, and try whatever it's telling you!

Step One:

Wash/scrub your beautiful potatoes....and f.y.i. all of these potatoes were less than TWO DOLLARS!?!
   

Step Two:

Cut your potatoes in either sticks, like I did, or cubes. Try to keep them the same size so they can evenly cook. 

Step Three:

LIGHTLY spray your soon to be fries with olive oil spray, or even better, coconut oil spray.

Step Four:

Season those babies up! Use whatever types of seasonings your heart desires, and use as much or as little as you'd like. I used the Roasted Garlic & Herb seasoning by McCormick, and I think it made them taste quite similar to Arby's curly fries....but then again, it's been a while since I've tasted an Arby's curly fry..

Step Five: 

Give them a shake, gently shake the pan to get all the fries seasoned...or you can just use your hands to move them around. 

Step Six: 

Put them in the oven (425 degrees) I usually leave them in there for around ten to fifteen minutes, depending on how small I cut them. But just keep checking on them every five minutes to make sure they don't burn. I like my fries super crispy, so I leave them in a little longer, but if you like yours not as crispy, then take them out sooner. 

Step Seven:

Let your fries cool off, if you can wait that long...

Step Eight:

Enjoy your delicious fries! I made these for my sister, along with some homemade mac and cheese (which will be featured in an upcoming post....so keep a look out!). 

Also, she wanted to dip hers in ranch, and I dipped mine in salsa. You could also use hummus, or balsamic vinegar, or really anything you'd like to dip them in....or just enjoy them by themselves. 

   

Kale Yeah! My Obsession of the Greatest Green in the World

Today, I will be talking about my favorite green...the best green leaf in the entire world, k a l e. There are so many reasons why I'm so in love with this green, and I could talk about it all day. I actually wrote a whole research paper on it last year (if you actually want to read it, I'll put a link to it).

Kale is not only delicious, but its also super cheap, and has so so so so many health benefits.

     Delicious & Versatile:

When you first try kale, especially if its raw you may think I'm crazy for saying it's so delicious...especially if you are iceberg lettuce person. Kale has a deep, green taste and depending on the type of kale can be a little bitter. It may take a few attempts for you to get used to the deliciousness of the green, but it is worth it in the end. If you're not a fan of the raw kale (which most people aren't) that is totally fine because it is an a m a z i n g green to cook with. Because it is packed with nutrition, and is such a hearty green it cooks beautifully. This green is also great to sneak into smoothies, for added nutrition. If you add enough fruit (three parts fruit, one part green) you can barely taste the kale.

 

The versatility of this green is also enormous. Because this green is so hearty, it can be used as a wrap, or "taco" for a great carb-free, non-processed option.

Also, because kale is so great to cook with, it is perfect to throw into soups, or stews because it can withstand heat very well. Another great way to use kale is to make chips out of them! Kale chips are becoming the latest "trend" and you can find them in most grocery stores, but the store-bought kale chips are so expensive, it is kind of ridiculous. So I definitely recommend making your own. 

k a l e  c h i p s.

All you need to do is de-stem the kale (curly kale works best) wash and fully dry it, then lay it out on a cookie sheet, spray it with a little cooking spray (preferably olive oil, or coconut oil spray) then season it with whatever you'd like (salt, pepper, garlic, red pepper flakes). Lastly, put it in an oven preheated to about 400 degrees, for around five to ten minutes or until they are crispy (keep a close eye on them, so they don't burn!). Then let them cool and enjoy! 

     Nutritious:

The nutrition in kale is kind of unbelievable. It really is a powerhouse, and provides so many benefits in small amounts. It is very low in calories, you can basically eat as much of it as you want (as long as you're not adding butter or a ton of other things to it). In just one cup, you can get well over the recommended amounts of vitamin K (great for blood clotting, and strong bones), and vitamin A (awesome for your eyes). One cup of kale also has about 70% of the recommended amount of vitamin C (which is obviously really good for your immune system). Not only does it have a bunch of vitamins, but it also has a ton of antioxidants as well as anti-cancerous properties. Kale is also a great detoxifier. Like I said before, I really could talk about how great kale is all day long! 

So hopefully, I have persuaded you to give kale a try if you've never tried it before. And if you have tried it before, and hated it hopefully you'll give it another chance...your body will thank you!

LINK TO MY KALE RESEARCH PAPER (for all my fellow foodie nerds) :https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1f3pT2S32cCcGpHdVVfLWZrOVE/edit?usp=sharing

Is Your Money Going Down The Toilet?

I really want to talk about this little thing called vitamin C. Everyone seems to always be pushing vitamin C because of its immune protection powers, as well as its overall health benefits. Many people take vitamin C supplements, or powders to try to get enough vitamin C.

For a while, I took Emergen-C which is a powder that you add to water and drink. It has 1000 mg of vitamin C which, according to the nutrition facts, is 1,667% of your Daily Value. Although it does have some other nutritional supplements added to it, it also has an enormous amount of vitamin C. (it also has non-nutritional additives such as "natural" orange flavorings and tapioca maltodextrin)

You can't have too much vitamin C, right....?

Wrong. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, meaning our bodies only absorb a certain amount at a time, and the leftovers just get peed out. This is much different from fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) which their leftovers get stored in the body for later use.

Women need around 75 milligrams per day, while men need around 90 milligrams a day. Which as you can see, is well below the 1000 mg dosage in a packet of Emergen-C.

So what should you do if you don't think you're getting enough vitamin C in your diet?

Well, personally, I would try my best to get the most vitamin C from your diet, incorporating foods like oranges, kiwi, dark left greens like kale or spinach, peppers, broccoli, or peas. All of these will not only provide you with large amounts of vitamin C, but they also provide many other nutritional benefits (they are all low in calories as well).

But if you just can stand the taste of any of these foods, and still insist that a supplement is what you need to keep your immunity levels up then supplements are fine, just take them in SMALL doses. Taking small doses of vitamin C powders, or pills will keep you from wasting money. So if you enjoy Emergen-C, take only half a pack in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. Or buy vitamin C pills that have less than 100% of the Daily Value of vitamin C and take one pill in the morning and one at night.

But like I said before, save your money on supplements and EAT vitamin C from natural sources, because not only will you reap the vitamin C benefits, but also the benefits from all the other nutrients in the foods.

My Thoughts: Organic or Conventional?

     Organic is a term that gets thrown around all the time in the food industry. So many studies are done to investigate whether or not organic is better, healthier, more sustainable, etc. First of all, many people don't actually know what organic is, or what it means, or how it's different than conventional food.

     Organic foods are produced without chemicals, pesticides, irradiation, or additives. In other words, they are grown about the same way, but without any types of sprays or treatments. This means that farmers have to keep very specific conditions, and use specific organic pesticides to grown their produce. Being an organic garden is something that has to go through a certification process, and isn't something that a farmer can just claim. All companies must be certified to used the word "organic" whereas anyone and everyone can use the word "natural". So organic and "natural"....not the same thing at all. ( I will discuss my anger with the word "natural" in a later blog post)

 (wait, so these are "natural"....?)

     Many people assume that organic is better for you, more nutritious, and more beneficial to your health. This can be very overwhelming to someone that is trying to eat healthier, because organic foods are definitely more expensive, and not everyone can afford to buy organic. So does this mean you should just not buy produce at all if you can't afford organic? Of course not! Something doesn't have to be organic in order to be healthy and nutritious for you. Also, it has yet to be proven that organic foods are better for you, or healthier than conventionally grown produce.

     So what are my thoughts on this subject? I think organic produce can be too expensive to buy, and I have no problem at all with buying conventionally grown produce. I'd rather it be organic, or locally grown, to reduce the amounts of chemicals going into my body....but organic is something that just isn't on my list of priorities when going grocery shopping. Although I do make sure that I wash all my produce completely to get as much chemicals and pesticides off as I can. Organic is something that I think gets blown out of proportion, and although it is important, it isn't something to obsess over.

     There is a list known as "The Dirty Dozen" which is a list of foods that pesticides are used the most on. When I start making actual money, and can afford to spend a little more on food, I will start buying most of these foods organically, but until them all I can do is scrub, wash, rinse, repeat. Also, notice that most of these foods you eat the entire piece of food, meaning focus on buying organic (if you can) produce that you eat the skin, rather than buying organic banana or oranges, where you definitely are not going to be eating the skins.

     Although I don't eat meat, if I did I would definitely spend that extra money to buy organic meat, because I think organic (or hormone-free) meat is much safer. Mostly because non-organic raised animals are typically injected with hormones, which I wouldn't want to be putting in my body, so buying organic would prevent this. I also don't drink cow's milk, but if I did I would also aim for organic milk, again due to the hormones that are used in non-organic milk.

Well those are my thoughts on organic foods. Hope they did not offend you. What are your thoughts on organic? Do you spend that extra money for the organic label? Let me know in the comment section down below! 

FAQ Vegetarian Questions

This is sort of a continuation of my "My Journey: Becoming Vegetarian" post. But I really wanted to share some of my answers to the many questions I get about being vegetarian. 

I usually get asked about...

How long I've been vegetarian? 

     Since Thanksgiving day 2010.

Do I eat fish?

     No, one being that I don't really like fish, and was never raised eating it. Also, being vegetarian means not eating any meat, and fish is meat..so....yeah.

What do I miss about eating meat?

     I don't really miss anything about it that much, if I did I would've gone back to eating it. But I guess if I missed anything it would be the availability and the accessibility, most of the time it's a hassle to have to order vegetarian or eat vegetarian when I go to other people's houses, but in the long run, it's really not that big of a deal.

Why did I become a vegetarian?

     I kind of answered this in my other post, but basically it was because I wanted a change in not only my diet, but in my life. Also, I always thought being vegetarian was fascinating and wanted to just give it a try. 

Where do you get your protein?

    Sigh....this question gets me every time. I get my protein from fruits and vegetables, and some from beans. I eat enough fruits and vegetables that I get plenty of plant based protein. 

So can you only eat vegetables? (literally have been asked this multiple times)

     Being vegetarian does not mean that you only eat vegetables, although the name is somewhat deceiving. But a vegetarian diet is not eating meat, thats it. Personally, I choose to eat a primarily plant-based vegetarian diet. But that doesn't mean that's the only way to eat vegetarian. You can eat a wide range of foods that don't include meat.

Can I eat meat in front of you? (again, get asked this all the time)

     Yes, of course. I have no problem with meat, people eating it...or even me cooking it. There are some vegetarians that can't stand to even look at it, but I honestly have no problem with it, I just choose not to eat it. 

and for the final question....

How can you not eat bacon?!?

     Well, as good as bacon is....personally, its not worth it for me. Of course, I enjoy the smell of bacon, and that's about enough for me. 

  

     

What's Up With Trans Fats?

Some of you may have heard the word "trans fats" and most of you probably know that it isn't a healthy fat....but do you really know what they are and why they aren't good for you? Well when I learned about what they were and why our bodies hate them, I just had to share it with someone!

So basically trans fats come from the processing (hydrogenation) of fats to make them shelf-stable. Some great examples of foods with trans fats are: processed foods (with dairy products as main ingredients), shelf-stable coffee creamers, refrigerated dough products, margarines and shortenings, and of course sugary treats like doughnuts, cookies, etc. Basically anything that is packaged has some trans fats, and that is because trans fats are only a result from the processing of fats.

Now, that you know what has trans fats....why are they so bad for us? Well our bodies actually can't recognize a trans fat, and therefore our bodies don't know what to do with them. We can absorb, use, or gain any benefits from trans fats.

So the photo above is a photo of a cis fat, which is what the fat looks like before it gets processed. Our bodies recognize these, and know what to do with them....but a trans fat looks like this

See how the two hydrogens are on opposite sides? Our bodies literally can't recognize this. 

To truly understand this hold up your left hand like you're about to give someone a high five....do it, do it right now. Is your hand up? Okay, good. Now put your right hand up to it too, like you're giving yourself a high five, but your palms aren't touching. See how you're thumbs don't line up? Your hands are the same shape, but can line up properly. Well that is what it is like when you eat a trans fat, your body doesn't have the recognition of a fat shaped like that.

So from now on, try to check for trans fats on nutrition labels, or better yet....avoid processed fats! The FDA is slowly aiming towards the reduction of trans fats, but knowing the FDA it may be a decade before any changes get made. Make it easy on your body, and avoid the trans!!

Cauliflower Rice

If you're trying to cut back on processed carbs, or just trying to get more vegetables in your diet this is the recipe for you. This is the perfect alternative to rice, and it is way healthier, more nutritious, and raw! Does it taste exactly like rice...? no, but it is definitely better for you and a step in the right direction. Give it a try in mexican dishes, soups, side dishes, or even salads...it really takes on whatever flavor you're desiring.

All you need is one head of cauliflower and a blender or food processor.

First:

Chop up your cauliflower into medium sized florets...

Second:

Put in a blender and pulse it until has turned into a rice consistency (this may take several pulses)

Third:

Voilà you have cauliflower rice! It really is that simple!

My love for sweet potatoes...

So I have this little addiction (and by little I mean HUGE) to sweet potatoes. There is rarely a day that goes by that I don't have a sweet potato. Here are a few things about them that gets my heart rate pumping..

     versatility.

       sweet potatoes are one of the most versatile foods i've ever cooked with. they can be baked,                roasted, pureed, you name it, you can more than likely do it. also there are so many flavor combinations you can create with a base of a sweet potato. most people just stick to butter and brown sugar, but I absolutely love mashing mine with chili powder, cumin, salsa, black beans, and some guacamole on top. It is so delicious! also, sweet potatoes make a great spread to use on wraps or sandwiches!

     health benefits.

       sweet potatoes have so many health benefits, its kind of unbelievable. one cup has only 115 calories, and nearly 350% of your daily vitamin A, they are also high in potassium and fiber. needless to say eating a sweet potato a day should be prescribed by all doctors. 

     taste and texture.

there is something so soothing about something sweet and creamy, and that is exactly the type of feeling that you get when you dig into a delicious sweet potato. it is warm, and comforting.

     easy to access and inexpensive.

during the fall, sweet potatoes can get as cheap as 0.20 cents a pound! also, sweet potatoes can be found most all year around, and still relatively cheap for such a nutrient packed food.

     quick and simple.

if it's not quick and simple, most people won't bother with it, but sweet potatoes require no hard work, just a quick wash, poke, and microwave and that's it. roasting takes a little longer, but it's so worth it. sweet potatoes can also be taken on the go, or store in tin foil until ready to be eaten, if you have access to a microwave then you're set. 

so in the end....there is no denying the fact that sweet potatoes are perfect in every way, and my obsession with them can be well justified through all the points i made above. so if you don't already have a love for them, buy a bag and begin your own personal relationship for the wonderful sweet potato.

Almond Milk

Recently, I've been making my own almond milk. After realizing how easy it was, and how much more natural it is, I am hooked. Most store bought almond milk contains thickeners, like lecithin and carrageenan (made from seaweed, that can lead to digestion problems) both are unnecessary additives. So by making my own, I get to control the ingredients, which makes me feel better about what is going into my body.

Now onto the almond milk process....it usually takes about ten minutes altogether, not including the time the almonds take to soak (overnight). So this is really easy to do in the morning before making breakfast.

First...
Soak natural (organic if you'd like) almonds in filtered water overnight, or for at least twelve hours.

Second...

Pour the almonds into a blender and add four cups of water for every one cup of almonds. I like to use the water that the almonds soaked in as part of my four cups of water. 

Third...

Add-in whatever you would like! I put a couple teaspoons of Stevia, but you could put in a few dates, or cinnamon. 

Fourth...

Blend in a blender for about a minute, or until it looks milky and combined.

Fifth...

Set up a strainer over a bowl with a towel inside to strain your milk.

Sixth...

Pour the mixture into the strainer and use a spatula or spoon to stir it around to help the liquid separate from the almond grounds.

Seventh...

Gather the towel and squeeze out as much of the liquid as you can.

Eighth...

Pour into a glass container and enjoy! Make sure to keep it in the refrigerator, and it usually lasts about a week and a half. 

And that is all! Super simple, and easy to make!