I'm not going to tout Taco Bell as a health haven. That's loco.
But, indeed, a vegan can eat at Taco Bell - and Lord knows, you'll likely end up there at some point with your friends or at that moment when you've got only 3 dollars and little time.
Other than Subway, Taco Bell is the one fast food place that I might visit just to make things easy and cheap. Most every time, my order consists of only a couple of bean burritos -Fresco style. But a vegan can order more. A whole lot more if you like. But it's no haven for vegan eating either. It depends on how much labor and confusion you really want your soon-to-be, frustrated cashier to deal with.
Vegan Eating Out makes it a bit more simple with their list. If your cashier doesn't mind taking the time, then you might venture beyond a couple of burritos.
I would say "good luck."
But I will admit, without shame, that Taco Bell has really increased their level of service over the last 3-4 years. I'm not sure if this was due to the "beef authenticity" scare that was in the news, or if it was simply something they decided to do in order to change their customer service approach. But I have yet to visit a Taco Bell in the last 3 years that wasn't willing to cater to my every detailed wish. That is an odd thing for me to admit. It's fast food. But they continue to make it exactly as I desire. And if it isn't the way I ask, they happily remake it until it's correct.
Good work Taco Bell, you loco personas.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Oreos
Are Oreos vegan?
You bet they are - in America at least. I've read that Oreos produced in Europe contain animal products. But here in the states they do not. Let's look at the ingredients:
Oreo Ingredients
Ingredients: SUGAR, ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), HIGH OLEIC CANOLA OIL AND/OR PALM OIL AND/OR CANOLA OIL, AND/OR SOYBEAN OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORNSTARCH, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), VANILLIN - AN ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CHOCOLATE. CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY.
I don't see any animal ingredients in there! I don't see anything good for me either, but then I'm not pounding these cookies. In fact, I rarely eat sweets, But I'm glad this one is available to me.
However, it has been reported that some of the suppliers from which Kraft/Nabisco obtain their sugar use some animal-derived products in the processing of that sugar. So I guess it depends on how vegan you are. Then again - Look at the main ingredient! It's a tough decision.
I don't believe they taste the same, but Newman's Own makes an oreo-like cookie with organic and animal free ingredients:
Original:
Organic Unbleached Wheat Flour, Organic Powdered Sugar (Organic Sugar, Organic Corn Starch), Organic Sugar, Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Canola Oil (Expeller Pressed), Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Unsweetened Chocolate, Salt, Natural Flavor, Sodium Bicarbonate (leavening), Soy Lecithin (an emulsifier).
First ingredient is wheat flour. That's a cookie I can pound.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
FireFox Error
Apologies. This is a tech post. I googled the hell out of this problem and never found a solid resolution. After fiddling around, I was able to solve this problem repeatedly using this solution.
The error occurring looks like this from FireFox version 14:
The error occurring looks like this from FireFox version 14:
A copy of Firefox is already open. Only one copy of Firefox can be open at a time.
This was happening to every account on a machine running Mac OS X Snow Leopard Version 10.6.8
To resolve the problem, navigate to each user's Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles folder.
There was only one directory within the profiles folder in the format of XXXXXXXX.default.
Copy that file to the desktop and then delete it from the Profiles directory.
Run Firefox.
You should get an error that reads: "Profile Missing. Your Firefox profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible."
Click "OK" and move the XXXXXXXX.default directory back to the Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles folder.
Run Firefox, and Voila! It should be running without a problem.
I have not clue why this works, but I hope it helps some of you get past the problem.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Greasy Burger? YES!
This is by no means new information.
But it's new to me, and I'm pretty excited about it.
I've had Gardein products before, but I just tried their frozen, meatless beef patties, and I must say, I am simply shocked!
Check the details
This beefless burger can be grilled, microwaved, or anything in-between and they are still dripping with juicy flavor. The first one I ate took my taste buds back 10 years to the last burger I had. The texture and flavor are as close to a real burger as anything I've tried in the meat substitute market. Apparently, their technique is a secret.
Although the patty is processed, as most imitation meat substitutes are, it ranks pretty low on the bad-for-you scale in my opinion. Sodium and fat are low, protein is high, and they use several ingredients with near complete protein/amino profiles, like Quinoa. One of the main fears that people have with meat substitutes is soy origin. Gardein claims to only use non-GMO soy protein.
You HAVE to try this burger.
But it's new to me, and I'm pretty excited about it.
I've had Gardein products before, but I just tried their frozen, meatless beef patties, and I must say, I am simply shocked!
This beefless burger can be grilled, microwaved, or anything in-between and they are still dripping with juicy flavor. The first one I ate took my taste buds back 10 years to the last burger I had. The texture and flavor are as close to a real burger as anything I've tried in the meat substitute market. Apparently, their technique is a secret.
Although the patty is processed, as most imitation meat substitutes are, it ranks pretty low on the bad-for-you scale in my opinion. Sodium and fat are low, protein is high, and they use several ingredients with near complete protein/amino profiles, like Quinoa. One of the main fears that people have with meat substitutes is soy origin. Gardein claims to only use non-GMO soy protein.
You HAVE to try this burger.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
A Healthy Heart
Without it, everything else suffers.
I don't feel like I need to go into what a healthy diet contains. If you're vegan, you're probably doing your research and you already know that an ample amount of vegetables, fruits, nuts/seeds, and legumes are weighted heavily on the grocery list. If you're not vegan, there are many online resources.
But something I discovered early on was that there are a couple of items that will have an immediate, positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Who doesn't need that?
I said I would discuss the two spices that will immediately work to lower your overall cholesterol level.
So here they are:
Cayenne and Cinnamon
You likely have these spices in your cabinet right now. Use them. Use them in ample amounts.
When I say ample amounts, I mean a teaspoon or more - several times a day if you can.
These spices do wonders for your heart by opening the vascular system and providing ample blood flow. They also scavenge free radicals from the blood stream and contain many essential minerals. The benefits are outstanding. The recommended fashion for optimal ingestion is to add a teaspoon of one or the other to a glass of warm water. I have yet to try doing this with cinnamon, but I do this with Cayenne on a daily basis. It is one of the reasons that my cholesterol level is quite good and at one time it lowered my Blood pressure below the healthy average. You can feel its invigorating effects as you're drinking it.
Note, though, that using a teaspoon on the first glass is not recommended. Try to work your way up to that amount per dose. The burning is very present, but it will also work to rebuild the lining of the stomach if there is any damage.(Also prepare for some uncomfortable bowel movements for the first few days.) I would recommend working up to an amount that is comfortable for you. I think you will notice that you will likely add more and more with each dosage, however, be warned that Cinnamon has been known to increase the heart rate. Listen to your body.
I've read that Cayenne can stop heart attack on the spot. Though I've never seen or experienced this, it wouldn't surprise me. See the below links for ample amounts of info on these two Miracle spices:
CAYENNE PEPPER BENEFITS
CINNAMON BENEFITS
Enjoy!
I don't feel like I need to go into what a healthy diet contains. If you're vegan, you're probably doing your research and you already know that an ample amount of vegetables, fruits, nuts/seeds, and legumes are weighted heavily on the grocery list. If you're not vegan, there are many online resources.
But something I discovered early on was that there are a couple of items that will have an immediate, positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Who doesn't need that?
I said I would discuss the two spices that will immediately work to lower your overall cholesterol level.
So here they are:
Cayenne and Cinnamon
You likely have these spices in your cabinet right now. Use them. Use them in ample amounts.
When I say ample amounts, I mean a teaspoon or more - several times a day if you can.
These spices do wonders for your heart by opening the vascular system and providing ample blood flow. They also scavenge free radicals from the blood stream and contain many essential minerals. The benefits are outstanding. The recommended fashion for optimal ingestion is to add a teaspoon of one or the other to a glass of warm water. I have yet to try doing this with cinnamon, but I do this with Cayenne on a daily basis. It is one of the reasons that my cholesterol level is quite good and at one time it lowered my Blood pressure below the healthy average. You can feel its invigorating effects as you're drinking it.
Note, though, that using a teaspoon on the first glass is not recommended. Try to work your way up to that amount per dose. The burning is very present, but it will also work to rebuild the lining of the stomach if there is any damage.(Also prepare for some uncomfortable bowel movements for the first few days.) I would recommend working up to an amount that is comfortable for you. I think you will notice that you will likely add more and more with each dosage, however, be warned that Cinnamon has been known to increase the heart rate. Listen to your body.
I've read that Cayenne can stop heart attack on the spot. Though I've never seen or experienced this, it wouldn't surprise me. See the below links for ample amounts of info on these two Miracle spices:
CAYENNE PEPPER BENEFITS
CINNAMON BENEFITS
Enjoy!
Vegan Mayo (Day 129)
I don't really have much to say in this post other than to point out that I brought up Vegenaise many posts back. It's one of my favorite things as a condiment, for dressings, or making a creamy pasta.
(Note: I will post the cholesterol reducing goodness I mentioned recently ASAP)
It just so happens that America's Ultraman, Rich Roll, agrees.
In this 10 minute tour of his natural foods shopping trip, he shows us what foods he prefers for a healthy training diet and why. If it's good enough for Rich Roll, it's good enough for me.
His love for Vegenaise at 6:30 -
Thanks Rich.
(Note: I will post the cholesterol reducing goodness I mentioned recently ASAP)
It just so happens that America's Ultraman, Rich Roll, agrees.
In this 10 minute tour of his natural foods shopping trip, he shows us what foods he prefers for a healthy training diet and why. If it's good enough for Rich Roll, it's good enough for me.
His love for Vegenaise at 6:30 -
Thanks Rich.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Overall Health: Initial Screening
Today I went to a free health screening offered by my employer. I was very interested to find out what my numbers are. I've not had a complete screening in the past, though I have had one cholesterol level check about 8 years ago. The results: "Normal."
That doesn't really tell me much. In fact, I was a bit upset that I didn't get the numbers after waiting two weeks for the results. I suppose I could have asked for the paperwork, but what does it matter now? I took this opportunity to get a few numbers so that I could compare sometime in the future.
So this is Day 127 since becoming Vegan. I lost about 10-15 pounds in the first couple of months, but the weight loss tapered as I began working out. Let's take a look at my numbers for today:
Body
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 167 pounds
Waist (at navel): 34.5"
Body Mass Index: 23 (Normal is 18.5 - 24.9)
Those numbers look good. And to add to that, I am in the 25 percentile for my height and age.
Blood
Blood Pressure: 142/80
Total Cholesterol: 156
HDL Cholesterol: 54
Glucose: 86
The Blood pressure is a bit high(Healthy is 120/80 and under). 142 for the Systolic number is straight up High Blood pressure STAGE 1. I have suffered, and sometimes still suffer from anxiety, but it is near gone. I will have to chalk these high numbers up to a stressful life change in the last few months and the fact that I practically ran to the appointment. I had my numbers checked at my doctor about 6 months ago and they were at normal range. And if you read my last post, you know that I've eliminated the addition of Salt to my meals. Something is amiss here. I plan to by my own blood pressure monitor and keep track at home.
Total Cholesterol is in a VERY good range, though I would like it to be lower. Unfortunately, with a simple, free screening such as this one, acquiring my LDL cholesterol was not possible. The HDL level at 54 is very good though if I ate more fruits and vegetables rather than beans and wheat pasta, it would likely be much higher. More importantly, though, is the Total to HDL cholesterol ratio - Which is a fantastic 2.9!!! This means that the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis is very low and it points to a very low probability of a heart attack. Good range is considered around 3-4. Glucose appears normal.
However, the more research you do on Veganism and overall health based on studies throughout the globe, the more you will find that the upper 100's range considered normal for total Cholesterol in America is a truth believed only by some. As I've learned, getting the overall Cholesterol lower than 120 and the HDL above 60 is IDEAL and damn near makes a heart attack and heart disease not only impossible - but levels like that can actually REVERSE heart disease.
I'll say again, watch Forks Over Knives to get you started down the right path. It took me many years to get here, but that documentary put the fork in eating animals for me. Everything changed after that. In fact, I have a couple of coworkers following suit(and even teaching me things).
In my next post I will reveal 2 simple things that one can do to drastically reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure in just 2 months. It's not a huge secret, but these 2 things are easy to use and they WILL WORK.
Here's to the Heart.
That doesn't really tell me much. In fact, I was a bit upset that I didn't get the numbers after waiting two weeks for the results. I suppose I could have asked for the paperwork, but what does it matter now? I took this opportunity to get a few numbers so that I could compare sometime in the future.
So this is Day 127 since becoming Vegan. I lost about 10-15 pounds in the first couple of months, but the weight loss tapered as I began working out. Let's take a look at my numbers for today:
Body
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 167 pounds
Waist (at navel): 34.5"
Body Mass Index: 23 (Normal is 18.5 - 24.9)
Those numbers look good. And to add to that, I am in the 25 percentile for my height and age.
Blood
Blood Pressure: 142/80
Total Cholesterol: 156
HDL Cholesterol: 54
Glucose: 86
The Blood pressure is a bit high(Healthy is 120/80 and under). 142 for the Systolic number is straight up High Blood pressure STAGE 1. I have suffered, and sometimes still suffer from anxiety, but it is near gone. I will have to chalk these high numbers up to a stressful life change in the last few months and the fact that I practically ran to the appointment. I had my numbers checked at my doctor about 6 months ago and they were at normal range. And if you read my last post, you know that I've eliminated the addition of Salt to my meals. Something is amiss here. I plan to by my own blood pressure monitor and keep track at home.
Total Cholesterol is in a VERY good range, though I would like it to be lower. Unfortunately, with a simple, free screening such as this one, acquiring my LDL cholesterol was not possible. The HDL level at 54 is very good though if I ate more fruits and vegetables rather than beans and wheat pasta, it would likely be much higher. More importantly, though, is the Total to HDL cholesterol ratio - Which is a fantastic 2.9!!! This means that the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis is very low and it points to a very low probability of a heart attack. Good range is considered around 3-4. Glucose appears normal.
However, the more research you do on Veganism and overall health based on studies throughout the globe, the more you will find that the upper 100's range considered normal for total Cholesterol in America is a truth believed only by some. As I've learned, getting the overall Cholesterol lower than 120 and the HDL above 60 is IDEAL and damn near makes a heart attack and heart disease not only impossible - but levels like that can actually REVERSE heart disease.
I'll say again, watch Forks Over Knives to get you started down the right path. It took me many years to get here, but that documentary put the fork in eating animals for me. Everything changed after that. In fact, I have a couple of coworkers following suit(and even teaching me things).
In my next post I will reveal 2 simple things that one can do to drastically reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure in just 2 months. It's not a huge secret, but these 2 things are easy to use and they WILL WORK.
Here's to the Heart.
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