Closing Out 2011

As 2011 comes to a close, I ask for you to permit me to wax a little philosophical (I always wanted to say that!). I realize that for many this has definitely been a year of transition, myself included. Talking among my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, we are all ready, eager, and hungry for change - on many different levels.

For 2012, I see the beginning of the year to be a time of release - a detox if you will. A time to release unhealthy behaviors, excess weight, a dead-end job, whatever it is that is holding you back from living the life you truly want to live. After the period of release will come a time of building - building healthy habits, strong bodies, eco-conscious consumer habits, new businesses, whatever it is that you see as making your life fulfilled, healthy, and happy.

As for me, I already have some of these plans in the works for different areas of my life. I will be announcing these plans throughout the new year and hope that many of you will join me on the journey. I will post new programs, adventures, and books on my website www.veggiepatti.com. I will keep the blog as a commentary on the challenges that come up during this journey and the solutions I implement to overcome them. I will also continue to provide more tips and answer any questions on the veggie and/or gluten free lifestyle.

I wish everyone a safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous new year and continued success in your own endeavors!

Holiday Delivery Service

Holiday Food Delivery Service

for the Downriver Area

I am offering holiday delivery service for food ordered from

Cacao Tree Café in Royal Oak

&

Boho Cupcakes in Rochester

Thanksgiving delivery: November 23

Christmas delivery: December 23

All food orders must be placed separately and paid in full.

For more information, please contact me!

Vegan Chocolate Cake

Since the holidays are coming up, I wanted to share a vegan chocolate cake recipe. Enjoy!

Crazy Cake
3 cups flour (use gluten-free flour for gluten-free cake)                      
2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 cup oil
2 cups cold water

Mix all ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes in a 13" x 9" pan.

Recipe compliments of Sophie Radakovich. Please note we haven't tried this recipe gluten-free, but it should work the same!

Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Raw Bakeries

Since the holidays are coming up I wanted to share with you where to get some awesome treats for your holiday gatherings! It's never too early to place an order!

I have tried all of these places at one time or another and I think they are all great!

• Boho Cupcakes - Rochester - www.bohocupcakes.com - Specializing in vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free baked goods! They have donuts, too!
• Organic Bliss - Sylvania, OH - www.organicblissmarket.com - Gluten-free bakery with vegan options
• Cacao Tree Cafe - Royal Oak - www.cacaotreecafe.com - Raw desserts, which also happen to be vegan and gluten-free
• Sugar Kisses Bakery - Berkely - www.sugarkissesbakery.com - Vegan options available (some can be made gluten-free as well)
• Inn Season Cafe - Royal Oak - www.theinnseasoncafe.com - Vegan cakes available by special request

If you know of any others that I have missed, please add to the post!

In peas and good health,
VeggiePatti

Supporting Veg-Friendly Businesses

It was with sadness that I saw a letter earlier this week that the Detroit Zen Center's cafe is closing (hopefully temporarily) at the end of this month. They expanded their hours due to customers' requests, but then didn't have the attendance necessary to support themselves financially. Sadly, this story isn't unique. Earthen Jar is currently facing a similar situation due to construction of a new parking lot being built right next to their restaurant. Om Cafe has opened and closed several times. And I've even seen my favorite vegan foods disappear at Whole Foods because there wasn't enough demand. :(

I want to encourage the veg community to continue to support veg-friendly businesses even during these tough economic times. I know I have been guilty myself of not supporting restaurants and grocers as much as I'd like until I hear that something is amiss, and by then it's sometimes too late. So here is my plan of action I encourage everyone to adopt to help keep the veg-friendly businesses alive!

1. Try to eat at a veg-friendly restaurant at least once every other week.
2. At least once a month, make sure you bring a new veg customer or a non-veg friend to a veg-friendly restaurant.
3. When you've had a good experience, post it online! It only takes you a minute and it's good marketing for them.
4. When you've had a bad experience, let the business know first and give them a chance to correct the issue. Every business has little blips.
5. Make suggestions to let businesses know what new products/menu items they should consider - keeping things fresh keeps customers coming back for more! (But let them know what staples you couldn't live without, either!)

If you have any other tips you'd like to share on how to support veg-friendly businesses, please share them by posting!

Wishing you peas and good health,
VeggiePatti

Blog Do-Over, Changes, and New Events

Well it's been a busy summer and needless to say I've neglected my blog. :( Despite that little summer blip I'm now back on track and will start blogging in a more timely manner!

First, I am excited to say that I have launched a new website, www.veggiepatti.com! It's still in the sprouting stage right now, but it will be growing and blooming shortly! So eventually, this blog will migrate over to that page, but I'll keep you informed!

In the meantime, I wanted to inform you of my fall schedule with classes and potlucks! Please see the information below for more details. If you have any questions, my new email address is veggiepatti@gmail.com.

In peas and health,
VeggiePatti

A Bite with VeggiePatti:

Classes on Food Allergies and Specialized Diets

What to Eat When You're Allergic to (Almost) Everything

Wednesday, September 21, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, $10

Do you struggle with what to eat due to food allergies, food sensitivities, or other dietary restrictions? Come hear real-world advice from VeggiePatti, a gluten-free vegan whose diet is constantly evolving as new sensitivities are discovered. You'll learn how to listen to your body, deal with the social ramifications of your diet, and maintain a positive attitude during the process! You will also learn about food substitutions, reading labels, tips for dining out, hidden allergens, and supplements that help. Bonus: Bring an old favorite recipe that you can no longer eat and VeggiePatti will help you transform it so you can enjoy it once again!

A Green Smoothie a Day Keeps the Blues Away

Wednesday, October 19 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm, $15

Come learn about the benefits of greens and the power of green smoothies to help boost your overall health and improve your mood. Learn about supplements, herbs, and foods that you can add to your smoothies that are purported to help with different ailments. You will see a live demonstration and get to taste smoothie samples.

How to Survive the Holidays with Food Allergies

Wednesday, November 16, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, $10

For those suffering from food allergies, the holidays can be a very difficult time of year when it comes to social events that involve food. From dinner with the relatives, to social gatherings with friends, to the dreaded office party, the thought of being surrounded by food that you either do not wish to or can no longer eat can be intimidating, not to mention all of the questions you are asked! Come learn about preparing foods that everyone can enjoy, handling the conversation with the host about your diet, and taking the focus off of your food preferences so you can enjoy the holidays once again!

3-in-1 Potlucks: Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Raw

Plus Game Night

Wednesday, September 28 & October 26

6:30 pm – 9 pm

Join Adventures in Veganland for a monthly 3-in-1 potluck featuring, vegan, vegan gluten-free, and raw food! All are welcome! Please bring a dish from one of the categories below that serves at least 8 and adheres to the guidelines. Also, bring along your favorite game to play after the potluck!

Vegan: No meat, fish, seafood, dairy, eggs, or honey please.

Vegan Gluten-Free: Please follow all vegan guidelines plus no wheat, oats, or other gluten-containing products.

Raw: Please follow guidelines above, plus all food should be raw, i.e., not cooked over 105 degrees.

If you are not sure what to bring, just ask! To be eco-friendly, please consider bringing your own non-disposal plates and utensils.

A Very Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck

Sunday, November 20

1 pm – 4 pm

Join Adventures in Veganland for a pre-Thanksgiving potluck featuring, vegan, vegan gluten-free, and raw food! All are welcome! Please bring a dish from one of the categories above that serves at least 8 and adheres to the guidelines. Also, please bring a copy of your recipe so people can recreate your dish at home on Thanksgiving!

All classes and potlucks held at Total Health Foods, 2938 Biddle, Wyandotte

Tips for Dining Out

So I know dining out can sometimes be intimidating for veggies when going to a non-veg restaurant, especially if you're going out with non-veggie friends and family or, even worse, with non-veggie co-workers. After all, you don't want everyone making a big deal out of your lifestyle and asking you a thousand questions! Or sitting there telling you how much your missing as they eat food that you find disgusting. (I'll cover social etiquette in another post - including the pros and cons of choosing to dine or not dine with non-veggies.)

So here are some of the thoughts that I'm sure run through your head before hitting the restaurant. First, you're wondering if they have anything other than just a salad for you to eat. Next, you're wondering if the server will even be able to answer your questions. Then, you're wondering if the server will spit in your food or sneak something in just because you asked a thousand questions. Never fear - there's ways to overcome all of these issues!

Prepare before You Go
If at all possible, find out where you're going before you go (this makes life so much easier!). Then, check out their menu online (or ask them to fax it to you) and call ahead to ask questions! If it's a chain restaurant, they might even have a nutrition analyzer or allergen chart that you can view online. 

When calling a restaurant, call during a non-busy time, not during lunch or dinner hour rush. Explain that you would like to visit their restaurant but you have dietary restrictions/food allergies and you'd like to know if they can accommodate you. (If you can't call ahead, you should also say this to the server directly or speak to a manager.) Then, ask your specific questions (see below). Sometimes you'll be surprised and you might find out the chef is willing to make a special dish for you (which sometimes is just sauteed veggies, but other times it's the envy of all the other diners!)

How Do I Start the Conversation?
Personally, I tell restaurant staff that I am a vegan (or vegetarian if they don't understand that), but that I also have food allergies to dairy, eggs, and gluten. While I do have allergies to dairy and gluten, I do not have allergies to eggs. However, I find that restaurants are more willing to accommodate me and are much better at ensuring that I don't get contaminants if I say it's all an allergy (perhaps it's a liability issue). I know some of you may think it's wrong to lie about it, but the bottom line is, if you get contaminants in your food, you WILL get sick - we've all been there! So whether or not you're truly allergic, it doesn't matter in my opinion because all you want to do is try to enjoy a nice meal without being sick afterwards. If you are still uncomfortable saying you are allergic to food items then simply say that you "can't" eat them instead of you "don't" eat them. (I know it seems silly, but there is a difference.)

What to Ask
So what types of things do you ask? Here's my list: (Feel free to post more if you have any other tips)

• General - Always ask how food is prepared - with butter or oil and what kind of oil.
• Fried foods - If you're going to get food from the deep fryer, such as french fries, ask about the type of oil used and if they use a separate vat for meat products. Some places have stand-alone fryers for their french fries.
• Salad dressings - Make sure there are no eggs in the dressing. Caesar dressing usually has anchovies. 
• Soups - Make sure there is no meat broth used in the soup or egg in the noodles for vegans.
• Mexican - Check to see if they use lard in beans or chips and check if they use chicken broth in their rice. You may also want to ask if their chips are deep-fried in a separate vat from other products.
• Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese - Make sure they don't use fish sauce or oyster sauce, fish broth or fish flakes in soups, and fish eggs on sushi.
• Indian - For vegans, check for ghee (butter) and yogurt - some places put it in everything! 
• Italian – Make sure they do not use beef broth or anchovies in their marinara sauce. For vegans, make sure they don't use eggs in their pasta noodles.
• Middle Eastern - Check for chicken broth or eggs in the lentil soup (usually not a problem) and butter in the rice if you are a vegan.

Also, you can ask about specific entrees if you see something on their menu that looks promising.

Like I said, calling ahead and being prepared is your best bet. It's a little extra work, but it's worth it by making your dining experience less stressful and more enjoyable! But if that's not possible, you can certainly ask questions of the server as well. And as a last resort, you can always get a salad - just make sure you pick the restaurant the next time! :)

Wishing you health and peas,

VeggiePatti

Hello and welcome!

Thank you for taking the time to check out my blog! After much encouragement (and by that I really mean prodding) from my veg and non-veg friends, I finally decided to take the plunge and start my own blog about the veg lifestyle and all things veg!

This blog is intended for vegans, vegetarians, veg-curious, and their supportive family and friends. I will be posting tips (anything from what ingredients are actually vegan to how to handle questions about your lifestyle), restaurant recommendations, veg events of interest, resources, and anything else related to vegetarianism/veganism. I'll also be happy to answer questions - even those questions you normally might be too embarrassed to ask!

So who am I and what makes me qualified to write this blog? I am a gluten-free vegan (vegiac) who tends to lean toward a raw-food diet. I became vegetarian when I was 13 and have been vegan for almost 5 years. I've also been gluten-free for 2 years now. I run Adventures in Veganland, a social group for veggies and veg-curious folks, which you can find on Facebook. I also travel extensively and seek out raw and vegan restaurants wherever I go.

For my fellow veggies, I hope I can provide you with the recommendations and resources you desire. For all the others, I hope I can answer some of your questions and help you develop a better understanding and appreciation of the veg lifestyle.

Wishing you good health and peas,

VeggiePatti