Vegan Momma

We grilled outside today, actually I didn’t grill until after 6:00 this evening, which is highly unusual for me but I thought about kabobs and how I hadn’t had them in years I decided to put some on the grill. I had vegetables marinating since this morning. I asked my daughter would she like to cook on the grill.

Naturally, she was all excited until I told her we were making kabobs. “I don’t like kabobs,” she said. I laughed and said, “Aiyana, you’ve never even had kabobs before, so how do you know you won’t like them?” As we were skewering the veggies on the bamboo sticks she snuck a few in her mouth and said, “I like kabobs. Mommy!”

The grilling went well. Aiyana gobbled down the loaded veggie kabobs. We talked her initial reaction to kabobs. I told her; Aiyana you will miss out on a lot of things if you form an opinion about something before you even try it. You like the kabobs, right? Yes, mommy! Well, I said, think about that the next time you form an opinion about something that is “new or strange” give it a chance than make a decision. It’s only fair, ok? Aiyana said, Ok, mommy! I’ll remember. She continued, I really like the kabobs even though I said I didn’t like them at first. She giggled and said, “Silly Aiyana!”

Throughout life, you’ll encounter people like that. They have no clue about something, but they’ll form an inaccurate opinion about it without giving it a fair chance. You can miss out on so many if you let your prejudices hold you back. I determined early in life that I would not do that, and I do my best not to fall into that trap in doing so I’d miss out on many things.
[tags]vegan cuisine, kabobs, grilling[/tags]

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This morning my daughter and I are having watermelon for breakfast. Not only is it a great thirst quencher it also an excellent source of vitamin C, Vitamin A, and many more valuable nutrients.

Did you know the pinker the watermelon is the better? Why is that? Pink watermelon is an excellent source of a valuable antioxidant called carotenoid. What is it? This potent antixodant travels through our body neutralizing free radicals. It doesn’t stop there carotenoid is also able to oxidize cholesterol which is very good. When cholesterol sticks to blood can lead to heart attacks, strokes, increase the severity of asthma attacks by causing the airways to shut down and close.

Don’t forget the seeds! Yes, watermelon seeds are actually good for you. Not only are they an excellent source of protein. They are also a good source of essential and non essential amino acids. Magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorous, zinc, and many other nutrients can be found in the watermelon seed. Watermelon is also a natural laxative.

Yesterday I grilled squash, tomatoes, and yellow onions that I had picked from my garden. (I wrote about it briefly at The Raw & The Cooked, Check out Summer Grilling: Vegan Cuisine I need to update with a recipe) I marinated them in a tangy sauce that I had made with balsamic vinegar, freshly squeezed oranges and lime, freshly ground peppercorns, and a tiny amount of agave nectar. The grilled veggies were a hit.

Over the years, I’ve noticed something extremely important the healthier I eat the fewer cravings I have for foods that aren’t good for me. It’s true, many critics have discussed food cravings and why we have them. Many have suggested that what our bodies is actually craving is a nutrient that are body needs. They go on to say that when people are hungry they reach for foods that aren’t the healthiest choice which does nothing to solve the need replacing the nutrient that is needed. In a few hours, the body is starving for that nutrient(s) and again we respond but with an unhealthy “food”. It’s a vicious cycle.

What would I love to make today? Some type of curry however I’m out of curry powder so I’ll be ordering mine from one of my favorite spice stores.

A few people I know think that is odd that I actually know what I’m eating, I tell them I think it’s strange that they don’t. Why would I not want to know what’s going into my body? What I consume directly affects my health. If the bad things that people consume had an instant reaction on their health (asthma, obesity, stroke, cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, high cholesterol, diabetes, colds, depression, etc.) I imagine not as many would continue to eat them.

Question: What are you eating today?

[tags]healthy, nutrition, whole foods, vegetables, vegan, The Raw and the Cooked, watermelon[/tags]

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