Veganuary - Take the Pledge
The most common aspirations for the new year are to eat healthier, exercise more and save money. If you're like me, eating healthier is at the top of the list! I was recently introduced to a charity that can help all of us stick to this resolution - Veganuary. This UK based charity, formed in 2014, is inspiring people to try vegan for January and throughout the rest of the year.
Depending on one's commitment to veganism, vegan is a type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, eggs, dairy and all other animal derived ingredients. Some vegans abstain from using animal products as well such as leather. A vegan diet is richer in certain nutrients, can help you shed excess pounds, appears to lower blood sugar levels, improve kidney function and may protect against certain cancers. Not to mention the fact that veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.
I have tried multiple attempts to go vegan only to revert to my old ways. This month my approach is different. I am going to "lean in" and be gentler with myself. I'm going to plan and prep ahead of time to set myself up for success. If only half of my day consists of more fruits, vegetables, whole grains... that's o.k. If I miss a completely vegan meal because my son wants me to cook one of his favorite meals... that's o.k. too. Breakfast is easy to do. In fact, I'm already eating vegan most mornings! Steel cut oats, avocado toast, chia pudding, fruit/green smoothies, tofu scramble, fruit salad with non-dairy yogurt. I haven't told her yet, but I'll be swapping Rebekah's milk in her morning latte to soy, almond or coconut milk. What are friends for?
Veganuary.com provides all the information and practical support to make the transition to veganism as easy and enjoyable as possible. If going vegan seems too daunting, I get it. Another option is taking it one meal at a time. Start with Meat Free Monday’s and work your way up! My family has adopted this habit and we look forward to the new meatless recipes we try each week.
Let me tempt you with this Single Serve Protein Oatmeal Cookie recipe courtesy of Veganuary.com. Be sure to check out all of the fantastic vegan recipes on their site.
Take the pledge with me!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 tsp peanut flour or nut flour of your choice
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter or nut butter of your choice
- 1 square dark chocolate, chopped
- pinch of cinnamon (optional)
- Coconut oil (to grease your ramekin)
- 1/4 cup ripe mashed banana; approximately 1/2 of a small banana
- 1 tsp rice protein
- 1 Tbsp unsweetened almond milk or non-dairy milk of your choice
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
- Grease a 4-5 inch ramekin with coconut oil.
- Place mixture in the ramekin and spread evenly with the back of a teaspoon packing it down.
- Cook in the microwave on high for 1.5 - 2 minutes. Less time for a softer cookie.
