Vegan is the New Plaid

Mary is taking an environmental science class and has become increasingly aware of our impact on the planet - this goes beyond just recycling and turning out the lights - she is now political about ground water, drilling, fossil fuel for cars, and plant based diets. Politically I agree with this and agree, for example, that growing grain to feed cattle instead of people is inefficient and waste of resources. But I occasionally eat meat.

She's been a vegetarian for over a year now and I have been pleased with how well she eats. She's a pretty adventurous eater and likes beans and ethnic foods, so it's not like she became a vegetarian and ate nothing but cheese pizza and nachos. Her favorite lunch is spinach salad with craisins and nuts and her favorite/go-to food has been cheese and crackers. She and Frank both prefer soy and almond milk to skim cow milk, so they already drink non-dairy milk.

And then she decided to be a vegan, which means no animals products of any kind.

"How about just consciously eating dairy?" I asked.

She sighs and shakes her head. "I want to do this," she says.

Her decision to do this coincided with the wrap up of the debate season and the beginning of soccer, so she is at school from 8-3 for school and 3-5 for debate and 5-6:30 for soccer.

We plan her meals and snacks, but I miss being able to add cheese or an egg to her meals. I pack hummus and fresh veggies and nuts and fruit. When we are out running errands, like picking up new soccer cleats and she is hungry when we don't have a snack with us, it makes it hard to find something.

"A muffin from the coffee stand?"

"They have eggs in them."

"Taco Bell? You could get a bean burrito without cheese?" I suggest while she wrinkles her nose. (We ended up stopping at a gas station and buying protein bars. I have since stocked up on those and keep them in the van and in her soccer bag.)

"I'm always hungry," she complained yesterday when I picked her up from school to take her to debate.

I think it is more her schedule than her diet, but the vegan diet complicates things because it limits what she can eat and requires lots of planning. There are world class athletes that eat plant based diets, but I bet they have access to a refrigerator and microwave all day.

The other kids in her Environmental Science class also tried to go vegan and they've been impressed with Mary's success. I roasted chick peas in cinnamon and added them to homemade granola bars which were a hit at school. One of her classmates labeled me a "culinary genius." Really I am just a concerned mom.

Healthy Granola Bar Recipe

(from the No Meat Athlete - Just Runs on Plants)

1 can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp natural sugar
1 1/2 cup oatmeal
1 cup whole grain cereal (like brown rice krispies)
1 cup dried fruit (craisins - always craisins at our house)

1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
3 tbs canola oil
1 tbs ground flax seed

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Mix the ground flax seed with 1/4 cup warm water, set aside to thicken.

Toss the chickpeas in the sugar and 1 tsp of the cinnamon. Bake for 10 minutes, stir around in the pan, then back for 10 more minutes. Add the oatmeal to the pan and bake for 5 more minutes, stirring the oatmeal once.
Stir together the peanut butter, honey, canola oil, and flax paste.
Combine the chickpeas, oatmeal, cereal, dried fruits, and remaining tsp of cinnamon.
Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and stir to combine.
Press the mixture into a greased pan. My 9×13 casserole dish was just a little too big, so go for an 8×8 if you have it. Really PRESS and PACK IN the mixture as hard as you can. Refrigerate until firm, then cut into 24 bars.