As a Vegan, you get pretty used to people constantly asking you, “where do you get your protein”? And most meat eaters assume that their main source of protein, is more complete and simply… BETTER than yours! I also think, that although most Vegans know that plant based protein is just as adequate as animal protein, I wonder how many Vegans realize how the two protein sources really stack up! I also wonder how many meat eaters & Vegans realize how much protein we actually need, compared to how much protein the average American gets. Most Americans get around twice as much protein as they need.  And keep in mind…. you CAN get too much protein! And too much protein has been linked to certain cancers, including liver cancer. So pay attention……

Recommended Protein Intake for the “average adult” is 0.9 g protein per kg body weight

To figure out your weight in kg, take your weight and divide it by 2.2

Ex. A 135 lb person would be 61.2 kg

To figure out your daily need of protein, take you weight in kg and multiple it by 0.9

So a person weighing 61.2 kg would require about 55 g of protein per day.

Take note, that special populations such as children, athletes and certain other people, do require higher protein intake.

Plants Protein Sources:                                                                       Animal Protein Sources:

1 cup of raw bean sprouts- 3.2 grams of protein                           1/2 cup of cows milk- 4 grams of protein

1 cup of chickpeas- 14.5 grams of protein                                       1 medium egg- 5.5 grams of  protein

1 cup of lentils- 17.9 grams of protein                                              2 oz of roasted chicken- 15.3 grams of protein

1 cup of soybeans- 28.6 grams of protein                                        2 oz of ground beef- 10.6 grams of protein

1/2 cup of tofu-19.9 grams of protein                                                3/4 oz of cheddar cheese- 5.3 grams of protein

1/4 cup of almonds-7.4 grams of protein                                         2 oz broiled or baked cod- 12.9 grams of protein

1/4 cup of sunflower seeds- 8 grams of protein                             2 oz baked or broiled salmon- 15.5 grams of protein

1/2 cup of brown rice- 4.5 grams of protein

Anyone find it amazing that beef contains less than half the protein of soybeans?!?!

And the BEST part….. there is NO cholesterol is plant food…. NONE!! Dietary cholesterol ONLY comes from animal products!

So next time you are asked the question… “where do you get your protein”?  Answer…. where DON’T I get it!!! Other than animals that is…..

Also take note, that a “well planned” plant based diet, does offer us all 9 of the essential amino acids that must be supplied by our diet.

Well this decision is not going to mean the end of suffering for all dairy cows, it does not even protect non organic dairy cows at all…. but it is a step in the right direction! These little ladies will get to look forward to 4 months of outdoor grazing a year.

If your friends or family members insist on drinking and eating dairy products, please urge them to buy only organic!!

via Organic%20milk%20rules%20get%20tightened%20and%20require%20more%20cow%20grazing.

What a wonderful gift for your sweetheart! Please click on this Green Daily Tweets link!!! Have a VERY happy Valentine’s Day!! xxxx

via GreenDaily Tweets.

I must say, that I REALLY have issues with animals being forced to perform for entertainment purposes! Animal circuses are cruel and unnecessary, not to mention outdated!! In this day and age, human beings should be more evolved than our ancestors from hundreds of years ago! We don’t need to torture defenseless animals to have a good time!

If you care about these innocent creatures, I urge you to boycott all animal circuses and spread the word, that these shows are simply mean!!!

via Have A Heart: No Baby Elephants in Circuses.

Prevent Breast Cancer with Vitamin D and a Vegan Diet

via Prevent Breast Cancer with Vitamin D and a Vegan Diet.

I just found the author of “The China Study”, Dr. T Colin Campbell  on Twitter. This man’s 30 year study, on the effects animal protein has on our bodies, is staggering!! His information opened my eyes to the health benefits of a plant based diet, and I am forever grateful for that!!! I went vegetarian/almost Vegan, the day after I saw a program based on his book. It still boggles my mind, that anyone in the medical community eats meat. I mean, with all of the knowledge doctors have, how do they not switch to a vegan diet??  It makes me think of the nurses huddled up, smoking cigarettes, outside of the hospital while on their break. These people know that cigarettes kill you, but that does not stop them…..

If you get the chance to read “The China Study”, please do it! Even if you are already Vegan, it will fill you with knowledge and a deeper understanding, of the amazing powers a plant based diet has on the human body and the damaging effects animal protein has on our physical health.

Yep, I caved… I said I never would….. but I’m now tweeting! hahaha  I am now TheVeganMom on twitter!!!!!!! Follow Me!!

I just found the footage of my “Man V Food” interview in South Beach! I am a little sad that my “Vegan” talk was cut out.

Oh well, I tried! I posted the link on the right. Check it out!

This yummy and easy recipe is from the Jan/Feb. 2010 issue of Veg News

Serves 6

1/2 Package (4 ounces) of alimentary paste noodles or rice noodles

2 tbsp. of vegetable oil

4 cloves garlic, chopped

3 cups 1/2 inch tofu slices, fried

1 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 cup yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 cup green bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 cup white onion, thinly sliced

1 cup bamboo shoots, thinly sliced

1 1/2 tbsp. salt

1 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce

1 1/2 tsp. white ground pepper

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

1/2 cup scallions, thinly sliced

1 tsp. fresh lime juice

1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook noodles as directed.

Rinse noodles in cold water, drain and set aside

2. In a large frying pan over high heat, heat oil. Add garlic and cook until golden brown.

Add tofu, red, yellow and green peppers, onion, bamboo, salt, soy sauce, white pepper and sugar into pan.

Cook for 7-10 minutes, do not overcook vegetables.

3. In a large bowl combine vegetables and noodles. Add scallions and lime juice, mix together & serve!

This amazing recipe is from one of my favorite Vegan cookbooks, The Joy of Vegan Baking.

German Apple Cake

German Apple Cake

Ingredients-Cake:

3 Apples peeled and cut into slices

1/2 cup non dairy butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 unsweetened applesauce

2 tbsp non dairy milk

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

Ingredients-Topping:

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp cinnnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. lightly grease 9 inch round pan. mix butter & sugar. Add applesauce & milk. Finally add flour & baking powder. Stir until just combined.

Add the batter to pan and arrange apple slices in a circle on the top of cake. Mix together the 3 topping ingredients and sprinkle over cake.

Bake 30-40 minutes, wait 15 minutes before unmolding from cake pan.