vegan

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Our 1st Successful Diaper-Free Public Outing

December 3, 2013 at 11:10 pm , by 

3 years.

Dear Jack,

So, seriously… this is a pretty big deal in my book. And by “my book,” I’m evidently referring to this ongoing collection of the 846 letters and stories (so far) I’ve already written about you or to you in regards to being your dad, called The Dadabase.

For the first time ever, over Thanksgiving weekend, you traveled in a car to a restaurant not wearing a diaper and didn’t have an accident. That’s awesome!

After Mommy cooked our fancy vegan Thanksgiving feast (and I did the dishes), we were ready for a meal without work required. So Nonna and Papa (my parents) took us out to our to our favorite restaurant, The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant.

While I am sincere in saying that it’s our family’s favorite restaurant, it’s also the only restaurant in Nashville that we ever eat at… unless Whole Foods counts.

I’ve admitted before that you could have probably already been officially potty-trained a few months ago if Mommy and I only had the time to focus on it with you.

But since we don’t, whenever Nonna and Papa drive up from Alabama, they work on that with you.

In the midst of all the Thanksgiving activities, I didn’t realize you were exclusively wearing your new set of Disney “big boy underwear” the whole time.

I remember halfway to the restaurant, driving us in the Rav4 that I was reviewing, thinking, “Oh… Jack’s not wearing a diaper! This could be bad… What happens if he can’t hold it until we get there?”

Not only did you not have an accident, but you went potty, twice, in the Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant while we dined on our divine meals.

Mommy and I were so proud of you, we decided it was only appropriate to let you have a special dessert treat: A vegan chocolate cupcake, shipped in from Nashville’s vegan bakery, Khan’s Desserts.

It apparently was so good, you went cuckoo there for a minute…

I have a feeling now that you’ve succesfully been in the car for more than 20 minutes one way in the Rav4, and then back, plus making it through our entire meal without having an accident…

But instead, going potty in the bathroom there, I think Mommy and I are at a good place, concerning your journey of potty training.

It’s not something I’ve let bother me.Maybe I should.

Nor is it something I compare myself to other parents about. Maybe I should.

Really though, I don’t think I have to worry about you. You are so seriously motivated by getting to wear your “big boy underwear” and not getting them dirty, the motivation is there for you already.

All I really have to do is facilitate the situation.

I wasn’t expecting this part to be this easy.

And by the way…

You lasted about 5 minutes in the car ride back home before you crashed on Papa’s arm, for Napsville.

Yeah, you were no match for that well-earned vegan chocolate cupcake.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

Disclaimer: The vehicle mentioned in this story was provided at the expense of Toyota, for the purpose of reviewing.

 

 

 

 

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Leave a comment Posted on Health, parenting, vegan

What Do Vegans & Vegetarians Eat For Thanksgiving?

December 1, 2013 at 10:52 pm , by 

3 years.

Dear Jack,

I’ve noticed that in the 2 years our family has been vegetarian, and for the 9 months that I have been a strict (!) vegan, I have less and less of a desire to talk about it publicly.

While I’m definitely passionate about living this alternative lifestyle, which is often misunderstood and (until recently) poorly represented, I know I have become tired of explaining it to people.

I have found that in an effort to simply answer the curious (and sincere) questions I get from people at work who see me eating my vegan lunch (which I always eat cold because I don’t believe in using microwaves), it becomes difficult to simply explain my lifestyle without making the other person feel like they have to defend themselves.

Like I’ve said before, I don’t want other people to convert to my lifestyle. Instead, I want people to eat what makes them happy. I eat only plants because that makes me happy, but I respect people who don’t eat the way I do… because that’s 98% of the American population.

But I have to get better about communicating this lifestyle to those who ask. I need to be more upbeat about explaining my food choices… but again, only when people ask, because I never want to come across as “preachy.”

So here it goes…

One of the questions I get is, “What do vegans and vegetarians eat for Thanksgiving?”

As the pictures in this letter demonstrate, I suppose we can eat all sorts of things- given that they don’t contain meat (for vegetarians)… or cheese, eggs, milk, insect-based food dyes, or gelatin (for vegans)… or honey or petroleum-based food dyes (for strict vegans, like me).

I think a lot of my challenge in having this conversation with people is to make it clear this lifestyle isn’t about what I can’t have… but instead, all the things I can have.

For Thanksgiving this year, another plant-based family brought over several dishes to combine with ours, to have quite the vegan spread.

Since some at the dinner were vegetarian and not vegan (like you and Mommy), cheese and milk were available, but not included in the ingredient list for the dishes.

Based on what I remember from looking at these pictures, we had salad, green bean casserole, lasagna, lentil loaf, bread, apple cider, hummus and pita chips, and stuffing.

And for dessert… chocolate pie, cranberry pie, and apple crisp. (You were quite excited… so excited, you got serious!)

In an age where Google is king, vegan recipe websites like Oh She Glows make it really convenient for us to find solid meal ideas that are as easy (or as complicated) as Mommy needs them to be.

We didn’t have to go this fancy for Thanksgiving, but it was sort of a fun challenge for our family. I bet next year we’ll just do a salad, veggie lasagna, and chocolate pie.

But at least when people ask me if I had a big Thanksgiving this year, I can honestly say yes.

 

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on food reviews, Health, parenting, vegan

Finding Non-Petroleum, “Bug Juice” Free Cupcakes

November 15, 2013 at 11:10 pm , by 

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Review Of Dandies Vegan Marshmallows By Chicago Vegan Foods

I beg you to stop reading this review if you don’t want to learn what marshmallows are made out of and why a strict vegan, such as myself, won’t eat them.

Last chance…

vegan marshmallows

Okay.

Marshmallows are made from the leftover skin, bones, muscles, and tendons of slaughtered animals. The particular ingredient is typically labeled as “gelatin.”

That explains why when you take leftover Thanksgiving turkey out of refrigerator the next day, there’s that Jello-like broth surrounding it.

As explained in this reputable article on the website Organic Authority explains, the leftover collagen, the soft protein that connects skin, bones, muscles, and tendons of slaughtered animals are used to make gelatin.

From there, the gelatin is used for not only for marshmallows and Jello, but pudding as well.

If you are a strict, kosher-keeping Jew, Muslim, or 7th Day Adventist, you can’t in good conscience consume marshmallows, because unless the label specifically says that the gelatin is from a kosher fish or cow, then it must be assumed that the gelatin is derived from pigs.

Therefore, there is a target demographic for Dandies vegan marshmallows by Chicago Vegan Foods. And I am obviously part of that demographic…

Review Of Dandies Vegan Marshmallows By Chicago Vegan Foods

I honestly couldn’t tell the difference at all in taste or texture. And… they’re kosher, vegan, and non-GMO, as seen on their label.

You can use these for anything you’d normally do with marshmallows, like roast them over a campfire.

Review Of Dandies Vegan Marshmallows By Chicago Vegan Foods

I think it’s awesome that there’s a brand out there that is clever enough to make kosher and vegan marshmallows for all interested parties.

And in case I needed to say it, my son loves them too!

So, maybe you learned something new today. Just don’t ask me where “artificial vanilla” flavoring comes from…

Whatever you do, don’t Google it…

(Secret: Doing so will probably lead you right back here to my blog.)

3 Comments Posted on food reviews, Health, Uncategorized, vegan

Recipe For Vegan Banana Split Milkshake With No Added Sugar Or Anything Artificial

My 3 and a half year-old son is now so used to me reviewing everything from cars, to road trips, to food products, one of his new catch phrases is, “Daddy, don’t do a review on that!”

vegan banana split milkshake recipe Nick Shell

But it’s just that I am so passionate to share things I enjoy, including my own new recipe for “Vegan Banana Split Milkshake With No Added Sugar Or Anything Artificial,” that I just couldn’t resist from taking pictures to share with my vegan-curious friends.

I figure there are enough people out there, like me, who physically can’t process much processed sugar without suffering from some kind of ailment. For example, my eczema would return if I went back to consuming added sugar in my food.

With that being said, this recipe is for anyone who wants the idea of a Banana Split Milkshake but from a dairy free, no added sugar, nothing anything artificial perspective.

My version also does not include peanuts- most of which are GMO.

I am providing convenient photo collages of the ingredients along with my original recipe.

When I am craving “bad” food, like a traditional banana split and/or milkshake, I ask myself, what is my body actually craving?

The answer: Good fats (from nuts and seeds) and good sugars (from non-juiced fruit, not separated from the fiber found in that fruit).

vegan banana split milkshake recipe Nick Shell

Therefore, my recipe for “Vegan Banana Split Milkshake With No Added Sugar Or Anything Artificial” is actually completely nutritious and completely filling.

Not to mention, it contains less than 1% of your daily cholesterol intake. Research that concept- it’s a big deal!

I’m not saying it tastes as awesome as the real thing, but it works for me. Do you want to try it?

Instructions: Place all ingredients except for the cherry in a blender, put on “crush ice” mode. Pour into a chilled, quirky glass. Then place the cherry on top. Done.

(Instagramming optional.)

vegan milkshake recipe

“Vegan Banana Split Milkshake With No Added Sugar Or Anything Artificial” By Nick Shell

Serves one:

1 banana

1 palmful of strawberries

1 palmful of cashews

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

1 cup of ice

1 serving of chia seeds

1 serving of unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cherry (on top)

If you do ended up trying my recipe, I would love to know about it. Thanks!