A few years ago I was at a potluck with my MeetUp group, and a couple new to the group were telling me about their new-found veganism. I said that I’m a vegan health and lifestyle coach, and if they needed any help with this new lifestyle to let me know. The husband said, “does…
vegan nutrition
Got (Vegan) Calcium?
After I’ve explained to people that I do indeed consume plenty of protein, conversation can sometimes turn towards the topic of vegan calcium. If I’m not drinking milk or eating cheese, I’ve probably bought myself a one-way ticket to osteoporosisville, right? Wrong! The idea that calcium can only be found in dairy products is a…
Where Do You Get Your Protein?
The one question that I get asked more than anything else is, “Where do you get your protein?” It usually comes right after “You haven’t eaten any of the egg salad or cheese dip. Are you one of those ve-guns?” I’ve been eating this way for so long, that I’m actually kind of tired of…
Praise Seitan
One of my favorite vegan protein sources is seitan. Despite how the name sounds, seitan isn’t food of choice for satanic vegans, it’s actually a tasty meatless food made from wheat gluten. It’s pronounced as it looks – say-tan. As a meat substitute, seitan isn’t quite as popular in mainstream cuisine as tofu yet. Maybe…
Eat the Rainbow!
We all know that a healthy diet is one rich in fruits and vegetables. Not only are they high in vitamins and minerals, they’re also rich in phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are natural plant compounds found in fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and teas. Scientists have already discovered more than 900 different phytonutrients, and more…
10 Reasons to Eat Your Greens
Green is my favorite color, and greens are some of my favorite foods. I just love kale, spinach, and broccoli. I used to hate Brussels sprouts, but they’re now in my weekly menu rotation. In the warmer months, I forgo tortillas and bread and use collard greens to make wraps and sandwiches. If I go…
Becoming Vegan, Express Edition by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina
The beginning of each year is almost always accompanied by resolutions to make changes: lose weight, eat healthier, manage stress, exercise more, etc. If you’ve resolved that is the year that you will finally go vegan, or if you’re already vegan and want to make sure you’re eating an optimal diet, Becoming Vegan, Express Edition…
My Top 3 Tips for a Healthy Vegan Diet
As a health coach, I hear from a lot of people who worry that they aren’t getting enough nutrients on a vegan diet. With so much processed vegan “meats” and “cheeses” and junk food on the market now, it’s pretty easy to eat meat-free and not get enough nutrients. I recommend eating mostly unprocessed plant…
What Exactly is a Health Coach?
Health coaches (or health counselors) are somewhat new to the health care field, and I’ve found that people don’t always understand what we do. Health coaching is a unique, exciting innovation in health and nutrition. We step in where doctors leave off. Has your doctor ever recommended a lifestyle change that you found to be…
