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How to Go Vegan on a Budget: Your Complete Guide

March 25, 2020 by Mandy

If you’ve scrolled through social media posts for vegan recipes or diets, it may seem like a massive and expensive undertaking. It doesn’t have to be. You can achieve a healthy vegan lifestyle without breaking the bank.

Keep reading for tips on how to go vegan on a budget!

Reasons to Go Vegan

If you’ve spent your life as an omnivore you may wonder why people go vegan. The answer varies from person to person. Someone may live a vegan lifestyle:

To reduce their carbon footprint and produce less waste contributing to climate change
To adopt healthier eating habits
To help control or reduce your risk for a chronic disease
For personal or spiritual reasons
In opposition to animal cruelty and industrial farming

Cutting consumption of animal products may help you lower your risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and lower your cholesterol. Plant-based diets come with a lot of benefits and changes.

What Happens to Your Body When You Go Vegan

You may find going from omnivore to vegan to be a difficult process. You’ll likely feel the effect of the lifestyle change after a few weeks. You may experience:

Changes in weight (either loss or gain)
Different food cravings
GI discomfort
Boosted energy levels
Clearer skin

It is important to monitor your nutritional intake and consult your doctor before any drastic dietary changes, as you may need to take supplements (such as B-12 or Iron) when giving up certain foods.

How to Go Vegan on a Budget

According to the USDA, the average American can meet the daily nutritional requirements of fruits and vegetables for less than $3 a day. You can easily save money and meet all of your dietary needs with healthy vegan foods.

Fresh v. Frozen

Frozen fruits and vegetables are just as healthy as fresh ones. The vegetables in the freezer aisle were picked at peak ripeness, unlike the fresh produce. Fresh produce is picked a few days shy of ripe in order to extend its shelf-life.

Frozen fruits and vegetables are often cheaper and are good additions to meals like stir-fry, soup, and smoothies.

Buy in Bulk

Many vegan staples can be bought in bulk. This is often cheaper than buying in smaller quantities. Here are some common vegan staples:

Legumes (dried beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc.)
Tofu
Rice and/or quinoa
Pasta
Nuts
Oats
Nutritional Yeast
Nut Butter

You can use these foods in recipes or eat them on their own. All of these listed also have a long shelf-life, so you can stock up without worrying about expiration dates for a while.

Cook Your Own Food

Plant-based products, such as burgers, have been added to many fast food and quick service restaurant menus, but this is not the most cost-effective option for a vegan lifestyle (nor a healthy one). Making your own vegan dishes at home will save you money.

Maintaining a Vegan Lifestyle

Now that you have a better idea of how to go vegan on a budget, you can start incorporating these tips into your life.

Adopting a vegan lifestyle is affordable, sustainable, and one of the best choices you can make for your health!

Cook Italian: 4 Ingredients Truly Authentic Italian Recipes

February 19, 2020 by Daisey Bell

There’s a whole lot more than Pizza and spaghetti when it comes to Italian food. There are a plethora of ingredients that enhance the flavor of all Italian Cuisine. Not only is Although Italian food seems heavy or bold, in essentiality, it’s rich and textural at so many levels, and not at all heavy! Let’s not intellectualize Italian Cuisine, it truly comes from a place of evocatively emotional heart, making it one of the heartiest cuisines globally. Unlike most other cuisines that are governed by protein, Italian is an eminent celebration of produce and a huge selection of cured meats. Today, let us focus on the produce that Italy imbibes through and through, in all their major recipes.

Staying traditional to the authentic produce from Italy is what makes Italian Cuisine enjoyable. Trying to recreate the Italian recipes without authentically sourced Italian ingredients is a call for failure on the very first step in the process of trying to emulate this Cuisine.

These are the verifiably sourced Italian produce that sets apart authentic Italian ingredients:

Cheese: Truly, any discussion of Italian Cuisine would not be complete without mentioning cheese sourced from the various regions of Italy. Cheese is not just a part of the Cuisine, but a dominant part of the Italian culture and daily life. Veneto, Lombardy, and Piedmont are some of the quality producers of fine cheese in Italy. Italian food wouldn’t be the same without the presence of its humble cheese production. Some have a delicate flavor, and others are very strong. Parmigiano Reggiano is among the most famously known Italian cheese worldwide. It also termed “The King of Italian Cheeses.” They are aged to perfection.
Olive Oil:In the year 2018, Italians consumed 557,000 tons of olive oil. In comparison, the US consumed 315,000 tons. That above-mentioned figure should be able to put things in perspective with regards to the importance of olive oil in Italian Cuisine. This oil has been a staple of the region for thousands of years. Just as all produce, olive oil is also graded on its quality. Apart from the Cuisine, Italians use olive oil in many different ways. It is common to assume that Italians use the best quality of their olive oils – “the extra virgin” one to cook their food – NOT TRUE! They use lesser quality, less flavorful versions of their extra virgin olive oils while cooking, whereas saving the quality oils from drizzling over portions of pasta, bread, salads, and everything else. Some of the best Italian olive oils are Partanna olive oil, Partanna Sicilian olive oil, and Partanna extra virgin olive oil.

Also Read This: Italian Olive Oil: The Benefits it Give and How to Find an Original Product

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are one of the most commonly used ingredients in Italian cooking. Tomatoes find their way into all kinds of recipes – from lasagna to spaghetti, salads to side dishes, stuffings to paella. All recipes celebrate tomatoes. Today some of the largest producers of tomatoes are Italy – from the regions of Puglia, Sardinia, Campania, and the coveted Sicily. San Marzano is the most popularly known and used tomato sauce. It is a long shaped tomato with very fleshy meat. It contains a minimal amount of seeds and thus deemed perfect for making sauces for pizza toppings, pasta, and other bases. They have just the mild sweetness and the perfect amount of acidity. Make sure to source these products from Italy, if you are trying to get the authentic flavors of Italy.
Mushrooms: Italy’s landscape is home to many forests and fields, and they hold many types of mushroom growth. The rainy and sunny climate is the perfect climatic condition for the growth of mushrooms. During summer and the autumn season, mushroom harvesting is a common household chore across Italy. They are a meaty vegan alternative to game and poultry. They are also eaten in many different ways and even used as stuffings for many recipes. Italians even go to the extent of preserving mushrooms in high-quality extra virgin olive oil and then plate them as starters at mealtimes. Porcini Boletus Mushrooms preserved in extra virgin olive oil is one of the best starter foods all over Italy.

These four ingredients are what makes Italian Cuisine impeccably and authentically Italian. Source these from the right places. Italian food online stores carry a variety of these ingredients and also ships them to your desired address. Begin your journey experiencing Italian Cuisine the right way.

Author Bio:-I am Daisy Bell a pro-level blogger with years of experience in writing for multiple industries. I have extensive knowledge of Food, Fitness, Healthcare, business, fashion, and many other popular niches. I have post graduated in arts and have a keen interest in traveling.

6 Delicious Jakarta Street Food That Will Make Your Doctor Frown

November 15, 2019 by Mandy

With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia is considered to be the largest archipelagic country in the world. The metropolitan area of its capital city, Jakarta, is home to more than 31 million people, making it the second largest city in the world next to metro Tokyo in terms of population. As the city draws more people from different regions of Indonesia and from different countries, Jakarta’s food culture also continues to evolve and absorb new influences.

The food in Jakarta—especially the street food—are some of the most decadent and flavourful in the world. That’s why while visiting the city’s attractions on your Jakarta tour package, you should make sure not to miss out on the unique gastronomic adventure that only Jakarta’s must-try street eats can offer.

Satay (Sate)

Start off your food crawl with one of the most iconic dishes in Indonesia (and probably the healthiest in this list). Satay, a grilled meat skewer dish, originates from the island of Java and comes with endless varieties such as goat, pork, beef, chicken, and more. While similar to other meat skewers like yakitori in Japan and shish kebab in Turkey, satay is dipped in a unique peanut butter and soy sauce mix whose flavour can vary depending on the vendor’s recipe. In addition, the portion of meat is deliberately kept small so you can taste more variety of satays without getting prematurely full.

Stuffed Pancake (Martabak)

Martabak is a fried “pancake” that comes in two main varieties: savoury or martabak malabar, and sweet or martabak manis. The savoury variant comes with a stretched wheat dough that’s fried, then layered with an egg mixture that includes minced meat and shallots. The excess dough is folded to make a rectangular “pancake,” then sliced into bite-sized pieces. Meanwhile, the dessert variant of martabak uses pancake batter and is layered with a variety of death-defying ingredients like margarine, butter, condensed milk, chocolate, sprinkles, cheese, and Nutella. Needless to say, if you are diabetic, you’d better stay away from this dessert, as tempting as it is!

Fried Foods (Gorengan)

Gorengan is at the top of the most popular street food for locals. These carts often appear at the most opportune times to save hungry commuters from Jakarta’s legendary traffic.

Gorengan literally translates to “fried things,” and these “things” vary widely depending on who’s selling them. From sweet pineapples to savoury tofu, there’s no way to tell what could be under all that flour batter unless you ask! What’s more, people don’t even mind that the oil is so black from being reused countless times. As long as the mystery fritter is piping hot and crispy, it’s all good.

Duck Egg Omelet (Kerak Telor)

Kerak telor is one of the traditional Betawi dishes of Jakarta with a unique cooking method. The omelet starts with glutinous rice, coconut, and egg mixed together, then carefully spread on the surface of the wok. Next, the wok is turned upside down over the fire to roast the omelet. It’s unclear how the mixture defies gravity, but after a topping of fried shallots and dried shrimp, you get a crunchy roasted rice omelet that’s unlike anything else you ever tasted.

Grilled Bread (Roti Bakar)

For breakfast, the locals usually go for a “ropita” or “roti bakar.” These are thick toasts that come with a variety of toppings like strawberry, chocolate, and cheese. As if there are not enough sweets on this breakfast, condensed milk is drizzled generously on top to finish it off.

If you’re really testing the limits of your pancreas, you can up the sugar level even further with the additional scoops of ice cream!

Fried Banana (Pisang Goreng)

One of the favourite quick snacks in Jakarta is the pisang goreng or fried banana fritters. Before coating the banana with the usual flour batter, it’s sliced thinly and spread out like a fan. This ensures a wider and flatter surface for a crispier banana fritter. Another thing that separates this fried banana from similar dishes in Singapore and the Philippines is the sambal dip that comes with it. It adds a spicy kick to the rich and oily snack.

Jakarta has such a wide variety of rich street food that tasting them all might put you in a serious food coma. If you ever find yourself in this megacity hungry and craving for sweets, be sure to have your insulin shots ready because the city is going to indulge you, big time!

To Your Health: Choosing the Right Detox Plan for You

September 17, 2019 by Mandy

Your body needs to flush out dregs of oily food, sugary drinks, alcohol, and drugs periodically. And while it has ways of dealing with toxins, the process can take time, and the results are sometimes not visible at all.

Detoxification can hasten this process, hinging on a promise to cleanse the body of substances that can harm it. As it is familiarly known, detox also aims to provide recovery time to the digestive tract, which is at the receiving end of all eating and drinking decisions. For some, they rely on detox to lose or manage weight.

How effective is detoxification? That depends on a lot of things, such as these points outlined below.

Know Your Detox Program

These are the most common methods to cleanse:

Fasting (e.g., not taking in food or fluids intermittently)
Following a strict diet of fruits or vegetables
Juice cleansing to get vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables. In some cases, drinking only specific types of liquids.
Taking dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals
Colon cleansing, which is done initially to prepare for a colonoscopy. You’ll drink lots of water or infusions. Some also use enemas for this approach.
Exercising to sweat out the toxins
Staying away from cigarettes and coffee

Some people combine one, two, or more of these programs.

Identify Your Goal for Detox

Each of the abovementioned methodologies serves a purpose. If you are after weight loss, then your regimen will center on restrictive foods and juices or fasting to use your fat reserves. Colon cleansing hits closest to the digest tract. Some also take dietary supplements to get rid of drugs in their system within five days, for example.

As it is, there is no one-size-fits-all method for detox plans. What works for you may not work for some and vice versa. You can go through many options, study each one of them, and see how they align with your current goals.

Love Your Gut

The health of the digestive system is at the heart of a detoxification program. You have to ensure that your gastrointestinal tract is fine amid changes in your diet and lifestyle.

Eat these foods rich in the following:

Probiotics—kimchi, fermented vegetables, and sauerkraut
Prebiotics (fiber)—banana, onion, and garlic

Also, go slow on sweets and sugary foods, or banish them from your to-eat list. Is your stomach in knots lately? Stress can affect the functioning of your gut, so you need to manage your day-to-day affairs better.

Stick to Safety

Consider your body and medical conditions that may be aggravated or exacerbated by your chosen detox program(s).

Ponder on these points:

If you have kidney problems, be cautious about consuming large quantities of juices. They may contain oxalate, a waste product that has been a leading cause of kidney stones.
When you detox in the form of laxatives, tea, and coffee products, you are likely to experience diarrhea. Just be mindful of this “inconvenience”—read the instructions—when you have plans for the day.
Juices are not a substitute for a full meal. One of the nutrients that get lost when you extract the juice of an apple or any fruit, for that matter, is fiber.
While you can survive with no food for a few hours, you may have to deal with headaches and dehydration.
Be careful with enemas because they may cause far more harm than good.

For all the potential benefits that detoxification offers, make informed decisions. Find out what works best for your current needs and your body. Ultimately, you want to get rid of toxins and keep yourself fit and healthy.

Coffee Flavors Rule The World

January 10, 2019 by Mandy

The countries that grow all the coffee used around the world come from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Uganda, Ethiopia, India, Columbia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Brazil. Coffee needs a certain amount of high latitude rainfall, seasonal tropical environments, and certain alkaline soil. In the U.S., only California and Hawaii are able to be competitive coffee bean growers.

These countries provide all the requirements for coffee beans to grow very healthy. As a high-quality production product, coffee is the third most consumed beverage in the world and is the world’s second-highest traded product. The varied flavors of coffee spark memories of individuals, travels, culture, palate, and fun!

When you talk about the flavor of coffee, the brand name that we often think about is Starbucks. Brand name coffee companies offer you flavors like vanilla, mocha, caramel, cinnamon, all with a touch of sweetness, tart, fruity acidity, and smoothness. A leading coffee syrup manufacturer, Monin, offers you deliciousness in the form of coffee syrup which adds a personal touch to your coffee drinking experience. Monin offers many delicious, guilt-free, sugar-free syrups and products. Monin has a vast collection of the world’s finest flavors available in more than 140 countries.

Coffee lovers are enjoying coffee drinks like:

*Cappuccino

*Espresso

*Frappuccino

*Iced coffee

*Latte

*Latte macchiato and more.

The different flavor of coffee today is nothing new. In the Middle East, around a hundred years ago, the citizens were drinking coffee flavored with spices. In this modern age, you can enjoy flavored coffee in any flavor your little heart desires. Coffee flavors have become such a gourmet experience both for the public and individuals in the privacy of their homes that “cupping” events take place consistently. Cupping contains its own specialized following with books written by coffee flavoring experts, plus there is a professional coffee taster’s flavor wheel that identifies the many aromatic flavor compounds found in coffee categories.

Simply put, coffee cupping is the practice of coffee tasting. The coffee cupping technique involves inhaling the coffee aroma, then slurp it toward the back of the tongue to receive the full coffee taste and texture. The more experienced cuppers can tell what area that the coffee flavor comes from or where it was grown. Cuppers give their opinion on each coffee’s characteristics, like the following:

*Aroma – cuppers can smell if the coffee is floral, fruity, etc. and what the undertones are.

*Flavor – a cupper’s taste buds can describe the coffee’s taste and flavoring

*Acidity – acidity in coffee before you add a creamer or whip cream stands for its acid content which is lower than alcoholic drinks and juices. Its acid content is a determining factor in how it tastes naturally.

Let’s talk about popular coffee flavors that include roasted and brewing while we also learn about the most unusual coffee flavors in the world. Now, these unusual coffee flavors are packaged and sold on the market:

maple bacon coffee – yes you will taste pork flavoring in your coffee. Goes well with breakfast.
Weasel puke coffee – this coffee is actually made from the poop left behind weasels who have eaten regular coffee beans. The poop is cleaned and roasted just for you.
Chipotle coffee – this coffee is made from dry chili.
Monkey spit coffee – this is also true. Monkeys are given coffee beans to suck on. It is known that they will spit the beans out, believe it or not. The beans that are spat out have a vanilla flavoring, thus your monkey spit coffee beans are borne.
Cat and bird feces coffee – this Indonesian coffee is made from the poop of cats who have eaten coffee beans. The poop is washed and roasted for your enjoyment. Bird poop from Brazil is also a hit here in the U.S. as an exotic coffee drink. Yes, there is other animal poo which is used to make coffee blends, but I think that I have disgusted you enough so I won’t mention the elephants.

Despite how you enjoy your coffee flavors, the flavor of coffee changes your day. Just a good cup of coffee can start your day on a high note. During the middle of the day, coffee helps to bring your stress levels down enabling you to feel more relaxed. Not only does the flavor of coffee invite you to enjoy a cup, but its aroma brings you joy. The flavor of coffee is based in its brewing process. It is an exciting experience in trying various coffee flavors and it is an experience that people around the world continue to enjoy daily.