Tag Plant-Based

There are a lot of reasons to switch to a plant-based diet. Today, we’re talking about eggs! You might think that they are tough to switch out, but they are actually really easy to eliminate, with a few simple substitutions.

So, you might be wondering why we are talking about substitutions – people have eaten eggs for a long time. Why switch now?

What changes have you already made? Which are you curious about? What might you be ready to try in the next week or two? Share in the comments and I’ll answer your questions!

It’s true – it’s possible to have a great holiday without turkey, ham, cream, butter and eggs. It’s not only possible – it’s easy, and better for the environment!

Many of our holiday traditions centre around food – and great food is still part of a plant-based holiday, just in a slightly different format. (Plus, if we are lucky, we still get time with loved ones – which is far more important than a turkey! 🌈)

What does that look like? Here are a few simple tips to help get you started. Start with a few easy adjustments – or go all-in, if you are ready for a bigger change.

Instead of dairy cream, mix cashews and water (about equal parts) in the blender. Add salt, pepper, garlic etc as usual. Use in mashed potatoes, or gravy on everything!

Instead of dairy milk in pies and other desserts, use non-dairy milk (homemade is easy) or use a bought alternative. Top with non-dairy ice cream, if desired.

Looking for a main protein dish? Try making a lentil loaf, or buying a ready-made veggie roast or sausage. There are countless options, so try a few until you find your new favourite. Remember that you probably don’t love absolutely every animal product that exists – but you still like some. So if the first veggie sausage you try isn’t your new instant favourite, just keep going and try something different. Be careful not to write off the category (eg “I tried one plant-based sausage and I didn’t like it, so I’m going back to meat”), just because of a few bumps in the road. You have probably been eating animal based products for decades – so don’t be surprised if you don’t find your new favourite lentil loaf on the first try. Give lentils as much time/space to become a staple in your diet as you previously did to meat, dairy and eggs!

What changes have you already made? What would you like to switch but aren’t sure about? Share your questions and wins in the comments and I’ll answer all of your questions!

When it comes to sustainability, one of the big mistakes that people make is treating change as individual OR systemic. Either we change our lifestyle (quit flying, quit eating animal products, quit using single use plastic and so on) OR we elect governments that will enact policies in line with climate science and climate justice. However, it’s not an either/OR – it’s a both/and. We need to radically alter our lifestyle AND elect governments that will radically alter how we operate as a country.

Today, we’re talking about changes that we can make at home – the good news is that these changes are easy to make, can be done today and can be done regardless of what changes your local government is or is not making right now.

So, here are a few ideas to get started. You might have already done and others might not be applicable, so pick and choose the ones that are right for you.

• Instead of single-use zipper bags/wrap, try reusable bags, beeswax wrap or glass/stainless containers
• Instead of single-use water/juice bottles, buy a glass/stainless steel water bottle and refill it. Or, buy juice from concentrate, mix it in a pitcher, and fill from there.
• Switch your bathroom products to zero-waste. Did you know you can get reusable cotton wipes, swabs and more to replace the single use options? Shampoo comes in bars, instead of a plastic bottle!
• Try owning less stuff. Buy a few better quality items and reuse them often – including clothing, footwear, household items and more.
• Want to go one step further? Consider downsizing your living space, if you currently have more than what you need/use. In a larger house, try a smaller house. In a house, try an apartment. Have a long commute to get to most places? Try moving to somewhere closer to public transit.
• Eat fewer (or zero) animal products, and lots more rice, lentils and other plants. It’s better for the environment, healthier, cheaper and easy to stock up in bulk.

What changes have you made? What are you interested in changing but unsure about? Let me know in the comments. I’ll answer your questions, and we’ll celebrate the successes together!

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If you are looking for zero-waste or sustainable items, check the online store at mennoadventures.ca – we have clothing, containers, compostable phone cases and more!

There has been some work going on behind the scenes, and I invite you to check out the new and improved MennoAdventures IG page! There are still a few updates being integrated, and I appreciate your patience as those get fixed.

In the meantime, in the comments, please introduce yourself and share where you live – and one sustainability change you have made in the past that you are excited about. Have you reduced or quit flying? Switched to more plant-based eating? Become vegetarian or vegan? Encouraged your office/school/worship space/extended family/friends to be more actively LGBTQ+ safe? Something else? I look forward to hearing what everyone is up to!

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HINT: There are countless great deals to be found in the online store on all things sustainable! Check out all of the options by clicking on each page in the store! Happy browsing! 🙂

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Veganuary is coming up soon – and so are new coaching sessions to help guide your switch to plant-based eating! Have you heard about Veganuary? Started in the UK, it’s a movement of people committed to starting the year off on a fully plant-based diet – with the option to continue longer, if desired.

If this is the year that you might be thinking of making a switch, you might also be wondering how to do it. You might have questions like?

• Does this mean I have to give up cheese or pizza?
• Will I have to stop eating my favourite foods?
• Is it hard to do? How do I substitute out commonly used items?
• Why should I consider a whole foods, plant-based diet? What are the health and environmental benefits?
• What would I eat if I made the switch?
• Do I have to switch all at once or can I make gradual changes?

Looking for some help and guidance?* That’s what I am here for – to answer all of your questions, and help you navigate this change. With a bit of guidance, from someone who has made the switch already, this can easily be turned from something that may feel a bit overwhelming, to an exciting – and even cost-saving – new adventure!

New coaching packages for 2021 are currently being put together – so stay tuned and watch the website for details. Interested in learning more? Send me a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible! 😊

*NOTE: I provide general guidance and help answer questions about plant-based diets. I am not a certified nutritionist, and any questions regarding your specific health concerns should be directed to your nutritionist or other health care provider. Thank you!

I’m currently reading the updated China Study – haven’t looked through their work in detail since reading the earlier edition many years ago.

In addition to the overwhelming environmental evidence in support of a whole foods, plant-based diet, this adds in comprehensive health information regarding the benefits of ditching meat, dairy and eggs, while emphasizing the benfits of fruit and veggies, legumes (and other plant-based protein) and whole grains, such as brown rice etc. It’s a detailed read. If you are looking for quicker options, the website and apps, as well as the movie etc, are much faster ways to access the information.

Happy Reading! 🙂

BBC News: Climate change: Big lifestyle changes are the only answer.

The BBC has further evidence, again, that significant lifestyle changes will be needed for many people – specifically those who are currently living a lifestyle with higher carbon emission activities. The time for incremental changes was decades ago. What is needed now is a rapid transition off of fossil fuels.

As with any major change, there is a mix of both individual and systemic changes needed. Switching significantly towards plant-based eating is relatively easy (and, often, cost-effective) for many people to do. Eliminating fossil fuel subsidies requires enough pressure from civil society to enact government changes, at the federal level, across the globe.

On the flip side, while individuals, alone, do not have the power to create a federal government policy, we do have the power to be strong advocates. We can also make changes that replicate federal policies, and encourage others in our circles to do the same. To be clear, I am not suggesting any bans for anybody – simply encouraging all of us to look at how we can make changes in our circles of influence. 🙂

– Want a carbon tax? Using a reliable carbon calculator, estimate your own carbon footprint, and then tax yourself, by donating to a reputable NGO (or your local Green Party) that is working on sustainability. Adding in Bullfrog Power, or another similar option, is another possibility. Encourage others in your family/friends/circles of influence to do the same.

– Want a reduction in aviation emissions? Consider adjusting your own travel plans. Do you fly to go somewhere warm every winter with friends or family? Lead the way and encourage the group to go somewhere closer, instead. Do you fly to some meetings where you could call in or have someone local work on your behalf?

– Want to reduce emissions from eating animal products? Go plant-based (all or part of the way) and help build excitement with others. Help nudge the transition (politely, of course), and show that your journey is positive and something to embrace, not a negative to be endured. 🙂

This is not an exhaustive list, by any stretch. Simply a starting point for discussion, as we each discern our individual and collective responses to what climate change calls us to do. Let’s embrace the positive aspects that come from change and see where a new path might lead us. 🙂

Recently published on BBC, this is an excellent food emissions calculator. For the record, I am not verifying the data – I trust BBC and the scientists that they work with to do the work, and do it well. 🙂

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46459714

Entering in a food item (not all are there, but there is a reasonably representative list), gives the carbon emissions, and compares both to

• other items with a similar footprint (eg eating tofu 2/week for one year = driving xx km or showering xx times/week) and to
• other similar food items (eg eating tofu has xx emissions, compared to xx for eggs/chicken/beef etc.)

Hint: Tofu, along with other whole foods, plant-based options (eg beans and nuts), has much lower emissions than animal products. 🙂