vegan health update
So it’s been- wow I can’t actually remember exactly- at least 6 months since I decided to take the vegan plunge. I just got a pretty intensive lot of blood work back from the doctor, and for the first time I can remember I was NOT low in iron or Vitamin b12. Woo hoo.
I’ve always had problems with absorbing vitamins/mineral, not matter how “clean” my diet is…. until now of course. I am unbelievably stoked – don’t you just love it when something just “clicks” ? Just goes to show how diet is such an individual thing – what works for one may make the other sick as a dog.
It’s funny, I was watching MasterChef the other night (I know, I know I’m a geek, but it’s annoyingly addictive… I spent a large chunk of my pregnancy lying in bed eating and watching MasterChef, ahhh bliss) and on one of the “challenges” the contestants had to use whatever leftover ingredients they could get from various restaurants. Anyway, one (rather annoying) contestant was complaining about not having any eggs and ‘could not possibly make a dessert’ without eggs.
Loser.
Man, if I was on that show I would tell her to stop crying (why do they all cry so much?) and embrace a bit of vegan creativity. Eggs? Bah, who needs eggs?
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2C chopped dark chocolate *1
- 3/4C milk *2
- 1/3C nut butter *3
- 2T honey *4
- 1t ground cinnamon
- 1 + 1/3C wholemeal self raising flour*
- Pinch of sea salt
*1 – Raisins/Milk chocolate/White Chocolate/Carob/Chopped dried fruit/Chopped nuts
*2 – Dairy, almond, rice, soy.
*3 – Sunflower butter/tahini/peanut butter/almond butter
*4 – Maple syrup/agave syrup
*5 – Gluten free self raising flour
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees C and sort yourself out something to bake this in – I favour a 20cm silicone pie pan. Using non stick bake ware is fine, but make sure to line/spray just in case the mix sticks.
- Mash bananas with a fork and mix with milk, nut butter, honey, cinnamon, salt and chocolate. Combine well.
- Fold in self raising flour (do not over mix).
- Spoon into baking dish and spread out evenly.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes, depending on your oven… basically when the top is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Start checking at the 25 minute mark and use your judgement.
- Cool on a wire rack and store in an air tight container – lovely heated up and topped with coconut ice cream!
Another interesting thing to note about my vegan adventure is my ability to fight off bugs. Yes I felt slightly crappy when Misty brought home the boogie-nose-virus but I managed to kick it really quickly. Viper, on the other hand had a really rough time with it. Dunno, could be due to a variety of reasons, but last year I was sick a LOT, and seemed to get every bug that did the rounds. Possibly the amount of fermented food I am chomping back? Apparently healthy bacteria (pro biotics) in the gut is key to good immunity. Plus they are tasty.
A boogie nose doesn’t slow this one down too much though. Just look at that glorious mullet.
23 Responses to “vegan health update”
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Vegan. Stay at home Mum of Misty. Yoga teacher in training. Passionate about REAL food - creating it, eating it, sharing it. I can never stick to a recipe.
Is it true that vegans are prone to vitamin b12 deficiency, I read http://products.mercola.com/vitamin-b12-spray/ article that due to low meat consumption they have the risk of this ailment, is this true?
Yeah, it’s really common as it’s hard to find QUALITY sources from non-animal products… really, most vegans should supplement (I do!)
Congrats on finding your balance with the vegan diet! As you know I have been struggling with this recently (such an ongoing thing over the last few years really) so it’s nice to see that you have made it through and gives me hope
. I just need to keep experimenting! Oh an buy more supplements…I’m so lazy at buying more when I run out :S
Isn’t sunbutter awesome! I only just recently tried it but I am in love! These bars look fantastic
Definitely buy more supplements!! Also, shop around and make sure you are getting QUALITY – there’s a lot of crap out there supplement-wise (particularly iron/b12). You’ll get there, Gabby, it’s taken me about 7 years to get the right balance (!)
those bars look sooo yummy! I bet Holden will LOVE these!
Congrats on your great test results… it’s so awesome when what makes you happy also makes you healthy
So simple AND yummy (and pretty healthy!) = happy kiddos/partners! Plus Misty doesn’t like chocolate (!) So I get to pick it out (and eat it) for him, Ha
yea for good blood work! i think the extra protein and all your creativity in the kitchen has paid off. p.s. Came home to your package today! LOVE LOVE LOVE THE BARS!
Oh yay! Hope Jimbo had some fun with hokey pokey + PB
sunbutter. my crack.
so so good
woah those snack bars look fantastic and decadent! thanks for sharing! yay for good blood work:)
Yay you! Do you think this Sunbutter tastes any different to the one Eskal kind we can get here? I’ve always loved the Eskal so haven’t stressed about trying to get another brand from overseas.
SunButter is PRETTY awesome… it does contain a touch of added sugar/salt though…. but I reckon it’s heaps better than the Eskal stuff. I also LOVE Maranantha’s Roasted Sunflower Seed and Sea salt butter – I get it through iherb and it’s pretty cheap (and YUM!)
Oooh, I’m waiting on the Kal nooch to come in stock to do another iHerb order! May have to check this out
Kal nooch? Is it super good or something? I usually just get the Lotus brand…. always up for recommendations though
LOVE iHerb! (addicted)
It’s hard to be a vegan, and hats off to your carrying it on. Love the bars.
It’s easy when you can make/eat delicious food! Becoming vegan has been so inspiring for both my cooking AND my conscience…. not to mention the health benefits
i am in love with sun butter – i added it to my roasted veg with a swirl of soy sauce and ginger last night. too good!
boy, my pinterest button gets a workout on your site!
Oh YUMMO – love this idea T, salty/sweetie JOY right there
Totally trying this!
I love hearing stuff like this – cuz I’ve been feeling SO amazing since going vegan and I’m probably (not probably, actually – definitely) annoying to the people around me. I feel like I can solve everyone’s various ailments if they’d only listen
!
I know, right? It’s so great when you discover a way of eating that just “clicks” with both your health AND conscience, huh!?
Success!! I love this, I didn’t realize you were a new (ish) vegan. You are oh so inspiring my friend!
Yeah, basically I stopped eating red meat when I was around 15, dropped chicken a few years later, but then couldn’t let go of seafood/yoghurt until the end of last year… I did eat meat when I was pregnant though as I was severely anemic – like to the point of being dangerous! Seriously, this is the first time in my life that I’ve felt HEALTHY and VIBRANT… plus the bloodwork reflects that – woop woop!