Smoothies

Matthew always says I make the most incredible smoothies. I don't really have a secret - I just throw a bunch of stuff in a blender. But it does always somehow turn out to be insanely good! ;)

Matt and I were both really into a vegan/raw food lifestyle. I have been vegetarian at various times in my life, but never truly stuck with living a completely vegetarian lifestyle, although after being vegetarian and reverting back to some meat consumption, I've realized how drastically my consumption of animals products has dropped as a whole. With that said, I try to implement some of the ingredients from my raw vegan phase into these smoothies.

Here is one that's pretty simple and easy to make. I added greek yogurt, but to make it vegan, you can omit this part and add additional frozen fruit or use an almond/coconut/soy yogurt to make it vegan. Just make sure to get plain yogurt - commercial yogurts have a ton of unnecessary refined sugar.

Breakfast	Calories	Fat	Protein	Carbs	Sugar	Sodium
Giant Brand - Mixed Frozen Berries, 3/4 - 1 Cup	49	0	1	12	8	0
Bob's Red Mill - Whole Ground Flax Seed Meal, 3 tbsp	90	7	5	6	0	0
Dole - Pitted Dates, 6 dates	138	0	0	38	31	0
Blue Diamond - Unsweetened Almond Milk, 1/2 - 1 Cup	30	2	1	1	0	90
Fat Free Greek Yogurt Total 0% (1 cup)	65	0	12	5	5	43
Bananas - Raw, 1/2 medium	53	0	1	13	7	1

Here is the nutritional breakdown:
425 calories
9 gram fat
74 grams carbohydrates
18 grams protein
15 grams fiber

I like drizzling the top with agave nectar and sliced almonds. I actually lost weight when I ate raw, because of how much water is in raw fruits and vegetables and how little sodium are in natural, whole foods.

Have any of you tried or had success on a raw vegan diet or just a vegan diet? If so, how was your experience?

I was successful...!

...in creating a 1200 calorie menu that is gluten free, dairy free, cane sugar free, and soy free. It even meets the requirements for a diet that is 45% calories from carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 25% fat. This would be considered a low-fat, moderate carb lifestyle, which personally, I manage with best. I used to be deathly afraid of carbs because there is so much bad press out there about them, but carbs are an essential part of our bodies needs. Carbs provide both instant and sustained energy, as well as the vitamins and minerals our brains need to function properly, as long as they are whole grain (brown carbs, basically).

Here is the menu:

Breakfast	Calories	Fat	Protein	Carbs	Sugar	Sodium
Generic - Oats Steel Cut, 1/2 cup DRY	150	3	5	27	1	0
Trader Joe's - Slivered Almonds, 1/8 cup (30 g)	85	8	4	3	1	0
Bananas - Raw, 0.5 medium (7" to 7-7/8" long)	53	0	1	13	7	1
Blue Diamond - Unsweetened Almond Milk, 0.25 cup or 8 oz (240mL)	15	1	0	1	0	45
	303	12	10	44	9	46
Lunch
Cucumber - With peel, raw, 0.5 cup slices	8	0	0	2	1	1
Peppers - Sweet, red, raw, 1 medium (approx 2-3/4" long, 2-1/2" dia)	31	0	1	7	5	2
Peas - Fresh Sugar Snap, 0.5 C, chopped, 98g	21	0	1	4	0	2
Heaven Mills - Gluten Free Pita Bread, 0.5 Pita	156	5	3	23	5	126
Hummus - Home prepared, 0.3 cup	131	6	4	15	0	179
Boar's Head - 47% Less Sodium Turkey, 4 oz	120	1	24	0	0	680
	467	12	33	51	11	990
Dinner
Asparagus - Fresh Cooked, 12 spears	64	2	10	5	2	10
Fish - Salmon, Atlantic, wild, cooked, dry heat, 4.8 oz	248	11	35	0	0	76
Quinoa - Quinoa Cooked, 1/2 cup cooked	111	2	4	20	0	7
	423	15	49	25	2	93
Totals	1,193	39	92	120	22	1,129
Your Daily Goal	1,200	33	90	135	39	1,200
Remaining	7	-6	-2	15	17	71
	Calories	Fat	Protein	Carbs	Sugar	Sodium

In my opinion, this is a very low calorie menu. Most adults between 135 and 200 pounds need approximately 1400 - 2500 calories per day just to maintain their current weight. I created this menu for people who are looking to lose weight. You don't have to be gluten free or anything-free to enjoy this menu. It is suitable for vegetarians (who eat fish - pescetarians technically) or it can be modified to replace the salmon or seafood with tofu or seitan for adequate protein.

As much as I really enjoy being vegetarian, I find with most of the food restrictions, it's just becomes too difficult. If I could easily tolerate tofu (which I can't, and I LOVE tofu) I would definitely have stayed vegetarian. I believe that everyone can be in tune with their bodies nutritional needs; we all know which foods make us tired and groggy, and which foods give us energy and vitality.

Personally, I have been completely ignorant about my food intake since Halloween. Earlier last year, during August, I was steadily losing weight by eating mostly raw foods, but experienced major financial stress in September when I ironically began gaining weight again. After weighing in at my highest weight in 4 years, I experienced a downward spiral into self pity and subsequently, stress eating to relieve my so-called failure. Gaining weight really isn't a failure; after all, it happens over time. No one gains 50 pounds in 2 months - I did it slowly over the last year and a half.

With that said, when I "fall off the wagon" like I have done in recent months, I lose myself. My heart is grounded in Nutrition and exercise, but I choose to ignore that due to laziness or ignorance, or whatever other emotion I am using to prevent myself from moving forward at any given time. The point is, health is hard. It's work, just like almost everything else in our lives; our relationships with our families, friends, coworkers, our jobs; our health is work, and it takes control and effort to make your health a priority.

We are moving!!

Matt and I are moving into our first official place together this weekend! We are both so excited. It's in the heart of Seattle (first hill) and it's a really nice place. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment:

This is what the inside of our place looks like, from the entry.

The rooftop

Rooftop

Building from the Outside

Courtyard

Our kitchen!

Living Room

back to blogging

I feel like I have abandoned my audience.

My very small, possibly 5-6 person audience. Either way, I am re-dedicating myself to blogging, since I have recently opened myself up to the world of "raw eating".

I will write more later since I should probably get back to work now! :)

Allergy Diet Results

Hi everyone! If any of you have been wondering why I haven't been blogging, its because Matt's laptop broke recently. It's a little harder to blog from my phone.

I've been following the new allergy diet following my recent results - wheat free and dairy free seem easy compared to wheat free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, corn free and nut free. Although none of these foods cause a true allergic reaction, they cause severe inflammation (eggs are only very slight - I've been eating them sporadically and have not had any side effects.)

One of my major concerns all of my life has been cystic acne. In the two weeks I have been following this strict diet (although I haven't truly been eating healthier; there are still unhealthy foods that fit this category) I have noticed a significant change in my skin. Without having to enitrely cut carbs (I can still eat potatoes and rice) my skin has cleared drastically. The breakouts along my jawline and neck have almost completely disappeared. Other ailments such as headaches and digestive problems, and additional weight I gained in recent months, have not changed that much. I've read about people reaching their normal weight by following the plan, because their bodies are finally able to function properly without the constant battle against invasive inflammation. I guess I'll wait and see if that's a side effect of the diet.

Overall, the diet is easy to follow when I cook at home. Eating out is the biggest challenge. Even at Olive Garden I was able to find a dinner that fit my plan, although it turns out the dressing had cheese in it, which I could tell almost immediately after eating it. I am starting to feel better day by day, and I think everyone should have this testing done. It is possible to feel well!

Hello Again!

After much deliberation and debate on both sides of the spectrum, I am no longer vegan.

The main reason is this: my food allergies.

I am literally allergic to a vegan diet.

The first offender is wheat - which surprisingly turned out to be wheat gliadin, and less the actual gluten causing a reaction, Along with that, all dairy products, eggs, soy, corn, shellfish and some nuts have been cut from my diet. I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting, too.

With the new modified diet, I hope to achieve a healthier, happier life. I am constantly in pain, either with headaches, breakouts, or general body aches and fatigue.

I've also decided to re-dedicate my time to posting more often. Right now and in the past 3 months I have been busy either working two jobs or working really hard at one job. Now that time is on my side, though, and finances are getting easier, I think I will find a lot more space left in my brain to be creative.

Thank you to those of you who have stayed or will stay a fan of Modified Nutrition even after the veganism has come and gone. I still firmly respect vegans and vegetarians, but unfortunately I am unwilling to sacrifice as much as some can or will. I hope you will keep coming back to read more, and thank you for stopping by!

transitioning to pescetarianism

Pescetarian's are basically lacto-ovo vegetarians who also eat fish, but do not eat chicken, beef, pork, or red meat of any sort. (Lacto-ovo vegetarians are vegetarians who eat dairy and eggs, but do not eat meat or fish of any sort.) So I guess, I'll be an ovo-pescetarian, if we're getting all technical here. :)

Although I still won't be eating dairy, because it causes me to sneeze and get wheezy, I have been having eggs for breakfast and find that I am much more sustained throughout the morning if I have a couple boiled eggs. 2 eggs at 140 calories does more for me than two waffles of similar nutrient density. It's pretty amazing to me how much of a difference it makes for one person to eat animal protein than another person. Each individual is uniquely different, biologically, physically and physiologically.

In the past I've found that I drop weight easily when I am following a strict low-starch, high protein diet. (Not low-carb; I stay away from that term as much as possible, because I love carbs, and I will never give them up!) To me, it's not just about calories in, calories out when it comes to weight loss, or health for that matter. It's about eating whole foods; foods without chemicals, additives, fillers, gums, or any other un-natural, man made substances. My skin clears up, my eyes look whiter, and I don't have as many aches and pains.

My experience with a vegan diet has taught me a lot about how animals are treated, and how to eat ethically. Most people don't think twice about what they have for breakfast or for lunch; most people that I know just grab and go, because they are too busy to think about it, and the options are everywhere. And I am definitely guilty of it myself. But paying attention to food labels is the first step to being your own nutritionist.

I plan on seeing a nutritionist regarding my decision to stay mainly vegetarian. I don't see why I couldn't remain mainly vegetarian, which I've grown so accustomed to already. I rarely crave meat or even think about it, but at the same time, I can feel that my body flourishes on protein and dimishes on carbohydrates. Being gluten, dairy, and probably corn intolerant takes a huge portion of vegan options away, making the entire diet extremely hard to stick to.