Vege Island

Moist, sweet prune muffins for the whole family to enjoy. Serves: 12 Preparation: 20 mins Type: Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal, Kosher pareve, eggless, lactose intolerant. Cooking time: 35 mins Ingredients: 2 cups plain flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 cups chopped prunes, 1 tsp vanilla flavouring, 1/2 cup soya milk, 1/2 cup apple sauce, 1/4 cup margarine. Many thanks to Ms N Fisher for her help with this video.

Good question and one I asked myself. Most people resort to a vegetarian diet, do so for various reasons, including: health, environmental and ethical. But the very reasons people turn to a vegetarian diet, are the reasons why people should look into veganism.

Health: The cheese and eggs are full of trans fat and cholesterol. Vegan food does not contain any cholesterol. If you are concerned about heart disease and stroke, then a vegan diet is well worth examining. But it is a boring vegan diet?

Maybe 20 or more years ago, but now a vegan can eat plenty of soy-based foods – which are free of cholesterol – such as ice cream, cakes, biscuits and cheese dishes vegan. Of course, these foods contain no sugar in any diet, it is necessary to limit those. The point is, you do not have to live with peas and cabbage, if you're a vegan. This is one of the biggest myths is vegan. Not all vegans live in the trees and the practice of yoga throughout the day – no matter how attractive the idea may be.

Environment: Can be a true environmentalist unless you're a vegan. You can recycle all the plastic bags you want, but eat a vegetarian diet in addition to the problem you are trying to quit. Billions of animals are bred, breeding, transportation and die each year from eggs and dairy products. Animals too need to be "disposed" of when no longer of use, which adds to environmental pollution, as well as the transport of animals. The dairy and egg is not a byproduct of the meat trade.

World hunger: I am always surprised that most people who campaign to end world hunger are actually vegan. Hunger in the world can and must decide whether people became vegan because they grow grains to feed animals – which in turn feed us – could be used to feed hungry people.

What do vegans eat?

This is where it becomes surprising. You can choose to be a vegetarian to eat junk food and a variety of sweets. As mentioned above a vegan can eat ice cream, cookies, cakes, chocolate, rice cakes, trifles, desserts, chocolate sponge, soy peppers, sweet and sour, curry, roasts and pies. These foods contain no cholesterol that are healthier for you. However, most of the worlds healthiest foods are also vegan. Fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, pulses, beans and grains are just some of them.

Learn about how to make chickpea appetizers for a vegan dinner party with expert vegan cooking tips in this free vegan recipe video on throwing a vegan dinner party. Expert: Marieve Herington Contact: www.marieve.ca Bio: Marieve Herington, has had a passion for the culinary arts and entertaining since she was very young, opening her first freelance Event coordinating and catering company when she was only 16. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

There is endless information out there about vegan and vegetarian living these days, but what is the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian simply. Or what about nutrients? How the hell vegans and vegetarians get their nutrients is not eating meat anyway?

Well I'll be surprised how easy it is to actually have a very healthy balanced vegan or vegetarian diet and prosper with boundless energy, less illness and unlimited gifts to choose for meals and snacks.

But first let's explore the difference between the two:

A vegetarian is simply not eat animal by-products (ie, no meat, poultry, fish or aquatic animals or pieces taken from them as gelatine or animal fats). So the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian is that vegans and go a bit beyond that vegetarians and eat no animal by any of these include eggs, dairy products (including cheese, butter), and vegans Don? T the use of products that have been tested on animals either. Honey is also generally avoided, because the bees are often killed during production. And finally, vegans avoid using animal products such as wool, leather and silk, or the use of cosmetics and toiletries containing ingredients of animal origin.

So, in summary, veganism is a bit more restrictive from the standpoint of view that one may need to read labels of products much more frequently than a non-vegan, but it gets easier with time and is so good for heart, body, mind and soul.

As mentioned above, there is an abundance of food available to choose healthy life for all filled to the brim with all the nutrients it needs to survive in this world (just because a person eats meat does not necessarily mean they are not deficient in some way or another, or that they are healthy – in fact, as we shall see below * some vegetarian natural foods are far superior to their counterparts of meat).

Being in a balanced diet can be started the healthiest diet on earth, there are no worries whether a person will receive all the nutrients in the diet of this type. Let me clarify a little more detail for you?

Protein: essential for growth, tissue repair and protection against infection. Proteins are found in legumes, nuts, grains, seeds and dried apricots in tofu and potatoes. In fact, according to leading nutritionists, it is almost impossible to get protein deficiency in a vegan diet for the average level of protein in legumes (* Did you know that the pulses protein levels are higher than that of meat).

Iron is found in green leafy vegetables, nuts, legumes, tofu, bread, pasta, dried fruits, pumpkin seeds, hummus, lentils, sesame seeds, oats, fortified cereals and cocoa, to name a few. Now we must not forget that vitamin C can increase absorption of iron, so iron deficiency should not be a problem if you have a balanced intake of foods rich in vitamin C such as broccoli, kiwi, orange, parsley and even mangoes.

Vegan Calcium sources for vegans and can come both from the leeks, legumes, nuts, seeds, tofu, soy milk (fortified), wholemeal bread, almonds and Brazil nuts and green leafy vegetables.

So ultimately, there is no reason for any imbalance in lifestyle and vegetarian or vegan to be little chance of a deficiency, provided you follow a healthy diet and balanced.

Now if you are not sure you need to start or some ideas about what to eat, then here is a list of different foods you can choose between:

Veggie burgers, hot dogs and sausages vegetables, Tofurky, Vegan Mince, Veggie Bacon, almond milk, soy milk, rice milk, oat milk and potatoes (some contain sweeteners or enter the options of most milks vegan flavor and are fortified with calcium and vitamin D and B12, as well).Non-dairy ice cream, sorbets and desserts, egg substitutes, tofu, seitan, soy margarine, tempeh or TVP (texturized vegetable protein), soy cheeses, including sour cream and whipped cream. And we can not forget the many fruits, grains, nuts, seeds and plants to choose from as well.

As you can see the wealth is only limited to your imagination. Therefore, living with compassion and exploring the vegan or vegetarian lifestyle could and probably will change your life for the healthier.

My previous article on clean food nutrition guidelines describe simple for you. But then I got an email from a vegetarian who want some advice.

Protein is definitely one of the most important macro nutrients he needs to build muscle and help you recover from your strength training. Most experts recommend at least 1 gram per kilo of body weight every day.

However, most of the tips for getting the protein includes vegetarians and vegans eat things they can not – if that describes you, read this article for tips on building muscle nutrition for vegetarians and vegans …

==> How do vegetarians and vegans eat?

Most eating plenty of vegetables, legumes, fruits, tofu and soy. Certain types eat eggs and dairy products as well. But not just any animal flesh (meat, fish or poultry). Here is a (not complete) list of the types of vegetarians:

* Lacto-ovo vegetarians. Eating eggs and dairy products but no animal flesh.

* Lacto vegetarians. Eat dairy products but no eggs or meat.

* Ovo vegetarians. Eat eggs but no dairy and no animal flesh.

* Vegans. Do not eat eggs or milk or meat of animals and no honey.

==> Will encounter problems with Vegeterianism and veganism.

Vegetables and fruits are good for fiber, vitamins and minerals. The vegetables also are good because they increase levels of alkalinity and counter the acidic foods like meat. Here are a few "problems" will be found to eat like this:

* Allergic reactions – if everything is to eat dairy and eggs for protein, you may run into lactose intolerance, acne, or other allergic reactions of all dairy foods

* Low testosterone level – meat, eggs and dairy products have saturated fat and cholesterol that increase testosterone. If T levels are low have less muscle, less strength, less energy, leaving the libido, higher body fat, and less of ambition "a" …

==> Good sources of protein for vegetarians and vegans

If you are breastfeeding and / or ovo easy. Just do not eat meat and follow other rules of cleaning my eating to get your protein: eggs, milk, whey protein, cheese, etc. If you are vegetarian, there are other sources of protein:

* Beans. Black chickpea, hummus, kidney beans, winged, bean sprouts, Lima …

* Vegetables. Lentils, peas, cow peas, chickpeas, peas …

* Whole grains. Brown rice, oats, quinoa, cereals, bread …

* Protein Powder. Soy protein, hemp protein, rice protein …

* Milk. Soy milk, almond milk …

* I am. Soybeans, tofu, soy cheese, soy style cold cuts, soy milk, …

* Nuts. Walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, peanuts, peanut butter …

* Seeds. Sesame, pumpkin, hemp, linen …