Happy Herbivore Blog

Meet our Herbie of the Week, Rhanda, who is an excellent reminder that diet-related health problems aren't always visible on the outside. I immediately identifed with Rhanda's story, because I too have suffered from debilitating migraines and menstrual cramps in the past. Transitioning to a whole foods, plant-based diet has significantly helped both of us — all hail the power of plants!

Here is Rhanda's Herbie success story, in her own words:

"It’s been 7 and a half months since I’ve been a herbivore, and I want to share my story with you. Although I was never overweight, I’ve always been quite small — I was still experiencing health scares. These health scares started when I was a teenager and different problems kept popping up. My diet included chicken patties, beef as a main ingredient in most meals, processed cereals and snacks, milk, dairy, and everything in between! As a child, our family could not afford expensive produce, so we ate foods that were convenient and cheap. Unfortunately, these are also the unhealthiest foods on the market. Like most people, my parents thought the beef and milk were healthy, just like any other American. Anyway, as I reached my later teenage years, I had gained a little weight but that wasn’t the main concern. 

I began to have headaches on a daily basis, and migraines would occur about 2 times a month. My menstrual cycle was extremely irregular, sometimes it would take months before I would get it. When I did get my menstrual cycle, it was so bad that I would be lying in bed for days in pain. I always felt tired and never refreshed in the morning. When the migraines and headaches occurred, I would miss several school days and my grades fell behind. It got to the point that I always had Excedrin Migraine with me, no matter where I went because it would always sneak in. It was really a disappointment when I would go on vacation or a family event and I would have to lie down in a quiet, dark room until the migraine had passed. I also experienced IBS, depression, and anxiety. When the doctor tried to put me on medication, I knew this could start a never ending spiral on medication — so I went home and threw it in the garbage. 

By this time, I had spent the last 8 years of my life living with these intrusive headaches, migraines, and an overall feeling of anxiety (worrying about when the next migraine would strike). I was ultimately sick and tired of being sick and tired. This was when I started researching and tried every natural remedy out there including yoga, chiropractic, aromatherapy, herbal supplements, exercise… everything! Although it seemed to help a little, nothing really changed too much. I knew at this point that my health wasn’t the best; I looked healthy and fit — but my body was trying to tell me something from the inside. 

I tried to go vegetarian a few years ago (for the animals) and I didn’t do enough research beforehand, so it didn’t last long. I actually ended up even more sick because I was replacing all the meat with dairy. Randomly I would throw up, feel nauseous, weak, and my brain felt foggy.  After watching Forks Over Knives, I realized that dairy was even worse than the meat! My life changed on August 1st, 2012 when I quit meat and dairy, the day after watching Forks over Knives. The Engine 2 Diet helped me to get started, and then I discovered Happy Herbivore! My husband thought I was crazy, but he is starting to really enjoy this new lifestyle as well — even though he hasn’t completely given up the meat or dairy, he has cut back. 

Some of the benefits I have noticed are clear and glowing skin, more energy, no more 'brain fog' or 'cloudiness,' recovering faster from cold/flu, decrease in anxiety, headaches, and migraines, and now I’m happier than I was before! My menstrual cycle is regular now and the IBS is gone. I really feel like I’ve been transformed into a completely new body. 

Before, I didn’t know how to cook, and the very little skills I had needed a lot of work. I’ve gotten really good at cooking and your books have made it so much fun! My husband loves it because he loves to try all the new foods and flavors. He has also mentioned than he has been feeling more energetic than usual. Keep in mind that he was against the whole herbivore thing at the beginning, and when I heard him say he likes the new way of cooking and how he is feeling better — my jaw about dropped to the floor. He eats whatever I cook at home, and then he is free to eat what he wants elsewhere. I’m not going to push him; I just want to live by example. There are still times when I still get headaches (I think they are more tension-related than diet-related), but nothing compared to what they were before my plant-based journey started. If it’s only been seven and half months and I already feel this much better, then I can’t imagine what I will feel like a year from now.

I want to thank you for your tremendous inspiration, courage, and knowledge! You have changed my life in so many ways  I can’t thank you enough! I’m so inspired that I talk about your recipes on a regular basis at work, and my manager called me a 'cooking maniac' the other day.  I’ve upgraded all my kitchen appliances, and I’m always chopping, blending, mincing, and sautéing! I’m not sure what I would have done without you or your cookbooks. Again, thank you so much for changing my life in such a positive way." 

Migraines, be gone! For more information, check out what Dr. McDougall and the PCRM have to say about migraines/headaches related to diet. Thanks so much, Rhanda, for sharing your inspiring story!

UPDATE (May 21): "I still feel just as wonderful but I also wanted to mention a few things. I've noticed that my teeth are whiter, I don't feel sluggish after I eat, and I no longer have strong cravings for cheese or junk food, food in general tastes so much better, I feel clean from the inside out, and I also feel like my body requires less sleep now. The benefits of this lifestyle are beyond anything I can list in this e-mail. This lifestyle has changed my perspective on life and has changed me to become more compassionate for all living beings. It is also helping me with my current goal, which is working on becoming a minimalist. If I can do this, then I believe anyone can. Thank you so much expanding my knowledge and allowing me to share my story with other Herbies."

Celebrate Memorial Day with Red, White & Blue Parfaits (both plans) & Patriot Pancakes (family plan)!! Other new picnic perfect recipes include Jalapeno Hummus (both plans), Quinoa Dill Salad (both plans) and the Black Bean & Mango Salsa Burritos (both plans). We've also included fan faves that are perfect for BBQs, picnics, and potlucks like the Citrus Sweet Potato Salad and Quick Burgers. Make this your most deliciously memorable Memorial Day!

Individual Highlights

• Jalapeno Hummus (NEW!)
• Citrus Sweet Potato Salad
  
• Spinach-Tomato Pilaf
  
• Fantastic Fruit Salad
  
• Black Bean & Mango Salsa Burritos (NEW!)
  
• Portobello Steak Dinner
  
• Roasted Chickpea Salad
  
• Red, White & Blue Parfait (NEW!)
  
• Spicy Orange Broccoli & Noodles
  
• Quinoa Dill Salad (NEW!)

Get this meal plan now.

Family Highlights

• Quinoa Dill Salad (NEW!)
• Pepper Fajitas
  
• Citrus Sweet Potato Salad
  
• Red, White & Blue Parfaits (NEW!)
  
• Quick Burgers
  
• Mexican Cabbage
  
• Red, White & Blue Pancakes (NEW!)
  
• Red Pepper Hummus Wraps
  
• Black Bean & Mango Salsa Burritos (NEW!)
  
• Jalapeno Hummus (NEW!)

Get this meal plan now.

Testimonials

"My biggest problem had been the prep time, but I now have a method in that while cooking my dinner, I also make my lunch for the next day and so on. This has put me in a rhythm and now I bee-bop along each day with the meal plans I purchase from HH." - Christy K

"Here's what I've observed in the 2 weeks that I've followed the meal plans: lost 4 lbs, whiter teeth, skin looks more tanned, tupperware is easier to clean!" - Val U

Get the current meal plan now.

I find it almost amazing that Scott & I have lived in so many different places and we've never had air conditioning. Boston, New York City, Colorado, Lake Tahoe, Charleston, Los Angeles — none of our apartments had air conditioning. Even in Europe, air conditioning was a rarity. 

This means by the end of May, I would completely abstain from any kind of "baking" until October. I also found myself avoiding the stove, too. Standing over a hot flame in an already hot and stuffy apartment during the sweltering summer? No thanks! (Our apartments have also always been very tiny, which made it even worse. Any cooking turned the place into a sauna). 

So was my life limited to salads? Heck no! 

Kim G. made HH Portobello Steaks on the grill! (shared via Facebook).

I love a good salad, especially in the summer, but I still like having cooked foods like beans, potatoes and rice — just without using my stove. 

Although my inner minimalist hates to suggest more appliances, if you live without air conditioning or you live someplace that gets very hot, it's well worth adding to your collection (plus you will use them year-round).

Electric Pressure Cooker ($99.99)

This is my favorite appliance of the bunch and if you can only buy one item, this would be it (though it's the most expensive). 

What I love about my electric pressure cooker is that I can cook my vegetables, grains and beans without turning on my stove and it cooks my food super fast. Black beans in 15 minutes without soaking overnight! Corn on the cob in 1 minute! I also love that I don't have to keep an eye on it (I can cook beans while doing something else) and it's fantastic for travel. We take it with us every time we travel so we can make healthy, nourishing meals in our hotel room in minutes. 

The pressure cooker gets me through the summer. I use it twice a day most days. I'm always making a big batch of beans, or rice or potatoes. I also love to cook corn and artichokes in it. My PC also has a "warm" setting which I find works a lot like a slow cooker. I've left frozen marinara in my PC on the "warm" setting and a few hours later it was ready and warm for dinner. 

I also use my pressure cooker to make vegetable broth!

Rice Cooker ($14.99-$119.00)

After one too many unsuccessful attempts to cook brown rice on a crappy apartment stove, I bought a rice cooker. I even splurged on an expensive rice cooker (linked above) that had a special brown rice setting as well as an electric timer so I could tell my cooker when I wanted my rice to be ready (even if it was the next day). To its credit, my rice cooker makes perfect brown rice but I find I'm too forgetful to remember to use the timer feature so I could have gotten away with a cheaper model like this rice cooker.

My rice cooker also bake cakes and works as a slow cooker, so that's pretty cool, though admittedly I've never used either feature. I could cook my rice in my pressure cooker but I find the rice cooker does the best job and I also use my rice cooker to cook quinoa on the "white rice" setting. No cooking grains on the hot stove in the summer for me! :)

Check out my post (with a video!) about how to cook grains ahead in your rice cooker and freeze for easy reheating.

Electric Steamer ($39.99, or less)

This was the first "appliance" I ever purchased and it's a great option for those on a budget. I found mine on sale for $20.00 at Kohls and also happened to have a 20% off coupon! 

Our first apartment stove was so small that I couldn't fit more than 1 small pot and a skillet on my stove at a time. I bought the steamer so I could cook my vegetables passively on the counter while I prepared other components of our meal. I quickly realized how great it was in the summer: I could steam all my veggies — even potatoes(!) — without heating my stove or oven. I gave mine to a friend when I purchased the pressure cooker, but I used it daily for years. 

Grill ($300, or less)

Grilled vegetables are amazing and grilled fruit is even better. I love to grill zucchini, yellow squash, red bell peppers and asparagus. We've also done portobello mushrooms, Romaine lettuce, onions, and eggplant. For fruit I love pineapple, peaches and pears the best. 

Grilled pears drizzled with balsamic vinegar. YUM!

If you have a pizza stone, you can also bake bread and pizza on the grill. (Pizza cooked on the grill is amazing). Some grills also have a special griddle top, but I find my flat iron nonstick pan works great on my grill. With the "griddle" option you can also cook all kind of foods outdoors, like HH pancakes!

Toaster Oven ($27.99-$49.99)

After our toaster died, I bought a toaster oven. It toasts perfectly, but also works great for small batch and summer baking. I make veggie pizza in it all the time (pita bread, marinara, toppings) and in the summer I'll also bake single-serving muffins in it. It's also great for warming things up if you don't have a microwave. If it can be baked, it can go in the toaster oven. It's your mini summer oven!

Electric Sandwich Maker ($29.99, or less)

If you have one of these lying around from your pre-plant-based days, dust it off and make some muffins without your oven! To make muffins in a sandwich maker, make your muffin batter according to the recipe and set aside while your sandwich maker preheats (see instruction manual for details). Once it's hot and ready, spoon in a few spoonfuls of the batter. Avoid over-filling (or you'll have a mess!) and close the lid. Each model is a tad different, but usually a light indicator will tell you when the muffins are done. Cook-time also varies with each model, but most finish around 5 minutes. 

You end up with "triangular" muffins, but I kind of like them that way. 

Related post: No Oven Baking (Baking Muffins without an Oven!)

Coffee Maker ($14.99 and up)

My cousin lived in a very strict dorm. She wasn't allowed any kind of appliance in her dorm room except a coffee pot. (I guess the school thought it was just too cruel to deny undergrads caffeine). A testament to her genius and creativity, Missy learned how to cook spaghetti in her coffee pot. (I think she also toasted bread on an iron). 

To make pasta in a coffee pot fill water to max (don't bother with a filter) and put your pasta in the coffee pot. The pot will fill with very hot water and assuming your coffee pot has a built-in hot plate, it will stay hot. Let it hang out until it's soft. A neat dorm trick (and hotel room trick!) if nothing else. 

Other appliances that I don't own, but could certainly help with summer cooking:

• Microwave 
  
• Slow Cooker
  
• Hot Plate 
  
• Hot Pot
  
• Waffle Iron 
  

For more unconventional cooking inspiration, read about Genevieve's minimalist adventures in cooking without a kitchen. 

What are some of your tips for summer plant-strong cooking? Share with us in the comments, and happy eating!