Topic: FAQ

A few weeks ago on Facebook, I asked people to share what "vegan" means to them -- to answer the question what is vegan? There were so many answers; so many different viewpoints. A real reminder that the vegan community is just as diverse as any other community.

What brought us to a vegan (or plant-based) diet is unique for each of us. What it means to us, how it is interwoven in our lives -- we all are walking …

What are your top three (or five, etc) tips for making the switch to veganism? Do you have a beginners shopping list for getting the pantry/fridge stocked when first starting out?

For a beginner’s shopping list (complete with video!) go here. I also have a blog post with transitioning plans here.

That said:

1. Quoting my husband, “Stop looking for meat on your plate.” The Western mentality is that a meal is meat with a small side of vegetables. …

A reader recently asked me; “How can you keep energy levels up in a healthy way? (Instead of energy drinks, etc). You are a POWERHOUSE!”

When this question came in, and I read it out loud, Andrea & I started giggling--not at the question but at the thought of me cracked out on an energy drink. I have far too much energy naturally (Andrea gripes that I’m an evil“morning person” because I roll out of bed saying “hello morning!” …

Q: I’ve been having a hard time losing weight being vegan. Any suggestions on what I can do to lean out? Less fat? Nuts?

**This is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet.**

I find a lot of people operate on the notion that plant-based (vegan) calories are magic calories -- that they don’t count, or something. 

I saw this a lot when I was a personal trainer. I had a client, for example, who replaced …

A common question I get is how to make somethinggluten-free. For things like baked goods, you can use a gluten-free all purpose flour blend (purchased commercially or made at home) or try my nifty oat flour trick.

The trouble comes when you need to replace vital wheat gluten, or you want to make seitan which is all gluten.

Gluten-free gluten? Is that even possible?!

Yes!

My friend Talia introduced me to OrgraN’s Gluten-Substitute more than a year ago. I’ve …