Anne the Vegan

I’m Going Streaking…

No, not that kind of streaking. My days of partying and doing something stupid like running across campus in fewer clothes than are publicly acceptable are over. I’m talking about a running streak!

In my quest for improving my pace and staying motivated, I decided to join the Runner’s World run streak, running every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. On Thanksgiving Day, I started my streak with a 5k. Unfortunately for me, I decided to do this after my big meal! The results were, well, disappointing, but I did it. I almost puked a couple of times, but survived. That run went about as well as I thought it would.

Since Thanksgiving, I’ve run at least a mile each day. Some days, it’s been after work when it’s already dark, so I’ve broken out my Noxgear vest. It’s so amazing! I definitely feel seen. On my country roads, it’s necessary to be visible! No one actually drives just the speed limit on the road I live off of.

I figured out shortly after this that my vest was on upside down. Works so well!

Basically, I’m plugging in a mile or two on the days I don’t have a 5k or 10k run planned; my winter off-season schedule is two 5ks during the week and a 10k on the weekend. It’s a far cry from my marathon training schedule, but it gets the job done. It’s worked well for years, and makes it super easy to jump into a half marathon training plan for a spring race.

The last time I attempted a running streak, it was a few years ago. I made it about 2 weeks before I got sick, including a high fever, and that was that. I’m crossing my fingers that this time, I can make it the entire 37 days to New Year’s Day.

I’ve largely avoided running streaks in the past, fearing injury. However, my most accounts, I’m a more experienced runner at this point in my life, and I plan to keep my overall weekly mileage low to help decrease the overall stress to my older body. This week, I will only accumulate just over 18 miles. I am also planning to be done with the streak and not continue past the 37 days.

What I’m finding so far that it removes the stress of planning out of my fitness schedule. I already know I’m going to run. It’s kind of a relief. I’m also avoiding the gym, which seems to be a good thing with Covid cases on the rise again.

On some of my really short runs, I’m trying to push my pace and my cadence. It’s still disappointing that my effort seems so much faster, but my Garmin tells a different story. However, I have had some miles that are under 11 minutes, so that’s something. And I used to be able to run sub-30 minute 5ks. Sigh…

Today’s “run” was a different story. I brought my dog, Ellie. She’s ten, and she has arthritis. So our short mile turned into more of a brisk walk with some spurts of jogging mixed in. But so much fun for her with pit stops to potty and to sniff all the things.

Wish me luck that I can keep this up! Hopefully, I will emerge a stronger, faster runner!

Have you ever done a run streak? I’d love to hear about your experience! Check out the links below for more info on the running streak. As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

https://www.runtothefinish.com/should-you-run-everyday/

https://strengthrunning.com/2020/03/running-streak/

Grocery Tour Series for Vegans: Fresh Market

Last week on the Outer Banks, I found myself in need of vital wheat gluten for a recipe for vegan Salisbury steak from Rabbit and Wolves that my friend and fellow blogger Britany shared with me. Well, the Harris Teeter didn’t have it. Of the remaining grocery stores at the beach, I figured the Fresh Market would be my best bet, and I was right! I did find it there.

This is not a store I frequent in Richmond, although we have a few locations in our region. They are simply too far away from me, and I find them rather expensive. But it’s fun to visit from time to time and see what’s new. What else did I find besides my gluten?

The produce section at the Fresh Market is always beautiful!

Well, as you would expect, the produce here is great. Beautifully displayed and, much like the store’s name, fresh. And they have lots of unusual fruits and vegetables. This section is also where they carry tofu, seitan, Beyond Meat products, seasoned jackfruit, another brand of seasoned tofu products I’ve never seen before called Hodo, and a number of specialty vegan sauces from Haven’s Kitchen. I’m going to have to go back and try some of these.

Hodo is a brand of vegan friendly products I haven’t seen before!

This line of certified vegan sauces from Haven’s Kitchen were tempting.

In the dairy case, there was a wide selection of plant based milks, a fair selection of Follow your Heart vegan cheese, and they had Just Egg as well. I shared in my recent post about egg substitutes and how the retail price of this product seems to be going down. I was pleased that it was on sale for $5.99. Still expensive, but an item that was not at Harris Teeter, which is where I did our primary shop for the week. So, yes, I bought some. I sensed some French toast in my future…

Just Egg is sold here, retailing at the typical $7.99, although it was on sale last week.

In the freezer section, I found your standard Gardein products, a large selection of products from Dr. Praeger’s, and a few more products from Strong Roots that I haven’t seen before. I’m a big fan of their cauliflower hash browns! I may have to go back and try some of the other product offered here.

The selection of vegan prepared items in the freezer section.

One unexpected surprise was an extensive line of vegan chocolate bars by Endangered Species Chocolate! This is a brand that they also carry at Target, but Target only carries a couple of varieties. I think Fresh Market must carry every flavor! I brought home two bars: the oat milk sea salt and almonds + dark chocolate and the salted peanuts + dark chocolate. Both were delicious!

Many of the chocolates from Endangered Species Chocolate are certified vegan.

The biggest disappointment was their bakery. I was really hoping that they had jumped on the vegan bandwagon, but sadly, that was not the case. Among their gorgeous cakes, cookies, and pastries, not a vegan one was to be found. I even asked one of the associates in the bakery area if they had anything vegan made in house, and she kind of laughed at me. Sigh. What I would have given for a vegan pumpkin pie! Good thing I’m a good baker and had time on my hands last week.

So, overall, it was a fair experience. This is definitely not a primary shop for me due to the pricing here and limited selection of goods, but they do have a few items I haven’t seen anywhere else. Most importantly, if you need something unusual for a baking project and you are on the Outer Banks, the Fresh Market will likely have it, even though you’ll pay a premium for it. In addition to the vital wheat gluten, Just Egg, and chocolate, I also picked up some vegetable sushi rolls made in house that were quite tasty. I’m definitely going to have to try some of those pre-made vegan sauces! And I’m happy to report my Salisbury steak turned out great!

My finished Vegan Lentil Salisbury Steak! Highly recommend.

Do you have a Fresh Market where you live? Have you ever shopped there? I’d love to hear about your experience! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday! We are on the Outer Banks of NC still, but leaving tomorrow. This is a trip that almost didn’t happen. Maybe it shouldn’t have happened. But we’re here. Just our immediate family in our quarantine cluster, and we traveled by car. It’s been our tradition for over 30 years, and I’m grateful to be here.

The big meal has been strange for me since going vegan. But this year, I made some extra effort to make sure I had some special dishes to enjoy alongside the omnivores. I tried the Trader Joe’s version of Tofurkey, and it was good! The gravy, although tolerable, was less than perfect. I can make better. But the seitan loaf filled with stuffing was outstanding, and I’ll definitely buy it again.

I paired this dish with vegan mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. I used this recipe from Minimalist Baker for the casserole, and even the meat eaters loved it. Seriously. No one could tell it was vegan!

Of course, I finished my meal with my favorite chocolate cake made from the recipe from King Arthur Flour paired with the vegan chocolate frosting recipe from Loving It Vegan. Good stuff.

Even though I was miserably full after my meal, I managed to take my food baby on a run that evening. I may have almost puked a few times. But the weather was glorious!

What special vegan dishes did you enjoy for the holiday? I’d love to hear about it! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

When You Feel Like a Slug…

Lately, my runs have felt anything other than easy. In fact, since I got sick in August, running has felt slow and laborious. It’s my new normal, so it seems.

The first week in August, I developed Covid symptoms. I was sick for 2 weeks. The first few days, I couldn’t tell you which symptom was worse: the relentless headache, or the non-stop watering eyes. I also had a low grade fever that lasted the entire two weeks. It seemed each day brought a new, annoying symptom. I went to the doctor two times and was tested for Covid both times using a PCR test. The results of each were negative. I’ve now been tested 3 times through work as well, all negative.

It took a while for me to get back to running. I obviously didn’t run while I was ill, so took those two weeks off, but then I also gave myself some grace when I did get back to running. I took lots of walk breaks. I ran intervals with my teammates (socially distanced, of course). But “recovery” from whatever that illness was has seemed ridiculously long. It’s been so bad that my new joke has been, “if you like to walk, you’ll love running with me!”

We are on our annual Thanksgiving holiday week on the Outer Banks of NC. We drove, and we are only with our immediate family (our quarantine cluster). My latest runs have been ALL running, for which I’m grateful. But when my effort seems like a 10:30 pace, and I look at my Garmin and see 12:00, it makes me want to cry! I was never a fast runner, anyway, but I swear my watch was wrong! Sigh.

Hopefully, if I’m persistent with training, the speed will return. I have to have faith that it will. For now, I’m on my maintenance miles schedule since marathon season is over. My best friend is talking me into doing some speed work. Yes, maybe it’s time to get back to that.

For now, I hear the kitchen calling! I’ve got a chocolate cake to make…

Did you train for a marathon this fall? How did it go? Did you contract Covid and struggle to get back to running after? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Happy running! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

What Came First: The Chicken or the Vegan Egg?

Yeah. That answer should be obvious. I know… this groaner of a title was a cheap trick to get you to read my post. But, seriously, let’s talk about egg substitutes!

Of the things I miss most being vegan, it’s definitely not meat. I’ve never been the type to crave a steak. (Well, at least not after getting food poisoning after an unfortunate meal at a Quincy’s steakhouse when I was nine.) What I miss most are cheese and eggs. It seems nothing can give that custardy texture but eggs! Or am I just missing the right substitute?

Which egg replacer you use really depends on what you’re trying to achieve. Scrambled eggs? Baking? French toast? All beg for something different. This summary, by the way, isn’t the textbook of all egg substitutes. I’m just sharing what I’ve personally tried.

Tofu scramble with a variety of veggies!

Let’s begin with scrambled eggs. Savory breakfasts are a favorite for me! Pre-vegan, I would often have breakfast for dinner, especially if the rest of my family was having something I didn’t want. It was nothing to whip up a nice omelet or egg and cheese sandwich. But, alas, those days are gone. What I have now is either tofu scramble or Just Egg. Each sub has its own secrets to making them work. For tofu scramble, add a bit of turmeric for the yellow color. If you can find it, adding black salt will lend a sulfur-like flavor that mimics eggs, or so I’ve heard. I haven’t been successful in finding this, though. A recent addition to the market, Just Egg is great! I think it’s a love it or hate it thing with this product, though. I happen to love it. Many in my vegan circles do not. It does tend to stick to the pan like mad, and it cooks very quickly. The secret to scrambling this is to use a non-stick pan and a fair amount of oil. For both, I recommend sautéing in a bunch of veggies to the mix, cooking these first before adding the tofu or Just Egg.

Just Egg with leftover vegan chili, pico, and guacamole.

Your choices go up for baking. As I’ve worked on veganizing my traditional egg based recipes, I’ve tried flax eggs, Bob’s Red Mill egg substitute, and Just Egg, all with success. To make a flax egg, mix 1 tablespoon flax meal with 3 tablespoons water, and wait several minutes for the mix to thicken. Bob’s Red Mill makes a powdered egg substitute that you mix with water. Although the texture works for baking, I think it adds a strange flavor that I’m not particularly fond of. You can also use ¼ cup Just Egg. Some other popular choices are ½ mashed banana or Ener-G egg substitute (similar to the Bob’s Red Mill product). Be aware that you will be able to taste the banana if you use this.

French toast was a bit disappointing the first time I tried to make this vegan. As always, I started with a googled recipe. The first I tried had flax eggs. It was just OK. But my favorite thus far is using Just Egg. I followed the recipe on their website first, but now I just eyeball it like I did before I went vegan. I use about ¼ cup Just Egg to ½ cup unsweetened plant-based milk, a dash of salt, and a liberal sprinkle of cinnamon. This is enough for about 3 slices of bread. Cook in a non-stick pan generously coated with cooking spray until golden on both sides, then top with vegan butter and syrup!

So maybe you aren’t a French Toast fan. You’re more of a pancake lover? You can rely on science to create fluffy pancakes, not eggs. My favorite recipe is the Fluffiest Vegan Pancake recipe from Tasty. The chemical reaction from baking powder and vinegar is what gives these pancakes its amazing texture. My favorite vegan chocolate cake recipe from King Arthur Flour also uses this method to help the cake rise.

Vegan pancakes using the Fluffiest Vegan Pancakes recipe from Tasty with a homemade strawberry compote.

So, there you go. A synopsis of some of the egg substitutes on the market and, perhaps, already in your kitchen! The best choice really depends on your needs. I’ve yet to try aquafaba to make meringue. Have you tried this? I’m still super impressed by Just Egg, though, for its versatility. Now that I can find if for less than $5 as it becomes more widely distributed, I’m going to try using it to make custard desserts. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to explore the silken tofu route, which I also haven’t tried. We’ll see how my recipes develop!

Just Egg on the shelf on my local Walmart.

My lead photo for this piece is of my last chickens, Eggo and Ebony. They were born and raised by a hen from my own flock. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life to watch Francesca raise her babies. I no longer keep chickens, but doing so taught me so much about these amazing creatures! Birds are awesome.

What are some of your favorite egg substitutes? I’d love to hear about it! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Going Old School Vegan: Lentil Pasta Sauce

I’ve mentioned before that I’m growing weary of meat substitutes. Although I love that there are so many available on the market, at times, I worry that making these the center of my diet is taking me away from one of the very reasons I chose to go vegan in the first place: eating healthy. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy these products, and I absolutely think that they serve a valuable purpose, especially as a bridge to help transition from omnivore to vegan. It’s just that from time to time, it’s nice to remind myself of the value of legumes in their natural state as a wonderful, versatile protein source.

Lentils are packed with fiber and protein, and their texture resembles ground meat, making it a perfect addition to pasta sauce. Compared to vegan meats on the market, they are dirt cheap! Lentils are super versatile and are often the center of curried dishes as well. Store brand organic canned lentils usually run about $1 per can, and dried lentils are even less expensive. Plus, even for Italian inspired dishes, you can spice them up however you like. Missing the taste of Italian sausage? Add some fennel seeds. Craving a more traditional Bolognese sauce? Add Italian seasoning. Want your sauce to have a kick? Add red pepper flakes. Feeling adventurous? Add them all.

This can of organic lentils from Walmart costs less than $1.

Most of the items in this recipe are from your stash of pantry staples, so it makes it easy to throw together when you need a meal in a hurry! Here’s how to prepare it:

Vegan Lentil Pasta Sauce

Ingredients:

1 small onion, diced
½ green pepper, diced, if desired
1 Dorot garlic cube OR minced garlic clove
Olive oil for sautéing
1 jar of your favorite vegan pasta sauce
Spices (1 tsp. fennel seeds for a sausage flavor, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, dash red pepper flakes for heat)
1 can lentils, drained and rinsed
Salt and pepper to taste

Onions, peppers, garlic, and lentils! If you’re feeling really lazy, many groceries carry pre-diced peppers and onions in the produce section or freezer section.

Directions:

In a medium sized saucepan or covered skillet, warm 1-2 T olive oil over medium heat.
Add the onion, peppers, and garlic, sautéing until onions are translucent.
Add the lentils and desired spices and sauté until warm.
Add the pre-made pasta sauce, stir, and cover, simmering over low heat to allow flavors to mingle, about 15-20 minutes.
Salt and pepper to taste if needed.
Serve over your favorite cooked pasta.

So there you have it! One super quick, easy meal for your busy weeknights. Enjoy!

If you try this dish, let me know! Post about it and tag me on Instagram @annecreates. As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

When Life Feels Like a Merry-go-round…

I was hoping to share a race recap from coaching the Richmond Marathon with my training team from Sunday, however, life had other plans for me.

My Saturday began with a face to wall meeting… as in, I had a spell of vertigo reaching for my towel and fell into it. Not a great way to start the day. I managed to feel better by the time I went to work, and I didn’t think much more about it after that.

That night, I dutifully laid out all of my running gear for Sunday morning, ready to meet my team early at Dorey Park. When my alarm went off at 4:00am, I got up, and quickly realized I couldn’t walk straight for the vertigo. I got dressed while sitting on my bathroom floor. I hoped the feeling would pass like on Saturday, but I wasn’t so lucky. It was clear that I was not well. I had to text my fellow coaches and break the news that I couldn’t be there. There was no way I could drive, much less run. It was like I was on a never ending merry-go-round, or the giant swings. It sucked, because the best day of the season is bearing witness to the success of your team in completing their marathons. Sigh.

Last year on Richmond Marathon day on the Lee Bridge. Photo courtesy of Eric Nachman.

Now, since I’m a physical therapist, I do have some knowledge about vertigo and vestibular problems. I had my issue narrowed down to BPPV or an ear infection. I did an Epley maneuver to myself (which is challenging, by the way) to try to move whatever crystals may be stuck in my ear canal, and it definitely made my vertigo worse, plus elicited a bit of nystagmus, too. That wasn’t fun. But my symptoms were a tiny bit better once I recovered from that.

I was functional Monday and managed to work a full day. As long as I didn’t move too fast or keep my head down or to the left, I was OK. Not great. Just OK. And this has been my status since then.

On Wednesday, I finally bit the bullet and went to the doctor. It turns out I was wrong about the main cause of my problem, which is very humbling considering I watched Tuesday night’s episode of Transplant on NBC and could diagnose every patient’s ailment before it was revealed in the plot! I felt super smart. My daughter was so impressed, she said I should have been a doctor instead of a PT. Ha! Not really. It was just predictable writing!

Anyway, I have a clogged Eustachian tube. There’s so much pressure built up in my ear that my eardrum is bulging. That explains the occasional nags of pain and sensation of fullness in that ear and the vertigo. He said it’s possible that I have BPPV as well. But, hey, I knew it was the left ear. And now I have meds to unclog the tube. Oh, happy day!

As a bonus, the PA that I saw from my practice was wonderful! I always fear going to a male provider. I feel like I’m frequently not taken seriously. But he was great. He listened. He was empathetic. He was exactly what a healthcare provider should be, as was his nurse. I’m so grateful.

I know what you’re asking yourself. Why did I wait so long to see the doctor? Well, our insurance basically covers nothing until you hit your deductible, despite costing over $1000 per month for our family. Yes, it’s an employee sponsored plan. No, the ACA plans aren’t less expensive. Yes, it really does cost that much for a $10,000 deductible plan. The point is, if we’re paying that much for coverage, shouldn’t we get some discount for sick care? Sigh. My delay in care due to my fear of cost could have been harmful had this been something worse. How many other Americans are in the same boat? I’m assuming lots of us are. This, my friends, is one example of why we need universal healthcare!

The PA says I should feel better by the weekend. I am counting on it! I’m looking forward to running and picking up heavy things from the floor again! And I’m looking forward to getting off this crazy ride…

Have you ever had vertigo? Not so fun, eh? I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Just breathe…

Did you hear that? More importantly, did you feel it? It’s the collective breath of relief as the huge dark cloud that has enveloped my country started to lift on Saturday. What were you doing when you heard that the 2020 election had been called for President Elect Biden and Vice President Elect Harris? I was working at the hospital. My friend Britany sent me a text. Then my phone started blowing up with news notifications.

Of course, now we have the promised dispute from 45 and his cronies. They have been working diligently over the past months to not only make voting more difficult by slowing down our mail system, but to also sow the seeds of doubt in our very safe voting systems. Conspiracy theories abound. Social media posts from “ballot counters” confessing to throwing out thousands of ballots. Hmm… how come Republicans still have a majority in the Senate? Sigh. His court cases are already being dismissed.

I have to admit, there were a few days that I felt like this election was going to turn out just like 2016 all over again, when we were expecting a landslide for Hillary. This time, the numbers in the polls were even stronger for Biden. He won the popular vote by over 5 million.

I just don’t understand how anyone could rationalize voting for Trump again. Hide behind your excuse for voting for the economy and all you want. But to vote for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations instead of for social justice and equal rights for all? Who are we as a nation? Seriously. We have no empathy and no moral compass. I don’t want to hear about what a “good Christian” Trump is. Holding up a bible in front of a church you’ve been in once because you had to does not constitute moral fortitude. It does pander to evangelicals, though.

I still fear that there will be civil unrest. This is far from over. Trump, of course, refuses to concede. And while I am encouraged that some Republican leaders have accepted the results of our election, there are others who are standing by their man. I’m also certain that the current administration is going to do everything in its power to make the transition to the Biden team as difficult as possible.

Still, I was in tears listening to both Harris’ and Biden’s speeches. Maybe Biden wasn’t my first choice for President, but maybe he’s just what we need. A grandpa-like figure who has been there, done that, and with just the right perspective to help us heal. And he’ll work on this with a cool aunt by his side who is young, vibrant, and eager to serve our country, making history as the first woman and woman of color to serve as our Vice President.

Let’s not forget that our work is not done. Just because we squeaked out this win for the Democrats, we still might lose the Senate, which puts us in the same boat as we were in the Obama administration. We will have to wait for the runoff elections in Georgia to see. And we need to hold Biden accountable for his promises to continue to fight for social justice and environmental protections. It’s time to heal. Our work is just beginning.

This was taken at the base of the Lee Monument at what is now known as Marcus David Peters Circle in Richmond. This site has been the epicenter of protests both for, and against, social justice. In the weeks prior to the election, there were multiple “Trump Train” car parades that passed here, harassing those gathered at the site. I frequently run past this monument, and I’m in awe of its evolution during this time of change.

How do you feel about the results of the election? Are you cautiously optimistic like me? I’d love to hear about your opinion. Barring any civil unrest, I will plan to return to regular wellness and vegan content! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Crossing my fingers…

This is election week in the United States. I’ve waited for this since November 8, 2016. And while I probably shouldn’t get political on my blog, I’m sure most of you are smart enough to figure out my political leanings anyway. I can’t ignore the impact our current administration has had on my spiritual well-being and for that of many of my friends. I can’t stay silent.

Election season always coincides with marathon season. In 2016, I ran my first Marine Corps Marathon, which runs through our nation’s capital. That was in October. I remember the pride I felt running up and down the National Mall. I was certain that we were about to elect our first female president. I cried when I cast my vote for Hillary, knowing that the glass ceiling had finally been shattered. Sigh.

With my finisher’s medal from the Marine Corps Marathon in 2016.

Since running a Richmond Marathon race is so much a part of my life, I also ran the Richmond half marathon that year. That race was after the election. I was so pissed off every moment of that race that I ran a personal best. That time still stands.

I couldn’t believe what my country did. Despite Hillary Clinton winning the majority of the popular vote by over 3 million, by the magic and tragedy of our archaic electoral college, we ended up with Trump.

I wish I could say that I was pleasantly surprised by his transformation into a leader that was remarkably presidential. However, what we have had is anything but that. Make America great? No… not really. All gentlemanly norms have been thrown out the window. To elect someone who has had multiple accusations of rape and sexual assault, who mocks the disabled, who dog whistles white supremacists, who leads by Twitter statements, who has sought to erase every last bit of Obama’s legacy, who has fostered the creation of a militias all over the country, who puts children in cages, who unleashes the military on peaceful protestors, who calls our military losers, who ignored the playbook on a pandemic, who doesn’t trust science, who exploits our environment, who uses the office for personal financial gain, who tells his followers to create civil unrest, who wants to strip women of their reproductive rights… the list of atrocities is endless. One thing is certain: his leadership has fostered an alarming lack of empathy in this country. My heart has been sick for 4 long years.

As a survivor of childhood sexual assault, the fact that we are led by someone who has admitted on tape to assaulting women has been a huge trigger for me. Appointing someone to the Supreme Court with similar, credible accusations didn’t help. I’ve been told that I should just get over my experiences already. After all, I am 46, and I was 9 when the worst happened to me. But my inner child, who never really got to be one, still struggles.

We have seen an extraordinary rise in activism in the past 4 years, and for good reason. Those of us who seek social justice are awake. We are tired. And we are angry. We don’t want to move backwards. We have seen the rise of the Me Too movement, Black Lives Matter, and young people speaking up about gun control and environmental activism. It’s been worldwide. And in the shadows of the fight for progress are the rise of nationalism and white supremacy.

We can do this. We can be the light. Let’s not trust the polls leading up to this day: the day we take our country back. This is not Trump’s America. This is the United States of America. If you have not voted yet, you need to go on November 3^rd. I voted early with my daughter, and we cast our votes for Joe Biden.

I’m crossing my fingers that my country makes a better choice this time. With voting early, I hope that enough people made it to the polls to overwhelmingly choose a new president. Let there be absolutely no question who the people have elected. God help our country if there’s not.

Have you already voted? If not, do you have a plan for Election Day? Please let your voice be heard. The movement needs to happen at your local and state levels, too.

If you are looking for a good documentary to get you fired up for Election Day, I highly recommend watching Not Done: Women Remaking America on PBS. You can watch it online or on demand.

If the Trump Train parades of the past weekend are an indication of what’s to come this week, we are in for a bumpy ride.

Take some time to care for your mental health this week. As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Vegan Tuna Salad

With the prevalence of vegan meat substitutes emerging on the market right now, it’s easy to shift a plant-based diet to these convenient, highly processed protein sources. But more and more frequently, I find myself wanting to cut back on these, and go back to consuming more recognizable ingredients. Sure, I won’t completely give up the convenience of a Beyond burger, but whipping up something from scratch for a sandwich has its own rewards.

So let’s go back to the ever versatile chickpea! Chickpeas are packed with protein and fiber. I shared with you a few months ago a recipe for buffalo chickpea salad. Today, I’m sharing how to make chickpeas taste like seafood! The secret, of course, is Old Bay seasoning. Like the buffalo salad, you can easily prep a batch of this simple and delicious salad for several lunches!

So, without further ado:

Vegan Tuna Salad

Ingredients:

1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
¼ small red onion, finely diced.
Handful of baby carrots (or one whole carrot, peeled) and finely chopped.
¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1 tsp. dried parsley
Salt and pepper to taste (do not over salt!)

Directions:

For ease of chopping, use a Zyliss or similar type hand chopper to prep the carrots and onion. Add the prepped veggies to a large mixing bowl. Add the chickpeas to the bowl, and use a fork or pastry blender to crush the peas until mostly mashed. Add remaining ingredients and mix with a spoon. Serve as a sandwich on bread or toast or as a part of a traditional salad with greens and additional veggies! You can store leftovers for up to a week in the fridge.

Using a pastry blender to mash the chickpeas.

The star of the show: Old Bay seasoning!

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.