Resources that make transitioning to vegetarianism a piece of cake
Hello Calgary Journal readers! My name is Laura and I am an editor over at the print edition of The Calgary Journal. Silvia, the web editor of Calgary Voices, has asked me to help contribute to the food blog, as I have been slowly transitioning to a vegan lifestyle.
When I first start living the veg-life, I realized I was going to need to do a lot of research to get it right. So, to help you on your veg journey, or your journey to just eat healthier, I have created this list of my favourite veg resources that have helped me learn and grow into my veg life. All the websites offer nutrition information, recipes and tips for healthier eating.
The Kind Life – The book, The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone, is how I started off on my veg lifestyle adventure. I would highly recommend buying her book as well as signing up for the daily newsletter. It gives great tips not only on how to eat vegan, but how to live vegan as well.
The Fitnessista – Gina at The Fitnessista is a wonderful resource for those who are just beginning a healthy lifestyle. I read her blog everyday and continuously learn from it. Although Gina isn’t vegan (she’s more of a flexitarian), she usually provides ways to make her recipes vegan and/or gluten free. Her website is a good resource for fitness tips as well.
The China Study – If you are going to read one book about going vegan, The China Study has to be it. Written by Dr. T. Colin Campbell, The China Study details his research into nutrition and its connections to heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The study examined the mortality rates, diets and lifestyles of 6,500 people in China. To me, the results were shocking and definitely changed my outlook on how and why our food gets to our tables.
VegNews Magazine – From the moment I touched this magazine, I was in love. Just the paper it is printed on (eco-friendly, by the way) is luxurious, not to mention all the information found inside. VegNews is a great resource for all things veg from food to clothes, supplements and body products. It’s sister website VegWeb is a user-fueled recipe database where you can figure out how to make a vegan version of any dish. It is also in an app format to take with you on the go.
Whether you’re interested in big salads with mixed greens, quinoa, roasted garlic, goat cheese, almonds and olives, or sugary cupcakes loaded with icing, these websites offer a range of unique recipes.
Photo by: Laura Lushington.
21 Day Kickstart – If you’re looking for a day-by-day plan to get introduced to eating vegan, the 21 Day Kickstart is for you. Produced by the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine in the U.S., the website and corresponding app take you by the hand through your first three weeks as a vegan. Even if you don’t jump into it head first, the program helps you learn how to create vegan meal plans and gives you tips for ordering vegan dishes at all restaurants.
Skinny Bitch – To add a little humour to going veg, read Skinny Bitch and its companion cookbooks. Skinny Bitch is a quick read that will bring all the major points of going vegan to your attention and make you laugh. It’s a great resource to have on hand when your friends and family start asking questions about your new lifestyle because its written in terms everyone can understand. It also helps break the tension with its feel-good vibe.
If you have any that you would like me to add, send me an email at llushington@cjournal.ca. I’d love to know what you’ve found out!