What? Am I talking out of both sides of my mouth? ? ?

Americans eat a terrible diet. That’s why many of us refer to it as the S.A.D. (Standard American Diet). In fact, it is so terrible that approximately 62% of our calories come from processed foods. A large percentage of this is just a mixture of white flour, white sugar, and fat — with various flavorings, preservatives, artificial sugars and colors added. This can hardly even be considered food. It’s pretty amazing that our bodies are able to operate as well as they do, for as long as they do, when we put this sort of junk in them routinely.

So here is where the gluten-free craze has actually made a positive difference in many people’s diets: If you remove all the processed foods that have flour in them, (which is a huge variety of junk food) and replace those foods with any sort of whole food, you’ve made a huge improvement in your diet! So when people “give up gluten” they are really giving up a lot of junk food. So it’s no wonder they start feeling better!

The irony, though, is that in most cases, it wasn’t the gluten in the flour that was the problem with those donuts, cakes, cookies, Wonder bread, pastries, and crackers. It was the refined white flour, sugar, fat, and chemicals!

 Now let’s just suppose that you decided to eat a healthy diet that wasn’t necessarily gluten free. When you removed the 62% of processed foods, you’d have eliminated all that white flour, sugar, fat, and chemicals and replaced them with whole plant foods. You might include a slice of whole wheat bread or some whole wheat pasta once in awhile — so it’s not gluten free! What do you think would happen? Don’t you think you’d feel better then, too?

Then, if you take it the next step and remove the 25% of our calories that come from foods of animal origin — meats, (including fish, which is the meat of a fish), dairy products, and eggs — and replace those with whole plant foods as well, you’d have a tremendously healthy diet! And if you included a little whole wheat bread, it would still be a tremendously healthy diet.

So when we build our diets around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans, with a few nuts and seeds added, our bodies thrive because we are nourishing them wonderfully well. Taking out the wheat, barley and rye because they contain gluten will only improve this diet for the people who really are gluten intolerant — but that is a small percentage of people.

For most people, the great results obtained when those eating the S.A.D. go “gluten free” are achieved because they have cut way back on the amount of junk food. So if that is your motivation for cutting out junk food, then I say “go for it!” Whatever it takes!

Now if someone would just start a craze for eliminating animal products, we’d have it made. I guess it’s not enough that it is loaded with cholesterol, animal fat, (promoting cardiovascular disease) IGF1( which promotes cancer), animal protein (which contributes to kidney and liver disease and cancer) and bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses.

I’ve been a bit tongue-in-cheek in this post, but seriously — when we just choose a diet of whole, unprocessed plant foods, we are supporting our bodies in achieving wonderful health, and attaining and maintaining a healthy weight. If you do this and still have some distress when you eat whole grains containing gluten, then by all means, don’t eat them! But I think it is worth being conscious of the overall content of our diet before we start blaming all our ills on gluten.

The post Another Look At Gluten appeared first on Yes To Life.

Many of you have told me you really liked the Garlicky Dill Dressing

Today I’m going to share another salad dressing that has become one of our favorites: Creamy Cilantro Dressing.  It’s full of flavor, easy to make, and a very refreshing green color.  

Creamy Cilantro Dressing

 Put everything in a high powered blender and blend until smooth.

• 1 celery stalk
• 1 cup cilantro, leaves and stems (or more to taste)
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (more or less to taste)
• 1/4 cup raw cashews
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons plain rice vinegar

 As with any recipe, feel free to vary it to suit your own tastes.

Download a printable copy of the Creamy Cilantro Dressing

Since we eat big salads every day, it’s been fun creating new salad dressing recipes that we totally love.  I usually make a new dressing about twice a week, but it will keep well in the frig for over a week. We just eat it more quickly than that! 

I want to encourage YOU to experiment with various healthy ingredients and come up with some new dressings.  Just be sure to leave out oil and add nuts or seeds (or nut or seed butter) if you want it to taste creamy.  Try various vinegars, lemon or lime juice, various herbs, mustard, tomato sauce, fruit or fruit juice. . .   

Plain balsamic vinegar can be really tasty on a salad, and you can even use warm soup as a topping for your salad. One of our favorites is chili.  Might sound strange, but you should try it!  You can turn your salad into a real one-dish meal this way.

If you come up with a recipe you really like, come back here and share with the rest of us!

And please leave a comment about how you like the Cilantro Dressing.  I love hearing from you!

Download a printable copy of the Creamy Cilantro Dressing

The post Creamy Cilantro Dressing appeared first on Yes To Life.

Delisa, first grade school photo

You see, as a young child I was painfully shy. I know — lots of kids are a little shy — but for me it was torture. (Some of you can probably relate.) I blushed crimson at the drop of a hat, and then was excruciatingly embarrassed to wear my shyness where all could see it. I hated to have attention directed at me and can remember hiding when guests came to our house so they wouldn’t see me and talk to me. I was okay with people I knew well, but my shyness with new people kept me from doing things I really wanted to do. My mother was used to going with me into new situations until I got comfortable enough to be there on my own.

When I was 11 years old, our family moved to a nearby town, which meant we started attending a different church. My mother walked with me to the Sunday School room for kids my age, and we stood outside the door looking in. The other kids were already there, and I was terrified to enter.

Suddenly, a totally unexpected thought pushed it’s way through my fear.  “If I don’t go in there, life is going to pass me by. I am NOT going to spend my entire life on the outside looking in.” So, gathering every ounce of courage I had, and without looking back at my mother, I walked into the room and sat down.

That decision was the first time I consciously said “Yes!” to my life, but it certainly wasn’t the last. My shyness didn’t evaporate overnight, but it no longer ruled my life. I had to force myself to do things I was uncomfortable doing, but I didn’t let my discomfort stop me. And — no surprise –  with practice, I got better at meeting new people and life got easier for me in many ways. I’m still not an extrovert, but now I truly enjoy meeting new people and engaging with them. I’m so grateful for that 11 year old girl making the decision to say “Yes!” to life.

The reason I tell this story is because sometimes people think that those they see as leaders and teachers are somehow different . . . that they don’t go through the same struggles, doubts, fears or failures as others. I still have my struggles, but I’ve learned that they don’t have to stop me from moving toward what I believe in.

So I want to encourage YOU to move ahead through your struggles, to make YES decisions in your own life, and to know that there’s nothing wrong with you when it feels hard.  This is when we need each other, because others can hold the vision for us when we temporarily lose it. Others can help us believe in our own strengths and the value of saying Yes to our lives.  And one of the most basic ways to say Yes to our own lives is by choosing a life-supporting lifestyle.

Choosing a vegan diet is a very significant way to say “Yes!” to life. Sometimes it’s socially uncomfortable to eat this way, and sometimes it’s inconvenient since it’s not yet the cultural norm. But if we’ve made the decision to “Just Say Yes” to our life, we’ll choose foods that support our health and allow us to live much more fully even if it is sometimes inconvenient or even uncomfortable. And the more we practice it, the easier it gets. It’s especially helpful to connect with others who are making the same life-supporting choice.

There are many ways to “Just Say Yes” to our lives. We’ll be experiencing some of them at our Yes To Life Vegan Summer Camp in Wasilla from June 21-23.  Laughing and sharing with others, connecting with nature, enjoying the movement of our bodies, and preparing and eating health-supporting foods are some of the ways we’ll say “Yes!” to life at camp. The setting is beautiful, with space for activities indoors as well as a lake, trails, and picnic areas outdoors. There are many ways to be fed, and this camp experience will feed our body, mind, and spirit. I can’t wait to spend this week-end with you!

If you haven’t yet decided to join us at camp, click here for more information and to register. Registration is limited to only 20 people, so don’t put it off. I’d love to have you join us!

Now it’s your turn to share below:
What are some ways you have said “Yes” to life?
I’d love it if you’d share a decision you’ve made to “Just Say Yes!”
Or is there an area where you haven’t quite decided to say “Yes” but you’re feeling pulled toward a greater experience of life?

(If you would like more support for your choice to say “yes” with your food choices, contact me on the coaching page.)

The post Just Say Yes! appeared first on Yes To Life.

Delisa Renideo

Vegan on the Road
By Karen Nealon

If you ever wondered if it was possible to stay a Vegan while traveling, well I’m here to tell you, YOU CAN DO IT.

I learned how to take my new Vegan lifestyle on the road this winter. We were in an RV and our refrigerator broke down, so I was forced to see what’s out there! It’s not as hard as you might think. Almost all of the restaurants were supportive and tried their best to meet my needs. A couple of times I had to pull out the ‘lactose intolerance and allergy’ cards, but not that often. 

TIPS and TRICKS

• Look at the menus online before going to the restaurant – go prepared to order. You won’t feel rushed and the wait staff will appreciate it!
• If there isn’t a menu online start with a salad and see what you can request be omitted (i.e. cheese, chicken, fish, are the most common). Just be sure there’s something left besides iceberg lettuce. Sometimes all that’s safe is a simple house salad.
• Choose side dishes to accommodate your salad choice. Sides, such as baked potatoes, broccoli, grilled veggies, whole beans, avocado, salsa, etc., are the most common sides available.
• Mix the sides all together on a separate plate or in the salad bowl, or pour the beans and grilled veggies on top of a potato, rice or the salad. I got a few looks with this display, but I think most were just curious and wished they’d thought of it. I think it also gives the restaurant a few ideas (hints) on how to improve their menu.
• Ask for steamed corn tortillas, or if they have whole wheat. Ask for “Whole Beans.” (Most Mexican restaurants have them, even if they aren’t on the menu. Tell them to charge you the same as the refried beans.)
• Ask for whole wheat pastas. Italian restaurants are the most difficult for good choices. However, I did find some that would just give me the ‘grilled’ or steamed veggies with a house salad. Asian restaurants are great as they have lots to choose from, just asked for steamed.
• Hold the cheese please! I found lots of entrees where just asking the wait staff to omit the cheese was all that was necessary. For example: “I’ll have the Caribbean salad (walnuts, mango, peppers, coconut, avocado, cranberries on a bed of romaine and arugula), just hold the goat cheese please. And, can you substitute the garlic/parmesan pita toast with just plain pita toast? And does the lime vinaigrette have any dairy in it?” No Problem. 
• Steak House? Baked sweet potato or white potato, side of pinto beans, broccoli, with a house salad and balsamic vinegar. Yum
• Most of all, be patient and be creative but not to the point of being too hard to please. If you can help them see how easy it will be to serve you they are more than willing to do so.

Thanks so much, Karen, for your great tips!  I’ll keep them in mind when I’m eating in restaurants while traveling. Delisa

I’d love for all of you to add your own tips in the comments below.  I know that each of us has ideas that can help everyone else, so please share!

The post Vegan on the Road appeared first on Yes To Life.

How would you like to make a really, really BIG difference in the world, with one simple choice?
 
I totally believe that every single one of us wants to make a positive impact on the world. We love it when we see something good come from our efforts. It feels wonderful to know someone else’s life is better because we are here. Whether it is something as simple as offering a smile, a hug, or holding the door for someone, we’re naturally made to care and enjoy helping and contributing.
 
The problem is that so many of our world’s problems seem SO BIG that we can feel powerless to make a difference. After all, what can we do to save the rainforests? What can we do to reduce the crazy climate destabilization that is resulting in super storms, droughts, and floods?

How can we help reduce the scourge of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s Disease? How can we help our children avoid the childhood-robbing experience of obesity?

How can we help protect animals from unnecessary suffering?

How can we help reduce world hunger?
 
The great news is that we CAN actually help in every one of these situations, and it doesn’t cost us a penny to do so. In fact, when we help in all these situations, we are also helping ourselves to be healthy, trim, and energetic.
 
Eating a healthy plant-based (vegan) diet will not only help you be healthy and slim. It is also the most significant single action any of us can take to help the Earth, the animals, and other humans. And by our example, we help others know what is possible and make it easier for them to change, as well.
 
The truth is, you are a very powerful person. Every choice you make contributes to this world, whether you are aware of it or not. Choosing a plant-based diet has huge, far-reaching, powerful effects which can help you to feel really good about your impact. We all leave footprints. Let’s make them good ones!
 
I wrote this post in honor of Earth Day, which is Monday, April 22. The Earth is, literally, our mother. We came from her body and she has sustained our lives in every moment. Our powerful choices can make a huge difference in her ability to sustain us.

Click on the photo below to see a wonderful, 4 minute video excerpt showing how our food choices affect our Mother Earth.

Excerpt of A Life Connected

Or, you can see the entire 12 minute video called A Life Connected (click on the photo below), showing how our food choices affect people and animals as well. It’s a beautiful, inspiring, and empowering film. Please share it with your friends!

Full video of A Life Connected!

I’d love for you to share your thoughts with us after you watch the video.

Thanks for using your power to make this world better for all of us.

The post You’re More Powerful than You Think! appeared first on Yes To Life.

Salads should be front and center in a healthy diet

Unfortunately, most commercial salad dressings are loaded with oil, which is just a highly processed, low nutrient, super-high-calorie product. Most homemade dressings are also loaded with oil, so they’re not much better.

My solution is learning to make my own dressings, using raw nuts or seeds for creaminess, rather than oil. I keep experimenting and I’m getting better at making some really delicious dressings that make our salads irresistible.

I, personally, enjoy slightly sweet, creamy dressings with mildly fruity flavors, but I know some people really DON’T like that sort of dressing, so I’ve been experimenting to create a more savory healthy dressing. I hit on one I think you’ll like.

Garlicky Dill Dressing
This flavorful dressing will make you want to eat more salads!
You might even try it over steamed vegetables.

1/2 cup water
1/3 cup raw cashews
5 cloves garlic (. . . If you like a lot of garlic. Use less if you’re not a garlic fiend!)
2 Tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
2 Tablespoons plain rice vinegar
3 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon mustard of your choice
1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
1 teaspoon dill weed

Blend all ingredients in a high quality blender.

Feel free to tweak this recipe to suit your own tastes.
You can vary the vinegars, vary the mustard, and vary the amount of garlic and dill.
If you want the dressing to be thicker, you can add some extra cashews.
If this dressing is too sweet for you, replace some of the seasoned rice vinegar with a different vinegar.

Get brave and start making your own salad dressings, and you’ll discover you can make quite a variety just by switching out a few ingredients. So give this one a try, vary it to suit yourself, and please come back to leave a comment letting us know how you liked it and how you varied it.

Download a printable copy of the Garlicky Dill Dressing

The post Garlicky Dill Dressing appeared first on Yes To Life.

Spring is here, which means new life.

But when we look in the mirror, we may notice we have more wrinkles than we had last spring. Our waistlines may be expanding a little more each year. We may be experiencing a few more aches and pains, and we may even be seeing our health declining in more serious ways . . . with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or autoimmune diseases.

Oh well, I guess we’re just getting older. That’s the way it goes. Not much we can do about that!  Right?

It’s true that we can’t stop the calendar from advancing. BUT, there are definitely things we can do to change the course of the aging process. Most Americans begin the long, slow decline somewhere in their 40’s, and the usual progression includes increasing weight, increasing illness, increasing drugs and surgery to treat these illnesses, and often, long years of pain and disability before eventual death. This is the part we CAN change! There really is a Fountain of Youth!

What we often consider “normal” aspects of aging are really the result of an unhealthy lifestyle. When we change our lifestyle, we change how we age. And it’s not too late to make powerful, healthy changes even if we’ve already been experiencing some of these problems.

In fact, many people experience a sort of “reverse aging” when they make healthy changes in their lives. They start having more energy, their aches and pains go away, their excess weight melts off, their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugars can not only improve, but return to ideal levels, without medication. Their thinking becomes more clear, their mood improves, and life can become much more fun and joyful. They look AND feel younger!

So where do we find this Fountain of Youth? Do we have to go on a long journey, spend our life savings, or risk our lives to find it?

I’ve heard it said that the best place to hide something is in plain sight because no one is looking for it there!

The Fountain of Youth is hidden in plain sight — in the produce section of your local grocery store.

Fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, and raw nuts and seeds boost our immune system, reduce chronic inflammation inside our bodies, and provide the antioxidants that protect us from the damaging effects of free radicals. They clean out our clogged arteries, flush toxins from our bodies, and even prevent and reduce wrinkles!

Meat, dairy, eggs, and processed foods, on the other hand, deal a blow to every part of our bodies, inside and out. They are literally inflicting injury on us. They promote chronic inflammation, which increases the incidence of coronary artery disease even more than the high cholesterol that results from this unhealthy diet. They increase weight gain and cause insulin resistance, leading to diabetes. Animal products contain no fiber, so toxins build up in the body while constipation becomes a way of life. Clogged arteries and inflammation also lead to stroke and even dementia. Free radicals have their way with our skin as well as our DNA, so we get more cancer AND more wrinkles. We experience more pain, more sluggishness, and more depression. We really start to feel old.

If we really want to reverse the aging process, it’s not enough to add a small salad or an apple, or even goji berries to the Standard American Diet (SAD). We need to get rid of what’s causing the increasing illness, pain, and disability by stopping the injuries we are inflicting upon ourselves with a diet of animal products and processed foods and replace them with unprocessed plant foods.

Miraculously, just like the robins return to nest in the spring and the green leaves appear on trees that appeared almost dead, new life returns to us when we build our meals around vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, and a few nuts and seeds. Within a few days, our blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugars will have dropped, we’ll be moving long-held toxins out of our bodies as our bowels once again move as they’re supposed to. Our self-healing bodies will repair the damage inside and out, so we’ll feel and look so much better.

When your friends ask what’s happened, you just might want to share the secret with them – - – You found the Fountain of Youth, hiding in plain sight, in the produce section of your local grocery store!

Please share with us what you’ve experienced as you’ve changed your diet and lifestyle. Did you begin to feel younger? Did you begin to look younger? Did you have any significant changes in your “numbers?” Did you get off any medications?

The post The Fountain of Youth appeared first on Yes To Life.

Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, rye, and barley.  A very small percentage of the population, approximately 1%, have a very serious digestive disorder called celiac disease and they must avoid gluten entirely. If they eat gluten, they experience an immune reaction in their small intestines which damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents the absorption of certain nutrients.  It is a serious disorder.

There are other people who have an allergic reaction to wheat — not necessarily to gluten.  They don’t feel well when they eat wheat, so they need to avoid it.

However, for those who don’t have celiac disease or an allergy to wheat, there is no reason to avoid gluten.  In itself, gluten is not unhealthy.

I’m allergic to mangos, so I am wise to avoid eating them!  It doesn’t make mangos unhealthy, and if you’re not allergic to mangos, there’s no reason you shouldn’t eat them just because they’re not good for me.

That being said, avoiding gluten isn’t hard to do since almost all plant foods do NOT have gluten in them!  Only wheat, rye, and barley contain gluten. People who are extremely sensitive to gluten sometimes also avoid oats, even though oats don’t contain gluten.  The potential problem is that if oats are processed in the same facility as wheat, barley, or rye, some of the gluten from those grains might be left on the equipment and get into the oats, in very small amounts. For those who have serious celiac disease, it makes sense to purchase only oats that are certified to be gluten free because they are not processed in the same facility as wheat, barley, or rye.

Vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds do not contain gluten!  Rice, quinoa, and millet, and several other grains don’t contain gluten!

So really, since most foods don’t contain gluten, the potential problem is specifically with baked goods and pasta, processed foods, and sauces thickened with wheat flour.

So now comes the question: are baked products made without gluten healthier than baked products containing gluten?

My answer is a resounding NO!  Not unless you have celiac disease or an allergy to wheat.

Here’s why.  Most baked goods are made with lots of sugar, salt, oil or butter, and eggs, as well as flour. If you substitute a different  combination of gluten-free flours, but still have a product loaded with sugar, salt, oil, and eggs, has it magically become healthy?  Of course not!  Junk food is junk food, whether it has gluten in it or not!

I was at the grocery store yesterday and “gluten-free” labels were everywhere.  So I decided to see just what was in a package of gluten-free wraps.  I wasn’t impressed.  Instead of wheat flour, it was made with white rice flour.  White rice is a refined grain with most of the fiber, vitamins, and minerals removed from it. Grinding it into a flour to make the base of a wrap doesn’t make a healthy food. It also contained oil, a couple of other highly refined starches, and preservatives.  

If I were to choose a wrap made from whole grains, whether wheat, rice, oats, quinoa, corn, or any other grain, it would have been far more healthy — regardless of whether it contained gluten or not. And if I found one without added oil, even better.

So, many gluten-free products are simply highly processed foods that are low in nutrients and contain many unhealthy ingredients: refined starches, hydrogenated oils (otherwise known as trans fats) eggs, dairy, artificial flavorings and colorings and preservatives.  Gluten-free products can be healthy as long as they are made with whole grains, and don’t contain oils, eggs, dairy, much sugar, and the long list of unpronounceables!  But don’t assume they’re healthy because they’re gluten-free.

For those really needing to avoid gluten or wheat, why not just enjoy the amazing abundance of healthy vegetables, fruits, beans, and other whole grains rather than trying to mimic the taste and texture of bread and unhealthy baked products?

I don’t eat much bread anymore, but when I do, it is nutritious whole wheat bread. I make it myself, but you can purchase some good quality breads. If you don’t feel well after eating foods made with wheat, then it makes sense to avoid it.  

Whatever you buy, just be sure to read the label, and please don’t be conned into thinking that just because there is no wheat, barley or rye in a food, it suddenly becomes good for you.  Let’s continue to use our own heads and not be railroaded by the latest craze into inadvertently replacing a healthy whole grain product with a much less healthy gluten-free product.

The post Is Gluten-free Food Healthier? appeared first on Yes To Life.

Heidi’s treat – red cabbage.

Some of the most joyful and contented parts of my life take place in the kitchen.  No — not because I’m a gourmet cook (I’m not!) and just love creating masterpieces. It’s more about relationships.

Every morning, my family gathers in the kitchen.  Charlie and I work together to prepare our delicious breakfast. One of us cuts up fruit while the other prepares the red cabbage and kale that we steam together. The whole-grain cereal is heating on the stove. We know we’re about to enjoy a meal that provides our eyes, our taste buds, and every cell in our bodies a joyful experience.

But our family includes some other very important members, and they join us, too. It’s like a party!  

Heidi eating red cabbage. Yum!

Heidi, our little rescued Maltese doggy, eagerly waits for her cherished treat. She’s already had her regular breakfast, but we share some red cabbage with her and she absolutely adores it!

Buddy is the newest member in our family, a cute, playful little orange tabby kitten who finds every experience a complete joy!  Everything is a toy, a place to hide, or something to pounce on. So he joins us in the kitchen and plays with our feet or “hides” under the edge of the cabinets.

Buddy. Everything is a toy.

Sabrina is our big cat.  She definitely has a mind and ego of her own! But she never wants to be far from the action even when she pretends all the fun is beneath her. 

I love this part of our day.  As we sit down to eat our breakfast, we rejoice over the abundance of our lives — the wonderful food that sustains us so well, that provides the energy from the sun in a form we can digest, as well as all the nutrients that keep us strong and healthy. We laugh at the antics of our 4-legged kids. We plan the rest of our day. We occasionally spot a moose, fox, or even wolf out our window, usually on the far side of the lake. It doesn’t get any better than this! 

Sabrina, the “Queen” of Renideo Manor.

Then, because we work from home, Charlie and I go to our separate office spaces and work on the projects of the day, but we regroup to share our lunch and dinner together. Some days get crazy, as they do for everyone, but these meals together provide a feeling of connection and stability in our lives, and we treasure them.

As a child, I used to work side-by-side with my mother in the kitchen, enjoying this time together as a special treat. I was one of four children and it wasn’t always easy to get one-on-one time with her, so helping in the kitchen provided a great opportunity. I especially remember learning to bake pies with her. She would prepare and roll out the crust while I got the fruit ready, and in no time, it seemed, we had a pie in the oven. 

Naquoia with homemade pizza.

In recent years, I’ve had the joy of sharing time in the kitchen with my great-niece, Naquoia. She usually comes to visit for a week each summer. We sleep together in a tent in the back yard, take walks, paddle the kayaks around the lake, and she helps me in the kitchen. Last summer, she learned to make a vegan pizza from start to finish: the whole wheat pizza dough, sauce, veggeroni (made from wheat gluten and seasonings) and all the colorful veggie toppings. We all celebrated this pizza and the experience we had creating it together.

As I began to contemplate offering a summer vegan camp, I immediately thought about how much fun it would be for everyone to have an opportunity to work and play together in the kitchen. Working together creates a certain camaraderie and it’s a great way to be in relationship with other people, taking away some of the awkwardness we sometimes feel with people we don’t know very well yet. It’s also a great way to learn by doing, rather than just by watching. And there’s something so satisfying about enjoying the results of our own efforts and sharing them with others.

If you’d like to enjoy this fun, please join us this summer at our vegan camp! We’ll have fun in many ways — not just in the kitchen!

I’d love to hear about your experiences in the kitchen. Have you had some special times with anyone, as I have? Is there someone in your life now that you could invite into your kitchen to make the “work” more fun? Or do you enjoy having some time to yourself as you prepare meals?

So much of life is about relationships — relationships with ourselves, with our food, with friends, family, and critters. Let’s make the most of them!

The post Life & Love in the Kitchen appeared first on Yes To Life.

Yummy Yam Bars

I’m pretty committed to eating food that tastes great AND is good for me, so I’m always experimenting to get just that combination. Some of the results aren’t too wonderful, but some are keepers. This one, in my opinion, is a keeper, so I wanted to share it with you.

My goal was to create something that was a little bit sweet, but with no added sugar (or worse, artificial sweetener, yuck!). I wanted it to be a finger food, something I could stick in my purse or pack in my carryon when traveling, and that wouldn’t spoil easily. I also wanted it to be fairly filling, with enough calories to carry me through an afternoon, but not so calorific that I’d need to be climbing Denali to justify eating it.

So . . . . drum roll please. . . . . the answer is . . . . .

Yummy Yam Bars! 

2 cups cooked yams, peeled
1 large, ripe banana
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups oat flour (Make your own by processing rolled oats in a blender or food processor)
1 1/2 teaspoons aluminum free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 – 1 cup raisins
1/2 – 1 cup chopped dates
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1. Cook 1 large yam, then peel it and mash it into a bowl. Should be about 2 cups. (I steamed it, but you could also bake it. Or use canned yams if you want.)
2. Mash the ripe banana with the yam. A potato masher works well, or just a fork.
3. Stir in the vanilla
4. Make your oat flour by putting rolled oats into a blender or food processor, processing into a flour, and then adding it to the yam mixture.
5. Stir in baking powder and salt, mixing well
6. Add raisins, dates, rolled oats, and walnuts and mix well. The dough will be thick. Use your hands if needed.
7. Spray a 9’ square baking pan with a small amount of cooking spray.
8. Press the dough into the pan. If you slightly wet your hands with water, it makes it easy to pat the dough into the pan without it sticking to your hands.
9. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
10. Allow to cool, then cut into small squares. They’re filling, so cut them into tasty tidbits.

Printable Yummy Yam Bars recipe

Notes:

These bars are gluten free. Oats do not contain gluten, but sometimes oats are processed in the same facility as wheat, so if you are highly sensitive to gluten, purchase oats that are certified to be gluten free.

Feel free to vary this recipe. You could leave out the dates and add more raisins, or try other dried fruit.

These bars freeze well, so if you’re the type to be tempted to eat too many of them at once, just leave a few out to eat and freeze the rest. Take them out of the freezer as needed.

I shared these bars with some of my non-vegan friends, and they were a hit, so they’ve passed the test with people whose taste buds aren’t trained like mine are.

So . . . give these a try and let me know how you like them!

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