I'm new at this!

I really enjoy eating nutratarian-ish! I'm finding it easier each day. My new motto is "I may not be plant perfect, but I can be plant strong!" Thanksgiving dinner was a great success, although only 3 of us at dinner, we all loved it. Our favorite was the Vegan stuffing stuffed pumpkin and FRESH cranberry relish, (I picked the cranberries myself) a family recipe from Mary.

Stuffed Squash With a Shortcut and Some Questions

Stuffed Acorn Squash

This squash was stuffed with Vigo's Red Beans and Rice which I cooked on the stove top (without adding the butter!)while the squash was baking.  I added a medium bunch of kale, cut up, halfway through the 20 minute cooking time.  If I were making it for company I would probably sprinkle some nuts or grated cheese on top and bake it to brown the top but since I was cooking for myself I just spooned the rice mix into the half acorn squash when it finished baking and ate it with a salad.  It was very tasty, hearty and satisfying.  I added no additional seasoning since the rice package comes fully seasoned. 

 This is an easy dish and looks nice to serve to others but I do have one concern.  When I looked up the nutritional information online it said, "totally fat free" and "0 calories from fat"; however, the label says one serving contains 1 gram of fat, 0 grams sat. fat.  So where are the 9 calories from the 1 gram of fat?  Also, the Ingredients list includes "Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed and Soybean Oil".  What?  Is there a minimum amount required before it has to be listed as part of the Nutrition Facts or Calories?  Now I feel like I've lost one of my favorite quick foods.  I'm going to work on a good combination of seasonings for my beans and rice dishes that does not include hydrogenated oil and all those other additives.

Best Stir Fry

Photo M Wild Hansen

Bok Choy absolutely makes a stir fry.  It's my favorite ingredient so if I don't have anything but that I'll make it work.  Last night's stir fry was good.  Bok choy, onion, purple cabbage, carrots, portabella mushrooms, served over brown rice.  I sauteed the veggies in white wine and vegetable broth and added some black bean sauce from a jar.  It's fairly high in sodium but I only used a little and it adds mega flavor!

Nutritarian Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping is actually more enjoyable since I've been eating Nutritarian.  I spend the bulk of my time in the produce section, head over to the baking isle where I can find TVP, soy flour, 10-grain flour, flaxseed meal and whole wheat flour.  Then it's the canned goods and grains like various organic beans, canned tomatoes, quinoa, and whole grain pasta.  I get tofu and non-dairy milk in the dairy section, then breads like whole grain wraps and pita.  I find that the results of my modern day foraging is quite colorful and beautiful, so much so I actually took a picture today.   So eat colorful food!