Vegan Detox Meal Plan
By Monica Sethi Datta, eHow Contributor
A vegan detox diet is designed to eliminate toxins from your body and help you lose weight. A vegan diet means eating no animal products or products that come from animals such as milk. The detox meal plan consists of fruits, vegetables, fresh juices and tea. A vegan detox plan is healthy, but can be low in protein and other vitamins.
Vegan Detox Food Guideline 1. A vegan diet excludes all forms of animal products. A Guide to Eating Vegan Foods (see Resource 1) provides a detailed guideline of what foods you can eat while on a vegan diet.

Meat: All meat, poultry and seafood is prohibited while on the vegan detox meal plan. Substitutes permitted include products made from bean curds, tofu, soybeans, grains or nuts.

Plant products: Fruits and vegetables make up the majority of a vegan detox. Try to choose organic produce. You can eat the fruits and vegetables whole or have fresh fruit juices.

Beans, nuts and legumes: All beans, nuts, and legumes are part of a vegan detox meal plan, including peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter or any other nut butter. Beans and legumes are crucial to a vegan diet to assure adequate protein intake.

Dairy and Eggs: Since veganism goes beyond being vegetarian, vegans cannot consume dairy products because it comes from animals. Soy and rice milk are good substitutes for milk and margarine is a common substitute for butter as it is made from soybean or sunflower oil.

Gelatin: Gelatin contains an ingredient that comes from a horse, and so should be avoided.

Sweeteners: Vegans differ on whether to avoid honey as it comes from bees, but others regard it as a "biological, animal-friendly product." Refined sugar, which is made using cow or horse bone marrow is not part of the vegan diet. Vegans can have raw brown sugar, from either sugar cane or sugar beet.

Drink at least eight glasses of water a day as part of your vegan detox meal plan.
How Long Does it Last 2. Some people set the vegan detox to a certain number of days, weeks, or months, while others have made it a steady part of their life by following it one day a week. You should follow the vegan detox until your body feels better and repeat as often as necessary. The vegan detox is safe to continue indefinitely as long as your body can handle it, as the meal plan is healthy and nutritious.
What to Expect During the Vegan Detox 3. The vegan detox meal plan will detox your body of toxins and chemicals that your body has collected over the years. The vitamins and minerals in the fruits and vegetables will provide antioxidant benefits and prevent your cells from damage from free radicals, improve your immune system and increase your energy levels.
Vegan Detox Sample Menu 4. For breakfast have a glass of soy milk, a slice of wheat bread and a piece of fruit.

For a mid-morning snack, have some tea.

For lunch, have fresh fruit salad using as many fruits as you'd like. For example, a salad consisting of papaya, banana, pear, strawberries and grapes. For a dressing, use unsweetened fruit juice and maple syrup or raw honey.

At mid-afternoon have a fresh fruit or vegetable juice.

For dinner, have one cup brown rice, with one ounce of tofu, a side of vegetables and a piece of fruit.

After dinner drink one cup chamomile tea.
Precautions
5. Regardless of the length of time you choose for your vegan detox, there are some safety precautions you should follow. Before starting a vegan detox plan, you should consult your doctor. While a detox diet can be safe, it can become unhealthy if you do not watch your vitamin and protein intake.

Read more: Vegan Detox Meal Plan | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5483759_vegan-detox-meal-plan.html#ixzz19hNN01Zx

Following a vegan detox diet, such as Master Cleanse, is recommended both for eliminating the toxins from your body and for losing the extra pounds. Animal products may include in their composition such contaminants as pesticides, insecticides, and even heavy metals. Colon cleansing will help you to filter these toxins.
The Premise: A typical vegan detox diet is based on fruits,fruit juices, and tea. These foods are rich in antioxidants, which will help fight free radicals. Fruits also contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The latter is particularly helpful for improving digestion and cleaning the colon.
The Diet: It is best to spread the meals throughout the entire day. Even though a vegan detox diet is commonly based on fruits and vegetables, you are free to add other detox diet recipes that you may like. The following menu is a good example of a vegan detox diet.
Breakfast
* Fresh fruit salad * 1/2 papaya, seeded and sliced * 1 banana, sliced * 1 pear, sliced * 1/2 cup raspberries or strawberries * 6 grapes * 6 Tbsp. unsweetened fruit juice * 1 tsp. maple syrup (optional)
Mid-morning
* 1 cup nettle tea
Lunch
* 1/4 melon * Fresh Fruit Salad * 1 cup pineapple, chunked * 1 banana, sliced * 1 apple, sliced * 1 pear, sliced * 6 grapes * 6 Tbsp. unsweetened fruit juice
Mid-afternoon
* 1 cup thyme tea
Dinner
* 1/2 papaya * 1 mango
After-dinner
* 1 cup chamomile tea
What to get excited over: Detoxification is only one of the health benefits brought by such a diet. The vitamins and minerals contained by these foods will improve your immune system, while the antioxidants will boost your energy levels and protect your cells from free radicals. Fiber will push out the waste from the colon, along with sodium and other toxins.
Things to consider: Meat-eaters may experience problems when starting a vegan detox diet, so consulting a doctor is recommendable. Vitamin intake needs to be monitored, as vegans may sometimes miss nutrients. Also, the Master Cleanse diet needs to be followed for a minimum of 10 days.
Verdict: After consuming unhealthy food for a long period of time, a junk food detox diet will prove beneficial. While Master Cleanse should not be followed for more than 45 days, other vegan detox diets can become a steady part of your life.

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Easy Menu Planning * Menu Planning Ideas * Tips on Planning a Menu
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Related Articles * Vegan Diet Meal Plan * Vegan Detox Meal Plan * How to Feed a Vegan Child * Cheap Vegan Products * Vegan Items in Chain Restaurants
Related Topics * Vegan Meals * Diet Meal Plans
Vegan Meal Planning
By Stephanie Barnard, eHow Contributor
Eating vegan is beneficial to your health, the environment and the welfare of animals. However, planning meals can be a challenge, especially if you're including non-vegans in your dining plans. Variety, familiarity and advance planning are key to creating an enjoyable dining experience for everyone.
Baby Steps 1. Everyone's heard this before: "Vegans can only eat salad." As a vegan, of course, you know this isn't true. Vegans can enjoy a variety of foods with only slight modifications. Begin by using meat and dairy substitutes, which include veggie burgers, soy milk and vegan sour cream. For example, you could make a vegan lasagna with crumbled soy "beef" and non-dairy cheese. Those are the only modifications you need--the pasta and sauce are probably already vegan. Serve up some soy ice cream for dessert, and you have a delicious meal the whole family will love.
Adding Variety and Nutrition 2. Many vegans say they eat a wider variety of foods now than when they were omnivores. It's fun to try new fruits, vegetables and grains, and they can add important nutritional elements to your diet. Try natural vegan protein sources such as tofu, lentils and beans in place of meat, and sprinkle nutritional yeast on dishes where you'd normally use Parmesan cheese. You may want to consider taking a multivitamin formulated specifically for vegans, but there are plenty of ways to get all the nutrients you need via your diet--from trying new, vitamin-rich foods to choosing soy milk fortified with vitamins.
Advance Planning 3. While vegans can and do eat at restaurants, the easiest way to control what's in your food is to make it yourself. As a new vegan, you'll probably find yourself making your own lunches (and your kids' lunches if they are going vegan also) and going out to eat less often. This isn't a bad thing--cooking and baking are great skills to have, plus they save you money. If you rely too much on takeout and prepared foods, you might find yourself spending too much money on food (one complaint about veganism is that meat and dairy substitutes can be expensive) and/or getting frustrated by the lack of vegan-friendly prepared foods. Making sure your pantry is stocked with plenty of fruits, grains and veggies is the best way to avoid this frustration. A little dark chocolate is good to have around, too.

Read more:Vegan Meal Planning | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5379658_vegan-meal-planning.html#ixzz19hOE3ikE

How to Become a Vegetarian for Life!
By LeoAndMe, eHow Member

Make their day!
User-Submitted Article
The history of vegetarianism reaches at least as far back as ancient India, where followers of Jainism, and later Buddhism, incorporated the diet into their non-violent religious philosophies. Much like the green movement of recent years, and perhaps because of it, vegetarianism appears to be gaining ground in the U.S., though accurate statistics have not been compiled.
We can, however, find evidence of its popularity in the cookbook section of our favorite bookstores, the "just for vegetarians" page of many restaurant menus and even in grocery store freezers, which now carry multiple variations of vegan "fast food" from Boca Burgers to microwave veggie lasagna.

Becoming a vegetarian overnight is probably comparable to quitting smoking from one day to the next...very unlikely to be successful! However, a few common-sense steps will help you make the adjustment over time to safely reach your goal of life-long vegetarianism.
Remember that being a vegetarian is a lifestyle, not a fad diet!
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need: * Motivation * Dedication * Supportive friends/family members * A quality vegetarian recipe book * A dietician or nutritionist, if possible 1. 1

Ask yourself why you want to become a vegetarian. Are you concerned about modifications and contamination of the meat supply, including hormones, antibiotics, pesticides (through feed), cloning and unsanitary processing facilities? Are you disturbed by the inhumane treatment of animals on factory farms and in slaughterhouses? Are you alarmed by the number of animals bred for meat supply and the resulting environmental implications, including CO2 and methane gas production, animal waste run-off and subsequent drinking water contamination and deforestation for grazing land? Do you take issue with questionable practices, such as buying fishing rights from third world countries or commercial fishing bykill? Have you adopted a religion or philosophy that demands a non-violent lifestyle?

These are all valid reasons to choose vegetarianism, but you should be clear about your own motivation. Unless you can find a meaningful purpose that aligns deeply with your values, you will find such a major lifestyle change difficult, if not impossible. 2. 2

Once you have made the decision and clearly defined your motivation, it is time to slowly begin the process. While setting up time frames for the accomplishment of goals is typically a wonderful practice, I recommend that you not pressure yourself unnecessarily. Look at each meat group as a separate habit and "wean" yourself off one habit at a time. This will greatly facilitate the process. You don't have to decide if you want to eliminate seafood or animal byproducts from your diet at this time, just focus on the meat first and follow your comfort level to determine when you are ready to tackle the next meat group. 3. 3

Begin your diet change with the meat you eat the least of. For some it may be red meat, for others it may be pork. Work your way down to the type of meat you eat most often. Make sure that you replace each meat group with several healthy, protein rich recipes, so that you don't end up a sweets-and-pasta-vegetarian! By the time you get to the final meat group, you should find yourself craving meat much less overall, while feeling stronger in your purpose through the progress you have made so far. If you decide to eliminate seafood as well, continue in the same manner, however, you may want to consult a professional nutritionist or find literature from a qualified professional to ensure that you do not suffer protein or other nutrient deficiencies. A well-balanced vegetarian diet is the only one you should ever follow. 4. 4

At times, you may feel as though you are losing motivation. Luckily, there is help. You can find vegetarian groups in almost every city now, a wonderful way to build a support network. Continue to educate yourself through resources from your local library, the Internet and non-profit groups. There is nothing like a heart-wrenching video from the Farm Sanctuary to confirm your decision and help you regain motivation.
A hands-on experience is unbeatable, of course. If you have access to a rescue or farm sanctuary, visit them or even "adopt" a farm animal through their programs! You'll think of your new friend at every confrontation with meat and the subsequent "No thank you, I am a vegetarian" will roll of your tongue so much more easily and likely with pride and conviction. 5. 5

Be prepared for attempts to talk you out of it! Why is it that whenever we swim against the current, we stumble upon countless objections?
The best and most polite way to counter rebuttals from friends and family is to address them when you first make your decision. Be very clear and firm and decline invitations to fast food restaurants or others without a vegetarian menu (or at least a decent soup and salad selection) before they are extended. If you want to, you can explain the reasoning behind your decision and ask your loved ones to kindly respect it, because it is important to you and your values and because you believe that it will make you a better, healthier or more balanced person.

As with any major lifestyle adjustment, take time out to relax, take a walk, have a cup of tea, exercise or meditate. Be sure to hold your supporters close and don't be too hard on yourself. Change takes time, but it also builds character.

Read more: How to Become a Vegetarian for Life! | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2227833_become-vegetarian-life.html#ixzz19hOc228F

Legumes Foods such as beans, lentils, and peanuts are known as legumes. These foods are good sources of protein and fiber, and are used in many different cuisines. In the US, you can find both fresh, canned, frozen, or dried versions. What are some common legumes? * Black beans are medium-sized, oval beans with black skin. They have a slightly sweet flavor and are often used in soups, or served with rice. They are included in many Mexican and Latin American dishes. * Black-eyed peas are medium-sized, oval beans that are cream colored with a black dot. They have a sharp flavor and smooth texture. They are usually served with rice or eaten as a side dish. * Garbanzo beans, also called chickpeas, are medium-sized, round beans that are beige in color. They have a nutty flavor and firm texture. Garbanzo beans are used in soups, salads, Indian dishes, and popular Middle Eastern dishes such as hummus and falafel. * Kidney beans, also called Mexican red beans, are large and kidney-shaped with a strong flavor and soft texture. Kidney beans are used in soups, salads, chili, Creole dishes, and traditional rice and beans. * Lentils are lens-shaped seeds. There are two common types of lentils - one is small and brown and the other is larger and yellow. Lentils taste delicious in side dishes, soups, and stews. * Navy beans are small, white, oval beans with a mild flavor and powdery texture. They are often used to make soups, and stews. * Pinto beans are medium-sized, oval beans with a spotty beige and brown color. They turn completely brown when cooked and are used to make refried beans and other Mexican bean dishes. Nutrition Facts for Legumes | ½ Cup Serving | Protein | Calcium | Iron | Fiber | Black beans | 8 grams | 23 mg | 2 mg | 7.5 grams | Black-eyed peas | 7 grams | 21 mg | 2 mg | 3.5 grams | Garbanzo beans (chick peas) | 7 grams | 40 mg | 6 mg | 5 grams | Kidney beans | 8 grams | 25 mg | 2 mg | 7 grams | Lentils | 9 grams | 19 mg | 3 mg | 8 grams | Navy Beans | 8 grams | 63 mg | 2 mg | 7 grams | Pinto Beans | 8 grams | 39 mg | 2 mg | 5.5 grams |

What are some ways to prepare and eat legumes? * To cook dry legumes, add 1 cup of dry beans to 5 cups of hot water and heat to a boil. Boil for 2-3 minutes and then remove from heat. Let the beans sit covered for at least 1 hour. The longer they are soaked, the less gas the beans will produce. Drain water before serving. * Canned beans are already cooked. Just drain and rinse them before serving. You can also heat them up in a pan with water or tomato sauce for about a minute. * Try topping your salads with canned or cooked beans to add protein. * Hummus, made from garbanzo beans, is great on sandwiches (to replace mayo) and makes an excellent dip for veggies. * Make your own dip by mixing beans, salsa, and cheese in a dish. Microwave the mixture until the cheese is melted.
Here are three easy recipes to try: Easy Hummus Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chickpeas
2/3 cup water
3 Tablespoons tahini
1 large clove garlic
½ teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoon olive oil
2 Tablespoons lemon juice Directions: * Place all ingredient in blender. Blend until creamy and serve. Keep refrigerated.
Easy Bean Salad Ingredients:
1 package extra firm tofu, cubed
2 cans kidney or garbanzo beans
1 small can sliced olives
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice or cider vinegar salt and pepper to taste Directions: * Put all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Chill for a few hours and serve.
Beans and Rice Ingredients:
1 cup rice, cooked according to package directions
1 teaspoon olive or canola oil
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
1/4 onion, diced
½ green pepper, diced
½ red pepper, diced
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon paprika
Tabasco sauce and crushed red pepper flakes to taste Directions: * In a large frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat. * Add pepper and onion and cook, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes. * Add the dried spices and beans and cook, stirring, until beans are heated through. * When the beans are heated thoroughly, and the Tabasco sauce. Serve over rice!
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Include legumes in your diet for good health. Eating legumes is a flavorful and vegetarian-friendly way to get nutrients such as protein and fiber.

DAYLLE'S 10 COMMANDMENTS OF SELF-LOVE 1. I shall lovingly accept myself as I am right now. 2. I shall appreciate all the beauty that makes me who I am. 3. I shall regularly give thanks for all of my blessings. 4. I shall trust in my ability to take care of myself. 5. I shall not criticize myself. 6. I shall not criticize others. 7. I shall forgive myself when I make a mistake. 8. I shall be kind to others, without sacrificing my own needs. 9. I shall take responsibility for my life. 10. I shall love myself to the best of my ability.
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