Let's Talk Kitchen Appliances - And Eating Vegan

Okay, all this talk about kitchen gadgets, and Vegan eating has got me thinking...

I'd love to learn more!

First, Kitchen Gadgets...... The Power Pressure Cooker XL is a combination of several appliances: saute pan, slow cooker, and pressure cooker and more..  It is very similar to the Instantpot we were talking about earlier.  There are three sizes: 6, 8 and 10 quarts. They say payments start at three payments of $33.33 with free access to members only recipes. The 10 quart size holds a turkey or up to four chickens or 15 pounds of ribs. The site is powerpressurecooker.com.

Second, I just saw a new commercial for something called the Perfect Cooker which appears to be a slow cooker and rice cooker and pressure cooker.  The site is buyperfectcooker.com.  This gadget starts off at three payments of $19.99 - but then they throw in a second cooker, and both sets include all the additional associated gadgets and they make one payment of $19.99 for you.  

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Now, Vegan Eating.  I'm very interested in this, especially as some of you have mentioned the health benefits, especially the reduction in pain.  Since surgery, a lot of meats have lost their appeal to me.  I used to love to eat chicken 5-6 times a week - now I only enjoy chicken wings. Pork chops are ok and once in awhile, some steak. I do love veggies, but when I think about beans, I think "high carb".  I've never cooked tofu, but I had it in Chinese dishes without realizing it and I'd be willing to try it.  But in this losing stage, I'm supposed to eat less than 800 calories, less than 40 carbs, and at least 60 grams of protein, in addition to drinking at least 64 oz. of water.  I just can't picture going vegan and being able to stay within my guidelines.  Can anyone post a tasty recipe that would fit in my program?  Also, can you explain the different types of vegan programs - some people eat fish, eggs, etc. and some don't.  Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks for sharing.

Mary

P.S. --- Here's something I just saw for the first time: perfect portions made easy.  It's a great idea, but I could make my own set for a lot less money.

Good Morning Mary!

I am also anxiously awaiting the same responses you are! I am curious about how you substitute dense protein for plant based protein.

All those kitchen gadgets sound cool. Jim is forever buying stuff for the kitchen since he loves to cook. I am running out of cabinet space for stuff!

Vickie, the shower pictures were great. Looks like everyone had a good time.

Connie, my heart continues to hurt for you between the physical and mental pain. I am dealing with the seasonal depression, but its manageable so far this winter. Try to hang in there by doing things like forcing yourself out for awhile every day. I know sometimes that magnifies things, but in the long run human contact is necessary. Love and prayers.

I am just doing some cleaning up and organizing today. I want to relax which will have to fulfill the 'fun' goal I have for the new year.

Everyone have a good day!

Hello Kathy,

I agree with you that handling depression whether seasonal or pathological is more about developing little strategies to offset the hopelessness. We all need sunshine so it's important if you aren't getting outside, to actually sit in front of a window and absorb some Vit D, which helps keep our moods more manageable.  

I've think setting daily goals helps too because it creates the achievement cycle...The goals don't have to be huge. Last night, before I went to bed, I told my husband that today I really need to go through my make up bag and throw away all the stuff that I don't use. He said, well that should be pretty easy. Actually, it's not easy because I get attached to the bottles and tubes of make up and hate to toss them...this morning, I cleaned out my make up bag and now have four items instead of 26 items...I had five mascara tubes...how crazy is that?  After throwing all that crap away, I felt liberated and less cluttered.  I know on Monday morning, when I get ready for work, I will appreciate not having all that clutter in my bag.  

The point is if we pick one little thing to do...walk to the elevator....clean out our medicine cabinet...once we have accomplished the goal, we feel successful and for the rest of the day, we can enjoy the sitting without feeling guilty because we did accomplish something.  Remember, guilt causes stress and stress produces those horrible hormones that slow down metabolism...we don't want to start that cycle.  

Beans have carbs but they are also high fiber and the high fiber decreases the carb count. 1/2 cup of pinto beans has 8 gms of fiber and 18.3 gms of carbs...so you deduct the 8 and it ends up being 10 gms of carbs...but remember, all carbs are not a like and aren't stored the same. High fiber foods have an increased value because of the fiber and the increase in metabolic activity. 

Mary,

I'm back....I started the post about the beans and was sidetracked by a sick cat.  

I think I'll start with the gadgets first. Over the last few years, I've been working toward simplifying my kitchen. I gave all of my kitchen appliances that had only one function to my kids because really I have absolutely no room. The power pressure cooker XL is something I would have wanted when I was younger and still had kids at home but now, it's just as easy for me to throw the beans in the crock pot.  I did buy a rice cooker a while back but then one of my students from China brought me a bamboo steamer from her home town when she went to visit.  I love it...I just sit the thing on top of my wok and while my veggies cook, the rice cooks...it's good for spring rolls too and fish and other kinds of foods you just want to steam gently...my steamer that came with my stainless steal set of pots is good for steaming huge chunks of vegetables....

I have maintained my portion control by eating in a saucer or my granddaughter's baby plate.  It's the perfect size to keep my eyes the same size as I want my ass. LOL.  

Back to Vegetarian eating or pescatarian eating: my husband is a very brittle diabetic and we meet with his diabetic doctor who manages his diet and insulin every other month and after we switched from meat to vegetables and fish, she was amazed at how in control his blood sugar became.  She and I discussed the fiber counter acting the carbs and she said that's why you always pick foods high in fiber over foods low in fiber and she reinforced the idea that high fiber foods cleanse your circulatory system--hence the eating oatmeal reduces cholesterol--and increases your metabolism, which, in effect, is increasing your consumption of the carbs that you just ate. Make your food work for you.  I realize that some folks cannot go meatless but it's a fact RNY folks can get our protein faster eating vegetables versus meat.  At my best eating day with meat, I could barely eat three ounces of meat once a day and it was never comfortable.  When I ate chicken wings, which I could eat, I was always sick of the fat...plus, meat sits in your intestine for days...at any given point, a person who doesn't have regular movement can have anywhere from 10 to 20 pounds of partially digested and digested food in their colon and that sits and creates gas which makes us feel bloated and heavier, which makes us feel stressed and like failures. While it's true that beans and peas and other vegetables also create gas, it's a part of normal digestion that is going to help move the digested food to the colon for elimination and not the result of fermenting meat...

I should do a weekly post about good eating but I am so afraid it will make others angry...maybe we can do a nutrition facts...let's talk about it. 

Good morning Mary and everyone.....

Mary....send me some of the energy you have and your willpower too! I don't cook like I use to either. I won't buy any new products at this time of my life. I gave so much to my grandchildren and donated some. I love to cook but I then end up with so many leftovers. It is best when I have family here. I have seen posts for both of the gadgets you are talking about. Go to "Consumer Reports" on the internet. They always rate things and are usually very accurate. 

Jeannie...you keep posting and I will keep reading. I love all the good information that you post!! I would like some of your willpower too!!! I really need a coach!! You keep me from a lot of research  that I have absolutely no energy to look up. 

Kathy...hello my little ray of sunshine!! I am glad things are going well for you!!  I agree I too quite buying gadgets. I had so many and never used them I gave them away!!! 

As for me.... I watched a really good movie on Netflix last night. It relaxed me and I was finally able to sleep through the night. 

TODAY... The Minnesota Vikings play the Seahawks. Right now the temp is -15 degrees with a windchill of -27. It isn't supposed to get much warmer then this. I worry about both teams playing in such dangerous conditions. It will definitely effect their play. 

I am sad as Stephanie flies back to Montana today. She is so wonderful. Everyone here that met her just loves her. I sure do. I know this will be a hard "see later" for both of them.  Her plane leaves at 5:00 PM. I asked her to call me before they leave for the airport. I think I will just send a text instead. This has me pretty emotional. 

I am going to go watch a movie and see if I can color for awhile. 

Prayers for all our amazing OFF Family and there families as well.

Praying extra for Judy. I pray all goes well and nothing is found and if there is it is just a quick fix. Love and hugs to Judy!!

Vickie I loved the pictures of Carrie's baby shower. They were wonderful!! Thanks for sharing.

I will try to check in later if I can.

Loads of love and bushels of hugs to all....connie d

Jeannie,

I think that's a great idea...about good eating. I don't think ppl would get angry, but I am from the 'take what you like and leave the rest' philosophy.

I learn a great deal from everyone's posts on all kinds of subjects, but food is of particular interest given where I am in my journey.

Unfortunately, I learn better doing things than hearing/reading sabout them so I need reinforcement...hearing the same things over and over again in order to retain new info.

Right now I cannot process all of the info like about fiber cancelling out some of the carbs so I need to keep hearing it.

Anyhow, my two cents on your idea. I am sure you will get loads of feedback.

Thanks for continuing to educate me.

Good morning my darling sistas!

So, I am up and moving at a fairly relaxed pace today.  Yesterday was crazy!  Driving all the way to Houston, attending the baby shower, and then driving all the way back home.  I'm not as young as I used to be!  LOL!

The baby shower was small, and frankly, not very well attended, but everything Carrie got was really nice.  She was happy to be there with her girlfriends and it was a very nice afternoon.  My only problem is these same girlfriends are lobbying HARD for her to move to Houston when she graduates, and I don't want her to do that!  These three young women (all in their early to mid-thirties) think they can be Carrie's "support system".  Ha!  They all are childless and know nothing about babies.  Plus they all work full time.  Now what the hell is Carrie going to do on those mornings when the baby wakes up sick and fussy and can't go to daycare?  Carrie will still have to go to work and who will she leave the baby with?  Her three friends who are also going to work that day?  She just really has no concept YET of what life as a single mother is going to be like.  But I am being patient and cautious with my suggestions.  (And I pray a lot!)

Anyway, I don't have to go anywhere today--hurray!  And so I have decided this is another sewing day.  I have appointments for the next three days until my next sewing day on Thursday.  I LOVE sewing day!

Okay, let's do talk a bit about going vegetarian or pescatarian or vegan.  I don't profess to know a whole lot about it yet, but I'll share what I do know.  Vegan means giving up ALL animal products--including milk, butter, cheese, eggs, etc.  I'm not ready to do that (and probably never will be).  Vegetarians do eat a little butter, milk, cheese, eggs, etc. along with their diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  Jeannie has been defining pescatarian for us for the past few weeks, and frankly I lean very heavily towards that diet as being the most suitable for me.

What I do want to share is what my doctor says about food.  Over the past 20 or so years, people have begun focusing on macronutrients instead of the whole food.  People either demonize or venerate various nutrients according to the fad of the month.  Fat is bad. Carbs are bad. Sugar is bad. Protein is GOOD.  Etc.  Dr. Garth says this is wrong, wrong, wrong.  We have to look at the WHOLE food, the whole picture--and I agree with him.  Our bodies needs ALL the macronutrients.  To tailor our diets to either eliminate or consume one nutrient to the exclusion of others is unhealthy and it's killing us.  At the very least, it's making us fat.

So, yes, while beans are "carbs", they are not empty carbs like donuts.  Carbs are not bad.  Carbs are the powerhouse on which our body functions.  We NEED carbs.  Do we need donuts?  Maybe not.  But beans, potatoes, corn, and rice?  Yes.  These are natural foods and our bodies are made to utilize the nutrients found therein.

Jeannie is absolutely right about the fiber found in whole natural foods.  The practice of juicing, by way of example, is a HORRIBLE fab promoted by ignorant bloggers.  Juicing takes OUT all the beneficial fiber found in food.  Just eat the orange or the apple or the cucumber or the spinach!  Why juice it and eliminate one of the most beneficial aspects of the food?  Our world has gone crazy in the quest for the easiest path to good health.

Arlene, you asked me what a vegetarian day looks like.  Okay, here's mine: For breakfast this morning I had a bowl of oatmeal (not quick oats, REAL oats) with chopped strawberries, blueberries, a few toasted pecans, and a splash of Agave for sweetness.  Sometimes I have a Morning Star veggie patty on a whole wheat (this means whole Grain--a minimum of 3 gr. of fiber) English muffin.  

I like to cook soups of all kinds.  I might make vegetable soup with kale, potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, peas or beans, tomatoes, and some type of whole grain: barley, quinoa, bulgar wheat, brown rice.  (I am learning to eat my soups WITHOUT saltine crackers, btw.  LOL! Hard habit to break!) 

Sometimes I have a peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole grain bread.  

I love triscuits and cheddar cheese with apple slices.

Just try to pair a protein source with the vegetable or fruit and you'll be fine.

This is not to say that I don't also sometimes have a broiled fish fillet or some boiled shrimp with my meal.  I love seafood, but I don't eat it every day.  But I am not eating beef, pork or chicken at all.  AND I FEEL ONE HUNDRED PERCENT BETTER!!!

So, that's my two cents' worth.  I don't pretend that it's easy to change the habits of a lifetime.  Yesterday I held firm at the shower.  I didn't eat the cookies, or the pretty pink cupcakes, or the meatballs, or the chicken salad sandwiches on buttery flaky croissants.  I ate some of the raw veggies and nuts and tried to ignore the yummy foods.  Well, by the time we left, I was starving.  We stopped for gas and there was an Arbys.  I ordered onion rings and a Hawaiian fish sandwich.  OMG!  I threw it all away after a couple of bites.  That damn fish was SWEET!  I mean, like syrup or sugar sweet!  WTH did they do to it?  And the onion rings were disgusting.  And I just cannot eat a salad while driving 85 mph down the interstate at night!  LOL!

So I had to wait until I got home to have a bowl of my homemade soup and I was so hungry I was shaking.  Nobody said this was going to be easy, huh?

I did want to leave y'all with a picture of me and Carrie at the shower.  Wow.  You can certainly tell I've regained 30 pounds this year.  My double chin is back and my ass is the size of a mattress again.  Sigh.  But my daughter is beautiful!  

Love you all!

Vickie...what a wonderful post. Right now I know I can't give up chicken  or turkey. Slowly I will probably give up chicken. 

I love this pic of you and Carrie!! You look beautiful and so happy!!

Carrie looks awesome....so happy too! Although about now it is that time when you wi**** was over!! Come on little Caralee!!!

That video of Caralee made me cry....how beautiful she is....that cute face...and how she waves at her mommy!! I have watched it 4 times already! I will get on the site when I figure out how to do it!!!

Have a wonderful day....Love you much...hugs...connie d

Vic,

Here's one or two of my days of eating:

Breakfast today was sautéed mushrooms with a little scrambled egg; yesterday's breakfast was loaded long cooking oats (roasted pecans, raisins) Lunch today was left over potato soup that I cooked last night...I made it with four small potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, celery, onions, and corn. I also added heavy cream to thicken it up.  Yesterday's lunch was home made black bean patties that I made with black beans, onions, mushrooms, carrots, corn, seasoned with cumin, taco seasoning, and salt and pepper.  I cooked the mushrooms and onions on the stove in olive oil. I smashed the beans up and added the rest of the ingredients with a little flour and an egg and shaped them into patties and cooked them in the oven for 20 minutes on one side and 15 minutes on the other. I actually made the bean patties for a veggie burgers that we ate with flat bread.  I had two left and those are going to be our entree to eat with green beans and squash.

A couple of days a week, I do eat fish or shrimp and I usually cook the fish in the oven after I cook each side on high for a little bit and the shrimp, I either steam or sauté.  On the says I eat the fish or shrimp, I eat some kind of wild rice or other unprocessed grain.  

Lunches for work are usually some type of veggie pattie, tuna salad, or fish...I rarely run out of food ideas and they are usually very easy to prepare and eat.  The black bean burgers are much easier to make than cooking steak or hamburger...

I keep cucumbers, peppers, celery, and carrots prepared for quick snacks and I do allow myself some glider foods: usually a couple of crackers with soup or pretzels for a snack. 

Eating without meat at first might seem difficult because we think in terms of substituting meat with something of similar value but don't think of substitution. Because you will make yourself silly trying to compare the protein in this versus that...and like Vic says, it's better to see the food holistically...protein, fiber, carbs, etc.   And, remember to make your food work for you and not vice versa....if you are having to take stool softeners because you are having trouble with your bowls, then you need to increase your fiber...grab some prunes and start with a few prunes and see what happens and if nothing happens that day, the next day eat an extra one or two...

I hope you all find your nutrition niche and get where you control what you eat and not what you eat controlling you....it's really simple. 

When we got rid of meat, I gave a freezer full of meat to my kids...I had steaks, ground chuck, roast, chicken, and other very good pieces of meat plus stuff I had cooked...but I had to cleanse the freezer and cabinets before I could do my own internal cleanse...I cannot even imagine a situation that would require me eating meat....just isn't going to happen. If you don't want to take the plunge now...pick one or two days and go meatless and see how easy it is.