Shopping... Some Love It... Me?, NOT!

Ahhh, shopping. Let me walk you through a typical shopping day for a regional Vegan. Often referred to as the Vegan march where you go from one side of the city to the other in search of Agave or some other impossible ingredient. Well add to that getting to the city.

Up at 5am to light the fire for hot water (yes, I know its 2009!)

One green monster smoothie in all its wonderful yumminess and then hit the shower and get ready. Which includes loading up the car with esky and of course the always forgotten recycle shopping bags.

Into the car, run back inside to grab a bottle of water, back to the car, run back inside to get a CD for the trip, back to the car – quick run to check the cow’s water – back to the car.

On the road at around 6:30- 7:00 (depending on the cow’s water!)

Cruise up the highway. Wave joyfully with one finger at the lovely man that insisted on sharing your small section of the highway as he finally passes you on a bend – there are so many of them, they must be in a support group or something. I know I only drive at 110k, but I was under the impression that's the maximum I am allowed to go. Silly me..

Arrive in the City at around 9:00am. Wave to the lovely man again as you meet at the lights. Wonder if he has read The Hare and the Tortoise. Think about winding the window down and suggesting it, but think better of it as he seems a little frazzled.

Ah, the traffic. And the traffic lights, those lovely lovely lights. Have they ever thought of playing mood music or maybe screening a movie as you wait, and wait, and wait?

Around 10ish, finally get to a shopping centre, park a hundred miles from the entrance and find a café that sells soya coffee. Sit and take a minute to work out a plan of attack.

Between 10 and 5 – go from shop to shop, slowly crossing things off your list, drive to another centre in the hope you will find ANYTHING on your list. Spend a good part of your life at the traffic lights again! Around lunchtime or somewhere between 12 and 3, try and find a vegan friendly café or anything will do. Settle for chips. Feel crap. Back to the dreaded shopping march. Give up on most of the items on your list.

Finally load everything in the car and hit the highway………. And then unload the car at night, when its dark… and cold… and ssooooooo tired..

Some news... I am moving.. To here www.veganminta.com. I still have a lot of setting up to do, but do pop in.

Caio!

Worry Gives a Small Thing a Big Shadow

Hey,

I'm often asked about how I cope with so many allergies, and I guess its because I just adjust. I haven't yet found it impossible, just challenging sometimes. Mostly when I go out. To give a bit of an overview, I'm pretty much allergic to most foods, and various things in the environment. The main allergy is salicylates and amines. But also on the list is, dust, dust mite, bleach, pollens, grasses, wheat, petrochemicals, natural flavour enhancers, all food additives, pesticides, herbicides, alcohol and dairy products (but that doesn't concern me at all!). So this means my food choices are very limited - salicylates are found in just about all plants.

Salicylates are not only in food but also shampoos and conditioners, skin care products, makeup, perfumes, household cleaners etc etc.

So if you have found this blog because you are struggling with allergies, don't panic just yet - its challenging but your life isn't really over!

I was asked the other day by my local country pub what I can eat so that they can prepare me a meal occasionally. How sweet of them. I usually just order something and pick out what I can eat and my hubby eats what's left.

Hmmm - what do I eat... Well, here's a typical day -

Breakfast - Pear Smoothie, made with soy protein (yay, I'm not allergic to Soy - aint life grand!), soy milk, a pear, and a handful of oats. If my reactions are at a minimum, I'll add a bit of flaxseed. Did you know we cannot get Hemp Milk in Australia! Customs won't let it in! I so wish we could. Because I can't have almond milk, and I'd rather not have oat or rice milk because they are too high in carbs.

Lunch - Lentil soup made with sweet potato (the orange one - can't eat the white one), leeks (no onions), red lentils and garlic.

Dinner - Steamed veg (carrots, sweet potato, brussel sprouts, beans) and a chickpea or lentil patty. Sometimes tofu.

Snacks are usually fruit (pears or red delicious apples - these are the only real fruits that are low in salicylates) or an energy bar I make myself out of dried fruit and raw cashews (only nuts I can tolerate). On special occasions or when I'm out, I'll have a mineral water in a wine glass so that I can feel special.

Surprisingly I have a weight problem, but I think that could be because my diet is so limited and I don't exercise enough. I make all my food from scratch because I can't trust any packaged products. Even healthy vegan food can contain natural flavour enhancers.

Supplements I take - and I might add I am having some amazing success with these! I haven't had an emergency dash to hospital since I've been taking them - 5 months!

Vit C (3000mg) - yep a lot!
Vit B, B6 & B12
Magnesium
Zinc
Milk Thistle
Spirulina
Iron
SAMe
L-Carnitine
Potassium (sometimes, when I feel its low - feet swell up)

Now the toiletries - For soap, I use Melrose Castile Soap, I make my own shampoo and conditioners using Melrose rainwater shampoo and conditioner bases. I use an oil blend for moisturisers. Although I can tolerate Shiseido Benefience products - but these are expensive. For makeup I use Chanel although I hardly wear makeup at all these days. Only on special occasions because my face still can flare up even with the safe products.

For cleaning I just use very hot water and a cloth - and beg my hubby to please, please, please clean the bathroom for me! For washing my clothes I use Aware Sensitive from Planet Ark.

My house has no floor coverings, only painted boards and I vacuum and wash the floor with very hot water about three times a week.

I think I remembered everything. I hope this helps. I know when I first started on this journey, I so wished someone would just tell me what I could do, rather than what I couldn't!

Take care,

Caio!!

Never eat more than you can lift......

I made a really yummy mini meal today - totally bad for me sal-wise - but my face is a mass of hives and lovely itchiness anyway, so what the heck!

What to call it - umm.... penne pasta with mushrooms, spinach, kalamata olives and white wine. That doesn't sound very exotic.

Anyways, recipe....

1/2 cup wholemeal penne pasta or fusili or your choice really
about 3 or 4 mushrooms sliced or chopped - again feel free to choose..
1 tbsp soy oil - again or olive or your favourite oil - I went with soy oil because unlike the rest of the ingredients, its sal-free
a bunch of spinach leaves
4 or 5 kalamata olives sliced
vegie stock
1/4 cup white wine.
small handful of raw cashews.


Cook the pasta in boiling water.

In a heavy based skillet, heat the oil and add the mushrooms and gently saute for a few minutes.
Add remaining ingredients and put the lid on and let it steam through for a few minutes while waiting for pasta to cook.

Toss it all together and enjoy.

Sorry no picture, but I will start taking photos soon.

Caio!!

Love has no boundaries; it is the greatest force on earth...

Well, I'm now recovering from surgery - lost the battle to keep my gallbladder. So now the real journey begins.

I'm going to keep this blog to track my progress with eating well and staying sane and my attempt to avoid what seems to be the inevitable weight gain after the gallbladder is removed. It will also be interesting to see if my multiple allergies start to reduce as my surgeon hopes. He said he can't give a medical reason why this would happen, only that he has had patients in the past that have had at least one of their allergies disappear.

That would be awesome! If I could have a choice, could it please be the salicylates? Please, please?? It would be so nice to tuck into a really yummy crunchy salad with juicy tomatoes, and roasted pinenuts and wow, AVOCADOS, - hmmmmmmm I would love to be able to eat avocados. Anyway, I'm salivating now - so best keep sipping away at my hot lemon drink as I try to reduce the bloating.

I'll learn how to photograph my meals like my other favourite veggie bloggers do....

Caio