5 Tips for Eating Vegan While Traveling!

Hi there!

I hope you had a lovely weekend.  In this week's post, I am here to share with you some inspiration for traveling as a vegan.

This past weekend, Andrew and I went camping with family in Wisconsin.  Now, for those of you who don't know, Wisconsin is also known for dairy products; especially cheese.  You can probably imagine that this is not the easiest place to find vegan food.  That being said, with a little planning and preparation ahead of time, we were well fueled throughout the whole weekend.  More importantly, we could partake in all of the campfire meals and did not feel that we were being a burden to everyone else.

Tip #1:  Make sure they people you are with know your dietary preferences.  Be kind and let them know that you will bring your own food with some to share as well.

Tip #2: Prep, prep, and prep some more.  The last thing you want is to be hungry when everyone else is eating and you are spending the day hiking or kayaking.

Bread, rice, oats, cinnamon, and trail mix.

3 bunches of bananas, 2 avocados, mangoes, cucumber, and zucchini.

Potatoes while on the road.

 

Tip #3:  Bring extra vegan options to share.  Is everyone having burgers and brats?  Bring some veggie burgers and veggie brats to share!  More often than not, people are intrigued and enjoy trying new food.

Tip #4:  Make the trip more about experiences and fun than comparing food choices.  Feel free to explain the reason you are vegan, but living in a tent with other family and friends is not the time to start this type of conversation.

Tip #5:  As for the types of foods to pack, bring lots of watery, sweet fruit to keep you satisfied and hydrated.  Also, stock up on greens that are easy to carry and munch on like cucumber, zucchini, celery, and romaine lettuce.  Dried fruit and nuts make a great trail mix for on-the-go and in-the-car/plane snacking.

Question of the day:  What is your favorite food to bring while you travel?  Let me know in the comments!

One more note:  the beta version of TheYogiRD online community is starting tomorrow!  If you did not get the chance to try it out, I will be officially opening the (online) doors THIS SUMMER! Be sure to subscribe to this blog and/or follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook all @TheYogiRD

Let's Get WILD!

This Tuesday marks mine and Andrew's one year wedding anniversary!

To celebrate, we decided to use some of the hotel points we received and take a day trip to Whitewater Wisconsin.  In case you did not know, Andrew and I are huge outdoor fans!  We love going on bike rides, hikes, and camping.  Any time we can get outdoors is time well spent.  For this reason, we planned a bit of hiking as well as visiting a local museum.

Our first stop, Second Salem.  After work on Friday, we drove just over an hour to get to Whitewater.  Andrew had found this brewery and they had two veg-friendly options (both are sandwiches).  We each got this delicious grilled portabella sandwich on ciabatta bread.  The sandwich and side salad both had their house dressing which was a tomato-based vinaigrette! Vegan for the win!

After filling up, we walked around town before settling down at our hotel in Fort Atkinson, WI for the evening.

On Saturday morning, we got up and had some breakfast, then planned out our day over coffee.  We started with the Hoard Museum, which had three spectacular exhibits:  1) Abe Lincoln's influence in Fort Atkinson, 2) a life size replica of the Hoard House, and 3) an exhibit about Native American Mounds.  There was also an exhibit about the history of the dairy industry, which neither of us were all that interested in...and you probably can understand why...

Before leaving the town, we found a replica of Fort Koshkonog and an awesome adventure course to try out!  I had never done one of these before and I must say, I had a blast!  I just wish we had a course like this by us...I'd workout there every day!

After learning about Native American burial mounds, we found a brochure for a set of mounds nearby!  So, after a lunch at Paddy's Irish Pub (where we also found a vegan Reuben sandwich!!!!), we drove 10 minutes to walk around and learn about the 2,000 year old Mounds. 

Needless to say, it was quite beautiful and serene.

We ended our day trip by visiting a local winery and then driving home to see Captain America:  Civil War.  All in all, I don't think we could have had a better trip.  Day trips can be so amazing because you feel like you are on vacation, but you still have time to get home and get ready for the week ahead.

Question of the Day:  If you could pick one place to take a day trip, where would it be?

What are phytonutrients anyways?

With so much information easily available at our finger tips, it is easy to get overwhelmed and  even confused with separating fact from fiction; especially when  it comes to nutrition.  This past weekend, I had the joy of attending a seminar with the North Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  At this luncheon, we learned about phytonutrients (also known as phytochemicals).  Phytonutrients are the chemicals that give plants their color, flavor, and scent.  The reason they are so healthy for us is because these phytocheicals are what protect the plant from predators (like bugs and such).  The more predators around, the more phytonutrients the plant produces to keep itself alive!

 Unfortunately, we did not receive the recipes for all of these delicious salads yet, but I will be sure to share the resources when I can.  The very top picture is the demo room we chopped, blended, and mixed up these healthy dishes.  The picture just above this paragraph is a vegan avocado mousse with fresh berries and coconut.  And the picture below is my plate of the salads created.  If you think of the plate as a clock, starting at 2 o'clock is a green pea tabbouleh followed clockwise by some jicama, chickpea chips with strawberry hummus, kale salad with walnuts and raisins, and finally a cabbage slaw with peanut sauce.  All 100% vegan and delicious!  Oh! And the drink on the top right of the picture is a fresh made kale lemonade!

With so much information easily available at our finger tips, it is easy to get overwhelmed and  even confused with separating fact from fiction; especially when  it comes to nutrition.  This past weekend, I had the joy of attending a seminar with the North Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  At this luncheon, we learned about phytonutrients (also known as phytochemicals).  Phytonutrients are the chemicals that give plants their color, flavor, and scent.  The reason they are so healthy for us is because these phytocheicals are what protect the plant from predators (like bugs and such).  The more predators around, the more phytonutrients the plant produces to keep itself alive!

 Unfortunately, we did not receive the recipes for all of these delicious salads yet, but I will be sure to share the resources when I can.  The very top picture is the demo room we chopped, blended, and mixed up these healthy dishes.  The picture just above this paragraph is a vegan avocado mousse with fresh berries and coconut.  And the picture below is my plate of the salads created.  If you think of the plate as a clock, starting at 2 o'clock is a green pea tabbouleh followed clockwise by some jicama, chickpea chips with strawberry hummus, kale salad with walnuts and raisins, and finally a cabbage slaw with peanut sauce.  All 100% vegan and delicious!  Oh! And the drink on the top right of the picture is a fresh made kale lemonade!

Only a few more weeks until the beginning of Splash into Summer! Be sure to subscribe so you can stay up to date on the latest health and nutrition information.

Question of the Day:  What is your favorite meal that you wish was vegan? Let me know in the comments!

Top 3 Mother's Day Ideas!!

Happy May!!

With Mother's Day being just around the corner, I thought I'd share some fun ways to celebrate all mothers.

It is important to note here that moms come in many shapes and forms.  Here are just three of the types of moms I have met in my life:

• Best Friend's Mom- This is when you and your best friend are so close, it is like you share moms.
• College Mom- This is not a sorority-type, but that teacher or boss (you know who you are!!) whom you spend every day with sharing stories, learning, and growing.  During the college years, you find this person, not as a replacement, but as a rock for you to be supported on while your mom is miles away.
• Mom Mom- This is the woman who raised you.  Whether she gave birth to you, adopted you, or simply raised you as her own, this woman knows every thing bout you.  She was probably there for many milestones in your life.  

All of these types of mothers help to raise stubborn kids into outstanding adults.  They make sure you are taken care of, well fed, and show respect.  These moms make you feel strong and secure in the person you are becoming.  They show you so much love, it sometimes makes you want to cry.  

These women are strong, dedicated, under-appreciated, and loving all at the same time.  

You know your mom better than anyone else.  So, this Mother's Day, show her how much you appreciate her by doing something a little different:

• Instead of taking her to brunch, surprise her by making breakfast!
• Instead of buying her yet another piece of jewelry, take her to a garden and spend the whole day walking, talking, and admiring the beautiful flowers.
• Instead of buying a card, write her a poem or a simple note telling her how much she means to you.

Remember, it is not the size or dollar amount of the gift, but the thought that goes into the gift that counts.  And hand-made or donation-based (i.e. donating to a charity in her name) gifts are always welcome.

What are you doing for your Mom this Mother's Day? Let me know in the comments!

P.S. Here's an adorable shot of our tortoise!  If you've been following the blog for awhile, you will see how big she's gotten.  She now loves to climb out of her tank, or even on top of the lights!!