How to Co-Parent Vegan Kids | Q&A Video

One of the ladies on my Instagram asked what to do if you co-parent and want your child to be vegan while visiting the other parent.

This question is very personal to me because my two older kids visited their dad several times a month when we started our journey (he lives in Texas now, so they only see him during the summer and holidays).

Click below to watch my response to this question...

Tips mentioned in the video:

  • Have a conversation with the other parent -- let him/her know what you're doing and why you're doing it.
  • Pack meals to make it easy for the other parent and the kids
  • Set an example for your child -- Educate him/her on how you're eating vegan meals, shop together, cook together and be a positive influence.

Don't Let These Myths Stop You From Going Vegan

I was on Instagram live the other day talking to my peeps (come follow me on there so we can connect, too!) about how and why they should start a vegan journey.

One of the ladies asked if it's normal to start and then "fall off the wagon" only after a few weeks.

This is pretty common! Maybe you can relate.

Before I became vegan in April 2010, I tried it earlier that year, but only lasted about two weeks.

I lived on fruit, sunflower seeds, and water during that time because I had no idea what to eat, cook, or how to vegan grocery shop.

I was sooo overwhelmed!

These days there are a million resources, ingredients replacements (homemade and store-bought) and support, so there's no excuse to not incorporate healthier and more compassionate options.

Even if you tried to do this before, you should never give up!

 

 

BEING VEGAN IS TOO EXPENSIVE

What do potatoes, spinach, black beans, corn tortillas, bananas, apples, rice, spaghetti noodles and canned tomatoes have in common?

All of these items are vegan and very affordable.

I will admit that our grocery bill spiked when we started this journey, but that was because I was buying all organic for a family of 5. These days, I do buy some organics, but overall I just focus on what we can afford. Period. 

Don't let a tight budget be the reason you don't stay on this vegan journey.

Quick Tips to Keep Your Grocery Bill Down:

*Buy as many whole ingredients as possible - it doesn't take a million hours to cook from scratch. I promise! 

*Think about how you can make enough for leftovers (soup & chili recipes are perfect for this) to save both and time.

*Only shop at Whole Foods (AKA Whole Check- chile!) for speciality vegan products that you can't get at a regular grocery store. Do the rest of your grocery shopping at your regular store. You can also save some coins using Thrive Market

*Buy what you need - I know this isn't popular advice, but in my experience, you will waste money buying produce in bulk because it's hard to eat it fast enough before it spoils.

*If you prefer to buy organics, see if you can get a better deal at the farmer's market. Also, my grocery store has store brand organics that are super affordable. See if you store has this option.

 

VEGAN LIFE IS TOO MUCH TIME-CONSUMING

I can understand why this is a struggle for many people.
We're all used to grocery shopping and cooking at some level - The problem is, most of us aren't used to writing a detailed meal plan and paying close attention to what we buy while grocery shopping.

This is the reason vegan life can feel time-consuming in the beginning. 

I promise once you get used to those uncomfortable feelings (by pushing passed them) and get into a routine, all of this will become easier.

Hang in there!

RELATED: Here's an episode from my podcast with tips on how NOT to spend all weekend on meal planning.

 

VEGAN FOOD IS BORING & TASTELESS

Before I was a vegan, I thought we could only eat salad and smoothies. I promise this isn't the case at all!

I love variety just as much as the next person. I wouldn't be on this journey if I felt limited by my food choices.

You can make or buy everything vegan.

Sometimes vegan meals have a reputation for being bland and boring. Vegan life is what you make it! 

I don't know about you, but I'm not interested in blah meals. I live for flavor! Some of the most common spices/seasoning I use: Salt, black pepper, cumin, garlic and onion powder, cayenne, smoked paprika, and oregano. 

RELATED: Blog post and audio with more information about pantry and spices basics here

 

VEGANs DON'T GET PROTEIN

Some people think you can only get protein from chicken, beef, fish, eggs, etc. but this isn't the case at all. There are sooo many plant-based options that can easily replace the meat on your plate.

Grains: quinoa, brown rice, couscous, barley, cornmeal, wheat flour, oat brans, etc.

Beans: black beans, tempeh, kidney beans, chickpeas, tofu (made from bean curd), etc.

Nuts/Seeds: pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, pecans, peanuts, walnuts, etc.

There's also a protein in spinach, apple, grapefruit, tomatoes, etc.
 

I hope this post was helpful!

 
 

Vegan Family Grocery Haul (VIDEO)

Vegan grocery haul alert!

In this haul, I use Instacart to bring groceries to our house while I worked on a project.

Instacart is amazing! You just use the app to order and pay for your groceries, and they send someone to shop and deliver the food to you.

In this grocery haul, I spent about $200 at Whole Foods.

Of course, you don't have to shop at places like Whole Foods to be vegan -- Wal-Mart, Trader Joe's, Safeway, Kroger and Aldi all have vegan options. 

Related: Check out this podcast episode I did sharing tips on how to save money on your grocery bill. 

Click below to watch the full video...

Did you notice how I butchered "Worcestershire" in this video? After filming, I watched a YouTube tutorial, and practiced saying it for 15 minutes. I can finally pronounce it right now! At least I think so lol

Resources mentioned in the video:

Where do you grocery shop the most? Leave me a comment below.

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One-Pot Cheesy Pasta & Sausage Recipe (VIDEO)

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You already know I had to come back with another one-pot family-friendly recipe. Check out the previous one here 

This meal is simple, delicious, filling and takes about 30 minutes to put together.

It features pasta, vegan sausage, and cheese.

Never tried vegan sausage or cheese?

Check out these brands...

Popular brands of vegan cheese:

Popular brands of vegan sausage:

 

Get the full recipe and watch the video below...

One-Pot Cheesy Pasta & Sausage Recipe (VIDEO)

by Brown Vegan

Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients (Serves 4)

  • 1 teaspoon oil or vegetable broth
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • (1) 28 oz canned diced tomatoes
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 lb linguine pasta, uncooked
  • 1 cup vegan mozzarella cheese (Field Roast, Daiya and Follow Your Heart are options)
  • 4 links of vegan sausage, chopped (Field Roast & Tofurky are options)
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil (to garnish)

Instructions

In a deep skillet (use the deepest you have since everything will go into it), sauté onion and garlic for 5-6 minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Stir in oregano, basil, black pepper, and salt.

Mix in tomatoes and vegetable broth and bring it to a boil.

Add in linguine and cook based on the instructions on your box, mixing with tongs every 2-3 minutes.

Once the pasta is done, mix in vegan cheese and sausage.

Season with salt & black pepper (if necessary).

Garnish with fresh basil and additional vegan cheese.

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Some of my Favorite Lifestyle Products

I just wanted to share some of the lifestyle and beauty products that I've been enjoying lately. 
Let me know what some of your faves are in the comments.

Watch the video below...

Products mentioned:

All opinions are my own.

~This is not a sponsored video or blog post~