First off, what is a vegan? A vegan is a strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products, and can also abstain from using animal products. For example, vegans do not eat eggs, milk, or seafood.
Why would you want to be a vegan? In the simplest of terms, having a vegan diet supports the protection of animals, as well as promotes a healthy you and saves the environment. If you’re passionate about going against animal cruelty as well as do not support animal slaughter in the food industry, try to go vegan, and choose to put your dollar into organic and vegetarian options. If done properly, being vegan can promote a healthier you, with less fat, and more greens within the diet. Finally, being vegan saves the planet, one person at a time. In the US, it is estimated that the fossil fuel energy used to make 1 pound of beef could produce 40 pounds of soybeans! Crazy comparison.
How can I eat a vegan diet in college? Have no fear, YouTube is here! Being vegan is easier that you think, and after lots of online hunting, I found several videos that shows off easy vegan recipes to help the average college student through a week of eating. Bon Appétit!
Breakfast Ideas:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAyAwKBFFaI[/embed]
Video Time: 3:17 minutes
Taken from Vegan.com, this video shows off quick & healthy vegan breakfast ideas. The first recipe is of an ‘Overnight Oatmeal Mason Jar Creation’ with oats, fruits, and chia seeds. Make it the night before, pop it in the fridge, and ta-da! All ready to go in the morning. The next one is a tropical green smoothie, with spinach, frozen pineapple, frozen mangoes, frozen bananas, and almond milk! Energizing, and fun. The final recipe it a yogurt parfait, all full of your favorite fruits, raisins, honey-free granola, and vegan yogurt. Delicious!
Lunch:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCOXpg2869M&spfreload=10[/embed]
Video Time: 4:03 minutes
The first lunch idea is a simple wrap with guacamole (avocado, lemon, garlic, a drop of oil and some tomatoes,) topped with kidney beans, lettuce and pepper. The second vegan-based lunch are crackers with almond butter, apple slices and cinnamon. And finally, sandwiches! These sandwhiches are toasted bread with homemade hummus, (and you can find the recipe at http: //www.degroenemeisjes.nl/recept -...) as well as a little cucumber and lettuce. The last recipe is a sandwich with vegan pesto (Albert Heijn Pure and Honest pesto vegan,) with grilled eggplant and zucchini, arugula and pine nuts. Yummy!
Dinner:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bix_7C0guC0[/embed]
Video Time: 6:00 min (for recipes only)
10:08 for whole video
Sarah Autumn gives us great ideas with her weeklong easy and healthy dinner ideas! On Monday, her dinner consisted of a butternut squash that’s been roasted with cinnamon and stevia, a salad with tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and cashew ranch, and a quinoa with marinara sauce. Her Tuesday dinner was a vibrant taco salad, full of refried beans, lime tabasco quinoa, sautéed peppers and onions, tomatoes, salsa and cilantro. Her Wednesday feast consisted of carrot fries with cumin, garlic, and pepper, eggplant with teriyaki sauce and Sriracha (YUM), and a salad full of honey mustard, barbeque quinoa, and tomatoes! A delicious Thursday night was followed by French fries with garlic Mrs. Dash, a veggie-stir fry with yellow squash, zucchini, asparagus, and a salad of barbeque quinoa, vegan ranch, and tomatoes once again. Friday’s delight was a veggie stir-fry of beets, Brussel sprouts, and mushrooms, a taco salad of tabasco lime quinoa, refried beans, tomatoes, and salsa, and finally butternut squash once again with cinnamon and stevia.
Food has no boundaries, and all of these recipes look delicious. I dare all students to try one vegan-based meal, and then make your judgement. It’s your choice to go vegan, and it may be hard at first, but learn from the pros, and it may be the best decision you’ve ever made!
Eat Vegan in College
