Vegan vs plant based what's the difference? Well they're basically the same thing although the reasoning behind the choice may be different. It seems plant based people eat more for their health.They eat whole foods and limit fat, salt and sugar. They need to lose weight, have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or just simply feel better and more energized by avoiding meat/dairy. Vegans on the other hand have the welfare of the animals in mind. In fact vegans not only avoid meat, but they also avoid wearing anything that come from an animal, avoid using anything that's been tested on animals and avoid zoo's, circuses, aquariums basically anything were animals are used as entertainment. This isn't to say that plant based people don't care about animals, it's just they may not go that extra mile to put the welfare of animals first. And of course there's the healthy vegan and the junk food vegan. what's the difference? Well healthy vegans have there own health and welfare in mind as well as the animals. Junk food vegans have the welfare of animals in mind but tend to neglect putting their health first. That's right, just because it's vegan doesn't mean it's healthy! French fries, soy or coconut ice cream, veggie burgers (which are far better than regular burgers but can still be high in fat and sodium) are not healthy. The list of vegan junk food goes on and on, after all vegan is becoming more mainstream and companies are jumping on the bandwagon to supply products that mimic the Standard American Diet (SAD). This is good and bad. why? Well I believe that being vegan is more compassionate, better for the planet (meat production causes more greenhouse gases than cars)! and is generally healthier.That's the good. The bad? We need more people to go vegan. I really believe the future of animals, people and the planet depend on it, and if we as vegans aren't setting a good example when it come to health we might deter people from it. More vegans are becoming overweight and still run the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. Not a very appealing example to non vegans. I'm not saying vegans should become health fanatics but just more health conscious. Vegan burgers, cheese and ice cream are great for someone transitioning from a SAD but not so good for the long term. I know the welfare of animals is important but remember your health is important too!
How about a simple, healthy vegan dessert recipe? This one is shared on a lot of vegan blogs. Here is my version of it that's oh so good and guilt free!
Banana raspberry ice cream!
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| Not the best picture but it gives you a good idea of how delicious it looks! |
(Kitchen equipment : food processor)
Ingreidients:
1 frozen banana (take a ripe, spotted banana, peel and chop it and through it in a container or zip lock and freeze)
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
5-6 drop stevia or a teaspoon or two of maple syrup or completely omit any sweeteners, it's up to you!
A splash of almond milk
A dash of cinnamon (optional)
What to do:
Put the first three ingredients in the food processor and blend until it's just a little chunky now add your almond milk to really get it moving adding a little bit at a time. Blend until it smooth and enjoy!
Tips:
#1 I avoid putting the almond milk in
first because I find it tends to slosh up and make a mess by seeping through where the lid connects and running down the sides of the processor.
#2 Stevia is a calorie free natural sweetener and can be found at the Bulk Barn or natural health section of Zehrs or the Superstore.
#3 You can totally omit the raspberries and just have banana ice cream and add cocoa or carob power for a chocolatey flavor!
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