Microwave Scrambled Eggs

Welcome Back Veggie Lovers!
Eating eggs from the dining commons is definitely not the most enjoyable experience. Also, if you even wanted to make eggs for yourself at school you can't since most dorms do not have kitchens. Thankfully, I have found a recipe for scrambled eggs in the microwave! I know this might not sound very good but I can assure you that they actually come out really good and are simple to make! I found this recipe on the blog I Heart Naptime.

Ingredients:

• 3 egg whites
• 1 egg
• 1 Tbsp shredded cheese
• Salt and Pepper
• Toppings of your choice

Directions:

• Spray a microwave safe bowl with cooking spray
• Crack the egg whites and egg into the bowl
• Whisk for about a minute
• Stir in the shredded cheese, salt, and pepper
• Place bowl in the microwave on high for about 1-1 1/2 minutes 
• Carefully remove the bowl and add any toppings

Vegan vs. Vegetarian

Hello Veggie Lovers!

Throughout my journey as a vegetarian, I have seen the common mix-up between being Vegan and Vegetarian. Commonly, I have seen people just thinking that the two are just the same diet! The two lifestyle choices are very different but to an uninformed individual, the two just seem like the same thing. 

Vegan:

In this lifestyle, no animal products of any kind can be eaten. So no meat, eggs, dairy, fish, honey, gelatin, and many other foods. 

Commonly people in this lifestyle's diet consists of mostly vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and anything that animal free. This diet is very natural and simplistic. 

Vegetarian:

In this lifestyle, no meat products of any kind are to be consumed. So, eggs and dairy are okay for vegetarians to eat.
Commonly vegetarians eat similarly to vegans. So they consume vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains. However, their diet also allows for eggs, dairy, honey, gelatin, and other non-meat food items.

The Main Difference: 
So overall, Vegans do not eat any meat products or animal products. Additionally, they do not possess any household items or cosmetics that have to do with animals. Vegetarians are more about just not eating the flesh or meat of an animal whereas veganism is considered more of an overall lifestyle change. 

Delicious Chocolate Mug Cake

Hello Veggie Lovers!
If you're someone like me who loves to bake and are in college with no easy way to bake, this mug cake recipe is perfect for you! It is super simple and you can make it in the microwave 2 minutes. So basically, you can have almost instant chocolate cake. What could be better?

I got this recipe from one of my favorite bloggers, The Edgy Veg. Candice Hutchings, the face of The Edgy Veg, describes her blog as, "a delicious vegan and vegetarian movement catering to forward-thinking meal-creators of the often-boring veg community." She is a hilarious and creative food blogger who puts up videos on YouTube every Monday as well!

Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe
Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp cacao
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 tsp vinegar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp coconut oil
• 2-3 tbsp water

Instructions:

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined
2. Combine all wet ingredients in another bowl and whisk until smooth
3. Add dry ingredients into wet and mix until smooth and well incorporated
4. Pour batter into a ceramic mug or mason jar (any microwave safe dish)
5. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes
6. Remove from microwave and cool
7. Top with icing, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, or chocolate chips if desired

Top 5 Difficulties of Being Vegetarian

Welcome Back Veggie Lovers!
Throughout my journey as a vegetarian, I have found that some things are more difficult as a vegetarian. The vegetarian lifestyle has an abundance of positives that come as a result of the diet but, there are also negatives that come with it as well. Unfortunately, some of these difficulties of this lifestyle make people not want to switch over from a meat-based diet. For me and many other vegetarians, these disadvantages and challenges are easy to overcome but can still be a annoying.

1. Going Out to Eat: For meat eaters, going out to eat is nothing to stress over since there are always countless food options for them. However, for vegetarians, it's not as easy since most restaurants do not offer many vegetarian options or just don't offer any at all.
2. Nutritional Challenges: Even though there are many ways to get enough protein on a daily basis without eating any meat, it still can be quite difficult. Protein is something that you have to think about on a daily basis and make sure each meal as a substantial amount just so at the end of the day, you eat a sufficient amount. Additionally, essential vitamins like B12, which is necessary for numerous reasons, can only be found in animal products. So, as a vegetarian, I have found taking a multivitamin or a B12 vitamin a good idea. 
3. Holiday Traditions: In my family, for Christmas we have turkey and ham, for Thanksgiving we have ham, and for Easter we also have ham so, as a vegetarian, this can obviously get a little difficult. Normally, I end up just eating all the sides which don't contain meat and it's fine! However, many of the side dishes that my family always makes for Christmas dinner contains chicken stock so I end up having to make one with chicken stock and one with vegetable stock so I am still able to eat the same side dishes at least. 
4. Reading the Labels of ALL Food: Many pre-made foods that are labeled as vegetarian or don't contain any meat actually end up having some sort of meat based product. Because of this, I always have to read the label of everything I buy to make sure it is vegetarian friendly. 
5. Friends and Family Having Different Eating Habits: Among my family and friends, I am the only one who is vegetarian. This makes going out to eat, eating at home, and grocery shopping so much more difficult. 

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding with Avocado?

Welcome Back Veggie Lovers!
So I was looking through YouTube and found this amazing Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding made with avocado by the YouTuber, The Edgy Veg! At first I was hesitant about the avocado part but this recipe is actually amazing. I definitely recommend this for a healthy late night snack when your craving chocolate or peanut butter. Plus it only takes about 10 minutes to make so it is perfect for a quick snack as well.

Recipe by The Edgy Veg

Ingredients:

• 1 Avocado
• 1/2 banana
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup cacao powder
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/8-1/2 cup coconut milk (based on preference)
• Cacao nibs and peanut pieces for topping (optional)

Instructions:

1. Combine all the ingredients besides the coconut milk and topping and place in blender or food processor
2. Add the coconut milk slowly until you reach your desired constancy
3. Should end up think just like pudding!

Enjoy!

Vegetarian Restaruants

Hello Again Veggie Lovers!
Being vegetarian and finding a good restaurant that offers quality vegetarian foods can be difficult. Either there are no restaurants that even offer vegetarian options or if you're lucky to have a vegetarian restaurant, the food is not the best.  For all of you located in the Wayne area, I have found 5 quality vegetarian restaurants that are all less than 30 minutes from Eastern University and offer delicious food!

1. Raw Can Roll Cafe - This is a complete vegan restaurant that is mostly organic and offers raw and cooked options. At Raw Can Roll Cafe they believe in the phrase, "You are what you Eat" because they believe that "our bodies are made of all the food we put into it, so why not give it the best nutrition possible." They are located at 767 W Lancaster Ave in Wayne and are about 11 from campus. They carry fresh juices, homemade lemonade, smoothies, appetizers, sandwiches and wraps, salads, and raw entrees.
2. White Dog Cafe -  They are a dog themed restaurant that carries regular meat based food and vegetarian/vegan options. They are located at 200 W Lancaster Ave in Wayne and are about 4 minutes from campus. On their vegetarian menu, they carry soup, salads, appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts. 
3. Vge Cafe -  "Vge cafe is a casual Pure Vegetarian restaurant option for health-conscious individuals. We are 100% Vegan and Certified Kosher." Everything that they offer is under 550 calories! They are located at 845B W Lancaster Ave in Bryn Mawr and are about 13 minutes from campus. Vge carries a variety of vegan options that range from soups and salads to vegan burgers and pizza. 
4. Gangster Vegan - Their mission is "inspiring and improving, the quality of life, one fruit and veggie at a time. Spreading the love, and knowledge, of an all plant-based diet. Opening the possibilities of a happier and healthier life experience." They are located at 2454 W Main Street in Norristown which is about 21 minutes from campus. Gangster Vegan carries a variety of foods like juices, raw foods, desserts, pie/cakes, and snacks. 
5. Fuel - "1st Cafe in the USA to offer a full menu under 500 Calories." They are located at 5 W Lancaster Ave in Ardmore which is about 19 minutes from campus. Fuel carries a variety of vegetarian foods and also offer some meat based options for meat lovers. They offer foods like starters, salads, paninis, wraps, juices and coffees, burgers, rice bowls, brunch options, and desserts.

 

8 Dorm Room Food Necessities

Hello Veggie Lovers!
Whether you're craving a midnight snack and the dining commons is closed or want a quick and easy food option for when you're in a rush, having healthy vegetarian foods stored in your dorm is a must. Here are the 8 essential foods that I have found necessary to store in your dorm!

1. Leftovers - If you go out one night and have left over food make sure to take it back to your dorm. The next day you'll be thankful you did. 
2. Ramen - Even though Ramen is not the healthiest food, it is still something I recommend to keep in especially if you need something quick. To make the Ramen a little more interesting, try using this vegetarian ramen recipe!
3. Peanut butter - Keeping peanut butter in your dorm is essential since it has a high percentage of protein and of course, since it's delicious!
4. Protein bars - These contain a high amount of protein and are also an easy breakfast if you're in a rush.
5. Fruit - I have found that if I keep fruit in, that I am more likely to snack on fruit than something unhealthy so, having fruit in is good for a healthy snack or even to put on top of oatmeal for breakfast.
6. Oats - Oatmeal is a quick and nutritious breakfast that is easy to make in a dorm. If you have a microwave, then you can have breakfast in about 2 minutes! Also, you can top with brown sugar or fruit for more flavor!
7. Veggies and Hummus - This is definitely a favorite for me since I love the taste and it is a very nutritious snack.
8. Organic Chips and Cookies - For when you have cravings for a midnight snack or just want something to snack on, having organic chips and cookies is a good option since they are at least a little healthier than the original.