Veganism for the Extremely Lazy

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Seven years ago, I was a mere lacto-ovo vegetarian (or what I like to call a

" Lo-Vegetarian " ). I wanted to go vegan because I was uncomfortable with the idea

that animals have no more worth than a pencil or a lampshade--their value was

determined by their worth as property, not as a sentient being. Despite my

convictions, there was just one problem: I can be extremely lazy.

 

I didn't want to go through a lot of preparation, planning meals and such, just

to be a vegan. Thanks to my stubbornness, I can pass on a few tips to the other

lazy vegans out there who just want to be comfortable without committing loads

of their time.

 

Before I start, know that learning to cook a few recipes can be extremely

beneficial and may be the answer you need. While being a lazy vegan is possible,

shortcuts often lead to eating processed foods and cons equivalent to being a

lazy omnivore. Make sure what you're looking for isn't a list of tips but a

lifestyle change.

 

 

Eating Out Vegan Where You Live

 

 

Just because you don't have a " Joe's Vegan " restaurant in your area doesn't mean

there aren't vegan-friendly establishments like Indian restaurants or Mexican

grills. I highly recommend VegGuide.org for complete listings of vegan and

vegan-friendly establishments at the continent, country, state, and city level.

My readers also remind me of HappyCow.net which is a little harder on the eyes,

but also provides extensive listings.

 

Potatoes, not Pasta

 

Laziness with veganism often leads to carb-loading. To fulfill their calorie

cravings, vegans will load up on breads, pastas, and cereals. This is bad news

as most of your calories are coming from carbohydrates. Try loading up more on

potatoes instead. I won't say they're the perfect food as they are still

carbohydrate rich and high on the Glycemic Index but they do offer better

nutritional benefits than a plate of spaghetti:

 

Potatoes contain vitamins and minerals that have been identified as vital to

human nutrition. Humans can subsist healthily on a diet of potatoes and milk;

the latter supplies Vitamin A and Vitamin D.[22]A medium potato (150g/5.3 oz)

with the skin provides 27 mg of vitamin C (45% of the Daily Value (DV)), 620 mg

of potassium (18% of DV), 0.2 mg vitamin B6 (10% of DV) and trace amounts of

thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.

Moreover, the fiber content of a potato with skin (2 grams) equals that of many

whole grain breads, pastas, and cereals. Potatoes also contain an assortment of

phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols. The notion that " all of the

potato's nutrients " are found in the skin is an urban legend. While the skin

does contain approximately half of the total dietary fiber, more than 50% of the

nutrients are found within the potato itself. The cooking method used can

significantly impact the nutrient availability of the potato.

(Wikipedia)

Food Not Bombs, Where Vegans Eat Free

 

For my first article on Examiner.com, I commented on Omaha, Nebraska's Food Not

Bombs chapter which gets donated food to distribute to absolutely anyone. You

just happen to be absolutely someone, so check them out every weekend for free,

healthy, vegan food.

 

On-the-Go Foods

 

Keep around healthy, non-perishable, non-preparatory foods like nuts, seeds, and

granolas. Following a vegan diet is much easier when you can simply reach into a

bowl of mixed nuts on the coffee table to fulfill your craving and absorb some

beneficial oils and nutrients.

 

Order Your Groceries Online

 

Amazon.com provides FREE SHIPPING on orders of $25+ (selected items only) and

carries a whole category specific to vegan food. I'm known to order Shells and

Chreese and McDougall cups. Also check out VeganEssentials for a wider variety

of vegan products

 

Stir Fry Frozen Veggies

 

Stir frying vegetables will cook out a lot of the nutrients and enzymes, but

it's a heck of a lot better than heavily processed foods or animal products. Buy

cheap bags of veggies. They're already chopped, so you just throw some oil on a

skillet, dump out the back and add some seasoning. You'll have a big healthy

meal in under 15 minutes.

 

1+1 Recipes

 

Here are some simple " 1+1 " recipes. They're so simple, they're not really

recipes. I call them 1+1 because they simply require adding two things together

and nuking, frying, or freezing

 

Vegan chili + Potato

 

Vegan chili is surprisingly easy to find canned. If you can't find it, use

vegetarian baked beans (which are often vegan). For chili, I recommend Amy's

Kitchen brand with faux meat. Cook your potato for at least 5 minutes, pour over

the chili and cook another minute. See the video above

 

Nutritional Yeast + Popcorn

 

This tip came from the Abolitionist Vegans forums. For a cheesy vegan flavor on

your popcorn, sprinkle on some nutritional yeast immediately after popping.

Vegan butters work just as well, so if you can't find Earth Balance where you

live, there are some incidentally vegan brands like Smart Balance (check

ingredients first!) that melt and pour just like regular butter.

 

Brussel Sprouts + Lemon Juice

 

Fry or steam half-cut brussel sprouts until brown or soft, depending on how tart

you want your sprouts, you may want up to a tablespoon of lemon juice per 6-7

sprouts. Add salt and pepper for added flavor.

 

Celery + Peanut Butter

 

Another version of this snack is " ants on a log " named for the appearance of

ants (raisins) on a filling of peanut butter in the valley of the celery stick.

Kids tend to like this snack too !

 

Dr. McDougall Cups + Boiling water

 

You don't even have to leave home for this one. Even though Dr. McDougall soup

cups are stocked in most popular health foods stores, these can be ordered off

Amazon.com as mentioned earlier. Dr. McDougall soup cups make about 3-4 cups of

soup after adding boiled water, stirring, and let to sit for 8 minutes. Think of

them as a healthy version of ramen noodles. I recommend Miso soup and the Black

Bean and Lime versions.