VEGAN

TO BE OR NOT TO BE-IS THERE A COMPROMISE????? 

(Understanding your “why”)

Hi, my name is Kathy Winderl and I define myself as a wine-loving vegan with seafood exceptions.  3 years ago, the results of my annual blood work indicated very high cholesterol numbers.  I am NOT a pill taker so decided to investigate other ways to lower Cholesterol.  As a side note…Did you know we actually need cholesterol?  It’s the plaque build-up that can cause all the issues we typically relate to those high numbers.   My research (coming from Doctors out of Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Hospital and John Hopkins Hospital) have seen great results with a change in diet.  Oh NO, that 4 letter word that puts our hackles up and brakes on and running towards the nearest bag of chips and salsa.  Well, I decided to give it an all in effort to see if I could lower my cholesterol numbers and the Vegan diet seem to fall within the guidelines of where I wanted and needed to be.  Looking at what I normally ate, lots of cheeses and yogurts…. Eggs and red meat a couple times a week, I wanted to try and eliminate those food groups.  In 3 months I lowered my numbers by 53 points.  My Good cholesterol was off the charts GOOD and my Triglycerides came down 37 points and the bad cholesterol was coming down as well.  3 years into this life change, my numbers are still good and I am not taking any medications.  Mission accomplished!!!

I am not a Vegan because of animal rights and I think it’s important to get as much Omega 3 into our diets as possible, hence the seafood exception.  I LOVE to cook and a day in the kitchen is right up there with a day in Disneyland.  It has taken me 3 years to accumulate some favorite recipes that are family and friend worthy and to find the products that I honestly like and not just tolerate.  It is my desire to help you start your journey ahead of the curve.  There’s a lot of experimentation when you change your diet and that can get expensive and be a waste of precious time.  I would like to make this transition a little easier….but…. YOUR “WHY” for switching to a Vegan diet had better be a good one because the journey is an adventure.

Recently, a friend recommended a book called “THE Oh SHE GLOWS COOKBOOK” by Angela Liddon.  With a better than 50/50 “really like this recipe” so far, I decided to work my way through her cookbook and let others know about her recipes and how they are received by Vegan and non-Vegan alike.  Looking for: Do I have these ingredients in my house?  Do I know what that ingredient is?  Is this going to take me all day to prepare?  Can I use my instant pot? How many family members from children to grandparent liked this recipe???????  If you are new to this life-style, having 10 go-to recipes will make this fun and help motivate you to look for other recipes to try.  You’ll find the ingredient combinations that appeal to your palette and you will have the basic stock at hand in your frig and freezer and pantry.

My goal is to post twice a week.  The content will include insight into the OH SHE GLOWS COOKBOOK and share some other favorite recipes to get you started and where to find the best products. ( in my opinion) Are you ready? Let’s do this!!!