Ste Martaen » ayanna israel

Raising healthy vegan children (Part 1)

laviyah — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:47:20 +0000

As the mother of four healthy vegan children I get asked a lot of questions. The questions are often specific to what my children eat. If you are a vegan and want your children to be too, its actually quite simple. I will let you in on a little secret. Make good food. I have an 11 and 9 year old who will eat almost anything I make. The reason for this is a)they have no choice b)they have been eating this way since infancy.

In my pantry post, I highlighted what I generally have in my pantry on a regular basis. The list is long and varied. The staples are tofu (only buy Organic soy products), Basmati rice, lentils, soy and nut milk (organic), oatmeal, grits (polenta), brown rice (for waffles), coconut and soy yogurt, rice cakes, and agave. Keep a rotating stock of in season fruits and vegetables and you’re good to go.

Infants
As a rule, I breastfeed. My children get introduced to food at about six months. I start with liquids. See the sesame seed milk post. I introduce a small bottle with water and a couple tablespoons of molasses. I make fenugreek cereal. It’s a mush that my 4 year old loved as a baby and my daughter refused to have any part of it. Babies know what they like, even at that age. I would also grind up whole oats (organic, bought in bulk from whole foods) and then make a slurry with the oats and liquid (the liquid can be your breast milk, water, apple juice or the sesame seed milk). I also begin to incorporate fruit, mashed bananas mixed with cereal or alone, apple sauce, stewed prunes, rice with coconut milk (my daughter loved it), also so delicious coconut milk yogurt. It’s not necessary to buy baby food. It is so easy to make baby food. Get a coffee grinder. This cheap one has lasted me about 8 years or so. I use the coffee grinder for grinding up oatmeal, fenugreek, and even rice for baby cereal. When their teeth come in or they are screaming with angst every time you lift a fork to your mouth. Expand their repertoire. Cut up fruit into bite size pieces, apples, grapes, strawberries, bananas, peaches, melons, it’s all good for the baby. Don’t forget about grits. All of my children love grits (polenta).

Toddlers

My daughter will be two in February. She is probably the pickiest of all my children. However, my daughter still eats a large variety of food. I make sesame seed milk for her, every other day. She loves coconut milk yogurt, she will eat rice and lentils,whole grain waffles, strawberries (fresh and dried), sliced apples, pineapple, bananas, mango, raisins and cereal.

My 4 year old would live off of our macaroni and cheese if it was possible to do so. However, he too loves grits, rice and beans, yogurt, all fruit (especially blueberries), soup, cornbread, waffles (without the syrup), nuts, pasta and oatmeal.

This is just a sample of what the toddlers eat.

The Big Kids

My older children are 11 and 9 year old boys. They have never been picky and eat what my husband and I eat. I don’t get requests for fast foods because we rarely if ever go to fast food places. We may have an Asian inspired meal one night and then pizza the next night. We may do soup and cornbread and then do raw the next night. They like to eat and almost every meal they eat is homemade. My 11 year old likes to help out in the kitchen too. Some of his favorites are spaghetti, pizza, rice and beans, lasagna, greens simmered in coconut milk. He absolutely loves tomatoes and raw vegetables. My 9 year old loves pretty much the same foods, he just doesn’t share his brother’s same fondness for vegetables.

Do you guys have any specific questions you want to ask me? I will be talking about supplements and recipes next.

Love Always Wins

laviyah — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:01:52 +0000

This photo was taken over a year ago, when my daughter was just a wee one. I was sifting through the recipe folder, looking for a recipe to post and finding none, I came across this photo. So much has happened in this year. Our small business has grown and we have celebrated birthdays and cried over the passing of my beloved Grandpa. I want everyone who comes across this to be happy in knowing that love is such an infinite force. It cannot be contained, bottled or canned. I spent two weeks in Georgia with my grandma who had just lost her partner of 65 years. I am so amazed by her strength and her foresight. She was prepared to lose her husband, I wasn’t prepared to lose the man who had stepped in as my father for the past 30 years.

When my grandparents still lived in NYC, they took me everywhere with them. I went on countless road trips from NYC to Georgia. I remember my grandmother always making more food than we could eat and my grandfather always impeccably dressed. He was a proud man and he was always loving, affectionate and proud of me. I was their first grandchild and the only grandchild for ten years. My father being their only child, they welcomed me, an unexpected gift as their daughter. As I write this, the love and positive example that he showed me is engraved permanently in my heart and my soul.

Like my grandfather, I am quiet, choosy even with the folks that I share my life with. However, “I love you” should never be left unsaid. I am grateful that I have the loving memories of the times that I spent with my grandpa. He could always make me laugh. He didn’t miss much and often had colorful observations to share.

As you read this, you must know that love is a powerful choice and it feels so good to have it in your life. If you are out there seeking it, stop, for it is first found within. Everything is already there, just open your eyes. If you are going through a hard time, if there are troubles in your midst, remember to love. Give love freely in kindness to others and receive love through forgiveness.

I am just sharing with you a portion of my journey because I have found that love always wins, the spirit lives on and we are all magnificent beings with an amazing capacity for love.

Chocolate Brownie Almond

laviyah — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:41:43 +0000

I’ve found the answer to world peace. So Delicious aka Turtle Mountain = Pure Bliss. I use so many of their products, I should own stock. I’ve been eating their soy based ice cream for years! However, their coconut milk based products are crazy delicious. Even folks like my hubby who are not big fans of coconut on its own, love the taste of their coconut milk ice cream. My absolute favorite is the Chocolate Brownie Almond. It is silky and smooth with my favorite combination — chocolate and almonds. With the brownie chunks in there, it’s like an extra bonus on bliss. It’s sooooooo good.

Take a look at how amazing!

Okay take a closer look. Yum!

Disclaimer: Turtle Mountain aka So Delicious is totally awesome. However, at the time of this review they don’t know who I am. I have reviewed this product of my own free will.

Healthy Families

laviyah — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:43:44 +0000

I took my children to the museum earlier this week. I was shocked by how many obese parents and children there were. If you are obese, I am not in judgment of you, I am more than hopeful that I can help you. I know something is seriously wrong with the way Americans eat when I can actually walk to McD’s, but I have to get in a car to go pick up fresh produce.

I understand that there are many parents in my generation who were not taught to cook at home and home ec was pretty much fazed out when I went to school. To be perfectly honest, looking at how many children are morbidly overweight, I am shocked.

My grandmother tells me that when she was young it was very rare to see a fat person. She has a lot to say about the current situation. Most of her observations are true. I, like my grandmother believe that fast food should not be a regular dinner option, if an option at all. In fact, fast food, is a breakfast, lunch and dinner option for many, many families. When I came across this TED talk, I had to share it with you all and hopefully you will share the information Jamie Oliver puts forth with everyone you know.

Oven Baked Risotto

laviyah — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:37:40 +0000

This post is by request. I made risotto per the request (sensing a theme here) of my husband and he was so moved he tweeted about it. There aren’t many things that my husband gets emotional about, but when he tweeted that this risotto, had him curled up in a fetal position from utter bliss, one of our readers/customers requested that I go public with this recipe.

There are no pictures because my camera is acting funny and the cost to have it fixed professionally is more than my rent, literally.

Oven Baked Risotto

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 small onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic crushed

1 1/2 cups of arborio rice

4 cups of water (with 1 heaping tablespoon of Better than Bouillon no chicken base) stirred in

1.5 teaspoon salt

couple turns of fresh ground pepper

2 tablespoon of vegan margarine

1/2 cup of nutritional yeast

bunch of chopped fresh spinach or parsley or herb of your choice

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
In a dutch oven or oven proof pan, heat oil over medium high heat.
Add the onions and cook until translucent.
Add crushed garlic and rice, stirring to coat all the grains in oil.
Stir in your liquid, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
Cover, transfer to oven and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove from oven, over low heat, stir in about a 1/2 cup of water, chopped spinach, vegan margarine.
If the consistency of the risotto is not as creamy as you would like, add a bit more water.
Serve hot & immediately.

May is looking awesome!

laviyah — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:49:06 +0000

I’m so glad April is over. It sucked.

Anyway, on a positive note. We are still making vegan cheese, our children are still healthy and my mom is still awesome.

There are a couple of updates I am going to add, like other stores we are currently in, what new services we are offering and just some all around house cleaning. Things were getting a little dusty around here.

In the meantime; I found the cutest vegan couple: http://www.meettheshannons.net/ Please check them out! In the spirit of Julie and Julia, they are veganizing the Betty Crocker cookbook!

Speaking of veganizing. I have veganized many of her recipes, but I am so unofficial about it…lol

Thank you for being awesome!

You know who you are…

P.S. Someone goes vegan with Ste Martaen cheese!

http://planetverge.com/2010/03/going-vegan-episode-6-whats-cooking/

Pitter Pat

laviyah — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:39:51 +0000

This is just a ploy to get you to ignore the fact that this is not a recipe post. Don’t worry, we didn’t run out of vegan recipes that will make your inner thighs touch (unfortunately I know this as fact). This month went by so quickly. Where does the time go?

Time thief!

It’s not her fault.

Okay, it kinda is.

Those cheeks man!

I can kiss those cheeks all day.

Seriously.

Oh, look! She wants to share!

She really wants you to take it.

Sike! (Don’t act like you don’t know what that means.)

Enjoy the fleeting moments.

She thinks she can talk! Actually, she knows she can talk, we’re just not up to her speed yet.

Pitter Pat goes my heart!

Meeting Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond)

laviyah — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:12:58 +0000

As much as I love and have embraced the vegan lifestyle, I certainly ain’t no snob about it. My best friend is not a vegan nor does she plan to be any time soon. We’ve been friends so long that meat does not come between our love and respect for each other. I love my grandparents totally and completely and being meat eaters for over eighty years they eat what I give them (the only time they eat vegan) as their precious granddaughter when I visit. They think I’m cute but they certainly are not changing their meat eating ways even for me. They also respect my choices and see with their own eyes my four completely healthy vegan children. So when I come across a blogger who eats meat, I don’t immediately turn away, especially if we have common interests.

When I first came to Chicago my husband could not join us right away. I came to Chicago alone with our three sons and I spent a lot of time on the phone with my husband. It was lonely but I had no choice and I had absolute faith that he would be joining me soon. I stumbled upon Pioneer Woman’s website one day and was instantly fixated by her humor, her honesty and her detailed recipes, shot by shot! I was hooked and immediately started following her recipes and veganizing them. Good cooking is good cooking and when the recipes are simple enough the vegan ingredients can be easily substituted in place of meat or dairy with fantastic results. I have done so much of her food that I can literally dedicate an entire section of this website to the veganization of her recipes alone. Her recipes kept me company for weeks until my husband arrived. I have kept up with her website and have admired her gumption and energy. I also loved the fact that she is a homeschooling mother raising her children with the love of her life, here was a woman I could totally relate to!

Last night I finally met her. She came out to a book signing in Skokie. I won’t detail the journey it took me to get there or back home but I will say that it was well worth it. Barnes and Noble was totally unprepared for how many people showed up. I think over 300 people showed up and Ree stayed well past closing time to meet every single person who stood in line to see her. How awesome is that!? I think she signed my book at around 11pm and there were still people there! What a class act. She clearly made everyone feel welcome and she made sure that everyone who came out and stood in that line got their book signed. She even gave away t-shirts which I forgot to get.

“The Pioneer Woman Cooks” cookbook is just as engaging and detailed as her website. She is just as tall and pretty, her kids (the boys were there) are just as cute and frisky and yes her husband is just as rugged and handsome. Everyone has a story, what’s so special about Ree is that it’s not just a single story but many stories rolled into one. The love story between her and her husband; the homeschooling of four children on a cattle ranch; adjusting to life in the country and so on. Each story is given merit, she respects her readers and puts her best self forward. This all comes off in her writing and her photography and her constantly evolving website.

Ree, “It was a special treat to meet you and maybe one day my husband Nahum (I’m still tickled about how you pronounced his name) and I will get to prepare for you a delicious vegan meal!”

Kale Chips (even a 9 month old baby will love)

laviyah — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:02:49 +0000

The dehydrated Kale chips in the raw section of the grocery store are like a gazillion dollars. I’ve been tempted to purchase them, but my pocketbook won’t let me since a bunch of organic kale is relatively cheap in comparison to what the store bought chips cost.

I’ve seen many adaptations of the kale chips recipe. Some suggest turning your oven on the lowest setting and letting them dehydrate for several hours. I don’t have that kind of time. I’m impatient, so I was looking for something that would give me some chips within the hour. 350F for 10-15 minutes or until crispy is more my speed, so that’s what I went with.

Before washing a healthy, nice sized bunch of kale, preheat your oven to 350F. After turning on your oven make sure you wash your kale really well and shake off the excess water. Tear it up into bite size pieces and place in a large bowl. (Sorry there is no pic of this but I was hungry and moving quickly.)

Next, grab a bowl and add in 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Add enough salt to your liking.

2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast, whisk together with a dash of cayenne and toss in the bowl with your kale and make sure the pieces get coated with your mixture

I baked my kale for like 13 minutes. It was crispy and delicious. Yet another way to eat greens!

So good even a 9 month old baby will love it. Don’t worry about that big ole piece of kale. I gave her the crispiest pieces which dissolved as she shoved them into her mouth.

Note: Keep in mind that the seasoning mix for these chips is open to so many variations. Next time I make these, I am going sub lemon juice for the apple cider vinegar. I am thinking of including garlic and basil. yum. The wheels are spinning.

No animals were harmed in the creation of this dish!

Choose Joy,
Laviyah

Just to be close to you…

laviyah — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:13:18 +0000

My husband and I can measure our lives in one of many ways. Recently our blackberries have become the gauge. There was life before our blackberry phones which was devoid of excitement and without purpose and life after the blackberry which trumps our bebes.

We barely talk to each other anymore, we’ll just text each other. GAH.

We have moved from the stone age to the industrial age all in one jump. It’s like sleeping in tents in the forest and moving into a penthouse suite. Is this a good thing? Only time will tell. The fact is, we’re addicted now and are more interested in protecting our phones… than eating, sleeping, drinking. I think I might be dehydrated right now. But I tweeted though.

The blackberry pictured above is mine. The blackberry pictured below is my husband’s.

Aren’t we cute?

I have been neglecting my husband and my children for up to the minute status updates on uber twitter and facebook!

Aside from all that, we are excited because we get to talk to our fans on facebook, our followers on twitter and kewl people in general, ALL THE TIME. Awesome. In the end we got our snazzy new phones just to be closer to you. For real.

Choose Joy!
Laviyah

P.S. As soon as I find a WordPress App for my blackberry I will so be posting from my phone.