Or, ‘4 Vegans Chew On 3 Questions’
Have you heard of The China Study? It’s a research project that was done involving 100 people in rural China over 20 years, studying ‘dietary and lifestyle factors associated with disease mortality.’
The conclusion of the study was that people who eat a whole-food, plant-based/vegan diet (like what I share here!) will avoid, reduce or reverse certain common diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The daughter of the China Study researcher and author (T. Colin Campbell) has put together a cookbook based on the recommendations in the study – as well as a new All-Star Collection.
The new cookbook includes recipes from some of my favorite vegan chefs and cookbook authors, and is a wonderful collection of healthy and delicious meal ideas.
I wanted to introduce you to 4 of these amazing recipe creators, and ask them some questions about health, taste and happiness:
Dreena Burton has been vegan for almost 20 years, in that time writing four bestselling cookbooks charting her journey as a plant-powered cook and at-home mother of three. Always passionate about creating nutritious recipes, she is an advocate of using the “vegan basics” to create healthy, delicious food for the whole family. She’s my go-to lady when I want to try a new cookie or veggie burger recipe, because I know hers are always the best. You’ll find tons of them on her site, Plant-Powered Kitchen.Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Christy Morgan, known as The Blissful and Fit Chef, is a vegan chef, educator, athlete, and personal trainer. She is the author of Blissful Bites: Plant-based Meals That Nourish Mind, Body, and Planet and the Editor-in-Chief and creator of Definition Magazine. Contact her for details on how to reach all your health and fitness goals! She and I see eye to eye on pretty much all aspects of healthy compassionate living.Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Christina Ross is the founder of PatisseRaw, a transitional raw and vegan dessert line sold online and locally in Southern California. She teaches healthy-living cooking to children and adults, and blogs at love-fed.com. Christina lives with her partner and son in Venice, CA.Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Laura Theodore, known as The Jazzy Vegetarian, is a 2014 TASTE Award-winning television personality, vegan chef, radio host, cookbook author and recording artist. She is author of Jazzy Vegetarian Classics: Vegan Twists on American Family Favorites and Jazzy Vegetarian: Lively Vegan Cuisine Made Easy and Delicious. Laura is the on-camera host of the weekly Jazzy Vegetarian cooking show on PBS and she hosts the podcast radio show, Jazzy Vegetarian Radio. A love for good food, compassion for animals, and enthusiasm for great music has created a joyous life path for Laura Theodore.Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
1. What do you consider to be the top 3 basics of a healthy diet and lifestyle?
Dreena Burton: Healthy food that you enjoy, love with family and friends, and compassion with yourself and others. I used to think healthy living was mostly about diet. While I still believe diet alone is an essential (and large) component, we shouldn’t place such a value on it that it causes stress. It’s so important to manage all stressors in our lives, I’ve learned a lot with that myself this past year – and still learning!
Christy Morgan: 1. Cook your food! Make most your diet whole foods but enjoy a vegan cupcake every once in a while! Be realistic with yourself and do the best you can. If you need to take shortcuts like using frozen veggies or canned beans do it! I’d rather you do that than eat out at a restaurant or eat packaged food. 2. Move your body. Lift weights. Diet is only part of the puzzle for optimal health. You must exercise to fill your best! Everyone should be doing resistance training as it’s the best way to improve and maintain bone health as we age. Exercise doesn’t have to be a pain; find activities you enjoy and have fun with it. 3. Reduce stress. If you have a perfect diet and exercise regularly but you are stressed your immune system is going down the drain.
Christina Ross: Three is not enough as I believe there are at least five basics that attribute to a healthy lifestyle. Balanced nutrition through whole foods – Mental equilibrium – Physical exercise and rest – Choosing happiness 🙂
Laura Theodore: In my view, adopting a compassionate, whole foods, plant-based diet is the number one basic for living a healthy lifestyle. It is best for our personal health, healthy for the animals and healthiest for our planet. Number two; keeping a positive outlook on life is key for being the healthiest we can be. Number three; finding an exercise plan that works and sticking to it.
2. What’s your favorite ingredient to use in recipes that you think is overlooked?
Christy Morgan: I put nutritional yeast on everything! It’s not overlooked in the vegan community but most omnivores have never heard of it. It’s fortified with B vitamins and has a good amount of protein too!
Dreena Burton: Oh, quite a few! Citrus, because they brighten and lift flavors. Coconut butter, because it’s a magical ingredient in desserts. Chickpea miso because it adds a depth of flavor (umami) and is a terrific soy-free alternative for people. Sea salt in desserts – just a small amount rounds out all the other flavors!
Laura Theodore: Reduced-sodium tamari. It adds so much depth and taste to many plant-based recipes, giving a great base to stews, soups, casseroles, dipping sauces, pastas, steamed veggies and so much more. I use a non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free brand.
Christina Ross: Roots such as ginger and turmeric. I feel they can be added to most any dish whether frozen and easily grated into teas or soups or even chopped and built into desserts and entrees. I especially love juicing these roots to add extra immunity and ant-inflammatory to my wellness routine.
3. What makes you happy when you’re cooking?
Christina Ross: I’m most happy when I’m thinking of the person I’m making the dish for! I also love it when I catch a hummingbird, squirrel or blue jay zip by as i glance out my windows in between mixing and blending, these things fill my heart and recipes with joy!
Laura Theodore: Thinking about the BIG smiles on peoples faces when they eat my healthy and delicious food!
Dreena Burton: I love when a new dish just “comes together”, without a lot of testing or even specifically planning to create it. Just being in the moment, having an idea and letting it unfold. Sometimes it hits the sweet spot! Also, it’s pretty wonderful feeling the appreciation for my food from my family.
Christy Morgan: Knowing that I’m nourishing my body and mind without harming innocent lives or destroying the planet makes me abundantly happy. Hence the name The Blissful Chef. Cooking and eating vegan is the most joyful thing I have ever experienced.
Win A Copy Of Both Cookbooks!
Offer open to residents of the US and Canada only
