I have a few posts on the site that walk you through the benefits and steps involved for soaking and sprouting, but I have a feeling many of you are still intimidated by it, so I made a little video (after the jump) to show you how ridiculously easy it is. 2012 is the year you will take on sprouting! I know YU can do it. Read more…
Brenda Asks YU: Thank you so much for the vast amount of information that you have on your site and that you tweet on a daily basis. I am struggling with the transformation to a plant-based diet. I have gathered lots of information, clipped recipes and bought a juicer BUT for some reason I am sooo stuck in my habits—I feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. I’ve been like this for a year now and am frustrated that I have remained stagnant despite all of the information that I’ve gathered. My question to YU is how do I actually start? How do I ‘do’ this?! I have a family that are meat-eaters and I would be cooking for them also, but I am hoping that I will influence them into some healthier decisions. But this is for me for now… Any advice? Read more…
This week kicks off a new start for millions of people, and a healthier lifestyle is usually one of the resolutions at the top of the list. Sadly though, most resolutions fail because they are too extreme—there are a set of rules to follow with no information given about the “why” or “how.” Transitioning into, and maintaining a plant-based, nutrient-rich diet is one that takes time. It usually cannot be done overnight. There are lifelong food addictions to kick, detox symptoms to experience and new foods and cooking methods to try. There’s so much to learn, new habits to form, and old ones that need to be told “goodbye.”
Despite their best efforts, many folks will derail around mid-February, and abandon what they wanted so badly in January, while others are making realistic changes that will inevitably last a lifetime. The key is truly looking at a plant-based diet as an exciting lifestyle change. It is very much like learning a new language. Everything seems so foreign at first, but with each success, excitement grows and a hunger to continue learning follows—it feels good to understand this new language. And it feels great to experience the freedom it can offer you.
YumUniverse eGuides like the YU Test Drive, Dairy Freedom and this site can, and will, help you see that it’s the open heart surgery that’s extreme—not learning about the infinite benefits and flavors of a plant-based diet. Read more…
Maintaining a plant-based diet is all about re-prioritizing, becoming familiar with exciting new techniques, ingredients and ideas. It’s also about planning, time management and making it fun and delicious. To ensure your success, I’m now offering eGuide bundles—2-packs and 3-packs at discount prices. That’s either 72 or 98 pages of combined comprehensive guidance. Read more…
Legumes are simply plants, or fruits of certain plants. You know them, they include peas, beans, lentils, mesquite, carob and yes, peanuts. Most can be eaten raw and almost all can be sprouted (not kidney beans or limas). All can be cooked and they can also be ground into flour which is excellent for those with gluten intolerance. I tend to use fava bean and garbanzo flour quite a bit in my gluten-free baking. Most beans can be fermented into products like Miso (my fave is soy-free adzuki bean miso), and also made into noodles for recipes like Purple Kale & Mung Bean Noodles with Miso Onion Sauce. Read more…
We all dread that moment when you open the fridge and see just a few straggly items remaining. You sigh and realize it’s that time again: a grocery store run.
This seemingly unending chore comes every week, or perhaps even every few days. It can be exhausting and expensive—but, with a few tips, it can also be easy, dare I even say enjoyable—when you have a shopping system that works for you. You simply have to know how to shop, when to shop and ways to save. Read more…
My favorite visit-every-single-day online magazine, GOOD, is challenging everyone to go vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based for the month of June, and YumUniverse is joining in, and here to hold your hand every step of the way. It’s our specialty after all—the plant-based thing. Whether you are an excited newbie, a skeptic, in transition already, or a veteran herbivore, let’s pool some GOOD energy and help each other tackle 30 days of clean, whole food eating. Read more…
One of the comments that I am hearing so much of in regards to the The YU Test Drive™ is “my friend told me about this guide and I’m so glad that they did.” Well, it is nice to know that there are so many smart friends out there!
I am so grateful for all of the incredible response to The YU Test Drive that I want to celebrate by offering up 5 copies of this important 33-page eGuide next week—one per day starting Monday and ending Friday. Read more…
Do you want to try out a plant-based, vegan, whole foods diet but are overwhelmed with the new ingredients and process? Are you interested in a 5 day detox without feeling hungry? Would you feel better if someone planned out a plant-based week for you and all you had to do what read a shopping list and follow instructions?
Lucky you! The YumUniverse Test Drive eGuide is here to get you started! Read more…
