Crazy Sexy Diet: Eat Your Veggies, Ignite Your Spark, and Live Like You Mean It! (43 page)

Yacón syrup is made from a tuber that grows in the Andes mountains of Peru. The syrup tastes sorta like molasses and is loaded with minerals such as potassium. Agave syrup (also sold as agave nectar) is made from the agave plant, mostly found in Mexico. It’s the same plant that gives us tequila, but there’s no worm in the bottle of agave syrup (dang!). Agave contains minerals such as iron and magnesium.

FLOURS AND MEALS

If you can tolerate gluten in your diet, go with organic, stone-milled, whole-grain flours (stone milling preserves the bran, nutrients, and natural oils in grains). If gluten is a no-no, then you still have an amazing array of alternatives: amaranth flour, black bean flour, flaxseed meal, potato flour, oat flour, quinoa flour, millet flour, nut flour, and more. Check out Bob’s Red Mill at
bobsredmill.com
to get an idea of what’s available. Need gravy? Arrowroot and kudzu powder make terrific thickening agents.

ALTERNATIVES

Cutting back or eliminating dairy products is easier than you might think. Rice, almond, oat, and hemp milk are my personal favorites as alternatives to dairy. You can make your own nut milks, too, and I’ll show ya how in a hot minute.

Brooklyn-based Dr. Cow (dr-cow.com) nut “cheeses” are fabulous for special occasions, and they’re probably the healthiest of all the faux cheeses on the market. You will lose your mind! Pair their cheeses with oil-cured olives and you’ve got yourself a really sexy hors d’oeuvre. Another good brand to know about is Eat in the Raw. They make a terrific Parmesan-like food from nuts; it’s supertasty on top of pasta, salad, and sautéed veggies. Daiya cheese is another alternative. This tapiocabased “cheese” melts like the real thing. It’s great for the occasional vegan quesadillas, lasagna, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread kicks dairy butter’s ass! For a good mayonnaise alternative, try Nayonaise or Vegenaise. You can also make your own raw version with cashews!

EGG REPLACERS

Eggs are the Elmer’s glue of cooking—they make things hold together. But you can find great standins in the form of soft tofu, mashed bananas, arrowroot powder, cornstarch (1 tablespoon dissolved in 2 tablespoons water for each egg), and chickpea flour. You’ll need to experiment a bit to see what works best in different recipes. You can also try Ener-G Foods’ egg replacer for baking jobs. Do stay away from processed egg substitutes meant to be low in cholesterol—these things contain egg whites and chemicals and aren’t really food.

MOCK MEATS

Okay, let me be honest. I think of reproduction rump roast, tofu-turkey, and other pretend meats as methadone for tush eaters who are trying to quit the carnivore habit. This stuff is highly processed, and too much of it defeats the purpose of living a veggie lifestyle. However, some mock substitutes are healthier than others, and if you are having trouble transitioning, meat substitutes serve a valuable purpose. They get you over the hump, or in this case, the rump (roast). Here are my favorites:

• Gardein (gardein.com) is a dynamic new company that makes wonderful meat-like products (though they do contain gluten). Gardein makes everything from buffalo wings to beef skewers. My personal favorites are the Chick’n Scallopini and beefless tips.

• Sunshine Veggie Burgers (sunshineburger.com) are wheat-, gluten- and soy-free, and delicious. Gardenburgers (gardenburger.com) are a great brand as well, but read the package carefully. A few of their products contain dairy.

• Field Roast Grain Meat Company (fieldroast.com) makes yummy grain-based “meats” including sausages, cutlets, and even holiday meat loaf. Their smoked-apple sage sausages are delish.

• Check out Lightlife brand (lightlife.com) for tasty tempeh bacon, and use their Gimme Lean to make outstanding mock meatballs. Isa Chandra Moskowitz has a fabulous recipe in her cookbook,
Veganomicon
(also included in my resources section).

• Morning Star Chik’n Strips (morningstarfarms.com) are pretty darn fabulous too, especially on a Caesar salad. They do contain some gluten.

As much as possible use soy products that are close to their whole form. Soybeans, edamame, tempeh, and moderate amounts of tofu are your best choices. And if you’re down on soy altogether, don’t fret! There are many wonderful raw, nut-based meat-substitute recipes out there as well.

NUTS AND SEEDS

Nuts and seeds are an important part of the Crazy Sexy Diet. These little gems are packed with vitamins, minerals, good fats, protein, and fiber. Your options include: almonds, pecans, walnuts, macadamias, hazelnuts, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed (use a small grinder for these or buy them already ground), sesame seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds (these make yummy cereal and puddings), and sunflower seeds. For spreads, try raw almond butter, cashew butter, and tahini (made from sesame seeds). Always buy fresh raw nuts and store them in the fridge or freezer; roasted nuts go rancid much more quickly.

Peanuts and peanut butter can be kinda sketchy. The plants are usually heavily sprayed with pesticides. Even organically grown peanuts can harbor mold, including dangerous kinds that give off toxins called aflatoxins. If you enjoy peanut butter, buy organic, and eat it in moderation.

SEASONINGS