Good morning!
I enjoyed a delicious bowl of vegan overnight oats this morning. I made this batch heavier on the chia seeds and lighter on the oats just for a fun change.
Mango Blueberry Vegan Overnight Oats
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup oats
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/2-1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup mango
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- Seeds/nuts for sprinkling (I used roasted sunflower seeds)
Directions: In a small bowl mix together the oats, chia seeds, almond milk, chopped mango, blueberries and maple syrup. Place in fridge overnight or for at least 1 hour to allow for the seeds and oats to soak up the milk. When you are ready to eat, top with any other desired toppings and serve.
Mango in the oats = awesome.
A Vegan In Paris
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Last week, I told you about my upcoming trip to Paris during the 3rd week of September with OSGMOM and my sister Kristi. I said I would talk about how I will eat while in Paris, especially considering that French cuisine is far from vegan.
I actually laughed as I typed this last sentence because French cuisine is pretty much the antithesis of vegan eating. It is quite funny to think about.
You know what though, I’m cool with that. Just because I eat a vegan diet doesn’t mean that I think everyone should eat like I do. I understand that all cuisines are different and have certain characteristics that define them, and it just so happens that French cuisine has a lot of cheese, cream, butter, pastries, and meat!
My plan is to have fun like I always do with food and to not worry about it. I want to soak up the culture while in Paris and if that means I have to occasionally soak up some melted chocolate on my croissant then so be it. ;)
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Technically speaking, I will have no ‘plan’ going to Paris. I think it’s more fun that way.
Long gone are the days when I used to worry, stress, or obsess about what I eat. Food is fun in my life and I plan on keeping it that way while in Paris. I will roll with the punches and have a good time with it.
Obviously there will be occasions when it is not possible to eat vegan, and I am not going to worry about it. I ate non-vegan for 25 years of my life after all. As far as eating meat-free goes, I don’t think that will be a problem. It’s pretty easy to find or ask for meat-free dishes at restaurants. I just need to learn how to say that in French. ;)
My plan is to have fun…AND bring you along for the journey!
Like I said, I could come home a coffee-drinking, croissant lovin, bon-bon eating non-vegan.
I can’t be sure.
Or I may not come home at all.
Do you have any special diet preferences or needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, wheat-free, nut-free, etc) and have you had to accommodate them while on vacation or away from home? Have you ever had to ‘go hungry’ because of an allergy like gluten or nuts, when there were no options available for you?
Luckily I do not have any food allergies (I have been tested for everything), just sensitivities. My doctor thinks I have IBS. Foods like dairy, nuts, and high-fat foods can be problematic for my stomach in large quantities, so I try to be mindful of this when eating.
Luckily, I don’t have any allergies to food but my 5 year old is slightly lactose intolerant and does better with lactose free milk….we drink raw milk here at home from our dairy and he’s great with that, so his slight allergy sometimes poses a problem on vacation, especially when we’re speaking of ice cream.
I really love that you’re not stressing out about what you’ll eat. Part of experiencing Paris and France and Europe and other cultures in general is trying their food. I think if I restricted myself during vacations I wouldn’t get the full experience and that’d make me sad. I eat healthy and a certain way all the time at home, which frees me up to just enjoy vacations for the week I’m there.
When I left to study abroad in Spain I was a vegetarian, but I didn’t have the vocabulary to tell my host parents this on the first day so I ended up eating meat the entire time I was there! The first few days were tough, especially because their diet was so heavy on the pork (they had a leg of Serrano ham sitting on their kitchen table at all times!), but I’m so glad I went with the flow. My boyfriend stuck to his vegetarianism while studying in France and now regrets it.
Still, good luck finding food options you’re comfortable with! It can be tough.
I hate to leave two comments, but I was reading other comments and realized something. It seems that it’s all about your attitude. If you’re up for being creative, stepping out of your comfort zone and going down the less-beaten path, traveling as a vegan is easy and fun. But if you’re scared, unwilling to go out of your way, or maybe make a fool of yourself in front of a waiter or at a farmer’s market, it will be difficult and stressful. Just be positive and open-minded. But I suppose that goes for traveling in general if you want to actually explore a place and its culture and not get stuck doing the traditional – read boring – tourist thing.
some ares I visit don’t have the food I’m used to….so I just have to adapt as close as I can.
i don’t have any special dietary needs, but i try to eat a fairly low-fat diet because of health issues my family has concerning blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. HOWEVER, that being said, i think you have an amazing opportunity and i say do whatever you can to enjoy it. sounds like you have it planned perfectly!
Hey Angela, believe it or not vegan-ism is becoming more popular in Paris, well according to Veg News. Anyway here is a list of vegetarian restaurants in Paris. http://veganparis.com/2008/12/13/list-of-vegetarian-restaurants-in-paris/ The blog is also about a vegan who happens to live in Paris. Thought it might help! Have FUN!!!!
VOO with mango sounds like such a great idea. I like the idea of putting in extra chia seeds to change things up a bit as well. I have yet to try making my own VOO, but I will be soon!
I can’t wait to hear about how everything goes in Paris!
I travel a lot and my number one rule is: Go with the flow. That doesn’t mean eating meat if you’re a vegetarian or dairy if you’re a vegan, but it means taking a more laid-back approach. Trying something new. Not bringing your own snacks from home but finding new treats in the new country. Finding out what and where the locals eat, then following suit.
This is such a positive attitude to have! I have no dietary restrictions or allergies, but in general, my diet is healthy. Sometimes on vacation, the people I’m with want to stop at diners or fast food joints. Usually they are off-limits (I just don’t like their food), but I find a way to compromise and get something relatively healthy. It’s about ignoring that little demon in your head saying, “You can’t eat it”, lettting go and just enjoying yourself. Very excited about your trip!
I’m also admiring you’re attitude! I was in Paris last autumn, and little salad/juice bars seemed to be quite the trend over there already then, so for sure you’ll find plenty of stuff suitable for a vegan. I’m still dreaming of the green juice & pineapple/mint smoothie I had in one place, though I’m an omnivore so I also had my fair share of cheese & croissants (and loved every bite)! The traditional bistros always have lovely salads, they usually include some kind of cheese/meat, but I guess that can be easily removed, and dressings are normally divine vinaigrettes which shouldn’t be a problem. As I think someone mentioned, there are plenty of delicious fruits & vegetables available in the (super)markets, if you like e.g. figs you’re in luck! Oh and herbal tea is served in every cafe/restaurant, it’s called “infusion”. And of course you can always get a big mug of green tea at Starbucks haha.
If you do decide to cave to the non-vegan culinary delights of Paris, may I recommend une salade au chevre chaud sans lardon?! (Hot goat cheese salad WITHOUT bacon) This was probably my favorite dish in Paris last year – salad with the classic mustardy vinaigrette, with yummy French bread that had goat cheese melted on it… SO good. Usually comes with bacon though, so don’t forget to say “sans lardon”!
I don’t have any allergies, but I am vegan. However, like you, I was non-vegan for 25 years so when I go on vacation I enjoy myself and not worry about diet restrictions. I find it easy to continue to eat meat-free while on vacation, but sometimes, it’s hard to avoid dairy in sauces, or cheese on a dish. I don’t let it bother me to much because I want to enjoy wherever I am and not worry or stress about what I’m going to eat. I just went to South Carolina and I used to eat a lot of seafood. The stuff down there is used to be what I waited all year for, so while there this year, I did let myself have crab legs…..and I have to say…..they were sooo good.
enjoy planning your trip, angela! that is half the fun! i love your open-mind attitude regarding the treats you will find in paris.
just enjoyed my first bowl of VOO – the pumpkin pie version you posted the other day! i loved it!
I have always packed some staple foods in my luggage for travel, even pre-vegetarian (almost vegan – I don’t know what to call myself!) days. Just in case foods, like when I went to Mexico and stayed at the crappiest of spring break hotels a million years ago. I just didn’t trust the food, so I’d eat what I felt comfortable eating, then I knew I always had food that I liked at the hotel. Food with more of a purpose. Trail mix, granola bars, Larabars – low maintenance food. I am going to California in a few weeks and can’t wait to try ALL the food there! I may not ever come home…
I have been to Paris as a vegan and it is doable. The trick to traveling in Europe is to find the nearest grocery store and stock up on snacks. Paris had Champion – and it is always fun to shop and see what they stock!
So, coincidence… I spent a semester in Paris… and I am allergic to dairy products/was a vegetarian. People said it would be impossible for me to survive. ha! It was delicious. I ended up being extremely creative and the food and produce was so tasty and fresh… BEST PLACE TO BE A VEGAN. Sorry, I got excited about your post!
That’s awesome you’re not going to let dietary restrictions limit your vacation! There’s absolutely no reason to let food get in the way of memories. :)
I went to Mexico for a 2 week study abroad type thing in the summer of 08, where I stayed with a host family. I was told that being a vegetarian would be no problem before going and discussed it with my host mother when I got there. Good lord… she made some of the worst Mexican food! For dinner one night she made me boiled broccoli and boiled white rice. Another was chicken soup, which I was told I could take the chicken out of. I ended up eating out most of the time (the restaurants served delicious food, and I could always find at least a quesadilla!) and I also would go to the nearby market and buy almonds for a much needed source of protein. I also ate a lot of dairy, which I avoid generally but I expected that would be the case when I left.
Funny you asked this question today. I’m newly gluten-free and I’m finding that the attitudes between different restaurants is amazing. Some are very accommodating, and some aren’t — once a waiter said to me, “Oh, you’re doing the gluten thing?” (The “gluten thing”?????) But in other places, they make it a point to clean off the grill before they cook your food.
I was in San Francisco last month and eating gf was no problem at all. I’m headed up to a dinky town in northern Michigan this weekend and I am bringing about 15 Larabars as insurance. =D It just depends. Although, I find that although small restaurants don’t have a gf menu, they’re less likely to use processed foods that would have gluten, and vice versa for chain restaurants. Win some, lose some.
I lived in Spain 11 years ago and was a vegetarian at the time, and somehow I still had a wonderful time even without the jamon serrano. (I gained 10 pounds in four months and enjoyed every single pound!!!) You’ll have a blast in Paris. Just take lots of pictures so we can live vicariously through you, ok?
I, myself, don’t have any food sensitivities but the husband does. He is allergic to milk. There have been many times where options have been limited for him. (And also many occasions of restaurants not getting his order right and adding cheese or a cream sauce to his plate.) He usually doesn’t have to go hungry because we plan ahead knowing that most people probably are not. If we are going to a pot luck event, I always bring something that is dairy-free so that we know he’ll at least have one thing to eat.
hey i just got back from working on an organic farm in france and thought id share some things from paris that really helped me out/ made the vegan~ish choices possible. I know you probably have tons of resources and people telling you things to do, tips, etc, but thought these might be of use…
you must MUST MUSTMUSTMUST go to the jewish quarter (north of ile st. louis). There is a street restaurant called “Chez Hanna” and they have the best falafel pitas in the world. They are completely vegan, packed with protein, veggies, and the sauce on top is a liquid tahini mix. We took them up the next street and enjoyed them in the park.
I was fortunate to be staying on the ile st. louis, home of berthillon ice cream. id never tried this before my second trip to paris but am now in love. mostly because they have sorbets and glace but the sorbets are not made with milk. Cacao Amer Sorbet? yes please. best chocolate vegan dessert in my life.
There is a bakery on the same street, a little further east, (i dont remember the name….) but they have amazing olive fougasse. perfect for picnics on le seine, snack while walking around, or a base for a sandwich.
I know its not vegan but neither am I completely yet, just experimental, so when offered the opportunity to have a souffle night, I decided to go for it. Afterall, my meal there was vegetarian if not vegan. North west of the louvre is a restaurant called Le Souffle. I am not kidding. It was amazing. I had tomato-basil souffle and split a dark chocolate souffle with the table for dessert. I couldnt finish my bite of the latter because i was so full, but they were amazing– definitely something I’m glad I tried in my lifetime.
There are little farmers markets around town, usually on the weekends, which are great for veggies, olives, and fermented beans. And (sorry i dont remember the name but if youre in the area…) on rue st. germaine there is a greek food shop on the south side with great taboleh and amazing seasoned almonds.
Finally, word of warning– the hummus in france IS NOT VEGAN. Although almost everything else is prepared for the most part very simplistically with minimal ingredients, for some reason they have decided that it would be a great idea to put cheese in their hummus (i dont believe this is the case though in the jewish quarter, but i had to ask)… crazy
(of course, beyond food, the rodin museum and musee d’orsay were two of the best touristy things i did there as well as climbing to the top of notre dame at dusk. i forgot my camera for the latter and only have toulouse like images sketched into my head until i go back and can take them, but evening is key for the church– line-wise and lighting-wise)
hope at least something from here helps and if you want to know more, feel free to let me know.
I second the recommendation of Musee D’Orsay. Amazing! I also loved the Jewish Quarter. And Notre Dame…. if you haven’t seen the movie “Amelie” then you should before you go. There are great scenes from places like Notre Dame.
I love the travel, but since becoming gluten and dairy-free, and the vegan, we generally rent condos or cottages and haven’t gone too far. I hope to return to Europe someday, but even on weekends away i find i spend so much time looking for my next meal. I can be flexible on the veganism (although can’t imagine forcing down meat) but would be very fatigued and maybe sick to my tummy if I ate gluten or dairy. But awareness of food allergies is improving all the time, so I am optimistic!
That’s a great attitude! I’ve wasted enough vacations worrying about food. Now, I have no absolutes in my diet and no rules to follow so I can do and eat whatever the heck I want. I eat vegetarian 95% of the time, but when I want something else, I can have it. It’s so nice to have a middle ground.
it’s nice to enjoy culture of others to maximize the fun :)
i guess,you can do what french women do, eat and enjoy their food then go shopping in high heels (based on what i’ve read from somewhere…hehe)
canadians speak french, right? so it should be easy for you to communicate there :)
or you can pack food so you can still eat vegan on some meals :)
Hey,Jassy.Just to let you know I’m Canadian and don’t speak a word of French or understand a word.Nor do any of my friends,family or co-workers.I am English all the way and very proud.
You just have the right attitude!
Let things happen, don’t make any strict plans if you don’t have to – espesially in an unfamiliar environment and a different country. And if you come back loving croissants, so what.
I always have food that I love in different country but don’t eat at home just because it doesn’t “fit” into my usual diet or you can not get anything authentic at home.
You will LOVE LOVE LOVE Paris!!!!! It’s such a beautiful city. I’ve been there twice now and would visit it again.
Make sure to have enough time to be “French” – meaning: sitting in a café all day long watching people and drinking wine or wandering around the city exploring all those nice corners, little side allays and parks.
paris will be so amazing, i’d love to go there someday. i hope you have an awesome time!
luckily i don’t have any food allergies. i am vegetarian most of the time (i eat fish on rare occasion), and this one time we went to this fancy restaurant and they had ZERO options for veg on the menu. so i had to get the scallops. lol and they were so gross! never going there again :P
i think it’s a great idea to just have fun and not make any strict plans for yourself. i do hope though that they have some good options for you.
That sounds like the perfect plan of action – to not really have one! Sometimes it’s better just to embrace the culture, and not be so caught up in sticking to the routine – in order to fully enjoy the experience:) Either way, you’re going to have SO much fun!!!
I am not vegan but I am vegetarian and have had no trouble while traveling. As long as you are willing to accept a lack of variety, things seem to work out. I traveled to Costa Rica and to Africa where my food was provided for me and did not have any problem. Even meat based cultures like France have lots of side dishes. As long as you don’t stress totally over the preparation methods and recognize that there are no guarantees of the food being 100% meat free, you will be fine. After all, the goal is to eat healthy and enjoy life, not to worry about each molecule of foo.
I think your approach is perfect! I wish all people could approach vacations and times they are out of their comfort zone the same way. It enables you to live in the moment and experience things more fully. You are going to have so much fun!
I think you’ve a great attitude to eating in France! I haven’t done a lot of travelling since I went veggie but I’ve only been consciously vegan since Jan (before that I didn’t eat much dairy anyway) so I know I would be similar if I went abroad. I’m so used to eating vegan now it’s no issue, but if I am at a wedding etc I’m not going to kick up a fuss if the dish has cheese in it (as it invariably will). I think, like you, when I go travelling I will do my best to get vegan food but not waste my time worrying. I don’t think it’s so hard to get veggie food but vegan food can be a little harder when there’s a language barrier.
I’m going to Edinburgh next week so can’t wait to see what vegan treats are in store – I know they have a vegan baked potato café there?!
I’ve traveled quite a lot as a vegan and never, ever found it ‘necessary’ or desirable to compromise my diet. I love being a vegan and have found wonderful, delicious vegan meals wherever I’ve gone… and met some really great people while I was at it. It’s much easier than you’d think, and much more satisfying! :)
I respect this approach, but everyone has different priorities when they travel. You do have to seek out vegan and vegetarian meals in many foreign countries. There’s a real pleasure in sitting down at a restaurant, and saying to waiter, “I want whatever is your house specialty” without asking to make modifications.
I find more pleasure in knowing that my food choices don’t involve eating animals or animal products. :-) I look forward to following Angela’s trip and vegan food in Paris.
Have a great trip Angela!
Also! There are some FINE VEGAN CUISINE RESTAURANTS in Paris. When I was there for a semester I looked at this website: http://veganparis.com/ and I highly recommend Saveurs Végéthalles: http://saveursvegethalles.fr/ DELICIOUS!
I thankfully don’t have any allergies, just sensitivities. Canned foods, yogurt, grapes and some cheese. White bread also makes my blood sugar go crazy. I try to ask for whole grain bread if it is possible.
I’ve always been the coffee-drinking bon bon eating type. The funniest thing in Paris was the cafes’ reluctance to serve me espresso. They couldn’t believe that the small blonde Canadian wanted the strong stuff – so concerned that I didn’t understand what I was ordering!
Luckily, I don’t have any food allergies either, but I get frustrated when there isn’t a lot of fresh produce available. I find that my body feels at its worst when I eat really sweet or refined-sugar foods, so I do my best to avoid those at all costs. I think it is important to try new things when you’re on holiday though, so I like your ‘no-plan plan’!
They have a whole website dedicated to be a vegetarian in paris! How exciting.
http://www.parisvegetarian.com/
Enjoy.
First of all, I am totally envious that you are heading to Paris in September! So wish I could do that right now! As far as having to accommodate my eating while travelling, I’m a flexitarian and so rarely eat meat but will eat it on occasion. I did notice, though, that on my recent honeymoon, the hubby and I ate a ton more meat than we usually do. But no big deal – we just enjoyed it!
I can’t wait to hear about your trip!
Oooh! Paris!! Lucky! I would love to go to the French countryside someday and go winetasting.
I travelled around Europe for 3 1/2 months with my college roommate. She was a vegetarian when we began the trip but found it too challenging to stick to her usual diet while in Europe. I think it is certainly possible but you have to be super prepared and we were really winging it with where we went and what we did which made it hard to do research. I like your approach Angela. I think you’ll have much more fun this way! :)
I went to Paris in January, and really, I gave up all my food boundaries, which were pretty stupid. I enjoyed crepes, croissants, macaroons, and all was worth it. I’m now on a reeeeeallly long vacation in Switzerland, and having the same approach. Life is too short to allow ourselves yummy foods.
Ahh traveling as a vegan/vegetarian can be TOUGH – especially somewhere like France where they just can’t quite understand why anyone wouldn’t want to eat cheese and cream and butter….. Some suggestions based on what I did when I was living there (as a vegetarian; the cheese element remained!):
– baguettes! buy fresh bread (nothing better!!) and eat with jam or nutella (regular nut butters are scarce over there), hummus, cheese + fresh veggies.
– sandwiches: there are often sandwich shops/stalls that sell simple & delicious veggie sandwiches
– falafel: there are countless Middle Eastern restaurants (doner/kebab spots) that sell super cheap, yet very good falafel pitas w/ hummus and veggies. L’As du Falafel in the Marais is famous and wonderful
– farmer’s markets: all over the city and overflowing with fresh, ripe fruits and vegetables – you can assemble your own meal with those goods + a baguette & cheese and a few pastries :)
I 100% embrace your approach on this. My husband and I are vegetarians, but when we travel, we are flexible. For me, culture is food, and food is culture, so it’s impossible for me to imagine traveling places and not eating the food. I’ll be in France next week, and plan to eat ALL of the regional delicacies, including duck! Also, someone said it above, but L’Au du Falafel in Paris is where it’s at. Honestly, so so delicious, and it is very vegan friendly. Not open on Fri nights/Sat because of the Sabbath, but GO GO GO. I’ve spent a lot of time in Paris and will be back again next week (as I said above) so if you want any suggestions or recommendations, let me know.
My stomach doesn’t approve of dairy in large doses. It also doesn’t like oils (like olive oil), but in very, very small doses it is fine.
I don’t eat meat and that was sometimes a problem. I have had to spend time picking meat out of dishes so that I could eat something. It usually tasted awful (I don’t eat meat because I find it disgusting), but hunger always won out.
I have life threatening allergies to shellfish; peanuts; treenuts, nut extracts & oils; coconut; lentils; latex……Since my allergies are caused by an autoimune disease, I can also be allergic to other items that mimic the ones above.
I have a medic alert bracelet & card and I also made up an index card with all my allergies on one side and my medications on the other. It also states that I carry an epi-pen auto injector.
The card is laminated so I give it to the server to bring to the chef.
I traveled to Europe this past Spring (Baltic Cruise; Russia, Estonia, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, England), and before I left I went on the computer and translated my allergies into each language. I did not experience any problems.
The one thing that amazes me in the USA (my home) is that French fries are fried in the same oil as shellfish/chicken/etc., or that items are fried in peanut oil. This makes it almost impossible to ever indulge in fried food.
At home I roast many vegs with EVOO, garlic, s & p and rosemary. Healthier and much better tasting than fried food any day.
I love your recipes, and do make smoothies but have yet to put in greens. Maybe some day.
It wasn’t a diet preference per-se, but when I went to Spain and Portugal in my Sophomore year of college, I was a very picky eater.
I didn’t do fish or sea-creatures of any kind, I wasn’t adventurous at all. Food wasn’t an important part of the experience for me, plus I was really cheap. The end result was that I ate ham and cheese sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner for two weeks. No joke.
It didn’t bother me one bit at the time but I could really kick myself now.
I have the same stomach problems as you do, where dairy, meat, and gluten really mess up my system. This hasn’t caused a dent in my travel eating plans at all! You can always get salads anywhere!
For breakfasts I would also choose fresh fruits, nuts if available, coffee, and the odd (small) treat like a biscotti. If I’m really desparate, an egg to hold me over.
After that I basically nibble…antipasto platters are great (although they have cheese, but some aged, hard cheeses don’t have lactose!!!), grilled veggies, etc.
Basically, if you eat fresh and whole foods your system should stay happy! Plus more room for wine and cocktails if you don’t eat big heavy meals :-)
*oh and if you’re ever down in Central or South America…rice and beans and salsa and mangos!! I could live down there NO PROBLEM.
I was just diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, so I am just learning how to deal with my special diet needs! I never worried about my diet before, but obviously now I have to be much more careful. In my area there aren’t many restaurants that offer gluten-free options on their menu, but I always seem to find other options (like salads, some meat dishes, pizza, etc.). If I’m going out with other people, they are happy to try out other restaurants then we would normally visit to accommodate my diet! I never go hungry! :) haha
Haha funny actually cause yep I was vegan when I went to NYC and welp I didn’t really eat much else besides puffins, peanut butter and chinese take out veggies. I was hungry but too busy to care. I was also younger and not as wise at that time.
new york city? it’s so easy to be vegan in new york!
I haven’t read the comments yet so I’m not sure if someone else had mentioned it, but there is a site, VeganParis.com, and it’s got a list of a bunch of vegan friendly places/options/etc! A friend sent it to me a while back.
I hear Paris has great falafel!
I’m gluten intolerant and I have a sensitivity to soy, on top of being a vegan, which makes it really hard to eat out while traveling. I’m pretty laid back about it, especially the soy thing (I eat tofu like 2x a week still, haha), because it’s just too restricting. It seems like there are a lot more gluten-free options popping up at restaurants around here, even at local chain pizza places! If I’m traveling and I can’t find anything satisfying and gluten-free, I’ll probably eat it once and a while. I’m actually highly allergic to amaranth flour, so staying away from that is more important to me than staying 100% gluten and soy free. As far as being vegan, I always stick to it! Even if I didn’t want to, it’d be hard because I’m allergic to egg whites too.
Arrgh, allergies!