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.
i am a HUGE fan of the “no plan” plan and i can’t wait to follow along on your trip, it will be amazing!
i thought i would try to offer some advice – i’ve been to paris once, france twice, and europe several times, and i might warn you that the parisians in particular are not, erm, exactly big fans of Americans. they usually laugh or mock when you try to speak french to them, if they don’t ignore you alltogether. asking for something specific on a menu, while they may be used to it with the massive amounts of other american tourists you KNOW they’ve met, may not go over so well with the waiter. of course, i don’t mean to generalize an entire huge city of people and you will still have an absolutely wonderful experience and meet a lot of wonderful, nice people as well, but I just thought I would put it out there that there may be some, um, unforeseen difficulties. Making your no-plan plan a GREAT idea!! can’t wait to see all that beautiful french food!!!
I also have sensitive tummy issues that always seem to flare up more when I am on vacation than when I am home. Can I suggest that you go to a vitamin store and pick up a bottle of activated charcoal tablets to take with you? They are pretty inexpensive (about $9 a bottle) and I just take 2 when I eat something high fat or I start to feel uncomfortable rumblings. It soaks up a lot of the offending gunk in my digestive system (No, I am not a scientist so you get my very unscientific descriptions…LOL!) and makes me feel a million and one times better. Since I had my gallbladder out at age 21 I have dealt with IBS and a generally wacky digestive system since then so I am always learning new ways to help it out (in addition to just generally eating healthy and clean). Also, if you are going to be indulging in any of that wonderful French wine the charcoal tablets to wonders on hangovers…I’m just sayin’ :-)
My husband has chrons and must follow a strict diet. My tip is to pack plenty of snacks you can eat in cade you get in a bind where you have no other healthy options.
Good for you! I hope you have a fun and worry-free trip. I can’t wait to follow along with you!
you HAVE to try a Macaron at LaDuree (on the Champs Elysees, close to the Arc de Triomphe) http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/produits/macarons_accueil.htm
you might find difficult to make your choice (so many different flavours) but I think it’s a “food” to try in Paris ;o)
I’m actually VERY strict about eating vegan. I chose to eat this way for several reasons and I’m not willing to compromise at all. I would rather go hungry or stick to my Larabars, trail mix, granola stash than to eat something with animal products in it. Ever since I can remember my Mother has been on one diet or another. She always makes exceptions for “special occasions”. This is exactly why she is constantly dieting. Everything is a special occasion whether it’s a vacation or someone’s birthday or whatever. That said, it is your choice what to put into your body. I’ve read more than once that people in Paris aren’t very tolerant of Americans. I’ve also read that most Americans are preceived as rude (whether they are or aren’t I don’t know). So I’m not sure how much help you will get in restaurants. So good luck!
Good thing Angela’s Canadian then, huh? ;-)
good thing she’s canadian!
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/ten-days-in-paris-recipe.html
I was in Paris just last week and found that my regular vegan diet seemed almost impossible at times. I would go to resturants and they would ask me fish or meat-I was like EEK, oh no! Once I would say vegetarian they would bring me a plate with something covered in cheese, but I needed to eat so I eat. Something I did often was go to the grocery store and get a bag of fruit! You should probbly google some vegan resturants just as a back up plan!
Eating out is such a pain sometimes. I have a really sensetive stomach (cheese, oil, grease, etc.) so finding somewhere to eat is hard – and I get really tired of salads. I try not to be picky when I’m with others but having a gut ache the rest of the evening so isn’t worth it.
Interesting post! How long are you going to Paris for?? Very exciting. And I love that you are embracing change!
How do you feel about writing about your past and being so open on your blog with regards to friends and family who know you? Did you find it …I don’t know…”embarassing” to admit to your previous struggles with food, etc…do they think it’s still a bit of an “obsession” now with your focus on this blog?
It’s wonderfully done by the way! And you are beautiful!
I usually try to eat one or two of my daily meals that follow more closely to my diet (whole foods, VERY little processed, a little meat’s ok, no dairy), but allow myself to break from my rules a little since it is so hard to eat the way I like when travelling, especially out of the country. I know how my body reacts when it gets food it’s not used to anymore, and even though I’ll end up with a meat dish, I take it easy. Life’s too short to follow strict rules, it’s ok to change it up once in a while as long as you don’t overdo it – I learned that the hard way with many a night of indigestion after eating foods I shouldn’t have!
Sounds like a good non-plan! I can’t wait to see all the pictures when you go :)
I am so glad to see you wrote about this! On my honeymoon last week, I had difficult choices to make as far as my eating habits were concerned. I currently follow a pretty vegan lifestyle, but I am also gluten and corn intolerant. Most of my vegetarian options at my resort were gluten or corn laden, so I had to bite the bullet and eat seafood for a couple of days. Did it kill me? No. Was my tummy a little unhappy? Yes, but I got over it. It was hard to do, but I didn’t want to starve and let worrying about my restricted diet get in the way of my trip!
I think it is awesome that you are taking such a laid back approach to eating while visiting Paris. Being in an unfamiliar place can be intimidating (but also REALLY exciting!) enough without having to think about how difficult it will be to find something vegan to eat. Trying to eat entirely vegan in a place like Paris could create stress in a situation that should be fun and enjoyable. What a wonderful way to approach it Angela! Though I don’t typically eat any dairy products, I admit that a chocolate filled croissant found its way into my stomach. And it was wonderful! Lukcily, I don’t have any allergens that have prevented me from indulging in the cuisine of another land.
I’m sure you will have a wonderful time in Paris, even if it’s not entirely vegan! Enjoy!!!
I think your plan for Paris is a great one! You are going on my DREAM trip you lucky girl! I cannot wait to get to Paris and experience all that it has to offer..including the food! You are going to have such a great time and I cannot wait to read all about it!
i’m a vegan, but i spent a month in buenos aires, argentina. if you don’t know, that’s pretty much the meat capital of the world. it’s basically impossible to find something substantial to eat in most restaurants without meat and/or dairy. so i had to break my veganness for a month and ate my fair share of cheese, ice cream, and butter (and red wine).
but let me tell you, i had the time of my life. it’s not about what you’re eating or not eating, it’s about the experiences you have and people you meet! you’re going to have so much fun; enjoy it!
You found no vegan food to eat in Buenos Aires so you were forced to eat…. Ice cream?
i figured i might as well live it up if i was going to eat cheese anyway. how do i turn down ice cream with my friends after a meal of cheese? sorry, i’m vegan?
I am so excited about your upcoming trip Angela ! I am sure that Paris will be beautiful and this trip with your family and close ones will be unforgettable :) As far as your little non vegan challenge for this trip I really like your attitude towards this situation and how you’ve handeled it. I just recently went on vacation to Mexico with my family and had to compensate my meat free lifestyle a couple times during night out to steakhouses and other places. I could’ve chosen to not eat a meal with my family or order something meat free,which were only plain salads :(, but my stomach was just too hungry to skip a meal and I ended up eating some chicken and fish. It wasn’t all that difficult but when there’s no other choice but to either starve or eat I simply choose to comply for the time being and enjoy myself and spending times with my loved ones :)
What a great attitude about vacation. I try to eat whole foods, minimal processing and no dairy. My body works best with those “rules” in mind. But sometimes on vacation you just have to throw the rules out the window for a while and have an ice cream cone!
Although there have been plenty of days where I’ve been “hungry” because I didn’t have as much food because of my limitations!
As I typed before, I was vegan in France with no problem. The only situation that was tough was when I wanted food outside the hours restaurants were open, but I got by.
I think you are missing the opportunity to really educate people that there is no reason to compromise their ethics or health while away from home. I understand you don’t want to “worry” about food, but honestly, you have a much better chance of getting a vegan meal in France than in some places in America or Canada I assume. They love their vegetables.
I agree.I find your attitude kind of confusing to say the least.I’m sure you can be a vegan in France.I mean are you a vegan because of your animal beliefs or not?Animals suffer in all countries,it dosen’t stop because your on vacation.I’m sorry but right now I find you to be the biggest hypocrite.I mean why not just call your self a vegetarian,parttime vegan?I have read about many other vegan bloggers not giving up they’re convictions while they are on vacation.And know I’m not a vegan but I also don’t call myself one either.
I’ve been reading this blog for awhile and I might be wrong but I think alot of Angela’s living a vegan lifestyle has to do with health/digestive reasons and the fact that being vegan parallels her love for animals is a nice bonus. It’s her prerogative to do what she wants on vacation, either way. I don’t think this is about convictions or being a hypocrite at all.
Have fun in Paris. I just got back and we had a great time. It may be hard to do vegan, but it was not hard to do vegetarian. I do eat dairy and eggs, so I found plenty to enjoy while I was there. The one thing that I did not like so much was the insane amount of tourists. I do highly recommend the Museum Pass if you plan to see even a few on the list because you do not have to wait in ticket lines, only security if they have it and if not, you just walk right in. Getting to Versailles was very easy too and on the Pass.
The Cafe de Flore you have posted here is pretty well known, but we went to Cafe Le Flor, which sounds the same and was good, but different from the well known one. There are cafes everywhere so there are tons of places available. If you are curious, you can check out my blog, I was there about 2 weeks ago and blogged about the food and sights. Have a great time.
I eat vegan whenever I am at home and make an effort to do so when I’m traveling, but without stressing too much about it. My husband and I went to Paris in December and I chronicled our eating in these posts on my blog:
http://www.itaintmeatbabe.com/search/label/vegan%20in%20Paris
I absolutely agree with the recommendation for Le Potager de Marais! It was out absolute favourite.
Good luck! Have a wonderful trip.
“Technically speaking, I will have no ‘plan’ going to Paris”
Way to go Angela, I applaud you in your decision!! Being flexible will help you enjoy every single bit of your trip! I think that the food is a large part of a culture and immersing yourself in the people’s habits is a fun way to learn more about the places you are visiting!
I recently went to Italy and it wasn’t easy to find many vegetarian options. There were lots of veggies but mostly they came soaked in oil, plus I was impressed at how much pork products they eat… argh!
I did enjoy pasta, risotto, and of course gelato! It was fun, two short weeks that I won’t forget and definitely won’t regret not trying a few things here and there that I would not normally eat.
Life is to short for us to try to plan everything. Good for you that you made this decision, I am sure you will enjoy your trip to the most and have tons of fun! Plus I can’t wait for the posts as I have never been to Paris before, it would be cool to join you online during your trip!
Ana
I love your approach. I too feel the same way – I try to have fun first and foremost. If I happen to eat dairy then so be it. I will go out of my way to not eat any meat but will become more relaxed when it comes to dairy. This could be a once in a lifetime experience for you =)
That is so exciting to think you get to try new foods and expirience a new way of life. I’m sure you will learn alot! I have a pretty severe allergy to peanuts and it is tougher than it sounds to be careful. Most waiters/waitresses don’t know what the foods are cooked in because peanut oil is the sneakiest!
I went to Central America a few months ago and the local food was super fresh and good! So many fresh veggies and fruits plus hearty grains. It’s making me hungery just thinking about it!
Enjoying the expirience is priceless!!
I’ve been interning in Japan for three months and all I can say is a vegan could certainly never make it here!! I have been a vegetarian for 10 years now and it has been super hard to eat here. The Japanese really don’t understand what a vegetarian eats no matter how many times you explain it. They just can’t comprehend. Everything has meat/fish/seafood in it.
One lunch I was given was as follows: A ham sandwich, a rice ball with salmon in it and some bread like cream puffs. There was not a single vegetable!!
I’m all for just enjoying yourself on vacation and I have tried some fish here and there, but it’s extremely frustrating when you can’t just get a fresh salad! (They coat everything in gallons of mayo..)
Looking forward to hearing about your Paris trip! When I get back to the States I am going through your recipes to get some nutrients back in my body! First thing: I am trying a green monster once and for all!!
I have a wheat allergy which made our trip to Japan ‘interesting’ but not impossible. I just learned some key phrases, and also wrote them on a piece of paper, which I could pass on to the waiter.
Visiting my family in France every summer, I’ve definitely had my share of yummy vegan food, but they’re in the South were it’s easier to come by. However, I’m doing exactly what you’re doing in Greece right now (not being as hard-core about being raw) and it’s been going awesome! Have a great trip!
Girl, you are going to have one heck of a trip! There better be LOADS of photos! “Knowing” you, I’m sure there will be though :)
This issues is pretty much why I “keep a vegan kitchen”, but when I travel or go out, I’m okay with consuming a small bit of dairy (but no meat – like you said, vegetarian is pretty easy to maintain anywhere). Most restaurants even cook veggies in butter, and I find that I feel worse about myself if I pull a high maintenance “I want this without x, y, z, and can we double check that there’s no trace of dairy in it?” than if I indulge in a few bites of feta or an egg baked into a brownie.
I definitely won’t eat meat but I’m not as strict with dairy. I am allergic to some extend for sure but now as a pregnant woman having added dairy and eggs into my diet I definitely feel you on enjoying what you’re presented with!!
So exciting that you are going to Paris! Have you checked veganbackpacker.com ? They might know of some good vegan sites in Paris.
I totally understand your plan for Pairs, and I just have to throw in my own two cents to those who seem to find you hypocritical. Bottom line: everyone is their own person and has to do what is right for them, regardless of any “labels”. As long as Angela is living for herself in every moment, she’s not being a hypocrite. And I have to say – as someone who has a severe, deathly tree nut allergy, it does take a bit away from the experience to always be concerned about what’s in a dish. When I was in Italy, I couldn’t fully enjoy any dining experience because I always had to be guarded about analyzing everything and double-checking my pocket dictionary to verify what I was about to eat wasn’t going to kill me. While it’s ok to be cautionary of some things (like I tried to be of a lot of meat in Italy), sometimes it’s nice to just live in the moment and enjoy the culture/ experience.
Good for you for going with no expectations and embarrassing the culture and traditions.
I don’t have any sensitivities (not that I know of, anyway) or allergies, so I am willing to bend on vacations or special occasions. I try to remember, though, that I eat the way I do for a reason, and I don’t want to bend my “rules” and then end up paying for it later when I feel like crap. It took me a lot of years to learn what makes me feel good, and I want to feel my best on vacation!
I guess it’s all a balancing act. I like to think of eating as an opportunity to do something wonderful for yourself several times every day (what else gives you the chance to do that?) so if that means treating yourself to a chocolate croissant at one occasion, it might mean scaling it back to a simple veggie salad at the next to ensure you’ll feel your best. I think your attitude toward your trip seems very healthy!
In April I went overseas to France and Spain with my boyfriend. I was nervous of what I would eat because I am gluten-free, as well as have to watch my dairy intake. It can make hard traveling food allergies. I blogged about my trip here, http://www.pure2raw.com/travel/, if you are interested.
I too went overseas without a real plan just was mindful of what I was eating, but still tried to enjoy myself!!!
Sounds like a great trip, I’m jealous! I travelled extensively in Europe years ago when there were very few veg options and enjoyed the hunt for the local veg community. I also got a phrase book and learned to say “vegetarian no eggs no milk” in four or five languages and had plenty of interesting, authentic options. For me, the issue isn’t so much health or how the animals were treated before they were killed but that I am not comfortable being the cause of another creature’s suffering &/or death…
Wow, so excited for you and extremely jealous at the same time! I last visited Paris when I was 15 so I don’t really have any resto suggestions for you, but I remember the Impressionist Museum, the Opera House, Versailles, and Notre Dame were my favourite sites :)
Also, not sure if anyone else has mentioned it yet, but the best way to ask for a vegetarian option would:
“Est-ce que vous offirir des options vegeterienne?” or
“Pouvez-vous suggerer la meilleur option pour une vegeterienne?”
If you need any other phrases, let me know :)
Given my sugar intolerance, I’m at risk of going hungry just about every time I step out of my house! I have yet to go on a real “vacation” (ie. not to a family household) since I learned about this intolerance, but it’s a process! I wish I could be flexible, but flexibility ends up making me sick. I am fully supportive of and impressed by your easy-going flexibility! It will make your time in the beautiful and magical city of Paris that much more enjoyable.
I am gluten free, but thankfully many of my symptoms are superficial and I can live with any internal discomfort for a short period of time. I don’t go completly wild and eat every delicious gluten filled treat I find, but I do find treats that are not readly available in my area and enjoy those to the fullest. I will plan my meals out prior to ensure that the only gluten I eat is something that is new to me and generally only during one meal a day. I think that if I were to leave an area without trying the region’s specialty and I had really wanted to try it I would be dissapointed I hadn’t tried. This happened when I was in Italy, I rarely eat red meat, but everyone had been talking about the veal so I tried it. I hated it, I took two bites thinking the first was a fluke. Now I know I am not a veal lover and when someone talks about it I know what exactly it is. I am totally on the side of enjoying vacation and the foods you find, because when you come home you are then able to share the full experience and often funny stories that go along with trying new foods in new countries and the reactions of you and the locals. Oy now I really want to go back to Europe!
I think your approach to eating and your diet for Paris is fantastic! There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to enjoy the experience for all it is! Paris is the type of trip to enjoy for everything it is…the food, the culture, the history. There will always be time to eat healthy and watch your diet. So what if you eat something with an egg in it or milk? Enjoy your trip and experience! You only live once! :-)
In May I traveled for a few weeks in Italy, France and Spain. I carried a 3×5 inch index card that said “I am vegan, I cannot eat fish, dairy, meat or eggs,” in all three languages. Servers would kind of scratch there head and then suggest something in a mix bettern Italian/French/Spanish and english. Then they would bring me out wonderful dishes. Every time I was surprised but I never had a bad meal.
Enjoy your travels.
Those oats look so good, I love chia seeds so I am going to try mine that way. Good for you for going to Paris and going about your eating in a relaxed way. With all the walking you will do I am sure you will stay healthy!
I love your attitude towards this :) By obsessing over where you can find something vegan and shunning all of the food that is part of French culture would just be taking the joy out of your trip, and it should be a time you’re able to enjoy and relax during. I hope you have a fantastic trip and have the chance to enjoy lots of delicious French food!
Luckily Melbourne is very vegetarian friendly (or Vego as they call it!) But I had no idea or plans of what to expect when I got here either! I like your attitude of taking things as they come. It is the best way to experience the culture. It’s hard when a food preference gets in the way of anything when you are so far from home or out of your comfort zone.
So exciting about your French adventure! Can’t wait to see all the good eats and coffee!!!
I recently discovered I have IBS and its a very hard disorder to live with. Everyday is different and for me, I can’t mix lots of starches like oats with fats. I love oatmeal, but do better when I’m away from cooked grains. Many sprouted foods give my problems too. Oh how I miss my flax crackers and VOO, but my squash mashed potatoes seem to work miracles for my IBS along with the daily Nutri-Shakes!
Thanks for the great photos ! I love seeing your Pari’ pictures:)
I love your outlook and am so very excited for you. :)
You have an AMAZING outlook. I was supposed to spend the summer in Europe for work, but am not anymore. :( I was worried about it, but I think I would’ve gone with the same approach. Life is too short to freak out!! I have a feeling that any dairy you may consume over there comes from MUCH greater and humane sources than here in North America.
Hi Angela!!
Just wanted to say that I have tried your overnight oats and they are fab!! Thanks for sharing such great recipes!! Also I posted this as a link on my blog!! You are an inspiration to many. Keep up the great work!!
Angela, I made the Blueberry Mango VOO last night and ate them for breakfast this morning with an iced coffee. I am SO full, but they were SO delicious! I never would have thought to put mango in oats before. Thanks so much for posting this! And I am so happy for you about Paris. It is my dream to go there!
As a world traveling life-long vegetarian I have had hundreds of challenges finding food on the road. Eating while traveling in foreign lands used to stress me out and cause anxiety but I have learned to relax and remember that it is o.k to be a little bit hungry once in a while, especially when there are people literally starving on the streets next to me. No matter where I am in the world I will never know hunger like a great number of people face every day. Occasionally “going hungery” has only helped foster in me an attitude of gratitude for the abundant resources available to me and compassion for those who regularly lack enough food.
I think your plan to not have a plan is awesome! Why spend your time stressing out about food instead of enjoying your time there? :D
My nut allergies make it really hard to eat out. Most sit down restaurants are okay about accomodating my allergies, but buffets and vegetarian/vegan restaurants are a lot more difficult. Just last night I tried to go to Urban Herbivore (a vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Kensington market) and they told me there was NO way they could accomodate my allergies. Such a bummer! :(