Germany to Austria!

The more I eat and enjoy the food prepared for me in Salzburg the less I want to go back to the states.  All the foods seem so simplistic to me.  Everything is basic and less processed.  In my first few days here I have only seen 3 Burger Kings, 1 Starbucks, and 1 McDonalds.  It amazes me that no one expects on fast food for meals.  I might be wrong in my observations but all I have seen is fresh veggie/fruit stands and restaurants.  I know the restaurant food might not be the best but the lack of fast food presence has really impressed me.  The foods here are all meats, cheese, and bread.  With that being said and such heavy foods being present at every meal I have yet to see one over weight person.  I think that this simplistic food living has prevent them from gaining so much weight.  With less processed foods the body probably functions much better.  When the body doesn't have to work in over time to break down all the fake chemicals that we add to our foods it would probably make us function much more efficiently.  Well in the culture they also walk every where which is not as common in the US.  Being in this different environment has been so eye opening in the sense of my blog.  I can say that I have experienced new foods, but now I have seen the foods and what is traditional.  I love that the foods seem heavy and rich, but they are so very very simple.

Hope you enjoy this insight.  I know that keeping it simple is the way to go :)

Happy munching!

My Travels Abroad!

Hello Bloggers :)
I have not been cooking in the past few weeks as you know.  Once I got home I worked for a few days and caught up with my family and then I was off again.  Now I am across the pond enjoying foods in Germany!  This post comes to you from Münich. I have seen so many open markets and this morning I got freshly squeezed juice! Being a vegan or vegetarian would not extremely be hard in this culture.  There is fresh fruit and veggies on stands all over the city.  While wondering around the city we found a stand that had a juicer running and with different flavors of juice!  I had juice that was mango, lemon, and banana!  It was so refreshing to step off a long plane ride and have a fresh glass of juice.  Being a vegan would be hard in some situations because of the breads that are served.  My lunch was a traditional bratwurst on a toasted bun.  Dinner for me was a huge (really it was the size of my face no joke) pretzel!  Dessert was banana gelato! Yum... and hardly vegan.  I am almost certain that beer is vegan so you can count the beer with the pretzel as part of my 'almost vegan' meal. I really don't eat meat at all but when in Germany... eat what the germans eat! So over the next few days I hope to keep you up dated on my wonderful foods and experiences.  Sorry the blog will transition a little but check back next week and Ill be starting "Veggie Sundays!"

You Are What You Eat

Its finals time! This means that every one of my professors assigned last min test and papers for the last day of classes and then everyone swarms to the library to prepare for the next few days of finals.  My favorite phrases during finals week are : Sleep is for the weak! Just a few more days! Is it ok to have a few more cups of coffee?

So as you can see from my postings I have been in total academic mode.  The baristas at Starbucks because I come in and sit for hours to prepare for finals.  My sleep patter... well lets not go there. As badly as I want to cook and work out I simply don't have time.  I usually get 20-30 miles a week in and this week the only distance I have covered is the distance from the library to my car.  My meals have been bowls of cereal, subway, or maybe chips and salsa.  

 Sadly this has taught me a hard lesson.  You are what you eat! After eating an 'Almost Vegan' diet for almost 2 months I felt so good! I was sleeping well and felt full of energy!  I was even losing a little weight.  After this past week I have noticed that I have trouble waking up during sleep, and not feeling like I can get enough sleep.  I am getting sleep, normally I try to get 8 hours but my body can take 6 and still function.  I am still getting 6 hours but its just not at my normal hours.  Eating some fast food and some junk food has made me feel gross.  I feel bloated and sluggish.  Honestly I feel a little miserable.  I know now that I need to make time for my self.  Making time to cook and enjoy fresh fruits will not only help me feel better but it will make me mentally more fresh.  In our busy day to day lives we need to make time for our selves.  Making time for my self and what I love is not helping me right now.  Take it from me that you need to stick to your happy vegan ways!

Junk food or non-vegan treats wont slow you down in moderation but after a week and a few more days left to go my body is feeling the pain.  So bloggers keep in mind that in your busy day to day life you need to take a break.  Make time for a walk or run.  Take time to cook dinner for your self or you family! :)  I hope you can learn from my mistakes! 

Happy munching... on vegan foods!