Giraffe • Eating Out Vegan

Tofu and Squash Laksa

I have now been here twice and both times I have been thoroughly impressed! The food made and presented at Giraffe is both beautiful and delicious! I also visited two different locations, so it makes the odds of you going even better!

This first time I went I had the lovely Tofu and Squash Laksa. I was a bit cautious about it at first as I didn't fancy it, but as I knew it was 100% vegan I went for it! When it arrived I was hugely impressed with the presentation, which was a big head start! I ate every last bit of this dish! It was that good that I wanted to go back asap!

Sweet Potato Salad

So when I had the option of choosing where to eat a couple months later I decided i wanted to have the Tofu and Squash Laksa! Little did I know the Giraffe I decided to visit was a on the go version! Which meant instead of a sit down restaurant it was more of a fast food joint! This scared me as I hadn't done any research about what was vegan! But then I saw a sweet potato salad! I though this must be vegan! So I asked and it was 100% vegan! The only down point is that they gave me this straight away even though we had to wait for others food to be cooked! So I had to sit with my food in front of me and wait for everyone else's. It was really nice but not as good as the Laksa!!

I hugely recommend that you visit Giraffe!! There food is so delicious and you can tell they really put effort into each and every dish!

Easy Pancake Recipe • Only 3 Ingredients!

I found a recipe a while ago where someone made pancakes out of just oats, banana and water! When I made my pancakes I couldn't remember the recipe so I trusted my brains. This could have gone one of two ways. Thankfully it went well! They tasted amazing, way better than any pancake I had ever made before I became Vegan! These Pancakes are also healthy!

Ingredients (serves 1):

• 1/2 Cup Oats, I used Jumbo Oats
• 1 Banana, half for topping
• 1/2 Cup of Water

Recipe:

1. Put your oats into a blender/ food processor
2. Blend until they become a flour consistency 
3. Add 1/2 a banana, and blend
4. Add water and proceed to blend until a pancake batter is formed
5. Place on a non stick saucepan on a medium heat
6. Keep flipping over so the pancake is evenly cooked and does not stick
7. When finished add what ever topping you want! I used the rest of the banana and chia seeds!

Stop wasting food!

It really makes me sad that a lot of people can't tell if a banana is ripe!! I used to be one of these people! I used to eat bananas when they were green because I read somewhere that that was good for you!!

BUT NO

Don't eat bananas when they are GREEN its not good for you!

When the banana is perfect is SPOTTY!

Yellow with BLACK SPOTS

People think this means they are gone off but they're not and it makes me so sad!

Because one thats wasted food and two the taste so good when perfectly ripe!

Trust me you will be thankful you read this because not only will it help your food wastage but also your health and taste buds!

Below I have included images of ripe bananas that taste so good!!

 

BEN AND JERRYS VEGAN ICE CREAM

I have been with this topic since the day they released they were creating a Vegan Ice Cream. Finally they have released the flavours of there new vegan ice cream and WOW. I need them now! I think its amazing that companies are creating vegan alternatives, this shows we are growing in numbers and demands to hopefully one day have a fully vegan world!

So what flavours are Ben and Jerry's going to have in there vegan variety?

TO FIND OUT MORE CLICK HERE

What I Eat In A Day • January 22nd

I decided to give an insight into what a normal, vegan student eats in a day. I love watching what I eat in a day videos just to give me inspiration and ideas! Also to make me aware of the right amount of food to eat and make sure Im eating enough, i.e. not to much and not to little. I don't count my calories as I feel its healthier to listen to my body, to an extent.

Breakfast:
So my normal everyday breakfast is 1/2 cup of Porridge with Almond Milk with a Banana and 1tbsp of Chia Seeds. I decided not to put a picture of porridge on my blog as its not the prettiest.

Lunch:

My lunch varies day to day depending on what I fancy. Today I opted for Couscous, which to be honest is a go to for me at lunch time. It so easy to make and tastes so nice! Today I decided to add Pineapple, Peas and Mild Chilli Powder.

Dinner:

My go to dinners normally vary between Rice and Sweet Potatoes because why change something you love that is also healthy!? So tonight I had a Tilda Microwaveable Rice (Mexican Mixed Bean) and Vegetables! Normally I just cook fresh Vegetables and throw them together but I found a ready made pack in Sainsburys. This pack had; Babycorn, Edamame, Pak Choi, Tenderstem Broccoli and a Chilli. It tasted so good!

Snacks:

• Gala Apple
• Persimmon
• Orange
• Grapes

Chiquito • Eating Out Vegan

I had an invite to a birthday meal at Chiquito, I have only heard of this place a little. this made me really anxious to wether or not they had a Vegan option at all! I did a bit of research before I went because i had to choose what I wanted a week before. I found the Veganuary website really helpful as they explain all the vegan options which you can find HERE.
I opted for the Roasted Vegetable Fajitas, to be honest I wasn't expecting a lot. I was expecting to get one maybe to fajitas on my plate, but of wow I was happily surprised when they brought out my food! The brought out vegetable screwers on top of a pile of vegetables, on a sizzling tray! Which looked amazing and then also I then had another tray given to me. On this tray was 2 portions or guacamole and 2 portions of salsa, as I opted for no sour cream and cheese, as obviously not Vegan. Also on this side tray was 3 fajita wraps, so I could make my own wraps! I filled them up so much and still had vegetables left over! It tasted so yummy! I want to go back! I highly recommend this place! All the staff were nice and helpful too!!
Sorry my pictures aren't the best, the lighting was terrible and I was so hungry!

My Exercise Routine • January 25th

I try to exercise everyday, to be good to my body and keep healthy. Even though i exercise everyday I don't constantly do hardcore working out! Some days I might just go for a walk rather than the gym. Both are good as long as you get your body moving! I am to do at least 30 minutes a day or a variety of exercise. Today, January 19th, I did a longer workout because I had a couple of rest days with barely any intense exercise so heres what I did:

• 4K on the Treadmill
• 3 Strength Machines: 10 reps x2
• 20 Crunches
• 20 Heel Touches
• 20 Hip Raises
• 30 Russian twists
• 15 Donkey kick (per leg)
• 20 Deadlift with 5kg

I thought I should add progress shots of me at the bottom of this post, and maybe start making it a weekly occurrence. This is to not just motive you but to also motivate me! i don't look the best but this is the beginning! I'm hoping over coming months to see progress if I stay on track. I am not doing any quick fix diet so not expecting change over a month, but over a couple months.