A Very Merry Vegan Christmas

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 

and Happy Holidays from Argentina! 

The Easiest Vegan Cookies You'll Ever Make

 These vegan cookies are delicious, total guilt-free and easy enough to make on the road (only two basic ingredients: oatmeal and banana). I highly recommend them to all you vegan travelers out there!

Two Ingredient Cookie Recipe

Mine came out a little bit funky-looking because of the chocolate chips I used, but I promise you they tasted great! They were very moist and had a banana flavor and for my toppings I added dairy-free chocolate chips, walnuts, vanilla, and raisins. Yum!

My 2 Ingredient Vegan Cookies

The Best Lower Body Hotel Room Workouts

Maintaining a healthy body is part of encompassing a vegan lifestyle and as a traveling vegan, it becomes an even greater challenge to keep in shape without the help of your local fitness center.

So as a way to help all of my fitness-loving vegans who are on the road and missing the gym, here are just a few of my favorite equipment-free YouTube workouts that target the lower body (hips, butt and thighs). I hope you will find a favorite among these and stay tuned for more of my favorite hotel workouts that target the rest of the body!

Pilates Butt Blaster

Lower Body Workout for Cellulite

Butt Blasting Routine

Victorias Secret Butt Workout

Victorias Secret Leg Workout

How To Deal With New Cultures As A Traveling Vegan

If you have not experienced this yet, it is almost 100% guaranteed that you will be asked the following questions at some point along your journey upon revealing that you are a vegan: 

1. "But..Why?"
2. "So wait...you don't eat ANY meat?"
3. "So...what DO you eat?"
4. "Where do you get your protein?"
5. "Where do you get your calcium?"
6. "Isn't that unhealthy?"
7. "Aren't humans supposed to have meat in our diets because we are omnivores?"
8. "How do you 'enjoy life'?"

I have found that Veganism is not only uncommon here in South America, but a completely alien concept to many. I am the first vegan that my boyfriend's parents have ever met, for example, and most people have a very hard time understanding the rationale behind this "strange" lifestyle.

For this reason, it is important to be prepared when traveling and know how to handle these situations in the best light possible. Of course, any vegan is already used to being asked these questions by people every day of their lives, but being surrounded by a completely different culture takes extra care and consideration. On one hand, you want to integrate into the local culture and do not want to offend anybody or come off as rude, "preachy" or demeaning to your host country. However, on the other hand, you want to educate and spread truth throughout the world along your travels.

 I have found so far that the best response to these questions is to give a brief explanation followed by a recommendation of some of your favorite vegan books, articles, or videos to those who are interested in learning more about veganism. There are truly so many great sources of information out there available in so many different languages and this may be the easiest way to educate others while traveling.

Just a few of my favorites are the documentaries include: "Forks Over Knives", "Earthlings", "Food Inc" and "Fast Food Nation". Three of my favorite books are "The China Study", "Slaughterhouse", and "Skinny Bitch" (the book that first turned my attention from vegetarianism to veganism).

For travelers, my number one source recommendation is Gary Yourofsky's speech on Youtube, "The Best Speech Ever," because it is available in almost every language (Spanish included), has a title that people will easily remember, and has a ton of information in a one hour long speech. You can check it out here and upload it to any social media site to share with your new travel buddies who might be giving you a hard time!

The Best Speech You Will Ever Hear: Gary Yourofsky

Forks Over Knives Official Website

The China Study Official Website

10 Must-See Veggie Movies

Savory Lentil Brown Rice Veggie Burgers

Introducing my latest vegan traveler challenge.... 

BROWN RICE LENTIL BURGERS! 

With so few faux meat options here in Argentina, I was seriously craving some sort of veggie burger and decided to take things into my own hands! I knew this was going to be a tricky one to pull off, but desperate times call for desperate matters!

The Final Result

I decided to try a lentil burger above other veg options, because lentils (or lentejas in Spanish) are plentiful and cheap in Argentinian supermarkets. The lentils and other ingredients fit easily into my travelers budget and I wanted to make a big portion so that I could eat them over a few days.

For my recipe, I looked through these options and ended up combining them according to what I had available in my kitchen. Below you will find the recipes I stumbled upon (there's so many available). I definitely think that it's easiest to pick the one that best fits your circumstances as a traveler and go from there. For most of these, you can omit some fancy ingredients and they will still come out just fine. 

Lentil Burger Tutorial 1

Lentil Burger Tutorial 2

Brown Rice and Lentil Burger Recipe

Easy Lentil Veggie Burgers Vegan

Hearty Lentil and Brown Rice Burger

I decided on boiling the lentils, blending half of them, and adding salt/pepper, and sauteed shredded carrots, onions, garlic, and beets. I then mixed them all together with whole wheat breadcrumbs and brown rice. Then after greasing my pan, I shaped them into patties and baked them for about 25 minutes.

The outcome: The lentil burgers tasted great but came out a bit dry and didn't stick together really well. The taste was actually much better when frying them on the stove, but the consistency turned out much better in the oven (they hardened more in the oven and fell apart on the stove). 

Bottom Line: As a traveler, it would have been easier and taken much less time and effort just to boil your lentils and then sautee them with the veggies and breadcrumbs. You would get the same delicious taste and all the same nutrients without all the hassle. But if you have some time, go for it! However, I think this challenge was a little bit too ambitious for me along my cooking journey and so I probably won't be trying this recipe again until I return home.

Easy Raw Vegan Guacamole Lettuce Wraps

Here's a quick idea for a super cheap and easy raw vegan snack while traveling: Guacamole Salad Wraps. Just pick up some avocado, onion, salt, pepper, tomato, lemon, and iceberg lettuce from the local super market, prepare your guacamole to taste, and fill the lettuce with your guacamole. Then just wrap it up and enjoy!

For the smoothie in this picture (which turned out to be delicious by the way!), I just added some canned pineapple, shredded coconut, banana, green apple, 1 packet natural sweetener and ice into a blender and voila!

This is a super healthy vitamin-packed lunch recipe that will make you feel revived and energized instantly! Enjoy!

Vegan Salad Topping Ideas

Since finding healthy and vegan options can be challenging while abroad, here's a list of some of the vegan-friendly salad toppings that I have used so far while in Argentina. Hope it helps!

• Beets
• Carrots
• Arugula
• Lentils
• Quinoa (yes they have quinoa here!)
• Canned Beans (Cannelli, Garbanzo, Kidney, Black)
• Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts, Chestnuts, Peanuts)
• Seeds (Chia, Sesame and Flax Seeds are surprisingly abundant)
• Corn
• Tomatoes
• Celery
• Peppers
• Romaine
• Spinach
• Bean sprouts
• Broccoli
• Onion
• Fruits (apple's are easiest to find)
• Brown Rice
• Whole wheat crackers
• Potato or Sweet Potato (goes by batata)
• Avocado

Energizer Detox Water

Feeling a bit bloated after having to revert to large amount of vegan pizzas, pastas and breads while traveling through South America and beyond? If you've over-indulged a bit on your trip and need a quick fix, you can try this easy on-the-go recipe for detox water! It will help flush impurities from your system and detoxify your body.

Detox Water Recipe

Creamy Avocado Pasta

Last night, I stumbled upon this vegan dinner recipe for Creamy Avocado Pasta and decided to give it a shot. The recipe looked simple enough for vegan travelers and I was lucky enough to already have all of the ingredients in my kitchen here in Argentina. 

All it takes is some fettucine, avocado, garlic, lemon juice, tomatoes, and extra virgin olive oil, all of which I have easily located here in the local supermarkets for a travelers budget.

Creamy Avocado Pasta Recipe

This recipe caught my attention at first, because I thought the idea to blend avocado as an creamy alfredo sauce alternative was brilliant! I'm not sure why I never thought to do this before!

Turns out, the creamy avocado pasta was fairly easy and quick to prepare (and trust me, easy for me really means EASY). The only change I would make to this recipe when making it the next time is to use a little bit less garlic in the avocado sauce. I also ended up dicing my tomatoes instead of baking them, because as it turns out, I am not highly skilled at turning on an Argentinian manual gas oven (so complicated!).

But overall, the dinner came out great and the taste was very similar to a real Italian dinner! Even my boyfriend's father, who is the farthest thing from a vegan, gave it a taste and didn't think it was so bad!

I highly recommend this recipe to vegan travelers who are having problems finding vegan ingredients but still craving something rich, creamy and satisfying!

Oatmeal in Argentina

 A great find today in the local supermarket

 here in San Nicolas! 

Quaker Avena Instantanea 

After three unsuccessful trips, I have finally discovered one of my favorite vegan breakfast staples hidden sneakily amongst the pasta aisle!

Both back at home and as a traveler, oatmeal is hands down one of the best vegan breakfast options available. It's cheap, nutritious, convenient, tasty and comes in many flavors...you just can't go wrong!

And the best part is that for us lazy or domestically-challenged folk, all you have to do is add your water/milk substitute and the toppings of your choice (blueberries, strawberries and banana are my favorite) and voila! So needless to say, I was a bit frustrated when I was not initially able to find it here in the supermarkets.

With Banana, Walnuts, and Raisins

There were not many varieties available (I could only find the Instant and Unflavored variety) and not a very large supply, but I was finally able to spot it in the most random part of the supermarket. Back home, it would be located in the breakfast cereal section, however here in Argentina, you never know where you might find it!

I wasn't able to find my favorite flavors (Maple Brown Sugar & Apple Cinnamon..YUM!) but with some added fruits, raisins and a packet of natural sweetener (Truvia) that I brought from home, I was able to make a great breakfast that reminded me a lot of home. Another big plus was that they don't sell the individual packets and so being forced to buy a large box full of oatmeal, you are sure to have enough to last for the majority of your trip!

So the tip of the day is: If you don't find a certain item in the first few shopping trips, don't give up and keep on looking! You might not find exactly what you are looking for, but I promise that if you are patient, you will find enough options to help you get by and survive your trip!

I Recommend: Quaker Instant Oatmeal or in Spanish: "Quaker Avena Instantanea"

Vegan Recipes on Pinterest

Are You A Vegan Traveler Feeling Homesick?  

My Vegan Recipes

Check out my list of Vegan Recipes on Pinterest and marvel in all the delicious vegan foods awaiting you upon your return home! 

Be thankful for the opportunity to realize just how fortunate you are to live in a country with so much variety and so many cruelty-free options! I know I am :-) !!

Happy Travels!

Animal Ingredients List in Spanish

1) Grasa Bovina/Grasa Cerdo: Beef/Pork Fat

• Be sure to keep an extra eye out for this one! It has surprised me many times so far, hidden in seemingly innocent products such as breads, empanada crusts, and personal pizza doughs. 

2) Leche en Polvo: Powdered Milk

• This one is not quite as surprising as the first, but nonetheless I have found it unnecessarily stuffed into many breads and wheat products.

Lactal Generic Whole Wheat Bread with Powdered Milk

Bottom Line Is: Watch out, stay on your toes, be inquisitive, don't be shy to ask questions, and brush up on your Spanish!

I know that as vegans, reading the ingredient list is second nature, but living here in Argentina requires extra care and attention. I have found that they somehow find a way to add animal ingredients to food for seemingly no reason here except that they just love their animal products!

I think even long-time vegans may be thrown off by some of the ingredients I have across across so far (and my journey is still just beginning!).

Tip of the Day:  Don't rely too heavily only on your vegan intuition and go the extra-mile to research strange or foreign ingredients, they might surprise you!

• Stay Tuned for more additions to my list :) !

Some Vegan Art

Fresh Orange Carrot Juice

I just found out today that juicers are also a fairly popular household appliance here in Argentina and I actually have a juice machine at my disposal here in my new home! However, I have only attempted it once so far (with carrot and orange), because of the mess that entails and because of my reluctance to use all of my host family's food supply on juicing.

I know that most travelers will not be able to get that delicious fresh-squeezed juice whenever they like while abroad, unless they are fortunate enough to be in Buenos Aires. I was shocked at how many vegan and vegetarian restaurants there are in Buenos Aires!

I am definitely planning on making the 3-4 hour trip sometime in the near future to check out some of these vegan spots and smoothie bars (and to see the beautiful city of course)! If you are craving some unique vegan food and are close enough to make the trip, here is a great list of all the spots you can visit on your day in the great city of Buenos Aires!:

 Happy Cow List of Vegan Spots in Buenos Aires

Health Food Store in Downtown San Nicolas

So today while I was on my way to the center of San Nicolas to see a movie with my boyfriend, I stumbled upon a very small little health store called "VITAL ALMACÉN NATURAL" and went right in to check out what they have! 

In Spanish, health food stores go by the name "DIETÉTICA" or you can also keep an eye out for stores that advertise with names such as "PRODUCTOS NATURALES" or "SUPLEMENTOS DIETARIOS." 

Unsalted Almonds ("Almendras Peladas")

I have heard that here in Argentina, health food stores and products are not really common and pretty pricey and so I wanted to see if this was indeed true. The store was very simple and had a decent selections of items, many of which I found to be an affordable price.

I didn't find anything that really made me jump up and down, but I did see some interesting products that I haven't seen anywhere else so far. They did have some gluten-free products, which I thought was great for a gluten-free traveler searching for some snacks while on-the-go.

They had some chocolate-covered coffee and raisins, gluten free crackers and bread, nuts, seeds, teas, granola, herbs, and an assortment of other products.

Since I am on a budget, I ended up buying just two bags of whole flaxseeds (semilla de lino) at only 3 Argentine pesos each and a small bag of almonds (almendras) for 16 Argentine pesos.

Cheap Flax Seeds! ("Semilla de Lino")

Overall, I found that you definitely won't find the huge selection and variety that you would get back home, but you might stumble upon a few rare items that you wouldn't be able to find in a normal supermarket here in Argentina.

If you can stretch your travel budget a bit, I think that it's definitely worth buying a few items at one of these stores once in a while. I look forward to seeing what I can find at some of the others!

If you want to check out the small store I stumbled upon or any others in San Nicolas, here is a list of all the shops in the city:

Health Food Stores in San Nicolas, Argentina.  

Also, here is another list of health food and supplement stores in the city of Rosario (can't wait to check some of these out..soymilk please!?!):

Health Food Store Listings in Rosario, Argentina

Ratatouille Vegetables with Three Vegetable Penne and Chia Seeds

The Finished Product!

My dinner from tonight! Super easy and super quick! My boyfriend's mother had some left-over ratatouille that she had prepared the night before (made with olive oil, soy sauce, red pepper, peas, onion, and carrots) and I added some of the delicious Matarazzo 3-veggie pasta that I found in the CarreFour supermarket along with some chia and sesame seeds (also from the same supermarket).

Super Yummy and Vegan

It turned out to be taste so much better than I expected and I highly recommend giving this recipe a try for dinner one night :)!!

Chia Seeds or "Semilla de Chia"

Matarazzo 3 Vegetales Penne Rigate

Vegan Soy Burger, Brown Rice, Lentils, and Wax Beans

My Dinner From Tonight

Here's another quick dinner that is cheap and easy to prepare while traveling here in Argentina: wax beans ("chaucha's" in Argentinian Spanish), lentils (lentejas), brown rice (arroz integral) and my favorite, Vegetalex Milanesas de Soja (Soy Patties). All of these items can be found in a normal supermarket and are all within a travelers' budget (yes even the soy burgers!).

The burgers are a bit dry and cardboard-like, but remind me of my beloved veggie burgers back home and are an easy and affordable addition to dinners and salads here in Argentina. My host family seems to feel better feeding me one of these every time they are at a loss for what to prepare for the strange vegan American girl ;-). Be careful though, there is another brand of soy patties in the supermarket that uses egg whites and is not vegan (It is called Granja del Sol).

Vegan Soy Patties or "Milanesas De Soja"

Okay, so I admit it is a bit plain and probably won't be the most delicious vegan meal you've ever had, but it has a great mix of nutrients, carbs, and protein and will give you energy you need to get out and explore the country!

Yerba Mate is EVERYWHERE

  Yerba Mate is a highly popular South American herbal drink made from the leaves of a South American rainforest tree (the holly tree) and is said to have the “strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate" all in one beverage. 

I had always wondered what was in the strange gourd-like cups of the South Americans on the beach in Mexico. It wasn't until a few months later that I learned the popular herbal beverage I was seeing everywhere is referred to as Yerba Mate. I was immediately curious to find out if it was vegan and if there were any health benefits.

From what I've experienced so far, mate is a hugely social drink and can be seen being shared between people of all ages in the streets, parks, beaches or pretty much anywhere people gather. Statistically, it's most prominent in northern Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil but is also gaining popularity in other countries, such as Australia and Poland. Literally, it is EVERYWHERE.

Here it goes...My first mate ever!!

Mate is made by steeping dry leaves from the mate plant into hot (not boiling water) and naturally contains:

 24 Vitamins and Minerals

15 Amino Acids

Abundant Antioxidants

Diuretics and Natural Detoxifiers

Caffeine 

I was a bit surprised by the taste, which to me was similar to a really bitter, grassy, unsweetened green tea with some loose leaves scattered about. I am a huge tea-drinker, but this beverage had a very strong taste unlike anything I had ever tried before. I will definitely try it a second time since it is such a prominent social practice here, but it will definitely take some getting used to!

..Okay I guess it gonna take some getting used to.

In conclusion, mate is indeed vegan-friendly. Some claims against the drink are that it has been associated with oral, cesophagus, and larynx cancer when consumed in large quantities over long periods of time. Smokers are also advised not to drink mate.

On the other end of the scale, positive claims include: energy boosts without the stomach acid and jitters of coffee, weight loss, and decreased appetite. It is also said to calm the central nervous system.

 Overall, I feel that there is definitely some nutritional value to drinking mate but it should  be consumed in moderation.

Read More:
What Is Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate- A South American Herbal Drink
Yerba Mate

Cellulite Caffeine Wrap With An Argentinian Twist

"Tea-Coffee Wrap for Cellulite"

 According to ABC's 20/20, some 90 percent of women have some amount of cellulite, including thin and physically fit celebrities like Pamela Anderson, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lady Gaga, and Nicole Kidman.

 

Although there is no cure-all for cellulite, it's appearance can be reduced by eating a clean diet, drinking plenty of water, losing weight and building strong muscles underneath the fat tissue. Although I enjoy experimenting with different attempts at reducing cellulite, I couldn't agree more with Fitness Celebrity Jillian Michaels:

"Ninety-five percent of women suffer from cellulite, including me. Honestly, at some point we have to embrace our imperfections. They make us human. Who wants perfect? Perfect is boring!"

Nonetheless, this looks super messy and fun and I don't exactly have all the right ingredients, but it's a rainy day here in Argentina so here it goes =)...

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

La Toscana Aceite de Oliva

• STEP ONE: Put 2 Tbs of Extra Virgin Olive Oil into a mixing bowl. The one I used was a generic from the CarreFour Supermarket. In Spanish, Extra Virgin Olive Oil is translated to "Aceite Oliva Extra Virgen".

• STEP TWO: Mix in 1/4 cup of used tea leaves (black or green). Since I am on a budget and did not have used tea leaves in my host house, I decided make the ingredients a bit more Argentine by switching for Yerba Mate leaves instead (Yerba Mate is a highly popular South American herbal drink). Caffeine is a main ingredient in most topical cellulite creams and so I figured the added caffeine and antioxidants would be beneficial to the mix.The brand I used is called La Merced and can be found in most supermarkets around Argentina.

• STEP THREE: Add 1/2 cup of new or used coffee grounds to the mixture. I used Nescafe's Instant Coffee Grounds in the Classic flavor, also found at CarreFour.

• STEP FOUR: Stir all ingredients together (coffee, mate and olive oil) together and microwave for 10-20 seconds.

Nescafe Instant Coffee

• STEP FIVE: Use a dry body brush or dry loofah to exfoliate the problem area. Make sure that you brush in the direction of your heart, which will aid in maintaining good circulation and improve blood flow (poor circulation is one of the main causes of cellulite).

• STEP SIX: Cut open and lay a large plastic garbage bag underneath you (it will get messy!), begin applying the mixture generously to your problem area. Rub it in well so it sticks to your skin and tightly wrap the area in plastic wrap. Once finished, leave the wrap on for 30-50 minutes before cutting off the plastic and rinsing off in the shower with warm water.

Close-up of the resulting mixture

• STEP SEVEN: After your shower, it is recommended to apply a deep moisturizer, cellulite cream or tanning lotion. Be sure to drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and flush out excess salt (another cause of cellulite). 

• According to the original article, this wrap should show results anywhere from 6-8 hours or even up to 24 hours for some. Your skin should feel smooth and cellulite should be visibly reduced. It is acceptable to perform this wrap two times a week and you should set out 1-2 hours for the entire process.

Stay tuned to see if this wrap worked for me!

Sources:
'Lose Cellulite With This Tea-Coffee Wrap'
http://teapartygirl.com/2011/06/lose-cellulite-with-this-tea-coffee-wrap/
'Jillian Michaels Tells It Like It Is: Cellulite'
http://www.fitsugar.com/Jillian-Michaels-Tells-Like-Cellulite-978494
'Getting Rid of Cellulite: ABC News'
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/story?id=1009707&page=1
'What is Yerba Mate?'
http://guayaki.com/mate/130/Yerba-Mate.html

My Vegan Inspiration

First and foremost, I have to thank Veganbackpacker.com for inspiring me to record my vegan adventures while here in Argentina. Their site has tons of great vegan traveler tips, recipes, guides and photos that have helped me immensely. By far my favorite article is their piece on "Homemade Vegan Meals in Buenos Aires," which lists quick and easy vegan meals as well as where to find the correct products. Granted, I am not in Buenos Aires, but I have found that most of the products can also be found here in Rosario as well.

After arriving in Argentina just a few weeks ago, I admit that I am still a bit lost as I struggle to adapt to the new culture and food. On top of being slightly cooking-challenged, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find enough options to satisfy my hunger and meet my nutritional needs as a vegan. I admit, I am slightly lazy as well and have been spoiled by the plethora of vegan and vegetarian options back home in New York, such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Stores. Worst of all, I dreaded the idea of having to sacrifice my beloved So Delicious Coconut Milk Ice cream, Tofutti Cuties, and countless other vegan masterpieces.

However, after doing some research and discovering gems such as Veganbackpacker.com, I can confidently say that I am up for the challenge of becoming more creative with my diet and putting together a variety of new, home-cooked, original and healthy meals. Now, I am not making any promises as to how great these meals will come out since I am on a budget and a bit of a domestic disaster, but here it goes!


Check it out!
Homemade Vegan Meals in Buenos Aires:
http://veganbackpacker.com/blog/homemade-vegan-meals-in-buenos-aires/

Shopping For Vegan Food in Buenos Aires:
http://veganbackpacker.com/featured-articles/vegan-grocery-shopping-in-buenos-aires/