how to be vegan when busy

[DoggyLady]

when i was doing free-lance, i found it easy to cook a vegetarian meal every day, and juice some fruits, or make some salads.

but now i work full time in an office. plus i continue doing some free-lance work (not at home). i leave home in the morn at 7:30 am and reach home late at 10:30pm. i'm in fact holding two jobs.

i find it difficult to make the time and energy to eat healthily.

firstly, i am very social, so i prefer to go out with colleagues during lunchtime. i do try to order vegetarian foods, but still, they are oily and salty.

secondly, i don't have time to cook my own foods.

3rdly, there is no kitchen sink in my office. only the sink in the bathroom, to prepare my own food, or to cut fruits.

4thly, since i actually hold 2 jobs now, i consume a lot of energy. i feel that fruits and veggies do not fill me.

i would like some ideas how you handle being vegan/vegatarian/eating healthy.

my own first idea, cook my own vegatarian spaghetti, or vegetarian rice, several portions at one go, and then freeze them in seperate portions. bring one portion to office several days in a row as lunch. microwave them in office.

my own 2nd idea, bring bananas and oranges to office. no need to cut. (don't suggest apples pls. my crooked teeth do not like crunchy apples)

[SireneB]

Do you eat lentils? I work a busy and sometimes late schedule also. I cook a big pot of lentils or split peas every weekend, with vegetable broth (I make my own, usually) and lots of vegetables - about half the soup pot is vegetables - and good herbs and spices. Then I portion it into plastic containers and put them in the freezer. Each morning I take one container out of the freezer to thaw in the refrigerator during the day, and that is the core of my dinner (add more veggies when heating it up, and since I'm not vegan, I usually put a big spoon of yogurt on top).

I find this works very well for me, lentils and split peas are good for protein.

For lunches, I take a container of chopped vegetables with a few nuts in it, as kind of a chopped salad, to work every day.

[kat]

Prepare dense foods that are quick to make, and which store well. You can make lentil soups, warm up some canned beans and frozen vegetables, or if you have a little more time, bake some lentils. Make a lot; the leftovers can cut your food preparation time to zero for days. Some recipes are even good eaten cold, straight from the fridge.

You can also be inspired by the raw foodists and make some very energy-dense snack bars - combine some fruits and nuts. If you use dates/apricots/other dried fruit, a couple minutes in a food processor with some nuts will provide you with a week of snacks. They're filling, quick to make, small, and portable.

For the office, you could bring sandwiches. Consider spreading them with nut-butters (like peanut butter). Humus is good too, but a bit messier and doesn't keep anywhere near as long.

For breakfasts and possibly supper, depending on your taste, another option is some kind of cereal. Some can be quite healthy: you can make or buy muesli, for example. In a pinch, this can also make a portable lunch.

You need more of substance than fruits and vegetables, unless you're consuming truly massive amounts of them. Nuts, nut butters, grains, beans, and avocados are all options for you, and there are very quick ways to consume all of them - some don't even need preparation.

Edit: both of your ideas are reasonable as well.

[EvolveWithFlavor]

It's possible to do I think, but MUCH MUCH easier when you are hanging around your own world (ie own your own business, do freelance work, or work out of your house).

Being Vegan/Raw DEFINITELY knocks you up to a higher state of consciousness and allows you to do Higher-Level things with ease. You will be doing better work, impressing people, all that good stuff.

I would use that motivation to get you started. Otherwise, it will never happen. Let's face it, the pressure of the world and your own conditioning are MAJOR roadblocks. You have to build up MOTIVATIONAL LEVERAGE to make this happen for yourself.

[Cadenn]

I love to eat vegan food,
i think vegan food is good for health.

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by EvolveWithFlavor

It's possible to do I think, but MUCH MUCH easier when you are hanging around your own world (ie own your own business, do freelance work, or work out of your house).

Being Vegan/Raw DEFINITELY knocks you up to a higher state of consciousness and allows you to do Higher-Level things with ease. You will be doing better work, impressing people, all that good stuff.

I would use that motivation to get you started. Otherwise, it will never happen. Let's face it, the pressure of the world and your own conditioning are MAJOR roadblocks. You have to build up MOTIVATIONAL LEVERAGE to make this happen for yourself.

The vegans I've met, were certainly not on any higher state of consciousness, let alone doing better work then other people, or impressing anyone other then other vegans. Where do you get your info?

[DoggyLady]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

The vegans I've met, were certainly not on any higher state of consciousness, let alone doing better work then other people, or impressing anyone other then other vegans. Where do you get your info?

i would think it depends on *why* they are vegans. Pure reasons or out of fear?

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by DoggyLady

i would think it depends on *why* they are vegans. Pure reasons or out of fear?

I'm sure. Don't take my post in a negative way against vegans. My post was only made to show that becoming a vegan doesn't magically put you at any higher level then any other person. Us omnivores are just as good of people, just as good of workers, and just as impressive as anyone else.

You are right. What you are and what you do does not matter as much as why you do it.

[DoggyLady]

I would use that motivation to get you started. Otherwise, it will never happen. Let's face it, the pressure of the world and your own conditioning are MAJOR roadblocks. You have to build up MOTIVATIONAL LEVERAGE to make this happen for yourself.

oh yeah... will face judgement.

I'm one week into my new workplace, and already i saw one colleague criticised loudly about vegetarian foods to the rest of the colleagues because a wedding dinner that he attended was vegetarian. And the other colleagues, although were not as loud as him, agreed vegetarian foods taste bad and is more expensive.

I kept quiet cos i wasn't sure how , i as a newcomer could safely disagree with what he said, without making him , them or myself look bad.

i position myself in workplace as someone who "prefers to eat more vegetables and fruits" but that i'm not vegetarian (which is almost true anyway).

And I won't stop myself from my new diet, just because of what they say or think.
As that guy was criticising vegetarian foods harshly, I couldn't help but think that his diet may be the reason why he is fat, pimply and unattractive looking!!

Vegetarian/vegan foods are definitely the way to go.

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by DoggyLady

oh yeah... will face judgement.

I'm one week into my new workplace, and already i saw one colleague criticised loudly about vegetarian foods to the rest of the colleagues because a wedding dinner that he attended was vegetarian. And the other colleagues, although were not as loud as him, agreed vegetarian foods taste bad and is more expensive.

I kept quiet cos i wasn't sure how , i as a newcomer could safely disagree with what he said, without making him , them or myself look bad.

i position myself in workplace as someone who "prefers to eat more vegetables and fruits" but that i'm not vegetarian (which is almost true anyway).

Disagree with him how? He went to a dinner that was vegetarian, and he didn't like the taste of vegetarian. You can't argue with people about their taste of food. You have to know what you are doing to make vegetarian food taste as good as a dish that has animal fats in it. It's a completely different taste. I hate vegetables, so what could you say to me to prove me wrong if I said that vegetarian dished taste bad?

Vegetarians can be as fat, pimply and as unattractive too. But I must say, that putting such a judgement on another human being, and sharing that judgement for 100's of people to see, is not at a higher state of consciousness

[DoggyLady]

Us omnivores are just as good of people, just as good of workers, and just as impressive as anyone else.

EvolveWithFlavor did not say anything against the omnivores.

He only said that veganism brings one to a higher level, and to do things with greater ease.

If a vegan is not impressive, check out his motivations. maybe his intentions are not good intentions.

Or maybe his veganism has helped him improve from a level 3 to level 4, while most omnivores are at level 5. So his veganism still work for him, even if he is not that impressive.

Veganism is not the only way to become more conscious. If an omnivore uses other methods (meditation, therapies, yoga, etc), with good intentions, sure, he can possibly develop faster than a vegan who rely only on diet to improve himself.

[firenexx]

I would suggest not having 2 jobs. That is a lot of work!

[DoggyLady]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

Vegetarians can be as fat, pimply and as unattractive too. But I must say, that putting such a judgement on another human being, and sharing that judgement for 100's of people to see, is not at a higher state of consciousness

The vegans I've met, were certainly not on any higher state of consciousness, let alone doing better work then other people, or impressing anyone other then other vegans. Where do you get your info?

I notice that you have remarked abt other other people (first vegans, and then me) as "not in higher state of consciousness".

That is judgement. You are judging their state of consciousness.

And you state it here for 100s of people to see.

So by your own reasoning, what does your action say about you?

[DoggyLady]

Originally Posted by firenexx

I would suggest not having 2 jobs. That is a lot of work!

thx firenexx.

i'm phasing out one job gradually. things will get better!!! thx for the concern!!

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by DoggyLady

I notice that you have remarked abt other other people (first vegans, and then me) as "not in higher state of consciousness".

That is judgement. You are judging their state of consciousness.

And you state it here for 100s of people to see.

So by your own reasoning, what does your action say about you?

I never claimed to be at a higher consciousness nor that in trying to attain such. NOr was I accusing you. Just stating my opionipn, along the lines of this thread.

[ginkgo]

If you do not have time to cook then eat more things raw. I have really enjoyed eating a lot of watermelon (I am not black). One summer it was most of my diet. It makes me feel good also.

If someone is thirsty and hot watermelon is the best way to satisfy your thirst. A neighbor has some chickens and one is named Watermelon-head because she loves eating watermelon. It may be the best food that exists!

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

If you do not have time to cook then eat more things raw. I have really enjoyed eating a lot of watermelon (I am not black). One summer it was most of my diet. It makes me feel good also.

If someone is thirsty and hot watermelon is the best way to satisfy your thirst. A neighbor has some chickens and one is named Watermelon-head because she loves eating watermelon. It may be the best food that exists!

First jews, and now blacks? Do you understand the concept of decorum?

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by DoggyLady

EvolveWithFlavor did not say anything against the omnivores.

He only said that veganism brings one to a higher level, and to do things with greater ease.

If a vegan is not impressive, check out his motivations. maybe his intentions are not good intentions.

Or maybe his veganism has helped him improve from a level 3 to level 4, while most omnivores are at level 5. So his veganism still work for him, even if he is not that impressive.

Veganism is not the only way to become more conscious. If an omnivore uses other methods (meditation, therapies, yoga, etc), with good intentions, sure, he can possibly develop faster than a vegan who rely only on diet to improve himself.

.. to say that veganism brings one to a higher level, and allows you to do things with greater ease, and be impressive, automatically implies that to not be a vegan, will not put you at a higher level, or allow you to do things with greater ease, or be as impressive.

So, an omnivore can't solely rely on diet to improve themselves? Why does an omnivore have to use other methods, with good intentions? You can eat anything you want, with a conscious mind. To say that eating an omnivore diet, some how withholds you from developing, unless you use other methods, puts omnivores in a bad light. As if something we do, is very bad. I'm not sure if you see the condescension in your last sentence, that really taints veganism for many people.

" I suppose an omnivore could also do it. But, they'd sure have to put a lot of effort and do a lot of things to achieve what we achieve by just becoming a vegan".

[firenexx]

Nothing wrong with a little racially-oriented humour.

Also, watermelon has lots of lycopene.

[ssandra]

How about snacking on some more nuts? That helps fill better (in my experience) than fruit.

Or have at home some tupperware with already cut (you can do that in the weekend) salad ingredients so you only have to mix and match at work and don't have to cut anything.

Some fruits you can also cut already at home and take with you in a tupperware so you don't have to cut them at work.

[mlee]

Eating raw has been the only way I've been able to keep up with my 3 jobs on top of owning a business. Nothing is handier than an apple. If you are still hungry, eat 3 more. I stock my desk with raw nuts, dates, apples, and bananas. The business I own is a restaurant with a Vitamix, so I often can swing by there and grab a salad for my desk or a smoothie to slam between real estate job and tending bar. Not everyone is that lucky. But really, vegan foods seem to be the easiest to grab for me anyway.

There are also some awesome meal replacement raw/organic and mostly raw bars out there. I like Pro bards, Pure bars, Go Raw, or even just Larabars.