tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post114186132176790984..comments2024-03-19T00:45:26.274-07:00Comments on Vegan Lunch Box: A Day in the LifeJennifershmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08663322884550580226noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-11196757276657877232009-06-02T10:27:00.985-07:002009-06-02T10:27:00.985-07:00Hi, Jennifer. Did I tell you I got the vita-mix? W...Hi, Jennifer. Did I tell you I got the vita-mix? Well, I did and it's great! I've been experimenting with all kinds of smoothies. The fruit ones usually come out great, not so much the desserty ones. In one of your posts, you mentioned hemp milk. I thought I would go the extra mile and get hemp protein powder and put it in chocolate shake type smoothies for my daughter. Well, that didn't work out well. It's kinda clumpy. Now I'm thinking soy protein powder or brown rice protein powder. In this post, you mention using brown rice protein powder in a smoothie. Do you think it would work in a chocolate one? It's not overpowering, is it? Thanks!artsycraftsyivyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10884274247410617128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1142720038315751822006-03-18T14:13:00.000-08:002006-03-18T14:13:00.000-08:00I absolutely do not agree with charlie that vegans...I absolutely do not agree with charlie that vegans are the only truly intelligent people on the planet.Whatever anyone chooses to eat is their choice & problem actually.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1142474934948565922006-03-15T18:08:00.000-08:002006-03-15T18:08:00.000-08:00Jennifer, Are you thinking of adopting any more ki...Jennifer, <BR/><BR/>Are you thinking of adopting any more kids? If so, I'm available. I also have a son so you would be an instant grandma. Oh, by the way can you also adopt my wife since she would be a little ticked if you left her out.<BR/><BR/>Great website.<BR/>GBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1142366155186027252006-03-14T11:55:00.000-08:002006-03-14T11:55:00.000-08:00This is an amazing look into the life of a healthy...This is an amazing look into the life of a healthy vegan child!! It's trully wonderful- especially the fact that omni people are recognizing your wonderful efforts. I often get comments about my kids missing out on meat, ice cream, candy and soda. When you make the effort to feed your children wonderful food (minus tha animal bits) they don't ever miss out on anything. The best part is that you are teaching them that they can make healthful choices and still eat delicious food!! I agree though- if given the choice of candy or soda- it always wins.Reginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14273644516005784423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1142233270870202942006-03-12T23:01:00.000-08:002006-03-12T23:01:00.000-08:00>>You mentioned that Shmoo gets calcium-fortified ...>>You mentioned that Shmoo gets calcium-fortified OJ. Where do you get that? The brands I've seen don't promise its not from an animal source.<BR/><BR/>Hi, Marisa -- sorry I forgot to answer your question! Organic Valley makes calcium-fortified orange juice made with calcium citrate (which is the tricalcium salt of citric acid -- vegan and a very highly absorbable form of calcium), and contains no vitamin D.Jennifershmoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08663322884550580226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1142184469005933432006-03-12T09:27:00.000-08:002006-03-12T09:27:00.000-08:00Thanks for the insight about the sugar question. ...Thanks for the insight about the sugar question. It's very interesting to me. I don't see little Shmoo getting a ton of conventional candy and such -- little to no soda, candy as a treat (which I think is very important, especially at his age, an emphasis on healthy but good-tasting snacks and desserts -- all of that closely mirros my own eating habits as a child, and now as an adult, I simply have very little tolerance or desire for much sugar, and never have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1142061296364906632006-03-10T23:14:00.000-08:002006-03-10T23:14:00.000-08:00I just wanted to jump in on the TV comment (that i...I just wanted to jump in on the TV comment (that is now gone). I'm 20 and living on my own, outside of college. My roommate and I have a TV so we can watch movies, if we like to. But that's it. No cable. No extensive DVD collections. No borrowing or buying a lot of movies. I watch about 3 DVDs a month (usually on my computer) and download one TV show during it's season. (Dr. Who, which didn't even air in the US! I bought the first season as soon as the DVD was made available so they aren't losing money on me.)<BR/><BR/>My parents were firm believers in the way of the TV. We didn't watch during dinner, but we watched before and after. TV rules their life, still. But I made the choice to not own one, not have cable, and not get into watching one. And you know what? It's great. So worth my time and effort. I turn to the radio or newspaper for news and spend time online writing or playing crosswords. Or knitting with my radio. <BR/><BR/>I think you guys are going right with the TV thing. Shmoo will might go rebellious on you, re: TV when he hits his teens or college years...but I have no doubt that he'll realize how dumb TV can be. It really is a time sucker! I don't regret not having one and am so glad this was my choice. Keep up the actual parenting! What a rare trait!Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01175287704687068472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1142025853064581242006-03-10T13:24:00.000-08:002006-03-10T13:24:00.000-08:00>>if given the choice do you really think he would...>>if given the choice do you really think he would accept all the sweets and junk he could eat? I wouldn't have expected that!<BR/><BR/>Oooh, yes he would. We learned early on that he will eat, eat, and eat candy until he's ill. This has nothing to do with his diet by the way -- he was exactly the same back in his meat-eating days. It seems everywhere you go these days adults are offering kids suckers, hard candies, etc., and I truly think some kids get "hooked" like it's a drug. I know a friend whose daughter can take or leave it, or eat it only in moderation, so maybe it's a predisposition you inherit. My son really, really loves sugar. We don't ban it outright but we try to keep it to a minimum, because he makes himself miserable (and miserable to be around) if we don't.Jennifershmoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08663322884550580226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1142015889536085392006-03-10T10:38:00.000-08:002006-03-10T10:38:00.000-08:00First of all, I want to say I think you're doing a...First of all, I want to say I think you're doing a lot of terrific things here -- making sure that your son both has great meals at and away from home, teaching him good habits and decision making skills, and serving as an inspiration for veg and omni alike! <BR/><BR/>But I do want to address something that you said. You said, "would he choose candy and soda pop if I had listed that as an option? Absolutely -- in a heartbeat!" When I was growing up, my mother never kept those things around, and I never had a taste for them. I refused them when they were offered, never asked for soda when we ate out, etc. These habits have deteriorated a bit in adulthood, I have to admit, but I still eat far less sweets and drink much less sugary drinks than many of my friends, and I know a few others raised in similar circumstances who feel the same.<BR/><BR/>I remember some cases when you've told us that lil shmoo has prefered the healthier treats over the pure-sugar stuff, but if given the choice do you really think he would accept all the sweets and junk he could eat? I wouldn't have expected that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141997870659195932006-03-10T05:37:00.000-08:002006-03-10T05:37:00.000-08:00I kind of enjoy keeping my food diary-- even if it...I kind of enjoy keeping my food diary-- even if it is kind of annoying sometimes. Without a cool vegan mom to monitor my nutrition, it gives me the opportunity to reflect on my nutrition and tweak for the next day as I see fit!<BR/><BR/>Since starting to keep my food diary on one of my blogs, I've noticed I'm not eating enough brassicas or cruciferae or whatever they're caled (kale, broccoli, etc.). Guess what's for dinner tonight? Steamed broccoli with lemon and olive oil!Mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15744306048642372564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141957591378996872006-03-09T18:26:00.000-08:002006-03-09T18:26:00.000-08:00>>When is your cookbook coming out?No set date yet...>>When is your cookbook coming out?<BR/><BR/>No set date yet, but I'm truckin'! I'll keep everyone posted -- thanks!<BR/><BR/>>>keeping a food diary for even one day can be tough!<BR/><BR/>Thanks, occula! Yeah, I'm glad I don't have to pay that much attention every day!Jennifershmoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08663322884550580226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141955489275656502006-03-09T17:51:00.000-08:002006-03-09T17:51:00.000-08:00Still a big fan. I admire your diligence - keeping...Still a big fan. I admire your diligence - keeping a food diary for even one day can be tough! As a liberal who loves rock music, and being the opposite of my parents in both those regards, I always wondered whether my kids would turn into boot-scootin' rightists to rebel! You just have to do what my parents did and what you're doing - your best. Passing on your own values is part of that, and if they don't stick, well, we do have to each find out own path eventually. Says the childless ovo-lacto-vegetarian! I love your blog helping me think more vegan; I always want to work in more vegan recipes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141954171989301982006-03-09T17:29:00.000-08:002006-03-09T17:29:00.000-08:00Schmoo,I love your blog its amazing. I have just c...Schmoo,<BR/>I love your blog its amazing. I have just come back to vegetarianism and want to aspire to become vegan one day. I have already made the decision that my future children will be vegetarians. I babysit and am a full time nanny for numerous young children and am usually appalled at what they eat. One of the children I sit for will only eat one of five things (mac and cheese, PBnJ, hotdogs, or chick fil a happy meals). He gagged the first time I requested he eat vegetables with his meal. Literally gagged. When did people begin to think that it was completely okay to feed your children junk 24-7? <BR/><BR/>One other questions.<BR/><BR/>When is your cookbook coming out? I will be one of your first customers for sure!<BR/><BR/>By the way I tried the Disorderly Lentils and they were wonderful!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141950685121409902006-03-09T16:31:00.000-08:002006-03-09T16:31:00.000-08:00My children are almost grown now. I can tell you t...My children are almost grown now. I can tell you that your children aren't going to rebel because you teach them how to eat properly, and allow them to develop the skills required to entertain themselves without having to be stimulated constantly. They WILL rebel if you don't spend regular, real time with them (read: not in front of a television), if you don't have anything to teach them, or if you don't model what you teach them.<BR/><BR/>I'm not a vegetarian, although I was one as a teenager. Two of my children have chosen to be vegetarians, although neither is a vegan. However, we eat an all organic diet, and our animal products are only from animals treated humanely (free range, grass fed, etc.). This is all personal choices we make. The key is, as the wonderful author of the blog points out, offering your children choices - based on your own philosophy of living. That said, how can non-food food be a choice if you're trying to raise healthy children? The most religious I get about this is that if God didn't make it, we won't be eating it.<BR/><BR/>You're doing a wonderful job, Jennifer! I click in every day to see what you served, even though my children are too old for me to be making their lunches anymore. As a teacher, I can say I wish everyone fed their children as you do. I firmly believe that almost every behavioral/attentional problem we have in our schools is diet-related.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141945695511011102006-03-09T15:08:00.000-08:002006-03-09T15:08:00.000-08:00Last time I checked, teenagers rebel against ANYTH...Last time I checked, teenagers rebel against ANYTHING you give them. In fact, my first experiences with vegetarianism where to upset my parents when I was 13. Nearly a decade later, my reasoning has changed, but my point here is that you can't live every second worrying about what's going to go wrong in the future. We all raise our children to the best of our ability and do the best we know how to give them a good life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141939634006496252006-03-09T13:27:00.000-08:002006-03-09T13:27:00.000-08:00>>Just recently a grandparent asked one of them if...>>Just recently a grandparent asked one of them if they wouldn’t like a TV for their upcoming birthday. He looked at Grandpa funny and said, “When would I watch it?” and ran outside to play.<BR/><BR/>Oh, that really made me laugh out loud -- how great is that?<BR/><BR/>Just to clarify, we do have a DVD player and screen in our basement, so we do watch family shows sometimes.<BR/><BR/>I decided to take out the "watch TV" line, because I didn't really mean to convey the idea that all TV was bad, that's really here-nor-there. What I was trying to convey was the idea that I think it's important to offer choices, but to have all the choices be healthy ones. If candy and soda pop are one of the choices, they will practically always win out over the healthy things (at least with most of the kids I know it will).Jennifershmoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08663322884550580226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141932721642577872006-03-09T11:32:00.000-08:002006-03-09T11:32:00.000-08:00Karen Anne, some products have a heart with a V on...Karen Anne, some products have a heart with a V on it that means vegan. Or the heart has a V in it. Or the V is shaped like a heart. I have seen many versions. Also, of course when it says Vegan, it is. You can also look for Kosher products (those listed with a K or the word Parve). Still check the ingredients, but most are vegan.Eat Peace Pleasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08754499534650636430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141932616814146662006-03-09T11:30:00.000-08:002006-03-09T11:30:00.000-08:00We don’t have a TV either. Quiet time? I get qui...We don’t have a TV either. <BR/><BR/>Quiet time? I get quiet time easier than my “TV owning” friends. Why? Because my children are not dependent on being entertained and can easily find something to do on their own. <BR/><BR/>I don’t think that not having a TV or being vegan is micro-managing – just giving them a good option in life. <BR/><BR/>Just recently a grandparent asked one of them if they wouldn’t like a TV for their upcoming birthday. He looked at Grandpa funny and said, “When would I watch it?” and ran outside to play.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141931642639051842006-03-09T11:14:00.000-08:002006-03-09T11:14:00.000-08:00I love reading the Schmoo blogs - thank you so muc...I love reading the Schmoo blogs - thank you so much for taking the time to make regular posts and for being such an inspiration.<BR/><BR/>How would we go about having you adopt me? Okay, so we're pretty much the same age, but we could just get over that, no?<BR/><BR/>Seriously, if I ever decide to create a <B>baby mishka</B>, I hope I'm as good a mother as you are and that my child is as happy as <B>little schmoo</B>.mishkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10267872481205895176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141929242440025722006-03-09T10:34:00.000-08:002006-03-09T10:34:00.000-08:00How could anyone nit-pick this?? It's pretty perf...How could anyone nit-pick this?? It's pretty perfect, as far as I can tell. I wish I could eat at your house ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141929125461623882006-03-09T10:32:00.000-08:002006-03-09T10:32:00.000-08:00Speaking of non-vegan stuff lurking in apparently ...Speaking of non-vegan stuff lurking in apparently vegan food items, I wish there were a simple symbol on things so the consumer could tell in one second if they are looking at something that is organic, vegetarian, vegan, etc. I don't know why some organization hasn't done this. Not the government, obviously, since they'd let all sorts of crap in under exceptions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141928954346390012006-03-09T10:29:00.000-08:002006-03-09T10:29:00.000-08:00Sounds better than my daily meals... thanks for th...Sounds better than my daily meals... thanks for the ideas...off to tweek my own menusAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141928417922683882006-03-09T10:20:00.000-08:002006-03-09T10:20:00.000-08:00I just wanted you to know that I absolutely ADORE ...I just wanted you to know that I absolutely ADORE this blog. It's amazing. I check it regularly and am blown away all the time.<BR/><BR/>I'm a vegetarian, not a vegan, nearly a year now, woo hoo! And I live in Texas, so that's fun. You definitely have to be a bit laid-back to be veg in Texas, meat surrounds me.<BR/><BR/>But I wanted to address something about meat analogues in another thread: I was never that much into meat to begin with, so giving it up really wasn't difficult. I didn't eat it that much even when I was omni. So the analogues don't appeal to me much, besides the occasional black bean "burger" heated and crumbled up into a soft taco (mmmm!). Other than that, nah.<BR/><BR/>Another thing that helped was that I have not ever in my life found a vegetable that I don't like. I'm serious. I haven't tried rutabega yet, so I don't know about that, but I've tried just about everything and could eat veggies all day long, happily. <BR/><BR/>Sorry, rambling. I have sent the link to your blog to all my friends and family and even my omni friends have gotten a lot of great ideas from here. Hey the less meat they consume the better, right?<BR/><BR/>Keep up the good work and schmoo is a VERY very lucky kid to have you as a mom.<BR/><BR/>(Oh we own TVs, but I've never been much of a TV watcher and my 11 year old daughter isn't, either. We're usually too busy doing other stuff to watch TV.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141927051078064212006-03-09T09:57:00.000-08:002006-03-09T09:57:00.000-08:00Hey, Stevepid,I have called the Tropicana company ...Hey, Stevepid,<BR/><BR/>I have called the Tropicana company regarding their Calcium OJ, and you're right on target. It's not the Calcium, but the Vitamin D, in the juice that is the problem. The Vitamin D is derived from lanolin, which is an oil that comes from the skin of a sheep and is therefore not vegan (though it is, apparently, vegetarian, as it's a wool product not a slaughter one).<BR/><BR/>Similar warning--8th Continent Soymilk also contains D that comes from lanolin. <BR/><BR/>Hi, Douglas,<BR/>This is not my blog and the question was not directed at me, but I thought I'd point something out. You're right on target when you say that "Before the Noahetic Flood, God only had us eat the fruits and veges as well as the herbs of the field. After the Flood God Then allowed his people to eat meat," and I think you should see the paradox: Humans were *originally* intended to be vegan; after the Flood, they were *permitted* to eat meat, but it was never *required*. Therefore, vegans are actually stepping back towards Eden, which I think none who believe in the God you talk about can argue against. God "permits" a lot of things in the Judeo-Christian bible, but that doesn't mean they are requisite.<BR/><BR/>Also, I don't think any diety, no matter what you believe, would find excuse for the way *modern* agriculture treats animals, which, after all, if you are religious, are "God's creatures."<BR/><BR/>Also thought I'd point out that you have no reason to believe the Schmoo family to be either Christian or Jewish, and other faiths may not agree with what you talk about regarding the Flood. Religion is, generally speaking, not a good argument FOR or AGAINST veganism (I've also heard arguments that Jesus was a vegetarian, and say the same thing). And, regardless of what they believe, I have never seen *any* religion advocate cruelty to any animal, so if anything, religion would be better applied to support veganism rather than diffuse it.<BR/><BR/>Just my $0.02.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16132334.post-1141926641407438792006-03-09T09:50:00.000-08:002006-03-09T09:50:00.000-08:00Wow! It's so awesome to see what Shmoo eats over a...Wow! It's so awesome to see what Shmoo eats over a whole day! My mom was never a huge meat eater so dinner always had lots of veggies and tofu and such. (We're Japanese) Thanks to her, I've grown up liking fruits and vegetables and much more inclined to eat healthy. As for TV, we had a TV but I never really watched it as a child, aside from some anime and some movies. I might have been too busy doing other things. =)<BR/><BR/>Kudos to raising a healthy kid, Jennifer!<BR/><BR/>And Douglas-- There are many vegan Christans and Jews. The whole "God wanting us to eat meat" is really a matter of interpretation of the Bible, as is everything.Kobyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03067041998321415395noreply@blogger.com