Hi there! My name is Leah and I am thrilled to be writing for Mind Travelers. I live in Colorado and work as a social worker. I have two children, two dogs, four cats, and one long-suffering husband. I love to eat and I love to cook – BUT I’m a vegan. What does that even mean? Vegans do not eat any animal products or byproducts. This includes fish and chicken; milk and egg; gelatin, and even cheese. What DO they eat? Lots of yummy fruits and veggies, beans and tofu, nuts, etc. Check out these tips to “healthify” YOUR meals and snacks!

Make a healthier mac and cheese by replacing some or all 0f the cheese with prepared butternut squash soup from the grocery store.

Replace heavy ricotta cheese in stuffed shells or lasagna by using mashed and seasoned high protein tofu. Take a block of tofu and drain the water. Using your clean hands or a potato masher, mash the tofu into tiny bits. Stir in a few pinches of sea salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and maybe a ¼ c of non-dairy cheese, then use in place of dairy ricotta.

Try Meatless Mondays for a healthy weekly habit.

Replace meatballs or beef with meat-free versions which are generally lower in fat, calories, and sodium and are always cholesterol-free. The newer meat substitutes rock!

Roast two 9×13 pans full of veggies, once a week. Chop whatever you have on hand, – potatoes, onions, eggplant, bell peppers, and zucchini anyone? Toss the chopped veggies with a couple tablespoons of oil and salt each. Then, roast in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes. The cooked veggies can be tossed with pasta or put in tacos or pureed for a filling soup.

Halloween is coming right up on us and with all the sugary candy and chocolate around, it can be hard to make healthy choices. After Halloween, its Thanksgiving, then Christmas, Hanukah and Winter Solstice; after all those food-centered holidays there is New Years and New Year’s resolutions. What the heck?!  While meat, dairy, and eggs are not foods I miss eating – most people do miss them when going veggie.  If you can’t go completely vegan, try it 3 or 4 nights a week. Those vegan meals provide balance!

Keep it healthy and yummy with the above cooking hacks from Leah, “The Vegan.”