DIY Week

Happy Monday and, for those Canadians and/or Brits who are reading this, Happy Victoria Day! It is a long weekend here in soggy Canadialand, but we have seen some hints of sunshine which have been very enjoyable. Bottom line, any weekend that is free of wildfires (Alberta), floods (Manitoba, Quebec) or volcano eruptions (Iceland) is one for which to be very thankful. And I am.

So, a recipe. The Meatless day in question has already arrived and I'm not leaving you much time to purchase groceries or plan your dinner menu for tonight, am I? Well, I figured out a cool way around that, but first a look at the headlines. Last week, I profiled a new documentary film which is coming soon to a theatre near you. The Globe and Mail has since published their own review, which you might also find interesting. This film is generating a lot of great conversations and interest in this topic in various media, which is great.

In a recent article in the New York Daily News, Dr. Neal Barnard made what might seem like a radical proposal to some: extend a proposed ban on using food stamps to purchase soda pop to also ban their use in purchasing meat and dairy products. He cites studies showing a link between these animal foods and the obesity epidemic, including a highly increased risk of diabetes in those eating animal products. Can you imagine a label on hot dogs which stated: "WARNING: consuming this product will TRIPLE your risk of diabetes when compared to consuming veggie dogs. Eat at your own risk." (Note: This is very bad science on my part, used for comedic purposes only and not to be considered a valid conclusion based on the data in question. Read at your own risk.)

It makes sense, considering that on average Americans consume 75 pounds more meat and 30 pounds more cheese in a year than they did just a century ago. And all those extra pounds have predictably translated into additional pounds of body weight in turn. Which have translated into a health care crisis, etc. It's not like it's more expensive or time-consuming to buy and prepare healthy foods. Really, it isn't. In fact, Dr. Tim Harlan researched this in detail (again, not good science, but very readable anecdotal evidence. Enjoy!) in a recent HuffPo piece. We are brainwashed into believing that the $3.99 value meal is our only port in this economic storm and it just isn't true.

And now back to our recipe, the idea for which comes courtesy of Lee, a Goodreads friend and fellow blogger over at Vegaloca (also a great spot for meatless recipes). She brought to my attention the Magical Loaf Studio, designed by Vegan Lunch Box creator Jennifer McCann. This online form allows you to plug in the ingredients you already have on hand (see above comment re: no time to shop for groceries), combine them with the spices and flours you like and produce your own custom-made recipe for a Meatless Loaf you can stick in the oven for an hour while you plan where to go for the fireworks (see above comment re: Canadians and Brits). Have some fun with this and let me know if you come up with a great recipe you really enjoyed. DIY for the kitchen which doesn't involve hammering or new cupboards--love it.