3 Keys to Making Small Talk Easy to Do

If you've been feeling overworked, under-challenged, or completely drained lately, it's possible that you're dealing with career burnout. Although it can be tough to differentiate between this condition and regular stress-induced fatigue, the good news is that it's not too late to reverse the trend!

In this blog post we'll share 3 keys for managing career burnout so that you can start feeling refreshed and optimistic about work again.

Introducing Vegan Cheese

I'm going vegan! Wait - what does this mean? I heard a lot of people say that vegans don't eat cheese!? Why is stopping eating cheese a big deal? It's delicious.

-Vegan cheese is really incredible. I like it so much better than the dairy variety because I'm able to enjoy it without ruining my body or feeling like I need to adhere to a lifestyle where I'm constantly eating things out of a container that are not vegan.

-I can now say that after going vegan (and sticking with those guidelines) I feel like my life has improved in all areas - including my work performance and wellbeing.

-It's also gotten easier to navigate social situations where people might be trying to enforce stereotypes about any specific stringency of diet - which is what used to drive me nuts.

My Personal Experience Going Vegan

I first became interested in going vegan when I saw An Inconvenient Truth . It completely changed my perspective on global warming and the concept of sustainability. I began thinking about veganism as a way to battle hunger and ecological destruction. That's when I started researching what ingredients are used in vegan cheese; and it turned out to be pretty intense - meat analogs like dairy and egg! Sounds delicious!

Most of what is in vegan cheese has been produced with GMO-laden soy, which is why I became even more interested when I learned about the potential for GMO contamination. However, a lot of companies are now trying to change this by making foods from plants...

The science is complicated, but there are certain isolated compounds called "GMOs" that have been shown to contaminate non-GMO food products. Because of their improved yields and resistance to plant diseases, a lot of farmers use GMO seeds - and those seeds sometimes wind up on the final products!

This is what scares me about the food supply - especially since I've been so passionate about a vegan diet! When I discovered that there are alternative vegan cheese products on the market that do not contain any GMOs, I was thrilled and immediately ordered some...

Trader Joe's Vegan Cheese

The first brand of vegan cheese I ordered was Trader Joe's. It's kind of cheesy-yellow lumpy stuff, but it actually tastes pretty good by itself. Or melted over pasta with marinara sauce. It also makes a pretty good grilled cheese sandwich.

I'm not a huge fan of shredded vegan cheese - but once I tried this new product from Daiya , I was impressed! I love the fact that it just melts in your mouth - and it's really tasty when you do this.

Eventually, I got really curious and did some digging to find the ingredient list for different vegan cheeses. It turned out that what's in this vegan cheese isn't plant-based at all! It actually contains collagen from cow stomachs? Gross!

I was shocked because there is absolutely no way that this could be considered healthy or sustainable - unless they want to start producing wine out of cow stomachs. Fortunately, there is a brand of vegan cheese that doesn't contain any animal-derived proteins; it's called Follow Your Heart.

Unfortunately, I was unable to find it on Trader Joe's shelves - so I ended up buying Daiya again. The flavor is pretty good, but I don't think it's as good as Follow Your Heart.

Other Vegan Cheese Options

Beyond the brands that I've mentioned so far, there are lots of other options out there! Some are made by the same company (like Daiya), while others are produced by different companies for different diet needs and lifestyles.

Some of the most popular brands that I've seen include: Follow Your Heart, Go Veggie, and Teese. There are a lot of vegan cheese recipes online too - some just involve mixing stuff with nutritional yeast!

Vegan Cheese Purchase Tips

So you've heard about these companies that make vegan cheese. Where do you get them? Here's where it gets complicated...

There are a lot of processed foods out there! Some of them are extremely unhealthy (like canned vegetables with excessive salt). So when you're buying food products, especially ones made by smaller companies, it's best to check the ingredients.

Try to avoid processed foods if you can! This means that you should try to avoid any foods that contain anything made with GMO ingredients! Some of the more popular brands of processed foods include Frito-Lay, Nutritional Yeast and Hungry Jack.

Also check out websites like The World's Healthiest Foods and Nutritiondata.gov . They provide a good idea of nutritional value in your food products.

For snacks and treats, hemp seeds are a great source for protein and fat. Hemp seeds are packed with nutrients like calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron as well as omega 3 fatty acids that help improve your mood and decrease stress levels. They're also an excellent source of protein and can be used in a variety of recipes.

Hemp seeds are great in smoothies, sprinkled on salads, and they taste especially delicious sprinkled over chocolate pudding!

Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast is one of my favorite vegan products! It's not exactly cheese, but it's tasty on sandwiches or all by itself. I like to sprinkle it all over popcorn for a cheese-like flavor. Not to mention that nutritional yeast is a good source for B vitamins and fiber!

Nutritional yeast comes from the same company that makes Go Veggie vegan cheese, Daiya. It can be bought in bulk at places like Whole Foods or ordered online .

As you can see, there are definitely lots of options out there for vegan cheese!

Are you vegan? Or do you know someone who is? What's your favorite cheese substitute? Share your thoughts about the vegan diet in the comments section below!

I love hearing from my readers! Feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly at drbockman@gmail.com .

If you want to learn more about nutrition and health, I'd love to recommend some books: The Obesity Code by Dr. Jason Fung, Good Calories Bad Calories by Gary Taubes, and Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis.

Also, we'd love to have you follow us on our new Facebook page . We've been posting articles about nutrition, weight loss, and exercise for over a year - and it would be great to have you as a follower.

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on Facebook , Twitter , or email it to a friend!

I love hearing from my readers. Please feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly at drbockman@gmail.com

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I do not practice medicine. I am a freelance writer who enjoys writing about health, fitness and nutrition. This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Any views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the author's employers or myself. For readers' health information and specific diet considerations, I recommend that you consult a licensed healthcare practitioner.

You May Also Be Interested In...

Vegan Diets - What You Need To Know By Dr. Bockman What you need to know about vegan diets , whether you're a vegan, vegetarian, or just curious about the diet! How it works for followers of Dr John MacDougall . How it works for those following animal rights . How it works for those following environmental concerns . How it works for those following religious...

How to Stop Sugar Cravings by Dr. Bockman You've tried the diet, you've tried the exercise - but no matter what you do, you can't seem to get rid of your sugar cravings. You know that you should be eating foods that help curb your cravings, but you don't know how! Learn about some of the most common foods that make people crave sugar - as well as a few surprising ones! Discover...

The Obesity Code: Unlocking The Secrets Of Weight Loss by Dr. Jason Fung In this book, Dr. Jason Fung explains the science behind what makes us fat, as well as how to reverse it for good. This book is a must-read for anyone who struggles with their weight, or wants to know the facts about obesity. The Obesity Code isn't just about losing weight - it's about living a long, healthy life! Learn more: http://amzn.to/1DpNwIA

Healthy Thanksgiving by Dr. Bockman It's that time of year again! You may be heading out to parties or family get-togethers to celebrate and have a great time - but you may not be in the mood for all of the traditional Thanksgiving food. This article outlines a few ideas for alternative Thanksgiving meals that can be just as satisfying, nutritious, and delicious! Learn more: ...

Top 10 Signs of a Healthy Lifestyle by Dr. Bockman What does it mean to have a healthy lifestyle? Is it measured by how many hours you work each day? How much money you make? Or is it measured by something else entirely? Discover 10 signs of a healthy lifestyle that can help you know if your life is on the right track. Learn more: http://amzn.to/1Nb1ZMg

How To Stop Sugar Cravings by Dr. Bockman I know that you are trying to lose weight and reduce your sugar cravings. But it can be difficult! How might you be able to do it without putting yourself at risk of gaining weight? Find out here! Learn more: http://www.healthyfoodhq.com/g-sugar-cravings/

The Diabetes Code by Dr. Jason Fung We all know someone who suffers from diabetes. But most people don't know exactly what causes diabetes, or why it's so hard to manage. Dr. Jason Fung explains the science behind type 2 diabetes and how you can potentially reverse the disease for good! Learn more: http://amzn.to/1f3aI43

An Interview With Dr. Bockman by The Healthy Food HQ Recently, I was interviewed by a blogger who wanted to get my perspective on the paleo diet and about following the Paleo lifestyle in general. Here are some answers to her questions! Learn more: http://www.healthyfoodhq.com/paleo-interview-dr-bockman/

Conclusion

Trying to lose weight can be a difficult and frustrating process. It seems that no matter what you do, it's never enough. You may feel like you have tried everything, but the pounds just keep coming. You may be spending hours at the gym or doing various exercises in an attempt to shed some weight and get your body in shape for summer or for a special event. However, the quality of life does not always improve with the quantity of pounds lost – at least not for most people. Losing weight is about changing eating habits and improving your lifestyle overall, rather than focusing on points or inches lost.

3 Keys to Making Small Talk Easy to Do

3 Keys to Making Small Talk Easy to Do

Post a Comment

Contact Form