I think I have figure out a way to do increase the protein along with making a healthy snack.

Gary’s Oatmeal Protein Raisin Pecan Cookie Bars (vegan)

3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup life’s Basic Plant Protein Powder Vanilla Unsweetened
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon clove
3/4 cup Suganat
2 tablespoons Agave syrup
1/4 cup applesauce
1 Ripe banana
1/4 cup Almond milk and 2 tbsps
1/4 cup Coconut oil (melted)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins, plumped and patted dry
1/2 cup Pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Use a 9″x9″  glass dish
Back for 35 – 40 minutes

Mix together the dry ingredients and mix well. then add the wet ingredients.

Mix both sugars, maple syrup, apple sauce, oil and vanilla together in a medium bowl. Add the flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in the oats, followed by raisins and pecans.

Pour batter into the 9″ x 9″ glass dish.  I like to use the Pam baking spray to pre-grease the dish.

Remove from oven and let cool. Cut into bars the size that you like.

Breakfast Cereal

It took me years to find the exact breakfast cereal that would work for me.  This is my favorite combination.  When I have this cereal it gives me energy and it keeps me going for hours.  I like something that sticks with me so I don’t have to snack until lunch.  I found this cereal through the Engine 2 diet.  It’s a little bit different than how they make it, but I still want to give them credit for it.  They call it Rip’s Big Bowl.

1/4 Cup Uncle Sam Toasted Whole Wheat Berry Flakes & Flaxseed

1/4 Cup Oatmeal (No sugar added, just plain.)

1/4 Cup Cascadian Farm Organic multi Grain Squares

1/4 Cup Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Cereal Cinnamon Raisin

1 Tablespoon Bob’s Red Mill Golden Flaxseed Meal

1 Handful of crushed Walnuts

1/4 Cup Blueberries

1/4 Cup Raisins

4 Strawberries, quartered

1 banana

1/2 cup to a little more of Vanilla almond milk

Add any kind of berries that are in season.  Just typing this makes me want to have another bowl right now.

It seems like a lot of cereal, but it’s really good.  I love this and crave it.  Try it and let me know what you think.

My name is Gary.  I live in Houston, Texas with my partner of 27 years and our 10 year old son, who will soon to be 11.  I am 52 years.  I am a vegetarian.  I was eating seafood, but I decided to change to a vegan diet, removing dairy, fish, totally from my diet.  I also have lowered the amount of white sugar that I eat. I also want to state that I am not an authority on veganism and thought I would share how it has changed my life, what I eat, where I shop, and what I order when I go to restaurants or to friends houses.  These questions always seem to be the underlying factor when people are choosing to  make  changes in the way they eat when they are moving to a healthier lifestyle.

I hope by creating this website that I can share what knowledge I have learned and pass it on.  I am a true believer that you are what you eat.

My families health background is truly not one that I want to live.  My father had a quadruply bypass in his 60s, he has diabetes, prostate cancer and 18 inches of his colon removed because of diverticulius.  He also had high blood pressure but that has changed since he had his bypass.

My mother also suffers from diabetic related illness as well as blood pressure problems.  She also suffers from arthritic issues throughout her body.

Through genetics I know that I need to eat right, get exercise and  to be as proactive as possible.

So, with that being said, I am hoping that I can help others as I help myself through my journey to a healthier me.  I want to offer you great recipes that I  have tried, where I shop, what’s in season, and how to figure out what to eat when you go out to dinner with friends and family.  I want to show you that you can and will feel better by what you put into your body.