Well it’s been two full weeks of no meat, no eggs, and no animal byproducts. I won’t be going into the nuances of nutrition and all that today. Rather, I’ll be focusing on the battle between meat eaters and vegans. Dun dun dunnnn. Don’t worry, we’ll end on a lighter, sweeter note with some gluten free vegan date cookies

Before I made the switch, I viewed vegans as misinformed, malnourished hippies just wanting to be ‘different’. After doing my research and living the vegan lifestyle for a few weeks now, I realize that I was the one who was gravely misinformed. But the question is… why did I view the vegan community in such a negative light?

Why can’t we just all get along?

It’s in our nature that when our beliefs are challenged, we become defensive. It really comes down to the delivery of your message. A little note for my vegan friends… Sometimes you do come off high & mighty when referring to meat as “dead flesh” or showing videos of cows being butchered while people are eating steak. It can be super annoying. I get that you want to educate, but do it in a tactful manner when people are ready to hear it. Otherwise, your words will be going in one ear and coming out the other, leaving you feeling exhausted and frustrated. And a little note to my meat eating friends… the “where does your protein come from” question gets old really quickly. Stop asking it. Also, if someone chooses to raise their children vegan the only thing wrong with that are your cruel comments.

Leading by Example

No one is going to make a drastic lifestyle change like going vegan or going carnivore (… is that a thing?) unless it agrees with their own reasoning and common sense. LEAD BY EXAMPLE and please stop cramming your personal beliefs down each other’s throats.

It’s like telling a smoker to quit smoking when they’re not ready to quit. You can show them pictures of black lungs, read all the medical facts in the world, and tell them they’re bound to get wrinkles by age 30, but they’re not going to quit smoking until they are truly ready. Perhaps these facts resonate at some level, but a drastic change takes place internally first.

After all, it’s a choice. What you think is wrong may be completely right for someone else. So if you do wish to change things around you, do so by example, not by your opinions.

On a happier note…. COOKIES!

Since I gave you a sample meal day last week, I wanted to give you something different today… cookies!! Ohhhhhh giggidy! Inspired by my Aunt, who is an amazing baker, I created these date cookies that blew my mind and I know you’ll love ’em too 🙂

These Gluten Free Vegan Date Cookies are:

buttery

chewy

sweet

hearty

INGREDIENTS

1 Cup gluten free rolled oats

3/4 Cup oat flour (ground up oats)

2 Tbsp coconut flour

1/4 Cup coconut palm sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/3 Cup coconut oil, melted

1 ripe banana, mashed

1 Cup pitted dates, soaked in water (~10 mins)

1/2 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS

preheat oven to 350 degrees

immerse dates into water and set aside

whisk together the oats, oat flour, coconut sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder

in separate bowl, combine the melted coconut oil and mashed banana

mix wet and dry ingredients together

place the dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper and roll the dough until 1/4″ thick

cut circles of the dough with cookie cutter

place cookies onto lined baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes

while cookies are in the oven, strain water from dates

place dates and vanilla into food processor and mix until a paste-like consistency forms

once cookies are baked, let them cool for about 5 minutes

spread the date paste onto one side of cookie and place another cookie on top to make a l’il sandwich

Enjoy these cookies with your loved ones… furry or otherwise;)

Love, peace & delicious unity