Gardening

Gardening delights courtesy of Lenny Dutton in Dalston, London, from I'm So Happy.

"Radish picked straight out the soil, my first one ever! First thing I have eaten from my garden:

"Radishes and mint picked from my garden:

"Add the radishes and mint, finely chopped, to yogurt/vegan yogurt and add lemon juice. SO GOOD, and amazing in the hot weather:


"Start of a plum tomato:


"My garden on the 30th of May:


"My garden on the 22nd of June:


"The huge changes! I am growing: two plum tomatoes, normal tomatoes, chilies, peppers, cucumber, marrow, peas, french beans, radishes, rocket, mixed salad, auerbegine, mint, and ginger mint!"

Hummus Wrap

A Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and Vegetable Wrap, also submitted by SweetKaroline. (Ooh, check out those adorable cucumber leaves!)

Green Monster Smoothie

A Green Monster Smoothie from SweetKaroline ("80% Good Food, 10% Yoga Bliss, 10% Inspiration").

Raw Living Vegan Nachos

Raw Nachos: flax seed chips, sunflower seed cheese, salsa, guacamole, and raw pickled jalapeno peppers.

Submitted by the Big Raw Vegan Blog (follow link for all the recipes!)

Sunshine Burgers

Sunshine Burgers (veggie burgers) with tomato, onion, sprouts, mustard and sun dried tomatoes on a romaine lettuce leaf wrap.

Submitted by Lauren from Ginger is the New Pink (scroll down in the post to get to the Sunshine Burgers).

44 yo and 50 yo women with new cycling habit

Sheri writes, "We love to cycle, and just competitive enough to urge each other on. This picture is of our first metric century ride in May - we loved it and are looking for more challenges!"

It's a beautiful summer weekend -- what healthy fun are you planning?

Fruit. Salad.

Not fruit salad, but a salad with fruit!


From Carla's blog, The Year of the Vegan.

Local Strawberries

(another beautiful image from Michelle Ellis Photography)

GRILL WEEK: Grilled Kale

We're beginning and ending Grill Week with healthy grilled greens! Last but not least in our Grill Week line-up, this one is from Haigh Happenings, the same blog that inspired us all to make baked kale chip back in April.

Yes, yes!! It's Grilled Kale!!


"I grilled giant kale leaves from our CSA today whole. It was quite a novelty for the kids. I have grilled kale before, but use the usual chip size and my grill basket. It was fun to try something new.


"As usual they were sprayed with cooking spray and kosher salt first."

Grilled kale. I love you people.

GRILL WEEK: Tofu Skewers

Here's one more from Nachos in Australia: "This was last night's dinner! Grilled skewers of tofu, eggplant, zucchini, red capsicum & mushroom. They were marinated in tamari, tamarind, lemon juice, ginger & filtered water. Served with "couscous" made out of ground cauliflower & mixed herbs, salad, and a very garlicy home made hommus!"

Thank you Nachos, for all your great submissions! I'm very intrigued by your cauliflower couscous -- do you have a recipe?

GRILL WEEK: Tempeh Shishkebobs

Another great one from Kelsea Little: "Some simple, yet scrumptious, barbecue tempeh shishkebobs. I used fresh bell peppers, squash, onion and pre-packaged marinated BBQ tempeh. All vegan, all delicious. The flavor of the ready-to-go tempeh is WONDERFUL! And I've pictured it in my little grilling pan to show that even if you're just cooking for yourself as I often do, and don't feel like firing up an entire grill, you can still enjoy foods that remind you that it's summer. It's a handy tool to have!"

GRILL WEEK: Tofu Steaks

Kelsea Little sent in this picture of "two lovely grilled tofu steaks which I marinated in a little bit of fresh orange juice, ginger and sesame oil. They are served over fresh grilled onions. The flavor was amazing, and it was so satisfying! Don't ever let anyone tell you that tofu can't make for a hearty meal."

GRILL WEEK: Tofu and Eggplant on Soba Noodles

Grilled tofu and eggplant, served on green tea and regular soba noodles with stir fried capsicum & zucchini (green chili & lime sauce) and garnished with sesame seeds and spring onion.

(submitted by Nachos from Australia)

GRILL WEEK: Seitan Sausage

Grilled seitan sausage on homemade whole wheat buns!

(another great one from Zucchini Breath at Big Raw Blog)

GRILL WEEK: Grilled Veggies!

(submitted by Zucchini Breath at Big Raw Blog.

GRILL WEEK: Grilled Tofu, Asparagus, Zucchini and Mushrooms

Grilled tofu, asparagus, zucchini, red capsicum & mushrooms, served on brown & wild rice with some miso gravy and a salad (grated carrot, alfalfa, spring onion, parsley, and sunflower seeds).

(submitted by "Nachos" from Australia)

GRILL WEEK: Lentil Tacos with Grilled Corn and Squash

Kara writes, "A local farmer stopped by my office building the other day to sell fresh corn. I bought a dozen for only $3 and grilled some along side red bell pepper that night. I removed the kernels, mixed in the grilled red pepper and some fresh jalapeno. I also grilled some white squash as another side for my lentil tacos."

GRILL WEEK: Sweet Red Peppers

Sweet red peppers grilling over an open fire!

(submitted by Zucchini Breath over at Big Raw Blog)

P.S. Zucchini Breath, I love your sig line: "Good Health is the Best Rebellion". Rock on!

GRILL WEEK: Beet Burgers

Delicious beet burgers!


"The beets give the burger a meaty color, which I think is a great transition for those new to plant-based eating."

You can find the full description and recipe at Animal-Friendly Eating.

GRILL WEEK: Tempeh

Grilled tempeh & red capsicum, served on mashed cauliflower with peas & roast potatoes.

(submitted by "Nachos" from Australia)

GRILL WEEK: Grilled Zucchini and Seitan

Zucchini Breath from Big Raw Blog sent in a wonderful collection of photos from barbecues she has had in the past. Here's the first one:

"Grilled zukes and seitan on a tortilla!"

GRILL WEEK: Bok Choy

Today marks the beginning of GRILL WEEK here at This Is Why You're Thin! Keep sending in your submissions this week for healthy, plant-based grill ideas to get us started on summer.

Our first entry is a simple yet delicious one from Jennifer Carson: "I grilled a baby bok choy that had been seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper."

Raw Zucchini Pasta

Elizabeth writes, "I am so stoked because I just got a spiralizer and was able to make this beautiful, raw vegan lunch: Raw Zucchini Pasta with Raw Watercress Pesto. I have the recipe, method for spiralizing and more details at my website The Granite Gourmet."

Bike Racing

"I eat kale and race bikes at altitude because I reject the hedonistic lifestyles of my college peers."

(submitted by Robert)

Something Quick and Easy

Short on time? Here's a great dinner suggestion from Suzi: "Here is my healthy dinner from last night -- we needed something that was quick and easy! It's baby portabella mushrooms, garlic, fresh tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, cannellini beans, toasted pine nuts, spinach and oregano all sauteed in broth and served on a bed of brown rice spiral pasta. I topped mine with a little nutritional yeast."

Sunny Wholegrain Sushi

I hesitated on posting that last lovely picture. What are your thoughts on sushi? It's a healthy choice for some, but I believe my love of vegan sushi veers into the realm of unhealthy obsession; regular sushi rice is made with lots of salt and sugar, and I'll eat it until I'm ill.

If you're like me, you may want to check out my recipe for this Sunny Wholegrain Sushi, a sugar- and salt-free mixture of brown rice, millet, and amaranth flavored with lemon and sunflower seeds. It makes a good alternative to white sushi rice for us crazed sugar monkeys.

Vegan Sushi

Anne Goelz sent in this picture of a platter of vegan sushi she made. "It was delicious, and all of my friends scarfed it up!"

Smoothie Tuesday

Smoothies from the Planet Smoothie Blog:

Healthy Orange Julius Smoothie.

Iron-Rich Green Smoothie.

Pomegranate Smoothie.

Fruity Pink Smoothie.

Visit the blog for these recipes and more!

Submission Request #2: GRILL!

Time for another themed submission request! Summertime is upon us, and the heat and long evenings mean it's time to take the fun and food outdoors. For many of us that means rolling out the gas or charcoal grill. Unfortunately, most of us probably think of things like greasy sausages and hamburgers when we think of the grill, but have you cooked healthier fare outdoors? The grill can be a great place to make flavorful vegetable dishes and veggie kabobs, grilled fruit desserts or even flavorful smoked tofu.

If you've done up some healthy bbq or outdoor cooking, send in your submissions to be included in a special GRILL WEEK here at This Is Why You're Thin!

We had such a great selection of submission for our Pizza Week, I can't wait to see what you all come up with for this one!

Garden Salad

Kelli from animal-friendly eating writes, "I have started my very own organic vegetable garden to stay lean. I am following a method called 'square foot gardening' where you can grow up to 16 different vegetables in a 4-foot by 4-foot space! Here is a picture of my first salad harvested from gourmet bibb, romaine, and red sails. I'm so proud. I have managed to inspire my best friend to start her own garden, and I hope to inspire many, many more. =)"

'Shroom Sandwich

'Shroom Sandwich (roasted portobello mushroom, spinach, tomato, garlicky hummus on multi-grain bread) with sweet potato fries.

(submitted by Kiersten at Full Of Beans)