The Vegan's Garden

Spring and summer are the best time to be vegan. This is when gardens are bursting with all sorts of veggies and fruits. It’s also the time to think about growing the needed proteins a meatless diet demands. A vegan garden should have every and any kind of harvest to satisfy even the strictest herbivore.

A true vegan garden starts with the very beginning. Decide what you want, and when you want to harvest it. Of course, you’ll have to grow beans for the protein but which ones. Kidney beans are versatile, being used in everything from chili to bean burgers however they do pose a problem. Their harvest is in early autumn. The same goes for fava beans. They do not thrive in very hot climates , preferring a Mediterranean one with mild temps with occasional rain. They also take four to five months to harvest, so again, they’d be ready in the fall. The best beans are the pole beans, namely string beans, which work very  well in salads and as a side. They are quick growers, only taking two months to mature. What about chick peas, those vegan workhorses? Well, for starters, they're not peas or beans but legumes and cool weather growers. Luckily they are frost resistant so you could plant them in late September and expect a December harvest. You may want to try lima beans instead. Just as nutritious , they're easy to plant and tend. They do take three months so plant now for an August harvest.

Many vegans go for the super greens such as kale and spinach. Kale  can be planted from early Spring to early summer. The seedlings need to be thinned after two to three weeks of growth because the plants grow to a mammoth size. The average kale plant is anywhere from two to three feet with a two to three foot spread. They do require  a lot of land.Most vegans usually eat a lot of it so growing an abundance is not such a big deal. The other , spinach, can be planted right now. It's surprisingly a cool weather plant but can grow well in late Spring or early summer. They're versatile in the sense that the seedlings can be planted in either full sunlight or partial shade. They do thrive in sandy soil and need to be watered once a week. One of the pluses is they're the first for harvest so you can have a salad within weeks of planting . Of course vegans should think about tomatoes, Like beans, they're crucial to a vegetarian diet and lend variety to the diet. Before planting , study the different types. If you're more into sauces, then grow plum tomatoes. Enjoy a sandwich or focaccio with the aptly named beefsteak. If you enjoy them as a snack then think about growing cherry ones. You also have to decide whether to grow them from seeds or pots with young plants too.

A vegan garden may take work but  the harvest is worth it. They'll add to the diet and create a variety of different dishes. Plan today for a summer full of veggies.

Sweet Low Calorie Heaven

Warm weather brings about the craving for something refreshing and icy.Unfortunately the one food that fulfills those two requirements is ice cream.The problem is that it's a fine treat every now and then.Yet summer calls for a blissfully cold and sweet every night.Don't worry. there are some great low calorie treats that are both tasty and chill. One of the best of the frozen treats is Greek yogurt reconfigured into ice cream.One outstanding one is Oikos.It may be low fat but it tastes as good as any creamy, rich ice cream.The dark cherry is full of tender , large bits of fruit.It is even better with syrup,tasting like a sinful bonbon.Their cafe au lait is rich in flavor too.When it's this low in calories you can give it a drizzle of hot fudge and whipped cream.Other yogurt companies also have put out frozen yogurts ,both in bar and Popsicle form. Stomeyfield Farms has their yogurt in classic bar form drenched in a dark chocolate coating.If you're concerned about artificial additives, then you can make your own.It's easy .Just add sweetener and vanilla(or any other flavor )".You can put it through an ice cream maker or just freeze in a container for more of an iced milk kind. Another idea is frozen fruit piece es.Dole has come out with Dippers in both strawberry and banana.These are chunks of fruit coated in deep dark chocolate.These are a treat after a hot day.They're both refreshing and flavorful.They"re also sixty calories for the strawberry and eight forvthe bannas.You can make this yourself with Smuckers's hard shell topping or melted dark chocolate.This you can havevwith, especially now that it's cherry season.You can also freeze melon chunks and grapes too for a refreshing variety.Another idea is ice.Ther's no dairy and it's low in calories and cholesterol.Most pops are between twenty five and fifty calories? You can even have two or three without feeling guilty.If you want a more sophisticated version think about a coffee granit.This is simple frozen and forked sweetened espresso .It's another refresher , especially served with a low calorie topping such as Cool Whip. Y ou can have a cold icy low calorie treat.In fact you'll like these you'll forget about ice cream.When you crave something cooling , you'll head for something that won't mess with your diet.