Fine Young Coconuts

We found out how to get into those coconuts that are at the store.  The ones that have the brown shell shaved off and it just looks like a big bowl with a pointy top.  This guy is holding one.

We asked a lady here how she does it.  She apparently had a technique all worked out.

1. Tap three holes (2 for air and one for draining) in it with a hammer and a screwdriver.

2. Drain the water.  Chill it and it tastes great plain, and is great for you.  Surely there are recipes that call for it...

3. Double bag the coconut, take it outside to some concrete, and bash it a few times.

4. Split it and spoon out the flesh.  We eat it plain but it's good on sorbet and of course probably great in recipes.  Look here's a paleo site with some ideas!

While we don't feel the need for the tool demonstrated in this clip, there is a nice visual of what the young coconut's meat looks like when you extract it.

10 Vegan Paleo Do's and Dont's

From http://www.paleoeffect.com/paleo-quick-guide/ I have taken the paleo do's and dont's and added a few extra tips of our own based on readings.  There is conflicting information on quinoa being a seed (not a grain, so paleo) but also an irritant to the lining of the gut (so not such a great thing to eat?).  We are not strict vegan-paleo and use quinoa and occasionally legumes.  We eat all vegetables but white potatoes and all fruits, even though high-sugar fruits should be consumed minimally.  Here is what to eat, and eat as much as you need to be healthy.

1. Eat vegetables!!  Frozen, fresh, baked, steamed...  as much as you would like to fill up on.  
2. Plenty of fruit :)
3. Almost no starches.  No rice, white potatoes, bread...  We do eat sprouted breads if we have to.
4. No grains.  No corn, rye, wheat, barley, hominy... 
5. No legumes :(  No beans, peas, chickpeas or green beans (coffee beans and vanilla beans are ok as they are not legumes, they are seeds from a fruit).
6. Go nutty.  All the nuts you would like- remember that a peanut is a legume, not a nut.
7. Lots of water, some fruit juices- no pop or sugar drinks- but coffee and tea are ok.  Almond, coconut, and hemp milk are great too!
8. Oils are all right!  "Good oils to use (and use them plenty) include coconut, palm, avocado, sesame, grapeseed (also great for cooking without the flavor of coconut) and olive oil. Avoid corn, cottonseed, peanut, soybean, rice bran, and wheat germ oils."
9. Make food from scratch, use whole foods and avoid boxed or bagged meals.  Don't use sugar or add salt but DO use seasonings.
10. You can keep drinking alcohol.  Don't overdo it, but you don't have to cut it from your diet.  Drink cider or sorghum beers and red and white wines.  Gin and tequila are ok too.

Vegan and the 9 Essential Amino Acids

Food of the day- super delicious raw tacos!  All the veggies you want with a cabbage wrap and nut-based "meat".

Today I want to go over some basics on the topic of complete proteins for vegans.

I want to mention that a lot of my data on vitamins and nutrition comes from a very helpful website and that if you are curious to find out more, you should check them out!  Also, for general health-related questions eatright.org is great.

Marc and I have been trying to see how we can best get our required 9 amino acids that we must consume from our diets.  It isn't a question of protein it's a question of amino acids- which make up a protein.  It is also important to have enough vitamin C for iron absorption and vitamin B-12 (nutritional yeast is a good source).

Of the amino acids that our body doesn't make, lysine is the most difficult to find and right now we have supplements and soy-rice shakes that we are enhancing our diet with in order to get the nutrition we need.  A lot of people may ask how we get our protein from plant sources but really I think our diet is much healthier than the average American omnivore.  We never eat fast food, we bike, do yoga and go on walks, we pay attention to nutrition labels, we keep away from added preservatives and we cook from scratch 90% of the time.  So I would ask, if you are a meat eater, are you getting your daily 5 colors of vegetables, eating raw enough, consuming whole grain foods and plenty of fruits? I don't care what you eat and I am happy to talk about vegan or vegetarian nutrition, but there is no need for negativity if someone goes meat-free. 

It is tough though, and it isn't impossible as a vegan but it is easier if you are vegetarian.  In fact, after cooking vegan for over a year, I think about how easy being a vegetarian seems now!  The good old days ;)
Here is a list of the essential amino acids that our bodies need from our diet as found on

1. Leucine-BCAA Branched chain amino, tissue repair after surgery, muscle mass, blood sugar (diabetics), stress, HGH Human growth hormone, protein synthesis, bone, skin, weight loss and blood hemoglobin. 
2. Isoleucine-BCAA branched chain amino, mental disorders, tissue rebuild after surgery, energy, muscle, endurance and blood hemoglobin.
3. Valine-BCAA branched chain amino, mental, emotional disorders, glycogen production, alcohol and drug recovery.
4. Lysine- Absorbes+conserves calcium, bones, concentration, fertility, Herpes (HSV), cholesterol, hormones, enzymes, Triglycerides, immune system, skin, collagen and migraines.
5. Methionine-Schizophrenia, Parkinsons, heavy metals, collagen, antioxidant, pancreatitus, endometriosis, liver fat, estrogen, Arthritis, hair, skin, nails and depression. 
6. Phenylalanine-Chronic pain, endorphins, alcohol and drug recovery, menstral cramps, migraines, Parkinsons, melanoma, Vitiligo and tumors.
7. Threonine-Tooth enamel, protein balance, immune system, collagen, skin, blood sugar (diabetics), thymus gland, nervous system, stress, bones, wound healing, Parkinsons, and Multiple Schlerosis.
8. Tryptophan-Nerves, anxiety, mental depression, sleep, insomnia, migraines, fibromyalgia, niacin (B3) production and nicotine withdrawl.
9. Histidine-Repair tissue, stomach gastric juices, digestion, nerves, ulcers, heavy metals, red + white blood cells, blood pressure and sexual functioning.

Here is another great site to look at while we are on the topic of amino acids: 

Go to the bottom of the page and enter your weight into the chart to see what food you would need to meet your daily intake of protein.