Hey now, it’s your girl LA from Black Girls Eat. Yep, the plant-based advocate from the Bronx. I’m out here in these streets trying to get more people to put more plants on their plate. That means more fruit, grains and veggies. This is especially true for my people in the borough that I love. We keep showing up as #62 out of all NYS counties in terms of health and wellness. This is no bueno.
But things are looking up. I have seen farmer’s markets and lots of new places offering plant-based meals. Here in NYC, you can now find plant-based options in the schools and in some of the hospitals. And isn’t that what we want? We want options!
Speaking of options? What’s up with breakfast? Well I should say what’s up with the first meal of the day? So many people tell me that they start the day with a smoothie (too cold for me in December), a banana (not enough protein or fiber to keep me full) or toast and coffee. They tell me that they are leaning into a plant-based lifestyle. I’m like whoa! You are giving plant-based nutrition a bad name. :-)
Just because you may be leaning away from meat and diary, that doesn’t mean that your first meal of the day has to be so boring! Don’t feel locked into traditional breakfast foods. Consider these ideas straight from the Black Girls Eat Website:
Spicy Avocado Toast
Coconut Quinoa Oatmeal
Fried Polenta
Belgian Style Waffles
Garlic Ginger Noodles
The Recipe: Easy 4 Ingredient Black Bean Soup
This one is a keeper for sure. Beans, broth, garlic and cumin. That’s it. 15 minutes on the stove and the best part is you can make it over and over again and you can even have it for breakfast! Lol!
The Random: Creamed Chipped Beef With My Nana
Good lawd. Let me just tell you that this food memory is traumatizing. My Nana lived on the 2nd floor and we lived on the 5th. I was a latchkey kid. That meant that when I got home from school, I had to let myself into the apartment and change from school clothes to play clothes. Then I had to go downstairs to my Nana’s to let her know that I was all good.
Sometimes my parents worked late and I had to have dinner at Nana’s. Well, one night she put a plate in front of me with 2 slices of toast on it. I didn’t mind because I thought there would be some kind of cheese or meat showing up because we were having sandwiches for dinner. To my shock and awe, she emerged from the kitchen with a saucepan and dumped the contents onto the toast.
I can only describe it as a beige liquid jelly with brown bits swimming around in it. She saw the horror in my eyes and promptly rolled her eyes. She said, “This is creamed chipped beef.” I wanted to die. The clock said 6pm and she made it known that I would be there at least until 9pm. I pushed the plate away and she pushed it back towards me.
I sat in the chair hanging my head so low that my neck hurt. She said I would sit there until I had finished eating. I knew there was no way that was gonna happen. Around 8pm, the whole plate looked like vomit. I just sat there and cried. I was so hungry but I just couldn’t do it. When my parents arrived, I burst from the table and out the door.
I heard my Nana complaining about my spoiled ways. I saw my dad look at the plate and caught him and my mom giving each other a knowing look. When they came into the hallway, my dad said, “It’s late but how about we have breakfast for dinner?” Whew! I was starving. We made pancakes. Best dinner ever!
Thanks so much for reading. I really do appreciate it and I hope you found education and entertainment in today’s post. If you have time, please check out this podcast interview I did with Shannon and Gerry of Arner Adventures. Truly a special couple sharing their light and finding the light in others.