Author: Heidi Domke

Vegan meals in Paris, France and Oslo, Norway—Travel News

Travel is always exciting and full of possibilities! Exploring local cuisine‘s around the globe is fascinating and at times can be exciting when trying to explain that you would like to order a meal without any animal products and you don’t speak the local language.  Having some resources to rely on as well as ideas of where to look for health food stores and restaurants in any given country is always helpful.   In this enews we’re going to not only review a restaurant chain, but offer ideas for finding a food store in Paris and share a good resource for finding your next meal.

When landing in Paris and looking for food in the airport Marks and Spencer Food has a variety of inexpensive takeaway salads that are vegan.  Many of these food markets are located pre-check in or on the arrivals level. They also have a good selection of nuts and fresh fruit, ready to eat.  If you’re heading out on the airplane be sure to pick up your food before going through security screening and remember there is a 100 ml limit on liquids.

A great resource for finding vegan, vegetarian or veg-friendly restaurants as well as food stores is the HappyCow app.  It helps with finding options, the phone number, hours, website, reviews and yes, even directions to your destination.  This app is a must have for global travel!  Happy Cow also maintains a website that lists information if you are using a desktop computer.  Another web based resource is VegDining which only maintains a website and is currently undergoing construction / migration.

In Paris, there are a few more restaurant and health food grocery store options than in some other countries within Europe.  Check store and restaurant hours as well as opening days, as this tends to vary greatly in Paris.  There is only one Loving Hut in Paris–however the vegan cheesecake is one of the top in the world next to San Diego, California Loving Hut–in my opinion.  There are also Naturalia markets throughout Paris which sell vegan foods including Tartex a delicious spread for a picnic sandwich along the Seine or by the Eiffel Tower.  Soya brand non-dairy yogurt is also widely available here.  Soya yogurt is much tastier than the brands we have in Canada or the USA.  Fresh delicious pomegranite juice is easy to find as well.  Some labels in Naturalia stores may have English, however if your French is rusty, just ask “Parlez vous le anglais?” and likely someone who speaks French will help you figure out if there is any animal products in an item.

Eating the local food prepared by yourself is a great option if staying in a Hostel or an Airbnb. For example in Oslo, Norway there are two Loving Hut locations as well as a few other vegan restaurants.  Be sure to check the hours before heading off.  Norway restaurants hours vary greatly from France.  Another option that I found helpful was shopping at the regular grocery store which has helped save money in Norway.  KIWI Markets have a good variety of healthy vegan food options.  Finding legumes pre-cooked in KIWI Markets was quite easy. Here, I discovered an oat milk by the brand name of Oatly which is delicious over whole-grain cereal for breakfast. In the freezer section I was able to find a multi berry frozen fruit mix that is delicious for breakfast. It also serves as a delicious evening snack in the 31°C weather that has hit Norway for the last few weeks.

Wishing you delicious plant based meals on your travels!  Bon Voyage!

Volunteer with Victoria Healthy People at CarFreeYYJ on June 17, 2018 and have an opportunity to WIN a special prize from France!  Sign-up with donation under regular tab or for free under student volunteer:  VOLUNTEER SIGN UP

 

A diet based diet includes vegetables, legumes, fruits, and whole grains, which is also low in fat and sugar, can lower blood sugar levels and often reduce or even eliminate the need for medication. Protective against cancer, plant–based diets are lower in fat and higher in fiber than meat-based diets.

Science today supports a low fat, plant based diet as both nutritionally adequate and as preventive. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) in the United States states that,  “vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the lifecycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.”

Hundreds of studies and papers support plant-based diets can aid in preventing and reversing lifestyle diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, preventing Alzheimer’s, kidney stones, some types of cancer (especially colon, prostate and breast cancer) to name a few.  Plant based diets are typically low in saturated fat as cholesterol is found only in meat, dairy and eggs, making it easy to eat cholesterol free.  Coconut oil is the exception as it is 87% saturated fat–therefore not good for you.   Plant foods are also high in fiber found in legumes, fruits and vegetables and it decreases the loss of calcium from the bones, helping prevent osteoporosis.

Lowering blood pressure is made easier as well on a plant based diet.  Decreasing sugar, fat and eliminating animal products combined with an exercise / daily walking program and plant based diet can increase your longevity, prevent and reverse chronic disease conditions and add to your overall health and well-being. Sign-up for a special event and join us on your journey towards living your best life!

 

Hydration is Key
The average person requires 30 to 50 ounces of fluid per day (1 to 1.5 litres) according to a Harvard Health.  Active adults, athletes and persons in hot climates may require more water daily.  Drinking adequate amounts of water helps transport vital nutrients, feed cells, flush out toxins and keeps your body functioning properly.  Your body is made up of 70% water and while fruits and vegetables contain higher amounts of water, it is vital to ensure that we drink adequate amounts of pure fresh water.

Food is Fuel
What we put in our mouth does make a difference!  A whole food, plant-based diet gives your body the best nutrients possible from the earth to provide strength, energy and vitality.  Choosing fresh, good quality vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds and legumes is key.  Organic foods are a wise choice with foods known to be GMO (genetically modified) to avoid both health problems and allergies, as well as chemicals.  Athletes today are turning to a plant based diet for strength and endurance as well,  Abdullah Zeinab who won at epic 5,500km cycling race across Australia.  There are many others who’s stories can be found, including at OneGreenPlanet.org and this new advertisement Switch 4 Good.

Receive Essential Nutrients from the Food You Eat
Most micro-nutrients your body needs can be found in plant sources.  Vitamin C is abundant in fruit such as strawberries, pineapple, mango and oranges to name a few.  Carrots are high in beta-carotene, good for eye health.  Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of not only Vitamin A, but also potassium.  Other nutrients such as iron are found abundantly in lentils, black strap molasses and dark leafy greens to name a few.

Supplements for Essential Nutrients
Eating a plant based diet is easy and getting all nutrients required typically.  There are two essential nutrients however that are generally recommended for the general population and consideration to using a plant-based supplement of Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D3 are highly recommended in the medical community.

Fight Disease with Your Food Choices
At the 7th Annual Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition, over 750 top researchers, scientists, physicians, dietitians, nurses and public health personnel gathered from around the globe to learn and exchange information on the latest scientifically backed and evidence based research.  Time and again, researchers demonstrated that cancer can be avoided from 20% to as high as 90% by choosing a whole food, plant-based diet.  In fact, on October 26, 2015 the World Health Organization issued a statement that red and processed meat cause cancer.

The world’s largest and deadliest pandemic today, is the rise of obesity which is directly linked to the rapid increase in diabetes and other chronic disease.  The consumption of animal products and processed foods are major culprits.  Scientists are taking note and recognize that whole food, plant-based diets lower BMI, decreases cardiovascular disease in obese children, and that reversal of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity, to name a few, may be aided by a plant based diet.

One of the speakers, Dr. David Katz, the founding director of Yale University’s Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and the Integrative Medicine Center at Griffin Hospital.  He is author of a medical textbook many research papers and wrote the book, Disease-Proof, Slash Your Risk of Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes, and More-By 80 Percent.  As a leading specialist in preventive medicine Dr. David Katz draws upon the latest scientific evidence and decades of clinical experience to explain how we can slash our risk of every major chronic disease—heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, dementia, and obesity—by an astounding 80%.

In closing, Dr. Katz said,  “There are many ways to eat bad and Americans are committed to trying every one of them!”.  Canadians are not far behind in their quest to follow the SAD diet (Standard American Diet) and other ‘options’.

Next Month…Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet