I’m Bess. I grew up in the Midwest where I subsisted on mounds of junk…my nickname was Skinny Mini and accordingly my parents put me on the “see food” diet…I saw food, I ate it (just not my vegetables). For photographic proof, please refer above to me stuffing my pie hole with Cheese-Its.
And my dad didn’t call me “bull in a china shop” for nothing…my extreme klutziness made for a rather poor athlete, even though I tried my hand at everything from gymnastics to softball to soccer to tennis to figure skating. I couldn’t even master tetherball!!
Fortunately, I had a super cool elementary school gym teacher who blasted tunes like “Land Down Under” “Material Girl” and “We Will Rock You” and ensured that nobody was ever one of the last picked by randomly assigning the last 10 or so of us to teams. He also took a chance on me as the anchor in a relay team for a big city wide track and field meet and it was then when I realized I like to sprint!!!
I spent my college years down South where I continued to eat decadent food. At this point, the metabolism g-ds were starting to rebel and my energy was taking a nosedive.
This began a cycle of an unhealthy relationship towards food where I was not properly respecting my body and it began taking a serious toll on my health. Let’s just say 95 pounds on a 5 foot 6 frame is not flattering and more importantly, detrimental to one’s health and mental well being.
Luckily I realized something had to give after college. I moved to Los Angeles, where I slowly began to integrate fresh produce into my diet…and eventually found myself craving simply prepared vegetables (and no, I’m not talking about about breaded and fried).
Work took me to NYC, aka the home of unhealthy eats around the clock. However, I became a regular fixture at farmer’s markets and before I knew it, was eating vegetarian the majority of the time.
Upon my move back to Los Angeles, I found myself eschewing meat and seafood and now, this former sushi fanatic happily subsists on a vegan diet and gasp, enjoys exercising.
More deets about my personal approach to food/exercise.
After receiving lots of attention on my status messages about vegetables (one post on brussels sprouts yielded 30 comments!), many of my friends began to seek my advice on how to prepare vegetables.
This marked me moving on to Greener pastures and starting a blog that focuses on delicious food, vegetable preparations, nurturing your body and newsworthy headlines.
[Custom vegan cinnamon rolls (mine has maple frosting and cookie dough) is perhaps the best invention ever. Thanks Cinnaholic!]
Setting off on a food adventure at Millennium in San Francisco with my friend Carol (we are the perfect dining companions because we love to share our food)…
Scaling the 2nd highest peak in California.
But as an incredibly active person who can’t sit still, the fork to mouth workout just isn’t enough for me!!!
Please feel free to contribute recipes, links, product reviews, feedback, or random rants. Have an ingredient you’d like to see featured? Shoot an email to idreamofgreenieblog@gmail.com
Posted by Southern Obesity Epidemic « I Dream of Greenie on April 7, 2010 at 6:50 am
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Posted by Dori on August 20, 2010 at 11:15 am
Just read this section for the first time! You have a great story. I definitely need some help on preparing vegetables, I love them but I am just not a cook.
Posted by idreamofgreenie on August 20, 2010 at 11:51 am
Thanks! For me it was all about finding the right preparation for my palate with each vegetable.
Vegetables I love roasted at about 425 degrees with a little olive oil, s, p ,citrus zest and/or rosemary include cauliflower, brussels sprouts, potatoes and broccoli.
My favorite veggies to grill are portabella mushrooms, corn, eggplant, summer squash, red onions and red peppers.
I like to eat steamed kale tossed with peanut sauce and served at room temperature.
Beets and heirloom tomatoes are amazing in a salad with fresh peaches and walnuts.
Wild mushrooms and sundried tomatoes make a great addition to flatbreads and/or hummus.
I am a sucker for sweet potato fries so I definitely like making oven fries and serving them with barbecue sauce, chipotle ranch or ketchup.
Clearly I could go on and on…
Posted by OWNING IT: Because Taking the 5th Is So 1990 « I Dream of Greenie on August 26, 2010 at 6:16 am
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Posted by queerveganrunner on September 9, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Wow! I need to subscribe! Excellent blog…how have I not “found” you before? Yay LA vegans!
Posted by idreamofgreenie on September 9, 2010 at 3:59 pm
I couldn’t agree more. I am so glad I stumbled upon your blog twice in the same week, via Rachel and QuarryGirl. You are on my blog roll now”
Posted by Vegan Myths Debunked « I Dream of Greenie on November 9, 2010 at 3:04 am
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Posted by Ma Ma Megan on March 10, 2011 at 6:25 pm
You have a great story.
I’m vegan for the animals and for my health. Growing up I’ve always had sensitivities to animal products and once I cut them out I felt amazing!
I struggle with an eating disorder, I’ve made so much progress but I often still feel guilty after I eat, but people like you have recovered and are so positive help me so much.
I’m subscribing right now
Posted by idreamofgreenie on March 10, 2011 at 6:46 pm
Welcome to my blog! I would be lying if I said the recovery process was easy and instantaneous but I hearing that my story serves as an inspiration from others makes me so happy that I had the courage to access those memories from that dark place in my life and channel them into discussing how much happier I am now that I no longer have a punitive outlook towards food.
Also you are a major inspiration to me… I wish I had become vegan at your age and was able to be so candid about my struggles when I was still in the throes of disordered eating.
Posted by Juice Maids Cleanse « I Dream of Greenie on August 15, 2011 at 8:46 am
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Posted by Flashback Fridays: My Road To Body Acceptance « I Dream of Greenie on November 4, 2011 at 8:59 am
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Posted by thejollyfox on November 5, 2011 at 6:10 pm
I love this and all of these pics of you are fabulous!