Furry Friends and Tips to Healthy (Vegetarian) Living

The weather has been cold recently, frigid gales blowing across the campus.  Bundled in their winter coats, eastern fox squirrels frantically search the browning ground, digging for carefully placed caches of nuts.  The branches of a nearby walnut tree sway under the weight of a single squirrel as he jumps back and forth, awaiting his friends at the trunk of the tree.  They are at war - a ruthless battle of tag that will last until one bushy-tailed victor emerges.  When snow finally falls in this Midwestern college town, no longer will the fox squirrel be the mascot of livelihood, stealing the attention of students previously entranced by their cell phones and iPods.  Yet, with a trained eye, their presence can still be seen underneath those same walnut trees.  The lightest of tracks, barely gracing the surface of the solid white mounds, create looping trails from tree to tree.  The imprints are so small, delicate.  I watch the wisps of breath escaping my mouth, like steam rising from a winter lake.  It is cold.  Iowa winters are always cold.  But the harsh arctic will melt as fox squirrels return to continue their endless chasing games.

With graduation approaching rapidly, stress often finds a way of sneaking into every moment of my life.  I obsess and worry - enough to drive those around me insane.  I also tend to get sick, frequently, from the extra tension.  To stay healthy, I make sure to do a few things - vegetarian-friendly options of course.

1. Vegetarian vitamins - http://www.swansonvitamins.com/ has entire lines of vegetarian vitamins free of cruel ingredients like gelatin.

2. Eat enough protein - I'm not a huge fan of beans, so I get a lot of my protein from gelatin-free yogurt, organic milk, and peanut butter.

3. Try to have at least 3 balanced meals per day - I'm a tiny person, so I eat small portions often throughout the day.  Even if you don't have time for meals, a snack will perk up your metabolism.  Carrots and trail mix are nutritious and tasty options.

Mealtime can also be stressful for vegetarians, especially if there are picky eaters in the house.  Any recipe can be changed into a vegetarian delight though, using a quick switch of ingredients.  I love using pasta, because it's delicious, easy to incorporate into new dishes, and contains vital calories.  Vegetable lasagna, spaghetti, and stuffed shells are simple and inexpensive to create, and most of the time, you don't need a recipe.  Add carrots, zucchini, broccoli to sauces and fillings - whatever you want.  Remember, any recipe that calls for meat can be made with vegetables or soy proteins for a yummier, healthier, and animal-friendly feast.