FAQ

Don’t see your question here? Feel free to email me at eatingbirdfood at gmail dot com.

Blogging Questions

How long have you been blogging?

I started EBF in March of 2008.

Cute site name, how did you come up with it?

I have a healthy obsession with trail mix, which consists of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. I eat trail mix piece by piece and apparently one of my roommates in college thought this process looked as if I was eating bird food. When I was thinking of a title for my blog, this came to mind, and it just stuck.

What kind of camera do you use?

I have a Canon Powershot SD990 IS and a Canon Rebel XSi

Food Questions

Are you a Vegetarian?

I consider myself vegetarian, however I do eat seafood and fish on occasion so technically I am a pescatarian. I tend to eat more vegetarian/vegan fare because those are the foods I enjoy, however I’m not big on labeling, I just eat what I like.

What do chia seeds taste like?

The flavor is very mild and almost non-existent. When they are combined with liquid they start to get a gel like consistency, so if you were to eat them plain the gelling process will start in your mouth. Although, I don’t recommend eating them plain, they’re truly better mixed in things like smoothies or oatmeal.

What amount of chia seeds to you use in your oatmeal?

I add 1 tablespoon of whole chia seeds to my oats and I stir them in right after I turn the stove off. Although, I haven’t seen anything saying that they can’t be cooked so it would probably be fine to put them in while cooking. If I have time to wait, I like to let the oats sit for a few minutes, but usually I don’t and I just end up digging right in.

What is maca powder, what does it taste like and what are the benefits?

Maca powder is a super food made from maca root. I’ve heard some people describe the flavor malty or similar to butterscotch. Personally, I think it has a unique flavor that is a bit sweet, but also bitter. It definitely took some getting used to- at least for me!

And here are some of the benefits:

* Increases energy, stamina and endurance
* Enhances libido / stimulates fertility
* Supports the immune system
* Reduces chronic fatigue
* Regulates and supports the endocrine system

Maca is also rich in essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. To be honest, I don’t feel I use maca regularly enough to notice any of the benefits, however I’d like to think it works!

What brand of protein powder do you use?

I use different brands, some contain dairy and others do not. For non-dairy, non-soy sources I like Nutiva Hemp Protein Powder or Sunwarrior brown rice protein powder. Both of these I purchase online. My favorite dairy version is Designer Whey Chocolate protein powder. It has 18 grams of protein and only has 100 calories per scoop. I buy it at Trader Joe’s.

I am new to vegetarianism and have two questions. My mom says that dairy protein is not as complete and filling as meat protein. Is dairy protein not sufficient if that’s where the majority of my protein came from? I realize variety is good, but I was still curious if this is true or not.

Dairy products, like other animal sources (meat, fish, poultry, eggs) are sources of complete protein. I feel they keep me just as full as meat did/would. There are also some non-animal sources of complete proteins such as amaranth, aphanizomenon flos-aquae, buckwheat, hempseed, quinoa (try my confetti quinoa recipe), soy, and spirulina. Also by using a variety of proteins you can insure that the body’s amino acid needs are met. All the essential amino acids can be obtained on their own from various plant sources, and they do not need to be combined in the same meal. However good ideas for meals that can be prepared with a mix of protein foods that will provide all the essential amino acids, such as: pb & j sandwich, lentils and rice, bean burrito, vegetables and rice.