hi everybody!
i have been creating some *really* awesome gift guides to share in the next couple weeks & havent been posting as much as id like.
be excited ; so many rad gift ideas coming.
before we do that : i have some links you should check out.
1) love naan bread? [me too!] here is a super-easy recipe to follow to make it at home.
2) coffee lover in your life? [one of my gift guides will be FULL of options for your coffee-lover] regular coffee is a subscription-based coffee with amazing packaging!
3) short on time, but determined to stick with your fitness goals? [i hear ya!] here are 15 full-body workouts you can do in UNDER 15 minutes! [seriously, everybody has 15 min]
4) whole living has a super easy-to-follow slideshow with 40 tips on living more sustainably. i would LOVE to hear which ones you practice and which ones you are working on for the future.
5) need a story that will warm your heart? this man + his dog were a bit of a sensation a few months back. and this is the follow up story. i cry every time.
6) the new year is coming! [seriously, in like, 5 weeks!!] one of your new years goals to eat better? maybe phase out meat and dairy? maybe actually go [gulp!] vegan?! ;) the vegan 101 series will make things not-so-scary!
7) can somebody tell blake that this barbell necklace is on my birthday list? [its in 2 weeks!!]
8) are you looking for a new font? here are 26 free, retro-inspired ones.
9) do you buy fair // equal-trade coffee? wonder what the big deal is about 'shade grown'? here is a small article about WHY the coffee you buy REALLY matters! [also, when you go into your favorite chain-coffee shop, dont forget to bring your reusable mug! americans throw away MILLIONS of those silly cups every season wasting money, energy, oil & resources]
do you have any articles to share?
Showing posts with label ask a vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ask a vegan. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
: need help choosing healthy snacks!? : have them delivered to your door!
happy tuesday!
please, please, please go vote today! [i know ; politics two days in a row!]
lets talk about food!
this summer, i received my first healthy surprise box. [go see my full review here]
what is it?
its a monthly snack box.
dairy free. soy free. gluten free. vegan. awesome.
its a HUGE box ; FULL of goodies.
one of the things i love the most is that there is always a great balance between brands i know & brands that are new to me.
there are different sizes of boxes ; depending on your snack needs. if you work in an office ; this would be a great thing to order. sign up with a friend or two & keep the snacks at your desk for the month.
healthy surprise boxes are also great for people like blake & i ; people on the go. people that load up their backpacks // camp packs // bike bags with snacks to give them the energy they need.
so, what came in my box?
[ill show you]
garlic nuts [gone nuts is one of my favorite brands!!], kale chips, sunflower seeds, apple rings, apple pie coco-roons [by far the best thing in the box!!], granola bars, sesame seed bars, granola, cheesy almonds, almonds, fruit leather, oat bars, biscotti, three oat cookies and coconut kettle corn!
that is a lot of food! everything is full-sized, too ; which i like.
its hard to know if you love something when you get a bite-sized sample!
the one thing i would change?!
i would add more chocolate // snack-y sweet dessert-type foods.
i have a sweet tooth & would pick chocolate-dusted almonds over cheesy-almonds everyday!
connect with healthy surprise :
disclaimer : the company gave me a steep discount on this box. i did use my own money, but paid a small amount. all opinions are my own.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
ask a vegan : what i have learned about factory farms :
happy sunday, everybody!
*before we start, i want you to know that this post is a bit more politically- & ethically-charged than other posts* *BUT, this post has to do with the food we ALL eat, so i beg you to read it & create your own opinion!*
______________________________________________________________________________
you know that i am vegan because of my health, moral responsibility & the planet, right?
land o' lakes is a coop ; member owned by farmers.
now, we are coop members ; we belong to our local food coop & rei ; both places that i highly recommend & support.
one of their 'higher ups' spoke about the amazing things that land o' lakes does.
*how they donate millions of meals to developing countries.
*how they have developed seeds & products that can 'feed the world'
*and how their farmers make great choices.
*before we start, i want you to know that this post is a bit more politically- & ethically-charged than other posts* *BUT, this post has to do with the food we ALL eat, so i beg you to read it & create your own opinion!*
______________________________________________________________________________
you know that i am vegan because of my health, moral responsibility & the planet, right?
well, what you probably dont know about me is how incredibly political i am when it comes to large corporations, our food & the idea of 'feedng the world'
i was lucky enough to attend a 3-day food workshop for educators that was put on through blakes school. & because i blog about food & vegan culture, i was able to attend.
over the course of three days, we visited a farm, a farmers market, a local restaraunt, spoke with a dietician & met with a local blogger // author. all of these things were really great for me.
if you know me // have been here for a while you know that we shop local & organic. we support multiple farmers markets. we use green products // make our own. we ride our bikes most places & do our best to support ONLY businesses // groups that give back // enhance the planet.
if you know me // have been here for a while you know that we shop local & organic. we support multiple farmers markets. we use green products // make our own. we ride our bikes most places & do our best to support ONLY businesses // groups that give back // enhance the planet.
the other place we visited? land o' lakes headquarters.
now, i will tell you that i have read MANY [many, many] articles, blogs, books and watched as many documentaries [from BOTH sides] about the impact of factory farms, seed responsibility [monsanto!] and the [terrible] health // wellness reprocussions we, as a world are experiencing because of careless corporations.
in real life, i LOVE a strong, healthy discussion about factory farms, the [bullshit] claim that we need large farms 'to feed the world' & the idea that pesticides & added hormones are really great for the soil, our future & our bodies. but here on my blog, i try to keep things pretty neutral. i know that words on the internet can be taken out of context & i dont ever want folks to feel that i am being a pretentious jerk for calling people out.
BUT, after visiting land o'lakes & talking to their executives, doing a bunch of research AND getting all of my questions deflected by their lawyers, i really wanted to write about the REAL impact of the dairy // feed industry.
one of the most common things i hear when talking abut the food industry [and voting!] is 'my vote doesnt matter // i am just a tiny speck on the planet'.
your vote DOES matter. it does.
whether you are avoiding purchasing from fast food places with unethical animal practices [yay! go you!] or purchasing a pint of locally grown berries at a market instead of buying from a large supplier [who *may* use undocumented workers with no union // protection, working in the field in the sun, while the fields are sprayed with pesticides!] ; these companies are paying attention.
land o' lakes is a coop ; member owned by farmers.
now, we are coop members ; we belong to our local food coop & rei ; both places that i highly recommend & support.
one of their 'higher ups' spoke about the amazing things that land o' lakes does.
*how they donate millions of meals to developing countries.
*how they have developed seeds & products that can 'feed the world'
*and how their farmers make great choices.
great, right?
here is what they DIDNT talk about..
*they didnt explain that their 'seed protectors' really mean herbesides // pesticides // and posions that kill bugs & other farm 'undesirables'.
*they didnt mention that those chemicals then leech into the soil. and during times of flood // rain, they then seep into water. ya know, the water that we drink // live off of.
*and because those chemicals are so strong & so poisonous, over time, they begin to become ineffective. so instead of NOT using pesticides, they create NEW, more powerful pesticides.
*and who do they DIRECTLY work with [other than their farmers?] they work with monsanto. [and there arent enough hours for me to talk about my feelings for monsanto, so i BEG you to do your own research!]
*they didnt mention that those chemicals then leech into the soil. and during times of flood // rain, they then seep into water. ya know, the water that we drink // live off of.
*and because those chemicals are so strong & so poisonous, over time, they begin to become ineffective. so instead of NOT using pesticides, they create NEW, more powerful pesticides.
*and who do they DIRECTLY work with [other than their farmers?] they work with monsanto. [and there arent enough hours for me to talk about my feelings for monsanto, so i BEG you to do your own research!]
so, land o'lakes make butter, cheese & milk, right?
*they didnt explain the awful process that cows go through to produce milk [now, i will say that there are SOME farms within land o'lakes that *may* be treating their animals humanely, but as a corporation, they do not actively seek out // punish farmers for mistreating their animals.
here are a few great articles about the reality of the factory dairy industry.
*they didnt explain the awful process that cows go through to produce milk [now, i will say that there are SOME farms within land o'lakes that *may* be treating their animals humanely, but as a corporation, they do not actively seek out // punish farmers for mistreating their animals.
here are a few great articles about the reality of the factory dairy industry.
so, what am i saying?
i am saying that if you are going to purchase milk, butter, cream or cheese, i HIGHLY reccomend you do your research. type in local ______ [cheese // milk, ect] & _______ [your city // state]. seek out those businesses. farmers markets & co-ops are WONDERFUL resources!! find companies in your area that treat animals well. and maybe you will pay a bit more. but, your child, partner, planet, animals & people you have never met are worth that extra money.
i would LOVE to hear your feedback // opinion.
i do ask that you are respectful & leave your email address, so we can continue a dialogue.
i am saying that if you are going to purchase milk, butter, cream or cheese, i HIGHLY reccomend you do your research. type in local ______ [cheese // milk, ect] & _______ [your city // state]. seek out those businesses. farmers markets & co-ops are WONDERFUL resources!! find companies in your area that treat animals well. and maybe you will pay a bit more. but, your child, partner, planet, animals & people you have never met are worth that extra money.
i would LOVE to hear your feedback // opinion.
i do ask that you are respectful & leave your email address, so we can continue a dialogue.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
: sunscreen & leg-shaving gel : those are fun things to blog about... :
happy saturday!
today, we have SO much going on!
we have cool people visiting us, a bootcamp workout, biking, baking, photos, and a super secret surprise im not ready to share yet ;)
today, i wanted to share two [super] affordable cruelty-free beauty products.
in the past, i have talked about how finding vegan products i can really stand behind has been a bit of a challenge for me.
well, now i have sunscreen & shaving gel taken care of.
earlier in the year, i won a 6-month subscription to good&lovely. they are a monthly mail-order service that brings a box full of goodies to your door. it coordinates with your cramps & period, so you have something fun [and conscious!] to look forward to.
i plan on doing a full post of some of my favorite boxes // products from good&lovely soon ; but today, lets talk about alba botanica!
do you know this company?
their manifesto makes me happy!
i have used the shave gel up & will buy more soon. its thicker than the 'big brand' shave gel, so you might need to rinse out your razor a couple more times, but hello! no animal testing & good for the planet!
this sunscreen is really great. it smells sweet, isnt greasy & i love that its sweat-proof. [trust me, i sweat like crazy when we have been biking for a few hours!]
if you are looking to 'green-up' your medicine cabinet, i highly recommend this brand & both products.
what do you think?
are you willing to switch?!
disclaimer : i was given a free 6-month subscription to good&lovely in a giveaway. none of the companies featured in the box asked me to do a review. i am sharing because this is a great [and easy] way to save animals & treat your body well!
have a great weekend!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
ask a vegan : veganism 101 : 5 tips for reducing your consumption :
happy sunday, everybody!
RAGBRAI starts in just 14 days!! which means, we have at least two super long rides to get in.
the goal for today is a 75 mile bike ride. [yikes!]
today, i wanted to share 5 [EASY!] tips for reducing your meat // dairy consumption [or slowly introducing veganism into your lifestyle!!] [go you!]
even if you are not interested in the vegan lifestyle, each and every one of us can benefit from a cleaner, quality diet.
here we go :
1) buy something new!
better yet, buy a few things. head to the grocery store // farmers market // bulk bins [a local health food store, whole foods, or a co-op is a great place for bulk bins] and pick out 2-4 things you have never tried before. maybe its a fruit [dragonfruit], a veggie [jicama] or a legume [green lentils]. buy enough that you can use that product twice.
maybe you love kale in a smoothie, but not as kale chips.
both this site & this one are really great for vegan recipes.
2) spill the beans!
tell your friends. your family. your blog friends. 500 of your closest facebook acquaintances. make it known that you are eating cleaner // cutting out certain items // adding in others.
we are social beings. and we are motivated by praise. and also, education is key. when you try something new, people are curious. and your ambition to live a healthier life might just be the motivation someone in your life needs to start their own journey.
also, be honest with your friends. answer their questions. share a few vegan recipes with them. invite them to a veg restaurant or your place for brunch.
3) turn that frown upside down.
dont be bummed. you will mess up. sometimes, i mess up. i eat vegan 98% of the time. the other 2% are times that i cant control my environment or times when i didnt properly read the ingredient list. i dont beat myself up over these things. i am human. i am doing my best to lessen my footprint & to live a great life. if you are making the choice to lessen your impact & reducing your animal consumption ; do your best each day. keep your eyes on the prize. [of course, the prize is to sleep better, have clearer skin, to stop global warming // greenhouse gasses, and to end animal suffering]
4) eat organic.
seriously. this one should be a post on its own [i will do that soon]. organic means NO PESTICIDES. so each & every thing that you are eating [or wearing // rubbing onto your body] that is not organic, means that it has been sprayed with pesticides. apples. strawberries. cotton. wheat. i could go on..
and if eating pesticides isnt a big deal ; also consider that those pesticides leak into our water. and our soil. and our bodies.
annnnnnnd all of those fruits // veggies // grains that have been sprayed are handpicked [most grains are picked by machinery] by real people. without protective equipment. most of them are undocumented workers. without healthcare or an understanding of what pesticides really do.
for example : there is a giant berry producer in california that is carried in most stores across the us. they use undocumented workers. they dont provide care or safety equipment for their workers. and as the workers are in the fields, the airplanes with pesticides are spraying the fields. WITH THE WORKERS IN THE FIELD. by not buying organic, you are telling these companies that this is okay. [its not]
also, the more people that are buying organic, the more affordable it will become.
5) enjoy it!
the journey to eating better should NOT be torture! if you dont like a food, then gosh, dont eat it.
example : i dont enjoy tofu or 'faux' meats or cheeses. i dont like fakin' bacon. or tofu. or most leafy green veggies. so, i dont eat them. [i do put greens in my smoothies]
i eat a lot of great food. food that tastes great & fuels my body. food should be one of the most enjoyable things about this life. find good foods that you love. and eat them.
click here to view more 'ask a vegan' posts!
RAGBRAI starts in just 14 days!! which means, we have at least two super long rides to get in.
the goal for today is a 75 mile bike ride. [yikes!]
today, i wanted to share 5 [EASY!] tips for reducing your meat // dairy consumption [or slowly introducing veganism into your lifestyle!!] [go you!]
even if you are not interested in the vegan lifestyle, each and every one of us can benefit from a cleaner, quality diet.
here we go :
1) buy something new!
better yet, buy a few things. head to the grocery store // farmers market // bulk bins [a local health food store, whole foods, or a co-op is a great place for bulk bins] and pick out 2-4 things you have never tried before. maybe its a fruit [dragonfruit], a veggie [jicama] or a legume [green lentils]. buy enough that you can use that product twice.
maybe you love kale in a smoothie, but not as kale chips.
both this site & this one are really great for vegan recipes.
2) spill the beans!
tell your friends. your family. your blog friends. 500 of your closest facebook acquaintances. make it known that you are eating cleaner // cutting out certain items // adding in others.
we are social beings. and we are motivated by praise. and also, education is key. when you try something new, people are curious. and your ambition to live a healthier life might just be the motivation someone in your life needs to start their own journey.
also, be honest with your friends. answer their questions. share a few vegan recipes with them. invite them to a veg restaurant or your place for brunch.
3) turn that frown upside down.
dont be bummed. you will mess up. sometimes, i mess up. i eat vegan 98% of the time. the other 2% are times that i cant control my environment or times when i didnt properly read the ingredient list. i dont beat myself up over these things. i am human. i am doing my best to lessen my footprint & to live a great life. if you are making the choice to lessen your impact & reducing your animal consumption ; do your best each day. keep your eyes on the prize. [of course, the prize is to sleep better, have clearer skin, to stop global warming // greenhouse gasses, and to end animal suffering]
4) eat organic.
seriously. this one should be a post on its own [i will do that soon]. organic means NO PESTICIDES. so each & every thing that you are eating [or wearing // rubbing onto your body] that is not organic, means that it has been sprayed with pesticides. apples. strawberries. cotton. wheat. i could go on..
and if eating pesticides isnt a big deal ; also consider that those pesticides leak into our water. and our soil. and our bodies.
annnnnnnd all of those fruits // veggies // grains that have been sprayed are handpicked [most grains are picked by machinery] by real people. without protective equipment. most of them are undocumented workers. without healthcare or an understanding of what pesticides really do.
for example : there is a giant berry producer in california that is carried in most stores across the us. they use undocumented workers. they dont provide care or safety equipment for their workers. and as the workers are in the fields, the airplanes with pesticides are spraying the fields. WITH THE WORKERS IN THE FIELD. by not buying organic, you are telling these companies that this is okay. [its not]
also, the more people that are buying organic, the more affordable it will become.
5) enjoy it!
the journey to eating better should NOT be torture! if you dont like a food, then gosh, dont eat it.
example : i dont enjoy tofu or 'faux' meats or cheeses. i dont like fakin' bacon. or tofu. or most leafy green veggies. so, i dont eat them. [i do put greens in my smoothies]
i eat a lot of great food. food that tastes great & fuels my body. food should be one of the most enjoyable things about this life. find good foods that you love. and eat them.
click here to view more 'ask a vegan' posts!
i would love to hear what you think // your goals // your feedback.
heres to a great week!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
how vegan makeup can change the world : and my new favorite eyeshadow
happy 4th of july, everybody!
today for us will equal a long bike ride, fireworks from the 15th floor, maybe some vegan cupcakes & lots of photos [and sunscreen!]
lets talk about make-up!!
one of my biggest 'vegan hurdles' has been finding quality products to use on my hair // skin // body // home. i did this [helpful] post awhile back about great vegan beauty companies.
i have found that not eating meat // dairy // animal products has been the really easy part [seriously!].
the super hard part has been finding new bath // beauty products [shave gel, mascara & eyeshadow have been my most recent 'replacement' products]
i discovered au natural one night on an simple internet search. i reached out to them & they were happy to let me try out some of their products. and super fun part? they give 1% of ALL profits to charity. [you know i love that]
i was just expecting a lip gloss or two, but was way excited when i discovered three powder eyeshadows, two lip gloss, one lip tint, and one creme eyeshadow!
i tried out the nude & deep coral lip glosses. i use chap stick all time time [especially on the bike in the summer], so i appreciate an extra pop of color! also, they feel really great on.
the eyeshadows were my favorite. i had never used power shadow before [i have been using cover girl since 6th grade ; which is owned by p&g and DOES test on animals!]. i suggest non-animal hair brushes to apply your makeup.
here, i mixed the gardenia [my fave!] & honeysuckle.
arent these fun?
if you are looking for some new makeup [or replacing your old stuff], i highly recommend au natural.
a lot of folks argue that 'vegan' 'organic' 'cruelty-free' is super expensive, but honestly, think of what you are using! you are using a product that was created by humans, tested on humans, and does not contain toxic ingredients! you are helping the planet, your body AND the animals. plus, SO many vegan companies donate to charity ; so you are also helping to improve even more lives!
keep in touch with au natural!
disclaimer : i was given all of these products free of charge. everything i said was true [and my own opinion]
Sunday, June 10, 2012
: the HOT vegan man : ask a vegan : week 12 :
happy sunday!
i have taken SO many photos this weekend ; super excited to share later this week.
but today?
lets talk about men!
your man, to be exact.
or your dude-friends, family, strangers..
i have talked to a lot of folks that think veganism is mostly a 'girls' lifestyle.
beauty products, recipes // cookbooks & cute jewelry ; all for the women.
well, [obviously!] its not true.
there are TONS of smart vegan products meant for the [cute] men in your life.
and, what about the nutrition?
a lot of men think that eating a vegan diet will cause them to lose muscle & wont be able to allow them to reach their fitness goals.
so, today i am going to touch on :
1) cool clothing & accessories for your guy
2) man-beauty products that are great for the planet, animals & every day use
3) a few really great articles for the man that says 'i dont care what diana says ; no way a strong man can be vegan'
1) cool clothing & accessories
*does your guy rock the cotton t-shirts?
stay vocal has LOTS of cool [and affordable] shirts for the guys.
the coolest part? all the t-shirts are recycled! they are shirts that would have been thrown out!
i like this shirt [and the story behind it is awesome!]. and this one, too! follow stay vocal on twitter.
*binary winter has a bunch of rad eco-friendly & vegan t-shirts and ties [the ties are REALLY cool!].
*how about some non-silk ties from alternative apparel?
*this wallet is made from a recycled seat belt & old bike tubes. [hellllo!]
*want a more luxury wallet? these are sleek & classy.
2) man-beauty
*herban lifestyle man grooming kit is super cool. you get facial soap, shaving oil, aftershave & facial lotion.
3) tips & articles for strong men
*what is a vegan diet?! : great advice, famous vegans & beginners tips for changing up your diet. at the bottom of the page, there are TONS of related articles that are helpful.
*this is a great article ; the men's guide to going vegan.
*the vegan woman wants to give you some tips on how to convince you man to go vegan
*and this is a super long list of famous vegans. how many do YOU recognize?!
*the vegan man cave is a fun vegan blog ; men-centric. beer, burgers & smart food choices.
i have taken SO many photos this weekend ; super excited to share later this week.
but today?
lets talk about men!
your man, to be exact.
or your dude-friends, family, strangers..
i have talked to a lot of folks that think veganism is mostly a 'girls' lifestyle.
beauty products, recipes // cookbooks & cute jewelry ; all for the women.
well, [obviously!] its not true.
there are TONS of smart vegan products meant for the [cute] men in your life.
and, what about the nutrition?
a lot of men think that eating a vegan diet will cause them to lose muscle & wont be able to allow them to reach their fitness goals.
so, today i am going to touch on :
1) cool clothing & accessories for your guy
2) man-beauty products that are great for the planet, animals & every day use
3) a few really great articles for the man that says 'i dont care what diana says ; no way a strong man can be vegan'
1) cool clothing & accessories
*does your guy rock the cotton t-shirts?
stay vocal has LOTS of cool [and affordable] shirts for the guys.
the coolest part? all the t-shirts are recycled! they are shirts that would have been thrown out!
i like this shirt [and the story behind it is awesome!]. and this one, too! follow stay vocal on twitter.
*binary winter has a bunch of rad eco-friendly & vegan t-shirts and ties [the ties are REALLY cool!].
*how about some non-silk ties from alternative apparel?
2) man-beauty
*herban lifestyle man grooming kit is super cool. you get facial soap, shaving oil, aftershave & facial lotion.
*bulldog has a great selection of shave lotion // face wash // moisturizer products.
follow them on twitter here. our co-op just started carrying these products. i smell a fun gift for blake.. [shhhh!]
also, their ingredient list display is *brilliant!*
3) tips & articles for strong men
*what is a vegan diet?! : great advice, famous vegans & beginners tips for changing up your diet. at the bottom of the page, there are TONS of related articles that are helpful.
*this is a great article ; the men's guide to going vegan.
*the vegan woman wants to give you some tips on how to convince you man to go vegan
*and this is a super long list of famous vegans. how many do YOU recognize?!
*the vegan man cave is a fun vegan blog ; men-centric. beer, burgers & smart food choices.
and remember, all of these tips & products are great even if you AREN'T vegan.
baby steps will make the world a better place!
cheers, everybody!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
: the REAL reason i am vegan :
hey everybody!
this post has been weighing on me for some time now.
we all have different reasons for doing different things ; i get that.
*and before we get started ; know that there are a few photos that might spark some emotion. nothing terribly graphic ; but you might not love them*
a lot of folks are interested when i tell them im vegan ; but i think a lot of people think i do it for vanity.
or that its a trend. like, im just a cool hipster with a fast bike, mpr playing on my iphone while i judge folks for eating meat.
or that i am just trying to be really cool // alternative // different.
and with all of that ; i try not to judge.
i really, truly, honestly think that a vegan lifestyle is the best thing you can do for your mind, body, future & family.
a lot of people think that its too hard // expensive // restricting // stupid, but it really is the easiest // best thing i have ever done for myself.
i am willing to bet that we spend the same amount [or less than] you do on groceries. we eat local, organic [75% of the time] & sustainable.
people think if you cut out dairy & meat, you have to eat salads & nasty 'faux' meats the rest of your life. disagree. my plate is colorful, full of healthy fats, vitamins, nutrients & minerals. no way did i ever eat this well when i was on my own & eating animals. [it also helps that blake is super creative in the kitchen!] heck, i even wrote a darn e-book FULL of easy vegan recipes!
and can we talk about overall health?!
i have so many friends that talk about feeling run down, sleep deprived, no energy, tons of weight gain, full of bloat & cranky.
is that you?
i pinky promise [honestly!] that if you cut out the crap in your diet [DAIRY! & processed food], you will feel like a whole new women [or man ; i dont judge!]
since cutting out processed food [and animals,duh], i feel so much better.
no 3pm crash. no dreaded morning-wake ups. happier, more positive. SO much more energy. and while i dont weigh the lightest i have ever ; i am definitely the healthiest & in the best shape i have ever been.
so, what is the REAL reason i will stay vegan // raise a vegan family // continue to educate folks?
its for the animals!
when i first cut everything out, it was for MY health. i really didnt care about the animals. ive never been an animal lover. sometimes dogs ; never anything else. [my dad is a butcher, remember? i grew up watching him butcher animals & fillet fish]
but now? i read articles // view undercover videos // watch documentaries // read books about the REAL process of animal testing // factory farming & it honestly makes me sick.
i dont ever want to guilt anyone into cutting out animal products ; but you are doing yourself [and the planet!] a true disservice if you are ignoring where your milk // eggs // cheese // meat is coming from.
*sidenote ; if you do plan on eating meat // dairy, i BEG you to do your research & buy it locally. call around. find a co-op // whole foods // sustainable grocer. ask questions. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
not only are animals from factory farms treated unbelievably inhumane, they are also PUMPED f u l l of chemicals you are then feeding to your partner & your CHILDREN.
i really try to keep this blog rant-free & not super personal, but this is *so* important to me.
we live in one of the most 'available' places in the world.
you really do owe it to yourself & your family to know where your food comes from.
id love to hear your feedback. and, if you are going to leave me a nasty comment [cuz this IS the internet, after all], please leave your email, so i can have a dialogue with you.
also, if you are looking for recipes ; i have TONS on my pinterest board.
thanks for reading, everybody!
this post has been weighing on me for some time now.
we all have different reasons for doing different things ; i get that.
*and before we get started ; know that there are a few photos that might spark some emotion. nothing terribly graphic ; but you might not love them*
a lot of folks are interested when i tell them im vegan ; but i think a lot of people think i do it for vanity.
or that its a trend. like, im just a cool hipster with a fast bike, mpr playing on my iphone while i judge folks for eating meat.
or that i am just trying to be really cool // alternative // different.
and with all of that ; i try not to judge.
i really, truly, honestly think that a vegan lifestyle is the best thing you can do for your mind, body, future & family.
a lot of people think that its too hard // expensive // restricting // stupid, but it really is the easiest // best thing i have ever done for myself.
i am willing to bet that we spend the same amount [or less than] you do on groceries. we eat local, organic [75% of the time] & sustainable.
people think if you cut out dairy & meat, you have to eat salads & nasty 'faux' meats the rest of your life. disagree. my plate is colorful, full of healthy fats, vitamins, nutrients & minerals. no way did i ever eat this well when i was on my own & eating animals. [it also helps that blake is super creative in the kitchen!] heck, i even wrote a darn e-book FULL of easy vegan recipes!
and can we talk about overall health?!
i have so many friends that talk about feeling run down, sleep deprived, no energy, tons of weight gain, full of bloat & cranky.
is that you?
i pinky promise [honestly!] that if you cut out the crap in your diet [DAIRY! & processed food], you will feel like a whole new women [or man ; i dont judge!]
since cutting out processed food [and animals,
no 3pm crash. no dreaded morning-wake ups. happier, more positive. SO much more energy. and while i dont weigh the lightest i have ever ; i am definitely the healthiest & in the best shape i have ever been.
so, what is the REAL reason i will stay vegan // raise a vegan family // continue to educate folks?
its for the animals!
when i first cut everything out, it was for MY health. i really didnt care about the animals. ive never been an animal lover. sometimes dogs ; never anything else. [my dad is a butcher, remember? i grew up watching him butcher animals & fillet fish]
but now? i read articles // view undercover videos // watch documentaries // read books about the REAL process of animal testing // factory farming & it honestly makes me sick.
*also, the pictures in this link are pretty graphic*
i dont ever want to guilt anyone into cutting out animal products ; but you are doing yourself [and the planet!] a true disservice if you are ignoring where your milk // eggs // cheese // meat is coming from.
*sidenote ; if you do plan on eating meat // dairy, i BEG you to do your research & buy it locally. call around. find a co-op // whole foods // sustainable grocer. ask questions. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
not only are animals from factory farms treated unbelievably inhumane, they are also PUMPED f u l l of chemicals you are then feeding to your partner & your CHILDREN.
i really try to keep this blog rant-free & not super personal, but this is *so* important to me.
we live in one of the most 'available' places in the world.
you really do owe it to yourself & your family to know where your food comes from.
id love to hear your feedback. and, if you are going to leave me a nasty comment [cuz this IS the internet, after all], please leave your email, so i can have a dialogue with you.
also, if you are looking for recipes ; i have TONS on my pinterest board.
thanks for reading, everybody!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
: ask a vegan : week 10 : the accidental vegan : popular food & snacks that ARE vegan :
happy sunday!
todays post is short & sweet [mostly pictures!] ; but it is totally worth looking over.
one of the common misconceptions [that i hope i am breaking on my blog!] about veganism is that to be vegan, you have to eat sad salads and fake meat day in & day out.
also, i think folks believe that cutting out meat & dairy and adding fruits & veggies is much more expensive ; which is also not true. [you give me a few reusable bags + a $100 bill & i will buy SO many [healthy] groceries ;)]
i was surprised to find how many traditional foods are actually vegan.
[note : i am not saying these foods are great for you OR that their companies follow sustainable practices, BUT i am showing you foods you may already have at home that are totally vegan!]
PETA has a HUGE list of popular foods that are vegan. here
also, i found this list that covers all fast food chains & their vegan // vegetarian options
below are a few vegan foods that surprised me :
here are a few others that surprised me as well :
*sour patch kids
*staceys pita chips
*swedish fish
*hersheys shell topping
*smuckers marshmallow icecream topping
*kashi garden vegetable pasta
which one is the most surprising to you?!
i definitely thought that all jello [gelatin & puddings] contained gelatin!
also, a reminder! today is the LAST DAY to get your e-book to be entered to win one of THREE prize packs! post here
and tomorrow, i am sharing the vegan version of my favorite girl scout cookie!!
todays post is short & sweet [mostly pictures!] ; but it is totally worth looking over.
one of the common misconceptions [that i hope i am breaking on my blog!] about veganism is that to be vegan, you have to eat sad salads and fake meat day in & day out.
also, i think folks believe that cutting out meat & dairy and adding fruits & veggies is much more expensive ; which is also not true. [you give me a few reusable bags + a $100 bill & i will buy SO many [healthy] groceries ;)]
i was surprised to find how many traditional foods are actually vegan.
[note : i am not saying these foods are great for you OR that their companies follow sustainable practices, BUT i am showing you foods you may already have at home that are totally vegan!]
PETA has a HUGE list of popular foods that are vegan. here
also, i found this list that covers all fast food chains & their vegan // vegetarian options
below are a few vegan foods that surprised me :
the gel is plant-derived!
not real bacon!
we eat newmans own o's ; but mint oreos [from the freezer] are still one of my faves!
*sour patch kids
*staceys pita chips
*swedish fish
*hersheys shell topping
*smuckers marshmallow icecream topping
*kashi garden vegetable pasta
which one is the most surprising to you?!
i definitely thought that all jello [gelatin & puddings] contained gelatin!
also, a reminder! today is the LAST DAY to get your e-book to be entered to win one of THREE prize packs! post here
and tomorrow, i am sharing the vegan version of my favorite girl scout cookie!!
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