The Neti.

Meet the Neti Pot. 

So awesome, if used properly. DO NOT USE TAP WATER. 

1) Use filtered water that's been previously boiled, but is cool enough for you to hold your finger in comfortably.

2) Lean forward over a sink or in the shower, tilt your head to the side and pour water and dissolved solution into one nostril and let it come through the other side.  (yep, sounds gross)

3) Alternate sides until you're all out. 

I do this in the morning and evening and it works wonders.

It feels like... a cup of green tea + a cool shower + eyes being washed + blowing your nose

TRY IT!

Making the Switch

I grew up eating bread and butter, mac and cheese, pizza and cereal just like every other American kid. As an adult vegan, I STILL love those foods. But I also want to be healthy and cruelty-free in my diet. After many meals, I have formulated a list of The Best "transition foods," as I like to call them. We want the taste, minus the suffering of animals. So here we go~


22 Vegan Foods that Make the Transition EASY. 


1) Organic Vegenaise. I'm sure you've heard of it and maybe scoffed at it, so let me explain a few things. It's spelled "Vegenaise," because it was invented in the 70's before vegan was a household term. Vegenaise came from vegetarian + mayonaise. 

What's great about Vegenaise other than it being cruelty-free? It's 20% lower in fat than regular mayonaise (that's 9 g of fat per serving). It's gluten-free. It's low in sodium. Because it's egg and dairy-free, it's very low in saturated fat, and has absolutely no cholesterol. Also, there's no hydrogenated fat or transfat. <3


2) Earth Balance Organic Coconut Spread. This stuff is incredible, I kid you not! Try it on toast, bagels or in your curry or stir-fry. YUM! 


What's great about Earth Balance Organic Coconut Spread other than it being cruelty-free? Gluten-free. Soy-free. Non-GMO. Free of hydrogenated oils and cholesterol. Only 5 g of fat per serving. <3

3) Teese Cheeze :: Mozzarella.  Not necessarily a health food, but a yummy addition to veggie pizza. Only 6 g of fat per serving and 0 cholesterol. Gluten-free, too! <3

4) Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk. Don't waste your money on any other milk alternative. This is the best! 40 calories a cup, 0 g of sugar, tastes INSANELY good. Great with cereal <3

5) Nutritional Yeast. Sounds freakin' nasty, but it's awesome. It's cheesy and nutty, loaded with B vitamins, very low in fat and only 45 calories in 1/4 cup. Top your pizza off with this stuff, sprinkle some on your salad, your spaghetti or make vegan mac n' cheeze with Earth Balance Whipped Buttery Spread, nutritional yeast and a wee bit of unsweetened almond milk. <3

6) Earth Balance Whipped Organic Buttery Spread. A basic in nearly every vegan's kitchen. 9 g of fat per serving and 0 cholesterol. Add a smidge to any dish to enhance flavor. <3

7) Gardein. Anything by Gardein is a winner. Seriously! Many low-fat options and not a scary long list of ingredients. Some people ask why any vegan would want to eat a faux meat, so I'll clarify. Most of us don't want to taste meat, we just like the texture and seasoning of some of the faux products (like Gardein!). I won't eat anything that really tastes like meat/fish/etc. Blech. The same way that I like tofu, tempeh and bean patties, I like seasoned soy meats. Granted, they're not remotely natural, I really only eat them once every few months. So delicious though! <3

8) Nasoya Organic Extra-firm Tofu. I never liked tofu before I went vegan. Because I'd never tried it. Then I gave it a chance and it's actually super rad. Low in fat, high in protein, absorbs the flavor of whatever kickass dish you create. <3

9) Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Ice Cream. Fair-trade. Organic. Few vegan ice creams are as superb as this one. The taste and texture are divine. I don't remember Blue Bell ever tasting this good. Bless your, Luna and Larry. <3

10) Trader Joe's Soy Chorizo. A little goes a lonng way. Best in tofu scrambles and spaghetti. Mmmhmm. <3 

11) Dark Chocolate. Chocolove. Divine. Sirius. Theo. Try them all -- they're superb and fair-trade! <3

12) Trader Joe's Chocolate Soy Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches. Small portions are a good thing, because these are addicting! Btw, that is not my hand in the picture. <3

13) Flax Plus Cereal. Buy the large box at Whole Foods and save a little. Flax Plus is low in sugar, but not lacking in taste. <3

14) Alvarado Sprouted Wheat Bagels. My breakfast of the moment. Toast and spread with Earth Balance. <3 

15) Trader Joe's Roasted Red Pepper and Artichoke Tapenade. Mind-blowing. You will love it. Spread on a baguette and you're good to go! <3

16) Galaxy Foods Cream Cheese Alternative. Tbh, I haven't tried this, BUT it's received enough media attention, I feel the need to mention it. I used to eat Tofutti Cream Cheese Alternative until I found out it had TRANSFAT! *so mad* I know, I know -- they also make a cream cheese alternative that doesn't have transfat. But why would they have one that does have it???

17) Organic Food Bar - Vegan. Great for the active vegan, because it's so so filling. The taste will blow your mind. <3

18) Ume Plum Vinegar. Goes wonderfully with nama shoyu or tamari. Add tahini to make the perfect salad dressing. <3

19) Nama Shoyu (or tamari, whatever your preference). Healthier alternatives to soy sauce. Add just a little to salads with a vinegar of your choice. <3

20) Tahini. It will make any dressing/sauce the best thing you've ever tasted. Trust me. <3

21) Miso Mayo. So good! Combine with vegenaise to make the ultimate sandwich spread or mix into beans and rice for some creamy goodness. <3

22) Trader Joe's Organic Whole Wheat Pasta. A bargain, nonetheless. Best texture of ANY whole wheat pasta I've had. <3

...and don't forget to eat your beans and veggies! :)

Spice Up Your Life

Top-Notch Spices to Include in Your Diet

1) Cinnamon - lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels and is packed with antioxidants

**Sprinkle cinnamon on your oats and in your coffee.

2) Cayenne - relieves headaches and arthritis (great for fighting inflammation)

** Sprinkle on your beans & rice or try your hand at Chocolate Cupcakes with a Kick.

3) Turmeric - anti-inflammatory, loaded with antioxidants and cancer-fighting properties

**Add to your curry or rice.

4) Ginger - alleviates nausea, anti-inflammatory

**Add to your steamed veggies, tofu, Asian noodles or stir-fry.

5) Cloves - ANTIOXIDANTS!

**Bake eggplant, ginger snaps or pumpkin pie. Doctor's orders!

6) Black Pepper - positive effect on digestive tract, antibacterial and antioxidant benefits

**Spruce up your tofu, soup or any veggie dish.

Food Review: Gardein (garden + protein)

If you're going to eat faux, eat Gardein. Nothing compares.

What They Make:

Fresh.
> tuscan breasts
> chick'n marsala
> santa fe good stuff
> bbq pulled shreds
> bbq skewers
> chick'n filets
> herb dijon breasts
> chick'n strips

Frozen.
> sweet & tangy bbq wings
> mandarin orange crispy chick'n
> chipotle lime crispy fingers
> classic style buffalo wings
> home style beefless tips
> seven grain crispy tenders
> lightly seasoned chick'n scallopini
> the ultimate beefless burger

I've had all of the frozen foods and they're awesome. The wings are too spicy for me, but everything else is super tasty. The ONE downside is the price. They're much more expensive than beans + rice or tofu, but the variety the offer is pretty tempting. The site offers recipes, but honestly this stuff is good with just about anything!

Get Inspired.

pulled shred sliders

mini no-meatballs

macadamia encrusted chick'n

crispy chick'n salad

summer grilled scallopini

spicy beefless skewers

chick'n tandori kebabs

September Loves

Fall is HERE. This is absolutely my favorite time of year. I just can't get enough of fall colors and aromas. Hot cider, spicy tea, tall boots and the smell of everyone's polished faux leather oxfords. Now just for a moment, I simply HAVE to love on Etsy. I'm sure you're familiar with the site, as it's been mentioned in numerous mags the past few years as being a wonderful place where you can shop for vintage, handmade or any obscure thing you may desire. It truly rocks for vegans, because you can find vegan things CHEAP. So often, buying trendy vegan things can be ridiculously expensive, but Etsy makes it possible to have it all and not go totally broke. Consider supporting artists with small businesses next time you get the urge to spend.

September's Ecofabulous Finds:

bkr water bottles ($28 ea.)

Core Bamboo

vegan beet love macbook cover @ Etsy

vegan mineral makeup @ Etsy

vintage vegan camera bag @ Etsy

vegan soap @ Etsy

September Cravings:

raw kale salad with seitan and creamy avocado dressing

oatmeal raisin muffins at Whole Foods

sweet&sour seitan

butternut squash soup

Loving Hut

be veg . go green . to save the planet

"Loving Hut is created with a vision that all beings could live in peace, love and harmony with each other and the planet. Loving Hut chain restaurants are newly opening around the world. It is an invitation to gourmet cuisine made with wholesome vegan ingredients, offering an accessible starting point for those making the noble transition to a plant-based diet." Loving Hut

The first time I ever tried Loving Hut was in Jakarta, Indonesia. As soon as R arrived in Indonesia, I told him there was a restaurant that I had to take him to. He'd been telling me about this incredible meal he had in San Francisco...and it turns out, we were speaking of the same place. Loving Hut, a different experience every time you dine. Each menu is unique and that, my friend, is one of the many reasons why this chain is so special. Adored by vegans and non-vegans alike. Meat-like dishes accompanied by veggies, but displayed in a way all its own. You've never seen vegan food like this before. Give it a try :) Oh and the volunteers that run the place are sweethearts. Always.


About the Restaurant:
> The menus are different in every city, so that chefs have the freedom to create local dishes. LH wants to bring out the best in every culture and show that vegan food is not only healthy, but great tasting too. 
> Supreme Master Ching Hai is the innovator for Loving Hut vegan concept. She wants to help the world with a more compassionate and noble way of living by providing great vegan food all over the world. Heads up: Her presence in the restaurants may be a little overwhelming with the widescreen televisions displaying her and her works.
> Many (possibly all) of the employees are actually volunteers. I know for sure that the ones in Jakarta and Houston are. Pretty awesome, huh? 
> VegNews Mag declared Loving Hut "Restaurant of the Year" in 2010. 
> There are 240 locations in 26 countries world wide. More to come!


Feast Your Eyes: