Have you ever bought a cantaloupe with not a lot of flavor and sweetness? That’s what happened with my latest purchase of cantaloupe. Well, instead of throwing it out why not make it into a tasty smoothie!? Here’s my very simple easy peasy recipe for it: cut cantaloupe into chunks, mix with organic frozen berries, one pack of Organic Mori Nu tofu and blend! And Voila! You have a delicious smoothie! Enjoy and please let me know how you like it!

Cantaloupe & Berry Smoothie

This evening I came across this poster from Susan Levin, the Director of Nutrition Education for PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine).

“Pumping carcinogenic dairy products through the lunch line is like enrolling kids in one giant, unethical experiment – the results of which are already grim.” -Susan Levin

 Yesterday, TheHill posted an excellent article that goes along with this. Susan answers why children are exposed to harmful foods and why dairy is so problematic. I am not going to quote it…you will just have to go in and read it for yourself! Here is the link to it:

http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/210445-got-milk-why

Excellent article, Susan Levin!

Thank you so much for everything that you do and Keep up the awesome work!!!

YOU ROCK!

Yesterday, my friend Jenelle & I ventured to The Field Roast headquarters in Seattle for their Open House BBQ Celebration. 

Me & Jenelle (blogger at York & Spoon)

The Field Roast Company generously opened their doors from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and everyone was invited for a free meal with beverages, plus a tour of the company, as well as a raffle for some awesome gift baskets. I was thoroughly impressed! First we took a tour of the company. Who doesn’t want to see where their food is prepared?

Field Roast HQ’s in Seattle, WA

The inside of the production area was really the most impressive part of this whole event to me, a Danish bakers daughter, because my father always taught me that a place that makes food should be impeccably clean! Trust me, Field Roast was spotless! I snatched this picture (and apologize in advance because I’m not sure I was supposed to), but seriously, check out how clean the place is! I asked Jenelle, “Could you imagine a factory farm opening up their doors like this and showing the public what really goes on?” She replied, “No, because then they’d all be going vegan!” And eating Field Roast instead, I may add! 

Check out those floors! My Dad would have been impressed! 

We also got to see their storage area, peak in at the employee changing room, and the giant freezer. The employee who stood by it opened its doors so we could see it on the inside as well! Afterwards we went upstairs and saw the staff’s lunch room and offices. Impressed! Their employees can cook fresh food at work! W also saw their “creativity kitchen” where they come up with new flavors and products! Very nice! I would love to  hold a Food for Life Cooking Class for their interested staff members! After the tour we went outside to create our burgers.

Build-a-Burger Challenge

Jenelle took the “Build-a-Burger” challenge way more seriously than I did. I just wanted to eat! Here is her beautiful creation that she has named, “FRESH-E-FRESH”. If she wins the challenge she would get a years worth of Field Roast products. 

FRESH-E-FRESH

Gorgeous, right! The food was ridiculously delicious! I loooved the chili! It was great going to something where you just knew everything would be vegan and you didn’t have to ask, “Is this vegan?” or “Does this contain egg or dairy?” Jenelle had fun taking pictures of her fabulous creation “Fresh-E-Fresh”! How can you not love that name, Field Roast? I can see it now, “Try Field Roast’s Fresh-E-Fresh burger!” 

Jenelle (@ York & Spoon)

FRESH-E-FRESH FIELD ROAST BURGER

You don’t get to see my not-so-photogenic creation, but for entertainment purposes here I am about to eat it. Every bite was fabulous!  

Urban Vegan Chic about to dig into her Fabulous Field Roast Creation

After our fabulous dinner there was dessert provided from Seattle’s first vegan ice cream truck. Check it out!

The Cookie Counter – Seattle’s first Vegan Ice Cream bus

The Seattle Cookie Counter has a Kickstarter Campaign going to launch their vegan ice cream sandwich truck in Seattle. Jenelle has supported this and as a result they will be bringing her delicious treats on the Fourth of July! Now here’s truly an ice cream truck that I wouldn’t mind seeing and hearing coming through every neighborhood! This little family is truly some of the nicest people that you will ever meet! 

As Field Roast wrote on their site, “We want delicious vegan treats and good people roaming our city.” Hear! Hear! This earth needs more people like them! Want to support them? Make a pledge!

Here’s a picture of my delicious Mint Chip Ice Cream Sandwich from The Cookie Counter in Seattle. YUM! Jenelle had their Coconut Raspberry creation. 

Vegan Ice Cream Sandwich from Seattle’s Cookie Counter

As the evening went on, the line just kept growing at the Field Roast Open House BBQ Celebration. We were not surprised. Here’s a few more pictures that I snapped outside.

Thank you so much Field Roast for a fantastic experience and for a very tasty dinner and treats! Your company and team went above and beyond with this event! We are so proud to have you here in Washington State! You have a fantastic group of employees working for you and we both look forward to your next event or to work with you! Jenelle and I are both PCRM certified Food for Life Instructors! 

This is a topic that deeply moves me. Pigs have a special place in my heart. These people definitely don’t move me in any way that is positive, but I feel that it is important to be able to talk about what is upsetting as well. So here goes…

A week or so ago, I learned via social media about a horrific event that was to take place in St. Patrick’s Parish in Stephensville, Wisconsin. I wrote several letters to the people in charge because I couldn’t believe what they were going to do to these poor pigs during their fundraiser. Seriously?! What kinds of humans do this?

Here is what I wrote to them:

This summer I took a short fun trip up to Eastsound on Orcas Island with a good friend of mine. Before taking the ferry over we stayed a night in La Connor to take the ferry over early in the morning. It is such a cute little town with some great restaurants, a few of which will do a great job for anyone on a plant-based vegan diet. My friend and I always have a lot of fun when we travel together! However, I would have been just as comfortable taking this trip on my own if one of my friends couldn’t go! It is that sort of place! I’ve always felt safe on the island. However, going with a friend, family member(s) or a significant other is always more fun! The San Juan Islands are an amazing  place to visit in Washington State – I’d compare these islands to going to Europe. I’ll give you my perspective of what one can do while on Orcas Island. First, here’s a picture from West Beach where we went to watch the sunset.

Bringing along some champagne and a little chocolate (dark & vegan)  while watching the sun go down…Life really doesn’t get any better than this!

When the sun was setting it looked like this

I decided to play around on the beach with it while the sun was setting. Here are a couple of snapshots.

My sweet dog decided to join in the fun too!

Once the sun had set this is a view back at the beach from the boat ramp of the cool cabins that are for rent at West Beach. Many families with children stay here. What a view to wake up to each morning!

There are many great restaurants on Orcas. We went back to The Kitchen, which serves vegan and vegetarian food. After the amazing sunset and fun on the beach we went to New Leaf Cafe for dessert. Sitting next to us was Joe Walsh (The Eagles) and company. My friend knew who he was and really wanted a photo of the two of them. I wouldn’t have paid any attention, otherwise. No offense to Mr. Walsh or anyone out there who might be an Eagles fan. It wasn’t until later that I realized his connection to The Eagles and his amazing guitar solo in Hotel California. So frankly right before I had this picture taken with him I said, “I’m sorry I don’t know who you are, but I’m delighted to meet you.” He replied, “Well, you’re probably better off!” Hahaha. The man has got talent and a good sense of humor! He was also in company of Jeff Lynne from The Electric Light Orchestra.

One of my favorite things to do when on the island is to go hiking around Mountain Lake. It is SO incredible beautiful. Depending on where you park your car the hike can take anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours. It’s just stunning and not that difficult to hike, unless you have small children in tow.

Orcas Island also has a wonderful center for the arts where we have gone to listen to music before. We went again this year! The islands all have rich arts programs with so many talented artists! It is definitely worth checking out, either before going or while there, to see what might be on the program. I have never been disappointed, plus it is a great way to meet some of the locals! Orcas Island also has many great shops. I personally love the local bookstore and believe in supporting small businesses. How sad it will be the day there are no more bookstores to browse because we all shop on line just to save a few bucks! Here are some books that we purchased. The top two are mine!

There is also the Saturday’s Farmers Market which is really great and not to be missed with great crafts, jewelry, fruits and vegetables, and lots of other good stuff! In addition, there are many galleries, small boutiques and a history museum. Plus there are many beautiful flowers to snap pictures of. Here’s one that I’ve named “Firework Flower”.

Another place that I’d highly recommend is to drive out to Doe Bay for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Cafe has great vegan options and the food is just amazing. Here’s a glimpse at what I had for breakfast one morning.

They were serving Huevos Rancheros vegan style with grilled tofu, topped with avocado and the yummiest corn salsa. It’s a lot of food, so go hungry! I also ordered a Thai tea with soy milk. Very yummy! Plus you can’t beat the view from Doe Bay! (I’m wearing my tennies because we just came from a hike!)

Not only can you hike on the island, but you can rent bikes, boats and kayaks! One can also go whale watching. It must be unbelievable to see the whales coming through these waters at the right time of the year, I would imagine! This is my summer update. I hope yours has been fun as well, even if it was short like mine due to work and other obligations. Never underestimate the rejuvenating power of a short weekend getaway!

What about you?

Where have you gone this summer that has refreshed your mind/body/spirit?

Feel free to leave a comment at the end! I’d love to hear what has inspired you,

even if it was just a trip to the park!

In best of health & wishing you a good rest of August!

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

~Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society

Do you ever buy something only to receive it in the mail and not use it? You were certain when you ordered the item that you would use it, but you just never did.  Well then you’re certainly not alone! Earlier this year I had bought a Paderno Spiralizer thinking, “This will make my vegetables look amazing!” I am sad to say that it sat in the box for months and months until I finally pulled it out and put it together, which, by the way, wasn’t hard at all! Here is the picture of it below. 

I am just crazy about my new Paderno Spiralizer. It is just the coolest thing ever! I have been spiralizing everything from zucchini to apples to cucumber. Here’s a sample of a raw zucchini, mushroom, and kale salad that I made. 

Oh my, did I wish I had gotten it out of the box sooner! When I posted this to my Facebook account one of my friends said, “I’ve had one sitting in the box as well, but you’ve inspired me to get it out.” Several others got on line and ordered one and I can only say that you will not regret it! It is a F U N kitchen toy for grownups!

Below is a link to Amazon on the exact model that I ordered. Have Fun & Enjoy!

http://www.amazon.com/Paderno-World-Cuisine-A4982799-Tri-Blade/dp/B0007Y9WHQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408223936&sr=8-1&keywords=spiralizer

Heya Vegalicious Readers,

Signs are everywhere. All around us and it gets confusing, I know! Which signs do we follow? If you watch TV, you’re constantly blasted with advertisements that tell you this or that is good for your body. I have been going through a program with more than a hundred nutritional theories. I can see why people are confused about what to eat, how much, etc. etc. So I totally get it! However, I thought I’d share some of the signs that I follow and have enjoyed seeing posted via FaceBook lately. One thing I asked my friends is, “Are you ignoring the signs or are you paying attention?”

Fantastic sign from Joel Kahn, M.D.

If that sign was not enough Drs. Pulde and Lederman put out this one

Then this brilliant one by Jon Gabriel. Many people are nutritionally starved in their diets. They eat lots of food, but it is not the “right” kinds of foods. I am thinking here of people who are eating fast food high in salt, sugar and fats! However, when you’re eating a plant-based diet your stomach, because it is nutritionally dense, fills up faster!

Are you eating enough fiber?

Plant-based foods provide a multitude of benefits. Julianna Hever, The Plant-based Dietitian, shares that,

“Not only does fiber make you full faster and keep you full longer, it also:

• Reduces your risk for colorectal cancer, diverticular disease, hemorrhoids, and promotes gastrointestinal health.

• Promotes a healthy bacteria profile in your gut to improve immune function and overall health.

• Removes excess cholesterol from your blood, helping to moderate and lower lipid profiles. 

• Removes excess sex hormones, heavy metals, and other toxins from your blood and pull it out of your body through the bowels.

• Controls blood sugar and insulin levels to promote steady energy, without peaks and valleys, and reduce risk for type 2 diabetes.

• Reduces risk for cardiovascular disease.

• Helps with weight loss and healthy weight maintenance by promoting satiety. 

You can find all your fiber in fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods and legumes (beans).

What’s more extreme?

In all humor there are nuggets of truth…

***

***

***

Okay, this final one not only made me smile, but I laughed out loud when I saw it!

I am certain my single female  vegan readers can relate to this one…

…and with a few more words added, this sign would almost be perfect!

Haven’t met him yet, but I am certain that I will one of these days…

…and if he’s a WFPB vegan, or open to eating healthier, that would be a dream come true!

What signs have you seen or read lately that have made an impact on you?

Health & Happiness,

Nina, UVC

Happy September!

My friend, Doctor David Friedman, has published a compelling article about the cause of low testosterone in men. Not only what causes it, but also what to do about it. If you’re a man or have a man in your life – please read and share the link to this! Ladies, this is a great article for you as well!

Enjoy! It’s a great article!

Here’s the link:

http://www.doctordavidfriedman.com/low-testosterone-could-your-cell-phone-or-laptop-be-to-blame/

Today I’m joining 11,000 people worldwide in fasting for farmed animals against the needless suffering and inhumane treatment that they suffer each and every day – ending in their slaughter!

Farm Animal Rights wrote, “Michelle Forbes, star actress from True Blood, The Killing , and the upcoming The Hunger Games sequel, is taking a #FastAgainstSlaughter on October 2nd, World Day for Farmed Animals. Michelle went vegetarian 35 years ago and has been #vegan for the last 6 years! Thank you, Michelle, for adding your voice to raise awareness on farmed animal suffering!” I thank her as well for joining! A little help from the celebs never hurt anyone!

Today is also Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday! What a wonderful way to honor this man! If you want to join, it is not too late. I plan to fast for 12 hours. This is how long many farmed animals are kept without any food or water before slaughter. Will you join me, please? Take the pledge below if you do. It’s not too late!

http://www.dayforanimals.org/pledge

A few months ago, I learned of Rusty Lee Winsea – Appley through a friend of mine. I was a bit skeptic. It’s not like I haven’t spoken to a psychic before, but my experience has been – with the exception of two – that most of them are “cold readers”. They ask you a bunch of questions and “read you” from how you look, talk, walk, etc. Well, I took the plunge and called Rusty. I figured what did I have to lose. I especially wanted hear if there was a possibility of connecting with one of my loved ones, after losing six people in the last three years. So I sent Rusty all of their names, but didn’t tell him anything about them other than they had passed and which ones were my parents. I wasn’t disappointed! Frankly, I was surprised that he had a message from each one of them which fit perfectly on five out of the six people. Not bad, right! So I was curious to find out more about Rusty’s gift and so I asked if I could ask him a short set of questions. He said yes.

UVC: How did you get started on this path?

Rusty:  The spiritual path did not come fully until last year when I start the mastery of consciousness course offered by the school of metaphysics. At the school of metaphysics I’ve learned about the three divisions of mind, about intuition, kundalini energy, meditation, akashic records, reincarnation and hung sau meditation. This has led me on a path to find my real self. The person behind the thoughts, behind the ego, my higher self. Some offers a course that is very much Eastern religion based. I consider myself to be a Hindu because it makes sense to me, to stop the wheel of bad karma and become enlightened and to reach nirvana.

UVC: How did you know you had this gift?

Rusty: I have always been able to swerve away from danger. I was a very nervous kid. I feared ghosts, I felt uneasy and the hair would stand up on my body when I sensed one. I knew events before they happened I called it at the time “lucky guesses”. The when I met my first psychic and he gave me his ring to read energy from and I found the answer to the question, “Why do I feel there things?” Because I’m psychic.

UVC: Well, it is certainly a beautiful gift that you have! Were there some moment where you realized that this was your calling?

Rusty: More recently I had a realization I was here for a much bigger purpose than to just live a spiritual life. I am here to teach, to give to those willing to receive. This has taken my intuitive abilities to uneasy heights, I’ll explain.

Before my spiritual awakening it was cool to have this ability and it was fun to show off sometimes. But that was just it, it didn’t mean much. Basically it was divine intelligence without direction or purpose.

After my spiritual awakening and I formulated an ideal, purpose and activity for my intuitive abilities it has increased my sensitivity and intuition to a whole new level. The Divine intelligence is now directed with thought and purpose.

It’s pouring out of me and spilling out into my aura attracting me to people and them to me. My kundalini energy is awake and I am creating and manifesting much faster than before. With all of this new energy leaving me as I give it, I am receiving from the universe the Divine intelligence as it replenishes me. It has been a roller coaster ride to say the least.

UVC: Sounds like it! I asked you if you have people calling you, like me, who’d like to connect with their passed loved ones. How do you feel about that? May I share it?

Rusty: Actually because of you, I am opening myself up to it. There are boundaries and topics I will not discuss, I want to keep it loving and needed. I’m not a investigater I would suggest to contact the police in those matters. You are welcome to share it.

UVC: Thank you so much, Rusty! You truly have a gift! It meant so much to me to hear from my parents, especially, and to hear what they had to say. It was exactly like hearing them speak. Although, the messages were short, they were clear and precise! You left me with a confident feeling in regards to your capabilities and your amazing gift! Thanks again!

If you are interested in having a session with Rusty, his contact information is below:

http://www.rustywinsea.net

Rusty also has a Facebook page called Rusty Winsea 417 Intuitive Solutions

A few weekends ago I ventured down to Los Angeles to visit a friend and attend an art opening for Swedish artist Jimmy Strambrandt, plus of course to taste some of the Native Foods…literally, but more about that in a minute. Sharing a few photos from the gallery and from the trip.

Two Swedish artists, Jimmy & Lisa

If you’re interested in seeing more of his art, I have added a link to his page at the end of this! I thought the compositions were very clever and enjoyed meeting Jimmy, speak a little Swedish, plus meet some new and interesting people! I even drove a little while in Los Angeles! FYI: I’m a very careful and observant driver!

The best part of the trip was the trip down to Palm Springs, where I’d only previously driven through. As I mentioned in the beginning, I had to sample the food, so lunch was at Native Foods and I now wish that they were located in every city across the United States!

The Lavender Lemonade was delicious, by the way! Here’s a peek at the dishes I sampled. First Native Nachos. The “Nacho cheese” was delicious!

Also had to try a few of the Native Sweet Potato fries, but I must admit that I’ve had better.

For the main dish I had the Twister Wrap: Fresh baby greens, fresh avocado and cucumber salsa, creamy chipotle sauce and your choice of crispy, blackened or grilled Native Chicken in a whole wheat wrap. It was delicious!

 “Twister Wrap”

Also sampled the Sesame Kale Macro Bowl: Grilled Native Tempeh atop steamed kale, brown rice, creamy ginger sesame sauce, tangy sauerkraut and onions. Garnished with gomasio and green onion and served with crunchy cucumber seaweed salad on the side.

A beautiful place to stay in Palm Springs is Korakia Pensione. It has been named “One of the Sexiest Hotels in America” by Forbes and The New York Times. It didn’t disappoint, that’s for sure! I feel grateful to have stayed there…even just for one night!

Korakia is Greek for “crow”. The pool was 90 degrees, by the way! I took a nighttime swim! I also loved the fire pit, but didn’t get a good picture of it, so you will have to look at in on their website at the end. A wonderful place to sit by in the evening and gaze up at the stars!

I apologize for not having as much time to write and share, as I am teaching extra classes both at school and at my business, plus preparing for several upcoming talks! If you want more vegalicious information you can always follow me on FaceBook under my pages “Cancer Project Nutrition And Cooking Class” and “Nourish NW”, as well as “West Coast Vegans” – the page I share with my friend, Alejandra.

Happy Vegalicious March!

Art by Jimmy Strambrandt: http://www.stambrandt.com

Korakia Pensione: http://www.korakia.com/about

Native Foods: https://www.nativefoods.com

Good morning Plant-Based Lovers,

I wanted to alert you to this VERY important Kickstarter campaign for the new documentary, PlantPure Nation. If you, like myself, thought that Forks Over Knives was an extremely important documentary in educating the public to turn to a plant-based diet for their health, then I know that this one will be just as significant! I am SO excited about this film, so please check out the trailer for it and learn about why they’re doing this Kickstarter campaign! I truly believe that this is going to be the most significant film you will be seeing on the big screen in 2015, so let’s all show our support so they can reach a wider audience!

FILM is a POWERFUL medium!

Thank YOU for YOUR support!!!

Nina, Urban Vegan Chic

A few weeks ago, I returned from spring break in Denmark. It was a short, but delightful visit to the place where I was born, visiting family and friends. I also had the opportunity to speak again for the Danish Cancer Society, which I was honored to do in their new beautiful location! My cousin Mette went with to hear the new talk that I gave – her second time to hear me speak. A few days later I was over at her house for lunch and I couldn’t wait to see what she had come up with because she gets quite creative in the kitchen! I asked later if I could share the two salads and she said, “Of course!” They are pretty easy salads to make…yet so incredibly tasty, so I will bypass telling you to chop and mix the ingredients!

Asparagus & Cherry Tomato Salad

Ingredients:

Iceberg lettuce
Cherry Tomatoes
Spring onions
Radishes
Asparagus
Oil / vinegar dressing

Kale, Orange, and Pomegranate Salad

Ingredients:

Chopped kale
Honey melon
Orange
Pomegranate Kernels
Toasted pine nuts
Orange juice as dressing

Veggie Appetizers: Hummus, Avocado and another Veggie Dip

**The only way chickens should ever be served on a plate! **

After making one or both of these salads, I’d love to hear what you thought! 

Happy Meatless Monday!

OG…

…Mange Tak Søde Mette! Stort Knus herovre fra! 

Hello and Happy Summer!

It’s been a while…

…and while some bloggers get paid to blog, I happen to not be on that pay roll and that’s quite all right because I’d probably get bored to tears, run out of things to talk about and want to throw some veggie balls out the window. I get my most inspiration from being out and about, from helping others, working with people!

The real reason I’ve not been on here is that I’ve been working my tail off. First, I taught summer school for five weeks and while I was at that I found and started the process of buying a sweet little house! Yay!

It’s a small house, but plenty big for me and my sweet four legged children! It feels very cozy…or “hyggeligt”, as we say in Danish. The whole process has been taking up all of my time! Moving is definitely not for the faint at heart. I am thankful that I have gotten this Awesome contractor working on my behalf. He is just so talented! He’s doing bits and bobs for me all over the house. I have the outmost respect for people who do that kind of work. I’ve watched him, on and off, for two whole days now, and Wow, he gets stuff done! Besides being hardworking, he is also very calm and pleasant to be around. I like that a lot!

My friend June was also here visiting from London, England. We had a blast spending three fun filled days together with me showing her all the highlights possible.

Like Pike’s Place Market in Seattle…

…Ahh, summer! Does it get any better than this?

I’m so grateful to be living in such a gorgeous place, surrounded by such amazing beauty, from being able to do work that I love, my wonderful friends and new opportunities that continue coming my way!

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you’re having a wonderful summer!

Logging off, it’s another day of packing and moving for me tomorrow!

Good morning and Happy Saturday Vegalicious Ones!

Lani Muelrath has offered to do a giveaway of her new book, The Plant-Based Journey, right here on my blog! It’s a fantastic book! I have already written about how much I love it and highly recommend it (see my previous blog post)!

The Planted Palate wrote this excellent review:

“If you are interested what-so-ever (which I hope) in this lifestyle, than Lani’s book is an absolute must read…I will even go as far and call it the bible of plant-based eating…”

“So you guys… this book is your one stop shop for of you who are beginners or veterans in this lifestyle. Simply put – it is a must read for everyone. It is a step by step guide for transitioning to a healthy lifestyle and achieving your ideal weight. It is also packed with recipes that will satisfy everyones palate. “Lani really makes this book fun and easy to read all while being incredibly inspirational.”

I fully agree with The Planted Palate! The book is truly exceptional! If you would like to be considered for the book giveaway, please leave a note about where you are at on your Plant-Based Journey. Are you at the “Awakening” Stage, just starting out, or are you already a “Rock Star” or a “Champion” – well on your way, who is wanting to give this book to someone you love and care about or just wanting to know more for yourself? I will look forward to reading what you have to say. I will do the drawing next Saturday and name the winner of the book!

**Drawing will be done next Saturday, October 3rd, 2015**

Have a Fantastic Day and Eat Plant-Strong!

A HUGE Thanks To Lani Muelrath for not only writing this book, but also for making this drawing possible! Love you, Lani! xo

PS. U.S.A only!

This summer I took a short fun trip up to Eastsound on Orcas Island with a good friend of mine. Before taking the ferry over we stayed a night in La Connor to take the ferry over early in the morning. It is such a cute little town with some great restaurants, a few of which will do a great job for anyone on a plant-based vegan diet. My friend and I always have a lot of fun when we travel together! However, I would have been just as comfortable taking this trip on my own if one of my friends couldn’t go! It is that sort of place! I’ve always felt safe on the island. However, going with a friend, family member(s) or a significant other is always more fun! The San Juan Islands are an amazing  place to visit in Washington State – I’d compare these islands to going to Europe. I’ll give you my perspective of what one can do while on Orcas Island. First, here’s a picture from West Beach where we went to watch the sunset.

Bringing along some champagne and a little chocolate (dark & vegan)  while watching the sun go down…Life really doesn’t get any better than this!

When the sun was setting it looked like this

I decided to play around on the beach with it while the sun was setting. Here are a couple of snapshots.

My sweet dog decided to join in the fun too!

Once the sun had set this is a view back at the beach from the boat ramp of the cool cabins that are for rent at West Beach. Many families with children stay here. What a view to wake up to each morning!

There are many great restaurants on Orcas. We went back to The Kitchen, which serves vegan and vegetarian food. After the amazing sunset and fun on the beach we went to New Leaf Cafe for dessert. Sitting next to us was Joe Walsh (The Eagles) and company. My friend knew who he was and really wanted a photo of the two of them. I wouldn’t have paid any attention, otherwise. No offense to Mr. Walsh or anyone out there who might be an Eagles fan. It wasn’t until later that I realized his connection to The Eagles and his amazing guitar solo in Hotel California. So frankly right before I had this picture taken with him I said, “I’m sorry I don’t know who you are, but I’m delighted to meet you.” He replied, “Well, you’re probably better off!” Hahaha. The man has got talent and a good sense of humor! He was also in company of Jeff Lynne from The Electric Light Orchestra.

One of my favorite things to do when on the island is to go hiking around Mountain Lake. It is SO incredibly beautiful. Depending on where you park your car the hike can take anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours. It’s just stunning and not that difficult to hike, unless you have small children in tow.

Orcas Island also has a wonderful center for the arts where we have gone to listen to music before. We went again this year! The islands all have rich arts programs with so many talented artists! It is definitely worth checking out, either before going or while there, to see what might be on the program. I have never been disappointed, plus it is a great way to meet some of the locals! Orcas Island also has many great shops. I personally love the local bookstore and believe in supporting small businesses. How sad it will be the day there are no more bookstores to browse because we all shop on line just to save a few bucks! Here are some books that we purchased. The top two are mine!

There is also the Saturday’s Farmers Market which is really great and not to be missed with great crafts, jewelry, fruits and vegetables, and lots of other good stuff! In addition, there are many galleries, small boutiques and a history museum. Plus there are many beautiful flowers to snap pictures of. Here’s one that I’ve named “Firework Flower”.

Another place that I’d highly recommend is to drive out to Doe Bay for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Cafe has great vegan options and the food is just amazing. Here’s a glimpse at what I had for breakfast one morning.

They were serving Huevos Rancheros vegan style with grilled tofu, topped with avocado and the yummiest corn salsa. It’s a lot of food, so go hungry! I also ordered a Thai tea with soy milk. Very yummy! Plus you can’t beat the view from Doe Bay! (I’m wearing my tennies because we just came from a hike!)

Not only can you hike on the island, but you can rent bikes, boats and kayaks! One can also go whale watching. It must be unbelievable to see the whales coming through these waters at the right time of the year, I would imagine! This is my summer update. I hope yours has been fun as well, even if it was short like mine due to work and other obligations. Never underestimate the rejuvenating power of a short weekend getaway!

What about you?

Where have you gone this summer that has refreshed your mind/body/spirit?

Feel free to leave a comment at the end! I’d love to hear what has inspired you,

even if it was just a trip to the park!

In best of health & wishing you a good rest of August!

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

~Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society

Hello Veggie Lovers,

It has been a while, but I’m back again with new inspiration, stories and recipes!

Yesterday, I taught a fun class on Plant-based cooking for an audience of 12 at my favorite health food store. I’d been asked to make “comfort food”, so I made “Pete’s Shepherd Pie” (link to recipe is at the bottom of this) and also Lani Muelrath’s “Simple Vegetable Soup” – the template for this is in Lani’s awesome new book, The Plant-Based Journey on page 114 along with so many other delicious recipes. Plus I also made a vegan chocolate mousse. I asked Lani’s permission to share my version of this recipe with you all and she said yes! Thank you, Lani!

The group I taught was 11 non-vegans to one vegan and I wish I’d had extra copies of Lani’s book with me because it is full of excellent advice & tips for how to transition to a plant-based diet! The Plant-based Journey has been recommended by many top-notch doctors and once you read it you’ll understand why!

One participant commented, “The soup was “Da Bomb!” They all loved it! Enjoy, it’s still a bit chilly out!

Here’s the recipe:

Lani’s Simple Vegetable Soup Template

Adopted from Lani Muelrath’s book, The Plant-Based Journey

Ingredients:

3 – 5 large root vegetables (ex. carrots, potatoes)

2 large onions, coarsely chopped (red gives more flavor)

1 large bunch dark leafy greens (ex. kale, chard, spinach)

½ cup dried shiitake mushrooms (dried shiitakes for stronger flavor)

1 cup lentils, soaked overnight or precooked to minimum time

2 containers of Organic Vegetable Broth (32 oz. each)

Vegetable bouillon, miso paste, salt, or other soup seasoning and spices to taste.

Adding fresh and finely cut Rosemary gives it extra flavor.

Directions:

1. Precook lentils.

2. Coarsely chop the root vegetables.

3. Pour the vegetable broth into a large pot and heat. Then add the root vegetables and cook for about 10-12 minutes. Check the potatoes with a fork. You do not want them mushy.

4. Add the seasoning spices, pre-cooked lentils, shiitake mushrooms and the dark leafy greens. Cook for another 3-5 minutes. Serve.

Yield: 4 – 6 Servings.

Enjoy Pete’s Shepherd Pie too:

http://urbanveganchic.com/?s=Pete%27s+shepherd+pie

Good morning…or Day Earthlings,

Whatever time zone you’re in, I greet you a great day from here! One word of warning. I’m a bit on fire today…it’s as if my hair has turned red and I got my Superwoman cape on! No, not really, but I did wake up all fired up! And today is Kim’s birthday…She would have turned 48, but died, as some of you know, and got me propelled into going Whole Food Plant-Based Vegan. So, may I be excused? Okay, so we vegans hear all these insane and lame excuses from people about why someone can’t or more like it, won’t, go vegan! Lots have been written about this, so I won’t take up your time with all that lameness! I will include a couple of links at the end in case you’re just stumbling across my blog (Hello and welcome!) or you’ve simply never heard of such a thing. I am only addressing ONE Excuse Today!

By the way, the reason this guy has “man boobs” is due to elevated estrogen levels from animal consumption. It ought to be a warning sign of heightened risk of Cancer, Heart Disease and Diabetes! Real Men Eat Plants!

Here are a few common excuses vegans hear, “I won’t get enough protein.” Seriously?! My protein levels have never been higher since going whole foods plant-based vegan. My nurse practitioner pointed this out after I’d been vegan for a year. But Nina, “Cavemen ate meat!” Oh for Pete’s sake, they also ate small children! The fact is that “cave people” were slim and fit because they had to walk A LOT, possibly run for their lives as a wooly mammoth was chasing them down for his supper, and they ate mostly plant-based foods with rare occasions of meat. As a reference on what a vegan diet can do, please look up Germany’s strongest man, Patrick Baboumian or any vegan athlete and check them out! They are not throwing out these lame excuses! Here’s the last one, “God made animals for us to eat!” Baloney! God or Jesus would never be this cruel to allow factory farming and all the horrors towards animals that are happening! Read, Kathy Freston’s book, Veganist. She goes into all world religions, including Christianity. Each religion speaks against eating animals and honoring ALL life on this planet! Each religion also says,

“Thou Shalt Not Kill!”

What part of this message did we not get?

Here’s the real reason for this blog post…an excuse that I keep hearing that I just can’t wrap my head around. Maybe you’ve heard it too?

“I Can’t Go Vegan Because I Don’t Want To Live That Long?”

What exactly are ‘you’ saying? You have a secret desire to get run over by a car tomorrow? To somehow be put out of your miserable existence? I have heard this excuse several times now. I sort of get it because, let’s face it, most of us were not born “vegans”! What I hear the person saying is, “I can’t give up “my meat“. I enjoy steak and all other meat. I want to enjoy eating what I want when I want. I don’t care if I get a heart attack or cancer!…And don’t try to convince me otherwise.” Yes, this has actually been said directly to my face! The person hopes to go “easily” with a heart attack some day! The person telling me this is typically clueless about what a vegan eats. Most believe we only eat boring salads with no dressing. They’ve never had a vegan burger or any kind of meat alternative. Never been to a vegan restaurant. Never seen footage of the animal cruelty that happens daily in slaughterhouses all over the world. How sad, right!? They just don’t know! If we speak and it comes out that I eat this way, they’ll look at me, with a self-righteous look on their face, and vow they’ll NEVER go vegan!

Part of me can’t help wonder that somewhere below the surface these people know that what they’re participating in is wrong. They have to know to some degree that the animals they are eating wanted to live and didn’t go to their deaths willingly. Don’t they? They also have to know, in this day and age, that animal consumption is a HUGE waste of resources (land, water, grain) that could help feed millions of starving people…prevent millions of children from dying and is the main source of global warming. If not, please tell them to watch “Cowspiracy”! NO, let’s just ignore all the facts! In most cases, it is “All About Me”. Who gives a …. what happens to “those people” over there somewhere – in an unknown place that you only see or hear about on TV on rare occasions because our media is so focused on mindless and embarrassing things such as the size of Donald Trumps hands, his narcissistic comments or his peanut sized brain! Am I wrong? (I told you I was on fire today, right!?) Here are some facts about what a vegan individual contributes:

Back to the excuse of, “I don’t want to live that long.” Okay, so what if you do? You may end up waddling around, in so much unbearable pain that you have to rely on meds to get you through your day…and perhaps you can’t afford to go get all that expensive medication. You may also one day have to rely on one of those walkers with a seat – you know, the ones that look like a small grocery cart, because you’re out of breath every 10 seconds, or worse someone else now has to come and wipe your a.. or spoon feed you! My mom, by the way, told me she’d rather die than push one of those around or end up in a retirement home.

Well, most of us never imagine that something like that could EVER happen to US, right!? Wrong! I have seen it happen to the most unsuspecting folks! They lived “the high life” and partied it up. Never thinking the “party” would ever end. Well it did…and it has! These people said the same thing once upon a time. “I could never give up eating meat and cheese. I can’t live without it.” Blah Blah Blah  Seriously, why would you do that to yourself? (Yes, I know the above photo is a more extreme example, but not an isolated one as world wide, the numbers of people who are either fat or obese keeps on rising!)

GOOD NEWS!!!

Here’s the good news! There’s SO much delicious, protein laden vegan food out there that will keep you healthy and hoppin’ till the very end…and it is also said to increase your happiness! My other wonder is, “Perhaps if the person making this comment switched to a vegan diet they’d eventually stop saying, “I don’t want to live that long!” and actually start living as if life on this beautiful planet…and that of other non-human beings, actually mattered!  Enjoy your day, everyone!

Links to other Lame Excuses Vegans Hear:

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/excuses-for-not-eating-vegan-and-my-responses/

http://theminimalistvegan.com/excuses/

Happy December,

Recently, I ran into Pete – the creator of BetaOats – and I hope you take the time to read his story!

Here’s how I first met Pete: I was walking into my local health food store and I saw this guy dishing up yogurt. My first thought was, “There’s another cow’s milk pusher!” I must have frowned! Later, when I was checking out, I overheard him say, “It’s 100% vegan!” Silly me! How could I have been so wrong? Well, long story short, it led to us have a great talk and the next day I went out to breakfast with Pete and his beautiful wife, Maria and their six-month-old daughter, Vasilisa. 

How did you two meet?

We met in Saint Petersburg, Russia, 8 years ago. At the time Maria was studying at a local University and I (Pete) happened to teach English at the same University. I was looking for a tutor to study Russian in exchange of English lessons that he was offering. Maria volunteered and we were married 2 ½ years later. A couple years later we moved to Idaho, where I found a job in the city of Pocatello as a Mechanical Engineer while Maria studied to receive a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Once done with schooling, we decided to reallocate to Seattle, where we now reside.

How did you come up with an idea to start BetaOats?

After living in Russia and traveling around Europe for a couple years, Maria and I were disappointed with the healthy food choices presented in the US. Living in Southern Idaho, we continuously struggled finding healthful food for our family. One such food was an oat vellie (yogurt-like fermented oats). Living in the US, we couldn’t find this type of product anywhere, so we decided to make our own. It took us about 3 years of hard work to refine the recipe, set up the production process, and complete all the necessary requirements for starting a food manufacturing facility. And now we are delivering our product to local stores of the Seattle area. 

What is BetaOats?

Oats are a superfood. They are 100% whole grain, packed with soluble fiber beta-glucan, and rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. People from around the world have been using oats as a staple in their diets in various forms. A traditional method of fermenting oats, found in many cultures, produces a yogurt-like product, enhanced in flavor and nutritional value. Such fermented cereal yogurt-type meals are called vellies. Each package of our oat vellie contains 6.5 oz of oat goodness, prepared with only the essential natural ingredients, no preservatives or gmo’s, and 100% vegan. Naturally high in beta-glucan, BetaOats vellie combines the beneficial live bacterial cultures of fermented sprouted oats, the creaminess of your favorite yogurt, and the refreshing flavor of fresh fruit (marion berries, blueberries, and strawberries) sourced from the Hood River Valley in Northern Oregon.

Why is it called BetaOats? Why not AlphaOats?

Well, we do not need to call it Alpha to make it appealing to the public. Our product speaks for itself. Our oat vellie is a very healthy product. Why? For a variety of reasons, and one of them is that the product is high in soluble fiber, called Beta-glucan. There are different types of fibers, some – insoluble, those that are great for digestive health, and others – soluble, like Beta-glucan, that take the form of a viscous gel-like substance, trapping certain food components, such as fats and sugars, making them less available for absorption. By binding with fat, Beta-glucan (soluble fiber) can lower cholesterol, thus reducing the risk of heart disease. By slowing down absorption of sugars, it regulates blood sugar levels protecting against insulin resistance. Our sprouted oats are an excellent source of beta-glucan. In fact, they have second highest content of beta-glucan, losing only to barley. That is where the “Beta” part of BetaOats is coming from. Oh, and -BetaOats- are simply “Betta’ for you!”

How is it sweetened?

The product is sweetened with apple juice concentrate and a bit of organic cane sugar. However, most of the sugar comes naturally from the fruits. It’s important to remember that to make a good tasting yogurt, you need have a good balance between the tartness and the sweetness of the yogurt.

Why is it not organic? 

We would love to make our product organic. However, being a small operation, it is impossible to do so in a way that would not skyrocket the price of the yogurt. It is very expensive to source organic fruit preparation year-round and it is not feasible at this moment. It is a goal we have soon as we grow bigger and drive costs down.

Where are you selling your product?

We have been selling our product for three months now and it is sold in Vegan Haven, Seattle, and Marlenes’ stores in Tacoma and Federal Way. We are currently negotiating with other local grocery retailers to bring our product to the market.

So what is the plan going forward?

As owners of any business, we want to expand. We believe in our product – it’s very healthy and delicious. However, it is not easy to get into most grocery retailers. The competition is high and the bureaucracy is tough. We need your help in expanding! Let your local store know that you want to see our product.

Thank you so much Pete and Maria! Your BetaOats yogurt is DELICIOUS and should be sold in stores ALL over the place! 

I really appreciate your time and it was SO Great to meet the three of you! 

Happy Holidays, Everyone! Now go ask for some BetaOats at a store near you! 

If you are interested in more stories like this one, search “Two Years of Plant-based Interviews!