Ommmmm, what are you doing..

Yoga. I love it and I'm not alone. Thousands of people are yoga converts, but a lot of people still have misconceptions about the "omming" and balancing and bare feet on sticky matness of yoga. To be honest though, yoga is not just a "spiritual liberation" or whatever the die-hards call it; it's great exercise! Toning, stretching, and racing heartbeats all in one workout that doesn't seem like a workout. Find a nearby facility that hosts classes or find DVDs with some cool yoga sequences to try. Remember, different types of yoga (or even a different instructor/video) can emphasize different components (mind, body, that deal) so keep experimenting and find some you love! You won't regret it; trust me.

Rave Review?

I'm not going to lie, I had my fears when initiating my vegan diet. "Never again eat whipped cream smothered strawberries? No more cheese and crackers?! Frozen yogurt's out too?? Oh snap." Here's the thing. 1) Becoming a vegan opens SO many taste pallet doors. It can transform a picky or unhealthy eater, into a muncher of abundance. 2) There are actually a great deal of vegan alternatives to your favorite treats!

Here's one of them:

Tofutti Vanilla Cuties. Flashback to the ice cream truck that drove tortuously slow down my street, music blaring. Once or twice a summer, mother darling would throw a dollar at us and say "Fine! Get an ice cream." My sister would get the Firecracker thing that turned your tongue rainbow and was grainy with sugar, but I'd get an Ice Cream Sandwich. Every time. (All five times, basically..) They were messy and melty, but so incredibly delicious. Now here you have a vegan version of that treat! All 130calories of this (super) tiny sandwich are worth it. With 2grams of protein and 9grams of sugar, it's not exactly the healthiest of snacks, but it'll keep you sane. The portion, albeit tiny, is actually perfect. You get to savor a few bites and your sweet tooth is satisfied. Maybe, just maybe, the company can work to reduce the calories, but otherwise, the snack is authentic in all ways.

Some "Not So Fun" Facts Everyone Should Know

Here's the thing, I know there are countless people who scorn people for choosing to eliminate meat from their diet. I've been the subject of ridicule myself; oftentimes from my own family! What's truly tragic, however, is that most people who criticize vegan or vegetarian diets don't even ask what motive the person had for the diet choice, nor do they realize (or want to admit) how much of a negative impact their meat consumption and animal-product use has. The below list is just a mere glance at a list so long, of reasons to consider reducing/eliminating your meat intake.

• Weight is always an attractive factor of vegan diet touting. It's true that vegans tend to be slimmer (or on their way to being slimmer) than their meat munching counterparts. If you adopt a healthy vegan diet and are at all overweight, it's likely the weight will fall off effortlessly and permanently. Why, you ask? Well, vegan diets include fiber rich foods that make you feel fuller longer. Also, such diets tend to be lower in fat which automatically saves you calories because a gram of carbohydrate or protein has 4 calories while fat (a component of meat that is very prevalent in meat and other animal products) has 9 calories per gram. (It's important to emphasize "healthy" because many vegan foods are not the healthiest[candies, movie theater popcorn..the butter is usually fake, making the snack vegan]. However, it's rather tricky to not eat healthfully as a vegan because those foods that can nourish you, are healthy!)
• Terrifyingly enough, scientists tell us that one out of three children born after 2000 will develop the preventable disease of type 2 diabetes. Sure, a vegan diet might not eliminate the risk 100%, but there's a very good chance it will.
• Switching to a plant-based diets can work wonders for your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar within weeks.
• Plant foods have anti-disease and aging properties that can allow you to lead a longer and happier life - with a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, etc. The average vegetarian, lives ten years longer than meat-eaters.
  
• The pumping of antibiotics into animals is leading to widespread antibiotic resistance.
• ALL food-poisoning (food-borne viruses, antibiotic resistant infections, and bacteria) originate from animals (including spinach, tomatoes, and other crops covered in bacteria which were contaminated by water containing animal fecal matter). Such animal illnesses occur because of unsanitary and cramped conditions that leave animals stressed and susceptible.
  
• Raising animals for food is responsible for 18% of global warming. If every American were to substitute chicken at one meal a week for a vegetarian alternative, the carbon dioxide savings that would result would be equivalent to the removal of more than half a million cars from the roads of the US.
• This disturbs me almost more than any other fact - "If 1 in 10 people around the globe stopped eating animals, it would free up enough food to feed the 1 billion hungry." ("Veganist" by Kathy Freston)
• As for animal suffering, there's no one fact I can say. So many animals suffer so incredibly much for our consumption and use. They are drugged up and manipulated to grow too large for their bodies to support, many animals are dismembered while still alive, animals are put alive into scalding tanks when stunners aren't effective, the list goes on and on and painfully on.
• Find out more for yourself. Watch trailers and documentaries, read books, and research. Don't take my word for it because a choice like this is yours to make.
  

Help! What can I get?

Nothing's worse than getting to a restaurant and (finally!) being seated with all your best friends and then realizing you have no idea what dishes are vegan/vegetarian! With a little research you can be armed an prepared.

Where do you go most often? What restaurants or theaters? What foods do you like? If you go to one particular place pretty frequently, it might be worth it to go to the restaurant and ask the manager about it specifically. Otherwise, google and books can work wonders.

Eatin' Like a Vegan

The concept of going vegan can seem pretty darn daunting, especially to those of us that thoroughly enjoy our Kentucky Fried Chicken strips and thick gravy over turkey. If you really read up on it though, you'll soon realize it's not half bad! When you read about all the environmental, health, and humanity detriments meat consumption has, you'll begin to look a little differently at the burger in front of you. People who understand that trailers of animal cruelty will sway their opinion on animal product consumption/use often don't watch them. This is rather ridiculous, however, because they need not fear the 'inconvenience' of become a vegan. Half of what you eat is probably close to vegan, and the other half can be changed easily! What's more, is that "veganization" can be a slow and gradual process. No one's saying you must do it all NOW. Try some new recipes and taste test new dishes at your favorite restaurant; you'll soon realize vegan food is GOOD. Here's a day in the life:

Breakfast: Gooood morning dark skies and freezing floors on my bare toes. Yawn, stretch, grumble. Time to bust out some food.
Oatmeal (good ole old fashioned oats with water) with maple syrup. I usually eat a cup of oatmeal (1/2 a cup uncooked) with 1/2 a teaspoon of the maple syrup because it's just soo sweet!
Snack:
Part of a Clif bar (not all varieties are necessarily vegan so double check...double YUM!)
Lunch:
PB&J on a Bagel Thin with Beanie Salad
Snack:
Apple with Peanut Butter
Dinner:
Steamed Broccoli and Cauliflower, Tofu Stir Fry,Rice
Dessert:
Soygurt

There are more meals than you think that have vegan alternatives and you can discover millions of them online or in a cookbook!

Fast Food for Vegans?! Is that even allowed..

You bet your bottom it is! Most people need to have fast food at some point in their lives (some more than others, of course ;]). Whether you're exhausted after work and don't want to wake the kids cooking up dinner (midnight snack at this point) or are on a road trip with the gals, you should now what's out there for when the time comes.

http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/chain-restaurants.aspx

Check it out :-)

Documentaries Everyone Must Watch

Food Inc.
Earthlings
Fat Head AND Supersize Me (you've got to compare these two...fascinating)
The Cove

I've watched so many other great ones, but these stuck out most. I urge you to check them out!!

But I'm Atheist...

You don't have to be Catholic to celebrate your own make-shift "Lent"! I'm not extremely religious, yet I utilize the concept of Lent to improve myself. You can give something up or promise to do something every day for 40 days. It seems like a challenge, but it's a challenge countless people successfully conquer. Here are some ideas:

1. No candy! That basket at meetings is sooo incredibly tempting to take freely from while your boss drones on, but try not to eat any for 40 days and you might just kick the habit for good!
2. No __insert tempting, but unhealthy food(s) here__. You might lose weight or just feel plain healthier. Being strong in a tough situation makes anyone feel good about themselves.
3. Workout more!
   
4. Take the stairs when possible!
5. Park far away!
6. More veggies!
7. Work on reducing stress! (hello forty days of required "me time")
8. Be more positive!
9. No procrastinating!
10. No fast food! :O

If you do choose to "celebrate" Lent or your own Lenty type thing, good luck!!

Stressed out? Sleep on it.

Today's society puts pressure on us all. Why is it, then, that Mr. Chillax over there is calm as can be, while I'm freaking out. Stress can seem unavoidable, but, in fact, can be reduced by making a few lifestyle and attitude changes. Why does it matter if I'm stressed or not in the first place? Well, anxiety, depression, heart attack, stroke, weight gain/loss, difficulty concentrating/remembering, headaches and other tension, and gastrointestinal disorders are all adverse effects of stress. So, yes, it might be worth your time to work towards reducing your stress levels. Here are some suggestions as to how to go about doing that:

• GET MORE SLEEP. The majority of us need 8 hours of sleep a night, and without it, you won't be as apt to function and handle stress properly. We've all had those moments where, after a sleepless night, we are overwhelmed and just 'snap'.
• Avoid the stressful situation. Although not always possible, certain circumstances put us under unnecessary strain (like the stress of the upcoming marathon for charity your overly energetic sister-in-law guilted you into..you can barely run 3 miles let alone 26.2 or the ridiculously fancy brunch you agreed to single-handedly run for the PTA parents while your significant other is on a business trip). I have the problem too..we have to learn to "just say no".
• Procrastination = Doom. Don't do that powerpoint presentation at 2am the day it's due! Spare yourself.
• Let it out. If you can't let it go on your own, talk about it to a confidante or therapist. It feels great to vent and you often can realize whether you're being rational or not once you've voiced your complaint aloud.
• Do something you love. You deserve some you time. It's for your health. Take a bath, read a book, watch a movie, walk around the block a few times, sprint to your absolute favorite jam, etc. etc. etc.

In the end, it's your life, and you should be enjoying it. Don't let social pressures guide your decisions. Take charge and be happy.

Playlists to Get Pumped About

Music = Motivation for me. Determine what your favorite songs are (major toughie, eh). Find upbeat songs and some more slow tempo-ed songs for your cool down. You can find these catchy tunes on the radio or youtube. Broaden your musical horizons and you might just discover some atypical tunes that are actually incredibly inspiring and fun to exercise to. If you find exercise that is fun and music that enables you to stop counting the minutes, you will be a much healthier and happier worker-outer.

Reading = Health? Yeah, okay..

Stop! Don't dub me a mega-nerd already. Reading is, yes, a hobby of mine, but it's so much more than that! You can really learn an awful lot about what's new in the nutritional world. Because everything is so incredibly controversial, you can really broaden your perspectives and form more unbiased, fact-based opinions. Save some paper and check out your library for cookbooks, exercise guides, books on organic farming, genetically modified foods books, etc. Some books I love?

• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being a Vegetarian"

Simple, but informative!

• "The Locavore's Handbook"

Budget and eco-friendly tips.

• "Just Food"

Offers a different perspective on food.

• "Tomorrow's Table"

Riling and fascinating.

Snack Superstars

I don't know about you, but there's no way I can survive from lunch to dinner without a snack of some sort. In fact, many nutritionists (my mom included) feel that eating throughout the day is healthier than gorging yourself at three meals a day. If you're prepared with healthy, but yummy snack ideas, you won't be caught raiding the fourth floor vending machine for Cheetos and a Coke. Here are a few ideas:

1. Apples with peanut butter - In my opinion, you can't go wrong with this classic. Many of us don't eat enough fruits and vegetables and snack time is the perfect opportunity to free ourselves from this deficit! A small apple can have as much as 4 grams of fiber (more than many of your breakfast cereals has per serving!) and a tablespoon of peanut butter adds another 1 gram plus 4 grams of protein. If this isn't a yummy power snack, I don't know what is!
2. Celery with peanut butter and raisins - You can probably tell I'm a huge fan of peanut butter...low calorie and with that ideal salty/sweet/crunchy/creamy combination, you can't go wrong!
3. Popcorn - LOVE THIS! Perfect comfort food with plenty of fiber. Be sure to find a brand that's both healthy and tasty. Air-popped is of course healthiest, but if you aren't going to eat it, what's the point!? Look for low calorie and non-hydrogenated oil versions.
4. Assorted Nuts - Unsalted varieties such as almonds, pistachios, cashews, peanuts, etc..or all of the above serve as an insanely healthy snack. Nuts are rather calorie-rich, however, so be conscious of your portions. Just know that these calories are coming from healthy fats and protein so don't be scared off! (1/4 cup of almonds is approximately 135 calories)
5. Carrots with hummus - Many people assume hummus and pita chips automatically go together. I couldn't disagree more! Carrots add a crunch and sweetness (not to mention fiber and antioxidants and all of those other veggie benefits) to the snack that is to die for. Buy a brand of hummus that looks healthiest and most natural (none of this "hummus flavoring") to you or make your own! Recipes are all over the web..here's a link to one of them:

http://www.food.com/recipe/super-healthy-hummus-90086

Enjoy :-)

Me? Exercise?! Oh hell no..

If the idea of running like a rodent in a wheel at the gym makes you claustrophobic or bored beyond belief, you're not alone. For some people, the gym scene is not the best workout environment. Fear not anti-barbell lifters and treadmill-runners, there are plenty of alternate exercise ideas!!
For exercise throughout the day:

• The signature "park far away" deal rings true. Your kids might curse you for parking in the bowels of the parking lot, but your gut will appreciate it in the long run.
• For many it may be unrealistic, but walking to school/work/stores can often serve as an eco and body-friendly way to get from point A to point B. (weather permitting of course..)
• Inevitably, it's difficult to get active during your work/school day. Humans were soo not meant to sit hunched in a chair, squinting at a screen all day! If you have the opportunity, get up and stretch. Maybe talk a walk to a water fountain that's far away or take the stairs to the ladies room at a light jog (no one will question it..gotta go when you gotta go). This one always looks incredibly classy: do some desk push ups in your cube. Your co-workers may gawk at first, but, hey, you might inspire someone!

Gym-free exercise:

• I'm a huge fan of field hockey and tennis. They are both incredibly fun and tone your body. I urge you to check out local clubs/rec sports teams that appeal to you! Maybe you've always wanted to play soccer, but never knew how. You could join a beginner's league. Or maybe you can't play such high impact sports as field hockey; you could join a nature walking group.
• Determine if you like to exercise alone, or in a social environment. If you feel the latter describes your desires best, team sports and clubs, like the one's mentioned above are great. If you prefer solitude when you're sweating it out, try playing racquetball or swimming!

Exercise by definition doesn't require the exerciser to be bored! You can work towards fulfilling your dreams of learning jazz dance while getting an outstanding workout. Find what works for you and go for it! You don't have to always do the same thing, so experiment! Life is much to short to waste time hating what you're doing.

It's raining here :/

I hope for your sake, the weather where you are is not so..delightful. But if it is just as dreary and miserable there as it is here (or if you've ever endured such weather for that matter) you probably are familiar with the "rainy day feeling". The rainy day feeling is that restlessness that leaves you craving an afternoon of lounging with a good book or movie with a mug of cocoa and warm cookies; you know the one. Don't give me that interweb glare! Just because I know better than to give in to these desires to gorge myself with such treats, doesn't mean I can't imagine!! I don't have to imagine for long, however, because if I can manage to rouse myself from my rainy-day stupor, I can whisk together a satisfyingly sweet something. Oh, and by the way, that sweet something is guilt-free. Check out two such fabulous recipes below :-) (Since I mentioned cookies and cocoa above, I figured I'd keep with the theme)

Hot Cocoa Recipe (doesn't necessarily qualify as "healthy", but we all need to splurge!)

1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar (you can certainly reduce this significantly for fewer calories, but still that signature sweetness)
1 tablespoon water
1 1/4 cups nondairy (soy) milk (less milk and more water is another strategy to cut back the calories)

Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies (for this and other outstanding recipes with a healthful flair, check out Jessica Seinfeld's "Deceptively Delicious")

Ingredients:

nonstick cooking spray
1 c firmly packed brown sugar
(vegans: replace margarine with vegetarian butter substitute) - 3/4 c trans fat-free soft tub margarine
(vegans: use vegetarian egg replacement) - 2 large egg whites
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
(vegans: look for vegan dark chocolate..it's the best!) - 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
(fiber seekers: use whole wheat flour instead!) - 2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and margarine with a wooden spoon or on medium speed until smooth. Beat in the egg whites and vanilla, then the chickpeas and chocolate chips. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, and mix on low speed until a thick dough forms.
3. Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto the baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Press gently with a fork to flatten. Bake until the cookies are golden brown and just set, 11 - 13 minutes; do not over bake. Transfer to a rack to cool.
4. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Note: Serving size calculate for 3 dozen cookies.

Number of Servings: 36

YUM! If you do test this recipe out, or if you'd like to comment on my recipe choice/suggest recipe ideas; do so below :-)

Before I get carried away...

You should know I'm a vegetarian. I never pressure anyone to become a vegetarian because the decision to become or not to become one is all your own. I do talk about the pros and cons of vegetarianism on occasion, however. I sincerely hope the fact that many of the recipes I share with you all will be vegetarian, doesn't scare you off. Try them. I guarantee you will enjoy them as much as, if not more than, their meaty counterparts.

Why am I personally a vegetarian?
Well, let's see. To keep it simple, I don't believe in today's meat industry..yes, that's what it's become: an industry. Innumerable animals are mistreated and/or poorly fed, which causes the animal, and often times the consumer, pain and suffering. Furthermore, I don't support the negative environmental impact animal rearing for the sole purpose of slaughter has. These are my personal views which you certainly do not have to share! My only goal is to enlighten readers on the facts and allow them to make the most appropriate decision for themselves.

For those readers who would rather not become vegetarians (a perfectly acceptable choice) what strategies would you recommend be utilized to reduce their environmental impact and prevent animal cruelty on farms?
What a great question! ;-) I would encourage anyone who eats meat to cut back! Reduce your meat consumption (particularly beef which tends to be the most environmentally havoc-wreaking), and you'll reduce the damage of your eating habits drastically. In my opinion, this website sums it up perfectly (and elaborates on the topic significantly): {http://www.earthsave.org/environment/foodchoices.htm}. As for choosing the meat of well-treated animals; it's very tough. Phrases such as "free-range" or "free-roaming" are often very vague. In many cases, meat labeled as such is the product of an animal who was allowed, say, an hour outside to freely range. Check this site out for elaboration on the subject: {http://www.cok.net/lit/freerange.php}. My suggestion is to research local farms that sell organic, free range, antibiotic/hormone free, grain (not corn) fed meat (I'm specifically referring to beef in this context) {http://www.ota.com/organic/foodsafety/OrganicBeef.html} is a great site to learn about what makes organic meat different!!

In conclusion, whether you're a full-fledged vegan or meat connoisseur, I urge you to check this site out for local farms. Support local farms and save the environment! {http://www.localharvest.org/}

It's all about food!

Since the beginning of human existence, there has been an insatiable desire for food. Of course, back then the issue was when the next meal would be foraged for or speared successfully (with a bow and arrow..not a fork); how long a meager ration of grain would have to support a family's concave bellies. These days, for those people lucky enough, food is so readily available that the issue isn't when we will eat (we do that all the time), but what to eat and where. Women are anxious to fit into their yellow polka dot bikinis, and guys just want a six-pack (abs, I mean..although either interpretation tends to be appropriate here). But, with all those tempting snacks, restaurants with portions of food so immense (though, somehow, so incredibly manageable), sleepless nights that leave you with only enough energy to shovel chunky monkey into your starving (for sleep!!) body, endless hours behind your desk that leave your back sore and butt smooshed flat, and that beatific flat screen with Netflix movies screaming your name; staying healthy is such a chore! Or maybe not...

As a dietitian's-daughter who grew up during a time where eating oatmeal went from being the recipe for being a mega-nerd, to the envy of the diet-obsessed town; I've seen (and tasted..trust me) just about everything. Now that this whole healthy eating thing is "cool" (have you SEEN the number of diet books at Borders lately??!!), I figured I'd spread some of the love(-handle prevention secrets). Want to know which diets are a load of..lard? Looking for a restaurant with food to die for (but not literally)? Considering a new workout regime that's not so boring you'd rather wax your eyebrows (...first thing that came to mind)? I CAN HELP! I swear it. I'm (brutally) honest and I know about some weird-ass stuff (we're talking seaweed soup that kicks gluteus bootius, tofu cheesecake that satisfies even the most maniac sweet tooth, yoga moves that will knock you unconscious and have you sleeping like a baby 'till morning, and about a million other foods, recipes, restaurants, movies, moves, websites, freaky facts etc).