Vegetarian Celebrities

Wow, I am on a roll! Really I am just procrastinating because I need to be studying for the GRE. Well that can wait because I wanted to post this before I forgot (which is very likely). I know that some people do not care about celebrities and are not easily influenced by them. Well, not me! I mean look at Carrie Underwood; she looks amazing! For those of you that don't know, Carrie is a vegetarian! The list of vegan and vegetarian celebrities is surprisingly long. Right now, PETA has a poll where you can vote for the sexiest vegetarian of 2011. Even if you don't want to vote, you will be surprised at some of the names on the lists of both celeb males and femails. You can  Vote Here. It lets you vote via Twitter or the website.

I know that Alicia Silverstone and Natalie Portman were both big influences for me to try being a vegan. You think, well they look amazing and if they can do it, I can do it. Living in the south, it's so hard to have this lifestyle, but it is nice to know there so many wonderful and influential people out there that are just as compassionate as you about health, the environment, and animals.
I am sure they all have different reasons for their lifestyle. Josh Hartnett has been a vegetarian for several years. His reason? "One day I was cutting up a chicken for my mom, and I hit a tumor with the knife," Hartnett said. "There was [pus] and blood all over the place. That was enough for me." (PETA) Yuck.

There are so many vegan/vegetarian celebs. To name a few:

• Alicia Silverstone
• Paul McCartney
• Kellie Pickler
• Kristen Bell
• Tobey Maguire
• Natalie Portman
• Anne Hathaway
• Shania Twain
• Ellen Degeneres
• Colbie Caillat
• Steve-O
• Russell Brand
• Mike Tyson

I think I am going to vote for Alicia Silverstone & Russell Brand.
Were you surprised by any of the celebrities on the list?
Who would you vote for?

Being vegan/vegetarian doesn't make you skinny!

Hi Strangers!
Well, this is my first blog since April. Shame on me. Blogger even had me verify my e-mail again. Apparently they thought I died. That's really sad. Anyways, I would blame my absence on busyness, but the truth is, I just have been too lazy to blog. Well, I am back my friends! And I promise I am going to be better about blogging!
So, I will just give an update on how the vegan lifestyle has been going thus-far. I am still really enjoying my new diet :) I have had a few relapses when I have been outside of home...for example: at a wedding, out to eat with friends, etc. I promised myself when I started this that I was not going to let it keep me from living my life. If there is wedding cake, then I am going to eat some wedding cake! However, I am 100% vegetarian ALL the time. But for almost 100% of every week, I still consider myself vegan. Or as my dad likes to call it..."veg" "an". Haha.
Becoming a vegan has not made me thinner or magically healthier overnight. Not because a vegan diet is not good for you, but because I am not doing it the best way possible. As my nutritionist bf likes to say, "It all comes down to calories) :). Don't get me wrong, I eat more fruits & vegetables in a day than some people eat in a week or month. BUT, there are foods that I need to seriously cut out of my life...or at least only have them on a rare occasion. Some of my vices are beer, wine, vegan sweets (like cookies, etc.), and way too many carbs. One good thing about being a vegan is, I eat whatever I want and I don't gain weight. I have stayed exactly the same weight since April. Before starting this diet, I had already lost 10 pounds on Weight Watcher's, and I have been able to keep that weight off.
However, I would really like to lose at least 15 more pounds.
My best friend Rainie is the nutritionist I was referring to and has an awesome fitness & health blog Be Well. She introduced me to a site I am now obsessed with: www.sparkpeople.com. You can record your food, fitness, and even your water intake. ALL FOR FREE! :) It keeps up with everything-calories, fat, carbs, etc. You can even personalize it to track things important to you. For example, I track my B12, Iron, and Protein since my diet is so much different than most. You can either use it as a way to stay at a healthy weight, or you can use it to help you lose weight. It will keep up with your calories for you. You just have to enter the food and serving size of the food. So hopefully, I can start eating healthier & choosing carrots over the cookies :)

I am definitely planning on changing up my blog very soon, and I hope to be better about posting! If you have any suggestions for topics, please let me know!

<3 Lauren

for the love of vegetables part 1

I haven't always loved vegetables. Fruits, yes. Vegetables, no. It's hard to believe I ever turned down vegetables like green beans, squash, spinach, and collard greens. Now, vegetables like these make up the majority of my diet. And I am so glad they do, because they are healthy, tasty, and fun to eat!

Pros of eating fruits & vegetables:

• they are versatile. If you don't like a veggie cooked one way, try it another way or cooked in your favorite dish
• they are nutritious. You can get all of your essential nutrients from veggies!
• You can only get fiber from vegetables
• They are cheap! Save that $$$ :)
• They leave you filling full, satisfied, and energetic!

Cons of eating fruits & vegetables:

• none :-)

And no, I'm not talking about fried okra, french fries, and loaded baked potatoes with cheese and bacon bits. I know it IS possible to turn vegetables into junk. But it's amazing how after you stop eating the junk, your body will crave and relish the taste of natural food, PLUS you get the physical benefits of eating them the healthy way: weight loss, energy, and a powerful immune system. If you trace the word "vegetable" back, you would find words like "vigorous", "active", "strong", and "lively". It's no surprise that these words define vegetables because that's how they make you feel!
It's so sad that our nation is suffering from so many preventable diseases like obesity, heart disease, & diabetes. Many of these problems are preventable by getting a wholesome, veggie & fruit-filled diet. Nutritionally, there is not one bad thing you can say about vegetables! They are the ONLY possible way you can get fiber (that's right, NO animal by-product has fiber); and with a colorful diet of fruits & veggies, you can get ALL of the essential nutrients you need. I'm not pretending to be a veggie-know-it-all, or a nutritionist for that matter...but these are all interesting & life changing facts I have read & researched over the past few weeks in my journey as a vegan.
I recently found an AMAZING book at the library called Power Foods. This is not a vegan book (nor a vegetarian for that matter), but it does include a lot of vital information & recipes using vegan ingredients (or non-vegan ingredients that you could easily substitute). One of the recipes I can't wait to try is "Sweet Potato Hummus". The book explains the health benefits of each fruit & veggie; plus, it tells you how to buy, store, and prepare each veggie. Pretty sweet, huh?

This is what Power Foods had to say about some of my recent favorite fruits & vegetables:

Asparagus:

Health Benefits: Asparagus contains the most folate out of any other vegetable. Folate helps rid the body of the amino acid homocysteine, which has been associated with cardiovascular disease. It also has been known to have aphrodisiac effects for all you lovers out there ;) It is also full of: vitamin A (good for vision), potassium (good for kidneys), vitamin C & vitamin K. Asparagus is also a natural anti-ager! & hello, spring...they are in season right now! :)

(FYI: I'm cooking an asparagus, spinach, & Daiya cheese pizza tonight. YUM)

Grapefruit:

Yesterday, I was feeling so tired. I ate a grapefruit, and moments later, I felt so energetic. True story! It's no surprise because according to Power Foods, they can help the body defend off everything from the common cold to heart disease and cancer.

Health Benefits: Just by eating one whole grapefruit, your daily requirement of vitamin C is covered. They also provide a robust amount of folate & potassium.

Sweet Potatoes
These are and always will be my favorite vegetable. They are great baked, mashed, made into fries, and even chips! I really feel like I am cheating on health when I eat sweet potatoes; they are that good!

Health Benefits: Packed with the antioxidant beta-carotene...which our body converts to vitamin A. As a result, they may be good for vision, help prevent some kinds of cancer, and boost immunity. Low in calories & high in fiber, they are great for weight loss...so am I cheating on health? Obviously not! They also have folate, vitamins B6, C, and E. I can't wait to try that "Sweet Potato Hummus". YUMM.

Spinach
Spinach is fun to cook with. Think of all the possibilities...dip, pasta, pizza, salad...or just by itself!

Health Benefits: Spinach is packed with Vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting and bone health. Other nutrients found in spinach help protect against heart disease and some forms of cancer. Spinach also contains vitamins B6, C, folate, and magnesium. Spinach is also in season right now, so make Popeye proud, and eat up! :)

Those are just a FEW of my favorites. What is your favorite vegetable?

I titled this part 1, because I plan on posting about how to choose veggies...which ones you can purchase non-organic, and which ones you should ALWAYS buy organic...how & why to buy in season, etc.

I am very excited about an upcoming Saturday trip to Pepper Place, Birmingham's own farmer's market! I can't wait to load up on locally grown vegetables and fruit! If you have never been..you have to go! There is also live musicians, arts & crafts, fresh flowers and a lot of homemade goodies :)

The Pepper Place Market is located at:
2829 2nd Avenue South
Birmingham, Alabama 35233.

"What do you eat???"

This is a common question that I get asked. Apparently some people think God only provided us with meat & cheese? Well, I just want to clarify that I am not munching on lettuce all day long. Today I recorded all of the meals & snacks I ate. By the way, a lot of the ingredients for my meals & snacks came from Wal-Mart, so it's not like I can only shop at Whole Foods (even though I really wish I did only shop there..sigh...) Eventually I will find my camera cord and be able to upload pictures of the food I cook...until then, here is a brief list of my food today....along with some lovely google images for all of you visual learners.

Breakfast:

• Flax Plus Multibran Cereal & Earth Balance Soymilk
• Grapefruit

Snack:

• Terra Sweet Potato Chips

Lunch:

• Corn on the cob
• Vegan Hot dog on whole wheat bun
• Cape Cod Kettle Cooked BBQ chips

Snack:

• Athenos Whole Wheat pita chips
• Sabra Original hummus

Dinner:

• Portabella Mushroom burger on whole wheat bun with Daiya Cheese (V)
• Sweet Potato Tator Tots
• 2 Dairy Free Fig Newman cookies

Writing down what you eat is a great way to evaluate your diet at the end of each day. I have a small notebook where I am recording each day's foods and my weight each week. By looking at today's meals I can evaluate that I need more green vegetables added, and less starchy ones (like corn & sweet potatos). I need to also add more fruit.

What vegetable/fruit did you eat today??

treat your body like your baby.

I don't know about you, but I LOVE to see a child eat healthy food. I know sweet peas were my food of choice when I was a baby. Now, they are my least favorite veggie; however, I'm trying to form a love for them again. Isn't it crazy how babies love veggies, and many adults hate them. You would think the opposite would be true. But think about when babies go from breastmilk to solid food, you start them out with veggies and fruits....not junk.

I love health and animals, but I have a huge passion for babies & children. I believe God's plan is for me to work with children, and hopefully one day become a wonderful mother. Currently, I am blessed to work as a nanny of two beautiful and special children. As a caregiver, I obviously make sure the children are fed and that all of their health needs are met. I really respect the way the parents feed the children. Both children are vegetarians (which is actually the childrens' choice). They do not and will not eat meat. The children eat mainly organic food, and they love a lot of veggies & fruits. Many studies and doctors suggest that children be on a vegan/vegetarian diet. Dr. Spock actually recommends that children be served plant-based diets (aka vegan diets).

I know that the majority of the people reading this post are not parents. I, myself, am not a parent, and won't be for a while. However, being a caregiver has me thinking about how parents want the best for their children health wise. Think about it: you would never think to not feed your child breakfast, let them eat junk food all day long, and then let them sit on the couch all day watching television. Atleast, I would HOPE you wouldn't. You would never go through the line at Starbucks and order them a tall sugary laced coffee drink because they were tired and irritable. You would never let them smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and let them stay up all night. So, my question is...why do we do these things to ourselves?? Shouldn't we treat our own bodies with the same nurturing care and respect that we give our children?

I think a good rule of thumb would be to ask yourself, "Would I let my own child eat this/do this?" And again, I know we are not all parents; but, we have to think of our bodies as precious temples that need the same nurturing care and nutrition that we would want to give a precious child. There is just something so fufilling and satisfying about being a vegan. Every time I eat something healthy, I feel like I am treating myself with that same nurturing care that I would give to a child.

Here are some pictures of cute little veggie lovers to make you smile :) :

Vegan children (from http://www.thekindlife.com/):

save the Earth (+money)

Happy Earth Day!
Taking care of our Earth is not just for hippies, activists, celebrities and scientists. It's every one's job...we do live here after all. I don't know about you..but I want my future children, grandchildren, etc. to have clean water and fresh air to breathe. Little changes can make big differences in the long-run. In honor of Earth Day, here are 10 simple ways you can make small changes in your life that will make BIG changes for our Earth:
1. Eat less meat (of course I'm going to start with this one, duh.) "The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the livestock production generates nearly one-fifth (18 percent) of the world's greenhouse gasses-more than transportation.....Make meatless meals one or two days a week, or try going vegetarian one week a month." ---OR you could just cut out meat all together & really make a difference, right? ;)

2. Recycle & reuse--this one I really need to work on myself!-It's depressing to think of all the waste that is sitting in landfills that COULD have been recycled or reused. Not sure where to take your recyclables? Go to http://www.earth911.com/

3. Unplug appliances that are not being used. "We spend $1 billion a year powering our televisions, DVDs, microwaves, and other electronics when their not in use". Try using a power strip so you can easily turn everyone off.

4. Use less water. Think of different strategies to help you take shorter showers--for example, use a timer, play a song, etc. You can also install a low-flow shower head. Turn off the water when you are not using it (while brushing teeth, doing dishes, etc). Every little bit helps!

5. Wash your clothes on cold. "Tide promised that if everyone in NYC washed their laundry in cold water for just one day, the energy savings could light up the Empire State Building for an entire month" WOW.

6. Replace old items ONLY when they're useless. "We are so quick to toss things because they're easily replaced. But if you slow down and think carefully about the impact your actions have on the Earth, your priorities will reorganize themselves."

7. Turn off the lights. "Turning the lights off when you're not using can save up to 10 percent of your home's total energy expenditure". This is one of my awful habits....leaving lights, fans, the t.v., etc. on while I am in a completely different room. Who knows how much money I am going to save as I become more conscientious of energy!

8. Stop using paper plates and plastic utensils. They may be easier, but they use up a lot of resources to only be used once.

9. Plant a vegetable garden and/or shop at your local farmer's market. You are buying/using food that doesn't come in a package and is most likely free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

10. Compost. Composting food scraps and other organic materials diverts the waste from landfills. Go to naturalhealthmag.com/compost for simple instructions on how to compost.


I hope these have inspired you to be a little more Earth conscience. They have definitely inspired me! I have a long way to go, but I am starting small and hoping to make some big changes for the Earth (and for my wallet). For these and other tips, look in the April editions of Natural Health and Glamour. I am about to read The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to be Fabulously Green by Starre Vartan.

There are TONS of ways to make Earth-friendly choices! What is your strategy for creating a more Earth-friendly environment?


stay tuned for blogs to come on cruelty-free home & beauty products...what to eat at restaurants if you are vegetarian/vegan....and more (:

Have a happy Earth Day & Easter weekend.
God Bless!!

you are what you eat.

I am in the process of reading Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet. If you have not read it, I highly recommend it! She is so passionate about animals, the environment, and health...not to mention there are TONS of yummy vegan recipes that I can not wait to try!

I have not been on this journey long, but I can already tell some amazing changes in my life that I would like to share. Someone told me today that my skin looks clearer. And I am continuing to feel like I am losing weight--effortlessly.
Those were things that I expected to happen when I changed my diet; however, I am also feeling so so so HAPPY! (which I didn't know would be an outcome of changing my diet) I feel like I am just smiling so much more now :) And I don't get irrated as easily. I guess peaceful would be the best way to describe how I feel. Alicia talks about this in The Kind Diet, how animals release so many emotional hormones (adrenaline and steroids) before being slaughtered, and those hormones end up in our food. Look it up, it has been proven in many studies. Goodbye, antidepressants.

I am also becoming a lot more aware of what my body needs...when to eat when I'm hungry...and when to stop when I'm full. Plant-based foods are the only foods with natural fiber...fiber absorbs water...and boom! you feel fuller faster and longer. I am trying to be more mindful of ENJOYING my food...and the nutrients it is providing my body with. I get so much satisfaction out of an apple now. Who knew?
Before I was living to eat, and I definitely feel like I am learning to eat to live instead (which is what food is for, to nurture and provide us with energy). I can't count how many times I sat down to eat something and a few minutes later thought..."Who ate all my pie??"

I strongly encourage every single person out there to read The Kind Life by Alicia Silverstone. She has been a vegan for 10 years, so she knows what she is talking about! She has done the research. Her book will really put things into a different perspective for you!

Another thing I would like to mention is how wonderful & supportive my friends and family are being :) My best friend Laura is going to start having a vegan dinner night with me once a week! And tonight my mom & dad are letting me cook a vegan dinner!
On the menu:

• Vegan Sloppy Joe's (Fantastic World Foods Vegetarian Sloppy Joe --from Whole Foods)
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Pinto & Navy beans with onion (cooked in the slow cooker)
• Raisin, apple, and shredded carrot salad with apple cider vinegar (this is my own creation and tastes YUMMY)

Don't forget to create your own blog, and follow me! :)

peace & love friends,