health

Today is National Lemonade Day!
Pucker up and sip on one of these sweet & tart lemonades in honor of the holiday!

Ideas:
*Replace white granulated sugar with agave syrup.
*Serve in chilled mason jars.
*Adults- add a splash of vodka to make a cocktail.

1.  Cucumber Mint Lemonade by The Little Epicurean  view the recipe
 
2.  Blueberry Lemonade by Damn Delicious  view the recipe
 
3.  Frozen Blackberry Basil Lemonade by The Kitchen McCabe  view the recipe
 
4.  Pink Watermelon Lemonade Slushies by Half Baked Harvest  view the recipe
 
5.  Raspberry Peach Lemonade by Delacy  view the recipe

Watermelon is one of my favorite foods to eat (and drink) in the summer, especially post-exercise.  It’s hydrating (about 91% water) and is a great source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, potassium, and cancer-fighting lycopene!  Here are 4 healthy and delicious recipes to try this Summer:

1.  Watermelon Peach Cooler by Yummy Healthy Easy  view the recipe

2.  Watermelon Lime Vegan Ice Cream by Family Fresh Cooking  view the recipe

3.  Watermelon Gazpacho by A Couple Cooks  view the recipe

4.  Grilled Watermelon with Smoked Salt & Jalepeño Rings by Boulder Locavore  view the recipe

Here are five delicious salads to make this summer- all vegan, gluten-free, and easy to make!

1. Coconut Roasted Carrot Salad by Healthy Green Kitchen recipe

2. Quinoa Bowl with Citrus, Avocado and Edamame by Food to Glow recipe 

3. Ginger Roasted Pumpkin + Quinoa Salad w/ Mint, Chili + Lime by My Darling Lemon Thyme recipe

4. Creamy Broccoli-Quinoa Salad by Beard & Bonnet recipe

5.  Shaved Brussels Sprout, Pomegranate and Lentil Salad by Golubka Kitchen recipe 

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Happy First Day of Spring! Here are 5 light, nutrition-packed vegan recipes to kick off the season.

1. Roasted Eggplant + Noodles with Chinese Black Vinegar Dressing by My Darling Lemon Thyme
view the recipe

2.  The Everyday Superfood Salad by The First Mess
view the recipe

3.  Zucchini Fettuccine with Rosemary Butternut Creme Sauce by In Sonnet’s Kitchen  
view the recipe

4.  Roasted Beet and Carrot Salad with Beet Green Salsa Verde by Brooklyn Supper
view the recipe

5.  Artichoke Olive Tapenade by Keepin’ It Kind
view the recipe


After going vegan, I found myself craving cheesy crackers like Goldfish. I found an amazing recipe from Chef Chloe and adapted it slightly to add a bit of spice and change the cracker’s shape into a heart. They are easy to make, out-of-this-world good, and completely addictive. I can’t believe I didn’t try making my own “cheese” crackers earlier- these are way better and much healthier than any box of Goldfish or Cheez-Its! No food coloring and no artificial chemicals!  The magic ingredient in this recipe is nutritional yeast, which adds the nutty, cheesy flavor and a boost of vitamins.

(This is the brand I use.)

To make your No-Cheese Cheesy Heart Crackers, follow this recipe from Chef Chloe and instead of using a goldfish cookie cutter, use a heart. Before baking, sprinkle the tops of your crackers with chili powder and pink himalayan sea salt or leave bare for picky eaters!

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(click here to enlarge image)

I love eating bright, beautiful, healthy food.  Here are 6 vegan recipes that fit that description- one each for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Bon appétit!

1.  Grilled Radicchio by Canadian Living  {view recipe}
Nutritional Benefits:  Radicchio is high in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins like A, B, C, and K.  The vegetable is also high in  Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Zinc, Copper, Magnesium and B vitamins! Another bonus: Lactucopicrin, which has a sedative and analgesic (painkilling) effect.

2.  Thai Stuffed Sweet Potatoes by The Sweet Life  {view recipe}
Nutritional Benefits: Sweet potatoes are loaded in beta carotone (Vitamin A), vitamin C, manganese, tryptophan, potassium, fiber, B-Vitamins and more!

3.  Pulsin’ Mexican Corn Soup by Including Cake  {view recipe}
Nutritional Benefits: This soup is filled with fiber and protein from the lentils and beans while its peppers add vitamin C,  vitamin B-6, magnesium, vitamin A, carotenoids, and antioxidants.

4. Dry Roasted Edamame With Black Sesame Seeds by The Food Network  {view recipe}
Nutritional Benefits: Edamame are the perfect complete snacking food! They are packed with protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, thiamin, folate, and vitamin K.  The black sesame seeds add magnesium and calcium.

5.  French Toast for Two with Blueberries by That’s So Vegan  {view recipe}
Nutritional Benefits: Blueberries are some of the highest anti-oxidant value fruits in the world and contain lots of cancer-fighting phytochemicals.  Pile them on this delicious vanilla cinnamon french toast!

6. Purple Yam Chocolate Cake & Frosting by Divine Healthy Food  {view recipe}
Nutritional Benefits: The purple yam shares all the amazing benefits listed for the sweet potatoes in recipe #2 with an extra boost of health-protecting Anthocyanin, the pigment that creates the purple color.

After a jump into the 60s last week, today’s 40 degree weather felt very chilly. It’s time for cold weather comfort foods!  Soup, roasted vegetables, creamed kale, indulgent breakfast, and vegan grilled cheese are all on my “to make” list this winter.  All recipes are dairy and egg free.  Visit my Vegan Recipes & Foods Pinterest board for more cooking inspiration!

1. Creamed Kale by Quiche-a-Week  view recipe
—->Kale’s nutritional benefits: iron, vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and antioxidants!
2. Smoked Tofu Benedict by The Pear & the Purple Peach  view recipe
—->Nutritonal yeast is loaded with B vitamins and this recipe also uses my favorite superfood: kale.
3.  French Onion Soup & Vegan Grilled Cheese by Olives for Dinner  view recipe
—->Onions are known for their anti-septic and anti-bacterial properties in addition to many other health benefits!
4. Bell Pepper Corn Soup by Eating Richly  view recipe
—->Bell pepper nutritional benefits: tons of vitamin C, vitamin A, carotenoids, and antioxidants.
5.  Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Balsamic Syrup by Lauren’s Latest  view recipe
—->Brussels sprouts nutritional benefits: vitamin A, vitamin C, folacin, potassium, calcium, phytochemicals, and protein!

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of my going vegan! In some ways, it seems like it’s been much longer than 2 years- almost as if I was born like this. On the other hand, I can’t believe I’m sticking to a plan that was only supposed to last a month!

I had tried, unsuccessfully, to go vegetarian as a young child when I learned that chicken came from…chicken. My experience was similar to the little boy in the adorable viral video who learns that the octopus on his plate is actually a real, chopped up octopus:
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Happy First Day of Fall! It’s time to pick apples, bake homemade pies and warm bread, drink fresh cider, carve pumpkins, eat creamy soup, and take comfort in all things Autumn. Here are five of my favorite vegan recipes for the Fall plucked from my Vegan Recipes & Foods Pinterest board.

1. Apple Cider Glazed Sweet Potatoes by Oh My Veggies view recipe
2. Roasted Fall Vegetables with Lentils by Whole Living view recipe
3. Creamy Cashew Veggie Pot Pie by Healthy. Happy. Life. view recipe
4. Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup by Allyson Kramer view recipe 
5. Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Layer Cake by Healthy. Happy. Life. view recipe

I made this amazing Vegan Potato Salad with Dill, Shallot, and Peas for the 4th of July and haven’t stopped thinking about it since! I normally don’t even like potato salad so this creation surprised me. I’ll be going on vacation next week (finally!), and I think this recipe will be the perfect addition for an end-of-summer cookout.
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This week, I decided to try a bite-size version of the frozen banana pops I often make in the summer. I made the little snacks on a hot and sticky afternoon and they were the most delicious, icy treats! As you probably know, when bananas are frozen, they take on a consistency almost like ice cream and are such an easy, healthy alternative to frozen dairy desserts. I made two versions:

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(My nephew using his Mommy’s lens cap as a teether!)

Teething babies and toddlers will put anything in their mouth to soothe and stimulate their sore gums! These are my 5 favorite teething toys:

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!Feliz Cinco De Mayo!  We chose 5 vegan Mexican-inspired dishes to share with you today.  These pictures have us salivating for cilantro, lime, and spice!  Click on each picture for the recipe.

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We keep our music studio and playroom stocked with CleanWell hand sanitizer.
It kills 99.99% of germs and is all-natural, alcohol-free, and non-toxic!

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