Can technology reverse the damage of our eating habits on the environment?

Image from pixabay.com

Industrial action is increasing all around the world, and that is doing no good for the environment. Although it can be argued that this ensures our ever-growing population has all it needs to survive, it is also making our collective home – the earth – more inhabitable.

However, one of the major contributors to environmental degradation which many people seem to leave out of the conversation is our diet. Until we start eating cleaner – by proactively being conscious of where what we are eating comes from – we might be an extra addition to the problem, rather than a conduit to the solution.

Eating Habits vs The Environment

What do our eating habits have to do with the quality of aquatic life? Is it not a little farfetched that anyone would suggest that the food on our plate might be causing the next ripple effect which would lead to even more melting of the polar ice caps?

As much as we would love to answer in the negative to the above, we cannot.

A good place to start is with livestock farming. It is no news that the world is largely meat-eating, and that is not going anywhere anytime soon. Considering the 315 million tonnes of meat that the world consumes yearly, it is more surprising that we crave something which supplies not so much of our body’s needed nutrients.

Not only does a meat-based diet supply less than 20% of our daily calorific content, but livestock farming takes up more than 83% of all farming lands. This leaves just 13% to the plants which we do need. 

The problem here is that the world’s population keeps growing at a rate faster than we are willing to accept. That means even more land will be allocated to plant agriculture soon.

In return, there is bound to be increased deforestation to support planting and animal grazing/ ranching. All that, and we have not even mentioned the obscene amount of greenhouse gases which livestock farming contributes to the atmosphere.

Leaving land for water, illegal fishing is one of the biggest problems in the world right now. Overfishing is disrupting the aquatic lifestyle – and if there is anything we know about the ecosystem; it is that an imbalance in one part is an imbalance to all. 

Besides, overfishing is a clear cause for concern – seeing as the Pacific Ocean now contains a majority of debris that is fishing gear alone.

Whenever you look at that piece of meat on your plate, do you ever wonder where it came from? If you don’t, you might be indirectly supporting the poachers who are continually threatening the existence of some of the species we have around today.

Support from Technology

Ours is a highly digital and technologically-advanced age, so it is just normal that we deploy all those resources to fighting the environmental damage from the way we eat too.

One of the most laudable applications of technology is in the development of vegan meat.

Made from totally plant-based materials, the vegan meat is cultured in such a way that it mimics actual meat. Down to the aroma, taste, and nutrients, even the biggest meat aficionados will be fooled. That way, we can cut back on illegal hunting of animals, and over-dedication of resources to livestock farming.

In the same vein, scientists have started tracking endangered species with connected devices attached to these animals. The sensors on those devices track the health, diet, and status of the animal so much that they can always be remotely monitored and given the best quality of life. 

Similar sensors are being attached to trees in conservation areas to help keep poachers away. Designed to listen for poaching movements – from the sounds of chainsaws to felling of trees – these sensors can be a serious lifesaver. All sensors are connected to the internet to establish a real-time feedback mechanism such that immediate action can be taken once things go off track. These digital aids can all belong to the family of Internet of Things(IoT) devices.

Things are a little tricky when it comes to IoT devices - it’s not enough to merely install it and flip the switch to set things in proper motion. IoT devices come in different operating systems and configurations, and most are not built with security in mind, meaning that they contain lots of security holes - from the software to the network. If you’re planning on sprinkling your tech-infused fish tank or garden with sensors, make sure you secure the devices and your home network. 

Conclusion

Let’s face it: if we don’t take care of our environment, there will come a time when it stops taking care of us, too. We won’t get there in one day, but these moves are evidence of a better eating culture which will secure the longevity of our environment’s health.
*** THANK YOU FOR THE GUEST BLOG, CHRIS JONES @VPN. ***

A New All Vegan Grocery Store in Maryland!

I love supporting vegan businesses. I wish there were an exclusively vegan grocery store near my home, but there's not. There are some very vegan-friendly grocers, but they still sell animal flesh and secretions and other things I'd rather not see when shopping.

There is a new online grocery store, a one stop shop, that has nothing but vegan, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, fair-trade items. This is my own store that my business partner and I just launched and is based out of Maryland. We have plans to open a physical grocery store somewhere near Annapolis in the next couple years but are starting our venture online to raise capital and gain more experience. We plan on having cooking demos, nutritional events and workshops with certified nutritionists, and more - like featuring other local vegan businesses.

We are two busy moms who want to be able to offer the best vegan products all in one place. Our marketplace has laundry detergents, lotions and soaps, shampoos, cleaning products, natural deodorants and toothpastes, food items, companion animal products, and more - a full selection with more items being added daily.

If you'd like to check out the shop, find it at shopgreen.co. We're are trying to keep prices as low as possible but it's been difficult just starting out. We've written a recent blog post outlining one of the struggles we're facing as a new small business.

I'm excited to share our new all vegan store. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading!

Dr. Brooke Goldner and the Healing Protocol

If you have an autoimmune condition and think you can't be healed, think again. Enough with the brainwashing from the medical community!

For the last couple weeks I've been following Dr. Brooke Goldner's healing protocol because I am trying to rid the inflammation from my body and cure my psoriatic arthritis. If you've never heard of Dr. Goldner, she is amazing! She suffered from lupus for over a decade and went through chemotherapy and lots of prescription drugs. She decided to try to eat her way to health and make some lifestyle improvements and she HEALED her lupus and has been disease-free for many years now. Her blood test reflects these changes and she has no symptoms, either. This is unheard of and amazing!

Also, she gives advice out FOR FREE and has a ton of information on YouTube, Facebook (including free groups you can join), her website, and more. For a fee you can book a private consultation with her, but much of the information is given freely. She has free live webinars every few weeks as well. How amazing is this?

I plan on starting a YouTube series to reveal my results and progress as I follow the protocol more closely and report my results. If you have any kind of autoimmune disorder or just don't feel too well and want to improve your health, check out Dr. Goldner! You will be so happy you did because I already felt a great reduction in my amount of pain after only the first few days! She focuses on hyper-nourishment (I think that's what she calls it), more omega 3's, more sleep, and LOTS of water as the basis for starting to heal. Of course, there's more to it than that, but that's basically a good start.

You can find lots of free videos on YouTube, Facebook, and her site, as I mentioned, and she also has several books available on Amazon. Let me know in the comments if you've ever heard of Dr. Goldner or tried her healing advice. Best wishes!

Why Did I Join for Safer, Simpler Skin and Hair Care? Part of my Toxin-Free Journey

I'd like to tell you a little about why I joined Skin by Nature, or SbN. Initially I was attracted to the company because a friend referred me, telling me about the all natural products and that it is free to join. I was at a point where I had decided I didn't want to do direct sales anymore. I was sick of pretending to be excited about mediocre products and paying a monthly fee just to have a site where I could refer people to buy THEIR products. Keeping track of business expenses, doing taxes, and all that other fun junk were a thing of the past for me.

But... SbN was ideal for me, so I just had to try the products. I ordered a few lotions and soaps to start and was pleasantly surprised at the low cost. Most natural products I bought always cost far more! Once I tried the products and loved them I let friends, family, and neighbors try them. Everything was a hit! I knew I had to join this company. Not to mention there were not already half a million reps like other companies, but only a few hundred, so the market is not saturated.

I started in September 2014 and have had many new customers since then as well as many reorders. I've also had many consultants sign up under me, and I get a bonus for their sales as well. In fact, I'm now at a point that whether I sell or not, I still get paid twice a month from SbN from my referrals' sales!

It's so easy to see why natural skin care is important rather than the average product that contains toxins, chemicals, and other scary ingredients! We have no SLS, no preservatives, no artificial colors/dyes, no phthalates. We use high quality, natural ingredients and we do not test on animals or use animal byproducts. The choice is clear for me, and I'm building a massive team so I can earn gen while I sleep! I help my team become successful and we have two groups on Facebook for advice, marketing materials, questions, and other support.

If you've been thinking about joining a direct sales company but don't want to feel cheated or sell the same old stuff once and never see your customer again, it's time to think about joining my Skin by Nature team. It's free with no joining cost, no auto ship commitments, no quotas, and no monthly fees. It's truly a risk free opportunity and a company that you will be happy to represent!

I'd like to share some information regarding why I love Skin by Nature so much. Not only is it a fantastic opportunity, the company also produces safe and effective products that are affordable and help so many people! 

Pros:

• Free to join (Must purchase Starter Kit within 30 days, a one-time cost of $21)
• No Quotas, no autoships
• No fees
• Amazing products that are safe and affordable - available scented or unscented 
• Made fresh in small batches
• Almost ALL products are vegan with the exception of a few

Cons:

• Only available in the United States and U.S. Territories at this time.
• Can take over a week to receive your order

We have lots of different products from lotions, bar soaps, body washes, shampoo and conditioner to sugar scrubs, oatmeal scrubs, clay scrubs, lip balms, anti-aging creams, insect repellents, and more. We also recently introduced a line of biodegradable Earth-friendly cleaning products.

  More information: 

Skin by Nature, Inc. was formed in January 2012 to sell the finest in natural skin care products at an affordable price. We have something most companies of this size don't have: a chemist with over 35 years experience in developing and formulating the most natural skin care products at the lowest cost to the customer. 

We would also like you to give us feedback on products you buy. We have set up an email to our chemist for your questions concerning products or even your ideas on new products you would like to see. Simply visit the site and click the menu, then go to "Contact Us" and complete the form.  

  Did you know Skin by Nature has a freshness guarantee?  

Find it right on our home page: Skin by Nature Inc. is a unique, natural skin care company. We offer fresh, quality products that are made with care and take time to develop. Skin by Nature Inc. products are created in small batches to ensure the freshest possible product for our customers. Your order will not ship out the next day, because some of our products are not made until the order is received. Our packaging is clean, simple and allows us to offer the best natural skin care products at a price everyone can afford. We are a no-nonsense, fantastic quality, incredibly effective, and affordable SKIN CARE company! We take immense pride in delivering a top quality product, therefore your product will never be more than 10 days old, ( except cold process soaps). This is our “Freshness Pledge” to you! 

FAQs 

  What is the difference between natural and organic? 

In some cases there is no difference except in price. Natural means natural, and in most cases a mechanical extraction of oils from seed, such as olive oil or grapeseed oil. These seeds are pressed and the oils are obtained.  

Some companies look at organic as a way of inflating price. Its the same as bottled water. You can find wide ranging prices in bottled water, but is the water different or just the price.
What natural and organic have in common is no petroleum distillates. If you look at our ingredients you will notice they are very recognizable and well known. When we say coconut oil, it is coconut oil, not cocamidopropyl betaine. Try to read the ingredients on a grocery store bar of soap. You may have trouble reading those, but you won’t have any trouble reading our ingredients. 

Most bar soaps contain animal fat, do yours? 

No. Animal fat, also known as lard, tallow, sodium tallowate and other names, are still the same. It is a cheap filler to replace more expensive and better ingredients such as coconut oil, palm oil or olive oil. ?The old style lye soaps contained animal fat but it was also a time when most families had farms and were slaughtering there own animals for meat, it was a good way for families to use up the fat. But again it is a cheap substitute for better oils. Keep sending your questions to "Ask the Chemist" on the contact page. 

 

---

  There are some things in life we have little control over. We can control the air we breathe inside our homes and make it cleaner by using filtration devices, not using harmful air fresheners, etc., but we cannot really effectively control the air we breathe outside. 

We can control the foods we eat such as eating more whole foods and organic foods and less processed and unhealthier foods. 

We can control what we put on our skin, too. By using harmful soaps, lotions, and other self care products, we are putting ourselves (and often our family, those closest to us whom we love) at risk! I struggled for awhile to find natural products without a bunch of fillers and dangerous crap in them. Once I found products I liked, I realized how expensive some of these safer, non toxic brands were. 

Have you struggled to find effective, affordable natural skin and hair care products without breaking your budget? Being clean shouldn’t have to be dangerous or expensive! 

Consider this... 

Popular highly scented name brands of lotion:
average lotion costs upwards of $12 or more per 8 ounce bottle
contain dangerous, unnecessary toxins
test on animals at some point (sometimes just not on the "finished product") 

Our company:
average lotion costs $6 OR LESS per 8 ounce bottle
natural, safe ingredients (no preservatives, no SLS, no phthalates!)
never tests on animals
DOZENS OF GREAT SCENTS and unscented available as well! 

Which do you choose? The choice is clear and simple for me.  

Want to make 40% sharing these awesome natural products? Just click this link to join now and I will be in touch with you ASAP! Not interested in joining as an affiliate but want to check out our full line of products? Here's the full catalog: bit.ly/shopwithbeth.

Have you ever heard of this company? What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

KEYWORDS:

Toxins, safe, natural, simple, skin, clean, dangerous, affordable
New, reputation, market, promote, saturate, affiliate, success, unknown, well known, companies

related links: https://awakenyourhealth.blogspot.com/2018/05/toxicity-to-be-or-not-to-be.html

Interview with YouTube Vlogger Lee Downing-Keat

I've been enjoying Lee Downing-Keat's YouTube videos for quite some time now and agree with much of what he says. As a longtime vegan myself, I love connecting with others of the same mindset and asked if I could send him some questions for an interview. He graciously agreed, so I present our discussion:

Can you tell me a little about some of your main goals in general, some of the most important things to you in life?

Lee: My health is the most important thing to me and strive to become healthier each day. At the moment I am trying to get bigger and stronger and will then show that in my videos to help inspire others that going vegan is better for your health and you can still build muscle and actually perform better in the gym, which I feel there are a lot of men that would consider going vegan but worry about this. While doing this I am trying to create a channel that people can come to that will help them go and, most importantly, stay vegan, help people in their transition and ultimately help the animals, the planet and their health. The end goal I guess is to become a better person and to make a difference to the world.

How long have you been vegan? Were you vegetarian first, did you transition, or make a rapid change?
From what I can gather it seems as though you became vegan for your health. What were the primary reasons you went vegan and what actually prompted you to go vegan - did you see a documentary or video?

Lee: I have been vegan for nearly 2 years this December. I originally went veggie first as a kind of trial as a friend said they were and I thought I would give it a go.
While I was on YouTube one day I cam across a vegan gains video, it was on a fitness person I had once got info on and found it quite entertaining as we have the same idea that fitness models and YouTubers are lying to people about being natural and taking people's money. I watched a few back to back and as I was listening, I picked up lots of info on veganism and how it was better for your health. I then decided to look more into it and after a few days to a week decided to give it a go.
So originally went for my health. While I was vegan I decided to learn more about it, I decided to watch some documentaries. Ones like Forks Over Knives helped instill that I was doing right by my health, I then watched Earthlings and my decision of going vegan for my health was no more, looking back I would say I was plant based but after watching Earthlings, it became about the animals too and then I truly became vegan.
I did go vegan basically overnight. Once I decided to go I did it straight away.

What are some of your favorite meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

Lee: I love yogurt and berries. I eat a lot of lentils and green veggies and have that most days for lunch at work. I make a great potato, chickpea and spinach curry and love pizza.

Any words of advice and/or encouragement for those considering a vegan or plant-based lifestyle?

Lee: Do your research, learn as much as you can, I have a video on the best 5 docs to watch and after that I'm sure you will want to go vegan. Enjoy the transition of trying new foods and get excited on the difference you will feel with your health.

I consider YouTube videos one form of activism; what other activism efforts do you do? (Protests, leafleting, Cube of Truth, etc)

Lee: I only do YouTube and sharing things on social media and of course talking to friends and which I feel all helps.

Even though you make a tremendous impact and help multitudes of animals who would otherwise live in cruelty, how do you maintain a positive attitude amongst all the suffering and not let depression get the best of you? It can be difficult to avoid depression when you are an activist fighting for the rights and lives of animals. How do you stay mentally/emotionally happy and healthy? Do you have a lot of support from friends, family, an online community, or what?

Lee: It can be hard, my gf and her family, who I live with all eat meat, and regularly make jokes and that but I just try and shut it off. I guess being a meat eater before and what many do now is they shut themselves off from it, so I guess I try and do that, do what I can, share what info I can, try and motivate people as best as I can and take pride in the difference I have made. It can be hard and being round it is difficult as I know what those animals have been through, but I have got to keep going and can only make a difference if I stay motivated and keep going.

Please discuss something that has touched your heart or any experience where you've tried to make a change for the better in someone's life.

Lee: I guess its the comments I get back from people that have either gone vegan or the info I have shared has kept them on their path. Connecting with people with a similar lifestyle and sharing info and helping each other. We are building a community and I look to grow my own on YouTube.

What are some projects you have lined up for the near future?

Lee: At the moment all my energy is going into making video and growing my channel. It's a like another full time job, as when your not making or editing a video you're thinking of the next thing. I am trying to get bigger and stronger to show that vegans can, so I'm in the gym a lot trying to reach that goal.

How do you respond to people who think veganism is not manly?

Lee: I guess I try and get across to them that standing up against cruelty, standing up for defenseless animals, going against the normal and not being a sheep and standing up for your beliefs is more manly than just following everyone else.
It's easy to follow the crowd but going against it is more brave, knowing you will received hate, or discrimination and still doing it is manly. To stand aside and put taste over the lives of animals isn’t manly, eating meat isn’t manly at all.

Lee, thanks so much for sharing your views and beliefs. I appreciate all you do! Best wishes to you and all your endeavors.

Be sure to subscribe to Lee's YouTube channel and leave him comments to spread the love! Let me know in the comments here why you are vegan or considering this lifestyle. Thanks for reading!

Veronika Honestly and Magicful Home AND a Passion for Giving

I had the pleasure of interviewing Veronika regarding her multiple vegan businesses (which are all strongly connected), and it turns out she's quite the humanitarian. She loves giving back to help others, in fact, that's her primary motivation for selling as much as she can and continuing to upkeep her businesses.

Her many products are available worldwide.

She's very transparent regarding her motives and information about herself as well. She shares lots of information on her "About Me" section, but here's what she revealed to me specifically.

When I asked Veronika to tell me a bit about her business, she let me know this:

I'm a maths tutor and I went vegan a couple of years ago. I always wanted to do something more entrepreneurial than just my beloved tutoring, but as veganism affects me very much in my life, instead of going the maths way, I ended up working on something I called charity-oriented business.
I have tried and, of course, failed during various business attempts over years, but now there's finally something that works and makes me feel good about. Perhaps I took this one more seriously or got more luck or had better resources at that time when I was launching or simply gathered enough experience over years of business attempts... Or combinations of those reasons - Magicful Home was launched in 2017 and is still here, smoothly integrated by Veronika Honestly just about a half year later.

What are they?

Magicful Home is a certified cruelty-free (I'm very proud of this certification) vegan eco-friendly beach home decor.

Veronika Honestly is firstly a vegan blog, yet I also create and sell designs there, mainly vegan themed. I have integrated Magicful Home "under" Veronika Honestly, so they can combine and support each other on the mission, which is supporting charities - marine conservation and animal rescue centres.

I started with my own website to sell there first, but it was too costly, therefore less money would go to the good cause, so I moved to Etsy - I like it there, so I may stay for a while. The goal is to make money for charities (half goes to charities, half pays for the time and energy I put in to it) - and it feels like a quite good symbiosis, not to be amazing sparkly looking eshop pretending to be the king of the market. Humbly, but steadily, towards my goals. That's how I do it. So, all my products can be now bought there, all of them are also displayed with a link to buy on my blogs dedicated to Magicful Home and Veronika Honestly - and on my social media, which I try to run, yet it's difficult to do all of it as this is practically a one-woman show (plus a bit of help from some family members with few tasks).

I'm enjoying this road I took very much. My goals, which are beyond just making a business, really keep me motivated.

I simply would like people to know about my journey. They can support me - share a word about me or buy something nice from me, or they can perhaps get inspired - do something in their life that would make them happy while it's helpful to others and especially those in need.

Which are your top two favorite products you sell?

My heart is set on my first very own design pillow - Rainbow Sea Turtle.

You can see me holding it while I was giving an interview
about the vegan design course on the photo attached.

Find this super cute item at bit.ly/vhfav01.

[My second favorite item is] probably my first vegan design "Why Aren't You Vegan?,"
that's this T-shirt re-designed:



Why Aren't You Vegan? Re-Designed T-Shirt

It's available in several different colors.
Check out all the varieties at bit.ly/vhfav02.

---

I love supporting vegan businesses, especially small ones like Veronika's that have many items available and give an immense amount back to the community, whether it's helping people, animals, the environment, or all of these things.

Check out her site and browse all the products available, and please consider supporting her charitable ventures. What's your favorite item out of her collections? Let us know in the comments! Have a great day.

I MADE IT! John Joseph's "No Death, No Dairy" Lasagna

How Did I Like John Joseph's
"No Death, No Dairy" Vegan Lasagna?

You may have seen my other post where I wrote out the recipe for John Joseph's (of Bloodclot and Cro-Mags) "No Death, No Dairy" Vegan Lasagna since I couldn't find the recipe in the YouTube description or written out anywhere.

I was anxious to make it because I love lasagna but my previous attempts were decent, although not magnificent. If I am going to be standing in the kitchen for over an hour preparing and assembling a dish such as lasagna, I want the effort to be worthwhile with a really tasty dish my whole family can enjoy. I was definitely no expert, and, admittedly, I rarely use recipes, but for this one I wanted to make a great lasagna. This YouTube video has been shared in my Facebook circle of friends and in a bunch of vegan groups of which I'm a member, and it looked really good, (plus I found it damn funny). That's why I decided to use this specific recipe.

It turned out really well. I always get confused as to how many layers of noodles I should use, so seeing John Joseph just basically do one layer at the bottom and one on top made it really easy, then following how he layered his sauce, "meats", "cheeses", and veggies within the lasagna was very helpful for me. The sauce was very flavorful despite not having a couple ingredients. It was also helpful to know I am not supposed to cook the noodles first. I'm never sure if it will turn out right if I don't cook the noodles before assembling my lasagna, but this recipe instructed not to, and it turned out great!

CHANGES I WILL MAKE NEXT TIME

I think the sauce was just about perfect, as I said, so I won't change anything about that!

I do think the lasagna needs to be a little cheesier. Years ago I wouldn't dare attempt to add more vegan cheese, but with all the really good vegan cheeses on the market these days, it's easy to find delicious varieties that will complement this recipe. I will use Follow Your Heart block mozzarella or Miyoko's and cut into cubes and place over the veggies for a layer of cheesy goodness like my mom used to add. I am not sure I will mix the "ricotta" and "meat" together, either. It may be better having them separate, in my opinion.

I really like the zucchini, broccoli, and spinach mix. It's healthy and flavorful. I don't think I will change that next time I make this recipe.

I may sprinkle more shredded cheese (preferably the Daiya cutting board shreds) inside and on top of the lasagna.

The first slice was difficult to get out and turned out very sloppy looking (see photo below), but I always find this to be the case. It was very watery when I first got a piece out, but it thickened up over time. In the next photo you can see there is a bit of liquid pooling in the pan, which got reabsorbed and integrated into the lasagna after it sat in the fridge overnight. Leftovers were amazing! Even my picky husband liked it, which says a lot!

Have you made John Joseph's "No Death, No Dairy" Lasagna? How did it turn out for you? What changes, if any, would you make? Thanks for reading and have a GREAT DAY!

---

This post was tagged under the following labels: cheese, cro-mags, John Joseph, lasagna recipe, layer, meal, munchies, no dairy, no death no dairy, noodles, original, pasta, pictures, sauce, vegan, vegan cheese, vegan lasagna, vegan lasagna recipe, video, YouTube.

John Joseph's "No Death, No Dairy" Vegan Lasagna (Recipe featured on Munchies)

"No Death, No Dairy" Vegan Lasagna Recipe
by John Joseph from Cro-Mags & Bloodclot
(Recipe featured on Munchies)

Original video on MUNCHIES YouTube channel
HARD TRUTH with John Joseph

If there is a reason you don't feel like sitting through the original video, or just want a recipe to follow without watching a whole video and [possibly] pausing throughout its duration, here is the recipe for John Joseph's "No Death, No Dairy" Vegan Lasagna. The original video is quite humorous and shows as he prepares the meal, but it features frequent adult language, which doesn't personally bother me, but sometimes I want to cook while my daughter is around and don't want her to hear all the frequent cursing.

I did my best to write out the recipe as best as I could. If you know there's an error, please leave me a comment so I can correct it. THANKS, and enjoy!

Preheat oven to 350-375 degrees F.

---

Sauce Base:

4 TBSP vegan butter
3/4 cup olive oil
3/4 tsp asaphoetida / hing
1 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp coriander
pinch fenugreek
pinch cumin
1.5 tsp mustard seeds
2 dry chiles

Saute together a few minutes then add 4 plum tomatoes and let cook down a few minutes. Add 10 cups pasta sauce. Next, add:

3 1/4 tsp SEA SALT
1 can organic tomato paste
1/4 cup organic blackstrap molasses
3 tsp Italian blend seasoning

Cook down for about 1/2 hour and set aside.

---

Meat filling:

coconut oil and pepper
vegan crumbles

Brown vegan crumbles in coconut oil with a little pepper for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
Place in bowl and set aside.

---

Cheese layer:

3 containers Kite Hill ricotta
touch of vegan cheese shreds

Mix together and set aside.

---

Veggie layer:

2 big stalks broccoli, chopped into big segments
large zucchini, cubed or sliced

Cover and steam until tender. Break into small pieces and set aside.
(You will also need some ripped spinach for a thin layer in this recipe.)

---

Assembling the lasagna:

Grease a large baking pan. (He uses a paper towel to grease with Earth Balance and a splash of olive oil.)

Do not boil or cook pasta, just run each piece under water a few seconds to break up starches a bit.
Add layer of uncooked lasagna noodles to bottom of baking pan.
Layer cheese and meat filling, press and spread with hands for an even layer.
**Note: it is never mentioned in the video, but I watched several times and it looks as though he has mixed his ricotta and meat fillings together.
Spread generous layer of sauce for flavor and to help pasta cook.
Add layer of steamed veggies and spinach. Top with sauce.
Add a layer of shredded vegan cheese*.
Top with noodles then sauce*.

Bake 1 hour COVERED at about 350-375 degrees F.
*Save small amount of the pasta sauce and shredded cheese. Add to top layer and cook uncovered additional 15 minutes.

He served with big salad with homemade creamy almond dressing and organic Italian bread.

---

I have made vegan lasagna before, but it never turned out fantastic. My husband is very picky about "cheese", but with better vegan cheeses now on the market, I am confident my next batch, using THIS recipe for the first time, will be delicious! I'm not sure I am going to get the asafoetida/hing just for this recipe as he states in the video it's mainly used to control gas/flatulence. I'm pretty sure it will have enough flavor without this element.

Thanks for the recipe and great YouTube channel, John Joseph, and thanks for spreading the vegan love!

---

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed the recipe breakdown on my site! There are some links in this post that are affiliate links. This means if you click this link and purchase from it, there is no extra cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission. I greatly appreciate it!
This post was tagged under the following keywords/labels: vegan, vegan lasagna, lasagna recipe, vegan lasagna recipe, no death no dairy, no dairy, John Joseph, cro-mags, layer, sauce, pasta, noodles, original, cheese, vegan cheese, video, YouTube, munchies, q0g4c2r7. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Intermittent Fasting and B's for Weight Loss

My Personal Experience:
Intermittent Fasting and B's for Weight Loss

I've been trying to lose a few pounds for awhile but I have moderate psoriatic arthritis which causes quite a bit of pain, especially in my feet (coupled with severe plantar fasciitis). The condition isn't debilitating, but I'm in chronic pain and it makes lots of activity difficult. At any rate, I have tried weight loss supplements like garcinia cambogia and green tea extracts with no luck. Have you ever tried any weight loss pills or supplements? Did you find any success? What are your biggest struggles? Let me know in the comments!

Over the last ten months or so I've been taking a B-vitamin supplement which includes caffeine, hoodia, PEA, and a few other ingredients. I was hesitant to take it as nothing ever seems to work for me, but a friend gave me a sample and I got SO MUCH energy and mental focus and clarity when I took it. I was hooked. Then a few weeks later I noticed a few pounds had dropped off and I hadn't changed a thing. As a vegan I already eat relatively healthy with lots of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, but I do eat junk food at times as well (especially when my husband bakes delicious snickerdoodle cookies per my request and I eat the majority of them, but I digress!).

I also have been reading up on intermittent fasting and the numerous benefits one can gain from it. I began intermittent fasting about five or six months ago and more weight dropped off with ease. Intermittent fasting for me is where I eat my dinner around 6 or 7 pm at the very latest most nights then nothing more until breakfast the next morning, at which point I wait until about 9 or 9:30 am to eat. That means my body has no food intake for about 14 hours.

I'm down over 16 pounds and a few inches in less than ten months. I still eat whatever I want, but no late night snacking. I have not increased my activity or changed anything except for taking this supplement (commonly referred to as "the B's" by many of us who take it) and the intermittent fasting, which has been a solid winning combination for weight loss in my own personal experience. I got really excited when my size 10 pants which were very fitted (read: a bit tight) started fitting more loosely and are now almost falling off!

** Update: AS OF SEPTEMBER 2018, I am down to 132 pounds! **

Starting weight (04/28/2017): 158 pounds
Starting measurments (inches):
Bust 39; Waist 35; Hips 41; Thigh 24; Biceps 12

Current weight (02/28/2018): 142 pounds
Current measurements (inches):
Bust 37; Waist 32.25; Hips 39.5; Thigh 22.75; Biceps 11.75

As you can see, it wasn't incredibly rapid weight loss, which is unhealthy. It was gradual and steady weight loss and it continues even now. Some people lose more quickly. I'm sure if I was a bit more active and added regular exercise I'd have lost more quickly, but I'm satisfied as it was really difficult to even lose two or three pounds before I began my supplement and intermittent fasting. Also note I stopped taking the supplement for about two weeks to see if intermittent fasting alone would produce the same results, and it didn't. I gained a couple pounds back. After a few days of starting the supplement again the weight quickly fell back off.

The supplement I take has helped me with discipline as far as not craving as much at night and a slight decrease in appetite, and I still love the mental clarity and focus. Of course, the supplement is vegan, organic, and non-GMO. I also take the probiotic at night before bed, but that doesn't seem to be any factor in my weight loss. If you're interested in more information on the supplement, feel free to reach out to me anytime. Thanks for reading and have a great day!

This post was tagged under the following keywords: weight, weight loss, vegan, fasting, intermittent fasting, supplement, pounds, biceps, thigh, hips, waist, bust, eat, exercise, activity.

New: The Reformulated Daiya Cutting Board Shreds are Good!

NEW FORMULA DAIYA CUTTING BOARD SHREDS (VEGAN CHEESE) REVIEW

Daiya Farmhouse block cheddar has always tasted good to me, but their shreds left something to be desired. In a pinch they were not horrible, but definitely not my favorite. I mainly used them in quesadillas as a binder and a little ooey gooey goodness, but they had a bit of a strange flavor and got a bit gummy or sticky rather than melty.

Now the company has a new formula for their shreds, and they are really good and much more "authentic" compared to dairy cheese. They melt incredibly well, have good stretch, and great flavor. I only think they are great melted or cooked, however. They are not disgusting eaten cold, but they are worlds better when melted.

Nutritionally they really aren't what I consider a health food and only offer trace nutrients, but they are not too high in fat and contain no cholesterol since they're vegan. The sodium is a bit high, but most cheeses are high in sodium, so you'd be getting that anyway in most cases.

The price is comparable to other vegan cheese shreds. They come in an 8 ounce resealable bag. For someone like me who doesn't always go through a ton of vegan cheese shreds, the shreds can be frozen and still maintain great flavor, meltiness, and stretchiness when cooked. Sometimes if I don't freeze them they develop mold after about two weeks in the fridge, so I'd say once open in the fridge, a safe shelf life is 7-10 days.

I've tried the pepperjack, mozzarella, and cheddar varieties. I prefer the Farmhouse Cheddar block to the shreds, but I would use the shreds if I couldn't get the Farmhouse block. My favorite of the three varieties I've tried is the pepperjack flavor.

---

Here are a few pictures from a cheese quesadilla and a grilled cheese sandwich I made with the mozzarella and pepperjack Daiya shreds:

Here's what the Daiya site has to say regarding the Pepperjack Cutting Board Shreds
The perfect pepperjack balances the rich, smooth depth of Monterey Jack with the vivid highlights of chile peppers and herbs. Introducing Cutting Board Pepperjack Style Shreds. Enjoy the artisan cheezy goodness anywhere you want a flavor boost, from dairy-free nachos to a lively breakfast casserole.
80 calories per serving / 0g trans fat per serving / 0mg cholesterol per serving

Ingredients for the pepperjack variety:
Filtered water, tapioca starch, coconut oil, non-GMO expeller pressed: canola and/or safflower oil, vegan natural flavors, potato protein isolate, sea salt, tricalcium phosphate, lactic acid(vegan), whole algal flour, konjac gum, xantham gum, red bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, yeast extract, inactive yeast.
[Other varieties have similar ingredients; they are dairy free, gluten free, soy free, and peanut/tree nut free according to the Daiya website.]

Daiya also makes other products from cheezcakes to salad dressings to pizzas and more - and I believe all of them are vegan. Find out more info about their products, recipes, and more at the Daiya website.

* Some links in this post are affiliate links.
This means if you click any of the links and then make a purchase,
there is no extra cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission.

Earth Grown Vegan Meatless Meatballs Reviews from Aldi: Classic and Zesty Italian

Each pack of Aldi's meatless meatballs cost less than $4, compared to other vegan meatballs which cost usually at least $1 more when they're not on sale. These bags come in a 16 ounce size versus the typical 12 ounces or so of more expensive brands, so you're getting more volume as well.

They are a bit smaller than some brands. Gardein's vegan meatballs are pretty big, so these are about half their size if memory serves me correctly. However, Nate's are pretty small and these are right around that size.

The "zesty" variety reminds me of little meatballs my Grandmom used to get at the authentic Italian grocer when I was little. I used to love them! Of course, my memory might be a bit off since that was over 25 years ago. Compared to other vegan meatball brands I've tried, they remind me of Nate’s as far as flavor and size, and I really like Nate's.

Aldi's vegan meatballs overall are a bit softer than I expected but not too soft and definitely not mushy at all. I baked mine at 400 degrees F rather than 375 and added an extra minute or two. They crisped way better that way. I haven't tried frying these yet. I find if I cook them directly in sauce they turn out slightly mushy and I prefer a crisper and firmer [plant-based] meatball.

Although both varieties were really good, I definitely prefer the zesty. It has a bit more flavor and I've become almost obsessed with them. They're really good and you should try them! I can't say for sure if they would "fool" a meat eater, but I do think many people, no matter what their diet or lifestyle choice, would enjoy these. I would say these are a great option for any vegan or vegetarian or those who love Meatless Mondays or are trying to decrease their meat consumption.

It's definitely nice to see more vegan items on the market these days, especially from a discount grocer. Aldi has lots of vegan items now, which is exciting! Check out their page: aldi.us/en/grocery-home/aldi-brands/earth-grown.

(Note: I haven't typed out the ingredients yet but may add that soon.)

Tofurky Ham & Cheese Style Pocket Review

I recently tried the Tofurky Ham & Cheese Pocket which is, of course, vegan. When I was younger I used to be obsessed with Hot Pockets, so I’m very glad to see a similar type product that is vegan. How does this one measure up?

THE CRUST

The crust looks really hearty and flavorful but isn’t anything magnificent, in my opinion. It’s actually a bit dry and bland, unfortunately. Perhaps Tofurky is trying to make a healthier “pocket” but it could use a little grease or something!

Also, it’s a bit too much of the bread and not enough filling. Now, I love love love bread, but for something like this there needs to be the proper balance of bread to filling. It’s not overwhelming, but I just feel the breading is a bit too much; maybe they need to add a tiny amount more of the filling inside for a better balance.

THE FILLING

The filling inside the pocket is really good! It’s perfectly juicy and flavorful enough that I don’t mind too much the lackluster outside bread part.

The cheese is really savory and good, no strange flavor and no aftertaste. Just the rich, cheesy flavor of comfort food! It’s not a strange sticky mess or the texture of glue, and it’s not runny liquid as some vegan cheese I’ve experienced. The “ham” bits are little slices that have a nice springy, meaty texture but not tough or hard to chew. They have a great flavor that the cheese complements well.

THE PRICE

At upwards of $4 for one pocket, the price is quite high. For a non-GMO vegan frozen convenience food that’s a healthier alternative to the more popular frozen pocket food, it is fairly reasonable but still a bit pricey.

OVERALL

While the vegan Tofurky Ham & Cheese Pocket is really tasty and satisfying, it could use a few improvements. I will definitely purchase this item again. It has 230 calories in one pocket and is high in protein and calcium with other nutrients. It’s a bit high in sodium as with most frozen convenience foods. There is no cholesterol in this item.

Because of the price and highly processed list of ingredients (ingredients provided under the pictures below), it is nice to have only as an occasional treat. I think even non-vegans would enjoy this item.

Tofurky also make pockets in a Pepperoni Pizza Style and a Turk’y, Broccoli & Cheddar version.

INGREDIENTS

Ham & Cheese: Crust: (Whole wheat flour, water, wheat flour enriched unbleached (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), organic cane sugar, non-GMO canola oil, dough conditioner (wheat starch, garlic powder), salt, yeast, ascorbic acid)

Filling: Water, Tofurky Ham (water, vital wheat gluten, organic tofu [filtered water, organic soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride], expeller pressed non-GMO canola oil, vegan natural flavors, potassium chloride, oat fiber, sea salt, carrageenan, wheat starch, granulated garlic, organic cane sugar, konjac, lycopene [from tomatoes], dextrose, purple carrot juice, vegetable glycerin, maltodextrin, spices, xanthan gum, natural smoke flavor), Vegan Cheddar Cheese (water, arrowroot flour, expeller pressed non-GMO canola oil, non-GMO coconut oil, pea protein, sea salt, vegan natural flavors, potassium chloride, gum arabic, nutritional yeast, lactic acid, konjac, vegetable glycerin, titanium dioxide [a naturally occurring mineral], xanthan gum, lycopene [from tomatoes], purple carrot juice, citric acid, riboflavin), rice starch, vegan natural flavors, citric acid, black pepper, natural smoke flavor, xanthan gum, maltodextrin)

Topping: Yellow cornmeal, paprika

Ab Roller Wheel by B-Max Sports (Review)

I’ve been wanting to get an ab roller for a number of years but never got around to it. I received this one at a discounted price to try it out. I like that it comes with a small foam matt for your knees. It’s also very easy to assemble, durable, and built well. It’s a heavy plastic with thick, padded handles.

I did have to look at a few videos on YouTube to see proper form and usage.

Works not only abs and core, but also arms, legs, and other areas depending on how you use it. Not too much time needs to be devoted to this so it’s nice to have such a thorough workout in such a short time. It does take some time to get the hang of it and use properly, at least in my experience.

It’s not the easiest exercise equipment I’ve used. I’d say it’s not for the very weak or novice users. It does take some time to get used to it, so be prepared for a slight learning curve and adjustment. My advice is to watch lots of videos and practice daily in front of a mirror. If it’s not used correctly it can be almost a wasted workout and you can even risk injury. As with any exercise equipment or routine, use common sense and discuss with a professional if necessary.

Vegan Lip Balm Reviews

Okay, so nevermind my tattered photos and lip balms - I'm not the best photographer obviously and I have been using these lip balms for awhile, so they're not fresh tubes and are a little worn. Don't judge!

I tend to be partial to hemp balms, not sure if you can tell or not! LOL

I've been using Merry Hempster's Vegan Hemp Balm for years and was very happy with it. I was so happy with it, I bought it on Amazon without a care in the world. However, it's become increasingly difficult for me to get and the prices seem to be steadily increasing, which prompted me to try some other lip balms. I'm pretty picky with lip balms, too, so I was irritated to have to begin a new search, but I have been very happy so far with most that I've tried. I have a couple more to try, too, and will review them at a later date.

MERRY HEMPSTER'S VEGAN HEMP LIP BALM: 7.5 out of 10

The price used to be fair for high quality vegan lip balm, but, as I stated earlier, it keeps increasing from what I've seen. For someone who loves great prices (I mean, who doesn't, though?!) this is a bummer, and has caused me to rate it a little lower than I would have.
As far as quality, I really like the vegan hemp mint balms; Merry Hempsters has spearmint and peppermint varieties as well as vanilla and others. My husband says the hemp is too strong as far as scent and flavor, but I really like it. It has a smooth consistency where it is smooth but not too waxy. My lips don’t feel dry and it lasts long without needing to frequently reapply; however, if you’re anything like me and a lip balm addict, I apply WAY more frequently than necessary! It makes my lips feel amazing, which is why I loved using it so long.

HURRAW MINT LIP BALM: 8 out of 10

Okay, as I mentioned, I’m partial to hemp but this one doesn’t have hemp. It’s still a great lip balm. It comes in an oval shaped tube rather than the typical cylinder. I find this helps keep the balm from accidentally exposing too much while in a purse or pocket.
Glides on very smoothly and doesn’t feel waxy at all. I prefer this for warmer months because I personally need something just a little heavier in the winter for the cold weather and usually more chapped lips and this one is good but a little light. It does seem to need to be reapplied more often than other balms I’ve used.
Price is comparable to other quality vegan brands I’ve tried (about $6 to $8 a tube on Amazon) and is available in a variety of flavors. Although I really like it, the higher price will probably keep me from buying it regularly.

J & K HEMPWORKS LIP BALM: 8.5 out of 10

I bet you can’t guess by the name - but this one DOES contain hemp. Sorry, I crack myself up!
I wasn’t sure I’d like this one because it wasn’t mint, although I see there is a Hemp-a-Mint flavor available which I must have overlooked when I ordered. Reviewers state the taste is very much a mix of cocoa butter plus hemp. I am okay with natural hemp taste but wasn’t sure how it would be mixed with a cocoa butter flavor. For the price I had to try it. It was less than $6 for a two-pack on Amazon.
It’s a bit softer than the other two lip balms and reminiscent of a coconut oil yet not greasy.
I’m really glad I tried it because it’s excellent! The first few times I just thought it was okay but after a few more uses it really grew on me! It’s heavier without being waxy or sticky. Great for nighttime use, winter use, and really all seasons.
My favorite lip balm so far. I will absolutely get this again and want to try the mint version, but I really like this one.

I have tried a few other lip balms but the J & K Hempworks remains my favorite. Maybe I’ll update this at some point to include reviews for the others as well. * Some links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click any of the links and then make a purchase, there is no extra cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission. Thanks!

What’s your favorite vegan lip balm? Let me know in the comments! Thanks so much for reading and have a happy new year! See you in 2018!

Lucky Me, Lucky You: Read All about my SWEAT! (Natural Deodorant Review)

I actually hear that many vegans have tried switching to natural deodorants or brands that are not tested on animals or containing animal ingredients and most have had horrible experiences. Many vegans confess to using conventional deodorants just because they don't want to smell sweaty and gross... I was the same: I tried vegan-friendly deodorants and was disappointed, so I gave up and switched back to a "traditional" deodorant. The crystal rock type things did nothing for me. The essential oil type stuff did very little, not enough. I tried about four different vegan brands and had failure after failure. That was actually a few years ago. Good news - just as vegan cheeses have improved greatly over the last few years, so have vegan deodorants!

These conventional deodorants that are also antiperspirants, have come under much scrutiny lately because of all the chemicals they contain and the aluminum as well. Not only that, but sweating is normal and healthy, so clogging up the sweat glands is very detrimental, but you can do your own research on that. I never knew about ARMPIT DETOX until I tried natural deodorants again a few months ago. Armpit detoxes sound funny/weird/gross, but they are necessary and healthy, so do some research on that and try it if you haven't. There are tons of blogs with tips, usually using bentonite clay and ACV (apple cider vinegar).

Now, the first natural deodorant I tried was from Lemongrass Spa. I was hesitant to buy it because it contains beeswax, which isn't vegan; but it's not tested on animals and I figured it was far better than the conventional products I had been using. I got the grapefruit lily scent and it smelled pretty good, but I still smelled sweaty after using this product. (I did not detox before using this one, so it might work better after a detox.) Also, I wasn't too fond of feeling so sticky under my arms.

I tried Piper Wai and it actually works pretty good, almost as good as my favorite which I will fully review in a moment. The Piper Wai absorbs sweat fairly well (although with natural deodorants you WILL SWEAT as they are not antiperspirants and not clogging your sweat glands the way traditional products do). The scent of the Piper Wai is very earthy to me and a strong essential oil variety scent. I don't know how else to describe it. I got the bar to apply rather than the jar. It uses charcoal to absorb sweat so it does appear gray, but the company claims rubbing it in well will eliminate the gray color, which it basically did. It worked well enough that I would use it again, but I still wanted to find a product I liked more and I knew there were lots of natural deodorants on the market these days.

I checked out Amazon and found this one: Organic Island Deodorant. I scoured the reviews and decided to give it a try. I loved it! I used it for maybe a week then started getting a bit itchy under my arms and a few days later I noticed a very red rash. Uh oh! I contacted the company and they said it was probably from the baking soda in the product. I told them I already did an armpit detox and they said they still suspect the baking soda. They immediately sent me the sensitive formula to try without any cost to me since they really want their customers to be satisfied. I was a bit hesitant to use it, so I just laid off all products for a couple days. Once my rash was almost fully gone I did another underarm detox (which apparently some people must do quite a few to fully detox their pits), then gave it a try.

Sensitive (left) | Original (right)

Both versions of the product (the original and the sensitive) are unscented. They are both organic and made from natural oils, waxes, and vegan probiotics to help control odor and some of the wetness by absorption rather than clogging the glands. The original version is a bit harder consistency but can be heated very briefly to make application easier. The sensitive version is a bit soft and has a bit of a clay-like feel to me. It does work well, although not as good as the original version. I have detoxed my underarms a few more times and alternating between using the original when I need a little more better performance and the sensitive versions. I have not developed any more rashes even when I use the baking soda original version a few days in a row.

As expected I get some wetness, but there is no smell! I like that the product is unscented. Customer service has been excellent in my experience. The products are available directly on their website at www.IslandDeodorant.com and at Amazon. The price is fair and the product seems to last quite some time, even with daily use. I have had my two containers I alternate since the end of September (it's now a week into December) and still have over half of each left. Overall, so far this is my favorite deodorant, but I still need to try Primal Pit that I've heard so many people rave about!

If you've been searching for a great safer, natural deodorant that works and doesn't have that strong essential oils fragrance, give this one a try. I don't sell it or receive any incentive for sharing this with you in any way, by the way - this is just my honest review with no compensation whatsoever.

Please leave a comment to let me know how you came across my blog if you remember. On Google+ I shared "Natural Deodorant Review for Organic Island (with a few other mini reviews of other brands I've tried)". This blog was created using the following tags: sweat, natural, natural deodorant, deodorant, vegan, armpit detox, chemical, aluminum, organic, island deodorant, Lemongrass Spa, Piper Wai, review, wet, clay, acv, apple cider vinegar, essential oil, probiotics. THANKS FOR READING and have a great day!

I've Been Away FAR TOO LONG!

Rehauling my blog.

I've been away from writing for so long as life is very busy with a toddler. My blog has been severely neglected and the broken images as well as lack of posts are just two telltale signs. Eek.

My daughter is in a playgroup every Friday for a few hours now, so after I'm done with my check in and walks for my doggie clients, I plan to devote at least one or two Fridays each month to write posts (in addition to some hardcore housecleaning!).

Best wishes to all, I hope you enjoy my upcoming natural lip balm, deodoramt, lotion, make up, and shampoo reviews that will be posted starting this Friday!

This blog was labeled with the tags: natural, lip balm, deodorant, lotion, make up, shampoo, reviews, vegan, cruelty free, Friday.

Field Roast Chao Cheese: A-freaking-MAZING!!

Let's face it, most vegan cheeses leave something to be desired. Either they taste funky or they don't melt. Most cannot be eaten cold because, well they just can't! You KNOW what I'm talking about!!

So, Chao came out a few months ago by the company Field Roast (the makers of Celebration Roast, Apple Maple Breakfast Sausage, and other beloved meat substitutes). This cheese came with lots of rave reviews and has tended to sell out of stock pretty quickly from market shelves, and I can see why.

It melts. It tastes DELICIOUS. It's got great texture. It is EVERYTHING I want in a non-dairy cheese. I am proud to share it with others, whereas with other cheeses like Daiya and Follow Your Heart I was like -- eh, didn't want to scare anyone away who might have been considering a vegan diet. Not to knock those cheeses, they are good, but in certain things only. Chao is more versatile and more CHEESE-like! It is fabulous and I cannot say enough good things about this non-dairy cheese!

Now, I have only tried the Creamy Original flavor of Field Roast Chao cheese, but I hear the other two varieties (Tomato Cayenne and Coconut Herb) are spectacular as well. I am really looking forward to trying the Tomato Cayenne in some queso dip!

The description of Chao cheeses at the Field Roast site is as follows:

...a vegan coconut cheese alternative seasoned with a traditionally fermented soybean curd called Chao by the Vietnamese. We continue our fascination with blending Asian and European heritages by partnering with a Greek cheese maker and a family in Taiwan who makes the Chao. We bring it all together in Seattle to create Chao Slices.
Serving Suggestions: Make a deli sandwich with Field Roast Deli Slices. Slap onto of one of our new hand-formed Field Roast Burgers. Slice into salads or just eat ‘em plain! Grilled cheese, anyone?

I have tried the Chao Creamy Original Cheese on crackers cold, in grilled cheese (of course!), in quesadillas, on "deli" sandwiches, and plain by the slice. WINS in every situation across the board. Delicious. The only downfall is that it's a bit expensive. I pay over $7 a pack for ten thick slices. It is worth it for an occasional treat. Hopefully the price will decrease a bit soon.

If you haven't tried it, TRY IT! You don't know what you're missing! (Don't you hate it when people say that to you?!) YUM! ; )

Earth Balance Coconut Butter Spread

I usually keep some Earth Balance butter (soy free, vegan variety) stocked in my fridge. I don't use it daily but it's nice to have some on hand for when I need a quick butter. I don't like that it uses palm oil, but supposedly it is sourced "ethically." Also, many items contain palm oil but are listed as simply "vegetable oil." The palm oil debate is another post, but I want to review my recent purchase of Earth Balance Coconut Butter Spread.

My normal grocery store was out of my normal product, so I picked this up instead, wondering how it would taste.

I was worried the butter would taste too strongly of coconut, although if refined coconut oil was used it might not taste at all like it. I do like coconut, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a coconut flavored butter.

It turns out there is a slight coconut flavor but it also tastes like "traditional" butter as well. It's a great blend of a delicate coconut taste and regular butter flavor. I am happy with it but still prefer the regular soy free Earth Balance buttery spread.

The coconut butter is a white color, unlike the yellowish hue the regular Earth Balance has. It spreads, melts, and cooks the same as the regular butter, for the most part. The main difference is the color and the flavor.

If you're a fan of coconut as I am, you may enjoy the coconut butter spread on cinnamon bagels, toast, English muffins, in sweet baking recipes (cakes and cookies, for example), and even in other foods. If you dislike coconut I wouldn't highly recommend this item. Also, the Earth Balance Coconut Butter spread comes in a 10 ounce container whereas the regular Earth Balance Buttery Spread comes in a 15 ounce container, although the price was only very slightly lower than the 15 ounce product.

In the comparison photo below the nutrition information and ingredients are listed. The blue container is the coconut butter and the reddish container is the regular soy-free buttery spread.

Nutritionally they are incredibly similar. The largest difference is that the coconut butter version contains more saturated fat, which is to be expected. The ingredients are very similar as well except the difference in the types of oils used to make each variety.

Both product varieties are vegan so they contain no cholesterol like regular traditional dairy butter. The sodium and fat content are comparable to traditional dairy butters. Vegan butters are cruelty free! Go vegan. : )