Vegan Chai Granola

This past summer, I had the amazing opportunity to get my yoga teacher certification through a one month course at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in the Bahamas. I felt like I had prepared pretty well for the month (waking up a little earlier, practicing yoga every day), but, wow, was I wrong. We woke up every morning at 5:30 to go to morning Satsang at 6 (a half-hour of silent meditation on a hardwood floor, followed by chanting and a lecture), then two hours of hatha yoga practice. At 10, we had a brief break for brunch (say that 5 times fast!), followed by karma yoga. Being the youngest person in the YTT course, I was given the odd jobs around the kitchen— re-arranging and wiping down the pantry, scrubbing down the cleaning closet, and scrubbing the ovens twice a week. After karma yoga, it was time for chanting practice or Bhagavad Gita class, depending on the day, followed by a short break. Then a two-hour lecture, and another two-hour hatha yoga class (this time, learning how to teach). At six, we had dinner, and at eight was another two-hour Satsang. Then bed, wake up, and repeat for 30 days.

It was, in a word, exhausting. 

I’ve never been a huge breakfast person, but by the time brunch rolled around at 10, I was starving. While brunch usually consisted of a buffet of fruits, vegetables, and grains, I adopted a go-to meal: homemade granola, soy milk, and peanut butter with a side of chai. I found that this mixture kept me full until dinner at 6, and I knew I was getting enough protein to keep healthy.

While I worked in the kitchen, I also got to meet the sweetest girl (aptly made Honey!) who made the granola every day, and smelled it as it cooked. I love making granola, but I had only ever liked this pumpkin spice granola recipe (which is amazing). I prefer to keep pumpkin spice recipes for the fall, to preserve the sanctity of the flavor. However, I realized that a chai spiced granola would be absolutely amazing, with almond butter as a perfect binding agent.

If you’ve never made homemade granola, have no fear. It’s just about the easiest thing to make and smells absolutely a-m-a-z-i-n-g. It’s important to check for crispness as the granola approaches the later stages, and to mix up the pan periodically to prevent scorching. Feel free to double the batch, but make sure your granola has enough room on the pan. This makes a great breakfast with plant milk and fruit, a topping for smoothies or shakes, and even just a snack on it’s own. I love to make extra and give jars to friends and professors!

• Servings: 16
• Time: 1 hr
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Ingredients

– 3 cups oats (any kind will do; I like old-fashioned

–¼ cup uncooked quinoa

– ½ cup almond milk (creamy is best; not the best recipe for homemade)

– ½ cup maple syrup 

— ½ cup nuts or seeds (pecans or raw sunflower seeds work best)

— ¼ cup ground flaxseeds 

— 2 tsp chai spice 

— 1 tsp vanilla extract 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Toast the oats and quinoa on a baking sheet, about ten minutes. 
2. While oats and quinoa are toasting, mix together other ingredients in a large bowl. 
3. Pour oats and quinoa into bowl and mix everything. Spread back onto baking sheet. 
4. Drop the oven heat to 300 degrees. Bake granola for 20 minutes. 
5. Stir granola, and return to oven for 20 minutes. 
6. Continue to check and stir at 5 to 10 minute intervals until quinoa is crunchy. 
7. Let cool. Store in a jar or airtight container for up to a week. Serve with non-dairy milk. 

Did you like this recipe? Any suggestions? Let me know!

Happy baking!

Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie (with Hidden Veggies)

Has anyone else noticed that it’s almost impossible to find vegan mint chocolate chip ice cream? I know Enlightened and So Delicious each have one, and I’ve been able to get the So Delicious one (with no added sugar! love!), but they’re hard to find in my vicinity. I love peanut butter and cookie dough, of course, but sometimes you just want mint chip!

I know that a smoothie isn’t *exactly* ice cream, but I find that sometimes, a little bit of taste can be sacrificed for a whole lot of convenience, price, and nutrition.

Okay, so I am absolutely NOT selling this recipe, am I? It’s delicious, I promise, especially if you want to shake it up from the usual smoothies or curb an ice cream craving.

This one does use protein powder, but it’s optional. I’m still doing some research, but I’ve read about questionable ingredients in some protein powders, so I may start cutting it out of my diet. For now, I still have some in my pantry to use up, so it stays.

The color is pretty deep, definitely greener than your typical ice cream or green smoothie, but I really like how it turns out. I may try to top with berries for a nice Christmas colored variation!

You could definitely top with chocolate chips instead of cacao nibs, or whatever you normally put in a smoothie bowl I think the cacao nibs give it a really great chocolatey flavor.

Without further ado!

• Servings: 1
• Time: 5 min
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Ingredients

-1/2 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk (almond, oat, and cashew are all wonderful)

• 1/2 cup ice cubes

-1 cup raw spinach

-1 scoop spirulina powder (I use Kos)

-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-1/2 tsp peppermint extract

-2 scoops vanilla protein powder (optional, but recommended)

-cacao nibs or chocolate chips for topping

other toppings: chia seeds, coconut flakes, flaxseeds, etc.

Directions

1. In your blender, add all ingredients except toppings.
2. Blend until smooth. If it’s too thick, you can add a little almond milk; if it’s too thin, add some spinach and ice cubes. If you want to drink instead, add around 1/2 cup almond milk.
3. Pour into your bowl and top with toppings!

Interested in more smoothies? Check out my Pumpkin Berry Halloween smoothie! Want another way to sneak greens into your diet? Try this pesto.

Happy baking!

 

Small Steps: Step 1— Meat

When people first start examining their environmental impact, it can get really overwhelming. Some people want to jump right into a perfect zero-waste, vegan, low-impact lifestyle, but get discouraged quickly, and some would rather stick their head into the sand. I’ve put together this series of articles to help you take small steps to a brighter, greener lifestyle and a brighter, greener future. 

People always ask me why I went vegetarian, and then vegan. Now, my reasons are manyfold: I love having a lower environmental impact, I feel better knowing that I am saving animals, and I feel so much healthier, both physically and mentally. But when I first decided to stop eating meat at age 16, I don’t think I could pinpoint an exact reason. Mostly for ethical purposes— I’ve always been extremely empathetic— but I later learned that many people who suffer from disordered eating are also vegetarians and vegans, as a way of controlling their diet in a socially acceptable way.

Now, I’m proud to be on the road to food freedom and self-love, but I can’t imagine going back to eating meat, especially not after everything that I’ve learned about industrial agriculture.

However, I understand that meat is a large part of many peoples’ diets and cultures, and the idea of cutting it out completely can be daunting. In the following article, I want to explain the ways that meat (and seafood) consumption are harmful to the environment and your health, as well as some easy ways to cut down on meat consumption.

Meat and The Environment

Modern agriculture is a vast, multibillion-dollar business that is wrecking the environment. A 6 oz steak requires about 674 gallons of water to produce. That’s about as much water as running your shower for 5 days in a row (at an average flow of 2.1 gallons per minute). If you’re looking to cut down on water usage, skip the steak at Chipotle instead of cutting into your valuable shower time.

Did you know that around 4/5ths of deforestation in the Amazon is linked to cattle ranching? Western demand for cheap beef (and lots of it) is a major factor in deforestation, which leads to habitat loss for many endangered animals, and cuts nature’s ability to scrub CO2 from the atmosphere, which is… less than ideal.

Speaking of CO2, producing a kilogram of beef releases around 27 kilograms of CO2 into the air— compared to just 2 kilograms for the equivalent volume of beans and tofu (source).

You know how every few months, there seems to be a big E. coli scare, usually for raw greens? That’s because the veggies are contaminated with irresponsible runoff from cattle farms. This runoff can also release antibiotics into the water, posing serious health and environmental risks (source).

Many people who avoid meat still eat fish, but commercial fishing is incredibly destructive to our oceans. A study of the Great Pacific Garbage showed that 46% of the plastic waste was from discarded fishing gear. These lost nets, called ghost nets, can strangle and kill many marine species (source).

Meat and Your Health

A major 24-year study of over 100,000 individuals showed that eating a single serving of processed red meat (like sausage, bacon, and hot dogs) increases the risk of premature death by 20%. Unprocessed red meat, like steak and pork, increases the risk by only 13%, which is still substantial (source).

Most Americans only consume 15 grams of fiber per day, compared to the recommended 25 to 38 grams per day. By cutting down on meat, and replacing meat-based meals with foods like whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, you can easily up your fiber intake without resorting to supplements (source).

How do I cut down on meat?

• If you eat meat at every meal, try to cut down to once a day. Switch out sausage and bacon at breakfast for waffles and eggs, or a bowl of cereal. Pack a salad loaded with legumes and healthy fats in lieu of a sandwich, or stick to a nice PB&J.
• If you still eat meat every day, adopt Meatless Mondays. If seven people eat meat only 6 days a week, that’s the equivalent of one person being completely vegetarian! Try a baked potato with vegetarian chili, a veggie pizza, or pasta for your Monday night dinner.
• Try out the alternatives! Veggie burgers may seem weird and daunting at first, but switch out a meal or two a week with plant-based proteins. Check out your grocery freezer section for meat alternatives, or check out some recipes online. I love Morningstar Farms veggie burgers because they’re really tasty and widely available. Most of their products aren’t vegan yet, but several are, and all are vegetarian.
• Cut down to eating meat once a week. My mother and little sister follow this approach. My mom likes to eat a Philly cheesesteak sub every Tuesday, but that’s her only meat for the week. My sister is less consistent, but usually sticks to eating meat once or twice a week, and really likes these veggie corndogs.

In my ideal world, everyone is vegan and owns a pet cow, but I understand that not everyone is there yet. But if you’re scared of running a marathon, just take that first step, and keep going. Pretty soon you’ll focus on the distance you’ve traveled, and the length still to go will seem insignificant.

Spooky Scary Pumpkin Berry Smoothie Bowl

Happy October! Today is World Vegetarian Day (woo!) and Pumpkin Spice Day (wooo!). I am so excited to kick off the season with this amazing recipe (that I discovered by accident!).

I love a loaded smoothie bowl, and I’m always interested in add-ins that make for a prettier, healthier bowl. This summer, I finally bought spirulina powder. This blue-green algae is loaded with protein, B vitamins, and Iron. Plus, it’s so pretty.

But do you know what happens when you add blue-green powder to a dark purple smoothie? It turns black! Not my fresh summer smoothie, but maybe something perfect for a little later in the year…

• Servings: 1
• Time: 10 min
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Ingredients

-1/2 cup organic frozen berry mix (like Full Circle Market)

-1/2 cup pumpkin puree (like Thrive Market organic pumpkin)

-2 tsp acai powder

-1 scoop spirulina powder (like Kos)

-1 scoop Organic Pressed Juice

-2 scoops protein powder (I swear by Bob’s Red Mill Protein Powder)

-toppings: I used chia seeds, flax seeds, and Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Pumpkin Cinnamon Granola

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients (except toppings) together, adding water to thin if need be.
2. Transfer to bowl.
3. Add toppings– for the pumpkin shape, I used a cookie cutter before sprinkling my flax seeds on top.
4. Enjoy

It’s a great way to add some extra fruit, veggies, and protein to your breakfast. If you follow the Dr Greger Daily Dozen, then you’ve hit 5 of your goals (flaxseed, berries, nuts, and two vegetables).

Happy baking, and stay tuned for more pumpkin!

What to Do When You Can’t Avoid Trash

And, no, I’m not talking about a rude co-worker or classmate!

I go to college in Iowa. Our grocery store is the size of a large shoebox, and our food options are pretty limited. My meal plan, which cots an arm and a leg, gives me the option to eat in the commons (when I have time), and buy some supplementary snacks from a few other places on campus: ie, food in plastic packaging.

Of course, I am doing what I can to make my school more sustainable, but that means I’m busy juggling everything, and sometimes I fall into the trap of a bottle of juice and a Clif bar in the library. So, what do we do to keep our bad habits as low impact as possible?

Choose glass or metal containers that are easily recyclable or reusable

This is kind of an obvious one, but if you have the possibility of buying a plastic bottle or a can, go for the can– aluminum can be recycled much more easily and more times than plastic can.

Choose recycled plastic

Some companies use only recycled plastic, or at least a large proportion. For example, Naked uses 100 percent recycled and recyclable plastic. If you’re going for a sugary drink in a plastic bottle, opt for a boosted juice instead of a Coke.

Look into recycling options

Did you know that TerraCycle actually has a free program for recycling foil-lined energy bar wrappers and snack bags? Those are two major waste streams for convenience food. Take the extra few minutes to collect the trash and send it to be recycled.

Think ahead

Alright, this isn’t really how to take care of trash that’s already been produced. If you know that you’ll be in a situation where you’ll be tempted by food, try to pack some snacks and a water bottle. The goal isn’t to be perfect all the time, but to improve whenever possible.

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good

If you use a plastic water bottle, you’re not a demon. The point is to try to reduce waste as much as possible, not to punish yourself for eating a candy bar in a plastic wrapper.

We don’t need a few people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions doing it imperfectly.

Have questions, tips, or personal thoughts? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to subscribe! And check out my giveaway on Instagram!

(header image by Steve Johnson from Pexels)

Easy Kale and Basil Pesto

I love pesto. When I was in high school, swimming competitively, I survived off of pasta and bread, all smothered with whole tubs of pesto. It’s delicious and beautiful and the answer to “how can I eat straight olive oil but make it seem healthy?”

Now, however, a few things stand between me and my love. The first is that I’m not exercising vigorously in cold water for 10+ hours every week. I don’t want to or need to eat white carbs and plain fat every day. Is this what growing up feels like? Yuck.

Most store bought pesto has Parmesan in it anyway, which is obviously a no for me. So if I want it, I have to make it.

Part three: basil and olive oil are expensive, and even if I were to buy $15 of fresh basil leaves, it would blend down to a few sad tablespoons. My solution? This healthier, definitely cheaper alternative to traditional pesto (with all the flavor, of course!). By adding in kale (which is about $1-$2 a bunch, depending on the season) and water (practically free), it cuts the calories and cost, and boosts your greens intake for the day. What’s not to love?

• Servings: 4
• Time: 5 mins
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Ingredients:

1 bunch raw kale leaves (about 3-4 cups)

2 tbs basil paste (the kind in the tubes- or use a handful of fresh leaves)

1 tbs olive oil

1 tsp nutritional yeast

3 cloves of garlic (or to taste)

1 tbs raw cashews (or almonds, sunflower seeds– whatever you have on hand)

Water (see instructions)

Directions:

Add all ingredients EXCEPT WATER to a blender or food processor– if not all the kale fits, slowly add it as the mixture is blended. Starting with about a tablespoon, slowly add the water until the mixture reaches the desired consistency. Pour over pasta (I love chickpea pasta, like Banza or Thrive Market brand) or top garlic bread, use as a salad dressing.

Notes: feel free to use spinach or any other dark leafy green you like! This keeps well on the fridge for a few days, but I haven’t tried freezing it yet.

Happy baking!

Super Easy Superfood Latte Mix

I’m a huge coffee drinker. I actually drink about 6 cups a day (or more) while I’m at school, just because I wake up early for class and it’s kind of go-go-go until 10 or 11 pm. A girl needs energy. Plus, there’s unlimited coffee in the dining hall, so while my darling boyfriend is eating his 9th plate of food, I can load up on caffeine.

I could probably talk for hours (or pages, I suppose) about why coffee is the best thing in the world. For example, the global switch from drinking beer or water mixed with wine (using the alcohol to kill off bacteria) to drinking mainly tea and coffee (using boiling to kill off bacteria) essentially took the world off of depressants and gave it a swift kick. No wonder we love so quickly these days!

Anyway! I love coffee. So do a lot of people. Let’s make coffee work for us.

While I was in Hawaii last year, I fell in love with a superfood chai at a local cafe. I can’t remember the exact blend, but I distinctly remember it having turmeric, and thinking “wow, I thought I hated turmeric! This is amazing!”

I also drank many, many expensive protein shakes at the Kauai Juice Company, and I because enchanted with a certain Island Protein shake, that tasted like vanilla cake batter. All of the ingredients were familiar- in fact, things I used in my own protein shakes- except maca. Its a wonderful, butterscotch flavored root with lots of fiber. And it’s delicious.

So here is my accidental ode to last year’s vacation, a simple mix to add to your coffee for a little boost of taste and energy. It’s really great for those of us who realize that breakfast isn’t always a good idea (if I eat a full breakfast, I either feel nauseous or incredibly hungry for the rest of the day. It’s a bit of a lose-lose).

Superfood Latte Mix

• Servings: 10-12
• Time: 5 mins
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Ingredients:

1/4 cup stevia in the raw

1/4 cup raw cacao powder (I love this)

2 tbs maca powder

2 tsp organic turmeric

Directions:

Whisk all ingredients together and transfer to a clean jar. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons to a cup of coffee, along with a splash of almond milk or cashew milk.

May this grant you delicious coffee and lots of energy. Happy baking!

30 New Years Resolutions That Aren’t “Lose Weight”

Almost everyone above the age of twelve has probably said that “this is the year I lose weight!” And then repeated it the next year, the next year, the next year. It’s a little passé. Even if you start with the best intentions, little things sneak up and it’s suddenly April, with no progress made– or even a few extra pounds.

The definition of insanity is supposed to be doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. So why would you have the same resolution, every year, and expect to suddenly achieve it without changing a thing.

I challenge you to leave weight loss off your list this year. Here are a few suggestions, in all different categories:

This year, I will:

HEALTH

1. Start doing yoga every day.

2. Start running every week.

3. Go vegan!

4. Drink a gallon of water every day.

5. Get 8 hours of sleep every night.

6. Eat 5 servings of veggies and fruits every day.

7. Stop eating processed foods.

8. Start eating mindfully.

9. Let go of “food guilt”.

10. Listen to my body.

SPIRIT

11. Go to religious services every week.

12. Pray every morning.

13. Do one extra kind act every day.

14. Meditate every day.

15. See a therapist.

HOME

16. Stop buying things I don’t need.

17. Stop buying things with plastic packaging.

18. Get rid of unworn clothing.

19. Get rid of unused items.

20. Clean up every day.

21. Organize my closet.

22. Organize my pantry.

23. Clean the garage.

24. Put money away into savings.

SELF

25. Play an instrument every week.

26. Start studying a foreign language.

27. Take new classes.

28. Read 12 books.

29. Write a book.

30. Love myself.

Let’s make 2019 a little brighter for everyone. Happy Holidays!

Header image by rawpixel on Unsplash

The 5 Biggest Greenwashing Tactics (And How to Avoid Them)

Greenwashing. It sounds nice, right, like using all natural soap to clean your baby’s hair, or making the house sparkly clean with only baking soda and lemon. I suppose that would be green-washing. But, tragically, the reality isn’t nearly as idyllic.

Greenwashing is essentially what happens when a company tries to make their products, services, or whole organization appear eco-friendly, even when it’s not. It’s similar to the food claims that something is “all natural” and “fat free” or even “vegan”. These may sounds fancy and healthy, but really carry little meaning in regards to overall health. Similarly, products that are greenwashed may make you feel like you’re making a good choice, but in reality they can be just as harmful as their conventional alternatives. I’ve compiled a list of what I believe are the most common forms of greenwashing that I see nearly every day.

1. “All natural” 

So, just like in food labels, this doesn’t really mean anything because there are essentially no governing bodies to determine what gets this label and what doesn’t. Just because something is in a green or brown packaging and boasts that it’s natural, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is– or that you want it near your body. Verify the ingredients list, and check for certifications, such as being organic or a biobased product.

Speaking of that green and brown packaging– that counts too! Companies will try to market their products in subtle ways that make us reach for them without thinking.

2. “vegan”

This one should be cool, right? But a certain company, whom we shall call “Farnier Gructis” has started proudly marketing certain products as “vegan formula”. But the products are still tested on animals, which isn’t very cool. Or, by my morals and definitions, vegan. Which brings me to the next topic:

3. This Product Not Tested On Animals

Oof. This carries a lot of questions. Were the ingredients tested on animals? Are other products by the company tested on animals? Always look for a certification, such as Leaping Bunny or PETA’s cruelty free logo– they will show which products are cruelty free and vegan!

 

4. Recyclable container/packaging

Ugh. This one is super hard, because obviously recycling is good, but not the best option. Opt for products that are packaged in recycled and recyclable packaging– or, better yet, little to no packaging. Paper and glass are much more easily and cleanly recycled than plastic.

5. Made with “xxx”

No, not moonshine. Saying a product is made with something doesn’t really even mean it’s a major part. If your fruity tooty mango shampoo has more chemicals than mango, it’s really time to let that go, man. Ha.

Spend a little time researching the brands and products you buy. Find if they test on animals, if they have certifications, where you can buy them for the cheapest. Knowing which makeup brands and cleaning supplies have a good reputation can make greener shopping easy. I like Mrs. Meyers’ cleaning supplies, and I sometimes use Seventh Generation as well, or brandless.com. If you can’t find products that suit you, just remember that nearly everything (including you!) can be cleaned with baking soda, vinegar, castile soap, and essential oils– there are tons of recipes on Pinterest, from shampoo to dish detergents.

I challenge you to open your eyes a little more while doing your shopping, and maybe make your home a little greener, a little brighter, and a little cleaner!

xoxo Emma

Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake

PUMPKIN SEASON IS HERE!

There is nothing better than a pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pumpkin pumpkin! Am I #relatable enough?

Real talk, my gorgeous boyfriend ordered about 8 cans of pumpkin purée from Thrive Market, so I have a lot of materials to experiment with! Isn’t that fabulous? My gorgeous boyfriend has also convinced me to start lifting…. less fabulous. So protein shakes are my best friends more than ever right now.

This pumpkin spice protein shake uses vanilla protein powder (as opposed to my usual chocolate) and has a whole serving of pumpkin purée. And it is aaaaaaaamazing.

• Servings: 1
• Time: 5 mins
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened non-dairy mylk
• 1-2 scoops vanilla protein powder of choice
• 1 tsp pumpkin spice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
• (optional) 1 tbs maple syrup or almond butter

Directions: Blend everything together for the perfect breakfast or post workout snack!