Since going high raw vegan, I have learned some very interesting (and funny) things about my fellow humans. When I began my journey, I had joined groups, followed pages, and read many blogs looking for support. What I found was somewhat hilarious, and a bit sad at the same time! So here are some of my favorites!!!
People love to hear good news about their bad habits! You know what I mean, like the article that comes out stating wine is great for your health....yay, ladies drink up! Lol! Seriously. If you do enough research you could probably find the health benefits of heroin. Understanding the difference between health food and food which may be harmful to your health BUT contains antioxidants is very different! Yes antioxidants are good for you, but try to get them from whole food sources...not alcohol!
I learned the word VEGAN is highly misused and misrepresented! Becoming a vegan is a huge but beautiful commitment...not a diet. It is a lifestyle you work on daily. You have to spend time educating yourself about animal rights, the environment, as well as food production. Many who say they are vegan, well, they are just on a plant based (sometimes) diet, lol. Sometimes they eat dairy, sometimes they eat meat, and they almost always eat honey...and they shop for leather shoes without hesitation! I highly urge anyone who is looking to change their life for the better to look into veganism as a lifestyle. The impact you make on your health, mental and physical, the planet, and the animals is incredible! It is a feel good lifestyle.
Nutritionist are everywhere...especially the moment they discover you are vegan! 'I read somewhere, something, about how vegans need B12 supplements or they will die'....really, do you know what B12 is? 'Yeah, it's like a supplement, right?' Not even kidding! I have these type of conversations on a regular basis! Things like 'raw food is so bad for you, you should really eat more cooked food'!!! Right, because nature got it wrong and McDonald's got it right! Yikes, I highly recommend everyone
do some research on a plant based diet as well as Natural Hygiene, not only will it help you with your own health, but you will better understand nutrition! And when I say do some reading, I don't mean reading articles sponsored by the dairy association, I mean, read some books by those living and thriving on this lifestyle. See where the author is NOW, are they healthy, fit, active? Or are they overweight, sick, and sedentary? A great example is the author and 'founder' of The Paleo Diet, he is now overweight...from taking his own bad advice!
When I began eating large fruit meals, I began getting some strange looks and of course many worried about my health, lol! What I find so hilarious about this, is if I was eating cookies, drinking numerous cups of coffee, and having protein shakes for lunch, no one would bat an eye!!! But a meal consisting for fresh raw fruit sends people into a panic, lol! Boy do we live in a strange world! Maybe all the processed food has made us crazy.
People want to lose weight more than anything. They are willing to count very single piece of food they eat, just so they don't go over their calorie allowance for the day. The thought of removing unhealthy food, so they can not only feel better, but also be able to eat MORE of the good stuff seems crazy to them. Why not focus on health? Eat food that nourishes you, gives you energy, and heals you
from the inside out! Not only is eating for your health a wonderful abundant lifestyle, but it also rids you of junk food cravings! It may not be a quick fix, you may not lose weight immediately, but your health WILL improve, your energy will improve, and your LIFE will improve!
The biggest thing I have learned is that people use and abuse food on a daily basis and will defend it to the bitter end. No matter how poor their health is, not even a cancer diagnosis will change their ways. The most heartbreaking part of this journey is watching others slowly poison themselves with food. Why change your diet if you can just take a pill to cover up the symptoms of poor health, right? Food can be just as dangerous if not more dangerous than any drug on the market. It can be abused daily without anyone ever questioning it. It is the saddest part of my journey. Watching others destroy their health on a daily basis.
Naturally Vegan Health & FitnessⓋ
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Life After Coffee
Last February I made a huge decision to finally give up coffee and all caffeine. Many questioned my sanity...why on earth was I torturing myself like this? Lol. Was I trying to become a purist? What's next, wheat grass shots? It was hard to explain to most people, as their morning (and sometimes all day) routine is accompanied by a cup of joe. To some the side effects seem to be minor compared to the incredible jolt of energy, but these really are something to consider. Here is how coffee/caffeine negatively effects you:
- coffee can cause rapid and irregular heartbeats
- causes sleep disturbances and an inability to fall asleep
- can elevate blood pressure
- increases risk of osteoporosis
- caffeine is a drug which leads to dependency and withdrawal symptoms can be harsh
- appetite suppressant, creating poor eating habits and a compromised metabolism
- increases anxiety
- caffeine is a psychoactive drug which acts on the central nervous system resulting in mood and behavioral changes
- can cause IBS as well as heartburn, poor digestion and gut health
- dehydration
- adrenal fatigue
- acid forming
Those were some of the concerns I had and really wanted to have a clean and naturally energized body. I felt like I fueling my body with the best food, yet slipping it a drug every morning to get started. So I finally quit! I am 7 months clean and I must say it feels great! Some of the changes that I have noticed have been interesting for sure, lol!
Let's start with my appetite. For the first 5 months I felt an insane hunger that wouldn't go away! Like I had been starved for years. So I ate, and ate, and ate. As you can imagine, over eating, even on a clean diet, will lead to a few unwanted pounds...in my case 6-8lbs! I knew this would happen. Many compare it to quitting smoking, weight gain is just part of the deal. The good thing is that my metabolism now is learning to work without a stimulant, instead of a jolt of caffeine first thing in the morning, I now enjoy a large jar of water! Wakes me right up naturally. My appetite is finally beginning to calm down and I am no longer eating like an animal, lol!
I no longer have that 3pm crash! There were days when I could barely get home without making a pit stop at Starbucks just to keep me awake while I drove. I feel properly fueled by fruit, all day, without any ups and downs! I can honestly tell you I can feel my food fueling my body where before I was completely unaware of it.
My concentration has improved as well as my mood. I have the ability to focus and have the energy to stay on task naturally. I feel consistently happy and just great. My workouts are better than ever, great energy all day long. Many athletes highly depend on caffeine to get them through workouts or races, I just fuel up with fruit and go! Since quitting coffee I have had some of my best runs, hikes, and spin classes!
My anxiety has improved. I have had anxiety issues on and off since 2001. I refused medication and have managed it on my own. Coffee definitely made it worse, so removing it has really relaxed me. My stress level in general has decreased. Even in some of the most high stress situations I am as calm as a cucumber. I feel like I can handle situations without my blood pressure flying through the roof!
So far so good. I am thrilled with my decision and now wish I would have quit sooner. Unfortunately like all drugs, it is not easy to admit there is more harm than good. Even as I decreased from 3 cups to one cup, I was still consuming it, and wouldn't experience optimal health until I quit 100%! Now I am excited to see how a year or even years without caffeine will feel!!
- coffee can cause rapid and irregular heartbeats
- causes sleep disturbances and an inability to fall asleep
- can elevate blood pressure
- increases risk of osteoporosis
- caffeine is a drug which leads to dependency and withdrawal symptoms can be harsh
- appetite suppressant, creating poor eating habits and a compromised metabolism
- increases anxiety
- caffeine is a psychoactive drug which acts on the central nervous system resulting in mood and behavioral changes
- can cause IBS as well as heartburn, poor digestion and gut health
- dehydration
- adrenal fatigue
- acid forming
Those were some of the concerns I had and really wanted to have a clean and naturally energized body. I felt like I fueling my body with the best food, yet slipping it a drug every morning to get started. So I finally quit! I am 7 months clean and I must say it feels great! Some of the changes that I have noticed have been interesting for sure, lol!
Let's start with my appetite. For the first 5 months I felt an insane hunger that wouldn't go away! Like I had been starved for years. So I ate, and ate, and ate. As you can imagine, over eating, even on a clean diet, will lead to a few unwanted pounds...in my case 6-8lbs! I knew this would happen. Many compare it to quitting smoking, weight gain is just part of the deal. The good thing is that my metabolism now is learning to work without a stimulant, instead of a jolt of caffeine first thing in the morning, I now enjoy a large jar of water! Wakes me right up naturally. My appetite is finally beginning to calm down and I am no longer eating like an animal, lol!
I no longer have that 3pm crash! There were days when I could barely get home without making a pit stop at Starbucks just to keep me awake while I drove. I feel properly fueled by fruit, all day, without any ups and downs! I can honestly tell you I can feel my food fueling my body where before I was completely unaware of it.
My concentration has improved as well as my mood. I have the ability to focus and have the energy to stay on task naturally. I feel consistently happy and just great. My workouts are better than ever, great energy all day long. Many athletes highly depend on caffeine to get them through workouts or races, I just fuel up with fruit and go! Since quitting coffee I have had some of my best runs, hikes, and spin classes!
My anxiety has improved. I have had anxiety issues on and off since 2001. I refused medication and have managed it on my own. Coffee definitely made it worse, so removing it has really relaxed me. My stress level in general has decreased. Even in some of the most high stress situations I am as calm as a cucumber. I feel like I can handle situations without my blood pressure flying through the roof!
So far so good. I am thrilled with my decision and now wish I would have quit sooner. Unfortunately like all drugs, it is not easy to admit there is more harm than good. Even as I decreased from 3 cups to one cup, I was still consuming it, and wouldn't experience optimal health until I quit 100%! Now I am excited to see how a year or even years without caffeine will feel!!
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Raw Till 4 not working?
This isn't working!
I have heard this numerous times when it comes to a High Raw Vegan diet (raw till 4). Those of you not familiar with this lifestyle, here's the deal:
-vegan
-raw fruit and veggies until 4pm
-cooked low fat, high carb dinner
-no coffee, alcohol, or other stimulants
-80 10 10 caloric/nutrient breakdown
-low fat, no oil, low sodium
-high calorie intake no restricting
-fitness
This lifestyle is one if the best ways to thrive, lose weight, and get healthy! Stories of healing on this diet can be found all over YouTube and the blogosphere! Everything from diabetes, Crohns, Eating Disorders, Migraines, to psoriasis! Testimonials can be found from those thriving and more active than ever with boundless amounts of energy!
So why is it not working for you? Well, I can't say 100%, because I have not seen your food journal or your activity level! but I am confident enough to guess!
1.You are not exercising! A healthy body requires movement, especially when you want to improve digestion and increase lean muscle!
2. You are still consuming oils and too many fats! This is HUGE! If you won't remove oil from your cooking, you will struggle with weight loss and high energy. Oil is pure fat, stripped of all fiber and nutrients! It has no place in the human diet! Give it up already! Too many avocados, or nuts are also going to slow down progress. Remember this is a high carb lifestyle not a high fat one!
3. Not eating enough! Another important part of the lifestyle is not to fall back into the trap of 'dieting'!! This is about providing the body with consistent fuel, all day long! Learning how to eat massive amounts of fruit and raw veggies can be difficult, be patient and focus on one meal at a time. Sit and relax, eat slowly, and taste every bite!
4. Eating out too often! Restauants do not cook low fat, low sodium food, or at least most don't! Restaurants use oils, sugar and salt! If you are eating out more than you are eating at home....you will struggle! If you have no choice but to eat out, keep it simple! Order things like steamed veggies, steamed rice, baked potatoes, roasted veggies, plain pasta with marinara sauce, or salads!
5. You are not eating a plant based vegan diet! Adding in foods like dairy, honey, or meat will interfere in your health and weight loss journey! There are so many vegan options out there, you really have no excuse!
Take a close look at your diet and see if YOU aren't doing the work! This lifestyle works, it works for thousands maybe even millions of people, who are following the guidelines! If you are not willing to be consistent and do the work, you can't expect to see results!
Here are some pages to check out for motivation!
-Rice and Raw on Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram
-Vegan Vibes on Tumblr and Instagram
-Passion and Fruit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
-Durianrider on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
-Raw till 4 of Facebook
-Freelee the Banana Girl on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram
You will have the results you desire! No longer underweight or overweight!
I have heard this numerous times when it comes to a High Raw Vegan diet (raw till 4). Those of you not familiar with this lifestyle, here's the deal:
-vegan
-raw fruit and veggies until 4pm
-cooked low fat, high carb dinner
-no coffee, alcohol, or other stimulants
-80 10 10 caloric/nutrient breakdown
-low fat, no oil, low sodium
-high calorie intake no restricting
-fitness
This lifestyle is one if the best ways to thrive, lose weight, and get healthy! Stories of healing on this diet can be found all over YouTube and the blogosphere! Everything from diabetes, Crohns, Eating Disorders, Migraines, to psoriasis! Testimonials can be found from those thriving and more active than ever with boundless amounts of energy!
So why is it not working for you? Well, I can't say 100%, because I have not seen your food journal or your activity level! but I am confident enough to guess!
1.You are not exercising! A healthy body requires movement, especially when you want to improve digestion and increase lean muscle!
2. You are still consuming oils and too many fats! This is HUGE! If you won't remove oil from your cooking, you will struggle with weight loss and high energy. Oil is pure fat, stripped of all fiber and nutrients! It has no place in the human diet! Give it up already! Too many avocados, or nuts are also going to slow down progress. Remember this is a high carb lifestyle not a high fat one!
3. Not eating enough! Another important part of the lifestyle is not to fall back into the trap of 'dieting'!! This is about providing the body with consistent fuel, all day long! Learning how to eat massive amounts of fruit and raw veggies can be difficult, be patient and focus on one meal at a time. Sit and relax, eat slowly, and taste every bite!
4. Eating out too often! Restauants do not cook low fat, low sodium food, or at least most don't! Restaurants use oils, sugar and salt! If you are eating out more than you are eating at home....you will struggle! If you have no choice but to eat out, keep it simple! Order things like steamed veggies, steamed rice, baked potatoes, roasted veggies, plain pasta with marinara sauce, or salads!
5. You are not eating a plant based vegan diet! Adding in foods like dairy, honey, or meat will interfere in your health and weight loss journey! There are so many vegan options out there, you really have no excuse!
Take a close look at your diet and see if YOU aren't doing the work! This lifestyle works, it works for thousands maybe even millions of people, who are following the guidelines! If you are not willing to be consistent and do the work, you can't expect to see results!
Here are some pages to check out for motivation!
-Rice and Raw on Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram
-Vegan Vibes on Tumblr and Instagram
-Passion and Fruit on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
-Durianrider on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
-Raw till 4 of Facebook
-Freelee the Banana Girl on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram
You will have the results you desire! No longer underweight or overweight!
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Vegan No More...
Don't worry, this is not some sort of crazy meat eating confession. Just some thoughts on the recent vegans gone meat-crazy! I have been following many vegan and raw vegan blogs for the past 2 years, many I enjoyed and read for inspiration. Lately these so called vegan bloggers are dropping like flies! It is quite sad but really I am not shocked! I will tell you why, but first lets go over the blogs!
Young & Raw went back to meat last year. The reason...well, she found health, used a vegan diet to feel her best, and decided not to stick with it. Makes sense right?!?!? Still, their website sells juice fasts, detox programs, all plant based. What I just don't understand is why on earth you would go backwards! If you feel great, sell plant based diets to all your followers, why not be the example? If your detox programs work for long term health, why are you not following them?
Rawlosophy went back to eating fish and other animal products...from my take it was because she just wanted too. She didn't want to restrict herself and she wanted to be a 'normal' person, lol! Her explanation was all about 'dogma', religion' and all sorts of other vegan hate.
Raw Food Rehab...well, apparently the high fat raw food diet has failed again! We all know this! We all speak about it on a regular basis! Those who follow a high fat raw diet always go back to eating animals as they don't thrive on the lifestyle and just fall off the wagon.
Carrie On Vegan. Another sad story. She actually created the app called VeganDelsh, and she had a strong presence on social media, but her 'vegan' diet seemed high fat, and she consumed a lot of oils. Many of us recommended she try to seek help from Dr. McDougall or Doug Graham before turning to meat, but she had already made up her mind!
The Blonde Vegan, the latest to leave the plant world and probably the weirdest one. She came on the scene about a year ago, her Instagram account got thousands of followers almost overnight. She really is or was a newbie on the vegan scene. She quickly took her huge following as a sign to cash in, making the TBV clothing line as well as monthly 'cleanse' programs. Well...here we are, less then a year later we find out she has an eating disorder, and a spot on GMA selling her story! The most unfortunate part is she could have gone to many of the well known vegan doctors and asked for guidance. Veganism does not promote eating disorders, and she could have still maintained her plant based diet while receiving some psychological help.
The reason why I am not shocked is because of a few things:
~A high fat vegan diet is designed to FAIL.
~Detox programs and cleanses will cause you to under eat, fell famished, and ultimately go back to animal products.
~Snake oil salesmen or 'online stores' can be a red flag. Many bloggers genuinely want to help others, but many also want to make money selling supplements, powders, and other 'super foods'! Social media is an incredible tool to reach millions of people from your living room. The down side of social media is that is it also a stepping stone for those looking for fame and attention!
~Most are not willing to try a vegan diet different than the one which failed them. They are very quick to turn to animal products. There are SO many vegan doctors and resources out there!! Why not try them all!?!?
How to know a vegan business is REALLY vegan?
~Try to follow them on their personal and business page if you can, it will give you an insight into their real lives
~Ask about their stance on animal rights and the vegan lifestyle
~Ask for vegan clothing/product recommendations
~Ask if they are just plant based or vegan
~If they adding honey to their recipes...they are not vegan. simple.
The good that came out of all this is that those who are proud to be vegan and work very hard promoting and building the lifestyle are still shining bright! Those who used the vegan label as a business opportunity quickly found it is not that simple. The lifestyle requires dedication to health, the planet, and the animals! All three work amazing well together! These situations also build a tighter bond in the vegan community! We know how incredible the lifestyle is, and we will work hard to keep the movement growing!
Here are some awesome vegan pages to follow:
~Sexy Raw Food & Fitness
~The Vegan Effect
~Freelee The Banana Girl
~Durian Rider
~Dr. McDougall
~Bananiac
~Happy Healthy Vegan
Young & Raw went back to meat last year. The reason...well, she found health, used a vegan diet to feel her best, and decided not to stick with it. Makes sense right?!?!? Still, their website sells juice fasts, detox programs, all plant based. What I just don't understand is why on earth you would go backwards! If you feel great, sell plant based diets to all your followers, why not be the example? If your detox programs work for long term health, why are you not following them?
Rawlosophy went back to eating fish and other animal products...from my take it was because she just wanted too. She didn't want to restrict herself and she wanted to be a 'normal' person, lol! Her explanation was all about 'dogma', religion' and all sorts of other vegan hate.
Raw Food Rehab...well, apparently the high fat raw food diet has failed again! We all know this! We all speak about it on a regular basis! Those who follow a high fat raw diet always go back to eating animals as they don't thrive on the lifestyle and just fall off the wagon.
Carrie On Vegan. Another sad story. She actually created the app called VeganDelsh, and she had a strong presence on social media, but her 'vegan' diet seemed high fat, and she consumed a lot of oils. Many of us recommended she try to seek help from Dr. McDougall or Doug Graham before turning to meat, but she had already made up her mind!
The Blonde Vegan, the latest to leave the plant world and probably the weirdest one. She came on the scene about a year ago, her Instagram account got thousands of followers almost overnight. She really is or was a newbie on the vegan scene. She quickly took her huge following as a sign to cash in, making the TBV clothing line as well as monthly 'cleanse' programs. Well...here we are, less then a year later we find out she has an eating disorder, and a spot on GMA selling her story! The most unfortunate part is she could have gone to many of the well known vegan doctors and asked for guidance. Veganism does not promote eating disorders, and she could have still maintained her plant based diet while receiving some psychological help.
The reason why I am not shocked is because of a few things:
~A high fat vegan diet is designed to FAIL.
~Detox programs and cleanses will cause you to under eat, fell famished, and ultimately go back to animal products.
~Snake oil salesmen or 'online stores' can be a red flag. Many bloggers genuinely want to help others, but many also want to make money selling supplements, powders, and other 'super foods'! Social media is an incredible tool to reach millions of people from your living room. The down side of social media is that is it also a stepping stone for those looking for fame and attention!
~Most are not willing to try a vegan diet different than the one which failed them. They are very quick to turn to animal products. There are SO many vegan doctors and resources out there!! Why not try them all!?!?
How to know a vegan business is REALLY vegan?
~Try to follow them on their personal and business page if you can, it will give you an insight into their real lives
~Ask about their stance on animal rights and the vegan lifestyle
~Ask for vegan clothing/product recommendations
~Ask if they are just plant based or vegan
~If they adding honey to their recipes...they are not vegan. simple.
The good that came out of all this is that those who are proud to be vegan and work very hard promoting and building the lifestyle are still shining bright! Those who used the vegan label as a business opportunity quickly found it is not that simple. The lifestyle requires dedication to health, the planet, and the animals! All three work amazing well together! These situations also build a tighter bond in the vegan community! We know how incredible the lifestyle is, and we will work hard to keep the movement growing!
Here are some awesome vegan pages to follow:
~Sexy Raw Food & Fitness
~The Vegan Effect
~Freelee The Banana Girl
~Durian Rider
~Dr. McDougall
~Bananiac
~Happy Healthy Vegan
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Staying Fit Is Easy In The Great Oudoors!
No place is perfect, but some come pretty darn close. When it comes to being active and enjoying the great outdoors, Maine and New Hampshire are pretty high on the list!! I am truly lucky to live in the woods, surrounded by gorgeous trees, rolling hills, ski mountains, lakes and rivers. What makes Maine and New Hampshire so wonderful is the year round activities it offers.
Living in a natural setting makes having a healthy lifestyle so easy. Being surrounded by nature helps fuel your desire to be active. Humans have a need to be outdoors, we require fresh clean air, physical activity, and sunshine! Nothing beats the smell of trees, grass, and the great outdoors! Staying active is far easier when you can do it outdoors. Life in the country is pretty fantastic! I look forward to numerous activities all year long!
Summer brings us refreshing lakes, rivers, and oceans...luckily I live 5 minutes from a lake, 10 minutes from the river, and an hour from the ocean! I get to enjoy all three!! I prefer the lake, so I spend most of my summer enjoying the sand and steady lake water! Canoeing, swimming, kayaking, and water skiing are all great water activities...but if you prefer the dry ground, the mountains are calling! Hiking is such a wonderful activity for all fitness levels. Maine and New Hampshire offer hikes for all ability levels! There are easy trails like Black Cap or Bald Peak Trail, and massive hikes like Mount Washington! The most rewarding feeling is finally reaching the summit and soaking up all the incredible views! You can also see all the beautiful sights on a bike! Both mountain biking and road cycling are a blast all summer long!
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| great photo opt before we headed back on the lake! |
Fall is one of my favorite seasons! The mild weather makes it ideal for hiking, biking, and trail running! The beautiful colors of fall make mountain views spectacular! There are other great outdoor activities like apple picking which is a great way to get local food, support local farms, and play amongst the trees! Don't forget about the raking and yard clean up!! If you need a great workout, try raking leaves!
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| After raking leaves, you can play in them! |
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| My son riding on the Mountain Division Trail |
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| Great hike up Bald Peak Trail in the Fall! |
 |
| My son and I on our cross country adventure |
Winter, though long and brutal, does offer fantastic outdoor activities! Skiing is probably the most popular winter sport in Maine and New Hampshire, with an abundance of ski mountains to choose from, it doesn't get any better! Cross country is also quite popular! There are many groomed trails, as well as companies which offer lessons for beginners! I recently began cross country skiing and loved it! Snow shoeing and winter hikes offer even more fun for those looking to stay off the skis! I take winter walks with my dogs often, we love the quiet of the woods during the cold months. It is very peaceful! Ice skating is a classic childhood activity, I remember skating on our pond in the back yard as a kid. The local park offers a beautiful skating rink for the whole community can enjoy!
Spring is when everything begins to awaken. The smell of 'the melt' is the best! Everything all of a sudden comes to life! My favorite part of Spring is the warmth in the air while there is snow still on the ground! All the winter activities, like skiing or snowshoeing, become a whole new experience! The snow feels different under your feet (or skis) and you can pretty much enjoy the activities without your winter gear! Spring is also when we lace up our running shoes and hit the pavement! Once the snow has melted, get back onto the trails and enjoy the mountains! If you are looking for a more low key activity, try gardening. Spring is time to get the lawn and gardens ready for the season. It is hard work, but always worth it! Fresh homegrown food is the best!
The beauty of the ever changing scenery makes Maine and New Hampshire such a lovely place to live. The fresh clean air, the variety of outdoor activities, make it easy to enjoy fitness year round! The weather, though not always perfect, is quite enjoyable! I really do like how different each season feels, each one has something fantastic to offer! It never gets boring! I can't imagine my life without nature, without the mountains, lakes, trees, and all activities that it has to offer. I look forward to what the next season will bring, as it is always different! There is something truly magical watching seasons change, it is the life cycle happening right in front of us!
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Vegan Dining Out, Pittsburgh!
Traveling as a vegan can be a challenge, especially if one does not prepare ahead of time!
My prep began a month before the trip! I went onto Pinterest and looked for vegan dining options in both New York.City (which we were making an overnight stop) and Pittsburgh. I was able to find numerous places to eat, as well as some great activities for us to do! Food prep began the night before, I stocked up on fresh fruit, vegan cereal, vegan crackers, nuts, raisins, huge chopped salad, bottled water, juice boxes, and planned out our breakfast. I packed everything and was ready to go! The following morning, bright and early, I made breakfast to go for my son and husband, and we were off!
Our first stop was Champs for dinner! I was extremely excited to try this place! It had great reviews by both vegans and non vegans! I had already checked out the menu prior to our trip, so I already knew I was going to love it! Champs is 100% vegan and offers fresh cold pressed juices and baked goods as well! I was not disappointed!!! This was the best vegan food I have ever had! Full of flavor, lots of variety, and all really fresh! Not to forget, this was a complete hole in the wall type diner, with barely enough room to fit our large group. A line of people waited patiently outside while tables slowly opened up! Definitely worth the wait! I highly recommend it!!
The next morning we were off to Pittsburgh!
We made it to Pittsburgh, where we stayed with my brother in law. We headed out for the day to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. We love this place, we had visited before and knew it would make for a great activity! Our son loves natural history so this place was a hit! For lunch we decided to eat at their cafe which offered vegan options right on the menu!!!! No need to ask for anything special, they had salads, soups, and sandwiches which were all advertised vegan! I was definitely impressed, most cafés offer the basic foods like pizza and burgers, forget vegan food!
Dinner was another great restaurant! Also one which I had looked up in advance. The DoubleWide Grill offers not only a huge regular menu, but also a huge vegan one!!!! Let me warn you though, this is not my typical low fat vegan fare....but I wanted to go ahead and splurge a bit! I love that this place was able to blend both vegan and non vegan food, offering a great menu and an upbeat family atmosphere!
Lunch and dinner the following day were at home! I treated them to vegan pizza, using my husband's favorite Dayia cheese! Dinner was veggie skewers, potatoes, salad, and corn on the cob! Truly fantastic! Things get a bit blurry here...the next day my son and I woke up with a stomach flu. I mean, the works, it was awful!
The next day we awoke from the dead, barely, and attempted to join in on the activities for the day! A trip to Schenley Park was great! Beautiful walking trails, awesome play ground, wild deer forgiving in the woods, huge pond, and fantastic stone bridges! Unfortunately, I began to feel sick again, so no meals besides some fruit had taken place. I went to bed early and hoped for the best!
The next day we headed to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. This place is so beautiful! If you love plants and gardening, or just the outdoors, it is a must! Really amazing gardens, butterflies, and just a great atmosphere! We ate lunch at their café, which had a phenomenal vegan menu! Again, we didn't have to request anything special, it was offered on the menu. I would say out of 20 options, half were marked vegan! That is very impressive. Even the special of the day was a vegan slider! The food was great!!
Our last dinner...well, my husbands last dinner in Pittsburgh was from Loving Hut! Another great find on Pinterest! I just felt awful again so I did without dinner. Loving Hut is a 100% vegan restaurant! they have a huge menu and even offer desserts, which I did order! Lol! My husband loved it! He said is was some of the best vegan food he's had!
I highly recommend doing as much research as you can before heading to your vacation destination. Pack as much food for the road or flight as you can to avoid having to stop at fast food joints! Traveling as a vegan doesn't have to be a challenge if you are prepared!
My prep began a month before the trip! I went onto Pinterest and looked for vegan dining options in both New York.City (which we were making an overnight stop) and Pittsburgh. I was able to find numerous places to eat, as well as some great activities for us to do! Food prep began the night before, I stocked up on fresh fruit, vegan cereal, vegan crackers, nuts, raisins, huge chopped salad, bottled water, juice boxes, and planned out our breakfast. I packed everything and was ready to go! The following morning, bright and early, I made breakfast to go for my son and husband, and we were off!
Our first stop was Champs for dinner! I was extremely excited to try this place! It had great reviews by both vegans and non vegans! I had already checked out the menu prior to our trip, so I already knew I was going to love it! Champs is 100% vegan and offers fresh cold pressed juices and baked goods as well! I was not disappointed!!! This was the best vegan food I have ever had! Full of flavor, lots of variety, and all really fresh! Not to forget, this was a complete hole in the wall type diner, with barely enough room to fit our large group. A line of people waited patiently outside while tables slowly opened up! Definitely worth the wait! I highly recommend it!!
The next morning we were off to Pittsburgh!
We made it to Pittsburgh, where we stayed with my brother in law. We headed out for the day to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. We love this place, we had visited before and knew it would make for a great activity! Our son loves natural history so this place was a hit! For lunch we decided to eat at their cafe which offered vegan options right on the menu!!!! No need to ask for anything special, they had salads, soups, and sandwiches which were all advertised vegan! I was definitely impressed, most cafés offer the basic foods like pizza and burgers, forget vegan food!
Dinner was another great restaurant! Also one which I had looked up in advance. The DoubleWide Grill offers not only a huge regular menu, but also a huge vegan one!!!! Let me warn you though, this is not my typical low fat vegan fare....but I wanted to go ahead and splurge a bit! I love that this place was able to blend both vegan and non vegan food, offering a great menu and an upbeat family atmosphere!
Lunch and dinner the following day were at home! I treated them to vegan pizza, using my husband's favorite Dayia cheese! Dinner was veggie skewers, potatoes, salad, and corn on the cob! Truly fantastic! Things get a bit blurry here...the next day my son and I woke up with a stomach flu. I mean, the works, it was awful!
The next day we awoke from the dead, barely, and attempted to join in on the activities for the day! A trip to Schenley Park was great! Beautiful walking trails, awesome play ground, wild deer forgiving in the woods, huge pond, and fantastic stone bridges! Unfortunately, I began to feel sick again, so no meals besides some fruit had taken place. I went to bed early and hoped for the best!
The next day we headed to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. This place is so beautiful! If you love plants and gardening, or just the outdoors, it is a must! Really amazing gardens, butterflies, and just a great atmosphere! We ate lunch at their café, which had a phenomenal vegan menu! Again, we didn't have to request anything special, it was offered on the menu. I would say out of 20 options, half were marked vegan! That is very impressive. Even the special of the day was a vegan slider! The food was great!!
Our last dinner...well, my husbands last dinner in Pittsburgh was from Loving Hut! Another great find on Pinterest! I just felt awful again so I did without dinner. Loving Hut is a 100% vegan restaurant! they have a huge menu and even offer desserts, which I did order! Lol! My husband loved it! He said is was some of the best vegan food he's had!
I highly recommend doing as much research as you can before heading to your vacation destination. Pack as much food for the road or flight as you can to avoid having to stop at fast food joints! Traveling as a vegan doesn't have to be a challenge if you are prepared!
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