Last Minute Gift Ideas

Gingerbread Cookies

I made these cookies last year for the boys and they make a fabulous last minute homemade gift. Here's the recipe

Brown Sugar Body Scrub

I picked up (8) half pint mason jars at Target and made this gift for the ladies in our family.

Not only is this scrub very easy to put together, but it also helped me get rid of all the brown sugar in my pantry. Woohoo!

This body scrub is an awesome gentle exfoliator and moisturizer.  You can't beat inexpensive natural beauty. :-)

Brown Sugar Scrub

by Brown Vegan

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Ingredients (1 pint)

• 2 cups organic brown sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

Instructions

Mix brown sugar and coconut oil in a bowl until well combined.

Place mixture into a mason jar and decorate with ribbon or a bow.

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Tea Sipping Rocks!

 

Even during the summer months, I drink 3-4 cups of hot tea each day.

There's something about the steeping of the tea leaves and the intentional sipping that keeps me coming back. Drinking hot tea forces me to be intentional...in the moment, at least for a few minutes. :-)

Also, “I think it’s a great alternative to coffee drinking. First, tea has less caffeine. It’s pretty well established that the compounds in tea – their flavonoids – are good for the heart and may reduce cancer.”  Source

My favorite teas are jasmine green, black, and strawberry rose champagne (I get it from Teavana).

Great tip: "Allow tea to steep for three to five minutes to bring out its catechins. The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed. Decaffeinated, bottled ready-to-drink tea preparations, and instant teas have less of these compounds. Tea can impede the absorption of iron from fruits and vegetables." Source

Further Reading:

New to Tea?

10 Tea Benefits

Tea Rituals for Focus, Health & Slowness

Are you a tea drinker? What's your favorite type/flavor?

Get Your Drink On-Is Your Beer/Wine Vegan?

I keep saying, "I don't drink, much" but these days it just doesn't ring true.  I don't sit home and throw back a six-pack, but I do find myself having a social drink at least once a month. Mainly when that hubby of mine is around. He's such a bad influence. lol

Some alcoholic beverages on the market today use animals byproducts in their production. 

Isinglass is a pure form of gelatin extracted from fish bladder to speed up the fining process.

Some beers, including Guinness, are made with small amounts of gelatin (derived from animal bones) and isinglass. Other alcoholic beverages use filtered egg white or sea shells.

That doesn't mean you can't get your drink on!

Barnivore is an awesome one stop source to quickly check whether or not your favorite brand of beer, wine or liquor is vegan.

They offer a comprehensive list of vegan-friendly beverages, and you can also download unofficial apps for searches while shopping or dining out.

A few popular vegan-friendly brands:

Corona (Woohoo! I mean, oh lol)

Hennessy Cognac

Heineken

Absolut Vodka

Good ole' Barefoot didn't make the cut but *whispering* Jose Cuervo Tequila did. 

Sometimes companies change their production process, so feel free to contact them directly for the most up-to-date information. If possible, try to seek out brands that cater to vegan consumers.

Further reading:

Beer's Dirty Little Vegan Secret-includes a list of animal byproducts ingredients to avoid in alcoholic beverages

Is Your Beer Vegan? Guinness Isn't. Corona Is. 

Did your favorite brand make the vegan-friendly list?

Lactaid Is Still Around? Ummm, Why?

While getting my Scandal fix the other night on ABC.com, I saw the latest Lactaid commercial. I did a little search and couldn't find the exact commercial, but like the others, the premise is the same. Lactaid is telling us that you can still enjoy dairy despite your dairy intolerance.

It got me thinking about my own childhood experience with Lactaid.  I spent the summer of 5th grade with some family in MD. We ate cereal each morning before camp and I remember asking my aunt about the milk because it was umm, different.  Ok, it was gross. lol

"We buy this milk (pointing to the Lactaid) because your cousin can't have dairy.  It causes him to have stomach pains." Even though I didn't question it further, I thought it was weird that he was still drinking an alternate dairy milk even though he technically shouldn't have dairy at all.

Sure, Lactaid removes the lactose but with so many non-dairy options on the market, do we still need this dairy source?

According to Frugivore Magazine, 75% of African-Americans are lactose intolerant.

Some says that number is too high.

Either way, it sounds like a lot of people are walking around with upset stomaches.

I'm not sure what the milk alternatives were like over 15 years ago, but I do know there are a lot of awesome alternatives to dairy milk on the market today.  

Almond milk- Typically made from grind up almonds and water, almond milk is great source of calcium and potassium without the saturated fat contained in dairy milk. It's also very simple to make right at home.

Coconut milk-Coconut milk sometimes gets a bad wrap for its saturated fat, but overall it's a great source of iron and aids in lowering blood pressure. Our family is currently transitioning to drinking more coconut milk opposed to soy.  So far, the kids don't like it in their cereal but So Delicious brand is awesome for cooking.

Soy Milk-Out of all the nut milks we've tried, I think soy milk has a consistency most similar to cow's milk. Silk has an affordable non-GMO brand available in many grocery stores.

Rice Milk-Even though rice milk contains more carbs than cow's milk, it doesn't contain cholesterol.  Many companies fortify their brands with vitamin B12, iron and calcium.

I just want to mention that I don't drink any of these milks outside of a smoothie or other recipe (never in a glass like water).  I just don't think any of them taste good enough to drink solo. I also felt the same way about cow's milk, though.

Further Reading:

Kids & Lactose Intolerance

Lactose Intolerance & Race

Do we still need Lactaid?

7 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat More Plant-Based Meals

If someone told me 5 years ago that we would be on this food journey, I would have laughed. In the last two years, we went from drinking lots of diet Coke, eating Hot Pockets and boxed macaroni & cheese to...green smoothies, quinoa, and potato tacos.

We still have a long way to go in improving our diet, but overall, I'm happy with where we are.

I vlogged a little with some tips on how I was able to get my own kids to eat more plant-based dishes....

1. No snacks close to meal times-Kids are less likely to try new dishes/vegetables because they're not as hungry.  I try not to give them anything at least an hour before dinner.

2. Take the little crumb snatchers grocery shopping :-) Getting my kids involved in picking out fresh fruit and vegetables gives them an incentive to try it when we get home.  I like calling out a fruit or vegetable and having them retrieve it for me while shopping.  Also, I encourage them to try any new (to them) fruit or vegetable.

3. Cook together - Discuss the ingredients and why your family is eating better.  This is also a great way to enjoy quality time together.

4. Set the example-Kids are more likely to try a new dish if they see adults they love enjoying it.  Be enthusiastic about eating fresh fruits and vegetables but be sure not to lecture because that will likely turn them off.  

5. Make the food appealing-Research spices and herbs, have a colorful plate, make sure the vegetables aren't overcooked and have enough flavor.  If the food looks appetizing and is delicious, you don't have to convince anyone to eat it. :-)

6. If no one likes it, make it again. Introducing new foods can be a challenge but a lot of times kids will get used to the difference if you're persistent. Also, experiment with using the same ingredient in different dishes. 

7. Have FUN, experiment, and focus on making your food tasty. ☺

How do you get your kids to eat more vegetables?