18 May 2012
belladonna_ctPosted under Vegan Mom Challenge
Good Morning!
Today’s Tune: \”Shake, Rattle & Roll\” Bill Haley & the Comets
I came up with a great shake recipe this morning-hey, I think I’ll call it the …
Shake, Rattle & Roll!
6 Romaine leaves
1/4 cup frozen peas
1 frozen banana
1/4 frozen strawberries
1/4 cup apple juice
1/4 cup water
Blend leaves, juice and water until smooth-no bits. Add peas and blend until smooth. Then add strawberries and banana. It doesn’t look great-but it’s delicious!
Makes about 14 ounces
Nutritional Info:
197 calories
4.4 grams protein
48 carbs
8.7 grams fiber
147 mg potassium
.3 grams of fat
35 mg calcium
Have a great day!
17 May 2012
belladonna_ctPosted under Vegan Mom Challenge
Good morning!
Today’s Tune: \”Shake a Little\” by Bonnie Raitt great song!
I have been on a green smoothie search-looking for great recipes so I can use up my super surplus of homegrown romaine lettuce. I got a book called “Everyday Raw Express” by Matthew Kenney that has some great ideas in it for smoothies as well as some drool worthy raw meals that I want to try. I also got a green smoothie book called “Green Smoothie Revolution” by Victoria Boutenko that I haven’t started reading yet, but plan on devouring this weekend.
I have looked on Pintrest too, which has so many different kinds of recipes for just about every diet imaginable-Atkins, Paleo, Vegan, Raw, smoothies-you name it-it’s on there.
As far as ingredients, I am trying not to depend on too many fruits to balance the green taste out since to be honest, I’d rather just eat the fruit if I had the choice. I try to avoid too much celery since it has a very strong taste and I prefer it with hummus or peanut butter and raisins anyway!
The blender is the most important tool. I don’t have a fancy blender like they call for in most of these recipes, but it does the job if I am patient and blend the greens with water first, then add the fruit-otherwise I’m chewing it (shudder).
The blenders that are recommended for green smoothies are:
Blendtec and Vitamix brands-cost: $400.00 YIKES!! The price goes up to $500.00 or more.
The Breville brand blender is about $150-$300 and from what I have heard from friends, does the job just as well. I know that Joe Cross uses the juicers made by Breville so they must be pretty heavy duty.
Here is a Smoothie recipe that uses romaine lettuce (I have a TON!) from the “Green Smoothie Revolution” book:
The Laughing Gorilla
1/2 head romain lettuce
2 ripe bananas, peeled & frozen
2 oranges peeled & seeded
1 mango
2 cups water
Yeild: 2 Quarts
Have a great day!
Quote of the day (dedicated to my husband): “The most beautiful view is the one I share with you.” ~Author Unknown
09 May 2012
belladonna_ctPosted under Vegan Mom Challenge
Good Morning!
Today’s tune: \”Clumsy Sky\” by Girl in a Coma
I came across something interesting on Pintrest last night. It was a post from another vegan about animal products being in the darndest things.
Here is the list:
Barbeque Baked Lays Potato Chips: Contain “natural flavors” that include chicken.
Worcestershire Sauce: Includes anchovies (I knew that one)
Minute Maid Juice: Includes vitamin D derived from lanolin which is an oil secreted by baby sheep-bah.
Altoids: These mints contain gelatin made from the collagen inside animal’s skin and bones.
Guinness and some other Ales: Isinglass (used to clarify the ale) is made from fish bladders.
Parmesean Cheese: Requires rennet to make, rennet is made of the stomach of newborn calves.
Velveeta: Rennett, again. Kraft has confirmed that many of their products contain rennett.
Smarties: Not even these are safe! The purple Smarties (American ones) are dyed using carnine which is from a beetle-like insect called a cochineal.
PS. Red #4 is carnine also
Have a great day!
Quote of the day: “
01 May 2012
belladonna_ctPosted under Vegan Mom Challenge
Good morning!
Today’s Tune: \”Milieu\” by Beats Antique
Yup, I’m back into the dancing groove, this time I am trying Tahitian cardio dancing-fun! My daughter and I tried it last night and we actually broke a sweat. It was fun and challenging, kind of like trying to walk and chew gum at the same time-once you got the hip movements down, they tell you to walk or lift your arms or something-yeesh! I have put part of the video on the right, check it out! I borrowed it from the library and plan on doing it after dinner until I can get the routine down without crashing into my daughter or tripping over my own feet. After that, back to belly dancing, it is similar but the Tahitian dance is more focused on hips and shouldres are still where belly dance is both hips and shoulders.
I’m trying to lay off the tofu this week, I was eating it every day for breakfast and after reading the “New American Diet Book” I wondered if I wasn’t getting too much soy (I drink soy milk with my coffee). SO for breakfast I have quinoa, mushrooms and salsa with red lentils OR flax pita with natural peanut butter and a banana.
I made a huge batch of homemade baked beans for the first time this weekend and they are YUMMY! It was much cheaper than buying the canned vegetarian beans at the store. Here’s the recipe:
Jean’s Beans:Vegan Baked Beans
1 Pound navy beans-cooked
1 peelled and chopped apple (I used gala)
1 medium diced onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup maple syrup (I used a “lite” brand)
1/4 cup sweet & spicy chipotle bbq sauce (I used Kraft brand)
2 cups ketchup
s & p
1 tbsp ground mustard
dash of liquid smoke
Saute onions, garlic and apple until transparent, add the rest of ingredients and simmer until heated through. Tastes great the next day after all of the flavors “mingle”.
Have a great day!
Quote of the day: “Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we should dance.” ~Author Unknown
25 Apr 2012
belladonna_ctPosted under Vegan Mom Challenge
Good morning!
Today’s Tune: \”I Don\’t Want this Night to End\” by Luke Bryan
That song is stuck in my head. I don’t listen to a lot of newer country, but every once in awhile I’ll find a song I really like.
So, random thoughts for today. I was thinking about the list of things that I/you love from the Crazy Sexy Diet challenge I did last summer. I would like to do this again, and join in if you care to share, I’d love to hear from you. I am not putting the obvious: my children, my husband, family, friends, dogs, house. I am listing different things that make me happy-totally random, and probably quite nerdy.
Here goes, in no particular order….
Brand new composition notebooks, looking at the fresh blank page of a new book means tons of possibilities for writing-yes I start my books in an actual notebook.
Black ink pens, the marker type for writing- in said notebooks-not Sharpies (unless they are really skinny)
Getting books I have put on hold from the inter library loan service-free books!
The first cup of coffee in the morning (told you this was random)
Seeing sprouts in my garden of seeds I have planted
When my favorite song of the moment comes on the radio and I’m alone in the car so I can blast it without deafening my children (or husband)
Laughing so hard that I cry, preferably with friends who know what I’m laughing at (you know who you are…)
When the movie is really like the book that I loved to read
Watching “What Not to Wear” on YouTube when I’m supposed to be working out
Finding a really great deal at a thrift store
I am sure I can go on and on, but I have to go work out (lol) see you later, and leave me your favorites!
Quote of the day: If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. ~Cicero
23 Apr 2012
belladonna_ctPosted under Vegan Mom Challenge
Good Morning!
Today’s Tune: \”Riddles\” by Joan Jett (Inspired by the government, lol)
Just in time for Earth Day, I got a very interesting book this week after reading a blurb about it in Men’s Health Magazine, it is “The New American Diet” by Stephen Perrine and Heather Hurlock. The book discusses secret “obesogens” that make us fat.
What are obesogens?
In a word: Chemicals. They are in pesticides on our fruits and veggies, the feed and antibiotics in meat and fish, and the chemicals in plastic containers, cups and canned food liners. These chemicals change the chemistry in our bodies and make it easier for us to get sick and fat. This is not a vegan diet book, but a book that really exposes the nature of our food sources today and to be honest it is scary as hell. It has an entire page on plastics and which ones are considered safe to use. I had the urge to throw out every plastic bowl, container, utensil and cup after reading about it.
Linings of canned goods are just as bad as drinking water out of plastic bottles-canned tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, ravioli, infant formula (!) and soups all have BPA’s in it-stick with Eden Organic canned goods, they are the only company that does not have BPA’s in their cans.
Going organic and eating local is the best for everyone, that is a given-this book really sends the message home though. While I don’t eat meat, dairy or eggs, my family does and I am the one shopping and preparing the food for them. I buy natural hormone free chicken when it is on sale, but after reading this have realized that is the only good thing I do! Since I am growing some produce now, it will be easier to eat more organically come summertime, but for now I have to be careful of what produce I do buy and make sure that the “Dirty Dozen” are either organic , peeled or washed VERY well to eliminate pesticides. The book does give you a fruit and veggie wash recipe to eliminate the toxins on your food:
DIY Pesticide-Proofing Produce Wash (taken from The New American Diet)
Combine 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar and 1 cup cold tap water in a spray bottle.
Shake well and spray your produce then rinse with tap water and serve.
At the very least, rinse off the produce for 20 seconds under cold water-or peel it if it is an apple or peach.
“The Dirty Dozen” aka fruits to buy organic if possible:
In order of most contaminated: Peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce, imported grapes, carrots, pears.
Have a great day and eat organic!
Quote of the day: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” ~Native American Proverb
16 Apr 2012
belladonna_ctPosted under Vegan Mom Challenge
Good Morning.
While I am not sure how many of you follow Oxygen Magazine or Tosca Reno, but Friday was a sad day for the fitness community. Robert Kennedy fitness publisher and husband of Tosca Reno died from lung cancer, he was 73.
I have included the article from the Washington Post below. Have a good day, and work out!
Robert Kennedy, publisher of magazines ‘Oxygen,’ ‘MuscleMag,’ dies of cancer at 73
By Associated Press, Published: April 13AP
TORONTO — Robert “Bob” Kennedy, the man behind the Canadian-based publisher of popular health books and fitness magazines including “Oxygen,” ‘’MuscleMag” and “American Curves,” has died. He was 73.Kennedy died Thursday of complications from cancer at his home in Caledon Hills, Ontario, north of Toronto, Publicist Silvie Bordeaux said Friday.
Kennedy, who founded Robert Kennedy Publishing, began his fitness-based business empire in a 1972 venture when he sold nutrition, bodybuilding and fitness instruction courses through the mail.He launched his first magazine, “MuscleMag International,” in 1974 and started a fitness franchise with stores and a clothing line in the 1990s. He also wrote several books, including the best-selling “Hardcore Bodybuilding.”
He was married to Tosca Reno, who wrote the best-selling “Eat-Clean Diet” series, produced by Kennedy’s publishing house.
“He showed me how to live my life as one filled with possibilities. Through him I became what I am today, a story that is familiar to many others who have been touched by Bob’s generous, warm and colorful spirit,” his wife wrote on her personal blog Friday.
She credited Kennedy for her transformation from an “overweight, frumpy 40-something” to a fitness fanatic.
“What Robert gave me will fill me for my lifetime. To walk this path without him is by far the biggest weight I have lifted yet though Robert trained me well….Goodbye my dear husband, friend and mentor.”
Kennedy was born to an Austrian father and an English mother who were both school teachers. He grew up in Britain, where his passion for fitness was apparent from an early age. Kennedy and a friend would construct makeshift-weights from broomsticks and cement-filled tins, and save up to buy bodybuilding magazines from London.
Kennedy moved to Canada in 1967 where he initially taught art for five years in Brampton, Ontario.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, a longtime friend, paid him a surprise visit this past Easter Sunday.
The pair reminisced about old times and even flexed their muscles, his wife said.
“It was difficult not to shed tears as Arnold gently held Robert’s hand and began a conversation that would bring a sparkle back into my husband’s blue eyes and cement their friendship forever,” Reno wrote on her blog.
“It did my heart good to see this exchange. Arnold made good on his promise to visit his old friend, something I am ever grateful for and will never forget.”
Schwarzenegger took to Twitter on Friday to mourn Kennedy.
“My thoughts are with family & friends of Bob Kennedy,” he tweeted. “There is no question that his legacy of a fitter and healthier world will live on.”
A statement from staff at Kennedy’s Ontario-based publishing house said his spirit would be kept alive in the magazines and books he launched.
Kennedy continued to maintain regular hours at the office and the gym in his 70s and was always a hands-on boss who reviewed every page of each publication in his chain, the statement said.
“Bob leaves behind a legacy as a pioneer in the field of bodybuilding and physical wellness,” the statement said. “His love and devotion will be sorely missed.”
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
12 Apr 2012
belladonna_ctPosted under Vegan Mom Challenge
Good Morning!
Today’s Tune: \”While the Night is Still Young\” by Billy Joel
Yup I cheated this past weekend. There was dark chocolate covered blueberries, and pomegranates and I just couldn’t help myself!!! It was brutal to watch everyone eat it and not partake, so I cheated. Oh well, I guess I can’t be perfect. There is another cheating episode I am expecting and that is for my son’s birthday cake. I always have a piece of birthday cake-it’s good luck. Well, I don’t really know if it is, but I think so!
I came across this article and thought it was a great reminder for those who strugle with trying to get enough vegan protein. I have been on a quinoa binge lately, eating it at every meal with veggies and/or tofu-it’s sooo yummy!
I don’t know how much longer I will be able to keep up the blog. I will be going back to school for my master’s degree and won’t have a whole lot of time for this. I also have started my second book-just in case the agent likes the first one. I know it’s a stretch but if nothing else, I can get this story out of my head!
Have a great day!
Quote of the day: “Follow your passion, and success will follow you.” ~Terri Guillemets
My Top 7 Sources of Plant-Based Protein
I say it all the time. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not only possible to optimize your health on a
plant-based diet; when done right, I actually recommend it.
But where do you get your protein?
I field this question constantly. Despite deeply ingrained but misleading conventional wisdom, the truth is that you can survive without meat, eggs and dairy. Believe it or not, you can actually thrive, and never suffer a protein deficiency. Because no matter how active your lifestyle, a well-rounded
whole food plant-based diet provides more than enough protein to satisfy the body’s needs without all the artery-clogging saturated fats that dominate the typical American diet.
I speak from experience. As a
vegan endurance athlete, I place a high tax on my body. And yet my plant-based diet has fueled me for years without any negative impact on building lean muscle mass or recovery. In fact, at age 45 I continue to improve and am as fit, healthy, and strong as I have ever been.
Here’s a list of my top-7 plant-based foods high in protein:
1. Quinoa: 11g Protein / Cup
A grain like seed,
quinoa is a high protein alternative to rice or pasta, served alone or over vegetables and greens. It provides a good base for a veggie burger and is also a fantastic breakfast cereal when served cold with almond or coconut milk and berries.
2. Lentils: 17.9g Protein / Cup
Delicious, nutritious and super easy to prepare. Trader Joe’s sells them pre-cooked and I’m not afraid to just eat them cold right out of the package for lunch or a snack on the run.
3. Tempeh: 24g Protein / 4 Ounces
A fermented soybean-based food, tempeh is a healthy protein-packed alternative to it’s non-fermented cousin tofu. It makes for a great veggie burger and doubles as a tasty meat alternative to meatballs in pasta, or over brown rice and vegetables.
4. Seitan: 24g Protein / 4 Ounces
An excellent substitute for beef, fish and soy products, one serving provides about 25% of your RDA of protein. But not for those with
gluten sensitivities, as it is made from wheat gluten.
5. Beans (Black, Kidney, Mung, Pinto): 12-15g Protein / Cup
I love beans. Great on a veggie burrito, in chili and soups, on salads or over rice with vegetables, beans of all varieties are a daily staple of my diet.
6. Spirulina: 6g Protein / 10 grams
A blue-green algae, spirulina is a highly bioavailable complete protein containing all essential amino acids. At 60% protein (the highest of any natural food), it’s a plant-based protein powerhouse that finds it way into my Vitamix blends daily.
7. Hemp Seeds: 16g Protein / 3 Tbsp
With a perfect ration of omega-6 and omega-3 EFA’s, hemp seeds are another bioavailable complete protein rivaled only by spirulina. A simple and great addition to a multitude of dishes, from breakfast cereal to salads to smoothies to vegetables and rice.
04 Apr 2012
belladonna_ctPosted under Vegan Mom Challenge
Check out the right side of the page for some inspiring videos!
03 Apr 2012
belladonna_ctPosted under Vegan Mom Challenge
Good Morning!
Today’s Tune: \”Burn it to the Ground\” by Nickelback
I have been working out like a maniac this past week, using heavier weights and more reps and feeling invincible when I’m done..and a little sore. My arms were like noodles yesterday, lifting my coffee cup was a bit of a challenge. I feel great though and it does fill me with energy for the rest of the day.
What inspired me to start working out again? A few things actually. Pintrest for one is a great tool for recipes, pictures and inspiring quotes. I follow Oxygen Magazine and Tosca Reno on there as well as the “fitness” boards by others. I even downloaded a bunch of exercises to do so I could shake up my routine.
Another inspiration is my old fitness magazines. I never got rid of them and I’m glad I didn’t, they have meal plans, exercises, and information that I completely forgot about.
I have three magazines that I refer back to for different reasons:
Fitness: Is a great magazine for the twenty-something woman (which I am not obviously, but hang on..) They have more “Girly” stuff in it and sometimes I feel a little girly. Clothes, makeup, beauty products etc. but also workouts and recipes. It is what I call a fitness “lite” magazine.
Women’s Health: A little more on the workout side but for 20-30 somethings with less fluff than Fitness but still has some great women’s information on relationships, clothes and *gasp* sex. Recipes and mealplans along with some decent work outs are worth looking into. Fitness “medium”.
Oxygen: If you want to work your ass off and eat clean, this is what you want to buy. A no nonsense workout manual mixed with clean eating recipes and nutritional info that includes supplement information. I marvel at the women in this magazine and its extras- “Off the Couch” very inspirational, “Fat Loss”, “Glutes” a great special annual mag, “Abs” another great one! These women are strong, fit and dare I say-moms! Everyone from the ages of twenty something to over fifty (Tosca Reno is 51 and could kick my ass around the block!) is either gracing the cover or in its pages and THAT is inspiring. The thought that anyone can do it is what blows my mind when I thumb through the pages. Fitness “hard core”.
The last inspiration is my birthday, I’ll be damned if I don’t look great in a bikini when I turn forty!
So what do I listen to when I work out? I have a few playlists but this one is the most eclectic-check it out!:
“Thunder Kiss” & “Never gonna Stop” by Rob Zombie
“Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse
“Fake It” by Seether
“Whiskey in the Jar” by Metallica
“Three” by Brittany Spears (yes, you read correctly)
“If you seek Amy” & “Womanizer” also by Brittany Spears
“Cuz I Can’ by Pink
“Burn it to the Ground” by Nickelback
“She sells Sanctuary” by The Cult
“Shitlist” by L7
“Lose Yourself”, “8 Mile”, “Till I collapse” by Eminem
“Bawitdaba”, “Cocky” and “Cowboy” by Kid Rock
I know its a crazy looking playlist but it works for me, especially when I grunting out that last rep!
Have a great day-
Quote of the day: “A grownup is a child with layers on.” ~Woody Harrelson
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