If I Can Change

28/08/2023

44 years young today! 🎉

I am so grateful for another year around the sun, and for all the loving humans that I get to spend my days with, especially my beautiful little family. My 40’s are quickly becoming my favorite decade yet.

🎁 If you are in a position to give me a gift for my birthday, please consider a donation to 💚

28/02/2023

This!

17/02/2023

17/02/2023

Supermarket chain Lidl announced plans to significantly reduce its meat products in favor of sustainable plant-based and vegan alternatives.

20/01/2023

21/10/2022

🌱 Plant-based Vegan Content Creator | Lani shared a post on Instagram: "💀When in downtown Omaha, what better way to get your Halloween juices flowing than a trip to The Monster Club . They have a few vegan items on the menu, and a little birdie mentioned that maybe more are on...

16/08/2022

15/07/2022

I've been a foodie my whole life. Before becoming vegan, I was cooking like Julia Child - loads of cream, butter, rich cuts of meat, and bread and cheese out the w***o. 😢

When hubby got sick and we discovered WFPB (whole food plant based), it was a struggle. Although I enjoyed the food just fine, it did not speak to my foodie heart and give me that dreamy satisfaction, that hit of dopamine, that we had gotten so addicted to.

In steps Lauren Toyota . I found her on YouTube first. I think I was initially drawn to her personality - cool, hip, with a bit of dry sass. Once I started cooking her free online recipes and her book, I fell in love.

Don't get me wrong, I still love my WFPB foods, and eat WFPB most of the time, especially now that I have learned so much more... but we don't have to be just one thing, people! We can believe firmly in the benefits of a WFPB lifestyle AND still want to get down on some food that will feed our soul on a deeper level.

Her book, Vegan Comfort Classics, was, and is, a must have for anyone that wants to "feed their face" with some oober satisfying, extremely delicious, and fun to cook vegan food. It is ideal for:
- people who are transitioning to veganism &/or plant-based eating.
- people who are not on a super strict SOS free diet (no salt, oil or sugar).
- people who want to convince omni guests that vegan food is the bomb!
- special occasions when you really want to indulge.
- home cooks with any level of experience, beginners or experts

Lauren Toyota has since come out with another cookbook, Hot for Food All Day. Check out either or both, her YouTube station and her food blog! You won't be disappointed!

Extra tip: When new to eating more plants, find a chef/creator that you are drawn to for one reason or another. Someone that makes you think "I'd love to be friends with this person". If something resonates inside you, and you are attracted to their personality, their culture, their style, and their food...then you will have found your golden ticket! You will have your go-to person to help you on this journey. Lauren Toyota was my golden ticket. I am forever grateful for the fire that she sparked.

08/06/2022

Cocoa 'Nana Smoothie Bowl from The Fiber Fueled Cookbook by

Recipe Rating: 💚 9/10
Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5 (is this dessert?!)
Ease: ⭐️⭐️ 2/2 (so easy!)
Healthy: ⭐️⭐️ 2/2 (obvi!)
Accessibility: ⭐️ 0/1 (get the book)

Is this breakfast or dessert? I truly can't tell! This chocolate banana smoothie is like a satisfying bowl of creamy chocolate ice cream. Yet unlike ice cream, it’s hearty enough to fuel you for your day, not overly sweet, and it packs a nutritious punch!

It's made with almond milk, banana, coca powder, peanut butter, h**p seeds and a dash of cinnamon. You can sprinkle whatever delights you on top. I chose to follow the beautiful and inspirational photo in the book and topped mine with pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and a swirl of peanut butter, then added sliced banana. So yummy!!!

Not only did I love this smoothie, so did the kiddos! My little buggers woofed it!

Another way I envision enjoying this is after dinner, when I have a hankering for the decadence of a dessert without all the sugar.

You'll definitely want to write this one down on a sticky note, and stick it inside your kitchen cabinet, so that you can make it often and fast without even having to bust out the book!

Are you diving into the Fiber Fueled Cookbook yet?
Are you on a whole food plant based journey?
I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

05/06/2022

You’re invited to the SUMMER SOLSTICE SMOOTHIE SOIREE! 

Kick off your summer with:

☀ 5 Days of LIVE smoothie making parties + prizes! (Replays available too if you can’t make the live event.)
☀  A full-page, full-color, nutrition information-packed recipe book!
☀ BONUS mocktails recipe book!
☀ A detailed ingredients shopping list!
☀ 10% off ALL Magareeshi Teas at the Shopareeshi
☀ New friends, loads of inspiration, oodles of empowerment!

I had the joy of doing this last summer and it was a true delight! I adore Maggie, her energy & her recipes.

I hope you’ll come blend it up with us!

🔗 Link in bio!

24/05/2022

Garden Bolognese recipe from the Plant You cookbook by Carleigh Bodrug

Recipe Rating: 💚 9/10
Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5 (so delish!)
Ease: ⭐️⭐️ 2/2 (really easy!)
Healthy: ⭐️⭐️ 2/2 (nutritious, no oil)
Accessibility: 0/1 (get the book)

Get your veggies in with a big-ole bowl of comforting spaghetti! This recipe from the Plant You cookbook is loaded with garlic, onion, bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach. So you know what that means! It's also LOADED with nutrition and flavor!

Fret not! Even though it calls for several vegetables, you won't spend your whole day chopping bc all the work is done in your food processor. You can even prep the sauce ahead of time so that on your weeknight, or when your company arrives, all you have to do is boil the pasta and warm up the sauce!

It's crazy cool how well the chunkiness of this Bolognese mimics that of the traditional version. Hot tip for homes with picky eaters that don't like all that texture - just blend it up into a smooth sauce!

We topped ours with cashew parmesan and little ribbons of fresh basil. It was so dang delicious!!!!

For my oil-free friends: this recipe, and this book, is definitely for you! The entire book is oil free! And if going oil-free intimidates you, but you are interested in it, then this book is an excellent guide! The intro explains the whys and hows of cooking without oil, and the delicious recipes will support your endeavor! Give it a try!

This is a dish that can, and should, be on your regular rotation! I know I am adding it to mine! If you give it a try, I'd love to hear if you love it as much as we do in the comments below.

And absolutely go follow to grab your copy of her book, check out her free recipes that she shares all. the. time.

22/05/2022

ICYMBI

Seeking a nutrition educator with an understanding of the health benefits of a plant-based diet and at least five years of experience to join a Washington, D.C., nonprofit that promotes a plant-based diet. A master’s degree in nutrition or public health, registered dietitian credential, and/or Spa...