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To help understand our website, what we offer, and why we've offered some information we have created this post to help make sense of it all! Our website is designed to be as inclusive as possible, so we have included information on recipes and meal plans for the most common types of Plant-Based Diets and many different flavor profiles. We love empowering people! Our goal isn't to sway readers one way or the other, but simply to provide information we feel is important to be able make an informed decision. This is not meant to replace or undermine the advice of doctors and nutritionists. If a medical health professional has recommended a specific dietary recommendation for you, please consult with them and always before making any major decisions regarding changes to your diet. There are a number of things to consider when changing your diet and what kind of diet is right for you. Not eating animal meat is the common denominator in all of these options, so we will start there. For our purposes, a 'Diet' does not simply refer to the crash-course of changing your eating habits temporarily, in order to meet a goal like losing weight, getting your blood pressure down, or managing a condition of any kind...but what you choose to eat most of the time over the long-term. Any short-term changes will only be temporary. That said, major changes done too quickly and without adequate preparation are not only difficult but often times not entirely realistic. Assume the longer-term you plan for this change to be, the more time you should expect to transition into it. We started with cutting out most processed foods while we were still consuming meat and went plant-based about six months later. While that wasn't initially the plan, sometimes plans change...especially when gallbladders start requiring your attention. On the up side, that six months helped us to get into the habit of prepping food each week. This routine became a vital key for the change we would make in going plant-based. Once we made the switch, we transitioned to vegan within only a few weeks. We still call ourselves vegans to people that ask us about what it is...but caveat with 'technically....' and explain the difference. I am definitely glad we experienced a true vegan diet though, and perhaps it was because we did more of a whole foods approach, in that we didn't use processed options at all at first. I won't bore you with the details, but I would have wanted even more time to prepare had we really understood the difference and that's probably why we ultimately went back to the simpler plant-based option, because it was the most natural and least-restrictive option that worked for us. We hope these explanations below will make this transition easier to help you in determining if or what option works best for you! Vegetarian- The simplest for most people, this dietary group avoid animal meat of any kind. -Like other groups, so subgroups have adopted specific exceptions. For vegetarians, the common for of this are individuals who do consume fish and usually seafood in general. Plant-Based- This refers to people who avoid all meat and dairy of any kind. -Again, there are subgroups who make specific exceptions and others that are more restrictive than your typical plant-based eater. Examples include -Eggs or seafood. -Whole plant-based diet, avoiding all processed foods -Raw plant-based diet, avoiding processed foods while only cooking enough for consumption, to leave the important nutrients that are often cooked out of vegetables, usually under 120 degrees. Vegan- I remember telling my doctor when we went Vegan. His facial expression was the best part of his response. A combination of 'that explains the weight loss' and 'do you really understand what that means' A vegan himself, he just smiled patiently and said 'Ahhh, the black-belt of all diets...'. At the time, we were only a few months in and I was feeling a little cocky about how well we had been doing, but over the long-term we understood why. Veganism truly is a lifestyle, an admirable one...but not for the faint of heart! -Again, there are subgroups who make specific exceptions and others that are more restrictive than your typical plant-based eater. Examples include -Eggs or seafood. -Whole plant-based diet, avoiding all processed foods -Raw vegan diet, avoiding processed foods while only cooking them enough for consumption, to leave the important nutrients that are often cooked out of vegetables, usually under 120 degrees. Vegans don't limit their lifestyle choices to food. In fact, this is the biggest distinction between vegans and any other type of diet...because as they say, it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle! We have described ourselves to non-plant-based eaters as vegan, but not when talking with an actual Vegan because they know the difference. They are very proud of their choice and go as far as avoiding clothing, household products, and anything else they use that contain any animal products whatsoever. We mean no disrespect to them and admire their discipline. This is next-level and while some people get upset about having to have so many classifications, but understanding them and addressing each one appropriately is not only easy to do, but respectful and shows you care. Plus, let's be honest, if you worked as hard as vegans do...that deserves the distinction of being called one. It's like calling a doctor 'Mr' or 'Mrs', they earned that title!!

Namaste and welcome my friends to another exciting posting. Today is a special day. I am a certified professional chef, among other things and talents I possess. So with that in mind, I want to discuss the topic that is herbs and spices. In my interactions with others, across my travels, and in my own kitchen I have learned a great deal about the culinary arts. I have received praise from 3 former chefs of the year about my "McLaren's sweet heat bbq sauce". I have eaten the finest, richest, and most succulent foods in my lifetime and I honestly believe that the key to building flavors is in the mastery of 3 things: 1) Basic cooking technique: a) Baking/ roasting b) Sauteing/ pan frying c) Deep frying d) Grilling e) Boiling & poaching f) Braising 2) Basic food knowledge a) things that pair well together with each dish, sides, drinks, hors d'oeurves, breads, desserts b) difference between fruits, vegetables, fats, and animal products such as meat, eggs, and dairy -when you should use each one, why, and how. 3) Knowing the right blend of herbs and spices a) what blends work best for which type of cuisine b) balance Sadly, I have come to see that all too many people are unaware of the plethora of herbs and spices that are in the world. Americans in particular have been lulled to sleep by either relying on hyper palatable, highly processed foods, rather than exploring something of their own creation using the bounty of flavors mother Earth has blessed us with. I have to caveat this part of my discourse with an obvious fact: there are TOO MANY herbs and spices to accurately mention them all on this blog. Sufficed to say, while attending Le Cordon Bleu, I achieved the highest grade in my class for knowledge of herbs and spices. I scored a whopping 99 out of 100 or 99 percent. So, I know a little bit about the subject. My father and my mother also have inspired my culinary passion, along with teachers, friends, and family...this is not for us to agree on everything, but I am quite confident about my knowledge and palate. Moving on... I think the basic 3 spices that Americans are fond of are the basics of SALT, PEPPER, and GARLIC. Which are all fine and well, with salt in moderation, but what of the rest of what is needed to build exquisite flavors? What about CELERY SEED? BASIL? BAY LEAF? MUSTARD SEED? OREGANO? THYME? ROSEMARY? ONION POWDER? Oh my! GINGER, PAPRIKA, CAYENNE PEPPER, and CHILI POWDER? MARJORAM, DILL WEED, CUMIN, PARSLEY, CINNAMON, CILANTRO, NUTMEG, ALLSPICE, CARDAMOM, and CLOVES? WHITE, BLACK, GREEN, and PINK PEPPERCORNS!!! Sooooooooooo many kinds of CURRY! TURMERIC! GARAM MASALA! Cajun seasoning. Greek seasoning. Asian 5 spice. Taco and fajita seasonings... et. al... Oh so many ways to combine these herbs and spices with foods. Oh, and I haven't even started on the different varieties of chilies and peppers. I'll save that for another blog. The point of all this is to SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!!! Don't just settle for bland and boring. There are stores everywhere selling herbs and spices from all over the planet and some can be expensive, like VANILLA BEANS and SAFFRON, for example. My personal favorite store bought seasoning mixes are ANY of the MAGIC SEASONINGS and TONY CHACHERE'S. Walmart sells a good variety of herbs and spices for cheap and local Winco stores have herbs and spices you can buy in bulk, which can lower your food costs. Beware of paying extra just for a glass bottle and/or a fancy brand name... I hope that all my readers will go out and try a new herb or spice, both, a little bit, a lotta bit, or some combination of flavors...expanding your horizons is paramount in growing and evolving as a human being. Bring some flavors into your meal and SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!!! You are what you eat. Eat CONSCIOUSLY! Live CONSCIOUSLY!

In its simplest form, the word meditation refers to mindfulness and healing, but the true meaning of meditation is different depending on who you ask. Seen by many as a useful tool to organize or collect their thoughts, practice mindfulness, and reduce stress, for others it can be very personal and even sacred. While how and why differ, it has shown to reduce stress and proven effective in improving overall health and well-being. What isn't as well-known are how this is possible. Like most things much of this is truly dependent on what someone is doing, how they are doing it, and why. The title of this piece makes understanding meditation sound so simple, and in some respects it is. However, each person is different, and each experience is unique to the person having it...from personal beliefs to how one sits, poses, and if they sing, chant, talk, or hum. Sometimes we get more caught up in this than the act itself, making it difficult to truly be mindful. The keys to meditation are faith, focus, and patience...that's it, your mind and body will guide you through the rest. Let us examine that a bit further, starting with faith. This word is often tied to a religion or divine being, but you can have faith in anyone or anything. That is not to imply that any amount of faith will change someone else's reality, but it is possible for it to change yours! Faith refers to sheer belief, the kind that is strong enough to change your reality and perceptions. It is for this reason that so many religious followers use the word 'faith', because their beliefs are so strong. The mind offers powerful tools within it to better control your thoughts and negative thought patterns that do not serve you. It is for this reason that advanced levels of meditation are known by many as a 'Hero's Journey', through which one can attain enlightenment. Either way, it isn't something most pick up the first time and requires patience, reflection, and often for people to try out a few different types and styles. It might take several sessions before you see results, but this is part of the process that these lessons are learned and changes in reality occur, generally...in a very different form than one would have imagined at the beginning. This is where 'faith' comes in. Meditation can indeed teach you how to do all the things described thus far, and It all starts so simply... through the act of doing nothing but breathing, which many will tell you is directly associated with our life force, souls, feeding out inner flame. While there are different beliefs on the source of this, we will refer to it as 'light energy', which is acknowledged in many ways and in every major religion throughout our world! My favorite distinction is how many describe the difference between prayer and meditation as I have heard many times, 'so as prayer is to asking meditation is to listening' The only major difference in what most associate with prayer versus meditation is their definition of 'Divine'. While prayer helps us connect with a divine being, meditation teaches you how to connect with and tap into your own divinity! There is no one way to do it, the idea is actually simpler than most people realize. While most of us can easily get caught up in what the best methods are, especially when we get flustered things don't go the way we expect them to, there really is no right or wrong way! Some use mudras, which are bodily positioning or hand gestures, even this is not necessary and mainly serves the purpose of aiming our focus, or for symbolism. The same could be said for dance and rituals that are performed for these purposes, as with any ritual that helps us associate a specific intention with an act. Learning how to set intentions prior to beginning is the key, but how you do that is completely up to you. I always recommend researching various ideologies, methods, and styles, don't overthink it, save that energy for focusing on your breath! The biggest challenge I hear about most often is with people getting bored or forgetting to properly breath, which is why my best recommendation is in starting off at just five to ten minutes at first. If you simplify how you think about meditation, perhaps likening it to quiet reflection, free from distraction, it tends to feel less intimidating. Just think of what you want answers to, then stop thinking and instead focus on your breath. It's that simple! Of course, like anything else worth doing, it will take some practice to get good at it, just allow your mind to wander without judging the thoughts that come to mind. Eventually, that breathing you have been practicing will help you get so relaxed that purging all those thoughts swirling around your head will become easier and easier. As much as we think we know about the mind, we are just scratching the surface of what they are capable of, with science and research data finally supporting what monks and gurus have been teaching for millennia! Once you can go longer, you will be able to access deeper and deeper layers of your consciousness while in a wakeful state and in complete control. Hypnotherapists do this for you, in order to help resolve trauma, break unhealthy thought patterns, accessing information, answers, and memories buried deep in your subconscious. Unfortunately, not all of us can afford a hypnotherapist though, so I highly encourage everyone to at least try meditation for themselves. First it will teach you how to relax, then re-center by going back to that place, and from there in allowing us to explore the depths of our minds. Start simply though, no need to rush since every step toward success is a helpful step in the right direction!

B y Destiny McLaren · Shared with Public I would like to preface by saying I learned these lessons the hard way, unable to even entertain the idea of, much less understand how fear affected my thinking, how my body was reacting to it, the effects of outside stimulation, or what I could do to change my way of thinking and repair the damage. It took a series of traumatic events that left me feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and overstimulated in very way, before I was even open to looking at what the causes of the issues really were. It came down to fear and my misunderstanding about it. Turns out, I was snapping at people and stressed out over situations usually outside of my control, things I was wrong about, or the always fun...excuses I was making that were weighing heavily on me but I was too proud to admit were my fault. I had been living in fear for as long as I could remember and had reached my breaking point. Fortunately, with grown children moving away I was finally forced to focus on me and had nothing left to distract me, and eventually refection on this forced me to face my demons!! By that point, I was well passed the point of no return and was an emotional wreck, and I hadn't even hit menopausal yet! Desperation leads us to the realization that we have hit rock bottom. Only then are most people open to less conventional ways to deal with our problems, especially since we to get pretty creative on the way down, but at some point we get sick of the realization that what we thought was the bottom wasn't...only then are we REALLY willing to open seek out and try some 'out-of-the-box ideas. It's for you that are there that I have written this. For everyone else, feel free to read on...but we'll still be here for you later too! Many know this pain, the inconsolable feeling of isolation, and inability to recognize or appreciate the good things that are happening in our life...especially during times when they are few and far between. When pointed out by others, these 'encouraging' words can feel like a condescending cop-out of an excuse for them not understanding, empathizing, or even just listening...trust me, I get it. Communication and how we interact with each other in itself a huge component too, but that's for another post. Like myself, I know most people need hard facts and a good explanation to make complex concepts like this make sense, so that's what we will focus on here. Let's start with the scientific side of how fear affects us and why. It starts simply, by reacting to a negative situation...this can include just about anything that causes you a lot of stress. Here's what happens internally: -Thoughts and emotions move through us as electrical impulses. -Strong emotions and stressful situations intensify these electrical impulses. -As with all impulses, (though patterns,) the body recognizes them and knows how to react. -Flooded with these impulses, the Amygdala part of your brain alerts the Hypothalamus. -The Hypothalamus goes into action, acting like a commander that sends out hormones -Like receiving orders from a commander, hormones essentially tell the body what to do. -'Your heart rate increases, and blood starts pumping, you feel the effects and extra energy. -The hormones sent throughout the body to prepare for anything, this is 'Action Potential'. -This process gives us the strength to move faster, think with more clarity, and other things. -When this action potential is utilized and released from the body, a euphoric feeling follows. -This is also experienced during and after intense physical activity, like working out! Because it's the same electric signature for all stressful situations, the body cannot tell the difference and reacts the same whether the stressful event was almost getting in a car accident, , you can't relax because you are bombarded by notifications, when finding out you don't have enough to pay for rent, or when someone yells at you. The only real difference is how long your action potential will last. Over time, repeated events deplete the body's ability to regenerate and recuperate from these events....not to mention the sugars released in order to facilitate in this. This works divinely after a great workout or when used to run from things trying to eat you, when these thoughts and feelings are released, but those pesky negative thought patterns tend to get stored by most people experiencing ongoing issues with anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. But if these hormones, and the action potential created by them, are ignored and stored not only does the problem compound pre-existing issues, but if we aren't burning off that extra glucose, it's also just extra sugar that inactive people especially don't need! While the effects of Acute Stress Disorder, but some scientists believe this may even explain less well-known conditions, such as 'Autoimmune Disorders' and other conditions given a generic label for something they have not yet been able to explain. Other examples of this include the various digestive issues we are accepting as 'normal', despite not having a rational explanation for their root causes. Most recently, some have turned to Eastern Medicine to better understand what our ancestors understood. While our pride, interest, and funding have kept us from reaching this point sooner, many ancient teachings have proven how well so many things were understood long ago. It's hard to ignore the more organic forms of healing that have become mainstream in recent years. Some insurance companies are even covering Reiki healing work, calling it 'complimentary' treatment. Regardless of personal beliefs, the results and data are hard to ignore, especially when patients (especially wealthy ones that can afford experimental study and treatments) are desperate to find answers and options. As alternative healing becomes more acceptable, science is finally catching up to these ancient concepts, ABOUT FREAKIN TIME! For this reason, in recent years (like REALLY recent) some scientists have even attributed this energy potential loss and subsequent storage as one of a few major issues causing cancer. Our diet and physical habits, play a huge role as well...but it's often intertwined and a result of the belief that we are helpless, worthless, not accepted, and somehow irrevocably 'broken' that actually keeps us from further exploring or understanding this. Born with a congenital condition known as a 'Growth Hormone Deficiency, I have extensive issues caused by hormones. Basically, just as with the ones used to tell our bodies what to do for survival, there are ones specifically used to initiate and regulate growth and all of the processes related to every stage of growth and development that occur throughout our lives. They initiate menses in adolescence, and facilitate with pregnancy, labor, as well as the subsequent healing and production of milk afterwards...something I learned the hard way. Nobody knew what to tell me, because this rare condition wasn't well understood until the last decade. Growing up in the 80's, all I knew was that I needed to figure out a way to cope with the most annoying part of being blind in my right eye which was that without a focal point it rested in what I lovingly referred to as 'the right field'! Basically, it looked wayyy too far to the right and made a lot of growing up in America an even greater challenge than it already was for people that were born 'normal' looking! If that weren't enough, labor was unexplored territory for me and my medical team! All things considered, it went pretty well...aside from almost dying and not being able to make milk after the initial 'letdown' right after having my one and only baby. I am so thankful I got to experience pregnancy, even if ended with an emergency cesarian. At only 4ft 11 and 115lbs when I got pregnant, we loke in my family that it was what I got for reproducing with a Viking. While the fact that she was over 9lbs at birth would indeed make it difficult for most, my body was never going to be able to deliver a baby, but certainly not that size! The experience not only taught me how thankful I am to even be able to do things most people take for granted, like motherhood...but that I will always be my best advocate. I did not have a network of people to help me nor the means to pay anyone to help me figure it out. As a result, my reality was always different because I knew I couldn't rely on anyone but me. I had already refused to live my life defined by my limitations or in fear of the unknown issues they might present. That sounds so empowering, right? Unfortunately, the combination of these created the perfect storm of stubborn pride that, like the infinite other reasons people have for avoiding their pain, came from a place of fear that took me way too long to recognize and overcome. Why don't we demand better of and for ourselves? Why do we settle for answers and resolutions from a system well-established to be broken many years ago? Why do we allow profit and greed to dictate our quality of life? This would also require its own post to fully explain, but ultimately can all be traced back to a lack of knowledge, fear, and by extension how process our emotions. Combined, these are ruining our bodies and keeping us from having healthy relationships. It's taking every bit of discipline I have learned not to share my colorful thoughts on fear and how badly is has impacted us. My hope is that these words resonate with someone, that this information is shared with others, and that we can all one day break this cycle of inflicting pain on ourselves and others, rather than facing our fears, recognizing them, processing them, and using the resulting knowledge to heal our past trauma...then eventually helping others to do so as well. We are only afraid because we have been misled for so long that we can't even tell the difference between what is fake and what is real anymore...this lack of information doesn't have to take the form of bitterness and skepticism though. Rising above fear addresses that too! If we give fear the finger, instead of risking the relationships of people that we disagree with, are all honest about the fact we are ANGRY because we are AFRAID and find resolutions by EMPOWERING OURSELVES WITH KNOWLEDGE rather than BLAMING OTHERS, feeding into DRAMA, we could find common ground...even when still disagree. Always having to be right is just another form of fear, don't let it FUCK with your head anymore. I gain nothing from sharing this but took time to anyway, in the hopes that it may empower you to learn more about these and other truths for yourselves. Yes, truth forces us to take a long hard look at things we would rather forget, but until we can learn to do this we won't let that energy go, take action, and thus have sentenced ourselves to suffer as a victim of it. I'm going to add more posts and some reference links for those who want to recognize and better understand fear, negative and harmful thought-patterns and the corresponding ailments (YES YOU CAN!) that we have been lied to about and accepted as 'normal'. They aren't...but only you can override that programming. Next, we'll discuss ways of coping with and avoiding the stress we can all learn to manage in a more healthy and productive way!

Today, we will discuss what it means to take care of your body from an objective perspective, rather than through what our senses and conditioning are telling us. This is the basis of and idea behind my approach, and how I view my ‘Space suit’, which does not refer to ‘outer space’, since they generally don’t fare very well without yet another suit. Instead, ‘space suit’ refers to the body you inhabit, distinguishing the physical aspect of your being from your mind and spirit, which all deserve their own separate and very different types of love and care. Viewing it from this perspective is not meant to cause waves or question anyone’s beliefs but is the simplest way to view the body as a whole, to isolate issues, address its needs, and assess how well you have been caring for it. Without getting overly technical about it, we often refer to our bodies as machines in ads of all kinds, with phrases like ‘feed the machine’ and ‘burning clean’ commonly used as metaphors. The only thing that separates the body from being an actual machine is in its lack of design, a term referred to as ‘natural selection’. The main difference between design and natural selection is not in the mechanical complexities, since those are not all that different, but with the user interface. Unlike artificial intelligence that has a command interface somewhere, your mind does this in subtle ways that can be difficult to recognize, especially after learning to dismiss those prompts, like hunger pains, lack of energy, and trouble sleeping…or blaming everything on genetics. This is called conditioning and not any one person’s or type of person’s fault, but the result of trying to keep up with the demands of an increasingly demanding existence. Machines and technological advances have taken over some of the most dangerous tasks, or at least some of the most dangerous aspects of them but replaced the thing that kept us from enjoying more of our time as adults, time that we could have otherwise used for physical activity in the form of play or creation. Think about how many people would have preferred this to working 10-15 hours a day two hundred years ago, which our ancestors still found time for on the weekends. These days, most of us are too tired, stressed out, or finicky to consistently maintain any kind of regular activity that requires us to engage our bodies in for extended periods of time. Add unhealthy beliefs that further quiet, dismiss, or override what our bodies are trying to tell us, and we find ourselves struggling to meet even the minimum demands of our daily lives. See why “Honoring thy Spacesuit’ makes sense and negates all of that, forcing us to look at our health from a more objective perspective? This series will focus on various aspects of our health and what mechanisms work within your body to alert you, in its constant attempt to maintain homeostasis, what those subtle messages look and feel like, as well as what to do…especially after the messages become increasingly less subtle. A good example, and one of the most common, is the feeling of being tired…so this is where we will start! It has become the norm these days to wake up and skip breakfast. We head to work and grab that beloved cup of coffee, possibly even accepting a snack from a co-worker as the morning goes on…or something else conveniently placed in our paths throughout the day. The caffeine has blocked the receptors meant to recognize and notify you when your body is depleted and is asking you for more. Ignoring or suppressing these, especially in an effort to lose or maintain your weight, is not respecting your body or your health, and only results in compounding damage that worsens over. Since most of us do at least have some excess fat to burn off, many believe that the ‘diuretic’ part of its designation is doing us a favor, in reality it’s doing a lot more damage than one might easily recognize! Why? Because those nutrients you are missing out on cannot simply be replaced by supplements, unless you know exactly what you’re doing and are getting at least a good portion of them from natural sources, which are necessary in assuring the appropriate chemical processes are allowed to perform, which often lead to a chain of other chemical processes that are necessary to keep our bodies working the way they are meant to. Now let’s talk for a moment about the makers of these. I have no doubt the creators are (or started out as) people who understand nutrition and work hard to fill as many of those gaps as possible, but you would have to keep a cupboard full of them to meet all your needs on a regular basis. But let’s be honest about the fact that greed and profits do not generally take your health into consideration, so they are unnecessarily expensive, which most people cannot afford. The simplest answer is just to have some berries and raw veggies handy to snack on throughout the day, but at $3.50 to $8.00 a flat, those aren’t much cheaper! This is why eating healthy can be a challenge, even for those who recognize this and hear those subtle messages throughout the day, because again…people are greedy! The best way to get around this is to select a handful of your favorite fruits and vegetables, purchase seeds and pots, or dig a garden, build beds, however you can or would prefer to garden! Urban gardening can be a simple answer to this and can offer a little extra physical activity too! Whatever budget or amount of space you are working with is perfect too, start small or go all-out...any amount of progress toward your goal is still progress! What do you mean you can’t have berry bushes growing like house plants? Okay, maybe it isn’t practical for everyone, but you really can have a garden inside, just save yourself the headache and read about how to do it and have a plan before you start! Another great option is going straight to your local farmers, who would love to sell direct to consumers but are usually forced to sell to grocery chains, who screw them over because they too have overhead costs. To find places where you can buy the freshest fruits and vegetables for much less, check out https://eatlocalfirst.org , where you can search your local farms, many of which are also full of wines, ciders, lavender, u-pick vegetables, honey, and other tasty treats! Each year, we head up to a local event put on by local growers, where you can earn a free reusable keepsake bag for checking out all the participating vendors. We have found a couple of favorite spots and enjoyed some pretty spectacular views along the way, one of which I shared below, of a day spent with my family enjoying the afternoon out at the local farms! Ultimately, the idea is to listen carefully to what your body is saying. Feeling tired is but one message, imagine all the subtle messages your body is sending to you that our routines and conditioning have taught us to ignore or misinterpret. Over extended periods of time, we can easily become neglectful of our bodies and its needs, creating a secondary set of symptoms that can get trickier to treat. Save yourself the hassle off having to off-set an imbalance with having to work extra hard to set it right...or even worse, losing some aspect of your quality of living! Lastly, find joy wherever you can, having fun and feeling a sense of purpose is basically the same thing as the elixir of life, just take a look at some statistics related to people that focus more on being a bit selfish in choosing joy over fear, stress, and responsibility. While health statistics might demonstrate a healthier existence, balance is the sweetest spot of all and can assure you live a healthy, responsible, productive, joyful, and fun existence! Sharing it with others feeds another need we all have for acceptance as well, plus it increases the odds of success in changing habits. So grab a partner, friend, or family member if you have one who enjoys the same things you do, if not...this would be a great opportunity to find someone else who wishes they had a like-minded companion in their journey. I challenge anyone reading this, to sit and consider your health and body for a few moments. Are there any subtle messages that you have been ignoring or haven't explored? Feeling tired is a good indicator of a number of things that could be going on and should never be ignored or dismissed as something simpler when you know you could be taking better care of it. My challenge is a simple way to access your 'user interface' through quiet contemplation. In essence, this is what meditation is, though there are a number of ways to do this and areas to explore...starting with why you are feeling tired, which is an easy way to get started! Next, we will get more into some of those subtle messages, what they mean, how you can better learn to hear them, and ideas on ways you can honor your space suit!

Every family has their own dynamic and any major change, such as a dietary one that will affect everyone in some way, should be discussed beforehand. Only after there is an understanding or at least a conversation about the fact that it's happening should there be the discussion about how. As discussed here, the keys are planning, talking about it with your family, meal planning, preparing food ahead of time, a positive attitude, and at least some discipline.

Today I am going to explore the difficult and divisive topic of putting pineapple on pizza as a topping. I want to examine both sides of the issue and present an informed opinion. I AM a certified chef and a Certified Surgical Technologist. I am the son of a spice master. I know food. First, I want to talk briefly about the fruit of the pineapple itself. There is a significant difference in the taste of a raw pineapple vs. one that is canned. Canned NEVER tastes as good as fresh. The canning process depletes flavor and overall quality (metallic taste), by contrast to fresh. That being said, I can understand why some people may think it is an abomination and ungodly to add this fruit to their cheesy pizza pie. A thousand different people might like their pizza a lot of different ways. Some like plain cheese. Some pepperoni. Some Hawaiian. Some supreme. Some like all the veggies and no meat. Some like the meat lovers. Some use dairy free cheese. Some like thin crust. Some like it thick and deep dish. Some like it Chicago style. Some like it New York style. Some like to dip it in marinara sauce. Some dip in ranch. Some like their pizza with salad. Some like it with buffalo wings. Some people fold it in half and eat it like a taco. There are many ways to make a pizza and enjoy it. Too many to recount them all here. Millions of different combinations of toppings, spices, cheeses, and dipping sauces... Getting down to brass tacks, I did an informal survey of people I know: co-workers, family, friends, and online acquaintances. I have to say I was actually surprised by the results. Many more people were okay with it than not. Those who chose NOT to have it on their pizza were much more adamant about it than expected as well. It truly is a love/hate relationship that some have with their pizzas. The majority of those questioned, however, even if they did not particularly care for pineapple on theirs, they were overwhelmingly amiable about others having to each their own. I, personally don't give a shit if Gordon-fucking-Ramsay doesn't think pineapple goes on pizza or if the Rock says it does. I like it, generally speaking, but I will be accommodating for those who do not like it on their pizza... but only if we are sharing... Decidedly, there were more people that were for pineapple on pizza than against it, by my tally among friends, family, and co-workers. One thing I think most of us can agree on, however, is that odd toppings like bananas and pickles definitely don't go on pizza. Again, I guess each their own, but I'll stick to my pie loaded sky high with veggies.

A lot of new plant products have emerged in recent years, as well as a number of an expansion of products from existing companies. It's pretty obvious why so many businesses are investing in this popular market, so much so that options are becoming expansive. As exciting as it is, with all these options choosing what to buy can get pretty overwhelming, fast...especially if you are new to Plant-Based eating and haven't tried many of these foods before. I can't tell you how many times we have seen articles about how these foods get a bad rap, but not all have been great..let's just get that out of the way now. But we love when people ask 'This is made out of plants?', it's one of our greatest joys and why we love the idea of sharing our food with others, to see that look on their faces...and then the one when they see how much healthier they are! On that note, though we aren't huge fans of processed foods of any kind it's hard to deny that many families rely on these foods for raising children by busy parents that don't have much time or patience to learn how to cook food that is much more difficult or different in taste...we learned the hard way, pick your battles! As parents raising our children while converting to a plant-based diet, while we chose to only cook plant-based food we never argued or pushed the issue when they chose to eat dairy or meat outside the home, and on occasion even within it! We are part of the plant-based movement, simply by moving where we invest our money and time. Forcing others to believe or eat as we do isn't our place, just helping to make it easier for those who are exploring their options, want to incorporate some plant meals into their diet, as well as those who have made the choice to take the plunge. Each palate is different, some might prefer one brand over the other for various reasons. Our goal isn't simply to direct you a specific brand, but more so to help you decide which one you would probably prefer trying over another. To start off we have selected the items we are most frequently asked about. 1. Egg Replacement: For a nutty texture recipe, or when we run out of our favorite, we use 1Tb of ground flax seed for every 2oz of water, which is equal to one quarter cup. Otherwise, we use Just Egg for EVERYTHING that we used to use egg in. As the kids describe it, 'it's like regular egg but without the fart taste', and as tacky as it sounds...it's true! You can use Just Egg for baking and some pretty darn tasty break sandwiches, burritos, fritata, quiche, you name it! 2. Milk Alternatives: This is really more about a personal preference than a matter of which brand is the best. We have found most brands and flavors to be tasty, but cashew milk simply doesn't work for everything! Don't worry, we'll have tips on what to do if all you have is vanilla almond milk...because we've been there, but you'll have to watch out for our 'Tips & Tricks' page, coming soon! Here are our recommendations for what we suggest, based on what you'll be using it for: Coffee Baking Cooking Drinking Oat Milk- It's the most similar to real texture of dairy, with a balanced flavor that goes great with your favorite sweetener and/or flavored syrup. Almond milk or Oat milk, depending on how sweet and creamy you are going for. Oat Milk is better for more savory flavors. Rice Milk, Hemp Milk, Almond Milk, and Cashew Milk, or Oat Milk. Again, this depends on how sweet and thick you're aiming for. These are listed from thinnest, which are usually the sweetest) to thickest and most neutral in taste. This is partly based on what you're pairing it with or drinking it plain. For drinking plain, we enjoy rice, hemp, or almond milk. Oat milk for creamier less sweet drink. 3. Cheese Replacements: This is one area where we have found a few brands we really watch for because we prefer above all others, mainly the Diaya and Miyokos...but stay tuned, because there are some close runner-ups, including a Store Brand! Sliced Shredded Whole or Block Kroger (Simple Truth) Brand Pepper Blend Diaya Brand Dairy-Free Shreds Miyokos Creamery Soft Cheese, Sharp Aged Diaya Cheddar-Style Miyokos Mozzerella-Style Shreds Daiya Cheddar-Style Block Violife Just Like Cheddar Slices Kroger (Simple Truth) Non-Dairy Shreds ​ ​ ​ ​ 4. Meat Replacements Breakfast Lunch Dinner Snacks ​ Ozo Breakfast Sausage Patties Field Roast anything Field Roast Sausage Links (chopped up or sliced) Lenny & Larry's Complete Cookie ​ Beyond Breakfast Sausage Patties (and Links) Gardein Chick'N strips, (Great for Salads and Wraps) Soyrizo- Works great in place of Italian Sausage too! Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Jerky ​ Gardein Breakfast Sausage Patties Beyond Burger Patties I LOVE tofu (fyi-if you don't eat 3 bricks a day you won't grow extra boobs) ​ ​ Soyrizo (heavenly with Just Egg, make separately and combine) Gardein Chick'n Nuggets Gardein Meat Balls- Great for so many things! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Today I wanted to write about the abundance of products containing refined sugar products. It's in what we drink like Gatorade, fruit juices, and fitness waters, our bread, breakfast cereals and bars, yogurts, canned fruits and vegetables, and pasta sauce to name a few out of many items. This excess consumption of processed and refined sugars are harmful to our body since they have no nutritional value and a LOT of negative health effects like the ones listed in the table above. What's really terrible is the exploitative practices the companies that produce the refined sugar products use, KNOWING that it is triggering the exact SAME neuro-receptors that are triggered by use of COCAINE. So quite literally people are getting cracked out on toxic high levels of sugar, the REAL GATEWAY DRUG for children. This sugar is highly addictive and needs to be cut back on in our society to curb the pandemic rising of obesity that we all have to suffer with. In the end, however, we must as individuals strive to eat healthier and seek out to purposefully avoid excess sugars, especially those we KNOW like sweets (cakes, candy, and sweet snacks) and sugary carbonated beverages like soda and energy drinks. We need to exercise more and glutton less. All of this requires work and tenacity, a resolve of mind AND body to live a healthier lifestyle.

Today I wanted to write about bulk shopping. It is not just for the extreme coupon moms any longer. There are many stores like Costco, Sam's Club, Cash and Carry, and Winco to name a few that you can buy goods and food in bulk. I have to say I'm a big fan of shopping in bulk. I don't really like going shopping all the time for the same things, especially like pet food and litter. Costco has both for a great one-time price that will last me several weeks for my kitties and puppy. For food, there isn't really much better of a place here in the Pacific NW than WINCO. I mention this because I don't think a lot of people consider what it is they are buying when they shop at a regular retail grocer. You pay a LOT for packaging: the glass, plastic, or aluminum container your favorite product is sold in. It is much cheaper to buy a lot of things in bulk like sugar, chocolate, pasta, and especially spices which can cost a small fortune if you buy those tiny little aluminum containers one at a time. I have found that it is cheaper to buy a one time plastic shaker and then refill it once in a while from the bulk section at the WINCO or other local store with bulk seasonings. I'm a chef, so I have to save money on food where I can since it's expensive to feed my little army. I'm sure that many men and women, fathers and mothers out there can agree with the rise in inflation and cost of living, we need to save money at the register as much as possible. Costco is also good because while you are there saving money on food and household needs, you can also get gasoline that is usually less expensive than comparative gas stations out in town. Basically it's a good idea to kill two birds with one stone if you are already planning a trip to buy at COSTCO.. So, wrapping it up I believe that buying in bulk is a good thing. You still have to shop around and see who has the best pricing, but between WINCO and COSTCO you can pretty much get everything you need for your home between those two places for the best price imaginable. If you are single and not having to feed an army then the regular grocery store will probably suit your needs better than the big box mart bulk shopping stores. Plant-based eaters will do well to stock up on things like cereals, oat meal, flour and grains, beans, rice, quinoa, pasta, potatoes, nuts, granola, sugar and other sweeteners, etc. There are a lot of plant-based convenience food products that can be a nice snack on the go for you and your family. Be sure to stay stocked up so you can keep snacks in the car as kids always get hungry; so does dad too. Shop smart. Shop well. Save BIG.

So, there are a lot of varied opinions about the rise in those choosing to eat plant-based foods, plant-based meals, and vegetarian and vegan lifestyles...and these are blogs, so while we did our own research, at the end of the day a lot of this is still coming from our perspectives.. The point of our attempt to pass on knowledge via this website is to alleviate some of the concerns others may have that are curious or have already started on their journey of conscious living and opting for more plant-based foods in their diets. To be fair, it will be discussed the alternative point of view as well. PROS : It is well known that many plants and the plant-based foods can be very high in certain types of nutrients that are necessary for the maintenance of a healthy, well-regulated body. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains are all packed with a variety of micro- and macro-nutrients needed for body function, as part of a balanced diet. There are many exciting sources of protein for vegans, vegetarians, and plant-based eaters to enjoy such as tempeh, quinoa, tofu, peanuts, almonds, legumes, lentils, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, seitan, and protein-rich vegetables like mushrooms, kale, and broccoli. A lot of store-bought plant-based proteins are employing the use of pea protein, as well like the Beyond, Gardein, Field Roast, and Impossible brands. Plant-based diets can see a range of health benefits including, but not limited to a reduced risk of elevated cholesterol, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and a range of cancers due to the increased consumption of complex carbohydrates, dietary fibers, and specific minerals and phytochemicals that fight off illness. Many people find a plant-based diet gives them more energy to help lose weight and become more active. Many professional athletes, actors, and celebrities are going vegan for the benefits they gain in physical appearance and overall health and life satisfaction. The environmental impact of a plant-based diet could save hundreds of animals a year, per individual, as well as a great deal of water, pesticides, and animal fecal matter, much of which is dumped into lakes and rivers. Lower greenhouse gas emissions from less feed animals goes a long way when enough people are willing to change. Animal agriculture is the number one cause of deforestation and every animal not eaten saves trees and environmental damage. Having a positive effect on our planet Earth is a much better way to go in the long run; much more sustainable. Forgoing the eating of meat may indeed save your body on the toxic effects of hormones and antibiotics that are pumped into these poor animals to make them grow faster to feed the ever-rising demand for meat. For men, a good reason to go plant-based is for your heart and blood-vessel health and wellness. The number one cause of erectile disfunction in middle aged adult men is cardiovascular disease. A plant-based diet can lower your cholesterol and eliminate your dependence on a pharmaceutical pill to give you an erection. This is not a judgement, just passing along info that might make you consider that we are what we eat. In the two examples of food pyramids below, notice the differences and similarities? We get used to our habits and often have a hard time letting go of certain components, but even for those looking to make a full transition into a plant diet...it doesn't have to be all or nothing, certainly not from the beginning! CONS : Not everyone who attempts a plant-based diet or meals understands the ACTUAL amounts of protein needed by the average adult per day. Most Americans over-consume protein past the recommended dietary needs which state that meat or protein consumption should only make up about 10% of our daily caloric intake. On a plant-based diet, it may be easy to under-consume the daily requirements for protein intake if you are not using a balanced meal plan to ensure you are getting all your daily nutrients in a sufficient manner. The daily requirement for the average adult for protein is 46g for an adult woman and 56g for an adult male. 0.8g per kg of body weight. Plant-based eaters may also become deficient in things like calcium when changing away from dairy products like milk and cheese. There are many studies and concerns about bone density and strength associated with alternative diets rich in plant-based foods, and if done correctly, the risks can be mitigated, if not outright dismissed. There are many plant-based options like energy bars, plant-based milks and many juices that are fortified with calcium just for this reason. Things like green leafy vegetables, broccoli, tofu, tahini, oranges, etc. are a great way to get this vital nutrient in a sufficient daily quantity. There are a range of concerns about getting the proper amount of nutrition here in the United States and the sad fact is that there is a negligent amount of malnutrition across all types of eaters, be it carnist, omnivore, frugivore, vegetarian, or vegan. Most Americans are deficient on Vitamin D, B12, and magnesium for starters. The good news is that most of us should already be taking a daily multivitamin because very few of us get the daily requirement of nutrients from a balanced diet due to the hectic work life of the average American. B12 supplements are a necessary addition to anyone's diet for its health benefits such as aiding in digestion, heart health, maintenance of energy levels, memory, development of hair, nails, and skin. It also helps prevent Alzheimer's, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease, among other things. Some people have expressed the concern over the idea that eating soy will make you more feminine. There are a couple misnomers with this idea. Plant-based estrogen is not the same as animal-based estrogen. For example, chickens are injected with hormones, specifically designed to increase the breast size of the hens because the majority of chicken eaters prefer the white meat. This hormone increase can and does cross over the blood-barrier due to the compatibility of animal-to-animal transfer of estrogens. Soy on the other hand has plant-based estrogens in it, but they do not cross over the blood barrier due to the difference between animal estrogens and plant estrogens. Conversely, eating a lot of canned foods and vegetables can be dangerous in the same way. One must check to see if the cans are sprayed with Bisphenol A or BPA, an endocrine-disrupting chemical that acts like synthetic estrogen that throws our bodies out of whack, that is commonly found in canned foods, water bottles, food packaging, and dental hygiene materials. At the end of each day, it comes down to the individual and their decision to be in the mind frame of conscious living in harmony with the Earth, beneficial to you and your loved ones, your lifestyles, and to the environment. The World Health Organization is recommending that people start by switching over to 3 plant-based meals for dinners out of the 7 days a week. It's a small step, but it is achievable, and you don't have to give up what you love to have a positive impact on your health and the health of the planet. There are a lot of "-ism's" out there and it can be easy to get caught up in a pattern of behavior. Eating better is an individual choice and should not be forced upon others or turn into a cult-like ideology of moral high-ground. That would defeat the purpose. The purpose is to do our best, as individuals, not shame others.

Have you ever noticed that today's labeling of junk food restaurants as "fast food" is kind of a misnomer? I don't know how often my readers eat out at these places. I would suspect it is or has been in the past, often as America is indeed the fast-food nation. It is my belief, however, that today's "fast" food is neither fast, inexpensive, or even really what I would call FOOD, as much of the meat at these places is nothing short of processed pink slime, most likely from cows treated with rBST or rBGH (these are both growth hormones given to cows to increase their size and milk production) as well as being overfed on corn feed, which leads to obesity in all animals, including US, as humans, in excess consumption. "Fast" food joints are generally known today to be the distribution arm of the industrial food operation, complete with CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), GMO additives, and inhumane treatment of the animals that are meant to be food, be it cows, pigs, or chickens, as these are the primary meats of the majority of the human diet, well at least in the U.S. Despite the convenience of the "fast" food industry, the overall health and well-being of the American populace has suffered immeasurable consequences, the least of which is obesity, although that opens up a whole new portal for heart disease, a whole slew of cancers, free radicals, and diabetes type II. Yet, not enough people actually seem to care. We pump billions of dollars a year into these massive food conglomerates like BioNTech (formerly known as Monsanto, now owned by Bayer pharmaceuticals), Tyson, and Cargill. These companies even get government subsidies, meaning that the government pays our tax dollars to allow them to poison us. It seems to me like the more we keep buying into it, the more these companies throw out the regulations, buy up the politicians, and continue to openly and blatantly poison the populace, generally without remorse. I have the solution though, if you want to hear it... Are you sure? Really sure? Okay, since you scrolled down, I will tell you the obvious answer. Large multi-national companies will change their policies and standards of operations ONLY if they are hit where it hurts them the most... got a clue? THEIR POCKETBOOKS OF COURSE!!! If you STOP buying their products and DEMAND a healthier better alternative and YOU as the consumer must be willing to PAY the higher cost of better-quality food. This includes your plant-based alternatives and fresh organic produce, plant milks and products free of dairy, eggs, and meat and their various byproducts. How can we do this, you ask? Well, I keep telling my readers that EVERY single dollar you spend is a vote for policy. I KNOW that it is cheaper to buy a cheeseburger for 2 dollars at McDonald's or a cheap burrito at Taco Bell than to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. I KNOW. But the truth is that you really DO get what you pay for: Government subsidized BULLSHIT! My theory is that the government WANTS you to be fat, stupid, lazy, obedient, and stuck in front of the propaganda spewing idiot box. It also doesn't really take a rocket scientist to figure out that THEY WANT the system to be this way. How can this be? Well, there are at least 3 factors involved... 1) There is a LOT of money in the food industry as human beings eat at least 2 to 3 times per day on average and snack a whole bunch in between meals. In ANY system that there is SO MUCH money, much like the gov't itself, it is prone to corruption and cutting costs to make more money. 2) If the government actually WANTED you to eat healthy then they would subsidize farmers that grow fruits and vegetables rather than products containing processed and refined sugars, both whom cause obesity as they are put in EVERYTHING that is pre-packaged in a box, cellophane wrapper, or can at the grocery store/fast food joints. 3) Once you are obese from eating this food, then you are a slave to the pharmaceutical industry that makes BILLIONS to watch citizens slowly die from the poisons (hormones, chemicals, poisons, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.) in the food, which we ALL eat in abundance. The moral I suppose once again is that you get what you pay for. Crap in = crap out. Every single dollar is a vote for policy and so far, our voting record has been EXACTLY where the industries with the biggest profits to protect want it to be. How can it be any other way when our livelihoods have been destroyed and we cannot afford to eat healthy? Or can we? It seems that we either pay the UP-FRONT cost of healthy, organic, locally grown foods... OR... we pay the cost on the BACK END with elevated health care expenditures, over-inflated pharmaceuticals, and funeral costs. It is my personal opinion of course that it would be a healthier alternative to eat at a place, if you must eat out, go to a place that cooks the food fresh and uses locally sourced ingredients. Or just eat at home, I suppose that would just be the over-all best choice. Ultimately it comes down to the consumer to change the personal and political policies that have been set up against our will and with no vote or say in the outcome. Spend your money wisely. You really DO get what you pay for. At the end of the day it is your right to choose what options you decide for the wellness of you and your family. Helpful tip is to prepare snacks ahead of time for you and your kids in the car for times when there aren't convenient places to get a healthier meal option besides fast food. Thankfully, there are a growing number of options in restaurants and fast-food establishments that are offering healthy alternatives such as Chipotle, Baja Fresh, Del Taco, Panera, Subway, Panda Express, Starbucks, etc. Many chains now carry the Impossible and Beyond brands of burgers, sausages and chick'n products, like KFC, however, most of the time the plant-based burgers and fried foods are cooked on the same surfaces or in the same fryers as the meat items.