Healthy Lemon Vegan Pancake Recipe For A New Day

Next time you or your family is craving a special breakfast, try this Tasty AND Healthy Vegan Pancake Recipe!

Pancakes are among the most liked breakfast foods around the world. A variety of ways to make them exist, some recipes proving more nutritious than others. Due to the fat and sugar content in many recipes, they tend to be very high in calories, especially when topped with syrup and butter.

Luckily, it’s very easy to make nutritious and delicious  vegan pancakes at home. Eating a healthier version of traditional pancakes can provide macro and micronutrients that keep you satisfied and energized for hours.

In order to make your pancakes healthier consider adding chopped, mashed or grated fruits to the batter. Vegetables (sweet potatoes and pumpkins) and orange fruits are a good addition as they contain carotenoids, nutrients that are known to lower the risk for cancer, heart disease, and muscular degeneration. This nutrient also helps improve the immune functions of your body. 

Success tips

You will be able to deliver delicious pancake if you adopt the following tips when cooking.

  1.       Pancakes are very delicate and need even heat not high heat. Allow your pan or skillet a long while so as to evenly warm up. This will ensure heat is well distrusted throughout the pan otherwise, the pancakes will just be unevenly cooked.
  2.       Do not rush your pancakes, cook them slow and on low. Also, ensure most of the cooking is done on the first side of the pancake. As this happens the pan should remain fully warmed and should persist cooking on low settings. Flip the pancake to the other side when the bubbles break through and its edges start to crisp up.
  3.       Before spreading your batter, splash good amount of oil on the pan or skillet.
  4.       Since this is a vegan recipe no egg will be used, therefore we use an egg replacer. The replacer will add body and improve binding to your pancake. Some of the most common egg replacers include mashed banana, ground flax seeds, and applesauce.
  5.       Whipping your batter thoroughly will ensure it gets some air. This will help you to make fluffy and delicious pancakes. Ensure you use just the right amount of lemon juice (citric acid) combine with baking powder.

Healthy Lemon Vegan Pancake Recipe

Time: 40 minutes | servings: 8 small or 4 large pancakes |cuisine: breakfast | recipe type: vegan

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole grain pastry flour
  • 1 cup nondairy milk (almond or soy milk)
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  •  Tsp. fresh zest
  •  Tsp. lemon extract
  •  tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 tsp. raw vegan sugar
  •   tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. olive oil
  • Dash of cinnamon
  • 1 mashed banana (egg replacer)

Method

  1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a narrowly rimmed and tall bowl, this allows more air into the batter. Add all the wet ingredients (almond milk, all extracts, and oil), lastly combine them with the zest, lemon juice and the mashed banana. Whip your batter thoroughly as the baking powder combine with the acid it will become fluffy.
  2. As you whip you batter, you should be warming your skillet or pan. Put your cooker on low setting so as to evenly distribute heat to your pan. Remember you want an evenly warmed and toasty pan for better results.
  3. Once your pan is well warmed (after about 3-5 minutes), splash a small amount of oil to the pan. Roll the pan around to ensure the oil is spread evenly on the pan.
  4. Add a good amount of the fluffy batter and let it spread evenly in the pan. Maintain your cooker on low setting and let your pancake cook slowly, you will notice tiny bubbles forming through the batter’s surface. When these bubbles start breaking, and the edges of the pancake are formed, fluffy, cooked and not wet flip your pancake. Since most of the cooking was done on the first side, you can set your cooker to medium setting to get things done quickly.
  5. Remove the pancake from the pan and place it on a paper toweled plate. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all your batter is no more.
  6. Serve the warm pancakes with maple syrup and vegan butter.

Nutritional facts

Number of calories: 230 | Carbohydrates: 30g | Proteins: 6g | Fats: 8g | Saturated fats: 2g | Fiber 3g

Enjoy!

-Kanisha

Why We Went Vegan: Inspiring Documentary!

I was recently honored to be included in an inspiring new documentary featuring 31 (one for every day of January 2017) Miami locals telling their stories about why they went vegan!

Planted in Miami is a podcast I’ve been a guest on, that’s about conscious living in the Magic City (Miami) where they interview inspiring locals who are pushing the city forward through their actions.

The founders, Jeanette and Alex, are two of the most positive, energetic, generous, and mindful people I know. I’m so excited to present their series to you. 

You can see Jeanette and Alex’s intro, and my feature below. Check out the rest of the vegans featured on YouTube as well. Everyone has such different experiences leading them down the path of veganism. Each is motivating and inspiring in their own way. Check them out!

Listen to, connect with, and contact Planted in Miami!

**LISTEN**
Download on iTunes, Stitcher, and GooglePlay Music.

**CONNECT**
Instagram: www.instagram.com/plantedinmiami
Twitter: www.twitter.com/plantedinmiami
Facebook: www.facebook.com/plantedinmiami

**CONTACT**
Website: www.plantedinmiami.com
Email: [email protected]

Steamed Veggie “Stir-Fry”

vegan quinoa vegetable Stirfry

Quinoa is a vegan diet plan super food staple. Try this simple, low fat, complete protein steamed veggie stir fry vegan recipe.

Serves 2-3

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup uncooked quinoavegan quinoa vegetable stirfry
  • 3 cups of mixed vegetables (pre-cut chunks of any combination you like – carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, etc)
  • 2 tablespoons of Bragg’s liquid aminos (natural soy alternative)
  • 1/2 cup of filtered water
  • 1 tablespoon of sweetener of your choice – Stevia, agave, or turbinado
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1/2 cup of diced yellow onions and/or garlic
  • (optional)pinch of chili pepper flakes (or season to taste if you prefer spicier flavor)
Directions:
  1. In medium sauce pot, cook quinoa according to directions of the brand. (Usually for pre-soak & rinse quinoa, bring quinoa to a boil, then simmer for 15 mins and let stand.) Then set aside.
  2. Combine the Bragg’s, water, and sweetener in small mixing bowl to make the sauce, and set aside.
  3. In a medium to large frying pan, coat with vegetable oil.
  4. Sauté the yellow onions and/or garlic for 1-2 mins on medium-high heat.
  5. Add the mixed vegetables to the frying pan, pour the sauce over the vegetables, and sprinkle the chili pepper flakes if desired.
  6. Cover and cook on low heat for 10 mins.
  7. Serve mixed veggies over quinoa and pour a little of the sauce left in frying pan on top.

Easy Vegan Cashew Milk 

Cashew-Milk-Vegan-Recipe

I used to think making your own vegan nut milk was only for people who enjoyed spending lots of time in the kitchen… 

I was way wrong!

Nut milk is quick and easy to make, and cashew milk is the quickest and easiest of them all! 

Why? Because you don’t even have to strain the milk like you do with most other types like almond milk or Brazil nut milk (my favorite in terms of taste). 

Here is the easy vegan recipe I live by and a quick video demo I made:

Easy Cashew Milk

Ingredients*

  • 64 oz (8 cups) filtered water 
  • 1 cup cashews, soaked 2-10 hours
  • 6 Medjool dates, soaked 2+ hours or 3 date rolls (I find these in the bulk section of Whole Foods & they’re much cheaper than the whole dates)
  • 2-4 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Optional cinnamon to taste 

*Use organic when possible.

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in your Vitamix or other high speed blender and blend thoroughly (work your way up to the highest speed and wait 30 sec-1 min.

Store in mason jars in the fridge. Lasts 3-4 days if you keep it in mason jars.

Enjoy on it’s own or in smoothies. Cashew milk also makes a great bedtime snack!

 

How to Build Your Own Successful Wellness Business

Building a Profitable Wellness Business

Is it really possible to turn your passion for wellness into a successful, profitable business? 

The answer… Yes!

There is one hurdle that needs to be addressed first though…

The Money Taboowellness business

There seems to be a sense of reluctance for people in the “helping industries” to talk about profiting from their business.

Why? I believe many of us who are devoted to helping others feel a sense of guilt when it comes to making money in the process. There is this idea that profiting somehow lessons our good will. I have certainly felt this way, and even to this day, I have to continue consciously replacing those types of thoughts with new ones that allow me to feel thrilled to help others AND make a great living doing what I love.

The truth is, if you’re not able to work toward your own goals in life, how can you be truly effective at helping others reach theirs?

I have always seen money as something I want not because it buys “nice things”, but because it gives you choices in life. There is nothing more liberating then to be able to make decisions based not on how much money something costs, but on how important something is to you.

For me, I could care less about fancy cars (I gave up my car for a scooter and uber recently), or expensive clothes, or spending time at the spa. What I want is to travel and see as much of the world as possible. I want to hire awesome muay thai instructors to train me. I want to be able to buy gifts “just because” for my family and friends. These are the things that I want that money can buy.

So, the saying, “Money doesn’t buy happiness” is one hundred percent accurate. So is the saying, “Money buys choices.”

Additionally, I have discovered first hand that the more a person spends on my wellness coaching services, the more they get out of our work together.

Why? Because the more a person invests, the more value they place on the challenging process of replacing old unhealthy habits, with new healthy ones. The more a person invests, the more of a priority they make doing what it takes to transition to a lifestyle that will serve them in countless ways for the rest of their lives. 

So, that all being said, I have decided to put the money taboo to the side and tell it like it is!

Burpees and Benjamins

I recently gave a talk at the Seed Summit (part of the Seed Food and Wine Festival 2016) on building a profitable wellness business. I recorded the presentation, and it was a hit, so I wanted to share it with all of you.

In the talk I shoot from the hip and talk about how I finally was able to turn my passion for conscious eating and healthy living into a highly profitable business in a matter of months. Even with all the success I had building a brand, with awesome exposure, recognition, publishing a book, etc. I worked tirelessly for years without monetizing my business beyond scraping by month-to-month (with credit card debt weighing heavily on me as well).

I finally said enough was enough and did the research, gained the business tools I needed, and found the support necessary to put together a solid plan of action. Once I did that, it was only a matter of a couple months before my business exploded! It was such an amazing feeling to be making a difference in the lives of people and animals all over the world AND earning the money I had dreamed of for years. 

I knew immediately that my next step in my career path was sharing what I learned with anyone and everyone who is passionate about wellness who is also stuck in the place I was just a year ago. So, I created a program to do just that…. The 8-Week Empower Consulting Program

I can’t tell you how incredibly exhilarating it is to see people through the process of taking their businesses to the next level, because I have been there. I get it!

So, if you are in the same boat of working your ass off and feeling frustrated that you’re not able to reach more people and make the income you deserve, check out the 8-Week Empower Consulting Program and book a one-on-one strategy session with me HERE.

I look forward to speaking with you!

Thanksgiving on a Plant Based Diet: A Survival Guide

Thanksgiving on a plant based diet

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and if you have committed to healthier eating, you could be getting a bit stressed about surviving Thanksgiving on a plant-based diet.

Amanda, a client in my 6-Week Plant-Empowered Coaching Program came to me with some concerns about the upcoming holiday season, and maybe you are thinking it too… “How am I going to tell my mom I won’t be eating her infamous sausage & cheese casserole?” Or “Everyone is going to give me the 3rd degree when I turn down turkey this year!”  It’s for you that I created this survival guide!

1. Plan Ahead

Don’t wait until you show up for the big dinner to talk to your family about your food choices! Talk to those planning the gathering as far ahead of time as possible to let them know you’ll be having Thanksgiving on a plant-based diet this year. Be equipped with some ideas and recipes that your would like to suggest and offer to either bring a few plant-based options, or be a part of the cooking process. Here are some links to help you:vegan cranberry-sauce

Create Your Own Vegan Loaf!

Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Healthy Recipes for Thanksgiving Dishes

2. Keep a Positive, Upbeat Attitude Throughout the Holiday

Instead of focusing on what you CAN’T eat, have fun exploring new dishes you CAN eat! Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, so focus on how thankful you are for your health, and how making new food choices embodies that. Also share (as in have an actual conversation) with family members how much you appreciate their support in your venture to live a healthier, more conscious and compassionate lifestyle. If you set it up in this way, your family is more than likely going to get behind you on your decision.

3. Bring Top Vegan Swaps to the Table

There are certain holiday foods or drinks you may feel you just can’t live without. Luckily for you, there are great vegan substitutes for almost every one of these! These swaps may not be whole foods, but they will allow you to stay consistent with your vegan diet, and you can think of them as your special treats and indulge a little while eating clean otherwise. Some of my favorite holiday swaps:

Egg Nog- So Delicious Coconut Milk NogVegan Nog


Ice Cream- Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Cheese- Follow Your Heart (Smoked Gouda is my fave!)

smoked-gouda-vegan-cheese4. Lead by Example

The most effective way to make a positive impact on others is to let your actions back up your words consistently. You may have recently learned a lot about all the benefits of a vegan diet (and all the negative consequences of consumption of animal products) and would love for your friends and family to all just jump on board the vegan bandwagon as soon as you tell them about it! Well be prepared… that’s probably not going to happen. However, if you practice what you preach (and by that I mean “talk about” not really “preach”), and those around you see the positive changes in your body and your life, they will automatically want to know how to move in the same direction, and you will be there to help guide them! Sharing a delicious Thanksgiving on a plant-based diet, where everyone is able to try out the vegan foods you bring to the table is a perfect way to start!

*Interested in learning more about the 6-Week Plant-Empowered Coaching Program? Click HERE for more info and to apply for a free strategy session with me to discuss your nutrition and fitness goals!

Top Vegan Resources For A Happier Healthier You!

vegan-resources-for-health-and-happiness

In this post I’m sharing with you some of my favorite vegan resources that can empower us to take our health and happiness to the next level!

Part of my 6-Week Plant-Empowered Coaching Program is making sure my clients are set up for continued success by arming them with a ton of awesome resources to continue guiding them on their transformational path. Now I’m sharing them with all of you! I sorted them by category and have personally tried all of the resources on this list so I can give you honest reviews 🙂

Vegan Food/Drink:

Barnivore 

This awesome website and app is the best resource for checking to see if the beer, wine, and/or liquor you want to drink is vegan-friendly or not. In case you didn’t know, a large percentage of wines use animal products such as eggs and fish bladder in the filtering process. There are also liquors and beers that have non-vegan ingredients such as dairy and honey. Unfortunately these ingredients don’t usually show up on the labels. Barnivore has over 22,000 entries that have been checked and often double or triple checked by the Barnivore community, letting you know products’ vegan statuses. And now they have also released an app to make it easier to do your research on-the-go!Happy Cow

Happy Cow 

A website and app, this resource has been helping travelers and people everywhere find vegan, vegetarian, and healthy food wherever you go since 1999. This is not only a restaurant and health food store guide, but also an online hub that serves as a one-stop resource for everything veg.

Vegan Nutrition Information:

NutritionFacts.org  

Dr. Michael Greger releases a new, short and to the point nutrition-related video or article every single day (amazing)! He has a huge database of videos and articles at this point covering just about any vegan health related question you may have. Everything he presents is based on the latest research from the most trusted sources. Bookmark this website for sure! I also love that all the proceeds from the sales of his books and DVDs go to charity.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine 

This website combines the expertise and experience of over 12,000 physicians to give us the most up-to-date, scientifically accrued information on health related to diet. In addition to tons of articles, they have a free 21-day Vegan Kickstart program designed for anyone wanting to explore the health benefits of a vegan diet (based on research by Neil Barnard, M.D.).

Vegan Health 

Founded and run by Jack Norris, RD, this website is a project of Vegan Outreach and a great resource for getting answers to your top nutrition and health questions.

Healthy Vegan Recipes/Vegan Diet Plan:

Dreena Burtan’s Plant-Powered Kitchen 

Dreena’s focus is on natural, non-processed ingredients and most of her recipes are fairly simple and definitely delicious.

Fat Free Vegan 

Susan Voisin creates and posts delicious dishes made with whole foods and without added refined oils. 

Oh She Glows 

A fantastic, inspiring blog full of tasty recipes by Angela Liddon. Many of these are more complicated than I’m up for doing myself, but if you enjoy cooking then you will love what she offers on this site. There are also many easier, more simple recipes that are more my style, you just have to do a little searching to find the ones that work best for you. 

One Green Planet

There is a huge variety of healthy vegan recipes submitted and approved by people all over the world on this website. There are so many it’s slightly overwhelming, but also ensures you will find whatever you’re looking for.

The Six Weeks To Sexy Abs Meal PlanSix-Weeks-to Sexy Abs Meal Plan

This is my new book in which I guide you through an easy-to-follow 6-week meal plan that’s designed for anyone with the goal of a lean, strong body. The idea is that no matter how hard you workout, if you’re not eating the right food it’s impossible to lose those last few pounds that are hiding your six pack! I give you a hundred simple, whole-foods based recipes with grocery lists to go with them. The plan and recipes are designed to be totally do-able for even the busiest people. I make them as practical as possible. I also give guidelines for the plan so that if you go out to eat, or want to create your own recipes it’s totally fine, as long as you’re following the guidelines of the plan. The book itself is also very high quality with beautiful pictures to go with the recipes. It’s also available in kindle format. To see the blog post I wrote about the book click HERE. Hope you enjoy!!!

Inspirational Vegan-Related Podcasts:

Rich Roll Podcast 

I can listen to many of Rich’s podcasts over and over again because they are not only inspiring, they’re also entertaining and very “rearich-roll-podcastl”. Here’s how it’s described on the website (I couldn’t describe it better if I tried!) “Each week Rich delves deep into all things wellness with some of the brightest and most forward thinking, paradigm busting minds in health, fitness, nutrition, art, entertainment, entrepreneurship & spirituality. Intimate, deep and often intense, these are not interviews. They are conversations. A weekly aural dance designed to provoke, educate, inspire and empower you to discover, uncover, unlock and unleash your best, most authentic self.” He also has an app that makes it easier to listen to all the podcasts he’s ever done.

Main Street Vegan 

Main Street Vegan is a “lively hour devoted to your health, well-being, and ways to live lightly and lovingly on planet Earth.” Host Victoria Moran is super entertaining and brings you the latest on the vegan life every week. If you simply want to look and feel amazing, eat extraordinary food, help animals, and “create a physical body perfectly attuned to spiritual growth” you must check this podcast out. Victoria’s guests range from vegan authors, activists, physicians, chefs, spiritual leaders, and even some of those glittery celebs. I’m honored to announce that I will be featured on the show on February 16th, 2016!

Planted In Miami 

I found out about this one when I got a message from Jeanette asking if I would be a guest! Jeanette and Alex, the hosts, also lead the No-Meat-Athlete meet-up group in Miami and are the most delightful couple you’ll ever meet. This “New & Noteworthy” podcast is all about the business owners, artists, musicians, farmers and others who are moving Miami forward through social awareness and community engagement. From environmental causes to healthy lifestyles, animal welfare to conscious living, it’s about giving people the information that they need to make informed decisions about living a more thoughtful and compassionate life. I had a ton of fun recording the episode I was featured in – I also wrote a post on the experience and more details about the hosts HERE.

Overall Happiness:

Mind Body Green

This website is a platform with the mission of revitalizing the way people eat, move, and live. The site has a ton of articles and posts from different contributors giving you tips, tools, and ideas to help make your life better and inspire you to be your best self. The blog post/article categories are “Eat,” “Move,” “Live,” “Breathe,” and “Love” to give you an idea of the variety of information offered. I recommend checking it out for sure! I was thrilled to be able to contribute two articles, one called, “What I Tell My Clients Who Want To Eat For Toned Abs,” and one with recipes from my new book, “Slow-Cooker Sunday: Quinoa Soup With Sweet Potato Mash.”

Headspace

Described as ‘meditation made relevant to modern life’, Headspace is a platform that makes meditation more accessible for everyone, especially people like me who have only dipped my toe in meditation before, never achieving consistency. The founder and former Buddhist monk Andy Puddicombe is present throughout the app (he’s got a great English accent that’s very pleasant to listen to) imparting his words of wisdom and guiding you through the process one step at a time. The first ten-minute lessons, (or exercises of the mind you could call them) are free. If you then want access to a huge library of guided meditations, and to join over a million users you can pay a monthly fee (or year in advance to make it cheaper). You can also map your journey, track your progress, and get rewards as you go. You can even buddy up with friends and motivate each other along the way. It’s pricey, but trying out the first ten sessions will help you decide if you can commit to continuing your meditation practice in which case I think it’s worth the cost.

10% Happier App 

This is a great app for newbies and skeptics of meditation. I have known about the basics and benefits of meditation for years, but until recently have not been motivated to actually commit to doing it (sitting still is not my strong suit)! I’ve struggled with insomnia for over 10 years and have tried everything else that’s ever been suggested… except meditation. So I finally decided to give it a shot and this app was a huge help to stick with it. Dan Harris gives very short, interesting videos that precede each meditation. The guided meditations begin very short – 5 minutes, and move to 11 minutes. And it’s extra cool that you get an actual person as a meditation coach who texts, emails you, answers any questions you may have, and gives you encouragement. The app starts out free so you can get a feel for it, and then you pay $19.99 (one-time fee) if you want to continue. 

Vegan-Related Documentaries:

Forks Over KnivesEarthlings, and Cowspiracy are all simply must-see movies for everyone. Please check them all out!

*For more information on the 6-Week Plant-Empowered Coaching Program, and to apply for a free strategy session with Ella click HERE

Seed Food and Wine (Vegan) Festival 2016

seed-food-and-wine vegan festival

We’re weeks away from my favorite vegan event of the year, the Seed Food and Wine Festival!

Here we go again… the Seed Food and Wine Festival in Miami, FL is right around the corner (November 2-6), and I couldn’t be more excited! This is the third year and I’ve been lucky enough to be part of the talent team all three years.

In case you don’t know about this incredible vegan festival let me fill you in…

“Seed Food and Wine is not just a festival, we are a movement, a community of ideas and passionate people committed to elevating the conversation around plant-based foods, sustainability, conscious living and the welfare of animals.”

I consider the Seed Food and Wine Miami & Miami Beach the premiere plant based food and wine festival in the country.  The festival is a week-long adventure, where you sip, savor and experience conscious, sustainable plant-based living.

All activities were carefully crafted to take guests through a one-of-a-kind journey from cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, celebrity chef dinners, craft beer and spirits tastings, a bad ass veggie burger battle, fitness to body care, workshops, yoga, urban gardening, a 5k run, kids day and more. SFWF’s line-up features something for everyone and showcases the beauty of the tropical paradise that is Miami and her beaches. 

ella-magers_seed_summit_vegan festival

This year I’m hosting the 5k run as well as giving a talk called, “Burpees and Benjamins” at the Seed Summit:

Burpees and Benjamins: Creating a Successful Online Wellness Business

Learn what it takes to turn your passion for wellness into a successful internet-based business. 
Whether you’re a fitness instructor, nutrition counselor, life coach, or wellness expert of any kind, building a business based online allows you to work with clients all over the world and gives you the freedom to take your work with you wherever you go. With an online wellness business, the sky is the limit!

The summit involves two days of workshops and panels designed for content creators, bloggers, entrepreneurs and influencers in conscious, sustainable and vegan living. There will be 20 workshops and panels over the two days covering everything from social media trends, crowd-funding, getting published, food styling, building your brand, the future of brand ambassadors and social influencers, copyright law, photo retouching 101 and more.

And guess what… You and all my friends are receiving a $75 discount to the Seed Summit! Click HERE for tickets.

There is something for EVERYONE at this festival, whether you’re already vegan or not. It’s totally mainstream! I hope to see you there.

Get your tickets for most events HERE (many of the events sell out quickly)!

*Interested in transforming your lifestyle? Learn more about my 6-Week Plant-Empowered Coaching Program and sign up for a free strategy session with me HERE.

7 Life-Changing Tips for Transitioning to a Vegan Diet Plan

tips-for-transition-to-vegan-diet-plan

There are no shortcuts when it comes to reaching your health and fitness goals by transitioning to a SUSTAINABLE (key word) balanced vegan lifestyle… But don’t worry – it’s totally doable!

There’s a structured process you can embark on to successfully transform your lifestyle and it’s all about gaining the tools you need, one by one, to eat and move according to your goals. It’s about finding the balance YOU need to be healthy and happy for a lifetime. This looks different for each and every one of us!

So forget the cookie cutter diet and exercise plans that lead to the yo-yo cycle so many of us get trapped in. Do the work it takes to create a sustainable lifestyle for yourself! Here are my top 7 tips for doing just that…

vegan humor

1. Think of Your Transition as A Fun Journey of Exploration!

The process of ditching old habits as you develop new ones takes work and can feel overwhelming. However, if you go into your transformation with a mindset of having fun with finding new foods to explore, and even adding in some humor to the process, it won’t seem so daunting! 

2. Set yourself up for success with a solid plan of action.

Everyone is unique in how they will be most successful transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, and for most people, attempting to turn vegan overnight is unsustainable. Creating a plan of action is therefore a must. Depending on where you are in the process, you may choose, for example, to eliminate an animal product every week until you have eliminated animal products from your diet all together. Or maybe start with eating vegan 3 days per week for the first month, 4 for the second month, etc. until you’re eating vegan 7 days a week.

It’s essential that you also choose a plant food to replace the animal product you are giving up every week. Legumes, such a lentils, chickpeas, and black beans are fantastic meat substitutes, as they are packed with protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. That way, you can consistently introduce new vegan food into your diet, adding a variety of nutrients, textures, and flavors to your eating routines. Variety is a key component of a healthy, vegan meal plan.

3. Become comfortable reading nutritional labels.

In order to maintain a healthy vegan diet, it’s important to become proficient at reading food nutrition labels so you can shop with confidence. The first thing to tell yourself when you pick a packaged food from the shelf is, “Skip the marketing and go right for the facts.” Phrases like, “All Natural,” “Sugar Free,” “Low Fat,” and “Gluten Free” are marketing ploys to convince you to buy something without reading the nutrition facts.

Go straight to the ingredient list to first make sure it has no animal products or bi-products. Second, ask yourself, “Is the first ingredient one that I want to put in my body? What about the second and third?” Generally, the fewer ingredients the healthier the item is. Look for whole food ingredients like “dates” or “sesame seeds.”  If you can’t even pronounce an ingredient or it sounds like a chemistry experiment, chances are it’s not good for you! If the ingredients pass the test, you can take a look at the serving size (very important), calories, fat, sugar, sodium, and protein content, keeping in mind that not all calories are created equal.Forks Over Knives Plant-Based Documentary

4. Watch a documentary at least once a month to stay motivated.

Films like What the Health, Forks Over Knives, Earthlings, Cowspiracy, and Food Inc. will help educate you and remind you of the reasons you are making the transition to a vegan lifestyle. Being continually reminded of all the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle will keep you motivated to continue on your path until your new habits become second nature. We don’t want the “out of sight, out of mind,” principle to take over!

5. Create a support system for yourself.

Family, friends, and coworkers can play a significant role in either helping or hindering you on your journey. Have a heart-to-heart with the people you care about in your life. They care about you too! If you request their support, explaining that you’ve made a commitment to transitioning to a healthier, more compassionate lifestyle, chances are they will become your cheerleaders. They can provide an environment that reduces temptation to return to old habits. The other part of your support system can include vegan-veterans in your community, Facebook groups (such as our Empowered Vegan Life tribe), and other social media outlets. Set out to connect with people and groups that provide you with helpful insight and camaraderie.

6. Stay stocked with vegan staples.

Come up with a list of staple ingredients, super foods, and healthy snacks to keep your kitchen stocked at all times so that you never get into the common, “I’m starving and don’t have anything healthy to eat” situation. Shakes and smoothies are a great go-to snack, so keep ingredients for your favorite recipes on hand, such as plant-based milk, berries (frozen is fine), dates, hemp seeds, flax meal, and spinach. Fresh fruit, leafy greens, raw veggies, hummus, nut butter, and quinoa are also great staples to consider for healthy, quick, simple snacks and meals.b12-supplement

7. Take a B-12 supplement.

B-12 is the one nutrient that a modern, plant-based diet inherently lacks. B-12 is formed from a bacteria found in soil. We used to get enough of the vitamin by simply handling vegetables we grew from gardens before our land was stripped of it’s nutrients. Now, however, with the pressure washing and sanitizing process we perform on plants, we don’t have easy access to B-12 except through supplements. Luckily it’s easy to get all the B-12 you need with an inexpensive supplement. Many vegan foods, such as nut milks, are also fortified with B-12, among other important nutrients. It’s best to include a supplement in your routine though, to be safe.   

There you go! I encourage you to take this information and start applying it to your life one step at a time so you don’t become overwhelmed.

If you are looking for a transformational program to take you through a proven process for reaching your life goals, make sure to check out our 6-Month Plant-Empowered Coaching Program!

The Vegan-Mood Connection

vegan-good-mood

Most clients come to me with a few common complaints, one of which is feeling run-down and/or low on energy.

When we explore these feelings a bit further, we find that a lack of energy and vitality causes a poor mood, which effects not just the person, but also everyone else in their life. 

Now don’t get me wrong… we all wake up on the wrong side of the bed sometimes. And some of us have psychiatric diagnosis or disorders like clinical depression and bi-polar disorder which obviously affect mood. This is not what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about mood as it’s affected by our lifestyle choices, in particular our food choices. I’m talking about moving through the world in a shitty mood or fighting feeling “down” more often than enjoying feeling good. 

Now, do you want the good news or bad news first? 

Let’s start with the good. We can actually change our mood from the inside out by improving our eating habits! Why good? We have the power to transform how we feel every single day!

Now for the bad. We can actually change our mood from the inside out by improving our eating habits. Why bad? Changing our habits is not easy! But is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!!

Take it from a recent client in this little clip I call, “There Must Be Something To It!”

There is scientific evidence as to why a plant-based diet boosts mood. Dr. Greger of NutritionFacts.org does a great job explains the studies (as usual). At the same time, all the evidence I need I can find through my own experiences and the experiences with the clients I’ve coached over the last decade. I can’t tell you how rewarding it is to see someone go from feeling crappy, to feeling positive and full of life in just a few weeks! 

The moral of my story… Don’t worry. Be happy. Go vegan!

Click HERE to book your free session with Ella to discuss how you can reach all your health and fitness goals.