This vegan protein pancake recipe comes from the founder of Powerootz… My favorite brand of nutritional shakes!

In addition to making a fantastic shake, the founder of Powerootz, Lisa Hunt, is simply an incredible person, with so much positive energy that she generously offers the world. I had a client request my favorite protein pancake recipe a few weeks ago, and when I realized I didn’t really have one, I got in touch with Lisa who immediately sent me this recipe. Now it’s time to share it with all of you!

I can’t forget to mention that Lisa is giving my readers 20% off of Powerootz products. My favorite is the Peanut Butter Bliss Superfood Nutritional Shake, but the Chocolate Peanut Butter Madness is also incredible as well as her new Vibrant Vanilla shake that’s also raw. All you have to do to get the discount is enter the code “ELLA” at checkout. Every client I’ve ever recommended this too has told me it’s by far the best protein/nutritional shake they’ve ever had so I’m not the only one who’s a huge fan! Enjoy!!!

Peanut Butter Protein Pancakes

Makes about 4-5 small pancakes.

Ingredients

1 scoop of Powerootz Superfood Nutritional Shake (Peanut Butter Bliss or Chocolate Peanut Butter Madness)
1 scoop + 1 Tbsp of Organic Sprouted Whole Wheat Flour
2 Tbsp Organic Maple Syrup
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
3/4 cup + 1 Tbsp Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk
Pinch of Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt
3/4 tsp Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (make sure to put this in last after the other ingredients are stirred up)

Instructions

Whisk together the Powerootz Superfood Nutritonal Shake, flour, maple syrup, baking soda, non-dairy milk, and sea salt.
Add the apple cider vinegar.
Cook on griddle or fying pan.
Add toppings of choice.

Tip

Making small pancakes works best.

07 Jul 2016

Ella Magers, MSW

Going Vegan Tips, Holistic Health, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Nutrition, Vegan Product Reviews, Vegan-Related Current Events

Tags: going vegan, lifestyle transformation, steps for going vegan, vegan diet plan, vegan fitness

2 Comments

Plant-Empowered Lifestyle Transformations in Progress!

Excited to Let You All Know My New 6-Week Plant-Empowered Coaching Program is Transforming Lives!

Hi Everyone!

I couldn’t be more thrilled to let you all know that my new 6-week Plant-Empowered Coaching Program is doing what it was designed to do… change lives!

In case you’re unfamiliar, I created this special program because the time had come for me to take all of my experience and knowledge and put it in a structured program to help people make total lifestyle transformations. The program provides you with the information, and more importantly the tools you need to make positive, permanent changes in the way you think, eat, and move.

With the right information, presented step-by-step, you’re able to build a solid base of knowledge and then take that knowledge and apply it to YOUR LIFE in a way that works for YOU with the help of my coaching and support.

It’s my passion to coach people who are truly ready to commit to bettering their lives, so if you’re ready to take your body and life to a whole new level, I’m offering a free phone consultation! Learn more about the program and book your session with me HERE.

What Do YOU Need to Take YOUR Health, Nutrition, and Fitness to the Next Level?

I want to share with you some of the ways my clients in the 6-Week Plant-Empowered Coaching Program are transforming their lives without counting a single calorie!

So let’s take a look at some of the ways the Program is helping people develop healthy, positive habits that turn into the lifestyle they desire:

1. ACCOUNTABILITY

How would it change your life if you were to be truly help accountable for the commitments you make to improve your food and fitness choices every day? For most of us, having someone who cares to hold us accountable to what we say we’re going to do is a game changer. Check out the text I received just the other day…

>If you’re ready to finally get on the path to a healthy lifestyle you love, apply here and let’s chat.

2. NO MORE FEELING OVERWHELMED!

These days it’s easy to feel so overwhelmed with all the conflicting information coming at us from all angles about what, when, and how we should eat and exercise. The 6-Week Plant Powered Coaching Program provides a structured, proven process to gain the knowledge you need to make the right food and fitness choices for YOU. The Program coaches you through the process of applying the information to your life, in a way that is in line with YOUR goals! Check it out…

Apply Here For a Free 45-minute strategy session
3. TAKING ON NEW CHALLENGES
It can be intimidating to try new ways of eating and exercising, especially when you lack the knowledge and experience. The 6-Week Plant Powered Coaching Program provides you with opportunities to take on new challenges that will help you get the strong, healthy body you are striving for…
>If you’re ready to feel confident about your food and fitness choices, apply here and let’s chat.
4. UNDERSTANDING THOUGHTS & FEELINGS THAT TRIGGER BAD HABITS
Every action we take is a result of our feelings, which are caused by our thoughts. Getting to the root of what’s causing us to continue unhealthy actions is key when it comes to transforming our lifestyles. The 6-Week Plant-Empowered Coaching Program provides you with the guidance you need to create a new mind set that is in line with your goals…

With courage, commitment and the right tactics, I know you can create a lifestyle you feel proud of, and it’s my life’s work to help you do just that! So if you are tired of spinning your wheels, feeling confused and defeated about how you’re eating and training, let’s talk. It’s time for action!

>Apply Here For a Free, One-On-One 45-minute Strategy Session

Looking forward to speaking with you!

-Ella

19 Apr 2016

Ella Magers, MSW

Vegan Recipes

Tags: easy vegan recipe, healthy soup recipe, soup recipes, vegan chicken, vegan diet plan, vegan soup

1 Comment

Mom’s Easy No-Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

This easy vegan soup recipe was created by my own mother on her last trip to visit me.

My mom is not much of a chef (she would tell you that herself), but when she comes to visit she seems inspired to make soups that always turn out amazing. She goes for the most simple, uncomplicated vegan recipes possible, which makes them all the more appealing. This trip she was feelin’ some vegan chicken noodle soup and it turned out fantastic! She’s all about comfort foods and this recipe definitely qualifies as one to cure a craving for comfort.

If you are trying to keep your pasta/flour intake low, you can always substitute the orzo for chickpea pasta or edamame and mung bean pasta. Another option is using quinoa (I haven’t tried it but I’m guessing it would work well).

Here is her recipe…

No-Chicken Noodle Vegan Soup

Ingredients:

1 onion
3 stalks of celery, diced
3 carrots, diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 package of Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken Strips – cut into little pieces
1 32-oz box of organic vegetable broth (low sodium if possible)
a touch of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
dash of hot sauce of choice (optional)
sea salt and pepper to taste

Saute the onion, celery, carrots and garlic in a little olive oil on medium/medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes. Add the Beyond Meat pieces and saute for another 3-4 minutes. Add the vegetable broth. Add the parsley, thyme, a dash of hot sauce (or whatever seasoning you like), and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a low boil and add 1/2 cup uncooked orzo or pasta of choice. Simmer for about 20 minutes.

Tip: This is one of those soups that tastes even better when heated up the next day!

Enjoy!

11 Apr 2016

Ella Magers, MSW

Vegan Recipes

Tags: easy vegan recipes, healthy meal, healthy vegan dishes, vegan diet plan, vegan recipes

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10-Minute Broccoli and Lentil Bowl

My friend and realtor Dawn Debus, who also takes my classes at Sobekick, recently got my book and started following the Six Weeks to Sexy Abs Meal Plan guidelines!

She wants to lose a few pounds of body fat and needed some guidance and support so of course I’m here for her. I asked her to send me any recipes she creates that fall within my vegan meal plan guidelines so I could share them on my blog. She’s like me (and probably most of you) in that she likes simple, flavorful vegan recipes that she can whip up quickly at home. I said I didn’t mind if she didn’t have the exact amounts of each ingredients… Since the recipes are so simple, they are easy for you to customize based on what ingredients you have at home, and your individual taste.

Here’s what Dawn came up with today… I’m so proud of her! According to her, this meal took her 10 minutes to make and is delicious!

Broccoli, Cauliflower and Lentil Bowl

Ingredients:

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Canned Lentil Beans (No or Low Sodium)
Rosemary (Fresh if possible)
Dill (Fresh if possible)
Herbamare Seasoning
Red Onion

Dawn said she steamed the broccoli and cauliflower on the stove. She put lentils and red onion in a large bowl and heated them in the microwave (this would also be easy to heat in a pot on the stove if you prefer). She then added the broccoli, cauliflower, herbs and spices to the bowl of beans, mixed them together, and had herself a tasty, satisfying meal!

In case you don’t know, broccoli and cauliflower are two of the healthiest, cancer-fighting, anti-inflammatory foods on the planet and lentils are packed with protein and fiber among other nutrients. You can definitely fill your belly with this dish knowing your doing your body good!

You can connect with Dawn on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM.

Enjoy!

08 Mar 2016

Ella Magers, MSW

Traveling Vegan, Vegan Nutrition, Vegan Product Reviews, Vegan-Friendly Restaurants, Vegan-Related Current Events

Tags: healthy travel, vegan cruise, vegan diet plan, vegan travel

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The Holistic Holiday at Sea Experience

I’m back from a week aboard the MSC Divina on the Holistic Holiday at Sea and am bringing home tons of great info and experiences to share!

Let me start by saying that it was one packed week. My good friend Anne came with me on the trip and we both agreed that the experience was a perfect mix of fun and education. One of the hardest part about the trip was deciding which classes and lectures to attend because there were so many to choose from. I couldn’t ask for a better problem to have!

I could go on and on about the details but photos do a great job at telling the story…

The Ship:

Holistic-Holiday-at-Sea-Photos

The MSC Divina is a classy ship with great service, and our room was very comfortable.

The Dining:

For breakfast and lunch, Anne and I went for the vegan buffet because there were so many activities we were trying to squeeze in during the daytime. We went for the sit-down dinners though, which included a 5 course meal every night! It was refreshing not to have to question the servers about how the food was made. For once, being vegan was the norm not the exception. So cool!!! Dinner was also the time we met the most interesting people from all over the country, everyone with a unique story about how they came to be on the cruise. I definitely recommend attending the dinners every night, and sitting with new people each meal.

The Excursions:

Holistic-Holiday-At-Sea-Excursions

Book your excursions early! We made the mistake of waiting until the last minute and many of the excursions were booked, especially the ones that came with a vegan lunch included. This year we went to Saint Thomas, Nassau, Bahamas, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. We have a good friend who lives in San Juan so were lucky enough to have a personal, local tour guide on that stop.

The Classes/Lectures:

Holistic-Holiday-At-Sea-Lectures

There were inspirational classes and lectures of different topics offered over the course of the week by some of the world’s leading experts on nutrition, cooking, and fitness. It was hard to pick which ones to attend because I was interested in so many! I even tried a qi gong class one day, which is something I’ve always been curious about. I was thrilled that one of my all-time favorite speakers, Dr. Greger, was there, and after his last talk, I ran up to the stage to say hello and give him a copy of my book. He was so thankful and we agreed we needed to team up because, as he put it, “The paleo people are killing me!”

The Amenities:

Holistic-Holiday-At-Sea-Gym-Spa I managed to make it to the gym early most mornings. The gym is at the very front of the ship and give you a gorgeous view of the sunrise over the water. Yoga and other classes were also offered every day at 7am as well as throughout the day as well. The ship also has a nice spa where Anne and I got an amazing massages after loosening up in the steam room and relaxing for a bit.

The Book Signings:

Holistic-Holiday-At-Sea-Book-Signing

There were book signings every evening. I felt so honored to be there among such inspirational authors.

A big thank you to Sandy Pukel, the dedicated founder of the Holistic Holiday at Sea for inviting me on the cruise. I am incredibly grateful to have been a part of such a special week.

Stay tuned for more info on next year’s cruise including early bird specials!!!

23 Feb 2016

Ella Magers, MSW

Environmentalism, Going Vegan Tips, Traveling Vegan, Vegan Nutrition, Vegan-Friendly Restaurants, Vegan-Related Current Events

Tags: seed food and wine, vegan cruise, vegan diet plan, vegan events, vegan festivals, vegfests

4 Comments

Top 8 Vegan Events 2016

Mark your calendars and grab some tickets because 2016 is packed full of vegan events worth checking out!

I’m giving you my top 8 picks for vegan festivals and events, some based on my own experiences, others based on speaking with like-minded experts such as Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness founder Robert Cheeke. I ran into Robert at Brendan Brazier’s book launch party last month and was able to ask about his favorites since he pretty much travels year round attending and speaking at these events!

Holistic Holiday at Sea

February 27-March 5, 2016 Holistic-Holiday-at-Sea-Photos

I’m super psyched about this year’s cruise because I was lucky enough to have been invited as a special guest. Robert Cheeke told me that out of all the events he attends this is his absolute favorite (this will be his sixth year in a row on board)! I’m especially excited because some of my favorite nutrition experts (like Dr. Michael Greger), plant-based chefs, and fitness pros will be on board presenting and teaching. I’ve found that most health or wellness-focused cruises offer yoga but not strength and conditioning type classes. Not true for this cruise! There is a class for everybody and every mood, so in addition to yoga and pilates there are also boot camp and body building type of classes from some of the top names in the fitness world. And the other part about this cruise that makes it different than other health cruises is that it not only gives you the opportunity to detox and relax, but also is upbeat with a wide variety of things to do from cooking classes to snorkeling to cocktail parties… how appealing does that sound?! Then there are the awesome plant-based meals, catering not just to people eating vegan, but also those who eat gluten-free or oil-free. I just find this incredible, and I want to experience it with you all!

Here is a description of the experience:

“Holistic Holiday at Sea presents the ultimate gift for your mind, body and spirit. Share the experience and wisdom of some of the world’s leading authorities and experts in holistic living and natural health. Cruise the Eastern Caribbean on one of the world’s premier Italian luxury liners, the MSC Divina, which combines the style and sophistication of Europe with American comforts and convenience. Visit exciting ports of call as we sail from Miami, Florida to natural paradise Charlotte Amalie/St. Thomas, USVI; historic and vibrant San Juan, Puerto Rico; and sun-soaked Nassau, Bahamas. All this and more while you dine on specially prepared vegan natural foods and beverages prepared by our own chefs. Lectures and workshops included.”

When they say, “health experts,” it’s the real deal… the line-up includes Dr. Michael Greger of NutritionFacts.org (one of my all time favorite speakers), Dr. T. Colin Campbell, co-author of The China Study” and featured in Forks Over Knives, Dr. Neal Barnard, founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Dr. Michael Klaper, long-time radio host and acclaimed health educator, Chef AJ, inspiring speaker and author of Unprocessed: How to Achieve Vibrant Health and Your Ideal Weight… and this is just to name a few. You MUST see the line-up. It’s crazy! And 95% of ALL the classes, workshops, presentations, and lectures are included in the price of the cruise, including the big names guests. Plus, these presenters are not all quarantined off in their own VIP areas, they eat and hang with everyone on board.

I’m honored that the bookstore will also be carrying my new book, The Six Weeks To Sexy Abs Meal Plan! I will be doing a book signing as well.

As I mentioned above, there are also daily yoga, pilates, fitness, running, meditation, and body building classes. Food options for everyone, including vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free. There will be vegan pizza and ice cream parties and other social events and parties. We’ll have opportunities to swim, snorkel and kayak in the beautiful Carribbean waters. On top of all that, this is all on an award-winning environmentally friendly ship!

I hope to see a bunch of you guys on the ship, but if you’re not able to make it this year, go ahead and put it on your calendar for next year – tickets are available now for early bird special prices.

Learn more about the 2016 Holistic Holiday at Sea Cruise HERE.

Seed Food and Wine Festival

November 2-5, 2016

I absolutely adore this festival! Only in it’s third year of existence, the Seed Food and Wine Festival is a huge hit and growing rapidly. One of the things I like most about this festival is it’s focus on marketing to the main stream. Nothing makes me happier than seeing non-vegans be open-minded to learning the all the “whys” and “hows” to go vegan, and the events of this festival attract those people (along with already established vegans).

Details for Seed Food and Wine 2016 have not yet been made public, but I’m sure it will not just match, but also exceed the quality of last year’s.

Seed Food and Wine is described as “a weekend adventure for guests who want to sip, savor and experience conscious, sustainable plant-based living. All activities are 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, celebrity cook-offs, fitness to body care, workshops, yoga, urban gardening, a 5k run, kids day and more. SFWFs line-up features something for everyone and showcases the beauty of the tropical paradise that is Miami and her beaches. Everything served during the festival will be plant-based (vegan) and whenever possible organic and non-gmo certified.”

To get an idea of the kind of events there will be, read about some of the 2015 events (just to mention a few):

FIRST ANNUAL PLANT BASED BURGER BATTLE™

Walk the green carpet, and chow down on plant-based burgers created by chefs from across the country, cast your vote for BEST VEGGIE BURGER IN AMERICA, enjoy paired craft brews by Brown’s Distributing curated by Box Elder Wynwood, Reeds Root Beer Floats, live music with the MAGIC CITY HIPPIES and great company. Celebrity judges include: Burger Beast, John Salley, Nic Adler, Nom Yourself and Chef Derek Sarno (Whole Foods Market·Austin).

FOOD FORWARD

Bringing together thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to create a NEW conscious and sustainable food system.
This all day conference is designed for food and sustainability industry entrepreneurs, farmers, chefs, government and education leaders and those passionate about our future. There will be six workshops covering a variety of subjects including: Food Waste, Regenerative Agriculture, GMOs and Organics, Made In Miami Entrepreneurs feeding our community, Sustainability and Sea Level Rise, Feeding Good Food to Everyone.

FUTURE OF FOOD DINNER EXPERIENCE with CHEF MATTHEW KENNEY, SCOTT WINEGARD, AARON ADAMS & CHEF JONNY SENINGEN

The ultimate evening for plant-friendly foodies, start with cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, followed by a 5 course wine paired dinner presented by some of the best plant inspired chefs in the country, Chef Scott Winegard for Matthew Kenney Cuisine, Chef Aaron Adams from Farm Spirit in Portland and Chef Jonathan Seningen from Dirt Miami.

SEED WYNWOOD 5k RUN, YOGA, MEDITATION & FESTIVAL DAY PACKAGE

Start the day with a 5K run through the art filled streets of Wynwood. Lead by ultra-endurance athlete, RICH ROLL, Miami’s very own, “WE RUN MIAMI”/ FRANKIE RUIZ, ELLA MAGERS the Sexy Fit Vegan and JOHN LEWIS the Bad Ass Vegan.

Then you will hit the mat for a yoga class with MEGHAN ELIZABETHfrom LoveLife Wellness Center, AMY DANNHEIM from Green Monkey Yoga and CORBIN STACY from Namastacy Yoga. Then take a breather with JENNIFER GRACE leading a guided meditation.

Pleasure awaits after all that hard work, as you enter the festival first before the public. Enjoy the ultimate day of plant-based health, wellness conscious and sustainable living with a beer garden, live music, chef demonstrations, speakers stage, yoga lounge, fitness zone, crafts, apparel, edible garden demonstrations, organic cruelty free beauty bar and over 100 restaurants, bakeries, brands, wines, spirits and juices sampling delicious plant based treats all day.

SEED FESTIVAL DAY AND TASTING VILLAGE

Enjoy free sampling all day at the ultimate day of plant-based health, wellness conscious and sustainable living with a beer garden, live music, Chef Demonstrations, Miami Book Fair Speaker Stage, yoga lounge, fitness zone, crafts, apparel, edible garden demonstrations, organic cruelty free beauty bar and over 80 restaurants, bakeries, brands, wines, spirits and juices sampling delicious plant based treats all day. Young Veg Advocate Award will be presented at 3pm on the main stage.

SPROUTS KIDS DAY

A fun afternoon for the entire family: Kids take part in an interactive learning experiences, from planting their own container gardens at the hands-on JugoFresh gardening lab, trying their hand at yoga with Magda Lopez and making their very own veggie pizzas with Chef Charlie Chen, and hitting up the Bunnie Cake’s cupcake lab to decorate and munch on organic, vegan, gluten-free cupcakes. We didn’t forget moms and dads, this year we will have a lounge with mocktails and yummy bites just for you. (programming designed for children ages 3 to 10).

Tickets to some of the events sell out quickly (the dinners especially) so stay tuned and as soon as they’re announced, jump on those tickets! The festival as a whole is on the pricey side compared to many other vegfests, but once you go you’ll understand why. The Seed Food and Wine Festival takes vegan to the next level!

Toronto Veg Food Fest

September 9-11

I haven’t attended this one, but Robert listed it among his top picks and it has received great reviews!

Here’s how the Toronto Vegetarian Association describe the festival:

Regarded as the largest event of its kind in North America, the Veg Food Fest provides an unparalleled opportunity to sample the very best of vegetarian cuisine. Each year, visitors discover delicious new products and innovative ideas from more than 100 exhibitors and enjoy informative presentations and exciting cooking demonstrations.

Over the years the Vegetarian Food Festival has featured the brightest minds of the vegetarian movement including nutrition researchers Dr. T Colin Campbell (The China Study) and Brenda Davis, RD (Becoming Vegetarian, Becoming Vegan) as well as animal advocates Gene Baur (Farm Sanctuary) and Melanie Joy (Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs & Wear Cows). We’ve showcased dozens of amazing cookbooks through cooking demonstrations by Terry Hope Romero & Isa Chandra Moskowitz (Veganomicon, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World, and many more), Taymer Mason (Caribbean Vegan), Sarah Kramer (How It All Vegan), and Toronto’s jae steele (Ripe From Around Here) and Doug McNish (Eat Raw, Eat Well). We’ve also highlighted important documentary films such as Forks Over Knives,Peaceable Kingdom, and Vegucated.

Featuring plethora of delicious foods, and a friendly, supportive atmosphere, the Veg Food Fest fits perfectly with the mission of the Toronto Vegetarian Association: to inspire people to choose a healthier, greener, more peaceful lifestyle.

For details about our most recent Veg Food Fest, please visit vegfoodfest.com

Here are links to a few more popular vegan festivals around the country (click on the pictures)…

Vegan Beer and Food Festival

June 11, 2016 in Portland and June 18, 2016 in Los Angeles

Texas VegFest

April 2, 20116

Chicago Vegan Mania

October 1, 2016

Tampa Bay Veg Fest

November 12th, 2016

If you’ve been to other annual events/festivals please share with us!

08 Jan 2016

Ella Magers, MSW

Going Vegan Tips, Vegan Product Reviews

Tags: healthy snacks, how to go vegan, vegan beauty products, vegan diet plan, vegan food delivery, vegan products, vegan snacks

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Vegan Cuts Snack Box Review

I was thrilled to receive my first ever Vegan Cuts Snack Box the other day. I knew it was a great concept, but I had no idea if this vegan snack bundle would live up to my hopeful expectations…

It did!

First of all, it was exciting to open and unpack the box, 1 item at a time, since I had not even looked at the preview of what was coming. Ok, so maybe I get excited easily… but I’m sure many of you would have felt the same way. It takes me a long time to go through the isles of the grocery store, looking for new products to try, reading ingredients, and making the decision to try one new product over all the others. It’s much easier and safer to stick with what you know. That’s one of the main reasons why this box was so satisfying… I got to try new products without spending the time or energy at the store. Many of the products in the box are snack size, which are often unavailable in stores.

Here’s what was included:

Upton Naturals Bar-B-Q Jack Fruit
Protings Protein Chips (sample size)
Betty Lou’s PB&J Bar
Theo Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Perky Fruit Bodies Fruit Roll Up (sample size)
Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Infused with Cranberry, Orange & Cinnamon
Follow Your Hear VeganEgg (sample size)
Nutpods Dairy-Free Creamer
El Pastry Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix

After getting over the initial enjoyment of unpacking the box, the next test was to find out if I actually liked the snacks. It was definitely more sweets/chocolate than I typically buy during a month period, but the deal is so good, I would feel fine about giving away an item or two to friends or clients (anything I didn’t want to keep in my kitchen, tempting me in the middle of the night)!

So far I’ve tried the first 6 on the list above. The Bar-B-Q Jack Fruit is by far my favorite discovery thanks to this vegan snack box. All I can say is WOW! I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to have bought and tried that one on my own. I plan on giving it a full review on my blog soon because I liked it so much. My second favorite was the PB&J Bar (amazing on-the-go snack), followed by the Peanut Butter Cups. The Chocolate Bar was incredible too. The Fruit Roll-Up was so tiny it was hard to judge (I have a feeling even a full size one wouldn’t make enough of a snack to be worth it.) The Protein Chips were the only snack I didn’t enjoy… they tasted like crispy cardboard. I had been eager to try the VeganEgg since it came out months ago so I was thrilled to get this sample. I scrambled the VeganEgg as directed and it came out with the look, feel, and I think taste (it’s been 20 years since I’ve eaten egg) of scrambled eggs. The creamer will be opened when my mom comes to visit soon (she is a coffee and creamer person. And last, the chocolate cake is something I’ll make when the spirit moves me… I’m psyched it’s so easy to make though!

A little about Vegan Cuts: It’s a 100% vegan company and online vegan marketplace. They carry a monthly Snack Box and Beauty Box, and feature special boxes like one for athletes/fitness freaks (lots of vegan proteins), and a Vegan Starter Kit box.

The Vegan Cuts Snack Box in brief:

7-10 vegan snacks
Sweet and savory: Chips, cookies, bars, chocolate, crackers, tea, and more
Mostly gluten-free snacks
Mix of full and sample size products
$19.95 a month
Cancel anytime, though they doubt you’ll ever want to
Free shipping to the U.S.
The Vegan Cuts Snack Box ships worldwide

Since I was so pleased with the Vegan Snack Box, I recently accepted their invitation to become an affiliate/ambassador. This says a lot because I only agree to affiliations with companies I truly believe in and would promote regardless.

I hope this post was helpful and I’d love to hear what you think if you try one of the boxes!

21 Dec 2015

Ella Magers, MSW

Going Vegan Tips, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Nutrition, Vegan Product Reviews

Tags: vegan bodybuilding, vegan fitness, vegetarian bodybuilding

1 Comment

A Great Plant-Based Bodybuilding Resource

When it comes to vegan athletes, up until now, the spotlight has primarily been on endurance athletes like Rich Roll and Brendan Brazier. But now there is a quickly growing community of people getting into vegan bodybuilding, and more and more resources are popping up to help those who want to give it a try.

Let me start with a little story… As you may or may not know, I was named Trainer of the Month in November 2013 on the world’s most popular bodybuilding and fitness website BodyBuilding.com. Over a year went by and I realized I had not taken advantage of that opportunity to connect with readers through the comments on the post or on the forum. So I hopped on the forum, introduced myself, and basically said I’d love to connect with anyone interested in eating more plants and would be happy to answer any questions. The response was overwhelming, but unfortunately not in a positive way. I discovered people have a much easier time bashing me from the other side of a computer screen than in person! There were few people who commented who had any interest in learning more about plant-based eating. It takes a level of open-mindedness for there to be a chance of change, so I decided my energy would be better spent elsewhere.

That’s when I started checking out other websites and forums that were specifically for people interested in moving toward a vegan diet plan or wanted to take their vegan diet and performance to the next level. It was exciting to see that there were some awesome sites to explore. chris-willitts-vegetarian-bodybuilder

One site I want to tell you about is VegetarianBodybuilding.com. This one is particularly special to me because the creator, Chris Willitts, contacted me not long ago to ask if I’d be interested in participating in his interview series. I took a look and saw the quality and depth of the interviews he had done with inspiring people. Robert Cheeke, founder of VeganBodyBuilding.com was a recent interviewee for example. I was honored to be included and agree to the interview. It was a written interview, so I wrote my answers to Chris’s questions and sent them back to him. His reply was brilliant,

“Although this is well written, sometimes this feels surface deep and “safe” – it has been my experience that when we get vulnerable, specific about personal details, and cite emotions is when we have the best opportunity to pull people in to our story and engage them. This is especially important for us because we want to connect with our tribe and all of the would-be plant-based warriors.”

I took his constructive criticism and ran with it. I re-wrote my answers without holding back. I was thrilled with Chris’s response.

“This is one hell of an interview and you should be proud, way better! This feels real, and I personally connected much better – I have, we
all have, a part of our lives that is sensitive/dark, etc., and it’s always refreshing to see and hear people share their journey of
overcoming.”

You can check out the interview HERE. While you’re on the site check out the rest of what Chris is doing to bring vegan bodybuilding and fitness into the mainstream. All very cool! His blog is also fantastic. He has thoughtful, useful, well-written posts, with info that can benefit everyone.

I asked Chris to tell us his story and what his work is all about in a nutshell and here’s what he said, chris-willitts-vegetarian-bodybuilder-golds-gym

“I’m passionate about reshaping bodybuilding into a healthier lifestyle. My name is Chris Willitts, and I’m the founder and owner of VegetarianBodybuilding.com. A few months after our launch back in 2013, I realized that there was a great need for a vegetarian bodybuilding system that made plant-based nutrition easy. This was the premise for creating the V3 Bodybuilding System. VegetarianBodybuilding.com also discusses “non-bodybuilding” methodologies that focus more on strength, flexibility, functionality, and mind-body fitness.

This site is for anyone (not just vegetarians) who has the desire to eat more plants and less meat. Bodybuilding has been passion of mine for over 20 years. Although, I’ve never had a desire to be a professional bodybuilder, I’ve always wanted to be as strong as hell, and I have a deep respect for the discipline. Also, my commitment to fitness played a huge role in my recovery from a debilitating drinking problem years ago. Meditation has been a passion of mine for almost 10 years. Seven years ago, I founded Mindful Muscle, a website that advocates meditation and mindful living, fragranced with the scientific method (Eckhart Tolle meets Sam Harris meets William Tiller).”

I want to thank Chris for the opportunity to not just do an interview, but also for challenging me to push past my comfort zone. I will never go back to “safe mode” again… I’m excited to share my life on a much deeper level with the world. This goes to show what kind of person Chris is and validates his ability to encourage others to overcome challenges and take their lives to the next level. Keep it up Chris!

17 Dec 2015

Ella Magers, MSW

Vegan Nutrition, Vegan Product Reviews

Tags: cruelty free products, cruelty free skin care, detox, detoxing, green drink, natural skin care, vegan smoothie

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Detox From the Inside Out With Kaeng Raeng

I was recently introduced to a line of nutritional and skin care products that are not only certified vegan, but also unique and effective… Meet Kaeng Raeng.

I was fortunate enough to be able to try all the Kaeng Raeng products and was impressed by everything! The body care line, which was actually developed as a supplement to the nutritional line, is now part of my every day routine. Every product is part of a total body detoxing system. The idea is that we need to detox from the inside out. This is a philosophy I believe in, and realize that the convenience of making a shake can make this cleanse do-able for even the busiest people. Plus, with the cleanse, the directions mention that you can eat all the raw veggies and fruits you want, which means keeping up with your workouts and not being hungry (and grumpy) for the entire span of the cleanse. I think this is a huge bonus.

The other fact that attracted me to the company is that Kaeng Raeng’s nutritional and body care products are all 100% vegan and cruelty free, gluten free, non-gmo, caffeine free, soy free, peanut free, and contain NO artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. They are also hand made in small batches right here in the USA with only locally sourced ingredients. They are even certified vegan by Vegan.org. This is not something that many companies can claim, and if you are like me, I want to support ecologically sound, cruelty free, local companies as often as possible.

Here is information on each individual product…

The Kaeng Raeng Cleanse:

Kaeng Raeng Cleanse is a nutritional meal replacement cleanse program that delivers you results without sacrificing taste, convenience, quality, or your sanity.

A short-term cleanse is a great way to reset your health, jumpstart weight loss, bolster immunity, improve digestion, and enhance skin and hair quality. Flush toxins and impurities and start feeling incredible!

Choose your timeline – either 3 or 6 day. The 6-Day program is ideal for those trying to lose weight. You’ll receive 3 packets per day (9 or 18 total) of the detox program you choose. The program is simple and straight forward: just drink one pouch per meal time (3 times per day). You can also eat as many raw fruits and veggies as you want! There’s no fasting, no starving yourself.

How to drink Kaeng Raeng Cleanses:

For the Health Novice:
Mix Kaeng Raeng into your favorite smoothie adding at least 24oz of water plus juice, non-dairy milk, and raw fruits and veggies.

For the Health Conscious:
Mix Kaeng Raeng with at least 18oz of water plus 4-8oz of juice.

For the Health Nut:
Mix Kaeng Raeng with just water.

Cleanse Ingredients:

Daily Green Energy:

Kaeng Raeng Daily Green Energy is an all natural, organic green superfood + protein powder drink mix with probiotics and energizing B vitamins. The Daily Green Energy is a great way to ease in or out of a Kaeng Raeng Cleanse and is safe for daily use. With caffeine free energy, 12 real fruits and vegetables, stomach-settling ginger, organic pea protein, and vegan probiotic cultures, the Daily Green Energy is a great way to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. Use it for breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or before or after your daily workout. Safe for use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

How to drink Kaeng Raeng Daily Green Energy:

For the Health Novice:
Mix one pouch with your favorite smoothie adding at least 12oz of water plus juice, non-dairy milk, and raw fruits and veggies.

For the Health Conscious:
Mix one pouch with 6oz of water plus 2-6oz of juice.

For the Health Nut:
Mix with 8-12oz of water only.

Daily Green Energy is certified organic, certified vegan, and certified gluten free and made with only non-gmo ingredients.

Daily Green Energy Ingredients:

Kaeng Raeng’s Body Line

Cleansing Clay (Activated Charcoal Face Mask):

Our amazing, best-selling mask has been reformulated and made even better with a longer shelf life and smoother finish!

Draw out impurities and revitalize your skin with KR Cleansing Clay: your facial in a jar! Life & Style Weekly calls our clay a “Miracle in a Jar”! KR Cleansing Clay is a unique formulation of two highly absorptive clays and activated charcoal, an absorptive carbon that can attract and hold 200 times its volume in impurities, making it the perfect ingredient to help draw out toxins. High end spas charge several hundred dollars for these specialty masks, but now Kaeng Raeng has brought the spa to your home! KR Cleansing Clay contains powerful botanical healing properties, mineral rich exfoliation, and luxurious essential oils which help to improve circulation and calm irritated skin.

After Glow Facial Serum:

When you’ve finished your cleanse, you know your skin looks incredible. Keep up your new glow with After Glow, a daily nighttime moisturizing serum.

KR After Glow is a special, 4-way blend of antioxidant rich organic oils, handpicked for their abilities to brighten and renew skin. These luxury oils make our blend exceptionally rich in essential fatty acids, tocopherols (vitamin E) and phenols, carotenes, and squalene. These are all vital elements that defend against free radicals damage, brighten skin, and minimize fine lines for deeply hydrated, glowing skin. This must-have lightweight serum smooths on and absorbs quickly and deeply to make even the driest skin feel amazing. Lavender, Frankincense and Neroli Essential oils provide anti-bacterial properties to treat and prevent breakouts as well as powerful healing properties to help regenerate skin, fighting age spots and acne scars. Best for normal to dry skin.

How to Use: Apply a dime-sized amount to clean, dry skin daily at nighttime. One 1oz bottle lasts approximately 30 days.

Ingredients: Organic Grapeseed Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Rosehip Oil, Organic Argan Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Neroli Essential Oil, Frankincense Essential Oil, Rosemary Antioxidant (Extract)

Detoxfoliant Scrub:

Our new luxurious body scrub, the first in our natural body care line, exfoliates impurities and replenishes your skin, leaving a silky smooth finish you’ll have to feel to believe. Use it during a cleanse to extend detoxifying benefits, or enjoy daily. Don’t forget: what goes on your body goes in your body, so we kept it all natural and chemical free.

How to Use: In the shower or bath, stir contents of jar with stirring stick or finger then apply to wet skin. Massage gently, exfoliating dead skin cells. Rinse well and pat dry.

Ingredients: Himalayan Pink Salt, Dead Sea Salt, Organic Virgin Shea Butter, Organic Apricot Kernel Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Vanilla Absolute Essential Oil

So there you have it! You can buy products individually or choose one of their many different packages based on what you need (such as the “Beauty Package,” “Super Cleanse Package,” and “Bridal Party Package.” Give Kaeng Raeng a try and let me know how you like it!

10 Dec 2015

Ella Magers, MSW

Vegan Fitness, Vegan Nutrition, Vegan Product Reviews, Vegan-Friendly Restaurants, Vegan-Related Current Events

Tags: healthy cruise, holistic cruise, vegan cruise, vegan diet plan

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Join Us On The Holistic Holiday At Sea Cruise 2016!

When I found out about the Holistic Holiday at Sea cruise I was ecstatic… A cruise that is BOTH healthy AND fun?!

I couldn’t believe I have lived in Miami 13 years and have never taken advantage of this cruise. The 2016 Holistic Holiday at Sea will be my first year on board this ship and I’m rounding up friends and family to come with me. (The dates are February 27th-March 5th so it’s time to get on the ball and make it happen!)

I’m especially excited because some of my favorite nutrition experts (like Dr. Michael Greger), plant-based chefs, and fitness pros will be on board presenting and teaching. I’ve found that most health or wellness-focused cruises offer yoga but not strength and conditioning type classes. Not true for this cruise! There is a class for everybody and every mood, so in addition to yoga and pilates there are also boot camp and body building type of classes from some of the top names in the fitness world. And the other part about this cruise that makes it different than other health cruises is that it not only gives you the opportunity to detox and relax, but also is upbeat with a wide variety of things to do from cooking classes to snorkeling to cocktail parties… how appealing does that sound?! Then there are the awesome plant-based meals, catering not just to people eating vegan, but also those who eat gluten-free or oil-free. I just find this incredible, and I want to experience it with you all! Holistic-Holiday-at-Sea-Photos

Here is a description of the experience:

I’m honored that the bookstore will also be carrying my new book, The Six Weeks To Sexy Abs Meal Plan! I will be doing a book signing as well 🙂

I’m all booked and am psyched to get a good group together so we are ensured the BEST time ever!!! So please check it out and scoop up your tickets before it’s too late. Right now, you can also get a $50 on-board credit just by mentioning Sexy Fit Vegan 🙂

Learn more about the 2016 Holistic Holiday at Sea Cruise HERE.

Let me know if you have any questions and/or you are coming aboard – would love to meet you all in person!!

Author Archives: Ella Magers, MSW

This vegan protein pancake recipe comes from the founder of Powerootz… My favorite brand of nutritional shakes!

Peanut Butter Protein Pancakes

Ingredients

Instructions

Tip

Excited to Let You All Know My New 6-Week Plant-Empowered Coaching Program is Transforming Lives!

What Do YOU Need to Take YOUR Health, Nutrition, and Fitness to the Next Level?

1. ACCOUNTABILITY

2. NO MORE FEELING OVERWHELMED!

3. TAKING ON NEW CHALLENGES

4. UNDERSTANDING THOUGHTS & FEELINGS THAT TRIGGER BAD HABITS

This easy vegan soup recipe was created by my own mother on her last trip to visit me.

No-Chicken Noodle Vegan Soup

My friend and realtor Dawn Debus, who also takes my classes at Sobekick, recently got my book and started following the Six Weeks to Sexy Abs Meal Plan guidelines!

Broccoli, Cauliflower and Lentil Bowl

Ingredients:

I’m back from a week aboard the MSC Divina on the Holistic Holiday at Sea and am bringing home tons of great info and experiences to share!

The Ship:

The Dining:

The Excursions:

The Classes/Lectures:

The Amenities:

The Book Signings:

Mark your calendars and grab some tickets because 2016 is packed full of vegan events worth checking out!

Toronto Veg Food Fest

Here are links to a few more popular vegan festivals around the country (click on the pictures)…

Vegan Beer and Food Festival

Texas VegFest

Chicago Vegan Mania

Tampa Bay Veg Fest

I was thrilled to receive my first ever Vegan Cuts Snack Box the other day. I knew it was a great concept, but I had no idea if this vegan snack bundle would live up to my hopeful expectations…

It did!

I was recently introduced to a line of nutritional and skin care products that are not only certified vegan, but also unique and effective… Meet Kaeng Raeng.

The Kaeng Raeng Cleanse:

How to drink Kaeng Raeng Cleanses:

Daily Green Energy:

How to drink Kaeng Raeng Daily Green Energy:

Kaeng Raeng’s Body Line

Cleansing Clay (Activated Charcoal Face Mask):

After Glow Facial Serum:

Detoxfoliant Scrub:

When I found out about the Holistic Holiday at Sea cruise I was ecstatic… A cruise that is BOTH healthy AND fun?!