Veggie Education Happy Hour

vegan-happy-hour menu

vegan happy hourHelp people get educated and inspired about going vegan with a Veggie Education Happy Hour!

On Saturday, June 27th, Sexy Fit Vegan is putting on a special and unique event: a “Veggie Education Happy Hour”. The purpose is to bring people together to learn about making conscious choices for a healthier, more compassionate lifestyle, while breaking the common stereotypes about vegans (like you can’t have fun or drink a cocktail if you’re vegan)! I’m writing this blog post not only to tell you about this particular event, but also to encourage you to plan you’re own event where you live. After we’ve educated ourselves, and changed our own lives for the better, the next step is spreading the word and encouraging others to make the transition to a plant-based diet as well. What better way to do this then throwing a party! 

Check out the press release I wrote for event details and to get ideas for hosting your own event:

Sexy Fit Vegan® Ella Magers Presents Happy Hour Veggie Education Workshop

Celebrity Fitness Trainer & Vegan Diet Expert Gives People Information & Inspiration

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Miami Beach, FL

June 3, 2015

Guru of living Ella Magers shares her passion for helping people transform their lives with this unique event coming to Miami Beach on June 27th, 2015.

An 18-year vegan veteran, Ella has been a certified fitness and wellness expert for over 10 years. Her devotion to the health of people, combined with her passion for animals, her concern for the environment, and her fighter spirit lay the foundation for her brand, Sexy Fit Vegan® which she founded in 2013.

The Veggie Education Happy Hour was created in response to the growing number of people interested in learning about the benefits of a vegan diet plan and how to eat plant-based in a healthful, practical way.

“The great part about the Veggie Education Happy Hour is that it shows people how to create a smooth transition plan for people wanting to move in the direction of a plant based diet, but feel confused and overwhelmed when it comes to getting started,” says Ella.

Participants of the workshop will also enjoy fresh vegan food samples and sip on Sexy Fit Vegan’s own signature cocktails made with Casamigos tequila and Veev acai-infused vodka. They will also receive a parting goodie bags with samples from vegan-friendly, wellness-related companies such as Sisley of Paris.

Ella mentions that, “a Sexy Fit Vegan lifestyle is not about perfection, it’s about balance. Having cocktails socially for most of us in Miami is part of enjoying life, so I’m here to show people how to make those cocktails as healthy as possible by foregoing the sugar and artificial ingredients.”

Sponsors include Veev acai-infused vodka, Sushi Samba, Sobekick Gym, Plant Theory Botanical Café & Gourmet Market, Casamigos tequila, and Thrive Market.

The Veggie Education Happy Hour will be held at Sobekick Gym in South Beach (1860 West Ave. 2nd floor Miami Beach 33139) on June 27th at 2:30pm. Tickets can be purchased at www.sexyfitvegan.com/product/veggie-education-workshop

For media inquiries please contact us at [email protected]

About Ella Magers:

Ella Magers began participating in sports at the age of five and, as an avid animal lover, stopped eating meat at the age of seven. The Miami Beach resident launched SexyFitVegan.com in 2013 to support a broader population of people in their transformation to a plant-based diet and active lifestyle. The 17-year vegan-veteran is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach. She has a Masters in Social Work and is working on a Doctorate in Holistic Sports Nutrition. An authority on health and fitness, Magers was most named Personal Trainer of the Month on BodyBuilding.com in 2013. In 2014 she was named among the Top 50 Hottest Trainers in America by Shape Magazine. She has given workshops all over the world, most recently for the Sheraton in Macao China. Her passion for helping people transform their lives, combined with her compassion for animals, and her fighter spirit lays the foundation for her Sexy Fit Vegan philosophy of understanding the body from the inside out. On her website, Magers gives people the tools they will need on their journey in the form of newsletters, books, sample meal plans, product reviews, recipes, tips, and more. For more information visit https://www.sexyfitvegan.com.

Also, check out the special vegan food menu prepared by Sushi Samba for the event!


Samba-Menu-for-web

If you live in South Florida I hope to see you at this event, and if not, I hope you plan your own and keep us posted on how it goes!!!

 

Salad Recipe with a Kick

Salad Recipe with a Kick

Salads don’t have to be boring… Add a kick!

As simple as it is, I just don’t seem to get tired of this easy vegan salad recipe. I am purposely not giving you exact amounts of the ingredients in order to empower you to get creative and figure out what YOU like. That way you’ll be better equipped to whip up your own awesome salad creations on a whim!

You can switch up the greens and veggies, and add plant-based proteins like edamame, tempeh, or tofu. Adjust the wasabi amount to your liking. The wakame seaweed is not only a tasty addition that goes well with wasabi, but it is also said to help burn fat, and contains some very important nutrients such as magnesium, iron, vitamins A, C, E, K, D, and Riboflavin.   

Salad with a KickWakame Seaweed for Salad Recipe

  • organic greens of your choice
  • cucumber
  • tomato
  • avocado
  • red cabbage shreds
  • carrot shreds
  • bean sprouts
  • sesame seeds
  • dried wakame seaweed
  • Pick one: organic shelled edamame, tempeh, tofu or quinoa

Dressing (3-4 servings)

  • 2 TBSP wasabi paste
  • 4 TBSP Liquid Braggs Amino Acids or Low Sodium Gluten Free Tamari
  • 4 TBSP organic, extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 TBSP champagne vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

EAT UP and ENJOY!!!

*Interested in transforming your lifestyle? Attend my life-changing Master Class HERE!

Vegan Traveler: New Orleans

Ella Magers, vegan traveler at UFC New Orleans

I took a birthday trip to New Orleans last weekend to see UFC Fight Night (my birthday gift from my boyfriend) and wow, as a pro at traveling on a vegan diet plan, this city is what I would call, “a great challenge!”

First off, I’m relatively easy to accommodate in that I’m happy with simple meals containing popular ingredients. I don’t need my vegan diet plan to be fancy. Give me a salad with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and some chickpeas and I’m a happy camper. I generally travel and go to restaurants, bars, and other hot spots more for the atmosphere than the food options anyway, but that’s just my personality. In New Orleans, there is no shortage of awesome venues to hear great live music, meet interesting people, have drinks, people-watch, and learn about the city’s history. But when it comes to eating, unless you like jambalaya, gumbo, po-boys, or deep fried food, you have a challenge on your hands. 

Here are some recommendations for places I enjoyed:

  • For a local sports bar vibe with great craft beer: The Bulldog
    • The hummus is home-made, FANTASTIC., and you can get it with raw veggie sticks!
    • Great selection of craft beer (The Unibroue Trois Pistoles is a strong, vegan-friendly Belgium beer that’s not served at many bars… loved it!).
    • vegan beer
  • For a local bar with a good beer selection and live jazz: d.b.a.
    • They do not serve food, but let you bring in food from elsewhere and chow there. 
    • The bartenders are experienced and super friendly.
    • d.b.a.-new-orleans
  • For a 100% vegan restaurant: Seed
    • Awesome high-quality menu with tons of variety, but all “nola style” so you still get a taste of traditional food.
    • Perfect brunch spot (pictured are the bloody marys, grits with seitan and mushroom gravy, chocolate chip pancakes, tofu scramble, and fresh squeezed orange juice).
    • An amazing, creative cocktail menu.
    • Modern, cool design.
    • Location is not great (only down side).
    • vegan-bloody-maryvegan-grits,-mushroom-gravy,-homemade-seitanvegan brunchvegan bloody mary
  • For a fun tourist bar with live music: Famous Door
    • Great cover-bands almost always on stage
    • Cheap drink prices
    • Perfect for letting loose and laughing at/with drunk tourists.
    • famous-door-new-orleans
  • To learn about history: WWII Museum 
    • ww2-museum

Then, of course, the UFC Fight night, the real reason we went, was at the Smoothie King Center, and we were incredibly lucky with the card. Almost every fight ended in a knock-out or submission! We were in the third row for these exciting fights, and through a friend, I was able to say what’s up to Bruce Buffer who is not only a talented entertainer, but also a super nice guy! I was happy the veteran Dan Henderson came away with a well-earned victory 🙂

Ella-&-bruce-buffer dan-henderson-ufc-winner ella-rob-ufc-fights

All in all, a fantastic experience. Thanks Rob for making it happen.

I’d love to hear comments about other tips and hot spots so please comment!

 

 

A Vegan Protein Powder That Has It All!

Ella Magers recommends BalanceDiet Lean Vegan Protein

I’m excited to share with you one of the newest and best vegan protein powders on the market today, Lean Protein 07 from BalanceDiet.

I recommend adding this product to your vegan diet plan, especially for your post-workout snack. Let me tell you why:

  • It blends well. One of the most challenging obstacles I run into when finding a protein powder I like is the texture. Many are either gritty or chalky, even when I blend them using my Vitamix, much less trying to use a shaker bottle. This is not with case with Lean Protein 07. In fact, it blends better than any other I’ve tried.
  • It had a great, natural flavor. I’m super picky when it comes to flavor. Most protein powders don’t “do it for me.” They often leave an unpleasant taste in my mouth. Lean Protein 07 on the other hand, tastes light & pleasant. 
  • It has added nutrients such as vitamins B, A, and C, folic acid, calcium,and manganese.
  • It has added fiber that make it easily digestible (no bloating here).
  • It is 100% organic and is made with high quality ingredients. In fact, it’s manufactured in a NSA Certified (pharmaceutical grade) facility.

I like this protein powder so much I now have an affiliation that allows my readers to get 10% off using the code “SexyFitVegan”. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Ellas-Favorite-Protein-Powder-BalanceDiet 07

 

The 22-Day Revolution Hits Shelves… Congrats to Marco Borges!

Beyonce and 22-Days Nutrition

I want to congratulate my friend Marco Borges for the release of his new vegan diet plan book, The 22 Day Revolution, the forward of which was written by Beyonce!

22-Day Revolution Book by Marco Borges

There was a great article written in the New York Times the other day about 22 Days Nutrition, the company owned by Marco, Beyonce, and Jay Z. This is just one of many awesome articles published recently praising Marco, who has been the trainer and wellness coach of Beyonce and Jay Z for over 10 years. Once Beyonce got on board the plant-based diet train it was on… she teamed with Marco to launch a top-notch, nation-wide vegan meal delivery program. Marco’s passion for healthy plant-based eating shines through every move he makes, from his vegan snack bars and protein powder, to his meal delivery program, to his book and beyond. He is an inspiration and I am honored to have his support in my ventures as well. Check out these awesome articles highlighting 22 Days, Marco, Beyonce, and Jay Z, and buy his book!

Marco-Borges

Elle 

Marie Claire

Time Magazine

In Style

Vogue

Photo: Hanging at the 2014 Seed Food and Wine Festival in Miami just before the launch of the 22 Days vegan meal delivery program… Marco, myself, and vegan chef and owner of Miami’s newest vegan restaurant Plant TheorySheryn Abalos.

Conscious Bite Out Promoting Going Vegan

Conscious Bite Out Vegan Event Recap

Conscious Bite Out teamed with Seed Food and Wine Festival, Whole Foods Market, and Basil Park, for an outstanding vegan event I was fortunate enough to attend last night!

My boyfriend and I were greeted by Seed Food and Wine Festival co-founders Alison Burgos and Michelle Gaber making their own special recipe for spicy mango margaritas… no better way to start a night out!

Seed-Food-&-Wine-Allison-&-MichelleWe mingled during cocktail hour, meeting many interesting people with different stories leading to how they ended up at the event that night. The venue, Basil Park, was gorgeous, and the staff was friendly and made the experience excellent from start to end.

Once seated, we got to start with the wine… John Salley‘s The Vegan Vine wine. Outstanding! Our table-mates, a couple from Pinecrest, kept us busy with fascinating conversation all evening as we were served one delectable course after the other. Conscious Bite Out’s Veronica Menin gave a thoughtful intro and closing and was an incredibly gracious host. We also got to hear a few words from Alison about the upcoming Seed Food and Wine Festival 2015 in Miami, which I’m already pumped for (it will be here before we know it, November 18-22)!

Vegan-Event-WineVegan-Event-Beet-SaladVegan-Event-DumplingsVegan-Event-Main-Course

Concsious Bite Out Vegan Event

Thank you to everyone involved with making this awesome event such a hit, bringing people from all over together to have some fun, enjoy delicious food and drinks, while raising awareness about how we can all come together to make this world a better place!

Miami Vegan Dinner Event at Basil Park

Conscious-Bite-Out-Dinner

I’m excited for Conscious Bite Out‘s vegan dinner event Thursday, May 7th so I wanted to share!

As the Miami New Times article states, “The beginning of the month is always an apt time to start new stuff: better habits, New Year’s resolutions (it’s only May, you have even months to make it happen), new hobbies. So maybe kick off May with Conscious Bite Out, a vegan dining experience by Basil Park‘s Tim Andriola.”

The dinner is sponsored by Whole Foods Market and Seed Food & Wine, and features a full five-course meal, passed hors d’oeuvres and organic wines. 

“We love Tim’s story, passion and cuisine,” says Conscious Bite Out co-founder Veronica Menin. “We love Basil Park and happy to have partnered up with Whole Foods Market and Seed Food and Wine to collaborate on this event together, always to inspire and create an awareness in our community of better food choices and to create better food choices available in restaurants as well.”

Check out the mouth-watering vegan menu!

Hors D’oeuvres

~Purple artichoke “pizzette” with Harpke Family Farm’s arugula pesto, macadamia nut cheese, and crisp essence flat bread

~Fava bean and black truffle crostini with golden flax seeds, cashew parmesan, and mâché

~White asparagus sushi with spinach, pine nuts, jicama, and red curry

~Avocado ceviche with coconut milk, lime, ahi amarillo, sweet potato, and young cilantro

~Watermelon radish “raviolini” with english pea purée, pea shoots, and pistachio oil

~White grape gazpacho with cucumber noodles, micro sorrel, and fresh green almonds

~Shaved vegetable daikon roll with pickled mango, fresh ginger, and tamari

First Course

Heirloom Tomato and Golden Beet Salad with Red Romaine, Avocado Vinaigrette, and Brazil Nut “Cheese”

Second Course

Steamed Wild Ramp Dumplings with Fiddlehead Ferns, Edamame, Baby Bok Choy, Toasted Nori, and Red Miso Broth

Main

Sous Vide of Porcini Mushrooms with Roasted Vidalia Onions, Spring Vegetable Ragout, and Black Garlic “Aioli”

Dessert

Raw Chocolate Lasagna with Cacao, Hazelnuts, Frozen and Macerated Raspberries

If you are in South Florida on Thursday I hope to see you there!

5 Tips for Beach-Ready Abs

Sexy Abs

Summer is creeping up on us quickly… Time to take action for beach-ready abs!

As featured on PeTA’s “Living” blog

Who doesn’t want a beautifully sculpted stomach? As a fitness trainer and nutrition coach, I hear it from my clients all the time: “How do I get rid of this,” they ask, as they grab and pinch belly fat, “and get abs like yours?” Well, I have compiled a list of what it takes to achieve the toned tummy that you are longing for. If it were easy, everyone would have a shot at the cover of Fitness Magazine! Although it’s not “easy,” it is definitely doable … and YOU CAN DO IT! Just take the following steps:

Soda Makes You Fat1. Cut “empty calories” from your diet. Your first thought might be that you don’t want to “deprive” yourself of the soda and chips that you love so much. But here’s the deal: You are actually depriving yourself by eating them! What I mean is that you are filling up on foods that are missing the nutrients that your body needs to survive and thrive. Make this a habit, and your body will actually go into starvation mode and hold onto your body fat. By replacing the empty calories with nutrient-dense ones, your body gets what it wants and allows fat to be eliminated. Don’t get me wrong: I am not saying never splurge, but even when you splurge, you can do it without filling up on empty calories! For example, I make delicious popcorn with coconut oil for movie nights. And when I get a sweet tooth, one of my favorite treats is coconut-milk ice cream. Give it some time, and you will never miss that chemical, fake buttered popcorn or Ben & Jerry’s! All my top healthy vegan swaps can be found in the 60-page “How To Go Vegan Beginner’s Guide!

Jog for summer ready abs2. Make time for cardio workouts. Cardio workouts (in which you elevate your heart rate for more than 30 minutes) are important for two main reasons. First, it’s how to keep your heart beating strong, which keeps you alive and able to live life to the fullest for years and years to come! And second, cardio burns fat. Pretty simple! Do your cardio!

 

 

Exercises involving core 3. Choose exercises that involve “core strength.” Your core basically encompasses your body from your chest to your butt. Increasing your core strength means not only sculpting a sexy, toned midsection but also strengthening your body in such a way that will improve your posture, give you stability, and prevent injuries. If you focus only on your abs, you will set yourself up for bad posture, back problems, and injuries. Most exercise machines take your core out of the exercise by acting as a stabilizer, which is neither functional nor efficient. Instead of using the leg-press machine, for example, do squats. Instead of using a chest-press machine, do pushups. You can add weight to your back to make it more challenging. Get creative! Have fun with it! Flip tires.  Also, do dumbbell rows from a plank position so that you work your back and core at the same time.

 


Stay hydrated with Water4. Stay Hydrated. 
Water retention leaves us puffy and bloated—not so helpful when your goal is a flat stomach! The most effective ways to prevent water retention are to stay hydrated with plenty of water throughout the day, keep your sodium intake low (especially iodized salt found in processed foods—I use either Celtic or Himalayan sea salt at home), stay away from junk food, eat whole foods with lots of fiber, and exercise.


Anti-Inflammatory Foods5. Eat anti-infla
mmatory foods daily. Chronic inflammation can be one of the main underlying causes of illness and premature aging. It can also cause weight gain and swelling, which is why it’s included on this list. But the truth of the matter is that reducing inflammation in your body can literally save your life. The good news is that there are some simple ways to prevent and treat inflammation. Eating foods with anti-inflammatory properties, while eliminating inflammation-causing foods is first and foremost. Eating fiber-rich, nutrient-dense vegan whole foods will give you the perfect anti-inflammatory diet. Processed food, refined sugar, and saturated and trans fats cause inflammation. Regular exercise is also helpful in reducing inflammation, as are avoiding allergens (such as dairy products, gluten, and peanuts for some people) and managing stress. Check out the “How to Create Your Own Super Food Shake” to learn more about easily incorporating more anti-inflammatory foods into your daily routine!

Vegan Fashion: Gunas Cruelty Free Handbags

Gunas Cruelty Free Fashion

Introducing Gunas New York, a compassionate company that makes cruelty-free, fashionable, vegan hand bags!

Gunas New York is an independent high fashion label with a cause! The company was started in 2008 by designer and animal lover, Sugandh G. Agrawal who believes that animals are NOT meant to be a part of Fashion. Gunas’s belief is totally in line with the Sexy Fit Vegan philosophy that we can look and feel good (and be sexy) without harming other living beings. The hand bags are high quality and fashionable, which is why I’m honored to feature the brand on my website and be an affiliate. They have a bag for every occasion! Check them out!

Here are a few of my top picks… it was hard to choose because I like so many! 🙂

Gunas NeonVegan Fashion GunasGunas GunasGunas

 

listingsmall64Gunas New York Vegan Fashion

 

MPG Sport

Ella Magers wearing MPG Sport

Welcoming MPG Sport into my vegan fitness fashion world!

In fall of 2014 I was contacted by an apparel company, MPG Sport, asking if I would like to try out their fitness line. My first question of course was, “Is it vegan?” When the answer came back as yes, I said, “Sure!” I took a look at the catalog and was immediately impressed by the broad range of styles and affordability. I soon became a “messenger” for the brand and  am lucky enough to be able to sport the 2015 line and be a part of their “I am We Are” Campaign. I recommend you check it out!

ella-P2 ella-P3 ella-P4 ella-P6 ella-P1