Repeat the Sounding Joy.

My dear readers,

One of my favorite moments from one of my favorite holiday films - The Family Stone - is when Sarah Jessica Parker and Luke Wilson are cuddled in bed, looking up at the ceiling, and she starts humming "Joy to the World." She lands on the phrase in the lyrics, 

REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY
REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY
REPEAT, REPEAT
THE SOUNDING JOY.

Then Luke Wilson says quietly to himself, "Repeat the sounding joy. Hmm."

I love that moment so much.
At Farm Sanctuary's Orland, CA shelter. Photo © Connie Pugh.
Mostly because, that's been the theme running inside of me for much of 2012. I've been outwardly living my inner joy for a while now, but after reading The Secret this past week (I know, I know, how did I let it pass me by for almost seven years before picking it up?), I'm totally convinced that living joyfully is absolutely the right way to go. A few things I took away from the book: 

Our thoughts are extremely powerful in helping to shape our 
world, 

Focusing and obsessing on what we don't want will just continue to bring it to us, and even more importantly, will keep us from bringing in what we do want, 

Living in gratitude, actively choosing to be happy now, and having complete faith in our pursuits - that's the key to growing and lasting success.

One of my favorite quotes from Rhonda Byrne's book is by Lisa Nichols:

"Everything that you want - all the joy, love, abundance, prosperity, bliss - it's there, ready for you to grab ahold of it. And you've got to get hungry for it. You've got to be intentional. And when you become intentional and on fire for what you want, the Universe will deliver every single thing you've been wanting. Recognize the beautiful and wonderful things around you, and bless and praise them. And on the other side, the things that aren't currently working the way you want them to work, don't spend your energy faulting or complaining. Embrace everything that you want so you can get more of it."


Now, I didn't read Rhonda's book lightly - I know that anything worthwhile takes a little time and rarely, if ever, comes the way we expect it would. But in this past year, a few magical occurrences have transpired, and the outcome of them has far exceeded what I was hoping for when I planted the seed of the goal in my heart. One came in the form of falling head over heels in love with the prospect of producing a feature film. And it's just the beginning. 

So, how does all of this apply to vegan living and our pursuit to create a more compassionate world?

Well...
I love you, Fred.
What if, instead of admonishing, criticizing, or judging someone for their non-vegan choices, we praised them for any small step they take in the right direction?

What if, instead of simply preaching the benefits of vegan living, we actively practice living the benefits and be a beautiful example to those around us?

What if, instead of only focusing our thoughts on the pain, misery, and abuse occurring at this very moment for the billions of animals in this country and beyond, we focus intently on creating positive change for them, we focus intently on the farmed animal rescues that do occur, we focus intently on our vegan movement growing person by person, we focus intently on meat consumption dwindling (it's already gone down 12% in the last five years!), and we live in that focus?

What if.

This coming year, I encourage you, my beautiful readers, every single day to choose joy. Choose positive thinking over negative. Choose to put out oodles of bliss-filled vibes out there for our world and the animals, and with that, take compassionate steps toward the kind of world you want. Which bring to mind a few quotes:


If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. ... We need not wait to see what others do. -Gandhi

That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great.
- Willa Cather

Gratitude always comes into play; research shows that people are happier if they are grateful for the positive things in their lives, rather than worrying about what might be missing.
― Dan Buettner

I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.- Henry David Thoreau
Steve with a rescued hen at Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres.
To you all - to you wonderful, compassionate readers - at the very end of the day, pretty pretty please - 

Praise yourself for any single step YOU are taking to live compassionately. Because each and every one of you are HEROES for the animals. No matter how small your action.

So get out there, encourage someone, hug an animal friend, and be a shining example of what it really means to live in Ahimsa, which is to truly live vegan. 

Thank you for being so supportive, loving, and loyal with your readership this year. Here's to a magical 2013! 

Love and vegan kisses,

Lindsay, Steve, and the rest of the Kiss Me, I'm Vegan family

A Thought As You Go Through Your Day.

Animal Acres lovin' with Fred. Photo © Joanna Wilson Photography.

"Ethical veganism results in a profound 

revolution within the individual; a complete 

rejection of the paradigm of oppression and 

violence that she has been taught from 

childhood to accept as the natural order. It 

changes her life and the lives of those with 

whom she shares this vision of nonviolence. 


Ethical veganism is anything but passive; on 

the contrary, it is the active refusal to 

cooperate with injustice."

 - Gary L. Francione


WHAT ARE SOME QUOTES ABOUT VEGANISM YOU LOVE?

IT GETS BETTER - A Post by Lindsey Frost.

Hello lovelies! 
Lindsey on her wedding day - what a beautiful lady!

Below, please enjoy a post from my friend Lindsey Frost from hew new blog, Nooch and Nuptials. A dedicated vegan, animal activist, and newly married lady, Lindsey is a necessary emerging voice in the world of vegan blogging. I am honored to have been a part of Lindsey's journey towards compassion, and I hope that this post will inspire you to keep going on your own. Take it away, Lindsey!

IT GETS BETTER 
by Lindsey Frost of Nooch and Nuptials

I think we need an "It Gets Better" campaign for vegetarians and vegans.  

Parents giving you hell about your veg lifestyle?  
It gets better.  

Friends mocking your soy consumption?  
It gets better.  

Complete strangers in the grocery store asking you about protein?  
Nope, sorry, that one's not going anywhere.

Life as a new vegetarian or vegan can be extraordinarily lonely, particularly in places outside of major metropolitan areas where the lifestyle is less understood.  Newbies are often (rightly!) passionate about sharing their new lifestyle, but many find that their enthusiasm falls of deaf ears.  It can be isolating.

When I first began leaning into a vegan lifestyle, I was braced for the worst.  You see, I had been the worst. When my friend Lindsay of Kiss Me, I'm Vegan! fame went vegan years ago, I was a jerk.  As the established host and chef for our group of friends, I had a hard time adjusting to the change.  It felt like a rejection of everything I knew - Southern food and hospitality, served with loads of butter and bacon.  Lindsay's change was scary for me, and I reacted terribly.  It's something I still feel very guilty about.

Karma, as it turns out, is a bitch.  Though I thought I was prepared to deal with the backlash when I went vegan, the fervor of some of the negative reactions from friends and family was still shocking and painful.  But you know what?  It does get better.  Over time, the people around you adjust or they don't.  You learn to live with both types, celebrating those who have embraced your changes and trying your best to love the others where they are. 

Struggling with reactions to your new lifestyle?  Here are my suggestions for getting through:

  • Find Your Community: I don't know any other vegans in Chattanooga beyond my quasi-vegan parents (a story for another day), but I feel like I know thousands of vegans across the country thanks to the internet.  Blogs, discussion boards, Facebook groups - they all help.  Need some suggestions for online resources?  E-mail me!  Find people who share your values, even if they're hundreds of miles away.  
  • Find Your Inspiration: I am extraordinarily lucky to call Steven Todd Smith of Ahimsa Life Coaching a dear friend.  Steve and I met almost a decade ago in New York, and even though he's now in Los Angeles and I'm in Chattanooga, he's still pushing me and inspiring me.  If I'm having a rough patch, I know I can pick up the phone and call Steve for a little veggie inspiration.  Find a person who can help you back up when you fall, and you'll be a much, much happier vegan.  
  • Find Your Heroes:  My husband is an omnivore, but he's my hero.  He supports me in everything I do, gladly devours the products of my culinary adventures, and shuts down the haters.  It's crazy sexy.   A couple of nights ago, we were at dinner with family and friends when a friend of my mom's starting asking question after question about what I eat, what I don't eat, where I get my protein, what I do about calcium, etc. etc.  When the questioning started to get mean and defensive, the husband shut it down with his trademark ease and humor.  He's never cruel or angry, but he always, always protects his family.  Find someone who will stand up for you even if they don't agree with you.  
  • Find Your Voice: When I first went veg, I attempted to respond to every comment or criticism with humor.  Eventually though, self-deprecating became self-defeating, and I realized that laughing everything off wasn't getting me very far in changing hearts and minds.  I then tried on intellectual vegan, scary vegan, angry vegan, and sad vegan.  None of it worked, and I just got more and more frustrated.  At last, I recalled the words of a very, very wise man.  The Reverend Forrest Church advised his congregants to "want what you have, do what you can, and be who you are."  My philosophy on sharing my lifestyle others follows a similar model: share with them what you know, feed them all you can, and love them where they are.  Find your way of telling, showing, and loving others.  

To learn more about Lindsey's blog, visit www.noochandnuptials.blogspot.com.

UNPROCESSED by Chef AJ: Book Review & Giveaway!

We're all looking for help in some way or another.  Advice from a family member or a friend.  A film to allow us to escape.  A book to shed some light on a topic or provide valuable information.

We're always looking for a new tool to add to our personal toolbelt, a new skill for our repertoire, a new resource to make sure we have everything we need for our heads, hearts, bodies, and spirits.  

My most recent resource that I added into my life was Unprocessed: How to achieve vibrant health and your ideal weight by Chef AJ.  I've only known Chef AJ for a short time but have learned so much from her, in person and through her book.  She has really worked her way into becoming one of the premier plant-based/vegan chefs and is incredibly accessible with information and recipes.  Currently, in addition to her website, Chef AJ's Healthy Kitchen, where you can sign up for cooking classes, workshops/events, and more, you can find her teamed up with The Plant-Based Dietitian, Julieanna Hever, in the fun and tasty videocasts, "The Chef and the Dietitian," where you can follow the two making recipes from soups to salads to smoothies to dinners to desserts.  It's a big delicious video experience.


So I recently read Unprocessed, and what I love about it is that Chef AJ leads you, the reader, through simple, relatable, easy-to-understand steps to benefit your mindset and journey toward eating an unprocessed, or whole-food, plant-based diet.  Starting with her very own life story - which you'll have to read yourself! - Chef AJ takes us through what easily could be your life experience or your life experience or your life experience.  Let me tell you, I was surprised to find out a lot about what's happened in her life. AJ definitely had to overcome some major obstacles in order to discover her passion, optimal health, and happiness.  Though many challenges were thrown her way, she succeeded - and the value of plant-based eating was definitely at the core of it.

After Chef AJ connects with you, as an author, as a friend, she continues on as a guide, a teacher, and a coach, breaking through the initially-legitimate (but ultimately flimsy) excuses for not wanting to or "being unable" to eat plant-based and unprocessed.  Once you realize "She's right!" and begin to think "Well, what do I do now...?" she swoops in like a superhero(ine), providing all of the basic information on why eating an unprocessed, plant-based diet is best for you - and then helpful tips on how to make it work in your life or your life or your life.  Finally, AJ opens up the vault and you get to cash in on over 100 delicious nutrient-rich and gluten-free recipes!  


That Chipotle Corn Salsa sure looks Smokey!
(courtesy of Forks Over Knives)
Unprocessed is personal, informational, fun, and so helpful in relaying how unprocessed, plant-based eating is valuable for everyone - yes, even you and you and you.  And when you're done, you can jump right in and enjoy with simple recipes that will wow your taste buds and contribute to (and not against) your health.

Here are some favorites that I've tried or that have caught my eye and will most likely end up in my tummy sometime in the near future:


Mmm mmm soup.
(courtesy of Forks Over Knives)

That's only 8.  Which means there are over 92 more for you to enjoy. How to do that?  Well, get the book, of course!  And I'll give you a head start!  

We're giving away one signed copy of Unprocessed to the lucky raffle winner of this last giveaway of the year.  It's super simple - you may already be a pro at this - just go to the Rafflecopter widget below, sign up for free if you need to, and follow the easy directions. The more items you complete, the more raffle entries in your name, the better chance you have at winning!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE 3RD ANNUAL TERRIFIC THANKSGIVING TURKEY PLEDGE!


Hello my loves!

First of, please enjoy the photo on the right of me snuggling with Russell the rescued turkey at Farm Sanctuary. Ain't he handsome? :-)



Well, Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and with that, the hustle and bustle of finding just the right food to display on the table for everyone to munch on. Stuffing! Mashed Potatoes! Cranberry sauce out of a can! Hey, you can take the girl out of New Jersey, but you can't take the New Jersey out of the girl...



This Thanksgiving, I will be eating plenty of yummy vegan food with the hubby and my mama who will be in town next week, along with tons of veggie friends in LA, and I couldn't be happier. 

Okay, here goes: I am challenging you - YES YOU! - to 

Kiss Me, I'm Vegan's



3rd ANNUAL TERRIFIC THANKSGIVING 

TURKEY PLEDGE!!!

We've done this fun tradition for the past two years with fabulous success - nearly 100 pledges on the blog!

Here's how it goes:

In the comment section below, 

please make a firm commitment NOT 

to eat turkeys this Thanksgiving.  

You can say something as simple as "No turkey for me!" or as long as "I would never dream of consuming turkeys because their too cute to eat, pass the tofurky please!" 

I would love to see if we can get at least 100 pledges by Thanksgiving this year. And don't worry - you can be a vegan, vegetarian, or meat-eater-slowly-transitioning-to-kiss-worthy-vegan and still post a comment below. 

AND PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH JUST ABOUT ANY FRIEND YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON!

Here’s to a delicious, compassionate 
holiday season.

For vegan Thanksgiving recipe ideas, check out last year's holiday post, and if you haven't yet, give a Tofurky roast a whirl. I was skeptical at first, but oh my goodness are they amazing!

Jorge Garcia and I would like to wish you a very Happy Halloween!

Happiest of Halloweens to you my dears! 

In honor of the holiday, please enjoy a Halloween themed short I co-wrote with my dear friend and vegetarian, Jorge Garcia (yes, Hurley from LOST!). Many thanks to Jordan Epstein, Ian Woods, and Diego Giovanni Tovar for helping to make this a reality.


 May today be filled for each of you with yummy vegan goodies, costumes galore, and the childlike wonder that makes Halloween so special. :-)

A Thought As You Go Through Your Day.

My husband posted this passage of a story on his facebook wall this week. A FB friend of his had posted about a recent experience he had, and it definitely bears repeating. An absolutely lovely summation of the slow, but steady progress our movement of compassion is making. Read on:

"A beautiful moment occurred today. While standing outside my art gallery in California eating a sandwich, the elderly Brazilian landlord of my building stopped and asked what kind of sandwich I was eating. "Veggie patty and avocado," I said. He asked me if I ate animals. I said no. He said, "Neither do I." I said to him, "Really? Why not?" He said "Because I hate to see them suffer." Meanwhile a third person stepped up, overhearing our conversation - an Italian artist from Rhode Island, he said to both of us, "I can't believe people still eat animals." I said, "Are you vegan too?" He said, "Hell yeah." 

So there we stood, three men who barely know each other: an old Brazilian man, an artist from Rhode Island, and me, a California former stoner/skater - all with one thing in common: compassion for the oppressed. I thought to myself, is this really happening? I thought it was only on FB that three vegans would randomly intersect. Is the world changing? Maybe it is. At least in small moments here and there. Like the moment I experienced today." 
- Al Jackson, vegan activist

Farm Sanctuary's LA Walk for Farm Animals!

It's that time of year again! In fact, it's been that time of year for a little over a month now!  It's time to Walk for Farm Animals!

Every year, the leading farmed animal protection organization in the United States, Farm Sanctuary, leads Walks all over the country to help raise awareness about the plight of the millions of farmed animals who are abused, confined, and lose their lives every day for the food and clothing industry.  The Walk becomes a rally, a force of good, a massive community gathering to provide a voice for these voiceless beings and help others connect more closely with their values & beliefs (especially when 97% of Americans oppose cruelty to animals).  The Walk allows an opportunity to bring a visual of cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, sheep, goats, horses all in an open, free natural environment - living, breathing, playing, thriving.  The Walk opens up opportunities to raise funds that go to rescuing farmed animals, providing urgent care and lifelong refuge, and education and advocacy efforts.

We've been a part of three Walks so far, in Rehoboth Beach, DE, New York, NY, and Santa Monica, LA, CA, and are excited for the possibility of our fourth!  Overall, we're excited to raise money for such a powerful, valuable cause close to our hearts.  The Walks started at the beginning of September and will continue through the beginning of November.  Our Los Angeles Walk is coming up just next week (yeeps!)                                      on Saturday, October 27th in Pasadena.

Team Kiss Me, I'm Vegan!/Ahimsa Life Coaching asks you, our lovely KMIV family, for your support and to please help us contribute to the animals. A sponsorship donation as little as $1 or $5 is amazing, and anything beyond is absolutely tremendous.  


You can check out our Walk sponsorship page here.  Please leave a note if you contribute so we can say thank you (or not, if you like the whole anonymous benefactor thing).
If you live in or around the LA/Pasadena area, maybe we'll get to see you!  As of this post, there are still Walks happening in Louisville, KY, Atlanta, GA, New York City, NY, Sacramento, CA, Phoeniz, AZ, Austin, TX, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, Philadelphia, PA, and Tampa Bay, FL.  If you don't have one in a city near you or you just can't make it, there's an even easier way to get involved with the Sleep In for Farm Animals on November 3rd.



Since its inception in 1986, Farm Sanctuary, headed by founder Gene Baur, has paved the way for opening the hearts and minds of millions of people to true compassion.  This year, Peter Dinklage, of Boardwalk Empire and other television/films, is the WfFA Spokesperson.  Please join Gene, Peter, the thousands of people walking around the country, and, of course, us!, in support and celebration of our beloved farmed                                        animals. 

Oh my gosh... it's been 4 years. And I almost missed it.

I've been out of touch. 

Winnie has forgiven me. Can you?

I've been really  ridiculously, shamefully, what's wrong with her? out of touch.

I know that some of your favorite posts on here are the personal ones, and they've been few and far between the last couple of months. Life has been a beautiful whirlwind this past year - of acting (check out my episode on HBO's Enlightened in January!), singing (yay open mics), working my butt off (i heart vegan kids), and enjoying family time whenever i get the chance (thank you iPhones and understanding husbands). All of this has made one of my favorite pastimes - blogging - nearly obsolete. With the exception of my hubby's stellar posts about vegan nutrition and food giveaways, I've been distant with you guys. Until today. Because today, I will share some stuff, hit "publish" and you, my kiss-worthy readers, will be able to enjoy a personal post from yours truly. And hopefully a little balance will be restored. 

So, what have I been doing with my little vegan self since I last shared? Well,I...

Farmer John's = obscene cruelty.
Visited Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres and snuggled with Winnie the goose.

Attended a protest at Farmer John's slaughterhouse (aka hell on Earth for pigs and piglets alike, unlike the mural to the right suggests). 

Helped a friend with some non-dairy alternatives so he could cut back on his cow's milk consumption (yay!).

Got interviewed for an upcoming article in Bazaar about vegan women.

Watched the vegan hubby run a 10K Gladiator Run. Alongside Positively Bliss yoga teacher Ashley Platz. Go Team V!

Enjoyed wayyyyy too much yummy vegan food with my now - you guessed it - vegan! - brother when he came to Los Angeles recently with his lovely GF.

Discovered The Sexy Vegan. Check him out HERE. 

Gave a vegan cookbook to a non-vegan friend.


And hugged my cats. A lot.

And then there's the reasons to smile list, which I am bringing back today. You know, the one I used to write a while back every few posts? Here's a refresher for those who have no idea what I'm talking about.

Today, I only have one thing to list. Because my biggest reason to smile is... 
YOU GUYS. 

Thank you so much for continuing on this kooky, smile-inducing, humbling journey with me. Because it's been 4 - count em, FOUR - blissful years of living 100% vegan. Yep, that's right. Four Octobers ago I got the idea to fully commit myself to a lifestyle I am still head over heels in love with. Check out my 2010 post about the "vegan glow" to get an idea of the magic I've experienced since.

Thank you for being accepting, for being supportive, for being patient, and for being understanding. Thank you for being like my own little vegan family!

I love you and am tremendously grateful to have you as a part of Kiss Me, I'm Vegan!. Here's to many more years of compassionate blogging! 

Beanfields Snacks Review & Giveaway!

We can do breakfast.  We can do lunch.  And we can do dinner.  But there's a bunch of time in between and after dinner - what do we eat then?!?!?

Let's face it: a healthy, delicious, and filling snack is sometimes exactly what we need.  We have our fruits, we have our veggies, and that's all good. Everyone loves their chips though, right?  Unfortunately, there's a myriad of chips out there that are high in sugar, salt, fat, and/or contain animal products.  So what if, during your snack-time, I offered you a vegan/cholesterol-free, gluten-free, trans fat-free, preservative-free, (top eight) allergen-free, corn-free, GMO-free, healthy, hearty, and flavorful/delicious/tasty chip selection.  I'm guessing you'd take me up on my offer.  And when I told you that you had your choice of five different flavors, I know you'd definitely take me up on the offer. 

I'm talking about Beanfields' Bean & Rice Chips. Beanfields popped onto the scene in January 2011 and has since racked up the awards for their high-quality snacks, culminating in the "Best of Show" award at Natural Products Expo West.  VegNews deemed their flagship Nacho chips "Vegan Doritos."

Beanfields' mission statement reads: 

"We're dedicated to making delicious all-natural snacks that are a wholesome and satisfying alternative to snacks made from corn, potato, and wheat.  Our mission is to make the world a healthier place to crunch.  We believe beans are good for our families, good for farmers, and good for our planet!"

Chock full of fiber and protein; lower in saturated fat, sodium, and calories than most other chips; Beanfields really represents the full package in a chip.  Seriously, their nutritional facts wowed me.  I had the scrumptious pleasure and privilege of sampling Beanfields' chip selection - and let me tell you, it was an excellent week of snacking. Not only did I get my fill of full flavor, but the chips also managed to fill me up, which allowed me to escape without downing whole bags at once (although, they are so tasty that you'll have to watch out to make sure you don't do it yourself).  There also was no "yucky" feeling afterward, which some salty/greasy/fatty snacks can often do to you.

My personal favorites were the esteemed Nacho and the Pico de Gallo (which may actually get my nod as #1). The other yummy flavors are: Sea Salt, Sea Salt & Pepper, and Unsalted. Simple, nutritious, packed with crispy, crunchy goodness, these chips earn a top spot on the snacking totem pole.

You can find your new favorite snack in most Whole Foods locations and natural markets near you.  If not, you can find more information on how to get them stocked up at your local markets from their Where To Buy page.

If Beanfields' "Crispyliciousness" isn't enough for you, you should know they are a family owned company who commits to helping food and business practices staying up-to-date, also contributing a portion of their profits to non-profit sustainable farming efforts.

They've won me over in taste and message.  And speaking of winning, are you ready to do so?

Beanfields and KMIV/Ahimsa Life Coaching are teaming up for another fun raffle!  Hopefully, you know how it goes by now.  If you haven't entered one yet, just check out the fun raffle widget below.  Follow the directions and earn yourself raffle entries.  The more you have, the better chance you have to win. At the end of the promotion, one winner will be chosen and that winner will have their choice of a variety pack of 6 Beanfields' bags of chips - your choice!  (Note: the winner MUST have actually fulfilled each of the entries they approve; if not, another winner will be chosen.)

Get your crunch on! Check out Beanfields' Facebook and Twitter pages and make sure to follow the chips!  You can stay up date with the latest with Beanfields' free news flash also.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Maxine @ Streaming Hope.

What an amazing thing Streaming Hope is. I got to rock it out on Friday night at this beautiful, beautiful open mic experience in Los Angeles, produced by Anto Boghokian. Streaming Hope has been going on for almost a year now, and it's all about the developing artist, whether it's through poetry, song, or a little mix of both. I attended one before I joined in the ranks, and it's really unlike any other open mic experience I've come across. If you're in LA, you should totally check it out (and for more info, click here).

I've been toying with a song called "Maxine" I wrote a few years back for a Farm Sanctuary fundraiser I did in NYC. Well, I decided to take her for a walk at Streaming Hope and had really positive, supportive response. Enjoy the performance here, with Kurt Peterson on guitar.


To learn more about Maxine, check out her rescue video here.

A Thought From Mayim Bialik.

"I show my love for animals by not eating them or participating in any business that profits directly from their exploitation or – if that word irks you – their “use.” You may show your love for animals by eating them. You may love animals, but only “intelligent” ones. You may draw the line anywhere you gosh darn please, but for me, I couldn’t draw it anymore so I just gave up the line. I threw out the line."

Check out Mayim's entire post, "Why I am Vegan" here. 

Here's a great recipe from Mayim for the Rosh Hashanah holiday!

Pure Vegan Review and Giveaway!

Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."  A balanced whole-food, plant-based diet - of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds - provides all of the nutrients needed to not only survive but to thrive.*

*A couple of exceptions...

Besides the nutrition we receive from our whole plant foods, we have a couple of important players in the game of optimal health that are difficult to find just from our whole plant foods.  Specifically, we need Vitamin B12* & Vitamin D*.

I could write an entire article on B12 and Vit. D, but this post is mainly to introduce you to a company that provides quality vegan supplements and products - a huge bonus for all of us compassion warriors out there.  Please take a look at these articles from The Vegetarian Resource Group and Jack Norris, RD (of Vegan Outreach) for more information:

Vitamin D: http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2009issue2/2009_issue2_vitamin_d.php, http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/bones
Vitamin B12: http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/vitaminb12, http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/b12.htm 
(I highly recommending reading all articles!)

To give you a super Cliffs Notes rundown:
- B12 comes from bacteria. With downfall of agricultural practices, it's much more difficult (to impossible) to obtain B12 from plants. Some fermented foods have minimal amounts of B12. Many plant-based food products (like plant milks) are B12 fortified (still minimal).  Two kinds: Methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin (a lot of literature/science recommends methyl-).
- Vitamin D, acts more like a hormone than vitamin, comes from (is synthesized from) sunlight (action of UV rays on skin - read more on process above)! Two kinds: D3 (animal-based) & D2 (plant-based).
- Deficiency in either is not good for you.



And that brings us to Pure Vegan!  Pure Vegan's mission statement reads:

Pure Vegan's quality approach to creating these exclusive formulas begins in the growing fields and continues through every stage until the product is consumed. The integrity, authenticity and validation of our raw materials are a fundamental factor in the quality of every Pure Vegan product. Pure Vegan's raw materials are sourced with information regarding its processing methods and verification that they are not tested on animals. Pure Vegan is a revolutionary supplement line supported by full scientific research and protocols specifically for Vegans and Vegetarians.

It's wonderful knowing that there's a company that provides high-quality vegan products for your health, when needed.  I had the pleasure of sampling three of their products: the Complete Meal Replacement powder, the Vitamin B12 spray, and the Vitamin D2 spray. 

The Complete Meal Replacement powder incorporates a blend of whole grains, fruits, and veggies, with a protein base of pea, rice, and spirulina.  Vanilla flavored, I preferred a mix with orange juice (and often with some other fruits and veggies) for an orange creamsicle-like smoothie (yum!).

The B12 and D2 sprays proved to be very helpful.  The B12 is the preferred methylcobalamin, cherry flavored, and a quick spray is all you need.  The D2 is cherry flavored also, one spray also.  Super easy - I definitely recommend the B12 methyl-spray, and, for those who do not get much exposure to the sun, the D2 spray.  It makes keeping your levels at a safe, healthful level very convenient.

Pure Vegan has a wealth of other supplements, which you can check out on their website.  Please check it out and show them your KMIV support!  Their service is top-notch, and they've shown me they really care about their customers.  And, in the spirit of a company that cares about their customers, they are offering a GIVEAWAY!!!

Pure Vegan is giving away TWO B12 Sprays to TWO lucky kissable followers out there.  All you have to do is jump on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the simple directions.  Good luck & enjoy!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


All the best and yummiest to you! And, of course, plenty of vegan kisses!


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