Coconut h20... natures energy drink.

If you have never experienced the wonder that is coconut water... you have not lived my friends. Coconut water quenches your thirst AND so much more. It's infused with natural electrolytes and trace minerals. Coconut water contains more potassium than most sports drinks ranking at a whopping 294mg! Coconut water only has 5mg of natural sugars yet still has an elegant nectar like quality to it. This is honestly the energy drink of the gods. 

• Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol!
• Coconut Water is more nourishing than OJ.
• Coconut Water contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother's milk!
• Coconut water is naturally sterile so bacteria don’t stand a chance!
• Coconut water is a universal donor-- Its identical to human blood plasma.
• Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same level we have in our blood in fact.
• Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries through Coconut IV.

I don’t know about you… but I’m convinced. Coconut water is my favorite. So don’t keep your platelets waiting—get some today! Here are some pictures so you won’t be so intimidated to cut open your own. (The stuff in the bottle at health food stores SUCKS!!! Don’t get it. You have to cut open the coconut savagely at home in your own kitchen to get the full experience.)

This is young thai coconut water! Nourishing me to my very core and keeping my full of electrolytes. SO QUENCHING!

 This is the coconut that I cut open! It was super easy and I was so proud! You don't EVEN KNOW!. You can see the meat inside. This is really yummy in recipes and feels kind of like gelatin but isn't as gross. Here is a recipe I have for something delicious... I haven't made anything with the meat yet, but I am going to be on a raw foods fast and have a bunch of cravings I'm sure. YOU can be the first to try this one if you dare...

UMEBOSHI PLUM ICE CREAM

2 cups cashew soaked

2 cups coconut meat

1 cup water

1/4 cup umeboshi plum paste

2 tsp vanilla 

1/4 cup coconut butter warmed enough to make liquidy

High speed blender, blend all ice cream ingredients except the coconut butter. until smooth. Slowly add coconut oil. Chill thoroughly in fridge then process in an ice cream maker or champion juicer. ; ) 

This recipe serves twelve people. Mangluck- the seeds of thai basil have the same gelatinous when soaked traits as chia seeds but you can use mila if you have it. (*see earlier post on mila) It can be soaked and used as a pleasing garnish! PLUS OMEGA 3! 

I'll post more recipes once I've tried them out. I don't want to disappoint anyone. I got this recipe from the book... LIving raw food by Sarma Melngailis coauthor of Raw food/real world. 

It's pretty much amazing. and a great intro to raw food. Keep your eyes open because I am going to be doing a 30 Days Of RAW section soon. For all you raw foodies out there. 

Peace and love.

Loving Hut. aka exquisite pan asian cuisine!

This place has the best mushrooms ever! The Loving Hut is all about the mushrroms! SO the best ever!

The LOVING HUT is located on East hwy 50 in the super cool Vietnamese community right across from office depot. Loving Hut is created with a vision that all beings could live in peace, love and harmony with each other and the planet. Loving Hut chain restaurants are newly opening around the world. It is an invitation to gourmet cuisine made with wholesome vegan ingredients, offering an accessible starting point for those making the noble transition to a plant-based diet.

MY FAVORITE! It's called the Fantastic Pho and is really Truly that. It comes with a huge plate full of fresh thai basil and fresh crispy sprouts! Also, if you have a soy sensitivity (me no likey) I suggest get it tvp free, soy free, and tofu free but be sure to tell them extra mushrooms because like I said it's ALL about the 'shrooms! <3 They are literally the best bloody mushrooms I've ever tasted. They bring out a mushroom sauce and sriracha sauce. USE IT ALL! It gives this fantastic pho and extra fantastic quality! A perfect spice and a perfect bite every time! The noodles are rice noodles so good news for gluten free people! overall I give it a 10! I literally find myself thinking about this soup throughout the week and it is mine for the small price of $6.95 and it is at LEAST two meals, sometimes three.

If you haven't tried sriracha I strongly reccomend it. IT's good on EVERYTHING. The perfect condiment and soon to be the only one needed. GOD the asians really know how its done!

My friend, Brittany got the orange chicken with rice but she tried quinoa for the first time today! She loved it! Quinoa has all the essential amino acids which makes it a complete protein. It's a beautiful thing! She let me try it and it had a wonderful, zesty orange glaze and fried crispy and golden. It was a little chewy but isn't chicken like that? It's been a while.

Anslee and I HAD to get dessert. This is two chocolate cookies with 'ice cream'. It tasted like heavy whipping cream frozen--but it was terrific. Cookies were a bit hard... but 'ice cream' was fantastic. it was icy and didn't melt to fast. It didn't taste like soy at all which I LIKED.

We also got Chocolate cake! I didn't really like this one but it was definately softer! the 'ice cream' was still fab! I wouldn't reccomend getting either of these two desserts. If you go to Loving hut maybe you should try a smoothie. The Green smoothie looks really tasty! mmm... nutrients... next time I'll get it. OR maybe get some ice cream on the side. That would be a top drawer idea.

Apparently we didn't complain. We ate the most of it, after all we are pretty gluttonous.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed! Until next time... May your life be full of love, light and delicious food! 

Love, the Little Green Vegan

The MILA MIRICLE!

Chia seeds. Most people have heard of them. Salvia Hispanica L. Chia is taking the nation by storm! But All chia is NOT created equal. Mila is an 8 chia seed blend. Mila goes through a process called cold fracturing to keep the delicate nutrients of the chia seeds in tact. That means NO HEAT! Mila has the highest omega 3 content on earth which is superior to fish oil, which is toxic btw.  8.1 Million Americans have some sort of heart <3 disease and by 2030 80% of us will be overweight!
Lifemax is the company that developed this 8 chia seed blend. They did studies on the beautiful effects this blend has done on the testers. Not only is the Mila company interested in your well being, but Lifemax has a worldvision called the 501C3 foundation. They grow their seeds along the equator on small farms in impoverished countires so when we grow THEY grow. It helps these communities become sustainable and Lifemax can ensure they use no pesticides in the growth of their superfood! I couldn't be more excited about Mila because it is NOT a supplement it is a food that everyone can incorporate! It creates an overall sense of well being, lowers cholesterol, is fiber soluble and insoluble which helps in food absorption, high plant protein which is assimilated better in the body, antioxidants, cancer fighting phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and fights against omega 6 (inflammatory). NOT ONLY THAT but Mila helps you lose unwanted weight.
Mila is a superfood of the Aztec culture and this food alone sustained the empire. It was rediscovered in 1980 after almost 500 years of silence. I soak my Mila in water overnight and in the morning I have a Mila "oatmeal"! Add some almond milk and a pinch of cinnamon and you've got yourself a high nutrient delicious breakfast!!! But you can add it to green smoothies and juice too! I like to make raw food crackers with mine! SO GOOD!
Here are some of the things I made with it! Raw crackers and a great sunflower seed dip with yellow, red and orange peppers green onions and MILA!

all beautiful and all raw FULL of life force energy! : )

Mila is part of the mint family so no her/fung/pesticides are needed! AWESOME! The integrity is extremely high on their all natural farms. Strict harvesting and handling is enforced.
Mila is superior to chia because of the processing like I mentioned before. Chia goes through a grinding process that heats it to be considered a non-raw food. With Mila it's cold fracturing all the way! Only mature seeds (*nutrient dense) are used with Mila. Mila goes through a multi cleaning process and are naturally...
Gluten free
sugar free
Tranny free (trans fats)
Cholesterol free
 low sodium
and NO... I mean NO unpleasent taste or odor.
some other benefits of Mila are:

Bone health

Hearth Health

Mental awareness

Weight loss

Anti-aging

Promotes healthy joints

Healthy SKIN!

Healthy Bowels

AND can help with ADD and Autism

Boy OH boy!

Not only that but Mila compared with other foods per gram is...

8x more omega-3 than Atlantic salmon

6x more calcium than milk

3x more iron than spinach

2x more potassium than bananas

15x more magnesium than broccoli

2x more fiber than bran flakes

6x more protein than kidney beans

4x the selenium of flax

9x more phosphorus than whole milk and …

MORE antioxidants than blueberries!

A Quick word to you athletes... 

Mila can increase hydration levels. Chia seeds have the unusual ability to become gelatinous in water (*or juice). The average chia seed can hold around tenx it’s own weight in water- and this is just the AVERAGE chia seed mind you. This gel the chia seed creates acts as a reservoir for endurance athletes and the gel is slowly absorbed and the water is released to the body as needed. Chia seed gel acts as a physical barrier between carbs and the stomach wall. The digested carbs are absorbed into the blood and the effects of the energy produced by the digestive process lasts a lot longer giving you more… STAMINA! Adding quality protein to our diets is the best way to enhance muscle definition and since chia seeds contain a slough of nutrients, vitamins and minerals they help protect your active muscles from some forms of damage.  

I thought I'd share this beautiful food with you. www.lifemax.net/littlegreenvegan you can get yours here!

All beautiful and all raw FULL of life force energy! : )

HEALTH BLESSINGS AND LOVE

The little green vegan.

Konichiwa! Welcome to my healthy eating blog!

Consider this an introduction. I couldn't be more excited about food! I would love to introduce you to some of these culinary sensations that are sweeping my nation. Being Vegan is not hard- and I want everyone to know it. Being vegan is a wonderful thing anyone can do to reverse health problems and feel great! IF you eat the right foods of course. There is some hype about the veggie lifestyle. However, usually that is not the case. I guess it would be a good idea to first identify what technically these terms mean...

Vegetarian (Lacto-ovo)- a person who does not eat animal flesh. Incorporates dairy and eggs.

 Vegan- a person who does not partake in any foods that come from animals. Gelatin, dairy, eggs, leather, fur etc.
Raw Foodist- Doesn't heat their foods above 118 degrees to preserve the delicate proteins, enzymes and mineral. The food is higher in nutrients and gives a feeling of lightness.

Now we are clear and are on the same page! It is helpful to personally set goals for yourself but try not to label yourself as soley one of these terms because as great as it is to incorporate new food remember YOU make your decisions. Don't let labels control your life : )
There are some myths regarding Vegan/Raw eating that I'd like to address first.
MYTH 1:
It's expensive! Veggies are usually the cheaper part of the meal. It's the "mock" meats and processed soy products that are $$$. To be honest we shouldn't be eating those especially not as staples. Not only is it inexpensive, but by eating more raw veggies you are getting more nutrients per serving and will likely not be as snacky throughout the day! Wallet is happy.t

MYTH 2:
It's good for you to eat meat. It's what our bodies need.
Meat is the LAST thing we need. It's so taxing on our bodies to break that shit down! The digestion process begins in our mouths with saliva. Our saliva compared to that of a carnivore like a lion is alkaline while theirs is acidic.  Not only that but the hydrochloric acid content of a carnivores stomache is ours times ten! When we eat animal flesh it rots and ferments in our intestines because it has SUCH a long way to travel. Carnivores have short intestinal tracks. Lastly, if you notice animals that eat a lot of meat spend much of their time sleeping because it IS so taxing.
Compare our anatomy to that of herbivores from any walk of life. We have the most in common with them. It's science fact. Not science fiction. Sci-Fa.
ALso, Green leafy veggies are so much more nutrient dense than meat, which is part protein, yes... but also a large portion of fat. Veggies have antioxidants, nutrients, and all the minerals we need except vitamin B12 that we can get from microbial enzymes.
There you have it. Not convinced? http://www.chooseveg.com/meet-your-meat.asp
I don't focus on animal cruelty ONLY but it is an important issue and it IS also part of the veg movement. Factory farms are a big issue as well. That is what you are supporting when you buy meat at your grocer. There is nothing to argue here. Factory farms are killing our planet ... raping our land ... murdering our animals and slowly killing us. 'nough said.
MYTH 3:
Where do Vegans get calcium?
Well, where do cows get their calcium? Where do Gorillas get their calcium? They are pretty big... and I've never heard of osteoporosis in these animals. Green leafy's have more calcium than milk. It's more absorbent by your body. Milk and milk products are capable of supplying calcium--but they are also animal protein, remember-- and animal proteins require calcium to be utilized by our bodies. There are readily available calcium stores in our bones so the body borrows it. Some of this borrowed calcium is replaced by the byproduct of the milk we just consumed but not all of it. THEREFORE you are destroying calcium in your bones... not storing it. Milk CAUSES the very disease it is sworn to prevent. It's like... our government wants us to be sick. The best things in life are free but they want the $$$. White beans and green veggies give all the calcium we need in this life! incorporate a salad and see how you feel!

All I ask is you give the veg lifestyle a chance. It will be hard to handle the first couple weeks because your processed food addiction is a monster that is taking over your body. We have a true body and false body. The true body is everything you could be. The healthy version of yourself. The false body is the fat... toxic ... and harmful body (habbits) that we chose to feed and keep living inside of us. Next time you eat... think about which body you want to feed. I just wanted to shine some light on the veg lifestyle. This is my choice but if it's not yours. Thats ok! Bioindividuality my friend.We could all use some easy healthier options these days and buying local and organic when possible is important for our community and our planet not to mention our bodies! Do as you please and still enjoy my recipes and restaurant suggestions. I couldn't be more excited about the culinary adventures to come.  Let the beauty inside of you shine. Be happy. Be healthy. Be human.  ^_^
Health Blessings,
The little green vegan.