Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day Eats

Watermelon Mint Cucumber Coconut Salad

Confetti Orzo Salad

We were treated to this amazing oil free salad and amazing meal today!!!
We brought baked tortilla chips and Nacho Mom's Ultimate Vegan Queso!!
Always a HIT =)

Savyon Cafe - Healthy Mediterranean!

Savyon Cafe

6118 W. Pico Blvd. 

Los Angeles, CA 90035

(323) 655-5505

http://www.savyoncafe.com/

OIL FREE - Israeli Salad, Baba Ghanoush hummus, pita

We happened into Savyon Cafe after hearing so many good reviews from our friend Ken from LivingECHO.com who've been to their Sunday vegan buffet. Savyon is a rare experience in authentic healthy Mediterranean cuisine. From the warm greeting when you walk in the door to the constant praise over the purity of the food from everyone around you.

Salad was amazing, with pickled green peppers and lemon dressing!

We were treated to an unforgettable Israeli salad, baba ghanoush, and home made bread. The produce was so amazingly fresh and I can't even begin to describe the baba ghanoush. The smokiness of the eggplant was intoxicating. I licked the plate clean. The owner Savi and staff took such amazing care of us and our oil free vegan dietary restrictions. I really felt like I was in Europe. You won't find better ingredients, preparation and warmth of environment anywhere on this side of the world. 

 

Ask Savi to prepare this oil free meal when its not too busy.  BYOW (Bring your own wine)

I cut open my pitas and stuffed the baba ghanoush and salad into them and had a feast!  Savi says he lets vegetables express themselves, these ones were screaming!

Hours Mondays- Closed
Tuesday-Saturday: 11:30am-9pm
Sunday: 11:30am - 5pm (Vegan all-you-can-eat buffet for $10.99 every Sunday from 11:30am to 4pm

Green Peas -Culver City

Green Peas
4437 Sepulveda Boulevard
Culver City, CA  90230
(310) 397-9815

I've been driving past Green Peas for over a year and finally decided to give it a try.  There are only three parking spots out front and the place was jam packed.  We ended up parking at the camera shop next door and pretended to look at a camera.  The vegan menu is extensive, with most being sandwiches.  We hacked a fresh veggie sandwich together on toasted baguette with a side of fresh fruit.  The sandwich was perfect.  The highlight of my visit was the fresh mint lemonade.

Get a Vegan Bikini Body in 3 weeks!!

KRISTIN'S 3 STEPS TO BE BIKINI READY IN 3 WEEKS!!!

I had only 3 weeks to prepare for a size 2 bridesmaid's dress at BFF's wedding followed a trip to Florida for my other BFF's 30th Bday Bikini Bash.  Even though I'm already thin following my Healthy Vegan diet, it's impossible not to be, appearing perfectly toned and fit, as well, does take a little work.  Plus, to my old friends, my healthy lifestyle seems completely whack so I feel it's my duty to prove them wrong and make them a bit envious of my Healthy Vegan beach bod :D

THREE STEPS HEALTHY VEGAN BIKINI READY:

1st: READ!  

The very FIRST thing I do when ever want to feel light & fit is skim through and refresh myself on the The Mcdougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss book!  It's the absolute BEST book for weight loss and super motivating!   In the book Dr. McDougall states for maximum weight loss you need to be eating mostly green and yellow vegetables, complex starches, and low sugar ...and of course no meat, eggs, dairy, oil, refine flour, added sugars, or any "rich" source of fat (ex. tofu, nuts, avocado, coconut, olives).  

2nd: GET ACTIVE!

The SECOND thing I do is scour the internet for workout DEALS.  For the last three weeks I've been all over the place (Burn 60, Yogaworks, Revolution Fitness, Kinetic Cycling, BarMethod) having fun, meeting new people, and getting fit for practically nothing thanks to Groupon, Moolala, DealOn and Gilt City.  Sign up on these sites to see if there's any local deals in your area :)  When I wasn't going to workout class I was walking around my neighborhood for over 1 hr 5 times a week.

3rd: EAT!

Here's a example of my daily diet.  I find when I'm in major weight loss mode its best to keep the menu simple and light.  Even though Lex bites off my head when I do, (he is most concerned about everyone getting ENOUGH good calories to be FULL) but I do keep a lose count of my calories in my head when I'm in bikini mode.  My train of thought is eat my BODY WEIGHT x 10 in calories per day...no less or I'll go into starvation mode and never lose a pound as my body holds tight to food for what it thinks is a FAMINE for SURVIVAL.

BREAKFAST:

Erewhon Organic Instant Oatmeal

YOU MUST get Erewhon Organic Instant Oatmeal it's the best I found, with only 4 grams of sugar.  Then pile on the blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries since berries are low in sugar no harm done:)  A good rule of thumb is to keep your breakfast under 10 grams of sugar because anymore will increase your insulin levels and make you feel hungry when you're not!!

LUNCH:

Hummus Tacos & Dr. McDougall's Asian Entree

I LOVE Fat Flush Tortillas!!!  They are full of fiber with only 80 calories and Zero Fat, plus they have a little nutty flavor.  I just pop them in the toaster (don't burn down the house) then spread Cedar's Fat Free Hummus and add bag lettuce with Whole Food's "Health Starts Here" Carrot Ginger Dressing.  If I'm still hungry after two taco I eat a Dr. McDougall's Asian Entree or Dr. McDougall's Soup.=)

Check out the NEW "Health Start Here" dressings by Cindy's Kitchen  @ Whole Foods!!!  Choose from Carrot Ginger, Tomato Basil, Fig Balsamic, Tangerine Vinaigrette, Pomegranate Vinaigrette ...Cindy is making salad fun again!!

AFTERNOON SNACKS:

Raw Veggies and Ceadars Fat Free Hummus

BEARITOS Organic No Oil Added Microwave Popcorn

 

DINNER: 

I followed my normal Healthy Vegans ways :)

Baked Potato & Steam Veggies ...Spice it up with some Tapatio Picante Hot Sauce ..I carry these in my purse..lol:D

or

Steamed Veggie, Brown Rice -minus tofu for MAX weight loss + lots of Bragg Liquid Aminos Spray and Sriracha Chili Sauce

RESULT: SKINNY HEALTHY & HAPPY ...W/ Lots of pennies left over to buy a new bikini and a sexy mini because eating this way is CHEAP :D :D :D

     

Gotta keep that Vegan skin looking' healthy too!! Don't forget you're...

   Derma E SPF 15

Or MY FAVORITE!!!
Solar Protective Moisturizer by DeVita
...BEST NON TOXIC Sunscreen EVER...doesn't leave you chalky..lol:D

Green Earth Vegan Cuisine - Pasadena

After a long walk at Huntington Library we headed over to the year old Green Earth Vegan in Pasadena.  The menu is mostly stir fries, but at the bottom of every page they say they cater to any special dietary requests.  Our server was superb in handling our questions and requests with the kitchen.  The orange sauce is oil free and he let us pick our veggie assortment.  The result was just fabulous and the restaurant is really nice, too. 

Green Earth Vegan Cuisine 
37 S. Fair Oaks Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91105

Note the nice decor, remember to park in the Pasadena Walk Garage a block over for free parking.  Green Earth is in the best area, with plenty of shopping and strolling to do if you decide to not be healthy vegans. :)

Meet me in St. Louis..Louis!!

HEALTHY VEGAN HIGHLIGHTS - ST. LOUIS, MO
Every time I visit home I'm always amaze to find more and more healthy vegan options!  Here's a couple healthy hotspots around town!!

SWEET ART

2203 S. 39th Street
Saint Louis, MO 63110
(314) 771-4278

SWEET BURGER - 100% vegan house-made burger with organic mixed greens, tomato, house vegan spread, ketchup, toasted wheat bun.  ORDER HEALTHY VEGAN STYLE: MINUS -HOUSE VEGAN SPREAD.  REQUEST for it to be prepared OIL FREE & sub FRUIT for chips =)

VEGA DELI

77 Hilltown Village Center

Chesterfield, MO  

(636) 536-6938

 HUMBURGER: 100% OIL FREE, SOY FREE, GLUTEN FREE vegan house-made burger made with hummus, rice, spinach, carrots and yummy spices.  ORDER HEALTHY VEGAN STYLE: MINUS -Vegenaise, NO VEGAN CHEESE.  SIDE: KALE SALAD w/ OIL FREE DRESSING. 

McAlister's Deil 

(LOCATIONS EVERYWERE)

GIANT VEGGIE SPUD $5.99: Red onions, bell peppers, diced tomatoes
ORDER HEALTHY VEGAN STYLE: MINUS -MOZZARELLA (Eww :P), Black Olives.  PLUS + HOT SAUCE, Salt/ Pepper=)  

Cafe Osage - Bowood Farms

4605 Olive Street
Saint Louis, MO 63108
(314) 454-6868

Steel Cut Oatmeal blueberries, brown sugar - ALREADY PERFECT! =)

Happy Cino De Mayo!!!

Just picked up this "Health Starts Here" Cino De Mayo Vegan Mexican Meal @ Whole Food Town & Country!!  Can't wait to start celebrating =)

**For dinner I got Oil Free Southwest burgers made w/ Black Beans, Corn, Brown Rice, & Portobello Mushrooms...YUMMY!!