Be honest with yourself

(Photo taken from Pinterest, source unknown)

Lots of things have been going on in our household . I am sure you noticed something was up with the lack of blog posts lately.  I promise everything will be back to normal soon and I hope to have some wonderful news to share :)

Stay healthy! Also if you have any questions that you would like answers to, remember you can always email me at gethealthy@healthy-addicton.com or leave a comment post below.

Chai Tea

Lately, I have been loving the sweet and spicy taste of chai tea lattes! Since this little cup is filled with sugar is definitely an occasional treat. That being said I was on a mission to find an option that I could make at home and contained less sugar.

While in whole foods I found Oregon Chai, they have a few options but the slightly sweet was perfect for me. Mix 1/2 cup of chai with 1/2 cup of almond milk and you have the best morning/bedtime sweet treat! 

Main Street Vegan

Have you ever been sad that a book ended and you couldn't keep reading? The Penguin Group just sent over a new book Main Street Vegan by Victoria Moran that captivated me the whole way through. At first glance I thought 300+ pages about veganism... yikes, this is going to be tough to get through. They always say never judge a book by its cover because I could not put this book down! I am obsessed....possibly one of my favorite books ever!

I had heard Victoria Moran's lectures and had the opportunity to hear her speak at the Take Back Your Health Conference in northern Virgina last year. I have to tell you, this woman left a lasting impression in my life. Victoria is a very kind individual; glows from the inside out and gives off a sense of calmness when speaking. Her non-judgement approach to those who are not vegan was well translated into her new book.

To be honest, when I first opened the book I thought it would be like most vegan books on the shelves that preach, judge and share vivid details of animal treatment. Although that is okay, this book was nothing like I expected. Much like her lectures, this book was easy to follow, entertaining and encouraging. Take me for example. Yes, I thoroughly enjoy eating healthy, and eat vegan often, however I still consume animal products purchased from a local farm. That being said it was like this book was written for me, the average person walking down the street looking to refine their eating habits and live a healthier lifestyle.

The book Main Street Vegan spoke about different ways to consider how we go about our everyday lives. Have I ever really stopped to consider the treatment of the animals I viewed for entertainment at the local circus or weekend rodeo? This book provides baby steps for those individuals who want to make a change or even those who just want to learn about the vegan lifestyle.

Each chapter starts with a quote and ends with a delicious, budget-friendly vegan recipe you can try for yourself or share with others.  It is so well written that you start reading and then look at the clock to realize an hour has passed. Throughout this book you will learn how easy it is to make the transition to become vegan in all aspects of life if you choose to do so.

I can't recommend this book enough (as you can tell from my never ending blog post). It's perfect for that everyday person who wants to live a life of kindness, happiness and health. Remember, like me, you do not have to be vegan to truly enjoy this great read.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS- Main Street Vegan hits shelves April 26, 2012.

Before you leave I had to share this great recipe from the book!

Chocolate Mousse

• 1/2 cup pitted Medjool Dates (place in a bowl with enough water to cover, leave for 10-30 mins, drain and use immediately)
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• 3/4 cup mashed avocados (about 1.5 avocados)
• 1/2 cup plus 2 TB unsweetened cocoa or carob powder
• 1/4 cup water

1. Place dates, syrup and vanilla in a food processor and blend until smooth
2. Add avocados and cocoa powder and process until creamy (may need to scrap down sides)
3. Add water and process briefly

**You can even freeze this recipe for up to 2 weeks.... can we say YUM!!

Kale Vegetable Soup

So remember that soup I told you about last week? Well it turned out AMAZING, and we have been eating it daily. Not only is it extremely filling but it also has such great flavors. All from a little recipe that I ripped out of WebMD while at the dentist office... haha!

Makes 6 (but seriously it could serve a lot more)
Ingredients

• 1 TB EVOO
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large red pepper, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups of red potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 6 cups of kale (about 1 bunch), stemmed, and coarsely chopped
• 1 16oz can of low sodium cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 14.5oz can petite diced fire roasted tomatoes, undrained
• 4-6 cups of low sodium chicken stock (I used 6)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 TB vinegar (sherry or wine) (optional)
• 1 TB chopped fresh rosemary (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook 5-7 minutes until lightly browned; add red pepper, carrots and garlic; saute 5 minutes
2. Reduce heat to medium. Add potatoes, kale, beans, tomatoes, chicken stock, salt and pepper; simmer until potatoes are tender about 10-15 minutes (when I made this soup it needed to cook a lot longer. Just periodically check the tenderness of the potatoes to know when its done).
3. Add additional water or stock if mixture becomes too thick. Before serving stir in vinegar and garnish with rosemary. (I skipped this step)