The Vegan Post

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”
-Mahatma Gandhi

I’m a little bit behind on posting. Last night was the first night I really had detox symptoms. Caffeine withdrawal headaches can be a bitch. So I just laid low when I got home.

Today, I feel amazing. I had crazy, vivid dreams last night. There were green hills to climb. There were smiling cows and old friends. I didn’t want to wake up. All day I have felt an incredible high. I’m so positive. I want to feel like this forever. I have been very productive at work and came home to spackle the bathroom walls (renovation project ongoing), edited b-roll for an actor who has been requesting it forever and I kept blowing him off, emailed a friend back because I promised to, did all the dishes, played with lulu and made a green soup which is now chilling in the fridge. i will soon enjoy its deliciousness. I am emotional in the best way today. Easy come, easy go. I love my friends old and new so much. I am full of love. I love josh. I realize how lucky i am. i want to see my nieces and spend time with them before they get too big. It’s kind of already happening so fast that it scares me. I just want to enjoy this. My skin feels silky smooth. I feel beautiful from the inside. I’m glowing.

I’m listening to Beach House’s new album right now and it is PERFECT for this moment. I can’t explain. Just swoon.

Posted by fancyjane at 8:27 pm,
Health, Nutrition, Raw, Raw Food, Vegan
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“Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.”
-Hippocrates

Yesterday was Day 2. Going to work was hard without my morning coffee. Luckily, I am not experiencing the intense caffeine withdrawal that my friend Laura is. She had throbbing headaches all day yesterday and left work early. I pre-made a 52oz juice the night before to take with me. It actually lasted me all day along with my water. My energy levels were great as was my focus. Work was crazy, I was multi-tasking and was able to stay super focused and on top of it all. With a feeling of overall joy. Added bonus. When I got home I was feeling hungry for something savory so I made the suggested snack smoothie which included avocado, tomato, lemon juice, cucumber and spinach. I topped it off with cayenne pepper and ate it like a soup. It really hit the spot. Later I also ate a couple teaspons of hemp seeds. Their nutty flavor satisfied my craving. Then, I took Lulu for a walk, watched 2 very intense episodes of Breaking Bad (trying to catch up), and took a long, hot shower. I slept very well and woke up early with energy. So far, feeling good.

Posted by fancyjane at 8:39 am,
Health, Nutrition, Raw, Raw Food, Vegan
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“Without health life is not life; it is only a state of langour and suffering – an image of death.”
– Buddha

So it began today. Well, really this evening. All day I ate only raw foods as part of the prep. I was supposed to be prepping all week but I was in Vegas so you can guess how that went. I went to Mother’s Market in Brea today and got the 16oz “liver cleanse” juice. Beets, apples, ginger yumminess. That kicked off my day right. But, I do admit it was the first time I started feeling nervous about this whole cleanse. My thoughts were made up of fears that I won’t have willpower, that I will give up, that I’ll be too hungry, etc. My imagination went wild as I watch Josh eat his Tempeh Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Tomato sandwich with a generously portioned side of lemon-quinoa (one of my favorites!). Boooo! 

Later, at home, I juice up 32 oz of a green blend which included spinach, celery, zucchini, parsley, mint & lime. I added lemon, too, because it was pretty bitter. I liked the drink overall. I am letting myself be proud for also prepping my veggies to take to work tomorrow so I have enough for a recipe. I also pre-juiced my breakfast and left it in the fridge. I’m not sure if it’s ok to do that but I feel like the morning will be hard if I don’t. Then, I cleaned the juicer out and packed it up to take to work tomorrow. Laura and I plan to juice in the office! I wonder how she’s feeling tonight. I’m feeling a little bit more optimistic than earlier. I feel alert and awake. Josh and I rode our bikes around when it cooled off this evening then I took a hot shower and am now ready to relax until I fall asleep. Who knows what tomorrow may hold. I am supposed to go to the dog shelter early in the morning to see about adopting a puppy. I know the timing is probably bad but I can’t control that we found the cutest little pup today and he will be available tomorrow. It’s first-come first-serve so I plan to be there before they open at 10am. A puppy will throw my world into chaos but I want our Lulu to have a little pal. Maybe drastic change will actually be good this week – will keep me busy and focused.

Not gonna lie. Would have loved to have a cold beer tonight.

Posted by fancyjane at 11:50 pm,
General, Health, Nutrition, Raw, Vegan
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“How do you build up your bank account? By putting something in it everyday.Your health account is no different. What I do today, I am wearing tomorrow. If I put inferior foods in my body today, I’m going to be inferior tomorrow, it’s that simple.” 

– Jack Lalanne

Tomorrow I’m starting a 10-Day Juice Cleanse which includes some products from different companies such as Orangina business. My friend at work had signed up for the cleanse on Tera Warner’s website. I had done one of her detoxes before and I said “Hey, I’ve always wanted to do a juice cleanse! I will do it with you and together we will succeed!” I’ve done other cleanses but never 10 days of strictly juice and this one is mostly green juices and seems like a good option. This particular cleanse makes it easy as it gives you a shopping list, juice recipes & a menu planner. The juice recipes explain why each juice is good for you/what it does for your body. I am excited but I also am worried about my willpower as a vegan foodie with a habit lately of making the most delicious vegan ice-cream! It’s summertime, dammit! Anyway, I just got back from a gluttonous, alcohol-fueled trip to Las Vegas (first time I was able to eat vegan food at a buffet thanks to Steve Wynn-more on that later!) & my birthday is next month so I think this is a great time to try a cleanse.

Why do a juice cleanse? My first answer is to detox all my partying away. Secondly, it’s an adventure. But let’s be serious. Fresh, living juice is rich in nutrients (vitamins, minerals, living enzymes and phytochemicals), which all have incredible healthful and beneficial effects on your body. It is safe. You still consume the calories needed to continue your normal routines. It can also be life transforming (as I found a raw vegan diet to be for me a few years ago). Some of the benefits of juice cleansing include an increase in energy, improved mental clarity, improved skin, losing excess poundage, feeling more optimistic and many other great things.

I did shopping today for Days 1 -4. I love filling my basket with greens. I sometimes think if I ever get married I would want a bouquet made up of kale, chard, fennel & mint. 🙂 I plan to journal my way through the next 10 days. Probably nobody will read it but it will keep me sane.

Here’s to Jack LaLanne!

Posted by fancyjane at 3:48 pm,
Health, Nutrition, Vegan
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“Some people think the “plant-based, whole foods diet” is extreme.  Half a million people a year will have their chests opened up and a vein taken from their leg and sewn onto their coronary artery.  Some people would call that extreme.”

That’s my favorite line of the new film, Forks Over Knives. The line was eloquently delivered by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a heart surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic. His lifelong research and medical practice, along with Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s findings in The China Study, were highlighted in the film. Ok, my second favorite line was by one of Dr. Esselstyn’s patients who explained that a plant-based diet means he doesn’t need Viagra. His words were something like, “The flag still rises up the pole.”  If ya know what I mean!

Another tidbit I  liked: Dr. Esselstyn has a firefighter son named Rip who is ripped and got his whole firehouse to eat a plant-based diet when one of the guys found out he was in serious risk of a heart attack. I found that pretty inspirational!

The film focuses on health and also, thankfully, touches on the environmental consequences of our society’s meat and dairy consumption. These are all things most vegans already know but many of these recent “food” movies miss that point completely. But mostly it was about health. Interesting stats were shown regarding the amount of sugary, fatty & processed foods people eat and how much more of it they eat now than ever before.  Real people are shown changing their habits when their lives were at stake and we get to see the  wonderful results. Getting off the medications. Having more energy. Reversing disease. Success! This movie will save lives if our society will open their minds and explore this information (and delicious vegan food!).

Well, I’m off to the farmer’s market. Have a great day!

Posted by fancyjane at 11:58 am,
General, Health, Movies, Vegan
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(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Ok so Day 3 slipped away from me. i forgave myself, i hope you forgive me too. i’m going to continue my vegan jaunt around dublin, ireland and tell you where i ate when i lived there several years ago. i was beside myself when walked out of george’s arcade to discover this gem of a place called Blazing Salads! i felt the place was meant for me. i LOVE salads and i LOVE the mel brook’s film Blazing Saddles. i remember being a little girl watching that movie with my family and laughing so hard at the scene where they are sitting around the bonfire eating chili and farting up a storm. i love fart humor! i love Blazing Salads in Dublin!

Blazing Salads is a take-away deli type place which offered a salad bar as its centerpiece. you pick from a couple different size take out boxes and start filling them up with delectable salads of which there were many to choose from. they had potato salads, chickpea dishes, mixed greens, you name it. there are always vegan items and the food was seriously fresh and flavorful. after you fill up your box, it gets weighed and you pay. they also have a fridge full of ready-made meals. i think now they also offer frozen meals. Blazing Salads was a winner in my book because it was fast, wholesome, delicious and cute. i even bought their cookbook! check out their website.

Posted by fancyjane at 11:51 am,
Vegan MoFo
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i lived in the beautiful country of ireland for most of 2002. i was working in dublin at an internet cafe where many younger people worked. i made friends. more importantly, i made friends with people who liked food as much as i do. i have to admit i was totally shocked at the amount of veg goodness i found in that city. i was in love.

the first cafe i remember going to was Cornucopia. i remember walking there with catey and seeing a sign on their window that read “give peas a chance”. (you can’t resist a good play on words) i smiled. i looked at catey. she smiled. we wanted to go to there!

they are not 100% vegan but always had vegan options. the hip bohemian crowd that works there are in constant hustle mode. everyday there are new dishes. the place was busy all the time and had a happy vibe. i fell in love with running out of the rain into this place and being instantly comforted by the warmth and totally delicious smelling food. they often had lentils and curries.

Cornucopia is set up cafeteria style so you go in , pick up a tray and saunter down the line pointing at yummy and interesting things while some sweet hipster ladles it onto your plate. further down you can pick breads, soups, drinks and then pay.

i think this place has expanded since i have been there last. check out their website where you can check out the menu.

i was planning on also telling you about a few more dublin places in this post but i will have to do part 2 tomorrow. it will be a gas! (that is foreshadowing!) Happy MoFo-ing!

love,

jane

Posted by fancyjane at 9:47 pm,
Vegan MoFo
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today is the first vegan mofo day and i swore i would start off right and yes it is 5:15pm and i’m just now posting but work was crazy today. i want to talk about juicing a little bit. here’s a juice i’ve been making lately and i find it just delightful and simple. i even made it for a house guest who usually only drinks rockstars, coffee and booze and he gave it a thumbs up.

1/2 cucumber

1-2 cups of fresh cut pineapple

1 apple

3 carrots

Just juice it up and let the flavors dance in your mouth! hahahaha!

Posted by fancyjane at 5:23 pm,
Vegan MoFo
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Vegan MOFO 2009

Posted by fancyjane at 12:09 pm,
Vegan MoFo
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How happy were we to find this place at Coachella last weekend? Very!

Their menu is created from fresh produce from the super awesomeSweet Leaf Organic Farm & Cafe in Oregon.

Sweet Leaf Cafe is a solar powered kitchen that serves an organic menu at festivals, concerts, and street fairs. Salads, Stir Fries, Sandwiches, Wraps, Smoothies – the Cafe menu is fresh from their farm! These people have a cool attitude! I want to run away and work on their farm.

In the hot as hell California desert, this place was an oasis of fresh juice, produce and overall deliciousness. They were serving tempeh & tofu wraps, huge salads with homemade dressings(i hear they contain honey so make sure to ask) & smoothies & juices galore. Seriously, we were so happy with the veggie food options at Coachella. I have never been to a festival that was so vegan friendly. I never even had to partake in the old standby of a boring veggie burger made by a greased up carney.  Coachella, we hate you for the heat, the over-crowded Saturday, and  general douchey-ness but we fookin’ LOVE you for the FOOD! Thank you also for:

Homemade Granola Bars (on campgrounds) & Iced Coffee from SuperLove
Coconuts from 118 Degrees
NY Style Vegan Pizza (SO TASTY!) from brooklyncraftpizza.com best rated pizzeria.
Vegan Pad Thai with Peanut Sauce and Veggie Stir-fry over Brown Rice from a place I thought was called Eggroll King but I’m still researching this.
Tofu Masala Burgers from Cowboys & Turbans.

Apparently, the VIP area had a booth from Jenny’s 118 Degrees which is raw delicious-ness and I should know because I am a customer at her restaurant in Costa Mesa not because I am a richy-rich cool kid who got into the VIP section.  I hope Morrissey and Sir Paul McCartney tried her food! Go Jenny!

I’m hungry now. Bye-bye.

Posted by fancyjane at 9:23 am,
Concert, Festival, General, Vegan
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05zhL1YUd8Q

Posted by fancyjane at 11:27 am,
General, Vegan
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(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

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