How To Cook For Vegans, Vegetarians & Meat Eaters All At The Same Time

I've always found it incredibly challenging to cook and meal plan with all of my family's different food preferences.  While I am trying not to be that short-order cook, I still have my not-quite vegetarian hubby to deal with.  And if I want to keep my marriage going strong, I have to be sure to include some non-veg options for him.  (Although I'm proud to say he has come a long way and is slowly converting...slowly!)

So I've finally figured out a good system of meal planning, food preparation and cooking while keeping everyone happy.

Meal Planning

Usually on Sundays when I have a bit more time, I meal plan for the week, making a grocery list to go along with that plan and then hit the stores either that evening or Monday morning when the stores are quiet.  Every time I meal plan, I not only save myself time but save the family money on our grocery budget.  It's worth the 20-30 minutes to plan out a week's worth of food if you can!

Here's a sample menu for this week at my house:

Pasta:

Tonight, for example, I made a super easy pasta dish loaded with veggies.  The kids and I had ours with just veggies as the whole wheat pasta I used was loaded with protein.  The version I made for my hubby included sausage...something he's working on giving up but not there yet!
I cooked chopped asparagus, carrots, green onions, zucchini and red bell peppers and sauteed them in vegetable broth, then added in the cooked whole wheat bow tie pasta (I go with whatever shapes my kids will eat!).  Next, I added some fresh lemon juice, non-dairy butter, salt & pepper and fresh herbs.  Viola!  Easy as that.
As for my husband's version, I mixed in crumbled sausage on top of his pasta.
Everyone was satisfied...for once!

Tacos:

I grab two pans, one for the meat substitute or just beans if we're not using the substitute and one for the ground turkey or chicken breast that my husband sometimes prefers.  Heat the oil in both pans, chop the onions, mince the garlic, prepare the beans and saute half in one pan, half in the other at the same time.  Add the meat substitute in one pan, the real stuff in the other and stir.  Then add seasonings, tomatoes, whatever else you like in your ground taco base.  

The fixin's that go on top should be the same for both versions so all you have to do is assemble!  Over time, you may be able to use half faux meat + half real meat to gradually ease a non-veg into one.  

Burritos:
I do these similar to the way I do the tacos from above where I have two pans going at the same time.  One tortilla gets loaded up with the bean-filled version, the other with ground meat.  Although many times I add way less meat and way more beans and my hubby is none-the-wiser.  Just be sure to use non-dairy sour cream, shredded cheese and whatever else you usually fill your favorite burritos up with.  We love homemade guacamole with ours which I sneak tofu into!  You'd never know it's there...trust me!

Stir-fry:

For the stir-fry version I usually make for my own Veggie Kids, I use a ton of fresh vegetables that you'd find in a traditional recipe, just altered a bit to their liking.  I heat oil in a hot wok (so fun to use-I think I got it as a wedding gift years ago) and cook all the veggies up.  But before I do that, I drain and cube extra-firm tofu (non-GMO) and stir-fry that in oil so it gets crispy on all sides.  Then I remove the tofu from the pan and cook the veggies.  In a separate, smaller pan I cook whatever meat my hubby (or guests) like and add it in to their portion last.  I will say, however, that I've used Gardein products throughout this dish and fooled many-a-carnivore!


Homemade Pizza:

My favorite pizza dough to use is not my own recipe, but Trader Joe's pizza dough.  It's cheap and so fun to use!  Whatever dough we use, we make it our own with tasty toppings.  I usually buy 2 bags of the dough and form 5-6 mini pizzas so each family member can have their own individual pizza to create what they like.
After the organic tomato sauce goes on (or BBQ sauce, or vegan cream sauce...), the vegan versions will get sprinkled with Daiya style shreds, while the non-veg option will have regular dairy cheese (or 1/2 + 1/2).  Sauteed mushrooms and onions, olives and bell peppers go on all pizzas while those who want real pepperoni or sausage can choose it for theirs.  Sprinkle some garlic powder on top and you've got some super easy, fun homemade pizzas for dinner!

The point of all this is that living in a house full of various food preferences can certainly make the simple task of a meal daunting, but once you open your mind to accepting that things are the way they are (either for now or forever) and take a little time to prepare, playing chef can be a lot of fun!

I'd love to hear your ideas as well on how you cope with other members of your household having drastically different ideas of what a meal should consist of and what tips and tricks you've used to deal with it all!

In the meantime, happy cooking!

Oh, and I'll be featuring some sinfully delicious holiday goodies just in time for the Holiday Season in some upcoming posts and on the Veggie Kids You Tube Channel as well!  

Who said you can't be vegan and have your favorite holiday treats?

Now go get your VEGGIE POWER!

Don't forget to check out VK on Twitter or on Facebook

Quick No-Yeast (Vegan) Cinnamon Rolls + Pictures from Thanksgiving

I hope all of you had a family/friend-filled Thanksgiving full of great food and good memories!  Although most of our family and many of our friends are far away, I was thankful to have my hubby home for an entire day..woohoo!  Plus, the weather was so beautiful we were able to get some much needed exercise together at the park.  If you haven't been on a park swing lately, I highly suggest it.  So fun!

Anyway, I wasn't planning on cooking anything except my humongous Vegan Thanksgiving Feast but decided to whip up some quick baking cinnamon rolls.  I had to use what I had on hand so I came up with a rather tasty Quick No-Yeast (Vegan) Cinnamon Roll recipe that I think you'll enjoy too!  

Quick No-Yeast (Vegan) Cinnamon Rolls

makes about 16 rolls

For The Dough:

2 C. flour (I don't recommend whole wheat unless you're family is used to it)

2 Tb. sugar (I used coconut palm sugar)

4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. sea salt

4 Tb. non-dairy butter, room temperature (Earth Balance)

3/4 C. non-dairy milk (I used almond milk, vanilla)

1/2 C. chopped pecans (optional:  I didn't use them but would have if I had some on hand!)

For The Filling:  

6 Tb. non-dairy butter, room temperature (Earth Balance)

1 C. sugar (brown sugar would be great, I used date sugar)

3 tsp. ground cinnamon

For The Icing:

1/2 C. powdered sugar

2 Tb. non-dairy milk (I used almond milk, vanilla)

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375F.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add in butter, cutting it into little bits and either using a potato masher or your hands.  Slowly add in the milk, working the mixture into a ball of dough.  

Sprinkle a bit of flour on a flat surface and flatten the dough onto it.  Use a rolling pin to form a 1/4" thick rectangular piece.

To make the filling:  In a medium bowl, combine butter, sugar and cinnamon, mixing together well.

Evenly sprinkle pecans and 1/2 the filling mixture onto the bottom of either a 9" x 9" pan or a pie pan.  

Spread the remaining 1/2 of the filling onto the flattened dough evenly.  Slice the rectangular piece in half for easier rolling.  

Beginning at one end, carefully roll the dough up onto itself.  (So you'll end up with two "logs")

Cut the "logs" into ~1" sections and place tightly in pan.  

Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes.

Flip over onto serving plate so all the gooey stuff ends up on top!

To make the glaze: Combine powdered sugar, milk and vanilla in microwave safe bowl, stirring well.  You want it to be a bit thick and can always add more later.  Warm in the microwave just a bit, then drizzle over cinnamon rolls.  Mmmm!!!

I used whole wheat flour because it's all I had but I'd recommend using all-purpose for these.

THANKSGIVING HIGHLIGHTS:

I had lots of help in the kitchen...and lots of taste testing too!

The Tofurky turned out great!  I was completely surprised by how much I liked it.  For a Vegan Thanksgiving meal, everything sure tasted decadent.  Even my husband enjoyed it all-no questions asked!

CRAFT TIME!

I spent forever scouring through my favorite websites and blogs trying to find the source for this cute project but had no luck.  I thought it was such a great idea-throw various colors of paint in a sealable plastic bag, tape it on the window and let the kids go to work!  All three of my boys (young & old alike) loved this project.  We left it taped up so they can work on it tomorrow too.  

The best part?  No mess!  

(If I find the site where I got the idea from, I'll post it.)

If you're looking for another rainy day/holiday/the-kids-aren't-in-school-and-are-driving-me-crazy project, check out this super cool one from About.com-homemade bouncy balls!  

I can't wait to try it!

A Vegan Thanksgiving Menu Even the Kids Will Love!

Kid-friendly candied sweet potatoes with vegan marshmallows.

When I was a kid, I remember Thanksgiving was just a boring holiday that needed to hurry up and pass by so we could move on to Christmas.  Bland, brown-toned Thanksgiving food + football being the only thing on tv all day + too cold to play outside = complete boredom for a child.  Now that I'm more mature grown up I love Thanksgiving time and look forward to the delicious foods, the gorging yourself until you can't move and laying around on the couch all day inside where it's nice and warm.  But my kids aren't buying into it.  And being vegan adds another twist to it.

So the my challenge this year is how do I make a Thanksgiving meal that will satisfy the entire family?  (Including my not-quite-vegetarian, sort of vegan sometimes when he wants to be husband.)

Well I'm up for the challenge.  Plus, it's never too late to start a new tradition!

Here's what I came up with for the Vegan Thanksgiving Menu Even The Kids Will Love this year!  The trick is to keep everything "separate" since most kids don't like their food to touch other foods.  Plus, the little individual mini servings are way more fun to eat! 

 If that's too much trouble, make the recipe the regular way, then set aside a serving or two for the kids in a separate fancy bowl, cup or whatever special item you have to put it in.

You can find most of the recipes at the end of this post.

Appetizer: 

Set the appetizers out early while you're busy cooking.  This is a great way to get the kids (& your guests) to eat some healthy items before the feasting begins!  The more colorful, the better!

-whole grain crackers with sunflower seed cheese spread, zucchini & carrots

(other options: you could make Raw Cashew "Cheese" or use hummus)

-veggie stix with creamy vegan artichoke dip

-candied mixed nuts

Sides: 

     -classic vegan mac 'n "cheese" 

-pomegranate cornbread muffins

-kid-friendly candied sweet potatoes

-mandarin orange salad

     -stuffing (I wouldn't call this one kid-friendly, but I'm making a traditional cornbread stuffing using vegetable broth, celery, breadcrumbs, onions, etc.)
-greens (gotta get those greens in!!!  I'm making a southern-style vegan greens recipe similar to this one)

-potato salad (recipe here)

Main:

photo credit

-Tofurky
(I may be forced to make Chickenless Nuggets for my kids, or you could bake a lentil loaf)

-mushroom gravy (this one maybe?)

Dessert:

-mini pumpkin pies (recipe here)

-vegan cheesecake (either from here or here)

Beverages:

-sparkling cider for the kids

-champagne for the adults

simple as that!

Besides the Tofurky above, About.com has a great list of Vegetarian Turkey Substitutes including:

-Gardein Stuffed Turk'y. I love all of Gardein's products so I bet this one is great too!

-Quorn Turk'y Roast (it's soy-free)

-Stuffed Hazelnut & Cranberry Roast

-"Vegetarian Plus" Whole Turkey-this one is actually shaped like a turkey!

...and more...

                                                   Here's a statistic for you before you go.  
It's not to make anyone feel bad, just food for thought.  If you can't handle going without a traditional Thanksgiving turkey this Thursday, you can spend the entire next year considering it.

It's been said that 45 million....yes, million...turkeys are raised each year on factory farms for Thanksgiving ALONE!  They live a horrible life just so they can end up our plates for a "thankful" meal.  Real change starts with one person.

In my house this year we're having a bit of a turkey celebration with 

"Celebrate Turkey" day by having my kids design their own paper turkey, decorating it with fake feathers or dried leaves...whatever they come up with.  

We're always up for a craft around here!

KID-FRIENDLY VEGAN 

THANKSGIVING RECIPES:

Sunflower Seed "Cheese" Spread/Dip (Raw Vegan): 

makes 1 1/4 Cups

1 C. soaked, rinsed, drained raw sunflower seeds

1/4 C. water

1 tsp. apple cider vinegar

juice of 1 lemon

1 garlic clove

1/2-1 tsp. Himalayan Pink Salt (or sea salt)

1 tsp. nutritional yeast

To soak sunflower seeds, simply place them in a bowl of water for at least 1 hour.  Then drain.

Add all ingredients to food processor or high-powered blender and process until completely smooth.  Be sure to scrape down the sides as you go.  

video recipe here

Creamy White Bean & Artichoke Dip:

makes 2 Cups

recipe from "The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook" by Dr. Neal Barnard, MD

(I highly recommend this book!!)

1 small white onion, chopped

1 (15 oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained

1-2 small garlic cloves, minced

1 (15 oz.) can white beans, drained & rinsed

1 Tb. lemon juice

1 Tb. finely chopped scallions

1 tsp. fresh oregano

1 Tb. chopped fresh basil

pinch of cayenne pepper

sea salt & black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425F.  

Wrap onion in foil & bake for 20 minutes

Squeeze each of the artichoke hearts or press them against the bottom of a fine mesh colander with spoon to remove moisture.

Add onions, artichokes hearts & all remaining ingredients to blender or food processor & puree until smooth, but still chunky.

Serve with veggie sticks, crackers, pita triangles or bread.

Candied Mixed Nuts:

makes 8 servings

this would be a great dessert item too!

2 3/4 C. pecans, walnuts, cashews (whatever nuts you like) lightly chopped

(you want chunks but not whole pieces)

1 1/2 Tb. non-dairy butter (Earth Balance)

1 C. sugar (I use coconut palm sugar, use turbinado, date sugar..whatever you have on hand)

1/2 C. water

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 275F.

Place all nuts onto baking sheet with edges (so they don't slide off).  Bake 10 minutes.

In medium sauce pan, add butter, sugar, water, salt & cinnamon.  Cook over medium heat, stirring until mixture is just boiling.  Boil for no more than 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Stir in the warm nuts being sure to coat them all evenly.  

Spray that same baking sheet with non-stick spray or use parchment paper.

Spread coated nut mixture onto baking sheet evenly.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, being sure to stir half-way through.

Allow to cool before serving.

Classic Vegan Mac 'N "Cheese":

makes 4 individual servings or just bake one big batch!

8 oz. sea shell pasta or about 1 1/2 C. uncooked pasta (use what shape you like here)

3 Tb. flour (I recommend all-purpose for this one)

1/2 C. non-dairy butter (Earth Balance)

1 C. non-dairy milk, I used almond (you may need a bit more for a creamier sauce)

1/2 C. nutritional yeast

1/2 tsp. tumeric (for color & added health benefits)

1/2 C. Daiya cheddar style shreds

2 slices rice cheese slices (found here, I bought mine at Whole Foods)-optional

1 tsp. sea salt

ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375F.

Boil pasta according to package directions.  Drain & put back in pan.

In medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Whisk in flour, stirring constantly as it thickens.  Gradually add milk while continuing to stir.  Cook for 2 minutes as it thickens, then reduce heat to low.

Stir in butter, nutritional yeast, Daiya cheese, salt & pepper.  Add more milk as necessary for a creamier sauce. 

Pour over cooked pasta.

Add the rice cheese slices by breaking them into bite-sized pieces and stirring them into the pasta mixture until they melt.  (The result is a gooey, cheesy texture similar to a Velveeta recipe)  The cheese slices are optional as it tastes great without them too.  

Place in individual ramekins or 8" x 8" (or similar size) pan.  Bake 12-15 minutes or until cheese is thoroughly melted (vegan cheese takes much longer to melt!).

*If you like it with crunchy breadcrumbs on top, just sprinkle 2 Tb. melted butter + 2 Tb. breadcrumbs mixed together on top and bake for about 15 minutes or until browned on top.  

Pomegranate Cornbread Muffins:

makes 24 mini muffins, 1 dozen regular sized muffins or 1 loaf

For this recipe I used a boxed mix from Trader Joes.  I know, cop-out..whatever, but honestly I say don't feel bad about not making everything from scratch if it saves your sanity!

Use 1 box Trader Joes cornbread mix with

1 "flax egg" in place of the real egg (1 Tb. ground flax seeds + 3 Tb. warm water) and

non-dairy milk in place of regular milk (I used almond milk)

Add pomegranate seeds in last, stirring carefully so they don't bleed color into the batter.  Or, if you're making muffins, just place the seeds in by hand, poking them down into the cups full of batter after you've filled them 3/4 of the way full.

You could use cranberries in place of pomegranate seeds!

Kid-Friendly Candied Sweet Potatoes:

makes about 10 servings

8 medium sized sweet potatoes, peeled

1/2 C. orange juice

1/2 C. pure maple syrup (or use agave nectar)

2 Tb. brown sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

2 Tb. non-dairy butter, cut into chunks

Preheat oven to 350F.  

Slice peeled sweet potatoes into 2-4 large pieces for faster cooking.  Boil until just barely soft, strain and cool.  (Do not over cook them or they'll break apart.)

In medium bowl, combine orange juice, syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanilla.  

Place cooled sweet potatoes on cutting board & slice into bite-sized chunks.  Put the chunks into ramekins or use a 9" x 13" (or similar size) baking dish.  

Pour liquid mixture evenly over sweet potatoes. Place butter pieces all around sweet potatoes.

Bake 20 minutes.

Sprinkle mini vegan marshmallows on top (or use regular sized vegan ones) and bake an additional 10 minutes or until marshmallows are slightly brown.

*obviously, the more marshmallows you have on top, the more likely it will get eaten by the kids but the yams are super sweet alone too so be sure to let the kids try it!

Mandarin Salad

makes 4-6 servings,

my Mom used to make this one on Holidays I always LOVED it!  

I think it comes from the Betty Crocker Cookbook.  I altered it slightly.

1/4 C. sliced almonds

1 Tb. plus 1 tsp. sugar

2 C. romaine lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces

2 C. arugula or baby spinach (or both!), torn into bite sized pieces

2 medium stalks celery, chopped (about 1 C.)

2 green onions (with tops), thinly sliced (about 2 Tb.)

Sweet & Sour Dressing (see below)

1 (11 oz.) can mandarin orange segments, drained

Cook almonds and sugar over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted and almonds are coated. Cool and break apart.  Store at room temperature.

Place salad leaves in large plastic bag; add celery and onions.  Pour sweet & sour dressing into the bag; add orange segments.  Close bag tightly and shake well until everything is well coated.

Add almonds and shake.

Sweet & Sour Dressing:

1/4 C. vegetable oil

2 Tb. sugar

2 Tb. vinegar

1 Tb. fresh parsley, roughly chopped

1/2 tsp. sea salt

ground black pepper to taste

dash of red pepper sauce (optional)

Shake all ingredients in a tightly covered jar; refrigerate unti ready to use.

HAPPY VEGAN THANKSGIVING!

McDonalds Eggs

I was so happy to see this piece from 20/20 tonight on factory farmed chickens, eggs & McD's.  If you haven't seen it, click on the link below.  It's a small victory for Mercy For Animals (video here) and there is so much more work to be done.

McDonalds Changes Decision

When I first became vegan, it wasn't due to a love for animals.  However, over the years of learning and growing in this new, healthier way of life and diet I've learned so much about the disgusting practices going on in our country with factory farms.  I do not like showing pictures of tortured animals or the like but this piece on ABC's 20/20 brought the subject to the mainstream.

Whether you're vegan, vegetarian or a proud meat eater, it is important to know where your food actually comes from.  The decisions we make as consumers directly affect what is produced.

Learn more at PETA.com.

Vegan Puppy Chow That's Healthier! A Great Holiday Treat or Homemade GIft

If you've ever had Puppy Chow (no, not dog food...the naughty sweet treat, silly!) then you know how addictive and delicious it is.  I purposefully only make it during the Holiday Season and say I'm going to give it away but somehow it ends up in my fingers.  Weird. 

Anyway, I came up with a healthier vegan version that still tastes like the sinful version we're all used to.  This is a great recipe for kids because it comes together so fast!

Healthy Vegan Puppy Chow

2 C. dark chocolate chips (non-dairy & fair trade please)

1/2 C. non-dairy butter (Earth Balance)

1 C. peanut butter (or use almond butter if you like)

1 tsp. blackstrap molasses

1-2 Tb. ground flax seeds

1 box (~12oz.) Rice Chex cereal

1 3/4 C. powdered sugar 

Melt butter, peanut butter, chocolate chips and molasses together over low-medium heat in medium sauce pan on the stove or melt in microwave safe bowl being sure not to burn it. 

Add flax seed or wheat germ and stir well.

Pour dry cereal in a large bowl and pour the chocolate mixture over it. Use a large spoon or spatula to gently stir while coating each piece.

Pour wet cereal mixture into clean paper bag (great way to recycle!) or use a sealable plastic bag. 

Sprinkle in the powdered sugar and shake, shake, shake!Store in air-tight container. 

Put some in holiday tins and tie a ribbon on for a cute & inexpensive homemade holiday gift!

WARNING: this recipe is ADDICTIVE!!! Eat at your own risk!

Here's the Veggie Kids You Tube video of how to make it.

Toxic Beauty Products

Toxic Beauty Products

I don't know if you've noticed but for some reason when you're conscious about what kinds of foods to eat, you become aware of other things that go anywhere near your body.  And that's what I'm talking about today-health and beauty products.  Since our skin is our largest organ, absorbing everything we put on it, we've got to be smarter about what products we're actually using.

You may not have heard from me in a while because I have been completely consumed with this topic.  I wanted to be sure I shared everything with you that I learned while researching this topic.  Now I'm sure I'm leaving some items off the toxic list below but I feel this is a great summary and important information you all should have.  I feel like I could write an entire book about it but I suppose that's been done before...  And don't even get me started on cleaning products-that post will have to come later!

Maybe you've heard about how bad parabens or sulphates are for us but it goes deeper than that. There's a book I recently read called No More Dirty Looks which explains a a lot about which ingredients to avoid that are in the majority of our beauty/healthy products.  Don't believe me?  Just go grab a bottle of one of your hair care products, make-up products or lotions, turn it over and start reading the lengthy list of hard to pronounce ingredients.  Beware of those so-called "natural", "pure", "organic" or "gentle" labels as they are deceptive.

Honestly, I've been sort of lazy about diligently checking ingredient labels on items I purchase.  But after reading the book I mentioned above, I think I've become somewhat obsessed about it now.  I was shocked to discover that so many of the products (mostly make-up, some lotions) I owned had a number of toxic chemical ingredients listed below.  Needless to say, I had an excuse to go shopping!

Here's a list of toxic ingredients to avoid:

Any of these ingredients can be found in shampoo, conditioners, lotions & moisturizers, toothpaste, shaving cream/gel, mouth wash, sunscreen, sunless tanners, baby care products, perfumes, make-up, nail products, deodorants, etc.

Sulfates: SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) & SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulphate): this yucky stuff is in just about every shampoo and detergent out there because it forms that nice soapy lather we all love.  It's been linked to many skin problems such as itchiness, eczema and allergies.  According to the ACT (American Academy of Toxicology) it can cause improper eye development in children under the age of 6.  

DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Momoethanolamine) & TEA (Triethanolamine): these chemicals actually disrupt hormones and have been known to cause cancer.  Many shampoos contain these yucky ingredients which may be listed as Lauramide DEA or Cocamide DEA or MEA.  Children are especially susceptible to the toxic effects of these chemicals.

Isopropyl Alcohol: this extremely drying ingredient is found not only in hair and body care products, but it can also be found in antifreeze, wood finishers and as a solvent in shellac.  Yuck.

Parabens (Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl) & Formaldehyde: used as preservatives in many products to extend shelf life, it causes skin rashes and allergies.  Parabens have been linked to breast cancer as well.

Phthalates: this toxic "plastic" ingredient is sometimes found under "fragrance" in products and can cause damage to male sex organs as well as infertility.  Phthalates have even been found in breast milk as humans are exposed to this chemical by ingesting contaminated food and water or through inhalation.  Phthalates are not just found in cosmetic and personal care items but in PVC plastics.

Propylene Glycol & Polyethylene Glycol (PEG & PPG):  made from synthetic chemicals, it causes eczema and hives.


Mineral Oil & Petrolatum (Petroleum Jelly): this stuff is used in anti-freeze and other "auto" fluids and is known to cause dryness of the skin as it strips skin's natural oils and causes it to dehydrate.  It comes from crude oil and contains carcinogens. It's super cheap to manufacture which is why you see it in a lot of products.  I'll admit that I had a hard time giving up Petroleum Jelly as a moisturizer for my feet and lips but Alba makes a healthy version called Un-Petroleum Jelly found here.  

Fragrance (Synthetic): As much as we all love to smell so fresh and clean, it's actually incredible toxic to our systems.  Products listed with "fragrance" as an ingredient can contain from hundreds to even thousands of chemicals companies are not even required to list.  These chemicals (aka fragrances) contain neurotoxins and are among the TOP 5 ALLERGENS EVER! 

Synthetic Dyes (FD&C or D&C followed by a number): these beautiful colors are actually made from coal tar (see below) causing skin irritations and sensitivities.  In studies done on animals (that's a whole other issue now isn't it!) almost all of them have been carcinogenic.  That means cancer causing.  Ridiculous.


Coal Tar: found in dandruff and psoriasis shampoos as well as hair dyes, this chemical has been linked to cancer in lab animals through a number of different studies.  It is a highly flammable substance sometimes used for heating boilers.  Ew.


Talc (Talcum Powder): found in a variety of products including baby powder.  Linked to ovarian cancer.  Has ill effects if inhaled.

Did you know that in the US, there are absolutely no restrictions on ingredients allowed in personal care products?  This means the FDA cannot recall any dangerous or potentially harmful products.  90% of personal care product ingredients known to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not been evaluated for safety.  

Here's another shocking statistic.  The European Union currently bans over 1100 harmful or potentially harmful ingredients.  The United States bans 10.  Ten!  Shameful.

Kim Irish, Program Manger for Breast Cancer Action, has started a campaign on the subject.  She's hosting a webinar on Nov. 29th & Nov. 30th presented by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group titled "Toxic Cosmetics: What consumers dont' know about their beauty products and what you can do about it".  I urge all of you to sign up here for the webinar or at least check out the book I mentioned above (No More Dirty Looks).  I'm looking forward to learning more at the webinar I signed up for on the 29th.  

Kids Products

When you're talking about kids, it's important to be even more on top of watching what goes on their heads, their skin and in their mouths.  Their skin is 30% thinner than adults which means they can absorb more chemicals.

The famous company Johnson & Johnson, "America's most trusted brand", has come under scrutiny for selling products containing chemicals such as formaldehyde.  Check out this article in Forbes.  

Rhian from Curls of the World recently sent me some great hair care products to try on my kids.  She started the line of all natural hair care products for kids and adults because she was unable to find products for her own kids that met her high standards in the marketplace.  Rhian is a health nut and she and her husband are raising their children to be vegetarians so "using healthy natural products is very important " to her.  

Toothpaste is something I've been picky about since learning about the ill effects of fluoride.  I realize this is a somewhat controversial subject for some because dentists have ingrained in our brains that fluoride is necessary to prevent cavities.  Does it make sense to give something to our kids to put in their mouths that says "harmful if swallowed"?!  If you look into the history of why we even began consuming this toxic chemical (yes, it really is toxic-I didn't make that up irrationally), it would make you wonder. Don't forget that fluoride is also present in most cities' water.  

I've been using the toddler fluoride-free products for years and for us older folks I purchase Tom's "fluoride-free" toothpaste which I love.  They have minty flavors for the adults and fun flavors for the kids, like Silly-Strawberry.  Be careful though because now they also produce "fluoride-full" toothpastes which are packaged just like their counterpart.  

Two sites to check out on the subject so you can decide for yourself are FluorideAlert and FluorideDebate.com.  

What Can You Do?


It's not all bad news.  Thankfully, many companies (like Curls of the World) are getting smart and producing safe personal care products.  In fact, there are some really great ones that are readily available and affordable.  On a personal note, I just returned from Target and found a ton of great products that are "clean".  They have several brands of make-up, deoderant, shampoo, soap and even sunless tanners that are not tested on animals, made with all natural chemical-free ingredients and are all around "good guys".   Because if you're like me, you don't want to search high and low for your every day basics!

Some brands to consider are:
Yes To
Alba
JR Watkins
Avalon Organics
Weleda
Juice Beauty
Burts Bees

Here are some resources:

The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics

NY Times Article About "The Pinking of America"
Good Guide

Books:

No More Dirty Looks

Not Just A Pretty Face

Toxic Beauty
Green Beauty Guide

Of course, if you're up for it, you could always make some of your own concoctions and beauty potions.  


I hope that you share this article with others.  The more consumers take action against toxic products, the more positive changes will take place.  If you're upset about a favorite product you've used for years containing one of the ingredients listed above, write to the company and tell them.  Or better yet, write to Congress and let them know you're not satisfied with the lack of oversight at the FDA.  (contact Congress here)

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to Veggie Kids!  

look for this on the right side of the VK home page

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Vegan Pinwheels For Lunch!

If you're like me, you are quickly running out of vegan lunch ideas for the kids.  I've been meaning to make these cute little pinwheel sandwiches for a while now and as I did, they were gone!  This is a great way to load up the fresh veggies and sneak in lots of healthy ingredients.  

Check it out below or on Veggie Kids' You Tube Channel!

Vegan Pinwheel Sandwiches

The VK Store is Now Open and Giveaway Winner!

Just in time for the holiday shopping season!  Get some Veggie Kids gear for yourself, friends, family, baby or even your pet.  Prove that eating healthy is cool by setting the trend with vegetable inspired t-shirts, water bottles, bags, jammies and much more!

Be the first to walk around with a veggie kids shirt!  Because being healthy is cool...

I know what my family's getting this Christmas!  

Navitas Naturals Giveaway Winner

Thanks for all the "follows" on Facebook and Twitter and for entering the snack giveaway!  I've randomly selected one lucky winner to receive Navitas Naturals Cacao Goji Superfood Snack and the winner is.....Carissa!

Congratulations!  You will feel so incredibly healthy after eating this raw, organic, vegan superfood so way to go!

Carissa, please email me with your mailing address (veggiekids.blogspot@gmail.com).

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Check In Time! Junk Food List, Plus A Vegan Dinner Even A Meat Eater Would Love

If you or someone you know took the 2 Week Plants Only Pledge last month then it's time to check in and see how you're doing.  With close to 100 people pledging I'm hoping most of you hung in there and continued eating only plant based foods beyond the 14 days!  I hope you're feeling amazing; clean and lighter inside and out.  

I also hope even more people signed up because it was also mentioned at VegNews.com!

And if you fall off the vegan wagon, just pick yourself back up and find some comfort foods that are plant-based.  They do exist!  

Some of the vegan junk foods I've turned to when I feel like I'm being "too darn healthy and need something naughty" are:

-Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate Milk

-Uncle Eddie's Vegan Cookies 

-Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks (tastes like Cheetos)

-So Delicious Peanut Butter Zig Zag Ice Cream (so worth the price!)

-Cleo's Peanut Butter Cups

-Cocomels Coconut Milk Caramels

-Newman-O's Peanut Butter Creme Filled Chocolate Cookies

-Daiya shredded cheese (I make a cheese quesadilla with it)

-Tofutti ice cream sandwiches

Now here's a hearty dinner recipe sure to satisfy any meat eater! 

This is a meal I make often for my not-quite-vegetarian husband.  He never complains that it's missing meat.  My kids love it too!  You could easily add in some zucchini slices or bell pepper chunks to make it even healthier.  The buttery sauce is completely satisfying!  Plus, it's a breeze to throw together.

Mushroom Tortellini with Vegan Bacon Butter Sauce

makes about 4 cups

1/2 lb. vegan mushroom tortellini*, Rising Moon makes great products

1 C. crimini mushrooms, sliced (or use button or shiitake)

1 Tb. extra-virgin olive oil

4 pieces vegan bacon, Light Life is the one I use because Morning Star's contains egg whites

5 Tb. non-dairy butter (Earth Balance is my fave)

sage, 8-10 fresh leaves or 1 sprig

2 Tb. dry white wine (optional)

juice of 1/2 lemon

chopped fresh parsley for garnish

sea salt & ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  Cook pasta according to package directions.  

2.  Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Cook vegan bacon until crispy on both sides.      Remove from pan.  

3.  Add butter to skillet, then sage, cooking for about 4 minutes.  

4.  Remove sage from pan and throw away.

5.  Next, stir in the wine and sliced mushrooms, cooking for 3-5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.

6.  Drain the cooked pasta and add to skillet along with the cooked bacon, crumbing it in by hand.  Toss well, then add lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper.  

*If you have a hard time finding the vegan tortellini, you could use vegan ravioli or even linguine.  

What are you favorite VEGAN JUNK FOODS?