If you've never been to Key West, Florida I describe as a blend of Las Vegas and Burlington, Vermont. There is a fabulous food scene, pockets of hippies, plus drinking and debauchery all night, every night. But the best thing about Key West is anything goes. No one cares what you look like, what you're eating, or where you're going. It's the most relaxed place I've visited. 

In prior visits, I was vegetarian and I found the food options to be unique and delicious. Now that I'm vegan, I wasn't sure how easy it would be to find vegan food. To my surprise, it was out of this world. I ate like a Vegan Queen every day. 

I want to provide a brief overview of the three main vegan/vegetarian places I frequented while visiting. 

We started out our meal with two vegan appetizers: Spinach Gyoza Dumplings with a Soy-Ginger dipping sauce. Outstanding. Absolutely delicious. 

Appetizer round two. These tofu faux "chicken wings" melted in your mouth. They were the perfect combination of crispy and flavorful. 

I enjoy a stir fry as much as the next girl, but usually they aren't too spectacular or unique. Ok, you have vegetables, a noodle, and some type of sauce. Not particularly blow your socks off interesting. At first, I was hesitant to order this stir fry but boy am I glad I did. The flavors exploded in my mouth. The vegetables and tofu were crunchy, while the noodles were soft. The sauce used to saute the dish wasn't too oily or overpowering.  Two thumbs up dish. 

This vegan apple crisp dessert was OK. It was piping hot when served so we had to wait quite a few minutes just for it to cool down. The flavor was somewhat lacking. It really just tasted like rolled oats, cinnamon, and apples. Nothing too spectacular. But I was determined to come back to sample other desserts on the menu. They were sold out of most of their desserts the night we had dinner.

​I came back a few days later and sampled their vegan Carrot Cake and vegan Key Lime Cheesecake. Yes, I sampled two desserts in one night and at them both myself. The vegan Carrot Cake was honestly the best vegan Carrot Cake I've ever had. It was super moist, bursting with flavor, and had an amazing gooey cinnamon frosting. Admittedly, I purchased a second piece of carrot cake a few days later and devoured it. 

Overall, The Cafe Key West is an amazing sit down restaurant for vegans. There are so many choices (which I love) that I had a problem deciding what to eat.  The food is fresh, flavorful, and local. And the price point is easy on the wallet. Oftentimes organic, healthy, vegan friendly cafes and restaurants are very pricey and only have small portions. The Cafe Key West is affordable and generous with their portions. It's a Vegan's dream. 

I only sampled two items from the Sugar Apple Cafe & Market but both were satisfying and delicious. The Peaceful Tempeh sandwich is under $10 and one of their most popular items on the menu. It tastes a bit like Thanksgiving with the cranberry sauce, which is just fine by me. 

Their fresh pressed juices are a little on the pricey side, but I haven't found a place that doesn't sell fresh juices for cheap. Either way, this organic carrot juice with green magma was refreshing and filling. 

Sugar Apple Cafe & Market offers an intimate cafe with just six stools inside and one small table outside. It's more of a grab 'n go cafe offering fresh pressed juices, delicious fresh made-to-order sandwiches, salads, and smoothies. Their menu boasts a range of unique dishes and is quite reasonably priced. When we went for lunch, there were only two women taking orders and making the food, so be patient you might have a wait. The market has a wide variety of vegan, organic, non-GMO, gluten-free foods and products. There is a large selection of teas, spices, vitamins, herbs, and homeopathic remedies. The market is a great place to browse while you wait for your food or drink. 

Avocado Toast is all the healthy rage. Many health conscious restaurants and cafes have Avocado Toast as an option. It's so easy to make at home too. This version from Date and Thyme was mediocre. I'm no salt fiend, but there just wasn't much taste to this Avocado Toast. It desperately needed salt, more spices, and flavor. It really lacked flavor. Definitely a disappointment for $4.95

Acai Bowls are also all the health food rage. The Acai berry is a superfood packed with vitamins, nutrients, anti-aging and weight loss properties. My first time trying an Acai Bowl with fresh fruit was in Maui. I don't think I've had one since that compared to how delicious and fresh that was. Date and Thyme's Acai Bowl was good, but it was $11.95! In my opinion (and many other reviews on Yelp) that's far too expensive for what it is.  Their Acai Bowl contains goji berries, which are not my favorite because they get stuck in your teeth. 

Date and Thyme is a good last minute option for Vegans but it's far too expensive and the portions are small. I also tried the oatmeal power bowl. When I finished, I was still hungry. It also wasn't very flavorful or unique. They have a small organic market next to their kitchen featuring fresh produce, snacks, seasonings, teas, and other grab n' go meals. It's very cute and well laid out, but the cafe and market is the kind of health food store that gives eating healthy a bad wrap. 

Patrick Brown is on a mission to eradicate the animal farming industry by creating the perfect meat-free burger. Brown is doing it to save the planet.

He and a large group of scientists have been tinkering with the color, taste, and texture to replicate a beef burger. So far Brown's startup company Impossible Foods is being sold in four high end restaurants and has caught the eye of former Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Read more about how Impossible Foods is attempting what some may think is the impossible. 

The holidays have been over for several weeks now. The Salvation Army bell ringers have faded away. There are no more Toys for Tots charity drives. There are no large food donations boxes around the neighborhood. 

Giving to a charity at the end of the calendar year is not only beneficial for tax purposes but also it feels good during the holidays. But what about the remainder of the year, especially now in the dead of winter when those who are less fortunate need help the most?

I encourage you to give back to your charity of choice all year round if you are able. One easy way to do this is by donating non-perishable items to your local food pantry or food kitchen. The next time you are grocery shopping, spend an extra few minutes and an extra $25 to pick out some healthy items to donate. 

Make a point of it to drop off your donated food items at your local food pantry or food kitchen each month.
If this type of donation doesn't speak to you, maybe creating a "yard-based" food pantry like the ones described in this NPR story is something you could get behind. Maybe you eat a very bland diet of rice and beans for a week so that the money saved on food is donated to help hungry families. Perhaps a financial donation resonates the most with you. 

Think about the difference you could make in someone's life. More than 42 million Americans lived in food insecure households in 2015, according to Feeding America. Help end hunger in America. Feeding America also has an easy tool to help you find your local food bank. 

Maybe you are the type of person who has five New Years resolutions written down on a piece of paper before the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve. Or maybe you are someone who takes a few minutes to reflect on the previous year and then writes down a few flexible goals for the year on New Years day.

​Or maybe you are the type of person who thinks that it would be a great idea to create goals, but decides it's too time consuming and believes goals are meant to be broken so why bother. Whichever type of person you are, here are 10 easy tips to help keep you positive, healthy, & happy in the beginning days of the New Year. And remember, just because it's the new year doesn't mean you have to start over. You can start fresh anytime of the year.

1. Just Say Yes. Expand your horizons, crawl outside of your comfort zone. Say yes to a date. Say yes to trying a new food. Say yes to a friend who asks for a favor and it's an inconvenience for you. Say yes to playing with your kid, nephew, niece, cousin, sibling, or neighbor's kids. Say yes to trying a new color for your wardrobe. 

2.  Experiment with Essential Oils. If you don't mind spending $10 on an experiment to help enhance your mood, keep reading. Essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, spearmint, orange blossom, and many others have a wide variety of uses to help improve the mind. You've probably heard of using lavendar essential oil on your temples to help you go to sleep or to add a few drops to a room infuser. One technique I've particularly grown fond of is placing a few drops of peppermint essential oil on the           bottom of the bathtub before taking a shower. The steam from the shower activates the peppermint oil and helps awaken your senses.  

3. Drink More Water. For most of us, drinking more water throughout the day is a chore. It's tasteless, boring, and just not fun. I get it. But the reality is, we need to survive and the more we have of it, the better off we are. The Institute of Medicine recommends men should consume 13 cups of water per day and women should consume 9 cups of water per day. Water helps regulate our body temperatures, remove waste from our bodies, keep us hydrated, and protect our most important internal organs and brain. Life hacker offers a handful of solutions to trick yourself into drinking more water. 

4. Express Gratitude.  Let go of the past, remove expectations for the future, and embrace the present. Be grateful for everything in your life. Each day (maybe it's first thing in the morning or right before bed) write down, say aloud, or just quietly share to yourself at least three things you are most grateful for in your life. Try to remember to do this simple exercise everday for at least one week and take a mental note of how you feel. You'll be amazed at how taking a few minutes out of your day to reflect on everything you already have can be transformative in your life. If you need a few tips on how to go about doing it, read this. 

5. Just Smile. Did you know smiling is contagious? Did you know smiling can help lower stress and anxiety? Did you know smiling helps you become more attractive and more trustworthy? Smiling doesn't just have to happen when you laugh at a funny joke. You could try and change your outlook on life and smile just because. 

6. Take a Bath. ​Treat yourself by disconnecting from all technology and distractions to allow yourself to drift away in a warm bath. Add Epsom salts to the bath to ease any stress or soreness. Spend 20 - 30 minutes in the bath either with a book or a glass of wine or your favorite drink. Put this time aside for you. 

7. Volunteer. Do you remember a time in your life when someone unexpectedly gave you a helping hand? Maybe it was at work, at home, or from a random stranger. Do you remember how you felt afterwards? It's pretty awesome receiving help in life, especially when you need it most. Pay it foward and help improve your community by volunteering either with your local food pantry, homeless shelter, Big Brother Big Sister chapter, or other organization that aligns with your interests. To explore some ideas on how you can get involved, check out this website. 

8. Go Vegan! January is officially known as "Veganuary!" The month is dedicated to "reduce the suffering of animals by inspiring and supporting people across the globe to go vegan for the month of January." Feel great about yourself. Help the environment. Be compassionate to animals. Everything you need to know about Veganuary is on this dedicated website, including a vegan starter kit! What are you waiting for? 

9. Give an Unsolicited Compliment. Whether you are waiting in line at the grocery store, commuting on the train, or at work, try offering an unsolicited tasteful compliment to someone you may know or a complete stranger. Those few words may really make someone elses day. 

10. Adopt a Kitten. Check out who needs a home from your local animal shelter. It will bring so much happiness to your daily life. :) 

I love cooking and I love a good challenge. How about create a Vegan Thanksgiving menu and cook all the food for four people solo? Challenge accepted. 

I transitioned from a Vegetarian diet to a Vegan diet in February of this year and honestly haven't looked back. It has been one of the best decisions I've made. And no, I don't really miss cheese. The only thing I do miss is that plant-based cheese alternatives definitely don't melt well, if at all. But as my husband recently pointed out, plants don't melt, so it shouldn't be surprising! 

This will be my first Thanksgiving entirely Vegan and I was asked to create the menu for my parents and husband. At first, it seemed a little daunting, but I did some research and am very happy with the results. Let's just hope it will all taste as good as it sounds! I will admit, there are a few items I am buying from Flour Bakery in Boston to provide a little assistance. 

• Dinner rolls (Flour Bakery)
• Roasted Heirloom Squash with Pomegrante Molasses, Pear, Pepitas & Sage (Flour Bakery) 
• Cranberry Chutney with Orange and Ginger (Flour Bakery)
• Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Soup (my own recipe)
• Green beans with sliced Almonds sauteed in Earth Balance Vegan butter with salt & pepper
• Pumpkin Muffins (Trade Joe's mix subbing the oil for Apple sauce & Eggs with Neat Egg so it's nearly guilt-free)
• Autumn Kale Salad (chopped Kale, sliced Apples, dried Cranberries, diced Cucumber, shredded Daiya cheddar cheese, crushed Walnuts)
• Individual Vegan "Chick'n" Pot Pies inspired by Minimalist Baker. I'll be adding Tofurky lightly seasoned chick'n strips for more texture and protein. 
• Whipped mashed potatoes using Earth Balance Vegan Butter and unsweetened almond milk (salt & pepper)
• Pumpkin Pie (Whole Foods) & cupcakes (Georgetown Cupcakes) 
• I also bought a Gardein holiday roast as a back up in the event the "Chick'n Pot Pies" are a bust. You can pick them up at Whole Foods for $14. 

If this menu doesn't sound creative or exciting, here are more Vegan menus to peruse from other plant-based food bloggers.

• Bon Appetit  
• Forks Over Knives
• Sharon Palmer
• Minimalist Baker
• Food & Wine
• Delish
• Buzzfeed
• Oh She Glows
• New York Times
• Cooking Light 

American culture has come to believe that Thanksgiving is not just a day to stuff your turkey but to stuff your face, forcing you to unbutton your pants (or in many cases wear elastic waist band pants). And once our pants are more comfortable, we watch football for hours and/or pass out for several hours into a food coma. The recovery time is a few days. Many of us have forgotten the “thankfulness” part of Thanksgiving. Sure, it’s about being thankful you have a copious amount of food, but you should be grateful and give thanks every day for the food on your table. 

Here are a few tips to help you feel not totally and utterly disgusted with yourself on Thanksgiving. Perhaps it could help change your overall behavior too. 

1.Drink lots of water throughout the day and ahead of the “big meal” to have that “full” feeling. 

2.If it doesn’t interfere with tradition too much, try to plan the big meal for early evening. Don’t  “starve” yourself throughout the day in anticipation of the big meal. Eat small snacks and light meals leading up to dinner so that you aren’t ravenous or “hangry.” Besides, if you will be a much more enjoyable person to be around and your Great Aunt Millie won’t drive you as crazy. 

3.Don’t eat after 9 p.m. 

4.Throw on a coat and head outside for a walk shortly after the meal. This not only breaks up any family drama, but also helps with digestion. 

5.Decide on just ONE slice of pie or chose ONE dessert. It’s not going anywhere, and there will be plenty of leftovers.
 
6.Pass on the bread. Yes, there is nothing more delicious than a warm flaky roll with butter, but save the carbs and calories and try eating more vegetables or protein.

7.Take a brisk walk or run before dinner. Maybe even participate in your local 5K Thanksgiving morning. 

8.Consider donating your time or canned goods to the local food pantry.

9.Stop eating. It isn’t a competition.  Maybe one large plate is plenty. Avoid the urge to fill your plate multiple times.

10.Slow down. Chew your food. Pace yourself. Savor the flavors. Your family member just spent several hours creating that dish and you should appreciate it. Enjoy the company you are with. The slower you eat and the more time you allow in between plates, will allow your body to digest the food and truly get full. 

11.Space out the main meal from dessert. Maybe the perfect time to take that outdoor walk is in between the main meal and dessert.

I just moved to the Boston area five months ago and am slowly eating my way through all of the vegan restaurants and bakeries the city has to offer.  

By far, my favorite fast casual joint is Flour Bakery & Cafe. I frequent it far too often, but I can't help it, it's only 1 block from my office in Back Bay. They cycle in seasonal vegan treats but always have the low fat vegan chocolate muffin and the homemade hummus sandwich on the menu. Both are fresh, moist, and down right delicious. The fall seasonal vegan apple spice muffin is so addictive that it often doesn't last longer than a few minutes.

To assist me on my quest to sample delicious Vegan food in and around Boston, I'm going to consult Eater's new best of vegetarian and vegan restaurant list. So far, I've only sampled food from five of the 23 restaurants listed. It looks like I know how I'll be spending my winter...

For anyone who knows me, you know that Sheep are my favorite animals. Just a quick post today to say Happy World Vegan Day. 

I transitioned to a Vegan diet nine months ago and haven't looked back after being a vegetarian for 25 years. It is one of the best decisions I've made. On this World Vegan Day, I encourage you to indulge on plant-based treats (many bakeries and restaurants offer vegan options) and share a meat-free meal with someone special. Maybe you aren't ready to fully give up meat and dairy, but try incorporating more plant-based proteins and vegetables into your diet at least a few times a week and see how you feel. 

Why Vegan? 

• For the Animals
• World Hunger
• Compassion
• Peace
• Our Planet
• Health
• Rainforests
• Our Water
• Wildlife

The next time you consider your next meal (whether you are eating out or cooking at home), try substituting chicken for tofu chicken or beef for a tofu-based beef alternative. Why? There are lots of reasons--smaller carbon footprint, compassion for animals, but most importantly for your health and longevity. 

This is likely not the first time you've heard this suggestion. But it's hard to ignore the suggestion particularly when the results from two new studies spanning 30 years and more than 130,000 participants deliver stark results. "Substitution of plant protein for animal protein, especially that from processed red meat, was associated with lower mortality, suggesting the importance of protein source," the studies published in the JAMA Internal Medicine said. 

Researchers found that high animal protein intake was positively associated with cardiovascular mortality while high plant protein intake was inversely associated with cardiovascular mortality. Check out this two minute video for highlights of the studies. 

I'm not saying you should become a vegetarian or vegan overnight, but try to be more mindful about what you put into your body. Maybe it's time to make a lifestyle and diet shift. You can still get the appropriate amount of protein intake each day without consuming animal-based protein. You just need to be creative about it. I provide some ideas in this short post about where to get protein if you aren't consuming animals.

​I'm not the only individual who has been replacing animal protein with plant protein. Sales of meat substitutes have increased 42 percent in the last six years to an estimated $4 billion annually, according to a recent survey. That's incredible! The consumer demand for meat substitutes is growing and slowly edging into more grocery store aisles and onto menus. I continue to be impressed at the amount of vegan food options available in restaurants that don't market themselves as vegan-friendly. But better still, I continue to be impressed with the variety of plant-based food options on menus--moving beyond the microwaved veggie patties for the most part. 

It should come as no surprise that earlier this month Tyson Foods, one of the country's leading meat producers, has taken a five percent ownership stake in plant-based protein producer Beyond Meat. A smart move in my opinion. Plant-based protein is the way to a healthier and longer life. So for your next meal, think about switching it up. 

One of my favorite things about fall (and there are many) is the plethora of soups to sample! And I only discovered within the last two years how easy it is to make soups at home. This was made particularly easy with the purchase of what I consider one of the best kitchen tools--the immersion blender! This must-have kitchen tool will be your best friend for making the creamiest, smoothies soups and other dishes like mashed potatoes. The best news is that immersion blenders will only cost you about $30. 

But let's dive into this easy, relatively cheap, and hearty butternut squash sweet potato soup. It was so delicious that I've made it two weeks in a row now. 

Prep time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

3 cloves minced garlic
2 tablespoons fresh minced ginger
1 medium onion, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 sweet potatoes, chopped
1 medium butternut squash
2 tablespoons Earth Balance vegan butter
4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
2 tablespoons organic coconut sugar
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Dash of oregano 
Dash of cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Cut the butternut squash in half and place on a cookie sheet with some water, so the squash can absorb it. Bake for 30 minutes or until you can easily stick a fork in it. 
2. While the squash is baking, saute garlic, ginger, onion, carrots, and celery in a large pot with the Earth Balance vegan butter for 5 - 10 minutes, stirring constantly or until brown. 
3. Add the sweet potatoes, almond milk, vegetable broth, and coconut sugar. Simmer for 30 - 40 minutes until all of the vegetables are soft. 
4. Add the squash, salt, pepper, and oregano to the soup. Cook for a few more minutes. 
5. Turn heat off and set the soup aside. Use an immersion blender to mix all of the ingredients together until creamy and smooth. Add a dash of cinnamon to each serving. 
Bon Appetit!