Since the Make Your Own Eyeshadow and Eye Liner post, I have received a ton of questions about what I use on a daily basis for deodorant, mascara, shampoo, hair products, blush, body lotion, face moisturizer for a.m. and p.m., shaving cream, hand cream, lipstick, makeup remover, you name it. I typed a lot of those answers up for our contributor Rea Frey in an email a few weeks ago—she just read No More Dirty Looks and purged all beauty products right after and was wondering “what next?” The list I compiled for her was extensive and I thought immediately after I hit “send” that I should share with YU, too.
It’s important to note that I am not on the payroll for any of these products. These are just all the beauty products that I have found to be the cleanest that work for me (I tell you why after the jump). Not everything is perfect, but I do my best. There are a ton of clean, lovely products out there that I still would like to try, so I’m just gonna share with you what you’d find in my purse and bathroom if you were to take a look right now. Today. Ok, here goes… Read more…
Just a quick heads-up that the YU 3-pack of eGuides is 50% off via DailyCandy and CBS Chicago this week—don’t miss your chance to get almost 100 pages of step-by-step photos, meal plans, recipes, shopping guides, tips and more for only $15. If you’ve always wanted to see what these guides are about, now is the best time! Read more…
Ch-Ch-Ch—remember those tiny seeds that you could spread onto clay pigs and bunnies and they’d sprout into fluffy pat-worthy green “fur”? Yup, chia. Well, did you know that many people consider it be nature’s perfect food? Read more…
I came across this video recently and think it’s one that I should share with YU. It’s an important presentation given by the founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), Neal Barnard MD, that discusses the science behind food additions—like the top dog I always hear about, and one we’ve discussed on YumUniverse—cheese. What was my biggest battle when I transitioned? Sugar.
The “sugar demon” was joked about quite a bit on my recent trip to California. Even though my vegan tripmates and I know about the opiate-like effect certain foods can have, we indulged under the convenient vacation excuse. Eating Apple Cinnamon muffins by the fire, under twinkling stars is pretty magical, but I knew that even though we located gluten-free and vegan treats to enjoy, that the sparkly, crunchy topping was definitely sugar. And I think we all knew that it would be a tough week post-vacay when the vacation pass wasn’t there. That sugar demon is strong, and as I sit here sipping some apple cider vinegar and water (a great way to curb cravings btw), I know that what I am feeling is not necessarily a lack of willpower, it’s my body asking where the heck are all the vacation treats? I’m exaggerating a bit to make a point. We weren’t going cookie-monster-crazy, but we tend to eat a very clean diet and even a little bit of indulgence here and there is very noticeable now. And for that I’m grateful. This plant-based diet is a journey and I’d rather be here than where I was years ago when sugar not only was consumed daily, but it made my eyes spin like starlight mints.
Back to Dr. Barnard. He is someone you should know more about if you don’t already, and this video is a great introduction. He discusses, in a humorous, simple way, how chocolate, cheese, meat, and sugar release opiate-like substances that hook us—from our very first days in this world (and even before that). He also discusses how industry, aided by government, exploits these natural cravings, pushing us to eat more and more unhealthy foods. A plant-based diet is the solution to avoid many of these problems and the more YU know, the more strength you can build to help you achieve your goals. So take the time to watch this vid (instead of a show on tv tonight), you’ll feel pretty inspired and empowered afterwards.
This week kicks off a new start for millions of people, and a healthier lifestyle is usually one of the resolutions at the top of the list. Sadly though, most resolutions fail because they are too extreme—there are a set of rules to follow with no information given about the “why” or “how.” Transitioning into, and maintaining a plant-based, nutrient-rich diet is one that takes time. It usually cannot be done overnight. There are lifelong food addictions to kick, detox symptoms to experience and new foods and cooking methods to try. There’s so much to learn, new habits to form, and old ones that need to be told “goodbye.”
Despite their best efforts, many folks will derail around mid-February, and abandon what they wanted so badly in January, while others are making realistic changes that will inevitably last a lifetime. The key is truly looking at a plant-based diet as an exciting lifestyle change. It is very much like learning a new language. Everything seems so foreign at first, but with each success, excitement grows and a hunger to continue learning follows—it feels good to understand this new language. And it feels great to experience the freedom it can offer you.
YumUniverse eGuides like the YU Test Drive, Dairy Freedom and this site can, and will, help you see that it’s the open heart surgery that’s extreme—not learning about the infinite benefits and flavors of a plant-based diet. Read more…
The past few months I have been pulling together the ultimate interactive eGuide that proves that going Dairy-Free is not about limitations. Dairy-Free is about infinite possibilities.
“I can’t live without dairy” is one of the biggest statements that I hear from people who aren’t ready for optimal health. Well, the Dairy Freedom eGuide is just the key to proving that statement to be inaccurate to say the least. This eGuide will have you baking, making yogurts, ice creams, firm cheeses, dressings, milks and more—all dairy-free and gluten-free—with a variety of ingredients that will no doubt make the dairy aisle, well, embarrassed about its lack of creativity. Read more…
I hear it all the time: “Oh, I could never live without cheese.” “What do you eat for breakfast?” “What about calcium?” So, I thought it was time to pull together The Ultimate Guide to Life Without Dairy Products and I am days away from releasing it to those in need.
Dairy Freedom is an interactive, 39-page collection of recipes and information that proves that dairy-free is not about limitations. Dairy-Free is about infinite possibilities. Read more…
Please make the time to read this post. It’s an important one.
So, you’ve spent time reading the articles highlighted in The Big Crash Course, you’ve watched important documentaries like Forks Over Knives, you’ve witnessed a total transformation with a diabetic family member who went plant-based six months ago and now is off medication, but you just can’t seem to kick that morning “muffin” from your favorite coffee shop. You know it’s really cake, but you wake up thinking about it. Craving it. It almost feels like an addiction. That’s because it is. Read more…
My favorite visit-every-single-day online magazine, GOOD, is challenging everyone to go vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based for the month of June, and YumUniverse is joining in, and here to hold your hand every step of the way. It’s our specialty after all—the plant-based thing. Whether you are an excited newbie, a skeptic, in transition already, or a veteran herbivore, let’s pool some GOOD energy and help each other tackle 30 days of clean, whole food eating. Read more…
