It may take you some time to adapt to new eating options and a new lifestyle on a whole. Finding your feet in the vegan scene can’t be easier now there is a growing community that have collectively realised the value and importance of starting the day right with a vegan breakfast and keeping the same vegan food choice for meals throughout the day.

Going to shop with a vegan mindset shouldn’t be any harder than a person who doesn’t follow veganism – it just takes some getting used to. Vegan recipes will often provide you with a list of the ingredients needed so you can easily use that list as a basis for the type of product you are looking for.

All vegans know there is a lot of label reading ahead of them and a lot of questions like what do vegans eat as it sort of comes with the territory of this lifestyle. There are obvious things that aren’t vegan like hamburgers, pizza and ice cream…but chewing gum? Yes, believe it or not most chewing gum you find in stores is not vegan. Many brands of chewing gum contain gelatin, which is a protein obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones with water from animals (usually from pigs or cows.)

Other common (and unknown) ingredients that are not vegan include: casein, gelatin, albumin, red dye, isinglass, allantoin, biotin, carmine, cetyl alcohol, tyrosine. What do vegans eat? A lot. But there are also a lot of things that they don’t eat.

Below is list of food and general products that may surprisingly not always be vegan. The reasons vary based on the product and the brand, and it’s best to carefully read the labels on all of these products. This list does not include everything as many products are not vegan, but it’s a great starting point for those who are new to a vegan lifestyle.

Food:
– Marshmallows
– White sugar
– Mints
– Jello
– Wine
– Beer
– Gummy bears
– Orange juice
– Vitamins
– Cereal
– Supplements
– Chewing gum
– Potato chips/tortilla chips
– Cereal
– Vegetable based canned soups
– Cake mix
– Bagels
– Margarine
– Packaged peanuts
– Soy cheese
– Miscellaneous products
– Deodorant
– Soap
– Toothpaste
– Shampoo
– Conditioner
– Vitamins
– Supplements
– Nail polish
– Hair gel
– Make up

5 Reasons To Try Raw Vegan
Are you familiar with a raw vegan diet plan? Have you been vegan for a while but want to try something different that may have even more health benefits? A raw vegan diet plan has a long list of health and mental benefits. Although it can be challenging at first, once you ease into a raw vegan diet plan, you may find it to be one of the best things for you.

• Increased nutrients. Heating food over 118 degrees Fahrenheit destroys much of the nutrients in your food so this is an easy way to ensure that you will be getting an abundance of nutrients.

• Enzymes. Cooking food destroys much of the natural enzymes in your food that are needed to break down nutrients and eating raw eliminates this problem completely!

• More Energy. Following a raw vegan diet plan gives you increased energy from all of the living food.

• Better quality of sleep. It is incredible what a raw vegan diet plan can do for your sleep. You will feel like you need less than usual because of the increased quality!

• Regulated digestion. If you are experiencing digestion issues, a raw vegan diet plan may be the best thing for you. Healthy digestion is one of the most important aspects to your overall health and wellbeing.

Before We Begin Here Are 5 Reasons To Try Raw Vegan:
Are you familiar with a raw vegan diet plan? Have you been vegan for a while but want to try something different that may have even more health benefits? A raw vegan diet plan has a long list of health and mental benefits. Although it can be challenging at first, once you ease into a raw vegan diet plan, you may find it to be one of the best things for you.

• Increased nutrients. Heating food over 45 degrees Celsius (118 Fahrenheit) destroys much of the nutrients in your food so this is an easy way to ensure that you will be getting an abundance of nutrients.

• Enzymes. Cooking food destroys much of the natural enzymes in your food that are needed to break down nutrients and eating raw eliminates this problem completely!

• More Energy. Following a raw vegan diet plan gives you increased energy from all of the living food. An amazing vegan breakfast can keep your energy peaking all day.

• Better quality of sleep. It is incredible what a raw vegan diet plan can do for your sleep. You will feel like you need less than usual because of the increased quality! You may be someone who needs 8 hours, but from experience I can function smoothly on 5 due to the pure and natural health benefits of being vegan

• Regulated digestion. If you are experiencing digestion issues, a raw vegan diet plan may be the best option for you to try out. Healthy digestion is one of the most important aspects to your overall health and wellbeing.

*We have provided meal options for these days. Please snack whenever you feel hungry! Vegan snack options are abundant and range from nuts, fruits, veggies, vegan breakfast bars and more! Choose according to your preferences.

Day 1:
Vegan Breakfast: Steel cut oatmeal with fruit
Lunch: Vegan grilled cheese with vegan tortilla chips and vegan tomato soup
Dinner: Veggie stir-fry with white rice

Day 2:
Vegan Breakfast: Green smoothie
Lunch: Romaine lettuce salad with tons of veggies, walnuts & chickpeas
Dinner: Stuffed red bell peppers

Day 3:
Vegan Breakfast: Scrambled tofu with veggies
Lunch: Spinach wrap with veggies & hummus
Dinner: Portabella mushrooms with potatoes & sautéed collard greens

Day 4:
Vegan Breakfast: Vegan breakfast whole wheat pancakes with maple syrup
Lunch: Whole wheat pita with hummus, cucumbers & tomato
Dinner: Baked tofu with veggies & quinoa

Day 5:
Vegan Breakfast: Ezekiel bread with vegan butter and a side of fruit
Lunch: Vegan BLT tempeh wrap with a side of grapes
Dinner: Pad thai noodles with veggies and soy sauce

Day 6
Vegan Breakfast: Coconut yogurt with a banana
Lunch: Burrito bowl
Dinner: Green bean casserole.

Day 7
Vegan Breakfast: Vegan French toast
Lunch: Kale salad with mangoes and lentils
Dinner: Vegan tacos

In honour of spring and the fact that were spring cleaning this weekend, I wanted to share a little story and some of my best tips on spring cleaning.

A friend started a thread on Facebook the other day about spring cleaning and it got me thinking, so I thought I would share. The problem is she wants to clean out her closet but shes having trouble parting with things. Ive got some simple tips to clean out your closet, live with less, and have an organized, flattering, kick ass wardrobe.

1) saving clothes (or anything else) for a rainy day creates a feeling & energy of povertylike you are fearful.be confident that if & when you need some particular item in the future, the universe will provide it for you!
2) your goal should be that every item in your closet is something you love! Its flattering, comfortable, and puts a smile on your face when you wear it. Even your basics should be like the PERFECT white shirt and the black pants that make my butt look AMAZING!
3) If you have an item that youre on the fence about, think about the joy it might bring to someone else if you were to donate that item to a good charity. Sort of a pay it forward ideaFor you, its just a sweater thats pretty, but you never wear itfor someone who discovers it a a charity shop, it might be the PERFECT sweater that matches their eyes exactly, or for their upcoming ski trip, or it reminds them of someone they love. Move your possessions along into the universe if they arent PERFECT for you or adding substance and happiness to your life!

4) Hang all your clothes with the hanger facing the same way. Every time you wear something, put the hanger back the opposite way. Give yourself a time limit, and after that time has passed everything with the hanger facing the original way still, you get rid of. If you havent worn something in 6 months, chances are you wont wear it for the next 6, and you should donate it.

5) Participate in Project 333; a minimalistic approach to fashion and life. The rules are you choose 33 items including clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoes. For the next 3 months, you can only wear variations of those 33 items. The benefits that people reap from Project 333 are simpler, less stressful mornings, more physical space in their home, more metaphorical space in their minds, more extra cash, extra time and feeling calmer, more focused and more productive overall.

I love spring cleaning for the obvious reasons; the house is less cluttered, its organized and its easier to clean.  Some of the unexpected (and often more rewarding) perks have to do with the emotional space it clears up.  Theres a feeling of freedom and weightlessness when you get rid of things that no longer serve you.  I find the house has better energy when its not weighed down by stuff, and it leaves room for things you might actually need.