The Conscious Chick

It's Hip To Be Aware. Be Conscious of what goes on and in your body, the air you breathe, the clothes you wear and the things you buy.

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Non-Dairy Calcium Sources

Posted on January 24, 2012 by TCC | Leave a comment | nutrition

My lovely sister-in-law asked me about what foods she can eat to get calcium since she doesn’t drink milk. Excellent question, Sis!  I would recommend to anyone to ease up on the dairy since it has been linked to forms of cancer, is inflammatory, produces mucus and can cause all kinds of digestive issues.  Like many other American’s we have been taught that dairy is an essential part of the food pyramid (a diagram which is influenced by corporate dollars).

Let me be clear that when I’m speaking of dairy I am primarily speaking of cow’s milk. (Other animals milk such as goat’s tend to be more easily digestible and don’t contain the growth hormones found in most mass-produced milk products.)

Calcium is need for  not only bone and dental health but it aids in weight loss, preventing PMS, block colon cancer and maintaining good blood pressure and alkalinity in the body.

Below are some ways to get those benefits without the hormones, mucus and digestive issues.

Leafy greens such a  Kale

Orange Juice

Sardines

Nuts (including nut milks)

Quinoa

Peas and Lentils

Photo Credit- http://thequiet1.deviantart.com/

 

 

 

 

Meatless Monday Suggestion

Posted on January 23, 2012 by TCC | Leave a comment | Meatless Monday

Quiche!  I admit to not consuming much because I always thought of it being kind of like a meat pie which doesn’t sound appealing to me.  However, there are so many varieties and they can be vegetarian or vegan.

It’s a very versatile dish as I’ve seen spinach, tomato, mushroom/zucchini and eggplant quiches.  Cheese and bacon are favorite ingredients in these dishes but you can always substitute with tempeh bacon or Daiya, rice or soy cheeses. Here is a recipe from allrecipes.com

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/vegetarian-quiche/

Ingredients

  • 1 (9 inch) unbaked pastry shell
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
  • 1 medium green pepper, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup chopped zucchini
  • 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • Pinch ground cinnamon
  • 5 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Line unpricked pastry shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450 degrees F for 5 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a skillet, saute the onion, green pepper, tomatoes, zucchini and mushrooms in butter. Add the curry powder, salt, pepper and cinnamon; mix well. Spoon into crust.
  3. In a bowl, beat eggs. Add the milk and cheese; mix well. Carefully pour over vegetables. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.

If you are like me and don’t want to go through the trouble of making one, there are plenty of places that have them on the menu or you can find them in the freezer section. Trader Joe’s has a couple, of course.

 

5 Tips to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution of Living Healthier

Posted on January 21, 2012 by TCC | Leave a comment | Uncategorized

It’s the middle of January and how many of you are ready to give up on your new year’s resolution of living a healthier lifestyle? Stats show that over 70% drop their resolutions by the 31st. The key to a healthier lifestyle transformation is to integrate small changes, which will make you feel better overall and will lead to more healthy habits. Many try to take on an entire lifestyle overhaul rather than integrating smaller and more attainable goals that will take them throughout the entire year.

These five tips illustrate ways to help you stay on track to achieving your healthy resolution well into 2012.

Click here for the Tips…..

 

Conscious Product: Aquasana Water Filter

Posted on January 12, 2012 by TCC | Leave a comment | conscious product

I just bought a water filter for my shower. I had a one a while ago but I didn’t feel like trying to figure out where to get a replacement cartridge (got to be more mindful of that)  so I took it off and never really looked for a replacement.  Maybe I wasn’t that impressed with the filtering because the one I have now is amazing.

white shower filter in teal bathroomThis new one from Aquasana is great for helping filter out the harmful chlorine, harsh chemicals such as mercury, arsenic, cyanide and lead, disinfectant byproducts, and microorganisms that get into your skin and hair. We may not think so but whatever goes on to you skin, gets absorbed by it, and ends up in the system.  So any item that has poluchriptopandolite or whatever, will eventually end up in your body.  So the less chemicals, the better.

One problem with water filters is the lack of pressure.  What’s the point of getting a water filter if the water isn’t coming out? Not the case with this one.  It actually flows better than the previous shower-head.

More benefits: my skin and hair feels softer and my shower seems a little cleaner.

If you don’t have one, you are missing out.  It may seem a little expensive -
around $85 for the first one and $53 for replacement filter (which you will need to change every 6 months) but it’s worth it to have clean, pure water to shower in.

 

Meatless Monday Suggestion

Posted on January 8, 2012 by TCC | Leave a comment | Meatless Monday

Happy New Year Conscious Ones,

Here is my latest Meatless Monday Suggestion: Black Bean BurritosAmy's black bean burrito package

This dish is not only easy to make, it’s filling and can be found in the freezer section of most grocery stores. Try the Amy’s one.

Black Beans are a good source of fiber and protein. Although you would get more nutrition from making them from scratch (as in soaking the dried beans and then cooking them), you can still buy them in the can to save time.

You can add or subtract anything you’d like: jalapenos, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, rice, onions, cilantro, quinoa or tomatoes – to name a few. This is also a versatile choice in that you can make them Mexican, Brazilian or Mediterranean-flavored.

Here is recipe that I’m going to try tonight.  Found it on the Closet Cooking website.  It sounds super easy, delish and I love the idea of using pumpkin puree’.   I’ll let you know how it turns out.

http://www.closetcooking.com/2007/11/pumpkin-and-black-bean-burritos.html

 

 

Conscious Restaurant: Juice Hugger Cafe

Posted on November 23, 2011 by TCC | Leave a comment | Conscious Restaurant

Juice Hugger Cafe

I’ve been a fan of the juices for a while so when I found out they were opening up a spot in BK, I got excited.

I’m a big fan of the soups- some of which are made to order!  At first I thought “soups are supposed to simmer for a while” but somehow they really work.  All of the flavors blend together well. They have curry lentils, corn chowder and told me they are trying a split pea with tempeh bacon. Looking forward to that.

I also had one of their delicious flaxseed wraps with quinoa, lentils, raw spinach leaves and dashes of BBQ sauce.  JH are beef and pork-free, serve no dairy and their chicken is organic and halal (like kosher). juice hugger varity of juices

The star of the show though is the juice.  I can honestly say I have not had a green juice that tastes better than the “Juicy Greens.” Light and refreshing with a dash of sweetness. The cashew milk is a big seller and taste like it was poured from a bowl of cinnamon cereal. So good.

The atmosphere (with old-school board games!) is so pleasant and the owners are very personable and knowledgeable about healthy living. It’s inspiring to speak with people who have a passion for making the world a healthier place.

Highly recommended! They sell their juice online and are sold in certain stores. If you are in Brooklyn checking out the museum or Prospect Park, stop by and tell them The Conscious Chick sent you.

 

Eco Monday and Meatless Monday Suggestion

Posted on November 21, 2011 by TCC | Leave a comment | avocados, Eco Monday, Meatless Monday

Happy Eco and Meatless Monday!

Did you know that if every American would participate go meatless 1 day a week, it would equal taking 8 million cars off the roads?  That’s a lot of avoided pollution.   1 meatless day a week won’t kill you; in fact it helps the entire world stay alive a little longer.

Today’s meatless suggestion:  Vegetarian Sushi

Just about every deli/grocery store sells sushi and includes vegetarian options.  Some have carrots and cucumber; I like mine with just avocado. Try that out for lunch today.  You won’t miss the fish.

Nutrition Trend: Sunflower Seeds

Posted on November 17, 2011 by TCC | Leave a comment | ingredient, Uncategorized

After attending both the Portland and Boston Vegetarian Festivals, one up and coming item caught my eye – Sunflower-made foods.

I posted on my Facebook page about the sunflower beverage which I really like as a base for smoothies. It’s very smooth and creamy and if a great substitute for milk. My allegiance is still with hemp milk, however.

Sunflowers boast high omega fats, antioxidants, fiber, Vitamins A & E and are a good source of protein.

I had a couple of samples of the sunflower nut butter which tastes  just as good ad peanut butter without all of the extra fat.

You can make your own sunflower milk by following this recipe.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Conscious City: Boston

Posted on November 16, 2011 by TCC | Leave a comment | Conscious City

There could not have been a better weekend to have a Vegetarian Festival in Boston than during peak foliage season. It’s my favorite time of the year and one of my favorite ways to spend a day- around Consciousness.

I haven’t lived in Boston for over 15 years and I was able to see it in a different light after noticing all of the green initiatives:  The new bike lanes (even in the hood!), hybrid buses (with bike racks), Vegan items on menus (as well as Vegan restaurants) and a bike rental system similar to one that I saw in Spain a couple of years ago.

There is even a website dedicated to the green traveler: BostonGreentourism.org pointing visitors in the direction of green establishments such as restaurants, hotels and convention centers.

I checked out a Vegetarian spot, Grasshopper in an edgy neighborhood called Allston.  The food was skewed towards Vietnamese but it seems pretty pan Asian to me. I ordered the yellow and green bean cake (so good) which was a cross between a scallion pancake and a cornbread muffin.

bean cake on a plate
I remembered to take the pic after we ate 2/3rds of it

I also had a safe stir-fry veggie dish that didn’t come with any rice.  Odd.  My friend, Joan had coconut noodles and loved it! Why is it that I take her to these places hoping that she’ll like it, I end up being the one disappointed in my food?  Anyhoo, I’m glad she left happy –cuz I would have heard about it the next time I suggested a spot.

Here she is showing her approval.

grasshopper asian vegan restaurant Allston Massachusetts

On the same street was a vegan pizzeria and a yogurt spot calling out their vegan options. Considering that the neighborhood is full of college kids I can see why the progressiveness is a little more concentrated.  Right across the street were the bike rental spots I mentioned a few paragraphs back.

boston bike rental

Never one to miss a photo op, here is Joan again.

Now onto the Vegfest:




The oldest in the country, this year was jammed packed with vendors from all over the US, noted speakers, cooking demonstrations.  I apologize for the lack of personal photos but my cell phone battery died.

Some of my favorites:  Akara bean cakes (a Nigerian food made of black Eyed Peas and right now, only available in New England). Nature’s Path Hemp granola bars, NutraFusion energy drinks and my old “pals” from Herbivore in Portland OR.

There was plenty of literature on the benefits of eating a plant-based diet, recipes, guides to going vegetarian or vegan and the unnecessary harm being done to animals for food. One vendor, which surprisingly was not PETA, called Meat Has Feelings had a video displaying the horrors of factory farming.

One thing I gleaned from the lecture I attend from the dynamic Michael Gregor, MD:  I will be careful of my egg consumption.  He mentioned the high cholesterol levels of them- not that I didn’t know that but they far surpass any other meat.

Overall a very informative event.

Consider Beantown as a destination spot for your next Conscious vacation.

Conscious Company: Urban Outfitters

Posted on November 16, 2011 by TCC | Leave a comment | Conscious Company

I’ve been a fan of this clothing store for years and I recently went into the store to find some items for my somewhat conservative freelance assignment.  I know what your thinking – Urban Outfitters isn’t really a place for business causal items- but I gotta me be.

After I bought a cute dress, I was ready to say my usual “I don’t need a bag” which forgoes  the plastic bag, when they broke out the reusable canvas bag.  I was so pleasantly surprised, I had to give them a TCC shout out.

They also asked if I would rather have the receipt emailed to me in an attempt to reduce the paper usage. I gotta say I was very impressed.  I even saw a young woman with the same bag on the train and witnessed another using the same bag when she came was being rung up for a purchase.   It encourages reuse and makes an effort to cut down on unnecessary plastic and paper waste.  so next time you are looking for some “off the beaten” path clothes (and even some business casual items) – check them out.