Good Morning Green Juice

It's a fact: I LOVE me some fresh green juice.  However, I have been neglecting my juicer the past few months and instead have been frequenting Organic Avenue and Juice Press for a daily hit of fresh pressed fruits and veggies. While this allows me to experiment with flavors and ingredients I don't normally have at home, buying at $10+ juice every day is just not in my budget.  Now that I am back in NYC with no big trips, I am making a conscious effort to juice at home more.  This is my go-to green juice combination - slightly sweet, slightly tart, and easy on the digestive system, this juice gives me a nice kick of energy first thing in the morning, without the headache or stomachache that comes with coffee and sugar-filled breakfasts.

This recipe make one extra large or two regular servings.  It is best enjoyed immediately, but will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Good Morning Green Juice
2 Granny Smith Apples
2 medium cucumbers
10-12 kale leaves
1/2 inch knob of ginger
Optional: small knob of turmeric, handful of herbs (mint and cilantro are my favorites), squeeze of lemon

Juice and enjoy!

Urban Backpacker Travels: Miami

Okay so I've been pretty bad at keeping up the blog lately.  I'm not making excuses but like I mentioned in my previous post (over a month ago!), work was crazy busy and monopolizing my life.  This continued through April and into May, but things really should slow down now so I hope to get back to posting more frequently, especially since the weather is beautiful now and I have lots of fun adventures planned over the upcoming months.

Let's rewind a bit: three weeks ago I was lucky enough to go to Miami for work.  While most of the week was spent in the classroom, I did get to explore a bit and would love to share some of my adventures.

First, let's talk lodging.  I was traveling with a group for a work training, so I did not get to pick the hotel, but I was very pleased with my firm's choice: Kimpton's Epic Miami.  This was probably the nicest hotel I had ever stayed in while traveling for work (not saying we don't stay in nice places, but this hotel was really nice!).  Highlights: a different fruit infused water in the lobby every day (hello hydration!), yoga mats in every room, an Exhale mind body spa located in the hotel, and bath products that were both organic and cruelty free.  Needless to say, I felt like I was on vacation!  My room had a balcony, so most evenings I did some yoga in the sunshine looking out over the water.  One night I decided to check out a yoga class at Exhale, and I was not disappointed.  The class, taught by Eben, was physically challenging but also super calming.  Since I was with work, meals were provided during the day, and I usually had plenty to choose from - lots of fresh fruit for breakfast, and always some sort of salad for lunch. I was surprised to see dragon fruit on the buffet a few mornings- I definitely scooped that right up! Thank you antioxidants!

As I mentioned, most meals were provided through work, but I did find a few veg-friendly spots for when I was on my own for eats:

- 10 Fruits - This juice and smoothie spot was just 1/2 mile from my hotel, so I stopped here a few mornings after my run.  I tried the Back to Work and Stay Green juices, which were good but not great (I'm spoiled by Organic Avenue's seriously good juices here in NYC. And my own concoctions, obviously).  I did however love their Brazil nut milk. I love to make my own, and this tasted similar - simple and pure with only a bit of vanilla and cinnamon for natural sweetness.  I didn't get a chance to try the Acai bowls at 10 Fruits, but if I'm ever back in Miami I would love to!

- Choices Vegan Cafe - Choices (Downtown) is a super cute spot with just what the name implies- lots of vegan choices!  I clearly found something for me since I came here twice during my short time in Miami!  The first time I tried the Deluxe Pesto Wrap on a bed of quinoa and one of their Cookie Dough balls. While the dish did not look like much, it was delicious and exactly the wholesome meal I needed.  The second time around, I got The Refresher juice with apple and The Everything Salad (minus the Daiya cheese).  The juice was phenomenal, not too sweet and really refreshing.  The salad was also amazing, and HUGE. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the veggie chorizo, but then again I'm never really a fan of fake meat products.  If I am ever in Miami again, I will definitely hit up Choices - I would love to try their breakfast (offered every day!) and one of their smoothies. 

Overall, Miami was a great little getaway even though I was technically working.  I got to meet some awesome people that I will be spending quite a bit of time with this summer, and got to check out a few of the local veg spots.

Next post I'll recap my more recent trip to Vegas and the Wonderful World of Disney (aka Orlando).  Until then, hope everyone is getting outside on this beautiful spring day!

Thoughts on the New Year + Orange Immunity Booster Juice

Hello and happy first weekend of 2014!  Over the past week, I've done some reflection on the past year - accomplishments, big events, life changes- and a lot of thinking about the year to come.  I'm happy that, for the most part, I have posted on the blog fairly  regularly, and I intend to keep this up in 2014.  I do, however, have a few things I would like to work on (with the blog in particular).  I tend to post a lot of dessert recipes, because I love creating sweet treats to share, but I know many people are trying to reset after an indulgence holiday season, so I am going to try to post a more diverse set of recipes (think juices, salads, snacks, and more raw desserts - I make these all the time, I just don't write about them as much).  Also, I'm going to try to put in a bit more information about the ingredients I use and (what I know about) their health benefits, because I think it's super interesting and useful, again especially considering many peoples renewed commitment to health in the new year.  Finally, I'm going to continue to post about restaurants, events, travel, etc, since I think exploration of the world outside my kitchen is an important part of urban backpacking life.

Here's the first juice I made this year - inspired by this.  I bought fresh turmeric earlier this week and am so glad I finally tried juicing it; it really adds an interesting flavor to this juice, not to mention a load of health benefits.  Turmeric is an acquired taste, so start small and increase as you wish.  If you don't like turmeric, or can't find it fresh, feel free to substitute ginger - I'm sure it will turn out fabulous.

Orange Immunity Booster Juice:

1 orange
4 carrots
1/2 small apple
1/2 small beet
1 inch fresh turmeric

Wash, juice, and enjoy!  Makes enough for two small glasses, or one large glass. 

 

Why does this juice rock? 

- Turmeric - Mainly known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, this orange root is loaded with vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K.  Turmeric also contains a substance which helps stimulate the immune system.  Additionally, it helps improve digestion and is a natural liver detoxifier (increases the production of vital enzymes).  
- Beet - One of richest dietary sources of antioxidants, beets also contain nitrates which improve blood flow throughout the body and a hefty dose of vitamin C.
- Orange - In addition to vitamin C, oranges are full of potassium, a mineral responsible for helping the heart function.  And although most people think of citrus fruits as acidic, they actually have an alkalizing effect on the body, which means they help the blood take in more oxygen.  Without proper oxygen in the blood, we get real sick (think cancer, heart disease, diabetes). 

Cheers to health and happiness in 2014!

4 medium organic carrots
1 small golden beet ( 2- 3 inches in diameter) scrubbed and cut in half (optional)
1 apple - cored
1 orange (peeled)
1 Tablespoon sliced fresh turmeric root ( peels are OK) more to taste. - See more at: http://www.feastingathome.com/2014/01/a-new-year-fresh-turmeric-tonic.html#sthash.RTRmb0Im.dpuf

4 medium organic carrots
1 small golden beet ( 2- 3 inches in diameter) scrubbed and cut in half (optional)
1 apple - cored
1 orange (peeled)
1 Tablespoon sliced fresh turmeric root ( peels are OK) more to taste. - See more at: http://www.feastingathome.com/2014/01/a-new-year-fresh-turmeric-tonic.html#sthash.RTRmb0Im.dpuf

GO GREEN: An All Green Juice Cleanse

A few weeks ago, Organic Avenue (remember, one of my favorite juice places in NYC) sent out an email advertising a sale on their ALL GREEN juice cleanse.  Without thinking much, I hopped on this opportunity!  I was going to be traveling again for work for an extended period of time (Memphis again, four weeks) and thought a juice cleanse would be a great break from the restaurant and hotel food.  I did a juice cleanse the last time I was in Memphis and it was a great experience.

I conned a co-worker into doing the cleanse with me.  We decided to do it during the week, starting on October 29th and ending the day after Halloween. Trick, or treat?


I'm not going to go into all the details of the cleanse, but will summarize my thoughts on this cleanse briefly:

1. There is such a thing as "too much of a good thing" - I love me a green juice (hey, even two green juices), but 6 green juices a day plus a green booster shot?  It is a little much.  I enjoyed most of the juices; however, drinking six 14 oz green juices a day was hard!  Most were completely savory (very little to no fruit).  Savory is great, but it would have been nice to have at least one or two sweet juices in the mix.  Disclaimer:  Two of the juices I considered semi-sweet, but not fruity enough to mask that they were still mostly veggies.

2.  Juice feast, don't juice fast - Due to the low fruit content of this cleanse, an entire day of juices only added up to around 500 calories.  From my research, your body goes into starvation mode with anything less than 1,200.  While it's totally fine to have such a reduced calorie intake for a few days, I didn't like the idea of draining my body.  I needed to work and wanted to work out during this cleanse.  Looking back, this extreme option probably wasn't the best choice based on my situation.

Finally I realized that you need to be fully committed in order to have a successful cleanse (duh, Emily).  As I mentioned, I sort of hopped on this juice cleanse on a whim, and didn't really take the time to think if this was something my body and life could handle at the time.  I don't think that I went into the cleanse fully committed, which is pretty important considering the cost and effort required to do any cleanse.

All this being said, I "supplemented" my cleanse.  Some would call this "cheating," but I knew I wasn't going to get anything out of the cleanse if I starved myself for 3 days and wasn't productive in my professional or personal life.  I listened to what my body needed.  I added some fresh fruit and veggies, and raw nuts.  And guess what?  I still saw great results - my senses sharper, my digestion improved, and, for the most part, I was able to do regular work outs. 

So while I don't recommend this "Go Green" juice cleanse to anyone except the most experienced, hard core juicers, I also do not have any regrets about trying this cleanse.  Next time though (yes there will be a next time), I'll stick with the less intense version.  Drinking all juice all day is enough intensity for me. =)

Sunday Funday - Exploring AdMo + First Yoga Class

Hello and Happy Monday!

This past weekend was my first back in the nation's capital for quite some time.  Saturday was uneventful, but Sunday was full of good times.  Sunday morning started with a long run in Rock Creek Park (another first in quite some time.. ow).  After lunch, the BF and I headed back to my old hood for the Adam's Morgan Day Festival.  We walked up 18th Street, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the festival, but didn't hang around too long - I was set to teach my first yoga class later in the evening, so I wanted some time to relax and prep beforehand.

To beat the crowd and the heat, we headed over to the newly opened Puree Juice Bar, located inside MINT gym at 18th and California (bottom of Adam's Morgan).  I had heard about Puree, but had never tried their juices as the original bar is in Bethesda (just a little too far up the Red line for me to venture).  It's super exciting the they have opened this second location - I love seeing local, health-oriented businesses like Puree thriving and expanding.

We got to sample two of the juice offerings - the "mean lemonade" and the "daily green."  Both were really good (even the not-so-crunchy BF agreed).  I ended up getting the daily green.  This juice was a mix of pineapple, kale, cucumber, apple, lemon, and ginger - definitely green tasting, but with enough sweetness to give me just the boost I needed before my yoga class.  Besides juices, Puree also offers smoothies and an assortment of raw food/snacks.  The only downside to Puree, like so many organic/vegan/raw/whateverthenewhealthcrazeis places, is the price - most juices are around $10.  That being said, and although I no longer live in the direct area, I can see myself coming back to Puree in the near future, because their juices are so dang tasty (and their logo so dang cute).

The BF didn't get a juice, but he wanted a snack before my class, so we stopped into Pleasant Pops, which is right next door to Puree and Mint.  I've been in Pleasant Pops before, but only to get a drink, so this was a first pop experience for both of us.  He got the Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate popsicle, and it was fantastic!  Super creamy (I think it's made with coconut milk) with a slight hit of heat, this pop was the perfect treat for a hot day.  Again, while I'm no longer living in the immediate area, I can see myself stopping back in Pleasant Pops again soon.

All of the sudden the afternoon was ending and it was time to head over to The Studio DC in Dupont where I would be teaching my first yoga class.  I was a little nervous, but also excited!  My nerves disappeared as my friends, co-workers, and fellow teachers-in-training arrived - I was so happy to see all these people showing up to support me.  Teaching was HARD, but I expected as much.  It wasn't physically taxing like a yoga class normally is, but emotionally exhausting.  After class, I grabbed sushi with a few of my "students," but before long had to head home to pass out.  While there are definitely things I know I can improve on, the class went as well as I could have hoped for and I am looking forward to teaching more in the future.

A good first weekend back in DC, I'd say.  Until next time, namaste.

IM BACK + Travel Snack Reviews

HELLO!  I am back in DC from my long bout of traveling, and boy does it feel good (although I'm still living out of a suitcase...more on that later) !  While I love to see the world/country, traveling definitely adds stress and can often mess with healthy eating and work out plans.

I'm planning to do a post on how to stay healthy while traveling, but for now I will simply provide a few product reviews.  As mentioned previously, I'm not one to buy a lot of packaged foods, but being on the road had me trying out more items than usual, so I thought I would share some of my finds with you!

Perfect Fit Protein Powder

A co-worker gave me one of these single-serve packets and I loved it!  This protein power is raw, vegan, and gluten free - 15g for only 70 calories.  I especially appreciated that I knew all of the ingredients - organic sprouted brown rice protein, vanilla extract, guar gum, stevia, and sea salt.  As for the taste, its a mild vanilla with only a slightly chalky aftertaste (come on, what protein powder doesn't taste chalky?)  I absolutely prefer this to some of the stronger flavored proteins I have tried in the past (Vega, I'm looking at you!).  Best of all, the single-serve packets are perfect for travel.  Bottom line:  After trying this, I promptly ordered a whole box.  If you think your diet needs a raw, vegan protein boost, you should check out Perfect Fit!

Evolution Juices

While fresh veggie juice is becoming more and more popular, it is still not something you can find everywhere.  However, you can now find it at many Starbucks locations, thanks to Evolution juices!  I have tried a few of the green juice varieties, and have been pleasantly surprised (and we all know how picky I am when it comes to green juice).  Bottom line:  Moderately priced and conveniently located, I will be coming back for more!

GoPicnic Ready-to-Eat Meals

GoPicnic makes ready-to-eat meals that are vegan and allergy friendly and are sold at many airports across the US.  Basically these are the new-age Lunchables of the health conscious population.  I tried the Hummus & Crackers meal on a recent flight, and was pleasantly surprised.  I loved that the meal had a bunch of individually packed items - I ate half of it on the plane, and half another day for a snack.  While quite expensive when purchased at the airport, you can't beat the convenience of this nutritious item.  Bottom line:  Not an item I would regularly purchase, but I like the product and will probably buy again when in a pinch for quick, healthy meal while on the go.

Organic Raw One Flax Crackers

I found these raw crackers in a health food store in Orlando, FL and decided to give them a try since they were sorta local.  I tried the Golden Nori flavor and absolutely loved it - I am a sucker for crunchy & salty snacks, throw in superfoods like nori and healthy spices, and I'm sold. My only complaint was that the flax seed were whole, and from my understanding our bodies cannot absorb all the nutrients from whole flax seed (hence why it is usually ground before use).  Bottom line:  A healthy, tasty snack I would buy again.

That's all for now!  I promise to be back to regular posting again soon!

Organic Avenue Juice Cleanse

While I was in New York City, I fell in love with Organic Avenue.  I fell so in love that I wanted to try more of their juices.  The only problem was that their food and juices were in NYC, and I was not.  Good news is that Organic Avenue ships their all juice cleanse (LOVE deep), so the decision was made to try one.  As I mentioned previously, I am traveling a lot for work right now, so I planned my juice cleanse for one weekend when I would be staying in Memphis between work weeks.  This would be the perfect opportunity for a cleanse as 1) I would not be able to cook my own food anyways 2) I would not have friends or family around to hang out with (or distract me with their food!) and 3)  I wanted to do lots of yoga studying.

I chose a 3-day cleanse (Friday - Sunday), and the juices were sent to me in two shipments (they don't do weekend shipping, so I got a package on Thursday with one day of juice and a package on Friday with the remaining juices).  There were six juices for each day (one of which was a "mylk") plus a booster shot for first thing in the morning.  Each day there were different shots and different juices, which I liked becuase it kept things interesting!  If there are certain ingredients or juices you don't like (or if you have any allergies), Organic Avenue will take those into consideration when planning your cleanse.

Day One - Wheatgrass shot, Royal Red, Green Coco, Turmeric Tonic, Veggie Vibe, Splendid Sweet Green, Cashew Hemp Mylk -The first day was definitely the hardest for me. All the juices were delicious but I found myself hungry and drank a few juices before their scheduled time.  I also had some mild headaches throughout the afternoon. The most surprisingly tasty juices for me were the Royal Red and Veggie Vibe.  I'm not a huge fan of straight beet juice, but both of these juices contained other yummy ingredients to balance out the strong flavor and texture beet usually adds to a juice.  The Turmeric Tonic, while not a "juice" per se, was awesome and very satisfying.  The only problem with this day's juices was the Cashew Hemp Mylk - mine had definitely gone bad.  I don't know if this was a result of the shipping, or the fact that my juices did not get refridgerated immediately upon delivery, or a problem with that batch of mylk, but it was super sour and I knew something wasn't right upon first sip.  I had another Cashew Hemp Mylk that was supposed to be for Day Three, so I drank that and decided I would have to find something to replace it later.  The (not-spoiled) Cashew Hemp Mylk was satisfying, but the flavor was a bit bland - it could have used some cinnamon and/or nutmeg to kick it up! 

First juice of the cleanse- Royal Red

Turmeric Tonic and reading outside

Splendid Sweet Greens before yoga

Day Two - Aloe Vera shot, Cucumber Mint, Mellow Love, Ginger Lemonade, Veggie Vibe, Green Love, Coconut Mylk - As I have learned previously, juice cleansing equal awesome sleep.  Even after napping on Friday, I slept for a full 10 hours Friday night!  I woke up on Saturday morning a little hungry, but not as bad as the day before.  I had lots of energy and was easily able to get through a moderate yoga class and some low impact cardio.  No headaches at all.  As far as the juices,  the Aloe Vera shot didn't taste like much, which I guess is a good thing, but it is supposed to help the digestive track during cleansing.  The highlights of this day were Ginger Lemonade, which reminded me of the iced ginger tea I drank so much of in Thailand, and the Coconut Mylk.  I did not think the Coconut Mylk (young coconut meat blended with young coconut water) would be substantial or fulfilling enough, but it was absolutely lovely.  Naturally sweet and rich, I ate it with a spoon and felt like I was having dessert!

Ginger Lemonade and more studying

Sweet Coconut Mylk = Perfect end to Day Two

Day Three - E3 Live shot, Watermelon, Green Coco, Master Tonic, Virgin Mary, Splendid Sweet Green, Cashew Hemp Mylk - After another solid night of sleep, I woke up ready to take on the last day of my cleanse.  The day started with an E3 Live shot.  E3 Live is a blue-green algae that contains tons of healthy vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.  It is said to boost immunity, cleanse your digestive tract, and increase your energy, among other things.  I had never tried it before, and was a little nervous for the ominous looking shot.  It actually didn't have a strong taste at all (nothing like wheatgrass), score!  My energy was high again all day, no headaches or other "detox" side effects.  This day's juices were a perfect mix of sweet and savory - the sweet Watermelon juice was yummy for first thing in the morning, while the Master Tonic and Virgin Mary were great as spicy midday  pick me ups.  I had to improvise for my final juice (since I drank this Cashew Hemp Mylk on Day One).  I searched the local Whole Foods for a replacement drink and the closest thing I found was Suja's Coconut Almond juice.  This juice was pretty tasty (coconut, almond and cinnamon, with honey and cherries for sweetness), but my stomach was a little unhappy afterwards (which was the first upset of any kind the whole cleanse).

Nervous for the E3 Live shot!

Beautiful day for a run

Catching some rays with the spicy Master Tonic

What does one do (besides drink juice) during a juice cleanse?  Well, good question. Most programs suggest that you rest as much as possible (go to bed early, sleep until you naturally wake up) and do light exercise (such as walking and yoga) to increase circulation.  Some other suggested activities: meditation, journaling, spending time in nature, activities that promote detox (massage, dry brushing, colon hydrotherapy, sauna time).  Me?  I definitely did the sleeping thing and treated myself to a massage.  I did a lot of yoga and some running, but only because my body told me to.  The rest of my time was spent reading, studying yoga stuffs, and watching meaningful documentaries (both of which I highly recommend - Hungry for Change and Happy).  My intention for the cleanse was to focus on studying, but each person and each cleanse is different. 

Overall, this was by far the easiest and most delicious juice cleanse I have done.  I had very few detox signs (headaches, breakouts, etc).  My energy was high throughout the cleanse and I was able to stay on track with my normal workouts, and get some studying done.   The first day after my cleanse ended I was actually sad not to have yummy juice to drink that day!  If that is not a sign of juice success, I don't know what is!


Have you ever done a juice cleanse?  How was your experience?

NYC Adventure - Part 2

Friday afternoon I met up with my friend Sylvia, my host and tour guide for the weekend.  We hustled over to the Guggenheim to check out the James Turrell exhibit.   I had recently been to one of his exhibits at the LACMA in Los Angeles, so I was excited to see what he had in store for NYC.  I don't think you were supposed to take pictures, but no one stopped us so...

These pictures are all in the same room by the way.  For those of you who are not familiar with this JT, he plays with the concept of light and perception.  This was the main room in the museum - most of the pictures are taken looking up at the ceiling, which was illuminated with colored light.   The color of the light changed every few minutes or so.  The exhibit was great, but the one part that you had to wait in line for was so not worth the wait.  Regardless, the line gave Sylvia and me plenty of time to catch up, gossip, and figure out what we wanted to do for dinner.

We decided to check out Cafe Blossom, which just happened to be a fine vegan restaurant I had read about, which just happened to be directly under Sylvia's apartment.  Talk about meant to be!  We had a romantic candlelit dinner of pizza, beet carpaccio, quinoa with grilled veggies, and a giant Asian-inspired salad.  And wine.  And vegan ice cream.  (HUGE SCORE for NYC:  Vegan ice cream!) Needless, we were stuffed!  After a beer at a nearby bar, we called it an early night. 

My hot date - check out that GIANT PIZZA

Mixed greens with marinated tofu, kimchi, and cashews

VEGAN ICE CREAM - nom nom nom

Saturday began with a morning yoga class (again at Yoga to the People).  I then introduced Sylvia to my new found love - Organic Avenue.  We tasted a few juice and smoothie samples, and both settled on the Green Love juice.  YUM!  Couldn't have been a more ideal weekend morning in my book!

All smiles for GREEN LOVE

We showered, dressed, and ate our left over pizza for lunch.  We then set off to explore some more of NYC - specifically The High Line and Chelsea Market.

The High Line is a public park built on an elevated freight train line on the West Side of Manhattan (we hopped on it at one end in the Meatpacking District).  There are benches where you can sit and people watch, or just take in the interesting views of the city;  food carts where you can grab a bite to eat; and stretches of walkways with flowers and other greenery.  It is a truly beautiful place amidst the hubbub of the city. I know I mentioned this in Part 1, but I love when there is plenty of green space in a city!

Roof top bar next to the High Line

Benches for relaxing

Us with a view of the city beneath the park

We descended back to the street level and headed over to the Chelsea Market, an indoor market built in the former National Biscuit Company complex.  The market is home to a number of food vendors, as well as some retail stores (such as Anthropologie) and pop up shops.  There was a sample sale going on when we visited - checking this out felt like an authentic New York experience!  High fashion on the cheap?  Yes, please!   We also stopped in the 'Artists and Fleas' section of the market, which features more local, up-and-coming artists and vendors. We both saw so many things we liked, but resisted buying anything.

Inside the Chelsea Market

Walking and shopping made us hungry for a snack - lucky for us there is a One Lucky Duck location within the Chelsea Market!  #cantgetenough  I got a Goji High smoothie and Sylvia got a kale salad from another nearby vendor.  We then made our way back home for a rest before dinner.

We had plans to meet up with my friend Emily and her boyfriend for dinner that night.  I was BEYOND excited because everyone had agreed to check out Beyond Sushi - a vegan sushi joint I had read about and was so excited to try!  This place is sort of a whole in the wall - just a counter where you pay and they make the sushi and three small tables where you can sit.  I was a little nervous bringing three non-veg people here, but it turns out I had nothing to worry about - every single thing we got was absolutely phenomenal.  We tried four of the sushi rolls (pictured below, left to right - the Mighty Mushroom, Spicy Mang, Pickle Me, and Green Machine) and two of the rice paper wraps (Spicy Shroom and Sweet Angel).  By no means were these rolls "just" vegetables - they all had interesting preparations and combinations of fruits and vegetables, complimented by delicious sauces.  I only wished my stomach were larger so I could have enjoyed more! SCORE for NYC - Vegan sushi that is worlds better than any conventional roll.

Plant powered rolls!

Sweet Angel - Buckwheat noodles, sweet potato, asparagus, and sprouts with spicy siracha sauce

We left pleasantly stuffed (this was becoming a recurring theme) and bar hopped a bit before calling it a night.  Sunday morning we were up early again, ready to explore more - Brooklyn, specifically the Williamsburg Flea.  We grabbed some iced coffee and hoped on the subway.  SCORE for NYC - Amazing public transportation.  A few minutes later, we arrived in the aforementioned hipster mecca.

From the subway, we wandered down a few streets before we made it to the flea market, which was just getting started.  The flea market had tons to offer: vintage clothes and shoes, screen print t-shirts, old and new jewelry, furniture, art, the list goes on... The best part was these goods were unique and reasonably priced.  Score for NYC - Flea markets. We shopped around for a bit, both of us finding some fun jewelry to add to our collections.  We also grabbed some snacks to hold us over until we could eat a solid lunch.

Williamsburg Flea

Frozen chocolate covered mango

AWESOME SLIDERS SOLD HERE

Beet slider with eggplant bacon, cheeze, spicy ketchup, and guac

Before too long we were starting to fry in the hot summer sun, so we got back on the subway to head home.  On the way, we stopped at Peacefood Cafe for a quick bite to eat.  We both ordered the same salad (Asian inspired with marinated tempeh) which hit the spot.  I also picked up some treats for my train ride home - a vegan sun dried tomato and ricotta croissant and a gluten free banana ginger muffin.  Both of these baked goods were there's-no-way-this-is-vegan good.  I don't normally like croissants, but the salty 'ricotta' and sweet tomato paired perfectly with the buttery croissant.  And the banana ginger muffin... basically my idea of a perfect muffin: moist, dense, and slightly sweet.  Score for NYC - the magician bakers at Peacefood cafe (please teach me your secrets).

And then it was time for me to go... While I was sad to see such an awesome weekend end, I was happy that this visit had taught me that NYC doesn't have to be loud, scary, or expensive.   On the contrary, I learned first hand that NYC is filled with great art and architecture, wonderful food, and funky culture you just don't find anywhere else.  So as my train pulled away from the station, I found myself thinking  See you again soon New York...

NYC Adventure - Part 1

This post will begin a series of travel posts.  I will be on the road for 6 of the next 7 weeks, with just one week at home to pack and move out of my apartment (more on that later).  I always try to make the most of my travel opportunities and I plan to share my favorite sights, activities, and eats here.

So NYC... Unlike so many people, I have never longed to live in the Big Apple.  Sure, I love Broadway shows and fashion and Sex and the City, but NYC always seemed too big, too loud, and too money driven.  This trip totally changed my thoughts on the city... I absolutely LOVED it!  Here is why...

I took the train up to NYC on Wednesday morning.  I had to be at the office shortly after arriving, but I found time to grab a fruit and spirulina smoothie from a cart across from my hotel.  Score 1 for for NYC:  Fruits, smoothies, and juices are easy to find and can be cheap! While the afternoon was spent working, I was able to meet up with my friend Kelly for dinner and a run in Central Park.  Central Park is incredible, especially for runners.  There were tons of people walking and running, even on such a hot evening.  Score for NYC:  Green space (i.e. space to RUN).

I had work stuff all day Thursday, but made an early morning stop at Organic Avenue, an NYC organic juice bar chain, to get some breakfast and stock up on snacks.  I got the Jalepiña juice, made with spinach, celery, cucumber, parsley, romaine, jalapeño, pineapple, and cilantro.  This green juice packed a punch and was great for some early morning energy.  Organic Avenue also sells raw food and snacks.  I grabbed a coconut yogurt and cinnamon raisin granola for my breakfast, both of which were really good.  As everything I got was so delicious, not to mention so healthy, I knew I would be back again. Score for NYC:  Organic Avenue. Period.

Coconut yogurt

After work on Thursday I hit up a yoga class at a studio recommended by two friends - Yoga to the People.  YTTP is donation based, which makes it an affordable way to practice while traveling (for comparison, other studios I looked at in NYC had drop in rates of $30 per class - crazy!).  The class was great and it was awesome to see that the studio was thriving.  Score for NYC:  Affordable yoga!

After yoga I stopped by One Lucky Duck - the takeaway raw food shop operated by the folks who own Pure Food and Wine (a super upscale raw food restaurant in NYC).  One Lucky Duck and Pure are known for their amazing desserts, so I splurged and got a 'Mallomar' along with a salad. First, the salad - greens, kale, and herbs topped with hemp seeds and pumpkin seed macadamia "parmesan" and a lemon pumpkin seed dressing.  This salad was everything I could want in a salad - it was huge, fresh, and delicious, filled with nutrient dense ingredients.  The salad could have easily been enough for two meals, but seeing as I was pretty hungry from the yoga class I devoured the whole thing.  The Mallomar was also delicious:  a crunchy, chocolate dipped cookie topped with a cloud of sweet cream.  Again, I knew I would be back to One Lucky Duck to taste more of their amazing raw goodies. Score for NYC:  Yummy and healthy raw food!

Mallomar from One Lucky Duck

Friday started super early, with a 7AM running tour of downtown NYC!  I had read about running tours, but this was my first time trying one, and it was a blast.  By running instead of walking you can cover a lot more territory in a shorter time period, and get a work out in!  Our guide, Karl, was super knowledgeable and friendly and carried water for us.  I would definitely recommend this type of tour to any traveling fitness enthusiasts.

Our guide pointing out some sights

Tall buildings!

Park with a view of the city hall

View of Freedom Tower from Tribeca

Me with the Charging Bull post run!

I then headed back to my hotel, stopping at Organic Avenue along the way to pick up some breakfast.  A mini Cafe Latte to counteract the early morning wake up, a Matcha Chai Glow smoothie, and a SHOT.  What?  A shot for breakfast?  Organic Avenue has all these different "booster shots" you can take - wheatgrass, chlorophyll, lemon, ginger, and other interesting blends, each with a specific health benefit.  I felt like I was coming down with a cold, so they recommended the 'Oregano Candida Cleanse' - garlic, oil of oregano, lemon, and alkaline water.  I was a little hesitant but was reassured that it tasted like pizza.  Sure enough, it did taste like pizza!  If you were to blend pizza up into a liquid... regardless, my head and throat felt much clearer the rest of the day, so I think that the shot helped.

After showering and wrapping up some work things, I packed up and checked out of my hotel.  I had plans to meet my friend Emily for lunch, but had a little time to explore until then.  I walked around the Union Square and Gramercy areas taking in the Friday morning sights, and stumbled upon a fairly large farmer's market.  Before too long, I headed to Murray Hill where I had my lunch date.  This area is affectionately known as 'Curry Hill' due to the large number of Indian restaurants.  That being said, Emily and I dined on some delicious (and cheap) Indian food at Chote Nawab. The lunch special at this place was incredible - for under $20, we each got a dish (palak paneer for Emily, okra for me), plus lentils, rice, and naan.  Also, when the waiter realized that I don't eat dairy (the lentils contain butter), he brought us out another lentil dish at no extra cost.  Score for NYC: Great ethnic food.  We hardly made a dent in all of it!  Besides the good food, it was awesome to catch up with another friend.  She had to get back to work, but we made plans to meet up again later in the weekend.

Stay tuned for Part 2 featuring a great art exhibit, more green juice, phenomenal vegan sushi, and a flea market adventure...

Memphis Travels and Vegan Fig Bars

Two weeks ago I got to travel to Memphis for work with my team  (we visit Memphis and the smaller town of Millington a few times a year).  While Memphis may be known for BBQ and southern cooking, I have found a few veg-friendly spots that we frequent whenever we are in town: 

"Regenerator" juice from Cosmic Coconut

The Cosmic Coconut -  All-vegan juice and smoothie bar located off of Poplar Avenue between Midtown and Germantown.  In addition to the array of juices and smoothies, the Cosmic Coconut also offers food - soups, a few sandwiches, kale salad, and raw treats.  I have tried quite a few of the juices and smoothies and all have been delicious.  My favorite juice has to be the "Regenerator" -  a blend of beet, carrot, apple, kale and WHEAT GRASS (such an awesome addition to a juice).  The kale salad, which is massaged with their house dressing, is another menu item I have liked.  They also offer grain bowls which change daily.

Veggie Tempura sushi from Kobe

Kobe - Who would ever think you could find a decent sushi joint in the tiny town of Millington, Tennessee?  Definitely not I, but Kobe is a true gem in the rough.    Even the non-veg folks agree that the best roll offered is their Vegetable Tempura roll with sweet potato and asparagus.

Olympic - Another favorite spot in Millington. My co-workers like that they can get plain grilled chicken here, and we all love their baked sweet potatoes.  I bring along some nut butter and order the sweet potato (extra large, please) for my meal.



There is also a Whole Foods one mile from our hotel so my co-workers and I always make a stop to stock up on healthy snacks such as fruits and veggies, trail mix, and energy bars. 

I love to bake for my co-workers, and I don't let travel stop me from doing so.  I contemplated what to make for this trip - granola? healthy Chex mix? oatmeal cookies?  I wanted something that would serve as both a breakfast and an afternoon snack.  In my search, I stumbled across a recipe for vegan fig bars that sounded both nutritious and delicious.   Best of all, I had all the ingredients on hand.  Score!

These bars surpassed my every expectation.  I am not normally a cookie/cake/bar person - I'd much rather indulge in some undercooked (vegan) brownies and raw cookie dough, or a big bowl of vanilla (banana) soft serve.  I made these bars on Friday night and by the time I left for Memphis on Sunday, half the batch was gone.  While I can't quite put my finger on what makes these bars so amazing, I think it has something to do with the fact is that they remind me, in the simplest way, of the Fig Newtons of my childhood.  Don't let that comparison fool you - these bars are much more complex, way more wholesome, and one hundred times more tasty.

As I mentioned, the ingredients are fairly basic: dried figs, dates, maple syrup,  oats, applesauce, almond milk, coconut oil, and spices.   The only not-basic part of the recipe is making the fig filling for the bars.  I'm sure if you wanted you could use any store bought fruit butter or jam, but let me tell you the effort is worth it if you have the time and resources to make the homemade version.

This is another recipe from Gena over at Choosing Raw.  Go check it out and do yourself (and maybe your co-workers or your family) a favor and make these today!