MOOOVE OVER COWS!! VEGETARIAN SOURCES OF CALCIUM

It is a myth that one needs to consume cow’s milk and dairy products to get the RDA (recommended daily amount) of calcium. First of all, that food pyramid has more to do with the meat and dairy industries making money than our health. Many people of Asiatic/African descent are intolerant to lactose. Those that can consume it and choose to should be mindful of the hormones and GMOs in non organic dairy products and cleanse internally as needed to break up the mucus build up that accompanies dairy. Trust me, I have my personal vices and can attest to the strong hold those hormones in dairy can have on you, especially for emotional eaters. Always be patient and kind with self wherever you are on your dietary path. Many vegetarians and vegans end up deficient because they are not eating a diverse enough diet to get the vitamins and minerals they need. Sure, there are supplements, it’s just optimal to get those things from food sources. 1000 mg is the RDA for adult women 50 and under and men under 70. 1500 mg for women 51 and older  and men 71 and older. A [8 oz] glass of whole milk has 276 mg of calcium.Below is a list of alternatives with high calcium and a few pics of my personal favorites. Also note that calcium alone is not enough to insure bone health. Exercise and adequate vitamin D (sunshine works well for the melanin dominant) are essential for proper utilization of calcium. It is also important to not eat excessive amounts of protein (which many people do) or take supplements that interfere with calcium absorption (ie: high doses of magnesium).

Dandelion Greens – 100mg (10% RDA) per cup, chopped

Kale – 90mg (9% RDA) per cup, chopped

Romaine lettuce – 207mg (21% RDA) per head

Green leaf lettuce – 130mg (13% RDA) per head

Italian parsley – 83mg (8% RDA) per cup

Young coconut – up to 170mg (17% RDA) per coconut

Fresh figs – 88mg (9% RDA) in 5, medium-sized figs (dried figs 241 mg!!!)

Orange – 60mg (6% RDA) per medium-sized fruit

One cup of papaya or 1 kiwi fruit each provide 3% RDA of calcium.

Brussel sprouts- 88mg in 1 cup

Collard greens

Collards greens

Black eyed peas and tomatoes

SIMPLE VGN PANCAKES

I love to cook as much as I love to eat. My transitioning into a healthier diet began in 1993, and rather than condemn myself to a life of bland, tasteless “healthy”food, I started with converting comfort foods of my childhood into tasty, animal free versions. Pancakes were one thing I never perfected, even with mixes, and since finding restaurants that offer vegan versions are scarce, I decided to try again after many years. I got this recipe online and tweaked it to my preferences. I added mini chocolate chips, used almond milk instead of soymilk, added a little Silk french vanilla creamer to taste and upped the sugar by 1/2 Tablespoon.I also sprinkled a little cinnamon in. Since I cook by taste, recipes just serve as a guideline that should be adjusted to personal taste. Here’s the link and some pics. My seed loved them, as did my parents, who are not vegetarian. And just like that, I’ve conquered pancakes from scratch.  😉

http://www.food.com/recipe/5-minute-vegan-pancakes-132263

ATLANTA VEG FEST 2013 [PHOTOS]

The second annual Atlanta Veg Fest took place on Saturday, November 9,11a-5pm,  at Le Fais Do-Do in West Midtown. The free event had something for everyone with food samples, cooking demonstrations, kids’ activities and dozens of exhibitors. Raising a youth that has had a plant- based diet from conception, this was the perfect Saturday outing to expose him to and teach him more about why I chose to deviate from the SAD (Standard American Diet).There were presentations throughout the day by internationally recognized speakers, including Afya Ibomu,  Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Annie and Dan Shannon, Victoria Moran and Fran Costigan. I missed them due to my focus on the really important stuff… FOOD. 🙂

I would like to point out that this is the second year this event has been held, and having attended last year, I must say they really knocked it out of the park this year. The location was great, spacious, the location was easy to find, parking was no problem. The only thing I would have liked to see was more food vendors that I had never tried before. I did get there about two hours before it ended, hungry, so I may have missed some.. I only saw two or three that had meals versus snacks. Food selections from Healthful Essence, with their delicious, vegan Carribean delights, Dough Bakery and Gutenfleischer’s Vegan Deli, Sevananda Co-op, Dulce Vegan (cupcakes, cheesecake, pie) and Revolution Gelato would have put a smile on the face of even the most staunch carnivore. Good stuff!!

Kingscreen (tshirt printers) had some really nifty organic cotton aprons, tote bags, and Veg Fest themed tees. Crazy Rumors featured a line of vegan and cruelty-free flavored lip balms and lip tints. Afya Ibomu had her books, DVDS, water bottles,  and Nattral t shirt line available. There were several other vendors that had everything from soaps, candles, to cook books. One of the best things about this event is that most of the vendors were Atlanta-based, which is awesome.Also,most of the vendors gave me complimentary products with my purchases, which is always a plus.  It’s always a plus to have a child friendly environment too. Atlanta Veg Fest, I’m looking forward to 2014 already. Gold “staHHr” for you. 🙂

Check the photo gallery below for my personal highlights.

Me and Swarthy Daisy adding some natural flyness to the Atlanta Veg Fest 2013. 🙂

They had 3 huge warehouse size rooms and yes, the crowd was thick.

Crazy Rumors lip balms and tints

Chocolate Caramel Pecan cupcake from Dulce Vegan.

Kingscreen “Dont Panic Just Eat Organic” tees.

Kingscreen “ATL VEG” tees

Kingscreen “Dont Panic Just Eat Organic” tees.

An organic cotton tee for $5.. and I got a free hand towel with it. WIn!!

Crazy Rumors lip balms and tints

Coming soon to a store and/or restaurant near you.. Revolution Gelato.

Revolution Gelato (Vanilla Bean)

Revolution Gelato (Espresso)

Dough Bakery and Gutenfliescher’s had the best music selection ever. They played classic hip hop the entire event.

Chocolate Caramel Pecan cupcake from Dulce Vegan.

They had 3 huge warehouse size rooms and yes, the crowd was thick.

Me and Swarthy Daisy adding some natural flyness to the Atlanta Veg Fest 2013. 🙂

SPICE IS NICE: YERBA MATE CHAI

*Chai (pronounced as a single syllable and rhymes with ‘pie’) is the word for tea in many parts of the world. It is an ancient beverage which has played an important role in many cultures

.I enjoy a nice cup of chai any time, any place. It’s so perfectly rich and spicy, makes my toes tingle as I think about it. I also really dig yerba mate … an energy boosting alternative to coffee. I come from a long line of coffee drinkers, and I find chai and yerba as two wonderful replacements for it. Livestrong.com states, “The yerba mate tree (Ilex paraguariensis) provides the leaves for a type of infusion known as yerba mate tea. This tree grows naturally in areas of South America, where indigenous people consume it for health benefits. For many centuries, this nonalcoholic beverage provided the native cultures with a medicinal ingredient as well as a social drink.”

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/240907-benefits-of-yerba-mate/#ixzz1rsewzwj3

I found this yummy blend on a recent road trip. It’s composed of Green Yerba Mate, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Ginger, Cloves, Chicory, Black Pepper

EARTHCANDY!!!!!

earthcandy*

Me: Happy 2nd AnniRAWsary, Jamila!

Me: Thanks, Jamila!

::patting my OWN back:: 🙂

HA!

Well, well, well….lookie look! It’s been TWO years since I’ve eaten any cooked foods! I’m still on the RAW ROLLERCOASTER! Yes! Shoot, I’ve surprised myself like you would not believe.

(Here are the chronicles from my first year of “living foods”…)

When I was younger, I recall mentioning to myself–in passing– that I’d probably adopt a raw food diet by the time I turned forty or fifty. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be doing it waaaaaaaay before the time I envisioned. Heck, I can’t even remember WHY I said that as a young woman. Premonition, I guess!

Now, am I gonna eat like this forever and ever? Only time will tell.

Nevertheless. here I am and I feel GREAT. So much so that I’d like to share my favorite cheesecake recipe…

View original post 292 more words

KICKIN’ IT WITH staHHr PT.3: EATING TO LIVE FILMED BY SWARTHY DAISY

EARRINGS & ALHAMBRAN ROSE HAIR ADORNMENT: OFFICIAL IMPRESSONZ CROCHET

staHHr MUSIC: http://stahhr.bandcamp.com

Cool Fruits I’m Feeling Right Now: Persimmons

Hachiya Persimmon

Strolling through the farmer’s market yesterday, I felt a little adventurous as I approached the persimmon display. I’ve been seeing these fruits for years, so I decided to try one. I asked the produce manager for a sample and moments later, I was savoring the sweet, tender fruit. They look like tomatoes on the exterior, the texture is a cross between a plum and an apricot and the sweetness is best described as that of a date.

Here’s a little more info :

Persimmons origins go back to ancient China and Japan. They made their way to the U.S. in the 1880’s when a United States Commander brought back a native Japanese persimmon variety to Washington, D.C. Now, persimmons are primarily grown in California where hundreds of different varieties flourish. This brightly colored, glossy orange red skinned fruit is an excellent source of vitamin A, a good source of vitamin C, and rich in fiber.

Although there are countless different varieties of persimmons, only two are commercially available. There are distinguishable by their shape.

Hachiya: This type of persimmon makes up approximately 90 percent of the available fruit. It is identifiable by its acorn like shape. This persimmon is tart until it becomes soft ripe.

Fuyu: This persimmon is gaining popularity here as it is in Japan. Similar in color, but looking like a squashed tomato, this variety is smaller, sweeter, and is edible while still firm.

	Persimmons Serving Size 1 med. persimmon (168g) Amounts Per Serving % Daily Value Calories 120 Calories from Fat 5 Total Fat 0g 0%  Saturated Fat 0g 0% Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sodium 0mg 0% Total Carbohydrate 31g 10%   Dietary Fiber 6g 21%   Sugars 21g Protein 1g Vitamin A 50% Vitamin C 20% Calcium 2% Iron 2% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Availability, Selection, Storage, Preparation

Persimmons are widely available September through December, with a peak during November.

Choose persimmons with deep red undertones. Look for persimmons that are round, plump, and have glossy and smooth skin. Avoid fruits with blemishes, bruises or cracked skin and missing the green leaves at the top. Select ripe persimmons only if you plan to eat them immediately. Otherwise, buy firmer fruits and allow them to ripen.

Ripen persimmons at room temperature in a paper bag with an apple or banana. Store them in the refrigerator when ripe. Be sure to eat the fruit as soon as possible because overripe persimmons quickly turn to a mushy texture.

Ripe Fuyu persimmons, which look kind of like flattened tomatoes, will be crisp, while the acorn-shaped Hachiyas will be very soft and juicy.

Unripe Hachiya persimmons taste very bitter and will suck all the moisture from your mouth — not very pleasant. The tartness will go away as the fruit ripens.

 

BAZAAR NOIR INDIE SERIES PRESENTS:VEGAN/VEGETARIAN ‘TASTE’ OF ATL. SATURDAY OCTOBER 8, 2011

 

Since 2009, BAZAAR NOIR has brought you some of Atlanta’s best creators of one-of-a-kind jewelry, ecclectic fashions, organic hair and body care and eye-capturing photography to vegan cuisine, home decor must-haves and global teas. We hold our event every two months, and it has successfully gained notoriety and grown to our expectations.

BAZAAR NOIR is pleased to present “THE INDIE SERIES”, a series of expos that bring together exhibitors to showcase and sell their original handmade products. Each installment of The INDIE SERIES will focus on specific products/services geared towards an audience that understands, appreciates and patronizes independent artistry.

Next up is the VEGAN/VEGETARIAN ‘TASTE’ OF ATL!!!

BAZAAR NOIR INDIE SERIES is showcasing the diversity of ATL’s healthy food scene, so come eat and greet! Experience good eats from various vegan/vegetarian local chefs. And when you just can’t eat another bite, catch a ‘breather’ at our beloved Bazaar Noir Marketplace, filled with unique jewelry, enlightening books, and much more!

***Live DJs/ Food Demos/ Tofu Cook-Off/Free Giveaways***

Ready…..Set…..EAT!

***************FREE ADMISSION, NOT FREE FOOD!!!****************

Interested Vendors Please contact:bazaarnoir@gmail.com

RSVP Here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2185502898

FRESH MC SPOTLIGHT: SUPANOVA SLOM-“SUGAR CRACK”

Wellness Warrior salute to my brother from the cosmic mother Supernova Slom. Holistic lifestyle consultant. MC. Artist. Author (The Remedy). Healer. Superheru. This brother’s influence and guidance has been crucial on my journey as a vegetarian/vegan/enthusiast of fasting/cleansing/etc.

" Like a Supanova star"- e.badu

FOR ALL YOU HIP HOP JUNKIES.. LITERALLY. GET OFF THAT WHITE B@TCH.