Even More Exciting Vegan Food At Veggie Grill On Their New Menu

I've done a lot of coverage on Veggie Grill despite their limited gluten-free and soy-free options because it's one of my favorite restaurants to indulge at. So naturally I jumped at the opportunity to check out their new menu offerings while visiting Los Angeles - and boy am I glad I did. The following video is a teaser to the snazier version I'll edit when I get back to San Francisco, and since these items on available NOW at the Sunset Blvd location, you better get your butt over there ASAP to check out things like:

• Buffalo Chickin Salad or Burger 
• "Crab" Cake Burger
• Chickin with Cauliflower/Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
• Blackened Tempeh and Portobello Mushroom Steak (gluten-free)
• Chocolate Pudding Parfait 
• and more!

The first comment I received on this video was, "wow that is all vegan?!" and the non-veg journalist who dined with me today was in total disbelief that it was free of meat and dairy. Veggie Grill is that good!

Expo West 2012: Best Of Day 2 (Video) - Vegan, Organic and Gluten-Free Products

Friday, March 9, 2012 was officially Day 1 of Natural Products Expo West, though a lot happened on Thursday as well. Take a look at what I discovered in my second video from the show, featuring:

• Green Girl Next Door (blogger)
• Coco Polo (stevia sweetened chocolate)
• One Degree Foods (breads with full ingredient disclosure)
• Food for Lovers (vegan queso and mayo)
• Green Foods (green powders and vegan protein powders)
• So Delicious (practically everything dairy-free)
• Nature's Path (organic passion and delicious cereals and snacks)
• Ashley Koff (incredible nutritionist)
• Qrunch burgers (quinoa veggie burgers)
• Vegucated (vegan documentary)
• Healthy Voyager (blogger and author)
• Vegan Cuts (vegan daily deal site)
• Happy Cow (vegan restaurant site)
• Living Eco (eco-vegan shopping and interviews)
• Fair Trade USA
• AlterEco (quinoa chocolate)

Expo West 2012: Best Of Day 1 (Video) - Vegan, Organic and Gluten-Free Products

It has begun! Join me on my first day of Natural Products Expo West in this video, featuring the latest products from:

• - PROBAR
• - Pure Bar
• - Artisana
• - Purely Elizabeth
• - Beanfields
• - The Brooklyn Salsa Company
• - Califia Almond Milk
• - Bambooe
• - Navitas Naturals
• - Earth Balance
• - VEGA
• - Inner-Eco
• - OMG!
• - Poppy's Cleaners
• - NibMor
• - Pacari and Dr. Nita's
• - Cloud-Top
• - Bold Organics
• - Yoga Earth's Keen-Wah
• - Farmhouse Culture
• - EatPastry

The Story Behind Arsenic in Organic Brown Rice Products (Video)

Soooo...did you hear that some organic brown rice products contain arsenic? Yep, at least that's what a study says, and it's pretty frightening if you don't know all the details. Fortunately it seems we don't have much to worry about, and here's why:

Video Review: Healthy Snacks from Way Better - Sprouted Tortilla Chips

image from GoWayBetter.com

I'm always on the hunt for good snacks, so when I spotted Way Better Snack's attractive packaging at Rainbow Grocery I had to check it out. Upon closer inspection I discovered that they aren't your average tortilla chips - they are made with sprouted grains and seeds for extra nutrition. All ingredients are non-GMO and certified gluten-free, and most of them are organic. Sold. Check out this video for my thoughts:

Healthiest Chocolate Ever: Organic, Raw, Vegan, Sugar-Free, Soy-Free & Gluten-Free!

Yes, the title is true. I have discovered the healthiest and most eco-friendly chocolate ever!!! Oh, and it's DELICIOUS too. Really, the best way for you to understand how excited I am about finding this is to watch the following video, but there's a little text below it if you can't/don't want to. Bottom line - this is one of the most exciting vegan products I've found in a long time.

Review: Coconut Curry Crackers From Livin' Spoonful (Video)

It's hard to find really satisfying, well-priced healthy snacks...well, I suppose it depends on what your definition of healthy is, but for me it means:

• plant based
• unprocessed
• organic
• gluten-free
• soy-free
• low or no SOS (salt, oil, sugar)

Try to think of some snacks off the top of your head, aside from produce and nuts/seeds, and you'll feel a little stumped. My favorite snack lately has been kale chips, but at $5-8 a bag it can add up, especially when I eat them all in one sitting (aka 10-15 minutes). Then there are nuts, which are great except that they too can get pricey and I get sick of them pretty fast. So what's a Eco-Vegan Gal (or Guy) to do? Personally, I go to different natural markets/sections of stores and see if I can find new treats, and luckily I did yesterday.

Healthy Vegan Food in Las Vegas: Interactive Map

image from Eating Vegan in Vegas

Las Vegas isn't usually the place to go when you're eating healthy. One would assume it's also not great for vegans either, but when you look closely and do your research both assumptions are quite false. You may have seen my reviews from my trips to Vegas in the past, but those were the old days - my diet has changed and the city is getting healthier and healthier, so I can't wait to go back and try it all out. 

This post was inspired by my boyfriend's trip to LV - he's headed there for a week and is doing the Crazy Sexy Diet cleanse with me. At first I was practically positive his clean diet wouldn't last, especially without me there to guide him, but after several hours of intensive internet scouting I found plenty of fantastic options so I figured I should share them with you too.

The following is a interactive map and list of restaurants that offer the healthiest food in Las Vegas - if you have a device like the iPhone click here to view the map on it. Each recommendation is vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, vegetable and grain based, and low in soy and oil whenever possible. Since the cleanse focuses on fresh foods and juices, I've listed those options as well. You should always confirm with the waiter/cashier to make sure the ingredients match your diet. If you're looking to do some vegan indulging (and who can blame you in the city of sin?!), check out my older posts, be sure to visit the Wynn hotels and Pure Vida, and visit the resources at the end of this list. 

Video: Recipes for an Organic, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Sugar-Free Vegan Christmas

I'll be honest, even though Christmas is only 2 days away I have no idea what I'm going to do for it, let alone what I'll eat. I guess that's what happens when work prevents me from being with my family for the holidays... but shall I decide to cook on December 25th I've got plenty of delicious recipes to choose from that are free of animal products, gluten, sugar and soy - all thanks to an ebook.

What a Vegan Eats for Lunch: Pad Thai - gluten-free, sugar-free, soy-free, salt-free

Have you checked out my new YouTube channel yet? It's called "What A Vegan Eats" and I'm uploading video journals about food I eat and make throughout the day. If I get enough requests I'll make video recipes too - I have a feeling this super healthy Pad Thai will be desired...

Video: The Healthiest French Toast You'll Ever Make

It's 7:30am - your alarm is going off and you want to throw it across the room. Cheer up - I've got a guilt-free breakfast that you can whip up in 10 minutes that will give you energy and satisfaction before a long day at work. It's also perfect for lazy weekend mornings - no need to pack on calories and mix together unhealthy ingredients to start the day off with yumminess. Head over to Eco-Vegan Food for 3 vegan french toast recipes (in video format) that are gluten-free, soy-free, sugar-free, oil-free and salt-free and still manages to taste great. All for less than $3 a serving - save your cash and skip out on a cafe's overpriced and unhealthy french toast! Dr. McDougall will be proud.

Healthy Finds At Safeway: A Slideshow of Their Organic, Local, Gluten-Free and Vegan Foods!

In an effort to help people around the country find healthy foods no matter what stores are within reach and what the budget is, I've been exploring the options at national grocery markets. I started out with Kroger's Food Co, but wasn't able to find much at that discount warehouse. So my expectations were low when I ventured into a Safeway in San Francisco (16th & Bryant), but boy was I in for a surprise! This location has at least 100 vegan options, most of which are organic and many are gluten-free! Here are some of the highlights:

Video Interview: Rhythm Superfoods - Raw Kale and Sweet Potato Chips

If you're looking for a guilt-free snack eat kale chips. They are the ultimate in healthy indulgence. Crispy, sweet, slightly salty with organic, raw, minimal ingredients (gluten and soy free). It's a financial splurge worth making since making them at home requires a dehydrator (to do it right) and at least half a day of waiting for them to be done. There are a lot of kale chips on the market, and one of my favorite companies is Rhythm Superfoods. I interviewed the co-founder, Keith, at Expo West 2011 and he told me the story behind the products and his passion. 

Video Recipe: Baked Pasta with Butternut Squash and Kale

Head over to Eco-Vegan Food to learn how to make this tasty and filling autumn dish!

Video - Eco-Vegan Gal Diet: Learning How To Lose Weight & Love My Body In A Healthy Way

Yep, that was me almost 10 years ago, 1 year before I went vegan. While that was probably the heaviest I ever was, I have always struggled with my weight. Here is the story behind my journey to find a healthy diet that helped me learn how to understand and love my body. The following video includes more before and after pictures and videos.

Video Interview with Bob's Red Mill About Health and Sustainability

While at the Natural Products Expo West this year I had the opportunity to interview the founder, president and face behind Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods: Bob Moore himself! He spoke about the importance of whole grains in the diet, his vast gluten-free offerings, organic options, where his ingredients come from (how far from the base near Portland, OR), and the sustainability of the company. Bob is a very sweet and sincere man - my favorite quote from him is the very last one in the video about life as an 82 year old! I hope you enjoy this interview!

Video Recipe: Lemon-Kissed Brussels and Butternut Squash from The Blissful Chef

Last week Christy Morgan, aka The Blissful Chef, was in San Francisco as part of her book tour. Christy and I became friends while living in L.A., so we made sure to squeeze a video in before she left my new town. I did a poll on the EVG Facebook page and I was surprised that the recipe chosen by the majority featured Brussels sprouts, a vegetable few people seem to like. Christy's Lemon-Kissed Brussels and Butternut Squash recipe is a perfect way to introduce yourself and your friends to how incredible Brussels sprouts can taste! Not only is this recipe delicious, but Christy offers up some great cooking tips in the video!

Healthy Finds At Kroger's Foods Co.

If you frequent this website you know that I shop mainly at natural markets like co-ops and Whole Foods. I stopped shopping at Trader Joes because of all the packaging and lacking organic options, though I do enjoy the occasional visit. However, these stores are all quite expensive due to their high quality offerings, and I realize that not everyone can afford to shop at them and may not have a location nearby. So I've decided to start visiting bigger chains with lower price points in search of healthy foods - focusing on vegan items of course. 

Video Interview: Hail Merry Raw Vegan Gluten-Free Snacks & Desserts

There are a LOT of great products at Expo West each year - it's pretty overwhelming. But one of the most memorable foods I tried in 2011 was without a doubt Hail Merry. If you live in certain parts of the country - like Colorado, Texas or Virginia - you may have spotted their raw tarts in the refrigerated section and drooled over their descriptions and affordable price; if you didn't buy them you're a fool! These vegan tarts are mind blowingly good - in fact, they don't even taste raw or gluten-free. They're sweet and creamy - thank goodness they're small because if they came in a regular pie size I'd likely eat it all in one sitting. And I'm not alone - Veg News agreed and awarded Hail Merry the Best New Veagn Product of Show!

Video Review: z pizza - Vegan and Gluten-free Pizza Made with Organic Ingredients

Berkeley Vegan pizza

Forget Pizza Hut, Papa Johns and Dominos - go for something healthier and higher quality. If you live in a big city in the U.S. chances are there's a place call z pizza nearby, where you can get a delicious pie with fresh, organic ingredients. Today's video features z pizza in West Hollywood and their vegan and gluten-free pies, including an interview with the store owner and son of the founder.