Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 115

16 Kind Books For Kids

A friend recently asked me to recommend some books for young kids that gently explain why we eat the way we do. I did a little research and asked around, and here’s the list I compiled. Special thanks to all you kind lifers who offered suggestions as well as PETA, PCRM, Farm Sanctuary, and the Post Punk Kitchen “Playground” Forum.

How to Make Your Own Macrobowl

Most vegan restaurants serve a hearty version of a “macrobowl.” This dish is easy to throw together at home! Here’s a yum-looking recipe from The Kitchn:

Brown Rice Bowl With Maple-Glazed Tempeh and Tahini-Miso Dressing

 

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon maple syrup *

1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 clove garlic, grated or crushed

4 ounces tempeh, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices

1 (6-inch) piece dried wakame seaweed

1/4 cup tahini
1 tablespoon light miso

2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons grated ginger

About 1/4 cup warm water

4 cups kale cut into 1/2-inch ribbons

2 cups cooked brown rice

1/2 cup sauerkraut

1 avocado, sliced

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Hop over to The Kitchn for instructions!

 

* Superhero Tips: To make this recipe superhero, omit the maple syrup or replace the marinated tempeh with plain tofu. Also, be sure to buy your sauerkraut in the refrigerated section – this is the kind of sauerkraut that contains probiotic live cultures. Goldmine makes a great one you can buy at Whole Foods.

Do you make your own version of a macrobowl?

Share your variations on this recipe in the comments below!

Kind Bride: Planning an Eco Winter Wedding

Our kind style blogger Katie brought us a great post about planning an eco autumn wedding not too long ago.  You guys loved it so she decided to share her suggestions for winter as well.

Planning an Eco Winter Wedding

By Katie Gillespie

Winter is a time of hibernation, short days, and cold weather. It is a time to celebrate simplicity, warmth, and a stark kind of beauty. For my post on fall weddings, I made suggestions for fashion for the wedding party, favors, invitations, etc. that may be helpful here, too. For winter, weddings can be made eco-friendly quite simply and here are a few ideas for a lovely, understated winter wedding planned with kindness and compassion for all.

Source: Gown by Lindee Daniel ; hanging lights photo by Tiger Shout ; twig lights photo from Wedding Bee

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The Dress

I’m a big fan of second-hand clothing as the most eco-friendly option for any occasion, weddings included. Looking at local thrift shops or online for vintage and second-hand wedding dresses is a wonderful (not to mention, affordable) way to go. That being said, this time I’d like to feature the gorgeous creations of a Los Angeles-based sustainable wedding dress designer –Lindee Daniel. The Rebekah gown, pictured above, is lined with organic cotton, can be made in any number of sustainable, vegan fabrics and would look great on a range of body types. I love the romantic simplicity of this gown and it would be fun to work with the designer to get a dress that suits you perfectly.

Source: Pinecone bouquet from SeasonalBounty on Etsy; homemade vanilla extract recipe by Serenity in the Storm ; recycled silver wedding bands by VK DesignsJewelry on Etsy

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I really want to emphasize simplicity and stark warmth for winter wedding planning that carries over from the dress to the decorations to the food. In my opinion, skip the flowers in winter and opt for a more eco-friendly option. Try a bouquet of twigs, pinecones and other fallen items, like the pinecone bouquet pictured above from SeasonalBounty on Etsy. For favors, you could try a DIY option like homemade vanilla extract and an eco-option is to use cute mismatched containers from a local thrift shop. For rings, antique or vintage rings are always lovely or try something clean and simple like these recycled silver bands from VKDesignsJewelry.

To decorate the space for your winter wedding hang strands of LED lights around the room. Lately, I’ve been walking around my neighborhood and I’ve noticed how, in winter, the trees tend to shed some of their small, twiggy branches. These are so pretty and would be beautiful to collect and use for centerpieces with more strings of LED lights. These could either be laid down the center of the table artfully, or arranged in mason jars or other containers found at your local thrift shop. A simple theme of lights and twigs will give the decorations a warm, effortless feel while maintaining a fairly low environmental impact. 

In many parts of the world, winter is not a season of an abundance of fresh produce, but there are seasonal foods that can be celebrated in a delicious, yet simple meal. Offer a warming menu, like a rich, curried winter squash soup, a kale and beet salad, and hearty slices of a whole grain freshly baked bread. Serve vegan mulled wine or hot apple cider. Top the meal off with a dense, rich, vegan chocolate cake that uses ethically-sourced chocolate shared with good friends and family.   

What are your ideas for a kind winter wedding?

About Katie: Katie Gillespie is a PhD student in Geography, working on a dissertation that looks at the lives of individual cows in the U.S. dairy industry. In her free time, she writes the Seattle-based blog Serenity in the Storm, which features vegan news, recipes, fashion and animal advocacy-related topics, she is a contributor at MindBodyGreen, a volunteer for the Food Empowerment Project and for Pigs Peace Sanctuary.

 

 

Win a Great Bed for your Pooch

 

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A while back I discovered Essentia mattresses, the only company making natural memory foam mattresses. The average foam mattress uses about 61 toxic chemicals, but Essentia mattresses are made of water, natural latex, cone essence, green tea essence, jasmine essence, and plant solid extracts.

They are giving away a Kingston Natural Dog Bed to one of your pups! The bed is made of shredded Natural  Memory Foam and natural latex with an organic cotton sherpa and a non-slip grip bottom. The winner can choose a small bed (for dogs up to 20 lbs), medium bed (for dogs up to 60 lbs), or large bed (for dogs up to 110 lbs). 

TO WIN:

Post a pic of your deserving pooch on your Kind Life profile. Then, paste the link to the photo into the comments below and telling me how you help your dog to paw lightly on our planet earth!

• You must be a registered thekindlife.com member to enter. Learn how to sign up by clicking here.
• This contest is open to residents of the USA only.
• Winners will ONLY be contacted via private message to their thekindlife.com inbox and by email. If our team does not hear back within 24 hours, a new winner will be selected in your place.
• Limit one comment per entry. Multiple comment entries will not be considered.
• This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on January 14, 2013.

Dr. Neal Barnard On Why Milk is Harmful

I’m very happy to introduce today’s guest blogger, PCRM’s president Dr. Neal Barnard. Below, he reminds us why we avoid milk, and gives some great talking points to keep in mind. Enjoy!

Cow’s Milk is Unnecessary and Even Harmful

By Neal Barnard, M.D.

 

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Got milk? For decades, dairy industry advertisements have convinced Americans that cow’s milk is an appropriate—and even essential—food for humans. Americans have been led to believe that cow’s milk is necessary for healthy, strong bones. As it turns out, dairy products may have the opposite effect.

A new study published in the British Medical Journal found that people who consumed the highest amounts of calcium did not have a reduction in bone fractures or osteoporosis. In fact, those who consumed the most calcium (more than 1,137 milligrams per day) had higher rates of hip fractures and similar rates of osteoporosis, compared with those who consumed less. Researchers looked at more than 60,000 Swedish women over 19 years and concluded no significant benefit to consuming more than 700 milligrams of calcium per day for bone health.

Despite growing scientific evidence that dairy products are not necessary and that they may even be harmful, the federal government continues to recommend that we consume them. The U.S. Department of Agriculture just released its new food guide icon, MyPlate, to replace the food pyramid. The new plate image, which recommends increased fruit and vegetable consumption, still reserves a special place for dairy products. The government also continues to channel millions of taxpayer dollars to dairy producers each year through indirect and direct subsidies.

Just as the dairy industry has spent a fortune on ads convincing Americans that milk moustaches are stylish and that milk is nutritious, dairy lobbyists have convinced government officials to keep dairy products in schools and dietary guidelines. 

The reality is that there is no reason for humans to consume cow’s milk—and there are many reasons to avoid it. Dairy products are packed with fat and cholesterol and may increase the risk of health problems ranging from asthma to some types of cancer. An elevated risk of prostate cancer incidence and mortality has been associated with dairy consumption and the same may be true for ovarian cancer.

Calcium is a necessary nutrient, but we can easily get enough from plant foods. The most healthful sources are green leafy vegetables and legumes, or “greens and beans.” And instead of harming our health like cow’s milk, these plant foods boost our immune systems and help us avoid chronic illnesses. Just think how much healthier our nation would be if everyone traded their milkshakes for green smoothies!

***

Thank you, Dr. Barnard! I recommend keeping this blog on file so you can refer to it when your non-veg friends ask why milk is unhealthy.

What other health and nutrition questions do you have?

Post them in the comments below, and I may answer them in a future blog.   

About Dr. Neal Barnard: Clinical researcher and author Neal Barnard, M.D., is one of America's leading advocates for health, nutrition,and higher standards in research. As the principal investigator of several human clinical researchtrials, whose results are published in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals, Dr. Barnard has examined key issues in health and nutrition. Neal Barnard is the founder and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). For more about Dr. Neal Barnard, visit his website nealbarnard.org

 

1. Warensjo E, Byberg L, Melhus H, et al. Dietary calcium intake and risk of fracture and osteoporosis: prospective longitudinal cohort study. BMJ. 2011;342:d1473.
 
2. Chan JM, Stampfer MJ, Ma J, Gann PH, Gaziano JM, Giovannucci E. Dairy products, calcium, and prostate cancer risk in the Physicians’ Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;74:549-554.
 
3. Chan JM, Gann PH, Giovannucci EL. Role of diet inprostate cancer development and progression. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:8152-8160.
 
4. Cramer DW, Harlow BL, Willet WC. Galactose consumption and metabolism in relation to the risk of ovarian cancer. Lancet. 1989;2:66-71.

A Vegan Metabolism Boost for Healthy Weight Loss

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Metabolic rate is key to healthy weight loss, but it slows down with age and can vary depending on body size and composition. Luckily, there is the RawTrim Metabolism 3 Pack by Raw Green Organics, a trio of power pills that can help supercharge your body’s metabolism.

The Pack consists of 3 power supplements:

1. Sacha Inchi Mountain Blend, which consists of Pomegranate powder, and Sacha Inchi, derived from a nut grown in the Andes Mountains and rainforests of Peru.

2. Fucoxanthin Sea Complex, which contains a brown seaweed shown in studies to burn stubborn belly fat.

3. And the Amino Triplex, which is a blend of 3 amino acids, including L-arginine, found in foods containing protein and clinically proven to boost and restore hormonal balance, which promotes lean muscle mass when combined with exercise.

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RawTrim is vegan, made with certified organic USA ingredients and is cruelty-free. Simply take the recommended supplements per day and kick start your metabolism for healthy weight loss and maintenance.

Visit Raw Green Organics HERE! You can also check out Raw Green Organics on Pinterest.

WANT TO TRY RAWTRIM FOR FREE?

One lucky Kind Lifer will receive a Metabolism 3 Pack! Enter by liking Raw Green Organics on Facebook and commenting on this post.  Hurry! This giveaway lasts 24 hours!

KIND DEAL

Kind Lifers get 45% OFF the Metabolism 3 Pack and 14 or 30 Day Systems, plus FREE SHIPPNG! Use promo code TKL2013. Just add product(s) to cart and enter the coupon code at checkout to receive your discount. Hurry! Deal ends January 14th at 11:59pm PST.

KINDNESS CONTINUED
Get $10 OFF any purchase $20 or higher. Just use promo code KIND10

You must be a registered TheKindLife.com member to enter. Learn how to sign up by clicking here.
This contest is open to US and Canada residents only.
Winners will be contacted via private message to their TheKindLife.com inbox and by email.If our team does not hear back within 24 hours, a new winner will be selected in your place.
Limit one comment per entry. Multiple comment entries will not be considered.
This giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST on January 7, 2013.

 

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

I Recorded 3 Children’s Stories

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Golden Records is the label associated with Golden Books, the classic kids books many grew up with. I recently recorded voice over for three stories on their latest audio compilation Golden Records: The Magic Continues. Ed Asner, Didi Conn, Cheryl Hines, Busy Philips, and Susan Sarandon also narrated stories for this compilation.

The stories I did were Rapunzel, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and The Story of Goldilocks. I was able to tweak the stories slightly to be more female-friendly and animal-friendly. We changed some of the language to be less scary, so kids wouldn’t think animals are frightening. It was fun to do!

You can get a copy of Golden Records: The Magic Continues here.

What are your favorite kids stories?
Share your recommendations in the comments below.

Photo source: amazon.com

Cutest Little Boy in the World Befriends Colony of Marmots

According to this article, marmots are typically scared of people. But they love this little boy! This is so beautiful… it almost doesn’t look real!

How wonderful is this?? Have you seen any adorable human/animal friendships lately?

Giveaway: Answer My Kind Q to Enter to Win

 

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A little while back, I asked you to share your favorite kind snacks for a chance to win a signed copy of The Kind Diet. Our winner, kind lifer Kyra submitted this snacky recipe:

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My favorite go to snack is baked lotus chips with rosemary! Beyond delicious and easy to make and store.

Ingredients:
1-ounce bag of pre-cut lotus root
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. rosemary

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 450F. Soak the lotus root for 10 minutes in water with the lemon juice. Drain and pat dry with a towel. Lay the lotus root on a baking sheet. Brush on both sides with olive oil and rosemary mixture. Bake until a golden color (15-25 min). 

These keep for 3-4 days - if you’re lucky; I eat them all way before that. If you do not like rosemary there are so many flavors that can pair well with these. You can also cook taro root the exact same way!

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Sounds yummy! If you make this, I encourage you to try cutting the whole root yourself as this is the most healing. Sometimes the precut kind has been bleached, and it’s unclear what’s been done to it. But for fun and convenience, pre-cut is great.

Win A Signed Copy of The Kind Diet

For this month’s giveaway, I want to hear from those of you who have successfully nudged a loved one to try going kind. What did you say or do to inspire them? 

Share your story in the comments below!
I’ll announce a winner in one month who will get a signed copy of The Kind Diet.

Jumpstart Your Healthier New Year with a Vegan Cleanse

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This is your year! Enough with the excuses and the delays - it's your year to be a healthier, happier, kinder you. With all the holiday distractions, it's tough to stay on track, but there's no need to beat yourself up.  Jumpstart the New Year with a vegan cleanse that’ll make you feel renewed in as little as 3 days!

Kaeng Raeng is a nutritional meal replacement cleanse program that gives you the necessary results without sacrificing taste, convenience, quality, or your sanity. Kaeng Raeng flushes toxins and impurities and helps to peel off pounds, relieve bloating, improve digestion, bolster immunity, enhance energy, and give you that natural vegan glow. It’s completely vegan, gluten free, caffeine free, and sustainable!

Just drink one meal replacement pouch 3 times per day for 3 or 6 days. You can also eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as you want!  You'll feel fuller and more energized with fewer cravings. Each pouch contains more than a full serving of fruit and fiber, 15g of lean non-GMO protein, 2 billion live probiotic cultures, essential amino acids, and daily vitamins. There's no starving, no fasting, no stimulants, and no laxatives.  

Kaeng Raeng comes in a 3-day or a 6-day program in three levels: Beginner (for first time cleansers), Veteran (for those who've cleansed before or are vegetarian), or the Master level (for experienced cleansers - you know who you are!). Take this quiz to find the best product for you.

Kaeng Raeng is a safe, simple, filling, and delicious cleanse program you don’t want to miss. Other cleanses cost $100 per day, but Kaeng Raeng starts at only $16 a day!

Watch the video below and get inspired:

 

Win a Kaeng Raeng Cleanse

Want to try it free?  Just comment below on why YOU want to try a vegan cleanse and “like” Kaeng Raeng on Facebook, and one lucky Kind Lifer will win a free 3-Day Beginner program.  Can't wait?  Use code KINDLIFE20 for 20% off at kaengraeng.com. Hurry! This offer expires on January 9, 2013 at 11:59pm PST. 

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by