Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 119

6 Eco iPhone Apps

 

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 Here are six iPhone apps that could make it even easier to kind your lifestyle. Check ‘em out:

1. GoodGuide: This app’s barcode feature allows you to scan items and determine whether it is safe, healthy, green and socially responsible. 

2. GreenYou: Track and calculate your carbon footprint on the planet!

3. EcoChallenge: This app makes going green fun by giving you Game Center achievements for every green decision you make.

4. iGrowit: If you’re not sure what to grow in your garden but are eager to get started, this app tells you exactly what and how to grow your own vegetables from start to end. (There aren’t any reviews on iTunes but it sounds like a cool app…I hope it’s good)

5. Paper Karma: This would be great if it actually works! All you have to do is take a picture of junk mail you receive and this app will find the company and remove you from their mailing list! Amazing if this works! Has anyone tried it?

6. My Recycle List: Are you ever confused about what you can and can’t recycle? This app clears it up for you and lets you know where the nearest public recycling bin is!

What are some other ways technology can help us go green?
Share them so I can download them too!

Vegan Friendly Snacks for the Holiday Season

 

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Do you easily cave into temptation?

The holidays can be especially tough with guilty food pleasures all around. Just because all the cakes, pies and cookies look amazing doesn’t mean you have to eat them all.

Did you know that snacking is a great way to curb your appetite? Snacking in between meals keeps you satiated and makes enacting portion control at meal times that much easier. Just substitute dessert time for snack time.

Of course, preparing tasty vegan snacks takes time and effort, but with NatureBox you get delicious gourmet snacks delivered to you.

NatureBox is a snacking delivery service that delivers 5 full sized packages of snacks to your doorstep every month for only $19.95 a month. All snacks are taste tested and approved by a nutritionist, and with choices such as Carrot Chips, Chipotle Maple Almonds, Cinnamon Spice Granola and Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Seeds, you really can’t go wrong.

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NatureBox is ideal for lunchboxes, car trips, and camping! And since it is the holiday season, let’s not forget it makes a great gift for people who are conscientious about eating healthy. With every box sent, a donation is made to help feed a child in need. 

Visit the NatureBox blog for healthy tips and clever snacking ideas!

KIND PROMOTION

Kind Lifers get 30% OFF on their first month’s subscription. Just use promo code TKL30 at checkout. Hurry! This offer ends December 3rd, 2012.

 

Today’s post is proudly sponsored by

 

What To Wear: Winter Clothes

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With wool, fur or faux fur, and down being pretty standard materials for winter clothing, it can be a challenge to find kind clothes for the cooler months. Since we’re heading into winter, I wanted to check in with you all and see what you’re planning to wear to stay warm. Here’s how I dress for winter:

When I shop, I look for second-hand clothes first. Some great second hand shops in LA are Wasteland, Crossroads Trading Company, and Buffalo Exchange. They offer a range of items from fancy pants style vintage and designer labels to gently used items from stores like H&M or Forever 21. Second hand shops like Blue Bird on Larchmont in LA are a great place to look for kids’ clothes too. Kids grow so fast; they tend not to wear clothes that long, so there’s a ton of gently used apparel for them if you know where to look.

If I can’t find what I need in second-hand stores, I buy new, but stick to eco-friendly, vegan brands. Vaute Couture makes awesome 100% vegan coats and accessories. You can also find lots of great clothes at these eco stores in LA and NYC. Companies like my friend Doug’s Loomstate, shoe company Olsen Haus, and model Lily Cole’s North Circular are striving to make apparel that’s eco, animal-friendly, and chic…so all you kind fashionistas can still get your style fix!

For more eco recommendations, check out the blog I wrote while I was in New York doing the play Time Stands Still. In it, I discuss a bunch of kind brands I found that kept me cozy during my winter in NYC.

Where do you get your winter clothes?

Share your shopping tips in the comments below.

Photo source: vautecouture.com

Milestone: We’ve Reached 50,000 Kind Lifers!

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I started The Kind Life back in October of 2009, and over the last three years, it’s steadily grown. I’m thrilled we’ve just reached 50,000 members!
 
I’m so happy to have all of you here. You constantly inspire me, and as I sit down to write my next two books, you guys are the first people I think about. What’s great about this community, and what makes it different from other sites, is your level of commitment to helping each other out and continuously learning about new ways to live a kinder life. Every time I go in the forum and see you guys answering each other’s questions or jumping in to help each other out, I feel so happy!
 
In case you don’t know, you can join and become a member of The Kind Life by signing up here. That way, you get alerts on everything that is going on. When there are giveaways you are first to know, and we’ll send you emails with news and recipes from the blog.
 
I’d also love to hear what you’d like to see on The Kind Life going forward.
 
Tell me in the comments below:

What do you want more of, what could you do without, what do you love and what would you like to see me cover that I haven’t talked about yet?

 
Thanks for being here. I love you guys!
 
Love,
Alicia

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone is looking forward to a kind holiday. If you haven’t adopted a turkey yet, you still can. And if you need some last minute menu inspiration, look no further! Here are some delicious entrees, desserts, and side dishes you can serve your guests or bring to whatever gathering you’ll be attending this year. One of my favorite go-to appetizers is the Leek and Artichoke Crostini I made with Laura Linney on the Oprah Winfrey Show. It’s ridiculously good, and you can use the leftover pesto on sandwiches.

If you plan to bring a nice bottle of wine or beer to the gathering you’re attending, check Barnivore for a comprehensive list of vegan wines and beers.

What I’m Thankful For...

This year, I’m so thankful for Bear and my husband and this precious, fragile life we get to live. I feel so lucky, moved and inspired by all of you kind lifers. Meeting so many of you along the way has been a joy to me. You are amazing people. Thank you…you make me happier than you could know.

What are you thankful for this year?

Tell me in the comments below.

Love,
Alicia

Photo source: Flickr.com/Martin Cathrae

15 Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts (Plus Toppings)

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Pumpkin pie is kind of required on Thanksgiving, and don’t worry, I’ve got a great vegan pumpkin pie recipe for you! There are lots of other pies and creative dessert options you can serve too. Here are some of the best from the kind recipe gallery:

1. Maple Nut Sweet Potato Buns – ideal for Thanksgiving breakfast

2. Mixed Berry Pie (this would be great with the icing in #1)

3. Pumpkin Cookies

4. Vegan Fried Ice Cream

5. Dreamy Pear Trifle

6. Apple Pie

7. Cheesecake With Walnuts and Pecans

8. Candied Ginger Pears (from The Kind Diet)

9. Pecan Pie - I served this two Thanksgivings ago. Yum!

10. Apple Cranberry Tart

11. Peanut Butter Pie (from The Kind Diet)

12. Sweet Potato Delight

13. Pumpkin Pie - I love this recipe!

14. Pumpkin Cheesecake –Michael introduced me to this one from Vegetarian Times.

15. Easy Apple Dessert

Of course, you can't forget the toppings! Try any of these:

1. Homemade Coconut Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

2. ‘Not’ Cream Cheese Frosting

3. Non-Dairy Whip Topping


And be sure to serve with a hot, delicious beverage like my Hot Apple Cider. 

What desserts are you serving on Thanksgiving?

Tell me in the comments below, and be sure to check out my galleries of delicious veg entrees and side dishes.


Photo source: flickr.com/Vegan Feast Catering

15 Vegan Thanksgiving Entrees

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If you don’t have time to cook an entrée from scratch, you can’t go wrong with a Field Roast entrée. But if you want to get creative in the kitchen, try one of these – some are veg takes on traditional Thanksgiving entrees, and others are less traditional but nonetheless delicious and filling:

Tofu and Squash Kare-Kare
Peruvian Covered Rice
Pumpkin Kale Casserole 
Quick & Easy Green Bean Casserole 
Easy Vegan Lasagna 
Thanksgiving Pizza 
BBQ Seitan 
Veggie Meatloaf With Liquid Smoke 
Vegan Shepherd’s Pie 
Vegetable Pot Pie 
Lentil Loaf 
Vegan Green Bean Casserole With Toffuti Sour Cream 
Smothered Seitan Medallions in Mushroom Gravy (from my friend Michael) 
Veggie Pot Pies Another Way 
Tal Ronen’s Gardein Chicken Scaloppini

 

What will you be serving as your Thanksgiving entrée?
Share in the comments below!

 

P.S. You can also pick up some yummy vegan food from one of these restaurants if you're not planning on cooking.

 

Photo source: Flickr

15 Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

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There’s something for everyone in this list! Some of these recipes are from my book and others have been submitted by all you talented, kind, home cooks! Hopefully this is helpful for all of you as you plan your Thanksgiving menus:

 

1  Baked Sweet Potatoes With Onions and Cinnamon

2.  White Truffle Vegetable Plate With Cranberries

3.  Mixed Mushrooms and Shallots in Wine Sauce

4.  Brussels Sprouts With Garlic 

5.  Cuban Style Roasted Sweet Potatoes (from The Kind Diet) 

6.  Butternut Squash Pies 

7.  Red Cabbage, Apple and Carrot Slaw With Ginger (from my friend Leisha) 

8.  Pumpkin Wedges With Sage 

9.  Braised Kale With Garlic and Crushed Red Pepper 

10.  “Creamy” Lima Beans With Scallions 

11.  Easy Sautéed Radishes and Greens 

12.  White Kidney Beans, Kale, and Garlic 

13.  Simple Roasted Pumpkin 

14.  Twice Baked Garlic Potatoes 

15.  Sweet Potato Hash With Field Roast Sausage

 

What side dishes do you plan to make for Thanksgiving?
Share in the comments below, and stay tuned for more Thanksgiving recipes here on The Kind Life.

Be sure to submit your original recipes on your profile, and I’ll add them to the kind recipe gallery. 

Photo source: flickr.com / Stacy Spensley

How To Have a Happy, Kind Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving can be a tricky time of year for us kind lifers. How you approach holiday meals is very personal, and one single approach might not fit everyone. Here are a few tips for different scenarios you might find yourself in:

1. If possible, try to host Thanksgiving yourself and cook for your loved ones. I did this two years ago. It was delicious and tons of fun.

2. If you’re going to a non-veg house for Thanksgiving dinner, offer to bring food and help cook kind dishes. If you need inspiration, check out my Thanksgiving menu.

3. At the actual dinner, avoid talking about veganism unless someone specifically asks. I have found that people get turned off when they feel like they’re being preached at, but often they’ll be curious about what you’re eating and ask you about it. That’s when you can explain why you eat the way you do.

4. If someone criticizes your diet or is rude, simply don’t engage. Let them know you feel great eating this way and it works for you. If you’ve lost weight or experienced changes in your health, you might mention it then leave it at that.

5. When talking about your diet, remember to keep it really positive. Emphasize how your health improved when you changed your diet. Often the health benefits of a vegan diet are a gateway to getting people to try it. Then, when they learn more about the animal rights aspect of veganism, they embrace that part too.

I love to empower people to discover a kinder way of living on their own. If someone in your circle expresses interest in a plant-based diet, offer to lend them The Kind Diet, or whatever book you think would be the best fit for them.


Do you have questions about how to navigate the holidays?
Ask in the comments below, and I’ll try to answer as many as I can in a future post.

Photo source: flickr.com/hildgrim

(Save the) Tuna Salad By Allison of Allison’s Gourmet

During the month of November, vegan bakery Allison’s Gourmet is donating 10% of every sale to charity. Customers can choose between The Gentle Barn, Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). 

 
Here’s a recipe from Allison you can serve at your next holiday party:
 

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Save The Tuna Salad
 
Ingredients

2 cans (30 oz) garbanzo beans, drained
1/4 cup red onion, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon garlic, minced
1/4 cup dill pickle, finely chopped
2 tablespoons nori seaweed flakes (you can grind sheets of nori in a spice mill for this)
1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground
12 slices of bread, lightly toasted
6 large, crisp lettuce leaves
12 fresh tomato slices
 
Instructions
 
1. In a large bowl, mash the garbanzo beans with a potato masher or the back of afork.
2. Fold the onion, celery, garlic, pickle, nori, mayonnaise, salt, and black pepperinto the garbanzo beans. Combine thoroughly.
3. Lightly toast the bread. Spread the salad on one slice and stack with a lettuce leaf, two tomato slices, and another slice of bread. Cut sandwiches in half and serve.

Note: This recipe is also great as an appetizer: small spoonfuls of vegan tuna on gluten-free rice crackers, garnished with halved cherry tomatoes.
 

Are you throwing a holiday party? What do you plan to serve?
Share your recipe with me and I might feature them here on Thekindlife.com!

Photo source: Allison’s Gourmet