A New Direction

This blog is now taking a semi-new direction. Although I wish I could continue to be vegan, I cannot as I am intolerant to most vegan proteins, grains, and some nuts. Since a vegan lifestyle is simply not feasible for me at the moment, I could not continue with the old name. I apologize for any inconvenience.

What has not changed, however, is my philosophy that we should eat whole, natural foods and the nutrition behind why, which will be the focus of this blog rather than veganism.

I do hope you continue to enjoy my healthy, whole-food creations.

Vegan Cuts January Snack Box

Sooo it’s not exactly January anymore, but I was fortunate enough to receive the January Snack Box from Vegan Cuts! And I said I would review it here, on The Exceptional Vegan.

Let me just say, this was a WONDERFUL Snack Box! Thank you Vegan Cuts!

It contained:

1 package of Mary’s Gone Crackers

1 package of The Good Bean sea salt chickpeas

1 sample pack of Hemp Hearts

1 sample pack of Mario Snack Olives

3 Mighty Leaf Tea bags

1 Bumble Bee Energy Bar

1 mini jar of The 3 Nuts salted caramel peanut butter

1 Scratch Labs electrolyte mix

1 Drink Chia bottle 

And everything was fabulous!

I sampled the chickpeas and crackers first, and I really only meant to sample them…but they were SO good I ate them ALL! The beans were crunchy and addictive, as were the crackers. I have been looking for them at every food store I go into ever since.

I tried the hemp hearts (which I have tried before and love!) and olives on my salad for dinner that night and those two, were excellent!

The Bumble Bee bar and the 3 Nuts peanut butter were both sweet treats if you enjoy sweet, nutty foods.

The chia drink was also pretty great too. My mom was into “drinking chia” for a while, but I had never really tried it even though I LOVE chia seeds so much they were the subjects for my independent Biology project last year! So this was an awesome sample.

I haven’t actually tasted the electrolyte mix yet, but it will probably be a long time before I do. I was hoping to test it when I was going into a hard work out or competition or something. And don’t get me wrong, I do go running almost every day, but I haven’t had time to go a far enough distance yet that is worthy of downing loads of pure sugar beforehand.

 The teas were some of the best I’ve ever had. The flavors were sweet and tangy. Not too bland, but not overpowering. And I did not have to add any honey, which I always love in a tea. I especially love that the bags are biodegradable as well!

Note: These opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by these companies.

Chocolate Mud Pie Smoothie

I am SO excited! Once I discovered the Vitamix I began asking my parents for one, knowing full well I would NEVER get one because they are CRAAAZY expensive!

BUT, Christmas morning, after my family had finished opening presents and eating breakfast, my dad tells me he has one last present and plops a big box right in front of me. He says it’s for the whole family, but mostly me. I had no idea what it could be.

IT WAS A VITAMIX! I could not believe it! 

So I’ve pretty much used it everyday since making lots of smoothies and nut butters. J

Most of the smoothies I had made so far had been pretty standard. Good, but not THAT good. Until now.

Today I made the most creamy and delicious smoothie. It’s not too sweet, but not too green.

It looks like poop, I’ll admit, but tastes like pie. Chocolate mud pie that is. 

And what makes it even better is that it’s good for you!

Chocolate Mud  Pie Smoothie

Ingredients: 

2 handfuls of dark leafy greens (I used spinach)

1/2 cup chopped cucumber 

1/2 small avocado 

1 1/2 large frozen bananas 

3-5 Tbs cocoa powder 

1 tsp Spirulina* powder 

1/2 cup water 

Instructions: 

Mix everything in a blender and devour! 

*This is also my first time using Spirulina and I love it! I have read about it here and here as well as on many other blogs and food sites and I was finally able to get my hands on some! It's great because it adds a boost of flavor and nutrients to make this smoothie even better tasting and better for you!