Succulent Spring Break

The snow is melting and the sun is beginning to shine, Spring is here!!! It's time to pull out the bathing suits and dust of the grills because summer is right around the corner. In the mean time, spring break will have to do ; ) Whether you're one of the lucky ones that gets a week off to play or not, here are some green and economical tips to ring in the bright new flowery season!

• The Road Trip - A great money saving and green idea, as you can split the cost of gas with however many people you can fit in the car. It's also a great idea to get out of town for those who don't get to much time off, find a small town and make a point to visit the one thing that makes it famous. For cheap accommodations, research hostels before you leave, or pile your whole crew into an inexpensive hotel room or two. Plus you can always stay with friends and relatives along the way. Take back roads and plan ahead to see memorable roadside attractions.
• Volunteering for Spring Break - A great idea if you want to go somewhere, don't have coin AND want to give back. You can meet some wonderful people, make lasting memories spend Spring Break building houses or helping those in need. Check out the Charity Guide on volunteer vacations for more information.
• Camping. If you're the outdoor type, what better way to spend some time with your friends on the cheap? Or spend a bit more money and rent a cabin with a big group. Cabin rentals and campsites are often less expensive in the spring time so plan ahead! You can save a ton of money by packing a bunch of healthy food to cook as well as being in an area where you can get some good exercise whether it's a hike, a swim or a canoe ride ; )
• Cruises - Okay, this isn't exactly green travel but it may be a good bang for your buck in this economy. Cruise lines are practically giving trips away and they are a great way to see a lot in a little time. And if you plan ahead, you can make sure that they accommodate your special diet and you can feast like a king/queen as all meals are included in the price!! Also, cabins can sleep up to 4 people so that helps bring down the cost.

If you are sticking around town, throw a shindig and serve some fresh dishes and drinks like these:

Spring Quinoa Salad

1⁄2 cup chopped and diced tomatoes
3 cups cooked quinoa, cooled
3⁄4 - 1 cup raw red bell peppers, finely chopped
1⁄4 cup green onions, thinly sliced
1⁄3 - 1⁄2 cup diced cucumber
1⁄3 cup toasted pine nuts
2 - 4 tbsp chopped cilantro, parsley, or basil
1⁄4 tsp sea salt
3 1⁄2 - 4 tbsp Vegan Vinaigrette of your choice (depending on if you want an Italian or Caribbean flair)
Vegan Pinwheels

4- 12 inch tortillas
2- 8ounce packages of vegan cream cheese, at room temperature
2 green onions (scallions), minced
1/2 cup diced red pepper
1/2 cup diced celery
1 can pitted black olives, drained and sliced
1/2 teaspoon fresh herbs (dill, taragon or cilantro depending on taste)
fresh black pepper

In a large bowl mix all ingredients. Spread mixture evenly onto tortilla leaving about an inch of room around the edge of the edge you are rolling toward. After rolling is complete, tightly wrap tortillas in plastic wrap and store in refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight. Remove right before serving and slice into one inch pieces.

Spring Fever Cocktail

3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz mango syrup
1 1/2 oz apple juice
2 oz blood orange juice
1 1/2 oz organic vodka

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a tall glass half-filled with crushed ice.

I'm taking Spring Break myself so have a safe one and see you soon!!

Noshing At The Natural Products Expo West

What can I say, I LOVE food! So you can imagine what a treat it was to attend the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim this year. This place is a veritable wonderland for foodies and health nuts alike. Not open to the public however, this a a convention for natural products from food, supplements, beauty, lifestyle and more, to showcase and debut their newest to retail buyers nationwide. There was so much to see and do but here is my roundup of stuff to look out for on your favorite healthy grocer's shelves!

Let's start with healthy snacks, which are great when you're on the go like me! I really liked:

• Kind Nutrition Bars as they were tasty and wholesome - nut and fruit bars that are wheat, gluten and dairy free.
  
• Yoga Chips-Apple Chips are killer! You get a whole apple in one serving and 5 in the larger package - nothing but crispy, deliciousness - the only ingredient is a fuji apple! Yum! These are perfect for trips, lunchboxes, diaper bags, etc - for kids and adults alike!!!
  
• Good On Ya Bars are some of the tastiest raw bars I have ever had. In flavors like peanut butter chocolate, you feel like you're being naughty when in actuality, you are being oh so good!
  
• Galaxy Granola is cute, fun and nutritious. Either for a snack or for a hearty breakfast, GG is a smart choice. The Mocha Fudge, Not Sweet Vanilla Munch and the new Maple Pecan Quinoa Meteor Bites are vegan, organic and so darn tasty. Some of the other flavors have honey but if you're a honey eating veg or just a healthy omnivore, you'll still love Galaxy! Their ingredients are so wholesome and nutritious and they way they bake (applesauce, not oil) and prep their products yield a far less fattening granola then any other on the market!
• Popchips are revolutionary as they are the only chips that don't fry or bake the potato - they pop them for ultimate taste, texture and health. I'm a sucker for a good bbq chip and these have none of the guilt. Popchips pack a punch!
  
• Luna/Clif Bars is always a sure hit when you're on the go. Clif and Luna bars have always been vegan and will always be an awesome choice for any snack. The flavors a great and the ingredients are well incorporated into every bar, espcecially Lunas as they are made for us ladies ; )
• Purefit Bars are the best "work outy-nutrition" bar on the market. They are vegan, gluten free, free of bad olis and fake sweeteners while sacrificing zippo.
  
• Pirate's Booty is a fun treat! The only vegan option is the veggie booty but it's a good one in lieu of fried tater chips. I really like that they use real green veggies to make them!
• Cassava Chips by Arico Foods are a fun alternative to potato chips. With twice the fiber and 40% less fat than regular potato chips, cassava (another root veggie) are a smart choice. Arico also makes a line of cookies and cookie bars that are dairy, gluten as well as gluten and dairy free varieties. They do include eggs but for non vegans who are in search of an organic and healthier cookie option, here it is!
• Stretch Island Fruit Co. has a fun, sweet line of all natural, vegan fruit leather. For trips or your kid's lunch box, flavors like autumn apple and summer strawberry, these fruity snacks are a sure hit.
  

Cooking is one of my favorite things to do and finding new and healthy products to incorporate into my concoctions. I liked new products from:

• Pamela's Products is a perfect alternative for those that are gluten sensitive. Lots of options for cake, bread and other tasty baking products.
  
• Cedar's Mediterranean Foods carries a slew of fresh hummus, salsas and delish bean salads. I devoured their new bean salad!!
  
• Sukhi's Indian Cuisine knocked my socks off!!! I love Indian food and this brand is redonkulously yum! Lots of fresh frozen items as well as jarred sauces, mixes and grab and go meals. It's family owned and they definitely are on my top 5 list of new companies I discovered at the expo!
  
• LightLife Tempeh and Tofurky Tempeh excited me as I really like tempeh when it's prepared well. Both companies have different flavors and are packaged heat and eat style. Tempeh is wonderful for you and I was so happy to see new tempeh products that are easy to make are taste great!
  
• Daiya Foods rocked my world!! It is a new cheese alternative that is vegan as well as gluten and soy free!! It melts, shreds and "acts" like real cheese and best of all, it RULES!!
• El Burrito makes Soyrizo (always available in my fridge!) as well as a wide range of other soy meats. Some have whey but the soy taco, soyrizo and their new soy pepperoni are all vegan and can fool the most meaty mcmeat eater there is!
• Cedarlane has been a staple in my household as they have a variety of healthy alternative frozen foods. My guy isn't vegan but I get him as close as I can with healthy and organic meals and now Cedarlane has a bean and tofu enchilada meal that has made me a big fan along with my not so veggie honey ; )
  

I also found some wonderful home and lifestyle products such as:

• To-Go Ware is right up my alley ; ) For green conscious foodies on the go, to-go ware has a line of personal eco utensils in a neat eco carrying case as well as these cool hot/cold food carriers and containers. Definitely a must for a healthy voyager ; )
  
• BioKleen is a company that makes eco cleaning products. Everything from stain remover to dish washing soap, all of it is great for the environment as well as fo you and if your taking a long trip, everything is so concentrated that a little in a travel size bottle can go along way!
  
• DynaFlex offers up some neat health and exercise equipment from medicine balls to neato contraptions that work sore hands and wrists to keep from getting carpal tunnel and the like. Their products come in all sizes so they are perfect for home or travel!
  
• Jean Pierre Cosmetics carries new natural line called "Blum" (bloom). Products like face wash and exfoliating pads, they are made with clean ingredients that keep your skin healthy and radiant. I have a travel size pouch of the facial towels in my purse at all times ; )
  

In the beverage department I enjoyed:

• Pom has skyrocketed in popularity over the years and rightfully so. It's tasty and healthy and I'm so happy that the general populous has found a product that combines both! They launched a new coffee pom, not vegan as it has dairy, but I did bug them to make a soy or rice milk version ; ) Keep your eyes peeled!
  
• Izze is a nice alternative to sodas. All natural ingredients and refreshing flavors, Izze is a great option to soft drinks filled with high fructose corn syrup or worse, sugar replacements like aspartame, etc. I like me some Izze!
  
• Guyaki Mate has been a member of my grocery list for years. The properties of this tea are super healing and super healthy. Great as a latte!!
  

And even though I preach health, I can't deprive myself from the occasional sweet! But these are wonderful alternatives that will satisfy any sweet tooth ; ):

• Arrowhead Mills Bake With Me Gluten Free Mixes are a nice way to bring kids into the kitchen as well as keeping them healthy. The samples I had were moist and sweet and no gluten free eaters need be deprived any more.
  
• Soy Delicious Coconut Milk Ice Cream Bars & Sandwiches take the cake! Even my non vegan honey ate them up! I love that there are more and more soy free alternatives as I like to have more options to keep as healthy as possible. These new coconut milk ice cream products were fantastic both in taste and in innovation!
  
• Amy's Kitchen Chocolate Cake is new to their wide variety of healthful products. I'm a huge fan of Amy's product line as they have something for everyone be you vegan, gluten free or just want to eat a good organic, quick meal. The chocolate pound cake I had was incredibly moist and I can't wait to see them in my local Whole Foods freezer aisle!
• Nana's cookies have always been a top choice of mine when I'm in need of a big ol' vegan cookie on the go. They are always vegan, have no refined sugars and also offer gluten free options. And now they've got cookie bites and cookie bars (which also come in big fiber versions too!) so you can't go wrong when you need a sweet nibble with Nana's.
  

The Expo was terrific and I'm so happy I was able to taste so much yummy food as well as meet the people behind them. I hope you are able to find some if not all of these products at your local grocer soon! And be sure to look out for these as well as more great products and restaurants who have received the "Healthy Voyager Approved" seal of approval in the directory coming soon to healthyvoyager.com!!

A "Super" St. Patrick's Day!

I'm wearing green, don't pinch me! I thought I'd don a "Super St. Patrick's Day" outfit for the occasion ; ) Haha, but for real - this is a day for green beer and funky food so why not start wearing costumes, no? Anyhoo, here are some tips and recipes to make this the "Superist" St. Paddy's day yet!

Keep from turning green the day after all the festivities by:

• Drinking plenty of water before going out to drink as well as drinking an occasional glass of plain water during the time that you are consuming alcohol. Be sure drink a full glass of water just before going to sleep that night.
• Have a dinner of starchy foods such as pasta or potatoes. Starchy foods slow down the alcohol absorption.
• Drink slowly (nurse your drinks). Less alcohol consumption equals less chance for a hangover.

Things that can help you if you do overdo it are:

• Taking vitamin c as it will help to breakdown the alcohol faster in your body.
  
• As soon as you wake in the morning drink another full glass of water.
  
• Also, taking vitamin B complex capsules you will lessen the time that your hangover will last.
• You can make a hangover tea by crushing 5 to 6 thyme leaves and place them in a cup. Fill the cup with water and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove the leaves and drink the remaining liquid.
• Placing a cold pack to the forehead will give immediate relief from a headache.
• Consuming alcohol puts toxins into your body. You can help to drain these toxins from your body by taking a hot bath in the morning. When you drain the toxins you will experience less symptoms.
• Eat a banana for breakfast the morning after you have been drinking.

And try these "Super" St. Paddy's drinks:

Shamrock Smoothie

• 2 oz Melon Vodka
  
• 1/2 oz triple sec
• Splash of orange curaçao
• juice of 2 limes

Blend ingredients with 3/4 cup ice in a blender and serve in frosty mug!

Vegan Irish Cream (add it to coffee or any creamy cocktail!!)

• 1 can of coconut milk
• 2 tbls brown sugar
• 2 tbls choc syrup
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
• 3/4 cup of whiskey
  

Mix thoroughly do not froth. Keep refrigerated in a dark bottle.

Have a "Super" fun and "Super" safe St. Paddy's day!!
xoxo

Adieu Atlanta

You know you're a foodie when you are in the middle of one meal and chatting about your next! Because of such conversations I was able to find the last few places on my trek through Atlanta before I headed back home to the sunny west coast; )

I was told I needed to check out East Atlanta as that's where the "real" locals hang. So I did and I found Cenci. Cenci is a vegan/veggie bar and club as well as awesome restaurant. How freakin' cool!!! They are only open for dinner and most nights they have a dj. I would suggest the philly, chicken fingers, egg rolls, and collard green rolls with your jams ; ) Cenci is located at East Atlanta Village
1259 Glenwood Ave, Atlanta, GA 30316, (404) 627-0533.

Dan and I wanted to catch a flick and unwind so we found a theatre at the new Atlantic Station. Packed with restaurants, bars and entertainment, this little commune of fun had some cool places like Doc Green's and The Lobby among many more super trendy and happenin' places to eat, drink and hang. At Doc Green's, I grabbed a nice portobello wrap to sneak into my 3 hour movie. They had fresh salads, soups, sandwiches, flatbreads and more. After the movie we sauntered over to The Lobby for a nightcap and I thought my margarita would go well with some fresh guacamole and chips. It was very nice inside and seemed the quite to nightclub. You can see what else is bumpin' at Atlantic Station online.

Lastly, but not leastly, where do you go for 24 hour vegan and not vegan where the owner has tons of birds hangin' around the joint? R. Thomas Deluxe Grill is where! It's funky, to say the least, with a menu that everyone can find something they would like. For instance, I had the veggie sloppy joe wrap while my dinding partners had burgers. We all were full and none of us had to sacrifice our tastebuds in the process ; )

So, for now I bid adieu to Atlanta but it, and its dishes, will not be soon forgotten!

A+ For Atlanta!!

I couldn't stop with just 1 post seeing as how Atlanta had a restaurant crammed in every nook and cranny of the city so here with go with number deuce! A hipster brunch spot, a ridiculously awesome vegan gourmet eatery, a seasonal feast and a vintage diner with a modern twist, you are sure to find something you will devour ; )

Who doesn't like brunch? Ok, that was rhetorical but I'm sure I'd be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't enjoy sleeping in and still being able to order breakfast ; ) At Ria's Bluebird you can get breakfast or lunch or both! You can also get vegan or not which was great for my sugar and me as a good vegan breakfasty brunch is hard to come by sometimes. Not only was the food yummers but the feel of the place was great. Think country diner meets hispsterville and that's bluebird. The cool Atlanta crowd with the Georgia presence and bluebird theme is a nice combo and I dug it. I also dug my tofu scramble with cilantro pesto! Not far fomr downtown, find at more about Ria's Bluebird!

Now, my barometer for convincing vegan food is my omnivorous counterpart. I've only seen him chow down, with pleasure, on a super vegany meal at 2 restaurants. Now there are 3. Cafe Sunflower made the list with their soy steak, tofu and veggie fajitas and vegan spinach and artichoke dip. I went over the edge with the moist and ridonkulously awesome strawberry shortcake!! It was stupid good, even for the non-vegan and with 2 locations, Cafe Sunflower has got to be your number 1 visit next time you're in town.

Seasons 52 is a pretty sweet concept and I had no idea it was becoming a chain. Gladly I popped into their location in Buckhead and enjoyed their winter market vegetable plate and shared a cheeseless flatbread with my boy. The menu changes weekly as the seasonal ingredients do which makes for an innovative and ever exciting dining experience. They promote healthy, organic and fresh meals and that rocks! See if a Seasons 52 location is coming to your town.

For a late night treat after some partying in the Highlands, the locals like to head over to the Majestic Diner. For 8o years this hot spot serves up southern faves and comfort foods and doesn't leave out the tree huggers ; ) I had a veggie burger and took in the interesting crowd.
The Majestic can be found at 1031 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306-4215, (404) 875-0276.

Don't change the channel, we've got 1 more Atlanta post coming next week!!

All Hail Atlanta!

"Welcome to Atlanta where the players play!"- Jermaine Dupri

And play I did! Oh yes, and gorge my greedy little face I did too ; ) The hustle and bustle of the Atlanta metropolitan area is intoxicating. Already a big city, it's getting even bigger. Cool sky rises, modern shopping areas, the world of coca cola museum and aquarium as well as the nooks and areas tucked away for the hipster crowd, I had no problems getting into a groove here. So as one would imagine, there would be no problems finding some good eats in the capital of the south!

Fighting the city traffic, i made my way into the World Peace Cafe just in time for a quick dessert. We knew we had limited time in the city along with lots of obligations so I wanted to make sure I made it in. Run by the Rameshori Kadampa Buddhist Center in Sandy Springs, the cafe is mainly volunteer operated. But you'd never know it as the place runs like a dream and the food is even better. I was able to grab a minty chocolate cupcake before they all headed home but the menu looked great! Brekfast to dinner, fresh juice to dessert, they've got a veritable cornucopia of awesome veggie food. Feed your karma and your soul at World Peace Cafe!

We stayed in the heart of downtown at the Marriot Marquis. In it I had my lovely Starbucks waiting for me every morning as well as 2 restaurants and a bar. Having rolled in late, we were pretty hungry and weary so we popped into High Velocity. Located in the main lobby of the hotel, it's a chic sports bar with a fun menu. I was stoked to find a bunch of vegan and health friendly options at a sports bar so I had a taste of a few things ; ) I shared the lemon hummus with veggie sticks (almost no calories!!) and a black bean soy burger piled high with mushrooms and onions with my babe. It hit the spot just before we hit the sack.

The next day I had a hankering for soul food. What better place for such a meal than Atlanta and what better place in Atlanta than Soul Vegetarian. They've got locations all over the world and have a neat concept. A fully African-American run business that originated in Israel, this cafeteria style diner also boasts a fresh juice and home made ice cream bar as well as a holistic center that offers all kinds of services including colon hydrotherapy! I happen to like the 1 sto shop idea ; ) I chowed on a ginormous portion of soy mac and cheese, collard greens,salad, corn bread and I had to split the vegan gyro with Dan as my stomach wouldn't fit it all. Don't leave Atlanta without going to 1 of the 2 locations of Soul Vegetarian.

Another place with a few locations is The Vortex Bar and Grill. It's a hoot!! I was laughing my ass off just reading the menu and so will you (the website is just as kooky). It was cold out so I went with a steaming bowl of veggie chili and a side of sweet potato fries. There isn't a soul who couldn't find something on this menu as well as find this place quite the place for a fun night out!

Ok, so, I'm sure you can guess there is alot more to cover here in Atlanta so stay tuned next week for more!!