VegaOne in the UK | VegaOne review | Soy free dairy free Protein powder

So, it's Saturday night. It's been a long week, with New Years Eve, a poorly Seth whom has had tonsillitis and a fever for days, ( thankfully it's passed now, and he's getting better ) and work. Now it's the weekend and I'm still super busy. It's 10pm and I haven't eaten since lunch ( which was late, as I got carried away going through the boys clothes that they've outgrown to take to the thrift charity shop !) then we headed out and had so much fun on my sisters farm, got back and I flooded the kitchen. FUN!

So, as you can imagine, I'm not in the mood for cooking, which is RARE for me, as I would live in the kitchen. So, this post is going to be about my go to product. Yes, You guessed it..... Vega One. 

Vega One is a meal replacement powder/ protein powder that has so many amazing things packed into it, it's hard to believe. Per serving it contains

• 50% daily intake of vitamins and minerals
• 15 g protein
• 6 g fibre
• 1.5 g Omega-3
• Antioxidants
• Probiotics
• Greens
  So, it's pretty lovely to be able to go and grab a quick product that is super healthy, raw and packed full of goodness. Pauly isn't a fan of Vega - he's more of a Sunwarrior fan as he mixes his with lots of frozen fruit and almond milk, but I love Vega so much that I just have it with water or Koko coconut milk.
  
  Pauly bought me a big tub of it as one of my Christmas presents, odd gift you might think?! I'm all about the food and he knows that! ( I love food related gifts the best, I'm not really bothered about clothes, or shoes, it's all about the food. )
  
  I have tried them all over the last 2 years, and my favorite flavour is Vanilla Chai, it has a fresh 'green' taste to it, which is kind of refreshing yet warming in an odd way?!
  
  You get 22 scoops per tub, and it averages at around £50-55 a tub depending where you buy it. Yes, it is pricey, but you get what you pay for! I know what you must be thinking, that's £2.50-3 per scoop but Pauly and I don't drink, smoke, have TV, spend loads of money on clothes or other materialistic things.  We prefer to spend our money on nourishing our bodies, which obviously includes Seth and Opeie. So I'm fine with buying protein powder, after all a pint of beer , or glass of wine in a pub is alot more.
  
  I can't imagine not having Vega One, it's utterly divine and I'm so pleased we're now able to get it in the UK.
  
  ( Also, a thank you to the lovely folk who emailed me this week with a few tip offs to someone copying my Instagram photo's and links to the persons Vegan blog who had mirrored many of my blog posts. I understand that some things circle the vegan world when a product is new but, copying personal photo's and blog posts is something else. So thanks guys! )

 

Our favourite kitchenware for Opeie, the smallest Vegan- Oxo Tot !

I've been meaning to share with you my newly found love since discovering the range in Wholefoods, I say newly found love, but what I really mean is newly found obsession! People are always messaging asking who makes the plates etc, and so I decided to fill you in on the brand

which is , Oxo tot ....

" It's 'just' a plate / beaker/ spoon / bowl"  I've heard people tell me when I rave about them - but when I start to explain why they're different to all the other products on the market you can almost see the cogs turn in people's minds as if they are thinking - " Damn why didn't I think of that , it's simple yet so obvious that's what little people need" 

In Opeie's case he is  "Mr I-Can-Do-It-Myself" , which ... I'm pleased about but, if I'm honest it did make alot of mess - and it made meal times frustrating for him too I guess since the food was always falling off the rim of the Ikea plates we used to use & he's cry if it fell on the floor knowing he couldn't then eat it . ( I'm one if those Moms - yes, germ phobic , even though I'm forever vacuuming & cleaning ) 

The Oxo  Training Plate is  his fave- for such a simple design - a rubber bottomed plate , with removable green rim that's just the right size, it's perfect, especially feeding on the go like at the Magic Kingdom Disney Parade . He can sit anywhere and the plate doesn't slide around or flip up, it's been the best addition to Opeie's kit.

While the Oxo Tot Twist Top Water Bottle straw beaker comes a close 2nd . I LOVE this beaker ! It's genius !!!!! ( yes that many exclamation points needed ) no more spilling for Opeie . I love the design , you twist the top & the straw flips down inside , keeping it clean , leak free and safe . But it's also so easy for him to hold as it has a little handle too .

The Oxo Small & Large Bowl set are a set of snack / meal bowls which  are wonderful for storing his favorite pastas in when we go out, they're fuss free, don't leak , so reliable !

Probably my favourite is the Oxo  Silicone Spoon though, and a close second the Oxo Cutlery set,  we've tried pretty much every spoon on the high street , other than this . When I saw them in Wholefoods market I knew they looked like a great match for my mess eater, I was right ! Opeie feeds himself so much easier with this spoon than any other ! Weird - I keep wondering what's so different about the size / angling / material that makes it effortless for Opeie to eat like a pro , even things like his beloved Vegan ice cream - simple & so mess free!

Another fave that I must mention is the Divided Feeding dish, which is a half & half bowl - such a clever design! It was a removable lip that goes around the edge which is higher at the back so it doesn't spill over as he's eating . Excellent news for me as you should see the messes he's accidentally created in the past. We like it at breakfast so that Opeie has 2 choices, as he's always asking for multiple things, like his Brother Seth!

The thing I love most about the Oxo Tot range is that , somehow , they've worker out what simply works - sounds easy to do and obvious but no! It's not , babies & toddlers are still fine tuning there motor skills, sense of balance when using things on a table, and just learning about life . Simple things such a rubber on the bottom of all the plates & bowls, leak free cups , perfectly angled spoons which are coated in a delicate but robust silicone / rubber material ( that's BPA free may I add ) make his little world so much easier . 

Looking back , I should have known this from the start , I had an Oxo Y shaped peeler when I first left home aged 17 , I vividly remember buying it from Tesco one Friday night after I'd just been paid . It lasted 9 years until it died a death last year . 

Now I have a cheap Ikea one , which everytime I use it , I think " I really need to get an Oxo!" 

Maybe Santa will bring me some Oxo bits for my new kitchen I've been renovating myself for the last month , ill pop it on my list !

When we were in on holiday the Oxo tot range came in so handy!

Disclaimer: Oxo Tot have not paid me for any of the above, I like to share my own opinions and thoughts when I find products that I love. Oxo did send me a few items to take on holiday after discovering my love of their products. 

Road Side Adventures & Coconut Oil Roasted Veg

So, things in Orlando have been an adventure to say the least. We've been so busy I actually fell asleep writing this post yesterday as I was exhausted from all the fun. But since I'm awake with the boys at 6am US time, I thought I'd share with you what I've been doing.....

We went on a roadtrip to another part of Orlando a couple of days ago, on the way out I spotted this awesome road-side farm, selling all their produce (super cheap) and super fresh. On the way home we called in, and boy I'm so glad I did. We have nothing like this in the UK so it was really interesting to see! They had so many amazing fruits, veggies - most of them I'd never heard of before which was interesting!

A few of the things I bought to have for dinner! It was really inexpensive too. I also bought a ton of stuff which I cut up and had for dinner which was mostly random squashes, tomatoes, eggplant/ aubergine, and some broccoli. The whole lot came to $19, around £11 which is excellent value since a watermelon alone in the UK that size ( if you can find them ) is around £6.

One of my favourite meals is coconut oil roasted "Pan fried Veg" - it's something we make alot at home, but we normally add other things to it, which I don't have here, but it was still delicious!

It's also really simple to make- just throw everything apart from the tomatoes into a pan of hot coconut oil, leave to roast for 20 minutes, stirring everything around.... add the tomatoes last right before it's cooked as these burn quickly....

Plate up, sprinkle with vegan cheese, I used Daiya since I'm in the U.S , dollop hummus on the side, add a few slices of lime onto the side of your plate, and your ready to go!

Super simple, yet one of my faves! Try it!

Natural Vegan Eco Mom In..... Orlando! Favourits I've been buying....

November 12th 2013 :

Wow, what a few days!

I've not stopped, and I admit, I am exhausted! It's all been so so worth it though! We're having a blast here in Orlando, and the fan isn't stopping yet, we still have some awesome things planned, with some huge things happening, so it's all exciting stuff, so stay tuned!

I thought I'd quickly share with you what I've been buying from Wholefoods, if you're like me and like to be nosey and look what  Christmas-sy delights can be found abroad or home, you'll like this as it's all super yummy and very festive!

Non dairy heaven! Brands I love : Daiya, Earth balance , Almond Breeze, So Delicious, Califia, Veganise and So Veggie.

Oh my GOODNESS! HO HO HO , it's Christmas in my mouth with this! The most amazing Mint Chocolate drink EVER, even beats the dairy ones I'd get from Starbucks back in the day! Totally amazing, and I wish I could take it all home!  I'm going to have to get more since I've drank it all with Seth - he loves it too! The boy has the best taste yet he's only 7 bless him!

Eggless Egg nog?! Wholey moley, this is so beautiful it's not even funny. I've been drinking this stuff like there's no tomorrow. The weird thing is, it's juts Water, Almonds and raw cane sugar ( I think ) as there's no egg flavour types in the ingredients. Weird.

Anchor butter fan?! YES!!!! This tastes so creamy, buttery and salty that you forget it plant based. Probably one of my faves from this trip in Orlando, I LOVE it. Knocks the spots of the awful 'butter' we get back home. I'm going to be taking this home with me, well, a few I guess actually!

Daiya, as I mentioned before, I'm THE biggest Daiya fan, I have been eating this on just about, well, actually, everything in sight, as had Opeie. Not sure about the Strawberry cream cheese one yet, but might make good cheesecake! I will let you know as I'm planning on playing around with it, to see what i come up with! Sound good? Stay tuned!

Go Veggie! - Kinda like a cheaper Daiya, I'll let you know how it goes down on the Melt-y front!

Cream cheese Daiya, - I've been eating the chive one on oatcakes! Crumbly, a great likeness in texture and amazing taste. I really love this and wish they'd make other flavors like pineapple, or spicey red peppers.

Totally delicious, I am in love with this. I've always been a HUGE Tartar sauce fan, I love sauces and dressings, but this is something else. Soy free too! Woop! It's so creamy that you forget it's not egg / dairy based. Totally amazing, and so flavour-some it's awesome. I've had it on everything, and have been dipping carrots in it like there's no tomorrow!

Oh yes! Vegan So delicious Ice creams! Daiya Pizza and Wholefoods Burritos  for my fiancee Pauly!

Opeie's been eating the So Delicious Mini's with curiosity since hecan' t understand what they are, or why they're so cold as he's never had Ice cream before, since the UK ones hard to get hold of where we live or they have soy in them. So since he had these , he's been in an ice cream dream.

Stay tuned for more on Orlando's best foodie haunts, products and restaurants for vegans. .....

Lots of cheesey love, Laura ( Who's eating a fabulous Daiya pizza! )

Opeie's Top 3 Vegan Gluten Free Snacks.

Opeie's been asking for 'snack time please' the last few weeks. It's nice that he's able to tell us when he'd like something to eat and when he's hungry or thirsty in detail. Last week I was trying to think of things whilst doing our shopping that he could eat on the go that were portable for the car journeys we do.

One of the nicest products we've found lately are the Nairns Gluten Free Oat Biscuits -  I found them in Tesco £1.60 a box.

Since Opeie's having trouble with gluten It's been hard to find things he likes , the fruit ones are Opeie and Daddy's favorites, where as I like both the fruit and the syrup. I love all of Nairns products though, I eat around 12 of their oatcakes a day as they help me stay energised being complexed carbohydrates  ( this means they don't give you a quick burst of energy, like a spike in your energy levels, then a quick slump.... they give you a steady source of energy which keeps you feeling full and energised for longer) everywhere I go I seem to take oatcakes, I have them for breakfast with hummus and guacamole or salsa before work, or nut butters and anything else I can pile on! I think Oats are also one of the keys to my weight-loss success. - this post wasn't meant to become about my love of oatcakes and oats, but it has.... ummm Nairns.

Opeie's other favorite is  Kallo Blueberry & Vanilla ricecakes, these are delicious on their own, with mashed bananas spooned on, sliced strawberries, or co-yo yoghurt ( and chia seeds for me ) I found these in Tesco £1.69

Like his Moma he also loves Nakd bars which for a small bar are packed with around 4g protein per bar. They're made soley out of nuts and fruit. The perfect portable snack! Tesco now sell them in multipacks too which is handy.

So there you have it, Opeie's top three gluten free, vegan snacks we managed to get whilst out on a shopping trip this week.

Downloadable recipe: OmniBlend prepared Vegan Raw Protein balls

Do you want to prepare a totally healthy healthy, raw snack in 5 minutes that's transportable? Yes??! Well ok then..... let's get going making tasty, inexpensive protein balls! I used the OmniBlend to makke the dough in under a minute- it is fantastic for creating raw food.... don't forget to check here for a discount code too!

 

Download here for free

Blender talk : Reliable blenders for healthy, vegans food preparation

I've been looking for new juice / smoothie  inspiration and this week I found it at Wholefoods market.

 We popped down to Cheltenham to visit a friend, who was saying how much he loves the GreenStar juicer we have, and how much he loves his Vitamix blender - and that Vitamix were demonstrating at WFM that day. Perfect timing - the Vitamix model  they were demonstrating was amazing , the smoothie I had was delicious, smooth and unusual tasting - beyond words !If I had an extra £500+ in my account OH MY I would not stop myself, I would have bought one then and there! With the 10 year guarantee though it seems you get your monies worth considering we've gone through 4 blenders in 5 months ( we've not had a blender for 2 months now & shaking my sunwarrior smoothies isn't nice- trust me !)

I love blenders as you can create so many things with them other than just smoothies that they're famed for . I'd like to try making raw soups , Houmous , dips , dressings, ice cream, my own flours, raw recipes and other things that require a good blender , like the Vitamix . 

I had a passion fruit, mango , apple banana & kiwi , will be recreating this one day  soon , as soon As I have a new blender ... Any recommendations for me please ? So far we've had a Kitchenaid Artisan which melted , 2 Phillips , and my parents Tesco one . So, Any ideas ? I think the Vitamix wins hands down!  ( They used them to make my smoothie at Wholefoods, and it was divine, as I said! )

I've been looking around lots, there are so many to choose from!  What are your favourite high speed blenders? I'd love to hear!

GRAZE.COM | GOODY BOX For Children Review

 Finally... a Healthy, Fun snack for kids!

I just wanted to share the boys new love for the Graze.com's Goodybox for Kids! Seth and Opeie absolutely love it when they drop through the letter box! They are so good due to introducing the boys to things we don't tend to buy like different types of salsas, chutneys, dried mango and lots of lovely other bits. 

Seth for example, always says he 'doesn't like' dried Coconut, but because of the fun packaging and quirky game inside he didn't even question what was in it, just munched it all down.

Opeie also loved the things he had, the dried fruit, cherries, pineapple and mango especially.

If you're travelling alot, out for the day or just want to give your children more interesting snacks, which are healthy , hip and fun, which they'll love, try them! You can pick pick how often they arrive weather it's daily, weekly , monthly etc, and which things you'd like and which items you would like to try, or don't want at all.

I want to try the adult ones, more of the children's ones for the boys, and the breakfast boxes!

Thanks Graze.Com for being so helpful- the boys love them , and as a Moma, I can pick which things I am happy for them to have lots of a little of.

( Some of the snacks have dairy/eggs etc in but the great thing is, you can opt out of them! Happy Days! )

 

---- I ordered and purchased the Graze boxes from Graze.Com for my children to enjoy, I haven't been paid etc , I just love sharing my favorite things with you! ---