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To wake up  through the eyes of a vegan on a carnivore everyday society, world, dimension, makes you wonder..
What is  it that makes it difficult to those, who do not embrace the aspect of compassion towards the animals, to understand  and honor this path!?
What is it that separates us from them and them from us?
What is it that makes us different from them and them different from us?

Nothing…

Absolutely nothing..

It is only a perception.
To our eyes people who do not honor every living being on this planet are called to answer to such names as cruel, hostile, non human, insensitive and the list can be endless.
However, even through the eyes of a vegan, does feeling compassion for our fellow creatures not mean feeling compassion also for those who dare not  to change, reflect, look within deeper, awake, shift, become more aware…in multiple levels?
This questions arose to pose to my own self, after a conversation i had with a student of mine…
Confronting nobly as possible the obvious reasons of why becoming a vegan, or not ….his respond brought silence to my lips…
Always i thought that, we as human beings, intellects and mature, multi-taskers and achievers stand stronger, as the beings who have billions of choices, where on the contrary, everything else existing, subsides under us, in the chain of food…yet… i had completely neglected the fact that we, the achievers, inventors, entrepreneurs….actually kill and consume each other in so many ways through out our lives, and all in the name of survival and existence…..simply because…that’s just how life is.
My student’s respond brought me to face that there is no respect in our universal relationships of what ever kind…
Yet, have no meat, or dairy, or anything that once had a heart pulse and vibration makes me a better and a  more aware person…?
Reflection……..
This is not a fairytale…as this is our life…
Expanding our hearts to show compassion to EVERY LIVING BEING, means embracing thy neighbor as well, homeless or not, clever or not, thy being of any race or social level, even the one who loves to smudge upon chicken bones or snails….
Expanding our hearts means not to give in to any way that stands dishonorable to our core beliefs..
Expanding our hearts means not to applause those who live a kind of life that appeals not to our standards…
Expanding our hearts means not to give up lecturing and sharing world-widely our passion for veganism…
Expanding our hearts means to just switch to different ways of communication and approach..and be the role model…
Expanding our hearts means to love all, including those who see the nutritious path from a whole changed angle than ours…yet intrige them to a further inquiry.
Expanding our hearts creates more options and possibilities to the whole world for a better tomorrow, a greater ability to understand and connect and co -exist with no war or survival casualties…
Expanding our hearts means awakening to a higher level of awareness and oneness, as we are all one breath, one heart beat, one pulse, special, unique…we are all one…
Expanding our hearts means to practice the virtue of compassion and understanding for everybody…
…this life is just  a school cycle.. Some are here to learn the factor of cruelty, compassion, understanding, love, forgiveness… and many more…
Who knows what are we here to learn?
Expanding our hearts will help us realize miracles for our selves…….and others….as the best is yet to come…..

Embracing life to the fullest..
Bathing in universal love…
Accepting and Sharing abundance and prosperity….
Sliding on spirit’s rainbow of miracles and wonders…..
Evolving from a bud to a full lotus……
Thousand petal-flower…Billions of lifetimes for us…
Graduating…so as to become one ….WITH ALL..
A childlike heart,
Haroula

by Sue Bozeman (www.vegetarian-fun.com)

Oklahoma cavers were asked to present a slide show and lecture at a Speleological Karst Conference in Turkey in 2000. Speleology is the study of caves.

The majority of caves that our caving group, the Central Oklahoma Grotto (http://okcavers.netfirms.com) explores and surveys is in gypsum karst in the western half of Oklahoma. It is hardly the mega-cave capital of the United States, so we were pleasantly surprised to be invited.

After the Conference, we flew to Vienna to pick up our rental car at the airport and join a friend, Anne, who had flown over by herself to Frankfurt, Germany, and taken the train to Vienna. Anne had not wished to be included in the Convention, so she agreed to travel solo in a foreign land, knowing nothing but English! Her escapades just doing that are hilarious, but she did meet us at the pre-reserved hotel.

We had three weeks to play in the wondrous Old World countries we’d only read about or seen previously on TV. The scenery and architecture was everything we’d hoped for, and more. The truly interesting experiences that we’d not planned on revolved around ordering vegetarian meals for Anne! She had memorized a couple food-ordering phrases in the major languages of Europe. That was fine as far as it went, but as those of you for whom a second language is book-learned, you know that when it is your turn to speak, the brain goes blank and the tongue twists.

Our route went through Austria, with a side trip to the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Andorra and Italy. The languages we ’spoke’ were English, a smattering of Czech and some German. It was a hoot trying to find cognates (words that are basically the same in two languages, like “O.K.” and “auto”) in those languages for non-meat dishes in a very meat-oriented part of the world!

Anne, an actress in her early life, got very good at sign language and began every restaurant or pub inquiry with: “Vegetarian”, pointing at herself and smiling, enchantingly. She would point at a selection on the menu that was a recognizable meat dish and shake her head, saying, “No!”. Then she would point at something that we all had agreed was most probably a salad dish, smile and say, “Vegetarien?”  The change in spelling is intended to mimic the French pronunciation and hopefully would be comprehended more readily than English.

Who knows what these restaurateurs thought of us goofy Amies. They could tell when we walked in that we were American — our clothes are different, our carriage the same–it all says “American tourist”. And yet, nearly everyone came to help us. They struggled with our language; we struggled with dictionaries in their language; we all pointed to various other customers’ plates, with great laughter and shaking of heads either indicating “Yes!” or an emphatic “NO!”

Nowadays, we’d probably have some sort of phone with apps for translating our words into every European language that we encountered. Phones that could ‘talk’ for us would be in each of our hands. It would be wonderful to have access to HappyCow.net on an iPhone, too!  However, if your language skills are poor and your batteries die, don’t forget that “vegetarian” or some derivation of it is an almost international word!

Needless to say, Anne didn’t starve, but each meal was an adventure.

I admit it. I am a consumer…not of junk n’ stuff but of high quality, organic, and all natural food products. I always read the ingredients label. I am also a food snob who spends top dollars on natural foods, snacks, eco-friendly, and organic things. Check out these new-on-the-market products I recently got to try. You will likely find them at your health food markets.

Lotus Foods brand of heirloom and organic rice varietals are seriously the best rice I’ve ever eaten. They are superior to all rice that I had eaten prior to discovering this brand. I could smell the difference just as the rice was still cooking in the rice cooker as my house smelled of an incredible awesome fragrance. Butanese red rice, Indonesian Volcano rice, bamboo infused brown rice, jasmine rice, to name a few. They are expensive but worth it. Ideal for when you want to cook a gourmet meal at home. Vegan and gluten free. lotusfoods.com

Navitas Naturals offers a wide variety foods including nuts, dried fruits, virgin coconut oil, raw cacao, and natural sweetners like green stevia and yacon syrup. I really like the virgin coconut oil and adds it by the spoonful to warm soups just before serving. The quality of their products are pure and very good in quality. navitasnaturals.com

Granola Gourmet makes energy bars from combining oats, and various natural ingredients like dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, honey (not vegan) and making them into bars. Currently they available at Whole Foods Markets in the Los Angeles area. Bar varieties include chocolate espresso, orange spice, very berry, and brownie. Low in sugar and satisfying. granolagourmet.com

GrandyOats makes organic granola and trail mixes. I got a tub of the goji agave granola and my husband gobbled them all up before I could help myself to a second serving. It was good. Has vegan varieties made with oats, seeds, and berries. grandyoats.com

Vega produces complete wholefood meal powder packets, protein supplements, energy bars, and oils. I like their EFA antioxidant oil blend and one of their chocolate energy bars. My husband uses several of their products, including a hemp protein powder that he adds to fruit smoothies. myvega.com

by Thomas Scott
www.beahealthyveggie.com

In this day and age, the need to convince others to go vegetarian is greater than ever. Raising livestock for human consumption is taking a serious toll on our environment, and consumption of meat has been linked to heart disease, obesity, and other diseases. Eating a well-balanced vegetarian diet, and saying goodbye to meat on your dinner plate can do wonders for your health and for our planet. The simple fact of the matter is that we need more people to go vegetarian.

I’m not one to force my ideas on others if they’re not interested in listening to me; I don’t really think that would accomplish anything anyway. Nevertheless, there are sometimes circumstances where the opportunity to suggest a vegetarian diet comes up, and when that happens I do my best to promote a healthy and happy vegetarian lifestyle.

I think, as vegetarians, one of our main weaknesses is our ability to really make a solid case for vegetarianism. Far too often I see or hear of conversations where a veggie tries to defend their decision to abstain from meat, but stumbles because of a lack of information. I think we need to take it upon ourselves to develop a strong case for a vegetarian diet.

Here are some guidelines I think every vegetarian should follow when speaking to others about becoming vegetarian.

• Always show compassion and understanding – The ability to really, sincerely put yourself in someone else’s shoes and try to understand their position will open up many doors for you. It really pays off to develop the ability to sympathize with any non-vegetarians you talk to, and to try to understand where they’re coming from. Think about it: if you don’t know why someone thinks a certain way, how much harder will it be to convince them away from that line of thinking? It’s easy to assume that someone simply hasn’t heard the wisdom of what you have to offer, and that as soon as you share your insight, they’ll renounce all of their beliefs and follow any advice you give them! Unfortunately, that’s not realistic and isn’t likely to happen. You need to learn those you speak with think, and why they think that way.If you get the opportunity to share the joys and wonders of vegetarianism, I say go for it! But be sure to do it in a gentle way. People might reject the idea of vegetarianism for many different reasons, and no matter what the reason, you should at least try to be sympathetic. Making your non-vegetarian friend look like an idiot by dismissing their thoughts or feelings outright can end the conversation quickly, and can ruin any opportunity you might have had to convince them to change their ways.
• Do your research so you know your stuff – I think this is a crucial point in determining how successful you will be in convincing anyone of the wonders of vegetarianism. There are many horrible misconceptions making the rounds in our society that suggest that it is somehow difficult, or even impossible, to be healthy as a vegetarian. Of course this isn’t true, but many people think that it is! It’s your job to convince them otherwise.I’m not suggesting that every vegetarian go out and get a degree in nutrition. But I am suggesting you learn the most common objections to vegetarianism, and memorize the answers to those objections as best you can. People are going to ask where you get your protein, or where you get your calcium. They might ask where you get your supply of vitamin B12. You should do your best to have an answer prepared for these kinds of objections.
• Admit you don’t have all the answers – Of course you might get thrown a curveball and someone will offer an objection you’ve never heard, or at least do not have an answer to off the top of your head. In those circumstances I find it’s best to admit that you don’t know, and then offer to find out the answer for them so you can share it with them at a later time. An admission that you don’t know everything, while caring enough to find a solid answer to their objection, might actually win you a lot of respect with your non-vegetarian friends. You do want to know your stuff as best you can, but you’re not trying to be arrogant about it. You won’t know everything, and it’s okay to admit that.

All in all, I think any vegetarian trying to convince others to take the plunge and “go veggie” should do so with compassion and understanding, and do their best to know the facts and do the research to strengthen their case. I think as vegetarians we should be constantly learning more, and doing our best to develop a stronger and stronger argument for going vegetarian, not only to convince others, but for the sake of our own health too! We need to do our best to set an example as happy, healthy, and knowledgeable vegetarians to convince others that vegetarianism is indeed the way to go! It’s an ongoing process and we may never have all the answers, but the process of learning more and becoming more patient and loving with people will only strengthen our efforts.

When talking with others, I try to position myself as the happy, healthy, and enthusiastic vegetarian that anyone can comfortably talk to, no matter what’s on their dinner plate. I don’t want to close off the channels of communication with anyone if I don’t have to. This way, my non-vegetarian friends know that if they’re ever interested in learning more, I’m there willing to listen, without bullying them or trying to make them feel guilty. Ultimately, if you’re trying to guilt someone into doing something, even if you succeed the results probably won’t be long-term. You know that vegetarianism is a source of joy and happiness; be sure to give off that vibe when talking with others!

Juicing for Pre-workout

There are numerous types of foods that can be juiced that are loaded with vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

There’s a common myth out there that you should refrain from eating before working out. This notion stems from the belief that your body will tap into its fat reserves if there is no fuel available to burn first.

Although this can be the case, the truth is that your body needs fuel to provide energy for your workout–whether it be cardio or weightlifting. Juicing and blending the right foods can be a quick and easy way to get the right, energy-boosting fuel that your body needs for an effective workout.

There are numerous types of foods that can be juiced or blended. Foods with complex carbohydrates provide some of the best energy-producing fuel, as they supply glucose and are able to convert glucose into energy slowly, giving your muscles a consistent energy supply throughout your workout. Complex carbs are also better for your body because they’re typically found in foods that are loaded with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables and grains.

Your body takes about five hours to digest fat, three hours for protein and two hours for carbohydrates. For this reason if your workout is a few hours away your meal should consist of a combination of low fat, high carb foods with moderate protein. If your workout is about 90 minutes away–have a snack to energize.

This is where juicing enters the picture. Health drinks can be prepared quickly, easily and can be a great source of complex carbohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins and nutrients.

The following recipes and their descriptions. They provide some great examples of health drinks that will boost your bodies’ energy for a more effective workout.

Battery Recharge

The first example is a quick pick me-up that provides long term energy and is easy to make. Carrot juice is a great source of beta-carotene, the famous antioxidant that protects against the damaging effects of exercise and increases oxygen in the blood, tissues and brain. Ginseng is renown for providing strength and energy. Garlic, among its many other benefits, increases stamina.

• 8 oz Carrot Juice
• 1 clove Garlic, juiced
• 1 tsp Ginseng Powder

Juice the carrots and garlic and stir in the ginseng powder or granules. Ginseng is available at health and oriental food stores. Use organic carrots for the best tasting juice.

Stamina and Endurance

The second example involves banana and spirulina, good sources of potassium and important for the conversion of glucose to glycogen for energy. Magnesium (from bran, almonds and spirulina) is important for the storage and release of glycogen. Almonds are also a high energy food, producing six calories per gram. Adequate levels of chromium (from bran and banana) and zinc (from spirulina) help balance blood sugar regulation and therefore energy production.

• 1 Cup Apple Juice
• 1 Banana
• 2 Tbsp Oat, Rice or Wheat Bran
• 1 Tbsp Spirulina, Chlorela or Blue-Green Algae
• 8 — 12 Almonds
• To Taste Pure Water

Blend the banana and the bran in the juice until smooth. Add the spirulina or other algae powder. For best digestion, almonds should be softened by pre-soaking them for several hours. If you like a crunchy, chewy drink, add the almonds at the end and just chop or blend them briefly.

Muscle Milk

Oats provide a rich source of carbohydrates that are easily converted into energy. Oats increase stamina and are particularly fortifying for the heart muscle. Oat milk is available in health food stores, or you can make your own. Or you may substitute soy milk.

The calcium contained in cocoa acts as a muscle tonic and helps with muscular contraction. Whey protein is the richest dietary source of BCAA’s, a form of amino acids that builds muscle mass. Whey protein prevents muscle loss and promotes muscle growth and repair. Honey provides glucose, a source of energy.

• 1 cup Oats or Soy Milk
• 1 tsp Whey Protein Powder or Hemp Protein
• 2 Tbsp of Hemp seeds
• 1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
• 1 tsp  agave nectar

Serve cold. Shake or blend the powders and honey thoroughly into the milk.

Tips for Successful Juicing

• There are loads of other healthy fruits, vegetables and grains that can be juiced and blended to benefit your body for pre and post workouts. Consider the following tips when using your juicer or blender.
• Always remove the peel from citrus fruits before juicing them. The peels from oranges, tangerines and grapefruits contain oils that are indigestible and provide a bitter taste. If consumed in large quantities citrus peels can lead to digestive problems. Lemon and lime peels can be juiced, but if consuming them, make sure they’re organic to avoid pesticides. The white portion of a citrus fruit is actually the most beneficial part as it contains the most vitamin C and bioflavonoids (an antioxidant).
• Don’t forget to wash your produce and remove any bruised portions.
• Remove large pits and hard seeds from fruits such as peaches, plums and cherries. Smaller and softer seeds, like those found in watermelons and grapes, can be juiced as they include beneficial nutrients.

Low-Carb Vegetables

This list is roughly arranged from lowest to highest carbohydrate counts, but all are non-starchy and generally low in carbohydrates. Exact carb count depends on serving size. Remember when counting carbs in vegetables that the fiber is not counted, and can be subtracted from the total.

• Sprouts (bean, alfalfa, etc.)
• Greens – lettuces, spinach, chard, etc.
• Hearty Greens – collards, mustard greens, kale, etc.
• Radicchio and endive count as greens
• Herbs – parsley, cilantro, basil, rosemary, thyme, etc.
• Bok Choy
• Celery
• Radishes
• Sea Vegetables (Nori, etc)
• Cabbage (or sauerkraut)
• Mushrooms
• Jicama

Carib VEGAN Chef Mayra aka   Dr Flavor

Please consider the environment before printing this article.

www.ChefMayra.com

Homegrown Wheatgrass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CMAScNnD-E

From DAN:

Juicer Recipes / Juicing Recipes / Raw Food Diet
❤
Celery Carrot Cilantro Collard Greens Cucumber ~
Dark Green Juice
❤

INGREDIENTS
+ Celery
+ Carrots (unpeeled if organic; peeled if inorganic)
+ Cilantro
+ Collard Greens
+ Cucumbers

PREPARATION
Run through your Breville Juicer or any other juicer of your choice, and enjoy!
Breville: http://bit.ly/mIrEW

❤ SPIRITUAL DISCUSSION ❤
+ Gratitude
+ Service
+ Humility
+ The Ego
+ Avoiding Conflict
+ Inspiration
+ Perseverance
+ Guidance from the Universe

I hope you enjoy this one. You all mean a lot to me!!

PEACE, DAN =)