I have spent the last couple of days stocking up on vegan items ready for the start of Veganuary tomorrow and I think I'm just about sorted. I don't get much time to prepare meals from scratch so I've opted for products that are quick and easy and that I can just bung in the oven when I get home from a busy day at work. Most of it is vegan junk food so if you you are looking for healthy this probably isn't the place for you. During the whole of January I will be blogging about the meals I eat and the products I use and hope that I don't slip up anywhere.
Until now I have maintained a mainly vegetarian diet with some vegan products thrown in. I already use almond milk on vegan cereal's and in tea and I use dairy free butter and spreads. Already being vegetarian has it's advantages as now all I have to do is cut out the dairy consumption and that's not something I tend to eat a lot of anyway although I must admit I had gone a little down hill during Christmas eating dairy chocolate.
While I'm here I'd like to say how excited I am to finally find 'Vegan Life' magazine in a branch of WH Smiths... I had been looking for it in the shops for ages after I had bought a one off copy at Vegfest. I think my quiet New Years Eve is going to be spent having a good old read.
Lastly I would like to share with you a great find, and if you are lucky you might still be able to get your hands on a copy in 'The Works.' It's the fabulous book by Ms. Cupcake called 'The Naughtiest Vegan Cakes in Town' (bargain price of £5.99) which I intend on actually using. I'm terrible with cook books of any kind... I buy them but then they sit gathering dust but I definitely must make the effort with this one after sampling one of Ms. Cupcakes delicious cupcakes in her Brixton shop this year (one of my highlights).
Enjoy your New Year celebrations and I'll see you on the other side.
Firstly, apologies for my absence over the last few weeks, things had started to get a little hectic so I decided to take a little time out from all activities that required my thinking energy. Fortunately everything is starting to slow down now and I am just about ready for Christmas and a much needed break. I have missed three weekly round-ups so I'm hoping to get back on track.
Cosmetics transition complete
I can now proudly announce that my entire make-up collection is cruelty-free thanks to my new found obsession with Marks & Spencer's own brand range 'Autograph' replacing the last few items that I had remaining. I hadn't really taken much notice of their products before but now I've discovered them, I'm hooked.
Not only have they got a fabulous make-up range but they also stock other brands that are cruelty-free, you've only got to look for the leaping bunny. They have some gorgeous cruelty-free bubble baths, moisturisers and body spritzers but also what excited me the most were their selection of cruelty-free perfumes which I tried and tested in the store. I managed to restrain myself as the only thing stopping me from buying some was the fact that I still had a load of perfume at home that I need to use up before I even consider buying more. Anyway, I bought foundation, bronzer, pressed powder and a concealer stick.
I was rather interested in the eye shadows but I still have my 'Barry M' palettes that I have barely used so I had better start with them first.
Usher's Hat
While tuning in to watch 'The Graham Norton show' on Friday evening to see one of my favourite cruelty-free advocates Ricky Gervais, I was horrified to witness that their choice music act Usher was wearing a fur Davy Crockett type raccoon hat, as well as it making him look ridiculously stupid it made me feel physically sick to know that some poor creature died for him to flaunt that on his head. On researching his head wear, I discovered that PETA had already given him stick about it and he had been wearing it since last winter so he can't have learnt anything about it's origin and how much pain and suffering that the animal would have endured in the whole entire year that it's been in his possession.
Some people have no compassion whatsoever and I really hope that Ricky had pointed that out to him back-stage if he had the opportunity.
Christmas Wishes
Lastly I would like to wish my readers a very Merry (and relaxing) Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful new year.
Well my week off came and went pretty quickly and unfortunately I didn't manage to do half the things that I had planned but I did relax which was the main thing. I have just finished re-creating my C.V which I haven't had to do in 5 years so that's why I'm a little late with my weekly round-up. Another short one as I had already posted a couple of things (in more detail) that caught my interest during the week.
As Nature Intended
I had been meaning to visit this lovely little shop for a while now so I used my week off to my advantage. It was my first trip to Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford and that was overdue too. As Nature Intended is a little ethical health food store that sell a range of toiletries and cosmetics as well as organic food. This store is not entirely vegan but they do sell a range of foods that are. You can also find brands such as 'Faith in Nature' and 'Pacifica.' I took a couple of sneaky photo's for you.
Unfortunately I didn't need anything from here this time but I did buy a few products from other stores which I shall be reviewing shortly. If you would like to know more about 'As Nature Intended' go to their website HERE where you can also shop online.
Cruelty Free YouTuber's
As you know from last weeks post I have been on the lookout for cruelty free UK YouTuber's that review cosmetics. This week I found Rachel from 'All Natural Aspirations' who has a blog HERE. She has lots of very helpful video's reviewing many different kinds of products that aren't tested on animals. Here's one of her video's for you to check out.
A soft Belgian dark chocolate tiffin with warming stem ginger and ginger biscuit pieces (£2 in Waitrose), ideal for the winter season. It is free from gluten, wheat, dairy, egg, hydrogenated fats and is labelled vegan. You can tell that a lot of care and consideration has gone into making and packaging this product. Allergens are highlighted in bold on the ingredients list and the palm oil used is RSPO certified (ethically sourced).
'Lazy Day Foods' were founded by food scientists Dr. Sally Beattie and Emer Bustard, both have an interest in food intolerances. Sally herself has several food intolerances and her young son is allergic to dairy. They state on the box that they bake their goods in a dedicated gluten free bakery and they have no gluten, wheat, dairy or eggs on site and they don't use nuts on the premises either.
I love the melty gooeyness of this product but it's something that I would only buy as an occasional treat. I find myself eating these very slowly as they are quite rich but enjoyable none the less. I couldn't gorge myself on these as I would probably feel very sick afterwards. I would like to try out some of the other products in this range especially the cookies if I can find them.
Ant and Dec have sparked fury amongst wildlife enthusiasts and animal lovers by condoning the use of creatures and reptiles in the trials featured in 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here' (in not so many words). This out-cry has come after naturalist Chris Packham expressed his concern over the treatment of the animals involved by writing to Ant and Dec explaining why it is morally wrong. The initial response came from producers of the show which stated that Ant and Dec had no input into the way the show is run. Ant and Dec have remained quiet until recently when they were seen displaying childish behaviour towards Chris by mocking him on the show. You can read the related article HERE.
I personally find Ant and Dec's behaviour very patronising not only towards Chris but towards everyone who cares about the welfare of animals. It's disappointing because many people (as I did) have a lot of respect for the duo and are seen as role models for the younger generation and so their behaviour and opinions often rub off onto others. I would like to put their behaviour down to ignorance and a lack of educating and maybe one day they will understand what Chris was saying.
I for one know that the treatment of these animals on 'I'm a celeb' is not normal. As some of you may have read in my 'About Me' section, I studied Animal Management for two years. During this time I was taught how to care for a variety of species. I learnt the correct and incorrect ways of handling various reptiles and to treat them with care and respect in a calm but cautious manner. I don't think they realise how distressing it can be for reptiles (or any other animals) when they are placed in a tank with a crazy person flailing around screaming and shouting. Their first instinct is to try and escape but they can't.
It's not the first time that the show has come under scrutiny and it probably won't be the last. Back in 2009 there was outrage when the producers let Gino D'Acampo kill, cook and serve up a rat for dinner. With a lack of research this appalling act of animal cruelty got them into a lot of trouble in which I have no sympathy for. I hate to think what standards their wildlife experts live up to if they are unable to recognise animal cruelty or even unnatural situations that the animals are put into.
It's upsetting when someone is mocked for attempting to make a point about something they are extremely passionate about. I have read Chris's ORIGINAL LETTER and I think that it was professionally and informatively put together so I think it was unnecessary for Ant and Dec to make those comments, especially if they have no input into the running of the show. ITV and the producers should be ashamed of themselves. I will continue to boycott the show until they make some drastic changes.
The Trussell Trust is a charity that operate a number of food banks around the UK to help people struggling to feed themselves and their families due to financial crisis. Believe it or not there are 13 million people living below the poverty line in the UK for many different reasons. The Trussell Trust rely on public donations and the help and support of the community.
This Christmas why not help people less fortunate than yourselves by collecting some food while doing your shopping and dropping it off at your local food bank. The Trussell Trust cater for dietary needs such as vegetarians and people with allergies so by all means feel free to donate dairy free, Gluten free and meat free goods as long as they are not perishable.
You can find some product examples on their 'Shopping List' which can be adapted to what you normally buy as a vegetarian or vegan such as Soya milk, dairy free biscuits and snack bars, gluten and egg free pasta etc. I have noticed that the 'Alpro' vanilla Soya carton drinks and yogurts (which don't need refrigerating) are occasionally on offer. Things like this would be ideal for dairy allergy sufferers.
Visit the WEBSITE to discover your nearest food bank and email them to find out if they are operating a Christmas initiative in your area and whether you can contribute to a Christmas hamper which may include things like packets of stuffing, jars of cranberry sauce, gravy, tins of biscuits and chocolate treats.
To ensure that the products you buy really go to people that are genuinely disadvantaged they have to be referred by a health care official such as GP or Social worker before they are accepted. One box of food should last up to 3 days and contain a range of essential nutritionally balanced items. Parents with infants may benefit from receiving nappies and wipes and you may also be able to donate household items such as toilet rolls and washing up liquid but it is always best to check with your food bank to find out what items they accept.
you have no idea how one simple box of food can make a huge difference to someones life. stresses of money worries can cause mental health problems consequently leading to family breakdowns and in a worst case scenario even suicide. With also the risk of losing their house and becoming homeless, people may also resort to crime in order to support their family. The Trussell Trust are here to help prevent that from happening so go ahead and help them to make that difference.
I can't believe I've gone a whole week without a post in-between my last weekly round-up. It just goes to show that I have had literally no time to think. Fortunately I now have a week off work... yay! so I'm going to gather some new idea's for posts and liven my blog back up again. As predicted, just before my week off I have developed a cold and am feeling a bit rotten today but that has given me the chance to relax and watch things on Netflix and YouTube which I will be sharing here.
Animal Aid Veggie/Vegan guide
I received my vegan starter pack from Animal aid this week. This is a 35 page booklet with recipes, nutritional information, alternatives to dairy, eggs and meat, ingredients to avoid and more.
There are 11 lovely recipes both savoury and sweet. I am particularly looking forward to trying out the scramble on toast as I haven't had tofu scramble before and the mushroom stroganoff because I love mushrooms. There are a lot of product ideas, suggestions for each mealtime and advice for eating out. They have also answered a few common questions. Animal aid has packed in a considerable amount of information making it a great starting point for anyone considering becoming vegan or vegetarian. You can get hold of your copy HERE.
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
This is an inspirational food documentary film with personality. Firstly it followed Joe Cross on his journey to make some health changes due to his obesity and illness. He did this by following a strict fasting/juicing diet for 60 days which had remarkable effects. While he was doing this he encountered a truck driver called Phil who had similar problems and was desperate to turn his life around so Joe acted as his guide. I found Phil's determination quite moving and I even shed a tear.
It had been on my Netflix list for a while as I wasn't expecting it to be that great but I now wish I had watched it a lot sooner. I was hooked from start to finish and it has made me want to invest in a juicer just to increase my nutrient intake. I would mark this as a definite must see.
Say Cheese
I sent away for a set of cards from the Vegetarian Society which explains that Parmesan cheese is NOT vegetarian. These have been especially made for members of the public to hand to restaurants who have Parmesan cheese included as an ingredient in vegetarian meals. I have come across this many times before so I thought that these little cards would come in very handy. You can obtain a set for yourself HERE.
YouTube Search
I have been on the hunt for some UK based cruelty-free/Vegan YouTube channels for a while now. Unfortunately it hasn't been an easy task as most of them have been American. I don't have an issue with watching them but it's so much easier when the products that are being discussed are obtainable in UK stores. So far I have found Miss Veggie Delight who reviews cruelty free cosmetics. I watched a few of her video's today and found them quite informative if not slightly long. It's nice to find someone that has a very relaxed approach to their video's and doesn't act robotic and fake. I am on the look-out for similar video's so if anyone has any recommendations please leave a comment.
This weeks weekly round-up is going to be a short one; mainly because I haven't really been up to anything that interesting. It's been a tiring and stressful week work-wise and I've got the feeling that next week isn't going to be that much better. On the plus side, after next week I have got a week off to do whatever the hell I like and it can't come any sooner. Food Inc
Over the past month or two I have worked my way through many different food related documentaries the latest one being 'Food Inc' on 'Netflix'. I'm sorry to say that I was a little bit disappointed with it. It didn't grab my attention all the way through and I had heard most of it all before. I got a little restless just over half way through and I was hoping it would end at any minute.
However it did highlight a few interesting issues and I have big respect for any film makers attempting to raise awareness of the harmful effects that the food industry can have on human health and the environment. Personally one of my favourite film documentaries on 'Netflix' is 'Hungry for Change' if you'd like to check it out.
Joining Tumblr
I have created a 'Tumblr' account in conjunction with this blog to try and widen my audience and connect with others that I may not have come across on 'Blogger' or 'Twitter.' If you have a 'Tumblr' account and would like to follow little old me then here's the link theveggieblogger.tumblr.com I shall mainly be posting things from this blog and re-blogging posts from other 'Tumblr' account's that interest me.
Facebook Groups
I have recently joined a couple of Facebook groups that some of you guys might be interested in which are 'Vegan and Vegetarian Bloggers' and 'Vegan (Supermarket finds) UK.' Both are very helpful.
Now that I have caught your attention, I'd like to tell you about an exciting new project that caught mine. I respect anyone who strives to work towards making their ambitions and dreams a reality because believe me I've tried most of my life... some end up a success, some don't but at the end of the day I know that I have done everything possible to try and make it happen. Now I'm all for helping to make dreams come true so when I came across the lovely Esther Bertram on twitter and discovered her Kickstarter campaign I knew that I had to do my bit to help. Even though I had played just a small part I knew that it could make a big difference.
Esther is a fiction author among other things and she is currently looking for people to back her new and original multi-dimentional augmented reality novel. In order to do this she has set up a Kickstarter profile where the public can contribute to the publishing process of her book 'November Fox'. What has this got to do with the genre of my blog I hear you say!!! well Esther is herself a Vegan and has incorporated veganism into her book by making the lead character 'November Fox' a vegan orphan rock star and soul warrior.
I will leave it to Esther's press release to explain it all a little better:
Sussex Author E.E. Bertram Promotes Veganism to the next gen with her Pioneering Augmented Reality Novel “November Fox”.
Esther Bertram is a visionary fiction author incorporating new technology and media to enhance the experience of reading a classic book while promoting the ethical treatment of animals.
After more than a decade of touring as a professional singer/songwriter, Esther has spent the last 3 years living in the serenity of East Sussex England to create her unique media-fusion novel “November Fox,” an all ages “Alice in Wonderland” for the modern reader.
The story is a fantasy sci/fi about a Vegan orphan rock star, “November Fox” who travels through dimensions of consciousness to unlock the mysteries of the cube.
This ground-breaking book incorporates new media and is a pioneering way of story telling on the leading edge of what is possible when you combine technology with art, plus it brings the topic of the humane treatment of animals to the next generation.
In the hardback version of the book, every few chapters, viewers are invited to use their phones or tablets to explore another dimension of the story with AUGMENTED REALITY, entering into “Lucitopia”. From here readers can witness the world of November Fox from “The Architect’s” perspective. He is the philosophical other-worldly being who narrates the journey. They also gain access to links connected to the story, such as vegetarian and vegan friendly sites and forums where readers can interact with each other as well with the book’s characters. There is also a connected music project since the protagonist, November Fox, is a rock star. This is a fully immersive reader experience.
In Esther’s own words, “As a creative artist, I like to inspire people to challenge their mental models of reality. Technology enables me to create layers within layers to aptly represent the depths of our own consciousness, and take the fantasy world to new heights.”
“I have been vegetarian for 26 years and Vegan for 15 years. I wished to find a way to bring more awareness of the ethical treatment of animals to the next generation. I decided to meet them on their level of media saturation and technology fascination so I created a reader immersive experience. This way, I have been able to weave my strong principals of veganism into the fantasy story in a non pushy way to plant seeds of awareness into young minds, to allow them to at least consider the possibility of not eating animals.”
Esther is currently running a Kickstarter crowd funding campaign to enable the book’s release. If you wish to know more or to support Esther’s campaign please visit http://www.November-fox.com
So here I am calling upon you to help Esther get the result she so desperately wants. You can pledge a minimum of £1 but with a pledge of £3 you can earn yourself 'Time to Shine' digital EP as a reward. There are bigger and better rewards the higher you pledge. Esther needs £10,000 to reach her goal by November 30th 2014 but if this doesn't happen your money will not be deducted from your account and the project won't be able to go ahead.
Personally I think it sounds like fun and I would love to see this book published. I have a 15 year old niece that loves books and will definitely be interested in reading this one. The great thing about it is that it is suitable for all ages and will be a great gift for anyone with a love of fiction with a cosmic twist. All the information you need to know about 'November Fox' can be found on Esther's Kickstarter page HERE and you can follow her on twitter @EstherBertram and tell her what you think about her idea. You can also check out Esther's website www.eebertram.com
Lastly I would like to wish Esther all the best for her amazing project and I hope it's a huge success.
Choc Shot is a multi-purpose chocolate sauce that is low in calories and completely dairy free. It can be drizzled over ice cream, porridge, fruit and spread on toast and squeezed into milk shake. Personally I don't think I would put it on fruit or on toast for that matter as I can imagine that it would be very sweet.
The main reason I bought it was to make hot chocolate as I was fed up with having to mix powder into a paste before adding more milk but still often left with floaty unmixed powdery lumps. You don't get that with Choc Shot but I do like my hot chocolate chocolaty and the 3-4 recommended teaspoons they tell you to use wasn't enough for me so I'll be adding more next time (but sshhh... don't tell anyone).
This sauce has that bitter-sweet after taste that dark chocolate normally has if you like that sort of thing. I'm not usually a fan of dark chocolate but I like this in hot chocolate and I think it's amazing on ice cream.
Choc Shot is 100% natural, GM and Gluten free, low GL (glycaemic load), diabetic friendly (as part of a healthy diet), vegan and contains NO artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives. It can be purchased in Tesco at the price of £3.50 which I found a little pricey but I'm all about the impulse buying... I'm terrible!
This eau de cologne hand-blended with fine essential oils comes in a little 10ml bottle which is perfect for storing in your handbag but at the price of £10 seems a little bit pricey for what it is. Despite the price I was desperate to try out one of their perfumes so I snapped it up. The bigger bottle (which is not really that much bigger) is a whopping £40 and there was no way I could justify spending that amount of money on such a small bottle.
The 10ml bottle is less concentrated than the bigger bottle, therefore you will have to apply more for it to have a greater effect. In theory that does make the bigger bottle better value for money but I still wasn't convinced about the price. I have mixed feeling about this perfume. When I tried it out in the shop I didn't mind the smell but when I started using it at home I took a gradual dislike to it. However after using it for a while it started to grow on me again. It smells exactly like I've just been peeling a strong zesty orange and I think it's the bitter after-smell that I have trouble getting used to.
I would definitely recommend that you try before you buy because each perfume reacts differently to each person. I don't think I will buy this particular perfume again as I prefer sweet, fruity scents and this is far too bitter for my liking. This product is labelled vegan.
Welcome to my first weekly round-up post inspired by the lovely Kelly over at 'The Vegan Taff'. This is something that I would like to keep up if possible. After considering the fact that I have got far too much to blog about in individual posts I thought I would put it all together in one big post so you don't miss a thing. It also adds a more personal element to my blog which you don't often get when I'm just posting product reviews. It acts as a type of diary entry and I really like that concept so here I go.
Raw food diet update:
As you may of seen from one of my previous posts 'Making Changes' I made the decision to try and maintain a half raw food diet by including fruits and vegetables into one of my meals I eat per day. This was easier in theory than it was in practise. I spent at least two hours (or more) preparing the produce to be put into salads to take to work with me for lunch. I got a little bored with chopping, grating and shredding and by the time I had finished I was rather frustrated at the fact that I had just spent all that time in the kitchen when I could have been doing other things.
My time is very valuable to me at the weekends as I work long hours during the week and I'm too tired to do anything of an evening other than watch the odd film or two and chuck something together that is quick and easy for my dinner. Don't get me wrong, I would still like to maintain a healthier diet but I may have to re-asses the way I go about it. However the salads went down a treat and I felt much better for doing it.
Book Purchase:
I bought my first vegan recipe book from Amazon called 'Keep it Vegan' by Aine Carlin and it includes over 100 simple recipes which are ideal for beginners and students and perfect for someone like me who has a short attention span and gets impatient with long-winded recipes.
The book contains an introduction to the author, the health benefits of a vegan diet and a list of store cupboard essentials. It is broken up into 6 chapters, 'Breakfast, Brunch and More,' 'Midday Meals & Simple Suppers,' 'Something Special,' 'Sides and Sauces' and 'Sweet Treats.' I haven't tried out any of the dishes yet but I have been recommended the strawberry vanilla cheesecake and the macaro-no cheese by John Pellegrini (@ei8htyei8ht on twitter).
Holland & Barrett haul:
I originally went in to buy some 'Plamil' egg free mayonnaise as my friend told me that it's the best vegan mayo around, so while I was there I had a nosey in their refrigerator section and gave in to temptation. I hadn't been to Holland and Barrett for a long time so I had forgotten what products they sell. As I am currently trying to replace all my 'Quorn' products with dairy free alternatives I was delighted to have discovered the VBites range so I threw a few things into my basket.
I am excited to try the 'Cheezly,' it looks so much more appealing than the 'Tesco' free-from fake cheese. I also thought I would give 'Free & Easy dairy free cheese flavoured sauce' a try with a pasta dish but I was a little bit disappointed with the bland taste. Stella (@VeganStella on twitter) suggested that next time I should try livening it up a bit with a dollop of English mustard and vegan bouillon powder.
Blog Post fail:
I was all set to write a review of one of 'Treaclemoon's' bath and shower gels, (well I was half way through it) when I realised that they are owned by another company. I noticed on their website they state that they are owned by 'Blue orange Brand Management' which also owns various other brands that aren't cruelty free. I personally try not to buy products from brands that have parent companies that don't have a cruelty free policy.
Even after I had emailed them with concerns over one of their ingredients they proceeded to ensure me that none of their products are tested on animals and do not contain any animal derived ingredients so I was very relieved until I researched their parent company. If you have any views regarding this issue I would love to hear from you. I seem to be constantly fooled by companies that I think are cruelty free but really aren't.
The search for alternative milk continues:
I thought I had found the perfect alternative milk for me in the form of 'Almond Breeze' but @pudding4brains on twitter brought to my attention a very important article written by 'Oh She Glows' about the ingredient Carrageenan in some alternative milk including the one that I use. Now I'm on the look-out for a new brand that both works on cereal and in tea.
It took me a while to find 'Almond Breeze' after trying out a few different alternatives. I'm not keen on Alpro, plus I don't want to consume too much soya based products as I've heard that they are not good for you. I don't like anything coconut based and the ones that I have already tried are not very nice in tea. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know in the comments.
I have noticed that Hurraw lip balm is proving to be very popular lately judging by other beauty/cruelty free blogs, so here I am jumping on the band wagon with my post about these little sticks of amazingness. Hurraw balm contains premium organic, vegan (which means no beeswax) and raw ingredients and come in a luscious array of scents (I was going to say flavours as it's confusing when something smells good enough to eat).
I purchased mine from 'Whole Foods,' Piccadilly, upstairs beside the till which obviously proved to be the best selling point. I have also noticed a few displayed in 'Planet Organic' too but alternatively you can buy them on-line at the official US based website of 'Hurraw' or 'My Pure' if you are looking for a UK retailer.
I have the 'chai spice lip balm' and the 'vanilla bean lip balm.' Both are great products but the chai spice has to be my favourite... I just love the smell. I have to remind myself not to walk around in public with my lips turned up to my nose in the effort to get a whiff of the balm. Not a good look at all.
This balm goes on smoothly and isn't sticky but may have to be reapplied a little more regularly. They should most certainly be on everyone's winter essentials list whether it be for yourself or bought as a stocking filler for a family member, part of a present for a friend or even included in a secret Santa present for a work colleague. Do you think I have given you enough idea's!?!
The balm comes in an oval shaped stick which apparently is less likely to work it's way out of your back jeans pocket but I'll be keeping mine in my coat pocket or handbag. The stick also displays the leaping bunny logo which indicates that the product is cruelty free. more information can be found about the packaging and ingredients HERE.
What ones do you have? I'm interested to know what the night treatment balm is like if anyone has tried it.
I've become increasingly conscious about what food I consume lately after watching various documentary films such as 'Vegecated,' 'Cowspiracy,' and 'Hungry for Change' to name but a few. Over this weekend I have made some drastic changes in the types of food I've been buying and so I carried out a mass shop at Tesco. This is another big step in my transition from vegetarian to vegan. Until now I have been predominantly vegetarian but I'm hoping that I can continue to maintain a mainly vegan diet while I continue to research products and recipes. At the moment if a label doesn't state that a product is vegan then I'm not really sure what I'm looking for. Obviously this is something I will learn with time but at the moment it doesn't stop me feeling a little frustrated.
I'm hoping to incorporate raw food in with a regular vegan diet with a little bit of junk food as a treat. My shop mainly consisted of fresh fruits and vegetables, some organic, some not. I have heard that it's best to buy organic produce as they haven't been grown using harmful pesticides... but have you seen the prices? I would love to buy all organic but when you are working on a budget, it's just not possible. The photo below features just a small portion of what I actually bought so I thought I would include my shopping list. It's pretty impressive if I don't say so myself.
1 bag Curly Kale
2 Avocados
3 lemons (organic)
1 bag spinach (organic)
1 bag of mixed leaves
1 bag carrots
1 cucumber (organic)
3 pack of mixed peppers
1 red cabbage
celery
broccoli
1 pack of baby corn
1 pack of asparagus
1 bag frozen sweetcorn
1 bag of mixed seeds
1 bag cashew nuts
1 bag of walnuts
garlic
1 bag of chick peas
1 bag of couscous
1 bag of lentils
1 bag of dairy free pasta
1 bottle of extra virgin olive oil
1 watermelon
1 Galia melon
1 honey dew melon
1 pineapple
1 mango
2 large oranges
2 large pears
1 pack of dates
1 loaf of Hovis wholemeal bread
1 pack of wholemeal noodles
Blue Dragon chow mein sauce
Blue Dragon Kung Po sauce
Blue Dragon Cantonese sauce
I understand that there is going to be a bit of trial and error but what better way to start. I plan to create some great salads to take to work with me as I want to be able to eat one raw meal a day. I'm looking forward to trying out some of the vegan sauces for jazzed up vegetable and noodle dishes. Last night I tried Kale for the fist time by making a curly Kale and avocado salad with mixed seeds, it wasn't too bad but I found it a little tough raw, I still managed to polish off the plate though.
I have also replaced my non vegan breakfast cereal with more exciting vegan options such as Muesli by 'Dorset Cereals,' 'Quaker Oats, Oat So Simple' and 'Shredded Wheat Bitesize.' I really want to make this new diet work so I'm going to try my best to stick to it. The next thing on my list is to buy some recipe books and other informative vegan books so if anyone out there has any recommendations please let me know.
When it comes to toiletries and cosmetics I like mine cruelty free and I assume that as you are here, you do too. I thought I knew everything when it came to cruelty free shopping but I continue to make mistakes in my choices. I have come to realise that when a label states that a product is cruelty free the background of the company may indicate otherwise. 'Superdrug' for example have a complete own brand range that is cruelty free but their parent company has no fixed cut-off date animal testing policy in place and owns other subsidiaries that contribute to environmental destruction on an industrial scale.
Another example is 'The Body Shop' who have been a subsidiary of L'Oreal since 2006 and been fooling everyone with their campaigns to end animal cruelty when L'Oreal continues to profit from animal testing outside Europe. 'Urban Decay' another cruelty free brand is also a subsidiary of L'Oreal. I have no idea what makes a cruelty free company want to merge with another that is going to tarnish their reputation. It's disappointing to say the least, especially when you think you are doing right by animals by steering away from brands that test on them.
My latest mistake being the purchase of the popular brand 'Jason Natural Cosmetics' made me re-asses the way I go about shopping. If I see a certain brand advertised that I like the look of, I will do a little more research into the company's background. Normally they wouldn't display any negative press on their websites so you may have to search else-where. A good place to start is at leapingbunny.org where you can find lists of different brands that don't test on animals and whether or not they have a parent company that may be involved in animal testing in some way. Unfortunately it doesn't state whether companies don't have fixed cut-off date animal testing policies (like Jason) so that may require a little extra research. I normally type into my browser something like... is such and such cruelty free and more often than not it will provide the information your seeking.
You should also be aware of the product ingredients. Some companies may claim that they don't test on animals when they have animal derived ingredients. Look out for non-vegan ingredients such as 'Glycerin' (which can either be synthetic or derived from plants or animals), 'beeswax,' 'honey,' 'Carmine' (the red pigment produced from some scale insects), 'Casien' (the main protein present in milk), and 'Guanine' (a compound that occurs in guano and fish scales). A list of hidden animal fats can be found HERE.
If all else fails and you are still unsure then contact the company directly. There is so much to learn but at least I know that I am on the right track, I may still make mistakes but at least I will learn from them. I shall use up all my unwanted products and move on to true cruelty free ones. If anyone has any useful information to share regarding this issue then please leave a comment below.
Before I started doing some research I had no idea about the range of products on the market suitable for a vegan diet. I didn't think it would be possible to substitute my favourite foods but I was surprised to find out that I can literally buy or make every product or dish that I have previously enjoyed following a vegetarian diet. To make a change from the usual cereal I eat during the week I like to indulge myself at the weekend with toast and spreads. As I searched the isle with the jarred products in Tesco I managed to find a few different spreads suitable for vegans.
I limited my choice to two spreads, one of them being this delicious organic peanut butter by 'Whole Earth.' It tastes and looks no different to regular peanut butter but it contains natural ingredients suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The fact that it's free from any animal derived products makes it even more tastier and guilt free. It contains roasted peanuts (96%), sustainable palm oil (100% RSPO certified) and sea salt and contains naturally occurring sugars. Both the jar and the lid are fully recyclable for those of us that like to do our bit for the environment. All products in the peanut butter range are vegan but others (including the chocolate spreads) may not be so always check the label. I will continue to use this product and I highly recommend it to others.
I had already subscribed to 'The Vegan Kind' before I met them at 'Vegfest' last month so I already knew what they were all about. For those of you who don't know, I shall explain. 'The Vegan Kind' send out monthly vegan lifestyle boxes for a fee of £10 plus postage and packaging. The box usually contains about six food items and one non food item, all Vegan and cruelty free. You shall hear more about the monthly subscription boxes after I have received my next box but this time I want to let you know about their beauty box which is updated every three months and costs £15 plus postage and packaging. I picked mine up for the reduced price of £13 at 'Vegfest'. Now I'm probably a little late with this one but it gives you an idea of the sort of items you can find.
So in this box I received six cruelty free beauty products and a description of each one. The first product I tried almost instantly on opening my box has to be my favourite out of all the items and that is the 'White Rabbit Lime and Coconut Cleansing Water' (RRP £4). This is very gentle on the skin but does it's job well. The lime essential oil contained within it has antiseptic, antibacterial, astringent and toning properties. It has a subtle citrucy smell which I like because it's not too over-powering when I apply it to my face. This now has pride of place in the bathroom cabinet with all my other favourite products.
My second favourite item in the box would have to be 'Simply Soaps Orange Cocoa Bath Melt' (RRP £4.50). It's made from raw cocoa butter and pure plant essential oils which soften the skin. I can't pinpoint any one particular scent with this but you can definitely detect the citrucy notes. I was hoping that it would smell a little stronger once in the bath but that didn't put me off. I love bath products that contain cocoa butter so I couldn't wait to give this a try. I placed it in the bath and swished it around until it had fully dissolved. I climbed in and out of the bath with care as the bath melt had made it extremely slippery but it left me feeling moisturised and very relaxed.
The 'Furless 'must have' Pro Stippling Brush (RRP £8.50) is suitable for applying liquids, mousses, creams, primers and powders. I stupidly haven't used it yet as it feels so soft and I don't want to ruin it. I know, I know... what's the point in having it if I don't use it! I will, in time but for now I just like looking at it in my make-up bag. 'Furless' are an Australian company that sell an array of different high quality synthetic make-up brushes, cruelty free make-up and nail polish. I looked up their WEBSITE and was very impressed.
Now I don't normally use eyeliner pencils, I prefer liquid eyeliner for ease of application but I was pleasantly surprised with 'Inika Black Caviar Eyeliner' (RRP £13.50) as I didn't have to press as hard as I normally have to with a regular eyeliner pencil. I don't know if anyone else has this problem, maybe I'm just extra sensitive or weird. I think I will actually give this a go on occasions so this product gets to stay in my make-up bag... lucky thing!
Last but not least I received not one but two fabulous 'Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Beauty Eyeshadow' 1g sample (RRP £3.50 each) which are apparently available nationwide at 'Holland and Barret.' These mineral eyeshadows are free from parabens, synthetic dyes and fragrances, fillers, bismuth, oxychloride, nano particles and animal products. The shades I received were 'Platinum Tiara' and 'Dusty Road' (so a gold and silver) ideal colours for the autumn and winter months, 'Dusty Road' particularly so at Christmas. I tried out both and really liked them but 'Dusty Road' was definitely my favourite out of the two because it seemed to stay on for longer and was more vibrant. Although I hadn't applied any primer beforehand which I will next time.
So for a £13 box that's usually £15 I didn't do too badly with all the products totalling to £37.50... a real bargain if you ask me even if you purchase the box at full price. They may have introduced the next box by now with new products so please don't purchase it expecting to get these items but I'm sure the next one will be just as good.
I get excited every time I plan a trip to my local Lush store. I like Lush because it's a whole different shopping experience. More often than not I get chatting to the very helpful and friendly sales assistants. There's one rule I have when shopping in Lush and that is never dismiss their help as you may just discover your new favourite product through watching one of their demonstrations.
I hadn't planned to venture out at all this weekend but once I had heard that the release of their Christmas range (the fact that it's still October is irrelevant) had hit the shelves I didn't exactly have to drag myself out to go and explore their products. I was due a re-stock anyway.
'Snow Fairy' was the first item to find it's way into my basket. I have never tried this shower gel before but after hearing rave reviews and having to wait an entire year to get my hands on this special edition product I wasn't going to hang around this time. This stuff literally flies off the shelves and I had noticed that there weren't many left but I should imagine, being the most popular Christmas product in the shop they must stock up quite often but I wasn't taking any chances.
'Snow Fairy' has a sweet bubblegum type smell and has a slight shimmer to it. I bought the medium sized bottle at £7.50 as the larger bottle is a little pricey and I had planned to buy several items, so I refrained myself from getting it. However I did decide to get the 'Magic Wand' bubble bar to go with it which is priced at £5.25 and smells like 'Snow Fairy.' You may think that it's a bit expensive but apparently you can use it multiple times making it better value for money. Just hold it under a running tap for a couple of minutes and you have bubbles.
Hot Toddy was next on my list. I'm a big fan of anything with Cinnamon in it so I knew I would love this. It smells like Christmas in a bottle and I can imagine using this in a nice hot bath on a cold Christmas eve. I didn't want to go too mad so I bought a small bottle priced at £3.95 but I have a feeling I might be returning to buy some more. This product also contains glitter to add that extra Christmas sparkle.
'So White' was the third and final shower gel on my list. This seems to have a more subtle smell compared to the others, more of a pure, fresh scent and I could definitely pick up a slight hint of apples. Having picked this up, I thought I should at least try the 'So White' bath bomb to go with it which has a stronger scent. This is a bigger sized bath bomb priced at £3.50.
Steering away from the Christmas range now, I thought I would purchase some regular products. The block at the front of my photo is the 'Buffy' body butter, I've used this before and love it. It's a body scrub that moisturises when you rub it all over the body. Another great way to get moisturised while still in the bath or shower. This is more suitably used in the evening just before you get into your jim-jams as it leaves a slight greasy film on your body.
'Sakura' (the more colourful bath bomb in the photo) is new to me so I look forward to trying it out. This is a large citricy bath bomb with mimosa and Jasmine (inspired by Japanese cherry blossom) priced at £3.35. Lastly I bought 'Butter Bear' priced at £1.95 which was recommended to me by Lush Customer Care via twitter and smells exactly like the 'Butter Ball' that I love so much but comes in the shape of a cute bear.
This little lot should keep me going for a good while.
Since I stopped shopping at 'The Body Shop' I had been on the hunt for some decent, gorgeous smelling perfume and I found that in 'Pacifica.' After such a short space of time it has fast become my favourite perfume brand. I'm a big fan of sweet smelling perfumes and these smell good enough to eat.
Pacifica perfumes are 100% vegan, cruelty free, free of parabens and propylene glycol. They are usually priced at £19.99 but you may find them on offer at £15.99 on occasions. I purchased mine at 'Planet Organic' but I've noticed some on 'Amazon' and obviously Pacifica's main WEBSITE which is US based. The range of scents also come in the form of body butter, body wash, soap, difusers and soy candles.
The perfume can be layered or worn alone. I layered 'Island Vanilla' with the 'Tahitian Gardenia' and they smelled divine. The only downside is that it tends to fade after a few hours and needs to be topped up but the bottles are the perfect size for your handbag.
Now I'm not usually one to write about make-up and beauty products, I leave that to people who know what they are talking about but I thought I would give it a go no matter how bad it turns out. I don't tend to wear make-up that often, mostly at the weekends if I'm going out. Normally work require us to keep make-up to a minimum so I don't bother at all, especially when I have a lot of early starts to contend with. Over the past few months I have been trying to replace all the make-up I have with cruelty free brands. I thought I was doing well until I did a bit of research.
I began buying products from 'The Body Shop' but realised that they were owned by L'oreal who continue to profit from animal testing outside Europe. So when I have used these products up I shall be on the hunt for some new ones. One main company that I am aware of that is both cruelty free and affordable is Barry-M so I went into 'Boots' to buy some of their products.
I came away with their Ivory 1 Flawless Matte Finish oil free foundation, Smokin Hot Shadow and Blush Palette, Lip Gloss and two lip-sticks including the Genie which I'm really intrigued by.
So first up is 'Absolute Burgundy' in the stain paint range . I was worried that this would be a bit dark for me, I used to wear this kind of colour years ago and I had stopped wearing lip-stick for a long time but I thought I would give it a go again and I liked the result. It's a great colour for the autumn months and will look fabulous on nights out (not that I get many of those). Apologies for the extremely dodgy photo's you are about to endure.
Genie is a clever little invention and I have to admit I bought it purely because of it's magical qualities. The lip stick appears green but when you use it on your lips, it leaves them pink.
I really like the shimmery dark smoky colours in the 'Smokin Hot Palette', I used my own brush for application but I found that a lot of excess dust fell under my eyes. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good photo of my eyes once I had finished. The palette has a mirror on the inside and the flap stays shut using a magnet
The foundation was a little disappointing. The consistency isn't thick enough to cover blemishes or freckles but it's ideal if you want a subtle, more natural look. You can feel the moisturising qualities so it's reassuring to know it's not going to dry your skin out too much. It works well with powder but it's just not compatible with my complexion.
I haven't worn lip gloss for a long time either so I thought I would treat myself, I went for a nice neutral colour for everyday use (well not everyday as I won't be wearing it at work). All in all, I'm pleased with my purchases but I will continue my hunt for the perfect foundation.
Seeing as I had some spare time on my hands today, I made a point of checking out 'Whole Foods' which I had only heard about fairly recently (I'm always a little slow on the uptake). I didn't even realise how close the store was to other places I normally visit in the area (why hadn't I noticed this before?).
I was surprised at how big the store actually was and I'm not even sure that this is their biggest. 'Whole Foods' sell a wide range of organic products. You name it, they've got it. What you have to remember is that these stores are not entirely vegetarian or vegan and do sell meat and items that contain animal by-products. Fellow blogger Amber, over at 'Amber's Beauty Talk' kindly educated me on the fact that not all cosmetics certified organic are cruelty-free. So just be aware of this when purchasing.
There are many recognisable cruelty-free brands in the beauty section such as 'Pai,' 'Jason,' 'Pacifica,' 'Faith in Nature' and 'Butter London.' Other items include grains and cereals, Vegan sweets and chocolate, top quality organic fruit and vegetables, milk alternatives, vegan deserts, teas and ethical candles.
I spent so long checking out all the products I started to think that I would have to take up residency in the store. I also started to become conscious of the fact that I had been upstairs three times (yes there is an upstairs) and the people at the counter probably thought I was crazy. The staff I came across were notably helpful and friendly, giving an excellent service.
Upstairs you can find an extended beauty range with make-up, hair care, skin care and oral hygiene products. You can also find a variety of supplements and vitamins.
The bakery looked great but I decided to stay well away as I have been eating far too many cakes and sweet things lately. I was also very temped to try some of their hot food (it certainly looked appetising) but I had already planned to eat elsewhere (that's one excuse for a return visit right there).
Cold food and salads also available.
The best time to visit Whole Foods is just after pay-day because you'll end up spending a fortune (only kidding). I noticed lots of offers on so you may well be able to save some money in the process. I came home with a fantastic little selection of products. My best buy must have been my Jason shampoo and conditioner, two for £8.
