Sample Grocery List

Friends and family often ask us what we buy at the grocery store. We tag along with them to the store or fill them in on the staple foods that we usually get. I created a sample list of things we usually shop for to make things more convenient for you. If you have anything to add or share, please leave us a comment. I'm sure I left something off somewhere! SN: we eat primarily a whole food diet and do not eat soy or meat products. Occasionally, we do have our vegan "junk food" such as organic rice and tortilla chips. Hope this helps! <3

Quinoa

Amaranth

Lentils

Chickpeas

Raw Nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews)

Dried Fruit (mangos, dates, figs)

Leafy Greens (spinach, kale, dandelion, watercress, romaine)

Vegetables (broccoli, green beans, peas)

Fruits (avocados, mangos, bananas, apples, cucumbers, lemons, limes, melons, tomatoes, berries)

Sweeteners (raw agave nectar or maple syrup grade b)

Super foods (hemp seed, flax seed, cacao)

Olive oil (or hemp)

Sundried tomatoes

Roasted red peppers

Almond Butter

Tahini

Almond milk

Tea (chai, raspberry leaf, dandelion,)

Seaweed

Sprouts

Portobellos

Spelt flour

Garlic

Onion

Parsley

Cilantro

Basil

Himalayan Salt

Cayenne

Extras (vegan chocolate chips, coconut milk ice cream, kombucha, raw bars)

Special Pregnancy Update: 19 Weeks Pregnant

19 weeks 2 days pregnant. Grow baby Grow! On Valentines Day we will find out if we will be going with pink or blue bedding. Munchkin is the most active baby I've carried and I believe it's because of my plant-based diet. When I'm hungry the baby punches my stomach, when I have to pee the baby kicks my bladder and when I'm trying to fall asleep the little stubborn one decides to get in a rock hard position stretching across my belly and kicks me in the back making it super uncomfortable to get situated. A pillow between the legs is my bedtime cure. At least I'm not being woke in the middle of the night... yet! The baby (head to rump) is now the length from my fingertips to my wrist. Munchkin was staying still long enough for me to measure. My belly changes all different sizes throughout the day.. I blame that on bloating, which I've always had an issue with except for when I was all raw. Early in the morning I have a little bump (little smaller than what you see on the left) then by the evening (when this picture was taken) my belly looks very poked out! I'm using lots of extra virgin olive oil all over my body paying special attention to the stretch mark prone areas right after my showers. EVOO has helped me out tremendously. Yes, I still have stretch marks, but they are hardly noticeable now due to the food I eat combined with keeping my skin moisturized with one of the best natural products available. 

Pregnancy cravings this week: Hot chili peppers & chocolate almond milk.

Exercise routine this week: M, T, Th, F treadmill for 30 minutes at a speed of 3.9 and stretching.

No bueno: foot cramping OUCH!! dizziness & ligament stretching in the lower abdomen.

Other baby news: Munchkin is working on its five senses and is roughly the size of a mango (6 inches and about 8.5 ounces).

Banana Chunky Nut Bread

What You Need!

2 cups spelt flour or regular

1 1/4 cups coconut sugar or brown sugar

3/4 t baking soda

3/4 t fine himalayan salt or sea salt

1 t ground cinnamon

1/2 cup vanilla almond milk or alternate

1 t organic apple cider vinegar

2 cups mashed bananas

1/4 cup sunflower oil or vegetable

2 T agave or maple syrup

1 1/4 t vanilla extract

1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)

1/4 cup cashews (optional)

Work Your Magic!
FIRST, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Set aside a 9x5 lightly oiled loaf pan.
NEXT, in a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
THEN, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and vinegar and leave alone for 2 minute.
ADD, the mashed banana, oil, agave and vanilla and whisk until combined.
ADD, the flour mix to the wet mix and combine.
FOLD, the chopped cashews and chocolate chips into the batter.
THEN, pour the mix into the loaf pan.
BAKE, for an hour, then turn down heat to 325 degrees F and bake for another 15 minutes.
SUGGESTED: let cool at room temperature before serving.

Moringa

This is such an amazing tree and I believe everyone should know about it! Moringa oleifera, also known as the "Tree of Life," "Drumstick Tree," "Miracle Tree," "Never Die Tree," "Gift from God Tree," "Mother's Best Friend," "Tree of Paradise," is the ultimate superfood because of the high nutritional value. This tree is drought resistant and can grow in nearly any soil but cannot tolerate cold environments. Particularly in Africa, Asia and India, this plant is used in many recipes as well as for medicinal purposes to heal people of malnutrition, various diseases and maladies. Dehydrated leaves from the tree are ground into powder then can be capsuled, added to smoothies, or to your meals.  

Moringa leaves contain over 90 nutrients and 46 antioxidants and are rich in vitamins A, C, B6, K, Manganese, Magnesium, Riboflavin, Calcium, Thiamin, Potassium, Iron, Protein and Niacin. 

Ounce for ounce (about 2 tablespoons) of Moringa contains:
     7x the Vitamin C found in oranges
     4x the Vitamin A in carrots
     3x the iron of spinach
     4x as much calcium as milk
     3x the potassium of bananas. 


Moringa also contains all 8 essential amino acids and is rich in flavonoids, including Quercetin, Kaempferol, Beta-Sitosterol, Caffeoylquinic acid and Zeatin.

For pregnant and/or breastfeeding women, 6 tablespoons of Moringa can be consumed on a daily basis. It is highly recommended by many herbalists and has proven to increase breast milk (I can attest this). For a child between the ages of 1 and 3, the recommended amount is 1 tablespoon 3 times a day. 

*An interesting fact* - The crushed seeds from the Moringa tree can be used to purify water overnight.      

Banana Split Ice Cream

I LOVE BANANA SPLITS!!!

3 frozen bananas

2 Tablespoons of raw coconut butter

Blend together and top with fruit!

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Eating vegan doesn't mean giving up all those tasty desserts we love, especially chocolate chip cookies. This recipe is simple and you can easily substitute the ingredients to your liking. Enjoy!

1 1/4 cups coconut sugar

1/2 cup sunflower oil

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons vanilla almond milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup flax seed mix (1T ground flax + 3 T water)

2 1/2 cups spelt flour

1 t baking soda

3/4 t salt

chocolate chips (soy-free, dairy-free)

Set oven to bake 375F. Put the flax seed mix together (according to measurements above) and set in fridge for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, measure out 1/4 cup from the flax mix. Blend the first 5 ingredients together. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, then gradually mix in the wet ingredients. Stir in as many chocolate chips as you like :)

Set covered bowl of cookie dough mix into the fridge for about 20 minutes. Lightly grease a cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.