One thing that a plant-based eater such as myself craves from the dairy side of things is the flavor of protein powder.
Maybe that’s a little weird? Sometimes I just have a craving for it!
The chalky taste is so good to me sometimes LOL but I don’t drink them because I find dairy to be somewhat dehydrating.
But, I was in Whole Foods looking for a cold and cool looking drink. This looked to fit the bill!
Would I finally taste a satisfying vegan protein drink?
This week, I released a new book titled “Nadirah’s Universal Health Book”!
Written by me, Star Khalifah – the same person who writes all these website posts 🙂 My birth name is Nadirah, by the way 🙂
The beauty that I see in Easy Light Sources, and in this Universal Health Book, is the fact that it is, in fact, universal.
What I mean is, anyone can relate to it, regardless of your gender, or race, or anything else that causes separation between people on this Earth.
All you really need a view that allows you to see value in the information!
And, as the writer, I need the ability to accurately convey what I’m trying to get across 🙂
This and that being said, this post is going to go over some of the chapters in my new book!
This introduction is long enough so let’s get into it 🙂
Chapter 1 – Fatty, Salty Goodness
Most healthy lifestyles and food choices are hard to stick to because of the addictive nature of fatty and salty foods. This chapter suggests that you incorporate these elements into your healthy food choices. This chapter also talks about salts and fats.
Chapter 2 – A Word On Fruits And Vegetables
Anyone who is familiar with Easy Light Sources won’t be surprised that this book includes information specifically about fruits and vegetables 🙂
Chapter 3 – A Kiss, The Healthiest Kind of Sugar
Contrary to the name, this chapter is not so much about kissing! It’s more about sugar, including the best kinds and the worst kinds.
Chapter 4 – Drink Water – Always Good Advice!
I almost didn’t include this chapter because I didn’t want to condescend people by telling them drinking water is good for your health! But then I realized it’s not my place to assume what anyone does or does not know.
Chapter 5 – Living Food For Living Bodies
This chapter is about fermented foods and sprouts. The book Microbiology In Action came in handy during this chapter 🙂 The digestive process is also discussed. Because it doesn’t matter how healthy we eat if our foods are not being digested correctly.
Chapter 6 – Ocean Nutrition , Sea Vegetables and Salt Water Healing
I love the ocean with all of my heart and I probably could have written an entire book about it 🙂 But, this one covers a lot of stuff that many people don’t know. And I’m always learning new information so any revised editions will include expanded information in this chapter.
Chapter 7 – Building Blocks Of The Human Body
PROTEIN! Any plant-based book HAS TO have information about protein. But, I’ll give you a hint: It’s more about the amino acids.
Chapter 8 – Love Is An Easy Light Source
This is one of my favorite chapters 🙂 It talks about chocolate, love, roses, love languages, and self-love/self-care.
Chapter 9 – The Easiest Way To Be Healthy Is To Stay Well
Immune health is covered extensively in here. Especially important for people who avoid flu shots and over the counter medications.
Chapter 10 – Welcome To The Holiday Season Starting… Now!
Being vegan/plant-based during the holiday season. Or, just being healthy during the time when unhealthy “soul” foods are all around everywhere.
Chapter 11 – The Winter Solstice / Optimism Daily
S.A.D is a real thing that happens during the winter months. But, and sadly, some people are sad all year round too. Here are some tips for people who can relate.
Aaaaand I think that just about covers a lot of it. There is also a bonus chapter about if plants can be used in place of drugs.
Thanks for reading! To purchase, click below and as an added Thank You you can get 20% off by using the code Easy20 🙂
Larabars are one of the original “simple ingredient and vegan” food bars. We can’t really call these a protein bar, although Larabar does make those now.
These are solid food bars. The main ingredient tends heavily to be dates.
You know dates.. the somewhat sticky and moisture-less fruit with a seed in it. Larabars and raw/vegan pie crusts are generally the only way that I’ll eat dates. On their own, they are not my style. In desserts and natural smoothies, I can get down with them all day.
Larabars also have some kind of nuts in them as well. Usually cashews or almonds. Sometimes walnuts if we’re lucky!
Today, let’s talk about two different and tasty? flavors of Larabar!
First, the Carrot Cake.
There are real carrots in these and it’s in a good way. Carrots, being already naturally sweet, add depth to the dates that are also used.
the texture of these bars are soft, too. Softer than usual maybe. It’s all in a good way though.
The Blueberry Muffin was a little more interesting, texture wise. The almonds used added a crunch to the bars.
This blueberry bar was also more.. dry? than the carrot cake. It’s not that it was crumbly, but there was a lack of moisture.
And, that’s what makes the difference as far as which one I am likely to re-purchase again.
Because flavor-wise, they are both delicious. I enjoyed both and I’d eat either one again.
But if I had to choose, I’d go with the carrot cake flavor.
I mean, I really like carrot cake. And the texture is more like what actual carrot cake is, moist and dessert level sweetness.
The blueberry muffin bars were tasty but as far as my understanding goes, I don’t recall there being chunks of almonds in a baked muffin.
Anyway, as a side note I’d like to give a shout out to my all time favorite Larabar flavor – Pineapple Upside Down Cake! Yummm, too back they’re not sold or available anywhere near me.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
My concerns of the environmental sins of almond plants get pushed aside when there are new flavors to try!Nuts, like almonds, make it very easy to snack on the go. I was intrigued when I saw these new flavors: Blueberry and Wasabi & Soy Sauce.So, I’ll review these bite size flavor bombs in the order that I consumed them.First, the Blueberry Almonds were found at 7-Eleven.
They’re like shimmery purple gems! So cute! But, how did they taste? Well….When I opened the package, the smell of sweet blueberry perfume-y-ness filled my nose. That’s no exaggeration; it was really pleasant.The taste of these things were just as pleasing!These Blueberry flavored almonds are really, really good!The Blueberry coating is where it’s at. Although visual aesthetics are not a reliable indication of flavor.. in this case, it is accurate.These would be a nice alternative to candy as well.Please forgive me, I don’t have a picture of the ingredients!Anyway, next we’ll cover the savory part of this review: Blue Diamond BOLD Wasabi & Soy Sauce Flavored Almonds.
It’s easy to see the flavor profile they’re going for here. But how does it add up?Well, my first impression – I was a bit skeptical because the flavored coating was about 50% less than the Blueberry Almonds.And then I tasted them!They’re good!A little spicy, a little salty.Honestly, they could have been a little more boldly flavored. A little more spicy.Or, a lot more spicy.Wasabi heat doesn’t really linger and for that fact alone I believe that these could have been more heavily seasoned.Anyway, I ate these fast. As in, in one sitting, these were inhaled into my face. It was a very tasty moment that I won’t soon forget.Blue Diamond Flavored Almonds has been a great experience to my taste buds. Thanks Blue Diamond.I’d purchase both of these snacks again, no doubt.
Plant based enthusiasts rejoice!: Another big name company is getting on the vegan train, making it easier for all of us to enjoy a non-dairy lifestyle.
Country Crock has done it with their new line of PLANT BUTTER. Here’s the ingredients:
One concern is the Lactic Acid but I’ll assume that has plant-based origins as well.The name Plant Butter is slightly indulgent as the ingredients are mostly oil (79% to be exact) but that’s only an issue for people who avoid oil for whatever reason. That’s not me so I’m totally free to enjoy this to my heart’s content.
These plant butters come in a spreadable version and in sticks for baking.The flavor choices are olive oil, avocado oil and almond oil.Almond oil is the most unique out of the three so that is the one that I grabbed. It would be nice to try all versions in the same timeframe but I may need to discuss that with Country Crock more directly (anyone have a phone number…?) :)So what is in my fridge is the almond oil based plant butter.
I made toast with it this morning for my son and I to enjoy before he went to school.”Is that oil?” He asked as he inspected the toast.(Sometimes I drizzle bread with olive oil for toast and he doesn’t really like it that way.)”It’s a new vegan butter.” I tell him as he takes a bite.My son Legendary is known for his honesty and quick determination when it comes to new foods. He gave his thoughts on it immediately:”It’s good!” He proclaimed.And good it is.Buttery and salty, just like I like it.It tastes slightly like I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, but a little fresher and real.Next, I gotta get some sticks of Country Crock Plant Butter and see how it does in baked goods.Omg, vegan pound cake, perhaps?! My mouth waters at the very thought!
Man, I was excited when I saw this in a local convenience store.
There was NO WAY I could pass an Almond Milk Starbucks drink without giving it a try!
I love coffee!
& I used to love these Starbucks drinks! My sister would buy them for me and I enjoyed every drop.
As I became more health conscious, dairy milk disappeared from my diet.
And these pre-made drinks disappeared too.
Until now!
Cost: $2.99
Taste: Sweet and creamy. They taste just like the dairy ones. I wish there were more flavors to choose from.
Would I re-purchase? Hmmm let me see how much energy I gain and I’ll get back to you 😉
*Update: Yesss, Caffeine! ⚡️
On the health side, there are weird ingredients that the cleanest eaters may be wary of… Like cellulose gel.
However for me, I don’t really mind at this time 🙂
Will you try one?
