A Delicious Salad Experience with a Kick

Vegan Salad with a Kick

As simple as it is, I just don’t seem to get tired of this salad thanks to the creative dressing my boyfriend came up with! You can be creative and switch up the greens and veggies, and add proteins like tempeh! Adjust the wasabi amount to your liking. The wakame seaweed is not only a tasty addition that goes well with wasabi, but it also is said to help burn fat, and contains some very important nutrients such as magnesium, iron, vitamins A, C, E, K, D, and Riboflavin. 

Saladwakame

  • organic greens of your choice
  • cucumber
  • tomato
  • avocado
  • red cabbage shreds
  • carrot shreds
  • bean sprouts
  • sesame seeds
  • dried wakame seaweed
  • Pick one: organic shelled edamame, tempeh, tofu or quinoa

Dressing (3-4 servings)

  • 2 TBSP wasabi paste
  • 4 TBSP Liquid Braggs Amino Acids or Low Sodium Gluten Free Tamari
  • 4 TBSP organic, extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 TBSP champagne vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning

EAT UP and ENJOY!!!

“Vegan With A Vengeance: No Meat, No Problem”

I’m writing to share with you all that I am honored to have been named Personal Trainer of the Month on BodyBuilding.com, the most popular fitness & bodybuilding website in the world! Their team put together an amazing spread with my full interview and some great pics. I feel like it lets readers into my world and truly get to know me and what I’m all about!

Bodybuilding.com  TOM - Ella Magers Training Pic

I also want to announce that I will be launching a forum component to my website within the next two weeks! I am beyond excited about this… I have been coaching people on other vegan and fitness forums, which not only helps the individuals I coach, but everyone who reads the posts and relates to the situation in one way or another. This has been my dream… combining all my passions, connecting with individuals, while reaching thousands… even millions!

Make sure you have signed up for my free newsletter so you will receive a notification when it is launched!

Meat Today… Not Just Unhealthy. Downright Scary.

It unfortunately seems like the meat industry practices haven’t quite hit rock bottom despite the RTR38ZYQ1377808031fact that more and more people are becoming more and more aware of the healthy dangers of meat, as well as the cruelty it entails for the animals. This article from the Washington Post, published September 8th, 2013 details evidence that things seems as though they are going to get worse before they get better. All the more reason for people to put a rush on their transition to a healthy, plant-based diet!

The article, entitled, “USDA pilot program fails to stop contaminated meat” begins:

A meat inspection program that the Agriculture Department plans to roll out in pork plants nationwide has repeatedly failed to stop the production of contaminated meat at American and foreign plants that have already adopted the approach, documents and interviews show.

The program allows meat producers to increase the speed of processing lines by as much as 20 percent and cuts the number of USDA safety inspectors at each plant in half, replacing them with private inspectors employed by meat companies. The approach has been used for more than a decade by five American hog plants under a pilot program.

But three of these plants were among the 10 worst offenders in the country for health and safety violations, with serious lapses that included failing to remove fecal matter from meat, according to a report this spring by the USDA inspector general. The plant with the worst record by far was one of the five in the pilot program.

Read the USDA inspector general’s report on swine-plant inspection, with key sections annotated by the reporter.

What the USDA watchdog found

IG report

Read the rest of this article here. For me, stories like this are simply a reminder of the urgency to spread the word, and help people find the motivation and knowledge to be healthy, energetic, and fit through a whole foods, plan-based diet so as to be able to enjoy life for years and years to come!

 

 

 

 

Think you are eating raw almonds? Think again!

vegan almonds

I am not sure what the word for it is… alarming, disturbing, infuriating, disheartening? I guess I feel a bit of all those when it comes to the laws on almonds produced and sold in the United States. Here is a quick run down of the law:

Since September, 2007, all almonds produced in the U.S. are required by the USDA to be Almy.Almondpasteurized before being sold. Pasteurization is a treatment process that uses high temperature heat or a toxic fumigant to “sanitize” the food, after which the food is no longer raw by definition. Despite this fact, the USDA allows for the almonds to be labeled “raw,” totally misleading consumers. For more details, here is one article, among the countless others out there, from the Alliance for Natural Health.

Vegan health & nutrition is my passion so I do research daily to discover and share information like this. Most Americans don’t have the time and energy to spend discovering things like this for themselves. Most people make decisions based on the food labels, assuming that the nutrition facts, regulated by the government, are truthful. This is why I am so up in arms over this topic… its impossible for people to make an informed decision when the information is wrong!

Changing focus, you may be asking, are raw almonds THAT much better for you than roasted ones? After doing the research, I choose, for the most part, to eat organic raw nuts and seeds over roasted ones. This article gives a good run down of the reasons behind my decision. Another good tip is to keep them in the refrigerator instead of the pantry to keep them from going bad (& prevent bacteria growth).

The good news is that it’s  still possible to purchase truly raw, unpasteurized, organic almonds and almond butter. I often purchase mine from Wilderness Poets. They import their almonds from Italy. They also carry a great Nut Milk Making Kit that makes it fairly simple and easy to make your own almond milk.

 

So… You Are Invited To A BBQ. Now What?!

Independence Day is just the kick-off to a BBQ-filled summer for many of us… which to me, means a super fun times with my friends and loved ones!

Have you ever experienced something like this? As you are being invited to a BBQ, the invitation ends with an uncomfortable, “Oh yeah, but you don’t eat meat!” Sometimes it even seems like the person feels badly about having even asked! But here’s the deal… A BBQ does not have to be synonymous with a meat-eating extravaganza! I look at BBQs as an opportunity to spend time with friends, meet new people, play volleyball (there is often a beach v-ball court around here in South Beach), have a few drinks, a lot of laughs, and share my vegan lifestyle simply by being present and being me!

So when I am invited to a BBQ, I get the details first because for me, a pig skewered over a fire pit is simply beyond the boundaries of what I am able to handle! (But for some of you who are vegan strictly for the health benefits, this might not be a problem!) Then, if I accept the invitation, I of course offer to bring some food, which is never turned down. And the friend usually realizes at that point that they are also planning on cooking up some veggies anyway!

black-bean-burgers-grillIf you enjoy preparing food, then please, have fun making your home-made vegan patties, potato salad, coleslaw, and whatever else you are craving! There are tons of awesome recipes out there to try!

Since I am not much of a cook however, I usually grab veggie burgers and vegan hot dogs to bring, as well as baby carrots, celery (I chop ahead of time) and hummus. My top vegan picks to bring  are:

– Amy’s California & Bistro Burgers (Great tasting, satisfying to meat-eaters and vegans alike, plus the California one is gluten free!
– Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle (love adding avocado to this one)
– Lightlife Jumbo Smart Dogs (Perfect hot dog sub and Gluten Free as well!)
– Vegenaise, Low Fat  (Texture and taste are both fantastic.)
– Daiya Cheese Slices (cheddar, provolone, and swiss options.)

Believe it or not both the faux meats and the veggies and hummus are almost always a hit at the party!

Now relax & have a blast!!!

And if anyone has links to recipes you have tried and love, feel free to post a comment to share!

“How do you get protein if you are vegan???”

protein-cartoonIf you haven’t gotten it already, be prepared to hear the phrase, “How do you get your protein?” a million and one times when you inform someone that you are vegan or mostly vegan. It’s a very reasonable question, and its helpful to have an “elevator pitch” of sorts prepared in response.

So check this out… I’m in the line at Whole Foods, and the lady behind me asks, “Wow, I want to know what you do to have legs like that!” (yes, this type of scenario happens quite frequently!) I reply, “Well thank you! Besides kickboxing & the variety of workouts I do, I am vegan and eat a plant-based diet which keeps me in the best possible shape!”

The lady immediately asks, “But you have great muscle definition… how do you get your protein?” To which I answer, “Its simple! I get plenty of the top quality protein found in vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, peas, beans, quinoa, and other whole grains. By cutting out animal products that are so harmful to our health (not to mention animals, and environment), I am full of energy and look and feel better than ever!”

Nuts-MuscleThe lady looks intrigued and a bit confused so I say, “Have you ever seen Forks Over Knives?”

“No, what’s that?”

“A must-see documentary with all the health facts on the subject from a scientific standpoint. Its fascinating! ForksOverKnives.com, definitely check it out!” And then I hand her my card so she can  find the information on my website, but unless you are coaching people on nutrition, you probably will skip that part 😉

Anyway, its really important to help spread the word about the benefits of a plant-based diet. Its a good deed to say the least, and necessary to spread awareness and actually ultimately saving people’s lives! Depending on where you live, you may find that using the term, “plant-based diet,” engages people more than “vegan.” In many areas of the country, many people don’t even know what vegan means, and if they do, they may attribute it to weirdo, hippie, liberal, granola-head-type people whom turn them off.

If you don’t feel like you are eating a wide enough variety of plant foods to meet your needs, you can always supplement with a vegan protein powder. I recommend pea & rice protein as opposed to soy. The research is somewhat mixed, but I think its best to keep your soy intake moderate, especially for men, I like to save it for dishes with tofu, meat substitutes, and edamame (I go to sushi restaurants often and always get the edamame appetizer.)

SunWarriorProtein

I discovered Sun Warrior brand protein many years ago and have always found it to be one of my top picks. I think it has the best texture (not gritty at all) and taste of any proteins I’ve tried. They have their Classic Protein, which is made from brown rice, and a Blended Protein. I much prefer the regular over the blended, but everyone has different options about these things.

Sun Warrior brand products

Sun Warrior Classic Protein, Vanilla/Chocolate

Vega, is another company that makes a great vegan protein. Vegan Sport Performance Blend has a mix of plant protein (soy free), and also tastes good. This protein powder also contains a branched chain amino acid complex, L-Glutamine, and a digestive enzyme blend which are great additions to a shake! This probably accounts for the higher price. Vega, like Sun Warrior, is also a trusted, quality company.

VegaProtein

Vega Sport Performance Protein

Both of these powders can be blended or shaken with water or a milk substitute (almond, coconut, rice, hemp, etc.) and can be used alone as a quick protein blast, or added to a shake or smoothie.

Here are two more “Sexy Fit Vegan™ Approved” proteins to give you more options!

Raw Protein Garden of lifePlant Fusion Protein

Make sure to sign up for the FREE Sexy Fit Vegan newsletter to receive more of my helpful tips, product reviews, & much more!

 

Faux Leather Hits the Runway!

Talk about sexy fit vegan style! Faux leather has hit the both the runway and the red carpet this year. Celebrities such as Anne Hathoway asport their fashion forward cruelty-free boots and dresses, while top designers like Tom Ford and Stella McCarney are rolling out new pieces to add to their lines.

"Les Miserables" New York Premiere

 

Check out the article in New York Magazine, “Pleather Is Back, But Don’t Call it Vegan Leather,” for all the hot details

 

 

Documentary Review: Forks Over Knives

Vegan Documentary Forks Over Knives

Forks Over Knives is my favorite documentary about the effects of adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet to date. The ForksOverKnivesscientific data presented throughout the film is staggering. I felt like every minute of the film held my attention. And the quality of the directing and videography was top notch.

Forks Over Knives co-stars Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study, a book that presents the results of the most comprehensive study on nutrition ever performed. Dr. Esselstyn, the other costar, brought his experience and expertise from the clinical setting. But both discovered the same thing… Eating a whole foods, plant based diet, free from all animal products and byproducts, can prevent and even cure the diseases that kill millions of people every year, including heart disease and cancer.

After viewing the documentary, I was able to convince my mother and my newly declared boyfriend both to watch it within the next 24 hours. I want to share with you the text conversation (yes, I am a big texter, I admit) I had with my boyfriend, Rob, because maybe it will help you convince your loved ones to watch!:

Ella: “Please promise me you will watch this documentary… Forks Over Knives… It’s all about real scientific research on our nutrition, particularly as related to disease including cancer, prevention, and cures. Cuz I care about you. Please promise! I bought it on itunes.”

Rob (12 hours after texting me to say he promised): I watched that movie and I’m totally switching to eating Vegan! You’d have to be half [stupid] to see that n continue to eat meat n crap, I’m just going to need your help 🙂

It was music to my ears!! There is nothing I want more than to help him, and every single person in the world who wants to adopt a vegan diet!!! So download or order the DVD Forks Over Knives now, and lets get this revolution rockin’!

 

Open Face Avocado Arugula Sandwich

A super easy, nutritious, and satisfying meal! (Warning: Not to be eaten on or before a date!)

Ingredients:

GlutenFreeBread

  • Gluten-Free Bread (I recommend Udi’s brand), toasted
  • Avocado, sliced
  • Roasted Garlic in Olive Oil, sliced
  • Organic Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil
  • Fresh Organic Arugula

Directions:

On top of the piece of toasted bread, place the avocado, garlic, and sun dried tomatoes. Top with a handful of arugula and enjoy!