 I'm a huge fan of Vegan Outdoor Adventures (VOA), owned by Jessica Ryle. If you aren't already following VOA, now's the time! She does all of the leg work so that you don’t have to spend forever searching for outdoor essentials that are vegan! She makes it easy for you to find everything to compliment your cruelty-free outdoor lifestyle, including: * Links to vegan outdoor equipment * Interviews with nature-loving vegans * Gear reviews * Forums I've been fortunate to write a couple of product reviews for VOA, including: My Love for Osprey Backpacks - GO VEGAN and Patagonia Layering System - Vegan Style. VOA recently launched the Seasonal Sample Box and it TRULY ROCKS! Jessica created this project to help others discover vegan outdoorsy snacks and products for their outdoor adventures. We all know how frustrating it can be searching for options, so having an expert do the research and personally test and approve everything is priceless! I just received the my Fall Box and WOW! This is such a brilliant way to be introduced to some great vegan products and snacks. The fall box included 7 vegan, cruelty-free & US made snacks and products:
Be sure to stay connected and sign up for the VOA Newsletter so you don't miss out on the upcoming Winter Sample Box! 
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Vegan! Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. - GoMacro I love coaching and writing about macrobiotics – It’s rewarding to see how something natural can bring such a positive energy to life. What exactly is macrobiotics? Simply put, macrobiotic eating includes seasonal foods cooked with respect to your own lifestyle and health condition. It’s about living more naturally, connected to nature.
I will be at the upcoming Boeing Environmental, Health, Safety and Wellness Fair in Seattle on September 23 providing education and health strategies around whole-food plant-based health and GoMacro is supporting me by providing a wealth of bars for Boeing employees to sample while learning more about plant-based health. 
Miss Bellevue Vegan Celebrates 6th Annual Hemp History Week : June 1-7, 2015.
The InterviewMBV: What are the goals for Hemp History Week in relation to growing awareness of the health benefits of hemp? HHW: Hemp History Week’s goal as a nation-wide education campaign that aims raise awareness about the benefits of hemp products—both environmental benefits of hemp products like soaps and clothing, as well as the abundant health and nutritional benefits. Hemp is an excellent plant-based source of protein, as well as essential fatty acids Omega 3 and Omega 6. We want conscious consumers to be aware that hemp is more than an industrial crop—that you can eat your hemp via hemp oil, hemp protein powder in smoothies, hemp yogurt, hemp drinks, hemp desserts, hemp milk, hemp cereals, even hemp tofu! MBV: How has the superfood market expanded with hemp? HHW: Hemp is one of the fastest growing categories in the natural grocery sector. Hemp foods have amazing health benefits as they contain the optimal levels of Omegas 3 and 6, and all 10 essential amino acids, which are crucial for healthy muscle and brain development. Because hemp is available in such a variety of ways, it has really exploded as a ‘superfood’ that can be used in a wide array of recipes, and also because more and more consumers are realizing the benefits of a plant-based diet. MBV: What's the easiest way to start including hemp seeds in someone’s daily diet? HHW: Sprinkle hemp seeds on everything! Adding hemp seeds to cereals and salads is a good way to start—but once you fall in love with the nutty, earthy flavor you’ll come up with creative ideas for your own hemp seed recipes! For example, we like to make a hemp pesto, with hemp seeds instead of pine nuts. MBV: What are the common misunderstandings consumers present? HHW: The most common misunderstanding that consumers have about hemp is that it is the same as marijuana. Both hemp and marijuana come from Cannabis sativa L., however hemp is a variety of cannabis that has been cultivated to have negligent THC content (less than 0.3% by dry weight) whereas marijuana has been cultivated to produce a much greater content of THC (upwards of 20%). Hemp foods, soaps and clothing cannot give a person the ‘high’ or therapeutic effects associated with marijuana. MBV: What are the differences between hemp and marijuana? HHW: Both hemp and marijuana come from the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa L., however hemp and marijuana are vastly different—both in appearance, as well as their uses and applications. Industrial hemp is the non-psychoactive, low-THC, oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis sativa. Hemp has absolutely no recreational drug value. Section 7606 of the Farm Bill defines industrial hemp as "the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis." Grown for fiber and oilseed, hemp is among the longest cultivated crops in human history; its early uses included papermaking from the fiber of the hemp stalk. Conversely, marijuana refers to the flowering tops of varieties of Cannabis sativa L. that are cultivated to yield high amounts of THC content, and are intended for medical and recreational drug use. MBV: How do you see hemp growing as a supplement and staple in the Omega Fatty Acid market? HHW: Hemp is a perfect food to demonstrate the fact that we can get our necessary nutrients, such as Omegas 3 and 6, from a healthful, whole-food approach to eating—rather than rely on supplement capsules to fill in the nutritional blanks left by a diet of processed foods, fast foods, etc. MBV: How can consumers help promote Hemp History Week? HHW: Everyone should visit the take action and events section of the Hemp History Week website to find and share local grassroots events to attend in your hometown. All sorts of exciting events—from hemp documentary film screenings, to special hemp menus as local restaurants, to hemp lobby days at your local state legislature—will be happening in all 50 states. We would also love to see your hemp food and recipe photos on Hemp History Week’s Facebook and our twitter, @HempHistoryWeek #hempspotting #veganuary2015 #30dayhempchallenge #bevegan … What was once thought of as a lifestyle designated for earth-loving hippies, veganism has hit the mainstream market in full force from doctor recommendations to pro athletes and celebrities touting the benefits. There is a wealth of education showing that a whole-food plant-based diet can help prevent heart disease and other illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, anxiety and even sexual dysfunction. A plant-based diet is rapidly growing within sport nutrition because it’s ability to improve athletic performance due to the nature of how easy plant foods are to digest and assimilate.
As a long time vegan, vegan athlete, animal rights activist and vegan coach, I’m thrilled to hear about Veganuary and their support of Veganism. I can't speak highly enough about the motivating community they have built bringing like minds together. They offer a wealth of education, support, tools and recipes in a really fun and motivating environment. They help anyone who has thought about trying vegan experience it with ease for the month of January, a time for resolutions and new beginnings. Join The 30-Day Hemp Challenge! I’m excited to announce my launch of The 30-Day Hemp Challenge. I have always loved hemp and encourage all of my clients to start eating hemp everyday. I strongly feel it’s by far the ultimate source of complete, powerful nutrition. My personal use of industrial hemp has allowed me to achieve a very healthy vegan lifestyle while improving my performance around my active lifestyle.
I decided to take my experience with passion and launch The 30-Day Hemp Challenge™ with a strong focus to drive the health benefits of hemp as a living movement. My goal with this challenge is to educate people and grow awareness of hemp’s remarkable health benefits. Learn more by visiting www.30dayhempseedchallenge.com Join the Living Movement & Get Your Hemp On! Take the pledge to practice healthy nutrition behavior changes by joining The 30-Day Hemp Challenge™. For one full month, you will be in a supportive environment that mentors you on how including hemp seeds and hemp oil in your daily diet can improve your health in many ways. You will have coaching support, leadership, motivation, tools and recipes to keep you on track! #30dayhempchallenge Hemp Out SUPPORTS BEVEGAN The 30-Day Hemp Challenge in full Response to Veganuary 2015! Veganism is 2015’s hottest diet craze | Metro News Move over Paleo, 5-2 and juice diets. You are SO 2014. There’s a new diet in town and it’s holding your turkey to ransom: Veganism. Ready to get your Hemp On? Join the movement that is sweeping across the nation! Learn more by visiting www.30dayhempseedchallenge.com  Ready or not, here I come! That’s the feeling I get as soon as I lace up my running shoes every morning. I’m geared up to take on the world. As a vegan athlete, avid runner and outdoor endurance junkie, I sweat. Which brings me to the reason I’m writing this article, have you ever heard of the Handana? After you read this, I assure you that you will want one! For anyone that is active and sweats, this is a must have. I took the Handana out for it’s first test on a 10-mile Run and was very impressed. One of my favorite quotes from Dr. Seuss is: “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” That’s what came to mind when I put on my Handana for this first run. Basically it’s built around the natural body behavior of removing sweat from our face and eyes when we are in the moment of our adventure. It’s designed to serve a similar purpose as wrapping a bandana around your hand to wipe sweat away from your eyes, neck and forehead. I have never thought that something so simple would be so incredible. I’ve been waiting for this my entire running career!
BEVEGAN® Nutrition TipsNutritionally, there are a few things to plan for before you head out the door and when you return home. Consider the following: 1. How you fuel yourself before & after your run 2. Timing of your nourishment 3. Eating the right types of essential nutrients
An easy way to consume protein after your run is in a liquid form like a smoothie. Refueling with liquids is great because it requires less digestive energy (energy you need for quicker recovery). Lastly, eat a larger meal about two hours after your run and be sure it is full of essential fatty acids, complex carbohydrates and complete proteins. This will gear up your body so it’s ready to give it everything you've got during your next run. Hydration Tips: After a tough and/or long workout, you should begin hydrating within the first 10-15 minutes after stopping. Even if it was cold or freezing outside, you still sweat a significant amount and need to replace fluid loss. Plain water is sufficient for shorter workouts but endurance drinks become more important as workouts get longer. Opt for healthy electrolyte solutions and drink around 16-20oz. Here are two to try at home: Simply Coconut
Disclaimer: I was provided a Handana to try out and review on my blog. I was not compensated for doing so. All opinions expressed are my own.
Who ya gonna call?Even after 30 years, Ghostbusters is still watched by generations old and young today. I thought it was a great opportunity to celebrate this forever loved film, as well as share some interesting facts about Twinkies, as we know they are far from healthy! Remembered for its witty one-liners. Some favorites include:
"Twinkies are brain food", spoken by Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters.The Twinkie was used by Egon in an analogy to explain to the rest of the Ghostbusters how extreme the current psychokinetic energy, or P.K.E., levels were during the first Gozer incident. Twinkie would represent a standard amount of P.K.E., the surge Egon was tracking would equate to a Twinkie that was thirty-five feet long and weighing approximately six hundred pounds.
With over 30 ingredients, many unpronounceable...Twinkies are far from brain food."33 grams of sugar and 9 grams of fat per serving, it'd be doltish to expect they'd provide any real nutritional benefit. But it does come as a surprise to any unsuspecting snacker that the little tubular treat would contain any animal derivative at all. A representative from Hostess confirmed with The Huffington Post that Twinkies are not a vegetarian food." Twinkies...What? Huh? WOW!
TIP for plant-based eating: READ THE LABELS Do a close-read on product ingredient lists, as foods like refried beans, potato chips and even orange juice contain animal products beyond milk and eggs. Sources: Huffington Post, WebMD Archive, Twinkie, Deconstructed-by Steven Ettlinger.
 Wake up. Be brave. Repeat.®This is my famous saying about life - everything in life as a matter of fact. It's simple, yet powerful when you learn how to live more like it. As a vegan runner for many years, I have learned a lot about life from lacing up my running shoes and hitting the dirt, pavement, or mountains. I run because it's a clear path to healing, clarity and peace. I run to explore. I run to breath the fresh, mountain air. I run because life becomes a little more vibrant and a little more carefree. Today, there seems to be more stress and pressure in our everyday lives. We have "more stuff", we "need" to be someone we are not, emails never end, social media is everywhere, and the small things in life that were once care-free are now becoming more like tasks. When we really look at ourselves, we are our own worst critic. We allow these outside distractions to be in control and the simple things that were enjoyed so freely become lost. Take some time to really think about your life and what matters most. Learn what makes you feel free and unstressed. Let go of being perfect - it's refreshing. Here are some powerful takeaways I've learn from running that will give you positive energy and guidance to live life more simply.
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” ~Henry David Thoreau Nutrition Tips to Kickstart a Healthier LifeStart paying more attention to what you are putting into your body. Take the time to plan ahead and build your meals around whole, plant-based foods that are minimally-processed and free of artificial ingredients, added sugars and common allergens. By taking these steps, your body can digest what you've eaten more efficiently and it can use the energy + nutrients it delivers faster and more successfully. This is called high, net-gain nutrition. Foods that are easy to digest and contain the greatest amount of each micronutrient per calorie. These foods now become functional tools to support your overall health and wellness. Start with a new routine in the morning - eat breakfast. Eating a plant-based, whole food, nutrient-dense breakfast is important for numerous reasons because it influences pretty much every dimension of our well-being during the course of a day. This includes how we perform physically and mentally. Breakfast immediately raises our body’s energy level and restores the blood glucose level to normal after an overnight fast. It also raises the muscle and liver glycogen stores. Eat something that includes protein, complex carbs and healthy fat. So many people run for their coffee cup, but this is actually detrimental since caffeine raises cortisol. Here are two nutrient-dense, plant-based power breakfasts that are easy to make. Enjoy! Coconut Hemp ToastCoconut Oil Hemp Seeds - 2 tablespoons Ezekiel Bread Cinnamon Stevia (optional)
 Hemp Chia OatmealHemp Seeds (1-2 tablespoons) Ground Chia Seeds (1-2 tablespoons) Coconut Oil (1-2 teaspoons) Organic, gluten free oats Cinnamon Stevia
 FYI NUTRITION STATS: Hemp Seeds: complete protein Chia Seeds: complete protein Cinnamon: helps regulate blood sugar naturally Coconut Oil: superfood with healthy, unique combination of fatty acids High Net-gain Nutrition: minimized stress, more energy and better quality of sleep. Cravings diminish as you are nourishing your body with what it naturally craves - nutrients. FYI RUNNING STAT: In a study first published in the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise journal, researchers demonstrated running could create a 37 percent reduction in anxiety as measured by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale. -"What If Everybody Ran? An Investigation into the Potential Impact of a National Running Movement"
Ever wonder why the majority of marathons are held in October and November? It’s the ideal weather for running. The colder the weather, the less heat stress on the body, which makes it significantly easier to run. As an avid runner, I look forward to bringing out my gear for cooler running for many reasons– from the picturesque beauty Mother Nature brings us to the numerous health benefits. Take advantage of running outside as much as possible this fall season - Lace up, put on your layers and hit the trail. Tips & motivators that will enhance your running in cooler temps
What does Miss Bellevue Vegan run with?Base layers (depend on temps, all can be stand-a-lone or used as layers):
According to studies, healthy families make family time for talking and listening, accepting differences, showing affection and encouragement, sharing chores and decision making, keeping in touch, and making time for each other. "Why Family Time is Important" Aha Now. Web.
It is time to bring the "family" back to the dinner table. Sharing dinner together gives everyone a sense of identity. It can help ease day-to-day conflicts, as well as establish traditions and memories that can last a lifetime. The benefits of eating together:
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Kristin WuhrmanOwner of BEVEGAN® Grassroots Health. Board Certified Holistic Health Coach. AKA Miss Bellevue Vegan. Plant-Based Health Consultant. Vegan Athlete. Outdoor Enthusiast. Outdoor Gear Reviewer. Author. Cotopaxi Local Ambassador. Animal Lover. Dreamer. Believer. Categories
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