The past few weeks I have been seeing a lot about Oatly...and none of it has been good. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There have been articles with titles like " Oatly: the New Coke" and "Some Plant based eaters are boycotting Oatly" ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Today I wanted to break talk about some of these headlines and offer up my two cents. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So here's a little backstory - Oatly is a Swedish brand that was founded in the 1990's due to a large part of Swedish population unable to drink milk, or not wanting to support the dairy industry. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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In 2012 Oatly hired a new CEO who re-branded the milk alternative and brought it over to the US. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The re-branding placed a HEAVY focus on both health and the environment - two of the main issues they are under fire for right now! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So Here are some things that stuck out to me

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1. Oatly adds Rapeseed Oil to their product ( AKA Canola) - we know this is highly inflammatory and linked to Alzheimer's, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more. ⠀ After a little digging and flipping over multiple brands of Oat Milk in the grocery store - added oil was in every single store bought Oat Milk I saw. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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2. There is evidence that how they create the oatmilk and the enzyme they are adding to break down the fiber turns to maltose - which effects the blood sugar levels in the same or worse ways as HFCS. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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3. Oatly is not organic, and oats are DIRTY! A study done on oats found 7 different pesticides on them ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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4. About 10% of Oatly was recently purchased by a company that has a major impact on the Amazon Deforestation- Oatly's response was "we're convinced that if we’re to progress in the shift towards plant-based we have to involve governments and private equity firms, and steer more global capital into green investments." ⠀

So now we have almond milk that is unsafe for the bees, and Oat milk that is unsafe for us - what do we do?

We make our own.

Oatmilk in my opinion is the easiest nut milk to make. There is no soaking required and the straining process is light on the muscles!

Some things to note before buying oats:

I always look for certified GF, Organic oats (see point 3!). Oats are naturally gluten free but can become contaminated during the processing part. Bob’s Red Mill has certified GF and Organic oats.

How to make Oat Milk

1 Cup GF Organic Oats

4 Cups Filtered Water

High Speed Blender

Cheese Cloth or Nut Milk Bag

Put oats and water in blender and blend on medium - high speed for 30- 40 seconds. This is important because over blending will result in a gummy milk

Pour the milk into a nut milk bag, and squeeze gently to release all the water.

Store in a glass jar in the fridge for about 1 week.

Easy!

I’m going to keep this short and sweet since we have shared a TON of content so far this month!

I had always wanted to start my own garden but the fear always held me back. In the city I bought potted herbs, but they always died . I assumed I had a black thumb to be honest, so I didn’t have much hope for this.

I was lounging by the pool, and I saw our old fire pit that was heading for the trash (after watching hours of DIY youtube videos) and thought I could turn it into a mini raised garden.

Here’s what I did in photos!

Clean it Out and Drilled Holes for Drainage

Drainage is one of the most important things when it comes to gardening. You don’t want to drown the plants and rot out. I took a drill and added some holes to the bottom. It was pretty easy.

Added burlap to keep the soil from falling through the hole

I didn’t want the soil to fall out of the drainage holes so I got burlap ( you could also get plastic sheet - but I wanted to keep this plastic free) the burlap is a natural material and will biodegrade. I will keep an eye on it and possible have to change it in the next year or so.

Mixed the soil with coconut fiber

I had bought some coconut fiber for an aerogarden project I never ended up doing and found it in with some other gardening things. I researched that this could help provide nutrients to the soil so I added it in. Not sure if this is helping but it definitely didnt hurt the plants!

moved it to a sunny location and added my herbs

I had picked up some pre-grown organic herbs at Whole Foods since I was impatient to wait for seedlings. Normally these die within a few days so it was a bit risky to plant them. They have been in their new home for weeks now and are growing beautifully!

Photo: June 17

Photo: July 1

Added 1 extra basil plant but everything else is original

Let's talk about take out.

I have to admit that sometimes after a long week of prep I have 0 energy to cook for myself. I recently got stuck in a bit of a rut where I was eating out more often than not.

Then one night I ate at a nearby Indian restaurant and I woke up the next day with an extremely swollen eye lid. I was in full on panic mode, but started fasting, and lowering the inflammation and within a few days the swelling had subsided. At this point I didn't know what was causing the swelling, I wasn't able to pinpoint anything specific ( I had eaten at this Indian spot before)

Then a few weeks later, my mom and I ordered take out from that restaurant. 10 minutes after I finished my dinner I felt the hives forming.

It was undeniable that whatever was being used in this food was not agreeing with my body.

I called the restaurant a few days later to do a bit of detective work and found that they use canola and soybean oil (both inflammatory, deodorized with hexane, and oils that easily go rancid). I started calling a few nearby restaurants to get an idea of what they are cooking with - and every one of them said canola or soybean.

These oils are CHEAP!

When I am shopping for my oils they are often 3x cheaper than the option I am selecting. When you order takeout you have very little control over the ingredients that are being used.

Here's what is very common among restaurants:

Oil

Most restaurants are using cheap oils, the kind that go rancid and create inflammation in the body, These vegetable oils are highly processed with chemicals.

At Hungry Hippie we use clean and healthy oils, and we use them properly. We understand smoke points, and do not use low heat oils (olive oil) above their smoke point.

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Produce

Most restaurants are choosing conventional grown produce and not even paying attention to the clean 15/dirty dozen list. This leads to exposure to herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, and genetically modified ingredients.

At Hungry Hippie we choose organic and local whenever possible, almost 95% of the meal plan is organic! If we are not using organic produce we are making sure we reference the Dirty Dozen/Clean 15

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Added Sugar

In restaurants most salad dressings, soups, and batters contain sugar, and large amounts of it! This is due to our increasing desire for sweet and less of a palette for bitter foods.

At Hungry Hippie we don’t use any refined sugar, and the natural sugars we use are used sparingly. The benefits of natural sugars is that they are not chemically processed ( table sugar is bleached!)!

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Cross Contamination

Working in the city I would pop into a deli for breakfast - one morning I noticed that they were cooking the meat and the vegetables on the same pan without washing. This is true about gluten, nuts, and other common allergies.

At Hungry Hippie if we have a client with a special diet or food allergy we make sure to clean and disinfect all tools before proceeding. We take cross contamination very seriously

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HFCS/Corn Syrup

Most restaurants are not making sauces, condiments, and dressings from scratch. These products notoriously contain HFCS and/or Corn Syrup. HFCS is a processed ingredient made that hits the blood stream and the liver ( may be the cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).

At Hungry Hippie we NEVER include HFCS or Corn Syrup in any of our meals or products. We spend our time to make sauces and condiments from scratch!

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Another point with Take out is that it can be really expensive, even though they are not using high quality ingredients. At The Hungry Hippie we have been able to take organic produce, high quality oils, and make delicious and affordable meals.

If you have so much on your plate that you are finding it hard to cook for yourself, or if you never have time to pack lunches or make breakfast, than I want to help.

As we are inundated with FLU, COVID scares, and global issues like diabetes and obesity it is more important than ever to put our nutrition first.

Reducing inflammation, and supporting our immune system with food is one of our first lines of defense!

Two of the things that have made the most benefits to my health have been meal prepping and building my pantry.

Considering I have you covered in the meal prepping department today I want to focus on the 5 things that I always have in my pantry. 

Oats

Oats are super versatile, they are a great source of fiber, can be added to a smoothie, made into a treat (overnight oats!), A quick breakfast or the base of gf bread. 

Quinoa /Beans/Legumes

I always keep a grain and some beans on hand (quinoa and lentils are usually it). Quinoa is usually my go to because it is a complete protein (meaning it has all of the essential amino acids) and takes just 15 minutes to prepare (it also freezes well!) I add quinoa to salads, tacos, oats, or mix with veggies for a quick dinner I can throw together in just a few minutes. In addition I keep dry beans and lentils on hand as well to add variety and protein to any dish!

Coconut Milk

The kind in the can to be exact. I love it because it is shelf stable, and it is the base of my vegan creamer, but can easily be turned into coconut whip cream, or pudding. It can also mix with some spices and a nut butter and become a delicious sauce for quinoa and veggies

Frozen Greens + Fruits

I love to have frozen veggies on hand. They are much healthier than canned (they are frozen when their nutrients are at their peak), and have a longer shelf life than fresh (I always have fresh greens as well!) They can be made into a meal or mixed into a smoothie for an extra dose of your daily greens

Nut butter

Nut butters are high in protein so I always have some at home. I usually rotate my options and mix them up so I don't get bored of the tastes! The only requirements is that they can only have 1 (maybe 2 if it's salt!) Ingredients and that's the nut! I add nut butters into my oats or smoothies,  make sauces, or enjoy with an apple as a snack.

As you can see all of these ingredients are so versatile, can work together for so many different combinations and options,  are high in plant based proteins,healthy fats, and a range of vitamins and minerals. 

They can also be added to the hungry hippie meals to meet your individual needs each week. If you had a longer day and need more protein a quick boil or quinoa will work well with almost all of our dishes + you can never go wrong with adding more greens!

Have you ever had an “Aha” moment that you wanted to share with the world? It happened to me last week. I was sitting in my backyard working on my Spirit Daughter Full Moon book and one of the questions really hit home. It was about what you do to elevate yourself and your vibration and she asked specifically about the type of foods you eat.

I had just started my descent on a family situation that had me stressed out and not taking care of myself.

I realized I was gravitating towards pizza, and pasta, and bagels. Dead foods. I paused for a second and thought how interesting that was. I was eating these low vibration foods, and I couldn’t shake the feelings of sadness and oncoming depression.

It started to make sense to me and I decided that as tired as I was the next few days I was going to cook for myself and see how I felt.

If you don’t believe food has an effect on your energy I am begging you to give this a try next time you are sad, or feeling down. I’m not saying this is a CURE for depression - I am saying that by changing what I was eating helped me to get out of that state enough to start adding other things back into my routine.

If you’re looking to eat to raise your vibration here are a few guidelines

• Choose Organic and Local whenever possible - these foods are known to have higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals

• Focus on eating real whole foods! Fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds!

• Eat raw vegetables or cook below 70 degrees - I added lots of salads to my meals

• Eliminate soda, cereals, breads, and other packaged foods from your diet

• Drink water - add in some lemon or trace minerals to raise the vibration

• Practice gratitude before eating your meals

• Prepare your foods (plate your meals if you order Hungry Hippie! ) yourself. Connect to your food on an energetic level.

• Remove alcohol from the diet until your vibrating at higher frequency

• Avoid refined oil and sugars.

• Replace coffee with herbal teas

These tips are not meant to replace your doctors advice or prescriptions. These are not meant to be taken as treatment for depression or other illnesses. If you are under a doctors care please consult your doctor about any or all of the above tips before beginning.

Being plant based for decades had me hyper focused on protein. I’ve tried everything from tofu and tempeh to hemp seeds and spirulina to make sure I’m hitting my RDI.

Spirulina might be one of my favorite protein sources for sure! Not only is it a fun color, and can naturally dye foods a pretty aqua hue, it has amazing health benefits.

What is Spirulina

Spirulina is a form of algae that grows in mineral rich and alkaline waters. It is one of the oldest life forms on Earth and dates back to the Aztecs and African natives as their daily food source.

The Low Down on the Protein

Dried spirulina contains about 60 - 70% protein by weight, making it the food source with the highest protein content gram for gram of any food on the planet. It is also a complete protein - meaning it contains all 8 essential amino acids - plus an additional 10 amino acids. Amino Acids are important for overall health and well-being. The functions of AA are:

• Cell Metabolism

• Detoxing

• Tissue Regeneration and Repair

• Influences our nervous system, cardiovascular system, hormones, and muscles

other health benefits

In addition to the incredible protein benefits Spirulina is a homerun food for other reasons including:

• Being rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, E, and K

• Contains enzymes, phytonutrients and cofactors that our body needs to absorb and use the vitamins above

• It contains phycocyanin an antioxidant that gives spirulina it’s blue color and has been proven to have the ability to trigger stem cell production. Stem Cells have the ability to become any cell that the body needs

• Helps to aid weight loss and lower body fat

• High in nutrients like Zinc, Managanese, EFA (Essential Fatty Acids) and GLA (Gamma Linoleic Acid)

• Contains anti-viral, anti-cancer, and anti-aging properties

how to buy spirulina

There are lots of products out there so it may be hard to know which one is the best quality product. Here are some tips to help you buy a high quality product.

• Look for ethically sourced spirulina - the package should read any of these : Spirulina, Spirulina Platensis, Arthrospira Platensis

• If you are buying tablets they should contain 98% Spirulina, Powder should be 100%

• Color - dark green and matte - there should not be a lot of dust

• There should be a slight smell - if the odor is too strong it has oxidized

how to use spirulina

• Smoothies will help to mask the flavor - try mixing with nut milk, 1/2 a banana, blueberries, and almond butter

• Add a 1/4 tsp to warm water with lemon

• Add to Guacamole

• Make into Protein Bites

• Salad dressing - lemon/olive oil/salt/ pepper

• Add to grains like rice, quinoa, millet

• Add to pesto

Photo Cred: AREKULIASZ / GETTY IMAGES

With Summer quickly approaching I find myself swapping out my heavier breakfasts for a lighter on the go options. One of them being smoothies.

The thing I love about smoothies is that they are portable, can be prepped in advance, and eaten on the go. While I was living and working in NYC this was my go to almost every morning from spring to fall. Over the years I’ve learned that they can be really healthy, or a health trap.

Today I want to break down building a better smoothie, from protein options to add on’s - you’re going to feel empowered to build your own breakfast by the end of this post!

Let’s start where all smoothies do - The Base.

My go to base options are - water, nutmilk, or coconut water.

A few things to keep in mind here:

1. Nut and Oat milks are obviously higher in fat and carbohydrates so you will want to balance the add on’s if you’re choosing these as your base.

2. To avoid using more than 1 serving of nutmilk measure out your liquid before pouring it into your blender/nutribullet

PRO TIP: Water alone can make for a very thin smoothie - I mix water with nut milk at a 3:1 ratio for a thicker smoothie without loading up my macros.

The Power Of Protein

Next up is the reason I drink smoothies - an extra hit of protein to start my day.

Before I share my top picks for protein I want to give you a run down of what to avoid when choosing a protein!

• Soy Isolates - I avoid soy protein powders because I don’t think they are the best resource. If you are okay with soy look for organic and clean options of soy protein. Soy Protein Isolates are not clean sources of soy. It is extracted from soy beans using a chemical process and lots of chemical residue is left behind.

• Avoid Natural Flavors - don’t let the word natural fool you, these flavors are just as chemically processed as their counterparts - I avoid this at all costs!

• Lecithin, Gums and Fillers - these are often the source of inflammation, and leaky gut syndrome - you may have to do some digging but there are protein options available that do not use these to bulk up their products!

• Sweeteners and Sugars - I like to be in control of the sweetness level of my smoothies and the source of it. Look for a sugar free version so you have a clean slate to start building your perfect smoothie!

Here are brands that making protein powders that don’t include any of the above ingredients! I have not taste tested all of them so look for samples sizes if you are not sure!

• Garden of Life - RAW PROTEIN + GREENS

• Four Sigmatic - Mushroom Protein - use code kaleismykarma to save 10%

• Nutiva Hemp Protein

PRO TIP: Don’t assume that all flavors or styles of proteins from the brands above are clean - each product is different so make sure to check ingredients before buying!

Add On’s

This is where you make or break your smoothie! It’s important to think about balance when it comes to add on’s. If you used nut milk as your base, don’t add nut butter at this point.

You also want to focus on building a smoothie that has Protein - Fiber- Fat -Greens

Things to keep in mind :

• If using nutmilk avoid adding nuts or nutbutter at this step

• If using coconut water don’t add additional fruit at this step to keep your sugar levels low and prevent an insulin spike

• Limit fruit to 1 -2 servings per smoothie

Here area few of my favorite add on ingredients

• Fruit

  • Berries

  • 1/2 Banana

  • Mango

  • Pineapple

• Greens

  • Kale and Spinach are neutral flavors that are easily masked

• Almond Butter

• Spirulina

• Anima Mundi Collagen Booster

• Chia Seeds

• Hemp Seeds

• Coconut Flakes

• Avocado

• Cacao

• Cinnamon

PRO TIP: Ice will water your smoothie down - freeze your fruit and buy frozen kale or spinach and it will make it cold while thickening!

You don’t need a ton of fancy ingredients for your morning smoothie- instead focus on clean ingredients while you build your pantry.

I very rarely mix up my smoothies and usually on throw in 3 ingredients but I make sure they are organic, clean, and filling me up with protein, fiber, and healthy fats!

A few weeks ago we celebrated Winter Solstice. This is the darkest and longest night of the year. I celebrated this with great friends at Remedy 11 where we shared a vegetarian potluck, vegan cheese, and this Winter Sangria Mock-tail.

A few years ago I gave up drinking, and as much as it doesn’t bother me to be the only one drinking seltzer when I go out, sometimes I want something a little more fun! This mocktail is a little bit spicy and a little bit sweet. Make it at the beginning of the week and enjoy for around 3-4 days. The longer the juices sit the more flavor you’ll get!

Winter sangria mocktail

What you need

• A large pitcher

• Ginger Seltzer

• 3-4 Cinnamon Sticks

• 1/2 Pear

• 1/2 Apple

• 1 - 1 1/2 Cups Cranberries

directions

• Wash all of your produce

• Cut the pear and apple into 1/2” cubes

• Place all ingredients into the large pitcher and let sit in the fridge for 2-3 hours before serving

When I was 10 years old I decided that I wasn’t going to eat meat anymore. My parents had NO CLUE how to feed a 10 year old vegetarian in the 90’s. Plant based lifestyles were not nearly as common as they are now and I survived on lots of carbs.

In the last 20 years I have tried multiple times to move into a vegan diet and had lots of unsuccessful attempts.

The first time I tried it I reverted back to eating bagels and tofu cream cheese for breakfast, the second time I got through the mid afternoon slump by picking on snacks from the vending machine, and then there was that time where I had no energy and felt pretty crappy.

I wanted to share some of the things I picked up along my plant based journey with you so you can have the most successful veganuary.

Keep your protein sources clean.

it might be really tempting to cook up vegan hot dogs, and soy nuggets every night of the week, but it’s really important to keep your protein sources clean. There is a lot of controversial information about the effects of soy on the body, and my personal experience with processed soy was not great. I had major digestive issues, and acne. I haven’t deleted all soy from my diet though. I do indulge once a month on some high quality tempeh.

Some of my favorite protein sources are: lentils, beans, nuts and seeds, nutritional yeast, quinoa, and ORGANIC NON-GMO Tempeh.

meal prep or sign up for meal delivery.

If you’re new to the plant based lifestyle and are jumping into Veganuary it is going to be overwhelming. Trying to keep meals interesting, eating a variety of vegetables, and figuring out protein is a lot of work. Preparing each week by creating a “menu” and meal planning, or signing up for a meal delivery like The Hungry Hippie can take a lot of the pressure off.

If you’re in the NY/NJ area and want to sign up for The Hungry Hippie I am offering a special offer for veganuary. To find out more shoot us an email here!

If you’re not local and want to plan your own menu some of my favorite plant based blogs are Deliciously Ella, Oh She Glows, and My New Roots.

GRab a buddy and do it together.

When I went vegetarian at 10, my best friend did it with me. She’s still plant based and we have so much fun sharing meals, trying out vegan restaurants, and feel so much better when we are at parties together. If you can find a veganuary buddy in your existing circle that would be great, but don’t worry if none of your friends want to take the leap with you. Joining a FB community of local vegans is a great way to feel like you are part of a group! They share tons of tips on local restaurants, new product finds, and all kinds of support.

remember this is a process.

Like I shared earlier, going vegan is a challenge. You will probably eat something that had eggs in it at least once during the process. You might not have realized that something was sweetened with honey, or an additive was sourced from an animal. It’s OKAY. Things like this happen all of the time. Be gracious with yourself during this process and use each step of the way as a learning experience. Remember that the most important part of this experience is that you are feeling healthy, happy, and energized. As long as those are the results you are winning.

Get familiar with vegan brands.

The dozens of options at the grocery store is already overwhelming without having to sort through which ones are vegan or not. Getting familiar with brands and products before your head to the aisles will make shopping a breeze. You can even shop from the comfort of your own home with Thrive Market. Thrive has made it super easy to find vegan certified snacks and pantry staples with their filter features. It’s something I truly love and utilize weekly.

Some of my favorite brands that carry vegan products are: Simple Mills, Siete, Food for Live, Hilary’s

keep a stocked pantry.

Putting together a vegan meal doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated. I keep my freezer stocked with vegetables and soup, and my fridge with greens, fruits, and nut butters. I always keep a pantry stocked with lentils, quinoa, and beans that are ready to go in minutes. When you are stuck just try different combinations of veggies with a grain, a protein, and a sauce, or make a big salad. A full pantry will help make things easier on you!

be careful of the processed carbs.

Like I shared above when I first went vegan I was all about the carbs. Pasta and bagels every day were bad habits, and nutrient void foods. Relying heavily or solely on these foods can cause energy crashes, digestive issues, bloating, and even acne. When you’re building your plate fill it with almost all vegetables, a clean protein source, and a healthy fat.

An example of a well balanced meal: Roasted Vegetables with Quinoa and Avocado

Supplement as needed.

I am a believer of the food first mentality ,but there are some vitamins that are hard and/or impossible to get on a vegan diet. There are a few supplements that I take daily and they may be things you want to look into.

Vitamin B12 - this is a vitamin that is not available through whole plant based foods. Meaning it is the one vitamin that you cannot get through a vegan diet. Without B12 you can run the risk of anemia, and damage to your nervous system. You can get some of the daily requirement through B12 fortified foods, or you can supplement. The B12 I use is from Garden of Life which is a spray and the B12 is in the form of methylcobalmin the most bio available form of B12 there is.

Algae Omega - You need omega’s for heart, brain, and immunity. You can get a variety of Omega’s from hemp but I love the added insurance of a supplement, plus my skin glows when I’m taking my Algae Omega. My favorite brand is Nordic Naturals.

Vitamin D - One of the most beneficial ways of getting Vitamin D is through sunlight, so when the fall and winter roll around I start upping my Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for energy, and is needed to absorb calcium.

One of the things that I do to ensure that I am getting a baseline for all of these vitamins is take Ritual daily. Ritual is a smart vitamin that looks at the most common vitamins women are deficient in, so unlike most multi’s they only have a few key ingredients. They also look at how our body absorbs these vitamins and group them together inside the capsules. They are subscription based and come out to just $1 a day!

If you have any questions about the Hungry Hippie services, veganuary, or anything mentioned in the above feel free to reach out!

I was sitting in a coffeeshop a few days ago when I overheard these two girls talking about how they had to go get coffee somewhere else because that place had weird coffee with mushrooms in it. I started laughing to myself and thought " they are seriously missing out!"

Then a few days later I had another conversation with someone who had heard that coffee was bad for you and wanted to know if that was true.

I wanted to share my thoughts since there is so many opinions about this bean.

First I want to say that if you react to negatively to coffee (jittery feeling, acid reflux, etc.) then you should listen to your body/doctor regardless of what I say below. Wellness is NOT a one size fits all model and it is important to do what feels right to you.

Coffee prepared correctly can be a source of antioxidants, help prevent the 2 diabetes, be a natural source for energy, and prevent liver disease.

For me there are a few non-negotiables when it comes to coffee

• It must be organic. Coffee is one of the highest sprayed crops- this means most conventional coffee is loaded with pesticides. Pesticides can have a number of ill effects on the body including overworked liver (hello acne!), leaky gut (bloat and upset belly anyone?), and inability to lose weight (pesticides are stored in our fat cells!).

• If I don’t know the source of the (nut)milk, I drink it black. Coffee often gets a bad rep for being loaded with sugar, but it’s all in the way we prepare it. Coffee creamers (and even plain nut milk) normally has a 10 ingredient list and sugar is almost always a part of it. Being mindful of the milk you’re choosing will help keep a coffee a healthy habit instead of turning it into a sugary treat.

Keeping Coffee a Healthy Habit: My Tips

• Buy organic coffee - My go to is Four Sigmatic. They pair organic, fair trade coffee with medicinal mushrooms. We are all really busy so when I find a product that does double health duty I am all about it! Four Sigmatic uses medicinal mushrooms like lions mane (brain health), cordyceps (natural energy source), chaga (immune booster + skin health savior) in conjunction with their coffee. They have instant packs (I love these when I’m traveling) and ground coffee. The mushrooms help to avoid caffeine crashes, withdrawal headaches, and all of the unpleasant side effects you might experience. I hate drinking coffee that isn’t laced with ‘shrooms. There’s a 10% savings code at the end of the article!

• Skip the store bought creamers. Like I said up top creamers are usually loaded with nasties that would make drinking coffee a disaster. Before I started making creamer for Hungry Hippie I was using Nutpods. They are not the worst option, but they do use fillers and gums. You can also purchase my homemade creamer here.

• I recently started paying attention to how the way I prepared my coffee made me feel and I started gravitating towards the French Press. I felt like it was less acidic, richer, and I didn’t have the added expense of organic unbleached paper filters ( the standard coffee filters are bleach!) I bought this one from Amazon and it came with a wooden spoon, a sponge, and extra filters!

• I limit my coffee intake to the mornings only since caffeine has a 6 hour half life (if you have a cup of Joe at 8AM you’ll still have 50% of that caffeine in you at 2PM, 25% at 8PM).

• I make sure to keep my water intake up since caffeine is a natural diuretic and may cause loss of fluids. I shoot for 2 full Swell bottles per day in addition to tea.

• I add BulletProof Brain Octane to my coffee. This is a higher power MCT ( Medium Chain Triglyceride) Oil that metabolizes into ketone (fat) energy. When you burn through fat energy you have longer periods of stamina without a crash. The opposite is true for sugar. This also helps reduce cravings, and increase your fat burn.

• I reach for natural sweeteners instead of packets or sugar or even Stevia. Cinnamon and Vanilla Extract are on the top of my list, but also reach for Cacao and Pumpkin Spice too!

So in my opinion I think in moderation, coffee does have a place for those who enjoy it, can tolerate it, and don’t have any adverse effects from it.

If you have any questions about coffee, vegan food, or wellness in general feel free to reach out!

P.S. That code to save on Four Sigmatic is kaleismykarma