So, this has been popping up a lot lately. One of the articles can be found here.

I find it a bit mind blowing that people will go to this extreme measure to lose weight and/or reverse other health problems when you can simply change the way you eat.  There are medical studies that show a plant based diet can reverse diabetes along with many other health issues. But many rather have their stomach stapled than say no to their food.  One of the only things we have control over in this life is what we put in our mouths.

Of course the media grabs this and runs with it. So all of these people think they have a fix all when the truth is you can return back to the way you were. Once your stomach heals you can stretch it back out again. So how many will end up right back where they were since they didn't actually change their diet?

What are your thoughts on this? For it or against it or indifferent?
I want to thank the members who have been contributing to the group photos. It all looks yummy! If any of you would like permission to blog for posting recipes or anything vegan related, please let me know. I will definitely let you contribute in any way! :)





I just threw this together tonight and OH MAI! It was delicious! I thought I would share the recipe. This is completely vegan. I will list ingredients I used but also other vegan alternatives.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Spelt Flour
1 1/4 Cup Organic Sugar
1/2 Cup Cacao Powder (you can also use cocoa powder, dutch processed if possible)
1 tbsp Instant Espresso or Coffee of Your Choice
1 tbsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 cup Softened Coconut Oil (Sunflower Oil also works well)
1/2 cup Almond Milk (any non-dairy milk will work)
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
2 Cups of Freshly Brewed HOT Coffee


Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350F (180 C) and lightly oil baking dish. I used a standard round cake pan.

Mix together your flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar and 1/4 cup of the cacao, and the instant coffee, baking powder and salt. Add the oil, milk and vanilla and mix until all the flour is absorbed. Spread the mixture evenly into the baking dish and set aside.

Combine the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup cacao powder in a small bowl. Then sprinkle over the mixture in your cake pan over the batter.

Carefully pour the hot coffee over the top. Do not mix this in with the batter!  Just pour over and place in the oven.

Bake for about 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Be sure you are poking it into the cake bit and not the pudding bit)

Remove from oven and serve.

This is also delicious with dairy-free icecream on top!
Kale belongs to the same plant family as the sulphur-containing vegetables broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and collard greens. Kale is great for protecting your health, providing you with a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and preventing cancer.

The ten to fifteen organosulphur compounds these superfood vegetables contain have been proven to be highly effective against many cancers, including stomach cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

When these vegetables are chopped or chewed, enzymes in the liver are triggered to produce enzymes that disable cancer-causing agents in the body.  Studies have shown that animals that ate these sulphuric compounds found in brussels sprouts, cabbage, and collard greens had tumors that shrunk in size.

In addition to the powerful organosulphurs that help to safeguard against cancer, kale also protects the eyes with the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. These phytochemicals help protect the eyes against damage from the sun and ultraviolet light and prevent cataracts. One study actually showed that people who had a diet rich in carotenoids had up to a 50% less risk for cataracts.

Kale also ranks really high up there for its large amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, B6, manganese, calcium, copper, and potassium!

While one cup of kale only has 36 calories, it provides 192% of the daily value of vitamin A, and since this is a plant source of vitamin A, you cannot overdose on it.

That same cup of kale also provides almost 90% of your daily value of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a top free-radical scavenger, preventing damage inside and outside of the cells. Vitamin C helps to reduce damage from inflammation (one of the primary causes of heart disease and autoimmune diseases), help to oxidize cholesterol, fight infections, and strengthen and renew collagen in our skin for a healthy youthful appearance.

Manganese is a trace mineral that is important for the synthesis of fatty acids necessary for sex hormones and the nervous system.  It also helps to metabolize and utilize energy from protein and carbohydrates, making it the perfect fat-burning element.

The calcium in kale when combined with the vitamin A and the vitamin K2 in grass fed butter is highly utilized by the body and works to reverse osteoporosis and strengthen bones. It is one of the best ways to keep your bones and teeth strong and also keep your blood vessels clean.

Did you know that three servings of dark green leafy vegetables a day can slow mental decline that comes with age? Kale and other green leafy vegetables can slow this decline by a whopping 40%! This decrease has been compared to reversing age by about 5 years.  A great vegetable that makes you function as if you are 5 years younger-what could be better!

And there’s even more that kale is good for... kale contains a phytochemical called indole-3-carbinol (I3C), that actually lowers the liver’s  secretion of a chemical that normally transports LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) to tissues and blood vessels.  I3C has also been shown in studies to help fight the effects of xenoestrogens that make belly fat stubborn. Other cruciferous veggies can help fight abdominal fat too.

Kale is a dark, bluish-green leafy vegetable with curly leaves and firm stalks. Look for kale that is not limp or wilted.  For best taste, choose the kale with smaller leaves, since they have a milder taste.

Kale can be chopped up raw and added to salads in small amounts or sautéed lightly with olive oil, grass fed butter and a squeeze of lemon and garlic. Or try braising chopped kale with chopped tart apples. Drizzle with a little balsamic vinegar and serve with walnuts sprinkled on top.


If you are new to the veg lifestyle you may be a bit overwhelmed with all the options you never knew you had. If you have yet to discover kale you are definitely missing out! It is definitely yummy!

One of the best ways to eat Kale is raw. You will get the most out of the kale in a raw state. Once you cook the kale you do loose a lot of vitamins and nutrition. Kale is great as a salad garnished with veggies and topped with a healthy vegan dressing. You can also place kale in your juicer. I always add a bit into my daily juice. You don't get much but you don't need much.

One of my FAVORITE ways to do kale is to lightly cook it in a vegan butter spread. I leave it a bit crispy and then top it with Northern Beans. This makes a tasty and very healthy lunch or dinner side.

Leave us comments on the way you love your kale!

HailMerry.Com

I've been meaning to get a photo of their tarts and macaroons but honestly we usually eat them all on the way home! These are the yummiest treats ever! I usually purchase the lemon or lime tarts. I swear, they are a party in your mouth! The meyer lemon is definitely my favorite. Completely raw, vegan, goodness.

The ingredients are as follows: almond flour, organic raw blue agave, fresh lemon juice, organic cold pressed coconut oil, raw cashews, organic cold pressed coconut butter, organic palm sugar, organic shredded coconut, lemon juice powder, lemon zest, sea salt.

They also carry macaroons and grawnola. I have not tried the grawnola but the chocolate macaroons are like little bites of moist cake.

They are Dallas based so I am able to find them all over Dallas. If you aren't in Dallas, don't be discouraged they are on shelves in other states.

Unfortunately, you can not purchase individual products via the website. You have to find a location that carries it. You can find all of their locations on the website.
You can purchase gift packs of their treats and gear. To be honest, their treats that are available for purchase online are a bit high in price. They have a pack of twenty tarts for $125.00 however I could go to Natural Grocer and pick up twenty tarts for around $60.00.
I am going to guess that the prices vary from city to city. In Dallas you can find them for around $2.99 but they are Dallas based so that may be the reason.

The tarts also freeze well so you can stock up on them for later munching.

All and all I give these tasty treats three out of four stars.

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