Trying Tea Delivery with Daintea

Tea has always been a big part of my life because I strongly dislike the taste of coffee. For all the other tea-drinking-coffee-despisers like me you should give a tea order service a try.

Working 9-5 I don't always have time to make the perfect batch of refreshing tea to kick off my morning or lunch break. So when I found Daintea, by 19 year old creator Iman Berri, I knew I was in.

After having a health crisis, I was also more than willing to use a delivery service. Having that option to get a box of new exciting teas and put them in my fridge felt like getting a new present while I was on bed-rest. I kid you not, the package arriving was the most exciting part of my day along with trying and smelling each flavor.

I must admit, I was initially attracted to Daintea because of the adorable bottles and tea color scheme. The few pictures I did see on the instagram @dainteateas and on dainteabeverages.com, were too cute to pass up. I like simple and nostalgic bottles because they remind me of my grandma's house. She has so many knicknacks in her kitchen and the glass bottles were an extra plus for reduced environmental impact.

I wanted to know the story behind Daintea and reached out to Iman to know where the idea came from. At only 19 years old she's already tapped into a new market and appealed to people in need of refreshing teas.

"I would make my own teas as a remedy for my dehydration and awakening during study sessions for college and that’s where I felt like I could do something with my homemade tea recipes." ~Iman

I tried the 8.5 ounce variety pack and my absolute favorites were chamomile and peppermint. The flavors were light enough to be refreshing, but strong enough to give you a memorable taste.

Tea Flavors:

Black Tea

Chamomile Tea

Ginger Lea

Lavender Tea

Peppermint Tea

Rosemary Tea

"College was getting tough and as I am now taking a break from college, this is my focus. I plan to pursue my company all the way even with obstacles coming my way. My goal is to become a successful entrepreneur as I am doing this completely on my own with very little support. I want to open up my own Daintea shop as the company grows and this is my lifetime goal."~Iman

With pricing from $23.99-32.99 for a six pack of teas (16 oz or 8.5 oz). They currently only ship on the West Coast, but I trust and believe they'll expand in the future!

I can't stress how great it was to walk up to my door with a tea package waiting for me. It felt like one of those box subscription services, but even better. I recommend giving a tea delivery service like Daintea a try especially if you're a tea enthusiast. Plus, you get to keep the cool bottles and use them again and support and inspiring girl who I believe will make waves in the tea world.

You can follow the daintea on instagram @dainteateas

Free your artistic mind with Anna Bergland

Anna Bergland just recently finished her freshmen year at Chapman University in Orange, CA. She has a certain fire in her eyes when you talk with her about her environmental passions and art. I'm particularly intrigued by her because I had the opportunity to be her resident advisor in my last year at Chapman. After stumbling across her artwork, I knew I had to pick her brain about her funky designs and I immediately became a fan. Here's a little bit of our conversation infused with pages of her work.

What inspired you to start creating art?

I get my creative genes from my mom. She has a bachelor’s degree in art history and has been a corporate art consultant for over 30 years now. She helps make the ideas in my head come alive, and I am extremely grateful for that. I think the reason I lean towards watercolor so much is because it resonates with my personality. I’ve never been much of a perfectionist. I accept my mistakes (because I make a lot of them) and I work with them in both art and life.

I also love variety. I want to see different colors, textures, patterns in my art. I want to talk to different people, live in different places, see different things everyday. I show that passion onto my paper when I paint. And when you add music into the mix, I can sit for hours and lose myself in the colors.

What environmental awareness issues are you passionate about?

The ocean has always been an important part of my life. Growing up in Southern California, it was part of our culture. I was into surfing for bit, then snorkeling, and then I got into stand up paddle boarding. I think overall, snorkeling had the greatest impact on me.

What is so interesting about our impact on the environment is that every problem is connected to the next. If you positively affect one aspect in the field, it will most likely benefit other environmental issues with it.

Although I’m very passionate about ocean and marine conservation, I think that helping one issue can help the next. Climate change, overpopulation, biodiversity loss, and wildlife conservation is just as important to me as ocean acidification, plastic pollution, overfishing, and environmental degradation.

What advice do you have for someone looking to become more eco-friendly?

We have so much control over this planet’s future. We control it each day, every time we make a decision. What we choose to put on our plate, where we choose to buy our clothing from, how we choose get to school and work. My advice is to keep in mind who you give your money to. Which industries are open to sharing their environmental cost? Which ones aren’t? Buy food at your local farmers market, you’re not only supporting local farmers but these foods have a much smaller carbon footprint because of their little travel. Buy clothes at your local thrift shop. You know the rest…Recycle, compost, reusable water bottles… I think this is where the change begins. In the little choices we make every day.

What are your favorite places to be in nature?

Anywhere I can get to! I’ve been on many great hikes in the Orange County area and I’m only 15 minutes away from some really amazing beaches, like Laguna. Big Sur will always have a special place in my heart. I’ve visited three times and each time takes my breath away. All my favorite memories have been from camping trips.

What's the most important lesson you've learned this year?

This is a tough one to answer because this school year has definitely been the biggest transition I’ve ever gone through, so I’ve learned a lot through the process. Leaving everything you’ve ever known for a completely new adventure forces you to focus on the person you’ve become, while trying to dip your toes into this new life. Fortunately, the people I’ve met at this school have been incredible and without even knowing it, they’ve helped ease this transition. Something I need to remind myself every day is that I am right where I need to be in this journey. It’s so easy to think of what could have been or what should be, especially in college where we’re given so many opportunities to choose from. This year has been a learning process for me and that’s completely okay. In fact, I’m grateful to be able to learn in such a supportive community.

"Look up and down. Believe in the unknown for it is there. Live in many places. Live with flowers and music, books, paintings and sculpture. Keep a record of your time, learn to read well learn to listen and speak well. Know your country, know your world, know your history, know yourself, take care of yourself physically and mentally. You owe it to yourself. Be good to those around you, and do all of these things with great passion. Give all that you can. Remember, life is short and death is long. - Fritz Scholder"

Social Justice, Identity & Meditation with Young Yogi Mel

Melina Oliver, Young Yogi Mel, has a truly inspirational story. She grew up on the west Side of St. Louis, but traveled to a private school outside of her normal element growing up. Her upbringing led her on a path of cultural discovery and self-realization later in life. Now she's dedicate her life to helping others find how to be happy and gain peace through Yoga & Meditation. She's fighting against failing school systems by providing hope to students with The Young Yogi Youth Project. She refuses to give up on youth that have faced systematic injustice and provides them with coping and relaxation tools.

Author: Leah Thomas

Q: Who are you?

Growing up, I always walked a precarious line. I lived in the city, where I was saturated in noise and culture but everyday,  my mom sent me off to a private school thirty minutes away from my home. I sat next to "Becky with the good hair" everyday in class, and I got asked to dances by kids whose rooms were bigger than my kitchen.

I never felt like I had found my niche. At school, I was always a little too brown or maybe a little too culturally confused to ever really feel I belonged. At home, in my hood, I was way too whitewashed to be cool. So, when I went off to college at Mizzou,

"I vowed to decide who I was for myself. "

The only thing I knew about myself then was that I loved to write, so all the trials and tribulations down in journals. They all read like bad telenovela scripts. Interesting, but always a tad melodramatic. I was constantly searching to build an identity on the outside and it showed. After a serious, "WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE"-style breakdown, I prayed for guidance. The next morning, I woke up and googled: "How to Be Happy". A self-help site popped up. It suggested a number of things--therapy, charity work, a nap-- but one, in particular, caught my eye: Yoga and Meditation. That night, I watched a youtube home video. I wobbled through the complex moves, sweated throw the flows, and eventual fell into a fitful attempt at meditation at the end. When I finally opened my eyes, I realized I'd had my first taste of peace in years. I've been teaching and sharing the practice of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness ever since.

Q: What Drives You? 

What drives my passion is understanding. The world is noisy and complex and crazy, and I am all about finding stillness and peace. I believe that when we find that place inside of ourselves that allows us to be true and authentic, we can allow others to do the same. Peace truly comes from within and starts with you first.

Q: What is the Young Yogi Youth Project? 

While constantly learning these tough lessons myself, I am attempting to help others. I started a program at Vashon High School in St. Louis city called Young Yogi Youth Project. Young Yogi Youth Project seeks to teach teens kindness, healthy coping mechanisms, self-discipline, and respect for themselves and others. Through the practice of yoga, meditation, and mindful activities, we encourage young people to commit themselves to their own self-betterment and to be kind to others while they work towards theirs. It's been going six months strong, meets 2-3 times a week, and works with 50+ students.

I love my city and where I'm from, but my mom sent me out to private school because she knew that St. Louis City Public Schools often times fall short. There's a lack of funding, lack of resources, and low faculty retention rates. Not to mention, that St. Louis is a city with extremely high poverty and crime rates. I know high school is hard enough without these issues, and I wanted to offer students in the city positive outlets for stress, anxiety, and personal troubles. I'm also working on a lifestyle blog for the modern/urban yogi that premiered January 2nd. It will feature updates on my program, reviews, blog posts, event listing, yoga videos, and yoga/meditation tips.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?

Feminism takes nothing from men, but takes the limit off women. It demands mutual respect, freedom of movement, and opportunity for both sexes. It encourages sisterhood over separation and opens doors that were once wrongfully shut. It reveals all the ways sexism has hurt not only women, but society, as a whole and attempts to put a stop to that. It respects the intersectionality and differences among all people. I can't tell you how grateful I am for all the women, past and present, who have broken down barriers. I'm thankful there are women "audacious" enough to believe that they can do any and everything. To me, feminism is essential and takes care of all of us. It just makes sense.

Keep up with Young Yogi Mel on her social media

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/youngyogimel/

https://www.instagram.com/youngyogimel/

 Are you a Green Girl? Share your story and email greengirlfood@gmail.com

Bentonite clay and Essential Oil Face Mask

Author: Abby Dunham

A problem I see arising for myself as a vegan and conscious consumer is the lack of affordable, effective skin care products. There has to be a better way without putting sulfates, salicylic acid, and other harmful chemicals on our bodies while not breaking the bank. That's why I decided to try my hand at making some of my own products.

This process took a little research and a lot of love for essential oils. There is nothing the right oil can't fix. I researched and got a few ingredients at my local Sprouts (you can find them at health food stores and online for cheaper probably) but in the long run these few items will be reused for multiple purposes and keep you from spending your money on other products because you can just remake your home remedy version.

Most of the ingredients are not mandatory and can be switched around and substituted so no need to fret if you don't get all the ingredients. You just need the base and anything else is customizable to your financial needs and skin type.

You will need:

3 tbs bentonite clay

(Liquid or powder will both work fine depending on the consistency you desire. If you can't get powder just mix the liquid version with a bit of baking soda for a paste consistency.)

Optional:

• 1 tsp almond oil

• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (water can be substituted)

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 5-10 drops of essential oil (I recommend sage, lavender, and Frankincense)

You really only need bentonite clay, maybe baking soda, and water for the most basic form of this recipe and I'd encourage you to try that if you can't get the other ingredients. Adding a bit of water to your mixture if you want it to be less clumpy or thick will help smooth it out.

Directions:

Apply the mask with clean hands or a clean foundation brush. Leave on for 15-20 minutes or until you try to eat a snack and it crumbles off your face. Been there. After taking off your mask with warm water. I recommend wetting your face first and using circular motions to exfoliate with the clay/baking soda then gently wiping it off with a wet wash cloth.

This will usually leave some residue or mask left behind so just to be sure wash your face with warm water after and pat dry. Or rinse it off in the shower. I always moisturize after I do a mask and you can use whatever lotion, cream, or oil you would like. I massage 3-4 drops of rosehip oil into my face after my mask (and every morning after cleansing I freaking love this stuff!)

If you don't have a great understanding of the uses and benefits of the optional ingredients here is a simple guide to the ones I included today:

Bentonite clay: detoxifying

Baking soda: removes acne scars and dark marks, exfoliates, brightens, fights acne

Almond oil: smooths skin, clarifies, relieves eczema and psoriasis

Lemon: reduces scarring, fights acne, brightens

Lavender: good for oily/combo skin, reduces aging, fights acne, reduces dark spots

Frankincense: astringent(protects skin), reduces appearance of pores, fights acne, reduces aging

Sage: antioxidant, kills bacteria and microbes, reduces redness, reduces dark spots

Rosehip oil: moisturizing but not oily, reduces dark circles and scars, reduces signs of aging, tightens

Taking some time for yourself to make a face mask and relax while letting it naturally rejuvenate your skin is a perfect way to practice self care, not purchase overpriced products, and heal skin naturally.

If this recipe didn't work for you or you'd like to try more home made remedies and products I suggest Ella Gale on YouTube, but there are many resources out there as well.

You can follow Green Girl Abby on her vegan journey here and on her blog launching soon.

Jet setting & Veganism with Elsa Kurosu

Elsa is a 21 year old college senior finishing up school in Orange County, CA. After spending 12 years growing up in Tokyo, Japan she grew a passion for fashion, food, travel and city living. Feeling motivated by environmental impact and health Elsa made the decision to begin transitioning to veganism. 

Q: What does women empowerment mean to you?

To me this means supporting, encouraging, and motivating the women around you. It means that all women are strong and independent and we have the ability to give each other the support and confidence to pursue our passions and goals.

There’s nothing better than that feeling of accomplishing something or stepping out of your comfort zone and having people around you be proud and supportive. It is also so empowering to see women rise above all the stereotypes and preconceptions of what women really can do.

Q: What drives your passion? 

The constant inspiration I find that sparks my creativity is really what drives my passion. I find inspiration through photos, art, media, and most of all, the people around me. Over these past years in college I have realized how much my peers have impacted me. I have always been surrounded by highly driven and hard-working people, who inspire and motivate me to do my best and believe in myself that I can do anything as long as I set my mind to it.

A few things that I am extremely passionate about include fashion, animals, and environmental ethics.

Q: Why go plant based?

After traveling abroad and taking a class on the water crisis, and following bloggers and youtubers who shared their plant-based diets on social media, I was highly influenced to being my plant based diet lifestyle transition.

I first started my plant-based diet for health reasons and to try to lose weight from eating like a typical unhealthy college student, but later educated myself on all the ethical issues surrounding the meat industry. After being on a plant-based diet for about 8 months now, I definitely see and feel a difference in my body and how I feel after I eat.

Some may think that the plant-based diet sounds boring and not satiating, but I think the complete opposite! There are so many options and delicious food creations that I have discovered through this lifestyle, and it is all so exciting and fulfilling.

Q: How do you live sustainably? 

I always had a passion for environmental issues and I try my best to live sustainably by reusing and recycling. When I go to the supermarket I always take my own bags, and when possible, I choose to walk or take my bicycle to my destination.

I also like to support local businesses, and often make a trip to the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings for some fresh and local fruit, vegetables, and flowers.

Q: What's your favorite song? 

I listen to pretty much everything, but my all-time favorite songs are high energy and uplifting ones like I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston, and ABC by The Jackson 5.

Check out one of Elsa's favorite recipes here and keep up with her journey at the below links: http://www.theendlessmeal.com/zucchini-pasta-with-kale-pesto-pistachios-and-pomegranate/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/elsakurosu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elsakurosu

Linkedin:www.linkedin.com/in/elsakurosu

Are you a Green Girl or know someone who is? Contact as and share your story here

Happiness, Nature, and Eats with Molly Peach

“An amazing thing happens when you get honest with yourself and start doing what you love, what makes you happy. You stop wishing for the weekend. You stop merely looking forward to special events. You begin to live in each moment and you start feeling like a human being. You just ride the wave that is life, with this feeling of contentment and joy. You move more fluidly, steadily, calm, and grateful. A veil is lifted, and a whole new perspective is born.” - Unknown

Molly Peach is a graphic designer from Nashville Tennessee currently based in Orange, California. Her instagram feed @m0llypeach is filled with travel memories, scenic views, delicious foods, and smiling faces. I've had the great blessing to be Molly's roommate my sophomore year in college and she continues to inspire me every day. There's a lot people can learn from her, from her living freely attitude to the delicious foods she eats.

Q: What makes you a Green Girl? 

I actually didn’t consider how my actions affected the environment until moving out west. It seems there’s a lot more of an emphasis placed on reducing your carbon footprint, which I appreciate. I try to consider making small changes such as shopping locally at farmer’s markets, forgoing the plastic bags when buying produce, asking for a digital receipt instead of printed, taking shorter showers, participating in beach cleanups, and other small things throughout my day. I think everyone underestimates the power of small, easy changes we can make to our daily routines.

Q: What drives your passion? 

 I love visiting national parks (Big Sur has been my favorite so far). I also love design and anything creative in general, but experiencing new things with people I love is my number one source of happiness. I focus a lot of my time taking road trips, photographing friends and scenery, cooking, being outside, and, of course, designing. As of now, I’m just trying to get through senior year. I plan on spending some time visiting Hawaii and road tripping through the west this summer before taking on a 9-5.

Q: What's your favorite plant-based treat?

I make these vegan banana blender muffins from Chocolate Covered Katie (

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.

com/2016/04/04/flourless-

blender-muffins-banana-vegan/

)

and add vegan chocolate chips. Bake them for just 15 minutes and refrigerate them overnight, and you will be in love. All of my friends are obsessed with these too. They have more of a dense, fudge consistency that is makes you feel like you’re eating a rich dessert. 

Q: What's your Favorite Easy Recipe?

I love making toast and putting as many toppings on it as I want. It’s super simple but delicious. Lee Tilghman (

www.leefromamerica.com

) is an amazing food blogger and recipe creator in LA and makes BEAUTIFUL meals using toast. She makes one with caramelized bananas and peanut butter that I’m a big fan of. I don’t have exact measurements, but follow these steps:

1. Slice bananas and place in a pan with a little coconut oil. Cover in cinnamon and a bit of maple syrup. 

2. Cook bananas for a few minutes until they are browned but not burnt.

3. Toast some bread (gf, vegan, whatever you’re feelin’) and top with peanut butter and caramelized bananas. 

I also like to top them with different combos like peppers and avocado, figs and almond milk yogurt, etc. 

What does women empowerment mean to you? 

Women empowerment is summed up really well by this poem by Rupi Kaur. It’s called

what’s the greatest lesson a woman should learn? 

She says,

“that since day one. she’s already had everything

she needs within herself. it’s the world that

convinced her she did not.”

You can follow Molly and her adventures at the links below:

SOCIAL MEDIA:

www.mollypeach.com

@m0llypeach on Instagram

Blueberry Lemon Cakes with Vegan, What?

Our first featured Green Girl is Stephanie from Vegan, What? Stephanie is a vegan foodie that loves to create healthy and delicious alternatives to her favorite desserts. Her passion for showing others how to make yummy vegan treats is showcased through her colorful photographs and recipes on her website and Instagram page.

"I feel like food should nourish you and that includes cake! Whenever I want a treat, I try my best to make a healthier version. These Blueberry Lemon Cakes are refreshing, tasty, refined sugar & gluten free. Hope you enjoy!" ~Stephanie

Blueberry Lemon Cakes

Serves 3 mini Cakes

Crust 1/2 cup gluten-free oats 1/2 cup dried mulberries 1/2 cup dates 1/2 large lemon (Zest)

Blueberry Layer 1/2 cup raw cashews (soaked overnight) 1 cup frozen blueberries

Lemon Layer 1/2 cup raw cashews (soaked overnight) 2 Frozen Bananas 1/2 large lemon (Zest) 1 large lemon (Juice) 1 tbsp maple or brown rice syrup

Instructions 1. Take all of your crust ingredients and blend in a food processor until you get a crumbly mixture. Form into your mini springform cake pans. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour, or until firm. Rinse your food processor. 2. Drain your soaked cashews. Add your cashews and blueberries to your food processor and blend until creamy. Adding a few splashes of water if necessary. Add your middle layer to your cake pan and freeze for 1-2 hours. 3. Blend all of your lemon layer ingredients in your food processor until creamy. Add your lemon mixture to your cake pans and place them back into your freezer for another 30 minutes to an hour. 4. Topped with blueberries and lemon zest.

You can follow Stephanie and her plant-based journey at the links below:

Website: www.veganwhat.org

Instagram: @veganwhat

Facebook: facebook.com/veganwhat

Snapchat: veganwhat

Living Wholly with Wholebeeing

Being a Green Girl means more than eating a diet filled with superfoods. Beth of Wholebeeing is a student at IIN who believes you can only achieve true health through living wholly. Embracing the moment and living positively are just as important as eating a balanced diet. She would know as she backpacked through Europe and Asia to gain a fresh perspective on the world.

Her positive attitude and warm vibes flood her instagram page and luckily I was able to chat to to learn about her journey, tips, and share her antioxidant smoothie recipe with you!

Q: Tell me about yourself? 

Corporate America dropout gone entrepreneur, I’m studying at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to become a certified Health Coach and pursue my true passion for achieving health and wellness the natural way. As we know, most dreams need funding, so I’m a LuLaRoe Consultant while attending IIN, which allows me to make women feel beautiful through simply comfortable, funky, and unique clothing every single day. As I always say, life is too short to be boring, and it’s most definitely too short to wear boring clothes.

Q: What drives your passion? 

Helping people and being the best I can be in order to do so. I once read an article that suggested one should ask themselves

"‘What am I willing to struggle for?’ instead of ‘What do I want?’"

When it comes to my passion for health and wellness, I am willing to put all I’ve got, regardless of the struggles it may take to get there, into helping people live a longer, healthier life with the people they care for most. 

Q: Have you experimented with a plant based diet? 

I most definitely have. I always played sports growing up, but in college, I become deeply interested in nutrition and played around with different lifestyles to see what worked best for my body. Currently, I eat chicken, fish and eggs, but I try to stay away from dairy. I don’t eat red meat or turkey. This lifestyle seems to work best for me!

Q:What tips do you have for someone who is trying to reduce meat in their diet? 

My advice is to do an elimination reset so you can remove meat from your diet entirely, replace it with other proteins, and then reintroduce it after 30-days to see how it affects your body. Do you have more energy when consuming meat or less? Do you sleep better or worse? It’s important to listen to your body and develop a balanced lifestyle that works for you.

Q: What's your go-to smoothie? 

Q: What makes you a "Green Girl" ie. how do you try to live sustainably? 

When it comes to living sustainably, the easiest step is RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE. Many people think they don’t have much to recycle throughout the week, so they just don’t do it. This is simply not true!

Recycle for one week straight and you’ll be surprised just how much you accumulate.

In addition to recycling religiously, I eat fresh, organic and mainly local produce and meats and do my best to conserve water and electricity. 

Q: What's your favorite plant-based treat? 

This is easy. My favorite plant-based treat is almond butter BY FAR. Real talk: I could eat spoonful after spoonful of almond butter and never get sick of it. Justin’s is my favorite brand! I’ve featured it here in my favorite sweet tooth cure consisting of SoDelicious vanilla dairy-free coconut milk yogurt, Purely Elizabeth pumpkin fig ancient grain granola, Justins maple almond butter, fresh raspberries, and cinnamon.

Q: What does women empowerment mean to you? 

To me, women empowerment means fighting against the odds; the stereotypes we are faced with every single day. I am in no way an extreme feminist, but I do believe that as women, we are often made to feel as though we have a lot to prove. If you want to be truly empowered as a woman, set goals, work hard to achieve those goals no matter what it takes, and most important of all, do it for YOU.

Q: What's your favorite song? 

Crash Into Me by Dave Mathews Band and Let It Be by the Beatles are tied. I could listen to these songs over and over again and they often DJ my morning yoga flow.

Follow wholebeeing on instagram to stay up to date on her journey

Instagram: @wholebeeing

https://www.instagram.com/wholebeeing/

500 Instagram Follower Giveaway

We just reached 500 followers on the IG: @greengirlfood and are celebrating with a giveaway!

All you need to do is

1. Follow @GreenGirlFood on instagram
2. Like the giveaway photo on the page
3. Leave a comment tagging a friend!

The items included in the bundle are:

Raw extra virgin Coconut Oil Mykind Organics Collagen Builder Ancestral Roots SEED + coconut mix Mykind Organics Vitamin C spray Garden of life Raw and Organic Chocolate plant based protein

A winner will be randomly selected Sunday 1/22 ☀️❤

Add Some Pep In Your Step with Lizzy Peper

Lizzy Peper is the creator of blog Pep In Your Step. She fills her blog with advice on how to live a plant based and balanced life. There's a lot you can learn from her personal journey of becoming a Green Girl. 

Q: What's your background and what are you up to now?  

My name is Lizzy and I am a recent college graduate. I just started my first full time marketing job at Charm City Run, a family of running stores local to the Baltimore area. I am now transitioning from competitive collegiate running to recreational running. Launching a blog has been a dream of mine for a few years; I finally took the plunge and started Pep In Your Step this past fall. I love writing about plant-based eating, running, exercise tips and balanced wellness.

Q: What drives your passion? 

After graduating lot of what I do requires personal determination. I’m not running because I have a coach yelling my splits every lap, I’m not writing articles because they’re due for an assignment and I’m not eating my veggies because my Mom is making me. I’m running, running my blog and cooking because I love to do each thing on my own. I know that all of these activities make me happy so I pursue them. I know to feel my best each day, I need to run a little, work on Pep In My Step some and eat a lot of delicious, fresh, plant-based foods. I do what I do because I do it allows the best parts of me to come through.

Lizzy taking an 80's themed barre class with her mom

Q: What tips do you have for someone who is trying to reduce meat in their diet? 

I think plant-based eating has a lot to do with mindset. If you can stop believing that a meal requires a slab of meat and a glass of milk to be complete, you can begin to discover the variety of plant-based options. You also don’t need to start all at once. Like I mentioned before, I started my limiting my daily meat consumption. Although I wasn’t a huge meat eater to begin with, I challenged myself to prepare meals that didn’t include meat as the protein. This got me thinking more plant-based. You don’t have to suddenly declare yourself vegan one day to make a difference. Instead, focus on small changes that you can make. Follow meatless Monday, pack lunches with plant protein or order vegan or vegetarian when you eat out with friends. If you want more ideas on small steps you can take at every meal to make a difference, you can read the blog article I wrote here.

Avocado Toast Pinwheel "One of my favorite meals is avocado toast with a twist. I like adding black beans for some plant-based protein and sauerkraut for gut health" ~Lizzy

Q: What makes you a Green Girl? 

I truly believe that the most powerful action I can take to help our environment is to eat plant-based. Our current meat and dairy industry practices are not sustainable and this is why I don’t want to support and contribute to them. Your dollar is your vote and by purchasing dairy and meat products we create demand. I want to vote for fresh, sustainable foods that take less land, water and corn to produce instead of products that are unsustainable.

In addition, one of my goals for 2017 is to take other sustainable actions in my daily life such as using reusable shopping bags, bringing a coffee mug to work and selling and buying clothes second hand. I want everything I do to support my environmental rationale for eating plant-based.

 Q: What's your favorite plant-based treat? 

One of my favorite things to make is banana nice cream; you can eat it for breakfast, a snack or dessert! Plus, it’s super simple to make. The only ingredients you need are frozen bananas, coconut water and any other fresh or frozen fruit you want as a flavor. My favorite add-in fruits for flavors are mango and berries. After you blend everything until it reaches an ice cream-like consistency, you can have fun topping your treat with mix-ins like fresh fruit, unsweetened coconut flakes and dairy-free chocolate chips. One of my go-to combinations is a tropical pineapple banana nice cream that is perfect for a post-workout treat. You can check out my recipe here.

Q: What does women empowerment mean to you? 

I think being an empowered woman means that you know you have the strength and spirit to do conquer the world. Anything you feel passionate about can be your reality. You can succeed at any job, take on any adventure and form any relationship that you desire if you build the skills you need. As women, we have the power to achieve any dreams we set.

Q: What's your favorite book? 

When I was younger, I used to gobble up every book in sight. Now, unfortunately I don’t usually take the time to slow down and read a physical book. However, I just got a few new non-fiction and fiction reads that I hope to work into my weekly schedule. The most recent book I read was Where’d You Go Bernadette and it was great! I always enjoy immersing myself in stories that keep you madly flipping pages to find out what happens. If you feel the same, I would definitely recommend this book.

Follow Lizzy and her Plant-Based Journey on her social media sites.

Social Media

Blog – Pep In Your Step

Instagram - @peppysteps

Twitter: @Ellpeps

Banana, Coconut, and almond Oats

Oats are great because you can add so many different things to it. It's really hard to go wrong with a bowl of oats. This mix was particularly delicious and jam packed with nutrients.

Ingredients

• Old Fashion 100% Natural Whole Grain Oats

• Agave sweetener

• 1/2 banana

• Handful of blueberries

• Vanilla almond milk

• Coconut chips

• Chia Seeds

• Powdered chocolate peanut butter

You don't have to align the ingredients in symmetrical rows, but I think it adds some fun to the cooking process. You can substitute the powdered peanut butter powder for any of your favorite protein powders (or a row of peanut butter).

This particular bowl tasted absolutely delicious because I warmed up 1/2 cup of oats with 1 cup of vanilla almond milk in the microwave.

I usually use water and add touch a vanilla milk at the end, but oh my when these boil in almond milk they have such a fresh taste.

Share your favorite oatmeal mix in the comments!

How to be a Green Girl in 2017

Welcome to 2017. For a while it seemed like 2016 would never end. But at last, it's over and it's time for bigger and better things.

So what can you do and where can we start to ensure a productive year? Here are some tips to be your best self in 2017:

Reduce Your Environmental Footprint

• If you're reducing your meat intake start out by Meatless Mondays and go from there. You don't have to drop meat cold turkey if you're transitioning, but try to go without sometimes. Meat production produces a lot of CO2 and CH4 (methane) both of which are green house gases.

• Reduce, reuse, recycle! I've heard the 3 R's enough times to have them forever embedded in my mind. No matter how old they get, they're still as useful as ever. Try to live by these words in 2017. If you don't already, start a recycling pile. If you don't want to pay for paper recycling take it to work or school every day.

• Check out your local thrift store for some reusable finds. First of all Goodwill ALWAYS has target overstock if you're grossed out by reusing clothes. A lot of the items there went straight from target to Goodwill. Go on a thrift store hunt once a month to see how much you can save by reusing.

Meal Prep

• The year of meal prepping! Invest in good Tupperware or a meal packaging system. My Planet Box Rover is in route and I can't wait to meal prep with it. Meal prepping will ultimately save you time every day. You won't have to ask "what am I going to eat" every single meal of the day. This will also ensure you keep to a diet you like.

Get a Planner

• In 2016 my NY resolution was in fact to buy a planner and become more organized. I can say honestly that having a planner changed my life - completely. I felt like I was able to do more things because I could always check and get a visual of my day. Give a planner a try and see how much it can improve your day to day life. You'll be less forgetful and feel more productive when you get to cross tasks off that you complete.

Spread Love

• A lot went down in 2016 that caused pain, hurt, and anger. For me it was important to find an outlet to relieve that pain when what was happening on the news became too much. Sometimes I'd lay in bed for hours other times I'd just cry on my bathroom floor when atrocity became too much. What helped me the most was spreading love and investing in new people. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and put love into your friendships, family, and blossoming relationships. There's something particularly healing about connecting through love.

Uplift other Women

• I mean this is a site about women empowerment so I had to mention this! In 2017 women are still fighting for equal rights and opportunity. So, what can you do to help? It can be as little as a compliment or investing in women owned businesses. Also learn about being an ally to marginalized communities and intersectional feminism.

Listen to more Fleetwood Mac

• There's something so special about Stevie Nicks voice and it should continue on into 2017.

I hope you all had an amazing New Year and 2017 will be groovy.

~Leah T

Mission

Over the years I've followed a lot of sustainable food and plant based bloggers. Many have these beautiful recipes with acai bowls arranged impeccably. To be completely honest, when I first started out my smoothies were mediocre in taste. I also needed time to familiarize myself with the latest superfoods and ingredients.

It took me a while to get things just right and I'm still learning every day. Looking at other instagram accounts can be intimidating for those of us just starting out, but I can promise you those bloggers started out just like you!

I created this blog to provide a comfortable space to learn about plant based eating without the pressure to strive for perfection. We're all on our own journey and can support each other throughout the process.

Feminism and women empowerment are also crucial to Green Girl Food's mission. That's why we partner with other bloggers in the space to share insight, wisdom, and delicious vegan recipes with our readers.

GGF officially launches in January 2017.

Much love,

Leah T