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Here's to your health! This is a perfect recipe to bring in the new year. It's low calories, guilt free and appropriate for diabetics, and tastes amazing. It's the perfect combination of tart and sweet. I tried many combinations to get this recipe right, and this is the final product. So give it a try and please let me know what you think. Lemon Filling 1 cup soy milk creamer 1/4 cup cornstarch zest of 2 lemons or limes 3/4 cup agave nectar 1 cup coconut milk, regular 3 Tbsp + 1 tsp lemon juice Raspberry Filling 1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen) 4 Tbsp cornstarch 1/2 cup 100% apple juice concentrate (or 100% white grape juice concentrate) 1/4 cup agave nectar Benefits of Raspberries They are a good source of fiber, iron and vitamin C. They are useful in cases of infectious disease, they help with constipation, kidney failure and liver failure. Happy New Year!

I know what you're thinking, but don't be afraid of this recipe. Trust me, I was questioning my sister when she first tried to change up our Christmas dinner by making mashed sweet potatoes instead of regular mashed potatoes. But these are absolutely amazing, and I would take them over regular potatoes anyway! I know you will feel the exact same way once you give them a try. Recipe 3 lbs sweet potatoes 4 Tbsp vegan butter 4 Tbsp soy milk 1 tsp salt 1 tsp agave nectar Benefits of Sweet Potatoes: They help to produce a sensation of satiety, therefore it aids in weight loss. They are a great source of pro-viamin A. Also they help prevent arteriosclerosis, and helps to protect the inner lining of the arteries. Give this recipe a try for your holiday dinner! Merry Christmas!

This is a special Christmas recipe that will bring color and nutrition to your holiday dinner, with a delicious taste. It is always a good idea to add more low calorie foods to our christmas dinner, since we tend to eat extra calories during the holiday season. So think of yourself and others and add this delicious salad to your holiday menu. Look at it as gift a gift of health to you and your loved ones. Raspberry Dressing 1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen) 1 1/2 tsp basil 1/2 cup water 2 tsp cornstarch 1 Tbsp lemon juice 2 Tbsp agave nectar 1 tsp salt Christmas Tree Salad 1 bunch swiss chard 1 apple, diced 1/3 cup raspberries 2 mandarin oranges, diced 1/4-1/2 cup pecans Benefits of Raspberries They are a good source of fiber, iron and vitamin C. They are useful in cases of infectious disease, they help with constipation, kidney and liver failure. Benefits of Swiss Chard It helps to aid in digestion, it is a diuretic, works as a purifier. It is a good source of iron. Also, it is helps with kidney stones. Swiss chard is recommended for people who are obese because it helps with satiety and is a low calorie nutritious food.

The average person consumes a whooping 6,000 calories for Christmas dinner. That is almost the equivalent of 2 pounds, and that is just for the dinner. Here are a couple of great recipes to try out this Christmas, that will be much easier on your waist line. They still have a terrific flavor, but fewer calories. So try it and enjoy! Check out the video of how to make these deliciously healthy recipes! Stuffing Recipe: 1 package bread crumbs 5 Tbsp vegan butter 1/2 onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 2 cups vegetable broth 1 1/2 Tbsp McKay's Chick'n Seasoning 1 tsp sage 1/2 tsp thyme Gravy Recipe: 1/3 cup vegan butter 1/3 cup flour 1 Tbsp McKay's beef seasoning 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1 cup water 1 cup soy milk Benefits of Garlic It's a great natural antibiotic, helps to lower cholesterol, increases blood fluidity, it is anti-carcinogenic, helps to combat hypertension, and inhibits the formation of malignant tumors. Benefits of Onion Loosens bronchial mucus, prevents arteriosclerosis, and also helps prevents cancer.

Here's a recipe that will knock your socks off! It's the perfect holiday drink to cozy up with in the chilly evenings. This drink is similar to the ones you can buy in coffee shops, only healthier, plus, a whole lot cheaper! It's quick and simple to make, which makes a perfect treat for you and your friends and family to enjoy. So whip this recipe up and gather around a nice warm fire and sing some christmas carols. Recipe: 1 cup soy milk 2 tsp cocoa powder 2 tsp agave nectar 2 drops peppermint oil Directions: Place all ingredients into a blender and blend for 2-3 minutes. Place in a small sauce pan and heat until it just comes to a boil.

Vegan Holiday Turkey There are 7.3 million vegetarians who will be celebrating Thanksgiving day. So I'm giving them something to celebrate. Some vegans/vegetarians tend to make an exception on the holidays, and eat turkey. It's only once or twice a year right? Well, it's time to stop making excuses and start making your own vegan turkey! Here is a special recipe video to enjoy this holiday season. This is a great alternative to having turkey for your holiday meal. It's a simple recipe to make, but tastes amazing. Even non-vegan and vegetarians will love this as well. This is SO much better than the ones you can buy in stores, plus everyone will be impressed at your amazing cooking skills once they taste it. So go ahead, impress those taste buds, and make your own vegan turkey this holiday. Recipe: 2 1/2 c. vital gluten flour 1/2 c. nutritional yeast flakes 1 tsp thyme 1/2 tsp rubbed sage 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp salt 2 tsp McKay's Chick'n seasoning (optional) 2 c. vegetable broth 1/4 c. olive oil 1 Tbsp soy sauce Puff Pastry (vegan) Directions: In a mixing bowl add all dry ingredients and stir. In another bowl add all liquid ingredients. Combine both dry and wet ingredients and with a spoon or hand, until it is mixed well. Form into a loaf with your hands. Unwrap the cheese cloth and place the loaf on the cheese cloth. Roll up the cheese cloth, and place string on the ends to hold the loaf in the cheese cloth. In a pot fill with water, enough to cover the loaf, and bring to a boil. Place loaf in a pot of boiling water. Make sure it is enough water to keep the loaf the entire time. Once you place the loaf in the bowling water, bring the heat down to a medium-high heat. Leave in water for 50-60 minutes. Remove loaf with tongs. Allow it to cool off and then remove the cheese cloth. You can serve the loaf like this or add puff pastry to the outside of the loaf, to make it look more like a turkey. Roll out the puff pastry and wrap the loaf in it. Brush on olive oil on the top of the puff pastry to help brown it. Place the loaf in the oven at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until you see that it is golden brown. Serve and enjoy! Leftovers? It makes the perfect sandwich when you slice it thin. Homemade is always best made. Enjoy your Thanksgiving day, and remember there is truly so much to be thankful for, no matter what we may be going through. God bless!

It's that time of year again. As much as we love the holiday season, we tend to love it too much. Our stomach and thighs don't seem appreciate it as much as our tongue does. The season where the average person gains 5-8 pounds during the holidays. That's 5-8 pounds! Can you imagine?! We tend to eat and drink more during the holiday season, and exercise far less. It's time to switch that around, and exercise more and eat healthfully. I've put together a video of 7 tips to help you avoid the dreaded holiday weight gain, while still being able to enjoy yourself. Watch this video, your jeans will thank you come January! Be proactive! Make the decision to commit to being healthy this holiday season. Health is not by chance, it is by choice. The choice is yours each day. By this time next year what would you like to achieve? Just remember to allow yourself to be a beginner, because no one starts off being excellent. Ask yourself if what you're doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow. This time next year you will be glad you started.

Fall is all about pumpkin! I'm never one to neglect my pumpkin duties during the fall, so I figured I would share a couple of my favorite fall recipes with ya'll. This one is one I made up a couple of weeks ago, when I was going to make a different dessert for Saturday, but didn't have the right ingredients. It turned out wonderful and super moist! Find out how to replace eggs when baking! Watch video for recipe! Benefits of Pumpkin: Pumpkin is a part of the squash family. Pumpkins are rich in provitamin A and antioxidant flavonoids. It helps prevent arteriosclerosis and cancer. Since they are rich in potassium and low in sodium, it acts to prevent hypertension and its negative consequences (arterial blood clots and stroke). It is a good source of beta-carotene, which is beneficial to the loss of visual acuity or vision disorders originating in the retina. It is 1 of the 3 of the most effective, proven anti-carcinogenic vegetables, since it contains beta-carotene, vitamin C and vegetable fiber. It is a mild laxative, along with its soothing cation on the digestive tract. It is suggested for constipation. If you make this recipe please take a picture of you with the final product so I can share it with others. Enjoy the pumpkin season!

I love when fall rolls around because that means it's pumpkin time! This is my 9 year old nephews favorite dessert, and has been ever since he was old enough to eat it. This is a great recipe to cut out some of the fat and calories from the original Pumpkin Cheesecake. Check it out and let me know what you think. Watch video for Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe! Recipe: Crust: 1 package graham crackers 6 tablespoons vegan butter (Earth Balance) Place crackers in a food processor and mix until smooth. Add the melted butter and mix for 2-3 minutes. Place in a pie pan and form with hand or a flat surfaced item. Place in the oven at 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes or until is is a little browned. Pie Filling: 1 package silken tofu (14 oz.) 1 cup pumpkin pureé 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 3 tablespoons flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 8 oz. vegan cream cheese (Tofutti) Place all ingredients into a blender and blend for 5-7 minutes or until smooth. Pour into the prepared pie crust. Bake for 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Place on a cooling rack for 15 minutes, then place in the refigerator for 4 hours or overnight until it is cool. Benefits of Pumpkin: Pumpkin is a part of the squash family. Pumpkins are rich in provitamin A and antioxidant flavonoids. It helps prevent arteriosclerosis and cancer. Since they are rich in potassium and low in sodium, it acts to prevent hypertension and its negative consequences (arterial blood clots and stroke). It is a good source of beta-carotene, which is beneficial to the loss of visual acuity or vision disorders originating in the retina. It is 1 of the 3 of the most effective, proven anti-carcinogenic vegetables, since it contains beta-carotene, vitamin C and vegetable fiber. It is a mild laxative, along with its soothing cation on the digestive tract. It is suggested for constipation.

At the beginning of each month I like to set a goal of how many miles I want to run for the month. This month I had set my goal to run 75 miles for the month of October. Today, that goal was accomplished! I figure it out how many miles I need to run in a week and then divide it between how many days I think I'll run for the week. Typically, I will run between 3-5 times per week. I calculate how many miles I will have to run if I only run 3 days a week, for 4 days, and for 5 days. This way I can decide when the week comes what I am able to do. This month I had a couple of injuries from surfing, volleyball and soccer. They were at different times, or just reinsuring myself, since I didn't allow some of them to completely heal. :( But the point is this: I set my goals and I met my goals. Do you set goals for yourself? You won't be able to feel the joy of accomplishment unless you set goals for yourself. Since tomorrow is a new month, try setting goals for yourself. Write them down and figure out how you can accomplish that goal for the month. You never know unless you try. You can do it! We may not always feel like it, but it's worth it in the end.

Instead of reaching for something high in sugar and calories, how about reaching for something just as satisfying with much fewer calories and natural sugars. Yes, I am talking about fruits. However, I have a spin on how to eat grapes. I'm sure we all have eaten grapes in our lifetimes, but this way of eating grapes will blow your mind! Check out the video for details. Benefits of Grapes Grapes are good for the arteries, blood, intestinal tract and are anti-carcinogenic. They are a good source of fiber, B complex vitamins, vitamin C, and potassium. They are powerful antioxidants that are able to prevent Coronary Heart Disease.

Have you ever tried the Autumn Squash Soup at Panera Bread? It is one of my favorite soups. I didn't realize it wasn't vegan until I looked at a similar recipe. So I decided I wanted to come up with a vegan version of this soup. You may be a little reluctant of trying squash soup, and I don't blame you because I was as well. But it was love at first taste. So here is the vegan version. Recipe 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped 1 Tbsp canola oil salt to taste Heat oven to 450. Mix chopped butternut squash with canal oil and salt. Roast for 25 minutes. Let it cool for 5 minutes. Puree in blender until very smooth. 1 15 oz can pumpkin 1 cup vegetable broth 1 cup apple cider 1 cup coconut milk 1-1/2 Tbsp honey 1/4 tsp curry 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1-1/2 tsp salt In a large food processor, blend pureed squash and pumpkin, pouring vegetable broth, apple cider, and coconut milk through the top while blending. Pour into sauce pan and heat over medium to a gentle boil. Add honey and spices. Simmer on low for 10 minutes and serve. Benefits of Squash It is rich in provitamin A and antioxidant and flavonoids. It helps prevent arteriosclerosis and cancer. Since they are rich in potassium and low in sodium, it acts to prevent hypertension and its negative consequences (arterial blood clots and stroke). It is a good source of beta-carotene, which is beneficial to the loss of visual acuity or vision disorders originating in the retina. It is 1 of the 3 of the most effective, proven anti-carcinogenic vegetables, since it contains beta-carotene, vitamin C and vegetable fiber. It is a mild laxative, along with its soothing cation on the digestive tract. It is suggested for constipation.