Sugar, Surprises, and Soccer

Soccer season ended several weeks ago. To stay in "soccer shape" over the summer, I joined a two-week intense training camp at our local high school. Practicing with travel girls from the next city over has been exciting and tiring, but getting up every morning at 6:30 has been less than a blessing. Summer is for sleeping in!

But, summer is also for improving. Getting stronger. Healthier. Embracing the gorgeous weather. Basking in the sun (with sunscreen, of course!) Biking with friends. Getting ready for race season this fall. Being your best you. 

Before my soccer camp started, I was getting in at least four 2-mile runs a week. It was a nice way to stay fit after soccer season - along with weekly bike rides with friends through the local hiking trails, nightly dog walks, and workouts at the gym. I haven't been running too much this week because my feet are typically too sore and blistered to get in a good workout. But, the two soccer-filled hours of running, passing, dribbling, and shooting are enough to get me energized and feeling full of life in the morning.

My afternoons have been filled with friends, swimming, biking, cooking, and baking. After reading several articles on greatist.com and mindbodygreen.com, I have decided to challenge myself by cutting down on my added sugar consumption. While I still enjoy lots of fruits, I felt that added refined sugars weren't doing me any good. As I'm not fully ready to try a completely restrictive version of this challenge, I treat myself with a healthy portion of one food containing added sugars almost every day. I have been trying to eat protein-filled breakfasts to eliminate sugar cravings and fuel me up for the day's activities.

Most sweets I bake myself, so that I know exactly what high-quality, vegan, and nutritious ingredients are going into my body. I've been loving cooking dinner with fresh ingredients. Our peach tree, raspberry bush, and blueberry plant are already blossoming with ripe fruits! It's been such a treat to go out to the garden with friends afternoon and pick today's "harvest".

Friday night brought a whole new level of love, comfort, and joy into my life - we adopted a kitten! This is my first baby animal because all of our pets have been adopted as adults previously. She has been staying in my room for the past couple days as she is getting accustomed to living with us. I am forever grateful to her foster mom that got her used to people and living in a home. It just reminded me of the kittens I have fostered last year and the year before. Fostering saves and changes lives!

We searched all weekend for the perfect name. On Monday, my family and I decided on "Mango". She is an absolute doll. I fall asleep to her lying down next to me, her tiny paw clutching my hands. With the horrific tragedies happening throughout the world, little Mango has given me the ability to go to sleep peacefully without anxiety or fears. I feel safe when I fall asleep next to her and I'm able to get a good night's sleep without the attack of panic or nightmares that I have previously experienced. She has made me proud of becoming vegan, respecting all animal lives, and helping shelter pets. She has comforted me every second I get to be with her - even only after several days of knowing her. I can't wait to experience countless adventures with her as she calms me and comforts me through everything that might happen to me over the years.

I hope that summer has been treating you well with unbeatable memories, exciting experiences, healthy opportunities, and happiness! Wishing you wellness,
Lili

Strength in Soccer

Recently, I have been finding myself noticing the strength that soccer gives me. 

Before a soccer game, when my body is sometimes filled with anxiety and nerves, I take a moment to focus on what I'm preparing to do. On my legs that work hard to carry me everyday. I focus on my heart that beats to keep to me living. I think of the plants that power my body to perform its very best. I think of the days and hours that I have spent, my body drenched in sweat, trying to condition myself for days like these.

I think of my team that I try to inspire. I think of my team that is depending on me to win. I think of my team beyond soccer. I think of my friends and my family and my dogs. I think of the farmed animals I am fighting to save. I think of the strays that I will foster. I think of the lives that I will save. I know that when I play a sport, when I go out for a run, when I lift weights, I am taking advantage of the gifts that veganism brings me. I am doing my best to keep me living my longest and healthiest life. I am doing my best to keep me strong so that I can be strong for others. So that I can be strong for those without a voice. So that I can be strong for those who can't. Soccer gives me a way to gift my body with strength, happiness, health, and power.

Soccer inspires me. Sometimes my head is filled with tragic pictures of the pigs, chickens, turkeys, fish, cows, ducks, and other helpless souls that will never get to know a life apart from cruelty. Sometimes my mind is filled with frustrations that the world will never learn that all beings are created equal. Sometimes my mind is filled with anger for those that refuse to understand the fight that I am fighting. Sometimes my mind is filled with despair when I feel alone in the world. Sometimes my mind is filled with stress from school and life in general. But, the second I step onto that field, I know that I have the power to turn any day around. I have the power to escape my worries and frustrations - just for 90 minutes, maybe. But, those 90 minutes are enough. They are enough to let me regain a sense of power. They are enough to tell me that I can make history. Those 90 minutes let me soar higher than I could otherwise. Those 90 minutes give me hope and freedom and a sense of opportunity. Because every soccer game is up to me. Whether I win or lose, I know that I am part of something bigger. My team. My league. My community. My city. My nation. A world full of soccer players. We all play for different reasons. We may not all be professionals, but we are all passionate. We are brought together by a love for the game unlike no other. But, if one sport has the power to bring together an entire planet, then that is a game that deserves to be celebrated. This is why soccer gives me strength. 

My Favorites: A Post About Vegan Alternatives

Kite Hill

As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm never afraid to try new vegan food. After a little over one year of making the lifestyle change, I have discovered tons of new favorites.


Favorite Vegan Yogurt: Kite Hill 
Runner Up: Daiya and Nancy's Cultured Soy 
Why: Kite Hill is inexpensive, while also having the greatest texture and flavor I have found in a vegan yogurt. I have tried peach, strawberry, vanilla, and blueberry - none of the flavors disappoint!

Daiya

   

Favorite Cheese: Daiya
Runner Up: (I haven't tried enough brands to find a second favorite to Daiya - it's heavenly!) 
Why: Daiya is great on vegan pizzas, melted on sandwiches, folded into a quesadilla, or in any place that you would regularly use cheese. They sell both shreds and block cheeses.

Favorite Energy Bar: EcoTrek Bar

Hail Merry

Runner Up: SquareBar
Why: I tried this is an VeganCuts box and was beyond amazed. I was hesitant to read that it was a whole food bar - the bars from other brands that I had tried previously weren't very exciting. But, the second I bit into this EcoTrek Bar, I felt like I was eating a chocolate truffle!

Favorite Sweet: Hail Merry Macaroons 
Runner Up: Dandie's Marshmallows
Why: These Macaroons are raw, environmentally conscious, nutritious, and 100% animal friendly. I love the different flavors that they come in - but, I have to say that my favorite is the sea salt caramel. Yum!

Svelte

Favorite Protein Drink: Svelte
Runner Up: Orgain Vegan
Why: These drinks are perfect for on-the-go or pre-or-post workout snacks. They are fairly inexpensive and come in several, delicious flavors.

Favorite Supplement: Vega 
Runner Up: Aloha 
Why: I love adding a scoop of mouth-watering Vega into my smoothies or shakes for added protein and nutrient boost. Vega can be bought in large quantities or in small single-serving portions.

Vega

Favorite Tofu: Nasoya
Runner Up: Trader Joe's 
Why: I love both the fresh and baked versions of Nasoya Tofu. It's great as a snack, part of a lunch, or chopped up with veggies! Another plus: it's organic and inexpensive.


Favorite Over-All Grocery: Whole Foods
Runners Up: Fresh Thyme and Trader Joes
Why: Whole Foods supplies many vegans with innovative and independent companies that create healthful and delicious products. I always look forward to seeing what new creations they have in store!

Favorite Affordable Grocery: Fresh Thyme 
Runner Up: Trader Joes
Why: Fresh Thyme is a fairly inexpensive and healthful grocery store. They have large organic produce selections, along with many vegan non-dairy and meatless alternatives. I also love their bulk section, where you can find low-priced nuts, seeds, grains, and more!

Ben and Jerry's 

Favorite Ice Cream: Ben and Jerry's Non-Dairy
Runner Up: So Delicious
Why: I was thrilled to see that my favorite ice-cream brand in my pre-vegan days came out with delicious alternatives! Made with fresh almond milk, Ben and Jerry's four vegan flavors are scrumptious. Trust me, it was difficult to not devour an entire pint at once.

Favorite Healthy Ice Cream: Wink 

Sweet Earth Foods

Runner Up: 'Cado
Why: I could not believe my eyes when I saw that Wink's delicious pints hold only 100 calories.The ice-cream is allergen-free and naturally sweetened, creating a light, flavorful treat!

Favorite Veggie Burger: Sweet Earth Foods
Runner Up: Hillary's 
Why: Sweet Earth Foods create limited-ingredient veggie burgers that are made with whole foods and other nutritious finds. They are incredibly flavorful and nutritious and delicious to throw on the grill for that summer barbecue!

Lenny and Larry's

 Favorite Cookie: Lenny and Larry's 
Runner Up: Lucy's
Why: Lenny and Larry's complete cookies are not only egg and dairy-free, they are non-GMO, all-natural and protein packed! Each cookie totals in with 16g of protein and 8g of fiber. They taste like soft, home-baked cookies, and are full of flavor!

Rice Dream

Favorite Milk Brand: Rice Dream
Runner Up: So Delicious
Why: Organic, non-GMO, Rice Dream has many flavors and variations, such as vanilla, sprouted, and unsweetened. They are packed with nutrition and are great over a bowl of granola, dipped with cookies, or any other way you would regularly use milk!


Disclaimer: I was in no way endorsed by these companies - all opinions are honest and my own!

What's It Like Being a Vegan? (And a million other questions and the perfect replies...)

Question: What's it like being a vegan? 


My answer: Well, for starters, being vegan would be a lot easier if I wasn't the only one. In a family full of omnivores, it isn't easy to sit down at the dinner table with my plate stacked high with veggies while everyone else is enjoying a piece of meat. It's not easy when I can't stop thinking about the pain and suffering an animal went through just to become the food someone savors for about thirty seconds. A whole life full of torture and misery - all for someone's seconds of enjoyment. I find myself sometimes unable to look at the plates of others, just thinking about this.

But, also, being vegan is beyond incredible. I have tried hundreds of foods that I would have likely never tried. I have tried quinoa milk, coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, flax milk, and more. Rice milk will always be my favorite, as far as I'm concerned, but I never say no to trying a new vegan option. Another great part is the amazing community of vegans. It's such an incredible experience to not have to worry about what is on the menu and about the animals that are being served as meals.  I love nothing more than stepping inside a vegan restaurant and knowing that it is filled with like-minded people who will never judge my opinions and choices.  It's also incredible to be able to look every single animal in the eye and to know that you will never purposely hurt them or contribute to their suffering. You can live with a heart that loves to no bounds, you can breathe in an Earth with who you are an ally, you can enjoy nature without regrets about whom you are causing to suffer. You can be at peace with yourself and every other creature that inhabits this beautiful planet.

Tips for Your Answer: 

• Speak personally and from the heart about the true motives behind your veganism. 
• Don't be afraid to speak about the benefits that you have encountered. 
• Be truthful and honest and tell them your beliefs about animals and the environment. 
• If you haven't been vegan since birth, think about what words a vegan could have spoken to you that would have convinced you to make the lifestyle-switch sooner. 
• Avoid gruesome details about animal abuse and suffering.  Some omnivores could easily be turned off by when hearing about the tragic details of animal agriculture and wish to not listen any more. Instead, use positive language and inspiring anecdotes to spread the word about the goodness that comes with a vegan lifestyle.

Question: Why do you try to be such a picky eater? Don't you ever think about how much you inconvenience others? 

Picture credits to: eatgreencake.wordpress.com

My answer: I'm not vegan because I try to be picky. I tend to not really think about what I'm "missing out on" - there are too many exciting alternatives to explore! We are living in truly a golden age for vegans. There are hundreds of delicious and nutritious alternatives on the market and thousands of innovative recipes to try at home. I think of being vegan as expanding my diet - the opposite of limiting.

Whenever I get together with friends or go to dinner, I try to not create a hassle for my hostess. I am always thrilled to bring with my own dishes to share. I have a huge passion for cooking and baking and am always happy to share! I love introducing others to the huge, undiscovered world of plant-based lifestyles. Many of my friends are even excited to accompany me to new plant-based restaurants and to try new yummy recipes at home. Sharing veganism is one of the best parts about my lifestyle.

Tips for Your Answer: 

• Do you do your best to share the vegan lifestyle with others? If so, always make sure to bring vegan dishes to share with others when attending a public gathering or party. 
• Talk about your true reasons behind being vegan and tell them the importance of it. 

Question: Where do you get your protein? (Ugh, I cannot express how many times I hear this in a day...) 

My answer: In the most healthful ways possible! My plant-based sources of protein are rich in nutrients and commonly low in fat and calories - and, better yet, free of cruelty. I enjoy on a daily basis a mix of lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, nut butters, non-dairy milks. 

Tips for Your Answer: 

• Research the best plant-based proteins. Make sure that you are getting proper nutrients and consider a vegan vitamin if needed. Visit a doctor routinely for medical advice. 
• Tell them how common of a misconception it is to think that all vegans or vegetarians are protein-deficient. 

Picture credits to: foodsforlonglife.blogspot.com

Question: Why don't you eat dairy? 

My answer: I had been a vegetarian for three entire years before I ditched dairy and all remaining animal products. I never thought that dairy could harm an animal and found it to be an easy alternative to meat. Not until reading books like Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food and My Gentle Barn: Creating a Sanctuary Where Animals Heal and Children Learn to Hope, did I learn about the hidden horrors committed in the dairy industries. I learned about the connection between the dairy industry and meat industry and the torture that cows, goats, chickens, and more animals go through for us to enjoy seconds of foods that can potentially harm us. I learned about how baby calves are torn away from their mothers within hours of birth to only endure more pain and suffering. I learned how male chicks are brutally disposed of without every getting to see sunlight or spend time with their families. I learned how animals are affected on even supposed "humane" or "local" farms. No matter how well-treated an animal is, there is no humane way to kill someone who doesn't want to die. 

Tips for Your Answer: 

• Learn the facts so that you can educate others with solid evidence. Visit sites like Vegan.org and VeganSociety.org. 
• Be honest about the facts and the reasons you went vegan. Tell them how you too (most likely) thought that dairy didn't harm animals and educate them about how you learned about the tragedies committed in these industries. 

I really enjoyed writing an educational post like this and I hope you enjoyed reading it! I can't wait to keep blogging. Please share this post and spread the word! 

Wishing you a smile,

Lili 

Sports, Dogs, Veganism and how they all changed my life

I guess you could say that the most crucial part of this post, this blog, and my life is the topic of dogs. Pretty amazing creatures. They fascinated me to no end pretty much since I can ever remember. At the edge of four, my family adopted our first dog - whom was considered a 'foster fail'. The plan was to love on and care for this scruffy little homeless Beagle until the right family came along to adopt him. Apparently that family was us. He was in the middle of his life, all flea-bitten and shy, when he came into our family. But, somehow he was perfect. My grandma noticed the way we played and the way that he instantly put a smile onto my face and it was kind of love at first site, I guess you could call it. So, we named him Krypto and he became the coolest dog I had ever known.

Krypto in his later years

I grew up in a family that treasured music, reading, and the arts. I was always uncomfortable around my sports-fanatic aunts, uncles, and cousins as the piano-loving kid who was obsessed with dogs. I was home-schooled, too, along with my older brother. That didn't really help with the whole fitting-in thing either. 

My first best friend, Elizabeth, was met through homeschooling. I went to pre-school with her little brother and our big brothers were also friends. We would always play with Krypto when we hung out and were pretty much inseparable. I began to learn every single dog breed I could and started to become a big advocate for dog adoption. I guess the turning point in my life then was the day that Elizabeth's entire family moved to Virginia. 

I was heartbroken. I cried all night at about the age of eight as my best friend in the entire world had to leave me.  I became lonely pretty quickly, I guess. When I was done with my schoolwork, Krypto and I would venture around the neighborhood on leisurely walks. Before I knew it, I met a new friend through homeschooling. We were both shy at first, but soon we became best buddies. We've been crazy inseparable ever since. 

Bigby - 2014

In 2011, my family decided to adopt a new dog. We went to the local shelter that we had donated to recently and fell in love with a scrappy little black-and-white terrier named Chance. We took him home the next day. 

After renaming him Bigby, we became best buds. He was once neglected and abused, but through lots of outdoor time and training, Bigby grew braver and braver. We started running together and I taught him all kinds of tricks and cues - like agility and how to walk off-leash. 

Bigby's love and transformation inspired me to start Project for Paws in 2012. I began by hand-sewing buttons, bows, and ribbons onto dog collars and shipping them to shelter dog rescues throughout the United States. I was constantly motivated by the grateful thank-you letters I received in reply through the mail. At the same time, I fund-raised and donated regularly to the shelter that brought Bigby into our family. That year, I also went vegetarian and couldn't be more proud. 

During one of my first runs
at the beginning of
Cross Country- 2014

In 2014, for my first year of middle school, I started 6th grade at the local public school. I was shy and nervous and full of anxiety on my first day but I quickly befriended some very nice girls. The only thing was, I wasn't skinny and I wasn't athletic. Those two things seemed like the most important parts of being a middle-school girl and I was pressured. 

After being forced to do the miler in gym class one day, Bigby and I started running. It began as a two-block-long release for his energy and my worries. 

Bigby during a long run - summer of 2015

When I ran, I felt unstoppable. I was slower than a turtle, but I fell in love with running. I joined Cross Country that September and found myself simply glowing when I realized that I was part of a team. I was athletic. I was hanging with girls that made me feel on top of the world. And I was thrilled. 

Christmas - 2015

I didn't care that I finished last at every single Cross Country meet; I never stopped running. I was the only kid that ran three miles over one weekend. I was the only kid that shopped at running stores. In my mind, I was kind of an ultimate runner, in my eyes. That December, I pledged to run a mile every single day from Thanksgiving until New Year's. I accidentally broke the pledge about three days before New Year's, but I felt healthier than ever. I felt proud when I looked in the mirror, and began to run even more miles with Bigby. I ran two 5ks in the next three months and was proud to call myself a runner. 

I expanded Project for Paws in 2015 to make Care Packages along with those dog collars. Big-name dog treat companies, like Halo, sponsored the Packages with all kinds of dog-friendly goodies. I sent these to shelter dogs as well and the response was overwhelming. I have had over 20 sponsors just since last year. 

In 2015, I also went vegan. We rescued a third dog, a terrier named Violet. I started reading the nutritional labels of nearly every thing I ate. I became conscious of what I was powering my body with. I fell in love with Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and my brand new Ninja Blender - the present for my 13th birthday. I had become healthier than I had ever been. I ran a 6:50 mile. That was also the year I fell in love with soccer. I found a new community and love for the sport that I never knew of. I learned why my cousins always played soccer, I learned why people woke up early and stayed up late to play this sport. I started playing everyday with boys from my school. I found myself becoming as good as them and I finally fit in. Soccer has brought me closer than ever with my cousins and the guys at my school. In 2016, we had to say goodbye to Krypto, the dog that brought all of this joy and goodness into my life, who passed away at the age of 15. I am now even more inspired to help all animals, including abused farm animals. I feel strong and happy and proud of myself. I have an average 7:15 pace. I have soccer games every weekend. I have an awesome group of friends that never cease to make me laugh or smile. I have become at peace with who I am inside and out. And here I am now.