Eco-Vegan Gal Bares It All: Sunless Tanning at Chocolate Sun

WARNING: the following video contains nudity! Well, technically you'll just see bare legs, arms, and upper chest...and maybe a hint of more (I'm too much of a good girl so I edited out the rest), but I had to get your attention. ; ) Feel free to read the story, or just skip right to the good stuff in the video below, where you'll get an inside look at an organic sunless tanning company.

EVG Video Update, featuring Elliott's Ethos

A while back I did a survey and asked EVG readers what they liked best about the site, and most people answered that they like the video content. Thus, I have been feeling super guilty about my lack of video posts recently...or lack of original posts all together. So, I decided to try to do some quick YouTube updates and feature all the amazing companies I've been meaning to review for so long.

Eco-Vegan Gal on the Huffington Post

Due to all the freelance writing and video I work I do, I've had the opportunity to spread my name around. You may have read my recent post listing all the sites I write for. I'm also happy to announce that some of my work has made it onto the Huffington Post. : )

Check these out:

Whole Foods dumps Silk Soy by Waylon Lewis of elephantjournal. I made the video embedded in the article.

Vegan Pizza In LA: Where To Order A Vegan Pie In Los Angeles (Unfortunately I did not get credited for this because it originated from my post on Your Daily Thread)

My hope is that one day I'll be asked to be guest blogger on the site...but then, when would I have time to update this site?! ; )

Don't Roll up Your Sleeve: Why You Shouldn't Get A Flu Shot

Summer is over and winter, aka cold & flu season, is on its way. Even if you're one of those healthy people that never gets sick, there's probably a question going through your mind: "should i get a flu shot?". Find out why most people in my health community, including myself, will say "no".

Greenwala, Organic Authority, and other guest posts

You may be wondering why I haven't been posting very much lately. Truth is, I've been spreading the Eco-Vegan Gal "brand" by writing for other companies. I promise you'll get some original content on here soon - I have a ton of reviews in the queue - but in the meantime check my articles out on these great sites:

*I've also been active on Facebook - if you don't "like" my page already, please consider it for my updates.

Greenwala: My article page
Recent articles (I write for them Monday-Friday):

• President Clinton Turns to Plant-Based (Vegetarian) Diet
• 15 “Meats” You Can Eat on Meatless Monday
• Get Behind Bars: Why You Should Be Drinking Fresh Juice
• Healthy Fast Food is Not an Oxymoron
• Bet You Didn't Know It's Vegan
• Wheat-Free Wednesday: Italian Style

Organic Authority:

Recent articles:

• Are You Buying Junk Food Disguised as Health Food?
• The Elephant in the Room: 5 Sources of Vegetarian Protein
• 5 Delicious Foods that Boost Your Energy
• The Gluten-Free Diet: Is It Right for You?
• Digestive System Gas, What Causes It and How to Avoid It
• Health Benefits of Maca, the Peruvian Aphrodisiac

Your Daily Thread: A Guide to Vegan Pie in Los Angeles
Organic Soul: Turn That Frown Upside Down: Food Therapy for Depression

Living Harvest: Tips and Tricks for Eating Dairy Free

President Clinton Goes Vegetarian To Stay Healthy For His Family

First Obama, now Clinton? Last week Michelle Obama urged restaurants to provide healthier options on their menus. Shortly after, Bill Clinton made a big announcement - he’s experimenting with the vegetarian diet! This might not come as a huge surprise if you read about Chelsea Clinton’s vegan menu at her wedding. However, it is a far cry from the days that Bill visited to McDonald’s on a regular basis.

Read the rest of my article at Greenwala

Salad Bowl Cafe: cheap, fast, healthy food in Beverly Hills

Last week I got a taste of the offerings of Salad Bowl Cafe, a franchise that recently opened their doors in the heart of Beverly Hills. I got the Big Create Your Own salad and was allowed to choose 8 out of the 50+ toppings; I asked for mixed greens, spinach, olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, walnuts, jalepeno peppers, chickpeas, cucumber, and avocado. I opted for the suggested raspberry vinaigrette, but made the mistake of not asking for it on the side - it was way too much and made the entire salad too heavy. There were also too many jalepenos, which made the salad too acidic. Yet, I really enjoyed it and was impressed at the massive portion and value - salads range from $7.95 - $12.95, which is inexpensive for the quantity.

Overall, I was impressed with the wide variety of vegan options, relaxing atmosphere, and friendly staff. The meat and cheese is kept far from the produce, and they use separate tongs. The main downside is that little, if none, of their produce is organic, though some is local. And, the only green thing about the restaurant is their vegetable selection (and delivery vehicle) - they haven't figured out a way to be eco-friendly and cost effective at the same time (unfortunately, this is a common problem). Their to-go containers, cups and eating utensils are plastic. Although, if you dine-in your salad will be served in a metal bowl.

The bottom line: you'll love Salad Bowl Cafe if you're on a budget and looking for a healthy meal while in Beverly Hills. However, if you're willing to pay a little more for an organic salad in an biodegradable take-out container, I recommend Greenleaf Chop Shop down the street.

My opinion aside, you can try Salad Bowl Cafe for free this week and it's definitely worth trying out:

Monday, September 20th - Friday, September 24th, 2010 (during the hours of 6-8pm ONLY) - each guest who goes into The Salad Bowl Cafe in Beverly Hills will receive ONE FREE 8 topping Salad - LIMIT ONE PER GUEST & limit one per week (drink not included).

(310) 858.8432
350 N. Canon  Beverly Hills, CA 90210

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Digestive System Gas, What Causes It and How to Avoid It

It happens to us at least ten times each day, but you would rather go on a hunger strike than admit that you do it: passing gas. It always seems to occur at the worst times, and there’s nothing you dread more than being bloated during the hot date you’ve been looking forward to all week. While you might not be able to fully prevent your body from doing what it’s supposed to do, there are some ways to control it so you can plan your social schedule accordingly.

Read the rest of my article at Organic Authority.

Are You Buying Junk Food Disguised as Health Food?

Everyone wants to be healthy - you probably wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t aspire to good health. As a result, health is extremely marketable and companies will do just about anything to convince us their product will make us feel and look good.  Unfortunately, many food items are not as healthy as they appear at first glance. Thus, it often takes a careful inspection of an ingredients list to determine authenticity of packaging claims. But to many, deciphering an ingredient list can be daunting. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to read food labels and what to avoid.

Read the rest of my article on Organic Authority

Burger with a side of apples: Obama tells restaurants to shape up

Despite her husband's smoking habits, Michelle Obama is on a mission to make America healthier - and it’s about time! She has set up a beautiful garden at the White House and has taken a public stand on childhood obesity. Now she wants to extend healthy eating habits outside of our homes and bring them to the restaurants we dine at.

Read the rest of my article on Greenwala

Health Benefits of Maca, the Peruvian Aphrodisiac

I am obsessed with the taste of maca! I recently re-discovered how much I love it while at a smoothie shop in Venice Beach (called Fruit Gallery). A few days later I bought a bag of it and started making my own smoothies at home. You can check out my recipe and article on maca on Organic Authority - here's a preview:

When you walk into a cafe on a hot day to buy a refreshing smoothie the last thing you want to see is a menu with foreign ingredients as optional add-ins. Spirulina, wheatgrass, lucuma, guarana, mesquite, maca root... where’s the translator when you need one? Don’t let these words send you running to the nearest vending machine for familiarity's sake - they’re really not that scary once you get to know them.

Read the rest of my article at Organic Authority

Meatless, dairy-less lasagna recipes

A non-vegan friend of mine told me he'd have a hard time going vegan because he loves lasagna. Little does he know, plant-based lasagna can be incredible if you have the right recipe. I reached out to my Facebook friends for their favorites, and 2 of them responded with incredible recipes. I haven't tried them, but they look delicious and fun to make. They take a little knowledge of cooking, as they don't have very specific instructions - use your kitchen instincts and I'm sure they will turn out great. Please let me know if you give them a shot and how they turn out - would love your pictures too!

You can also check out my lasagna article on Greenwala.

The Difference Between Gluten-Free and Wheat-Free Foods

Gluten-free has recently become a big marketing trend - some call it a fad, while those with gluten intolerance are thankful for the widespread options. Many grocery stores and restaurants now have bold gluten-free labels on their food, menus, and store aisles. The phrase wheat-free is also popular, but is not to be confused with gluten-free. Don’t know the difference? Here’s a breakdown:

Read the rest of my article at Greenwala

Decoding The Glycemic Index: How Low Can You Go?

Admit it - you love carbohydrates. The intoxicating smell is impossible to resist: crusty bread rolls, toasted bagels, sugary donuts - mmmmmm. The only thing stopping you from slipping on your shoes and heading out to the bakeshop right now is knowing that those foods will go straight to your thighs and hips as soon as they pass your lips. However, not all carbs are created equally - each works differently in our bodies. Choosing carbs that have a low glycemic index won’t pack on pounds to your weight, and can even reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Read the rest of my article at Organic Authority

Video from Just Green It book launch

Last week I went to a party to celebrate the launch of the new book Just Green It by Lisa & Rob Beres. Here's the video montage I made of the event: