You know how every family has their go-to meal for those busy weeknights? Well, meet ours! Lentils are in our weekly rotation for our kids meals because of their amazing health benefits– and this is an easy way to make that happen. You can make this delicious comfort meal, loaded with nutrients and antioxidants, in a minimal amount of time. Simple, quick and healthy–definitely up my alley as a busy mom to growing young kids. We filmed a video several months ago on how to make this simple dish, with the amazing Minimo Productions. It will see the light of day eventually, but I couldn’t wait to share our recipe!

Derived from a childhood favorite that’s typically made with mung beans, we make this with the base of french lentils, coconut milk, onions and garlic. I always joke that I “Americanized” this dish, since I ate the Filipino version of it growing up. And when I discovered that my children loved it too, I was able to replace our soccer/piano/fill-in-the-blank nights with with a dish that is even more nutrient dense than the typical quick go-to pasta.

If you want to make it even quicker, you can use frozen rice, which can be heated up in minutes. I always keep boxes of organic frozen rice that come in a 3-pack from Trader Joe’s on hand, for quick meals. They come in both brown and white rice options. I also use Trader Joe’s ready-to-eat steamed french lentils, which is something I also typically keep on hand in our fridge. Doing this ensures that we pack in those nutrients, even when our schedules are crazy. You can easily make the lentils yourself and it’s probaby a tiny bit cheaper–so if you do, adjust the spices to your preference. Hope you enjoy our family’s favorite weeknight meal!

 

 

I love to be tagged in stories and posts when you make any of our recipes or try anything that we’ve shared! Please tag us and we’ll reshare our faves too. 🙂 @plantbasedmomma

 

We were SO excited to visit the new Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. The amazing details of this new land did not disappoint, especially with including a few plant-based options for us! We were lucky enough to have reservations from 2-6pm, which gave us the option to try both lunch and dinner.

 

 

Our family’s favorite was the Ithorian plant-based meatloaf, found at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. This is served with mashed potatoes (confirmed vegan with the chef), veggies and a delicious savory mushroom gravy. It’s made with Impossible “meat” and it was SO good. It is definitely a dish that we would really look forward to coming back and ordering. And it’s unbelievable how similar it looks to the real thing. You can only order this from the dinner menu, beginning at 4pm, but the good news is that you can use mobile ordering, so you don’t have to wait in line!

 

For lunch we had the Felucian Garden Spread, also found at Docking Bay 7. This dish consists of plant-based meatballs served on top of herbed (tasted like parsley) hummus and pita bread. Our kids didn’t love this dish, since both the meatballs and the hummus were the tiniest bit spicy, according to them. I would order it again and am so thankful for a vegan lunch option. This dish is available during lunch, until 4pm. There was also a deliciously refreshing tea that we loved, which was called Phattro. This was a mix of odwalla, lemonade and desert pear. The Taste of Takodana on the kids menu appeared to be vegan, but we didn’t order it. However, it looks like a great and healthy option.

 

Now onto the much anticipated Milk Stand. I have read SO many mixed reviews on the two different milks you can order, both of which are made from vegan milks. Our kids, like most reviews, preferred the blue milk, which has a berry flavor. However, my husband and I surprisingly preferred the green milk! It tasted like drinking a cup of flowers and reminded us of a rose drink from a local restaurant. It definitely had passion fruit and mint–and I love passion fruit, so that might play a part. And the mint wasn’t overwhelming at all. But I recommend at least trying both.

Another thing we seem to be in the minority is with the outpost mix of popcorn from Kat Saka’s Kettle. Our family actually liked the unique mix of flavors! You definitely have to eat one color at a time to appreciate the different tastes. But one color tasted like fruit loops and another tasted like Tajin with lime juice. We actually saw someone throw their full bag away, but we definitely appreciated the experience of it.

And lastly, a tip for parents! If you are like us and want to let your child choose a (“reasonably priced”) toy to commemorate this special experience… I highly suggest Toydarian Toymaker in Black Spire Outpost (the huge walk-through building as you enter from the Hungry Bear entrance). I was so impressed with the adorable and well-made wooden toys and high quality stuffed animals. We were happy to buy something from here, as memorabilia that our kids can possibly tell their own kids about the time this new land opened at Disney.

 

My boys dressed up as Storm Troopers and all of the characters gave them so much attention–which totally added to the experience. They rode Millennium Falcon twice, which made their day!

We had such an amazing day. Every single tiny detail is accounted for. Everything exceeded any expectations we had and it was even more awesome than we could have imagined. I definitely recommend taking a trip (just to experience the meatloaf dish alone!). If you don’t already have reservations, the land opens to the public on Monday, June 24.

 

 

Over Spring Break our family spent a few sunny days in San Diego and then over to Palm Springs. Then we had our first beach day of the season in Newport Beach on Mother’s Day. Let me tell you– we have been more than ready for the warm weather! After an uncharacteristically cold California winter, with a lot of rain, the warm sunshine has never felt better on our faces. The rain was much needed in California, but it’s been hard being so cooped up (we’re definitely spoiled and pay for it in exorbitant real estate prices though).

With warm weather officially making it’s way here, I wanted to share some of my favorite vegan products for mama and baby that I am loving this season! Including the cutest vegan shoes that I found at Nordstrom. All cruelty-free and toxin-free, since using clean products is something that’s really important to our family. Your skin is your body’s largest organ–what goes onto our bodies is just as important as being mindful of the food that goes into our bodies. So I give you my very favorites for the upcoming season…

 

 

1. ThinkBaby Safe Sunscreen – This is an area that we don’t skimp on researching– like everything we put on our baby’s skin. After using several brands and much trial and error, Think Sunblock, has been the cleanest and best sunblock that we’ve found for our family. A lot of natural sunblocks tend to have a chalky feel, but Think goes on great. You can purchase it in kids and regular versions, both are toxin-free and reef safe.

2. Vegan Pointy Toe Flat – I was SO excited to find these adorably classic d’Orsay flats at Nordstrom, made by BC Footwear. They are the perfect transition from winter to spring and would be darling for a warm summer night out. And even cuter, because no animals were harmed in the making of these adorably fashionable shoes.

3. Crunchi Sunlight Sunblock – I try to use products with the cleanest and safest ingredients possible. Ever since becoming a mom, my eyes have opened up to how many toxic ingredients are used in everyday products. I was so thrilled to find this brand and their growing product list. Their sunblock is brand new and I loved it upon first try. I apply it underneath my makeup in the morning and with its extra smooth texture, I don’t even notice that it’s there.

4. Crunchi Highlighter – I cannot say enough amazing things about Crunchi’s Light Reflecting Pressed Highlighter. If you want to highlight your summer tan with an extra bronzy glow you will LOVE this wonderful product. Whenever I need a subtle boost of bronzy magic, I add this to my face for the perfect glow. This is literally the product you didn’t know you were missing in your makeup bag.

5. Sea Mist Spray – During summer, I get out of the shower, spritz this sea salt based spray on my hair (made by John Masters Organics), then tie it in a bun and go! Take out your bun after about an hour or so and then you get perfectly tousled beachy waves. It’s nourishing, texturizing and volumizing all in one. Very minimal work, all thanks to my favorite spray.

6. Coola, Radical Recovery Organic After Sun Lotion – This is one of my husband’s favorite summertime products. If you’re out in the sun and forget to reapply after swimming, this will save you the next day! If you tend to burn, applying this cool cream not only feels good, but saves your skin from looking like a complete lobster. Nourishing and soothing with powerful antioxidants, this cream is amazing at helping your skin bounce back. And being that it’s vegan and reef safe make this product even more amazing.

7. Summer Straw Hats – H&M has some seriously cute straw hats this season with seriously cute price tags. I grabbed a couple for all of our summer adventures. Amazon similar.

8. Birkenstock’s – The  Gizeh Essentials are one of my favorite warm weather sandals. They are lightweight, comfortable and made from EVA. I have them in Metallic Copper and I’m going to grab a few more fun colors this summer. They are perfect for both the beach and running around town.

9. Woven Strap Sandals – Another amazing find by BC Footwear is this cute minimalist sandal. Perfectly stylish and functional. I had the most difficult time choosing between Brown Woven and Rose Gold Metallic!

10. Native Sandals – For the past 6ish years, these have been our kids summer shoe of choice! They withstand some serious play and they are simple enough for kids to put on themselves.. and they come in the cutest colors! If Amazon doesn’t have the color you’re looking for, Nordstrom carries several colors also.

11. Sand Cloud Towels – I love this brand not only for their super cute beach towels, but also because proceeds from every sale go towards saving marine life. This is a product we can definitely get on board with. Amazon option here. #savethefishies

So there are a few of our favorites this year! I would love to hear any vegan must have products that you’re loving and that inspire you this season.

 

 

 

 

*These are all products that I personally love and use. Some of our links use affiliate commissions. However, this does not impact our honest reviews and opinions. We only share things that we genuinely love and hope that you do too!

 

 

When my oldest was four years old, he asked me if he was the only vegan kid in the entire world. He only knew a world of playdates and church classes, where there was plenty of “No, you can’t eat that.” While he understood the foundation of why we chose to be vegan (and that eating any of the traditional snacks would result in a painful tummyache), I knew it was hard not to feel included at such a young age. While I believe it builds character and gives him something to be passionate about, hearing him say this broke my heart.

I have always made it my goal to have a comparable vegan option available for my kids and to connect with any vegan families when and if possible. Because of all of this, I have always had the dream of making vegan kids truly feel that they are a part of something greater… something not exclusive, but incredibly inclusive and welcomed by everyone. So my very first start to this dream are our VEGAN KIDS bracelets! I wanted my kids to have something fun that reminds them that what they are doing is incredibly special.. and makes for a great conversation starter!

We’re offering these at a introductory rate for a short time–we are still figuring out the best way to get them to you at the best rate. But we are so excited about having them and our kids have loved them so much already… and we couldn’t wait to share them with you! These are children’s sized bracelets, but they fit my wrist comfortably.

 

Click on the link below to purchase!

VEGAN KID Bracelets!

bracelets: VEGAN KID Bracelets

shirts: Mindful Organic Kids

Something sweet for your sweets this Valentine’s Day! Try our simple Berry Crumble, with an out-of-this-world vegan cream cheese drizzle on top! It’s made with frozen berries, so this dessert can be enjoyed all year long.

My sis-in-law got me this cute Martha Stewart heart shaped cast iron dish for my birthday. The second I opened it I knew exactly what I wanted to make! Hope you have a great Valentine’s Day.. and if you aren’t spending it with anyone special, I hope you’re treating yourself to something delicious!💘

 

 

 

February is one of my favorite months. Not only is it my birthday month, but it is the month of Valentines day as well.. which also means it’s a pricier, thought-inducing time for my husband — who has two occasions to buy his wife gifts for! I can’t let the sweetest holiday go by, without sharing our very favorite cookie recipe. If you love almond or marzipan, this Almond Shortbread Cookie is definitely the cookie for you! Almond flour combined with coconut oil, gives this cookie a delicious marzipan-like texture.

And to make it even more fun for the kids to make, we make them into a thumbprint cookie – complete with whatever jam of your choosing. My brother and my new sister-in-law visit Cambria often, which is a town off of the coast of California. They always bring back Ollalieberry goodies, which happened to be the jam that I had on hand (and made for a delicious cookie!). But these would be just as great with something like a raspberry or cherry jam.

Keeping it easy and delicious is my motto in the kitchen, so I hope you enjoy these one-bowl Almond Shortbread Cookies. And I hope you have the sweetest Valentines Day!💘

 

 

 

 

Ever had a craving for something, but not want to spend the entire afternoon in the kitchen? I love making foods from scratch, but seeing how far vegan food items have become readily available in the past few years makes me appreciate being able to buy them. And that’s exactly where my love for Trader Joes comes in (no, this isn’t sponsored, I just have a genuine love for the place 🙃) and every single ingredient in this recipe was purchased from there.  And thus, I give you “Five Minute Banana Bread French Toast.” Seriously, impress your friends for brunch, vegan or not, on a whim.

 

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ps – be sure to follow @plantbasedmomma on instagram and facebook for more vegan goodness. 

 

There are a lot of vegan cheeses to choose from on the market these days – which is an incredible dilemma to have. But if you have never heard of Spero Foods before, this is a bandwagon you will likely want to jump on. You already know that we are fans of their vegan egg and of their healthy and sustainable philosophy. On top of that, they are plant based, made from totally clean ingredients, without unhealthy preservatives that you probably can’t pronounce (and free from soy, gluten and nuts!). They are also an impressive nine times more sustainable than dairy cheeses. 

Aside from all of that, these cheeses are AMAZING. If I haven’t stressed it enough, you will undoubtedly want to bookmark this company in the back of your mind. We shared our provisions with our extended family and they were completely stunned. Everyone’s favorite, hands down, was the “Goaty Chèvre” which was remarkably similar to the real thing. I am still amazed by the flavor and the fact that everything used to concoct this masterpiece of a non-dairy cheese was made from entirely clean ingredients. 

The different flavors of chèvre that we enjoyed were Sun Dried Tomato, Smokey Chipotle, Goat and Herbacious. I am really looking forward to trying their new Camembert, as well. These cheeses can be used on a platter, in or on pasta, soups or in any recipe that calls for a gourmet cheese.  

And the icing on top is this gorgeous Whipped Cinnamon Cheesecake. It is as beautiful, rich and delectable as it looks. 

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Spero Foods is absolutely changing the face of veganism and sustainable living and I am so glad that they exist. Vegans can undoubtedly rejoice in a delicious cheese plate again. You can wow your dinner guests with something impressively vegan, or enjoy it as a delightfully rich and gourmet snack by yourself. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for this great company. 

**I received product in exchange for my honest feedback and opinion. I only share products that I absolutely love and believe in.

It’s the most beautiful time of the year at Disneyland…and let me tell you: they did not skimp on their gifts to vegans this holiday season! This season has by far had the most vegan friendly offerings of any Disney special event. If you were contemplating going, now is the time. On top of all the new delicious seasonal additions, there are a handful of new vegan items that are a permanent fixture on their menu as well. This comes right after releasing an entirely plant-based menu for World Vegan Day. The progression is amazing and is so appreciated. Thank you, Disneyland. Our vegan kids appreciate it more than you can imagine!

Here are some of the holiday options that we thoroughly enjoyed. Scroll all the way down to see what my very favorite was!

Chana Masala and Pomegranate lemonade, Festival of Holidays Winter Wonders Booth; California Adventure

This was the husbands favorite dish of the day. It was deliciously loaded with flavor and we were so excited to have vegan naan.  The pomegranate lemonade was a huge family favorite. It was so loved that we went back for another round of refreshing seconds.

 

Pumpkin Soup, Festival of Holidays Winter Wonders Booth; California Adventure

This pumpkin soup was packed with holiday flavor and a delicious addition to their vegan menu.

 

Vanilla and Cranberry Trifle, Festival of Holidays Winter Wonders Booth; California Adventure

This dessert was the most anticipated from our trip. The two words vegan and dessert do not usually go hand in hand at Disneyland. We are lucky to have a few miniscule options, but nothing as loaded as this tangy deliciousness. We’re crossing our fingers that Disneyland continues with the vegan dessert offerings.. because what is a trip to Disney without a lot little bit of sugar.

 

Plant–etarium Street Tacos, Studio Catering Co.; California Adventure

As an avid and self-proclaimed taco connoisseur, these were by the far most interesting tacos I have ever tasted. I intentionally didn’t read anything about them beforehand and was totally surprised by the fresh pomegranates. They were an interesting addition and completely lended to the holiday flavor.

 

Vegan Chile Rellano, Paradise Garden Grill; California Adventure

My absolute favorite dish of all of the holiday offerings was this gorgeous chile rellano! A roasted poblano stuffed with veggie stew and served with spanish rice and beans.  It was literally stuffed with a multitude of flavors, that all complemented each other so well. The most amazing part is that as a vegan or vegetarian, it is so rare to be able to eat spanish rice, since it’s traditionally flavored with chicken broth. So anytime I can order it vegan, I appreciate it so much more than I ever have.

 

 

And while not a holiday offering, but a permanent menu fixture, Hungry Bear Restaurant in Disneyland, has now added the Beyond Burger! You can grab this “Messy Melvin’s Vegan Specialty Burger” in Critter Country. Disneyland now has a decent selection of veggie burger, as this joins their house made patty and the Impossible Burger, which is a secret menu item at Lamplight Lounge in DCA.

 

 

 

Here’s one of our happy vegan kiddos, thoroughly enjoying all of Disneyland’s vegan gifts to us this holiday season. We are incredibly hopeful that this is just a taste of more awesome vegan things to come!