Thanks to the work from Preserve, this company has created a toothbrush that not only cleans your teeth but reduces your carbon footprint, too. These brushes are made from 100 percent recycled yogurt cups, which now brings us one step closer to making “going green” a simple reality.

I absolutely love this brush because it’s not only made from recycled products but it’s actually a great toothbrush, too. It’s soft and keeps my pearly whites clean–it does the job and it does it well!

This isn’t even the best part! Once you are ready to toss out your old Preserve toothbrush and buy a new one, Preserve provides you with a pre-postage mailing package to recycle your old one to help continue the recycling chain. How genius!

Want to clean your teeth while keeping the earth clean,too? Here is what you do:

1. Buy a Preserve toothbrush.

2. Clean your pretty teeth.

3. Recycle your old Preserve toothbrush in the free mailing postage provided by Preserve (USA only).

4. Buy a new Preserve toothbrush and help keep the recycling chain alive.

So next time you find yourself looking for a new toothbrush, remember Preserve and the power of the toothbrush!

Now that is what I call giving back, amen!

For more information on Preserve and their recycling program, visit www.preserveproducts.com.

So, It’s time to get down and dirty….

Weekly Plan:

• Since I am so busy during the weekday, I really don’t have time to prepare my food for the week. So, during the week, I will think about the food that I want to eat for the following week and come up with a recipe game plan. This means looking at my schedule for the following week to see how crazy my life will be (aka- what do I realistically have time for?)
• After coming up with my ideas for the foods I’d like to eat for the following week, I will create my shopping list.
• Once my workweek comes to an end, the shopping begins! (Whip out that list and coupons!!!!)
• During the weekend, I will purchase everything I need to create ALL of my recipes for the up-coming week. Then the cooking begins! (I will cook everything I can that weekend so I can be ready for the week. This means I may have to freeze some of the food I prepare so that it doesn’t perish before I can consume it.)

This plan seems very basic and reasonable.  However, I know (like anything) it takes time gathering new ideas and transforming it into a new habit.

Even though this is the “basic plan” there are still some small details that need to be considered such as: budget, how much time do I really have to prepare meals and cook, and how do I stay vegan in the “real world?”

For me, I know I will be incorporating coupon cutting and giving myself a lot of time to grasp this new change. I know without that combination, I will probably fail.

Even though I have faced some struggles with going vegan, I already have some good habits! I have been keeping vegan snacks on me 24/7 (this is a great first step in preparing yourself for a vegan lifestyle.) This way, I will never be in a situation where I am without the food I need nor will I go hungry (thank goodness!) This trick has been very valuable to my lifestyle because not only can I stick to my plan, but it also helps ensure that I won’t eat unhealthy food either…

On my menu this week I have prepared vegetable potpie, soup and veggie casserole. Since I am riding solo, I don’t need to cook as much or as often—thank you left overs! (See, being single isn’t ALL that bad!)

What does your plan for change look like? What tricks do you have to ensure your success?

My biggest struggle has been making the time to cook. Even though I’ve taken all the steps and have purchased all the cookbooks, products and baking goods…someone still needs to get up and cook! The balance between my busy lifestyle and my goals has lost its stability, and it’s time to win it back.

I could make up a million excuses for why I’m not cooking and why I’ve lost sight of my goals. But, the truth is: if we are always making excuses for our behavior then when will we ever become better?

I think messing up every now and again is okay…for goodness sakes we are human and these “mistakes” help us re-evaluate our lives. It keeps us focused and grounded.

However, I am not going to lie and pretend that I am not upset with my lack of obedience, but I also refuse to beat myself up over it. Change is a big step, and I’m not backing down. I’ve realized I’ve been slacking (not on purpose!) and now I’m ready to get back into the game.

So, my first step is taking a step back. Before I can jump the fence, I need to see how high I can jump.

So this is the pre-plan:

1.     Make a plan

2.     Don’t give up

3.     Get creative

4.     Share my journey with you…

To live the life I want I need to take more control over it. I need to be more productive, make that to-do-list and stick to it (while still living the crazy adventurous life I lead.) So, here we go.

It’s day one of my re-focused life, and I’m officially back in the game….

Once I arrived at work I popped open this bad boy, heated it up in the microwave for about 45 seconds and gave my first vegan burrito a whirl.  I gotta say, I really loved it!  It tasted a lot better than it looked and because of all the natural ingredients, the tofu tasted great and totally satisfied my expectation for eggs!

With only 273 calories, no cholesterol, 200mg of sodium and 7 grams of fiber, this is a great alternative to a typical breakfast burrito or any breakfast involving meat, eggs or cheese – usually making for a meal indulged with higher fat and cholesterol content.

Starbucks breakfast burrito, which I was starting to eat on a regular basis, has egg whites and feta cheese, increases the sodium intake to 900mg (More than quadrupling the sodium intake!!)   With Gloria’s Pantry wrap only costing $3.20, it is definitely the smarter way to start my day.

I would definitely purchase this wrap again and I am excited to try other Gloria’s Pantry products.  Trying great tasting vegan/vegetarian products like this make me excited to search and try others.  I am already on the hunt for my next dish!  Until next time, my fellow meat-eaters out there — I challenge you all to replace a typical meal you eat filled with meat and/or dairy and replace it with a vegan or vegetarian dish.  What you try may surprise you!

http://www.gloriaspantry.com/

Dandies has opened up a whole new world of baking opportunities for me and my kitchen! And now… I finally feel complete. I no longer need to double think my love for marshmallows or give them up! Dandies look, taste and feel like the original gelatin-based marshmallow (sometimes I even double check the nutrition label just to make sure I’m eating the vegan good stuff—every time I’m fooled).

The only down side to Dandies is that it is a little more expensive than the original marshmallow. On average, I’ve found a bag of Dandies to be about $4.50 (not really a cheap alternative.) But trust me… it’s worth the few extra dollars (I promise!) Your taste buds will be thanking you later!

Since Dandies is now a new staple ingredient to my life, I’m still experimenting with its cooking abilities. So far, it has made a great addition to my hot cups of cocoa, and it has turned my smores into a sweet delicacy (they even roast like regular marshmallows!) I’ve made an amazing batch of rice krispie treats (recipe to come!) and I look forward to creating new masterpieces with my long lost mallow friend… it’s about time we reunited!

*Dandies are gluten-free and vegan. That’s right—no animal products. Just 100% pure natural deliciousness!

Want to give Dandies a try? Check out their website below for more information!
www.chicagosoydairy.com

Pros: I love that Clean Well is very easy to spot in my extremely cluttered bag. Most of the  sanitizers I’ve used previously seemed to have disappeared amongst my belongings, but the bright Clean Well container is very easy to spot! My favorite thing about this product is that the sanitizer is a spray: it goes on well, feels great and you get to control how much of the sanitizer you want on your hands (no more overdoing it!) Plus, the min-sanitizer has enough formula for 225+ sprays. That should keep your hands protected for quite awhile!

Drawbacks: I wasn’t a huge fan of the original scent. The first time I used it, I felt like I was using a bathroom cleanser on my skin. However, after continuous use the scent doesn’t seem to bother me as much. Besides that, I’m a fan.

Overall, I would recommend this hand sanitizer (even though I could easily find a cheaper non-natural alternative– I like knowing this product is safe for people, kids, the environment and animals.)

*Clean Well is a sustainable solution (great for the planet) and it has never been tested on animals.

Want to give Clean Well a try? Check out their website below for more information!
www.cleanwelltoday.com

Breaking a habit is often the biggest struggle people have in life. So, going vegan…well, let’s just say it could be a bit of a challenge.  Trust me, that’s why my vegetarian journey has been nothing short of a long haul.

When I first began my vegetarian transition 12-years-ago, it was a very slow process. I gave up every type of meat until chicken was the last to go *This was not an easy trade-in. Chicken was my FAVORITE, and I use to argue with my siblings that chicken was not really a meat and that it was really only poultry (so I could still get away with eating it.) Obviously my views have changed, even my brother and sister still give me a hard time about those ‘pre-teen’ chicken loving vegetarian days.

Anyways, it was a bit of a challenge. I knew I no longer wanted to eat meat, but I didn’t know how to give it up. But, as I became more educated, I became more devoted to my change. Soon, I gave up eggs, gelatin (yes that means skittles, marshmallows and jello…a kids nightmare). Over time it became easier, although society can sometimes make this lifestyle choice an obstacle.

Now, as an adult, I’m up for my next challenge. As a lacto-vegetarian (a vegetarian who chooses only to eat dairy products) I’m ready to make that next leap and dive into the vegan world. You see, I’m not a milk fan, and if ice cream and chocolate didn’t taste so good–I would have been vegan years ago.

In fact, I did try the vegan road once. During my junior year of high school, I SO badly wanted to be vegan. I couldn’t stand eating dairy. I did well on my vegan diet for about four months until I started sneaking candy. Yes, I know…I was a horrible vegan. I just missed chocolate and all the yummy stuff “normal” people eat. See, at this age, I didn’t have much of an income so buying my own groceries was kind of out of the question. Plus, being a teenage vegan was NOT a trend and it certainly wasn’t easy for me at the time (although now I see it can be done!)

So, when I realized just what I was doing (sneaking candy and “cheating” on my vegan ways) I decided to go back to my lacto-veggie lifestyle. This way of life had treated me really well, and I was proud of those choices. However, now that I’m older and I’m able to make better decisions for myself–I’d like to give it a try again. So, call me the “part-time vegan” because that is what I choose to be. At home, I want a vegan kitchen. When I’m out in social settings, I will be dedicated to my vegan ways. But, if a vegan option is not available, I will not fret if I have to come face-to-face with a little dairy.

So, my goal is to transition into a more vegan-friendly lifestyle. I know vegan food is tasty, and there are so many things I can eat to stay healthy while “saving the world”. I know I will need to stay focused while continuing to educate myself and stick to a plan. *A plan will be a HUGE asset to my success. I think my biggest struggle will be cooking while staying on a budget… and dealing with the “anti-vegans.” But, I’m ready for it. So bring it on! I’m ready to take this on full-force. Let the vegan frenzy begin!

The deodorant isle has become one of my favorite sections in the natural health store. Don’t ask me why, really I don’t what it is that makes me so excited about the assortments of natural antiperspirants. Maybe it’s the different brands, sticks, scents, colors and creative designs; whatever it is, I love it! I can stand in that isle for quite some time starring down all the different types of sticks (probably because it is so difficult to choose a brand). Regardless, you have to start somewhere. So, Tom’s of Main became my first victim for its sleek appearance and great scent.

I was anxious to try it, but to be fair I knew I’d have to wait until the morning to give it a try when my other “traditional” brand wore down. My first Tom’s use was amazing. I LOVED the way it rolled on. It was smooth, soft and gentle. It smelled great, and I was feeling amazing. However, after a couple of hours I began to wonder if it was really working. That sweet smell I once loved started to wear down, and I didn’t smell so umm “great” anymore. So, I applied more and more and more but the same thing continued to happen. I used this deodorant for a solid week until I couldn’t bare to smell myself anymore.

Now, the stick works really well for the initial use but the longevity just isn’t there. Maybe I’m just an overactive “malodorous” person or maybe it’s just because there is a lack of chemicals in the product (which we don’t like or want anyhow!) However, I wasn’t too impressed with this deodorant.

If you don’t mind reapplying every couple of hours, then the stick is ok. I just don’t feel comfortable having a deodorant I can’t really rely on. But I don’t hate it. It has become my emergency back-up stick!

Even though I wasn’t a huge fan, I’m not giving up on Tom’s. I love their products and who knows- maybe it was just a bad stick in the bunch? I’m still excited to give their other deodorants a fair shot in hopes it will have a better turn out (for your sake and mine). But, while I wait for that, what are your thoughts? Did it work for you?

Want to give Tom’s of Maine a try? Check out their website (www.tomsofmaine.com) for more information!

Wondering how much it costs? On average, I’ve found this stick from anywhere from $3.50 to $4.40.

*Remember, natural products can’t always match up 100 percent to other “chemical” filled competitors. However, some natural products can be better than the competition! It’s always a toss up. So when trying new products, keep an open mind. It will help you transition into your new green world a little better.

-T

Sweetriot is a delicious little treat (only 1-2 calories per ‘peace’) that will kick your chocolate cravings out the door and leave your taste buds melting with pure satisfaction.

My sweetriot “experience” began with nothing but confusion—I had no idea what sweetriot was let alone what cacao was! Plus, what in the world was the difference in the flavor levels?  I was so puzzled (and I really felt like an idiot for not knowing more) but I gave sweetriot the benefit of the doubt and tried it anyhow…I needed to see what this riot was all about.

Luckily, I fell in love with these 100% dark cacao beans (and I know you will, too!) Here are some answers to your rioting questions:

What in the world is cacao? Cacao comes from a tree (usually in South America) that produces cocoa and chocolates!

“sweetriot is creating a sweet movement to fix the world.” –www.sweetriot.com

What does each sweetriot level mean? Each level represents the amount of dark chocolate used to cover each dark cacao ‘peace’. The higher the percentage you go, the more chocolate you will taste. For example, flavor 70 will have a richer cocoa taste than flavor 50. For me, bring on the chocolate! I usually stick to level 70. It is SO tasty and it has a kick of espresso in each ‘peace’. It’s the perfect combination for my taste buds!

Flavor 50: Attention everyone! Flavor 50 is the perfect tin to start your sweetriot journey! With 50% dark chocolate around every 100% dark cacao nib, you will be on your way to a sweet victory!

Flavor 65: Attention chocoholics! This tin has 65% dark chocolate smothered around every dark cacao nib! This tin will be sure to wow your taste buds!

Flavor 70: Attention coffee lovers! This tin has 70% dark chocolate covered around every dark cacao nib with a hint of espresso!

“Sweetriot only uses all-natural, healthy ingredients for sweetriot’s dark chocolate ‘peaces.’ …each box is all natural, gmo-free, dairy-free, kosher, gluten-free, cacao with a mission.” –www.sweetriot.com

That’s not even the best part—sweetriot is globally responsible and is always looking for new ways to give back to the planet. Plus, the tins are artistic, cute and REUSABLE! So toss out those regular candy bars—now you can have your cake and eat it, too!

Want to give sweetriot a try? Check out their website below for more information!
www.sweetriot.com

Wondering how much it costs? I usually pay about $4.30(ish) for a tin of Sweetriot (I purchase mine at Whole Foods). I know that may seem a little expensive for just one tiny tin, but I promise it’s worth it. Plus, they last a long time (unless you like to have a few hand-fulls a day.) For my chocolate cravings, I’ve found sweetriot to be pretty essential to my life.

Did you enjoy your sweetriot experience? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

For me, this past year has been dedicated to change.  Whether done intentionally or not, change can definitely be exciting, challenging and rewarding.  Life after college is a transition that most people can relate to.  When I moved to San Francisco, a city that embraces a healthy lifestyle, that transition helped drive the changes I wanted to make in my life.  After college, my personal health was my number one priority since I had spent years of enjoying college for all of its glory (many games of flip cup, fast food binges and limited exercise). Let’s face it- the college lifestyle really started to take a toll on me. Upon graduation, I was at my heaviest, and I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and just felt like crap. Knowing that no diet, trick or pill could make these changes for me, the only fix was to make a serious lifestyle change.  So, this past year has been dedicated to making healthier, all-natural choices. Now that these changes have made a positive difference in my life, I am excited to be a part of Tara’s vision for Olive Change and everything it stands for. One of the most important things that I’ve been learning is that all it takes is a small change to trigger a new string of healthier habits. And if I can do it… so can you!

Welcome to Olive Change!

-R