Why Matcha Green Tea Is Amazing! - Matcha Organics Review

If you're anything like me you are always looking to add nutrients and minerals to your daily intake. Sometimes it seems like there isn't enough time (or calories!) in a day to get it all in. This is why I love matcha, it comes in powder form and you can add it to just about anything! It is abundant in antioxidants, minerals and nutrients to keep you healthy and happy. In fact, one cup of matcha is the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea!

Matcha is a specially grown and powdered green tea. It is the center of both Chinese and Japanese traditional tea ceremonies. Most recently, it has been used to dye and flavour foods and treats (We've all heard of the infamous Matcha Green Tea KitKat bars!). There are two different grades of matcha -ceremonial and culinary, each use different blends and preparations (today I'm testing culinary). Ceremincial matcha is typically mixed with hot water while culinary can be used in a variety of ways such as baking and smoothies.

Matcha is produced from shade grown tea leaves, this is important because it boosts the production of chlorophyll and in return amino acids. Chlorophyll is an antioxidant and assists in keeping our blood healthy, kills germs and acts as a wound healer. Once picked the leaves are then dried, steamed and stone ground to produce the powdered matcha that we know and love today. Because it is powdered and you use the entire leaf your body is able to use 100% of the nutrients from the tea. It is important to ensure that the matcha you purchase has not oxidized, as it degrades the product - always look for vacuum sealed tins/bags to ensure optimum freshness and maximum antioxidants.

As mentioned above, matcha hosts a powerhouse of antioxidants (over 1300!), minerals and nutrients. The health benefits of matcha include:
- Energy Booster (Replace your morning coffee!)
- Mental clarity
- Boosts metabolism and burns calories
- Detoxifies
- Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar
- Prevents disease

I was recently given the opportunity to try Matcha Organics Culinary Grade Matcha and have been loving adding it to my daily smoothie! The best thing about Matcha Organics is that it is quality made. This company truly cares about it's product and their customers, which is of great importance to me. Their matcha is 100% organic and USDA approved. As previously mentioned, it is culinary grade which means is perfect for mixing in your morning smoothie or adding to your cupcakes! This product also comes with a 100 recipe e-book that is sure to give you plenty of ideas on how to get your matcha in!

Have you ever tried matcha?! Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

* Matcha Organics kindly provided me with a bag of their Culinary Matcha Green Tea in exchange for an honest review. All purchases receive their free Top 100 Matcha Recipes E-Book! As always, all opinions and experiences are my own! This post is not sponsored. Some of the links above are affiliate links. Thank you so much for your support!

Top Five Must Have Tools in Your Vegan Kitchen!

Hello!

When I first went vegan what seems like so many years ago now, I was concerned about all these specialty tools I was seeing! I didn't (still don't haha!) have the money for a $700 blender and I don't have the space for a ton of kitchen gadgets! If you are just starting out or trying to minimize your kitchen here are my top five items that you need to be successful with your vegan diet!

1. Glass Containers -  I use mason jars and glass Tupperware, I really like glass because it doesn't leach any chemicals into your food, it's easy to clean, and it's very durable! (I have yet to break one!) The items I purchased I've had for 10 years! On another note I've seen some great metal containers, I just haven't tried them yet myself. Let me know if you have!

2. Blender - Yes, I do believe you need a blender but don't worry if you don't want to spend all your savings on one. While I recommend you purchase a better quality one but it doesn't have to be the best. I've tried many low end blenders (>$60) and they just don't last. However, I've had my Ninja Blender for a couple of years now and it was only around $100.  It has lasted through daily smoothies, hummus and many other recipes and I would definitely purchase one again!

3. Knives and Cutting Board -  These two go hand in hand. What's great about being vegan is that you don't need an entire knife set! I purchased a few great quality knives that should last me a lifetime. The knives I keep in my kitchen are: Chef's Knife, Bread Knife, Salad Knife, and Paring Knife. As for a cutting board, I absolutely love the wood ones, they're durable and last forever if cared for properly. I rinse mine off after each use and clean it with lemon and olive oil once a week!

4. Cook/Bakeware - Before going vegan I had so many pots, pans and dishes. I've cut mine down to one big pot, one medium pot with steamer, one small pot, one frying pan and one baking sheet. As always, I suggest doing your research and choosing a quality product (I believe in quality over quantity!). The ones I've been using for the past 10 years are from Lagostina and they've held up great!

5. Kettle - If you're anything like me then you love tea! I use my kettle once or twice a day and it makes it so easy to heat up water quickly! I chose a stove top version just because I like the way they look but the electric ones are just as great!

Of course there are many other tools for the kitchen but these are the ones I use on a daily basis and would consider the basics. What items in your kitchen do you consider must haves? Any favourite brands? Let me know in the comments below!

* I purchased all the items above with my own money, as always all thoughts and opinions are my own! Links above are affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

How To Save Money On Groceries! [Canada]

This has always been a place I've struggled with, groceries can be super expensive and it doesn't help that the best quality, nutrient dense foods are the worst offenders. It has never made sense to me that a bag of apples was more expensive than a bag of chips!

While we all know that our health is the best investment, most of us have a budget to stick to and unfortunately can't always get what we want. What we can do however is use the following tools to help save and put those savings back into our cart with the purchase of those healthy foods.

1. Plan your shopping trip. I keep a magnetic shopping list on my fridge so that I can write down items that are used up throughout the week, my husband will also jot down anything he needs here so that it's all in one place. The day before my grocery trip I go through my pantry, cabinets and fridge to determine what needs to be restocked and add these items to my list. I will also come up with a quick meal plan, 7 meals that I can make throughout the week in addition to lunches and add the necessary ingredients to my list.

2. Coupons:  Every week I go on all the following websites (Save them to your favourites!) to print the coupons of items that are on my list. Some of the sites below send you coupons in the mail, I order from these sites weekly but only the items that my family uses. In addition to the websites listed below, you can also go directly to company website for coupons, there are often promotions going on!
- WebSaver [Printable + Mail]
- Save [Printable + Mail + Cash Back App]
- Walmart [Printable + Mail]
- PG Everyday [Printable]
- Flipp [Printable + Price Match App]
- Smart Source [Printable]

3. Price Match: Looking through all the paper flyers to find matches is incredibly time consuming and honestly I never found myself doing this until I found Flipp. Download the app on your phone, make your shopping list and it will find matches for you. (This app also has coupons that you can print out at home). I use this all the time at Walmart at have never had an issue. Bonus * You don't waste gas and time by having to go to multiple grocery stores!
- Google App
- Apple App

5. Never go grocery shopping hungry! If I do, I find that I make poor food choices and pick up quick and easy meal and snack items that I wouldn't normally purchase! If I eat before I shop, then my mind is clear to make healthy choices.

6. Shop the discounted rack! I don't know about your local store, but mine has a rack for produce and for baked goods that are close to expiry. I have often picked up a bag of oranges or buns for $1 that are still more than good to eat. However, this can backfire if you pick everything up off the rack just because it's been discounted, always buy only what you know you can eat before it goes bad.

7. Do the work yourself! Although it may be tempting to buy that fruit or veggie tray, they are super expensive and unless you are in a hurry they aren't worth it! I always try and buy the whole food version rather than the packaged one, it might not save you time but it will save you money!

8. Instant Savings Apps: These are apps that you can use in-store for discounts on your groceries at the cash register (aka digital coupons). The one I use is Coupgon!

9. Store Point Cards: These are always great as you get points that you can use at the register on your groceries, they can add up quickly! The ones I use are PC Plus and Shopper's Optimum.

10. Cash Back Apps: I don't always find the best coupons, especially when it comes to produce but this where the cash back apps come in. 9 times of 10 one of these apps will offer cash back on produce. Once you've reached $20, they'll send you a cheque in the mail!:
- Caddle
- Checkout51
- Zweet 
- Save 

What are your favourite sites, tips and tricks for saving money on groceries? I'm always looking to learn how others do it! Although I've seen Farmer's Markets on many, many lists they're always more expensive in my location so I didn't include it. Do you find that they save you money? Be sure to let me know in  the comments below! Happy Saving!

What I Eat In A Day! [Vegan] 3

Hey Everyone!

Here is another full day of vegan eating! I don't normally count calories or track macros but have put them together to give you an idea.

Breakfast

As always, I have a glass of lemon water to wake up my system and help flush out any toxins! I then enjoyed 3 yummy oranges and 2 pieces of roti!

- 460 kcal, 83.4g Carbs, 10.4g Protein, 12.8g Fat

Morning Snack

I enjoyed a bowl of frozen mixed berries!

- 140 kcal, 30g Carbs, 2g Protein, 1g Fat

Lunch

I made myself a bowl of barley (I like it plain!) and my favourite salad which included hemp hearts, chia seeds and some homemade Italian dressing. 

- 535 kcal, 84.7g Carbs, 25.5g Protein, 13.6g Fat

Afternoon Snack

Mixed Nuts

- 200kcal, 7g carbs, 5g Protein, 14g Fat

Supper

My favourite supper of all time is a chow mein inspired dish with tofu, rice noodles, mixed veggies and a homemade sauce!

- 678 kcal, 85.2g Carbs, 30.1g Protein, 23.3g Fat

Alright! That is it for the day! I was full from supper and didn't need an evening snack although I would like to start drinking tea.. Any suggestions for a fruity, caffeine free flavour?

Days Total: 2013 Calories, 290.4g Carbs (68%), 73.1g Protein (17%), 64.9g Fat (15%)

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!

Jules

* I used S Health to find the nutritional information.

What I Eat In A Day! [Vegan] 2

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the lack of posts! We have officially sold our house and are moving into an apartment soon! We are super excited for this new, simpler chapter in our lives. Anyways, this is what I ate today!

I drank a full glass of water before each meal and throughout the day.

Rise and Shine

My day starts with a refreshing glass of water with half a lemon (I fill this glass with water twice).

- 6 Calories, 4g Carbs, 0.1g Protein

*If there is one thing I do daily, it's drink my lemon water in the morning!

3 Peaches

- 114 Calories, 0.6g Fat, 27.9 Carbs, 2.4g Protein

Breakfast

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Coconut Sugar & Half an Apple

- 396 Calories, 6.1g Fat, 68g Carbs, 12.1g Protein

Morning Snack

Blueberries

- 166 Calories, 0.8g Fat, 42g Carbs, 2g Protein

Lunch

3 Oranges

- 186 Calories, 0.3g Fat, 45.9g Carbs, 3.6g Protein

Green Juice ** First Time trying this! Very quick and easy!

- 188 Calories, 0.8g Fat, 43.4g Carbs, 3.4g Protein

Afternoon Snack

Baked Fries (2 Potatoes) with a dash of salt and vinegar

- 331 Calories, 0.2g Fat, 74.4 Carbs, 8.6g Protein

Supper

Vegetable Chili (Homemade)

- 525 Calories, 2.5g Fat, 100g Carbs, 25g Protein

Evening Snack

Cucumber

- 32 Calories, 7.2g Carbs, 1.2g Protein

Days Total: 1944 Calories, 11.3 Fat (2%), 412.8 Carbs (86%), 58.4g Protein (12%)

* I used S Health to find the nutritional information.

As previously mentioned, I never track calories or macros on a regular basis! Although looking at my totals today I might try to up my fat and total caloric intake! I always I eat until I am full and do not restrict at all. I think it's most important to eat a wide range of healthy and colourful foods throughout the week than to focus on one particular day.

It's been really fun doing these "What I Eat In A Day" posts! It's very interesting to see how things change or stay the same!

What is your favourite food or meal? Please be sure to leave it in the comments below!

Peace & Happiness,

Jules

What I Eat In A Day! [Vegan]

Hey everyone!

As you will be able to tell from the menu I eat and recommend vegan foods. In a perfect world this would be 100% plant based and consist only of whole foods but I do occasionally treat myself to a pizza made with vegan cheese (I love SOYA!) or a yummy vegan desert. Most importantly, I always eat until I'm full and have included the nutritional information only for your information. Although I don't count calories or track macros I do think that is great way for those new to this lifestyle to see if your on track!  I'm not always perfect but here is what I ate today!

I drink a full glass of water before each meal and throughout the day.

Rise and Shine

My day starts with a refreshing glass of water with half a lemon (I fill this glass with water twice).

- 6 Calories, 4g Carbs, 0.1g Protein
- High in Vitamin C, good source of folate and high in many minerals like potassium, calcium and magnesium

*If there is one thing I do daily, it's drink my lemon water in the morning!

Cherries

- 148 Calories, 0.4g Fat, 37.4g Carbs, 2.4g Protein
- High in Powerful Antioxidants, Vitamin C & A

Breakfast

Oatmeal with Cinnamon & Coconut Sugar

- 382 Calories, 8g Fat, 84g Carbs, 16g Protein
- High in Fiber, Magnesium & Iron

Morning Snack

2 Apples & Cinnamon

- 117 Calories, 0.2g Fat, 20.8 Carbs, 0.3g Protein
- High in Vitamin A, C and a good source of Iron & Fiber

Lunch

Garden Salad (Lettuce, Mushrooms, Sweet Peppers, Carrots, Celery, Cucumber, Sweet Peas, Radishes) with Chia and Hemp Seeds

- 296 Calories, 7.6g Fat, 29.8g Carbs, 33g Protein
-High in Vitamin A, B6, C, Omega 3's, Phosphorus, Potassium and a multitude of other Vitamins and Minerals

3 Homemade Flatbread with Olive Oil

- 318 Calories, 0.5g Fat, 22.3g Carbs, 3.8g Protein
- High in Iron and Fiber

Afternoon Snack

Frozen Mixed Berries

- 240 Calories, 51g Carbs, 3g Protein
- High in Vitamin C, Fiber and a good source of Folate and Potassium

2 Oranges

- 124 Calories, 0.2g Fat, 30.6 Carbs, 2.4g Protein
- High in Vitamin C and Calcium

Supper

Bowl of Carrots, Cucumbers & Snap Peas

- 148 Calories, 0.3g Fat, 16.9g Carbs, 2.4g Protein
- High in Vitamin A, C and a good source of Calcium and Iron

Sweet Potato Oven Roasted Fries (2 Sweet Potatoes)

- 258 Calories, 20.1 Carbs, 1.5g Protein
- High in Vitamin A, B5 and B6

Evening Snack

10 Stalks of Celery

- 60 Calories, 2.2 Carbs, 0.4g Protein
- High in Vitamin K, Folate and Potassium

Days Total: 2097 Calories, 17.2 Fat, 319.10 Carbs, 65.3g Protein

* I used S Health to find the the nutritional information.

What is your favourite food or meal? Please be sure to leave it in the comments below!

Peace & Happiness,

Jules