Plant-based Paleo Jerky – Is It for Real?

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Yes it is! A variety of vegetables can be used to make paleo-vegan jerky, including eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, coconut and even jack fruit. Dehydrated and seasoned with spices similar to animal jerky, veggie-jerky is a fun, easy snack to make at home and take on the go.

Benefits of Plant-based Paleo Jerky

  • Provides fiber as well as many vitamins and minerals
  • Is lower in sodium than traditional jerky
  • A great way to add vegetables to your diet
  • No dehydrator needed—make it right in your oven
  • Both paleo and vegan
Try these vegan jerky recipes for the perfect paleo snack while hiking, on-the-go or just about any time!

Chipotle Eggplant Jerky

Chipotle Eggplant Jerky
Photo courtesy of Caveman Foods.

Teriyaki Portobello Mushroom Jerky

Teriyaki Portobello Mushroom Jerky
Photo courtesy of Caveman Foods.
 

Brought to us by our friend, Jill West, RDN, at Caveman Foods.

How to Choose the Best Jerky

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When eating paleo, protein is a priority. Jerky makes a great protein snack for post-workout fuel, to satisfy hunger between meals or for healthy, on-the-go snacking just about any time! As jerky’s popularity has grown, so have the flavors and types of meat. Besides beef, look for chicken, pork, bison, elk, venison, turkey, salmon and more. Healthy Living - Choose the best jerkyJerky gives you more nutritional bang for your buck. It’s made with lean cuts of meat so it will dry out properly. This makes it a healthy protein choice because it’s low in saturated fat. Paleo jerky has many nutritional benefits over conventional jerky—without sacrificing taste. For example, the sugar content of paleo jerky is usually 2 grams or less, whereas conventional jerky ranges from 5–9 grams of sugar per ounce.

Benefits of choosing paleo jerky over conventional jerky

  • Lower in sugar
  • Lower in sodium
  • All-natural ingredients
  • No artificial colors or flavors
  • Higher meat quality standards (grass-fed, organic, hormone-free)

How do you know which jerky to choose?

Here’s what to look for on the nutrition facts label:
  • Serving size: 1 oz. (about 28 grams)
  • Less than 400 mg. of sodium
  • Less than 5 g. of sugar
  • 9 g. of protein or more
  • Nitrate- and MSG-free; no artificial flavors or colors (i.e. caramel color)
  • Paleo or Paleo Friendly certification logos
  • Certified Paleo FriendlyCertified Paleo

This article was brought to you by our friend, Jill West, RDN, at Caveman Foods.

What is Erythritol?

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Healthy Living - ErythritolA bit of a mouthful, erythritol, (sounds like air-rith-rih-tall), is a sweetener you may have seen listed among other ingredients for things like chewing gum, baked goods and beverages. While it sounds new, erythritol was discovered by Scottish chemist John Stenhouse in 1848. This sugar alcohol occurs naturally in some fruits like watermelon, pears and grapes, as well as some fermented foods like wine, sake and soy sauce. Even though small amounts of erythritol are present in nature, for mass production, it is generally made from cornstarch. It is about 60–80% as sweet as sucrose (sugar) but is nearly non-caloric. And, unlike sugar, it does not cause spikes in blood sugar, because the body doesn’t break it down like a sugar, making it a great option for those seeking an alternative sweetener.

Something to Smile About

Other sugar alcohols you might know include sorbitol and xylitol. Like its sweet brethren, erythritol supports dental health because it can help suppress the growth of bad bacteria and acids, two things that can lead to tooth decay—that’ll give you something to smile about!

Did you know?

Even though erythritol was discovered in the mid-1800s, it wasn’t used as a sweetener until 1990.

Protecting Your Skin with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen

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Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Having fun in the sun is the perfect way to spend the day! Whether you’re spending a sunny summer day on the beach or making your way down the slopes during winter’s coldest months, it’s important to protect your skin from both the UVA and UVB rays of the sun.

What are the differences between the sun’s rays?
Put on your shades and let’s take a peek:

  • UVA are the longest of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays—they penetrate more deeply into your skin and are responsible for skin damage and premature aging.
  • UVB are the shorter wavelengths and affect the body in two different ways. First, UVB rays help your body transform sunlight into vitamin D, which is an important nutrient for many of your body’s functions. But you may have also experienced one of UVB’s other not-so-good-for-you effects—sunburn.

Protecting Your Skin with Broad Spectrum

Did you know sunscreen that doesn’t say “broad spectrum” on the label is only protecting you from half of the sun’s effects? Too much of either type of ultraviolet light can cause skin cancer, making broad-spectrum sunscreen a healthy choice because it helps protect your skin against both.

Picking Your Unique Protection

We know there are endless options for sunblock on the market, which is why we’ve compiled some tips, tricks and products you can use next time you’re stockin’ up and looking for the safest sunscreen option for you.
  1. Grab a bottle labeled broad spectrum, multi spectrum or UVA/UVB protection.
  2. Pick a bottle with an SPF (sun protection factor) that makes sense for you.
    The SPF number relates to how long it will take the UVB rays to redden your skin.

Top Picks for Broad Spectrum Protection

Shop Now


Cookie Ice Cream Bowl

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  Give into that sweet tooth craving- thank us later. Pile on scoops of gelato for a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth kind of bite. This is a fun way to get kids involved with cooking and an even better way to save time on dish washing, because you’ll be eating the bowl!

Ingredients:

Tools needed:

  • Wooden spoon
  • Mixing bowl
  • Set of measuring spoons
  • Mixer (optional)
  • Muffin tin
  • Cooking spray
  • 5-inch round disk cookie cutter

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  2. Using a hand mixer or wooden spoon, blend butter until smooth. Add egg and Organic Chocolate Chippy Cookie Mix and continue blending mixture until dough is formed.
  3. Grease bottom of muffin tin. Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/3 inch thickness. Cut 5-inch round disks from dough. Cover one disk over the bottom of each muffin tin, pressing to form smooth surface.
  4. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.
  5. Cool on pan for 10 minutes, then carefully loosen bottom edges of cookies from pan using spatula. Allow cups to cool completely on wire cooling rack.
  6. Fill up cookie cups with Sprouts Organic Vanilla Gelato, and drizzle with your favorite chocolate sauce. Enjoy!

How to Start Composting

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Did you know there is a difference between soil and dirt? Soil is nutrient-rich because it contains microorganisms, decaying organic matter, earthworms and other helpful insects. Dirt lacks all of those nourishing and living things. Even earthworms will not thrive in dirt—composting to the rescue! You can turn your dirt into soil with these composting steps.

How to Start Composting: composting in the back yardWhat is Compost?

Compost is a mixture of decaying organic material that helps to fertilize soil. At its simplest form, you can easily make compost by taking your vegetable-based kitchen scraps and yard waste like leaves and grass, putting them in a pile, and letting nature decompose it into nutrient-rich fertilizer for your house plants, garden or plants in your yard.

1. Pile vs. Bin

Decide whether you’re a super-DIYer and want to build a place for a compost pile in your yard or you’d rather use a bin. There are loads of simple plans for containing a compost pile online as well as various types of compost bins. Choose whichever best suits you.

2. Placement

You’ll want to find a spot in your yard to place your composting bin or pile. Ideally, this spot is not too sunny and easy to access from your kitchen. (The easier it is, the more apt you’ll be to continue your new composting routine!)

3. Save up Stuff

You’ve got your bin or pile space all situated and ready to go, now’s the time to rake your yard for dried leaves to use as the base of your pile. You’ll also want to start saving kitchen scraps of veggies and fruits. (Remember, no animal products can make their way into your compost pile!)

4. Layering

Ideally, you’ll want to have about three times as much dried matter to the wetter fruit and veggie scraps from your kitchen. Put down the dried matter first, then add your kitchen scraps on top. Add a layer of soil and a little water to moisten and there you have it—your beginning compost pile!

5. Turning

You’ll need to turn your compost from time to time. Also, if it is dry, give it a little water. If it smells, it has too much water, add some crushed leaves (not more kitchen scraps), turn it and that should do the trick! If it’s really dry, it needs to be turned and watered, or add more fruit and vegetable scraps.

6. Ready to Use

You’ll know your compost is ready to use when it looks like dark rich soil. Add it to your houseplants or garden—they’ll love you and so will the environment! Tip: Crushing or shredding your dried yard leaves and cutting your kitchen scraps into smaller pieces will help your compost turn into usable compost more quickly.

Did you know?

Crushed egg shells are the only exception to the no-animal products rule in composting. Including them in your compost pile adds calcium—an important nutrient in helping plants build cell walls!

Veganism: Where to Start

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If you’re new to veganism, avoiding animal-based products might seem fairly straightforward. However, there are a few things you’ll want to pay special attention to. We’ll help you navigate through these ingredient lists so you can steer clear of some potential hidden animal products that may surprise you.

Whey

Often used in baked goods, whey is one of those words you may or may not be familiar with—it’s the watery part of milk that is leftover after curds are formed in the cheese-making process. Because whey contains much of the lactose and about 20% of the protein in milk, it has become a valued byproduct. (It used to be something that got thrown away!) Whey powder is a mainstay in many non-vegan protein powders. Combined with other ingredients in processed foods, whey conveys a host of desirable properties—for this reason, you might find it listed in the ingredients for baked goods, beverages, dressings and a myriad of other products.

Casein

Another milk-based protein is casein. One of the two primary proteins in milk, it accounts for 80% of the protein in cow’s milk. You may also see casein in the ingredient list as caseinate or lactic acid which sometimes contains casein. Some foods where you might also see casein listed are margarine, non-dairy coffee creamer, cheese-flavored chips and snack crackers, as well as baked goods.

Vegan Marshmallows View RecipeGelatin

Created from the skin, bones and connective tissues of (typically) cows and pigs, gelatin can be found in things like candy (think gummy bears), gum, capsules used for supplements and marshmallows. A vegan substitute for gelatin is agar-agar. A flavorless gelling agent, agar-agar is derived from cooked and pressed seaweed. Whether you want to gather ‘round a campfire and roast marshmallows, or just sneak a few from the pantry (we won’t tell) you can try this Vegan Marshmallow recipe—you’re friends and family will love them!

Natural and Artificial Flavorings

You might want to err on the side of caution with this phrase when you encounter it in an ingredient list as it can be either animal- or vegetable-sourced. Listed in the FDA’s Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, natural and artificial flavors are both described as able to include “meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof”—a pretty wide window!

Vitamins and Supplements

Vitamins and supplements are a part of many people’s healthy living journey. As a vegan, you’ll want to pay a little more attention to the labeling. Found in many multivitamins, vitamins A, D and B12 can be derived from animal products. Additionally, many supplements come in capsule format, which may be made of gelatin. When shopping for vitamins and supplements, it’s best to check the label and look for those that are labeled as vegan. 

Vegan Worcestershire Sauce View RecipeWorcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce seems to show up in loads of recipes that you may want to convert to your new plant-based diet. The ingredient that will kick this condiment from your fridge, however, is anchovies. But fret not—here is a vegan version you can whip up in no time!

Beer and Wine

It might come as a surprise that some wines and beers may not be vegan. After all, wine is made from grapes, and beer from hops and barley—all plants! Yet, some beers and wines might be made with non-vegan-friendly ingredients like dairy or honey. There is also the question of process: Animal products are often used in the filtering and fining, or clarification process of both wine and beer making. These include things like isinglass (from fish), sea shells, albumen (egg whites) and gelatin. Luckily, this website contains a comprehensive list of well over 35,000 beer, wine and spirits, showing whether they’re vegan-friendly or not.

Carmine

A naturally sourced red dye used in food and drink, the most surprising thing about carmine is its source—a bug! For centuries, red dye has been created from the cochineal bug that lives on the pads of prickly pear cacti. Rich in history, this bug-centric colorant eventually made its way into modern-day food production. Some other names you might also see carmine listed as include cochineal, carmine lake or natural red 4.   Did you know? Broccoli, bok choy, chinese cabbage, collards and kale are all great, non-dairy sources of calcium.

Sprouts’ Whole30 Approved® Foods & Brands from Melissa Hartwig

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Whole30 meal plan cookbook, fresh flowers and produce in a grocery store.Article by Melissa Hartwig, co-creator of the Whole30 program If you follow me, you know I love shopping at Sprouts. While my first stop is always the fresh-cut flowers, the rest of the store is FULL of Whole30-friendly products. So many of you have asked me about my Sprouts hauls, so I’m here to share my personal Sprouts Whole30 shopping list. But first, in case you haven’t heard of our program yet … what IS the Whole30, anyway?

Whole30: A Reset, Not a Diet

Think of the Whole30 like pushing the reset button with your health, habits and relationship with food. For 30 days, you’ll eliminate the foods that are commonly problematic in one of four areas:
  • Cravings and habits
  • Blood sugar regulation and metabolism
  • Digestion
  • Immune system/inflammation
During the elimination, you’ll pay attention to what changes in the absence of these potentially problematic foods: energy, sleep, focus, mood, bloating, digestion, cravings, skin, aches and pains, and more. At the end of the 30 days, you’ll reintroduce those foods one at a time, like a scientific experiment, to identify the foods that may not be working well for you. You’ll use that information to create the perfect, sustainable diet for YOU—grounded in new healthy habits, keeping you looking, feeling, and living your best.

Shopping Guide

Fresh veggies, fruit, and herbs; meat, seafood, and eggs; natural fats; and pantry staples make up the bulk of your shopping, but Sprouts makes it even easier to shop with these Whole 30 Approved foods.

Melissa’s Picks

A shopping cart with Whole30 meal plan cookbook and fresh flowers.

DNX Bars

Meat sticks with grass-fed beef, veggies, fruit and healthy fats

Applegate

Natural and organic chicken sausage and hot dogs

Primal Kitchen

A variety of salad dressings and cold-pressed avocado oils

Tin Star Ghee

Now in one-ounce travel sizes for camping, Airbnb travel, or on-the-go keto-coffee

More Whole30 Approved® Brands at Sprouts

  • Big Tree Farms coconut aminos
  • Bonafide Provisions bone broth
  • Cece Veggie Noodle Co.
  • EPIC meat bars, bites and strips
  • Kettle & Fire bone broth
  • LaCroix sparkling water
  • Nick’s Sticks meat sticks
  • Pederson’s pork products
  • Safe Catch tuna and salmon
  • Seasnax seaweed snacks
  • Vital Proteins collagen peptides
  • Yai’s Thai curry sauces
SHOP WHOLE30 APPROVED ITEMS

Sprouts Brand Whole30 Favorites

  • Yellow mustard
  • Grass-fed ghee
  • Tahini
  • Kosher dill spears
  • Almond butter
  • Bulk shredded coconut
  • Bulk raw nuts and seeds
  • Coconut milk
  • Organic balsamic vinegar
And more! Sprouts products are often great budget-conscious Whole30 options—just read your labels to make sure the ingredients are in line with the program rules.

For More …

For a step-by-step guide to the Whole30 rules, what to expect during the program and how to prepare, plus more than 100 compliant recipes featuring ingredients found at Sprouts, pick up a copy of The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom.
Melissa Hartwig, author of Whole30 Cookbook.

About Melissa

Melissa Hartwig is a Certified Sports Nutritionist who specializes in helping people change their relationship with food and create life-long, healthy habits. She is the co-creator of the original Whole30 program (whole30.com), and a five-time New York Times bestselling author. She has been featured by Dr. Oz, Good Morning America, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and CNBC, and ranked #27 on Greatist Top 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness in 2017. Melissa has presented more than 150 health and nutrition seminars worldwide, and is a prominent keynote speaker on social media and branding, health trends and entrepreneurship. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Whole30 Logo

Meatless Recipes w/ PlantBasedonaBudget

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Each summer is filled with picnics, parties and barbecues. Whether you eat plant based regularly, take part in Meatless Mondays or simply want to know how to incorporate more veggies into your diet, Toni from Plant Based on a Budget has two easy and delicious summer recipes to share. Gardein is 100% plant based. Their products offer great texture and taste to every dish. Chick'n Pesto Salad Overhead

Chick’n Pesto Salad

Ingredients:
  • Gardein Chick’n Strips
  • 1 head romaine lettuce
  • 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cucumber, sliced
  • 3 Tbsp. Sprouts Vegan Basil Pesto
Instructions:
  1. Pan dry the Gardein Chick’n Strips according to package instructions.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, red onion slices, cherry tomato halves and cucumber slices together.
  3. Add pesto and chick’n strips to lettuce mixture. Toss until evenly coated.
Beefless Tips Kabobs Layout  

Beefless Tips Kabobs

Ingredients:
  • Gardein Beefless Tips
  • 6 pre-soaked wooden skewers
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 12 cremini mushrooms, stems removed
  • 1 cup Sprouts BBQ sauce
Instructions:
  1. Thaw Gardein Beefless Tips for ten minutes.
  2. Preheat the broiler.
  3. Thread the skewers, alternating between tips, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, red onion and mushrooms.
  4. Create a single layer of kabobs on a baking sheet and drizzle with BBQ sauce.
  5. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
 

Plant Based on a BudgetAbout the blogger, @plantbasedonabudget:

Toni Okamoto is a purveyor of the plant-based lifestyle. She aims to spread awareness through her blog and has over 100,000 followers total. Toni has a plethora of recipes that can be found on her website and even more in her book, The Super Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Cookbook. You can find her on YouTube as well, showing What I Eat in a Day videos and grocery hauls. Check her out!

Instagram Logo @PlantBasedonaBudget on Instagram                      YouTube Icon Toni Okamoto Facebook_icon @PlantBasedonaBudget on Facebook                       Twitter Icon @toniokamoto  

Composting 101

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The Why

Nourishing to your plants, the environment and even your own wellbeing, composting is a pretty easy and straightforward endeavor. The EPA reports food and yard waste make up 20–30% of what we throw away. When those food and yard scraps make their way into the landfill, they break down anaerobically (without oxygen) and release methane. The less of this greenhouse gas we are able to produce, the better for the environment. Knowing you’re making a difference by utilizing those scraps to feed your plants and help the environment is good for you too!

Compost Video

Video Description: Creating & maintaining a compost pile is easy, here’s the 411 on how you can get started!

What If You Don’t Garden?

Even if you don’t garden in what you might think of as the traditional sense by growing your own fruits and vegetables, you might have a yard full of plants that could benefit from the extra nutrients in your DIY soil. Even without a yard, there are still plenty of things to do with your compost. If you have houseplants, they’ll benefit from the extra nutrients. Local schools may have garden programs and would welcome compost, likewise for community or urban gardens in your neighborhood. If you like the idea of composting but don’t have space to dedicate to it, look for a curbside composting service in your area. These kinds of services usually provide the bins and all the education you’ll need to get composting quickly!

How to Get Started Composting

You can learn how to start composting in our article Composting: How-to Basics. You’ll find even more details and helpful tips in our article Composting Cast of Characters.

Did you know?

Methane gas is 30 times more potent than CO2 (carbon dioxide), another greenhouse gas.