I end up getting into the most trouble when I'm starving all day. Then I get home and just go to town and pig out. The key is making healthy snacks. Check out some amazing healthy snack ideas for kids (or for yourself!!) from Kimberly Snyder. She is the best!

Angela from Oh She Glows inspired me to make a vegan chocolate pudding. I adapted her recipe a little bit because I didn't have some of the ingredients. It seriously is the most amazing thing ever!

Ingredients (approx 1.5 cups)
2 medium avocados (scooped and pitted)
1/3 cup non-dairy milk (I used almond)
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp Almond Butter
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 cup cocoa powder, sifted
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup, melted non-dairy chocolate chips
1 banana (optional)
Shredded coconut to garnish

Instructions
1. Throw all ingredients into the food processor except chocolate chips.
2. Melt chocolate chips and then add to the food processor.
3. Garnish your pudding with coconut on top. Also feel free to add in some banana if that's your thing.

Easy as pie pudding!

It's so creamy and delicious. This will quell any chocolate craving you have while being healthy at the same time!! I swear you can't taste the avocado at all! All you taste is chocolate goodness!!!

For celebrity nutritionist and author of The Beauty Detox Solution, Kimberly Snyder, eating right isn’t about dieting and restriction, but feeding your body the beauty-boosting foods it needs instead. While seasonal indulgences may seem tempting, with healthy modifications to holiday favorites, you can still enjoy the comfort foods you crave without depleting the body of Beauty Detox nutrients.

Read on for Kim’s easy-to-follow holiday health tips:

Drink Smart: Don’t start guzzling liquids once you arrive at a party, as drinking too much while eating dilutes digestive enzymes, slows digestion and causes bloating. Instead, fill up on water between meals, so you’re not dehydrated when you sit down at the table, mistaking thirst for hunger and ultimately over-eating. When it comes to alcohol, avoid beer, tequila and rum, which cause sugar imbalances and bloating. If you really want a cocktail, stick to vodka. Wine is fine in moderation as it's not as hard on the liver as hard alcohol.
Start Raw: Begin each meal with a salad or even a few veggie sticks. Raw food not only contains bulky fiber but also the full spectrum of its own enzymes, which allows it to digest itself, and act as a “cushion” for the other heavier foods that follow. The fiber and water in raw foods will also help keep portion sizes under control.
Slim Pickings: Remember that holiday parties are for spending time with loved ones, not binge eating. Stick to raw greens and non-starchy vegetables (steamed, cooked with little to no oil), which can be consumed without restriction. Nuts should be limited to 1 ounce if you aim to lose weight and 2-3 ounces daily (maximum) as a general recommendation. Limit meat, fish and goat’s cheese to 3 ounces (maximum).
Sweet Swaps: With some easy beauty-boosting modifications, holiday treats can still be delicious. Bake with coconut oil, a beauty fat that won’t oxidize under high baking temperatures and nourishes the thyroid. To sweeten, try a combination of stevia and xylitol instead of refined sugar and almond or coconut milk instead of dairy milk.

To learn more about The Beauty Detox Solution or other tips from Kim visit www.kimberlysnyder.net. 

Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup
Adapted from Esalen Cookbook

Ingredients

1 large butternut squash (about 3 pounds)
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 medium onion, diced
5 stalks celery, diced
2 tablespoons curry (I like Thai curry)
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cumin
1 handful cilantro (chopped) or 1 tps dried coriander
1 can (13.5 ounce) light coconut milk
2 cups vegetable broth
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice

Instructions:
1. Roast butternut squash (to save time buy it precut) at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes if precut or an hour if not.
2. Heat oil, onion and ginger for about 5 minutes.
3. Add celery, curry, turmeric, cumin, and coriander (if using dried) and sauté for 5 more minutes. Add 1/4 cup of water to pot, cover, and cook for about 7 minutes until celery is very tender, stirring occasionally. Add more water if needed.
4. Place veggies and butternut squash into food processor or blender until smooth (you don't want any chunks). Also add cilantro if you're using fresh herbs.
*Toast almonds now so they're hot and crisp.
5. Place pureed veggies into pot. Add coconut milk, veggie broth and salt. Heat over medium heat for a few minutes until soup is warm. Add lime juice.
6. Add toasted almonds and freshly torn cilantro.
Serve and impress!

We had our soup with leftover chips and salsa…so classy!

Had to write to tell y'all about a cool new website I found called BarHappy. It's a new (free) site dedicated to finding happy hours, drink deals, and food specials in major cities across the US. 

They have apps too! You simply put in a location and it will find you the best deals in your area. 

Bottoms Up!

I hit this quick restaurant for my organic green juice every morning I'm too lazy to make my Green Smoothie. They also have a Whole Foods-esque buffet during lunch. Thy also just opened an organic bar. Gonna need try that soon for sure.

The prices aren't the cheapest but at least I can rest assured that I'm having quality organic produce. They even change premade salads based on the seasons changing. Their salad bar isn't my favorite. If you come here you should get a vegan soup or a premade salad at the prepared foods bar. Yum! They even have hot Indian food, unfortunately it's not usually vegetarian. Def worth a stop in though if you work in the area.

Visit Mangia Organics at 45 West 39th Street, New York, NY 10018-3883 or call for more information at (212) 921-9100

I love the contrast of my beautiful glowing green juice with the dirty street of NYC!!

Check out these fabulous recipes from other vegan bloggers around the net. I haven't tried any of them yet but am very excited to get my fall flavors on! Have you tried any of these yet?

Apple Pie in a Can by Adventures in Cooking

Gnocchi, Green Bean and Quinoa Salad by Vegangela

Quinoa stuffed acorn squash by Clean Eating Chelsea

Carrot-Ginger Quinoa Stuffed Pepper Jack-o-Lanterns by SpaBettie

Brussel Sprouts in Sriracha Lime Sauce by Meet the Shannons

Vegan Pumpkin Risotto by

Butternut squash mac-n-cheeze by Oh She Glows