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Category: Travel

Veggie Fajitas at Cocolores

Costa Rica: a vegetarian paradise

By melodiels Jan 18, 2015

Returning home from Costa Rica is rough, especially when you factor in the ridiculously cold weather that hit Montreal this January. Typically when I get home from vacay, I’ll comfort myself…

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Talkin' bout plant-based food & zero waste living in Montreal

I'm Melodie. Here is where I share my passion for plant-based cuisine, zero-waste living, and being a green mama. I post recipes, recommendations and resources.

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MUST TRY

Crispylicious Cauliflower Wings (Vegan)
Vegan ramen in Montreal, get your noodle on!
Vegan Rosé Pasta Recipe with Spinach and Mushrooms.
Raw vegan chocolate balls
The Best Vegan Tofu Sandwich

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How cute is this baby sized smoothie bowl?!? I thi

How cute is this baby sized smoothie bowl?!? I think smoothie bowls are gorgeous but I never make them because I like to drink my smoothies with a straw. It also seems like a lot of work just for a cute snap for Instagram. But making an adorable baby sized version for my daughter was my best idea ever. This will give her the chance to practice her spoon eating skills while enjoying a nutrient packed treat with different textures on top. This vegan smoothie bowl has mango, strawberry, pineapple, oat milk, coconut yogurt, flaxseed and hemp seed. It was meant to complement her falafel and pita lunch. I always try to give her a little dose of vitamin C with every meal since it helps the body absorb nutrients like iron. It was a big hit. She’s loving it and I’m fulfilling my love for cute food pics. 💕😎
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#vegansmoothie #vegansmoothie #babyfood #babyfoodrecipes #babyfoodideas #veganfood

Anyone else use soap or shampoo in a bar? One of t

Anyone else use soap or shampoo in a bar? One of the easiest low waste swaps is going from bottled soap to bar soap. Growing up, we only used bar soap. It was only when I moved out on my own that I switched to body wash in a bottle. At the time, Olay's body wash was all the rage. The bottle came with one of those plastic loofas and effective TV ads promising softer skin. Who doesn't want smoother skin? Sadly neither the plastic bottle nor the loofa is biodegradable. Now at the pharmacy, there are hundreds of different body washes that are different based on your sex, skin type, age and more. Is this necessary? Probably not. About four years ago, I switched back to bar soap. I think it was because I just moved in with my partner, and it didn't make sense to buy two types of body wash. We went with Ivory soap for its minimal packaging before I ventured into handmade soaps with zero or entirely compostable packaging. These soaps are easy to find at natural or health stores like @marchebranchedolivier or zero waste stores like @epicerieloco or even online (fav brands include @bkind.products @bottlenone). There are so many varieties of bar soap too. The difference is that most of the brands are local companies or artisans. And by shopping this way, that's somewhere around six to twelve fewer plastic bottles ending up in the world's landfills — or worse, in the ocean. I also switched to shampoo bars which I also really love! Artisanal body soaps can be on the pricey side at around $5 a bar. @locoverdun sells a variety of all the little end pieces for $5(swipe to see). They also make great gifts! If going for fancy bar soaps breaks the budget, stick with drug store brands. They still contain less plastic than bottles. Simple swaps 👌🏾#fuckplastic

It's #worldbreastfeedingweek and this year's theme

It's #worldbreastfeedingweek and this year's theme is "Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet." That's right up my alley! Breastfeeding is vegan and zero waste after all. It's funny because before giving birth, I remember thinking I would hate breastfeeding. After 9 months of pregnancy, I wanted to pop the champagne, not abstain. I also knew that breastfeeding could be very hard. But in the end, I loved it. I'm not sure when I'll stop, but I'll cherish the experience no matter how long it lasts. I think celebrating breastfeeding is important because it's still considered unclassy in many parts of the world. Even here in Quebec, where breastfeeding is widely accepted and encouraged, I surprisingly encountered places where breastfeeding was deemed inappropriate. Like last winter, I visited a sporting club with a daycare, sounds family-friendly, right? I was told I was not allowed to breastfeed on the premise. Not even in the restaurant or lounge areas. And they didn't have a dedicated nursing area either, just the toilet.

It's sad bc we've sexualized women's bodies so much that we're shamed for using our breasts in the way they were intended. While I respect that there are religious or cultural reasons why people choose modesty, I'm not so comfortable with that being force onto me. It makes me livid that in 2020, women are still expected to nurse in their home's privacy. You know a baby eats like 10 - 12 times a day in the beginning, right? You want me to be on house arrest all day for months on end? Oh hell, no!

Ironically, the breast is the best movement also places a lot of shame and stigma on people who don't breastfeed. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. While I fully support promoting and encouraging breastfeeding, there is a line to be drawn. Let's not forget there is tremendous pressure on new parents to get everything right, so I'm very much in the camp of fed is best. Guilting or judging families for making the best decision for them is counterintuitive. So while we celebrate the wonders of breastfeeding and it's implications for a healthier world, let's do it from a place of support and understanding. #normalizebreastfeeding

Me when I find a 1L tub of vegan mayo in a glass j

Me when I find a 1L tub of vegan mayo in a glass jar. It’s the little things 👌🏾💕😜 @marchebranchedolivier

Just some cute shots of my bb’s lil play nook. 🥰 it’s funny, I didn’t want to have baby stuff all over our tiny apartment. I spent lots of time decorating our place and didn’t want our grown up home to become a zoo of ugly plastic toys. While preggo, I pinned storage solutions, earmarked pretty wooden toys and believed that I would have to energy to put everything away right away. I was naive. There are toys everywhere! Plastic, rubber and wood all around the place. The funny part is I’m the one throwing toys everywhere. Creating diversions to keep baby away from the cat/stove/iPhone/remote control. So now we have this little play nook where we can direct all the toys at the end of the day. Dressing it up with pillows and baskets makes it feel a little more sophisticated. My biggest parenting lesson to date is be flexible and drop all expectations. Also helps to have the patience of a saint. 😇 😉
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♻️ Another good thing is that with the exception of gifts, all of our toys are second hand. It helps me feel better about our eco foot print which was another reason I was hesitant about having too much stuff. There are lots of used toys for sale at Friperie Renaissance, my mom has brought us many goodies. We wash everything carefully and it’s good as new. Pictured above Ikea bead roller coaster $1.75 Melissa & Doug rainbow stacker $1, VTech lady bug $1.50. And of course we have countless amazing hand-me-downs from awesome friends. 💕

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#homedecor #babyplayideas #babyplaytime #babydecor #ecofriendlybaby

If there’s one area of sustainability where I’

If there’s one area of sustainability where I’m not excelling right now, it’s definitely fashion. I love thrift shopping and clothing exchanges like @shwapclub but I still buy new clothes every year. 2019 was especially bad in terms of my contribution to fast fashion. Between pregnancy, navigating a heavier postpartum body and breastfeeding, I opted to buy an almost entirely new wardrobe. I wish I could say that I only shopped at sustainable or local shops but that’s not the case. I did pay special attention to buy quality clothing that lasts. My new wardrobe is lots of flowy pants, button-down dresses and loose tops that will continue to fit even if I lose my pregnancy weight. Even though I'm seriously failing at ditching fast fashion, I did manage to go the eco route for my daughter. She wears almost entirely secondhand clothing and a few select pieces from small local shops like zero-waste-minded @boutiqueminicycle. Kid's clothes are easier b/c they’re cheaper and you don't need to be mindful of bust size or "does my butt look good?" When it comes to my clothing, I'm not sure where to begin. I could buy a dress for $200 over $50 but it's pretty hard to go for the higher price when you have the cheap option at your fingertips. And will paying more even fix the issue? Im not even sure where to find ethical options because they are teeny tiny compared to mega-retailers. This week, I was walking in Verdun and stumbled upon @marigold_mtl. They make gorgeous clothing in Montreal that they've marketed as "sustainable fashion." I was drooling over all the gorgeous outfits but I didn't buy anything because my shifting body makes it hard to invest. I felt inspired though and I'm earmarking their shop as a place to hit up when my postpartum body settles into a stable dress size. I want to create a list of sustainable/ethical/local shops so I have go-to options next time I need a new outfit. If you have any to recommend, please let me know and I'll create a highlight. This won’t erase the issues of exploitation of workers abroad, animal cruelty and destruction to the environment caused by #fastfashion. But it’s a start. Right? #sustainablefashion #acheterlocal

Vegan Bibimbap is so delicious and very healthy to

Vegan Bibimbap is so delicious and very healthy too. Swap the meat for sautéed shiitake mushrooms (with Gochujang -Korean pepper paste, garlic & sesame oil) to add a meaty chewy texture. Swap the egg for soft tofu for the creamy silky mouth feel. Then load it up with plenty of julienned and lightly sautéed or steamed veggies. I also like to make a Korean style spinach and bean sprout salad to add the the bowl as well. Recipes for these are simple and easy to find online. Lastly make a Bibimbap sauce. My favourite is a classic smoooth Gochujang sauce adapted from @mykoreankitchen. I add 1/2 cup gochujang, 1/4 cup toasted sesame oil, 1/4 cup water, 1/8 cup toasted sesame seeds, 4 tsp rice vinegar,
4 tsp minced garlic and 2 tsp sugar to the blender. The original recipe is sweeter so feel free to up the sugar. The original is also not blended but I prefer it smooth like in my favourite restaurants. Serve on rice, I used jasmine just because it’s easy to find. I usually serve 2/3 cup of cooked rice for a satisfying but not overly filling portion.

If you have a small cast iron pan you can make the hot stone style Bibimbap with crunchy rice one the bottom of a heated pan. I stuck with just a regular rice bowl for this one since it’s hot hot hot this summer and I don’t want to fuss too much with hot pans and stoves.

there’s a lot of prep involved with this meal so I like to make large portions of everything so that I can eat it for a few days. I never get tired of it because it’s so tasty.

#veganrecipes #mtlveg #vegetarianrecipes #veganbibimbap

I posted this recipe to my blog a couple weeks ago

I posted this recipe to my blog a couple weeks ago and with all the summer celebrations, I figured it’s a great time to share. This vegan chocolate ganache frosting recipe is incredibly simple and so delicious. It only requires two ingredients (semisweet chocolate & high quality full fat coconut milk). Forget about storebought frosting when you can make this mouth watering dessert topping. I use often it for cake and banana bread. The recipe is on my blog but I’m including it here as well so you can just save the post. If you have any questions let me know and definitely tell me if you make it. 👇🏾 Ingredients
• 2 cups semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips
• 1 can full fat coconut milk or 400 ml
👉🏾Place chocolate in a large heat resistant bowl. In a small saucepan, bring coconut milk boil, then pour over chocolate. Stir the mixture until well incorporated and smooth. Let cool, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 2 hours. Or cool in the fridge, removing every 10 minutes to stir for about 30 minutes. The ganache should be room temperature before frost your desserts. Enjoy! 👌🏾 Happy celebrations 🎉 Bonne Saint Jean ⚜️
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#veganfood #veganrecipes #vegandessert #veganfrosting #plantbaseddessert #plantbasedrecipe #plantbasedcuisine

First family camping trip with a baby. 🏕 the im

First family camping trip with a baby. 🏕 the images are so picturesque but they don’t show that we were very underdressed, attacked by a swarms of black flies and really dirty. The parks didn’t open the showers (I think because of covid?)... but why? 😝We also opted to stick with cloth diapering while camping and baby got a case of the runs (tmi?) so yep, really messy stuff. 😅 Despite all that, we survived and will be far more ready for next time! .
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#camping #campinglife #campingtrip

I don’t always know what to say but I refuse to

I don’t always know what to say but I refuse to be silent. Black lives matter. Black lives matter. Black lives matter! And I will do whatever I can to fight injustice and stand with the black community. I would be honoured to be considered an ally. Racism is very real, both in the states but here at home too. Please let it be known that there is no room for intolerance, racism and violence in my space. I promise to educate myself and my family so that we can be a force for good and not evil. If you feel the same way then make it known. We need to spread love, compassion and show our solidarity right now. ✊🏽💕 #blacklivesmatter

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