The Seventh Day of Christmas - Make it easy on yourself

Guys! We are getting so close to Christmas and this is the first year in about five that I do not have to work. There is writing to do of course, but no one is expecting a script off me first thing in the new year. It's a miraculous feeling to know that I can just play, and come here and spend time with you! I really have missed you.

I'm in transit to a cottage at the moment so this may be a little shorter than usual. Or maybe not. You don't know. You'll just have to keep reading to find out.

Are you planning to do anything special with your holiday? Will you get a holiday this year? I hope you get a chance to relax and enjoy some down time, pleasant time with loved ones, and generally care for yourself in whatever way suits you best. For me, that means getting ready for my full on transition to vegan this January. So let's talk about that a lil bit shall we? Here on the Seventh Day of Christmas --

Make It Easy On Yourself

You know one of the reasons I had resisted going plant-based for so long is pure laziness. I had this idea in my head that being a vegan was going to be so much work. Add to that most of the plant-based alternatives to the foods I loved - like burgers for example - seemed to contain gluten if you're buying them pre-made. Well who the hell has time to make every last thing from scratch? I know I sure don't. It's not like I haven't tried. In fact, I've made some delicious brown rice kale burgers in the past but you've got to have an evening to do it. {Okay full disclosure, maybe it doesn't take that long, but I'm super slow and if I was a rapper my rap name would be Lay-Zee. I just don't wanna do it.} Good news, if you choose the right grocery store, they have options. In fact, one of my favorite burgers are Sol Original. We've been eating them for a while now as He Who Shall Not Be Named is a long-time vegan and I'm a gluten-free girl so...

Def check these babies out. Love them with some salty fries. See you can even have junk food as a vegan. Cool right?

Hey, I get it we're all busy. I bet you parents out there barely have time to change your minds, never mind get your kids to change their eating habits. You impress and amaze me every day. 

I don't know how you do it. What I do know, is that as a full time writer - I leave home at 8am, commute out to the studio lot where we have our writer's room - work all day, often times through lunch - then commute home, by the time I get back it can often be after 7pm. And you know me, I gotta get my workout in and I am not a morning person yo, so that happens as soon as I get home. Once I hit the showers, it's after 8pm. The last thing I want to do is get in the kitchen and make a whole vegan meal from scratch. {Honestly, I'm sure it wouldn't take that long, and it won't once I learn a few new tricks, but for now, let's just go with it?}

I found a solution. It's called the Green Zebra Kitchen. Bless and praise these guys. They create weekly meals that you can pick and choose from, they make everything for you, and then they deliver it to your door. Alls you gotta do is pop it open and serve - or in some cases like their amazing curry, you heat it up for 5 or 10 minutes. And the best part is, they are totally gluten free and vegan, so there's no thinking involved. I think for a living, I don't want to have to do it in the kitchen. Please don't kill me for saying that Chef Emery. 

I love it and I've not looked back since doing it. I'm betting if you let your fingers do the walking on the world-wide web, you could find a person or company who does this in your neighborhood for those extra busy times too. There is no reason we have to sacrifice our health or the life of an animal to eat well. But just to get you started the good folks over at Peta have put together this List. Honestly? It couldn't be easier.

That lame old excuse of I don't have time, or I'm too tired, or it's too complicated just doesn't hold water any more. If you decide to try an at home food delivery place I'd love to hear what you think. And if you love them, share the link in the comments so anyone else looking might give them a shot too. Let's support these kinds of chefs and businesses who are making the world a safer place for animals and a healthier place for humans and let's leave the piggies in the field and off our plates.

I hear they make amazing pets. I mean, just check out Esther The Wonder Pig. Maybe when it's time to get Rama a little brother or sister, we'll get a pig instead. Can you imagine? Lol.

Love you,
Shan