Vega One vs. RAW - Product Review

 "We shape the clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want."

- Lao-Tzu

I decided to do some research.  A fun taste testing experience extravaganza you might say.

Stuck at the desk at the yoga studio I work at during hours of hungry time does not promote an exceptional customer service version of myself.  The obvious thing to do would be to bring pre-made food that I can easily eat in those 10-30 minutes between classes or massages.  I did sort of begin doing that, but more like I would bring the ingredients for meals and leave them in the kitchen here to be prepared and eaten in those time periods.  It took me a few months of running back and forth to realize that this is not, in fact sustainable, or particularly comfortable.

The morning manager has been bringing this RAW meal powder and has it for lunch about an hour before I take over.  It is the cheapest of the vegan meal replacements at Whole Foods that I have seen, so it seems like a good idea.  He claimed it kept him full for at least 2 hours afterwards too.

Taste is important to me for powder situations, and I have not had too many good experiences with just mixing in water.  So, I picked up a pouch of the RAW Meal Vanilla Chai, and the Vega One Chai.  Here are my thoughts.

The RAW Meal came in an 80g, 310 calorie, packet and did in fact keep me satisfied and full for 3 solid hours.  I felt energetic and peppy, so good for customer service!  I liked the taste and the texture a lot.  At 34 g of protein and 7 g of sugar, it has a nutrient profile that I am happy with, especially being a bit more cost sensitive since my trip out west.

Vega One was about half the size, so I did try to keep that in mind while analyzing.  At 136 calories, 15 g of protein, and 2 grams of sugar, I didn't expect it to sustain me as long.  I do prefer a lower sugar count, so it made me happy that even after converting this to an 80 g amount it was lower.  But it does use Stevia, which I like the idea of, but not so much the taste of.  Overall the taste was nice; I did prefer the taste of RAW meal.

And what have I done since the taste test?  Bought myself a giant tub of RAW Vanilla Chai Meal powder.  May it keep me pleasant and satisfied during those busy times at the desk, and may it do the same for you.

Any meal replacement powders you recommend?  Staying power vs taste vs price?  Would love to hear!

An Intimate Look at My Past

I wrote for Gena's blog today, Choosing Raw, where I talk about my growth away from what can be colloquially called a screwed up relationship with food and self.  Go check it out. 

It's strange because part of me is eager for people to read it, it feels liberating like I've really moved forward and can let that go as a true part of my past (though it is always with me), and the other part of me is kinda scared to share it.  Onwards!

Next post is a product review for those of you trapped at your desk all day.

Adventures in The Desert

The Burning Man experience.  Relayed to you as follows.  I flew into San Francisco on Saturday where I was picked up by a chivalrous Sam.  We spent the night at the W Silicon Valley.  It was the least amazing W experience I've had, but it was nice to have a semi-luxurious experience before heading into the dust.  We got ourselves ready on Sunday and headed out in Sam's car.  The trusty car.  We had to Duct Tape it together, and hope it wasn't too hot outside because the breeze was our A/C.  This is the stuff of adventures and good stories!

We passed through Sacramento, where Sam would be moving too after the Burn.  We went through Reno, which was full of Burners and people talking about Burning Man.  Home depot, we discovered, had almost sold out of their rebar!  It is a much needed accessory out in the windy desert to keep your tent rooted down.  I picked up a business book at Barnes and Noble, which I had them hold for me in advance.  Great lazy day Burning Man reading: E-Myth Revisited - how to run a small business essentially.

We enjoyed a huge dinner at Olive Garden and proceeded to wait in line in the desert to get to camp.  I was the most helpful of the two of us during this long and tedious start-stop-midnight-driving-through-dust endeavor by getting rest for both of us, while Sam drove.  By 4:30AM we were in camp.  Luckily we found an open spot underneath the shade structure and we set up our sleeping tent as quickly as possible.  Sleep deeply we did.

When we woke up, Sam and Anthony found each other.  They proceeded to have a lover's quarrel after too long apart.  I was told that this is how they express their affection for each other.  They were so adamant about it that they made a huge public display of their feelings for each other in the Thunder Dome, a spectator arena where pairs fight it out equipped with an arsenal of pliable weapons.

The happy Sam.  No bike this year, but a walking stick instead.  A much more feasible method of getting around the desert. 9:45 and E suddenly doesn't seem so far away.

A huge bug man art piece we found in the desert!  Crazy!

The Playa.  The view of the desert with all of its art and people.  A ship crashed btw.

It's me ready to face what the desert has to bring.  I have no idea what is to come.  Such an innocent, naive look on my face.

In dust gear as a small dust storm passes through.  I'm thinking "this isn't so bad."  Until we get drowned in dust and whited out a couple of times resulting in hungry, dehydrated, grouchy Lia.  Gas mask next time.

Another art piece that I was fond of.  It did get burned, but it stood mighty tall as EGO usually does for periods of our lives.

Cheers.

Awesome artsy vehicle.  Bug?

Ship!  It moves, like everything out there.  You think it will be in one place "Hey let's meet at the distant pineapple, or the green mushroom."  But your points of reference are no longer there, or they are 30 feet to the left.  Very disorienting at night especially.

My first visit to Center Camp, where people hang out, drink coffee and chai, practice art in all its mediums.

Center Camp

So cool.

Everyday occurrence.

Our little tent village under the shade structure.  We had a nice little nook.  The tent I brought ended up being our supplies tent, while the tent Sam brought ended up being our sleeping tent.  He hooked up a hammock and a camping chair.  Excellent ideas!  The little tent on the right housed our food, drinks, and clothes.  What did we eat you ask?  Well, we provided our own breakfasts which ended up being big bowls of Grape Nuts, Cinnamon Life Cereal, Raisins, Almonds, Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, and apple sauce.  Mmmmm!  So good.  Lunch and dinner we had at camp.  Lunch was leftovers from the previous dinner.

This was the common area of our camp at Burners Without Borders.  Usually you could find at least 4 people passed out asleep in here.  I enjoyed by Business Book and a fair few conversations and strange observances too.  I handed out many a superfood energy bite in here.

Unicorn day!  This was also hop from camp to camp eating free food and finding vegan ice cream and snow cones day. It was also forget to wear sunscreen day.

The pleasure of shaved ice and fake sweet syrup is immeasurable out there.

We stumbled upon this amazing band that had some awesome stilt tricks to throw around.  I was blown away.  Sam and I were just so happy to have been drawn to this random musical event.

Did you know angler fish are actually desert animals?

If you go inside, the whole ship is side ways.  It is a very strange experience.

Watching a small dust storm from afar.

The leftovers of the dinner I hosted!  Pasta with garlic olive oil cherry tomato sauce, lentil walnut crumble, vegan parm, kale detox salad, and coffee cocoa cookies.

Lovely friends!  It was great connecting with and meeting new people out in the desert.

Another alternative for expressing love.

A chess game at center camp.  On this day I left Sam to his game in order to find a bathroom.  en route to the bathroom, I decided to ask some people at another camp for directions to the nearest porta potty.  I am told that a shot of whisky is necessary to procure such valuable direction.  A shot I take.  They tell me strange things about looking through walls and places porta potties may be, and then insist that the truth cannot be explained without another payment.  So another shot I take and finally and guided to the nearest bathroom.  On my way I am herded into a strange dance party, at which point I am given some sort of vodka drink.  By the time I get to the bathroom and return to the chess game, I am in a new state of mind that continued for the rest of the day and into the evening.  Sam won the chess game if you were curious and the winner got spanked by an asian girl in a mini skirt.  Just another day at Burning Man.

It all comes to an end eventually, and so, after watching the Man burn, sorry no pictures, I was living very much in the moment out there and often neglected to snag my camera, and the temple burn we had already packed up and headed out.  This is mid pack.

And onward we went.  A mere 3 hours to get out of camp at 9:30PM, we took a nap at a rest stop at about 4AM.  Reaching San Francisco and taking much needed showers followed by much needed moisturizing.  It was on this return trip that we stopped in Berkeley for lunch and visited Cafe Gratitude, an amazing vegan restaurant that encourages you to think about how wonderful your life really is.  We got the peach and almond cake to start and the raw deep dish pizza.  Perfect and delicious!  I kind of fell in love with Berkeley and have my eye on it as a future home.  Eventually Sam and I had to part ways, with very heavy hearts.  He dropped me at the airport, and I flew to LA to begin training with Mind Body, the company that makes the management software we use at the yoga studio.

A New View on an Old Sight

I'm back and finally settling in after my little adventures (pictures to come!).  I did go on a 66 mile bike trip out to Libertyville and had my first couchsurfing experience.  I did go out to the harsh dusty climate known as Black Rock City for Burning Man, and I did spend a week in LA getting trained in Mind Body software.  Lots of stuff!  Lots of fun and good times.

Being where I am now, at my desk in Chicago - home again, I have to admit that I feel like I see things very differently.  Sometimes you step away from your daily life and get a nice glimpse of things from afar.  Perspective, some might call it.  I would call it that.  It's a great word, and a great concept.  Why do I have a different perspective?  Burning Man enlightened me to all that is glorious in the world and changed my life for the recklessly better?  Not really, no.  The Mind Body training blew my mind and showed me the light?  Closer, but not quite.  Something of a mix of the two actually.

My dear daddy always told me that I undervalue myself (cheers ladies of the business world), and that is starting to become apparent to me more and more.  So, allowing myself to be independent and going on random excursions across the state, followed by a wonderful time playing in the desert and reconnecting with the simple joy of living in the moment and loving, followed by small business training led me to a state of confidence in my abilities to pursue my dreams.  Sooner than later.

Ideas, I have many of.  What to do with all of this new found energy and exuberance for living my own life my way?  I'm not sure, but I am restless now.  I have a feeling I won't be in Chicago much longer.  I must remember to continue doing everything with love, compassion, and with the idea of giving to those around me as well as to myself.  I must not get frustrated if I don't get my way (at least minimize that frustration ;p).  Finally, I must try here first and give it time and a chance to grow.

I'm growing up! How cute!

Many hugs to you all and pictures and stories to come!