Why Personalized Skincare Is the Future of Beauty

In a world that constantly demands our energy and attention, prioritizing self-care is more important than ever. Taking time to nurture yourself isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for overall well-being. Creating a spa-like experience at home allows you to slow down, unwind, and reconnect with yourself in a meaningful way. Whether you’re looking to soothe stress, refresh your skin, or simply carve out a moment of peace, designing a self-care ritual that feels indulgent can transform your routine into something truly restorative.

In the fast-paced world we live in, self-care is essential—not just an occasional indulgence but a necessary ritual for overall well-being. You don’t need to book an expensive spa appointment to experience deep relaxation and nourishment. With the right approach, you can turn your home into a sanctuary and create a self-care ritual that feels just as luxurious as a day at the spa. Here’s how:

1. Set the Mood with Intention

Luxury spa experiences engage all the senses, and you can do the same at home. Start by creating a calming atmosphere:

• Dim the lights or light candles for a soft glow.

• Use an essential oil diffuser or burn incense to fill the space with a soothing scent like lavender, sandalwood, or chamomile.

• Play soft music, nature sounds, or spa-inspired instrumental tunes.

• Declutter your space to create a sense of tranquility and order.

2. Indulge in a Cleansing Ritual

Begin your self-care routine with a gentle cleansing ritual to wash away stress and impurities:

• Use a botanical facial steam with herbs like chamomile and rose to open pores and prepare your skin.

• Apply a gentle cleanser made with all-natural ingredients tailored to your skin’s needs.

• Follow up with a refreshing toner to balance and hydrate your skin.

3. Luxurious Exfoliation for Radiant Skin

Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, revealing fresh, glowing skin. Choose a natural scrub that nourishes while exfoliating:

• For body: Try a DIY scrub with brown sugar, jojoba oil, and vanilla extract for a decadent spa-like experience.

• Use dry brushing before your shower to stimulate circulation and promote lymphatic drainage.

4. Deep Hydration & Nourishment

Once your skin is prepped, treat yourself to deep hydration:

• Massage a luxurious body butter or oil into your skin using slow, intentional movements.

• Wrap yourself in a plush robe and let the moisture soak in while sipping a warm herbal tea.

5. Soak Your Stress Away

A warm bath is the ultimate self-care indulgence. Create a spa-like soak with:

• Epsom salts to relax muscles and detoxify the body.

• Dried flowers or herbal bath blends for a sensory experience.

• A few drops of essential oils like ylang-ylang or eucalyptus for aromatherapy benefits.

• Soft towels or a heated wrap for a true spa-like embrace post-bath.

6. Elevate with a Mindfulness Practice

The best spas offer more than physical pampering—they help quiet the mind. Incorporate mindfulness and relaxation techniques to complete your ritual:

• Practice deep breathing or a short meditation session.

• Engage in gentle stretching or yoga to release tension.

• Keep a gratitude journal to reflect on your self-care experience and set positive intentions.

7. End with a Personal Touch

Self-care should feel personal and intentional. Finish your ritual with something that brings you joy:

• Apply a signature fragrance essential oil blend that makes you feel grounded.

• Read a few pages of a book, listen to soothing music, or simply rest in stillness.

• Hydrate with infused water or a warm golden milk latte to nourish from within.

Make It a Habit

Luxury isn’t just about expensive products—it’s about the experience and the intention behind it. Whether it’s a once-a-week ritual or a simple evening wind-down, taking time to care for yourself is an investment in your well-being. With natural, customizable skincare and thoughtful rituals, you can bring the spa experience into your daily life—effortlessly and beautifully.

Ready to elevate your self-care game? Take FLORL’s skincare quiz to help you begin to craft a ritual that’s uniquely yours! 🌿✨

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP

Sarah, the owner and maker at FLORL, is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner with a passion for holistic wellness, essential oils, and natural skincare. With years of experience in health and wellness, she believes skincare should be as unique as you are. A home cook, UNOS Ambassador, and lifelong plant lover, she’s dedicated to creating products with intention—handmade, botanical, and always crafted with care.

The Perfect Scrub for Every Skin Type: Choosing the Right Exfoliant for You

Exfoliation is an essential step in any skincare routine, helping to buff away dead skin cells, boost circulation, and reveal fresh, radiant skin. But not all scrubs are created equal! At FLORL, we believe in customized skincare, which is why we offer multiple scrub options—each designed to target different skin needs.

No matter which you choose, all of our scrubs are made with all-natural moisturizers and essential oils, ensuring that your skin stays soft, nourished, and deeply hydrated after every use.

Brown Sugar Scrubs: Gentle Yet Effective

🌿 Best for: Face, neck, chest, and other delicate areas
✨ Why? Brown sugar has finer crystals, making it our most gentle scrub—perfect for sensitive skin. Plus, if it ever feels too abrasive, just add a little water, and the sugar will begin to dissolve, softening the exfoliation. Packed with natural plant-based oils, this scrub leaves your skin hydrated, glowing, and oh-so-soft.

Salt Scrubs: Deep Detox & Renewal

🌿 Best for: Legs, arms, and back
✨ Why? Need a deep refresh? Salt scrubs detoxify, exfoliate, and boost circulation, making them a must-have for smoother, firmer skin. Our unique blend of salts provides minerals and nutrients to replenish the skin, while essential oils lock in moisture and prevent dryness—so you get all the benefits of a deep scrub without stripping your skin.

Coffee Scrubs: The Ultimate Buff & Tone

🌿 Best for: Hands, feet, and areas prone to cellulite (upper legs, booty)
✨ Why? Our most abrasive scrub, coffee is ideal for deep exfoliation on rougher areas. Plus, the caffeine in coffee helps temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite by stimulating circulation and tightening the skin. Infused with rich, all-natural moisturizers and invigorating essential oils, this scrub will leave you feeling silky smooth and refreshed.

How to Choose the Right Scrub for You

Your skin deserves the right kind of care!
🌿 Need a gentle glow? Go for brown sugar.
🛁 Looking for a deep detox? Salt scrub is the way to go.
☕ Want to buff away rough patches and wake up your skin? Coffee scrub is your best bet.

Whichever you choose, our scrubs ensure skin-loving hydration and pure botanical benefits—because exfoliation should be nourishing, never harsh.

At FLORL, we believe skincare should be as intentional and unique as you are. Every product we create is made with pure, natural ingredients and designed to nurture, not strip your skin. Our collection of scrubs is just the beginning—soon, we’ll be launching a full line of customizable, plant-powered skincare to help you build the perfect routine. Stay tuned for our official launch and get ready to experience skincare made with care, crafted for you.

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP

Sarah, the owner and maker at FLORL, is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner with a passion for holistic wellness, essential oils, and natural skincare. With years of experience in health and wellness, she believes skincare should be as unique as you are. A home cook, UNOS Ambassador, and lifelong plant lover, she’s dedicated to creating products with intention—handmade, botanical, and always crafted with care.

The Beauty of Custom Skincare: Crafted Just for You

When it comes to skincare, one-size-fits-all simply doesn’t work. Your skin is as unique as you are, with its own needs, sensitivities, and preferences. That’s why we believe your skincare should be just as personal.

At FLORL, we handcraft each product with intention, blending pure essential oils, botanical extracts, and skin-loving ingredients to create formulas that are tailored to you.

More Than Just Skincare—It’s a Ritual

Skincare isn’t just about what you put on your skin—it’s about how it makes you feel. Whether you’re looking for a blend that smells incredible, one that helps you relax through aromatherapy, or something formulated to soothe common skin concerns, our products are designed to enhance your daily routine. When you take the time to care for your skin with natural, intentional ingredients, your routine transforms into a self-care ritual.

Hand-Blended, Small-Batch, and Full of Intention

As a small business, every product we make is carefully curated and blended by hand. We use only the highest quality essential oils and botanicals—never synthetic fragrances or fillers. From nourishing facial creams to indulgent bath soaks, every formula is made with purpose, ensuring that what you put on your skin is as pure as it is effective.

Your Perfect Blend, in Any Product

One of the best things about FLORL? You can customize nearly any of our products with a blend that fits your needs. Whether you crave a fresh, uplifting scent or need soothing ingredients to calm sensitive skin, your skincare should work for you, not the other way around. Let’s make something beautiful, just for you.

Ready to craft your perfect skincare blend? Take our custom skincare quiz and find your match!

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP

Sarah, the owner and maker at FLORL, is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner with a passion for holistic wellness, essential oils, and natural skincare. With years of experience in health and wellness, she believes skincare should be as unique as you are. A home cook, UNOS Ambassador, and lifelong plant lover, she’s dedicated to creating products with intention—handmade, botanical, and always crafted with care.

Skincare as Self-Care: Turning Your Routine Into a Ritual

Most of us have daily skincare routines—those quick morning and evening steps we take to cleanse, hydrate, and protect our skin. But what if we slowed down, set an intention, and turned these simple acts into something more meaningful?

Skincare isn’t just about the products you use; it’s about the care, presence, and mindfulness you bring to the process. By transforming your routine into a ritual, you’re not just nourishing your skin—you’re nurturing yourself.

Skincare isn’t just about the products you use—it’s about the intention behind them. When you shift your mindset from simply “getting through” your routine to truly savoring each step, it becomes a moment of mindfulness in your day. Whether it’s the scent of essential oils lifting your mood, the sensation of warm water easing tension, or the ritualistic act of massaging in a luxurious moisturizer, these small moments create a deeper connection between you and your well-being. Think of it as a daily pause—a chance to check in with yourself, reset, and nourish both your skin and spirit. When approached this way, your skincare routine transforms into a self-care ritual, one that’s just as beneficial for your mind as it is for your complexion.

The Power of Ritual

Rituals have been used for centuries to bring mindfulness, calm, and intention to daily life. Unlike routines, which can feel like just another task on your to-do list, rituals create space for self-connection and purpose. When it comes to skincare, shifting your mindset can turn an ordinary process into a moment of relaxation, healing, and self-love.

Setting the Scene

Creating a skincare ritual starts with your environment. Take a few moments to set the mood—light a candle, play soft music, or take a few deep breaths before you begin. Engaging your senses helps signal to your mind that this is a time for self-care, not just another item to check off your list.

Choosing Products with Intention

Rather than rushing through your regimen, take time to select skincare that truly supports your skin’s needs. Whether it's a calming botanical cleanser, a deeply hydrating moisturizer, or a personalized essential oil blend, let your products be an extension of your self-care practice. Pay attention to the textures, scents, and how they make you feel as you apply them.

Be Present in the Process

Instead of applying products on autopilot, slow down and be present. Feel the warmth of the water on your skin, massage your moisturizer in with care, and take a moment to appreciate your reflection. Even a few extra seconds spent mindfully massaging your serums or inhaling the scent of your face mist can transform your routine into something deeply restorative.

The Mind-Skin Connection

Stress and emotions play a huge role in skin health. Taking a mindful approach to skincare can help regulate stress, promote relaxation, and even support a healthier complexion. Think of it as a small act of self-love that benefits both your inner and outer well-being.

Making It Yours

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to rituals. Whether it’s a morning gratitude practice as you apply your moisturizer or an evening wind-down with a facial massage, find what feels most nourishing for you. Your skincare ritual should be something you look forward to—an act of care that leaves you feeling grounded, refreshed, and radiant.

By bringing intention and mindfulness into your skincare routine, you turn an everyday habit into a powerful ritual of self-love. Because taking care of your skin isn’t just about looking good—it’s about feeling good, too.

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP

Sarah, the owner and maker at FLORL, is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner with a passion for holistic wellness, essential oils, and natural skincare. With years of experience in health and wellness, she believes skincare should be as unique as you are. A home cook, UNOS Ambassador, and lifelong plant lover, she’s dedicated to creating products with intention—handmade, botanical, and always crafted with care.

5 Essential Oils to Welcome Spring into Your Home & Skincare Routine

Spring is all about renewal—fresh air, longer days, and a much-needed reset after winter. Just like we swap out our wardrobes for lighter layers, our skincare and wellness routines could use a little seasonal refresh, too.

Essential oils are a simple yet powerful way to bring the essence of spring into your space, whether through skincare, home fragrance, or even a little DIY magic. Here are five must-have essential oils for the season and how to use them.

As the seasons shift, our senses crave new scents and fresh energy—something lighter, brighter, and full of life. Just like swapping out heavy winter moisturizers for something more hydrating, essential oils can help set the mood for the season ahead. Whether you're looking to refresh your space, revive your skin, or simply embrace the feeling of spring, these five essential oils are must-haves for the season.

🍋 Lemon – The Ultimate Spring Awakening

Nothing says "fresh start" like the crisp, clean scent of lemon. This bright citrus oil is a go-to for natural spring cleaning—add a few drops to vinegar and water for a DIY surface spray that smells amazing and cuts through grime. In skincare, lemon oil is packed with antioxidants that help brighten dull winter skin (just be sure to use it at night or follow with SPF since citrus oils can make skin more sun-sensitive!). Want to bring a touch of spring to your drinks? Add a drop of food-grade lemon essential oil to honey and mix it into iced tea.

🌿 Lavender – The Soothing Reset

Spring can be full of energy, but it’s also a time to reset and recharge. Lavender is perfect for that transition—it soothes the mind, calms irritated skin, and even makes a dreamy addition to beverages. Try adding a drop of food-grade lavender essential oil to lemonade for a floral twist on a classic. In skincare, lavender is a hero for sensitive or stressed-out skin, helping to calm redness and irritation while promoting balance.

🍃 Peppermint – A Breath of Fresh Air

Spring allergies got you down? Peppermint is a natural decongestant that helps clear sinuses and refresh the senses. Diffuse it with eucalyptus for a crisp, invigorating blend that feels like opening the windows on a breezy spring morning. On the skincare side, peppermint’s cooling properties make it a great addition to foot soaks or DIY body mists to refresh and revive tired skin.

🌸 Geranium – Floral, Fresh, and Balancing

Spring is flower season, and geranium essential oil brings a naturally sweet, rosy aroma that’s perfect for the season. It’s a powerhouse in skincare, helping to balance oil production, improve skin elasticity, and promote a dewy glow (without saying glow 😉). Add a few drops to your body lotion for a fresh springtime scent, or mix it into a DIY facial steam for a spa-like experience.

🌲 Cedarwood – The Unexpected Grounding Scent

While spring is full of light and freshness, sometimes we need a little grounding energy, too. Cedarwood is warm, woody, and perfect for balancing out the brightness of other spring scents. It’s also a skin savior, helping to calm breakouts and support a healthy skin barrier. Try blending it with lavender in a nighttime diffuser blend or adding a drop to your moisturizer for extra skin-supporting benefits.

Whether you’re refreshing your space, upgrading your skincare, or adding a seasonal twist to your routine, essential oils are an easy way to bring the magic of spring into your everyday life. Which scent will you be reaching for first?

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP

Sarah, the owner and maker at FLORL, is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner with a passion for holistic wellness, essential oils, and natural skincare. With years of experience in health and wellness, she believes skincare should be as unique as you are. A home cook, UNOS Ambassador, and lifelong plant lover, she’s dedicated to creating products with intention—handmade, botanical, and always crafted with care.

Hydration vs. Moisture: What Your Skin Really Needs

Ever feel like skincare lingo is just a bunch of fancy words thrown around? (Yeah, we do, too!)

One of the most common mix-ups is the difference between hydration and moisture. While they might sound interchangeable, these two elements play distinct roles in keeping your skin happy and healthy. Understanding what your skin actually needs can be the key to achieving that balanced, dewy glow.

When your skin isn’t behaving the way you want it to—whether it feels tight, flaky, or unexpectedly oily—it’s often a sign that something is out of balance. The key to restoring harmony? Knowing whether your skin is thirsty for hydration or craving moisture. While one focuses on replenishing water, the other helps lock it in, and using the wrong type of product can sometimes make things worse. A lightweight gel may quench dehydration but leave dry skin feeling parched, while a rich cream can soften dryness but feel heavy if hydration is what’s lacking. Finding the right balance is essential for a skincare routine that truly works for your skin.

Understanding Hydration vs. Moisture

While the terms "hydration" and "moisture" are often used interchangeably in skincare, they refer to different aspects of skin health. Grasping these differences is essential for selecting the right products and achieving a balanced complexion.

Hydration: Infusing Water into the Skin

Hydration pertains to the water content within the skin cells. Well-hydrated skin appears plump, elastic, and radiant. Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, can look dull, feel tight, and may accentuate fine lines. Hydrating products typically contain humectants—ingredients that draw water into the skin. Common humectants include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera. These ingredients attract moisture from the environment and deeper skin layers, ensuring skin remains supple and luminous.

Moisture: Sealing in Hydration with Oils

Moisture relates to the skin's oil content and its ability to retain hydration. The skin's natural lipid barrier prevents water loss, maintaining softness and flexibility. When this barrier is compromised, skin can become dry, rough, or flaky. Moisturizing products are designed to reinforce this barrier. They often contain emollients and occlusives—such as shea butter, oils, and silicones—that form a protective layer on the skin's surface, locking in hydration and preventing moisture loss.

Identifying Your Skin's Needs

Determining whether your skin requires hydration, moisture, or both is crucial:

• Dehydrated Skin: Lacks water. Indicators include a dull complexion, fine lines, and a feeling of tightness. Even oily skin can be dehydrated. Incorporate hydrating serums with humectants to replenish water content.

• Dry Skin: Lacks oil. Symptoms encompass roughness, flakiness, and irritation. Emphasize moisturizing creams rich in emollients and occlusives to restore the lipid barrier.

It's worth noting that skin can be both dry and dehydrated, necessitating a combination of hydrating and moisturizing products.

Crafting a Balanced Skincare Routine

To ensure your skin receives both hydration and moisture:

1. Cleanse Gently: Use a mild cleanser that doesn't strip natural oils.

2. Hydrate: Apply a hydrating toner or serum containing humectants to draw water into the skin.

3. Moisturize: Follow up with a moisturizer suited to your skin type to seal in hydration and reinforce the skin barrier.

4. Protect: During the day, apply sunscreen to shield your skin from environmental damage.

By understanding and addressing the distinct needs of your skin concerning hydration and moisture, you can achieve a healthier, more radiant complexion.
Take our skincare quiz to find the right blend and products just for you!

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP

Sarah, the owner and maker at FLORL, is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner with a passion for holistic wellness, essential oils, and natural skincare. With years of experience in health and wellness, she believes skincare should be as unique as you are. A home cook, UNOS Ambassador, and lifelong plant lover, she’s dedicated to creating products with intention—handmade, botanical, and always crafted with care.

The Art of Custom Skincare: Why One-Size-Fits-All Doesn’t Work

When it comes to skincare, we’ve been told for years that there’s a “holy grail” product for every skin concern—a single serum, cream, or cleanser that magically works for everyone.

But here’s the truth: skincare isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your skin is as unique as your fingerprint, and it deserves a routine that’s tailored to your specific needs. That’s where custom skincare comes in.

Over 16 million Americans are now vegetarian with nearly 10 million of those choosing a vegan lifestyle. It’s easier than it has ever been to enjoy great food while also cutting back, or avoiding meat altogether. With movements like Meatless Mondays and Meat-Free Fridays on the rise, research shows that, even those who have not totally adopted a plant-based lifestyle are choosing to cut back on the animal products they are ingesting. Whether you’re looking to add more vegetables into your diet for health reasons or ethical ones even the best intentions can be hard to stick to without a plan! So, If you’re looking to Veg Out in the New Year here are the top 6 ways to get more green into your diet!

Why Generic Skincare Falls Short

Mass-produced skincare products are formulated for the “average” consumer—but who is that, exactly? If you’ve ever tried a moisturizer that left your skin feeling greasy or a cleanser that stripped away too much moisture, you know the frustration of products that don’t quite fit. Skin type, environment, lifestyle, and personal preferences all play a role in what works best for you.

The Magic of Custom Blends

Custom skincare allows you to create a blend that works with your skin, not against it. Whether you’re drawn to a certain scent or looking for targeted support—like calming botanicals for sensitive skin or clarifying oils for breakouts—you get to design a product that feels good, smells good, and actually works for you. It’s not just skincare; it’s self-care, crafted with intention.

The FLORL Approach

When it comes to skincare, nature provides some of the most powerful ingredients—and few are as versatile as essential oils. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts that capture the natural aromatic compounds and therapeutic benefits of botanicals. Used for centuries in holistic wellness, these potent oils offer a range of skincare benefits, from soothing inflammation to balancing oil production and promoting skin regeneration. At FLORL, we harness the power of essential oils not just for their beautiful scents, but for their ability to nourish and support healthy skin—ensuring that every custom blend is as beneficial as it is luxurious.

At FLORL, we believe in skincare that’s as unique as you are. With our custom blends, you can choose ingredients that align with your skin’s needs and personal preferences. Looking for a lightweight moisturizer with a soft lavender finish? Or a deeply hydrating cream infused with rich vanilla and sandalwood? The choice is yours.

Your skin isn’t generic—why should your skincare be?

Take our skincare quiz to find the right blend for you!

Skincare should be as unique as you are, and with FLORL’s custom approach, you’re in control of what goes on your skin. By blending high-quality botanicals, nourishing oils, and the power of essential oils, we create products that aren’t just skincare—they’re self-care, made with intention. Whether you're drawn to a scent that lifts your mood or seeking targeted ingredients for your skin’s needs, FLORL is here to craft the perfect blend for you. Because when skincare is personal, the results are extraordinary.

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP

Sarah, the owner and maker at FLORL, is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner with a passion for holistic wellness, essential oils, and natural skincare. With years of experience in health and wellness, she believes skincare should be as unique as you are. A home cook, UNOS Ambassador, and lifelong plant lover, she’s dedicated to creating products with intention—handmade, botanical, and always crafted with care.

Vegging Out: 6 Ways to Eat More Green and Clean in the New Year!

January is coming…and with it come the countless, unrealistic, resolutions that most of us will have given up on by Valentines Day! Everyone loves the idea of starting off the New Year with renewed perspectives and personal goals but sticking to them long term is another story!

Over 16 million Americans are now vegetarian with nearly 10 million of those choosing a vegan lifestyle. It’s easier than it has ever been to enjoy great food while also cutting back, or avoiding meat altogether. With movements like Meatless Mondays and Meat-Free Fridays on the rise, research shows that, even those who have not totally adopted a plant-based lifestyle are choosing to cut back on the animal products they are ingesting. Whether you’re looking to add more vegetables into your diet for health reasons or ethical ones even the best intentions can be hard to stick to without a plan! So, If you’re looking to Veg Out in the New Year here are the top 6 ways to get more green into your diet!

Load up on the toppings!

One of my favorite ways to serve a crowd, particularly a crowd that isn’t really plant-based is to choose meals where there are a ton of options for toppings, like gyros, tacos, or baked potatoes. Loading up on a variety of interesting and flavorful toppings means that your brain is less likely to miss the meat that it might be accustomed to.

Try substituting sauteed mushrooms with garlic in your gyros and top with homemade tzatziki sauce, lettuce, red onion, avocado. black olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a dairy free feta!

Taco night is just as good with jackfruit as a substitute for birra and you can season it with all the same herbs and spices you love…topped with black beans, corn, onions, tomatoes, peppers, dairy free cheese and sour cream or hot-sauce!

Baked Potatoes or Jacket Potatoes are delicious with a simple vegan chili, onions, cheese, and yes, even some bacon bits! Did you know that the “Bacon Bits” you keep in your pantry are most likely actually vegan?

Chickpeas!

Beans in general are a great way to load up on flavor and texture when you are looking to cut back on the meat, but chickpeas in particular, have a mild enough flavor and texture that is perfect for “hiding” them in other dishes! One of my favorite ways to use chickpeas is in my meatloaf. Whether you are making a vegan loaf using a “moc meat” product like Impossible or Beyond or are just looking to supplement a traditional meatloaf chickpeas are a great option and honestly don’t check the texture of the final loaf in the slightest! This also happens to be a great tip to help feed a larger crowd on a smaller budget because chickpeas are very inexpensive and can double the volume of the meatloaf you are preparing for only about $1.00 more!

In a large bowl, gently mash your rinsed and drained chickpeas until they become the texture similar to that of uncooked ground beef. pick out and remove the skins of the chickpeas as you mash them. Simply incorporate into the base of your meatloaf recipe and prepare as normal.

Substitute Dairy Milk for Plant Milk!

It’s 2021 and the plant-milk game is stronger than ever! Long gone are the days when you had to choose between soy milk or rice milk if you were looking to avoid dairy! Most of the major dairy brands are now offering plant-milks that range from Oat, Cashew, Almond, Flax, even Pea and Banana Milks are in the mix now! Switching to a plant-based milk is one of the easiest ways to cut back on animal products at home, especially when using it in baked goods, soups, and sauces, where the plant-milk-based alternatives are nearly indistinguishable from traditional dairy.

Two of my favorite plant-milks are the Oat Milks from Rise Brewing…for baking, I especially love the vanilla and the plant-milk from Good Karma Foods, which might be one of the creamiest plant-milks that I have tried!

Make your own Soups, Sauces and Dressings.

A huge part of eating more clean and getting more green into your diet starts with cooking more at home! And…when I say cooking, I mean cooking! Making things from scratch instead of reaching for a can or jar allows you to control what goes into the dish…and can help you “sneak in” more produce than you might otherwise!

My own homemade pasta sauce for example, along with tomatoes, also includes peppers, onions, celery, and even carrots…but once it’s all stewed down in blended smooth no one would know!

Try making your own cream of potato soup…you’d be surprised what you can sneak in without much effort at all: onions, cauliflower, and parsnips just to name a few and that’s just in the cream sauce!

Salad dressings are another great way to utilize fresh herbs in ways that you might not think to do otherwise! One of my favorite summer salads is made with crisp, cold, green beans and a dressing that includes garlic and basil!

Cook with more Fresh Herbs and Spices.

Speaking of using more herbs and spices…this may be the last on the list but it’s honestly the best (and probably the easiest!) Rather than making a resolution to eat more of this and less of that in 2022 why not start an herb garden? Cooking with fresh herbs and spices is not only a sure-fire way to step up the flavor profiles of literally all your meals but growing them yourself will help motivate you to want to cook more and save you loads of money in the long run! Plus fresh herbs and spices have loads of health benefits over their dried counterparts!

Plan a Visit to your Local Ethnic Market!

Most national chain grocery stores carry all the same produce because they know who their audience is and what they routinely buy! One of my favorite things to do, when I’m in a food rut, is to visit a market in a neighborhood that caters to ethnicities and cooking styles that differ from my own or how I was raised! I know it may seem strange at first, and you’re going to need to fight the urge to feel self-conscience or out of place…but I promise that, honestly, no one cares. People are living their lives and doing their own shopping. No one cares or is even going to likely notice that you look a little lost.

Give yourself some time and just wander around the produce section. Choose one of two things that you have no idea how to prepare and buy them! That’s right…buy them! It’s almost 2022…we have siri, google, youtube, IG tiktock and about 100 other options for you to look up and learn how to make something new! Trust me on this…pick out something new, buy it, look it up on YouTube and get to cooking!

So, there you have it! The top 6 ways to get more green into your diet in 2022! For more plant-based food inspiration make sure to hop on over and join our community on Instagram HERE!

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP

Sarah, the owner and maker at FLORL, is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner with a passion for holistic wellness, essential oils, and natural skincare. With years of experience in health and wellness, she believes skincare should be as unique as you are. A home cook, UNOS Ambassador, and lifelong plant lover, she’s dedicated to creating products with intention—handmade, botanical, and always crafted with care.

Your Body Needs Protein Not Meat: 5 Ways Plant-Based People Get Their Protein and How You Can, Too!

Been to a restaurant lately? Ordered a salad? Want to add a “protein”…? Along with fats and carbohydrates, protein is one of the macro-nutrients we need to live, but trust me, your server isn’t asking you if you want some extra avocado or black beans on that salad!

The myth that people who eat plant-based diets aren’t getting enough protein is one that simply won’t go away, no matter how many times science has proven it false! Somehow, there remains the narrative that vegetarians and vegans are weak, sickly, and generally unhealthy because of the lack of animal protein in their diets.

Ironically, the top-two, of ten, killers of Americans, according to the CDC, are still heart disease and cancer, both largely shown to be linked to the over-consumption of processed meat. Want to know what isn’t on that list? Protein deficiency from lack of animal-based-eating.

Traditionally, meat has long been thought of as the Westerners’ main source of protein, so much so that the words “meat” and “protein” have almost become interchangeable! We can thank the industrial meat industry and the beef ads from the 70s and 80s that we all grew up with…or the outdated food pyramids printed in our 3rd grade textbooks…or even the athletic-celebrity, endorsements of burgers, chicken, and pork…but the truth is that there are plenty of other diverse protein sources out there…and spoiler alert: they all come from plants!

Contrary to what your Uncle Fred says at Thanksgiving dinner, or the YouTube video he claims proves otherwise, there are plenty of ways for people eating a plant-based diet to get enough protein! So, here are my top 5 Ways Plant-Based People Get Their Protein and How You Can, Too!

#1: Tofu, Tempeh, and Edamame

Soy based products are some of the best sources of plant-based proteins, not to mention the diversity of dishes that can be created with these ingredients, make them an obvious choice for many plant-based diets! They are also praised for diminishing hot flashes, warding off osteoporosis, and protecting against disease.

And, yes…I know what you’re thinking. “What about the hormone issue? I heard that soy products are bad for your hormones…”

Ironically, I hear this argument most often from people who, still, also consume copious amounts of dairy and eggs, which let’s face it, both are literally chocked full of the fertility hormones from another entire species of animal…so, if you ask me if I’m worried about moderate amounts of soy in my diet and my hormones, the answer is, no…not really!

#2: Beans and Legumes

It’s no secret that beans are a great source of protein, along with being a fantastic way to help maintain GI health they have also been shown to help lower cholesterol.

Beans are an easy way to not only get healthy protein but also much needed vitamins and minerals, which lets face it, most Westerner’s are significantly more deficient in than protein. Eat them in soup, toss them in salads…you can even grind the dry beans up and use them in place of some flours to make pasta!

Did you know that 1 cup of lentils has nearly 18g of protein, almost no fat and is loaded with both iron and b-vitamins? 1 cup of kidney beans and black beans, both, have over 15g of protein plus black beans are a great source of calcium and magnesium. Black beans, in particular, actually contain more than twice the amount of magnesium, per 8 ounces, than cows milk does.

#3: Quinoa

Oh, Quinoa! (pronounced Keen-Wa, for the less hippie-dippy crowd) Quinoa has really come into it’s hay-day in the last several years, making appearances on major restaurant chain menus like BurgerFi, Einstein Bros Bagels, Panera Bread, and Chili’s!

This humble little grain, is an amazing source of protein as well as being what is called a “complete protein” - meaning that it contains all nine essential amino acids that our bodies do not make on their own.

According to the Whole Grains Council, quinoa is a gluten-free, whole-grain carbohydrate, as well, so it’s safe for both people with celiac disease and diabetes. Because of this, it makes a great substitute for rice in soups, stews, burritos, and wraps plus, like beans, the uncooked grain can be milled down into flour and easily adapted to a broad range of baking recipes!

#4: Leafy Greens

Ounce for ounce, spinach is packed with more protein and iron than beef, chicken, or pork at rate of more than twelve-to-one! 8 ounces of a steak has only about 8% of the protein that 8oz of spinach (by weight) contains. I’m not kidding…do the math!

Now, having said that, is anyone going to realistically going to eat 8oz of spinach, by weight, in one serving? No! But, the good news is that you don’t need to. It is commonly recommended that adults should consume somewhere between 50 and 60 grams of protein every day! (Ironically, about one portion of meat…more on that later!)

Leafy greens, cooked down and added to stews, gravies, and sauces, lose significant volume but retain their protein benefits! That’s why I love recipes like THIS ONE so much because it allows you to consume far more greens than you would by simply eating a salad!

#5: Nuts and Seeds

Some of the nuts and seeds with the highest protein counts may surprise you! They include hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds, chia seeds and flax seeds!

Chia seeds, in particular, are an easy and delicious way to pack extra protein into your plant-based diet, even being used, by many, as an egg-replacement in vegan and plant-based baking!

Rich in vitamins E, B6, niacin and folate; and they provide minerals such as magnesium, zinc, plant iron, calcium, copper, selenium, phosphorus and potassium, many nut and seed butters are another great way to sneak in extra protein, but be careful, because they can also pack a fatty-punch per serving!

Back on #4, when we were talking about leafy greens, I said that the recommended protein intake for an adult was somewhere between 50-60 grams, per day! I also mentioned that this was just about equal to one portion of steak, chicken, or pork…but I want to be clear, that’s an 8 ounce portion. Despite how this article may seem, my intention is not to shame anyone into eating less meat, but I do think it’s a valuable exercise to really look at how much animal-based protein that many Americans eat in a day, specifically when the counter argument for a plant-based diet, is so often that vegetarians and vegans “won’t get enough.”

Think about this!
If you stop for a breakfast sandwich at your local fast-food joint on the way to work, gobble down your favorite chicken sandwich and fries for lunch, and come home to a steak dinner…in reality you are likely consuming double the protein that you need in a day. And, this is not a over-dramatic scenario…as I think we all know many people who can easily eat two of these kinds of sandwiches as their “lunch” portion, not to mention the the marketing campaigns of many fast-food restaurants boasting an entire 1/2 pound, or more, of meat layered onto their sandwiches.

Simply put, not only are humans really, really bad at guessing at portion size, we also need significantly less protein than most of us are routinely consuming. With these two facts in mind it’s actually quite simple to see how these 5 Ways Plant-Based People Get Their Protein are more than capable of providing enough for the average person…

After all, the animals that we kill and eat to get our protein…ironically, get all of their protein, from plants!

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP and UNOS Ambassador

Sarah, aka: The Plant Based Ginger, has been in the plant-based community for 20 years and has worked in natural skincare as well as the health and wellness sector. Over the years her love of holistic wellness, essential oils, and plant-based cooking has merged to create the PBG website and social brand. Sarah is currently living back in Central Florida, where she was raised, after spending over a decade up in Ohio’s Amish Country! She is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, UNOS Ambassador, Homecook, Coffee Lover, and Fur Mom!

What Your Coffee Says About You!

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP and UNOS Ambassador

Sarah, aka: The Plant Based Ginger, has been in the plant-based community for 20 years and has worked in natural skincare as well as the health and wellness sector. Over the years her love of holistic wellness, essential oils, and plant-based cooking has merged to create the PBG website and social brand. Sarah is currently living back in Central Florida, where she was raised, after spending over a decade up in Ohio’s Amish Country! She is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, UNOS Ambassador, Homecook, Coffee Lover, and Fur Mom!

5 Tips to Order Veggie Dishes at Your Favorite Non-Veggie Restaurant That Aren't Just Salads!

We've all been there! Everyone else in the group is super pumped to go to their favorite restaurant but you know they won't have a lot (or any vegetarian or vegan options on the menu...) Don't get me wrong, the Veg scene in a lot of cities has come a long way but despite the fact that plant-based protein is slated to be the #2 largest food-and-menu trend over the next decade, some restaurants still haven't caught up!

I've been plant-based for 20 years now and I've been eating out at restaurants the entire time. Let's just say, I'm a pro at dissecting a menu! But, what seems simple for you can be a total headache for the kitchen! So, here are my 5 tips to help you navigate a menu that has little to no green...without driving the kitchen crazy!

Tip #1: Just Ask Them!

This might seem like an oversimplification but almost all restaurants have items which are not on the menu but that they happily serve. You never know...perhaps one of the wait staff that works there is plant-based and the chef has a dish they always whip up for them or maybe another good customer who eats there all the time has people in their party who are vegetarians and they have a dish that they serve special just for them? You'll never know if you don't ask. You'd be surprised at just how many places do have a plant-based special menu item they serve, if you ask!

Tip #2: Look at the Menu Ahead of Time.

If you have a chance, take a look at the online menu before you get there so that you can see the type of ingredients they are using in the dishes that they do have on the menu. Most restaurants are pretty accommodating, if they have the ingredients in house, but nothing makes you look more like a twerp than railing off a dozen items that they don't even serve and asking if you can order that specific thing.

The trick is to avoid trying to sub items that have already been mixed or prepped ahead of time! No, a soul food restaurant probably isn't going to be able to "leave out" the andouille sausage from their cheese grits because it's likely already been mixed into the dish! BUT... if you are at a taco joint that also serves black beans as a side? Asking to substitute the chicken for a scoop of black beans on an order of nachos is an easy and delicious swap!

Tip #3: Be Creative with Side Dishes!

Oh, the humble side dish...a veg-head's best friend. A lot of times you're easily able to create a delicious meal by pairing side dishes together. A baked potato with a side of cooked spinach and garlic sauce plus an order of roasted mushrooms and onions (that they would normally serve on a burger) makes a pretty great loaded potato! Is this the most elegant option? No, not particularly, but it can still be super tasty, with no much effort, and even better, is easy on the kitchen.

Note: I know I'm talking a lot about making things easier on the staff and you may be thinking..."Why do I care about that? I'm the customer. I'm paying...I should be able to get what I want!" Well...no, not necessarily! Restaurant owners are already working on pretty thin margins and their menu items are often calculated down to the penny! They have carefully crafted, what they believe to be, delicious dishes, that their staff can execute perfectly...and then YOU walk in, wanting to change it all. All I'm saying is that, if you decide to go dine at a restaurant that doesn't boast a veggie-based menu, try to be kind. Most staff and cooks want to serve you good food that you will enjoy, but it won't hurt anyone if you take it a little easy on them!

Tip #4: Ask to Customize Your Salad!

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know I said no salads but hear me out. One of my favorite tricks, especially if I'm at a more casual place, that serves sandwiches and wraps, is to ask if I can have a salad they have on the menu turned into a wrap. Do they have a summer garden salad with avocado, onion, tomato, mushrooms, carrots, and sunflower seeds? Sounds like a veggie wrap to me! Ordering a specific thing that they actually have on the menu, like a salad, and then asking to make it a wrap with some vinaigrette on the side and a cup of fruit is way easier than asking to order a "veggie wrap" to which the server is going to have to ask, "What do you want in the wrap" and then write down every single ingredient you list! This way, the kitchen won't be confused. They know how to make this particular salad and they know how to make wraps! Easy!

Tip #5: Be Open To International Foods…

Let's face it, the American food culture is built on meat, but many other ethnic diets simply are not, or not to the degree that we see here in the States. The idea that the meat must be the mean dish is something that you are less likely to find in Asian, Greek, or Indian cuisine. I have found that it's almost always easier to find good plant-based dishes at restaurants that are not "American Style" eateries. Try talking your crew into trying that new Poke place or a traditional Thai restaurant. Indian food, in particular, tends to be very veggie friendly, and the flavor profiles are something that you may not even know you love, if you only stick to American "sports bar" or "steak-house" type establishments. Restaurants like this are great because they will almost always have some-kind of steak or chicken dish for your meat eating friends, as well.

So, that's it! My 5 tips to help you go green at your favorite restaurant...without driving the kitchen crazy! Sadly, there can often be a reputation, within the veggie community, of judgement, high maintenance, demanding, personalities and while, no, it's not fair for you, as an individual, to be responsible to represent an entire community when you just want to grab dinner and drinks with friends, the reality is that your kindness and grace may have a very real impact on the staff of a restaurant who has, sadly, had bad experiences with plant-based eaters in the past! Above all, remember that, kindness is king in situations like this!

Bon Appetite, friends!

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP and UNOS Ambassador

Sarah, aka: The Plant Based Ginger, has been in the plant-based community for 20 years and has worked in natural skincare as well as the health and wellness sector. Over the years her love of holistic wellness, essential oils, and plant-based cooking has merged to create the PBG website and social brand. Sarah is currently living back in Central Florida, where she was raised, after spending over a decade up in Ohio’s Amish Country! She is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, UNOS Ambassador, Homecook, Coffee Lover, and Fur Mom!

The Top 5 Essential Oils Everyone Should Have in Their Homes!

“We each have the innate ability to heal ourselves. To empower ourselves with natural solutions, instead of succumbing to life-altering chemicals. There's a time and place for pharmaceuticals, but it shouldn't be the first answer, nor the only form treatment.”
― Dana Arcuri

Full disclosure, I have a lot of oils…like A LOT of oils but it’s a collection that I have grown over the years and, if I’m honest, there are only a handful that I use on a daily, or even on a weekly, basis.

High quality Essential Oils are not cheap. If you are new to oils it can be a bit of sticker shock to pay $20 for a little bottle of oil that’s not much bigger than a tube of lipstick! If you’re not careful the investment of oils might turn you off entirely. Or, you might end up spending way more than you wanted to!

Bottom Line: You don’t need $500 worth of oils

The variety packs, with their dozens of tiny bottles, stylish travel cases, and bright colored labels are tempting, I know, but rest assured that you do not need hundreds of dollars worth of essential oils to get started using botanicals. Here are a list of the TOP 5 Oils I believe that everyone should have in their homes…the three I consider my holy trinity of oils, a number 6 oil, if you can swing it, and I’ll share with you which one I would snap up if I could only buy ONE bottle. So, here are the top Essential Oils that everyone should have in their homes!

Tea Tree Oil - Naturally antibacterial, great for wound care, Can help soothe pain related to toothaches, and does a great job of battling acne and other dermatological issues.

Lavender Oil - Also great for wound care, full of calming qualities and helps aid emotional and mental health, can be used as a sleep aid, helps soothe skin rashes, minor burns, and insect stings plus it has anti-aging benefits.

Peppermint Oil - Can help to clear sinuses and ease pressure that leads to headaches, aids in settling an upset stomach or soothing motion sickness. Keeps many bugs and insects away and can help with concentration and focus.

Frankincense Oil - Has anti-inflammatory properties, can help with bruising, great for skin-health, aids in mood and emotional support, promotes circulation and can help soothe the symptoms of nerve damage.

Lemon Oil - Great for cleaning and helps to purify the air. Works as an all natural “goo-gone.” Helps to support mental health and uplift mood and is great for the skin.

Lemongrass Oil - BONUS OIL (Yes, this is different that Lemon Oil) Naturally anti fungal and can help significantly with foot and toenail issues. Great for cleaning, and also helps to detox the air. Full of antioxidants, it can help to support gut and GI health.

My trio of “holy trinity” oils are: Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Oil, and Peppermint Oil…I call these my “medicine cabinet” oils. From bee stings to motion sickness, headaches, cuts, or even minor burns, with these three oils, there isn’t too much that can go wrong in your home that they can’t help with.

If I could only buy ONE bottle of oil, it would be….drum roll, please, Lavender Oil! Great for the body and great for the mind!

The basics of essential oils may seem mysterious and complicated but with good quality oils and the right education it’s really nothing to be confused by. In fact, you may be surprised to learn how many simple ways there are to reap the benefits of a more natural and non-toxic health and wellness routine by just incorporating essential oils into your daily life in very small, unobtrusive ways! The earth and all it’s gifts daily nurture and sustain us…let us always be grateful!

I really hope that these tips have given you a little more insight about the world of Essential Oils and how you might use them in your home! Got more questions? Drop them in the comments below and I’ll be sure to answer them!

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP and UNOS Ambassador

Sarah, aka: The Plant Based Ginger, has been in the plant-based community for 20 years and has worked in natural skincare as well as the health and wellness sector. Over the years her love of holistic wellness, essential oils, and plant-based cooking has merged to create the PBG website and social brand. Sarah is currently living back in Central Florida, where she was raised, after spending over a decade up in Ohio’s Amish Country! She is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, UNOS Ambassador, Homecook, Coffee Lover, and Fur Mom!

Teach Them to Cook: 7 Things That Young Adults Need to Know How to Cook Before Living on Their Own!

“I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate.” - Julia Child

In a world that is increasingly more and more physically disconnected, teaching your kids the skills to cook good food, for the people they love, will ensure that you not only keep their bellies full and fed but their hearts as well.

Oh, the life we all lead in our early 20’s. Everything is a new adventure and at that age, leaving your parent’s house to live on your own might just be the biggest adventure of them all. Officially adults, but don’t be fooled, most kids from 18-22 are very much still shedding their childhoods, as they work to become the people they are destined to be. And while the sterotype of cold pizza and microwave ramen might not be too far off for a lot of 20-somethings, one of the best things that the older adults in these young peoples’ lives can do is make sure they have some legitimate skills in the kitchen before they leave your family home. So, here are the top Seven Things That Young Adults Need to Know How to Cook Before Living on Their Own!

#1: How to Cook and Dress Pasta

You knew that this one was going to make it onto the list! Pasta is probably the quickest and easiest thing to make. Whether you are going to use it as a base for a killer gourmet mac n cheese or slather it in jarred pasta sauce and eat it from a bowl on the couch, learning to cook pasta is a necessity.

Although not overly complicated, learning to make pasta allows your kids to confidently master some basics of cooking: How to choose the right sized pot, how to boil water, how to not let your pot boil over (and bonus: if it does, it’s not a huge, remarkable, mess to clean up!) Don’t forget to teach them the tricks: Always salt your pasta water…bring the water to a boil and then drop your pasta, stir the pasta so that it doesn’t stick together or stick to the bottom of the pot, how to drain without ending up with a clumpy mess, and the benefits of a small pat of butter melted into hot noodles!

As for teaching them the correct single portion of pasta to cook…don’t worry about it, no one really knows how to do that.

#2: How to Saute and Roast Vegetables

I know, I know…this seems like this should be two things but just trust me! In teaching your kids how to saute vs. roast you’re introducing them to the two main ways of cooking, stove-top vs. oven. Take this opportunity to use the same vegetables in both cases (say, mushrooms, onions, broccoli, squash, peppers, and potatoes) and they will also learn how different cooking methods will result in different tastes and textures.

Roasting vegetables, will allow them to learn to clean and prep the vegetables, acquire some basic knife skills, season their produce, perhaps learn about marinades or the benefits of basting, learn the difference between a roasting pan vs. a cookie sheet, see what the broil feature of an oven can be used for and, in the end, have something delicious (that they might even toss on top of that pasta they just made…Did someone say Roasted Broccoli with Alfredo Sauce?!)

Additionally, when they learn to saute not only will they get some killer fajitas out of the deal, they learn about skillets vs saucepans or stockpots, choosing oil vs. butter, what a smoke point is, how to gauge and adjust cooking temperate, order of addition (ie: how different vegetables cook quicker or more slowly than others and when to add them) and how to safely handle a hot pan on the cook-top. Plus, sauteed veggies are the base for all kinds of soups and stews! More on that, later!

#3: Assemble and Bake a Casserole

Oh, the humble casserole, the culinary mid-point between cooking and baking! It really doesn’t even matter what kind of casserole you teach them to conquer! Does your family have a favorite recipe? Does your kid have a favorite vegetable? Baking a casserole allows them to take ingredients that are relatively inexpensive and create a dish that is far, far greater than the sum of it’s parts. Once mastered, and with a little kitchen confidence, they will be able to substitute ingredients to make all kinds of combinations!

Casseroles are great for young people in their early 20’s because it gives them something (other than potato salad from a plastic tub) to take to a community picnic or work potluck. When they learn to make a casserole they learn how to pre-heat an oven, the basic measuring of ingredients, both wet and dry, how to choose the right size baking dish, and how to tell when something is “set.” Plus, it’s probably a sure fire way to impress the mom of whomever they are currently dating.

#4: Make Scrambled Eggs

Weather they are going to eat them on toast with an avocado…pile them onto an english muffin or bagel for a breakfast sandwich, top them with the sauteed veggies that they learned how to cook in lesson #2 or just eat them plain, scrambled eggs are one of the most versatile of breakfast foods!

Scrambled eggs, plant-based or otherwise, are something that everyone needs to know how to prepare, because really...what’s better than breakfast? Similar to pasta, scrambled eggs seem pretty simple, but everyone makes them just a little bit different: Cooking spray or butter? Do you salt and pepper your eggs before you scramble them, or before you serve them? Add milk, or no milk? What about cheese? When do you add the cheese? How much do you stir? And, for the love of all that is holy, how do you clean 2-day-old eggs out of your only frying pan?

#5: Brew a Pot of Coffee

Speaking of breakfast, let’s talk coffee!

Maybe the young adult in your life just landed the internship at their dream job and now…coffee duty is on them, or they are volunteering at a local community or charity event, or perhaps they are just cramming with their room-mates for finals, no matter the reason and regardless whether they drink it or not, everyone needs to know how to brew a good, strong, pot of coffee!

#6: Nail a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This one might be my favorite on the list and not just because, personally, I’m a huge grilled cheese geek! I know what you’re thinking…come on, grilled cheese, really?

Yes. Really!
Choosing the correct pan, maintaining skillet temperature, type of bread, variety of cheeses and how they melt, the melt point vs. the burn point, and even how and when you choose to flip…the perfect grilled cheese is something no one ever regrets knowing how to make and just like the sauteing of vegetables the skills your kids will learn will allow them to make all kinds of griddled sandwiches including melts, paninis and even quesadillas!

#7: Make a Pot of Chili

Okay, gang… we made it to #7! This last one might seem a bit strange but just hang with me for a couple more paragraphs and it will all become clear. If your young adult has made it through 1-6 they have nearly all the kitchen skills they will need to make a really delicious pot of Chili.

They know how to: prep, chop, and saute vegetables, choose the correct sized pot for the job, measure wet ingredients, (stock, tomato paste, etc…) measure their spices, (dry ingredients) taste for seasoning, monitor and safely handle a hot pot on the stove-top without it boiling over and (depending on the casserole you taught them to make earlier, they may even know how to fry up ground-beef or a plant-based alternative.) If not, that’s the last step (if you want your chili to have meat…) The best part about Chili is, beyond that, it really is a waiting game more than anything, which also helps to teach patience in the kitchen and will allow them to see how flavors deepen and get better over time.

A pot of chili easily feeds a crowd and is the perfect way for your kids to showcase their new culinary skills for their friends on a Saturday afternoon! Chili-dogs, anyone? Leftovers can keep, in the fridge, and be eaten all week long and it’s a frugal meal that most people enjoy!

So, that’s it! The list of the top 7 things that young adults need to know how to cook before living on their own! Seven simple things, that after they learn, will help them to have the confidence to tackle all kinds of other unique and tasty recipes in the kitchen! In a world that is increasingly more and more physically disconnected, teaching your kids the skills to cook good food, for the people they love, will ensure that you not only keep their bellies full and fed but their hearts as well.

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP and UNOS Ambassador

Sarah, aka: The Plant Based Ginger, has been in the plant-based community for 20 years and has worked in natural skincare as well as the health and wellness sector. Over the years her love of holistic wellness, essential oils, and plant-based cooking has merged to create the PBG website and social brand. Sarah is currently living back in Central Florida, where she was raised, after spending over a decade up in Ohio’s Amish Country! She is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, UNOS Ambassador, Homecook, Coffee Lover, and Fur Mom!

Is Your Essential Oil Lady Lying to You? Top Three Tips from someone who is NOT earning a commission!

Essential Oils! Nature’s pharmacy! No matter their religious, scientific, or social world-views humanity has been medicating itself with botanicals since the dawn of time.

In the last decade, probably more specifically the last 5 or 7 years the use of essential oils has once again, skyrocketed, thanks in large part to several national, multi-level marketing, (at home business) and direct sales companies that have started branding and selling them.

I guess that I should start by saying that, I am not now, nor have I ever been a consultant for a company selling essential oils. Well then, you might ask...how is this girl qualified to tell anyone anything? Well...Like I mentioned above, I have been using Essential Oils, directly, in my daily life for well over a decade, and indirectly via natural and handmade products for close to 15 years. I am a CNHP, (Certified Natural Health Practitioner), and a Certified Health Specialist, as well, with Board Certifications from AADP (The American Association of Drugless Practitioners) and next semester will begin my journey to becoming a Master Herbalist. Whew...now that that’s out of the way…

I remember when I first got into using Essential Oils, back when people assumed you were some kind of ancient witch, peddling your snake oils and hippie voodoo! It never ceases to make me giggle that many of the people who I tried to talk to about holistic healing, natural health, and yes, essential oils, the ones who looked at me like I was a crazy person and even worse, some kind of spiritual heretic...are, you guessed it; now direct sales consultants, selling essential oils. 

I’m not here to bash any brand or company in particular and no, I’m not planning to share with you the brand of oils that I use personally, (send me a message or reach out on IG if you’re really dying to know.) I will say, I do not buy from the big MLM brands. But, if you’re interested in essential oils, (and you should be) here are the TOP THREE TIPS from someone who loves oils and who is NOT earning a sales-commission!

Tip 1: Don’t believe the Marketing Myth of “Certifications”

Now, my agenda here is not to get down on consultants who sell Essential Oils, or the multi-level marketing companies that recruit them, however, in my industry, I meet a lot of them...and over the years I have heard some pretty quirky things. For example, just this week I heard this (again) from someone I know personally: 

“Make sure to only use (Insert her EO brand here) because they are the only oils that are certified to be used internally.”

Sounds innocent enough. She’s just trying to educate and protect her customers, right? Well, it would be innocent enough, if any of it were actually true, and this is where the problem lies. Whether or not this gal was intending to lie or mislead her friends, customers, and closest social media friends or not, (for the record, I don’t believe that she was) the information that she was providing  people, the information that she was likely provided by her parent company simply isn’t true. Well, it’s not the entire truth! Let me explain…

Currently in the US there is no regulatory agency at the national, federal, or state level that tests, certifies, accredits, recognizes, licenses, authorizes, or approves essential oils. Let me say that again...there is absolutely no government agency (like the FDA) that regulates essential oils, or really much of anything else in the holistic, homeopathic, and natural health and wellness industry...and for most of us in the industry, that’s just the way that we like it! 

So, what was this consultant talking about? Well, many of the MLM Essential Oil brands do, in fact, have programs in place where their oils are tested and certified for quality, but they are internal certifications only.

Quality control is extremely important, and for the sake of the integrity of the industry at large, I am thankful that these brands do check and double check their products by rigorous standards but we need to remember that they are merely internal standards. Based on the internal certification of a particular brand, of course their oils will be “the only ones to be certified for internal use.” They obviously aren’t going to “certify” another brand’ s product with their internal program. So, when they say that their oils are the only oils to be certified…blah, blah, blah, they are technically correct, because they are the only oils that they internally tested.

You may say that I am simply arguing semantics, and you may be right...but what is semantics if not the implied meaning of a thing? And, in this case, the implied meaning is very clear. “Only our certified oils are safe. Other oils are not. Don’t put yourself in danger. Buy only our oils!”

This just isn’t true. Be very wary of anyone attempting to tell you that “their” product is the “only” product that is “safe.”

Tip 2: Be careful of the “If one drop is good...two drops are better” mentality.

As Americans, one of the easiest marketing traps that we fall into is the lie of, “If a little is good, more must be better.” Chalk it up to the influence of capitalism, our need for constant improvement while being notoriously impatient, or just the simple fact that more of something does sound like a better option than less of something. No matter the reason, we fall for it…hard and the Marketing Directors of the world are thrilled that we do.

More bubbles in our detergent.

More points on your credit card.

More food on our plates.

More eyelashes on our faces.

More, more, more…

This kind of thinking can be very dangerous when it comes to the use of essential oils but, sadly, that often doesn’t stop young, inexperienced, or under-educated consultants from using this as a sales method. And, why wouldn’t they? The more product that you, as the consumer, use the more product that you repurchase and the more commission they can earn.

One of the more dangerous examples of this that I can recall, in recent history, was when I heard a consultant with a mainstream MLM company selling her customer on the benefits of grapefruit oil, which can be used to help support a healthy metabolism, however this consultant said the following:

“Grapefruit oil is great for weight loss. All you need to do is put 10 drops into a glass of water or juice and drink it each morning as soon as you wake up. It’s so simple.”

It was everything for me not to scream…”No, dear god, if you have any emotional attachment to your liver, please do not do that!”

Essential oils are the distilled and pressed essences of herbs, roots, nuts, and flowers and they are very, very potent. Honestly there is not a single oil that I would ever recommend ingesting 10 drops of in one sitting for any reason. I wouldn’t use 10 drops of oil to diffuse in my home over the course of an entire day…not to mention the fact that almost all citrus oils, when applied topically, or when in ingested, can make you photo-sensitive and extremely likely to burn in the sun! (But, no…this consultant didn’t bother to pass along any of that information!) 10 drops and guzzle it down. “It’s so simple…”

Personally, do I ingest essential oils? Yep, I do.

Am I ever going to tell you that you should…or what oils to ingest for what reasons/illnesses…or what dosage to take? Nope! I’m not!

Want to know why? Because, even with all of the training, education, licensures and experience that I have with essential oils, I’m not a doctor and legally I can not diagnose, prescribe, or treat patients…and yes, that does include telling someone that they can lose weight by drinking 10 drops of grapefruit EO in their water or juice everyday!

When it comes to Essential Oils, more is not better and you should steer clear of consultants or sales-people who frame the benefits of oils in a light that assumes that it is or who try to “prescribe” a regimented dose or regular use to treat your medical condition.

Tip 3: You don’t need $500 worth of oils

Full disclosure, I have a lot of oils…like A LOT of oils but it’s a collection that I have grown over the years and, if I’m honest, there are only a handful that I use on a daily, or even on a weekly, basis.

High quality Essential Oils are not cheap, although, in my experience the MLM brands tend to be even more expensive than they need to be (mostly because there needs to be the consultant commission built into the retail price of their oils.) If you are new to oils it can be a bit of sticker shock to pay $20 for a little bottle of oil that’s not much bigger than a tube of lipstick! If you’re not careful the investment of oils might turn you off entirely. Or, you might end up spending way more than you wanted to!

The variety packs, with their dozens of tiny bottles, stylish travel cases, and bright colored labels are tempting, I know, but rest assured that you do not need hundreds of dollars worth of essential oils to get started using botanicals. Here are a list of the TOP 5 Oils I believe that everyone should have in their homes…the three I consider my holy trinity of oils, a number 6 oil, if you can swing it, and I’ll share with you which one I would snap up if I could only buy ONE bottle.

Tea Tree Oil - Naturally antibacterial, great for wound care, Can help soothe pain related to toothaches, and does a great job of battling acne and other dermatological issues.

Lavender Oil - Also great for wound care, full of calming qualities and helps aid emotional and mental health, can be used as a sleep aid, helps soothe skin rashes, minor burns, and insect stings plus it has anti-aging benefits.

Peppermint Oil - Can help to clear sinuses and ease pressure that leads to headaches, aids in settling an upset stomach or soothing motion sickness. Keeps many bugs and insects away and can help with concentration and focus.

Frankincense Oil - Has anti-inflammatory properties, can help with bruising, great for skin-health, aids in mood and emotional support, promotes circulation and can help soothe the symptoms of nerve damage.

Lemon Oil - Great for cleaning and helps to purify the air. Works as an all natural “goo-gone.” Helps to support mental health and uplift mood and is great for the skin.

Lemongrass Oil - BONUS OIL (Yes, this is different that Lemon Oil) Naturally anti fungal and can help significantly with foot and toenail issues. Great for cleaning, and also helps to detox the air. Full of antioxidants, it can help to support gut and GI health.

My trio of “holy trinity” oils are: Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Oil, and Peppermint Oil…I call these my “medicine cabinet” oils. From bee stings to motion sickness, headaches, cuts, or even minor burns, with these three oils, there isn’t too much that can go wrong in your home that they can’t help with.

If I could only buy ONE bottle of oil, it would be….drum roll, please, Lavender Oil! Great for the body and great for the mind!

The basics of essential oils may seem mysterious and complicated but with good quality oils and the right education it’s really nothing to be confused by. In fact, you may be surprised to learn how many simple ways there are to reap the benefits of a more natural and non-toxic health and wellness routine by just incorporating essential oils into your daily life in very small, unobtrusive ways! The earth and all it’s gifts daily nurture and sustain us…let us always be grateful!

I really hope that these tips have given you a little more insight about the world of Essential Oils and how you might use them in your home! Got more questions? Drop them in the comments below and I’ll be sure to answer them!

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Sarah Seeds, CNHP and UNOS Ambassador

Sarah, aka: The Plant Based Ginger, has been in the plant-based community for 20 years and has worked in natural skincare as well as the health and wellness sector. Over the years her love of holistic wellness, essential oils, and plant-based cooking has merged to create the PBG website and social brand. Sarah is currently living back in Central Florida, where she was raised, after spending over a decade up in Ohio’s Amish Country! She is a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, UNOS Ambassador, Homecook, Coffee Lover, and Fur Mom!