Why I came back to Ibotta

It has been a fun roller coaster ride as a stay at home mom finding random ways to make money. I browsed through so many blogs searching for little tips and tricks until one day I stumbled upon Ibotta. I remembered downloading the app before..but I hated it! I didn't like having to upload every receipt and it wasn't like I was grocery shopping every day. I wasn't getting much ROI for the work I was doing so I quit. 

Recently I heard that Ibotta just redid their application so I thought I should give it a shot. Oh man am I a believer now! They did a fantastic job of updating the design and features as well as making it much easier to make more money. 

1. They added more retailers besides grocery stores. I used Hotels.com as well as WalMart to earn extra money and it added up. 

2. All you have to do is upload my receipt and it does the work for me! No itemizing. Who has time for that? 

3. They give you your money fast! I was able to cash out and get my money within a few hours!

Groceries and food take up a lot of our family budget, so using this app has been a great help with offsetting some of that cost. Will it make me rich? No. But it feels great to have a little cash to go towards extra things like hair and body products that aren't necessities. Have you tried Ibotta lately? Sound off in the comments if you have! If you use their team feature let me know as well. 

If you want to use my code for Ibotta it's here

4 Must Have Vegan travel items

Who doesn't like to travel? Sometimes it's a challenge to do so plant based, but I have compiled a list of the must haves to make your trip run a little more smoothly.

1. Electrolyte packets

Flying can be draining. Packing along electrolyte packets can give you a great energy boost without taking up a lot of space in your carry on. All you need is water to mix it up and drink to replenish yourself on the flight.

2. Warm socks

If you're traveling long distance it is almost crucial to grab these for your bag. Airports are freezing!Grab these Vegan travel socks here

3. Wet Wipes

Planes are so gross! Hotel rooms are gross. Play it safe and wipe things down before touching them.

4. If you're flying in the states-AirVegan app!

Know which airports are plant friendly as well as which terminals have options for you as you're in the airport.

An easy way to drink 100 ounces of water

How many "Drink water"challenges do you encounter on your social media? They're everywhere. I'm not going to bore you with a post about the benefits of drinking water because you already know that it's healthy. What I do have is a strategy that worked for me when I was trying to get into the habit of tripling my water intake. The big secret? It's all in the water bottle you choose. 

Realistically, is it convenient to carry around a gallon of water like this? 

It doesn't fit in your bag and it's not comfortable. Plus, how discouraging is it to see how much water you have left as you're drinking along? 

Who wants to keep refilling a 16.9 ounce plastic water bottle six times or keep buying them over and over? 

A 25 ounce glass water bottle is the way to go! 

You can get yours here

You only need to drink 4 of these to get your ounces down. I aim for 2 before noon and 2 after noon. Simple. To make things even easier I use the following formula: 

25 ounces of regular filtered water

25 ounces of fruit infused water

25 ounces of lemon water

25 ounces of electrolyte water. 

If you are interested in having me use simple tricks like these to make eating Vegan easy let me meal plan for you! $45 for 30 days of support, recipes, coupons, and guidance on a plant based diet. Check out this link to our site or email thechefy101@gmail.com

What happened when I tried Instacart

I am obsessed with convenience. I'm a stay at home mom and running to the store or having my husband go do it is not always feasible. When I first checked out Instacart I thought it was a brilliant idea. Having someone else grocery shop for me? I am all for it. When it was time to prepare for the 4th of July holiday I thought it was the perfect opportunity to test out the application and avoid the holiday crowds. Here are my thoughts:


1. Communication They did a great job with the communication updates on the app. I was able to see every time my shopper completed an item on the list and message them if I had to. There were some items that were out of stock( pre holiday crowds) so I was able to accept a switch to another option or just refund the item.

2. Idiot proof: I appreciate that this application is built so that anyone can use it. You don't have to be tech savvy to use and understand it.

3. Convenience: The 2 hour delivery is incredible! Picking out my groceries from the couch and having them come straight to my door with such a short notice has such value. The amount of time saved is worth it.

Some of the cons of Instacart:

1. Cost is definitely a factor. You can't compare coupons as well as in the store UNLESS you select Whole Foods. I tested the shopping cart by using Publix and I wasn't 100% sold. I wouldn't use it for a place like Publix or another grocery store but if you're looking to save a trip to Whole Foods the cost is virtually the same.

Overall I spent $50 on my groceries. That number also included items I purchased to contribute to the holiday bbq I was going to. I got free delivery since it was my first one, but for  $3.99 I would say it's not bad. Would I use it again? Yes. Would I use it consistently? Probably not.

Want to try eating plant based on a budget? Save the food delivery fees and learn how to make your favorite meals in Vegan form? Check out Chefy101 to learn more and take the work out of meal planning off your hands.

How I got myself to eat more carrots

Carrots are so healthy! They are full of nutrients but sometimes it's not so much fun to reach for them and eat them consistently. This is especially the case in my house. I used to add them to shakes but they thicken the consistency way too much for me. As I mentioned in my other posts, I can't stand thick shakes! They gross me out. So here are some tips and a quick recipe I use when I want to get more carrots in my diet.

1. Cook them! Raw carrots are great, but not as easy to get down.

2. Hide them. The more I add seasonings, other veggies, and a simple starch ( like potatoes) I find I can eat more of the carrots.

3. Add a protein. I love to use boca for this but you can also add a nice batch of fried tofu to dress up the dish.

My basic veggie medley

1/4 cup of onions
3 tablespoons of minced garlic
3 tablespoons of black pepper
4 tablespoons of berbere( can substitute paprika or any other cajun spice)
2 cups of kale
1 1/2 cups of carrots
1 1/2 cups of boca
1 cup of tomato sauce or diced tomatoes


Sautee onion, garlic, pepper, and berbere for 3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce. Add in all the other ingredients and cover on low for about 25 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Interested in having me create 30 days of custom Vegan meals for you for less than$12 per week? Check me out here. $10 off if you mention this blog post. 

Are chia seeds worth it?

The lowdown on Chia seeds

 People swear by them. You've probably pinned a few puddings made from them. Maybe you haven't tried them at all. Yes, I'm talking about ch-ch-ch-CHIA! I purchased Nutiva chia seeds as one of my staples for morning shakes because of all the amazing health benefits I had read about them. I'm glad I did because these stay in my rotation now. Here's the good, bad, and ugly from my experience. 

The Good

Hello energy! When that late afternoon hits and you need a boost to pick you up these will get you there. It is so much better than reaching for that cup of coffee and cheaper than running to Starbucks for that extra shot. Plus if you're limited on your caffeine intake( like me) this can be a huge help. You can make an energy bar out of them or blend it if you have access to a blender. I also love that they don't break the bank either. You can usually get a great deal on chia seeds. 

The Bad

This may still be a good, but be prepared for the clean out...because I wasn't. Chia seeds clean out your system really well. I ended up feeling fantastic afterwards, but I was not ready going into it. I have since learned that you have to soak the seeds ahead of time. This makes a difference, but they will still clean you out. 

The Ugly

Chia seeds do not look appetizing. They don't disappear in your shake and that can be hard to get down. I consider myself a fairly healthy person and it took me awhile to get used to drinking these. Once you soak them they take on a gel consistency that looks like a middle school science experiment. 

What do you think about chia seeds? Comment below! Don't forget to follow on Instagram @chefy101

Hemp powder vs Protein powder

To be honest, I am not a breakfast person. I love my coffee and that's about it. However, you can see the flaw with that way of living. I credit a good protein shake for giving me energy and the boost I need to start my day. Plus it's way easier for me to drink something versus forcing food that I just don't have an appetite for. When it came time to finding a good protein powder that was also Vegan( and didn't break my budget) I faced some challenges. Finally, after some trial and error I came to find my favorite essentials. Here's where I stand on the protein component...

I started with Orgain Protein powder

I loved this stuff in the beginning! Plenty of protein, nutrients, and it was only costing me about $25. It doesn't have a grainy texture and it's easily accessible to buy online or in stores. The problem? You have to use two scoops to get the recommended serving. One thing I can't tolerate is a thick shake in the morning. Gross! This was especially the case when I was pregnant so this powder was short lived.

I was also a huge fan of VegaOne

The taste of this shake was incredible! I only needed one scoop and not only was it full of protein but it also comes packed with nutrients which make it a great breakfast shake. The problem? It was a little bit on the pricier side. You can catch this powder on sale at the grocery store every once in awhile though. Another issue? It doesn't "play nice" with lots of ingredients. This is an issue for me because I want my powder to blend in and disappear into my shake. So I had to regretfully retire this one.

Alas, I have found my true love!

Nutiva Hemp Powder

Hemp powder blows my other protein powders out the water. It blends in fantastic with other ingredients when I make shakes and it still gives me the protein boost that I need in the morning. It's a huge plus that there is no aftertaste( yuck) and it fits right in with my budget since I can get this for under $14 for a tub. I only need 3 tablespoons to get a serving in and best of all it makes me feel great! I need my energy for the day to chase around my wild baby boy!

I hope this was helpful for you as you're navigating the protein powder decision. As always, if you want to test out the Vegan lifestyle for 30 days let me create a custom meal plan for you! Save the time of googling recipes and figuring out a grocery list and give Chefy101 a try.

Breastfeeding and eating Vegan

How many hits on Pinterest do you see when you search for how to boost milk supply? It can get so overwhelming. I've been breastfeeding my chubs for almost 7 months( the time really does fly by) and at first I was nervous about having enough supply. We all know how much our bodies change and we can't predict how they will react. While some may think that Veganism would keep you from the nutrients needed to maintain supply, I have found that it actually has helped me! Here are some of the foods that have helped boost my supply. As I mentioned, all of our bodies are different but it's always worth the try!

1. Oats! This one is no secret. I'm not a huge oatmeal girl so I typically put this in my smoothie.

2. Flaxseed: This one is my favorite because it also gives me an energy boost. Much needed with a baby.

3. Peanut butter: I don't know how or why but it works. I always pump extra after eating peanut butter.

4. Soy milk: Again, I don't know the connection but it has been great for a smoothie base to keep up my supply.

5. That good ole H20. Consuming 75-80 ounces a day has been key. The days when I fall short I can almost feel the difference.


Those are my top ones. What are some of you plant eating mamas doing to keep up your supply? I'm always up for swapping tips.

Eating Vegan is too expensive

Eating Vegan is too expensive!

I cannot tell you how wrong the misconception is that eating Vegan is expensive. I won’t even get into the debate on investing your money into your health and how that is invaluable. Let’s just talk basics. Any special “diet” can be expensive. There are a number of factors that go into this. I wish I could cover them all, but I’m writing this blog before my very rambunctious baby wakes up! Here’s the deal. Eating Vegan can be expensive, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. Below are some of the key ways I keep our budget down and still get the deliciousness of plant based eating.

1.     Believe it or not, all Vegans don’t get their groceries from Whole Foods. Don’t get me wrong! I love Whole Foods. However, most of what you need can be purchased at your local farmer’s market or other regular grocery store where you probably already shop.

2.     Buy your basics in bulk! Beans, seeds, etc can be purchased and saved for awhile. I recently started getting our items for much lower on Jet.com. Sticking to certain basic items that can be used in multiple dishes is the key to dropping that grocery bill. I have a whole chapter on this in my e-book coming out. I refer to these items as your “dream team.”

3.     Meal plan! You probably already know how planning your meals ahead of time saves money, and it is certainly true with eating plant based. Combine that with using and remixing the staples in your “dream team” and you will be surprised how much money you save not having to buy meat! This can be a little overwhelming at first, but that’s where Chefy101 comes in.

4.     Eating out Vegan can be a challenge, but most of the time your bill will be much less than your meat eating friends. A solid benefit I have loved about eating Vegan is that it cuts back on the fast food runs and other meals out since most of the items have some kind of dairy in them. Not only is this a huge health boost but your bank account will thank you as well!

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So there you have it folks. Following these basic steps will definitely slice your grocery budget. As always, if you want to take the stress and time of Vegan meal planning off your back please head over to my site.  For less than $13 a week you can have all your meals planned out on a budget based on your current diet/allergies/preferences. All meal plans are $45 for 30 days but mention this blog for $10 off!

How am I supposed to eat Vegan and travel?

The traveling Vegan

Who doesn’t love to get away every now and then? At the time I was transitioning to becoming a Vegan I was travelling a lot for work. My husband was working in another state and we were constantly trying to make as many trips happen on points as possible. Factor in travel to see out of state family and you find yourself on planes a whole lot. There’s just one problem with this: not every airport is Vegan friendly. I am including this tidbit because traveling is usually when people drop the ball on their plant based eating. Most of the places in the airport will have plenty of vegetarian options, but almost everything has dairy in it! Here are my tips for staying on track while traveling.

1.    Eat a GOOD and high protein Vegan breakfast. My favorite is a breakfast burrito loaded with beans, tofu, and cheese. I make this the night before.

2.    If you are a coffee drinker, make sure to get a cup at home. Another option is to check online to see what coffee shops are at your airport. Starbucks will most likely be PACKED so if you are there early enough go for it. The airline will not have soy/almond/coconut cream for your coffee so plan accordingly. This won’t be an issue for you if you can handle black coffee.

3.    Utilize technology! Grubhub, Eat24, and Seamless are your best friends. They will filter out your options for you to see the Vegan options available. The best part is you can deliver to your hotel or airbnb location. This way you can ensure that you are getting your meals taken care of without bothering your traveling group. In some instances you may have to eat before you go out with the group and just enjoy whatever Vegan option may be on the menu. This way you got your protein and nutrient rich meal without bothering anyone else.

4.    Prepare a bag of food to take through security before leaving your house. It comes in handy when you are on the plane and starving.

5.    Bring your glass water bottle! You can refill it in most airports and stay on track with your water intake.