You've got questions...
Q: Desperate for ideas for kids' lunches. I find I send the same thing every day. BORING. Please help.
A: The family meal plan takes into account kids lunches. We also had a blog post about kids lunches on the blog.
Q: I plan on baking some HH desserts when I’m in Colorado visiting my daughter (I am from Florida). Any special high altitude directions?
A: It depends. When I was living in Colorado, I had to add a splash of extra liquid, and bake for less time, but it can really vary depending on your altitude (I was 8000 ft. or so). Your daughter should know how to make adjustments based on where she lives — but the easiest thing is to add more liquid (when in doubt, wetter is better) and check it like crazy.
Q: We just made the chocolate cookies from HHC, which are totally addictive. However it says that they are 61 calories — is that for 1 cookie out of 16? What is the serving size?
A: The serving size and nutritional information is included next to each recipe in the books as well as on the blog. If something makes, say, 12 muffins, the nutrition is per serving (i.e., per muffin) unless indicated otherwise. If a cookie recipe makes 16 cookies, it's per cookie, etc. This is explained in greater detail in the front of each cookbook.
Here is a great (general) post, what is a serving size?
Q: Can we make our own bean flours by putting dry beans in a food processor and processing the diddly out of those beans until we get a flour consistency?
A: You'll kill your food processor. I've known a few people who overheated and killed the motor or destroyed the blades or the cylinder. If you have a Vita-mix or Blendtec, and the special "dry" container (does not come with the machine, it’s an extra $100), then you can make your own flour — but you'll ruin your processor. I’ve heard that a coffee grinder will make flour, though I’ve never tried it myself. If you’re looking to save money, buy flours in bulk online or from bulk bins.
Q: What brands/websites do you recommend for vegan skin products and make-up, shampoo, soap, lotion etc.?
A: I wash my face with baking soda and use Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap with a loofah or Dr. Bronner’s bar to wash my body. I don’t find I need lotion, but if my skin ever gets really dry I use an unscented shea butter or coconut oil (just don’t eat it!).
As for makeup, I don’t really wear any day-to-day. Usually only at conferences/events and for professional photos. Even then, I just use a light layer of SPF-tinted moisturizer, a little eye shadow, chapstick, and mascara. For makeup brand suggestionss, see this guest post by a vegan makeup artist about vegan makeup. Gin also wrote a blog post on vegan skincare.
For more information on living without products, see my post about baking soda for face, hair. and armpits.
