New Products

Hi Everyone!  I hope this finds you well and enjoying the fall months.  It’s such a beautiful time of year.

As most of you know I enjoy researching and finding new products which are nutritious in nature or just plain good, that seem worth trying.  As I come across products that seem to have tremendous nutritional value and or serve as good new additions to the shelves, I blog about them to help you filter through all the products that line the shelves these days.  Today I’m introducing two new products I’ve recently found which serve as excellent nutritious breakfast items….  Kashi GoLean Vanilla Graham Clusters and SO Delicious Cashew Milk.  

Go Lean Vanilla Graham Clusters

SO Delicious Cashew Milk

From my experience the Kashi GoLean Vanilla Graham Clusters may be easier to find than the SO Delicious Cashew Milk just yet.  I went to two stores before I found the Go Lean Vanilla Graham Clusters and four before finding the cashew milk.  The verdict…

Go Lean Vanilla Graham Clusters = Much like the original GO Lean this comes with puffs, twigs, pieces, and well, clusters, I guess.  I didn’t get an overwhelming sense of clusters as I would imagine and want clusters to be but none the less, I like the variety of bits and crunch in the cereal.  It has a mild vanilla flavor and only packs a whopping 170 cal per cup with 36g carbs, 9g sugar (love that), 9g fiber, and 11g protein.  This with some blueberries on top and a cup of unsweetened vanilla cashew milk and you’re sure to be satisfied well into the early afternoon.  It’s energy and nutrition all in one with a satisfying crunch!

SO Delicious Cashew Milk = After going to several stores, I finally found this in a Whole Foods in the area.  I was delighted to find an unsweetened vanilla kind so went with that option.  There was, however, a plain unsweetened option as well.  Overall I found this nut milk a little thicker than Almond Milk but not overly thick.  It has what I thought was a very mild cashew flavor and is not overwhelming at all.  It’s satisfying, nutritious and low in calories.  This nut milk has 35 calories in one cup, 3.5g fat, 1g carb, 85g sodium, 0g sugar (awesome!), and 0g protein (not so good but ok if pairing with a cereal such as GO Lean VG Clusters).  The upside is this cereal also packs a lot of Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Folate, Magnesium, and Selenium.  If you’re in to trying various nut milks, I’d give this one a try but do admit I think I like almond or almond / coconut better.

So there you have it, a few new grocery items to lean about and possible add to your grocery list.

Stay tuned for several cancer fighting, immune building, energy building, and detoxifying products I’m currently researching….

To Good Health,

Lisa

Fast, easy, affordable and healthy!

Recently I was in touch with a trainer friend of mine in So. Cal.  Searching for some blog content,  I asked her if there was a consistent question her clients were asking her these days in regards to nutrition?  She said time and again her clients come to her always asking for healthy, quick, easy and affordable recipes.  It seems like this is a common excuse as to why people can’t eat healthy.  Well, no more excuses because this week I’m going to supply you with one recipe a day that is all of these things….fast, affordable, easy and healthy!

Today I’m going to start with a Mexican style salad I made for a BBQ last night.  This recipe can be done with all fresh ingredients or from canned goods as I list here.  You can scale the ingredients how you see fit depending on the time and funds you have available.  The ingredients I list here are ingredients anyone can get from a basic grocery store and a recipe that does not require any cooking at all!

Quick and easy Mexican Salad

1.  1 pack Romaine hearts lettuce= $2.99

2.  1 can Green Giant corn= .39 cents (on sale where I shopped)

3. 1 can black beans (Bush’s)= $1.09

4.  1 can chunky salsa (generic store brand)= $2.49

5.  1 bag Tortilla strips/ Santa Fe style= $2.69 (kid of a treat but really make the salad!)

6.  1 Avocado= $1.68

7.  1 bottle Marie’s yogurt ranch dressing= $3.69

8.  (For added protein you can buy one box foster farms Southwestern style chicken breast strips= $3.99)

“Cooking” Instructions:  Chop the romaine lettuce, starting from the butt end up, horizontally and place in a large bowl. Drain the beans and rinse with water…give it a few shakes and after they are thoroughly drained, sprinkle the beans on the lettuce.  Drain the corn and place in the bowl.  Drain the salsa and place in the bowl.  When ready to eat chop up the avocado and place on top along with the chicken strips.  Portion out the salad on plates and top with dressing and tortilla strips.  I like to dress the salads individually so you don’t soak the entire salad and then ruin the chance at leftovers.  This salad is large enough that it should stretch to at least three meals, depending on the crowd that you’re feeding it to.

All this said, the total cost= $15.32 for the entire salad and can serve at least eight servings which comes to about $2.00 per salad!  YOU CAN’T BEAT THAT SO NO MORE EXCUSES :)!  That’s just one of several great recipes coming your way this week so stay tuned and let me know what you think.

All my best,

Lisa

Vegan Blueberry Muffin Whole Foods

Alright so a recent delicious find I’ve made is the Vegan Blueberry muffin at Whole Foods!  I’m amazed I haven’t found out about this till now but it may have something to do with the fact that Vegan foods, many times, can be hit or miss.

I like Vegan food because I have a stomach that’s sensitive to dairy but am skeptical many times due to the quality of the taste and texture of vegan food measuring up to non-vegan food.  A lot of times, especially with bread based products, the vegan foods tend to be drier and lack that dense flavor.  However, this delightful muffin does not!

yum :).

Some of the main ingredients are water (always a good #1), unbleached/ unbromated, enriched flour, evaporated cane juice, vanilla, and blueberries.  Not a bad line up from what I can tell…there is some soy bean oil and wheat in this product so if you’re sensitive to those ingredients I would not recommend it.

This muffin is dense yet not to heavy, full of fresh blueberries and tastes like there is apple sauce in it it’s so moist!  I can even save this muffin, wrapped on the counter for several days and it’s just as good after a couple days as it is the day I buy it.

So while berries are in season, if your local Whole Foods makes this muffin, dig in :)!

(FYI, I buy mine at Whole Foods Glendale, CA. so this information is to that Whole Foods market specific.  The bakery dept. at Whole Foods Glendale, CA. ROCKS!)

To Equilibrium and the last “official” weekend of summer!

-Lisa

Dragon Fruit

The Dragon Fruit

Dragon Fruit is a fruit I came across while traveling to Thailand years ago.  However, as of late, I recently picked one up while in Belize.  Reconnecting with this magical fruit brought back all the memories of marveling over this beauty while in Asia!

Ironically, after returning from Belize a few weeks ago, I stepped in to Whole Foods to find this beautiful fruit on special.  Given the state of importation these days, fruits such as the dragon fruit make it all the way to the U.S. in decent quantities and shape.  For this reason I thought it would be useful to share some of the health benefits of this magical fruit.  No doubt, it will catch your attention if you see it in stores!

1.  The dragon fruit is a great source of antioxidants, fighting free radicals in the body.

2.  High Vitamin C content, building ones immune system + helps heal bruises and cuts naturally

3.  Great source of phosphorus + calcium, strengthening teeth, bones + hair

4.  The dragon fruit helps lower blood glucose levels naturally so those suffering from diabetes can benefit from eating it.

5.  B1 present which increases energy and helps metabolize carbs

6.  B2 present, acting as a multi vitamin and helps increase appetite

7.  B3 present, helping to lower bad cholesterol + increase the appearance of skin, smoothing and moisturizing

8.  High fibre content, aiding in system cleansing

9.  High protein content, increasing metabolism

10.  Acts as a natural detoxifying agent, neutralizing substances such as heavy metals

The dragon fruit has a taste and consistency similar to the kiwi fruit but has hints of pear + even watermelon as well.

So try something new today during these hot summer months and enjoy the beauty, health benefits and taste of this magical fruit!

To Equilibrium,

Lisa

Yogurt Covered Almonds

Ok so this snack may not be for everyone but I find them delicious, satisfying and nutritious.  Have you ever tried yogurt covered almonds? These little buggers pack a calcium and Vitamin E punch but they are also high in fat and calories.  These days that’s ok for me in moderation but everyone is different.

My favorite brand is Sunridge Farms as the ingredients are a little more natural than most.  However this is a product that a lot of health food stores carry so you can find a decent amount of healthy versions.

http://www.shopwell.com/sunridge-farms-yogurt-almonds/nuts-seeds/p/8670068073

If you are someone who can limit their intake of a food (like not eat a whole bag of chips in one sitting :)), I would recommend these as a GREAT snack option!  Yogurt covered almonds can be addictive but limit yourself to four or five and they seem to provide that excellent balance of protein, fat and carbs that leave the body feeling satisfied and nourished.  Give ’em a try and see for yourself…

Here’s to the summer months that are approaching, sunshine, longer days and all the more reason to keep your body and equilibrium balanced :)!

-Lisa

Garden Lites

To All My Parent Friends,

This find struck me as something perhaps suitable for kids to eat that aren’t, by nature, huge veggie fans!  I came across it a few weeks ago while combing the freezer section just cause a few natural/ veggie options caught my attention!

These little “yummies” are called ‘Garden Lites’

http://www.garden-lites.com/

They come in a variety of options such as:  butternut squash souffle, spinach souffle, and a roasted veggie souffle.  It looks like on the website they do have other products that may just not have been sold in the store I was in.

They are an easy, pop in the micro. (if you believe in that), kind of dish that only takes about four minutes to cook.  The result (in the souffle case) is a light and fluffy veggie souffle that does have some substance because of the egg whites. I will admit I did add some tomato sauce on top of the broccoli one I had and a little olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper on top of the butternut squash one I had just to add a little flavor.  However, my nature I am kinda a saucy/ dip person so do this often regardless of the dish.

Long over due I know (been super busy with work!) but there you have it… a find I came across recently that I thought was worth blogging about.  If you give them a try, let me know what you and your kiddos think :)!

Best Always,

Lisa

Product Highlights

Hey you guys!

Ok, as promised, here is a list of products I wanted to highlight as staple “go to’s”.  Most I referenced in my cleanse blogs so now I’m giving you some visuals to match with the product names.  With each image I will give a brief summary of the product shown and what it is best used for or just a little something about it.

Follow Your Heart salad dressings= delicious with many options…comes from a market here in So. Cal. which is to die for!

 

 

 

 

Yogurt Almonds= a delicious snack no one usually thinks about having…good source of calcium and a tiny bit of healthy fat and protein.  Can buy in the bulk bin section of many health food markets or can find them pre-packaged in some.  Yogurt Almonds also serve as a nice after dinner dessert or snack along with some decaf coffee or tea :).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agave Nectar & Stevia= I highlighted both of these as good sweetener alternatives.  Both fall lower on the glycemic index so don’t cause such highs and lows in blood sugar but still satisfy, providing the sweet flavor that can enhance a dish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wildwood Garlic Aioli= delicious!  I love this stuff, using it both as a spread and dip!  Just get some, trust me :)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Imagine Soups=  Some of the best pre-packaged soups around in my opinion.  These are two of my favorites…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a great item to have on hand to serve as a great starter, or main dish along with a tortilla or something of the like.  I like having the broccoli with a vegan cheddar cheese on top plus a few organic herbed croutons or the butternut squash with a few blue cheese crumbles on top and a few dried cranberries thrown in….seriously delicious!

365 Crunchy or Creamy Almond Butter= Don’t disregard the Whole Foods 365 brand if you have a Whole Foods and shop there sometimes.  The brand is actually pretty good and can make some things affordable at “Whole Paycheck” :)….sorry, had to…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oikos Greek Yogurt= This is one of the Greek yogurt’s I mentioned when providing some breakfast options.  Yogurt can serve as a great protein and calcium source and really can be a good sustaining meal at the beginning of the day and or solid snack that will fill you up.  I like this Greek yogurt brand because the sugar content is lower than some of the others but it does still have good flavor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So there you have it for the time being.  Of course highlighting these items doesn’t diminish the fact that cooking with whole foods, mostly fruits and veggies is an ideal way to go.  These items can, however, serve to enhance some of those dishes and or serve as healthy prepackaged foods if and when you need to go down that road.

To Equilibrium…have a GREAT weekend and “keep on keepin on” as they say, approaching 2012 and the rest of your life with the motto, “You are what you eat” :).

-Lisa

 

 

 

 

The Incredible Edible Pea

Sick of me yet? :)…I promise this will be a short blog.  I really just wanted to share some interesting product information with you.

For lunch today I had some sugar pea sprouts which lead me to do some research on “the incredible edible pea” :).  Here’s a link to some good information on the history of, background behind and the nutritional properties and health benefits of the pea.

http://www.rawpeople.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=552&Itemid=110

I hope you enjoy and find it useful.

I will post a continued cleanse blog in the not to distant future.

To you and yours…have a wonderful weekend!

Equilibrium,

Lisa

A few Raw snack options

Hi guys and gals…we’re almost there…”official” cleanse start time.  I did what I said today and started to include some great raw snacks in to my diet.  A few I wanted to highlight as brands and options for you to consider when switching from the juice / shake cleanse to the mostly raw food diet.

One brand is called Lydia’s which I believe I have mentioned before when speaking of kale chips.  Lydia’s, I think, has some great raw snack products.  Like a lot of raw packaged foods, it’s not cheap but I guarantee you a small portion will fill you up, it lasts forever, and there is a decent amount (at least in her packaged products) in each box / bag, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like these Luna Nori Crackers but she also packages an Italian cracker variety, a Ginger cracker variety and some great Sunflower bread.  You can find Lydia’s at most natural food stores.

Another brand of cracker I like is “Two Moms in the Raw”.  As you might imagine this product is produced by a couple Mom’s and has a great story behind it…read on…

http://www.twomomsintheraw.com/about/our-story/

Of this line, I personally like the crackers the best.  The rest of the products are very dense so if you like that style of raw food you might like some other items.  However, if you have a sensitive stomach like I do, some of it can be to much in my opinion.

The crackers are great though and I recently tried the ‘Garden Herb Sea Crackers’.  They are loaded with tons of flax, herbs and spices.  If you do not like rosemary, I would not suggest getting these as they have a strong rosemary flavor.  As some of you may or may not know, the health benefits of flax are tremendous so this is a great product to eat for many reasons….

http://www.flaxhealth.com/howflaxhelps.htm

As with most raw foods you want to remember to drink lots of water with them to make them more digestible.

So those are a few to highlight for the time being…there will be more to come as we progress.  My best to you all and I will be in touch tomorrow am….

-Lisa

 

Campfire Delight and Cleanse

Hey, happy belated Christmas folks!  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!  If you’re like me, you’ve enjoyed the holidays but are starting to feel the indulgence build and wanting to start the new year with a cleanse and focus on starting the year eating healthy and getting on a good work out plan.

However, we’re not quite there yet so in the interim, I’d love to share with you an indulgence you must experience if you like sweets and make a trip to the Cosmopolitan hotel, Las Vegas. The hotel has an excellent design style and reminds me of old school Vegas….classic, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra design with a modern twist.

In the middle of the hotel / casino sits a bar called the Chandelier Bar.  The bar spans three levels which all are nice.  However, in the middle / second floor section, the bar serves a drink called “the Campfire Delight”. It’s a drink made with Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate, Rumchata, Mozart Dark Chocolate, Cream, and Toasted Marshmallow syrup.  And….the drink comes with three marshmallows skewed on a skewer and torched before your eyes then dunked in the drink to extinguish.  The marshmallows are to die for along with the beverage. That’s just one indulgence that I, personally, have had this holiday season!

With this in mind, and based on some other conversations and thoughts on Jan. 1 goals, I’ve decided to conduct a three day cleanse with a 9 day mostly raw food diet to follow.  Many people have requested this and I think it would be a great way to start the new year.

Stay tuned (on Dec. 28th) for an update on the plan, how to plan for it, and the details.  It should be great and a nice way to start the new year to cleanse your system, provide some mental focus, and perhaps give you some new ideas on mostly raw food recipes that are satisfying and delicious at the same time.

Here’s a visual of the “Campfire Delight” so enjoy and come on board with me Jan. 2 for a GREAT three day veggie juice cleanse and a 9 day mostly raw diet / whole, natural foods to follow diet to get you on the right track for the new year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the holidays, all they have to offer, and the potential a new year has to bring!  I do hope you’re enjoying your holiday week and will be in touch shortly with my three day veggie / fruit cleanse starting Jan2- Jan. 4 and continuing for 9 days to follow consisting of mostly raw, whole foods.

I will provide great details on the plan and how to follow but please comment here or respond to me via e-mail if you have specific comments, questions, etc. lafilpi@gmail.com..and, spread the word!

To equilibrium!

-Lisa