Mix Up Your Breakfast, Cali Style

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California is known for a lot of great things - beaches, entertainment, and absolutely delectable health food of every variety.

I recently got to try some Californian nut butters from the Central Coast Nut Butters!

Nut butter is not only delicious, but also really good for you! It's chockfull of healthy fats, as well as minerals and even protein. It's great for your skin, your hair, your overall health, and your mood!

Central Coast Mexican Chocolate Almond Butter is particularly good for your mood. It's so delicious, with the right kick of spice, the perfect amount of sweet chocolate (but it's sweetened with stevia, so this isn't a Nutella-like sugar bomb!) and just a little bit of Himalayan pink sea salt to bring out the sweetness. 

It's easily my favorite in their line of nut butters, though I really enjoyed everything.

My second favorite was also definitely the Sweet Spice Walnut Butter. I love walnut butters in general, but the delectable fall spices gave it that extra something for this gorgeous time of year!

Continuing on the fall flavors theme, there's the Maple Pecan Butter. It's like a healthy spoonful (or sandwich slathering) of pecan pie!

But this one you can feel good about having for breakfast everyday, not just on Black Friday.

If you're a fan of icing, but want a healthy alternative (this is also sweetened with stevia and made with heart-healthy nuts), definitely try the Lemon Coconut Cashew Butter.

Cashews are a very mild nut, to start with, and make for a mild nut butter. This allows the flavors of the lemon and the coconut to shine through and the sweetness from the stevia turns the spread into something that tastes like an indulgent cupcake icing. But it's healthy!

As the holidays approach, keep an eye out for the seasonally-available Dark Chocolate Mint Almond Butter. It's a real treat!

The rich chocolate flavor paired with almonds and just the right amount of mint would delight even the Grinch before his heart grew three sizes!

The company is also a woman-owned small business, so that's another great reason to try one of these delicious nut butters!

What's your favorite kind of nut butter?

Do you prefer plain or flavored nut butters?

What do you like to pair nut butters with best?

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How to Add Superfoods to Your Day (The Yummy Way!)

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Swimsuit season may be over, but being healthy and feeling good are never out of season! As we head into the holiday season, many of us are looking for ways to stay healthy despite the diminishing availability of fresh fruits and veggies.

Okaaaaaaaay, so maybe September isn't really heading into the holiday season - but I know that I, for one, have already started with the Christmas movies!

Anyway, remember this preview that I teased you with at the beginning of last week?

The wait is over, it's recipe time! 

But first: what is it? 

A chocolate maca chia cake, that's what! 

Oh yeah, that's a whole lot of superfood in one tasty snack.

First, you start with some chia seeds.

I used Nutiva White Chia Seed (2 Tbsp.) mixed with rice milk (1/2 c.) to make a chia gel - just combine the two and let the mixture sit for five to ten minutes! Room temperature is fine.

Next, I mixed in 2 Tbsp. of Foods Alive Cacao and 1 Tbsp. of Foods Alive Maca Powder, as well as a dash of cinnamon, two tablespoons of honey, a teaspoon of baking powder, a dash of salt, and a tablespoon of almond butter. 

I put the mixture in the microwave and microwaved on medium-high for four to five minutes. It really depends on the strength of your microwave, so keep an eye on it!

If you are lucky enough to have access to some fresh fruits, despite the end of summer, top with fresh fruits! Some mulled hemp seed (I used Foods Alive mulled hemp seed) make a delicious superfood topping, too!

But sometimes you just don't feel like making something.

Easy as this recipe is, sometimes you want immediate satsifaction.

Nutiva's O'Coconut taste just like candy, but are perfectly portion-controlled and full of super foods!

What are your favorite superfoods?

What's your favorite fall activity?

When do you start getting into the holiday spirit?

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Finding Beauty in Your Backyard

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Minnesota isn't literally my backyard (though it is for a lot of Americans - a lot of us are Midwesterners and the Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan area is the third largest in the midwest).

It is a surprisingly beautiful, decidedly underrated, state!

The lakes are gorgeous and there are many of them - I loved Lake Minnetonka during my brief stay in Minnesota.

A warning, since this is a fair review, however: Minnesota is a state of extremes. Though it has plenty of lakes, it's a land-locked state and, true to form, fluctuates between temperature extremes. You might get some nice weather, if you're lucky, but you could also face highs in the 100s in the summer and lows in the negative numbers in the winter.

Definitely pack accordingly and be prepared for the worst!

And the best, as far as beauty goes. Minnesota is not all cornfields. There are lots of beautiful forests and parks, including the one where I got the shot of the stunning waterfall above! It's a really beautiful state.

There are also some places along the rivers (see the Minnesota River above, where it meets with the Mississippi River - it's actually a tributary river of the Mississippi!) where there are sand "beaches."

Where does the sand come from in a land-locked state, you ask?

Sandstone cliffs! Here's a cave in a sandstone cave, were you could easily chip in your initials with a strong fingernail or (for the daintier) a strong stick. 

Some people really came prepared, though - one couple brought a chisel!

What's a beautiful place near you?

What state/city/place where you surprised to like?

Do you ever vacation near where you live? If so, what percentage of the time?

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Have Your Cookies And Eat Them Too

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Back to school is well underway - or rather, almost forgotten by now in face of the return of routine - and it's finally starting to feel like autumn.

There are lots of wonderful things about fall and winter and the advent of the holidays. But they aren't exactly known for helping with health goals! Spring and summer are all about eating right and getting fit, but fall and winter, with the holidays and colder weather, are more about comfort foods and coziness.

It's like:

But too much of that and you feel like:

After all, fall and winter encompass a lot of months.

I'm all about healthy being fun and more desirable (even purely on a hedonistic level) than unhealthy. So there's no reason not to indulge your cold weather cravings - but indulge it the healthy way most of the time!



Betsy's Best Bar None are a healthy alternative to your traditional cookie. Normal cookies are great for now and then, but these Whole Food Rounds are something you can enjoy daily without concern as a healthy source of energy - and protein!

Each cookie has 5g of protein and each packet has 2 cookies (so, let's be honest, that's the realistic serving). All that protein is vegan, paleo, organic, non-GMO, and filler-free.

It's also, as advertised, whole food protein and not protein from whey or soy isolates or pea proteins.

The nut-free and grain-free recipe is not only paleo-friendly but also perfect for allergen-free diets or schools with strict nut-free lunchbox rules.

They're certified vegan, gluten-free, 100% organic, certified kosher, and non-GMO. There's pretty much no healthy diet that these don't fit into!

There are six flavors (the sixth is Orange Poppy Seed) and I tried five of them.

The flavors are all inventive and delicious. I honestly enjoyed all of them, even the Lemon Coconut! Usually that type of flavor isn't my thing (I'm all about all chocolate everything for bars and cookies) but the dense texture made it work!

The chocolate flavors were, of course, my favorite.

Especially the dark chocolate because, well, dark chocolate.

As you can see, these aren't masquerading as a candy chocolatey treat - they do taste like healthy food and they aren't interchangeable with an Otis Spunkmeyer double dark chocolate muffin, but they're deliciously hearty with nice dark chocolate chips.

They taste good, they're good for you, and they're good for the community!

I find the story behind the cookies particularly fascinating and it's definitely another good reason (though the taste and nutrition are really enough) to buy these!

Betsy's Best Bar None was founded in 2011 in Portland, Oregon not just to create a healthy snack for people of all different dietary requirements to enjoy, but also to provide those transitioning out of the prison system with gainful employment. That's a hugely important part of breaking the cycle!

Do something for your health while helping others rebuild their lives! That's such a perfect double-win situation!

Have you tried Betsy's Best Bar None Whole Food Rounds?

Which flavor looks best to you?

What's the last thing you did to give back to your community? Can't think of anything? Order some of these and you just did!

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Cooking for One: Veggielicious Pasta

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It's really not tough to get enough protein as a vegetarian - but as someone who'd happily eat carbs all day 'err day?

That's more of a struggle.

But you do need protein for tons of reasons, including nice nails (okay, okay - that's maybe not the most important reason). So how do you do it?

Tofu noodles! Oh yeeeeeah.

Here's a quick and easy recipe for those times when you really can't remember the last time you ate a significant source of nitrogen.

Veggielicious Pasta

Serves 1

* 1 Tbsp. olive oil

* 1 8oz bag Tofu Shirataki Spaghetti Noodles

* 1 to 1.5 cups frozen Brussels sprouts

* 1 cup marinara sauce

* Spices, to taste (I used oregano, paprika, pepper, salt, and a tiny bit of curry)

1) Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat.

2) Rinse and drain the noodles, add to the hot oil. Cook for two minutes, stirring frequently.

3) Add the frozen Brussels sprouts. Cook for five more minutes, stirring frequently.

4) Add the marinara sauce and any spices that you're using. Simmer for another five or so minutes.

Enjoy!

How often do you cook when it's only for you?

What's your favorite type of pasta sauce?

What date do you consider the first day of fall?

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A (Foods) Alive Smoothie

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Smoothies are such a great way to get in some much-needed nutrition in a busy on-the-go lifestyle. They're delicious, easy to consume on the go, and provide ample opportunity to get in some of those fruit and vegetable servings!

A common way to turn a fruity smoothie into a more substantial snack or mini-meal is to add a protein powder or smoothie mix. But if you want to customize your blend all the way, or you're sticking to using simple ingredients that are close to their natural form, there are many great superfoods out there that can add a great boost to your smoothie!



Foods Alive sent me their Smoothie Boost pack to try out - it's a great mix of superfoods, featuring their  Hulled Hemp Seeds (an excellent smoothie topping, as well as a great mix-in for some added richness and satiety), and their raw Maca Powder and raw Cacao Powder.



Maca and cacao, by the way, are a match made in heaven. If you haven't had something chocolate maca flavored before, drop whatever you're doing and go get some right this instant. It's a great flavor combination for chocolate bars and for smoothies!



Maca has a malty flavor, so mixing the cocoa and the maca powder with some sweetener (I used coconut sugar) in a smoothie makes for a malted milkshake style drink! I recommend blending with 2 frozen bananas and some soy milk as I did - yum!



But the back of the packet also comes with a tasty smoothie recipe (I tried it, it's good). And I think maca really is energizing, because I got a lot more done after drinking the smoothie!

Or maybe the yumminess gave me energy.

And have you tried a Hemp smoothie?

Do it.

I didn't have celery at the time, so I made it with kale - also delicious!

The only adjustment I would make to that recipe (which was delicious, by the way) is add some hemp seed on top. It's nice to have that little extra bit of something!

For some reason, I had never tried Hemp seed before (though I'm quite the fan of both chia and flax seed). If you haven't either, I recommend trying it - it's really yummy and also very good for you!

And a great dessert topping. Here's a preview of a yummy, healthy dessert using all three products. 

You'll have to stay tuned for my September 26th post to get the recipe!

Even if you're all stocked up on smoothie ingredients at the moment, give Foods Alive a look - they have lots of other products, too, including some beauty products!

Their organic herbal mint lip balm, made with artisan cold-pressed chia oil, goes on super smoothly. Treat your outsides and your insides well!

What are your favorite smoothie add-ins?

What are your favorite superfoods?

What's your favorite flavor pair featuring chocolate?

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Craziest Ice Cream Flavors in New York City

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NYC is the city of everything. New York prides itself on being able to offer anything and everything you could ever want (and many things you probably never would) as long as you have the money and know-how.

Under the category of 'things NYC offers that you probably don't even want' are some pretty bizarre ice cream flavors.

Sure, they're unlikely to replace Caramel Praline Crunch, Cookie Dough, or Cookies 'n Cream as your go-to favorite (I'm still inconsolable about the discontinuation of Edy's Loaded Line, mostly because of the extinction of my beloved Loaded Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream).

But an unusual ice cream tour of the city could be a fun idea if you're visiting with kids or if you have guests from out of town!

Here's a (not ordered) list of some of the places in NYC offering the weirdest ice cream flavors:

OddFellows Ice Cream Co.

Okay, they have a few normal flavors. But they also have some pretty bizarre flavors on their rotating menu of homemade ice cream!

Flavors like Chorizo Caramel Swirl, Purple Rice, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Foie Gras, and even a Tobacco, Smoked Chili, & Huckleberry are on the bizarre ice cream roster.

They really live up to their name!

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Heard of Durian - the enormous Asian fruit that smells so bad that you don't even want to stand near it, much less eat it?

Lucky you, you can get Durian flavor ice cream!



Because that's a good idea. Right?

Morganstern's

Don't be fooled by their long list of standard and even appealing flavors. 

Look a little harder.

Salt & Pepper Pinenut Ice Cream

You'll find what sounds like a HLB made it up (Chocolate Oat, anyone?), the downright peculiar (Salt & Pepper Pinenut) and even the politically incorrect Black A** Licorice.

Il Laboratorio del Gelato

Can't get enough of sweet potatoes?

Head to Il Laboratorio del Gelato for some Sweet Potato Gelato. Perfect for fall! 

Right?

Steve's Ice Cream

Are you secretly Bugs Bunny? Do you love adding veggies to everything?

Try the spicy Carrot Habanero Pepper ice cream!

Max and Mina's Ice Cream

The gourmet ice cream shop's flavors vary, but they don't shy away for the weird end of the spectrum.

They're known for having Lox, Babka, Corn, and more as flavors!

Sundaes and Cones

If you're craving some corn ice cream and it isn't on the menu at Max and Mina's, don't despair.

Sundaes and Cones has Corn Ice Cream on their menu, as well as Black Sesame, Ginger, and even Wasabi Ice Cream.

Would you try any of these?

What's the weirdest ice cream flavor you've ever tried?

If you could create a bizarre new ice cream flavor, what would you create?

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Tips For Healthy Hydration With Hint

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Hydration is a huge topic in the hot summer months and it's really no wonder, since the scorching temperatures can make thirst really apparent and the effects of dehydration even more extreme.

Now that the weather is cooling off, people think less about hydration and reminders to drink regularly are no longer posted all over the subway and the internet.

But it's still important to hydrate! Especially with back to school and schedules picking up, it can be easy to forget to drink as much as you need to. But proper hydration is important for organ function, overall health, skin health, sleep, mood, and general well-being!

Here are some trips for staying hydrated this fall!

Drink a smoothie in the morning.

Some people have trouble drinking water first thing in the morning, but something sweet and with a thicker consistency can be easier to stomach.

A large mixed berry smoothie is a great way to get hydration, nutrition, fiber, and more. It's delicious, easy to drink, and a great option for those who aren't big fans of water in the morning.

Don't forget a banana or two for creaminess and a potassium punch - potassium is also important for maintaining a healthy water balance in your body!

Eat more fruits and veggies.

Did you know that apes barely ever drink anything? It's because they eat such water-rich foods that they really don't need to!

Okay, they're probably not enjoying vegan ice cream piled with fruit (see the yumminess above) or delicious Whole Foods salad bar hodgepodges (see below), but the point is that everyone's water needs vary. and a large part of that is how much water is in your food and how much you sweat.

If you sweat a ton and rarely eat any fruits or veggies, you probably need more water - if you barely sweat and/or you eat a lot of produce, you might not need as much.

Listen to your body, but don't wait until you're parched!

Flavored water.

I recently got to try Hint Fizz, a carbonated flavored water from Hint Water, and really enjoyed it!

There are many different delicious flavors, but they are all all-natural and unsweetened.

They're not sweet, but they have a hint of fruit flavor and are carbonated.

Ultimately, drinking water is a wonderful way to hydrate and even those who don't enjoy plain water can enjoy water - without the unnatural sweeteners or loads of sugar that make it unhealthy.

I can't decide which one is my favorite, but watermelon tastes like a bit of summer and strawberry kiwi is delightful. I bet it would be my little sister's favorite, I have to give her a bottle to try!

What's your favorite way to hydrate?

Do you prefer Hint or Hint Fizz?

What's your favorite Hint water?

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