Conveniently Healthy

I received a Kroger challenge to test out the taste and convince of Kroger brand products specifically their summer goods like chips and soda.

Everyone knows that convenience foods are not health foods so I took the challenge but wanted to see how well I could do this being health conscious.

I received vouchers for hamburgers, buns, chips, and soda, and off I went.

We started out with slider burgers on 100% whole wheat buns.  What is a slider you ask?  Its a mini hamburger.  Which is perfect, perfect I tell you.  For two reasons, one is keeps our portions in control.  It allows us to enjoy it with out overkill.  Two, it's also a convenient size for kids.  You don't have to give them a half a burger that will fall apart, or a hot dog full of composite pieces.
I topped it with fresh cilantro and lettuce from my garden and had a deliciously portioned burger.

Next we found whole grain chips, which are nothing special as to health but if my kids are going to eat chips I'd rather they be whole grain. (or those Green Giant chips still take all!)

For the soda, well I was not going to let me or my kids have that, so we bought Kroger Fruit Punch instead.  Wow was that a mistake.  I did a major no, no and didn't read the label.  It had a whopping 47 grams of sugar.  Lemonade didn't seem much better either.  Next time we do a picnic or have a special occasion drink I'll just get them juice in a can or something.

I also added watermelon and grapes to our meal.

Everything was well priced and tasted very good. My family all left the table happy and satisfied.
 I was surprised to find out that they had Turkey burgers too, for a low fat option. So I hope this helps you find quick yet more healthier options for your picnic and outing this summer. 

Why a Juicer Can be Bad for Your Health

Lots of my friends, knowing I'm into health, told me about their juicers they've recently bought.
I became envious, hearing of their tales of giving their children carrot juice for breakfast, or just blending veggies together for a great health drink.

I was at my neighbor's garage sale when low and behold there new in box was a juicer!  I "stewed" for a short while and then grabbed faster than you can say zucchini. Took it home and started juicing.

I put in in all the half eaten fruit and veggies from my kids lunch and made them drink it.  They enjoyed it, and the machine worked really fast and great no problems.

I'm sad to say I didn't notice the problem before I bought the machine.  I actually had to use it and see for myself what it really does before it clicked.

When you put food into the juicer it puts the juice into a small pitcher and then puts everything else into a large container.  What this everything else?  It's fiber, carotenoids, flavonoids, macro and micronutrients and more.  What it does is take a whole food-which is as healthy as food can be, and pulls lots of the good stuff out till were left with only the juice.  These machines are so good they make all juice pulp free.

When we pick and choose what part of the food we eat that is when we start to have problems.

Problems like celiacs, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and about 100 other diseases that can be prevented.

Left in the container I had food that I would have normally eaten.  Even when I make my green smoothies I keep the ingredients whole and just blend them up.

Sure you can get smart with your left over ingredients, like putting them in soups or salads.  But your still missing great health benefits if you don't use those leftovers at the same meal.  All the components need to be in place at digestion of that food.  Not a day or even a meal later.  All nutriants are codependent on each other meaning that nutritional ­benefits of each part are reinforced by the other parts.


My recommendation is to eat whole foods as much as possible and use juice only for special occasions.  If you want to drink it, use a blender so all pieces are still intact.


p.s. The only ingredients I found that did not work well in the blender is carrots or large amounts of kale.

Image courtesy of John Kasawa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Green Giant's Got Chips

 We all know Green Giant.  Growing up with the laughing Giant commercials.  They've been good for veggies for ever!  Now their trying other foods.  Hummmm.....

Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips Zesty Cheddar and Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips with sea salt are their latest additions to the Green Giant Family.

Both of these I was given to run a taste test on.
How did they rate?
Fab! 
The Zesty Cheddar tastes just like Doritos.  This was my favorite of the two.

I also gave these to my hubby because they don't taste like they'd be healthy.  He thought they were alright.  But what surprised me is that he raved about the Sweet Potato chips.  The kids and I ate up the Sweet Potato ones because I never thought for one second he'd like them. (not being into health and all)
He found a mini bag and started chopping on them and asked if there were any more.-Shock and awe.

So 5 stars on taste from the whole fam!
Next time we'll dive into the ingredients.  You may be in for a happy surprise.

p.s. I am a bzz agent and  was given these products free to taste test.

$1.50 to know it all

 
I Love to know things!  Knowledge is truly power, especially when it comes to your health.  My health and nutrition books I read and reread all the time.

I always share with you my passions and go to things and this is one of them.  Every year Village Green Network puts all their e-books on sale for one week only.

And 2013 bundle time is here: April 17th-23rd, just this week you can buy 30 books in a bundle at a $1.50 each!

There are so many juicy titles that get me excited.

With 30 books you don't have to worry if you don't like or use one, because you have 29 others that you are bound to love.
Click here to purchase or to view the Amazing titles.

Grains, Grains, Gains

I now have my grain mill, the Nutramill, and love it!
Life is so much more healthy now.  I can cut out so much crud just by making everything from scratch.
Not only is junk reduced but vitamin and nutrient content goes up with out all the scientific additives in commercial flours.
Here is a short video showing you how easy it is.

These are some of the flours I've made.

Beans

Brown Rice

Corn

Later this month I'll show you bread, cookies, and calzones.

Grain Mill

Happy New Year's Eve! 
To kick off the new year I have a great workout for you (coming Thursday).  You'll love it.  It's gonna tone your butt, abs, and legs.

For now I wanted to continue about whole grains.  The best and most nutritious way to eat grains is to mill them yourself.  This method is also the cheapest. (yea!)  And don't be alarmed it's not hard to do.  My 4-year-old could do it.

These seem to be the top two on the market right now:

The Wonder Mill

And the Nutrimill.

The Wonder is known for its LG motor, small design, and ease of use
 The Nurtimill brags very fine flours, ultra quiet, and large capacity of 22 cups of flour.

But deepening my research on the two and which one I should get I discovered many things:

1. Both are quiet (for a mill) only 1-2 debacle difference between the two.
2. The small design of the Wonder Mill is only a few inches shorter (2.5") than the Nurtimill, but the Nutrimill has lots more depth due to it's large capacity.
3. Watching the Wonder Mill in action I concluded that it's not that easy to use.  The demonstrators had to put substantial effort into connecting and disconnecting the parts together. Then one lady was knocking her mill over because it was so light weight.
4. The Wonder Mill can only be used in the following order: Turn on, mill completely, then turn off.  If you turn off the mill during the process it will break, and won't be covered under warranty.  I didn't think that would be a bid deal but a lots of people said that if the hose wasn't connected properly then flour would spill every where and they'd panic and turn off the mill thus breaking it.
5. The Wonder Mill is faster on the "fine" grain setting, but the Nutrimill was finer on the "fine" setting.
6. Nurtimill brags a low temperature process, as to not kill as much nutrients as others, but the Wonder Mill kept up with this and actually beat it by a small amount in an at home test.
7. Nirtimill seemed to produced a bit more mess than the Wonder Mill.
8. The Wondermill comes with a lid so you can store your flour in the container it was milled in.*note: fresh flour has to be refrigerated or frozen.  Fresh flour will otherwise go rancid. So only mill what you'll use in a few days or freeze the rest.

Both seem to be good mills.  I don't think I could go bad either way, it just comes down to preferance and what works for you.

Summery

Wonder Mill:
Pros: quiet, compact, low heat, fine mill. Cons: Complicated design.
Nutrimill:
Pros: quiet, low heat, simple design, very fine mill, large capacity. Cons: bulky, slightly messy.

Next time I'll let you know what mill I chose.
May you have a healthy New Year!

 

Count Down

It's almost here.  Do you have all of your gifts wrapped, in the mail, and under the tree.

If not I'd thought I'd give you some help.  Here are fitness gifts under $20.

Marika Tek Capris $12 -Sams Club
The spandex and ploy blend makes for perfect combination for workout wear; breathable, comfortable and less likely to stretch out or shrink like cotton blends.

CamelBak water bottle $15-Dicks Sporting Goods, Target
This is really truly one of the best water bottles out there in my opinion.  It's spill proof and has one handed access.  They used to make a sicker on the bottles that said "Makes you drink more water."  It did for me.  It's weird to say but it's actually fun to drink out of.  Nathan is a brand that makes water bottle similar as is just as good.

Adidas Workout Headbands $10.00-Dicks Sporting Goods
These are fun to add a bit of style and color to your athletic wear.

Hope this helps keep your stress down.  Stay fit this holiday.

untill 2?

This weekend I was invited to a safety event sponsored by Graco.  The latest research shows that if you keep a child rear facing until 2 then they are 5 times as likely to survive a car crash.

Think about this: what if you had Five times as much money, cars, clothes or muscles?
How's that perspective for you? This can really make a difference when it comes down to it.  It's not that your a bad driver (I hope).  It's that you and your children are out there with bad drivers, new drivers, in a hurry drivers.  So it's important to do what you can to protect your precious gems.

click to enlarge

With this new announcement from the American Academy of Pediatrics came a problem.  What rear facing car seat could fit a 2-year-old?  That's where Graco jumped in.  For your review I give you: "The Graco Snugride" (pause for dramatic effect)

As of now this is the only car seat on the market that can fit a premature baby all the way up to a two-year-old.  So If you want to jump on the safety wagon this is the one to get.

They are very well build, nice quality.  And can I be cheesy and say; that stroller can glide!  You could definitely jog with it.   The Purple fabric I just loved (which can come off and be thrown into the washer) and they have a neutral fabric as well.

Here is a video that demos for you how the seat can adjust for more leg room as the child grows -genius.

Southwest Salad and Fall celebrations

 We celebrated the rest of the world going back to school today with a hike.  Fall is by far the best time to get some fresh cool air, and dirt on your boots.

Plus my alarm didn't go off today, or I was so exhausted that it did but I turned it off with out remembering. -Which is a good possibility. We have begun all the pre-filming business for our next  workout DVD and it's tough to keep up with it all and a Mother's life.   We all needed a break and some good ol' fresh air and quality time together and hiking was the best answer.












After hiking we can back for a delicious lunch of Rice cakes and South West Salad. I found these sauces on sale and thought I'd give them a try.  The barbeque dressing was just OK, but the fajita chicken sauce was Amazing!








Here is the recipe I created using the sauce:
1 bunch of Kale, washed and broken down to bite size pieces
3/4 head of Iceberg lettuce, washed and broken down
1.5 bunch of Cilantro, washed and leaves snipped of the stem
1 can of White Corn, mostly drained
1 can of Black Beans, washed and drained
optional: sweet and hot jalapenos and diced fresh tomatoes
Toss all ingredients together
Cook 3 chicken breasts in pan until mostly done, then add Fajita sauce and cook until done.
Add to salad and serve

Delicious!

Help your body

In the battle to loose our excess, tone up what we've got and have energy while doing it there are things we can do to help our bodies succeed. One of those things are vitamins.
But aren't vitamins and supplements just a sales gimmick?  Yes, and no.  Supplements do not have to be regulated by the FDA.  There are certain stipulations, and criteria that must be met of course.  But compared to food and medicines, supplements (vitamins fall under supplements) rein free.
Meaning that if you buy a bottle of 90mg flax seed capsules there may or may not be 90mg of flax in there.  There could be 50mg with 40mg of "fillers" or pesticides, and debris from harvesting your supplement.
Some companies have chosen to be dishonest, some don't have full control of the product from plant to retail. Few do have full control, and some just choose to conduct business on the honesty policy. That is the industry we live in.
But we also live in a time of nutrient depleted soil, scientific hybridizing of seeds,  altering the seeds and plants in many ways to resist drout and bugs better.  While their intentions may have been pure, what has happened is a tomato is not as nutrient rich as it was 100-200 years ago.  Not just tomatoes but all plants in general.
Thus, to get all the vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health is more difficult.  Let alone how we complicate it with fast food, artificial substances and preservatives.

That is where supplements come in.  We need a bit extra to meet our daily quota.  So how do you choose in such a vast array of options?
First, to a large degree you get what you pay for.  When I choose my vitamins at my grocery store I looked for vitamins that were well balanced.  Vitamins work together they are all interdependent on each other such as calcium.  Calcium needs vitamin D for full absorption, that's why almost all milk is fortified with it.
Next, I looked for one that did not have outrageous amounts, like 300% of a daily value.  Because the body will only absorb so much.  You only need large amounts for therapeutic reasons validated by a doctor or dietitian.  And all vitamins have a toxicity range, you can have too much.  It's usually hard to reach that range but it's possible.
Lastly, I looked for minerals.  Ohh these are so so important!  Minerals are needed in small amounts in the body but control much of the bodies regulations.
After that I look for the cheapest;)
Be sure to check the label.  I was looking at Women's Centrum when I saw a store brand much cheaper which said "compare to exactly what I was looking at".  So I did and they were NOT the same.  The store brand had lower levels of some vitamins and minerals and two minerals were missing altogether.  So be sure the check!
I then bought the expensive one, and a bottle of flax seed because flax is the best healthy and essential fat out there.  Our body needs this for MANY reasons.  Good skin, nails, and hair.  Also vitamins A, D, E, and K are all fat soul-able.  Which means a active (not sorted) source of fat must be present to use them.
I've had no complaints about my vitamins until I tried some really pricey ones.  I can honestly say that I had more energy!  I felt better.
The difference?  These were made from whole food sources, not scientific copies, so they have a better absorption rate.  Also they are in a food capsule not vacuumed packed into one large solid horse pill.  Another thing is that they have FULL control of the entire process in making the supplements, this is makes it more expensive.  And a bonus, they've also added essential oils into them.  I have yet to see a vitamin that has the amazing benefits of frankincense in it. Just to top it off they give a guarantee:
"Just 30 days to change your life- Guaranteed." 
 You do have to be a preferred customer for the money back guarantee though.  But still that's confidence in their product.
What is it?  It's called  "Lifelong Vitality Pack" by doTerra.  The pack comes with 3 different supplements: "Mircoplex VMz," (vitamins) "xEO Mega" (essential oils like flax), and Alpha CRS+ (cellular vitality complex)
If you want to buy them or find out more check this website out :
 http://www.mydoterra.com/efficientbody/
These are what I've used for the past 4 months and love them.  Like I said they are expensive but if you become a preferred customer you get 25% off these and all products they offer.

Here is today's menu:
breakfast: 2 eggs with Pico De Gallio and grapefruit
snack: protein shakes and recovery drink
lunch: Cilantro Burger and asparagus (flavored with white cheddar:)
snack: beef jerky, protein shake
dinner: BBQ chicken leftovers with kale side salad

Workout:
Warm up-Walk one lap
Run 6 laps
Cool down- walk one lap, this is my kinds turn to run, and my turn to hydrate.
(this totals 2 miles, for beginners walk 1, run 2-3, walk 1)
After that my kids get a snack and I do bleachers.
Run 12x up the bleachers (beginners do the stairs they are not has high as the actual seats)
Rest
X12-Run up the bleachers, 20 modified pushups at the top, run down, do 12 triceps dips at the bottom.
Rest and hydrate
X12 bleacher runs.
Hydrate and DONE!

I needed to hit this again today so I could blast more calories and really hit my legs hard for the last time this week.

Photo Ready Smile

Hope everyone had a great 4th!

Mine was kinda crazy.  I was just getting over pertussis (whooping cough) when I had a two day notice for a photo shoot.
To go from PJs and sheet wrinkles on my face to "I feel great and glamorous" Yikes!
But did it I did. I was so amazed at how everything turned out.  Specifically my teeth.  My teeth were white!  This was new for me, usually for print work my teeth need Photoshopped.  But they passed.  I was really excited.
How did they pass?
OnGaurd Toothpaste by doTerra.
 I don't like whitening treatments and products because I feel they don't work and not worth the extra expense.  Then the really expensive ones ($199-$399) at the Dentists or prescribed at-home bleach tray kits ($250-$350) can only be done every so often because they can be damaging to tooth enamel and cause sensitivity.  All of this (especially the price) I did not want.

No Photoshopping on either-this is real!

But about two months ago I was given a tube of this "All Natural Whitening" toothpaste.  After my first brush I loved the stuff.  I didn't think it would work for whitening but I just loved how clean my teeth got.  It feels like you've just left the Dentist for a cleaning.  All polished and antiseptic clean. It really feels like you've mouth washed, but with out Any pain or stinging.
You guys got to try this.  And now seeing the results from it, I love it so much more.  We work hard to be healthy and have a great body, we need a great smile to show it off with.
It is a bit more expensive than traditional toothpaste, but is incredible worth it for the extra benefits. If your interested here is where it can be purchased:
http://www.mydoterra.com/efficientbody





Also here is a review on resistance bands.  Our next few posts will be workouts for you to do all done with bands.  So get educated and then come workout with me.

 

(sorry the audio wasn't the best)