Healthy snack cheese crackers recipe

Do you ever wonder what is in those cheese crackers you give your child? Sometimes reading the back of the boxes on snack crackers will scare you. My daughter loves the little cheesy crackers, but I did not love the artificial flavorings or ingredients. Recently, I decided to embark on a search for a more natural recipe to make my own cheese crackers for snack time. I got a great recipe from a friend and thought I would share it with you. It has quite a bit of butter but you can substitute a vegetable oil type butter if you like to make it healthier. The good news is all the ingredients are non processed and all natural.

Recipe:

Homemade Cheese Crackers

1 stick butter or smart one vegetable oil butter substitute sticks

2 cups grated sharp chedder cheese

1 cup whole wheat white flour

1 tsp salt

optional: when making for adults

Tobasco or red pepper to taste


Melt butter in microwave until liquid

Mix butter and grated cheese together

Sift in flour and salt and mix all together


Divide mixture into 2 balls, then work each ball into a long log roll about
1 inch in diameter

Wrap in wax paper and chill for 3 hours

Slice very thin

Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes

See photo of finished product. I added a little truffle oil to give it an extra special taste. My 5 year old loves these and takes them for snack to school for recess.

Gluten Free Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe

I got this simple gluten free flourless chocolate cake recipe from a friend recently and tried it out last night. It was easy and delicious. Great option for your gluten free family members. Make it for mom for Mother's Day.

Here is the recipe:

4 0z of semi sweet chocolate
1/2 cup of butter
3 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
3/4 cup of white sugar or agave or Stevia
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute and stir together and return to microwave for 1 more minute until everything is liquid. Mix together and put in a mixing bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix together.

Pour into an 8 inch cake round and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Take out of the oven and cool.

Serve with strawberries and vanilla ice cream. Put a little confectioners sugar on top of the cake to make it look pretty.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas 2010

Mother's Day is just around the corner. Have you figured out what to get mom for Mother's Day yet? If your mom is anything like mine it may be pretty hard to narrow down what she would actually use if you got it for her as a gift for Mother's Day.

Every year I buy my mom a practical cashmere sweater in a neutral color and she ends up wearing it throughout the year. A few years ago I tried to get her something fun like a waffle maker and it ended up sitting in her kitchen cupboard inside its box unopened. One year I decided to buy her a gift card to her favorite restaurant and she did use it 6 months later to go out with my dad for dinner.

No matter what you buy her remember it is the thought that counts. Do not get frustrated and wait until the last minute and buy her something random from a store near your work because you know you are seeing her on Mother's Day. Plan ahead.

Here are some suggestions I have for Mother's Day:

1.) A gift card to her favorite restaurant near her home.
2.) Cashmere sweater in a neutral color that you know she will wear.
3.) Flowers from a florist you have used before so you know their work.
4.) Take her out to brunch if she lives near you and get her flowers.
5.) Get her a new bag in a pretty spring color.
6.) Send her a fresh fruit basket.
7.) Take her shopping and let her pick something she likes from the store.
8.) Get her dance lessons or tennis lessons.
9.) Book a massage and facial for her.

Don't forget that Mother's Day is not just about your own mother it is also about the mother of your children if you have any. So if you have little ones, help them do something nice for mom on Mother's Day. All moms need to feel appreciated on Mother's Day. They do so much for all of us.

VegNews Magazine Blogs Megafruit

Check out VegNews Magazine's blog mention of Megafruit.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Nice and Easy

The Date: Tuesday, April 13
The Delivery: A new cookbook and some dried Megafruit
Staff Pick: Easy Vegan by Vatcharin Bhumichitr

The DL: This new book, chock full of vegan recipes, also is packed with a ton of full-color photos, which make the recipes seem highly mouthwatering. We want to get to cooking!

Posted by VegNews Magazine at 4:20 PM

Enjoying the moments in your life

Do you ever think to yourself "I am really enjoying this moment of sitting on the grass and staring up at the sky while sipping my green tea soy latte on a warm sunny day." If you do, that is great. Most people do not take that time for themselves to enjoy the moments in their lives. They are way too busy rushing around from one task to the next and always planning their next move for the day. It is important to make plans for your life financially and otherwise, but it is also very important to enjoy each day as it passes.

The other day I looked at my 5 year old daughter for the first time and thought "wow where did the time go?" My daughter is now 5 years old and she can walk, talk, read, swim, play tennis, and play on her own. She is growing every day and eventually will be going off to high school and college. Everyone kept telling me the time goes so fast. When she was first born, the many sleepless nights seemed to last an eternity. Since then, the terrible twos were not so terrible, and the threes and fours were just pure fun.

At times I was too worried about the cleanliness of my carpet and the neatness of my living room to really get down to her level and have a lot of fun. I regret that time lost and today cherish every moment I have with her. I take in every laugh, every funny thing she says, and all her hugs. I am enjoying those moments because I know that each moment goes by and then it is gone.

For those of you who have lots of worries, it is even more important to just take a little time for yourself during the day. Take 20 minutes to meditate or stretch. Give yourself a small gift of a cup of tea in the afternoon to relax. Sometimes that extra few minutes for yourself will help you through a hard time.

Earth Day Reduce Reuse Recycle

Happy Earth Day ! The words to adopt for today are Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

How can we start living more eco friendly greener lives to reduce our eco-footprint?

There are many ways we can start living greener immediately and start saving in our wallets too.

1.) Reduce the amount of trash you throw away each week. Buy things that do not have as much plastic and cardboard box wrappings.
2.) When packing lunch use a reusable container. Do the same with water.
3.) Do not waste energy. Unplug appliances that are not in use. Items plugged into the wall that are not in use still use electricity.
4.) Buy recycled items. We have so much surplus in our country that many people use their clothing, bags, and other household items only once or twice before consigning the items to sell or donating to Goodwill. Buy pre owned items as a way to recycle and reuse. It is also less costly and you can find some great items too.
5.) Stop wasting our most precious resources like water. Turn off the water when loading your dishwasher unless you are rinsing the dishes. Shower in less than 5 minutes. Reduce the amount of days you water your lawn.
6.) When buying disposable plates or forks try to buy items made of compostable materials.

There are many ideas for helping protect our earth's natural resources. Start thinking about your eco footprint and how you can make a change to go greener in your life today.

Healthy Egg Breakfast Sandwich Recipe

All those fast food breakfast sandwich commercials are so tempting in the morning. As I watch the Today Show while getting ready for work and carpool, I always think it would be so easy to just drive through the drive thru and pick up a breakfast sandwich and juice before heading off to work. The truth is these breakfast sandwiches are not that healthy because they have bread that is not whole wheat, no vegetables, and high fat content.

One of my favorite chefs on the Food Network Ellie Krieger did a healthy version of the english muffin egg breakfast sandwich recently. Here is the recipe from the Food Network website so you can start your day off right.

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 4 eggs and 4 egg whites
• 1/4 cup minced chives
• 1/4 cup minced parsley
• 4 whole-wheat English muffins
• 4 1/2-inch round slices Canadian bacon
• 1 large beefsteak tomato, sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices

Directions

Crack eggs and egg whites into a bowl and whisk. Add chives and parsley and stir to incorporate. Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Ladle 1/4 egg mixture into skillet and cook, omelet style, until eggs are cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Slide omelet onto a plate and repeat with remaining eggs; cover with foil to keep warm. In same skillet, heat Canadian bacon until warm, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Toast English muffin. Fold omelet in to fit English muffin, then place omelet on 1 muffin half. Top with a bacon slice, then tomato, then top with other muffin half.

Per Serving

Calories 330; Total Fat 13 g; (Sat Fat 5 g, Mono Fat 3 g, Poly Fat 1 g) ; Protein 25 g; Carb 31 g; Fiber 5 g; Cholesterol 245 mg; Sodium 920 mg

Excellent source of: Protein, Fiber, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Calcium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Selenium

Good source of: Vitamin B6, Folate, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc

Tags: Healthy, Diabetic, High Fiber, Dairy-Free

To see the link. Click here.

How to lose weight without crash dieting

Have you ever gone on a crash diet to lose weight? Did you lose all the weight and gain it back? Did you fast on liquids all day for a week? Eat cookies for every meal? Only ate protein and no carbs? Only ate vegetables or only ate fruits? How about the Cabbage soup diet? Or the Cayenne Pepper and Lemon Juice diet? Diet protein bars in the morning with a shake for lunch?

I know a lot of people who have tried many of these diets without much success. Initially they lost the weight and put it on again pretty quickly after they stopped the diet. It is not a healthy way to lose weight because it puts your body under all kinds of stress and actually causes your body to hold on to fat because it does not know when it will get food again.

There is no magic to losing weight. It is just about adopting a sensible exercise and meal program for yourself. Some of the diets that teach portion control while using healthy a combination of carbs, proteins, and vegetables at most meals are good ways to learn how to eat and how much to eat at every meal.

To start:

1.) Clean out your pantry of all foods that tempt you and cause you to overeat when it is in the house.
2.) Set a goal of how much you want to lose and why.
3.) Stock your fridge with lots of healthy fruits and vegetables for snacks and meals.
4.) Start eating at home and cooking your meals more often. It is less fattening than eating fast food or out at restaurants.
5.) Get a support system. Ask your family to give you pep talks when you need it or take walks with you to get moving.
6.) Start exercising daily for at least 30 minutes a day. Take a walk, take the stairs and just start moving.
7.) Make sure to eat small meals throughout the day to keep your energy up. Also, this helps you to stay full throughout the day so you don't reach for the junk food.
8.) Plan your meals so you don't run into a last minute eating situation that can cause you to eat unhealthy because you have no time to cook.

Start slowly. Be good to yourself. If you have a bad day of no exercise or bad eating, brush it off and make sure your next meal is a healthy one and that you get exercise the next day. Losing weight should be at a consistent healthy pace. This will get you the best long term results.

Boston Marathon 2010

The Boston Marathon is today. It is such a revered race for athletes that people from as far off as Kenya go to Boston to run the Boston Marathon. The course is supposed to be quite challenging, but very scenic along the way. What is lovely is the message behind the Boston Marathon. It is all about the history, the tradition, bringing countries together to compete, and general promotion of health.

Check out the map of the course for this year. Hopefully the skies are clear and the weather is warm. You just never know about that New England weather.

For those of you who have thought about running as an exercise. There are just a few things you should do before you get started.

1.) If you have some health concerns, check with your physician before starting a new exercise routine.
2.) Get the right running shoes. Go to a shoe store that knows how to fit athletic shoes and ask to be fitted for a pair of running shoes that will cushion you while running.
3.) Start out slowly. Don't push yourself. Do as much as you can the first few days and build up your speed, time, and mileage.
4.) Make sure you drink lots of water before and after a run.
5.) Eat a slow sugar release food like oatmeal to help sustain your energy during a long run.
6.) Don't run when you are in pain.
7.) Only run if you enjoy it. Otherwise find another exercise that you enjoy.

Any exercise that gets your heart rate up is a good exercise. If you can spend 30 minutes a day doing some physical activity, that is a really good start. Make it fun. Mix it up. Find activities you can do with your loved ones. Incorporate exercise into your schedule like you schedule other activities in your life. This way, you will be sure to do some exercise daily.

Here is to your health.

Tennis anyone ? the weather is nice

Spring is coming and most of the country is starting to warm up. It is a good time to get out and enjoy the warm weather and get those D vitamins from the sun.

A favorite past time of mine is tennis. I love tennis because it is a social sport that gets me out of the office and into the nice weather. It is a sport that I can play until I am in my 60's or 70's or even 80's without many difficulties physically. My daughter, father, and siblings also love playing tennis. It is a great sport.

Tennis does not have to be the only sport you play. You can play volleyball, basketball, run, swim, ride your bike, or practice Karate. The main thing is that you get out there this spring and summer and do something active and good for your body and soul. The great thing about sports is that it is social. Most of the time you will run into like minded people doing the sport or your friends may want to join you for a game.

In this country, we spend a lot of time working really hard for many long hours of the day. We have to remember to take time out of our working lives and put some enjoyment into our personal lives.

Life needs balance. We are only here for a short time. We need to learn that if we work hard, we need to reward ourselves by playing hard too.

Tax Day Freebies Free Food

Today is tax day. Hopefully you are not one of those Americans who are standing in line at the post office filing for an extension. I always try to get my taxes done by February 15, 2010 to beat the rush. This year, I got my taxes done by February 15, 2010 but forgot to send my accountant the authorization signed by me to file my taxes electronically until a week ago...so I technically my taxes are still filed before April 15, 2010, but not by much this year. If you are waiting for a refund, the best thing to do is to always file early. Anyhow, on tax day, lots of companies give out freebies or discounts on food and other things to make the day fun. I found a list of freebies that I thought you would enjoy on tax day. Just a little fun to take the stress out of filing your taxes.

Starbucks is giving out free coffee today as long as you bring your own mug to fill up.
It is part of their go green campaign.

Cinnabon is giving out free bite sized cupcakes between 6p and 8p today.

Maggie Moo's is giving out samples of their free ice cream pizzas today between 3p and 7p.

Boston Market is doing a buy 1 chicken plate get 1 free today.

P.F. Chang's is offering 15% off your bill today for lunch or dinner.

Whole Foods is offering tax free groceries to their customers in the Southern States today. Why not the West Coast, East Coast, Northwest, and the Midwest ? I have no idea.

If these freebies do not help relieve some of your tax filing stress, go for a run or a walk for 30 minutes.

Drink Water for Good Health

Thirsty? Drink a glass of water.

I love the taste of a cool crisp clean tasting glass of water first thing in the morning before breakfast. It wakes me up and hydrates me for a few hours. Water is essential to health and life. Without it, we would not be able to survive. Water is so refreshing after a good long run in the morning. Water is great after a hot day at the beach. Water is just a great way for your skin and body to flush out toxins.

According to K. Ngo:

Here are 10 reasons why water is important.

1. Almost every cell in the body is made up with water
2. Water is the major part of the sweat, tears, and saliva
3. It is the biggest part of the blood and lymph systems, carrying food and oxygen to the cells and carrying away waste out of the body
4. It helps control blood pressure by balancing the electrolytes
5. Water flushes the kidneys to get rid of toxic substances in the body
6. Water helps moisten the eyes, mouth, and nasal passages
7. It regulates body temperature, keeps it cool when it is hot and insulates the body from cold
8. It is also a shock absorber to cushion the body's organs
9. It lubricates joints so you can move without pains
10. Good water can provide many of the trace minerals that the body needs

For more information about the benefits of drinking water, check out K. Ngo's article here.

Healthy Hair nutrition more protein ?

Hair is a protein so it makes sense to eat a protein rich diet if you want beautiful lustrous healthy hair. How much hair you have, the texture, and the length of time you will have your hair is up to your genetics. However, working with what you have, there are ways to keep your existing hair looking healthy and prevent premature hair loss.

Hair loss is not only genetic, but it can happen if your body is not getting enough nutrient rich foods. If you indulge in a fast food diet daily, your food is not giving any nutrients to your body and in turn you can end up with dry and brittle hair. People who do not eat enough calories in a day also can lose lots of hair. Stress can also attribute to hair loss.

Foods that you eat should be high in protein. Foods like fish, eggs, and beans are very good high quality proteins and will feed your hair with what it needs.

Adding iron to your diet helps manufacture hemoglobin which helps to brings oxygen to the organs which in turn keeps your hair growing healthily.

Overall, a healthy lifestyle with exercise and a balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits, iron rich vegetables, and lean protein will contribute to healthy strong hair.

Photo: Patrick Demarchelier for Blumarine S/S 10

Healthy Chow enjoys Megafruit

Here is the article Healthy Chow wrote about us recently:

Picture this. You have about 15 minutes to get dressed, 17 minutes if you put your lip gloss on in the car. You’re standing in front of your closet, and everything you see looks like the leftovers you have from dinner three night’s ago. The vapid articles of clothing hanging before you will do, but they’re nothing for which you’re going to do the happy dance. You moan, “I have nothing to wearrrrrrr…” just one more time before you give up on your search. So, you throw on the first thing you can grab (and that’s clean) and head out the door. You’re dressed, but certainly not impressed. Sound familiar?

Image Credit – myescapehatch.blogspot.com

Well, I’ve definitely been in that situation more than a few hundred times, and more recently, this has carried over to my choices in healthy snacking. While my fridge has the usual suspects of apples, oranges, Greek yogurt, some carrot and celery sticks, and my cupboards are stocked with raw almonds, dried cranberries and rice crackers, I can’t help but want to utter, “I have nothing to eattttttt…!” Enter Megafruit™.

Just when I was about to reluctantly eat yet another baby carrot, the samples from Megafruit™ arrived at my door. They came in an unassuming little brown cardboard box, but when I opened it, I was pleasantly surprised. My samples not only came in this vibrant and adorable packaging, but they were safely nestled in a Megafruit™-branded wooden crate. I’m a sucker for presentation and first impressions; this knocked my socks off! Similar to how one would bring home fresh produce from a farm or farmers market, my Megafruit™ arrived as if it were handpicked. Plus, I can only imagine the ways I can reuse my nifty new crate (Healthy Chow’s gotta lotta schiz that needs to be organized, if you know what I mean!).

Just a plain lil’ box…

Bam! So surprisingly cute!

According to their website, “Megafruit™ is the next generation of Superfruits; products that have exceptional nutrient and antioxidant qualities whose benefits are not yet widely known.” My samples of Megafruit™ came in 3 different flavors (the company’s initial product offering): mangosteen, baby pineapple and lychee. While I’ve heard of these fruits, I must admit that I had no idea about their nutritional benefits. Here are some of my favorite facts on each fruit:

Ever seen a mangosteen?

Mangosteen

• Called the queen of fruits
• Has been called the most delicious fruit in the world
• High level of Xanthones – considered to be the most powerful of all antioxidants

Oooh, baby!

Baby Pineapple

• Contains a myriad of beneficial minerals including:
  • Micronutrients may protect against cancer and break up blood clots
  • Bromelins that may block reduces swelling related to arthritis, sore throat, sinusitis
  • Manganese, aiding the healthy growth of tissue and bones
  • Fiber that will help in digestion and stimulate kidneys and aid in flushing toxins from the body

Lovely lychee

Lychee

• Has been claimed to be the fruit the Tang Dynasty Emperor used to woo his loved one, making it a fruit synonymous with love and romance
• Just 9 lychees or a handful of the fruit meets an adult’s recommended daily requirement of Vitamin C (contains 72mg per 100 grams)
• Contains flavonoids which have proven to be effective against the growth of cancer cells

Now that’s some fruit with some mega power! And guess what? The taste isn’t what I would call weak either. Even though Megafruit™ doesn’t contain any sugar, preservatives or additives, it doesn’t mean this dried fruit is lacking in flavor. In fact, they are delicious! I’ve never tried a mangosteen before, so I had no idea what to expect. The mangosteen was the first fruit I tried, and while the flavor is subtle, it is unique and has an indescribable exotic taste (sweet, yet a tad sour at the same time) that had me almost inhaling the entire bag in one sitting. The baby pineapple is naturally sweet, not artificial tasting like some dried pineapple can taste. Because the baby pineapple comes in large pieces, they were fun to chew and had a great texture. This is Patrick’s favorite. My favorite, hands down, is the lychee. If you’ve never had lychee, please do yourself a favor and try this, NOW! My grandmother used to serve us lychee after dinner over a bowl of ice water. She would peel the fruit and stick toothpicks in them and I swear, I would eat at least 20 at a time. I haven’t had lychee in years, so for both nostalgic and taste reasons, the lychee is number one for me. A fresh lychee is crunchy like a grape, but has a much more fragrant and sweet taste. Megafruit™’s version magically captured a fresh lychee’s essence.

If you can’t already tell, I’m a mega fan of Megafruit™. For me, there is nothing like a piece of fresh fruit. However, fresh fruit such as bananas, pears, grapes, etc., can get a bit mundane. But what do you do when the not-so-common fruit that you do crave, and that tickles your palate is no where to be found? The answer is in these little goodies that graced my taste buds the other day. Not only are the flavors of Megafruit™ probably like nothing you’ve ever tasted, but they can provide you with health benefits like nothing you’ve ever known. Similar to the dried fruit snack I reviewed in this post, Megafruit™ is a wholesome snack that is just the fruit in its most natural form. There aren’t any fake colors or enhanced flavorings added to the dried fruit to make it appear more appealing. The Megafruit™ pieces are rustic in appearance, and simply delectable.

The Terrific Trio…

If you’re looking for a quick snack that’s easily portable, healthy and unique, I highly recommend Megafruit™ (available soon on Amazon). Reach for it the next time you’re in need of a nutritious boost, whether it be sitting at your desk at the office, after a good butt-kicking workout or when you’re on your 5th hour of running errands. Or, maybe you can snack on a handful as you’re unenthusiastically trying to pick out Monday morning’s outfit.

Some creations I made with my Megafruit™:

Piña Colada Oatmeal – Megafruit™ baby pineapple, dried coconut and nonfat ricotta cheese

Tropical Lychee Orange Delight – Megafruit™ lychee, orange sherbet, Kashi Go Lean cereal and dark chocolate cocoa roast almonds

***If you’d like to win some of your own Megafruit™, not to mention a $100 gift card to Lululemon, check out the fantastic giveaway that Megafruit™ is having here!***

If you had to pick one, what would it be – fruits or vegetables? What do you do to get out of a ‘wardrobe rut’? How about a ‘food rut’?

Namasté,
Nicole

Grungy Girl loves Megafruit

Grungy Girl wrote an article and created a recipe for her readers using Megafruit. Take a look at her article below: Check out her site here.

I woke up this morning with a pretty intense hankering for something sweet and healthy. After the week of socializing and eating out, I just wanted to sit down and relax with something simple yet satisfying. I was pacing in the kitchen, snacking on some dried lychees from my buddies @Megafruit... when I decided to look through my fridge and freezer, and what did I see? All the perfect ingredients to whip up a quick smoothie!

Very Berry Smoothie:

This is so easy, and so delicious... I tend to just add whatever fruits I have in my fridge or freezer at the particular time. CAN'T wait for berry season so I can start using fresh ones again!

• Take out your blender
• Pour 1/4 cup of milk and 1/4 cup of OJ into the bottom of the blender
• Toss in about 3 frozen strawberries and 1/3 cup of frozen blueberries
• Start the blender on about a 4 "speed" setting for about 30 seconds
• Add more liquid (your choice of milk or OJ) if the motor on the blender gets stopped up.
• Watch closely as the smoothie liquifies, and stop the blender once it reaches your desired consistency.
• I love mine rich and thick, so I sometimes even throw a scoop of Vanilla bean ice cream in on a hot summer day. (If you choose to do this, put the scoop in about 10 seconds before you finish blending)
• Once you smoothie's looking how you like it, pour into a tall glass and enjoy!

This will be the perfect accompaniment for my afternoon of work! I'm pretty excited that I have some architectural design work going on the side now... so it'll be a smoothie and designy afternoon.

Reese Witherspoon exercises rain or shine

Are you tired and feel like you are stuck in an exercise rut? Do you not feel like going to the gym today? Spring has finally sprung so if it is not raining or snowing in your area, get outside today.

Exercise does not need to be an all out event every single day. There are days you may not have gotten enough sleep or just feel sluggish. On those days, just get out and do some type of physical activity. If you can do 30 minutes a day for 7 days a week, you will be able to maintain your weight fairly well.

Exercise can be anything from walking to and from work to walking up and down the stairs in your apartment building a few times a day. As long as you are active and burning calories your body will do the rest.

Reese Witherspoon is seen here leaving an exercise class because it is raining outside. She normally runs with a friend outside or takes a yoga class. Changing the environment or whom you exercise with daily can also add variety and interest to your daily workout routine. The most important thing to remember is that you need to do some type of physical activity daily.

For those of you who live in a cold climate where it is hard to get outside. Think creatively about where you can work out. Can you take a lunch break and walk up and down the stairs in your 20 story office building? Can you work out in the office gym? Can you run around your office complex? How about hiking your local mountains on the weekend? If your kids bike ride, get yourself a bike and follow them outdoors after school.

If you get moving, you will get out of the exercise rut. As they say: Just do it.

Follow us on Twitter for Giveaways

This from our Twitter today:

megafruit

follow us for chance to win 1 of 3 Visa giftcards for $100 when we reach 1000 followers. Retweet for extra chances to win.

Follow us at http://twitter.com/megafruit

Sleep is very important for health

Sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our health on a daily basis. When you do not get enough sleep you tend to eat more, have less focus, and get sick more easily.

Check out James Franco here taking a much needed nap during a class at Columbia University. He was probably catching up on his sleep because he was up that night shooting scenes for Spider Man or something.

The best way to make sure you get enough sleep on a daily basis is to keep good sleep hygiene. That means you should make sure your bedroom is a good environment for sleep and free of all work or other distractions that can keep you from relaxing into a deep sleep.

If you have trouble sleeping, try not to watch television or work on your laptop in bed. Avoid spicy foods that may give you heartburn. And try drinking a glass of warm milk. Studies have shown that 7-8 hours of sleep is ideal for an adult.

Some other things that may help:

lavender Oil drops on your pillow
An eye mask to keep the light out and help you slumber longer
good pillows
warm flannel sheets or cool cotton sheets depending on the weather
a good book

Many people have no trouble falling asleep, but have trouble staying asleep. It is important to make sure that you get enough exercise during the day and that you eat healthy foods so that your body can run properly. Sometimes your body may be craving physical activity or good foods and that can cause sleep issues.

Most important, write all your worries down on a "worry pad" before bed. Once the worries have some place to go until tomorrow, you can set your mind at ease and slumber away for a restful night.

Comments are welcome: What do you do for a good night's sleep? What do you think of this article?

Fast Food Nation of Consumers

We have become a fast food nation because everyone is in a rush to get to school, to work, or just in a rush these days. We consume calories on the go and sometimes we have no idea what we are eating anymore or why we are eating.

Check out this KFC no bun double fried chicken sandwich with cheese and bacon. This sandwich cannot be good for anyone's heart or arteries. Is it worth the calories or heartburn later? What are we doing to our bodies and our minds?

We as a country have become too obsessed with getting to the next place and not enjoying the moments in our lives. Because we are always in a rush, fast food has flourished in this environment. We love to get it now. Instant gratification is the American way. So we get it now, but is it what we really want right now? We can get our food fast, but is it good fast food?

In order to really live healthfully, we need to look at our daily diet and think to ourselves. What is it that we truly can eat and benefit from today. Are the foods we are putting in our bodies full of nutrients or empty calories.

Planning meals are very important. If you can plan your next meal a few minutes in advance, you are already going to eat better than just rushing through the drive through for some fast fried food. On a daily basis think about your goals for your health that day. Do you want to consume less fried food and more vegetables today? Make that a goal. At every meal make sure to get an extra serving of vegetables. Make a daily list of all the things you want to achieve for a healthier diet and work towards one goal every day.

Break the fast food rut. Here is to your health.

Martha Stewart Mini Snack Meals

The Martha Stewart Living site has a great section on Whole Living where it gives advice on how to live the best life. My favorite section is the snacking section because it shows beautiful photos of examples of great healthy snacks.

According to the site healthy snacks are snacks that contain "a mix of complex carbs and protein -- a combo that metabolizes slowly, giving you more energy over time. You can look to leftovers for satisfying snacks, but watch the portion sizes: That means one ounce of cheese; two to three ounces of meat or fish; or 1/4 cup, give or take, of nuts".

There are then a series of photos that show healthy snacks such as fruit and yogurt combos, tomato and cheese combos, and pear and almond butter on bread combos.

All the snack combos in the series of photos pair great complex carbs with great protein sources. Paired with mini meals throughout the day, you can keep your energy up and metabolism buzzing.

Megafruit dried fruit snack packs are a great source of all natural carbohydrates that can be paired with any of the proteins mentioned on the Martha Stewart site. Click here for more info now about Megafruit.

Oprah ended her war with food you can too

Oprah Winfrey talked about her war with food over the years and how she finally ended the battle in the April O Magazine. She talks about it this month with author of the book Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything Geneen Roth.

In this April issue of O Magazine, Oprah and Ganeen Roth discuss all the reasons women overeat and the reasons were not because of hunger. Women overeat for reasons such as boredom, loneliness, low self esteem, sadness, anger, and other reasons that are unrelated to food.

In Ganeen Roth's book, she discusses ways to eat mindfully and enjoy foods so that food is no longer used to anesthetize ourselves, but as a way for our bodies to receive its daily nutrients.

Here are a few simple tips to help you eat mindfully when you eat a meal or a snack:

1.) Ask yourself: why am I eating this right now? Am I hungry?
2.) Do I feel happy or sad right now?
3.) Am I enjoying every bite?

Start with using these simple steps and you should see yourself eating only when hungry.

Today is a new day. Be healthy.

Dr. Oz says Mangosteen is a must eat Superfruit

Dr. Oz and Dan Buettner author of The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest named the 5 Superfoods we must all begin to eat and our Queen of Fruits, the Mangosteen was #3 on the list.

The list included:

#1 Barramundi because it is a clean eating fish and has very little Mercury because it does not eat other fish.

#2 Greek Greens are fennel and mustard greens which have lots of vitamin K and believed to help ward off Alzheimer's Disease.

#3 Mangosteen has more antioxidants than any other fruit, is rich in vitamins A and C and tastes delicious.

#4 Turmeric Tea - the very healthy Japanese population in Japan drink this tea often. It is believed to help with hangovers and have lots of antioxidants that can fight cancers.

#5 Imo is a great replacement for potatoes and has more antioxidants than blueberries.

For more information on Mangosteens and how to get this delicious fruit incorporated into your daily diet, click here to check out Megafruit's delicious snack pack.

Easter Brunch Eating Tips for Moderation

Easter is this Sunday and everyone is looking forward to the delicious Honey Baked ham, the deviled eggs, carrot cake, and Easter cookies. This is a holiday like all other holidays where family gets together and food is aplenty.

Tips for eating this weekend are simple and easy.

Just remember that this Easter meal can be treated like any other meal. Everything can be eaten, just eat it in moderation. Go ahead and take a little bit of ham, a little bit of deviled egg, a little bit of carrot cake. Just remember that when your body tells you that you are full, stop eating.

Sometimes we feel like it is a holiday, therefore we should just indulge. Remember there will be more holidays and there is always the weekend and there are always other birthdays and occasions where there are going to be cakes and treats. If you enjoy everything in moderation, you won't have to worry about your weight or your health.

When eating your food this Easter take a breather between bites. Enjoy the company around you. Stop and put your fork down and speak to the person next to you. Take in the surroundings. Enjoy the day with your family and friends. If you stay in the present and savor every bite of you food, you may find that you are satiated after a moderate portion size.

Food is to be enjoyed. Take your time and eat it bite by bite. Happy Easter.

Delicious Pineapple Chicken Recipe

My family eats a lot of chicken for dinner so I am always working on new recipes to keep it interesting. Fresh ingredients always makes delicious foods so I always try to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into a chicken recipe to make a yummy dinner.

This pineapple chicken recipe is adapted from a chicken dish we had in Hawaii a few years ago. It is a little bit Asian with its sauce and a little bit Hawaiian with the pineapple flavor.

Ingredients:

6 chicken thighs or chicken breasts (whichever you prefer)
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of pepper
1 tablespoon of terriyaki soy sauce
1 fresh small pineapple sliced
1/2 a cup of pineapple juice
1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic
1 teaspoon of honey

optional: 6 strips of bacon - turkey bacon is a good substitute to get the smokey flavor and keep it ultra healthy

Place the chicken pieces into a pan lined in foil, sprinkle paprika, salt, and pepper over the chicken pieces. Drizzle the honey and terriyaki sauce over the chicken and spread the minced garlic over the chicken. Place the bacon slices on top of the chicken and the pineapple slices on top of the bacon strips. Bake the chicken at 425 degrees for 45 minutes.

Serve with brown rice and sauteed spinach.