I’m giving away SUBWAY gift cards over on Workout Mommy Reviews.

Free food!

Go now!

photo credit: lennox_mcdough

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Image by gezellig-girl.com via Flickr

I wish I could give it all up and not need it.

I’ve tried and failed a zillion times.

I’m an addict, I fully admit it.

Diet Pepsi. Why can’t I quit you?

Now that Pepsi has introduced their Throwback products that are made with real sugar instead of High Fructose Corn Syrup, which do you think is the better* choice?

Here are the ingredients:

Diet Pepsi: carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, caffeine, citric acid, natural flavor, phenylketonurics.

Pepsi Throwback: Carbonated water, sugar, caramel color, phosphoric acid, caffeine, natural flavor.

Thoughts?

*I know, neither!  Water is a much better choice but if you HAD to choose one, which would it be?

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Image via Wikipedia

I watched Food, Inc. and it has completely changed my relationship with food.  I will NEVER buy meat (especially beef) again unless it is organic. Have you seen the movie?  Once you do, you will understand why I am saying this.

Most of the beef we currently eat is cleaned with ammonia.   Read that again.  Ammonia. The government is on board with this and thinks it is okay.    What is wrong with this world?

Don’t believe me?  Watch this clip from the movie:

It is absolutely disgusting and sad at the same time.  I look at the food that I’m feeding my kids and can’t help but think “I am poisoning them!”

Where can you get organic meats?  We are lucky enough to have a Wegman’s near us that has a pretty good selection, albeit very expensive.  ($8.99 per pound vs. $2.99 per pound)

You can also order organic, grass-fed beef online and have it delivered to your door.   Rocky Mountain Organic Meats has a huge selection of products that are very reasonably priced.   Please visit Workout Mommy Reviews for my experience with them.

So going forward, I will only be purchasing organic foods, especially meats.   Yes,  it is  (way) more expensive but what choice do I have?  I can’t allow my kids to eat this crap poison.   I can’t help but wonder-- what does President Obama feed his kids?

Do you eat organic?

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It is hard to believe but I actually cooked something and it was edible!  Here are the banana muffins I made over the weekend.   They were very tasty and my boys gobbled them up.

I found a simple recipe online and then modified a few things.

Here is my recipe for banana chocolate chip muffins.

• 3 or 4 Large bananas, mashed (the more bananas the moister, so I use 4)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup melted margarine or butter
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Mix the mashed banana, sugar, egg and margarine together. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, mix together baking soda, baking powder, salt,flour and wheat germ and chocolate chips.
Mix wet and dry ingredients all together.
Pour into greased muffin pan and bake in 350 degrees F oven for approximately 20 minutes.
YUM!
I’m not a big fan of baking or cooking, but it really is much better for your body than buying store bought muffins.

What is your favorite homemade recipe?

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I saw the twitter buzz about Michael Pollan appearing on Oprah to talk about real foods and his new book Food Rules so I decided to check it out.

WOW.  I was both saddened and disgusted by the statistics of the eating habits in this country.

What an eye opening episode! I haven’t read his book, but I will now.
I’ve had Food, Inc. in my Netflix queue forever but haven’t gotten around to watching it.  (Because let’s be honest, Step Brothers is much more entertaining!)

So what exactly did I learn from this show?

One quote continues to stand out in my head.

“Eat REAL food.”

It’s so simple, yet something I continue to struggle with.   Maybe I should make signs and hang them up all over my house?

For an even better recap of the show, please go and visit Jo-Lynne over at  Musings of Housewife.  She has a great post up that you must read.

If you watched the show, what do you think?  Are you as inspired to change your entire way of eating as I am?

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Today’s guest post is courtesy of Ani, founder of the California Tea House, an online tea store where you can find some of the world’s best loose leaf tea blends and Organic Herbal Teas.  Ani discovered her love of tea as a child when her mother would spruce up plain teas with cinnamon sticks, cloves, lemon and honey.  She has now made it her mission to provide the best quality loose leaf tea on her website, www.californiateahouse.com.

The miraculous gift of having a baby endows you with other unwanted gifts. Yup, that mummy tummy. Baby belly. Kangaroo pouch. Pot belly. Solar plexus. Spare tire. Bread basket. Front porch. However you refer to your seemingly gift with no receipt, rest assured, there is a cure.

It’s no secret that drinking tea is good for you.  Green tea in particular has a bountiful supply of health benefits, especially for women.  A recent study found that drinking green tea combined with a moderate exercise plan helps you combat that jelly belly.

With their findings published in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers tested two groups of overweight adults in a span of 12 weeks. The study focused on elements called ‘catechins’ that are unique to green tea. One group drank high levels of catechins with caffeine and the other had caffeine with no catechins while both groups engaged in a 180 minute exercise routine per week.

What the heck are catechins? Catechins are powerful, water soluble polyphenols and antioxidants that are easily oxidized. They are 25-100 times more potent that vitamins C and E. Catechins are much more abundant in green tea than any other due to the least amount of fermentation that green tea undergoes.

Here’s how it works:  Food is synthesized into a substance called “triglyceride” in the liver and small intestine, which travels into the bloodstream to other tissues in the body. Triglyceride is used by our bodies as a source of energy. The problem comes about when there are excess amounts of triglyceride, because then it is turned into fat and causes obesity.

That’s where green tea works its magic. Green tea contains high levels of polyphenols which activate the enzyme that is responsible for dissolving excess triglyceride. In the long run, this means that green tea successfully aids in burning fat.

Add the fact that green tea contains significant amounts of natural caffeine  — an ambitious fat burner and endurance enhancer — and you can see why it can be such a powerful tool in the battle against belly fat.

What’s also exciting about green tea is that it contains very little or no calories, so you can sip at work all day long.  As the study itself utilized a generous amount of daily consumption, a solid 4 to 5 cups of green tea per day will get the job done.

If you are new to green tea and don’t know where to start, you should try one of our most popular and delicious Jasmine Pearls at California Tea House.

We also have a wide variety of teas for all personalities including green teas blended with preserved fruits and herbs like Chunky Cherry or Moroccan Mint.  For the sophisticated, seasoned palate, be sure to check out the Monkey Paw or Daughter Ring.

Maybe then you can focus your attention on your intended gifts…

sources:

1) Green Tea Catechin Consumption Enhances Exercise-Induced Abdominal Fat Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults. Http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/139/2/264

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Today’s guest post is courtesy of Stephanie Clarke MS, RD and Willow Jarosh MS, RD of C & J Nutrition. They are registered dietitians who offer customized nutrition plans for individuals through home visits, by phone, e-mail, and one-on-one sessions.

Visit their site and sign up for Nutrition Stew, their monthly e-newsletter, for recommendations, seasonal recipes, and other practical tips for incorporating good nutrition into your lifestyle.  You can also follow them on Twitter at CJ Nutrition, where they tweet what they eat!

Two things are clear from the second you bring your new baby home:

1. You really need to take care of yourself and 2. You feel like you don’t have any time to take care of yourself.

But good nutrition is extremely important in recovering from birth, maintaining your energy to take care of a new baby (then a toddler, a young child, teen, and on and on) all while meeting your health and weight goals.  We’ll introduce you to six foods that are truly multi-taskers, – versatile, tasty, and each packed with nutrients that are especially important to new moms (vitamins D, A, and C, calcium, protein, zinc, copper, and omega 3 fatty acidstt )… and we’ll also give you some tips for simple ways to incorporate these super food staples into your diet.

1. Wild Salmon (fresh or canned): The pink fleshy fish contains vitamin D and the omega 3 fatty acid DHA.  Few foods contain either of these nutrients – but salmon has them both in large amounts!  It’s also a great source of lean protein.  Canned wild salmon is as easy to prepare as canned tuna and is available at most supermarkets.  Whether canned or fresh, choose wild salmon (rather than farm raised) because studies show that it is

lower in mercury and it’s better for the environment!

Simple uses: Add canned salmon to a whole wheat wrap with hummus and fresh veggies, snack on salmon salad and whole grain crackers, or top a piece of fresh salmon with mustard and maple syrup and toss under the broiler.

2. Plain Low-fat Yogurt: Packed with calcium, protein, and gut friendly probiotic bacteria, plain yogurt is extremely versatile.  Look for a nonfat or low fat version to reduce saturated fat and choose organic if possible.   Bonus:  Choose nonfat

Greek style yogurt and you’ll pack in double the protein of the regular varieties.

Simple uses: Use plain yogurt as a foundation for a healthy breakfast by adding berries, nuts, and whole grain cereal or a topping for oatmeal; a sour cream substitute for topping baked potatoes and soups, or adding to burritos and fajitas; a base for fruit or veggie dips; or in fruit smoothies.

3. Quinoa: This ancient grain (pronounced Keen-wah) is a whole grain that’s easier to prepare than rice, packs in twice the protein of most other grains, and provides a hefty dose of important minerals like iron and magnesium.  If you’ve never tried or seen it before, it’s round and fluffy, a little larger than cous cous in size, and delicious! 

Simple uses: Cook up a big batch and store it in your refrigerator to use as a ready-to-eat side dish that goes with just about any meal.  Or, get creative and use quinoa as a breakfast grain by adding milk, fruit, and nuts; a pilaf with dried fruit, veggies, and nuts; or a hearty addition to soups and stews.

4. Dark Green Leafy Vegetables: Kale, collard greens, watercress, broccoli rabe, and spinach supply a host of important vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron as well as phytochemicals, like beta carotene and lutein, which protect against many forms of cancer.  Cruciferous veggies (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, etc.) are exceptional sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium as well as phytochemicals.

Simple uses: Spray kale with olive oil cooking spray and bake until crispy for a “kale chip” snack; add any greens to a prepared soup to up the flavor factor; sauté greens with olive oil and garlic for a simple side dish that goes with almost any main course.

5. Nuts and seeds: Nuts like walnuts, almonds, peanuts, and pine nuts as well as sunflower, flax, and pumpkin seeds are excellent sources of healthy fats that are important for you and baby.  Walnuts and flaxseeds provide a healthy dose of omega 3s, while nuts like peanuts are rich in magnesium and iron.  Simple uses: Adding nuts and seeds to cereal or yogurt as a snack or to salads, pasta dishes, and as a crust on fish, not only ads lots of flavor but the fat can help you feel more satisfied with your meal too!

6. Beans and lentils:  Beans and lentils are some of the most versatile foods AND they deliver health benefits.  When combined with whole grains, beans provide complete protein.  But unlike most sources of lean protein, beans pack in lots of fiber too.  Choose no salt added or low sodium canned beans (rinse before using).

Simple uses: Sprinkle beans on salads, stir into soups, mash up and use as a veggie dip or a spread for sandwiches and wraps.

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My house needs a complete overhaul of our eating habits.
I love to workout but when it comes to cooking, I am downright LAZY!

I hate the entire process and more often than not we either eat take out or cheerios for dinner.  (no, I’m not kidding)  So, I need some tips on menu planning and easy meals.  (crockpot recipes would be ideal!)

Either that, or I need a meal delivery service!  Maybe  Freshology or Jenny Craig would be interested in having me review their programs?

We need help gang!  What is your best advice when it comes to planning and cooking EASY yet healthy meals?  Any recipes that you can share?

photo credit: Smaku

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If you have young kids, you probably spend some time watching Noggin Nick Jr.  and are familiar with this song:

My son asked me the other day “Why doesn’t he like candy corn, it’s yummy?!”

and I have to agree.
It’s also addictive, just like its cousin,  the mellow creme pumpkin.   I just can’t eat a few pieces, I seem to consume the whole bag. It’s basically a bag of sugar and corn syrup and leaves a gross film of sugar in my mouth.

So why do I eat it?
Because I foolishly buy it.   I’ll be happy when Halloween is over and the candy corn, pumpkins, and fall mix are all gone.

How about you?  What kind of Halloween candy is your downfall?

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I’ve started another blog!

Yep, that is correct!  I know, call me crazy but in order to follow the BlogHer Ad guidelines, I needed to move my reviews to another home. So please check out my alternate digs over at:

Workout Mommy Reviews!

There will be product reviews and giveaways (lots, I promise!) on everything from treadmills to toys.   I’ve got a post up right now about BoironUSA’s new homeopathic cold/flu medicine for kids. Have you tried it?  If so, I’d love to know your thoughts.

and no worries, I will still be blogging here about all things fitness and health. Thanks to all that have taken my survey.
(What’s that? You haven’t taken it yet?)
Well, what are you waiting for—go do it now. (please? thanks!)

after that is all done,  turn off your computer and GET UP OFF YOUR COUCH and go be active gang.

Never underestimate the power of a workout!

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