pardon my hiatus

more posts coming soon...

run, don't walk...

to your local farmers market or roadside stand to get some delicious fruits and vegetables. in my neck of the woods, we only have a couple more weeks to support our local farmers and enjoy all this fresh homegrown goodness. yesterday i came away with the best peaches i've ever tasted, juicy, amazing yellow and red tomatoes and some tender, yummy corn on the cob ($4.00 for a dozen!). go on. you know you want to.

can you say canola?

the facts

Best Foods (or Hellmann's----they are the same thing, folks) mayo made with canola oil has half the calories and half the fat of the regular mayo from this company. It is also a great source of omega 3 fatty acids which have been shown to increase HDL cholesterol (that's the good one). Some studies suggest that omega 3's may also lower high blood pressure.


the verdict

If you like mayo---and oh, boy do I---this stuff is great. It tastes just like the mayo you may be used to but is a lot healthier for you.


where to find

I found this product in my local grocery store.

don't eat the whole package, people.

the facts

Newman-O's are a tasty little cookie and part of the Newman's Own Organics product line---which is a division of Newman's Own Food Company----you know, the one founded by Paul Newman, the actor who likes to put his face on all the bottles and bags and wrappers. Well, the organic product company was founded by his daughter, Nell, which is why you see her face in addition to her father's on all the products. and, yes, these cookies are organic. They are patterned after the classic Oreo cookies but really are a much healthier alternative. They have less sodium, less fat, less sugar, and less calories while having MORE protein. They also come in great flavors like peanut butter cream, chocolate cream and mint cream. The cream in the peanut butter variety even tastes like peanut butter as opposed to mildly flavored crisco. But---these are still cookies. Just because they are organic and healthier does not mean you can eat the whole package in one sitting. didn't we learn that lesson during the whole "fat free" craze? i hope so.

the verdict

these are good. really good. no, they don't taste exactly like Oreo's but they aren't trying to, either. they taste like chocolate cookies with cream in the middle---count me in. the bottom line is this, if you don't care about things like high fructose corn syrup and other artificial ingredients then O-R-E-O it up. if you want to try something equally as yummy and a little better for you, i would give these a shot. i will definitely be going back for more.

where to find

i found these at my local Smith's grocery store but was unable to find them at Albertsons. i have also seen them at Good Earth. their website has a place to type in your state to find a retailer or you can go here to see where to find them online.

something gnu

the facts

this company makes honestly nutritious bars that are loaded with 12 grams of fiber----50% of your daily requirement. they also have no high fructose corn syrup, no refined sugars (except the the chocolate brownie flavor), no hydrogenated oils, no preservatives, no artificial colors or flavors, the list goes on. they have a fun choice of flavors like orange cranberry, banana walnut, and peanut butter, to name a few. one gnu (pronounced g-noo) bar has the fiber equivalent of 4 bowls of cheerios, 12 balance peanut butter bars, 4 glasses of metamucil, or 12 benefiber tablets.

the verdict

as a former lover of luna bars, i can say that these fiberlicious bars have no where near the sweetness of other "nutrition" bars. but isn't that the point? the other bars on the market get their sweetness from artificial sugars or sugar alcohols, as well as artificial flavorings. my husband and i both really enjoy the gnu bars. when i eat one i have the same feeling as when i eat my kashi go lean cereal----like i am eating something made for grown ups. something made for someone who can eat food that is not loaded with artificial junk to make it taste better. someone who can enjoy the health benefits of food vs. the super sugared-out taste of other products. that person sounds cool, right?

where to find

gnu bars are a little tricky. you can order online from the company or you can go to their website, gnufoods.com, and type in your zip code to see what stores in your area carry them. i have not been able to find them at any stores in my area---not even the super healthy, all organic, yadda, yadda, yadda ones, but they have great offers on their website. we tried the 5 bar sample pack for $9.95 (this price includes shipping---not bad, right?). this is a great way to figure out what flavors you like best. they even have an offer for 10% off your first online order.

try it. i dare you.

the facts

organic milk is produced without the use of antibiotics, growth hormones or pesticides. 'nuff said. i chose horizon organic milk because it was a little bit cheaper than the other organic milk at my grocery store. on their website it says, "Our cows eat only organic feed and have access to clean water, fresh air, organic pasture and exercise." exercise? how cute is that?!


the verdict

i must admit that, in general, milk creeps me out. i definitely drink it (mostly as a chaser to sweet, sweet goodies) but the slightest change in taste or smell can really throw me for a loop---like when i was little and would have dinner at a friend's house--the milk always tasted funny. needless to say, i was a little hesitant to try organic milk. then one day i heard that there is some speculation that all the hormones used in meat and dairy is causing girls to hit puberty at a much younger age and i was so completely disgusted that i hopped right on board the organic milk train. now, i must say, as i have done my own research it turns out that there really is no proof that these extra hormones are causing early puberty but still, really disturbing, right? and, yes, i just used the word puberty twice---ok, now 3 times. i can say, though, that the organic milk tasted great. it tasted just like milk should---flavorless. i tried the 1% for my boys and the skim for me and was very pleased.

where to find

milk aisle people, come on now.

as for me and my house...it's all about fiber

the facts

don't let the fact that this product contains something called "fiber twigs" turn you off. Kashi GoLean cereal is loaded with stuff that is good for you----13 grams of protein (awesome), 10 grams of fiber (fantastic) and pretty low on the sugar count at 6 grams per serving. it is also loaded with whole grains and lightly sweetened with natural sweeteners like honey and evaporated cane juice.


the verdict

i must admit that everytime i passed this kashi product in the grocery store my mind would say to me, "cardboard, with some cardboard, and maybe a little more cardboard for good measure." but i was pleasantly surprised by this cereal. i really found it to be quite good. yes, it does taste and feel (texture-wise) like you are eating a healthy cereal but there is just the right amount of sweetness to make it worth it. mid-breakfast, i even had the thought, "i am eating a cereal for grown ups!", and i felt my maturity quotient rise a few notches. that's never bad, right? i enjoyed this cereal as is, but would definitely suggest adding some fruit in your bowl, like bananas, strawberries or blueberries. this product will be in the keeping it real cupboard for years to come.

where to find

this should be easy. i have seen this product in most regular old grocery stores.