The Bad Cow!

When you are trying to lose weight, maintain your weight or just indulge in a sweet treat without over doing it, you look to "healthier" options.  The ad executives and pr firms make a ton of money by marketing those "healthier" products to those kinds of people.  Lets be honest, most people who fit those categories are women!  My mother passed along a blog post to me recently about how particularly Un-"healthy" those skinny cow deserts you love actually are.

Don't get me wrong, I used to eat one probably every night.  I probably still have a few tucked in the back of my freezer somewhere.  I even blogged about them 3 years ago! When we set out to be healthy it is pretty apparent drastic changes don't work.  So I, like many, found easy substitutes and "cheats" that would allow me to cut back without depriving myself. What we don't always realize.. or want to face is that when we stray away from foods with a lot of fat, sugar or calories we end up replacing those ingredients with chemicals, additives and all sorts of nasty stuff.  Eating a Paleo diet has definitely allowed me to realize the kinds of things I was previously ingesting.  While it's scary to think about all the unknowns I actually consumed, it's comforting that I am more aware now and can make better choices.

While this is just one product line of many, it is a good wake up call and if nothing else can hopefully get you to look a little deeper at a label's nutrition facts.This isn't something that just plagues ice cream treats, it can be found throughout the grocery isles and particularly in those products labeled "low-cal" "low-fat" & "fat-free".  My mother loves to tell me that the biggest culprit are all those 100 calorie packs.

To check out the original article I mentioned from the blog My Whole Food Life Go Here

You can find another interesting post I found Here

Thoughts?

Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil!

With so many type of oils out there how are we supposed to decipher the good oil from the bad? Well, First off, eliminate vegetable oils high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and Omega-6. These are the types of oils that are not good for you. For example: vegetable oil, corn oil, peanut oil, soybean oil , grape seed oil, cottonseed oil, safflower and sunflower oil.

Learning to eat Paleo you pick up on a few things, like how good fats don’t actually make you fat and are actually healthy.  Paleo eaters rely heavily on consuming good fats, it’s our main source of energy. Our bodies are said to be designed to run primarily on fat as a source of energy. Coconut oil is an edible oil, like olive oil that is extracted from the meat of coconuts. The oil is made up of around 90% saturated fat, 6% monounsaturated fat, and 3% polyunsaturated fat which allows it to stay stable under high heat.  This is also why it is great to cook with.

Using coconut oil for cooking is becoming more and more popular. I actually began using unrefined virgin coconut oil in my cooking long before I made the jump to a Paleo lifestyle.  When I began eating Paleo I quickly learned that although you can consume olive oil at room temperature, for example, drizzled over a salad, you are not supposed to cook your food with it.  Since I used olive oil in many of the dishes I prepared,  I began supplementing the coconut oil in it's place and opening up many more possibilities for cooking with it.  The difference from most oils you are probably used to cooking with is that coconut oil is solid at room temperature. I use this oil now for most of my stove top cooking.  It is great for sauteing vegetables and frying eggs.  It will leave a great subtle coconut flavor and smell that is not overpowering to your dishes.  I also use it in some of my grain free baking.

Using coconut oil in your cooking can also positively affect your health. Here are just a few examples of how:

• Boosts your metabolism 
• Aids with weight loss.
• Increases your digestion 
• Helps you absorb fat-soluble vitamins.
• Improves your heart health 
• Supports your immune system.
• Positively affects your hormones for thyroid and blood-sugar control. 
• Promotes healing & tissue repair.
• Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.

Coconut oil also has many other uses outside the kitchen check out these 160 uses for coconut oil.

If you are unsure or curious I encourage you to buy a jar and substitute it in a few of your recipes   You may just be pleasantly surprised.  There are many brands of coconut oil on the market.  I tend to buy the brand Spectrum that's pictured above on the left.  It is reasonably priced and has worked well for me for many different uses.

Would you cook with coconut oil?

Bottle To Pen!

Knowing my propensity to be "green" whenever possible, a friend of mine bought me a few B2P pilot pens a while back.  I love them and wanted to share this great idea with you all.   Pilot created the Bottle to Pen (B2P), a retractable, refillable gel ink pen, which is made from recycled plastic bottles,

Hopefully you are aware of the alternatives to using disposable bottles and recycle the ones you do use. Here are some facts about how plastic bottles pollute. 

• Plastic bottles take 700 years to begin composting
• 80% of plastic bottles are not recycled
• 38 million plastic bottles go to the dump per year in America from bottled water (not including soda)
• 24 million gallons of oil are needed to produce a billion plastic bottles
• The average American consumes 167 bottles of water a year
• Bottled water is the second most popular beverage in the United States
• Plastic bottles make up close to 50 percent of recyclable waste in landfills

These pens are made from 89% recycled plastic bottles.   One plastic water bottle can be used to create two B2P pens, and the pens use the same gel ink as in Pilot's number one selling gel pen.  They work great and I love the bottle-styled barrel.  It reminds me of the bottles they are made from, and reminds me that we can find all kinds of new ways to go green!

They can be found at any office supply store or online and can be purchased singularly or in multiples.  I found a 5 pack of B2P pens at Staples for $5.99.

Would you buy these B2P pens?

IZZI B CUPCAKES

Check out this segment on IzzyB's Cupcakes. We came across them at a farmers market in Stamford, CT.


Check them out online http://ibcakes.com/

Friday's Featured Product! Spin Pin

So this week's featured product isn't a food or health product.  It is actually a hair product! I know! Not what you expect from my blog, but I just came across it and love it so I thought I would share.

I don't know if you have seen the commercials for the "Spin Pin", but ever since I first saw them I have wanted to try it. They are advertised as a way to throw your hair up into a messy bun, quick & with only one pin that acts like 20 bobby pins.

 I usually check the hair care isle at the grocery store and they haven't showed up there yet.  Than the other day when I stopped by Walgreen's I remembered that I wanted to try them and went to see if they had them.  I was excited to find that they did and even more excited to see that they were on sale for $4.00 (usually about $6.50).  Obviously I quickly grabbed it up and went home to try it.

The only thing I was surprised by was that it actually takes 2 spin pins to do what the product claims.  I cant be sure but I don't ever remember seeing that in the commercials, but I yet to see one since.  Other than that it works great. Especially for me, since I leave about five minutes to get ready in the morning.  Usually I throw my hair into a pony tail & and if I wrap it up into a messy bun, I use a elastic and sometimes it ends up looking a bit weird.

So essentially the Spin Pins are corkscrew-shaped pins that you can use to create a  messy bun that will stay in all day.  They come in a few different color options & if you wear your hair up a lot they are worth checking out.  Especially for going out!


Have you tried the Spin Pin? Do you think you will now?

Feature Friday! Roses for Autism

This weeks Featured Friday is actually an organization I came across while filming for Hungry For Living TV last week.  We were at a farmers market in Greenwich, CT when we met Debbie who works for the organization which is based out of Guilford, CT.  The more she told us about Roses for Autism the more we realized they are about more than just selling flowers.

Roses for Autism was the inspiration of a father of a teen with autism. Like many parents of children with disabilities, Jim Lyman dreamt of a future where his son, Eli, would have a meaningful job and continued opportunities to grow as an individual.
Through his work in agriculture Jim knew that local farmers were struggling to find qualified workers to keep their businesses alive. He had the vision to see a perfect opportunity for an innovative program that would meet the needs of both the autism and agricultural communities.
Roses for Autism not only provides individuals on the autism spectrum the chance to learn the skills necessary to maintain meaningful employment, but also serves as a model that can be replicated nationwide to develop unique opportunities for them as a whole new competitive workforce.
Started in 2009, Roses for Autism is the first business endeavor for Growing Possibilities, a nonprofit social enterprise founded by Ability Beyond Disability that is dedicated to growing independence in the business world for individuals with Autism and other disabilities. RosesforAutism.com

The roses they sell are beautiful, but more beautiful is the story behind them. Adults with Autism hold many talents but only about 12% of them are employed.  Purchasing from Roses for Autism supports development of inclusive work place opportunities for adults with Autism. To purchase roses, donate or to learn more about this wonderful organization please visit http://www.rosesforautism.com/
Also check out their website for information on their upcoming event Autism Rocks!

Feature Friday! Candy

It's Friday & it's the start of a long weekend so why not celebrate with something sweet? Well that usually leads me to trouble...

Luckily I have found sweet treats that give me the sugary chocolate experience I'm after, without having to pay for it.  I am in LOVE with the line of Whitman's candies endorsed by Weight Watchers.  Now this isn't nasty no taste sugar free candy! Were talking chocolaty, creamy, peanut buttery, loaded with caramel candies! I haven't tried all of them but I am partial to the Caramel Medallions & The Peanut Butter Cups.  My friend however is in love with the mint patties and I have had the toffee ones which are good too.  So I am pretty confident in saying that they rock. 

They are a great late night treat when you NEED something sweet or a perfect little dessert. I also grab one when I come home from work some days when I am starving and I still need to make dinner.The best part is they are only 1 or 2 WW points.  Not bad right?

Like I said my two favorites are:

        Carmel Medallions 1point      Peanut Butter Cup 2points

They offer so many choices, you’re sure to find one you love!

Pecan Crowns 1Points

Mint Patties 1Points

Coconut 1Points

Crispy Butter Cream Caramel 1Points

Peanut Butter Crunch 1Points

Caramel Medallions 1Points

Almond Nougat 1Points

NougieNuttyChew 1Points

English Toffee Squares 1Points

Double Chocolate Mousse 2Points

Peanut Butter Cups 2Points

I encourage you to try them out and also try the other options that may suit your tastes better. My grocery store sells at least 5 different candies (Stop & Shop). They may be hard to find some places, I can't get them at Shop Rite.  If your store doesn't carry them ask them if they could!  Let me know what you think! Or have you already tried them?

Friday's Featured Product!

As you know I am up for trying new products especially desert products, but I always go into it skeptical.  Since I am not one who likes anything that taste "diet" I a very picky about snacks and deserts that are labeled that way. Not to long ago after getting one of my favorite magazines in the mail I sat down and began ingesting all things pop culture.  Then I came across an add for a new line of Skinny Cow ice cream cups. A few minutes later my boyfriend called me saying he was stopping by the grocery store on the way home, is there anything I needed? I paused for a second than described the delicious looking ice cream cups I was looking at to him in great detail hoping he would be able to find them. 

They came in 5 different flavors Dulce de Leche, Caramel Cone, Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Brownie & Cookies N' Cream.  Not wanting to seem piggish I listed the three flavors I was most eager to try. Dulce de Leche, Caramel Cone & Cookies N' Cream. 

They come in at 2 and 3 WW points each depending on the flavor so I was skeptical as to how good they would actually taste especially the Dulce de Leche.. WOW was i surprised.  I can now tell you my freezer is stocked at all times with these flavors.  I have yet to try the other two yet.

First I tried the Dulce de Leche, it was so sweet and creamy and has ample amounts of caramel swirled into it.  When I opened it up I saw the caramel peeking through on top and thought that you get just a single blob, but i was pleasantly surprised to find it swirled all the way through. WW 2 Points

Next (yes the same night) I tried the Cookies N' Cream.  I wasn't expecting much since I had tried other "low fat" or "diet" versions of Cookies N Cream ice cream and have not been impressed at all.  Once again I was pleasantly surprised I was very creamy and tasty! You could taste the sweet vanilla ice cream and all the yummy cookie pieces (not specs) It didn't taste low in fat at all. WW 2 Points

I waited till the next night to try the third flavor Caramel Cone, by this point I wasn't expecting anything but greatness from that first bite and it delivered. It's a sweet vanilla ice cream with generous amounts of caramel swirled all around (like the Dulce de Leche) & has crunchy chocolate coated pieces of waffle cone mixed throughout. WW 3 Points

I suggest anyone looking for a low fat, low calorie, or low point desert to try these out. Everyone I have had try them, loves them! They make a wonderful sweet treat at the end of the day & they won't undo your day of eating healthy!

I give them 2 YUMS UP!

Flax Seed!

I'm sure you have heard about Flax Seed, but maybe you don't know all it's benifits.

Flax seed:
Is a great source of Fiber
Is The richest source of omega fatty acids and lignans
Provides Improved Immune Function
Helps With Weight Management
Protects Against Bone Loss
Helps Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
And MUCH MORE!

Now how do you add Flax seed into your diet? That was my question for a long time, I didn't know how to eat it or what to do with it. Then I discovered a GREAT product called Dash O' Flax. It's Pre-Ground Golden Flax seed. Unlike the actual seeds this is much easier to use in real life eating situations. It has a consistency like wheat germ. I Add a tablespoon or so to my yogurt every morning. I also add it in whenever I make something with bread crumbs. You can add it to so many different recipes from baked goods to smoothies.




I buy it right from my grocery store. I have found it at Shop Rite & Stew Lenorads. I be live it is also sold at Whole Foods. If you can't find it where you shop you can get it right from the manufacture @ https://www.flaxpremiumgold.com/index.html



Check out more on Flax seed from WebMd.com http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed

Green Bags!

Hey Guys! I got a comment from Nelly the other day in response to my post on Apples being the fruit that will last the longest once you bring it home from the store. She mentioned her distress with trying to keep strawberries fresh & that they go bad so fast. I offered her a great tip and I wanted to share it with all of you, GREEN BAGS!!
I'm sure you have seen them by now possibly in the produce section of your grocery store. I didn't try them right away, I was sure they were a waste of money, just a colored plastic bag. My mom had bought some and loved them, so I took some home and tried them. I have to say, I find they really do work. Especially for fruits like bananas and strawberries that don't stay fresh long.

They wont last forever, but it does prolong the process. I can buy bananas on Sunday and still have nice yellow bananas at the end of the week (which usually doesn't happen, and I don't like when my bananas go brown).

I use them for all my fruits and vegetables, whether in the fridge or on the counter. Each bag can be used up to five times so I don't feel like I go through the bags very quickly. If they get dirty you can rinse and dry them before you use them next.

You have probably seen the Debbie Meyer's Green Bags in stores or on TV. Those are what we started using. We then came across another brand at The Christmas Tree Shop that were much cheaper. We weren't sure if they would work as well or even at all, but they seem to be just as good. If you are lucky enough to live near a Christmas Tree Shop I would encourage you to pick up The Forever Green Bags they sell there.

They sell for less than half the price of the Debbie Meyer's Bags. You might even be able to find deals online. If all you can get are the original Debbie Meyer's Green Bags I would still encourage you to try them. They save me lots of money from not having to throw out spoiled produce!