I think it’s safe to say that we all want to feel good and be healthy.  We all want to be our best and thus, we eat right, exercise and try our hardest to maintain a positive and upbeat perspective on life.  I know I don’t feel any better than when I’m fueling my body with clean and nutritious foods, and staying active in both body and mind.  For that reason, when my friend introduced me to MonaVie (‘mo-na-vee’), I was mo’ than elated to give it a try.

My friend, Connie, was visiting from New York and wanted a group of us to sample these blends of fruit juices she had recently started promoting.  When she took out the product, I thought she was going to pour me a glass of wine.  The MonaVie blends come in these beautiful glass bottles with a sleek logo that would make you think you were imbibing on a fine merlot, versus a non-alcoholic fruit juice.  But after one sip, I knew this wasn’t any ordinary drink.  The blend of MonaVie that I sampled (which was the MonaVie Original), was thick and concentrated, yet delicious and refreshing.  Even with a small 3 – 4 oz. sample, I could immediately feel the potency of this drink flooding my system.  It was an immediate energy booster!  So I had to finally ask, what the heck is in this stuff?!

According to the MonaVie website:

• MonaVie’s extraordinary products feature a delicious blend of the Brazilian açai berry and 18 other body-beneficial fruits from around the world.

• MonaVie’s refreshing açai blends are products with a purpose. From powerful antioxidant support to joint and heart health, each formula delivers key nutrients to help you maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

• MonaVie is a unique and delicious nutritional beverage. The açai berry is the foundation of the MonaVie blend, but with literally thousands of phytonutrients and antioxidants found in nature’s fresh fruits, MonaVie didn’t want to focus on just one at the expense of others.  This led to MonaVie’s selection of 18 additional fruits, each selected for its unique, beneficial properties and ability to contribute a variety of phytonutrients and antioxidants to MonaVie’s premier nutritional beverage.  Together, the synergistic effect of the fruits in the MonaVie blend reaches far beyond what any single fruit could accomplish.

• Designed for easy absorption in the body, just 2–4 ounces of MonaVie per day provides you with the phytonutrients and antioxidants found in many of the world’s most nutritious fruits—including açai.

• Açai contains concentrated levels of anthocyanins—a powerful family of antioxidants that assists in neutralizing the harmful effects free radicals can have on your body.  Through an exclusive freeze-drying process, MonaVie is able to capture the vital nutrients found in this delicate fruit.  MonaVie’s freeze-dried açai powder boasts an ORAC score (a measure of antioxidant power) higher than any other fruit or vegetable tested to date, on a gram-for-gram basis.

While I love my fruits and vegetables, I have to say that I’m not a huge juicer.  The thought of throwing back a glass of orange, grapefruit or even pomegranate juice (sorry, POM) just doesn’t do it for me.  I would much rather get my vitamins and nutrients by eating the fresh produce, not drinking it.  But, sometimes, I just don’t think I am getting enough of those nutritious properties.  Knowing that I can get the antioxidant capacity of approximately 13 servings of fruits and vegetables in just four ounces of MonaVie is appealing to me.  I’ll still continue to eat my produce, but if I can drink this fruit blend a couple times a day as a supplement to my healthy eating ways, I can’t fail!

Because I practice hot/power yoga close to a daily basis, Connie gave me a bottle of the MonaVie Active to take home and try.  She mentioned that this blend contained glucosamine, which promotes healthy joint function, targets mobility and flexibility and it is designed to support joint performance and recovery.  While I don’t have bad joints, nor do I experience many aches or pains, my muscles do tend to get tired and sore from yoga.  Thus, sampling a bottle of the MonaVie Active for a week was something I gladly volunteered to do.

When I drank my first 2 oz. ’shot’ of MonaVie active (a blend of Açai, white grape, apple, acerola, aronia, purple grape, cranberry, passion fruit, prune, kiwi, blueberry, bilberry, wolfberry, pomegranate, lychee fruit, camu camu, pear, banana, and cupuaçu), I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  I had eaten pretty lightly during the day and was on my way out the door for an evening yoga class.  I figured drinking my juice blend couldn’t hurt and if anything, it would just be a tasty treat before exercising.  But, I had this enormous burst of energy.  My mind felt clear, my breathing was smooth and I wasn’t tired at all.  In fact, I was surprised when my class came to an end.  I felt as if I could go on for hours!  However, when I took my subsequent shots, I didn’t quite get the same effect.  Don’t get me wrong, they still tasted fantastic.  But, I just didn’t feel ‘different’.  I’m not quite sure if I was expecting to feel a significant surge in energy, or if I was expecting the MonaVie Active to transform me into a whole new person.  I just thought this fancy drink was going to do more than just taste fancy.  I emailed Connie to get her opinion and she wasn’t surprised by my reaction.  Her exact words were, “I think because you are a healthy gal to begin with, your body won’t have too many changes, but I can assure you that it is getting exactly what it needs.  Sometimes it takes a few weeks to feel major changes.  Preventative care and wellness should just feel good and normal.”  So true!  I guess I just never looked at it that way.  I thought the MonaVie was going to cast a magical spell on me.  But, when you’re already doing all the right things, the magic’s already there.

All in all, I really enjoyed MonaVie.  It has a unique taste, it’s chock full of fruits I wouldn’t even begin to know where to find and it’s good for me.  While it is a bit on the pricey side, I would recommend it.  Plus, when you know you’re starting your day (I decided to drink it with my breakfast) with something that is high in vitamins and nutrients as this little drink is, it certainly sets a positive tone.  When you start off healthy, you want to continue healthy, and do all the things that will prolong and accentuate that feeling.  Whether that feeling stems from exercising in the morning, having a shot of MonaVie or perhaps a practicing a morning meditation, it all begins with just taking that first step.  And I think we can all drink to that!

*If you’re interested in purchasing MonaVie, or in becoming a distributor of this amazing product (they have some pretty fantastic business opportunities), you can contact Connie through her website or via email at conx123[at]gmail.com

What’s one beauty ritual you must do every day?  What is one food that you swear makes you feel healthy as soon as you consume it?

Namasté,
Nicole

When I started reading healthy/lifestyle blogs, I noticed there were some foods that these bloggers could not stop raving about and could not stop eating.  Among these foods were oatmeal, kale, spinach, pumpkin, beans and nuts.  Nuts were put on just about anything and everything.  I saw them on oatmeal, yogurt, salads, in sandwiches, baked goods, soups, paninis, and stuffed in gourds.  Back then, I liked nuts.  But, I was always afraid of their high calorie content and the fact that I could inhale a pound of them in one sitting.  Now, I’ve grown to fully enjoy all kinds of nuts and have learned to consume them without abusing them.  I’ve become quite fond of raw almonds, walnuts, cashews and even the occasional peanut.  However, pecans didn’t play a role on my grocery shopping list.  I’m not sure why?  I think I just stuck with what I liked and never moved beyond that (remember, I am a creature of habit).  A few weeks ago, that all changed.

Marta from The Pecan Store (a division of The Green Valley Pecan Company) had emailed me asking if I would be interested in sampling some of their prized pecans.  At first, I wasn’t quite sure what to say.  After all, I wasn’t much of a pecan eater.  But once I had the chance to look at their website and learn all the facts about this powerful little nut, I was sold!  Within a few short days, my package arrived from Marta and inside was a half pound of pecan halves.  Wow!  I was shocked!  It was quite a hefty bag to sample, but I certainly wasn’t complaining.  Now, I just had to figure out what I was going to do with all these pecans…

Before I ripped open the bag to sample my little goodies, I took a peek at the informational brochure that came along with my package.  Honestly, I don’t know where I’ve been because I had no idea pecans were this amazing! Check it out:

The latest research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirms pecans are one of the highest antioxidant-rich tree nuts and are ranked in the top category of all foods for antioxidants.

Pecans are a good source of fiber, providing 10% of the Daily Value for fiber in a single serving.

Scientific research at Loma Linda University shows the addition of pecans to the American Heart Association’s Step 1 diet lowered LDL (bad cholesterol) levels more than twice as much as the AHA Step 1 diet alone.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged this and related research and approved the following qualified health claim: “Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pecans, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

After reading all those benefits, I was even more excited to try my pecans.  I can’t believe I’ve been missing out.  Thank you, Marta, for sending me these amazing nuts to sample.  And while I’m grateful for the half pound of pecans, your other products don’t look so bad either (hint, hint).  In fact, they look almost too good to be true: Butter Toffee Pecans, Dark Chocolate Pecan Bark, Arizona Pecan Brittle, Oliver Pecan Amaretto Pecan Honey Butter, San Saba Blackberry Pecan Preserves, Milk Chocolate Pecan Fudge and Oil Kinloch Plantation Pecan Oil.

The pecans were delicious!  They were softer in texture than an almond or walnut but still had a nice, subtle crunch.  They’re rich and buttery in taste and complement both sweet and savory dishes.  In fact, these pecans were so tasty that it didn’t take me too long to get through the entire bag.  Aside from the few handfuls I would grab out of the bag to munch on as a snack, I made some great creations.  Take a look…

Buzzy Spiced Banana Pumpkin Muffins

Sweet Sweet Potato with Cottage Cheese, Raisins, Honey and Pecans

Pumpkin Pie Cake with Dried Cranberries, Pecans and Agave Nectar (inspired by KathEats.com)

Thanksgiving Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese, Dried Cranberries, Chickpeas and Pecans

Sweet Potato Brownies with Coconut, Flaxseeds, Pecans and Walnuts (Say what?  Yup, you heard right.  Stay tuned for the recipe…)

After reviewing and consuming these pecans, I’ve decided that The Pecan Store sells a good nut and that pecans must now become a staple in my kitchen.  Like all nuts, the pecan is versatile.  You can put them on and in just about anything, and whatever you’re eating will taste that much better.  Plus, it’s a great way to get some more protein and healthy fat into your diet.  Pecans have always reminded me of the more decadent desserts such as German chocolate cake, butter pecan ice cream (one of my Dad’s faves), pecan pie, pecan turtle clusters and cinnamon pecan rolls.  Perhaps that’s the reason why they’ve been void from my nut repertoire? But now that I know I can add pecans to foods and still have them be healthy, I guess I was the nut for not trying them sooner!

What’s your favorite nut?  Do you like receiving food as gifts (ex: fruit baskets, Harry & David Gift Towers)?

Namasté,
Nicole

I wouldn’t say I’m an addict.  But, when the aroma of a freshly brewed cup of coffee hits my nose, I just can’t resist.  And when someone offers to buy me a cup of coffee, I don’t usually say no either.  And no matter how I much I want to deny it, I don’t seem to feel quite right in the mornings if I don’t have my hot cup of joe.  For that reason, when Blue from POM Wonderful had contacted me asking if I would be interested in trying some samples of their newest product, POMx™ Iced Coffee, I immediately said yes (thanks Blue)!  Who am I to resist free caffeine?!

Within a few short days, my POMx™ Iced Coffee samples had arrived.  I received all three of the available flavors – chocolate, café au lait and vanilla, along with some additional information on POMx™.  I really had no idea what to expect.  I had never seen or heard of this product and usually get my iced coffee at local coffee shops and franchises.  Thus, I had nothing with which to compare these bottled coffees.  I figured if POM Wonderful was the company behind these free samples I just received, they had to be good and they had to be healthy.

According to the POMx website, their iced coffees contain a super-ingredient, POMx™, which is a 100% natural blend of polyphenol antioxidants that contain all the health benefits of POM Wonderful pomegranates.  In other words, you can get your healthy on as you’re getting your buzz on!  And the coffee that is used in this drink isn’t from just any old beans.  POMx™ only uses “premium Italian-roasted Arabica beans for a delicious, intense, full-bodied coffee.”  In addition, the coffee beans are from “ethically sourced, shade-grown environments, which means the trees haven’t been slashed and burned.  And therefore, the wildlife hasn’t been disrupted.”  So let me get this straight, this coffee is good for me, will give me the boost I need to help get me going and is kind to the environment?  Why am I waiting to try these little goodies?

Chocolate

• Ingredients – nonfat milk, organic cane sugar, POMx (POM Wonderful Pomegranate Antioxidant Extract – patent pending), brewed Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee (water, coffee), erythritol (natural sweetener), cocoa, natural flavors, natural caffeine, carrageenan.
• Nutritional Facts – Serving Size: 1 bottle (10.5 oz), Caffeine: 175mg/10.5 fl. oz, Calories: 190, Calories from Fat: 0, Total Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0g, Sodium: 160mg, Total Carbohydrate: 49g, Fiber: 2g, Sugars: 30g, Sugar Alcohol: 10g, Protein: 10g, Vitamin A: 0%, Vitamin C: 0%, Calcium: 30%, Iron: 8%

The chocolate flavor reminded me of chocolate milk, something I haven’t had in ages.  I remember as a kid I used to squirt chocolate sauce into my milk and make chocolate milk (mine was usually more chocolate than milk).  This iced coffee tasted just like that!  I felt like a kid again drinking this beverage.  I really didn’t get the sense that I was drinking coffee as this tasted more like milk.  It was quite sweet and very dessert-like.  I think this is a coffee I would have as a post-dinner drink versus for my morning shot of caffeine.

Café Au Lait

• Ingredients – reduced-fat milk, brewed Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee (water, coffee), POMx (POM Wonderful Pomegranate Antioxidant Extract – patent pending), organic cane sugar, natural caffeine.
• Nutritional Facts – Serving Size: 1 bottle (10.5 oz), Caffeine: 175mg/10.5 fl. oz, Calories: 170, Calories from Fat: 30, Total Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 15g, Sodium: 130mg, Total Carbohydrate: 29g, Fiber: 0g, Sugars: 20g, Protein: 7g, Vitamin A: 0%, Vitamin C: 0%, Calcium: 25%, Iron: 0%

With the chocolate flavor, I could barely taste the coffee.  With the café au lait flavor, it was all coffee.  Actually, I was quite surprised with the rich coffee taste that was in this beverage.  It tasted like a gourmet iced coffee drink that one might purchase at a coffee shop.  It was smooth and creamy, just what an iced coffee should taste like.  When I first started drinking iced coffee, I would add whole milk, sugar and maybe even a splash of cream.  This reminded me of those days.  It felt very decadent drinking this little delight!

Vanilla

• Ingredients – nonfat milk, brewed Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee (water, coffee), organic cane sugar, erythritol (natural sweetener), POMx (POM Wonderful Pomegranate Antioxidant Extract – patent pending), natural flavors, natural caffeine, carrageenan gum.
• Nutritional Facts – Serving Size: 1 bottle (10.5 oz), Caffeine: 175mg/10.5 fl. oz, Calories: 180, Calories from Fat: 0g, Total Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0g, Sodium: 160mg, Total Carbohydrate: 49g, Fiber: 2g, Sugars: 30g, Sugar Alcohol: 10g, Protein: 10g, Vitamin A: 0%, Vitamin C: 0%, Calcium: 30%, Iron: 8%

The vanilla flavor was also delicious! The coffee flavoring was there, but it wasn’t overly potent.  I felt as though the vanilla tasted like a scoop of melted caramel/vanilla ice cream.  Similar to the chocolate, this drink was again very dessert-like.  I almost wanted to add it to some ice and frozen yogurt and blend it in my blender to make a vanilla milkshake (I just might do that!).  I really enjoyed this flavor and while they were all yummy, this one was my favorite.  It reminded me of the General Foods International Coffee my mother used to buy when I was young.  She would always bring it out whenever company was over, and I would take a sip when she wasn’t looking.  Those sneaky sips of coffee were scrumptious then, and this iced coffee is just as scrumptious now.

Overall, the POMx™ Iced Coffees are very tasty.  Knowing that these little bottled wonders (or ‘wonderfuls’) are not only going to give me the little extra kick I need, but that they are also healthy for me, makes me give this product a thumbs up.  I’m all about killing two birds with one stone, so if I can get my antioxidants in while I’m caffeinating myself, it’s a win-win situation.  However, I do need to state that because I’m a black coffee drinker and a skim milk only iced coffee drinker, the POMx™ Iced Coffees are not something I would normally drink.  They’re a bit too sweet to drink for me as my main source of coffee for the day.  I usually have my coffee as soon as I wake up or right after a sweaty morning yoga class, and having such a sweet beverage as the first thing to consume in the day would not be my choice.  However, I wouldn’t mind drinking this as part of a dessert or to curb my late-day sweet tooth.  Just a few sips is enough to perk me up and to make me not want to go on a cookie hunt.  And that’s always a plus in my book!  I also liked how these coffees allowed me to reminisce my childhood.  I’ve been fascinated by coffee ever since I was a young child, and these iced coffees took me back to those days.  Oh, and in case you were wondering, these iced coffees do NOT taste like pomegranate at all!

While I probably would not replace my usual morning hot coffee or iced coffee with POMx™ Iced Coffee, that doesn’t mean that I won’t have some of these little guys for breakfast.  Huh?  That doesn’t make sense, Healthy Chow!  If you say you’re not going to drink the POMx™ Iced Coffee to start your day, how are you going to have some for breakfast? Easy.  I’m going to cook with the POMx™ Iced Coffee!  I’m going to use it as one of the key ingredients in my breakfast foods.  But just what in the heck are you gonna make, Healthy Chow?

Well, you’re just going have to wait until tomorrow to find out…

Muahahahahahaha…..! (that’s evil laughter, in case you’re wondering…)

What are you looking forward to most this holiday?  What’s your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving?

Namasté,
Nicole

When I first started reading healthy food/lifestyle blogs, I noticed that people really seemed to like their chia seeds.  I had never heard or seen such a thing, except for those Chia Pets, and was puzzled as to why the chia was all the rage.  Then, I read on Allie’s blog that if I was interested in trying some samples, she would put me in touch with the person that could arrange it.  I was sold! This Chow needed to try some chia!

Within a few days, Allie had put me in touch with Diane from Greens Plus and my samples were on their way to Boston.  I couldn’t wait for my goodies to arrive in the mail.  I mean, who doesn’t like getting packages in the mail? Plus, who doesn’t like getting healthy food samples to try in the mail?  Healthy Chow is all over that!

Finally, my Chia seeds arrived! I couldn’t believe what a generous sample Greens Plus had sent me.  Thanks Diane! In addition to the canister of Chia, Diane also sent me a sample of the Greens Plus dietary supplement powder, a Chia single serving stick and a brochure filled with any information I would need to know about Chia seeds and about Greens Plus’ products.  It was like Christmas for your girl.  I was jumping up and down like a child for Chia…hehehehe!

According to my vat of seeds:

Chia (pronounced chee’ah) is the richest and only unprocessed, whole food source of pure Omega³.  A member of the mint family, Chia is native to Central America and has been used traditionally for over 3,000 years.  Ancient Aztec warriors prized Chia as an endurance promoting Superfood, eating it in bread just before battle, and drinking it in water before running long distances.

Due to its high fiber content, Chia seed absorbs up to ten times its weight in water, making it an excellent source of hydration.  Omega³ Chia’s soluble fiber forms a gel that slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, binds it to toxins in the digestive system, and helps eliminate waste.

Omega³ Chia is especially rich in essential fatty acids and high-ORAC antioxidants like quercetin, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid.  As a result, Omega³ Chia seeds maintain a 99% sprout rate and have a shelf life of up to 5 years.  Omega³ Chia seeds are rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, many trace minerals and biologically complete protein, making them the perfect survival food.  Omega³ Chia is organically-grown, certified kosher and is pesticide, herbicide, gluten and GMO-free.

Holy smokes!  For something as small as the head of a pin, Omega³ Chia seeds really give you a whole lotta bang for your buck.  When I was reading the facts and benefits of the Omega³ Chia seeds, I was overwhelmed by how wonderful these little creatures are and finally just had to try them.  For something as powerful and healthy as the Chia seed, I thought there was no way that they could actually taste good.

Gong! I was wrong again!  These seeds don’t taste bad and they don’t taste good.  Actually, there really isn’t a taste to the Omega³ Chia seeds.  They are a tad crunchy and may get stuck in your teeth, but there really isn’t a taste or an aftertaste.  Being that they are a blackish-grey in color and resemble little bugs, I was a bit nervous to try my new food sample.  I knew I wanted to test the Chia seeds in something safe and something that I knew had already been tried in the blogosphere.  While my selection was unoriginal, it certainly was a traditional one.  For my first meal/recipe made with my Chia seeds, I chose the green monster smoothie.

Green Monster Smoothie with Chia Seeds - 1 frozen banana, 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, a handful of baby spinach and 1 TSP of Omega³ Chia seeds

I figured whirling them in my blender along with my smoothie ingredients would be a pretty risk-less first way to try these little guys out.  I couldn’t taste the Chia seeds at all.  Like the spinach in a green monster smoothie, all you can taste is the banana and a hint of the almond milk.  But knowing that I was getting a good dose of antioxidants, nutrients and omega³’s was enough for me to want to add these seeds to my list of staple ingredients for smoothie making.  It was delicious and gave the smoothie a thicker than usual consistency.  Because I let the Chia seeds sit in the almond milk in the blender for a few minutes before blending, the seeds began forming their gel and added to the chewy consistency of the smoothie.

My next dish I made with the Chia seeds was another blogosphere favorite.  I decided to make protein pancakes.  I love breakfast, anytime of the day, and oatmeal takes the crown.

Protein Pancakes with Oatmeal and Chia Seeds - 1/3 cup of dry oatmeal (quick oats), 1/4 cup of egg whites, 1/2 of a mashed banana, 1/2 TSP of baking powder, 1/4 cup of unsweetened almond breeze, 1/2 TBSP of Omega³ Chia seeds, cinnamon and salt.  Add everything into a bowl and then let it sit for 5 minutes.  Add the mixture to your blender and blend until smooth.  Cook on stovetop like a pancake.

I mixed my usual ingredients for my protein pancakes and then added a sprinkling of Chia.  The result was fabulous! Again, the seeds didn’t add any additional flavor to the pancakes.  However, you could see some subtle black specs.  But the best part was that these pancakes kept me full for four hours – which is rare in Healthy Chow’s world.  I topped my pancakes with some maple syrup, but you could also use nut butter (for more protein), applesauce or fresh fruit.  Delicious, nutritious and filling – that’s a winner in my book (or blog)!

After seeing pics of fruit paired with Chia like here, here and here, I knew I just had to give it a try.  Fruit is one of my snacks I try to turn to midday or after dinner when I am craving something sweet.  Why not make a healthy snack even healthier?

Chia Seed Topped Apple and Ricotta - 1 sliced Gala apple, 2 TBSP of nonfat ricotta cheese and 1 TSP of Omega³ Chia seeds

I’ll admit my version wasn’t as fancy (or labor intensive) as the versions I mentioned previously, but it tasted great.  I made this one night as I was craving something cold and sweet but didn’t have want ice cream or frozen yogurt.  This was a fantastic and nutritious call! The Omega³ Chia seeds served as a crunchy topping to my apple and was a nice contrast to my creamy ricotta cheese.

And what kind of a food blogger would I be if I didn’t incorporate Chia seeds into a bowl of hot oats? I love oatmeal (I think I’ve said that already, more than once) and I could have it for every meal, every single day of the week.  It’s just such a comforting and simple food to prepare.  I like to say it’s like a hug for my stomach !

Asian Inspired Chia Oats – 1/2 cup of oatmeal, 1 cup of water, 1 heaping TBSP of freshly grated ginger, 1/2 TBSP of Omega³ Chia seeds, 2 TSP of soy sauce and a handful of frozen peas

I whipped this little diddy up the other day as an homage to my Chinese grandmothers.  Also, I knew my sister would love it!  When we were growing up, our grandmothers would make us oatmeal (but in a more porridge-like consistency) with thin slices of beef, ginger and soy sauce.  It was one of our favorites and brings back so many fond memories.  We were often given this dish to eat for lunch but I could really eat it any time of the day.  It’s a great snack and a quick hot and healthy dinner.  The freshly grated ginger is the star ingredient in this dish; be sure to use the fresh stuff.  My oats were so fragrant and warmed my belly from the inside out with the spiciness of the ginger.  I added some frozen peas to give this dish some sweetness and to give it some color.  The Omega³ Chia seeds made the oatmeal thick and chewy and gave it the gelatinous texture that I love.  While a bowl of sweet oatmeal is always welcome, savory oats really seem to take me home! Wouldn’t you agree, Sarah?

After making all those fast and easy dishes with the Omega³ Chia seeds, I decided to kick it up a notch and bake with my Chia.  Since I still had a bunch of apples left from my apple picking adventure, I decided to bake something that involved both apples and Chia.  I decided to make a hearty apple oatmeal bread.  Again, I had to involve oatmeal, because really, I feel it is the perfect food.  So why not incorporate it into everything?

Hearty and Healthy Apple Oatmeal Bread with Raisins and Chia Seeds - oatmeal, whole wheat and AP flour, apples, raisins, Omega³ Chia seeds, egg whites, applesauce and agave nectar

According to the Greens Plus Chia Seed bottle, “one tsp. of Chia seed mixed in 2 oz. of water becomes the perfect egg substitute.”  Instead of using a whole egg in my bread recipe, I used a teaspoon of Chia seeds mixed in water.  It helped to make the bread moist and added to the already chewy oatmeal texture.  This truly was a healthy bread!  It was thick, hearty and delicious.  I warmed a slice in the microwave and added a schmear of buttery spread and it was a heavenly breakfast with my cup of hot coffee.  I’ll post the entire recipe for this bread tomorrow…so stay tuned!

If you couldn’t already tell, I <3 oatmeal and I <3 these Omega³ Chia seeds! Thank you, Greens Plus and Diane for sending me the samples and thank you, Allie for hooking this up!  I really enjoyed how the Chia could be mixed into anything and everything and really wouldn’t affect the taste of the food.  Plus, being able to sprinkle the Chia seeds right from the canister and not having to grind them (like flaxseeds) is another benefit.  The seeds are rich in nutrients and really do pack a punch.  Not to be too graphic, but after having a hot bowl of oats with a teaspoon of Chia, I am ready to go, if you catch my drift.  The fiber in these little babies really work fast and seem almost magical (I guess that’s part of their ancient mystique!).  The gel that forms may seem a bit odd for some, but I actually quite liked it.  It gives foods a thicker and richer consistency without adding the extra weight.  And to think the only thing I could associate with the word ‘chia’ was those terracotta heads, makes me think I have an ex’seed’ingly amount of things to learn.

What’s your favorite superfood?  Do you take any supplements or vitamins?  Do you remember the first food blog you ever read?

Namasté,
Nicole

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of helping Jim Broderick, the founder and president of NEFS Products, Inc., the company that makes Teather™.  If you remember my post from a month or so ago, Teather™ is a dried whole fruit and white tea snack that is packed with beneficial phytonutrients.  Not only are the ingredients in Teather™ organic, but Teather™ comes in exotic and delicious flavors such as Strawberry Pomegranate, Mango Goji Citrus and Berry Cherry Açaí.  I’m a huge fan of Teather and really appreciate the vision that Jim has for his company and his products.  That said, when Jim asked if I would be interested in assisting him in a product demonstration at a local gourmet grocery store, I said, “You want me to chat it up with people and spread the word on Teather™?  What a great opportunity!  What could be better?”  And then Jim told me that as long as I spoke in rhyme, was there on time and wasn’t quiet like a mime, I had the job.  (OK, that’s not true.  I just had a good time writing that and thought you’d appreciate it)

The event where Teather™ was going to be displayed was customer appreciation day at Pemberton Farms.  Pemberton Farms was celebrating their 10 year anniversary and wanted to commemorate this special occasion by having an in store party and BBQ for their customers.  The event was free, welcomed all and was a great opportunity for Pemberton Farms’ vendors to meet and greet the customers and provide tastings of their products.  Because Jim was scheduled to do another promotional event at the same time as the party at Pemberton Farms, I was lucky enough to step in and offer my assistance.  If given the chance (or a soapbox)  to talk about some of her favorite things, Healthy Chow is more than eager to oblige.  Plus, being that Jim is so passionate and excited about his labor of love, it’s hard to not want a share of that contagious enthusiasm.

While the weather on the day of the event was rather gloomy, the mood inside the store was bright and full of energy.  Because the ever-so-wonderful Patrick dropped me off on the earlier side (Healthy Chow likes to take her take time getting the lay of the land), I was able to walk around a bit and see what made Pemberton Farms so unique.  The store was absolutely beautiful!  I think I could have spent hours just wandering around the store staring at the gourmet food, reading the labels on all the fancy items and touching all of the fresh and local produce.  The store was tastefully decorated with an autumnal theme, but it was the allure of all the unique products (not to mention the mouthwatering desserts from the bakery and the amazing looking prepared dishes in the hot case) that made me feel as if I was in food heaven.  But, I was on the clock and had a job to do.  So, it was off to work I went!

Glooooommmyyyy…

Check out all that fruit!

I love how neat and tidy everything is!

Veggies galore…

The Teather™ display

Now that’s a lot of Bob’s!

Oh baked good, how I love you…!

Nut butter nirvana…

Bzzzz bzzzz…

Hot!

Quinoa polenta?  Never seen this before!

Kombucha krazy!

After setting-up the Teather™ table with help from Jim, I was ready to go.  Jim was kind enough to stop by my event to make sure I had everything I needed before making his way across town to his.  Like I said previously, to say he’s a dedicated individual is a huge understatement.  I was glad to have the time to chat with Jim as he gave me a few pointers and some things to look out for while demoing his product.  But after a few short minutes (and no, I’m not referring to my height), Jim had to leave and it was just me and the fruit (and no, I don’t mean the customers!).  While the poor weather seemed to give the customers a slow start on arriving at the party, the ones that did get to Pemberton Farms on time were quite eager to see just what was in store for them (lame pun intended).

Teeing up for some Teather™

Within an hour, the room where the vendors were situated really started to fill up.  Because I was lucky enough to be stationed right next to the Chilly Cow Frozen Custard, probably the starlet of the event, the area surrounding the Teather™ table received some terrific traffic (wow, that was a lot of ‘T’s!).  Because the Chilly Cow product resembled that of ice cream, a free sample was certainly something that everyone wanted.  However, as they were slurping down their frozen treats, I managed to call them over to the Teather™ table to sample a snack that was also sweet, but in a much more natural and organic fashion.

The patrons were intrigued by the dried whole fruit snack samples I was offering and wanted to know what made Teather™ so unique.  I gladly informed them of some of the interesting properties of Teather™ and assured them that if they tried it, they would instantly know what made Teather so extraordinary.  With just one taste of the fruit strip (actually, some wanted to try out all of the flavors), people were instantly pleased and impressed.  While most had never heard of the product, they definitely were surprised to see that so much flavor and so many nutritious benefits could be derived from such a tiny thing.  Plus, like me, they were pleased to see that Teather™ was locally made and designed with the goal to “improve the healthfulness of snack foods.”  I think because Teather is made from all natural and organic ingredients, people automatically assumed that it wasn’t going to be something that tasted good.  However, because the sample was free and they had nothing to lose by having a taste, their guard was brought down but then their spirits were immediately brought back up.  The taste of Teather™ is alive; you can truly savor all of the nutrients that come to life in this tiny snack.

Getting set-up…

The starlet

Some Chilly Cow for Healthy Chow!

There’s just something about a free sample…

Who can resist some hot pasta?

Being able to be the frontwoman for Teather™ was certainly an experience I won’t soon forget.  I thoroughly enjoyed talking to the public and introducing them to a product that is local, healthy and delicious.  When you are passionate about a product and honestly believe in the benefits that it can provide, it’s not difficult to promote it and to want others to understand your adoration.  In addition, when you love what you are promoting and selling, your words are not forced and what you say comes from the heart because it is the truth.  It no longer is considered work because promoting a product for which you truly have passion is something you want to do.  My afternoon at Pemberton Farms was just a sample of what it feels like to stand behind a company and product that I honestly admire, and that is something of which I wish I had more.

Is there a product you sampled that made you want to buy or that basically sold you?  What product do you love and have no trouble standing behind?

Namasté,
Nicole

I love yoga.  If you’ve been reading my blog for some time now, you’ll know that I find it to be the cat (cow pose)’s meow or the (downward facing) dog’s bark.  I’ve learned so much from the extraordinary teachers at my studio, as well as from my own daily practice.  It’s truly amazing how much insight one can gain from stretching, breathing and sweating in a hot yoga room for 90 minutes, 6-7 days a week, 26 – 28 times a month.  See I told you, I’m in love with yoga!

While I’ve learned so much about my body and mind and have been eternally inspired by the words of wisdom that are constantly spoken in class, I’ve also been influenced by some of my teachers’ nutritional and dietary habits.  For example, I’ve tasted a faux cheesecake made from yogurt, dates and nuts.  I’ve discovered the deliciousness of pure coconut water.  I’ve learned about the benefits one can receive from doing a cleanse.  I receive a monthly newsletter from the studio’s shiatsu masseuse, who is also a nutritional counselor.  And finally, I watched my yoga teacher open a bottle of kombucha while teaching class and saw it explode as if it were a bottle shaken-up champagne (a bottle of stinky shaken-up champagne!)

We were both startled and humored by the beverage explosion in class.  At first, I thought my teacher had opened a bottle of seltzer water.  The way the beverage fizzed out of control made me think it was some sort of carbonated beverage.  However, once the smell of the kombucha hit my nose, I knew it was like no drink I have ever seen or drank before in my life.

Image Credits – arizonafoothillsmagazine.com

Just what the fark was it?  It came in a glass bottle, it had junk floating in the bottom, it definitely had to be opened with care and it smelled like rotten juice.  When class was over, I quickly ran to my teacher to find out just what in fact her explosion in a bottle was.  She told me it was kombucha, or what some might call fermented tea.  Then she told me that it was a raw drink and contained living cultures.  After that interesting answer, I asked her if she liked the taste of her kombucha and she paused.  She said, “well, I like it.  But, it’s not for everyone.  I like what it does for me, more so than the taste.  But it does taste good…now…”  I left that conversation a bit confused, but more so intrigued by this little wonder drink.

Image Credits – guerillahealthwatch.wordpress.com

This is how kombucha can be made at home…(not my home)

When I was at the grocery store a few days following the mishap in class, I found the same kind of kombucha.  It was in the natural food aisle/department and my first impression was that it was mighty expensive.  For a 16 oz. bottle of this stuff, the price was just a shade under $4.  But when I looked at the bottle and saw all the benefits that this little elixir could provide, $4 sounded like a bargain!

According to the bottle -

Kombucha supports:
Digestion, metabolism, immune system, appetite control, weight control, liver function, body alkalinity, anti-aging, cell integrity, healthy skin & hair

During the culturing process (which is 30 days), essential nutrients like active enzymes, viable probiotics, amino acids, antioxidants and polyphenols all form and combine to create an elixir that immediately works with the body to restore balance and vitality.

After reading the fun facts on the bottle, I was convinced that I had to try and buy a bottle of GT’s Organic Raw Kombucha.  There was an original flavor, as well as a citrus flavor.  I opted for the citrus thinking it might make the drink a bit more palatable.  Plus, I liked the fact that the bottle had a bright yellow logo (Healthy Chow is a sucker for the little things).

When I arrived home, I immediately put my new bevvie in the fridge.  I didn’t drink it just yet because well, I was sort of scared.  The smell from the explosion in yoga class was the only thing I could think about.  But after a few days had passed, I finally bit the bullet.  Yesterday, I ‘kombucha-ed’.  And let me tell you something, it had me ka-powed!

Even though my kombucha was sitting idle in my fridge for a few days before I attempted to drink it, I opened it slowly and with precaution.  It’s a good thing that I did because as soon as I turned the cap, bubbles started forming and the kombucha started foaming out.  I quickly had to tighten the cap in order to shutdown anymore from spilling out.  When I finally got the cap off, the smell that came out was so pungent, I thought I had opened a bottle of sweaty gym socks.  WOW!  And, I haven’t even taken a sip yet.

Check out all those bubbles – it’s alive!

Sniff, sniff…

My first sip was a small one, but the taste was nothing but huge.  Holy crap on a cracker!  The citrus flavored GT’s Organic Raw Kombucha tasted like a cross between a ginger ale, beer and some booze that my grandmother used to rub on wounds and bruises, but one that had been sitting in the hot heat for days decaying.  In addition, there were some brown floaties at the bottom of the bottle that seemed to be alive.  According to their website, those floaties are strands of kombucha culture and are perfectly fine to drink.  OK, I guess I’ll just have to take their word for it!

First sip…

My face after the first sip…

Yeah, now you know what I mean about the floaties…

After a few more sips, I started liking the taste.  It was fizzy, bold and refreshing.  Then, I had to look to see if there was any alcohol in the drink because I was starting to feel a tad woozy (that may have been a figment of my imagination).  According to Wiki, ‘Kombucha contains ethyl alcohol in amounts that vary from 0.5% to 1.5%’.  It wasn’t a beverage that I wanted to chug down; it was something that I wanted to sip.  Like a cup of tea or hot water, I can see it accompanying me throughout the day and as something I would use to give me that much needed late afternoon boost.

Pictures of Healthy Chow feeling ‘tipsy’ from her kombucha

I also noticed that after about 10 minutes of drinking some of my kombucha, I no longer was hungry.  Before I opened the bottle, I was feeling a little empty in my stomach and as if I needed a snack.  This drink totally curbed my appetite! I know it claims ‘appetite control’ on the bottle, but I wasn’t sure if that was going to happen.  Oddly enough, I was no longer seeking carbs or becoming my alter ego, Snacky McSnackerton (you probably thought I was going to say ‘Healthy Chow’).  Also, and this might be TMI, but my lower stomach started churning and burning, if you catch my drift.  I guess that must be the probiotics kicking in?  Now I wonder what this little bottle of fabu is going to do for my hair and skin?  I guess I’ll have to wait to find out.

“She likes it, she really, really, likes it!”

All in all, I give GT’s Organic Raw Kombucha a thumbs up, way up (and I said a ‘thumb’, not the middle finger).  I’ve read online and heard from some others that they just can’t seem to stomach this stuff because of the distinct taste and smell.  But I think if you try not to focus on that and remember all the good that this drink can provide for you, you just might want to ‘kombucha’ like me.  I liken my experience with kombucha to the first time I tried vinyasa/power yoga.  When I walked in, the room was steamy, it smelled like sweat, there were people sweating on me, holding all those poses for so many counts made me want to toss my cookies, there were people moaning as if they were in pain, my muscles ached for days afterward in places I never knew had muscles and it’s expensive.  However, once you get over all of the superficial things, you can see the beauty.  Kombucha may not taste like a cold glass of freshly made lemonade, but then again lemonade can’t do any of the things kombucha can.  And hot yoga might not be as easy as pie, but then again, pie won’t detoxify your body and cleanse your mind.

Thumbs way up!

So, are you ready to kombucha?

‘Don’t cha wish your beverage was hot like kombucha?  Don’t cha wish your beverage was a freak like kombucha?  Don’t cha?…’

What’s the weirdest food/drink you’ve ever tried?  Would you eat/drink something just because it was good for you and not for the taste?

Namasté,
Nicole