Lilveggiepatch » product review

Nutty for Maranatha

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:33:08 +0000

As most blog readers and writers are aware, the mere mention of “nut butter” is enough to throw us into a tizzy. I remember enjoying the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I brought for lunch in kindergarten (despite being made soggy by my frozen juice box), but now it’s a whole new story. Oats in a Jar! Peanut powder! Almond butter cookies! Dried fruit smeared with chocolate hazelnut spread! The list goes on, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When Allie contacted me to to see if I’d like to review MaraNatha nut butters for the blog, I didn’t even blink before replying with an (overly) enthusiastic message back. My first taste of almond butter was Maranatha brand, in college, and since then I’ve never looked back.

About Maranatha:

Maranatha® Nut Butters was founded in 1982, in Ashland, Oregon, by the husband and wife team of Robert and Chris Plotnik. As one of the first natural food distributors in America, the Plotniks started by delivering dried fruit from the California Central Valley to small natural food stores in Oregon and Washington. As their distribution company grew, the entrepreneurial Plotniks began experimenting with manufacturing their own products themselves – leading to specialty peanut and nut butters.

After a series of successful nut grinding trials, the Plotniks decided to take their micro-batch butters on the road, distributing them along with their other goods. They were an instant hit.

As the Maranatha line grew in popularity, they decided to get out of the distribution business altogether and concentrate all their energy on crafting nut and seed butters. One of their first innovations was the development of a special process that brings out more flavor while making the butter extra creamy.

Today, Maranatha is one of the nation’s leading makers of organic and natural nut butters, growing about 20% to 30% annually over the last three years.

Allie sent me two jars of their new, No Stir products: No Stir Creamy Peanut Butter and No Stir Creamy Almond Butter.

No Stir Creamy Peanut Butter

My review: So smooth! It’s sweet and salty (they use both cane sugar and sea salt), with a great light grainy texture.

Dad’s review: Mmm, it s good! Tastes kind of whipped and creamy.

Ari’s review: My favorite of the “weird” peanut butters you’ve made me taste so far.

No Stir Creamy Almond Butter

My review: So creamy and smooth! Sort of like sliding into a warm bath.

Dad’s review: Very creamy, not as intense as I thought it would be. I hesitate to offer a criticism, though, because it’s still really good. Gentle.

Ari’s review: Mmm, very good, but PB will always remain champion.

Although both No Stir labels recommend refrigerating the jars after opening, I keep them in the pantry and haven’t found them to be overly oily at all.

In the package the company included a coupon to use for any other Maranatha product, so I went for the…

Creamy and Roasted Cashew Butter

My review: This is sweet, roasted and creamy. It’s perfectly salted and just sweet enough. I learned to love cashews from the babysitter I had growing up, and I like eating them in new ways like this! The first time I tried cashew butter was when Melissa sent me a secret Santa package with chocolate covered cashew butter sandwiches, and we’ve had it stocked in the fridge from the co-op ever since! (Ari doesn’t know he tasted this as well, but I made him a peanut butter cup with cashew butter when we ran out of peanut… he loved it!)

The most obvious way I used the nut butters was in oatmeal. It really makes the colors pop!

But there’s no end to the list of ways to use them. In yogurt messes…

On toast…

In desserts…

In crazy breakfast creations…

I found it made the already smooth breakfast cookie that much creamier.

From the Maranatha website: Why are nuts so good for you?

Nuts are such an excellent source of protein that they are put in the meat category of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid.

Nuts contain no cholesterol, and are good sources of minerals and nutrients.

Nuts are also typically high in the “good” kinds of fat. Some nuts can even lower levels of harmful LDL cholesterol.

The FDA has identified polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats as “good” fats for cholesterol health. The fats in nuts are overwhelmingly of these two types.

Recent Major Health-Related Nut Studies:*

Physician’s Health Study of 22,000 men, Iowa Women’s Health Study of 40,000 women, and the Harvard Nurses Health Study of 86,000 women. One conclusion that all of these studies shared was that nut consumption lowered the incidence of heart disease. (Click Here for Details)

A study of 31,000 Seventh Day Adventists conducted by Loma Linda University in California discovered that not only did eating nuts lower the risk of heart disease, but surprisingly, also helped participants to keep their weight down. It is speculated that the “good” fat in nuts helps to satisfy appetites, so that people can manage to trim other possible calories throughout the day. (Click Here for Details)

Studies at both Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health concluded that people on a Mediterranean-style diet, one that is moderate in fat intake, were more successful in keeping weight off for longer than their counterparts on a traditional low fat diet. The participants in the Mediterranean group substituted their usual saturated fat foods such as butter, certain dressings and sauces, with mono and polyunsaturated fats such as nut butters, nuts, and healthy oils. (Click Here for Details)

Heart Health, Nuts, & the FDA:

Multiple large-scale studies in recent years are pointing to the conclusion that nuts are extremely beneficial to good health. The claims for certain nuts range from reducing heart disease risks, facilitating weight loss, to lowering the prevalence of Adult Type 2 diabetes. In July 2003, the FDA approved the first qualified health claim for a food. The claim can be used on package labels and states:

“Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of some nuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Bottom line: Would I purchase these? Yes! They’re delicious, affordable (each jar retails for about $5), and a great source of protein and healthy fat. In fact, though I’ve never been a macadamia lover myself, I’ve got my eye on a jar of Maranatha Macadamia Nut Butter… hope I can track it down!

Want two score your own jars of Maranatha? The company is giving away two sets of two coupons to two lucky winners in the US & Canada. Here are three ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment about your favorite way to use nut butter.

2. Link back to this contest on your blog, if you have one.

3. Tweet this: @Lilveggiepatch is hosting a Maranatha giveaway! http://bit.ly/asEfm7

I will pick a winner on Saturday, March 6. Good luck!

And the winners are….

Ada: You are such a lucky gal to get those Maranatha products! Glad you enjoyed them and thanks for the extremely thorough review:)

JW: In oats or of course PB sammies!

Congratulations! Please e-mail me your addresses.

iHerb Review and Giveaway!

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:03:18 +0000

A few weeks ago I was contacted by iHerb, a vitamin, supplement, and health food superstore. The website is straightforward and without frills, but they have everything. Seriously. While it’s affordable to shop there, I could spend hours adding things to my cart and end up in the poorhouse! Luckily, iHerb offered me a $50 shopping spree to use however I wished, and they have generously offered the same deal for one of you!

I used my $50 for items I’ve wanted to try for a long time but haven’t wanted to break the bank for: Macadamia Nut Oil, Maca Powder, Almond Flour, Hempseed and Sauerkraut.

My order arrived promptly and came with two samples or vitamins and superfood powder. I was excited to use my items to make dishes I’d been lusting after for awhile; all week, I’ve been cooking, baking, and experimenting.

Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour

A few days ago, I used this almond flour to make Elana’s Gluten-Free Rye Bread. The bread was light, fluffy, and moist… and three days later, it still tastes just as fresh as it did when it came out of the oven! I’ve never experienced this with bread before, and I don’t know if it’s because of the almond meal (which you can’t taste at all) or the recipe. Either way, I’m excited to use this again!

NOW Organic Macadamia Nut Oil and Nutiva Organic Shelled Hempseed

I’d been curious about both of these items for a while, but the reason I finally bought them was so I could make a “real” S+M salad once I can afford the Rosemary Quackers again. The oil brought a rich nuttiness to the dressing, and the hemp seeds had great texture (firm but also slightly soft and chewy) and added another nutty layer to the salad. You can bet you’ll see both of these on LVP in the future!

Eden Foods Organic Sauerkraut

When I was little, I loathed this hot-dog topper. I don’t know if it’s because seeing it near the open-air condiments grossed me out or I just didn’t like the smell, but now I’m kind of obsessed. Sauerkraut great to eat with salads or on its own as a snack.

Navitas Naturals Maca Powder

Based on what I can tell from your comments, we’ve all been curious about just what maca is, exactly. What is it from? How is it used?

Maca root has been used in indigenous Andean societies as a source of nourishment and healing for thousands of years. This bag contains 100% pure raw maca powder that is certified organic, kosher, vegan and raw. Studies have identified four alkaloids present in maca known to nourish the endocrine system. Maca root has been used as a stress-fighting adaptogen to increase stamina, boost libido and combat fatigue. Maca is a nutrient-dense whole food packed with vitamins, plant sterols as well as many essential minerals, fatty and amino acids.

So far I’ve tried it sprinkled on toast and sweet potatoes, but it can be used in almost anything: smoothies, cereal, yogurt, baked goods… Like many superfoods, it’s quite versatile.

Want to win a $50 shopping spree to iHerb? The contest is open to US residents only. Here are three ways to enter; each gives you one entry.

1. Visit the iHerb website and let me know how you would spend your $50.

2. If you have a blog, link back to this post.

3. If you use Twitter, tweet @Lilveggiepatch is hosting an @iHerb giveaway! http://bit.ly/bvQQRi. Then leave another comment letting me know you did.

I will pick a winner on Sunday, February 28 at 6 PM. Good luck!

*Save $5 on all iHerb orders by entering code SEJ007 at checkout.

Thanks again, iHerb! I’ll definitely be shopping again soon.

Updated 3/1/2010: We have a winner!

Nicole G sad: Such an awesome giveaway.

I’d surely like to try Maca, it seems pretty intriguing. I also would love to try some of the NuStevia and NuNaturals products – I’ve seen them all over the blogosphere. And definitely a selection of the yogi teas.

Oh and maybe some kashi products. Apparently $50 would be gone in 3 minutes with me LOL

Congratulations, Nicole! Please e-mail me your address.

For those of you still interested in iHerb, enter code SEJ007 at checkout for a $5 coupon!

Soft Serve Heaven: Tour of The Lite Choice

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:58:33 +0000

This morning I had the pleasure of taking a two hour tour of The Lite Choice at their 95th and Broadway location.

When Claudia, the Director of Operations at The Lite Choice, contacted me about taking a “taste the difference” tour of their store, I jumped at the chance. As you probably know, I’m a huge fan of The Lite Choice, and have gone there on many, many occasions in the past six months! On one of the coldest days this winter, my dad even trekked out into the cold to pick up a cup for me.

As soon as I arrived. I was greeted by Claudia who handed me a cup of hot chocolate to warm up. Their hot chocolate is only 130 calories, low fat, and made without preservatives, additives or corn syrup. The best part? It only costs 99 cents!

Guess who I spotted on the wall? Looks like Missy has been here!

Once Dori (whom I met a couple weeks ago after the NYRR 4M GridIron race) arrived, Claudia began the tour by explaining a little about the company. Many of The Lite Choice stores in New York are former Tasti D Lites. The president and CEO, Ron Greenstein, wanted to create a healthier alternative to other soft-serve companies that rely on artificial ingredients to keep their calories down. There are currently 30 locations, 16 of which in New York. They’re even opening a shop in Montreal!

They frequently participate in auctions and benefits, donating coupons and soft serve to raise money for the community. All of the corporate-owned stores use green cleaning products, and they’re hoping to incorporate biodegradable spoons and plastic bags into their business soon. Their goal? To become the “Greenest and Cleanest” company in New York.

It is also certified Kosher.

Each TLC store has 4-6 flavors readily available.

Most of the flavors have a Chocolate or French Vanilla base; see the nutritional information.

You can also have any flavor you want, any time! There are 70 readily available flavors, 51 of which are USDA-certified organic. 64 flavors are gluten-free, and they’re working on improving those last 6 flavors. The soft serve is sweetened with beet and cane sugars; no extra sugar is added. (You can find the nutritional information for each flavor online.)

First, you start with a soft-serve base.

Add your all-natural flavoring, which has pre-calibrated portions so you don’t get more than you bargained for.

Then it gets mixed up…

… and voila! Your flavor of choice, right at your finger tips. One of the flavors Dori and I tried was Chocolate-Covered Strawberry, created for Valentine’s Day. Hazelnut Fudge was also a big hit… almost like Nutella!

And unlike some “other” soft serve companies, The Lite Choice’s flavors actually taste like what you ordered, because it’s made up of those ingredients. Almond butter soft serve? Made from real almond butter! Chocolate-hazelnut fudge? Made from real (fat free!) fudge!

(The almond and peanut butters are for sale; the chocolate sauce is so addicting that there are customers who come in and order containers of it straight!)

You can order protein shakes made with whey protein powder.

I sampled a strawberry banana shake (my favorite flavor of smoothie)… so good! I wish I knew about these earlier.

Dori tried Cookies ‘n Cream, and couldn’t stop raving about it.

They also make B Vitamin shakes and Coffee Freezes. Claudia was pretty excited about the Coffee Freeze- she was sipping one when I arrived- and made one for us to try. It’s made with Kosher Colombian coffee, and tasted much better than a Frappuccino.

We also tried a hot fudge sundae with roasted peanuts and almonds. Yes, it was as good as it looks. Move over, Dairy Queen!

There are all kinds of toppings you can add to your treat, including Cinnamon Puffins! (This is delicious with the Almond Butter flavor.)

The Lite Choice sells a variety of snacks to go, including 10 flavors of soft serve bars.

They also make single-serving slices of cake (which I may have just eaten for dessert!), soft serve sandwiches, and gorgeous full-size cakes. I want to get one of these for my next birthday!

Become a fan on Facebook and follow The Lite Choice on Twitter for daily promo codes (free toppings, free bottles of water, upgrade a size, buy-one-get-one-free, etc.) and giveaways.

Thanks to Claudia and Ron for their generosity! I can’t wait to get back to The Lite Choice for another hit

Have you been to The Lite Choice? What is your favorite flavor? Mine is Almond Butter!

18 Rabbits Product Review

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:31:08 +0000

Howdy, friends! I have a treat for you today by way of a rave review of 18 Rabbits‘ granola bars.

A week or so ago, I received this adorable package from the nice gals and guys over at 18 Rabbits with a sampling of their five granola bars. I’d seen these all over the blogs (and lusted over them in the checkout aisle at Dean & Deluca) and fell head over heels in love with their snazzy packaging and quirky flavors. I couldn’t wait to try these bad boys out!

A little about the country, written by Alison Vercruysse, the founder of 18 Rabbits:

It all started down a gravel road in Farmers Branch, Texas in the kitchen of Two Lost Valley Lane. I liked to play outside with my four brothers and sisters and our rabbit, Blackjack, while Mom watched from the kitchen where she made her special granola.

On days Mom made granola, the aroma of oats, coconut, honey and nuts wafted through the house and out the windows, and we’d all leave off playing and head inside. One day we ran off and forgot Blackjack, leaving him to a rabbit rendezvous. Soon he had a family of 18, and our yard was hopping with more rabbits than we knew what to do with!

I created my own recipe for 18 Rabbits granola because I like for people to feel good—the kind of good that comes from enjoying the most delicious, most nutritious food. Like the way your favorite childhood memory gives you a spring in your step, wherever it comes to you—even as you head down a busy city street far away from where you grew up. Eat some and see where it takes you.

—

I tried to pick a favorite bar, but they were each so different and interesting that it was impossible to choose!

Funky Figs and Cherries

I love the sweet figs and the cherries. I like that this, like many 18 Rabbits bars, uses both hazelnuts and walnuts! Perfect amount of dark chocolate.

18 Rabbits Nibble A Sultana

There’s an almost smoky flavor here. It’s softer than some of the other bars; this flavor reminds me of the Koka Moka-flavored Pro Bar. I like the variety of nuts, seeds and dark chocolate.

Ari’s review: The first bite tasted like a cardboard bx, but as I chewed it I realized I actually really like it. It’s not a Reese’s cup, but I like it. And the “box-y” taste makes me feel healthy.

18 Rabbits Belle Bananas Foster

This flavor reminds me of a Kind bar. It breaks well; would be great crumbled over yogurt. It’s both hard and chewy. The banana flavor doesn’t overpower. It could be a little softer, but it feels heartier this way.

Cheeky Cherry Chocolate

This flavor reminds me of a Super Charge Me! cookie, and of the Whole Foods granola bars I love so much. It’s sweet, but not overly so, with the perfect amount of chocolate. I love the tart cherries and the deep dark chocolate.

Haute Diggity Date

Mmm! You can really taste the ooey gooey dates here. They pair perfectly with the pecans! Not too sweet, as I’d expected it might be.

—

Bottom line: I love these. I love the granola they use in the bars–there are two: Veritas Granola with hazelnut, walnut, flax & cacao nibs; and Gracias Granola with pecan, almond and maple, which you can also buy as is. I love the interesting flavors, the variety of tastes and textures. I love that they’re made with 91% organic ingredients (read about why they’re not 100% organic here) and source local ingredients. There’s something for (almost) everyone: the bars are all wheat and/or dairy free and certified Kosher. They’re also certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council! And most importantly? They’re delicious (and cute)! My one complaint is that they’re a tad greasy, but not enough so to keep me away!

I enjoyed them crumbled up with yogurt, fruit and peanut butter…

… but mostly enjoyed them as is. They break easily for convenient snacking, but don’t fall apart!

Would I buy these? Yes! I may just head back to Dean & Deluca’s to replenish my stash.

Thanks again, 18 Rabbits!

What do you look for in a granola bar?

Coconut Bliss: Ice Cream Review and GIVEAWAY!

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:14:52 +0000

Yoo hoo!

Hi there and happy humpday! Is there a better way to kick off Wednesday- and the day before New Year’s Eve!- with ice cream talk? I don’t think so!

A week or so ago, the lovely Kiley from Luna & Larry’s Organic Coconut Bliss was kind enough to send me coupons for pints of their coconut milk-based ice cream to review for the blog. If I know you guys- and I think I do!- you’ll go bananas (or coconutty!) for their products. From their website:

People are continually asking us how we came up with Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss. We’d like to say we are entrepreneurial geniuses, but the truth is much humbler—we just wanted a tasty frozen dessert that we could enjoy eating without feeling bad afterwards. We had both given up dairy for health and ethical reasons, and tried all the soy- and rice-based alternatives, but weren’t satisfied with any of them. They either didn’t taste good, or we felt sick after eating them, or they had a long list of ingredients that didn’t really sound like food. One day Luna said ‘what about coconut milk?’ We’d used it a lot in Thai-style cooking and it seemed ideal. It was naturally rich and creamy and had great nutritional properties. So with the aid of a two-dollar hand-cranked ice cream maker from Goodwill we made our first batch. As soon as we tried it, we knew we were on to something special. As time went by and we shared it with our friends, who also loved it, it became apparent to us that we should focus our energy on this and make it available to more people.

Our company, Bliss Unlimited, LLC, is dedicated to creating unique and exquisitely delicious desserts, consciously prepared from the most nutritious and wholesome organic ingredients available, and bringing them to market in ways that express our reverence for both people and the planet. We are located in Eugene, Oregon (the home of many wonderful natural food companies), where we make Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss with care and love.

I took my coupons to Whole Foods and picked out three flavors: Mint Galactica, Naked Coconut & Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge. If their ice cream was anything as unique as their packaging, I knew I was in for a treat!

Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge

Verdict: Chocolate-hazelnut is one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations. I love the deep, rich cocoa taste, the swirls of fudge and the chunks of hazelnuts. The first bite has a little pre-taste of alcohol, but after the first bite it goes right away and tastes creamy and delicious!

Mint Galactica

Verdict: Has a very strong peppermint flavor; also a little “alcoholic” upon first bite. I love the mint chips. I’m not usually a “mint person”. but I really enjoyed this! Each bite got better and better, and d the initial strong flavor dissapeared. This would be GREAT in hot chocolate! (This was also Ari’s favorite.)

Naked Coconut

Verdict: I LOVE this… it’s easily my favorite flavor. It tastes like the freshly made coconut ice cream ladies sell from a wooden ice bucket on the streets in Guadeloupe, and I had almost a Proustian experience eating it!

Click here for additional nutritional information about the ingredients used in Coconut Bliss ice cream.

Bottom line: These rich, creamy desserts illustrate that you don’t need butter, eggs or heavy cream for a delicious taste.

It’s also a wonderful alternative for people who don’t eat soy products. I felt good about putting these organic ingredients into my body. And did I mention that the chocolate they use is fair trade certified?

I will definitely be buying this once my stash runs out. I can’t wait to try the other flavors!

Thanks again, Kiley!

Want to try Coconut Bliss for yourself? Two lucky winners will win one coupon each for a free pint of ice cream! Contest open to US and Canadian residents only.

Here are three ways to enter:

1) Leave a comment telling me about your favorite ice cream and how you like to eat it.

2) If you have a blog, link back to this page on a post, then leave me a comment to tell me you did so.

3) If you don’t have a blog, go to the Coconut Bliss website and tell me one thing you learned about coconuts!

4) Tweet this: I want to win Coconut Bliss ice cream! http://bit.ly/8iEMpD @ lilveggiepatch

Good luck! I will choose two winners on Sunday, January 3.

Muffin Lovin'

lilveggiepatch — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:12:34 +0000

About a month ago, the lovely folks over at Vitalicious were kind enough to send me a VERY generous sampler pack of their VitaMuffin VitaTops and VitaBrownies.

Vitalicious supplements their baked goods with tons of vitamins and minerals to help busy consumers get the nutrients they need. They worked hard to create rich and wholesome muffins, brownies and cakes that can satisfy the sweetest tooth without giving you, well, a muffin top! Did they succeed? Read on!

VitaBrownie w/ AB

VitaBrownie: The look of it reminded me of the packaged brownies that one can find in the checkout aisle of grocery stores. While the nutrition facts are better than those packaged brownies or even a homemade version, I’d prefer to eat the richer dessert. However, for someone looking for a quick chocolate fix, this is a good and healthy option.

Banana Nut

Banana Nut: This tastes just like banana bread! There are big nutty chunks, and it smells like it came right out of the oven. Perfect!

CranBran

CranBran: Very moist. The dried cranberries add just the right amount of tartness to the sweet muffin. It was perfect on its own and didn’t need any kind of spread.

AppleBerry

AppleBerry: This is one of my favorites. It smells heavenly, just like the apple cake my dad makes. The berries are plump and juicy, and the muffin is light, fluffy and satisfying.

Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip

Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip: This was good, but a little dry. I had high hopes because chocolate + peanut butter is one of my favorite flavor combos; it wasn’t bad, but I would have been happier with more peanut butter flavor.

Chocolate Fig

Chocolate Fig: This was good, but again it was a little dry and being the fig lover that I am, I wanted more dried fruit!

Blue Bran

BlueBran: As soon as I opened the microwave, it smelled like homemade muffins. I loved this flavor! It tasted just like something I would have baked for myself.

Golden Corn

Golden Corn: I love corn bread. I never think to make it myself or even buy it in stores, but when I do have it I’m a very happy girl. This muffin doesn’t taste exactly like a traditional corn muffin, but the taste is still there. It’s a little sweet, but that gave me more options to play around with it. Would you make a Greek yogurt/plum parfait with your Thanksgiving corn bread? I don’t think so! But maybe you should.

Double Chocolate Dream

Double Chocolate Dream: The white and dark chocolate chips get deliciously melty, and it really does feel like eating birthday cake for breakfast.

Deep Chocolate VitaTop

Deep Chocolate: There were so many warm chocolate chips in here… I loved it! It was the perfect dessert, and definitely soothed my chocolate craving.

Bottom lines: I’m usually a chocolate fiend, but I surprised myself by enjoying the fruit and bran more… I found them to be more flavorful and “real” tasting. These muffins are fabulous for what they are: rich, low in calories, and full of wholesome ingredients.

Would I buy these? I don’t usually order muffins at bakeries because they’re usually pretty large and full of not-so-good things and a pretty big undertaking. With Vitamuffins, however, I can supplement my regular meal with a healthy treat without feeling like I can’t eat anything else for the rest of the day. I would definitely order this sampler pack again. Click here to purchase… it seems they have already come up with new flavors like Banana Fudge and Chocolate Mint, and have even added a low-acid coffee to their list of products!

Thanks again, Vitalicious!

Get Buff!

lilveggiepatch — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:05:51 +0000

Good morning! Based on what I can tell on Twitter, I’m not the only one thinking that today should be Friday. This week hasn’t been particularly long or exciting, but lordy lord, do I wish it were the weekend! Starting tomorrow, I’ll be spending the night at my parents’ house, babysitting this guy. My first race is on Sunday morning (you still have time to donate!), and Ilana and I are going to have a sleepover the night before to get ready and be girly. Should be a blasty

Breakfast yesterday was my new standard bowl of tastiness: one banana and one apple bathed in homemade raw almond/walnut milk. Man oh man, this stuff is GOOD. I don’t know what I would do without Gena‘s recipes!

Before I went into the city for yoga, I grabbed this Botanic No. 7 Kombucha that I found on sale for $2.99. Still pricey, but it’s hard to ignore cravings. Look at that cute little foot in the background!

I got to the gym with time to spare, unlike last week. Tina recently posted about ways to make sure you actually complete your exercise goals, and she’s right: an overbooked class is one of the surest ways to sabotage your workout! Anyway, I found a mat (although I should really start bringing my own) and reserved a spot on the floor, then looked around at my neighbors. That’s strange… why did everyone have barbells next to them? As more and more people filed into the room, weights in hand, I started to worry that perhaps I was in the wrong class. I went outside to check the schedule, and I was right: I wasn’t in Vinyasa Flow, I was in Buff Yoga, the class before. I’d seen the Buff Yogis on their way out as I was on my way in before; they were always pouring sweat and looked as if they’d just gone through military training. I decided to stick it out, and let me tell you: it was SO HARD. There were a few things I couldn’t do, like a Three-Legged Dog Vinyasa series while keeping a barbell balanced in the crook of my leg, so I just sat those out. I was mostly just proud of myself for staying in the room, because there were times when I really wanted to leave. I’m not sure if I’ll go back to that class; I was really in the room for something a little more relaxing, but it was a good experience. All of my muscle groups are currently reliving the experience now… this girl is SORE.

After showering, I went to the park to eat lunch. I’d packed two salads: curried mashed tofu and spinach with sprouts and hummus.

I also had an apple.

A little later, my stomach was really bothering me (it’s been a little off all week) so I stopped at Whole Foods for a cranberry walnut roll to eat on the way to work. I find that carbs, either simple or complex, often settle an upset stomach.

At work, I snacked on a ChocChip Trailmix PURE bar.

Pros: Tastes like a chocolate chip trail mix cookie! The chunks are small and perfectly blended, but each flavor is distinguishable. You know I’m a sucker for tart/sweet combinations, and this was great. It kept me satisfied through my shift and until dinner.

Cons: I would have liked the tart/sweet to move to salty/sweet, but this was just about perfect.

Would I buy this again? Fo sho.

Dinner was a big salad with mixed greens, apples, tomatoes, walnuts, beets and peppers. The best part? “Mexican salad” that Mario made, with cilantro and jalepeño peppers, that he plopped on top. So good!

Work was pretty slow, so I got off early enough to meet Caitlin and her friends for drinks at the Blue Owl. Their cocktails are reported to be some o the best in town, but unfortunately they’re pretty pricey. Lucky for us, Wednesday nights they are 1/2 price! I decided to get the Ellison Cocktail.

This was so delicious! It was cool and refreshing, and totally different from anything I’ve had before.

After we left the bar, I met up with Ari and we took the subway home together. We were both snacky, so we split this TJ’s boysenberry dried fruit bar.

Yesterday was one of those days when I felt like I barely took a breath to stop eating. I think my choices were pretty healthy (except all of the undocumented noshing at work… whoops), and if I’m hungry, it means my body needs the fuel. The only problem is when I find myself eating out of boredom, which happens at the restaurant when we don’t have many customers. Oh well! Life is meant to be delicious.

I’m off to get ready for my 4.5 mile run… I’m still pretty stiff from yoga yesterday, but hopefully it will feel good!

A couple days ago I ordered my first Road ID. Caitlin and Kelly have both been posting a lot about outdoor exercise safety, and although I use a shoe wallet (which is great for holding keys and cash), I wanted something a little more sturdy. Should you decide to buy your own Road ID, the code ThanksKatherine538792 will take $1 off your total purchase price.

BE SAFE and have a great day!

Back On The Good Foot!

lilveggiepatch — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:18:40 +0000

Achooooo! Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I don’t know about you, but my allergies have been horrible lately! I’m mostly allergic to dust and plant life (although I used to get a rash every time I ate mango… glad that one’s over!), and it’s always the worst this time of year. When I was younger I visited my family in Minnesota every summer, and my sneezing and coughing would get so bad that it turned into summer asthma! Luckily it doesn’t get that bad anymore, I just feel a lot like Sneezy.

Yesterday, Ari and I staggered out of bed to meet his family for breakfast at the diner. We all seemed to be a little sleepier than usual- his father asked if his caffeine could be injected intravenously- and we downed cup after cup of coffee. I decided to order another menu newbie: the Breakfast Wrap!

This had eggs (I asked for whites), avocado, tomato, peppers, onion and gruyère cheese, all rolled up in a whole wheat wrap. Très bien! However, does anyone else find that store-bought wraps have way too much of the “wrap” part? There were a few folds of bread that I just nipped off. I also had a few bites of homefries, but the sandwich and coffee really filled me up.

I spent the rest of the morning catching up on blogs and e-mail, then hustled to get ready to run some errands in the city. I grabbed an apple on the way out the door:

Somewhere between one errand and the other, I pulled out the Koka Moka Pro Bar from the Summit swag bag.

Pros: I was immediately excited about the ENORMOUS chunks of chocolate chips. I love the mix of textures: soft oats and dried fruit, hard chunks of whole nuts. It has a definite espresso taste without being bitter, which is a result of a lot of mocha-flavored things (like Starbucks’ espresso brownie). My last bite tasted a little spicy, which I identified as the nutmeg and orange elements. It was a nice surprise, and didn’t overpower the bar. I wasn’t left with a “protein” aftertaste, because there is zero protein powder in the bar. This was also developed in Park City, Utah, for skiers, hikers and mountain climbers. Cool!

Cons: It was smaller than I’d thought, given that the bar is intended to be a “meal.” I’d like something like this to be a little bigger, and take me a while to eat.

Would I buy this again? I’m not a huge fan of meal replacement bars. However, in theory, they work on busy days when there’s not another option. I ate this bar two hours before heavy exercise, and I was able to power through my workout quite easily. It didn’t taste artificial, so I would definitely keep these on hands for busy days when I don’t have time to prepare a full meal.

It was a very grim and rainy day, and I really, really didn’t want to work out. Even though I’d carried my heavy gym bag all over town, I was ready to just go home and soak in the tub. However, I forced myself to lace up, get on the stairmaster, and ended up having the best workout I’ve had in a long time. I warmed up with 20 minutes on the stairs, then headed over to the treadmill and ran 3.1 miles (without stopping!) in just under 31 minutes. The 5K is in two weeks, and since I now know I can do the distance, I’m going to try to work on my speed a little bit. Nothing crazy, but we’ll see what happens! After my run, I did some strength training and ab work, and let me tell you: I was a whole lot sweatier than some of the muscle men in there

Total time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Maximum heart rate: 186 (93%)

Average heart rate: 149 (75%)

Calories burned: 758

I was a hungry beast when I got back to the locker room, and had bar #2. This obviously wasn’t ideal, but it was better than eating my gym shorts.

I left the gym and went straight to Trader Joe’s to do an all-out grocery shop. I’d thought the line would be atrocious on a Friday night- their wine cellar queue stretched out the door- but apparently this is the best time to go, and I was in and out in under forty minutes.

I spotted these on the shelf and had to try them. We serve lobster ravioli at my restaurant; sometimes I ask Ramon to make an extra piece for me. Anywho, I was in the mood for a whole serving, so I picked these up.

While I cooked the pasta, I heated garlic and oil in a skillet. I added some arugula until just wilted, then tossed in the ravioli.

I sprinkled some feta on top, and served it with steamed broccoli. My plate looked like Fall!

Ari and I coordinated to meet outside and go to Coldstone. I usually get a “sinless” flavor, but today I was in the mood for something different: coffee ice cream with chocolate shavings.

Ari got something chocolate-peanutbuttery, which he ate with zeal.

We were both feeling a little gross after the ice cream… it was a little too rich. We plopped down for some In Treatment to settle our tums… nothing like a little talk therapy to make everything better

Well, it may be Saturday, but it’s time for me to get off my bum and ready for the day. Ari‘s show is tonight, and I have to go track down some of my beautiful girlies.

Around the blogs…

Ada is hosting a fabulous back-to-school giveaway. Even if you’re only a member of the “school of life” like a certain post-grad you may know, you can still win some pretty sweet goodies.

Jenny is also giving away some nice gluten-free sweet and savory treats, so you should head over there, too.

Have a great weekend!

Let's try new things!

lilveggiepatch — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:26:54 +0000

For some reason this post didn’t go through this morning…

Good morning, everyone! Ready for Tuesday? I pressed snooze one too many times this morning, so I’m a little less prepared than I would have liked, but you can’t win ‘em all.

Yesterday, first thing in the morning, I popped a square of Amadei’s 70% Toscano Black chocolate.

This is apparently the way chocolate “should” be eaten, and I agree… having chocolate in the morning made me feel like a queen!

In terms of real “breakfast” food, I decided to break into my new stash of Amazing Grass. From the reviews I’ve read by other bloggers, the Grass can be a bit… strong, on its own, upon first taste. I decided to play it safe and blended the Berry Green Superfood flavor with water and a banana.

Upon first taste, it was a little thin, so I added a scoop of chunky peanut butter.

It was perfect! I took my green smoothie outside, to enjoy it in its natural habitat

After breakfast, I hit the books for a few hours before work. In the middle of my reading, I shared an apple with my interim boyfriend, Monster.

When I work, I try to keep myself on track and away from distractions the same way I do when I run. “In fifty pages I can have a snack…. When I get to the next chapter I can check my email….” (“In two minutes I can walk for thirty seconds…”) When I could stand my hunger no longer, I broke for lunch.

I’ve had this package of Fantastic World Foods Spicy Thai Vegetarian Soup for-EVAH. I bought it when I was still in school and have seriously carted it all over the place, thinking it would make a good, quick meal. I even brought it with me to the Summit! (Sounds like a security blanket, hmm?)

I’m not a huge fan of packaged noodle soups, but these noodles are baked, not deep-fried, unlike conventional ramen soups. The nutritional profile is pretty good, too, and the ingredient list is short and comprehensive.

I bulked up the meal, making it LVP-friendly.

I took advantage of my leftover steamed kale and GC-tofu and stirred them into the soup.

Not bad! It did need a little more flavor, however, so I added some miso paste, Bragg’s, and Sriracha. Noodle-slurping good

Dessert was something really special. I’ve been meaning to make Gena’s Lemon Chiffon pudding for a week, and I thought I deserved to have it on a Monday. It was so, so good. Who would have thought avocado would make a good dessert? The lady’s a genius.

During work, I had an Amazing Grass Organic Green SuperFood Whole Food Energy Bar.

I reviewed this bar way back when, and still enjoyed it. I liked it more with every bite! I was paranoid that it was getting stuck in my teeth, though, so it took me over an hour to eat so I wouldn’t humiliate myself in front of the customers!

Ramón was in a ridiculously good mood yesterday, and said we could have whatever we wanted to eat! I went with the special salad (mixed greens, a sliver of avocado, apple, tomato, walnuts, and goat cheese), topped with…

GRILLED SHRIMP! I was a happy girl.

I stopped at a new frozen yogurt place, Yogurt Station (one of FOUR fro-yo places on St. Mark’s) and got a huge cup of nonfat peanut butter, chocolate, cake batter, and green tea. I went a little crazy with the toppings and added mango, mochi, Heath bar, and a chocolate-covered pretzel.

All that for $3.73! A gal’s gotta treat herself sometimes.

Have a great day!

Healthy Living Summit Pt. 4- Over and Out

lilveggiepatch — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:06:13 +0000

Good morning and happy Monday! By now, I’m sure you’ve all read numerous recaps of the 2009 Healthy Living Summit… I know I have! It’s interesting to see everyone’s take on it, because, like us bloggers, no two experiences are the same.

Yesterday morning, some of us met at 7:30 for a run. We hadn’t had coffee, but look at all those smiling faces! (Thanks to Caitlin for letting me bogart her pictrures )

I joined the 3 mile group, and enjoyed great conversation (pug or German Shepherd?) with like-minded ladies.

We ended up going about 3.5 miles, and I know I could have gone on longer. Having someone (or 10 someones!) to run with makes all the difference. Do I see a race in my future?

Total time: 33:36 minutes

Maximum heart rate: 192 (96%)
Average heart rate: 172 (86%)

Calories burned: 380

After the run we had over an hour until breakfast, and I needed something for my tum. Coffee! I spent an embarrassingly long time trying to find the filters…

… only to discover they were “tea bag” style, and the filters were the coffee. Doh.

The group reassembled and went to Finagle A Bagle for lunch.

Talk about maximum efficiency! The bagels shoot out, assembly-line style…

They are then sliced by a giant spinning blade.

There were so many interesting bagel choices! French Toast, Honey Grain, Stuffed Vegetable…

The line was long, but we were all in an out in no time. That’s progress, baby, progress.

We found a grassy knoll to sit on and enjoyed our breakfast outside, enjoying the last minutes of the Healthy Living Summit.

It took me a little while to set up my breakfast (I can be a little high-maintenance about that, if you haven’t noticed : On a toasted honey grain bagel, I spread light cream cheese on half, and Barney Butter with honey on the other half.

I also made sure to get some fruit in.

I was in a little bit of a rush to make the 12 PM checkout, but I managed to grab Heather to take a sunglass-twin photo. Why spend good money on fancy shades when you can get sexy ones like these at Target?

I hustled back to the hotel, grabbed my stuff, and hobbled out. When I got to the station, I surveyed all of the food choices. Not great, but I did manage to find a Greek Salad at D’Angelo’s.

I wasn’t a fan of the creamy dressing it came with… a relief, because I knew it would also stink up the bus. (I removed the onions for that very reason!)

There was an absurd amount of feta and olives, and I left a lot behind.

I also munched on an apple while reading my copy of Body + Soul from the swag bag. There are some great recipes in there that I can’t wait to try!

The ride from Boston –> New York is almost five hours, so I needed another snack. I went back to the swag bag for a Fruition bar, made by the makers of Pro Bar.

Here’s an idea of the size of the bar, using my camera case:

Pros: There’s a definite strawberry flavor here. It’s very soft and grainy, so you don’t have to work too hard to eat it like some other sports bars out there. It reminds me of something I ate as a kid during snack time at school (which is reinforced by the sticky fingers you will get upon eating this). I like its snack size; you don’t have to make the 400 calorie commitment that you do for a regular Pro Bar. It also has very pretty packaging!

Cons: It’s a little too soft for me. I wish it would either be firmer like a Larabar, or crunchier like a granola here. There are oats in here, after all, so it shouldn’t be so soggy!

Bottom line: Would I buy this? Maybe. I want to try the other flavors of Fruition; I’ve heard rumors of Blueberry, which sounds pretty good. I don’t know how widely available they are yet (I’ve never seen them in stores), but keep your eyes open!

I shlepped about 100 pounds home from Chinatown and just wanted a comforting meal. I made my old standby comfort food:

Gliding Calm tofu; a sweet potato with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar; steamed kale with rice wine vinegar; brown rice. This meal really feels like the equivalent of a big bear hug.

Do you have any comfort foods or meals you turn over and over?

I enjoyed dinner with a small glass of Villa Farnia di Farnese’s 2008 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo that my friend Howard gave me.

Frank Bruni describes this as a “good, solid, dependable wine;” a staple in Italian restaurants. It is medium tannin, smooth, and has the taste of black fruit.

I enjoyed the wine while watching Revolutionary Road and munching on one of Jenna‘s chocolate chip biscotti.

Er, make that two biscotti. I didn’t want the first one to be lonely!

Another great day. The Summit was a blast. I had so much fun meeting over one hundred women who love to do some of the same things I do! Who’d a thought, in high school, that that would be possible?

It’s back to the grind, unfortunately, and I have a lot of reading to do. Hope your week is off to a great start!