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Food

Sunny Side Up or Scrambled?

January 8, 2016
Two scrambled eggs with black pepper, sea salt, and goat cheese, avocado & cilantro rose salsa, with cilantro & lime chicken sausage. Delicious, filling, and pretty darn healthy;)

The nutrition world is all abuzz with the release of the most recent federal dietary guidelines. You likely won’t be surprised by many of the recommendations – eat whole fruits, colorful vegetables, lean meats, nuts, and seafood, and whole grains, but one of the recommendations about eggs may catch you by surprise.

So what is the new guideline – that you can eat them! For years, people have avoided eggs and opted for their reduced fat and cholesterol counterparts like egg whites and egg beaters. Eggs first received a bad rap in the 1960s after an American Heart Association report linked diets high in cholesterol and saturated fats to poor heart health. Egg consumption in the US significantly declined following this. The egg industry has since worked vigorously to get back in the good graces of former egg lovers (remember the Incredible Edible egg commercials?!), and this recommendation could be a step in the right direction.

On a personal note, this is one of the reasons I was drawn to my field – health communication with an emphasis on diet and nutrition. Nutrition science is constantly evolving. As more research is conducted, new information comes out, and that information gets shared with the public. Some people may then make modifications to their diet based on these “hot” new research studies. I find it fascinating, but it’s also a bit worrisome. Basing your diet on one or a couple of new research studies isn’t a great idea. Now that’s not the case here – this was an official report released by the American Heart Association which was based on years of scientific research, but I’m using this as a detour to make a point. When it comes to your diet, stick to tried and true recommendations like the ones above (e.g. colorful fruits and veggies, lean meats, & whole grains), and let the rest of your diet be varied. It’s all about moderation and variety. Eat some eggs, have some tuna, or enjoy some full fat milk (*gasps*). What you want to avoid is having your diet consist primarily of one or a few types of foods. Think of it this way, your body is a complex organism with millions of various functions that it has to perform on a daily basis. In order to perform all of these different functions, it needs different nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. The way to get them is by eating a wide variety of foods.

So go ahead and order that omelet at Sunday brunch! And politely tell the server you don’t need to substitute them for egg whites:)

 

 

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Food

Urban Remedy Product Review

September 27, 2015

I don’t believe in juice cleanses. I need and love food so I’m not giving it up for anybody. I did feel like my body could benefit from a reset after a couple of weeks of traveling and eating out in early August. I had heard of Urban Remedy before and decided to look into their products. Urban Remedy is an organic health food company with an array of raw, ready to eat snacks, meals, and juices.

Their cleanses are pretty expensive. I didn’t like the idea of spending north of 180 dollars for only 3 days worth of food, but I really wanted to try some of their meals. Fortunately, you can buy their products individually. I decided to go that route and created a custom reset meal plan.

Drinks/ Meal Replacement Shakes
Chai
This was my favorite drink. It was sweet but not overly so with a nice hint of cinnamon.
PB&J

A close second for my favorite drink was the PB&J. It’s not actually peanut butter (I wouldn’t have ordered it if it was because I hate peanut butter). It was almond butter, with almond milk, and strawberries. Out of all of the drinks I ordered this was the heartiest.

Matcha Tea Au Lait

This was my first matcha tea experience and all in all it wasn’t bad. I knew that matcha had an “interesting” taste before I tried it so in some ways I knew what to expect. The almond milk lent a sweetness to what would have otherwise been a slightly more savory drink. It’s one of those drinks that I could probably like even more after getting used to the taste. I would certainly drink it over Chocolate banana or Nourish.

Cacao Almond Milk

Any chocolate milk lovers, this one is for you. This tasted just like chocolate milk. I quite enjoyed it.

 
Chocolate Banana

This was my least favorite drink. I found it to be hard to finish with a somewhat bitter aftertaste (possibly due to the cacao, but it didn’t bother me in the cacao almond milk).

Nourish

Based on the ingredients this should have been one of my favorites, but it was a huge letdown. I found it to be pretty bland with an odd aftertaste.

 
Snacks/Dessert
 
Carrot Curry crackers

I really enjoyed these crackers. It’s an interesting combo but I liked it. I definitely sensed both the carrot and curry flavors.  The crackers aren’t the texture of your typical crackers but that didn’t bother me at all.

No bake oatmeal cookies

These were pretty good. The texture is quite reminiscent of an oatmeal cookie, slightly chewy with some crunch to them. They weren’t amazing though so I probably wouldn’t order them again.

Banana brittle

I loved the banana brittle! It was my favorite snack out of the bunch. Sweet enough to satisfy sweet cravings, with a delicate, crispy texture that would make it a great topping for frozen or Greek yogurt.

Raw chocolate mousse

This wasn’t overly sweet but it also wasn’t bitter which I was expecting. The mousse was pretty dense which made it quite filling and satisfying. This would be a great choice to fulfill a sweet craving without having to hit up the bakery section at Publix.

Meals
Fettucine with pesto

This was one of my favorite meals. Very hearty and filling and the pesto tasted like regular pesto not a pesto imitator. They used zucchini ribbons instead of pasta which significantly lowered the calorie count. The whole meal clocks in at 330 calories.

Veggie pad thai

This came with a coconut and almond butter dressing that was divine. As the name suggests, this was packed to the brim with veggies. This was one dish that I’d love to recreate.

Mediterranean collard wrap

Based on the ingredients I expected to love this one, but it was good not great. The flavors didn’t pack a big punch for me. I wouldn’t order it again.

Thai collard wrap

This was unremarkable for me. It wasn’t good or bad; squarely middle of the road.

Zen salad

This was another low-key favorite. The flavors are simple but as I took more bites I really began to appreciate all of the flavors working together. It also had a nice crunch to it and I find I need my salads to have some crunch.

Spring rolls

These were pretty tiny and I thought the rolls themselves tasted okay. They do come with a ginger dipping sauce that had a great kick to it. You get a much better bang for your buck with the fettucine or pad thai dishes.

What I Would Order Again

Fettucine with pesto
Veggie pad thai
Zen salad
Carrot Curry crackers
PB&J

What I Would Avoid
Chocolate Banana
Nourish
Generally, the wraps. They’re pretty tiny so you get less bang for your buck. While the names and ingredients sounded amazing, the taste was a let down.

The Pros
Customizable; buy products individually

You get to choose when you want to receive your product and this doesn’t cost extra as long as you meet the shipping minimum ($75).

The Cons

If you don’t reach their $75 minimum then shipping is extremely expensive (read $49). They do pack it with dry ice and let you choose your shipping date.

While the nutrition info is on the individual product pages on their website, it would be nice if all of their products contained nutrition information on the actual packaging. Some products did but some did not.

So there you have it. And no this post is not sponsored. I wasn’t sent any of these products for free or at a discounted price. I just wanted to share this information in the hopes that anyone considering Urban Remedy would find them useful. The reset definitely helped me feel refreshed.

Have you heard of Urban Remedy? Tried any of their products? Which ones are your favorites?

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Food Style Travel

School’s Out!

June 25, 2015

And just like that a year goes by. I officially finished my first year on May 1st and it was crazy and intense, but wonderful. This past semester really kicked things in to overdrive with harder classes, more research, and new TA duties, but I held my own and for that I’m proud.

MIA
Fast forward to May 7th and my sister and I were in Miami for a birthday celebration. We were concerned that the weather was going to be crappy due to the forecast but it was perfect (minus the humidity).
We celebrated by going on a private yacht cruise around Biscayne Bay where we got to see multimillion dollar homes. Talk about life goals?!

This house is $20 million. Yeah.

Ended the trip on a sweet note by having a churro milkshake with churro bites for dessert on our last night. Too much excitement to contain. If you ever go to STK, you’ve got to try it.

ATL
A couple weeks later I headed to Atlanta to meet up with some friends for Memorial Day weekend. I ended up driving (not a bright idea) but you live and you learn. You’d think the highlight of my trip would be seeing my friends (which was definitely up there), but it was actually the churro pancakes I had at a restaurant called Radial Cafe.
I’m not sure if I’ve declared it here but I have a severe churro obsession. It’s actually tied with my red velvet obsession which is saying a lot. If the two of them ever got together, I’d be beside myself. Anyway the pancakes were ridiculous. Some of the best I’ve ever had. They were cooked perfectly with a nice crisp on the edges but the insides were still nice and fluffy. I think about them often.

Treated myself to some sparkle:)
After breakfast before getting on the road in Old Fourth Ward.

It’s been back to business since beginning of June (mostly). I’ve been working on turning term papers into manuscripts and doing research. I’ve also had churro ice cream (!!!), met up with some classmates for lunch, and have been plotting a trip to an amusement park (it’s been way too long). I have to remind myself to really enjoy this downtime so I can enter my second year refreshed. I’ve also been working to finish decorating my apartment. I know I’ve been here for close to a year, but I wanted to take my time to find pieces that I truly love. Once I do, I’ll share pictures.

That’s about it! Hope everyone is having a fabulous summer.

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Food

Christmas Dinner 2014

December 27, 2014

This year was special. It was the first year that my sister and I cooked the entire Christmas meal, from the turkey to all of the trimmings. After hours of being on our feet, chopping, sautéing, mixing, kneading, basting, and roasting, it was incredibly rewarding to sit down and enjoy a meal that we labored over and to see our family enjoy it as well. But let me tell you, it was hard work! Wow. At some point we both looked at each other and said mom does this every year?! Because we like to be ambitious, we decided to put new spins on the classic holiday meal sides. Check out our menu below.

Oh and did I mention that everything was made from scratch!

Menu
Sweet potato cornbread stuffing
Jalapeño and bacon macaroni and cheese
Cheddar bay biscuits
Garlic mashed potatoes with spinach and bacon
Roasted vegetables
Cilantro and curry jasmine rice


Desserts
Banana cream pies (one with a ginger molasses crust and one with peanut butter)
Sweet potato pie
Blueberry hand pies

After dinner we went to see the Christmas lights they put up every year.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

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Food

Sugar and Spice and Sweet Potatoes!

December 23, 2014

I’m not even going to attempt to mask my deep love for the sweet potato. It’s one of my favorite things to eat.  When I go out to restaurants it’s the first item I scan the menu for. If I were stranded on an island, and could only eat one thing, it’s the one thing I’d choose. So when I came across a sweet potato bread recipe here I knew that I had to make it. This recipe is bananas (technically it’s sweet potatoes, but you know what I mean).
This bread will have your home smelling amazing. I mean the smell literally beckons. Beyond the smell, it tasted incredible. My sister, who I consider the resident baking expert in our family tried it and loved it. I got the recipe here. I initially baked the bread to take to a potluck dinner with friends. It was so good that two days later, I baked it again, only this time as muffins, to take to my school’s Thanksgiving pot luck luncheon, and I have every intention of baking it again for Christmas 2014.
Make this bread!

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Food

Culinary Pursuits: Baked Gingerbread Oatmeal Cups

December 19, 2014

When I think of the holidays, one of the first things I think about is all of the amazing seasonal food. And since they’ll only be around for a limited amount of time, I convince myself that it’s okay to indulge. Well I’m all for indulging every so often, but at some point it can get to be overkill. Between the cookies, muffins, cakes, and pies, I start to feel a little sluggish. The truth is that you can enjoy those holiday seasonal treats without all of the guilt associated with it. Enter these baked gingerbread oatmeal cups. They deliver on that comforting and familiar gingerbread Christmas taste while skipping the tons of sugar and icing that usually comes along with it. Check out the easy recipe below:

Ingredients:
2 cups of old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 cup of light brown sugar
1 teaspoon of ginger
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
a pinch of sea salt
2 cups of almond milk
1 beaten egg
3 tablespoons of coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of honey

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
Combine oats, baking powder, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and sea salt.
Add almond milk to dry ingredients, then beaten egg, then melted coconut oil, then vanilla extract, and then honey.


Add 1/4 cup of batter to each cupcake liner.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

One of the great things about these cups is that they’re so customizable. Similar to my frittata muffins that I’ve made before, I can switch up the ingredients to satisfy whatever craving I may be having. I’m already planning to do a maple sweet potato version, a banana chocolate chip version, a white chocolate chip and cranberry version, and a mango pineapple version!

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Food

Pumpkin Chocolate and Cinnamon Chip Bars

December 15, 2014

In case you have yet to get your pumpkin fill I have a pumpkin recipe just for you. Last month I made some pumpkin bars to take to class mainly because I had leftover pumpkin that I needed to use up. I wanted to make them health*ier* so I used white whole wheat flour and coconut oil in place of any butter. Well, they came out amazing. And don’t just take my word for it – my classmates agreed too. So of course I had to share the recipe. Check it out below!

 

Ingredients:

2 cups of white whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon of baking soda
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2/3 cup of coconut oil (melted)
1 cup of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of cinnamon + 1 teaspoon of nutmeg + fill the rest of a 1/4 cup with brown sugar
1 cup of canned pumpkin (I used Libby’s found at Walmart)
3 tsp of sweetened almond milk (you can also use water)
1.5 cups of dark chocolate chunks, cinnamon chips, and white chocolate chips (about 1/2 cup of each)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9×13 inch pan with PAM (or a coconut oil spray if you have it – it’s not necessary though)
In a medium bowl, mix the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate large bowl, combine the pumpkin, oil, sugar, vanilla, and milk, until smooth.
Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until smooth.
Fold in the chocolate and cinnamon chips and then spread the batter out on the pan.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving

Enjoy!

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