November 15, 2016
As many of you know, I frequent Trader Joe’s weekly, without fail. I love that place. Some of you have literally asked me if I am a rep, or if I get paid by them! (By the way, I am not and do not!)
So when I find new discoveries it is my biggest pleasure to share them with you. This past weekend I went on my weekly shopping trip and discovered 3 new foods that get the thumbs up from me AND my family!
October 18, 2016
My good friend introduced me to an amazing app called Fooducate.
Have you heard of it?
Basically you can scan an item at the store (or type it into the website) and the app responds with a grade in terms of how healthy the food is. You are also given reasons why certain foods are not healthy.
I can’t remember the last time I baked with vegetable oil or white flour or white sugar. Why? Because the main reason I bake is so that my family has slightly less of a chemical concoction for dessert than the typical store bought items.
You see, we are a dessert family. Without fail we have dessert every night after dinner. That’s what was done in my home growing up,* and I think it is actually part of my DNA . I CANNOT go to sleep without eating dessert.
Sometimes it’s Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups. Sometimes it’s ice-cream. Sometimes it’s 16 Handles. Sometimes it’s Whole Foods Organic Chocolate Chip Cookies or Milanos or Newman-O’s.
Even the ‘healthier’ desserts out there are filled with crap. Milanos? Hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed, soy lecithin and vegetable oils. Newman O’s? A little better – only soy lecithin. Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups? Even better – the soy lecithin is organic – but organic or not, still not good. (Click here to find out why soy lecithin isn’t good.)
So what is my point here?
It’s hard to believe that a kitchen gadget the the size of my hand could open up a whole new world.
It’s called a Veggetti and it turns vegetables into spaghetti! There are different companies that make this type of tool, but I like the Veggetti because it is small and compact and doesn’t take up any precious counter space. (Please note: I am not a rep for The Veggetti and do not make any money if you buy one. I just freakin’ love it!)
So far I’ve used it with zucchini and squash and let me tell you – they both taste SO MUCH better when transformed into spaghetti!
Before my health journey began about 3 years ago, I thought vegans were coo-coo. Tofu? Only for vegetarians. Matcha tea? A drink for hippity dippities.
I realize now that I had a bad case of Healthy Eating Intimidation-itis.
Have you heard of it? You know, when something sounds like it can only be found in a health food store, you automatically assume it’s not for you?
I have been a relatively healthy eater my whole life. But even so…healthy eating intimidation-itis was pervasive. Tofu? Tempeh? Fish oil? Intermittent fasting? What the what??
But as a recovering Healthy Eating Intimidation-aholic, I am here to tell you that it is very simple to overcome this condition.