Pick up this budget friendly salad at Whole Foods

Just a quick note...

I found this gorgeous salad at my local Whole Foods for $2.50.  It is a nice portion and comes with a cilantro/lime dressing.  The dressing is delicious and is just enough for the portion size.  This is definitely a great deal for what you get. 

What is in it?

Romaine lettuce

Red bell pepper

Green bell pepper

Black Beans

Tomato

Cheese

Red Onion

Raw Organic Coconut Water by Harmless Harvest

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

During my recent visit to Whole Foods there was a nice lady handing out samples of Harmless Harvest 100% Raw Coconut Water.  I am no stranger to drinking green coconut water right out of the coconut.  I was pleasantly surprised at how this coconut water had that SAME taste.  You may find that many of the different brands of coconut waters are very sweet.  If you have not had fresh green coconut water then you may not realize there is a BIG difference in the taste.  After tasting this coconut water I was sold and grabbed a couple bottles.

This product is from young, fresh, coconuts that are grown on small organic farms in Thailand.  The coconut trees grow over 100 feet high.  A harvester will climb up a ladder and lower the coconuts down with a rope to a canal.  A gatherer will load the clusters of coconuts into a small boat and deliver them to a truck which in turn takes them for processing. 

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

During processing thousands of pounds of pressure is applied to the product.  This process is used to kill harmful bacteria without the need for heat.  This end product is 100% organic coconut water with only 56 calories per bottle.  Coconut water has electrolytes, magnesium, potassium and calcium and is a great way to get rehydrated. 

I highly recommend Harmless Harvest 100% Raw Coconut Water.  I believe it is the best tasting coconut water that you can buy.

Pineapple Cucumber drink by It Tastes RAAW

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

When I stumble upon a cucumber drink I had to try it.  I purchased It Tastes RAAW's Pineapple Cucumber drink for $2.99 at my local South Florida Whole Foods.  It Tastes RAAW strives to create unique fruit and vegetable juice blends.  The ingredients that make up this drink are pineapple juice, cucumber puree and apple juice.  The drink is 100% natural and no water, sugar or preservatives are added. 

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

I expected the drink to be much sweeter than it actually was.  Upon first sip I tasted more of the apple juice than the pineapple juice.  I could certaintly taste the cucumber puree as well.  This product has the right blend to give it the refreshing cucumber flavor I would expect from a drink like this.

It Tastes RAAW's Pineapple Cucumber drink has 120 calories and there are about 1 and 1/2 servings per bottle. Although the bottle reads "very perishable" I found that this keeps longer than other natural juices I have tried. Also, just a side note that this product is gluten free, kosher and vegan friendly as well.  

It Tastes RAAW has other unique juices such as Cranberry Ginger and Raspberry Lemongrass.  You will find a complete list of their other flavors here.

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

Meatless Sloppy Joes by Gardein

 

Gardein has introduced their All American (meatless) Sloppy Joes.  The packaging advertised "ready in minutes" and "easy."  I grabbed a pack of the meatless sloppy joes, some buns and headed home.  The package suggests to microwave the soy, but you can saute it if you prefer.  I tried the microwave option.  There are two servings in the pack at 190 calories per serving.  As you will see below each serving is packaged separately.  I emptied the soy crumbles and sauce into a microwave safe bowl, stirred and cooked on high for 2 minutes.  Voila!  Stir the mixture again and place on a bun.  Wow that was quick, but do the sloppy joes taste good?  Yes, Gardein got the flavor and texture that you would expect with sloppy joes right.  The sauce is more sweet than tangy and the soy had good texture and flavor.  Too easy!

Gardein Sloppy Joes are $3.99 at my local South Florida Whole Foods.

 

 

 

Kennesaw 100% Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

Kennesaw Orange Juice is 100% fresh squeezed, but does it really have that "fresh squeezed" taste?  What makes it different from other brands of orange juice? I purchased a 16oz bottle from Whole Foods.  There are two servings per bottle with 120 calories per serving. It has the taste that I would expect from fresh squeezed orange juice.  This juice has a high pulp content with no preservatives, no fillers and is not overly acidic.  Kennesaw uses oranges from their own groves which are hand sorted.  The juice is cold processed to ensure a fresh squeezed flavor. Other brands use a standard pasteurization which means a longer shelf life, but the juice looses the fresh squeezed flavor.  Kennesaw advises that there will always be a variation of flavor with the juices.  They use Florida oranges year round with some California oranges added at certain times of the year to maintain sweetness.  Be sure to check the expiration date on these because they expire quickly, 17 days from extraction to be exact.  A sign of fresh squeezed juice is the natural separation of juice and pulp.  Shake well and enjoy.    

Vegetarian Times 2012 Foodie Awards: Vote!

Help Vegetarian Times choose what vegetarian products are on top for their 2012 foodie awards.  Go to the VT site and fills out a short form.  After voting you will be entered to win a $250.00 Whole Foods gift card.
The survey took me less than five minutes to complete.

Glaser Organic Farms: Raw Vegan Mango Salsa

Of all the mango salsas out there, this one by Glaser Organic Farms is by far my favorite.  Glaser Organic Farms is a certified organic grower based in Miami, Florida.  Glaser has a line of organic raw vegan foods.  I purchase their salsas at my local South Florida Whole Foods.

Photo by: Thatsillygirl

Glaser's mango salsa is a little spicy and I could taste the jalapenos from the first bite.  I am not one for spicy foods, but the salsa was not too spicy.  After a few more bites I could taste the layers of flavors.  Glaser uses organic ingredients which include red onion, cilantro, sea salt, pepper, lemon juice, jalapenos and of course mangoes to make this salsa.  The mango salsa is fresh and incredibly good.

Photo by: Thatsillygirl

Naked 100% Juice Smoothie: Blue Machine

I have seen Naked brand juice smoothies at Whole Foods and at my local Starbucks.  I decided to try the Blue Machine smoothie. Naked Boosted 100% Juice Smoothies are natural with no added sugars.  If you are trying to get more fiber into your diet the Blue Machine has 13 grams.  High fiber foods keep you feeling full longer.  This smoothie has 170 calories per serving and the bottle holds 2 servings so that is 340 calories total. Blue Machine is packed with vitamins. Naked has reduced calories smoothies as well.  

Photo by: ThatSillyGirl

The taste test...I was concerned that the smoothie would taste chalky. This was not the case at all. The Blue Machine juice smoothie was not too thick and perfectly sweet. Upon my first sip I tasted the blueberries and bananas. I enjoyed the smoothie for breakfast and it kept me feeling full until lunch time. This was a nice change from my usual breakfast of Greek yogurt or oatmeal.  I have since then tried the Green Machine which is very tasty and I am excited to try the other flavors.

Photo by: ThatSillyGirl

Veggie Xpress: Local Food Truck

I decided to check out a local food truck called Veggie Xpress.  Out of the many options on their menu I ordered the Veggie-Saurus burger, a vegan friendly burger, with a side of yuca fries.  The burger came with greens, tomato and a pickle on the side.  A nice portion of a vegan spread was served on the side as well.  The wheat bun held up nicely considering this was a hefty veggie burger and more importantly the burger did not fall apart as some do.

Next the yuca...yuca is a root vegetable that when fried is similar to a french fry.  I have found that many places overcook yuca.  Veggie Xpress prepared the yuca nicely and served it with a side of garlic oil/sauce.  It was crispy, but needed a little salt.

Overall, the food was good and the service was fast.  I will visit the Veggie Xpress food truck again. 

Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer

I had been looking for a primer type product and was excited to try Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer.  The Photoready Perfecting Primer smooths pores and fills in lines and wrinkles.  The bottle explains that you can use it alone or under foundation.  This primer is an odorless, slightly pink cream and goes on almost invisible, but giving a matte look. 

I start with a clean face and apply a moisturizer first.  If you have dry skin like me a moisturizer is important or this product will highlight any dry patches  Next, I apply the primer all over as I would foundation.  Be sure to spread it on fast because it dries quickly.  It is light and I cannot even tell I am wearing it once its applied.  I then apply concealer under my eyes and powder.  That is it - no foundation needed for me since the primer smooths and covers.  Also, my concealer does not end up highlighting under eye wrinkles because the primer fills these in. 

Overall, this primer does what it claims to do and works on my dry, fair skin.  If you have underlying redness to your skin you may want to try the Photoready Color Correcting Primer instead.

www.revlon.com     

Tofurky Chorizo Style Meatless Crumbles

Tofurky is such a wonderful meatless, vegan and kosher product.  I could not resist trying the chorizo style meatless crumbles.  I grabbed a pack and went home to make tacos.  I emptied the contents of the pack into a pan and browned the crumbles.  The soy crumbles were heavily coated in a red sauce and I recognized the smell of "taco flavored" seasoning.  I prepared the tacos and took a bite...the crumbles had a good chorizo taste and texture.  This product is not overly spicy, so I recommend it for kids as well.  What you see in my pan below is one pack which makes a lot. There is no need to add salt or any other seasoning as the soy is thoroughly seasoned.  The soy tacos were tasty, easy to prepare and budget friendly as well. 

Photos by ThatSillyGirl

Wallaby Organic Greek Lowfat Yogurt: So incredibly good!

With the Greek yogurt craze and so many brands to choose from which do you prefer?  I have tried many bands, but my top two for the longest time have been Chobani and Fage.  Recently, I discovered Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurt.  The cup has two compartments with one side for the fruit and the other for the yogurt.  While most have a thick creamy consistency, Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurt is not so thick.  The texture is thinner, velvety, cool, smooth and creamy.  The fruit and other ingredients are organic along with the organic milk from local family farms.  You can taste the quality.  This Greek yogurt stands up and demands to be different.  After a couple bites of this wonderful yogurt I was sold.  It is now my number one favorite Greek yogurt.  Try it in blueberry, strawberry, cherry, honey or plain.  You can find it in natural & specialty food stores.  I purchase my Wallaby Organic Greek yogurt at Whole Foods. 

Wallaby also offers organic yogurt options such as Australian style lowfat and nonfat yogurts.

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme: Five Stars!

I have dry skin and wanted a foot cream that really worked. This product caught my eye because of its many positive online reviews.  Check them out for yourself and you will find page after page of five star reviews and people raving about Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme. So, when I happened upon the creme at The Fresh Market I had to try it.  $9.00 seemed like a small price to pay for the 4.34 oz tube and seemingly endless positive reviews.  

While most foot creams have a strong peppermint smell, Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme has a tropical coconut smell with a hint of peppermint.  It is made with coconut oil, olive oil and other natural ingredients.  The texture feels less like a creme and more like a thick concentrated paste.  I followed the directions and applied the product before bed and covered my feet with socks.  Many of the reviewers noticed a difference within a few days.  After just a couple days of using the creme I was amazed that I really could feel and see a difference.  I have been using the foot creme every other day for a couple weeks and the tube still seems almost full.  A little goes a long way with this creme.    

Overall, Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme does not disappoint...I highly recommend trying it for yourself! 

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

Rob's Really Good Swirling Cucumber Drink

I picked up a couple bottles of Rob's Really Good which were on sale for $1.00 at Whole Foods.  There were several flavors including teas to choose from and the Swirling Cucumber peaked my interest.  The color of the drink was almost clear with a hint of light green. I flipped the bottle around and not only was there cucumber, but also pear juice, celery juice, sweet potato juice, carrot juice and spinach juice all in one bottle.  Wow, that is a lot of different combined flavors and what possibly could this drink taste like?

The answer...Swirling Cucumber is a light, not too sweet and refreshing drink.  I suggest you enjoy it very cold.  I could taste the cucumber and celery along with the sweetness of cane sugar and sweet potato juice.  It is 50 calories per serving totaling 100 calories per bottle.  Rob's Really Good is also fair trade certified.

I am going back to Whole Foods and grab a couple more flavors while these are still on sale.

Photo by ThatSillyGirl

Yves Veggie Deli Salami

As I browsed Whole Foods I noticed that Yves Veggie Deli Salami was on sale two for $5.00.  I had been wanting to try a meatless salami and this was a deal I could not pass up.  I grabbed two packs and headed home.  The texture, flavor and look is very salami-like and the slices are thin.  Yves Veggie Deli Salami has 80 calories per 5 slices.  This product is vegan as well.  One downside is that the pack does not seal back up after you open it.  I will purchase it again and look forward to trying other Yves deli slices.

Yves also offers other meatless deli slices such as bologna, ham, roast beef and more!  You can check out their meatless products here.

Pei Wei Asian Diner

I enjoy Pei Wei because it offers many options for vegetarians (and meat eaters as well).  Take a look at their menu and you will find Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese dishes. Your meat eater friend can choose honey seared chicken or shrimp and while you can enjoy honey seared tofu.  Pei Wei offers many flavorful, customizable options.  Pei Wei has a gluten free and kids menus as well. 

The decor is modern, open and spacious and it is dine in or take out. For dining in place your order, pay at the register and they bring the food to your table.  

My favorite Pei Wei signature dish - honey seared tofu with vegetables and brown rice.

Zevia all natural soda sweetened with stevia

As I was browsing the isles of Whole Foods a new product commanded my attention.  Could it be?  No, this cannot be true!  It is a brand of zero calorie all natural soda called Zevia.  This soda is sweetened with stevia a plant based sweetener.  So you have not heard of the stevia craze yet?  Well let me fill you in.

Stevia is a plant that has been grown and used for centuries in South American countries. Stevia Rebaudiana is a shrub native to Paraguay and Brazil. In 2008 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the natural sweetener.  Since then more and more products with stevia are popping up in stores.  Studies have shown it can decrease blood sugar levels and does not affect blood glucose levels.  This means stevia can be used by both diabetics and hypoglycemics

Zevia

Stevia sweetener has been beneficial for me since I simply cannot stand the taste of artificial sweeteners such as Aspartame.  So, upon finding Zevia at my local Whole Foods I could not wait to get home and try it.  I bought the Mountain Zevia and Dr. Zevia to try.  The Mountain Zevia has the citrus flavor that you would expect, crisp and light.  It is sweet, but not overly sweet.  I instantly recognized the stevia taste because I have been drinking stevia sweetened products lately.  Zevia brand soda has many flavors to quench your thirst such as Dr. Zevia, cream soda, black cherry, cola, lemon lime, ginger root beer, strawberry and more! This all natural soda is has zero calories, zero sodium and zero gluten.    If you are like me and find artificial sweeteners disgusting then I encourage you to try Zevia.  Now I can drink soda again without the calories and the best part is that it is all natural.  Overall, I am satisfied with the product and cannot wait to head back to Whole Foods to try other flavors of Zevia brand soda.   

Easy black bean burritos with wilted spinach

I make black bean burritos when I am short on time.  These burritos are budget friendly, easy to prepare and very filling. 

Prep time:  About 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Serves: 2 - 4

You will need:
2 table spoons olive oil
1 15 oz can of black beans
1 cup of diced onion
Large flour tortillas
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 package of fresh Spinach
1 teaspoon of ground Cumin
Salt

Heat oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Add onion and saute for 5 minutes. Stir in cumin, add amount of salt desired and cook 1 minute more. Next, add black beans and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.  Stir in fresh spinach (about 2 handfuls) and cook until wilted. Fill the warm tortilla with the bean mixture and top with shredded cheese. Wrap and enjoy!  Serve with a side of chips and salsa. 

Start the new year by getting in shape with these apps.

Welcome to the year 2012! Do you want to start this year off a little different than last year?  Have you made the choice to get in shape?  Below are two apps that I use and these have helped me lose weight and track my calorie intake. 

I tested free pedometer apps and Pedometer Ultimate GPS+ is my top pick.  I feel so much more motivated to walk and run when I can see how many steps I am taking and calories I am burning.  The Pedometer Ultimate GPS+ free version is packed with ways to keep you moving and motivated.  The app is user friendly and the GPS tracker makes it easy to track your route, distance, pace and elevation.  Set a weight loss goal, check your heart rate, view the route you walked and/or ran and so much more with this great app!  There is a body feature where you can keep track of your chest, waist, hips and weight measurements.  I upgraded to the Pro version.  I just turn on the pedometer and place it in my Belkin armband and off I go.  A convenient feature is the music button inside the app where your music play list can be easily accessed. You can choose indoor, outdoor, walking, Nordic walking, running and with the Pro upgrade there is a cycling feature as well.

Try this app for free today!



Pedometer Ultimate GPS + By Arawella Corporation

  



Another great app that I use in addition to the pedometer is MyNetDiary.  This app makes it easy to count calories and you can set up an account on MyNetDiary.com.  Just put in your height, weight, age and level of activity and the app will calculate how many calories you need to burn.  You can manually enter nutrition information or search for the info through the large food database.  One of the features I cannot be without is the bar code scanner. Scan the product bar code and track your calorie intake. You can also track calories burned through exercise as well.  Overall,  MyNetDiary is well designed, easy to use and has all I would want in a calorie counting app.     




MyNetDiary.com

These apps work for me, but they may not be right for you.  There are many different weight loss apps to choose from.  Find the one that suits you and get to exercising!