Coconut Manna Sweet Biscuits

This is absolutely bonkers…

…in a stomach-delightful kind of way. How could a moist, sweet biscuit that’s made with NO eggs, NO milk, NO refined white sugar and NO vegetable oil be so dang delicious?

I made a batch of Coconut Manna Sweet Biscuits. The gremlin-children stuffed their jaws and then immediately forced me to make more. I was like Aunt Jemima in the kitchen, whippin’ up biscuits in mass quantities.

With the hubs at my side (giving credit where it’s due!), he helped me come up with this recipe using Coconut Manna and Coconut Sugar.

The manna in this recipe is a substitute for vegetable oil. Manna is a “whole food made of pure, dried coconut flesh containing 12% fiber, 9% protein and nourishing fats.” It’s solid, yet melts easily into a silky, creamy, thick-buttery texture.” Ooo-la-laaa!

The coconut sugar is a substitute for the refined crap. It’s brown in color with a slightly nutty flavor and granulated texture. Coconut sugar is a “highly nutritious, rich source of potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and B vitamins. It is also one of the lowest glycemic index sweeteners on the market, with a glycemic index of 35, in comparison to cane sugar, which has an index of 68.”

THE RECIPE: “COCONUT MANNA SWEET BISCUITS”

INGREDIENTS (serves 10-12)

2 cups flour2/3 cups water3 tsp baking power1 tsp salt1/2 cup coconut sugar6 tablespoons semi-melted coconut manna (melt on very low heat, or it’ll burn)

For a smaller batch of up to 6 biscuits, simply cut all measurements by 1/2.

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients to mixing bowl and knead until thoroughly blended.Form into one big-azz dough ball.Flatten out into approximately 1/4 inch thickness.Use a cookie cutter or rim of a small cup to form biscuits.Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet.Immediately hot out the oven, spread on additional coconut manna as “icing”.Sprinkle with coconut sugar and begin to chew. Then chew some more. You can’t eat just one. Now chew again…

Don’t worry. The biscuits are NOT riddled with sweet. It’s just a tender kiss of sweetness that’s perfect as part of a weekend breakfast or bunch, occasional snacking, or for showing off fancy baking skills to greedy guests. The recipe does contain regular white flour, but don’t be intimated by it. I don’t feed my stomachs white flour on a regular basis, so these biscuits are a nice splurge. By all means, go on and use a white flour substitute if that’s your cup of tea.

Regardless of the flour, the oil and sugar substitutes through the use of Coconut Manna and Coconut Sugar make these biscuits a hot dang delicious supah-star!

…told ya this was bonkers.

SEE MORE GREEDY RECIPES

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Sweet Relish 2 (AKA what Miz wants for Valentines Day).

Yes.

Yep.

Im still smitten with the secret sauce.

Sure this is a sponsored post (hiya FTC.  the opinions here are all my own!) but the true indication of a sponsored post being a great fit?

I cannot stop yammering about the RELISH.

At the playground hanging with the other mamas? I yammer.Finished praying at synagogue & hanging at the mix&mingle time? Im talking about the RELISH.Book club over? TALK TIME commencing? Im chiming in about my new find. I RELISHED. Now it be mine.

 This post, however, is about a couple of YOUR Sweet Relish lists.

Initially I was ALL ABOUT my own Relishes—  but Ive spent lottsa time on the site over the past week checking out YOUR stuff.

(to my delight & the bank account’s chagrin.  you’ll have that.)

Right now Im totally coveting my friend Joyce’s BE ACTIVE TOYS  list (you know Joyce yes? we love us some Joyce around here.)

Id thought Id cornered the market on all cool active toys with my PLAYout list! but Joyce showed me there’s a thing or THREE I missed.

Here’s where I also confess Im addicted to shoes.

Today is Valentines Day.

A day which holds absolutely ZERO candy allure for this misfit (yes. I still be pretty much unprocessed) yet the FEET CANDY? I *crave*.

LISTED!

As a result, Im obsessing over Tamara’s FEET CANDY LIST on Sweet Relish (<—-HINT REN MAN. HINT!!)

I knew Tamera was my fitness soul sister— I HAD NO IDEA till I stalked her on Sweet Relish she was my SOLE Sister, too.

Ive enjoyed this brand partnership for myriad reasons—-and not necessarily the ones I’d anticipated!

BOTTOM LINE:

For me SWEET RELISH is about organization.  It really is what Id been missing from my gift buying (from family to teacher gifts) life.For me SWEET RELISH has helped tremendously as a to-do list for my move.  Private lists have aided me in deciding what’s a NEED NOW purchase, whats a THIS CAN WAIT, and whats an IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS (…I’d get for the house) pipe dream.For me SWEET RELISH has been a peek into your collective heads!  It has been a way to get to know friends and family in a completely new way and has provided surprising insights into (what they desire and) who they are.

Sure I made a list for Valentines Days Treats Id ADORE but Ive been happy to discover the site, for me, is about a whole lot more than merely spending money online.

Really.

Truly.

Seriously.

(looks around)

What are you waiting for?

Join me there?

Share your Valentines Day DESIRES?

I await your lists…

FTC this is a sponsored post.  My love of the SWEET RELISH and coveting of the necklace pictured below is all my own.

it’s on my list…

View the original article here

Im in love with Sweet Relish!

OK People.

Ive made no secret of the fact Im not a fan of Pinterest.

Ive been repeatedly admonished Ill never be a big, behemoth brand *whew* thank goodness right? if I dont get to pinning.

And Im ok with that.

As a result, when the opportunity to partner with Sweet Relish came along, I almost missed out on a very.cool.thing. because I immediately assumed it was a Pinterest Wanna Be.

I be woman enough to say I was wrong.

It’s awesome.

It’s Pinterest for MISFITS. 

It’s a place PERFECTION for this online shopping lover who erroneously thought she didnt like LISTS.

Allow me to define.

Sweet Relish refers to itself as the secret sauce of shopping because it’s the “missing piece” in our online shopping experience. which leads me to:Sweet Relish is everything I never knew I always wanted.  If you hang with me on Facebook you KNOW how I adore sharing shopping stuffs I find.  With my Sweet Relish lists I can organize, save, share, buy, see what youre buying all in one place.Sweet Relish is where *I* am right now and, judging by our interactions online, where you are too.  Metaphorically.  I wanna know where you got those tights I covet *and* be able to buy them right from the site.  CLICK. Done.  No more I love this!!! Where can I find this?! as I always experience other places. Sweet Relish lists allow us to do precisely that.

Allow me to explain.

Relishing is simple. I am easily confused.  Register, get a relish button for your tool bar (see below) and CLICK THAT BUTTON each time you want to “save” an item to your lists!

Allow me to share.

Im RELISHING the Northern California stuffs this TEXAN is now addicted to for warmth.Im RELISHING all the PLAYout toys the Tornado and I adore.Im RELISHING the random foodSTUFFS Im addicted to always chatting about.

You get the point.

Im in.

Im smitten.

Im RELISHING every minute of this.

And seriously.

I challenge you to not love Sweet Relish (yes I adore saying the name) as a place to organize your shopping/gift buying (<—this has been huge for me), and sneak a peek into what your friends are purchasing.

Got any RELISH-questions for me?All ready to come RELISH with me?

Ill be snooping around your lists and featuring one of them/linking back to you next month.

(cue movie music fraught with suspense)

FTC: This is a sponsored post.  The fact I almost turned down without exploring the site and subsequently fell unflaggingly in LOVE with the RELISH is all my own.

View the original article here

Route 11 Sweet Potato Chips Review

Potato chips are looked at like the devil's spawn because of the high fat & low nutritional value - so are other types of chips more ... wholesome? Well, when I saw Route 11 Sweet Potato Chips at the grocery store recently, I decided to check it out to see if these were any better than regular potato chips. The packaging says these chips are lightly salted, all natural, wheat and gluten free plus made using all natural sea salt.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 28 grams
Calories: 140
Total Fat: 7 grams, 11%
Saturated Fat: 1 gram, 5%
Sodium: 55 mg, 2%
Carbohydrates: 19 grams
Fiber: 2 grams, 8%
Sugars: 4 grams
Protein: 2 grams

These chips certainly are mighty tasty. They're sturdy yet crunchy, and are slightly sweet and slightly salty at the same time - it sounds like an odd combo, but somehow it all works together and a yummy chip is the result.

Each 1 ounce (28 gram) serving of Route 11 Sweet Potato Chips provides 140 calories, 7 grams of total fat (11% of the daily value), 1 gram of which is saturated fat (5% of the DV), 55 mg sodium (6% of the DV), 4 grams of sugars, 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Plus there is 120% of the daily value for vitamin A. When you compare these chips to Lays (Classic) Potato Chips, they come out on top. A 28 gram serving of Lays provides 160 calories, 10 grams of total fat (16% of the daily value) and 170 mg of sodium.

The ingredients are simply sweet potatoes, peanut oil and/or high monounsaturated sunflower oil and Real Salt (sea salt). I bought a 42 gram bag of Route 11 Sweet Potato Chips - unfortunately, that is 1.5 servings, meaining 16% of the daily value for total fat - definitely something to watch out for.

So nutritionally, I would prefer these sweet potato chips over a bag of Lays Classic Potato Chips, but something like Glenny's Sea Salt Spud Delites Review has less calories and fat, and is just as tasty.

Have you tried sweet potato chips before? Did you like it?

{Website: Route 11}

View the original article here

Food Trap Alert! BelVita Biscuit NEW Flavors, Subway Veggie Patty, Ore Ida Sweet Potato Fries

belVita Breakfast Biscuit (New Flavors!): belVita will not back down. First they delivered the goodness with their Gold Oat biscuit. And now? They’re hitting us hard with two new awesome flavors: Chocolate and Cinnamon Brown Sugar. (Holla!). I’m partial to the Chocolate, because it served me well in the midst of the need want for a little bit of chocolatey pleasure. I was able to get a great tasting, low cal chocolate fix, then keep it movin’ without spoiling my sensible eating plan. Yet the Cinnamon Brown Sugar caused a mighty disruption of greediness in my home.

Husband tasted the belVita Cinnamon Brown Sugar, then snatched the box away from the kids. Then he tried to hide the box for himself. The gremlin child-spawns fought back with uncivilized protests: Furniture was broken, drinks were spilled, biscuits got crumbled. Just like a bar fight. (did I really see this happen?) It was anarchy, my dear friends. All because of the tastiness of belVita.

Their biscuits are made with whole grain as the primary ingredient and contain zero hydrogenated oils, no artificial flavors or sweeteners, and also contain no High Fructose Corny-ness. belVita provided me with the samples that ultimately led to the uprising of turmoil in my home.

Subway Veggie Patty Sammich: This an ode to the Veggie Patty for its tasty sensibility. It’s not a new item at Subway, but some of you may not have considered it yet.

Do not resist the patty. It’s hearty, stomach-pleasing and downright delicious. Way more delicious than those pricey hand-marinated roadkill sammiches you’ve probably tried. Veggie patty is much more delicious than that. I can’t find the ingredients on their website, but according to Livestrong, the patty contains a host of veggie ingredients that include water chestnuts, mushrooms, green peppers, black olives, carrots, and onions, plus brown rice, rolled oats and egg.

Yep. I used hearty Italian bread instead of wheat. What’s it to ya?

Go on and stalk Subway’s nutrition info. It lists a 6-inch Veggie Patty as having 23g of protein (yay!) yet 890mg of sodium (boo!). If you opt to build your patty using 9-grain wheat bread, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, green peppers and cucumbers, you’ll only be chewing on a grand total of 390 calories. With low-cal splendor such as this, you could quite possibly unleash your greedy side as you gnash your teeth into a Subway chocolate chip cookie for dessert (220 calories). Those things are pretty damn tasty, but you didn’t hear that from me.

Ore Ida Sweet Potato Fries: Due to the euphoria caused by the Ore Ira Sweet ‘Tater Fries, I did in fact allow myself to be filmed while doing MC Hammer’s “You Can’t Tough This” dance. Yet that film footage was destroyed by a talent scout whom I shall not be hearing from again. The fries are flavorful, crispy, and bake so nicely. In a nutshell, other Sweet Potato products I’ve tried can’t touch how good the Ore Ida’s are. I’ll spare you a bunch of additional rhetoric. Just go on and try the fries for yourself.

 

MORE FOOD TRAP ALERTS

View the original article here

Parting is such sweet, 100% egg white, sorrow.

Ahh people.  The time hath come to bid Egg Beaters 100% Egg Whites a fond fond farewell.

Up in herre I mean.

And, even being a misfit who turns down 76.77% of brand-partnership opportunities because they are *not* an organic fit, this has been one of my fave.partnerships.ever.

I celebrated when they picked me because I’d been chasing them for eons always been interested in partnering with them.

Id eaten them for years.  They work for me. 

My body thrives on protein (yours may too!*).  I feel better, more energetic, and less prone to mood swings.

I adore how easy Egg Beaters 100% egg whites are to slip into my meals, snacks & car (when the Tornado was little the number of eggs I broke trying to carry *her* and my groceries are immeasurable).

All that said, Im celebrating one.big.thing. even as this brand partnership comes to a close:

It has reminded me yet again how when we practice what we preach–there’s nary a need to say a word.

Ren Man now makes a Meal in a Mug for breakfast each morning and to say this is a ginormous change for the healthy would be a dramatic understatement.

The Tornado had *already* noticed Egg Beaters were my fave food (as per the picture below):

(upper-right corner)

And apparently had a ‘moment’ with her teacher over my Mothers Day card when she insisted I liked my eggs from a “box” and they did NOT have the yellow middle:

(Please dont tell Tornado what they look like.)

I also adore how many stranger-friends now associate me with Egg Beaters.  Reason #19478347 why I never align with a brand I do not fully embrace:

I loved. I loved.

Blather blather love love aside—I wanted to take a moment during this last post and share with you something WE are loving right now:

"The Poach Pod"

(the pod was a gift but Id imagine a google-search would turn up the source? Id also imagine if youre a true “cook” you already know how to poach without needing said pod)

We’ve been poaching the EB whites non-stop around here because it’s something the Tornado can do (practically) by herself and also something she can get utterly creative with.

She’s tried adding cheese, crumbled sausage, veggies, salsa & a few other items (fruit alert! fruit alert!) which didnt go over so well in her mouth.

She pours in the E.B.Whites...

Our breakfast, snack, lunch, whatevers is ready to be topped served:

Voila.

And that’s where we are on this Wednesday.

Saying farewell, poaching up a storm, and remembering when we practice what we preach theres nary a need to say a word.

And you?

Have you noticed, when you live authentically & act in accordance to your mission/beliefs, people around you cant help but follow?

Have you any tips for the Tornado for her poach-toppings?

Please to hit us up in the comments below.

*Studies are increasingly showing it is PROTEIN which serves to keep us awake & fight the mid-day slump not sugars.

This post is sponsored by Egg Beaters 100% egg whites. As always the rest of the mishegas is all my own.

View the original article here

Food Trap Alert! Voskos Greek Yogurt, Dr. Praegers Sweet Potato Pancakes and Dole Fruit Smoothie Shakers

Voskos Greek Yogurt: Huh? Who? What’s this yogurt? Can it compete with that big dawg, Chobani? Voskos is thick & silky. Tastes pretty good, too. But it has less fruit chunks than Chobani and a bit more tangy tartness on the taste buds. That tang actually points to less sugar, but it also has less protein than Chobani. Voskos is nice and fancy with the “no GMO’s and no artificial hormones” hoopla, so why the hells does strawberry flavor contain modified corn starch? It’s more than likely used as a thickening agent. Because it can’t get thick on it’s own? Modified corn starch is like Viagra for yogurt. Be careful because the Voskos label warns that the product “contains milk”. Are there really people out there with such deep levels of stupid that they can’t figure that out?

Price Paid: $1.50, Calories 120, Fat Cal 0, Total Fat 0g, Sodium 50mg, Carbs, 16g, Fiber 0g, Sugars 15g, Protein 12g

Dr. Praeger’s Sweet Potato Pancakes: Excuse me, but no. These are not the kind of cakes you drench in a tsunami of syrup. These cakes are made for healthy snacking, a light meal, side-dishing, or something along those lines. They’ve won a place in my stomachs that can’t be beat by any other sweet potatoe-ish packaged product. They’ll remind you of a hash brown. Nice and hearty, too. Just bake it up for a few minutes on each side and begin to bask in tasty clean eating gone all kinds of wonderfully right. The fine list of acceptable ingredients is “Sweet Potatoes, Egg Whites, Potato Flakes, Onions, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Arrowroot, Brown Sugar, Salt, Pepper”. Ahhhh. Now go. Go enjoy some for yourself.

Price Paid $4.29, Calories 80, Fat Cal 20, Total Fat 2g, Sodium 140mg, Carbs 12g, Fiber 1g, Sugars 6g, Protein 2g

Dole Fruit Smoothie Shakers:  This is a “fruit & yogurt kit” that you pour juice into. Then you shake it up and it transforms into a smoothie. No blender required. The concept is great, but there’s too many gray area variables that can screw with the final result. My freezer is apparently freezier than the one at the store. I had to semi-thaw out the contents before it would even shake & mix. You pour the juice of your choice up to the “fill zone” before shaking. I did that. But the shake tasted more like the juice than anything else. It did achieve an impressive smoothie consistency, but overall, it’s not a win. People who don’t usually do smoothies might think the world of Fruit Smoothie Shakers, but if you’re a smoothie-making connoisseur like I am, it might just piss you off.

Price Paid: $3.99, Calories 90 (w/o juice), Fat Cal 20, Total Fat 2g, Sodium 35mg, Carbs 17g, Fiber 3g, Sugars 23g, Protein 3g 

View the original article here

Route 11 Sweet Potato Chips Review

Potato chips are looked at like the devil's spawn because of the high fat & low nutritional value - so are other types of chips more ... wholesome? Well, when I saw Route 11 Sweet Potato Chips at the grocery store recently, I decided to check it out to see if these were any better than regular potato chips. The packaging says these chips are lightly salted, all natural, wheat and gluten free plus made using all natural sea salt.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 28 grams
Calories: 140
Total Fat: 7 grams, 11%
Saturated Fat: 1 gram, 5%
Sodium: 55 mg, 2%
Carbohydrates: 19 grams
Fiber: 2 grams, 8%
Sugars: 4 grams
Protein: 2 grams

These chips certainly are mighty tasty. They're sturdy yet crunchy, and are slightly sweet and slightly salty at the same time - it sounds like an odd combo, but somehow it all works together and a yummy chip is the result.

Each 1 ounce (28 gram) serving of Route 11 Sweet Potato Chips provides 140 calories, 7 grams of total fat (11% of the daily value), 1 gram of which is saturated fat (5% of the DV), 55 mg sodium (6% of the DV), 4 grams of sugars, 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Plus there is 120% of the daily value for vitamin A. When you compare these chips to Lays (Classic) Potato Chips, they come out on top. A 28 gram serving of Lays provides 160 calories, 10 grams of total fat (16% of the daily value) and 170 mg of sodium.

The ingredients are simply sweet potatoes, peanut oil and/or high monounsaturated sunflower oil and Real Salt (sea salt). I bought a 42 gram bag of Route 11 Sweet Potato Chips - unfortunately, that is 1.5 servings, meaining 16% of the daily value for total fat - definitely something to watch out for.

So nutritionally, I would prefer these sweet potato chips over a bag of Lays Classic Potato Chips, but something like Glenny's Sea Salt Spud Delites Review has less calories and fat, and is just as tasty.

Have you tried sweet potato chips before? Did you like it?

{Website: Route 11}

View the original article here

Sweet Talking Ken

(please to excuse the blurry snapped in aisles photo)

The other day when I was shopping with the Tornado I got sick and tired of her lollygagging and plunged on ahead she ambled down the toy aisle and became entirely riveted by a Ken doll.

Mama!! Look! She shouted. It’s super cool! It’s a talking Ken guy!!

Seeing as she’s a Barbie-girl (to my chagrin) & rarely interested in Ken my curiousity was piqued enough to retrace my semi-annoyed steps.

When I found her she was standing in the aisle, GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR, & cradling the doll pictured above as he announced repeatedly: You are a pretty princess, Tornado! in an odd, robotic, I-guess-that’s-how-Ken-sounds voice.

I laughed (it was kind of funny & Im easy like that) & then I took a closer look at the box in her hand.

And, as a feminist misfit raised on a steady diet of Free To Be You & Me, I was horrified.

Barbie dolls are bad enough (for the 9834578 reasons better bloggers than I have written about)––but a “sweet talking” male our daughters are supposed to long to own so he can SWEET TALK THEM (!)—–I lost my mizmind.

I fired off angry missives.

I ranted *at* poor Ren Man and anyone else who would listen.

I let my imagination run the proverbial a’muck with precisely what Mattel thought Ken would sweet talk my Tornado into.

Then I took a deep breath,  stepped back, &  had a little sweet talkin’ AH HA! moment of my own.

Was there a chance good ole intended as trashy Sweet Talking Ken could be utilized to teach The Tornado a positive self-esteem lesson?

I ‘got real’ with myself (as Dr.Phil would say).

I acknowledged I flew off the handle was displeased because as an adult I was aware what Mattel presumed our girls would program Sweet Talking Ken to say.

It was precisely what the Tornado initially had him utter.

It occurred to me, however, S.T.Ken was the perfect tool for teaching her how she should expect to be treated.

One of my fave quotes is we teach people how to treat us.

On an adult-level this alludes to complicated renegotiating of relationship dynamics. 

On a five year old level this is as simple as carefully choosing the words we program Sweet Talking Ken to say to us. 

As a parent to a five year old it’s about harnessing the power of a potentially trashtastic toy  & using it as a teaching tool about the power of words both good and bad.

The Tornado didn’t forget ole S.T.Ken as easily as she had other toys.

She begged (never works around here).

She whined (seriously?!).

She offered to earn him (that’s typically an option at Casa MizFit).

What transpired comes later this week.

First *YOU.*

Are you are offended as was I at first glance by Sweet Talking Ken? Or were my feminist-sensibilities merely on HIGH ALERT?

What’s YOUR definition of “sweet talking” & does it resemble my *immediate one* verging on coercion, convincing & underhanded?

Please to give me a reality-check in the comments below…

View the original article here

Tasting! Alexia Sweet Potato Puffs

This is a multiple choice quiz. Now take a wild guess at what happened to the Alexia Sweet Potato Puffs:

a) They burned in the oven.

b) The dog ate them.

c) Water spilled on the leftovers.

d) I ate waaay too many Puffs.

Welp, I didn’t burn them, we don’t have a dog, and I surely didn’t eat too many. So the correct answer is C. The leftover Puffs did get water logged, but I didn’t give a damn.

Even after cooking them a few minutes longer than package directions, the Puffs only get sorta crispy on the outside and stay mashed potato-ish on the inside, so forget about a regular tater-tot experience with super crispiness. The flavor problem I keep getting with any kind of packaged sweet potato product is that they somehow lose the bold flavor that comes with a fresh sweet potato. I hate that.

Alexia’s Puffs are just fine and dandy: edible and likable in a ho-hum kinda way, but it’s like eating a sweet potato with 50% of your taste buds removed. The flavor is ghostly. It’s kinda tasty, but really only just a shadow of real, fresh flavor. So why even bother?

I thought these would be a hit with the Greedy Family, but I was almost stoned with stale dinner rolls for bringing the Puffs to the table. This is why I didn’t give a damn when the mound of leftovers got water logged. Someone (and it certainly wasn’t me) manged to run the leftover Puffs under faucet. How convenient, huh?

PUFFY NOTES

Price Paid: $4.59 for 6 servingsServing Size:  2/3 cupCalories: 130Fat Calories: 30Total Fat: 3.5gSat. Fat: 0gSodium: 230mgCarbs: 23gFiber 2gSugars: 8gProtein: 1g

REACTIONS FROM THE TASTE TEST CREW

Health-hater Husband: Eh, they’re just okay.

Greedy Kid #1: These are a fraud. They’re not like real tater tots.

Greedy Kid #2: Nope. I only eat this vegetable in sweet potato pie.

Yum UP! to: Sweet potato pie. Gimme summa that!

Yuck Down to: Burning flames in an oven. Been there, done that.

View the complete Taste Test Directory and Fast Food Cheats Sheets.

Get printable grocery coupons at Coupons.com.

View the original article here

Orgain Sweet Vanilla Bean, 11-Ounce Container (Pack of 12)

Orgain 12X 11 Oz Organic Vanilla Bean Meal Replacement . Orgain Uses Only The Highest Quality Organic Ingredients To Provide Perfectly Balanced Nutrition By Blending Organic Whey Protein, Organic Brown Rice, Omega-3'S, Fiber, Organic Green Tea And Pomegranate Extracts As Well As 24 Vitamins And Minerals.: .

Price: $43.08

Click here to buy from Amazon

Alexia Waffle Cut Sweet Potato Fries (Seasoned Salt) Review

I rarely buy fries at a fast food place anymore. You can get delicious fries made in your own oven (or toaster oven), for half the calories and fat - and less money too. There's usually a bag in the freezer - but I like to experiment with the varieties, and after having read a good review of Alexia Sweet Potato Fries, I was excited to try the Waffle Cut version.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 cup (84 grams)
Calories: 230
Total Fat: 14 grams, 22%
Saturated Fat: 1 gram, 5%
Sodium: 360 mg, 15%
Carbohydrates: 24 grams
Fiber: 4 grams, 16%
Sugar: 5 grams
Protein: 2 grams

I love sweet potato fries in general, and I loved this Alexia brand. I followed the directions to spread a single layer of fries on a baking sheet ... or in my case, on the toaster oven tray, and baked it at 400C for 20 minutes. After it was done and cooled a little, I enjoyed the slightly sweet, slightly savory, lightly crispy fries. As with the Alexia Sweet Potato fries, these waffle fries have a crunchy exterior, but a softer inside. If you're a fan of sweet potato fries, then these will definitely appeal to you. If you're not a fan - give these a try anyway, they might change your mind.

An 84 gram serving og Alexia Waffle Cut Sweet Potato Fries (Seasoned Salt) (about 1 cup), provides 230 calories from 14 grams of total fat, 1 gram of which is saturated fat (22% & 5% of the daily value), 360 mg of sodium (15% of the DV), 4 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugars and 2 grams of protein. There is also 90% of the daily value for vitamin A.

sponsor

The ingredients are sweet potatoes, canola oil, rice flour, tapioca starch, cornstarch, tapioca dextrin, sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili pepper, red pepper, dried yeast, black pepper, cumin, xanthan gum, leavening (disodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium bicarbonate).

I received a sample from the PR company, but a 20 ounce bag (7 servings) retails for about $3.50 at my local grocery store. The total fat content is a little high for me, but then again, fries are not a daily thing so I would definitely buy these again. I'm cutting down on eating rice with everything, so this made a nice side-dish with a bunch of green beans & teriyaki chicken.

{Website: Alexia Foods}

View the original article here

Imagine Natural Creations Organic Creamy Sweet Potato Soup Review

Have you ever had sweet potato soup? I haven't, although I do like putting sweet potatoes IN soups. well, I decided to be adventurous and give Imagine Natural Creations Organic Creamy Sweet Potato Soup a try. This soup is organic, all natural, vegetarian, plus dairy-, gluten- and preservative- free.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 8 ounces
Calories: 110
Total Fat: 1 gram, 2%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 460 mg, 19%
Carbohydrates: 28 grams
Fiber: 3 grams, 12%
Sugar: 3 grams
Protein: 2 grams

I poured some out into a pot, and saw a thick, rich, creamy orange soup. I heated this on the stove-top for a few minutes, and the soup got a little less thick. When it had cooled off some, it was time for the taste- test. It turned out that the soup wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be, but neither was it good. There wasn't much flavor and it didn't win me over to being a fan of sweet soups. I would definitely use Imagine Sweet Potato Soup as a puree in other dishes, but wouldn't drink it as a soup.

Each 8 ounce serving provides 110 calories, a low 1gram of total fat, none of which is saturated, 460 mg of sodium (19% of the daily value), 3 grams of fiber (12% of the DV), 3 grams of sugars and 2 grams of protein, plus a whopping 190% of the daily value for vitamin A.

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The ingredients list includes, filtered water, organic sweet potatoes, organic potatoes, organic rice syrup, organic carrots, sea salt, organic expeller pressed safflower oil and/ or sunflower oil and/ or canola oil, organic ginger.

A 32 ounce box of Imagine Natural Creations Organic Creamy Sweet Potato Soup cost me $3.49, and I don't consider it a total waste as I can use this in other ways ... just not as a soup. Imagine has a lot of "creative" varietis in their repertoire, so if you're tired of the "same old same old" then why not try their Acorn Squash & Mango, Corn & LemonGrass, Cuban Black Bean, or Creamy Sweet Pea Soups? I'll be honest - some of those flavors scare me a little ... but I'm still willing to give them a chance.

{Website: Imagine Foods}

View the original article here

Sweet Deal, or No Deal? The Biggest Loser Nutritionist on Sweeteners

Having a sweet tooth can be a struggle for many. Who doesn't love something sweet now and then, particularly at the end of a meal? But sugar-laden products are full of empty calories, making them hard to justify from a nutritional standpoint.

Many people have turned to artificial sweeteners such as Equal and Splenda to sweeten their coffee or tea. There has also been an increase of "sugar free" and "diet" foods showing up on our grocery shelves. But these synthetic products don’t seem to help with slimming. Although we are consuming more "sugar free," processed foods, we are collectively getting fatter and obesity rates continue to soar. It's also becoming increasingly clear that natural, whole foods are better for our bodies than man-made and over-processed foods.

There are alternative "natural" sweeteners out there and many have come to the forefront of public interest lately. Are they healthier than regular granulated sugar?

Take a look at the nutritional breakdown of some popular sugar alternatives:

1 gram fiber; low glycemic index; has antioxidants

Contains potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and vitamin C

.7 g fiber; .5 mg iron; 9.8 mg magnesium; .2 g zinc; has antioxidants

Half as sweet as granulated sugar; has antioxidants

Strong flavor; 3.5 mg iron; has antioxidants

As the chart shows, natural sweeteners can provide more nutritional value than white sugar. But they still contain calories, so use them in moderation.

What about those antioxidants? According to researchers at Virginia Tech University, who examined antioxidant content of several natural sweeteners in a 2008 study, molasses had the highest amounts of antioxidants, while refined sugar, and agave nectar contained minimal amounts. Here's how they ranked sweeteners in terms of antioxidant content, from highest to lowest:

Molasses (blackstrap or dark) Barley malt syrupBrown rice syrupHoney Agave nectarRefined table sugar

More specifically, here's a chart from my book, Positively Ageless, showing the antioxidant content of leading sweeteners according to their ORAC (oxygen radical absorbency capacity) score.

So, if your goal is to increase your intake of antioxidants, do so with fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds -- not added sweeteners!

Coconut sugar is one alternative that's showing up more frequently on grocery shelves. Also known as palm sugar, coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palms. It is also sold as "arenga sugar." The taste resembles that of brown sugar, but it is not as sweet. It has a low melting point and a high burn temperature, which makes it a suitable sweetener for confectioners. But is it "healthier" than other sweeteners? Based on research done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in the Philippines, coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar (35 vs. 50) and it contains more zinc, iron, vitamin C and potassium than other sweeteners. But if you’re looking to increase your intake of these nutrients, stick with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts, which provide them in much higher amounts! Most of the "palm sugar" commonly sold in Asian markets is not pure coconut palm sugar -- it can be blended with other fillers, such as white cane sugar –- not so good.

A note about Stevia, which is gaining popularity. Stevia is a plant product that has been around for centuries and is now being marketed as a pure and truly healthier sweetener (PureVia and Truvia are name brands) with zero calories. Stevia-based sweeteners contain Rebiana (known as Reb A), which is the sweetest part of the stevia leaf, and are generally used to sweeten candy and sodas.

Although the FDA has considered Stevia safe, there hasn’t been long-term research on its effects. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has raised concerns that Stevia may cause DNA damage.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that until more research is done, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid using the sweetener. Also those taking diabetes or blood pressure medications should use stevia with caution.

The deal with sugar and alternative sweeteners -- use in moderation and stick to natural products when you can.

View the original article here

Sweet Deal, or No Deal? The Biggest Loser Nutritionist on Sweeteners

Having a sweet tooth can be a struggle for many. Who doesn't love something sweet now and then, particularly at the end of a meal? But sugar-laden products are full of empty calories, making them hard to justify from a nutritional standpoint.

Many people have turned to artificial sweeteners such as Equal and Splenda to sweeten their coffee or tea. There has also been an increase of "sugar free" and "diet" foods showing up on our grocery shelves. But these synthetic products don’t seem to help with slimming. Although we are consuming more "sugar free," processed foods, we are collectively getting fatter and obesity rates continue to soar. It's also becoming increasingly clear that natural, whole foods are better for our bodies than man-made and over-processed foods.

There are alternative "natural" sweeteners out there and many have come to the forefront of public interest lately. Are they healthier than regular granulated sugar?

Take a look at the nutritional breakdown of some popular sugar alternatives:

1 gram fiber; low glycemic index; has antioxidants

Contains potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and vitamin C

.7 g fiber; .5 mg iron; 9.8 mg magnesium; .2 g zinc; has antioxidants

Half as sweet as granulated sugar; has antioxidants

Strong flavor; 3.5 mg iron; has antioxidants

As the chart shows, natural sweeteners can provide more nutritional value than white sugar. But they still contain calories, so use them in moderation.

What about those antioxidants? According to researchers at Virginia Tech University, who examined antioxidant content of several natural sweeteners in a 2008 study, molasses had the highest amounts of antioxidants, while refined sugar, and agave nectar contained minimal amounts. Here's how they ranked sweeteners in terms of antioxidant content, from highest to lowest:

Molasses (blackstrap or dark) Barley malt syrupBrown rice syrupHoney Agave nectarRefined table sugar

More specifically, here's a chart from my book, Positively Ageless, showing the antioxidant content of leading sweeteners according to their ORAC (oxygen radical absorbency capacity) score.

So, if your goal is to increase your intake of antioxidants, do so with fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds -- not added sweeteners!

Coconut sugar is one alternative that's showing up more frequently on grocery shelves. Also known as palm sugar, coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palms. It is also sold as "arenga sugar." The taste resembles that of brown sugar, but it is not as sweet. It has a low melting point and a high burn temperature, which makes it a suitable sweetener for confectioners. But is it "healthier" than other sweeteners? Based on research done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in the Philippines, coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar (35 vs. 50) and it contains more zinc, iron, vitamin C and potassium than other sweeteners. But if you’re looking to increase your intake of these nutrients, stick with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts, which provide them in much higher amounts! Most of the "palm sugar" commonly sold in Asian markets is not pure coconut palm sugar -- it can be blended with other fillers, such as white cane sugar –- not so good.

A note about Stevia, which is gaining popularity. Stevia is a plant product that has been around for centuries and is now being marketed as a pure and truly healthier sweetener (PureVia and Truvia are name brands) with zero calories. Stevia-based sweeteners contain Rebiana (known as Reb A), which is the sweetest part of the stevia leaf, and are generally used to sweeten candy and sodas.

Although the FDA has considered Stevia safe, there hasn’t been long-term research on its effects. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has raised concerns that Stevia may cause DNA damage.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that until more research is done, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid using the sweetener. Also those taking diabetes or blood pressure medications should use stevia with caution.

The deal with sugar and alternative sweeteners -- use in moderation and stick to natural products when you can.

View the original article here

Sweet Deal, or No Deal? The Biggest Loser Nutritionist on Sweeteners

Having a sweet tooth can be a struggle for many. Who doesn't love something sweet now and then, particularly at the end of a meal? But sugar-laden products are full of empty calories, making them hard to justify from a nutritional standpoint.

Many people have turned to artificial sweeteners such as Equal and Splenda to sweeten their coffee or tea. There has also been an increase of "sugar free" and "diet" foods showing up on our grocery shelves. But these synthetic products don’t seem to help with slimming. Although we are consuming more "sugar free," processed foods, we are collectively getting fatter and obesity rates continue to soar. It's also becoming increasingly clear that natural, whole foods are better for our bodies than man-made and over-processed foods.

There are alternative "natural" sweeteners out there and many have come to the forefront of public interest lately. Are they healthier than regular granulated sugar?

Take a look at the nutritional breakdown of some popular sugar alternatives:

1 gram fiber; low glycemic index; has antioxidants

Contains potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and vitamin C

.7 g fiber; .5 mg iron; 9.8 mg magnesium; .2 g zinc; has antioxidants

Half as sweet as granulated sugar; has antioxidants

Strong flavor; 3.5 mg iron; has antioxidants

As the chart shows, natural sweeteners can provide more nutritional value than white sugar. But they still contain calories, so use them in moderation.

What about those antioxidants? According to researchers at Virginia Tech University, who examined antioxidant content of several natural sweeteners in a 2008 study, molasses had the highest amounts of antioxidants, while refined sugar, and agave nectar contained minimal amounts. Here's how they ranked sweeteners in terms of antioxidant content, from highest to lowest:

Molasses (blackstrap or dark) Barley malt syrupBrown rice syrupHoney Agave nectarRefined table sugar

More specifically, here's a chart from my book, Positively Ageless, showing the antioxidant content of leading sweeteners according to their ORAC (oxygen radical absorbency capacity) score.

So, if your goal is to increase your intake of antioxidants, do so with fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds -- not added sweeteners!

Coconut sugar is one alternative that's showing up more frequently on grocery shelves. Also known as palm sugar, coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palms. It is also sold as "arenga sugar." The taste resembles that of brown sugar, but it is not as sweet. It has a low melting point and a high burn temperature, which makes it a suitable sweetener for confectioners. But is it "healthier" than other sweeteners? Based on research done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in the Philippines, coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar (35 vs. 50) and it contains more zinc, iron, vitamin C and potassium than other sweeteners. But if you’re looking to increase your intake of these nutrients, stick with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts, which provide them in much higher amounts! Most of the "palm sugar" commonly sold in Asian markets is not pure coconut palm sugar -- it can be blended with other fillers, such as white cane sugar –- not so good.

A note about Stevia, which is gaining popularity. Stevia is a plant product that has been around for centuries and is now being marketed as a pure and truly healthier sweetener (PureVia and Truvia are name brands) with zero calories. Stevia-based sweeteners contain Rebiana (known as Reb A), which is the sweetest part of the stevia leaf, and are generally used to sweeten candy and sodas.

Although the FDA has considered Stevia safe, there hasn’t been long-term research on its effects. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has raised concerns that Stevia may cause DNA damage.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that until more research is done, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid using the sweetener. Also those taking diabetes or blood pressure medications should use stevia with caution.

The deal with sugar and alternative sweeteners -- use in moderation and stick to natural products when you can.

View the original article here

Sweet Deal, or No Deal? The Biggest Loser Nutritionist on Sweeteners

Having a sweet tooth can be a struggle for many. Who doesn't love something sweet now and then, particularly at the end of a meal? But sugar-laden products are full of empty calories, making them hard to justify from a nutritional standpoint.

Many people have turned to artificial sweeteners such as Equal and Splenda to sweeten their coffee or tea. There has also been an increase of "sugar free" and "diet" foods showing up on our grocery shelves. But these synthetic products don’t seem to help with slimming. Although we are consuming more "sugar free," processed foods, we are collectively getting fatter and obesity rates continue to soar. It's also becoming increasingly clear that natural, whole foods are better for our bodies than man-made and over-processed foods.

There are alternative "natural" sweeteners out there and many have come to the forefront of public interest lately. Are they healthier than regular granulated sugar?

Take a look at the nutritional breakdown of some popular sugar alternatives:

1 gram fiber; low glycemic index; has antioxidants

Contains potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and vitamin C

.7 g fiber; .5 mg iron; 9.8 mg magnesium; .2 g zinc; has antioxidants

Half as sweet as granulated sugar; has antioxidants

Strong flavor; 3.5 mg iron; has antioxidants

As the chart shows, natural sweeteners can provide more nutritional value than white sugar. But they still contain calories, so use them in moderation.

What about those antioxidants? According to researchers at Virginia Tech University, who examined antioxidant content of several natural sweeteners in a 2008 study, molasses had the highest amounts of antioxidants, while refined sugar, and agave nectar contained minimal amounts. Here's how they ranked sweeteners in terms of antioxidant content, from highest to lowest:

Molasses (blackstrap or dark) Barley malt syrupBrown rice syrupHoney Agave nectarRefined table sugar

More specifically, here's a chart from my book, Positively Ageless, showing the antioxidant content of leading sweeteners according to their ORAC (oxygen radical absorbency capacity) score.

So, if your goal is to increase your intake of antioxidants, do so with fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds -- not added sweeteners!

Coconut sugar is one alternative that's showing up more frequently on grocery shelves. Also known as palm sugar, coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palms. It is also sold as "arenga sugar." The taste resembles that of brown sugar, but it is not as sweet. It has a low melting point and a high burn temperature, which makes it a suitable sweetener for confectioners. But is it "healthier" than other sweeteners? Based on research done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in the Philippines, coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar (35 vs. 50) and it contains more zinc, iron, vitamin C and potassium than other sweeteners. But if you’re looking to increase your intake of these nutrients, stick with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts, which provide them in much higher amounts! Most of the "palm sugar" commonly sold in Asian markets is not pure coconut palm sugar -- it can be blended with other fillers, such as white cane sugar –- not so good.

A note about Stevia, which is gaining popularity. Stevia is a plant product that has been around for centuries and is now being marketed as a pure and truly healthier sweetener (PureVia and Truvia are name brands) with zero calories. Stevia-based sweeteners contain Rebiana (known as Reb A), which is the sweetest part of the stevia leaf, and are generally used to sweeten candy and sodas.

Although the FDA has considered Stevia safe, there hasn’t been long-term research on its effects. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has raised concerns that Stevia may cause DNA damage.

The Mayo Clinic suggests that until more research is done, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid using the sweetener. Also those taking diabetes or blood pressure medications should use stevia with caution.

The deal with sugar and alternative sweeteners -- use in moderation and stick to natural products when you can.

View the original article here