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Japan is doing something right. Only around 3% of the population in Japan is obese, according to a survey published by the United Health Foundation. If they tried to do their own version of the reality show The Biggest Loser, they'd have a very hard time casting for it. They just might need to pull some contestants from the pool of USA citizens...

Click ahead for the full story and find out who is worse off than the USA when it comes to heart disease and cancer....

Compared to Japan, the USA is rather pathetic.

United States incidence of obesity:
Females: 33%
Males: 31%

Japan incidence of obesity:
Females: 3.3%
Males: 2.9%

Japan enjoys a diet high in soy products as well as lean proteins like fish.

Hmm...does this make a better case for learning how to love tofu and soy products? Maybe your next Starbucks beverage should be a soy latte.

Another skinny society is Norway with only 5.9% obese females and 6.4% obese males.

On the list of 31 countries worldwide, the USA is indeed the most obese country. By far. The next most obese countries are Malta and the United Kingdom, both at around 20%.

Below, compare the statistics comparing cardiovascular (heart) disease deaths and cancer deaths in the USA vs. Japan. And find out why the Czech Republic isn't doing so hot in health either...

HEART DISEASE:

Per 100k citizens, mortality rate for cardiovascular (heart) disease:
JAPAN: 106
UNITED STATES: 188

Interestingly, the USA is not the highest in heart disease deaths. Greece has 258 and Germany has 211. The highest? The Czech Republic has 315.

CANCER:

Per 100k citizens, mortality rate for cancer:
JAPAN: 119
UNITED STATES: 134

The highest? Once again the Czech Republic at 177, and Denmark at 167.

Read the complete rankings here: http://www.americashealthrankings.org/2008/othernations.html

Del Monte fruit company is taking the marketing concept of 'sex sells' to a whole new level with a brand new marketing campaign to sell its fruit cups, jars and cans. The slogan? Fruit: Undressed. Welcome to the pure joy of undressed fruit.

It makes sense. It's fruit without the protective peel. AKA, undressed. I don't recommend that anyone relies solely on pre-packed fruit-rather than fresh fruit in their diet, but there are a few great uses I can name for Del Monte's line of canned/cupped/jarred fruit.

Click ahead for my list of uses, a coupon link, and a closer look at the Fruit Undressed campaign.

Pre-packaged Fruit: When to Say yes:

1. Baked goods
If you are going to bake it, whey not save yourself a bit of work and use pre-cut fruit. Fresh is always best, but in my experience, canned pears and pineapple do very well in baked muffins, breads and cakes.

2. Lunch on the go
Sometimes it's tricky to plan ahead and get fresh produce everyday. So once in a while it is easy to simply grab a pre-cut fruit pack like a mandarin orange, grapefruit or pineapple cup.

3. Great for kids
Kids may not know how to peel an orange or grapefruit at a busy lunch table at school. It's much easier for then to pop a top. And it gets them into a good habit of choosing fruit over junk snack foods.

4. Salads
I actually love mandarin oranges in my salads. I will usually do half fresh half canned mandarins in a citrus salad I prepare.Half and half is a good choice because you get the best of both worlds-fresh and pre-packed.

5. Sick Day
When I am not feeling well, I always crave a canned fruit salad. Call it nostalgia, call t chemistry. The easy to digest canned fruit is sweet enough to calm a tummy, and just bland enough to keep it calm. Canned peaches and pears are my choices for a ill-feeling loved one.

DEL MONTE UNDRESSED CAMPAIGN

Here's a link to a $1 off coupon from Del Monte.

And here's a few more funny 'undressed' fruit media images...you can get them as wallpaper and e-cards at the Del Monte website.

Could Economy Woes Make Us Healthier?A survey published in PARADE magazine revealed a few interesting trends regarding how a poor economy affects the way Americans eat.

The media loves to report all about how Americans seem to turn to fast food more when the economy slumps. But what about the other side of the story?

One positive finding in the survey: 21% said they are planting their own vegetable garden.

However: Only 33% won't give up eating a balanced meal. So does that mean 68% will?

Overall, 80% of people are changing their habits. Change could be a good thing for a country with an ever-rising rate of obesity.Click forward to read a list of interesting statistics from the survey...

What America eats survey findings:

80% of people are changing their habits.
35% are making more meals from scratch.
28% are buying more products in bulk.
33% won't give up eating a balanced meal.
48% say they eat out less than they used to.
21% said they are planting their own vegetable garden.
59% are turning away from expensive beef cuts.
61% say they rely on coupons and sales when shopping.
42% have switched to less expensive brands.
47% avoid shopping too often to avoid expensive splurges.
70% always was fresh fruit and veggies before eating.
40% of people will eat bread past the expiration date.
30% will eat canned goods past the expiration date.
33% will eat anything past the expiration date if it looks and smells OK.
53% will eat anything that falls on the floor-5 second rule applies.
21% of Americans say that the most adventurous food they have eaten is sushi.
19% say the most exotic food is Chinese takeout or another ethnic food.
66% say they would not pass off prepared foods as their own.

PARADE ARTICLE: http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/food/2008/11/what-america-really-eats.html

Lasagna is an delicious and healthy recipe to make vegan.
Tomatoes are an excellent source of heart healthy lycopene. And tofu makes this traditionally fat and carb heavy dish quite an excellent source of protein.

This recipe uses tofu instead of ricotta cheese. Serve it hot, with a bit of roasted garlic spread, olive oil vinaigrette and a side salad of arugula and tomatoes - and dinner is served.

Click forward for the recipe....

Smarty Tomato Lasagna
vegan
INGREDIENTS
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 ½ cups chopped onion
* 3 tablespoons minced garlic
* 4 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
* ⅓ cup tomato paste
* ½ cup chopped fresh basil
* ½ cup chopped parsley
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles
* 2 pounds firm tofu
* 2 tablespoons minced garlic
* ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
* ¼ cup chopped parsley
* ½ teaspoon salt
* ground black pepper to taste
* 3 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

DIRECTIONS

Sauce: In a large, heavy saucepan, over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Place the onions in the saucepan and saute them until they are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic; cook 5 minutes more.
Place the tomatoes, tomato paste, basil and parsley in the saucepan. Stir well, turn the heat to low and let the sauce simmer covered for 1 hour. Add the salt and pepper.

PASTA: While the sauce is cooking bring a large kettle of salted water to a boil. Boil the lasagna noodles for 9 minutes, then drain and rinse well.

OVEN: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

TOFU FILLING: Place the tofu blocks in a large bowl. Add the garlic, basil and parsley. Add the salt and pepper, and mash all the ingredients together by squeezing pieces of tofu through your fingers. Mix well.

ASSEMBLY: Spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch casserole pan. Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles, sprinkle one-third of the tofu mixture over the noodles. Distribute the spinach evenly over the tofu. Next ladle 1 ½ cups tomato sauce over the tofu, and top it with another layer of the noodles. Then sprinkle another ⅓ of the tofu mixture over the noodles, top the tofu with 1 ½ cups tomato sauce, and place a final layer of noodles over the tomato sauce. Finally, top the noodles with the final ⅓ of the tofu, and spread the remaining tomato sauce over everything.

BAKE: Cover the pan with foil and bake the lasagna for 30 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy.

ADDITIONS: Roasted garlic spread on top layer or a homemade vegan pesto sauce are excellent additions.

CHEESE OPTIONAL: This recipe does not use cheese. But you can easily add a low fat mozzarella cheese or a vegan rice or soy based cheese. I like a rice singles pepper-jack flavor for this lasagna.

Hey blog readers.
I want to give you all a peek inside my world. Here are some facts about my life, my brand the Lunchbox Bunch, my favorite restaurants, my favorite foods and a few fun facts that might surprise you.

I even included a lot of photos from my everyday adventures.

Click here to learn all about Kathy...

ALL ABOUT KATHY PATALSKY

Tofu versus seitan. Both tofu and seitan are excellent sources of vegetarian protein. Tofu is made from soybeans. Seitan is made from wheat gluten. Both are easy to find in grocery stores. Tofu is the traditional vegetarian protein. But options like seitan and tempeh are becoming more mainstream-for very good reasons. I've already discussed tempeh, now lets discuss seitan versus tofu.

Ahead in this post: a nutrition comparison, photos, and tips to help you judge the quality of your prepared tofu or seitan dish. Preparation makes a huge difference. Keep reading to find out whether you're best suited to being a seitan-lover or tofu-fanatic.

Will I like Seitan or Tofu better?

Three questions you should ask yourself:

First question, do you like the flavor and texture of beef or tofu-jerky?
Second, How passionate are you about eggs?
And last, what are your mushroom preferences? Do you enjoy a thickly cut marinated mushroom?

...odd questions right?

Well I ask these for good reason:

1. Seitan is a chewy dense, almost beef-jerky like protein. It has the ability to be incredibly tender, yet still maintains that soft chewy quality-like real meat. If you are not a fan of a chewy texture like in a jerky, you may not like seitan.

2. Do you like eggs? The soft squishy fluffy yet firm bite of a poached egg? Or the spongy fluff of a scrambled egg? Tofu definitely tastes a big like an egg-in texture. I know a few friends who hate eggs, and thus also hate tofu. However, if you love that fluffy, moist, squishy-yet-firm texture of an egg, tofu will be pleasing to your palate.

3. Mushrooms. I ask this question because how you like your mushrooms may determine how you like your proteins. I personally love mushrooms any which way, and I love vegetarian proteins any which way as well.
Mushrooms are super at absorbing flavors. Mushrooms like white button and portabella will absorb flavors. Tofu is an excellent flavor absorber as well. Left alone, tofu can be quite bland. But like a white button mushroom,- when infused with a seasoning, the flavor will pop.
Seitan is a bit less influenced by the flavor. Like a sauteed shiitake or oyster mushroom, the complex texture always rumps the added seasonings. So if you like a taste/texture combo that is a bit more dense and complex, seitan might be for you.

Now that you have a better feel of what protein might be more pleasing for your palate, lets take a look at the nutrition facts.

Seitan versus tofu: Nutrition Facts.

Seitan:
per serving, 85g
calories: 90
fat: 1g
protein: 18g
carbs: 3g
iron: 1.2mg, 6% RDA
Selenium: 10 mcg, 14% RDA
Phosphorus: 65mg, 5%RDA

Tofu:
calories: 98
fat: 5g
protein: 10g
carbs: 3g
iron: 1.6mg, 9% RDA
Selenium: 13 mcg, 19% RDA
Phosphorus: 136 mg, 14%RDA
Manganese: .8mg, 38% RDA
Calcium: 175mg, 18%

Depending on the brand and style of protein, the nutrition facts may change a bit. But you can see that seitan is actually a bit higher in protein and lower in fat than tofu. Naturally, tofu is a bit higher in fat and thus lower in total protein. You can buy low fat or higher fat versions of each.

Seitan is an awesome high protein source of lean veggie protein. It gives you that "beef jerky" style protein boost. If you are craving a heavier, denser protein-go for the seitan.

How Do I Judge Quality?

Often times I hear people say, gosh I tried seitan and I hated it. Or the same for tofu. Here are a few signs that you are tasting good or bad versions of these proteins:

Good tofu: firm, yet moist. Not rubbery. Flavor pops, yet tofu texture is still apparent. Fluffy like a perfect egg or angel food cake. A few spongy holes or texture marks can be seen. Not shiny after cooked. Does not fall apart on your fork.

Bad Tofu: Rubbery, slimy, too dense or shiny after cooked. Can be cut with a perfect edge-no spongy bumps to the texture. Falls apart on your fork.

Good Setian: Crisp, chewy edges with a moist tender inner part. Flavor should be infused through entire piece-not just edges. Correct ratio of chewiness to tenderness. Should easily pull apart in stringy moist bits. Not mushy or dry. Juices should explode in flavor when you bite into a good seitan.

Bad Seitan: Dry-hard as a rock to bite. Overly cooked-too chewy. Mushy or 'melted' in texture. Unflavorful center. Not correctly seasoned. Mushy edges. Does not easily pull apart-or does not hold its shape well. Juices from bite are flavorless or bitter in taste.

Who is the winner???

They are both winners! (In their own ways.) There are many reasons why people love their tofu, but seitan is the meat-lovers veggie friend. You really can't make tofu appear to be meat. But I have been to restaurants like Blossom, GoBo and Candle 79 here in NYC, and the seitan really looks and has a texture like meat! The texture has a meaty quality that really stands up to tofu-hating critics.

A meat lover could easily taste a good seitan skewer and be incredibly pleased. And the high protein really shines through the flavor.

Tofu is an excellent option as well. I adore my tofu-pesto sandwich from Caravan of Dreams here in NYC. I get it at least twice a week.
Also, at The Kitchen Club restaurant in Nolita, the tofu tastes like a fluffy block of tofu-angel food-egg-cake. My egg cravings are always subsided by tofu. However, if you don't like fluffy eggs, tofu might be too light for your palate.

...but then again, I have tasted a few densely grilled tofu steaks that really had a bold body and hearty texture. So never could tofu out even for the carnivores.

The skills of the chef make a bit difference for how these vegetarian proteins turn out. It is very easy to mess up the flavor and texture of tofu and seitan. It takes a bit of practice and skill to make tofu and seitan taste their best...aka...delicious and irresistible.

Both are cravable. Both will make your protein cravings healthy and happy.

Last night was Valentine's Day eve. Instead of staying home and resting up for our delicious, raw-vegan, five course Pure Food and Wine Planned VDAY evening, G and I went out to James Barbour's "Love Songs" concert at Sardi's. Special guests were Morgan James and Constantine Maroulis. And as James Barbour posted on his blog, this was a "WOW!" of a show.

The Love Songs show last night was awesome. Constantine sang a cover of one of my favorite songs, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. And Morgan James sparkled. Her voice can only be described as powerful.

One of the most important wellness tips I have for you is to get out and attend a concert, a show, a reading, a high school play, an opera, a poetry reading, a coffeehouse jazz concert-something live! There is nothing more soul-soothing than experiencing some form of art with a group of people. And there is something miraculous about the interaction between performer and audience (big or small). If you are in NYC, I recommend you go see Barbour's Love Songs show. There are only a few more dates. Tickets here. Oh, and Constantine will be starring in Rock of Ages on Broadway next month. I am definitely going to check that show out.

Click forward to read more details from the concert and my fun "Valentine's Day Eve" night out...

I became a fan of James Barbour after seeing him star as Sydney Carton in the short-lived Broadway musical A Tale of Two Cities. I saw the show three times, including closing night. After the show sadly closed, JB did a successful holiday concert show at Sardi's. To see Broadway talent up close and personal like that is an experience you can only find in NYC.

Back at Sardi's
James Barbour's concerts, Holiday and Love Songs, are both at Sardi's. Now don't get me wrong. I love the nostalgia of 'old Broadway' that Sardi's brings. It has an ambiance that is friendly, cozy and warm. Perfect for JB's personality and show style. But I probably wouldn't go there if it wasn't for these shows! So finding myself back at a Sardi's table for the third time, made me giggle. Sardi's walls are decorated with caricatures of celebrities, and it is right on 44th st across the street from where Phantom of the Opera plays. Tourists and nostalgia-of-Bway-seeking folks will love Sardi's though.

The Show
What an amazing display of talent-all packed into one show. JB did an array of old and new, known and obscure love songs. I love the selections he chooses from The Hunchback of Notre Dame show he was in. He started out the show with a whopper of a tune, his soul-shaking voice belting out through the crowd, hushing any chattering tables and knocking the sounds of clanking silverware and glasses to the very back of the room. All focus is on JB with the personal stories he tells and his friendly interaction with the adoring crowd. He always sticks in a few audience interaction songs. He did the hilarious "Muskrat Love" song and "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific. He also did "On the Street Where You Live" from my fave, My Fair Lady. As an intro to "On the street.." he always tells his story about how he sang that song in high school and before he even opened his mouth, a cruel student shouted out "You suck!" Little James sang anyways and I'm sure he wowed those dumbstruck classmates.

The Special Guests
Special indeed. I was a huge fan of Constantine Maroulis back from his American Idol days. Voted off in sixth place - booo! (Sixth Place Records is what he named his private label. Nice.) So, I was intrigued to see Maroulis perform live. Wow. He is such a fun and charismatic 'rocker-with-a-soul' style performer. He had his amazing guitarist accompany him. He sang a few songs-all cool, all made me tap my toes-the true sign of a good soul-filed beat. But it was his cover of the Leonard Cohen song "Hallelujah" that left me breathless. He nailed it. Even if he did forget the words a bit....he did give us an extra verse in the end. Fabulous.

And Morgan James is a beautiful chicka with a voice and personality fit for the stage. She belts out jazzy style tunes with passion and confidence. She must have been amazing in "Hair".

After the concert G and I skipped through the chilly windy streets of NYC. Past the crowded sidewalks of Times Square, past the dimly lit fashion week tents at Bryant Park, past the line-around-the-corner to get into the Bryant Park Hotel event, and off to a yummy dinner. Fun night out indeed.

Something about a good show really centers me. It sharpens my brain and takes my thoughts off the surface level superficial thingsin life. It makes me crave a good story, a passionate voice, a transforming conversation - something that teaches you something through the event. Something that takes your spirit to a higher-sharper-brighter-bolder part of your heart.

...getting to that brighter part of your heart with someone you love.

That is what Valentine's Day means to me.

Valentine's Day can be a big drag if your love life is taking a breather. So for everyone who doesn't have a signifi other to swoon over you on Valentine's Day - this one's for you!

It's a delicious, yet not too rich version of the classic decadent heart brownie. This little heart is are all bruised up with blackberries and blueberries.

Click forward for the recipe. Maybe pass it on to a bruise-hearted friend...

Black 'n Blue Heart Brownies
vegan

1 box brownie mix (or a classic 'from scratch' brownie recipe you may like.)
⅓ canola oil
¼ cup blueberry yogurt
1 cup fresh blackberries
1 cup fresh blueberries
¼ cup applesauce
¼ cup water
2 shots of brandy (optional)
¼ cup agave syrup
optional-chocolate chips, handful
Powdered sugar and raw sugar for topping

Prepare:
In a small bowl mash half of the portions of fresh berries, add brandy and agave syrup. Set aside.
Mix brownie mix with canola oil, blueberry yogurt, applesauce (or eggs), water.
Stir by hand well.
Fold in berry mixture.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Fold in a few fresh berries, but leave a few for a top layer.

Pour mix into greased brownie tin.
Add a layer of fresh berries-push deep into the batter.
Sprinkle a thin layer of raw or white sugar on top before baking.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
Allow to cool for at least an hour.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Use heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut brownies.

**Blueberries and blackberries are high in anti-aging free radical-fighting antioxidants. If you are using a high quality dark cocoa, you are getting triple the antioxidant protection! Berries and chocolate -- super foods!

Last week on the Bravo reality show, Top Chef, the chef-testants were challenged to create the 'last meal' as requested by famous culinary stars such as Lidia Bastianich, Wylie Dufresne and Jacques Pepin. Jacques requested a simple dish of Squab and peas.

I shouted to my TV, "Peas! I know Jacques' peas! I've been making them all week! Yay peas!"(My husband looked at me like I had lost it.)

Chef-testant Carla did a superb job of creating the dish. And for the peas she chose to hand pluck fresh peas, add some butter, salt and pepper. Just how Jacques likes it.

Where did my obsession with Jacques' peas begin? Well, a few weeks ago I was watching Jacques' PBS cooking show where he prepared fresh peas. I was intrigued by the glossy spring green color and got a craving. Peas are a great source of veggie protein, so I was inspired to experiment. Peas are very simple and cheap. I steamed a bag of frozen peas, added my own touches and it was pea bliss. I was hooked. Keep reading for pea nutrition facts, my super simple recipe for Jacques Pepin style, vegan Buttered Sweet Petite Peas, and to read Jacques' quote about his chosen 'last meal'....

Jacques Pepin On his Last Meal of Squab and Peas:
Bravotv.com asked: The whole theme of this episode revolved around "the last meal." You chose squab and peas. What does that dish mean to you?
Jacques: I had a hard time there because I would, of course, want my last meal to be very, very, very long with all the food that I like. When I was a kid the squab was one of the special treats that we would get occasionally throughout the year. The fresh peas, for me, is really a celebration of spring and is very appealing to me. Carla did that very, very well. I remember the peas more than the squab actually. They were really fantastic.

Buttered Sweet Petite Peas
vegan

Ingredients:
1 bag of organic frozen petite peas. My favorite brand is Columbia River Organics (I found them at Whole Foods).

2 Tbsp. Vegan "butter" spread (spectrum spread, canola oil spread, etc.)

salt and pepper

MAKE: Poke a hole in bag. Microwave for 4-5 minutes. Allow steam to puff up bag.
Toss peas with butter and salt and pepper to taste.
Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts:
(peas only)
1 serving, ½ cup
(3 servings per bag)
calories: 40
fat: 0g
protein: 2g
fiber: 2g
carbs: 8 g
vitamin A: 20%

Peas are a very good source of protein, B vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, potassium and vitamins K, C and A.

A Food Diary of model Heather Marks, is currently the most commented article on nymag.com. In her food/activity log Heather discusses her affection for a glass of white wine, Dragon Bowls from Angelika, carrot ginger sauce and coconut water post hot yoga class.

I read the log and was pretty impressed with Heathers awareness of nutrition basics. A few of the days seemed sparse in calories, but she was prepping for a shoot...

But what really caught my brain was the comments section. There seemed to be a war between those who thought Heather was starving herself and those who thought she was perfectly healthy. The interesting part is that many of the defenders of Heather's diet were from my home state of CALIFORN-I-A.

Hmmmm? What do you think?

Is it California vs. the world when it comes to health norms? Are Californians the healthier breed of people, or are they unhealthy in what they view as "normal"?

Click ahead to read a few of the most telling comments from this NYMag article...

Comments from Non-Cali Critics of Heathers diet:

"Wow, six days of semi-starvation followed by pasta, cheese, and mashed potatoes all on one day. Wednesday's eating was more than the rest of the week combined. Of course, she probably didn't eat anything prepared by the photographer's chef." -By dd7 on 02/06/2009 at 11:11am

""If I have a lot of carbs it really exhausts me"....??? last time I checked, it doesn't work that way" -By WhitneyMD on 02/06/2009 at 5:10pm

"I'm sorry, one glass of light white wine??!! It's almost sad. i could never be deprived in such a way.:::::::::::(:(:(:(:(::(:(:(:(:(:" -By DoNcArLeOnE on 02/08/2009 at 7:56am

Comments from Californians:

"What's wrong with her diet? It seems healthy to me. Maybe it's because I'm from California - so it seems like every day, regular food for health conscious Californians." -By azzizabisazza on 02/06/2009 at 1:06pm

"Another Californian checking in... it looks normal to me too. Sounds like what I eat, though I don't have quite that much dairy anymore. And I'm more likely to have red wine than white. I'm surprised at people's responses. This is intriguing. It makes me wonder what people are eating." -By Teater on 02/06/2009 at 8:25pm

"like the other Californians who've commented, I'd have to say she eats pretty well. healthier than me, and a lot more regularly than i do." -By disarmdstr on 02/08/2009 at 2:43pm

"Of course she eats. How do you think she knows all the intricate details and menus of all the places she mentioned dining at. She is a total grazer and eats when she is hungry and knows where to get what her body is craving. Want a smoothie? Check. Need a yummy chopped salad? Check. Craving some grape leaves (OK, I don't get that one...) check.

I applaud her for being healthy and proud of it. Tofu lovers, vegans and coconut water drinkers get a lot of crap in this town.

...PS I am originally from California too...go figure. " -My comment...

Another interesting comment:

"when i think of unhealthy people in fashion, i think of this: http://nymag.com/fashion/07/spring/28151/index3.html"

What's the verdict? My view...
I have to agree that the standards of health in Cali vs. NYC are different. Tofu is indeed a four-letter-word to many New Yorkers. And in Los Angeles, per say, you aren't really cool unless you embrace a healthy lifestyle-- vegans are heralded instead of heckled...

Read the article and Heathers Food Log in its entirety here on NYMAG.COM:
http://nymag.com/daily/food/2009/02/model_heather_marks_loves_toas.html?f=most-commented-grub-7d5

Heathers website: http://www.heather-marks.com/

There are a few things we can all count on as we meander through life: Noisy streets at midnight on New Years, laundry day, presents on your birthday and a sweet aroma when you smell the soft petals of a rose.

...and in my life I can always count on chocolate on Valentine's Day.

So in honor of Valentine's Day, here are the top five chocolate brands that place marked and in many ways, changed my life. A few brands full of nostalgic memories and a few with a taste I can't live without....

And don't forget that dark chocolate is one of those "superfoods" I love to rave about. Longevity.com reports:
Heart Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate:
-Dark chocolate is good for your heart. A small bar of it everyday can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. Two heart health benefits of dark chocolate are:
-Lower Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.
Lower Cholesterol: Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.

Click forward for my FIVE CHOCOLATE BRANDS... list...


Five Chocolates that Changed my Life

5. The Regional Childhood Favorite: See's
Memories and nostalgia. Growing up in California, the gotta-get-it brand of mainstream chocolate was See's. And every Valentine's Day my parents would "surprise" my sister and I with a beautiful heart-shaped box of chocolates. A sweet simple gesture, but it always made me feel giddy to break into a brand new box of V-Day chocolates. I was a bit odd. I'd bite into every singe piece and figure out what was what. I hated the dark ones with pink or white cream. So when I found one, I'd shuffle it off to my mom. She always thanked me for the half-eaten chocolate. My favorite piece of chocolate in the box? Those crunchy milk-chocolate covered toffee bites. Every region of the country has some regional favorite. I asked around, and a Pennsylvania-area regional favorite is Betsy Ann chocolates. Do you have a regional favorite?

4. The First "Worldly" Taste: Ghirardelli Chocolates
In the summers when my family would travel the 1.5 hour car trip from Santa Cruz to San Francisco for a walk on Fisherman's Wharf, a trolley ride and a nice dinner out overlooking the bay, my sister and I would always request a trip to Ghirardelli's Chocolate Shoppe in where else, Ghirardelli Square. There is an amazing ice cream shoppe with a Hot Fudge Sundae to die for. As a teenager, who still had the world to discover, I thought Ghirardelli was the tops. The best. Ghirardelli is amazing. But I had never been outside the USA.....

3. The Best of the Best, I Have Lived: La Maison Du Chocolat
In my college years I took a dream trip to Paris with my soon-to-be husband. That trip changed my life and so did the chocolate. We stumbled into a little chocolate shop that had more red-carpet, silver-spoon, white glove flair than any Michelin starred restaurant. The shop was dressed up like a Cartier or Tiffany Jewelery store. Low hanging lights, glossy glass display windows containing a plethora of amazing chocolates and confections. We had to decide on a few items and I ended up spending more than a lot on some chocolate. Something I rarely do. The best of the best? The dark chocolate chocolate-whole almond "brittle"-looking bars. There are La Maison's all over the world. I suggest you visit one, try a piece and experience world-class chocolate.

2. Going Raw: Pure Delights Raw Cacao
After moving to NYC, I discovered Organic Avenue. A gem of a store with raw, vegan, wellness-inspired goods, books and treats like raw chocolate. I get my fresh coconut water here. One day my husband and I tried the Pure Delights Raw Cacao. It comes in a tiny box of six chocolates, each decorated with a nut or dried berry such as cashews, pecans or goji berries. The box of six is only $12.50, which is so incredibly worth it. These raw and vegan chocolates blew me away. It made me realize that 100% "good stuff" chocolate can really taste amazing. I wish I could eat one of these chocolates everyday.

1. NYC Chocolatier Mecca: MarieBelle
Moving to NYC I noticed that this is a chocolatier mecca. Chocolatier shops are everywhere, there is Jacques Torres, Bespoke, Richart Design et Chocolat, Neuhaus Chocolatier, Teuscher
, Kee’s Chocolates, Martine's Chocolates and my favorite in the south-west end of Soho? Mariebelle. The Mariebelle original truffle chocolates are painted with cute little designs and all set in the beautiful crafted Mariebelle boxes. Flavors like peanut butter, champagne, Aztec, coconut and espresso - these all natural flavors are bold and rich. Also of note: the hot chocolate (all dark chocolate) is the best I have ever purchased to make at home. Aztec flavor-yum. The branding of Mariebelle simply makes me happy. The pin-up girls from the 50's large bars of chocolate are adorable. The old fashioned tea tins. Oh and the chocolate makes me swoon.

I cannot wait to see what journey I go on and what city I land in to add the next chocolate-marker to my life.

What are your top chocolate brands that changed your life??

LINKS:
MARIEBELLE
LA MAISON DU CHOCOLAT
GHIRARDELLI
PURE DELIGHTS RAW CACAO
SEE'S
BETSY ANN
JACQUES TORRES

Quiche is one of those foods I kinda miss as a vegan. (Good vegan quiche is so hard to find.) Until now!

NEW! At Le Pain Quotidien: When I saw the delightful addition of a six veggie quiche on Le Pain's menu, I got so excited I almost spit out my soy latte. A traditional quiche is usually very high in saturated fat and calories due to the cheese, cream, butter and egg ingredients. But this vegan quiche has only 370 calories!

Menu Description: Seasonal vegetables with tofu on a gluten-free buckwheat crust. Vegan. 370 calories.

Keep reading for more photos, my layer-by-layer bite analysis and discover two more new vegan specials on the Le Pain menu....

Layer-by-layer bite analysis:
Buckwheat crust, moist
Red Tomatoes, bright
Pickled cabbage, tangy
Spinach, tender
Zucchini, zesty
Shredded carrots, sweet
Tinge of moist tofu somewhere in there. But wait, what is that sixth vegetable?!

Aarrgh! Anyone know???

Six Vegetable Quiche Last Word: To be honest, this is more like a very elegant and complex Shepard's pie, than a quiche. But without the potatoes. The buckwheat crust is so tender it melts in your mouth, and the veggies are flavorful and palate pleasing. Though I can barely find the tofu ingredient, I am assuming it is in there. So don't be fooled into thinking this will be tofu-eggy in consistency. It is moist, tender and casserole-esc.
...and I LOVE it.

NEW VEGAN SPECIALS AT LE PAIN

1. Six Vegetable Quiche
2. Organic Acai Tonic (I tried this and it is more like an acai spritzer. Very light and refreshing)
3. Organic Green Tea and Pistachio "Kiss" (I have not tried this, but it looks like a little mouse cake. Yum.)

PS. Le Pain has one of my favorite on the go vegan soups too!

Le Pain Quotidien website

Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO offered this bit of news regarding their rumored "Starbucks Value/Happy Meals," which I previously blogged about here.

Schultz said this in a letter to All Starbucks Partners on Feb 9, 2009:

Subject: Value and Everyday Affordability – The Starbucks Way
"On March 3, we will introduce a selection of new pairings at $3.95. They combine our most popular beverages with our most popular breakfast items – and we’ve added a few new ones as well. " -Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO

Click forward to see the giggle-worthy way that Howard signs his letters, (what is he a sailor?) - and to read the letter in full....

...and thanks to J for the news tip.

FULL LETTER:

Images

To: All Partners
Date: February 9, 2009
Subject: Value and Everyday Affordability – The Starbucks Way

Partners,

During these tough times, customers need to know they’re making a smart choice when they come to Starbucks. That they’re getting the world’s finest coffee, delicious food made with quality ingredients, and an experience they can’t get anywhere else. But they also need to know we’re listening to them, and that we’re helping them by making Starbucks an affordable, everyday value. We have taken some time to understand how Starbucks can deliver more value in a way that is both consistent with who we are, and relevant to the day-to-day realities consumers are facing. It was time well spent. We have tested concepts, conducted research, and most important, listened to our customers. I am very pleased to report that we have arrived at a value strategy that will appeal to customers without compromising our commitment to quality.

On March 3, we will introduce a selection of new pairings at $3.95. They combine our most popular beverages with our most popular breakfast items – and we’ve added a few new ones as well. Our pairings lead with our hand-crafted beverages. They offer our customers more affordability at breakfast time – not a free extra they wouldn’t have ordered anyway. And they come with the Starbucks Experience each and every day.

This move is the right thing to do for our customers. And we can do it while maintaining our high standards in sourcing, buying and roasting the finest coffee in the world. Starbucks success over the years has been in delivering a level of taste, quality and authenticity based on the coffee beans we start with and the experience created by our partners. The majority of our customers are coffee lovers and we need to trust them to find value and quality at Starbucks over and above fast food purveyors and other coffee companies.

At the same time, we will do more to tell our story. I talked to a Partner recently who was frustrated by the persistent misperceptions about our value. He was urging the company to be more aggressive in responding to the mythical claims about the $4 latte. With your help, that is exactly what we are going to do.

Did you know, for example, that ounce for ounce; our brewed coffee is competitively priced vs. others in most markets, and in some cases, is lower priced? And did you know that the average price customers paid for beverages for all of 2008 was under $3? We will be providing you more facts like these over the coming weeks, so you have the ammunition to dispel the myth -- with customers and friends, online and in conversation. We’ll also be adding new offers over time that combine everyday affordability with an emphasis on why Starbucks is a smart choice for customers – in tough times and in good times.

I look forward to sharing more with you about the value we bring to customers, and I thank you in advance for playing a critical role in telling the story.

Onward,

Howard

What do you think?? I'm not a big fan of Starbucks value meals....

Last night on Jay Leno, I was shocked to hear a few controversial statements - and good points - made by Bill Maher about the Michael Phelps pot-smoking case and the A-Rod steroids case:

On Kellogg's dropping Phelps:
"I wish we could end this charade in this country that putting marijuana in your body is somehow worse than a thousand other things that people put in their body - including anything made by Kellogg's!" -Bill Maher on Jay Leno 2/10/09

I do think that pot use is a serious subject, but I also agree that the Kellogg's company has its share of health sins, just look at the amount of sugar and processed ingredients in their morning cereals. Can Kellogg's really justify firing someone based on wanting to ensure the health and wellness of their customers.
Exhibit A: The nutrition facts on Kellogg's new products billed as breakfast food: Eggo bake Shop Chocolate Chip Muffin Tops.

Keep reading for Maher's statement about A-rod and steroids, and his insinuation that most of the United States is on steroids too....

Bill Maher on A-Rod:
"Let me tell you folks - you're all on steroids. If you eat the food in America, if you eat the cows, if you eat the chickens, if you eat the pigs. They shoot them all up with steroids, hormones and antibiotics. This is why people are so sick, I'm serious. Is Alex Rodriguez on steroids? If he ate food in America, yes - if he ate hay, no." -Bill Maher on Jay Leno 2/10/09

...Interesting. I have done a lot of reading about hormones in milk, especially before I decided to go vegan. And I absolutely agree that there are too many steroids pumped into the cows we use for store bought milk in this country. Studies have shown that it effects our health and especially the health of children. Read more on this topic from Marilu Henner's book "Total Health Makeover," chapter called: Step 5: The Miracle of Dairy Free.

Pomegranate juice is indeed a super juice. 

I received an email regarding my recipe post for the Winter White Fruit Salad. The blog reader asked: "Hi Kathy, This looks delicious, but I can't figure out what grapefruit will have a white flesh. What are they called? Thanks." -AJ

So to clarify, I've posted a few photos of a white grapefruit...

My response to AJ's question: To find a white fleshed grapefruit, simply look for one with a light yellow rind, and make sure that is it not called a ruby red or pink grapefruit.

White Grapefruits are sweeter - and a tad less zesty and bitter - more smooth and juicy. They are delicious in salads or eaten alone. Try juicing one for a delightful breakfast sip. I adore white grapefruit and actually prefer them over traditional pink versions!

White fleshed grapefruits are sometimes called cocktail grapefruits. Good luck!

The grapefruit tree is a subtropical citrus tree grown for its bitter fruit which was originally named the "forbidden fruit" of Barbados.

Grapefruit Nutrition Facts:

per ½ grapefruit
60 calories
2 grams of Fiber
31% RDA Vitamin A
95% RDA Vitamin C
2% RDA Calcium
.2 grams fat

I'm just a California girl living in NYC.
And with that, comes my forever love and adoration of good Mexican food. Spicy guacamole, a clean spicy salsa verde, red rice, black beans, sizzling veggie fajitas, essences of cilantro, fresh homemade corn tortillas -- all make my mouth sing.

NYC is not a Mexican food haven. However it does have its bright spots like Dos Caminos on Park Avenue, with those yummy big bowls of guacamole. But I learned quickly in this town that the restaurant with the flashing sombrero on Broadway? Probably not your best best for a plantain and fresh cilantro garnished meal. So where does a vegan turn when a burrito craving strikes fast and furiously?

Chipotle. Really.

Chipotle is indeed fast food, but in my opinion it is one of the best chains for vegans craving a fast food fix. But there are rules one must follow.....Keep reading for a few interesting Chipotle Food Facts and my five healthy tips for eating healthy at Chipotle.

Five Healthy Food Tips for Eating at Chipotle

1. Ban the three C'S SOUR CREAM and CHEESE and CHIPS
One ounce of cheese contains 100 calories and 8.5 grams of fat. 5 grams of saturated fat.
One ounce of sour cream contains 120 calories and 10 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat.
Four ounces of chips contain 570 calories and 27 grams of fat! Yikes.
Not good. Depending on how much cheese/sour cream you request on your creation, you could be adding 100-500 calories to your meal. And possibly even 40 grams of fat. (I've seen those "lots of cheese please" and "more sour cream" folks, you know who you are!)
Knocking off these toppings is the best move you can make at Chipotle.

2. Bowl, Salad, burrito or tacos?
Everyone wants the burrito right? But there are options. Let's compare the facts:
Flour Tortilla: 290 calories, 7 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, 3 grams sat. fat, 670 mg sodium, 20% RDA calcium, 15% RDA iron.
Soft Tacos: (3 soft taco shells) They usually give you three, so I multiplied the per taco facts by three. 270 calories, 7.5 grams of fat, 3 grams sat. fat, 6 grams protein, 600 mg sodium, 18% RDA calcium, 12% RDA iron
Hard Tacos: (3 shells) 180 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1.5 grams sat. fat, 30 mg. sodium, 6% RDA iron and calcium.
Bowl: All ingredients. 0 wrap.
Salad: The dressing contains 270 calories, 24 grams of fat and 700 mg. sodium. If you choose the salad, good for you, but replace the dressing with a few sides of salsa. Those high calorie dressing will always do your calorie expenditure in!
If you aren't going for the burrito cowl, clearly the hard tacos are the winner for health. But even more interesting is the fact that the tacos are pretty similar to the burrito tortilla serving. Many people think that the soft tacos are much better than the burrito. No so much.
My suggestion: If you can't order the hard tacos or bowl, get a burrito and simply don't eat ALL the tortilla. It's not hard to not eat that last bite which is usually a big hunk of folded tortilla. Discard those tortilla ends, and save about 100 calories I'd guess.

3. Add the Fajita Veggies!
Wow, at only 20 calories per 3.5 ounce serving, you'd be a fool not to add these tasty veggies to your meal. 30% RDA of Vitamin C and zero grams saturated fat only sweeten the fajita veggie argument. Did I mention that they taste delish?

4. Salsa Salsa and more Salsa!
Salsa adds a ton of flavor, without the fat and calories. Load up on the salsa. Especially the Green Tomatillo salsa which is low in sodium and calories, only 15 calories per 3 ounces. Compare that to 240 calories per 2 ounces of sour cream! Plus all salsa is close-to or completely fat free. The corn salsa is the highest in calories, at 80 calories per 3.5 ounces.
Plus, you should know the benefits of eating spicy foods...!

5. Where's the Protein?
The meat options at Chipotle are about the same. Just under 200 calories, hefty amounts of protein (barbacoa with 24 grams to the chicken with 32 grams). Around 7 grams of fat. But if you are like me, you are excited for the vegan protein at Chipotle. Complete proteins are achieved by combining beans and rice. 8 ounces of rice/beans contains 9 grams of protein. And only 2 grams of fat. 250 calories. If you are a meat eater, go with the chicken for the most protein. Vegans will enjoy the yummy rice and black beans.

Bonus Tip: What about the guacamole????
OK, I can't leave off my favorite part: the guac. Chipotle prides itself on delicious fresh guac, and I have to agree that for a "fast food" chain, this guac rocks. 150 calories per 3.5 ounces and 13 grams of fat, 2 grams saturated fat. Plus I hope I don't have to remind you that those other 11 grams of fat are heart-healthy monounsaturated avocado oils which have been shown to provide a plethora of health benefits. More on avocados here.

CHIPOTLE "FUN FOODIE" FACTS

My burrito combo is 585 calories. Not bad. Check your own nutrition facts here at burrito fan.

Need some Vitamin A? Add some romaine. One serving provides 80% RDA of Vitamin A.

Steve Ells modeled Chipotle after the taquerias in the Mission District of San Francisco. (Maybe that's why this Santa Cruz Cali girl loves the Chipotle flavors.)

Chipotle has only added one thing to their menu in 13 years, the vinaigrette dressing. Wow, that's hardcore tradition.

There are a number of vegan and vegetarian friendly menu options. (Which is hardly the case at traditional fast food outlets.)

Chipotle is the largest restaurant buyer of avocados in the country.

Chipotle food is NUT and EGG free. The only dairy is in the cheese and sour cream.

Foods at Chipotle have no artificial colors or artificial flavorings.

30% of Chipotle beans are organic. They strive to make this number rise.

The cheese and the sour cream at Chipotle is free of the synthetic growth hormone rBGH.

All nutritional facts and food fun facts have been obtained from the Chipotle website.

"Wow! It tastes sweet and creamy. Very surprisingly delicious." He said.
"Hmph. It's almost banana-sweet - not bitter at all?!" I said.

I had a few leftover kumquats and decided to juice them in my juicer with some peeled mandarins.

Have you ever tasted fresh kumquat juice? Rind and all?

Well it's delicious....

Recipe ahead...

Kumquat Mandarin Sunrise Juice
serves two

10-12 Kumquats
4-6 small mandarin oranges, peeled

Using your home juicer, juice the kumquats first, then follow with the mandarins.

It may be a tough squeeze to press the kumquats through, but trust me they will provide a nice amount of juice.

Before serving, I suggest straining the juice through a metal strainer. (Optional)

The taste?

It is creamy. Not bitter at all.

This juice would taste amazing blended with a few bananas and ice.

Blended with vanilla soy cream would make an amazing "creamsicle" type flavored soy-shake.

Yum!

More about KUMQUATS here on my blog.

Coconut Vanilla Bean, Mexican Spiced Chocolate, Honey Lavender, Chocolate Chip Cookie and even Mint Chocolate Chip are just a few of the decadent vegan flavors of "ice cream" you will find at STOGO in the East Village of NYC.

Celebrity Cool - in more ways than one. Co-owned by actress Kyra Sedgwick's brother, Rob Sedgwick and Rob Horn, this brand spanking new "ice-cream" shop took quite a risk opening in the dead of a very chilly NYC winter. But each time I have visited, the place has been packed with intrigued vegans and non-vegans alike.
What drew me in? I'll admit, the NYMAG Grub Street post and bloggarazzi photos of Kyra and Kevin Bacon chowing down on vegan ice cream-winter coats and all. Cheesy photo-op, but it certainly started the foodies buzzing. But the big question: Does STOGO get the job done?
Is its vegan ice creaminess yummy????

My review and more photos of STOGO ahead....

STOGO VEGAN NON-DAIRY ICE CREAM SHOP, NYC

Shelf-Appeal: Adorable, brightly-lit shop, right across the street from St. Mark's Church. Nice window-seat bar, not a lot of table seating though. (Summer is going to be crowded!) Nice selection. They even have soft-serve and Babycakes bakery goods.

Label Check: 100% vegan, dairy-free. Some flavors contain a soy milk base, others contain a coconut milk base. Drastically lower in saturated fat than ice cream or gelato. Fresh fruit and natural flavor combos. Natural ingredients. Yippee!

Taste Test: This is soy? This is vegan? Wow. My first big surprise taste was the creaminess and softness of the texture. Yet it is still incredibly rich and thick, like a gelato more than an ice cream! The Coconut Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Chip Cookie are my favorites. Although the Mango Banana and Mexican Spiced Chocolate are also impressive. Biggest wow: It is leagues above any store bought soy ice cream I have ever tried. ...Which quite frankly shocked me because I adore a few store brands.

Price: Not cheap. But good ice cream never is. About the same price as I would pay for a perfect laboratorio del gelato sorbet. Two large packed pints is about $19.

Last Word: I better save up my dessert change for the warm summer nights ahead. (It's freezing outside and I'm still eating this stuff.) Watch out gelato, vegan-cream is predictably the summer 2009 trend.

STOGO
159 Second Avenue (on East 10th Street across from st Mark's Church)
212.677.2301

MENU:
Coffee, tea, Babycakes bakery goodies, chocolates, ice cream and soft serve.

WEBSITE: http://www.stogonyc.com/

Sweet tart white grapefruit, tender white-flesh Angou pears, and tropical creamy white apple bananas. Put them together and you get a refreshing morning salad to purify your palate and revive your taste buds for a new day.

Recipe and health benefits ahead....

Winter White Fruit Salad
serves 2-4

1 Yellow-rind, white-fleshed grapefruit (sometimes called a cocktail grapefruit)
2 petite apple bananas (or 1 traditional banana)
1 red or green Angou pear, (any white fleshed pear will also work)

PREP
Peel and chop grapefruit into cubes
Peel bananas and slice into thick long angled strips
Slice pears, thinly, but thick enough to still hold their shape.

Toss gently in a large bowl.

Serve chilled.
TIP: To make a dessert fruit salad, sprinkle with a tsp. or white sugar and add a a la mode scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. White angel food cake would also be a nice dessert addition. White whipped soy cream can be a perfect topper as well.

HEALTH BENEFITS:

High in Vitamin C.
High in fiber.
High in potassium.
Bananas are soothing to stomachs.
Grapefruit will assist in digestion.

I get it. Pears, at their height of sweetness and flavor, will be soft, tender and thin skinned. Therefore, during the pears 'ripening life' it might acquire a few bumps, blemishes and marks that intensify as the ripening process occurs.

An unripe, hard pear is usually free of marks. Much like a peach or nectarine: wait until the pear softens to eat. Those blemishes? Think of them as "pear character".

There are many pear varieties. There are differences between flavors and textures. Keep reading for pear health benefits, more photos and to compare varieties....

Pear Varieties

Bartlett: Known as the canning pear. Bartlett is a yellow pear that bruises quite easily due to its tender flesh. Very aromatic. Incredibly juicy. When very ripe this pear will melt in your mouth. Flesh is classically grainy. Will feel tender when ripe.

Red and Green Angou: Very common in the United States. Both red and green angou pears are sweet and juicy and less aromatic than other varieties. Great in salads, absorbs other flavors well. Skin is sturdy, less likely to bruise than Bartlett or Comice. May still feel firm even when ripened. Skin is smooth in texture, compared to other pears.

Comice: Generally larger than other pear varieties. Short necked. Light greenish yellow with pink speckling. Excellent for eating raw and for salads. Crisp sweet flavor. Juicy with well-maintained shape. Clarity of flavor is supreme. Ripens well, as skin is just sturdy enough. Skin is smooth.

Bosc: Rusty brown in color. Long elegant neck. Does not change color as it ripens. Firm flesh. Tender, spicy flavor. Great for cooking since they retain their shape, and won't mush up. Skin is rough and textured.

Asian: Round. Light brownish yellow. Incredibly crisp, juicy and crisply sweet. Known as a pear-apple. Much lower in sugars and calories than classic pear varieties. Hydrating due to high water content. Almost like a cross between a pear-watermelon-apple. Skin is bumpy and rough with large texture dots.

Pear Health Benefits:

Pears are high in fiber (about 5 grams per pear), Vitamin K and Vitamin C.

Fresh pear juice is particularly healthy as well.

Pears are higher in pectin than apples! Therefore pears are great for cholesterol-lowering effects.

From Ayushveda.com:
"They have anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogen glutathione which help prevent high blood pressure and stroke. They are actually higher in pectin than apple which in turn makes them effective in helping to lower cholesterol levels and in toning the intestines. Eating pears regularly can help in boosting up your immune system along with providing you with natural energy due to its high amounts of glucose and fructose. Pear juice also has an anti-inflammatory effect which helps in relieving pain in various inflammatory conditions. It has also been found that pears can prove effective in preventing osteoporosis and is also helpful for pregnant women."

My favorite pear is Comice. Do you have a favorite???

MORE PEAR NUTRITION FACTS HERE!

You may think that color therapy and theories about the power and influence of certain colors are on the same scientific level as say horoscopes and palm reading. But once again scientists have found that certain colors can have a great influence on our minds, moods and work productivity.

A recent color association study published in Science Express and reported in the article Color Yourself Cautious or Creative, by WebMD, used college students and blue versus red colored screen savers. The students were tested on both focus and creativity based tasks with both the colors blue and red.

The findings show once again, that all those "color consultants" out there might not be as "Friends Psychic Network" as you originally thought. Keep reading for the study details and a few more helpful color meanings...

THE STUDY
Scientists Find: Red for Focus, Blue for Creativity. Color Therapy Proven Again.

The Report: "In each study, the students were more focused when their tasks had a "red" element and more creative when they were in "blue" mode.

For instance, when their screen saver was red, they were more accurate on the memory test and they were better copy editors. They also designed more practical toys from the red objects. That may be because red is a signal to pay attention and be cautious, such as in stop signs, Mehta and Zhu note.

For creativity, blue was the way to go. The students created more original, if not terribly practical, toys from the blue objects. And they were better at coming up with creative but not impossible uses for a brick -- such as using it as a scratching post for animals -- when they were in blue screen saver mode."

MORE COLOR MEANINGS

These color meaning were not in this particular study, but in general they have been reported and believed by those zany color therapists...

Color Myth Website Reports:
BLUE-creativity, tranquil, trustworthy, imaginative, refreshing
RED-focus, determination, power, energy, passion
YELLOW-playful, enthusiastic, optimistic, kid-friendly. joyful
GREEN-growth, vitality, abundance, healthy
PURPLE-integrity, knowledge, thinks-outside-the-box, creative personality
BROWN-stable, earthy, reliable, uncomplex, dull
ORANGE-inspires hunger, warmth, waywardness, creative spirit, happy, courageous, successful

About.com Reports in their psychology section:
Color Psychology as Therapy
Several ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Chinese, practiced using colors to heal. Chromotherapy is used today as a holistic or alternative treatment.

Red was used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.
Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.
Orange was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels.
Blue was believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.
Indigo shades were thought to alleviate skin problems.

My Thoughts

It's funny, I have about two large blue paintings right in my office that stare at me as I work. I just crave blue more than I crave red. Perhaps for all those days when focusing is hard and my creativity is run away wild, I should use some RED color therapy.

I personally believe that both scents and colors can influence your mind, body, spirit, mood and even the way you perceive another person. Fashion colors are very important-especially in today's world of image and television-based media. When President Obama would wear a blue colored tie I thought, hey that blue color isn't to represent a "party color", that must symbolize creativity and change! Just what Obama wanted to project. And then when Obama wore a red tie at the inauguration ceremony, it was as if he wanted to project the powerfulness of the day. Maybe these were subliminal choices, or maybe he knew color theories.

So overall, I liked this Science Express study because the red and blue "screensaver therapy" theory sounds like something that we can all easily apply to our daily lives!

Need to be creative: BLUE SCREENSAVER
Need to Focus: RED SCREENSAVER

This is for everyone who a) loves lemon desserts (especially Meyer lemon desserts), and b) is in need of a little sunshine spirit available by the spoonful.Super easy recipe coming at you. The vegan 'custard' is made with only two main ingredients and takes about 30 seconds to 'make'. You won't believe how delicious and elegant this parfait turns out. You can have it chilling in your fridge in ten minutes time. And as I always try, it's super healthy.

Click ahead for the Meyer Lemon 'Custard' Island Parfait Recipe....

Meyer Lemon 'Custard' Island Parfait
vegan, serves two

1 serving Soy & Co. Soy Lemon Yogurt
2 tablespoon Veganaise
1 banana
honey
½ grapefruit
1 Meyer lemon
Meyer Lemon zest
salt, a pinch
2 clear 'mini-parfait' glasses (OJ juice sized is best)

Prep:
Peel and cube a ruby red grapefruit
thinly slice bananas
grate zest of Meyer lemon
thinly slice lemon for parfait garnish

Pour yogurt into small mixing cup. Add Veganaise. Stir briskly with a spoon until smooth and creamy.
Add lemon 1 tsp. zest to mixture.
Add juice from ½ of lemon.
Stir briskly again until creamy.

Assemble:
Add grapefruit chunks to parfait glass, layer should cover bottom.
Add banana slices, layer should cover grapefruit.
Drizzle a hint of honey.
Sprinkle a very small pinch of salt on fruit.
Add a few spoonfuls of 'custard' mixture.
Add another layer of grapefruit and banana.
Add more spoonfuls of custard, until glass is filled to the brim.

Add banana/grapefruit/Meyer lemon garnish to top. (see photo)
Drizzle 1 teaspoon of honey on top. Allow it to melt down inner side of glass.
Pinch of salt, optional.

Refrigerate for at least ten minutes to allow fruit to chill with custard.

Serve chilled in glasses.

Soy & Co. Yogurt

We race in them, we dance in them, we dine in them and we get married in them. High heels. It's a star-crossed love affair women have with those spiked up, patent leather, open-toed, glossy red, silver heeled or strapped up shoes.

Except for Asian cultures who traditionally treat their feet with great care, women tend to abuse the heck out of their feet. Painful nerve spasms are a result of prolonged high heel wearing. Ouch! And now a trend of foot botox is on the rise to combat foot pain.

But there are conflicting reports involving high heel shoes. Are they really that bad? One study I found says that high heels are indeed very good for your body.Keep reading for the scoop...

A recent segment of the TV show The Doctors showed a new trend: Botox for the feet. The theory is that when women wear high heels the nerves in their feet begin to spasm resulting in pain. The botox numbs the pain. But the foot damage is still done.

Why can't women treat their feet better? Like the many Asian cultures who take off their shoes before entering a home and even give their feet a mini spa scrub to cleanse them of the wear-and-tear from the day. Nice feets!

"Heels are BAD"
Dr. Ordon acknowledges that as much as women love their high heels, “your feet do pay a price.”
On botox as a quick fix: “Those pain signals are there for a reason!” Dr. Jim cautions. “It should be telling you not to wear things that hurt!”
Dr. Travis asks, “Aren’t we just masking the body’s natural defense mechanism here?”

Why Botox?
"The plastic surgeon explains that the muscles on the bottom of the feet go into spasm after prolonged periods of wearing high heels. When Botox is injected into the muscles on the bottom of the foot, it stops the muscle from going into spasm, which subsequently numbs foot pain."

"Heels are GOOD"
The other side says heels might be good! This study reported by ABC news claims that heels are actually improving your fitness:
Dr. Maria Angela Cerruto, a urologist at the University of Verona, Italy, found that the tippy-toe posture of heels can tone a woman's abdomen and pelvic floor.

In a study to be published in the journal European Urology, Cerruto presented the results of her tests on 66 women under the age of 50.

She found that if they stood with their feet at a 15-degree angle to the ground (the equivalent of a 3-inch heel) the electrical activity in their pelvic muscles was less indicating the muscles were more relaxed with higher heels, thus improving their strength and ability to contract.

My Thoughts

I agree with both sides! I think heels are bad for your feet. They wreck havoc on your feet nerves and can cause all sorts of foot stress. However, I do feel like I am improving my posture and using my lower abs more when I am wearing them.

...but at the end of the day all I want to do is take them off.

And the botox trend worries me. That's kinda like cooking over a hot stove with numb hands. Sooner or later you're going to burn your hand on a hot pan.

I'm pretty hyped up about Quinoa.
It's a superfood of a grain, though it's actually a seed.
Quinoa dishes have been popping up on a ton of trendy high-end NYC restaurants, which makes me a happy foodie. Spiced Quinoa at Counter, Quinoa Croquettes at Public and Quinoa Risotto at Felidia's. Nice.
This tiny, fluffy, creamy and nutty flavored superfood is high in amino acid rich protein, high in fiber and an excellent source of several minerals. It contains 58% RDA of manganese.
And that's not all folks. Keep reading for the complete 101 on quinoa...
QUINOA
ORIGIN: Quinoa (KEEN-wa) is the seed-like fruit of the plant Chenopodium quinoa that has been cultivated in the Andes since ancient times.

AESTHETICS: It looks like couscous. But is incredibly different. It is a whole food product-not processed glutanous flour-like couscous is. Quinoa is fluffy, nutty, and when cooked/steamed becomes incredibly light and fluffy, yet maintains an intriguing heartiness in texture when you chew.

NUTRITION: Quinoa is incredibly rich in amino acid containing protein. Here are a few more nutrition stats:
QUINOA, 1 cup
calories: 222
fat: 4 grams
carbs: 39 grams
protein: 8 grams
fiber: 5 grams
vitamin A: 0
vitamin E: 6% RDA
vitamin C: 0
manganese: 58%RDA
calcium: 3% RDA
iron: 15% RDA
magnesium: 30% RDA
phosphorus: 28% RDA

*Quinoa absorbs flavors amazingly! Thus makes it a perfect compliment to intense herb, spice or natural flavors.

*Try toasting the raw grains before cooking for an intense nutty flavor.

*Preparation is much like rice. Simply cook with a liquid and you are all set.

*It is highly recommended that you rinse the raw quinoa very well before cooking.

I will be posting a yummy quinoa recipe eventually, but for now, check our this recipe from Whole Foods: Roasted Bell Peppers Stuffed with Quinoa.

TIP: I suggest first trying quinoa from a restaurant or deli counter. Whole foods usually has quinoa in its prepared foods section. It is smart to taste test quinoa done by a pro before you attempt it yourself. Just a suggestion. (You can also decide if you like the taste and texture of this unique and nutritious food.)

EXTRA TIP: Trader Joe's has a Quinoa sliced bread that is very yummy. It is exceptionally soft, yet is still high in nutrients due tot the quinoa ingredient! It is as fluffy at that unhealthy white flour fluff bread. Just make sure your TJ's cashier doesn't smash it under a bag of apples.

I recently received this email question from a blog reader:

Keep reading for my answer...
MY ANSWER:
Hi Lyonne,
Thanks for the great question. Standard yogurt with the labeling of "contains live and active cultures," will contain a minimum of 100 million living organisms per gram at the time of manufacture, (probiotics). A number of companies currently participate in this labeling program by the National Yogurt Association:
Cloud Top, LLC
Red Mango
YoCream
Dannon
Yoplait
Well's Dairy
Kroger
Pinkberry
Berry Chill
Emmi USA
Scott Brothers
Johanna Foods

While this label is a great standard to look for,
today there are a plethora of SUPER-probiotics on the market.

If your main goal is to really re-vamp your intestines, I suggest trying something a bit stronger than standard yogurt and see if you notice a difference.

My favorite brand is BioKPlus which contains 50 billion organisms per shot of yogurt! And it comes in a yummy vegan non-dairy mango soy flavor! I try to drink a shot a day and can feel the difference in both my digestive and immune systems. Some studies show that 70% of your immune system is linked to the health of your digestive system, AKA your intestines where those bacteria set up shop.

Just think. Yogurt is usually 170 grams. So that's around 17 billion organisms per yogurt (at time of manufacture). BioKPlus guarantees 50 billion at time of consumption.
If you drink one full shot of BioKPlus a day, that is equal to around 3.5 yogurts.
Maybe more, maybe less.
Yogurt live cultures are highly volatile living organisms, and thus will vary from container to container.

So yeah, I guess super-probiotic products can make standard yogurt seem a bit pathetic...

I suggest a test of something stronger and see how you feel.
Give a stronger probiotic product at least two weeks to make a real change in your digestive health.

Good Luck!

Kathy

Read my original probiotics post here:
http://healthyhappylife.com/2008/10/friendly-bacteria-probiotic-product.html

Think hot dogs are a quick and easy snack for your toddler? Read this...

A blog reader sent me this article with the disturbing headline Cured meats Tied to Childhood leukemia Risk. The story discusses an association between leukemia and a child's tendency to consume cured meats like sausage, hot dogs and bacon.

In comparison, children who consumed soy products, "had about half the leukemia risk of their peers who shunned vegetables and soy."

Why are Cured Meats so bad???

During the curing process, foods are preserved and flavored by the addition of salt, sugar and chemicals called nitrites; the foods are often smoked as well.

The article describes why cured meats are worrisome:

"During the curing process, foods are preserved and flavored by the addition of salt, sugar and chemicals called nitrites; the foods are often smoked as well. Nitrites are precursors to compounds known as nitrosamines, which are potentially cancer-promoting.
In contrast, vegetables and soy contain antioxidants that may help neutralize those same compounds."

Read the complete article here: Cured Meats Ties to Leukemia Risk in Children

I heart salad. And while homemade dressings are always the 'fresh and made-with-love' choice; I love a good bottled dressing.

I have probably tried every big brand out there and I have a strong opinion about who is doing bottled dressing right...Keep reading for my list of favorites and a few of my fave flavors from each brand...

Top Five Salad Dressing Brands, and flavor recommendations:

5. Newman's Own
'Lighten Up' Red Wine Vinegar and Olive Oil is my fave.

4. Spectrum Organics
I adore the Vegan Caesar. Finally a Caesar salad for the vegans.

3. Drew's All Natural
I love the Smoked Tomato Dressing. Thick and creamy with a bold rustic tomato kick.

2. Brianna's
I adore the Honey Mustard Dressing. Very yummy with avocado and citrus flavors. Also great is The New American Dressing flavor.

1. Annie's Naturals
I am always stocked up on the Goddess Dressing. So many knock-offs out there, but Annie's original recipe is the first and the best!

What are your faves????

Do you want a bagel with that? How about a 500 calorie slice of iced lemon bread? Starbucks plans to add value meals to their menu. "At attractive prices." -Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO.

Can we have a big "errrgh!" buzzer sound here. The 'that is not the way out of your financial mess buzzer'.

Lets get honest here. There is nothing value-worthy of a $5 latte. But that's not the point. Starbucks customers are not seeking a cheap coffee. They are seeking a sophisticated experience. An escape from their hectic, stressful and unpredictable day. Starbucks is not a "must have" food. It is a personal luxury. A treat. Like say, Pinkberry.

The smartest move Starbucks has mad in the past few quarters is the Starbucks Gold card. It allows Starbucks regulars to get a significant discount of their purchases, 10%. And in the long run, the savings really add up. Perhaps Starbucks should increase this percentage to 15% from time to time and reward its 'regulars'. instead of catering to the 'value menu crowd'.

I frequently purchase a chai latte and a bagel on the side. If this was say "the number three" on the value menu and I saved fifteen cents of so...I would feel kinda cheap! If I want to order off a value meal (which I really don't) I would go to McDonald's.

.....Lets face it. There is nothing value-worthy of a $5 latte. But that's not the point. Starbucks customers are not seeking a cheap coffee. They are seeking a sophisticated experience. An escape from their hectic, stressful and unpredictable day. Starbucks is not a "must have" food. It is a personal luxury. A treat. Like Pinkberry or another fro-yo place. You don't see Pinkberry coming out with a "value meal". Buy two smalls with two toppings for %7.22! "It's number two on our value menu!"
...could you imagine? Yuk.

Value menu at Starbucks? Not a fan. Bigger discounts for regulars? Fan.

Starbucks Value Menu News Report

This recipe for a Vegan BBQ Sandwich uses Trader Joe's Chicken-less Pulled Chicken. From start to first bite it will only take you five minutes to prepare the sandwich. Really.

And with over 17 grams of lean protein, only 2 grams of fat and over 45% RDA of iron, you must check out this recipe....

VEGAN BBQ SANDWICH RECIPE

1 box Trader Joe's Chicken-less Pulled Chicken
⅓ a baguette, or whole wheat bun (crusty bread works best)
1 small red onion, sliced thick
a few lettuce leaves (crisp romaine or Boston lettuce work best)
1 teaspoon olive oil

PREPARE
Poke 2 small holes in TJ's BBQ pulled "chicken" plastic pouch. Heat in microwave for 2 minutes.

Slice bread down center to apply ingredients.

Spread 1 teaspoon olive oil on inside of bread.

Apply layer of red onion slices.

Apply layer of lettuce.

Apply a thick layer of BBQ chicken. Use about ½ the package for 17 grams of protein. Store remaining "chicken" in fridge.

That's it! Enjoy...

Read my full review about TJ'S Pulled BBQ Chicken.

Trader Joe's Chicken-less line of products, in the refrigerated section, is one of my faves! Incredibly versatile, healthy and delicious. So when I saw a new Chicken-less product, I was thrilled. It's new Chicken-less Pulled Chicken in barbecue sauce. Later today I'll post a devastatingly delicious, takes 5 minutes, vegan BBQ chicken sandwich recipe. Read my product review ahead....

Trader Joe's Chicken-less Pulled Chicken in barbecue sauce

Shelf-Appeal: Refrigerated in a air-tight plastic bag. You can find the box by the hummus, tortillas and vegan lunch meat. The box photo doesn't do this product justice.

Label Check: Nice. Per 120 calorie, 128 gram serving, two servings per package: Only 2 grams of fat-shocking for the taste. (Zero grams saturated fat). 17 grams of vegan protein. Both soy and pea protein are present. 9 grams carbs. 45% RDA of iron. There is quite a bit of sodium: 480 mg, which is about 20% RDA. So if you are watching your sodium, you want to be aware of the amount in this and all shelf-ready products. Overall, a delicious source or low-fat vegan protein and iron.

Taste test: Moist. Tender as can be. Perfectly sweet with a mild smoky-spicy flavor kick. Next to a restaurant-quality seitan dish, this is the most tender vegan protein product I have ever tasted. Perfect for a quick sandwich-the flavors are so complex all you need is bread!

Price: Around $3.49. Great value.

Last Word: This product has made it on my must-have TJ's products list. Right up there with my other TJ brand faves: Vegan Pad Thai, Savory Crisps, Soy Nuggets, Soy Pitas and Sun Dried Tomato Hummus.

Maybe it's a slow news day or maybe anger is a human emotion that we can all relate to. But the audio of Christian Bale ranting on an assistant director on the set of his new movie has been echoing around the Internet for the past few days. The ladies on The View discussed the video today. Whoopie said she herself has "gone off" on people on set. Both she and Sherry admitted that it is incredibly distracting when people walk through a scene.

So what do you think? Does Christian Bale have a severe anger management issue, or is his anger rant a good, heck even healthy reaction to frustration?

One study shows that couples who vent their anger live much longer than couples who repress. Another study shows that anger can make you 'sick'.

Celebrity Trend? Christian is not the first celebrity to 'lose it'. What about tennis star John McEnroe, who made a career out of yelling at the umpire? Who else? Let's discuss, and take a look at a few Ramsey and McEnroe 'angry rant' videos....

Is Christian taking anger too far by screaming on the job, without restraint?

He's not the first celeb to make anger headlines.

Alec Baldwin's voicemail where he screamed at his young daughter, Ireland, was headline news for a long time. But the public forgave Alec, and even embraced his celebrity status more after the incident. Hmmmm?

Other famously angry celebrities include: Mel Gibson, Jack Nicholson, Leo DiCaprio, Donald Trump, Tommy Lee, John McEnroe, Naomi Campbell, Russel Crowe, Mike Tyson, Shannon Doherty, Rosie O'Donnell and even our favorite yelling chef Gordon Ramsey.

Remember Russel Crowe chucking the phone at the hotel desk clerk at the Mercer Hotel in NYC? And any tennis match with McEnroe was sure to have some screaming involved. And Shannon Doherty yelling at everyone on the set of 90210 and Charmed. And have you seen Hell's Kitchen?

Is venting your anger healthy? Or appropriate?

ABC News reported that a study out of The U. of Michigan found,
"Couples that suppress their anger when they have been unfairly attacked, either by the spouse or someone else, are twice as likely to die earlier than persons who admit they are angry and deal with their problem.

The study adds to a growing body of evidence that suppressing anger can be deadly because it drives up blood pressure and contributes to anxiety and depression, but this study takes it a bit further. If one spouse suppresses his or her anger, that individual is likely to die earlier. But if both spouses suppress their anger, the odds go through the roof."

So this first study about married couples says that venting is healthy and in fact increases years of life.

However this next expert, author of the book Anger Kills... says this:

"Mind-body researcher Dr. Redford Williams, in the department of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, said that venting your anger is, in fact, quite unhealthy. With his wife, Virginia, Williams has written two books on anger management: "Anger Kills: Seventeen Strategies for Controlling the Hostility That Can Harm Your Health" and "In Control: No More Snapping at Your Family, Sulking at Work, Steaming in the Grocery Line, Seething in Meetings, Stuffing Your Frustration."

When you vent your anger, "your blood pressure's going up more, your adrenaline levels are going up more. You're nicking those arteries a little bit more," Williams said."

Here's what I think:

I used to have a boss who loved to yell. It wasn't that she was a bad or even mean person, she just communicated her best when she was screaming at the top of her lungs. She loved to get all worked up and run through the halls yelling. She didn't necessarily yell at someone though. It was more a personal internal rant. An this is where I think we must draw the line with anger.

ARE YOU YELLING AT OR AROUND SOMEONE.

If I want to yell and rant and be myself worked up about something, while venting to someone, that is not personally attacking anyone. But when your angry rant turns into a personal attack in a way where the other person is retreating, you have to pause and in my opinion, stop.

But like I said, Gordan Ramsey screams at chefs he is teaching, and most of the time they only respond with a "yes chef." and John McEnroe, screaming at the referee usually never gets a ref to scream back. But then again, the ref is perched on a high chair and has ultimate power over Johns game results.

So a little venting, even a lot of venting is in my opinion a good thing. You should be able to tell if you vent is making you feel good or feel sick. If you are making yourself sick with anger, you'll know. If it just feels good to get mad, you'll know.

Here are my rules of the angry road:
1-Always try to take a few deep breaths and take yourself away from the angry situation, as a first reaction to your feelings.
2-Try to calmly express yourself to the situation or person that upsets you.
3-Close your eyes, again, deep breaths, center yourself. Think ahead to your next project, movement, anything to take your mind off the situation.
4-If you are angry and can't move on, you may start to rant. If you rant, make sure that you are communicating why you feel wronged. And not attacking someone in an abusive and unproductive way.
5-Do not attack anyone who is either unable to defend themselves verbally, does not want to participate in the situation (trying to walk away), does not understand why you angry, does not expect or deserve to be judged by you or is in a lower state of power than you.
6-never let your anger turn into a physical expression.

That's my quick list of anger thoughts.

Overall, I think repressing anger is bad. Controlling anger is good.

Here's a classic John McEnroe yelling at the referee clip from YouTube:

Here's a Ramsey Rant:

This recipe reminds me of my mom. She would make me kale with garlic, vinegar and olive oil every night when I repeatedly requested it as a child.

This is a super simple recipe for Tender Kale with Marinated Kumquats. You can even micro-steam the kale which makes this a 5 minute recipe!...oh and Kumquats and Kale are both super duper healthy. Keep reading for yum! photos and the recipe...

Recipe: Tender Kale with Marinated Kumquats

1 large bunch fresh raw kale
5-6 kumquats
3 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoon red wine or apple cider vinegar
dash of olive oil
1 tsp. sea salt
black pepper

PREP:
Wash kale leaves. Chop off thick stems. Remove thick veins of leaves. Chop kale into strips.
Wash kumquats and chop into thin circles.

TO MAKE:
Marinate raw kumquats in lemon juice, salt, and vinegar. Add a dash of olive oil.
Stir briskly and allow kumquats to marinate in the mixture for a few minutes.

Add kale and kumquat mixture to large bowl. Toss briskly.

COOK:
Option 1) steam in a doubled pan, over stove top. Steaming takes only a few minutes.
Option 2) Cover micro-safe bowl, keep a small hole for vent. Microwave for 45 seconds. Test for doneness. Can be further microwaved if needed.

Add salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Can also be refrigerated and served cold.

More about KALE.
More about Kumquats.

Craving a satisfying leafy green? Choose kale.
Kale is a sturdy leafy green. It's rippling leaves and strong veins are perfect for absorbing flavors. Thus it makes a heartier and more complex cooked green than say, easy-to-wilt spinach or dandelion greens.

Kale is delicious steamed with garlic, olive oil, lemon, citrus or pine nut flavors. This green has some amazing dinnertime potential.

Kale is a nutrient powerhouse! Just one cup of steamed kale contains 1328% RDA Vitamin K and 354% RDA of Vitamin A. Wowsers!

Keep reading for more kale photos, nutrition facts and a few fun facts...

KALE NUTRITION FACTS
per 130 grams, 1 cup steamed
calories: 36
Vitamin A: 354% RDA
Vitamin K: 1328% RDA
Vitamin E: 6% RDA
Vitamin C: 89% RDA
calcium: 9% RDA
fiber: 3g
iron: 6% RDA
protein: 2g
carbs: 7g
fat: 1g

...bottom line, nice stats Kale.

Serving Suggestions:
Easy to steam in either the micro, 45 seconds. Or steam in a stove top steamer pan. Most people prefer to remove the thick veins of the leaf. But they are perfectly edible.
Complimenting flavors include: lemon, garlic, olive oil, citrus, apple cider or red wine vinegars, citrus, anything acidic usually works well.
Kale works great in stews, pasta dishes, stir fry's and veggie lasagna.

Fun Fact: Kale, as with Broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane, a chemical believed to have potent anti-cancer properties, particularly when chopped.

Kale actually tastes sweeter when frozen or exposed to a frost.

Feeling a bit backwards today? Eat a kumquat!

Why is a kumquat the backwards fruit? Well, Kumquats are the only citrus fruit that lets you eat the skin. Simply pop a tiny grape-sized kumquat into your mouth and chew. The skin is sweet and the juicy pulp is tart. It's a flavor sensation that only mother nature could create.

Keep reading to discover fun facts, more photos and nutrition facts about this tiny citrus gem....

Nature's Sweet tarts: Kumquats!

KUMQUAT NUTRITION (per 100 grams, about 6-7 kumquats)
Calories: 71
fat: 1 g
carbs:16 g
protein: 1 g
iron: 5% RDA
Vitamin C: 73% RDA
Vitamin A: 6%RDA
calcium: 6% RDA
fiber: 6 g
cholesterol and sodium: 0% RDA

Nutritionally, kumquats are a great source of vitamin C! They also contain calcium, vitamin A, fiber and iron.

How to eat: Eat raw! Or use in recipes as a creative substitute for any citrus ingredient. Including lemon or orange. And since you can leave the skin on, the prep is very easy! Just wash and chop.

Kumquats are also high in pectin-making them the perfect addition to a jam or jelly recipe. Kumquat marmalade anyone? Yum.

Fun Facts:
"The word KUMQUAT is Chinese for "Gold Orange" because of the color of the fruit." -kumquatgrowers.com

In season: Late autumn to mid-winter.

Originated from: China

**ps I need a Kumquat character for The Lunchbox Bunch! Any suggestions? Clever Kumquat, Mischievous Kumquat, Captain Kumquat or Ski Bunny Kumquat? Ideas are welcome form all. 🙂

Links:
http://www.kumquatgrowers.com/what.html
Wiki Kumquat Entry

About ten years ago I was obsessed with a company called MyCereal. I don't know what happened to them, the website now belongs to General Mills. But today I discovered a very re-vamped, health-enthusiast-friendly version of the 'customize my own cereal' idea. The website is called [Me] & Goji.

Cereal nuts will be in heaven. FYI, no marshmallows or puffed waffle squares here. Ingredients are healthy and yummy, and include goji berries, dried bananas, nutmeg, wheat germ, quinoa flakes, cinnamon, chocolate-covered peanuts, muesli, cranberries, dried strawberries, brazil nuts and many more options. You can even name your own cereal. And it comes in a freshness-friendly container tube

*over 40+ ingredients.

*describes the nutrition and health properties of each ingredient

*exotic ingredients galore.

*blog offers specials from time to time.

www.meandgoji.com

Oscar Mayer recently posted this full page ad in Newsweek claiming that their new Deli Creations Flatbread Sandwich kits are "blogworthy".

Blogworthy? Yes. But not for good reasons.

In the ad OM brags that each sandwich is under 350 calories. Well FYI Oscar Mayer, calorie count does not determine health-value. 

Cat meets roomba. And the fun begins. I have a roomba. My cat hisses at it. But I guess some cats like a little adventure....

Click ahead for an even funnier roomba/kittens video. I don't approve of the premise, but I have to admit that I laughed and cringed all at once...

Note, I did not make either of these videos. But as a child, I was known to stick my kittens in the driver seat of my barbie cars. Traumatized kittens? I don't think so, cats do have those nine lives. Here's to the kitties of the world.

ps..here's my adorable kitty, Nelly: