Health 101...
For those of you who follow my blog, you know that I am all about great, amazing, well-prepared delicious food. While I believe life is too short and that you must fully enjoy the things you love to eat, I also believe that moderation is key... and where all things culinary make me happy, I must draw the line and only occasionally treat myself to food that I would not eat on a daily basis, (such as all the decadent comfort food all over our city!!). What I do aim to eat on a regular basis, are sensible, fresh meals that actually have high nutritional value.
I started on this healthy way of living almost a decade ago, and tweaked my diet almost a handful of times, the last being after attending an Anthony Robbins event in Los Angeles, where Tony spent an entire day (at the Kodak theatre) teaching us everything he knew about health and wellness. To that I will add that the man is very knowledgeable in the subject, sharing partnerships in several companies in the wellness industry. One of the companies he introduced to me was Living Fuel. They make probably one of the only energy bars that is actually good for you... (Yes! You heard that right!! Most energy bars are packed with sugars and calories, and don't exactly live up to the "good for you" claim!)... You can order Living Fuel bars online; they are delicious and they are good for you!
Where this post is not to sell you on my favorite energy bar... it is to share with you some information that I received in my email from Living Fuel. (I highly recommend you get on their email list, as they always send information that is cutting edge in all things wellness.) I have written about shopping at your local Farmers' markets, not only to support the local farmers, but also to eat healthier, sustainable, organic foods. This is exactly the information that came in e-mail from LivingFuel and inspired this post.
There have always been questions about whether or not it matters or if it is even relevant to buy organic or not. The specialists at Living Fuel have taken the science and mystery out of it all and provided us with a list of the the "Clean 15"... the fruits and veggies that do matter if they are organic or not. The video also gives you some helpful and simple tips for identifying different categories of product (e.g., conventional, organic, genetically modified).
See here for a link to the informative video: www.livingfuel.com/Fruit_and_Vegetable_Labels.aspx
I invite you to take a look... and visit the website. If you're curious enough, you might order a box of CocoChia bars... delicious and good for you! Who knew that you could have "healthy" chocolatey/coconut goodness? So, yes, delicious and healthy chocolate coconut goodness is out there... and it's not in an Almond Joy!!
I hope this video/blog enlightens you about the quality of produce (and snack/protein bars) that you are eating and providing for your family!
To healthy eating!!
Elle :)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
It's Tea Time!!!
Calling all Tea Lovers! A new breed of tea is born.... and it is gonna give the rest of the teas some serious competition!!!
Ladies and gentlemen... let me present to you EnlighTea Cafe. A genius collection of truly flavorful and amazing tea blends!
Having developed a true affinity for tea over the last few years, I am delighted to share some of the blends I was very fortunate to sample.
Strawberry Sassafras
The packaging for this tea makes reference to reminiscing about the good old days. It made me quite giddy that they were able to capture the true essence of strawberry, sassafras, and root beer. This blend does not require any sweetener (as it is already delicately sweetened with Stevia). It is ready to serve, truly delicious.. and the best part about this tea is that you get the flavor without the calories or carbs! I tried this as a regular hot tea and as an iced tea.... in both forms it is equally fantastic and very refreshing!! A must try!!
Relax
Soothing botanicals of St. John's Wort, lemongrass and chamomile, along with the warmth of anise, really allow this tea to live up to its name! This tea is so aromatic it actually allows your worries to melt away, at the same time, lifting your spirit and giving your taste buds something to dance about!! I enjoyed the lemongrass notes that really show up and make this tea very different from most chamomile blends! I will go back to this variety, time and time again!
Caffe Latte
There was most definitely a genius behind this blend. They took all the yummy, goodness from coffee and the benefits of black tea and combined it to create a tea worthy of its title. It is specifically blended to drink with milk... but I had it without the creamy stuff and it was perfectly flavorful. For those trying to ween off the java... not a bad way to ween into teas... I will forewarn you, however, the caffeine kick in here is about the same as a cup of joe... Being a big fan of Chai Tea Lattes...This blend is simply delicious!! Well worth trying..
All in all, I am quite impressed with this new line of teas!! You gotta love a line of teas that stands for love, light and peace and overall well-being. There are some lovely thoughts and quotes on their packaging that encourage us to be a stand for those things in our lives! I invite all my tea-loving friends to go online and checkout the entire line of products! For those of you who are not the biggest tea aficionados, it might possibly be because you have never tried teas as artfully blended and flavorful as these!! I must now say... not all teas are created equally!
There is definitely some genius behind this company... they are set to launch in Fall 2010! Keep your eye out for it... the tea world will never be the same!! (I will keep all of my followers updated!)
For more information you can contact my friends at Enlightea at:
P.O. Box 211314, San Diego, CA 91921
www.EnlighTea.com | (201) 500-TEAS
support@enlightea.com
www.Twitter.com/EnlighTea
www.Facebook.com/EnlighTea Cafe
Make sure you tell them that you read about their fantastic products here on ElleLiving!!
It's Tea Time!! Cheers to all!!
Elle :)
Ladies and gentlemen... let me present to you EnlighTea Cafe. A genius collection of truly flavorful and amazing tea blends!
Having developed a true affinity for tea over the last few years, I am delighted to share some of the blends I was very fortunate to sample.
Strawberry Sassafras
The packaging for this tea makes reference to reminiscing about the good old days. It made me quite giddy that they were able to capture the true essence of strawberry, sassafras, and root beer. This blend does not require any sweetener (as it is already delicately sweetened with Stevia). It is ready to serve, truly delicious.. and the best part about this tea is that you get the flavor without the calories or carbs! I tried this as a regular hot tea and as an iced tea.... in both forms it is equally fantastic and very refreshing!! A must try!!
Relax
Soothing botanicals of St. John's Wort, lemongrass and chamomile, along with the warmth of anise, really allow this tea to live up to its name! This tea is so aromatic it actually allows your worries to melt away, at the same time, lifting your spirit and giving your taste buds something to dance about!! I enjoyed the lemongrass notes that really show up and make this tea very different from most chamomile blends! I will go back to this variety, time and time again!
Caffe Latte
There was most definitely a genius behind this blend. They took all the yummy, goodness from coffee and the benefits of black tea and combined it to create a tea worthy of its title. It is specifically blended to drink with milk... but I had it without the creamy stuff and it was perfectly flavorful. For those trying to ween off the java... not a bad way to ween into teas... I will forewarn you, however, the caffeine kick in here is about the same as a cup of joe... Being a big fan of Chai Tea Lattes...This blend is simply delicious!! Well worth trying..
All in all, I am quite impressed with this new line of teas!! You gotta love a line of teas that stands for love, light and peace and overall well-being. There are some lovely thoughts and quotes on their packaging that encourage us to be a stand for those things in our lives! I invite all my tea-loving friends to go online and checkout the entire line of products! For those of you who are not the biggest tea aficionados, it might possibly be because you have never tried teas as artfully blended and flavorful as these!! I must now say... not all teas are created equally!
There is definitely some genius behind this company... they are set to launch in Fall 2010! Keep your eye out for it... the tea world will never be the same!! (I will keep all of my followers updated!)
For more information you can contact my friends at Enlightea at:
P.O. Box 211314, San Diego, CA 91921
www.EnlighTea.com | (201) 500-TEAS
support@enlightea.com
www.Twitter.com/EnlighTea
www.Facebook.com/EnlighTea Cafe
Make sure you tell them that you read about their fantastic products here on ElleLiving!!
It's Tea Time!! Cheers to all!!
Elle :)
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Healthy Fast Food... who knew??
Quite the delicious alternative to fast food is THE VEGGIE GRILL!!!
www.veggiegrill.com
With two locations in LA and two in Orange County, there is no longer an excuse to eat badly when you are on the run!! It happens to be the perfect alternative for vegetarians and vegans; however, you don't have to be either to enjoy a healthy meal here!
The PAPA'S PORTOBELLO is a grilled portobello mushroom on a wheat bun and dressed with chopped tomatoes, garlic and basil pomodoro, caramelized onion, pesto and chipotle ranch sauce! (You have the option of ordering anything protein-style = on a bed of kale)... I must confess, I had the side of sweet-potato fries (my weakness)... but everything is ok in moderation, right?
The GRILLIN' CHICKIN' sandwich was amazing! You'd never know it's not chicken! Served on a whole wheat bun, with avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cilantro pesto, and chipotle ranch. Had this with the side of Steamin' Kale.... the texture was perfect, as was the taste!
We also tried the CHINESE CHICKIN' salad. I must explain, CHILLIN' CHICKEN is made of some specially seasoned and marinated veggie protein blends (including soy), which look and taste like chicken (no pun intended), really.... it does.... and is pretty delicious!
So if you are committed to change your unhealthy ways, this is a great alternative when you are out and about! Remember... change happens one step at a time!! This could be that first step in the right direction to the road of wellness!!
I am sure this will be quite the rage with many of my "health nut" friends!
To your health, mes amis!!
Elle :)
www.veggiegrill.com
With two locations in LA and two in Orange County, there is no longer an excuse to eat badly when you are on the run!! It happens to be the perfect alternative for vegetarians and vegans; however, you don't have to be either to enjoy a healthy meal here!
The PAPA'S PORTOBELLO is a grilled portobello mushroom on a wheat bun and dressed with chopped tomatoes, garlic and basil pomodoro, caramelized onion, pesto and chipotle ranch sauce! (You have the option of ordering anything protein-style = on a bed of kale)... I must confess, I had the side of sweet-potato fries (my weakness)... but everything is ok in moderation, right?
The GRILLIN' CHICKIN' sandwich was amazing! You'd never know it's not chicken! Served on a whole wheat bun, with avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cilantro pesto, and chipotle ranch. Had this with the side of Steamin' Kale.... the texture was perfect, as was the taste!
We also tried the CHINESE CHICKIN' salad. I must explain, CHILLIN' CHICKEN is made of some specially seasoned and marinated veggie protein blends (including soy), which look and taste like chicken (no pun intended), really.... it does.... and is pretty delicious!
So if you are committed to change your unhealthy ways, this is a great alternative when you are out and about! Remember... change happens one step at a time!! This could be that first step in the right direction to the road of wellness!!
I am sure this will be quite the rage with many of my "health nut" friends!
To your health, mes amis!!
Elle :)
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Fresh Summer Eats...
FARMER'S MARKET SALAD
Being amidst the hot days of summer, it often becomes difficult to cook in the heat... and it is impossible to escape the eternal question, "What to eat???" ... Something about the heat makes me crave dishes on the lighter side, and it doesn't take more than a trip to the local farmers' market to draw inspiration! This is a great opportunity to turn down the heat, but turn on the delicious healthy eats!!
Many of you (who are my friends on Facebook)... have seen me post or comment about the salads I concoct and throw together for quick healthy lunches (or sometimes dinner). Here is a salad that I threw together on a Saturday afternoon, having just returned from a local Farmers' market. The intense flavors in the fruit and veggies that fresh are truly amazing, and can potentially make all the difference!
I did want to mention that this salad is spontaneous. The ingredients here are what I happened to mix together this time! There is definitely no right or wrong way with ingredients... I offer you my salad so that it might serve as a map to making your own creations:
About 3 to 4 cups of organic mixed greens, arugula and/or baby spinach
1 large yellow nectarine
1 large Plum
Approx. 6 to 8 strawberries
1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
Handful of Dried Cranberries
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Chive Blossom Vinegar (See below for other suggestions)
Sea salt
Freshly Ground Pepper
Toss the washed and dried greens into a large salad bowl with the fruit diced into small squares. Drizzle about 2 tbsp. of EVOO and about 1 tbsp. of vinegar over your ingredients and toss. Season with salt and pepper...then top with walnuts and cranberries.
This can be a light meal for 1 or 2... or can make a fresh side with some broiled white fish. I have made other varieties of this by sprinkling some crumbled goat cheese or gorgonzola cheese on top.... or for a heartier alternative, shred some chicken and mix into the salad!
As for the vinegars, I happened to receive this one as a gift, but you can normally find flavored vinegars in specialty food shops, or a grocery store like Whole Foods. If you have White wine vinegar or Champagne Vinegar, that would work wonderfully with a salad like this! Again... there is no right or wrong; the star ingredients are the pieces of fruit that you choose!
Using very fresh produce makes the flavors pop in your mouth... Support your local farmers and go to the Farmers' market! It makes the creation of your meals a complete experience!!
Enjoy!!
Elle :)
Being amidst the hot days of summer, it often becomes difficult to cook in the heat... and it is impossible to escape the eternal question, "What to eat???" ... Something about the heat makes me crave dishes on the lighter side, and it doesn't take more than a trip to the local farmers' market to draw inspiration! This is a great opportunity to turn down the heat, but turn on the delicious healthy eats!!
Many of you (who are my friends on Facebook)... have seen me post or comment about the salads I concoct and throw together for quick healthy lunches (or sometimes dinner). Here is a salad that I threw together on a Saturday afternoon, having just returned from a local Farmers' market. The intense flavors in the fruit and veggies that fresh are truly amazing, and can potentially make all the difference!
I did want to mention that this salad is spontaneous. The ingredients here are what I happened to mix together this time! There is definitely no right or wrong way with ingredients... I offer you my salad so that it might serve as a map to making your own creations:
About 3 to 4 cups of organic mixed greens, arugula and/or baby spinach
1 large yellow nectarine
1 large Plum
Approx. 6 to 8 strawberries
1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
Handful of Dried Cranberries
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Chive Blossom Vinegar (See below for other suggestions)
Sea salt
Freshly Ground Pepper
Toss the washed and dried greens into a large salad bowl with the fruit diced into small squares. Drizzle about 2 tbsp. of EVOO and about 1 tbsp. of vinegar over your ingredients and toss. Season with salt and pepper...then top with walnuts and cranberries.
This can be a light meal for 1 or 2... or can make a fresh side with some broiled white fish. I have made other varieties of this by sprinkling some crumbled goat cheese or gorgonzola cheese on top.... or for a heartier alternative, shred some chicken and mix into the salad!
As for the vinegars, I happened to receive this one as a gift, but you can normally find flavored vinegars in specialty food shops, or a grocery store like Whole Foods. If you have White wine vinegar or Champagne Vinegar, that would work wonderfully with a salad like this! Again... there is no right or wrong; the star ingredients are the pieces of fruit that you choose!
Using very fresh produce makes the flavors pop in your mouth... Support your local farmers and go to the Farmers' market! It makes the creation of your meals a complete experience!!
Enjoy!!
Elle :)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Summer Freshness on A Plate!!
WATERMELON/TOMATO SALAD
Something about mixing sweetness and tartness... throwing in some fresh herbs... and in minutes... Voila!!! An amazing summer side salad that can add spark and brightness to any main course!!
This is my take on a couple of recipes inspired by both Giada DeLaurentiis and Alexandra Guarnaschelli; a fusion of their ideas, if you will.
About 1 pint of cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
6 oz. of seedless watermelon (cut into small cubes)
1 tbsp. fresh chopped Tarragon
1 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
About 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the liquid ingredients and season to taste. Place all other ingredients in a medium sized salad bowl and pour the liquid over; fold over gently so that neither the tomatoes nor the watermelon get bruised.
Season to taste; but go easy on the salt in an effort to maintain the brightness of the fruit. You don't want to dull the fruit with the salt.
You can alternate the herbs with chopped fresh basil or fresh mint and there really is no right or wrong way to do this. If you have other tomato varieties; those can be used as a substitute... although the cherry tomatoes work the best.
This side is truly lovely with a light white fish or grilled/roasted chicken. Your guests will be wowed... I have made 2 different versions of this salad... and every time, a true hit!!
I would love to hear back with feedback or alternative versions of this salad!
Happy cooking and as always, happy eating!!
Elle :)
Something about mixing sweetness and tartness... throwing in some fresh herbs... and in minutes... Voila!!! An amazing summer side salad that can add spark and brightness to any main course!!
This is my take on a couple of recipes inspired by both Giada DeLaurentiis and Alexandra Guarnaschelli; a fusion of their ideas, if you will.
About 1 pint of cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
6 oz. of seedless watermelon (cut into small cubes)
1 tbsp. fresh chopped Tarragon
1 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
About 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the liquid ingredients and season to taste. Place all other ingredients in a medium sized salad bowl and pour the liquid over; fold over gently so that neither the tomatoes nor the watermelon get bruised.
Season to taste; but go easy on the salt in an effort to maintain the brightness of the fruit. You don't want to dull the fruit with the salt.
You can alternate the herbs with chopped fresh basil or fresh mint and there really is no right or wrong way to do this. If you have other tomato varieties; those can be used as a substitute... although the cherry tomatoes work the best.
This side is truly lovely with a light white fish or grilled/roasted chicken. Your guests will be wowed... I have made 2 different versions of this salad... and every time, a true hit!!
I would love to hear back with feedback or alternative versions of this salad!
Happy cooking and as always, happy eating!!
Elle :)
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