Top 10 Most Delicious Posts of 2014 on Whole Foods Living

Another year is winding down, so I thought it might be fun to warm up a second helping of the 10 most popular posts in 2014!

Graphic Credit: Freeimages

1. My Gluten-Free Pasta Choice: Mung Bean Noodles
2. Gluten-Free Food List
3. Gluten-Free Soy Sauce Alternative: Liquid Amino Acids
4. Eating Raw Honey
5. Energy-Boosting B Vitamins
6. The 8-week Healthy Skin Diet by Karen Fischer
7. What Is Xanthan Gum?
8. Are bamboo shoots healthy?
9. How to Eat Flax Seed
10. Juicing Carrots: A Burst of Vitamin A

What's your favorite post on Whole Foods Living from 2014? What topics would you like to read about in 2015? Tell me in the comments below and have a Happy New Year!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Why Write About Food?

Photo Credit: SXC.HU

Well, here we are at the end of the first week of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Since I'm meeting so many new readers (Hello!), I thought I'd use Day "F" to explain why in the world I write about food.

Well, obviously I have to eat to survive. You do too!

But, seriously, I write about food to keep myself accountable and on track with my healthy eating decisions. Dieting doesn't work. But, making lifestyle changes and good decisions each day do. Whether you're trying to lose weight, maintain weight loss or control a medical condition with diet--eating clean, whole foods is the way to go.

Whole Foods Living is my little corner of the web where I can share my experiences about trying new foods. I also like to give tips for making healthy foods a little more appealing or easy to work with. Really, I'm just a gal that loves to eat and feel good. So, I eat healthy. And, I like to write/talk/blab/chatter. So, here I am.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: Are you just finding this blog today? Well, you should check out what's been going on this week! I've been busy with the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Here's quick links for my posts from earlier this week!

A: Learning to Love Asparagus
B: Is Butter Better than Margarine?
C: 4 Ways to Eat Cabbage and Like it!
D: Dip It! 3 Healthy Dips for Snacktime
E: Edamame: Tasty Bean, Funny Name

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The 2013 Blogging from A to Z Challenge Starts Tomorrow

Are you in? The worldwide Blogging from A to Z Challenge starts in less than 24 hours!

Bloggers from around the world will get busy and update their blogs each day during the month of April. The idea is to write posts that highlight one letter of the alphabet each day, excluding Sundays. Why do we do this?

• We're a little crazy.
• We love to write.
• We support other writers.
• It's fun to gain new readers.
• We like finding new blogs to read.

Are you ready? I am! Join me here at Whole Foods Living each day in April to learn how to make eating healthier easier and FUN! I promise! Now, get back to the holiday weekend and enjoy yourself! Happy Easter!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Blogging from A to Z Challenge: Are You Participating?

Last week the gurus at the Blogging from A to Z Challenge opened the flood gates. Yep, it's time to sign up for the annual April blog challenge. If you've never participated, here's why you should:

• You get to explore new blogs.
• You gain new readers and followers.
• You're challenged to post to your blog each day for a month.
• It's a great way to reboot your creative juices.

Here's a recap of my posts from the 2012 challenge.

I'm not sure what direction or theme I will follow this year. I've been tossing round the idea of raiding the produce department and trying a new whole food each day. Or maybe highlighting a favorite recipe each day. The key is to blog from A to Z, highlighting one letter of the alphabet each day, excluding Sundays.

Want to know more? Visit the official Blogging from A to Z Challenge website HERE.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Kreativ Blogger Award 2012

Since participating in the April 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge I've "met" so many insightful, friendly and informative bloggers on the web. 

I was lucky enough to catch the eye of Francene Stanley of Stitching Words and Jolie Du Pre of Precious Monsters who recently awarded Whole Foods Living the Kreativ Blogger Award!

Thank you, ladies! I'm honored that you enjoy my little corner of the web!

Part of receiving this wonderful award is that I continue on with this kindness and nominate seven other blogs that I feel deserving of this award.  After that, I answer 10 questions about myself and 10 random facts about me that you probably didn't know! So here goes!

7 Award-Winning Blogs to Visit:
1. Amy at Freelancin' for $1000 a Week.
Motivational. Inspirational. Realistic.

2. Jen at We're Living a Full Life.
Insightful. Honest. Fun.

3. Tracy at Pull Up a Toadstool.
Creative. Alternative. Inspiration.

4. Sylvia at Plant-Based Foodie.
Delicious. Simple. Whole.

5. Amy at Coffee Lovin' Mom
Travel. Relaxing. Witty.

6. Rabbit Trails
Honest. Funny. Random.

7. The Death Writer
Scary. Important. Insightful.

10 Questions About Me:
1. What is your favorite song? Nothing Else Matters by Metallica. It was our first dance/wedding song.
2. What is your favorite dessert? Brownies
3. What ticks you off? When I'm not productive
4. What do you do when you’re upset? Cry 
5. Which is/was your favorite pet? All of them!
6. Which do you prefer, black or white? Black
7.What is your biggest fear? Dying by drowning or fire
8. What is your attitude mostly?  Positive
9. What is perfection? Cruising forest trails with my hubby and dogs on a crisp fall day followed by homemade hot chocolate.
10. What is your guilty pleasure?  Brownies topped with homemade vanilla ice cream and warm ganache. Yeah, you're drooling now!

10 Random Facts About Me:
1. My husband and I share the same three initials.
2. My first rock concert was Poison in 1989.
3. I played the Wicked Queen in my 3rd grade class play, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.
4. I design greeting cards.
5. I love reading Stephen King before bed.
6. I have a vial of faux blood from a GWAR concert.
7. I volunteer at a horse therapy organization.
8. I drink milk directly from the container.
9. I've never watched Glee, American Family, House or many of the other "popular" shows.
10. I've straddled the Tropic of Capricorn in Australia.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Reflections of The Blogging from A to Z Challenge

Whew! Maintaining a personal blog challenge is like running a marathon. 

Last week I crossed the finish line in my first ever Blogging from A to Z Challenge--and it feels great. I kept a steady pace, didn't skip any of the 26 miles, er, letters in my path and learned a lot along the journey.

1. People genuinely do care about nutrition and question what's on their plates. My passion is not falling on deaf ears!

2. Maintaining a daily blog is more than just tapping out a few paragraphs of insights. There are comments to approve, read and reply to. There are photos to snap or find. And, of course there's research (read: cook, bake, shop!) to create informative, honest posts.

3. I learned a lot from my readers and the blogs I visited during the challenge! I have a list of new blogs to peruse, books to read and recipes to try. Thank you!

4. Blogging won't make you rich. I maintain Whole Foods Living because it's my day-to-day life speaking. I write about what I encounter during my ongoing healthy eating transition. The ad revenue from this blog challenge will probably buy me a watermelon at the farmer's market or maybe another bag of organic quinoa. Yum!

5. People will blog about anything! While visiting other blogs in the challenge I met other foodies, learned about children's books, death rituals, tourist spots in Paris, how much I need a beach vacation and the antics of young children!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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A to Z Blog Challenge Week 3 Recap

Today wraps up the third week of the April 2012 A to Z Blog Challenge!

Each day in April (excluding Sundays) I'm spotlighting one letter of the alphabet. Have you been following along?

Although today is a day off from the Challenge, I thought I'd post a quick recap of the previous week, "N" through "S". If you missed any posts on Whole Foods Living, here's a list of quick links:

April 16: Why Blog About Nutrition?

April 17: My Love Affair With Olive Oil

April 18: Do You Eat Papaya?

April 19: 3 Ways to Eat Quinoa

April 20: Types of Rice

April 21: Strawberry Sauce in 5 Minutes

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Why Blog About Nutrition?

Of all the things to write about -- why choose nutrition? I have so many hobbies, from photography and scrapbooking, to pets and gardening, why does food get the spotlight?

Oatmeal and fruit. Photo courtesy Morguefile.com

I've always been into cooking and eating healthy, but early in the winter of 2010, I decided to try using food as medicine.

After taking prescription medications for rheumatoid arthritis for several months, I quit. My hair was thinning and falling out in clumps, I was nauseated daily, I was gaining weight quickly and I felt horrible. I started researching more about autoimmune diseases, and from books to web articles and television interviews, everyone spoke about changing their diets and feeling better.

As a "healthy" vegetarian, I thought I was eating correctly. Vegetables filled my dinner plate, I ate lots of legumes and nut butters for protein and snacked on fruits. But, I also had a freezer full of vegetarian soy burgers, boxed brownie mixes lined the cupboard shelves and my go-to snack was Dorito's covered in melted cheddar cheese.

I was filling up on sugar and sodium-laden processed foods that lacked much nutrition. So, one day I decided to start limiting those foods from my diet. If it comes in a can, box or instructions for cooking in the microwave, I probably don't eat it.

Whole Foods Living is my way of exploring, learning and educating people about nutrition. I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist. I'm just a 30-something gal trying to feel good without popping pills. Food is medicine. Since I've been eating healthier, my body actually punishes me when I eat junk food. Sugary candy makes me dizzy. Artificial dyes make me run to the restroom.

For me, food goes way beyond curbing hunger. Food makes me feel sick, or healthy.

So, why do you blog? What's your topic, and why are you passionate about it? For me, I blog to keep myself accountable. Plus, I learn lots of new tasty ways to eat healthy, thanks to comments from faithful readers like you! Thank you!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Easy Triple Berry Smoothie Recipe

Sometimes I don't want a heavy breakfast before I exercise in the morning. That's when I turn to my single-serve blender and create a refreshing smoothie.

This easy berry smoothie recipe is a nutritious mix of nut-based protein, vitamin-packed fruits and healthy seeds. People with a lactose intolerance or a sensitivity to soy can indulge without worry.

Photo Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Triple Berry Breakfast Smoothie
2 cups almond milk, regular or vanilla flavored
1/2 cup ice cubes
1/3 cup frozen raspberries
1/3 cup frozen blackberries
1/3 cup frozen blueberries
1 Tbs light agave syrup or raw honey
1 Tbs milled flax seed

Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse on a high setting to chop the frozen berries and ice cubes. Blend until smooth, and enjoy your berry smoothie.

Next time try a Chocolate-Covered Banana Smoothie or a Raspberry-Banana Smoothie. Both make a great, light breakfast or a delicious afternoon snack.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: Did you miss day one of the 2012 Blogging from A to Z April challenge? Check out my "A" post about apples!

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