Whole Foods Living: whole food living

Showing posts with label whole food living. Show all posts

Banana Bread Smoothie Recipe

It's no secret I love to start my day with a healthy, decadent-flavored smoothie.

I often sip on a Chocolate-Covered Banana Smoothie or Raspberry-Banana Smoothie.

Hey, who says breakfast can't be good for me and delicious?

Today I came up with an oh so tasty treat! Fall is in the air and I've been wanting to make up a loaf of banana bread. Or, maybe pumpkin bread. Anyway, since I haven't had time yet, I adapted the flavor into a smoothie. Enjoy!

Banana Bread Smoothie

1 serving (approx. 300 calories)

1 cup soy milk (I used 8th Continent Soy Milk, Original)
1 large banana, cut into chunks
1 tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 cup dry quick oats

1. Place the milk, banana and honey in the blender.
2. Top with the oats and cinnamon.
3. Combine until creamy, pour and enjoy!

*Note: If you are using a small, single-serve blender, invert the layering of the ingredients, so the oats aren't the first ingredient to touch the blender blades.

Do you have a favorite morning go-to smoothie recipe? Tell me about it in the comments below!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: You can find me on Facebook and Twitter for more delicious ideas!

I Eat Too Much Fruit and Not Enough Fat

Who knew. Apparently I eat too much fruit. And vegetables.

Last week I downloaded a fitness app on my cellphone and started tracking my food, exercise and water intake. In less than 48 hours several things became very clear.

You can eat too much produce.
Fruits and vegetables are high in carbohydrates.
I don't eat enough fat. (WHAT??)

So, as I begin this journey of really understanding my food, I'm completely blown away. Although I've had a healthy whole foods diet for several years, I never realized I'm not eating foods in healthy proportions.

That means no more bowls of strawberries for lunch, I guess.

Has a health or fitness program helped guide your nutrition and health progress? I'm all ears! What did you learn? Why do you still use the program?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

9 Healthy Living Tip, Trick and Trend Articles

Each day I try to make healthy choices.

From the food on my plate, to makeup on my face and cleansers in my home, I choose to go with simple, natural options. For me Whole Foods Living truly is a lifestyle.

Spring Salad. Photo by Angela Tague

Each morning I wake up and tackle writing assignments (yep, that's my day job) for several health and environmentally friendly focused clients. And, I love it.

So, this week I thought I'd share nine articles (not just one!) that I've written with my Whole Foods Living frame of mind at the forefront. Enjoy!

Have you read any great healthy living articles lately? Please share the links with me in the comments below. I'd love to check them out too!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Beyond Honey: Eating Bee Pollen and Bee Bread

Photo Credit: SXC

Last summer as I was browsing my local farmer's market, I spotted the honey table.

I just love our local honey producers and all the wonderful things they create from the honey-making process including beeswax lip balms and decorative candles, to whipped honey spreads and beeswax lotion bars.

Bee Pollen is Edible
Then I spotted the bottle of bee pollen. What? You can eat bee pollen?

The seller explained its great for people with outdoor allergies to eat locally produced bee pollen to help build up a resistance to local allergens. Also, bee pollen is chock full of vitamins.

So, I had to investigate. According to the Los Angeles County Beekeepers Association bee pollen is a natural:

anti-inflammatory food
boosts the immune system
contains complete proteins

I've been adding the small granules to my yogurt, cereal and smoothies. Bee pollen has a distinctly earthy flavor with a hint of sweetness. It doesn't remind me of honey at all.

Discovering Bee Bread
Recently I was chatting about bee pollen on Twitter, and the friendly folks at Bee Healthy Farms in Missouri asked if I wanted to try its Api-Nuggetz Organic Bee Bread product. Sure! They claim the bread is nature's superfood made from wildflower pollen collected by wild bees.

According to the company's website:

"Bee bread contains practically all the essential amino acids for humans - (phenylalanine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, arginine, histidine, lysine, methionine, proline, threonine, tryptophan), vitamins - (A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, E, biotin, folic acid, rutin) and minerals - (calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, sodium). The major components of pollen are proteins, amino acid, lipids (fats, oils or their derivatives) and sugars. Enzymes (proteins) are also present but some, like glucose oxidase, have been added by the bees. This enzyme is therefore more abundant in bee bread than in fresh pollen pellets."

So, how was the bee bread? First of all, it's not bread, as in a loaf or a roll. The product resembles small pebbles, ranging in size from a small pea to a raisin. The pieces are made from a blend of wildflower pollen, honey and nectar.

The instructions say to chew the bread thoroughly or let it dissolve in your mouth. They feel like chewing a soft jelly bean initially, then they dissolve easily. The first flavor I noticed was a hint of orange. Then a hint of chamomile. Bee bread is definitely more sweet than bee pollen alone and has a more palatable flavor. Interestingly, each nugget had a slightly different flavor. I suppose that depends on where the pollen was sourced.

Have you ever eaten bee pollen or bee bread? Tell me about your experiences in the comments below! And don't forget to sign up for email updates each time I add a new blog post. The sign-up box is in the left margin, at the top of this page!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Disclosure: The Api-Nuggetz Organic Bee Bread mentioned in this blog post was provided free of charge from Bee Healthy Farms for review purposes. No monetary compensation was sought or awarded in exchange for the review. All thoughts expressed on Whole Foods Living are solely my own. ~Angela

Perfectly Pure Coconut Products Make My Hair Super Shiny

It's no longer a secret; I am totally in love with products made with coconut oil. It's super hydrating, easy to use and best of all it fits into my natural lifestyle filled with whole, natural products.

Perfectly Pure products. Photo by Angela Tague

Last week I professed my addiction to coconut oil in "From Kitchen to Beauty Bag: I'm in Love with Coconut Oil", so you can imagine my delight when Puritan's Pride sent me a box of hair and skin care products made with...wait for it...coconut oil!

For the last few weeks, I've tucked my usual bath time products in the cupboard and concentrated on giving the Perfectly Pure line of coconut beauty products a good test. The results were fabulous! (So good that I'm still using them!)

Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Shampoo: The fresh, robust coconut scent of this shampoo instantly calms me. It really does remind me of cooking with coconut cream or dipping my toes in the warm sand during a visit to the beach. After washing with this shampoo exclusively for a few weeks, my hair is soft, hydrated and super shiny. Since I swim in a chlorinated pool regularly, it's no easy feat to keep my hair from looking dry and brassy. Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Shampoo really did perform well!

Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Conditioner: Of course that great shampoo has a helpful conditioning partner. I've been using this conditioner after each washing to ensure my long hair gets enough moisture. I've even been using it when I con-poo (that's washing your hair with conditioner only) after swimming. The thick, creamy texture stays put so I can let it soak for a few minutes before rinsing.

Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Body Wash: I've also been testing out the coordinating coconut body wash and lotion. The body wash has the same indulgent coconut scent as the hair care products. The body wash foams into a rich lather making it perfect for both cleaning and as a shaving foam.

Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Body Lotion: After bathing, I've been nourishing my skin with the equally delightful coconut body lotion. It absorbs quickly, leaving my skin soft and protected from the dry fall air. Unlike some body lotions, Perfectly Pure Coconut Hydrating Body Lotion doesn't irritate my legs and arms, so it's a great option for people with sensitive skin.

Perfectly Pure Coconut Oil: When I have time to really moisturize my whole body, I dip into a container of pure coconut oil. Perfectly Pure's formula is creamier than several grocery store brands of coconut oil I've tried in the past. The semi-solid oil smooths on easily and melts on contact with my skin. I've been using the coconut oil as a protectant in my hair when I go swimming, to moisturize dry feet at night and to add extra shine to dry hair during styling. Just a tiny dab of coconut oil on the ends of my hair gives my tresses a healthy appearance.

All of the products mentioned above are:

cruelty-free / not tested on animals
vegetarian
Free of artificial colors
Paraben, petroleum, SLS-free

The Perfectly Pure coconut oil is also free of minerals oil and artificial fragrances.

Have you tried these products or ventured into coconut oil-based beauty products? Tell me about it below in the comments! And if you want to get your hands on these great products, visit Perfectly Pure online.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Disclosure: The Perfectly Pure products mentioned in this blog post were provided free of charge from Puritan's Pride for review purposes. No monetary compensation was sought or awarded in exchange for the review. All thoughts expressed on Whole Foods Living are solely my own. ~Angela

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Zabaglione with Zucchini and Zest, Anyone?

Well, here we are. Take a breath. We've successfully made it to the last day of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. It's day "Z"!

Zabaglione is best with fruit, not zucchini! Photo: Morguefile

I've been brainstorming ideas for this post for days. The obvious "Z" to address on a healthy foodie blog is zucchini, but I'm not a huge fan. It's an ok vegetable, but not top on my list of cravings. (Yes, I do sometimes crave vegetables. Peas, I'm thinking about you! Mmmmm....)

Then I thought of "zest", but that was my "Z" topic last year. Check out my past post, "How to Make Zest".

Then a friend suggested talking about zabaglione. Well, heck yes! Who doesn't love a riveting discussion of zabaglione! (I'll wait while you Google that one!)

So, now that you're drooling, I agree that decadent Italian custard dessert has nothing to do with whole foods. You're right. But hey, the only way you can stick to a healthy lifestyle is by rewarding yourself once in awhile. So, go ahead and order the zabaglione next time you go to an Italian bistro. After all, life's too short not to indulge on occasion!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: This may be the end of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, but Whole Foods Living is here to stay! Please stop by again, follow along with Google Friend Connect (there's a button on the left margin of this blog!) or sign up for email alerts each time I publish. I want to hear how you're staying healthy long after April ends. You can also find me on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. Be well!

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5 Ways to Enjoy Greek Yogurt

The first time I tried Greek yogurt, I wasn't impressed. Compared to my light, smooth, ultra sweet yogurt cups I was used to, it just wasn't that good. Greek yogurt is thicker, heavier and not as sugary.

What type of yogurt do you like? Photo: SXC

Wait, that's a good thing.

Since Greek yogurt is high in protein and lower in sugar than other types of yogurt, I decided to give it another chance. I've learned to love it and now it's on my weekly shopping list.

Here's five ways you can add Greek yogurt to your day too!

Use fruit-flavored Greek yogurt as a dressing on fruit salad.
Make a parfait dessert by layering granola, berries and Greek yogurt in a pretty, clear glass.
Mix seasoning packets or dried herbs with plain Greek yogurt (instead of sour cream) to use as a salad dressing.
Serve kids miniature fruit kebabs (a strawberry and grape threaded on a pretzel stick) and Greek yogurt as a dipping sauce.
Experiment with using Greek yogurt and a splash of lemon juice in lieu of mayonnaise in cold, creamy pasta salads.

Do you like Greek yogurt? How to you enjoy it?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Uncommon Food Pairings

Photo: SXC

Some things just go together: peanut butter and jelly; chocolate and caramel; peas and carrots.

But, what about those weird little mixtures that we somehow stumble upon and learn to adore?

You know, the uncommon food pairings that make your friends and family look away each time you indulge.

I don't think my palate craves too many uncommon food pairings. But, I have received a few odd glances when I:

Melt cheddar cheese on apple pie
Add grape jelly and ketchup to homemade baked beans
Put chopped, fresh tomatoes on scrambled eggs
Mix peanut butter into vanilla ice cream

Do these sound weird to you? What uncommon food pairings do you enjoy?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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