The world of Acai lies before me.

I will admit....when there is a fad diet, pill, workout or product I usually just smirk about it and move on. There has been in my lifetime a few things that have come into my life from a "fad" appearance but in fact has been around for ages...I just didnt know about it. Kombucha for example is one of them. All of a sudden I was hearing "kombucha this and kombucha that". I went to the co op and there it was. I got a bottle and tried it. I was hooked and the "fad" kombucha craze came and went in my small town. Yes, the co op still sells it and yes it is still a talked about item but not like before. I now make it myself and wouldn't go a week without my fizzy friend. Acai was the same for me. The first time I herd about the Acai berry was on Oprah. She was raving about the benefits and I was intrigued. Acai seemed to be right next to the Hoodia craze. I remember when they both seemed to be in almost everything (Acai more so than hoodia). I was amazed to see just how many people were excited about this purple berry and what it had to offer. Unlike other diet crazes and fad products this one was actually healthy for you so I decided I would try it out. I then set out to find the best company with the best Acai berries and products to offer. So what is Acai anyway? Well, I will tell you!

Açaí is a Brazilian berry original from the Amazon Region that is considered to be one of nature's most complete and healthy foods. The açaí berry is loaded with antioxidants, amino acids, essential omegas, fibers and proteins. Some of the health benefits associated with the acai berry are: increase in sustained energy, healthy cholesterol support, improvement of digestive system, strengthening immune system, among others. Oprah's website described acai as "one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world...", while the book, The Perricone Promise, calls it the "nature's perfect energy fruit."

Why Açaí Roots?Acai Roots is a full line of delicious and healthy acai berry products, formulated to exacting standards by local Brazilians from Rio de Janeiro, who were born and raised on Açaí. Our Açaí is considered the "cream of the crop" of açaí in Brazil. Our wild harvested açaí comes from the State of Para, where Brazil produces its darkest purple, and highest quality of açaí. Açai Roots ™ is simply the best 100% Natural açaí available anywhere! The sustainable harvesting of the acai berry helps protect the Amazon Forest and support local communities. Acai is loaded with antioxidants (considerably more than pomegranate, blueberries and grapes). Antioxidants are molecules that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage may lead to cancer. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals otherwise might cause. Acai also carries lots of fibers, healthy monounsaturated fats, iron and amino acids.Acai is considered by many doctors and specialists the most powerful fruit on earth due to its great concentration of antioxidants, essential omegas, proteins, dietary fiber and other vitamins and enzymes. Combined with proper diet and exercise the acai berry can be an outstanding weight loss aid. Acai works very well to help your body function better, process food easier, and burn fat more efficiently. At Acai Roots they promote a whole lifestyle change including regular physical activities (sports), balanced diet with lots of acai in order to obtain significant better health and weight loss. Acai is loaded with antioxidants, about 20 times more than red wine, which helps fight aging. I mean....what more could I ask for?!? I knew when I found Acai Roots I knew that they would be the company to go to for the purest form of Acai. I am just so glad that I did my research!

They are Extremely professional people. Friendly and Fun,very committed to results. There approach is "Whatever it takes" attitude which is the right kinda attitude to have! Their Core Values are * Integrity* Honesty* Persistence* Service* Quality* Results.

Deal! So first up:Organic Acai powder, which made my regular smoothies....spectacular!

Packed with natural potent antioxidants and healthy omegas from the Amazon Rain forest, our pure acai powder pouches are a great way to take your daily antioxidants, and boost your energy naturally. Unlike other acai berry extracts (4:1), Acai Roots Pure freeze dried acai powder is extracted from the acai berry using cutting edge low temperature technology, which preserves the majority of antioxidants and nutrients found in the acai berry. Other extracts are not as effective because they utilize heat (spray drying) along with additional carriers, causing the elimination of most health benefits of the acai berry. Our organic freeze dried powder is the ideal to make smoothies, mix with your favorite juice or even water. Also available in capsules and energy concentrate.
Benefits
Antioxidants
Natural Energy
Polyphenols
Omegas (3,6,9)
Trace Minerals
Vitamins
Essential Amino Acids
Suggested Uses
Smoothies
Shakes
Yogurt
Granola
Desserts
Coffee Applications
Tea Applications

It was awesome and made my smoothie dream worthy!

1/2 cup Almond Milk (vanilla)

1 table spoon of Acai powder

1 cup of blueberries

1 handful of spinach

1/2 cup of greek yogurt

ice and a dash of cinnamon

That easy but oh so good!

Next up was the Acai pills! I have been totally spoiled by Acai Roots and they have given me some GREAT things. I LOVED the Acai in pill form!

Pure Acai Powder in pills - made with the highest quality Pure Freeze Dried Acai Powder, our Açaí Capsules are on the most convenient ways to take your antioxidants. Packed with natural potent antioxidants and healthy omegas from the Amazon Rainforest, our pure acai capsules are a great and convenient way to take your daily antioxidants, and boost your energy naturally. Unlike other acai berry extracts (4:1), Acai Roots Pure freeze dried acai is extracted from the acai berry using cutting edge low temperature technology, which preserves the majority of antioxidants and nutrients found in the acai berry. Other extracts are not as effective because they utilize heat (spray drying) along with additional carriers, causing the elimination of most health benefits of the acai berry.
Benefits
Antioxidants
Natural Energy
Polyphenols
Omegas (3,6,9)
Trace Minerals
Essential Amino Acids
Features
Convenient Tablets
High concentration of antioxidants
Supports Weight Loss
No Caffeine or Sugar
No Carriers or Preservatives
Pure Freeze Dried Acai Powder in Caps

I started taking these right away and could tell a difference in about three days. It's no joke...great energy and a great product. Especially if you are on the go and don't have time to make a smoothie or Acai bowl.

Last but certainly not least they have these handy little guys. Acai Roots™ nex4 Acai Energy Shot is a refreshing and naturally energetic combination of some of the most powerful and exotic Super Foods on Earth: Açaí + Acerola + Green Tea + Guaraná. Packed with antioxidants, natural energy and vitamins, nex4™ provides sustained natural energy.Take your nex4™ hours to the nex4™ level!
Why?
Antioxidants
Natural Energy
Polyphenols
Omegas (3,6,9)
Essential Amino Acids
Trace Minerals
Vitamins
When?
Take a shot Before Work
Take a shot Before Workout
Take a shot Before Class
Take a shot Before Party
Take a shot On the GO
Take a shot Next day
Take your day to nex4Lev

Ok, so I dont really need to take energy shots. Anyone that knows me knows that I am a energy freak! I have enough energy for two people! I did however try these and it gave me a different type of energy. I was very scared honestly. I had the bottle in my hand and thought "what if I drink this and it has me jacked up for hours." Flashes of truck stops and "5 hour energy shots" while on tour with my rock band was going through my head. Back in the day I would guzzle one of those to get through weeks (literally) of no sleep and to drive though the night or get through a show. Dude...so glad those days are over. Fun, yes but never again. Needless to say this was not trucker speed. This was a vitamin that had some great living elements. I felt really good all day and also felt as though I could concentrate better. This is just me though :)

Acai Roots Rocks! If you are lookin to add some Acai into your life and dont know where to go for the purest form, this is it! Go to:

www.acairoots.com

They have so much information on their site! It is loaded with info, recipes, products and links. You will not have one question un answered once you go to the site. They worked with me very well. The customer service was outstanding and Rodrigo was awesome. I got my box in the mail quickly and I know that if I needed him I would get a response in no time. Let me know if you have tried Acai before and what company you like...If you haven't already tried Acai Roots...you should! I am turning purple as we speak! It's not just a berry...it's a lifestyle.

-Heather

Gettin Beach Ready!

This week is flying by! I am so glad too. I am ready for it to be over really. I have a show this weekend that I am looking forward to and after that I will be house sitting for two whole weeks. I am going to pack it up and move in to a wonderful house on the other side of town to take care of a pup and a kitty. Since I don't have a pet anymore :(

I will be able to pretty much spend all my time at the new place for the next two weeks. My schedule will be a bit different for the time being but it will be worth it because I could use the extra cash! I am always the one that people turn to when they need a house sitter. That makes me feel good because that means that they trust that I will take care of their home and fur babies. I am house sitting for someone that I never even met before! Today I will go to the house and get the low down. The lady that I am house sitting for is a writer so she spends most of her time at home. This is why it is important for me to basically live there. She wants her pets to get the same amount of attention. I have no problem with this. As long as she has Internet connection, I am fine. I have been watching too much t.v. lately anyway. I am going to try and treat this time as a vacation of sorts! I love house sitting so this will be fun. She has a huge garden that I will be in charge of as well as the two animals. My days will be pretty packed going back and forth to two homes and trying to do everything else. The goal....May 29th, done with house sitting and enough money to pay for the hotel for my upcoming beach trip!!! That's right! I am going to the beach! I go to the beach at least once a year. Last year however wasn't really a beach vacation trip. I did get to go to the beach but it was for a wedding and I was in charge of a lot so I didn't get the relaxing beachy fun that I am use to. This year will be special...Because it is going to be a GIRLS trip!!! Karen and I are going to the beach! Watch out, were coming.

Of course having a beach trip planned in less than a month makes me happy and it also makes me nervous. Since K and I will be going on our first trip together you better believe that I will be taking pictures! LOTS of them! I know that there will be many beach photos and well bathing suit season is NOW. This gives the two of us a goal (30 days) and something to not only look forward to but work for. I have been kinda not feeling the gym lately but that is because usually I have a goal or some sort of challenge that I am doing. So far this Spring, no challenge and no goal. That has left me feeling like my work outs are pointless. I know that this is silly but some of us need something to work towards. I have been working out and health and fitness has been a priority for years now. I almost always have something that I am trying to do in the gym. Whether that be beating my personal best, loosing 5 pounds or gaining muscle, I always have a plan. Not so this time around. Now that I have a beach trip planned you better believe I have no problem turning up the workouts and getting ready for that bathing suit. Do you ever worry about wearing a bathing suit? Even if you are a "normal" weight/size? My friends and family always pick at me and say things like "Why are you worried about a bathing suit!?!" Well, it just goes to show that we all have our insecurities and we all have to get threw them. Yes, the idea of putting on a bikini does kinda freak me out but that doesn't mean that I will not go to the beach or wear one. That just means in order for me to feel good in one I have to work for it. That paired with knowing that vacations usually involve drinking and eating galore (dont think I wont be splurging!) The great thing about the weather getting warmer is that it is so much easier for me to stick to a healthy fruit and veggie rich diet. There is nothing better to me than fresh in season fruits and veggies! So what have I been enjoying lately other than the fantastic products you have herd me raving about? Well...I will show you!

Breakfast:

Greek yogurt, granola and berries! Blackberries are oh so good right now!

Snacks:

Apple and PB2

or hummus and celery or Pure raw food bars.

I usually have all three of these spread out throughout the day. I have been trying to have some good carbs before and after my workouts.

Lunches: Mary's gone Crackers and some kind of toppings. This is fresh radishes from Shelly's garden and a "cream cheese" dill spread made with tofu. I will be posting this recipe later this week!

Dinner: Kale Salads curried no-egg salads.

I posted the recipe yesterday and this just goes to show you that you really can load up the simple recipe that I gave you with almost anything. This version chopped apple, walnuts, chives and curry powder. It is the perfect match in my book for my sesame kale salad.

Now that you have seen what is on my summer menu this week, what are you eating? Is there a food or food group that you tend to only eat during the warmer months?

I gotta run but will see you for FRIDAY! I cant wait!

-Heather

shelly's garden givin

Good Morning!~
I am so very sorry about being M.I.A. lately but I had a few days off and really needed to just turn the computer off and put the camera away! I am re-charged and better for it! I have some great posts planned for this week. First of all I was able to try a new veggie!!! Shelly (my coworker, walking buddy and mentor of sorts) brought me some goodies from her garden! I was sooooo very excited to get fresh radishes Komatsuna!
An unlikely relative of the turnip family, this large leafy green is grown almost exclusively in Japan, Taiwan and Korea. Also called spinach mustard, Komatsuna has dark green leaves that are rich in calcium and often quite glossy. Komatsuna contains far more vitamin C and carotene than spinach, and is believed to have cancer-fighting properties. They can be harvested at any stage and prepared like spinach in the early stages and more like cabbage as they mature. The flavor grows stronger and hotter the longer the leaves mature. This versatile green can be stir-fried, pickled, boiled and added to soups or used fresh in salads.
After reading about this green I was more than ready to get started in the kitchen! I came up with two dishes that I have never made before and let me just tell you….your in for a treat! I made Vegan Non-Egg Salad with Komatsuna sweet sesame salad with some gluten free crackers and fresh bell pepper to dip and you have yourself the most delightful summer dish. Both are cold and both were made in LARGE batches. You could bring either to a pot luck and be the life of the party! I am not kidding…both rocked and I came up with the recipe on the fly. Are you ready? Here’s a glimpse of the plate!

Ok so first recipe is that I will tell you about this the Vegan No-Egg Salad. Simple, tasty and packed with goodness. Seriously, there is nothing to feel bad about here. All good for your ingredients and if you have more than one serving (I bet you cant) then no skin off your back!

Vegan No-Egg Salad
1 cube of extra firm tofu
1 ½ cups of nutritional yeast
½ cup of unsweetened coconut milk
2 table spoons of tamari
Squirt of mustard
Spike Seasoning (you can use any seasoning you like here. Basil, cilantro, anything!)
1 stalk of celery
2 dill pickles (I like a lot of pickles in my egg salad, if you don’t just use one).
1 teaspoon of curry powder
Dash of nutmeg
1 table spoon of tumeric
Dash of salt and pepper

Ok so here how you assemble this wonderful sandwich stuffer, veggie dipper, cracker scooper dip!

First you take the nutritional yeast and add the coconut milk. Then you mix with a fork until you get a gooey thick sauce of sorts. Add in the spices, mustard and tamari and mix well. Then chop the celery and pickles and throw in the mix.
What you have here is the easiest no-egg salad ever and no veganese was used! Fat free and packed with great vitamins and protein. Tumeric, nutritional yeast and tofu is a powerful blend. These three if wanted could be a tofu scramble for breakfast!
I encourage you to add in what you want with this recipe. Sliced avocado, sunflower seeds, red pepper flakes or even sliced grapes or raisins makes this dish even more special. I added cheese (gasp) to mine. I felt a little naughty adding cheese to a vegan recipe but hey, it was what I wanted at the time! I love it with some gluten free crackers and some sliced bell pepper. This makes a perfect summer sandwich stuffer as every ingredient is warm weather worthy. You don’t have to worry about it in the least. I love it, let me know what you think about it!


Next on the recipe front is the lovely sweet but spicey (my fav) sesame Komatsuna salad! I want to tell you that I have made this with Kale and it is just as fantastic! This is super easy as well.

Sweet N Spicy Komatsuna Salad
1 bunch of Kale or Komatuna washed and chopped
1 sweet potato
1 sweet onion (you can use red onion as well)
2 cloves of garlic
3 cups of green beans (snapped to about 2 inches)
Olive oil
1 cup of spicy peach salsa
¼ cup of sesame seeds
4 sliced radishes (you can use beets too!)

Ok what you do is chop the sweet potato into small pieces in a pan with olive oil (use as much or as little as you like, I used about two table spoons). Then cover and cook until sweet potato’s are almost fork ready. Then add in the snapped, washed green beans and sliced radishes and cover again. When green beans are almost done add in your chopped garlic, salt and pepper and onion. Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes. This is just to allow the garlic to meld the veggies together. Once stirred well add in the Kale or Komatsuna. You don’t need to really measure the kale or komatsuna. If using Kale I just use the whole bunch. Shelly brought me a huge amount of the komatsuna so I used about 3 cups worth after I chopped it. Turn the heat down a bit, cover and let sit for about 10 minutes. Once the Kale or Komatsuna has been cooked threw then turn off heat and transport to a large mixing bowl. Let the dish cool for about 20 minutes and then add in the spicy peach salsa and ¼ cup of sesame seeds. Fold the salsa and seeds into the salad (being careful the sweet potatos don’t get mushed.) and refridgerate. This can be eaten right then or allow for it to sit in the fridge for a hour or so. Both of these recipes makes enough for about 6 large servings! This would be a wonderful side dish to bring to a pot luck or gathering. Healthy, light and cool! A summer recipe that is perfect for any occasion! If you want it more spicy then you know what to do!

Like the other recipe you can add in whatever you want! I am telling you…these dishes can be played with and it will only make them better! I promise you once you try this out you will want more! That’s why my recipes make large amounts ;)
Let's see this dish one more time.....YUUUUUUUM! This dinner was fabulous! Light and healthy, just the way that I like it!

I am sorry you had to do without me for a few days but I am back and in action! I cant wait to announce the winner next week of my contest and man…there are some good news and reviews coming your way. Keep reading! I didn’t leave ya! Thanks Shelley for being the best with allowing me some of your garden goodies. You know that I appriecate it more than anyone and actually put it to some GOOD use. I enjoyed every bite!
-xoxoxox, Heather

Natural Truffles, now were talkin.

Blackbird's Story
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality."
~John Lennon
Andrea, Alexandra and Anthony just launched Blackbird Naturals from their commitment to healthy eating and sustainable living - with Blackbird they are sharing 100% organic foods with love...plus creating an inspiring Food Forest! Wanna see these stunning folks?!?

Here's Anthony (Whoa) Alexandra and Andrea!

Gorgeous people!!! I will eat what you give me, only if it gives me the glow you have! Seriously though....when I found their web page I was shocked at just how beautiful the crew was! Truffles or not, I'm sold ;)

Andrea grew up in her family's food business so the apple doesn't fall far from the tree for her or the most recent generation - here she is with daughter Alexandra who is now very grown up! Both are featured as recipients for ASU's entrepreneur award for Blackbird's innovative business plan.Alexandra in her market store some years ago as watched over by Blackbird! In 2006, she created her business plan for healthy fast food - today Blackbird is launched with the perfect first product! And Anthony has been perfecting his truffle recipe winning over family and friends with new addicts daily. When not rolling truffles, he can be found planting Blackbird's Desert Food Forest in Paradise Valley - visit Anthony's Raw Model blog to see the gardens in progress with honey bees, lady bugs, earth worms, birds and three goldens.

Let's get to the truffles shall we! Presents:

Order 10, 20 and 30 truffle packs - the more you order the better the price! Blackbird Truffles are tasty when slightly chilled - refrigerate and share the health!
Rolled in Cacao Nibs....

Or rolled in Pistachio Nuts.....

You can also enjoy them "half and half' - simply place a note in "Message To Merchant" when ordering, otherwise your order will default to yummy, high antioxidant Cacao Nibs! I got both and OMG I was blown away!!! The truffles were wrapped so nicely and I felt like I was opening a gift, so thoughtful!

SERIOUSLY....go get these now.

I dont know what to say except, you are totally missing out in life if you haven't had one of these melt in your mouth. Don't even think I'm sharing if you come over to my house! Sorry, but these babies are all mine!!!!!

If you want something extra special for yourself or if you need a special gift than this is the PERFECT treat! Please go to their site and check them out for yourself!

www.blackbirdnaturals.com

I am so glad that I found them! One truffle and your chocolate craving is no more! They are so fantastic. Let me know if you have tried Black Bird's truffles and what you think!

-Heather

Eat Grass, Get Healthy.

Mornin to you all! Are you ready for a review? Well, I sure hope so because this one is GOOOOOOOD!

I was so pleased to come across the nicest lady....Teri Jo! She works for amazing grass and allowed me to sample some amazing products! I LOVE wheat grass and this company produces wheat grass infused powders and bars. I will say this from the start. Amazing! Sorry but you will be hearing some puns through out this post, I cant help myself.

Amazing Grass helps people lead healthier more active lives by achieving their full potential through better nutrition. They strive to educate the world by spreading the word about the amazing benefits of cereal grasses. Amazing Grass will spare no resources or expense to produce nutritionally superior products with the highest quality organic cereal grasses available anywhere in the world.
Their Vision: To enhance peoples lives by connecting health, nutrition, and the environment.

How they got started: They started out of a garage (well it was really a dining room table) in August of 2002 in San Francisco, California. Just two guys with a desire to build a 'grass' roots business that aligned with our passion for the outdoors and a healthy lifestyle.
They had each spent 7 years at large telecom companies and met 4 years ago at a start-up telecom company that was trying to break the bandwidth bottleneck, but ended up going broke instead. Working in a start up environment, they witnessed first hand the effect 17 hour work days, lack of exercise and poor eating habits had on many of their colleagues. Constantly hearing people say "I'm exhausted", "I'm sick" and "I need to get in better shape" seemed to be directly related to stress and diet.
Todd noticed that Brandon seemed immune from the common cold and the contagious mid-afternoon yawn. Brandon's thumb is the furthest shade from green, but luckily his uncle has continued to run the family dehydrating business that his Grandfather started over 50 years ago. Brandon swore the wheat grass he'd been taking gave him more energy, a stronger immune system and an overall healthier life. He gave some to Todd along with a great book by Ron Seibel called Cereal Grass, What's in it for you. Within weeks, Todd was a big believer.he developed increased energy throughout the day and saw his need for sleep decrease. In fact, Todd has eluded everything including the common cold since taking wheat grass. Brandon had a long list of friends that were hooked on wheat grass and would often call or stop by when they ran out. His freezer was being raided on a daily basis. (I know this sounds like a scene from Cops, but I swear it was just wheat grass.)
With the help of a college marketing class at Cal Poly SLO, their wives, families and friends, Todd and Brandon started Amazing Grass.
It is their passion to educate the world about the benefits of cereal grass, green foods and the improved quality of life from eating healthy. It is their goal to always listen to customers and constantly improve what they do. Both pledge to produce the healthiest products that offer real benefits at prices everyone can afford. It's an amazing adventure to grow this business to reflect our dreams, passions and beliefs.
Today, Amazing Grass offers the most potent green vegetables in a convenient way that aligns with our hectic lifestyles. They take great pleasure in hearing your stories about how Amazing Grass has changed your life and encourage our new friends to write us with their stories. One timeless phrase will sum up many of our responses."You are what you eat." Eat Grass. Get Healthy!!!
After looking around on the site I gotta say, I was more than excited to try some products I was ready for more energy, a better immune system and something to aid in digestion. When the package arrived I opened it to find a few packs of amazing meal. Chocolate is my favorite so I was happy to see that flavor. I really liked the "original" flavor as well.
You know me and smoothie's so it should be no surprise that this happened soon after the box was opened....
Chocolate Green Super Food: is a delicious chocolate drink powder to help you achieve your 5 to 9 daily servings of fruits and vegetables. A full spectrum of alkalizing green super foods, antioxidant rich fruits, and support herbs unite with organic Acai, Maca and Cacao to provide a powerful dose of whole food nutrition with a delicious dark chocolate taste. Complete with pre & probiotics and digestive enzymes to ensure rapid nutrient absorption and healthy digestion. All natural and organic ingredients include organic: wheat grass, organic barley grass, organic alfalfa, organic spirulina, organic spinach, organic chlorella (cracked cell-wall), organic broccoli, organic dutch cocoa, organic redwood cocoa, organic cacao, natural chocolate flavoring, organic acai from Sambazon, organic maca, organic carrot, organic beet, raspberry, organic rose hips, pineapple, green tea, acerola cherry, organic flax seed powder, organic oat fiber, apple pectin fiber, F.O.S. (from chicory root), L. acidophilus, alpha and beta amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, cellulase, siberian eleuthero root, peppermint and organic sea salt.100% Vegan.The 8.5 oz bottle has 30 servings and a convenient scoop. Serving size: one scoop, 8 grams. Recommend 1-3 servings daily.
The chocolate flavor was amazing with a banana in the mix. It was sooooooo good!
The original was just as good to me. I almost like it more because you can add what you want to it and it can become almost any flavor you want!

Green Super Food is blended to perfection in a delicious tasting powder that mixes well with juice, water or your favorite beverage. One serving gives you the antioxidant equivalent of 7 servings of fruits and vegetables and helps you hit your daily quota. A full spectrum of alkalizing green super foods, antioxidant rich fruits, and support herbs unite with Acai and Maca to provide a powerful dose of whole food nutrition. Complete with pre & probiotics and digestive enzymes to ensure rapid nutrient absorption and healthy digestion.
Our premium blend of organic super foods provides amazing energy and amazing health.
-A delicious drink powder to help you achieve your recommended 5 to 9 daily servings of fruits and vegetables .
-Naturally balanced source of antioxidants, B- vitamins, carotenoids, -phytonutrients, enzymes, dietary fiber and essential fatty acids.
-Sustains energy naturally and boosts your immune system.
-Great for detoxifying and cleanses.
-Probiotics and enzymes to aid digestion and absorption.
Complete raw food with powerful antioxidants.
-Alkaline green plant foods help balance acidic pH levels.
-More organic whole leaf greens per gram than any of the leading 'green drinks' - not from juice.
-Featuring Sambazon organic pure acai and organic maca.
-No soy lecithin fillers.
-Non dairy, Gluten free, Non-GMO, Vegan.
-Certified Organic.

Amazing Grass Green Super Food allows you to get the best nutrition any time of day, everyday. We've hand selected the most nutritious vibrant organic vegetables, cereal grasses, algae, anti-oxidant rich fruits, probiotics and immune boosting support herbs to create a delicious tasting drink powder that mixes easily with water, juice or your favorite smoothie. For those that haven't acquired the taste for greens, we're confident your taste buds will love Amazing Grass Green Super Food.
I LOVE the way this stuff makes me feel! I kid you not, you can feel it immediately! Can I have a whole jar of the amazing grass meal? Thanks! This stuff is rocking my world! I am so pleased with the taste and the texture. No clumps, no powdery taste, just a great product all around! This company really knows what they are doing. I have found that wheat grass has some pretty darn good benefits.
Amazing Grass Organic Wheat Grass is one of nature's most powerful sources of green leafy vegetable nutrition. Just one scoop in your favorite beverage helps you achieve your recommended 5 to 9 daily servings of vegetables.
-Increases and sustains energy naturally
-Detoxifies and cleanses your body
-High alkalinity helps balance your body's pH level
-Strengthens your immune system
-Insoluble fiber gently cleanses your digestive tract and promotes regularity
-Complete food with enzymes and all essential amino acids
-Natural source of antioxidants to help repair damaged cells
-Excellent source of beta carotene, folic acid and vitamin C
Whole leaf powder- not from juice!
-Dehydrated below 107 and nitrogen packed to preserve the raw food properties
-10x the chlorophyll of tray grown wheat grass juice
-Field grown outdoors through a cold winter
-Tested free of mold
-Gluten free and Vegan
-Certified Organic

For the majority of people, consuming processed foods along with stresses of every day life create an acidic balance in the blood. This causes the body to store water and build up fat in the arteries (cholesterol) as protection from acidic blood.
By restoring alkalinity and neutralizing acid production your body can recover quicker, metabolize faster, reduce food cravings and achieve your optimal health. Click pH levelto review the chart. Wheat grass is believed to have many unexplained natural healing qualities. Many of the phytonutrients (plant nutrients) contained in cereal grasses have yet to be identified and it is not completely known how they provide such great benefits to our health. We do know that cereal grasses contain large amounts of chlorophyll (the "blood" of plants), which is amazingly similar to hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in the blood.

Chlorophyll is soluble in fat particles, and since fat particles are absorbed directly in to the blood via the lymphatic system, there is evidence that chlorophyll can also be absorbed easily in this way. Essentially the "blood" of plants is easily absorbed into human blood, which transports nutrients efficiently to every cell of the body.This explains why chlorophyll is so readily assimilated into our blood stream and our bodies are able to utilize its powerful properties. With the addition of Chlorophyll into our diet, we are consuming the very essence of life's energy. Essentially the "blood" of plants is absorbed into human blood, which transports nutrients to every cell of the body
Wow, right? I knew that something good had to be going on to make me notice so quickly! Here is the Jar of wheat grass that they sent me! I love,love,love to add this to my smoothie's or even just mix with water and have a "wheat grass shot". When my sis and I went to San Francisco, I introduced her to wheat grass and you would have thought we were freaks! Every single day we would go to this juice bar and say "double shot of wheat grass please."

It was hilarious, throwing back wheat grass shots and smiling from ear to ear. Sometimes we went back several times! It was like anytime we were starting to feel tired we yelped "time for a wheat grass shot." I will say this. Amazing grass has the highest quality wheat grass that I have tasted, I swear it tastes like the fresh juice that you would get at the juice bar.
With all this being said I bet you want to know where you can get Amazing Grass....Please check out your local health food store or go to their site!

http://www.amazinggrass.com/

If you don't like green smoothie's or powders than your in luck! They have amazing grass food bars too! They look amazing, naturally! They would be the perfect snack to have on hand and totally packed with goodness! I am sure that they taste great!

If you want some "green" to your smoothie's and know that your getting a ton of benefits when you have that pre or post shake than this is the product for you. I cant go a day now without my wheat grass and wish that I had more of the amazing meal. You cant get better than this stuff, seriously. I have been seeing it all over the blog world and in stores and I could kick myself for not getting on the amazing grass train earlier. At least I know now! Let me know what your favorite amazing grass product is! I am interested to know.

A BIG thanks goes out to TeriJo! You really made my day when you sent me these wonderful products. You should feel really good about the company that you work for! Your helping the world become a healthier version of it's self! Thank you!

Hope you enjoyed this review. I have been REALLY lucky lately and have gotten to try out some pretty stellar products! See you tomorrow with more news and reviews! Stay tuned because you will be seeing TONS of smoothie recipes this week and next week with Amazing Grass products!
-Heather

Granola Gourmet!

Ola, from food n feelings! I just had to say the name of the blog this morning…it makes me smile!


Just the other day I got a small box in the mail and when I finally got it upstairs and opened I was so happy. Granola Gourmet bars was what was inside. I was so happy to see the nutritional label! I will admit…granola is a wonderful thing but it scares me. Usually granola is loaded with high fat, high calorie and high carbs. You pair that with some milk and you have yourself a not so good for you meal/snack. People think that granola is healthy and more often than not, it isn’t. Well folks! I have found the granola bar that fits my standards and boy am I glad to present it to you! Are you ready? Well, Let's hear a little bit about the wonderful company that sent me some truly gourmet granola!



Amazing things happen when you least expect them to…Granola Gourmet has created a unique and much needed product that will appeal to everyone. One of the founders was diagnosed with Diabetes in 1993 and was frustrated while trying to find a snack that not only did not cause a blood sugar spike*, but that also tasted good. Granola Gourmet was born to solve this problem.Using the Glycemic Index as a guide, ingredients with a Low Glycemic Impact* were selected.
From humble beginnings in the family kitchen the bars were made in small batches and became a weekly family tradition. Soon the teenagers began getting requests for new flavors from their friends and Hollywood Television Shows and Movies began buying the bars for the cast and crew. Granola Gourmet became a local family business success.
Granola Gourmet Energy Bars are endorsed by Diabetes Specialists (Endocrinologist), Cardiologists, Pediatricians and Cancer Experts. They have NO Wheat, NO Dairy, NO Sodium and NO Refined Sugar. They are an energy bar and don’t have the high sugar, fat and sodium content of some popular protein bars.



Finally, a substantial energy bar that is tasty, chewy and crunchy and portion controlled. Satisfying your hunger and fulfilling your sweet tooth. Granola Gourmet uses ingredients that are low or very low on the Glycemic Index, because of this Granola Gourmet Energy Bars convert to sugar more slowly.
Granola Gourmet energy bars are made with 100% Natural and wholesome ingredients. The bars come in 4 flavors: Brownie, Chocolate Espresso, Spiced Orange Cranberry and Very Berry.
Granola Gourmet energy bars are available at:



www.granolagourmet.com

*Low Glycemic Ingredients: Provides longer periods of sustained energy, hunger relief and reduces the risk of blood sugar spikes.
*Blood Sugar Spikes: Everyone with blood sugar issues or diabetes is recommended to test their blood sugar when introducing new foods into their diet.



What is the Secret to the Glycemic Index?
Not all carbohydrate foods are created equal, in fact they behave quite differently in our bodies. The glycemic index or GI describes this difference by ranking carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels.
Choosing low GI carbs – the ones that produce only small fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels – is the secret to long-term health reducing your risk of heart disease and diabetes and is the key to sustainable weight loss.
Before the development of the glycemic index beginning in 1981, scientists assumed that our bodies absorbed and digested simple sugars quickly, producing rapid increases in our blood glucose level. This was the basis of the advice to avoid sugar, a proscription recently relaxed by the American Diabetes Association and others.
Now we know that simple sugars don’t make your blood glucose rise any more rapidly than some complex carbohydrates do. Of course, simple sugars are simply empty calories, and still should be minimized for that reason.
Many of the glycemic index results have been surprises. For example, baked potatoes have a glycemic index considerably higher than that of table sugar.
Look at the Glycemic Index page for more valuable information.


How to Switch to a Low GI Diet?
The basic technique for eating the low GI way is simply a "this for that" approach - ie, swapping high GI carbs for low GI carbs. You don't need to count numbers or do any sort of mental arithmetic to make sure you are eating a healthy, low GI diet.
Use breakfast cereals based on oats, barley and bran
Use breads with wholegrains, stone-ground flour, sour dough
Reduce the amount of potatoes you eat
Enjoy all other types of fruit and vegetables
Use Basmati or Doongara rice
Enjoy pasta, noodles, quinoa
Eat plenty of salad vegetables with a vinaigrette dressing


Low Glycemic Index and Ratings
Rolled Oats Organic 55
Raw Sunflower Seeds Organic 10
Sliced Almonds 10
Flaxseeds Organic 5
Agave Organic 11
Honey 55
Olive Oil 0


These are some of the ingredients that are in these amazing bars.


Here's the nutritional info :
As you can see, these bars are totally worth every bite! I don't feel the least bit bad about munching on these babies!
I LOVED them both! I totally would buy a package of these bars again. They were small but totally filling. I am so happy that they allowed me to try two! Now I want to try the others! Thanks so very much Nancy for sending me these two wonderful products. You guys sure know what your doing! I give you a 10!
This is the Very Berry variety and I have to say, they are lovely. Not too sweet, just right. In fact, I put them in the fridge and they are just perfect for in the morning! Here's the espresso energy bars! I wont lie...I picked this kind just because the word energy was attached! I need every ounce I can get!



I LOVED them as well. I wish that I could say more about these bars but they speak for themselves. Just buy some and then you can tell me just how awesome they really are! They are small but they are mighty!



By the way Free Shipping for ALL Granola Club purchases and orders over $50 (U.S. Only). Stock up!



Thanks again for the bars, I want to try the other flavors!

-Heather

Pure Via

Happy Monday!

I want to present to you....Pure Via!





How PureVia Is Made –A Natural Process
A pure extract of the naturally sweet stevia plant is the secret to PureVia’s sweetness. It’s called Reb A and is the sweetest and best tasting part of the stevia plant. At Whole Earth Sweetener Co., we work in partnership with PureCircle to ensure that PureVia is sweetened with the highest quality of this natural sweetener. And because we work with a single company to source Reb A, we are confident in the consistent quality of this important ingredient.
PureVia only contains natural ingredients. The pure Reb A from the stevia plant that sweetens PureVia starts with stevia leaves, which are first milled and then steeped in water using a brewing method that is similar to brewing tea. The resulting stevia extract is then further purified to separate the Reb A through a proprietary technology using ethanol. PureCircle uses ethanol, made naturally from sugar cane, and does not use methanol to purify Reb A.
Finally, Reb A, the sweetest part of the leaf, is extracted, purified and then combined with other natural ingredients to make PureVia. I got this box of lovely Pure Via and couldn't wait to try it out! I only use agave, palm sugar or stevia to sweeten my food or drink. I was completely satisfied by the taste of Pure Via. It was like sugar!



Sugar In Your Diet -The Not So Sweet Facts
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average American consumes up to 20 teaspoons of sugar every day – double the recommended amount!
Sugar comes in lots of different forms. The most common is table sugar. Other sugars include brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, maltose, lactose, dextrose, fructose, corn syrup, molasses, turbinado and juice concentrates.
Most sugars such as table sugar are highly refined. That means all the natural vitamins and minerals have been stripped away.
Today, sugar can be found not only in desserts and snack foods but is also hidden in unlikely foods such as canned vegetables or fish. High sugar, low nutrient foods such as candies and processed foods should be consumed in moderation.


Here are some examples:
Sources of sugar (1 teaspoon = 4 grams sugar)
Serving Size and amount is listed
Pancake syrup, ¼ cup
=8 teaspoons of sugar
Granola, 2/3 cup
=4 teaspoons of sugar
Fruit drinks, 8 oz
=8.5 teaspoons of sugar
Restaurant chocolate cake, 1 slice
=13 teaspoons of sugar
Soft drink, 8oz
=7 teaspoons of sugar


Use our quick and easy sugar calculator to learn how much sugar you’re adding to your diet. Click here


Wow, that is a ton of sugar! I was surprised when I read the numbers on this study. Ever wonder if sugar is hidden in your diet and didn't know it? Well, here is some interesting information that might surprise you!


Hidden sources of sugar
-Savory processed foods such as canned soups, bottled dressings and spaghetti sauces can be surprisingly high in added sugar.
-Many chewing gums and breath mints have sugars in them.
-Make sure you read the labels of packaged food: glucose, maltose, fructose and corn syrup are all common ingredients in processed foods, and they are all sugars!
-Brown sugar is exactly the same as white sugar, nutritionally speaking - even though it may seem like it’s less processed.


This totally got me thinking. I am sure that I consume hidden sugar and dont know it. With the help of Pure Via, I think that I can keep my blood sugar level and combat the use of real sugar with this substitute! I am telling you...it tastes great! I also love how portable they are. I can throw a few in my purse and always have some handy. It was great because the other day I stopped in to get a iced coffee and had pure via with me so no need to use Splenda or Sweeten low at all! I was able to have my coffee sweetened and without the guilt of harmful chemicals of extra calories! Whooo hooo! Now, I like that!


A Healthy Weight
Eat and drink more calories than you burn through physical activity, and you’ll gain weight. And vice versa. It’s really that simple.
Combine a nutritious eating plan with daily physical activity, and you’re on your way to a healthy weight.
Your nutritious eating plan should include fresh fruit and vegetables with every meal and should limit the amount of processed or packaged foods. Also, try to enjoy a variety of foods from each of the key food groups daily, including grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meat & beans and healthy oils.
Staying at a healthy weight for your age, height and body type can help you fight a number of health problems including:
Type 2 diabetes
high blood pressure
high blood cholesterol
coronary heart disease
What’s a healthy weight? The best way to find out is to ask your doctor or registered dietitian.
You can use our quick and easy BMI calculator to learn about the weight category you are in. Click here


I hope that all this info was helpful for you! Please, if you are looking for a sugar substitute Pure Via is the one to go with. So tatsy and I seriously couldnt even tell a difference!


For more information and products go to.



www.purevia.com



I give Pure Via a 10! You guys rock!



-Heather

Saturdays...

I LOVE your questions and I LOVE your e-mails but I gotta say....YOU CRACK ME UP!

You all make me feel so much better when I am having a bad day, you make me laugh with stories of your lives when I feel like my life is boring or stressful, you push me to keep up with what is new on the market, and drive me to stay on top and be the best that I can be. Mostly though...you make me feel special. I gotta say, when I started this blog I thought "who the hell will care what I eat? When I work out? How I workout? My recipes? or my life in general. I thought "well, this is going to be interesting but I am willing to give it a shot if that means I get free products and help the ones that I am training currently." Sorry but that's the truth. You knew I was in it for the goods. Right?

Anyway, I was (and still am) blown away that you guys think that I am interesting and worth the 5 minutes it takes to read my posts. It is a little weird at times for me doing it. I am a SUPER private person (you wouldn't know it by the blog) and normally people have no idea what I do or anything. I have only told MAYBE 5 people about my blog where I live. 99% of my readers are from all over the WORLD! Yes, that's right! I now have some lovely readers from Germany, France and England! (Hello to you newbies, I am so glad that you joined me!). You know what that means...products from around the world!!! I have already gotten apple rosemary jams from France and of course you read recently about the coffee from Guatemala. I am going to be branching out so get ready for some international products that you can have delivered straight to your door. I also will be wine tasting!!! I am so lucky to have the opportunity to try some organic, fair trade wines! Yay!

Yall make me laugh because you make me feel like I have a interesting life! I got a e-mail begging (seriously) begging me to do a weekend post. I don't post on the weekends because that is MY time to just do whatever and most people I have found don't read on the weekends but just this once, I'll do it for you! Sue, I'll call her, asked me what a typical Saturday includes for me. Well Missy, I will tell you and in order. Oh boy....I hate it when I do this because I read it back and realize I am a bigger freak than I thought. You asked so I am going to be honest. Sigh....

8:00-Coffee pot fills and I wake up to the smell. (I set the coffee maker to automatically turn on at 8:00 am to lure me out of bed).
9:00-sip coffee (in bed, naturally) and 1 liter of water (back and forth) til I have to pee, bad.
10:00-HANGRY, jittery and ready to get some food in my bod.
10:10- 3 egg whites, PB2 and 1 slice of Ezekiel bread. Sometimes some fruit.
10:45-at the gym for my interval hell session. Basically, I just go until I cant go anymore. I usually leave around 1:30.
2:00-Shower and stretch. Then it's SMOOTHIE TIME. Get some quick digesting protein and good carbs in my system. I pretty much drink a concoction that only I would drink. My roommates in the past would gather in the kitchen to see what the heck I would throw into the blender. You seen it a million times. Usually it consists of raw eggs, spinach, 1/2 banana, spirulina, wheat grass, chia seeds, mango, unsweetened almond milk, maca powder, stevia and cinnamon. A weight loss, head spinning freakin awesome (in my book) meal. I have been known to throw other weird things in the mix but I wont bore you with all that. I have the gums now so no ice is needed! It's SO nice!

After fueling up:
2:30-I then go on a walk with this lady... (4 miles usually runs us about 1 hour and 15 minutes). We get to gab too. That is just my style. I like to do two things at once.
Karen, Oh Karen...

4:00- Gobble a apple, run errands, iced coffee is consumed and shopping of some sort. I facebook, blog.
5:15ish- Granola and greek yogurt (If I am aware of being hungry) I say this because here of late I have totally forgotten about eating. This is weird because I use to schedule my life around my meals. Ever since I started "intuitively eating" I eat only when my tummy tells me to. Not before. About 30-45 minutes of yoga.

7:00-Dinner: Which almost always is a salad with protein of some sort. I am sorry guys....If we go out to dinner....I will be that girl. Salad for me please! I will have a drink or two though ;)

Champagne and sliced oranges. (only have 2 drinks max. I am a light weight anyway). I have a trick. Get your drink and instead of adding soda or even juice just ask for a side of fruit.

Moving on!

Me looking "happy".

And hangin with this guy.

JD! My best guy friend ever. What I would do without this guys prospective....I have no idea! He is the one I go to when I need to hangout, advice or just a good laugh. Thank god his wife loves me and lets me still him for our once a week breakfast at Big City and our Friday or Saturday night dinners. Thanks M, I know secretly I am doing YOU a favor too! I have a couple guy friends and without them, I would be lost. After dinner and talking (JD and I have been known to stretch a dinner into a 4 hour hangout session). Usually though I head home after dinner and relax there. I am not one to go downtown. I find that if I go downtown I almost always leave with a big tab and wake up feeling not so hot. My workouts are important to me and I just cant be my personal best with a hangover. So, I always try to hangout as early as possible with friends especially if drinking is involved. A girl needs her beauty rest after all!

8:30-9:00-Usually back at home by this point and then end up playing some music, talk on the phone or hang out with this dude on the roof of my house.

This is me and P. Another quite dear to me person that just so happens to be a man....

We dont get to hang out that often but when we do it is always a good time. Around 11:00 pm is when I start to yawn and hint that the throw out session is about to begin. By 11:30, I've thrown him out and head to the bathroom to wash my face, tone, moisturize and change clothes. I set that coffee pot for 8:00 am for Sunday and crawl into bed.

That my friends is the day in the life of Heather. For Saturday anyway. Sundays is another story all together. This is not what happens every Saturday by any means but Sue I think wanted to know more about my exercise and that sort of thing, so that's why I touched on that subject more.

No... I will not be posting on Saturdays and Sundays so don't get excited. I love you....but I gotta have some down time .

See you Monday!

-Heather