This February I am highlighting three of my favorite foods. I came across one new product and the others are two products I have been using for years that I enjoy and are worthy of sharing.

Selection #1 is Orgain's Organic Protein Peppermint Hot Chocolate. In general, I find hot beverages to be a pretty good choice when trying to stave off hunger. This peppermint hot chocolate does the trick. At just 150 calories it has a rich delicious taste and a whopping 21 grams of protein. It's vegan, organic, gluten free, and I know what all the ingredients are.  One cup in the morning or before bed ...delicious!
Note: I use 2 scoops in in 8 -10 oz of unsweetened almond milk. It does require a lot of mixing  to get it well blended before and after heating . So stir a lot or use an immersion blender to get it nice and smooth.

I know you probably already use almond butter and are aware that it is good for you in moderation. I however, am a peanut butter addict who wants to like almond butter too. Trader Joe's Creamy Almond Butter is the ONLY almond butter I actually enjoy.  In general, I find almond butter a bit dry and grainy for my taste but this creamy almond butter is so delicious and mild. There are only three ingredients, and no added sugar. If that isn't enough, it is less expensive than most almond butters. And yes, for those of you who prefer crunch, they have a crunchy version as well.  Pick one up on your next visit to Trader Joe's and let me know if it's your new favorite.

I have been eating bars since Jane Fonda was in tights, when they were dry flavorless and more like carbohydrate heavy blocks. Most of my friends wouldn't eat them, claiming they tasted like dirt. But, if something was "good" for me, I'd choke it down. No need to do that anymore. If you are looking for a protein focused bar, the Kirkland Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bar is a winner. It has 190 calories, 21 grams of protein, and is sweetened with stevia and the sugar alcohol, erythritol, two of what are currently known to be GRAS sweeteners. It is something I can enjoy and causes me no digestive distress.  It also has a nice, soft, chewy texture that is a change from the thick, harder bars. If you haven't already,  you may want to give them a shot.
​Note: They are available only at Costco.

After a few months off of sharing "My Favorite Things", I've had a lot of requests to bring it back and share the little gems I have found that I really enjoy.  I'm going to try to kick off each month with another edition, so let's get into it...

Quark isn't yogurt - it's a crafted German Cheese that is made in Los Angeles and delivered right to your door.  Elli created 16 delicious flavors that have a  smooth and creamy, cheesecake like consistency. Its higher protein to sugar ratio than yogurt, and clean ingredients make it a clear winner.   For me, it's an easy way to satisfy my desert cravings and not call it a "cheat day". Try the apple pie. I love it. Click on the pic to go to their website and select your flavors today.

Bragg Organic Sprinkle is awesome.   When I first opened it, the smell was amazing.  I knew it would be good on so many things - chicken, fish, salad, even eggs. It adds a ton of flavor with no dietary impact.  It's available everywhere.  Just click the pic to check out the macros...

How Good Does All This Sound???
INGREDIENTS: rosemary*, onion*, garlic*, thyme*, red bell pepper*, carrot*, tomato*, black pepper*, basil*, Bragg Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil*, parsley*, tarragon*, lemon peel*, orange peel*, Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar*, celery seed*, dill seed*, oregano*, savory*, sage*, ginger*, coriander*, bay leaf*, turmeric*.      * organic ingredients

Do you remember my blog about my homemade cauliflower bread bites?  Well, after the blog came out, a client ( Thank you Melissa) turned me on to these. They had the exact same ingredients as my recipe. They are a great bread substitute that you can get in some Whole Foods - or even have them shipped to you.  Outer Aisle Cauliflower Sandwich Thins are the BEST.  They cook up nice and crispy in a toaster, and are an excellent gluten-free bread alternative.  They are made in Goleta, California, and I love them!!! They also do a pizza crust that comes in a two-pack, so be sure to try that as well  - it's the same formulation as the sandwich thins - but gives you the option of a healthy pizza night in your own kitchen. Click below to read more from Outer Aisle and my blog.

You know it's true. You can be sound asleep, and that cracked hoof slides through the sheets and touches your leg, waking you up like you've been scratched with a dragon's claw.

This Valentine's Day, give yourself a gift that you both with enjoy. S-Team has put together a his and hers home foot peel treatment for the first 50 customers, that will bring you closer together, and end your embarrassment when he wears flip flops around your friends.

We have assembled a limited amount of Baby Foot Exfoliant Foot Peels, in a his and hers combination that will make this Valentine's Day your best ever. No candy, no  flowers, none of that stuff.  Lavender scented for you and minty fresh for him -  it's a can't miss.

​At just $40, it's a perfect evening that works for both of you  - He gets fixed up, you get fixed up, and later that night, when he slides a little closer, it's going to be a lot better.  Ahhh Romance...

Summer is behind us, and the days are shorter, darker, and even here in California, a little colder. In conversations with my clients, I find that many of them feel that sunscreen is a fair weather friend. This is simply not true.

Just because the sun seems weaker, don't let that fool you. Even in the darkest of days, your skin is under attack through incidental damage.  These are the UV rays that come from ambient light sources, and even, brace yourself, a cell phone screen.  We all lift our phones to our faces to check our messages or make the now almost extinct phone call.  We are placing a device right next to our unprotected skin that is emitting the rays that we work to prevent all other times off the year.    These rays break down collagen, and can lead to age spots, freckles, and even hyperpigmentation.  Don't think of it as sunblock...Let's start calling it "light block".  

Something to also consider are the environmental factors that can affect your skin. Here in California, we have had a year of wildfire after wildfire. Even in areas not directly impacted by these factors, there is a cost for your skin.  Particulate matter is carried on the wind for miles and miles, and those micropollutants will find their way into your pores. The same goes for heavy pollution environments, like major cities. To be sure you are doing the most for your skin in these conditions, it's crucial that you use a product that has an anti-oxidant property to combat all the unseen particles that you come into contact with every day. 

To meet the need for year round protection with antioxidants, I fully recommend M.A.D. Hyper Sheer 50 daily moisturizer and body sunscreen.  It is Broad spectrum with SPF 50, and disappears on application leaving no residue or "white lines".  The antioxidant formula with vitamin C & E will help to keep airborne pollutants at bay, and with formulas for both face and body, you really can't go wrong.  Additionally, it smells clean and fresh, making it ideal for both men and women to use daily.  And by daily I mean even in the winter...

I'm hooked. This my grab and dash meal. A pack of hardboiled peeled eggs, a babybel mini lite and two cranberry almond chicken salad cups and I'm happy! These chicken salad cups made by GoodFoods have 140 Cal, 4g Fat, 12g Carbs and 2g of Fiber per cup.  I even know all of the ingredients :) They are made with low fat greek yogurt and are gluten free.  YUM! You can buy them at Whole Foods, some Sprouts locations and Costco.

I actually came across these awhile back and brought them to my son's mountain biking race, to cook up for the kids.  They were a huge hit but I had not been able to find them till yesterday. I purchased a big pack at Costco and they are going to be dinner tonight. Healthy, easy and everybody loves them! What more can you ask for? One burger has 150 cal, 7.5g Fat, 2g Carbs, 22 g Protein. They are gluten free but do contain milk.

When I headed out to grocery shop I was on the hunt for a few easy to make healthy meals. Between work, travel schedules and back to school activities, there was going to be very little time to cook. The goal: find healthy, gluten free, reasonably high protein, delicious and easy meals that my son would like. And by easy I mean kitchen to table in under 10 minutes. :) I came across the Chicken Breast Burrito Bowl at Costco.  It looked good -  high protein, 390 cal and GF, so I bought a three-pack, and also picked up some guacamole. Well it was easy enough to make. Punch holes in the plastic with a fork four times, then microwave for approximately two min. I went one step further and  chopped up some lettuce , put it in the bottom of a bowl and added the Burrito bowl contents on top. One scoop of my favorite guacamole and voila. dinner in 7 min.  I also added a chopped up chicken breast I had left over from the night before, shown in the photo above. It  was delicious. So good my son wanted it the following night too. Success!

Costco is my go to store these days and there again I found something I had to try, Don Lee Farms Organic Veggie Bites. They are made from organic vegetables such as onions, celery, corn, carrots, sweet potatoes, kale and tomatoes. They also have brown rice flour, sunflower seeds and egg whites. They can be heated up in the microwave, an oven or a skillet in a few minutes.  A great way to get kids to eat their veggies without them even knowing .

Beans are a food that I often forget about working into my diet but Better Beans makes it so easy I know I’ll start eating them more frequently . They are cooked in small batches freshly packed refrigerated and ready to eat. They combine a variety of yummy flavors such as :

• Southwestern Pinto Bean
• Roasted Chipotle Bean Dip
• Tuscan White Beans
• Skillet Refried Red Bans
• Cuban Black Beans
• Three Sisters Chili
• Uncanny Refried Black Beans

They are gluten, dairy, soy and nut free and 100% vegan and contain no lard or chicken broth. They use apple cider vinegar to balance the PH so they are good to eat for up to a week after opening. Eat them alone or make a better quesadilla or burrito bowl. You can buy them at Whole Foods or to find additional stores check out their website at betterbeanco.com

I had already been enjoying FlapJacked Pancakes but was unaware of the muffins until I came across them at the show. I was wanting something for busy mornings when I didn't have much time for breakfast and was looking for a change from a bar or piece of fruit. Mighty Muffins fit the bill. They come in 6 flavors. They are individually packaged, so great on the go. Just add a 1/4 cup of water and microwave for 45 seconds and out the door you go. They were moist and filling. ​FlapJacked Mighty Muffins are a delicious, certified gluten-free, protein-packed and high-fiber muffin developed with scrumptious flavor, balanced nutrition and convenience in mind. Mighty Muffins pack 20 grams of protein and 240 calories in each serving (1 container). They’ve even added the benefit of the patented probiotic GanedenBC30 to help you support Immune Health as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

They come in the following flavors:
Maple Pumpkin 
S'mores
Peanut Butter
Double Chocolate
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Cinnamon Apple

You can check these out along with their pancakes at FlapJacked.com

Enjoy. I'd love to hear what you think about any of these products or others you come across!!

I am a workout clothes junkie. I love interesting designs on the  back of  tops. My new favorite workout top is the Teardrop Bra in Navy from Monteil.com. At $38 and 10% off my first purchase it was easy decision to add it to the shopping cart.
Buy it here.

Clean Slate 
Now that finding a recipe is as easy as Googling one, buying a cookbook has become a thing of the past for many of us, myself included. Well, at least until I came across Clean Slate. What got me interested were the beautiful recipes with quality ingredients. Each recipe was so colorful and healthy - think Poached Salmon with Roasted Sweet Peppers and Carrots with Oranges and Hazelnuts -  that I thought surely when I ate them I must look better...or at least I'd feel that way :) . I could also find the ingredients at my local grocery store, and maybe just in one trip. In the limited time I have to grocery shop there just wasn't time to hunt down obscure ingredients. The last one I  searched for was  huitlacoche,  which I learned in the process is a fungus that grows on the ears of corn. It was then that I realized I should stick with the more familiar ingredients. Clean Slate also provides the nutritional content for each recipe which makes my life easier. And upon making many of the recipes I realized they also did a great job of offering streamlined preparations and parchment paper options to minimize clean up. Recipes could also be executed in a reasonable amount of time. No small feat with hungry teenagers. Enough said, take a look and try one out.

Carbon 38
Nowadays, there are getting to be a lot of options when it comes to good looking fitness apparel. I have been on the hunt for a new cool place to get workout clothes that work for barre and ride classes as well as the weight room.  And I found it. Carbon 38 had exactly what I wanted. They have great tops with interesting cuts and both modern and retro workout gear. I could do some damage here... check out these 70's flare pants and cross back top I bought, then go check out the site. carbon38.com

Bolani Roasted Butternut Squash
I love sweet potatoes at any time of day, even mashed with walnuts and cinnamon on top for breakfast. But some days I am in a hurry and forget to plan ahead and bake them. So I was looking for a quick alternative.  I came across another vegetable that is just as delicious and nutritious and ready to go: Bolani Roasted Butternut Squash. I already enjoy their flatbreads so I had a feeling I would like this, and I did. I typically purchase a 3-pack at Costco. I can heat them up in the microwave in 2 min and eat them up in 1 min. There are 3 servings in one container, but at 100 cal a serving, I have been known to eat the whole container in one sitting. I posted the nutrition information below. One caveat, since they are not filled with preservatives they really do expire exactly when they say, so eat them soon after purchase.

Organic Edamame Spaghetti - Explore Asian
An all around winner with 200 calories, 2g fat, 21g of carbs, of which 11g are dietary fiber, and a whopping 24g protein. It’s gluten free and delicious to boot! Available at Costco.