Cococrazy (New cookie find)

Another new product from our friends at ThinSlim. I live on their muffins, brownies and bagels, so why not try their cookies, right? I had previously tried the vanilla and chocolate glazed cookies which were only ok, but Tiny Tummy LOVES coconut, so when I heard they were coming out with a coconut cookie, I had to at least try it, and actually it's not half bad!

Are these cookies as good as traditional cookies? No, BUT Tiny Tummy is generally partial to chocolate chip cookies, so I might be a little biased here. For a coconut cookie, it's good, don't get me wrong. And at 40 calories a piece, you really can't beat it. The fact that they use that crazy amount of packaging for a tiny cookie seems silly, but hey, who am I to judge? If it's a cookie you crave, these are a great option. And, if you're a choco-chip lover like me, add some dark chocolate chips. I won't tell ;) Pin It

Get Ready to Salsa

In response to last week's condiment post, in anticipation of the upcoming holiday of Cinco De Mayo, and because I ran out of my usual salsa and had to buy salsa in a pinch, I thought it was only fitting that I share a new salsa-find with you. Granted, it's not new to the market, just new to me-- no added sugar, no questionable ingredients, just plain, clean, (spicy!), salsa.

Desert Pepper's Salsa Diablo is Spicy with a capital S-- perfect for Tiny Tummy! And with such a clean ingredient list, it made a perfect salad dressing in my taco salad and a delicious guac mixed with some avocado. It's also pretty hard to overdo it with this guy because it's spicy! All around, a definite winner in my book. Pin It

Quin-what-do-I-do-with-this Salad

I've been diligently trying to prepare for the final exam in my cooking class, but the truth is, the only real way to prepare is to cook, and since I really don't eat a lot of the food we prepare on a regular basis (I'd be 5000 pounds), "studying" is not so easy! For the final, we'll be given 3 mystery ingredients and asked to prepare a cohesive dish using all of them. We know we'll get a grain, a protein, and a vegetable, but we don't know much more than that. I know one of the options for a grain is quinoa, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not all that familiar with it since I don't particularly like it. Unlike brown rice and spelt which have a nutty, grainy flavor, quinoa, on its own, is fairly tasteless, which means it needs all the help in the world to brighten it up. My luck, I'll receive quinoa on the final, so just in case, I bought some quinoa and decided to take a stab at making it a little more interesting, hence, this quinoa salad. I started simple, so if you're a quinoa newbie like myself, this should be right up your alley.

To make this simple quinoa salad, you will need:
1 cup quinoa, cooked according to package directions
1 small onion, chopped
4 mushrooms, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup corn (shoot for the cans with no added salt or sugar if you're buying canned corn!)

To prepare, start by getting your quinoa cooking according to the directions on the package (mine was 1 part quinoa to 1.5 parts water). While that's simmering, sauté your onions, mushrooms, and garlic until the onions are translucent and then mushrooms are cooked. Set them aside until the quinoa is cooked, and once it is ready, add the quinoa, corn, and onion/mushroom/garlic mixture together and mix until everything is combined. This dish gives a little brightness to the generally bland quinoa and the corn is a nice touch of sweetness. It was good warm, but I could see it served cold as well. It would definitely make a healthy alternative to traditional cole slaw or potato salad at those upcoming summer BBQ's! Pin It

How Organic is This Whole Organic Thing?

I can't tell you how frequently I am asked what the word 'organic' means, and 'should I go organic?' Simple fact, straight out the bat, I don't go out of my way to eat organic, but I'm certainly not against it-- it just tends to be more expensive.

The basic gist is this:

Products labeled 100% certified organic means that the product was raised in a way that is believed to be good for the earth-- no pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, hormones, etc. But hold on a second... not all products are labeled 100% organic. Some are just labeled 'organic' which actually means they only have to contain about 95% organic ingredients... so you could be paying extra money just to get a smaller dose of the pesticides you are trying to avoid... not exactly ideal.

If you are set on going organic, there are definitely some foods to choose over others. For example, buying an organic kiwi would probably be silly because you're not going to eat that outer skin anyway. Prevention magazine has a pretty excellent, comprehensive list of foods that you should and shouldn't bother buying organic. For the most part, if it has an inedible skin, don't bother with the organic version. Save your money to buy other types of produce! Pin It

Tiny Tummy takes on The Spoon

I always find it important to share when I take on a new project, and now that the website is officially up and underway, I thought it was time I shared the fact that I am now writing for a new student run online magazine, NYU Spoon. The website is geared toward college students, so while some of the content is health-centric, some of it is more of a dorm life survival strategy, but I have a few fun pieces published on there, so it's worth checking out.

A few of my pieces so far include:

Fast Food for the Fit Foodie
Sriracha: 1 Food, 4 ways
2 Ingredient Pancakes (look familiar?!)
DIY Microwave Popcorn 
Skinny Turnip Fries
Veg Out On Veggie Burgers

And there are more to come-- don't you worry! Pin It

Don't Condimention it

I recently received a question about how I decide which condiments to buy (in terms of the traditional fridge staples like mustard, ketchup, salsa, etc.) There are so many different salsas and mustards and sauces galore, it seems like going through every one to find the best one would be daunting. When it comes to the condiments I buy, I could go through each jar in my fridge, but instead I'll share my #1 rule of condiment buying: No Sugar Allowed.

The way it works is, if you flip the label around, and one of the INGREDIENTS is sugar, put it back on the shelf. Now, that's not to say that you can't buy salsa because most salsas have at least .5-1g of sugar per serving, but that sugar has to come from the tomatoes, not ADDED sugar, hence why you're reading the ingredients. Same goes for mustard, and same goes for a pretty guilty culprit: ketchup, and its spawn BBQ sauce. It makes it more difficult, I agree, but something without sugar is bound to be cleaner than something with added sugar. Disclaimer though, that's not the only thing you should be looking at, but it's a good place to start! Pin It

Tiny Tummy's Taco Chicken Salad (Try saying that 5 times fast!)

I did a bag thing today, folks. I went to Fairway hungry. I can't help but get lost in that store. The produce section is amazing and each aisle is always overflowing with unique products. And as a bigger danger, I had a coupon that only worked after I spent $50. Challenge accepted. I went to work grabbing corn, kale, beets, avocado, turnips, etc etc... I couldn't help myself. Everything just looked so fresh. Anyway, it ended up inspiring my dinner for tonight: A Taco Chicken Salad.

To make this Tantalizing Taco Salad, you will need:
1/4 onion, chopped
2 mushrooms, chopped
2T corn
2 T fresh salsa
1/4 fresh jalapeno, thinly sliced
a mix of greens (I used a mix of kale, romaine, and spinach)
optional: some black beans or sliced avocado (I had intended to throw some avo in there but it wasn't ripe enough :()

For the chicken:
3oz chicken breast, cut into small pieces
a pinch of each of the following: onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, cumin, chili powder, black pepper

To prepare, start by sauteeing your onions and mushrooms until they are cooked through. Then, add them along with the corn, salsa, and fresh jalapeno to a bowl with your greens and set aside. To prepare your chicken, combine the spices in a small bowl and add the chicken, tossing to coat. Cook either in a pan on the stove top or bake them (however you normally cook chicken breast-- I cooked mine in a pan which only took about 5 minutes). Finally, add your chicken to the salad and give everything a good mix. Pin It

A Passionate Tango with Mango and Passionfruit

I can sense your excitement already... another tea post! I really hope you all are as tea-crazy as I am. I thought I would share this one, in particular, because as the weather is warming up, it is time to start thinking about what teas I will be preparing iced for the summer. Just so we're on the same page here, this is one of those teas.

For my birthday that just passed, Mommy Tiny Tummy brought me a plethora of different teas, and this was one of them. It was perfectly fruity, and the individual bags make if perfect to toss in your purse and bring along to restaurants that most likely won't have caffeine free tea (or won't have many exciting ones!) I'm still loving my London teas, but for the days I'm lazy with the tea ball, this is bliss in a bag! Pin It

New Finds, Find Me!

First and foremost, my sincerest of apologies for missing yesterday's post. I came home from a long day to no phone, internet, or tv services thanks to Time Warner's impecable service... such sarcasm there. Anyway, today's post is dedicated to two new Flab Free Food Finds that I can't wait to try... if I could only find them.

The two products shown above are on my radar. I am so beyond excited to try them, but I can't find them anywhere. The Chickpea Burgers from Morningstar Farms sound super delicious and at only 110 calories and a whopping 7 grams of fiber, I can't see how they could be bad. And I love pretty much every flavor from Laughing Cow, so naturally the new wedge sounds exciting. I will keep you posted if I find/try either of them, but if anyone out there already has, let me know what you think! Pin It

Beat the Brunch Bonanza

Brunch in NYC is a big deal, especially now that the weather is getting warmer. Brunch is all about the eggs benedict, pancakes, waffles, and lots of other not so waist-friendly options... and that's before we approach the booze. While it's easiest to say ditch brunch altogether, I know that it's a social event for some, so here are my top three tips to beat the brunch-belly.

1. Skip the booze: Sorry, day-drinking is a big zero when it comes to your health and is bound to leave you sluggish for the rest of the day-- even if the food coma doesn't. Besides, sipping a cold glass of water or unsweetened iced tea is a much better way to wake up and smell the Spring air.

2. For brunch, opt for lunch: I understand that the idea of brunch is breakfast all day, but the breakfast options are often not the healthiest. Chances are, you can find a salad that is not terrible in the calorie/fat department-- just get your dressing on the side, as usual.

3. Walk it off after: If you're brunching outdoors, why not suggest a walk afterwards? I always enjoy walking after a large meal-- it helps you digest and a little extra activity never hurt anyone, right? If you're going for an indulgent meal, there's no reason you can't add a little extra exercise in after that. Pin It

Sweet n Saucey

I'll be the first to admit that I get a craving for something sweet pretty often. Instead of immediately going for cookies or chocolate or any sort of baked good, I've been trying to go for something naturally sweet, such as fruit. Mommy Tiny Tummy has been an applesauce making machine lately (and sending it my way!), so I've be having apple sauce as my sweet fix. I thought I'd share our recipe, since homemade applesauce is far more delicious (and natural) than store bought- at least in my opinion. Anyway, there really isn't much of a recipe, as much as a method, so here goes!

To make this sweet and saucey applesauce, you will need:

1 large bag of apples (don't be afraid of the blemished ones- just cut the blemishes off!)
water as needed
optional: a few strawberries and a pinch of cinnamon

To prepare, start by peeling all of the apples and removing the cores. Then, add them to a pot on a medium heat on the stovetop, add water to prevent them from burning, and cook until the apples have softened. Then, if you are adding the strawberries (which I highly suggest), add them in (leaves removed), and allow those to soften as well. Finally, transfer to a food processor or your Vitamix, add the cinnamon if you want, and puree until desired consistency is achieved. As far as what kind of apples you should use, it completely depends on what kind of applesauce you're looking to achieve. Do you want something super sweet? A little tangy? Use this chart below to determine which apples will work best for what you want.

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Sorry Sunspire, you don't touch Reese's

A couple of weeks ago I was seriously craving a Reese's cup, but we all know Tiny Tummy tries to avoid these sorts of things. I came across these dark chocolate almond butter cups in Fairway, and decided to give them a try... at least it's dark chocolate, so slightly better. 

Unfortunately, these things tasted nothing like a Reese's cup. They were kind of gross, actually. The stats weren't all that impressive either, so a lose-lose in my book. AND they were pretty darn expensive. Bottom line: not a fan. Sorry, Sunspire. Pin It

Not Your Ho-Hum Hummus

Daddy Tiny Tummy has been telling me for ages that I should be making my own hummus, but it wasn't until cooking class tonight that I actually got around to trying it. I knew it was super easy, but I had no idea it was this easy... there's basically no reason anyone should ever waste the money on store-bought hummus when you can make it in about 3 minutes tops.

To make this Hip and Happenin' Hummus, you will need:
2 cups chickpeas
1/3 cup tahini
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 cloves of garlic
optional: some water to thin it if you prefer a less textured hummus

To prepare, simply toss everything in a food processor (or if you have a Vitamix, use that) and blend away until it's thick and creamy. Take that Sabra! Pin It

The Raw Truth

When it comes to ordering a healthy dish when eating out, it can be a bit of a tossup, and while you can ask for your food one way with the best of intentions, it can come totally wrong. So then how do you avoid an buttery mess when you ask for your fish prepared high and dry? Or how can you insure that the chef doesn't put oil on the grill before grilling your chicken? Simple answer: you can't. So how do you avoid something like this? Another simple answer: order raw.

I'm not talking about only dining at restaurants that adhere to the new raw-vegan diet trend... what I mean is, if the chef hasn't cooked your food, there's no guessing game as to what went into the cooking process. In other words, there is no mystery in the cooking process because there is none. This is one of the main reasons I love sashimi, but eating sashimi every night could get expensive, so if you're the type of person that eats out a lot, a salad is as safe as it gets. Go for a vinegar or some fresh-squeezed lemon juice for dressing, and you're good to go. With salads, there is no guessing game as to how it was cooked, because it isn't! You could also go for cheese plates (in moderation), fresh fruit for dessert, you get the idea. Pin It

Meatless Monday: A Light yet Spicy Night

Meatless Monday has gone from trending hashtag on Twitter to common diet trend in people's kitchens worldwide. While Tiny Tummy loves her some chicken and meat, a vegetarian dinner isn't a bad idea every now and then either. For a light dinner tonight, I made a giant bowl of veggies slathered in hot sauce and spices, so I thought I'd share.

To make this Lean and Spicy Veggie Bowl, you will need:
2 cups cauliflower, broken into florets
4 large brussels sprouts, quartered
1 small carrot, chopped
a pinch of cayenne pepper
Frank's hot sauce or Sriracha

To prepare, simply put all of your ingredients to a pot and cover them with water. Boil the vegetables by bringing the pot to a medium-high heat for about seven minutes, or until they've softened to your liking. Drain the veggies and add the cayenne and as much hot sauce as you can handle. Then, give it all a good mix and dig on in! Pin It

Smoothies: Sip or Skip

As the weather is getting warmer, cold drinks are becoming more and more enticing, but with that desire to quench our thirst, we often forget about the loads of calories and sugar that can be hidden in those cold refreshing drinks. A Spring and Summer favorite of many seems to be the smoothie which is seemingly healthy since it's full of lots of fruit, right?

Wrong.

Smoothies, while delicious, are often packed with as much, if not more, sugar than soda. Yes, it is natural sugar from fruit, but excessive quantities, nonetheless. I met up with a friend for juice/smoothies the other day (juice for me, smoothie for him) and after looking at the nutritionals after, it turns out his smoothie had over 50 grams of sugar... that's more than an entire chocolate bar... maybe even more than two or three.

So when it comes to smoothies, I generally say skip it. You don't realize how much fruit goes into a single smoothie. One large peach smoothie may have as much as three peaches in it, in addition to whatever else goes into it, and I don't know about you, but I can't imagine eating three peaches at once! Pin It

Popping the Question

After my recent DIY Microwave Popcorn recipe post, I received a question about whether I use white or yellow kernels to make said popcorn, and if there is a nutritional difference between the two. First of all, from what I know, there isn't much of a difference, nutritionally, between the two. The yellow kernels might be slightly lower in calories than the white, but there's really not enough of a difference to make me jump for the yellow. Even taste-wise, I don't taste much of the difference; the only real difference seems to be the size of the kernels. The white kernels are smaller than the yellow ones, but they all pop to be the same white popcorn we know and love. Bottom line: in my eyes, there's not enough of a difference to make me run to one over another, so get what you like/ what is cheapest. Pin It

Mushroom Garlic Chicken Foil Pack with a kick

If you haven't noticed, Tiny Tummy has been on a foil pack kick lately. When Mommy Tiny Tummy came up with a pack of chicken breast tenderloins that needed to be cooked and Daddy Tiny Tummy had a pack of mushrooms that were about to go bad, Tiny Tummy went to work and came up with this recipe for a spicy, garlicy chicken and mushroom foil pack that Daddy Tiny Tummy happily ate for lunch the next few days.

To make this Spicy, Garlicy Chicken and Mushroom Foil Pack, you will need:
1 pack fat free chicken breast tenderloins
4 cloves roasted garlic
1/2 pack of mushrooms (about 4oz worth), chopped
Sriracha
Spices of your choice for the chicken breast (I used a mix of red pepper flakes, garlic and onion powder, and paprika)
1 large piece of aluminum foil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and rub whatever spices you please onto your chicken breasts. Then, arrange the chicken so that each tenderloin lays flat next to another. Then, spread your mushroom and garlic evenly on top of the chicken, and give it a healthy squirt of Sriracha on top. I don't give measurements for this one because it really depends on how spicy you like things. Then, close your foil pack, and cook for about 30 minutes or until the breasts are cooked all the way through. Be warned: this can be very spicy!

Disclaimer: the photograph was taken pre-squirt of Sriracha!

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Pickled First

I've always been a pickle fanatic. There's nothing more exciting to me than the pickle section at Fairway, and everyone always says making your own pickles is SO easy, yet I never got around to trying it- until now. Daddy Tiny Tummy and I had been talking about making our own pickles for MONTHS before we finally got around to doing it. After running out of pickles from Fairway, we found ourself in a pickle (sorry, I had to), so we bought some mason jars and mini cuc's, and the rest is history.

To make these simple Spicy and Sour Garlic Dill Pickles, you will need:
2 mason jars
3 cups of vinegar (i used regular distilled vinegar)
1/2 cup kosher or pickling salt
3 cups of water
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 giant handful of dill
6 cloves of garlic
about 6 small cucumbers (kirbies)

To prepare, start by boiling the water vinegar, and salt until the salt has dissolved. While that's boiling, squeeze your cucumbers into the mason jar along with the rest of the ingredients. Then, add the liquid to each of the jars leaving about an inch at the top, seal the top, and refrigerate for at least a week to really let the cucumbers pickle. (The garlic even turns a purplish-blue!) Since the pickles are at Daddy Tiny Tummy's house, I am taking his word on it, but he says they are crunchy and delicious! Pin It

Just Great Stuff... Yes it is!

Ever since I discovered PB2 from Bell Plantation, the world of peanut butter has been changed for me. I have always been the type of person that could literally eat peanut butter by the spoonful, so when I made a batch of fresh peanut butter, it was always impossible to resist licking my Vitamix totally clean (like literally to the point that I barely had to wash it... but I still did, don't worry ;)) When I found PB2, it was seriously one of the best Flab Free Food Finds I have recommended to date. Anyway, in Fairway the other day, I came across a NEW brand of powdered peanut butter, and as it turns out, the chocolate version actually has a few fewer calories than the Bell Plantation one (though a 5 calorie difference is not enough of a reason to sway me either way). I decided to give it a try though, to see if the taste was any different, and I have to say it IS.

Just Great Stuff's chocolate powdered peanut butter actually has a much richer, chocolatey taste than Bell Plantation's chocolate peanut butter. I also find with this one it takes less water to reconstitute it to a thick, creamy consistency. I tried it on a banana and it was a whole new level of delicious. If you can find it in a store near you, I definitely recommend it. Pin It

Hidden Cancer Sweeteners

It's nothing new that Tiny Tummy tries to limit her sugar intake as much as possible, but at the same time, I try to steer clear of anything containing aspartame and acesulfame potassium, two artificial sweeteners that may be closely linked to causes of cancer. It goes without saying that anything labeled "sugar free" that uses alternate forms of sweetener to sweeten their product requires a close look at the label to make sure neither of these nasty ingredients rear their ugly head, but you'll be surprised to find that even some products that don't label themselves as sugar-free (or ones you just wouldn't think to check) actually contain these suckers. Moral of the story: it's important to read those labels, but since I realize we don't all have an unlimited amount of time on our hands, here are my top five shocking foods that contain these ingredients.

Fiber One Cereal: Who would think that those twig-like morning munchies have aspartame in them? Such a shocker.

Emerald Cocoa Roasted Almonds: Guess they add a little bit more than just cocoa to those almonds before they roast them... bummer!

Dannon Light and Fit Yogurt: Among other "diet" yogurts, Dannon uses BOTH acesulfame potassium and aspartame in their yogurt... no wonder it's so low-cal. It's a cup full of chemicals!

Chewing Gum: Serious bummer here, but a lot of sugar-free gum is made from both acesulfame potassium (AKA "acesulfame K") AND aspartame. Orbit, Trident, 5, and Stride are all offenders... just to name a few.

Diet Swiss Miss: Although it is not labeled as sugar-free, this diet hot chocolate is sweetened with acesulfame potassium. Good thing Tiny Tummy has your go-to guide to make your own, cancer-free hot chocolate! Pin It

Cauliti (Cauliflower "Ziti")

I love cauliflower. It is the most versatile vegetable, and works just about anywhere you would want to use a carb (pasta, pizza crust, potatoes... you name it!) In the heart of a serious ziti craving, I decided to break open a big head of cauliflower and swap out the pasta for some good ole cauli. The whole dish was sort of a throw together (I had no shredded cheese on hand either, so I made do with what I had, and it was quite delicious.

To make this faux ziti, you will need

2 cups of cauliflower, cooked

1/4 cup tomato sauce of choice (I used my homemade sauce)

1 mozzarella cheese stick, broken into pieces (I warned you this was make-shift ziti!)

To prepare, simply toss everything in a bowl and microwave until warm and the cheese has melted. For a ziti craving, it definitely did the trick!

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Pina Kalelada

I always see Brad's Raw Kale chips in the health food stores, but at like 8 bucks a box, I can never convince myself to make the leap and buy them; however, when I came across a box of the coconut pineapple ones in Marshall's on sale, I decided it was clearly an invitation to try them, so I did!

I have to be honest. On first thought, the idea of pineapple and coconut on kale chips sounds a little strange, but surprisingly, it worked! It was an interesting, sweet flavor with a crunch to it. I'm not exactly sure what I would equate it to, but maybe if you pictured a crunchy version of a pina colada? Okay... maybe a bad example there, but I guess you'll just have to try them for yourself (if you're willing to splurge or able to find them discounted like I did, that is.) Pin It

Charbrew Bliss

It's time for another tea post... shocker. Since I got so much tea for Valentine's Day, I've been slowly working my way through reviewing all of it. This one happens to be one of my favorites that I got as a gift, so worth the review... even if it is a few weeks late.

Charbrew's tea is an excellent blend of fruit with a hint of cinnamon/nutty flavor. The aroma might actually be the best part- just opening the bag leaves a wonderful smell. The flavor is a bit mild, an I let my teabag steep eternally (as in I always forget to remove the teabag before I drink it, so I always just leave it in.) For my next cup, I might consider using two teabags for a stronger flavor because I really enjoyed the taste. Perfect for a night that I can't decide between fruity and nutty tea. Pin It

Pizza Pick Me Up

Every day that I walk home from work, I arrive craving pizza. I must pass at least 10 pizza joints with their doors open and the aromas trickling out just teasing me as I walk by... okay, I know they aren't doing it to tease me, but regardless, I get home, and I'm thinking PIZZA. Today, the craving was so strong that I decided to indulge, but I found a healthy way to do it that still gave me some fiber and some protein and is far more nutritious than your average slice of pizza.

To make this mini pizza, you will need:

1 GG Scandinavian flatbread (or Wasa cracker or something of the like)
1-2 T tomato sauce
1 reduced fat mozzarella cheese stick

To prepare, simply spread the tomato sauce on the cracker, and break the cheese into pieces and layer them on top. Then, pop it in the toaster oven until the cheese melts, and enjoy! Pin It

Beat the Bagel Bulge

When I was younger, one of the biggest treats for me was a bagel for breakfast with my mom. Growing up on Long Island, the bagels were pretty much unbeatable, and the spreads were equally delish. While whitefish salad was my fav, I also used to love a bagel scooped out, toasted with a LITTLE cream cheese and a LOT of tomato (I was healthy-ish in some respects from the start... though it was still a bagel...) A few days ago, I had this exact craving, and so I decided to go for it, but the Tiny Tummy way of course. I've already shared my love for Thin Slim bagels, so their 60 calorie, fiber and protein packed bagel made it an easy, healthy swap.

To make this tomato-loaded cream cheese bagel, you will need:
1 Thin Slim bagel (you can use whatever bagel you have on hand, but it may knock out the health-factor)
1 tablespoon fat free cream cheese (I added a pinch of onion powder to kick things up a notch)
lots and lots of sliced tomato

Pretty self explanatory, but to prepare, slice (and optionally toast) your bagel, spread on your cream cheese, layer your tomatoes, and DIG IN! Pin It

Doing a Healthy Chocoholic Proud

While in Fairway the other day, I decided to tease myself in the chocolate aisle. I love to look through their crazy array of chocolate bars, candies, etc. and as a total chocoholic, I just want to eat all of it. I've had my eye on these stevia-sweetened bars for a while now, but they are always astronomical in price. By whatever miracle, the Fairway... I mean stairway to heaven was open and they were ON SALE! So of course, I bought two, and let's just say it's a good thing I didn't buy more because they are DELICIOUS.

Coco Polo's bars range from 150-190 calories per serving (1/2 the bar) which is not half bad, and the only sugar in them comes from the milk in the chocolate, and the fruit such as that in the mango bar. I LOVED the hazelnut one, as there were whole hazelnuts in it, and lots of them, but I was particularly intrigued by the mango one, which actually had pieces of freeze-dried mango in it. The chocolate was totally delicious, and you would never know it was sweetened with Stevia instead of sugar. Needless to say, if I ever see these on sale again, I will definitely be buying them, and maybe even trying some of the other flavors (elderberry anyone?)

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Diet FAKERS!

Alert the masses. This post may open some eyes for those of you who think you're being healthy by purchasing products labeled as "diet" food, when in reality, some of these foods actually have some really scary ingredients in them that do more harm than good. So, I've decided to dedicate this post to the top 5 most shocking diet fakers in my eyes. All of the following have a combination of some of the worst ingredients you could find in processed foods, so it definitely advised that you steer clear at all costs. I'll show you my top 5 picks along with a few of the bad ingredients each one has in it. Feel free to take a closer look for yourself- all of these products post their ingredients online!

#1 Kellogs Protein Bars and Cereals- contain:soy protein isolate, fructose, partially hydrogenated oil (aka trans fats!), LOTS of sugar, artificial flavors, and loads of empty carbs... this does NOT make losing weight easier... sorry Speak K that's a dirty lie!

#2 Quaker Chewy Bars: Contains corn syrup, artificial flavors, soy, caramel color... definite diet no-no.

#3 Whole Wheat Ritz Crackers: Did you know these are made from mostly regular old wheat flour? There is some whole grain wheat flour in there, but it's not the main ingredient. They also have high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils (aka trans fats), soy, more sugar... yikes.

#4 Microwave Popcorn: Many of these suckers don't put their ingredients online, and that's probably because most are made with partially hydrogenated oils (but list their serving size in a way that allows them to label their product as 0 trans fats), artificial flavors, and some of the kettle varieties have artificial sweeteners in them also... yikes!

#5 Coffeemate Sugar-Free Creamer: This might be the worst one yet. These suckers contain acesulfame potassium (aka CANCER), artificial flavors, and the first ingredient/most abundant.... partially hydrogenated oils which means you're basically drinking trans fats by the spoonful... GROSS! Oh, and the liquid version has corn syrup too... this takes the cake for WORST "diet" product out there!

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Use your Noodle

When I was younger, I used to dread Chinese takeout night. For whatever reason, I just didn't love Chinese food. If there was one dish that I used to like, it was cold sesame noodles. I never understood why they were called that, though, because other than the random sesame seeds sprinkled on top, they tasted more like peanuts to me. It came as no surprise that when I looked into it, it turns out that these noodles are traditionally made with peanut butter. One night on a craving for an old fav, I decided to get to work on a swap, and actually had success with an unbelievably simple recipe.

To make these mock cold sesame noodles, you will need:

1 tablespoon peanut butter (I used PB2 for a reduced calorie version)
1 teaspoon light soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 package miracle noodles
1 tablespoon chopped scallions
optional: a sprinkle of sesame seeds for garnish

To prepare, simply combine the first three ingredients in a bowl until the peanut butter has thinned a bit. Take your noodles out of the package, pat them dry, and add the sauce to them. If you like your noodles super saucy, you might want to make a double batch, but I liked mine as is. Then, top with scallions and optional sesame seeds. Then, dig in, and enjoy your mock Chinese takeout! Pin It