Fake Frappuccino

Starbucks is notorious for their fatty frappuccinos, which I have to admit, are pretty darn delicious, but it's not just thanks to all of the fattening and sugary ingredients in it. Half the fun of a frapp, in my opinion, is all that yummy foamy frothy stuff at the top, and believe it or not, you can actually make your coffee frothy without all that sugary, caloric junk that they use- in fact, I don't even use milk. It's all thanks to something called a frother.

I apologize for any of you coffee connoisseurs out there who already obviously know what a frother is, but for anyone who doesn't, it's a tool that spins your coffee until it gets frothy! Now, most people froth the milk and add it to the coffee to make a cappuccino, but I bet you never thought to make the coffee, itself, frothy! This way, you're saving tons of calories, and still getting your frothy fix- it's basically win-win! And if you're all about the frothy milk, then feel free to froth up some flax or almond milk- either way you're saving TONS of fat and calories by skipping the frapp! Oh, and your wallet won't hurt a bit- you can get the one pictured from Ikea for $3.00! It basically pays for itself in 1 frappuccino! Pin It

Put A Ring On It

It can't be much of a secret that I love Brad's Kale Chips... considering I came up with a recipe to replicate them, but I still buy  the real deal when I can find them cheap. While shopping the other day, I came across a new(ish) product from Brad's and considering how much I love the kale, I figured it was worth trying.

Brad's Raw Onion Rings, while not as good as their kale chips, were still pretty delicious. They were crunchy with a lot of flavor and almost reminded me of the bagged onion ring chips I used to eat as a child growing (not that frequently because there were many other chips I liked better!) For anyone who loved those faux onion ring chips as a child, or just likes something crunchy with flavor, these are definitely worth a try- not fried, no GMO's, and even kosher and vegan! Pin It

Munchie Madness

I have a confession. I'm up to a pack of day... of Matt's Munchies that is. If you've never tried this Flab Free Food Find, you are severely missing out, and if you've never heard of them, allow me to explain. Basically, they are a healthier, no-sugar-added fruit leather in individually portioned cute little packages. They come in a variety of flavors ranging from coconut mango to chocolate banana to ginger spice. My personal favs are the chocolate raspberry, island mango, and apricot... oh and did I mention they are all between 35 and 80 calories? Can't beat it! Pin It

New Summer Sips

In the past, Tiny Tummy hasn't written quite a few reviews on Bai's delicious, low-cal, low-sugar drinks, so when I heard that they were coming out with a new variety, my ears perked up. Then, when I found out it was a coconut drink we were talking about, my ears perked up even more.

This post is simply an alert, as I haven't found them yet, but that is certainly not to say I'm not on the hunt. If you come across them or try them, leave a comment and let me know what you think. And of course, when I find them, I will post and give you my opinion! Pin It

Tokyum Salad

Lately, when it comes to new Flab Free Food Finds, it is usually either a result of me food shopping hungry or needing to meet a credit card minimum... this one actually came as a mix of both. I went to grab myself a tofu salad one day after moving, and naturally, the bodega I went into had a $10 credit card minimum. As a two second rant of annoyance, I hate credit card minimums- be happy I'm shopping in your store and swipe my card and consider the ridiculous prices you charge at your bodega to pay for the fee it takes to run my card.

Anyway, to meet the minimum, I came across this vegan Tokyo Seaweed Salad which was basically just wakame seaweed, garlic, carrots, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. I wasn't all that excited to try it because I was annoyed I had to buy it to meet the minimum, but I have to admit, it was really delicious. It was super garlic-y, so I wouldn't suggest it as a pre-date snack, but on a night that you're on your own for din-din, it is a perfectly acceptable option.

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Boasting New Beans

Since I've moved, Trader Joe's has become all the more convenient. My go-to grocery store used to be a supermarket down the block from my old apartment, but now Trader Joe's is actually closer, and since my gym is right next door, it is even more convenient to shop there. Therefore, most of my meals have been from good ole Trader Joe. On my most recent food shopping excursion, I was seriously craving black bean burgers, so I decided to pick up a can of black beans. For whatever reason, their Cuban Style Black Beans were slightly cheaper than the regular ones, so I decided read the ingredients (which were completely clean) and then to give them a go, and woah did they make delicious black bean burgers!!

I highly recommend giving these guys a try the next time you're grabbing black beans. The spices are delish and the only additional visible accouterments are small pieces green peppers (I generally don't like green peppers, but they taste good in here I promise!). Toss the beans on a salad, make black bean burgers, make a black bean dip, or just eat them plain a la rice and beans... go crazy; they're delish! Pin It

From Tea to Cider and Every Sip In Between

It doesn't take more than a quick scan of my blog to learn that Tiny Tummy loves tea, so since London is known for its tea, it must not come as a surprise that I went a little tea-crazy in my travels. As a whole, the beverage situation in London is a little different from the US, based on my observations. For example, it wasn't uncommon to see people casually day-drinking at oh, you know, 10:00am. Then again, it was far less common to see drunk teens mindlessly meandering about the streets in the late hours of the night. So, while alcoholic culture may not be absent, it is certainly different. Even the drinks that were most commonly ordered in the bars (yes, Tiny Tummy got a little nosy with other people's drink orders) were often not the vodka on the rocks or rum and coke that we see at bars in the US. Maybe I got a biased sample, but I'd say a casual beer was the most common drink at the bars I went to. And the “girl drink” in London was definitely cider. Perhaps it is because cider here is nothing like cider there, but cider was quite the popular beverage. As someone who doesn't drink (alcohol), I have to say, cider is actually not that bad (granted cider is full of sugar, so you wouldn't catch Tiny Tummy sluggin' it back). London is also known for its Guinness, and again, you're getting a biased sample here because I hate beer, but Guinness was gross. Beyond gross. The guys that I traveled with seemed to like it, but as someone who never drinks beer, it was completely unpalatable, and the other girls who tried it, that do drink beer casually, agreed. If you want a cup of tar, go for Guinness, by all means, but if a lighter beer is more your speed, steer clear.

Anyway, back to the positives: the tea. Oh, the tea. When I walked into the tea stores in London, I felt like a kid in a candy store. For me, a tea shop is a candy store-- especially the ones in London with the most extensive selections of loose leaf tea you could imagine. From the green teas to the hibiscus teas (my personal fav) to the white and black tea blends, the different blends were unreal. My favorite tea store that we went into was Whittard, thanks to the largest selection of decaf hibiscus blends I have ever laid eyes on. I love me a good fruity tea, and Whittard provided blend upon blend of options... and, I mean, I'll probably only be in London once... so I bought one of everything (well, just about everything) in their hibiscus section (I did share with Mommy Tiny Tummy, though). The flavors ranged from “Very Very Berry” to “Acai and Goji Berry” to “Apple and Pomegranate”. Let's just say no fruit went unaccounted for. The store had places to sample all of their teas, coffees, and hot chocolates (the caramel hot chocolate was TO DIE FOR, but not Tiny Tummy-esque). It turns out the "tea" I bought was actually fruity/herbal infusions... either way, totally yummy. If you're exceptionally curious, you can order their teas online, but they are much cheaper in London, even with the nasty conversion rates, so I'm glad I stocked up.

Bottom line: if you're planning a trip to London, I say skip the Guinness and sip the tea.

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Vita Choco Goodness

I've been making a real effort to eat clean lately, but if there's one thing I can't seem to get away from, it's chocolate. Tiny Tummy=definition chocolate. I'm always trying to find new ways to indulge in chocolate that won't totally break the calorie bank, and I recently came across a new, raw chocolate that wasn't half bad.

Vita's Peanut Butter chocolate bar has little crushed pieces of peanuts on top of the 72% cacao dark chocolate. If you are a dark chocolate lover, you will definitely love this bar, and the small size is perfect for just a few servings. Granted, I'll admit, I've had better chocolate, but for raw, organic, clean chocolate, it was definitely a winner. Pin It

More Kale to Hail

I can never say this enough: I love Trader Joe's. They are a 1-stop-shop when it comes to Flab Free Food Finds, you just have to know what to look for. In a recent shopping trip, I came across these new(ish) Kale Chips that they came out with, and I thought I'd give them a try. The ingredients were similar to the ingredients in Brad's Kale Chips... but these were 1/2 the price. Winner right there, but how would they taste?

No surprise here, but they were delicious, and tasted just like Brad's. The whole bag has only 300 calories and a healthy dose of protein and fiber to match. This bag of chips was my lunch one day on the go, and honestly, I don't even feel bad about the fact that I had a bag of chips for lunch. The ingredient list is super clean, and while the nut-to-veggie ratio isn't exactly that of a salad, and I wouldn't recommend this for lunch on the reg, they make a great, healthy snack.

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Oats of Steel

I was recently asked what the difference between steel cut oats and regular, microwaveable oats is. The only true difference is the cut of the oat. Steel cut oats are made by cutting the whole oat into tiny bits, while the rolled oats (the microwaveable oats) are whole oats rolled flat. Rolled oats are often steamed partially, which is why steel cut oats often get a better rap because some people believe some of the vitamins and minerals are depleted during this processing, but essentially, you're eating the same food. As far as I'm concerned, eat what you like. I bought steel cut oats to give them a try, and honestly, they don't quite get as thick as the rolled oats do. There's a photo of the final product below (and I even added a little extra water this time to help it thicken... but it didn't). Next time, I'm going back to my usual rolled oats.

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They're called "Thin Cakes" for a Reason!

Do you ever crave the condiment as opposed to the actual dipper? I know, it may sound weird, but sometimes, I really crave jelly or mustard, but the thought of eating either by the spoonful is a little gross. And while, yes, veggies are great if you're craving mustard or BBQ sauce, or some form of dressing, veggies, and even some fruits, dipped in jelly and other condiments is a little weird. Not to mention, sometimes, you just want a little cracker-crunch with your condiments, but you don't want to waste tons and tons of calories, and that is where these guys come in.

Suzie's Thin Cakes are the perfect solution to this dipping dilemma. Spreading some jelly, mustard, etc. on them is a great way to get the crackers & whatever fix you may need without the carb overload. By no means are they any sort of nutritional powerhouse; in fact, they are more or less fillers, but for a low-cal crunch, they definitely do the trick. I like the corn-based ones, as they have 38 calories per 3 cakes (and I am likely to go for the whole 3 cake serving!), and there is no added sugar (woohoo!) Additionally, you can even turn these guys into a sandwich and save the bread calories without totally losing out on your carb-fix. A turkey, chicken, ham, bologna, whatever sammy is really more about the meat anyway, right? Loading these crackers up with your meat of choice, lettuce, tomato, and a squirt of mustard is a yummy snack or lunch (maybe more than one for a meal though!), and they work great for PB&J too!

P.S.- These were another Sandy Survival Find, in case you were wondering! I almost feel like I need a label specifically for all the non-perishables that I tested during the hurricane and its aftermath, as well as all the simple no-cook, no light needed, recipes that came from this Frankenstorm! Pin It

A Tango With Some Mango

After dinner, I often find that my sweet tooth starts to kick in even though I am happily satiated. Sometimes I go for a sweet drink, such as a cup of tea, but sometimes I really want something really sweet. While in Trader Joe's the other day, I decided to grab a bag of their freeze dried mango and give it a spin for my nightly sweet craving.

The entire bag has 190 calories, but has a LOT of carbs and sugar, so if you're a whole bag kinda gal, I'd skip these, but, if you just need a little something to satisfy your sweet tooth, these guys are crunchy, delicious, and SUPER sweet. Again, I wouldn't suggest eating the whole bag, but if you can control yourself to just eat a slice or two, you're good to go, and they will definitely satisfy a sweet craving!

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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

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

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

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

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

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