Lifestyle & Family Resource site for everyday women and moms
I have never been a morning person. I don’t wake up the sun or jump joyously out of bed no matter what time my alarm goes off. One way I help improve my mood is by eating a healthy breakfast. Typically, this means whipping up a green smoothie, unless I’m short on time. In those cases, instead of going without breakfast, I now turn to Breakfast Ovals from Enjoy Life.
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Ah moving. It can either be full of excitement or full of massive amounts of stress. In my case, it’s been a mix of both. I’m happy to be in a new state, but tired of the issues related to my apt and the movers. Thankfully, I’ve been getting the boost I need thanks to some mushroom superfoods.
A few months ago, I tried Om Beauty-Full, a supplement powered by Chaga mushrooms and biotin. I really enjoyed the glow it gave my skin. When OM asked if I wanted to try their reformulated Brain Fuel, I immediately said yes.
Powered by Mane and Reishi mushroom superfoods, as well as folate, Brain Fuel is formulated to “calm your mind and spark clarity”. I don’t know about you, but I could use more calm and clarity in my life. It’s been an exceedingly stressful and emotionally draining several years. With my recent move, the craziness has only increased.
Strangely, all this stress and insanity hasn’t felt as overwhelming as one would expect, thanks to Brain Fuel. The boost my mind is receiving from these mushroom superfoods has been immensely helpful.
The change in my cognition was noticeable as so as I began taking this daily supplement. I feel more calm and clear each time I take the three little pills.
I also like that all of Om products are vegan, gluten-free, non-gmo, and kosher. There are no fillers or sugars added, so I know I’m getting the purest form of superfood I can get. I plan on continuing my usage of Brain Fuel even after I finish this bottle.
In addition to the Brain Fuel, Om also sent me their Immune Defense. This supplement contains mushroom superfoods designed to support gut and immune health.
It is powered by a blend of Reishi, Turkey Tail, Maitake, and Agaricus, as well as Vitamin C. Like Brain Fuel, Immune Defense is also gluten-free, vegan, grown in the US, and free of added sugar.
I haven’t started using Immune Defense yet. However, I will be traveling more starting in August, which means lots of planes, trains, and automobiles. It also means exposure to various germs.
To help boost my immunity, I plan on incorporating Immune Defense into my daily routine before, during and after my travels. Since I don’t want to get sick like I did last year, I need all the help I can get. (I will update you on the results later this summer.)
If you’re looking to incorporate mushroom superfoods into your daily routine, I highly suggest trying Om supplements. They offer a variety of products for a variety of needs, including cognitive and immune support. Their all-natural formulations will help give your body the extra superfood boost it needs.
Do you use mushroom superfoods? Which formula would work best for your body?
Connect with Om Mushroom: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
When it comes to choosing frozen foods, I’m extremely picky. Regardless of convenience, I don’t want fillers, preservatives or processed ingredients in my food. I prefer to eat as clean and possible and with products from Mikey’s I can. Their allergy-free pockets are not only free from dairy, soy, and grain, but they’re also certified delicious.
After trying a selection of their products, I was curious to know more about the name behind the brand, Mikey. It turns out, he is a classically trained chef, who worked at restaurants like Eleven Madison Park in NYC and French Laundry in Napa. While these culinary stalwarts are known for their incredible cuisine, they don’t really offer a chef the chance to share his food with diners everywhere.
Hence, Mikey’s was born.
Mikey’s allergy-free pockets come in seven varieties, including two breakfast pockets. Since I don’t eat red meat or pork-based products, the brand kindly sent me their cheese pizza pockets and cauliflower curry pockets. Regardless of whether you are a meat eater or not, all of the pockets are soy, milk & lactose, and grain free. Additionally, they are also Paleo-friendly and low in sugar.
I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive about trying a pizza pocket featuring plant-based mozzarella. Although, plant-based cheeses have come a long way, mozzarella is still hard to pull off. This is not the case with the Mikey’s Cheese Pizza Pockets. I couldn’t even tell that the cheese wasn’t real. It was just delicious.
I also really appreciate that you get two pockets in each package. At 310 calories each, they make for a great lunch or dinner option. Pair them with a salad and you have a very healthy, balanced meal.
In addition to the pizza pocket, I also tried the allergy-free Cauliflower Curry Pockets. As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of Indian food, nor is Indian food the biggest fan of me, I was also a bit apprehensive. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised. These pockets were also extremely delicious. The curry flavor was not overpowering. Instead, it complimented the cauliflower and other veggies perfectly.
It is important to note that the cauliflower pockets are vegetarian and not vegan, as they do contain egg and honey. Perhaps in the future, Mikey’s will add more plant-based pocket options to their offerings. At 230 calories per serving, the Curry Cauliflower Pockets are also a great, healthy option for lunch or dinner, or even as an afternoon snack.
After trying out these delicious, allergy-free pockets from Mikey’s, I want more. More of the pockets, including giving the Egg and Cheese a try, as well more of their other products. The brand also makes tortillas, pizza crust, English muffins, muffin tops, and bread. All of which are made from simple, clean ingredients. I highly recommend testing them out for yourself, especially if you are looking for allergy-free foods.
Have you tried Mikey’s before? Which certified delicious, allergy-free pocket would you try?
The world of supplements always seems to be evolving. This is partly the result of consumers being more open and curious about the possible benefits of vitamins and minerals. Additionally, it’s also driven by how many new options are available to us, including supplements formulated with superfood ingredients.
Summer is almost here and most of us are trying to shed a few pounds. After the holidays, my husband and I decided it was time to get back to resume a healthy lifestyle. We started searching for some essential low carb lifestyle products.
Whether my alarm goes off or not, I don’t meet the morning with glee. After untangling myself from the sheets, I stumble out of bed with messy hair, blurry eyes, and the inability to create coherent sentences. As you can imagine, breakfast is not always on my mind. Counting down when I can go back to sleep is more my speed, unless I have something delicious to get my morning routine going.
A few years ago I switched to a more plant-based diet. One of the easiest places to make this change came at breakfast. Usually this in the form of a green smoothie of some type, but this isn’t always convenient. Let’s face it, when you’re not a morning person, busting out the blender and the measuring cups can be a chore.
This is why I was so excited to add Barbaras Puffins Cereal and Elmhurst Milks to my morning routine. They’re a quick, delicious healthy way to help me start my day.
One of the reasons I begrudgingly ate cereal as a kid was because I never liked the taste of milk. Most of the time, I would eat my cereal out of the box or pour it in the bowl plain. This is how much I don’t like dairy milk.
I was so excited when dairy alternatives started arriving at my grocery store. Back then, there was only one alternative option. Today, I can choose from Oat, Almond, and Cashew.
Before Elmhurst kindly sent me some of their milks for review, I had tried their Oat Milk and was already a fan. One of the things I like most about these unsweetened plant-based milks is how few ingredients they contain. Their Almond and Cashew have two ingredients, nuts and filtered water, while their Oat has three, water, oats and salt.
These milks are rich, creamy and free from fillers, artificial flavors, and sugars. They are also the perfect pairing for Barbaras Puffins Cereal.
Another reason I gave up on the traditional milk and cereal was because of how mushy my cereal would get. If I didn’t eat it quick enough it would become a bowl of yuckiness. So, I was a bit skeptical about adding Puffins to my morning routine. Would these bite-sized puffs hold up to the Elmhurst milk?
In reality, I had nothing to worry about because they are made for mixing with milk. They stay crunchy, while also absorbing just enough of the milk creaminess.
The brand was kind enough to send me two of the cereal varieties, Peanut Butter and Honey Rice. Not only do I enjoy their crispy texture, but I also love the taste. They are just right amount of hearty and sweet.
Another Puffins perk is that they are low in sugar and available in vegan and vegetarian options. Their peanut butter (6 grams of sugar per serving) is low fat, vegan, and made from corn and whole grain oat. The Honey Rice (5 grams of sugar per serving) is vegetarian, low fat, rich in fiber and made from gluten-free whole grain brown rice.
Did I mention the also have cinnamon, peanut butter and chocolate, and pumpkin cereals? I can definitely see them making an appearance in my morning routine very soon. I wonder which version of Elmhurst milks I should pour over each first? Something tells me all of their milks would pair oh so well with all of these cereals.
If you looking to add some delicious to your morning routine, try the fabulous combo of Elmhurst planet-based milks and Barbaras Puffin Cereal. I can’t promise they will make you a morning person, but they’ll at least make getting up a little easier.
What’s your morning routine? Are you a cereal and milk fan?
Connect with Elmhurst: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Barbaras: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
It seems like everyone is allergic to something these days. Unfortunately, even I’ve developed a few food sensitivities as I’ve gotten older. This can prevent you from enjoying the foods you love, but not always. Thanks to brands like Planet Oat and Enjoy Life you can have your allergy-free cookies and milk, and so much more.
Growing up in Florida you become a bit of a seafood snob. When you’re able to catch it yourself, you know how good fresh fish tastes. Of course, this isn’t an option for everyone, which is why most fish is bought in-store. In recent years, however, many types of seafood have been overfished or produced in farms. This can compromise both flavor, quality, and the underwater ecosystem. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to when you choose to purchase wild, sustainably caught fish.
One brand on such a mission is Wild Planet. All of their products are sustainably caught. This means they don’t overfish the oceans, damage the habitat, or catch juvenile or non-targeted species. It’s a philosophy I fully support.
It aligns with the habits I was taught as a kid. Every time we went out on the boat, my parents always made sure we respected the water and the beings living below the surface. We never caught more than we could eat. If the seafood was too small or not in season, we always returned it to the ocean. Though we had to leave a few anchors in the sea when they got stuck, we never considered the water our garbage can.
Wild Planet was kind enough to send me several of their products to try, including their Skipjack Tuna in a pouch. Though I’ve had their canned tuna before, this was the first time I tried the Skipjack pouch. I really enjoy both varieties. You can taste the difference in this sustainably caught fish. It’s like throwing out a line and catching it fresh yourself.
All of Wild Planet’s tuna is 100% pole and line caught in Central or North Pacific Ocean. Allowing the fish to remain in its natural habitat ensures you are getting the freshest fish every time. The skipjack tuna contains no salt and is packed raw without oil, water or fillers. It is then cooked once to help it maintain its rich abundance of DHA and EPA Omega 3’s. Consuming Omega 3’s is good for your mind, body, and soul.
There are lots of ways to enjoy tuna, but one of my favorites is the tuna melt. I like to add a bit of mayo, white pepper, and garlic salt to my tuna. This is followed by chopped celery and carrots. I then place the mixture on my favorite sprouted bread and top it off with cheddar cheese. In this case, I used vegan cheddar cheese.
Wild Planet was also kind enough to send me their sustainably caught Wild Mackerel and Wild Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Just like the tuna, both of these skinless and boneless fillets are delicious. This variety features very simple ingredients, hand-fillet fresh fish, organic olive oil and sea salt.
These Atlantic Ocean sardines and mackerels are fished using purse seine methods. This sustainable method targets only the desired species. It also helps to eliminate catching fish you don’t want and doesn’t damage the ecosystem.
Wild Planet’s sardines and mackerels are rich in protein and EPA/DHA Omega 3s. I like to add them to salads for that extra punch of protein and salty, smokiness. I find them especially tasty in Caesar salad. They complement the creamy dressing perfectly. Mackerel also works well as a tuna substitute, while sardines are a great addition to your favorite bruschetta recipe.
So next time you’re craving some seafood, consider picking up the sustainably caught fish varieties from Wild Planet. You’ll not only taste the difference, but you’ll also be supporting a more eco-conscious brand.
What’s your favorite way to eat tuna? Have you tried canned sardines or mackerel?
Connect with Wild Planet: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
I have a pretty big sweet tooth, which I work hard to control. Of course, every now again I feel the need to indulge. These days it’s easier to enjoy a delicious treat that’s also full of a few nutritious ingredients. I recently experimented with some new protein powders to create a batch of plant powered chocolate chip cookies. Spoiler alert: The cookies are delish.
As we close in on the third month of 2019, those healthy eat resolutions might be dwindling. Let’s face it, keeping up those healthy eating habits can be hard when that sweet tooth comes calling. Luckily, you can indulge anytime you want with Emmy’s Organics Superfood Cookies.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had Emmy’s Organics. I remember first stumbling across them with my mom at a Starbucks. She was undergoing cancer treatment and had given up processed sugars. Instead, opting for more natural options, such as dates, agave, honey, coconut sugar, and maple syrup. We were always looking for new recipes or treats to try that would allow her to enjoy something sweet.
You can imagine our excitement when we read the ingredient list on the back of Emmy’s Organics; organic coconut, organic agave syrup, organic almond flour, organic coconut oil, etc. Finally, a quick sweet treat she could eat without feeling guilty. My mom chose the Vanilla Bean and I chose the Dark Cacao. Both were sweet, chewy and delicious. At the time, we didn’t realize there were many other flavors to be had.
In fact, these yummy superfood cookies come in eight different flavors, including Pumpkin Spice, Matcha, Golden Milk, Peanut Butter, Lemon Ginger, Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Chip, and Dark Cacao. Every cookie is made with 100% organic ingredients. They are also NON-GMO, vegan, kosher, dairy-free and gluten-free.
The main ingredient is coconut, so if you like coconut, you will definitely love these little bits. The coconut brings a nice richness to each cookie. It also pairs nicely with flavors like peanut butter and matcha.
One of the coolest things about Emmy’s Organics is all the recipes they’ve developed to use with their cookies. You can check out the entire list on their blog, but for now, I’m going to share the one I tried out. It’s a delicious Cookie Dough Shake. (Note: Since I didn’t have the Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies, I used the Dark Cacao.)
This shake is very easy to make and super delicious. It’s rich and creamy, and you’d never know it contained frozen riced cauliflower. Honestly, it tastes like a regular milkshake with the added bonus of cookies and chocolate chips. And the serving size is pretty generous so you could drink it alone or share it.
What’s your favorite superfood cookie flavor? Would you try this delicious, healthy shake?
Connect with Emmy Organics: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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