Dried Fruit Decisions

I enjoy dried fruit and often snack on dried fruit as a sweet treat and use dried fruits in recipes. Normally I have a variety of dried fruit on hand. Right now that is not the case as I have worked through quite a bit of what I had around the house.  

Dried fruit is shelf stable so it is something people should be purchasing to have around the house since we have been encouraged to refrain from shopping as much as possible. Dried fruit is a fiber filled addition to a person's diet. We have to be careful to purchase the healthy options and not to have too much of a good thing!

Dried fruits can be helpful for people who are looking to lose weight. High fiber dried fruits include: apricots, dates, prunes, and raisins.

As you plan your next purchase, what are the things you should consider when purchasing dried fruit? Of course, you will take into consideration personal preferences and any dietary restrictions/needs that you have, but are there any other considerations that should be taken? I did a little research and have come to some conclusions.

When to buy organic...

If a fruit is on the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen List, it is a good idea to purchase ORGANIC dried fruit as well as fresh fruit.  Therefore, spend the extra money on organic dried strawberries, nectarines, apples, grapes (raisins), peaches, cherries, and pears.

Watch out for added sugars...

According to Harvard Health, it is suggested that people read labels. Fruits have natural sugars but many manufacturers add sugar when packaging dried fruit.

What about sulfur dioxide added to some dried fruits?

Sulfur dioxide is a preservative used in many dried fruits and other foods. According to Livestrong, people sensitive to the preservative can have asthma or difficulty breathing after consuming sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is used to prevent rotting and to help the fruit maintain its color. In the 1980s the FDA banned sulfites from fresh fruits and vegetables, but not packaged foods.

Clean 15 for 2020

Right now we are doing our best to shop for food for our households. As the stay at home orders started, I personally witnessed fights in the grocery stores and people purchasing in excess and leaving nothing for the next person. Many store shelves remain empty as supply cannot meet the demand

We need to follow stay at home orders and limit our trips to busy places like the grocery store. As you are making your shopping list, consider the nutritional value of your food. We are what we eat. We need to eat healthy foods (as well as get some exercise) to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If you have not had a change to read the updated Clean 15 list by the Environmental Working Group, take time to do so before your next trip to the store or before you place your next online order.

The Clean 15 this year include:

1. Avocado
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapple
4. Onion
5. Papaya
6. Sweet Frozen Peas
7. Eggplant
8. Asparagus
9. Cauliflower
10. Cantaloupe
11. Broccoli
12. Mushrooms
13. Cabbage
14. Honeydew Melon
15. Kiwi

Foods Fight Inflammation

Chronic Inflammation 

Many people suffer from chronic inflammation, a condition where the body’s immune system doesn’t shut off for some reason and begins to burn out of control, like a fire that can’t be extinguished easily. Chronic inflammation can impede a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living as well as participate in recreational/fitness activities.  

Chronic inflammation occurs when the immune cells can’t find an injury or illness to repair so they attack healthy cells resulting in damage to tissues and organs. This damage has been linked to a number of diseases and disorders, including asthma, ulcers, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, ulcerative colitis, allergies, some types of cancer, and even Alzheimer’s.

Control Inflammation with Nutrition

There are ways to nutritionally work to control inflammation. One way is to include healthful fats, such as olives and avocados and their oils into your diet. Cooking with olive oil and avocado oil is a good way to help control inflammation on a daily basis. 

Another way to use food to control inflammation is to snack on raw nuts and seeds (if you diet allows you to eat nuts). Nuts contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease, lower LDL cholesterol, and help control inflammation. Six of the best nuts to eat for these health benefits include: walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pistachios, pecans, and hazelnuts.You can follow the 1-2-3 Rule for almonds to figure out a serving: 23 almonds is 100 calories. A general serving size rule rule for nuts is a serving is a fist full. 

One way I combine the healthy fats with raw nuts and seeds is in a salad. I top my salad with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits and make a dressing using balsamic and avocado or olive oil.  This salad is made from organic greens from my garden.

Disclaimer: “Portions of this post were provided by New Hope Network. I am a member of the New Hope Influencer Co-op, a network of health and wellness bloggers committed to spreading more health to more people.”  Source: Silent Fire: How to Extinguish Chronic Inflammation by Lisa Truesdale

 

Homestyle Ancient Grain Sandwich Bread

At the Nourished Festival in Del Mar earlier this month I had the opportunity to try Gluten Free Homestyle Ancient Grain Bread from Rotella's Italian Bakery.

The loaf I tried toasted up well with a crisp on the outside that held up to any toppings that were layered on it!

Enjoy Rotella's gluten free bread with your choice of protein or just with some butter to go with a warm bowl of soup during the winter months. My favorite sandwiches were tofu and hummus and roasted veggie as the textures along with the bread was satisfying.

A Breakfast Classic Reimagined

Oatmeal is a breakfast classic. Enjoy Life Foods has re-imagined the classic into a portable oval bar you can eat on the go!

Multiple Flavors

Oatmeal is known for being a blank slate that can take on the flavor of the toppings added. Enjoy Life has brought to the market several flavor combinations for our enjoyment:

• Maple Fig
• Apple Cinnamon
• Mixed Berry
• Chocolate Chip Banana

A Healthy Breakfast On-The-Go

Breakfast ovals TASTE GREAT and provide you with 20g of whole grains (12% of your daily fiber) and all natural fruit. These SOFT BAKED OVALS are free from:

• Gluten
• Wheat
• Dairy
• Soy
• Sulfites
• Lupin
• Fish
• Crustaceans
• Peanuts
• Tree Nuts
• Casein
• Egg
• Sesame
• Mustard
• Shellfish

Variety of Uses

I enjoy Breakfast Ovals on their own with some fruit and crumbled in my yogurt or chia pudding.

Love With Food Box LOVES to Give Back

I have enjoyed the Love With Food Boxes hat I have had! Each has been filled with delightful treats that have given me an opportunity to try new products of which I was not aware. I have become a regular purchaser of many of the products found in the boxes.

If you are looking for healthy subscription service that offers organic, all-natural or GMO-free snacks and are always free of trans-fats, hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavoring or coloring, then look no further than Love With Food!

Holiday Altruism

This December, Love With Food has teamed with Sarah Michelle Gellar’s organic baking brand Foodstirs to benefit Alliance of Moms / Raising Foodies and Feeding America. Throughout the month of December, Foodstirs’ beloved seasonal treat, the Organic Molten Chocolate Chip Mug Cake, can be found in Love With Food by SnackNation’s Tasting Box (starting at $7.99 per month) and Deluxe Box (starting at $16.50 per month), which feature a selection of all natural snacks with clean ingredients. New subscribers can visit lovewithfood.com/freebox to get a free $25 snack box and $15 off any of their 6 month or longer plans. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Alliance of Moms / Raising Foodies as well as a donation of 1meal for every Tasting Box sold and 2 meals for every Deluxe Box sold to Feeding America.

If you are looking for last minute gift ideas or something to gift yourself, consider Love With Food and make your gift count ... double!

Put a ZING in your step

You ARE what you eat

If you wish to maintain an active lifestyle and/or push your body physically you need proper nutrition to make that happen. Hydration and proper nutrition can fuel a workout as well as help you recover from physical exertion.

Zing Bars put a ZING in your step. 

They contain  NATURAL ingredients and are:

• low in sugar
• gluten free
• soy free
• vegan
• NON-GMO

They taste great and satisfy you for a long period of time. Zing Bars are a healthy snack that will help fuel your active lifestyle.

Pack a Nutritious Bar

Zing Bars were developed by registered dietitians. They contain high protein, good fats, and good carbs to fuel people who lead active lifestyles. The long lasting energy provided by Zing bars make them perfect to take with you to the gym, on a bike ride, on a hike, or even on a road trip or flight. They are a great snack to bridge the time between lunch and dinner when you include a workout after work or errands you need to accomplish or attending a child's sporting event.

AmaZING Nature Hike

My active lifestyle includes teaching fitness classes INDOORS. When I have an opportunity, I like to be active OUTDOORS to explore nature and the beautiful sights and sounds that it offers. My outdoor adventure took me to Daley Ranch and Dixon Lake in Escondido, California. The weather has been unusually hot and humid in San Diego therefore we take the time to exercise outdoors early and late in the day. The views were amazing, and Zing was the perfect fuel for the late day adventure!

Daley Ranch is a great place to hike. Their website provides a map and details about hiking, biking, and horseback riding at Daley Ranch. If you are an animal enthusiast, the website gives you details about the animals and plans that are native to the area so you know what you might encounter. 

Zing Bars are perfect to pack for an outdoor adventure. 

Zing Bars are Practical

They fit in your pocket and do not melt in the heat.
They hold their shape through your movements.

Zing Bars Taste Good and are Healthy

Zing bars come in a variety of flavors. You are bound to find one or more that you enjoy!
The bars are designed by registered dietitians and combine high protein with good fats and good carbs.

Zing bars celebrate what is in them ... as well as what is not. 

They are made with NON-GMO, natural ingredients.
They do not contain: gluten, soy, sugar alcohols, artificial colors, or artificial flavors.

Where can you find Zing?

Look on their website to see where they are sold near you!