Test Kitchen Tuesday

A while back, I told you about Oriya Organics protein powder that I had stumbled upon, and have been loving! I have been using that and alternating with this Lifetime Life’s Basics Protein Powder.

I have to say, I like them both. The Oriya has a green tinge due to the Chlorella and Spirulina, so I usually only use it in green smoothies. This powder doesn’t really have a “color,” per se, so it doesn’t change the look of whatever you may be adding it to.

People often ask what protein powder I use since a lot of my recipes call for it. The honest answer is I’m almost always trying something new. I like to experiment, try new things, and report back to you guys when I find something I like! I scour Amazon and try things that strike my fancy. I will be keeping this one as well as the Oriya in my rotation for a while, though. I enjoy them both that much!

I usually look for a few things when selecting a protein powder:

• Low  or no sugar
• No artificial sweeteners
• Minimal ingredients
• Vegan or vegetarian (I have a dairy sensitivity)
• At least 16g protein per serving

And, like you, I often read reviews to determine if a powder is worth a try. I read a lot of reviews about this Lifetime powder, and people love it. So do I! It tastes good, and it has a good nutritional profile with a wide spectrum of amino acids:

I pretty much only use protein powders in smoothies after a hard workout, so I almost always blend it up with some fruit. This acts as a sweetener, and I love that this powder doesn’t have any added sweetener. If you are going to drink it with just milk or water in a shaker cup, you may want a sweetened variety.

They make a few flavors: Vanilla, Unsweetened Vanilla, Chocolate, 5 Fruit Blend, and a Greens powder, so there is probably something for you amongst that lineup. If you choose a sweetened variety, each serving has 2.67 grams of sugar from Xylitol. For what it’s worth Xylitol is actually a pretty good sweetener that is okay for you (just don’t let your dog have any – it is toxic for dogs).

My only complaint is that the serving size is a fairly large scoop (about 1/4 cup), which means if you are mixing it up in a single serve blender cup, it takes up a significant amount of room. However, that is something I overlook because it’s tasty, low on ingredients and artificial-sweetener free!

Bottom Line: I like this powder. It is low on ingredients, but those it does have are quality. It tatses good, and at $1.49/serving, it sports a reasonable price for such high quality. If you prefer a sweetened variety, the cost is less, about $1.16/serving.

Eyeing a protein powder you want me to check out? Let me know in the comments and I’ll give it a whirl!

A couple of weeks ago, I ran out of the SunWarrior Warrior Blend protein powder I’d been using. It took quite a long time to use up a 2.2 lb bag (months of daily smoothies), but I finally came to the last scoop.

After initially not liking the SunWarrior, I ended up liking it just fine in the end. However, I like to try new things, and as it turns out, the day I was looking for a new powder, I saw a blog post on Choosing Raw that mentioned Oriya Organics. I did a little quick research of my own and ordered up some of the Superfood Protein Medley.

One glance at the nutritional profile and was sold! One serving has:

• 18g of protein
• 3g of fiber
• 53mg of chlorophyll
• 450mg of omega-3 fatty acids
• Live enzymes, phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals

And, it’s made from these ingredients:

• Sprouted Brown Rice Protein
• Hemp Protein
• Sprouted Chia Seeds
• Chlorella
• Spirulina

The powder is cold-processed, and I appreciate that they took the effort to sprout the brown rice and chia seeds to make them more digestible. It also includes both Chlorella and Spirulina, which have health benefits in their own right, but most people aren’t likely to seek out individually.

I recently found out I have a sensitivity to artificial sweeteners (including Stevia, so the SunWarrior would be out anyway as it has Stevia), and I need to avoid them for a while. This has no sweeteners, “real” or otherwise. Bonus!

On a side note, if you take a look at your favorite protein powder, is it high in carbs and sugar? So many “off-the-shelf” protein powders are packed with fillers and sweeteners (often artificial) to make them palatable, so that is something to look at when selecting which powder is right for you.

On a second side note, if you are looking for a protein powder that is nutrient dense with only one ingredient, my favorite go to is still the Omega Nutrition Pumpkin Seed Protein.

I have primarily used the Oriya Superfood Medley protein in my morning smoothie. If you are green-averse, you may not dig this, as the Chlorella and Spirulina make the powder green. However, if you can get past the initial color, it blends well, has a neutral taste, and adds a nice punch of protein in your breakfast shake.

Bottom line: I like this powder. It’s a little on the pricier side, but this is a case of “you get what you pay for” due to the higher quality, cold-processed ingredients A 24-serving container will set you back about $44 with $4.99 shipping, or, about $2 per serving. For the budget-minded, something like the aforementioned pumpkin seed powder may fit the bill more, as it has 40 servings for around $20, or, $.50/serving.

I love infused water. It’s a refreshing way to enjoy your water, and much healthier way to add some flavor than something like Mio or other store-bought water additives.

So, when I discovered the Aqua Zinger – a personal infused water maker — I contacted the maker immediately letting them know I would like to review their product, and asking if they would sponsor a giveaway.

You’re in luck! The nice folks at Zing Anything happily offered to give one random reader an Aqua Zinger (though I like this thing so much I would give one away regardless). See below in the Giveaway Section at the very bottom of this post to learn how to enter. (Hint: Leave me a comment with what you will zing if you win!)

This review is only on the Aqua Zinger, but Zing Anything has a product line that includes a Citrus Zinger, Salad Zinger, and Vodka Zinger. For what it’s worth, the Aqua Zinger also works fine with citrus, you just have to cut it up into smaller pieces, whereas you don’t have to this with the Citrus Zinger, which works with half of a citrus.

What is It?

A stylish stainless steel water bottle with a small “grinder” cup on the bottom that allows you to make infused water in a very on-the-go friendly way.

Forget Vitamin Water or other fruity water drinks made with artificial flavors and sweeteners. The Aqua Zinger lets you your own infused water to suit your tastes, and the sky is truly the limit in terms of combinations you can make. I am very anti-artificial flavors or colors, so this is really a fantastic solution to flavored water.

The Aqua Zinger retails from $25-30, depending on where you find it, and comes in four colors: Blue, pink, green, and grey.

How Does it Work?

This is the really interesting part. There is a small cup with little tines in it that screws onto the bottom of the bottle. The action of screwing this cup onto the bottle grinds the fruit, vegetables or herbs (or combination of all) that you have put into the cup. There are small perforations in the top of the blade lid that allow water to flow between the flavorings and your water, and, by shaking the bottle, you can infuse those flavors into the water. This lets you have flavorings without actually having the fruits or veggies in the water. It’s so simple, it’s brilliant.

The steps are:

• Add flavorings to cup (fill to the top)
• Place top blade lid on the cup
• Screw cup onto bottle, unscrew, and then re-screw (to release the flavors)
• Add water (and ice, if you want) to the bottle
• Screw on the lid
• Shake!
• Place in fridge to steep for 15-30 minutes
• Remove and shake again
• Drink

What is it Made Of?

The bottle itself is made of a sturdy food-grade, safe stainless steel.

The grinding cup is made of  BPA-free plastic.

By the way, there is a “bottom” and a “top” to the cup, which perform the grinding action once you have loaded in your flavor combinations.

And, the lid is also made of BPA-free plastic.

How Well Does it Work?

I have to admit, before I had one of these in my grubby little hands, I wasn’t sure what made it so much better than traditionally infused water. But, it is so neat!

I took this on a trip with me last week (it seems I do all my reviews away from home lately), and I tested it out over the course of the week in different locales. As it turns out, we were all over Northern California for this trip, and instead of buying lots of different mini-mart drinks while on the road, we bought a big jug of water early on, and I just kept filling up my Aqua Zinger with water and new flavor combinations. Thanks to everyone that provided your ideas for flavors! I did:

• Lemon
• Lime
• Cucumber
• Lemon/Lime combo
• Peach
• Blueberry/Ginger
• Mango/mint (this is so good!)

Someone suggested to try durian, and while I am generally open to new food suggestions, I simply couldn’t find any (and am slightly scared of durian, if we’re speaking the truth!). Another reader (and friend of mine) suggested a Pomegranate mixture, but I have a sensitivity to the Pom (sad), so I had to skip that one.

I have to say, the simple, solo cucumber has always been and remains my favorite. It is so refreshing and reminds me of being at a spa. But, there really is no limit to the flavor combinations you could do. The Zinger folks have lots of recipes, so I won’t recreate those here, but here is a list of all the things you could think about zinging (not necessarily together, just a list of things that could be zinged).

Here are my few thoughts about the actual operation of the Aqua Zinger:

• Getting the right touch to screw the bottom cup onto the bottle takes a bit of getting used to, but once you’ve don’t it a couple times, it’s very easy. The challenge is that you need to fill the cup full with your flavorings to maximize the flavors, and so screwing it on can make it seem like you run into hang ups as the cup is grinding. In reality, if you just keep screwing it on, it will get past the speed bumps no problem.
• The Zing Anything recommend that you unscrew the cup one or two times and re-screw it on to better grind your flavorings. This is not a big deal at all, and once you figure out how to successfully screw it on, it gets easier each time.
• They say you can do two “zings” with the same flavorings, but, I did three sometimes without issue. You could experience slightly less flavor each time you re-use your flavorings. I found citrus seemed to be the most pliable to doing multiple zings, but, peach was kind of a one-and-done proposition.
• You can use it to create both hot and cold beverages. Naturally-flavored tea is really easy to do, and since it is a stainless steel bottle and durable thick plastic grinding cup, you are in good shape for traveling with your creation.
• Ideally, you should completely peel the fruits and veggies you are using to help protect the blades, though, they say you can add a small amount of rind to each zing. To be honest, I did one zing with lemons and limes with their entire rinds intact, and it worked out just fine, but they don’t recommend you do this! I was just kind of “battle testing” the product to see what would happen if you didn’t heed that warning.
• The grinding blades may  look intimidating, but they are not sharp like a knife. They grind, but don’t cut per se, so they are nothing to fear.

How Do You Clean It?

When you are done with a flavor combination, just fling the refuse into your compost bin or trash, and rinse the grinder cup and bottle.

According to the documentation, the Aqua Zinger is top rack dishwasher safe. Since we are currently in a major remodel and do not have a dishwasher, I wasn’t able to test this element for you super thoroughly. I ran it through the dishwasher in the cabin we were staying in Yosemite, and it came out fine, so I am going to say it is just fine in the dishwasher. However, it is really easy to hand wash as well, just be careful with the grinding blades, while they aren’t knife-sharp, if you forget you are working with metal, you could accidentally scrape yourself. 

Resources:

• Here is a Quick Tips PDF, which includes a lot of valuable information to help you successfully “Zing” your water.
• They also have a video tutorial here, for those that would rather watch than read.

Aqua Zinger Pros

• Easy to create tasty, naturally-flavored water to take on-the-go, to the office, gym, or, even in the car. I even took it to Yosemite for a hike! (It was snowing that day, but didn’t stop us)
• There is an endless possibility of flavor combinations, only limited by your imagination, and the Zing Anything folks have provided a ton of example recipes on their website, so if you don’t want to get creative, you can follow their lead.
• Quality materials, BPA-free
• Plenty of support/help/how to materials, both shipped with the bottle and on their website
• Affordable and so much healthier for you and the planet over buying bottled beverages
• The design of the cap allows you to attach it to a backpack easily with a carabineer for hiking
• Good seals on both the cap and the grinding cup that prevent leakage
• Really nice looking, durable bottle!

Aqua Zinger Cons/Room for Improvement

• The base of the bottle is just slightly too large in diameter to sit comfortably in either of our car cup holders. This is not the end of the world, but it would be nice if it sat snugly in the cup holder. We have average cars (a small SUV and a hatchback), so I feel like they are a decent representation of what most people have. If you have a big pickup or Suburban type vehicle, odds are it will fit fine.
• I would prefer a lid that has a flip-top straw, or some way to drink without having to unscrew the cap. This sort of goes back to the car thing, as it’s hard to screw on/off a cap while driving (and probably not advisable). This is also more hiking friendly, as it is easier to flip a straw than unscrew a cap

Bottom Line Thoughts:

While this is not what I would call an essential kitchen gadget or appliance, it definitely is a value-add item that can make getting your daily water intake a breeze. By flavoring water with fresh fruits and veggies, you can add a little zing to your drink without the calorie, artificial ingredients, or other undesirable aspects of store-bought drinks. Infused water feels like such a treat that you will look forward to creating and drinking (at least I do)!

Aqua Zinger Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to get a complimentary Aqua Zinger directly from the folks at Zing Anything. A zinger just like this one could be yours, and I think this is so awesome!

How to Enter:

Leave a comment below letting us know your favorite infused water combination, or, what you would make if you win the Aqua Zinger.

I’ll hold a random drawing of entries using Random.org, and the contest will run from today, February 13, 2013  until next Wednesday, February 21, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. PST. I’ll announce the winner by EOD Thursday.

Good luck to all who enter, and let me know what you would zing!

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You should know: I am not affiliated with the maker of the Aqua Zinger, however, I did ask them to send me a sample to review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own, and were not at all influenced by the maker. If you found this review helpful and decide to purchase an Aqua Zinger, using this Amazon link puts a few pennies in my pot to support future reviews.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was about to embark on a two-week wellness cleanse called “Be Well” by Dr. Frank Lipton.

I have reviewed cleanses in the past, but never a cleanse that requires you purchase more of a “system,” and never something that lasted for more than a couple days. Two weeks is a long time to commit to anything, much less a fairly strict eating routine, but I was game. I can be iron-willed when I put my mind to something, so I wasn’t too concerned about the length of the commitment.

Since I figured out I have a mild to moderate (depending on who you ask) hypothyroid condition, I have been reading a lot and trying to sort out my plan to address it in the most logical way. I think most folks would go straight onto a hormone replacement like Synthroid – and that makes the most sense for a lot of people. But, since I am sort of on the cusp of needing treatment, I decided to try my odds with diet and exercise first. This is not to say I’m ruling out Western medicine – I’m just trying to see if I can make some lifestyle changes first and maybe not need the medicine. This cleanse was step one in my self-experimentation project.

So, with that lead up over with, let’s get into the nuts and bolts of this cleanse. It should be noted that I have no affiliation with Dr. Lipton, nor was I provided any discount or free product. I did my research, decided on this cleanse, and purchased it.

What it Is: A 14-day eating and supplement plan designed to provide targeted nutrients to energize the detox organs, boosting your body’s natural ability to heal.

What You Get:

The photo above is very representative of exactly what you get – it’s quite a lot of stuff.

• 14 days’ worth of protein shake packets (you drink 3 per day)
• 14 days’ worth of digestive enzymes and herbal supplements
• A bottle of L-Glutamine (90 capsules)
• A Blender Bottle (I love Blender Bottles! They are BPA-free.)
• An “Instruction Manual” with a shopping list (note, the shopping list is more like an allowed foods list, you don’t have to buy everything on the list)
• Access to online information and cleanse-ready recipes

Cost: $199 US with Free Shipping. This breaks down to about $14.25/day, but you also need to buy food, which will likely cost you less than usual because you are not buying any pre-packaged foods

What You Do:

• Drink a protein shake in the early morning, mid-morning, and mid-afternoon. I found it tasted best with Zico coconut water, but is completely palatable with just plain water. There is a provision for how to mix it with fruit to improve the taste even further.
• Eat a lunch that fills you up, from the approved foods list (AKA Shopping List), along with the supplements
• Eat a dinner that fills you up, from the approved foods list, along with the supplements
• Exercise lightly – yoga and walking are great choices
• Drink plenty of water to help flush your system
• The L-Glutamine is included to help curb sugar cravings in between meals. I didn’t feel the need to use it, so after the first couple days, I stopped.

That’s it. Honestly, it is a fairly simple and straightforward system that is laid out and explained very well. The food is not crazy at all and can be found at just about any supermarket. Though I chose to buy mostly organic produce, that is not a requirement.

A side note: When I told 2Chili I would be doing this cleanse, his reaction was probably what you might be thinking, “Oh, does that mean you’ll be in the bathroom for two weeks?” This isn’t that kind of cleanse. It will definitely help your system operate more efficiently, but you will not be chained to the Loo. Not one bit.

How it Went for Me:

If I can do this, ANYONE can do this. We currently have no kitchen due to our ongoing remodel. This means I really had to plan ahead, and due to our dorm-sized fridge, shop a little more frequently for fresh food.

I made my meals and stored them in re-usable containers, and took those with me wherever 2Chili wanted to eat. It sounds odd, but it worked out well. I took the containers to work to wash them (really) because the only sink we have is a bathroom sink, and I am not so much on mixing food and bathroom sinks.

This turned out to be more of a raw food cleanse for me, though the recipes include a variety of cooked dishes to suit any taste or eating preference.

Though I regularly eat fairly healthfully with a lot of fruits and veggies, and had what I thought was a small caffeine dependency, the first day was very, very hard. It turns out I had more of a caffeine dependency than I thought! I had a decent headache for most of the afternoon and evening, and felt nauseous for a good chunk of that time as well.

The second day was marginally better, the third day was significantly better, and by the fourth day, I felt great! Not coincidentally, this aligned almost exactly with what the literature said to expect.

Each day became easier than the last, and I really had no urge to “cheat” and eat forbidden foods. After all, what would be the point in that, after shelling out two hundred bucks on a cleanse? I wanted to get the most bang for my buck, and that meant following the program to a T.

Pros

• You eat REAL food and the point is to feel nourished and satisfied, not like you are punishing yourself or starving
• Very easy to follow, with ample direction on what to do/how to do it/when to do it
• Developed by a medical doctor with desires to help people heal from the inside out, not necessarily by medicating – everything is very high quality
• Convenient and non-disruptive to other members of your family – the recipes are suitable for anyone, no need to make special meals just for yourself

Cons

• The system is expensive! $200 is quite a chunk of change – you could probably mimic it for less cash.
• The protein powder comes in these pre-portioned packets, so there is quite a bit of waste, and, the powder seems to “fluff up” when you pour it, making it easy to make a small mess

Overall Thoughts

Overall, I am very pleased with this cleanse and its results. The great results could be for a lot of reasons, so I will slowly start re-introducing things like gluten to see if I have sensitivities I didn’t know about. That is one of the points of the cleanse – reset your system so you can see what common allergens affect you.

I am feeling very balance as a result of this cleanse. In fact, I feel so good and re-energized that I intend to keep eating this way for the foreseeable future (especially until we get a kitchen back). We are not made of money, so instead of the Be Well protein shakes in the morning, I’ll likely swap out for Vega One, Amazing Grass Amazing Meal, or some other quality protein powder shake, and keep everything else pretty much the same.

For what it’s worth, I had no trouble meeting daily RDAs of any of the nutrients tracked in MyFitnessPal during this cleanse, including calcium and iron – and this was from eating completely plant-based and almost raw! Eat the rainbow, as they say.

While Dr. Lipman recommends only light exercise during the cleanse, I kept up with my normal off-season triathlon training – running, biking, and lifting weights – and I really seemed to recover much faster than ever before. It was kind of spooky how fast I was bouncing back and ready to hit the gym again. This is 100% attributable to having a spot-on diet.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. I don’t think I would pay $200 again for the whole kit-n-caboodle, but the principles are something that will stick with me for sure.

Have you ever tried this cleanse? Are you thinking about embarking on a 2-week cleanse? Tell us how it went!

Update, February 11, 2013.

I am eating a little crow…errr…protein here, and wanted to let you know that after consuming the entire 2.2 lb bag of this protein, I actually ended up really liking it. Funny how that goes. Either my palate adjusted to liking it, or, I just figured out what flavors to mix it with to make it taste better, but, I have to take back a lot of what I said!

I’m leaving the review below intact, because this was my true first impression, but, couldn’t live with myself for not coming back and letting you know I changed my mind. I really do like the nutritional profile of this powder, and 2.2 lbs lasts a long time, so I can imagine I will order it again in the future.

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All I can think is, “Meh.‘”

I have been trying to write up a Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Protein Powder review for a couple of weeks now, and I just haven’t been able to bring myself to do it.

I guess that says a lot, huh?

I really want to like this powder. It has a great nutritional profile, it’s low in sugar, and it’s totally raw and plant-based.

I  mean, look at this nutrition panel – it’s totally awesome! Low calories, high protein, and a huge amino acid profile.

And, the ingredients are fairly good: Sunwarrior Proprietary Protein Blend (Raw Organic Cranberry Protein, Raw Pea Protein, Raw Organic Hemp Protein), Natural Fibers (Fenugreek, Konjac, Guar), Organic Vanilla, Organic Stevia, Medium Chain Triglycerides.

I’m not so crazy about the “natural fibers,” but I’m assuming those help with dissolvability.

But, after trying it for a while now in various ways, I just really am kind of “meh” on it. Though it dissolves well, the taste is a little too fake-earthy for my earthy tastes.

Huh? Fake-earthy?

I don’t know what it is, honestly. But there is something weird about the taste that I can’t seem to get past. I generally like “earthy.” I really like the Garden of Life Raw Protein, which is pretty darn earthy, but there is something not right about the “earthiness” of this powder. I don’t think it’s the Stevia, but I can’t be sure.

In general, the powder seems to “work,” in that it helps keep me full and doesn’t cause GI distress. The cost is moderate – about $40 for 47 servings – and while I don’t mind paying for quality, the taste is just off-putting enough to make me try something different.

I had pretty high hopes for this powder, as it is raved about across the foodie blogosphere, but I don’t see myself buying it again. I’m not sure if it’s because I bought the “Warrior Blend,” vs. their traditional protein powders, but I am just not really digging the taste of this one.

What do you think? Have you tried it? Do you  like it? Am I just  missing the boat on this one?!

Last week, I ran out of the Amazing Grass Amazing Meal I have been taking daily, and headed over to Whole Foods to replace it. Without a finished kitchen in sight, I am still relying on nutritional supplements to cover my bases – and honestly, if you pick the right ones, that’s not a terrible option.

While browsing the “greens powders” aisle, I noticed that Vega One Nutritional Shake was on sale. I’ve been wanting to try this, but it’s pretty expensive! So, I put it off and put it off, and finally had a chance to pick it up at a little less expensive price. (FWIW, it’s on sale at Amazon right now, too! This link will take you there.)

I debated between the Vanilla Chai and the French Vanilla flavors, ultimately settling on French Vanilla. And, it was a good choice. The flavor is really quite good, especially considering what’s in it. In fact, I think you could mix this up and give it to a child without them realizing they were drinking something healthy (except that it is green in color – you would have to sell that aspect or put it in a solid bottle).

For those that don’t know much about Vega, it’s the company of vegan ultra-runner/Ironman Triathlete Brendan Brazier. They make a line of vegan supplements, including protein powders and other nutritional powders.

The nutritional shake powder has a great profile, including 15 grams of plant-based protein, 1.5 grams of Omega-3s, 1 billion probiotics, 6 grams of fiber, 3 servings of greens, and enough antioxidants to equal 2.7 cups of blueberries. That’s a lot of “punch” in a little package of only 135 calories.

One of the things to think about with plant-based powders is their ability to dissolve in liquids. Some are good, some are not so good. This powder is really good, and doesn’t require blending in a blender. I just mix it in my Blender Bottle with 8 ounces of coconut milk beverage and off I go!

I have talked a bit in the past about my flaxseed sensitivity – I usually steer clear of anything with flax in it – but I have found that I can deal just fine with whole flaxseed that has been ground (like in this, and in the Amazing Grass). I just can’t cope with flaxseed meal and my throat swells up a bit. This is a good discovery, as flaxseed is in so many things that are otherwise considered “healthy.”

Overall, I really like this powder. I don’t know that I will switch permanently from the Amazing Grass – but when it is on sale, I will definitely pick some up!

One fun thing about living in the Pacific Northwest – the land of Starbucks — is that we are often the “test market” for new and innovative things done by the unequivocal caffeine distribution dominator. Ten or so years ago, we had Starbucks Cafes, which actually sold prepared food, just like a traditional sit-down café. Those didn’t last, but I sure enjoyed them.

Now, we are on the cutting edge of something totally different from Starbucks, though, I had no idea I was walking into a Starbucks chain when I stumbled on it.

Called Evolution Fresh, this new venture is billed as a juice and smoothie bar, but, they have a food menu. And, it’s a “real food” menu. I am in health food heaven, honestly. Sadly, there are only two locations right now: One in downtown Bellevue, WA, and one in downtown Seattle.

A couple weeks ago, I needed to get out of the office that I now go to almost daily (such a change from my work from home roots!), so I took a stroll about six blocks towards Bellevue Square Mall looking for lunch. There is a grocery store across the street, so I thought I’d pop in for a salad and spin through the mall. But, I noticed a new restaurant in a flagship location where Starbucks usually has something brewing (ha, pun not really intended!), which is the site of the old Starbucks Café, FWIW, and I went to check it out.

(Image Source – DowntownBellevue.com).

I was lured in instantly, and decided to dine there. Thing is, at the time, I truly had no idea of its Starbucks affiliation. What finally clued me in was the “Ethos” water in the cooler. Sneaky SBUX, sneaky! 

I later Bing’d a bit to find out the roots of the store (you know I don’t Google…my bread is buttered by a large software company in this area, and honestly, Bing is fantastic). The Starbucks marketing machine is definitely hard at work to cover up its true identity and make the store unique – and it is mostly working!

The food menu is relatively small, but full of nutritious choices. I had a hard time deciding, but went with this bowl, sans flax (stupid allergy):

Lentils, Wild Rice & Organic Kale (Cal 330) With grilled zucchini, peppers, feta, julienned carrots, pepitas, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, fresh herbs.

You guys, this was soooo good! And good for you. I did add a lemon tahini dressing, which added almost 200 calories, but where else can you get a “fast food” lunch that will fill you up for less than 600 calories? It’s not really possible in most situations! I have ants in my pants to go back and try this bowl:

Quinoa, Organic Kale & Butternut Squash (Cal 280) With black beans, grape tomatoes, feta, scallions, pepitas, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, fresh herbs.

I won’t lie to you. This chain is expensive, especially if you buy any juice or smoothie, which is really their main offering. I just had the lentil and rice bowl and a bottle of water and was out of there for about $10. That’s not really “fast food” pricing of course.

But, I can see it really having legs and being popular in more health-conscious areas where people have expendable income to spare on healthy dining out. So, don’t expect it in places where fried chicken and greasy burgers rule, but I could see Evolution Fresh turning up in San Francisco, Portland, OR, Austin, and the like. Don’t quote me on that, though. I have absolutely no knowledge of their expansion plans – I am purely speculating here.

When I get my kitchen back (someday, over the rainbow, when the skies are blue and I can boil things again), I hope to make a few copycat recipes for you. For now, if you want a healthy combo that you can throw together in a pinch, do this for one serving of the above bowl. I am seriously craving this right now!

Test Kitchen Tuesday’s Take on Lentils, Wild Rice, and Kale Bowl:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of cooked wild rice
• 1/2 cup cooked green or yellow lentils
• 1/2 – 1 cup shredded dinosaur kale (not cooked, but you could steam it if you want!)
• 1/4 cup cooked and quartered zucchini
• 1/4 cup cooked and quartered red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta
• 1/4 cup julienned carrots
• 2 Tablespoons store-bought tahini dressing, like Drew’s All Natural Lemon Tahini Goddess 
• Sunflower seeds, ground flax seeds, and fresh herbs to taste

Method:

Mix everything except seeds and herbs together in a bowl and top with seeds and herbs. Can be heated or served cold.

Nutrition

With 2 TBs Drew’s Lemon Tahini Dressing:

Let me know if you try it and if you like it as much as I do!

I’m in review mode around these parts, as I have quite a few items lined up to review and share with you guys. It’s a good problem to have, as you know I have a non-kitchen right now. (In fact, my kitchen is such a non-kitchen, that it no longer exists – it’s currently waiting for transport to its final resting place in the King County Washington dump).

The hardest thing about doing a remodel, besides actually doing the work, is that you end up living without many of the modern luxuries that most people take for granted. We currently have no kitchen, no laundry facilities, and power to only a few spots in the house. As I like to tell 2Chili, when you hit rock bottom, there’s only one way to go – straight up!

I’ve mentioned a few times in the past few  months that  my nutrition is at risk due to having to eat out too much, so quality supplements become even more critical. One of the most important supplements I take is a certified toxin-free fish oil from Nordic Naturals. I really like it – it doesn’t provide any after effects such as fish burps or bad taste, and it works great. My skin and hair are strong and healthy, and my mental acuity is as sharp as ever. So, when I was sent some Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Effervescent to try out, I was all over it!

What is it? A powdered omega-3 supplement made from cod liver oil.

Cod liver oil?!?! Yes, but this is not your grandma’s cod liver oil.

This supplement comes in individual packets that you add to water, and it tastes like an orange creamsicle. And, much like the Oxylent I told you about last week, this supplement spiffs up your water and is quite tasty to boot. I have used it in several different situations (with breakfast, while working on our house, and even before bed), and never had any fishy aftertaste or any GI impact.

I really think this powdered form of Omega-3 is genius, especially if you’re trying to get your kids to take fish oil (which is really critical to developing minds). I only wish I had taken fish oil from a younger age – who knows how much smarter I could have been. I am sort of kidding but sort of not there – it is proven that fish oil has a bevy of benefits, including improved markers of mental sharpness/brain health.

The Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Effervescent It is clean and smooth, no oily-ness at all, and even the packaging is appealing to the younger set. Not that this is for kids only – it is for adults and children alike – I just think the geniusness in this is that you could easily get kids or folks that have trouble with pills to take a fish oil supplement and enjoy it.

Nutrients:

What’s nice about this Omega-3 supplement is that it also has vitamin D3 in it, so if you don’t take a separate multivitamin, you’re getting your vitamin D as well.

Cost

The best price I found was on Amazon, at about $1.21 per pack. However, if you buy it straight from Nordic Naturals, you can join their “Omega Club” and get 15% off your order and free shipping (this signs you up for quarterly deliveries).

Verdict

I will probably keep using the Ultimate Omega I am on because it is a higher dose of Omega-3s. However, I know a couple of different people that have told me recently they just can’t stomach fish oil (because I work it into every conversation, honestly). I will be telling them about this great alternative to omega-3 pills! If you can’t take pills, or just like to spiff up your water with actual nutrition, this is a great solution!

Giveaway!

Update: I was originally planning to give you an unopened bottle of Complete Omega 3.6.9 that Nordic Naturals sent me as a way of sharing the love. However, they have upped the ante and are going to give the winner a bottle of the Complete 3.6.9 and a little swag to go with it. Definitely get your name in the hat on this one!

Simply leave a comment below letting me know why you want it, and I’ll choose a random winner on September 11 – one week from today.

Have you tried the Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Effervescent? What did you think?

A couple of weeks ago, I shared  my supplement regimen. The point of the post was really not about what supplements I take, but rather, the importance of researching the supplements you decide to take to make sure they are quality and actually do good for your body. I generally feel it is best to get the nutrients your body needs from your food, but there are times that just isn’t possible.

Doing a whole house remodel and having to eat out way more than I would like due to my “non-kitchen” has forced the issue for me, and I have been supplementing more than usual, and have been more open to finding new products. It’s funny how things work – open your mind and eyes to new items, and they are everywhere.

Recently, I stumbled upon a new supplement that I want to share with you. Well, technically it’s not new, but it’s new to me. In the interest of full disclosure, I was sent a sample pack of Oxylent to try out, but was not pressured or paid to write a review.

I had to do a little research to understand the powdered vitamin market, and it seems that key competitors to Oxylent are likely Emergen-C and maybe Airborne. Those both seem to be more of vitamin C supplements than anything, and I have not tried either of these items, so I can’t give a true comparison.

I really ended up liking Oxylent, so I want to tell you guys about it. If you have someone in your life that can’t or wont swallow pills (or, maybe it’s you!), or, you like the idea of a flavored water with a nutritional kick, read on.

In our household, 2Chili won’t swallow a pill. His life could depend on it, but he just can’t do it. So, on the rare occurrences when he needs pills for something, we end up grinding them up and having him drink the powder. From what he tells me, this experience is awful and never tastes good.

So, I didn’t really know what to expect when trying Oxylent. By reading the packaging and marketing material, I had hope. The sample pack I received was mandarin orange flavor, and, true to its word, tasted “orangey.”

The instructions state to mix the powder with 4-6 ounces of water, to taste. I have to tell you guys, this powder makes a tasty beverage. They have multiple flavors available, but I liked orange just fine. It’s not too strong, but just enough flavor to make your water a little more interesting.

Speaking of interesting, liquid substances are more bioavailable to our bodies than food or tablet/capsules – it takes our bodies more time to break down solids than liquids to utilize them. This makes powdered vitamins a really efficacious approach to obtaining their benefits.

What’s Included

The Oxylent sample pack I received is sweetened with Stevia, but the “main adult product line” does have a bit of organic cane sugar. I was told they are in the process of moving the adult product line to be all Stevia sweetened with no calories which should be done in a couple of months. However, they do have a 7-pack available with the 0 calorie formula on the shelves  now.

Of particular interest to me in the below nutritionals — since I am a Pacific Northwesterner and don’t get a lot of sunshine in my life in the winter months — is the Vitamin D3. Magnesium and Calcium are important to me, too. Remember how we talked about Calcium being better absorbed when taken with Magnesium? It’s nice to see they got that right!

I tried the Adult line, but they also have a children’s formula and a prenatal formula, so whatever your needs, they have you covered!

The key differentiators for Oxylent according to its maker, is that it oxygenates the blood due to enzymes, hydrates by bringing electrolytes into balance, improves circulation due to L-Arginine, and rejuvenates due to the range of B vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin D. The marketing material for Oxylent does a good job of explaining their rationale for what is included and how it works. You can check that out here, if you’re interested.

I honestly don’t know if those statements are true, but I can tell you I will be buying Oxylent to work into my daily routine. It is a nice morning beverage with breakfast, and does seem to add a little “pep” to my step.  The best pricing I have found is on Amazon, with about a $1/pack average cost.

Have you tried Oxylent? Let me know in the comments!

Sometimes it’s just plain hard to get all the nutrition you need in your day. Whether it’s because you’re travelling, your day is hectic, or you just don’t have access to lots of fruits and veggies, it happens.

Enter Amazing Grass.

Note: I have no affiliation with Amazing Grass whatsoever, and they have not asked me to write this post.

I first stumbled upon Amazing Grass a few years ago when it was promoted on an end cap at Whole Foods Market. I picked up a couple of individual serving packets of the Amazing Meal, and it was surprisingly good! However, I never really did much else with it.

Since we are remodeling a house in Seattle with no kitchen (for now), I have been thinking of creative ways to meet my daily nutritional needs and still feel reasonably healthy. I remembered that I liked the Amazing Grass products, and wandered over to Whole Foods to pick up some Amazing Meal packets as an insurance policy to make sure I get plenty of greens in my day. However, what I thought would be a quick purchase really wasn’t. Their product line is much bigger now, and the only solution I came up with was to buy a few individual packets from a variety of their options to see what I preferred.

Here is what I picked up:

• Amazing Meal Vanilla Chai Infusion
• Amazing Meal Pomegranate Mango Infusion
• Green Super Food  – Original
• Raw Reserve Super Food
• Lemon Lime Energy Powder

Over the past couple weeks, I have tried each of these items, so I thought I’d give you the breakdown of what I prefer. But, when I sat down to write this, I realized I like them all! So, instead of a “Review,” I thought I’d give you an overview of how I am using them.

Amazing Meal Vanilla Chai Infusion and Pomegranate Mango Infusion

I have been mixing these in a Blender Bottle in the following way:

• One serving of the Amazing Meal
• One scoop of Natural Vanilla Whey Protein
• One cup of almond milk

This makes a surprisingly thick and creamy “shake” without the need to dirty up your blender.  These powders are quite tasty and you don’t really notice that they are “greens powders” at all. The end result of the shake is really just like a vanilla smoothie that is good for you.

I have been eating this for breakfast, along with two fish oil capsules and 16 ounces of water. It powers me through to lunch no problem! I’ll write about the fish oil separately – it is a key component of my new nutrition stop-gap plan.

Original Green Super Food and Raw Reserve Super Food

While the Amazing Meal powders are quite tasty and go down easy unmasked, the Green Super Foods need some help, I think. I tried drinking the Raw Reserve in a bottle of water with nothing else, and it was not really a pleasant experience.

So, I have been adding these to my ultimate green smoothie, and I don’t even notice that they are there.

The nutritional panel to the right is for the Original powder, which I would recommend from a “taste” perspective over the Raw Reserve. The Raw Reserve is really quite strong tasting, in my opinion, over the original powder. I have been taking my ultimate green smoothie as a snack on days when I eat breakfast at the office or don’t have the Amazing Meal smoothie.

Green Superfood Lemon Lime Energy

I think this powder is intended to replace energy drinks, or even Gatorade. Of all the powders, it is the easiest to consume straight up in a glass or bottle of water, and that’s what I’ve been doing.

If I haven’t had any of the other powders for the day, I drop a serving into a bottle of water and just drink it straight. It has a pleasant lemon lime flavor, and is not very gritty at all, whereas the other powders are fairly gritty when just dissolved in water.

So, You Want a Greens Powder – Which Should You Choose?

If I have now thoroughly confused you about which powder you should choose, I would say this – do exactly what I did! Go to your health food store and pick up an individual packet or two of each item you think you would like to try. It’s a cheaper way to try out the powders without committing to a full tub of something you may not like! There are multiple flavors that I didn’t mention above (like chocolate Amazing Meal), so you may have different tastes than I do.

After a few weeks of using these greens supplements, I have noticed I have more energy, and just plain feel better. Interestingly, I have a slight flax allergy, and even though these powders have flax in them, they haven’t offset my symptoms yet, which is very exciting. 

It could be all mental, but I like the insurance policy the greens supplements provide, so I’m planning to keep it up!