Win a Kitchables Pour Over Coffee Maker! Make Great Coffee An Art Form!

Sure, there are ways to make decent coffee in around 30 seconds, but some of us like to take our time and make an artful, GREAT cup of coffee.

Chomps Snack Sticks: Amazingly Tasty, Healthy & Portable Paleo & LCHF Snacks!

One of the problems you have when you upgrade your way of eating to Paleo and Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) is that most portable snacks out there are grain-based.

That, and they usually have loads of sugar and other junk you don't want to put into your body.

I tried making my own grain-free granola-type bars for portable use, but they crumbled into a mess!

Then I bought a few of the healthier bars out there, but they usually still had more carbs than my body likes, plus they had a few "iffy" ingredients that I wasn't very happy about.

 

But then I met Chomps!

 

Quick, Easy, Low Carb Recipe: Shrimp Alfredo on Zoodles!

Today my daughter had soccer at 11:30, so the game wasn't over until almost 1. We had a few errands to run while we were out and about. By the time we made it home at 2:30, we were all starving!

Being low carb can sometimes seem like a pain, because you can't just pop some corndogs in the oven, or microwave a burrito, or pick up a pizza. But, there are actually lots of quick, easy options that can keep you in ketosis.

 

Today I pulled lunch off from start to finish in under 20 minutes!

I Quit Coffee! Here's How I Survived...

First, let me say that you are going to be noticing a shift here at the blog...towards things natural and organic. As my drive to be healthier and happier progressed, I realized that I needed for ALL of the products in my life to move toward natural and organic. I've been working on buying organic, whole foods for a while, now. But I just recently decided that it's time to change over all the products that my family uses, as well. So, you will be seeing lots more reviews for things that are natural and organic. I think this is the natural progression of the "Health Movement" and I hope you will join me in making some switches, too.

Comparing Natural, Non-sugar Sweeteners

I eat low carb, low sugar.

I've been eating this way for over 3 years.

I still like my coffee with sweetener and I still like some "sweet" things in my diet, so I must use non-sugar sweeteners.

 

I really LIKE the flavor of Splenda; however, I am trying to get away from using it because it is not natural and supposedly is very harmful to our health. I've read quite a few things about Splenda that I don't like, so I'm always on the hunt for an alternative way to sweeten things.

 

I've bought liquid Stevia, and while it was "do-able", it was bitter.

I've bought granular Erythritol (weird sounding but in fact natural), but it has this weird "cooling" effect on the tongue.

 

So when I spotted Skinnygirl (Sg) natural sweeteners on my local store shelf the other day, I gladly bought both types:

Stevia extract (with erythritol), and Monk Fruit extract.

Pretty Awesome Low Carb Wrap and Crackers: Lavash Bread

I've been eating low carb since April of 2010.

That's 3 YEARS.

Most likely, I'll be eating this way for the rest of my life. 

What I do to make it all work for me, is to find amazing recipes, amazing new foods, and constant support from my friends(you know who you are, ladies!), and even from the online community. I also really like a FREE app, MyFitnessPal, that helps me keep track of things like carb counts, exercise quotas, etc.

I want to introduce you to a little gem I found recently:

Joseph's Flax, Oat Bran & Whole Wheat Lavash Bread.

A New Sugar Free Granola Bar?

The other day as I strolled through my local Publix picking up the week's groceries, I spotted a special display near the produce section. I immediately detoured from the fruit section straight over to this glorious Russell Stover Sugar Free display. As a connoisseur of sugar free findings, I was a bit excited to see some new products in the land of LowCarb.

I rely on Russell Stover quite a bit for help with my chocolate fix. They have a big selection of sugar free chocolates. Most people will be able to find SOMETHING that suits them among the Russell Stover Sugar Free offerings.

What surprised me, though, was the box of Snack Bars I spotted.

Sugar Free Flavoring Syrups by DaVinci

Happy Thanksgiving!
Are you counting your blessings today? I hope so. If you're having trouble coming up with some of your blessings (I certainly hope not!), let me help you out just a tad...
My fellow low-carb, diabetic, and metabolically challenged readers, you may now rejoice (Hellllloooo: give THANKS)!

Why?

Sugar Free Oreos? Whaaaaaaat?

Flashback: I had a pity party. It was very self-contained. All partying was going on right in my little head. Not a word came out, although I may have been unknowingly making a pouty face. It's SO unfair! There my kids and husband sat stuffing their faces with Oreos...while I tried to ignore their glee and moans of delight.

Stupid Oreos.

Stupid carbs.

Stupid metabolism.

Poor, poor me.

A few days later while picking up the groceries for the week, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the words "Sugar Free".

Dinner Done Easy! Progresso Prize Pack Giveaway

I like to cook. I do NOT like to plan meals.

I feel like it's a constant battle of trying to figure out:

 

• what's not too expensive
• what will not take too much effort to prepare
• what have we not eaten a million times already
• what's lower carb/fits our way of eating
• what will not take too much time to prepare
• what will taste great

ALL at the same time?????

 

I'm excited that Progresso has created "Recipe Starters Cooking Sauce" because it helps out with this.

As I started to make my weekly menu and grocery list, I chose 2 recipes that incorporate Progresso Recipe Starters. Well, at least that was 2 of 7 meals done!

 

One recipe I chose was from the recipe booklet they sent me in my review package (you have the chance to win your own, BTW).

Avoid this Peanut Butter! Yuck!

Many of you know that I eat low-carb and have for over 2 years now.

I lost from a size 13/14 at my highest to a size 7/8, which I've maintained for over a year and a half.

It's the way I eat now...and forever.

If you want to know more about the way I eat, check THIS POST for more info.

When I recently found this jar of peanut butter on the shelf at my local WalMart, I was excited.

Walden Farms Whipped Peanut Spread

Low Carb Noodles? Shirataki To The Rescue!

I don't eat pasta.

I used to, but it's not a part of my low carb lifestyle, and I haven't indulged in nearly 2 years (April makes 2 years of living la vida low carb!).

But I sure did like it. And sometimes, although not too often, I miss it. I still cook it for the fam on a regular basis, and it can be hard to dish out their saucy food on noodles while mine goes onto nothing, or maybe some cooked french cut green beans (surprisingly good, actually).

Well, tonight I had noodles.

Don't scold me...I didn't cheat.

I had tofu shirataki noodles I picked up from Virginia's Health Foods in Mobile the other day.

More Humane, Quality Coffee?

I love coffee.

I have a "most loved" coffee.

I drink 2-4 cups per day, depending on a number of factors.

I am willing to spend more money on quality coffee.

My fave: Starbucks Sumatra, Whole Bean, freshly ground by me.

Blue Diamond Almonds - Little Gems of Tastiness!

Oh. My. Goodness.

Blue Diamond's Bold Habanero BBQ Almonds are freakishly good.

Seriously.

I'm positively addicted.

Ready To Stir Things Up? Stick Blenders!

I make a lot of things from scratch around here. In part, to save money...in part, for better health...and, in part, because it usually tastes much better. So, I have a lot of tools that help me do this.

After an ant invasion over this past weekend, we cleaned out & re-placed all my lower cabinet "stuff". There were a number of items that I decided that I could live without, seeing as how I hadn't used them in a year or more. But, there were some things I realized I use a lot. My Hamilton Beach 2 Speed Hand Blender is perhaps one of my most-used tools.

The Sweet Taste of Fall?

Can autumn have a taste? Sure! Lots of them, too, no doubt.

One of my favorites is caramel apple. Clean the drool from your mouth and stop fretting over whether to indulge or not. If you are careful about what you eat, like me, then I have a guilt-free option for you: Werther's Original Sugar Free Caramel Apple Hard Candies.

I live the low-carb life, and as such, a caramel apple would NOT be on my "approved" list. But with these little gems, I get my caramel apple and get to eat it too! You can have 5 pieces for only 40 total calories. There are 14g of carbs, but all 14g are from sugar alcohols, so they *shouldn't* have much of an effect on your blood sugars. However, if you are sensitive to sugar alcohols, as some are, you can just have 1 or 2 candies, instead of the whole 5, and you should be safe. Usually, 1 or 2 is satisfying for me anyhow.

They have a nice balance of tart green apple flavor and caramel (a Werther's classic!). It's done very well. To me, the sweetness is just right. And, I may be partial because I haven't had real sugar in a really, really long time, but I don't get the "fake sweetener" taste, nor any after taste. But, as I said, I haven't had real sugar in ages, and when you don't have it, you kinda forget what it used to taste like. So, your experience could be different from mine...especially if you're still having sugar, or you've only been sugar-free for a short time.

I'm very happy with these little pieces of fall flavor. No, it's not a real caramel apple, but I couldn't go there. At least this way, I get the taste, even if I don't get the "chew action". Oh, the chewy-gooey-goodness of caramel. If only...

 What's swirly & sweet & a healthy, cool treat?

Philly Swirl Sweet Delites!

1st the nutrition deets: 14 calories per bar, made with real fruit, sugar free, fat free, gluten free, and low carb (only 4g carbs, with 1g fiber & 3g sugar alcohols...you can view the nutrition label at the bottom of this post.) The box has 3 flavors: raspberry & vanilla, cherry & vanilla, and orange & vanilla. There are 10 bars per box. I paid less than $2 for the box at my local wallyworld.

The good: The taste is cool & sweet. It hits the spot when you want a popsicle, but don't want to blow your diet/healthy eating. Great on a summer day. Nice sweet treat. Unlike many other sugar free sweets, it's not loaded with sugar alcohols, which can cause gastric distress (ummm....yeah, gas).  My kids all liked them. They were inexpensive, which is really nice to find in a sugar free/low carb treat! Plus, they're made in the USA :)

The not-so-good: In my opinion, the flavor focused more on the vanilla/cream flavor...not the fruit. They could stand to have a stronger fruit flavor, in my opinion. Each bar is kind of small, too. But hey, for 14 calories, whaddaya expect?

So what's the verdict?

I like 'em. I would buy them again. Both for myself, and for the kiddos. I always like to find healthier alternatives for them, also.



The "Cure" I Want to Share With Anyone Who Will Listen

4 months, 14 lbs, less mood swings, more energy, NO HUNGER. What? That's how long it took me to lose that many pounds of fat, and how I felt while doing so.
What's the secret? No big secret...it's Atkins (been around since the 70's, although it has been tweaked over the years). Specifically, The New Atkins for a New You (TNAFANY). That's the title of the newest book in the Atkins line-up. It has the most science, the most helpful information, and more tips than ever to help you to succeed.