Posts Tagged ‘yogurt’

Yesterday’s CHEW Health and Wellness Tour of Chicago was amazing! I had such a blast and would recommend anyone and everyone to do it!

The tour met at Green City Farmer’s Market in the heart of the Lincoln Park neighborhood. We stopped at Tiny Greens, a farm in Urbana, IL that sprouts greens and sells them to put on salads or sandwiches. They sell everything from sunflower and cilantro to broccoli and onion sprouts! We got to sample all sorts of sprouts, but my favorite were these delicious black onion sprouts!

Our next stop at the farmer’s market was Potter’s Crackers. These homemade crackers come in a variety of flavors including flax seed, rosemary, and garlic. They were quite delicious but rather pricey.

Throughout the tour our guide consistently emphasized the importance of greens in one’s diet and how they are extremely under-rated, which I totally agree with! A lot of people get nervous about buying greens because they feel like they don’t know how to cook them. Our tour guide had a great idea; she buys collard greens and then uses them as wraps for lunch. She makes a sweet wrap with almond butter sprinkled with granola and a chopped apple wrapped up in a collard green leaf or makes a savory wrap using hummus, veggies, and protein such as chicken. I’m going to have to try these!

After the market we met with a yoga instructor in the park for a 20 minute yoga class. It was so great to be doing yoga outdoors, I felt totally connected with nature! Then we walked through Oz Park on our way to get some frozen yogurt.

We all stopped by this fountain for a photo op and to cool off! There were a total of 8 of us on the tour, 4 of them being friends of mine!

Then we arrived at Starfruit, which reminded me a lot of Berry Chill but they use Kefir instead of regular yogurt. Kefir contains 10 probiotic cultures per cup which help strengthen the immune system and aids in digestive health. Kefir is a great source of calcium, protein, and fiber and can even help with lactose intolerance.

We got to sample pomegranate and vanilla frozen kefir as well as the Berry Good 4U smoothie which contains blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, goji berries, pomegranate acai kefir and vanilla kefir. All of it was so delicious I never wanted to leave!

Then off the Lululemon Athletic we went. We got a tour of the store and had a chance to shop around and cool off in the air conditioning! I of course fell in love with a pair of plaid running shorts that I want to go back and buy to wear for my half marathon in August!

After Lululemon we walked over to LUSH. If you have never been to LUSH you have to go! They have so many wonderful beauty and bath products that are all handmade! Check out these colorful bath bombs and bubble bath bars!

They even have face masks that are made fresh on a daily basis! We got to try a ocean salt scrub on our hands as well as some lotions and massage oils; all of which were amazing! I will definitely be returning to LUSH to stock my bathroom with a few of these goodies!

The tour continued on. Just as I thought it couldn’t get any better, we went to Karyn’s Raw! Karyn Calabrese helped pioneer the raw food movement and Karyn’s Raw is a holistic health center and cafe that sells everything from raw/vegan smoothies and snacks to books on detox and holistic supplements to keep you energized and radiant!

We got to sample a Morning Cleanser smoothie made of Karyn’s Green Meal, apple juice, Rejuvalac, banana, flax oil, and Lecithin. We also sampled some dips including a vegan sour cream, a beet puree, hummus, and a vegan cheese dip!

And get this! I got to meet Karyn! She just happened to be in the store during the tour along with her famous mentor! I wasn’t able to get any pictures with them, but it was surely a great surprise!

Here we are at the cafe; Jess and Catherine are enjoying their green Morning Cleanser smoothie shot!

Sadly the tour had to come to an end, but the great thing was that we ended at the new Whole Foods Market on North and Kingsbury! If you live in Chicago and have never been to this particular Whole Foods you must go! This place is HUGE and its absolutely incredible, they have it all! Out on the back patio you can eat lunch and enjoy the view of the Chicago skyline over the Chicago River. It was such a gorgeous day, there were even a group of kayakers going by as we took pictures!

I ended up staying at Whole Foods for a bit to grab lunch and shop around a bit before heading home. This tour was an incredible way to spend my Saturday, not only did I meet some great people who love health and wellness as much as I do, but I got to experience new places around the city and even came home with a vast array of goodies, coupons, and a complementary nutrition consultation with our tour guide and founder of CHEW Chicago, Jessica Marie, who is a Holistic Nutrition Practitioner!

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Today I challenged myself to buy local food during my trip to Whole Foods! While not everything is from Illinois, I allowed my self a one-state-away radius.

Here is what I came home with:

Kilgus Farmstead Skim Milk (Fairbury, IL) – At Kilgus Farmstead, milk is produced all-natural, without added rBST, in small batches and delivered at the peak of freshness. Kilgus Farmstead is Central Illinois’ only farmstead milk bottling creamery. Kilgus sells All-Jersey Creamline milk including whole milk, two percent milk, skim milk, half and half and heavy cream.

Traders Point Creamery Wildberry Yogurt (Zionsville, IN) – The happy and healthy herd at Traders Point Creamery produce organic, 100% grass-fed milk high in the proteins and naturally occurring healthy fats like omega 3 fatty acids. The products are made without preservatives, additional coloring or flavoring.

Milk & Honey Cinnamon Raisin Granola (Chicago, IL) Milk & Honey Granola was first produced in spring of 2002 when Milk & Honey Cafe opened in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.  Milk & Honey Granola is made from all natural ingredients with no preservatives and no trans-fat.  It is made of whole grain oats, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, almonds and dried cherries combined with hints of coconut, honey and brown sugar and is naturally high in fiber and antioxidants.

Farmers’ All Natural Creamery Organic Authentic Low Fat Cottage Cheese (Kalona, IA) – Farmers’ All Natural Creamery is a full-line, organic dairy processing plant owned and operated by Amish and Mennonites that started in 2004. All of their products are minimally processed and come straight from Midwest family farms surrounding the Creamery. Their purpose is to maintain high quality dairy products, so that every nutrient is left in as natural a condition as possible.

DCI Cheese Co. Great Midwest Habanero Jack Cheese (Richfield, WI) – Nestled in the heart of America’s Dairyland for more than 30 years, the Richfield, Wisconsin-based DCI Cheese Company is committed to supplying their customers with the highest quality, handcrafted, domestic and imported cheeses.

Some may argue that buying local food is more expensive then conventional. I bought 1/2 gallon of milk, a 30 oz bottle of yogurt (about 5 servings), 1 lb of granola, a 16 oz container of cottage cheese and an 8 oz wheel of cheese for $25. You be the judge, but extraordinary flavor, great nutritional value, and the opportunity to support local farmers is well worth the price for me!

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As you all know, it’s been April for a while, and sadly our vitamin of the month has been pushed to the wayside due to my busy schedule! Luckily there is still enough of April left for us to celebrate the month of Vitamin B2, otherwise known at Riboflavin!

Riboflavin is one of several B vitamins (8 to be exact) that make up the B-complex (all of which are water-soluble). Last month in March we discussed thiamin (vitamin B1) so now we are on to vitamin B2! Riboflavin is derived from the Latin word “flavin” meaning yellow. If you have ever taken a B-complex vitamin, it is the riboflavin that is responsible for turning your urine a fluorescent yellow color (this is not a harmful effect, your body is simply excreting the excess riboflavin that you don’t need).

(yes, that is my new pride and joy – local milk from Kilgus Farmstead in Fairbury, IL about 2 hours south of Chicago!)

Riboflavin is found in animal products – meat, eggs, and most popularly, milk. If you do not consume animal products as part of your diet, not to worry. Riboflavin is also in a number of enriched breakfast cereals and legumes such as kidney beans. Riboflavin is sensitive to light exposure. Ever wonder why milk is stored in opaque gallon jugs at the supermarket? It is so the riboflavin within the milk stays in tact! Riboflavin is important for energy metabolism and the building of new tissue within your body.

The recommended daily allowance for riboflavin is 1.1 mg/day for females and 1.3 mg/day for males. To put this into perspective, 1 cup of milk has about 0.4 milligrams (mg) of riboflavin, an 8 oz yogurt has 0.5 mg, and most ready-to-eat cereals have about 0.4 mg.

Deficiency in riboflavin, while rare, results in a disease called ariboflavinosis (without riboflavin). Araboflavinosis is characterized by a cluster of symptoms including the formation of lesions on the corner of the mouth, inflammation of the tongue, redness and inflammation of the mouth, and nerve dysfunction. Individuals potentially at risk for deficiency include people who experience decreased food intake such as cancer patients, the elderly, and alcoholics.

On the other end of the spectrum, there is no established maximum amount of riboflavin that can be taken. In fact, high doses of riboflavin are often used to treat migraine headaches. Studies have shown that individuals who supplemented with 400 mg of riboflavin over the course of 1 month experienced migraines less frequently and a decrease in duration of their migraine attacks.

Like all vitamins, riboflavin is an important part of a balanced diet, so be sure to drink a glass of milk and incorporate riboflavin rich foods into your diet this April!

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The difference between Greek and regular yogurt is simple. Sadly, many people are unsure what Greek yogurt is and are hesitant to even try it!

Greek yogurt is regular yogurt that it has gone through a special straining process during which the whey (liquid portion of the milk) is removed. Because the whey has been removed, Greek yogurt contains less lactose and less carbs. Greek yogurt has a lower sugar content and is thicker and richer than its cousin. Because it is more concentrated, it tends to contain more protein, which can help you feeling fuller longer.

When choosing Greek yogurt, opt for low-fat or non-fat varieties. If Greek yogurt is just not your thing, no problem. Both Greek or regular yogurt are healthy options and will provide you with beneficial calcium and probiotics.Enjoy this post? Share it with your Facebook friends!

When rainy days take cause  energy levels to plunge or a long day at work leaves you feeling completely exhausted, remember that what you eat directly affects your energy levels. Eat Chic is here to tell you that you can actually have more energy by eating the right foods! By choosing foods that are high in complex carbohydrates, healthy fat, and choc full of vitamins and minerals you can make it through even the most draining days! Skip the usual candy bar, soda, or cup of coffee and add these powerful energizing foods to your diet:

1. Orange juice: Orange juice is high in vitamin C to boost the immune system. Drink a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning for some instant energy.
2. Oatmeal: Adding this whole grain to your morning meal will increase your fiber intake and protect your heart by increasing cardiovascular health.
3. Low-fat yogurt: Yogurt not only contains protein but also provides you with beneficial healthy bacteria to aid in digestion.
4. Nuts: Nuts are nutrient dense and easy for on-the-go. Add almonds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds to your diet for extra iron and protein. Protein aids in building muscle while iron helps produce red blood cells to carry blood and oxygen to muscles.
5. Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are high in iron and vitamin C and E which prevent cell damage and enhance mucles recovery.
6. Beans & Lentils: Beans and lentil are full of protein and fiber. Create your own lentil soup for lunch or dinner for a quick energy boost.

7. Blueberries: These little berries contain powerful antioxidants that destroy free radicals in the body before they cause damage to healthy cells. Add a few to your morning cereal or to a smoothie for a great afternoon pick-me-up.

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