Just thought I would share....

Since I have started changing my eating habits and my lifestyle I have started researching and learning a lot about nutrition, about the food I eat and what is really good for me and what is not so good for me. The one common denominator is all natural is always the best! If I could afford it I would eat nothing but organic food because it is so healthy for you and it is how God intended food to be, but unfortunately we only have one tiny organic grocery store in the area I live in and they are very expensive. So I do what I can. Most of the big chain stores now do carry some sort of organic food. I wish we lived near a Whole Foods grocery store! My father-in-law eats all natural food and he shops at Whole Foods in Michigan. When we were on vacation up there this past October I told him that I would like to go see it and let me tell you friends, it is a organic dream!!! But again, I don't live near one so I have to adapt, which brings me to what this blog is really about.

I have been trying to eat naturally when possible and I wanted to share with you two brands of food that I have found that make natural, whole grain food that actually tastes good. The first is Cliff bar. My cousin Britni mentioned Cliff bar to me when she was at home for Christmas, she said that she eats them a lot for meals on the go. I did not think much of it, I have tried "natural protein bars" can we say CARDBOARD!!! One evening Jason and I were at IGA in our town and in the check out lane there was a box of protein bars specifically designed for women called Luna bars. The flavor they had there was White Chocolate Macadamia nut. YUM!! But again, the 70% organic ingredients almost made me put it back. I decided to throw caution to the wind!

The next morning at my office I decided to give this a try, I had a back up plan though, I brought in an apple just in case I felt like I was eating wood chips! I opened the package, looked at the bar prayed, and took the first bite. I was hooked!!! One word, AMAZING!!! Not cardboardy at all! So as I was eating my bar I started reading the label and guess what I found? Down at the bottom in small writing it said, made by the Cliff bar company. Well, I was stunned! So I have to say that I have tired several different varieties of the Cliff and Luna bars and I am sold! Not only are they really tasty they are full of good natural ingredients, like organic soy beans, organic whole grains, organic oats and the list goes on and on. They even have a kids like called Z Bar, Cliff for kids. Each one of the bars adult and kid, do not have many calories, fat, carbs or sugar and they have fiber, which keeps you full longer!!! They are great!!! I would highly recommend them to anyone. Take it from someone who was a little burnt out on the cardboardy protein bars, carboardy, Cliff bar is not!

The next brand is Kashi. I have found that I really like whatever Kashi makes. They have some great products out there. Two things that I must always have, Kashi Go Lean Berry crumble cereal and the whole grain blueberry frozen waffles. So here is what I do with the cereal, I don't eat it with milk, I put the serving size amount in a small baggie, and for my mid-morning snack I take a red apple cut it up and pour the Kashi over it!! YUM!!! So good and so good for you!! I also eat the cereal with yogurt (organic or Greek). I used to put it with a non-organic yogurt and that yogurt has WAY too much sugar!!!

The waffles are so good too!! The serving size it two waffles but I usually just eat one with a boiled egg for some added protein. I toast the waffle, put some fresh blueberries on top, with sugar free syrup (just the serving size) and top it off with 2tbsp of Redi whip (the non reduced fat kind). That breakfast right there is 226 calories, 8grams of fat,5 grams of fiber, and 9 grams of protein. Pretty good way to start out the day!

I have learned through this whole process that my body has began to adjust to what and how I am eating. It is true, you feel so different when you switch the smallest things, like not eating processed sugar and eating a lot more veggies and fruits. I never thought I would be saying this, but I would rather eat watermelon in the afternoon then a candy bar. WOW!! I even surprise myself sometimes!!!

love and live your life,

Andi