I've been known to snack. I eat a healthy diet, but I really appreciate crunchy nosh now and again. Lucky for me, the folks at BARE Snacks got word of this and they sent me this tasty goodie box, below. They must also know that I don't like fake ingredients or chemicals in my treats, because these little babies are made with all real, recognizable ingredients that I can find in my own kitchen. Artificial is NOT an option when it comes to eating. I really appreciate that the crunchy apple chips and coconut chips are carefully selected, baked in an exclusive baking process for maximum taste and nutrition, the packed into high quality bags to lock in flavor and crunch. What's great about this product, aside from the powerful branding, is that the product is very high quality. I'll feel good about giving them to my sons because there's no refined sugar or GMOs and preservatives.
After snooping around their website, I found out that each bag is crafted in small batches, then seasoned. the coconut chips are made from mi-level maturity Nam Hom coconuts from Thailand and the apple chips contain over 3-4 apples per bag. A good source of fiber (about 4g per serving) and good fat, these crunchy yummies are going to be a sure-fire hit. They also have an organic option. Eat, Snack and Live Happy, Beth Every morning I whip up a fabulous green smoothie! So today, I opted for the Acai advantage add-on. Sambazon has just launched the 100 juice line. With 100 acai berries, 100 calories or less and at least 70% less sugar per bottle (5-11 grams per bottle), these awesome exotic drinks are a healthier way for me to enjoy 100% juice with a fraction of the sugar and calories of other premium juices. I really appreciate that all of these juices are Certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO, vegan and made with Ecocert Fair Trade ingredients.
I love that the juices start with the sugar exempt acai berries and are sweetened with organic and Non-GMO Stevia, erythritol and low-glycemic agave (in the Acai Berry flavor). Loaded with antioxidants and healthy omegas in every bottle, I jump at the chance to chug one every day. Flavors include, Acai Berry, Strawberry + Lemon + Acai Berry or Pineapple + Coconut + Acai Berry. When I blended the Sambazon Acai Berry with my green smoothie, I thought I'd been transported into smoothie heaven! The flavor is rich and fruity, which makes this busy mom really happy. I don't take time to prepare food throughout the day, so my breakfast smoothie has to really rock and give me loads of nutrients and satisfaction. Remember to recycle your bottles Beth Can I get a Whoop, Whoop? I could literally do a front flip over this amazing Sweet Baby Kale Salad at the
Oak Tree Restaurant in Chicago (at the 900 North Michigan Avenue Shops). I've been going to this consistently delicious restaurant for over 20 years. When I got married and lived in the city, my husband and I would go to the Oak Tree Restaurant almost every weekend for brunch. Then, when my first son was born, we brought him "in his bucket" stroller top along with us. They would kindly give him the special "kiddie" plate so we could enjoy our meal in peace. Then, when our second and third sons were born, they joined the Oak Tree ranks, like their brother. As the years passed, we continued to enjoy the busy and bustling restaurant, albeit, a gorgeous renovation, but consistent management. Fast forward to my suburban life; and I must tell you, when I pop into the city to meet a friend for lunch, I always suggest The Oak Tree. The WIDE variety of salad offerings, fresh juices, and killer 8-Bean soup, to the loads of freshly baked breads and sweets are only part of the reason why I love this spot. Truth be told, the staff is always top-notch but the lure of shopping in the Bloomingdale's Mall is quite magnetizing. In-Building parking is key, too. Today's post features the oh-so-pretty, nutrient dense super meal, Sweet Baby Kale Salad. I typically eat kale about 5 days a week, so when I get the opportunity to try a "new" way to nosh on my favorite green, I leap at the chance. Sweet strawberries and orange slices marry beautifully with the candied pecans and Craisins.; the creamy goat cheese hunks merge seamlessly with the sunflower seeds--intermimgled throughout the mix. Topped with candied ginger and a honey grapefruit vinaigrette, this salad sensation ties together beautifly. Sufficient enough for lunch, I felt perfectly and supremely satisfied. Healthy Adventures, Beth I've always been a breakfast girl. While growing up, I remember waking up on weekends to the aroma of cooked bacon wafting through the house, pulling me out of my deep sleep. I'd stumble into the kitchen with my messy blonde bob, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes as my father handed me a glass of fresh-whipped frozen orange juice. I'd grab my seat at the table next to my brother and sister and take the ready position for my dad's favorite recipe: Grandma Pancakes topped with warm maple syrup. My dad loved cooking breakfasts and my mom loved cooking dinner, so they were a good match.
As I grew up, went away to college and had my own apartment, and eventually got married, I made my share of breakfasts; scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and pancakes were headliners on my menu. Lucky for me, my husband loves breakfasts, too. As newlyweds living in Chicago, we took advantage of many of the wonderful breakfast buffets the city had to offer. One of our favorites, to this day, is the East Bank Club Mother's Day and Easter/Passover brunch. Recently, on a trip to San Francisco with my youngest son, we had the pleasure of staying at the lovely Fairmont Hotel, Nob Hill. In addition to the gorgeous surroundings and impeccable service, the breakfast buffet was fabulous. The bacon was crisp but not overdone, the scrambled eggs (made to order) were fluffy and light, the fruit was fresh and sweet and the croissants were light and flaky. I so appreciated that the server took my Terra's Whey protein powder packet and snuck back to the kitchen and whipped up my morning smoothie, too. My son loved the fresh squeezed orange juice and my English Breakfast tea was the perfect finish to a supremely satisfying meal before we head out to the Golden Gate Bridge and Muir Woods tour. A must see, must stay at hotel, for sure. For service, atmosphere and delicious food, I give the breakfast buffet at the Fairmont Hotel Nob Hill 4 our of 4 FORKS! Food, Fun and Travel, Beth There's nothing better than a big salad for lunch with a friend; but what's even better is when she agrees to share a piece of warm cherry pie with you for dessert. I figure a half of a piece of pie is half the calories but each bite tastes so fulfilling that I don't seem to miss the other half. For over 20 years I've been enjoying countless meals at Wildfire Chicago, so when I moved to the north shore suburbs I was a bit worried that I'd miss my Mother's Day Feasts, New Year's Eve Dinners and Birthday Celebrations that my family has come to expect throughout the year. Lucky for me, Lettuce Entertain You has created a fabulous chain of this restaurant all over the country and we happen to have a Wildfire location in our area. I'll do a separate post soon about my KILLER kale salad, but for today, I'm talking PIE. Growing up, my mom LOVED pie, and I too learned to enjoyed pie in the likes of blueberry pie (from Poppin' Fresh Pies, remember them?), warm apple pie, strawberry cream pie, banana cream pie and even custard pie. I even went to the extent of learning how to make these various pies. When I met my husband, all of that changed. He turned me to the dark side....chocolate. Since we often shared dessert after our romantic dinners, while dating, we always seemed to order what he liked. I never minded, but I DID miss my old favorites. As life went on, three sons later, I realized we were a family of chocolate eaters. No problem, but I wouldn't mind a few fruit pies thrown in along the way. Fast forward to today. My dad now lives closer by so I often join him for lunch; and much like my mom, he loves pie, too. I was able to convince him to join me for a piece of this heavenly cherry pie a few weeks ago, but didn't get a picture of it, so when my friend, Kristie, agreed to meet me for lunch today, I KNEW where we'd be going--with camera in hand: Wildfire Glenview. The service is always top notched and consistent--which keeps me coming back, not to mention the delicious food. My latest obsession, the Tuscan Kale Salad, has me dreaming of it's pumpkin seeds on a regular basis, but as I said earlier, I'm here today to talk about PIE. So on with it. The Wildfire Cherry Pie has a hearty, yet flaky crust with the perfect amount of "base" so that us pie eaters can sweep the plate with a big pinkish hunk of pie crust and capture the slowly melting vanilla ice cream (notice I didn't say chocolate ice cream? Sorry Hubby) and pop the forkful into our mouth. I especially enjoy the large specks of sugar affixed to the top of the crust which marry a perfect crunch to the pink slurry hidden beneath the walls of crust. The cherries inside aren't too tart or too sweet, rounding out this pie eating experience to perfection. The piece is perfect for 2 people or one salad-eating Real Mom, take your pick. I happily give the Wildfire Cherry Pie 4 out of 4 FORKS! Happily licking my fork clean, Beth I'm always on the lookout for healthy forms of protein, so you can imagine my excitement when I opened a mystery box that ended up on my doorstep containing a sample of New Zealand (NZ) Jerky! I tore into the bag, eager for my first bite...without disappointment I will tell you this is one good Jerky. I appreciate the moist and tender bite-sized pieces (perfect for carpool lane snacks). I also love that this Jerky is created from free range, grass fed cows that wander around munching fresh pasture. It's make with minimal processing using only natural ingredients. Here's what's in it: Beef, Water, Sugar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Salt, Powdered Onion, Ground Spices, Powdered Garlic, Powdered Celery, Powdered Acerola. Traditionally wood smoked. No MSG All words I can pronounce, and the best part, for a one ounce serving, you get a whopping 10 grams of healthy protein and only one ounce of fat. The flat packaging fits snugly inside my purse, perfect for protein in a minute. I give this product 4 out of 4 FORKS! Until our Next Snack, Beth Why a dish running away with a spoon? Well, since this food blog is The Walking Fork, why not include another utensil and plate? When it comes to eating, I take my place settings very seriously. Really! I love to travel, go out for lunch and dinner and learn about new foods and products, so it only seemed logical that I start to write about it. I went into very personal detail about my food escapades in my book, Real Moms Love to Eat (Penguin, NAL, 2012), but this venue will offer even more opinionated viewpoints on the meals I encounter. From cotton candy to kale, I plan to eat it all; then offer you a full report so you can walk in the footsteps of the Walking Fork. Until Our Next Meal! Beth |
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