Healthy “Road Trip” Snacks

Tired of the same old chips or other not-so-healthy snacks when you’re on the road to vacation, day trips, or even a short stint to the mall? Why not munch on some new, healthy and delicious alternative snacks from Sun Ridge Farms of Pajaro, CA. These organic trail mixes, dried fruits, seeds and nuts make for the perfect road trip nibbles that will satisfy your mid-afternoon cravings without blowing the diet.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll get:

1. SunRidge Farms Berries and Chocolate Antioxidant Trail Mix- A yummy blend of sun-ripened blueberries, dark chocolate stars, freshly roasted almonds, walnuts, cranberries, cherries, cashews and peanuts. This de-lish mix of protein and fiber is also chock full of antioxidants and vitamins.

2. SunRidge Farms Tropical Trail Mix- A well-rounded blend of dried tropical fruit and nuts that’s loaded with papaya, pineapple, banana, sunflower seeds, almonds, raisins, roasted peanuts and dates..

3. SunRidge Farms Women’s Vitality Mix- Specially formulated for women's health with calcium, iron and antioxidants. This mix is packed with protein and features almonds, dried blueberries, soy nuts, cashews, dark chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds and more.

They’re low in fat, sugar and sodium, AND they’re tasty! What’s not to love? You can find them in health foods stores or directly on their website, www.sunridgefarms.com.

The Virtual Gastric Band Procedure is Here in the U.S!

No one likes to talk about weight loss – it’s such a depressing topic. When fad diets, pills, gyms and exercise machines fail, people often consider surgery as a last resort. Unitl now they had two just choices: gastric bypass or the more minimally invasive gastric band surgery.

But hope is on the horizon with a third choice –- the Virtual Gastric Band, via hypnosis. There is no surgery, no recovery time, no scarring, and no negative side effects like with real surgery. Following trials in England with 95% success rates, the new Virtual Gastric Band procedure is here in the U.S., and is being offered in Westchester County, NY for the very first time!


Consulting Hypnotist Sara Oppenheim-Somerville is introducing this amazing new program here and she’ll be offering her first group session at Le Petite Spa in January. Sara has undergone intensive training with Sheila Granger, who first developed the innovative, non-invasive program that received the endorsement of Britain’s National Health Service.


Using the power of hypnosis, background sounds of a hospital operating room, and the scents associated with a hospital, Sara virtually “shrinks” her client’s stomach to the size of a golf ball. The entire “procedure” is safe and painless, and the client experiences it all from a comfortable chair.


In simple terms, the client is hypnotized into believing that the Gastric Band surgery has been performed on him or her.

There are just four simple requirements that someone needs to qualify for this virtual procedure:

 One hour of your time, once a week, for four consecutive weeks

 Listening to a short CD once or twice a day, for 28 days

 Easy to follow rules

 A desire to achieve the shape and size that you never thought possible.

For more information on this program and the group session at Le Petite Spa, please contact Sara Oppenheim-Somerville at (914) 862-2354.

FLY RIGHT WITH WINGS OF NATURE!

Ok… story of my life… I’m forever trying to lose weight and always looking for snacks that are both healthy and delicious. So far, this has been no easy task. Sure, you can rely on standard healthy snacks like fruits and veggies, but sometimes you just want something else, and in my case, it’s usually not the healthiest choice.

Now, with Wings of Nature organic nutrition bars, there is hope on the horizon. I’ve tried a lot of so-called “nutrition bars” that are nothing more than candy bars in disguise, once you analyze the ingredients. But with just eight natural ingredients, Wings of Nature bars have no hidden, unpronounceable items.

They have no refined sugar and are gluten free, cholesterol free and trans fat free. They’re also low in sodium and use agave syrup and organic brown rice sweeteners . And all of the ingredients are grown without artificial pesticides or chemicals. Here’s the best part: they’re actually delicious and are available in three yummy flavors: Almond Raisin, Cranberry Crunch (my favorite) or Coffee Espresso.

Almond Raisin – The rich flavor of Almond and Raisin comes from the mixture of organic nuts, seeds and dried fruits.

Cranberry – The rich flavor of Cranberry Nut comes from the mixture of real organic coffee beans, nuts and raisins.


Espresso – The rich flavor of Espresso and Cocoa comes from the mixture of real organic coffee beans, nuts and raisins.


So, go ahead and enjoy a snack without feeling guilty! For more information, visit http://www.freshharvestproducts.com/.

Here, Here for Organic Beer!

For those of you who love a cold, refreshing brew but want to maintain your organic lifestyle, Fuller’s Organic Honey Dew is here!

The #1 selling organic beer in Britain, Fuller’s Organic Honey Dew features all organic ingredients including malt, hops and honey imported from Argentina.

In fact, the Nutrition Business Journal reports sales of organic beers are becoming more and more popular here in the U.S., rising some 21% in 2008.

You can quench your thirst with Fuller’s Organic Honey Dew in Britain’s traditional 16.9 oz pint bottles, or on draught in selected locations.

Why Go Organic?

I guess I really should have posted this blog earlier, but at any rate, it's better late than never.

So, what's the deal with organic products? Very simply, organic farmers grow fruits and vegetables without using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals raised on organic feed with no antibiotics, growth hormones or animal byproducts. These animals also have access to fresh air and exercise.

So, who calls the shots on what is labeled organic? The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the National Organic Program, which regulates how these foods are grown, handled and processed. There are some smaller farms that practice organic farming but don't go through the government certification process because of the expense.

Many times, organic fruits and vegetables may look less "perfect" and even smaller than their regular grocery-store counterparts because there are no additives or preservatives.

According to the Environmental Working Group, produce with the highest amount of pesticides are apples, bell peppers, carrots, celery, cherries, grapes, kale, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, pears and strawberries.

Produce with the lowest amounts of pesticides include asparagus, avacado, broccoli, cabbage, corn, eggplant, kiwi, mango, onion, papaya, peas, pineapple, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and watermelon.

Hopefully, this simple explanation will help you to make healthier decisions on buying foods.

Chocoholics - Now There's a Healthy Way to Indulge!

I fully admit --I am a chocoholic! So, when I heard about “Wei of Chocolate” offering yummy morsels that are just 30 calories a piece, and 2 grams of carbs, I just had to share!

Based in Phoenix, “Wei of Chocolate,” creates organic, vegan, fair trade-certified dark chocolates that are “chock full” of organic herbs, spices and flower essences that balance the body and mind. “Wei” refers to the Chinese character “wei” (pronounced “way”) meaning transformative action.

After traveling the world and learning several methods of meditation,”Wei of Chocolate” CEO and chocolatier Lisa Reinhardt says she’s discovered that chocolate is the perfect vehicle to introduce meditation! Hey, count me in for that!

Lisa says when people taste the “Wei,” they “drop all extraneous thought and find themselves nowhere else but fully in the present moment.”

Finally, there’s a guilt-free “way” of indulging in delicacies and getting health benefits as well. Cacao is known for its amazing anti-inflammatory properties and is also credited for being a heart-healthy snack by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol.

“Wei of Chocolate” comes in five delicious flavors:

Daily Gratitude Organic dark chocolate, 65% dark chocolate flavored with chai spices like cardamom, cloves and cinnamon.

Daily Love Organic dark chocolate, 74% cacao dark chocolate with a chili finish that’s perfect as a natural afternoon pick-me-up.

Café Wei dark chocolate, 68% cacao dark chocolate with Italian espresso.

Pure Joy dark chocolate, 70% dark chocolate with organic essential oils that awaken clarity and wisdom.

Wei Dark. 70% cacao dark chocolate with a special blend of 21 Lotus essences to bring more joy, peace and balance.

Check them out at wei@weiofchocolate.com

Clothes Swapping – Saves $$$ and the Planet!

Being an only child, I never had the chance to swap clothes with an older sister, but now, thanks to Bigwardrobe.com, I’ll get that chance! The British website Bigwardrobe.com, the world’s largest closet and No. 1 clothes swapping website, has recently launched in North America with a U.S. office.

Just log on and take your pick of a huge mix of labels, like Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, DKNY, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Miss Sixty, and so much more. Now, you can look like a million bucks without even spending a dime!

Just add your items to Bigwardrobe.com, and you’ll start getting offers from other members to swap unwanted clothes, bags, shoes and accessories for others. Or you can sell the items or use a combination of the two.

The average US consumer is said to have about $300 worth of unused clothing sitting in his or her wardrobe.

Created just two years ago, Bigwardrobe.com now has some 35,000 members more than 80,000 listed items, and 300 swap offers a day!

Here’s how it works: You can join for free with limits, or you can pay just $18 for an annual subscription and take advantage of all the extra features. And it’s not just for women – men and kids can also find a new home for their unwanted clothing.
And of course, by recycling your clothes, shoes, accessories, you can do your part in helping safeguard the environment.

Happy shopping!