When on a low carb plan, who doesn’t feel a little nostalgic about certain sweets like muffins, cakes, or cookies! Here at GreenLite are always on the search for delectable low carb options to replace our old favorites and keep us on track.
Finally, after a lot trial and error, we hit the jackpot in the muffin department. We found a great tasting low carb muffin that genuinely tastes and feels like a muffin!
Introducing the ThinSlim Foods Vanilla Muffins. Not only are these sweet little treats low carb and have no sugar, they are also delicious!
REVIEW:
Our entire team here at GreenLite sampled these Vanilla flavored muffins. It was unanimous - this muffin was like the real thing and it is sure to be a popular item. The muffins are super moist and have a texture of a pound cake with little or no aftertaste. Some of us considered the muffins to be a bit too sweet, but the overall opinion was that the taste was very good.
There are four small muffins in each ThinSlim Foods Vanilla Muffins package. The good news is that each one of these delectable muffins contain only 2 net carbs, 0g of sugar, and 8g of fiber. They also have 6g of protein!
The bad news is that we need to not indulge in too many of these muffins for two reasons:
1.) The sweetness comes from erythritol, a sugar alcohol which is not absorbed, so if you have more than one, you may notice some untoward gastrointestinal tract side effects i.e. (bloating, gas, and/or diarrhea). It may help you stay honest and just eat one!
2.) These items are sweet in taste, so it may psychologically trigger your desire for sweets, despite the fact that they do not physiologically act like sugar. Even though they are substitutes, consider them a treat. Be mindful of the quantity and frequency so they can help you stay on track rather than derail your efforts.
ThinSlim Foods Vanilla Muffins cost $7.97 per pack. They come in a variety of muffin flavors including Blueberry and Chocolate Chip. Based on several online reviews, Vanilla seemed to be the most popular. ThinSlim Foods also offers Chocolate Brownies, which we plan to review in the future, so stay tuned!
To buy a pack or browse their entire product line, visit them here.
We’d love to hear your opinion so if you give them a try, please share your thoughts with the us!
We are always on the lookout for products that you can enjoy without feeling the guilt. Our latest discovery, that will help satisfy your sweet tooth, is the Oh Yeah! Protein Wafer Bars.
These chocolate covered wafers, layered with peanut butter cup filling, are not only low in carbs (3 net carbs) but also packed with 7 grams of protein per wafer. Sounds good right? They are!
REVIEW:
We tried the Oh Yeah! Peanut Butter Cup Protein Wafers and they are seriously delicious, so they get a 5/5 GreenLite stars for taste!
Two wafer sticks come in each individual pack. One wafer contains only 3 net carbs (2g of sugar) but also 7g of protein! So you might be thinking, “What’s the catch?” Well, the fat content is a bit high, which ratchets the calories for two wafers to a whopping 210 calories! They get a 3/5 stars for the nutritional content because of the fat calories, but moderation may be the key. Beware of the packaging because they are so good that you may be tempted to have both wafers! We suggest that you repackage each wafers in foil and have it as a special treat once in a while, or include one wafer in a meal that consists of otherwise very lean protein.
Oh Yeah! Protein Wafers come in six different tasty flavors and sell for $18.81 directly from Oh Yeah! (you can probably shop around to find other deals as well). To buy a box for yourself or check out their product line, visit them here.
Ever open your lunch bag and dread pulling out those vegetables that were cooked the previous day? Once crisp and vibrant they are now soggy and flat! You could bring your choice of vegetable “raw,” but not everyone is a fan of them uncooked. So what is a healthy eater to do if they crave cooked veggies?
We recently discovered a convenient solution that is perfect for packing your on-the-go lunch, the Sistema KLIP IT Microwave Steamer!
REVIEW:
The Sistema KLIP IT Microwave Steamer not only stores your vegetables, but it’s also microwave safe (freezer and dishwasher safe as well) so that you can steam them. It comes in three sizes (small, medium and large) to choose from. For meals, this nifty steamer is not just limited to vegetables, you can also steam fish and poultry (but we think this might make for a bigger cleaning job afterwards).
Using the KLIP IT Microwave Steamer is extremely EASY. Simply add water to the base container, place your vegetables in the steaming colander, clip on the lid with the steam vent open and pop it in the microwave…that’s it! We did a test run using 1.5 cups of raw broccoli and after 1 minute they had steamed up nicely (a little crunchy, not too soggy). If you prefer well steamed vegetables, you might want to consider leaving them in the microwave for 1.5 minutes (or per your personal preference). If you stop the microwave to find your veggies are not soft enough, you can always put them right back in for a bit more time.
While we enjoyed using the KLIP IT, we were not fans of the fact that it is plastic (though it is BPA Free). Reheating plastics may release chemicals which can then pass onto the food you are cooking. Sistema, however, also has an assortment of other non-microwaveable products that are perfect for carrying your meals.
The Sistema KLIP IT Microwave Steamer products, range from $10-$16 (depending on the size). You can find it at places such as Amazon.com. If you are interested in other Sistema KLIP IT products, please click here.
Losing weight is like a battlefield! There is a lot to get past and overcome. For Margaret Barton, she victoriously won her weight loss battle. In 2010, Margaret had made a commitment to take responsibility of her weight and health. That decision led her to Greenlite Medicine. With the help of our program, she lost forty pounds and now is feeling great!
Today, Margaret has a new view on healthful living that she wants to share with others through her eGuide, Low Carbs & Sugars: The Substitution Solution. Her eGuide covers valuable information that anyone can find helpful as they work on conquering their own personal weight and health goals.
REVIEW:
During Margaret’s weight loss journey she maintained a list of sites from which she ordered low carb and low sugar products. By substituting foods, she was able to lose and maintain her weight. So many people had asked Margaret about her list, that she decided to put it in a handy-dandy guide form and this is it!
With this eGuide, readers will be able to easily access low carb and low sugar products, learn why high carb and high sugar products contribute to weight gain and health problems and also learn about healthy products conducive to wellness. Everything in this eGuide is already put together for you to make your road to a healthier lifestyle a lot easier.
The Low Carbs & Sugars: The Substitution Solution eGuide can be downloaded for $14.95. You can purchase a copy for yourself here!
Congratulations! You’ve lost the weight, now let’s help you keep it off. The Body Trace might be the perfect companion! Imagine your scale reporting back to the GreenLite team, graphing your trends and emailing you if your weight begins to creep up. Continued accountability and feedback increases your chance to maintain your weight goals by teaching you how to better monitor yourself.
The Body Trace scale is a truly unique tool to help support you in your weight loss and weight maintenance efforts. While typical bathroom scales simply show your current weight, this clever re-invention charts your daily weight online without any complicated configuration.
REVIEW:
Tracking your weight and your progress in general is a key aspect to maintaining your weight loss and reinforcing healthy habits to become part of your routine. The Body Trace scale is the ultimate tool to support this tracking and offers a visual reference to where you are in terms of your weight loss progress or weight maintenance. The scale uses cellular technology to track your weight and sends the information to their daily log which then charts the numbers online. This scale allows you to monitor the changes in your body and take action when needed. Seeing your progress charted in such a visual way truly helps reinforce healthy habits and identify some of the things that may be interfering with your progress towards health.
The Body Trace Scale retails for $79 (plus shipping), which includes a year subscription to their online weight charting database. Considering other high tech scale retail for about the same price, we think this price is more than reasonable.
Since discovering this amazing tool, the GreenLite team and BodyTrace have teamed up to incorporate this tracking system as an option in our maintenance program. Daily weight information is tracked through body trace and sent to our GreenLite database, if your weight goes out of a “normal maintenance range”, your educator will send you an email of support to maintain the accountability that lead to your success on the program. Our new and improved maintenance program works on a 6 month subscription basis and includes 8 visits (monthly +), your body trace scale and subscription and the same wonderful GreenLite community support.
How many times have you opened the food cabinet looking for something to eat despite having had a meal only an hour before, or maybe seeking food to give yourself a “lift”, or get past the boredom, or ease the stressful feeling under your skin? In our fast paced, post industrial world, it is extremely easy to be unaware of why we seek food. Sometimes we may think we feel hungry, but if we truly “check in” with our body, we may just simply want to eat. We may realize that our attempt to fill our stomach or stimulate our taste buds may simply be a call to fill an emotional void or relive stress from a hectic day.
At GreenLite we try to provide our clients with as many tools as possible to support them in their weight loss efforts. We think aromatherapy and doTerra essential oils can be an extremely useful tool to not only help manage your stress levels but can also help to curb emotional eating.
REVIEW:
“A scent is worth 10,000 words.” You simply need to experience essential oils in order to fully understand and believe in its power, even WE were skeptical at first. Many of us at GreenLite Medicine were new to aromatherapy but became advocates after we experienced the oils first hand. Watch for yourself and check out the video below to see how the high stress environment of Vanderbilt’s Emergency Room was affected by the oils:
Aromatherapy can induce feelings of relaxation or alternatively elevate the mood, depending on the oils used. The olfactory (smelling) organ in the nose is closely located to parts of the brain that influence emotions and influence the reward centers of the brain. Aromatherapy can influence various emotional problems and stress levels which can sometimes result in overeating.
For the past month we have been sampling doTerra essential oils in our Mountain View office for our clients to experience first-hand. Although there are many essential oils available on the market, we were particularly impressed by doTerra’s exceptional level of quality control. DoTerra is the only company who’s oils are classified as Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® and are 100% natural, free of any contaminants such as pesticides or other chemical residues. The herbs used for their oils surpass organic standards and special care is taken so the oils are properly extracted and distilled. Many of their oils are pure enough to be ingested internally (one drop of peppermint oil equals 20 cups of peppermint tea!). The more common ways to experience the aroma is to drop the oils on pressure points or to place the oils in a diffuser (a machine that heats and disperses the oil in the air).
DoTerra offers a wide variety of single oils, (lavender, peppermint, orange) as well as oil blends (serenity, purity, elevation) and even has a blend specific to appetite control, called “Slim & Sassy”, which is a blend of grapefruit, lemon, peppermint, ginger, and cinnamon. The price of the oils range from $14 to $50 depending on the type and blend of oil, and considering the outstanding quality of doTerra products, this price is relatively reasonable compared to other oils on the market.
Experience the oils for yourself and sample them in our Mountain View location. You can also enter our raffle for a chance to win yourself a complementary bottle of essential oil! If you are a client that doesn’t come to the Mountain View office and you’re interested in sampling the doTerra products, simply ask the front desk and we can arrange an aromatherapy experience for you at your GreenLite location. GreenLite is currently selling a limited quantity of the essential oils, but if you are interested in the full spectrum of doTerra products, they are available online.
NOTE: GreenLite has NO financial incentive or arrangement with Do Terra’s representative for the sales of their oils. We only offer the purchase of the oils as a convenience to our clients.
The Holidays have arrived and the alluring aromas that make us feel warm and fuzzy inside are wafting through the air during this time of year. The fresh damp smell of the fall air, the crunching sound of freshly fallen leaves underneath your feet. The juicy scent of the Thanksgiving Day turkey roasting in the oven, the spicy fragrance of a freshly baked pumpkin pie, the delectable aroma of chewy holiday gingerbread cookies, the buttery smell of morning pancakes wafting throughout the house. With all these stimulating sensations that come around during the winter time, we understand that this time of year can prove to be difficult while on a Low Carb diet and living “lite.” It may seem like there are many daunting dietary obstacles ahead, but the holidays are really about the time spent with family and friends, not the plates full of holiday sugar cookies and honey-baked ham. With that said, you really don’t need to feel like you’re suffering and completely deprived while living low-carb, it just takes a bit of creativity and fresh perspective to look and feel “lite” and still enjoy the social aspects of food. Here at GreenLite we always say that we like to give our clients a helpful “tool box” of resources and tips that they can access to help them overcome any obstacle that may occur while on our program, and this week’s product is another “tool” for that box.
This week’s New Product Tuesday features a product that can provide a little of the best of both worlds: Big Train’s Buttermilk Pancake Mix. This mix could be a great option for a family brunch and help you enjoy having pancakes as a special treat for the Holiday, and still feel good about doing so. Not only can this mix be used to rally up the troops for a family brunch, you can also enjoy a special treat for the holidays without feeling guilty. Enjoying memories and family laughter while eating a wholesome treat, sounds like a win-win situation!
THE FACTS:
While not ideal for those of you in the acute weight loss phase, if you happen to be seriously craving for a short stack of pancakes, Big Train buttermilk pancakes could be stellar alternative for you. Remember that a treat is not a cheat so long as it’s infrequent AND you count it. In this case, 3 small pancakes= 1 carbohydrate exchange.
REVIEW:
Nutritional Info:
With a 7g net carb and 15g protein for three moderately sized pancakes, these are nutrition stats that make other pancakes weep in nutritional mercy. While we do wish this mix was a little lower in carbs, we think these pancakes could be a great occasional treat. Keep in mind that these that the above nutritional info is for half the prepared pancake mix. The recipe on the packaging requires 1/2 Cup of the Big Train Buttermilk mix, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of oil and a 1/2 cup of water.
Unlike most other low-carb baking mixes that are chocked full of artificial ingredients and preservatives, Big Train boasts completely natural ingredients:
Considering the mix actually contains whole wheat flour and no fake fillers, we think these nutrition facts might be as good as it get considering this mix is the “real deal”.
TASTE:
This mix makes very light, fluffy, satisfying pancakes, without any strange artifical aftertaste that is common with many other low carb products. Although not quite as fluffy as the real deal, these pancakes have a great “pancake-y” texture and are deceptively delicious. They aren’t necessarily identical to short stack you’d order at your local diner but we’d say Big Train has the tastiest and most nutritionally sound pancake mix on the low carb market. We would recommend however, adding some cinnamon, vanilla extract and sugar free sweetener to the mix to add a boost of flavor and top with a “condiment ” of your choice (Try Vermont sugar free maple syrup or cholesterol lowering Benecol lite, a fabulous butter alternative).
AVAILABILITY:
We haven’t been able to find Big Train Buttermilk Pancake mix in stores anywhere locally but it is available online. You will find the most reasonable price over at Netrition.com but it is also available through Amazon and Carbsmart.
COST:
Through Netrition, The Big Train Buttermilk Mix goes for $4.29! This is a steal compared to Carbsmart’s $6.99 and Amazon’s steep price of $10.25. The $4.29 deal for a 9 oz. bag sure gives bisquick a run for its money and we think it’s a stellar deal for such a healthy and all natural mix.
SUMMARY:
We don’t necessarily advocate low carb substitutions for every day eating (low carb cookies swaped for toll house cookies doesn’t really help unhealthy eating behavior) but at the same time we understand that sometimes you’d like to enjoy a few pancakes on a cold morning or have a nice family breakfast during this celebratory season. Big Train can be a secret weapon for your “tool kit” in the coming months.
While these pancakes have pretty impressive stats to begin with, you can make them even leaner by substituting 2 egg whites for the whole egg and cutting out half a tablespoon of oil. If pancakes aren’t your thing, this mix can also be used to make waffles! Whatever your breakfast of choice is, with Big Train pancakes, low carb living may have become just a little bit easier.
If anyone has any suggestions, ideas or inquiries for our New Product Tuesdays segment, please feel free to email us at products@greenlitemedicine.com
If you love the release you feel from a daily run or the enjoy the serenity that a brisk walk adds to your hectic week, this week’s product Tuesday brings you two amazing technological tools that can take your exercise routine to a fun, new level.
The Nike + iPod App and “iMap My” app are two great tools that can log detailed exercise statistics on your walk or run that integrates with your smart phone. These stats include distance, duration, GPS tracking & interactive maps, speed and calories burned. Each app has their pros and cons, so continue reading to find out which is best for your healthy lifestyle. The fun tools could be just the right push of motivation to help you get active every day of the week!
REVIEW:
Both Apps can be purchased a la carte, downloaded on your smart phone and can be ready to log your exercise route and stats in a matter of minutes (supported by google maps). Additionally, both companies also offer great “add on’s” that boost the technology and information on you workouts even further.
SPLURGE on “Nike +” system: Nike offers a ton of extra add on’s for most exercise routines and technological devices. The overall concept of the “Nike +” series is it’s ability to be compatible with the “Nike +” shoe line. The shoes were originally designed to work in tandem with the tracking technology to provide the most luxurious exercise experience.
Nike + iPhone App: Unlike previous Nike+ iPod offerings, no special sensors or kits are required for this app to function. The “Nike + App” has all the benefits of the “Nike +” system without the fancy gadgets. Some great features on this app include the voice feedback — which announces the progress of your exercise routine— and the ability to tap on the map at anytime to see how far you’ve gone. Also, Nike’s popular PowerSongs feature lets you setup and play specific songs for different types of runs, which is prompted to play by hitting the the center button, when you need an extra burst of melodic motivation. The app also syncs with Nikeplus.com, Nike’s online community, users can set goals, track and share their progress through Facebook and Twitter. It should be noted the GPS function will not work with the iPod touch.
The other Nike + tools rely on the Nike ” foot pod” sensor which fits conveniently in the tongue of the “Nike +” shoe series. These tools include :
Nike + Sport watch GPS: The GPS sensor is more accurate that the “foot pod” alone and offers an up-to-the-second read out of your speed and distance. Your run is uploaded to the Nike+ website and stored.
Nike + iPod nano: For those who don’t have a smart phone but still want to use the GPS and exercise tracking technology.
Nike + Sport Band: The SportBand is the “bare bones” of the series that combines an accurate pedometer with the web component for fitness-tracking experience.
Check out Nike’s impressive video on the Nike + series:
SAVE on “iMapMy” Free App: With extremely similar functionality to the “Nike +” apps, the “MapMyRun” series offers the same tracking functions with just little less glamor and without the big brand name. The app offers the same distance, speed and calorie tracking capability, a similar online community and social networking integration. This app also offers online nutritional tracking capability with their online community. The “iMap My” is the basic free app, but the company also offers other sporting apps (the “+” app series) for $1.99 each. These add free versions include:
iMap my Run
iMap my Ride
iMap my Hike
iMap my Walk
iMap my Fitness
Map My Fitness also sells a few supplementary accessories to support their exercise Apps. They offer a heart strap, stride sensor, phone cases and a few other fun toys. Check out their marketplace to see all they’ve got to offer.
QUALITY & UTILITY:
Nike Plus iPod:
Nike guarantees 90% accuracy when measuring distance however, Nike has disclaimed that they are working out some program errors with Mac iOS5 but are working on the bugs. Users have reported bugs in older versions of the App in the past, which was promptly smoothed out by Nike.
The GPS tracking ability of the accessories have been reported to be faulty by some consumers. And some marathon runner have reported that the “Nike +” accessories have died after long continued use ( with these users logging about 10-20 miles per use).
“iMap My” App:
This free App’s tracking accuracy is on par with the Nike application. Some users have even claimed that it surpasses Nike’s. But you will have to endure the sponsored ads that allow this app to be free.
The “+” series don’t include ads, however, all the various apps for different exercises (iMap my Run, iMap ride etc..) seem a bit gimicky. We’d advise if you’re going to shell out the $1.99 for add free tracking, then opt for the nike version.
COST:
“Nike + iPod”:
From a standing start, the “Nike +” package may seem fairly expensive. Apple’s mid-range, 4GB iPod nano will cost you $199, and a pair of Nike Plus compatible shoes runs between $90 and $110. Throw in a $29 sports armband and the $29 kit itself and you’re looking at an investment of around $350. But if you’re in the market for a new pair of shoes and already have an iPhone or iTouch. Ultimately it depends on what support you’re looking for in your workout routine.
“iMap My” App:
You can’t really beat the cost of free. But you will have to wait through this app’s sponsored ads, because nothing in our capitalistic society is ever truly free. As far as their “+” series and accessories, we think that if you’re serious about using these tools in your workout, it might be wise to make the investment in the “Nike” tools, and spend the extra money for the deluxe experience.
AVAILABILITY:
“Nike + iPod”:
The “Nike +” app is available in the app store of your nearest smart phone or iTunes. The shoes and accessories are available online, as well as NikeTown Stores, Sports Authority, Target and other sporting goods stores. Click here to find a full list of Nike vendors.
“iMap My” App:
If you have an iPhone or Andriod, this App can be yours in a matter of seconds. Just hit up you Phone’s App store or head over to iTunes to download the free version of this app. The “+” version’s can also be found in the same App stores. If your
SUMMARY:
While walking and running only required some good old motivation and a decent pair of shoes in the past, in this century, it seems like everything can be improved upon with use of modern technology. These tools could take your workout routine to the next level and may even be a fun way to motivate yourself to get moving!
Since the “iMapMy” app is free, why not take it for a test run? See how you like the functions of the app and if you fall in love or are feeling like you’d like more detailed support, go for the “Nike +” series.
A wise weight loss word of warning: be careful not to account for the “calorie burned” functions on these apps. These things aren’t very accurate and will only sabotage your exercise and weight loss efforts if you “add back” the calories you’ve spent.
This week’s New Product Tuesday comes to you in the form of a restaurant review. Our goal at GreenLite is not only to help you lose weight, but help you maintain your healthy lifestyle in a reasonable and convenient way. Staying healthy in our society can feel challenging at times, which is why so many people revert to the easy, unhealthy and SAD diet (Standard America Diet). Many of the obesity problems that face our country are completely ingrained in our society, and yes, the individuals are responsible for their own health, but our unhealthy society and industry must also be held accountable for our habitual unhealthy behaviors. When you’re always on the run, most of the time you don’t have time to think about the high fructose corn syrup that saturates your dinner on.
Well, LYFE Kitchen’s mission is to provide healthy, portion controlled, preservative free and socially responsible food in an affordable and convenient way. Often times, going out to eat can cause anxiety when you’re health focused and you may feel blowing your diet is eminent. But LYFE Kitchen is fast food with out the bad. LYFE stands for “Love Your Food Everyday” and their food is so healthy and realistic, that you probably really could eat it everyday!
REVIEW:
Art Smith before and after his weight loss
LYFE kitchen is the brain child of vegan chef Tal Ronnen, Celebrity chef Art Smith and two former McDonald’s executives. Art Smith is a restaurant entrepreneur, former contestant of Bravo’s Top Chef Master and is well known for being Oprah’s private chef. Art was the poster child for butter laden southern comfort foods but reformed his deep-fried ways after he was diagnosed with type II diabetes just before his 50th birthday. He shed 85 pounds through good-old hard work: diet and exercise. And with his healthy lifestyle his diagnosis was reversed (when belly fat disappears, insulin resistance is no longer an issue).
LYFE Kitchen mission statement: “One of our main goals at LYFE Kitchen is to help you find less time-consuming ways to eat healthy. We make sure every chef-inspired recipe we offer can be prepped and served-from kitchen to table-in a matter of minutes. At LYFE Kitchen we take pride in serving you and your family real food with real flavor, real fast.”
QUALITY & NUTRITION:
With two health conscious head chefs, one vegan & one a recovered diabetic, you can imagine this restaurant’s menu is genuinely healthy (and doesn’t just have a healthy halo).
ALL menu items:
Are less than 600 Calories
Contain less than 1000mg of sodium
No MSG
Are free of genetically modified organisms (GMO)
No Fryer’s
Their menu displays calorie and sodium counts for each dish. Butter, cream and high-fructose corn syrup are banned in all their dishes, and none of the food is fried. All ingredients in LYFE meals are natural and free of preservatives, only real foods are served at this soon to be chain restaurant.
We would love to see the complete nutritional panel for LYFE kitchen’s dishes, at least online and wish that their menu’s stated sugar grams instead sodium grams, but we will take what we can get with this healthy fast food joint. Their menu has some hits and misses in regards to the taste factor for each dish, but that does come with the territory with most start-up restaurants.
This restaurant would be a great place to take the whole family. The kids will be getting a great dose of the healthy food and won’t even know it! Be mindful that many of the dishes are carb laden, so it is important to be cautious if you decide to dine in LYFE’s Kitchen. Since this restaurant caters to individual’s with “special diet’s” (they have a few gluten free dishes) they are likely to be accommodating towards low carb substitutions.
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Being that the concept of LYFE kitchen is “Healthy Fast Food” their dining format is unique. Customer’s wait in line and order at the cash register and can opt to take their meals to go or dine at a LYFE kitchen table. Those who opt to stay and dine after ordering are waited by servers, just like any other sit down restaurant. The wait staff are very attentive but the only catch here, is the issue of the tip. When and where do we leave it?
LYFE has great business hours: they’re open from 7-10 on Monday-Thursday and 7-11 on Friday and Saturday. It seems like LYFE really practices what they preach with these great business hours, (healthy food early or late) and while it doesn’t have the same convenience as the 24hr Jack in the Box, we think these business hours are a great second.
LOCATION:
LYFE kitchen is located at 167 N. Hamilton, Palo Alto and is a newcomer to the small fleet of health conscious and sustainable restaurants that are popping up around Palo Alto. This Palo Alto location is just the first of many locations that are planned to sweep the nation. The company’s concept aims to be a “lifestyle restaurant”, where guests will feel like they can hang out or order food to go.
SUMMARY:
What we really love about LYFE kitchen is their focus on the complete picture of a healthy lifestyle. They understand that being healthy (which is often synonymous with being thin) is an everyday goal that requires maintenance and awareness. Also, healthy doesn’t have to be boring, or leave you feeling deprived, and LYFE Kitchen’s creative menu is living proof. We definitely support LYFE Kitchen here at GreenLite and love the fact that is perfectly in tune with the principles of Food Day. We look forward to see how LYFE Kitchen grows and what else it may inspire.
Here are some GreenLite Friendly options from LYFE Kitchen that are sure to delight:
Breakfast:
Breakfast Burrito (with egg whites), Tofu Breakfast Wrap, or Breakfast Sandwich without the tortilla and English muffins
Gardein Breakfast Patty
Shareables:
Grilled Artichokes with Lemon Aioli
Salads:
Farmers Market
Chopped Napa Cabbage without cranberries
Caesar without croutons
Add the free range chicken breast, grilled shrimp or salmon to any salad for an extra boost of protein.
Fish tacos, without the tortillas and ask for extra slaw or a bed of lettuce
Classic burger without the multi-grain bun with extra slaw or on a bed of lettuce
Main Dishes:
Grilled Barramundi
Sides:
Side Salad
Fresh Fruit (if you have’nt had your 2 fruit exchanges yet)
Drinks:
Cucumber-Mint cooler
Black, Green or Tropical iced teas
Citron green, Masala Chai or Crimson Berry hot teas
If anyone has any suggestions, ideas or inquiries for our New Product Tuesdays segment, please feel free to email us at products@greenlitemedicine.com
When living a healthy lifestyle and eating a healthy diet, one of the most vital keys to optimize continued success is preparation! Foremost, losing weight is about understanding your own strength and weaknesses when it comes your diet, and preparing yourself to tackle those weakness head on. Whether it’s portion control, that persistent sweet tooth or late night snacking, knowing your own pitfalls is the only way to overcome them. This week’s edition of New Product Tuesday brings you the FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer, a tool that can help portion out and preserve your meals for the week ahead of time, and will help ensure your weight loss success by eating the right foods, in the right amounts. With the fast pace of the daily grind, it’s easy to rely on pantry staples, like breads and crackers to get your through the hectic work week. Getting in fresh produce and meat can be tricky if you aren’t prepared. However, the FoodSaver vacuum sealer can make portion control and healthy eating as mindless as popping open that bag of chips, if you simply prepare yourself for the week ahead.
THE FACTS:
The FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer is a great invention that vacuum seals various types of food (both wet and dry) in order to preserve freshness 2-3 times longer and optimizes food for refrigerator and freezer storage. This tool can be extremely useful when preparing and consuming tons of fresh food (particularly meat and poultry) and while trying to watch the portion size of the food you consume. Like your mother always said, your eyes are hungrier than your stomach, and preparing your meals when you’re not hungry is a great way to ensure you are getting the right portions for weight loss (plus it takes about 30 minutes for your stomach to register “fullness”). Pre-packaging your meals will ensure that you’re eating the right portions of the healthiest foods, and the vacuum packed aspect of the FoodSaver will ensure that you’re getting the freshest tasting foods as well.
Here’s how it works: Food is placed in size appropriate, machine compatible plastic bags, with the open end placed into the food saver. The device then removes all remaining air from the bag and seals it shut, thereby preserving the food from any outside forces that may the food to spoil quickly.
REVIEW:
Quality & Utility:
A wide variety of sizes and brands of vacuum sealers exist on the market, however, “FoodSaver” is the go to brand for quality and durability. Their plastic “food saving” bags are sold in rolls that are BPA free. They are available in freezer and microwave varieties and come in pint, quart and gallon sizes. They also come in a variety of widths for various vacuum device sizes. Vacuum sealers are notorious for breaking easily and losing their “suction”, so it is important to invest in a good quality device, so you truly get what you pay for. It should also be noted that buying the device friendly bags can be a bit on the pricey side as well, but it is possible to reuse some of the bags, so keep that in mind when pre-packaging your food.
The FoodSaver vacum sealer is an investment, that can end up saving you tons of money (and extra lbs) and reduce waste in the long run. The cost of the FoodSaver is dependent upon the model and size. The premium model retails for around $300 through the FoodSaver site, however the model available at Costco, goes for $159.99. The FoodSaver mini sells for $69.99. The more expensive models do come with various accessories (like a marinating tray and canning attachments) which add to their value, but the pricier models tend to last longer and are more durable than the lower end varieties, so find the right device that works best for you or your family’s needs.
SUMMARY:
FoodSaver is the perfect solution for portion control and optimum freshness. When cooking meat, fish or chicken for dinner simply cook up extra portions, pre-portion out servings for future meals and vacuum seal them for the rest of the week. While it may take up a bit of time after Sunday dinner, it can end up saving you more precious time when you’re running out the door in the middle of a hectic week. The FoodSaver is also a great solution for fruit that is just about to spoil. Simply cut it up, vacuum seal it, and put it in the freezer. The frozen fruit is perfect for smoothies and frozen blueberries add a great little “crunch” for the top of your cup of Greek Yogurt.
This tool is also a great solution for saving money and buying in bulk, just break down food items and vacuum seal in order to take advantage of great deals. You can do this with meats, fish, nuts, dried fruit, even cheese, pretty much anything! Vacum sealing prevents freezer burn and optimizes freshness, which will make the food taste great, when you do get around to eating it. The FoodSaver can also be used to prevent spoilage on raw vegetables, simply vacuum seal veggies that you may not get to for a few days and pop them in the fridge. Since the seasons are just changing, it would be a smart idea to buy fruit in bulk from the farmers market and stock up for winter! Also, buying fresh fruits and veggies from the farmers market (most likely picked that morning) will optimize the nutrients of the produce, if you freeze it the same day, you’ll give your body a nutrient dense treat when it may need it most in the middle of winter.
The bottom line- the FoodSaver keeps your food fresh for about 2-3x longer than if you didn’t use it and will definitely ensure weight loss success if you prepare yourself for the week ahead. Just be sure to read the manual and follow the step-by-step instructions for operation in order to minimize the frustrations that can come up when using complex devices such as these. It is important to keep in mind that vacuum sealing is not a complete substitute for refrigeration or freezing, perishable foods must still be refrigerated, frozen.
If anyone has any suggestions, ideas or inquiries for our New Product Tuesdays segment, please feel free to email us at products@greenlitemedicine.com
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When on a low carb plan, who doesn’t feel a little nostalgic about certain sweets like muffins, cakes, or cookies! Here at GreenLite are always on the search for delectable low carb options to replace our old favorites and keep us on track.
There are four small muffins in each ThinSlim Foods Vanilla Muffins package. The good news is that each one of these delectable muffins contain only 2 net carbs, 0g of sugar, and 8g of fiber. They also have 6g of protein!
