Poignant Words About the Importance of Healthy Eating

In an article on HuffPo examining the trend of supplements as weight-loss aids (specifically the recent "it" supplement being African mango), Dr. Julie Chen wrote the following (emphasis mine):

"Don't get me wrong, I am clearly not opposed to supplements, and find them to be helpful in augmenting treatment and health goals... But they are not supposed to be quick fixes that take the place of healthy habits. The healthy habits need to be the foundation of how we achieve our health goals. There are certain supplements and many patient cases where supplements are absolutely necessary above and beyond a healthy diet, but my point is that the healthy diet should be the foundation first and foremost. Supplements are meant to be a gap-filler to augment an already healthy lifestyle. So, I have to frequently caution my patients against continuing an unhealthy lifestyle thinking that supplements are the equivalent of eating a balanced, healthy diet... They are not.So, for everyone reading this article, I would like to propose that we establish food in its natural form in a mostly plant-based diet that is anti-inflammatory as the foundation of weight loss, cholesterol and sugar management, and disease prevention. Then, the supplements that are appropriate and safe for your desired health goals can be layered on top of that foundation to help augment your attempts at your health goal. But, remember to always check with your physician to make sure that those supplements are safe for your medical history."

Love this, and couldn't agree more. And on that note, have a wonderful and veggie-filled weekend!

Food for Thought: Breadcrumbs

Have you ever checked the ingredient list on pre-packaged breadcrumbs? I remember the first time I did, and was shocked at a few things - most of all the sheer number of ingredients, and also the presence of certain things like milk products and unpronounceable ingredients that I wouldn't think have anything to do with breadcrumbs. Breadcrumbs aren't terribly hard to make from scratch, but it's nice to have a go-to store-bought option - and aside from panko breadcrumbs, I had no such luck for a few years.And then finally, a couple of weeks ago, I found Edward & Sons Organic Italian Herbs Breadcrumbs. The ingredients? Nice and clean - only 9 present, and all serving an obvious purpose. See for yourself here.And these breadcrumbs taste great (and are organic and vegan-friendly!), so I couldn't recommend them more!I found Edward & Sons brand at New Frontiers, and Whole Foods and other natural foods stores should carry it as well.Any other brands of breadcrumbs you recommend that fit the short ingredient list/organic/vegan criteria?

Food Shopping: Olive Creations

After dinner at Pita Jungle in Phoenix, we were about to hit the road and continue on our way home to Prescott when we noticed Olive Creations amidst the Norterra shops and decided to park and take a look inside - a decision that proved to be well worth while!The walls of this shop are lined with vats of extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars infused with an inventive array of flavor combinations. Some other products are sold as well - like pastas, sea salt, salsas - but the oils and vinegars are the main attraction. Everything sounded so good, so we made our way around the store, tasting small drops of most options so we could narrow down our favorites and make a purchase decision - sampling everything from wild mushroom & sage, harissa, and organic herbs de provence extra virgin olive oils; and dark chocolate, black cherry, and cinnamon pear balsamic vinegars. As tempting as it was to go home with a variety of oils and vinegars, we decided to stick with one of each for now and bought a bottle each of the blood orange olive oil and vanilla balsamic vinegar.I loved the blood orange oil because you could still taste the olive essence, and that was so nicely complemented by the citrus of the blood orange. I imagine it will work really well on salads and fish. As for the vinegar we purchased, the vanilla is not overpowering; it's mostly noticed as a gentle aftertaste on your palate. We thought it would pair well with a wide range of both sweet and savory foods - and so far we've been proven right. Here are the two dishes in which we've used the vinegar so far - one of which may be a little unexpected!It's also worth adding that one of the owners was manning the store the night we went in, and she was very friendly, helpful and patient. I couldn't recommend this place more if you're in the area.I've been a big fan of The Filling Station in Chelsea Market, nearly around the corner from where I currently live in Manhattan, and noticed they have many of the same infusions as Olive Creations - so I wonder if both stores might work with the same distributor. Olive Creations' prices are better though - plus it's in Arizona, which I will be calling home as of this spring so I'm excited to still have a store like this in my vicinity even after making a cross-country move. If I could ask one thing of Olive Creations though, it would be for them to stock up on and start selling black truffle salt (like The Filling Station)!