Trading a Paper Clip for a House

Aug 31st, 2006

On-the-Go Raw Food Bars

Aug 18th, 2006

If you find yourself out and about and you start to get hungry, don’t pull into a fast food restaurant or stop at a vending machine. Open your purse, glove box, backpack, or gym bag and pull out a raw food energy bar like a  Larabar or whatever your favorite brand is.  

These bars are called food bars because they actually contain food – usually only 4 – 6 ingredients (fruits, nuts, spice), period. They do not contain any preservatives, additives, flavorings, or anything processed. Plus they’re raw which helps to preserve the nutrients.

In the interview linked below, the CEO explains how the special packaging keeps them fresh for months.

One of the most popular flavors is apple pie which is made of dates,  walnuts, unsweetened apples, almonds, raisins, and cinnamon. And that’s it. Unbelievable when you’re used to seeing a list of 20 items in the typical snack bars. This bar has 190 calories but it’s pure food, no junk calories.

Thinkorganic! is another brand I’ve tried. Cherry Nut (220 calories) has organic cherries, organic dates, organic raw walnuts, and organic raw almonds.

Beware – these food energy bars do not taste like candy bars (thank  goodness!) And they aren’t cheap because they’re made with high quality ingredients. I’ve bought them on sale anywhere from $1 to 1.50 each.

If you’re adventurous, you can experiment and make your own. Or you can cut out the middle man (the food processor) and just baggie up some fruit (any dried fruit), nuts and seeds and you’re good to go!

If you aren’t usually hungry for breakfast, pack a food bar and a little yogurt or a piece of fruit to take to the office. It goes down easy.

These food bars are a healthy snack option. Ask that they be added to the vending machines in your building. We’ve heard that healthy foods don’t sell in vending machines. But because these bars are trendy (as well as nutritious), I think they’ll sell! Ask for them.
 

More Articles on Food Bars

Article about the Organic Food Bar
Interview with Lara Merriken, CEO of Larabar Larabar – Energy Bar review

Cooking Cute – Packing Bento

Aug 17th, 2006

How to eat less and enjoy it more….pack bento!I found an interesting blog site that shows you how to package food-to-go so that it looks appealing and cute. It’s called packing bento. Your kids will love it and so will you.

When food looks good and is attractively displayed, we’re more likely to savor it and eat slowly. Beautiful food helps us slow down and focus on eating. We’re also more likely to be satisfied with less food. Packing bento is a way to eat smaller servings without feeling denied. The pleasurable appearance of the food captivates us. We engage and enjoy – that’s a great combo for eating less and enjoying it more.

If your lunch looked like this, would you enjoy it more?

Traditionally bento food is Japanese, but the author of the site includes all types of foods in her bento packing.

Be sure to visit the gallery so you can see all the fabulous pictures of bento. Click on the photos to see them lifesize. Beautiful.

Here’s the description of what bento is and how to pack bento.

Why are Fast Food Restaurants So Compelling?

Aug 13th, 2006

Have you noticed that a huge percentage of people eat a huge number of meals at fast food restaurants? And they’re getting pretty huge. I think fast food is popular partly because of the fast food environment. For most people, the environment is compelling.

The Fast Food Environment

• They’re brightly lit and clean (mostly).
• They have a straightforward menu of relatively few choices so decisions are easy.
• When ordering you just say a number and get everything that comes with it.
• Meals average between $4 and $5. It sounds cheap.
• Families like them because their kids like the food and the playground equipment. So no whiney-battles.
• Fast food restaurants were built for kids – big ones and little ones. And they serve happy meals and the kids get prizes.
• Each food chain standardizes its food so it tastes the same no matter what city you’re in. Certainty in an uncertain world.
• Many people eat alone in fast food restaurants so no one feels funny doing it. If you’re eating alone, you get a little company and people to watch.
• You can get your order quickly, chew quickly (because there’s no fiber), and get out quickly.
• You can take your food to go and eat it in the car because it’s packaged for take out. I’m not saying this is a good idea. I’m just saying that people have grown to like this option.

Fast Food Nation

Fast food executives and marketers have developed a popular product mix and welcoming environment. They’ve grown an entire culture into a fast food lifestyle and are educating the youth to this way of life.

The challenge for individuals, families, and health educators becomes one of offering a healthy food environment that is just as compelling as the fast food environment. It’s going to take creativity and effort to turn this unhealthy fast food lifestyle around.

With the growing concern about obesity, (now our children are also at high risk) the time is right to create a healthy fast food kitchen in each of our homes. McDonald’s and Wendy’s and Burger King and Taco Bell and all the rest will provide our blueprint. We should be able to beat them out!

Getting People Back Into Their Own Kitchens

I’ve never moved a massive group of people out of fast food restaurants into their own kitchens before. It’s a little intimidating, and very exciting. I’m thinking a lot about how to do that. I will be offering teleclasses and creating programs toward that goal.

How about we take the lead away from the fast food restaurants and create home kitchen environments that are more compelling than fast food restaurants!

More Articles:
[postsincategory#2]

Cool Paper Folding Thing

Aug 12th, 2006

If you have kids, and even if you don’t, you might like to make one of these cool folding things. You can print the colored paper that needs to be folded on a color printer and then just fold it. Fun! Here’s the link: Chapter 9: Mathematics