Eating Healthy Helps

There are a couple of items I can't do without.  On my journey to healthy living I have had some foods come and go.  Some I can't give up for anything.

Fage Greek Yogurt.  I have eaten yogurt nearly my whole life.  When I was young the yogurt was more natural.  These days if you check your labels you'll find that there is a lot of stuff in there besides yogurt.  Check the label of Fage.  There is nothing in there at all except yogurt.  Because the Greek method of yogurt making strains out more water and whey the finished product is creamier and more delicious.  And that's just the fat free!  Other brands of Greek yogurt are not as additive-free as Fage.

I eat this with fresh or frozen fruit.  I also add Torani sugar free syrup or Mio water enhancer for flavoring.  One of my newest additives is ground flax seed meal.  Fage also makes a Greek Yogurt dip  I sometimes make my own with cucumbers, onion and oregano.


Bob's Red Mill Flaxseed Meal

I started adding the flax seed meal to my yogurt because I saw someone at work doing it.  Flax seed has loads of nutrients.  It is high in Omega 3 fatty acids.  It is good for digestion high in fiber.  It lowers cholesterol.  What I never expected was that it tastes fantastic!  I love the nutty flavor it adds to my yogurt.  I haven't branched out to other uses of this yet but it can be added to baking.  I keep it in a plastic container in the fridge to keep it fresh.  I've already used up my first bag.  

Mio Water Enhancer. 

This little bottle contains concentrated flavor.  I squirt a little in my water bottle.  I usually use tap water rather than buy bottled water but it works for either.   I use it to flavor my Greek Yogurt.  While flavored syrup is nice to use this does not thin down my yogurt too much.  Unlike powdered single serving drink mix you can use as much or little as you need.  It comes in lots of fruit flavors and also flavored tea.  I'm not a tea drinker so I stick to the fruit.  

I buy these puppies by the case when I can.  At 15 calories per pop I eat them in multiples.  These seem to fill the void that Diet Coke used to fill since carbonated beverages are off limits after bariatric surgery.  I've tried generic brands but they don't have the same flavor or texture.  I either get these or the Tropical assortment.  There is a sugar free multi pack with creamsicles and fudgesicles as well as the ice pops.  The fudgesicles are good but more calories.  The creamsicles do not taste good at all.  Very bland.  They need to juice up the recipe.

Naturally there is a lot more to healthy eating than these products.  I enjoy seasonal fruits.  Right now cherries are in season and cheap.  There are still blueberries but the price is not as low as a month ago.  Any time now we'll be having fresh tomatoes from our garden.  There is nothing in the world that tastes like a home-grown tomato warm from the sun.  

I'll share more healthy eating ideas soon.  I'm always trying new things. 

Love to all, 

Marlena of Mohegan