Skip to main content

Healthy Snacks for the Weekend and Pre-Holiday Season

As the temps drop and the days become shorter, many of us become less active.  And with the holidays approaching, it's super important to watch what your waistline now so that you'll be able to treat yourself to that extra serving of macaroni and cheese and slice (or two) of pumpkin pie, later.  To plan your snacking strategy, Everything She Wants has compiled a short list of healthy treats and beverages to nosh on before the holiday gluttony begins.

Pass the Peeled Snacks, please.

1. Brooklyn-based Peeled Snacks makes the first certified organic, baked pea snacks. Peas are a uniquely nutritious veggie--they're packed with fiber, iron and protein. The brand of non-GMO (non-genetically modified) snacks also makes dried fruit, apple clusters and trail mix. Available at Whole Foods and online.

2. New to the U.S. market, 1907water from New Zealand is naturally alkaline balanced, which helps your body balance its acidity levels by mitigating the negative effects caused by stress, lack of sleep and poor diet. The water comes from a true artesian source and its high alkalinity and low mineral content give it a silky smooth finish. We received a case and enjoyed every drop. Each BPA-free bottle is made of 75 percent recycled material and are always 100 percent recyclable. Available at Fresh Market, Whole Foods and Shop Rite.

3. Appropriately named Boxed Water, another natural water we love comes in a box. Because the packaging is mostly made of paper, it reduces the carbon footprint.

Dancing Deer Baking Co. Chocolate Delights Sampler ($29.99).

4. Although cookies aren't the first thing that come to mind when you think of healthy snacks, if you're gonna cheat, make a quality choice. Dancing Deer Baking Co. goodies are made from scratch with wholesome ingredients. The preservative-free and Kosher sweets come beautifully packaged and they make great gifts. Choose from a variety of cookies, gingerbread bites, and the best brownies and blondies we've ever had. Dancing Deer has gluten-free treats, too. And with each Sweet Home gift purchased, Dancing Deer donates a portion of proceeds to help homeless and at-risk families. Save 20% on any cookie, cake or brownie gift with the code DEER6 (expires 12/31/2015) at DancingDeer.com or call (888) 699-3337.

5. Green tea is packed with antioxidants that can improve your health. For instance, green tea has been shown to lower cholesterol, prevent breast and colorectal cancer, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.  Green tea is also a natural fat burner and in conjunction with a balanced diet is often used to promote weight loss. Our pick is Chai Diaries Organic Green & Skinny, a fragrant and potent blend of Indian organic green tea.

Chai Diaries also makes Ayuverdic teas based on your individual dosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), which governs your temperament and body type. Our dosha is Pitta (Fire), which means we need cooling and stabilizing ingredients like chrysanthemum, saffron, green cardamom, hibiscus, lemon, peppermint and raspberry leaves.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

(Tracy E. Hopkins) It's the end of a budget shopping era. Conway discount stores are closing in New York City . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to the Big Apple, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore.  I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued.  I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store.  And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and

Giveaway: Thank Your Friends with Merci Chocolates!

National Friendship Day was August 4, 2013, but Everything She Wants has decided to continue the celebration with a giveaway from merci fine European chocolates . While some friendships are for a season or a reason, other friendships are built to last a lifetime.  I’m fortunate to have two best friends: Cindy, whom I’ve known since junior high school and Deanna, who started out as my amusing intern.  Besides my mother and my husband, these girlfriends are my greatest confidants.  They’re like the sisters I never had and we’ve supported each other through personal trials and triumphs. So what better way to say ‘thank you’ to your friends than with merci chocolates?  One lucky reader will win a ‘Friendship Kit’  that you can either keep to reward yourself for being such a great friend or share with a deserving comrade. The kit includes: $25 Target gift card (yay!) 7 ounce box of merci chocolates A picture frame to display a photo of you and your friends A choc

Probiotics Do a Body Good: Vitamin Shoppe Tips to Trust Your Gut

You've heard about probiotics.  But what are they and what do they do? We asked the Vitamin Shoppe's on-staff nutritionist Brian Tanzer for the skinny on the benefits of these good bacteria that help keep your gut healthy. Why you need probiotics? I f you eat a lot of processed foods, excess sugar or refined carbohydrates, the bacteria in your digestive tract might have a hard time staying in balance.  And probiotics   inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, boost immune function, and increase resistance to infection. Tip:   You can find them in  capsule , tablet,  powder  and  chewable  forms. When you should take a probiotic? If you are looking for a probiotic to  take every day, try a multi-strain probiotic starting with 5-10 billion CFU,  and see how it works for you. CFU's, or  colony forming units  are used to measure probiotics potency. CFU’s can range from 1 billion up to 100 billion.  The best time to take a probiotic supplem