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25
Jun
2012
 Michelob Ultra Light Cider



BlogHer and Michelob Ultra asked me to review the new Ultra Light Cider (they sponsored this post)–the first ever cider produced Anheuser-Busch. It is the first light cider I have ever heard of. I was interested to know what it would taste like, and how much healthier it could really be. The Positives: It is gluten free, and 120 calories per bottle. Not too bad on the sugar either. This would be good for those who do not tolerate gluten as there is gluten in some ciders and beers. Made from apple juice, sugar, stevia, and sulphites to preserve. I was surprised to find stevia as one of the ingredients! I am glad there are no nasty artificial sweeteners used like aspartame.

The Negatives: The taste is not that amazing. The cider has a nice fizzy mouth-feel, and  is pretty refreshing, but the actual flavor is somewhat lacking. It has an apple candy flavor without the sour flavor. Overall, a very mild taste. Almost too mild. Some people might like that kind of flavor. If you don’t like strong flavors, or strong beverages, this would be for you. When I think of a cider, I think of drinking it in the fall weather, but this particular cider I could drink in the summer by the pool. Mainly because it doesn’t taste like a cider. It tastes like a mild, slightly fruity, fizzy beverage.

This is not for people who like to drink ciders. Rather, it would be a good pool-side beverage for those wanting something more refreshing and mild.

Overall, Michelob light cider is a great way to save some calories the healthy way. And for those of you who need a new pool-side beverage this summer, you could try out the light cider. Don’t be fooled by the “cider” name. Think, light apple candy adult drink! Haha.

Which favorite summer meal or activity do you think would go best with Michelob ULTRA Light Cider?

7
May
2012
 Sangria Weekend



I know I got the country celebration wrong when I made sangria. Sangria is a Spanish drink where as Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s heritage, etc. But, we didn’t really “celebrate” during Cinco de Mayo this year, so I went with making a light refreshing and somewhat healthy beverage instead.

I really need to get a glass pitcher… So ridiculous.
Healthier Sangria Recipe
Makes about 5 servings–I would recommend tripling this for larger parties or gatherings.

  • 1 bottle white wine (used a pinot grigio)
  • 2 oz. brandy (2 splashes)
  • 1 lime, sliced
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 1 orange, sliced (or 3 clementines)
  • 4-5 strawberries, sliced
  • handful of grapes, sliced in half
  • 3 packets stevia
  • pinch of salt
  • sprig of basil (or mint) in each drink (optional)
  • sparkling water (seltzer): one splash for each drink

Directions:
Combine all ingredients, except for the seltzer water and herb (add some at the end). Stir gently to combine. Refrigerate at least one hour to let flavors combine, or overnight. Taste test before serving to check the sweetness. You can add another packet of stevia or more seltzer water to get it to taste how you like. Serve over ice.

The fruit will absorb some liquid, so it will look like it doesn’t make that much. This is also why I recommend increasing the recipe size.

Such a pretty drink. The picture doesn’t do it justice. Oh, and if you don’t like pulp, sorry, this drink will get a little pulpy. Mr. Cyclist strained it before he drank his.

Nutrition Tip: Most sangria recipes use a lot of added sugar or sugar syrup. But, if you start with a slightly sweeter wine, let the fruit sit, and use stevia instead, you can avoid all that added sugar (and calories!).

Also, made some chicken sauteed with leftover avocado, then placed on top of pico de gallo, and salad greens. Perfect!

19
Jan
2012
 Work Coffee



I usually stop by Starbuck’s a few times per week at work (because there is one within walking distance!), but decided I could find a cheaper alternative to my indulgent habit.

I bought little instant packs of coffee–not the best tasting in the world, but only about $1.30 for 6 packs.

I bought aseptically packaged soy milk and chocolate almond milk (think healthier mocha) because it was just about the only aseptically packaged milk-type product I could find. They were each on sale for $1.

So, this brings the total cost to about $0.55 per coffee! Amazing. I figure I can refrigerate and re-use some of the soy milk and almond milk because I won’t need the whole thing every time I have coffee.

Do you have any cheap alternatives for your coffee?

16
Jan
2012
 A Few of My Favorite Things: Vegetarian Fajitas & Dark Chocolate Raisinets



I went to Clemson this weekend to visit a friend, and help her move into her new apartment. We have been friends since high school, but haven’t talked much since college until just recently, so it was great to be able to meet up again!

Went to dinner and shared some vegetarian fajitas… and queso!
I was impressed with how loaded up in veggies these were.

Got an after dinner/movie snack:
Did you know that they now make a peach/pear La Croix?! I saw it at Ingles grocery store, and I am going to make sure to get some next time I see it.

The next morning we stopped by Starbuck’s and I got one of these new raw bars (along with my nonfat misto) they sell just to try it out:
This bird food looking bar is made by Two Moms in the Raw. The only drawback is that the bar has 18 grams of sugar which mainly comes from agave and blueberries. The bar is pretty good, but I won’t be buying it again because there is too much agave in there for me. I like as little added sugar as possible even if it is a natural source.

I know, I know, and then I go and eat raisnets. Haha. The difference is that I don’t eat raisinets all the time, but I eat granola, oats, and bars like that more frequently. It’s all about what you do 80% of the time. The 20% doesn’t count–or that is what I say ;)

After I said goodbye to Valerie…
I got some new snacks on the way home.
Some Brazil nuts that Valerie got me into. I have always liked them, but didn’t realize you could buy Brazil nuts only. Brazil nuts are very high in selenium which is a potent antioxidant, but surprisingly research shows that if you supplement, you are at greater risk for non-melanoma skin cancer and possibly type 2 Diabetes. So strange. I will have to research this more…

Also purchased some pomegranate arils (so convenient, but pricey), and little tuna packs for snacks or work lunches.

Up next in the next few days: a new tasty quinoa recipe!

14
Nov
2011
 Malbec Wine Tasting



I don’t know a lot about the different types of red wines. All I know is that I like certain red wines, in particular, malbec wines. I used to like pinot noir, but now it has become a little sweet for me. Currently, I enjoy malbec wines and merlot on occasion.

Plus, we all know we can get wonderful antioxidants from red wine (as long as you don’t drink too much, then the health benefits start to dwindle).

My Dad, who is a wine connoisseur, invited me to a malbec wine tasting at the Vineyard Wine Market.  I like to think I can pick up some interesting flavors in the wines, but what I realized is that the wines start to taste like whatever you are eating on the side.

The first one was pretty bland compares to the others. The second was one of my favorites for the price. It was good, and almost as good as some of the others that we tasted later. Malbec wine is said to have originated from Cahors, France.
My favorite was the Reserve malbec. It is supposed to be the sexy one of the group. Haha. My Dad said the Kaiken was his favorite, but by that point, I had a hard time telling the difference. It was definitely good, but I preferred the other.

The main flavors that I taste in malbec wines (the flavors that malbecs are said to have) are: violet, black currant, vanilla menthol, truffle. I taste some other flavors sometimes, but those are the main recurring flavors, to me anyway. You could say whatever you want.

Maybe that is why wine tastings are fun–you can come up with wacky flavor profiles for the wine. We like to create our own idea of the flavor, and then compare it to what the tasting list says it should taste like.

I know that I enjoyed this wine tasting, and will be going to more in the future! Gotta get my resveratrol.

G

17
Jul
2011
 Food in St. John: Part 2



For breakfast, with a view of the ocean (one of my favorite things this trip), my Mom made her famous french toast. The key to excellent french toast is getting big fluffy bread and baking it with the egg mixture.
Other mornings my brothers would eat these ridiculously unhealthy cinnamon buns:
Too much saturated fat, not enough fiber, too much sugar, too much sodium…

Anyway, we stopped at some local restaurants including Vie’s Snack Shack. This is a true local stop. I think the owner said they have been there 50 years.
They are known for their conch fritters, garlic chicken with Johnny cake, rice and beans, and limeade. Most conch fritters I have tried have always been like hush puppies–all breading and not much flavor. These conch fritters were the best I have ever had. They came with a tasty dipping sauce which I think had cumin in it.
Even though this food was fried, it was nice to be able to try something completely different from what I would normally eat. I am not a big fan of chicken on the bone and fried, but everyone else loved it and said it was the best fried chicken they have had. The Johnny cake tasted like a fluffy, fried, doughnut pancake.
Perhaps the most popular place in Coral Bay, St. John is Skinny Legs. It is a bar that is known for their burgers, and you can even play a game of darts, or shop at the connecting small local stores.
We decided that my Dad should be the mascot for Skinny Legs because his legs are the skinniest I have ever seen. Apparently the owner has very skinny legs. Our waitress said they could possibly be tied for the skinniest legs.

And of course we had to go to the famous Woody’s. They have a well-known happy hour from 3 to 6 where you can get $1 drinks! Crazy. And my 18 year old brother could legally have a drink in St. John (even though it is part of the US). No one even asked for his ID.
I ordered a salad with shrimp:
I also ordered another shrimp salad at Aqua Bistro (the best restaurant in Coral Bay, in my opinion):
I have always loved salads with shrimp. This salad (pictured above) is probably higher calorie than you would think because it is tossed with a creamy Caesar dressing. Caesar salad is never a lower calorie menu option. I wasn’t looking to watch calories. I wanted some cold, and fresh tasting.

Another pretty looking fish entree at Aqua Bistro:
The Drinks of Vacation:
Big Kahuna Rum Shack in St. Thomas had the best frozen drinks so far. The ice was nice and thick, and it was not too sweet. We also stopped at this smoothie truck in the middle of nowhere. They were offering free rum with smoothies. I noticed that the Virgin Islands likes to giveaway rum.
I got some kind of coffee smoothie. Starbuck’s doesn’t giveaway free rum. Oh, and there is actually no Starbuck’s in the Virgin Islands. I should open one up there, and then I could live in paradise all year long!

And we made plenty of frozen drinks and margaritas at the rental house thanks to my cabana man.
Well, that’s all for now. I am going to start planning my next trip…

14
Jul
2011
 Food in St. John: Part 1



Plane Food
Did you know that Delta now has some food available for purchase in-flight? My Dad ordered a chicken salad sandwich that looked full of mayo, cheese, and white bread/croissant.
Not my idea of a healthy lunch. The red wine is a nice idea though. I grabbed a salad at the terminal earlier–smarter idea. I tried to check the nutrition facts of Delta’s menu items, but have not found any yet. They are trying to be somewhat healthy though. Delta has a Greek yogurt and Kind bar option for breakfast, and always has a fruit and cheese plate.

St. Thomas Welcome Drink
As soon as we got off the plane in St. Thomas, they had free shots of rum and were playing music. I thought it was hilarious. And then there was a bar at the ferry terminal which is where we had our first rum drinks!
Shipwreck Landing
Our first night we went to get some seafood at Shipwreck landing in Coral Bay, St. John. I had some tasty shrimp, and this rice cake side that I have never had before. It was delicious, and makes me want to think of a way to make a healthier brown rice cake.
Homemade Dinners
We were staying at a rental house, so we made quite a few dinners at home. If you travel to the Virgin Islands, be warned that the grocery prices are very expensive (more on this later). Turkey was over $10/pound. Grouper was over $20/pound (locally caught). A box of triscuits was about $8. A can of tuna was $4.

Pasta dinner one night:
Ok, I know this picture is a little ridiculous with my man standing there looking off into the distance. Just silly. We had a lot of dinners out on this deck with such a great view. It was my favorite thing. And yes, I did make my Mom buy wheat pasta which she was annoyed with because she likes authentic Italian food (she is part Italian).
Arroz con Pollo night:
Served with mango, plantains, and a salad.
Shrimp and Mashed Cauliflower:
I made the mashed cauliflower which my whole family enjoyed including my brothers. I carmelized onions, steamed the cauliflower for a while, and added spices while steaming. I mashed the onions into the cauliflower with some whipped butter, sour cream, and a small amount of cheddar cheese.

Dinner by candlelight:
My Dad made grouper–finally, some truly fresh seafood. You could taste the difference. This grouper had a more sea salt flavor, and meatier texture because it was so firm and fresh.
Psycho Baker’s aka “Trixie Treats” Dessert: Key Lime Pie
I kept telling my Mom there was no way she was going to find all the ingredients to a key lime pie at a tiny island grocery store. But, she was determined and she did find the ingredients–even the key lime juice!
This whole pie cost about $30 to make since the ingredients were so expensive. Graham crackers were $6 and these weren’t even organic! Psycho baker insisted that it was worth it. So, I let her bake away. Hey, if she was going to all this trouble to make the pie, I was going to eat it even if it wasn’t my idea of healthy.
To be continued…

15
Apr
2011
 Not Your Ordinary Crystal Light



Crystal Light sent me free samples of their new product: Crystal Light Pure. I was actually curious to try them because this new Crystal Light is made with stevia instead of artificial sweeteners.

Disclaimer: I received no payment to write this, but I did receive free samples. The views and opinions expressed in this post are in no way affiliated with Crystal Light. This review would have still been published even if I hadn’t received free samples.

So, one packet is 30 calories (one serving which is half a packet is about 15 calories). For one tall glass of water I only used half a packet (15 calories). This new Crystal Light is a lot milder and not as overwhelmingly sweet as the regular Crystal Light. There is absolutely no artificial taste. To me, it tastes like a weaker, healthier Kool-Aid. It’s nice and refreshing–just that little hint of flavor and sweetness.

It is important to note that this product is not sugar free. Flavors have between 3 and 4 grams of sugar per serving. No big deal at all because that is not even a teaspoon of sugar. The ingredient list is also a lot shorter:

EVAPORATED CANE JUICE, CITRIC ACID, MALIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, CALCIUM LACTATE, SUGAR, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF DRIED KIWI JUICE, NATURAL FLAVOR, REBIANA (TRUVIA BRAND SWEETENER), POTASSIUM CITRATE, MAGNESIUM OXIDE, SODIUM CITRATE, SALT, DRIED PURPLE CARROT EXTRACT AND DRIED HIBISCUS FLOWER EXTRACT (FOR COLOR).

The first ingredient is sugar, but that is by weight. And like I said, there is only 3 to 4 grams of sugar per serving. Citric acid is in everything. It adds that tart flavor. The bad thing is that citric acid wears away at your enamel. The good thing is that they add the calcium lactate which helps to maintain healthy enamel.

So, overall, I really liked this product and would probably buy it at the store. There is not many junk ingredients, and the sweetness and flavor is perfect!

27
Feb
2011
 Make Your Own Latte… Get A Milk Frother



I just love it when my coffee has some frothed foamy milk on top. It makes it taste more like I get whip cream on my coffee, but foamed milk is much healthier. I haven’t tried frothing soy milk yet, but I think it will be even more delicious.

I purchased the little Aerolatte milk frother for only $14 on Amazon.

Even though it is cheap, it still does the job. It takes about 10 seconds to create the foam. And it will save me money in the future. I won’t go to Starbuck’s as much and pay $2 for them to make me steamed and foamed milk!

Well, that’s my quick tip for today. I am off to watch the countdown to the Oscar’s red carpet, and maybe drink my own homemade latter or cappuccino.

 

9
Nov
2010
 Nutrition 101: Starbuck’s Holiday Beverages



The festive holiday season red cups are out in full force at Starbuck’s. Hot lattes are so appealing in these cold months. My Starbuck’s partner, aka my sister, asked me, what is the healthiest option at Starbuck’s? She begged me to write a post about it because she just loves her peppermint mochas, and I think she just wants to know how bad they are for you.

Nutrition Ranking (Based on Tall, 12 oz., Nonfat Milk Beverages)

#1: Nonfat Latte, Misto, or Cappuccino: Just coffee and milk–can’t go wrong

#2: Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte (any Skinny Latte aka nonfat and sugar-free): About 90 calories
#3: Soy Latte: Adds 30 calories and 4 grams of fat compared to the standard nonfat latte, but the soymilk adds a hint of sweetness and is satisfying

#4: Steamed Apple Juice: At least it’s 100% juice
#5: Nonfat Gingerbread Latte (or vanilla, caramel, hazelnut flavors): Adds about 15 grams of sugar compared to the skinny version
#6: Cinnamon Dolce Latte (regular sugar syrup used)
#7: Nonfat Mocha Image Source
#8: Nonfat Hot Chocolate: 190 calories and 37 grams of carbohydrate (mostly sugars)
#9: Pumpkin Spice Latte: about 200 calories and 38 grams carbohydrate for this festive treat. Want to save 50+ calories? Choose the cold drink: pumpkin spice light or pumpkin spice creme frappuccino.
#10: Peppermint Mocha: 210 calories and 44 grams carbohydrate. Don’t worry, Caitlin, you don’t have this treat very often, and hey, you need the sugar and carbs to run! Well, maybe the sugar syrup isn’t a very good source of carbohydrates, but I am just trying to make you see the positive.

#11: Caramel Brulee Latte: New this year; it is 240 calories, but has 50 grams carbohydrate (most of which is sugar!). Here is where it starts to get super sweet and high calorie…
#12: Toffee Mocha
#13: White Chocolate Mocha: 270 calories, 47 grams carb
#14: Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha: 320 calories, 60 grams carb (mostly sugar!!)
#15: Eggnog Latte: 350 calories, 15 grams fat, 42 grams carb for a 12 oz beverage! Yikes!

Whip Cream: You can save 60 calories and 6 grams of fat by skipping the whip!

What about bakery options?
Choose a bit-sized sweet: mini donut, treat-sized cookie, or petite scone all are about 100-150 calories. The marshmallow dream bar is only 210 calories, or split a sweet treat with a friend. And don’t forget that Starbuck’s offers oatmeal as a healthy start to your day. The worst offenders are the banana nut loaf, cinnamon chip scone, cranberry orange scone, double iced cinnamon roll, iced lemon pound cake, raspberry scone, and zucchini walnut muffin which come in at 470-500 calories.

My advice would be to make your own festive holiday treats because you can incorporate healthier ingredients into your recipe and save money! And you can even make your own coffee beverages with skim milk, a dash of cinnamon, vanilla, and pinch of a sweetener. But, that’s a whole other topic for a post…

Hope this answers your question, Caitlin! To check out more Starbuck’s nutrition facts, click here.

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