"Debbie Meyer GreenBags" Review

So this week I tried out the Debbie Meyer Greenbags that I purchased at Whole Foods Market ($9.99 for 20 multi-use bags).  Upon looking at my fruit and veggies that I stored all week in the bags, I am delighted to report that the bags helped keep the fruit/veggies fresher than they usually would have stayed.  I normally just store my fruit and veggies in the produce bags provided by the store.  After 5-6 days, my bananas would be too ripe, my tomatoes would have gone bad, and my lettuce would be wilted.  I have attached a photo of my still fresh fruit/veggies.  I will definitely wash my bags as directed and keep using them!  You can use each bag up to 10 times, so I definitely think the bags are a purchase worth making.

Fresh fruit/veggies after 5-6 days of storage

Salmon with Sunshine Rice

Photo from WholeFoodsMarket.com

So I found this recipe for Salmon with Sunshine Rice on WholeFoodsMarket.com and decided I really wanted to try it.  The recipe called for a brown rice (but I love couscous) and it also required about an hour and a half of cooking time.  When it came down to fixing the dish, I kind of went rogue and did it my own way.  This is my version of the dish...

Ingredients:
-12 oz. (wild) Alaskan Salmon fillet, bones removed and sliced into chunks
-1/2 cup Organic brown rice couscous
-1 Cup Chicken stock
-2 Cups Cauliflower florets
-1/4 Cup Chopped yellow onion
-2 tsp Curry Powder
-1 (14.5 oz) Can fire roasted diced tomatoes, with liquid
-2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
-Juice of 1/2 Lemon
-2 Tbsp chopped parsley for garnish

Directions:
1) Cook couscous according to package.  *For mine, I brought 1 Cup chicken stock to boil, added 1/2 cup couscous, covered and simmered for 12 minutes.
2) While couscous simmers, prepare salmon.  Heat 1-2 Tbsp EVOO in a saute pan over medium heat.  Add salmon skin side up and cover.  When salmon is almost completely cooked, turn over and continue to cook until completely done.  Place salmon in warm oven while finishing cooking.
3) In clean saute pan add 1 can fire roasted tomatoes, 2 tsp curry powder, chopped onion, lemon juice and cauliflower.  Heat to a boil, add cooked couscous and reduce heat to low.  Simmer covered for 5 minutes.
4) Garnish "sunshine couscous" with parsley and top with pieces of salmon.

*Another option would be to bake salmon while you prepare "sunshine couscous".  I prefer to saute with EVOO for an extra kick of healthy fats, and I also prefer the taste/texture this way.  Next time I might try shrimp instead of salmon, I think it would be delicious either way!

Product Trial - GreenBags

While doing my weekly Sunday grocery shopping, I saw these "Debbie Meyer GreenBags" again.  They claim to drastically increase the life of your fruits and vegetables, keeping them fresh for much longer than regular storage bags.  I have always wondered if they really work... I asked the gentleman working in the produce section at Whole Foods but he hadn't personally used them.  I decided I would give them a try and blog about my experience.  Today I "bagged" bananas, onions, tomatoes, cucumber and 3 heads of romaine lettuce.  I will report back how these bags affect the freshness of MY produce.

For $9.99, the box contains 10 medium and 10 large storage bags.  They can be reused 8-10 times each.

10 Most Overweight States

The Huffington Post released the top ten "fattest states" in the U.S.  The list starts with Mississippi and works its way through the south, finally ending with a tie between Michigan and South Dakota.  Two obvious factors that caused these states to land on this list are eating habits and sedentary lifestyles.  States with populations that generally embrace healthy, clean eating along with regular exercise won't find themselves on this list.  Places such as Seattle, Washington and Denver, Colorado which embrace outdoor activities and natural eating are great role models for other cities looking to "clean up" their act.

1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. Tennessee
4. Kentucky
5. Oklahoma
6. West Virginia
7. Alabama
8. Arkansas
9. Missouri
10. TIE: Michigan and South Dakota

**Strange coincidence? 6 of these states also place on the top ten list of least number of library visits per capita...Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Eat an Array of Colors

I have long been a believer in the idea of eating an array of fruits and vegetables in all different colors.  By eating an assortment of various fruits/vegetables you insure that you are consuming an array of nutrients.  I like to make a colorful salad, filled with an array of vegetables.  I made this salad with a 50/50 mix of kale and spinach topped with black olives, peas, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, purple cabbage & yellow squash.

My colorful salad - packed with an array of nutrients

Greens (such as spinach, kale, leafy greens, cucumber, avocado, pistachios, peas)
Green vegetables contain chlorophyll, fiber, lutein, zeaxanthin, calcium, folate, vitamin C, calcium, and Beta-carotene. The nutrients found in these vegetables reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, normalize digestion time, support retinal health and vision, fight harmful free-radicals, and boost immune system activity. The light shade of green found in avocadoes, kiwi and pistachios supply lutein, which is linked to preventing age-related vision decline. Pistachios are loaded with 20 essential nutrients, heart healthy monounsaturated fat (which controls appetite), and 3 grams of fiber per serving.

Red/Pink (Radishes, Red Onions, Red Peppers, Red Potatoes, Rhubarb, and Tomatoes)
Packed with phytochemicals such as lycopene and anthocyanins. Lycopene has been linked to positive effects on cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even male infertility.

Bright Oranges (such as carrots, oranges, mangoes)
Vibrant orange fruits and vegetables are packed with high levels of cancer preventing beta-carotene, which removes free radicals from the body.

Deep Blues and Purples (blueberries, eggplant, grapes, purple cabbage, and plums)
Blue and Purple fruits are known to possess powerful antioxidants called phenols and anthocyanins, which are linked to slowing the aging process plus heart and digestive health.

Yellow (Yellow Squash, Lemon, Corn, Yellow Peppers)
Contain beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, lycopene, potassium, and vitamin C. These nutrients reduce age-related macula degeneration and the risk of prostate cancer, lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure, promote collagen formation and healthy joints, fight free radicals, encourage alkaline balance, and work with magnesium and calcium to build healthy bones.

White/Tan (Banana, Cauliflower, Garlic, Ginger, Jicama, Mushrooms, Onions, White Corn, and White Potatoes)
Contain nutrients such as beta-glucans, EGCG, SDG, and lignans that provide powerful immune boosting activity. These nutrients also activate natural killer B and T cells, reduce the risk of colon, breast, and prostate cancers, and balance hormone levels, reducing the risk of hormone-related cancers.

Mail from Wellshire Farms!

I love companies that stick to the basic principles of good business, putting customers and service first.  Wellshire Farms saw that I used their products in my blog post and sent me a nice letter and coupons to try more of their great (healthy) products.  I am not sure what I will purchase next, I LOVE their turkey kielbasa but I will try a new product and post about it!

Today's Salad Bar Wrap

After my morning spin class (18 miles, wahoo!), it donned on me that the fridge waiting at home for me was slightly lacking.  I decided to stop at the local grocery store on the way home and grab some veggies and turkey from the salad bar.  I piled up everything I would want on a wrap without dressing or condiments.  I brought it home, threw it on one of my FAVORITE wraps (French Meadow Bakery Spelt Wrap, found at Whole Foods..I always have them in the fridge) with some Vegetas Roasted Red Pepper hummus to hold it closed and voilà a healthy, delicious post workout meal!