I’m very intrigued by these cookies, even more so because of their ridiculously high price. It wouldn’t deter me, though, if their ingredients make them worth it. I’ve been known to purchase a container of hemp protein powder for $18.99 or a canister of Aztec Hot Chocolate for $8.99.

You know, I balk at spending more than $50 on any item of clothing, shoes, or bag, but I have no problem dropping $150 on groceries in one pop. Does that make me a food snob? I guess I just feel like what’s going IN my body is more important to me than what goes ON it. That also explains why I give myself a huge grocery budget compared to other people my age/in my income bracket.

georgiegirlnyc:

For all the cookie monsters in my life who also try and remain healthy, I just stumbled across a treat for you.

I popped into the Westerly Natural Market (I thank my lucky stars I live so close) to pick up some supplies.  They always have someone in there peddling a new product.  And I always stop and have a little taste.  Which is how I discovered Cavemen Cookies. From their website:

All of the ingredients in Cavemen Cookies are basic items that early men and women had access to. That means that they are All-Natural, Gluten-Free, and contain no grains or dairy. Better yet – they are just 65 calories per cookie!

They’re made from nuts, fruit and honey! In fact - our cookies are made from such simple, wholesome ingredients that they will satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you feeling full and satisfied due to the protein, dietary fiber, and good fats that they contain!

I don’t even particularly like cookies but I do have the largest sweet tooth known to man.  OH MY GOD.  These cookies are divine.

The only downside is that they are pricey - $10.99 for a 6oz bag.  That’s what I get for grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

Snack Attack: Aztec Spicy Hot Chocolate

After an admittedly rough week (of very little eating or running), I felt it was time to treat myself to something that would warm my stomach and my soul. When fall starts to roll around (and it’s definitely rolling around… pretty quickly!), I can’t get enough hot liquid. Whether it’s in the form of soup, baths, or yummy drinks, you can find me partaking in some form of hot liquid pretty much all the time. My favorites? Hot apple cider (spiced with rum if I’m feeling extra festive!) and of course, hot chocolate.

But I’m not going to splurge on just any run-of-the-mill Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix. Nooo, friends. I want the good stuff. And in case anyone was wondering, Mexican hot chocolate = the good stuff. Check out the ingredient list on this baby: sugar, dutched cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, cayenne pepper. Yum, right? A serving is 70 calories. Adding a cup of almond milk puts me at around 150, just about the perfect amount of a sweet treat after dinner. Sipping a hot drink also lasts a lot longer than eating a piece of dark chocolate. I’d say it’s win-win.

Alright, time to go immerse myself in hot liquids (a shower) and then consume some hot liquids (chocolate delicioso) while watching some hot Gossip Girl.

Snack Attack: Trader Joe’s Non Fat “Pleasantly Tart” Frozen Yogurt

By now, you guys have to know what a huge fan of froyo I am. It’s one of my favorite healthier sweet treats. I especially love the soft serve tart kinds that are often served with fun fruit toppings. That’s why I was so ecstatic to find out TJ’s had come out with its own version of tart froyo. Alas, TJ’s version is a poor imitation of the more expensive stuff.

For starters, the texture is just off. TJ’s version of tart froyo is hard scoop (I have to leave it out of the freezer for 10 minutes before I can even begin to serve it). If I’m dealing with hard scoop, I want it to be ice cream (or at least some delicious, ice cream-like flavor of Stucchi’s froyo!). The texture of the tart froyo sold at places like Pinkberry, etc., is half of why it’s so great.

The taste was also off. TJ’s froyo is too tart and not creamy enough. I know, it’s non-fat, but somehow, the retail places manage to make their stuff taste creamy while still containing no fat. The flavor balance in TJ’s version is just off. Maybe if they offered another version besides plain, the flat tartness wouldn’t be soo off-putting?

Mr. Joe, I think this is the first time you’ve let me down so completely. I’ll continue to eat my carton of your frozen yogurt because I’m not THAT picky and I want to save money going to the pricey froyo shops. But let this be a warning to you: I don’t love you unconditionally. If you let me down too many times, I’ll leave you in a hot second.

Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll never stop shopping at TJ’s!

Snack Attack: Zucchini Sticks Redo from According to Lia

The bad news? I’m sort of a sucker for bar food. Mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, and potato skins are pretty much my kryptonite. The good news? Bar food is pretty easy to Nutritionista-fy. It just takes a little creativity. It also takes a little of my favorite method of cooking: baking! I already make homemade fries that I think are just as good, if not better, than the real thing. These zucchini sticks from Lia are just another item to have in my healthy bar food arsenal.

Snack Attack: TJ’s Apple Cranberry Bran Muffins

Okay, so normally I don’t believe in muffins. Often topping 400 or 500 calories, muffins are glorified cake (without the frosting). Usually I’d rather eat cake than muffins, so muffins really have no place in my life. Muffins are a dessert masquerading as a healthy breakfast food. If you’re going to eat a muffin, at least know that it’s dessert.

These muffins? Are different. These muffins are the anti-muffin. The ingredient list gets a double thumbs up from me: wheat bran, water, white grape juice, whole wheat flour, apples, cranberries, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. And the nutrition stats seem physically impossible:

Calories: 80
Fiber: 13g (!!!!)
Protein: 5g

These muffins seem too good to be true and really, they are because they’re not for everyone. These are not your grandma’s muffins. They’re small, dense, sort of chewy, highly textured, and very bran-y. But they’re extremely filling and the bursts of cranberry are genius.

If you’re a pastry-in-the-morning type of person and you’re somewhat adventurous about highly fibrous foods, I’d suggest you head to your nearest Trader J’s and check out these bad boys. Just don’t come running to me if they aren’t cakey and fluffy like your normal morning cake—er—muffin. They’re a different animal entirely, although they resemble a muffin just enough to satisfy most carby cravings.

For anyone who was wondering, yes, the new peanut butter & jelly flavored LARABAR tastes just like the real thing. Definitely worth a try if you’re a fan of PB&J.

Snack Attack: Popcorn, Nature’s Crunch

If you go to the grocery store, you’ll find more chips, pretzels, and other carby (yet nutritionally empty) delights than you can shake a stick at. I try to avoid buying those because I’ve found a better alternative: POPCORN! But notthe microwavable kind that often has added trans fat or other weird stuff. I’m talking about the kind you buy in kernels and pop yourself on the stove.

I pour a little bit of canola oil (1 T or so) into a non-stick pan, add a single layer of kernels (~1/4 cup), and then turn the burner on high heat. About five minutes later, I have a bowl of delicious popcorn (wait until there are a few seconds between pops before taking the pot off the heat). I usually season my popcorn with salt, pepper, and sometimes a little bit of parmesan or nutritional yeast.

Not only is stovetop popcorn unprocessed, it also has a little bit of fiber, and is fairly low cal (about 150 calories for three cups). It’s also really satisfying… after a bowl, my snack attack has usually more than passed. Oh! Let’s not forget, it’s dirt cheap. I roughly calculated that each serving of my organic popcorn costs less than 25 cents. This is another instance where cheap meets healthy meets delicious.

Snack Attack: Flattened Banana

Trader Joe’s is a magical place where all your wishes and dreams come true. That’s all I’m trying to say with this post. Every time I walk into that place, I come out with five times more food than I ever intended to buy. One of those impromptu purchases on my last TJ’s run was this package of joy: dried flattened bananas.

Don’t get me wrong, I love fresh bananas, but sometimes I can’t eat them before they get too mushy. Enter dried bananas. They last forever and so does their amazingness. Great on sandwiches, topped with almond or peanut butter, wrapped around nuts or other dried fruit, wherever your imagination takes you. Personally, I can’t imagine a better dessert than one of these babies spread with PB or other nut butter and topped with dark chocolate chips or shredded coconut. I’m drooling a little bit just thinking about it.

I maintain that for every processed food-like substance, there’s a healthy, natural alternative (that’s JUST AS TASTY, if not more). Artificial fruit roll-ups? A thing of the past. Real banana roll-ups? The wave of the future.