I Heart Keenwah Superfood Snacks [Review]

I am sure that most people have heard of quinoa (pronounced keen-wah). This superfood goes back to ancient times where it was prized for being the mother of all grains. Quinoa is important for vegetarians and vegan because it is the only grain that is a complete source of protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids. If you do not eat meat or fish, quinoa should be an important staple in your diet. Quinoa provides a source of nutrition that is gluten-free, high in fiber, and has a high protein content. Knowing all of these great benefits, I Heart Keenwah created a perfect snack containing quinoa and a variety of other superfoods like nuts and dried fruits.

I Heart Keenwah Quinoa Clusters        ($4.99 per bag)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
All natural ingredients	Not certified organic
Filling and satisfying

I received two flavors of I Heart Keenwah snacks: Almond and Chocolate Sea Salt. The Almond package contained quinoa clusters with big chunks of almonds. I like being able to identify the ingredients in my snacks, so I appreciated that the almonds were in big chunks. The Chocolate Sea Salt quinoa clusters also had big chucks of almonds and the tops were covered with a few drizzles of chocolate. Between the two flavors, I liked Almond better. This flavor had the perfect amount of sweetness and saltiness. I was a bit disappointed in the Chocolate Sea Salt clusters because the chocolate flavor did not come through very well. The quinoa clusters are 1 inch squares. Perfect for a snack that you can pop in your mouth.

My husband and I both enjoyed I Heart Keenwah all natural quinoa clusters. I am not big on packaged snack foods, but I can see myself buying these at my local Whole Foods. I Heart Keenwah snacks are sold in retail stores and online at Abe's Market. For your nearest retailer, search here. If you are looking for a new snack unlike anything you have ever tasted, but tasting even better, pick up a package of I Heart Keenwah quinoa clusters at your local retailer.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday - Produce Strikes Back

The purpose of this post is not to promote eating meat, being vegetarian, or vegan. I found it adorable and wanted to shared with my readers.

Tweet

Looking For a New CSA Farm

Since our last CSA Farm no longer offers the CSA option, I am on the hunt for a new CSA Farm for 2013 and beyond. Local Harvest is a great resource for farms and CSAs. I love that I can search for a CSA by zip code. I started with Local Harvest and came up with a list of 5 potential CSA farms.

As I was looking at the listed farms, I was surprised by how many of them offered meat. There were even a couple of local farms that were mostly devoted to meat, including chicken, poultry, grass-fed beef, sheep, and goats (all natural, antibiotic-free, hormone-free, pasture fed animals). I strive to buy grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and anything else local, but I never quite known how local the meats are at Whole Foods (yes, I know I could ask the employees, but I haven't). I feel somewhat satisfied and relieved to find out that there are a number of local farms that offer high quality meat. I feel like I am reaching a new level in my eco-friendly living. Eating local, pasture-raised meat is like music to my ears.

Currently, only my husband eats meat in this house. I have started slowly incorporating fish back into my diet because of specific dietary needs in the current chapter of my life, but no meat for me yet. I do eat a local, organic, pasture-raised egg every morning and consume whole fat dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.), which is either local, grass-fed, and/or made from raw milk. I like staying as close to the natural source as possible. The less processing there is, the more nutrients my body gets from the foods I eat. Of course, serving high quality, local, organic, pasture-raised, grass-fed meat to my husband, my family, and my friends is very important to me. I am currently reading a book that talks about the amazing health benefits of eating real meat, real dairy, and real fats (more to come on that in another post).

My goal for 2013 is continue to transition to locally sourced produce, meats, and dairy. Tonight, I felt like I took another baby step in this direction. I am very excited about all of the CSA opportunities.

>> What are your food goals for 2013?
 

Tweet

A Vegetarian in a Steakhouse

I have not officially announced on my blog that I am a vegetarian, but I hope some of you have realized that I do not eat meat or fish by some of my recent posts (Vegetarian Thanksgiving, 21 Day Vegan Kickstart, and When Was the Last Time You Ate Meat). Most of the time, I do not experience roadblocks to eating vegetarian. There are vegetarian options available at most restaurants, even if you sometimes have to get a little creative. On a recent trip with my husband, we were in the land of good food and gourmet steakhouses on every corner. Although I do not eat meat or fish, I still prepare it for my husband and we still go to steakhouses (my reasons for becoming vegetarian will be coming in a different post).

After doing some research, my husband selected a steakhouse and we made a reservation. Of course, I reviewed the menu before we made the reservation to make sure there was something I could eat there. We arrived at the restaurant and were promptly seated. Our waters were poured. The bread basket arrived. We were deciding on our order. The waiter came over to take our order, starting with me.

Me: I would like the baked sweet potato and the broccolini.
Waiter: And what would you like for your dinner?
Me: That is all that I am having, I am a vegetarian.

I had no hesitations about telling him that I do not eat meat or fish, but his reaction really hurt my feelings. The waiter shook his head in disbelief that I was not ordering meat. I started to say that I was at the restaurant for my husband, but the waiter already turned to my husband to take his order. He had no interest in talking to me.

This is the life of a vegetarian in a steakhouse...
 

Tweet

When Was the Last Time You Ate Meat?

This week, a friend of mine (who knows that I am eating a vegetarian/vegan diet now) asked me when was the last time I ate meat. What an interesting question! I have not even thought about how long it has been. I recall having one bite of a grilled piece of local flank steak on Wednesday because my husband said it was  delicious and I had to try just one bite. But aside from that bite and maybe a few other small bites over the past month or two, I have not eaten meat. Surprisingly, I do not miss eating meat at all. The piece of meat that my husband said was delicious did not really taste like anything to me (but do not tell him that!).

During the conversation with my friend, I mentioned that I used to be a big chicken and fish eater. Wow, I cannot believe that I am actually saying I "used to be" a big chicken eater. I never planned on becoming a vegetarian/vegan. I stumbled upon it. A series of events, bloggers, friends, and maybe a little Divine intervention, and I am now a vegetarian/vegan.

I call myself both a vegetarian and a vegan because quite honestly, I mostly eat a vegan diet. The only dairy I consume is cheese and butter. I discovered that a vegetarian/vegan diet is easy on my digestive system. I have also found that I feel better overall.

>> If you are a vegetarian, vegan, or even a carnivore, when was the last time you ate meat?

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday - Going Back to the Start

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday - Which Chicken Would You Pick?

Source: Food, Inc.

The chicken on the left is grown under normal conditions. The chicken on the right is what farmers who are part of Agribiz are producing. The chicken on the right is grown in about 20 fewer days.  This chicken is fed food that chickens are not meant to eat so that it can grow bigger breasts.  It is unnatural and disgusting!

>> Which chicken would you choose?
 

Tweet