Naturally Sweet

                                      
       
I'm always seeking for a sweetener that is fairly good for you, with minimal side effects, and has fewer calories than sugar. Until now I have been a believer in Splenda (which I still use on occasion because it is so readily available wherever you go).  My roommate recently brought home Truvia.  Since I am always willing to try new things and experiment, I gave it a go and sprinkled some onto a grapefruit half.  To my pleasant surprise, it was DELICIOUSLY sweet!  It actually tasted like sugar and didn't leave a strange after-taste like most artificial sweeteners.  I will now be using it on/in everything!  It is perfect for bland, barley tasting cereals and also to put in tea or coffee.

Truvia is made from the Stevia plant, so it is all-natural.  Apparently, it has been used medicinally for centuries by indigenous people!  I'm so grateful that it is now put into a form that today's consumers can utilize!

                                                                   

Carrots 'N Cake

                                                 

I love to read, especially since I travel for about 4 months straight, I am able to endulge in reading continually.  One of my favorite books is Carrots 'N Cake.  This book, written by Tina Haupert, is very beneficial to those of us who want to eat healthy as much as we can, while still enjoying a cookie every once in a while.  Haupert also has a blog, by the same name, which I love reading because she constantly adds new healthy recipes that she discovers or creates.  This is a light-read book that includes nutritious recipes for cooking and life.  I found this book on Amazon for about $11 and I also sent one to my sister, although I know she has not read it yet and I'm very disappointed....  Nevertheless, I highly encourage anyone wanting to make their lifestyle a bit healthier, while still enjoying delicious foods, to read it. 

Wonder Waffles, "Sting or be stung!"

                                       

Every Christmas my dad sends me a random combination of gifts...mostly from the checkout line in R.E.I. Without fail I always get some kind of all-natural sunscreen, at least 3 types of chapstick, several packages of mints, some winter socks, and a monogrammed notepad (don't ask me why my father sends me these things). This Christmas my package had a nice little surprise that I'm now obsessed with; Honey Organic Stinger Waffles.

Apparently Lance Armstrong loved the energy waffles he could get while biking through Europe so he sought out to have them made specifically for him (or so the package says). This product is all-natural and organically made. I love eating one of these for a pre-workout snack or if I'm in the middle of a long, grueling workout/day and in need a little burst of energy.

I have had the honey and vanilla flavors, but there's also strawberry. The honey was my favorite and it contains 160 calories, 7g fat (0 trans fat), 0 cholesterol, 55mg sodium, 14g sugar and 1g fiber. The ingredients include: Organic wheat flour, organic palm oil, Organic rice syrup, organic cane sugar, organic Honey, organic Whole wheat flour, organic Soy flour, sea salt, Organic soy lecithin, Organic spices and baking soda.