Healthy Eatery Alert: Spiral Diner

Healthy Eatery Alert: Spiral Diner.

Spiral diner serves organic vegan food in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas.  They also have a location in Fort Worth. Even if you are non-organic or non-vegan, I guarantee that there is something on the menu you will like. My boyfriend, a meat loving & non-vegan eater, favors the "Ate" Layer Burrito, while I enjoy the Sweet Luv' Us Hummus Wrap or the Big Texas Salad.  All extremely nutritious and yummy!

What else do I dig about this place? The owner's story.  You can read her full story on the website, but I will preview you it here.  Amy McNutt became vegan after filming a short film and seeing firsthand how heartless some of the dairy & egg farming practices are.  The owner was determined to provide access to good vegan food.  And that she has!  Another cool fact about the place: it is named after a Tool song.   The power & influence of music transcends into food/restaurants even.  I love it!

While I am not vegan or vegetarian, I can certainly respect the people who are.  Especially whenever it is a person not following a trend or next best thing, but rather one who has true respect for animals and certain farming practices.  I think we can all agree that even reducing meat consumption can have a good impact on the environment and benefit our health.  So with that said, if you are not vegetarian or vegan I encourage you to consider having a meat free day of the week or a few meat-free meals throughout the week.  On days you need some extra motivation to eat meat-free, visit the Spiral Diner.

Oh and in case you didn't know, Earth Day was on Monday.  Happy Earth Day y'all!  

Spiral diner website: http://www.spiraldiner.com/

Eat well,

Bri

Nutty Bites: Kombucha

Kombucha

Kombucha... could be the title of a meditation song or yoga pose, don't you think? Well, it's not.  It is actually a fermented drink that some say provides health benefits & medicinal properties.  I chose it as a "nutty bite" because it is fun to say, was recommended to me, AND has been around for centuries!!  In fact, the first recorded use of kombucha dates back to 221 BC during the Tsin Dynasty.

I am trying it for the first time.  I am skeptical.  Taste means A LOT to me.  I mean, I love all things health, but if food tastes like a cardboard box or I feel like I am drinking chopped up grass right out of the ground I just can't stomach it.  Eating healthy is about blending taste and nutrition!  So anyway, back to the first sip.  I try it.  Wow, I actually can dig this.  It tastes like flavored champagne.  And truth be told, I do love champagne!  Mine has a fun name too-  Cosmic Cranberry. 

So what exactly is beneficial about this stuff?  Well, straight from my bottle to yours... "With a unique blend of proprietary probiotics and powerful antioxidants, each bottle is designed to nourish your body from the inside out."  It has many B vitamins & folate in it as well.  

The ingredients list of the Synergy brand I am drinking made me laugh.  I love it when a company writes whatever the heck they want on their bottle.  Ingredients: 95% GT's organic raw kombucha, pure unsweetened cranberry juice, and 100% pure love!!!  Giving me 100% pure love for my $3.19?  I think I will take it.  This world could use a little more love, that's for sure.

So, one word of caution.  If you are weary about having little particles floating around in your drink, this may not be for you.  This is a raw food so strands of the culture may appear.  It doesn't bother me any, but I know we all have our quirks!

Probiotics, antioxidants, B vitamins, folate, & pure love.  Give it a try... it won't hurt you!  If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult with your doctor beforehand.

And I really think yogi's should come up with a kombucha pose! Just sayin'!

Eat well,

Bri

My Banana

My banana!

Who is ready for a rhyme? I know I always am.  I LOVE rhymes!  So, in honor of how easy to grab, healthy to eat, & tasty to add these yellow babies are I have decided to spend this week paying homage to the wonderful, great, & ever so yellow.... BANANA! 

My Banana

Oh, Banana

I love you so

You sound like Brianna

& you're very yellow!

Oh, Banana

You're a tasty treat

I'll eat you under a cabana

Or while dancing in the street!

Oh, Banana

So easy to grab

I can take you to Havana

Or just pack you in a bag!

Oh, Banana

It's simply no lie

I'll wrap you in my bandanna

And never cease to thrive!

Okay, now go and grab that banana. Take a bite & savor the flavor!  It's healthy,  it's tasty, & it should definitely be a part of your weekly nutrition.  Enough said.

Eat well,
Bri

Go Greek!

And no, I don't mean you have to join a sorority or fraternity to "GO GREEK!"

GO GREEK!!

I have heard from several people about how hard it is to "like" Greek yogurt.  For some, the issue is consistency and others it is taste.  

What if I told you that I have a secret to LOVING Greek yogurt?  Well, truth be told, it isn't really a secret as much as it is my own way of loving Greek yogurt.  And then, hopefully from there you can develop your own way!

Did you know I have a weird aversion to certain white foods?  Think mayo, sour cream, plain yogurt, etc.  It's the mixture of consistency & the plain white color that gets me!  After years of doing jump kicks at a dance camp next door to a mayonnaise factory, I wanted to gag at the sight or smell of mayonnaise, which then led to my aversion to all white, weird, mayo-like foods. Hey, we all have quirks, right?

Anyway, so what is my way of loving plain Greek yogurt?  Changing the color and adding wholesome ingredients!  It's that simple!

So tasty AND high in protein!

Here is my fave:
-1 container of Greek yogurt (plain)
-2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa (actually I don't really measure this.. I just stick 1-2 spoonfuls in there)
-sprinkle or 2 of sliced almonds

All you have to do is stir in the cocoa and sprinkle however many sliced almonds you want over the top.  I have also tried a sprinkle of granola or cereal in place of the almonds.  I bet dried fruit would be tasty as well, but sliced almonds are my favorite of the moment!

I prefer plain Greek yogurt to the flavored varieties simply because of the sugar content.  If you are one that does not care about sugar or if you want some Greek yogurt as a treat, the flavored varieties are definitely yours to try.  You can get almost any flavor now- from pomegranate to apple cinnamon. If I need something sweet, I love the Black Cherry flavor!

Does anyone else out there GO GREEK already?  If not, find your way to loving this stuff.  It is high in protein & will keep you full for a long time!  It's a great post-workout snack. Add in your own favorite toppings like vanilla, cinnamon, honey, cocoa, cereals, fruit, nuts, etc.  I read the other day about a way to make it a dessert with a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips & sliced bananas.  Many options so don't be afraid to try new things!

Eat well,
Bri