These pecan date balls go perfect rolled in shredded coconut

Ingredients

½ cup chopped pecan pieces

1 small sliced crystallized ginger, chopped

¼ cup chopped dates

¼ tsp orange zest

1/8 cup maple syrup

½ cup shredded non-sweetened coconut

Directions

Put all of the ingredients, minus the coconut, in a food processor and hit the pulse button.  Then finely grind the mixture.  With wet hands or gloves, roll into ½” balls, then roll in the shredded coconut.

Makes approximately 24 coconut pecan date balls.

Technorati Tags: coconut, dates, dessert, healthy desserts, maple sweetened, pecan, vegan, vegan dessert

The mango smoothie is easy to prepare and sweet to taste

This easy to make mango smoothie is a great way to cool off this summer and also meets your fruit requirements for the day.

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen mango chunks

1 cup orange juice, low sugar

1/3 cup agave syrup

½ cup plain lowfat yogurt

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Place the mango chunks in a blender and use the pulse setting to chop, then blend for a few seconds.  Add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.  Add more agave syrup to taste.  Yields 4 cups.

Technorati Tags: agave, fruit smoothie, mango, mango smoothie, smoothie, summer

Fruits watches, produced by Fruitz, have been creating quite a buzz lately, not only because of the brand’s fashion appeal and fun image, but also because of the natural frequency technology embedded in each watch.

The concept behind Fruitz is that just as fruits provide our bodies with nutritional value, so do these watches. How so? The Natural Frequency Technology disks on each watch contain the same frequencies at which the earth resonates (7-9 hz). Through the disk these key frequencies flow into the body of the watch wearer. It communicates with the bio field, and helps regulate the biorhythm of the wearer. It is truly a breakthrough technology, developed by Philip Stein.

In particular, it is the Fruitz Classic collection that represents a large range of Fruits. There’s the Grapefruit Fruitz Classic Watch, the Organge Fruitz Classic Watch and the Lemon Fruitz Classic Watch representing citrus fruits. Then there is the Blueberry Fruitz Classic Watch, the Blackberry Fruitz Classic Watch, the Raspberry Fruitz Classic Watch and the Strawberry Fruitz Classic Watch representing the Berry family. Fruitz range from the typical, such as the Red Apple Fruitz Classic watch, to the atypical, such as the Lychee Fruitz Classic Watch, taking fashion watches…and nutrition to a whole new level!

Technorati Tags: fruts, health, watches

There are over 1200 varieties of watermelon in the world

Enter a beautiful summer day in a neighborhood full of playing children with a large cut up watermelon and you are sure to be surrounded by new friends eager to grab a slice of the sweet and juicy fruit.  This is why this tropical plant, which originated from Africa, has become one of the most popular picks of the season.

Watermelon can be found in just about any country these days, and is grown in places like Asia, Africa, Mexico, the United States, and even Russia. This amazing fruit contains six percent sugar and the rest is water.  But the nutrition and fiber is pretty high.  Watermelon is high in beta-carotene and lycopene, which are great cancer fighters.

When you think of the watermelon it is common to imagine a large, round green fruit with a red flesh interior and black seeds.  But that is not the only variety available.  In fact there are over 1200 different types of watermelon that exist today.  A popular find in most grocery stores is the seedless watermelon grown in Mexico, which can range anywhere from a cantaloupe size up to one larger than a basketball.  You can also find yellow watermelons, which are sweeter than red ones and have a slight honey flavor; and oblong watermelons that are also super sweet.

Whichever variety of watermelon you choose you will be sure to please just about any palette.  This is also a very versatile fruit that goes great with any barbecue, wedding, or any other occasion.

Technorati Tags: Fruit, party food, seedless watermelon, summer fruit, tropical fruit, watermelon, watermelon varieties

Top Ramen noodles taste great and are cheap, but can be unhealthy

If you have attended college on a shoestring budget you may be one of the thousands of students who choose a diet consisting of ramen style noodles that are quick to fix and great tasting, but lack nutritional value.

A recent study in Australia found that those who consumed mostly ramen style noodles put themselves in a dangerous health zone, opening the doors to diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.  Typically fruits and vegetables are left out of the student diet because of the high cost, an issue that the Obama administration is addressing.

Ramen noodles are a basic mix of wheat, salt and flavored broth like beef, chicken or shrimp.  The carbohydrate content is very high, as is the sodium.  There is virtually no fiber, vitamins or minerals in the freeze-dried mix.  And because the noodles are typically fried, the saturated fats are also up on the scale.

This yakisoba style of noodles is very tasty, but must be consumed with caution.  There are fresh ramen noodles available at grocery stores along with frozen vegetables and real broth to add to the mix.  The cost may be slightly higher than a brand like Top Ramen Noodles, but the health value is much better.

Technorati Tags: nutrition, ramen noodles, top ramen, top ramen noodles, yakisoba noodles

The regular sized Campbells Spahettios have been recalled

School is out and parents are stocking up for lunches their children can eat at home.  The only problem is they may be also bringing in food born illnesses courtesy of Con Agra Foods.

The CDC reported in April and May fourteen states had outbreaks of salmonella poisoning.  The foods that were linked to these cases most likely came from products made by Con Agra foods, including Marie Callender’s rice dishes and cheese chicken meals and Campbell’s SpagettiOs with Meatballs.

This is not the first time that Con Agra Foods has been under investigation for food born illnesses.  The company is notorious for bad food practices.  For example, 625 people in 47 states became ill from salmonella after eating the Peter Pan brand peanut butter in 2007.  And another 400 became ill from the same bacteria from Con Agra’s Banquet brand potpies in 41 states.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture told consumers on June 18, 2010 about the massive recalls of the regular sized can of Campbells SpagettiOs with Meatballs and the two frozen dinners from Marie Callender’s, which are the cheese chicken, the white meat chicken with rice and broccoli, and rice and cheddar sauce.

If you have purchased the canned Cambell’s products, be sure to look for a label that reads, “”EST 4K.”  Products that have expirations between June 2010 and December 2011 can be returned to the store for a full refund.

Technorati Tags: campbells, cdc, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, con agra, marie Callenders, salmonella, U.S. Department of Agriculture

You can find a variety of fresh, organic foods at local farms and farmer's markets

The summer is about to come upon us and with the ray of sunshine comes the full bloom of the local farmer’s markets.  And while this is a great time of the year to shop there for organic produce, there are stores and small farms that sell items throughout the year.

Shopping at local farms or farmer’s markets is a great way to support your city’s economy.  It also promotes healthier food choices and helps keep organic farmers in business.

Organic produce that is grown at the local level has amazing benefits that you won’t find in imported or statewide food.  It is the freshest you can get without growing it yourself in your own backyard.  In fact, there are u-pick farms available that give you this opportunity.  The soil that these farmers use is rich in nutrients, unlike that of the mass production farms, which use harmful pesticides supposedly linked to ADHD in children.

There is a variety of food available from local farms like honey, eggs, produce, homemade soap, and even dog treats.  It is well finding out about and many farmer’s markets and local farms are listed right online.  Local organic produce is a healthy and fresh choice for you and your family.

Technorati Tags: farmers markets, organic, organic farming, organic farms, organic food, organic fruit, organic produce, organic vegetables

The turkey quinoa noodle soup is hearty and delicious

This soup is easy to prepare and rich in flavor.  Enjoy the benefits of the Quinoa seed and spelt wheat, which are both highly nutritious.  You will never buy a can of turkey soup again.

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked turkey (white or dark meat)

1 cup quinoa cooked according to the package

1 carton turkey or vegetable stock

½ cup fresh parsley

½ cup chopped celery

½ cup wide spelt noodles

1 cup chopped carrots

1 sweet yellow onion, chopped

1 clove garlic

1 tsp sea salt

2 tbsp Spike brand seasoning

Water

Preparation:

In a large stockpot mix all of the ingredients with the exception of the noodles and parsley.  Bring to a boil then allow the soup to simmer for 30 minutes on low.  Add the noodles.  Simmer for another 30 minutes longer.  Add the parsley then serve.  Makes about 8 – 10 servings, which can be frozen for up to thirty days.

Technorati Tags: quinoa, quinoa turkey noodle soup, Soup, spelt, turkey noodle, turkey noodle soup

Corn is one of the biggest export products from the U.S.

Agriculture in the United States could see a big boost over the next year as the U.S. Department of Agriculture aggressively promotes exporting fruit products to countries like China and Canada.

Currently there is a large demand for our agricultural produce such as fresh fruits and vegetables and nuts, especially in Hong Kong.  Since the beginning of 2010 there have been $5.9 billion in export sales, which is a $200 million increase from last year.

The growing number of exports has been a major plus to the economy and speaks well of the products we are delivering.  The USDA expects those numbers to continue to increase as the Obama administration continues to pursue export relationships with other countries.

The most popular commodities grown in the United States so far have been wheat and corn with cotton and nuts also in high demand.  Countries like Russia and China have such a low harvest rate on these items that is cheaper to buy from abroad, which is great news for the United States.

With so many areas in the world having a decreased agricultural demand the United States is about to make a major impact on food supply, which benefits our farmers and foreign relations.

Technorati Tags: agriculture, china agriculture, corn, exports, farming, food supply, Fruit, nuts, usda, Vegetables, wheat

Organic foods are still the best choice for your health

With all of the news about organic food not being healthier for you consumers have been receiving mixed signals lately.  But the truth is there are still harmful chemicals that are being used on non-organic foods that we should stay away from in order to be healthy and fight disease.

Smart food choices can help improve your diet and your health.  For example, it has been reported by nutritionists that the average American consumes only two to ten percent of their required daily fiber each day.  The recommended amount is thirty four percent.  Fiber helps cleanse the body of toxins, reduces the risk of cancer and heart disease, and lowers cholesterol.

There are three organic foods that should be at the top of your shopping list for healthier eating.  The first being of course beans for the fact that these carry the most fiber content your body needs.  Any bean will do.  And if gas is a problem, products like Beano will help alleviate that.  Also rinse any canned beans thoroughly before cooking them.  Dried beans should be soaked in water overnight and also rinsed.  This removes the sugars that come out of the beans, which cause gas.

The second great organic food choice would be tomatoes.  Tomatoes contain lycopene, another cancer fighting agent, and can be used in a variety of dishes.  You can purchase these fresh or canned, but be sure the canned variety is low sodium or none.

The third great organic food choice would be natural sweeteners like Agave, Maple Syrup, and Stevia.  Although raw cane sugar is better than refined white sugar, it still turns into fat in the body.  Try these alternatives for a lower calorie dessert or beverage.

Making the switch to organic eating can be simple and affordable with proper planning, coupons, sales and cutting down on snack foods.  There are many recipes available online at natural food stores that can also get your diet on the right track and reduce the amount of chemicals found in regular foods.

Technorati Tags: beans, diet, health, Healthy, natural sweeteners, organic, organic food, tomatoes