ALWAYS READ THE LABEL + Jammin' with SOUL

Always Read the Label

Those of us in the natural food industry tend to compulsively read food labels. We do that for several good reasons. What we frequently take for granted is that the average consumer might not fully understand or appreciate either the structure or content of these labels.

For instance, I was surprised to learn that a good friend of mine didn't know that product ingredients are listed in order of their weight, most to least. That surprise prompted me to ask several other friends, most of whom also did not know this.

Here at NibMor we encourage you to become an informed consumer that makes healthy and humane choices by understanding what is in the food you eat, where it comes from and how it is made. We are here to help make that process easier. So, here are a few more interesting facts about food labels:

·    MEANINGLESS BUZZ WORDS: The words 'Natural' and "All Natural" are not properly regulated. Unfortunately, both the FDA and USDA have vague rules about this phrase, and have let manufacturers that incorrectly use this claim remain in the marketplace.  "All Natural" is not a label enforced strictly enough at this point to be trusted. The word "Fortified" means that a nutrient, like iron, has been added to the food product because during manufacturing it was removed, or it was never naturally present. These isolated nutrients are typically not in a natural state and therefore the body does not recognize it in the same way.

·    EXCLUSIONS: Things that do not have to be included in the ingredient listing include things like caffeine and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). There are no requirements to disclose the amount or use of these  products.

·    FOOD LABEL INACCURACIES: The government allows foods to contain 20% more diet-damaging ingredients than the label lists before taking enforcement action.

·    SERVING SIZES: Beware of what appears to be a single serving product with a low calorie count. Check the number of servings in the total package. It might surprise you.  Sometimes a serving size will be way less than you're used to eating — like only half a cup of cereal. Even things that seem like they'd be a single serving, such as a bottle of juice or packet of chips, may contain more than one serving. If you eat or drink the whole thing, you're getting more vitamins and minerals but you're also getting way more calories, sugar, fat, and other stuff that you might not want.

Knowledge is health when it comes to reading labels. Make sure you take control of your own health by understanding what is in the food you are eating. Here is a report put out by Center for Science in the Public Interest that addresses the issues around food labeling. >>

http://www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/food_labeling_chaos_report.pdf

Theme for the Week...'Did Somebody say SOUL!'

What makes someone have soul? I think it’s a combination of spirit, heart, core and your essence. Watching these videos and listening to the era of music makes me feel soulful and Fabulous! This week embrace your soul Nibblers!

 Jammin’ Playlist 

1.       Nowhere to Run by Martha & The Vandellas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFZEStjTSoY&feature=related

2.       Ain’t no Mountain high Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz-UvQYAmbg

3.       Isn’t she Lovely by Stevie Wonder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r92A7ndnZk

4.       You keep me hangin’ on by Supremes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxny2KMd0TI&feature=related

5.       Papa was a Rollin’ Stone by Temptations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDi2XdFUy3I&feature=related

www.NibMor.com



Memorial Day Holiday Recipes + Natural Sleep Aid

Memorial Day: Holiday Recipes

Woo hoo Nibblers!  We’re coming up on Memorial Day weekend. I love me a 3 day weekend!  Memorial Day is a great excuse to hang with friends at a BBQ, soak up the sun and start summer.  It’s so much fun!  BUT, it’s not an excuse to make crazy bad food choices.  Why not take this Memorial Day as an opportunity to SHARE a HEALTHY dish at that outdoor affair?  You’ll surprise your pals with how light, fresh and delicious that usually hot and, if you’ve eaten too much, sometimes uncomfortable meal can be. Happy Memorial Day Nibblers- Nibble ON!

MAGNIFICENT MIZUNA SALAD

2 cups of Mizuna, washed and stemmed

1 shredded carrot

2 scallions sliced

1 medium red pepper cut into thin slices

1-package Udon or Soba noodles

1 tbsp light sesame oil

2 tbsp hot sesame oil

Squeeze of fresh ginger juice

Tamari sauce- to taste

2 tbsp sesame seeds

Cook Udon or Soba according to the package directions.  Rinse them in very cold water after they are cooked until the noodles have completely cooled down. Put into a large bowl; mix in mizuna, carrot, scallions, pepper, sesame oils ginger, tamari and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

NIBMOR HEALTHY CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY-BANANA FREEZER POPS
1 cup coconut water

1 banana

1 cup strawberries, de-hulled

3 heaping tablespoons of NibMor’s Original Drinking Chocolate

Place ingredients in a blender and mix until well incorporated.  Place in freezer pop molds and move to freezer.  After frozen, run hot water along the side of container until pop can easily slide out of mold.  Enjoy!!

Natural Sleep Aid

Some nights I have trouble sleeping and it throws me off the next day. I am sick of this happening and want to use a natural sleeping aid!  Did you know that melatonin is a great natural way to help you sleep?  There are lots of natural food stores that carry melatonin in a pill form. So if you are having trouble sleeping grab some melatonin!  Its safe and natural!  Have a great holiday weekend!

www.NibMor.com



 

Eating with the Seasons + Choco-Mint Cherry-gasm Smoothie

Choco-Mint Cherry-gasm Smoothie

Happy Spring Nibblers! The warm weather ushers in the gardens greatest goodies.  Watch Heather and I (aka: the NibMor Gals) discuss eating with the seasons on NibMor TV here >> http://youtu.be/3dEbFqYd9B0

Plus, here are 10 Ways to Eat with the Seasons + a Spring Smoothie recipe. Enjoy!

1. Visit Your Local Farmers Market: http://www.localharvest.org

2. Plant a Garden: http://www.organicgardening.com

3. Use Seasonal Guide for Fresh Food in Your Region: http://www.sustainable.org/shop/seasonal

4. Join a Community Supported Agriculture: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml

5. Find Chef Inspired Recipes That Use Fresh Ingredients: http://newhope360.com/food-and-beverage/recipes

6. Learn How to Combine Good Food with a Commitment to Your Community and the Environment: http://www.slowfood.com

7. Become an Informed Consumer: http://www.sustainablefoodlab.org

8. Learn Why Eating Organic Food is Important: http://www.organicconsumers.org/organlink.cfm

9. Connect with Family Farmers, Growers, Chefs, and Food Artisans in YOUR OWN BACKYARD: http://www.ediblecommunities.com

10. Join a Community Garden: http://communitygarden.org

 NibMor’s Choco-Mint Cherry-gasm

1 Cup Almond Milk

3 Kiwis

½ cup Dried Cherries or 1 cup ripe pitted cherries

¼ cup Almonds

6 Mint Leaves

2 Tablespoons NibMor Mint Drinking Chocolate

1 Tablespoon Protein Powder

Ice

Blend all ingredients

Serves 1

Theme for the Week...'Oldies but Goodies'!

I’m taking it back to the sweet spot! Hum, dance and sing the week away Nibblers while jamming to some oldies! J

Jammin’ Playlist

1.       Proud Mary by Ike & Tina Turner

2.       Boogie Shoes by K.C. & The Sunshine Band

3.       Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

4.       All I have to do is Dream by The Everly Brothers

5.       It’s in his Kiss (the Shoop Shoop Song) by Betty Everett

www.NibMor.com



Chocolate Enthusiasm & Oh-SNAP Jam List

                        Chocolate Enthusiasm

If you are a chocolate enthusiast, like me, then you are going to be thrilled to learn that cacao[1] (aka cocoa) is one of nature’s most nutrient dense gifts. Did you know that cocoa is the seed of an Amazonian fruit? That’s right…and it was brought to Central America around the time of the Olmecs (dating roughly from 1400 BCE to about 400 BCE). How cool would it be if we could still use cocoa beans as money like the Mayan and Aztec civilizations; who referred to them as ‘black gold’ or ‘seeds of gold’? These civilizations held the cocoa bean in such high esteem that they described it as "the food of the gods."

Americans may not revere cocoa quite like these ancient civilizations, yet chocolate has become a very popular food in the U.S. We consume, on average, 11.7 pounds of chocolate per person annually. As I sit here and enjoy a few pieces of our NibMor chocolate, I fully admit that my personal consumption is bound to be much higher. I’m not the only one - world-wide consumption of chocolate is increasing at a rate of 3 to 4% each year. Associate Content reported in 2007, “The increased sales in chocolate are driven by newer studies showing that dark chocolate actually has many health benefits.”[2]

Let’s take a quick look at the health benefits of the cocoa bean in its natural state. In addition to being a good source of minerals and vitamins (especially magnesium, sulphur, calcium, chromium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, vitamin C and some of the B vitamins), cocoa is also an excellent source of fiber, amino acids, fatty acids, and antioxidants (30 times the antioxidants of red wine, and 20 times the antioxidants found in green tea). Many of the substances in cocoa have been discussed in the scientific literature as pharmacologically significant. That is good news for chocolate!

You may be surprised to learn that this gift of nature is also a natural anti-depressant and an aphrodisiac. Yes, you can lift your spirits and boost your love life by eating cocoa.

Doesn’t all chocolate contain all of these nutrients? No! In fact, to get these benefits from chocolate it is best to consume DARK chocolate that is minimally processed. Why? The higher the % of cocoa means there is less sugar, milk and other 'not-so-good-for-you' ingredients. Chocolate that is in its natural state or is minimally processed maintains the highest levels of nutrients.

In a society where the top killers include heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes, all of which are heavily affected by obesity and nutrition, it makes sense that the last thing Americans need is another over-processed, chemicalized, sugar infested snack food. NibMor chocolate is power-packed with tons of nutrients and made for chocolate enthusiasts, like me, who have a high standard for taste. Go chocolate!!

---

[1] Cocoa is a British slang term for Cacao. Today’s present-day meaning of ‘cacao’ includes all the ingredients derived from the cacao bean. Cocoa as defined by the U.S. cacao standards refers only to cocoa powder, i.e., the powder made by grinding partially defatted cacao beans. Some products in the U.S. use the term “% Cocoa” interchangeably with “% Cacao”.

[2]http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/343340/us_chocolate_sales_forecast_to_reach.html

Theme for the Week...Oh Snap!

This playlist is geared towards those moments when you think you may “SNAP”. It’s calming music for those times when someone puts you on hold for a hour, when you are stuck in 3 hour bumper to bumper traffic, or when you just feel extremely overwhelmed and out of control.

I want to dedicate this playlist to Mark “Justin” Chapman, I hope you are jammin out where ever you are! J

Jammin’ Playlist

1.       Sleep all day by Jason Mraz

2.       Millions of Peaches by Presidents of the USA

3.       Uncharted by Sara Bareilles

4.       Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen

5.       Cupid by Jack Johnson

www.NibMor.com



Eat Your Breakfast & try this Chia Seed Pudding!!

CHIA PUDDING

Hello Nibblers! I have an amazing recipe to share with you today:  Chia Seed Pudding and its extra special cause we make it with NibMor’s Drinking Chocolate.  YUMMY!

So what’s the big deal with Chia?  Isn’t that like a Chia Pet (I might be dating myself, but I remember those commercials!)? Indeed!  Chia Pet chia seeds and the super food that doctors like Dr. Oz and Dr. Weil are promoting are the same thing!  Kind of a fun fact.  Who knew those seeds we were slathering onto ceramic dogs and rams were rich in Omega 3 fatty acids (even more than flax!), has loads of antioxidants, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, & magnesium.  Pair that up with NibMor’s Drinking Chocolate, high in Potassium, Magnesium and B Vitamins and you are good to go!  Power Pudding!  Can’t find Chia Seeds?  Visit our friends at NY Superfoods- their ChiaNaked seeds are awesome: http://nysuperfoods.com/

NibMor’s Power Pudding:
2 ½ cups Almond Milk (you can use soy, etc…)
3 heaping tablespoons of any flavor NibMor Drinking Chocolate
½ cup NY Superfoods ChiaNaked Seeds
½ tsp vanilla
Mint springs or cinnamon (optional, for garnish)

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk until well combined.  Refrigerate for 3-5 hours until desired consistency is achieved.  Spoon into serving bowls.  Garnish with mint sprig or a little cinnamon.  Can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

EAT YOUR BREAKFAST

“Did you know that breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day?  We are all in a rush in the morning but that is no excuse to skip breakfast.  There are many quick breakfast meals to make and eat on the go.  People who skip breakfast are more likely to gain weight so make sure to eat a hearty breakfast!  I love to have oatmeal in the morning because it keeps me full for a while and it is easy to make.   You can even make delicious smoothies to drink on the go!  So make sure you eat a healthy breakfast in the morning to keep you energized for the day.  I promise you will feel much better!  Have a wonderful day Nibblers!”

www.NibMor.com