Noshtopia

Healthy snack ideas on the go and other nibbles around the Noshosphere

• From my favorite Naturopathic doctor, 5 Great Healthy Snacks To Go [Green Health Spot]

• For a post run treat, how does a Chocolate Espresso Smoothie sound? Dee-lish me thinks. Get the recipe inspired from Runner's World magazine. [Fit Sugar]

• Blood Oranges are one of my favorite fruit delights. Here's a list of 11 things you can make that use blood oranges like sorbet, salsa, and a margarita. I'm so on a beach sipping a Blood Orange margarita with a tiny drink umbrella. [Simply Recipes]

• Speaking of drinks, for those who'd like a mojito taste sans the booze, check out this video where Green Chef Melissa Davison shows us how to make a Mojo-Jito drink that is refreshing and virgin. [G Living]

Nosh twist: Hummus with Flax Seed Crackers

Most people will eat hummus with pita bread, on sandwiches, or with traditional crackers. But, how about trying hummus with some flax seed crackers.

Flax contain high levels of lignans and Omega-3 fatty acids, and is a good source of fiber to help you with ya know, staying "regular." Flax oil is good for vegetarians and vegans as well as meat eaters who don't like fish or fish oil supplements, to get some of the healthy fats that others would get from eating fish.

I like that flax seeds have a "meaty" quality to them, so in cracker form, you feel like you're really biting into something substantial.

If you'd like to make your own flax seed crackers, here's some recipes:

• Flax Seed Crackers [via Health Castle]

• Vegan-friendly Flax Seed Crackers [via Living and Raw Foods]

The rise of organics and natural foods means less eating of "diet" foods

One of the things I love about the rise in organic and natural foods is the fact that I don't have to eat "Diet" foods any more. And when I say, "diet" foods, I'm talking about foods that are designed and marketed as dieting foods for people trying to lose weight like pre-packaged diet foods like Nutri-System, diet food bars, or diet-in-a-can like Slim-Fast. Most of these diet foods are filled with food additives that are not necessarily beneficial to you health wise as fresh, alive foods.

Drinking a can of strawberry Slim-Fast, is no where near the same as drinking a smoothie made from fresh strawberries, fresh juices, and hormone free non-fat milk and yogurt, or rice or almond milk. Because of stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, and the rise of farmer's markets, it is much easier for us to get our hands on organic and fresher foods.

As well, the rise in vegetarian and vegan cooking is giving way to new and creative ways to cook veggies. I am most definitely a carnivore eater, but because I want a healthy slimmer body, I need to eat more veggies too, and I have turned to vegetarian and vegan cookbooks and websites as a way to find new ways to make and eat vegetables because as a seasoned  dieter, I am tired of eating plain old carrot sticks, broccoli buds, and apple slices. If you think about it, if you are only going to eat veggies and grains the rest of your life, like the Vegetarians and Vegans, you are going to have to get really creative, and that can benefit us carnivores too.

Now, some people like to buy into those Diet food products because it's easy to eat and there is no cooking involved beyond microwaving, but getting thinner eating "diet" foods and being healthy don't necessarily equal each other. You can still lose weight but in unhealthy ways, and I consider loading your body with a bunch of chemical sounding preservatives and food additives unhealthy. You are sacrificing a quick solution for food quality, and in my book, after having experienced the affects of bad eating for so long, I can tell you that it in the long run it is better to take and make the time in your schedule to fill your body with whole, vibrant foods.

No one makes foods better and more nutritious than Mother Nature, and the more we eat foods that are closer to their natural state, the more we will benefit from the healing properties of food. What do you think?