A Trader Joe's Goodie!

Trader Joe's Gluten Free Norwegian Crisbread

Trader Joe's has some crackers that I've always enjoyed, however, after recently taking a closer look at the ingredients I see that they're made with bad oils, e.g. sunflower, soybean and coconut.  All these oils are very bad and contain things like, `polyunsaturated fatty acids, have high levels of Omega-6 fatty acids, which ultimate enhance your LDL cholesterol levels.

These crispbreads however, and based on their ingredients, look to be a much better choice and are now my new favorite crackers, which Trixie also agrees with too 😜 

I need to make a Trader Joe's run, as I'm down to my last package...

Spanakopita (spænəˈkɒpɪtə)

I picked myself up this box of Spanakopita from Trader Joe's the last time I was there.  I had a hanker'n for spinach pie and thought this would be the perfect Patriots game kickoff snack.  Truth be told I miss my mother's spinach pie 😢.  Being the fussy eater that I was back in the day, I didn't appreciate this Greek dish, alas.

Although, not even close to my mother's version, it didn't disappoint!

My brother suggested a iPhone app called "Trash Panda", which identifies potentially harmful ingredients in your food with a quick scan of the products bar code. 

While waiting for these delicious treats to cook I took a peek at the ingredients listed on the back of the box and immediately knew this was NOT a healthy item.  I knew this by a quick look at ALL the ingredients shown.  Healthier items have minimal ingredients, so ones that have more than a few typically are bad, which turns out to be the case.

So, I used the Trash Panda app to scan the code and sure enough it was confirmed! A couple potentially dangerous ingredients flagged - canola oil and cellulose gum AND a warning that this product "may be bioengineered"!  

Good Grief!  Seems the FDA is how you say, "as useful as tits on a bull"!

Since I've been watching what I eat and have been good in general, and since I was already committed with the purchase and the tasty aroma wafting from the kitchen, I ate these, burp!

However, and sadly, this will be the last time I purchase this item.  We all need to do a better job at checking the ingredients on these items, as most contain bad $hit - bad oils, bad chemicals, bad dyes, etc.

Food for thought (see what I did here 😉)!

Boxed H2O

This is the water that my company has available in the conference center.

Whether it's "better" or not, you be the judge, however, I will tell you that drinking it offers me a sense of relief that, hopefully, there are no micro plastic floating around inside.

Nightly ACV Shot!

I've been drinking a straight shot of Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar each night now for the last, about, 3-months and talk about YUCK!

I read there are a number of health benefits to drinking this stuff, e.g. improve digestion, help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and improve overall heart health, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Honestly, I haven't noticed a dramatic effect or change one way or the other.  I will continue using till my annual doctor's visit in August and see how my blood testing reads and what my doctor has to say.

I can tell you that it tastes absolutely terrible!

Rolly Polly

Had my regular follow up doctors appointment this morning.  No issues to report and all my numbers look good.  My doctor was pleased, as am I.

However, she did scold me about my weight.  Apparently, I've put on a couple pounds since my last visit over the Summer.  I have a sneaking suspicion that my brother may have given her a heads up. Only reason I say this is that on my recent visit to Miami just before Thanksgiving he basically told me that I was a "fat ass".  Yup he did.  Came right out and said it just like that.  No sugar coating, BAM!

First the "fat ass" comment from my dear brother and now my doctors leaves me with this pearl (said with a smile and jokingly but I'm not fooled), "You're one eclair short of being obese".

Hmm, guess I have some work to do...but after the holidays :-))