Food Rut Busting Product Suggestion

In my previous post I discussed 5 tips to help you bust out of a food rut.   Sometimes you can be motivated to change what you eat just by trying a new product. In my own search to mix things up a bit this week, I studied the grocery store shelves to see what new products might inspire me to new culinary adventures.  Joila - enter the Seeds of Change line of Indian simmer sauces.  Their simmer sauces range from the mild coconut and ginger Korma and tomato-and-onion Tikka Masala, to the medium-hot bell pepper Jalfrezi, and the hot pepper Madras curry. All you need to do is saute your favorite protein and/or vegetables until done, add a little sauce, and then cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. 

I decided to try the medium-hot bell pepper Jalfrezi sauce.  This sauce has only 90 calories for 1/3 cup and does well at keeping the sodium low at 270 mg (or 11% of your daily needs).  It's also gluten and dairy-free, kosher, and vegetarian friendly. 

These sauces make your ordinary veggies taste totally different.  I chose to saute some broccoli, mushrooms, peas, and zucchini and then add some simmer sauce to it.  Experiment and cook up whatever veggies you like best.  Here's also a link to a Vegetable Jalfrezi recipe on the Seeds of Change website. 

I found this sauce at MOM's Organic Market in the DC Metro area but check the natural foods section of your local grocery store to see if they carry it.  Even if you can't find this particular brand, pick out a new sauce to try but just do a little label reading and aim for one that says 20% or less for the sodium.  Let's bust a food rut together! 

Product Spotlight: Sunflower Seed "Bread"

I'm happy to admit that I'm a health food product junkie. I love to flex my "chic card" by shopping not for shoes or clothes but for healthy food items that I can recommend to my clients. Going to the grocery store is a fun activity as I peruse the aisles, looking for the latest and greatest products. I get really excited when I find something new to recommend.

This weekend I found Lydia's Organics Sunflower Seed "Bread." Though it's called bread, it has the consistently of a dehydrated cracker but there is not a grain or flour in it. The list of ingredients is composed of easily recognizable, real food: Sprouted sunflower seeds, carrots, celery, sprouted flax, parsley, basil, dulse seaweed, herbs, and Himalayan salt. The 'bread" is gluten-free, raw, organic, and vegan. One slice is 100 calories with 5 grams of healthy fat coming from the sunflower seeds, only 7 grams of carbs, 4 grams of dietary fiber, and 5 grams of protein. This nice balance of nutrients is great for keeping your blood sugar and energy levels stable. One serving has 45% of your Vitamin A and 8% of your daily iron. It's also a low sodium food with only 65 milligrams per serving.

Since it's dehydrated, you can eat it like a cracker or quickly dip it in water to rehydrate it for a softer texture. Now that we're fully in the summer travel season, this would be a great product to take with you on trips - either in the car, on the plane, or even out camping.

I found this product at MOM's Organic Market in the DC metro area. You can also purchase it online. Check out Lydia's site as the company offers other interesting products such as green crackers, energy bars, and grainless cereals. Let me know what you think if you try any of the products.