Top 10 Food Additives To Avoid

We all know that most processed foods are bad for us. We know that whole, fresh foods or minimally processed foods are better for us. So why do we eat the bad processed foods? Because they taste good, right? But they are NOT good for us. My goal is to eliminate most processed foods from my diet - especially any foods with ingredients like MSG, Trans Fats, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Nitrates, and Artificial Sweeteners, to name a few. Check out the Top 10 Food Additives To Avoid from Hungry For Change (also download the printable shopping guide). You can see which common foods you will find the 10 ingredients in and what side effects they could possibly cause. 

"Low-fat, fat-free, low-carb, sugar-free, low-cal: Sounds like an 80's chemical fiesta. Get over dieting and simply start EATING CLEANER! Dieting?? So OUT!" 

- Stiletto Chef

Start eating cleaner today with this delicious recipe from Whole Foods: Mango, Avocado, and Black Bean Salad with Lime Dressing. Yummy. 

Via Whole Foods

Quick Fact: I like Eden Organics black beans - they are one of the only companies that have BPA free can linings (read more, here). Did you know that most canned goods are lined with BPA as an ingredient (an ingredient we avoid like the plague when it comes to water bottles and plastic products for our babies)? Now you know. 

Peanut Butter Banana "Ice Cream"

If you love ice cream but don't really love the fat and long list of ingredients on the carton, then you have to try this easy, healthy, four-ingredient "ice cream." It's delicious and creamy and my new favorite summer treat (click here to see my other favorite healthy summertime treat).

Peanut Butter Banana "Ice Cream"

1 Frozen Banana, Sliced (click here for tips on freezing bananas)

1 Tbsp. All-Natural Peanut Butter 

2 Tbsp. Vanilla Almond Milk

1/8 tsp. Cinnamon

Put ingredients into a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Serves 1

Happiness Is...

...taking my 23-month-old fishing for the first time.

My happiness comes from living in the moment, from living each day to the fullest, from keeping a positive attitude and not sweating the small stuff. If something bad happens, I believe it happened for a reason. To teach me, to help me grow, and to make me stronger. The outcome of my happiness comes from how I choose to deal with the situation. Life is way too short to dwell on the negative.

But some of life's greatest happiness comes from the little things, like; hearing my daughter say "I love you," eating fresh pineapple, going on a Sunday morning hike with my family, watching my garden grow, enjoying a handful of Hawaiian Kisses (my wonderful friend brought me from Hawaii), and hearing that a Trader Joe's is coming to Utah (I had to add this one because I am so excited), just to name a few.

Life is way too short - don't forget to stop and smell the roses, accept the things you cannot change, live without regrets, and live each second to the fullest.