heat waves & prom dresses

If you haven't heard already, it's very hot and humid in New York; as if the newly appointed summer were trying to make a point or something. This means one of two things. First, my eating habits will most definitely "improve." This is not to say that I make completely unhealthy choices the other three seasons of the year, just that in the heat of summer, I crave more raw fruits and vegetables.   

Case in point: today's breakfast smoothie. If you can believe it, I was actually explaining this recipe to a gentleman at a West Village bar late Wednesday night, and he was actually very interested in hearing it. I can be quite the conversationalist ;). Moving on... my usual blend consists of spinach, banana, cucumber, frozen berries, romaine, flax, almond milk, cinnamon, and avocado. Today, however, I tried something new.

Last week, a representative from Vega contacted me to see if I'd be interested in trying their newly branded Vega Energizing Smoothie. Yes, please! I hadn't enjoyed a Vega smoothie since the delicious Shake & Go choco-a-lot samples on my road trip, and was thrilled to find I love the vanilla almond Energizing Smoothie just as much. Rich in nutrition (two vegetable servings, 10g plant-based protein, 5g fiber, 1g Omega-3) and ridiculously convenient ("add water, shake, and go!"), they also come in four other flavors: tropical fruits, chocolate, mixed berries, and natural. I can't wait to try each one this coming week.

Aside from salads and smoothies, I also tend to gravitate towards quicker meals. Yesterday, I whipped up a batch of quinoa with edamame and bell peppers, grilled a handful of my beloved haricot verts, and warmed up left-over falafals (inspired by Heidi Swanson on a day when it wasn't ludicrous to use the oven) for lunch.

Second, the on-set of summer means that although I'm re-starting a running routine, I will most often seek refuge (and exercise) in beautiful, air-conditioned studios like this one. You can follow my class reviews on Pravassa. In other news, remember how I mentioned my little sister's prom? Well, there she is looking stunning as always in the left photo. To the right, you'll see me, seven years ago, at my junior prom. Our dresses are surprisingly similar, wouldn't you say?

hummus & pita co.

Finding lunch in New York can be a pain. Oftentimes, you'll spend about $15 on a mediocre lunch, only to bring it back to "enjoy" at your desk. I was lucky enough to have a variety of options at my last office job, and still I tried to consistently pack my own lunch. But now there's Hummus & Pita Co...

Last week, I joined Katie for their Press Preview Party to celebrate their opening at 585 Sixth Ave. It was quite the lively atmosphere! Within moments of my arrival, I was greeted with a spinach boureka--a Turkish pastry made of phyllo dough and filled with creamy spinach and spices--and a glass of red wine.

After finding seats at their long communal tables (made of reclaimed bowling lanes), we went to the assembly line-style counter to order our meals. We both chose to create a bowl. Other options included creating a platter or filling a handmade, tandoori-oven baked plain/whole-wheat pita or laffa bread.

Then came the challenging part... choosing what I wanted in that bowl of mine. The options were literally endless. To start, one could opt for a falafal, shawarma, chicken, steak, or taboon base. Their original hummus is always included, though flavored options are available, too. And that's not all. There are 23 possibilities of Mediterranean-inspired salads of sorts, plus fresh, sliced vegetables.

In the end, I decided upon roasted pepper hummus, falafals, Mediterranean rice, Moroccan beans, tabuleh, Spanish eggplant, beet salad, Greek salad, chickpea salad, Israeli salad, and stuffed grape leaves. I also tried Katie's pita and harissa.

Everything tasted tasty and fresh, and as authentic as "fast-casual" food can be. 

My delicious meal ended wonderfully with rugelach, a traditional Jewish pastry made of a cream cheese dough and filled with dried fruit and nuts. Moral of the story: With it's convenient location, Hummus & Pita Co. is a must for a quick, healthy, and satisfying lunchtime meal. If only I lived/worked closer :).

P.S. Happy 17th Birthday, Deanna! I love you oh so much and couldn't be prouder.

silly (christmas) goose

Aside from the two family Christmas parties and a festive, friendly brunch, I also attended two holiday parties; One at my cousin's apartment, and another in Astoria with college friends. Both included lots of good food and conversation. 

My cousin Bianca's included dancing as well, (as to be expected since she's a classically-trained dancer). Whereas my friend's additionally featured a Yankee Swap, (during which I was lucky enough to snag these Anthropologie glasses). For those who are unfamiliar, a Yankee Swap is a gift exchange game in which each guest (1) brings a wrapped, unmarked gift and (2) is given a number as they arrive which designates which order they'll choose from the pile of unmarked gifts. The twist is that, at their turn, each guest can also choose to "steal" from a gift that has already been opened. In this case, the guest whose original gift had been stolen has the opportunity to choose another one from the pile or steal one from someone else. Keep it in mind for next year ;) it's quite fun.

Anyway, as I was reviewing the numerous photos taken these two nights, I came upon the one above. Unlike many others that were so hysterically wine-induced, I thought this one was simply cute--one of many laughs shared between Bianca and I. And it inspired me to share some silly things I've been entertaining myself with:

• The Top 10 Tips and Tricks for a Winter Body on hellogiggles. My favorite is either "Try doing everyday stuff with mittens on," or "If it doesn't have a crust on, don't eat it."
• Just Dance 3. My sister got this Wii game for Christmas. The song variety is awesome and the choreography is just challenging enough to make even the most coordinated (my sister) look absolutely ridiculous. Two nights ago, I played for an hour and a half. And my arms still hurt.
• Take me as I am by Wyclef Jean. It's very possible I've been listening to the Love Actually soundtrack one too many times, but, 'tis the season. No matter how many times I hear it, I can't help but laugh at the first few lines.
• What's the Most Annoying Kind of Facebook Update? poll in January's Real Simple. Ha. I'd definitely have to agree with "Intentionally vague posts meant to generate concern and attention, a.k.a. vaguebooking. 'Jennifer wonders whether it's all been worth it.'" and "Chronic complaining. 'Ugh, who ordered this RAIN? It's making my carpal tunnel act up again.'"
• New Girl on FOX. If you start watching one new show in 2012, please make it this one. I'm obviously a huge Zoeey Deschanel fan.

P.S. Every time I say "silly goose"--or, rather, every time I hear "silly goose," because, let's be serious, I don't say it often--I'm reminded at how gross ma soeur finds the phrase. Don't ask me why... but the thought cracks me up.

my big fat greek wish

Happy Cyber Monday, friends. For many, I know that discounted shopping opportunities like this are exciting, but for me, well, I could care less. You see, I've never been big into beautiful things. Beautiful places though... yes, please! I hope this means I'm visually-driven and artistic rather than completely superficial.

 

I just cannot get enough natural beauty or that of architecture, photography, dance, art museums, design, and the culinary arts. These aesthetic forms delight and inspire me, and unseen ones often help determine my next destination. It should be no surprise then that Greece often tops this "beautiful places to go" list. 

It was the Ancient Greeks that first defined beauty as pure, simple, and symmetrical. Since then, the word has been shaped and reshaped by culture so that it is not only seen as a quality of perfection, but also imperfection. (Remember the Japanese ideal of wabi sabi?) Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. Still, there is one aspect that seems to have remained consistent throughout the world: the connection between aesthetic appeal and well being.

I began this year with my healthiest resolution and these words, "Is it a coincidence that when I look back on the happiest parts of my life, they're also the times in which I looked and felt my best? I think not." Hippocrates, a Greek doctor, teacher, and "father of medicine," would probably agree with me. He believed in treating the body as a whole and that optimum health would be reached through a proper diet, fresh air, good hygiene, and plenty of exercise. Most, if not all, Ancient Greeks agreed with him on that last part; exercise had become a physical activity to reflect their belief in the beauty of the human form.

Of course, I am no health evangelist. I believe that seeking pleasure is equally as important as maintaining optimal health. And for that, I look towards another school of thought originating in Ancient Greece. Epicuris, an atomic materialist, believed pleasure to be the greatest good. He believed you attain the greatest good in living modestly, gaining knowledge of how the world works, and limiting one's desires. These days, epicureanism has been misinterpreted to mean a love of enjoyments, especially good food and drink. As for my personal understanding and practice, it falls somewhere between these two extremes.

Each day, I combine Hippocrates' philosophy on health with an adaptation of Epicuris' philosophy on pleasure as I strive for "good living." And according my favorite authentic Greek Yogurt, FAGE, good living is actually a Greek tradition. Interesting. Apparently, in spite of my attempt to combine all the yummy philosophies I've acquired throughout my travels and life experience, those from this beautiful country I've never actually seen seem to have resonated the most.

The best way to enjoy life is to keep oneself intellectually stimulated and physically satisfied, and that, my friends, just may be the most beautiful thing of all.

I would love the opportunity to experience Greece for myself some day, and that is why I wrote this post... As part of the Foodbuzz Featured Publisher program, I have been entered for the chance to win a trip to Greece courtesy of FAGE. You too can enter to win one of three trips to Greece by entering the FAGE Plain Extraordinary Greek Getaway here: http://www.fageusa.com/community/fage-greek-getaway.

Words by D. Alvarez, Photos by M. Egkolfopoulou

a homecooked meal

Hey, guess what? I cook. I'm just not that great at it, and hardly ever create edibles as beautiful as those eaten outside the walls of my apartment, so I most often prefer to tell you about the fabulous meals I have at restaurants "around the world." But today, today, I thought I'd share two recent creations from my own kitchen. I don't want you to get the wrong idea and think I live an extravagant lifestyle of non-stop wining, dining, and traveling. I can assure you, I do not :).

This fall has been an interesting one weather-wise. It's been rainy and cold, then warm and sunny, and rainy and cold again. My recent cravings have been a product of such craziness. A few days ago, I made myself a spicy minestrone soup. I immediately enjoyed a big bowl of healthful swiss chard, tomatoes, chickpeas, string beans, onions, white beans, and whole wheat penne, in addition to garlic and red chile pepper. Then I placed 2 servings in the fridge, and froze the rest.

I love how soup can be saved, and how it gets better with each passing day. For that very reason actually, the following evening I prepared a quinoa dish. It was super easy too--I just added chopped spinach and leftover chickpeas to a Quinoa Blend by Near East (former HLS swag). And there you have it, the limits of my culinary talents. I could probably be more creative, but when cooking for myself, I really only strive for simplicity, flavor, and nutrition... alongside a glass of wine. 

Inspire me:  What's your go-to solo meal? or cookbook? or cooking site/blog?

summer refreshments

Oh, hello there. Remember me? There are so many gosh darn exciting things happening at The Well Daily right now that I did not even have a few moments to blog this week. Sad. Not to worry though. When I wasn't working, I was participating in events that make for prime blogging material. Case in point:

Soft Serve Fruit Co. Wednesday afternoon I received a rare but delightful email in my inbox - an invitation to an exclusive press preview that evening. It was the one night I did not have any sort of plans. Woot, woot. A few hours later, upon entering at their new flagship store in Union Square, I immediately received a sample cup of each of their seasonal flavors: banana, mango, blueberry and pear.

Soft Serve Fruit is an all-natural soft serve made from fresh fruit purée, filtered water and organic cane sugar. I'd never had it before (the brand was previously called Simply Peeled) so I especially enjoyed it. And although I will always love my ice cream, and frozen yogurt, and gelato, especially on humid days and nights, I wouldn't mind adding it to my rotation. 

It didn't take me long to finish my cup and decide that banana was by far my favorite. After sharing this fact with one of the PR ladies, she offered me another cup... this time with banana soft serve, fresh banana, pretzels, drizzled PB & Co peanut butter, and chocolate chips for a treat otherwise known as the Crunchy Salty Sundae. It was fantastic. Then the time came for cocktails.

Mixologist Rael Petit from Day & Night Brunch Parties served up summer cocktails made, in part, with soft serve fruit. I sadly cannot remember the names but one was with mango and a ginger liquor and the other with blueberry, lime, and vodka. Both were extremely flavorful, and just strong enough.

It was quite the Wednesday and I'm pleased to announce that the Soft Serve Fruit Co. store is officially open to the public as of this past Thursday. I'll definitely be stopping by once or twice over the summer to use my gift cards. Otherwise, I must warn you that it's rather overpriced, so replenish your sweet fruit craving with caution :). Hope your holiday weekend is off to a spectacular start!

luminousity

It rained today. Last week was emotionally tough, this past weekend was physically (and mentally) taxing, and I felt so completely drained this afternoon. So I cried. The tears didn't come from exhaustion though. After packing up our booth at the Yoga Journal Conference, I got back to The Well Daily office to find a Vitamix of my very own. I. know. Shayne received one too as they were a thank you gift from our bosses. Surprise! Tears of joy and gratitude. It's all just crazy, really, and obviously unexpected. And yet that is that; another example of how okay everything always is in the end, and thereafter. Here's to juices, soups, and, you know, a return to normal life. Exciting posts to come.

revamping a routine

Hi sweethearts, I hope the weekend treated you well! Mine was filled with three things I love: birthdays, family, and friends. (Speaking of, you wished Leslie a happy one, didn't you?) Still, as much as I loved meeting blends for drinks, spending time with my little cousins upstate, and venturing into uncharted nightlife territory with my best friends from high school, I too appreciate the fresh start to a full week. Being a Gemini (ha, yes, I attribute these traits to my zodiac sign) I am as much spontaneous as I am planned.

Just as I loved the excitement of new adventures across the U.S., I am just as thrilled to slow down and get back to basics. As I mentioned in Friday's vlog, my new home routine is going to include yoga classes, books, outdoor runs/walks, art work, kitchen time, and real food. Can I get a hip hip hooray?

Last Monday I was greeted by my very excited-to-see-me family. We unpacked the car and talked for a little while before my dad opened up a perfect gift from yours truly, a bottle of Cambria's Pinot Noir. I say perfect because my parents loved it :). 

An hour or so later, we sat down for dinner. You have no idea how ecstatic I was for a home-cooked meal eaten at the dining room table! I helped myself to fantastic plate of salad (with lettuce from the garden), sautéed zucchini and mushrooms, fresh kidney beans, and sweet potato fries. We feasted, we chatted, and I cleaned up the table afterwards so I could pass out for a phenomenal night's sleep in my own bed.

The next morning, my internal clock woke me up before eight. I lie in bed for a few moments, contemplating what breakfast would bring, before my wonderful mother called up the stairs to let me know that she had bought multi grain hot cereal by Country Choice. Score. It was just as filling as my usual rolled oats with added texture thanks to the rye, barley, and wheat grains. 

Tuesday afternoon I helped myself to split pea soup for lunch. Wednesday afternoon I whipped up a roasted red pepper and tomato (a.k.a. heated up Pacific Natural Foods). Both times toast accompanied the meal, first with a smear of natural peanut butter, the next day with a tablespoon of hummus. I love simple yet comforting lunches like this, so much more satisfying than two granola bars. 

I'm not sure what happened to other dinners (I ate, I swear!) but Thursday brought pasta night. While my family enjoyed bow ties, I sought to do my little traveling body justice with whole grains and opted to try the Eden Organic pasta sample from the Healthy Living Summit. Kamut is an ancient grain, similar to durum wheat, that's grown in the state of Montana (hey, I've been there!).

Yum! I topped with a homemade chunky tomato sauce and peas and ate it alongside a hunk of fresh Italian bread for a hearty meal. Oh, and there was salad and wine too, of course, my two favorite parts.

What a week, and what a weekend... it feels good to be home.

my driving force

Good morning, my sweets! Today's the day. My room is clean, my car is packed, and it's just about time for my road trip to begin. But, before I go, there's a few things we must go over :). First, I will not be able to blog every day. With that said, please note that I will be working hard to have at least one post for each stop and I'll be incorporating video blogs from the road. Should be an interesting feat! Also, if you'd like up-to-the-minute updates (because, let's be serious, that's always fun too), make sure that you're following me on Twitter.

Second, although I will certainly make tasting local delicacies a priority, I'm still a young woman on a budget. For this reason, I've contacted a couple of food companies for snack donations... and have been blown away with their generosity. Case in point, even though I am not usually a Shake & Go kind of girl, I'm excited to try the Vega smoothie samples from the Healthy Living Summit.

For early morning wake up calls, as most driving days with be, I'll be all set with Click, an instant espresso protein drink. It's really yummy, energizing, and full of vitamins. Plus, they sent me an awesome bumper sticker.

I will be spending the next few weeks trying out two gorgeous pairs of adventure sunglasses. But like some details about this trip, you're going to have to head over to Go Backpacking to read the reviews.

Kardea nutrition bars made the cut with their innovative flavors and heart healthy focus. Did you know that each one of their bars delivers 50% more heart healthy soluble fiber than found in oatmeal? Good stuff.

In those moments of true hunger, I don't doubt that one of Doctor Kracker's products paired with hummus or nut butter will make a delectable hearty meal on the road. These crackers are made with a blend of organic whole grains and seeds and come in fantastic flavors like Apple Crisps and Pumpkin Cheddar.

Then, of course, I have my fair share of Ange's Glo Bars. If you didn't know already, I am a huge fan of Glo Bakery so I gladly ordered these on my own. However the lovely Angela also threw in samples so that I could spread the word and promote the brand along the way.

In my opinion, Glo bars are simple yet tasty and ridiculously satisfying. I love too that they are the handmade creation of one of my favorite bloggers :). I have at least one Endure, Liberate, Empower, Awake, Renew, and soon-to-released-mystery-flavor, to get me threw each and every day of travel.

There'll be a bunch of Pure Bars as well. Made from certified organic ingredients, these scrumptious bars are gluten-free, vegan, raw, and kosher. Oh yes, they're amazing, and the Chocolate Brownie is to die for. Seriously. 

I also stuck the remaining Healthy Living Summit swag with my food inventory including: the assorted bag of Oh! Nuts, Yum Universe fruit leathers, Barney Butter samples, and sponsored coupons.

I'm sure I'll be eating salads every chance I get but calcium is hard to come by in transportable snacks so I'm thankful to have Adora Calcium Supplements with me for the ride. Mmm, dark chocolate. Bring on the antioxidants.

By the chance that I do get to eat breakfast before I go, I'm looking forward to trying Earnest Eats granola planks. I have my own personal collection of Maple Almond crunch, a natural blend of fruits and nuts... talk about a sweet deal.

It was never a question as to whether I'd frequent a grocery store or two. And when I do, I will most definitely put these Nasoya coupons and Siggi's gift certificates to good use. Hope my hosts don't mind home cooked meals ;).

Third, the time has come once again to call for the support of World Food Programme. In the midst of preparing for my own hunger, here are ten reasons why we should also, and more importantly, face the challenge of ensuring that all the world's inhabitants receive adequate nutrition. You can do your part by clicking to the banner to the right.

1. Save lives

Poor nutrition is the largest single contributing factor to child mortality, more than HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria combined.  It is the underlying cause of more than one-third of deaths of children under five. That's 3.5 million a year.

2. It’s doable

We have the knowledge, ability and means to prevent child undernutrition in developing countries. According to the World Bank, US$3.6 billion would give all the undernourished small children in the world the nutritious foods they need. 

3. Irreversible effects

Without the right nutrition in the first two years of life, a child’s physical and mental development is compromised irreversibly. This is recognised by medical science and is stated explicitly in an often-cited 2008 article in The Lancet. 

4. Key in emergencies

Getting vital nutrients to the hungry in emergencies means you can save more lives. After an earthquake such as the one in Haiti recently the threat of malnutrition is always lurking as people struggle to find food. Read story

5. Stave off disease

Malnourished bodies are more vulnerable to diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. In fact, the health effects of undernutrition are responsible for more than one-third of childhood deaths and 11 percent of the world's disease burden.

6. Prevention best

Acting before malnutrition becomes severe makes sense. It costs  $40-80 per child, per year, for a complementary food intervention to prevent it.  Compare that to the $200 it costs to treat just one episode of severe malnourishment.

7. Reduce stunting

Chronic undernourishment often results in stunting – or lower than average growth. It afflicts nearly 200 million children in the developing world (UNICEF), and many more are at risk.

8. The economic cost

Malnutrition has a significant economic cost – one study of Central America and the Dominican Republic found that economic losses due to child undernutrition cost an estimated $6.7 billion in one year alone, representing up to 11.4 percent of a nation’s GDP.

9. New products

There is a range of simple solutions now available for fighting malnutrition. For example, micronutrient powders, or ‘Sprinkles’, are sachets containing a powder that can be sprinkled onto food to ensure people get all the micronutrients they need. They cost a few cents each. 

10. Building foundations

Combating malnutrition means ensuring that those in the next generation – the very future of our planet – are able to reach their full potential by having healthy minds and bodies.

Get it? Got it? Good. Sorry that was so much to, ahem, digest ;). After one last morning meal at home, now I'm really all set. I feel nervous and anxious and, dare I say it, ready. See you in Philadelphia! Alrighty then, here goes nothing...