Saying “so long” to sweet summer strawberry season can be saddening but as berries make their way out, sunny peak seasoned citrus can fill your fruit fancies. Maybe grapefruit, however, isn’t normally your top citrus treat. Grapefruit can bring memories … Continue reading
It’s not often that you learn the origins of a specialty food when you’re checking out a new restaurant but Kati Rolls, although newer to Chicago, have a true history. Conceptualized originally in Kolkata, India, the kati (meaning stick) roll … Continue reading
Back to school time brings joy and challenges. The world just seems to speed up and you have less and less time for meal prep. Ain’t nobody got time for that. So why not strike against prepping! Chicagoland My Fit Foods can help busy people feel less busy.
This quick healthy food chain started in Houston before spreading it’s healthy roots to five different states. All foods are gluten free and many are paleo-friendly. On our visit to My Fit Foods we noticed how it separates itself from other convenient health meal services with its offering of supplements, protein powders, and muscle building snacks. They have a registered nutrition on staff who works with you to set goals and keeps you in check. A 21 day challenge option can be a best bet for someone trying to make healthy eating a habit. Sunny, the registered dietitian at the Clybourn location of My Fit Foods, explained how different types of fitness goals, including weight loss, gain, toning or bulking up, could be integrated into the meal plan. Sunny doesn’t stop at just nutritional counseling. She encourages participants to work out and lends a listening ear for clients, even if they slide off track. The meals are very meat focused, however, and as there is only a smattering of veggie options, this service wouldn’t be the best bet for strict vegans and vegetarians. Carnivores rejoice, however, with a bevvy of meaty flavors.
Kate’s favorite dish was the turkey chorizo egg white omelette with seasoned sweet potatoes. Monica’s favorite breakfast (one of few vegetarian options) was the “Fit Energy Bar” consisting of a yummy peanut butter cranberry bar with berries and non-fat greek yogurt.
We also loved the daily cleanse ingredients available for purchase. Get a daily dose of energy with liquid B12, apple cider vinegar, lemon, and unsweetened cranberry juice and ditch the caffeine habit. We liked to sprinkle turmeric and chili powder in for a little extra vitamin va va voom.
Ready to bite into a quick bit of healthy food?
My Fit Foods is currently promoting Pays “Fit” Forward this September every Friday with a focus on friends and charity. Healthy eating is taking on a whole new meaning of “feel good,” with My Fit Foods’ “Pay Fit Forward” campaign. During the month of September, My Fit Foods’ is encouraging their guests to share healthy lifestyle habits with friends, whilegiving back to those in need. Guests who purchase a meal at My Fit Foods during participating “Pay Fit Forward Fridays” will be offered the option to donate a FREE meal either to a friend, or to a local hunger-relief charity.
“My Fit Foods is committed to making healthy flavorful meals convenient and accessible for everyone,” said David Goronkin, CEO of My Fit Foods. “We recognize that it is much easier and more fun to adopt healthy habits with a friend or partner. We look forward to having our guests come in and participate, whether it’s sharing a delicious meal with a friend or paying it forward to a local charity.”
As part of the “Pay Fit Forward” program My Fit Foods retail stores will guarantee a donation to each of the local charities within the respective markets. Donations in Illinois will go to the Lakeview Pantry, one of Chicago’s largest and longest-operating food depositories. Wanna double the impact?
My Fit Foods invited celeb besties Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens; Mandy Moore and Minka Kelly; Nina Dobrev and Julianne Hough to eat at My Fit Foods during the month of September. If any of these celebrity duos accept and visit any My Fit Foods retail store during the month of September, My Fit Foods will DOUBLE its Pay Fit Forward hunger-relief charity donation. Guests and social media users can help My Fit Foods rope these BFFs into the action by tweeting and using the hashtag #PayFitForward.
Disclosure: Thank you to the Clybourn My Fit Foods location and Sunny, the kindest registered nutritionist around, for free meals and knowledge in exchange for this post.
Ah the pleasures of being Aunties! You get to see your nephews, hug them, play games with them and give them back. Both of us have outgoing nephews under 3 who love to snack. Sadly, both of them have food allergies. Nut, dairy, shellfish, gluten and more can all lead to unhappiness for many people. This is precisely how the fabulously chocolatey dessert, Sun Cups, came about. In 2008, Seth Ellis Chocolates opened their door to find a determined dude with chocolate and sunflower seed butter in hand who wanted a comparable Peanut Butter Cup substitute for his nut allergic son. Challenge accepted and thus Sun Cups were birthed from a chocolate womb…or maybe created in the store.
Sun Cups are not only nut free (and pack with sunflower butter goodness) but also gluten, egg, shellfish, soy and fish free. If that wasn’t enough wholesomeness to sunny your disposition, Sun Cups are non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Kosher, and they help the environment by using Rainforest Alliance Certified farms for their chocolate.
We were given illuminating Sun Cups to sample and brought them to a park picnic to share with our peeps.
Milk Chocolate Sun Cups
Dark Chocolate Sun Cups
The dark chocolate cups had a nice balance of sunflower butter filling and a firm semi sweet dark chocolate shell. There are 2 in a pack and we refused to share. Dark chocolate is a great choice for getting your healthy flavonoids while treating yo’self.
Caramel Sun Cups
Our male comrades are caramel hounds and gobbled these up before we could even breathe on them. One tester commented: “The caramel tastes like buttery melty toffee”. We are happy it made his soul shine but jealous too.
Mint Sun Cups
Mint and sunflower seed? Uhh let’s see how this works.
Sun Cups also sell milk and dark chocolate bars for the simplistic types. C’mon who doesn’t like a good cup!? You can find Sun Cups online or at health food locations nationwide.
Forget you, Olive Garden! We are bringing our own soup and salad to work. Soup is an awesome option to consume more veggies AND feel full with fewer calories but packaged soups often have too much sodium, weird looking meat pieces, or too many additives. We were souper (hehe) excited to try some samples of Smart Soups because they are (ehem..be jealous cans o’ soup) none of those things. Creator, Anne Chong Hill has long history in the prepared food industry and recognized the need for high quality, easy to make food and her recipes are inspired by her international background and travel experiences.
Smart Soups are:
Taste:
With 7 souperb (ha ha ha) flavor options, we had a hard time choosing what to try first. We received 5 options.
Greek Minestrone was Kate’s first go to. Packaged minestrone tends to be bland or have too many noodles in the way. The Greek Minestrone was packed with veggies and rich in herby flavor, possibly the best Minestrone out there except what your grandma might be able to make (if she can cook). Pairing tip: Greek Salad with feta, olives, artichokes and mixed greens.
Thai Coconut Curry is Mon’s fave Smart Soup. Full of coconut water blended with fresh red curry made an amazingly authentic dish, especially tasty on a rainy day. It includes plenty of baby corn, bamboo shoots and red pepper. Pair with side of grilled spiced tofu.
Sante Fe Corn Chowder is vibrant with red peppers, black beans, and corn, balanced with a squeeze of lime. Dunk a vegan tostada and plenty of avocado in it!
Vietnamese Carrot Lemongrass is filled with rich tasty Asian flavors and veggies. Pair the satisfying soup with a Tofu Bahn Mi sandwich.
French Lentil Soup makes a hearty meal with green and red lentils, leeks and moorish spices. Mix it up with a baguette and nicolaise salad.
Cooking:
Smart Soup stores easily in the freezer and couldn’t be more simple to make. You open the bag and pop it on the stove or in the microwave and then you’re done. You can get creative with Smart Soups too by integrating them into new recipes as well.
What’s the most delicious soup you’ve ever tried? Maybe you could inspire a new Smart Soup!
Chi Organic Girls 