Whenever I’m traveling with others, I always consider their eating preferences before choosing a restaurant. Since my palette is accepting to most flavors and textures, I’m down to eat anywhere as long as the eatery offers fresh, delicious, quality-controlled meals.

One of my coworkers highly favors “raw” and “vegan” cuisine, so I searched for restaurants in NYC that offered just that. A few places came up online, but one stood out from the rest!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars, Caravan of Dreams won my restaurant pick of the weekend!

Before I start raving about my dining experience, let’s briefly explain what “raw” food really means.

The Raw Food diet consists of raw foods that are whole and live, nutrient-dense, uncooked and unprocessed. Raw Food followers believe that the body operates at its optimum by eating this way. Cooking foods and altering their state can cause toxicity in the body.

The Vegan diet consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, and is free of animal products like meat, eggs and sometimes even dairy depending on the type of vegetarian diet (octo, lacto..etc).

Personally, this foodie prefers to have it all! Whether it’s raw veggie slices or a piece of deep fried chicken. Moderation is key! Plus, I can’t imagine giving up my Mommy’s mouth watering lamb dinners, complimented with a side of stuffed grape leaves.

Ok… Let’s start drooling over the meals I ordered at Caravan of Dreams!
The restaurant was located on 405 6th Street in New York City, on a quaint block surrounded by other similar unique eateries. The cute earthy looking waitress walked us through a romantically dim room to our corner table in the back. Another thing that attracted me to this spot was that they featured live music. That night, Mr. Piano man rocked out some tunes that set a fun mood while I munched away.

The menu was quite extensive and offered appetizing tapa-like dishes, soups, entrees and even fresh mouth watering juice blends.

It was hard making a decision, but I think my ladies and I picked some excellent choices to share!

Here’s what we ordered

Warm Quinoa soup with sprouted bread

I’m usually good at pinpointing flavors and ingredients in dishes, but this was a bit tricky. Visually, I thought that it would taste like lentil soup but I was way off. It was almost like a light fine barley potato soup with very little lingering flavors. Unlike most soups that fill you up before your main meal, this one put just enough in your belly to hold you over until the dish was served.

For our Main Courses, we decided to order three vegan entrees and share the yumminess

CARAVAN FEAST: Grilled carrot polenta, ali-oli, grilled tempeh, tahini, blanched vegetables

OMG! This one was out of this world… Laid on top of sauteed kale greens, this triangular hot piece of carrot polenta was so moist and flavorful. What made it even more delicious was the glop of cool garlic tahini that resembled the texture of whip cream that offset the warmth of the polenta.

Can I say it one more time… OMG!!!!

SHIITAKE STIR FRY Kombu noodles, vegetables, sesame, tamari, balsamic vinegar

Mushrooms are not only delicious, but they’re anti-cancerous and immunity boosters so I try to order them when I can.

The shiitake mushrooms were lightly tossed in balsamic and served among these weird looking “Kombu” noodles which I found out were made of seaweed. Similar to tofu, they sucked the flavors around it and added a different texture to the meal. It almost tasted like tougher linguine. This dish also had chopped broccoli and red cabbage making it even more nutrient dense.

If you’re on a low carb diet, this dish is perfect!

Last but not least…..

GINGER CURRY STIR FRY with sautéed vegetables and seitan

Ginger and curry are amazing anti-inflammatory spices that also boost immunity. The pungent spices have also been shown to aid in weight loss so of course they’re on my favorites list

The ginger, curry glazed seitan (wheat rubbery fake meat) is topped on a bed of soba wheat noodles and veggies.

Even though this dish was yummy, I would suggest ordering something more exotic since you can find this combo at most vegetarian Asian spots.

After every bite was devoured, my belly still felt light, yet satisfied. I highly recommend this Vegan/Raw eatery to everyone even if you’re a carnivore like myself Just because it’s vegan, doesn’t meant that you’re not getting your recommended daily allowance of protein. In fact, I got more than enough. The Quinoa, Seitan and wheat noodles all contained enough protein to help with building and recovering my muscles.

When it comes to food or life, I prefer to open my eyes and taste buds to all it has to offer. I want a bite of it all! (in moderation of course)

Bon appetite!

If you’re year has started of hectic and contains very little rest and relaxation time, the last thing you want to do is waste more driving time heading to a crowded gym.

And I say.. it’s ok.. don’t go to the gym! Stay home and workout instead.

There are many options to working out at home.

• Fitness DVDs. If you have a Fitness channel on cable, choose a fun 30 minute class that you’ll enjoy.
• Go for a walk. Find a great uphill and downhill neighborhood to work your legs or just go for nice jog.
• Jump Rope and jumping jacks. Jump ropes are so inexpensive and easy to carry around.
• Full body workout. Doing full body workouts can cut time while getting both upper and lower body in shape.

Check out one of my favorite full body moves! (by the way, how cute are these cartoons! They were created by Uttam Gusham in India)

SQUAT & PRESS: You may do this move with dumbells, bands or your own body weight. I usually use 12 lb dumbells for this.

Similar to the cartoon, start standing straight up, squat down with your booty parallel to the floor (hold 3 seconds) and come up extending your arms up to work those sexy shoulders.

Try 3 sets of 12-15 reps. Beginners try 2 sets of 12 reps. Your legs, butts, thighs and arms will feels this.

Check out this great Full Body Workout I found in Glamour Magazine!

Add these moves to your week and you’re guaranteed to look more trim and tone.

Body by Glamour Strength Plan Month 1 Body by Glamour glamour.com

If you have other great sources and links, please share with the rest of us!

When puberty struck, so did the fat on my hips, thighs and buttocks. My body definitely can be labeled as pear shaped. Not much up top… lots on the bottom

No matter how hard I work out and eat right, that area just seems to like to hold on to a little extra fat. So instead of staying frustrated with my build, I’ve learned to embrace and work with it.

On top of learning to accept this nuisance, new research published claims that my curvy lower body is actually a good thing!

Ladies!!! According to researchers at England’s University of Oxford, your fat booty could mean less diabetes and heart disease. Oh yeah! I’m never getting either of these!

Researchers went on to explain that not all fat is created equal. We’ve all heard it a million times that belly fat is dangerous, but booty fat may actually be good

The fat around our belly is considered metabolically active meaning that it will burn faster than other areas of the body. This might sound like a good thing but during the burning process, toxins called cytokines are released into the body and can lead to inflammation, cardio disease, diabetes and other health complications.

When it came to lower body fat, the scientists noticed that it released “beneficial” hormones to protect the body from diseases.  The researchers explained “If fatty acids are not stored in fat but are stored in other organs like the liver or the arteries this makes you prone to develop diabetes and heart disease”.

Until now scientists aren’t 100% sure on how and why humans store fat the way they do but they definitely feel that genes and gender play a huge role.

Women naturally store more fat in their lower body than men and according to studies, women have lower risk of heart disease.

So what did I learn from this Study?

I learned that I’m cursed with curves for life, but I am less likely to get cardio disease and diabetes than hipless girls.

Even though I am genetically predisposed to curves, I still believe that my body can look the way I want it too.. slimmer, toner and sexier but it might take me a little longer than a person who naturally stores it in their midsection.

At the end of the day, eat right, exercise and your body will look A-OK!

Researchers from the State University of Rio de Janeiro studying the impact of fruit intake on weight loss found that overweight women who ate just 300 grams of apples or pears – that’s the equivalent of three small fruits a day – lost more weight on a low-calorie diet than women who didn’t add fruit to their diet.

I admit that I’m a pack rat especially when it comes to my purse. My bag is filled with daily essentials like hand sanitizers, tooth brush & floss, tea bags and on the go snacks. One of the snacks that you’ll always find deep in my bag is a delicious apple. Not only are apples delicious, but they’re packed with benefits for boosting energy level, suppressing my appetite making it sweet and simple to maintain my waistline and antioxidants that improving my skin.

Check out more fascinating facts below:

• Rich in Vitamins and minerals
• Rich in Vitamin C which helps boost immune system and promote collagen production and hair growth.
• Low in fat and calories. An apple averages 70-100 calories
• Fiber & water packed promoting better digestion and suppressing appetite
• Rich in Flavonoids and antioxidants that can prevent cardiovascular disease
• Shown to have anti cancerous properties
• Rich in phenols that help in reducing bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol
• Nature’s mouth wash. It’s juice can kill 80% of bacteria and help prevent tooth decay
• Considered a low GI food
• Contains phytonutrients to prevent neuro diseases like Alzheimer’s
• Contain quercetin a free radical and cancer fighter

Even though I’ve lost over 10 dress sizes and consider myself pretty disciplined in my eating habits and workouts, I felt that it was time to consider a personal trainer to take me to that next level.

In the last few months, I’ve watched many body builders at my gym transform their physiques in very little time through diet, exercise and a personal trainer.

I am not aspiring to be a fitness model or a body builder, but I do want my body to perform at its optimum. I strive for a healthy, glowing, strong body. I feel that with a trainer, I can reach that goal easier and faster.

I want a trainer to be my Billy Blanks, or even my Jillian Michaels! No room for Mr. Nice guy here, I need he/she to be tough and rough. Every minute counts, and I want to maximize my workouts in the short time we have together.

I don’t like to sit on ideas for too long, in fact I’m very impatient so I made a few calls and set up my first session with body building expert, Lisa! Lisa is certified in personal training and achieved a degree in Kinesiology. She is also in the process of taking another test to earn her “masters” in personal training.

So I met with Lisa at her home gym which was conveniently 5 minutes from my house. She asked that I get a 45 minute cardio workout before and be ready for an intense leg workout.

We chatted for a few minutes and expressed my intentions and goals to give her a better understanding of what I wanted out of our sessions.

Let the workouts begin!

All I can say was… Lisa is awesome and that almost every muscle in my leg was worked. It has been a few days later, and I’m still feeling it!

I can’t wait to workout with Lisa again and I’ll keep you guys posted on my progress.

There’s nothing wrong with working out on your own as long as you are disciplined and can push yourself. When things get monotonous, we sometimes need that new inspiration and extra push

The PROS of hiring a personal trainer:

• motivation: Lisa is now my coach and workout buddy. Her credentials inspire me to do more and reach goals faster than if I worked out on my own.
• Commitment: Time is money and I surely don’t want to waste her time either. Committing to Lisa leaves no room for laziness and slacking. I will give 100% at each session, and she will do the same.
• Customized plan: Lisa has taken out the guess work for me, and customized and dedicated certain days to different body parts. After our conversation, she put together a workout schedule that will help me get to my goals.
• Monitor: Lisa educated me on proper form and pointed out a few mistakes in my standing positions. By monitoring my form and body, she can help boost my efforts and prevent injury.

Statistics show that working out with a personal trainer or workout buddy can boost results more than when working out alone.

I know that the economy is tough right now, but maybe you can sacrifice eating out for a few months and put that money toward your health.

If you can’t afford one at all, then consider buying a few home workout videos.

Can you believe that it’s Autumn already! The weather is cooling, the day is getting shorter and the Holiday season is just around the corner.

Even though this is a beautiful time of the year, many people will find it hard to maintain their healthy eating habits due to the many holidays and family gatherings. How can you say no to a warm pumpkin pie?

When it comes to desserts, I love me a good cookie, pie or even pudding. After a long work week, I like to treat myself to a bite or two of fatty, creamy dessert but during the week, I find ways to cheat.

Check this healthy pumpkin pudding that tastes so fatty, but is low in carbs and sugar!

Ingredients:

• 1 large can of Pumpkin puree (16 oz)
• 2 cups skim milk (I like to use almond milk)
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger)
• 1 box sugar free vanilla instant pudding (1 oz)

Preparation:

• Mix pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice and 1 cup of milk
• Stir and pour other cup until smooth

Mmmmmm…. now you have a decadent, smooth pumpkin pudding minus the fat, sugar and carbs.

Top this with a sprinkle of granola, toasted honey pecans or even some unshelled buttery hemp seeds.

Yay! I love the Holiday Season!

I was recently in Dewey Beach, Delaware for a Pop music festival and stumbled upon a local bar that served bison burgers. Being familiar with Bison meat and its “better than beef” claims, I decided to order their Bison beef slider special.  After three delicious sliders made it down to my belly, I still felt light, unlike the sluggish feeling I get after a fatty beef burger.

Like I mentioned earlier this week, wild meats like bison contain less saturated fat than your typical red meat. So if you’re looking for a healthier option then try picking some wild meat at your local butcher or market.

Check out this easy recipe to make a lean, mean Bison Burger!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground bison meat
• 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp bread crumbs
• 1 Egg
• Salt n peppa

Preparation:

• Mix all ingredients together
• form your patties and refrigerate for an hour
• Grill it up!

Enjoy this lean bison patty on a whole grain roll or wrap it in a lettuce leaf if you’re watching your carbs. The topping combinations are endless so get creative. Some of my favorite toppings are sauteed onions, mushrooms, blue cheese crumbles and some pungent swiss cheese.

Just because you’re watching your weight, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste.

Enjoy life!

When it comes to adding protein to one’s diet, most people reach for they typical grilled chicken breast, boiled eggs or even canned sardines. I do too, but I also love me some WILD GAME MEAT!

Not only is Wild Game meat safe and protein packed, but it can also be leaner and tastier than your fatty piece of steak. (Steak is always yummy still ) Some game meats provide less saturated fats than your average beef cut and can be a great substitute for individuals concerned with high cholesterol.

Check out some of the nutrition! (click on the chart to read more about the benefits of wild game meat )

If you’re curious about how to hook up a good Elk steak, then click here!

Stop being so boring with your protein and Get WILD & crazy!

What’s your favorite Wild Meat? (I love alligator, bison and ostrich!)

When it comes to potent and fat blasting beverages, the hype has been on Green Tea. Companies have jumped on the green tea bandwagon infusing it in many of their products including supplements and liquids. Even Coca Cola has launched a Green Tea flavored coke!

I’m sure you’ve heard these statements already from your fitness friends: “Drink anti-oxidant rich green tea and lose weight!” “It has EGCG!” “It’s the best!”

Green tea is definitely potent and full of nutrients, but is it really the best? New research may show different….

The new kid on the block is White Tea!

Check out these interesting facts I found

So what is White tea? White tea is made from immature tea leaves that are picked shortly before the buds have fully opened. The tea takes its name from the silver fuzz that still covers the buds, which turns white when the tea is dried.

Benefits of White Tea:

• Least processed. Black, red and green teas are usually processed and air dried. White tea is merely steamed.
• Contains EGCG. White tea has been shown to have the highest levels of anti-oxidants than any other tea. A cup of white tea is generally considered to contain more antioxidants than a serving of broccoli, spinach, strawberries, and other healthy vegetables and fruits. Wow! A 2004 study at Pace University concluded that white tea can help boost your immune system to fight viruses and dangerous infection-causing bacteria
• Prevents fat storage. Ooooo … A recent study published in the journal of Nutrition and Metabolism revealed exciting results regarding white tea and weight loss. White tea showed to “inhibit adipogenesis and stimulate lipolysis-activity”, meaning that it stops the development of fat cells leading to a decrease in fat storage. http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/6/1/20
• Low in Caffeine. This is great for individuals with caffeine sensitivity who experience jitters. White tea still contains some caffeine to give you a good energy boost for your day. Plus, caffeine has been show to up your metabolism and fat burn.
• Yummy. White tea is so simple and delicate in flavor. Sometimes stronger teas like Black or Green can leave a bitter after taste. White tea is subtle tasting and mixes well with other teas and smoothies (check out this Sunday’s recipe for my ultimate healthy White Tea smoothie mmmm)
• Suppresses appetite. Similar to green tea, drinking white tea throughout the day will stave away hunger and cause you to eat less J
• Promotes healthy teeth. White tea contains little amounts of fluoride that have been shown to promote strong teeth and kill bacteria in the mouth that may cause plaque, tooth decay and yucky breath. White tea is less acidic and coloring agents as other teas, so there’s less worries in staining your bright whites!
• Promotes healthy skin and aging. Research from Kingston University in South West London shows white tea contains extracts that protect the structural proteins of the skin, namely collagen and elastin.

There are many varieties of White Teas to choose from like the Silver Needle (highest grade), White Peony, Tribute Eyebrow and Longlife Eyebrow. I always have a jar of White Peony on my desk so I can have it after lunch.

I believe all the teas provide their own unique benefits, so instead of choosing one over the other try alternating and mixing your tea bags throughout the week. Personally, I like to seep a green and white tea bag together!

Many factors contribute to successful weight loss and maintenance. One of the most ignored, is portion control.

How do I know this? Because I used to be that girl that ate vast amounts of “healthy” items and wondered why that weight wasn’t coming off. I ate lots of meat, brown rice, potatoes, carrots, watermelon…. Yes, all these items are nutritious but eating them in excess can lead to calorie overload and fat storage.

Before eating your next meal, educate yourself on how to control your portions so you can truly speed up your weight loss efforts!

Check out a few of my portion-control habits:

At home, my kitchen is fully equipped with measuring cups and small food storage containers. I use the measuring cups to scoop out my ½ cup of oatmeal, 1 cup of yogurt, ½ cup of canned beans and so on. Measuring ensures me that my calories are in check and it prevents me from reversing the hard work I put in that morning at the gym. I love cooking at home, so the food containers are great for storing leftovers and meals for the week! Each container is filled with just the right amount of calories I need for my meal and my brain tells me to stop when the last bit is gone J It’s hard to stop yourself when you have huge quantities laying around.

When dining out, it looks crazy pulling out my measuring cups so I have mastered the art of using my eyes. I am officially a human calorie calculator! Lol… or that’s what my friends have crowned me. An entrée at most restaurants can feed two people, so I prefer to order an appetizer and salad or take half home.

Protein. When ordering meat, I prefer to order it broiled, poached or grilled. Ideally, I like to keep the weight of my meat from 3-5 oz which looks like the size of my palm. A lot of health web sites suggest you imagine a deck of cards.

Starches/ Carbs: If I choose to order a baked potato or rice, then I gage the amount by clenching my fist. If you’re better with objects, then imagine the size of a baseball.

Veggies: If I’m eating steamed veggies, then I’ll treat myself to two or three fist fulls. If it’s sautéed with unknown amounts of oil, then one fist full satisfies me. I also like to ask my waiter to go easy on the oil or just order it steamed with sauce on the side.

Salad dressing: I always order this on the side and dip my veggies in. If you prefer to drizzle your dressing, then imagine a shot glass amount. Most of the dressings at restaurants are loaded with calories, fats, sodium and sugar so be careful.

Nuts, cheese & olives. Mmmmmm… these are some of my favorite snacks but they can get quite addictive! Imagine a golf ball and stay within that amount (1 oz)

Dinner roll: Depending on the restaurant, their hot freshly baked rolls may be irresistible and hard to turn down. My rule is to take one bite or two bites and pass it back. If you want the whole roll, eat a yo-yo sized one. If it’s not a yo-yo size, then I suggest you start cutting away and molding it into that.

Olive oil, butter: A serving of fat is usually 1 tablespoon. A great way to gage this is by looking at the top of your thumb.

Ice cream & frozen yogurt. Dessert is so hard to resist when eating out, so imagine a tennis ball (usually one scoop) and stay with in those dimensions.

Understanding and mastering how to portion control and calorie count will help you speed up your weight loss efforts.

Check out this cute diagram

If you have other helpful hints, please share so we can all benefit.