Favorite Teas:
1. Zhena's Gypsy
I love their stackable varieties and great herbal teas.
2. Yogi Tea
Their Bedtime tea is probably my favorite tea on earth. Every tea I've ever had from Yogi was excellent (at least 10) except for the ginger tea, which tasted bad and was too strong. You can also get a free sample from their website if you want to try it first! Their green tea tastes significantly better than some of the stuff you find from other brands.
3. Twinnings
Kind of generic, but if you like black tea at all then Twinnings is a go-to. I actually also love their Pomegranate and Raspberry herbal blend.
4. Traditional Medicinals
I actually only drink their tea when I'm sick (steep the Throat Coat and add some lemon juice), but it is fantastic, and really helps in the winter especially. My friend who is pregnant also uses their mother's milk tea; it's one of the few brands that has tea explicitly for pregnant or nursing mothers.
5. Celestial Seasonings
This is the best cheap tea in my opinion. I've had a lot of Stash, too, but it's not nearly as good. I particularly love their Tension Tamer, Wild Berry Zinger (all the zingers actually), and the lemon and chamomile ones.
6. David's Tea
This is the best gourmet tea shop I've ever been to; it's about 300 times better than Teavana, and they don't force you to buy like an entire pound of tea. The blends are out of this world; it's a little pricey, but especially if you live nearby a store (I don't so I would have to buy online) it's a fantastic option.
There are definitely other great options (Republic of Tea, etc.), especially from relatively small brands, but these are a lot of what you might find at the grocery store.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
A review of 5 food magazines
1. Saveur
This is probably my all-time favorite food magazine because it's not really just about food; it's about families, culture, and how we interact with food. It's more expensive than some of the other food magazines, but it's worth it to me; I've subscribed for 3 years and every issue is worth it. If you're not as into stories about cooking and family, though, it might not be the best. I like that they've featured southern food and food from the middle of the country (Kansas, Oklahoma, etc.); especially the second isn't featured much in magazines, but that's how people actually eat, and their articles feature the best of these recipes! I've actually cooked from Saveur recipes quite a bit, and they turn out amazing. The photography is also excellent.
2. Bon Appetit
This is a great magazine; besides food it also deals a lot with traveling, etc. As a grad student, a lot of the recipe ingredients and places to travel are simply out of reach, so I don't currently subscribe. Their website is definitely worth checking out, especially because you can add their recipes to the app Pepperplate, which unfortunately Saveur doesn't do. Bon Appetit is also owned by Conde Nast and I prefer smaller companies over big conglomerates, but I can forgive them for it. I almost never cooked their recipes when I subscribed (sorry, but I don't have ghee and other random ingredients lying around!), although I do from their website sometimes now.
3. Food and Wine
I'm obsessed with food and I love wine, so I thought this would be perfect, right? It's ok. It's a decent magazine, although I've only subscribed for about 3 months so far. The stories and writing aren't nearly as good as in either Saveur or Bon Appetit, but they have drink guides and instructions that I've enjoyed. I only drink beer if I have to (i.e. at a dive watching a game) and I despise liquor, so I really wish their drink articles actually focused on wine... Despite what you would think from the name, they don't. How sad; for a magazine about some of the greatest things in life, they're not doing the subject matter justice. I'll keep my subscription for the year to see if I just got a bad couple issues, but probably not after that.
4. Cooking Light
This magazine is good if you're trying to lose weight. I stopped subscribing because I thought the recipes were kind of silly; all about trying to replace the heavy whipping cream, butter, or the meat or essentially the best part of a recipe. But as long as you eat in moderation and make veggies the majority of your meal, there is nothing wrong with whipping cream, butter, or meat! I did find some cool recipes that featured vegetables, but you can find that in any magazine... If you prefer being healthy and eating raw vegetables, I guess this magazine might work. Some of the recipes really weren't that healthy, though; maybe they were low-calorie, but not necessarily filling or realistic for a normal person.
5. Real Simple
This isn't actually a food magazine; it's lifestyle I suppose. I didn't subscribe because I thought it was for middle-aged women, but my sister gifted it to me, and now I'm hooked (although the parts about organizing your household don't really apply to me). Each issue has an article on food, another on 10 things to do with X ingredient, and 5 recipes that are quick and easy but still great-tasting and gourmet-ish. I've cooked a lot from this magazine and it always turns out well; the food is accessible without being boring.
This is probably my all-time favorite food magazine because it's not really just about food; it's about families, culture, and how we interact with food. It's more expensive than some of the other food magazines, but it's worth it to me; I've subscribed for 3 years and every issue is worth it. If you're not as into stories about cooking and family, though, it might not be the best. I like that they've featured southern food and food from the middle of the country (Kansas, Oklahoma, etc.); especially the second isn't featured much in magazines, but that's how people actually eat, and their articles feature the best of these recipes! I've actually cooked from Saveur recipes quite a bit, and they turn out amazing. The photography is also excellent.
2. Bon Appetit
This is a great magazine; besides food it also deals a lot with traveling, etc. As a grad student, a lot of the recipe ingredients and places to travel are simply out of reach, so I don't currently subscribe. Their website is definitely worth checking out, especially because you can add their recipes to the app Pepperplate, which unfortunately Saveur doesn't do. Bon Appetit is also owned by Conde Nast and I prefer smaller companies over big conglomerates, but I can forgive them for it. I almost never cooked their recipes when I subscribed (sorry, but I don't have ghee and other random ingredients lying around!), although I do from their website sometimes now.
3. Food and Wine
I'm obsessed with food and I love wine, so I thought this would be perfect, right? It's ok. It's a decent magazine, although I've only subscribed for about 3 months so far. The stories and writing aren't nearly as good as in either Saveur or Bon Appetit, but they have drink guides and instructions that I've enjoyed. I only drink beer if I have to (i.e. at a dive watching a game) and I despise liquor, so I really wish their drink articles actually focused on wine... Despite what you would think from the name, they don't. How sad; for a magazine about some of the greatest things in life, they're not doing the subject matter justice. I'll keep my subscription for the year to see if I just got a bad couple issues, but probably not after that.
4. Cooking Light
This magazine is good if you're trying to lose weight. I stopped subscribing because I thought the recipes were kind of silly; all about trying to replace the heavy whipping cream, butter, or the meat or essentially the best part of a recipe. But as long as you eat in moderation and make veggies the majority of your meal, there is nothing wrong with whipping cream, butter, or meat! I did find some cool recipes that featured vegetables, but you can find that in any magazine... If you prefer being healthy and eating raw vegetables, I guess this magazine might work. Some of the recipes really weren't that healthy, though; maybe they were low-calorie, but not necessarily filling or realistic for a normal person.
5. Real Simple
This isn't actually a food magazine; it's lifestyle I suppose. I didn't subscribe because I thought it was for middle-aged women, but my sister gifted it to me, and now I'm hooked (although the parts about organizing your household don't really apply to me). Each issue has an article on food, another on 10 things to do with X ingredient, and 5 recipes that are quick and easy but still great-tasting and gourmet-ish. I've cooked a lot from this magazine and it always turns out well; the food is accessible without being boring.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Five ways to lose weight without dieting or buying anything
1) Eat out no more than once a week.
Around 1900, about 40% of Americans lived on farms, only 21% of the workforce consisted of women (the vast majority unmarried), and Americans ate out for about 3% of meals. Less than 2% of Americans now live on farms, the workforce is around 60% female, and we eat out for about 40% of our meals [1]. This has drastically changed our food environment into one where convenience, processed, pre-packaged, and fast foods predominate. The issue is that even if you get a salad at Panera, you're probably consuming more calories than you would at home eating something that will actually keep you full. Restaurants can be phenomenal, but only eat out when you really want to enjoy something special; it shouldn't be a default. This will save you money and countless calories.
2) Eat off of smaller plates.
Research has shown conclusively that environmental cues such as plate size can affect how much we eat. Wansink and van Ittersum [2] showed that campers eating from larger bowls ate 16% more on average, but actually estimated their intake to be significantly less than those who ate from smaller bowls. Plates should be about 10 inches to give you a good idea of portion sizes (too small will just make you go back for seconds, so eating off of desert plates isn't encouraged).
3) Dilute your carbs with veggies.
I love making my own fettuccine alfredo (this one works), but this recipe needs a little help. I try to add at least 1/2-1 cup each of frozen peas and fresh mushrooms (chicken works well, too) to the sauce, so you still get that phenomenal flavor, but you're eating a much more balanced meal. Anytime you make pasta or rice, adding things like sauteed onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, or frozen veggies makes the meal both more nutritious and filling.
4) Watch less tv.
Watching tv is a double whammy because you're encouraged stay sedentary for a long time, and then you're also exposed to food adds which prime you to eat both more and less healthily, regardless of whether you actually go out and buy the advertised food. If you watch less tv (no more than 1 hour/day on average), you'll also have more time for other things, and you'll naturally be more active.
5) Hakuna matata.
I know you're stressed and busy, but slow down and enjoy your meal; it should take at least 20 minutes (the time that it takes for our hormones to signal to our brain that we're full). Eat with others if you can, turn off the tv, and enjoy a glass of wine or beer with your [home-cooked] meal. Not only does eating mindfully limit your calories, but it will also decrease stress and help you enjoy life (and food!) a little more.
1. Nestle, M. (2002). Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California.
2. Wansink, B., & van Ittersum, Koert. (2006). The visual illusions of food: Why plates, bowls, and spoons can bias consumption volume. FASEB Journal, 20(4), A618.
Around 1900, about 40% of Americans lived on farms, only 21% of the workforce consisted of women (the vast majority unmarried), and Americans ate out for about 3% of meals. Less than 2% of Americans now live on farms, the workforce is around 60% female, and we eat out for about 40% of our meals [1]. This has drastically changed our food environment into one where convenience, processed, pre-packaged, and fast foods predominate. The issue is that even if you get a salad at Panera, you're probably consuming more calories than you would at home eating something that will actually keep you full. Restaurants can be phenomenal, but only eat out when you really want to enjoy something special; it shouldn't be a default. This will save you money and countless calories.
2) Eat off of smaller plates.
Research has shown conclusively that environmental cues such as plate size can affect how much we eat. Wansink and van Ittersum [2] showed that campers eating from larger bowls ate 16% more on average, but actually estimated their intake to be significantly less than those who ate from smaller bowls. Plates should be about 10 inches to give you a good idea of portion sizes (too small will just make you go back for seconds, so eating off of desert plates isn't encouraged).
3) Dilute your carbs with veggies.
I love making my own fettuccine alfredo (this one works), but this recipe needs a little help. I try to add at least 1/2-1 cup each of frozen peas and fresh mushrooms (chicken works well, too) to the sauce, so you still get that phenomenal flavor, but you're eating a much more balanced meal. Anytime you make pasta or rice, adding things like sauteed onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, or frozen veggies makes the meal both more nutritious and filling.
4) Watch less tv.
Watching tv is a double whammy because you're encouraged stay sedentary for a long time, and then you're also exposed to food adds which prime you to eat both more and less healthily, regardless of whether you actually go out and buy the advertised food. If you watch less tv (no more than 1 hour/day on average), you'll also have more time for other things, and you'll naturally be more active.
5) Hakuna matata.
I know you're stressed and busy, but slow down and enjoy your meal; it should take at least 20 minutes (the time that it takes for our hormones to signal to our brain that we're full). Eat with others if you can, turn off the tv, and enjoy a glass of wine or beer with your [home-cooked] meal. Not only does eating mindfully limit your calories, but it will also decrease stress and help you enjoy life (and food!) a little more.
1. Nestle, M. (2002). Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California.
2. Wansink, B., & van Ittersum, Koert. (2006). The visual illusions of food: Why plates, bowls, and spoons can bias consumption volume. FASEB Journal, 20(4), A618.
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