Winner of best milk alternative IS....

Shove that soymilk aside...I've got a milk alternative that I think you're going to just LOVE! Hazelnut milk! Hazelnut, you ask? Yes...you heard me right. I forgot about hazelnuts in general. I don't remember the last time I tried it in nut form and until a week ago, I didn't know a milk form existed! This is hands down the best milk I've ever tried.... I've never drank a milk alternative that is as smooth and tasty as hazelnut milk! What also impressed me was that this is the first milk alternative that I've liked that has not been masked with the flavor of vanilla.

According to health24.com, " Hazelnuts are rich in vitamin E (helps form red blood cells, muscles and other tissues) and are a useful source of thiamine (enhances energy and promotes normal appetite) and vitamin B6 (aids protein metabolism and absorption).

These nuts are also relatively good sources of protein (essential for growth and repair of the body's cells), dietary fiber (helps the movement of the digestive tract), iron (essential for red blood cell function and enzyme activity), calcium (helps build bones and teeth) and potassium (helps regulate the body's fluid balance)."

Each cup has 110 calories and 3.5 grams of fat....very comparable to all the milk alternatives on the market. I found my carton of Hazelnut milk at The Wedge Co-op but I've also seen it at various other co-ops, as well as Whole Foods.

Have you tried oat milk?

Ever since I read that consuming too much soy is unhealthy, I've been trying to alternate the kinds of dairy-alternative milks to use when eating my daily cereal. Up to this point, I had tried rice, almond, hemp and even black sesame milk! That last one was a mistake while honeymooning in Thailand. The only english on the package was "lactose-free" so I figured I was safe... I may have been safe from lactose but not from a considerable gag!

Then last week I came across "Organic Oat Milk" at Whole Foods. I like oatmeal, so I figured I'd give it a shot and bought the low fat vanilla option. I am happy to report that oat milk is pretty darn good and honestly, I think I like it better than my usual soy! Its sweeter, creamier and lacks that weird after taste you sometimes get from a swig of soy milk. It also has the same amount of calcium, vitamin A and D as soy milk with an addition of more iron and riboflavin. This particular brand (Pacific) has 130 calories per cup and 2.5 grams of fat.

So which milk is my current winner? Hmmm...at this time there is a tie between oat milk and hemp milk (both vanilla flavored). I like the creaminess of oat milk and the nutty flavor of hemp. One detail to note - both hemp and oat milks are considerably more expensive than soy milk...about double the price.

I spied a package of hazelnut milk at The Wedge the other day... A review to come shortly!

Recipe: Orange Julia Smoothie

Today I had the pleasure of meeting a co-worker/friend for lunch at The Ecopolitan, a raw vegan restaurant located in uptown Minneapolis. After a 5 mile run this morning, nothing looked better than a tall, filling smoothie to quench my thirst and feed my muscles.

I chose the "Orange Julia" smoothie and loved it so much I looked it up online when I got home. I must not be the only one in love with this smoothie as the Ecopolitan restaurant has posted the recipe online! The special ingredient in this recipe is Virgin Coconut Oil which offers an abundance of health benefits beyond it's vitamins and nutrience such as:

* Weight loss
* Healing properties
* Improves digestion and bowel function
* Reduces inflammation
* Aids immune system

To read more about coconut oil and its health benefits, visit: www.coconutresearchcenter.org

Here is the recipe for Orange Julia smoothie, compliments of The Ecopolitan (http://www.ecopolitan.com/)

1 Large, Frozen, Organic Banana
1 Cup of Fresh-Squeezed Organic Orange Juice
1 TBSP Virgin Organic Coconut Oil
1 Tsp Vanilla extract

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and enjoy for breakfast or a snack.

Trader Joe's Sticky Rice Snacks

I had been noticing these Japanese Sticky Rice Snacks at Trader Joe's for a while....not necessarily because they looked delicious but because they were so different and looked quite odd, to be frank. My husband and I were both so curious about them that I bought a bag to bring home.

My review is that they're a nice little snack. They're nothing to go CRAZY about but they hit the spot when you're looking for something very low calorie (110 calories for 10 large puffs), fat free and surprisingly kind of filling for their crisp bodies and light weight. If you like rice cakes, soy sauce and brown sugar, you should try these out.

Recipe: Soy Yogurt Parfaits

Just an idea for a healthy breakfast, snack or dessert!

* Choose a flavored soy yogurt (I used a 6 oz. container of Silk strawberry banana)

* Buy your granola of choice (I used Cascade Farms Oats & Honey Granola) and measure out a half cup

* Cut up your favorite fruit (Mine is strawberries- I made a half cup)

Get a small glass and start layering the ingredients. Take half of the yogurt and put it in the glass, toss in half of the cut up fruit and then sprinkle half of your of granola on top. Do this sequence one more time and you're done! Delicious, healthy and filling.

Annie's Homegrown Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks

Fruit snacks aren't just for kids!! (Even if they're shaped like little bunnies...) And for those of us interested in staying healthy but wanting a snack with a burst of flavor, this is the perfect thing!

These fruit snacks are sweetened with white grape juice and it really does taste that way - no artificial ingredients and no therefore no artificial flavor! Also, the consistency of these bunnies is different than other fruit snacks. Instead of being incredibly chewy and sticking to your teeth, it is softer and juicier. There are two kinds to choose from: Berry Patch and Tropical Treat. One pouch is only 70 calories.

I keep a pouch in my purse when I need a tiny pick me up in the afternoon with no guilt!

How do products fortified with calcium compare to calcium from dairy?

Do you ever wonder how the calcium intake from dairy alternatives compare to that of natural dairy? I found this article from a blog that I follow (The Nutrition Data Blog) and thought that I would share. The overall moral of the story: Studies in general suggest that the body is more likely to intake nutrients from whole, natural foods rather than supplements or fortified products. If you don't eat or drink dairy, focus on vegetables and nuts which naturally contain calcium.

Dairy vs. Calcium Supplements for bone health

POSTED BY: Monica Reinagel, M.S., LD/N | May 06, 2009 | 12:37 PM

You've heard plenty about this already: Most Americans don't get anywhere close the recommended amount of calcium, especially after early childhood. And as sweetened beverages like sodas, bottled tea, juice and sports drinks edge out milk as our beverages of choice, the gap widens.

For parents, middle-aged women, and others with "calcium guilt," there are a host of calcium-fortified products that seem as if they might be part of the solution. You can get a dose of added calcium with your orange juice, another by choosing one of the new calcium-fortified cereals, breads, or pastas. Or, pop a couple of pills and you're good to go.

Not so fast, say researchers from Purdue University. They fed two groups of rats diets containing the same amount of calcium. But one group got their calcium from dairy products and the other in the form of calcium carbonate supplements. The study was funded (but not conducted by) the National Dairy Council, who must have been thrilled to learn that the milk-fed rats ended up with stronger bones than the rats who took calcium supplements.

An aside on industry-funded research: Just because the results are agreeable to the funding agency doesn't necessarily mean that the study was flawed. Although its not a perfect system, there are independent review boards that approve study designs for objectivity. And, to be fair, industry spends lots of money on studies that DON'T deliver the results they hoped for. Nonetheless, it's important know who funds research, which is why I note it here.

In any case, this study seems to reinforce something that we've talked about many times in the past: nutrients seem to be safer and more beneficial when they are consumed as they naturally occur--in foods rather than as supplements. And this is not the first study to note that the calcium in dairy products is quite well-absorbed.

For my vegan friends and others who eschew dairy products: This does not mean that those who don't consume dairy products are doomed to diseases of calcium deficiency. Vegetables can provide plenty of calcium, although it is not as well-absorbed as the sources in dairy. However, those who do not eat meat may also NEED less calcium to maintain healthy bones because they tend to consume less protein. (Higher protein diets increase calcium needs.)

Restaurant Review: Vincent

Eating at a french restaurant can be daunting to someone who cannot consume dairy. Could there possibly be anything on the menu for someone with lactose-intolerance? I cannot speak for every restaurant, but I will strongly confirm that Vincent of downtown Minneapolis is a winner in my book. The chef last night said that he could accommodate my diet with ANYTHING I chose from the menu.

Monday-Thursday from 5-9 p.m. they offer a 3 Course Prix Fixe Dinner Menu for $30 in addition to their usual menu of delicious entrees. When they confirmed that they could accommodate my diet with this prix fixe dinner, I was sold. As we waited for our meals to arrive, they served us a bread basket with bread that I could eat and even brought me some olive oil to dip it in since I could not partake in the butter!

The fancy salad and soup option that was listed for course #1 had dairy, so they allowed me to choose a different salad from the regular menu. Pictured is the salad I chose which was very delicious! This was called Baby Romaine Salad, Poached Quince, Pickled Ramps and Hazelnuts.

Of the two listed entrees, I chose Pan Seared Atlantic Cod, Confit of Mediterranean Vegetables, Bell Pepper Oil. I was informed that the cod was usually fried in butter, but for me they would use Olive Oil. This entree was to die for!!! The cod was lightly crusted and the vegetables had the most wonderful flavor. I've never had Bell Pepper Oil before and I'm sure that was what made this side dish so delicious! I ate every speck of food on my plate.

The final course was dessert. The choices were a cheese plate or strawberry cake. They told me that they would be happy to substitute a selection of homemade sorbets for me. They came out with three scoops - mango, strawberry and lemon, with a side of blueberry coulis. These were all very good, strawberry being my favorite by far. There were actual chunks of strawberry in the sorbet!

My husband enjoyed his dairy, eating from the regular menu. He ordered an appetizer of Escargots in Garlic Butter which he thoroughly enjoyed and for an entree Black Peppercorn Crusted Strip Sirloin, Steak Frites, Haricots Verts and a Green Peppercorn Sauce. His review was that the sirloin was amazing and the steak frites were a little dry. For dessert, he chose Three Creams: Crème Caramel, Crème Brûlée & Pot de Crème. He reported that the Creme Brulee was the best of the lot and that the Pot de Creme could have been a little better - maybe more of a chocolatey flavor.

Overall, a great experience from the bread basket all the way to dessert! Dairy-lovers and dairy-free eaters alike can enjoy a wonderful dining experience at Vincent.

Another "Hooray!" For Trader Joes

Mother's Day brunch at home was a complete success today and this has a lot to do with the mix pictured at the left...Trader Joe's Pancake & Waffle Mix. Practically everyone can eat from this mix whether you have a sensitivity to dairy/lactose, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, soy or corn...and it sure doesn't TASTE like you're skimping on the good stuff!

Make the mix as directed, add a little cinnamon and or/nutmeg, and pour the batter into a waffle maker. The results were just delicious....crispy yet chewy and a wonderful flavor that everyone enjoyed, not just the allergy/special diet crowd. Each waffle was very light, yet filling. Highly, highly recommended! The batter bowl was empty and everyone was asking for more.

The mix is made with sweet brown rice flour, tapioca flour, arrowroot flour, rice milk powder, cream of tartar, xantham gum, baking soda, sea salt and ground vanilla bean...nothing you can't pronounce and all natural! Also, for one serving it was .5 grams of fat and less than 1 gram of sugar. If you watch the toppings you add, you really don't have to feel any guilt.

My Punch Pizza Experience

I hadn't been out for pizza since my lactose intolerance diagnosis last November '08 so as you can imagine, I was really excited to give Punch Pizza a try! I had already confirmed with their online customer service that a cheeseless pizza was doable and that their dough contained no dairy whatsoever.

Last night, my husband and I visited the location on Hennepin in NE Minneapolis. I ordered a bambini (kid sized pizza), told them to exclude the mozzarrella and add crushed tomatoes, mushrooms, roasted eggplant and oregano. After 90 seconds in their wood-burning oven, my pizza was ready.

Well, the dough was amazing - soft yet crispy. The San Marzano tomatoes were juicy. My only complaint was that the eggplant was overly salty. The pizza slices I ate with lots of eggplant were so salty, I called it a "salt pizza". Once I picked the eggplant off of the pizza, my dinner was lovely. For me, the bambini size was just perfect. I felt full yet not stuffed.

I would definitely do Punch Pizza again, but next time I will opt for the Margarita Pizza option!