Favorite Finds: Trader Joes Edition!

We all know that grocery shopping can be chore but it can also be an adventure, a scavenger hunt for the yummiest foods out there. Personally, Trader Joes happens to be one of my favorite places to explore. Compared to other neighborhood style grocery chains, it tends to be on the more affordable side and the quality of their food as well as their customer service is remarkable! Below, I have made a quick list of a few of my favorite finds Trader Joes has to offer and I dare you to add these to your search list, next time you're out on the hunt. I promise you won't regret it! 

#1 THE CHEESES: Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love my cheeses so its no shocker I especially love the selection Trader Joes has to offer. In addition to the sliced cheeses for sandwich making and shredded cheeses for the perfect toppings, the Brie Unriped Semi-Soft Cheese and the Caramel Washed Gouda are two of my personal favorites that I love pairing with crackers or alone, along side some fruit!

#2 THE GREEK YOGURTS: The Greek Yogurt Nonfat come in tons of delicious flavors, I often have a hard time trying to decide which ones I want the most! As of right now I am loving the mango and pomegranate ones for breakfast or a quick snack. I also ALWAYS make sure to pick up a few of the plain original flavors that I use as a substitute for cream, milk, mayo...the list goes on and on!  

#3 THE KALE: Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that people have recently fallen in love with Kale and theres absolutely no reason why they shouldn't have! Trader Joes offers Seasonal Kale Chips which I like to have in the pantry instead of chips! The store also has fresh Organic Mixed Baby Kale if you would like to try to make your own kale chips, or perhaps a kale salad or smoothie! When buying kale, I often have trouble finding a bag of leaves that will stay fresh longer than a day but at Trader Joes, I've taken note and have never ran into that issue!

#3 THE HUMMUS 
Although Im still unsure how to pronounce this correctly, the Muhammara Hummus is a perfect dip to have in your refrigerator. I often grab this with some carrots when Im on the go and even use it in place of a salad dressing!

#4 THE GUAC: My obsession with this guacamole is off the charts. Although I prefer to make my own guac, sometimes theres simply not enough time to. TJ's Chunky Guacamole is perfect to keep in your refrigerator. It stays fresh and tastes fresh! Plus I find it goes with almost anything; toast, salads, chicken, quesadillas, burgers, etc, so I go through these like nobodies business. 

#5 THE POPCORN: Two of my TJ snack time favorites. Sometimes, the kale chips just don't fulfill the cravings when watching movies or just lounging around the house but this Kettle Corn and this Organic Popcorn with Olive Oil certainly does. WARNING: highly addictive so pour yourself a small portion instead of eating straight out the bag, you won't stop otherwise!

#6 THE TORTILLA CHIPS: Out of all the flavors, I definitely consider myself to be a spicy kind of girl which is why the first time I saw the Spicy Soy & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips, I couldn't resist. These chips certainly lived up to their expectations. They were spicy but the taste wasn't overbearing either. They are a great snack by themselves or with hummus, and guac...now if only we knew where to get good hummus, and guac...oh wait!

 #7 THE PEANUT BUTTER: Peanut butter is a tricky thing to get right and get healthy but once again, TJs master it with the Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter with Flax & Chia Seeds. This is another staple that I have to have in my pantry at all times. Whenever Im craving something sweet, I simply grab a spoonful of this yumminess, slice an apple and I'm good to go.

#8 THE BEANS: Beans are a great way to get some extra protein in but sometimes canned beans can have ridiculous amounts of sodium in them! TJs offers Organic Kidney Beans, Organic Garbanzo Beans, and Organic Black Beans in cans with reduced fat and sodium (just be sure to read the label)! I love heating these up as side dishes, using them to spice up my salads or mixing them all together for a crockpot meal to die for! 

 #9 THE MOCHI: Okay so this may not be the "fittest flavor" but it is my guilty pleasure. The Pumpkin Pie Mochi Ice Cream comes in the perfect serving and has the perfect amount of sweetness to brighten up your days. Like all other ice creams, you'll have to resist getting seconds and this is coming from a person who doesn't normally like pumpkin!




So, there ya have it folks!! Those are some of my favorite finds Trader Joes has in store for you (pun-intended). They are all highly recommended and have been on my personal shopping lists time and time again!

Let me know if you try any of these yummy treats and as always, if you have any other favorites in TJS, or have favorite places to discover new goods!

As always continue to aim for the Fit Flavor of life!
-xx Kassandra

Disclaimer: Images above are not property of The Fit Flavor ©. This post is not sponsored by Trader Joes.

LETS TALK: Vitamins!

As a kid, doctors and parents always stressed the importance of taking your vitamins and eating well so you get all your vitamins. Although, Im still addicted to those "healthy gummies," until a few days ago I didn't know what vitamins ARE? what do vitamins REALLY do? and where do you FIND them? So I decided to study up and heres what I found!

THE DEFINITION: 

Vitamin- vi·ta·min, [ˈvīdəmən/] (noun): Any of a group of organic compounds that are essential for normal growth and nutrition and are required in small quantities in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body.

SOME OF THE TYPES, THE FUNCTIONS AND THE FOODS:

• A-Retinol

◦ Supports vision, skin, bone, tooth growth, immunity and reproduction

◦ Found in: mango, carrots, butternut squash, pumpkin, broccoli, milk and beef liver

• B1-Thiamin

◦ Supports energy metabolism and nerve function

◦ Found in: watermelon, tomato, spinach, soy milk, lean ham, pork chops, sunflower seeds

• B2-Riboflavin

◦ Supports energy metabolism, normal vision and skin health

◦ Found in: spinach, broccoli, mushroom, milk, egg, liver, oysters and clams

• B3-Niacin

◦ Supports energy metabolism, skin health, nervous system and digestive system

◦ Found in: spinach, potatoes, nuts, tomatoes, lean ground beef, chicken breast, shrimp, tuna in canned water and liver

• B6-Pyridoxine

◦ Supports brain function, nerve function, amino acids and fatty acid metabolism and red blood cell production

◦ Found in: banana, watermelon, tomato, potato, broccoli, spinach, chicken breast, beans, nuts, red meat, fish, eggs, spinach and white rice

• B12

◦ Supports new cell synthesis, helps break down fatty acids and amino acids, and supports nerve cell maintenance

◦ Found in: milk, red meat, poultry, fish, egg and shellfish

• C-Ascorbic Acid

◦ Supports new cell synthesis, helps break down fatty acids and amino acids, and supports nerve cell maintenance

◦ Found in: mango, orange, lemon, grapefruit, strawberries, kiwi, spinach, broccoli, red bell peppers, snow peas and tomatoes

• D

◦ Supports bone mineralization

◦ Found in: milk, egg yolk, liver, fatty  fish and of course, sunlight

• E

◦ Supports cell membrane stabilization and protects cell damage

◦ Found in: nuts, vegetable/plant oils, avocado, cod, shrimp, tofu, wheat and sunflower seeds

• K

◦ Supports synthesis of blood-clotting proteins and regulates look calcium

◦ Found in: spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, leafy green vegetables and liver

• Folate

◦ Supports DNA synthesis and new cell formation

◦ Found in: tomato, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, okra, green beans and black-eyed peas

Do we see a trend? Most of these vitamins help our bodies METABOLISM and are found mostly in FRUITS & VEGGIES. Next time you make a meal or go grocery shopping, I CHALLENGE you to purpose use/purchase one of the items listed above simply because of the ample amounts of vitamins in it! 

AND of course, don't forget those (gummy) vitamins & aim for the Fit Flavor of your life!

-xx Kassandra

Disclaimer: Images above are not property of The Fit Flavor ©.

Information gathered from: Mother Nature Network & Foodista

Is the REALLY Junk Food Worth It?

CRAVINGS, it happens to all of us. Sometimes they're so bad that we feel as though we HAVE TO give in or else we won't be able to survive, or else the world around us will collapse. And more often that I should, I, like others, give in. I choose my stomach over the voices in my brain telling me to constrain. I tell myself that I'll make up for it by eating healthy the rest of the day and by getting a longer workout in, but is it really worth it? Is the REALLY Junk Food Worth It? Well, lets see..

If you eat...
A Glazed Donut

It has...
About 242 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 88 minutes of crunches

If you eat...
A Cheeseburger and Fries

It has...
About 691 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 141 mins (Over 2 hrs!) on the elliptical

If you eat...
(1) Medium Size of French Fries

It has...
About 380 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 55 mins of climbing stairs

If you eat...Fried Chicken Breast

It has...
About 444 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 65 mins on a stationary bike

If you eat...
A Slice of Cheesecake

It has...
About 710 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 148 mins of brisk walking

If you eat...
A Milkshake

It has... 
About 780 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 72 mins of jumping rope

If you eat...
A Cinnabon

It has...
About 730 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 80 mins of cycling

If you eat...
(2) 6" Pancakes w. Syrup

It has...
About 402 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 40 mins of swimming

If you eat...
Two Slices of Pepperoni Pizza

It has...
About 626 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 159 mins (Over 2.5 hrs!) of climbing stairs

If you eat...
A Chicken Burrito

It has...
About 1,175 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 122 mins (About 2 hrs!) of running

If you eat...
A Chocolate Cupcake

It has...
About 240 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 27 mins of beach volleyball

If you eat...
Chips and Queso

It has...
About 740 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 130 mins of swimming

If you eat...
A 12oz of Coke

It has...
About 140 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 17 mins of outdoor jogging

If you eat...
A 16oz Frappuccino

It has...
About 500 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 54 mins of lunges

If you eat...
A Small Theatre Popcorn with Butter

It has...
About 630 calories

So, you have to do...
Around 135 mins on the elliptical





SO IN CONCLUSION, the sad truth is, the junk food and cravings we have are usually not worth it! Instead, opt for the healthier option AND do the exercise for a fitter lifestyle. If all else fails, then you can always try to stick to one of my favorite mottos "out of sight, out of mind!" and avoid these painfully delicious foods as a whole.

Stay strong everyone & aim for the Fit Flavor of your life!
-xx Kassandra

Disclaimer: Images above are not property of The Fit Flavor ©.
Information gathered from: Women'sHealth & SkinnyMom

"Meat" the Blogger!

The girl behind The Fit Flavor © ...

Im not a nutritionist nor a personal trainer, nor food expert, nor licensed physician. I am simply a young college student who has recently discovered a keen interest for fitness, food and creating a healthy lifestyle. 

Growing up, I ate healthy and tried to remain active despite my lack of coordination and skill for any sport. However, I was still never thin. As I grew older, my body became an insecurity of mine (and I'll admit, it still is) and I started to "study up" on ways I could create a change. As I continue to get older, I am learning to stop trying to change my body and instead change my lifestyle choices. 

I have discovered tips and tricks, that along the way have made my journey to a healthier lifestyle so much easier and each day I learn more and more!! Thus, The Fit Flavor © was created to share my knowledge, my journey and my aspirations with you all. 

"Being healthy should not be a goal; it should be a lifestyle"

From delicious healthy recipes to fabulous fitness routines and everything in between, these short and sweet blog entries are sure to be a treat! 

-xx Kassandra