Wednesday What Not #46

"And now a moment of silence for a fallen cupcakery - a prayer for the Red Velvet Cheesecakes that will never be made, a paean to the empty calories that will never be consumed."

Like many, I was in "sugar" shock yesterday when I heard that Crumbs' closed the doors of their 48 bake shops across the United States.  What I was not surprised about, however, was that the substantial serving size of the cupcakes may have been to blame.  According to a report published in the Washington Post, a Crumb's Vanilla cupcake had 780 calories and 36 grams of fat!  With people increasingly becoming more health conscious, such an indulgence was just no longer an option!

Rather than sulking over the loss of the decadent desserts, take a stab at baking this satisfying sweet - which includes sources of Vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, probiotics and calcium!  There is even a superfood in the mix ;)

((Photo Source:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/08/crumbs-the-cupcakery-that-couldnt-goes-broke/))

Tasty Tuesday Treat #46

Did you know that July is National Watermelon Month?  

I was certainly not aware of this 31 day celebration, but was very happy to pay my respect with a pitcher of Watermelon Fresca this weekend.  Not only was the drink the perfect holiday hue, but its star player, the watermelon, also offered 20% of my daily intake of vitamin C, 17% of my daily intake of vitamin A, as well as necessary dietary fiber and potassium*. 

If you want to join in on this fruit's fiesta, try blending up your own Watermelon Fresca today!

*Per 1 cup of Watermelon

((Photo Source:  http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/08/agua-de-sandia-watermelon-water.html))

Mindful Monday Inspiration #46

((Photo Source:  http://rachelgadiel.com/))

Fitness Friday Fact #46

Happy 4th of July!!

((Photo Source:  http://seattle.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-places-to-watch-4th-of-july-fireworks-in-seattle/))

Thursday's Trend Alert Dirt Report #45

It was revealed the other day that Facebook conducted an experiment where it "manipulated information posted on 689,000 users' home pages and found that it could make people feel more positive or negative through a process of emotional contagion." The experiment included two tests; one that limited users' exposure to positive posts and another that reduced the the flow of negative news.  Of the test group, those who saw negative emotional content posted fewer happy highlights.  The opposite occurred for those who viewed positive emotional content.

Although against the potential privacy breach of this experiment, I do appreciate the results that were revealed.  Having made strides in my own life to focus on the good and not the bad, it's comforting to know that I might be able to impose my outlook on others via social media.  Even better, is the fact each and everyone of you can give your Facebook friends a "thumbs up" kind of day by simply sharing positivity!

((Photo Source:  www.facebook.com))

Wednesday What Not #45

How would you define the word "NATURAL"?  Would you use synonyms like pure, unrefined or whole?  Although those words do describe the health food BUZZ word, "NATURAL" has become one of the many vague adjectives in the world of wellness.  

Along with natural, statements like "GLUTEN FREE", "HEART HEALTHY" and "FAT FREE" have persuaded consumers to believe that those products are healthier than those without the wellness wording.  Although some of the claims do have merit, most cases would reveal that the Buzzword Branded Bites' nutrition labels are not better! 

Rather than finding yourself in a situation where you consider SPAM superior to Salmon (Yes, that did happen to 20% of people polled in a University of Houston study), remember to check the nutrition panel and ingredient list on all of your purchases.

((Photo Source:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/06/24/the-word-natural-helps-sell-40-billion-worth-of-food-in-the-u-s-every-year-and-the-label-means-nothing/))

Tasty Tuesday Treat #45

Even though the 4th of July is synonymous with grilling, there is no reason why you can't think outside of the "coal" box this weekend.  

Rather than burgers and dogs, try browning some broccoli, or searing this superfood.  To appease your sweet tooth, try switching up your s'mores by stuffing a sugar cone with 1 tablespoon of Natural Peanut Butter, 1.5 teaspoon of dark chocolate chips, 1 chopped banana and 1.5 teaspoons of mini-marshmallows.  Wrap the "s'more" in foil and place it away from direct heat on the grill for 5 - 10 minutes!

((Photo Source:  http://www.esquire.com/features/recipes-for-men/barbeque-tips/outdoor-grilling-tips-0509#slide-1))