Fuel Your Adventures with Great Coffee on The Road, 5 Low-Carb Swaps for A Guilt-Free Holiday Season, Fall in love with cool-weather gardening for a healthy, hefty homegrown harvest, Move Over Meat – Vegetables are taking center stage on your plate, Cheribundi Smoothie aids Arthritis For Celebrity Chef etc...

 

Fuel Your Adventures with Great Coffee on The Road

(NewsUSA) – Sponsored News -Whether you are in a hotel room, at your desk, in an RV, or by a campfire, it can be difficult to get a good cup of coffee away from home. With the holiday travel season in full swing, travelers are wondering how best to enjoy their morning java while on the go.Most away-from-home coffee options have major drawbacks. Hotel room coffee makers are convenient and cheap, but the coffee they brew means a major compromise on taste. Local cafes often offer good coffee, but the cost of all those to-go cups can really add up. Existing travel coffee presses offer a way to brew while on the go, but they typically brew slowly and therefore brew a bitter and very acidic cup.Travelers benefit from being able to brew delicious coffee quickly and easily wherever they are. Luckily there is a perfect way to do just that. The AeroPress Go travel coffee press brews up to three cups of delicious hot or cold brew coffee that is richer, smoother, and lower in acidity than coffee brewed by other travel presses. Simply add ground coffee and water, stir briskly, press, and enjoy a cup of hot or cold brew coffee in just a minute or two.The AeroPress Go travels self- contained in its own mug with a lid, making it easy to fit in a suitcase, in a desk, with camping gear, in an RV or in a backpack. It is compact, lightweight, and durable, making it easy to transport. And it cleans up in just a few seconds with a quick rinse.The AeroPress Go’s ability to make cold brew coffee is a big additional advantage because it can be used where there is no access to hot water. Wherever you go, there is almost always a source of water, but often no way to heat it. Use the AeroPress Go to join the hot new trend of drinking coffee that’s an amazingly smooth, rich cold brew. With the AeroPress Go, it’s easy to brew a cup of cold brew using unheated water in about two minutes.Visit https://aeropress.com/ for more information about how to brew great coffee on the road. 

5 Low-Carb Swaps for A Guilt-Free Holiday Season

(NewsUSA) – With the holidays just around the corner, you might be worrying about how to get through all the parties and cookie exchanges without derailing your healthy lifestyle. It can be a struggle to avoid temptation, particularly when you’re busy, stressed, sleep-deprived, or all three. At times, you might consider giving up and just diving into the dessert tray. But with a bit of motivation and creativity, you can whip together some festive treats that are both delicious and carb-conscious.Courtney McCormick, Dietitian at Nutrisystem, offers five low-carb swaps to keep you healthy and happy through the holidays:1. Try veggies when you’re craving a crunch. We’re all guilty of lingering too long at the chips and salsa bowl at a holiday party. If you’re craving something crunchy such as a pretzel or chips, try carb-conscious snacks with a crunch – brussel sprouts chips, kale chips, veggies such as cucumber, zucchini, and carrots – they pair wonderfully with a healthier dip such as low-fat ranch or hummus.2. Sub in cauliflower for your favorite comfort foods. Do you love mashed potatoes, rice, pizza, and tater tots? If you’ve been avoiding these foods as part of your healthy lifestyle, cauliflower is here to help. This versatile veggie has recently become popular as a substitute for some of our favorite comfort foods. Mashed and steamed cauliflower have a texture and taste that is surprisingly similar to mashed potatoes – add a bit of salted butter and enjoy! And if you’re not ready to go all in on the cauliflower craze just yet, McCormick recommends swapping out at least half the potatoes for cauliflower.3. Mix your own dressings and condiments. Have you taken a close look at the nutrition facts on your favorite cranberry sauce? You might be shocked by the carbs and added sugars in dressings, sauces, and condiments, even those that appear to be "healthier" options. The best way to avoid sneaky carbs in your condiments is to make them at home. That way, you can control the ingredients and ensure they taste great.4. Bring the healthy alternative to the holiday party. Where everyone else is hauling sugary cookies and cakes, dare to bring the delicious low-carb snack! Get creative with the presentation – use edamame hummus, pita, and slices of red pepper to make perfectly festive "holiday trees."5. Don’t drink your carbs. You’ve probably heard the saying, "don’t drink your calories," before, but you shouldn’t drink your carbs either. Toss the fruit juices and sodas for seltzer, unsweetened tea, and the original favorite, water. Light beer, spiked seltzer, or dry wines are good low-carb alcohol options if you’re celebrating.For more great tips and tricks on how to make the most of your holidays with healthy alternatives, visit leaf.nutrisystem.com. 

Fall in love with cool-weather gardening for a healthy, hefty homegrown harvest

(NewsUSA) – Shorter days and cooler temperatures mean gardeners everywhere can flex their green thumb that much longer to squeeze every last moment out of the growing season.Cooler temperatures make it a delight to spend time outside in the garden. You’ll spend less time caring for crops because of the favorable cool weather growing conditions. Plants will grow rapidly at first and gradually slow as the days become shorter and colder. Destructive insects won’t be as numerous, and weeds germinate less frequently and grow slower than they do during the warmer weather. Compared to hot and dry summers, fall usually brings an increase in precipitation, reducing another time-consuming chore -watering.Veteran or novice gardener, if you’re not ready to give up your garden, here’s how to get growing:Use transplants: For the timeliest results, buy quality transplants that are already started, so the germination process is complete. You’ll harvest six weeks sooner than growing from seed, with time to spare before the cold weather sets in.Bonnie Plants, the largest producer of vegetable and herb plants in the United States, and supplier of 300 varieties, offers a wide selection of plants, perfect for fall; availability of Bonnie’s fall varieties is limited to specific regions, so check your local garden retailers to find plants near you.Make friends with frost: Cole crops (German for cabbage, as in coleslaw), such as cauliflower, cabbage and kale grow well in cooler temperatures; and they taste even better when nipped by Jack Frost, since frost encourages cole crops to produce sugar, which in turn, makes them sweeter. Unlike cole crops, while tomatoes can still grow plentifully in fall, they are vulnerable to frost, so look for tips on how to cope with cold weather on Bonnie’s website.The experts at Bonnie Plants offer some fall gardening tips to make the most of the time you have left before winter:* Location, location, location: Plan your fall garden with enough sunlight (six to eight hours per day) to grow and thrive, while allowing for some afternoon shade. Spend time noting the sunniest spots and plant accordingly.* Prep the perfect soil. Just like humans, plants need their own brand of nutrition to thrive. Working in some compost can be beneficial, as well as removing spent plants, and weeds. Freshen garden soil by removing any mulch, then replace it. Straw makes an excellent cover; it’s easily scattered and is also a favorite home for spiders that control pests naturally.* Consider containers. Container gardening is a quick, easy and cost-effective way to grow your own food at home, plus it’s great for small spaces or urban dwellers who may not have greenspace.Pick your plants. From showy lettuces to hearty cole crops, fall provides a cornucopia of choices. Some good, cool weather choices are:* Georgia collards: These greens are prized for their sweet, cabbage-like flavor and are rich in vitamins and minerals.* Spinach: A cool-weather favorite is fast-growing, yielding many leaves in a short time span.* Artwork Broccoli: This variety is unique; instead of producing one large broccoli head, it yields tender, dark green side shoots with bite-size heads and long, edible stems – perfect for stir fry and sautéing.* Bonnie hybrid cabbage: Cabbage is especially high in beta-carotene, vitamin C, K, and fiber.Water wisely. It’s best to water in the morning, at the base of the plant (soil level) keeping the foliage dry. Water when the top 2 inches of the soil becomes dry to the touch. To test, stick your finger or a pencil about 2 inches down into the soil. If the soil is dry, 2 inches down, it’s time to water, if wet, wait until the soil is dry.Fertilize faithfully. Plants need an extra boost of nutrition for proper growth in the form of a high-quality fertilizer. Always follow manufacturer label directions for rates and intervals since too much fertilizer can be detrimental to plants.Prepare for harvesting. Once your plants start yielding results, have a plan in place for either eating fresh, or preserving. Who knows, this may be the perfect time to try your hand at canning or freezing to maximize freshness and time. Bonnie’s website has some fabulous recipes by variety, which can expand your culinary horizon!All it takes is proper prep and planning and soon your garden will yield a delicious garden-to-table feast before the first frost hits the ground. For more information on fall gardening and varieties, visit www.bonnieplants.com. . 

Move Over Meat – Vegetables are taking center stage on your plate

(NewsUSA) – Historically, American dinner plates have featured meat as its mainstay/star, with vegetables as tepid, secondary supporting players. Now, the balance of power on the plate is shifting as fresh, homegrown vegetables take center stage.Recent "food trend" studies show that more people are making vegetables the main course of their meals. Although the interest in healthy eating extends to all age groups, millennials seem to be driving this healthful food trend. Data from the NPD Group suggests that people younger than 40 are eating 52 percent more fresh vegetables compared with young adults 10 years ago, and that preference is likely to continue as they age.In support of this trend, professional chefs, bloggers, restaurants and home cooks are embracing the flavors of a vast variety of vegetables, from common to exotic. Episodes of the popular "Iron Chef" television show feature vegetable-centric meals and a recent article in New York magazine noted, "Simply put, the once-meat-obsessed populace is realizing that vegetables actually taste good. Especially when fresh, in season, and carefully prepared."You’ll see that many restaurants now offer vegetable-based entrees that have inspired home cooks to explore the healthy and delicious potential of making fresh vegetables a main course.Some reasons driving the shift in popularity of vegetables over meat include:- Vine-Ripened, great taste. Homegrown vegetables have a home field advantage when it comes to flavor because they stay on the vine to fully ripen and are harvested just before eating. Store bought veggies are often harvested before they’re fully ripe, so they don’t spoil on the journey to the store. Once picked from the vine, sugars begin to turn to starch-and that homegrown sweetness dissipates.- Good health. Everyone knows that vegetables are good for you, but research backs it up. In a study of over 130,000, in the Journal of American Medical Association Internal Medicine, consumption of plant protein is associated with longer life compared with animal protein consumption.- Good stewardship. Eating more vegetables and less meat can have a positive effect on the environment. Data from the University of Oxford, England, suggests that eating more vegetables could have a greater impact on reducing one’s carbon footprint than giving up a car!As vegetables grow in popularity and push meat from the center of the plate, more people are interested not only in eating more vegetables, but eating locally grown vegetables – hey, what’s more local than growing your own veggies at home? Growing vegetables at home is convenient, satisfying, a money-saver in the produce aisle, and they’ll taste better, too!Fortunately for the home gardener, professional growers make it easy to grow nutritious and delicious vegetables at home. Bonnie Plants, for example, is a greenhouse grower offering more than 250 varieties of vegetable, herb, and fruit plants, ranging from traditional favorites to new and different choices. Some easy-to-grow options for your veggie main course include hearty tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and zucchini.Bonnie Plants operates more than 70 greenhouse facilities in 48 states and trucks fresh plants from greenhouses to retailers near you, so they’re ready for planting upon purchase, and you’ll harvest six weeks sooner than if you grow from seed. Plus, the plants are grown a truck-ride away from the retailers that sell them. Don’t worry if you have little outdoor space, patio-ready caged varieties and combo pots are available as great options for small spaces.Curious home gardeners interested in healthy eating can enjoy experimenting with vegetables to replace meat. For a new take on burgers, try substituting squash. Veggie burgers, like their meat-based counterparts, can be made in advance, frozen in patties, and pulled out for easy reheating as a healthy burger choice on a busy night. Try putting a new spin on salad, substituting Swiss chard for a fresh, peppy taste in lieu of such standbys as lettuce, spinach, and arugula.Time to season your homegrown veggies? Bonnie Plants also offers herb plants, so fresh seasoning is only a snip away with a quick trip to your garden plot or pot.Visit bonnieplants.com for more information on varieties along with planting tips, tending, troubleshooting, harvesting, and a plethora of delicious recipes to try!

Shen Yun Dancers Make Magic This Spring

(NewsUSA) – Shen Yun, or the "beauty of divine beings dancing," has been enchanting audiences worldwide since 2006.Ancient artistic techniques merge with present-day skill, talent, and energy as the Shen Yun Performing Arts company continues its tradition of unique, renowned performances this spring with a whole new selection of songs, dances, and musical scores celebrating 5,000 years of ancient Chinese culture.Extolled by audiences as "the experience of a lifetime," a Shen Yun performance showcases the values, virtues, spirituality, and creativity that once flourished in the Middle Kingdom (aka China), which the ancients preferred to call Shen Zhou, "the Land of the Divine."The performers combine long-ago legends and traditional music and dance with modern-day heroic tales, high-tech backdrops, elaborate costumes, and a live orchestra for a stirring, cross-cultural experience designed to inspire hope and joy. In each piece, elements of Eastern philosophy combine with universal themes of harmony and peace.Shen Yun performers embrace the traditional Chinese idea that artists must cultivate inner goodness in order to create true art, and this positive attitude shines through each performance. Sadly, the traditional Chinese culture displayed by Shen Yun cannot be presented in today’s China, where it is viewed as a threat by the current Communist regime.Shen Yun began its 2019 tour at Lincoln Center in New York last month, and will proceed with performances in Philadelphia, Chicago, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and more than 50 other U.S. cities with another stint at the Lincoln Center in March.Shen Yun Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization, based in New York and dedicated to reviving ancient Chinese culture. The organization has grown to include six companies, and the 2019 schedule includes shows at 120 of the world’s top venues, with an estimated audience of 1.3 million individuals.The San Francisco Chronicle described a Shen Yun performance as "a visually dazzling tour of … Chinese history and culture."Others have been similarly complimentary, as they witness this unique portrayal of the impact of the divine on Chinese civilization and a culture that embraces living in harmony with nature and with the universe.Visit shenyun.com or the company’s YouTube page www.youtube.com/shenyun for more information and a taste of the Shen Yun magic.For Shen Yun 2019 tour schedule and tickets, visit: www.shenyun.com/tickets.

Cheribundi Smoothie aids Arthritis For Celebrity Chef

(NewsUSA) – Seamus Mullen is an award-winning New York chef, restaurateur and cookbook author. In 2007, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a debilitating autoimmune disease, which forced him to rethink his relationship with food."Ultimately, through food, exercise and lifestyle changes, I was able to successfully turn my health around," shares Mullen, who says that Cheribundi has been but one of the keys to improving his RA."Whether I’m spending the day in the kitchen or on my bike, I drink Cheribundi along with other ‘Hero Foods’ to reduce soreness, boost my immune system and amplify my overall health."Cheribundi tart cherry juice has the highest amount of antioxidants of any juice on the market.Chef Mullen opened his first solo Spanish restaurant, Tertulia, in Manhattan in 2011. Two years later, he opened El Colmado. In 2017, he released his latest cookbook, "Real Food Heals," hoping to inspire others to take control of their diet and general health."As someone with RA, I’m constantly exploring the impact food has on our overall wellness. Cheribundi understands the importance of nutrition … and like me, they believe in helping people everywhere simply live healthier." Cheribundi, Almond, and Coconut SmoothieIngredients:8 oz of Cheribundi 100 percent Tart Cherry juice6 oz of coconut water? an avocado1 cup frozen wild blueberries1 TBSP unsweetened almond butterDirections:Combine all ingredients in a powerful blender and process until smooth. Serve immediately or save in a glass jar in the fridge for later.

Why Your New Year’s Resolution Should Be to Eat More Fiber

(NewsUSA) – The start of a new year is a great time to check in with yourself and think about how you want to improve for the year ahead. But unfortunately, many New Year’s resolutions aren’t realistic and wind up lasting just two to three weeks. Here’s a resolution that’s easy to stick to and can also make a big difference in your overall health and wellness: eat more fiber.Fiber can play an important role in reaching your health and wellness goals in 2019. It’s probably best known for its ability to help keep your digestive system moving, but there are other benefits as well – like helping to promote a feeling of fullness.Even with fiber’s well-known health benefits, nine out of 10 Americans aren’t getting enough in their daily diet, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2016. Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN thinks she knows why."Fiber can be confusing," Harris-Pincus explains. "I think many people have experienced tummy trouble when they ate too much fiber and it overwhelmed their digestive system. With a simple strategy of introducing fiber slowly, they can receive all the health benefits without any discomfort."The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that women get 25 grams and men get 38 grams of fiber every day, but most only average 15 grams. Instead of aiming for 25-38 grams on day one, Harris-Pincus has some tips on how you can make this resolution stick:* Only increase your fiber intake by three to five grams each day. That way, you give your body time to adjust.* Mix in high-fiber foods with your regular diet. As you’re ramping up your fiber intake, start by adding fiber to foods you already eat. It could be as simple as adding a high-fiber cereal to a yogurt parfait or adding nuts and berries to your salad.* Drink more water. Insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water, so make sure you drink plenty of fluids to help carry the fiber through your body. By eating more fiber and drinking more water, you’re helping your digestive system do its job more efficiently.* Find a great-tasting fiber you love. Instead of viewing fiber as a chore, or something you "have to" eat, find a high-fiber option that you can look forward to eating."I think everyone has this idea of fiber as bland and boring," Harris-Pincus says. "But what people don’t realize is that there are tons of great-tasting, high-fiber foods. The easiest place to start is with your morning cereal."Fiber One recently introduced a new fiber-rich cereal that, well, doesn’t taste like a fiber-rich cereal. Fiber One Strawberries and Vanilla Clusters is made with real strawberries and sweet vanilla clusters, but still contains 35 percent of the Daily Value of fiber in every one-cup serving. No pills, nothing to stir, just real food that makes fiber something you can enjoy eating.And for when you’re ready to increase your fiber intake even more, Fiber One Honey Clusters has 40 percent of the Daily Value of fiber, and Fiber One Original Bran has 55 percent.Beyond cereal, Harris-Pincus recommends eating whole fruits and vegetables, leaving the skin on things like apples and potatoes. Beans and legumes are another excellent source of fiber, so don’t shy away from the black beans in your fajitas. For easy snacks, popcorn is another fiber-rich option with four grams of fiber in just three cups of popcorn."Fiber really is overlooked, which is a shame because it can be this great-tasting, powerhouse nutrient," Harris-Pincus explains. "New Year’s resolutions are usually all about cutting calories or increasing protein, when in reality fiber can do all these amazing things for your body. You just have to start eating more of it to realize the benefits."