Ever been in the produce section of the grocery store, and while picking up a package of your favorite salad blend you notice that container of broccoli shreds?  You know, it resembles the bag of shredded cabbage and carrots for a make-quick coleslaw, but it's green?

Well I've grabbed a bag here and there, usually when it's warmer out though.  I'll mix it with a zesty garlic dressing and toss in some grilled shrimp for a light and delicious quick summer dinner.  But what else could I use it for?  I mean it's broccoli for crying out loud!  Accompanied with nutrient rich carrots and purple cabbage.  It's a package full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber goodness and mercy!  What else would make it sing as a side or a main?

Enter Broccoli Slaw & Rice Noodle Stir-fry!  

What an absolute genius way to make this convenient crisp and crunchy veggie mix sing!  I mean, in 15 minutes or less this light and healthy dish comes together with great texture and Asian flare!  Kicking it up a notch and stepping outside-of-the box, I opt for the rice 'noodle' as opposed to the more traditional long or short rice grain.   Add your choice of grilled, baked, or broiled protein such as chicken, tofu, and/or seafood, and you're set for a one pan experience!  However, my preference is having it alone as a noodle bowl with the addition of only a splash of sriracha.

I say an 'additional' splash of sriracha because the recipe calls for my ACAOF Stir-fry Sauce  to be mixed in the dish which includes the spicy condiment.  Now, feel free to use your favorite store bought sauce, I just love this sauce because I know exactly what's in it and don't have to worry about the extra ingredients I don't need.   

ACAOF Stir-fry Sauce
It's simple, just mix together:

• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce or liquid aminos
• 1 tsp sriracha
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil

This sauce brings the dish together in such a delicious way, it's no wonder I chose to devour it all by itself!

​PLEASE say it ain't so Amazon!!!!

Several weeks ago I blogged about my experience with Amazon's 'grocery delivery service',  Amazon Fresh.  It was a fairly positive review with the persuasion for others to try the convenient service as well as my intent to use it again.  

Fast forward this holiday season, I'm speaking with a best girlfriend of mine out of Cincinnati and we begin to profess our love for Amazon's 'grocery delivery service'.  Shortly into this convo we get on the subject of fees:

Me: ‘…yeah, I’m really digging Amazon Fresh.  And the customer rep even said that you really won’t feel the impact of the $15 monthly fee because of all the coupons and discounts they provide…'

Friend: ‘…girl, what monthly fee??  Aren’t you Prime??’

Me: ‘…Uh, yeah.  I’ve been Prime for 5 years, what does that have to do with Amazon Fresh?’

Friend: ‘…and why do you keep calling it ‘Fresh’??  It’s ‘Prime Now’ and it’s included with your annual Amazon Prime membership….’

Me: *GOOGLED EYES* of WTH?!?

After a few more exchanges for clarification with my girlfriend, there was definitely an issue.  Since trying the Amazon Fresh service a few months ago, I noticed that I never really received a clear and concise determination on the exact difference between ‘Amazon Fresh’ vs. ‘Prime Now'.

If you Google, ‘what’s the difference between Amazon Fresh and Prime Now’, you mainly get that Prime Now is a product delivery services available for all Prime members, while Amazon Fresh is a fee associated add-on grocery service for both members and non-members.  Where I was initially under the impression that Prime did not include the grocery option, my Cincinnati bestie swiftly disputed that.  Based on her Ohio zip code, her Prime Now landing page had the option to shop solely at the recently Amazon acquired Whole Foods Market.  With my investigative mind spinning, I begin to enter other zip codes to see what options different areas have.  My findings were disturbing to say the least.  The areas I entered were coincidentally more  seemingly affluent areas, including the residence of my mid-west friend.  The additional areas were here in Atlanta’s Cobb county and North Fulton county areas within Sandy Springs.  Not only did these northern Atlanta zip codes have the option to shop directly from Whole Foods, but included was also finer dining options, organic, and more exquisite product food selections, such as caviar and Chilean sea bass.
​

What’s listed in the South Fulton zip code you ask?  Little to nothing considering, and not as nearly appetizing.  No options of shopping directly from Whole Foods, no organic options, no fresh seafood, no restaurant finds or a ‘Meatless Meal’ guide.  In fact, the finest items available in my area include canned seafood and frozen fish filets.  ​

The above info brings me to the following conclusions:

1. Amazon provides superior quality of fresh produce, meats, seafood, and other grocery items ONLY to shoppers in more Caucasian prevalent, seemingly affluent areas.  
2. A closer quality of fresh produce, meats, seafood, and other grocery items can be made available to the seemingly less affluent, African American prevalent areas, for an additional fee…really?!?

​
This is a direct form of discrimination.  TO BE CLEAR, the South Fulton area is full of highly influential business movers and shakers, celebrities, entrepreneurs, mansion builders and dwellers, and millionaires.  And we also have our share of hard working middle, and lower class not unlike our primarily Caucasian northern shared county neighbors.  However, there is no secret that the southern portion of the county is primarily African-American.  When I spoke with a member of Amazon’s leadership team, they were surprised, yet very engaged and concerned with my feedback.  Kimberly (the leadership rep) made it very clear that this was the first she had heard of this and was very disappointed in what her company was seemingly condoning.  Quiet as Amazon is trying to keep it, discrimination, disproportionate service, and to borrow from the insurance world, 'redlining’ seems to be their protocol and basic processes.  Shame on you Amazon.

It is truly hard for me to believe that as the world’s third most valuable company, Jeff Bezos’ Amazon did not perform better R&D in introducing and running this facet of the company.  As a passionate foodie and seeker of better healthier options, products, and services for healthy food consumers, I am now at a crossroads regarding my loyalty to this brand.  

How can I remain loyal to a brand that:

• ...disproportionately requires minorities to pay for quality fresh food while the majority of a more prominent race receives this for free?
• ...does not make it a requirement for their employees to learn and fully understand the company’s offerings nor provides adequate training to relay clear and concise information on products and services to eager customers so they may make sound decisions based on what is best for them and their families?

How can you?

Here's exactly Why AC Art Of Food is YOUR Culinary Health Resource!  

On this site individuals can find tasty tips and ideas, recipes, a healthy online gourmet store MaymeJax Gourmet Boutique, and my abstract taste of food perspective here, on the TastyBlog.   

Additional products/services provided:

• Culinary Health Planning to clients
• Personalized Cooking Classes
• Signature seasoning, Abstract Spice- '...it's literally good on everything!'
• Culinary Health eBook Cookbook Vol.2- The Clean Eating Jumpstart (11/2018)
• Meal Plan Subscription (2019)
• Quarterly Culinary Health Cooking Demos (2019)

...when you learn how food is medicine for your body, you love what you eat because you're eating for life.  My focus is to make that life taste good.

-AC Price
                  

The Question: Just How 'Fresh' is Amazon's Grocery Delivery Service...Really?

Unlike most of you out there, I adore grocery shopping!  I mean seriously, the whole preparation of seeking out weekly deals, coupons, planning the meals for the week to produce the list, and the art of deciding from which of the 3-4 stores I will arrive at first on Saturdays to retrieve the best deals for my selections sends tingles down my spine!  Hell, I even started my own grocery concierge- ‘A Cart Of Food’ (see the play on the name, lol!), where I would grocery shop for clients.  I had a few clients that were extremely happy, however, time became an issue, and well, let’s face it- when  the big box Instacart, Clicklist, and AmazonFresh businesses came on the scene, it was laughable for just me to compete on the larger scale.  And in this case the old saying rings true, if you can’t beat them, have them do your shopping too!

​

This past Monday I found myself stranded without a vehicle since my hubby took one to work and my oldest used the other to get to school.  I had just gotten back in town and had not yet had the opportunity to grocery shop for the family before the week got started. This is when I decided I would try the Amazon Fresh service.  Already a proud and loyal Prime member, on top of having several close friends to positively speak of their personal experiences, I decided to give it a go!  I was thoroughly impressed by the easy online process from beginning to end along with the selection of fresh, organic, and familiar trusted brands.  Unfortunately after selecting my items, I realized that they did not deliver same day, and decided to cancel my cart.  Customer service with Amazon Fresh is no different from that of Prime where courteous and pleasant reps are always speaking with a smile and ready to accommodate however they can.  

Although unable to receive the service on Monday, I thought it a great idea to still utilize the service along with my regular Saturday shopping excursion just for the experience and to see if and how I could maybe incorporate this convenience going forward.  So just like earlier in the week, on Friday before I walked out the office, I made my selection of approximately 20 items to be delivered between the hours of 7-9am for the following day, approved the tip amount for the driver, and pondered if this grocery shopping method was cost-friendlier than my normal Saturday pavement-pounding only ritual. 

​Later that evening around 11pm, my family tells me things they would like added to the list….really….at 11pm!?!  No worries, I pull up the app and the banner let’s me know that I am STILL able to add items to my list for the same delivery window time!  So I add my son’s bananas and  my hubby’s cereal, and turn in for the evening.

Bright and early around 7am, my phone rings and it’s the Amazon Fresh delivery guy letting me know he’s at my door with my groceries.  Super excited, I jump out of bed, throw on the robe (y’all it’s cold out now!) and completely ignore the fact that my hair is standing up on its own on top of my head.  It doesn’t even matter because I am literally feeling like a kid on Christmas morning!  The driver is SUPER nice and friendly for it to be that early in the morning.  He insists on handing me each bag and for me not to have to bend and reach to grab them on my own.  He does not enter the house, but stands where he can safely hand each bag to me to where I can securely bring them in.  Once all the bags are in he wishes me a great day and thanks me for my business.  Awesome experience!  I hurriedly transport each bag to my kitchen island and immediately break into each literally like it’s the morning of December 25th!  My eyes are all starried as I reach in checking off each item on my list I pull it out of the bag.  However, my eyes become a little less excited as I see that I am almost done opening my packages, but there are way more items on my list still to be checked off.  Dang it!  I realize they have forgotten at least 8 items from my list.  And the missing items aren’t even the last minute ones I added just several hours prior.  My heart sank as I contacted Amazon to tell them what happened.  The rep, as usual, was very nice in listening to my ordeal, but simply offered the choice of a refund or delivery of the missing items.  Unfortunately, the earliest my incognito items could be delivered was 9pm.  I expressed that a refund would be fine and I would just have to make a trip out to get the forgotten items since it would be so late for them to re-deliver to me.  And that was it.  She did apologize for the inconvenience, which is great, but that doesn’t help the fact that now I have to leave my home to pick up grocery items, COMPLETELY defeating the purpose of the service.  Unsettled by this resolution, I reached back out to Amazon Fresh and spoke with Jinell, who after hearing what happened did not hesitate to extend a credit for the mishap.  

Now, will I use this service again?  Absolutely!  I completely understand that things happen and have every bit of confidence that they will get it right, and that when issues arise they will handle it promptly and accordingly to my satisfaction- as they have always through Amazon Prime.

SOME INFO: 

• Amazon Fresh is $14.95 monthly for Amazon Prime members.  Personally I felt that with the annual fee, not to mention the recent increase in the monthly Prime membership, that this would have been an included service for members.  However, I was told by the representative that the amount of sales and coupons provided by Amazon Fresh online will in most cases eat up this fee.  
• This is not a same day service so plan accordingly at least a day prior.  There is the option to have your items left outside your door and an ‘Attended’ option to be notified if you are home to personally receive your groceries.  

THE GOOD: 

• Ease and convenience.
• Easy user-friendly interface.
• Quality selection of products, organic, and trusted brands (Whole Foods products). 
• Comparable prices to what you’d find in the stores and in some cases even less expensive.
• EXCELLENT delivery experience
• Effective issue resolution
• Proper storage for cold and frozen items (some of my bags had partially frozen water bottles in the bags to keep the refrigerated items cool and ice packs/bags to keep frozen items frozen!)

THE BAD: 

• Not having an accurate out-the-door checkpoint to ensure all items are correctly selected for orders.

THE OPPORTUNITY: 

• For a more effective issue resolution, train customer service reps to automatically provide an 'inconvenience credit' for missing items when a refund is requested.​

​

​So for more information about this service head over to www.amazon.com/fresh 
​to get started!

Have I got some news for YOU!🎉

Exclusive to only this AC's Cart Of Foodies FB GROUP and site subscribers!
                                                             The
      7-Day Flex Taste & Move Challenge

• What it is: A 7 day meal plan and fitness challenge with options...it's FLEXIBLE

​

• Who: AC's Cart Of Foodies FB Group & AC Art Of Food site subscribers ONLY! (You have to subscribe to this site www.acartoffood.com in order to join the Facebook Group 'AC's Cart Of Foodies'!)

​

• When: Saturday, September 8th (Receive your meal plan and choose your workout and get ready to 'Taste & Move' Sunday!)

💥

• Why: To help you jump-start the new you, and the FIRST day of the rest of your new lifestyle!!🤗

The Details:
• An AC Art Of Food customized 7 day meal plan (breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks) focused on **culinary health**- this is NOT a 'diet'. Unlike most meal challenges, the 7-Day Flex Taste & Move Challenge has a meal plan that you can eat for a lifetime!
(ACAOF's term **culinary health** is a mindful healthy eating lifestyle. It is not meant to restrict, but more so to incorporate better eating habits and eliminate the crap that ultimately harms your body)

• 7 different workouts with 7 daily routines each from various movement experts/trainers who have created specific routines just for my ACAOFoodies to choose from for your 7 days based on what best fits you!

• Each day of the challenge will also be accompanied with an inspiring motivational passage curated by a phenomenal author just for ACAOFoodies that will encourage you to be the best you, inside and out....and to keep you going!

The Meals:
• Plant based with options for your protein of preference. All meals have been specially designed for this challenge😋

The Workouts: (each workout listed has 7 days of routines):
1•Circuit
2•HIIT
3•Yoga
4•Pilates
5•Running
6•Zumba
7•Swim

The Cost$:
•To be clear, the value of this challenge is priceless!!  
But as a thank you and to show appreciation for my loyal subscribers and ACAOFoodies the **7 Day Flex Taste & Move Challenge** is FREE!!

AC Art Of Food's new monthly interactive custom meal plans will be available with 6 and 12 month subscription discounted rates coming this Fall! 


🤓So stay tuned to our AC's Cart Of Foodies Group page for more info and to ask questions in preparation for September 8th!!🤓

🥘.              7-Day Flex Taste & Move Challenge

​...are you ready to start the First day of the rest of your lifestyle?

Vacationing with the hubby is always a great time, wherever we venture!  This excursion was no different.  We highly recommend The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida.  Our stay was simply magnificent from the moment we arrived to the bitter-sweet day we left for the airport headed home.  Superb customer service upon encounter with our beautiful front desk clerk Neka, and the continual concierge love we received with every request, made each day pure heaven.  But what made this stay that much more amazing for me was the fact that this was a Chef Geoffrey Zakarian culinary curated hotel!  What an honor to be staying at a hotel where the Iron Chef himself has personally touched each dish we'd be devouring from the Diplomat! 

Click heOur first tasty engagement occurred at the Point Royal Restaurant located right past the bar leading out to the pool and beach area.  I had the Crab Croquettes accompanied with Chef GZ's infamous "Comeback Sauce" and a side of Buttered Broccolini.  The hubby had the St. Tropez Turkey Club and a side of seasoned fresh cut fries. 
The Verdict: I felt the crab croquettes lacked flavor.  I was somewhat disappointed that I didn't taste the sea-sweetness of fresh crab in these little bites.  While I was thankful they were not loaded down with stuffing/breading like some, basic bland crabmeat rolled in panko and deep fried, unfortunately allowed much to be desired.  Not to mention I was saddened by the very sauce I've seen Chef make on TV.  The 'Comeback Sauce' reminded me of the combination of a well known salad dressing sandwich spread and ketchup mix.  Thankfully my palate was saved with the broccolini which was prepared to perfection!  And the hubby's club sandwich was fresh, delicious, and exactly how I would make it!!  Trust, adding sliced boiled egg and avocado to a traditional club sandwich makes everything right with the world!re to edit.

Point Royal's exquisite breakfast buffet is a thing of glory!  Unique handcrafted salads, exotic seasonal tropical fruit, fresh gourmet cheeses, waffles, roasted potatoes, wide range of breakfast meats and cured meats, hot and cold cereals, fresh juices, coffee and tea.  But what set this buffet off was the Omelette Bar extravaganza!  I would have to love this right?!  Come on, you all know 'make it your own' is my mantra- this was no different.  I had a delicious veggie   loaded egg white filled with scrumptious smoked salmon and herb goat cheese.  Hubby's was filled with divine chicken sausage!
The Verdict:  AWESOME!!  I do believe my favorite part of the bar though was the amazing variety of sweet and luscious tropical fruit- truly earth's candy if I ever tasted.  Our amazing server Bridgette gave us an awesome tip: Come down to dine 30 minutes prior to the end of the buffet.  That way we'd pretty much be satisfied for most of the day!  Boy was she ever right!  And as an added bonus, Bridgette became such an insight to me as our 'culinary health' discussions regarding blood conditioning provided validation for a facet of AC Art Of Food.  She was and is a true gem! 

Oddly enough, we ventured off property to the popular mall in Hollywood, Aventure Mall, where we decided to dine at one of our favs, Cheesecake Factory.  I had never seen the Almond Crusted  Salmon Kale Salad on the menu in my previous visits here in Atlanta, but dining on the patio in balmy Hollywood, Florida convinced me that this was the 'coolest' dish to order.  A lemon zest cream sauce topped this delicious piece of fish literally making my toes wiggle!  Frankly, I've never been disappointed with a Cheesecake Factory meal ever, so I was not surprised!  And this beautiful salad was mixed with delicate quinoa and tender sliced radish.  Chunks of avocado and sweet-tart dried cranberries gave this nutty salad the sublime boost it needed.  And of course, I will be re-making this some time in the near summer future- stay tuned.
The Verdict:  A toe-wiggling winner!

And the highlight of our departure, a delicious bite at Point Royal before the car takes us to the airport.  Are you sensing my love for salmon on this trip yet?  Is it obvious?  Lol!!  This was the quintessential breakfast to seal the simply amazing time we spent on our vacation.  Lox and Bagels is one of my favorite combinations ever!  This Scandinavian/ Chinese/ Italian/ Americanized dish is so fresh, briney, creamy, and crisp and ever so refreshing as I squeeze lemon over everything!  Sealing the deal with a steamy cup of coffee made this to be the perfect morning dining experience!  Fresh baked bagels, cream cheese, lox, capers, boiled egg, sliced red onion, thinly sliced English cucumber, juicy Roma tomatoes, and don't forget the lemon!  What more could a girl ask for!
The Verdict: The perfect ending bite to a perfect vacation!

In conclusion, when visiting Hollywood, Florida, I would encourage you to feast and reside at the Diplomat Beach Resort Hotel for a stellar experience all around!  We're already planning our return- hope to see you there!

I recently posted a video on my AC Art Of Food Facebook page regarding a woman's testimony on how she beat cancer.  She explained how not only was she diagnosed with breast cancer, but she beat it, and then it came back in another part of her body.  This woman endured chemo and radiation, and after all that was given only 21 months to live.  Fast forward TWELVE YEARS LATER, this miracle of a woman is sharing how she beat this beast of a disease with a positive outlook and eating not only healthy, but a specific type of healthy foods.  These specific foods are known as alkaline foods.  

There is a scale in our bodies on the ph spectrum that balances acid and alkaline in the body.  You want your body on the alkaline side.  'Why' you ask?  Cancer cells CANNOT live in an alkaline environment.  For this reason, prevention is paramount.  

This champion of a woman beat the odds by focusing her diet on alkaline rich foods.  Just think, if we all incorporated alkaline rich foods into our diets the monumental changes we can make to our lives.  Please be clear, I am not stating, nor am I in a position to state, that this is a cure for cancer.  However, I am expressing that alkaline foods are a large contributor in the fight against cancer.

I became so pumped by this story that my mind immediately started buzzing with ideas on how to create delicious recipes rich in alkaline.  There are plenty of these types of foods to choose from, check out a few of my favs below:

• spinach
• kale
• swiss chard
• leeks
• mushrooms
• cucumber
• citrus
• tomatoes
• avocado
• broccoli
• onions
• garlic
• ginger
• cabbage
• watermelon
• figs
• alfalfa, barley, and wheat grass
• sweet potato
•  celery
• carrots
• kiwi
• cauliflower

I didn't have to look any further than my own backyard garden for one of the stars of my recipe where I'm growing gorgeous swiss chard!  The recipe you ask?  Here it is!  My colorful Alkaline Rich Black Bean & Leek Salad.  ​This amazing salad was a huge hit at our cookout!  But this is just the beginning!  I can't wait to develop more of my new 'F@#$ Cancer' recipes!

The annual celebration of Earth Day turned 48 this week, and it's theme: End Plastic Pollution!  

Earth Day is a great way to really focus on what we as people should do in order to protect and preserve this planet in which we live.  It's unfortunate that we have not done a very good job as a whole in this effort.  From hunting for pleasure endangering species, to chopping down vital forests and everything detrimental in between, we have not done a very good job in nurturing OUR earth.  However, now is the perfect opportunity to re-commit, re-connect, and play in the dirt again- figuratively speaking...or maybe not!  

This year's focus is on the need to end plastic pollution.  So many items we purchase to wear, eat, and drink, often if not always, come packaged in plastics of some sort.  In my household, we're doing our part by growing fresh fruits and vegetables to help avoid plastic packaging- garden to table, if you will, ha!  But inquiring minds what to know what you are doing to leave your mark on protecting Mother Earth.  

​Not sure about what you can do?  No worries!  I've formed a list below of excellent steps you can take towards rebuilding a better place in which we dwell.    Which ones will you choose to participate in?  Let me know by posting in the comments below!

AC Art Of Food's Tips To Preserving Mother Earth:

1. Grow your own garden and get your hands dirty!
2. Use reusable drinking water bottles (BPA-free/Glass/Steel), cups, and straws.
3. Bring your own reusable grocery bags to the grocery store and markets.
4. Pack your lunch and bring it in a reusable lunch bag.
5. Utilize cloth napkins and towels instead paper ones.
6. Purchase more ebooks over paper ones! (Like the AC Art Of Food Culinary Health eBook Cook Book Vol.I)      
7. Request to have have local sourced food served in your neighborhood schools.
8. Support farmers and buy local and organic when possible, as often as possible- reducing emissions of food transport and the elimination of pesticides to preserve foods.
9. Reduce meat consumption to reduce carbon emissions produced from the livestock industry.
10. Recycle your non-meat garbage into fertilizer by composting kitchen scraps and using them to fertilize your garden!  (FYI- Aldi's has a freaking TUMBLING compost bins on sale now for $40!!!- get'em while they got'em!)
11. Run the dishwasher only when it's full.
12. Water your garden either first thing in the morning or last thing at night.

Find even more ways at www.earthday.org!

​Who are we kidding, life is passing us by quicker and quicker and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.  Unfortunately there is no 'stop' or even 'pause' button for real time.  But worry not!  What we can control and focus on is living our best, right now!  Regardless of our age, we can take hold of the reins starting today, right this very minute, by getting the right amount of sleep, adequate exercise (not overdoing it), and ultimately the proper nutrition our individual bodies need, at the ages we are, this very moment!  I don't know about you, but I'm excited and intrigued with the abundance of individuals in their later years, near and upwards of 60 looking amazing and speaking out regarding how they feel the best they've ever felt in life!  And what are they attributing it to you ask?  Clean and plant-based foods!  The proof's in the pudding (pun intended)!  These individuals are stronger in mind, body, and spirit.  This inspires and motivates me on my laziest of days, to move and be purposeful to put in my body foods that heal, not hinder.

One Green Planet has done a great job of spotlighting 8 individuals you may know at various ages who relay how they optimize their culinary lifestyle to maximize to their fullest potential in the article link below.  
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/plant-based-diet-good-health-age-defying-vitality/

Are you living your best life, right now?  Let me know what you nosh on to keep it right and tight, at your age!

My sister asked me the other day if I thought of her as a foodie.  I flat out replied 'no'.  Sensing a bit of disdain in her breathing after my response, I begin to explain that although she enjoys a good meal from time to time, chitterlings, pig's feet, yellow rice, hot Cheetos, and an occasional can of Lime-O-Rita, I just don't feel a 'foodie' makes.  I wasn't trying to be mean, nor judgemental- although now typing it out on this blog, yep....that's exactly how I sound.  But who am I to determine if someone is a foodie or not?  What guidelines are there that constitute one as a true food connoisseur?  I mean hey, at times I feel that I don't always fit into the grouping of  a 'foodie' as I don't always expand my horizons in traveling out to the un-tasted.   I also struggle with how to be a foodie when embarking on a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle which ultimately limits the consumption of various delicious vittles.   

So how is a 'true foodie' determined?  Associations Now feels they've tapped into the basic mindset of this creature of culinary expertise in their 2017 research.  Check out the article and the checklist below from Popsugar and let me know if you agree or disagree- this should make for tasty conversation! 

Article: Get A Glimpse Inside The Foodie Mindset

Find out if you're a Foodie:  Foodie Checklist!

​Enjoy!

This post is one that I have been sitting on for some time now.   I've experienced from near and afar, instances that cause me to pause and contemplate what I was feeling.  Conversations I've had with friends, colleagues, and foodies of industry alike that have either had similar thoughts, or have been on the other side fueling what I have termed 'Evilveganism'.   

'Yes, I'm Vegan'.  'Vegetarian is what I've become'.  'Yes I'm flexible- mainly vegetarian, but I only eat chicken on Mondays and Wednesdays, that means I'm Flexitarian'.  'Pescetarian here, fish isn't really meat, so I'm good'!  I make sure that veggies are based around my chicken and steak, so I feel that makes me just good ol' plant-based, yeah, I'm Plantbased'.   LABELS.   

My eating journey started out like most, trying to figure it all out in an instant.  I eat this, not that.  Basically following a trend of what was popular, but also with the potential of eating better.  I've pretty much dabbled in all of the above eating labels and have finally concluded that it's about what works for ME, regardless of the culinary trend.  And isn't that what it's really all about- what works for you?  Common sense says yes- enter EvilVeganism.    It is truly a phenomenal time when the popular thing to do is eat more healthy.  Unfortunately, these self-appointed spokespeople have an uncanny knack for making clean-eating-challenged, primary meat-eaters feel as if they're less than adequate for not giving it all up and once.  These Evilvegans  hop on their soapboxes and dictate all types of judgement and critique that raises them seemingly higher on this platforms as they look down on those not yet conformed.   Ugggh, you eat that?  You know you're killing yourself, right?  So you're good with eating a chicken's period?  And you wonder why you smell like that?   I have heard and seen enough!  You would think these self-righteous, holy-grass eaters have been vegan ever since the boob!  Just a few years ago if not LESS, these exact same 'Mean Girls' (persons), were most likely in the drive-thru line of their neighborhood fast food chicken spot trying to get a 2-piece with a side of red beans and rice or at the burger joint ordering a double cheeseburger with extra pickles CUT IN HALF!  Get tha' hell outta here!  Because of  these Evilvegans,  I have seen friends and acquaintances at one time or another go into seclusion denying themselves holiday and other festive gatherings as not to be tempted by meat-laden vittles trying to fit into this unrealistic square peg magically overnight. 

*NEWSFLASH*:  If you have been a primary meat eater for 30+ years, chances are your body/mindset aren't going to adjust in 24 hours, or even 24 days. 

While I am a strong proponent for a plant- based lifestyle wholly believing food is indeed medicine, as with anything your body consumes on a regular basis over an extensive period of time, you must PREPARE.  Never have I heard those behind this EvilVeganism movement once utter the importance of speaking to your physician about plans to begin this lifestyle and considering your labs/blood work.   Or providing resources and/or help to guide you in making an optimal and realistic plan for you to obtain this goal.  Or encouraging one to not aspire to be a label but in fact to incorporate a healthy 'lifestyle'. 

And this word 'lifestyle' has even gotten lost in the shuffle.  Folks are being so ill-advised to embrace labels that they don't even comprehend what's all involved.  What may seem like common sense to some is foreign to most.  Veganism is not just an eating plan rid of animal protein and product derivatives.  Veganism means that your favorite oh-so-soft-all-leather handbag is being donated to a shelter.  Those badass leather and/or suede boots, shoes, earrings, jacket, headband, bracelet, wool coat/socks, etc., yep, no more.  That killing-me-softly-warm fur coat you inherited- yeah, pass that on down to the next family member in line.  And this is just your attire, we haven't even touched on that sheepskin rug or leather couch you're sitting on as you read this blog post.  And did you pay extra for that all leather interior package in your vehicle?  Or better yet, do you own a pet?  Oh, ok.  So you see, this style of living is deeper that what it looks to be on the surface.  And it's not fair to those true vegans living this reality daily.  Now this is not to say these are not your endeavors, my point is that research, time, and self-realization is needed.  Understand that it is completely OK to take time to process and not feel bullied or less-than trying to live up to some Evilvegan's epiphany and exclusion of  those just trying to live their best life.  

So do you, be you, know YOU!  Don't fall prey to EvilVeganism.  Embrace and acknowledge your limitations and AT YOUR OWN PACE, seek to be more than a label.  

Now go out and make it a Great Tasting Day!

There is no secret that November 1st of every year is National Parent Candy Eating Day (yeah, I made it up, and it is a thing, lol!).  However, when this oh-so-special day turns into NPCE week, there's a problem.  You tell yourself, 'but they're mini and only a fraction of calories from the real thing'.  Or, '...it's only once a year'.  And the other many, MANY, excuses we comfort ourselves with in order to justify the sweet creamy chocolate we allow to touch our lips, over, and over again!  

So this is how I know sugar is the devil.  See, I've been pretty consistent to limiting my 'sweets' intake to only a few times a month- and they most, if not all, of the times were dark chocolate (me making it beneficial, ha!)  Limiting caffeine, gallon-a-day water intake, no meat, you know, just working really hard to be great. 

Enter: the week after Halloween. 
With my lifestyle of eating and exercising, I have miraculously demolished the 2pm work day slump.  So walking into the break room to fill up my water mega mug around noon, what do I see?!?  A bounty of the 'good' chocolate Halloween candy sitting pretty, right there on the table.  WTH?!?!?  And whyyyyyyy is the flesh so weak?!?!  Somehow, completely unbeknownst to me, a handful of these chocolate 'devils' jump into my hand and walk me back to my desk- the nerve!  After about only 15 minutes of being back at my desk I start to hear something.  Low and behold, the Halloween candy begins whispering my name, louder, Louder, and LOUDER!!  So me, trying to not to call any additional attention to myself, immediately put the candy in my mouth to keep down the noise, LMAO!!  When I tell you, these little portions of delight blessed my soul something beautiful!! 

Enter: 2pm.  
I begin to feel my eyes get heavier and heavier.  The usual podcast I listen to while working seems to now be singing a lullaby.  All of a sudden I'm hearing this 'pinging' noise that startles me into snapping my head back to the upright position from being tilted all the way back, with yes, my mouth wide open in mid-slumber!  It just so happens that my fingers properly in the home-row position, have acquired a bit of additional pressure from me FALLING ASLEEP!!!  This NEVER happens!  I am usually always alert at work, especially with my mid-day workout.  As I begin to assess what could have possibly altered my sleep the night before, it hits me.  The Halloween candy.  That one piece of candy turned into me consuming 3 pieces within a 10 minute period.  People, the sugar-rush struggle IS REAL!!!  

Thankfully I had a 16 oz. mason jar of my usual morning green juice (spinach, cucumber, green apple, banana, ginger) I hadn't drank yet waiting in the fridge.  I kid you not, I drank the entire jar and within 30 minutes you would have thought I had a shot straight to the vein of concentrated caffeine!  It was unreal!!  I didn't have that 'jittery' effect associated with a cup of strong coffee.  It was like I was on a natural high!  Even hours later after getting home and beginning my evening job as 'wife/mommie',  I was still good, not winding down until it was my bedtime!  

I say all of this to relay, beware of the sugar monster, it is a thing...a very, very baaaaaaad thing. It is indeed satan.  Here's your proof from me, tried and true!  

But as always, don't take my word for it!  I gave you the ingredients of my SUPER green juice above, you try it and let me know how you felt afterwards in the comments below!!

Make it a Great Tasting (sugar-free) Day!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.....because it usually gives us a bubbling gut, ugghhhh!!  Luckily, in my search for all things deliciously-culinary health related, I stumbled upon a couple of tasty lines of lactose-free ice creams that are proven to be easy on the belly rumbles, lol!  Even better, one is actually vegan (and just so happens to be my favorite!).   This just goes to show that more and more people are finding their way to a more plant based lifestyle and are demanding it be tasty!!  Well, from the looks of it, the food producers are listening!

So enjoy the video, and don't just take my word for it, head out there and find your favorite!  And PLEASE be sure to comment below and tell me what you think!

Make it a Great Tasting Day!

​God, family, food.  Yep, and in that order!  As a self proclaimed culinary health foodie, I have seen and tasted up close and personal food trends and health fads that have come and gone.  Trendy diets, detoxes, and cleanses too.  And yes I've tried a few in my day- a vegetable soup flush here, and 'grade B' maple syrup lemonade cleanse there.  And indeed for that moment once completed (not even going to describe the level of mood swings when you begin these food hiatus'), you're pounds lighter and your attitude is on cloud 9!!  .....then you eat...and it all goes to hell in a hand-basket.  In most instances you gain back not only what you initially lost, but a few more ponds that you've found along the way!  Here's my point- unless you plan on eating that magic weight loss soup or only sipping on that spicy lemonade for the rest of your life, all you lost is coming back, and with a vengeance!   

My thought process: A skinny person is not necessarily to be assumed 'healthy', nor is a thicker individual necessarily 'unhealthy'.  Once you get the mindset to make 'healthy' not only your priority but your way of life, i.e., lifestyle, a much satisfied and health-ful person you will be.

Out of all the food fads throughout my lifetime, one tidbit seems to always prevail- plan-tbased is best.  No, this does not necessarily mean all the world should ONLY eat grass for the rest of their lives.  However, making plants primary and animal protein the smaller portion on your plate, is not at all a bad thing.  Salads are not the only dishes to be enjoyed within a plant-based lifestyle.  Roasted seasonal vegetables have taken over as a more tastier option when eating from the earth.  Various beans/legumes, and even veggies taking the place of certain grain carbs such as rice and pasta, are heavily on the climb as the more tastier and beneficial choice.  And yes, salads are a one bowl traditional go-to for vegan, vegetarian, plant-based grazers alike, but the salads of today are created thoughtfully 'outside the box' where in most cases lettuce is either a very small ingredient if included at all.  

If a more gradual approach is what you're seeking, there's an option for that as well.  There are loads of veggie 'meat' substitutes out there for those transitioning desiring a more textured vegetable replacement.  However, be mindful that just because it's not meat doesn't mean it's better.  In all things consumed and applied to your body, check the labels.  Make sure your meat-subs are free from GMOs, too many ingredients with more than 8 letters (lol!), and are artificial anything!  I'm not going to bash the product lines that are guilty of providing such ingredients for the sake of taste, but I will acknowledge my top two (2) favs:

1. Gardein
2. Quorn

Both of these product lines have taken a seat in the responsible chair and have freed their meat substitutes from alot of the garbage still found in their competitors, that are also easy on the purse-strings.   And they taste AMAZING!!!  A few more on my list are the Beyond Meat, Field Roast, and Sweet Earth brands.  These brands are just as responsible from what I've experienced but tend to be a bit pricier.  Other contenders I favor from time to time are the daiya cheese line, LightLife, and Tofurky.  I just need to research a bit more on their make-ups, but they do taste great as well.  But don't just take my word for it, go out and research for your culinary health!


And that's my take!

​

This beautiful sister right here touched my spirit and inspired my soul! DeAnna's food journey, no, her life journey alone is so faithful and filling, it's no wonder we stood in her store and talked for almost an hour yesterday! She's constantly looking for ways improve her already prized jewel, Simply Produce on Roosevelt Hwy in College Park, Georgia. Her suppliers consist of local gardeners and farmers right here in our own metro area- now you can't get more local than that!! It was a beautiful site seeing such a diverse group of customers walking through her door to fuel their bodies with nature's produce by way of SP! (There was a line waiting for the doors to open!!) Her knowledge and expertise about farming fresh fruits and vegetables is stellar. And no need to worry if you don't see what you need on her shelves- she SPECIAL ORDERS for your desired need!! The customer service is phenomenal! And EVERYONE knows that AC thrives off of GREAT customer service, given and received. So I already knew when I walked up and she greeted me as 'Queen', this was the place for me!! Beautiful people, phenomenal heart and passion for the love of feeding the soul, and awesome fresh local produce conveniently available right here in our community, 'Simply Produce' is AC Art of Food’s new spot for always local, always fresh produce. 

Now let me get off here and make my list for next Saturday!!!! *GO SEE DEANNA at Simply Produce- it'll do your body good!!! 

Simply Produce LLC
3375 Roosevelt Highway, Suite F
College Park, GA  30349
(404) 941.9185

Hours:
Tue-Fri      9am-7pm
Satuday    10am- 5pm

*Closed Sunday & Monday*

Make it a Great Tasting Day!

I've recently become a fan of podcasts, and one in particular that gives me life is 'The Read' with Kid Fury and Crissle.  During their sponsor credits they rave about the snacks from naturebox. What made the sponsor shout even more attractive was the '50% off your first order' offer when you use the specific code from the podcast...uh-uh-uh, you gotta go listen to their weekly hilariously opinionated, politically conscious, always woke, and current-events-ripping podcast to get that valuable piece of info😉.   

While listening one day at work, I pull up www.naturebox.com on my computer and am immediately  in love with the vast variety and taste combos of these healthy snacks!  So I peruse the site, selecting to my cart snacks that tickled my fancy the most, applied my discount code (thanks Kid Fury and Crissle!), enter my payment/shipping info, and less than a week later my huge brown box arrived!  I immediately rip open each pack nibbling here and there getting a sample of everything!  There was not one snack I did not like, but here are my top 5 in order with #1 being just that, my #1 tasty snackmazing pick!

1. Sriracha Cashews- OMfreakin'GGGG!! I can snack on these bad boys all day everyday! It's like a sharp spice kick mellowed with a mildly sweet component from the cashews, that's then rounded out with a tangy citris zip!  What's more, the spice kick helps to boost your metabolism! 
2. Dried Mangoes- just mangoes....dried.  Nothing else added to take away from this beautiful, delicious all by itself, God-given fruit!  Most places have these strips with added sugar unfortunately.  The crazy part is these taste just as sweet but without the unnecessary glycemic surge, and sugary residue on your fingers🤗.
3. Lemon Tea Biscuits- lemon shortbread, Lemon shortbread, LEMON SHORTBREAD FOLKS!! Such a divine simple cookie that's usually laddened with butter and a monstrous calorie load .  But not this time, and not with naturebox! These zesty bite-sized, buttery, crisp, refreshing nibbles allow you the pure joy of eating a handful, minus the guilt of a boatload of fat and calories.  Plus they pair perfectly with a steamy cup of peppermint tea.
4. Nom Noms (Dark Cocoa or Peanut butter)- either way these chewy nibbles make for a tasy, super easy and quick means to get a nutritiously satisfying snack in between meals. I've even enjoyed them as a light and simple breakfast along with a piece of fruit and a cup of tea or coffee.
5. Coffee Kettle Popcorn- who'd a thunk it? Mocha popcorn!  This 'cup of joe' inspired treat is the ideal mix of rich java and subtle sweet salty of kettle corn.  The perfect snack when you're hunting for something crisp and a little out of the ordinary delicious!

A naturally delicious way of snacking that's outside the box (ALL puns intended)!  I highly recommend this line of snacks that have a minimal listing of ingredients that I can easily identify and pronunce! I have also referred friends and family to this snackline, primarily to keep them away from my snack stash!!

I have my own line of healthy snacks that I make from scratch,  but when time gets away from me and life begins to happen, I reach for my naturebox snacks and I'm a happy camper!

👍5 out of 5 ACAOF Green Apples rating👍
🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏

But don't just take my word for it, go to www.naturebox.com for your discounted first order today!

Tis’ the season for delicious deviled eggs!  You don’t have to know how to actually cook to boil an egg though, right?  It’s a simple as boiling water, right?  WRONG!  A simple process yes,  however, it’s all about timing.  In the spirit of the first un-holiday-kick-off-prequel to summer, let’s get these bad boys right, as not to ruin the entire summer with crazy looking eggs…maybe.  My new found love food52 has done an awesome job in diagnosing what’s gone awry in basic egg boiling, as well as giving a prescription on correcting the issue! This article even suggests tasty recommendations for your not-so-perfect little balls of sunshine that’ll make your guests think you meant to do that. ​

​So to devil an egg, or not to devil an egg, that is the question, and now we have the answer!
https://food52.com/blog/19620-what -went-wrong-the-hard-boiled-eggs-edition
Enjoy!

​I simply love this time of the year, however, the grocery shopping hustle and bustle that is Thanksgiving has come to an end.  Homes full of family and friends holding plates stacked high with traditional comfort, cups full of thankful spirits, and grateful smiles on each face and in each heart are officially of yesterday.  Not sure if your plans are to shop til' you drop or indulge in a repeat of last night's feast for breakfast, but the day after Thanksgiving finds me sipping down a delicious cleansing matcha green smoothie, watching the Hallmark Channel's holiday movie marathon, resting cozily here....ahhhhhhhhh, tis' the season!
Check out @acartoffood's Tweet:https://twitter.com/acartoffood/status/802201139282399232?s=09

​Want the inside scoop on how restaurants get you to come out of your pocket and at the end of your meal have you wondering, ‘What did I order?’ 


Here’s the scoop!  An article written in Excelle– a social networking site created primarily for the career-minded woman, gives 10 restaurant menu ‘illusions’ that entice and ultimately get you to come out of your pocket more generously than you may have intended.  Everything from, ‘this isn’t what it looks like in the commercial’ to why adding ‘bacon’ to a dish immediately increases its worth, is laid out for you here so you can be better equipped next time you dine out.
The article:
 http://excelle.monster.com/news/articles/4410-10-sneaky-ways-restaurant-menus-lie-to-you?page=1
Hey, make it a great tasting Friday!

​Let’s face it, most of us have trouble with dieting or, as I like to say, ‘eating right’, primarily because of what we have to cut out.  It’s like a constant smack on the hand followed by the antagonistic phrase, ‘don’t eat that’!
Well a new study is underway that may make you happy camper.  Per a ‘tweet’ from my fellow ‘twitter-er’ @susansandler, the online version of the health magazine Prevention, has consulted with  Connecticut-based dietitian Milton Stokes, MPH, RD, regarding taboo bites that are not so taboo.
Enjoy!
http://www.prevention.com/foodsnottoditch/#
Make it a great tasting day!