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  • Local Spotlight: Her Fitness New Jersey

    Local Spotlight: Her Fitness New Jersey

    Starting fresh with fitness and a healthy diet is a huge challenge. We ALL want to get there, of course, but how do you stay motivated? How do you avoid injury? Most important: How do you really get results?

    Carolyn found herself looking at 40 with a few extra pounds that crept up on her. Stress led to fatigue which led to the bad habits that so many of us get into, and she was struggling to feel like she could get it under control.

    Working with Marie Ande and her group fitness sessions allowed her to see results for the first time in almost a decade.

    Her Fitness is Personal training in a group setting for women who are committed to becoming or staying healthy, fit and strong.

    In addition to Her Fitness, Carolyn stuck to clean eating. Cutting back on sugar, starch, and dairy- she had to find ways to make sure her meals were thought out ahead of time.

    One thing Marie suggested was a good protein shake in the morning. We LOVE Plant Fusion Lean Protein- its super filling, and mixes easily with almond milk in a shaker bottle (and it tastes awesome!):

    Carolyn’s go-to lunch was the Mushroom Turkey Burger over greens from the cafe:

    Taking good care of your gut is important when you’re trying to drop weight. Getting the most out of your food ensures your body won’t push you into cravings. Probiotics are instrumental:

  • Our Go-To Supplements for Staying WELL

    Leaves are just starting to change, the air is getting crisp, and off in the distance you can hear the seasonal sound of…someone coughing. Here we go again.

    Heading back to school means lots of kids in small places, high stress levels with homework,  and very active lives with extracurricular activities.  Start now by  boosting the immune system and get a head start on a healthy school year and all it’s sneezing, coughing and general ickiness.

    Vitamin C – of course, and with added bioflavonoids is helpful (like eating the whole orange – the fruit with the white pith).  C helps to keep your cells clean and boost the immune system.  Whatever your body doesnt need will be eliminated so don’t be timid about ramping up the dosage.
    While we know that vitamin D is important for bone health and healthy growth in children, it has also shown to be an important vitamin to the immune system.  Start taking your vitamin D now, and continue through April (the month when the sun is closest to the earth).
     
    Elderberry syrup, a great source of vitamin C, proanthocyanadin flavonoids and is known to have antiviral proteins!  Kids love the taste, so this is a no-brainer!
     
    Astragalus strengthens our immune reservoir and is helpful for allergic rhinitis – the fall ragweed is in full bloom now!  This is a great herb for teachers heading back to the classroom to ward off colds and respiratory illnesses.
     
    Our shelves are stocked and ready with flavorful Zand herbal lozenges – made with zinc  and an herbal blend rich in vitamin C.  A great little nutritive support to boost the immune system and soothe the throat.  The orange flavor is popular with kids!
    A Wellness Formula is great way to boost our immune system heading in to winter – we have quite a few on the shelves, filled with vitamins, herbs, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories!  Bluebonnet, Source Naturals and Basil Bandwagon all have superior wellness formulas!
    A large part of our immune system lies in the gut, so keeping our gut microbiome healthy is important.  Pick up a probiotic with at least 7 strains of probiotic cultures! Boost that beneficial bacteria and crowd out the unhealthy ones!
    And of course, don’t forget to stock the freezer with organic chicken bone broth to prepare a quick chicken soup – a proven remedy for quicker healing time with colds!

     

  • Try our Fruit Moon Smoothie!

    Try our Fruit Moon Smoothie!

    Vines and trees are heavy with fruit, and the light is changing. Fall is creeping up, but summer isn’t over yet. It always leaves us with the gift of rich, ripe fruit. It’s inspired us to celebrate the beauty of the harvest.

    Our smoothie this month features a seasonal favorite: Cantaloupe. We were inspired to create something sweet and hydrating and at its peak flavor right now. Cantaloupe is full of potassium, vitamin C, beta carotene, and more.

    We paired it with Peach, another seasonal favorite and added Mango for a smooth texture and sweetness. Almond milk adds protein, and a pinch of cardamom ties all the flavors together. Next we round it out with Zach & Zoe Lavender Honey to elevate all the flavors.

    We didn’t stop at flavor: we added nutrient dense collagen. Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate is 90% protein, is fantastic for gut health and helps build strong hair, skin and nails.

     

  • Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm

    Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm

     

    The smell of simmering beeswax wafted through the door as Summer, Kam, Zach and Zoe welcomed us to their home last week. As we walked through their home and met the whole family, it became apparent that bees are more than a passion for this family, they are a lifestyle.

    Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm, located in Hunterdon County, NJ, is a family-owned business that specializes in honey production and superfood blending. The family first started keeping bees to produce raw honey for their own use.

    When the family began their honey production, they quickly realized how passionate they were about the bees. They also realized how much honey they were able to produce. With a surplus on-hand, they decided to sell some. That is when Summer’s passion for wellness kicked in. Her love for Matcha, led to her first blend.

    In fact, we loved it so much that we featured it in our Matcha Honey Smoothie a few months back.

    While honey itself is gorgeous and tasty, they realized that they could combine it with other superfoods to further enhance the nutritional effects. That move was the spark that started their brand.

    Today, there is a whole family of tasty and nutritious offerings from Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm, including: Ginger, Beet Root, Lavender, Rice Protein and Vanilla, and more. With their passion for honey bees and wellness, there are sure to be many more offering from Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm.

    If you haven’t had a chance to try them yet, stop by either of our locations and pick up a bottle…maybe two. 

    We are featuring their Lavender Honey in our September Smoothie, the Fruit Moon Smoothie! Try it while its available!

  • Your Embarrassing Questions Part 3: Smells & Skin Woes

    Continuing our popular series with a subject EVERY human can relate to: Smells and Skin Woes. These bodies can be stinky and itchy and uncomfortable at times, but there are simple things that can bring relief!

     

     

  • Our Back to School Top 5’s

    Our Back to School Top 5’s

    Five Easy Lunches Ideas

    As a busy parent, school lunches can be one of the most frustrating things to manage for your kids.  

    • They don’t like school lunches.
    • A quick pitstop at a deli or fast food place on the way to school to grab lunch to go isn’t the healthiest option.
    • Packing lunches from home is overwhelming and time-consuming.

    Feels familiar, right? We’ve got some QUICK, EASY, and HEALTHY solutions for you. Basil to the rescue!

    When packing a lunch, consider it should have 4 elements:

    1. Protein, to keep them full
    2. Fruit or veggie, to keep them nourished
    3. A healthy carbohydrate, to keep them energized
    4. Something sweet, to keep them interested

    This alone can help you set food out and get an idea of what to pack.

    Here’s 5 of our favorite lunch ideas with links to easy recipes that you’ll want to use over and over!

    Hummus Platter:

    No recipe needed: Find your favorite hummus, add crunchy chips, and some veggies to dip and this one is good to go! Slip in a better-for-you treat to satisfy a sweet tooth at the end of their meal.

     

    Pizza Mini Quiches:

    These are made ahead of time and kept in the fridge. There are tons of recipes online- a quick google search will help you out! These will fill up bellies, satisfy cravings for pizza, and can be made with non-dairy cheese. The toppings are totally up to you. We kept it simple here with pepperoni.

    Spring Rolls:

    These are crunchy AND chewy at the same time. And, let’s face it, they look cool. Once you master HOW to make them, you’ll see how easy and flexible they are! Try shredded carrots, sprouts, finely sliced bell peppers…anything your kiddo will try! Roll them up into a spring roll and ta-da! Add a sauce for dipping, if you like!

    Quesadillas:

    Sure a nice, hot quesadilla is ideal, but they taste pretty good cold, as well. They are great for picky eaters and provide a nice savory balance to sweeter flavors. Add a crunchy veggie, some fruit and salsa for dipping.

    Leftover Makeover:

    Make a little extra at dinner and pack up the rest- hot OR cold for lunches the next day. It will stretch your food budget and make easy work of meal packing in the morning. Here’s some ideas we dig:

    7 Ways to Turn Leftovers into Lunch 

    Leftovers for Lunch

    Rework Leftovers for Easy School Lunches

     

    Five after School Snacks that will help kids Stay Focused

     

    #1: Organic Popcorn

    Crunch, crunch, crunch: engaging the senses keeps kids in focus. Working to chew food can keep a kids awake and alert. Easy-to-eat popcorn is a great option for this. It’s tasty, salty, and most people can’t resist it once they smell it and its placed in front of them. We LOVE Farmer Steve’s Popcorn, its not only ORGANIC, it’s super-duper local and makes a terrific snack.

    #2: Pumpkin Seeds

    Pumpkin seeds are nutrient rich and full of brain-loving Omega 3s and zinc. They also provide that crunch, as well as a boost of protein that will hold them over until dinner.

    #3 Go Raw Bar

    Chewy is similar to crunchy in that it pulls in the senses. Chewy can mean sticky or sugary, but not with these. Go Raw Chewy Apricot sprouted bars are JUST fruit with sprouted flaxseeds. Sprouted means MORE nutrition and easier digestion of the flaxseeds. You kids will love the chewy texture and the fruity flavor.

    #4 MadeGood Granola Minis

    These adorable little goodies are made in a dedicated facility free from the 8 common allergens: peanut, tree nuts, wheat, dairy, egg, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish, making them a safe bet for all kids. They are totally additive free and get a nutrition boost from sneaking in veggies (in powder form!). Organic, non-gmo…and did we mention these are SUPER tasty?

    #5 Fruit

    Fruit is sweet and cool and squishy. It’s also full of vitamins and water and fiber and is something kids will always reach for. Especially if you make it fun. Try skewers, or cut fruit into chunks that can be dipped into yogurt. Check out our produce specials and stock up on the seasonal favorites every week.

     

    Five Supplements that will Keep Kids Well this Year

     

    #1 Megafood Kids Daily Immune

    Add a dose of this to a glass of juice or smoothie. Megafood gets all their nutrients from food sources in their unique extraction process. This blend of citrus, Elderberries and Echinacea (and more) is as clean as you can get and delivers the most bang for your buck in keeping colds and flu away.

    #2 Wileys Finest Alaskan Fish Oil:

    Long chain Omega 3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and might even strengthen the immune system. Omega 3’s are SO important and difficult to get into our diets. This fish oil will also help with focus and it TASTES AWESOME!

    #3: Sambu Guard for Kids

    Elderberry syrup isn’t just for hippies anymore- it’s for everyone because it WORKS. It’s easy to take because it tastes good, and people are seeing results. We like this formula because its only sweetened with fruit juice and it combines elderberry with elderflower, echinacea and licorice extract.

    #4: Herbs for Kids: Nettles & Eyebright

    Allergies can wreck a students day. Coughing, sneezing, watering eyes… it’s uncomfortable. The side effects of prescriptions can be even worse than the symptoms you are trying to control. Nettles serve as a sort of natural anti-histamine. Eyebright is anti-inflammatory, especially to the mucous membranes. This herbal formula can be taken in a cup of tea or mixed in with a little honey.

    #5: Renew Life Ultimate Flora Kids Probiotic

    Gut health is SUPER important to immune health. We need good bacteria to go to battle for us from the inside out. Keeping kids on a solid probiotic is one way to make sure you have this part covered.

     

     

     

  • Your Embarrassing Questions Answered Part 2: Poop

    Your Embarrassing Questions Answered Part 2: Poop

    Part Two of our series deals with an issue we ALL have from time to time: bowel problems. Whether they are running too quick or barely moving, they are bound to cause some trouble. We have some products we love that can help you balance out!

  • College Packing List

    Whether it’s your son or daughter, or its YOU who’s headed off for college life, we’ve got suggestions that will cover every base.

    We’ve put together a list of everything we showed you in the video. Click the link below for a printable PDF!

    College Dorm Essentials PDF

  • Kombucha Spritzers made with Baba’s Brew

    Kombucha Spritzers made with Baba’s Brew

    Kombucha is not only one of our favorite gut-friendly foods, it makes a great base for refreshing cocktails! We offer Baba’s Brew on tap: grab a growler of the featured flavor and have some fun mixing up pretty drinks for summer parties! Baba’s Brew pairs well in cocktails- its mild and fizzy with carefully curated ingredients and flavors.

    Here’s how we like to dress up our Baba’s Brew:

     

    •Rub a lemon slice around the rim of your glass, then either sprinkle with raw sugar or dip glass into sugar in a bowl or plate.

    •We paired Baba’s Brew Flower Power with dried rose petals and lavender (we carry both in bulk), and a sprig of fresh mint. All it needs now is your favorite vodka!

    •Next we used Baba’s Brew Cherry Bomb and added fresh blueberries, strawberries and blackberries. •Try this combo with Rose or White wine.

    The combinations are endless- we’d love to hear what you come up with!

     

  • Introducing: The Flemington Circle Smoothie

    Introducing: The Flemington Circle Smoothie