Greenery Natural Kitchen
On your next lunch break, don’t settle for a “fast” and unhealthy snack, head on down to the kitchen where the food is made fresh and the menu is full of choices. Tofu, tuna and turkey are just a few of the many ingredients that create the sandwiches, hot plates, salads and specials at the Greenery Natural Kitchen. The menu has changed since 1983, but the feeling of having a home-cooked meal has always been a top priority. With summer on its way, this is a great place to pick up a refreshing sunshine salad or hydrating date shake to keep you energized and ready for a warm OC day.

Greenery Natural Kitchen is located at 1307 E. Katella Ave., Orange, CA 92865.

The Yoga Mat OC
Yoga is a way of life that will not only keep your body fit and healthy, but can ease your mind as well. That is, if you choose to practice the right type of yoga for your personality. With so many choices and styles, The Yoga Mat is the perfect place to get a heart-pumping cardio workout or just meditate with a slow-paced class that balances your busy lifestyle. The yoga instructors are dedicated to creating a community through a variety of donation-based classes (Yoga to the Peeps) and even a movie night here and there. We all know that a healthy lifestyle is important, and The Yoga Mat works at this idea constantly, bringing yoga and meditation to the community one class (or book club) at a time. The Yoga Mat is also looking for artists of the month to show off in their studio, as well as local jewelry designers, so head on over!

Want more? Check out their offerings in the myHealthyOC.com Shop.

The Yoga Mat OC is located at 1315-G Tustin St., Orange, CA 92867.

The Office
Playing sports in and out of school is normal for many kids, but stressful for almost all of the parents. Whether your child wants to be the star of the team or just have fun, The Office is designed to coach your kids with confidence and without pushing their bodies to a breaking point. Within The Office and on the artificial turf, Velocity Sports Performance chooses the most qualified coaches to help athletes improve speed, power and agility while following their unique programs. In OC 14 batting cages are filled with pitching machines that provide the practice your baseball star needs. At The Office, sports are fun and the coaching is supportive and unique for each athlete that walks on the field.

The Office is located at 4411 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807.

by: Allison Hecht, SweetPotatoBites.com guest blogger

If you are an Orange County resident, chances are you have driven by Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine at least a couple of times. It’s located smack dab in the middle of a business park in Irvine close to the 405 Freeway so it’s hard to miss. But did you know that Andrei’s specializes in sustainable dining?

The main focus of Andrei’s is incorporating locally grown and organic produce as well as naturally raised meats in all of their dishes. And if that isn’t enough to get you in the door, 100 percent of the restaurant’s profits go to the Andrei Foundation, which was created when the owner’s son passed away from a degenerative eye disease. So not only are you eating well at Andrei’s, you are also contributing to a good cause.

So let’s get to the food. Andrei’s offers a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday that includes different small plates that are $6 dollars each. These small plates range from a brioche grilled cheese with roasted tomatoes to the vegetable arancini, which is small fried risotto balls made with bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash and mozzarella. But if you are going to order something off this small plates menu for happy hour, I highly recommend the BBQ chicken flatbread.

The BBQ chicken flatbread is made with homemade BBQ sauce, fresh chicken, onion, cilantro and mozzarella. It seems like quite a simple dish, but it is quite delicious and the perfect way to start a meal.

On the entrée front, Andrei’s offers a wide variety of healthy salads, flatbreads and organic meat and seafood dishes. One of the entrée highlights is the calamari salad.

In most restaurants calamari is usually served breaded, fried and with less than healthy dipping sauces. At Andrei’s, the calamari is grilled to perfection and comes with fresh vegetables and a lime confit vinaigrette. It’s light and refreshing, and perfect as either an entrée or side dish.

Other highlights at Andrei’s include the Mediterranean platter, complete with three different kinds of hummus,  roasted free-range chicken with cinnamon couscous and orange-infused beef short rib with a garlic Yukon gold potato. The food may sound decadent at Andrei’s, but the prices are reasonable and the meals are friendly to your waistline. The restaurant also offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menus, which are great for anyone with special dietary needs.

Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine is a definite must when it comes to healthy dining in Orange County. The food is fresh and delicious, the profits go to a good cause, and the staff is top notch. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine
2607 Main Street. Irvine, CA 92614

Allison Hecht is an Orange County native who is passionate about good food and healthy living. She’s the local expert when it comes to which OC restaurants reign supreme in locally grown dining and will provide recommendations on the best things to do and eat when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. In addition to writing for myHealthyOC.com, Allison writes and maintains the blog SweetPotatoBites.com, which focuses on good eats and fun recipes, and is a regular contributor to OCmenus.com. When she’s not writing about food, Allison is getting her workout on and having a good time while doing it! Most days you can find her taking classes at Pure Barre (her current favorite), running outside or getting her om on in a yoga studio. Follow her on Twitter @socaliallie to find out where she is going next.

by: Geoff Etherson, guest blogger and owner of Train Insane Gym

Okay here we go. This post was inspired by many, many questions about supposed healthy foods. In this country, the food industry has been disguising horrible unhealthy foods as healthy. They have done this in many different ways, but I think that the most despicable are the clever names that they give to food in order to make it sound okay to eat. The following is a small list of junk that poses as healthy food. However, these are all foods that you should stay away from. Some will be obvious and some will probably surprise a lot of you. Take notes and pay attention.

1. Muffins
Where do I start with this one? How about the fact that the name “muffin” was created so that people would not feel guilty about eating cake for breakfast. I did not make that up, it is 100% true, look it up. That being said, I think most of you know that a giant muffin for breakfast is not good. Add to that the muffin probably has about 1500 calories in it (most women’s daily need) and you have your answer.

2. Any kind of 100 calorie pack
I know I am going to break a lot of hearts with this one, but they are a waste of not only calories, but money. Now here is my question, is an Oreo only bad because of its size? N! It’s bad cause it’s a flippin’ Oreo and it’s made with processed parts. Okay, okay, I’ve calmed down. Now my point is this, if you eat a little bit of a turd, you are still eating a turd. It doesn’t much matter what the serving size is, does it?

3. Lean Pockets
Yay! We have all been waiting for a product with the work “lean” right in the title, this must be good. This gut bomb is basically a pastry filled with mystery meat. Who thought that this was a good idea? Did someone stand up in a meeting and say, “Yea, I think we should fill a pop tart with nasty meat,” and everyone went, “Yes, I love it.” Bottom line, anything that has been pre-cooked, frozen and is “meat” is probably not a good choice.

4. Breakfast cereal
I sick of seeing these commercials on TV where a kid gets done playing catch with dad, or doing something really active, then comes inside and has a big bowl of Frosted Flakes. Are you kidding me? These cereals have more sugar than anything else in them. I don’t care how many times the box says “whole grain,” “heart healthy” or any other term they made up – that stuff is not healthy for you.

5. Yogurt
Talk about taking a good thing and screwing it up. Yogurt, which used to be an amazing part of your diet, has now become sugary soup. Yogurt in its true form is great for you. It has many different benefits ranging from the probiotics which help your digestive tract, to being high in protein which can help you recover from a workout. Now however, the amount of sugar and other ingredients that most yogurts have out weigh the good stuff.

6. “Fruit Juice”
Before you freak out, hear me out. Any juice product that is a percent of juice is not healthy! Since when do we have to settle for 50 percent juice? What happened to juice actually being juice? I think that taking a piece of fruit and squeezing the juice out was working pretty well. We do not need a laundry list of ingredients – just juice. When you do buy juice, make sure that it is not from concentrate and is 100 percent real juice. (Quick tip: Real juice will separate on the shelf, so orange juice will look like it has 2 layers that you have to shake up.)

7. Soups
Now I want start by saying, yes, there are some healthy soups out there. Okay, got that out of the way. The problem is that the healthy soups are not the best tasting ones. I see people all the time order a soup thinking that they are choosing a low calorie option, when in reality, for the calories in that bowl of soup they may as well have had a burger and fries. For instance Chile’s New England Clam Chowder is 940 calories!

Geoff Etherson is the owner and founder of Train Insane Gym in Anaheim. Armed with a B.S. in exercise physiology and sports management, Geoff worked as an assistant to Washington Redskins head strength coach John Hastings. It was there that Geoff learned how to implement the knowledge that he had retained from school. Learning how the coaches programmed the workouts to achieve each athletes goals is what gave him the idea for Train Insane. Taking the principles used by professional athletes, and modifying them for the average Joe or Jane. To learn more about Geoff and his program, visit TrainInsaneGym.com.

If you have a few hours and want to make a healthy meal with minimal prep, check out Geoff’s recommendation.

Photo credit: Flickr user Vegan Feast Catering. Used with permission by Creative Commons.

After those parties though, cleaning your kitchen is an unwelcome task. Tossing bottles in the recycle and using dish soap that can clog up the sewage may seem like a waste of resources. myHealthyOC.com is looking forward to the summer months and gathered these tips on how to green your kitchen and save the planet.

Before you get home
There is no way you have yet to see reusable canvas bags at grocery store. If you have not, for some odd reason, invest a few canvas bags to bring home your groceries in. Most carry more than plastic bags and have other uses at home for storage or traveling. Plastic bags are made from crude oil, often escape from trucks on the way to the landfill, clog up our sewers and hurt wildlife.

If you forget your canvas bags when you head to the store, make sure to ask for paper instead of plastic. You can use paper bags to wrap gifts or make decorations for your next event.

At the wet bar
After picking up your favorite ONEHOPE wine (or any other brand), the possibilities are endless, even after finishing the bottle. Saving the corks make for a unique art project or corkboard. You can also save the tops and store them in another glass vase (they look pretty).

Wine bottles and other liquor bottles can also be reused rather than tossing them straight into your recycling bin. Decorate your home and make sure to use an assortment of sizes to keep it unique – it also gives you a chance to try new things!

To remove the labels, however, don’t use a ton of dish soap. Soak the bottle in baking soda for about 30 minutes to an hour. Why does this work? Science told us so. Baking soda comes from a natural source and there is an abundance of it.

More drinks?
If you prefer a different type of juice and want to reduce your energy bill, make sure to save any plastic bottles that did not contain toxic liquids. Milk cartons and juice bottles can be rinsed out and filled with drinking water. According to National Geographic’s Green Guide, fill up as many as it takes to fill your refrigerator and freezer with a little bit of space in between each container. Your refrigerator is most efficient when it is full because it has less air to cool.

That awful smell!
Does it seem like a good idea to replace your cutting boards every few months? Instead of scrubbing down the wood, stone or plastic boards with dish soap, The Healthy Voyager recommends rubbing it down with your morning’s coffee grounds. Not only are these biodegradable, but you can use them for your herb and vegetable garden (hint hint) once or twice a month as compost.

Good-bye fruit flies!
Ever notice those tiny black flies that always seem to turn up during the summer, even when your kitchen is immaculate? Try mixing a little apple cider vinegar with organic hand soap to capture the annoying buggers before they take over kitchen.

If you are looking for another green cleaning alternative, make sure to check out our Pure One Environmental cleaning products in the myHealthyOC.com Shop!

What are you green kitchen tips and tricks?

Photo credit: Flickr user Bayhaus. Used with permission through Creative Commons.

All relationships ebb and flow. Sometimes couples can be completely aligned and emotionally in tune with one another, and other times a great deal of distance can exist between them.

This natural rhythm of distance and closeness is not something to worry about if you’re usually able to recognize the pattern and work through it. But if you and your spouse are not able to quickly identify the distance and find ways to reconnect, you may eventually end up feeling more like roommates or co-parents than passionate lovers.

Use the list below to determine if there may be too much distance between you and your honey.

There may be too much distance in your marriage if:

• You can’t remember the last time you passionately kissed your spouse
• The kids regularly sleep in bed with you
• Your last one-on-one date with your partner was more than six months ago
• Weekends are all about chores and to-do lists rather than laughter, play, and sex
• Sleep feels more important than listening to your spouse talk about a difficult day
• Sex is something that happens only on your anniversary and special occasions
• Foreplay is no longer part of your sex life
• You’d rather go to lunch with friends on a Saturday then do something with your partner
• Wearing sweats and socks to bed is a regular habit
• You spend more time at night with your TV, cell phone, iPad or laptop than with your spouse
• You don’t mind getting home late from work
• The longest conversation you and your spouse have had lately has been about money
• It feels like too much effort to look good for your spouse
• You think candles are just for birthday cakes
• Laughter and play in your relationship has seriously dwindled
• Daily interaction has to do with chores, to do lists, carpool and money
• It feels like the thrill in your marriage is gone
• The last adventurous activity you tried together was on your honeymoon
• You and your spouse are two ships passing between soccer practice, homework, music lessons, school and work
• Saying, “I love you,” feels more like habit than a powerful phrase

If this list sounds too familiar, it’s time to focus on reconnecting and boosting the romance in your marriage.

Next week, Dr. Meredith Hansen will bring us tips on simple ways to increase intimacy in your relationship.

Photo credit: Flickr user Marina Pics. Used with permission through Creative Commons.

Egg in a nest
Start the day out sunny-side-up with whole wheat toast, an egg and fun cookie cutter shapes. Your Kids can choose their own shape and cut out the center of the bread. Next, crack the egg firmly against a bowl and carefully pour the egg into a separate bowl. Fry the bread lightly on one side, then flip the bread over and reduce the heat to low. Your helper can pour the egg into the hole of the bread, then cover and let cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until the egg has set into the hole. For an over-easy egg, flip the egg and bread over and cook it on the other side.

Ingredients:
1 slice of whole wheat bread
1 egg
1 Tbsp. of butter

Applesauce bran muffin
Muffins are a great snack that can go anywhere and will give your kids enough energy to make it through any activity. Start by mixing the bran with milk and let stand 5 minutes. Add the eggs and oil and stir until blended. Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda and once finished, have your kids combine the rest of the ingredients – make sure you don’t over mix. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and the recipe will make 12 muffins. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cup Kellogg’s All Bran Cereal
1 cup milk, nonfat
4 Tbsp egg white
2 Tbsp veg. oil
2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce

Cream cheese jam and graham crackers
For a snack at home or on-the-go, mix the softened cream cheese with the jam. Spread a little of the mixture on top of each graham cracker. You can eat them right away, or chill for 30 minutes. If you choose to chill, the grahams will soften and become more like a cheesecake crust, and the topping will firm up. The kids can help break up grahams and stir the cream cheese and jam.

Ingredients:
3 ounces of cream cheese, softened for 10 seconds in the microwave
3 tablespoons of strawberry jam (or any other kind of jam your kids enjoy)
A few sheets of Graham crackers broken into squares or rectangles

Carrots with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Ranch dressing is a classic sauce that many kids enjoy, but peanuts are a healthier way to give your kids a full stomach and lots of energy. Mix everything but the carrot sticks together with a fork or whisk in a bowl and add water as needed to thin the mixture into a dipping consistency. All-natural peanut butter needs more water than the everyday brands. Your little chefs can scrape carrots and stir the ingredients.

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons of peanut butter
1 tablespoon of honey
A splash of soy sauce
A few drops of sesame oil
Water to smooth
Carrot sticks

Refreshing Fruit Dip
This tangy-sweet dip is a perfect way to get those picky eaters to try some fruit. Stir the sour cream, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Your kids can have fun rinsing the cherries (or any other fruit) and arranging them for dipping.

Ingredients:
¼ cup sour cream or yogurt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Cherries with stems attached

Cucumber and yogurt boats
This snack is a healthy exception to the phrase, “Stop playing with your food!” Start by cutting the cucumbers into lengthwise halves and scoop out the seeds. Mix some plain yogurt, a couple of pinches of sugar, a pinch of salt and a dash of cumin in a bowl and have your kids mix it all together. Spread the mix into the hollowed cucumbers and add some flags with toothpicks to complete the look.

Ingredients:
Small cucumbers, such as Kirbys
Small container of plain yogurt
Sugar
Salt
Cumin

Recipies taken from parenting.com and sparkrecipes.com.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be consumed to help with health problems ranging from constipation and diarrhea, to fighting off colds and building up the immune system. These “good” bacteria are naturally found in our bodies, but sometimes, due to stress, poor diets and excessive antibiotic use, the “bad” bacteria take control.

There are many different types of probiotics, but the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria are the most common.

The Lactobacillus is used to treat yeast infections, urinary tract infection, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, lactose intolerance and some skin disorders including eczema and acne. After many studies, these microorganisms can help put your digestive system at ease, and will eventually prevent these illnesses from occurring again with time. More than 50 species of Lactobacillus are found naturally in our digestive, urinary and genital systems, but they can also be found in yogurt and other dietary supplements. Bifidobacteria are more commonly used to help with irritable bowel syndrome, dental cavities, improved blood lipids and glucose tolerance. There are about 30 different species of Bifidobacteria that make up 90 percent of the healthy bacteria in our colons. Both Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus are helpful in strengthening the immune system and can be found in certain types of yogurt, soy products and cheese.

When looking for a probiotic that will benefit your health, it’s important to know how many microbes will be administered, and how long the shelf life lasts. If the microbes aren’t living bacteria, then there will be no benefit. With so many different probiotics and varying treatment of conditions, it is a great idea to research which probiotic is right for you before you make a decision.

If you’re interested in giving probiotics a try, we offer a variety of options in the myHealthyOC.com Shop, courtesy of Adia Nutrition. All varieties are gluten- and lactose-free – check it out here.

Your tummy will be thanking you!

So what do we love to do in Laguna Beach? Paddle, stroll on the beach (1000 Steps, anyone?), soak up the sun, and enjoy some enticing and healthy spots!

The Stand
The Stand is nestled just off of Pacific Coast Highway in a tall, wooden structure painted dark red; it looks as though it could have once been used as a miniature farmhouse. Whether it is a cold and foggy day out or the sun is sweltering, this spot provides a savory and wholesome menu to choose from. The Stand offers an array of salads, smoothies, burritos, bowls and more, all made without the use of refined sugars, artificial additives or animal by-products. I strolled by after an early morning paddle out on the chilly water and was invited to sample some of their delectable soups. I was sold! A cup of freshly made chunky cauliflower warmed my happy belly without the heavy feeling that soups can sometimes give you.

Just as their logo states, The Stand is a fresh and healthy find “where great food comes naturally.” Open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., this just might become your go-to spot after a day at the beach!

The Stand is located at 238 Thalia St., Laguna Beach, CA 92651. 949.494.8101.

Laguna Beach Paddle Company
You glide over the calm waters, the sun is warming you from above and a smile naturally spreads over you. You are on a stand-up paddle lesson with Tom and Kisha of Laguna Beach Paddle Boarding. This is truly an experience to remember!

Depending on weather conditions, your SUP experience will take off out of the picturesque Treasure Island Coves in South Laguna Beach or in calm waters at Baby’s Beach in Dana Point. Either way, get ready for more than just a SUP lesson. Tom and Kisha are here to give you an EXPERIENCE! With options for lessons, tours or rentals, Laguna Beach Paddle Company provides you with awesome instruction, high-quality boards, and exclusive locations!

Extra Cool: Tom and Kisha are the founders of Hailey’s House, a nonprofit that provides support and guidance for tweens, teens, and families, in order to “become better equipped at achieving a successful family life.”

Contact Laguna Beach Paddle Boarding via email info@lagunabeachpaddleboarding.com or calling 949.525.1807.

Nirvana Grille
Natural. Healthy. Sustainable. High quality. Gorgeous. Delectable. Welcome to Nirvana Grille, a restaurant located on Broadway Street that will scrumptiously satisfy not only your taste buds, but your healthy conscience, as well!

With menus that change seasonally, we love that Nirvana Grille offers ‘clean’ California cuisine. This restaurant works hard to bring you the best of local, organic, fresh and authentically natural ingredients for your well-prepared dining experience. Did we mention that there is some gorgeous outdoor seating to enjoy? Love it!

Hold on just a second, there’s more? Nirvana Grille offers gluten-free and vegan options, as well as menus for kids, happy hour and late night! Talk about checking off all the boxes, right?

Giving Back: Nirvana Grille has created a program where you can give back to your favorite charity or organization. Enjoy a Sunday evening dinner and they will donate 10% of your food bill (pre-tax) to a local organization of your choice. For more details, check out: nirvanagrille.com/lagunareservations.html.

Nirvana Grille is located at 303 Broadway, Ste 101, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. 949.497.0027.

If you’ve left shopping for “World’s Number 1 Mom” until the last minute, myHealthyOC.com has a few recommendations from some of our favorite (and healthy!) Orange County spots:

Spa day at Montanya Spa in Santa Ana
This beautiful and quaint spa nestled in OC has the perfect solution for stress or just  an afternoon of relaxation with dear ol’ mom.

Xtend Barre classes in Mission Viejo
Has your mother been looking for a workout that keeps her flexible and with minimal impact? Send her to Xtend Barre in Mission Viejo, which combines elements of dance and pilates for an incredible workout.

Vernice Vita yoga mat
If your mom is an aspiring yogi, get her the most amazing yoga mat in the entire world! The Vernice Vita yoga mat is made from three layers of memory foam that relieves pressure points and pain in your mom’s joints caused by regular mats.

One day reset cleanse from Ritual Cleanse
Everything about this one day cleanse is perfect for your eco-conscious mother! The one day cleanse is a greater starter cleanse, or quick reset, which features fresh pressed, 100% organic vegetable and fruit juice packaged in environmentally sound materials.

OC bath and beauty
Does your mom love to smell sweet? Check out our bath and body offerings from Kohana Skin and Herban for great gift sets.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Started just over four years ago, the Goodwill Fitness Center was built to provide fitness services to the physically disabled, chronically ill and their immediate family or caregivers. Today there are over 100,000 people in the Orange County community that could benefit from the services of this organization and I ask that you all help us to spread the word.

My first impression from this tour was how friendly all of the staff were when I arrived. Ashley Sattar, Development Director for the Center, as well as Frank Talarico, new CEO of Goodwill of Orange County were both there to greet tour guests. Their passion and excitement for this program was inspiring and really helped set the tone for what we would then see.

At over 12,000 square feet, the Fitness Center has over 50 different pieces of equipment that are fully accessible. Similar to a large, commercial fitness facility, there are dedicated areas for strength training, cardio, yoga and balance. For an additional fee there is also a physical therapist available to provide focused support .

There is varying small monthly membership fees, and limited scholarships are also available. More than 90 cents of every dollar spent at Goodwill of Orange County is reinvested into their programs and services. You can really feel good about where every dollar goes.

Ready to get involved? We have some great options to share that I know could be a perfect fit including:

• Fitness studio and rehab center partnerships – The Goodwill Fitness Center has very few partnerships with local area fitness and rehabilitation facilities. If you are in the fitness business, your ability to refer clients and supporters to this organization could be hugely impactful to the cause. For rehab centers, once physical therapy is finished post injury, the Goodwill Fitness Center is one of the only options for continued training.
• Corporate partnerships – Are you in the health and wellness industry and looking for a great organization to align with to raise awareness and money for? This is a PERFECT fit. Looking to build a corporate wellness program? This could be a great way to get your team thinking about health and raise money for a great cause.
• Have an event – They offer limited special engagements for businesses. Team building, corporate mixers, fitness expos–they have tons of opportunity for private use of this amazing facility.
• Attend the Rise to the Challenge Tour – Take an hour, bring some friends, and come visit. You will have a blast, I promise.
• Donate – Your dollars will make a tremendous difference. The center needs support to increase sustainiablity and build capacity to serve even more people.

The mission of myHealthyOC.com is to spread the word and build a community around health here in the OC. The Goodwill Fitness Center is an amazing resource for us, please help share their story. For more information on this program or to head over for a tour, please visit ocgoodwill-fitnesscenter.org.