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Brandy and I had so many lovely submissions for our All Through the Year Cheer Easter event…please check out the beautiful round-up and winner here!
Giveaway: Just in time for Earth Day (April 22) I recently received a gift package from Green Giant through My Blog Spark, containing a coupon for a free package of Green Giant frozen vegetables, a mini herb garden, a bamboo utensil set, and a 100% recyclable grocery tote.
For over 100 years Green Giant has worked hard to reduce the carbon footprint it leaves. A few of the things that Green Giant has done include reduce the amount of land and water needed to grow vegetables, team up with growers to install a more efficient irrigation system that can reduce water usage, and switch to a more earth-friendly paperboard to package frozen vegetables. This year Green Giant is celebrating Earth Day by giving $200,000 to The Nature Conservatory to help fund a project to encourage greener farming practices to protect the Root River, one of Minnesota’s (where Green Giant is located) best trout streams. If you’d like to win the same prize pack, just leave a comment on this post telling me what you do to help the environment. The giveaway will end on 4/10 at 9PM EST, when I’ll use a random number generator to determine a winner.
Book Review: The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged! by Tosca Reno: Since I loved Tosca’s Eat Clean Cookbook I was thrilled to recently receive a copy of this book to review. This book has over 50 healthy recipes, but the majority of the book is devoted to describing the ins and outs of “clean” eating. One of the most impacting things I got out of the book was what Tosca calls the “Body Beautiful/Body Healthy Formula.” According to this formula, a beautiful and healthy body results from 80% nutrition + 10% training + 10% genetics. Tosca put it best when she said “nutrition is far more responsible for creating your shape and your health than you ever could have imagined”!
In the book, 8 principles of clean eating are discussed; a few of these principles include eating more throughout the day, eating breakfast, eating a combination of lean protein and complex carbohydrates at every meal, eating enough healthy fats every day, and carrying a cooler packed with clean foods each day. From my own personal experience, I have noticed that eating breakfast is the most important eating habit for me, not only to start up my metabolism early in the day, but also because it sets the tone mentally for the food choices I make throughout the rest of the day.
Throughout the book Tosca gives a lot of helpful information, such as lists of lean proteins, starchy complex carbs (from both whole grains and vegetables), carbs from fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats. A quick reference is given to show healthy portion sizes. Tips for clean shopping are given, including information on how to decipher nutrition labels. Tosca discusses how to eat clean in any situation, including eating at the office, at restaurants, and at parties. To decipher a menu when eating out, Tosca suggests looking for the following key words: baked, grilled, dry-sautéed, broiled, au jus, roasted, poached, or steamed, and avoiding the following: breaded, au gratin (with cheese), casserole, carbonara, creamy, sautéed, tempura, gravy, fried, or bisque.
Tosca describes her cooler plans in detail. Each cooler plan is meant to be a day’s worth of food. There are three different week-long cooler plans listed: (1) hardcore eating plan for rapid results, (2) strict eating plan for best long-term results and year-round maintenance, and (3) a plan to get used to the idea of eating for health and life.
In the book there is a whole litany of benefits that can be expected from clean eating, including a natural detox, lean physique, and constant energy. I think the best motivation for eating clean can be summed up in this quote from the book: “Just as cars do not operate properly on dirty gas, the human body does not function well on poor fuel. Eating foods devoid of nutrients stimulates your craving for more of them, and there is never a real sense of satisfaction in what you have eaten.”
The Recipes: The recipes portion of the book includes the following sections: breakfast, starters, salads, soups/stews, proteins, sides, complete meals, and desserts. Just like Tosca’s Eat Clean Cookbook, the recipes here are simple, focusing on quality ingredients that don’t need a lot of preparation or fuss to make into a delicious dish. I love how a lot of the recipes really seem to teach you the method of making something, but have a lot of leeway for customization. For example, I can imagine any variety of veggies in the Picante Frittata, a multitude of different fruits in the Ultimate Smoothie, and just about any type of legume in Lentil Spread.
The Recipe I Made Right Away: The first recipe I made from this book was Power Balls, which basically look like healthy truffles. I made several substitutions and alterations, mainly to work with what I had on hand (the only substitution I made because of preference was to use honey instead of agave). This recipe was easy to make an only took about 25 minutes from start to finish, including the time it took to roll the balls. They were delicious with a gooey texture and a flavor that reminded me of peanut butter cookie dough.
Power Balls (Adopted from Tosca Reno’s The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged!)
(Yield: 18 (1 TB) balls)
1/2 c unsalted sunflower seeds
1/2 c rolled oats
3/4 c dried apricots
1/4 c honey
1/4 c natural, unsweetened peanut butter (I used Smucker’s)
1/4 c sesame seeds
In the bowl of a food processor, combine sunflower seeds and oats; process until they form a grainy powder. Add the apricots and process until they’re completely integrated with the seed/oat mixture. Add the honey and peanut butter and process until the mixture forms a dough-like consistency. Scoop the dough into 1 tablespoon size balls and roll in sesame seeds.
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
Free Bonus
This is impressive! One gets so sick of oats and this is a healthy, fresh way to enjoy their goodness. Sunflower seeds are now on the shopping list :D
I made the power balls today and they are great. Can you tell me what the substitutions were, though? I’m curious as to what the actual recipe was.
Just perfect!! I will have to try this one. Looks amazing.
Oh my goodness, these look SO incredible!!!
Such a great giveaway, and an important question! We’ve ceased purchasing anything disposable in the kitchen – no more paper plates, plastic spoons, etc… If a food product comes in a plastic container, I wash it and reuse it for storing leftovers! :-) This confuses visitors sometimes when they find a yogurt tub contains cooked rice… :-) *giggles*
Recycle…. and also do some of our shopping at second hand stores and garage sales. Dry clothes on the outside line in summer–
Looks fantastic!
My goodness…these look irresistibly good. I really want to make this. I have bookmarked this. Thanks very much for sharing, Faith. I ope my children like them.
To help the environment I made a commitment to never take the elevator, recycle whenever I can, and abstain from meat (I’ve been vegetarian for a little over a year now) :)
Not only do these look like artisan truffles they sound really delicious!
The power balls look lovely and delicious! I like the name, too.
Queen Bitty will consend to let you have a taco if you give her a power bar.
FAITH! ahhh…how i have missed your delectable recipes! i LOVE LOVE LOVE the looks of those balls (TWSS – couldn’t resist!), and i haven’t read any of tosca’s books but i have been meaning to!
hope you are well lady – lots of love to you!
Sometimes I go into Barnes n Noble just to look through that book! :) I love it!
Hmmm just recently I started carrying around a tin water jug instead of constantly using cups at work.
Those power balls look super yummy! I’d love to try those!
The book sounds fascinating, Faith! I’d love to read it…Tosca’s ideas certainly are sound.
I eat a mufa with every meal and your Power Balls are jam-packed with them!
Awesome giveaway chica! I love green giant but didn’t realize they were doing so much to help the environment. I try to help the environment by walking as many places as possible. It’s good exercise and good for the world!
Those power balls look. A. Ma. Zing. I am making them. Imminently.
I use energy efficient light bulbs and recycle!
oh wow. The power balls will definitely be something I’d love to make right away, too! I love how it’s studded like that with the sesame…lovely!
Normally, I’m not a fan of sweet-savory combinations, but these might be a good exception.
As to what I do for the environment, I walk instead of driving when at all possible. The bonus is that I get additional exercise incidentally.
I have changed all the bulbs in my house, use recyclable grocery bags and make sure to shut off lights not in use.
Also I had to giggle at the name “power balls” but they sound great. I bet they would keep me going through the day :)
What a great giveaway! I use reusable bags for the grocery store and pretty much use them anytime I go shopping. Thank you, Trader Joes! We also recycle and don’t buy bottled water. I re-use old jars to serve as air-tight storage containers. I planted a garden this year! I drive a gas-efficient car. I don’t go out for lunch and save on gas and plastic wear. I bring silverware from home every day. We take short showers and very few baths. We try hard!
The power balls look excellent! Definitely another recipes of yours to try!
perfect power balls, faith! thanks for the giveaway and book review. i’m slowly becoming more green–all the various blog posts here and there giving tips and pointers are absolutely helpful!
Nice review of the books…and your power balls sure look delicious and full of yummie stuff :-)
I read Oxygen magazine on the treadmill all the time and Tosca writes a column…these balls look good! (Anything with PB and honey, right?)
Thank for sharing this great info on Green Giant. What a great company! I really love that bamboo utensil set so much and that book looks terrific too. I’m thinking of running out to the store to pick up sunflower seeds. I’d love to try this recipe out on my kids! :)
They look wonderful!!!Beautiful pictures.Nice book :)
Oh Faith these look delicious! Smuckers peanut butter is by far my favorite. It has such a wonderfully gritty texture and a slight saltiness. The best! I would love to make these!
I try to be good about recycling and walking everywhere I can, but in suburban Connecticut that can be a challenge!
I loved the book review- looks like it offers so many wonderful tips that are helpful for everyone. And great recipes to boot!
Happy MOnday darlin!
I love this giveaway! I love to see others going green and how they do it! I really can’t pick just one thing but I will keep my answer short. First off, I recycle EVERYTHING that I possibly can. I use re-useable bags every time I go to the store, or we say “no bag” if we can carry out the items we purchase. I am also currently promoting a green lifestyle and green living tips the entire month of April in my blog… I think that should justify a winner, hehe! Go green! :-)
Honestly the greatest thing i do to help the environment is living small. We purchased a small apartment, in a community where 109 family units are all on less than a few acres of land. The cost of energy is lower to maintain a smaller place, clean a smaller place, and just live in a smaller place. I also save on utilities. I have to be smart with organizing spaces, and i can’t be a Pack/Junk Rat so i don’t buy a lot, and i give anything I’m not using to charity. It really is a more efficient way of living, and takes up a lot less space leaving a little more room for nature. I also love turning trash/junk into art.
thanks! this is a great recipe! I can make them right this minute, I always have these ingredients in the pantry! the only thing I would change is to toast the sesame!
You’re so generous giving this package away! I won’t enter because I’ve already been so lucky to win the All Through the Year Cheer prize (still smiling about that! :) ). Those power balls look delicious and I’d do the same subtitution with honey for agave as I don’t have any agave syrup (it’s starting to catch on here but hasn’t really).
I would love to read this book because I have been hearing about it for so long! We’ve completely eliminated paper towels and paper napkins in our house…instead we use washable towels in the kitchen. We save SO much paper!
The balls look delicious. Perfect actually. Your close ups are amazing!
A great giveaway! Those power balls are terrific!
Cheers,
Rosa
Faith …i lve the power balls …love that book and love ur give away….gosh i love this whole post really……
What we do at home is yeah ,carry our own green bags shopping ,dont accept plastic bags from any body….use EM to produce organic manure from wet waste and paper packs [recylce]….and yeah stop all our household bills in paper-email serves good..we also try to switch off the power here for an hour thrice a week….
and a super sparkling easter to u Faith:-)))
Oh my goodness… These look so scrumptious! I was so tempted to lick my screen just now… :)
I always bring my own shopping bag to the supermarket and always turn off the kitchen in my company office. I think that annoys my coworkers. :P
The Eat-Clean Diet looks like a great book! I’ll have to check it out at the bookstore.
To help the environment, I recycle everything that I possibly can. We actually recycle more stuff than we throw away, which makes me so proud! :)
Happy Easter!
Faith> Great review… and those power balls look fabu! I have to tell you, I have an 18th c. pewter plate. It is the size of a modern dessert plate!!! We are supersizing ourselves into oblivion. Jamie Oliver is so brave and brilliant to take this on. Your book author (who looks supernaturally lean and healthy) is someone I need on my shelves… I have been having way to much creamy goodness lately. After next week I’m going lighter, thanks for the nudge!!!
Your power balls look fantastic! When I saw their picture, I didn’t think it would be easy to make these. But your recipe shows how easy it is. I can make these and take to my collegues.
I really like this recipe. I’m going to bookmark it.
Hope you have a great weekend.
*kisses* HH
Great cookbook review. Sounds like something we would write! I apply all those principles in to my life daily. Trial & error gets me where I need to be & lots of reading books like these.
Your photos should have been in that book. The balls look delish!
Eco: use & reuse daily. My kids are not given pre packaged snacks. I use the same bags over & over with our own snacks :)
Great review Faith and your photos are just gorgeous!
Happy*´¨)
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(¸.·´ (¸.·´ * ƸӜƷEaster my Sweet Friend!
great review, I love her cookbook, I have this book as well, love the recipe section.
oh…. to help the environment? recycle as much as possible, avoid plastic bags. :)
Your power balls look awesome, Faith!
I have a set of bamboo spatulas and love them!
Have a great Easter…
Love this post! Full of great information :)
First of all for my giveaway submission-I walk everywhere! I hate driving and probably only drive my car once a week-I am thinking of getting rid of it completely :)
And about those balls-they look so beautiful. I definitely want to try this recipe. Thank you for posting it!
Have a Happy Easter today.
xoxo