When it comes to eating healthy, it would seem as though the standard whole grains, fruits, and veggies just won’t cut it anymore. Everything from yogurts to crackers have added antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, mineral- You name it, you’ll find it in there. Unfortunately, much of these “enhancements” are merely gimmicks, enticing consumers to buy otherwise nutritionally questionable foods. Just think of Coke Plus, which is purely chemicals and water, but wait! It’s good for you because it has vitamins, right?

So it’s with great reluctance that I pick up such items off the shelves. While I’d love to believe that such additions really do improve the quality of the foods and offer substantial health benefits, it’s even rarer that you can find such a product that doesn’t suffer in the taste department as a result. Taking a chance on Nutritious Living cereals, I was thrilled to discover that it was in fact possible to get the best of both worlds.

Antioxidant Indulgence, a medley of dark brown cereal flakes, freeze-dried strawberries, and whole goji berries, it certainly sounded promising. Right out of the box, it smelled sweet and chocolaty; enticing for someone who prefers sweeter cereals like me. Providing a serious crunch, the thick, sturdy flakes delivered a surprisingly good chocolate flavor, not the least bit artificial or overwhelming like so many other “chocolate” cereals. Alternating between bites of chewy, tart goji berries, the light, crisp strawberries, and these fantastic flakes, this cereal really does have everything I could ask for in a breakfast or snack. Sweet yet hearty and satisfying, with a wholesome wheat flavor supporting it all, I would recommend it to absolutely anyone who eats cereal!

For those looking for a purely nutritious, no-frills option, the Omega-3 Harmony may just be the cereal for you. Although it smelled strangely of pumpkin at first, the similarly thick but less sweet flakes are very simple wheat and flax seed creations. That filling cereal base became monotonous and forgettable as I worked my way to the bottom of the bowl, but mix-ins are what this variety is all about. Whole walnuts add another dimension to the crunchy bite, and plump, plentiful cranberries that are as big as ripe grapes are scattered throughout adding tart bursts of flavor. It may not be something to write home about, but if you’re looking for a solid breakfast that won’t leave you dragging mid morning, this one will keep you well-nourished and satisfied.

With an eye on both health and palate, these are two cereals that should be pantry staples for anyone else trying to eat well while being mindful of their well being.

[Written for Go Dairy Free]

As if I wasn’t already smitten with this machine after the first few tests, then I’m completely, unabashedly head-over-heels for it now.  Soups and smoothies have been churning out of that thing endlessly and effortlessly, but moreover, I’ve finally been able to unleash its full potential.  That’s right- There’s still a whole other world of tasks that the VitaMix can perform, and I couldn’t wait to see if it would be up to the challenges. Arming the base with a shiny new dry blade and carafe, it was time to see what this baby was really capable of.

Something I’ve secretly lusted after for the longest time is a grain mill. Sadly, the expense, bulk, and somewhat limited functionality ensured that such a gadget would never be a part of my life. Now, I have another [much happier] reason to take it off of my list; The VitaMix can grind just about anything down to a fine powder in seconds flat.

It sounded too good to be true, and initially my skepticism prevented me from trying it out. Pouring in those hard red winter wheat berries felt about as comfortable as loading up my old blender with a cupful of nails. I didn’t want to ruin my brand new toy! Fingers and toes crossed that all would go as planned, I flipped the switch…

And right before my eyes, those uninviting kernels dissolved into a soft, familiar flour. The flavor was another thing though- So much fresher and heartier than any whole wheat flour I’ve encountered so far, I now understand the benefit of grinding it at home.

Here’s where things get even crazier: Back into the VitaMix my fresh flour went, along with water, salt, and all of the usual suspects for making a basic dough, and with a few flicks of the switch and pauses to scrape down the sides with a spatula, it all came together smoothly, with no hand-kneading. This is one feature that I was honestly prepared to dislike, seeing as I love to knead bread by hand and figured that this would only make for more dishes to wash in the end. The mighty VitaMix definitely proved me wrong though, and whipped together this dough like a charm. Again, it cleans itself with just a squirt of soap, a few cups of warm water, and two minutes on high speed. What’s not to like?

With my hassle-free dough, simple pastries seemed to be in order, so out came the rolling pin. Cut into circles, rolled thinly, and stuffed with more remnants languishing in the fridge, it was definitely a win-win situation. In case you want to make similar empanadas, or turnovers, or whatever you want to call them, just remember to mark which pastries have which filling. My key is as follows: One steam vent was cut into those with “nutella,” two for peanut butter, and those containing strawberry jam got three slashes.

I was about ready to call it a day at that point, but inspiration struck and I realized that with this powerful tool, I could finally conquer one culinary goal that has been on my to-do list for as long as I can remember. Without a second thought, I went full-speed ahead into the process of creating homemade pasta.

A handful of spinach turned my batch a lurid shade of green, and of course, the VitaMix had no trouble pureeing the leaves even though I decided to add them at the last minute, right on top of my nearly-mixed pasta dough.

The extra moisture from the greenery necessitated a bit more flour than originally called for, but I could hardly call this process the least bit difficult. Much to my delight, I was rolling in rustic fettuccine in no time.

So really, do you need any more reasons to dump your old food processor and just get a VitaMix already?!