Nasoya TofuPlus for a balanced meal

I know my body craves a balanced meal—and I still crave lots of flavor. Solution? Stir-fry this vitamin-packed tofu with fresh veggies and serve over brown rice for a nutritious meal you can season just the way you like!

The product: Nasoya TofuPlus ($2.99 for a 14 oz. package; available at grocers nationwide)


The taste factor: You decide! TofuPlus’ spongy texture soaks in the flavor of the seasonings and sauces you cook it with. Marinate with your favorite drizzles before stir-frying or broiling to give it lots of taste. Pairs well with bold flavors like soy, miso, curry, lemon, and ginger—like in this zesty miso tofu, eggplant, and noodle dish.

The health factor: Like most tofu products, this one is high in protein and low in fat. Plus, it’s a great meat alternative because TofuPlus is fortified with some of the key nutrients in meats and other protein sources, including vitamins B2, B6, B12, zinc, D2, and calcium.

Editors’ pick: Unlike some varieties of tofu that crumble when cooking, the Extra Firm kind withstood the heat of my skillet and didn’t taste soggy the next day. I mixed leftover rice with my lemon, soy, and basil stir-fry and ate it cold for a balanced, refreshing midday meal.

Why we love it: It’s a great source of protein, low in fat, and packs 20% of some of your key vitamin requirements. Plus, you choose your favorite spices for a quick and simple meal that keeps your mouth happy.

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Lifeway Organic Green Kefir

Tasty enough to sip by itself, this creamy, green tea-flavored kefir also can be mixed with fruit and cereal for a refreshing parfait.Give breakfast a boost—of protein, vitamins, and good-for-your-gut probiotics.  

The product: Lifeway Organic Green Kefir ($4.49 for a 32-ounce bottle; available at Whole Foods)


The taste factor: Tangy, sweet, and super creamy. Green tea extract mixed with kiwi, passion fruit, pomegranate, and blueberry gives this thick milk beverage enough flavor to stand alone as a drinkable snack. Or mix in some fruit or cereal for a heartier morning meal.

The health factor: The nutrient-packed drink is loaded with low-fat protein—12g per serving—plus 10 probiotics (for good digestive function) and a full serving of vegetables. One cup serves up 30 percent of your day's vitamin E goal (for healthy skin), 25 percent of the vitamin D you need, 30 percent of the calcium you need (think strong bones), and 100 percent of your daily vitamin C. Plus you get the immune-system benefits of green tea's antioxidants. 

Editor's pick: I mixed the Pomegranate Acai Blueberry with some sliced banana and a handful of bran cereal for a tangy, crunchy parfait that kept my stomach quiet through lunch—and my taste buds happy.

Why we love it: All the nutrition of your favorite foods in one tasty, convenient snack! When time runs short, this drinkable smoothie packs the nutrients your body needs—and keeps the taste factor up.

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Nasoya TofuPlus for a nutritious meal

I know my body craves a balanced meal and i still crave lots of flavor. Solution? Stir-fry this vitamin-packed tofu with fresh veggies and serve over brown rice for a nutritious meal you can season just the way you like!

The product: Nasoya TofuPlus ($2.99 for 14oz package; available at grocers nationwide)

The taste factor: You decide! Tofu’s spongy texture soaks in the flavor of the seasonings and sauces you cook it with. Marinate with your favorite drizzles before stir-frying or broiling to give it lots of taste. Pairs well with bold flavors like soy, miso, curry, lemon, and ginger—like in this zesty miso tofu, eggplant, and noodle dish.

The health factor: Like most tofu products, this one is high in protein and low in fat. Plus, it’s a great meat-alternative because TofuPlus is fortified with some of the key nutrients in meats and other protein sources, including vitamins B2, B6, B12, zinc, D2, and calcium.

Editor’s pick: Unlike some tofu that crumbles when cooking, the Extra-Firm variety withstood the heat of my skillet and didn’t taste soggy the next day. I mixed leftover rice with my lemon, soy, and basil stir-fry and ate it cold for a balanced, refreshing midday meal.

Why we love it: It’s a great source of protein that’s low in fat and packs 20 percent of some of your key vitamin requirements. Plus, you choose your favorite spices for a quick and simple meal that keeps your mouth happy.

View the original article here

All Natural Reduced Calorie Juice Smoothie

During a mid-afternoon nothing perks me up more like a crispy apple or a few slices of juicy grapefruit. But, all too often, time runs short for a fresh produce run, or that piece of citrus seems too messy to peel as I sort through the files on my desk at the office. Simple solution? Naked Juice's reduced-calorie smoothie, which packs three servings of fruit each and leaves out added sugars and sweeteners.

The product: Naked Juice All Natural Reduced Calorie Juice Smoothie ($3.29 for a 15.2-fluid-ounce bottle containing two servings; available at grocers nationwide)

The taste factor: These smoothies taste just like biting into a real piece of fruit. The juices get their tropical tang from real pineapple, mango, peach, and guava for a pure, not-too-sweet flavor.

The health factor: The smoothies use low-calorie, but flavor-filled coconut water to leave out added sugars, syrups, artificial flavors, and sweeteners, while keeping the calorie count per serving at 100.

Editors' pick: The Tropical Smoothie whisked me straight to the beach, thanks to real pineapple, mango, and coconut juices.

Why we love it: As easy to grab and drink as a bottle of soda, with all the vitamins (and about the same number of calories) in a serving and a half of fruit—sans added sugars and artificial flavors.

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