Today’s experiment in food takes us towards the Boca Burger.  While I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect … I do know I wasn’t thinking this little tiny burger would fill me up!

I was pleasantly surprised.  The flavor I purchased was Flame Broiled – and it sort of tasted like the burgers you can remember from back in high school.   Just enough of a BBQ smoked flavor to get you past the fact it’s not really meat.  I heated this through the recommended way – along with an entire red pepper – and stuffed it all in to a Low Carb Pita.

It was DELICIOUS … if you discount the Fat Free American Cheese I used.  THAT was DISGUSTING!

All in all it was a successful healthy alternative to the all-American burger .. though I don’t think I’d serve it to company for dinner any time soon.  A good lunch option that I will mix in my routine.

On another note – I purchased the new sweetener on the market – Truvia – and mixed it in my Raspberry Tea this afternoon.  It was quite good .. not too strong a sugar flavor .. but enough sweetness to enhance the tea flavor.  Too bad lunch filled me up so completely – I now can’t finish drinking my tea!

After a friends recommendation .. I got really curious about the natural sweetener called Stevia and did some research. For those who don’t know – Stevia is a plant that is naturally sweet – when condensed can be used as a ZERO calorie sweetener .. AND it actually helps insulin levels in the body function properly.

I saw that it is currently being treated as a supplement rather than a food item – or sweetener – and it is rather hard to find locally. I looked for this in both the supplement section of my grocery store and then with the sugars and other sweeteners – but couldn’t find it.

From what I read the FDA may have been holding off calling this a sweetener because of political reasons {ie: a threat to sugar growers} – and I didn’t really see any other indication the plant would be harmful for ingestion. Reports coming out yesterday in thePlease Login or Register to see the link. show that Stevia may be approved as a food source very soon!

I’ve seen reports that Stevia has been treated as an illegal drug in the past. However – you can legally purchase and grow this sweetener in your own garden {I’m looking into doing this!}. The sweetner has no adverse effects on blood glucose levels – meaning it’s safe for diabetics to use.

And now … there are ads on TV for a product called Please Login or Register to see the link. – which seems to be a name brand processed version of Stevia for use in the home. The Truvia web site indicates that Sprite(r) will be coming out with a version sweetened with Stevia – which will be great for soda lovers like me! The best thing about this – is that it’s an all-natural sweetener!

I’m going to be searching the local stores to see if I can find this … and will report back with a review on how sweet the flavor really is. My biggest concern – having drunk diet sodas for almost 18 years – is that Truvia will end up being TOO sweet. Like anything else .. I will use the product in moderation until we know a bit more about long-term effects.

SOURCES:  http://www.stevia.net/;  http://www.stevia.com/.

I am going to prove to myself this week … and perhaps one or two of you .. that we CAN SURVIVE eating a healthy, natural, close-to organic diet as possible!

I just had my first “All-Natural” meal … lunch. I am so full it is unbelievable – and it was only 350 Calories!

Here’s what I had:

1-FlatOut Bread {http://www.flatoutbread.com/} Honey Wheat Wrap – 100 Calories
3 Tablespoons Organic Bruschetta
2 Slices Hormel Canadian Bacon
1/8 cup sliced pineapple
1/8 cup Mozzarella – shredded

I spread the bruschetta over the wrap, topped with the CB and Pineapple, then sprinkled the cheese on top. Popped it in a 350 Degree oven for 10 minutes – and viola! A 250 Calorie pizza! My only concern is the Bruschetta juices seeped through the wrap. Perhaps making a homemade tomato sauce would be better? Next week!

I had along with this a 2 cup mixed green salad with my only “non-organic” ingredient – Ken’s Sweet Onion Light Dressing. If I left off the salad dressing and stuck with Oil & Vinegar – I would save 80 calories.

To drink I made Celestia Cranberry-Apple Tea – poured it over ice and added 1 tsp real sugar! It’s a bit watery – my first time ever making tea. I guess I need to steep the tea a bit longer to get a fuller flavor.

Now the real test – how long will I feel full? My planned snack this afternoon – a clementine orange and a 10z slice of fat-free cheddar. I’m not so sure about dinner right now though …

It is week one in my journey towards eating a more organic and natural diet.  I challenged my support group to go shopping this week and only purchase items on the outer aisles of the grocery store.   You’ll notice this out perimeter only includes things such as fresh baked breads, vegetables, fruits, dairy, meats, and in some locations the Organic foods can be found along the outer perimeter as well.  By staying away from the interior aisles – you can avoid some seriously over processed foods carrying man-made preservatives and garbage!  The more I read about this stuff .. the less likely I am to want to put it into my body.

Yesterday I took the challenge, I only shopped on the outer aisles .. and then the Organic section. Here’s what I bought:

Veggies:
Cucumber and Fresh Dill {homemade dill slices!}
Baby Carrots
Broccoli Slaw
Chopped peppers & onions
Red Peppers
Salad Mix {Dole bagged}
SMALL baked potatoes
Lemon-Garlic Hummus

Fruit:
Clementines
Apple Slices
Pineapple Chunks
Organic Almonds
Organic Nut Mix – almonds, cashews, cranberries and something I can’t tell what it is….

Dairy:
Yoplait Whipped Yogurt. {I don’t LIKE yogurt ..but I’ll try it one more time to see}
Cracker Barrel 2% Cheddar Sticks – No growth hormone or antibiotics {woot!}
Kraft FF Mozzarella – No growth hormone or antibiotics {woot!}

Breads/Grains: – from the Bakery/Organic areas
Organic Whole Wheat Pita
Organic Honey Wheat Flatbread
Kashi Berry Cereal
Kashi Mountain Granola

Meats:
Hormel Organic Pork Tenderloin Roast – Parmesan. Marinated in all natural ingredients!
Purdue Frozen Chicken Breasts – 5 individually wrapped portions – good for single peeps like me
Apple Farms Organic Turkey Deli Slices
Jenny-O Turkey Sausage Breakfast Links
Hormel Canadian Bacon

Pantry:
Organic Brushetta – for making pita pizza
Orange Blossom Honey – for sweetner in tea
Celestial Seasonings Herbal Tea – two variety boxes {I’ve never really had tea before}
Polimar All-Fruit – Strawberry flavored
REALLY good Balsamic Vinegar {$15 a bottle!}
REALLY good Olive Oil
Dasani Water 24 pack

And .. one Diet Coke because I couldn’t resist.

Overall a very successful shopping trip – and more than enough food for the week.