A Few of My Favorite Things...

My slacker blogdom has come to a close...it's time for another feature post!

I want to share with you a few of my favorite things, specifically some products that help me make the dishes I eat with the greatest frequency: sandwiches and smoothies!

Sandwiches
Arnold Sandwich Thins
A few months ago, Rena from Arnold Bread was kind enough to send me a few packages of their elusive sandwich thins. These English muffin-sliced bread hybrids make for quite the versatile meal component. You can enjoy them plain, toasted as an accompaniment to a meal, spread with your favorite condiments (almond butter, anyone?), or assembled into your favorite sandwich. They also make a pretty awesome crust for hummus pizza! Arnold's sandwich thins have a subtle sweetness to them, which I find to be a nice complement to savory and sweet items.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to enjoy sandwich thins:
Sandwich Thins are available in two varieties, whole wheat, and whole grain white. Each sandwich thin contains 5 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber, all for a mere 100 kcalories. Plus, they are free of high fructose corn syrup, which can be rare nowadays in the bread aisle. The suggested retail price is $2.99 for a package of 8. Unfortunately, sandwich thins are available only is select areas of the country

Edited to add: I have been informed that Sandwich Thins contain sucralose, explaining their sweetness. If you would prefer to avoid sucralose, then these might not be the right product for you.

Trader Joe's Reduced Sugar Blueberry Preserves
When it comes to PB & J, are you a strawberry or a grape person? Personally, I am neither--I much prefer TJ's blueberry jam. Why settle for the ordinary when you can have the extraordinary? Although I do not have a TJ's near me, I make it a point to stop in for a jar of this deliciousness whenever I visit Chicago. As the name suggests, these preserves contain less sugar than regular jam...without the addition of artificial sweeteners. It's just berry goodness in this jar (plus a slew of antioxidants!)
While I enjoy this jam in combination with my favorite Sunbutter, you may choose to enjoy it in alternative ways. Consider stirring it into your oatmeal, spreading it on a sandwich thin, or using it as a topper for crackers and soft cheese.
Each tablespoon contains 30 kcalories, all from carbohydrate. You can find this at a Trader Joe's near you.

Smoothies
Nutribody Protein
Anyone who reads this blog knows that I have a particular infatuation with all things blended, specifically evening protein shakes. I am always experimenting with new protein powders so as to avoid boredom in my nightly smoothie-fest. I was fortunate enough to receive a canister of Nutribody Protein a few weeks ago. I'll admit, I was skeptical of this new vegan protein, but after one blended concoction, I was hooked. Nutribody is made from rice and pea protein, so for those of you who limit your soy intake, this provides an excellent alternative.
A generous 4-tablespoon serving provides approximately 120 kcalories and a whopping 26 grams of protein. Yikes! Nutribody is also entirely free of sugars and artificial sweeteners. Although I wish this powder contained some added minerals, such as calcium, overall, I would recommend this to any of my fellow smoothie enthusiasts out there.

Check out the Nutribody Website for more information about the product and about where to buy it. There are some recipes available as well!

Nature's Path Ginger Zing Granola
I'll admit that I was a die-hard pumpkin flax girl in the past, but I think I have been converted to the ginger-y side of granola. Who doesn't love the combination of spicy ginger and crunchy cashews? Ginger granola is a perfect topper to any smoothie of course, but it also makes a great topper for berries, applesauce, oatmeal, and cold cereal. If you're feeling more adventurous, try using it as a topping for spiced pumpkin or pumpkin pudding. Yum!

A 3/4 cup serving contains a 250 kcalories, which is far less than other granola products out there. In addition, there are 6 grams of protein, and 10 grams of healthy fat, along with 4 grams of fiber. I purchased my box at Whole Foods for $4.69. This price may strike you as high, but remember that granola is a food best enjoyed in moderation; a single box will last for an extended period of time.

I hope you enjoyed today's much delayed feature post. What are some of your favorite things?