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Jean Tsai
Interests: travel, yoga, running, helping others, learning, fashion, Steelers football, reading, decorating, healthy eating
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Hi Darlene, it's always helpful to get sincere opinions! The best soups are the ones you make from home from scratch. I haven't found a go-to canned soup, sadly. Sometimes I'll get boxed broth from Whole Foods or a health food store and embellish that, but I find the broths are never that great either. :(
Progresso Soup Review + Giveaway
MindfulEats loves soup, so when Progresso asked if we wanted to participate in their promotion, we said sure. After all, we ate a lot of canned soup in school. Because not only do we like soup, we are also lazy - and nothing's easier than opening a can for dinner. So Progresso sent a big box w...
Jean Tsai added a favorite at STIR THE POTS
Jun 6, 2014
Hi, thanks for your thoughtful comment! This post is from June 2009 (3 years ago), and Red Mango certainly did list over 20 ingredients in their plain yogurt at that time. They didnt even have vanilla as a flavor back then. The companies have changed their formulations since then, which is great, but I havent gone back to review them. Your comment is a nice update.
Is Frozen Yogurt - Pinkberry and Red Mango - Healthy?
"What is Pinkberry anyway?" ~Brandi 5/19/11 Update: Carageenan, which is used as a thickener in a lot of products (including frozen yogurt and ice cream) has been linked to GI ulcerations and cancer. Dr. Weil recommends avoiding it completely if you have IBS. Summer. The days get longer and...
Thanks Jennifer, you made my day!
My New Company: Pop Karma
Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. ~Louisa May Alcott MindfulEaters, I am so sorry that I've been neglecting you! It's time to share the details of what has bee...
Hi Tara,
thanks for writing in! Youe inspired my next blog post.
From: TypePad
The Low Down on Organic Food
"Wise are those that learn the bottom line doesn't always have to be their priority." - William Arthur Ward Organic food is hip hip hip these days, and it is on its way to being trendier than thou. I've been buying organic for years, and am rather delighted and bemused by the trend. Lots of in...
Patrick - thanks for commenting. Everyone should decide on their own which foods and diets work for them, and which dont. The one thing that Mindful Eats absolutely recommends is a mindful, non-processed food diet with all foods in moderation. The more we prepare our own meals from fresh foods, the healthier we will be. The hidden soy that you write about is in processed foods like cereals or other prepared foods. There is no hidden soy in a vegetable stir fry over brown rice. If you are preparing your own foods, you are controlling your intake of all foods, including tofu (which is processed so look for organic tofu). The other hidden place soy creeps into is animal products. Industrial livestock is often fed soy and corn - you can control for this by eating a limited amount of meat, and making sure that it is pasture fed or grass
raised. If you are eating sea food, make sure it is wild - the farmed fishes are fed pellets which are not their natural diet.
Is Soy/Tofu Good or Bad for You?
Sampling of soy products: tofu, tempeh and miso You can't change the past, but every day is an opportunity to rewrite your future. ~Tony Hsia You may not know this, but soy foods are controversial. Some people think tofu is abominable because of the way it tastes, but if you look around on the ...
Dr. Liau from Purity oil wrote in to inform us what other oils their Camellia oil is blended with:
Rose Hip Oil: Extracted from wild rose seeds grown in mountain of South America. It contains Vitamin A & C which penetrates effectively into skin. It is called women's Camellia in South America.
Aloe Vera Oil: From Florida. It contains 18 different amino acids and 12 different kinds of Vitamins.
Jojoba Oil: From western desert of US. American Indians apply it to the face and scalp. It is called " solid gold for the skin and scalp".
Vitamin E: An antioxidation agent which acts as free radicals scavenger.
Camellia Oil: Reverse Hair Loss and Gray
Purity Camellia Oil for Hair and Scalp Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself. ~Leo Tolstoy I've been working on an exciting new project - a new popcorn company called Pop Karma - so I haven't written as often as I'd like. I promise I'll provide more details...
Johan and Snacklemouth, thanks for the thoughtful comments. It pays for people to read the ingredients list and know what they are eating, and its great to see a company that cares to communicate.
Snack Review: Snackle Mouth
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland A lot of artisanal small-batch granola has hit the market in the past few years, starting with Bear Naked (which is now huge and owned by Kellogg) and continuing on to newer brands like...
Im glad you did too! I agree, we should stick to whole non-processed foods. I also agree that our bodies are all different. We should try different things, experiment and figure out whats best. Like the rest of our lives!
Is Soy/Tofu Good or Bad for You?
Sampling of soy products: tofu, tempeh and miso You can't change the past, but every day is an opportunity to rewrite your future. ~Tony Hsia You may not know this, but soy foods are controversial. Some people think tofu is abominable because of the way it tastes, but if you look around on the ...
Hi J.P., thanks for the nice words. As for Ms. Deen, I can only speak for myself - I have no respect for her because she seeks to position herself as a role model, an expert and an adult, and as such, I believe she should responsibly disseminate information. You probably dont eat the way she does, and you have the judgement to decide her recipes are unhealthy, butshe provides validationfor the many people who have unhealthy diets. There are also children that watch her show and admire her. If she clearly stated, I eat this way on television to provide entertainment, please dont eat this way or you will be like me, obese and with these obesity related diseases... that would be more
responsible. As astar and a buffoon, her show is the Jackass of food shows, and she should post similar disclaimers to make it clear - perhaps a disclaimer at the beginning of each show saying she is a clown and you shouldnt attempt this at home would also be helpful. Or she could do a show about managing diabetes, losing weight, and getting healthy.
About Me
Preparing fruit salsa with NYC Greenmarkets at Stanton Street fair Your daily life is your temple and your religion. When you enter into it take with you your all. ~Kahlil Gibran Work in progress. Reformed Cheetoh and potato chip addict. A friend called me a foodie, but I'm really a foodist...
This particular gluten-free pizza tasted just like a delicious thin crust pizza. It was quite a hit with lines of people waiting for the pizza to be finished. The pizzas ranged quite a bit. Another good one was Amys. Some of the other gluten-free pizzas were very good, especially the ones that are flatbread. Others were completely mediocre.
Outstanding Natural Foods at Expo West
I had the pleasure of attending Expo West in Anaheim, CA last week. Expo West is a huge (as in monstrous) natural products trade show - there were over 60,000 attendees and over 2,000 exhibitors. As a first-timer, everyone told me NOT to eat too much, but I couldn't help myself. All those sampl...
Im so glad. If soy works for you and you dont have thyroid issues, then go for it!
Is Soy/Tofu Good or Bad for You?
Sampling of soy products: tofu, tempeh and miso You can't change the past, but every day is an opportunity to rewrite your future. ~Tony Hsia You may not know this, but soy foods are controversial. Some people think tofu is abominable because of the way it tastes, but if you look around on the ...
Thanks for the feedback - I will avoid that brand! Im sticking to Klean Kanteen wide mouth. I just ordered another one along with the insulated version, so Ill post on how that does.
Water Bottles - Stainless Steel or Aluminum?
Stainless steel vs. Aluminum Water Bottle. "Water is the only drink for a wise man." - Henry David Thoreau 3/1/10 Update: We've found a great-looking steel water bottle, so the clear winner of the contest is steel over aluminum. 9/19/09 Update: Sigg admitted that their former "secret" lining c...
Hi Carla! The Divacup was actually $39.59 - the Natracare organic tampons were in the wrong place. To tell the truth, I still havent dealt with the cup in a public bathroom, though Ive thought about it. You can keep it in place for 12 hours, which is ok except for the first couple days. During heavy flow the company website says when you dont have immediate access to a sink you can dump the contents in the toilet, then wipe it off with toilet paper, reinsert, and wait until a later time to wash the cup. Then I assume youd clean off your fingers with toilet paper and wash up in the sink.
Green Feminine Hygiene Products: Organic Cotton/Menstrual Cups
It is health that is real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver. ~Mohandas Gandhi This post is for the women. Men, I recommend you stop reading here. Stop. Because we're going to be talking about MENSTRUAL PERIOD stuff. {Yup, that got rid of the guys.} So when it comes to that time of the...
I wish I had been a friend of yours so I could have learned about these earlier! Im a total convert. The Moon Cup is the same as the Keeper (from the same company), but made from medical grade silicone instead of latex, which some people are allergic too.
Green Feminine Hygiene Products: Organic Cotton/Menstrual Cups
It is health that is real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver. ~Mohandas Gandhi This post is for the women. Men, I recommend you stop reading here. Stop. Because we're going to be talking about MENSTRUAL PERIOD stuff. {Yup, that got rid of the guys.} So when it comes to that time of the...
Hi! Thanks so much for commenting. Its interesting to hear about the food situation in other countries. China has gotten a bad reputation in the U.S. press for food safety, so what you say mirrors what is in the news. Perhaps you can try growing your own food. More and more people in cities here are creating roof gardens or community gardens, or even growing a few plants in their apartments. If youre not in the city, it can be a great hobby. Perhaps you can get frozen vegetables from other countries?
Eat More Whole Foods
Some whole foods "If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health." - Hippocrates If you want to lead a healthier life, you need to eat more of a plant-based, whole foods diet and...
Hi Morgan! Hens need light to lay, which is why their production goes down in the winter. Many places keep lights on in the hen house to simulate summer hours to keep them laying. Hens also tend to stay inside more (and get the artificial light). The rare hen that wants to free-range outside will come back in as it gets dark, where they get the artificial light. Thats why free-ranging places have eggs. Lots of industrial farms keep the lights on ALL THE TIME. As you can imagine, that leads to unhappy chickens.
All About Eggs and their Benefits
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. ~Abraham Lincoln Photo Credit: Delish.com You know what you should have for breakfast? Eggs. You know what you should have as a snack? A hard boiled egg. You should be eat...
Arlene, thanks for stopping by! There are times when plastic is useful (its light and unbreakable) so I might use BPA-free plastic if Im going on a trip. But all the other times in my regular day to day life, glass rules. Its so easy to phase out plastic from our everyday living. Except for, as you noted, all the companies out there that keep using plastic - like yogurt makers. Are you listening, companies?
Don't Leach Plastics into Your Body
1/18/10 Update: The FDA is now concerned about BPA and about to embark on a two year study. MindfulEats advice remains the same: don't wait for the outcome of the study - avoid it. If the study shows BPA is bad, you avoided it. If it doesn't, no skin off your back. There have been several inco...
You're right! It seems to have been removed. :(
Fried Foods are Bad for You
Fried chicken and french fries in the cafeteria, waiting for Fatty Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall. -Confucius You may have noticed that deep frying isn't included in the MindfulEats "How to Cook Healthy and Fast" series. That's because it's not. He...
Thanks for stopping by! Homemade tofu sounds wonderful. Something new to aspire to! Im currently using white miso, but I honestly cant figure out the difference between the different colors right now...
Is Soy/Tofu Good or Bad for You?
Sampling of soy products: tofu, tempeh and miso You can't change the past, but every day is an opportunity to rewrite your future. ~Tony Hsia You may not know this, but soy foods are controversial. Some people think tofu is abominable because of the way it tastes, but if you look around on the ...
Oh, I do the occasional potato chip too! Heres a great local mindful recipe from Kathy Murray:use fresh veggies (green beans, kale, etc.), rinse and dry thoroughly. Mix lightly w/olive oil and spread on parchment paper on a baking sheet. Put in a hot oven (450 degrees). Watch carefully until they are slightly blackened. Shake a bit of sea salt on the veggies and serve. The high heat brings out the sugar in the veggies.
Snack Review: Trader Joe's Crunchy Green Beans and Snapea Crisps
You can complain that roses have thorns. Or you can rejoice that thorns have roses. ~Ziggy Who doesn't love a salty, crunchy snack? I do! Apparently, I can't help it since it might be genetic, but it also might be a superpower. If you love salty snacks too, you might be a supertaster. Anyway, ...
Jean Tsai is now following Jonitin
Apr 18, 2011
Hi Laura, thanks for stopping by! I think YOU are changing the world, just by caring and teaching others. Things always trickle down (or trickle up), and theres already a lot more awareness than there was 20 years. True, lots of people are lazy and unaware- but an increasing number of people are becoming more mindful. Give people enough time and they will surprise you. Have faith!
How to alleviate misery
Dan France's heifers roam freely instead of in a confined animal feeding operation The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention. ~Barbara Walters What is the price of misery? We live in a consumerist society where we buy stuff all the time. How much more would you pay to buy ...
Hi Nicole, my two cents on this is that there isnt a difference between metal or glass in terms of bacteria. Food grade steel is used to cook with (including meat), so a high-quality steel bottle is fine for juices and lemonade. If youre drinking juice, make sure you get something that is easy to clean so you can get into the bottle and the top for thorough sudsing and rinsing. Good luck!
Water Bottles - Stainless Steel or Aluminum?
Stainless steel vs. Aluminum Water Bottle. "Water is the only drink for a wise man." - Henry David Thoreau 3/1/10 Update: We've found a great-looking steel water bottle, so the clear winner of the contest is steel over aluminum. 9/19/09 Update: Sigg admitted that their former "secret" lining c...
Ok, expect one in a few days. Can you get corn in Hong Kong?
Superfood: Quinoa and its Nutritional Benefits
Cooked and dried quinoa The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet ~James Oppenheim I distinctly remember the first time I encountered quinoa - it was at the end of a long day hiking the Incan trail up to Macchu Pichu. Melded into a corn soup, it was chewy...
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