When I was young,, there were three reasons I loved going to Disneyland:
1. Hugging Minnie
2. It's A Small World (This was practically the only ride, besides Dumbo, that I wasn't afraid of)
3. Chocolate dipped frozen bananas
However, had this cupcake been available, I think i would have skipped the bananas!
That's not just any red velvet cupcake, my friends...
That's a Babycakes all-natural, organic, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, casein and egg-free red velvet cupcake sweetened with agave syrup!
Talk about magical.
An ingulgent dream for a health foodie Disney princess wannabe, if you ask me!
Appaently Disney World gave McDonald's the boot in 2010 and replaced the fast food chain with NYC-based Babycakes Bakery. This is a bold move for Disney, as they've had a close relationship with McDonald's for years. (Think of all those Disney movie happy meal toys you enjoyed as a kid!).
If this is an attempt by Disney to offer healthier food at it's theme parks, I'm not sure they've quite hit the nail on the head, (even organic cupcakes are an indulgent treat), however I'm thrilled that they're offering something sweet that almost anyone, with any food allergy, can enjoy! Yay Disney! Yay Babycakes!
Speaking of sweet eats: Cutting back on bars during the month of January was a VERY difficult challenge. I didn't do quite as well as I'd hoped, but reducing my allotment of Luna White Chocolate Macadamia bars from one per day to about three per week, did lead to a snack discovery worthy of a special shout out.
Blue Diamond Cinnamon Brown Sugar and Lightly Salted Low Sodium Almonds.
So so so good.
February 16th is National Almond Day...time to stock up!
I used to dislike almonds. Then I found out they were good for me and I trained myself to like them.
Cinnamon Brown Sugar Almonds
Did you know that almonds are one of the most nutrient-dense nuts? They're an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, and a good source of fiber, copper, phosphorous, and riboflavin.
Lightly Salted Low Sodium Almonds
AND they're rich in monounsaturated fats, which have been linked to a reduction of LDL cholesterol and heart disease.
If that's not enough incentive to celebrate National Almond Day, then maybe this is:
*Cinnamon Sugar Almond Joy Yogurt Parfait*
1 container Greek yogurt (my favorite is Oikos 0% Vanilla or Plain)
2 T. flaked, unssweetened coconut
1/2 package Cinnamon Brown Sugar almonds
2-3 T. chocolate chips
Spoon half the yogurt into the glass (you may want to sweeten it...I used stevia)
Top with coconut, almonds and chocolate chips
Repeat layer
Smile, knowing that you just created a protein rich, heart healthy alternative to a popular candy bar!
Have you ever "trained" yourself to like a food because you knew it was good for you?
The first time I tried Greek yogurt I didn't like it...I forced myself to try it again and again, and now I can't live without it!
In my not-so-healthy days I trained myself to like Diet Coke because it was the most readily available calorie-free sweet beverage. Now I'm trying to un-train myself!
