A Colorful Diet

The more color you add into your diet, the more nutrients you will get! With all the various colors, each food has different potential benefits to offer. Next time when grocery shopping, if your cart isn't screaming the colors of the rainbow, educate yourself with the info below and take another lap.

Greens indicate antioxidant potential and fiber that reduce cancer risks and smoothens bowel movement.

Fruits: avocado, apples, grapes, honeydew, kiwi and lime

Vegetables: artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, green beans, green peppers, cucumber and leafy greens such as spinach

Orange and deep yellow fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that promote healthy vision, immunity and give you glowing skin.

Fruits: apricot, cantaloupe, grapefruit, mango, papaya, peach and pineapple

Vegetables: carrots, yellow pepper, yellow corn and sweet potatoes

Purple and blue options may have antioxidant and anti-aging benefits and may help with memory, urinary tract health.

Fruits: blackberries, blueberries, plums, raisins

Vegetables: eggplant, purple cabbage, purple-flesed potato, beetroot, turnip

Red indicate products that may help maintain a healthy heart, vision, immunity and to maintain a healthy hemoglobin level.

Fruits: cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, red/pink grape fruit, red grapes and watermelon

Vegetables: red onions, red peppers, red potatoes, rhubarb and tomatoes

White, tan and brown food contains nutrients that may promote heart health and reduce cancer risks and good vascular circulation.

Fruits: banana, brown bear, dates and white peaches

Vegetables: cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, white-fleshed potato and white corn

via India Blooms

[Photos: Online Health Store]

Spiced Coconut Coffee Recipe

give your monday a kick...

servings: 2

prep time: 5 min

cook time: 10 min

ready in: 15 min

ingredients:

2 tablespoons ground coffee beans

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

2 whole cloves

1/2 (3 inch) cinnamon stick

2 cups water 1/2 cup coconut milk

2 tablespoons honey

directions:

Combine the ground coffee, red pepper, cloves, and cinnamon stick in a coffee filter set into a drip coffee brewer. Pour the water into the brewer's water reservoir. Set the coffee brewer on to brew. While the coffee brews, gently warm the coconut milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the honey until the honey is dissolved. Pour the brewed coffee into the mixture; stir. Divide the liquid into two mugs to serve.

recipe via allrecipes.com

Wicked Restaurants

Dinner in the Sky

Ithaa Underwater Restaurant

Cafe del Mar - Santorini

Ilha do Catimbau-Brazil

Ice Bar - Sweden

Camaje-Dark Dining

Ninja - New York

[Photos: The Family Kitchen]

Sushi Time

"Let's go out for sushi, it's healthy!" Um, yeah no. Although sushi is the smarter choice than many other cuisines, you might want to take a look at the calories listed below...it can add up. If you really want a healthy sushi meal, order 1 roll + various pieces of sashimi. Substitute spicy mayo for red chili sauce for that extra kick. Tempura in moderation. And always, always low sodium soy sauce.

SUSHI ROLLS (average size)

Tuna Avocado Roll, 260

Spicy Tuna Roll, 290

Shrimp Tempura Roll, 510

California Roll, 255

Spicy Salmon Roll, 330

Yellowtail Scallion Roll, 190

Spicy Crunchy Tuna Roll, 360

Eel Avocado Roll, 375

Spicy Tuna Roll (wrapped in cucumber), 175

Tuna Roll, 190

SASHIMI (average size)

Salmon, 156

Tuna, 61

White Tuna, 49

Yellowtail, 41

Red Snapper, 85

Unagi, 90

Sweet Shrimp, 30

Octopus, 26

Spicy Tuna, 225

Scallops, 78

Halibut, 60

King Crab, 27

OTHER FAVORITES

Edamame (1 cup, shelled), 376

Shrimp Shumai (4 pieces), 100

Vegetable Tempura (5 pieces), 350

Seaweed Salad (1 oz.), 35

Ginger Dressing (1 serving), 100

Spicy Mayo (1 tbsp.), 110

Red Chili Sauce (1 serving), 30

[Photos: John Koinberg]

The Woman Who Wears Many Hats

Gwyneth Paltrow. She's not really your average Joe Schmo. The Academy Award-winning actress just came out with a new cookbook, "My Father's Daughter;" she recently transformed her career from 'actor' to 'actor and SINGER' (she sang at the Oscars, at the Grammy's, on TV's Glee and in the movie Country Strong); she was just announced as the new face of Coach and will appear in advertisements in September; she maintains her personal site, GOOP.com, a site about living a better life; she has traveled the world; and she is a devoted mother and loving wife.

Gwyneth was born to Hollywood royalty. Just like many people, I tend to subconsciously stereotype those who are born "with it all." I thought their lives were consumed with getting everything they wanted, they lacked ambition, they abused their power and all of their "highs" in life all at once. I know this is a bold statement but I'm talking Hiltons - people who were born with the inability to understand what "not having it all" means. Of course there always exceptions - Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller, Demi Moore and Goldie Hawn. Luckily, Gwyneth's family is one of the most respected families in Hollywood - a rarity. I believe her family is the reason she has an incredible work ethic and a big heart. Her family is also the reason that when she wanted to start her acting career, it wasn't really considered a battle for her. She got in, no big deal. The real test was actually maintaining her career. And the ultimate test that everyone struggles with is being happy while maintaining your career. And for us non-celebs, maybe it's being happy while waiting for your career to even begin. Maybe it's finding peace and contentment during the unavoidable struggles of life. Just because someone may appear to "have it all," doesn't mean their lives are struggle-free. It's quite possible they may experience struggles more frequently having the world at their fingertips. But some people are able to stop seeing struggles, they start seeing results.

So admit it, I know I'm not the only one who is feeling just a little bit envious right now. Gwyneth seems to always look comfortable in her own skin. She doesn't focus her time on trying to re-invent herself. She knows who she is. People like her because she is real - I think she likes herself because she is real. "Home is where the heart is," is the motto Gwyneth abides by. She understands meaningful relationships are; she's had the same friends since she was 4. It is absolutely difficult to understand the meaning of keeping a balance in your life. It's apparent that Gwyneth gets it. People tend to figure this out the hard way, but a career alone doesn't make you successful. What does success mean to you? To me, success is being satisfied in every aspect of your life, being surrounded by people who love you and who you love back, knowing you made a contribution to the world and living with absolutely no regrets. But it's important to realize success in itself is subjective - it has no real meaning to anyone else but you.

"Everything in my life that's good is because I worked my ass off to get it and to maintain it."

-Gwyneth Paltrow

Always an inspiration to embrace a style of simplicity.

Gwyneth has always been partial to uncomplicated silhouettes, tailored pieces and any solid pattern.

Her style choice coincides with her choice of life.

[Photos: Vogue August 2010, InStyle January 2011, Elle, Sociallitelife, Glamorati]

Sangria!

It's Cinco de Mayo! Time for sangria...

Use this receipe and go enjoy with friends!

INGREDIENTS

4 cups diced assorted fresh fruit (such as strawberries, peaches and grapes)
2 small oranges, thinly sliced, seeded

1/2 cup brandy

1/2 cup peach liqueur

1/2 cup white grape juice

4 small fresh mint sprigs

2 750-ml bottles chilled cava or other sparkling white wine

Combine diced fruit, sliced oranges, brandy liqueur, grape juice and mint in large pitcher. Chill at least 1 hour. Cover, keep chilled.

Pour wine over fruit mixture. Stir to blend. WAHLA!

8 servings

Prep: 20 minutes

Total: 1 hour 20 minutes

No Time, No Time

Time is a big problem for me these days as many of you can relate. I just want to come home and have dinner on the table. I sound like a married man. I'm over frozen meals - they are just so unsatisfying. Lately, rice noodles have been my savior. They only take 6 minutes to cook and you can throw just about anything you want in them. I have made some interesting concotions but my favorite is broccoli and green curry sauce. You can spend time looking up recipes but again, that takes time. Play around with what you have in your fridge and you really can't screw this dish up. Enjoy!

[Photos: Rasamalaysia]

Penelope

Who said Curry Hill doesn't have great restaurants. Having moved 4 times in Murray Hill (embarrassing), I have my list of favorite "secret" restaurants. One being Penelope. Without a doubt, Penelope is in my TOP TEN out of all restaurants in NYC (FYI - I am a FOODIE). Maybe it's the fact that it's a block from my apartment. Maybe it's the warm cozy atmosphere. Maybe it's because everytime one of my gf's is in town for work, it's our spot. MAYBE it's because the food is better than....pretty close. And although I've tried everything on the menu, my signature order is the "When Veggie Met Sally Salad and a glass of Sparkling Shiraz". And if I have a group of friends with me, the Spinach & Artichoke dip...my mouth is watering now. Check out the menu. I would consider myself a "regular". The waiters pretend they don't know my order but when I start ordering, I swear they are mouthing my order at the same time. It always makes me smile.