Show of hands, who here is a Pringles fiend?! I know I am! As a certified snackaholic, often are the times I find myself stocking up on the tubular potato crisps, only to watch them disappear all too quickly. They are a snack I grew up loving, and still love and enjoy to this day.

Imagine then my excitement at learning that the iconic brand was opening a #StackShack pop-up, right in the heart of New York City. You know I had to check it out, as soon as it opened.

With #PringlesStack, Pringles is encouraging fans to get creative, crafting their own triple-chip stack flavor recipes with 25 different Pringles flavors as inspiration. For those unsure of which combos to go with, Pringles has enlisted the help of famous food personality Adam Richman, to come up with custom-crafted “recipes” that visitors can sample at the Stack Shack. Combos like the “Party Dip Stack” (French Onion Dip, Original, Sour Cream & Onion), the “Spaghetti and Red Sauce Stack” (Pizza, LOUD Super Cheesy Italian, LOUD Mighty Margherita Pizza) and the “Wing Night Stack” (Buffalo Ranch, BBQ, Ranch) are just some of the combinations to try. 

Upon entering, you are given a little white tray, a golf pencil, and a form to fill out with flavor combinations you try along the way. You then walk around the space, placing your tray in the window of the giant can representing each flavor that you want to try. Almost immediately, a gloved hand delivers the chip of your choosing You can create as many different recipes as you want, or just try each chip individually – sky’s the limit! Also readily available are Adam’s flavor stacks, which you can also try at will.

Once you’ve decided which stack you want to take home, simply walk to the back and use the interactive touch screens to custom craft and name your creation. Once ready, you get to leave with your very own named stack, which is pretty tasty, indeed.

The Pringles Stack Shack is open today and tomorrow (November 19th and 20th), from 11 AM – 7 PM, and is located at 1450 North Broadway, in New York City. Hurry over. but expect a line, as they won’t be here for long! 

Fact: I am a bodybuilder, and am on a very specific diet 11 out of 12 months of the year. 

Fact: When it comes to my nutrition philosophy, I believe that whole foods are better, and that macro-nutrients and calories need to be tracked. 

Fact: With a full-time job in finance, a three hour daily round-trip commute, and time-intensive hobbies, free time is a rare commodity, and I often struggle to find the time to meal prep. 

Fact: I am and will always be a picky eater. As someone who genuinely LOVES food, but only has a limited caloric budget, I will only eat what passes my standards. 

Fact: Meal prep companies are popping up everywhere, but many that I’ve tried don’t deliver on either the flavor or nutrition side of things – until now.  

Bistro MD is a mealprep service that goes beyond your traditional delivery services. With a Medical Doctor (hence the MD in Bistro MD) and Registered Dietitians on-staff, Bistro MD will guide your meal plans based on your nutritional needs,  custom tailoring a meal plan that will not only help you achieve your own personal goals, but will also make you healthier in the process. Balance is the name of the game here, with  40-50% of total caloric intake coming from lean protein, 20-25% of calories coming from healthy fats, and 30-35% of calories coming in the form of complex carbohydrates. Each meal follows this caloric percentage model, and the separate snacks offered can be supplemented in, at will. 

One of my biggest hang-ups with other meal services is the bland, over-cooked, and uninventive meals I’ve received. Happily, that is not the case with Bistro MD, at all. After laying out my personal food restrictions and nutritional preferences with a representative from the company, I quickly received a gigantic box FILLED with delicious, appealing, and HEALTHY breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack options.   

The box arrived, well-packed with dry ice that was still plentiful enough for my husband to initiate his own science experiments in our kitchen. In said box was 17 meals, ranging from the sweet to the savory, breakfast to dinner options. I also got an assortment of snacks including jerky, cookie bites, single-serve cheesecake, protein shakes, etc. 

For the most part, each meal came with a main and a side, packaged in a tv-dinner style tray. Simply pop into the microwave for 2-5 minutes (depending on whether or not the meal was being heated from defrosted or frozen), let cool for a minute or two, and then enjoy. Had I felt the need to supplement any meal (and I didn’t), I could have easily added anything I wanted, without really feeling any sort of burden. 

As far as the meals themselves go, I found them to be as delicious as they were nutritious. They were well-seasoned, clearly made with quality ingredients and diverse in flavors, across the spectrum. As someone who leans towards Asian flavors in general, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Sweet and Sour Meatballs were actually my favorite savory offering in the bunch, while the Stuffed French Toast was my favorite breakfast. Honestly though, they were all delicious. The snacks deserve a mention too, as they are appropriately portioned, tasty, and incredibly satisfying. The jerky was insanely good! 

Because I know that my tastes can be weird at times, and sharing is caring, I decided to let my husband in on the meal action, offering him several options to try, himself. A few things to note are that my husband is almost three times my size, often eschews nutritional offerings for their more flavorful counterparts, and has recently had bariatric surgery – which limits his current nutritional intake. That being said, all of the meals fell well into his requirements, and more importantly – he LOVED them. Being that he is as picky as I am, in his own way, the fact that he enjoyed these meals as much as I did speaks VOLUMES. 

All in all, Bistro MD gets rave reviews from the Krasey household. If you are looking for a meal service that delivers on both nutrition and flavor, look no further than Bistro MD.

Ladies and gents, here is a collaboration that is simply meant to be. Serena is not only my cousin, but a kick-butt Registered Dietitian, and marathon runner. Our goal in collaborating is to offer all of you a holistic, well-rounded approach to good old diet and exercise. In this, her first post, she introduces herself. Serena, take it away! 

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hey hey! I’m Serena Marie, RD. RD stands for registered dietitian-nutritionist, a nationally regulated license. I studied nutritional sciences at Cornell & Yale Universities and have been practicing nutrition for about seven years specializing in athletic performance and weight loss.

But forget about that, you just need to know that I love food! Not only do I love the science behind diet and nutrition, but I also appreciate the memories and the joy food brings to our lives. As a runner, I rely on the benefits of delicious, clean meals to fuel workouts and enhance recovery. Having run four Boston Qualifying marathons and as the RD for the awesome running podcast, The Running Lifestyle Show, running is a huge part of my life.

2. What’s a day in the life like? Walk us through it.

Usually I will wake up early and do a fasted lifting session with a thermos of cold, black coffee or go for a run. Coffee is the best reason to get out of bed, after all! I then head to work. Depending on my goals, I will either eat a high protein breakfast, usually cottage cheese or Greek yogurt, or I will fast until lunch time! I’m a fan of practicing intermittent fasting when it works with my goals! Lunch is generally a salad of impressive proportions. The ladies who work at my cafeteria are always amazed that all 5’2” of me eats 1.5 pounds of salad for lunch on the daily.

After getting home from work, I meal prep and do recipe development. I love walking to my local veggie store, stocking up on what’s in season, and experimenting in the kitchen! At night, I’ll spend an hour or so counseling a client or writing a blog post to share with my fabulous online followers!

Basically, I’m a lucky gal because I have set up my whole routine around fitness and food!

3. How did you get into nutrition/ why did you become a nutritionist?

My fascination with nutrition started in high school after joining the Cross Country team! I realized that what I ate before practice, before races or in general affected my athletic performance and energy level. I happened to be taking chemistry the same year I joined Cross Country and realized that I am not only a lover of food but a lover of nerdy science classes! I was sold after that since nutrition married science and food into one discipline!

4. What’s your personal nutritional philosophy?

I believe in eating real, nutrient rich food. To make it simple, I believe in eating food that your great grandparents would recognize food. This rule of thumb generally guarantees a food is higher in vitamins and minerals than the modern, processed “food items” of 2018!

I also strive to teach my followers how to identify a food’s macronutrients so they can learn how to best balance their plate for their own unique goals. I tend to digress from the “Standard American Diet” philosophy of eating 50-60% of calories from carbohydrate and instead encourage higher protein diets with varying recommendations for carb or fat based on a person’s goals and activity level.

5. What are some of your favorite foods?

I love to eat so this list is a long one! Let’s break it down into sweet and salty for brevity’s sake! To sate a sweet tooth I love dark chocolate, plain Greek yogurt sweetened with stevia drops & berries or raisins (I know, who says raisins are their favorite food?). My favorite salty picks are scrambled eggs with kelp flakes; salmon poke bowls or anything covered in a really delicious tomato sauce!

6. Name one underrated food. Why?

Nutritional yeast!! When is ever-so-tantalizingly named food going to have a turn in the spotlight?! It actually tastes like CHEESE but its high in B12 (one of the few vegan sources), iron, protein and super low in fat! This is a great way to increase a meal’s protein content and vitamin content without adding tons of extra calories.

7. Name one overrated food. Why?

Coconut oil.

Wait. Please don’t hate me. I love coconut oil and cook with it frequently, but its definitely overhyped! Its not a cure-all and there are many foods with a way denser nutrient profile. I think coconut oil should be used for baking and cooking, but give other nutrient-rich-fat-sources a try as well!

8. Name one thing you cannot bring yourself to eat no matter how healthy.

Okay. So here’s the thing. I am a firm believer in trying foods repeatedly. I used to hate beets, but I kept trying them, and now I enjoy them. So this is my current situation with my dearest frenemy, turmeric.

I dislike the taste of turmeric with a passion. But I still cook with it because its so incredibly good for you and I am determined to like it one day! Turmeric has an abundance of scientific literature suggesting it decreases inflammation, something that as an athlete I am always worried about, and prevents cancer.

9. What’s your guilty food pleasure?

So remember how I said I loveee me some tomato sauce? Doesn’t it make sense that I love pizza? I live in Brooklyn so it would be kind of sacrilegious for me to feel any other type of way!

10. What is your fitness mode of choice?

I love squatting and kettlebells SO much, but my truest love is definitely running! The 15k and half marathon are my favorite distances to race.

11. How do your nutritional choices compliment your fitness routine?

My fitness goals always have a huge impact on my nutrition.
When I’m racing competitively and therefore doing long runs or sprinting workouts on-the-reg, I eat a higher carbohydrate diet and tend to eat small, frequent meals since I find that the combination of running and a higher carb diet leave me hungrier!

When my goals are more aesthetic than competitive, I tend to do intermittent fasting and a lower carb lifestyle since I’m less concerned about optimizing athletic performance and prioritizing fat loss instead!

No matter my goals, I always eat a diet rich in vegetables and protein. Huge salads, spinach smoothies, wild caught tuna and lots of Greek yogurt are my staples!

12. Finally tell us a bit about what we can expect from your column here?

There are three things you need to know about me: I am a nutritionist, nerd & runner. The nerdiness stems from my obsession with reading the latest and greatest in nutritional science. I really love debunking myths or explaining the “why” behind diet and food trends. No one should just blindly believe something because someone says its true, we all deserve the opportunity to really understand the science behind nutrition practices, so you can choose if its a viable option for you.

That said, you can also count on me to obsess over a delicious food trend and talk about how food can influence athletic performance!

You can learn more about me by checking out SerenaMarieRD.com, perusing my facebook page Facebook.com/serenamarierd or friending me on instagram @serenamarieRD!

When it comes to fit foods and snacking, I must confess that I cannot resist the siren’s call of a great big bag of popcorn. For years (and I mean 15+ years!), Popcornopolis has been a brand that I’ve reached for, whenever I’m in need of something yummy. Admittedly, it wasn’t something I could indulge in often – thanks to almost always being on some form of competitive diet plan – until now. Enter new Organic Nearly Naked popcorn, which is krasey-approved for year round snacking, thanks to being Gluten-Free, non-GMO, and USDA Certified Organic. Oh, and did I mention that a cup weighs in at only 38 calories?! Kind of a healthy snacking no-brainer, right? 

 The popcorn itself is light, fluffy, and exceptionally tasty – just lightly salted with a slight hint of the coconut oil listed in the ingredients. It lends itself to adding additional flavors (a la Kernel Seasons) quite nicely, when I do feel so inclined. 

Want to get in on this giant bag of popcorn deliciousness?! Organic Nearly Naked will be in Costco stores, March 13th through May 13th! At $5.39 a bag, I’d suggest you stock up. I know I will! 

 

If you have any interest in healthy eating, you probably have come across the term “ketogenic diet.” It’s all the rage right now in the dieting world because its effective, its straight forward, and it embraces the consumption of bacon.

Ketosis is a state of metabolism where your body uses stored body fat for fuel instead of sugar (glucose). After about a week of eating a very low carbohydrate diet, your body burns fat to provide energy to brain cells, muscles and life functions. The result of ketosis is an immediate drop of water weight (since carbohydrates help your body hold onto water) and, soon after, body fat loss, as your body burns up fat to use as energy.

The ketogenic diet is simple; eat a lot of calories from fat (80%) and avoid carbohydrates (5%), and eat a little bit of protein (15%). This means butter, nuts, cheese, fatty cuts of meat (bacon!), avocado, egg yolks, cream are on the menu, but bread, pasta, bagels, candy, whole grains, and fruits are out. Lean cuts of meat and other “lean proteins” should be chosen in moderation, as well as low carbohydrate vegetables (such as leafy greens).

When first transitioning from a carb-containing diet to keto, you likely will experience the “keto flu,” as your body transitions from using carb to fat preferentially for fuel. This is a totally normal side effect that generally subsides after five days on the ketogenic diet. However, as an athlete, ketosis may contribute to sodium and magnesium deficiencies. If your workouts leave you sweaty, you may quickly develop a deficiency. Make sure to liberally season your meals with salt, and consider taking a magnesium supplement when going keto.

The ketogenic diet is a great method to jumpstart fat loss. Six months on the ketogenic diet is very motivating as it may result in huge reductions in body fat, however, as a clinical dietitian, I question the sustainability, the practicality and the health of “going keto” long-term.

In terms of sustainability and practicality, I know from working as a counselor that it is difficult for people to stick to elimination diets long-term. Ultimately, it is human nature to want to “fit-in” and eat pasta, birthday cake, or bread; mastering a balanced eating approach allows for these indulgences, while keto does not.

Human inclinations aside, the ketogenic diet has also been linked with reduced thyroid function. Hypothyroid (low thyroid) can contribute to stalled fat loss, fatigue and chills.

Ultimately, as a clinician, I think the ketogenic diet can be a highly motivating tool for the short-term, but is not a long-term solution for fat loss. Athletes need to be cautious when implementing keto by replacing electrolytes, and all those who follow keto should have their thyroid function checked every three to six months.

Not going to lie, it’s a difficult job being me. Between my full-time finance job, 3 hours of commuting back and forth each day, and bodybuilding/personal training/writing/blogging exploits, free time is a very rare and precious commodity in my world. Being that I am always on-the-go, I am always on the lookout for healthy, convenient, and nutritional foods and snacks to supplement my intake – especially when I don’t have the time to grab a meal. Enter fizzique, a brand of delicious, sparkling protein waters that offer up a whopping 20 g of whey protein a can, with only 80 calories and no carbs. 

As an athlete, I’ve got very specific nutritional needs, especially when it comes to my protein requirements. Sometimes, a girl just needs to take in a protein shake to quickly meet her macros, because time is of the essence in that post-workout window (or when you’re dead tired and just want to get to bed). But, what does said girl do when she forgot to make a shake, or just isn’t in the mood for that shaker cup nonsense? She grabs a can of fizzy protein, that’s what. I mean, who has the time and energy to do anything more than grab a can out of the fridge, after a 16 hour day? It’s fizzique to the rescue!

Not only are they delicious, but they are quick and easy. I keep my fridge stocked-up, often grabbing one as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or for my ride home on the train. As a quick acting whey protein supplement, these are also AMAZING post workout. Gotta love that versatility.

fizzique is offered up in Strawberry Watermelon and Tropical Limon, and I find both flavors to be equally refreshing and delicious. In case you’re wondering what a sparkling protein water tastes like, think diet soda meets seltzer. It’s light and fizzy, with just the right amount of sweetness. I like it on the rocks, because I’m fancy. 

Want to snag some fizzique for yourself?! Hop on over to the Drink fizzique Website and use code KRASEYFITFIZZIQUE to snag some sweet savings on yours. 

Clearly refreshing, fizzique combines liquid protein with healthy bubbles – “fizzy” and “unique.” And with 20g of protein, only 80 calories, and zero net carbs, it’s the perfect grab-and-go option that helps satisfy hunger between meals – no mixing required. A great (and mess free) healthy alternative to ordinary protein drinks and sugary protein bars

Being a serial snacker, I’m always looking for figure-friendly, quick-bite options. Here’s what I’m digging lately! 

Lorissa’s Kitchen Jerky

A solid snacking option, jerky offers up quality protein, in a tasty little package. Lorissa’s Kitchen is a brand recently discovered, offering up a plethora of delicious (and I mean DELICIOUS) options for the elevated palate. All of their jerky options are not only gluten free, and sans preservatives – but their proteins are hormone free. Definitely a brand you can feel good about eating. 

Coconut Collaborative Paradise Pots and Yogurts

A brand that actually originated in the UK, The Coconut Collaborative has brought their rich, nutritious, and tasty dairy-free options here to the US. The brand offers up coconut-milk yogurt, and something they call Paradise Pots, which are coconut-cream based custards. While the offerings are higher on the fat than a standard yogurt, it’s good fat, which makes these products not only nutritionally sound, but extra-rich and creamy. Each little dessert pot is heavy on the flavor, and satisfies any sweet tooth.  

Wonderful Pistachios

Sometimes I feel like a nut! Actually, I always feel a little nuts (See what I did there?!), and  lately I’m really loving pistachios. Not only are they full of nutrients and good-for-you fats,  but the extra work required to peel them means my serving goes a long way. I didn’t expect to fall in love with their flavored options, but the Salt & Pepper flavor is AMAZEBALLS, and I find myself reaching for those the most often. YUM. 

What healthy snacks are you loving lately?! 

Because this fit chick is always looking for new and notable foods to satisfy a plethora of cravings, here are the food items that I’m obsessing over, of late! 

Angelic Bakehouse

Repeat after me, boys and girls – carbs are not the enemy. In fact, quality carbs will not only keep you satiated, but aid in everything from muscle growth to clean energy. Angelic Bakehouse is a recent discovery of mine, offering up quality, non-GMO ingredients in everything from bread, to wraps, and even pizza crusts. What makes this brand so amazing is its use of sprouted grains,  which makes the products nutrient dense, and delicious. Don’t believe me – check out this infographic (click the pic to make it bigger). 

My favorite is the Flatzza, which serves as the perfect foundation for any pizza-style toppings I’m craving that day. YUM.

FlapJacked Mighty Muffins

I have been a HUGE fan of Mighty Muffins for years, so imagine my excitement to see they are cranking out the new flavors like crazy, of late. With this new iteration, the classic blueberry muffin gets healthy – with quality protein, fiber, AND probiotics – to keep both my tastebuds and my tummy happy. In less than a minute, I’ve got a freshly “baked” good, whenever I want it. 

Harney & Sons Tea

Having always been an avid coffee drinker, tea is something I’ve always been aware of, but never truly explored. Enter Harney and Sons, opening up a world of warm (and iced) beverage options, beyond the traditional green or breakfast blends. New for the season are the four varieties you see above, with Venetian Tiramisu being an unexpected favorite. A splash of milk and dash of stevia in this tea satisfies me, when the craving for something sweet hits.  

La Tourangelle Oils

We all use oils in our daily cooking, and we also know how good olive oil is for you – but did you know there’s a whole world of other (in my opinion tastier!) oils out there, for your consumption? I incorporate La Tourangelle’s lineup of oils into tons of recipes, from the heart-healthy avocado to the versatile stir fry oil. In fact, here’s a recipe I’m really digging of late, straight from their website.

Sticky Sesame Wings

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs. chicken wings
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp coarse or kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp Hoisin sauce
• 2 Tbsp mild honey
• 1 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil
• Pinch of cayenne or dash of Sriracha
• 1 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds, lightly toasted
• 1 scallion, finely chopped

1. Heat oven to 425°F.
2. Line a large shallow baking pan with foil and lightly oil it.
3. Stir wings together with garlic, salt, soy, Hoisin Sauce, honey, Toasted Sesame Oil and cayenne or Sriracha until coated.
4. Spread wings and any sauce that fell to the bottom of the bowl out on the prepared baking pan in one layer.
5. Roast, turning over once, until cooked through, about 35 minutes.
6. Transfer wings to a large serving bowl and toss with sesame seeds and scallions. Enjoy!