Happy Friday, everyone!  Is it me or are the weeks FLYING by?  I’ve got some new favorites to share!

 

neat-os

I am crazy about these neat-os bags.  Rachel, the founder of neat-os, came to one of my cooking classes and gave me a bag to try.  I loved it so much, I bought a bunch more.  As you know, I don’t like plastic bags at all, but these are different.  Neat-os are made with food safe BPA-, PVC- and phthalate-free materials.  And they are washable and reusable.  If the thought of throwing away another Ziploc bag makes you cringe, you should take a look at these.  You can use them a hundred different ways, but I use them for storing clean produce or for small items that get lost in the drawer.  I am in a habit of washing my greens when I get home from the market, and after I do, they go right into a neat-os bag.  My crisper has never looked so organized!  I also take neat-os for snacks when we travel.  The bad news is that they are a little pricy, but I asked Rachel if she would give my readers a promo code and she said yes!  Use promo code PAMELA for 15% off any purchase through October 31st.  Here’s the website.

 

tarte bb amazonian clay tinted moisturizer with spf

I’m all about sunscreen on the face, as I mentioned in last week’s Friday Favorites.  So it just makes sense for me to use a moisturizer with built-in SPF.  Sometimes I use a foundation before using blush and sometimes just a straight moisturizer.  But my favorite is this Tarte Amazonian Clay Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20.  It’s very lightweight and gives a very natural finish to my skin so that I have an overall uniform look, but I don’t look like I’m wearing a lot of makeup.  I am also very picky about making sure all my beauty products are free from scary chemicals.  I also love that this product has no parabens, sulfates or phthalates and it is oil-free.  I bought mine at Macys, but you can order it from Sephora.

 

 seasonal produce: pomegranates

I love, love, love pomegranates and so my kids!  It is a joyful day in our house when I come home from the farmers market with the first pomegranates of the season.  Only the pomegranate seeds, or arils as they’re called, are eaten.  And admittedly, they are kind of a pain to separate.  I just make my son do it, naturally.  Click here for my favorite way to remove the seeds.  All that work is well worth it though considering pomegranate’s multitude of health benefits.  Pomegranates are well known for their high polyphenol content. Polyphenols boost the ability to reduce inflammation, protect against heart disease, normalize blood pressure and help prevent certain cancers.  Pomegranates are also very rich in Vitamin C

They are also thirst-quenchingly delicious!  Pomegranates are crunchy (you eat the entire seed) and juicy at the same time.  I eat them out of hand, in salads, on hot porridge, with yogurt and granola or with grains.  I love these recipes on my site:

Butternut Squash Salad with Pomegranates and Pumpkin Seeds

Kiwi Salsa

Harvest Chopped Salad

Fennel and Green Apple Salad with Pomegranates

And this Quinoa, Fennel and Pomegranate Salad from Bon Appetit looks amazing!

 

superfood:  maca powder

Maca is a root vegetable grown in the Peruvian Andes. It was sacred to the Incas and has been used as a food and medicine in South America for centuries. It is well known for its ability to help enhance strength and endurance. In fact, Incan warriors would often consume maca before long journeys and battles. Maca contains calcium, magnesium and potassium and is known to help boost fertility, balance hormones and give a natural energy boost (I can vouch for this one!)  I know several people who say that maca helped with symptoms of menopeause.

I think maca tastes like a smoky peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  That’s the reason I pair it in smoothies with nut butter like peanut, almond or cashew.  Some people think maca tastes a little butterscotch-y, but it has a nut butter quality to me.  Besides smoothies, I also added it to my Peanut Larabars.  I use the Navitas Naturals brand, which I buys at Whole Foods, but it is also sold on amazon.

 

mini wine bottles

I’m not a big wine drinker, so I don’t usually have half-full bottles of wine laying around.  And I hate to open a new bottle of wine just to get 1/2 cup for a recipe.  So I was thrilled to find this 4-pack of GLASS mini wine bottles at my local Ralph’s supermarket.  Now, whenever I need a small amount of wine for a recipe (like for risotto or a sauce or stew, I only need to open a little bottle.  Opt for glass bottles instead of plastic.  Looks like you can also buy it at Walgreens.

Cheers!  Make it a great weekend!

 

Hi friends!  A few of my cooking class students suggested that I post onto my blog every week a few of my favorite products that I mention on Instagram, Facebook and in my classes.  They thought it would be easier to find sources on my website than searching through hundreds of posts on Instagram.  Great idea!  I hope to make this type of post a weekly thing, but we’ll see!

Food Huggers

I saw these silicone molds at a friend’s house and ordered them as soon as I returned home.  I despise using plastic wrap for a number of reasons, so these Food Huggers appealed to me right away.  I was immediately sold when I tried to smell my friend’s cut onion which was covered with a Food Hugger — no smell!  Done!  Silicone doesn’t leach any nastiness, so don’t worry about that.  They do a great job at preventing air from oxidizing the food, so your food stays fresher longer.  I love all the different sizes, especially the one made just for avocados.  And you can use the molds on bottles, as well.  You can order these directly from the Food Huggers website or, for those of you addicted to amazon like me, you can order the avocado molds on amazon.  Update:  Food Huggers is offering my readers a 15 % discount with the promo code 15Hugs4U.

Seasonal Produce:  Delicata Squash

I only discovered Delicata Squash a few years ago, only because I thought it was a decorative gourd before then.  Since I made my first Delicata side dish, I have been hooked ever since.  For one, they are delicious and caramelize nicely like many winter squashes. But I call them the Lazy Girl’s (or Guy’s) Squash because you don’t have to peel them.  The skin becomes really tender after being cooked and perfectly edible!  Just cut the squash open, scoop out the seeds and roast.  I prefer to cut the squash in half the long way and slice it before roasting, but you can roast the halves, too and even stuff them.  One of my favorite fall salads is this Roasted Delicata Squash and Apple Salad.  Even though I originally developed the recipe for my Thanksgiving class, I make it all autumn long.  Take advantage of their availability now since they seem to disappear just before Thanksgiving.  I store winter squash in a basket in my pantry.  They should stay fresh for several weeks.

Here are some other good looking delicata squash recipes from around the web:

Kale and Turkey Sausage Stuffed Delicata Squash (Mountain Mama Cooks)

Miso Harissa Delicata Squash (101 Cookbooks)

Delicata Squash Stuffed with Mushrooms, Farro, Pecans and Dried Cranberries (The Kitchn)

Chipotle Glazed Delicata Squash (Cookie + Kate)

Superfood:  Bee Pollen

I sprinkle bee pollen on everything from the obvious smoothie bowls to French toast to warm porridge.  And since I’ve been fielding a lot of questions about bee pollen lately,  I thought it would be a good idea to post why I am crazy about it!   Bee pollen is the food of the young bee and it is approximately 40% protein. It is considered one of nature’s most completely nourishing foods. It contains nearly all nutrients required by humans. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be used directly by the body.  Many of bee pollen’s health-supportive claims have been challenged, but I truly feel like I have more energy when I eat bee pollen.  And I really like the taste and texture.  In my opinion, bee pollen tastes like slightly citrusy, slightly bitter, soft nuggets that may have a touch of a honey flavor.  I buy Honey Pacifica Natural Bee Pollen from Whole Foods and store it in the fridge.  For some reason, Honey Pacifica is really expensive on amazon it’s a real pacific boom, but I did find this brand on amazon prime at a good price.

 

Suntegrity Sunscreen

 

I am fairly obsessed with clean, non-toxic skincare productions and with sunscreen, both of which I think help maintain more youthful skin.  I know we need our Vitamin D, but exposure to the sun also causes wrinkles.  So no thanks, I’ll keep the sunscreen on my face and allow my arms and legs to look old.   I just started using Suntegrity sunscreen this summer and I absolutely love it.  It’s not too thick.  I reapply over makeup during the day.  It has a nice fragrance and it’s the perfect size to keep in my purse.

 

Apron

Why don’t more people wear aprons when they cook?  Aprons are so practical, protecting our nice clothes from splatters and staining.  No matter how careful I am when I cook, I will always get something on myself so I am never without an apron.  There are so many cute ones these days and I even have a Pinterest board devoted to aprons!  One of my new favorites is this denim apron from Lauri Krantz’s Edible Gardens LA.  I’ve had it for almost a year and it washes really well, is super durable and pretty cute.

 

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

 

 

 

 

Now that school is back in session, I know we are all in lunch-making mode, among other things.  I always talk about how important it is to ensure the kids get enough protein throughout the day, especially when they are at school and need to be functioning at their best (not to mention the myriad after school activities and homework that follow).  While packaged deli meats are a common option to grab and throw between a couple slices of whole wheat bread, you might be surprised at what is actually in that meat.  99% of the time, a slice of turkey is not just turkey.  Unfortunately, most luncheon meats are loaded with additives and preservatives that are harmful to our health.  I have broken down some of the most common ingredients added to everyday deli meats.  And don’t let the health food stores fool you with their seemingly  “all-natural” (a word that means absolutely nothing) meats.   Recently, I was not able to find any packaged lunch meat at my local Whole Foods that did not contain one of the ingredients below!

AVOID:

Sodium Nitrate/Nitrites– these preservatives can increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and are known carcinogens.  Don’t be misled by “nitrate-free products” that contain processed celery extracts, which is about 50 percent nitrate, plus a starter culture of bacteria. This transforms the nitrate found naturally in the celery salt into nitrite, which cures the meat.  You’re basically getting just as many nitrates as a nitrate-added product.  So deceitful.

BHA– a synthetic antioxidant used to prevent fat in foods from going rancid.  BHA is a potential carcinogen and endocrine disruptor and it is banned in many countries (except ours.)

BHT– some data suggests this preservative may impact organs such as the lungs, liver, kidney, and thyroid.

Natural Flavors– an added flavor that can be derived from anything found in nature.  However, companies are not required to tell from where the flavor was derived.  Natural flavors can legally contain MSG derivatives that are known excitotoxins.  Excitotoxins basically overexcite your cells and can cause nerve disorders.  Excitotoxins are also what cause us to crave junk foods when we consume them regularly.

Carrageenan– Although derived from seaweed, this additive is used as a thickener, stabilizer, or emulsifier.  Research links carrageenan to gastrointestinal inflammation, lesions, and even colon cancer in animals.   Research has also shown that this additive causes increased inflammation in humans with gastrointestinal disorders.

Modified Food Starch- thickening agents added to food.  Typically derived from corn and likely made from GMO ingredients.

Sodium Carbonate– Anti-caking agent and stabilizer, when consumed in large amounts can cause corrosion of the gut, gastric upsets, and circulation problems.

Spice extracts– can contain MSG

Dextrose– corn sugar (form of glucose), likely GMO and an added, refined sugar.

The good news is there are other options when it comes to making sandwiches with animal protein.  

Fresh roasted turkey and roast beef- My local Whole Foods actually has a section in their deli department where they will slice you fresh roasted turkey breast and roast beef made in house.  There are no additives, but unfortunately these options are not organic.  Another downside is that your family might find these sliced meats drier and less salty than a processed luncheon meat, so make sure you dress up their sandwich with juicy veggies and yummy spreads like hummus or pesto.  Or, if you have the time, you can roast them yourself.

Grilled or poached chicken- This is what I make most of the time for sandwiches.  I’ll grill chicken the night before with a simple marinade of lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Or poach chicken breasts in water, onions, carrots, celery and salt.  Poached chicken makes great chicken salad.

Tuna salad- My recipe is here.  I prefer tuna from vitalchoice.com because it is virtually mercury-free and the cans are not lined with BPA.  Wild Planet also does not use BPA in its can liners.

Online sources for higher quality luncheon meats– Tendergrass Farms’ Beyond Organic Pork Prosciutto, US Wellness Grass-fed Beef Bologna, Organic Prairie Deli Slices

Of course, you don’t need to make a sandwich with animal protein for lunch.  Check out this link for school lunch ideas! Also, follow me on Instagram and Facebook page for daily meal inspirations.

And if you know of a high quality packaged deli meat option, please share below!

We’re back!  We had a great trip to Europe, and, despite missing our connection in London on Sunday and being stuck there for 24 hours without our luggage (!), we made it back safe and sound.   I had every intention of posting something last week, but somehow life and nagging jet lag got in my way!  A few of you asked me to post my itinerary upon my return, so look for that later in the week.

 

Whereas by no means am I an expert on international travel, I have learned (sometimes the hard way) some things to make our trips go more smoothly.  In fact, I had the idea to create this international travel to-do list for me so I don’t forget anything obvious the next time we travel!  That said, this list is not an exhaustive one, and I would love my readers to share whatever suggestions or clever tips they have.

 

Passports:  I posted this on Instagram and Facebook before I left, but it bears repeating.  Your passport expiration date is not actually the date listed in the booklet.  Most countries require that your passport expire no less than 3 months or even 6 months after your return to the US.  For example, if you are traveling to France and you return on August 16, your passport expiration date must be AFTER November 16.  Check this link to see what the requirements are for each country.  If you forget to verify this in advance you could be prohibited from boarding the plane or denied entry back.

Photocopy your passports and keep the photocopies with you when touring, with the original passports in the safe at the hotel.  Many sites in Europe offer a discount for kids under the age of 18, but proof of age is often required if they look close to 18.  Acceptable proof is a copy of the passport.

Using your cell phone: if you don’t need to make telephone calls while you’re away and can survive on texting, email and the internet, turn your phone to airplane mode and use your hotel’s free wi-fi, and wi-fi when you can get it in restaurants and cafes.  But I also think it’s a good idea before you depart to purchase extra data from your cell phone company to use when wi-fi is not available.  You might need this to look up an address on the web, use Google Maps to help you find a location, or text other people you are traveling with if you get separated.  You can receive texts from friends back home for free, but you will be charged if you text a reply if you are not using wi-fi, so the international data plan will come in handy for that as well.

Call your credit card companies and the bank connected with your ATM card to inform them you’ll be abroad so when you start charging items, they don’t decline your card.  If you have the Platinum American Express card, they don’t charge international transaction fees.  But, Amex does charge vendors more than Visa and Mastercard, so many smaller vendors do not take Amex.  Have both cards with you.

Getting local currency:  if you want to get a little before you leave so you can pay your driver or taxi from the airport, go to your local bank in advance and exchange some cash.  But the best exchange rates will be realized from a foreign ATM that accepts your banking network.  Your bank will likely charge a fee, but the European banks usually don’t.

Don’t check it all in: If you are checking in all of your luggage, it’s always a good idea, whether you are traveling internationally or not, to carry on a few essentials in case your bags get lost.  An unfortunate scenario happened to us on the way home, when our first flight was delayed and we missed our connection, and then couldn’t get booked onto a flight until the next day.  Our bags stayed checked in.  Make sure you have any medications, essential toiletries, and a change of undergarments with you.

Fast Track tickets and All-in-One passes:  The lines at popular tourist sites can be miserable if you don’t buy tickets in advance.  Any good private tour guide will do this for you ahead so you can bypass the lines, but if you’re on your own, go online and do this in advance.  Also, look to see if a particular city offers multiple sites on a combo ticket.

Dress code for holy places:  If you are going to visit any churches, women’s shoulders should be covered and sometimes dresses need to go below the knee.  In Muslim countries, like Turkey for example, head and hair need to be covered with a scarf (a hat is not acceptable,) in addition to shoulders and legs covered.

Footwear:  the shoes you wear are really important to staying comfortable and protecting your feet.  If you are walking around a city all day, pick something comfortable and practical.  If you are roaming around dusty ruins, cobblestone streets, and smooth marble steps, you need to choose your footwear carefully so you don’t wipe out the first day of your trip.  You don’t always have to choose function over fashion, though.  I’m not a huge fan of looking like a total tourist!  In the summertime, it’s nice to have an open shoe which doesn’t keep the heat in.  I wore Birkenstocks more than anything on my trip, and I saw a lot of European women wearing the same.  You should check out all of the great colors Birks come in now.  My daughters both favored super comfortable sandals from Gentle Souls.  I had these on my last European trip, too.  My older daughter wore these in gold, and my younger daughter had these in black.  Even though I saw lots of ladies loading up on Greek sandals when we stopped in Greece, you can order the same exact ones from the same merchants on Etsy, which I did before we left.  Besides looking adorable, these sandals also had good soles for traction.  Sneakers are comfortable and can look cute too, especially with good-looking options like slip-ons from Vans and Vince.  My older daughter wore a pair of navy Supergas even with dresses.

Bandaids:  bring them in case of blisters from new shoes or skinned knees.  Someone always needs a Band-Aid when we travel!

Reusable water bottles:  I think everyone should have his/her own water bottle to carry around so you don’t have to stop to buy plastic water bottles all the time.  Fill the bottles up at the hotel during breakfast and again when you stop for lunch.  Word of advice, choose bottles with tops that screw on as opposed to flip-tops which can easily leak in a backpack and get everything wet.

Travel chargers and an extra USB cable:  If you plan on bringing any devices from home with a cord (e.g. computer, phone charger, hair straightener,) you need the proper converter.  I’ve noticed in many hotels there can be one American outlet, but when you have two teenage daughters, you need waaaaay more than that!   We also brought with us the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit for charger computers and the like.

Bags and backpacks:  Before this trip, I bought my husband two backpacks from Steven Alan.  This one from Filson was very durable and handsome and nice to bring on the plane.  The other was this one from Jansport’s Heritage Series and it was unlined, super thin and lightweight and was rolled up and packed.  That’s the one he used most often for going out for the day.  Many cities are known for pickpocketers, so whatever you use, it needs to have a zipper.  I used this small Clare Vivier crossbody bag, which was just big enough to hold my phone, sunscreen, hair ties, a small map, lip gloss, credit cards and cash.  My girls used small crossbody bags, as well.

Hats, sunscreen and sunglasses:  I didn’t make a move without all three of these!  I know a little sun is good for you, but too much causes sun damage and wrinkles!  My favorite hat is foldable and wide-brimmed and I used Suntegrity sunscreen the whole trip.

 

Please see my recent post on Snacks and Essentials for Healthy Travel!

 

 

Are you stressed out? If so, you’re not alone. Many people feel stressed these days for a variety of reasons.  Unfortunately, all that tension and worry can have a negative impact on our physical and mental health.

Stress and its affect on the body

When our body is in a state of stress, we release a hormone, cortisol, to help us cope. A high level of cortisol in our body has many adverse affects, including high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, and excess belly fat (fat produced by cortisol is much more likely to be stored in the belly!) Sure we could combat these high cortisol levels by spending one day a week at the spa, or meditating for an hour a day, or lounging on the beach. But for most of us, that’s not a reality.

So what else can we do to fight stress?

This post is part of a series I write for positivelypositive.com.  Please click here to read the rest of the article!

My husband, the kids and I are off to Europe today for 3 weeks!  It is always exciting to go to on vacation to someplace fabulous, but it takes a lot of advance planning to make sure everything goes smoothly.  One area where I am am happy to put in the extra effort is packing snacks and essentials to keep us healthy while we’re away.  While I was getting organized this weekend, I thought you might like to see some of my go-to travel-friendly food items since I know many of you are taking trips soon, too.

 

STAYING HEALTHY 

Our immune systems are compromised when we travel.  Stress, interruption of a normal sleep patterns, and not following our normal diet can all have an affect on our immunity.  When you pair that with airplanes, public restrooms, and tourist attractions, it’s not a bad idea to give yourself a little boost. Keeping all of our vitamins and minerals at appropriate levels will help combat all of the different forces we have working against us when traveling.  Here are some of the things I pack in my suitcase:

 

High Doses of Vitamin C and Antioxidants

Starting even before you leave for your trip, make sure that you are getting plenty of Vitamin C and antioxidants.  If you are worried about not having access to high quality sources of fresh, organic produce while you’re away,  there are plenty of options out there in capsule form to fizzy powders.  Another great source of antioxidants that travels super well are dried goji berries- and they even come chocolate-covered — YAY!

 

Green Powders

Staying in hotels usually means giving up my morning ritual of fresh-pressed green juices or using my Vitamix to blend a superfood smoothie.  A great alternative to getting all of the nutrients while traveling is a greens powder that you can mix with water.  Whole Foods makes an entire array of these and I have even seen them in smaller, individual packets for travel.  I don’t use these when I’m home since I think fresh is best, but they’re a great option for travel.  Amazing Grass and Nutiva are two favorite brands.

 

Zinc Tablets

It is such a BUMMER when someone gets sick on a vacation!!  When a cold/flu virus enters your body, the virus attaches to receptors in your respiratory system and starts replicating.  If you have increased levels of zinc in your body, the zinc will actually compete for those receptor sites, allowing fewer or none of the virus to attach and spread.   Increasing your daily zinc intake with a supplement will help you combat any of those viruses you come across throughout your travels.

 

Probiotics

It is definitely not a bad idea to fortify your gut when traveling.  Adventuring through different cities, states, and countries can often lead to digestion issues and upset stomachs.  Loading up on healthy bacteria can help your body fight off any kind of foreign bacteria.  Furthermore, 80% of your immune system is in your gut, so making sure your good bacteria outnumbers the bad helps keep your immune system strong.  Look for probiotics that do not require refrigeration.

 

Protein Powder

When we travel, we are more than likely not going to be able to find free-range chicken and grass-fed beef on our dinner menus, so getting high quality sources of protein may be tricky.  Because of this, I tend to eat veggie-heavy when traveling, and need to make sure I am getting enough protein.  Similar to the greens powder, these powders pack serious amounts of protein, and should be available at most grocery stores.

 

H2O!

We all know this is one that we can’t bring from home due to airport regulations, but I couldn’t omit water as a travel essential because it is so important to stay hydrated when traveling.  Traveling is extremely dehydrating, especially plane rides, so make sure that once you get through those security gates, you drink up.  The rule of thumb is to drink 8 ounces per hour on board.  Staying hydrated throughout your trip will allow you to have more energy, boosts your mood, and can even help you control your appetite!

 

 

PACKING SNACKS

Along with the healthful essentials mentioned above, I like to pack some tasty, nutritious snacks when we travel, especially if we will be staying in multiple hotels and out all day seeing the sights.   Here are some of my favorite food items that travel well, and that you can enjoy anytime whether it be at the airport or at your destination.   Snacks come in very handy when hunger strikes in the middle of a 3-hour Medieval Castle tour!  All of these things saved me on our last long trip in Europe.

Trail Mix

Dried fruits and nuts travel beautifully and are such a tasty treat full of fiber, good fats and protein — all of which stave off hunger pangs and keep blood sugar stable.  I pack a crazy amount of trail mix in large bag and then transfer some to a small bag to carry around every day.

 

Nut Butters

Nut butters are a great source of protein and come in so many different varieties.  Whole Foods carries individual pouches of Justin’s almond and peanut butters, or bring a jar of your favorite.  Bananas, brown rice cakes and spelt pretzel sticks are all great dippers!

 

Dehydrated Fruits and Veggies

If you have a dehydrator, now is the time to pull it out and dust it off!  This is a great way to take perishables like fruits and veggies last through the long haul with you.  Apple, beet, and zucchini chips are great, and I recently dehydrated mango slices that turned out fabulous.  Of course, you can easily find many unsweetened and unsulphured options at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, as well as other natural food stores and farmers markets.

 

Dark Chocolate

Carrying a square or two of dark chocolate in my purse has definitely stopped me from staring down a hot fudge sundae at 11pm.  Cocoa has so many health benefits (including antioxidants and minerals) and is a great alternative to have around when that pesky sweet tooth comes along.  Look for chocolate with at least 70% cacao, otherwise you’ll be eating too much sugar.  And keep it wrapped well in case you are in a hot climate.  You don’t want chocolate melting on the inside of your brand new purse!

 

Popcorn

Homemade popcorn is very healthful compared to most other “snack foods,” and is something that can be made at home in advance (check out this post) or Whole Foods sells individual bags.  Perfect for the salt-lovers like me!

 

Bars

Granola bars, protein bars, energy bars, oh my!  Whichever type of bar you prefer, these are my ultimate go-to when traveling.  These bars can be loaded with nuts, seeds, oats, and dried fruits, which are all very filling and healthful, provided you read your labels and look for those made without tons of sugar and gross protein isolates.  There are a lot of great store-bought options like Elemental Bars, Kind Bars, Rise Bars and Pure Organic bars.  But if you prefer to make your own, check out my favorite granola bar recipe here, or a newer recipe for homemade Larabars!  I actually made a batch of my homemade granola bars two weeks ago and froze them, so I didn’t have to do them at the last minute when I was scrambling to get everything else done.

 

Homemade Chips

Avoid the cheetos/fritos/doritos disaster and bring a better quality chip!  I like the brand Food Should Taste Good, which makes a non-GMO, gluten-free tortilla chip in loads of delicious flavors.  And we also like pita chips and rice cakes (not technically chips, but satisfies the need for something crunchy.) Or if you’re up for it, try making these homemade tortilla chips-either plain or cinnamon sugar!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with all of my adventures.  For those of you traveling this summer, have fun and be safe!