The Official Blog of The GEM.

SHINE BRIGHTER. Our goal is to live better and be better.

Tag Archives: organic snacks


Inside Our Ingredients (And Why ORGANIC Matters!)

Posted on October 22, 2020 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on Inside Our Ingredients (And Why ORGANIC Matters!)

Here’s our hot take, GEMs; Living an #HonestlyOrganic lifestyle means choosing only the BEST for your body. No pesticides, no GMOs, no kidding.

ORDER HONESTLY ORGANIC GREEN BITES, JUICES & SMOOTHIES FOR PICKUP & DELIVERY !

Being conscious of where our food comes from offers long-term benefits for both body and mind. When you choose organic, you unleash the superpowers of clean, whole foods that produce a positive environment on our insides AND on our earth. 

We’re committed to providing you with Honestly Organic ingredients to help you on your path toward healthier living. Here’s the lowdown on each of our ingredients inside The GEM. 

THE HEALTHY SCOOP ON OUR HONESTLY ORGANIC INGREDIENTS

  • Almonds: A good source of manganese and copper, and high in health-promoting fats associated with reduced risk of heart disease.
  • Apples: High in Vitamin C, antioxidants, and soluble fiber.  An apple a day… 
  • Bananas: Rich in Vitamin B6 and C, plus a good source of fiber, magnesium and potassium. They make our GEM smoothies super rich and creamy!
  • Beets: supports healing and detoxification of the liver and kidneys, and helps stimulate the lymph system, flushing out fatty deposits.
  • Blueberries: An incredible antioxidant cancer-fighting, cardiovascular health-promoting super fruit.
  • Carrots: High in vitamin A, offering optimal immune support and healing properties. stimulates a fat-flushing reaction in your system.
  • Cashews: Great source for healthy dairy alternative, provides a wide array of health benefits and is high in B vitamins, magnesium and copper.
  • Cayenne: This anti-inflammatory spice stimulates circulation, increases metabolism and neutralizes acidity in the body, 
  • Celery: This anti-inflammatory  heals the gut, purifies the blood, strengthens the bones, and lowers blood pressure.
  • Chia Seeds: high in iron, calcium, antioxidants and omega-3s.
  • Chlorophyll:  Boosts the immune system, cleanses the digestive tract, the liver and the blood. Found in all leafy greens. An amazing natural defense against the effects of stress. 
  • Cinnamon: Regulates the body’s blood sugar levels, and rich in trace minerals, iron, calcium, and quality dietary fiber. 
  • Cucumber: A natural diuretic that aids in kidney, liver and pancreatic detoxification, helps regulate blood pressure. Incredibly alkalizing!
  • Coconut Butter: Contains healthy, healing, MCT fats–considered a rare and important building block of every cell in the human body. Boosts immunity, kills bacteria and viruses, protects against cancer, heart disease and promotes calcium absorption. Great for skin radiance.
  • Dates: High in fiber, Vitamin A, magnesium, and antioxidants.
  • Ginger: aids digestion and circulation while reducing inflammation and nausea. It is the ultimate ally in fighting nasty cold and flu symptoms.  Also considered to have anti-cancer properties.
  • Hemp: rich in protein and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins A, E, B-12 and folic acid, and is rich in magnesium, potassium, iron and magnesium. 
  • Kale: contains more readily absorbed calcium than milk. Rich in lutein and beta-carotene, major anti-cancer phytochemicals playing a role against cancer, heart disease, and certain age-related chronic diseases. The detox benefits of chlorophyll alone make this one of the MVPs of kale nutrients.
  • Lemon: stimulates the digestive system, purifies the liver and clears out toxins. a natural antiseptic—clearing bad bacteria out of the system. Incredibly alkalizing. 
  • Maca: Nutritionally dense super-food rich in B vitamins (energy),Beneficial for hormonal problems including PMS, menopause, and hot flashes. Best known for improving libido and sexual function, especially in men. For this reason, it’s earned the nickname “nature’s Viagra.”
  • Mango: Rich in dietary fiber, potassium and antioxidant compounds, and has been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.
  • Maple Syrup: contains 54 different antioxidants.
  • Orange: rich in Vitamin C, plus plenty of fiber! 
  • Pomegranate: rich phytochemicals that fight certain cancers
  • Sea Salt: Naturally alkalizing with many essential trace minerals your body needs.
  • Spinach: This chlorophyll-rich green is loaded with Calcium, Lutein,  Folic Acid, Vitamin K and Iron. Spinach is also rich in Vitamin C, fiber and carotenoids. Spinach is a nutritional powerhouse.
  • Turmeric: Fights infection, reduces joint inflammation, and treats digestive problems like bloating and gas. Also provides super protection against breast, prostate, skin and colon cancer.

Living an #HonestlyOrganic lifestyle means choosing only the BEST for your body. No pesticides, no GMOs, no kidding. Going organic is your best weapon against disease, and the key to living a healthier, happier life. We’re living proof! Questions about our ingredients? Come visit today!


10 Teen-Approved HEALTHY Summer Snacks

Posted on August 7, 2020 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on 10 Teen-Approved HEALTHY Summer Snacks

Those hungry teenagers eating you out of house and home? Don’t order Dominos just yet! We’ve got a few yummy, homemade ideas to keep them happy on snacks that are filling, fun and most importantly, HEALTHY.

NEED SNACKS NOW? ORDER GREEN BITES, JUICES & SMOOTHIES FOR PICKUP & DELIVERY!

The biggest key to eating healthy is to BE PREPARED! When you hit the grocery store or visit The GEM, pick up these staples to keep on hand for when hunger strikes this summer.

10 Summer Snacks For Hungry & Healthy Teens

  • CHIP DIP STATION! Siete Tortilla chips surrounded with a fun array of dips! Siete also makes an amazing, plant-based queso blanco that is really tasty! Add guacamole, GEM Pico, Rick’s Salsa, and GEM Jalapeno Pesto. Don’t forget our Badass 3 Bean Salad with corn chip dippers, too! 
  • VEGGIE PLATE with carrots, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, red bell pepper, grape tomatoes. Add a ramekin of our GEM Hummus, Ranch AND Jalapeño Pesto for the best dipping trio. The secret is to douse the carrot medallions and cucumbers with lots of fresh lime juice and sea salt. Don’t skip over this one! It’s magic.
  • SMOOTHIES. Pick up a few frozen smoothie kits from The GEM (our Maui GEM with pineapple, banana, orange and coconut is a crowd pleaser), or make your own at home with this perfectly simple, lightning-fast recipe:
    • Add 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of pomegranate juice, 1 frozen banana, 1.5 cup of fruit to the blender and ENJOY! Frozen, organic strawberries and blueberries work best.
  • ITALIAN PLATTER with chunks of parmesan cheese, nitrate free salami (my kids like Naturalissimo Milano style), Milton GF crackers, gherkin pickles, grape tomatoes sprinkled with sea salt, hummus topped with basil pesto. BAM!
  • FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER BANANA SLICES. Sandwich your favorite brand of organic peanut butter in between sliced bananas, then freeze. Dip in melted chocolate for an added treat. 
  • FROZEN GRAPES (Warning: highly addicting snack!). Simply freeze and eat!
  • AVOCADO TOAST sprinkled with cayenne, sea salt, and a little lemon, served on grain bread (Killer Dave’s makes the best!). Cut into quarters. PRO TIP: Let your avocados ripen on the counter, then put in the fridge—they will keep for much longer!
  • GRANOLA PARFAITS. What’s cool about these is you can make a few in small, 6-oz. mason jars and your teens can pop them out whenever they are ready! Here’s how we assemble them: 
    • Begin with a little granola on bottom, layer with plain Greek yogurt—or try an amazing dairy-free, plant-based option like from Kite Hill or Siggi’s. Milk & Patience is local and  has the most amazing vegan yogurts, too!
    • Layer berries. Raspberries, sliced strawberries, blueberries…don’t be shy!
    • Add more granola. One of our favorite granola brands Park Lane Pantry, a local company with amazing flavors—including a new chocolate flavor, too!
    • Top with a drizzle of maple syrup, honey or agave, a little extra fruit, and enjoy! 
  • EDAMAME. Just pour the frozen bag into boiling water for a couple minutes, drain, and add coarse sea salt. Try sprinkling with Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Salt.
  • BONUS SNACK IDEAS! Always have these items on hand for when you find yourself in a pinch:
    • Hard boiled eggs.
    • Nut butter with apples.
    • Organic popcorn made with coconut oil and sea salt.

Give yourself a variety of choices and healthy snacking doesn’t have to be boring. Whether it’s one or two of these each week, make it a habit of stashing a few of these items at the house. The key is to choose healthy snacks that will fill them up and help nourish your teens without adding too many calories. Try and you’ll see—our top ten teen-approved list of healthy summer snacks is sure to make you the hit of the summer snacking frenzy!

Happy Summer Snacking!


Back to School Part Three – Cleaner Junk Food and Quick Snack Food Ideas

Posted on August 14, 2017 by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on Back to School Part Three – Cleaner Junk Food and Quick Snack Food Ideas

If we look at your pantry right now, would it be laden with the traditional snack items like Doritos, OREOS and General Mills Cereals that we all grew up with?

A toxic storm of chemicals and science lab ingredients. But let’s be realistic. You have to have some junk food in your house. We can’t be perfect all the time. And, quite frankly, do you really want to be??

You don’t, however, have to eat those processed, chemical-laden, GMO riddled snacks! There are so many new alternative brands and organic versions out there.

Fruit Loops, Lunchables, and Cheetos ARE NOT OPTIONS.

I don’t recommend packaged junk food all the time, but we live in the real world. It’s gonna happen. PLUS, if you want your teens to gather at your house, you gotta have some ready to grab snacks!

Give these organic and non-GMO snacks a try.

 

These snack brands do not contain MSG, an ingredient that keeps you going back for more and more. MSG is why many of the GMO snack brands like Doritos are so addictive!!

The key is to BE PREPARED. Make regular trips to the grocery store, with a list of things that will sustain your teens (and their friends) for the week. Or check out these AMAZING delivery apps:

INSTACART – Get deliveries within an hour from Whole Foods, Costco and Central Market.  Awesome!

THRIVE MARKET – Get organic pantry products at great prices!

Don’t wait for them to start rummaging through the kitchen. They will snack on what is in front of them. So have it out on the counter.

Other awesome snack ideas:

  1. Organic popcorn made on the stove top with coconut oil and sea salt. So easy. Tiny But Mighty brand non-GMO popcorn kernels are fantastic.
  2. Sliced cucumbers/carrot rounds marinated in lime juice and sea salt. Don’t underestimate this one!
  3. Tex-Mex rules! Keep grass-fed taco meat ready to go. Always have these in your fridge:
    • Fresh pico, salsa, guac or bean dip. Nachos with pinto beans and organic cheese knock Cheetos out of the park! Make sure your tortillas are without chemical ingredients (say goodbye to Mission brand).
  4. Amy’s Nacho Snacks, Pizza Rolls or Burritos
  5. The GEM hummus with jalapeno pesto. Grab one of our snack packs for on the go!
  6. Keep sunflower seed and pistachios in a bowl on the counter.
  7. Make watermelon slushes in the afternoon. They will love you! How? Tons of watermelon on the bottom of the blender, frozen strawberries, a cup of ice, a peeled lemon or lime. Shazam!!
  8. Mini pizzas made with whole grain English muffins, fresh marinara and organic mozzarella. Whole Foods has great pre-made ones.
  9. Sami’s Cinnamon Chips will disappear at carpool time. Everyone LOVES these high fiber, low sugar (but don’t tell them that) chips. Available at The GEM.
  10. Keep whole wheat pasta ready in the fridge with marinara.
  11. Steam frozen ORGANIC edamame and add sea salt. Costco sells this!!
  12. Popsicles? Try these Austin-based GoodPop® All-Natural Frozen Pops. I love the Watermelon Agave and Coconut Lime Bars!!

 

These are not all super-food healthy snacks – because we don’t always obey the rules. They are, however, CLEAN, free of harmful chemicals and dyes. This is really important to remember when feeding your families. Good luck and … Happy End of Summer!

SaveSave