It's Just...A little Crush...."

Although I’m not a gourmet cook, I do love to prepare vegetables. I’m very picky about what I put into my salads and I’ve been known to throw out a whole cucumber or tomato if it’s not up to my taste standards. And although I find cutting,dicing, and chopping veggies almost therapeutic in the evening before dinner, I’d prefer to have someone else do the work when I’m having a quick lunch.

So, with that in mind, I was thrilled to discover the restaurant, Crushed Red (http://www.crushed-red.com) in Clayton (a suburb of St. Louis); a fabulous fast-casual place operated by veteran restaurantuer Chris LaRocca, Jason Tilford (Panera’s former national bakery director), Mike Marino, Ralph Kalish Jr., and Powell Kalish. Their belief is that customers should “see the ingredients of their food as (it is) being prepared… (so) food can taste amazing while remaining healthy…”. And boy have they delivered on that!

They serve amazingly fresh and delicious chopped-to-order salads, homemade soups, handcrafted pizza and small plates. The creatively named salad combinations on their menu are such a great mix of flavors, and they have so many different ones that you could eat there every day of the week and not repeat your order. My husband likes the “Welcome Back Cobber” with field greens, chicken breast, avocado, and blue cheese, while my daughter prefers the “Health Nut” with broccoli, edamame, garbanzo beans and dried cranberries.

I prefer the “Choose Your Own” option, where you pick your greens, and a choice of four “toppings”; veggies (over seventeen choices), beans, fruit, cheese, meat, and crunch, and finally your dressing (12 varieties).

Ordering the salad is fun, but the best part is watching them make it. They put all of your ingredients into a chilled metal bowl (Salads are available in “Mini”, “Regular”, and “Large”). Then, they turn them out onto a huge chopping block, chopping the salad with a tool called a mezzaluna knife. Mezzaluna means “half-moon” in Italian and the knife has a double curved blade with a handle on each end. They chop and toss the ingredients together and the process blends the flavors beautifully. They’ll toss the dressing in the bowl, but I get it on the side, because the salad is actually very flavorful on its own.

The pizzas also look amazing, but I’ve yet to try one since there are still so many salad choices. They too are prepared with fresh ingredients and cooked to order quickly in a VERY hot oven. Their soups are also yummy (I always steal a few tastes when my daughter orders the Butternut squash soup).

It’s a great place to get exactly what you want and know that you have so many healthy and nutritious options! The link to the nutritional information for all of their menu offerings is http://www.crnutritionals.com , and they even have an option for figuring out the nutrition in a “Make Your Own”.

They’re located at 8007 Maryland Ave at the corner of Maryland and Meremac in Clayton (next to SWEAT gym), and also in Kirkwood by Bar Louie. They just opened this week on Olive Blvd. in Creve Coeur next to Cutco and Sprint.
They get your food ready quickly, but it does get crowded between 11:30 and 12:30, so expect a line. But once you get to the front, it’s well worth the wait!

"Cider House Rules..."

I’m always looking for ways to improve my health, and I especially love when I find health benefits from particular foods. Whether it be green tea, coffee, broccoli or quinoa, I ‘ll try it if the nutrients will benefit my health and well-being! I’m leery about supplements and pills, so if I hear about the benefits of a food that I would likely eat anyway, I’ll give it a shot.

So, when I read this Facebook post by my friend Shelley a few months ago, my curiosity was piqued:

“My Health Tip I swear by!!!! If you have ANY pain - PLEASE try this and give it a few weeks!
I started drinking one teaspoon of Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar in water- three times a day. I have studied … how we can get rid of inflammation, disease, viruses etc…. Day 11 -This is THE BEST medicine that I have taken in years!!! I went from sick and possibly starting on IV's 10 days ago - to feeling so energetic and healthy that I am amazed!
** This is strictly my opinion and not a medical claim.”

First, a few things about Shelley. She is an amazingly positive and health-conscious woman. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at a young age, she wasn’t supposed to live much past her 20s. Now, at 50 something, she has defied all odds, due mostly to being proactive about her own health and nutrition. (You can learn more about Shelley by reading her inspirational blog http://www.shellymaguire.com/blog/) Mostly because I believe Shelley really does know what she’s talking about, I decided to do some research of my own and try the Apple Cider vinegar regimen.


Apparently, the antibacterial properties of vinegar were recognized as long ago as 400 BC, used by Hippocrates to treat patients suffering from infections. It’s been used for pain relief, soothing sore throats, weight loss, and even skin care.
The unpasteurized vinegar has a layer of film floating at the top of the bottle. This cloudy layer is referred to as "the mother," and is responsible for the fermentation process of vinegar. Found primarily in apple cider vinegar produced organically, this film layer is often touted for its nutrients and potential health benefits. When you first see this floating substance it's pretty unappetizing compared to the name brand distilled apple cider vinegars, which have a bright color and are free of the cob- web floating substances. But, distilling apple cider vinegar destroys the “mother” substance that contains the nutritional health values

It’s detoxification and antioxidant benefits, and, of course, weight loss benefits, were what most appealed to me. Studies show that taking 2-3 teaspoons three time a day (usually before each meal) can iincrease your metabolism, generate energy and reduce hunger. It also helps to detoxify the liver which plays an important role in weight loss.

So I figured “Why not?”
It’s a food product; one that I’d eat on a salad or with vegetables;
it’s pretty inexpensive, unlike so many of the supplements and supplement drinks on the market; and, I couldn’t find evidence of any negative effects from the vinegar.

I started the vinegar regimen about two months ago, and, in addition to helping me lose and maintain my weight, it has really helped me reduce muscle soreness from my workouts, increased my energy, and kept me generally, illness-free. During the first week or two, I didn’t feel great, and I chalked that up to the vinegar ridding my system of the toxins. I even got my husband on board. (Added July, 2015: I have been taking the vinegar for a year and a half and continue to see the benefits I first saw)

Remember though, it is vinegar; and the taste isn't really very appealing by itself. Many people recommend mixing it with honey and water or agave syrup.I don't want the extra calories, so I mix the two teaspoons in water with a little bit of Stevia to temper the “bite”. My husband drinks it straight, hardcore in a shot glass. My friend Robyn mixes it with a large glass of water and drinks it throughout the day, and my friend Lori R. mixes it with hot tea and sweetener and says it tastes like hot apple cider.

And, like Shelley said, this is NOT a medical claim, but a product that is working to improve my own health that I wanted to share with all of you!
Let me know what you think!
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