Jun20

CHA CHA CHA CHIA!

Posted By: Daphne's
Categories: EAT WELL

No, not the terra-cotta, hair growing, pointless house plants retired (for good reason) long ago from those 1995 infomercials. Well yes, we are actually speaking of the same seed, however researchers have discovered a far better role that have the health-conscious buzzing about nutritional benefits exceeding it's fuzzy past. And lucky for us, the Central American native is now conveniently located at your local grocer.

1. Energy Boost - Although the miniscule seed may not look like very sustaining, when mixed with water, the seeds expand creating a porridge-like consistency helping you feel fuller longer while simultaneously providing surges of energy during and after workouts. Chia seeds are great for athletes and marathon runners in particular now swear by them!

2. Nutritional Powerhouse - Again, don't let size fool you, as servings of this seed pack in more omega 3's than salmon, more calcium than milk, more potassium than bananas, 2 times the protein of any other grain, and an excellent source of fiber. Oh and not to mention, chia is gluten free which makes this grain ideal for everyone!

3. Blood Sugar Regulator - If you have diabetes, chia can keep that blood sugar level in balance. Because the seeds contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, and have the ability to absorb water, this together helps slow down your body's transformation of starch into sugar.

Source: Huffington Post, rawreform.com, Dr. Oz

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/16/chia-seeds_n_1419525.html 

http://www.rawreform.com/content/view/345/127/ 

http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/lindsey-duncan-nd-cn/chia-ancient-super-secret

Jun06

POWERFUL COMBINATIONS

Posted By: Daphne's
Categories: EAT WELL, lemon, Menu

We all know that fruits, vegetables, dark chocolates, legumes and protein have their benefits individually, but did you know that when paired with specific foods, those benefits get even better?

The list is endless, but here are 5 powerful combinations that will REALLY do the body good.

Kidney Beans + Green Bell Pepper -  For those who are cutting down on red meat you may think legumes and beans are the perfect iron-packed alternative. Problem is, only 2 to 20% of plant iron is actually absorbed by the body. Solution? The powerful vitamin C of green bell pepper forces your body to take in more of the mineral and increases absorption six-fold! 

Oatmeal + Orange Juice - Drinking vitamin C rich OJ while enjoying a bowl of non processed oatmeal cleanses your arteries and prevents heart attacks with two times as much effectiveness than if you were to ingest either breakfast staple alone. The organic compounds in both foods stabilize LDL "bad" cholesterol when consumed together.

Apples + Chocolate - Red apples are known to be high in anti-inflammatory flavonoids called quercetin. Chocolate contain the flavonoid catechin which acts as an antioxidant that reduces the risk for cancer and atherosclerosis. When paired together, these two powerhouses loosen clumpy blood platelets to improve cardiovascular health and provide anticoagulant activity. 

Kale + Lemon  - Vitamin C help make plant based iron more absorbable. When Lemon mixes with kale, the vitamin C actually converts much of the plant-based iron into a form that is similar to what is found in fish and red meats. 

Red Meat + Rosemary - We've all heard of the harmful carcinogens that produce when grilling over an open flame, but adding a little herb can actually temper the cancer-causing effects.

Rosemary contains the antioxidants rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid and lowers the amount of those cancer causing carcinogens that appear in charred meats. The hardy herb literally soaks up the meat's dangerous free radicals. 

Sources: menshealth.com greenlifepages.com mealprograms.com


May22

Want to EAT WELL and LIVE WELL? A Mediterranean Diet can help.

Posted By: Daphne's
Categories: EAT WELL, Healthy Living

Why the Mediterranean Diet can help you... Eat well. Live well. 

The world-famous Mayo Clinic has an excellent summary of the Mediterranean diet online and Daphne's California Greek can help anyone implement elements of this eating plan easily and painlessly. 

According to mayoclinic.com, "[Most] if not all major scientific organizations encourage healthy adults to adapt a style of eating like that of the Mediterranean diet for prevention of major chronic diseases..." A recent study involving 1.5 million healthy adults showed that a Mediterranean diet, "was associated with a reduced risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality, a reduced incidence of cancer and cancer mortality, and a reduced incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases."

The best part about a Mediterranean diet is that it's healthy without being restrictive, boring, or difficult to understand. Think flavorful fish and poultry, bright herbs and spice, whole grains, nuts, yogurt, olive oil, red wine... Spend less time with red meat, butter, lard, salt etc. and concentrate on building your meals around plant-based foods -- rather than an outsized lump of fatty meat!

The diet does not limit total fat consumption but it's very important to make wise choices: Avoid hydrogenated oils (trans-fats) and saturated fats. Daphne's menu items and cooking oils are all trans-fat free, with the exception of naturally-occurring trans-fats. And we never use MSG, preferring to coax out natural flavors with herbs, spices, and appropriate cooking techniques.

A few Daphne's menu favorites that typify the Mediterranean diet:

Classic Falafel Pita $5.99, 510 cal

Fire-Roasted Vegetables $1.69, 50 cal

Premium Hummus & Multigrain Pita Chips $1.49 290-360 cal

Rustic Greek Flatbread Pizza $5.69, 460 cal

Grilled Salmon Plate $11.49, 330 cal (+sides)

Three-Course Dinner (w/ Premium Hummus & Multigrain Pita Chips; Grilled Chicken Kabob & Lemon Chicken Soup; Fire-Roasted Vegetables; Tabouli; Caramel Pecan Dessert) $8.99, 820-890 cal

Aside from being easy to follow and very, very tasty, the Mediterranean diet emphasizes getting plenty or exercise and of enjoying your meals with family and friends. Nowhere does the diet suggest "watching more reality TV" or "eating alone in your car in the office parking lot." 

Food for thought...

For more information, click here

Apr19

DECADE OF DOMINANCE

Posted By: Daphne's
Categories: Artist of the Month, California Greek Culture, concert, Daphne's California Greek, EAT WELL, Events, fashion island, Festival, Live Well, Music, newport beach, newport beach film festival, quiksilver, Quiksilver waterman collection, rob machado, stand up paddleboarding, waterman collection

10x World Paddleboard Champion and Quiksilver Waterman Collection Ambassador, Jamie Mitchell is premiering his documentary, Decade of Dominance at the upcoming Newport Beach Film Festival and we're inviting YOU to preview highlights and behind-the-scenes footage of the film! 

Join us April 24th for an evening of incredible cinematography, live music from Jakob Martin and of course, catering by yours truly.

APRIL 24, 6-8:00PM

Fashion Island Shopping Center
Quiksilver Waterman Collection Store
259 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA  92660
(949) 718-9792

Apr12

YogaBabe on Red Onions

Posted By: Daphne's
Categories: benefits of red onion, California Greek Culture, cooking blog, Daphne's California Greek, EAT WELL, Jessica Mulvey, red onion health benefits, red_onion, yoga classes, yoga poses, YogaBabes, YogaBabes

What would so many of our favorite dishes be without the red onion? This versatile vegetable is used in many dishes and sauces because of it's delicious flavor and irresistible crunch, but it also contains some important health benefits. Let us get acquainted with the red onion. 


First know that it can be consumed both raw and cooked, but the flavor changes dramatically once cooked. When selecting a red onion, look for one with a dry, papery skin that has no blemishes or wet/dark spots. Onions should be stored in a cool, dry location that is away from potatoes. (Placing onions near potatoes will cause them to both spoil quickly.) Also, a fun fact about the onion in general, is that it gave the city of Chicago its name. The Chippewa Indians found these "she-gau-ga-winshe" growing at the site of the modern day city... yep sound it out, it sounds like Chi-ca-go!

On a more relevant note, red onions are very good for us because they have been found to contain anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Nutritionally, red onions are low in calories, have no cholesterol, and contain zero fat! Red onions also provide significant amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and are a good source of dietary fiber. 

Needless to say, don't fear the red onion because it makes you cry when you cut it. Rather add it to your salads, classic pita sandwiches, and flatbreads. It’s tasty, crunchy, and really good!

-Yogababe
Image source


Mar30

EAT WELL. LIVE WELL. PIN WELL.

Posted By: Daphne's
Categories: anaerobic exercise, Art, Artist of the Month, California Greek Culture, chicken wraps, climbing walls, Coconut Milk, Daphne's California Greek, EAT WELL, Exercise, Healthy Living, healthy living, liquid gold, Live Well, pinterest, pinteresting, pinterests, yoga classes, yoga poses, yoga postures, YogaBabes

Are you on Pinterest?
Frankly stated, it's a visual feast for just about everything and we are officially hooked!
If you haven't already, sign up now and follow our boards H E R E.

Mar27

EAT WELL. LIVE WELL. SHANNON BANE

Posted By: Daphne's
Categories: aerobic, aerobic training, California Greek Culture, Competition, Daphne's California Greek, EAT WELL, Exercise, fitness, Fitness, Healthy Living, healthy living, Live Well, running

When he's not monitoring, forecasting, and structuring Daphne's finances, Daphne's CFO Shannon Bane is swimming, biking, and running his way through Ironman competitions. Bane competes in 3 to 5 triathlons per year and recently completed the Arizona Ironman. “It’s one thing to preach a healthy active lifestyle, it’s another to live it.” Scheduling triathlons throughout the year keeps me focused on training and striving to improve.”     

EAT WELL. Daphne’s Chargrilled Chilean salmon, fresh fruit and every once in a while shredded beef tacos at Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill. 

LIVE WELL. Triathlons, Snowboarding, Mountain Biking, Coaching Youth Sports

Mar14

The Ultimate FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY

Posted By: Daphne's
Categories: Daphne's California Greek, Daphne's California Greek, Daphne's Team Riders, EAT WELL, Kelly Slater 11th World Title, Live Well, quiksilver, quiksilver boardshorts, Quiksilver Pro, Surf, surfing magazine


Hop onto to Facebook and don't miss out on this great giveaway with Daphne's brand ambassador Kelly Slater, Surfing Magazine and Quiksilver!

Click on the image to ENTER NOW!

Mar05

How to Slice a Mango

Posted By: Daphne's
Categories: Daphne's California Greek, EAT WELL, food network, how to peel a mango, how to slice a mango, how to slice a mango, mango, mango.org

We're adding a new ingredient to our menu and thought it necessary to devote an entire week to the colorful, flavorful and nutritious goodness of the MANGO! 
Mango.Org joins our Facebook this week for all things mangos. To properly start of this week, we thought we'd give you a little insight on how to slice and dice a mango with ease!

Feb29

Eat, Surf, Then Really Eat.

Posted By: Chris Cote
Categories: California Greek Culture, Chris Cote, Daphne's California Greek, EAT WELL, Exercise, Fitness, fitness, fitness, healthy living, Kelly Slater 11th World Title, Live Well, nutrition and diet, Surf, Transworld Surf

There’s a certain balance one must reach when it comes to pre-surf eating. Remember what your mom used to say? “Wait 30 minutes to swim after eating”—she warned of cramps and other demons that you’d be stricken with if you broke the 30-minute post-meal barrier and jumped in a pool. Sometimes it pays to listen to your mom, especially in this instance. Surfing after a big meal summed up in one word is—sucky. There’s nothing worse than trying to paddle through early a.m. waves while laying on top of a big balled-up breakfast burrito, if you’ve never done it, put a softball on the ground and lay on top of it; doesn't feel good, does it. The other side of the surf-food coin is surfing on a totally empty stomach. Surfing takes a lot of energy, and if you are starving, you’ll be feeling weak and woozy, making your surf experience exactly that—weak and woozy. The best pre-surf food situation would be a handful of nuts and a banana—I think this is what Kelly Slater eats before heats. Rob Machado recommends an acai bowl with some nuts on top—not a huge bowl, just a bowl big enough to give you energy enough for a two-hour session. Most Americans over-eat and surfers are no different. My best advice would be to eat a small healthy snack that provides the protein to carry you through, on, and around the waves you’re trying to surf—seven donuts and three cups of coffee may sound like an ideal pre-surf meal, but trust me, you will be surfing like an overweight sloth. Kelly Slater often says that his diet is one of the main reasons why he’s still out there whipping on the youngsters with such ease. Eat well—surf better.

Now the after surf meal, that’s whole different ballgame ... Treat yourself right, you just surfed up a healthy appetite. I wonder what flavor coffee best compliments a chicken sandwich with donuts for bread?

—Chris Cote

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