Day 7 – Traveling to Valencia

We arrived Valencia yesterday morning after a 3 1/2 hour train ride from Barcelona. Finding something healthy to eat on the road was impossible. The train station offered the typical fare of high sugar and high fat pastries, and processed meat sandwiches. All I could find was a not so fresh orange to tie me over. On the train, the food was equally processed. Their meal deals included a Coke and a bag of chips with a sandwich. Whatever happened to the Mediterranean diet? I didn’t find the old world foods right away when we set foot in the city but I did find a new world food trend emerging at Tapas bars. At Comer & Beber Cafe & Tapas, there was a great selections of Fresh fruit smoothies made with just fresh fruits and vegetables. The Green Booster was delicious. I don’t foresee fruit smoothies replacing wine and beer at Tapas bars anytime soon but what a great way to round out your diet.

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Last meal in Barcelona

Any great beginning must have an even better ending. We went back to Mokai, the restaurant on the beach, and ate the same meal we had on the night we arrived in Spain. The food and atmosphere were just as pleasing but we appreciate everything even more now that we are leaving Barcelona in the morning!


First meal in Spain

Just arrived in Barcelona last night after a long flight from San Francisoco. My family and I were looking for a delicious, but of course healthy meal, near our rented apartment located about 1/2 mile from the beach. It’s never easy spoting healthy restaurant food when traveling, but the chance is slim when you’re a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. Checking out the menu before sitting down is always a smart move. Even then, you never know if the menu description is accurate and if the dishes will meet your expectation when they show up. Our 2 dishes were not only nutritious but gluten-free and complement well in flavor. The Grilled vegetables with goat cheese was drizzled with generous amount of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. A slice of lightly grilled goat cheese was a perfect topping on the vegetables. The grilled shrimp with coconut listed on the menu was a dish of 5 huge shrimps that came with heads and shells, served with a slaw type salad. The shrimps tastes fresh and had a hint of coconut milk. All this yummy food went perfectly with a glass of local Cava. Not only am I going back for this meal again, I will be adding these 2 dishes to my repertoire of healthy recipes!


Breakfast in Bed

Today is my son’s 8th birthday. To continue with our family tradition, he was served breakfast in bed this morning. Since it was a work day for me, it’s got to be fast and easy but special at the same time. My Heart Healthy Raspberry Scone is perfect for the occasion. It’s delicious, nutritious and extremely yummy! Try this recipe and let me know what you think.

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup organic butter

1 cup fresh or frozen organic raspberries

1 cup buttermilk

Combine all-purpose flour and whole wheat flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in raspberries; add buttermilk and mix lightly. Drop by spoonfuls into 10 mounds on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in 425F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden.

Each scone has 150 Calories, 5 g fat, 4 g protein, 23 g carbohydrate, and 2 g fiber.