Hi gang! The majority of you were interested in also reading about some workout gear reviews here at OHC, so here we go!  First up is one of my favorite pieces of gear, my running hat made by Under Armour. The first time I wore this hat was during my first half.  I know, never do anything new on race day, right?  Well a few days before the race I realized that a hat would help keep the sun and sweat out of my eyes.  And if I hated it, then I would just toss it to Scott at some point along the way.

I know that was a poor plan but it was a few days before race day and I was desperate.  I picked this hat up at a local sporting goods shop and it came in two colors, white with a green logo or black with a pink logo.  I detest anything pink (just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I like pink! Good grief!) so I opted for the white hat.  I love green so it worked out.

This hat is very light which helps keep my head cool but also protects it from getting sun burn.  The fit is amazing and the first time I wore it, it felt like a well broken in hat.  The visor keeps the sun out of my face and the band on the inside of the hat keeps the sweat on my forehead from running down into my eyes.

The best part of this hat aside from all those other things I just listed? I can toss it in the washer and dryer with no issues.  I wear this hat all the time.  Everyday for my runs in the spring and summer.  I also wear it if I know I’m going to be outside for extended periods of time like hiking, our recent trip to the zoo, and when I’m doing yard work.

There is one downside but it’s minor. The adjustable strap in the back is a little funky. You are supposed to be able to hide the end of the strap in a little pocket on the side but that only works if you don’t have to tighten the strap too much.  I have a pin head, no seriously I have a very tiny head and I had to shove and convince the end of the strap to fit in that little pocket.  I worked up such a sweat just doing that alone!

Aside from that little issue, this is a great hat!  I would love to have more in different colors but I haven’t seen any yet. The website does have two other colors listed, so I think it’s time for me to head out and see if I can find some.  If you wear hats when you run, give this a go.  Or even if you hike and walk a lot, try it out!

I was all set to review another cracker for today but I tossed that out the window because I need to talk to you about a cracker love affair I have going on right now.

It started with Triscuits.  We all know Triscuits, right?  The wheat cracker that puts on airs and pretends to be healthy for you.  “But it’s wheat! And there’s fiber too!” I used to love Triscuits!  The Rosemary and Olive Oil being my favorite flavor.  They were crunchy, a little salty, and went perfectly with hummus.  I thought I was doing alright.

Then I read the ingredients list.

Pfftttttt You’re not kidding me Nabisco, the Triscuit ingredient list isn’t so hot. That’s for the Rosemary Olive Oil flavor.  Just in case you don’t want to click the link, here’s what the ingredients say, bolding mine:

Ingredients: WHOLE WHEAT, SOYBEAN AND/OR PALM OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, SALT, SPICES (INCLUDES ROSEMARY), MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (FLAVOR ENHANCER), ONION POWDER, NATURAL FLAVOR, OLIVE OIL.

Soybean AND/OR Palm Oil?  It could have one or it could have both? Are we playing some sort of oil game?  “Oooo which one are we going to get?” while crossing our fingers wishing it’s one or the other.

Maltodextrin is a starch that is used as a sweetener to foods. It’s an additive that isn’t needed.  Don’t be fooled by articles claiming “it’s all natural and derived from natural plants or vegetables.”  Same can be said for HFCS and we all know that’s not good stuff.

Monosodium Glutamate = MSG. I love how they sugar coat that by calling it a “Flavor Enhancer”.  I don’t about you but I don’t want MSG in my food, thanks.

What is “natural flavor”?  Does anyone know what that even means?

And then there’s olive oil which is good for you!  But it’s at the end of the ingredient list and since ingredients are listed by weight that means there is very little of it present.  Bonus, if we picked a winning box which contains both Soybean and Palm Oil AND Olive Oil, that’s a hell of a lot of oil in a cracker isn’t it?

You can see why I kicked Triscuits to the curb. And in case you’re curious, the ingredients for plain Triscuits are:

Ingredients: WHOLE WHEAT, SOYBEAN AND/OR PALM OIL, SALT.

Still playing the game of chance with the soybean and palm oil ingredients.    Why would I want to do that?

Exactly.

But I loved them!  So my plan was to find an alternative and that’s when I discovered 365 Brand Woven Wheat Crackers.  Admittedly they could use a different name.  Come on Whole Foods, Woven Wheat?  Like someone’s going to pull something out of the box resembling an area rug their grandma made.  Let’s work on a new name!

But in the meantime I am going through these crackers like they might not last forever.  Check out the ingredients list:

Oh snap! Triscuit just got crack slapped by Woven Wheat!  Woven Wheat has two ingredients.

TWO.

Whole Wheat and salt.  None of this AND/OR bidness.  No added oils, “flavor enhancers”, and no vague “natural flavor” addition, and no phoney “but it’s really okay” food additives.

Just wheat and salt.

YES! This is an ingredient list I can live with.  This is the type of ingredient list I want on my foods.  Short and simple.

Because I know you’re wondering, here is what Woven Wheat looks like. Totally not like Grandma Betsy’s area rugs.  Unless she’s making one for Barbie and Barbie is into sensible neutral colors.

If you’ve done the Triscuit thing and you’re looking for a better alternative, please check these out.  They can be found at Whole Foods stores which are all over the place. So go get yourself some Woven Wheats! And maybe together we can help them come up with a better name. Just kidding, Whole Foods! Woven Wheat is totally cool! (P.S. Not really.)

2% Fage

I decided to add a new tag to my reviews so that I can start telling you about my favorite things.  Sure a review of a product I’ve tried is fun but I thought you might be interested in some of the things I consider my staples, my must-haves.

Daily Eats readers will recognize this item, my precious 2% Fage.  Ever since I dived into the Greek yogurt world, I have not left it.  There are different varieties around and I’ve tried some and will be trying more, but 2% Fage has my heart.

For those unfamiliar with Greek yogurt, it is a yogurt that has been strained leaving a very thick product behind.  The texture is sort of a cross between good sour cream and a cream cheese, very dense and rich.  Greek yogurt also tends to have more protein than regular yogurt.  Part of the reason why I’m a fan, to me, more protein is always a good thing.

Fage comes in three types:

• Total which means full fat
• 2% which is 2% fat content
• 0% which has no fat at all

The full fat version has just a bit too much fat for me.  I have tried the 0% but didn’t care for it too much.  The taste didn’t really sit right on my tongue and the texture wasn’t as creamy.  2% is where the love is.  It has just enough fat to give it a lovely creamy texture but not so much that you have to eat lettuce for the rest of the day.

Good for you...

Greek yogurt is very tart, that combined with its texture and ability to be heated makes it very handy in the kitchen.  Because of its tartness, it can be used in savory dishes as a replacement for sour cream.  We’ve put it on tacos, mixed it in soup, made dressings and dips out of it.  Add in a bit of sweetness to lead you down a whole other path.  You can top it with a bit of fruit preserves, mix in some granola, dried, or fresh fruit, and you have an amazing snack.

To make sure I’m taking in good protein and getting some calcium, I eat yogurt almost everyday.  I love when it’s yogurt time!  For those that have never tried Greek yogurt before, it can take some getting used to.  But don’t give up! Play around with it and see what happens.

My favorite ways to eat 2% Fage:

• Using it to make a ranch type dressing for veggies and salads
• 2% fage + chocolate granola + dried cranberries (or cranberry jelly in the fall)
• Adding a bit to guacamole for some extra tang and creaminess
• Yogurt messes, which can be found all over my Daily Eats blog.  Like today for example!

Fage also has single containers of the three types or you can buy singles with a bit of fruit that you scoop onto the yogurt.  Peach being my favorite of those.

That large tub lasts us about a week, maybe a little less. The serving size is 1 Cup, but because of the texture and richness of the yogurt, 1 Cup is actually quite a bit!  For a snack, my serving is not even a 1/4C of yogurt.  While for a meal, I probably do have 1/4C, with mix-ins it makes for a decent breakfast.

No lie, I will make Scott drive me all over to so I can have yogurt in my fridge.  I have to look for it because sometimes if the grocery store is out, it takes a while before they restock.  If I have trouble finding some and cannot get my yogurt fix, I become really crabby about the situation.  I’m telling you, it’s good stuff!!  If you haven’t given Greek yogurt a try, pick up some Fage and see what you think!