Review: Kramers Health Foods

Today, I wandered across the street from one of my downtown classes and I came across a great hidden gem in Chicago. Kramers Health Foods on South Wabash in the Loop. I saw it as I was exiting my class building so I thought I'd go in for a bottle of shampoo... I was shocked by the size of the store and the amount of products they had.

You walk in and there are coolers of healthy pre-made foods from kale salads, to sandwiches, to vegan and gluten free nachos. Not to mention the amount of cold drinks they had with the most healthy ingredients. I got a Bragg Organic ACV Apple Cinnamon drink and it was delicious. Only 32 calories!

Keep walking down the store and there are aisles and aisles of nutritious protein bars, vitamins, supplements,
homeopathic remedies, healthy snacks, teas, and a mini grocery section FILLED with non-GMO, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free foods that were priced fairly well. It will make you want things you never knew you needed. Never thought you needed bee pollen capsules? You do now. I don't know what Fenugreek Seed is but I want it.

The right side of the store has everything beauty related ranging from makeup, to hair products, to mouth care, to soaps and everything in between. Of course I picked up a few things... An aloe vera shampoo for oily hair, a bee pollen soap, and Now Solutions sweet almond oil. So excited to try out my new products and expand my cabinet of natural products.

Upstairs they have a Cafe that I unfortunately didn't have time to go in, but from the looks of it, it seemed great! Pressed juices, salads, soups and sandwiches. I'll have to go back one day after class.

I'm so happy I finally went into Kramer's because I know it will become a staple store for me.

--Ms. Makeup

Eating Healthy in College

This post is to share some of my tips and tricks on how to eat healthy in college because I have become quite the health freak!

1. Hummus. One of my favorite things in the world. Hummus is a great alternative to any dip because it's really healthy! Skip the chips and buy cucumber, celery or carrots to dip in the hummus. If you're feeling brave try and make your own! All you need is a small (magic bullet like) blender, one can of garbanzo beans, oil, garlic, and some spices! Sesame tahini makes it better but if you don't have it, it's not a big deal. Blend it all up and voila- hummus! You can add hot sauce for spice, avocado, edamame, or anything you enjoy into the dip. 

2. Quinoa & Black Bean Chips. If you are a chip lover, I have found the most amazing chips from Trader Joe's- Quinoa and Black Bean Infused Tortilla Chips. I am obsessed with these things. They're gluten free, have all natural i
ngredients and not to mention delicious. I'm talking almost better than a potato chip...

3. Kale. I have recently been loooving kale. I buy it prewashed from Trader Joe's, de-stem it and place it in a salad bowl with a small mixture of olive oil and soy sauce- sounds weird but its amazing. Then I add some avocado. This is an easy and tasty salad and only takes a few minutes with minimal ingredients. If you have access to an oven, mix the kale in a big bowl with a tablespoon of olive oil and soy sauce. Make sure that the kale is dry before mixing it with the ingredients. Place the kale on a baking sheet and bake at 375 until the kale turns crispy. Delicious! If you enjoy the taste of kale, try it with just olive oil and sea salt (same procedure).

4. Steamed veggies. These are great for college, especially since you can throw them in the microwave and they cook inside the bag. Super cheap and easy! Trader Joe's has great ones and so does the SteamFresh brand that you can find at Target.

5. Spaghetti Squash. If you have access to an oven this is a great alternative to pasta (I might even like it more!) Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds and drizzle the squash with a little olive oil. Place it face up in the oven with about an inch of water on the pan for around 40 minutes at 375. I prefer to eat it either with a little salt and parmesan or my favorite pasta sauce. 

6. Fruit, fruit, fruit. I can't stress enough how great it is to start off your day with fruit. Whether it be a smoothie, granola with berries, or just fruit alone, this is my favorite way to start my morning. A cheap and easy way to make smoothies is to buy the prepackaged frozen fruit, but make sure there aren't any preservatives. Trader Joe's is really good with that, but if you go to Target, for example, be sure to read the ingredients. 

7. Green Tea. Another thing I cannot walk out the door in the morning without having. I love green tea. I drink between 2 and 4 cups a day. I have gotten to the point where I don't even need sugar. There are amazing health benefits to green tea and it's a perfect alternative if you don't enjoy drinking coffee. If you don't enjoy green tea, try and drink any type of bagged, natural tea and check the ingredients!


8. Rice cakes. Rice cakes with peanut butter & jelly are a great alternative to using bread. They're light, crispy and tasty!

Now that I have a full kitchen in college, I have become absolutely obsessed with cooking healthy dinners and snacks for myself. It has become one of the highlights of my day. It makes me feel great knowing that I am putting good food into my system and I'm not sitting around eating Oreos and Doritos. 

What are your favorite healthy snacks?

--Ms. Makeup