Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

Grace: In case you haven’t noticed, there’s nothing in this world that I enjoy more than food, but it’s unfortunately difficult to find food that is both delicious and healthy. One food item that is getting a lot of press for its health benefits is yogurt.

According to various studies, the heath benefits of yogurt are not only due to its calcium content and other properties it gains from being a milk product, but also because of the bacteria that is used to make it. This bacteria hinders the growth of harmful bacteria, therefore protecting the body against harmful bacterial infections and diseases. Also, the bacteria promotes a healthy digestive system, making yogurt a fan of dieters. For a more extensive and thorough explanation of yogurt’s health benefits, I would suggest downloading the Yogurt Encyclopedia (it sounds silly, I know, but it was actually quite informative and interesting!)

Although yogurt is something that can be bought at your regular grocery store, the health benefits of inorganic yogurt are debatable. This debate has made organic and natural yogurts more popular, but they are also incredibly expensive. I personally love organic yogurt, but it’s difficult to bring myself to shell out all the cash for something that’s going to disappear in two spoonfuls.

Luckily for me, I found this convenient, homemade yogurt maker. You get all the health benefits of yogurt right at home, and it’s easy and cheap compared to going out and buying organic yogurt all the time. It’s especially nice that this yogurt maker actually comes with cups, so you don’t have to search your house for Tupperware like I do. The end result is absolutely delicious, although you may want to sweeten it with some honey because plain yogurt doesn’t have much flavor.

This gift may seem a little odd, but it is perfect for someone who loves anything organic and homemade.

Dan: Yuck! I am quite a funny eater pertaining to my likes and dislikes but yogurt is a no-no for me. I love other dairy products such as milk and ice cream but there is something about the texture of yogurt that turns me off. However, I understand that yogurt is truly a healthy snack if made/bought correctly. Some of the inorganic yogurts found in the grocery store can really do more harm than good because of all the artificial flavoring; this is why I believe this gift idea is one for the yogurt lover in you (not me!). This gift idea is also one to cherish because you can use it forever, something that would be great as a housewarming gift!

Over the past several years, people have started to recognize the health benefits of tea, especially green tea. Tea has the potential to increase metabolic rate, boost mental awareness and the immune system, lower stress hormones, and may even have anti-cancer and anti-diabetes effects. In fact, recent studies have shown that green tea may help fight against HIV.

With all that being said, an obvious gift idea would be to buy someone tea, but that can get a little redundant. Maybe it’s just because we’re Asian and hey, we love tea, but my house is literally overrun by it. We even have a special closet for all our tea! Instead, I would recommend buying a tea set. What good is delicious tea if you have nothing to put it in? This is the perfect gift idea for someone like your mother (if she doesn’t already have one) or any other avid tea-drinker.

If you’re looking for a fancier, more flashy tea set, I would recommend this Wild Roses Bone China Tea Set. It has a beautiful rose motif with some touches of gold. It’s flashy but not overwhelmingly so (I actually think my mom owns this set). If you want a simpler, more everyday tea set, I found this Blue Line Tea Set. It’s white with just a touch of blue lining.

~ Grace