Aloha! I hope that you're having a healthy, happy week! I just got home after spending a week in Hawaii and, since I'm still on Hawaiian time, I thought I'd post a quick hello.

I adore Hawaii- the water, the weather, the beaches, the tropical fruit, and "hanging loose". Despite the abundance of wonderful fruits, though, Waikiki is not the most vegetarian/vegan-friendly place that I've ever visited. It sometimes takes a bit of creativity (and accommodating restaurant employees) to build a vegetarian meal. Amazingly, though, our hotel was right across the street from a great little place called Ruffage Natural Foods. About 90% of their menu is vegetarian (much of it vegan) and I was very happy to be so close.

Also, I discovered the complete and total yumminess that is the acai bowl while I was in Hawaii! I am so looking forward to recreating that at home and I will share the recipe for my version soon!

Vacation always reminds me to slow down and have more fun. I usually come home with renewed focus on being gentle with myself and enjoying my family and friends in an unhurried way. It is almost the weekend; I hope you will take some time to nurture yourself, enjoy your connections, and just hang loose!

I have discovered and fallen in love with a few new products this month and want to share them with you!

Stonyfield Organic O'Soy yogurt

As an (aspiring) athlete, I am frequently reminded to "replenish my electrolytes" after a long workout. So, what the heck are electrolytes and how do we replenish them?

Electrolytes are electrically charged salt ions that include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate, and sulfate in our bodies. These elements are necessary for our cells to regulate the electric charge between them and the flow of water across their membranes. Electrolytes affect and regulate the hydration of the body and are critical for nerve and muscle function. Without sufficient levels of key electrolytes, we may experience muscle weakness or cramping. Hormones within our bodies help to maintain electrolyte balance, however, when we exercise for more than 90 minutes or in hot weather we lose electrolytes when we sweat. It is important to replenish those lost electrolytes, especially sodium and potassium, as soon as we finish our workout.

So, how do we do that? There are tons of "sports drinks" available for this purpose. I am pretty particular about what I am willing to put into my body, though, and many of those won't work for me because they contain artificial color or high fructose corn syrup (ick!). I prefer products that are more natural and have found two that are my favorites.

Clif Quench
I love this product! It tastes great (not too sweet) and it doesn't contain any weird ingredients. Highly recommended!

Coconut water
Coconut water is very simply the water from a young coconut and it is a great natural alternative to sports drinks. It isn't rich like coconut milk; it is more like juice and it contains more potassium than a banana! There are several brands available including Zico, which is my favorite. If you can't find it in your local market, Amazon carries packs of 12 for a reasonable price.

If you over-indulged in chocolate bunnies over the weekend, this soup is a nice way to get back on track. It is light, healthy, and full of flavor. For extra protein, I serve it over soba noodles- they are made from buckwheat flour and contain 8 grams of protein per serving.