Charlotte Chowdown

I was quite enamored with the healthy choices I found in the Queen City of North Carolina!  A neat looking downtown, and a southern financial capital, Charlotte had the city feel with plenty of hip and chic spots to boot. Home to NasCar, this North Carolina metropolis takes care of those in search of healthy eats!

Located in downtown Charlotte as well as spots across the Carolinas, & Tennessee, Brix Pizza is a fun place for friends and family to dine.  And no one is left to starve as they offer vegan cheese as well as healthy crust options, available for all varieties of their delicious, wood fired pizzas. They also serve a smorgasbord of salads, sandwiches and more.  I devoured my veggie stacked, vegan pizza and so would you ; )When in the south, hit up Brixx!

Well, I love a good Indian meal but a good Indian meal is an understatement when you dine at Woodlands. Serving 100% vegetarian, super healthy, authentic Southern Indian food, this dining establishment will knock your socks off. Outside of downtown (and with 2 other locations in Florida), this is an Indian food experience like no other.  No oil is used in their cooking and they are incredibly conscious of all special diets when it comes to accommodating their guests. And on top of that, the food just plain rocks!  I ate like a queen, one dish that stands out in my mind is the Dosa. About 2.5 feet long, this crepe like dish is like a paper thin, hollow, rolled cigar made of lentils & white rice, served with tasty sauces.  A definite must, along with a ton of other great treats, to tyr at Woodlands!

In the heart of downtown, you will find Blynk Organic. Open only for the bustling weekday meals of the Charlottian business folk, Blynk has a an innovative, fresh and organic menu. Salads, soups, sandwiches and wraps in all varieties, including awesome vegan selections, this healthy yet quick eatery is just the injection of tasty and good for you food that a busy downtown needs.  Dining in or catering for your function, office meeting or picnic outside of the NasCar museum, check out Blynk! PS, the Thai Sky wrap is bitchin' ; )

Also in downtown, unwind with some wine and tapas at Press Wine Bar. In route to film some other areas, I stumbled into this fabulous looking place to just buy some water. Needless to say I found more then H2O! A gourmet market with cafe type sandwiches, salads and small plates (including freshly made sushi at their sushi bar), Press's big draw is their wine selection and how it is categorized.  Cute icons describe the types of wines they have such as "soft" wines which features a cartoon rear end icon, "lucious" wines found under a pair of cartoon boobs and so on.  Pick your wine based on fun, feel, and cute avatars while munching on some yummy snacks at Press.

Lastly, Cosmo Cafe, cooks up yummy food all day into late night. And the great thing is, they specify what items are vegetarian friendly right on the menu, most of which can be easily veganized. Greek & Asian fusion cuisine, with a dash of American kitsch, you can get everything here from pasta to gyros.I really enjoyed their grilled veggie sandwich and veganized strawberry salad!

I love traveling to cities that surprise me with their numerous healthy options and I so look forward to many, many more surprises ; )

Healthy Voyager Radio - Athletes Against All Odds

Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Featuring guests, vegan athlete & VEGA products creator Brendan Brazier, as well as inspirational paraplegic athlete Aaron Baker along with his coach and mother, Laquita Conway:

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Next week, Fiscal Fitness with Peter Bielagus, Young America's Financial Coach!

Beat the Back to School/End of Summer Blues

Labor Day has come and gone, marking the official end of summer. The kids are back in school, summer hours at jobs have ceased and everyone is back to the grind. It is very easy to slip into daydreams of swimming pools and yearnings for cookouts but, there is also much to look forward to now that we've said goodbye to our shorts and flip flops! I've compiled some tricks and tips to help you make your peace with summer's end and exuberant for the last quarter of 2009!:

• Plan a getaway: Planning a future getaway can help give you something to look forward to & get through your week. As you plan your vacation, visualize yourself at your destination. Whether it's with your family or friends, make it fun and interactive for everyone involved. The fun can start with the prep!
  
• Host a movie or game night: Rent a great flick and invite your friends over for some good food and drinks . The visuals will get your mind off the cold and dreary and onto the engaging storyline or tournament. Make it a recurring event that a group of friends choose to rotate each week. This way you always have a fun evening in the books to help you get through your week.
  
• Schedule playdates for your kids: Just like the movie or game night, kids need fun activities to look forward to to help them through their weeks. Especially when they are starting a new year with a new set of responsibilities. We can't expect them to be excited about homework but it's easy to get them excited about seeing all of their friends who can relate.
• Engage in Fall cleaning: Find therapy and enjoyment in putting away your summer clothes and decor while prepping for Fall & Winter. Freshen up the house with new colorful accents; go through your closets and toss out things you don't wear anymore; and open up the windows and let in the fresh cool air. You may find a ton of stuff to sell at a garage sale so a few extra bucks will definitely make you smile. Or perhaps you start to dig up holiday decorations and your favorite sweater, getting you all the more excited for the months to come.
  
• A day at the spa: Taking a little time to pamper yourself is always a great idea. We all need to de-stress, unwind and reset. If you can't afford a spa treatment, invite your freinds over for mani/pedis, facials and gossip ; )
  
• Start a new hobby or class: A great way to get your groove back is to delve into a hobby or enroll in a class. No matter what tickles your fancy: dance, knitting, kung fu or learning a laguage; starting a new hobby is a great way to get your brain excited and out of the boring routine, but also a terrific way to make new friends!
  
• Make the new routine fun: No matter if it's just you or you and your brood, make the new routines fun. Help you and your loved ones look forward to mornings and other scheduled events by starting a fun tradition. For instance, make Monday "Manic Monday" so get your family ready for the week to some fun and silly tunes, Taco Tuesday and so on ; )
  
• Goal set: Nothing gets you more pumped then working toward a goal. Writing it down and making sure it's something that is attainable in the time you have alotted, can really put a spring in your step. Looking to shed a few pounds before the holidays to make room for fruit cake? Needing to save up to buy that ring for your girl and propose on New Year's Eve? No matter what your goal, write it up and post it somewhere to keep your eye on the prize!
  
• Look forward to the holidays ahead: I happen to be a holiday nut so as soon as Labor Day is over, I'm stoked for crisp air, pumpkins in abundance and planning for my Halloween costume! If you have kids or not, look for fun activities that center around the season. Harvest festivals, county fairs and colder weather events pick up now so make it a point to gather up your family and friends and make the most of Fall.

I know it's tough to bid farewell to hot weather, carefree weekends and swim suits but Fall offers up a lot of fun too so make the most of it!

Healthy Voyager Radio - Healthy Messages in Kid's Entertainment

Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Featuring guests Ruby Roth, author of Why We Don't Eat Animals & Musician Ari Shine:

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Next week, vegan athlete & creator of Vega Products, Brendan Brazier & inspirational extreme sports, paraplegic athlete, Aaron Baker!

Lovin' Labor Day

So summer is just about over, 1 last long weekend left to eek out some swimming, parties, camping, whatever, before fall rolls in and we say goodbye to fun in the sun. Sure fall brings crisp weather, changing leaves and the beginning of the big holiday months, but nothing beats care free summer days and relaxing summer nights. Here are a few tips & treats to make the last weekend of Summer '09 a healthy, affordable and memorable one!:

If you want an affordable, mini-getaway:

• Camp by the beach - Frolic one more time in the sea, pack sandwiches and/or bbq foods along with your camping gear. Spend the night under the stars while the ocean sounds sing you to sleep.
• Organize a hike or bike trip - Gather up your friends and find a local hiking, biking or outdoor activity park or town. Make the most of the outdoors while getting in some exercise, taking in nature and snackin' on some yummy treats. Rent a cabin if you are heading to a specific area as with big groups, it's a lot cheaper to share a house with a kitchen. Not to mention a lot more fun!
  

If you're sticking around town:

• Host a game day & movie night - Have friends pop on over for a potluck or bbq. Host a tournament day that can involve all ages like a bean bag toss or a scavenger hunt. If you start late and go into the evening, project a movie on a wall and gather around to watch a flick under the stars.
  

If you host or attend a get together and serve up some of these exotic treats. They're a great way to bring the getaway to you!:

Virgin Pina Colada Popsicles

• 1 can light coconut milk
• 2 cups Pineapple juice
• 1 banana

Pour ingredients into a blender and puree. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze at least 4 hours.

Lavender Grapefruit Martini
(c) 2008, Natalie Bovis-Nelsen The Liquid Muse

1 1/2 ounces organic Vodka
1 heaping teaspoon organic lavender-honey syrup (can be made with agave nectar as well)
2 ounces freshly squeezed organic grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed organic lime juice
1 organic edible flower

Lavender Honey Syrup: Heat 1/2 cup lavender honey (substitute with lavender infused agave nectar) and 1/4 cup water in a small sauce pan. Stir until boiling. Let cool. Set aside.

Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker, add ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an edible flower or lime wheel.

Soba Noodle Salad

Dressing:

• 1/2 cup of seasoned rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp sugar

Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Let sit for an hour.

Salad:

• 1 handful of cilantro leaves, chopped
• 1 handful of basil leaves, chopped
• 2 green onions, diced finely
• 1/2 red bell pepper, julienned
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, julienned
• 1 cup of shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup of toasted peanuts
• 1/2 lb cooked soba noodles
  

Prepare all the vegetables, set aside. Once the noodles have cooked, rinse with cold water and drain. Once the noodles are cool, add the vegetables and peanuts. Mix the dressing again thoroughly then add to the noodles and vegetables. Stir until well combined and serve.

Grilled Tempeh Peanut Satay

• 1/2 cup grated coconut
• 2 tsp agave
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup tamari
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/2 lb of tempeh, steamed for 20 min
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp sherry
• 1/2 tsp vinegar
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 cup plain soy yogurt

Marinade:
Puree orange juice with only half of the agave, coconut, tamari and cayenne pepper in a blender. Cut tempeh into 2 cm cubes and add to marinade. Set aside for 1 hour.

Peanut sauce:
Blend remainder of agave, tamari and cayenne pepper together with the peanut butter, sherry, vinegar, garlic powder and soy yogurt. Refrigerate.

Thread tempeh cubes onto 4 skewers. Grill tempeh over medium-hot grill 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Brush kebabs with marinade and sprinkle with remaining coconut. Serve the tempeh kebabs with peanut sauce.

Ginger Mint Caipirinha Cooler

• 1 lime, quartered
• 1 1/2 tablespoons ginger syrup
• 1 sprig mint
• 2 ounces cachaça (or rum if you can't find cachaça)
• 1 quarter-sized slice raw ginger

Muddle lime with ginger syrup and mint. Add cachaça, shake and pour over ice. Add a raw ginger wedge for garnish.

Virgin Recipe :

• 1/2 diced lime
• 1/2 small diced lemon
• 1/2 small diced orange
• 1 sugar cube
• ginger ale
• fresh mint

Place the fruit in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add the sugar cube and a dash of ginger beer. Muddle to release the juices. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with mint.

Have a very happy, healthy and safe Labor Day!!

Healthy Voyager Radio - Green & Healthy Libations

Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Featuring guests Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, The Liquid Muse & Caroline MacDougall, creator of Teeccino:

Healthy Voyager Radio

Next week, children's book author Ruby Roth & song writer Ari Shine!