OCD, Jerk Seasoning, iPhone Apps...

I got up early for my cardio warm up and some muscle toning before our walk today. I did the Core Exhale Fusion Pretzel again yesterday. I try to do that one every other week, and I can really feel it today.  That move is killer for the upper part of your booty, your lower back and sides!  I have a real thing about my midsection/core.  People always seem to have issues with their back as they get older, so I am trying to focus on being ahead of the game.  If that makes sense.  So this morning after I warmed up, I did some Ballet Strength with Jennifer Galardi. It took me a while to figure out that I don't have to do hard core toning exercises to be strong.  I really enjoy mixing it up now. The ballet strength is nice because it is slow and focused.  It makes me feel long and tall...I am neither at 5'2" (on a good day). I always wanted to be built like a ballerina so now I am doing my part...living the dream (in my mind anyway). With these shoulders, I am way closer to a football player, but a girl can dream!

Oh, I discovered a weird OCD thing yesterday. It kinda freaked me out! We all have our things that have to be just a certain way. Well, when the illustrator and I started walking, he got on the wrong side of me and it made me uncomfortable. I told him we needed to switch back. Seriously, is that weird or what? Just in case we ever walk together, I have to be on your right side.  Just so you know. I guess it isn't different from having a side of the bed, but it seemed weird.

Do you like spicy food? We are seriously hard core into heat here. I didn't used to be that into it, but for some reason now, I can't get enough. I am talking about the kind that makes your head itch and sweat. We are gluttons for punishment.

This jar of Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning is HOT and so good! Look at all that spicy goodness! I found it at our local grocery store but you know how seasonings like this go...sometimes you can find them and sometimes not. I only got this one because they were out of the brand that we got before and loved.

Truth be told, we don't buy a lot of stuff like this, we make it ourselves. However, sometimes you need to buy things for convenience and this was one of those times. This particular ingredient list is small and recognizable. However, with the illustrator having celiac, buying sauces in a bottle is not easy.  I went through every jerk seasoning they had in the store before I asked someone that worked there if they had any more jerk sauces somewhere else in the store.  Luckily they did. This was the only thing I ran into the store for and it took way too long to find.

(Jerk Chicken with black beans and rice.)

I got this Food Essentials iPhone app a while back. I have used it a lot and I really like it. I scanned the bar codes on all the sauces I looked through and it told me what allergens may be in the sauces. Gluten was in all of them!

All of them except this one. I really love the convenience of the Food Essentials app. I have actually had people come up to me in the store asking what it does and they are so amazed that there is something out there that helps with shopping like this. Since I am not alone in the food allergy department, I thought I would share this find with you guys.

(Salad of Romaine lettuce, fresh cilantro, cucumbers, black beans and jerk seasoning)

Along with the allergen information, you also get nutritional information for the product.  You can search for products too and it will give you a list that you can go through to decide what works within your health and dietary needs!

It even stores previous foods I have looked up before in my list. The only con that I can really find is that not everything is in the system.  So, specialty foods are not quite there yet.  Hopefully, time will improve that part.  Other than that, The Food Essentials iPhone app has definitely helped make shopping easier for me since I can buy things and feel safe about feeding my family. Not to mention, it is only $0.99.

Do you use apps like this to help you shop?  If so, what do you have?  I have another one that I will share with you after I use it a few more times.

Review for GoDairyFree