By Jamie Dougherty

Remember a few weeks ago when I was talking up some sweet love for the sweet potato?  Though I still love those suckers, there is a particular super food that has taken first place on my plate as of late.  Say hello to kabocha squash!  “Excuse me?” you say.  “What is this thing I can barely pronounce?”  KA-BOW-CHA is a Japanese squash and quintessential super food that rocks in all types of delicious dishes.  First, a quick super food definition:  A super food is an unprocessed edible that packs a powerful nutritional bang for its caloric buck.  With its high Vitamin A, Vitamin C and potassium content, kabocha is not only a super food but one that will make your immune system and heart say thank you very much!

Now, where can you find said squash that will svelte-ify your figure?  Being a Fall food, right now kabocha can be found at most farmer’s markets.  Look for ones with a rich green color and firm skin with minimal blemishes.  If the markets have closed for the year, try your local grocer or health food store.  Next, how do you cook it?  Just like you would a butternut squash.  Throw it into soups and curries, mix it into a pilaf or with beans or just straight up roast it.  I actually love eating roasted kabocha as a snack. Absolutely flippin’ awesome!

So, next time you are looking for a super food to hit that sweet, starchy spot, grab a kabocha squash.  Your body and taste buds will be mighty pleased!

In the comments let me know your thoughts on super foods and how you like to get them into your diet.  Come on ladies, sharing is caring! (And it feels good too.)

Jamie G. Dougherty, founder of JamieLiving.com, gives women the secrets to feel amazing in their bodies and create the balance they crave between their busy schedules and eating well. Jamie believes that though kale and brown rice are good foods to put on your plate, until we truly learn HOW to eat rather than just WHAT to eat we will continue to be carb-craving, super-frazzled, stress-out ladies. If you ever feel hungry, stuck and unsatisfied with your food be sure to visit Jamie’s website to get her FREE 5-Step Guide to Fabulous.  Seriously ladies, get ready for Jamie to rock your world!

Gluten what? Celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham are helping raise awareness about living a  gluten-free lifestyle. A quick lesson about gluten: gluten-free foods do not automatically make them good for you (darn!). It simply means that they don’t contain wheat, rye, barley, any gluten-containing cousins of wheat, and are processed in a gluten-free facility.

It has become easier to identify gluten-free products with food labeling laws that require companies to indicate if the food product contains wheat (the primary source of gluten in the diet) and/or if it was processed in a facility that also processes wheat.

Did Kavita’s post about how to lose weight by accident not convince you to hop on board? Well Healing Lifestyles and Spas have found 5 delicious snacks:

Mary’s Gone Crackers
Mary, a real person and the founder of the company has Celiac Disease and  had trouble finding delicious gluten-free foods. Her solution? Make them herself!

Udi’s
With gluten-free eliminating wheat, you may think that there could be no such thing as great tasting gluten-free bread. Well Udi’s delivers delicious bagels, buns, breads, and muffins. Now you don’t have to go bunless at your next BBQ!

Erewhon GF Breakfast Cereals
They have all kinds of cereal your little heart could desire. Ranging from adult, grown- up cereals such as Crispy Brown Rice or ones that make you relive your childhood such as Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice or Strawberry Crisps. You are sure to find a delicious option for your morning.

NoGii – No Gluten High Protein Bar
Elizabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of The View and author of The G-Free Diet, has used her celebrity to shine the spotlight on others like her who live with (or whose kids live with) Celiac Disease. They use the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter to create a gluten-free energy bar that is high in protein. There is also a kids bar!

KIND Healthy Snacks
You can find these delicious snacks at your local Starbucks during your morning coffee run. All KIND bars are simply made with nuts and fruit. You can’t go wrong with that!

Good nutrition and great taste can finally go hand in hand!

There are so many healthy food options out there. How do you know which brands are the best? You can shop what we’re eating today. Click each picture to buy what we are snacking on in our office right now.

Kashi Tlc All Natural Crunchy Granola Bars Roasted Almond Crunch

True North Pecan Almond Peanut Clusters

Thinkfruit On-the-Go Dried Fruit Snack, Cinnamon Apple Slices

Back to Nature Honey Graham Sticks

BALANCE Bar Gold Triple Layer Energy Bar, Chocolate Peanut Butter