By Tanya Henry
It’s that time of year—to hit the reset button! Yoga classes are filled to capacity, swim lanes are doubled up and the single-track trails of Marin are teeming with determined joggers clad in their newly gifted workout clothes. Here are some healthy food, eating and cooking ideas to help keep you energized while you get “back on the program” in the coming year.
Maria Quintana-Pilling, founder of Urban Spice Nutrition and a certified nutrition consultant and chef, will be offering a class on January 20 from 6-9pm at Taste Kitchen & Table in Fairfax. She’ll teach attendees how to prepare seasonal, organic, healthy and delicious balanced meals. If you register before midnight on January 17, you’ll receive $20 off. And look what’s on the menu: Roasted Chicken with Ginger; Turmeric and Hazelnuts; Green Lentils & Rice with Nutmeg & Cinnamon; Spice-Rubbed Skirt Steak with Southwest Cactus Salsa; Mixed Greens with Tomato & Avocado; and Chocolate Chip Cookies. Register and learn more at mariaquintanapilling.com.
Good bars are hard to find. Not that kind of bar. Original FreshBite Bars are chewy energy bombs, chock-full of organic oats, tart cherries, almond butter, coconut and chocolate chips—and best of all, they are made right here in San Rafael. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Sonya Bolch Angelone began her company, FreshBite, with this product, and she now has a total of five different flavors to choose from. Order online at freshbitebars.com or call 415/317-6248.
For those who are fans of juice cleanses, there are three Marin retail locations of Urban Remedy that offer everything from healthy meal plans and detailed juices regimens to nut milks and teas. Tonics and broths—with claims of staving off colds and boosting immune systems—are also on the shelves. There’s an Immunity Kit that includes Chinese herbal teas, vitamin-packed juices, a potassium broth and carrot curry crackers, and the staff can even tailor kits and cleanses for individual needs and concerns. Find all of this and more at 1904 Fourth Street in San Rafael, 15 East Blithedale Ave. in Mill Valley and at 238 Magnolia Ave. in Larkspur. Ordering online is also an option at urbanremedy.com.
Finally, if you haven’t tried an acai bowl yet, head over to Mana Bowls in Fairfax and start your morning off with a colorful mound of fresh fruit and granola. Seemingly transplanted directly from a beach in the Hawaiian Islands, this cozy café’s menu focuses on acai berries, known for their high levels of antioxidants. Both savory and sweet options are available, along with a list of smoothies and teas. Visit them at 1930 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Fairfax, and learn more at manabowls.com.
