Ode to a snapea!

Oh snapea.. Oh snapea ... wherefore art thou snapea crisps?... But, crisp! what light crunch through yonder bag doth hold? It is the Wasabi Ranch flavor, and its from Calbee. 

My face... Oh my face needs to be filled to the gills with these amazingly addicting crisps. Lawd help me not buy them, but when i do.. Oh when I give into temptation it isn't just one bag I buy its *hangs head* multiples. My husband is a vacuum when it comes to these snacks, his favorite along with my own is the Wasabi Ranch. It has just enough heat (sinus heat not like pepper), to make it tangy and just enough salt to keep you wanting more. The bag simply isn't big enough for the both of us, it is inhaled almost instantly. Thankfully the stats aren't the worst but they also aren't the best.

I do of course enjoy the perks of eating differently after gastric bypass, before I wouldn't have even considered anything other than potato chips or popcorn. So having the surgery has changed my life for the better, eating hummus and carrots, more fruit and of course getting my veggies in where I can. 

I am thrilled with these crisps and I am hard pressed to find someone who doesn't enjoy them. There are many different flavors to choose from including a Lentil variety. Just be forewarned that if you are going to open the bag be selfish there isn't much and you aren't going to want to share lol. 

I highly recommend you trying them out Safeway has them for $1.99 a bag i do know you can find them cheaper depending on what area of the world you live in. I would rather chow down on these anyday over regular potato chips and that is saying something!! 

Harvest Snaps website

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Chez Alexander Mediterranean Bistro Super Cute Restaurant!

A quiet little place to let your worries pass you by.....

Matthew and I were looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat between my doctors appointments at David Grant. So as usual I ask Siri for the best restaurants in (insert area I am in) and presto: Chez Alexander came up on my radar. 

I am always on the look out for Mediterranean food, as a lover of authentic food the reviews on this place looked right up my alley. 

The door was open when we walked up, the owner was behind the counter and very apologetic that he wasn't ready for customers and that he wasn't actually open until 11:30. He wasn't rude even offered for us to just have a seat and wait, but we both decided we would come back and let him finish prepping for lunch. 

The kitchen is an open kitchen, with a few tables placed around this quaint little bistro. There were these beautiful plump coral roses on the table, and the atmosphere seemed intimate. Matthew and I certainly felt the love as the music was turned on and enticing aromas filled the air... 

The owner has a delightfully thick accent and charming demeanor so how could anyone resist! I fell in love not only with the cute decor but with my beautiful blue eyed hubby as we let our worries melt away and were pampered.

The meal was fantastic from the deliciously spiced tzatziki all the way to the delicate baklava. My husband raved and eat himself silly, he ate as if I starved him for a week. My compliments to the chef of course my food because for lack of a better word it was perfect! What I was unable to finish due to my gastric bypass my husband happily devoured.

The price for a meal is very reasonable and I hope if you are ever in the area you look up this amazingly cute bistro and find out for yourself why we will become a regulars.

Chez Alexander Mediterranean Bistro

5121 Business Center Dr, Fairfield, CA 94534

(707) 864-3364

Here is what we ordered.....

Pita and Tzatziki Sauce: 

(Was given a taste of his homemade greek soup):

Matthews meal: Egg Noodle Bolognese 
(no picture he wouldn't wait long enough to get a good shot)





Nirvana's meal: Doner Pita Wrap "chicken" + Tomato Salad and Greek Salad 

Dessert Baklava: 

I Heart..... Hormel Turkey Pepperoni

Dear readers...

I must confess that I have a strange addiction....

The culprit is none other than Hormel Turkey Pepperoni! I know.. the shock and horror after unleashing this secret on you will be staggering.

This is my normal plate for lunch on average its 17 turkey pepperoni's put in the microwave until crispy like a chip. (place on paper towel cook 45 seconds to a minute until crispyness is achieved)

I normally have a side of hummus and carrots easy healthy lunch that makes my heart sing!



Now then I can eat them without microwaving them, but if you can make your pepperoni crispy WHY wouldn't you!?

Now lets talk about why I eat protein, having gastric bypass protein is the number one concern. I do my best to get in as much protein per-day as I can. 17 of them is one serving which for someone with a small stomach is a-okay with me. They help out with that pizza craving, paired with cheese sticks or melted cheese dip them in your favorite tomato sauce and wa-la crustless pizza! 

There is no end to the things you could do with these little diddies! Give them a try its 70% less fat than regular, so you won't get that horrible greasy heart burn you can expect from normal pepperoni's. Not to mention when you crisp them in the microwave on a paper towel what little amount of fat there is is left on the paper towel when they are done. 

I hope you give these a try! Leave me a message down below and follow me on YouTube and Facebook! <3

https://www.facebook.com/NirvanaBowersLee
https://www.youtube.com/user/VapidVillainess
http://vapidvillainess.blogspot.com

My love affair with Hummus!!

I have danced a dance with different hummus'ies (hummus'is?) hummusieies???? for the past year and a half.

I have tried all the normal ones you can pick up at your local walmart, safeway, and target. Each time finding one that was Ehhh eatable but nothing to write home about. Most of the time I have had to add something to the garlic hummus to make it perfect for my pallet.

I started eating hummus when I figured out that eating pita chips, and potato chips were no longer going to be on my diet. I was trying to find something fairly snack worthy and satisfying to help with my hunger before and after workouts. I was on weight watchers at the time, trying to shed pounds so I could have my gastric bypass. It was hard to find things that were low in points that I could feel satisfied with at the same time.

Hummus was one of the things that I said EWWWW about anytime someone mentioned it in passing. Gross chickpeas what!??? No means no I have always been a super picky eater so I have lived my life missing out on tons of good food. But once my diet was going to be several restricted I had to think outside of the box for food that would be kind to my body and mind.

So today let me introduce you to Open Nature 100% natural Garlic & Chive Hummus. Let me just tell you that I was totally against it the moment my  mother and law brought it into the house. Because it had chives in it, and in my mind.. CHANGE BAD!!! So I was reluctant to try it for a week, until one day I got brave enough to open the package and it blew my mind..


It is perfectly garlicky with a nice hint of onion, the texture is smooth and creamy! There is a great hit of salt that you will appreciate when you eat it with veggies. This is the first hummus I haven't had to add something to in order for me to eat it. I highly recommend this one if you can find it or any of the open nature brand hummus in your local stores. This one was purchased at Safeway here in California.

On a quest to try all the quest bars~!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough 

Vanilla Almond Crunch Bar 

White Chocolate Raspberry

These are the three I have tried in the last two days. Mmm Mmmm Good....!!!!! I will tell you that by far the chocolate chip cookie dough is my favorite, microwaving it for 25 seconds makes it into a gooey mound of OMG! Its just like eating a real cookie, except I don't feel guilty, and I don't have to worry about getting sick from the sugar. I did try to eat it cold, but the chocolate in it, is very dry unless you microwave it. 

The crunch bar was nice, had a very good vanilla taste to it and a slight almond crunch. It is really nice that every bar I have opened tastes completely different in one way or another. Its perfect with coffee! 

The white chocolate raspberry was not my favorite, I am a texture person, I don't like things with seeds in them. There were tons of seeds in this one, I think it would have been better if they would have just used the puree discarding the seeds. But that is just my personal preference, and I am sticking to it! I also had to heat this one up, the chocolate in it was very dry and brittle until heated. 


Yes yes I know with RNY I shouldn't eat and drink at the same time. But to my defense tell that to the 182 pounds I have shed in the last year! I do eat and drink at the same time.....I have a to have a drink when I eat, its not possible to wait 30 minutes before and after. But I don't feel that i'm starving after, like I need to eat more because everything washed out of my pouch. Nor do I feel that I eat more because I washed everything out of my pouch. I am not suggesting that you eat and drink at the same time with weight loss surgery I am just telling you what works for me. 

Where do I get quest bars Nirvana? 
At GNC  or You can buy them directly from Quest!

Welcome to The Gastric Foodie aka Nirvana's Food Porn

We are going to start off with a bit of a background for those new to my ramblings. I will be doing reviews here for PrettyLosers.com as well as for my channel Nirvana's YouTube Channel and facebook NirvanaBowersLee.

I am on an on going journey to find the best way to lose weight with a gastric bypass. Although my tool helps me lose the weight, we still have to eat. And being that food is mighty tasty I still have to monitor what goes in my mouth. So here is a blog of wonderful delicious things I will review sometimes I will add a video to go with it. I am starting this blog because some people just don't want to watch a 30 minute video on the different cheeses I might like this week. Therefore a few informative sentences here will do just the trick. Welcome and thanks for coming along for the ride.. <3

Quest Bars: There will be videos to upload with this vlog, but my internet at the moment sucks for uploading so those will be added later.

I have tried: (all sent to me by quest) Where to get your quest fix!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (must be nuked at 10-15 seconds)
Cookies and Cream (good cold or hot)
Lemon Cream Pie (cold didn't like it hot)
White Chocolate Raspberry (needed to be nuked 25 seconds)
Strawberry Cheesecake (was good cold)

I have many go to though but for today these will be enough for the first installment.

Let me explain why I am only now reviewing these wonder bars, I bought a varity pack before my surgery in August of 2013. The texture put me off the moment i bit into them, the texture was eh... I didn't know back then you could warm them up. And the apple pie was the first one i put in my gullet. Therefore I know that is one that needs to be warmed up to taste its best. I immediately tossed the entire box thinking they would all suck. I am a very picky eater, and once i have it in my mind I will hate something its very hard for me to change my mind.

Now then since my surgery my taste buds have changed, this is true. Since then I have been sent a few bars from friends who have wanted me to review them. They are delicious everyone so far that I have opened is good, maybe some of them need to be warmed to reach their full taste potential but its certainly worth the added effort.

The pros: 
Amazing amount of protein in each bar has 20+ grams
Net carbs are always low 3g normally
Uses sugar alcohols instead of actual sugar
Low on the glycemic index for diabetics
Easy on the pouch (thats important)
Great source of energy for when you work out
Satisfying taste for when the sugar monster comes calling!

Cons: 
The price between $2.49 with a GNC club card, to $2.99 per bar.  Quest bars at GNC
The fact you cannot choose what bars you want in your variety pack, lets say I don't like the banana or coconut ones but i love everything else I think you should be able to choose what's in the box.

Out of the few I have tried so far, I have loved every single one of them and would recommend them highly!

Thats all for now until next time.. N~