Hasta La Ideas

Initially released this time last year, the Jawbone UP, designed by Yves Behar, made its debut as a holistic life tracker worn on the wrist 24/7. As you may remember, the bendable band syncs with an iPhone app to record bodily information such as daily activity, sleep and diet….

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A high-tech way to enjoy a healthy toke anywhere life takes you

Shaped like a little kazoo, the Pax vaporizer is undoubtedly music to any concerned smoker’s ears, even without any actual instrumental capability. The ingenious gadget—created by San Francisco tobacco upstart Ploom—not only provides a healthier way to inhale plant-derived vapors, but it also makes smoking even more discreet. We’ve…

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British Airways caters to the tastes of their smallest passengers

Parents flying with children of any age face the sometimes harrowing dilemma of keeping everyone happy. Best-case scenario, kids spend the entire time quietly occupied by in-flight entertainment, games or books—or even take a nap. At mealtime, the food an airline serves can greatly influence a child’s experience. Plopping down a plate of gooey mystery meat in front of a hungry five-year-old can turn the flight into a warzone for not only the parents, but, potentially, anyone else within earshot.

Knowing that keeping kids happy during the flight goes a long way toward enhancing the experience for the entire plane, British Airways has established some clear guidelines for their kid-friendly amenities as part of their Height Cuisine program. Children have the option to order special, age-appropriate, healthy and satisfying menu items ahead of time. The policy to “feed families first” helps hungry children keep their cool in situations where they may otherwise have to wait longer than usual for their food, especially on long-haul flights.

“Caterers design kids meals around our child meal style guide,” says menu design manager Sinead Ferguson. “We incorporate healthy and nutritious ingredients along with some fun things to achieve a balance so that both child and parent are happy with the offerings.” The British Airways culinary team gathered information about what their youngest passengers would like to eat by assembling a group of regular child travelers and their parents as the official “British Airways Kids Council.” Council meetings helped establish a proven strategy to providing the best options approved by every member of the family.

“When we carried out our research, the parents told us they wanted the children to recognize the food they were eating,” says Ferguson. “There had to be an element of fun, and above all it had to be nutritious.” Not surprisingly, chicken nuggets were revealed to be a consistent favorite among kids, and a go-to meal for parents to serve. On British Airways, however, tenders are homemade from fresh chicken breast. Another perennial favorite, spaghetti, hides vegetables in the bolognese. Plus, points out Ferguson, all children’s meals include yogurt or cheese and a portion of fresh fruit.

Another secret BA learned from talking to parents and kids about how they survive air travel—it’s all about the treats. Cool Hunting contributor, frequent traveler and mother of two Julie Wolfson lets her girls order ginger ale when they fly, and, she says, “I pull out a candy surprise just at the moment when the flight begins to seem a bit long.” On BA, kids’ meals come with a small candy bar or chocolate-dipped strawberry for a little sweet reward for patient sitting still. Another frequent-traveler parent, Matt Anaya, points out that his daughter, Zoe, loves to fly. With decent meal options that justify the all-important small treats, not to mention her own tray table, she sees the experience as it should be—her own personal adventure in the air.

Delivering healthful omega-3s to vegans and habitual snackers

As one of the few vegan and vegetarian sources for omega-3 fatty acid—the essential fatty acid with a slew of healthful benefits to its name—it’s no wonder flax seed bears a “superfood” designation. But for all its known advantages, flax seed isn’t exactly a common ingredient in everyday foods—at least not yet. From a meal replacement bar to a dairy alternative, here are three new ready-to-eat flax products that are pushing the trend.

PROBAR Superfruit Slam bars

Intended to satisfy the nutritional requirements of a single meal, these vegan whole food bars pack organic flax seeds in with a mix of other superfoods, including organic acai, mangosteen, camu camu and purple corn. The bars aren’t baked, so they retain a moist and chewy texture that pairs well with the sweetness of the dried fruits, while the absence of preservatives means eating cleanly as you fuel up.

Sold at select grocers nationwide and online for $2.99 per bar

KIND Vanilla Blueberry Clusters With Flax Seeds

As the latest addition to KIND’s Healthy Grains line, this whole grain granola is a healthy and delectable snack that bears the distinct flavor of blueberries, without being overly sweet. As a marquee ingredient, the granola’s flax seeds provide 750 mg of omega-3 fatty acids while other whole grains like amaranth, quinoa, oats, millet and buckwheat make for clusters that are big enough to be enjoyed as bite-size pieces — to be enjoyed by the handful or the bowlful. Bags sell for about $5 at KIND’s online shop, or click here for store locations

Good Karma Flax Milk

Adding to your grocer’s expanding aisle of non-dairy products, Good Karma’s flax milk is a low-calorie, non-GMO, soy-free alternative to the other dairy alternatives. Its amount of omega-3s alone —1200 mg per serving — is reason enough to start pouring it onto cereal, or into coffee and blended smoothies. Flavors include Original, Unsweetened, and Vanilla, all ranging from 25-60 calories per one-cup serving — much fewer than most milk-like products, yet the flax milk is surprisingly creamy. The slightly sweetened vanilla, our favorite, pairs nicely with coffee, without the need for additional sweetener. Good Karma is available on Amazon in packs of 12 ($28 per pack), and at select natural grocers natural grocers for $3.50-$4.50 per half gallon.

Organic ingredients and natural sweetness from six boutique soda makers

Channeling the flavors of childhood without the sugary side effects, natural sodas keep the fizz while eliminating harmful preservatives. Instead, these sustainably sourced drinks call upon organically grown ingredients for the freshest in flavor. The following is a selection of six sodas that combine light sweetness with a bit of zest for a satisfying substitute to that classic can of Coke.

Hot Lips Soda

The 100% local, fresh ingredients packed in a bottle of Hot Lips bring the best of the Pacific Northwest straight to your lips. Recycled glass bottles house some spectacular essences, and we’re partial to the velvety Boysenberry—a rare flavor in the soda world—which is made from fruit out of Western Washington’s Willamette Valley.

Belvoir Fruit Farms

Handcrafting cordials since the 70s, Belvoir Fruit Farms
creates perfectly balanced sodas that reflect their freshly picked contents. The assortment of fizz-filled “pressés” actually quench your thirst while tingling your palate with the delicate flavors of elderflower, lime and lemongrass, cranberry and English apple, among others.

Fresh Ginger

Created by Bruce Cost, the author of “Ginger East to West”, Fresh Ginger Ale is arguably the purest ginger drink around. The lightly carbonated soda is made exclusively from fresh ginger and cane sugar, and is left unfiltered with a rich, full-bodied flavor profile. While perfectly good solo, the drink shines when paired with a plate of fresh sushi or mixed with a measure of gin.

Fentimans

The century-old soda maker Fentimans prides itself on a “botanically brewed” process, which involves infusion, boiling and a seven-day fermentation period. Made from natural ingredients like ginger root, dandelion leaves and juniper berries, many of the heavily spiced concoctions drinks also pack a strong caffeine punch.

Dry Soda Co.

Dry Soda Co. was born from the intent to create a non-alcoholic drink with full flavor and a small amount of pure cane sugar. Clear and elegant bottles contain exotic flavors of rhubarb, juniper, lavender and lemongrass alongside more mellow offerings of blood orange, cucumber, wild lime and vanilla bean.

Maine Root

Old-fashioned Maine Root is rightfully known for flagship root beer, although we’re partial to the Spicy Ginger brew and regional favorite sarsaparilla, which is touted as a lighter alternative to the root beer. The Portland-based company uses fair trade ingredients and organic evaporated cane juice for sweetness.