BoraBora Blog

Celiac Awareness Month

MTobler — Thu, 26 May 2011 10:42:31 GMT

May is National Celiac Awareness month. One of the reasons for increasing awareness about celiac disease is to make the lives of those who eat a gluten free diet easier. To help, we have posted five of our favorite gluten free resources. (Plus, we create delicious and convenient gluten free bars!) Enjoy!

http://blog.julesglutenfree.com/
Jules, one of our very favorite gluten free bloggers, set out to develop an all-purpose gluten free flour, and she has done just that. Her blog has news, recipes, and baking tips!

http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com
Simply Sugar and Gluten Free is a blog with hundreds of delicious recipes that are not only gluten free but also free from refined sugars. The ingredients are easy to find and budget friendly and the tips contain solutions to common food problems.

http://www.glutenfreefitness.com/
Gluten Free Fitness is a fantastic resource for gluten free athletes.

http://www.glutenfreereviewer.com
Gluten Free Reviewers is a great blog to read impartial reviews of gluten free products. You can even submit the name of a product you would like them to try before you invest in purchasing a product!

http://glutenfreegirl.com/
Shauna James Ahem and her husband Daniel Ahem are authors of the Gluten Free Girl blog which displays the collection of the recipes they have created together.

Veggie Eddie

MTobler — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:11:38 GMT

“I just had to take the time out to tell you this: I have eaten EVERY RAW Vegan Superfood Bar on the market and yours is by far and away the absolute best! Hands down! I will not eat any other bar anymore. Thank you sooo much.”

-Veggie Eddie

Valley Village, CA

Favorite Flavor: Wild Pomegranate Pecan

A Guide To "Green" Cleaning

MTobler — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:56:30 GMT

April is a month focused on being eco friendly! We’ve got National Environmental Week this week, Earth Day on the 22nd, and Arbor Day on the 29. To help you get a bit more “green” during your spring clean, we’ve put together guide for cleaning without damaging the environment with harsh, toxic chemicals. As a bonus, many of these methods can also save you money!

Clearing out those closets, basements, attics, and dresser drawers is a great place to start your spring clean, but instead of trashing all of the things you don’t need; swap them! Swap.com is the largest online swap marketplace. Swapping will allow you to de-clutter your home with things you don’t need while getting some the things you do need!

Once you have cleared some space, you can start the down and dirty cleaning. Grab some white vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, salt and some essential oils to add to your homemade natural cleaning products for a fresh scent. White vinegar kills mold, bacteria, and germs without any chemicals added! For a list of over 75 ways to clean with vinegar visit www.vinegartips.com. Baking soda is not only good for deodorizing a room or fridge, but also can replace Drain-o by unclogging drains! (Instructions: http://www.cheaplikemeblog.com/cleaning/clear-a-slow-drain-naturally/) Lemon Juice is fantastic for fighting countertop stains, whitening shoes, cleaning shower walls and doors, and removing rust from metals. Plus, it makes your home smell great! Salt is great for freshening sponges, cleaning your oven, washing greasy pans and so much more!

All of these natural cleaning products are safe and easy to use, plus cost efficient! Happy cleaning!

To learn more please visit:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2212471_clean-lemon-juice.html
http://www.householdcleaningtips.net/cleaning-with-salt/

Happy Pecan Day!

MTobler — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:30:21 GMT

Friday is National Pecan Day! To celebrate, we thought we would tell you all of the reasons we love pecans and use them in our bars! Our Wild Pomegranate Pecan Superfood bar is packed with pecans because they truly are a superfood! Some studies have shown that the naturally-occurring antioxidants in pecans can boost heart health. Pecans are rich in protein while having very few carbohydrates and no cholesterol. They also may be able to reduce LDL cholesterol levels and are naturally sodium-free! On top of all of these great benefits, pecans taste great!

Here are some tips on buying, using and storing pecans.
•    Look for plump pecans that are the same size and color
•    Shelled pecans are good for two years in the freezer and can be frozen and refrozen without compromising texture or flavor
•    Airtight containers are the best place for storing pecans in the fridge.

Sources:
http://www.ilovepecans.org/nutrition.html
http://hubpages.com/hub/Health-Benefits-of-Pecan-Nuts
http://happynutritionist.com/pecans.html

The "Fun Fair"

Nthompson — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:56:07 GMT

Thank you to all those that entered our 1,000 bar giveaway! We loved hearing about all of the AMAZING ways you are helping to create a healthier world. Picking one event was rather challenging! After much consideration, we have chosen to donate the bars to Mindee R. who is putting on a “Fun Fair” at her children's school.

The event focus is to get children active and help to educate them on why it is important to keep our bodies healthy. The Fun Fair will have classes on nutrition, serving sizes, and healthy snacks. The fair will also allow the kids to try fun forms of exercise including Zumba, Pilates, Yoga and much more! The goal for the event was to help the students of West Freehold Elementary School to become healthy young adults.

Joelle

Mtobler — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:00:00 GMT

“Hi, I had one of your coconut almond bars today. Oh. My. Heavens. What an INCREDIBLE product!!! I could not believe it, REAL food in the convenience of a granola bar. I have not tasted anything that GOOD come out of a plastic wrapper, well, ever! I went back after work and bought 5 more! I just wanted to let you know that I love your product and keep up the great work! I would love to be notified of any specials or coupons you may have available in the future! I foresee lots of Bora Bora in my future!”

-Joelle from Bridgeville, DE

Fan of the Month

Mtobler — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:48:00 GMT

We’ve gotten so many fans of Bora Bora bars we wanted to celebrate some of the wonderful people who enjoy our bars. To do that we are dedicating this portion of the blog to our fans!

Favorite Flavor Giveaway!!!

Nthompson — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:55:09 GMT

Thanks to all who entered our Favorite Flavor Giveaway! And the winner is... Linda Kwolek!!!

Congratulations!

Top 10 Questions with Fitness Expert Debi Silber

admin — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:00:00 GMT

With all of the New Year's resolutions being made, wethought it best to ask the fitness expert, Debi Silber, also known asthe Mojo Coach, a few questions on fitness and nutrition. Debi is thePresident of Lifestyle Fitness Inc., founder of www.TheMojoCoach.com, aRegistered Dietitian with a Master's in Nutrition, a Personal Trainer, aWhole Health Coach, an author, and a mother. She has helped hundreds ofclients to develop healthier lifestyles and "get their mojo back".

1. What is the purpose of www.themojocoach.com and why did you found the site?
The purpose of www.TheMojoCoach.com is to inspire, empower and help totransform people to look, feel and live their best. So often we feelunfit, overweight, overwhelmed, unattractive and unhappy. We feel stuckwith toxic relationships, unfulfilling jobs, and chronic stress whilenumbly get through our days. I help people create their ultimate body,mind, image and lifestyle so they feel great again and can live thelives they want most.

2. What got you interested in nutrition and fitness in the first place?
I came from an unhealthy and overweight family. I learned early on thathealthy eating and exercise are at least two crucial pieces of thepuzzle necessary to lead a healthy life. It was only when my own healthdeteriorated a few years ago that I knew it had to have something to dowith my lifestyle because I was eating well and working out already. Istudied to become a Whole Health Coach which is a health expert trainedto teach how your lifestyle creates health/wellness or illness/diseaseand that’s how I learned how the lifestyle I was leading was causing somuch illness. I changed everything and every single illness, symptom,condition and disease slowly healed. I got my mojo back, my clientsstarted getting their mojo back, they branded me “The Mojo Coach” andit’s been a thrill ever since.

3. How do you balance being a mother, working, and working out?
With a husband, home, 4 kids, 4 dogs and a business it’s not easy. But,you start with your priorities and make sure they’re taken care of.Then, give yourself some slack about the rest. Fitness is a priority forme so I wake up, get my exercise clothes on before I leave my room toget my kids ready for school. This way, I’m mentally getting preparedfor my workout once they leave. If that’s not an option, I’ll try to getmy workout in later in the day.

4. What is the hardest part about maintaining a balanced, healthy diet in your opinion?
It takes continuous, constant attention and planning. That’s not a badthing, just a way of life. For example, if I know I’ll be out andhealthy food won’t be available, I’ll think about it ahead of time andmake sure I have healthy snacks and water with me.

5. What foods do you recommend eating most as “healthy snacks on the go”?
Bora Bora bars of course! I believe that the closer the food is to itsmost natural source, the healthier it is so I’ll stick with fruit, nuts,etc. Bars are really easy because they’re so portable but it’s soimportant to check the ingredients because they can be loaded in fat,sugar and calories if your not careful.

6. How do you inspire people to change their bad habits into long lasting, healthy habits?
It’s all about finding out what’s really giving them trouble and findinga simple solution they can easily incorporate into their day. I havethem work on one thing until it becomes a new healthy habit, whichslowly replaces the unhealthy, destructive habit. By setting smallgoals, achieving them and celebrating the success, there’s moremotivation to continue while confidence and self-esteem improve.

7. If someone were trying to change to a healthier lifestyle what would be the first few steps you would recommend?
I’d first have to find out where things aren’t working. Is it theireating habits, behaviors, choices or portions? What about theirexercise-is it working for them? I’d need to find out more about theirlifestyles-are they getting enough sleep, is their stress level high andwhat kind of relationships do they have? Do they get enough support,are they frustrated with their lives and what’s keeping them up atnight?
It’s never a simple thing because we’re all so different and what worksfor one person may not work for the next. I get them talking so I canfind out where the trouble is. Once I know, I throw out tons ofstrategies. They choose the one that they want to try, implement it andenjoy the success of overcoming that obstacle. It’s so rewarding for meas well as for them.

8. What is the largest obstacle in getting people to take better care of their bodies, in your opinion?
The biggest problem I see is when someone isn’t taking responsibilityfor their thoughts, choices, behaviors, actions, habits, etc. They liveas a victim in a script they’ve written for themselves! It’s a hugeobstacle because real and lasting change only happens when they takeresponsibility. It’s so empowering because when they take fullresponsibility they understand that they’re in a position to createanything they want.
I also have so many clients start with me and try to hand over theirpower. They’re so used to believing they don’t have what it takes to getfit, thin or healthy and assume anyone knows better than they do. Ihand it right back and show them how they may need inspiration,strategies, support and guidance but they need to own their choices sothey can learn to make better ones!

9. What resources help you maintain a healthy lifestyle (ie. websites, books, apps, etc.)?
A great place to get started is my site www.TheMojoCoach.com whereanyone can sign up to receive my weekly tips and special report. Theyalso can get tons of articles, my books and coaching if they need. Thereare also great apps they can find for food tracking, exercise ideas,etc. so that’s a great option too. Also, there are so many sites to getrecipes and meal planning information. There’s so much stuff availableif someone wants to become fit, healthy and happy.

10. What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of running your company?
The most challenging part is probably all of the mistakes I make as Igrow but I’ve also learned that nothing teaches you better or faster.The most rewarding part is seeing the “a-ha” look on someone I’m workingwith either through coaching, consulting, speaking or even some greatemails I receive from time to time. When they really get it and makethe changes they need to in order to live a life filled with what’s mostimportant to them because of something they’ve learned from me is sorewarding. It also benefits everyone within their care and reach sothese changes have a huge impact. That’s the reason why I do what I doand will continue to do it as long as I can. Improving lives-I mean,does it get any better than that?!

Happy New Years!!!

admin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:56:00 GMT

From everybody at Bora Bora Foods, we would like to wish you a happy, healthy New Year and say thanks to all our supporters! We've had a wonderful year and look forward to the next one!

-The Bora Bora Team

Tips for a Healthy Holiday

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:09:00 GMT

December is here and we are in the thick of the holiday season. With allthe festivities, fun, and food many will experience a weight gain. Tohelp save you from the regret on January 1st here are some healthy tipsfor December.
1. Keep Moving: Yes, there is less natural light and yes, the weather iscolder, which makes it much harder to want to exercise. Find new waysto exercise indoors like work out videos, treadmills, or just turn upthe music and dance for a bit! Hate working out indoors? Grab the familyor friends and go sledding, ice skating, or skiing! Just make sure tokeep your body moving to make up for those extra calories. Exercise alsohelps release that extra holiday stress.
2. Avoid Party Binging: If you are going to a party with lots ofmouthwatering, unhealthy foods, don’t go to the party starving, even ifit is a dinner party. If you go to the party starving thinking you havemore calories to spend that evening because you skipped lunch, you willprobably end up eating far more than you would have. Make sure to eat ahealthy, filling snack (I suggest a Bora Bora bar!) before you join thefestivities. This will help you to control the portion sizes ofempty-calorie foods.
3. Trash Some Treats: Chances are the number of treats left on yourdoorstep will significantly increase this month. You don’t have to avoidevery goodie you get. The best way to handle this is to be picky! Ifthe treat is truly wonderful, eat a little bit for dessert each day andmake sure enjoy every bite. For those treats that are ok, but notreally worth the calories TRASH IT! Just throw it out so when you arelooking for a snack you won’t be tempted. (A marginal tasting cookielooks a lot better than carrot sticks when you are hungry!)
4. Enjoy the Exotic: Get as many Bora Bora bars as you can!

Have a happy, healthy holiday from the Bora Bora Foods Team!

National Pomegranate Month!

admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:55:00 GMT

November is National Pomegranate Month because it is peak season for pomegranates! Picking a pomegranate can be tricky if you don’t know what to look for. Here are some tips. Look for a brightly colored, shiny pomegranate with as few blemishes or cracks as possible. Also, pick up a few pomegranates and find a heavier one because it will most likely have more juice. Make sure to squeeze the brownish crown to make sure it’s not too soft or too firm.

Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants and are a good source of Vitamin C! Researchers are also looking into pomegranates as a possible prostate cancer prevention treatment. On top of all of the health reasons, pomegranates are delicious! That’s why we use them in our Wild Pomegranate Pecan Superfood bar to help you feel great all day!

Sources:
http://www.pomegranatefruit.org
http://www.healthcentral.com/peoplespharmacy/408/61202_2.html
http://boraborafoods.com/our-bars/superfood/wild-pomegranate-pecan.aspx

Halloween on Bora Bora

MTobler — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:05:22 GMT

While Halloween is not a huge holiday on Bora Bora, there are many that enjoy the holiday. Halloween is a time of spooky tales involving witches, bats, mummies, and vampires. But on Bora Bora, there really only two things truely frighten people here on Bora Bora: the “tupapau” and the “varua ino”. The “tupapau” are a kind of ghost. These ghosts are believed to appear to people representing a dead person of the family that have a message to deliver or, on a more sinister note, to exact revenge. The “varua ino” means the spirit that goes away. They are often more frightening than ghosts because they can’t be seen. There are “varua maitai”, good spirits which go to paradise whereas a “varua ino” is a bad spirit that hides in an “ora” tree. To push the “varua ino” away, people use to light on the outside of their houses at night because it is said that they can’t stand the light.
The belief in these ghost and spirit stories is nearly lost in urban cities, but still very strong in the islands.

The Ora Tree where the bad spirits are thought to hide

Village Q&A with Megan Westgate, Non-GMO Expert

MTobler — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:55:51 GMT

Since October is non-GMO month we thought we would ask Megan Westgate, Executive Director of the Non-GMO Project a few questions to learn more about her and her work with non-GMOs.

1. What are GMOs?
GMOs (or “genetically modified organisms”) are organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This relatively new science allows DNA from one species to be injected into another species in a laboratory, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.

2. What types of food are typically modified, and why?
Canola, corn, cotton, flax, papaya, rice, soy, sugar beets, zucchini, and yellow summer squash are often genetically modified. Rather than finding these crops in the produce section, however, you are likely to find their derivatives (high fructose corn syrup, amino acids, etc) in as many as 80% of processed foods of your local grocery store.

3. What is the Non-GMO Project, and what does it do?
The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit multi-stakeholder collaboration committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO products, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices. We have North America’s first and only third party verification program for products produced according to best practices for GMO avoidance. The new “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal gives consumers an informed choice and helps them avoid GMOs.

4. Why are having non-GMO products so important?
In 30 other countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production of GMOs, because they are not considered proven safe. In the U.S. on the other hand, the FDA approved commercial production of GMOs based on studies conducted by the companies who created them and profit from their sale. Many health-conscious shoppers find the lack of rigorous, independent, scientific examination on the impact of consuming GM foods to be cause for concern.

5. What do you see in the non-GMO food industry’s future?
Given the inability of the biotechnology companies to deliver seeds that perform well or offer desirable traits, I honestly think that all food may be non-GMO again someday. GMOs are in our food because consumers are in the dark. Once people become aware, things will change, just as they did in Europe. As the yields of GMO crops continue to fall well below promises, with the crops offering no special ability to survive drought or nutritional benefits, the hype is going to die down and farmers will stop planting GMOs. But we also have nanotechnology, cloning, and synthetic biology on the horizon, so consumers need to stay informed! Demanding non-GMO sends a strong message now that we will not stand for our food being adulterated with these unproven technologies.

6. Why did you decide to get involved with the Non-GMO Project?
I truly believe that we are what we eat. We all deserve to be healthy, vibrant and nourished, and that starts with what we put in our bodies every day. I don’t want to be a guinea pig in someone else’s weird science experiment! I also believe that there is no way for humans to be healthy if the earth isn’t healthy, and I’m deeply concerned about the harm GMOs are causing to wild plants, animals, water and soil. On a personal level, my husband and I are both 30 years old and looking forward to starting a family soon. It’s critically important to me that we preserve safe, healthy food for the future generations.

7. What is the most interesting thing you have learned while working at the Non-GMO Project?
Did you know that 75% of GMOs grown are “Roundup Ready”? That means they are bred to be sprayed with herbicide and survive. Not only has this led to a 15 fold increase in the use of glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup, which is toxic to humans), but it also has caused a “super weed” epidemic that is wreaking havoc in farm country. The same chemical companies who sell the herbicides also sell the GMO seeds. It’s a great business model for them, but it’s not working out so well for the rest of us! I find this fascinating, because there is so much hype out there about how GMOs are going to feed the world, help us survive global warming, etc., but the reality is actually the total opposite. The GMOs on the market are bred for herbicide resistance and insecticide production. Period.

8. What types of challenges does the Non-GMO Project face, and how does the organization overcome these challenges?
I believe that all challenges are opportunities. So, I would say that our biggest challenge is the fact that most Americans don’t even know what a GMO is yet, but that’s also why we’re here! Our job is to help educate people and given them the informed choices they deserve, and awareness is growing fast.

9. What is the most rewarding part of working with the Non-GMO Project?
It’s an amazing feeling to be able help protect the future of our food, which is (obviously!) one of the most fundamentally important things for our survival. True health is my passion in life, so it’s deeply fulfilling to put my energy towards something that supports the long-term health of our species and planet. Also, there are so many passionate, informed people out there who are standing up for their right to choose non-GMO, and I am so inspired by them! Every day the message spreads further, showing me the power of the grassroots movement. The Non-GMO Project is here to offer support and information, but this is truly a collaborative effort by and for the people, and the opportunity to be part of that is an incredible blessing.