Lin Carson, Author at Eat Bread 90

May 7, 2017June 28, 2017 by Lin Carson

Adding Beta Glucans to my Diet: Day 35

Today, my loaf of choice is Alvarado St. Bakery sprouted Barley Bread. Why Barley? Well, because barley is high in beta glucans: prebiotics that are beneficial to your gut bacteria. It was a hearty loaf, and it make me feel full all day. Thank you Alvarado St. Bakery!

Here’s what I ate on Day 35 of EB90:

Food	Portion	Calories
Alvarado St. Bakery Sprouted Barley Bread	13 Slices (34 g)	1170
Lemon Curd	2 Tbsp	120
Nutella	2 tbsp	200
Spring Rolls	5 rolls	250
Capocollo	6 slices	160
Spinach	1 C	48
Banana		105
Orange	1 orange	81
Cookie	1	100
Coconut water	2 C	100
Dark Chocolate Penut Butter	2 Tbsp	170
Calcium Supp
Walk		-250
Total		2254

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May 6, 2017June 28, 2017 by Lin Carson

Bread from Across the World: Day 34

My family and I went to a Vietnamese restaurant today because I knew they would be happy with a hot bowl of Pho, while I could eat Bánh Mì. In Vietnamese, Bánh means bread, and mì means wheat. It was introduced by the French during their colonial period in Vietnam.

Bánh mì sold on the streets of Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Chris Conway, Hilleary Osheroff.

Bánh mì is shorter than the French baguette, airier and has a very thin crispy crust. I ordered Bánh mì Bo Kho, a slow cooked beef stew served with two Bánh mì. I finished up the delicious stew, but I could only stomach one Bánh mì.

Bo Kho is a delicious Vietnamese beef stew with carrots.

Therefore, I brought the other one home with me. I compared the Bánh mì and the Baguette from Puratos side to side. The former had a uniform lighter crumb, and a very thin and crispy crust. Meanwhile latter is heavier and moister with an irregular crumb and a thick crunchy crust.

I believe the main difference between these two bread is the quantity of protein and hydration, with the Bánh mì requiring a lower protein flour and lower hydration levels. I am thinking I should go visit a Bánh mì bakery one of these days. Anyway, I had a great time eating crusty white breads today.

Here’s what I ate on Day 34 of EB90:

Food	Portion	Calories
Bánh mì	200g	600
Puratos® O-tentic Baguette	285g	750
Bo Kho	2 C	400
Coconut water	2 C	100
Grilled Pork	2 oz	150
Coconut Cardamon Almond Cashew Butter	1 Tbsp	95
Brussel sprouts		38
Orange	1 orange	81
Lemon Curd	2 Tbsp	120
Siggi’s® Skyr Vanilla	1/2 C	60
Calcium Supp
Total		2394

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May 5, 2017June 28, 2017 by Lin Carson

Sun and Sprouts: Day 33

This week again I was surprised with 2 boxes of sprouted bread from Alvarado St. Bakery. So I guess you’ll be hearing me talk a lot about them. The unique thing about Alvarado St. Bakery is that they sprout their grains and seeds all at the plant with the use of solar power. Solar powered sprouts? Yes, I’ve found another deeply passionate baking company!

I gave Michael Girkout, Director of Marketing, a call for an interview. I wanted to learn more about how they are depending on solar power, how the red kitty Greta was in charge of food safety, and most importantly, why they are not located on Alvarado St. Hear more about this interview on Podcast #5.

Least to say, I enjoyed their sprouted onion poppy seed bagel with ricotta cheese and pesto, and had a wonderful day eating their sprouted whole wheat bread.

Fresh baked bread waiting to be sliced on a solar powered line.

This was Greta taking her naps in between catching rodents at the bakery. Greta left the bakery in the ’80s and has since passed on.

The Alvarado St. Bakery logo with Greta on it.

Here’s what I ate on Day 33 of EB90:

Food	Portion	Calories
Alvarado St. Bakery® Sprouted whole wheat	10 slices (38g)	900
Alvarado St. Bakery® Onion Poppy Seed Bagel	1 Bagel (95g)	250
Ricotta Cheese	1/4 C	100
Orange	1 orange	45
Homemade Pesto	1 Tbsp	80
Sugar Free Strawberry Jam	2 Tbsp	160
Steamed Broccoli	1C	35
Butter	1 Tbsp	100
Pan Fried Chicken	113g	230
Almond and cashew nut butter	2 Tbsp	190
Apple	1	95
Orange	1 orange	81
Coconut water	2 C	100
Calcium Supp
Bike		-200
Total		2121

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May 4, 2017June 28, 2017 by Lin Carson

It’s a Sweet Day: Day 32

Puratos fired up their ovens for me again this week. They used their best quality Belgium white chocolate (Belcolade), cranberries, pecans and O-tentic Durum. This combination resulted in a sweet and luxurious fruit and nut bread.

White chocolate cranberry pecan from Puratos.

White chocolate cranberry pecan bread from Puratos.

By now you should have figured that I am a sucker for sweet bread, especially the chocolate and fruit kind. I am very peculiar about my chocolate. Especially with white chocolate, I get irritated when bakers use the cheap kind. How would I know? With white chocolate, like Belcolade Blanc, it gave a rich cocoa butter taste and a smooth mouthfeel.

With many baker’s white chocolate out there, it tastes milky and leaves a waxy mouthfeel. So I was pleased that this bread was made with high quality stuff, and that really made a difference in the bread tasting experience. Yes, I indulged in this bread all day.

Here’s what I ate on Day 32 of EB90:

Food	Portion	Calories
Puratos White Chocolate Pecan Bread	9 slices (40g)	990
Alvarado St. Bakery Onion Poppy Seed Bagel	1 Bagel (95g)	250
Lox	2oz	120
Apricot Sugar-Free Jam	2 Tbsp	40
Ricotta Cheese	1/4 C	100
Philadelphia cream cheese spread	1 Tbsp	40
Nutella	2 tbsp	200
Apple	1	95
Orange	1 orange	81
Artichoke Bruschetta spread	2 Tbsp	67
Capers		5
Roasted chicken dinner w green beans		400
Run		-340
Total		2048

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May 3, 2017August 6, 2017 by Lin Carson

You Can Eat Bread on Paleo with This! Day 31

When Holista Foods sent in their paleo bread, I was puzzled. Why make bread that has no grains? I don’t understand. So I did some research.

The Paleo Diet

Simply put, it emulates the diet of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, and it advocates consumption of unprocessed animals and plants, including meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. I don’t know where bread fits into this diet. If you study the diet itself, it gets boring after a while, and there needs to be a carrier for all these fish, meat and eggs.

Paleo bread from Holista Foods.

Therefore, someone created the paleo bread, using a flour blend of coconut, almonds, seeds and eggs.

And because it’s made without grain, it is also a gluten-free bread. Some of there other benefits include:

All Natural
Clean and Clear Label
Non GMO
No Grains
No Dairy
No Soy

It is a difficult bread to make, so hats off to Holista Foods who makes it possible to make a great tasting product!

Here’s what I ate on Day 31 of EB90:

Food	Portion	Calories
Holista Foods® Paleo Bread	1 loaf (300)	219
Holist Foods® Low GI Bread	6 slices (25g)	334.5
Apple	1	95
Butter	2 Tbsp	200
Ricotta Cheese	1/4 C	100
Deli Chicken Breast	3 slices	50
Almond and cashew nut butters	2 Tbsp	190
Grilled Pork	2 oz	150
Sugar Free Strawberry Jam	2 Tbsp	160
Orange	1 orange	81
Spaghetti with meatballs	2 C	400
Coconut water	2 C	100
Calcium Supp
Bike		-100
Total		1979.5

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May 2, 2017June 28, 2017 by Lin Carson

Why Gluten-Free? Day 30

Smart Flour Foods, Franz Gluten-Free, and Saratoga Bakery sent in their gluten free breads. I’ll address the elephant in the room right this moment. I know I’ve set out this challenge to consume wheat bread products, so why am I eating gluten-free when I’m not celiac? I really had a tough time with this issue. It made sense to stick to my wheat-only bread diet. But I broke down when I got a note from a gluten-free baker, which wanted my opinion on their gluten-free bread.

gluten free - smart flour food - eat bread 90

Roasted vegetables, salami and swiss on a gluten-free Smart Flour Food® Hoagie.

You see, when I first started to build BAKERpedia, my intent was to help every baker that needed help. It is hard for me to turn my back when I get a passionate note from a baker thanking me for eating their bread. I really can’t say no to this. Therefore, I dedicate this blog to all the gluten-free bakers out there. You are all doing well because you are putting superior tasting multigrain products out there for your gluten intolerant customers.

For that, I really want to thank you, and provide you this platform to showcase your products. Keep baking, keep growing, and I am honored to be part of your gluten-free baking journey.

Here’s what I ate on Day 30 of EB90:

Food	Portion	Calories
Smart Flour Foods® GF Hoagie	1 (135g)	330
Franz® GF Cinnamon Raisin	4 Slices (40)	400
Franz® GF 7 grain	3 slices (40g)	240
Saratoga® GF Bun	1 bun ( 60g)	220
Apricot Sugar-Free Jam	2 Tbsp	40
Ricotta Cheese	1/4 C	100
Philledelpia cream cheese spread	1 Tbsp	40
Nutella	2 tbsp	200
Orange	1 orange	45
Kale (cooked)	1 C	33
Salami	1oz	50
Roasted Vegetables	1 Tbsp	100
Egg	1	78
Total		1876

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May 1, 2017August 6, 2017 by Lin Carson

Control Your Blood Sugar with This Low GI Bread: Day 29

Yes. I ate a lot of bread today. It’s almost half a day of yesterday’s loaf, plus today’s bread. Least to say, it was a lot of calories, but I had to make up for the bread I didn’t eat yesterday. I’m on a schedule, and my plan was not to break up the 90 days.

Toasted Ciabatta that melts in your mouth from Grand Central Baking, with Rye Sourdough, Low GI and Paleo bread. Oh what a mix!

A low GI bread?

A special bread arrived at my office today. It was a low GI bread (Glycemic Index) from Holista Foods. We tried this in a group setting and I found the feedback interesting. Most people are not aware that white bread sends their blood sugar up the roof. Therefore, diabetics tend to shy away from white bread.

Holista Foods has patented an ingredient system, when used at 8% in the formula, lowers your GI index. I thought maybe it was a system of gums and starches that they were using, but I was so surprised when I talked to Nadja Piatka (CEO, Holista Foods) and learned it was not so.

Low GI Bread by Holista Foods.

They use a patented system of fenugreek, pulses, okra and fiber to achieve this low GI application. They even had tests confirm this system at the GI labs in Toronto, The University of Sydney, Australia and the University of Oxford, England.

Their readings were below 55m which is unprecedented for white bread!

Here’s what I ate on Day 29 of EB90:

Food	Portion	Calories
Low GI bread	6 slices (25g)	334.5
Paleo bread	4 slices (25g)	173
Grand Central Baking Ciabatta Loaf	200g	560
Grand Central Baking Rye Sourdough	4 slices (50g)	560
Almond and cashew nut butters	2 Tbsp	190
Apricot Sugar-Free Jam	2 Tbsp	40
Grilled Chicken	1 Thigh	180
Green Beans	1 C	30
Apple	1	95
Orange	1 orange	45
Total		2207.5

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April 30, 2017June 28, 2017 by Lin Carson

Week Four Weigh-in

Day 21 weigh-in.

Day 28 weigh-in.

I don’t think the scale is correct. I feel like a whale after eating my way through Seattle. This should really read 150 lbs, especially after that Port and Prosseco. Anyway, I really think this bread diet helped me in not gaining extra pounds, especially feeling so full after each meal.

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April 30, 2017June 28, 2017 by Lin Carson

I Want to Make Them Happy: Day 28

I know what’s it like to travel with a friend on such a strict diet. So for today, I’ll try to be fun for my friends. I said ‘yes’ to Dim Sum. For those of you not familiar with this Asian culture, Dim Sum is mostly consumed at brunch. It originated from the Canton province in China, and it is similar to Tapas, where small plates of food are served. We ordered a variety of plates, and I got 2 servings of bread with the BBQ pork steamed bun.

Soft and silky steamed BBQ pork buns, Red bean glutinous rice ball covered in sesame seeds and fried noodles with bean sprouts were part of our Dim Sum brunch.

Dim sum was delicious, but we had to part ways today to go back home to our families and my well-structured life. Let’s hope they have no negative opinions on me my bread diet, which really restricted them in some ways on the types of restaurants we could go to (I apologize for not doing sushi with you!).

Upon reaching home after a 3 hour ride on the Amtrak, I was still full. I couldn’t eat anything else. Come 5 p.m., I had still about all of my day’s bread consumption not eaten. So I ate two slices, and kept the rest for the next day’s challenge.

Crispy Ciabatta and wholesome rye sourdough bread.

Here’s what I ate on Day 28 of EB90:

Food	Portion	Calories
Grand Central Baking Ciabatta Loaf	200g	560
Grand Central Baking Rye Sourdough	4 slices (50g)	560
Chinese Steamed BBQ Pork Bun	80 g	150
Fried noodles	6 oz	500
Chinese Broccoli	2 C	200
Glutinouse rice balls	2	380
Pork dumpling	1	90
Shrimp dumpling	1	80
Orange	1 orange	45
Cappucino	1 C	75
Coconut water	1 C	45
Walk and run		-500
Total		2185

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king street station - eat bread 90, places

April 29, 2017June 28, 2017 by Lin Carson

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

“Today is your day

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!”

-Dr. Seuss

I have bread on my mind, and feet in my shoes. I can steer myself in any direction I choose. I went to Seattle for a vacation and ate bread at the King Street Train Station.

king street station - eat bread 90

I looked up and down streets; looked them over with care. Then I said, “I want to go there.” It’s Pike’s Street Market, a place with fresh fish. They threw them in the air, they threw them without a care.

At Cow Chip I did not find any, because they were closed. I kept my money and onward I did move, because I know I will find something else to approve.

I saw La Panier and drooled at their macaroons. I said to myself, I have to eat three by noon. So delicious they were, I ate all three at the Very French Bakery.

La Panier

I had so much fun eating, I wished I was staying. But I found this place, where wedding bells were playing.

Will I succeed, in eating all this bread? Yes, I will indeed (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed). At the magnificent Space Needle I had to stare, I ate all that bread even with the wind in my hair.

Space Needle

So be it sourdough, focaccia or ciabatta, today is the day! Your belly is waiting. So get on your way!

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