Five Things Shaped Like A Whale's Tail

Nature's beauty has often inspired mankind to imitate its shapes and colors.  Here are five things--natural and not--that are shaped like a whale's tail.

Which one's your favorite? Can you guess ours?
(Hint: It's Number Five!)

1. Thong underwear poking over low-rise jeans.  Popular since the early 2000s, this  "whale tail" is often seen at frat parties, celebrity dos and episodes of "What Not to Wear."
2. Some turbine blades for dynamic efficiency in aeolian power generation.  Just like a whale's huge tail and fins propel the animal efficiently, some wind turbine blades have ridges inspired by cetaceans in hopes that they'll produce more energy and less noise.
3. The reef in beautiful Uvita, Costa Rica. This sandbar leading to a tropical reef is shaped like an elegant, yet humongous, whale's tail, and is clearly visible from the air. This is a popular tourist destination for water sports--really, what better place to splish splash than by a reef that looks like a whale's tail?
4. It makes sense that the next invention took its inspiration from our whale friends--boaters are at the water more than most people (excepting surfers, of course). The "whale tail" attachment for outboard motors on boats is designed to help the vessel stay on plane easier.  
5. Saving the best for last, of course,  is our own Whale Tails Tortilla Chips, available in three flavors and made using natural, organic,  gluten-free, non-GMO ingredients. Bite into some of our chips for a whale of a snack! Be sure to contact us for more information about our yummy, nature-inspired chips.

What in the whale is biomimicry?

In the midst of talks about Earth-friendly technology and green initiatives for the planet's future, one term the scientific community has been buzzing about recently is "biomimicry." It sure sounds important, but what is it, exactly?

Well, what comes to mind when we think of mimicry in nature? How about the phasmid, better known by its nickname, the walking stick? Think also about the amazing leaf insect, whose foliage-inspired camouflage is so accurate, it has parts on its body that mimic bite marks--they even move just like real leaves, swaying in the breeze. Both of these critters got their disguises and behaviors from the environments they live in--basically, through evolution, they borrowed an idea from nature and made it work for them.

Biomimicry is basically the same thing, but for humans. It is, as Janine M. Beynus describes, "about looking to nature for inspiration for new inventions." As a science, it's grounded in neither nature nor technology exclusively; rather, it takes the two seemingly-opposing fields and aims to blend them together for mutual benefit.

There's already been plenty of well-documented examples of biomimicry in action in the scientific world, and the results are impressive, to say the least. For instance, take a look at this special adhesive inspired by the sticky pads on a gecko's feet, perfect for medical bandages, or a concept for self-cleaning surfaces based on the leaves of the sacred lotus, or (one of our favorites) this concept for boat rudders based on humpback whale flippers. More info on specific projects and ideas can be found at www.asknature.org--chances are, if there's a problem that needs solving, nature has the perfect answer!

Of course, Whale Tails Tortilla Chips are a great example of biomimicry in action, too! The whale's tail is perfectly made for powerful strokes through the deep blue sea; likewise, our chips swim through salsa like no other! As always, contact us for more info on the marvels of nature and their role in eco-friendly initiatives.

Whale Tails: Healthy Snacks for Healthy Eaters

Do you love snacking? Enjoy catching a quick bite between meals? Well congratulations, because recent research by the NPD group suggests that people with the healthiest eating habits are also the most frequent snackers.

According to the release from the NPD research group, "consumers with the healthiest diets consume 36 percent more snack meals a year than the average consumer." So if you're eating light, healthy snack foods in addition to your regular meals, you're actually helping your diet and your health. Pretty awesome, right?

And if you're going to be snacking on something, your best choice woudl be one of the healthy snacks from Whale Tails Tortilla Chips. Our chips are all made with natural, kosher, organic ingredients such as Alaea Hawaiian sea salts, sun-ripened mango, and heart-healthy chia seeds. You don't have to do much research to know that these snacks are both good-tasting and good for you.

For instance, our Blue Tor"Chia" Chips have only 130 calories in a 1-ounce serving, and also give your body healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. Bet you've never had a handful of cookies or bowl of ice cream that could say that on the package.

Everybody snacks sometimes - with a busy, active life, you're bound to get hungry before it's dinnertime every now and again. So why not choose the snack that's actually good for your diet and for your body? We promise, you're not going to regret it. After all, the research says we're right.

If you're curious about Whale Tails Tortilla chips or want to know more about healthy eating habits, contact us to see if we can help you out.

Fresh Fruit Smoothies And Other Healthy Snacks That Are Good For You

When it comes to healthy snacks nothing can beat the versatility of the classic smoothie.  They are easy and inexpensive to create with endless flavor combinations to try.  One suggestion, invest in a good blender because you will be using it, often.

Just close your eyes and imagine a tropical sunset on the beach with a cool drink close at hand.  Now imagine that drink is a smoothie made with fresh fruit like mangos, pineapple, kiwi, strawberries and bananas, all in a tall, cool glass.  Doesn't that sound healthy and delicious?  Just the thought of that ice cold smoothie will cool you off, even on the hottest summer day.

They can also be whipped up as a breakfast alternative, providing all the nutritional value you need in the morning.  The breakfast smoothie will fill you up and you will be less tempted to add calories before lunch.  In that way they can be part of a weight loss plan as well.  We suggest the Blueberry Banana Smoothie to jump start your day.

Another great thing about smoothies is how you can combine great nutrition with great taste.   To fortify a delicious fresh fruit smoothie, you can add whey or soy protein, ground flax seed, chia seeds, multi-vitamins and more.  Your choice, depending on your individual nutritional needs.

When you are looking for healthy choices in your snacking, be sure to check out our Original Flavor Yellow Organic Corn Tortilla Chips, with “Alaea” Red Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salt or for a nutritional boost try our delicious Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, infused with Chia.  You will find all of our products to be organically grown (no GMOs here), gluten-free and kosher.

We would love to hear about your favorite smoothie.  Contact us to share and also find out more about healthy snacking the Whale Tails way!