Healthy Happy and Free

Are you in panic from the title of this post? Are you nervously questioning every packaged food in your house? Don't panic! I'm going to explain why you can't trust nutrition labels and why it's not that vital! I was intrigued by this matter when Lauren First (@_fitness_1st_) opened my eyes to the real nutrition facts of a snack that I had been downing like nothing! The snack was New Pop popcorn - I even raved about it on my blog here:  Product Review: New Pop Skinless Popcorn . From @_fitness_1st_ instagram Don't get me wrong, the popcorn is still delicious and addictive in my opinion, however, the nutrition facts were way off, and as a result, I feel a little less respect and trust in the company. Apart from labels that are completely incorrect, a label with 20% error is still considered compliant by the FDA standards. "the label is considered to be out of compliance if the nutrient content of a composite of the product is greater than 20% abo...

Shut my mouth and superfood slap my grandma. I was skeptical from the beginning but I decided to give this idea a whirl and magic ensued. These brownies are gluten free, no added sugar, high in fiber, packed with extra protein and superfoods. Yet, they taste like real brownies.  Thus, my opening statement. Let's get down to business. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups (1 can) drained and rinsed black beans 2 tbsp Nunaturals cocoa powder 1 scoop chocolate protein powder 1 scoop Slap Nutrition fudge pop greens powder 6 tbsp Know Better syrup  1/4 cup melted butter/coconut oil 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 5-6 packets Nunaturals NuStevia No carb blend Directions: The batter is like pudding! Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray or line an 8x8" baking pan.  Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until completely smooth.  Spread batter in the prepared baking dish and bake 15-18 minutes. Allow to co...

Believe me when I tell you that these babies are so easy to make. They also got the approval from my mom who loves sweets and dislikes most protein snacks and bars. There's chocolate. There's caramel. There's Himalayan sea salt. Sounds like a recipe for success. I baked them in muffin tins but the texture is not muffin-like. They are dense, almost fudgy, protein bites and you can make them start to finish in just 30 minutes or less! They also happen to have p rebiotics, probiotics, anti-inflammatory tart cherry powder, glutamine and BCAAS , thanks to Eboost Chocolate protein powder. You can read more about Eboost on my post here:  Boost Your Workout! Let's get to it! Ingredients Chocolate Bites That sea salt sprinkle! 2 scoops Eboost Chocolate prime protein powder 1 egg 1/4 cup Cocoa Bar in a Jar Spread* 1/4 cup cashew milk or milk of choice pinch salt 1/4 tsp vanilla extract Caramel Sea Salt Frosting  1/4 cup cream cheese/cream cheese alt...

Jumbo shrimp. Definitely maybe. Seriously funny. Healthy chocolate? Is healthy chocolate a contradiction? While I believe the term "healthy" can be interpreted many ways, there are now tons of chocolate options on the market to fit into many diets including: low sugar, no sugar, dairy free, gluten free, etc. I wholeheartedly support this because I believe everyone should have chocolate! It's one of my life goals to get chocolate from as many countries as I can. So far, Italy has had the best chocolate (if you go, find Venchi!). Clearly, I'm an un-certified chocolate aficionado. So it is my duty to try all the "healthy" chocolates that I can get my hands on! JOJO Chocolate Bark This chocolate comes in two varieties: 70% dark chocolate bark and peanut butter delight. The dark chocolate bark encases raw almonds, pistachios, and dried cranberries. It's non GMO, has only 8g sugar and a boost of Non GMO casein protein! I really loved the nuts and cra...

Here we go again. Cold and flu season. I hate getting sick. I refuse to get sick. So when someone around me gets a sniffle, paranoia sets in. What can I do? Getting sick is not completely within our control, but there are some steps we can take to try to avoid it! Tips for Avoiding the Cold or Flu Avoid people who are ill . I mean, duh, but I might as well say it. Try to avoid close quarters with people who are sick to the best of your ability and definitely don't drink or eat after them.  Wash your hands . You've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times because it works! Eat healthy foods. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that will help your body stave off illnesses and build up your immune system.  Zinc, echinacea, Vitamin C and Vitamin D supplements may be helpful to preventing a cold or even shortening it if you have already caught it.  Don't overexercise or under-eat . These things stress the body and cause you to be more...

By now, this is practically old news, but Square Organics, a company that makes plant based chocolate coated protein bars, came out with NEW products. That New New And let me tell you, it's hip to be square. I have loved their protein bars already but they recently released: Crisp Bars New flavor chocolate coated bar Protein Popcorn Crisp Protein Bars These new crisp bars come in three flavors: Chocolate Sea Salt, Vanilla Cashew, and Toasted Coconut. They have a perfect crispy texture, just like a rice crispy treat packed with 10g plant based protein. The sugar is in the single digits for all three flavors and they are a source of healthy fats with cashew butter being the first ingredient. They are gluten free, dairy free, soy free and have no sugar alcohols or artificial flavors. The ingredients are simple and the taste is great! I'm a sucker for chocolate sea salt, but I'm nuts about chocolate anything! Chocolate Coated Cookie Dough Bar Woah...

Have you found Enlightenment? While spiritual enlightenment  may be a continual search for many, snacking enlightenment is well within reach! I have been a big fan of Enlightened products for a while now so I thought I would do a little post about my love for Enlightened! Snacks on Snacks on Snacks! Enlightened has 3 types of products right now including: roasted broad bean crisps, marshmallow crisp treats, and ice cream! Roasted Broad Bean Crisps - The name of this snack totally does not do it justice. Every time I munch on them, I'm reminded just how good they are. They have both sweet and savory flavors to satisfy any snack craving. I love the 100 calorie snack packs for a quick grab-and-go snack to put in my purse. I also love using the sweet ones on smoothie bowls, yogurt bowls or protein fluff bowls. I've even used them as a topping for ice cream. The savory ones are great on their own or on avocado toast or as a salad topper for some added crunch! My favorite f...

It's time for Friday Finds - a round up of some things I've been enjoying lately or have recently discovered! S.W. Skincare and Functional Fragrances The people at S.W. Basics were so kind to send me some of their products to try. I tried the Cleanser and Lavender functional fragrance so far and will definitely try the cream scrub and who knows what else. The products are made with minimal ingredients that are natural. The cleanser makes my face feel like a baby's bottom, but that's not all, it removed my makeup without having to scrub like a maniac. They also make a make up remover if your makeup is particularly hard to remove. The lavender functional fragrance was such a good choice for me. It helps to ease anxiety and has soothing and cleansing properties plus I smell like a flower! It's a win-win and I really enjoy it. It's diffused in sunflower oil so you can apply it right to your skin. All their products are cruelty free and they use all natural ing...

Another 5k in the books, my friends. I've expressed my enjoyment of 5ks before, but this NC MedAssist 5k on November 4, gave me an extra dose of anxiety with my excitement. Why? 1. My work sponsored it. 2. They found out I placed in my age division last year and were counting on me as their "star athlete" (jokingly, but the pressure was on). 3. I sprained my ankle the week before! I sprained my ankle running through a pile of leaves the week before so I transitioned to using a stationary bike to maintain my cardiovascular endurance but a stationary bike is really not the same as running. The morning of the 5k was unseasonably warm, which I was thankful for. I fueled up with a  Western Bagel  and made the trip to the Brewery which was hosting the 5K. The proceeds go to a MedAssist program for people who can't afford insurance. It's hosted annually at a brewery where participants are treated to a breakfast of pancakes and bacon afterward. Oh, and beer, to ...

Vegans and dairy intolerant ice cream lovers rejoiced when Halo Top announced their new line of vegan ice creams! I, personally, do not follow a vegan diet, however, I'm always open to trying new things, especially if those things are in the form of ice cream!  The dairy free pints are soy free and made with a coconut milk base. They also incorporate pea protein and rice protein to add a vegan protein punch.  The flavors range from 280 calories per pint to 360 calories per pint, which is pretty impressive for ice cream made with coconut milk! They average about 14-16 grams of fat per pint, 52-72 grams carbohydrates (not excluding sugar alcohols), and 12-16 grams of protein.  I first tried Chocolate which is the lowest calorie of the vegan line coming in at 280 calories.  Topped with a Square Organics Crisp Bar! This flavor was just alright to me. I felt like the pea protein lent to a bit of a graininess. It wasn't horrible but I wouldn't g...

Got a case of the Winter Blues? If you're anything like me, you love the sunshine! I love to be outside soaking up the sun. What's a girl to do when the clocks fall back and the sunshine is limited to what seems to be just a few measly hours? It really can take a toll on your mental well being but here are some ideas to counter that: Keep a routine and do your daily activities. Don't allow yourself to get into a slump. If you would normally go to a friends, cook dinner, go to the gym, go to a pottery class, then do that! Try to get some sunshine in ! It can definitely be a challenge if you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark, but strive to get some natural Vitamin D, even if it means going outside during a lunch break or sitting near a window.  Enjoy citrus ! Citrus foods are invigorating and they are in season during winter so enjoy!  Stretch often - it will keep your blood flowing so you will feel awake even if its dark! Remember, Spring is ...

If ten seems like a lot to you, you haven't seen the full scope of protein bars on the market.  First of all there are some things I look for in a protein bar and some of my top picks don't check all the boxes but I love them anyway. Determine what's most important to you to choose your protein bars!  I look for: quality ingredients i.e. I prefer no soy, high fructose corn syrup, etc.  lower sugar - If I was going to eat a candy bar... decent amount of protein  taste and texture - chewing on bricks is not my favorite thing price - homegirl is on a budget  My Top Ten Protein Bar Choices: Quest Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie - I'm not going to list out every quest bar, but this is one of my favorites from their classic bar line, the ingredients are pretty solid, protein is pretty high, sugar is pretty low and it's oh so soft, chewy and delicious! Square Organics Nuts and Sea Salt/Cookie Dough Chocolate Coated Bar - Again, I'm not going to list ...