Gaia Herbs: Review & Recipe

I've been thinking about this blog a lot recently. My last post was back in February! Life has gotten away from me lately, and I've been neglecting a lot of my old hobbies. I promise that changes this week!

Last month, I was selected to participate in a campaign with Fitfluential and Gaia Herbs. Those of you who have been following me on social media or know me personally know that I've been following a plant-based diet for just under two years. My nutrition has been pretty off lately, and I've been working hard to incorporate more whole foods and supplements into my diet again. So I was pretty excited when this showed up at my door:

Three tubs of Gaia Herbs Organic Maca Powder and a shaker bottle. All for me!

Not sure what maca powder is? Here's what you need to know!

Maca has been used as a caffeine-free, plant-based performance enhancer since the Inca Empire, as it supports energy and stamina. It's an adaptogen, meaning it supports a healthy response to stress. Sounds perfect for endurance athletes!

So what can you do with it? Maca powder can be blended into smoothies and juices, or mixed in to oatmeal, yogurt, or chia pudding.

I personally have used maca powder in my smoothie bowls, which I regularly eat for breakfast. I'm not the type of girl who swings by the local coffee shops for pumpkin spice lattes or maple-glazed pumpkin scones, so I find ways to enjoy those irresistible fall flavors in my favorite plant-based recipes. Because when it's fall and you're a twentysomething-year-old female, pumpkin spice is a must!

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Bowl
(inspired by Simple Green Smoothies)
Serves 1

Ingredients:
-1 cup fresh or frozen kale (to be honest, I never measure this...I just stuff in as much as I can!)
-1 cup (8oz) almond milk, unsweetened
-1 tablespoon chia seeds or flaxseeds
-1 teaspoon Gaia's Organic Maca Powder
-1 frozen banana, sliced
-1/2 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
-1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

What to do!
Add kale and almond milk to a high-speed blender; blend until smooth (doing this first helps eliminate the chunks of kale). Then, add the chia, maca, and banana slices.

The star of today's show: organic maca powder!

Blend until most of the banana has been chopped up. Next, add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice, and blend until smooth.

So basic, it hurts.

I almost forgot this little guy!

Finally, pour into a cup or bowl (depending if you want a smoothie or smoothie bowl) and enjoy! I'm not one for toppings but feel free to top with chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), granola, more pumpkin pie spice...whatever!

What's your favorite smoothie recipe? Share in the comments!

Hemp Heart Bars: Review & Giveaway Details

Manitoba Hemp Heart Bars were provided to me for review through my partnership with Sweat Pink. All opinions are my own.

Since eliminating dairy from my diet, I've been on a quest to find snack bars made from plant-based proteins that have a decent taste and texture. There are few brands that I already enjoy, but I think it's always good to find a few varieties that you like in the event that one brand/product is discontinued, or is difficult to find. So I was pretty stoked when I was selected to do a review of Manitoba Harvest's new Hemp Heart Bars!

Perfect for pre-workout fuel!

I'm already a huge fan of Manitoba Harvest's other products (especially their hemp seeds), so I knew that I would enjoy the new Hemp Heart bars. The new bars are available in three flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, and Apple Cinnamon. I received samples of the Chocolate and Apple Cinnamon flavors. I liked that each of these bars had a subtle flavor, but you could still taste the distinct nuttiness of the hemp seeds.  Chocolate in general isn't really my jam, so naturally I favored the Apple Cinnamon!

Nutrition Information

Hemp Heart Bars are made from 10 or less simple ingredients, and contains 10 grams of protein and 10 grams of omegas. Each bar has 230-240 calories, 15-16 grams of healthy fat (the first ingredient is Hemp Hearts), 13-15 grams carbohydrate, and 8-10 grams of sugar. 

Uses

Manitoba Hemp Heart Bars are perfect for anyone living an active lifestyle. Throw it in your gym bag for a pre- or post-workout snack, or in your bag so you have a healthy snack when cravings or hunger hit. You could also pack it in your lunchbox, and crumble the bar to use in place of granola in yogurt or smoothie bowl!

It's like apple pie without the guilt!

Want to win a box of your own? Enter Manitoba Harvest's photo contest on Instagram and Twitter! Just share a photo using the hashtag #fuelledbyhemp, and tag @ManitobaHarvest to enter! Get all of the details HERE. One winner will be chosen each month! Open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

You can also save 15% on any variety of Hemp Heart Bars using discount code hhbarlaunch1015 at the Manitoba Harvest's online store. Each caddy contains 12 bars, and is retailed at $31.99 (before discount). Hurry, this offer expires 3/31/2016!

Have you tried the new Hemp Heart bars? What did you think?

What's your favorite Hemp Hearts product?

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts Review, Recipe, and Giveaway!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Manitoba Harvest and the Sweat Pink community in exchange for a review of Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts. All opinions expressed are my own.

Almost exactly three years ago, I become a vegetarian. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, so I decided that my last time eating meat would be at my family's Turkey Day feast. I enjoyed my last few bites of turkey at my grandparent's apartment, and haven't had a bite of meat since.

Even though I no longer eat meat, and my Thanksgiving dinner plate is usually loaded with salad and side dishes, I love all of those traditional Thanksgiving flavors. Cranberries, pumpkin, cinnamon, all those nutty fall flavors...the best! And since becoming a vegetarian, I've explored tons of new foods, especially those that help me meet my daily protein needs.

One of my favorite discoveries since transitioning to a plant-based diet is hemp hearts. So when FitApproach provided me with an opportunity to do a review and giveaway on my blog for Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts, I applied immediately!

Hemp hearts are tiny seeds that have a slight nutty flavor, along with a whopping 10 grams of protein in each 30-gram serving. And there are so many ways to eat them! These seeds can be sprinkled on top of salads, cereal, or yogurt, blended into your favorite smoothie, or whisked into the batter of your favorite baked goods. You can even eat them straight out of the bag! The possibilities are endless.

Now, you're probably wondering why I mentioned my love of Thanksgiving foods earlier. FitApproach and Manitoba Harvest asked that I try out a new recipe with the 2oz bag that I received. I looked up several recipes using hemp hearts on the Internet, before selecting a Fruit and Hemp Seed Muesli recipe from Whole Foods that I altered to taste just like Thanksgiving dinner (minus the bird).

Everything-But-The-Thanksgiving-Turkey Muesli

Ingredients:

• 1 1/8 cups quick-cooking oats (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Quick Cooking Oats)
• 1/2 cup Manitoba Harvest Shelled Hemp Seeds
• 1/2 cup Craisins
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (I used Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spiced Pumpkin Seeds)
• 5 pitted dates, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and toss to combine. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

To serve warm, combine 1/2 cup muesli with 1/2 cup liquid of choice (unsweetened non-dairy milk, water, etc.) and simmer on the stovetop until oats are softened, 1-2 minutes.

Want to win a bag of your own? Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite Thanksgiving food is and you're automatically entered! Winner will be announced on November 13, 2015. Good luck!

Freekeh Foods Review & GIVEAWAY!

Remember when I said I wouldn't go another two weeks without updating?

So that didn't happen.

I tried my best. I really did!

Well TODAY I am pairing up with my friends at Freekeh Foods to share a favorite recipe and provide YOU with a chance to score your own bag of freekeh!

A lot of you are probably asking yourselves, "WHAT IS FREEKEH?!"

Freekeh Foods describes freekeh as "a process which means 'to rub' in Arabic. Freekeh was created by accident nearly 2,000 years ago when a Middle Eastern village was attacked and their crop of young green wheat was set ablaze. Most folks would sulk over their misfortune, but the crafty villagers rubbed off the chaff, cooked it up, and 'Eureka!' Freekeh was created." Freekeh Foods offers the grain in three flavors: Original, Rosemary Sage, and Tamari.

When I gave up meat almost three years ago, I began searching for new foods to eat that were nutrient-dense and contained protein. Freekeh became one of my favorite ancient grains because not only does it contain more nutrients than other grains like wheat and rice, but it's absolutely delicious! As a busy plant-based athlete, I'm always looking for recipes that I can make ahead of time and store in the refrigerator or freezer so that I don't have to cook every night. This week, I used my Original Freekeh to make Roasted Sweet Potato Stew with Kale and Freekeh, a recipe straight from the Freekeh Food's website!

Sweet Potato Stew with Kale and Freekeh

1 8-ounce package cracked freekeh, any variety (I used Original)
3 sweet potatoes, scrubbed, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 cups vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
1 bunch of fresh Lacinato kale, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 small onion, diced
1 12-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 12-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
2-3 garlic cloves, diced

Scrub the sweet potatoes and cut into 1-inch cubes. Place sweet potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet and drizzle a little olive oil on them. Bake in 375° oven for about 25 minutes or until tender. Remove from oven and set aside. While the potatoes are cooking, pour all ingredients into a large pot on top of the stove over high heat. Stir with a spoon and heat for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add roasted sweet potatoes. Cover partially and simmer for at least 30 minutes. Check occasionally and give a stir.

Continue to cook longer for richer flavor, adding water or more broth if desired.

Options:

• Sprinkle a little nutritional yeast on top for a “parmesan cheese” flavor without the fat.
• Try using roasted pumpkin or butternut squash instead of sweet potato for a delicious twist.

GIVEAWAY!

Want to get your freekeh on??? Leave me a comment telling me which flavor of freekeh YOU would like to try (Original, Rosemary Sage, or Tamari) for your chance to win a bag of your own! Contest ends Friday, August 14th at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be announced Monday, August 17th!

Updates, and a recipe!

Note to self: Don't start a blog the week before one of the busiest weeks of your life.

I feel like I've been on autopilot since starting this blog last week. Here's a few exciting things that have happened.

Work
I started my summer job last week. The cafe I work at serves Starbucks beverages, so my co-workers were pretty fired up that they didn't really have to train me since I was a barista when I graduated college. I memorized most of the recipes! I am new to cold brew coffee though, and it is AMAZING.

Yoga
I took my first yoga class last week! A few weeks ago, I bought a Groupon for one month of unlimited yoga classes. Just $17! Fitness classes can be pretty expensive, so I feel like I pretty much won the lottery. I've only attended two classes so far, but I really enjoyed it. And let me tell you...YOGA IS HARD. The classes are for yogis of all levels though, so there is absolutely no intimidation. I can't wait to go back!

Wegmans
A Wegmans opened up in my city, right across the street from the yoga studio! If you've been to Wegmans before, you understand why this is a huge deal. If you've never been to a Wegmans, you haven't really been living.

#1MillionMinutes
On June 21st, Fit Approach kicked of the #1millionminutes campaign in celebration of their fourth birthday. The Sweat Pink community is coming together to achieve one million minutes of activity this summer (through August 21st). The goal is to inspire and encourage EVERYONE to get moving. We've racked up over 100,000 minutes already! If you'd like to join us, visit fit approach.com to sign up and track your active minutes. Then, log those minutes and share your progress towards helping the Sweat Community reach their goal of 1 million minutes. You can also win prizes! Share your progress on Twitter, and follow the daily prompts to upload pictures on Instagram. Be sure to use the hashtags #1MillionMinutes and #SweatPink to show how you're staying active this summer!

#WeRunSocial
#WeRunSocial is a fairly new online community of runners. Started by some of my favorite bloggers/social media runners, the community is described as "a crew with the sole purpose of running all the miles and winning life on the interwebs." When I first saw that this was project was launched, I knew that I had to join. While experiencing a running funk during the month of June that kept me from meeting my goal of 100 miles (see below), I decided to order a racerback from Pavement Runner. I swear this shirt is magical. On Sunday, I had set out to run 16 treadmill miles. I walked one. On Monday, I received the shirt in the mail, took a quick selfie with the TimerCam app, uploaded it to Instagram, and then banged out 7 miles on the treadmill like it was my job. I am so thankful for this community.

100 Miles Per Month
My goal every month is to run a minimum of 100 miles. Some months, I shatter this goal and run almost 150 miles. Other months, I just squeak by with 100-110 miles. Last month, I ran just 79 miles. I struggled a lot with motivation, and I think a lot of it had to do with nutrition. My nutrition was on point during the month of May (which resulted in a 13+ minute PR at the Vermont City Marathon), but I got off track during early June. I'm not sure if it's because my parents came to visit and took me out to eat three times, or because I watch the Food Network every night. Regardless, I started my training plan for the Dumbo Double Dare (September 5-6) this week, so I have really high hopes for July!


Speaking of July, did you know it's National Ice Cream Month? Since I'm usually training for a marathon, I do watch what I eat, and can honestly say I don't even remember the last time I ate ice cream. BUT...during the month of May, my diet was really consistent. I figured out that what works best for me is consuming all or mostly raw foods for breakfast and lunch, followed by a high-protein dinner. I had a lot of energy, slept better, and looked and felt leaner. I also felt really great during my workouts. Just about every morning started off with "nice" cream. For those of you who don't know, "nice" cream is "ice cream" made entirely from fruit, with optional milk and protein powder. The best is that this concoction tastes just like ice cream, but does not contain any added sugar or fat. I love it so much that I've decided to share my recipe with you! You can eat this any time of day, but I prefer it in the morning because it gives me so much energy and keeps me satiated (and who doesn't want to eat ice cream for breakfast???).

I use my shovel spoon from the Ben & Jerry's Factory to "dig" in!

Non-Dairy "Nice" Cream

Makes 1-serving.

Ingredients:

-half a banana, sliced and frozen

-1/4 to 1/2 cup sliced and frozen fruit of your choice (strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, mango, or even the other half of your banana...feel free to mix them!)

-1 to 2 tbsp non-dairy milk (almond, cashew, coconut)

-*1/2 to 1 scoop plant-based protein powder (optional; I use Vega One in French Vanilla)

-**Optional toppings: chopped nuts, chia seeds, granola, more fruit.

Directions:

-Place sliced/frozen fruit in a food processor or blender, and use the "chop" feature to break the fruit down into smaller pieces.

-Add milk, and puree. You may need to stop and mix the fruit with a spoon so that all pieces are being pureed.

-Add protein powder, if desired. Stir the protein powder in a little bit so that it does not stick to the top of the food processor/blender.

-Scoop nice cream into a bowl. Add desired toppings and enjoy!

*Protein powder is recommended if you are eating this as a meal, as it will keep you satiated. I once forgot to add the protein powder and was starving two hours later!

**I'm not into toppings, but you do you!

Be sure to comment and let me know how your "nice" cream turned out! I seriously loved this recipe!

Also...what are your fitness goals for July?

Note: This post was not sponsored by Vega, and I was not compensated in any way. Also, remember that I am not a health professional. Please contact the appropriate health professional before making any changes to your diet.