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?

Snow Days and Recipes and Giveaways, Oh My!

When I first announced that I was moving to Northern Virginia almost a year ago, everybody told me that I would be much warmer here than I was in New York.

Everybody was wrong.

You won't hear any complaints from me though. I love the snow, especially when it falls in large quantities. I actually get excited when I hear that my area is going to be hit by a blizzard.

I still remember how I spent my snow days as a child. My siblings and I would spend hours playing outside, sledding or using the recycling bin to make cubes to construct an igloo. When our noses got too runny and our fingers were numb, we'd head inside to warm up. Even though I was one of the youngest, I would make popcorn and hot chocolate for everyone to enjoy after they changed into warm, dry clothes.

Fast-forward almost two decades, and I'm still spending much of my snow day in the kitchen. Back in November, Ron Redding of NuNaturals contacted me, offering me samples of different products offered by the company. Now normally when I hear the word "samples," I think of tiny packages of products that are usually only good for 1-2 uses. So I was shocked when I received a package from Ron a few days later, and it was filled with full-size bottles and packages of a wide variety of NuNaturals products.

You're a good man, Ron.

Two weeks ago, Ron agreed to host a giveaway with me here on my blog. If you're not familiar with the NuNaturals, let me give you a brief overview of the company and their products.

NuNaturals is an Oregon-based company that offers over 80 SKUs of quality, all-natural products. Their flagship brand, NuStevia, is comprised of non-bitter, zero-calorie Stevia products, such as powder packets, clear liquid extracts, and quick dissolve tablets. NuStevia is a sweetener derived from the stevia plant, a medicinal herb. Unlike artificial sweeteners, NuStevia is all natural, so you can consume it without the guilt. The products can be used in baking recipes, coffee, smoothies, specialty drinks, puddings, bean salads...the possibilities are endless!

Here's some information about the products that you could win!

NuNaturals Pure Liquid Vanilla Stevia, Alcohol Free: NuNaturals has combined the super high quality of Singing Dog Vanilla Bean Extractives with their Clear Stevia extract to give you a delicious way to use Stevia. Add this to your foods and beverages in place of regular vanilla extract to experience the delicious benefits of Stevia.

NuStevia Cocoa Syrup: This product is a bit of an oxymoron. It's chocolate, but it's GUILTLESS. This cocoa syrup is comparable to Hershey's syrup, except that it's both calorie and sugar free! You can use this syrup on ice cream, in coffee, or to stir up a healthy chocolate milk. It's also great to use in recipes! Made with NuStevia extract, this syrup will not leave any unpleasant aftertastes. And the best part? There are 385 servings...in ONE bottle! 

NuStevia Cocoa Mint Syrup: If you're a huge mint lover like myself, this product is for you! This syrup can be used in all the same ways as the Cocoa Syrup listed above, but will add a great peppermint taste to anything you're whipping up in the kitchen. I used my bottle to make a Peppermint Mocha Latte that was cheaper and healthier than one from Starbucks!

NuStevia NoCarbs Blend,  50 Packets: The NuStevia NoCarbs blend contains premium, natural, all-purpose sweetener that can be used in tea, coffee, cereal,yogurt...anything that needs sweetening! And because they come in packets, you can enjoy them on the go! I always keep a few in my bag so that I'm not stuck using artificial sweeteners when I'm grabbing coffee at local coffeeshops, the gas station, or at work.

Before we get to the giveaway, I want to share a recipe that I created using both NuNaturals Pure Liquid Vanilla Stevia and NuStevia Cocoa Syrup. Baking cookies is one of those cliche snow day activities, but using NuNaturals products can help eliminate that guilt that comes with bumming around all day eating cookies!

Double-Chocolate Cashew Biscookies
Vegan. Gluten-free. Nut-free option.
Now I can't exactly call these cookies a hybrid, like cronuts or duffins, since biscotti is basically a type of cookie. But since biscotti are typically oblong-shaped (probably so that they can be dipped in coffee), and the ones I've created are round, I've decided to call them "biscookies."

Ingredients:

• 1 cup + 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 6 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, room temperature (You can also use margarine or butter. Cookies will not be vegan if you use butter.)
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. NuStevia Cocoa Syrup
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• dash of salt
• 1 very ripe banana, mashed
• 1/2 tsp. NuNaturals Pure Liquid Vanilla Stevia
• 2 cups flour (I use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All-Purpose Baking Flour)
• 1/2 cup cashews, chopped (Replace with dried fruit or chocolate chips to make these nut-free.)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease a cookie sheet, unless it is non-stick. Place an empty glass cup in the refrigerator (this will make sense later).
2. Whisk cocoa powder and oil in a medium-sized bowl until combined.
3. Add coconut oil, cocoa syrup, baking powder, and salt to the chocolate mixture. Mix well.
4. Add mashed banana and liquid vanilla stevia; stir until combined.
5. Mix in the flour. Just before all of your ingredients are combined, mix in chopped nuts (or dried fruit or chocolate chips). The batter will be crumbly, so feel free to ditch the mixing spoon and use your hands!
6. Form 1 1/2" balls, making sure that the batter isn't too crumbly or else they will fall apart in the oven. Place on cookie sheet, and gently flatten with the bottom of the cold glass (I told you this would make sense later!)
7. Bake for 7-10 minutes on the middle rack of your oven. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before moving to a cooling rack, as these cookies are crumbly and may break if moved when they are still warm.
8. Brew some coffee or make some chocolate milk to dip these in and enjoy!

I so love snow days!

And now, the giveaway! FOUR winners will receive:

• one bottle of NuNaturals Pure Liquid Vanilla Stevia
• one bottle of NuStevia Cocoa Syrup
• one bottle of NuStevia Cocoa Mint Syrup
• one 50-packet box of NuStevia NoCarb Stevia packets

In addition, each of the winners will also receive a free bonus package. The total retail value of each package is $70.00. To enter, all YOU have to do is leave me a comment telling me what you love to do on snow days! If it doesn't snow where you live, tell me what you love to do on your days off! The contest will close on January 29, 2016 at 11:59PM.  Four winners will be announced Saturday, January 30th.

If you don't want to participate in the giveaway, or if you're not selected as a winner, head over to  the NuNaturals site and save 15% on your ENTIRE order with code BLG0616. This code is valid through June 30, 2016. Please also check out NuNaturals on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get more information and learn about their entire product line!

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!

I'm an Everlast Nutrition Partner!

 I am so excited to share that I am now a partner with Everlast Nutrition! Yes, this is the same Everlast that has been providing us with authentic boxing, mixed martial arts and fitness related equipment and apparel for over 100 years.

As a plant-based athlete who is always looking for more natural products to help me perform my best, I really can't get enough of Everlast's products. I was able to try Everlast Vegan Protein powder for the first time a few months ago, when I received a sample of it in the mail. I loved both the texture and the flavor--two things that are very important to me in a protein powder. So when I saw that the company had opened up a Nutrition Partner program, I applied right away!

Last week, I had a 2-pound bag of Vegan Protein delivered to my door and I wasted no time tearing into it.

Some quick facts about Everlast's Vegan Protein (VP) in the Light Vanilla Flavor:

• contains a complete BCAA profile using the highest grade blend of yellow pea, rice, and hemp protein
• increases lean muscle mass and strength
• increases post-workout recovery
• free of lactose, gluten, sugar, hormones, GMO, and cholesterol
• 1 scoop (29 grams) contains 110 calories, 1.5g fat, 2g carbs, 22g protein

I'm not much of a protein shake or smoothie person, so instead I've found other ways to enjoy this protein powder. Some of my favorite ways to increase my protein intake using Everlast Vegan Protein is by adding 1/2 to 1 scoop to "nice" cream, oatmeal, baked goods, and homemade ice pops. Adding VP to these foods creates a nice subtle vanilla flavor without additional fat or sugar!

Thanks to Everlast VP, the nutrition facts of this nice cream are anything but scary!

Everlast also offers FUEL, a performance drink mix, and BURN, a convenient tablet to support the body’s metabolism and provide energy throughout the day. The company has a TON of great deals going on right now, where you can save on all three of these great products and even score some freebies! Current deals include:

• Buy one bag of Everlast Vegan Protein and get a free box of Everlast FUEL
• Buy 2 Everlast FUEL Performance Drink Mixes and get a free Everlast 20oz shaker cup
• Free shipping on all orders over $20

Looking to save even more? Use code REBECCA5 to get 5% off of your total order!

I'm so excited to be an Everlast Nutrition Partner, and am looking forward to even more great products from this company! There could even be a few giveaways or favorite recipes in the future, so stay tuned!


Have you tried any Everlast Nutrition Products before? Which product would you most like to try?

Fall Race Recaps!

One of the reasons it took me so long to start a blog was because I thought that I wouldn't keep up with it. I haven't updated since August 30th, so clearly my assumption was correct! The main reason I haven't updated is because I've had a LOT going on, so blogging has kind of taken the back seat. Tons of great things have been happening though. I hadn't planned on running so many fall races, but opportunities kept presenting themselves and I took every single one!

Those of you who follow me on Instagram may recall the horrible running funk I experienced this past summer. IT WAS AWFUL. I think a lot of my issues were the result of mental issues rather than physical ones (I won't get into details but I was stressing out BIG time, which itself was a struggle because normally I don't stress), but there were seriously days where I would set out for 8 miles but stop after 3. At the end of July, I found out I was running the New York City Marathon, which caused me to stress even more because I had lost a lot of fitness and truly believed that I would not be prepared for it. So I did what I always do...signed up for a ton of races leading up to the big race!

Dumbo Double Dare
One week after I last updated, I headed west to California for the Disneyland 10k and Half Marathon (Dumbo Double Dare). Technically it this was a summer race, and the title of this post is "Fall Race Recaps," but bear with me. Not only was it the 10th anniversary of the race weekend, but it was the Disneyland Diamond Celebration for 60 years of the Happiest Place On Earth! Rani and I were running it together to receive our Coast to Coast Challenge medals, after completing the first part of the challenge in Walt Disney World this past January. I've got a few races to report on so I'll try to keep them brief!

It's been well over a month, but I remember the 10k feeling very hard. I had been sitting on a plane for over 6 hours the day before, so I did factor that in while wondering why my legs felt so stiff. I ended up completing the 10k (which was a villains theme this year) in 57:16.

Rani & I before the 10k!

Who's the fastest one of all?

I met Andrea Barber (you may remember her as Kimmy Gibbler) in the finisher's area!

After the 10k, Rani and I spent time going to the parks and Downtown Disney. I think we ended up walking over 20 miles that day. Not the best idea when you have a half marathon the following day but hey, we were in DISNEYLAND!!

The next morning, we set off for the half marathon around 4:30am (I think? This is why it's important to update more than every 6 weeks!) and hung out in the parking lot until we were released to our corrals. While heading to our corrals, we spotted the ever-inspiring Carlee!

Only runners are this happy to be awake before the sun comes up!

Rani and I were in different corrals, so we quickly hugged and wished each other good luck before splitting up. I knew a few people in my corral, but it was so crowded by the time I got there that I couldn't find anyone. Before I knew it, the race was starting.

Again, it's been several weeks, so I don't remember al of the details, but I do recall the first 5-6 miles feeling very difficult. I was wearing compression socks, but my legs felt very stiff. I don't think they loosened up until about mile 9, and the last four miles went a lot better. My splits ranged between 9:16 and 9:53, and I finished in 2:07:02.

Redesigned medal for the Diamond Celebration!

From Dopey to Dumbo

Embrace the clank.

Diva's Half Marathon - DC Wine Country

Two weeks after Disneyland, I ran the Diva's Half Marathon in Loudon, VA. I hadn't checked a state off of my list since May when I ran the Vermont City Marathon, so I was itching to get another one under my belt. This race was about 45 minutes from my apartment, and I didn't want to spend money on a hotel so I ended up driving to the expo the day before, and then back to the race in the morning. All participants received a pink tutu in their race bag, and I decided to race in mine since I had never run in a tutu before. It was pretty fun!

The weather was actually perfect, and the course felt pretty easy. There were a ton of hills but miraculously they didn't bother me. My only complaint about this race was that most of it took place in a residential area that was comprised of several cul-de-sacs. I would have liked to actually see more of the "wine country." At the mile 13 mark, a group of high school cheerleaders gave the runners tiaras and boas, so I looked like a total diva as I crossed the finish. I made it to the finish in 2:04:18. It was still far from a PR, but I was happy to have beat my Disneyland time.

Color Run 5k - DC

The day after Diva's, I ran the Color Run 5k. It took place at National Harbor, which is actually in Maryland but is just across the river from DC. There was a huge turnout, and the course was really great and scenic. As an ambassador, I received a purple tutu from TCR. So for the second day in a row, I ran in a tutu! I also received two free registrations for the event, so I gave one to fellow #SweatPink ambassador Allison of Life's a Bowl who was in town for both the Diva's Half and her birthday weekend. She helped me out a ton when I was considering moving to Northern Virginia, so I was glad I could return the favor! We ran the course together on tired legs from the previous day's half marathon, but it was a ton of fun! The race isn't timed, but new this year were medals for every finisher. 

#SweatPink at the Color Run!

Lovin' all the color!

Army Ten-Miler

I loved everything about this event. With 35,000 participants, this is the third largest 10-miler in the country. I'm still fairly new to the Northern Virginia/DC area, but I ended up running into SO many people that I knew, including a student, a co-worker, and fellow Annapolis Run Classic ambassador Courtney of Eat Pray Run DC! The event weekend started off at the expo, located at the DC Armory. I had a half-day at work for conferences, so I headed over to the expo as soon as I got out because traffic in the area is BAD, especially on a Friday. There were SO many great vendors, including some of my favorite companies like Sweaty Bands and Honey Stinger (where I loaded up on way too many gingersnap waffle samples). The Annapolis Running Classic had a booth, and since I'm an ambassador, I headed over to say hi to the race directors. They are awesome people, and they sent me off with a ton of new swag! (Side note: registration is still open! Save 10% with code RCREF15.) I hung out at the expo for a little bit, and then headed back to Virginia, again to avoid traffic.

The first corral (which was comprised entirely of our nation's wounded warriors) would start loading before 7am, so I got to the race early to find parking. At 5:15AM, I was the second car in the lot. I always get really bad anxiety before a race if I think I'm going to be late, so I'd actually rather show up early and keep warm in my car than get stuck in traffic or be unable to find a parking spot. Around 6:30AM, the parking garage starting to fill up, and I saw other people in my corral (I was able to identify them by bib color) heading to the start area. It was about 45*F, so I wore pants, the long sleeve race shirt, and an Under Armour Storm hoodie. The idea was to check my hoodie at gear check, but I was so cold that I wouldn't part with it. I regretted this decision at about mile 5 of the race, when I finally got so hot that I had to tie the hoodie around my waist.

The course was incredible. We started in the South Parking Lot of the Pentagon, up to Arlington National Cemetery, and then across the Arlington Memorial Bridge into Washington, DC. Most of the race took place in downtown DC, until around miles 7-8 when I realized we were running on Interstate-395! I thought that was the coolest thing. I mean, how many races are able to shut down a major highway like that?! There weren't a ton of hills on the course, and my legs were pretty cooperative, so I cruised through the finish line with a time of 1:32:52. It definitely wasn't my best time, and I couldn't help but think that I would've been faster had it not been for the hoodie mishap. The Army Ten Miler was such a great event that I really didn't care too much about my time; I was just happy to be there!

Finishers received a coin in place of a medal!

Post-race, I received my coin, and then waited in the longest line ever for the food tables. Soldiers were distributing the coins around me, and at one point, I noticed several boxes of coins sitting on tables, unattended. I was shocked, as I thought about how anyone could just walk off with an entire box. Later on, I found out that many people had to have coins mailed to them, because they ran out. I can't help but think that people were taking extra coins from those boxes as I had predicted. It's truly a shame to think about people taking advantage of situations like that. 

Monster Mash Half Marathon (Dover, DE)

Final race of the recap! If you've made it this far, congrats! I have to say, this was one of the smallest half marathons I've run, but it was definitely one of my favorites! I left work right away on Friday, went home to feed my guinea pig, and then headed straight out the door to try to beat traffic. The drive was supposed to take two hours, but there was an accident on Route 80, so it took me close to three hours. Packet pick-up closed at 8pm, and I made it with 15 minutes to spare. Inside my race bag was New Balance tech tee, a magnet, and a plastic cup, all of which had the event logo on them. I also received a package of limited edition Reese's Peanut Butter Cups with the Wounded Warrior Project logo on them, as the race sponsored the organization. I don't like chocolate so I'll probably be giving them to my mom, but I thought that was such a great touch! I was pretty exhausted between work and the drive, so I made a quick Wal-Mart stop (most incredible Super Wal-Mart ever!) and then headed over to my hotel.

After grabbing coffee and fruit from the hotel breakfast area, I headed over to the race around 5:30AM. I think I was the tenth car in the parking lot this time, haha! I only had to sit in the car for about an hour, because at 6:30, the runners assembled at Miles the Monster (more on him later) for the national anthem, and to honor the members of our military. Then, we headed inside the speedway for a 7AM start. Two things I loved about the starting area were 1. the parking lot was just feet away from it and 2. there were no port-a-potties. Since the race started on the race track, runners and spectators were allowed to use the speedway's own restrooms! If you're a runner, you know how stressful parking and port-a-potties (GROSS) at a race can be. No such stress exists at this race!

As I stated earlier, the race started on the race track. After running one lap on the race track, we then headed out into the city of Dover. The half marathon and marathon take place at the same time, splitting after the mile 6 mark. It was a little cold at the start, but I knew better than to wear pants and a hoodie again. I set off in shorts, a racerback, and compression shorts, and was able to warm up pretty quickly. During the first 6 miles, the course took us through some residential areas, as well as Dover's historic district. Between miles 6 and 7, the course transitioned from residential to rural, and remained that way until we headed back to the speedway to cross the finish. Around mile 11, I looked at my watch and realized that I was on pace to set a personal best. I had been talking to a few fellow runners throughout the course, but stayed focus during the last two miles to ensure that this would happen. I crossed the finish line in 1:54:16...new PR!

Miles the Monster and my monster-sized medal!

Thanks for sticking with me this long! I promise not to wait so long to update again!

Have you done any of these races? If not, which one would you like to do?