Spirulina Super Chips

Crunchy? Check.  Sweet? Check. Super duper healthy? Check!

Spirulina Super Chips

I was at my local health food store looking for something yummy to eat when I found these Spirulina Super Chips. They looked extremely healthy, and was just hoping that they tasted a lot better than they looked! ;)

Luck was on my side and I found these Spirulina Super Chips to be extremely delicious! In fact, they taste a lot like dehydrated banana chips – only better!

Ingredients: 

Sprouted Organic Sesame Seeds

Organic Bananas

Organic Coconut (Unsulphured)

Organic Dates

Organic Spirulina

What Makes This Snack “SUPER”?

These Spirulina Chips are made with 100% organic ingredients, which means no GMOs!

The sesame seeds are sprouted! This means they are packed with even more nutrients for your body by releasing enzymes which make them easier to digest. Sprouted seeds are among the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet!

This crunchy snack is considered “raw”, since everything was dried under 105° F, which means the nutrients are considered to be “live”.

Family owned, all hand made in an all raw kitchen!

Feel free to follow us, however you like: Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

Shredded Wheat by Barbara’s

What’s for breakfast?

I don’t have cold cereal for breakfast too often, but when I do, I prefer to have a healthy – and tasty! – option.

Why Barbara’s Shredded Wheat Cereal?

I think we’ve all had shredded wheat cereal at one point or another. Most brands will tout their “Whole Grain” status, yet they fail to mention how many additional ingredients (like sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and preservatives like BHT) they have added to convince you to buy and eat their product.

Barbara’s doesn’t need to add anything extra to their cereal to convince you to buy their product. The product sells itself from the quality ingredients used and the way they make their shredded wheat.

They steam whole wheat berries, shredding them and lightly baking them for a naturally sweet and hearty high-fiber breakfast. No added sugar or sodium — or anything else!

Amount per serving: 2 biscuits

Calories: 140

Ingredients: 100% whole wheat (nothing else!)

Adding to Your Shredded Wheat Cereal 

I think that this cereal tastes great on its own, but I love to mix things up a bit too. Next time you enjoy some shredded wheat cereal, try adding some raw honey or fresh berries for added sweetness!

Image Source: Barbara’s Shredded Wheat Cereal

Feel free to follow us, however you like: Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

Tags: Breakfast, cereal, Nutrition

Coconut Water by Vita Coco®

Vita Coco’s an all-natural, super-hydrating, fat-free, cholesterol-free, nutrient-packed, potassium-stacked, mega-electrolyte coconut water!

What is Coconut Water?

Many people seem to get coconut water a little mixed up with coconut milk, but there’s a big difference between the two.

Coconut water comes from inside younger coconuts filled with a clear, electrolyte-rich juice that contains zero fat and zero cholesterol.

Coconut milk is what is produced from grating the coconut meat of older, brown coconuts: a white, rich liquid containing oils and fat, and often used as an ingredient in cooking and baking.

Health Benefits of Coconut Water

Coconut water is loaded with potassium (more than two bananas!), which is a great way to keep the body hydrated naturally and prevents cramping.

Coconut water naturally contains more electrolytes than leading sports drinks – without any of the added sugars or processed ingredients. If you would like a refresher on why you need electrolytes, check out my previous article, Electrolytes 101.

Coconut water has no fat, no cholesterol, and low in calories!

Why Vita Coco®?

The reason I love Vita Coco’s coconut water is because they keep it all natural and simple – 100% pure coconut water and Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C). That’s it! Even Vita Coco’s flavored products use only pure and simple ingredients, which is a rare find these days.

Celebrity Buzz

It looks like Vita Coco has become an “it” drink in Hollywood these days. You can easily find pictures of Rihanna, Kristin Cavallari, Dustin Pedroia, Kelly Slater, Ellen Pompeo, and even Madonna drinking the coconut water drink! After reading about the health benefits of coconut water, it’s no wonder that it’s receiving so much buzz these days.

“I love Vita Coco! It’s real coconut water from hand-picked coconuts. It’s delicious and so good for you!” – Rihanna

Rather than consuming electrolytes by drinking sports drinks, I choose to drink coconut water and eat healthy foods that naturally contain electrolytes needed for a healthy body.

Feel free to follow us, however you like: Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

Tags: coconut water, Electrolytes, Nutrition

Raspberry Fig Bars by Barbara’s

If you love fig bars but don’t want to eat all of the added sugars, you should give Raspberry Fig Bars by Barbara’s a try!

Health Benefits of Figs

First, let’s talk about some of the  health benefits associated with figs. Figs are full of important nutrients including fiber, potassium, calcium, and antioxidants. Figs have been shown to lower triglyceride levels, which helps prevent obesity and heart-related diseases.

Why Barbara’s Fig Bars?

The reason I originally bought Barbara’s Fig Bars is because of the ingredients list at the back of the package. There are only natural fruits and juices to sweeten the fig bars rather than high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and sugar. I checked out the ingredients list of other brands of “all natural” or “organic” fig bars in the health food store, but didn’t end up buying them since they were still full of sugar. Organic sugar is still sugar. I went ahead and tried the Fig Bars by Barbara’s and I have been quite pleased with these yummy fig bars!

Check out the list of ingredients for each company’s fig bars:

Raspberry Fig Bars by Barbara’s

Ingredients: Raspberry fig filling ([fruit juice concentrade (pineapple, pear, apple, and peach), raspberry puree, tapioca starch, apple powder, natural raspberry flavor, vegetable glycerin, locust bean gum, red cabbage (for color)], fig paste, pineapple juice concentrate, natural flavor, citric acid), pineapple juice syrup, whole oat flour, whole brown rice flour, fig paste, whole barley flour, date paste, raisin juice concentrate, soy lecithin, baking soda, salt.

Raspberry Fig Newton’s by Nabisco 

Ingredients: High fructose corn syrup, enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron thiamine mononitrate [vitamin B], Riboflavin [vitamin B2], folic acid), sugar, corn syrup, raspberry puree, soybean oil, apple powder, modified corn starch, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, tapioca starch, whey (from milk), natural and artificial flavor, salt, pectin, citric acid, baking soda, soy lecithin (emulsifier), caramel color, sodium benzoate added to preserve freshness, and red 40.

Taste or Health? I Choose Both. 

I would have to say that one of the (many) reasons for my website is to convince you of one very important thing: You can still have food that tastes wonderful without sacrificing your health for it.

I encourage you to try the Fig Bars by Barbara’s – I’m sure you’ll love the taste, texture, and even the ingredients on the back of the package. This product is great for a variety of people with specific needs since the Raspberry Fig Bars by Barbara’s is Kosher, dairy free, wheat free (not gluten free), Cholesterol free, low fat, low sodium, 100% natural and Vegan.

I love the Raspberry Fig Bars by Barbara’s – which flavor is your favorite?

Feel free to follow us, however you like: Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

Image Credits: Barbara’s Bakery

Tags: Barbara's, Fig Bars, healthy snack, Nutrition

Panda Licorice

I love black licorice, and I’m so happy that I found Panda! It’s the only brand that I am aware of (hopefully not the only one) that makes black licorice that I can eat without the guilt. Other “all natural” licorice that I have found are loaded with corn syrup or other junk.

Panda’s all natural licorice is a great low calorie treat that has no white sugar or artificial ingredients added! The soft texture and delicious taste isn’t anything to complain about either. The only reason someone wouldn’t like this is if they just aren’t fond of black licorice.

Panda has been producing the world’s leading premium quality, soft licorice with real licorice root extract since 1927. Panda Licorice is made from All Natural ingredients. It doesn’t contain fat, preservatives, artificial colors, flavors or white sugar. It has the Real Taste of Licorice.

Ingredients:Molasses, wheat flour, licorice extract, natural flavor (aniseed oil).

If you’d like more information, you can check out their website at:  PandaLicorice.com

Feel free to follow us, however you like: Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

Tags: snack