Vixibar

I hear it all the time from my clients.

"I was out running errands/traveling/whatever and I got hungry and the only thing to eat was fast food."

Bologna. Literally. Ewwww for such a lame excuse NOT to eat healthfully!

Eating healthy on the go takes a little preparation to ensure you don't blow your diet by becoming ravenous on the road.

I always give my clients a run down of healthy snacks to stash in the car and their purse to prevent bingeing on junk.

I have a new item to add to the list! Vixibars - "a bar without compromise." I am always searching for a bar that doesn't have a list of unpronounceable mystery ingredients and Vixibar more than passes the test.

Vixibar is an all natural, gluten free, no sugar added, soy free, dairy free portable bar created by athlete, nutritional coach and certified personal trainer, Kate Criswell. My kind of girl!

So, if there's no bad stuff, what's in Vixibars? Just natural whey protein, fruits, nuts and natural flavors. I'm in.

I was sent an assortment of flavors to try by Vixibar: Peanut Butter and Jelly, Cherry Biscotti, Peanut Butter Cup, Chocolate Macaroon and Apple Crisp.

Sampled them all while on a whirlwind trip ... Vixibars were my healthy snack stash!

Just when I thought a flavor couldn't be beat ... I'd try the next one and be all about it! But, Cherry Biscotti was a true stand out for me! YUM!

Learn more and purchase Vixibars here: http://vixibar.com

Yummo Huevos Rancheros

This is an uber-healthy, great start to any day!
I use quinoa instead of tortillas for a fiber and protein packed meal!
This meal works for lunch and dinner too!
Enjoy!

Yummo Huevos Rancheros

Ingredients:
Cooking spray
2 - eggs
1/2 cup cooked quinoa (I make a one cup dry batch and use throughout the week)
1/4 cup rinsed, canned black beans
Your favorite salsa (no sugar added)
2 tbsp guacamole (I use Trader Joe's prepared Fresh and Spicy)
Franks Red Hot Sauce (to taste)

1. Reheat quinoa and black beans in microwave
2. Cook eggs over medium in frying pan using cooking spray.
3. Layer ingredients starting with quinoa on bottom as follows:
quinoa, black beans, eggs, salsa, guacamole, hot sauce
4. Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Pancake

I had to share my breakfast with you!

Try this recipe for a filling, protein packed morning meal!

Sweet Potato Pancake with Strawberry topping Recipe

1/2 cooked sweet potato with skin (I bake them at 350 degrees for an hour)
3/4 cup egg whites
1 scoop protein powder (I used ON Vanilla Egg White)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp ground flax seed
1 packet Stevia
1 cup frozen strawberries

In a blender, combine egg whites, sweet potato, protein powder, flax, vanilla, 1/2 of the packet of stevia and cinnamon. Blend until smooth.

Heat a skillet sprayed with non stick cooking spray. Pour in sweet potato mixture.
Allow to cook on one side like a pancake, flip when dark brown and crispy.
While pancake is cooking, defrost strawberries in microwave for about 2 minutes. Add remaining stevia and smush into a chunky sauce.
When pancake is brown on both sides, serve on a plate with strawberry topping!
Enjoy!

Jay Robb Rice Protein

Sometimes it's just not convenient to eat whole food protein sources ... you need to get protein into your body on the go!

That's where protein powders are so convenient.

But, so many of them are highly processed, full of artificial sweeteners and taste awful.

Vegans, vegetarians and omnivores looking for a whey protein alternative have the additional challenge of finding a product that is minimally processed, with great quality protein.

Jay Robb to the rescue!

Jay Robb's nutritional company is probably best known for their superb hormone free egg white and whey protein.

The company also offers a spectacular Sprouted Brown Rice Protein that is gluten free, smooth and low heat processed.

This is great to try for a change of protein pace, for those who have allergies to dairy or who just want another delicious smoothie option.

Available in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry - I am particular to the vanilla so I can mix in whatever flavor add ins I fancy that day.

Jay Robb's company is also now offering "green" packaging - eco friendly bags that create less waste than traditional protein tubs.

Find out more and shop the entire Jay Robb line here: http://jayrobb.com

(image from: jayrobb.com)

Vega

Living off protein powders and bars isn't exactly ideal, but if you had to choose one protein powder to sustain you for the rest of your life, Vega by Sequel Naturals would be the top pick. And since most of us active, fitness loving folks use some sort of protein supplementation, shouldn't it be one of the utmost quality, highest nutrient density and be packed with beneficial extras? Vega is just that.

I was fortunate to receive a complementary tub of Vega Complete Whole Food Health Optimizer as a gift for attending a Vega product training when I worked at a health food store.

Learning about the product through a conference call with the creator, triathlete Brendan Brazier, made me super excited to sample the product.

Completely plant based, Vega is made from a a blend of organic hemp protein, yellow pea protein, organic rice protein and whole flax seed. If you haven't tried these alternatives to whey and casein - you must! They have a different flavor spectrum and can be easier on the digestive system.

But, Vega doesn't stop there. It's not JUST a plant based protein powder. It's chock full of servings of prebiotics, probiotics, MACA (a super food), Chlorella, Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids and digestive enzymes. It also contains a full serving of vitamins and minerals. So basically, if you consume one two scoop, 240 calorie serving of Vega a day, no other supplements are necessary. You are covered.

I tried the Vanilla Chai Flavor. Can we say, YUM??
Filling, easy on the stomach and delicious. A great way to start the day, a monster post workout shake or great as a light lunch or dinner.
I take Vega with me when I travel to be sure I get at least one healthy meal in per day and can ditch the rest of the pills and potions!

Plus, if you are into "going green" the Vega canister lists these "green" qualities of Vega:
"A Vega breakfast is an incredible 38 times better for the planet than a traditional bacon and egg breakfast, and 10 times better than a cereal based breakfast. In fact, switching to Vega for one year would be equal to turning off a 60 watt light bulb for 12,500 hours, or 521 consecutive days!"

Vega is "green" and makes you look and feel damn good!

Click here to learn more and purchase Vega: http://sequelnaturals.com/vega

You can also sign up for Brenden Brazier's Thrive in 30 program there, which sends a newsletter to your inbox each day with healthy tips.

Or purchase from one of my favorite supplement sites, BodyBuilding.com:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sequelnaturals/vegacompletewholefoodhealthoptimizer.html
(photo from: sequelnatrals.com)