Healthy 100 Calorie Snacks I'm Loving Right Now

Healthy alternatives to junk: Kobaya Almond's Emmy's Raw Coconut Macaroons & Pop Chips

This is the time of year that it's so easy to pack on the pounds. Living the northeast, I've had at least two "states of emergency" called in the last month due to snow. While I've gotten in my fair share of snowshoeing and cross country skiing, I'm still not as active as during the spring, summer and fall seasons.

Healthy Snacks Worth Eating
I don't care how "good" something is supposed to be for you, if it tastes like cardboard, you're not going to substitute it for a higher calorie snack. Here are the note-worthy exceptions to low calorie=no flavor.

Vita Tops
NEW! These naturally flavored Wild Blueberry Vita Tops are made without preservatives or artificial colorants of any kind. That being said, they need to be either kept frozen or refrigerated.  Each 2 oz Vita Top is like eating the top of a tasty blueberry muffin but with only 100 calories and 1 g of fat. Added to this, Vita Tops offer 7 g of fiber, 4 g of protein and 15 vitamins and minerals. The perfect way to power-start your day. Check out Vitalicious.com for other varieties of Vita Tops.

VitaTops are the perfect 100 calorie start to the day.

Pop Chips
So being the natural potato chip aficionado that I am, I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious Pop Chips are. They come in several "chipish" varieties with my favorites being Cheddar and Original Plain w/ Sea Salt. Get them at Wegman's, Walgreen's, Target and many other outlets shown online at PopChips.com

At 100 calories/bag, Pop Chips are high on flavor and low on calories.

Emmy's Organic Raw Coconut Macaroons
I love the concept of  raw food but some products just don't translate that well. Emmy's Raw Coconut Macaroons are the exception. My favorites are the Coconut Vanilla and Coconut Chai. They are so fluffy and delicious! You get three in a pack (I've only been able to eat two at a time), and since it is raw, vegan whole food, you'll have no problem sharing. One Macaroon=100 calories but coconut oil actually steps up your metabolism. Visit EmmysOrganics.com for more flavors and products.

Emmy's Chocolate Chip Mint Coconut Macaroon = 100 calories

Kobaya Almonds - SunRidge Farms Organic Walnuts
I put these two nuts together as they offer what I'm looking for in a nutty snack: Freshness, Organically Grown. The Kobaya Almonds are grown in sunny CA then shipped to Japan where they receive a proprietary flavored rice coating. These are very crispy!  Likewise the SunRidge Farms Organic Fancy Walnuts are very fresh and flavorful as well as rich in Omega 3 fatty acids.

TCBY Yogurt
"The Country's Best Yogurt" what TCBY stands for. Frozen Yogurt is nothing new, but I can remember visiting my local TCBY store on warm summer nights for a "soft serve". The place was always busy! This new vegan, plain vanilla frozen yogurt topped with the freshest pecans, coconut and mixed nuts is CRAZY good as you can see here below. A way to treat yourself without feeling guilty, they offer lots of soft serve flavors and endless topping combinations! Find a store near you at TCBY.com

Healthy toppings like these ultra fresh pecans makes TCBY Yogurt something special.

Relays In Ear Headphones by Sol Republic

Finally, earphones for active lifestyles and cross training! Relays by Sol Republic.

RELAYS is the first crossover headphone with patent-pending FreeFlex™ Technology so they won't fall out. If you are like me, I always have my cell or my iPod with me when I go out for my morning exercise.

My iPod has all my favorite tracks and really, who doesn't like to hear great music when exercising? It really makes the time fly but not if you have to keep adjusting and re-inserting your earphones. The Apple ones that came with my iPod were horrible. Super big, round and hard. Really because of that, I seldom used my iPod but have another dedicated MP3 player for outdoor workouts. That one had Audio-Technica Earphones which are great.

However, as you know, to use the voice features of the iPod 3, you need the earphones with the little mic on the cable.

Well, these new RELAYS 3 Button Model has all that so you can likewise stop the music to take a call and perform other functions from just the cable.

RELAYS In Ear Headphones Are Comfortable because they come with four sets of soft earpieces which vary in size. Here you can get a more customized fit by choosing the earpiece closest to your own particular ear canal size. Pop them in, adjust and enjoy. They stay in during a variety of physical activities while staying comfy in the ear. I'll be trying them out in a number of outdoor physical activities but my first impressions are very good thus far. Right now with all of the snow, my main options are snowshoeing and cross country skiing!  To see more lifestyle headphones and accessories, visit Sol Republic Online

Relays Earphones

MOVE SEAMLESSLY THROUGH YOUR DAY

RELAYS is a true crossover headphone. It's easy to use when you're working out, won't fall out when you're exercising and looks and sounds great for when you're doing neither.

Whether you're running for a train or training for a run, you can enjoy the fit of a sports headphone with all the sound and style you need to keep up with you all day, no matter what you're doing.

Relays could well be the perfect outdoor hiking companion

UPDATE!
I went out three times with my new Relays for a brisk walk-hike and they were perfect. Even when jumping over snowbanks and ice, these in ear headphones stayed comfortably in place. No readjusting necessary! The sound quality is also first rate. These will definitely make a difference in the upcoming 2014 Walkabout Challenge this coming March. I just signed up at Vionic and pledged to walk everyday in March. Get some headphones and come on and join me by signing up for the 2014 Vionic Shoes Walkabout!

Snow Day: Nordic Skiing Adventure

Alpine Skiing with my Sled Dogs "mini skis".

Winter 2014 This winter we are getting hammered with a truckload of snow in the Northeast! So it only goes to reason that when someone gives you lemons, make lemonade. Making the best of being snowbound and under a state of emergency means being a bit inventive. Thankfully, I am able to go right out my back door to snowshoe and do some cross country skiing right on my own land. I try to mix it up with various snow activities because each works different muscles. The ORIGINAL Nordic Track!

Getting Dressed
Cross country or Cross Country or Nordic Skiing requires sustained action over a long period of time which can work up a sweat so I lightly layer with:

My fave Wool Ski Beanie - ExOfficio

Smartwool NTS Lightweight Merino Wool Baselayer T & Ski Socks

Danskin Ice Skating Tights
Goose Down Ski Jacket (Moonstone)
GoreTex Paclite Snowboarding Pants

Wooly & Warm
Wool is really the way to go next to skin for winter outdoor activities. Layering with wool at the base traps warm air while allowing moisture to wick away from the skin. I use my synthetic ice skating tights because they are super thin and comfy under my hard shell GoreTex snowboarding pants.

Hot Food & Drink
Yes, you can take it with you and keep it hot too! Some hot soup, stew or cocoa can go a long way to helping warm you up from the inside. When we ski the backcountry, I take my sled which makes for a perfect seat for putting on footwear and storing backpacks. We often leave it within sight or at the trail head while we transverse an open field. When we return, our hot soup is waiting!

Stanley 20oz Thermal Food Jar and Spork from CampSaver.com

Navigating Ungroomed Trails
What I like about Nordic Skiing is that you don't necessarily have to run on groomed trails.You can traverse fresh powder if it's not too deep but even so, it's much more of a workout. This is also why I like using my Sled Dogs Snow Skates which are in effect mini skis. The skis are attached to the boot itself and are short enough to navigate uneven terrain. Just be sure to wax your skis and use the appropriate ski poles with hand loops for your height.

Sled Dogs, Smith Ski Poles and Scott Snowboarding Gloves on my sled.

After Skiing
You are burning a lot of calories out there (between 400-800/hr) so when you get back, it's time to refuel.
I like NeoCell's Chocolate Collagen Whey shake mix for a quick boost of protein. This muscle recovery formula gives you a whopping 30 grams of whey protein plus additional nutrients and antioxidants for muscles and joints. Even though skiing is considered low impact, you'll want to reward your ligaments after working them this hard.

Gear Care
After use, I always try to brush off any excess snow from my skis, boots and snowshoes. I put them on a towel in the same room as the fireplace and let them dry completely. I also have a Dry Guy Boot and Glove dryer which allows the quick drying of hats, gloves and boots. I also use Sno-Seal on my leather boots to keep moisture out.

 
The Joys of Cross Country Skiing
What I really like about cross country skiing as opposed to Alpine or downhill is that you can go at a slower pace. This allows you to notice things in nature while still getting a great workout. Take today for example. I saw a flock of low flying geese in v-formation heading north. The snow was also falling from the tree limbs which sparkles like crazy in the sunlight! What gym can give you a panoramic view like that? With more snow on the way, rather than get grumpy, why not embrace it with some calorie burning cross training activities like Nordic skiing?

Lole Women's Jenny Ski Jacket & Hat.  Smith Ski Poles