Healthy Foods to Go - Meals for the Road

Good to roll. Power foods to go.

Now that temps are hovering around 23 degrees, many of us are opting for time at the gym or a even an indoor spinning class. I like to pack healthy snacks and perhaps a tasty lunch for after my workout. Here is my movable feast of easy to tote foods, drinks and snacks which are so gym ready:

BFree Gluten Free whole grain bagels and wraps.

Bread is the Staff of Life
I know from experience and clinical studies that eliminating carbohydrates is a BIG mistake when trying to fuel a workout. That's because whole grains have energy sustaining B-vitamins, fiber and Omega Fatty Acids. Now if you are also concerned about wheat and gluten, BFree is a really delicious line of healthy bread products. The bagels are SO light and perfect toasted or right out of the bag. Likewise the Quinoa & Chia Seed Wraps contain wholegrain teff and flax seeds. Very easy to wrap nearly anything yummy and take it along. One of my favorites is a tuna, avocado and alfalfa sprout wrap as shown below. Easy to make and take along in a thermal cooler. So good! See all the varieties of BFree baked goods online.

Tuna, avocado & sprout wrap on a quinoa & chia seed wrap.

GoAvo Avocado Spread to Go
Another wonderful food to go is Avocado which is full of "good fats"so necessary for energy. GoAvo is an easy to squeeze avocado spread that can be used in place of mayonnaise. These spreads come in plain, basil and chipotle flavors with the bottles being small enough to smuggle along in a lunch bag. Really the perfect size to pop into your lunch tote. See all the flavors at GoAvoSpread.com

GoAvo Avocado Spread in Basil and Chipotle

Goavo avocado spreads go great on BFree wheat & gluten free wraps.

Coconut Milk Goodies to Go
Coconut Milk and Coconut Water are amazing recovery drinks so I really like the very portable serving sizes available from CoCo Joy. Their Pure Coconut Milk Coffee Smoothie is one of my favorites and a great treat after my workout session. Also the CalifaFarms.com dairy free BetterHalf Coconut Cream & Almond Milk is SO fantastic in your coffee and carrageenan/soy free. Some people add coconut oil to their morning cup of Joe but I like the milks and smoothies better.

Califa Farms BetterHalf & Coco Joy Pure Coconut Milk Coffee Smoothie

Portable Fruit
Fruit is one of the things we often fail to get enough of in wintertime. There's not much in season at the stores but that doesn't mean you should skimp on them. Freeze Dried Crunchies come in a zippered pouch and are perfect for adding to smoothies, cereals or just eating right out of the bag. The freeze dried bananas are crazy good as are the berries and pineapple. Nothing but fruit, there's no sugar added and each pouch gives you about three servings of fruit. Check them out at CrunchiesFood.com

Crunchies Freeze Dried Fruit

Go Organically Fruit Snacks
These "gummies" are made with real organic fruit, have 100% of your vitamin C requirements and are excellent sources of vitamins A & E. They do have added "organic cane sugar" but no preservatives, artificial flavors or colorants. See all the fruity flavors at GoOrganicallyFruitSnacks.com

Go Organically Fruit Snacks

Honey to Go by Everyday Eclectic
In the Bible, David's best friend, Jonathan brought back up his energy levels after a battle by having a little honey. Sometimes the gym can feel like a war zone too! That's why I like to pack along these little Bee in Your Bonnet Organic Infused Raw Honeys. Add them to your herbal tea (pack along a few tea bags) or other foods for a quick blast of energy that's natural and organic. These come in delicious infusions like Harvest Spice, Cinnamon, Ginger Snap and Vanilla. Check them out at EverydayEclectic.com

Bee in Your Bonnet Infused Raw Honeys

Delicious AND Healthy Summer Snacks

Who says healthy snacks have to taste like cardboard? Some new choices in snackage.

Yes, I'm a Certified Nutritional Consultant but I have always enjoyed potato chips. There I said it! So when I found these very hearty Jackson's Honest Potato Chips made with Organic Coconut Oil, I was anxious to try them. I currently use Nature's Approved Long Life Coconut Oil for cooking and baking, and it has really made a difference in my skin as well as helping to reduce belly fat. That's because coconut oil is highly stable for cooking and full of good medium chain triglycerides as well as lauric acid. So it was only natural for me to want to try these kettle style chips cooked in coconut oil. To see my favorite cooking oil, Nature's Approved EVO Coconut Oil, click HERE.

 

 

 

Nature's Approved  EVO Coconut Oil in my baked bread.

Jackson's Honest Potato Chips
These are made from organic potatoes and kettle cooked by hand in Colorado. My favorite varieties are Sea Salt, and Mango Chili Lime which has a nice spicy kick. They use only organic coconut oil in the cooking process for a snack food that is gluten free and vegan. Coconut Oil was an essential part of the company's son's diet and helped him recover from his illness. A portion of the sales proceeds are donated to The Children's Hospital of Colorado. Check them out online at JacksonsHonestChips.com

Jackson's Honest Potato Chips are cooked in organic coconut oil.

Navitas Naturals Power Snacks and Nuts
These are organic, raw food snacks that taste amazing. The Coffee Cacao and Maca Maple Cashews are so good and good for you being rich in antioxidants, omega fatty acids and dietary fiber. These really do fall into the superfood category and incorporate real food like organic dates, almonds, cashews and cacao powder. These little bite sized squares will have you powering through your sleepy afternoon. Likewise the Maca Maple Cashews are nicely sweet and crunchy while being full of essential fatty acids.  See all of their healthy snacks online at NavitasNaturals.com

Navitas Naturals Organic, raw food snacks

Crunchies Freeze Dried Snacks
This is a quick and easy way of getting those extra vegetables in during the day. Freeze dried, these vegetable based snacks are surprisingly flavorful and will keep "fresh" for camping and hiking trips. The Buttered Corn is perhaps the best of the freeze dried vegetable varieties and their BBQ Roasted Vegetables, well, not so much.  However their organic fruits, that is the Strawberries are delicious. Check them out at CrunchiesFoods.com

Crunchies Freeze Dried Vegetables

 

Sneaky Ways to 5 a Day

Sneaky ways for kids (and you) to #GetFresh with five servings of fruit and vegetables each day. PHOTO: Sambazon Organic Green drinks and Smoothies.

I really enjoy my organic super-food green drinks and smoothies as they are a quick way to down your daily servings of fruit and vegetables. If you haven't already, definitely check into getting a VitaMix as it will make whole food juices happen in a snap.

My VitaMix, packed with cukes and tomatoes from our garden.

  
Sambazon Organic Supergreens  & Chocolate Almond & Coconut Milk Drinks
These two new recipes are made with all natural, organic ingredients. The Supergreens contain Kale & Ginger and is made with 6 varieties of premium greens. I make my own Kale based green smoothies and this product is much lighter in taste. Absolutely delicious!  The kids (and you) will never know they are drinking kale but your skin, hair and nails will show that you are.

Almond Joy to Go - The Sambazon Chocolate Almond and Coconut Milk Drink is simply off the chart scrumptious. I like this as an after workout recovery drink due to the coconut milk but it is such a treat, you might just save it for dessert. If you like a Mounds or an Almond Joy, this is the drink for you.

Freeze dried vegetables and fruits never tasted so good. No refrigeration needed either.

Crunchies Food Company-Freeze Dried Fruits and Vegetables
I attended Supplyside Exhibition a few years back and one of the companies had freeze dried fruit on exhibit. If you purchase ready to eat breakfast cereals like Special K Red Berries, the strawberries are freeze dried.

Crunchies Mixed Fruit
The 1.5 oz packet contains 6 servings of fruit with NO added sugar. You can pack 6 servings of fruit in this little 1.5 oz resealable pouch because freeze drying is so efficient in removing the water. Most of the weight of fruits and vegetable is due to water content. The difference is that the freeze drying concentrates the flavors so no added sugar is necessary. 1/4 cup of fruit Crunchies has an average of only 5 grams of total sugar. 1/4 cup of dried fruit has an average of 25 grams of total sugar, 5 times as much!

Apples, blueberries, peaches, strawberries, mangoes and raspberries offer fiber, antioxidants and Vitamin C. No need to refrigerate and the pouches pack perfectly into a backpack, lunch bag or hiking bag. Less water means less weight.

Crunchies BBQ Roasted Veggies
I don't know how the get freeze dried vegetables to taste like they've just come off the grill but these are amazing. One 2.25 oz pouch contains: 2 ears of corn, 1 whole carrot, 2/3 of a red bell pepper, 2/3 tomato plus 1/4 cup of peas with all natural BBQ flavoring. You get two servings per pouch so if you ate 1/2 the pouch, you would count that as a serving.

Freeze Dried Revolution
Freeze drying, as the name implies, is a process by which water is removed from fresh fruits and vegetables in a refrigerated vacuum. Many of us who camp and backpack are familiar with mixes and prepared food with freeze dried ingredients. They are just simply lighter to carry in. Add water, cook and eat. So they are a great way to take your meals with you and get your 5 a Day in an urban setting too. Best thing is that instead of munching on greasy chips and energy bars, you might consider something less processed, with less fat and sugar. Crunchies are definitely on the menu around here!