Fun new things I bought this week

This week was very exciting on the shopping front! I found a few new things I wanted to share with everyone!

1. Organic Pink Lady and Cameo Apples 
              At the end of break I was in a panic. The wonderful Honey Crisp apples I had fallen in love with were gradually disappearing from my Whole Foods Market. What was going on! The Honey Crisp had become a staple snack of mine and I didn't know what to do! What I learned was that Honey Crisps were going out of season. Apparently, Whole Foods was rejecting most of the Honey Crisps they received due to quality. And so, I roamed the apple section unsure of what to do. As I said in my post "New Love" the Honey Crisp was the only apple I had enjoyed! It was like someone knew my predicament that day, and nicely had Whole Foods offer Cameo apple samples. I took a bite and loved it! Yay! Another option and another winner. They are a little less sweet than Honey Crisps, but still super refreshing and full of flavor.

 

When I arrived back in Miami, I searched for my new go to. 

No cameos. 

So, naturally, I turned to google to tell me which  apple was the closest in taste to a Honey Crisp. The answer I got was the Pink Lady. These are a little smaller and softer than Honey Crisps, and very sweet. However, they definitely make an excellent substitute. Thank goodness I found them! I do not buy all of my produce organic quite yet because of budget reasons. However, apples are very important to buy organic because of their status on the Dirty Dozen! Also, they taste so much better! 

 

2. Vega Vibrancy Bars 

I've been trying to find these for so long and was lucky to stumble upon them on sale in my Whole Foods this week. I swear they're not always there, but hope they will be from now on! To me, they are a wonderful dessert chocolatey bar. In reality, it is a blend of plant-based super foods like sprouted buckwheat, raw almonds, white chia, hemp seeds and Vega SaviSeed (sacha inchi) oil. Little will you know, when you are enjoying the chocolatey treat, you are getting 10 grams of protein, 1 gram of Omega 3's, and 40% of your day's fiber, without any artificial flavors or sugar. That makes it so much more enjoyable!

  

 
   

3. Foam Roller! 

 After last night's post, I took the plunge and decided to buy my own foam roller! Now anytime I feel tight or sore I can roll it on out without having to go to the gym. I decided to go for a little 18" one, figuring it would do the job for me! I was surprised to find one while at target for only $20! Great deal! Made by GAIAM, the innocent looking green cylinder of intense power came with a dvd to guide you through different exercises. It was interesting, not exactly what I was looking for, but interesting! I think it's worth taking a look at to get an idea of different exercises. Then you can go off on your own! I also purchased a few tennis balls (couldn't find lacrosse). So we will see how my experimenting with that goes . 

                 

I'm super excited about this week's purchases, and highly recommend looking into them! It's always fun to have new things to get you excited about your health!

Coming up next...getting back into Deepak!!!

Have a wonderful Monday!

Be Well. 

Love, Julie

Confession: Every morning I have a chocolate milkshake

Okay, it’s technically a protein shake. But I am not kidding; this thing tastes like a delicious chocolate shake, or pudding. It really depends on how much water/milk etc you mix it with. When I got my wisdom teeth out this summer, I needed something soft, plant based, and nutrient rich to fuel my body while I was stuck on the couch looking like a chipmunk. Ever since, I have been hooked. Sometimes, I’ll even mix some up with a minimal amount of milk to make a thick and luscious chocolate dessert. The best part? While I’m in a heavenly state, enjoying chocolaty decadence, I am actually consuming one of the healthiest things ever, hands down.

 

Vega One shakes, formulated by the vegan tri-athlete Brendan Brazier, are simply fabulous. One 140 calorie scoop of this stuff provides you with 50% of your recommended daily nutrient intake. It is completely plant based, and free from soy, gluten, dairy, and all artificial ingredients. Considering veganism or vegetarianism and worried about protein intake? This can help! Vega One provides you with 15g of plant based protein, more than two and a half egg’s worth. It also provides you with as much fiber as 3 slices of bread, the equivalent of three servings of veggies, as many antioxidants as in over two cups of blueberries, the same amount of omega-3 oils as in two servings of salmon, a cup of yogurt’s worth of probiotics, as well as all other nutrients your body needs (B vitamins/iron etc). Yet, I repeat.  It tastes like a chocolate milkshake.

I would not tell a lie.

I have tried several other protein shakes before. This is absolutely the tastiest.

Each morning, I mix this baby up with some vanilla almond milk. Given the crazy healthiness of the shake itself, I splurge a little and use the sweetened kind of almond milk( the unsweetened just doesn’t quite do it for me). You can mix it with water, or any kind of milk you'd like, Anyway, it combines with the powder to create a creamy and sweet treat.

 I mean, a super nutritious and healthy breakfast…?

Living on a whole foods/plant based diet does require a bit of effort to ensure we are getting all of the right nutrients from the right sources each day. Vega One makes it easy. Each day I get to have a shake (which is most because I will literally pack a scoop of protein, my shaker, and an individual almond milk box with me wherever I go), I know my body has received at least half of the nutrients it needs from the get go. I fill the rest of my day with whatever I’d like, knowing that by the end of the night, my body will likely have gotten all it requires to perform optimally. I feel light, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the world. Not to mention, my sweet tooth has been satisfied! Check out Vega’s website. It’s an incredible resource for clean eating which will help you perform to your maximum ability, whether it is in professional triathlons or in everyday life. In the near future, I will also be writing a recommendation post about Brendan’s book Thrive, which was one of my many influences in becoming a healthier and better me!

http://myvega.com/

See, the healthiest choice can also be the yummiest choice!

Be Well.

Love, Julie