When you find a good thing, you must share it, right? Especially when it has to do with health and food. Two words in my book that I always love to hear about and try. Well, this week I had the opportunity to try an all-natural energy bar made with real organic foods called NRG Bars.

I first heard about NRG Bars from HungryGirl in one of her newsletters. She ranted and raved about these little gems in which made me so excited to try them out for myself. I just had to get my hands on NRG Bars and fortunately for me I was give a great opportunity to try all four flavors; Lemon Flax, Pumpkin Ginger, Cranberry Almond, and Chocolate Chip Coconut.

The typical energy bar is usually loaded with processed ingredients and covered up in taste with chocolate and peanut butter. Unlike most bars, I was attracted to NRG Bar’s two main advertisement words “all-natural” and “organic.” Two words that is hard to come by in the energy bar industry.

Skeptical at first, I was interested to see how these wheat-free energy bars would compare with the usual chocolate laden bars loaded with all my favorite candy coatings. However, the jam-packed bar of ground flax and whole oats found in NRG Bars were might tasty! I found myself grabbing these in the morning when I was heading off to work and as an afternoon pick-me-up snack. NRG bars have been a great distraction from the vending machines at work!

SheFit’s NRG Bar Breakdown

My Favorite NRG Bar Flavor

Chocolate Chip Coconut and Cranberry Almond

My Least Favorite NRG Bar Flavor

Lemon Flax

I think I was expecting the lemon flavor to be sweeter than it actually was.

Cost

12 bars for $23.88 or a breakdown of $1.16 per bar

This price is very cheap for an all-natural, organic energy bar!

Nutrition Facts

Chocolate Chip Coconut

270 Calories, 4.5g Fat, 52g Carbs, 6g Protein

Cranberry Almond

240 Calories, 3.5g Fat, 49g Carbs, 5g Protein

Lemon Flax

250 Calories, 3g Fat, 51g Carbs, 6g Protein

Pumpkin Ginger

250 Calories, 4.5g Fat, 46g Carbs, 6g Protein

My Thoughts

- NRG Bars are loaded with nutritionally dense ingredients -

- Large in portion size and very filling -

- Perfect for breakfast, pre or post works, or an afternoon snack -

- Delicious and addicting -

But don’t take my word for it, try NRG Bars out for yourself and let me know what you thing!

Find NRG Bar on Facebook

Question

What is your favorite energy bar?

What flavor of NRG Bar would you like to try?

WARNING

This post will ruin your Starbucks experience

I find myself in a dilemma every morning when I wake up. A mental battle of coffee verses protein shakes break out as I walk to the kitchen. The caffeine of coffee is so enticing as I know the full day I have ahead of me at work. However, my mind knows that a protein shake will keep me full and curb my appetite for the day.

It never fails that I end up with coffee in my hand… my addiction to caffeine is just too strong to kick, especially Starbucks. Those 5am wake up calls send me rushing towards the nearest Starbucks.

The dilemma between coffee and protein shakes recently took a sudden halt in my life when I was introduced to CLICK, powdered espresso protein drink. Equivalent to two espresso shots, CLICK espresso protein powder has solved my morning debate! CLICK espresso protein drinks contain only 120 calories and a loaded 15 grams of protein and 23 essential vitamins and minerals.

CLICK espresso protein powder is perfect of weight management to aid in curbing your appetite and stopping sugar cravings with high protein and low sugar content, all while providing all-natural energy through the double shot espresso

I can now have my coffee in one amazing tasting shake without feeling guilty!

The taste of CLICK espresso protein drinks is seriously better than any Starbucks drink- and this is coming from someone who has to have their Starbucks every morning before going to work. I haven’t even stepped foot in a Starbucks since trying CLICK espresso protein powder. The two flavors of Vanilla and Mocha Lattes are loaded with flavor that you can’t even tell that it is a protein drink. The CLICK Mocha Latte Protein Powder is by far my favorite because it reminds of a Mocha Frappacino from Starbucks but without all the unnecessary empty calories and sugar.

CLICK espresso protein powder is that you can make it in a variety of ways. As summer is approaching, I have found myself enjoying my CLICK shake blended with almond milk and ice or simply shaken with water and ice. However you can also make your CLICK espresso protein drink hot for those cooler days of when you are unwinding before bed. CLICK offers a variety of recipes  however my favorite so far has been what I have names the CLICK Cocomo.

The CLICK Cocomo

Ingredients:

2 Scoops CLICK MOCHA LATTE

1 Cup Almond Milk

1 Tbsp Sugar Free Coconut Syrup

5 Ice Cubes

Directions:

1.) Simply blend and enjoy!

The best part of CLICK espresso protein powder is that it is cost efficient. My paychecks use to go straight into Starbucks with my 4-5 dollar lattes. However, CLICK has saved my tons of money with their low costing canisters of only $26.99… that’s only $1.92 per drink! You really can’t beat having your protein and coffee in one drink for less than $2!

I am sure that you are dying to try CLICK after I have bragged so much about my CLICK experience. Today is your lucky day because SheFit is giving away CLICK espresso protein powder to one reader. Below are the entry requirements for your opportunity to try CLICK espresso protein powder for free!

CLICK Giveaway Entry Requirements

(Leave a Comment for Each Entry)

REQUIRED:

• Comment below on which flavor you would enjoy the most (1 Entry)
• Subscribe to She-Fit.com in the upper left hand corner (1 Entry)

ADDITIONAL BONUS ENTRIES:

• Follow SheFit on Facebook (2 Entries)
• Follow CLICK on Facebook (2 Entries)
• Pin this giveaway to Pinterest (3 Entries)
• Update your Facebook status with this post link (3 Entries)
• Follow @SheFit on Twitter & tweet about this giveaway (3 Entries)
• Blog about this giveaway with links to this page (5 Entries)

GOOD LUCK!

The winner will be announced Monday, April 23^rd so start sharing this giveaway for more chances to win!

CLICKs Upcoming Events

• SPECIAL SAMPLE OFFER ~ BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE, as a way to introduce CLICK to your fans.  http://drinkclick.com/bogo

• ·        30% Off Spring Special!  Promo code = April.  Available at http://drinkclick.com

• ·        CLICK On to Spring Giveaway for a chance to win our CLICKed-Out Beach Cruiser Bike and more!  http://www.facebook.com/drinkclick#!/drinkclick/app_197602066931325

]]> http://she-fit.com/click-espresso-protein-powder/feed/ 101 http://she-fit.com/post-workout-recovery-protein-pancakes/ http://she-fit.com/post-workout-recovery-protein-pancakes/#comments Sat, 07 Apr 2012 16:50:33 +0000 She FIt http://she-fit.com/?p=4972

Diets and extravagant meals don’t have to be mutually exclusive. When you’re craving a brunch staple food like pancakes or muffins, adding a powder protein and cutting out some of the fat can take your meal from indulgent to actually good for you. Watching your weight can mean including some delicious Protein Bars and shakes into your diet, especially when you can find a variety of great tasting protein powders and mixes at NutritionFix.com.

Nothing will help you recover from a morning workout like a couple of whole wheat whey protein pancakes. Try these delicious pancakes after your next big workout.

Post-Workout Recovery Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1tb splenda or stevia

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2-1 3/4 cups of vanilla flavored whey protein “milk”  ( following whey protein recipe to yield this amount of smoothie)

2 flax eggs ( 1 tbs of ground flax seeds, 3 tbs. Water/ per egg)

1 tsp. Canola oil

2 tsp of powdered sugar (optional)

1 oz of maple syrup (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat the griddle on med/low-med 10 minutes before spooning pancake batter.

2. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, whisk until smooth.

3. Spoon batter on heated griddle, flipping after the tops are bubbly, or the bottom is golden brown.

4. Repeat with remaining batter.

5. Place the pancakes on a plate topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, and a side of maple syrup.

Eating healthy can be difficult as a registered nurse.

As a prior nightshift nurse, I faced different circumstances of eating healthy then the circumstances I face now as a dayshift nurse. I was more worried about over eating due to odd hours and switching back and forth from nights to days while I worked 7pm to 7am. I ate not only to stay awake but I also ate to help me stay asleep. Some days were better than others but the hormonal imbalance and internal time clock definitely was against my favor in staying in shape and eating healthy.

Now that I have moved to a regular schedule of 7am to 7pm, I am faced with a new world of difficulties in eating healthy. Not only do I have to fight off the urge to grab a donut that is lying in the break room but also many days I am fighting to even find time to eat. Most days come with a struggle to leave my patients and take time for myself. I’ve learned to eat breakfast because I never know what the day will bring and when I might have the opportunity to eat again. After a month of give and take, I have learned that snacks go a long way in terms of granola bars and almonds for those “never ending” days, but I have also learned that taking a lunch is vital to not only myself but my patients.

However, the struggle of eating healthy comes after I get home from work. Whether it’s the stress of the job, eating too little, or eating the wrong foods- I struggle with overeating when I get home. After a long survey within the hospital and even outside the hospital, I have found that I am not the only one.

Many people stay within their diet guidelines throughout the day at their jobs but the second they step foot in the door all willpower is thrown out the window. The kitchen cabinet doors are flown open and the next thing you know, you have downed 1,000 calories.

Sound familiar?

Do you sabotage your diet every night after work?

After much work and dedication I have found a few rules for myself that have worked wonders on my diet at night when I come home from a long day at work. Hopefully these rules will help you out as well.

7 Rules to Prevent Overeating after Work

1.) Write down your dinner menu for everyday of the week

2.) Prepare dinner the night before so you can simply pop it in the oven to reheat

3.) Allow yourself one snack prior to bed that is pre-planned

4.) Eat your calories throughout the day rather than saving all of your calories for the evening

5.) Increase your protein intake throughout the day to control appetite / cravings

6.) Drink half of your body weight in water throughout the day

7.) Lean Cuisines are your best friend with a side of veggies and fruit!

Looking for a perfect cookie that your great, great, great, great, great grandmother use to make? I have found the perfect match! Caveman Cookies have hit the market with 100% all natural ingredients including ingredients such as honey, nuts, and berries. Chewy and delicious, these cookies are Gluten & Dairy free with only 65-75 calories per cookie.

Caveman Cookies is founded in New York when Stephanie Lester’s passion for a healthy, natural lifestyle and wholesome eating drove her to make a 360 degree turn in her career as an attorney towards a baker and entrepreneur.

Ever heard of the Paleolithic Diet, aka the Paleo Diet? The Paleo Diet is based off the Caveman or Stone Age Days, where families were forced to eat from the raw earth and hunt with their bare hands. The Paleo Diet eliminates all processed and “fake” foods including grains, dairy, salt, sugar, processed oils, and legumes and replacing them with foods that hunters and gatherers once ate. This includes fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, roots, fish, and grass-fed pasture raised meats. . . practically anything you can find out in the wilderness.

Health benefits of eating a diet based on the hunter and gatherers are numerous. Research has found that eating a plant based diet will improve diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, improve inflammatory diseases, prevent syndrome-X (including gout, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and obesity), improve conditions such as osteoarthritis, kidney stones, insomnia, and strokes.

Caveman Cookies are perfectly paired with the Paleo Diet with their all natural ingredients! Caveman Cookies come in three different flavors including Original Caveman Cookies, Tropical Caveman Cookies, and Alpine Caveman Cookies.

Original Caveman Cookies contain almond meal, cinnamon, ginger, honey, raisins, and walnuts

Tropical Caveman Cookies contain almond meal, coconut, ginger, honey, and macadamia nuts

Alpine Cavemen Cookies contain almond meal, hazelnut meal, honey, and toasted carob

Whether you are on the Paleo Diet or just looking for a snack or cookie to enhance your diet with healthier foods to provide you with the most energy, Caveman Cookies are they way to go. I had a great opportunity to try Caveman Cookies for myself and these were my thoughts.

Pros:

After trying all three cookies, I give them all a two thumbs up. Although I would have to say that my all time favorite is the Tropical Caveman Cookie.

These cookies taste delicious and are full of flavor

Cons:

Caveman Cookies are small for the amount of calories per cookie. However, the calories come from all-natural ingredients that provide high energy and healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

I won’t even begin to share with you about the green ladybug I found in my Paradise Bakery Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad last night . . . and the salad looked so good. But we all know you are guys are just interesting in the word “Giveaway” found in the title of this post.

Corazonas was gracious enough to send me samples of their oatmeal squares … and my life has never been the same since they arrives in the mail. These oatmeal squares are seriously a party in your mouth. Way better than any bowl of oatmeal I make in the morning and much more convenient for those on-the-go mornings.

Corazonas Oatmeal Square flavors include Chocolate Chip, Brownie Almond, Banana Walnut, Cranberry Flax, & Peanut Butter. I would have to say that my all time favorite flavor is the Chocolate Chip. It’s just a perfect combination of chocolate and oatmeal flavoring.

The Corazonas Oatmeal Squares contain approximately 190 calories, 6g of fat, 6g of protein, and 13g of sugar. In order to resist the temptation of eating several in one day I have found that splitting it in half is the perfect way to go. I eat one half in the morning between breakfast and lunch and the other half for a bedtime snack.

Savor the Bite!

So what’s so special about Corazonas, besides the fact that they taste A-M-A-Z-I-N-G?

Corazonas aid in lowering bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) levels through the use of Plant Sterols, which “reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestines by up to 50%.” Plant Sterols are found naturally in fruits, veggies, & whole-grains as a plant based compound. Corazonas Snacks are packed with just enough plant sterols to initiate the effects of lowering bad cholesterol within the body.

Not only are Corazonas Snacks great for lowering bad cholesterol levels through Plant Sterols but oatmeal is also known to play a part in lowering cholesterol as well. Talk about the best gift for your heart!

Corazonas Snacks not only include oatmeal squares but also tortilla chips & potato chips. I can’t wait to try these little guys if they taste anything like the oatmeal squares.

These heart healthy snacks are a perfect way to kick off the morning, an energy kick for those afternoon blues, or to close off the night.

It would be a joke for me to rant and rave about how amazing Corazonas Oatmeal Squares are without giving you the opportunity to win a sample package… You can thank me and Corazonas Snacks later.

Guidelines to the Corazonas Giveaway

MANDATORY:

Visit Corazonas Snacks and leave a comment with the link to the oatmeal square flavor you think you would like the most

AND

Subscribe to She-Fit

For additional Entries (Separate Comment for each Entry!)

• Like Corazonas Snacks on Facebook
• Follow Corazonas on Twitter
• Like SheFit on Facebook
• Follow SheFit on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway
• Link back to this giveaway on your blog post (5 entries)
  

The winner will be announced Friday, July 15, 2011