These chewgoodstuff picks, of course must be healthy, and I usually list a few reasons why I am excited about a particular choice that has made it onto this list.
*Please note that this post does contain some affiliate links to the products I discuss. Should you purchase these items using a link I provide, I will be compensated a small sum for referring you. I only recommend products that I truly stand behind and use myself. I am not compensated from these companies to blog about these products.
Without further ado, here are my picks…
GROW Protein Bars by Go Raw
The name is deceiving…at least to me.
I’m not a huge fan of “protein” bars or powders — ones that are loaded with tons of isolated protein usually in the form of whey, soy, hemp, or pea. I, personally would rather get my protein from real food sources.
Ok, so what are these GROW protein bars then?
They are sprouted watermelon seed bars with some dates added for sweetness and other spices for flavorings (lemon, mint, cinnamon, chocolate). The protein in the bars is naturally-occurring from the watermelon seeds — a plant-based protein source.
The sprouting process used with the watermelon seeds makes them much easier to digest and assimilate the nutrients they contain. Think of sprouting as unlocking compounds that are sometimes hard to access in a particular plant/seed. By eating sprouted foods, you are acquiring maximum nutrition and creating less work for your digestive organs to break these compounds down.
What nutrients do watermelon seeds contain?
Protein
Maybe you’re a vegan and struggle to find sufficient protein sources, or perhaps you are like me and don’t care for added or synthetic protein in packaged foods and prefer natural protein sources.
Magnesium
We could all use a little extra boost of this often overlooked mineral which is necessary to help assimilate calcium into our bones. It also plays a role in cardiovascular health, stress management, and healthy energy production.
Zinc
This mineral plays a role in many biochemical pathways in the body and is important for robust immunity, as well as being supportive for prostate health in men.
So, how do these unique bars taste?
I think they taste refreshingly different. If you’ve tried every nut and seed bar on the shelf like I have, you start to get bored after a while, as many of them are almond based. Not that anything is wrong with almonds (unless you have an allergy), but after a while fatigue sets in and having an option such as sprouted watermelon seeds (which the company claims they are the only ones making such a product) in a convenient, ready-to-eat bar is a great alternative.
They are offered in 4 flavors: Cinnamon Spice, Dark Chocolate, Zesty Lemon, and Mint Chocolate. So far I’ve tasted them all and would recommend them! I think Zesty Lemon was my favorite so far as I’m a huge sucker (pun intended) for anything lemon!
Go Raw Organic Gluten-Free Vegan Sprouted Grow Protein Bars 4 Flavor Sampler Bundle: (1) Cinnamon Spice, (1) Dark Chocolate, (1) Zesty Lemon, & (1) Mint Chocolate, 1.9 Oz Ea (4 Bars)
JicaChips — Crispy Jicama Chips
Jicama is a root vegetable that tastes like a mix between an apple (but not nearly as sweet) and a potato. It’s native to Mexico and on trips there I have seen it served up with fresh-squeezed lime and cayenne. It’s super light, refreshing (especially on a hot summer day), and low in calories.
…which makes it the perfect guilt-free snackable treat.
I have only tried the Sea Salt flavor but they were great — light, crispy, crunchy and only 100 calories for an entire bag. These naturally gluten-free veggies lend well to baking too. These chips are baked and another benefit is that they use olive oil (instead of canola or other vegetable oils which I do my best to avoid).
And to top it off, an entire bag will provide 5 grams of dietary fiber for those looking to boost your fiber intake.
They are also non-GMO and vegan.
Flavors available: Sea Salt, Smoked BBQ, Chili Lime.
JicaChips Jicama Chips, Sea Salt, 8 Pack, BAKED, Paleo, Gluten Free, High Fiber
Organic Ginger Turmeric Herbal Tea
http://www.traderjoes.com/digin/post/organic-ginger-turmeric-herbal-tea
Trader Joe’s has been upping their game recently by bringing in a lot more grocery items that are organic and tasty such as this new herbal tea that I can’t seem to drink enough of these days.
I’ve made it a daily ritual to enjoy a cup of this in the evening after dinner.
Have you ever tasted turmeric before?
If so, you may be thinking that it’s got a strong taste and that drinking it in a tea form may not be the most enjoyable or palatable.
I promise you that is not always the case, especially if the turmeric is partnered with other pleasant tasting flavors. In this case, this tea contains:
Organic Ginger Root, Organic Turmeric, Organic Licorice, Organic Orange Peel, Organic Orange Oil, Organic Black Pepper
I think it’s the addition of the orange peel and oil which balances out the stronger taste of the turmeric, making it the perfect sippable, caffeine-free tea.
Benefits of Turmeric:
- anti-inflammatory
- liver supportive
- a powerful antioxidant
Turmeric has been shown to be better assimilated when combined with black pepper or with some type of fat carrier. Adding a little bit of fat from milk or coconut milk to your cup may increase your chances of absorbing more of the active constituents (curcuminoids) from this superfood and healthy cousin to ginger.
If chewgoodstuff picks: GROW protein bars, Jicama chips, Ginger/Turmeric tea was helpful, please share this post with a friend so that they too may learn something from reading it.
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Mike is a holistic nutritionist that helps people feel more optimistic about their health and wellness through changes in diet and lifestyle shifts.
He has authored posts and articles featured on MarthaStewart.com, today.com, and iVillage.com.