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Food

Awesome Appetizers- Roasted Artichoke

June 12, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

Appetizers ensure meals, gatherings and parties go off with a bang. If you’ve got a house full of people, or you’re keen to make sure you have time to socialize, it’s hugely beneficial to find some simple, delicious appetizers you can rustle up in advance to impress your guests and get your evening or lunch party off to a flying start. If you love to entertain, or you’re always on the lookout for ideas and inspiration for family feasts or social occasions, here’s an awesome new appetizer to add your recipe collection.

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/organic-green-artichokes-for-sale-in-local-market-3874077/

Roasted Artichoke

Artichokes are not the most frequently-used vegetable, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be a part of your repertoire. Artichokes are delicious, and once you get the hang of preparing and cooking them, it’s easy to turn this humble vegetable into a crowd-pleasing dish your family and friends will love. This roasted artichoke dish is ideal for small gatherings, family nights in and dinner parties, and it will go down a treat!

Instructions

The first step is to learn how to roast artichoke. Once you’ve purchased your artichokes from the store, you’ll need to prepare them to go into the oven. Take your artichokes and cut the stems, peeling away the tough outer layers until you reach the lighter-colored flesh of the vegetable. Carefully trim the sharp edges of the leaves, removing roughly ¾ of an inch of the tip. Cut your artichoke in half lengthways and use a paring knife to take out the choke.

When your artichokes are ready to roast, place them in foil and add a drizzle of olive oil and a crushed garlic clove. Close the foil parcel and place it inside the oven for approximately 40 minutes. 

How To Serve

There are endless options when it comes to serving roasted artichoke. You can leave the artichoke as it is, using the cooking juices with a splash of lemon juice, salt and pepper, some dill and a teaspoon of honey added to create a vibrant vinaigrette dip. Alternatively, you can add additional ingredients, such as crumbled feta cheese or capers, to enhance the Mediterranean flavors. To enjoy roasted artichoke, you’ll need to allow time for the leaves and petals to cool, so that you can gently peel off the leaves with your fingers and discard the inedible part of the petal. Add to a platter with the vinaigrette dip or serve as a delicious pre-dinner morsel if you’re hosting friends. 

Tips for Buying Artichokes

When you’re buying artichokes, it’s best to shop in season. The optimum time for cooking with artichokes is between March and May and October and November. Spend a little time perusing the produce aisles and look for artichokes that are heavy and large with tightly-packed dark leaves. Gently press the artichoke in your hands. A fresh artichoke should make a subtle squeaking noise. 

Are you planning to get friends or family together, or are you searching for a simple, nutritious, delicious appetizer for a special occasion or a leisurely weekend lunch? If so, why not give this recipe a try?

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: artichoke, food, recipe

Ambassador Nutrition Reviews

Yogurt Snack with Mighty Nut® Powdered Peanut Butter Recipe & Giveaway

October 29, 2015 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Mighty Nut® and Fit Approach. All opinions are my own.

Who doesn’t love peanut butter? It’s pretty much the best on-the-go snack there is. Well, unless you’re allergic, and in that case, I feel for you. Sometimes, I want to take my peanut butter with me (long days of nannying, fitness endeavors, etc), and a giant jar of peanut butter is too much. Luckily, Mighty Nut (Peanut Butter & Co) has released POWDERED peanut butter!

Mighty Nut Peanut Butter #sweatpink info chart Mighty Nut Powdered Peanut Butter #sweatpink blog

Powdered peanut butter tastes just as good, if not better than regular peanut butter, and it’s much healthier. Mighty Nut’s original powdered PB has only 45 calories per serving (2 tbsp), 1.5g of fat, and 2g of sugar (plus 6g of protein). Simply mix 2 tbsp of PB with 1 tbsp of water and stir until smooth.

There are four flavors: original, vanilla, chocolate, and flax & chia.

 I was trying to think of various things I could make using this PB, in addition to the protein shakes I already make using it (SO good!). I came up with the idea of peanut butter Greek yogurt. One word: brilliant!

Here’s how I made my peanut butter yogurt snack:

1 single-serving container of plain Greek yogurt (I used Kroger/Ralph’s brand vanilla Greek yogurt for an extra hint of vanilla)

Mighty Nut Greek Yogurt #sweatpink

I put the yogurt in a bowl for easier mixing. I then added one scoop (using the scooper that came with the PB, which is about 1.5 tbsp) of powdered PB (vanilla) to the yogurt.

Mighty Nut Peanut Butter #sweatpink powdered spoon

I then added 1 tbsp of cacao nibs (affiliate link: Navitas Naturals brand) to the yogurt and PB.

Navitas Naturals Cacao Nibs Blog

Mix it all together, and voila!

Mighty Nut Peanut Butter Yogurt Cacao Recipe

Let me tell you guys, this snack is SO good, and so simple to make! Give it a try for yourself and let me know how you like it. 🙂

Now, without further adieu, the giveaway!

Mighty Nut has teamed up with Fit Approach/#SweatPink to offer one lucky person a bottle of Mighty Nut powdered peanut butter (winner’s choice of flavor), plus a branded measuring scoop. As a #SweatPink ambassador, I get to share this giveaway with you!

Giveaway rules: US only. One prize per person. If you win this giveaway, and have already won another prize from Mighty Nut through another blog, please disclose that you have already won so we can choose another winner. Giveaway ends Nov. 6 at 11:59 pm PST.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to everyone who enters! If you can’t wait to see if you’ve won, visit Mighty Nut’s website for a list of retailers who carry Mighty Nut, or visit ilovepeanutbutter.com.

Follow Mighty Nut on social media for recipes, coupons, updates and more: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.

  • Are you a peanut butter fanatic?
  • What are your thoughts on powdered peanut butter?
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Filed Under: Ambassador, Nutrition, Reviews Tagged With: #GoMightyNut, #sweatpink, Ambassador, Fit Approach, giveaway, health, Mighty Nut, peanut butter, powdered peanut butter, recipe, snack

Health Nutrition Reviews

Live Better with Thrive™ Algae Oil + Recipe

October 26, 2015 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Thrive™ Algae. All opinions are my own.

Did you know, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? It’s crucial that we supplement those high (bad) fats hidden in our food. There’s been a long time debate between olive oil and coconut oil (which one is healthier; better for your heart?). Olive oil is better for your heart, but still contains 2g of saturated fat. Luckily, there’s a new oil in town: Thrive™ Algae Oil.

ThriveAlgae Cooking Oil LA

Thrive™ Culinary Algae Oil contains only .5g of saturated fat (75% less than olive oil) and has the highest level of monounsaturated fat (the good fat). Cooking with algae oil also makes foods even more delicious. It has a light and delicate taste that lets the flavor of food shine through, and you get to taste the earthy, natural flavor of your ingredients, without heaviness or greasiness. I was worried it would taste like the ocean (I don’t like seafood), but it doesn’t at all. I don’t like the smell of olive oil, and my boyfriend strongly dislikes the taste of coconut oil, so algae oil is perfect! Plus, you can use it for literally any type of cooking. Up until now, an oil low in saturated fats, high in the good fats, that could also be used for frying and high-heat cooking was pretty much unheard of. Now, fried foods, crispy sautéed foods, baked goods, etc. all can be made better.

 

ThriveAlgae Oil Nutrition Facts

I decided to use Thrive™ algae oil for dinner this past evening. I’m a pretty picky eater, so I wanted to make something that was quick and delicious. I decided to make chicken parmesan (without the breading) and green beans with sliced almonds.

 

Follow the steps below to create your yummy chicken parm made with Thrive!

 

First, I poured 1 tbsp of algae oil in the pan, then added the chicken. I used fully cooked chicken, because that’s usually the kind we have in our freezer. 😉 You can use raw chicken, but I recommend baking it in the oven so it cooks thoroughly.

ThriveAlgae Oil Chicken Recipe Blog

I LOVED using the algae oil. It covered the entire pan without forming a puddle (what olive oil tends to do for me), it barely had a smell, and it didn’t burn up! When cooking with olive oil, it tends to disappear or burn a bit. Nothing like that happened with the algae oil.

After the chicken was cooked, I added a bit of marinara sauce and provolone cheese to the chicken while still in the pan.

ThriveAlgae Oil Recipe Blog Chicken

I also sauteed green beans with sliced almonds and a pinch of salt using the algae oil. They were SO delicious; definitely the best I’ve ever had! Plus, it only took me about 15 minutes to make this meal. Perfect for busy, on-the-go parents, students, or even those who dislike cooking.

ThriveAlgae Oil Recipe Blog Thumbnail

Right now, Thrive™ algae oil is only available in Los Angeles (at Gelson’s), as it’s a brand new product. However, you can place an order online here (ships within 5-7 business days). I highly recommend ordering a bottle (or two!) for yourself and your family; you won’t be disappointed!

Stay connected with Thrive™ Algae on social media for updates, recipes, and more: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

  • What kind of cooking oil do you use/prefer?
  • What is your favorite dish using oil?

ThriveAlgae Oil Dog Blog

Even my pup, Archie is intrigued! 😉
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Filed Under: Health, Nutrition, Reviews Tagged With: algae oil, baking, chicken, coconut oil, cooking, Gelson's, good fat, heart disease, heart health, LA, Los Angeles, monounsaturated fat, olive oil, recipe, saturated fat, ThriveAlgae

Nutrition Reviews

Decadent Chocolate Deliciousness With Cocozia® Coconut Water

May 11, 2015 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Coconut water is my all-time favorite drink. Like, EVER. It’s a topic of discussion all throughout my blog. I drink it daily, especially  in the summertime. But sometimes I get bored with the taste, and most nights, just like any other female, I want chocolate. What’s a girl to do?

Good thing Cocozia® coconut water has a brand-new chocolate flavor! Seriously, it’s amazing. You may be saying, “But [insert another brand here] already has a chocolate flavor; what makes this any better?”

Disclosure: I received a case (12 pack) of Cocozia chocolate coconut water in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I make a small profit of any purchases through my affiliate links. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Cocozia Chocolate Coconut Water Review   Cocozia Chocolate Coconut Water Organic

I’m glad you asked (or at least I’m pretending you asked 😉 ). The other brand comes in a plastic bottle, which I despise. I should call myself an anti-plastic warrior. Ha! It’s terrible for the environment and anything that comes from a plastic bottle tastes weird. Plus this other brand is from concentrate, which I’m not really a fan of. Cocozia (affiliate link), however, comes in a biodegradable Tetra Pak, and it’s not from concentrate. Plus Cocozia is 100% organic and non-GMO Project verified. The chocolate flavor comes from light, all-natural chocolate.

I like to drink Cocozia for a few different reasons throughout my day:

  • To hydrate
  • To raise my blood sugar when it gets too low (hypoglycemia)
  • As a snack
  • As a replacement for not-so-healthy chocolate
  • As a nighttime snack (I probably used it mostly for this one!)

When I was craving something extra chocolaty, I would make this recipe:

Cocozia Chocolate Recipe Coconut Water

For this recipe, I used PBZero powdered peanut butter and Navitas Naturals raw cocoa nibs (affiliate link). Of course, you can use whichever brands you prefer!

If you want decadent chocolate deliciousness in your fridge, you can order a case of Cocozia on Amazon (affiliate link)! A 12 pack case of 16.9 oz is $35. You can also find Cocozia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  • What is your favorite flavor of coconut water?
  • Are you a chocolate fanatic like me?
  • What was the highlight of your weekend? (I’m just curious!) :p

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Filed Under: Nutrition, Reviews Tagged With: #definebrave, #fitfluential, #girlsgonesporty, #socalbloggersociety, #sweatpink, affiliate, all-natural, Amazon, buy, California, chocolate, chocolate coconut water, coconut water, Cocozia, health, LA, lifestyle, Los Angeles, Navitas Naturals, nonGMO, nonGMO Project verified, organic, PBZero, recipe, review, shop, SoCal, summer

Nutrition

Coconut Water Smoothie Recipe + LiveZola Contest

March 9, 2015 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

The weather is warming up! Well, unless you’re in the Midwest or East coast (sorry about that!). But here in sunny SoCal, it’s officially summer. The temps are in the 80s, the rain has passed, and the sun is shining bright! With warm weather comes the desire for an ice cold pop (okay, not really pop, but something cold). For me, that means it’s time to experiment with new smoothie recipes!

I usually use coconut milk in my smoothies, but Zola was awesome enough to send me a 12 pack of Zola coconut water (regular, with pulp, and espresso) to try some new recipes for their contest! *No monetary compensation was received. This post contains affiliate links.

As some of you know, I have a serious obsession with coconut water. I first tried it last July (thanks to Zola!), and instantly became hooked. So you can imagine my excitement for coming up with a coconut water smoothie recipe!

Here’s the details for the #ZolaJuiceShop contest (ends March 16, so get your entries in ASAP):

  • Contest runs through March 16th
  • The contest is hosted on Facebook (http://bit.ly/1AwCoWz) but you can enter by uploading an image in four ways: direct from your Facebook photos, from your computer, or by sharing a picture through Twitter or Instagram and using the hashtag #ZolaJuiceShop
  • Submit the actual recipe in the entry form along with the image of the smoothie, but the recipe itself is not required
  • There will be three grand prize winners who will each win a Vitamix Professional Blender (not this exact one), a $200 gift card to their grocery store, and a 1-year supply of Zola. We are selecting one winner for each of the following categories:
  1. Most creative/inventive smoothie
  2. Best use of Zola Acai Juice/Zola Coconut Water in the recipe
  3. Best use of a functional ingredient to benefit a healthy & active lifestyle

Tweet: A yummy @livezolaus smoothie recipe by @balancebrunette + #contest details! http://ctt.ec/dW185+  #LiveZola #ZolaJuiceShop
Get your entries in and good luck!!

Zola Coconut Banana Berry Blend Smoothie

Live Zola Coconut Water Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup ice
  • 1 cup Zola coconut water
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1/4 cup raspberries
  • 1/4 cup blueberries
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • I added a bit more coconut water for easy blending*

Zola Coconut Water Healthy  Healthy Smoothie Live Zola

Put the ingredients in a blender (in order listed):

Healthy Smoothie Live Zola Coconut Water  Healthy Smoothie Live Zola Recipe Blender

Serve & enjoy!

Coconut Water Fruit Smoothie Live Zola

Want a pinable image to share? Cool, because I have one! 😉

Smoothie Recipe Fruit Zola Coconut Water

To create your delicious smoothies, use the store locator to find Zola near you. Don’t forget to submit your entries by March 16!

 

Follow Zola on social media:

Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Youtube – Pinterest

 

  • What is your favorite smoothie recipe?
  • What is your food/drink obsession? 😉

Share with me in the comment section below!
Tweet: A yummy @livezolaus smoothie recipe by @balancebrunette + #contest details! http://ctt.ec/dW185+  #LiveZola #ZolaJuiceShop

Thank you for reading my blog! Connect with me on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook!

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Filed Under: Nutrition Tagged With: #liveZola, #ZolaJuiceShop, affiliate, ain't nobody got time for that, California, coconut water, contest, grand prize, healthy, LA, Los Angeles, recipe, smoothie, SoCal, summer, sweet brown, vitamix, winner, Zola

Nutrition Reviews

Breakfast Made Healthy With Supreme Protein + Giveaway!

November 29, 2014 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Every morning, I’m in a hurry to get out the door. I am almost always late. It’s not my proudest “quality”, but it’s always been that way! Because of this, I have a pretty difficult time eating a healthy breakfast. Especially when I need to eat on my way to wherever it is I’m going.

So when I was offered the opportunity to test and review Supreme Protein Accelerate Morning Bars, you know I jumped at the chance! I am always looking for a healthy, yet delicious breakfast option.

Disclosure: This post was created in partnership with Supreme Protein and I have been compensated, however all thoughts and opinions are my own. #LiveSupreme

What Is Supreme Protein?

Supreme Protein Accelerate Morning Bar Website

Supreme Protein is a company with a line of quality protein products. Their motto is: Live your life at the fullest. Live Supreme.

“Live your life at the fullest with the uncompromising taste and superior nutrition of Supreme Protein. With a complete line of whey and casein based protein products, you can take on any challenge” (website).

They have high-protein bars, protein shake mixes, and accelerate morning bars (the focus of this review).

(Image Source)

 

 A few facts:

  • 15g Protein, 190 calories, 3g fiber (good source)
  • Primary protein source is a blend of whey, casein and milk proteins
  • Made with natural flavors
  • Certified gluten-free

Supreme Protein Accelerate Bar 3 Supreme Protein Accelerate Bar 4

It can be tough getting over 15g of protein in a bar with less than 200 calories. Supreme Protein does it perfectly! Since the Accelerate bars are high in protein, they make for a perfect breakfast. Plus, they come in four different DELICIOUS flavors!

  • Apple Cinnamon
  • Chocolate Raspberry
  • Vanilla Almond
  • Strawberry Banana

Supreme Protein Accelerate Bar 5

Healthy Living

My usual issue is if I want a healthy protein bar, I generally am forced to compromise taste. Whether it’s the taste of soy protein, fake sugars, or whatever ingredients are added, I’m usually out of luck. But I can gladly say that I LOVED each of these flavors of Supreme Protein bars! The apple cinnamon is hands-down my favorite one. Having a yummy breakfast bar makes eating healthy much easier. Like I mentioned before, constantly being on-the-go sometimes means sacrificing my health. But with the Accelerate Morning Bars, living a healthier lifestyle becomes simple. I can eat the bar quickly, take it in my car on the way to work, or make a fun recipe with it (see below)!

Supreme Protein Accelerate Bar 6

 

Another great way to incorporate Supreme Protein Accelerate Bars into your healthy, active lifestyle is to use them for something other than breakfast! My boyfriend and I went hiking through Eaton Canyon on our anniversary, and we obviously needed snacks.

 

I packed a couple Supreme Protein bars, and they were PERFECT for our halfway point! I was starving, and the bar filled me up and fueled me for the rest of the hike.

 

Whether it’s hiking, swimming, running, yoga, or whatever, Supreme Protein bars fit perfectly into a healthy and active lifestyle!

 

Chocolate Raspberry + Blueberry Parfait (Recipe)

Below is a fun recipe I made with the Supreme Protein Chocolate Raspberry Accelerate Bar. I invite you to make it at home, or create one yourself!

What You’ll Need:

  • (1) Supreme Protein Chocolate Raspberry Accelerate Morning Bar
  • (1/4 cup) Fresh or frozen blueberry/raspberry medley (Trader Joe’s)
  • (5.3 oz or more) Plain Greek yogurt OR blueberry Greek yogurt
  • (1 TBSP) Raw cacao nibs (Affiliate Link: Navitas Naturals Organic Raw Cacao Nibs, 16-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 2))
  • (1) Mason jar or equivalent

Supreme Protein Accelerate Bar 7

First, pour the Greek yogurt into your mason jar. If you use plain yogurt, you may add some berries at the bottom for easier mixing.

Supreme Protein Accelerate Bar Yogurt

Second, pour 1/4 cup of fresh or frozen berries (I used Trader Joe’s, but any mix is great) in the jar.

Supreme Protein Accelerate Bar Trader Joe's Berry

Third, pour 1 TBSP of raw cacao nibs (I used Navitas Naturals) in the jar.

Supreme Protein Accelerate Bar Cacao Nibs   Supreme Protein Accelerate Morning Parfait

Lastly, break up the Supreme Protein bar and put it on top of everything in the mason jar.

Supreme Protein Accelerate Bar 8

Live Supreme Accelerate Morning Bar 8

Mix everything together in your mason jar, and you’re ready to go!

Supreme Protein Accelerate Morning Parfait

GIVEAWAY!

Our friends at Supreme Protein have graciously allowed me to give away one sample box of Accelerate Morning Protein Bars! Entrants must be 18 or older, and live in the US or Canada. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Winner will be notified by Supreme Protein/Social Chorus (PR).

This giveaway ends Sunday, December 7, 2014 at 11:59p PST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also get a coupon for $1 off any Supreme Protein Accelerate Bar here! $1‑Off coupon

Keep up with Supreme Protein on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. #LiveSupreme

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Lyndsay

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Filed Under: Nutrition, Reviews Tagged With: #LiveSupreme, #TeamSupreme, Accelerate Morning Bar, California, casein, coupon, delicious, giveaway, healthy, LA, Los Angeles, morning, nutrition, protein, protein bar, Rafflecopter, recipe, review, SD, SF, SoCal, social media, Supreme Protein, Thanksgiving, whey, yummy

Nutrition Reviews Uncategorized

Guilt-Free Chicago Mix Popcorn + Giveaway!

October 20, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 7 Comments

A few months ago, I decided to cut out GMOs (genetically modified organisms) from my nutrition. I wanted to be as physically healthy as I could so that my mind would be healthy too. Over the past few months, I’ve been on the lookout for non-GMO snacks. That’s when I found GH Cretors non-GMO popcorn.

Disclosure: I contacted GH Cretors in the hopes of sampling their product. I received a case of Chicago Mix popcorn in exchange for a review and giveaway on my blog. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

GH Cretors Popcorn nonGMO

What makes GH Cretors different from other popcorn?

It is free of:

  • artificial flavors or colors
  • GMOs
  • gluten (naturally)
  • corn syrup

What is the Chicago Mix?

The Chicago Mix is what I received, and I’m a big fan!

“Today we make our Caramel Corn just like Great Grandpa did- in old-fashioned copper kettles, one batch at a time. Then we mix it up the Chicago way, with our rich, creamy, Aged Cheddar Cheese Corn to create the perfect combination of Sweet and Salty. You don’t even have to come to Chicago to try this special treat” (website).

 Chicago Mix Popcorn GH Cretors nonGMO   Chicago Mix Popcorn GH Cretors nonGMO Ingredients

It contains ingredients you recognize and tastes absolutely delicious! My boyfriend and I went through a case pretty quickly. Plus it’s fun to share with friends: the girl I babysit likes the caramel corn, and I like the cheese corn, so we like to split it!

GIVEAWAY!

GH Cretors has graciously offered for me to give away one case of the Chicago Mix popcorn! One case= 24 bags (1.5 oz single-serve). You must be living in the US. GH Cretors will send the case directly to you (I will email the winner for their contact info). Enter by using the Rafflecopter widget below! The giveaway ends Tuesday, October 28 at 11:59pm PST. Good luck!!

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit GHCretors.com to check out the various popcorn options! There are tons of recipe ideas here. If you’re too excited to try GH Cretors before the giveaway ends, you can get free shipping through Oct. 31 by using promo code HW14FS.

Thank you for checking out my blog! And thank you GH Cretors for the opportunity. 🙂

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XO

Lyndsay

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Filed Under: Nutrition, Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: caramel corn, cheese corn, Chicago Mix, Eat Real Food, food, GH Cretor's, giveaway, glutenfree, healthy, JERF, kosher, Los Angeles, non-GMO, non-GMO project verified, nonGMO, popcorn, quality, recipe, review, snack, SoCal

Nutrition Reviews

Plant-Based HempPro 70 Review + Discount Code

September 24, 2014 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

It’s no secret that there’s brand upon brand of protein powder on the market. Some people drink protein shakes daily; some have no idea what the difference is between them. It can get confusing! Well I am here to share with you why Manitoba Harvest HempPro 70 protein powder is one of the cleanest options out there.

HempPro 70 Protein Shake

Disclosure: As part of my #sweatpink ambassadorship with Fit Approach, I had the opportunity to review HempPro 70. I received one sample of chocolate and one sample of vanilla. I did not receive any monetary compensation. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

With that being said, I definitely believe HempPro 70 is a great protein powder. Here are a few reasons why:

  1. It’s entirely plant-based, so it’s perfect for vegetarians and vegans.
  2. It’s the only water-soluble hemp protein powder on the market. It does not need to be blended (but can be if you prefer).
  3. It’s 95% digestible. There are only four ingredients in each flavor (chocolate and vanilla). I will post the ingredients below!
  4. It’s sweetened with organic coconut sugar, so it’s low on the glycemic index.
  5. It’s packed with protein and omegas. Chocolate: 14g protein – Vanilla: 15g protein.
  6. It’s Non-GMO Project verified.
  7. The cocoa used in the chocolate flavor is organic fair trade cocoa.

My only issue with this protein powder is the taste is a bit bland. I mixed the chocolate with almond milk, but I think mixing it with coconut milk would have been better. I feel like it would give it more flavor. I decided to blend some raw cacao nibs in the chocolate, and that helped! So personally, I wouldn’t drink the shakes with just milk. If I was in a hurry, I could deal with it, but I would rather blend it with something.

You can get a bunch of great recipes for the protein powder on Manitoba Harvest’s website here!

HempPro 70 Protein Shake Jaxx

Despite the bland taste, it is one of the better plant-based protein powders I’ve had. I’ve tried three other plant-based powders, and I couldn’t even finish drinking them. With HempPro 70, I didn’t have a problem finishing it!

Here’s the ingredients of the two flavors (chocolate and vanilla, respectively):

HempPro 70 Protein Shake Ingredients HempPro 70 Protein Shake Vanilla Ingredients

I am all about minimal ingredients, so I definitely love this!

As for pricing: you can get an 11oz bag (10 servings) of chocolate or vanilla HempPro 70 for $24.99. That’s about $2.50 per shake- not bad!

Discount Code:

Manitoba Harvest has graciously allowed me to offer a 20% discount on their HempPro 70 chocolate and vanilla protein powders! Simply go to their website and enter code sweatpinkpro70 at checkout. 🙂

You can find Manitoba Harvest on their website, Facebook, and Twitter.

  • What do you look for in a protein powder?
  • What is your favorite thing to add to your protein shakes?

Thank you so much for reading my blog! 🙂

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Lyndsay

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Filed Under: Nutrition, Reviews Tagged With: #pro70, #sweatpink, Ambassador, Canada, chocolate, fair trade, Fit Approach, fitness, hemp protein, HempPro 70, Manitoba Harvest, nonGMO, nutrition, plant-based, protein powder, protein shake, recipe, review, vanilla, vegan, vegetarian, workout

Ambassador Events Fitness Lifestyle Nutrition SoCal

Meet & Greet + Book Signing With Lorna Jane

August 12, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 16 Comments

This past Saturday was such a memorable day! I have been crazy sick for the past three weeks, and literally did not leave my apartment, except to go grocery shopping one evening. I had an upper respiratory infection that led to pleurisy, and I pretty much slept! My first “outing” was to the Lorna Jane store in Santa Monica, Calif. to attend a book signing with the beautiful Lorna Jane Clarkson herself!

Back in July, I had the amazing opportunity to read and review Lorna Jane’s brand new cookbook NOURISH; The Fit Woman’s Cookbook. It is hands-down the most beautiful cookbook EVER! I partnered up with fellow #sweatpink ambassador Jessica from Healthy = Happy, and we made a couple of the healthy and delicious recipes from the cookbook.

Fast forward to this past Saturday: Lorna Jane was at her store to do a book signing!! What an awesome experience! Lorna Jane lives in Australia, so to have her in LA was simply fabulous. Fellow #sweatpink sister Tiffany picked me up (thanks Tiff!) and we headed to Santa Monica Place for the morning. We met up with a few other #sweatpink sisters, as well! More on that in a minute.

Lorna Jane Santa Monica Place

 Santa Monica Place


Disclosure: As a #sweatpink ambassador with Fit Approach, I received a $50 gift card to use at the Lorna Jane store in exchange for an honest review of my meet & greet with Lorna Jane. All opinions are 100% my own.


With the gift card, I was able to buy a hard copy of NOURISH. I was SO excited, because it seriously is the most beautiful cookbook ever. The recipes are super healthy, but also sustainable. Get your copy here!

NOURISH Cookbook by Lorna Jane

We waited in line for about an hour or so to meet Lorna Jane. I get impatient, so I generally don’t like waiting in line for a long time. However, this was totally different! I was with #sweatpink sisters Tiffany, Alicia, and Amanda, and we had the opportunity to talk about our blogs, our lives, and BlogFest (at IDEA World) that’s happening this week! We also met a couple amazing women who are both designers. It was a morning full of empowerment, growth, and happiness!

Lorna Jane Santa Monica Line Lorna Jane SweatPink Sisters

My #sweatpink sisters (from left to right):
 Amanda from Eat Hard Work Hard
 Alicia from Never Ever Been Skinny
 Tiffany from Matters of Course

These ladies are AMAZING!! We have been following each other on Instagram,  Twitter, and our blogs, but this was the first time we had met in person. I’ve never had a sister, so creating relationships with these “sisters” is one-of-a-kind.

While waiting in line, the associates were passing out Active Living magazines, Lorna Jane water bottles, and Zico coconut water (we all know I LOVE coconut water)!

Lorna Jane Water Bottle  Lorna Jane Active Living

It was finally my turn to meet Lorna Jane, and I felt starstruck! I know that makes me sound silly, but I have been following her Move Nourish Believe philosophy for quite a while, and I am definitely obsessed with her active wear! But what I love about her the most is her down-to-Earth attitude. She is like any other person, but she believes in herself so strongly, that she has had great success! She lives a healthy, active lifestyle and it clearly pays off. She is even more gorgeous in person, and her smile truly lights up the room. She smiled at me, signed my book, and took a photo with me. I give her props- she had been standing and signing books for over two hours at this point, and she still had a smile on her face. I appreciate her so much more!

Meeting Lorna Jane    Lorna Jane NOURISH Cookbook

It was SUCH an amazing day, and I am so excited to have been a part of it! Thank you to Fit Approach for the opportunity!

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Filed Under: Ambassador, Events, Fitness, Lifestyle, Nutrition, SoCal Tagged With: #liveloveNOURISH, #sweatpink, author, book, book signing, California, cookbook, Fit Approach, fitness, Lorna Jane, Lorna Jane Clarkson, NOURISH, recipe, Santa Monica, SoCal, SoCal

Ambassador Nutrition Reviews

NOURISH; The Fit Woman’s Cookbook By Lorna Jane

July 9, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 12 Comments

Over the past few months, I’ve really paid attention to the foods I am putting in my body, and making sure they’re the healthiest, most natural, most organic foods possible. In addition to this, I’ve started cooking! Anyone who knows me will tell you I do not cook. Well, used to not cook! An opportunity to read and review Lorna Jane Clarkson’s new cookbook, NOURISH (The Fit Woman’s Cookbook) , arose and I could not pass it up! If you’re like me and enjoy delicious, beautiful, healthy foods, you want this cookbook.

LJ Cover

Lorna Jane Clarkson is one of the most gorgeous, talented, happy, and healthy women I “know”. She is the founder of Lorna Jane Active, an all-women’s fashion active wear line. NOURISH is part of her Active Living philosophy: “I choose happiness every day and I wake up knowing that good things will happen. I have a positive outlook and work to fill my life with good thoughts, good people, good health, and good work.” Her full philosophy is on page 9 of NOURISH.

Throughout the entire book (127 pages), there are images of beautiful, colorful foods, inspirational quotes, facts about healthy living, and more. It’s not just recipes and pictures; Lorna Jane breaks down healthy living in every aspect, from shopping, to hydration, to eating out. I learned so much from reading NOURISH (which by the way, I’ve never read through an entire cookbook until now!), I can’t wait to incorporate it into my day-to-day living!

Let’s get to the star of the show: THE FOOD!

A cookbook is just a book until you actually make some of the recipes! I am currently in Ohio visiting family, and one of my very good blogger friends happens to live 30 minutes from where I’m staying. Jessica (healthyishappyblog.com) and I got together and made a couple recipes from NOURISH:

LJ 4 edited  LJ 1 edited

Photo Source (second photo only): Jessica from healthyishappyblog.com

Mixed Berry and Chia Yoghurt Pops

Ingredients: 
3/4 cup unsweetened Greek yogurt
1 cup fresh or frozen mixed berries
1 tablespoon black chia seeds
Directions: 
  1. Process yogurt with half the berries until smooth. Transfer mixture to a medium jug; stir in chia seeds; fold in the remaining berries.
  1. Pour mixture evenly into 6 x 1/4 cup ice-block molds. Push in sticks.
  1. Freeze 3 hours or overnight until firm.
Prep time: 10 minutes (+ freezing)
Makes: 6

 

LJ hummus edited

Photo Source: Jessica from healthyishappyblog.com

Spinach Hummus:

Ingredients:
½ cup (100g) dried chickpeas
(garbanzo beans)
80g (2½ ounces) baby spinach leaves
1 clove garlic, quartered
2 tablespoons tahini
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon water
pinch cayenne pepper
Directions: 
  1. Place chickpeas in a small bowl, cover with cold water; stand overnight. Drain.
  1. Cook chickpeas in a small saucepan of boiling water about 20 minutes or until tender. Add spinach to pan; stir until spinach is wilted. Drain.
  1. Blend or process chickpeas and spinach with remaining ingredients until smooth; season to taste. Serve with vegetable sticks or seed crackers.
Prep + cook time: 25 minutes (+ standing)
Makes: 1 1/2 cups

Join the #LiveLoveNOURISH initiative where you have the opportunity to be 1 of 10 winners of the NOURISH cookbook (hard copy). The most active participant will receive the cookbook and a $200 gift card to Lorna Jane! Show us how the NOURISH cookbook works for your lifestyle – in between work, play, sweat sessions, etc!

Click here to tweet: Join the #LiveLoveNOURISH initiative w/ @LornaJaneActive @FitApproach! Giveaway of: 10 NOURISH Cookbooks + $200 Gift Card to #lornajane!

Party it up with the #SweatPink Community and Lorna Jane on Twitter and get in on a chance to win your own NOURISH cookbook on July 9th at 6PM PST / 9PM EST.

Hashtags: #LiveLoveNOURISH #sweatpink #lornajane @LornaJaneActive @FitApproach RSVP: http://on.fb.me/1wSNsdj

You can also purchase your own copy of NOURISH here!


Disclosure: I received a free electronic copy of NOURISH  and a $50 gift card to Lorna Jane as a #sweatpink ambassador with Fit Approach. I only review and write about products that I would use personally and feel my readers would be interested in, therefore all opinions are 100% my own!

Filed Under: Ambassador, Nutrition, Reviews Tagged With: #liveloveNOURISH, #movenourishbelieve, #sweatpink, cookbook, Fit Approach, giveaway, Lorna Jane, NOURISH, recipe, review

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