New Year - New You... New nutritionally-packed energizing yummies for a healthier body!!

        I certainly cannot speak for everyone else, but I (for one) am definitely excited about the upcoming New Year, being a part of the many striving to successfully accomplish New Year's resolutions and determined to achieve a healthier me than last year emphasizes a "larger than myself" and "I'm not alone" approach accompanying a need for change. Not that I have, at any point, completely thrown in the towel and all-together given into countless glutinous desires, though I have "over-done" it few times throughout 2017 and have snacked on more less-than-healthy alternatives than I care to admit. One reason being, that it seems to be so very easy and almost effortless to find fattening "sweet-tooth & savory-salty satisfying" options while on-the-go and busy tending to my parental duties than the health-nourishing goodies I spend so much time and effort locating on a monthly basis, and yet "junk food" is always right within my grasp at any given time... Go figure.
        This year I am challenging myself to not simply to search for those nutritionally-packed energizing yummies my body so craves and congratulates me for, but to also go out of my way (just a little bit) and have those very munchies handy for when hunger calls in between meals. Snacking throughout the day is actually a great way to assist in acceleration of the body's metabolism, provides an extra energy boost when needed, acts as a quite gratifying reward for a strenuous session of physical exercise/workouts, and (as practically everyone is aware of) can help pass time in even the most uneventful boredom-provoking of situations; that is - when the choice snack is delicious, guilt-free and nourishing to the body.  Personally, I'm not too fond of grocery shopping or that inevitably long list of items I just so happen to accumulate during each week of searching for appealing healthy alternatives associated with my (and my families) many differing cravings, but I do enjoy discovering new little treasures to indulge in and share... I must confess that I am impressed with some's ability to actually overlook, simply deny themselves or reach for the "same old" familiar combinations they're used to, to satisfy such cravings (diabolical). While others head straight for their favorite convenient stores, restaurants or easy-to-access options to suffice. And then there are those, like myself, actively seeking tantalizingly healthy goodies desirable to the tastebuds, nutritious to the body and cost-effective to the wallet/purse; which causes the pursuit to carry that much more importance. Though not always as simple as mentioning, the journey is always worth the time and effort, and the finds are always such a joy to share!
        That being said, I realize that "sweet & salty satisfying" can be a somewhat tedious task and even a battle for many, considering the combinations and effects. Lucky, their are a vast number of Nutritionists, dietary advisors, and down-to-earth health advocates (somewhat like myself) available worldwide... Though we may all speak the truth opposing the likely most popular items on the fast food menu of your local get-n-go in moments fast food chain. The good news is that in many cases, you don't actually have to go anywhere, but rather wait for the healthy goods to come to you (being your address of preference). Considering, a great multitude desires to incorporate healthier options in their day-to-day lives and alternatives are actually more affordable than calculated (especially if you're infamous for trips to the vending machine, local convenient store or fast food restaurant on daily/weekly basis), you may not even be aware just how comparable your options truly are. One being, fruit and nut nutritional bars! My favorite? ThunderBird Bars real food fruit and nut bars! Crafted in the good ole USA - Austin, Texas, to be exact and packed full of the right stuff to keep even athletes energized and healthy throughout their daily journey; did I mention athletes created this perfect alternative to conventional energy bars?! Dedication to healthier and tastebud-tantalizingly options is of a huge importance to me and my household (keeping in mind that neither my children, my family, nor myself are fans are bland or tasteless food of any sort). So when I say ThunderBird Bar has outdone themselves, I have taken into consideration all fourteen fruit and nut bars (even the four ThunderKids Bars) and have found myself wanting more each and every time! Not only do the flavor varieties takes my tastebuds on a delightful journey, but I find myself debating which fruit and nut bars I like the best every time I am indulging in another, leaving my mind wondering and satisfying my body's nutritional needs for natural energy fast (Gluten-Free, Paleo Certified, Non-GMO, Vegan, Soy & Dairy-Free, No Sugar Added, Low-Fat, All Natural, Grain Free).
        So which flavor varieties are these delicious ThunderBird Bars available in and where can they be found? Brace yourself (num num num)... For adults: Cocao + Hemp + Walnut, Texas Maple Pecan, Hazelnut + Coffee + Maca, Hemp + Sunflower + Pumpkin Seed, Almond + Apricot + Vanilla, Cherry + Walnut + Cinnamon, Pineapple + Mango + Papaya, Pecan + Goji + Pistachio,  Peach + Pecan + Vanilla, Cashew + Fig + Carrot. For Kids: Chocolate Chip Cookie, Apple Pie, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Fruit Punch (nut-free). I have even tried and considered multiple ThunderBird Bars at once! Cutting them in half of course, I am seeking a healthier me, but the flavor varieties are just so undeniably delectable! These yummy fruit and nut bars (thankfully) can easily be found at Whole Foods, H-E-B, Sprouts, Snap, Fresh Thyme, and ThunderBirdBar.com (which if you're a reader of my blog, you automatically receive a 15% OFF discount by using the promo code REALFOODS15 when you place your first order) - Real Food, for Real Energy, for Real people. Set goals that set you up for success! I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and achieves every single goal you have written and set out to accomplish in 2018! I wish you the best of luck & God Bless!

  

Satisfyingly Sweet Seasonal Substitutions

        The holiday season is a time for togetherness (family, friends, significant others, etc), spreading Christmas joy, gift giving & receiving, reminiscing on the fond memories of the past year, New Year's resolutions, festive decorations and throwing caution to the wind (aka overlooking every dietary rule & commandment we've so strategically written for our nutritional intake). While I, myself, have gotten caught up in the enchanted spell of the holiday season... My favorite jeans do not feel the same and every year, without fail, I have managed to sabotage my own self-esteem momentary. Though hard work, much effort and more hours of cardio than I care to admit, those extra pounds do fade away; but it may be months before I can easily slip on my favorite jeans again. My point? Is it really necessary to put my body through such a vicious cycle Every Single Year? Is that pecan pie, cheese cake, carrot cake, gingerbread house, 20 peppermint candy canes and chocolate chip cookies really worth the hassle? The answer is simple - no, but the struggle is real. Oh, how truly difficult it is to be in the same vicinity and not indulge in such splendid sweetness! You must admit, it is definitely a challenge, even for the small majority of us that have mastered self-control. Something about sweets during the holidays has us all considering the multitude of decadent delights all around us and even if you successfully remove yourself from the situation, it seems taughting. So what is there to do? Nibble on a piece of fruit and wait for the craving to pass or munch on some less-than-satisfying alternatives? It seems as if the holidays can, at times, carry the heavy weight of the inevitable question - "should I stick to my diet or abandon ship"?
         Maybe unaware that there is a middle ground... This Christmas I will finally be making a stand and, yet, not sacrificing a single savory or sweet thing. Having prepared myself for months, while many were are far more concerned with last minute shopping and deals of a lifetime, I have practically completed my Christmas shopping by October (though I may be considered somewhat odd you will soon thank me). That being said, I have been searching for health-nourishing delicious and sweet-tooth satisfying seasonal substitutes for some of my favorite goodies; which by the way, I have only named a percentage of and I came up with a few that are just as desirable. Whether you're a chocolate, chocolate-cherry, caramel, coffee/espresso, coconut, peanut butter, cashew, hazelnut, almond, vanilla, or cookie fanatic; I have a just-as-appealing alternative. After months of contemplating, I am sure I have included one or more fantastically festive sweet-tooth satisfying seasonal substitutes for everyone in the house/at the party. Feel free to comment and tell me how each and every holiday delight helped you concur cravings this Christmas.

Cocomels Coconut Milk Caramels - Available in original, vanilla, sea salt & espresso.

Eat-Guilt-free chocolate rainbow crush cookie which is not only gluten-free but individually wrapped deliciousness (available in many in variations).

Chike - mocha iced coffee, vanilla iced coffee (both high protein shakes made with real espresso), chocolate powered peanut butter and regular powdered peanut butter (which can be used in substitute for the average peanut butter).

Coco Polo chocolate candy bars (a yummy substitute for sugar-packed candy) - Available in dark chocolate almond, dark chocolate hazelnut and  dark chocolate cherry chocolate. 

Seva Foods Space Ice Kream (a creamy vanilla and cashew sweet) - Available in vanilla (which even my 5 year old son adores) and savory Coconut Jerky ( a salty-sweet personal choice).

ALL Vegan-friendly and absolutely delicious!! I dare you to try!!