Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

Blend Your [Growing Naturals] Protein

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My Blends are Strange.

But oh-so-good.

Today I am in Utah for the annual Blend Retreat!  I look forward to this retreat all year… and I feel especially lucky because I get to represent Growing Naturals again this year.  I wish I could share them with everyone (but scroll on down for a sweet freebie offer).  You should all come to Blend next year!  If you can’t be there this year, be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram for the live action.

Last year they were a huge hit with the other bloggin’ ladies, but here are a few reasons I personally love them:

Reasons I love Growing Naturals:

  1. Not chalky
  2. Great flavor (not fake-tasting)
  3. Super-clean (vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free!)
  4. Low in sodium, sugar, and carbs
  5. Their staff rocks – they are passionate about their product and committed to health!

Growing Naturals truly is my favorite protein to use. I love to use it in all the things!  It’s fantastic raw in smoothies like my favorite Mocha Beet Frapp and Carrot Cake Batter Shake, or baked into Plantain Ginger Bread.

Plantain Ginger Protein Bread

Rather than one of my own #strangebutgood creations this week, I wanted to feature some favorites from my Blends who use Growing Naturals!

My “original” Blend, Sarah, is the first blogger I met in real life.  We will miss her this year, but will celebrate her strangeness today with her Strawberry Pineapple Cilantro Smoothie:

Strawberry Pineapple Cilantro Smoothie

Strange creation #2 comes from a Blend who I basically invited myself to visit… having never met her… in Switzerland!

Lucie is one amazing woman.  I wish she could make it to Blend, but I guess coming from Europe would be a little pricey.  Instead, we should all make her Green Protein Pancakes in her honor! 😉

Green Protein Pancakes

Last (but certainly not least) is a Blend I will get to see tonight!  My brother from another mother, Lindsay!

This lady knows more about fueling with food and gut health than anyone I know.  I’m so glad she’s agree to share 3 strange but healthy recipes today!

Grain-Free Superfruit Bread

Superfruit Bread

Orange Dream Machine Smoothie

Orange Dream Machine Smoothie

Mexican Chocolate & Walnut Healthy Balls… errr… Bites

I have made these, only I subbed sunflower seeds for the walnuts.  They rocked my balls off.

Mexican Chocolate & Walnut Healthy Bites

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How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

If you’re not a blogger, you can still share your recipes on Instagram with the #strangebutgood hashtag.

Sprint 2 the Table

 

 

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂



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Want to try Growing Naturals for yourself?  Sign up to be a Growing Groupie and enter discount code sprint2thetable at checkout for a free bottle of Simply Soapberry (their natural laundry detergent) and a free 1lb container of protein powder. Offer expires 09/06/2014.

What is your favorite protein powder recipe?  

What was the last recipe you tried from a Blend?  (Blend = Blogger + Friend)

ONE More Mile

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I can’t end a run on uneven mileage.

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Reebok. All opinions are my own… ’cause you know I can’t keep them to myself.

Lately I’ve been itching to run more, but I’m 100% out of practice.  Busting out more than a couple of miles is no longer easy to motivate for, let alone to complete!  2 things happened last week that helped change this.

  1. A friend invited me to go running
  2. I received Reebok ONE Series Cushion shoes to test out

Call it OCD, but it drives me insane to end at 4.78 miles, for instance.  I will run up and down my street to hit 5 miles.  If you are a runner who tends to go a little further then you meant to, you know how painful that can be.  You’re tired, bored, thirsty… your knee hurts, your shoe is rubbing your heel… whatever it is, you’re ready to be done.

These things combined are what lead me here – sitting on my patio enjoying the cool morning air after an even 5 mile run.

Reebok ONE… 

Read More »

Mocha Plantain Protein Bread with JAVAPRO

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Some days I need a caffeine IV.

 

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of JAVAPRO.

I’m actually not a huge coffee drinker.  It takes too long for me to drink!  By the time I’m half way through the cup, it’s cold.  That’s not to say I couldn’t use the caffeine.  I’m not a morning person, and the flourescent lights in my office don’t help matters.

Javapro

 

What I do love are protein powder creations.  Since I can’t bring myself to drink enough regular coffee, I was thrilled with Nature’s Best offered me a bag of their new Mocha JAVAPRO whey protein powder.  It never even crossed my mind to drink it.  I was excited to bake with it!

Side note: I’ve never actually had a traditional protein drink just mixed with water.

Mocha Plantain Protein Bread

 

This is protein powder is unique because it includes real coffee!  Finally, a way to get my caffeine fix without struggling to finish a hot cup ‘o joe.  I immediately used the JAVAPRO protein powder in my traditional untraditional way.  It may seem strange… but it’s good!

Mocha plantain bread!  With peanut sauce… is there anything peanut butter isn’t good with?

Mocha Plantain Protein Bread

 

I’d made a Gingerbread Protein Bread in the past, and I used that recipe as the base for this mocha java version. The mocha flavor was perfect for this chocolate lover, and I really enjoyed the shot of energy the cake-like bread gave me.  Plus, who doesn’t want an excuse to eat cake for breakfast?

One serving of the protein powder packs 20 grams of protein and 80 mg of caffeine; perfect for pre-workout muscle fuel for endurance and energy!  For  more information, check out their Facebook Page.

Javapro Nutrition

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Mocha Plantain Protein Bread

Mocha Plantain Protein Bread

  • 1 medium plantain, fully ripe*
  • 1/2 cup liquid egg whites
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp no sodium baking powder
  • 1 serving mocha java protein powder (31 g)

 

Preheat oven to 350.

In a small blender (I used a Magic Bullet) blend all ingredients except the protein powder.

Add protein powder and blend again until just combined.

Pour into a prepared pan (I used 8-in round) and bake for 15 mins.

Makes 2 servings.

*A plantain is fully ripe when the skin has turned almost black; it will be aromatic and sweet.

Approximate nutritionals (for 1 serving): 161 calories, 1.2 g fat, 124.9 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrates, 1.9 g fiber, 9.4 g sugar, 17.4 g protein

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How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

Sprint 2 the Table

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂



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I’m gearing up for a weekend of fun… two of my most #strangebutgood blends, Heather and Sarah, are in town!!!  Follow our shenanigans on Instagram!

Are you a coffee person?

Have you ever made a plain protein shake (protein + water)?

 

More is MORE

By

I’m a believer in “go big or go home.”

The following post is sponsored by Fitfluential LLC on behalf of Verizon Wireless.

The other day my trainer told me I’d never be big enough. Not that I can’t build, but I love it and I’ll always want MORE muscles.  #truth  I also submit that there is never enough chocolate cake or good red wine.*

*My stomach and liver may disagree.

There’s one more thing to have to add to the list.  Verizon Wireless’ new More Everything plan!

moreeverything

When I first got a cell phone I was 17 and I bought my own because my dad said I had no business with a cell phone.  It was one of those big Nokias and I thought I was the coolest kid ever.  Time have changed!  Now kids get phones for “safety” and their parents pay for it all.  I must confess that I actually regressed and am on the family plan with Verizon.  It’s cheaper to share with my mom and sisters… even if my mom and I are the only ones paying for said plan (slacker younger siblings!).  Either way, I switched from a not-so-great provider to Verizon years ago and I couldn’t be happier.

This new More Everything plan is perfect for us budget-conscious people sharing with our families.   It starts as low as $45 a month and, you can power up to ten devices with UNLIMITED TALK, UNLIMITED TEXT and all the data you can handle!

moreeverything1

Since we’re all unique little snowflakes, you have the option to build your own package.  Just choose the devices and data.  You can also upgrade to a new phone without having to wait those pesky 2 years!  I suggest the iPhone 5s. 🙂

Interested?  Click here to learn more!

It makes all my over-sharing on Instagram possible.  Like this week’s roller derby bout!  I got to see my old teammates!

Atlanta Rollergirls

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More can be Marvelous… even on Mondays.

What can you never have too much MORE of? 

What was your first cell phone?

 

Work It Out In Style

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Black is my color.

 

It’s how I like my coffee and my clothing.

I tend to think no one notices what I wear at the gym… and it’s reflected in my attire.  I rotate between the same 3-4 black and/or grey shorts and tank top combos.

Then I wear color one time and get 4 comments.  Apparently they do notice.  Oops.

How cool is this mesh back?!

… 

Read More »

Reebok ZQuick + 5 Fast Miles

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My shoe collection is out of control. 

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Reebok.

I’m not complaining!  As someone who works out nearly daily, I actually use the 10 pairs of athletic shoes in my closet.  Dress shoes, notsomuch.

This is why I was so excited when I had the opportunity to try out Reebok’s new ZQuick. I realized I’d been wearing Reebok apparel for a long time, but had never tried their shoes!

ZQuick

About the ZQuick… 

Read More »

Strange But Good: Hemp Protein

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Lately it seems all of my friends are moving to Colorado.

 

For reasons that are not hemp-related.

I want to move to Colorado too – not for the recent legalization, but for the healthy vibe people have and the amazing skiing.  In the meantime, I’ll gladly enjoy my hemp down here in Georgia thanks to Onnit.

Onnit sent over an awesome package of their hemp-based products for me to try out via a FitFluential campaign.  (FYI: hemp will not get you high and it won’t cause you to fail a drug test).  I received Onnit’s Hemp FORCE in Cocoa-Maca and Vanilla-Acai, the Walnut Almond Cashew & Macadamia Cacao Cherry Nut Butters, and a canister of Earth Grown Nutrients.

Onnit

 

I’d been lucky enough to meet a couple of the Onnit team members and try them out at the Blend Retreat last year.  Their Walnut Almond Cashew Nut Butter left a lasting impression (I may have absconded with a jar).

Needless to say, I didn’t waste anytime devouring opening that jar.  It was fabulous atop a #strangebutgood protein cake for breakfast!  This creation was based on the protein loaf Debbie linked up.

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My favorite was the Coca Maca.  I live for chocolate.  I mean… it’s all about the health benefits!  Cocoa in antioxidants and helps regulate blood sugar levels.  It’s even thought to relax sore muscles.  Many of you know about maca already; it helps boost the endocrine system and libido.

I’ve been using a scoop mixed with almond milk and a little cinnamon in healthy desserts.  I mix it together in a teeny bowl and microwave it for 10-12 seconds to make a hot, fudg-y topping.

This one was particularly good – sweet potato cubes, a diced Arctic Zero ice cream bar, and the aforementioned hot fudge.  Strange?  Yes.  Good?  Most definitely.

Sweet Potato Coco Maca Protein Bowl

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The Vanilla-Acai protein powder surprised me.  I’m normally not a big fan of fruity-protein powders but this one had a fantastic taste – not fake or processed.

I couldn’t resist making a #strangebutgood combo with it (recipe at the bottom).  It has tofu in it.  Don’t freak out.  If you’ve ever tried my Carrot Cake Batter Shake, you know that tofu makes for an amazingly thick ‘n creamy smoothie.  Besides texture, I added it here for the extra protein.  The only downside to this protein powder is that a serving is only 15g of protein.

Vanilla Acai Hemp Protein Smoothie (Bowl)

Vanilla Acai Protein Smoothie (Bowl)

 

Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender (I use a Vitamx) and blend until smooth.

Transfer to a cup or bowl, top as desired, and enjoy!

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How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

Sprint 2 the Table

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂



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Don’t take my word for it – try it for yourself here using coupon code FitFood10 for 10% off any Onnit product!

Do you like hemp?  (The protein.  Don’t incriminate yourself. 😉 )

What’s the strangest thing you’ve eaten this week?

 

Sriracha Tours + Accidentally Gluten-Free WIAW

By

Atlantarctica no more!

 

Working from home was nice, but the cold was no bueno.

This week we are finally thawing out down South (sorry about your luck, in the Northeast).  While I hope it’s here to stay, I find myself craving a getaway.  To some place thing warm.

Now that they aren’t shut down, California’s Huy Fong Foods factory (a.k.a. where Sriracha is made) is giving tours of the factory!  It’s purportedly to educate people about “how our Sriracha is made and how delicious it smells” after near-by residents complained that the spicy Sriracha production caused “unpleasant odors and burning eyes.”  Wusses.

sriracha burn

Source: http://theoatmeal.com/

Who’s up for a field trip???

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This WIAW I’m back in the office and on the wagon with meal prep.  I brought back a few favorites, and learned to cook something new!

WIAWbutton

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!… 

Read More »

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