Category: Food

Food

Naked nutrition collagen
Food, Gear Review

Naked Nutrition Collagen

Hollie

Naked Nutrition Collagen

Recently, I’ve been experimenting with different types of collagen.  I’ve written a dozen posts about the uses and benefits of collagen, but it’s been a few months.

Naked nutrition collagen

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body.  It’s a major component of connective tissues in muscles, ligaments, tendons, and skin.  Consuming collagen will provide benefits, whether you are an athlete or not.

For runners, collagen can help bone and joint health, plus it can aid in workout recovery.

For nonrunners, collagen also helps skin and healthy hair and nails. I notice the difference of both my hair and skin when I consume collagen.

Naked nutrition collagen
My cay appreciates Naked nutrition collagen too 😉

Why Take a Collagen Supplement?

It’s hard to get hydrolyzed collagen from food sources. You can do it by drinking bone broth every day, but taking a collagen supplement like Naked Collagen is going to make it easier to get the appropriate amount. Like whey protein powder, Naked Nutrition Collagen can help rebuild muscles post-workout.

So What is Naked Nutrition?

As the brand suggests, Naked Nutrition doesn’t contain any extra “stuff.” It’s flavorless and tasteless and so far the most tasteless collagen I’ve found to date. Naked Nutrition Collagen is highly soluble and tasteless.

The Naked Nutrition Collagen only has 35 calories per serving because it contains no extra filler. Just hydrolyzed collagen.  Personally, I’ve been using it in coffee, tea, or hot cocoa.  During the warmer months, I’ll probably add it so cold drinks and smoothies. You can add Naked Nutrition Collagen Peptide Powder in almost anything because you don’t taste it.

Naked nutrition collagen

So What Does Naked Nutrition Collagen Contain (or not contain)?

  • One Ingredient: Collagen Peptides
  • Collagen Contains 9 out of 18 Essential Amino Acids
  • Hydrolyzed Collagen Comes From Pasture-Raised and Grass-Fed Bovine Hides
  • No Artificial Sweeteners, Flavors, or Colors
  • 9 Grams of Protein and 0.6 Grams of BCAA’s Per Serving**
  • GMO-Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, and Gluten-Free
  • Growth Hormone Free, no rBGH or rBs

Naked nutrition collagen

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Questions for you:

Have you tried Naked Nutrition Collagen?

Do you take a Collagen Peptide Supplement? 

 

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Me Wegmans
Food, Recipe

Meal Ideas with CAULIPOWER Cauliflower Tortilla Wraps

Hollie

Recently, I was given to the opportunity to try CAULIPOWER Cauliflower Tortilla Wraps. I’ve tried CAULIPOWER pizza crust before but neer the wraps. In case you wondered, the brand CAULIPOWER is all capitalized.

CAULIPOWER tortilla wraps can be found in the refrigerator or freezer aisle of most grocery stores if you are local Wegmans and Sprouts both have CAULIPOWER tortilla wraps.

This post is sponsored by CAULIPOWER Cauliflower Tortilla but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

 

 

I do believe that cauliflower can be an excellent addition to any diet, but your body still needs carbohydrates too. Life is full of balance. Balance is the key for anyone, runner or not.

CAULIPOWER wrap
You can find a coupon for $2 off CAULIPOWER Tortilla Wraps here

A few things about CAULIPOWER Cauliflower Tortilla Wraps:

  • Vegan and dairy-free
  • Available in Original and Grain Free
  • Naturally gluten, wheat, and preservative-free
  • Cauliflower is the first ingredient
  • Ready in minutes, using your microwave or skillet

So what did I want to make? As someone who is out of the house for long hours more often, I thought easy wraps would be a good idea. I could make CAULIPOWER Tortilla Wraps and pack them for lunch.

Keep in mind; my “Recipes” are basic and fast. Am I a foodie? No. Do I like to eat well during the day? Of course, who doesn’t? I don’t enjoy spending hours in the kitchen waiting for my meal to cook.

I made a couple of different CAUIPOWER Tortilla Wraps.

Wrap 1: Cheesy Beef Wrap

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 4 slices provolone
  • Greens (I like arugula)
  • 4 CAULIPOWER Wraps

CAULIPOWER wrap

Directions:

  • Preheat skillet on medium to high heat.
  • Cook beef 8-10 minutes until there is no pink. Add cheese on top
  • Transfer into a bowl and add greens.
  • Place on wrap.

CAULIPOWER wrap

You can store these in a Tupperware and eat them for on the go for lunches. They are a great way to meal prep.

Wrap 2: Chick Pea Wrap

  • 12 ounces salsa
  • 15 ounces chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 Red or White onion
  • 4 CAULIPOWER Wraps

CAULIPOWER wrap

Directions:

  • Preheat skillet on medium to high heat.
  • Combine chickpeas and salsa in a medium saucepan.
  • Cook and occasionally stir until all of the liquid has absorbed and the chickpeas have turned reddish.  This takes about 8 minutes.
  • Add to wraps.

The Chick Pea Wraps keep better, so it’s easier (less messy) to have them later in the week.

CAULIPOWER wrap

Thank you to CAULIPOWER for sponsoring this post. Plus, right now, you can save $2 with this coupon.

Questions for you:

Hae you tried using CAULIPOWER Cauliflower Tortilla Wraps?

Hae you tried cooking with Cauliflower?

Snacking with sahale snacks
Food, Sponsored

Snacking with Sahale Snacks

Hollie

This post is sponsored by Sahale Snacks but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. Recently I was given an opportunity to try Sahale Snacks.

Snacking with sahale snacks

How to Find Snacks for Your Daily Routine

As someone who is on the go and out of my house anywhere from 6-14 hours most days, I am always looking for easy, portable, and healthy snack ideas. Sahale Snacks turns snacking from something that helps you get through the day into a reminder to enjoy and celebrate life. I’ve also found they work for a pre-run snack, if I’m in a pinch.

I remember listening to a pro athlete; I believe Kate Grace, say I will eat anything after a run even it’s unhealthy. I want to eat something before nothing. She meant if she had the choice to eat something unhealthy versus eating nothing, she would choose the unhealthy route every time.
A few years ago, I wasn’t the best at eating anything after a run. I would typically be on the go so that I would run, shower, leave my house, and by the time I knew it, it was 3 hours later, and I was hungry. It’s not a great habit to have.

Snacking with sahale snacks

The 30 Minute Rule:

You don’t have to be “super strict,” but you should have something within 30 minutes of a workout. Even if it’s an easy run, a weight lifting session, or cross-training. You don’t need to have a full meal but a snack important. If you’re on the go, packing something in your gym bag should become standard.

Keep in mind; I’m not a doctor, so what works for me might not work for you. Little known fact, is I do have a public health degree and took hours of nutrition classes in college.

Snacking with sahale snacks

Here is How I choose Snacks:

By now, most people know there are three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Each are important for your body but in different ways.

Carbohydrates:
Runners need carbohydrates, and somewhere down the line, we forgot that. In fact, carbs should be 60-70% of your total fuel. Refueling with carbohydrates is the most important for those marathon training. If you look at the staple diet of most Olympian marathoners, it’s carbs. For long-distance running carbohydrates are the primary source of fuel.

Snacking with sahale snacks

Protein:
Most athletes are aware that protein is needed for muscle growth and repair.  When you run long distances, you break down muscle. Without protein, your muscle cannot rebuild. That being said, many people runners believe “the more protein, the better,” and that isn’t necessarily the case. Protein only needs to make up about 15% of the calories for the day

Fat:
Every runner needs fat, and it’s gotten a bad rap over the years.For any endurance athlete (runner, swimmer, cyclist), fat should be about 20-30% of your diet. You might be surprised to learn (I was a while back), that adding fat will allow your body to run longer.

Snacking with sahale snacks

A Few Reasons I like Sahale Snacks as a Brand:
•          Products are thoughtfully sourced and sustainable.
•          All Sahale Snacks products are made from high-quality ingredients.
•          Sahale Snacks are Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, No Artificial Preservatives or Artificial Sweeteners
•          For dry roasting, the majority is done by electricity roasting, glazing, and packaging. To minimize

Sahale Snack’s environmental footprint, they’ve partnered with the non-profit Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). Sahale Snacks uses clean based energy.  The older I get, and the more I get into hiking, the more important that is to me.

Snacking with sahale snacks

Plus, the Sahale Snacks Flavors are Unique and Fun. There isn’t anything boring about them!

Here are the Sahale Snack Flavors:
•          Maple Pecans Glazed Mix
•          Pomegranate Flavored Pistachios Glazed Mix
•          Tangerine Vanilla Cashew-Macadamia Glazed Mix
•          Pomegranate Vanilla Flavored Cashews Glazed Mix
•          Coconut Snack Mixes
•          Cherry Cocoa Almond Coconut Snack Mix (my favorite, between the dried cherries, coconut chips, and crunchy almonds).
•          Pineapple Rum Cashew Coconut Snack Mix

Snacking with sahale snacks

If you are looking to try Sahale Snacks, you can use their product locator. There are several locations in the greater Philadelphia area.  You don’t have to be marathon training, and as my training cycle winds down, I still find myself enjoying Sahale Snacks.

Thank you Sahale Snacks for partnering. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Questions for you:
What are some of your favorite marathon training snacks? Or any snacks?
Have you tried Sahale Snacks before?

Breakfast, Recipe, vital proteins

Collagen Waffle Recipe

Hollie

As most readers know, I’ve been a Vital Proteins Ambassador for just over a year now. Last month, I posted about the results I’ve seen in my own personal life.  I’ve also posted about my hair, skin, and nails as well.

There are some days that I’m lazy and don’t want to cook a fancy meal for dinner. Maybe I’m cooking for one, maybe I’m exhausted from work, or maybe I just want breakfast for dinner.

What the case is, I’ve found an easy way to sneak collagen into waffles. I haven’t tried adding collagen in a waffle for breakfast. I think it would be fine but I’ve had good luck with having the same waffle and peanut butter for years before running (or anything), so why change now.

If you’re looking for an easy waffle recipe and to get collagen to try this.  I’m not foodie, but I’ve been to enough diners to know I like a crisper versus soggy waffle.

Collagen Waffle Recipe:

1 cup flour
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
2 scoops Unflavored Collagen PeptidesVital proteins hot cocoa collagen

Directions:

  1. Preheat waffle iron.
  2. Add egg and milk in bowl and mix together.
  3. Then add flour, oil, sugar, baking powder, and collagen powder.
  4. Spray waffle iron with cooking spray and pour mix.

How easy is that?  I topped mine with syrup, but there are so many options from peanut butter to yogurt, to fruit.

One of my goals in 2019 is trying to add it to various baked goods and breakfast items.

Questions for you:

What is your favorite breakfast? 

Have you tried collagen into any recipes? 

Food, Sponsored

Meal Planning for Two

Hollie

Recently, my husband came home from another deployment.  Since living in New Jersey, it is either 6 or 7, but I can’t remember.  Homecomings are always great, and since then we’ve had an incredible time together.

Getting back into a routine (for both of us),  takes a couple of weeks.  It’s a bit of challenge going from one person to two again in the house.  Things like making dinner for two or meal ideas change.  With my husband’s short but frequent deployments, I never quite get into a routine of making dinner for one or two.  We’ve learned to cook more together and you can see more from culinary lab.

Recently, I discovered Frelii which is a monthly subscription service that provides a customized exercise and dietary plan based on your personal needs.  This post is sponsored by Frelii, but all thoughts, and opinions are my own.

What is Frelii?

Frelii is a preventative medicine is designed to give the best options for a healthier lifestyle.  Preventative means it’s not meant to diagnose a health condition or concern.  It does not take the place of a doctor or medical professional.

Like with running shoes, every person is unique and different from one another. Frelii aims to provide people with the knowledge, recipes, and even products to leave healthier lives.

For many people that is losing weight or even gaining weight.  For my husband and I, it was to prepare meals that were best fitted to our needs both physically and mentally but not as a dieting program!  Frelii helps each person differently.

After filling out a short questionnaire, each Frelii member is made aware of any potential health hazards and risk factors in their life.

They tailor meal plans, foods, and the entire program to what will help lead to a more balanced life. There is even an option to purchase vitamins and supplements that help your specific needs.  As a public health major in college, I appreciate Frelii recommends people get their blood work done before buying vitamins/supplements.  It never supports anything in the place of a doctor.

It took about 20 minutes to the complete the survey but when I finished it listed one of my health hazards as mood and depression.  It was spot on, as I’ve talked openly about having both anxiety and college through college.

Just as they provide meal plans, Frelii also recommends exercise plans for those who want it.  Personally, I have stuck with the meal and recipe side because I do prefer that for running but it’s nice to know it’s out there!

The Meals:

By far my favorite component of Frelii is the meal plans and new recipes they provide.  There are a lot of new and fun recipes that I would have never thought twice to try but once they recommended them…I figured might as well!

Another thing, I appreciate about Frelii is how quick meals can be made.  I don’t like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen and will also choose healthy, fast options, over the top dinners that take an hour or two to cook.  They are simple, easy, and affordable.  We could make time to spend an hour or two in the kitchen, we would instead make time for other things.

Here are a few meals we chose to make:

We’ve made several more and Frelii has a database of hundreds so there is something for everyone.

Peanut Pancakes Using Almond flour and Eggs:

Spinach, Kale, and Farmers Quiche

Roasted Cauliflower and Beets.

Before cooking cauliflower, I had one bad experience and never tried cooking it again.

roasted cauliflower and beets

Sausage and Spinach Pasta with Mozzarella

We’ve made several more and it’s been a fun and unique experience.  Thank you Frelii for sponsoring this post!

Questions for you:
How long on average do you spend to cook dinner?
If you or your spouse travels or is gone, do you find it difficult to get back into a routine?