Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

Thumbs Up:

Farmer’s Market fresh whole wheat roll, fresh FM greens, Fox Hill jalapeno gouda cheese, schmear of Hellman’s EVOO mayo, leftover roasted chicken breast.  Seriously awesome:

Best Bowl o’ Oats in a long time on the patio taking advantage of what little sunshine and/or non-rainy weather we can get:

• 1/3c rolled oats
• 1/2c unsweetened vanilla almond breeze, 1/2c water
• 1/2 medium banana
• 1 tbsp sprouted chia
• splash of vanilla, dash(es) of cinnamon, pinch of sea salt
• Toppings: 1 tbsp chocolate PB2, tbsp cashew/almond butter, 1/2tbsp artisana cocoa bliss, mini dark chocolate chips, sprinkle of unsweetened coconut

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It was nutritious and calories dense and perfect brunch food that kept me going for HOURS.

Thumbs Down:

I have the last of the Vega packets I wanted to sample and I had hoped that it being chocolate that at maybe it would be the “secret Vega weapon” that would knock my socks off and especially since the other products I tried I didn’t like at all, the vibrance bar that was “okay” but not getting again and the sports drink which was only “drinkable” and not “must dump out.”

Unfortunately this chocolate flavoured health optimizer was also a flop.  In an effort to give it the benefit of the doubt, I did blend it up with several other things to make it a complete staying power breakfast, so maybe it was the combination of things that was intolerable?  Probably not.  I have these other ingredients all of the time in my smoothies and am always pleased.   I blended it up with 1/2 frozen banana, frozen strawberries, sprouted chia, unsweetened vanilla almond breeze, 3c baby spinach.

I drank about 1/4 of it and dumped it.  Sorry Vega.  I’m not a fan.

So far the best protein powder that I have tried has been Ultimate Protein and I love both the tropical vanilla and chocolate.  They have no chalky taste to them at all and I definitely give them a thumbs up!  They are great stand alone with milk or to add to your smoothies.  While I don’t rely heavily on protein powders, I do like to add them in once and a while and especially if I’m doing well in the exercise department which lately I’ve been getting my booty kicked!