Link Love #77 + a Super Power Bite Recipe & Giveaway

Today is going to be a really exciting Tuesday. Not only do I have my usual link love below, but I also have a delicious recipe and giveaway!

A couple weeks ago, I received a sample of Manitoba Harvest’s Hemp Hearts. If you’re not familiar with hemp hearts, they are shelled hemp seeds that are considered a “superfood.” They provide 10g of plant-based protein and 10g of Omegas per 30g serving. With a slightly nutty flavor, they are great on salads, smoothies, ice cream, oatmeal, and more. I’m personally a fan of rolling some protein bites in hemp seeds for a nutty, sweet treat!

Chocolate Berry Super Power Bites

Makes 55-60 bites
Adapted from Cotter Crunch’s Gluten Free Triple Berry Chocolate Cake Bites

Ingredients
– 1/3 cup ground Strawberry Power O’s [can sub vanilla protein powder]
– 3/4 cup coconut flour
– 1/4 cup vanilla protein powder
– 1 scoop Healthy Skoop SweetGreens A Game [can sub 1 tbsp protein powder or coconut flour]
– 1/4 cup granola
– 1 cup nut butter [I used Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams]
– 2 tbsp honey
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
– 1/4 cup Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts

Directions
Grind up the Power O’s and mix in a large bowl with the coconut flour, protein powder, Skoop, & granola.

In a smaller bowl, microwave the nut butter and honey to make mixing easier. Pour over the dry mixture, add in the vanilla extract and mix, allowing the nut butter to cool before adding in the chocolate chips. Mix everything except the hemp hearts until incorporated well.

In a small bowl, measure out the hemp hearts and using a 1/2 tbsp measuring spoon, measure out the bites and roll in the hemp hearts. Store in the freezer for quick and easy snackage!

Nutritional Information
Per 1/2 tbsp bite
45 Calories / 3g Fat / 5g Carbs / 1g Fiber / 3g Sugar / 2g Protein

Want to win your own bag of Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts? Click here to enter my giveaway!

Health

Why Eating A Brownie Can Be Good For You – Love & Zest

Why Eating A Brownie Can Be Good For You – Love & Zest
The dark side of wearable fitness trackers – FitKnitChick
What to Do When You Gain Weight – Eating Bird Food
Food with Benefits – Carla Birnberg via EleVen by Venus
The Amazing Benefits of Honey – Organic Runner Mom

Fitness

“Ups” Pyramid Workout with Cardio Intervals – Pumps & Iron

“Ups” Pyramid Workout with Cardio Intervals – Pumps & Iron
Triple Threat Tabata Workout – Fitnessista
1,000 Rep Workout – Lindsay’s List
At Home Bodyweight Workout – Survive & Thrive
Weekend Warrior 3: Reach The Summit Advanced Workout – Lifting Revolution

Food

Grain-Free Chocolate Donuts with Peanut Butter Sprinkles – Yeah…immaeatthat

Grain-Free Chocolate Donuts with Peanut Butter Sprinkles – Yeah…immaeatthat
Double Chocolate Brownie Irish Car Bomb Cheesecakes – Half Baked harvest
Sesame Crusted Salmon with a Zesty Ginger-garlic Drizzle {Gluten Free} – Cara’s Healthy Cravings via Cotter Crunch
Roasted Broccoli with Curry Dipping Sauce – Delish Knowledge
Vegan Peanut Butter Shorties – Radiant Rachels

Food for Thought

Have you ever tried hemp hearts?
What’s one of your favorite posts from the past week?

Link Love #76

Another quick pop-in to say hi! Yesterday we pigged out on some dim sum and went over to Baker Beach. Nathan and I had never been there before and it was beautiful! Except for the naked man walking around trying to get into everyone’s pictures.. Luckily mine made it out crack free 😉

I’ve had some catching up to do of my own on all of the great blog posts around the interwebs from last week and in case you missed some too, here ya go!

Health

How Many Calories do Runners Really Need – Run to the Finish

How Many Calories do Runners Really Need? – Run to the Finish
5 Red Flags That Show You’re Taking Healthy Eating Too Far – MindBodyGreen
Understanding Fasted Cardio and Fat Loss – Born Fitness
3 Tips to Restore Balance in Your Life – FitAspire
How to Know When You Need a Rest Day (or Week!) – Lifting Revolution via fANNEtastic food

Fitness

5 Reasons You Should Try Bodyweight Training + A New WAHM Workout – Mussel FIT

5 Reasons You Should Try Bodyweight Training + A New WAHM Workout – Mussel FIT
You, Too, Can Pushup! – Katrina Elle
Four 30-Minute Workouts – Peanut Butter Fingers
You Only Get Better By Doing: The Mastery Kettlebell Workout – Lifting Revolution
6 Exercises for a Strong Back – Happy Fit Mama

Food

Short Rib Pho French Dip Banh Mi with Thai Basil Chimichurri – Half Baked Harvest

Short Rib Pho French Dip Banh Mi with Thai Basil Chimichurri – Half Baked Harvest
Bacon Gouda Chive Dip with Secret SUPERFOOD Ingredient! – Cotter Crunch
Fried Chicken and Waffle-Tots with Honey – Climbing Grier Mountain
Deep Dish Dark Chocolate Cake with Almond Butter Swirl – A Clean Bake
PB&J Grain-Free Breakfast Cake – Yeah…immaeatthat

Food for Thought

What’s one of your favorite posts from last week?

Link Love #67

With only 2 days left in 2014, I thought I’d share my top 5 posts from the year and, of course, my link love post seemed like the perfect time to do so. Ironically enough, some of them are from years past! Still delicious though 🙂

#5: Foodie Friday: Pancake Variations

#4: Recipe Remix: Carrot Cake Protein Pancakes

#3: Foodie Friday: Apple Pie Protein Bites

#2: Foodie Friday: Dark Chocolate Dreamy Powerballs

#1: Fudge Ems!

Thank you all for making 2014 such a great year of blogging for me!

Health

4 Myths About Eating Gluten Free – RDelicious Kitchen via fannetastic food

4 Myths About Eating Gluten Free – RDelicious Kitchen via fannetastic food
Breaking Plateaus: Confuse your body – Katrina Elle
Blueberry And Green Tea Extract Protects Hard-Training Runners – Runner’s World
The Smother-In-Law: Standing Up for Your Health and Food Choices – Huffington Post
Travel, Work Productively During Holidays – Evernote

Fitness

How Music Can Boost a High-Intensity Workout – The New York Times

How Music Can Boost a High-Intensity Workout – The New York Times
12 Days Of Christmas With The In-Laws Workout (Real Time Video) – Lifting Revolution
HOT Holidays At Home Workout – Peanut Butter Fingers
My Gift To You – The 12 Days of Fitmas Workout! – Thrive Personal Fitness
4 Things You Should be Doing After Your Workout – Your Trainer Paige

Food

Chocolate Cinnamon Babka Muffins – How Sweet It Is

Chocolate Cinnamon Babka Muffins – How Sweet It Is
Double chocolate Paleo gooey cake – Fitnessista
Crispy Kale Caesar Salad Chicken Pizza – Yeah…immaeatthat
Turmeric Persimmon Porridge – Nutrition Stripped
Goat Cheese Stuffed Phyllo Swirls with Pomegranate Honey + Pistachios – Half Baked Harvest

Food for Thought

What’s one of your favorite posts from the past week?

Link Love #66

We had the best dinner last night. For realz. We planned on having a nice roast turkey breast on Sunday for dinner but when I saw the sale on turkey breast ($.99/lb what whaaaattt!), we didn’t realize it was frozen until picking it up at the store.. Sunday afternoon. Whoops! But we brined the turkey overnight, seasoned the crap out of it, and popped it in the oven. It was sooo good!

I also had some sweet potato latkes leftover and we roasted a bunch of carrots. And do you see the sprinkling of salt?

Oh, that’s some special salt. That’s some truffle salt. It made the dish. I don’t think I can top that dinner for the rest of the week now! Good thing there are lots of leftovers 😉

Health

Whole and Healthy: 5 Reasons to Embrace Self-Improvement – Joyce Cherrier

Whole and Healthy: 5 Reasons to Embrace Self-Improvement – Joyce Cherrier
Eating Clean vs. Orthorexia – T-Nation
Why Setting “Just for Today” Goals Might Work for You – Your Trainer Paige
Intuitive Eating – Learning to Love Food Again Love & Zest via Run to the Finish
The Basics | Carbohydrates, part II – Nutrition Stripped

Fitness

Jillian Michaels’ Kettlebell Swing Reminds Us That Trainers Are Like Doctors – Lifting Revolution

Jillian Michaels’ Kettlebell Swing Reminds Us That Trainers Are Like Doctors – Lifting Revolution
15 Minute Arms and Abs Bodyweight Circuit – Peanut Butter Fingers
5-Move Action Core Workout – My Fitness Pal
Holiday Barre Blast Workout – Fitnessista
8 Total-Body Moves that Double Results—in Half the Time! – Shape

Food

Thai Coconut Cabbage Soup {Paleo} – Cotter Crunch

Thai Coconut Cabbage Soup {Paleo} – Cotter Crunch
Chocolate Coconut No-Bake Baklava Bites – Peas and Crayons
3-Ingredient Chocolate Bark (with a bunch of add-ins) – Yeah…immaeatthat
Deep Dish Spinach and Prosciutto Quiche with Toasted Sesame Crust – Half Baked Harvest
Braided Cardamom and Chocolate-Hazelnut Bread – Floating Kitchen

Food for Thought

What’s one of your favorite posts from the past week?

Link Love #59

Whoooaaa baby, what a Monday! Sunday night I was asked to come into work at 7:30 instead of 10 a.m. No problem, just put a little damper on my workout plans. I’ve said it before, but I swear, I don’t know how I used to keep up with my old workout schedule. Every morning was 45 minutes of cardio and twice a week I went back to the gym after work for 20 more minutes of cardio + strength work. Now I’m lucky if I get in 20 minutes of cardio.. ever. Ha!

I’m also such a morning workout-er. That said, because I give myself 3 hours to get through my workout, get myself ready, and sit down to eat breakfast, if I have to get into work earlier than 8, there’s a good chance I won’t get a workout in that day. I consider 6-7 hours on my feet tiring enough. And a mid-week rest day is fine and dandy, but I have another early one today at work and I was not about to take 2 days off.. I need the workout release and I’m so glad I pushed myself to go after work yesterday. Not to mention it wore me out even more. Just what we need for a great night’s rest, yes?

And speaking of great, this list of posts came together in absolutely no time at all. There were so many amazing posts last week so I know you’ll like what I have for you today. Enjoy!

Health

How in the Heck Do I Listen to My Body – Your Trainer Paige

How in the Heck Do I Listen to My Body?! – Trainer Paige
5 Ways to Stay Active Outdoors in the Winter – Running to the Kitchen
Should You Eat Organic? – Food & Nonsense
Post-Marathon: A Guide to Physical and Mental Recovery – Run to the Finish
Are You a Slave to Striving? – Cotter Crunch
The One About the Baby Weight – Meals & Moves [Added by popular demand.. and for good reason!]

Fitness

The “I Dont Want to Workout” Workout – Fitnessista

The “I Don’t Want to Workout” Workout – Fitnessista
How to Workout With Kettlebells – Lifting Revolution via The Lean Green Bean
5 Kettlebell Workouts for Outdoor Athletes – Onnit
It’s Time to Break Up with Sugar + A New WAHM Workout – MusselFIT
30 Minute Lower Body Dumbbell Tabata – The Almond Eater

Food

Skinny Tandoori Butter Sweet Potato Fries with Creamy Baked Harissa Feta – Half Baked Harvest

Skinny Tandoori Butter Sweet Potato Fries with Creamy Baked Harissa Feta – Half Baked Harvest
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting – Peas & Crayons
Layered Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Bread – Yeah…immaeatthat
Fall Veg + Lentil Bowl with Goji Ginger Tahini Cream – The First Mess
Curried Brussels Sprouts Salad – The Hummusapien

Food for Thought

What’s one of your favorite posts from the past week?

Link Love #57

Today is the kind of day that has become more and more common over the past couple months. I have an early morning at Athleta—6 a.m. to be exact—and whereas I used to be completely bummed that I’d miss my morning workout. These days, if a 6 a.m. shift means that I take an unplanned rest day because I just don’t feel like going to the gym when I get home, well then so be it.

Last week as I walked home from work, I tried bargaining with myself.

It’s not that long of a workout.
If I go to the gym before I sit down at home, I can definitely do it.
No cardio today. Just hit the weights and get it done.

Then I realized how tired my legs really were. Which made me realize how tired my whole body was. And if I just go home, put my feet up, and rest a bit, I’d be able to hit it harder at the gym the next day. And that’s exactly what I did. I’ve said it before, but it really is a hell of an idea to actually listen to your body. Who would have thought that you own body knows what’s best for it? It’s certainly a challenge for me and I know it is for others too, but it’s something that I’m really focusing on, especially with the holiday season coming up. That said, I want to challenge you to focus on listening to your own body more. Deal? Deal.

Health

Got a Nutrition Question 2: Iron. Are You Getting Enough? – Food & Nonsense

Got a Nutrition Question 2: Iron. Are You Getting Enough? – Food & Nonsense
Three New Natural Supplements and How We Use Them – Cotter Crunch
10 Smart Tips for Eating Healthy on a Super Tight Budget – The Kitchn
I’m a Fitness Professional, but I Don’t Think Fitness Should Be Your Life – Trainer Paige
Exercising For Your Health is NOT a Joke – Slim Sanity

Fitness

Back to Basics Arm Workout – Peanut Butter Fingers

Back to Basics Arm Workout – Peanut Butter Fingers
This Exercise Can Give You Kim Kardasian’s Butt & Jessica Biel’s Abs – Lifting Revolution
No-Equipment Tabata HIIT Workout (Lower Body) – Fit Foodie Finds
5 Stretches Every Runner Should Be Doing – Jamie Walker via HuffPost Healthy Living
Med Ball Tabata Workout – Pumps & Iron

Food

Caramelized Sweet Potato and Kale Fried Wild Rice – Iowa Girl Eats

Caramelized Sweet Potato and Kale Fried Wild Rice – Iowa Girl Eats
Healthy Sticky Chocolate Fudge Cake (like, super fudgy no joke) {Gluten, Dairy + Grain Free} – Top With Cinnamon
Baklava Whole Wheat Biscotti – Yeah…immaeatthat
Carrot Noodles with Mushrooms and Sausage in a Cashew Cream Sauce – Inspiralized
Breakfast Baked Acorn Squash with Greek Yogurt, Honey & Pecans – Ambitious Kitchen

Food for Thought

How do you plan on listening to your body more?
What’s one of your favorite posts from the past week?