New Bestowed Box delivers monthly assortment of best health food!

With so many monthly box subscriptions on the market (hello Birchbox and Naturebox), it comes as no surprise that there is now a subscription to receive a box of healthy products handpicked by a Dietitian. So when I was told that I was signed up for one, I couldn’t wait to see what handpicked delicious and nutritious treats I would receive.

As an RD myself, saying that I adore snacking is an understatement. I am endlessly on a quest to find the best of the best healthy products on there to satisfy my snack cravings, and just when I thought I knew about every gluten-free, vegan, non-gmo product out there, Heather Bauer, the expert behind Bestowed, proves me wrong.

The box consists of healthy snacks, beverages, and other goodies delivered to your home or office. All products are expertly curated by nutritionist Heather Bauer and unlike other boxes, every box is loaded with expert tips, recipes, and advice!

Here’s what I received and what I thought about each product:

Because it is the summer months, Heather created my Bestowed Box with 2 things in mind: 1) Easy and convenient for travel and 2) Healthy and beach body friendly. My first product was a package called ALMOST NUTS: a gluten-free, non-gmo soy bean snack dipped in chocolate and packed with 9 grams of protein per serving! Heather’s tip was to put these in my yogurt or use as a healthy ice cream topping! Love the idea!

2) AgroLabs Wheatgrass Boosts: I was a little hesitant to try this second product as I have NEVER had wheatgrass (yuck!). But, surprisingly, this gluten-free superfood was pretty tasty. It was packed with B vitamins and super convenient. It had somewhat of an aftertaste though, similar to what you might find in energy drinks, but is a healthier pick-me-up.

3) CleanWell Wipes: Considering I now go through more baby wipes than someone with a baby since my boyfriend insists we wipe our dog’s feet after playing outside, these were incredibly useful and exciting to receive. They are made with thyme oil and are cruelty-free, biodegradable, and free of alcohol!

4) Harvest Hemp Pro70: One of the highest quality hemp protein powders you can find, I thought this was by far one of the coolest products in my box. I think I know my protein powders well, but this was one I had shockingly never heard of. 20 grand of protein per 30 gram serving packet, this plant-based protein is easily digestible and offers all essential amino acids. It’s perfect for vegans and is also gluten-free! I suggest using this as a base for a smoothie or add to recipes for added protein.

5) Mighty Leaf Iced tea bag: I received two of these in mango, which offered a sweet, cooling, and refreshing beverage post-workout as well as a mid-afternoon treat at the beach! With no sugar, all natural and no artificial flavors, this tea is perfect for the summer months! I made a huge pitcher and kept in my fridge to cool me down on hot days.

6) Raw Revolution Spirulina Dream: Okay, so these bars I have tried before. I tried them last year at the Crossfit Games and they have really taken off since then. These bars contain many things you want in a healthy snack. They are organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten free, and delicious! Plus spiraling is a superfood rich in protein and contains all essential amino acids. The only thing I didn’t like about this all-natural bar was the sugar content. However, you can pack in your beach bag for a nutritious snack OR pair with lunch or breakfast (eat half at one meal and eat half at another or as a snack so as not to ingest all that sugar at once and go into a sugar coma).

7) Smooch Snacks: I can’t tell you how fun these snacks are! Not only is the name awesome but the packs are super cool as well! If you have ever heard of Fuel for Fire- these are like those packs! Easy to take anywhere, convenient, and packed with vitamin C and omega 3’s, these are a a new favorite. I loved the natural flavor with the chunks of fruit and chia seeds that I got. A great mid-day snack for both adults and children. Heather suggests throwing in your beach bag for a quick energy boost.

8) And lastly Sour Cream and Onion BOPS Organic Potato snacks: BOPS are essentially baked potato chips or “crisps” free of additives and preservatives. Another Non-GMO product, gluten-free, and certified organic. The flavor was spot on, but the chips were a bit too airy and there honestly wasn’t much too them. You could definitely tell that less fat was used, but ultimately I think this is the best healthy comparable to potato chips. So if you want a healthier alternative but really love potato chips, give these a try!

Overall, I loved my Bestowed box and loved even more that I was given healthy food that made it easy to stay on track and make good food choices. I’m looking forward to getting future boxes, knowing that all snacks are hand-picked by a health professional that I can trust!

 

Have any of you tried Bestowed? What did you think?

 

 

 

What I recently realized as a weight loss coach

As much as I would love to write about the exciting new healthy Bestowed Box I got in the mail this week, that post will just have to wait. Because, as I have recently just started a “desk” job position (oh no!), I’ve begun to realize a few things. 

Staying Healthy and moving throughout the day just ain’t that easy.

When I worked just as a Personal Trainer, I took for granted how much movement I got throughout the day. I used to be ENVIOUS, that’s right, envious of those with desk jobs. How nice it must be to sit all day, take lunch breaks at your leisure, instead of running into the break room between clients to shove half a sandwich down your throat, anticipating the other half in the next hour when you  have another 5 minutes between clients. My boyfriend used to work a desk job, and he would complain how much it sucked, but hey at least he got to stay consistent with his meals and snacks ( which is extremely important when on a strict workout and meal regimen). 

And, as much as I really do love my desk job, I owe an apology to all of my weight loss clients, who I urged to get up and move every hour, to skip that Starbucks latte on their way into the office, and to simply try harder.

Well let me tell you, my office is right above a Starbucks, with the smell lingering throughout the hallways at all hours of the day. I can’t even go for an afternoon walk without the rich smell of coffee beans hitting my nostrils. Not that an afternoon walk ever really happens anyways, because by the time I look up from my desk, it’s already 330pm and I have an hour and a half to get the rest of my piles of work done. And you can bet that 9 out of 10 times, I’m stopping into Starbucks for a pick-me-up…I honestly haven’t missed a day yet. 

I’m not trying to say that coffee is bad, but that I get it. I GET IT. As an RD, it’s easy for me to skip the cream (not that I want to), order the skinny frappe, get up early for my workout, or leave work and go right to the gym, but that’s not the case for everyone. Perhaps you are struggling with your weight and whenever you pass a Starbucks, it’s not quite as easy to walk in and just order the healthier option, let alone pass it up altogether. 

With this new position, I’ve realized just how tough it can be, and so my new plea is to simply take it one day at a time. 

Failure is a part of success.

Stop beating yourself up. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about trying and progressing. 

Some days I am so buried in work I can’t always get up and move for 5 minutes. But I do try to take an hourly stretch break, walk to the kitchen, do a lap around my office, or walk to a coworkers desk, because at least I’m getting up and recharging my mind and re-energizing my body this way. Fortunately, my office has an adjustable desk that I can stand at some times- which is another great option for those of you that work desk jobs and don’t get many breaks. 

At the end of the day, weight loss is as much about our thoughts as it is our behaviors. Don’t ever tell yourself “I wish I had more self-control.” You do! You just have to get used to replacing old habits with new ones, accepting where you are at, and choosing to believe you can get to where you want to be. Sometimes our behaviors won’t always match up with what our mind is telling us (no you shouldn’t have that), but overtime choosing those daily healthy actions will get easier, and who knows? Maybe you’ll be able to walk into a Starbucks soon and order the nonfat latte or skip it altogether! 

 

 

Boston Mag reveals the Truth behind Juicing!

Not too long ago I wrote a post on Juicing, titled “To juice or not to juice?” Since green juice and all juices for that matter seem to have taken over Boston in the summer months, I’m sharing with you …