My Faves

There are a lot of protein powders out there that are full of extra ingredients that either take a lot of research to understand or are just plain yuck!

I searched high and low and found that Just Ingredients, which makes protein powders that are just full of whole food ingredients. Yes Please!! 

There are lots of great flavors to choose from. My favorite are Pumpkin Spice, Mint Chocolate Chip and Coconut Chocolate.

Amino acids are the foundation of protein. There are 20 amino acids, 9 of which are considered 'essential,' which basically means they must be taken in to our bodies through our diet (or supplements).

I use a supplement when I'm not getting enough protein from whole foods or before or after a strenuous weight training workout, or activity (like cutting and hauling logs for firewood!).

After a lot of research, I found Kion to be my go-to choice. I feel better when I take them after a lot of strenuous muscle activity and I enjoy the flavor. One suggestion is to blend them into a liquid, because they seem to clump easily if I don't blend them. A great post-workout drink is half a banana, a serving of Kion amino acids and some almond milk all blended together. I like the mango flavor personally.

Popular electrolyte drinks usually have a lot of sugar or artificial sweeteners and other things I don't want to put in my body. These electrolytes are sodium, potassium and magnesium, and are sweetened with stevia - a plant that I grow in my garden. They taste great and are easily portable for when I travel.

My favorite LMNT flavors are watermelon, orange and grapefruit (when it's available).

You can also order a sample pack and try all the flavors to see which ones you like best.

Getting enough protein can be hard when you only have three meals and you don't want to be stuffed. I carry some protein snacks with me in my purse and when I travel so I always have a good source of protein on hand. It's imperative to my health and weight loss / maintenance goals. Here are some of my favorite grab and go options.

Paleo Valley Meat Sticks:

I like these because they don't have additives, and instead are fermented to keep them fresh on your shelf for a time. They travel great and the flavors are amazing! My whole family loves them. My favorite flavors are the garlic and jalapeno. Yum!

They're available on Amazon too so you can save on shipping if you have Prime.

They also have turkey and pork, but I've only tried the beef version.

I have searched high and low for a bar that I can pack in my purse that would tick all the boxes for a good meal replacement. I've seen plenty of protein bars, but this one fills me for a long time and is made with real, quality ingredients. 

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Sans Meal Bars have no added sugars, no sugar alcohols, no emulsifiers, no chemical stabilizers and no “natural” flavors.

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My favorite flavor is the mint cocoa, but they're all pretty darn good. We bought the variety pack so we could try all the flavors.

Magnesium is something that most of us don't get enough of, and most supplements I've tried have upset my stomach. Until I tried this one. Here's some info from the Adapt Naturals website. (Be sure to check out their other supplements as well.): 

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Magnesium is an essential mineral for human health, involved in over 700 enzymatic reactions, and required to synthesize DNA, RNA, and proteins—the building blocks of life. It promotes sleep and relaxation, helps maintain normal blood sugar, supports bone health, and much more.

Promotes sleep and relaxation, helps maintain normal blood sugar, supports bone health, and much more

Contains 300 mg of magnesium—to close the gap between the average intake in the United States and the amount we need for optimal function

Contains buffered magnesium chelate, a highly bioavailable form that gets absorbed quickly and is easy for the body to use

Is far less likely to cause the unfavorable gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (like loose stools and bloating) associated with inferior forms of magnesium

Sometimes I need a little boost for my early morning workouts. This one made by Just Ingredients is made with whole food ingredients and gives me what I need for lifting or HIIT training. The strawberry limeade is the bomb! 

Creatine is one of the most researched and proven supplements for weight training that helps with recovery and muscle building. I'll usually mix this with the Kion Amino Acid supplement after I do a weight lifting exercise.  This one has no flavor so it's easy to mix with other flavors like the mango Amino Acid supplement. This definitely helps with my recovery... no more days of sore muscles and pain walking up stairs after leg day! 

I add this bone broth protein to my morning dandelion tea (Dandy Blend) to boost my protein intake. I buy the unflavored version and it gives me a protein boost in the morning. Many of us struggle to get enough protein throughout the day. Tips like adding some protein to your morning beverage helps you get it in without having to eat more meat or eggs. And, I love that this is 100% grass fed!

This bread is made with sprouted, fermented, buckwheat, and it's easy to digest. The ingredient list is simple, and I feel good about the company's values and mission too! If you want to eliminate gluten, and simple flour from your diet, this is a great go-to replacement. I ordered mine online, but found it in Whole Foods recently too. It's in the Freezer section, so go check it out. 

My go to for water filtration is the Berkey Water Filtration System. This filter removes a range of contaminants in drinking water. Per their website, their filters are specially formulated to address 200+ typical contaminants found in tap water and other freshwater sources.