Two things you should know about me:
FACT 1: If I could survive, calorically and nutritionally speaking, by just snacking all day, I just might. I have always loved snack foods - dry cereal, trail mixes, chips, pretzels, etc. I eat clean because it makes me strong, because it fuels my workouts and busy group fitness schedule (and feeling confident in how clothes fit is a nice bonus!). This snack thing has proven trickier since I went PALEO. Nuts, seeds and fruits are all good but sometimes a girl wants a cookie or something really salty.
FACT 2: If I had enough money to adopt like 20 underprivileged children and raise them up from Bad Donkeys to Badasses -- feeding them healthy foods, showing them how to stay fit, educating them -- I would do it in a heartbeat. Few things break my heart more than kids who have to go without, or kids who are among the growing numbers of overweight and obese youngsters.And I love Badass Bootcamps most when the little ones tag along!
Enter two of my favorite food finds since going PALEO: Caveman Cookies and Steve's Original Paleo Kits and PaleoKrunch. The cookies satisfy any sweet hankerings, and the Paleo Kits not only fuel me throughout the day with protein and healthy fats - they are a way for me to help Bad Donkeys. See, 15 percent of all Steve's sales proceeds go toward a national program that gives kids access to CrossFit workouts, nutrition and mentoring. It's called Steve's Club, and it has helped lots of little ones. So.Friggin.Awesome.
CAVEMAN COOKIES
I shared my first bite of Caveman Cookies in last week's Going PALEO blog, and after trying the first bag of "original" flavor, I ordered the Tropical Caveman Cookies, the Rainforest and the Alpine Caveman varieties. The base ingredients are the same - almond meal, honey - plus variations like ground carob, coconut, pineapple, walnuts, ginger, etc.
At some point in my busy schedule I will find time to try to create my own version of these, but for now I'm good letting someone else make them.
These cookies are not Oreos, OK? But they really are good, and good for you. Moist, chewy, with plump raisins and delicious add-ins like the coconut. And at 70-75 calories each, these are not breaking the daily calorie bank at all! (The main website says they are currently switching bake facilities, but I found plenty for sale via Amazon.com)
STEVE'S ORIGINAL
Steve's Original Paleo Kits are like the mecca of PALEO snacks -these amazing jerky-nut-fruit combos. I would never have thought to eat cranberries or raisins with beef jerky and almonds, but I am here to tell ya it is so good! I wasn't sure which of the many Paleo snacks to get, so I ordered the Steve's Sampler for $29.99. It comes with:
- 1 Original Large Paleokit
- 1 Grassfed Small PaleoKit
- 1 GrassFed Just Jerky
- 1 Original PaleoKrunch Bar
- 1 PaleoKrunch Original Flavor Cereal
- 1 Coconut Small PaleoKit
My favorite PaleoKit is the combo of beef jerky with coconut and dried strawberries. Ah-friggin-mazing! PaleoKrunch clusters and PaleoKrunch bar are like granola without the oats - coconut, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds and honey), and they even come in seasonal varieties like pumpkin and apple. You can munch solo, or eat with almond milk as PALEO-approved "cereal and milk," etc. So so good. Basically, I want everything Steve's Original has to offer! Yes, even the Bacon Krunch Bar!
Even if you aren't on the PALEO eating plan, you should give these treats a try. Your tastebuds will be happy, and your Badass will be well-fueled!
Coming up: 3 moves, 5 rounds, one core blaster!