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Almond Hemp Energy Balls? Yes please! On the go treat that will energize you all day? We got it.  Packed with superfoods and high in protein, these Energy Balls will keep you energized and on the move all day feeling healthy and complete. Healthy Planet Ambassador  marissaliana shared with us one of her favourite Fitness snack recipes, AMAZING Almond Hemp Energy Balls. Super fast and easy to prepare, this is the energy ball you will be craving pre and post workout. Combine hemp seeds, chia seeds, almond butter and  protein powder together for what will quickly become your new favorite post workout snack. Find what drives you and fuel it with a heart healthy and nutritious treat made with love. #lifelivehealthy Almond Hemp Energy Balls Ingredients: 1/2 cup Organic Traditions Raw Almond Butter 1/2 cup Manitoba Harvest Hemp Seeds 4 tbsp Prana Chia Seeds 1 overly ripe banana 2 scoops Vega Vegan Vanilla Protein Powder (70g) 2 tbsp Shady Maple Farms MapleS 6 tbsp Giddy YoYo Dark Chocolate Chips   How to prepare Mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined. Roll into golf ball sized balls and store in freezer for best texture. Let thaw for 5 minutes before eating and enjoy!   Put together your favourite Energy Ball recipe, tag @healthyplanet on Instagram and show us what keeps you going! Use the Healthy Planet hashtag #livelifehealthy and we will share your recipe with our followers! Keep spreading the love!

It’s hard enough to think of tasty lunches for yourself everyday, let alone make inspiring lunchboxes for your kids too.   And if they’re gluten-intolerant, or just plain picky, it’s even tougher to find filling, exciting lunch ideas. So our expert nutritionist, and founder of Lunchbox Doctor, has devised three perfect packed lunches to satisfy every appetite. Lunchbox Recipes Carrot Hummus 3 carrots, washed and chopped into batons 1 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper 1 tin of white beans such as haricot or butter, drained and rinsed A garlic clove, crushed 1½ tbsp lemon juice ½ tsp ground cumin ½ tsp smoked paprika   Directions: Preheat oven to 180ºC/fan 160ºC/Gas 4. Drizzle the carrots with oil and roast until soft. Blitz the carrots with the other ingredients in a food processor until smooth.   Seeded Flapjack 75g mixed seeds, such as pumpkin and sunflower 125g butter 75g unrefined sugar 1 tbsp blackstrap molasses 175g oats 50g dried fruit – cut up larger fruits such as prunes or apricots Directions: Preheat oven to 180ºC/fan 160ºC/Gas 4. Whiz the seeds to a powder in food processor or coffee grinder. Do this in batches if using a coffee grinder. Melt the butter, sugar and molasses together in a saucepan. Add the oats, dried fruit and ground seeds, and mix well together. Spread the mixture out on a baking tin, lined with greaseproof paper, and bake for 20-25 mins or until golden brown. Cut whilst hot, and then allow to cool in baking tray before removing.   Beetroot Chocolate Brownie Cake 125g cooked beetroot, finely grated 125g butter 250g dark chocolate, broken into squares 3 eggs, beaten 2 tbsp barley malt syrup or honey 1 tsp vanilla extract 100g wholegrain spelt flour 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda Directions: Preheat the oven to 200ºC/fan 180ºC/Gas 6. Combine the flour, bicarbonate of soda and beetroot in a bowl. Melt the butter and chocolate in a different bowl over a pan of boiling water, being careful not to let the bowl touch the boiling water. Add the melted butter and chocolate mix to the flour and beetroot mix. Fold in the eggs, then add the syrup and vanilla extract. Pour into a 20cm x 20cm baking tin, greased and/or lined as necessary. Bake for 20-25 mins until it forms a crust on top but is still a little moist (not uncooked) on the inside. Grabbed From: http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/the-health-hub/perfect-packed-lunches/?sc=22096&rilt=lunch&utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=080517_Back_To_School

 Dr. Perlmutter Formulated Complete Digestive Program Probiotics, enzymes and prebiotic fiber work synergistically to support extraordinary health.† It’s time to take care of our microbiome. It’s up to us to support and nourish it through what we eat, what we expose ourselves to in our environment and the kind of lifestyle we lead. Dr. Perlmutter advocates honoring this system of health through understanding and avoiding the three biggest forces that work against the health of the gut’s good bugs. Force #1:  Exposure to substances that kill or otherwise adversely change the composition of the bacterial colonies. These include toxic chemicals used in conventional agriculture, household cleaners and in food (e.g., sugar, gluten), and even in water (e.g., chlorine and fluoride) Force #2:  Poor nutritional support for healthy, diverse tribes of bacteria (eg. prebiotic fiber) Force #3:  Stress   Watch the Video

 CANDY CANE DELIGHT PROTEIN PARFAIT   Makes 2 servings Ingredients 1 cup Non-Fat Greek Yogurt 2 Scoops Gold Standard 100% Whey French Vanilla Crème ⅛ teaspoons Peppermint Extract Red Food coloring 1 Opti-Bar Chocolate Brownie Fat-Free Whipped Cream Crushed Candy Cane (Optional) Directions Mix Greek yogurt, Gold Standard 100% Whey, peppermint extract, a sprinkle of crushed candy cane and 2 drops of red food coloring in a large mixing bowl Cut Opti-Bar into ½ pieces. Press each piece into bottom of glass Layer ½ Greek yogurt mix on top of Opti-Bar Decorate with dollop of Whipped Cream Sprinkle with crushed Candy Canes (optional) Serving: ½ recipe (1 serving)Calories: 220Carbs: 18gFat: 4gProtein: 28g  Read more at https://www.optimumnutrition.com/en_US/news?filter=6#QdohFwBSzLaJlTQZ.99

Smoothies have long been a part of my day. If I don’t blend one up for breakfast, I’m usually whipping one up to fight that 3PM slump. The smoothies I make typically need to be quick and easy.  Here are six things I’ve been doing lately to make my smoothie game strong. 1. One Glass Don’t dirty five cups to make one smoothie. Lately I’ve been drinking my smoothie right out of the glass I use to measure ingredients. Mason jars make great measuring cups, allowing you to precisely measure out liquids thanks to the measurement lines marked on the side. Or, use your blender for everything! Most blenders have cup measurements on the side and I find “handfuls” are pretty good measurements when trying to eyeball 1/2 cup berries or 1 cup baby spinach. Take it one step further by throwing a straw into the blender container and drinking straight from the source! 2. Waste Not Have some leftover coffee in the pot, two spoonfuls of pumpkin left in the can, or just three sips of almond milk left in the container? Pour or place leftover ingredients into ice cube trays or muffin tins. When you’ve got a hankering for a mocha smoothie (or whatever flavor is calling your name), grab your frozen cubes, add the rest of your ingredients and you’re good to go! 3. Make Smoothie Pops Do you ever have that annoying ½ cup smoothie left in the bottom of the blender that doesn’t fit into your to-go mug? You could take a big gulp before rushing out the door, BUT alternatively why not pour leftovers into ice pop molds? You’ll have a cool, sweet treat waiting for you (or your kids) for another time of day. 4. Make Smoothie Packs Carve out a few extra minutes of meal prep on Sundays to prepare some smoothie packs for the week. Measure out fruit and Vega® plant-based protein powder and place into single bags (or even the Mason jar you plan to drink the smoothie from!). In the morning, toss into the blender with your favorite liquid and Vega protein powder and blend. 5. Freeze Smoothie Ice Cubes If you love thick creamy smoothies, try shaking a scoop of Vega powder with non-dairy milk and pouring into ice cube molds. For an evening when you’re craving a thick chocolate shake (or any time of day) place cubes in a blender with frozen banana and some more non-dairy milk and blend until creamy. 6. Save Overripe Foods If you’re preparing to leave for a trip, or maybe you’ve just returned, or you just went overboard on your last grocery trip, don’t throw away fruits and vegetables that you just can’t finish before they wilt away. You can freeze everything from brown bananas, to wilting greens, to very soft avocados. Even steamed cauliflower! Stash all in freezer friendly containers to add to smoothies. PS. Avocados and steamed cauliflower take smoothie creaminess to the next level – trust me! On days that I feel just so busy even taking minutes to blend a smoothie—even with these hacks—feels impossible, I reach for Vega® Protein+ Shake* as I run out the door. What are some of your go-to tips and tricks for blending up the perfect smoothie every time? Reference: https://myvega.com/blog/smoothie-hacks/

Most days it’s hard to even squeeze in a 30 minute workout. Luckily, you can build strength, tone and get an endorphin boost without investing too much time. A single free minute can be found in almost everyone’s schedule. Blogger and mother Kristin of STUFTMAMA shares her favorite super-fast workouts that can be done everywhere, with anyone. You can even get the whole family involved! 1-minute Workout: Legs Treat the base of your body to prep you for sprinting through today. 20 seconds on each move.     MOVES: Squats Reverse Lunges Sumo Squats Feel free to add in higher intensity with jumps. These moves are great because they use body weight as resistance training and get your heart rate up in a hurry. 1-minute Workout: Chest You need strong chest muscles to pick up big boxes, bags of groceries, and squirming kids. 20 seconds on each move.     MOVES: Push-ups with a T-stand Traveling Push-ups Push-ups These are great for building not only chest strength, but getting extra core work also. If you need to modify, all moves can be done with your knees on the ground. Make sure to keep your back straight and belly button pulled in towards your lower back. 1-minute Workout: Triceps and Shoulders Shoulder and triceps support your entire arm and back. Don’t worry these three moves won’t give you 80s-worthy large shoulders. 20 seconds each move.     MOVES: V push-ups Tricep Dips Diamond Push-ups These moves aren’t the easiest since they are smaller muscle groups to target, but they are very effective. A little goes a long way. You can also modify these on your knees as well. Also remember to keep your elbows in on the dips. 1-minute Workout: Back You are superwoman. And you need a strong back to support you. 20 seconds each move.     MOVES: Superman X Floor Swimming Plank It’s harder to target the back muscles without any weights, but these moves are a great start if you don’t have equipment and are limited on time. Make sure to use your lower back to hold your arms and legs off the floor during the Superman and swimming. 1-minute Workout: Abs These moves can seriously be done anywhere and are so effective hitting all the core muscles. 20 seconds each move.     MOVES: Scissors Russian Twists V-sit Make sure to keep your back in a neutral position and relax the shoulders. You can bend your knees in to make the moves a little easier and extend the legs out to make them more difficult. Source: https://myvega.com/blog/5-1-minute-workouts-anyone-can/ What’s your favorite quick workout move?

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