We all want to commit to healthier habits but we don't understand why our motivation doesn't always manifest in physical form. If you are struggling with your commitments, examine the reason WHY you wanted to commit in the first place. Do you want to be committed to a nutrition plan because if you don't you will look horrible in a bathing suit? Do you want to commit so that you can live your best life? The first reason is rooted in fear, and fear will never lead you to long-lasting change. The latter is a commitment made out of self-love, which is the only way to turn an initial commitment into permanent lifestyle change. Remember, change happens not by force, but by love. Discipline is the behavioral manifestation of the highest act of self-love and self-care. Not eating the ice cream, or making that early morning exercise class is then a reflection of self love, not punishment. Struggling with a commitment (made in your best interest) is really not reflective of the commitment itself, but of your current internal state of chaos. Ask yourself, "am I at peace with myself or not?". Make a commitment to loving yourself first and all your other commitments will fall into place. Repeat this mantra daily: "Everything in my life is unfolding perfectly. I am in the exact place I am supposed to be. I unconditionally love and accept myself, and I forgive myself for ever thinking otherwise."
How to Choose the Best Bar
(get your minds out of the gutter, we're talking snack bars, not the place you go to for Happy Hour!)
Now that grocery stores have an entire aisle dedicated to bars, we're here to tell you how we choose our favorites!
"What's In It?"
How many ingredients are there and what is listed first?
By law, ingredients have to be listed in order of predominance. The first three ingredients are basically what the entire product is made of. The fewer ingredients, the better.
Can you picture each ingredient by itself?
We sure as heck don't know what soy lecithin looks like, do you?
Can you pronounce each ingredient?
If you can't pronounce it, chances are your liver won't be keen on processing it!
Do the ingredients belong?
If the bar is called "Cashew Crunch", then it better have cashews listed as one of the first ingredients, not brown rice syrup!
Is there added sugar?
Here's a hint...syrups, cane juice, and anything ending in -ose is sugar
(and just because the sugar comes from beets or brown rice doesn't mean it's healthy!). When looking for a bar, we want to make sure that sugar is not one of the first three ingredients. We make an exception for dates because they are unprocessed (beware date sugar, which is processed).
So...what are our favorites?
Thunderbird Energetica Original & Gather Bars
We love them all but Thunderbird's new Gather Bars are knocking our socks off because they are the lowest sugar bars we have found (Superseed Spirit only has 5 grams of sugar in the entire bar). The wrappers are compostable AND they are based in Austin!
Bearded Brothers
Local to Austin and organic, these brothas are hitting the nail on the head!
Kit's Organic Bars
The big O...need we say more?
Made by Yours Truly
See below for an easy homemade recipe
Larabar
Normally we would recommend the Larabar, but they are owned by General Mills, who has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to veto Prop 37. Prop 37 would grant us the right to know if our food has been genetically engineered. We simply cannot recommend these bars. Sorry General Mills, we think we have a right to know when our food is being poisoned!
(get your minds out of the gutter, we're talking snack bars, not the place you go to for Happy Hour!)
Now that grocery stores have an entire aisle dedicated to bars, we're here to tell you how we choose our favorites!
"What's In It?"
How many ingredients are there and what is listed first?
By law, ingredients have to be listed in order of predominance. The first three ingredients are basically what the entire product is made of. The fewer ingredients, the better.
Can you picture each ingredient by itself?
We sure as heck don't know what soy lecithin looks like, do you?
Can you pronounce each ingredient?
If you can't pronounce it, chances are your liver won't be keen on processing it!
Do the ingredients belong?
If the bar is called "Cashew Crunch", then it better have cashews listed as one of the first ingredients, not brown rice syrup!
Is there added sugar?
Here's a hint...syrups, cane juice, and anything ending in -ose is sugar
(and just because the sugar comes from beets or brown rice doesn't mean it's healthy!). When looking for a bar, we want to make sure that sugar is not one of the first three ingredients. We make an exception for dates because they are unprocessed (beware date sugar, which is processed).
So...what are our favorites?
Thunderbird Energetica Original & Gather Bars
We love them all but Thunderbird's new Gather Bars are knocking our socks off because they are the lowest sugar bars we have found (Superseed Spirit only has 5 grams of sugar in the entire bar). The wrappers are compostable AND they are based in Austin!
Bearded Brothers
Local to Austin and organic, these brothas are hitting the nail on the head!
Kit's Organic Bars
The big O...need we say more?
Made by Yours Truly
See below for an easy homemade recipe
Larabar
Normally we would recommend the Larabar, but they are owned by General Mills, who has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to veto Prop 37. Prop 37 would grant us the right to know if our food has been genetically engineered. We simply cannot recommend these bars. Sorry General Mills, we think we have a right to know when our food is being poisoned!
Recipe of the Week:
Blueberry Coconut Lemon Bars
Ingredients:
15 medjool dates
2 1/2 cup raw almonds
1 cup coconut flakes (or shredded unsweetened coconut)
1 cup dried blueberries
Zest of 3 organic lemons
Directions:
Soak the medjool dates in water for 1 hour, then remove the pits. Add to the food processor the soaked dates, almonds, coconut, blueberries, and lemon zest. Process until no large chunks remain (about 4-5 minutes). You may need to occasionally scrape down the bowl. Using your hands and/or a spatula, press the mixture into a 9×13 inch pan. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Bars are best stored in the fridge or the freezer.
Recipe adapted from and photo courtesy of
2 1/2 cup raw almonds
1 cup coconut flakes (or shredded unsweetened coconut)
1 cup dried blueberries
Zest of 3 organic lemons
Directions:
Soak the medjool dates in water for 1 hour, then remove the pits. Add to the food processor the soaked dates, almonds, coconut, blueberries, and lemon zest. Process until no large chunks remain (about 4-5 minutes). You may need to occasionally scrape down the bowl. Using your hands and/or a spatula, press the mixture into a 9×13 inch pan. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Bars are best stored in the fridge or the freezer.
Recipe adapted from and photo courtesy of
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