Trade-Up Tuesday: Energy/Stamina Giveaway
Welcome to Trade-Up Tuesday! Every Tuesday, here on A Better Bag of Groceries, I tell you about a Trade-Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal and I give away free stuff. Today, I’m giving away some foods that I am relying on these days for energy and stamina: Nature’s Path Cereal and Larabars!
I have to admit – I am freaking out just a bit now that it’s June 1st. My June is going to be busier than ever. I get twitchy just thinking about it. Every area of my life is going into overdrive:
- Work: new retailers coming on board, business trips on the agenda.
- Kids: Can there be any more end-of-the-school-year activities??? School play, concert, dance recital, teacher gifts, pre-school graduation, children singing in church, yada, yada, yada.
- Fitness: Teaching a new boot camp beginning mid-June. Just call me Jillian!
- Home: This is the part that is really making me twitchy. Major changes going on at our home. Yikes!
So, with my agenda overflowing, it was time to stock up on some foods that are easily accessible, low-maintenance and chock full of energy.
First, I decided it was time for a new cereal. I am a total floozie when it comes to cereal. By that, I mean I am all into a cereal for a given period of time. I can’t get enough of one particular brand – every day – yum, yum, yum and then (boom!) I’m over it. So it was with the stale box of Shredded Wheat that I have collecting dust in my cupboard right now. I know it is a Rock Star on the NuVal scale. It gets a 91for crying out loud. But, alas, it is just not doing it for me. So, I found myself in the Healthy section of my grocery store last Friday eyeing the Nature’s Path selections. Hmmmmmmm. Flax, Omega 3. I figured it would get a great NuVal Score.
I brought home a box of the Flax Plus MultiBran, loaded it with Strawberries (100) and Blueberries (100) and topped it with skim milk (91).
As my friend Tina would say, Holy Yum! I am so loving this new cereal. It was just the new something that I needed to face this crazy month I have ahead of me. Quick easy energy. I spent part of Memorial Day checking out the NuVal scores on this cereal. It gets a 38. OK, I was a little disappointed. I mean, it’s still better than the average score for cold cereal (27), but I was expecting it to be higher. Oh, well! It is delicious!
As I said, the month ahead is so daunting that I know it will be critical to have some quick and easy nutrition ready to go when the going gets rough. And that’s were the LaraBars come in. Fooducate, one of my favorite food blogs, had a great post recently about LaraBars. The amazing thing about them is how short the ingredients list is. For example, on this LaraBar Apple Pie, the ingredients are: Dates,
Almonds, Unsweetened Apples, Walnuts, Raisins and Cinnamon. On the Peanut Butter Cookie (my favorite!), they are Dates, Peanuts and Salt. Nice and simple.
The NuVal scores are:
- LaraBar Apple Pie: 57
- LaraBar Peanut Butter Cookie: 29
LaraBars are definitely one of my favorite new discoveries of the past six months. Oh, how I love them!
Today’s GiveAway
One lucky commenter will win a box of Nature’s Path cereal, a Larabar Apple Pie, a Larabar Peanut Butter cookie and a NuVal t-shirt. Wow! Great prize! Just leave a comment below telling me one of the following:
- A food that you rely on for energy and stamina when your life goes into overdrive OR
- A trade-up you’ve made since learning about NuVal
I’ll choose one winner at 7 am Eastern time Wednesday. Good luck to everyone!
Posted by: Melissa 62 comments
Posted in: Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: Cereal for Grown-Ups, LaraBars, Natures Path
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 7:21 am
I love good ole old school oatmeal to give me energy. It makes me feel human! But I tell you what, lately I’ve been getting into Fiber 1 with unsweetened almond milk. Num, num, num.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 7:45 am
I rely on peanut butter because those fats are nice for dense energy!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 8:22 am
Hard-boiled eggs! Juggling an internship this year plus a part-time job in the last few weeks has been tough. When I’m feeling tired and lacking energy, I reach for a hard-boiled egg. It’s a great, handy little snack!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 8:29 am
Since learning about NuVal I have been trying to stick to Sweet Potatoes instead of the regular ones, much more nutritious! And very delicious I might add!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 8:43 am
Crunchy green apples, they are crisp and refreshing!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 8:44 am
When my life is too crazy to worry about fixing up any sort of food an apple is my go-to guy! I love the satisfying crunch and sweetness, and the fiber keeps me energized and full for awhile!
I wonder why this cereal scored so much lower than you (and I!) expected? Tricky..
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 8:45 am
Carrots and hummus are my go to energy foods
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 8:51 am
peanut butter and multigrain toast…
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 8:55 am
Almond butter and preserve sandwich on wheat bread–the protein from the almond butter helps keep me full and the bread is great for energy
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 9:08 am
I like turkey sandwiches in high fiber wraps! Yummy and portable!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 9:12 am
apple && almond butter
delicious combo!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 9:18 am
banana oats with some almond butter is the best when I need some energy!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 9:19 am
I keep dark chocolate squares in the house and smear some peanut or cashew butter on top…it’s decadent and energizing!!!!!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 9:23 am
When it’s hot & humid outside, I just can’t stomach hot meals or anything too heavy….so I make a ton of smoothies. Yogurt, banana, skim milk, and whatever fresh or frozen berries I have on hand. Cool and refreshing!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 9:24 am
Lately green monsters have been my saving grace in the morning!!! A huge dose of veggies in the morning gets me going.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 9:31 am
Hard boiled eggs help keep me going.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 9:39 am
When I am short on time and energy, I tend to reach for Greek Yogurt topped with a scoop of almond butter. It is delish and gives me a burst of energy to get thru the hectic day.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 9:46 am
An apple midday definitely keeps me going!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 10:10 am
Portable fruit, such as apples, bananas, plums, peaches, etc. Anything that doesn’t need to be peeled and can be grabbed on my way out the door!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 10:14 am
I rely on Green Monster smoothies for a pick me up. The spinach, fruit and protein powder are so energizing! Since learning about Nuval, I have traded up to Post Shredded Wheat mixed in with other healthy cereal.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 10:16 am
I like apple slices with peanut butter or sunflower butter.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 10:16 am
Thin bun with Peanut Butter and/or a banana for fuel. Larabars are my new obsession. I found a coconut cream pie flavor only in one nutrition store in the area and then I went back and they were gone! My boyfriend surprised me with an entire box for my birthday last week!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 10:16 am
My food that I rely on for energy and stamina in my life would be egg whites. It is my go to protein source and I can combine it with any grain, any veggie and make it work.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 10:17 am
Peanut butter and apple slices make for a good energy snack.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 10:40 am
I rely on peanut butter and banana sandwiches to give me energy. I have switch to Shredded wheat since finding out how high it scores on the NuVal system.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 10:49 am
Apples or bananas & peanut butter…yum.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 11:20 am
I keep a small bag of raw walnuts and raisins in my purse at all times! When I’m out running around all day with no meal in sight and I get that blood sugar dip, a handful will get me going again for a good two hours.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 11:27 am
i rely on apples and peanut butter!! together, they are amazing!! oh, and edemame!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I rely on nuts and dried fruit for energy and a quick pick-me-up!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 12:10 pm
I like hard boiled eggs for energy and they are portable so you can take them with you. I would like some advise on good organic products I just recently started eating organic.
Thanks
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 12:38 pm
I rely on a sandwich of natural peanut butter on whole grain, sometimes with banana! perfect go-to meal
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 12:38 pm
I love apples and almonds to keep me energized. They are so easy to pack and delicious!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 12:38 pm
I actually just started eating plain almonds after finding out their NuVal score, but they are great for an afternoon pick-me-up when I’m trying to stay awake at the office.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 12:40 pm
definitely apples + peanut butter to keep me energized!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 12:44 pm
What a fantastic giveaway!
When life gets crazy, I like to crunch on apple slices and carrot sticks with hummus. Perhaps a few almonds thrown in there too. It helps me calm down and keep me energized at the same time. So refreshing too!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Green monster smoothies or a pb&j on whole wheat are always my go to energy foods!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 12:55 pm
For quick energy I rely on granola bars, normally a Kashi brand. Or if I have a little bit of time, I either make toast with peanut butter, or mix fruit and almonds into yogurt!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 1:00 pm
I LOVE RED APPLES MACs r my favorite
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 1:05 pm
I rely on mass amounts of double shot expresso and a powerbar here and there to keep my energy up! Probably not the healthiest of choices, but it works when you’re pressed for time.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Almond butter holds me over really well, especially when on some toasty whole wheat bread.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 1:16 pm
I have been putting almond butter on kashi granola bars for that afternoon slump… also some iced coffee if needed!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 1:21 pm
I rely on Mixed Nuts with no salt as my eneergy boost. I buy them from the bulk bin so I know they are cost effective and not loaded with all the sodium as canned nuts.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 1:28 pm
This sounds really simple but my favorite food for an energy boost or when I don’t have time to prepare something is an apple, rinse and go! Happy June!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 1:41 pm
A piece of Ezekiel bread toast with some jam (lately Crofter’s Superfruit) and slivered almonds has been my go-to breakfast lately and it always leaves me full (and full of energy) for a surprisingly long amount of time.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Fuji apples with some peanut butter – yum!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 1:51 pm
I run a lot. For energy I rely on oatmeal, peanut butter and fruit. Yumo! I’d love to try the Luna p.b bar. I don’t have access to them where I live. Thanks! Hope you are having a great summer so far.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I love apples and peanut butter to keep my energy up! I also love yogurt and granola!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Idk know why but bananas Or a larabar does the trick
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 2:35 pm
So how do we sign up for the giveaways?
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Love PB and Arnold Thins….. works every time!!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 2:57 pm
PB&J sandwich is my go-to food for quick energy. and now that i bake my own bread and make my own almond butter and strawberry jam, it’s super healthy for me.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 3:30 pm
My favorite super energy food is my homemade oatmeal pancakes! I even used them for “fuel” during the last marathon I ran. They are full of oatmeal and whole wheat flour, yum!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Nature’s Path Cereals are the BEST! When I need a quick pick me up, I toast a slice of whole grain bread and spread it with Nutella!!!! It hits the spot every time!
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 6:01 pm
I alway start my day with a good fast breakfast. Either a banana, oatmeal (only takes less than 10 minutes to cook while I’m getting dress) ground flax seed, and soy milk or non fat greek yogurt, berries or a banana and some ground flax seed.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 6:31 pm
I typically rely on hard boiled eggs for energy and stamina because of the protein. For something quicker, I actually rely on larabars…I have been eating them for the past several months and they are honestly a godsend! They give me such great energy! If I don’t have any handy, I also turn to almonds.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 6:43 pm
laughing cow cheese wedges and baby carrots are my “go to” snack when I’m crazed and on the run….well I guess that means always then.
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 8:17 pm
I rely on a sliced green apple with cinnamon!!:)
on Jun 1st, 2010 at 10:41 pm
I have definatley paid more attention to the NuVal score of my beans. I had no idea that different brands could score so differently.
on Jun 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 am
Apples with organic peanut butter!
on Jun 3rd, 2010 at 8:58 pm
I cut a banana in half and slather both halves with homemade creamy peanut butter!
on Jun 7th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
I rely on apples and bars when my life gets hectic. Both are easy, portable and DELICIOUS! Oh and for the record, my favorite bars are definitely larabars and clif zbars.
happy_haylee_3@hotmail.com
on Jun 15th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Bananas and almond butter and since it’s been so hot- watermelon juice!