LYRA MAG.

January (a new year...a new decade)...is the 'to-do-list' month of good intentions. Easier ways to check off the wellness 'box'-eat better by substituting indulgent snacks and the daily java habit-with better-for you versions:

  FLAKES -the kind you want. True Salt's sea salts are naturally blessed with minerals/iron-and are unprocessed, with no anti-caking agents or bleaches. Now a versatile flavor hit-True Sea salts are turning up as decoration and flavoring in all sorts of foods and drinks besides margarita rims. We love these  True Salt Flakes  =the perfect touch atop sweet chewy cookies.  Available online . Holiday special :-) Candy cane flakes add peppermint sweet crunch to indulgent truffle chocolates CHOCMOD's Truffettes de France. Truffles Please Earthy -aromatic-truffles are a unique special mushroom that has coveted flavor rich status amongst gourmands. Natural Nectar's Black Truffle and Olive Oil OOLALA potato chips elevate that crunchy snack to gourmet status. Online for $3.85 bag.  Creamy cashews-rasted in  RSPO certified palm oil with real deal bits of Italian black truffles. From Odlicno -a company based in Slovenia  Sabatino T...

The tastiest snack sized choices- protein additions to ready-to-eat treats are athlete essentials for efficient muscle repair (esp. needed are high-branched chain amino acids BAAs-leucine, isoleucine, + valine). Dead animal free choices too... Our favs:                                                            Morning Workouts...   DITCH the early AM meal pre-workout...afterwards get an efficient, nutritionally dense, low calorie-and loaded with protein something.  ONE SOLUTION-the caffeine hit from the whey protein loaded Herbalife High Protein Iced Coffee -imo the genius drink mix aid of this hot summer. Blending easily in a shaker cup (2 scoops-12oz water) -poured over icy cubes-get the java jazz going plus 15 grams of protein from whey (dairy), low sugar grams ( the sweetener is sucralose -like Splenda). Tasty to...

ATHLETE ESSENTIALS Crunchy Sweet, Bite Sized... New Snacks that are everything their supposed to be (FUN TO MUNCH ON)-with added nutritional benefits. I mpressive- SPROUT  is a private company that makes a slew of tasty snacks-packed for one-six sized portions-perfectly portable for on the go crunch musts.   In the mix-veggies form the basis of USDA ORGANIC goodness...no circumspect ingredients in the mix! Everything we sampled-from the airy properly puffy Two Peas in a Pod-to the densely crunchy Crinklez-...were great. And dip worthy. Toddlers and kids of all ages will enjoy.  There is a slightly less salty/greasy taste than the mass market junk food equivalents...fyi. Which might a be plus for many. This company also makes baby eats. Pumkin Carrot Crinklez pictured-(also Cheesy Spinach Crinklez) and Two Peas In A Pod - Aged White Cheddar. (other flavors-Broccoli, Sweet Potato Cinnamon). ALL Gluten + Dairy Free, VEGAN, Non-GMO, no added sugar, no fake col...

How popular is Jarlsberg cheese-the nutty-sweetish Norwegian export-made from cow's milk is the perfect balance of semi-soft/hard goodness? In the middle of a packed refrigerated cheese section where we shop-a lone hunk of Jarlsberg remained -which of course was snatched up by moi right before another shopper came looking for the exact same cheese... by name. To sum it up=VERY POPULAR (in fact-Jarlsberg is the number one selling specialty cheese in the USA! Versatile and approachable ...Jarlsberg is the palate pleaser for cheese heads, gourmands and picky eaters (kids!!!) alike. Mild in flavor but distinct with large round holes -- serving suggestions -run the gamut-from straight out  small cubes or thinly sliced-for sandwiches, grilled -on burgers (plant based or not), or as part of a protein loaded s'more like bite-put a cube on a skewer -layered with chunks of green pepper and tomato and fresh basil leafs-roast for like a sec or 2 over an open fire...and slide i...

A Mixed Metaphor? NOPE. Just in Time For March Madness, Binge Watching Past Seasons Of Drama Favs...and Outdoor Fun In The Sun: The Latest Treats to Eat= Addictive and Better For You From Saffron Road ...a company dedicated to providing delicious eats for all times-inspired by 'world cuisine' -their latest products deliver accessible palate pleasing sweet-and chocolate covered snack treats-of Fair Trade sourced deep rich dark chocolate straight up or wonderfully blended with exotic chai spices (cinnamon-cardamon hints), buttery honey or  delectable salty-sweet-authentic salted caramel enveloping crunchy chick peas-for a winning combo of indulgent flavor AND satisfying crunch. Available in resealable bags---( if leftovers are a possibility which we doubt)...the new enhanced  crunchy chickpeas- a handful perfect- check off all the musts of snack needs...plus have nutrition hits of added protein and are non-GMO which increasingly matters these days -there's a re...

Real Hair/Skin/Nails/Joints Nutrition Help Less The Dead Animals? Apparently so and imo a real improvement-taste-wise- in the energy-protein powder food universe. It used to be that collagen helpers...via supplements, drink powders, bone broths -got their purported (digested-delivered) nutritious powers via slaughtered animals' ground up bones, cartilage, hides (gelatin). Besides being not vegan/vegetarian-we ALSO always wondered how toxic that would be too-given that 'clean' ingredients need to be tested for that. ANYONE testing ground up hides? We think not. SOLUTION: Plant Based Collagen-PlantFusion is a new to us...but wow-it's a VERY tasty 'clean' vegan powder-to add to water or some other liquid. In The Mix: Infused with plant proteins (PlantFusion® Amino Acid Infused Protein Blend-with pea protein, algae, chia seed)...that is free of a slew of major allergens (dairy, soy, rice, eggs, peanuts, shellfish etc) no artificial colors/preserv...

Athlete Essentials:         Refueling  after long endurance exertions-requires hydration, essentials like electrolytes/minerals (depending on the sweat level), and protein to repair muscles . Carbs-sugars-naturally or in the form of 'added sugars' (soon to be labeled as such)...after multi-hours of physical excess-are very helpful too. We definitely feel the need for a reward treat-just to get home after a long workout-or race day. But def want one that has nourishing attributes. A NEW OPTION: German QUARK by Wünder Creamery- is a quirky name for a very popular food widely available in Europe under various names...like in France-it's close cousins are Fromage Blanc----Fromage Frais. Made from fermented sour milk-so naturally loaded with probiotics, calcium and vitamin D-QUARK is a super nourishing ready to eat dairy product that is so delicious-it will placate junk food urge splurges (aka kid friendly). The unflavored whole milk sourced -fl...

Better Snacking PDQ Nick the hunger with tasty fun functional ingredients-plant based- ready to (h)eat ... NEW: yummy Garden Lites new Frittatas are flavor loaded-with loads of accolades earned-like being mini muffin shape-portion controlled- individually wrapped-ready to devour- without utensils - after  only a minute (microwave) or maybe like 18-25 minutes-in a toaster or regular oven-straight out of the freezer. 6 per package...easy to stack up a few in the freezer for grabs and practically on the go snacking. Delicious and appealing to kids-even with the adult pleasing flavors of mildly spiced veggie bacon and potato- or in a spinach  egg white + mozzarella version. A few Garden Lite Frittatas  can be the main meal act- because it's so easy HA HA. Just heat up  a few... they're excellent entreés for hungry cooks with NO time. NOTE: maybe not feline fare but kids will love the taste-on these RTE versions of a popular traditional Italian treat! ...

Better for you -no cook -snacks and non-meat and vegan protein ...latest trends in foods are tasty, too! Peeled boiled eggs are a protein loaded 'thing' now! Sauder's versions are amped with beet goodness-in 2 and 6 packs. Another trend -hidden veggies -don't get much tastier than these dessert worthy Garden Lites in chocolate. In the freezer section at stores fyi...but stash them in kid's lunch boxes-and by the time they eat them-most chewy and ready! Delicious -we kept a box in the fridge. Six flavors available-options all tasty-include dairy, soy, peanut, tree nut+gluten free. Around 100-120 calories per...with real deal iron, potassium and calcium too. The chocolate- what we tried...has zucchini + carrots as the first two ingredients. IMPRESSIVE. Microwave them for few seconds...for  even more of a moist chewy texture.  Plant protein is more mainstream these days-out of the niche vegan category and part of a lot of everyday meals+snacks. G...

Some endurance athletes relish the post workout food experience- preparing/eating ritual- ahead of time or in the moment. And then folks like us-are too tired and just want to fuel asap. Even those meal delivery kits= too much effort . via GIPHY We  avoid the 'diet' stuff with unpronounceable ingredients since it's not gonna get us over that finish line any faster...among other reasons. Added sugars and unnatural creations (GMO)...are in the 'avoid' category too. SO-easy nutrition simple foods-that are treats too---are under thirty seconds from 'go' to eat...and qualify as dinner as well as snack foods. IMO-all the same, these days. 1) NONA LIM rte "crap free" soups. Gushing accolades by tempted attendees at the recent Fancy Food Show (be impressed-lotsa good stuff there)-plus an encounter at the NYC Triathlon expo-had us eager to sample these well packaged soups. NONA LIM's assortments of both vegan, gluten free, non-GMO no...

Packin' The Protein - From Crunchy Savory Sweet to Thirst Quenching worthy indulgent subs for the nutrition free-but calorie loaded alternatives   via GIPHY Crackers that needs no company= Norway's Jarlsberg  Cheese Crisps (mild nuttyish-cow's milk cheese added to semolina flour crisps)...crunchy snacks with the added protein pop of 5 grams per 120 calorie serving. Available in re-sealable bags-but why bother---shareable with all. We tried the mildly spiced up chipotle pepper flavor-adds interest and a tad heat.  Crunchmaster mashes up the nutrition rich dessert cracker thins category-or invents it with these protein plus crisp sweetish snacks that get added plant based protein mixed in (8 grams per serving). Delicious and devour able...soon available in "Thin' favs Dark Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Cherry-or Milk Chocolate versions (8 grams plant based per serving), and cracker flavors- real deal Toasted Coconut (5 grams plant based protein/serving...