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:

Healthy, Portable, Shelf Stable, Crunchy-Chewy...the best cheese/seed crisps and dried fruit bites for on the go eats. In re-sealable bags... NON-GMO + USDA ORGANIC Toasted Flackers Seed Crisps -all plant based ingredients in a delicious cracker sub that satisfies -fiber loaded, low carb _ vegan too. Several flavors-all starting with a combo flaxseed + apple cider vinegar base that typically make up  pre-probiotics focused products. Superseeds indeed-keno friendly. Widely available. Traina Foods FRUITONS-grow their fruits -guaranteeing freshest dried fruits that are chewy good. The Summer Blend of bite sized Peaches, Nectarines + Plums combines the ripest selections that translate into  natural sweet flavors-no added anything needed. Widely available Montmorency Cherries and cranberries are packed with anti-oxidants-making them both an athlete musts. Handier formats: Graceland Fruit Premium Dried Montmorency Cherries and Cranberries (no added sugar)-natural...

That summer fruit staple...  deliciously portable and available year round. Juicy naturally sweet watermelon ( with a few pink Himalayan salt flakes ) is a fav effective hydrating way to replenish sweat gobs during seasonal sweltering heat. Our new top 'beat' for the water/electrolyte loss? The Republic of Tea 's Hydration Single Sips-all USDA ORGANIC Watermelon ! Give a promotion to whoever came up with this dissolve-able powder's winning combo of summery flavors ( all organic -including agave, watermelon, hibiscus, baobab  -sweetened with low cal monk fruit with yup-Himalayan pink salt)! Tasty-just sweet enough-and healthy-easy to amp up water- anywhere . We feel that the replenishment-actually fills out our parched depleted cells-sticking around better than 'plain ole' H2O. Also available-Single Sips- USDA Organic in three other flavors including an Apple Cider version (pictured on the left)-that makes that beauty-digestive aid that people...

  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...

Superfruits are not every fruit...! (And not talking about a musical duo either). Notably from tropical rainforest rich countries like Brazil-superfruits= superfood category- are nutritionally dense... jam packed with omega's-proteins, trace minerals, vitamins, anti-oxidants-etc-that go beyond what's found in 'ordinary' produce. Even organic ones. Increasingly available here-solo or as an ingredient in healthy-for-you snacks NATIERRA is the first company we reported on years ago-with a complete product line-up  of USDA Organic superfoods -including superfruits. The Superfood Snack with rich dark chocolate -and omega loaded chia seeds-is USDA Organic. BONUS for every bag bought-a meal is donated as part of their A Feed A Soul Project - to alleviate hunger in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country-Haiti. Widely available. An image tells it all...the fruity Amazon berry Açai is loaded with anti-oxidants, Omega 3s, 19 amino acids, some fiber, vita...

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...

Every once in awhile-a company makes some many good (tasty) products-we would buy stock in it...if offered :-) Family owned Clif Bar-is one of them. In fact their caffeine aided energy blocs (oversized gummies) and gels-gooey easy to digest carb hits -endurance athletes' must haves...are so effective -we buy by the CASE!  WHAT ELSE: The Clif Kid USDA Organic Z Bars -are our favs of the company's snack bars-sized right, real ingredients---and sweet tooth pacifying enough without giving us a headache. Not meal subs like their protein Builder Bars (imo)-but true snack satisfiers (12 grams of whole grains)...Clif Kid Z Bars are made chewy and fiber rich via oats and fig paste. Flavor options include dessert worthy Iced Oatmeal-what we tried-with vanilla and cinnamon hits, Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate, Chip, Caramel Chocolate and S'Mores. Widely Available.

Heartbeat elevators -like outdoor bike rides- hitting the trails or barely moving indoors- watching basketball-hockey playoffs-US Open-binging Netflix...are all ideal set-ups for our snack nation-that does just THAT all day. Most Wanted: A sweet chewy indulgence -less the crash burn-and non-GMO  (meaning  among other things -no GMO modified stuff sprayed  with this )... TRY: No need to twist an arm to try these NEW flavors of treats that manage to be amazing tasting,  filling enough-and good for that grab and go lifestyle: Fruitons by Traina Foods check all the boxes. Portable, delicious-and available in  uncommon fruit options  like athlete must-sweet-tart-earthy  cherries , and an almost juicy tree ripe 'Summer Blend' of peaches, nectarines and plums---yes it all tastes as yummy as it sounds.  Better yet-the family farm sourced dried fruit is moist chewy-not leather=y-available in handy bite sized pieces. A...

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...