Boost your workouts with Chia!

Want to boost your workout or know someone else in your life who is on a path to get fit? Would you or someone you know love the gift of  Chia Seeds or Ruth’s Hemp Protein? Tell us what they are doing to nourish themselves!

Fueling up on super nutrients is a great way to get your body in shape and take your fitness to the next level! It is also important to incorporate superfoods into your diet that energize and nourish your body all year round. Chia seeds are some of those amazing little powerhouses that do just that! I love putting them in my Chocolate Super Smoothie! They thicken it up, add fiber and give it the dose of essential fats required for the day!

I know in this video you don’t see me add the chia seeds, but they are there! Just add 1 tbsp with the goji berries. Also you can substitute the Sun Warrior protein for Ruth’s Hemp Protein.

 

To get a kickstart and learn how to make this and other superfood recipes, join me for Fit and Fabulous on April 2nd !

Also, if you want to get a head-start on your workouts get yourself a copy of my ebook Purely Fit!

 

Please share with us how Chia can boost your workouts and you can WIN an incredible gift basket filled with Ruth’s Chia Goodies.

Share this on Twitter : “This is how I boost my workouts with #chia …. join the fun on @marniwasserman (and link to this post)”

Share on Facebook : How do you boost your workouts with Chia!

You can get more delicious knowledge by checking out Marni’s Purely Fit e-book, available here: http://www.marniwasserman.com/ebooks/

 

What makes your Chia sweet?

For the second round of Ruth’s Chia giveaway brigade we want to know what sweeteners you use to create the best chia pudding (dare I say, EVER?!)

If you missed last weeks giveaway opportunity, check it out here!

Another special property of chia, is that it tends to blend well with all sorts of flavours and sweeteners! Chia seeds are a great source of essential fats and thus make any meal more nutritious and delicious. I love making chia pudding! And some of my favourite sweeteners to add are maple syrup, honey or coconut nectar. This makes for a delicious and nourishing breakfast! It’s hearty, satisfying and provides you with energy as long as you have the right sweetener in it.  Even better, when a natural sweetener is combined with the healthy omega fats in chia seeds – it actually helps to moderate your blood sugar! This keeps you balanced all day long, as long as you are using just a tablespoon (maybe a little more) of sweetener.

If your looking for some ideas on what kinds of sweeteners you can use, watch this!

 

To make delicious brunch inspired meals and become familiar with chia seeds, particularly Ruths Chia Goodness, join me for Balanced Brunch on April 29th!

If you want to see a sample recipe of what I do with Chia seeds for breakfast check this one out!

Once again, we want to hear from you!

Please share with us your favourite way to use Chia Seeds and you will have a chance to win an incredible gift basket filled with Ruth’s Chia Goodies. I can’t disclose anything more yet!

Share this on Twitter : “What makes my #chia sweet is …. join the fun on @marniwasserman (and link to this post)”

Share on Facebook : What your favourite Chia Flavours are and link to this post!

 

Join me in the Smoothment!

I just love blending up delicious smoothies in my blender!

Start 2012 off with your Blender!

After being asked by Navitas Naturals, as one of their newest team members I am excited to share with you about there new program The Smoothment!

This program is designed to get you drinking more smoothies daily and to help you along every step of the way. This couldn’t be a better idea! From tips, recipes discounts on amazing superfood products, along with videos on how to make the tastiest smoothies, they’ve got it all. There’s nothing like having your hand held all the way from your blender to your glass! P.S. Don’t forget to sip your smoothie with a glass STRAWESOME straw!

If you are not already making smoothies or haven’t figured out just why they are so good for you let me help you out first:

Top reasons to start the new year off with a smoothie!

Not only are smoothies refreshing and give you energy first thing in the morning – but they are also so much fun to create. Everyday you can create a new theme in your blender using different, flavours, tastes and textures  pack it full of raw organic, fruits, vegetables and superfoods!

Making a smoothie is the easiest way to absorb a whole bunch of nutrients all at once. They are full of fiber and vitamins and depending on what you put into it you can also get your daily dose of protein, antioxidants and healthy fats.

Why not indulge… and drink your next meal? What can be more delicious than a creamy smoothie that fills you up and gives your body the nutrition and vitality that it requires to thrive? There really is no better answer…so let me tell you five simple reasons why you should be making smoothies and blending your way to health!

Time Saver – Smoothies take all of  5-10 minutes to make (depending on how prepared you are) and can be taken on the go, and will last all day in a stainless steel bottle.

Easy to Absorb – liquids are easier to digest and allow nutrients to absorb into your cells for immediate uptake.

All -in -One – you can get a “whole” lot of goodness into one blender – nutrients, protein, carbohydrates and fat!

Super Fun– enjoy the “process” get creative with colourful ingredients and textures (add granola and eat it with a spoon!)

Liquid Energy – use superfoods to give you a boost (no booster juice!!!) Make your own blend and enjoy in the morning, afternoon or pre/post work out!

You are in luck because I am going to give simple steps on how you can to make the perfect smoothie everyday.

 

How to blend your way to health:

These can be made in any blender (but a Vitamix or BlendTec are highly recommended!)

1. Start with 2 cups of liquid – rice milk, almond milk, hemp milk, coconut water
2. Choose your protein (2 tbsp or more)– raw brown rice protein (Sun Warrior - (Use coupon code MW007 to save on your order)), hemp protein, hemp hearts or almonds
3. Choose your fruit (1/2 – 1 cup of either)– blueberries, raspberries, banana, mango, avocado, dates
4. Choose your green (one handful)– spinach, kale, chard, sprouts, cucumber or (1 tsp) greens powder, spirulina, chlorella
5. Choose your superfoods – (1 tablespoon of one or more) goji berries, acai, pomegranate powder, cacao nibs, maca, mesquite, hemp seeds, raw honey, chia seeds, matcha green tea

Want to win some Superfoods?

Sign up and join the Smoothment and WIN some superfoods!

1. Leave a comment below

2. Join our pages Delicious Knowledge and Navitas Naturals

3. Share The Smoothment on Twitter

A Sweet Giveaway

I am in a great mood this week and I feel like giving away goodies…gluten free ones, I might add. Not only is Gluten Free the theme of my week – as it will be featured in my article this week in Chatelaine on Friday but my class on Thursday night is also Gluten Free (2 spots left might I mention).

I also want to take this opportunity to feature a product line that I so truly value and appreciate, Sweets from the Earth. They are everywhere, I bet you have even tried or at least seen there cookies or cakes somewhere in the city of Toronto (or Canada?). They a family run business that focuses on quality desserts that are made with love and no dairy, eggs some with no wheat and more recently no nuts in some of their goodies and no gluten in others. In fact, they have two separate facilities to adhere to these strict and common allergens to gluten and nuts. This is truly where the market is going. More and more people are gluten intolerant, with true sensitives to the protein found in wheat called gluten. This can be a difficult and devastating occurrence when diagnosed. Some people go through life with it, and some people have just figured it out!

It may seem daunting like there is nothing to eat. I think that even before people get worried about what breads and pastas they can’t eat – they think that they will never see a cookie, cake or square ever again? Well that is not true. Not only are there thousands of recipes to be found in my cooking classes, books and online – especially right here on my blog - that are gluten-free friendly, but there are incredible products such as those from Sweets From the Earth that take pride in making delicious desserts that are free of gluten but not of flavour. P.S. you don’t have to have have an intolerance to gluten or be vegan to enjoy these desserts – they can be enjoyed by all. Also note that their gluten free items are not necessarily nut free!

You will not only be less bloated after eating one of their decadent sweets but you will feel good knowing that you can enjoy a perfectly healthy dessert that resembles and if not takes over the “traditional” version.

All that being said, Sweets from the Earth has been kind enough to put together an incredible Gift Basket for ONE lucky winner that MUST live in TORONTO. This basket will feature some of Sweets from the Earth most delicious gluten free goodies.

The Details:

In order to win and to be valid – you must live in Canada.

You need to tell me why you would benefit from this amazing gift basket.

Are you gluten free? Do you have Celiac disease? Have you been missing out on sweets?

Please share your story here and which ever one touches me and Sweets from the Earth the most will get a special package in the mail!

Please also…

Share on Twitter and link back to this blog

Share on Facebook and link back to this blog

Join Delicious Knowledge and Sweets from the Earth Pages

From Sha Sha….with Love!

Last Monday, family day – Ryan and I went to the Sha Sha Co. factory. If you aren’t familiar with this incredible product line, it is about time you are! Sha Sha Bread Co is a Canadian bakery company that is responsible for making some of the most incredibly nutritious and tastiest products on the market. From a variety of sprouted breads, to delicious heart shaped cookies, and more recently launched is their new bio buds and a sprouted buckwheat snack.

I have been in love with thier products (breads, pizza crusts, flatbreads) for years now, as they embrace spelt as a staple grain, they take pride in the baking process by soaking and sprouting their grains and everything they make just tastes so good and is made with love.

I will be featuring some of thier products at our wedding and Ryan will be fueled on ShaSha goodness for his treck to the north pole – see more here!

It is one thing to love a product and buy it and use it. But it is another thing to actually meet the creator himself, Sha Sha, and go to visit the factory. Everthing just seemd happen coincidentally. Ryan and I were planning to go and visit the factory on Family Day, and just the weekend before, I attended the annual Organic Groweres Conference and listened to Sha Sha speak at two seperate lectures over the weekend.

Sha Sha is purely passionate about what he does. He is a baker at heart and wanted nothing more than to make the most nutritoius breads and baked goods. He set out on this mission and now has a full thriving business because of it. I can totally relate to this, as a good business just doesn’t come with hard work and money – it comes with passion and love. Something I take pride in everyday with my own business. So after hearing the voice behind the breads and goodies I have been indulging in for years, this made me even more excited to visit his home…the ShaSha Co. factory.

I call it a home, because that is truly what the factory felt like. Being a family run business – it is has the warmth and feel as if we were invited into Sha Sha’s home. With kids and families part taking in the free event on family day you could just see how excited kids actually get about their products. Using bright colours and friendly packaging also thier facility is nut free – which opens it’s doors to even more avenues. The factory also implements green practices that have the environment in mind like re-using water, being efficient with energy and power usage, managing waste and paper trails and sourcing local and organic products as much as possible to keep the costs and travel emissions low! Sha Sha is truly innovative in everything that he does and we all get to benefit from it as a result!

The array of products that Sha Sha offers

Sha Sha educating his visitors

Lots of Love!

Ready to be enjoyed!

 

Happy with our goodie bags of treats!

 

Can’t all factories be like this? Filled with love, making delicious happy and healthy products that everyone can enjoy?

Thanks Sha Sha for being a frontier!

 

Have you tried Sha Sha breads or products? if not…..

Tell me why you love them and I might just send you some delicious spelt ginger heart cookies!

Two for Tea… and Tea for YOU!

Yes you heard me, tea for you! I am giving a away a whole tin of Nourish Tea‘s looseleaf tea. If you haven’t tried one of their teas yet then you are truly missing out. Nourish tea is a Toronto based company that brings the purest and most wholesome organic teas to consumers. Their tea spectrum ranges from green teas to white teas, black teas and their newest line of amazing herbals teas. However a favourite among many is Chai and for that reason I am going to give away a whole tin of YUMMY CHAI – but first let’s talk about Chai!

This flavourful blend of traditional Indian spices like cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper and other warming delicious spices that make this tea unique. If you want to find out more on chai read my post.There are some great reasons here as to how chai tea began and what chai actually means. Most traditional chai is made from black tea, however you can also make it with red tea if you have a caffeine sensitivity like me. Every now and then, I treat myself and enjoy nourish teas’ chai and it is fabulous and fresh.

For me…this tea is best in the morning!

Marni’s Morning Chai Latte

 

1-2 tsp Yummy Chai

2 cups vanilla rice milk or almond milk

1 tbsp honey

pinch of cinnamon

1. In a small pot bring “milk” to a boil. Lower head and add Chai tea. Stir and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

2. Pour through a tea steeper into a large mug.

3. Stir in honey and sprinkle with cinnamon.

 

Now in order to be the owner of this delicious tea…I need a couple of things from you! There are a number of ways you can win this contest.

1. Leave a comment here and tell me your favourite kind of tea or why you love Chai!

2. Post a link to this post on your blog and come back here letting me know you did so!

3. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this post and your favourite tea and let me know on this post! You can also click on Twitter Icon at bottom!

4. Become a Fan of Delicious Knowledge and leave a comment on my fan page and/or on my blog! You can also click on Facebook Icon at bottom!

5. Follow my blog and of course, leave a comment!

I will then assign a number to every post, comment and tweet  for the next week and then randomly pick a number. (This means of course you can share more than once in multiple ways – as it will only increase your chances to win!) I will then announce the winner on my blog and get in contact with you!

It’s Tea Time!