Recipe: Flour-less Whole Grain Seedy Bread

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There's this general misconception out there, probably thanks to the carb-phobic diet industry, that bread is unhealthy. False! Bread can be unhealthy, just like anything else, but it isn't inherently unhealthy. There are all sorts of healthy bread out there and the best way to make sure that the bread in your sandwich/on your plate/drowning under your peanut butter is healthy is to make it yourself!

If you want to keep the carbs down and the healthy fats and proteins and fiber up, this bread is for you. It's wheat-free and, if you use gluten-free oats, is also gluten-free. It's chock-full of heart-healthy nuts and seeds, plus enough fiber to pep up your digestive system *cough, cough* from the chia seeds and whole psyllium seed husks. If you want to make it sugar-free, you can sub stevia for the maple syrup - but honestly, I don't see the point. It's a very modest amount of maple syrup, adds a little nice something, and a teeny-tiny bit of sugar won't kill you. But it's up to you!

Enough blathering on and on from me, here's the recipe. Happy baking!

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Review and Giveaway(!) : My Favorite Indulgence

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I love breakfast and it's so important! Especially before a crazy day (as today will be for those who partake in the Black Friday shopping frenzy) or after a very indulgent day (as yesterday likely was for many of us), it's important to eat a healthy, balanced breakfast with whole grains for energy and fiber to keep us satisfied all day long.

Luckily, a healthy breakfast can also be a delicious breakfast!

My go-to for breakfast all week has been My Favorite Indulgence, a breakfast choice that's both deliciously indulgent (it lives up to its name) and delightfully healthy. 

Read on to learn more about the granolas and to find out how you can enter to win the four granolas pictured above! 

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Review: Mamma Chia Organic Chia Granola Clusters and Organic Chia Vitality Bars!

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Let me introduce you to my new favorite snack foods. 

Mamma Chia Organic Vitality Bars and Organic Chia Granola Clusters are so deliciously fantastic.

They're both packed with heart healthy chia seeds, healthy fats, and plant-based protein. They're also all organic, gluten-free, and made with 100% whole grains in the case of the granola (the bars aren't grain-based).

Want omega-3 fatty acids (a whopping 1000mg of them) in a sweet, chocolatey, delicious and portable snack? Mamma Chia Vitality Bars have you covered!

They come in four great flavors, each as delicious as the next. 

While my favorite (by a narrow margin) were the Blueberry & Dark Chocolate Vitality bars, every single flavor was amazing. 

Cherry & Dark Chocolate was a close second favorite. The sweet tart cherries worked amazingly well with the chocolate and nuts!

I loved that the bars were healthy, a great snacking size, made with all natural ingredients in relatively unprocessed forms (I could still tell what the nuts and seeds and dried fruits making up the bars were), and that they were coated in chocolate, making them taste much more like indulgent chocolate bars than a healthy snack!

And yet they are a healthy snack with the omega-3 fatty acids you need to keep your brain and heart in tip-top shape. Hooray!

I could rave about the bars all day, but I also want to get to the granola.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Mamma Chia granola won a place among my favorite cereals of all time from the first bite.

It's sweet, it's crunchy, it's hearty, and there are big chunks of granola for from-the-bag snacking as well as smaller pieces for a more cereal-like experience.

How do I love soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free 100% whole grain Mamma Chia Vitality Granola? Let me list the ways.

With milk, with yogurt, from the bag, on a smoothie, on an acai bowl, from the bag, on ice cream, with peanut butter and banana, in trail mix, and straight from the bag.

I may have mentioned that last way a few times, but it's because the granola is just that good. It tastes great with everything, but it really doesn't need anything to make it delicious!

Oh, and did I mention it's non-GMO, too? Trust me, you'll want to try this granola - any of the delicious flavors will do. You can thank me later!

What is your favorite way to eat granola?

What kind of snack bars do you like most often?

What snacks do you keep in your handbag/backpack/coat pocket? Is that last one just me?

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Review and GIVEAWAY - Enjoy Life Not Nuts! Seeds & Fruit Mix

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Want a snack that's salty, sweet, and crunchy all at once? Want it to be school lunchbox-friendly, in days when many cafeterias are going nut free to avoid dangerous allergy situations?

Enjoy Life Not Nuts! Seed and Fruit Mixes fit the bill perfectly!

They come in two varieties, Beach Bash and Mountain Mambo, both of which are entirely free of peanuts (as well as any other nights!) and all eight of the most common allergens.

Both varieties are delicious and available in both a larger 6oz bag for multiple occasion snacking and an individual pack for convenience!

The Beach Bash features sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried pineapple, dried apricots, and cranberries for a tropical-flavored treat that will warm you right up as the winter approaches and sunny 85 degree afternoons become a distant memory.



The Mountain Mambo is a throwback to old school trail mix, with dark chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and dried fruits - but made allergy friendly!

They're healthy and delicious snacks for a quick pick-me-up at any time of day. Yum!

But don't just take my word for how great these snacks are - try them yourself! We're giving away two big 6oz bags, one of each flavor, and two individual packs, one of each flavor, to one lucky winner!

You have until midnight on the 28 (next Tuesday) to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Good luck!

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New Product: Mary's Gone Crackers Everything Pretzels Review

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I'm a big fan of snack foods, but haven't done that many snack food reviews in a while. I know, I know - I totally dropped the ball there.

Cut me some slack! I graduated from Harvard, moved to a new city (love it, #NYCistheshizz), started a new job (don't love it, bummer), and discovered that I live down the street from a Red Mango and a raw vegan place whose cocoa pies and avocado sushi are #theshizz.

Okay, maybe that last one isn't relevant. But isn't it awesome?

Anyway, it's time that I get back to the important stuff. You know: blogging, decorating my room some more, getting back into the writing groove, studying my craft (kidding, I really meant playing pretend -> acting), and covering the snack stuff reviews.

To come back with a bang, I have something that's entirely new on the market for you guys. 

Drumroll, please...

Mary's Gone Crackers presents Everything Pretzels!

I'm definitely more of a sweet than savory snack girl, but I actually do enjoy pretzels. They mix into sweet snacks very well, whether it's mixing with chocolate, ice cream, yogurt, or any combination of the above!

I love that these are whole grain and all-natural, because a lot of pretzels are just refined white flour and salt, so there's no nutritional benefit to eating them. These are every bit as delicious (more delicious, actually, because the whole grains lend an extra nuttiness) so why not get in that extra fiber and extra nutrition?

They're also very flavorful - literally everything. 

Okay, not literally everything. But that's good, because who wants to eat bath water-flavored pretzels? Not this girl.

Instead, they're flavored by a lot of things that are delicious and healthy! Sure, there is a fair amount of sodium - they're a salty, savory snack, after all. But everything in moderation, so it's fine.

There's also garlic, onion, seeds (as we've come to expect from Mary's Gone Crackers), and spices of all sorts. All in all, a great snack for the mid-afternoon slump, a picnic, a hike, or (dare I say it?) brown bags for school or work.

Fall is coming! Whether you have a little ragamuffin or you are a little ragamuffin (okay, okay, if you're a college kid, I guess you're notthat little) it's not too early to start thinking back-to-school planning. The shops are already all on it! My little sister picked up the cutest pink glitter pencil pouch the other day.

I'm glad to see that my influence extends all the way down the East Coast to home, sweet home in North Carolina.

Speaking about home, sweet home and family - my super-smart, fabulously frugal mom is an excellent couponer. I haven't used them much in a while, but I think I'll get back into it with my newest non-pretzel obsession: the Checkout51 app. 

It's a free app that I found at the app store and you just download it to your phone, shop as you normally would, and scan in your receipt afterwards when you get home to get the coupon value as cash-back! 

It's perfect for the lazy couponer, because there's no coupon-clipping, no confused store clerks, no angry fellow shoppers getting impatient at checkout, and no need for foresight. 

The selections change weekly for what's available and you get your refunds cashed out once you hit the $20 cash-back mark. 

I'm not sure yet how it will work out for me, since I haven't used it long enough to see if the coupons offered are things I buy super much, but the range seems good, I like that offers change weekly like normal coupon circulars, and seems like it might be a good way to save a little on this crazy city prices.

I'll keep you updated, but I just had to share that with you guys because you're awesome and saving money is great.

Do you have any money-saving tips to share with me?Do you coupon? If you do, are you a systematic/extreme couponer or do you just do it occasionally, when you remember?

Pretzels or crackers? I'm usually leaning pretzels, including in this case.

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Happy (almost) Birthday to Me!

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I turn 21 tomorrow (WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOT)!

...and have a tough midterm the following evening. Ah well. Spring break is never over my birthday. 

This week has been packed with work, as I've adjusted to being back from break (Harvard professors enjoy giving work over break and, since I was having fun in Florida, I had to do crazy amounts of work when I came back).

Luckily I planned ahead for a crazy busy week and decided to order some energizing meals from Veggie Vibes!

You know how much I love their meals from earlier posts and my vlog. These didn't disappoint!



That's the Fresh Gyro (but all raw vegan - those are dried fruits, that's not darkened beef).



It was amazing, the caramelized onions were so sweet, the dried fruits so chewy, the veggies so incredibly fresh, and the lettuce wraps (large leaves of romaine on the bottom, you construct the wraps yourself with the creamilicious sauces) were crisp and sturdy enough to support all the toppings.

Time after time, I'm impressed with the incredible quality of the ingredients Chef Perkunas uses.



The colors of the food are always so bright and lively, adding to the visual appeal of the meals.



These Collard Rolls were a little sushi-esque, with a crunchy sunflower seed-based spread in each roll and an amazingly creamy Japanice sauce to dip them into.



I'm not sure how to describe the sauce best, other than just to say that it's scrumptious, so you'll have to try it yourself the next time this dish is offered.



Which you would want to do anyway, given how delicious the rolls are.



This is beautiful healthy food that you want to eat!



Even the Indonesian Soup (I'm not a big soup person, generally) is creamy and delicious and satisfying.



The flavors are bold, the spices perfect, and the texture beyond creamy.



I love the ever-changing menu (a new one every week!) because there are so many delicious things to try and pretty much everything Chef Perkunas comes up with is brilliant.



I had no idea what to expect from a cauliflower terrine, but it was delicious, fresh, satisfying, energizing, and up to Chef Perkunas's always high standards! It's fun to get to try the new dishes and he often puts new dishes into the rotation that haven't been offered at all before.

But I also really enjoy the staple menu items.

The Raw Kale Chips are my favorite staple item (they're on the menu every week) and the bag is a really generous portion that's enough for several snacks and blows conventional potato chips out of the water.

And Chef Perkunas is awesome! In addition to being really easy to get a hold of and really responsive if you have any questions about your order (you can tell he really loves being a raw chef for the people) he's just a really generous guy!

And a wizard with desserts. 

The website warning for this Cinnamon-Apple Pie is that you should get ready to lick the container. 

I concur.

I really enjoyed putting this in the chiller or the freezer for thirty minutes before eating, just so that the nut layers got a little crunchier (perfect balance off of the creamy, ooey gooey amazing cinnamon date layer). 

I have yet to meet a Veggie Vibes dessert that I don't love! And that they're healthy, too, is a great bonus.

But try them for yourself! Don't forget to put in your order ASAP, then you'll still be able to try the mango pie that's on the menu for next week.

 Mention Living, Learning, Eating to get a free extra entree with your order. They ship nationwide!

Have you tried Veggie Vibes yet? Do it!

When is your birthday?

What do you like doing on your birthday? 

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Just Pure Foods Kale-Nola Review + GIVEAWAY!

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I love granola and have recently discovered that kalenolas are a fun way to mix things up.

Just Pure Foods sent me both of their Kale-Nola to try! They have a Maple Cranberry Kale-Nola and a Chocolate Kale-Nola.

I was happy to see that, while there was a good handful or so of crumbly stuff in the bottom of the bag, the kale-nola actually came in mostly big pieces - really big ones!

I love when there are big chunks of kale-nola or granola, because then it's great for eating out of the bag when you want a handy snack.

And they're a very healthy snack, too! Plenty of healthy fats from the seeds, whole grains from the sprouted buckwheat, and natural sugars from agave and coconut palm sugar.



Since they're low-temperature dried, I think they probably work for most raw foodists, too.

The Maple Cranberry Kale-Nola was delicious.



There were plenty of dried cranberries and the granola was sweet enough without having an overwhelming maple flavor.

But my favorite was the Chocolate Kale-Nola - of course!

It was like Kalenola with chocolate melted over and solidified - so good. A super chocolatey trail mix-reminiscent treat!

You can eat the Kale-Nola by itself, with yogurt, on ice cream (especially the Chocolate Kale-Nola, it really is dessert-worthy), or with any type of milk.

Do you want to try the Kale-Nolas yourself (or any of Just Pure Foods other healthy snacks, like Onion Rings, Kale Chips, and Zucchini Chips)? Just Pure Foods will send one lucky Living, Learning, Eating reader 5 free products of their choice!

The giveaway stays open for two weeks, US readers enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Louise's Chia Granola Review & GIVEAWAY!!

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I'm on a unique granola kick!

Today's unique granola is another grain-free granola - but instead of being based on kale, it's based on chia seeds, nuts, and seeds.

I like a lot of what they have to say (and what they are/stand for) but I'm not really loving the hating on Kellogg's and General Mills. Those brands definitely do have some cereals that wouldn't top any nutritionists must-eat list, but they also have some solid options - I'm a big fan of Fiber One cereals (and a lukewarm fan of cheerios) and I think it's great that those big brands have tried to shift cereals like Cinnamon Toast Crunch (a childhood favorite) and Fruit Loops in a healthier direction with whole grains.

And I just don't like slander campaigns, whether it's for politicians or products.

Anyway, back to the cereal.

Louise's Granola has no oats, no grains, no added sugars, and nothing unnatural. It's great for those with celiac's disease or those who try to limit grain consumption (I personally think grains are part of a healthy diet) or keep carbs under control (like diabetics). 

It's also great for anyone trying to add in some heart-healthy fats or just looking for an alternative cereal to mix things up!

Best of all, it genuinely tastes really good. Many of us would probably consider it more of a trail mix than a granola, with all the dried fruits, nuts, and seeds that are in it, but I really liked that about it!

It made an excellent yogurt topping as an afternoon snack, and I'm sure a bowlful would taste great with some almond milk for breakfast (though I haven't tried it that way yet).

As stated earlier, it's super healthy. A healthy breakfast is important to start the day properly and this one certainly fits the bill! I love that you don't have to worry about a sugar crash with it and all the healthy fats give it staying power.

A third cup isn't a meal-sized serving for me, it needs to be at least a cup, but a cup is 450 calories and that's appropriate for breakfast - you don't want to eat like a bird and be starving in two seconds! I have LSATs next week, so I'll definitely have this before the exam. Brain food for the win!

Want to try it yourself? They're letting me give their granola to TWO lucky LLE readers! If you're over 18 and in the US, enter through Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners will be announced here on June 20.

What do you eat before exams?

What's your favorite breakfast at the moment?

How often do you eat granola?

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