I am frequently asked to recommend some products. There are a few products that get my seal of approval that make for convenient foods when you are unable to eat a healthy home cooked meal. These would still need to be portioned out and should only be eaten in response to true hunger.
1. Mary’s Gone Crackers. These come in 5 flavors Original, Caraway, Herb, Black Pepper, and Onion. I like them nutritionally because they are high in fiber, gluten free and contain high nutrient seeds flax and sesame as a source of fat rather than processed oil found in most crackers. They taste good and add a nice crunch for soup or can be used as a crouton substitute for a salad.
2. Larabar. These are very simple raw fruit and nut bars in different flavors. That is a big reason they are so great. They have no sugars other than what is naturally occurring in the fruit and the nuts are raw which means the naturally occurring fats have not been altered in an unhealthful way (which can occur when nuts are roasted at high temperatures). Because they are made with dried fruits rather than sugar for sweeteners, their antioxidant capacity is much higher than for energy bars with syrups and sugars for sweetener so their nutrient profile is very high. Of course, I also recommend them because they are delicious and come in MANY flavors like chocolate coconut, key lime pie, lemon bar, and cinnamon roll.
3. Chia seeds. These seeds are great for adding more omega-3 fats to your diet. Unlike flaxseed which has to be ground before consuming, chia can be sprinkled on foods as is. They also can absorb liquids and make puddings and sauces with a nice thick consistency.
4. Hemp seed is also great for adding omega-3 fats and numerous other nutrients in a small seed. They are high in protein so make for great post-workout recovery foods for muscle repair.
