Premier Protein #MixedBerrySmoothie Review

I was recently sent some Mixed Berry Smoothie's to try from Premier Protein. I was excited to receive this product as I'm always looking for fast, quick and affordable protein options. There are many mornings and afternoons where this would be a perfect energy boost, especially with a very active baby running around the house and being limited in time or on-the-go. These smoothies have a great balance of carbs, fats and proteins that provide a long-lasting source of energy.

Let me just say, I was shocked by how great these smoothies tasted.  I rarely, if ever, find protein drinks that I like and I was pleasantly surprised at the flavor and that they didn't taste chalky at all. They tasted awesome and definitely a product that I'll be purchasing!

Another thing that I really liked about this product is that it has 60% less sugar than the leading refrigerated protein smoothies. I find that most contained WAY too much sugar for my liking. Each serving has 5 grams of fiber, 15 grams of protein and 140 calories, which makes it a healthy, delicious choice for a morning boost. midday snack or post-workout fuel.

Since I'm still breastfeeding and continuously training for various running races (10k trail run this weekend!), I'm constantly trying to add additional protein to my diet to help keep my supply up and keep my body fueled. Nursing women need 20 grams more protein a day than they did before pregnancy to support milk production so having just one smoothie daily helps me to nearly reach that goal. Plus, it's also loaded with many other essential vitamins and minerals.

Check out all those nutritional stats friends!

Mom and baby approved!

If you're interested in trying these awesome smoothies yourself, check out the following links to grab a $4 off coupons from Meijer and/or Kroger (don't forget to #ShareGoodEnergy and these savings with others):

• Meijer (its their mPerks so no printing necessary!)
• Kroger (digital coupon to load onto shopping card)

Disclosure: I received this product for free in exchange for writing a blog review. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own.

Some like it HOT!

I bet when you think of hot, the last thing that pops into your mind is chickpeas.  For me, chickpeas (garbanzo beans) on their own are just kind of bland and I’m really not big on the texture, but pop those babies in the oven with some spice or turn them into hummus and OMG, I’m all over them. 

These roasted morsels are chock full of flavor, good for you and ridiculously easy to make.  And like always, they are relatively cheap to make too (I know we all can stand to save as much as we can in these tough financial times).

Roasted Spicy Chickpeas
Ingredients:

• 2 cans of chickpeas (15 oz.)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• Salt to taste

*Spices can be varied for taste/preferences (I like my stuff with a good spicy kick to it).


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Rinse and drain the chickpeas.  I use a towel to pat away any additional moisture. 

Toss chickpeas in bowl and coat with olive oil.  Add spices and stir until fully covered and distributed.

Transfer chickpeas to baking sheet (cover sheet with foil if you would like a quick clean). 



Bake for 45-60 minutes until at desired texture (I bake mine longer in order to have a more crunchy texture). Stir or shake them every 20 minutes or so to get even browning/prevent overcooking.

Enjoy! These are great on their own, but I love throwing them on a salad too for a little extra flavor and a protein punch!



These are seriously one of my favorite snacks.  They’re super portable and easy to make.

Some other benefits to chickpeas (garbanzo beans):

• Great source of vegetarian protein
• Contains lots of minerals, such as calcium, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and zinc.
• Low on glycemic index, which is important for keeping blood sugar levels stable
• Lots of fiber, so you feel full longer and great for colon and digestive health.

Do you have a favorite healthy spicy snack? Share your recipe!