WIAW: Lower sugar foods

I don’t have a Tuesday Shoes-Day post for you, but I did just get a new pair of shoes in the mail today and bought a cute new pair of sandals on Sunday.  I’ll show them both soon

And yes it’s technically Tuesday, but I’m going to post my What I Ate Wednesday (WIAW) a lil’ early if that’s okay. 

But before I do that, I want to mention that I have successfully completed two days (out of the 8 weeks) of Tina’s Best Body Bootcamp (BBB) and I’m lovin’ it.  I’m not overly sore (thanks to all those personal training sessions) and the exercises are not ones I typically do so I’m entertained.  We’ve hit both the upper body and lower body and Wednesday is all about the core, to which I say bring it on.  I love working my abs.

Alright, back to WIAW – as I noted last week, I am trying to reduce my overall sugar intake, which requires revamping my eats just a bit. 

I’ve been desperate to find protein bars with a smaller sugar count.  How could I forget NuGo Slims?  They were kind enough to send me some about a year ago and I revisited the stats and am so pleased: 

The brownie flavor is my fave with the roasted peanut a close second.  And they’re sold through Soap.com — partner company with Diapers.com — so they are super easy for me to get with the ridiculous amount of things I purchase from the latter.  You can also get them at Whole Foods.

Another option is the Promax Lower Sugar bars.  They have 9g opposed to the typical 20g (?).  Given the choice between the two, I’d go with the NuGo though.

Earth Balance coconut & peanut spread:  wow!  This stuff is good.  If you’re  coconut lover, then you will surely appreciate the subtle coconut goodness that is in this mild, smooth PB.  It’s delish.  Pricey, but delish.  I even hooked a friend on it…sorry Jennifer!

SO Delicious coconut milk.  Again, in my quest for lowering my sugar intake, I’ve been exploring other milks.  This coconut milk is awesome.  Again, fabulous mild flavor and only 45 cals in 1 cup!  Oh and 1g of sugar per serving.  Not too shabby.

Finally, Trader Joe’s Greek Style 2% plain yogurt.  More great stats (1 cup):  160 cals, 5g sugar, 24g (!!!) protein.   This is super thick and creamy.  Yum!

A typical day of lower sugar meals:

• Breakfast: Brewed coffee with 1 tbsp sugar free creamer (<—not healthy, but not giving it up!), 1/2 cup old fashioned oats with about 50 cal scoop of vanilla protein powder, and a dash of cinnamon
• Lunch: Lentil quesadilla using TJ’s precooked lentils, a La Tortilla Factory low carb tortilla  with sharp cheddar shredded cheese (<1/4 cup) and topped with a hefty serving of spicy salsa
• Snack: 1 cup TJ’s Greek style yogurt with 1/4 cup fresh blueberries and more cinnamon
• Snack (2): ~16 almonds
• Dinner: Homemade soup (white chili chicken was a great one that my MIL made..yummm)
• Bonus: 1 glass red wine

Stats (rough estimate) = ~1400-1500, protein ~80g, sugar ~18g

Okay, your turn, what lower sugar foods are you loving? 

Are you participating in the BBB?

My take on NuGo Slims

I’m a busy girl. 

I’ve got this whole baby thing going on.  I work 45-50 hours a week.  I am coordinating a wedding this weekend at the SF Zoo.  I like to fit in 4-5 workouts every week.  I have 3 fur babies and a hubby to take care of.

So yeah, I’m busy.

Being busy means I need easy snacks on the go.  Sometimes easy meals on the go too.  I’ve made it no secret that NuGo Dark has been of my favorite nutrition bars for years.  My bestie introduced me to them years ago and I was hooked on the spot. So much so that I was willing to spend ridiculous shipping fees on obscure websites just to get the goods. 

And then I discovered them at Whole Foods.  And even at airports too.  And a slew of new flavors met my eyes…and my stomach. 

While I’m a die-hard NuGo Dark fan, I was open to trying each and every new bar they offered.  This includes the Slim bar they just released and so kindly sent to me:

NuGo Slims are, an almost sugar free, all-natural bar dipped in REAL Dark Chocolate with no maltitol. With only 2g sugar (coming from our REAL Dark Chocolate), these bars pack 15g protein and either 9 or 10g fiber. (Source)

I knew I’d want the Roasted Peanut first and I made an excellent choice.  I loved the subtle sweetness, the true peanut taste, the chocolate coating, and the dryness of the bar.  Yes I’m one of those people that like a drier bar.  It makes me feel more full. 

I stashed the Brownie flavor in my purse for running errands with the hubby on Sunday.  Sure enough we needed a mid-day snack.  He loved the chocolate!  While I thought it was quite tasty, I preferred the peanut. 

But you know what I noticed online?  NuGo is offering a Raspberry Truffle flavor?  Oh my!  Hey NuGo – need a taste tester???

So if you haven’t jumped on the NuGo bandwagon, get on it will you.  And just an fyi, these thoughts are all my own.  Just ask anyone at HLS who saw me hoarding multiple leftover bags of NuGo’s and squealing with delight

Are you a NuGo fan?  What’s your favorite?