Tag: Featured

Smoothies can be one of the most delicious and simple ways to get some easy-to-digest nutrition into your diet. However, when set out to build the perfect smoothie, you want to make sure you have all your ducks in a row! We’re ex-naying the guess-work and giving you the formula. Now you’ll know how to build the perfect superfood smoothie to keep you fuller longer, complete with all the goods.

Liquid Base: Start off with about 8oz of liquid. This can be almond milk (preferably unsweetened), coconut milk, coconut water, juice, etc. Choose something that is going to pair well with the rest of your ingredients. Making a creamy smoothie? Choose milk. Want something more fruity, almost like a slushy? Choose juice or coconut water.

Veggies/Fruit: One of the most functional parts of the smoothie is the ability to consume lots of fiber in a super easy to digest way. Some perfect smoothie additions can be berries, mangos, pineapple, peaches, kale, spinach, cauliflower, you name it! Add about 1 cup fruit or veg on top of your liquid.

Creaminess: One of the keys to a perfect smoothie is the texture. Although the liquid base contributes to this a bit, you always want to make sure to add something extra to really give the smoothie its classic creaminess. Some great options are frozen bananas or yogurt. Add 1 frozen banana or about ½ cup yogurt.

Ice: If you’re using frozen banana in your smoothie, it’s likely you won’t need ice. However, adding in a few cubes can make your smoothie extra cold and delicious. Pro tip: freeze up some plant milk/juice or choice in ice cube trays beforehand. Pop them into smoothies for a creamy delight without watering your smoothie down!

Protein: Protein is a great way to balance out the sometimes high-fat or carb content in a smoothie and make your smoothie more like a full, balanced meal. Try our Plant Protein as a great plant-based protein option for that perfect smoothie. There are numerous flavors depending on what you prefer, plus each scoop has 2 sneaky cups of fruits & veggies and 7 nutritious greens (nothing like a little hidden nutrition 😉).

Fat: Adding a tablespoon or two of coconut butter or any type of nut butter is another great way to ensure your smoothie is perfectly balanced. If you don’t have nut butters of any sort, you could also throw in a handful of nuts if you have a high-powered blender.

Extras: Now that you have the basics taken care of, have a little fun! Add in or top your smoothie with extra goodies like chia seeds, temp seeds, bee pollen, cacao nibs and much more! Also, try our Organic Smoothie Boosters for as an extra nutrition addition. Both in Functional Boosters like Brain, Energy and Collagen or Nutritious powders like Adaptogens, Kale, Supergreens and Grass & Shrooms. Just add in one 1 tsp and address all your wellness needs!

Between vacations, trips, and no school, summer lets us have fun and relax. With Fall officially here though, the days are growing shorter and the nights longer. But there’s no reason to lose the summer spirit. Here are 5 ways to keep the summer magic alive all year long.

Spend time outside. Temperatures may be dropping, but if we layer up we can still enjoy some sunshine. Whether you have a favorite hiking trail or just prefer a stroll around the block, don’t let shorter daylight hours keep you from getting on your feet!

Exercise in unconventional ways. Summer often has us exercising without it feeling like a stale routine. Try hula hooping or jump rope for a fun, upbeat workout!

Grill outside. Before it gets too cold, keep grilling your summer faves through the fall. Try grilled veggies brushed with olive oil.

Travel. Since most people travel in the summer months or over holidays, fall is a great time to find affordable rates for flights and hotels. Take a long weekend and discover a new place!

Eat seasonally. Summer offers us a bounty of produce, but each season continues to bring us a harvest. To stay in season after summer, incorporate squashes, root vegetables, and dark leafy greens.

Road trips are an exciting way to explore new places and destinations. When you travel by car, your whole route becomes part of the experience. Though road trips can be a fun way to travel, it can often be difficult to find healthy options and eat well en route. Here are some of our tips for staying healthy on a road trip!

1. Plan your non-perishables ahead of time.
So long as you have room in the car, stock up on your non-refrigerated items before your trip. We like raw nuts, dehydrated veggie chips, and rice crackers.

2. Pack a cooler.
If you have a reliable way to keep things cold, you can pack fresh fruits and veggies and organic dairy like yogurt or string cheese. If you plan on staying in hotels, you can check that they have a mini-fridge to re-freeze your ice packs each day.

3. Stay hydrated.
Being in a car for long hours can be dehydrating, so pack a case of water so you never have to stop when you need a drink. Even better, consider buying larger jugs of water and filling reusable bottles!

4. Add greens.
It can be hard to pack a lot of nutrition in a small package, but our Fizzy Green Tablets and Organic Wheatgrass Powder make it easy. Add a tablet to organic juice for a powerful blend of nutritious greens, phytonutrient-packed fruits, veggies and cereal grasses, digestive enzymes, and probiotics.

5. Stop at grocery stores.
Don’t forget that your only option isn’t fast food or convenience stores. Make a point to stop at grocery stores along the way to load up on healthy snacks when you run out. Many grocery stores often have affordable salad bars and other healthy options.

 

You’ve got choices when it comes to gettin’ your greens. And of course, everyone wants the most nutrient-dense super greens they can find. What makes Amazing Grass the best choice?

Simple. Our process.

See, we’re obsessively thoughtful about all the little details, right from the beginning.

We’ve organically grown grasses on our family farm in Kansas for over 3 generations. In that time, we perfected a simple process: slow growth, deep roots, mineral-rich soil, and harvesting at peak nutrition.

Our cereal grasses, which include wheat grass, barley grass and alfalfa grass (kale to come – yes, be excited!) are planted on our family farm in Kansas around August/September, and grown through a cold winter. Grass needs time to grow. We’re talking slow growth, so 200 days later, we harvest. We only harvest once a year at the crops’ nutritional peak, prior to the jointing stage.

Our roots run deep. You may have seen this phrase on our packaging and may be thinking to yourself, ‘Cool. All roots run deep, right?’ or possibly, ‘I don’t know why that matters. Don’t care. Sounds like Marketing mumbo jumbo.” Here’s what we mean though…

Growing our grasses through a cold winter forces the roots to grow deeper, away from the frost line, in order to soak up maximum nutrients from the soil. Our grasses quite literally dig deep to survive. Consequently, deeper roots yield a substantially more nutrient-dense grass; greener in color too.

Just like people, crops also require real time and work to grow into something substantial. We are such nature-copy-cats.

Time to harvest, so who makes the cut?  Just the tips. Why? Because grass blade tips are where it’s at – this is where most of the nutrients like to hang out. Of the grass blades we cut, 85% is digestible plant nutrition, and about 15% indigestible plant fiber, which helps promote a healthy digestive tract.

Cutting just the tips means producing a lower yield (less product) but higher quality (more nutrient-dense).

After all that, how do our grasses stack up against others? Kind of like comparing spinach to ice-berg lettuce.

Ever feel restless like you just need to get outside and explore? You’re not alone. Exploring a new environment and taking in the wonders of nature can ground us and leave us feeling refreshed and recharged after our trip. Here are some of our favorite places to travel to and explore. If you come across spots you haven’t seen yet, perhaps it’s time get your wander on…

Grand Canyon: This vast canyon, which overlooks the Colorado river, is 277 miles long, nearly to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep.^[1] The canyon is visited by over a million people each year, making it one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. The breathtaking views and stunning cliffs make this a sight not be missed.

Yosemite: Yosemite National Park is in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.^[1]  It’s often visited for its waterfalls and ancient giant sequoia trees, some of which can be up to 3000 years old!^[3] Be sure to visit the Yosemite Village where you’ll find shops, restaurants, lodging, the Yosemite Museum and the Ansel Adams Gallery of photos from the area.

Sedona: Sedona is an Arizona desert with gorgeous red rocks, steep canyons, and pine forests. Visitors enjoy its mild climate and thriving arts community. Uptown Sedona features shops, spas, and galleries. On the outskirts of town is Red Rock State Park where you can hike, bird watch, and picnic.

Big Sur: Considered the longest and most scenic stretch of undeveloped coastline in the United States, Big Sur includes both rugged mountains and gorgeous ocean views.^[4] Big Sur’s Cone Peak at 5,155 feet is just 3 miles from the ocean. There are multiple beaches to explore as well as camping sites.

Martha’s Vineyard: This island in Massachusetts is just south of Cape Cod. Only accessible by boat or air, the island features beaches, lighthouses, and farmland. A favorite travel destination for the Obamas, Martha’s Vineyard offers tons of great vacation activities like street fairs, farmer’s markets, fireworks, spas, and more.

Fire Island: Located off the southern shore of Long Island, Fire Island is a small island primarily accessible by ferry. This unique place has very few cars and residents and visitors travel mostly by bike. Enjoy the beautiful beaches or go hiking along nature trails. Ocean Beach, a popular destination, has a collection of restaurants and shops.

Wherever your travels take you, we hope you return home feeling amazing!

[1] https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

[2] https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm

[3] https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/sequoia-research.htm

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Sur

What we eat during the course of a day is integral to our nutrient intake and well-being. However, while sometimes it’s simple to figure out what we’re going to eat for breakfast or lunch or for a snack, it’s a little more challenging to meal plan for an entire week and makes sure you are consuming all the foods you want!

When putting together a week’s or even a day’s worth of meals, it’s important to consider a few things. First, you always want to make sure you’re consuming a balance of macronutrients – protein, fat and carbohydrates. This can be especially tricky, but not impossible when you eat a vegan or vegetarian diet. Having a diet with balanced macronutrients (especially when each meal has a little bit of each) will keep you satiated and energized. Our organic green superfood can help you give your body all the fuel it needs.

The second thing to keep in mind when putting together meals for the day is micronutrients. Just because you have a balanced meal with fat, protein and carbohydrates does not mean it’s healthy. It’s important to make sure your meals are full of lots of micronutrient-dense veggies and fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and if you consume animal products, make sure they are organic and grass-fed/pastured.

The last thing to consider is whether or not you are someone that consumes three meals a day or several smaller meals throughout the day. Each one of us is different, so it is important to do what’s right for you! Many find it helpful to “reset” by eating three, nutrient-dense meals per day to control snacking and cravings and then figuring out what works best for your body!

Here are 3 delicious and healthy vegan meals to get you started!!

Quick Asian Salad

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 handful rice noodles, ripped into smaller pieces
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil or other high heat cooking fat
• 2 cups roughly chopped romaine hearts
• 1 handful cashews, roasted
• ¼ cup mandarin oranges
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon coconut aminos

DIRECTIONS:

• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. When hot, add avocado oil and allow to heat.
• Once oil is hot, carefully add the rice noodles. If the noodles do not immediately puff up, the oil is not hot enough. Wait until the oil is hot and try again.
• The noodles should take only about 30 seconds to cook thoroughly. Remove from heat when all the noodles are puffy.
• Once the pan has cooled, carefully wipe out any excess oil from the pan.
• Reheat the pan and add cashews, cooking for about 5 minutes until just browned.
• In a large bowl add romaine lettuce, cashews, oranges and crispy rice noodles.
• For the dressing, either combine the sesame oil, coconut aminos and rice vinegar on the side and add to the salad or simply pour each over top if you’re in a rush!

Vegan Buddha Bowl

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ cup quinoa, raw
• 1 bunch broccolini (about 4-5 spears)
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 1 handful raw spinach
• ½ avocado
• ¼ cup coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon red curry paste
• 1-2 teaspoons sesame seeds
• salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

• Cook quinoa according to directions on package.
• Heat a skillet and add avocado oil.
• Once hot, add the broccolini plus salt and pepper to taste until charred and cooked al dente.
• Remove from pan and allow to cool.
• In a small sauce pan, combine coconut milk and curry paste until warm.
• Assemble the Buddha bowl by placing the cooked quinoa at the bottom and top with broccolini, avocado, spinach, curry sauce and sesame seeds.

Music amplifies just about everything we do. It can dazzle the mood of your summer barbecue, make everyone feel a bit more relaxed or pumped up, depending on what you’re looking for. It’s the subtle encouragement in the background to loosen up and enjoy the moment, and can help shape and cement our memories. So we’re saying cheers to the jams & sharing the tap-your-foot-kind-of-chill songs we’re passing summer days with.

• Sunset Lovers by Petit Biscuit
• Wishing Girl by Lola Marsh
• On Hold by The XX
• Big City Life by Mattafix
• Messages by Xavier Rudd
• Warranted Queen by Arum Rae
• Truth by Shallou
• Get Back to Ya by Casey Hurt
• Redbone by Childish Gambino
• California by The Lagoons
• My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit
• Calling by Ukiyo
• Flowers In Your Hair by The Lumineers
• One Day by Matisyahu
• Anemone by Slenderbodies
• River by Leon Bridges
• All I Want Is You by Barry Louis Polisar
• I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You by Black Kids

Want dense nutrition but don’t have a lot of time? Our new Fizzy Green Tablets make it easy! Our Fizzy Green Tablets are the most convenient and delicious way to get a daily dose of super greens and support your immune system. They’re crafted with an organic blend of wheatgrass, barley grass and alfalfa grass grown on our family farm in Kansas, and also includes a potent blend of over 30 antioxidant-rich superfoods including spirulina and chlorella. Here are five great ways to enjoy our Fizzy Green Tablets!

• Early mornings – Rushing out the door and no time to make a healthy breakfast? Get your nutrients covered from the start of your day. Each tablet delivers a full serving of greens and veggies.
• Afternoon slump – If you’re feeling tired by 3PM, trade coffee and sugary drinks for energy-boosting nutrients. Our formula of alkalizing greens and a full daily dose of vitamins B-1 and B-12 will have you focused and energized!
• On the Go – Whether you’re running errands or dashing to your next meeting, Fizzy Green Tablets make it easy. Drop a tablet in your water bottle and you can bring a nutritional boost with you wherever you go!
• After the gym – From spin class to yoga, refuel yourself with the rich formula of greens and antioxidants. Our potent blend of over 30 antioxidant super foods helps your body recover from your workout. ^[1]
• Busy weekends – Juggling activities, carpools, and errands? Cover your nutritional bases by keeping Fizzy Green Tablets in your car or purse. Simply drop into water when you need a boost!

What’s your favorite way to enjoy Fizzy Green Tablets?

[1] “Antioxidants: what role do they play in physical activity and health?” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Web. 31 July 2017.

Our new Organic Smoothie Boosters make it easy to incorporate nourishing ingredients into your daily routine to help support all your nutritional needs. Whether it’s nourishing your body with Nutritious Powders like Kale Booster, Supergreens Booster that include spirulina and moringa or Grass & Shrooms that combines 6 mushrooms, each powder is the ultimate boost to your daily routine. Or build collagen, boost energy levels or support cognition, our Functional Boosters help address specific wellness needs.

One of our favorite adaptogens found in Organic Supergreens Powder is moringa – the buzzy adaptogen everyone’s talking about. But Why?

The moringa plant has been used for its beneficial properties for thousands of years. Among its many benefits, moringa has been shown to provide high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, balance hormones, improve digestive health, and protects and nourishes the skin. ^[1]

Moringa also helps relieve fatigue from its high concentration of iron and magnesium, plus Vitamin A which increases the absorption of these minerals. Boosting an ORAC value of 157,000³, it has 6x the antioxidants of goji berries ^[2]. Antioxidants are essential in helping our bodies fight off free radical damage from our environment. By protecting our bodies this way, we can help reduce and even reverse signs of aging and also fight off disease.

Moringa aids in digestion due to its calcium content, which supports the function of digestive enzymes. The natural fiber content in Moringa also helps support the digestive system.

Add Moringa to your day through our Organic Superfood Powder. Simply add one tsp to a smoothie for an easy way to incorporate this adaptogen.

[1] “Moringa Benefits Hormonal Balance, Digestion, Mood & More”. Dr. Axe. Web. 8 June 2017.

[2] “Moringa Benefits,” Aduna. Web. 20 June 2017.