I Heart Keenwah Superfood Snacks [Review]

I am sure that most people have heard of quinoa (pronounced keen-wah). This superfood goes back to ancient times where it was prized for being the mother of all grains. Quinoa is important for vegetarians and vegan because it is the only grain that is a complete source of protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids. If you do not eat meat or fish, quinoa should be an important staple in your diet. Quinoa provides a source of nutrition that is gluten-free, high in fiber, and has a high protein content. Knowing all of these great benefits, I Heart Keenwah created a perfect snack containing quinoa and a variety of other superfoods like nuts and dried fruits.

I Heart Keenwah Quinoa Clusters        ($4.99 per bag)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
All natural ingredients	Not certified organic
Filling and satisfying

I received two flavors of I Heart Keenwah snacks: Almond and Chocolate Sea Salt. The Almond package contained quinoa clusters with big chunks of almonds. I like being able to identify the ingredients in my snacks, so I appreciated that the almonds were in big chunks. The Chocolate Sea Salt quinoa clusters also had big chucks of almonds and the tops were covered with a few drizzles of chocolate. Between the two flavors, I liked Almond better. This flavor had the perfect amount of sweetness and saltiness. I was a bit disappointed in the Chocolate Sea Salt clusters because the chocolate flavor did not come through very well. The quinoa clusters are 1 inch squares. Perfect for a snack that you can pop in your mouth.

My husband and I both enjoyed I Heart Keenwah all natural quinoa clusters. I am not big on packaged snack foods, but I can see myself buying these at my local Whole Foods. I Heart Keenwah snacks are sold in retail stores and online at Abe's Market. For your nearest retailer, search here. If you are looking for a new snack unlike anything you have ever tasted, but tasting even better, pick up a package of I Heart Keenwah quinoa clusters at your local retailer.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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When Was the Last Time You Ate Meat?

This week, a friend of mine (who knows that I am eating a vegetarian/vegan diet now) asked me when was the last time I ate meat. What an interesting question! I have not even thought about how long it has been. I recall having one bite of a grilled piece of local flank steak on Wednesday because my husband said it was  delicious and I had to try just one bite. But aside from that bite and maybe a few other small bites over the past month or two, I have not eaten meat. Surprisingly, I do not miss eating meat at all. The piece of meat that my husband said was delicious did not really taste like anything to me (but do not tell him that!).

During the conversation with my friend, I mentioned that I used to be a big chicken and fish eater. Wow, I cannot believe that I am actually saying I "used to be" a big chicken eater. I never planned on becoming a vegetarian/vegan. I stumbled upon it. A series of events, bloggers, friends, and maybe a little Divine intervention, and I am now a vegetarian/vegan.

I call myself both a vegetarian and a vegan because quite honestly, I mostly eat a vegan diet. The only dairy I consume is cheese and butter. I discovered that a vegetarian/vegan diet is easy on my digestive system. I have also found that I feel better overall.

>> If you are a vegetarian, vegan, or even a carnivore, when was the last time you ate meat?

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Krill Oil [Giveaway]

In my review of Krill Oil, you will see that Krill Oil surpasses other fish oils because of high dose of Omega-3, EPA, DHA levels and no fishy taste!  If you want to change your life and your health, try Krill Oil.  You can win a bottle below.

Please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. All entries will be verified.

   
Giveaway

Krill Oil (bottle, $29.95 value)

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Change Your Life and Health with Krill Oil [Review]

Viva Labs Krill Oil, found in the deep pure waters of Antarctic, is a new generation of Omega-3's that beats the pants off fish oil. According to independent laboratories, Krill oil was found to be 54x more powerful in antioxidant activity than fish oil. What does this mean to you? You can quickly get a high dose of Omega-3, EPA, and DHA. When tested head to head by an independent laboratory, Krill Oil supplement was found to be 54x more powerful in antioxidant activity than fish oil!

Krill Oil is the oil harvested from antarctic krill, a shrimp like crustacean that lives deep in the ocean. Scientists and doctors have discovered that ingesting this oil can have amazing affects on your body including a stronger heart, pain-free joints, a better mood, lower cholesterol, easier menstruation and overall better health.
(Source: http://krilloil.com/)

Krill Oil                                            $29.95 (1 month supply)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
No fishy after-taste	Price per month is high
High dose of Omega-3, EPA, DHA
90-day money back guarantee

My Review:
One of the first attributes I noticed about Viva Labs Krill Oil comes in the form of Capliques instead of softgels. The purpose of the Capliques is to help the supplements last longer and reduce the "fish burps" that are usually associated with consuming fish oil. I really liked that there was no fishy after-taste. The Capliques were easy to swallow.

After consuming the Krill Oil for one week, I did notice that I had more energy. I have been doing a lot of heavy cardio workouts lately and resumed running outside. I never once felt sluggish or tired when taking these supplements.

The price per month is $30. If you order in bulk, you can get the cost down to $20 per month. If you taking other supplements (as I am), then this will be a significant increase to the total cost of all supplements. However, if I see great improvement from consuming Krill Oil, then I would reevaluate my other supplements. I do like the 90-day money back guarantee if I do not see improvements from taking the supplements.

I also have to mention the sustainability aspect of Krill Oil. Krill is considered the largest biomass in the world, so there is no change krill would be come endangered. Despite this, Viva Lab's Krill Oil harvest is still regulated by CCAMLR, which is an organization dedicated to conserving the ocean's ecosystem. Only certain companies have been licensed to harvest krill.  

Overall Review: 
I did see an improvement in my energy after taking Viva Labs Krill Oil for one week. I am confident that I would see the many other benefits described if I took it for several months. I love the durability of Capliques. I recommend that you try Krill Oil for a few months and if you do not see an improvement, then take advantage of the 90-day money back guarantee.

Disclosure: I received the sample from the company in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my personal experiences. This review is objective and completely honest.

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Tell the FDA to Just Label It

Whether it is salmon genetically engineered to grow at twice its natural rate or herbicide-resistant corn that encourages the use of more chemicals in our food supply, we have a right to know what's in our food.

Already, more than 40 countries – including China and Russia – require labels on genetically engineered food. As Americans, we deserve the same opportunity to make informed decisions about what we eat. As more Americans know about genetically engineered foods, more pressure will build on the FDA to label GMOs.

Everyone has the right to make informed decisions about the food they eat as well. Tell the FDA to label GMO (genetically engineered) foods. Be an informed consumer!

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Reduce the Environmental Impact of Pet Fish [#CTWW]

This week's challenge comes from Jennifer. 

Find one way to lower the environmental impact of your pet.

This week's task is a little challenging for me (no pun intended) because we currently do not have any pets.  The closest we have gotten to pets is fish.  Fish have a pretty low impact on the environment and do not usually require a lot of waste unless you are talking about a huge aquarium in your house.  While other #CTWW folks are writing about bigger animals like cats and dogs, I will focus on fish.  We cannot forget the little guys!

Fish require:

• Glass aquarium and gravel
• Distilled water
• Fish food
• Filtration system
• Hood and light
• pH testing kit
• Accessories (optional)

The main waste areas are the water and electricity to run the filtration and light, and potentially the type of fish food your fish require.  Here are my recommendations on how to reduce the environment impact of fish:

1. Reuse old aquarium water to water your indoor or outdoor plants, unless you added aquarium salt, medication, or chemicals, including pH adjusters or algae killers etc. The last two generally are not safe for aquariums anyway.
2. Purchase the same type of fish or similar in terms of food and water needs - this will ensure that you limit the amount of different foods and accessories that you are buying.
3. Avoid buying tropical fish because they require a heater and a thermometer - this will reduce the amount of electricity needed to keep the aquarium at a comfortable temperature.
4. Use natural decor like stones and rocks that you can usually find for free instead of buying plastic ones.
5. Limit the size of the aquarium and the number of fish.  Bigger aquariums require more electricity.

Fish are smaller in size than cats or dogs, but they still require water, food, and electricity, just like any other animal.  Although fish require less than bigger sized pets, there are still eco-friendly changes you can make that will have a positive impact on your family and your environment.

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!  Be the change that you want to see in the world!

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