National Nutrition Month recommendations (2024 edition)

Happy spring, everyone 🙂 It has become customary for me to publish a post highlighting National Nutrition Month every year (you can check out my 2023 post here). As winter makes room to spring and I get accustomed to longer, sunnier days and fewer layers of clothing, my body – depleted of nutrients during the cold season – craves wholesome, nourishing ingredients.

The recommendations below are a snippet of the latest products I received for review purposes, which satisfy my criteria in terms of flavor and nutrition. Let me know which one(s) you have tried/you would try first – and enjoy the sunshine and the season 🙂

Naked Nutrition Naked Oats

I am a big fan of Naked Nutrition products (you can check out my previous reviews here and here) and I am excited to share that Naked Nutrition has a new product out: Naked Oats.

Naked Oats is the perfect option for anyone with a busy lifestyle or for those who are looking for a quick, no-fuss way of boosting their daily nutrition. As explained on the Naked Nutrition website, Naked Oats has been formulated with ingredients such as gluten-free rolled oats, grass-fed whey protein, and organic chia protein to create an impressive nutritional profile, high in protein and fiber to support muscle and digestive health.

✅Has crave worthy smell and taste
✅Provides 20 grams of grass-fed whey protein per serving
✅Has zero artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors
✅Is GMO free and soy free
✅Is certified gluten-free

Naked Oats comes in 3 delicious flavors (Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana, Cinnamon Roll, and Green Apple Cinnamon) and it can be prepared both as a delicious shake or as an oatmeal. In less than thirty seconds, you can enjoy breakfast on the go while hitting your nutrition goals and fuelling up for the day!

✅For oatmeal, add two scoops and 8 fl oz of milk or milk substitute to a shaker bottle, shake, and refrigerate for five hours or more

✅For protein shake, add two scoops and 6 – 12 fl oz of water or your favorite beverage to a blender and blend for 15 – 20 seconds

Naked Oats can also be added to a variety of dishes and treats. Indeed, the Naked Nutrition website offers plenty of recipe suggestions, in addition to high quality pertinent information. I used Naked Oats in an oatmeal dish inspired by a recipe featured on the Naked website, and the result was fantastic!

I thoroughly enjoyed the addition of eggs to my oatmeal, which enhanced the creaminess of the dish while keeping it free of artificial elements. The natural luscious sweetness of the banana was beautifully complemented by the scrumptious chocolate and peanut flavors in Naked Oats, creating an enticing bowl of wholesome harmony. I topped the oatmeal with a rainbow of natural colors (bee pollen, powdered beets, and powdered blue spirulina) and the result was delicious perfection. Amazing product, amazing breakfast!

Melissa’s Produce

My first encounter with Melissa’s Produce was at a Chicago food show which I chronicled on this blog, back in 2016. I remember being intrigued by the beautiful basket of mangosteens on display at their booth, and amazed by the thirst-quenching flavor upon tasting one.

Melissa’s Produce recently sent me a package with their latest products, showcased at the various food shows throughout the country. Like in my original encounter with Melissa’s Produce, years earlier, I was super excited to sample their Clean Snax range, amazing bite-size snacks which come in a variety of flavors. I tried the Coconut Ginger Turmeric and loved it!

I also highly appreciated the Coco Snax, a trio of pouched bite-sized snacks that are almost impossible to stop eating, lol

I used Melissa’s Produce hearts of palm pasta and hearts of palm rice (low carb, ethically sourced, and preservative-free) in two simple meals…

… blending them with plenty of veggies such as bell peppers, cucumber and olives, as well as mixed greens and herbs.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw quince paste in the box of items from Melissa’s Produce. I instantly remembered my mom turning the sweet and zesty quince flesh into jam, many years ago, and me inhaling its sugary aroma while watching over the thick and luscious amber goodness, as it was being made.

Known as “dulce de membrillo” in Spain, quince paste “pairs perfectly with crusty bread and Manchego cheese. When cooked, raw quince transforms into a pink-red, sweet-tart treat with notes of honeysuckle, rose, and vanilla. It’s a fantastic addition to cheese platters and grazing boards — simply slice and serve. You can also get creative by using quince paste in desserts. Try folding sliced quince paste into puff pastry to make tasty empanadas.”

Quince is difficult to find around here, so for a long time I have had to rely on flavor memories alone. I was delighted to be able to combine my creamy quince paste-based sauce with fresh veggies and greens in the wrap below, which brings me happy thoughts, and a beautiful remembrance of things past. Tasting quince again was a rather emotional experience, for which I am very thankful 🙂

The Only Bean pasta

You may remember my previous review of The Only Bean edamame beans here.

Recently, I had the opportunity to try out their equally delicious pasta.

Simple meals are all that’s needed when you’re pressed for time and you’ve got a lot going on, and the vegan pasta salad below is a case in point, in my opinion. Made with organic non-gmo black soybean spaghetti, which are vegan, gluten-free, keto friendly, kosher, low carb, and high fiber, this salad is a great use of leftover veggies, and a fabulous time-saver, since The Only Bean pasta cooks faster than its gluten counterpart (boil for 4-5 minutes )

I love the delicate beauty of this pasta, which envelops my heart with much-needed comfort. I love the clear and luminous vibes, which harbor goodness in every single bite. Caught in the magical web of life with all its ups and downs, trials and tribulations, my mind appreciates the delicious certainty offered by speedy meals. Pasta is my go-to quick lunch, and I hope you like it, too 🙂

Festive Chickpeas

With Easter coming up soon and delicious festive meals currently in the works, you may be interested to explore unique charcuterie board product options, such as Festive Chickpeas.

Festive Chickpeas has reinvented the chickpea, unhusking it, using the chickpea hearts (halves) to give it big crunch and even bigger flavor. They offer six crunchy varieties, which are non-gmo, preservative-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

I paired festive Chickpeas with savory elements such as cheese and olives, and sweet ones such as fresh fruits, and the result was delicious and very satisfying. Equally exciting is the fact that Festive Chickpeas provide printed charcuterie board building suggestions, minimizing the individual research process while giving ample opportunities for delicious creativity and exploration.

I love the idea of adding plant-based sources of protein to charcuterie boards, and I thoroughly enjoyed sampling the delicious chickpeas and devising my boards. The buttery, fresh taste makes chickpeas a great addition to consider, and a peanut-like alternative that promises to be enjoyed by everyone.

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