You know that feeling. That 2:30 afternoon feeling. No, this is not a review for 5 Hour Energy (which, in case you were wondering, tastes gross and makes me awkwardly jittery). But that mid- to late-afternoon slump has been extra tough for me lately, especially as I have ….wait for it…GIVEN UP COFFEE. That’s right – no more of my three cup a day Joe habit; energizing my body naturally is the way to go.
So how have I been keeping my focus strong without the help of my caffeine IV drip? By imbibing on nutrish and delish mid-afternoon snacks. For the past week, I’ve replaced my 2:30pm Starbucks’ Tall Vanilla Iced Latte (~250 calories) with healthier yet still satisfying and convenient snacks.
My snacks last week as follows...
Day 1: 210 calories
8 oz Earth Balance Chocolate Soy Milk (130 calories) and one medium apple (80 calories)
Since I’m slightly lactose intolerant (like most Asians), its soy milk to the rescue for my calcium needs on my brittle Asian bones! Earth Balance is the only refrigerated soymilk product that is both organic and non-GMO project verified, so drinking this product is not only good for me but good for the environment as well.
Day 2: 190 calories
6 oz serving of Roba Dolce Lemon sorbetto (120 calories) and 16oz bottle of Honest Tea Lemon Ginger Kombucha (70 calories)
I love Roba Dolce’s Lemon sorbetto, as it tastes like a less artificial version of Lemon Ice from my childhood days at Six Flags. But in all “honest(ea)”, I only drink kombucha because aids in digestion and supports a healthy G.I. tract (the slightly medicinal flavor of kombucha is not something I run over obstacles for). However, Honest Tea’s organic and Fair Trade Certified kombucha is enhanced with a touch of cane sugar and flavoring to make this beverage more drinkable than its competitors.
Day 3: 240 calories
Four Pillsbury Sweet Moments Chocolate Caramel Bite Sized Brownies (60 calories each)
Ok so this isn’t super nutritious, but a girl has gotta indulge once in a while right? (Plus that’s why I take my multivitamins :). These bite-sized treats are just the right size to grab and go for a quick pick-me-up.
Day 4: 250 calories
2oz Jovial penne pasta (200 calories) topped with 6 Tbsp Picante Sauce (50 calories)
I love picante sauce on everything – including pasta (weird combo, but it works)! I especially love Jovial’s Einkorn pasta because this PASTA IS INHEIRENTLY FLAVORFUL ON ITS OWN (sorry Barilla – but you cannot compete against this wonder pasta)! Einkorn pasta is also higher in fiber and protein than other whole wheat pastas, and has a higher concentration of important vitamins and minerals (i.e. thiamin, phosphorus and magnesium). And those are all good stuff my body and mind can use!
Day 5: 250 calories
2 Tbsp of Rigoni’s Fiordifrutta Seville Orange organic fruit spread (70 calories) on 5 water crackers (180 calories)
Imported from Italy, this line of no sugar added jams are bursting with fruit in every bite (literally – as over 2 kg of fruit is used in each jar). These jams are so fierce – it would be an atrocity to my tastebuds and body if I went back Smuckers after having these organic fruit filled babies!
Simple, healthy, and satisfying (SHS)! I’ll follow up this post next week with more SHS snack options (that is, if I manage to stick to my no coffee plan). So until then – happy and healthy snacking!
***Giveaway***
Congrats #10- Courtney
"My grandma deserves a sweet treat! She's been a bit depressed lately & I think this would cheer her up a bit."
There are THREE ways to enter:
1. In my comments section, tell me who in your life deserves a “sweet moment”
2. Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter (leave separate comment telling me this)
3. Reblog / Retweet this giveaway (leave separate comment telling me this)
Contest ends October 25, 2010 at 5pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random integer generator on random.org announced on the financefoodie.com site shortly afterwards that night!
Pillsbury provided me with the Sweet Moments brownies to review and the products for the giveaway through MyBlogSpark.
97 comments:
As I'm in the middle of moving, myself
my son deserves a sweet moment- alot of stuff going on and he is the rock of life and still works and goes to college
Honestly I do. Fighting cancer right now and will be dealing with treatment during the upcoming holidays (and my salivary glands will bye bye with) so something sweet sounds amazing right now while I can still taste it. (yes, I am a chocoholic)
tvollowitz at aol dot com
My best friend deserves a sweet moment. She was ill last week but still managed to find time to listen to a problem I had. Just knowing she was there for me really helped me out.
HORTON111@AOL.COM
THIS MOM DESERVES IT BECAUSE SHE IS GOING TO WORK HARD TODAY
Great post! I love learning new snack ideas. My favorite website for healthy snack ideas is http://www.snack-girl.com/
My hubby and I need to share a sweet moment together. He works twelve hours on night shift and sleeps during the day. So not much kid free time.
I think my daughters deserve a sweet moment. They work hard in school every day.
huntandride@hotmail.com
My husband deserves a Sweet Moment because he never complains and does without so that the rest of us can have what we want.
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
My grandma deserves a sweet treat! She's been a bit depressed lately & I think this would cheer her up a bit.
hebert024 at aol dot com
My hubbs for being awesome
joni dot taylor3710 at gmail dot com
I follow you on twitter
jonitaylor3710
My husband deserves a Sweet Moment-because he has to put up with me! LOL
My fiance is very deserving of a "sweet moment". He's been working a minimum of 60 hours a week for the past month.
kirbycolby at gmail dot com
I follow you on twitter @Aerated.
kirbycolby at gmail dot com
I tweeted. Thank you! http://twitter.com/Aerated/status/28067070854
kirbycolby at gmail dot com
My husband deserves a “sweet moment”
My grandma deserves sweet moments because of all the hard work she does.
austma7@aol.com
My sister she going to be a grandma. Thanks! jacquecurl1(at)gmail(dot)com
My mother deserves a sweet moment
liquidkite(at)yahoo(dot)com
My Mom deserves a sweet moment and I would love to give this to her:) Please enter me. Thanks!
esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com
I became a follower on Twitter-kingsdaughter24
esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com
My friend, Jill, deserves a sweet moment as she is recovering from surgery.
I deserve a sweet moment after having to deal with a football day for hubby & all his buddies
My best friend LeAnn deserves a sweet moment. She organized our Bunco group and we had our first Bunco Night recently and it was a lot of fun!
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
Follow you on Twitter - susitravl
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
My son deserves a sweet moment as he is going through a hard time at school with being bullied. He works really hard and is a good kid.
I Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter.
Id fanformickey
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/fanformickey/status/28586355983
My boyfriend deserves a sweet moment because he works so much. But since he doesn't like sweets much, I'll have it for him!
jcottey at aol dot com
My wife deserves a sweet moment
I Follow you on Twitter
I'm a mom of 3, homeschooling one of them, college student, volunteer, and a military wife so I hope it isn't too darned self-centered to say I am the one in this house who deserves a sweet moment!
kristymcg1972 at gmail DOTcom
I follow financefoodie on twitter- @klmcginnis
kristymcg1972 at gmail DOTcom
My mom deserves a sweet moment because she's always worked hard. Thanks for the nice contest! :)
With 3 kids and very little "me time" I need it!
mi.bargainmom@yahoo.com
My Brother, who recently found a job after seeking one for eight months!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
I am being selfish but I deserve a sweet moment...I am trying to quit smoking...
sherwalk at yahoo dot com
following you on twitter - sherwalk88
sherwalk at yahoo dot com
http://twitter.com/sherwalk88/status/28639235662
sherwalk at yahoo dot com
My husband deserves a sweet treat for always taking care of me! Thanks!
My guy definitely deserves a sweet moment because he works super hard.
Actually, I could use a moment, or two or three! With three boys I'm constantly on the go.
beckytag618 at gmail dot com
Twitter follower (@beckytag)
beckytag618 at gmail dot com
My sister deserves one-she is always doing for others :)
thanks
aunteegem@yahoo.com
My Grandma deserves a sweet moment. She just turned 90 a few months ago and she is maybe more energetic then I am..Maybe it's the chocolate she loves.
sallylynnsara@hotmail.com
Following Finance Foodie on Twitter - EbayMommy
sallylynnsara@hotmail.com
My mom deserves a sweet moments because she is always trying to make others happy and never takes time for herself.
Dancehottie1621@aol.com
My son deserves a sweet moment as he's been thru alot
I Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter, id skyxsky27
My mother needs a sweet moment.
I could use a sweet moment--because I have been job hunting and it is not going well, me self esteem is shot--I could use something yummy to lift my spirits.
kakihararocks@gmail.com
My husband deserves it, his works hard so I dont have to :)
My husband and I deserve a sweet moment. suelee1998 @ gmail.com
we work hard!
I follow financefoodie1 on twitter suelee1998
suelee1998 @ gmail.com
My husband does-he is very sick
aunteegem@yahoo.com
My mom deserves a sweet moment.
My mom and dad-My dad still goes to work every day, he's 84 and does construction and my mom is 83 and battling cancer. Yeah they could use a sweet moment!
pjames330(at)aol(dotcom)
My sister deserves a sweet moment-she turned 30 last week and was dreading it :-/
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
my mom does, she loves chocolate
alterna7 at hotmail dot com
following you on twitter (07violet)
alterna7 at hotmail dot com
My very hard-working husband - we've been married 33 years - deserves a Sweet Moment.
Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
my husband deserves a sweet moment, he has really been having a rough go of it lately.
susansmoaks at gmail dot com
follower on twitter @fdp4life
susansmoaks at gmail dot com
i tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/fdp4life/status/28692489758
susansmoaks at gmail dot com
i think i deserve a sweet moment..i need a break
drea8685 at yahoo dot com
I do! I have been doing some heavy Fall cleaning!
I deserve a sweet moment with two teenagers and a Mom who has Alzheimers
s2s2 at comcast dot net
http://twitter.com/susan1215/status/28700957847
My boyfriend deserves a sweet moment after I spent our entire week-long vacation sick in the hotel room with the flu. Not very romantic but he was so supportive.
My husband because he is so sweet :)
I am going to say me,have way to much on my plate and could use a moment!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
follow on twitter
amyhd29
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
My aunt deserves a sweet moment because she's currently going through a rough patch.
My husband does because he's been so helpful during my pregnany.
My mother deserves a sweet moment.
kgrant77 at gmail.com
I do! I've been job hunting for a couple years without success. I could use a pick-me-up!
Thanks for the giveaway!
email in blogger profile.
Retweeted http://twitter.com/#!/susan1215/status/28700957847
Jesskaufman at hotmail dot com
i follow Finance Foodie on twitter - js22222222 .
email in blogger profile.
tweet: http://twitter.com/js22222222/status/28711868480
email in blogger profile.
My daughter deserves a sweet moment because she has been sick lately.
yeloechikee at hotmail dot com
my hubby deserves one he works very hard :)
http://twitter.com/klp1965/status/28715414620
My mom deserves a sweet moment, she works so hard!
me- i'm moving too- such a hassle
rmartinclarke at gmail dot com
I do! Need a sweet treat once in a while!
My hubby. He is the best and puts up with me and never gets mad at me. Pretty amazing!
Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter-dresdenrain.
No one deserves a sweet moment like my Mom who is the most loving person I know.
My husband deserves a "sweet moment." He is unemployed. garrettsambo@aol.com
Twitter follower. Fatally_Flayed
Tweeted here. http://twitter.com/Fatally_Flayed/status/28722196966
I think that, as a hard working mom, I deserve it. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com
I REALLY REALLY DESERVE A SWEET MOMENT.
letessha@yahoo.com
I follow you in twitter/dahliamomma
letessha@yahoo.com
retweet
http://twitter.com/dahliamomma/status/28723009692
letessha@yahoo.com
My husband does he is so sweet and gives up so much for me and the kids eaglesforjack@gmail.com
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