Whole Fuel Bites

Reflection on Outcome

Effectively catering to athletes with food allergies and intolerance is what I feel sets my product/services apart from the rest. Whether it’s formulating recipes for athletes with nut allergies, providing additional calorie information, or devising a vegan or gluten free menu of specific flavors, its’ important to understand exactly what their dietary requirements are and approach them effectively and safely.

I was recently asked by one of my clients to create a protein bar using Vega Protein & Greens, one of my favorite Vegan protein powders. I was given a list of nutrition facts, with an emphasis on calorie’s, carbs, fats, protein and sugar and a baggie of protein powder. My first thought was to try and disguise the Vega Protein flavor, which can be harsh and bitter if too much of it is used. I didn't want to jeopardize the natural flavors of the fruits & nuts, or minimize the protein requirements. I also couldn’t throw away a bad batch and have to ask my client for more of her expensive protein powder. Instead, I purchased the same brand of Vega protein and began experimenting.

This project turned out to be one of my favorite challenges. The flavor of Mango, Coconut, and Macadamia, cinnamon, vanilla and agave were perfect and my customer was thrilled with the nutritional results. I have now included Mango Coconut Macadamia Protein Bars among my product line. http://wholefuelbites.com/index.html under the “Product” tab.

Serving size 1: Calories: 250 Fat: 18 Saturated fat: 2 Unsaturated fat: 11 Carbohydrates: 22 Sugar: 10 Fiber: 8 Protein: 11.6

Whole Fuel Bites is making a difference and gaining popularity, even with the Aqua Fitness Training. I love that they can be considered a "take along" snack. This is one of my favorite endorsements.

Thank you Ken K. Sakata, Group Exercise Instructor at 24 Hour Fitness.

A basket of assorted Whole Fuel Bites will be donated to the upcoming Challenged Athletes great fund raising event taking place this Friday October 7th.

Please come out to support this great cause and enjoy a fun night of food, prizes and inspiring conversations with some amazing athletes!!

For advance ticket purchase:
http://support.challengedathletes.org/site/TR?px=1016421&fr_id=1201&pg=personal

There is so much to be thankful for... like the enormous support I continue to receive from the Triathlon, Cycling, Running and Cycle Cross community. Its' because of them that what I have been able to accomplish in such a short time is truly amazing and somewhat overwhelming.

I am thankful for mother natures perfect design to give us all what we need to flourish and to thrive, and because of that, I get to develop products made from real food and share them with others.

These are the signature Whole Fuel Bites, made with real natural and wholesome ingredients.

"Natural" is not made in a lab.

I just love browsing the nutrition bar isles at Wholefoods. It’s one of my favorite things to do on my lunch hour.

Today one particular bar stood out and reminded me of the worst bloating cramping episode I ever experienced on a half marathon. I don’t like to name names, but I will at least provide you with the first letter “Q” and the last letter “T” and rhymes with “guest”, just so you can follow along.

There was a time when all I looked for in a bar was taste, feeling full and by some magic, a little burst of energy that will get me through an hour of Spin Class. Well, after a little research I’ve learned that not all nutrition bars are created equal and not every label that says “natural” stands for what it claims.

Let’s begin with Protein blends (whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate), which are not something you can buy from a farmer or make at home. They are a bi-product of cheese production. Isomalto-oligosaccharides is the fiber in the bar and is a sugary substance found in fermented foods and used because its’ cheaper to manufacture. The bar claims to have no sugar added, but what it does have is Lo han guo, also known as monk fruit extracts which is manufactured to be 200 times sweeter than sugar. Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that may or may not cause cancer.

“Natural Flavors” are made in labs and only serve to cover up the lack of flavor of the other ingredients in the product.
You do not need to add natural flavors to real whole foods prepared in a kitchen. Also, Low carb doesn’t equal “Healthy” and neither does gluten free. These bars are highly processed food like products that have nothing to do with wholesome nutrition.

Did you know that nutrition bars started out as space food for astronauts? Yes, they became popular with fitness fanatics in the mid 80s and PowerBar was the first to be marketed as fuel before exercise. Its' now a $1.2 billion dollar industry. The average cost of a bar is $2 - $3.

Most nutrition bars are considered dead food, meaning they lack nutritional value. A Clif Bar, white chocolate macadamia has more calories (260) than a Snickers bar. Zone Chocolate Peanut Butter bar has 15 grams of sugar, about the same as a strawberry Pop Tart. Overdosing on sugar stimulates more cravings for sugar and because its’ an on-the-go meal and you’re not physically sitting down to eat it, you tend to want to splurge later in the day.

If you eat them as a meal replacement and don’t work out, you will gain weight. For a meal replacement or workout snack, choose a bar with at least 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber to keep you satisfied longer. Make sure it has about 5 grams of fat with zero trans fat and beware of sugar.

Whole Fuel Bites Apricot Mango, Cashew Energy Balls are made of Apricots, raw cashews, unsweetened coconut, mango, rolled oats, coconut oil, sea salt and sweetened with agave syrup, rolled in sesame seeds.

One 2” Energy Ball contains; 120 calories, 8g fat, 19g Carbs, 10g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 3g protein. The cost is $12/dozen.

Athletes are reporting that Whole Fuel Bites gives them energy, keeps them full, takes away their sugar cravings, they are easy to digest and taste delicious.

Little Fuel Bite rides shot gun!

Look what joined me on my LA traffic fighting moment. Morning got brighter after every bite. Delicious!! Whole Fuel Bites

I recently made a batch of Fuel Bites that I sweetened with dates. I went with an off the market shelf brand. They were whole and all natural, but I noticed that the outer layer was a little hard and I couldn’t grind it down enough to make it blend well with my other ingredients. So, a friend of mine recommended a local Greek Market that carries them in bulk.

I spent 30 minutes in that market staring at a barrel of dates, talking with a lady that explained to me the different types of textures and how to identify the softest and sweetest ones. I went through and selected the glossiest, evenly brown and softest dates in the barrel. I went home and pitted each one by hand, used them in my Fig Almond Cherry Energy Balls and the results were wonderful.

Whole Fuel Bites are a natural and wholesome way to fuel your performance. They are made with a perfect mix of organic nuts, dried fruit, seeds, rice, organic cocoa, sweetened with dates, molasses and agave.

All of the ingredients are selected to provide energy from natural sources only, with no added preservatives. They are high in Omega-3 and Vitamin E, which are nutrients useful to athletes performing in high energy sports .

They provide long lasting energy, excellent digestibility, easy to store and easy to carry, can be custom formulated to meet specific health needs such as allergies or monitored glucose levels. They come in a variety of flavors and taste fantastic.

Check out my website: www.wholefuelbites.com

"Your body is a finely tuned vehicle, give it good fuel and it will take you places."

www.WholeFuelBites.com

www.wholefuelbites.com

As a quick energy boost, pre- or post-workout treat, afternoon snack, or protein source, here are some tasty and nutritious new flavors.

Raspberries, Cherries, Coconut, Almond Bites, Sunflower Seeds

Fruit Medley Balls (Fig, plums, apricots, pineapple, coconut, sunflower seeds, almonds, rolled in sesame seeds)

Fig Coconut Energy Balls (Fig, Dates, Apricots, Walnuts, rolled in Organic Coconut flakes)

Peach, Date, Cranberry, Cashew, Peanut, Almond Energy Ball

Pineapple, Mango, Apricot, Cashew, Almond, Sunflower Seed, Power Bars.

COST: $15 / Doz.
Email: www.WholeFuelBites.com

Nutty things we should know about nuts.

1 - The shell of a cashew can actually cause you some harm – that’s why you never find them in their shell. They are in the same family as poison ivy and their shell contains an itchy oil.

2 – Pistachios are a fruit, but have a lot in common with the vegetable kale – They get their green color from chlorophyll, the same thing that gives spinach, kale and other food plants their green color.

3 – Walnuts are the only nut that has omega-3 fatty acids and is gluten free – it works very well as a crust for gluten free desserts.

4 – Peanuts are really legumes and not nuts at all – probably the most used and go to snack for a quick burst of protein and energy.

5 – Almonds should be the most loved of all the nuts, especially by those who are dieting – their consumption helps increase feelings of fullness without the risk of weight gain.

6 – Macadamia nuts communicate with its’ farmer – they are harvested once they have fallen from the tree. Its’ when the nut is at its’ most ripened, so it determines when its’ ready to be eaten.

7 – Brazil nuts favor men – they are high in selenium, which is a mineral that has been found to be effective in fighting prostate cancer.

I love using a variety of nuts for my Whole Fuel Bites and typically pick 3 different types per flavor. My fruity flavors have macadamia, almonds and cashew, while my warmer chocolate flavors are mixed with peanuts and walnuts. Along with nutritional seeds, coconut and natural sweetners, every little bite packs all the energy you need for healthy high energy performance and makes a great recovery snack.