BEACHBAR Snack Bars

How many times have you been running out of the house and need to grab a bar to keep you full on the go? What do you usually grab? An RX bar, a Kind bar, maybe a Larabar or Clif Bar? Those guys are LOADED with hidden sugars and definitely aren’t considered whole foods. That’s why I’m so excited to announce that Beachbody is launching its OWN line of nutrition bars, called the BEACHBAR!

These wholesome snack bars are packed with 10 grams and protein and come in at just 150 calories. There are no artificial flavors or preservatives and they’re gluten-free. BEACHBARs will be offered in two flavors: Peanut Butter Chocolate and Chocolate Cherry Almond. When it comes to the portion fix containers, these bars will count as ½ red, ½ yellow, and 1 tsp. How easy is that??

 BEACHBARs are a crunchy, chewy snack bar that is protein dense fruit base packed with nut pieces, nut butters, real chocolate chips, and whey protein crisps – but only 5-6g of sugar per bar. That means they have a better protein-to-sugar ration that most other leading snack bars!

Let’s break down the ingredients:

Nut Butters – A great source of protein and fiber that adds a creamy texture

Dried Cherries – Provides dietary fiber and phytonutrients, plus they taste good!

Whey and Pea Protein Crisps – These crunchy protein crisps deliver all nine of the essential amino acids

Real Chocolate Chips – Rich and delicious, these chocolatey pieces contain phytinutrients known as flavonoids

Diced Peanuts and Almonds – A source of beneficial monounsaturated fats, plus protein and fiber

Pomegranate Juice – This powerful fruit provides tart, fruity sweetness

Who are BEACHBARs for?

• People with a busy lifestyle
• People who want to reduce their sugar intake
• People who want more protein and fiber in their diet
• People who eat gluten-free
• People with a sweet tooth 
• People who love to snack
• Parents and their children
• People who follow the Portion Fix nutrition plan

Does that sound like you? I know I definitely fit most of those categories!!

How to Order BEACHBARs

I am so excited that these bars have FINALLY launched!!! Each box contains 15 bars and you are able to purchase bundles of 1, 2, or 3 boxes. Click on the links below to place your order!!

Peanut Butter Chocolate

• 1 box
• 2 boxes
• 3 boxes

Chocolate Cherry Almond

• 1 box
• 2 boxes
• 3 boxes

Combos

• 1 box Peanut Butter Chocolate & 1 box Chocolate Cherry Almond
• 2 boxes Peanut Butter Chocolate & 1 box Chocolate Cherry Almond
• 1 box Peanut Butter Chocolate and 2 boxes Chocolate Cherry Almond

6 Health Benefits of Nuts

After decades of demonization for their high fat content—which in most cases is heart-healthy mono- and polyunsaturated anyway—nuts have finally claimed their rightful place among other foods long regarded as healthy.

In fact, nuts are so loaded with nutrients, they could be considered nature’s dietary supplement pill. Of course, roasted in heavy oil and salts, they become a lot less healthy but, properly consumed raw, or in some cases roasted (namely, chestnuts), nuts deliver a vast array of benefits unique to each.

Following are six overarching advantages to consuming nuts, within which are more specific nutrient benefits.

1. They Can Promote Heart Health and Circulation

Arginine
An amino acid produced by the body, arginine is implicated in healing, muscle growth, and sperm health because of its stimulation of protein production. But it’s perhaps known best for preventing arterial buildup by expanding blood vessels. Worth noting: Peanuts are not technically nuts, they’re legumes. Also, don’t eat them raw…or honey roasted. Opt for dry roasted, which are almost as healthy (but safer) as raw ones.
- Best source: Peanuts (1 g/1 oz serving – 166 calories, approx. 28 peanuts)
- Runners-up: Almonds (0.75 g), walnuts (0.7 g), hazelnuts/filberts (0.65 g – 178 calories, approx. 21 hazelnuts)

Omega 3
Omega 3s are polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, and walnuts contain the alpha-linolenic (ALA) form—over 150% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), in fact. Benefits include decreased LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, increased HDL (good cholesterol) levels, and a possible reduced risk of heart attack.
- Best source: Walnuts (2.7 g/1 oz serving – 185 calories, approx. 14 walnut halves)
- Runners-up: Pecans (20% RDA), pistachios (5% RDA), macadamia nuts (4% RDA)

Iron
This mineral source is fundamental to the production of red blood cells, the delivery units of oxygen throughout the body. While recommended intakes for men (8 mg) and women (18 mg) vary, a handful of cashews delivers about 25% and 11% of the RDA, respectively.
- Best source: Cashews (2 mg/1 oz serving – 157 calories, approx. 17 cashews)
- Runners-up: Hazelnuts (1.4 mg), peanuts (1.4 mg), pistachios (1.3 mg)

2. They Can Help Preserve Brain and Mental Function

Folate
This B vitamin plays a key role in lowering homocysteine—an amino acid associated with conditions like heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. Low folate levels have also been linked to depression, anemia, and even hair loss.
- Best source: Peanuts (72 mcg or 18% RDA/1 oz serving)
- Runners-up: Hazelnuts (34 mcg/9% RDA), walnuts (29 mcg/7% RDA), pistachios (15 mcg/4% RDA)

Magnesium
Magnesium plays a role in more than 300 chemical reactions in the body, including proper digestion, heart and circulatory function, and bone growth and maintenance. It’s also been suggested as a viable aid in memory retention.
- Best source: Brazil nuts (113 mg or 28% RDA for men/1 oz serving – 186 calories, approx. 6 kernels)
- Runners-up: Cashews (88 mg), almonds (81 mg), peanuts (50 mg)

3. They Promote Vision and Eye Health

Vitamin A (Beta-carotene)
The nonanimal form of Vitamin A that gives plants their color is implicated in slowing macular degeneration, limiting sun sensitivity, and lowering the risk of heart disease. Pistachios are particularly rife with it, delivering 14% per serving.
- Best source: Pistachios (125 mcg or 14% RDA for men/1 oz serving – 159 calories, approx. 49 pistachios)
- Runners-up: Pecans (17 mcg), walnuts (6 mcg), hazelnuts (6 mcg)

Lutein and Zeaxanthin
These two antioxidants play an important role in reducing the risk of chronic eye diseases, including macular degeneration and cataracts by filtering harmful high-energy blue wavelengths of light.
- Best source: Pistachios (362 mcg/1 oz serving)
- Runners-up: That’s it. Pistachios are the only nut containing lutein and zeaxanthin in significant quantities.

4. They Help Regulate Weight and Metabolism

Protein
Nuts are a fantastic source of this vital energy for vegetarians—and anyone else. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, eating nuts instead of red meat once a day can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes 16 to 35%.
- Best source: Peanuts (7.8 g/1 oz serving)
- Runners-up: Almonds (6.3 g), pistachios (6 g), cashews (5.4 g)

Fiber
The fiber and sustained energy content of most nuts make them filling without being fattening, and chestnuts are by far the lowest in fat and calories than all other nuts.
- Best source: Chestnuts (1.5 g fiber, 39 calories/1 oz serving – 70 calories, approx. 3 chestnuts)
- Runners-up: Almonds (3.75 g fiber/174 calories), pistachios (3 g fiber/169 calories), peanuts (2.5 g fiber/170 calories)

Vitamin E
There are eight forms of this antioxidant, but the one found in nuts is of the alpha-tocopherol variety. Fairly strong evidence suggests it aids in preventing type 1 and 2 diabetes and treating fatty liver disease.
- Best source: Almonds (7.8 mg or 52% RDA/1 oz serving – 163 calories, approx. 23 almonds)
- Runners-up: Hazelnuts (4.5 mg/30% RDA), peanuts (2.5 mg/17% RDA), Brazil nuts (1.8 mg/12% RDA)

5. They Help Strength Bones and Teeth

Calcium
While also vital to blood and cellular function, 99% of all calcium in the body is found in bones and teeth, where it prevents osteoporosis and decay. Almonds are the nuts highest in this mineral, and number two isn’t really close.
- Best source: Almonds (81 mg or 8% RDA/1 oz serving)
- Runners-up: Brazil nuts (48 mg/5% RDA), hazelnuts (34 mg/3% RDA), pistachios (32 mg/3% RDA)

Phosphorus
The only mineral more prevalent in the body than phosphorus is calcium. Combined, the two work to grow, maintain, and repair bones and teeth, along with all other tissues and cells.
- Best source: Brazil nuts (218 mg or 31% RDA/1 oz serving)
- Runners-up: Cashews (178 mg/25% RDA), pistachios (147 mg/21% RDA), almonds (144 mg/21% RDA)

6. They Aid in Boosting Immunity

Zinc
The overall amount of this mineral found in the body is nominal, but it’s vital to immunity, affecting T cell and other immune cell functions and helping to stave off pathogens.
- Best source: Cashews (1.7 mg or 16% RDA for men/1 oz serving)
- Runners-up: Pecans (1.4 mg/13% RDA), Brazil nuts (1.2 mg/11% RDA), peanuts (1 mg/9% RDA)

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Important for keeping hormones balanced and healthy, deficiency among the B6 compounds is associated with compromised immune response. One serving of pistachios contains 40% of the RDA for an average adult.
- Best source: Pistachios (0.51 mg/1 oz serving)
- Runners-up: Hazelnuts (13% RDA), walnuts (12% RDA), cashews (10% RDA)

Make Your Own Fruit Roll Ups

Artificial ingredients, preservatives, & harmful chemicals are everywhere in foods these days. And as a mom, I can't stand the thoughts of letting my kids eating all those additives. So today I'd like to share a kid favorite, but the healthy alternative, fruit roll ups!

Take a look at the ingredient list in General Mills Fruit Roll-Ups: pears from concentrate, corn syrup, dried corn syrup, sugar, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, citric acid, sodium citrate, acetylated monoglycerides, fruit pectin, dextrose, maltic acid, ascorbic acid, natural flavor and the following food coloring: blue 1, red 40 and yellows 5 and 6.

Here is the ingredient list for my Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups: organic fruit

Which one sounds most appealing to you?! Exactly. 

This recipe is pretty flexible. You have the freedom to pick one fruit or mix different kinds. You can use fresh or frozen fruit. Below the recipe are some fruit combination suggestions, but feel free to try out your own combos too. I suggest making a few different trays of fruit at the same time because these won’t last long in your house and though they are VERY simple to make, they do take a long time to set.

1. Warm the fruit in a pot on the stove and mix it into a puree. If there are seeds in the puree you can pour it into a sieve to get the seeds out (I didn’t).
2. Spread the puree on a oil-sprayed silpat baking mat or parchment paper (BE SURE to spray! If you don’t it will stick!). 1 1/2 cup of fruit puree is enough for 1 baking sheet, and put in the oven on 140°F (or as low as your oven can go. my stove’s lowest temperature is 170). Leave the oven door open a little bit to let the moisture out.
3. They are done when the puree isn’t sticky anymore, you normally need between 5-8 hours depending on the oven and your fruit choices. (If you live in a warm climate, you can just leave the pan in the sun for the day).
4. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut them and roll them with wax or parchment paper when they are still warm. Enjoy this healthy alternative.

You can also use a dehydrator if you have one! Just check your recipe book for heating times and directions. 

Fruit combination ideas:
Yellow: 1 fresh mango, 200 g dried apricots, 1 orange (the juice)
Purple: Frozen raspberries, frozen blackberries or blueberries and 1 banana
Green: Kiwi and mango
Blue: Blueberries and grape juice
Red: Strawberries and banana