I love how snackable and convenient protein bites are—but after a bit of recipe research I couldn't find any that weren't loaded with sugar.  And though I love my original protein bites, variety is the spice of life and I was looking for something a little more exciting. Enter the rolled oats and goldenberry bites.  

Before we dig in, you're probably asking your, what on earth is a goldenberry?!  Glad you asked.  A superfruit used widely by the Incan Empire, goldenberries are tart berries loaded with beta-carotene, protein, bioflavonoids and vitamin A.  They're a great snack or can be added to yogurts, oatmeal, smoothie bowls, healthy cookies and more.  They add a nice little sour punch to these otherwise sweet bites and did I mention how great they are for your skin?

Ready for the recipe? Read on...

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of goldenberries

1 cup of gluten free rolled oats

2 scoops of sunwarrior chocolate protein

1 tbs of chia seeds

2 tbs of pumpkin seeds

1/2 a cup of almond butter

2-4 tbs of almond milk

1/4 cup of unsweetened coconut shreds

Directions
Add all ingredients, except the coconut, to a bowl or blender and mix until all ingredients are well distributed.  Roll into small balls, dunk in the coconut shreds and place in the fridge until you're ready to eat.  They travel well, too, so don't be afraid to throw them in a container and take them to work or the gym.  

We all need a little chocolate fix from time to time.  But don't sabotage your heard-earned gains with chocolatey decadence just yet.  We have raw, vegan brownie that are delish, nutritionally balanced and can be made faster than you can say "Duncan Hines."  Sound good? Read on:

Ingredients:

1 cup of raisins (no sugar added)

1 cup of pecans (you can also use walnuts)

1 tbs of coconut oil

1 scoop of chocolate protein powder

1 heaping tbs of cacao

A dash of vanilla

A dash of salt

Directions:

Blend all ingredients together until they form a smooth paste.  Spread out into a dish lined with parchment paper and freeze for thirty minutes.  Cut into squares and keep in the fridge until you're ready to serve.  

What did we tell you?  EASY!

Clearly stating the obvious, but technology makes our lives a whole lot easier. And not just when it comes to figuring out which train to take, or getting visual inspo on Instagram. There are all sorts of smart products out there that are made to improve your health and wellness! Here are five cool tech gadgets designed to improve your life that you need to know about...

Mira Fitness Bracele

No offense to the Fitbit, but the Mira Fitness bracelet is a more fashion forward (and savvy!) way to track your activity. It can basically pass for jewelry and looks great stacked with other accessories or as part of a bangle party. This way you can know how much you are moving without being overly obvious about it. The smart bracelet gets to know your personal fitness style and sends you healthy boosts that'll help keep you on track. 

Lumo Activewear

Lumo is awesome activewear that not only tracks your movement, but offers real time audio coaching, personalized exercises and shares data based on five biomechanics metrics. All this intelligence is built right into the lining of Lumo shorts and capris. Clothing is getting much smarter, that's for sure! 
 

Jawbone UP Wristband

Getting a goodnight sleep is KEY when it comes to keeping up with a rigorous schedule, and a demanding, active lifestyle. Your body needs time to recover in order to maintain reasonable levels of energy on the regs. The Jawbone UP wristband monitors your sleep cycles, sharing info on how much deep and light sleep you're getting each night, how many times you woke up, and also wakes you up in the morning with gentle vibrations (much more pleasant than a loud, buzzing alarm). The new Jawbone UP app allows you to track diet and exercise and provides information on how these things are effecting your sleeping cycles. 

GYENNO Cup

You all know that you should be drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Especially if you are active and regularly getting your sweat on. Not so easy to keep up with for the busy gal or guy on the go, but it is extremely important. The GYENNO cup is a clever little gadget that allows you to set daily water goals, and vibrates to remind you when it's time to sip on some H2O. Not only that but it displays the date and time, weather, water temperature, drinking progress and alerts you when it's ready for a thorough wash! Quite convenient, I'd say. 

Also, there are loads of great apps out there that can contribute to a healthier lifestyle for under $5, if you are looking to make some positive moves on a budget. Click here for 7 of Amina's favorite beauty & wellness apps to download now! 

 

Obviously, using great topical skincare is going to support healthy, glowing skin.  But we are firm believers that beauty starts on the inside, and making smart choices at the grocery store can impact your dewy complexion in big ways.  

 Go Green!

Dark, leafy greens are vital to a healthy glow, as they're loaded with anti-oxidants and necessary vitamins and minerals our skin needs.  One of the best ways to absorb nutrients from our greens is to juice them.

Try Our Favorite Green Juice

Ingredients: (Makes 2 servings)

•    2cucumbers

•    1 bulb of fennel

•    1 pear

•    16 leaves of kale with stalks

•    1 lime

•    2 inch pieces of ginger

•    A handful of mint

Directions:

Carefully wash all produce.  Core the pears and peel the lime.  Then place everything in the juicer, pour in your fave glass and enjoy your fab new elixir.  

Go Orange! 

We just mentioned the importance of eating your greens, but you should also eat orange. Foods such as cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, carrots and apricots are loaded with beta-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A, and widely acknowledged as a key nutrient for healthy skin. 

Craving a skin-savior that’s also a sweet treat?

Try Our Simple Cantaloupe Smoothie Bowl

Ingredients: (Makes 2 servings)

•    3 frozen bananas

•    1 cup of apricots

•    6 ounces plain coconut yogurt (no added sugar)

•    1/4 cup canned coconut milk (bpa-free please!)

•    1 cantaloupe, split in half with seeds removed, and scooped out

•    1 lime

•    ½ a cup of granola

•    ½ tsp of chia seeds

Directions:

Split the cantaloupe in half, remove the seeds and scoop out the insides.  Save the bowls.  Add the bananas, apricots, yogurt, lime, cantaloupe and coconut milk to a high-powered blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and the texture resembles fro yo.  

Divide the mixture evenly between the two cantaloupe "bowls."  Top each with the granola, chia and any other favorite healthy toppings.  

Add Vitamin E!

It's great for a healthy glow and one the best sources of vitamin E are almonds!  

Get a Little Nutty and Start Your Day with Our Almond Smoothie

Ingredients: (Makes 1 serving)

•    1.5 cups almond milk

•    2 tablespoons almond butter

•    ½ tablespoon raw cacao

•    ¼ cup frozen coconut milk

•    ½ medium banana, frozen

•    ¼ teaspoon of maca

•    2 dates, pitted (optional if you like things a little sweeter)

•    A scoop of your favorite plant-based protein powder

•    Dash of vanilla and cinnamon

Add all the ingredients to a high speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  If you want the consistency to be a little thinner, just add in a splash more almond milk. 

 

 

Newsflash: We're busy and we're only getting busier! Business travel is at an all-time high, we're working more hours per week and generally running and gunning at 1000% and if we don't fuel ourselves correctly, it's a sure bet for burnout.

But how do we stay well while on-the-go, you ask? With a strong snack game! I've put together my top three on-the-go snacks that can be made in a flash and keep you firing on all cylinders.

Goji Berry Shortbread

Goji berries, aka wolfberries, have long been regarded as an aphrodisiac in China but they are also a great source of energy. Drop a few of these bad boys into your lunch bag and thank me later ; )

INGREDIENTS:
½ cup of almond butter
3 tablespoons of agave syrup
2 teaspoons of vanilla
¼ teaspoon of sea salt
1-½ cups of almond meal
¼ of goji berries
1 scoop of protein powder
2 tablespoons of coconut oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

Melt the almond butter on the stove or the microwave. Once melted, add it to the protein powder and almond meal. Mix well. Then add the coconut oil, vanilla, sea salt and mix again. Sprinkle in the goji berries and fold them into the batter. Roll the batter into balls and place on a baking tray covered with parchment or wax paper. Then flatten them with the palm of your and until they achieve a cookie shape. Place them in the fridge until you’re ready to share.

Almond Espresso Protein Bites

Who would ever crave a donut when you have these protein bites lying around!?  These make for the perfect breakfast or pre/postworkout snack. 

INGREDIENTS:

 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder

½ cup of Barney’s Vanilla Bean Espresso Almond Butter(If you can’t find this brand, don’t fret.  You can substitute for any almond, peanut or cashew butter.)

¼ of a cup of granola

¼ cup of coconut shreds

1 tbs of almond milk

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add all ingredients together in a mixing bowl and mix until all ingredients are well distributed.  Scoop about a tablespoon of the mixture into your hands and form into small balls.  Place in the  fridge and allow them to firm up.

Viking Protein Waffles

Don't feel like spending time in the kitchen?  Some pre-packaged snacks are healthier than others and might deserve a much-coveted spot in your work bag.  One such snack is  the Viking Protein Waffle.

Created by Norwegian Fitspo, Benedicte Engen, these bad boys are only 172 calories, 4 grams of fat, 10 grams of carbs and a powerful 24 grams of protein.  Oh, and did we mention, they taste great too!