A Trainers Kitchen: Party Time!

Party time does not have to mean, ” binge out on unhealthy food time.”
For my 52nd Birthday, I made this fun and colorful pasta salad. This salad is a beautiful addition to any party table and it is gluten-free and vegan!
The ingredients are: Rice pasta, 2 different kinds for looks, and well, I had one of those half a box of pasta left situations. Frozen peas and spinach, handmade pesto, Trader Joes red pepper dip, olive, ​ and avocado​ oil, salt a small amount of vegan butter garlic butter, topped with canned Trader Joes artichoke​ hearts and mini heirloom​ tomatoes.

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Brick Bars , Snack Review

 

 

New Product Review: Bricks Bars

 

While shopping in one of the fancier markets in a high-end neighborhood near the gym where I work, I ran across some “meat bars.”

 

It was one of those stores where you buy five things and are shocked at the bill, and these bars — made by Bricks Bars — were no exception at $3.99 for each 1.5 oz bar. That is about 40 bucks a pound, folks.

 

That day, there were two types of bars available at the store: one that contained grass-fed beef with uncured bacon, cranberry, and sunflower seed; and another one composed of Turkey with sweet potato, cranberry, and pumpkin seed. Curious and hungry, I got both.

 

I showed one to a friend, and she asked if I had just bought a Thanksgiving meal in a bar. I laughed, recalling the “Meal in a gum” concoction created by Willy Wonka, where the more you chewed the more different flavors you tasted.

 

I ate the beef one on the way home. It was coated with a kind of oil and was nice and solid. It tasted kind of like trail mix with jerky in it.

 

The flavor was… good! All of the ingredients were really complementing each other. By the time I finished the bar I was giving this product a thumbs up and an A plus. It WAS really good and the best part a nice lingering peppery taste in my mouth. I wish it was a little saltier, but the low salt is better for you.

 

More than anything, I could taste the love the makers of the bar must have put into the development of this product. Making something this unusual and healthy must have taken tons of time, and they did a fantastic job of it. It reminds me of Astronaut food (and, as matter of fact, they should market this great snack to NASA). The best part was with the bars 10 grams of protein, low sugar content, and one to two grams of fiber, which staved off my hunger through several personal training sessions.

 

Upon closer scrutiny of the label, I noted the bar was a local product made by a family right here in Brooklyn! So hooray for local business! That, in and of itself, makes me not mind the high price. My money goes into local pockets and not some CEO’s million-dollar bonus. That means I could, literally, run into the makers of Bricks Bars by chance, and tell them I love their products.

 

Overall, I give both Bricks Bars flavors high marks. If you’re looking for a filling snack that’s savory and sweet, they’re perfect. Buying a bar will satisfy your hunger and, if you’re in the New York City area, help a neighborhood business.