Tag Archives: going reviews

Going Healthy, Going Strong

Is Protein Powder Really Worth It?

2 Comments

Just the other day, I set out on the simple task of finding a new protein powder that wasn’t filled with junk. Before I knew it,  2 hours had passed as I perused the plethora of options for this popular supplement!

This made me ponder whether I should really stress over the different types, flavors, functions, and brands. I recently shared the benefits of protein and making it complete with all 23 amino acids, so it’s obviously an important macronutrient. But, do we really need protein in powder form, and, more importantly, is it even worth it?

You can find protein powders made out of things you’d never expect.  We all know the common whey protein, which is broken into concentrates, isolates, and even goat whey protein. Other popular varieties are soy, egg white, and casein. Some less common, but still good types are rice, hemp, and pea proteins, but did you ever hear of beef protein powder?

Paleo Beef Protein Powder

Beef is an excellent source of protein, but having it in a smoothie seems a little odd. I might try it as long as the ingredients are good, but it’s also one of the most expensive forms. Expensive and very processed! I mean, I can accept processed beef when it’s put through the grinder, but how much has to happen to turn it into a flavored powder?

Can you really see yourself paying a premium to drink beef protein powder that’s Blue Raspberry, Peanut Butter, Cherry Vanilla, Fruit Punch or other some other flavor? MuscleMeds has all of these flavors if your answer is yet, but it’s filled with artificial colors and flavors that I avoid in any product.

MuscleMeds Carnivore_Beef Protein Powder
Carnivores like meat, not blue raspberry powder….

Anyway, back to the question at hand.  Do I really need protein in the form of powder instead of enjoying freshly cooked chicken, beef or fish? There are also many sustainably caught and packaged canned options like tuna, salmon, and sardines I always have around. These are just as quick and the ones with pull tabs require no can opener to lug around wherever you go. My current favorite are canned anchovies in water, and even my 2 year old daughter loves having the “little fishies” with me.

Whole food sources of protein are obviously the better choice since powder, no matter how clean, organic, or super-duper ultra filtered it is, is still highly processed.

There are many healthy plant based protein powders packed full of enzymes, superfoods, cleansing herbs, and they taste good too.  I have tried several and enjoy them in smoothies as well as many recipes. But in retrospect do I really need all of these “extras” in a protein powder? Isn’t that what a good vitamin or, better yet, having a diet rich in whole foods should provide?

I was all about buying this high quality Garden of Life Raw Protein, but then thought about how I like to cook a lot with my powders.  Wouldn’t cooking pretty much make the whole “Raw” aspect obsolete? Then I just paid a premium for higher quality protein and destroyed the premium part. And again, there are plenty of whole food based multivitamins that will give you everything in these superfood protein powders.

Maybe I will break down and buy a raw protein powder just for mixing into drinks or no-bake recipes like these No-Bake Quinoa Almond Protein Cookies as they are great to take along when traveling for a healthy snack option both kids and adults will enjoy.

quinoa almond cookies

I have used many protein powders, both good and bad over the years. Currently, my favorite brands are Legion, BiPro, and Naked Nutrition. If you haven’t tried my healthy Legion Banana Vanilla Protein Pancakes recipe, I highly suggest you do…..fast!

protein pancakes

As you can see, I enjoy protein powder and by no means am I quitting the stuff, but maybe not stressing over the the slew of extra ingredients. Now I when I’m in the market for a good protein powder, I focus on the one thing that matters, the protein!

Setting guidelines before you make a purchase will help save a lot of time and stress when choosing a protein powder. Trust me, I would really appreciate having those 2+ hours back!

Here are the main things I look for in (or not in) a protein powder:

  • No artificial sweeteners…EVER!
  • Non-GMO, preferably organic
  • If whey protein, I typically prefer that it’s sourced from grass-fed cows not treated with antibiotics
  • Very little to no sugar (less than 3g per serving); prefer no sugar and only stevia or unsweetened
  • No added soybean or other oil
  • No nonsense “super pump” marketing/gimmicky ingredients
  • Short, simple list of ingredients; unless it is the raw green food kind

These guidelines for a quality supplement will narrow your options in a good way. Yes, it usually means higher prices, but I’m willing to pay more when it comes to things that go in my family’s body. Plus, as long as you’re not relying on powder as your main source, it should last a while.

What type or types of protein powder do you use?

Do you get caught up searching for the “right” protein powder or anything else?  Too much information makes too much confusion sometimes!

Going Reviews

Gaining Confidence with the WOOM 1 Balance Bike

3 Comments

We’ve had the WOOM 1 Balance Bike for only a month, and our little girl has already improved so much! Her coordination, speed, balance, and most importantly, happiness on the bike all increase every time she gets on her Rocket.

WOOM 1 Balance Bike, kids, bikes, riding

I’d say that’s the look of one proud and confident kid if you ask me. Pretty darn cute too!

Going Mom and I have been spending a lot time watching and encouraging her as she practices gliding down our driveway. Not always with both feet in the air, but building her balance a little more each time.

WOOM 1 Balance Bike, kids, bikes, riding

Here she is with both feet up as her hair apparently follows suit. She’s loving her new Soft Star Shoes when she walks, runs, or rides too. Aren’t they cute?

WOOM 1 Balance Bike, kids, bikes, riding

There are times, however, when a car will pass, a bug will fly by, or she sees “money” (it’s just a dead leaf) that distracts her just enough to lose focus. Consequently, her balance is lost too.

WOOM 1 Balance Bike, kids, bikes, riding

But, no biggie, we’ve never had a quick knee-jerk reaction when she falls so as to not foster her into thinking she can be a drama queen. Instead, we just shake it off and do a little shaky dance. Followed by picking up her crashed WOOM 1 Balance Bike.

WOOM 1 Balance Bike, kids, bikes, riding

The bike is made of lightweight aluminum alloy and weighs in at just 7.7lbs, which is no problem for our strong little girl to pick back up and get back to riding. Sometimes daddy likes to make Rocket fly by lifting up the front wheel and “taking off” with her in the cockpit/seat.

WOOM 1 Balance Bike, kids, bikes, riding

I think I enjoy doing that more than her, she just want to ride……on her own! She usually makes it quite clear, so I make sure to keep my distance for our confident daughter. Notice that poor rejected dad in the background?

WOOM 1 Balance Bike, kids, bikes, riding

Guess I can understand though, she’s already turning into Little Miss Independent. I’ll just have to keep an eye out for the neighborhood boys.

So, in just over a month, our initial impression is a very pleased one. Getting the WOOM 1 for her to ride was a great choice, and we’re extremely happy to cut out the need for training wheels.

With her first downhill session looking like she was impersonating the Flintstones driving their cars to learning to lift her feet up and glide down somewhat smoothly, we couldn’t be more proud of how far she’s come.

We still have lots of biking adventures to come. The next thing to work on is riding on flat ground at a pace faster than the Mayflies blowing backwards in the wind. All in due time, check back for updates on her progress soon!

WOOM 1 Balance Bike, kids, bikes, riding

Disclaimer: I was provided a WOOM 1 Balance Bike free of charge in exchange for my honest, unbiased review and was not compensated any other way. All thoughts are 100% my own. Seriously, love this bike!

Books, Going Reviews

First 100 Words: The Best Baby Book of 2015

1 Comment

Choosing a baby book for your little one can be difficult. With 488 million results when you search for “baby book” on Google, it’s simply overwhelming! Luckily, I have one book you simply must add to your baby/toddler book collection…. First 100 Words by Roger Priddy.

100 First Words - Baby Book

We bought this book for A before she was 1 and we’d just go through each page describing the pictures. Babies may not seem like they’re responsive, but they are absorbing everything around them and filling their constantly growing brain.

When you just don’t know how to initiate a conversation with a little person that doesn’t talk back (at least with actual words), First 100 Words is handy to have around. It’s the perfect way to get your baby into reading and associating them with so many everyday animals, objects, and food.

For every 2 pages, there is an associated theme like Colors, Things That Go, Food, Outside, etc. with pictures to resemble each theme. It’s a fun way for those growing brains to learn not only about the theme, but about what they see in each picture.

We love pointing at each picture and making the associated sound if there is one. The cat says “meow”, the big truck goes “HONK HONK!”, the flower says…………ha ha, got you, it says nothing! 🙂

Even when we weren’t reading to her, A would flip through the pages, give the soft cover a little chew, flip some more, chew, repeat. Yeah, babies like to chew, so why not on something educational? Being a board book,  it actually holds up quite well to baby/toddler abuse. This is a must-have for kids’ books!

100 First Words-Baby Book-back

At almost 2 1/2 (when did that happen?!), she can easily name most of the things in the book and make any of their associated sounds. She will sit in one of her favorite reading spots and study each page with vigor while saying each thing she sees out loud. It’s the most adorable thing to see how much she has learned from when we first introduced her to the book.

It’s also just the right size to pack in a diaper bag to take along when out and about. Reading to your little ones is a perfect way to spend quality time together and bond with them. Sit down with this book and take your time describing the words, colors, and objects in each picture, it will mean the world to them!

The only minor issue I have with the book is that the pictures seem a little outdated. I mean, that yellow BMW Z3 to show a “car”? C’mon! They have Z4’s now!! Honestly, that’s hardly an issue, and I would quickly buy this book again and again for any baby/toddler. It makes a great inexpensive gift too! There’s even a Spanish Version!

First 100 Words-Spanish Edition-Book

The First 100 series by Roger Priddy also has a book for the First 100 Animals which was the #6 best selling baby book in 2015.

First 100 Animals

Annnddd, when they’re craving more, and they will, make sure to check out the First 100 Numbers, Colors, Shapes as well as the First 100 Trucks.

First 100 Numbers-Colors-Shapes-Book

First 100 Trucks

You really can’t go wrong with any one of these books, but you might as well get several and keep them around in the car, grandparent’s house, and a backup for when the first one gets chewed through. True story.

Disclaimer: I purchased this book on my own and recieved no compensation for this post. However, there are affiliate links within this post that if you click on them and make a purchase, I will earn a few cents. So, please click and make a purchase! 🙂