Cleanse Excitement, Product Review, and Gratitude
Thank you to all the lovely ladies who participated in last night’s Spark! Wellness + Choosing Raw Cleanse teleclass! Hadley, Andrea and I were blown away by the intelligent questions and comments you all threw out, from “how do I explain the cleanse to my husband?” to “how much exercise is recommended while you’re cleansing?” Hopefully we helped to clear up some of these issues. For those of you who are already signed up for the cleanse, the call was recorded and is available for listening; details here.
For those of you who are still considering signing up for the cleanse, which was just featured in VegNews magazine, the deadline has been extended to this Sunday, January 10th, which is the day on which cleanse materials (including meal plans, recipes, and tips) will be sent out to participants. I, for one, can’t wait to lead the program and to follow it along with my cleansers. The level 3 forum is already abuzz with wonderful conversation about the cleansers goals and intentions, and I’m looking forward to more dialogue with these smart and motivated women!
On to food. It’s been a while since I did a product review, so I thought I’d share with you all my latest taste test. The lovely folks at Divine Foods were kind enough to send me samples of their Boomi and SuperCharger PranaBars!
I’ve been hoping to sample PranaBars for a long time. They’re certified organic and gluten-free, sweetened with organic agave nectar, and (this is my favorite part) the nuts are slow cooked at low temperatures to denature their enzyme inhibitors, making them slightly more digestible than other nut based bars. The new SuperCharger line is infused with so-called superfoods: maca, goji berries, acai, and the like.
Now, you guys know that I’m a devoted fan of LaraBars. But I will confess, I was excited to add some variety to my bar options. And overall, these guys hit the spot!
The pros: Flavor! So far, I’ve tried the Raspberry Pomegranate and Goldenberry Goji flavors. Like LaraBars and Clif Nectar bars, they taste simple and clean. But their flavor is slightly more complex and rich than LaraBars; the Goldenberry Goji flavor, for example, tasted of fresh vanilla. It was delicious! These guys are sweeter than some other bars I’ve tried, so I’d suggest them for when you’re in the mood for a dessert-like snack. I sampled by bar along with a large tahini-romaine salad (pictured here–nothing shouts “scenic photo op!” more than a desk lunch), and found that the bar held my hunger nicely all afternoon—a big plus!
The cons: The bars all contain puffed amaranth in addition to nuts, which means that they’re miscombined. In fairness, they didn’t upset my stomach in the slightest, and amaranth is absolutely one of my favorite grains, so I was psyched to see it on the ingredient label. That said, it’s present in a very small amount, so part of me wishes they’d leave it out altogether, for a well-combined treat.
The mix of grains and nuts was more evident in the Boomi Bar, which contains crisp rice. I didn’t love this bar as much, to be honest. It was mostly a question of texture: I enjoyed the density of the PranaBar more than the crunch of the Boomi Bar (I also see on the company website that some Boomi Bars–not the flavor that was sent to me–contain Whey Protein Isolate, which I’m not a fan of, primarily because it’s not vegan, and secondarily because protein isolates are highly processed and some are suspected carcinogens).
My other quibble here is that I tend to cringe at too much hype about “superfoods”—I think it’s a highly misleading label for foods that are simply nutrient-dense (like many other foods). Goji berries are not going to save your life, and the effects of such plants as maca still demand more study before they can be considered conclusive. I have no problem with people enjoying superfoods; certainly, they’re far more nourishing and tasty than many other foods that our society has deemed health-promoting! But I think our obsession with superfoods is a part of our search for quick fixes–foods or supplements that will magically serve as cure alls for weight loss, sickness, and low energy–rather than doing what we should be doing, which is to eat a clean, balanced, plant based diet every single day.
The cult of superfoods, though, is not the issue here. The issue is, how did Gena ultimately like her PranaBars? And the answer is, a lot! I’m not a BoomiBar convert, but I am a big fan of the PranaBars, and encourage you to give them a shot. They’re delicious, healthy, made with great integrity, and (from what I experienced) highly digestive-friendly.
Thumbs up.
Speaking of products, there is a stevia giveaway going on here. And speaking of delicious snacks, I’m sending a giant hug to my dear friend Nelly, who made me chocolate peppermint donut holes for Christmas!
I’ve been enjoying these treats all week, Nel: thank you so much! May everyone have friends as thoughtful and culinarily gifted as Ms. Nelly: attorney, crusader, ultimate Frisbee champ, vegetarian, hottie, and newly-initiated food processor addict.
On that note, I wish you all a great night 
xo
P.S. It’s Thursday. Everyone check out my friend Katie’s awesome Vegan Thursday Challenge!
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–Lyn D., MarylandBefore I started working with Gena, I wasn’t sure whether it would be worth it, since I knew what I “should” be doing. Her counseling, however, turned out to be a key factor in my success.
Not only does she have great advice when I am struggling, but her realistic approach helped me make major changes despite having no time and limited funds. Her recipes and ideas are for real people with lives beyond their diets, and they are great. Gena is down to earth and non-judgmental. She strikes a great balance between encouraging me to go a little father but to keep things in perspective and have fun with the process.
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So where do you get your protein?Ah, the million dollar question. I know that my fellow raw foodists are uttering a collective sigh of frustration with me. But it’s inevitable, so here goes:
I get my protein from a wide array of vegetables, sea vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes. The notion that we need to supplement our diet with large amounts of protein, especially in the form of animal products, is mistaken: our bodies are capable of assembling amino acids from all of the foods we eat and building the “complete proteins” that we’ve all been told we need to get in a single sitting.
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Juicer (average $50.00 - $500.00)If you’re like me, and juicing is a crucial part of your lifestyle, then the cost of a juicer will absolutely be worth it! It will buy itself back again and again and again. The juicer I recommend is the Breville Two-Speed Juice Fountain Plus. It’s the only juicer I’ve ever owned, and it has never let me down. I recommend you invest in a juicer that has at least this level of performance in order to juice leafy greens.
Some of you have asked me whether it’s wiser to buy a juicer or a Vitamix.
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Nomnomnom. Those look uhhhh-mazing. I wanna try making the regular donut holes.
I really need to start making some of your recipes. I realllllly want to make that banana soft serve. I just need to get some sort of kitchen tool to do so with. I wonder if my craptastic bobo blender will work?
Oooh, I’m afraid that a normal blender won’t cut it!! Food processor or vitamix only
You ate something that wasn’t vegan?!? Gassspppp
I’ve seen those bars in stores- thanks for the review!
I agree with you on the superfood craze. I have fallen victim to some of the hype but soon realized that spending that much $$ is sooo not necessary to get nutrients!
No, Danielle! I wouldn’t eat a non-vegan food. I ate the flavor that WAS vegan, but I was saying that it bothered me that some of the flavors are NOT vegan.
Ohh lol thanks for clarifying. I was thinking “I hope she doesn’t get too much crap for this…”
Those bars look delicious – they almost look like the inside of a fig to me.
I couldn’t agree more about the issue of “superfoods.” If we concentrated on eating a wide variety of whole foods rather than on what extracts and miracle foods will cure us, we’d be in much better shape.
I’ve also heard that in the case of goji berries, overharvesting has left indigenous people with a shortage of one of their staple foods. It’s good to think hard about where our food comes from before we pop it in our mouths!
I’m so glad to see this! I’ve seen those bars but not gone ahead and tried them. This helps!
Now you have a nice non-corporate alternative to Lara Bars, which you may not know were recently purchased by General Mills. You’d never know from the website, as all these corporate adoptees go to great lengths to hide their new corporate parents. I must admit prefer the simpler taste of the Lara Bars (two or three ingredients only in my favorites), but I hate eating corporate food, probably as much as you hate eating non vegan food.
I think I’ve tried those PranaBars once before, and I really enjoyed it. Thanks for the additional info!
PS I am so jealous of your chocolate peppermint donut holes…
p.s. those chocolate peppermint donut holes look delish!
amazing! where is the forum? I am excited to put myself in your lovely hands!
Gena, glad you got to sample the Prana bars! I know when I reviewed one a few weeks back you commented on it and glad you scored some..yay!
The choc peppermint donut holes..I wonder what recipe/who’s/ingredients your friend used?! I commented on her site. I am of course super curious and would love to see how other people make them as I have my own recipe but am always learning, always a student, always absorbing raw dessert vibes!!!!
Best of luck on the cleanse, I know you’re gonna rock it out with people!
Those donut holes look amazing!! Thanks for the prana info, I haven’t tried them before but they look worth trying!
Yay! I love product reviews from you. I absolutely love larabars and I’ve been looking to branch out and read all the ingredient labels of all the bunches they have in the WF but you just saved me a lot of time! The pranabars sound great.
Hmm, I’ve always given Pranabars the side-eye when I’ve seen them, since I’m pretty devoted to Laras myself, but hey if you’re coming from the same place then I guess I owe Pranas a try. Their flavor combos are certainly exciting!
What I really need right now are coconuts though. Momma gots a cold and the nearest place to buy one is Manhattan. Boo. Bonobos needs to open in my hood. Or in my kitchen.
Prana Bars, huh? I’ve never had one, but I trust you. After all, you are the one who made “banana soft-serve” into an everyday term
.
I’ll look for them next time at Whole Foods.
And the doughnut holes sound so good! Like Wild Bars! Makes me wonder why I haven’t put mint extract in my fudge babies yet. Your friend really is super-sweet. But then again, you deserve no less!
I’ve never seen PranaBars in stores before.. I may have to hunt some down, they sound really good!
Can you combine avocado and hummus? This combination is very confusing ^_^
Looks like I am going to have to pick of a few of those bars at Whole Foods today! Thanks for the review! Have a lovely weekend, dear Gena! See you in a week! YAY!
I have never tried the Prana bars and LaraBars are NOT a fav…have you tried the Bora Bora bars? I really like them, but they are expensive here…
Hey Tammy,
I have to admit, I don’t LOVE the ingredient labels for Bora Bora bars — they’re a little more sweetened than I’d like, and a few contain peanuts (of which I am not a fan). But they look tasty!
Gena
I totally agree with your take on Superfoods. Reminds me a lot of what Michael Pollan said in “In Defense of Food”. While focusing on health is a great thing, narrowing healthy choices down to a few nutrient dense foods is a bit misguided!
I was eating a Prana bar when I came onto your blog haha. They are delicious! Nice review.
Gena, does your comment about protein isolates apply to plant sources like hemp protein, also? I’ve been adding hemp seeds to salads and smoothies recently- is that preferable to hemp protein powder, which I have also considered? (Aside from the general general protein debate?) I assume the whole food is always better- do you think there is a big difference?
I’ve tried pranabars too and I think they’re great!
I saw those Prana bars at grocery store but didn’t buy any. They had one flavor, Coconut Acai, marked down because it’d be discontinued…but sadly, that meant the box of bars was empty. I’ll have to buy some.
i love those bars, i just had the pear ginsing one today, it was delicioussss!
This is good info! Sometimes it’s nice to have something sweet available (with no effort). The ingredient labels/ health claims/prices scattered throughout the “health bar” section at whole foods can be daunting. Prana looks like a safe bet once in a while. Thanks!
Hi! I’ve been following your blog for a while but never written in. I was wondering if you could tell me more about they whey protein isolate comment? I had never heard anything bad about it, I’m a workout fanatic, and of course everyone and their brother at the gym drinks it. If it’s that bad for you, I would want to avoid it, but what other alternatives (that are clean) are there? Just wondering what your take on it is.
Thanks!
Jessica
I love PranaBars, too, even though I’ve only tried two flavors. Apricot almond (or goji? I can’t remember!) is my favorite.
Just a few more reasons why I love you so…
Funny: …nothing shouts “scenic photo op!” more than a desk lunch.
Honest: …some Boomi Bars–not the flavor that was sent to me–contain Whey Protein Isolate, which I’m not a fan of, primarily because it’s not vegan, and secondarily because protein isolates are highly processed and some are suspected carcinogens.
Real: I think our obsession with superfoods is a part of our search for quick fixes–foods or supplements that will magically serve as cure alls for weight loss, sickness, and low energy–rather than doing what we should be doing, which is to eat a clean, balanced, plant based diet every single day.
xo!
EM
amaranth! amaranth! amaranth! Love the stuff!
Hi Gena,
A little irrelevant but… just wanted to tell you what a yummy treat your juice pulp crackers are! I made them for the first time today and I’m obsessed with them! Thanks so much
Hi, love your stuff, and great article. I love Pranabars! I was wondering, as a nutritionist and as a vegan, have you tried Raw Revolution bars? http://www.rawindulgence.com/
What is your opinion of them? I have developed a mild obsession with the spirulina and cashew flavor.
Thanks!
yumm….looks so good!
Cleanse Excitement, Product Review, and Gratitude adler@gigemail.net
Cleanse Excitement, Product Review, and Gratitude adley@gigemail.net
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