Mountain Mother Runner

Hemp + Coffee Chia Pudding…need I say more?! Since I’ve started training for my first ultra, I have also been experimenting with nutrition. How much do I need to eat before heading out for a long run? What does my body require as fuel mid-run? Besides these questions, what are you supposed to do when you wake up WAY TOO EARLY for a normal human being to be hungry? I’m not sure about you, but when my alarm sounds off at 4:30am, food does not seem appealing. After forcing myself to eat something, I half consciously stumble out into the chilly morning and spend the first two or three miles waking up. There has to be a better way…oh wait, there is! The Hemp + Coffee Chia Pudding has become the ultimate pre-run fuel! Not only does the caffeine wake you up, the hemp hearts and chia seeds give you sustainable energy for your workout/run/race/day as a mama. Real ingredients for a tasty treat! *Exciting news!* Recently, I was selected to be a Manitoba Harvest brand advo...

Oh don't mind me...I'll be hiding in a corner stuffing my face with all of these Vegan Carrot Cake Muffins! They are soooo tasty and a great way to sneak more veggies into your (or your kiddo's) diet. Instead of using egg as a binder, this recipe uses an alternative flax meal "egg substitute". Flax meal is simply ground up flax seeds. These tiny seeds are a great source of fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids, and protein! Another treat that I've used flax substitutes in are these Walnut Flax Cookies . Pin this recipe for later!  Vegan Carrot Cake Muffins ·          1 Flax “egg substitute” (1 tbs flaxmeal and 3 tbs water) ·          2 cups oat flour (2 2/3 cups rolled oats) ·          2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted ·          1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ·          ½ teaspo...

Breakfast is a pretty big deal in our household. Mornings can be hectic trying to get the little one fed after waking up with just a little bit of time to cook food for my hubby, before he leaves for work! I seriously love these Grain-Free Banana Pancakes because they are healthy and SUPER fast to make. Having a child typically means bananas and eggs are always on deck in the kitchen. They are both great beginner foods that are nutritious and easy to eat. Since Eisley doesn't eat meat (and lately is refusing beans), eggs, in addition to nuts and seeds, are important for her protein intake. Instead of flour, these pancakes use almond meal and hemp seeds! Yummy pancakes = happy toddler! Banana Pancakes ·          1 large banana ·          2 eggs ·          1 tbs hemp seed ·          ¼ c almond meal ·  ...

Do you ever try something new and think, "WHY HAVEN'T I DONE THIS BEFORE?!?" Come closer my friend, let me introduce you to this Green Goddess Smoothie... Pin this for later! I've been enjoying this smoothie so much that I may have prepped an entire week's worth of the same kind...don't judge. I find it extremely helpful to portion out smoothie ingredients (including greens) into individual freezer bags. Label what's inside and what needs to be added, whether it's almond milk, coconut water, hemp seeds, cinnamon, etc. In the mornings for breakfast or after hitting the gym, you can grab a bag from the freezer, pop it into the blender, and simply add liquid! It is also great when you find organic produce on sale so you can stock up without worrying about it going bad. Instead, divide it up and prep your smoothies! This smoothie is high in dietary fiber which aids in digestion and helps you stay full for longer! It is  a great source of potas...

As a mom to a toddler vegetarian, I have to pay extra attention to her diet to make sure she grows up healthy and strong! Incorporating enough protein, iron, zinc, and omega-3 fats can be challenging. Luckily for us, we discovered the benefits of hemp back in 2013 while living in Colorado. Hemp foods help keep our little one, and the rest of the family, healthy! Recently, Manitoba Harvest provided me with a bag of their Hemp Hearts. I bet you’re thinking, “What the heck is a hemp heart ?” Well, hemp hearts are what remain after they shell the hemp seeds. Manitoba Harvest is the world’s largest hemp manufacturer and they ONLY sell hemp foods. They’re involved in the entire process (from seed to shelf) and make it a point to openly educate about the health benefits and sustainability of HEMP! Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts 8oz bag Since their facility solely produces hemp products, you don’t have to worry about cross-contamination with nuts, soy, gluten, etc! That is especially im...

Did you know it’s the 7 th annual Hemp History Week (June 6-12)? Industrial hemp is such a misunderstood crop and has incredible potential to improve our country’s overall health, farming industry, textile industry, and economic crisis. Celebrate with me by indulging in this delicious and easy Blueberry Hemp Protein Smoothie! The Hemp History Week website is full of useful information, and talks about the sustainability of hemp, its complete nutrition, innovation, and economic potential.   “Hemp heals Earth. Its long taproot helps mitigate erosion and it has potential to remediate poor soil. As a rotation crop hemp can break disease cycles. It is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth making hemp very efficient at atmospheric carbon sequestration. Hemp’s high pollen content makes it a favorite of bees and other pollinator species, and since hemp requires no petroleum-based chemicals to grow, it does not contaminate the environment.”   Simply focusing on t...