Mountain Mother Runner

I am nine weeks deep into ultra training, which means the nutrition plan experiments continue. One thing that has become a favorite is this Hemp + Coffee Chia Pudding . There have been runs that I couldn’t fully prepare for, so I opted for something packaged and quick. Those runs also ended up with energy crashes, hunger, and GI issues. Yuck! The best way to train and be properly fueled is to plan ahead! When I’m on a long run, I want my food to be bite-sized, easy to chew, and moist enough that it doesn’t leave my mouth feeling dry. A batch of these Elite Beet + Hemp Bites are perfect for carrying in a vest or belt and are the perfect size to pop in your mouth. Dates contain 50% more potassium (by weight) than bananas, which is great for muscle recovery. The Hemp Hearts from Manitoba Harvest are a powerful addition to this snack. The amount used in this recipe contains 10 grams of plant-based protein and 10 grams of omega-3 and omega-6. How’s THAT for fuel?! BAM!  ...

I’ve been enjoying the magic of hemp hearts for the last four years of my life, and I plan to continue this love-love relationship we share. Manitoba Harvest recently launched some new, oh-my-goodness, tasty products including their Toasted Hemp Seeds . My experience of eating hemp foods has mainly been hemp hearts (aka hemp seeds that have been shelled), hemp oil, and hemp protein powder, but not the whole seed. They are a little larger in size, are crunchy from being toasted, and pop when you bite them! These little guys come in two flavors, either Sea Salt or Sriracha. After a long run, I like to “treat” myself with food that’s yummy AND healthy. My hangry self doesn’t like to wait on cooking and I need to eat something, like now ! Smoothies are definitely my main squeeze as post-workout food, but other times I enjoy actually eating instead of drinking. One of the many awesome perks of toast is how versatile it is. Do you want it for breakfast with sprouts and a fried egg...

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...

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...