Can You Just Eat Chocolate To Get the Health Benefits?

Hi! How are you? I’m great because we’re talking about cocoa again today!  And I’m feeling great because I’m sipping iced coffee right now… my favorite.

I’ve been working with CocoaVia® cocoa extract supplement for a while now. I made a fancy iced coffee with the Unsweetened Dark Chocolate powdered stick pack to start my day. It’s just iced coffee, the packet and some almond milk – I  shake it up in a cup so it’s a little foamy and completely mixed. So good.

I got super excited the other day when I was listening to podcasts and came across this short story on how cocoa flavanols – the unique bioactives (or phytonutrients)  in cocoa –  can support health. But the takeaway that some people are making from the studies is that just eating dark chocolate offers similar health benefits.

Unfortunately, most chocolates don’t label their amount of flavonols. And really the majority do not contain a reliable or guaranteed amount of cocoa flavanols.  So while chocolate is a great/yummy/special treat, it really isn’t your “go to” source of cocoa flavanols. This is where CocoaVia® comes in.  

CocoaVia® daily cocoa extract supplement delivers 375 mg of cocoa flavanols in every serving – the highest amount in any cocoa extract supplement in the market today.  When consumed daily, numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that the cocoa flavanols in CocoaVia® supplement promote healthy blood flow from head to toe†, which is critical to your overall health.

Visit www.CocoaVia.com for more information.

Winner of the CocoaVia Giveaway: Jodie S who said “I usually have chocolate bits in my mid morning trail mix snack around 11am, sometimes in my energy ball right before a run!!” – Jodie please email me your info!!

In other running and eating news…

I sported a pair of colorful ProCompression socks for my run this morning! They really have the most fun socks out there. No contest.

The cool mornings have been perfect for running too!

Is it slowly becoming Fall where you live??

Have you seen Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers popping up around you? They seem to be all over the place in Orange County now!

Their menu is super limited – just chicken fingers and sides. Ben is obsessed with this place so I grabbed some for him tonight as a treat since he was out of town and just got back.

Question: Do you switch between iced coffee and hot coffee depending on the season?

Disclosure: I was asked to participate in the CocoaVia® “Live Your Life with Heart” campaign. I was compensated for my time.

†This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

The post Can You Just Eat Chocolate To Get the Health Benefits? appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.

Hearty Salmon and Wild Rice Soup in a Hurry

This is the third recipe I’m sharing as an ambassador for Chicken of the Sea and Minute Rice leading up ...

One year without injury

Being sick is so frustrating! What started as a sore throat for a few days turned into some serious sinus congestion. Now, instead of a very hoarse voice, I just sound like I'm talking while plugging my nose. I've also been coughing quite a bit.

Poor Noah is still having symptoms from his virus, and stayed home from school today because he was coughing so much. When my kids were little, there was one year that they were both constantly sick with bronchitis. If it wasn't one of them, it was the other. Noah's even turned into walking pneumonia. I had to give them breathing treatments several times a day, and stock up on Mucinex.

I never realized how awful bronchitis was until I got it that same year (all three of us were sick at the same time). I would have coughing fits that were so violent I thought I would literally cough up a lung.
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2 Ways to do Egg Toast

Hello! How’s your running and eating going this week? Today’s run was just okay, but the eats were pretty awesome.

I did 6 miles at a slow pace and some strength work after. I need a good long stretch now. I just feel so tight!

Then, it was breakfast time! I’m all about the fancy toast this week…

I made two versions of fancy egg toast using Sabra’s Sandwich Spreads. I’m working with them to let you know about their new line of spreads. It’s a fresh, lower-fat, gluten free option to use instead of mayo. Boom.

When I got them I tried all of the flavors straight up, on a cracker and with some deli turkey to choose my favorite. They’re all really good. I love how garlic-y the garlic herb one is and the honey mustard is great with the chicken fingers I had the other day.

When I tasted the sea salt & black pepper I knew immediately it would be great in deviled eggs. You wouldn’t even need to add anything else!

But I ended up putting that idea on hold and making two versions of egg toast for breakfast.

Last week I made a bunch of hard boiled eggs to have on hand for a quick meal to to add to salads. I used two for breakfast this morning. Meal-prepping small things like this make it so much easier to throw together food fast.

I toasted a piece of whole wheat bread and sliced the egg right on top. Then, I spread a thick layer of the Sea Salt & Black Pepper sandwich spread and gave it a good squeeze of Sriracha. The spread is so flavorful you don’t need any extra seasoning. Boom.

Next time I’d put the spread right on the toast

Last week I made a sunny side up egg version of the toast. It’s just a thick layer of spread, a perfectly runny egg and Sriracha. Boom.

What is it about runny eggs?! They are so delicious and so pretty. I love ‘em!!

I’ve seen the new spreads at my local Ralph’s super market near the guacamole and hummus. Keep an eye out for them. Check out more on Sabra here.

I’m also still obsessed with mangoes. They are perfection right now. Try one (or two) today!

And to continue the tasty day I went out to lunch! I needed to treat myself after a doctor’s appointment. You should treat yourself too so I’m not the only one and feel guilty about it…thanks.

Question: What is your favorite thing to put on toast –

PB / Avocado / Runny Egg / Nutella / Caramel Sauce…

This post is in partnership with Sabra. All opinions are my own.

The post 2 Ways to do Egg Toast appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.

Confession, I Call My Mom Noname

Hi! How are you? I had a super busy Monday. I scheduled a bunch of calls and an appointment back to back, plus I avoided my email all weekend so I had a pile waiting for me. I’ve been super productive today but I do have a few confessions I want to get off my chest too…

I went to my brother’s house yesterday and graciously volunteered to pick the pears from the tree in their backyard since it looked like the birds were trying to chomp them all!

Confession: I only did this do I could take a bunch home.

My mom brought watermelon for everyone to share. She brought a container just for me because it’s my favorite food ever ever ever.

Confession: I ate my container and some (most of) the other one.

My fam got two kittens and I wanted to put them in my shirt and sneak them home!

Confession: When I was a kid I used to put my cat in my shirt all the time. I’m not sure if that’s weird or not…

I love Spark but the grape flavor isn’t my favorite so I told Ben he could have it. I didn’t want him to drink the other flavors though so I had to label it so he knew which to drink…

Confession: I went to Yogurtland solo last night. Just wanted to share.

Confession: Sometimes I put a dash of salt in my smoothie after super sweaty runs.

(This is a great example of do your own thing, because this might not be healthy for your body but works for a Monican.)

Confession: I have my mom saved in my phone as No name. I have no idea why this happened but I noticed it a while back and never fixed it because now I think it’s funny…

Confession: I have a mascara graveyard and I have no idea why, usually I love throwing stuff out.

Confession: I only needed mascara but somehow came home with all this new make-up!?!

I tried a new-to-me mascara – Rimmel Super Curler 24 because I need a mascara that keeps my lashes curled. I curl them and then apply mascara and they end up falling super fast. I have really straight hair so I think this is part of the problem, but c’mon!

It works well in length, but didn’t keep my lashes curled. I topped it with a layer of Maybelline Lash Sensational – this one makes them super thick.

I shared this dilemma on Instagram  and got some great suggestions!

Question: Got anything to confess?

The post Confession, I Call My Mom Noname appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.

Naturally Sweetened Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

This post is sponsored by Natural Delights. These pumpkin cupcakes have no refined sugar. Instead, they’re naturally sweetened with Medjool Date ...

Jeremih – You and I: Hip Rolls & Abs Easy Dance Workout

Ahhh yeah. This is my new favorite dance workout. I am soooo down with this. Be sure to engage your abs during this entire dance to really get a good workout in your core. Roll those hips and have fun with it!

All of my dance workouts are designed to be easy so you can follow along, have fun, and burn calories without worrying about complicated moves.

More Good Stuff:

• My 8-Week Body Transformation: Before & After Pics
• How I Eat Whatever I Want and Still Lose Weight (3 Key Tips)

PREVIOUS DANCE WORKOUTS 

• Tinie Tempah – Girls Like Easy Dance Workout
• Major Lazer – “Lean On” Easy Dance Workout
• Chainsmokers – “Don’t Let Me Down” Dance Workout for Beautiful Legs
• Meghan Trainor – “Me Too” Easy Dance Workout
• Flo Rida – “My House Easy Dance Workout
• Sia – “Cheap Thrills” Easy Dance Workout
• Sexy Hip Rolls Workout 
• Chair Cardio & Leg Sculpt Workout

The post Jeremih – You and I: Hip Rolls & Abs Easy Dance Workout appeared first on Yum Yucky.