Snack Smart with Shrewd Food Protein Puffs

Even though Shrewd Food® PROTEIN PUFFS have only been on the market for a little over a year, they have taken Amazon by storm with over 4,500 positive reviews and have over 22K organic followers on Instagram.

Gifts for the Holidays: Food & Beverage Edition

A big part of the holidays is surrounded by food. What foods to prepare as well as having snacks on hand for those busy days out shopping and traveling, and even giving food as gifts. If you're looking for any of the above, or even just want some fresh food (or beverage) related ideas you've come to the right place!

Keto Farms - Clean foods for Healthy Keto Living

I think by now we all know that what we put into our bodies is what supplies us with the energy we need for the day. And that means if you're putting high carb and high sugar foods into your body first thing in the morning you're going to burn through that energy pretty quick. And most likely come afternoon hit what we like to refer to as "the afternoon slump". I speak this from a first person standpoint because I've done it - more than once. Even after learning about Keto and low carb eating, I've still fallen into the "quick and easy" not so good for me food trap. So here I am again, picking up the pieces of my bad habits and trying to make them a thing of the past.

Not all cauliflower crust pizzas are created equal

Cauliflower crust pizza seems to be all the craze lately…especially with those looking to follow a healthier low carb or Keto diet. But I'm here to tell you, as I'm sure you guessed by the title of this post, not all cauliflower crust pizzas are created equal. I was actually curious about this so I decided to get two cauliflower crust pizzas from two different brands and compare them for myself. I made sure to choose pizzas with the same toppings and similar sizes so I could get as close a comparison as possible.

Keto Rule #1 - Be Prepared

When asked about doing a Keto/Low Carb diet the number one thing I share with people is that "you have to be prepared". It's not something you just wake up one day and start doing it. You have to prepare for it. First be either using up, or eliminating things (all those high carb/high sugar products) from your food supply. Then by prepping foods (or at least recipes) for healthy meals to take place of the not so healthy ones. There are probably hundreds of cookbooks out there that you can find to help educate you as well as provide you with recipes galore. The Jump Start Ketosis books is great because it does both all in one easy to follow book. Of course it only has 50 recipes so you might want a cookbook too with even more options. I prefer ones that are simple and don't have a ton of strange spices and ingredients that I don't already have on hand. And as a busy wife and mom I also prefer recipes that are simple to prepare. The two cookbooks featured above are great for that because they either take one pan or a pressure cooker and that's it!

Sheet Pan Ketogenic
150 One-Tray Recipes for Quick and Easy, Low-Carb Meals and Hassle-free Cleanup
By Pamela Ellgen
Ketogenic cooking has never been easier than with this collection of simple prep and quick cleanup recipes. Your ketogenic dinner just got a whole lot easier. Simply toss the ingredients onto a pan. Roast, bake or broil. Soon you’ll be enjoying a hearty ketogenic meal (and the one-pan cleanup is a snap!). Sheet Pan Ketogenic recipes combine healthy proteins, fresh veggies and savory spices that cook together, enhancing the flavors of each.

• Cheesy Chicken Fajita Bake
• Salmon and Fennel with Orange
• Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon
• Citrus and Herb Marinated Pork Shoulder
• Buttery Lime-Baked Halibut and Scallions
• Lamb Meatball Wraps with Tzatziki
• Classic Crab Cakes with Lemon Sour Cream
• Bison Burgers with Bacon Mayo
• Sausage, Fennel and Chicken Drumsticks
• Plus desserts, dips and more!

Ketogenic Pressure Cooker
150 Quick and Easy Recipes for Delicious Nutrient-Packed Low-Carb Meals
By Aileen Ablog
The first book to combine the low-carb, fat-burning ketogenic diet with the popular, fast, and easy pressure cooking method. Thanks to your powerful pressure cooker and this helpful cookbook, following the ketogenic diet has never been easier. Start with protein. Add fresh veggies. Toss in some spices. Press start. You’re on your way to healthy eating.

Cut cook time, boost nutrients and supercharge flavor with this book’s mouthwatering recipes, such as:
• Lemon Chicken Soup
• Salmon Alfredo Zoodles
• Korean-Inspired Pulled Pork
• Barbecue Beef Boneless Short Ribs
• Spicy Coconut Prawns
• Turkey Wing Vindaloo
• Spaghetti Squash and Ham Tetrazzini
• Hot Salami and Kale Soup
• Plus desserts, broths and more!

Jump Start Ketosis
Intermittent Fasting for Burning Fat and Losing Weight
By Kristen Mancinelli
Master the easier, smarter way to achieve ketosis. You want the well documented benefits of having your body enter a state of ketosis. You could do so by trying to follow the difficult and highly restrictive ketogenic diet. This books breaks down the better way–intermittent fasting. The book offers a program of intermittent fasting that limits when you can eat rather than what you can eat. With intermittent fasting, you eat the same foods you normally eat, but also incorporate short periods of fasting into your daily or weekly schedule. Once ketosis is achieved with this program, your body uses fat for fuel instead of glucose. It’s the ultimate way to lose weight and get healthy.

Another great option is The Keto All Day Cookbook. It's filled with more than 100 low-carb recipes that are (in my opinion) a little more complex. I would call them gourmet meals. These are the ones I would prepare for times we have company over or for the holidays because many have ingredients I don't normally have on hand. I do really like that quite a few of the recipes have accompanying photos. I for one always like to see how a food looks prepared before I give it a try for myself. I haven't tried them yet, but there are a few desserts I've been itching to try once I make it to the store to buy some mascarpone cheese!

The Keto All Day Cookbook
More Than 100 Low-Carb Recipes That Let You Stay Keto for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

By Martina Slajerova

Keto is the top-trending supportive diet. Bolstering its reputation is research that strongly suggests that a keto diet may help reverse diabetes, obesity, cancer, and the effects of aging. However, in order to reap the benefits, you need to stick to the keto plan at every meal. That can be challenging when eating breakfast during your commute or figuring out what to eat for dinner after a long day. And what to do about lunch? Especially when your lunch "hour" may be 10 minutes at your desk. With Keto All Day you won't be tempted to blow your keto diet on a carb-filled snack or a processed convenience meal simply because you are tired, rushed, or just don't know what to prepare.

Enjoy tasty, flavorful recipes for snacks and meals, such Breakfast Egg Muffins, Pizza Waffles, Carrot Cake Oatmeal, Southern Duck Deviled Eggs, Eggplant Parma Ham Rolls, and Taco Frittata. Keto All Day even has recipes for delicious drinks and desserts, including Cookie Dough Mousse, Boston Cream Pie, and Raspberry Lime Electrolyte Cooler.

Another thing I recommend is checking into a MCT oil or powder as a supplement for your Keto journey. Products like KetoMCT Powder and Oil shown above from LifeSense Products help with weight management, mental focus, rapid fuel for the brain and body, improved sugar control, and digestive health improvement. I personally use them every morning in my bulletproof coffee. It's the only thing I consume for "breakfast" every morning and I'm left feeling satisfied and don't start to feel hungry until lunch time. I can definitely tell the difference on a morning I don't get my coffee in right away. I feel sluggish and would just rather go back to bed. So for me that morning "cup of Joe" is my first stop when I get out of bed. I want to start my day prepared and ready to succeed!

The LifeSense Products, manufactured in the USA, are more ketogenic than coconut oil (mostly C12 - Lauric Acid) and MCTs with mixed fatty acids. The product line is premium quality and Non-GMO. All products do not contain sugars, artificial preservatives, colors or additives and are suitable for vegan and Gluten-Free lifestyles. All LifeSense products are developed with biologically and physiologically meaningful amounts of active ingredients on a single or dual serving basis.

Product Background:
C8 KetoMCT Oil: The most potent MCT on the market. Achieve better results with these healthy fats called MCTs (Medium Chain Triglycerides). These unique healthy fats contain fewer calories than other fats, do not store as body fat, and contribute to increased metabolism to burn extra calories and regulate appetite.  Improve your long-term success of weight management without feeling deprived and weak. MCTs provide rapid energy to the brain and body to help Increase productivity and get more done. Focus better, decrease brain fog and support optimal brain function with MCTs.  Supplementing with MCTs will provide your brain with an alternative energy source (ketones) as opposed to solely glucose (sugar). Enhance exercise performance by supplementing MCTs to fuel physical exertion and help with post-exercise recovery. Benefits include weight management, increased energy, blood sugar control, improved cognition and increased sports endurance.

C8 KetoMCT Oil Powder: Delicious fat to help stay full and energized; may improve digestive tolerance in individuals sensitive to oil forms; no corn or milk derivatives; no silicone dioxide; may require use of blender. Exceptional pure quality, easy to digest, and portable. This is a great keto alternative to dairy-free creamer for coffee, smoothies, lattes, tea, yogurt and supports weight management; does not store as body fat; aids exercise performance/recovery.

And one last thing I recommend to be prepared is to have a snack with you at all times when you're out and about. At least in the beginning when your body is in the transition stage. Before my body adapted to the Keto way of life I struggled quite often with feeling hungry through out the day. And if I was away from home it was hard to find something quick and easy to grab that fit my dietary needs that wasn't fast food. So I started carrying things with me in my purse or car like beef jerky and low carb bars. I will say you need to be careful though as not all forms of beef snacks are created equal, so make sure you're reading your ingredients and nutritional labels.

One I have found that I really enjoy is Stryve Beef Biltong. Its similar to beef jerky but it has a different texture and taste to it. As someone that makes beef jerky at home I have to say this is right up there as being my favorite. The flavor combinations they have are really good and nothing like I've ever come up with at home. And they are packed full of the protein that we need without the added sugars and additives we don't.

Stryve also carries a nice line of Beef Biltong Sticks and Trail Mix with Beef Biltong that are pretty good too. The sticks are perfect for keeping in your car or purse for those moments you really need a snack. They are just the right size for one serving to tide you over till your next meal. The trail mix is a little higher in carbs (5-8 net) but honestly much better than grabbing fast food, or junk food at a convenience store. Plus they really satisfy that desire for a salty snack with the nuts in them. They also make great one serving snacks.

You can find these and other Stryve products online.

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't set yourself up for failure, set yourself up to succeed by being prepared!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Low Carb/Keto Product Guide

I'm sure by now you've heard about the Keto diet. It's become quite popular lately and it's taking the internet by storm with all of the information being shared right now. I've been personally following more of a low carb diet vs. strict Keto because I feel like it's the better choice for my lifestyle. So I wanted to make a place to share with you products as I try them out for myself and what I thought of them as well as some kitchen tools that have helped me along the way.

Make sure to bookmark this page and check back often to see what new products are added!

Sponsors: Interested in having your product or service highlighted on my blog? Contact me today at stacytiltonreviews @ gmail.com.

Food & Beverage:

 

 

Cooking Aids:

Sweets & Treats for Valentine's Day

I'm sure one of the first things that comes to your mind when you think about Valentine's Day is candy. It's just something that's been programmed into all of our brains starting back when we were kids and exchanged little cards and sweets with our classmates. Fast forward to adulthood and we are still exchanging cards and sweets, but now with our partners and kids. My weekness when it comes to sweets has always been caramel. You give me anything with caramel in it and I'm game for trying it. And that's exactly what I said when I was offered these fun Caramels from McCrea's Candies. And boy was I glad because they are all AMAZING!

McCrea’s makes 15 flavors of luxe caramel for the gifting market. Think Black Lava Sea Salt, Rosemary Truffle, Cinnamon Clove, Single Malt Scotch, Deep Chocolate and more paired up with caramel!  Made from 100% real-food ingredients and packaged in beautiful biodegradable containers, McCrea’s Candies are an ideal present for any caramel lover on your Valentine's Day list.

If you're like me you'd rather spend an evening in with your sweetheart than go out to a busy restaurant. And that's where this awesome line-up from Tuscanini would make the perfect inclusion in your Valentine's Day celebration. These gourmet products will bring the tastes and smells of Italy right to your table. I mean what better meal could you have than an Italian themed one right?

Tuscanini Foods rolled out a new lineup of gourmet food products that bring the taste of Italy to your table for a truly authentic Italian dining experience. This superior brand of foods is imported from Italy, famously identified for its traditions and age-old recipes. From the mountainous Dolomite region to the idyllic Sardinia Island, products are sourced from artisans that specialize in offering only the best quality ingredients.

If a sweet and flavorful cup of coffee is on your list of things you "must have" every day. You'll love starting your day off with JAVAMELTS. JAVAMELTS are individually wrapped flavored sweeteners made with real sugar for coffee, tea, cappuccino and espresso. JAVAMELTS come in four delicious gourmet flavors: Caramel, Hazelnut, French Vanilla and Mocha.  They are also only 20 calories each, certified gluten free and make an ordinary cup of black coffee or tea taste special and delicious. A definite must have if you're planning a get away for Valentine's Day when you or your sweetie have to have that perfect cup of coffee to start your day off right! I've tried all four JAVAMELTS flavors and have to say my favorite is the French Vanilla closely followed by the caramel. My husband on the other hand loved the hazelnut. So I guess they truly have "something for everyone".

Use code "GET20JAVA" for 20% off, and free shipping on orders of $30 or more!

Speaking of having "something for everyone". Nui has that something for those out there with a keto/low carb lifestyle living companion. They are decadent cookies that contain less than two grams of sugar, which is naturally found in nuts. You could eat a whole box of 16 Nui cookies and still consume less sugar than one traditional cookie. (Not that I would recommend that.) The cookies are low carb, gluten free, and keto friendly. They come in five flavors: Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, Double Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Ginger Something. Each package has two cookies inside which to me is just enough for a sweet treat now and then. I have to say after trying a recipe for low carb cookies myself I didn't have very high expectations for these cookies. But after trying them I will admit I was wrong. They are nothing like what I expected... Nui cookies are actually really good! Especially the chocolate chip ones. If you're used to using natural sweeteners in your foods (vs. white sugar which tastes much different) like those of us following a low carb lifestyle you'll enjoy these. If you're not used to them it's hard to say. My daughter wasn't really fond of them, but my husband said they were good to him. That was totally okay with me though, it just meant I didn't have to hide them from both her and her dad!

Low Carb for Life - no DIETS here!

For those that don't know me personally I started following a low carb lifestyle back in October. Not just to lose some added pounds my body doesn't need to be carrying around, but also for the long term health benefits. The photo above shows my body before starting to eat low carb, and after two months of following a low carb diet. The first thing I want to point out is I use the word diet loosely, because I am not on a DIET. I am following a low carb diet. What's the difference you ask? Most people that go on a diet eventually stop following that so called "diet" and go back to their old eating habits. Resulting in gaining back the weight lost, and many times more. I don't want that label on what I'm doing because this for me is a lifestyle change, it's not a temporary thing. I will also point out that I am not following a strict Keto lifestyle either and that's why I use the term low carb. Since going low carb not only have I lost a noticeable amount of unnecessary weight I've also started feeling better on the overall. I use to struggle to stay awake in the mornings - and thanks to Bulletproof Coffee now have the desire to stay away and start my day. I used to get that afternoon slump - again struggling for lack of energy. I don't have that anymore either! I also used to find myself "thinking" I was hungry all day long constantly snacking on something. I know eat two small meals a day and find myself feeling full and satisfied all day long. Yes I occasionally have a snack, but it's a healthy snack not a candy bar or bag of chips. In the end it's all about the choices we make when we step into the kitchen.

I'm not a certified dietitian and will never claim to be. I'm just someone that wants to live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy life with my family. With that said yes there were struggles along the way, I won't lie and say it was easy. In the beginning I experienced some not so fun side effects while my body was detoxing from the carb and sugar overload and converting to fat burning mode. But once those passed it was honestly pretty smooth sailing from there. If you're considering the switch to a low carb or full on Keto diet here are some of the things I used when I first started out to help along the way. I would also definitely recommend doing some research first, arm yourself with knowledge.

First up is The Beginner's Keto Diet Cookbook. This is a great book for beginners because in the front it gives you a really good explanation about following a Ketogenic lifestyle. A must read for anyone starting out. After the introduction you have six chapters of recipes. I for one love that many of the recipes not only have your basic ingredients list and instructions but also have color photos that show how the food looks prepared. Each page also gives you a little note about the food being prepared as well as nutrition facts.

Another great book is Keto Snacks: From Sweet and Savory Fat Bombs to Pizza Bites and Jalapeño Poppers, 100 Low-Carb Snacks for Every Craving. In Keto Snacks, you’ll find yummy recipes for Cheddar Mexi-Melt Crisps, Smoked Salmon and Avocado Roll-ups, Pumpkin Pie Coconut Crisps, Maple Nut Bars, and so much more. I literally had to get out the sticky notes when I was flipping through the recipes because I saw so many I wanted to try right away. Again there is a short introduction about the Ketogenic lifestyle in the front of the book - though it's not quite as detailed if you're a beginner. I know it's called Keto Snacks, but many of the foods I've prepared from it I actually used as part of a meal. For example I made their Chorizo Stuffed Jalapenos and paired them with a salad for my husbands dinner.

A couple of other great books are The Everything Guide to Intermittent Fasting and The Everything Air Fryer Cookbook. Fasting is a great way to boost your low carb lifestyle results. Plus it's pretty easy to do (at least for me it was) since you're not hungry all the time. Having, and using an air fryer to me is a must. I don't even own a traditional oil fryer because using an air fryer has so many more benefits. No more no added (and unwanted) grease to my foods and no more grease spatter messes! Using an air fryer is so simple and can be used with pretty much any food out there!

As you're exploring a low carb lifestyle you'll quickly learn there are some things that you'll need for your pantry. A couple of those are bone broth and a sugar replacement like these from Ketologie. Bone broth is great for making soups, casseroles, or just by itself if you're not feeling so great. I never imagined I would be drinking chicken broth instead of eating chicken noodle soup, but honestly it was just as good. The Sweet Like™ Sugar will be your new "go to" in place of traditional sugar that you've now cut out of your diet. I personally like it a lot because it doesn't have any aftertaste like some of the other sugar alternatives on the market. So be careful when you're shopping not to jump on those bulk sized bags, you may not like the aftertaste of some out there. Ketologie also carries a line of shakes but I haven't tried any of them yet so I can't say what they are like. From the comments on their website it looks like they are pretty good too though.

Another pantry staple that you'll need to replace is that old stand by vegetable oil. It was the first thing to go in my cabinet. Now I use either bacon drippings (you'll have a lot when eating low carb) or a healthier oil like Malaysian palm oil. I've actually been using the palm oil in my microwave popcorn bowl and it works great! I like to have popcorn every now and then as a healthy snack to treat myself. And by using palm oil I keep it that way!

Palm oil is non-GMO, balanced and ultra-nutritious. This naturally trans fat-free oil contains almost equal amounts of unsaturated fats and saturated fats. In the body, palm oil has virtually no adverse impact on your cholesterol levels. Palm oil is also a great source of vitamin E tocotrienols, powerful antioxidants that help protect you from chronic diseases. Palm oil has a neutral flavor--- so it's great for many different cuisines, and is even a good substitute for butter when baking. Unlike other oils, palm oil doesn’t break down or lose its nutritional value at high heat. With its high smoke point, it’s a smarter choice for grilling, frying or sautéing than olive oil. 

If you're not real adventurous in the kitchen or just don't have the time to make those extras KetoLuxe is a great place to turn to satisfy your sweet tooth. Everything is made from scratch and crafted by Chef Alexa. I for one have been a little intimidated when it comes to trying to make low carb sweets at home. I tried a couple recipes and lets just say I did not eat them, Mr. Garbage Can did. And so it lead me to looking for an alternative for when I get a sweets craving. KetoLuxe has an online store filled with already made sweets (and more). WooHoo! I hit the jackpot, because their sweets taste WONDERFUL! I honstly thought I would never eat a marshmallow again - until I found their Very Vanilla Bean Marshmallows. Oh my goodness they are even better than store marshmallows. They are light and airy and the vanilla flavor is an added bonus. I think next time I'm going to try the ones they have with chocolate chips in them. Or I might try dipping them in some low carb chocolate. Of course they are perfect all on their own so I don't really need to change anything. The same can be said for their FudgeBites and LuxeBites. They are both great fat bombs that you can keep on hand in the freezer. Their caramel sauce is great drizzled over deserts. The CoffeeLuxe is great to carry with you if you're traveling because it already has everything in it that you would normally put in your Bulletproof coffee. It's pretty ooh-la-la if I do say so myself. I purposely only had one cup from it so I could take the rest with us over Christmas break. Be sure to bookmark their website because you never know what Chef Alexa is going to come up with next!

I will leave you with this mouth watering photo of a bacon wrapped meatloaf recipe I recently made. Hopefully I've given you a little insight into the world of low carb living and not scared you away. I know it can sound scary when you're reading what all it entails and all you would have to give up, but trust me the changes are so worth it!

You can find the bacon wrapped cheesesteak meatloaf recipe and many others on my Keto Pinterest board.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.