blue diamond

Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes, Snacks, Vegetarian

ViSalus Protein Pudding

Congratulations to my DOLE Bananas Peel The Love giveaway winner, Tammy!
Make sure to check your email!

Motivation Monday: “Be strong, you never know who you are inspiring!”

As you guys know, I’ve been traveling a ton lately. Along with traveling comes little time to cook my own meals and unhealthy airport options, so I was excited when ViSalus contacted me and asked if I would like to try their Vi-Shape Nutritional Shake Mix. I’m always searching for the perfect, quick, no hassle  protein shake that actually fills me up for days where I’m short on time. I’m not a huge fan of protein shakes because they never fill me up and I end up snacking times 100 about a half an hour later, but ViSalus actually kept me full until my next meal!

Since I’ve been on the go a lot recently, I’ve been replacing my usual breakfast (or sometimes lunch) with one Vi-shape shake. I throw it in my blender bottle with one cup of almond milk and hop in my car to go to my meetings. I was really surprised by the flavor. While most protein shakes taste chalky, ViSalus‘ Sweet Cream flavor tasted like cake batter! Very pleasantly surprised!

When I took a road trip a few weeks ago to Chicago with my friend (she got a new job and needed a driving buddy!) I took my ViSalus Vi-Shape Mix and a blender bottle. It was easy for me to get some fresh nonfat milk and shake it up each morning! I NEVER skip breakfast, so the Vi-Shape shakes have really helped me when I have little time in the morning. I even created a recipe for Protein Pudding that I can make overnight and have in the fridge to snack on when I get a sweet tooth!

About ViSalus Vi-Shape Mix:

  • Only 90 calories per serving
  • 20g protein per serving
  • 25 Vitamins & Minerals
  • Lactose free
  • Gluten free
  • Certified kosher
  • Non GMO soy
  • Proprietary Tri-SorbTM protein blend helps build lean muscle to help your body burn fat
  • Full serving of fiber (5g)
  • Low fat (1g)
  • Low sodium (75mg)
  • Low sugar (less than 1g)
  • Low carb (7g)
  • Heart-healthy
  • Includes calcium for bone health
  • Good for those watching their sugar intake

ViSalus Protein Pudding
ViSalus Protein PuddingViSalus shake and chia seeds before refrigerating for 3 hours.

ViSalus Protein Pudding
ViSalus Protein PuddingChia seeds in the ViSalus shake after refrigerating for 3 hours.

ViSalus Protein Pudding
ViSalus Protein Pudding
ViSalus Protein Pudding
Serves 2

2 scoops ViSalus Vi-Shape Nutritional Mix
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
4 Tbsp chia seeds

Combine ViSalus mix and almond milk and blend until smooth. Transfer to a jar and stir in chia seeds. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight for best results.

The final tally per serving:
Calories: 180
Fat: 10g
Carbohydrate: 14.5
Fiber: 13g
Sugar: <1g
Protein: 12.5g

*nutritional information based on Bob’s Red Mill Chia Seeds, and Unsweetened Original Blue Diamond Almond Breeze.

For awesome inspiration, motivation, and jaw dropping transformation photos, checkout the ViSlus Facebook page, website, and blog!
Website: http://www.ViSalus.com
Facebook: ViSalus
Blog: http://www.ViSalusBlog.com
ABout Vi-Shape Shakes: Vi-Shape Shake Mix

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Breakfast, Recipes, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

Quinoa Granola

Ok granola lovers, today is your day! HEALTHY GRANOLA!
Can I get a woohoo?!

Most store bought granolas are loaded with unnecessary amounts of refined sugar and contain nearly no protein. I’m a granola lover, but it’s hard for me to find a good healthy granola, so today, I made my own! Not going to lie, I burned the first batch because I forgot about the altitude here in Denver! It was totally worth it though, this granola is so delish! It has the perfect amount of crunch and sweetness with the addition of protein from quinoa. Oh ya, it’s also vegan and gluten free! I might add some raisins next time!

Quinoa Granola

Let’s talk about why this granola is so excellent!

Quinoa (keen-wah)
Quinoa is a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids.
Twice the fiber over most other grains.
High in iron.
Gluten free.

Flaxseed
Fich in monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid.
Excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids.
Contains B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin,thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates.

Coconut
Great source of manganese.
Improves digestion with dietary fiber.
Contains plant-based healthy saturated fat, monosaturated fat, and Omega-6 fatty acids that promote weight loss and increase HDL or “good” cholesterol levels in the body.

Agave
Natural sweetener.
Lower glycemic value than regular refined sugars.

Quinoa GranolaQuinoa Granola
Makes 2 servings

1/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1 Tbsp whole flaxseed or chia seeds
1 Tbsp shredded unsweetened coconut
1 Tbsp agave
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well. Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Spread the mixture thinly on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Once the granola has started to turn a golden brown, remove from oven and let cool (this will let the granola set so you will have different sized pieces). After the granola has cooled for about 5 minutes remove from baking sheet with spatula.

You can portion this granola into halves and eat it as a little mid afternoon pick me up snack, or make it into a filling, protein packed breakfast by combining it with the following:

6oz of plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 banana
1 serving of quinoa granolaQuinoa Granola
Quinoa Granola
Quinoa GranolaThe Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: banana
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: greek yogurt
Plant Based Fat: flaxseed and shredded coconut

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Contests & Giveaways, Obsessions

Catherine’s 23rd Birthday Giveaway!

Today is my birthday! YAYYY!

Since I have the most amazing readers in the entire world, I wanted to do something special.
In honor of my 23rd birthday, I am giving away 23 of my favorite things!
One lucky RFFMBT reader will win the following prize package:


  1. EAT MORE RABBIT FOOD Racerback in your choice of size (XS-L)
  2. Whole Foods Los Angeles Reusable Grocery Bag
  3. Trader Joe’s Tempting Trail Mix
  4. Trader Joe’s Sesame Honey Cashews
  5. Trader Joe’s  Harvest Grains Blend
  6. Trader Joe’s Chia Seeds
  7. Trader Joe’s Almond Butter with Roasted Flaxseed
  8. Trader Joe’s Roasted Seaweed Snacks
  9. Trader Joe’s  Speculoos Cookie Butter
  10. Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Bar Filled with Speculoos Cookie Butter
  11. Trader Joe’s Cocoa Almond Spread
  12. Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Original Almond Milk
  13. Bard Valley Natural Delights Medjool Dates
  14. Archer Farms Freeze Dried Green Peas
  15. Authentic Foods Xanthan Gum
  16. Go Raw 100% Organic: Original Super Cookies flavor
  17. Alive & Radiant Kale Krunch: Quite Cheezy flavor
  18. Justin’s Nut Butter sample packets in Vanilla Almond, Chocolate Almond, Honey Almond, Maple Almond, and Chocolate Hazelnut
  19. Artisana Raw Cashew Butter sample packet
  20. That’s It Bars: Apple & Pear, Apple & Apricot, and Apple & Cherry flavors
  21. 18 Rabbits Organic Granola Bar: Haute Diggity Date flavor
  22. Larabar: Cashew Cookie flavor
  23. Mini Star Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar samples

There are over 13lbs of goodies in this gift package! You are crazy pants not to enter!

For your chance to win (earn up to 3 entries per person!):

  • Leave a comment on this post “Catherine’s 23rd Birthday Giveaway!” telling me about the most unique thing you have received for your birthday!
  • You can earn another entry by tweeting: “I entered Catherine’s 23rd Birthday Giveaway via @EatRabbitFood http://bit.ly/Pcd8h7 .”
  • Complete your Twitter entry by leaving a separate comment on this post with a copy of your tweet.
  • You can earn an additional entry by taking a photo of your favorite food on Instagram along with the tag @RabbitFoodForMyBunnyTeeth and hashtag #RFFMBT23
  • Complete your Instagram entry by leaving another comment on this post with a link to your Instagram image.
  • That means you can earn up to 3 entries: comment on this post, tweet, and/or Instagram!
  • All entries must use a valid email address.
  • Open to U.S. residents only.
  • All comments must be posted by Thursday, August 16th at 11:59pm (PST).
  • 1 winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, August 17th.

ALLERGY WARNING: Some products in this package do contain, may contain or may be manufactured on the same equipment as peanuts, tree nuts, soy, milk, eggs, and gluten. Please read allergy warnings and ingredients with caution before consuming.

* The giveaway has ended, and the winner will be announced on Friday, August 17.
** Congratulations to the winner: Megan J. from OK.

| 782 Comments
Recipes, Snacks, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Ch Ch Ch Chia Pudding

Ch ch ch chia!
I loveeee Chia Seeds! My sister and I just finished off this entire jar of Ch Ch Ch Chia Pudding! And I can’t stop saying CH CH CH CHIA! Somebody, make it stop!

There is much more to these seeds, than the power to grow a pet out of a terra cotta pot! Chia seeds are the latest craze in superfoods and healthy plant-based fat. Do you think that Joe Pedott, the creator of the famous Chia Pet had any idea that these would later be considered a superfood?

What is a Chia seed?
The Chia plant (Salvia hispanica) is a member of the mint family that’s native to Mexico and Guatemala. Chia seeds are often eaten raw, but can also be soaked in liquid to form a gelatinous mixture. Chia seeds can also be ground into a powder for baking.

What do they taste like?
Chia seeds don’t really taste like anything. Their flavor is practically non-existent, but he magic is in the texture. When combined with water or liquid, they absorb 9 times their weight in water, forming a gel-like consistency. They are great in smoothies and oatmeal because they add texture and a thicker consistency. The proof is in the pudding… ha ha ha

Why Chia?
Chia seeds are an amazing source of plant-based fat, and are especially high in Omega 3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation and may help lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. They also contain a large amount of Fiber, which aids with weight loss by keeping your stomach feeling full. Last but not least, these tiny little seeds are filled with powerful antioxidants to help rid our bodies of free radicals, and Magnesium and Potassium. Talk about big things in small packages!

Depending on the brand, 1 Tablespoon of dry Chia seeds tallies up to about 55 calories, 5g of Fat, 5g of Carbohydrate, 6g of Fiber, 3g of Protein.

Below is an example of dry chia seeds before they have swelled, and after they have been left in liquid for 10 minutes.

Ch Ch Ch Chia Pudding
serves 2

¼ cup whole chia seeds
¾ cup unsweetened almond milk (I love Almond Breeze by Blue Diamond!)
½ ripe banana
1 Tbsp rolled oats
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
4-6  drops of liquid stevia or other natural sweetener to taste

Set the dry Chia seeds aside in their own bowl – they will be added last. In a blender, combine almond milk, banana, rolled oats, cinnamon, vanilla, and sweetener. Blend until smooth. Pour mixture and whole chia seeds into a jar and stir. Refrigerate for 10 minutes and stir again. Let the pudding stand in the refrigerator for 10 more minutes until the chia seeds have expanded. Enjoy cold. Or prepare them and leave in the refrigerator overnight like overnight oats.
Note: I use unsweetened almond milk and add my own vanilla and stevia, but you could use sweetened vanilla almond milk if you would like. If so, omit the vanilla extract and sweetener from the recipe.

Adapted from Eating Bird Food 

| 30 Comments
Snacks, Tips, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Travel Snacks

I am taking a break from packing… or should I say downsizing my suitcase, because I am going to Japan today!

I love traveling, but sometimes it gets tricky to find healthy foods at airports. I like to prepare little emergency snack kits for my carry on bag just incase I get hungry or healthy choices aren’t available.

If you are traveling somewhere far, it can be nearly impossible to bring fresh food along with you. Meal replacement bars are a great option, but some of them have ingredient lists longer than the dictionary and are filled with artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and some questionable ingredients. I have done my research to find you the healthiest meal bars and snacks that are TSA approved, portable, shelf stable, and yummy! The best part? These snacks have no preservatives, and tiny ingredient lists with the largest list containing only 7 ingredients, all of which we can pronounce and locate in a grocery store!

Meet your new travel buddies:

Ak-Mak Whole Wheat Sesame Crackers: These generously sized whole grain crackers contain only 7 ingredients such as: organically grown whole wheat flour, clover honey, sesame oil, dairy butter, sesame seeds, yeast, and salt. They add up to only 110 calories and 4 grams of fiber per serving of 5 crackers! I love these crackers because they are perfectly crunchy and not to mention Armenian (I’m part Armenian), scoreee!

Larabar: Well, I’m speechless on this one… I don’t know how they do it! Larabars are possibly the greatest meal bars to hit the market. Ever. Larabars are gluten free, dairy free, soy free, non-GMO, vegan, and kosher but do not exclude flavor. Famous for their simple ingredient list, pure delicious taste, and and outstanding nutrition, Larabars are the simple way to eat on the go. My favorite flavor “Cashew Cookie” contains only cashews and dates and actually tastes like a cookie. Amazing! The nutritional stats aren’t too shabby either. Made from whole fruits and nuts in their most natural state, it contains 230 calories, and 3 grams of fiber! They come in a variety of flavors and have been popping up in grocery stores and some Target stores all over.

Blue Diamond Almonds, 100 Calorie Packs: Almonds are great portable snack and an excellent source of  vitamin E, fiber, copper, phosphorous and riboflavin. Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away and suddenly a handful turns into an entire bag, so this mini 100 calorie pack of whole, natural, unsalted almonds takes the guesswork out for you. Talk about good things in small packages!

Justin’s Classic Almond Butter, Single-Serve Packet: These convenient single serve packages contain 2 tablespoons of almond butter at 200 calories per packet. Smear some on crackers for the perfect snack without the jar, measuring spoons, and mess! These handy little packets come in a variety of different nut butters and flavors.

That’s It: I just recently discovered these bars and have become completely obsessed! I like to call them “adult fruit leathers!” The bars consist of two servings of fruit per bar… yup… that’s it… just like the title implies. Crazy right? My Apple & Pear bar contains one whole apple and one whole pear. That’s it (I can’t stop saying that out loud, I’m truly amazed)! No added sugar, preservatives, no nothing. Oh, and don’t forget, they’re also fat free, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan. At only 100 calories and a whopping 3 grams of fiber, That’s It bars are your new bff. These thick, chewy fruit bars are a great option if you don’t feel like lugging an apple around in your purse, or don’t feel like buying one at an airport café for say $5.

Just Tomatoes: Just like the package says, these are just tomatoes! Veggies can be the trickiest food to travel with, but this awesome brand Just Tomatoes, just made getting our veggie servings in so much easier. Just Tomatoes uses a special dehydrating process, which allows nutrients to stay intact and leaves them with the perfect chewy texture. Just Tomatoes makes a variety of different vegetable snacks from peas to corn and are always kosher, GMO free, and never contain additives, preservatives or sweeteners. At 90 calories and 2 grams of fiber per ounce, these make a great snack with whole grain crackers!

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