Quinoa in chocolate? That's what I said, but if you're a fan of Nestle Crunch, you might want to give Dark Chocolate Quinoa Midnight Crunch chocolate bar ($5) a try. It contains rice-quinoa crisps from Bolivia. It's vegan, GMO-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and certified organic. Not only that, but since it's made by Alter Eco, you know it's also fair-trade certified, which means you can feel good Read more

Even though wedding meals typically include bacon-wrapped scallops, filet mignon, and wedding cake smothered in buttercream frosting, you can still enjoy a delicious vegan menu if you, your partner, or your guests follow this animal-free diet. A little creative planning is all it takes, and since many venues, caterers, and bakers are being asked more about vegan options, chances are your venders Read more

FitSugar reader For the Love of Fiber offers vegan, gluten-free, and kid-friendly energy bars inspired by the Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream flavor. She shared it with us in our Healthy Recipe group in the Fit Community. Chunky Monkey Super Omega-3 Energy Bars Makes 12 bars Ingredients: 1 ripe banana 12 medjool dates, pitted 1 cup raw walnuts 1 cup quinoa flakes ½ cup chia Read more

I'm definitely a fan of Valentine's Day, but mostly because I like the excuse to eat chocolate. Besides tasting good, dark chocolate is full of heart-healthy flavonoids (equal to many fruits), can soothe a cough, increase blood flow, and lower blood pressure. Spread the love even more this holiday by buying my picks for chocolate that's organic, Fair Trade, or health-inspired, and don't forget Read more

While it's true that meat is an excellent source of protein, it's by no means the only source and also not always the healthiest. If you're avoiding beef, chicken, and fish for ethical reasons, or simply trying to avoid a diet that's high in saturated fat or cholesterol, feel assured that a vegetarian diet can offer you enough protein. You just need to pay attention to make sure you're getting Read more

Add another benefit of chocolate to your justification list: not only does dark chocolate help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, soothe a cough, and increase blood flow, but a new study now says it also can help you perform better if you eat it right before a workout. The study looked at rats given either water or liquid extract of epicatechin, the healthy flavonoid found in dark chocolate Read more