I was a little hesitant to try out Rokit Fuel cereals because I do not consider myself to be an endurance athlete and I had gotten the feeling that is who Rokit Fuel is geared towards. (I’m much more yogi than runner ) And while some may think 370 calories for oatmeal is a lot, it sounds just about right calorie-wise for breakfast – endurance athlete or not!

I know oatmeal is really easy to make, but in an effort to slow down (and not be preparing food at 11 pm), I am accepting the fact that not everything will be made from scratch.  So when a day came along that I had nothing ready for breakfast? This little container of Rokit Fuel came in very handy.

They also have these energy packets (these are really geared towards on-the-go athletes) that only require some water and they are ready to squirt! No spoon required. I especially love that they offer the “Ugly Bag” – no fancy packaging, or single servings, which in addition to being pretty eco-friendly, also brings the price down significantly.

Fan Of:

• High Protein – 9 grams
• High Fiber – 6 grams
• Performance Ingredients like bee pollen, gotu kola, maca root
• Nuts, Seeds and Dried Fruit like flax, dates, raisins, cherries, sunflower seeds, pecans, almonds, walnuts
• So convieneint! It was nice to not have to prep anything for breakfast and just add water. It would be perfect to take traveling.

Wished:

• There wasn’t sugar in it – I really don’t like to start my morning with sugar and with the other dried fruits, it isn’t necessary! (I think people can add their own sugars if they need it) With that said, it didn’t taste overly sweet.
• Wasn’t so expensive, BUT, I will say that it comes out to about $3/serving which is how much you would pay at Starbucks, etc. except I haven’t seen oatmeal with bee pollen, flax, etc at a coffee shop yet. Because I work in the food industry, I know ingredients like those are very expensive, and I appreciate them continuing to use them instead of just eliminating them.

Where to Buy: Specialty Bike/Cycle Stores, Search for a store in your area, Order online (FREE Shipping!)

Disclosure Statement: Rokit Fuel sent me samples to review free of charge. The opinions are entirely my own.

March is National Nutrition Month and I love the American Dietetic Association’s (ADA) message this year - Eat Right with Color.

I really believe in focusing on what we should be eating instead of what we shouldn’t be eating. Color is a great place to start. The ADA recommends:

To get the most nutrition out of your calories, choose foods packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients—and lower in calories. Pick fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat dairy more often. Be aware of portion sizes. Even low-calorie foods can add up when portions are larger than you need.

My translation? Make sure you are eating different types and colors of fruits and vegetables. (Notice how whole grains are typically varying colors, as well?) Salads are a great way to get a lot of veggies – both type and color – in at one sitting. Start with dark leafy greens. My favorites are spinach, herb salad mix and romaine. Then add as many other vegetables as you can. Think cucumbers; broccoli; red, orange or yellow peppers;  shredded purple cabbage; sliced carrots; tomatoes; squash;  zucchini;  sprouts and you’ve got a range of colors and a good portion of your veggie quota in for the day. Not a fan of raw veggies? Try a huge stir-fry!

Add another veggie or two at dinner, some fruit at breakfast and dessert and dessert and keep those fruits and you’ll easily surpass the measly 5 cups of fruit and vegetables recommended per day. I’d recommend more like 7-8 cups of fruit and vegetables per day and the easiest way to get them in is to make sure they are accessible  - cleaned and ready to eat! Now go, eat your colors!

Visit the ADA site for resources, quizzes, games and recipe ideas to promote National Nutrition Month.