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100% Grass Fed & Finished, Sugar Free, Nitrate and Nitrite Free
It's time to ditch those "slim" convenience store snack sticks, unless you like mechanically separated meat splooge, soy flour, and corn syrup. Try these grown-up, all-beef sticks instead. Not only do these use beef that's grass fed and finished, they even use real beef-collagen casings. Snap into that, Jim!
– Chris Shugart
Organic, 95% cocao
Oh, you like chocolate? Really, punk? I doubt it. I think you like sugar and milk, you pantywaist. Wanna prove me wrong? Try one of these ACTUAL chocolate bars. This 95% dark chocolate bar is made with minimally-processed, unrefined cocao. It's actually stone ground and kinda gritty. But you like chocolate, right? So as a connoisseur, you'll love the natural texture. Besides all of the health benefits from polyphenols, these bold bars only have about 2 grams of sugar per serving. Brace yourself and have a taste.
– Chris Shugart
High Fiber, Gluten Free, Low Glycemic, Prebiotic
Ever look at the ingredients of a standard pancake or waffle mix? Bleached flour, sugar, crappy fats, racism, dog fighting... I think it's all in there. Instead, try this healthy and convenient mix from Birch Benders. Its main ingredients are cassava (a root vegetable), coconut flour, almond flour, and eggs. All you need to add is water and heat. At just 11 grams of net carbs per serving, waffles and pancakes are back on the menu.
– Chris Shugart
10 sheets nori seaweed (Pyropia Yezoensis)
A couple years ago, TC taught us how to make zero-carb sandwiches. It took me a while to follow through with that because I couldn't remember to add nori to the shopping list. Silly me, I could've just bought it online. He describes these as "sandwich rolls" because you basically plop your sandwich fillings on a sheet and then roll it up. You do have to moisten the sheets with water – either by spraying it or by dipping a basting brush in water and brushing the wrap. I like to mix a bit of salt into the water before moistening the sheets. Then you just add your tuna mixture or other meaty ingredients and roll it up!
– Dani Shugart
Organic, gluten-free, fat-free
Buckwheat is a true superfood. In spite of the name, it isn't wheat. It's a fruit seed. So it's gluten-free and has a low glycemic index. Along with phytonutrients, buckwheat contains chiro-inositol which helps with glucose metabolism and cell signaling. It also appears to be better than oatmeal when it comes to heart health and reducing bad cholesterol, plus it has anti-inflammatory properties. And while you don't really eat buckwheat for protein, the protein it does have contains all eight essential amino acids. As a hot cereal, it's extremely filling, scoring very high in satiation studies, making it a great food when you're keeping your diet in check. Just add water and it microwaves perfectly in just a few minutes.
Billions of live probiotics, fermented with water kefir culture, no added sugar
Apple cider vinegar has health benefits. Probiotics have health benefits. And elderberry has health benefits. So why not combine them into one super delicious drink? Honestly, even if this had zero health benefits I'd still drink it because it's so dang good – especially if you enjoy tart things. This stuff makes vinegar very palatable. It's also a little carbonated which is fun. Plus it's low calorie and sweetened with a teensy bit of apple juice and stevia leaf extract.
– Dani Shugart
Traditional, Chipotle, Habanero, Jalapeño.
You know what annoys me about bodybuilders and bikini competitors? They have more abs than me. But you know what else? They seem to think that dieting down to display those abs means that they're stuck eating bland, boring foods. They're not. The password is "hot sauce." It'll spice up any contest diet for zero to ten calories per serving. These four complex taquería sauces from Siete are some of our favorites. There's no added sugar or anything else that would throw off your macros, and most have the added benefits of apple cider vinegar, flax seed, and chia seed. This four-pack contains every heat level you'd want – without sizzling your lips off – from mild chipotle to kicked-up habanera (my favorite). No more boring chicken breasts!
– Chris Shugart
Gluten free, dairy free, no artificial flavors, 12g of collagen
I like stuff you can eat with your fingers. That's why I'm always on the lookout for bars that don't contain a bunch of junk ingredients. These fit the bill and they're pretty darn good. They're chewy, they're full of collagen (great for your joints), and they contain a decent amount of fiber... without making you farty. There's only a few grams of sugar per bar and it comes from sources like berries. So if you're trying to up your collagen intake this is a handy way to start. My favorite flavor is the mixed berry, but they're all good.
– Chris Shugart
Gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, paleo and vegan-approved
What's the Spanish word for "wizards"? Magos? Well, that's apparently who's working behind the scenes at Siete Foods. How else could they make these chips? The ingredients? Cassava (a root vegetable), healthy avocado oil, coconut flour, chia seeds, and salt. Ain't nothing in there to be mad about. And yet they're light, crispy, and dip-able. Throw a fiesta and invite your friends who don't eat healthy. They'll never know they're making better choices.
– Chris Shugart
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Soy free, gluten free, paleo, and vegan. 4 pack (48 shells).
Soft corn tortillas aren't that bad for you, but once they're fried up in junky oils, they definitely move over into the cheat-food category. That's why I was shocked when I read the ingredient list of these shells. They're remarkably "clean." To avoid all grains, they're made mainly with cassava (a starchy root) and pumpkin. They're actually paleo-approved, if you're into that. Now, they are NOT low carb, but the calories and carbs are roughly the same as a standard corn taco shell (about 120 calories and 14 grams of carbs per two-shell serving). And instead of canola oil, they're made with avocado oil. Crunchy tacos are back on the menu!
– Chris Shugart
Organic brown rice, gluten free, lightly salted.
I know, I know. Rice cakes are like eating nutritionally-void packing peanuts, right? Well, I think rice cakes have gotten a bum rap. They're perfectly fine, and rice has been a bodybuilding staple since dudes were hoisting globe barbells over their heads at Venice Beach. Think of rice cakes not as a stand-alone food, but as a vehicle for other good stuff, one that adds some crunch to a bland diet. That's why I prefer these rice cakes from Lundberg: they're extra crunchy and don't have that Styrofoam texture. They're more like extra-thick crackers. With just two ingredients – brown rice and a pinch of salt – and only 60 calories each, they'll elevate your snacking game.
– Chris Shugart
Certified gluten free and vegan.
Hey, if you're going to snack, you might as well put some vegetables into your body while you're at it. These are made with cassava, butternut squash, pumpkin, and cauliflower. You can eat 20 of them for 110 calories. I wouldn't say they're nutritionally perfect, but they sure beat your standard-variety pretzels and chips. Just try not to eat the whole dang bag at once.
– Chris Shugart