Hi there! How is your week treating you?
I received a lovely package in the mail this weekend that I couldn’t wait to share with you all!
The lovely folks over at Swanson Health Products provided me with a 25$ gift certificate to use on their site. I felt just like in a kid in a candy store…or more like a dietitian in a health food store. 
I ultimately decided on chia seeds, hemp seeds, and coconut oil.
You have probably seen chia seeds around on the blogosphere. I have purchased them a few times, but thought I should add them back into rotation.
Ch. .ch..ch..chia!
Chia seeds are a great source of fiber, calcium, as well as a good plant source of omega 3 fatty acids.
One tablespoon provides a whopping 5 grams of fiber!
The nice thing about chia seeds; they are super duper easy to incorporate into your meals. I love adding them into smoothies, salads, soups, muffins, or oats as you see here.
They are pretty flavorless but add a nice nutty texture to your dish.
Hemp seeds are another seed I’ve heard some buzz about, but never got a chance to try.
They have quite a few similarities to our friend, the chia seed. Hemp seeds are also a good source of calcium and fiber and are easy to incorporate into dishes.
I made a delicious smoothie and added a tablespoon of hemp seeds into the mix.
Another similarity between the two seeds… they are both complete proteins. Meaning, they both contain all the essential amino acids! Sweet!
Hemp seeds also have the ideal ratio (3 to 1) of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.
Coconut oil is something I’ve been dying to try. Both my coworkers use it, and say that it adds fantastic flavor to the foods it’s cooked in. Coconut oil has a high smoke point, (about 360 degrees F) so it is a great oil to use for high heat cooking.
Now you might be asking, well isn’t coconut oil bad for you since it is high in saturated fat? Well I’m happy to report that coconut oil is composed mainly of medium-chain triglycerides, which may not carry the same risks as other saturated fats.
I have yet to use the coconut oil, but I will be sure to share what I make. Any suggestions?
Thanks Swanson Health!
I am off to get cracking a bit early on my to-do list for tomorrow…ok, and maybe watch a bit of TV. 
Thanks for reading!
Do you use any of these products? Do you have any new food finds you want to share?
*The products were sent free to me. My opinions of these products are honest and my own.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Last week, I had a strange chocolate cake craving, so I made a vegan chocolate-coconut cake: coconut oil instead of butter, coconut extract instead of vanilla, and shredded coconut stirred in at the end. I really don’t even *like* coconut, but that was a winning combo!
I don’t really dig using coconut oil with savoury foods because I like my sweet and savoury separate… so I hope you meant “desserts too” when looking for suggestions!!
This sounds excellent! I have heard coconut oil is a great substitute for butter. Thanks!
In terms of new products, I just yesterday saw Lighthouse’s new freeze dried herbs in the fresh herb section. Looked interesting. Have you tried them? Supposed to be closer to fresh herbs than trad’l dried herbs.
Thanks for commenting on the photo post, btw. I know what you mean about lighting. It’s everything, yet it’s so elusive unless you spend all day at home cooking & shooting (which I totally can’t do, either!) I have found a few tips about artificial light when it’s an absolute must… but have come to realize that the best shots truly are a result of good lighting. Curious… what camera do you shoot with?
I haven’t seen freeze dried herbs. I will have to keep a look out. I try to grow herbs, but do not have a green thumb unfortunately.
I started reading that blog (Taylor Takes a Taste) and played around with my camera last night. The color of my pictures was much better after reading his tips.
I use a Canon Rebel EOS with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens (which can standard with the camera). I would love to get another lens down the road. It can definitely be an expensive hobby.
Oh girl I would have felt like a kid in a candy store too! And I have yet to try any of those!
I use coconut oil and chia seeds…yep! You can replace butter with coconut oil in just about anything with great results. Think…baking
YUM!
Very cool goods. I have tried the hemp seeds but I really did not like the consistency.
I’ve had hemp milk, but never have had hemp seeds – unfortunately the closest Whole Foods to me is a 45 minute drive from my house – and with gas prices at $4 a gallon, I can wait but they look good!
OH FUN!!!! I love hearing about other people’s food finds!!! I may have to go and get myself some chia seeds – soon!! Have a great day Kirsten!
I use all three of those products!
I also love to put coconut oil in my hair and sleep with it. When I wash it in the morning it feels soooo soft and silky!
That sounds awesome! I am going to have to try that. Thanks!
It’s always fun to try new things! I’ve been sprinkling chia seeds on a lot of things lately. Here’s a yummy one: Spread Justin’s Hazelnut butter on top of a waffle, then top with sliced bananas and a sprinkle of chia seeds.Yum. I’ve also been using coconut oil too. You can melt it and use it in place of other oils in recipes. I also like to use it on the griddle when I make pancakes. Mmm…
I love the idea of using coconut oil when making pancakes! Sounds amazing! Thanks!
love love love chia seeds! i add them to oatmeal and make chia pudding w almond milk!
i don’t use coconut oil though. i’ve heard it’s great for the skin
Hi Kirsten,
I use coconut oil for cooking (fry, sautee, etc) and for salad dressing. Can be added to smoothies too. I’m using http://products.mercola.com/coconut-oil/ but am looking to try swanson as well.
Thanks
May
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