Last fall, the Northwestern Spoon team had their weekly meeting but with a fun twist: a group CycleBar ride. With 28 participants from the club, the team had a heart-pumping and sweaty evening competing for the top spots on the leaderboard. Thank you so much to CycleBar for hosting us!
I have been to CycleBar a few times in the past for sorority group rides, charity events and even to cover the business for a class assignment. I love the dark room with colored light accents because it helps me focus on the cycle workout ahead. With energetic instructors, a rockin’ playlist and a room full of peers, CycleBar is an ideal environment for me to have a solid spin session.
After the ride, we all got to sample and bring home healthy snacks to support our wellness goals:
Since my brother was allergic to peanuts, almonds were always a staple in my house growing up. I tend to go for a creamy almond butter or a chocolate covered almond, so this was my first time trying one flavored for fall. PLANTERS® Pumpkin Spice Almonds, are a limited edition fall flavor. They say their almonds are “carefully selected…roasted to perfection and dusted with real pumpkin, a dash of sea salt, and fall spices for a sweet and salty treat.” The flavored almonds were a warm-tasting spicy snack with a crunchy feel reminiscent of crisp autumn weather. I think they’d be awesome chopped up and thrown into a fall salad with some cranberries and goat cheese.
Although I tend to be more of a protein bar girl, I’ll always turn to a classic granola bar when I’m on a long hike or going for a run. JUNKLESS® granola bars are each made with just eight (or fewer) basic real ingredients. They say their simple approach “builds trust for good nutrition and quality while maintaining a great taste.” Our team tried samples of the Oats & Honey, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, 100% Real Strawberries and Chocolate Chip flavors. My favorite was the chocolate chip, and after bringing a box home to my sorority house and seeing them disappear within seconds, I can safely say my friends agree too.
Making homemade hummus was one of the new skills I picked up during the pandemic stay-at-home orders. With a hearty load of chickpeas, olive oil, roasted red peppers and garlic, plus any seasonings, you can quickly make a healthy and tasty snack. Hope Foods is a plant-based product line with hummus, dips and dessert. They say their products are “made with superior ingredients that provide specific nutrients to help the body and mind operate at its best.” Our team got to take home tubs of the Original Recipe, Avocado Lime, Black Garlic, Sea Salt & Olive Oil, Spicy Avocado and Red Pepper hummus. I found the avocado hummus paired well with pita chips, and I enjoyed snacking on it all week long.
Thank you to Planters, Junkless and Hope Foods for the samples. We loved them!