wild and raw protein bars and a Wild Foods Co. giveaway!

Congrats to my Wild Foods Co. Winners! Heather, Christine, and Jenna (Of Barbells and Baking) will each be getting:

*Note: winners were picked 100% at random by a computer – not a human

Now, on to our regularly scheduled programming…

As  many of your know, I recently had the pleasure of attending Paleof(x) in Austin, Texas. While there, I met some really amazing people, learned so much about the Paleo movement and its reach that goes well beyond the food we eat and into every aspect of our lifestyles, and yes, tried some AMAZING new products in the vendor expo.real food

As I have mentioned before, I will always only mention, review, and giveaway products that I truly believe in on this blog. That means that the product itself has to meet my requirements for nutrient density, sustainability, and quality, but ALSO that the foundation of the company has to align with my beliefs too. Wild Food Co – its products and its mission – do just that for me. There were a few products that really stood out to me over the course of my weekend in Austin, and the teas and wild whey protein from these guys definitely made me stop in my tracks, eager to learn more.

The name caught my attention right off the bat, of course, but after trying out some of their products and speaking with owner, Colin, and his passionate staff about the Wild Foods philosophy, I was sold.

Our mission is to spread the importance of real food nutrition and the importance of transparency in the way the food we eat is made. We believe that success is measured by the impact we have on the world. By combining food, service and purpose, Wild Foods aims to bring happiness and betterment to as many people as possible.

Two main products that stood out most to me were the Wild Teas and the cleanest Whey Protein Powder I have come across to date (biologically-active grass-fed whey protein, to be exact).

curr-berr-organic-hibiscus-currant-cranberry-tea-loose-leaf-herbal
The Teas
– sustainably sourced and loaded with health benefits, including:

  • Contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
  • Increases energy and stamina
  • Is a natural metabolism stimulant
  • Is lipolytic: breaks down fat
  • Helps prevent tooth decay
  • is antiviral and antibacterial

These teas have become a part of my daily routine. I love that I can choose a tea based on my mood and energy levels. They are loaded with nutrients, incredibly delicious, and the variety keeps every morning exciting. They are soothing, detoxifying, energizing, and so delicious.

Wild-Whey-Grass-Fed-Protein-organic-natural-wheyThe Protein – Wild Whey is a non-denatured, native whey protein, and it is delicious. “Native” means that the whey is made directly from milk (not cheese like so many other proteins). It undergoes the most minimal processing possible – flash pastured for 15 seconds (per FDA law) before being immediately cooled at 3° C and then dried using a proprietary ambient-air drying method that results in an easy-to-mix whey protein that does not require adding lecithin to aid in mixing (just say no to soy). Wild Whey is as close to nature as is (legally) possible, and it’s a difference that you can taste and feel. Independent lab testing has shown that Wild Whey contains as high as 6x more and as low as 3x more glutathione producing protein components–immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, serum albumin–than traditional whey protein isolate and ion-exchange proteins.

It’s for these reasons that I have started to include Wild Whey in my diet after years of removing all whey protein (food replacements). I use it in recipes (see below), in smoothies and shakes when I need a meal on the go, and sometimes on it’s own because it’s really that good.

And now, it’s time for a new, delicious recipe….

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Wild and Raw Protein Bars (GF)

  • Servings: 9
  • Difficulty: super easy
  • Print

WHAT YOU NEED:

  • 1 cup of nuts and/or seeds of your choice (I used 1/2 cup sprouted sunflower seeds and 1/2 cup soaked and dehydrated walnuts)*
  • 1/4 cup of Wild Foods Co. Protein (vanilla, cocoa, or plain work well)
  • 1/4 cup of nut/seed butter of your choice (I used organic Nuttzo)
  • 1/4 cup shredded coconut
  • pinch of Celtic sea salt
  • 1/4 cup of coconut butter
  • 1 TB pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp organic vanilla extract
  • OPTIONAL: 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (fair trade and soy free)

*I always soak nuts and seeds and then dehydrate them in the oven (at 110F) for about 2 hours before using them to get rid of any of the anti-nutrient properties that can cause some issues. Sprouting is even better!

WHAT YOU DO:

  • add nuts/seeds, Wild Foods protein powder, nut/seed butter, shredded coconut, and sea salt to a food processor or Vitamix and pulse until you have a nice even consistency
  • soften your coconut butter over low hear, being very careful not to let it burn (this happens easily)
  • add the melted coconut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and pulse until you have a “dough”
  • move to a glass bowl, and fold in your chocolate chips
  • now, press the dough into a 6×6 (or similar) square glass baking dish and move to the fridge for an hour or the freezer for 20 minutes
  • remove, cut into squares, and ENJOY! These will stay solid at room temp because of the coconut butter, but they’ll last all week in the fridge.

Good luck with the giveaway! I hope you enjoy these bars as much as we do. I make a batch every Sunday to last for the week. Yum! Live Rad, my friends.
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By | 2015-05-14T15:11:59-08:00 May 11th, 2015|A Little Sweet Tooth, Breakfast, Grab and Go, Health, Nutrition, Recipes|23 Comments

23 Comments

  1. Colin May 11, 2015 at 12:45 pm - Reply

    Thank you Laura, this is a wonderful post and can’t wait to try this recipe!

    • Laura Bruner May 11, 2015 at 12:51 pm - Reply

      Thanks Colin! Let me know what you think. They’re my current favorite!

  2. Heather May 11, 2015 at 12:51 pm - Reply

    I would LOVE to try the whey protein. It is so hard to find a clean protein powder, and while I think real food is always best, it’s fruit season here in CA and a smoothie every now and then would be great but I always struggle with how to make them with enough protein in them. Thanks!

  3. Lindsay May 11, 2015 at 1:59 pm - Reply

    I would love to try the whey protein powder in my smoothies in the morning! I love to also add avocado fresh berries and almond milk 🙂

  4. alanda povroznik May 11, 2015 at 2:53 pm - Reply

    I would love to try this recipe with wild foods co protein! I have been looking for a great protein option without all of the junk added to most proteins. hoping to try this one! Thanks for the recipe

  5. Abigail Rieber May 11, 2015 at 4:22 pm - Reply

    Thank you for the give away! 🙂

  6. Jessie May 11, 2015 at 5:15 pm - Reply

    I love your website! And I share your mission values. I am so happy to find educated and inspired people putting the word out about real food! …and so, is love to try these Wild Foods products.

    • Laura Bruner May 11, 2015 at 6:35 pm - Reply

      Jessie, thank you! It’s so amazing to know others share the same perspective. And thank you for following and reading!

  7. Kenny May 11, 2015 at 5:39 pm - Reply

    I’d love to try some high quality whey protein. This product would be great in my “Power Pudding” (:

    • Laura Bruner May 11, 2015 at 6:34 pm - Reply

      Oh sounds delish! You might have to share that recipe 🙂

  8. Jessie May 11, 2015 at 7:16 pm - Reply

    This whey looks amazing! I am lactose intolerant and often have trouble finding whey that agrees with my body. Can’t wait to try it!

  9. Lorelei May 11, 2015 at 7:40 pm - Reply

    Hi Laura,

    My daughter works out a lot and uses whey protein in her smoothies. I would try the whey protein too, but I’m thinking it’d be fun to gift it to her! Hope I win!

  10. Christine May 11, 2015 at 9:21 pm - Reply

    This protein powder looks amazing. I would love to try it!

  11. Sonja May 12, 2015 at 6:10 am - Reply

    just curious if you already tried this protein powder in some paleo ice cream? Looking for one that works well 🙂

    • Laura Bruner May 12, 2015 at 8:16 am - Reply

      Hi Sonja! I haven’t but that’s a great idea. I’ll have to give it a shot. Thanks for reading and commenting!

  12. Jessica May 12, 2015 at 6:58 am - Reply

    Would love to try this!

  13. Billy May 12, 2015 at 7:44 am - Reply

    During the summer, I make cold brew coffee drinks, sometimes with whey. That is probably where I would first try it.

  14. Georgeann May 12, 2015 at 4:02 pm - Reply

    Would love to win this!! Love Colin’s knowledge of everything health and fitness and Wild Foods!! Can’t wait to read more from you too!

  15. Armando May 13, 2015 at 12:32 pm - Reply

    Laura, I love this recipe!

    Tried it yesterday and I’m obsessed. Thanks for the post, It’s awesome.

    -Stay WILD!

    • Laura Bruner May 13, 2015 at 12:46 pm - Reply

      Armando, that’s awesome. Thank you! So glad you liked the bars as much as we did 🙂

  16. Rigel May 13, 2015 at 1:39 pm - Reply

    Looks yummers! Would loooove to try this!!

  17. Jenna @ BarbellsAndBaking May 14, 2015 at 9:48 am - Reply

    The teas and whey sound amazing and such great products! The hubs and I go through protein powder like no one’s business, so I’m always down to try new varieties and am always looking for more natural/clean protein powder!

  18. Christine May 14, 2015 at 3:28 pm - Reply

    eee I’m so excited! thanks laura! 🙂

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