FUEL, STRAIGHT FROM THE BEE

while attending my undergrad, which was mostly centered in nutrition, exercise, and overall wellness, my sports nutrition professor said something that I thought was really profound. he said, "if food is fuel and our body is a machine, shouldn't we take care what we're putting in the tank?" this thought has haunted me everyday since. whether it's out of guilt because I just scarfed down a sprinkled doughnut in less than the three minutes it took me to purchase it, or out of pride because I've fed myself lots of whole foods that day. needless to say, it's a mantra I've come to live by. enter, honey stinger--an energy foods brand devoted to creating fuel for runners, wood splitters, and any other kind of athlete. and it is made of natural, organic, and well, honey related ingredients. you're not going to believe this, but after that profound comment by aforementioned yodic sports nutrition professor, he held a day of tasting every brand, kind, and flavor of every goo, chew, bar, gel, and sports drink on the shelf. the following assignment consisted of a bunch of math calculations I won't bore you with, but the short version is this :: honey stinger ticked all the boxes! it provided enough simple sugar to aid you during those long runs ( an hour and a half or longer ) without overloading you with too many complex carbs--which can make your g.i. super uncomfortable whilst running at full force. plus, we also learned that honey is one of the only substances that no scientist has figured out how to duplicate in a lab, so you know that what you're eating comes straight from the bee.

when first discussing the potential of collaborating, I asked honey stinger if they wouldn't mind sending me some flavors that I hadn't previously tried. I get so used to my comfort zone, which ( in this case ) consisted of pomegranate chews and lemon waffles, that I sometimes forget to branch out. and they didn't disappoint! the gingersnap waffle is absolutely delicious ( especially in light of the fall season ) and the orange and cherry cola chews have become new favorites, as well. however, I think the coolest thing I discovered about this company was that they have a snack for every kind of athlete. they have fruit gummies for littles, chews and gels for runners, and waffles and bars for strength trainers. pretty much, if you're doing prolonged exercise, honey stinger is your guy...

please, allow me introduce you to...

001. the waffles :: the waffles are, by far and away, my absolute favorite running snack! I love them for a pre-run breakfast, but they would work beautifully for a mid-run snack, as well.

002. the goos :: a lot of people love goos and a lot of people shun them. I, for one, like my goo smooth. if it has seeds, I'm out. these are perfect, and I have a soft spot in my heart for vanilla since that's what got me through my first half.

003. the chews :: like the goos, these have such a great texture and the flavor is so fresh. and bonus, the packaging fits rather nicely in most of my shorts' pockets.

004. and the bars :: opt out of your favorite chocolate bar and in for one of these. I like to keep mine chilled as a post-workout treat. and don't worry. they definitely don't short you on the chocolate!

definitely take a trip over to honey stinger in order to see all of their other delicious products and flavors. and out of my own curiosity, what are your favorite pre-, mid-, and post-workout snacks? let me know how you fuel in the comments!

hope your thursday has some amazing things in store for you!

love, arielle

** this post was sponsored by honey stinger. as always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own.