eating better – Butter, Bourbon, and Other Sins

I received a fun box of healthy cookies and protein bars from Lenny & Larry’s and I couldn’t have been more surprised at how good they are.

The history of Lenny & Larry’s

Lenny & Larry’s is a popular brand of protein-packed snacks, known especially for their delicious and healthy cookies. The company was founded in 1993 by two friends, and I love the story. Lenny & Larry’s was started by Benny and Barry. They call themselves two gym rats who are passionate about fitness and nutrition. The two gym buddies wanted to create a product that would help people stay healthy and energized without sacrificing taste. In other words, yummy treats that are good for you.

They started out as a small bakery in California, where Benny and Barry began making their first protein-packed cookies. The cookies quickly became popular among fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious consumers, and the brand began to expand rapidly. Before they knew it, they were on the shelves of well-known health food stores, including Whole Foods. Today, Lenny & Larry’s products are found in stores all over the world, and the company continues to innovate and create new products.

The Complete Cremes Cookies

The first thing I tried was their Complete Cremes Cookies, chocolate flavored. This is the cookie you want to grab when your inner child wants an Oreo™. The Cremes collection is crunchy sandwich cookies with a cream center. Here’s the big difference between Lenny & Larry’s Complete Cremes and the popular brands you grew up with: They have 1/3 less sugar, are certified vegan, and made with 5 grams of plant-based protein and 3 grams of prebiotic fiber per serving. They are also Non-GMO Project Verified, and free of soy ingredients, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners. Your other store-bought cookies can’t do that.

So, how did they taste? As my husband likes to say, they tasted like more. We devoured them the way we do our once-a-year Girl Scout cookies. I’m not sure if eating an entire package defeats the purpose, but that’s how we roll. What I really loved was no sick feeling afterward. I don’t do well with artificial flavors and chemicals, so these were refreshing to enjoy while not feeling loads of regret.

Lenny & Larry’s Snack Bars

We also received Lenny & Larry’s snack bars. They each have 12 grams of plant-based protein, so you could consider them a protein bar as well. I have never been a protein bar person, so I was certain I wouldn’t like these. Wrong again. They call their bars the Complete Cookie-fied Bar. I love that because it is like a yummy cookie for sure.

We tried Cookies and Creme as well as Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. The bars are soft and chewy and are not lacking in delicious chunks of good stuff, like cookie bits and chocolate chips. We often grab granola bars at our house, but I will happily add these to the pantry instead, along with Lenny & Larry’s Breakfast Bars. Most granola bars are filled with high fructose corn syrup. The Complete Cookie-fied Bar is gluten-free, Certified Vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, and does not include soy ingredients, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, or sugar alcohols. I am not a health nut (sorry, Lenny & Larry!); however, I am not against doing better here and there, and fun and easy snacks I can grab on the go like this are helpful.

Other Lenny & Larry’s Snacks

Lenny & Larry's Kick Start bar — Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmy0XUiOc68/

Lenny & Larry’s also offers soft-baked cookies that come in a variety of flavors, like chocolate chip, peanut butter, and oatmeal raisin, and each cookie contains a whopping 16 grams of plant-based protein. They are also high in fiber and contain no dairy, making them a great option for people with dietary restrictions.

In addition to their Complete Cookies, Lenny & Larry’s also offers a range of other protein-packed snacks. Their Muscle Brownies are perfect for anyone looking for a quick and convenient way to get some extra protein into their diet, and their Keto Cookie is specifically designed for people following a ketogenic diet.

Lenny & Larry’s gives back

I am impressed with Lenny & Larry’s commitment to giving back. The company has a program called “The Muscle Movement,” which is dedicated to promoting health and fitness in underserved communities. They partner with local organizations to provide fitness and nutrition education, as well as donating their products to people in need. I am all for a company with heart.

Not only do they give back through charity, but Lenny & Larry’s has also been recognized for their commitment to sustainability. They use eco-friendly packaging and are constantly looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact. They are also a certified B Corp, which means they meet strict standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Overall, Lenny & Larry’s is a great example of a company committed to making healthy, sustainable, and delicious products. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast looking for a convenient way to get some extra protein, or just someone who loves a good cookie, Lenny & Larry’s has something for everyone. With their high-quality ingredients, innovative products, and commitment to giving back, it’s no wonder they have become one of the most popular snack brands on the market today.

A review of some seriously good lettuce. Yes…lettuce.

I recently enjoyed some fabulous lettuce samples from Little Leaf Farms. I know what you’re thinking…what’s the big deal about lettuce? That’s what I thought until we took our first crunchy bite.

I made my husband and myself a couple of salads with the Baby Spring Mix. Please don’t judge my overuse of feta cheese – it’s so good!

Holy crunch!

I am not exaggerating. We both looked at each other and said this is the crunchiest lettuce we’ve ever had. I am unsure how Little Leaf Farms is doing it, but I have never enjoyed a salad like that. Let’s face it, the first word in the name of this website is “butter.” I don’t ever get excited about lettuce or a salad. What really amazed us was that after the lettuce made a trip from Massachusetts to Illinois, it then sat in our refrigerator for a few days before I made the salads. And still, it was as crunchy as if I had plucked it out of my own garden.

Clean from the start

Little Leaf Farms does have a “little” secret to creating what might be the world’s best lettuce. They have a unique, advanced growing system in their 10-acre greenhouse called Clean From the Start™. Their goal is to bring the local community fresh, nutritious lettuce that isn’t shipped from far away. Thankfully, you can also have Little Leaf brought right to your door with Amazon Fresh or Instacart.

The Clean From the Start™ growing system uses a hands-free technique, which means there’s no need to triple-wash the lettuce like other lettuces you find in the grocery store. Producers of field-grown greens often use chlorine-based cleaners and other chemicals to get the lettuce clean before it is shipped to the stores. Little Leaf Farms is committed to chemical and pathogen-free lettuce.

It begins with Non-GMO seeds planted onto a gutter that enters the greenhouse via a conveyer belt. The seeds then receive plenty of natural sunlight and recycled rainwater for several weeks. Naturally, pests are kept under control with free-roaming ladybugs and other insects that help keep the unwanted ones away. Little Leaf refuses to use chemical pesticides on the greens you consume.

Once ready to eat, the lettuce is packaged in a recyclable container and shipped to local stores within 24 hours. Local shipping is extremely important to Little Leaf Farms. They believe in the importance of eating your greens before losing their nutritional value and fabulous crunch. Plus, cutting down on long-distance shipping is better for the environment.

More salad in my life

If I had known ahead of time how crunchy the lettuce was, I would have recorded it. No joke. If anything, I am tired of brown, scary-looking bagged salad mixes from the store. Most of us are lazy when it comes to washing, slicing, and dicing to eat a salad. I love convenience, and if it’s something that has health benefits as well, I am all about it. As you know, we love to eat. If we can enjoy a salad now and then, it’s best that we do.

I have downloaded some great recipes from Little Leaf Farms as well. As it turns out, salad doesn’t have to be boring. Sometimes we need some new, fresh ideas. How about a loaded Greek salad with Lemon Vinaigrette? Or Buffalo Chicken Tender salad? You can find the recipes here.

I hope I haven’t shocked anyone with my new love for salad. Don’t worry; I still love butter and bourbon; however, my heart and waistline are pleased to have met Little Leaf Farms.