The inspiration for this post comes from my afternoon snack from yesterday, Holy Crap! It’s a fave food of mine that is not only a breakfast and a snack option, but also a food that has an incredibly catchy/hilarious name.  In one of my Nutrition Tip Tuesday posts, I talked about the importance of eating some protein to increase energy levels throughout the afternoon and to prevent reaching for the junk food.  So, one of my go-to foods to avoid the afternoon slump is actually Holy Crap.  Plus, it’s a real conversation starter when you someone sees you eating something called Holy Crap.  🙂

What is it?

Holy Crap markets itself as a breakfast cereal, but it’s also a great snack.  Its three main ingredients are chia seeds, hemp hearts and buckwheat, plus some mixed dried fruit and cinnamon to give it a bit of flavour.  For those of you that are Canadians, it got its start on the TV show “Dragon’s Den” where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their products, and in 2012 was named the most successful business story on Dragon’s Den.  Not bad eh?!

How healthy is it?

SOOOO healthy!! This stuff will live up to its name, and make you crap (hehe).

Here’s why I like Holy Crap (and Skinny B, its sugar free version):

• It’s gluten free, dairy free, vegan, (basically free of every main allergen except seeds).
• It contains 6g of protein per serving.
• The primary ingredient is chia seeds (more to come about chia in another post), but chia is an incredible source of fiber and Omega 3s.  As it actually expands in liquid to form a bit of a gel, it really keeps you full.  Also, the chia helps soothe your digestive tract as well.

Where can I find it?

Luckily, given the INSANE success of this product, it’s now available in over 2,000 stores in Canada, is expanding into the US, and is available for purchase online in over 40 countries! So unless you live in the North Pole, you can probably get your hands on some.  Both Holy Crap and Skinny B are pretty expensive, but I will say that it lasts quite a while, as you only need a bit per serving, and I don’t eat it every single day.  In terms of price, the cheapest I’ve seen it in stores is $9.99/bag but it’s usually closer to $12/bag

If you are someone that actually can’t get it shipped to them, you can make your own “homemade” Holy Crap!  All you have to do is make a mixture of chia seeds, hemp hearts, buckwheat groats, and dried fruit – all of which should be available at your health food store.

Other ways to use it:

• For those that want the extreme version, the Skinny B contains no sugar.  I sometimes eat this kind and add a bit of raw cacao and cinnamon.
• Sprinkle on top of yogurt
• Add to granola/muesli/oatmeal
• Mix with almond milk for breakfast cereal or a snack
• Mix with applesauce for more of a treat