Food Has Purpose

Getting Mornings Started Right

My fiancée and I have started doing our workouts in the morning before work instead of after. Our pattern had become gym to Caribou Coffee & Einstein Bagels where we’d make poor choices (mochas, bagels, butter) to office.  The healthy mornings of vegetable omelettes are now a rare treat.

Adapt and overcome has been a favorite mantra of mine for the past few years. Finding a way to adapt to our new routine and still have a balanced breakfast was eluding me. After all, part of the poor choices at Caribou Coffee & Einstein Bagels were made because I was STARVING.

Then, in the Health Market section of HyVee on 37^th Street, it caught my eye. Pre-Workout Key Lime Energy Bites by Pure Purpose. The first time I had two energy bites (one serving) before going to the Rochester Athletic Club, I felt fueled without feeling weighed down during my workout. When we left the gym, it was easy to stick with the apple I’d packed.

Using Food as Fuel

I love food. I don’t like supplements or “nutritious” shakes. I want the calories I consume to be worth it. This might be letting my ignorance on some things shine…Until I spoke with the owner of Pure Purpose, Jane Kramer, it had never occurred to me that a food could also be a supplement. She calls the Pure Purpose Energy Bites, food-based supplements.

In addition to being the creator and CEO of Pure Purpose, Jane is a personal trainer. “I do personal training because I love it. I also teach Fit Class Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.” While there is more to the story, part of the reason Jane created the energy bites was to serve her personal training clients. “They want something before their workout to boost results. Real food that they can eat, not a powder.”

She worked with a nutritionist and a food scientist to develop a supplement that would give a body what it needs before a workout. It is important to Jane that the food supplements she creates are pure with no additives, allergen-free, and made in a facility that is allergen-free as well. “There’s no peanuts, no gluten or wheat, no soy, no egg, no dairy, no fish or shellfish.”

Another thing you won’t find in any of the food-based supplements by Pure Purpose is syrups. Jane explained that companies use syrups to extend shelf-life and sweeten the taste of their food. “Some people see organic brown rice syrup and think it’s healthy. It’s still sugar,” she said. “It spikes your insulin levels and your body is more likely to convert it to fat than energy. We use dates. You’re going to get more energy from the dates.”

What Will You Find in the Energy Bites?

The ingredient list on the Key Lime Energy Bites I picked up are: Organic Medjool Dates, Organic Toasted Cashews, Organic Raw Maca Powder, Organic Chia Seeds, Organic Gluten-free Oats, Organic Coconut Oil, Ground Vanilla Bean, Sea Salt, and Lime Oil.

The only ingredient on the list that I had never heard of before was Maca. I looked it up before talking to Jane. It’s a plant native to Peru. “Maca is going to carry you through your day. It’s a sustaining energy source.”

I’ve tried the Cinnamon Raisin and the Coconut Chocolate. Right now I think my favorite is the Cinnamon Raisin.

Post Workout Bars in Chocolate Raspberry and Snickerdoodles by Pure Purpose are coming out soon. The hope is that they’ll be available by the end of January 2018. The post workout bars will be higher in protein, with the primary source coming from pure hemp protein powder. I can’t wait to try them, especially the Snickerdoodles.

Beyond Pure Purpose

As we talked, Jane shared that she started a blog focused on healthy recipes when she was in elementary school, made childhood obesity her platform when she was  Miss Minnesota, and took nutrition classes in college despite knowing she wanted a career in business. “I really have a passion for helping people feel really good and having healthy lives so they can fulfill what they feel their passion is life.”

Since I had Jane on the phone and her passion for all things fitness and nutrition was shining through, I asked her about fitness and nutrition beyond Pure Purpose.

Nutrition and Fitness Tips for Women from Jane Kramer

1. Pelvic Floor Strength and Stability: Do small motions to improve that pelvic floor. “You really need to do those pelvic floor exercises. That’s a huge piece that a lot of women miss.” Getting the abs all the way back together helps prevent injury.
2. Don’t Overdo Cardio: Overdoing cardio can over stress your body. “Those stress hormones are usually going to sit in your stomach. You need to focus a little more on your nutrition and then cut back over stressing your body.”
3. Balance: “My philosophy is it’s all about balance. You can still eat foods that you love.” Just don’t overindulge.

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