Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts Review and Giveaway

I hadn't heard of Hemp Hearts before, and you probably haven't either. They are raw, shelled hemp seeds. You can add them to cereal, yogurt, salads, or blend them into your favorite smoothie. I was a little skeptical of them to begin with, since I've added chia seeds to yogurt and oatmeal before, and didn't like the texture, I was afraid the Hemp Hearts "mouth feels" were going to be the same.

I was wrong and I'm glad. Hemp Hearts are softer, and larger than chia seeds and have more flavor. The pack I tried is their "Natural," but they also sell an "Organic" version. I would describe the flavor in much the same way as the company does themselves, it's nutty, almost like you're eating ground up sunflower seeds. I've tried the Hemp Hearts on salads and in yogurt, in salads it's barely noticable and since I don't use much dressing (if I use dressing at all) the seeds don't really stick to my veggies and just end up in the bottom of my bowl. I prefer to eat them in plain yogurt, with a little fruit. They add a nice nuttiness to my yogurt that I miss when I don't add it. They do get stuck in my teeth occasionally though, that I don't like.

Now for the benefits other than taste. Hemp Hearts are an additive much like Chia and Flax, providing Omega 3 and 6, as well as plant protein. As they share on their website, "Hemp Hearts have more protein and omegas and less carbs than the same serving of chia or flax." I'm always looking for more ways to get in some good protein as it's very important for muscle recovery, and now I can add Hemp Hearts to my list of easy proteins for athletes. They also sell other hemp products, like Hemp Heart Bites and Bars for easy snacking on the go.

If you're interested in trying Hemp Hearts, you're in luck! Manitoba Harvest is providing one lucky reader with a bag of Hemp Hearts just like I tried. In order to enter the giveaway, do one of the following and then comment here with the user name you used to do so. Please comment by 7pm, Monday, November 9, at which time I will choose a winner at random.

• Follow @ManitobaHarvest on Twitter
• Follow @ManitobaHarvest on Instagram
• Tweet about the giveaway using http://goo.gl/zGpYsd @ManitobaHarvest #hemphearts @FitApproach #sweatpink

Giveaway rules: Open to residents of US and Canada. One prize per person. If you win this giveaway, and have already won another prize from Manitoba Harvest through another blog, please disclose that you have already won so I can choose another winner.

I was provided a pack of Hemp Hearts free of charge for review purposes, opinions are my own.