Produce For Kids & Price Chopper Launch Get Healthy, Give Hope Campaign

Last year I posted about Produce for Kids and their Get Healthy, Give Hope Campaign and I am pleased to announce that it is once again time for this fantastic campaign! My children have a problem eating healthy (as do many children I know) and I am constantly on the lookout for fun and exciting ways to get them to eat better. When I first met Produce for Kids, I was overwhelmed with their commitment to nutrition for kids and have kept in touch with them ever since. On their website you can find recipes and fun ideas to get your children in some better eating patterns and I for one have enjoyed the experience of finding new ways to prepare simple foods. Want to know more about this campaign? Check out the details...

Produce for Kids is launching its annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign with major supermarket chains across the country, including your local Price Chopper store, to help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Children's Hospital at Dartmouth this Sunday. Beginning June 16th, the joint campaign will run through July 27th and will help raise money for children in need. The more produce Price Chopper shoppers add to their shopping lists, the more hope they can give to local children. All participating fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers at Price Chopper stores will make a consumption-based donation to local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

To learn more about the campaign, shoppers can visit the Produce for Kids in-store display which features easy-to-prepare recipes, helpful materials with additional information on the campaign and links to visit more than 90 easy Ideal Meals® recipes online. The display also features characters from the popular Sprout® health-focused children’s series “LazyTown™” and “The Chica Show,” along with tips on healthy eating for kids.

Here are some of the recipes that Produce for Kids offers...

Banana Fro-Yo

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
·   2 bananas, peeled, chopped
·   3 cups lowfat yogurt
·   1 cup pineapple, cored, chopped
·   ¼ cup caramel dip
Directions:
1. Place bananas in freezer bag and freeze overnight.
2. Blend bananas, yougurt and pineapple in blender until thick and smooth.
3. Portion and freeze for 25 minutes.  
4. Drizzle with caramel dip and serve.

Smoothie Pops & Super Cereal Mix

Serves 16
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
·   1 large peach or mango, peeled, chopped
·   1 large nectarine, peeled, chopped
·   2 medium bananas, peeled, sliced
·   1 cup strawberries, leaves hulled
·   1 cup blueberries
·   ¼ cup orange or fruit juice
·   2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
·   16 paper cups
Directions:
1. Place all smoothie ingredients in a blender and blend until just smooth.
2. Place 16 paper cups on a baking tray.  Pour smoothie into paper cups.  Place tray in freezer and freeze until slushy, about 20 minutes.
3. Remove tray from freezer and insert one popsicle stick into the center of each cup.  Return to freezer and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.
4. Tear away paper cup and place on plate.
Serves 4
Preparation Time:
Ingredients:
·   1 cup toasted oat rings cereal
·   1 cup round corn puffs cereal
·   ½ cup round colored corn puffs cereal
·   ½ cup roasted, unsalted peanuts
Directions:
1. Combine all cereal mix ingredients in a large bowl.

Super Green Smoothie

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 10 Minutes
Ingredients:
·   2 cups 1% milk
·   1 banana, peeled, cut in half
·   ½ avocado, pitted, peeled
·   1 cup spinach, gently packed
·   1 cup green apple, cored, chopped
·   3 Tbsp. ground flax seed
·   2 Tbsp. honey
Directions:
1. Blend milk, banana, avocado, spinach, apple, flax seed and honey in blender until smooth.

YUM, YUM, YUM! Here is a bit more information about who Produce for Kids is and what they have to offer parents all across the country...

Produce for Kids’ marketing programs take place in grocery stores across the country promoting healthy eating and benefiting local children’s non-profit groups. These campaigns combine advertising, in-store displays and events, public relations and Internet marketing. Ideal Meals™ offer simple, healthy meal solutions for busy parents through complete meal recipe ideas created by a chef and approved by a nutritionist.

Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $3.7 million for children’s non-profit organizations including Children’s Miracle Network® Hospitals, Let’s Move Salad Bars To Schools and PBS KIDS® among others. All funds raised directly benefit these partner organizations.

Year-round resources for parents include Ideal Meals; the Parents on Produce board, a panel made up of busy working parents; Ideal Meal demonstration videos and healthy eating tips and articles.

The Produce for Kids program has been embraced by the produce industry and covers grocery store retailers in more than 40 states and incorporates suppliers in every major produce category.

So, this summer as you prepare to enjoy picnics at the park, warm, sunny afternoons at the beach or simple snacks for after nap time, check out Produce for Kids and see what they have to offer you. Have a great summer!!

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I will be receiving free Produce for Kids products in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine. 

Tropical Traditions Whole Golden Flax Seed Review & Giveaway {US & Canada}

Well, I am sad to say that I didn't win the weight loss competition against my family. :( The bride-to-be actually won and I am really really happy for her! She is marrying my brother on Friday and we couldn't be happier for them. I am happy to report that I did come in third out of everyone that participated, which is really cool. :) During my weight loss journey, which I am still on, I enjoyed eating salad alot and it has become a staple for my lunches. Salad is such an amazing food...filling, healthy and so many ways to dress it up! It also helps with digestion and the fiber found in lettuces and spinach is wonderful. Along with eating salads, I have found some really yummy toppings that just make the salad even more tastier! Today, I am going to share a review of Tropical Traditions Whole Golden Flaxseed and how I used it to spruce up my salads.

Tropical Traditions has been a long-time favorite of mine and they are best known for their amazing Coconut Oil. I never realized what I could do with Coconut Oil until I met Tropical Traditions. If you (like I was) are wondering about how to use coconut oil, then you should really check out what Tropical Traditions suggests. I never knew I could use it in so many different recipes, candies and beverages. Check out this video on the many uses of coconut oil...
 Ok, so I totally want to try and make the fudge. Doesn't it look amazing?!? Oh, and I had never thought to add coconut oil to my coffee...what an interesting idea.

For this review I was sent a pouch of Tropical Traditions Whole Golden Flax Seed. Back when I was on a vegan diet I used flax seed daily as a fiber and fatty acid addition to my smoothies. It didn't have a whole lot of flavor but added some much-needed nutrition to my diet. This Flax Seed comes in a one pound pouch and it is definitely a good amount of seeds! In case you aren't familiar, here is a bit more information about golden flax seed...

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a beautiful blue flowered plant grown on the plains of Central Canada and the North Central United States. Our organic flaxseed is "golden flaxseed" from North Dakota. Modern research has taken great interest in flaxseed. Study after study confirms that the oil and fiber components of flaxseed have wonderful health benefits. A valuable source of Fiber, Essential Fatty Acids and Lignans.

The flax seed I used when on my vegan diet was brown so seeing it a golden color was different! I like it though...it kind of reminds me of sesame seeds.

This came just in time for my lunch and so I fixed my salad as usual. Adding the Golden Flax Seed really added nice color and flavor to my salad. Combined with my other ingredients, this flax seed is now a regular addition to my daily salad. It is nice to know that something so tiny can provide such wonderful nutrition for me. I also love to add Whole Golden Flax Seeds to my fruit smoothies, casseroles and yogurt. Oh, and this is also a WONDERFUL way to add a bit of extra nutrition to your children's foods as well. I sneak it into my youngest son's yogurt and he doesn't even notice. :)

A one pound pouch of Tropical Traditions Whole Golden Flax Seed retails for $10.30 and can be ordered in one bag or multiple bag quantities.

Tropical Traditions has offered to giveaway a pouch of their Whole Golden Flax Seed to one of you! Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free Tropical Traditions products for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Tropical Traditions website and email. Prize is being shipped by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen prizes. *Canadian residents: Tropical Traditions and this blog is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge for your prize should you win.* All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

FREE Pouch of KIND Healthy Grains Oats & Honey Clusters

Hey all you health nuts!! If you made a new year's resolution to eat healthier, here's a good start for you. :) Get a free pouch of KIND Healthy Grains Oats & Honey Clusters by clicking HERE. You will be directed to a page with a very simple form that you can fill out.

Enjoy!

Enjoy Smarter Snacking With Smartfood Selects!

I have really been enjoying all the recent snacking opportunities I have had! Snacking is and always will be a fun past time for my family and I. Finding healthy snacks can be challenging...especially without breaking the bank. My husband and I were talking recently about how expensive it is to eat healthier. Everyone seems to want to eat healthier, but it is getting more and more expensive to do so. I would love to have a discount health food store near me (does anything like that even exist???) where I could purchase healthy food at a discounted rate. What a difference that would make in my food spending. Anyway, along the lines of having healthier snacking options around the house, I have a company to introduce you to today that you are going to LOVE!

Smartfood Selects is a company that combines real herbs, spices and all natural flavors to create some of the yummiest snacks on earth! We were recently at a local art festival and there was a Smartfood booth where they were giving away bags of the Feta Herb Hummus Popped Chips and that was where I fell in love with this brand. Because I am a BzzAgent, I was chosen to review several products from Smartfood Selects!

Located in Dallas, Texas, Smartfood Selects makes a variety of popcorns, as well as popped chips and puffed corn. Here is a bit more about this company...

When SMARTFOOD® brand White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn was born, it was an instant hit. We recently introduced Kettle Corn and Movie Theatre Butter flavors (all to the same glorious praise!). These fresh-tasting, light-textured popcorn varieties continue to make mouths water every day.

But wait, there's more! We are still busy creating all-new snacks inspired by our heritage, and this time, there's a tasty new twist. With SMARTFOOD® Selects snacks, we've spiced things up (literally) with SMART combinations of REAL herbs and spices. So what exactly is a SMART combination, you ask? Well, it's the careful pairing of select ingredients to create perfectly complementary, unforgettably delicious flavors.

Yes, you could say we've been having a lot of fun playing with our food. Our hummus and multigrain popped chips are bursting with flavor, and our puffed corn snacks will melt in your mouth. Try them all and discover new SMARTFOOD® brand favorites!

Like I said, I have tried this brand before and so I was very excited to have the opportunity to try some other flavors...as well as the popcorn!

So, for this review, I was sent a full sized bag of Cinnamon Brown Sugar Popcorn and two snack-sized bags of popped chips. 

My children were begging for a snack this morning several hours after breakfast so I thought it would be the perfect time to break out the Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Popcorn for them. They LOVE anything sweet and that is just what this popcorn is...a sweet and satisfying snack. The first thing that I love about the popcorn is that the bag is resealable. I hate opening an brand new bag of chips and having to find something to close the bag with when I am done. Stale chips are nasty so I love the fact that I can re-close this big bag of popcorn to keep it fresh!

This is some of the best popcorn I have had in a long time. Each piece of popcorn is loaded with cinnamon and brown sugar, the flavor is simply amazing! Typically, my children will eat popcorn, but not as quickly as they devoured this kind from Smartfood Selects. :) 

As you can see, they loved their popcorn!! Each was finished with their dish in several minutes and if I hadn't stopped them, they would have helped themselves to more. I had to stop though so they wouldn't ruin their lunch. 

While the children were eating their cinnamon brown sugar popcorn, I decided to try the Garlic Tomato Basil Hummus Popped Chips. Ooooo...were these ever GOOD! There is just enough flavor to make them yummy without being overwhelmed with garlic and basil. The popped, hummus-based chips are amazing...so crunchy and light...just perfect for an afternoon snack! 

The Smartfood Selects brand is available in major retailers across the country and if you want to find a store near you that carries this yummy brand, check out the store listing on their website. You can also find Smartfood Selects on Amazon. Prices vary by bag size and quantity.

So, in my opinion...Smartfood Selects are fantastic!! I love the fact that I have some healthy and all-natural snacks to offer my family. These snacks are not only healthy, they are also delicious...so you won't be accused of trying to feed your family cardboard. :) Wonderful snacks, fantastic company!

Disclaimer: As a BzzAgent, I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free Smartfood Selects Snacks and additional product coupons for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine. Stock photos and quotes are taken from the BzzAgent and Smartfood Selects Websites.

Mediterranean Snack Food Company Review & Giveaway!

Snacks, snacks and MORE snacks!! I am LOVING this re-occurring theme here on my blog recently...hope you are as well. :) By now, you should all be well aware of the fact that I love snacks and that my goal is to provide my family with healthy snacking options. This week, hubby came home from the grocery store with LOADS of fruits and veggies and we are starting to make some dietary changes in our home. Because I have children, I think it is natural to try and find the easiest and most convenient food and this typically means that we eat a lot of processed foods. Anyone with any kind of sense at all knows that in moderation, this is OK but in excess it can be harmful to your health. My children are so important to me (understatement there) that I am really trying to make better food choices for them. Do they always like my choices? No. But I think that offering them healthier options is a good start in the right direction.

I was recently browsing the Internet in search of organic, healthy snack foods and came across the Mediterranean Snack Food Company. I was immediately drawn to their site because it is colorful and very easy to navigate. I was also very intrigued with their snack foods that they create...most of them are made with lentils! Sounds interesting, doesn't it? Before I continue, here is a bit more about this company...

The Mediterranean Snack Food Company is an entrepreneurial, privately-held company founded in 2005. Our mission is innovation to produce great tasting, nutritionally superior snacks.

Using the superfood benefits of lentils in combination with whole grains and legumes, we create unique healthy and delicious snacks.

We use only the highest quality, non-GMO, and gluten-free ingredients, creating snacks to satisfy even the most health-conscious food enthusiast.

But our commitment to nutritional excellence never causes us to lose sight of the most important feature of good snacking – Great Taste!

That last phrase is key...healthy snack foods need to taste good!! For me, my children don't eat foods that taste bland. That is why I was interested in this company; because they make sure that the food that they create doesn't taste like saw dust!!

So, for this review I was able to choose a few items that I wanted to try and so I chose:

Roasted Garlic HummuZ Crispz

Cucumber Dill Baked Lentil Chips

Rosemary Baked Lentil Chips

Sea Salt Lentil Crackers

The first bag that I dove into was the Cucumber Dill Baked Lentil Chips. I LOVE cucumbers and dill is another herb that I enjoy so I was really excited to see how these tasted. Inspired by the lifestyle of the Mediterranean, these and all other products from the Mediterranean Snack Food Company are made with high protein, nutritious lentils, garbanzo and adzuki beans. I wasn't sure I would like a snack made out of beans, but I was pleasantly surprised! These chips pack a huge crispy and crunch punch and would definitely satisfy any snack craving.

Then, I tried the Rosemary Baked Lentil Chips and these were very tasty as well! The rosemary herb flavor was very subtle and gave a wonderful undertone to the taste. I enjoyed trying them very much. I have to say that the Sea Salt Lentil Crackers were my favorite though. They were thin and seasoned with just enough sea salt...not too salty at all! My children also really enjoyed these tasty little numbers as well. They made the perfect mid-afternoon snack for them. I have a tough time with garlic right now (due to breast feeding) but did enjoy the Roasted Garlic HummuZ Crispz. They were light and crispy with a nice flavor of garlic...these would make a lovely appetizer for an Italian dinner.

Probably one of the best features of these products from Mediterranean Snack Foods is that they are gluten free. I know several people who are on special diets due to gluten intolerance and they always say how hard it is to find snacks that they can eat...that actually taste palatable. I am positive that these snacks would be perfect for anyone who is on a gluten free diet!

You can find more information about the Mediterranean Snack Food Company by visiting their Facebook page or by stopping by their website. They also have a store locator on their website that can direct you to a store that carries their products.

So, in my opinion...The Mediterranean Snack Food Company offers some really tasty snacking options for you and for your family, even if you have gluten allergies. I am really enjoying the diverse flavors and textures in the snacks I received and I feel great about having such great snacks on hand for my family. Wonderful company and TASTY snacks!

The Mediterranean Snack Food Company has offered to give away a a mixed case (12 bags) of Mediterranean Snacks Baked Lentil Chips to one of my readers! Here are your entry options...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive  Mediterranean Snack Food products for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the  Mediterranean Snack Food Company's website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Enjoy a Better Breakfast with NEW Activia Breakfast Blend

I am a huge fan of eating breakfast. Now that I am a mom, I am more adamant about breakfast and am pretty good at making sure my children get a good, healthy breakfast. Kids are just so energetic...they need something hearty and nutritious to get them going and KEEP them going throughout the morning. I do not give my children a ton of snacks, and this is why I want them to eat well at their meal times. Breakfast is also essential to kick start your body in the mornings...after all, it is called "break-fast" for a reason.

Yogurt has become a favorite around here when it comes to a healthy breakfast and I am thrilled with this! My children have a difficult time enjoying food that is good for them and so I often resort to yogurt for some of their morning nutrients. For some time now, Hannah has been on a probiotic vitamin for her tummy and I think her digestive system is finally maturing a bit more then it was when she was younger. Several months back, I had the opportunity to review Activia...a yogurt made by Dannon which contains important probiotics to help regulate the digestive system. Here is a bit more about the importance of probiotics and Activia...

The word probiotic literally means "for life." Probiotics are live microorganisms (either bacteria or yeast) that, when consumed in adequate amounts, have a beneficial effect on the host beyond basic nutrition. A food is considered probiotic if it contains a sufficient quantity of probiotics and if all probiotic properties are maintained throughout the life of the product (alive in sufficient quantities to provide beneficial effects). Bifidus Regularis (Bifidobacterium lactis DN-173 010) is a probiotic culture. We say that Bifidus Regularis is active because it is a living beneficial bacterium that, once ingested, survives the passage through the digestive system and remains alive in sufficient quantities for Activia to have its beneficial effects.

So, do you feel educated now? :) Good. It is very important to understand why probiotics carry such power when it comes to healthy digestion. Now that I have thoroughly educated you, let me introduce you to Activia's newest member in their yummy yogurt family...Activia Breakfast Blend! 

For this review I was given the opportunity to try a 4-pack of Activia Breakfast Blend Yogurt in my choice of flavor. I tend to be an apples and cinnamon type of girl so I chose to review the Activia Apple Cinnamon with Grains flavor. Availability seems to be a bit sparse in my area for this new yogurt but I was able to find it after a bit of searching! This four pack that I have pictured above cost about $3.50 at my grocery store...which wasn't bad at all. 

I was very eager to try this out and was pleasantly surprised with the flavor, the texture and how full I felt afterwards. One container of this particular flavor only contains 190 calories and just 3 grams of fat...wow! I am not on a diet now (I need to be) but if I was, I would definitely consider including Activia Breakfast Blend into my breakfast menu!

This yogurt is thick and creamy and kind of has the texture of Greek yogurt. There are small chunks of apple, a hint of cinnamon and bits of grains (oatmeal, I think) in each spoonful. Eating one cup filled me up very nicely and I actually felt satisfied. You really don't need to pair this with anything else as it is quite enough on it's own. My son LOVED it as well...he is a true yogurt junkie and left none in the cup when he was done!

You can find Activia Breakfast Blend in your grocer's dairy case and because it is new, some stores may not have it yet. Check out Activia's Store Locator to find a location near you. It also comes in four flavors that you can choose from: Apple Cinnamon, Maple & Brown Sugar, Banana Bread and Vanilla. I was lucky to find it and am soooo glad that I have been able to try it. 

So, in my opinion...Activia Breakfast Blend are fantastic! I am really looking forward to trying the other flavors and sharing them with my family. It is good to know that as a mom, I have great and yummy options for my children when it comes to breakfast. 

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a free product coupon for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Activia/Dannon website and email. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Old London Snacks Review & Giveaway

Ahhh...I seem to be on a snacking kick lately! I think it is the weather. Yep. The hot summer days seem to have ended and now we are getting into cooler weather. Sometimes, snacking is just more fun when you are not sitting in the heat and humidity. I really love to snack when I am blogging, and I also snack when the children have gone to bed and I am relaxing with my hubby after a busy day. Soo, because I like to snack often, I try to make healthy snack choices. This is not easy seeing as I live with a guy who LOVES chocolate and sweets. :)  It is for this reason that I am always on the look out for healthy snacks. If I can still have a snack without having to worry about extra calories or fat, I will.

Today, I am going to introduce you to a snack brand that I have heard of in the past, but have never tried. Old London snack foods are diverse in taste and in "style". They carry Melba Toast, Bagel Chips, Melba Snacks and JJFlats...which all sound so great! The Melba Toast is what I have heard of and of course, Bagel Chips too. Before I continue, here is a bit more about the Old London brand...

It was 1897 when, concerned about her stylish figure, the talented opera singer Miss Nellie Melba sent the famed Parisian chef Auguste Escoffier back to the kitchen. Her complaint was that her bread was much too thick. Escoffier returned to Ms. Melba’s table with a thinly sliced piece of toasted bread, and promptly named it Melba toast in her honor. Nellie Melba’s name would go on forever, just like she always said it would.

The first Melba oven was built in 1932, leading to the development of the Melba Round. These improvements allowed Old London to introduce the first restaurant packs to the public, gaining widespread approval. Today Old London carries over 20 flavors of authentic, original, crunchy taste sensations in Rounds and Toasts.

Make Old London part of your active, healthy lifestyle. Melba’s satisfying, crisp bite makes it a light bread replacement for a quick lunch or easy snack. Try all the Old London products, a brand you can trust for a great flavor and outstanding quality. Look for the Old London Specialty Cracker Section in your local grocery store and find more than just Melba!!

I was really interested in trying Old London products because they look super healthy and seem like they have great flavors too.

So, for this review I was sent several boxes of Old London snacks to try. I was sent:

Sea Salt Melba Snacks
Rosemary Melba Toast
Garlic & Herb Bagel Chips

Recently, hubby and I planned a nice evening together after the children went to bed and while he was indulging in Doritos, I was breaking out my Old London snacks. I have to admit that these snacks are definitely on the VERY healthy side. They don't taste greasy or over salty. Some might think they are bland, but I thought they were seasoned very nicely. Because of his snack preference, my husband did not like these snacks.

I love that the Melba Toast was individually packaged with a few pieces in each pack. This makes it really easy to just eat a small amount, rather then a whole box at once. :) The rosemary flavor was, I thought, very nice. It wasn't over powering at all. These small pieces of Melba Toast were super crunchy too, which easily satisfied my craving for a crunchy snack.

The Garlic & Herb Bagel Chips were very tasty too...they have just enough garlic on them so you know you are eating garlic but not too much. I love bagel chips anyway so these were a great snack for me. I couldn't really tell the difference from the bagel chips and the Melba Snacks because they looked the same. The most noticeable difference was the flavor...obviously. :) I love salty foods and the Sea Salt flavor was wonderful! I could eat these all day.

You can purchase Old London Snacks online or at your local supermarket and prices vary depending on which product you want.

So, in my opinion...the Old London Snack selections that I was sent are wonderful! I love the options and flavor choices as you can pick and choose which ones suit you best. Personally, I LOVE the Sea Salt Melba Snacks because I am a salt fan...these are wonderful!! I would recommend these snacks to anyone looking to change over to healthier options. You will be guaranteed a healthy and tasty snacking experience with Old London!

Old London has offered to give away 5 boxes of melba toast/snacks/bagel chips to one of my readers! YUM! Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive Old London products for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Old London website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens Review & Giveaway (US & Canada)

Trying to eat healthy after a pregnancy laced with morning sickness has not been easy. The only foods that I was really able to eat were processed foods that were quick and salty. Never before have I had a pregnancy like this past one and I really hope to never experience one like it again!!! Now that I am not pregnant anymore I am really trying to eat healthy again. Trying to get out of a bad eating habit is not easy...but I am really giving it alot of effort. My children seem to echo my eating habits as well and so I am always looking for ways to sneak in healthy foods for them. I was recently thrilled to offer them salads at dinner and see them gobble them down-AND ask for MORE!!! Woo Hoo! Talk about doing a happy dance. :)

Well, in my quest to find healthier foods I have recently become acquainted with Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens. This dietary supplement comes in powder form and is available in two delicious flavors: berry and mint. Tropical Traditions is a company that is known world-wide for its Virgin Coconut Oil. Besides their coconut oil, they also carry a variety of skin care, household and other food-related products. According to my mom, Tropical Traditions is the best place to get Virgin Coconut Oil. She has tried other brands and varieties and Tropical Traditions is the only brand she will buy...she is just crazy about it!

Until I was introduced to Tropical Traditions, I was unaware of the many uses of Coconut Oil! Check out the video below and see for yourself... How To Use Coconut Oil: There are hundreds of uses!



Wow...I didn't know that you could use coconut oil in your spaghetti sauce! There are so many creative ways to utilize this fantastic product.

So, for this review I was sent a container of Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens in the berry flavor to try. I am a huge smoothie fan so I knew right away how I was going to use these greens!

These Natural Greens are in powder form, making it easy to dilute in water, juice, smoothies and other beverages. I was not sure what the taste would be like though...it sure smelled nice! All you do is add a scoop of the powder to your drink. It does not thicken at all and if you can get past the green color, it looks soo healthy!

I simply added a scoop to a glass of cold water and mixed it up well. You will notice that the powder does not dissolve, it simply mixes in. If you use a glass straw like I do, you can see the particles.

As soon as I was done mixing my drink and getting ready to try it, my little "mooch", who had been watching me mix it, wanted to try some too! So, to make sure she would like it, I tried it first. It was VERY yummy. I didn't find the flavor unpleasant at all and actually, you could taste the berry flavor.

After I was done, I offered some to my daughter. I have to admit that she is pretty adventurous. Seeing a green drink might gross some children out, but not mine! Both of my children enjoyed this drink and each of them helped to finish my glass. (I had two or three swigs and they finished it!!)

Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens are available to purchase directly from Tropical Tradition's website and retails for $38.99 for a 13.7 ounce container. You can choose from mint or berry flavors as well!

So, in my opinion...Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens is a fantastic product! I am thrilled that my children like it and that I can sneak in some nutrition into their diets. Omega 3's are very important additives to one's diet and if you are a mom who wants to help the family enjoy better health, I would recommend checking out these greens!

Tropical Traditions has offered to give away a container of these Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens to one of YOU! Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive free product for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Tropical Traditions website and email. Prize is being shipped by the sponsor. *Canadian residents: Tropical Traditions and this blog is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge for your prize should you win.* All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Produce For Kids Launches Get Healthy, Give Hope Campaign (Giveaway)

Sooo, I am a mom of two toddlers who seem to dislike eating healthy. They LOVE all things processed including hot dogs, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, etc. This makes meal planning and preparation very difficult for me and I am always looking for new ideas and help in this tough area of parenting. Well, today I am going to introduce you to Produce for Kids...an organization that focuses on  encouraging families to eat healthy by providing healthy meal solutions and recipes! Sounds great, doesn't it? I was just a tiny bit excited when I found out about them and what they are all about. Here is a bit more about them, in case you are new to this fantastic organization (like I am!)...

Produce for Kids’ marketing programs take place in grocery stores across the country promoting healthy eating and benefiting local children’s non-profit groups. These campaigns combine advertising, in-store displays and events, public relations and Internet marketing. Ideal Meals™ offer simple, healthy meal solutions for busy parents through complete meal recipe ideas created by a chef and approved by a nutritionist.

Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $3.7 million for children’s non-profit organizations including Children’s Miracle Network® Hospitals, Let’s Move Salad Bars To Schools and PBS KIDS® among others. All funds raised directly benefit these partner organizations.

Year-round resources for parents include Ideal Meals; the Parents on Produce board, a panel made up of busy working parents; Ideal Meal demonstration videos and healthy eating tips and articles.

The Produce for Kids program has been embraced by the produce industry and covers grocery store retailers in more than 40 states and incorporates suppliers in every major produce category.

The reason I am introducing you to Produce For Kids is because they are launching their annual Get Healthy,  Give Hope campaign now through July 28th. Here are the details!

Produce for Kids^® has launched its annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign with 16 major supermarket chains across the country, including your local Price Chopperstores, to help raise money for local children’s hospitals.

Now through July 28^th, thanks to the annual Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign hosted by Price Chopper andProduce for Kids, the more produce shoppers add to their shopping lists the more hope they can give to local children. Celebrating a milestone 10^th birthday in 2012, Produce for Kids is excited to kick off this year’s campaign with a new partnership with Sprout^® and LazyTown^TM. 

During the campaign, Produce for Kids will offer shoppers collectible Ideal Meals^TM – quick and easy healthy meal ideas, which are free and can be found in displays featuring LazyTown characters from the popular, health-focused, children’s series airing exclusively in the U.S. on 24-hour preschool television channel, Sprout.

Ideal Meals offer shoppers chef-created/nutritionist-approved easy solutions for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Featuring fresh fruits and vegetables as the main ingredients, Ideal Meals are great for busy families who crave fast meal options that don’t require stopping at the local drive-thru.

In conjunction with this campaign, I was sent a few recipes to share with you all that are sure to get your children's taste buds perked in the healthier direction!

Chocolatey Fruit Skewers

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 12 minutes

Ingredients:

·   1 premade pound cake

·   8 strawberries, whole, leaves hulled

·   8 raspberries, whole

·   1 cup pineapple, cored, chunked

·   4 Tbsp. chocolate syrup

·   4 (6-inch) bamboo skewers

Directions:

1. Cut pound cake into 4 1x3-inch rectangles and 8 1x1-inch squares.
2. Place 1 1x3-inch piece cake on plate, stick skewer in middle. 
3. Add strawberry, raspberry, pineapple and 1x1-inch piece of cake to skewer.  Repeat with another strawberry, raspberry, pineapple and 1x1-inch piece of cake.
4. Drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Nutrition Information:

Chocolatey Fruit Skewer Calories 354, Fat 2.5g, Protein 12g, Carbohydrate 52.1g, Fiber 2.4g, Cholesterol 9mg, Sodium 280mg, Calcium 348mg, Vitamin A 529 IU, Vitamin C 44.4mg, Iron 1.4mg

Smoothie Pops

Serves 16

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

·   1 large peach or mango, peeled and chopped

·   1 large nectarine, peeled and chopped

·   2 medium bananas, sliced

·   1 pt. strawberries or raspberries

·   ¼ cup orange or fruit juice

·   2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt

Directions:

Place all smoothie ingredients in a blender and blend until just smooth.

Place 16 paper cups on a baking tray.  Pour smoothie into paper cups.  Place tray in freezer and freeze until slushy, about 20 minutes.  Remove tray from freezer and insert one popsicle stick into the center of each cup.  Return to freezer and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.

To serve, tear away paper cup and place on plate. Enjoy!

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So, there is just a taste (no pun intended!) of some of the recipes that you will find on Produce For Kid's website. Don't they look soo yummy? I am excited to try those out with my children...I know they will love them! 

Here is a listing of events that will be taking place so check to see if any of them are near you! 

• Kroger Southwest: Now through July 24^th
•  Fred Meyer: Now through July 26^th
•  King Soopers: Now through July 31^st  
• Kroger Central: Now through July 18^th

As a thank you for taking the time to check out this Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign from Produce for Kids, you will have an opportunity to win a $25 gift card to Price Chopper stores! Please be sure you have a location near you prior to entering.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I will be receiving free product in exchange for my post. All quotes and stock photos are from the Produce For Kids website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.