Healthy Eating Right!

My kids are usually pretty healthy eaters, but I highly believe that it really depends on what options you give your kids to what they will have. I have even known that with trying to lose weight. If I have the "junk food" available in my home, and I bought it, I WILL eat it. So, if we pack our kids healthy lunches for school, picnic, field trips...etc., they will eat the options before them (hopefully).
Safeway and Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes have teamed up to create Eating Right Kids. They have designed a program that parents can feel good about and that kids will love. Eating Right Kids is a full line of foods that taste great and are better for our kids nutrition. The line has been formulated to standards based on the most recent dietary recommendations and regulations from several federal and state agencies.
Being a Team Mom member, I was sent a sample selection from the Eating Right Kids. I got a thermal lunch bag (with Bugs Bunny on the front) and a selection of food items inside the bag. I think that the chewy bar was tasty, and I liked that the apple juice was 100% vitamin C and no corn syrup in it! I think it is a super idea to put fruits and vegetables in our children's lunches. One thing I usually do, is put a handful of baby carrots in a container or bag, and a banana. My kids love having a box of raisins and a container of sliced strawberries, too. It is fun to get creative with healthy options, too. One classic is to have a celery stick filled with peanut butter. Trail a line of raisins down the row of peanut butter, and you have "ants on a log." Kids get a vegetable (celery), protein with the peanut butter, and a fruit (raisins).
I think the Eating Right Kids is a super program. I thought that the site had great things to offer, suggestions, and options for purchase. Keeping our kids healthy is so important, and it really helps their growth and development.

This review was sponsored from Team Mom and Safeway foods. They have supplied me with product to review and keep for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Oscar Mayer Lunchables

I enjoy bringing quick and easy snacks or foods to the park or on outings with the kids, like to the zoo. I have always been a fan of Oscar Mayer Lunchables, and I was excited to try out the new

Oscar Mayer Lunchables. My kids love getting the lunchables, because they are tasty, fun, and a treat. I like that they are healthy options for a fun treat or lunch. I like to give my kids better-for-them lunchtime options, and the new Lunchables line of Oscar Mayer Lunchables Lunch Combinations, is a great way to go.

The Lunchables Lunch Combos come with new items, like spring water, sub sandwiches and applesauce.
The six new varieties include: Turkey + Cheddar Sub Sandwich, Ham + American Sub Sandwich, Turkey + Cheddar Cracker Combos, Ham +American Cracker Combos, Deep Dish Cheese Pizza and Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza. Both the Turkey + Cheddar Sub Sandwich and Deep Dish Cheese Pizza meet the Kraft Foods Sensible Solution criteria for nutritional value. We got the Deep Dish Cheese pizza, which is microwavable, and tasted good. My kids enjoyed having a mini pizza for snack. I liked that the pizza is made with Kraft 2% cheese, and the crust is whole grain. I think that the Oscar Mayer Lunchables are made with quality products.
The product line also offers the following enhancements:
· First-ever sub sandwich
· Turkey made with 100% turkey breast: a good source of protein
· Bread made with whole grain
· Kraft 2% cheddar: an excellent source of calcium
· Applesauce
· Dessert like Chewy Chips Ahoy! Cookies and Mini Nilla Wafers

My kids and I think the new Lunchables are a great step up to the originals, and our family approves the new Lunchables Combinations! I think these would be great to bring to a day out (stored in a cooler). The only thing to remember is, some of the lunchables would taste better if you have access to a microwave.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central on behalf of Oscar Mayer Lunchables and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Santa Cruz Organic and R.W. Knudsen (Review and 3 HUGE giveaways)!

Our family has become more aware of what we put into our mouth, and knowing if we are putting "pure" products into our bodies. I am a firm believer that we all feel better, and can function better with less chemically made foods entering our systems. I am even more careful about what my kids are getting for their snacks and meals, and trying to give them healthier options with their food. I was thrilled to review products from Santa Cruz Organic and R.W. Knudsen Family. Santa Cruz Organic sent me 2 jars of their Organic Peanut Butter. I love the taste of this peanut butter, and I greatly appreciate that Santa Cruz products are real...no chemicals to corrupt the ingredients. The Peanut Butter from Santa Cruz tastes just like crushed peanuts. You need to stir the peanut butter when you first open the jar, due to settling...then you store it in the refridgerator to keep it fresh. Santa Cruz Organic Peanut Butters are made with USDA certified organic peanuts and have unique flavor profiles made up of both light and dark roast varieties. I am not sure which I prefer between the dark or light roast, but both are extremely delicious and good for you! Even though I am usually a "Creamy Only" when it comes to peanut butter, I really liked Santa Cruz Organic Cruchy peanut butter. Santa Cruz peanut butters were one of the few brands NOT recalled this winter.

I was also able to review the Santa Cruz Organic Fruit sauces in the variety of flavors: Apple Blackberry, Apple Apricot, Apple Cinnamon, and Apple Raspberry. My kids love the Apple Cinnamon the best, but I really like the variety. It is nice to pull out a new one each day, and have something new. I think it is super that the Fruit Sauces from Santa Cruz are made from organic fruit and provides 100 percent of the USDA recommended daily value of vitamin C. The single serving cups are great to add to a lunch to work, school, picnic, or other. I am excited that Santa Cruz offers such great products that parents can give to their kids and know that it is good for them! I think my favorite flavor of the Fruit Sauces is the Apple Blackberry.

The Sensible Sippers from R.W. Knudsen Family are just as flavorful as other brand juice boxes, however, you don't have the same sugar and calories! R.W. Knudsen Family juice boxes are made with 50% organic juice and 50% water. Each contains 40% less calories than traditional juices boxes and the 4-ounce boxes make it easier for tot’s petite hands to handle. Flavors include apple, mixed berry, tropical and banana. I was sent the mixed berry and the apple flavors, and both are great tasting...and my kids love them. They really enjoy the Berenstain Bears, too...and that is the logo/theme on the Sensible Sippers. I would love to try the Banana and Tropical flavors for the Sensible Sippers, too. I love this option for a juice box for my kids...healthier and smaller portions.

We highly recommend these great products, and we are so thankful that we got to try them out and tell you about them.

Would you like to win a great gift pack from R.W. Knudsen Family and Santa Cruz Organics? The companies are generously sponsoring a giveaway to one lucky Sassyfrazz reader. Here is what the prize will be: 2 packages of 6 juice boxes (from R.W. Knudsen), 2 jars of Peanut Butter from Santa Cruz, and 3 packages of 6 Fruit Sauces from Santa Cruz. Isn't that a generous prize? Here is an even greater surprise...they are offering this prize package to 3 WINNERS!! So, here is what you need to do for your first entry: Go to either R.W. Knudsen Family website or Santa Cruz website, and find out something interesting. This contest is open to bloggers/non-bloggers of the USA, and will end on August 20th.
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or facebook this contest, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

Nature Valley Nut Clusters (review)

I have been introduced to something so yummy, and I can honestly say that this has become a new favorite snack. Being a member of MyBlogSpark, I get asked to review some products. This time I was asked to try out the new Nature Valley's Nut Clusters and I think they are great! The Nut Clusters are fun to eat, taste great, and is a healthier option for snacking. I was sent 4 bags, one of each flavor, of Nature Valley Nut Clusters to review.
I am not sure which one I would label as my favorite, because they all are great to snack on. I found them to be filling, too. I did share them with my husband and my kids, even though I could have indulged in them all on my own. :) My husband and kids loved them, too. I think my top two favorites would be the Honey Roasted Peanuts, and the Roasted Cashews. The other two flavors are the Nut Lovers and the Roasted Almond. The Nut Clusters are exactly what the name reveals: Nut Clusters, of good taste. The nuts are bunched together in a ball with some granola, krispie treats, and more. I like that you can read, and understand, the ingredients in each of the 4 bags of Nut Clusters. This makes me more confident about being sure what I put into my mouth.
I haven't seen this delicious, and nutritious snack on the store shelves yet, but I am on the look out.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Nature Valley for sponsoring this review, and letting me try these out! Our family appreciates it!

Rudolph's Foods' Pork Rinds

I have never had Pork Rinds before, so when I was asked to try Rudolph's Foods' Pork Rinds I thought I would give them a try. When I got them in the mail, I was surprised that they sent me 4 bags! I got two bags of original flavor and two bags of Hot 'n Spicy. I am not a Hot 'n Spicy eater, but I did try the Original. I think they are light and fluffy, and taste like Fried Chicken Skin. Pretty tasty. My husband brought them to work, and the guys at work loved them, especially the Hot 'n Spicy. They said that Rudoph's Foods' makes the best Pork Rinds!
Rudolph’s has evolved over time from a store brand found only in Wal–Mart to the most exciting line up. Rudolph’s recent expansion includes two of their newer products Rudolph’s Cinnamon Churros and Rudolph’s OnYums. I would love to try those! I love Cinnamon Churros! I think the OnYums would be like fried Onion rings.
From the site:
For over 50 years, Rudolph Foods’ commitment to excellence has been passed from generation to generation, just like their love for flavorful, traditional pork rind snacks. In 1955, John Rudolph learned of an untapped market for pork rinds and the Ohio entrepreneur quicklylaunched his own company producing pork rind snacks from smoked bacon rinds. Two years later the company would face its first big challenge, the meat industry no longer smoked the rind on the bacon. Under pressure to save their fledgling business, John’s wife, Mary, put her home economics background to work and invented a revolutionary process the company still uses today. With Mary’s surefire recipe and John’s leadership, Rudolph Foods became a snack industry success story. Since then, John and his sons have continued to dramatically expand their business and the family tradition.
Today, the company has five facilities in the United States and three International ventures. With over 350 employees, Rudolph Foods has launched into new areas of the snack food industry while maintaining its presence as the nation’s leading producer of pork rinds and cracklin snacks.
I think Rudolph's Foods' makes quality snacks that are flavorful and not bad for you to eat, either! Did you know that a serving of pork rinds is higher in protein and lower in fat than a serving of peanuts? A serving of pork rinds contains 9 grams of protein, this, along with 0 grams of carbohydrates make pork rinds a smart choice for people on high protein nutritional plans. Because pork rinds have 0g carbohydrates, their glycemic response is zero, making them an alternative for some diabetics who want to enjoy a crunchy snack. You can read more about the nutrition of Pork Rinds here. You can purchase Rudolph's Foods' on their website.

Kernel Season's review and Giveaway!

One of my very favorite snacks is popcorn! I could eat popcorn everyday~ seriously! I have recently been introduced to a new product to make my favorite snack more flavorful! Kernel Season's sent me their popcorn, seasons, spritzer and butter toppings to review. I was beyond excited to try this product out! Kernel Season's offers a wide variety of seasons to add to plain popcorn and it really adds great flavors! I think my favorite topping is the Parmesan and Garlic (so far).
As an adult, I am used to the microwave popcorn for convenience. However, I grew up with stove top popped popcorn. I would come home from school to find my mom popping corn in the kettle. Kernel Season's popcorn is prepared the same way. All you have to do is add a little oil, throw in some kernels and when they start popping, put in a half cup of kernels. The taste of stove top popped popcorn far exceeds in flavor to microwave popped. Then, Kernel Seasons lets you spice up your popcorn with their delicious seasons! You have yourself a real treat!
Kernel Season’s, headquartered in Elk Grove, IL, is the number one popcorn seasoning in the country. The flavors are all natural blends made with real cheese and are offered at more than 20,000 movie theater screens nationwide as a free shake-on topping. I know I want to let our local movie theater know about Kernel Seasons! Kernel Season's was created by Brian Taylor. He was a college student at the University of Michigan. He used to make and create his own special seasonings for his popcorn. Friends would come and ask for his special seasonings, and so he decided he should contact a team of flavor experts with over 50 years of experience to help perfect the seasonings. After two years, Kernel Season's was born.
I really like the taste that Kernel Season's gives the popcorn! I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to try it! Thank you Kernel Season's for No More Naked Popcorn!
Would you like to win a prize pack from Kernel Season's? They have offered to do a giveaway for my readers! Here is what you can win: one bag of popcorn, 2 seasonings and a popcorn spritzer!! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To get your first entry, go to Kernel Season's website and pick out the 2 seasonings you would like to win (if you are the lucky winner). If you do not do the first required entry, you will be disqualified. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment. Click here to see how you can earn even more extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on February 12, 2009 at 11:59PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

My Fruit Roll Ups Giveaway!

Do you want a really creative way to personalize your treats for your kids, or do what I did, and make a special treat for your hubby? I went to My Fruit Roll-Up's website, and uploaded a picture of my hubby and I, picked out a background, and made a personalized Fruit Roll-Up! How creative is that? Same great taste as the original fruit roll ups, just with more flare! My husband was pleasantly surprised to see his picture on the fruit roll up, and my kids thought it was funny that mom and dad are on their treats!

My Fruit Roll-Ups are easy to assemble! First, you just choose a canvas (back ground), then add images from their selection, or upload pictures from your computer, and your personal message. For $29.99, you get 30 personalized Fruit Roll-Ups! These make great classroom treats, invitations to a party, and just because gifts. Kids (and adults) have a lot of fun seeing what the creation is when it is unraveled.

With ordering, you get a confirmation, and then you get e-mail updates as to your order being approved, assembled, and then shipped. I think that My Fruit Roll-Ups are very professional and organized. I got my shipment as promised, and the order was correct, plus it was a fun treat!

Hey, you can win your own box of personalized Fruit Roll-Ups! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To get your first entry, go to My Fruit Roll-Ups site, and let me know how you would design your Fruit Roll-Ups. If you do not do the first required entry, you will be disqualified. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on January 6, 2009 at 11:59PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

Win a basket of indulgence! ~contest!

Everyone deserves a little pampering now and then, right? Who likes to "indulge" in a bit of chocolate? Chex Mix bars are a great treat to indulge your taste buds! I recently received a box of Turtle Chex Mix Bars to sample, and I can say they are scrumptious! The sweet tastes of chocolate, caramel, crunchy Chex pieces, pretzels and peanuts. I like that these new Chex Mix bars don't give me too much guilt with less than 150 calories per bar. Also, they provide at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving (48 grams recommended daily)! General Mills makes great snacks to enjoy and indulge in! Speaking of indulging...WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A BASKET OF INDULGENCE? I am giving away a basket of great pampering items including:

a box of tasty Turtle Chex Mix Bars, chocolate candles, caramel lotion (smells so good you want to taste it!), spa essentials~ like a loofah, hand massager, nail brush and spa towel! One lucky winner will win this and here are the rules: This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. Tell me what you like to do to relax. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on November 20th, at 7:00 PM CST. GOOD LUCK~