so this isn’t a review. I WILL do one later tonight (time permitting) but i am selling a coach wristlet on EBAY and i just wanted to put it on here for all you guys in case you were interested đ
It’s brand spanking new. never used. got the tags. blah blah blah. it’s pretty and i like it, but i can’t use it. Wristlets are too small for me, so it’s kinda been sitting in the box since i got it…oops đ
I looveee nuts! I find when I am HUNGRY the only thing that truly satisfies my raging hunger is nuts. I am partial to the pecan and the cashew as my favorite of all (although I AM a peanut butter addict). So i was excited when i was sent these “crunches” to try in Cashew and Berries & Cherries variety. Nutland makes other varieites as well, Almond, Pecan, Pistachio and Trail Mix. All of them are Gluten free, GMO free, 100% vegan, low in sodium and free of trans fats, as well as also being all natural. Nutland claims to be “Nuts about Nutrition!”, so will I be NUTS about these?!
Cashew Crunch-gahhh. HEAVEN. They are squares of cashews held together with cane juice and brown rice syrup. They are not that sweet, though, don’t worry. They have a mellow sweetness to them. The cashews have a nice crunch and a nice bite to them. I really, really liked these đ
Berries & Cherries– this one wasn’t bad. Probably because i ate the cashew flavor first and fell in love, these didn’t live up to the cashew variety. They have cashews, almonds, pecans, cranberries, pistachios, red cherries and blueberries all mixed together into several square crunches. The almond flavor was more prevalent to me than the pecan or cashew flavor, and they tasted mostly cherry-ish. They are definietly sweeter than the Cashew flavor, and if you like almonds, you WILL like these!
Overall, i will probably buy the Cashew Crunch if i see it in stores by me. I really enjoyed them, the whole bag was gone in 2 days or so đ . They are a bit calorie dense(as are all nuts), but they really are filling and substantiating, and totally worth it. I really want to try the other flavors, ESPECIALLY the pecan one!! Have any of you ever tried these?
*You can find these at Whole Foods in Southern California!* đ
Cashew- 1 oz (about 6 pieces) is 140 calories, 10 grams of fat, 12 carbohydrates, less than 1g of fiber, and 3 grams of protein.
Dry roasted cashews, evaporated cane juice, brown rice syrup, sea salt, natural flavor.
Berries & Cherries- 1 oz (about 6 pieces) is 140 calories, 9 grams of fat, 12 carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, and 3 grams of protein.
Dry roasted cashews, dry roasted almonds, evaporated cane juice, brown rice syrup, dried roasted pecans, dried sweetened cranberries (cranberries, sugar, sunflower oil), dry roasted pistachios, dried sweetened red cherries (cherries, sugar, sunflower oil), dried sweetened blueberries (blueberries, sugar, sunflower oil), sea salt, natural flavor.
Let me start off by saying what drew me to this entree was the size. There were about 6 flavors of the Light Life line at my local grocery store in bright yellow boxes that were BIG! They were much longer, maybe even 1 1/2 – 2x the size of a lean cuisine. They promised “veggie goodness for you and the planet”. I just knew it was gonna be good!
I purchased the Light Life Asian Teriyaki, which was “broccoli, edamame, fire-roasted pineapple & shiitake mushrooms with whole-grain brown rice”. Each entree had 2 servings of veggies and one serving of whole grains. It even comes with a sauce packet, so you don’t have to eat it with the sauce (although i think it would be bland without it…it would just be vegetables and rice. But if your watching sodium or whatever, you can surely season your own way!), and you can also control how much sauce you want ( i used the whole packet though, and i thought it covered everything quite nicely).
This meal was BIG, as i said. 11.75 oz to be exact. There were tons of veggies and a generous portion of brown rice. The veggies were a nice “fork sinking into” size too. No skimpy, mushy veggies in here! The broccoli and the edamame were the best in my opinion. Fresh and crisp, the broccoli soaked up the sauce and was really flavorful. Next, i liked the carrots and the mushrooms. The carrots were crisp as well, and the mushrooms were soft and tender. I didn’t really care for the pineapple or the peppers. The pineapple was okay, i would have preferred it to be sweeter and have more of a bite to it. The peppers were kind of bland too. đ Moving on to the rice, it was excellent. đ ! Cooked just the right way, it tasted like rice should. It was fluffy and soft, not dry or too sticky. Lastly, the sauce. It adds an extra 90 calories to the dish overall, but i think it was worth it. It was a sweetish soy sauce with a slight kick to it. I also tasted some ginger flavor. It was a wee bit salty, but all soy sauce typically is salty tasting.
I think this meal was quite good. it was very filling for all the volume it provided. I think it would be good for one of those days you eat crap alllll day and feel guilty, or when your in the mood for some asian cuisine without having to order takeout and waste your money on something bad for you! It has loads of veggies, whole grain rice, is low in fat, and high in fiber. And, of course, preservatives and artificial crap isn’t in this baby!
i can’t wait to try the other varieties!
1 entree is 310 calories, 7 grams of fat, 51 carbohydrates, 7 grams f fiber, and 10 grams of protein. You also get 50% of your Vitamin A needs and 80% of your Vitamin C. Yay!
Entree-cooked whole grain brown rice, broccoli, edamame, fire roasted pineapple, carrots, red peppers, shiitake mushrooms.
Sauce- water, soy sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt), pineapple juice, canola oil, ginger puree, evaporated cane juice, corn starch, garlic puree, less than 2% sesame oil, yeast extract, xantham gum, caramel color, spices.
okay okay, this one is geared toward babies & toddlers…but i got a free coupon, and we all know my love for yogurt. How could these possibly be bad? I saw 2 flavors at whole foods, Mixed Berry and Banana Mango. Banana Mango was the one i had chosen. These yogurt snacks are freeze-dried yogurt and fruit, are gluten free, have pre and probiotics, and “melt in baby’s (or mine!) mouth”.
Each one is about the size of a nickel, and the consistency of those Necco wafer candies (if they even make those anymore. I think they come out around Valentines day). The taste is very mellow. It’s not bad, but different. I was sort of expecting sweet yogurty flavor, but it was more toned down. It almost had a cheesy taste to it if you will. I did like sucking on them though, and they did “melt” in my mouth, but slowly. They were creamy and almost foamy-ish once they hit the tounge. The sweetness actually comes out once you fully dissolved the piece in your mouth. They are certainly something I have never tasted or experienced before, but i liked them!! đ I tasted more of the mango flavor with a hint of banana. I think these would be good maybe mixed in a trail mix or some plain cereal like kashi go lean or bran/wheat flakes for some added yum and sweetness. They are definitetly good for babies and toddlers though, they are perfect finger food.
1/4 of a cup is 30 calories, 0 grams of fat, 5 grams of carbs, 0 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of protein. You also get 12% of your daily calcium and vitamin D needs, as well as some healthy probiotics for digestion. woo!
Vitamin D Fortified Cultured Pasteurized Organic Nonfat Milk, Organic Banana, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Mango, Organic Tapioca, Pectic, Organic Locust Bean Gum, Inulin, Natural Flavor, Live & Active Cultures: Streptococcus thermophilus, Bulgaricus, Lactobacillus, Acidophilus, B. Lactis, Lactobacillus Paracasei, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus. (woo thats a mouthful!! đ )
Who doesn’t love cooooookies!? Especially chocolate chip. Especially soft baked chocolate chip cookies. I’m drooling thinking about them… đ
What we don’t love? That Mom’s home-made cookies are often heart attacks disguised in cute little circles, or that store bought deli cookies have a TON of fat, OR that the cookies you would buy in store have more ingredients than you can pronounce or should even have to eat.
Never fear, that’s why IM here! I found Country Choice organic soft baked cookies. They claim to have a “homemade taste”, are “soft and chewy”, and have no trans fats and are whole grain. These can’t possible be tasty you say? WRONG. They come in 5 flavors, Oatmeal Raisin, Old Fashioned Oatmeal, Oatmeal Cranberry, Double Fudge Brownie, and the one I picked, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip.
So how does it taste? Well it sure is soft. And, well, chewy! It’s really good. And i hate to sound like an ad for the cookie, but they do taste homemade! It’s normal cookie size, about the width of a jar lid of peanut butter or mayo. The cookie breaks and falls apart easily. They come in individual packages (THANK GOD- i would totally eat the whole box if they didn’t!), and i left one in my bag and needless to say it turned to cookie crumbs. *oops!* That’s okay, i just sprinkled it on some vanilla fro-yo for an extra treat! đ The cookie part has a slight cinnamon/honey taste, and has that “just came out of an oven” taste to it as well. My favorite part was the dark chocolate chips. They were REALLY good, and sweet!
Overall, i like these. My only complaints is that although whole grain, they only had 1 gram of fiber, and they also contained refined sugar. But, you win some , you lose some. I’d pick these over chips ahoy or my mom’s (sorry ma!) any day!
1 cookie is 100 calories (yay!), 4 grams of fat, 15 carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, and 1 gram of protein. These are also wheat free (yay again!!)
Cheeeeese. Who doesn’t like cheddar cheese? Or even cheddar cheese melted or cheddar cheese sauce. It’s gooey, melty and delicious. Amy’s says, “People love AMy’s broccoli pot pie. So we thought ‘why not take the same great tasting filling-the crisp organic broccoli, organic golden carrots, organic northern potatoes, and a smooth creamy cheese sauce0 and bake it into a pocket sandwich?”
 I was excited to try Amy’s Broccoli & Cheese in a pocket sandwich, because I personally LOVE broccoli & cheese and potatoes and cheese, and this baby has BOTH. Plus, as an added benefit, out of all of Amy’s pocket sandwiches, it is the only one with a whole wheat crust.
So how did it hold up? Wonderfully, of course. Amy’s never lets me down. The crust was soft and chewy, with a slight sweet honey taste to it. You couldn’t even tell it was whole wheat- it tasted just like the other varieties. The cheese sauce was creamy and smooth as promised. It also had just a tinge of a sweet taste to it. It wasn’t too salty either like cheese sauces can sometimes be. It wasn’t YELLOW either like in powdered macaroni & cheese varieties, but more of a beige/yellow-orange. After all, it was made with REAL cheese. The potatoes were soft and tender, the carrots were a good consistency as well, soft but not mushy. All together, the filling (which oozes out of the pocket bread if you cut it in half), tasted like a broccoli and cheese baked potato. It was really tasty, I really enjoyed it. It was pretty filling too despite it not being a HUGE pocket bread. I would say its a little bit longer but a little flatter than a Lean or Hot Pocket. I would reccomment this when you need a cheesy/potatoey fix. It will hit the spot!
1 pocket bread is 300 calories, 12 grams of fat, 350 mg of sodium (not too shabby for frozen), 40 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, and 9 grams of protein.
ORGANIC WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, FILTERED WATER, ORGANIC POTATOES, ORGANIC BROCCOLI, EXPELLER PRESSED HIGH OLEIC SAFFLOWER AND/OR SUNFLOWER OIL, ORGANIC CARROTS, CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CULTURE, SALT, ANNATO, ENZYMES [WITHOUT ANIMAL ENZYMES OR ANIMAL RENNET]), ORGANIC SWEET RICE FLOUR, HONEY, ORGANIC ONIONS, ORGANIC FLAX SEED, SEA SALT, YEAST, MUSTARD POWDER, PAPRIKA, SPICES.
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Here's me and my new love
I LOVE when seasonal flavors come out! I nearly jumped for joy when i saw PUMPKIN PIE flavored YOGURT at the store yesterday. So much that i was COMPLETELY distracted to the fact that i was supposed to buy bread (same aisle as the yogurt), and instead of coming home with a loaf of Wonder bread for my Mom (who apparently really wanted a PB&J sandwich), i came home with 4 Pumpkin Pie flavored yogurts. Whoops, Sorry, Mom đ
Stonyfield says “Ahhh, autumn. Here in New Hampshire, it’s time for warm sweaters, crisp air, blazing foliage and a big wedge of delicious pumpkin pie. Savor the season, ’cause it won’t last long”.
Although i’m still in partial summer mode, i figured this yogurt would get me into the fall spirit. Plus, pumpkin pie is good year round in my opinion đ
So, onto the yogurt. It was deliciously smooth and creamy, as promised on the front of the container. And, it did taste like pumpkin ! It was a light orange/beige colored yogurt, with a subtle pumpkin pie flavor. It wasn’t over poweringly sweet as some blended yogurts can be, but just the right amount. When i was stirring it there were little brown specks that looked like nutmeg or cinnamon, and i thought i even tasted nutmeg/cinnamon, but it wasn’t listed in the ingredients on the back. Who knows, but this yogurt is yummy. I’m just mad that it’s only seasonal, so only available to buy & enjoy for a limited time (so stock up!!). My other favorite (pomegranate berry) is also seasonal. WHY CAN’T I HAVE A FAVORITE THEY SELL YEAR ROUND!? đ
1 container is 130 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 21 carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 7 grams of protein and 25% calcium, along with lovely probiotics that yogurt provides.
Cultured Pasteurized Organic Low Fat Milk, Naturally Milled Organic Sugar, Organic Caramel Color, Organic Carrot Juice Concentrate (for color), Pectic, Natural Flavor, Organic Pumpkin Juice Concentrate (for color), Vitamin D3.
Normally i’m not big on candy, usually full of gross sweetners, artificial flavors, colors, dyes, etc. But, coming accross Newman’s Own Organic mints, my mind changed. I like the conveinence of mints-something to stop me from munching or to freshen up after a meal or snack. Newman’s Own is a trustyworthy brand that delivers excellent products, and donates money to many charities. What a great company!
So, back to the mints, they come in four flavors. Cinnamon, Ginger, Wintermint, and Peppermint, and come in tin form or roll form.The tin cans are SO CUTE! So I tried the ones from the tin. I’m a cinnamon kinda girl. I used to love cinnamon trident gum when i was little, (but stopped chewing it because of the artificial junk), so i was excited to try these.
Cinnamon-YUM! These were AWESOME! At first i was a little scared to try it because of the word HOT on the bottom (and the tiger on the tin can!!), but not to worry at all. They aren’t spicy-they are actually sweet. My mom said they were “perfect”, and i agree. They have just the right amount of cinnamon flavor and are sweet and satisfying.
Ginger- whew! these sure have a kick to them. At first it tastes almost spicy. DO NOT CHEW! My dad had one and he chewed it right away, which made it overpowering. I, on the other hand, sucked on it slowly and let the flavor come out. I liked them, and people who are fans of ginger will LOVE them. I think they would be good to suck on when you have a cold or are sick because of the ‘kick’ they have.
Wintermint-this one tastes like spearmint. It has a nice flavor to it, not overpoweringly minty, but still a definite breath freshener. I liked these- and normally i’m not a “spearmint” kinda girl!
Peppermint-these taste like your typical peppermint. They leave a cool, refreshing taste in your mouth, and have a slight sweetness to them as well. I liked these 2nd best (cinnamon is first, of course!)
Three mints have 10 calories, 0 fat, 2 carbs and no protein.
The only thing that puzzled me a little bit was the corn syrup. I thought corn syrup was bad? Either way- it’s organic. So that makes me feel better popping one of these mints in my mouth compared to any OTHER mints out there. đ So if you need a breath freshener (or just like to suck on them when your bored…hahha like me!), definitely give these a try. And the tins are so cute, you’ll keep coming back for more!
The Organic Ingredients…
Organic Sugar, Gum Arabic, Natural Flavor, Organic Corn Syrup, Rice Bran Extract.
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Hey guys- sorry it’s been a while. School, work and just a LOT to do lately. But I’m back, never fear!
Can Do Energy/Nutrition bars are geared towards kids who live active lifestyles. The bar was forumlated to help active kids get the nutrition they need while eating something that was tasty as well. The slogan is “It’s not about age, it’s about attitude!” A Can Do Kid can do anything! Of course, these bars can be eaten by anyone, even the kid at heart (like myself!). They are all natural, contain no trans fats, no high fructose corn syrup, have 17 vitamins & minerals, and are now gluten free.
The Can Do company sent me all three of the flavors, Chocolate Crunch, Cookies & Cream, and Canilla Vanilla. Each of the packages has 2 conveinent bars, so if you want “one now and one for later”, you can do that, or eat both at the same time for a super energy boost!
Cookies & Cream– This didn’t really taste “cookies & creamy” to me. It tasted more like a chocolate malt than the traditional cookies & cream flavor we are all used to. However, it was still tasty, and it sure was chocolatey! Coated in a layer of smooth chocolate, there was a crispy texture in the middle. The chocolate coating is a bit “crumby”, and it falls off as you bite it. It was sort of a cross between a chocolate bar and a luna bar with the texture, consistency and the taste.
Chocolate Crunch– this bar tasted pretty much like the Cookies & Cream flavor, but it was a bit sweeter. I liked this one better than the Cookies & Cream flavor, it had a deeper chocolate taste.
Canilla Vanilla– Yum! Now i like this one!! It was also coated with chocolate, but a white chocolate. I think it had a slight macadamia flavoring. If you’ve ever had the white chocolate macadamia bar by Luna, it tastes somewhat similar. This was the sweetest of the three bars, but not overpoweringly sweet. There also was a slight hint of a cinnamon taste.
Overall, i think these would be best when you need a protein boost or a good choice after a workout. To me, the taste was like a “healthy candy bar”. You can get your chocolate/sweet fix without un-doing your diet, and also get some vitamins and minerals as well. My only complaint is that they lack fiber, something I like to have in a bar. I will probably buy the Can-illa Vanilla flavor again, because i like the protein. I had one of these bars when my tummy was GRUMBLING, and it satisfied me nicely.
1 package (2 bars) is 170 calories, 5-6 grams of fat, 20-21 carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, and 9 grams of protein.
Cookies & Cream- Organic Soy Protein, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Milk Chocolate (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Milk Powder, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Cocoa Paste, Lecithin, Organic Vanilla Extract), Organic ChocolateChips (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Paste, Organic Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla Extract), Soy Crisp (Soy Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, , Salt), Glycerin, Soynuts ( Soybeans, Sugar, Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil, Salt), Peanut Butter (Ground Peanuts), Tricalcium Phosphate, salt, Vitamins and Minerals: ascorbic acid, d-alpha tocopherol, niacinamide, zinc oxide, vitamin A palmitate, electrolytic iron, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, copper gluconate, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate, folic acid, biotin, potassium iodide, vitamin B12.
Chocolate Crunch–Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Soy Protein, Organic Milk Chocolate (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Milk Powder, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Cocoa Paste, Lecithin, Organic Vanilla Extract), Organic Chocolate Chips (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Paste, Organic Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla Extract), Glycerin,Soy Crisp (Soy Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, , Salt), Soynuts ( Soybeans, Sugar, Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Caramel Color), Cocoa Powder (Processed with Alkali), Peanuts, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Vitamins and Minerals: ascorbic acid, d-alpha tocopherol, niacinamide, zinc oxide, vitamin A palmitate, electrolytic iron, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, copper gluconate, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate, folic acid, biotin, potassium iodide, vitamin B12.
Can-illa Vanilla-Organic White Chocolate (organic sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic milk powder, organic lecithin, organic vanilla), Organic Soy Protein, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Soy Crisp (soy protein isolate, rice flour, salt), Glycerin, Soynuts ( soybeans, sugar, natural flavors, sunflower oil, salt), Almonds, Tricalcium Phosphate, Cinnamon, salt. Vitamins and Minerals: ascorbic acid, d-alpha tocopherol, niacinamide, zinc oxide, vitamin A palmitate, electrolytic iron, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, copper gluconate, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate, folic acid, biotin, potassium iodide, vitamin B12, salt.
