Archives: April 2011

16 Apr 2011, Comments (5)

Annie’s Homegrown Shells & Real Aged Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese

Author: Healthnuttxo

Nothing quite like some mac & cheese! Last night, I was craving some of the cheesy goodness, so I decided to boil up some water and give this mac & cheese a try.

As directed on the package of Annie’s Homegrown Shells & Real Aged Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese, I put the cheese powder packet in 1/4 cup of milk in a measuring cup and stirred. Normally I just add the milk and powder to the pot, but wanted to follow the directions. It came out to be a slightly bumpy cheesy “sauce”, that I then added to the shells once they were cooked and drained. Here’s how it looked

As you can see, there were kind of “cheese puddles” in the shells. The milk/cheese powder mixture really didnt thicken up, so it was a bit runny on the noodles. I found a lot of the sauce on the bottom of my pan. I also found it kind of hard to get all the cheese sauce from my measuring cup out and in the pan of noodles without the help of those flexible spatula things (why yes, I do believe they are called “flexible spatula things” ;P )

Anyway, the taste was acutally pretty good. Not too salty, and a mild cheddar flavor. The noodles turned out to be tender and slightly chewy. I ate this with some green beans and some Smart Bacon.

I'd be totally lying If I said I DIDNT have seconds on the Mac & Cheese and Green Beans. =)

Overall, 3 stars. I love that the ingredients are good, but wish the cheese flavor was more prominent and a thicker sauce. Perhaps I will use less milk next time.

2.5 ounces ( mix not prepared) is 270 calories, 4 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated dat, 46 grams of carbohydrates,2 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar and 10 grams of protein.

What is your FAVORITE boxed mac & cheese?

15 Apr 2011, Comments (0)

Jamba Juice Strawberry Nirvana Smoothie

Author: Healthnuttxo

Yesterday was a gorgeous day, no? The only thing I was craving was something creamy, fruity and cool. What better way to satisfy that craving than with a Jamba Juice smoothie?

I walked into Jamba Juice and decided on the Strawberry Nirvana Smoothie in the Sixteen size, as I happen to love strawberry and banana mixed together. I was a little taken aback at the price- $5.12 for a smoothie. That’s quite a chunk of change for a smoothie! However, I would soon find out it was worth it!

As you can see, it was a pale pink in color, with a frothy top. It was smooth and not too thick, which was good.  It was also pretty sweet, but not sugary tasting. It had mostly a strawberry-yogurt type of flavor, with some banana undertones as well.  I love that I could taste the occasional piece of strawberry or strawberry seed, which gave it a very natural and authentic feel. In fact, at the bottom of the smoothie I found a little chunk of banana and a piece of strawberry as well!

Overall, it was really good. I would get it again, but not every day since I can’t afford to spend over 5 bucks for a smoothie every day (although I WOULD if I could!!). As a whole, 4 stars

What’s your favorite recipe for a homemade smoothie?

14 Apr 2011, Comments (3)

Pro Bar Apple Cinnamon Crunch

Author: Healthnuttxo

Source

I scored  a few free bars from ProBar, such as the Sweet & Savory Maple Pecan Bar, and the Apple Cinnamon Crunch bar. I was hungry the other day, and in the mood to try something new, so I opened up the Apple Cinnamon Crunch bar to give it a try. I was sure I was going to like it- I love apples & cinnamon!

A quick few things about these bars, they are vegan, organic, and I found out online that this one is “70% Raw” and also has “Omega 3: 650 mg per bar” and “Omega 6: 720 mg per bar”. I thought that was pretty cool, a lot going on this bar!

I opened up the package was greeted to a rather thick bar, brownish in color, with visible chocolate chips scattered throughout. Examining closely I also saw a good deal of flax seeds and an occasional nut. I took a bite, and found it to be chewy and very soft, except the for the nuts providing an little bit of crunch. It was pretty apple-y in flavor, which I liked, and really quite tasty!! The apple flavor kind of reminded me of apple pie, with just a very light cinnamon aftertaste.

Overall, I really liked this bar. However. The one thing I did not like, and I also did not like with the Sweet & Savory Maple Pecan Flavor was the chocolate chips. They are way too bitter for me, and I did not enjoy them at all. Not a big deal, I can always pick them out of the bar and enjoy the rest, but I do wish that they could be swapped for something else! Otherwise, 4 stars

1 bar is 370 calories, 18 grams of fat (4 saturated), 49 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fiber, 25 grams of sugar and 9 grams of protein.

Since this one reminded me of apple pie, what’s YOUR favorite flavor of pie? I think I’d have to say, mine really is apple!

13 Apr 2011, Comments (2)

Olympus Authentic Greek Strained Yogurt 1 % Fat Strawberry Low Fat Yogurt

Author: Healthnuttxo

The other day I went to the store quickly to pick up some groceries. I knew I ate my last Pineapple Chobani so I went to the yogurt section to get some more. to my surprise… NONE LEFT. WHAT!?! What was I going to eat now!? So, I had to pick something else to fill my greek yogurt void. I saw something new that I never tried before, or even seen before really. Olympus Authentic Greek Strained Yogurt – I bought one in the 1% Fat Strawberry Low Fat variety. According to the container, this yogurt is “imported from Greece”,  as well as “all natural” and “gluten free”.

I felt special eating this yogurt. It was “imported from Greece”…GREECE! Perhaps I got a tad overly excited over yogurt, but, then again I do have a website dedicated to food so I think I’m allowed to get excited over new varieties and flavors. (Or at least that’s what I will tell myself…)

So I opened up my container and was surprised by a uniform light pink color. For whatever reason I was expecting a fruit-on-the bottom type of yogurt. Who knows? I stirred it up a bit to make sure, and sure enough, it was pink throughout. I took a bite, and I instantly liked it. Mmm. :)

It was thick, but not too thick, and had more of a fluidy consistency than other greek yogurts I have tried. It was sweet, with an amazing strawberry flavor, just the right amount of tang, and really no tart flavor at all. There were tiny pieces of strawberries in the yogurt as well as the occasional seed. I noticed I needed to drink water when I ate this, for the flavor was really quite powerful.

Overall, 4 1/2 stars. If I had to say what it really reminded me of, it would be a strawberry smoothie, but in cup form. Delicious!!

What’s your favorite food thats “Greek” or from Greece?

6 ounces is 155 calories, 2 grams of fat (1 saturated), 23 grams of carbohydrates, .31 grams of fiber, 22 grams of sugar, and 12 grams of protein.

11 Apr 2011, Comments (3)

Luna Mini’s Peanut Butter Cookie

Author: Healthnuttxo

I happen to like Luna Bars, I think they are unique, and I love that they have a good amount of protein as well as some vitamins and minerals. My favorite is the White Chocolate Macadamia bar, as it is just sooo good!

Seeing my love for peanut butter, I thought I would certainly like the Peanut Butter Cookie flavor, which I got in the Mini’s form. How big is this “Mini” bar exactly? Here is the comparison against 2 Nips candies.

First bite, I was a bit surprised. There really wasn’t a strong peanut butter flavor at all :(

You know me, I loooove peanut butter, so if this is called “Peanut Butter Cookie” I want something sweet and peanut buttery! While there was a very mild peanut butter flavor, I thought it mostly had a vanilla flavor with peanut butter undertones. It was crunchy and chewy, with an icing-like smooth consistency on the bottom. It really wasn’t all that sweet, despite the 5 grams of sugar for this little bar. I also tasted flaxseed at one point, which really isn’t one of the flavors I enjoy.

At first I thought, there is no way this tiny little bar is going to satisfy me. However, after I ate it, it really did satisfy! I wasn’t hungry or full for that matter, but it just took the edge of my hunger for the time being. It was pretty good, but not my favorite. I wish it was sweeter and/or more peanut buttery! 3 stars.

1 bar is 80 calories, 3 grams of fat, 10 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 5 grams of sugar and 4 grams of protein.

What’s your favorite bar that is peanut butter flavored? Mine, hands down, is this one here.

10 Apr 2011, Comments (2)

Michael Angelo’s Vegetable Lasagna

Author: Healthnuttxo

Lasanga definitely reminds me of one of two things- either eating out at a restaurant, or eating it for a holiday. Those are really the only times I eat lasagna, so it surely is something special.

Yesterday I was pretty hungry around dinnertime, and in the mood for something saucy and satisfying. I steamed up some broccoli and cooked the Michael Angelo’s Vegetable Lasagna in the microwave for a total of 6 minutes. Here’s how the top of it looked cooked

As you can see, it didn’t seem like there was a ton of cheese, but looks can be deceiving! Upon first bite, I got a lot of cheese, and found a good amount of it stayed on the side of the container (no worries- I scraped it off with my spoon!) And speaking of the cheese, it definitely tasted like mozzarella, and it was very stringy! Kind of like when I pulled my fork up a long string of cheese connecting to the dish was formed and I had to twirl my fork over and over again to break the strand.  There also was ricotta cheese, which I really enjoyed. It was chewy yet soft, and kind of reminded me of something that took place of traditional  ”meat” that may be there. When I was little, my family used to put ground beef in lasagna, so that’s what it reminded me of. So between the ricotta and the mozzarella, there was certainly no scrimping on the cheese!

Next up, onto the noodles and veggies. I saw pieces of broccoli, which were a little too firm for my likings, I would have preferred them more tender, pieces of carrots, cauliflower (which I loved!) and I think I got a piece of zucchini as well.  They were mostly in between the noodles, which were chewy and not super soft, and still had a bite to them. By themselves, I wasn’t crazy about the noodles. I think I even tasted a flaxseed flavor, which I didn’t care for.

Lastly, which I think hindered this lasagna a little bit, was the sauce. It was very liquidy. I wish there was a more heartier sauce, as I felt it was almost like a tomato juice in consistency. It was delicious, slightly salty, with mild garlic flavor, but just too thin.

Overall, pretty good. It reminded me of something I would get going out to eat. I liked that there wasn’t a ton of sodium in this dish, and that it had a good amount of both fiber and protein.3 1/2 stars

What’s the BEST lasagna you ever ate? I think my favorite one is here

1 cup is 270 calories, 11 grams of fat (5 saturated), 440 mg of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 15 grams of protein.

I was provided a coupon to try this lasagna for free from Michael Angelo’s.

******

Hey guys! One of my readers Missy, asked kindly to help me promote her sister who is entering the “Happy Ever After” Contest for an awesome wedding at Disney! If you’d like to vote for them, please click here. Good luck!

9 Apr 2011, Comments (6)

Friendship 1% Lowfat Cottage Cheese with Pineapple

Author: Healthnuttxo

I have a unique relationship with cottage cheese. Some brands I love, and others I could do without. Sometimes I find it too tart and off-putting, and other times, like with the Friendship 1% Lowfat Cottage Cheese with Pineapple, I fall in love.

Yea I said it. Love. I LOVE this cottage cheese!

Here’s a pic of a scoop straight from the container

Upon first bite, I was greeted with a sweet tasting cottage cheese, with the fresh taste of pineapple as well. It was a small curd cottage cheese, although I did have an occasional big piece, that was soft yet chewy, and really delicious. It was sweet, but not in a way that it was overly sugary tasting, which I liked. I felt it was a very satisfying part of my breakfast, and I would certainly eat it again. In fact, I’m tempted to hide it in the back of my refrigerator so I don’t have to share! =P

Overall, I hope you saw this one coming, 5 stars. Guess I’m a fan of  products with pineapple in it! DELICIOUS!

What’s your favorite brand/flavor of cottage cheese? Or, what’s your favorite way to eat plain cottage cheese (I definitely need some tips on how to eat it plain!)?

1/2 cup ( 113 grams) is 120 calories, 1 gram of fat, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 14 grams of sugar and 12 grams of protein.

7 Apr 2011, Comments (4)

Fage Total 0% with Cherry Pomegranate

Author: Healthnuttxo

Spotting something new at the store for me, Fage Total 0% with Cherry Pomegranate. I had a feeling it was going to be delicious, but I had to buy it, (ya know just to make sure ;] )

So I put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes or so, and then took it out. This yogurt was separated into two parts- one of just yogurt, and another of a liquid-like fruity side.  I took a scoop of the yogurt and was amazed how THICK it was.

looks just like ice cream!

I tried the greek yogurt part first- it was plain, but not too tart, which I liked. It was soooo thick, almost like a paste! The fruit part was de-lic-ious. The perfect balance of cherry and pomegranate flavors, it was sweet and slightly tart. There were also actual shreds of pieces of fruit in there! And of course, when eaten together? A creamy treat, that knd of reminded me of what a cherry pie would taste like in yogurt form. MMM!

Overall, a winner for me. Looks like I’ll add this to my list of yogurts to buy when I go shopping (which, is quite long, but always room for more!!). 4 1/2 stars

What’s your favorite way to eat pomegranates? I’ve only ever had the seeds, which is QUITE messy to eat. I vaguely remember getting pomegranate juice, everywhere. Ooops!! ;)

1 container is 120 calories, 0 grams of fat, 19 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 16 grams of sugar and 11 grams of protein.

4 Apr 2011, Comments (4)

Trader Joe’s Meatless Meatballs

Author: Healthnuttxo

Last week I had a dinner of some pasta with this yummy sauce and some of these Meatless Meatballs from Trader Joe’s.  These meatless meatballs are vegan and vegetarian. I cooked them in the oven first and then ended up transferring them to the sauce to let them simmer.

However, fresh out of the oven, they crisped up nicely.Here’s how some looked

I decided to note what they tasted like by themselves, instead of with the sauce, just in case the sauce influenced any other kind of flavor. Right away, I could tell I liked the taste and the texture. They were “meaty” in texture, as in somewhat dense, yet soft, and a bit chewy. They were quite salty by themselves (they had 560 mg of sodium per serving), and also had a bit of a “peppery” flavor. There was also a good amount of detectable spice flavor. Next I noticed how they tasted after I let them cook and simmer a bit in some of the sauce. They were SO soft, and absolutely delicious. I couldn’t believe how soft they got, and I certainly did not feel left out when the rest of my family had beef meatballs and I ate my Trader Joe’s Meatless Meatballs =)

Overall, really quite delicious. I even liked how they didn’t have an overpowering soy taste, which I sometimes expect with vegetarian style foods. I will definitely continue to eat and buy these! 4 1/2 stars

6 Meatless Meatballs are 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 8 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar and 16 grams of protein.

Whats your favorite vegetarian style product? I also REALLY like this Smart Bacon from LightLife!

2 Apr 2011, Comments (3)

Peanut Butter & Co. Sandwich Shop Fluffernutter Sandwich

Author: Healthnuttxo

In honor of National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day, I felt it was appropriate to celebrate in the form of peanut butter. This is one holiday I certainly do not mind spending! (Not that I really mind any holidays for that matter, but this one in particular is worth celebrating! =) )

So, I ordered the Fluffernutter sandwich, which came with carrot sticks and a bag of chips. Yes, I realize it’s National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day, but Fluff is equally as delicious, and in all fairness, it still was a peanut butter sandwich =)

Here’s a pic of what I got (minus the chips that I saved for later)

Can you honestly tell me that doesn't look delicious? Mmm.

Although it may not seem it, the sandwich is actually rather large. I got my Fluffernutter on wheat bread, which was soft and just perfect. The peanut butter went excellent with the fluff, I got that “stuck-on-the-roof-of-my-mouth” feeling from the peanut butter, and the soft marshmallow fluff brought some sweetness to compliment the peanut butter.

On the menu listed on the website it says “Remember this recipe? Peanut Butter on one side, and gobs of Marshmallow Fluff spread on the other. It’s heaven”. I could not agree more. There really was peanut butter and fluff oozing out of the sandwich, which I had no problem using my crust to wipe up and eat.

The only slight disappointment of the meal was the carrot sticks. Not that they weren’t tasty, because they did taste quite fresh and delicious, but there wasn’t enough! Only three!? I would have much preferred a heftier side of carrots to compliment my sandwich.

Regardless, 4 1/2 stars. One of the best Fluffernutter sandwiches I ever ate.

Did you/ are you celebrating National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day? Please let me know! =)

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