Tags: organic

8 Jul 2011, Comments (47)

Stonyfield Farm Organic Activia Review & GIVEAWAY !

Author: Healthnuttxo
I love yogurt. I could eat it every day and be totally happy. One of this things I love about it is the way I feel after I eat it. I believe yogurt is a power food, packed with healthy bacteria and more.
Stonyfield Farm came out with the Organic Activia Yogurt, that according to the sheet I was given, has no “toxic persistent pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, or synthetic growth hormones” as well as “no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners”. Sounds like the trust worthy Stonyfield that I know (and love!!)
They sent me two flavors to try for free. Strawberry and Vanilla. I tried the Vanilla first.
It was just like a standard vanilla flavor. One thing I noticed was that it really wasn’t overly sweet. A very mild tasting vanilla, with a very clean feel. It wasn’t super thick, but not super runny either. A sort of happy inbetween for consistency. 3 1/2 stars

Next up, the Strawberry.

This one had an almost strawberry-vanilla flavor.  I could tell it was made with low fat milk instead of skim by the richer flavor. Also really not all that sweet, but a mild strawberry flavor. I think it was a bit thicker than the Vanilla flavor was,  but not by much. I preferred the strawberry over the vanilla. 4 stars

nutritional facts for the strawberry flavor

Now, for the giveaway! There will be (are you ready for this?) FIVE WINNERS! Five of you guys will get a coupon book for two FREE WEEKS of Stonyfield Farm Organic Activia!

HOW TO ENTER!
PLEASE leave a comment for EACH entry!  :)

Mandatory:
What’s your favorite flavor/brand of yogurt? One of my all time favorite Stonyfield flavors is the Banilla.
Optional….but encouraged! (:

1. Follow me on TWITTER and tweet about this giveaway mentioning  me AND the link in the tweet.
2.Add me to your blog roll!
3. Mention this giveaway on your blog
4. Leave a new comment on any of my reviews!

Giveaway ends Friday, July 15th, 2011 at 12pm. United States only. If you live in CA,ID,MN,LA,NV,ND,TN or NJ, and you win, you will receive a $1 off coupon for pack of yogurt instead.

I received 2 free weeks worth supply of yogurt for free from Stonyfield Farm, and the coupons are provided for free as well.
7 Jul 2011, Comments (5)

Amazing Grass Organic GreenSuperFood Whole Food Energy Bar

Author: Healthnuttxo

As a kid growing up, I was always told “Greens are Ninja Turtle food”. If we wanted to be strong and cool (or just be a ninja turtle for that matter), we had to eat our green vegetables. Oh and the fact that dessert wasn’t allowed to be eaten until the vegetables were gone probably had something to do with it too. But that’s besides the point.

And, well, I’ve eaten my fair share of green vegetables over the years and I’ve yet to see any transformation. Just saying.

But anyway, hoping to come to the green rescue is the Amazing Grass Organic GreenSuperFood Whole Food Energy Bar. According the the wrapper of the bar, it is organic, raw, vegan, gluten free, dairy and soy free, and has no sugar added.

It had a slighty fruity smell, almost like a date. The bar was very dense, but also soft to chew. The taste was pretty fruity, and surprisingly sweeter than I had expected. It reminded me sort of like a raspberry flavored fruit leather, but softer, and definitely not as sweet. It also reminded me of what the inside of a fig newton tasted like, but again, not as sweet. The tiny pieces of walnuts that were in the bar I liked, because it added a bit more flavor.

Overall, not too bad, but not my favorite. It was lackluster for me, but the nutritional facts were impressive. Chock full of awesome ingredients, such as organic dates, organic wheat grass, organic flax lignans and more. I felt as if it truly was a bar from nature, and green inspired. However, it wasn’t so good as to where I would buy it again (although I recieved this sample for free). And even though it was sugar free, I felt like I wanted to drizzle icing on it. Curse my sweet tooth. 2 1/2 stars

Have you ever watched the Ninja Turtles? Which one was your favorite? Leonardo was mine =)

30 May 2011, Comments (13)

Kashi Indigo Morning Cereal

Author: Healthnuttxo

NEW! I saw it at Whole Foods, and being the impulse buyer I am, bought this new box of cereal. I totally disregarded the fact I already had about, oh, twenty or so, boxes of cereal in my closet (what!? I told you I love carbs!), and bought it anyway.

It looked pretty good. And organic? Count me in!

So yesterday morning, I opened up the box, sliced up a banana and took out my almond milk (the other “usual” components of my breakfast cereal). I was slightly disappointed, there were HARDLY any blueberries or blackberries in the box!  ):

Regardless, here’s a pic of my bowl. The cereal totally hides my bananas, but that’s all good.

Before I poured the almond milk or added any sweetener, I had a few flakes dry. They were light, crispy, and crunchy, but very bland. Just  a HINT of sweetness, with a predominant corn flavor. They reminded me of what a puffed up corn flake might taste like.

I then tried them in the almond milk, where they proceeded to get soggy very quickly. In fact, I felt as if I went through my milk quicker than usual, and had to add extra to my bowl, as I believe the cereal soaked it all up! This wasn’t a problem for me since I happen to like soggy cereals (please, tell me somebody else does too!!). To describe the texture in the milk, it was kind of like soggy potato chips. Weird, but not horrible.

However, I had to add some sweetener to my milk to add some flavor to the bowl. The bananas alone wasn’t enough.  And the few blackberries that I did have were actually quite good. Tart yet lightly sweet. I was surprised I liked them, since I’m not a big fan of blackberries in general.

Overall? It was ok. I had it again this morning, but mixed it with a more sugary cereal. I actually liked the result! I had the sweet taste of my other cereal mixed with the Kashi Indigo Morning cereal. I also really liked that the Kashi cereal had a pretty good portion size. 2 1/2 stars

Do you like your cereal soggy? Or do you prefer to eat it right away?

3/4 cup is 100 calories, 1 gram of fat, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

Ingredients

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!

28 Mar 2011, Comments (7)

Organic Ragu Garden Veggie Pasta Sauce

Author: Healthnuttxo

Yesterday night, it was decided to have spaghetti & meatballs for dinner. I cooked up myself some whole wheat spaghetti, vegetarian style meat balls, and this Organic Ragu Garden Veggie Pasta Sauce to have. I don’t always buy organic, but whenever I can, I like to!

The nutritional facts were pretty good. For a half cup serving, there was 2.5 grams of fat and 80 calories. The sodium level was a tad high, at 480 mg, and the sugar content was a bit high as well, at 8 grams. However, on the front of the jar, it says that there is “MORE Than a Full Serving of VEGGIES in Every 1/2 Cup of Pasta Sauce”, so that was something I certainly liked.

I cooked it in a small saucepan on the stove, separate from any thing else, as I didn’t want to effect the taste. I noticed it wasn’t super thick, but not overly liquidy either. It actually had a nice consistency to it. It was certainly a sweeter sauce, but wonderfully spiced, with a bit of parsley flavor. It was also a bit salty, but I feel as if most pasta sauces are.

Overall, a great pasta sauce. I would totally eat this again. And, when I paired it with my the meatballs, it was SO good! Versatile, and delicious. Don’t tell, but I think this one tasted better than my mom’s homemade sauce I used to eat when I was a kid! =P  4 stars

What’s your favorite thing to put on pasta? I like mine with sauce, veggies, and some parmesan cheese!

1/2 cup is 80 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 12 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar and 2 grams of protein.

28 Feb 2011, Comments (2)

Stonyfield Farm Organic Mango Honey Yogurt

Author: Healthnuttxo

One of the greatest inventions of food for me was definitely yogurt. But not just any yogurt- real, natural yogurt. One of my favorite brands is Stonyfield Farm- they produce some really delicious and organic products!

Today’s review? The Organic Mango Honey Yogurt. I  usually eat yogurt with some cereal, or something like a slice of banana bread for a snack before dinner.

I opened up this container and gave it a stir. It was  a creamy yogurt, that was a pale yellow in color. I took a scoop and really enjoyed it- no overpowering flavors at all. Just a tinge of honey and a tinge of mango. Just enough were it was sweet, but not sugary tasting. It had a very fresh flavor to it, and was actually quite delicious. The honey gave it a bit of a tang, and the mango provided a slight aftertaste as well.

Overall, this one gets 4 stars from me. Nothing like real yogurt. Stonyfield Farms has my heart (and my spoon) forever!

1 6oz cup is 130 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 23 grams of sugar and 7 grams of protein.

Whats your favorite Stonyfield Farm yogurt (if you tried one?) My favorite is the Banilla!

27 Feb 2011, Comments (6)

Amy’s Kitchen Cheese Pizza

Author: Healthnuttxo

Sometimes, all I want ( make that NEED) is a good piece of pizza. Since I happen to be a fan of Amy’s Kitchen, why not try one of the pizzas?

I preheated my oven to 425 F and let it cook for about 10-12 minutes on a pan. I also put it on broil for about a minute before taking it out to give a final melt to the cheese. Here’s how it looked

Next, I cut it up into 4 slices, and ate it with some steamed veggies. It wasn’t too greasy looking, so that was a plus for me. The first thing I liked was the crust- nice and doughy, yet a slight crisp on the bottom. The pizza kind of reminded me a Sicilian-style pizza. Doughy, with fresh tasting marinara-like tomato sauce, and a good amount of mozzaralla cheese. The cheese itself was chewy, in a good way, and slightly salty. I really couldn’t believe this was frozen, it tasted just like it would from a pizzeria!

Overall, this is pretty much everything I could want in a cheese pizza (besides the fact it didn’t have a 100% whole wheat crust, but this is too delicious to pass up!). Great flavor, freshness, a good portion size, and made with organic ingredients! 5 stars for sure, and I’m definitely buying it again!

1 pizza (176g) is 420 calories, 17 grams of fat (6 saturated), 49 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 18 grams of protein.

What’s your favorite type of pizza to get at a pizzeria? I happen to like good ol’ cheese, but I also like Grandma Style pizza!

26 Feb 2011, Comments (5)

Annie’s Organic Peanutty Chewy Yet Crispy Granola Bars

Author: Healthnuttxo

everytime I look at this picture, i think the peanuts in the top corners are my fingers holding the box up. hah.

Browsing Target, I spotted something new by Annie’s- Organic Peanutty Chewy Yet Crispy Granola Bars! Since I love new products (aaaaand I’m a total impulse buyer) I bought them and took them home.

On the box, it states that these have “NO Artificial Ingredients, Preservatives or High-Fructose Corn Syrup- EVER!”, so I could tell I was already starting to like these!

I opened up the box, and was a bit disappointed at the size. They were about the size of a LARAbar, but not as wide. Usually I prefer a more heftier sized bar for a snack, but then again, taste is what it’s all about!

I took a bite, and found it to be rather dense. It indeed did live up to the name, it really was “chewy yet crispy” in consistency! I also thought it had quite a bit of a sticky feel. It had a good peanut flavor, but really wasn’t all too sweet. I also detected just a hint of vanilla flavor.

the last bite.

While these won’t replace my love for Annie’s Chocolate Chip Bunny Grahams, they were still pretty good. I do wish they were a tad bit sweeter, and also a bit bigger. 3 1/2 stars

1 bar (28 grams) is 120 calories, 5 grams of fat, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 5 grams of sugar and 3 grams of protein.



14 Feb 2011, Comments (1)

Green & Black’s Organic White Chocolate with Vanilla Bar

Author: Healthnuttxo

as you can see... I helped myself to about half the bar =)

What’s Valentine’s Day without some CHOCOLATE?

Reviewing one of my favorite types of chocolate today… white chocolate! I’m also a fan of milk chocolate, but whenever I see white chocolate, it feels special, and it’s just so yummy!

I bought this bar the other day at Whole Foods, I believe it was on sale for 2 for $5.00, so I thought why not? I opened the bar to find that the squares were rather small, and had a nice, sweet vanilla aroma. It sort of reminded me of Easter time, when there’s a lot of chocolate bunnies and other treats around the house.

So I broke off a few squares and indulged. Mmm. Now this is really good white chocolate!! Super smooth and buttery in consistency, sweet without being sugary tasting, and a great vanilla flavor. I liked that the flavor was light enough so it wasn’t overpoweringly sweet, but rich enough to make a few squares all I needed to  be satisfied. Delicious! 4 1/2 stars.

12 pieces (40 g) is 230 calories, 15 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams o fiber, 20 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day treat?

6 Feb 2011, Comments (3)

Amy’s Kitchen Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

Author: Healthnuttxo

This is the BEST frozen lasagna I had ever had- and the most unique. I cooked this in the microwave, and let it sit for 2-3 minutes as directed (certainly difficult to do since I was hungry and it smelled GOOD!!). Here’s how it looked out of the microwave

Cheeeeesy goodness.

To start off, unlike any lasagna I ever had, it had breadcrumbs on the top, kind of like baked macaroni & cheese. It also had a creamy, cheesy sauce on top, followed by lasanga noodles, veggies, and then marinara sauce on the bottom.

First bite, I fell in love. The gooey and cheesy sauce on top had a cheddar flavor, which went so good with the breadcrumbs on top and the noodles. I do wish the breadcrumbs were a bit crunchy, so perhaps I’ll put this on broil in the oven for a few minutes before I eat it in the future.

The noodles were chewy and soft, and I saw broccoli, zucchini and the occasional small mushrooms for the vegetables. The veggies were soft, but still had a bite to them, so they weren’t mushy. There was also a bit of a black pepper flavor.

The sauce on the bottom tasted fresh, and reminded me of a more traditional lasagna of tomato sauce and cheese with noodles.  I noticed throughout the lasanga everything wasn’t dry at all, even a tad bit liquidy.

Overall, really, really good. Unique, and delicious, and quite filling too! I had it with some steamed broccoli (you know me!) and thought it was a perfect dinner. This one gets  4 1/2 stars : )

1 lasagna is 350 calories, 11 grams of fat, 47 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar and 16 grams of protein.

What’s your favorite thing to use bread crumbs with?

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