New Delicious Treats from @otis_spunkmeyer!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

One of my favorite things to watch happen in the food industry is when a company realizes that some of their ingredients are harmful, icky and not needed in their foods and they MAKE A CHANGE!

I have loved watching Otis Spunkmeyer, one of my absolutely favorite treats brands, make this change and it has made me and my body SO HAPPY! Their baked goods are still absolutely DELICIOUS but they have the “No Funky Stuff” promise, meaning no artificial flavors, colors or high-fructose corn syrup.

Otis Spunkmeyer is also turning 40 this year and they are celebrating with some new foods in April and others continuing throughout the year. From Mini Brownie Bites and Frozen Cookie Dough, to new Loaf Cakes and seasonal foods, Otis Spunkmeyer is excited to expand their popular retail line that launched in 2016. All the new foods will have this same “No Funky Stuff”promise!

The first two new foods, Super Cookies and Strawberry Crème Cakes will be launching in early April and I can tell you from experience - THEY ARE DELICIOUS!

My husband loves two things - strawberry and cake so the Strawberry Creme Cakes quickly became his favorite. And for me, the Super Cookie was a dream come true! This soft chocolate chip cookie is big enough to share with friends and family..but you won't want to!

Otis Spunkmeyer once again surprises me with more NEW delicious treats and I am once again so thankful they have their No Funky Stuff promise!

Buy It:

You can purchase all Otis Spunkmeyer treats at your local retailer.

* Thank you to Otis Spunkmeyer for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Head Back to School with Healthier Snacks & Baked Goods from Simple Mills

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Let’s face it: my kids sometimes see their friends eating Doritos, Cheese-Its and Oreos and they want to try them or start to complain about their own healthy, clean eating snack.

The answer: snacks that look and taste “normal” but are built around crackers and baking mixes that are formulated without objectionable ingredients.

That's where Simple Mills products come in to save the day this school year - they are free of gluten, grain, soy, GMOs, excessive sugar and anything artificial!!!

Simple Mills is a rising star in the natural foods space that is changing the way America bakes. Simple Mills’ baking mix line includes eight muffin, cake, bread, cookie, pancake/waffle and pizza mixes, while its almond flour crackers include Fine Ground Sea Salt, Rosemary & Sea Salt, Sun-dried Tomato & Basil, and Farmhouse Cheddar varieties.

All products are Non-GMO Project Verified, certified gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and free of grain, soy and artificial flavors or fillers.

We got to try a variety of great products from Simple Mills but my children admit to loving the crackers the most, especially the Farmhouse Cheddar crackers! They were the perfect mix of cheesy and salty without any junk or gluten! I absolutely felt great giving my children these snacks and they would make a great lunch box snack as well!

I also love that I can now make baked goods without any gluten or artificial ingredients - including pancakes for a delicious weekend breakfast! Thank you Simple Mills for making eating healthy and gluten-free simple and tasty!

Buy It:

You can purchase Simple Mills products online as well as in more than 4,000 natural and conventional grocery stores.

* Thank you to Simple Mills for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Power Up for School & Serve Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Products

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

After years of practice most moms have the healthy lunch routine down. ; But what about back to school breakfast? The kids need a nutritious meal that’s tasty and filling enough to provide focus and energy for the long school day. You need something that’s fast, easy, and mom-approved. Plus many moms also need gluten-free options.

Canyon Bakehouse provides gluten free breads that taste and feel like “real” bread. Made with 100% whole grains for energy and nutrients, the breads are baked with ingredients you can pronounce and find in your own kitchen, such as extra virgin olive oil, organic agave syrup and eggs.

Pair Canyon Bakehouse with protein in the morning for a satiating breakfast that provides sustained energy and brain power for a productive and fun day at school.

My family is really enjoying Canyon Bakehouse products as they head to school and work each morning!

My husband LOVES the Cinnamon Raisin Bread and the Cranberry Crunch Muffins. They give him a great boost in the morning for work and help him think straight and be alert.

My children love the 7 Grain bread for breakfast and lunch - with bananas and peanut butter is their favorite! Plus, they love having their hamburgers on hamburger buns when we grill!

As you head back to school try these gluten-free breakfast ideas:

· Cinnamon Raisin bread with almond butter or peanut butter. Canyon’s Tip: choose all-natural nut butters to avoid harmful trans fats.

· Mountain White cheese and avocado sandwich. Canyon’s Tip: Avocados are a great source of healthy fat for energy and keeps the belly full.

· 7-Grain toast with a slice of turkey. Canyon’s Tip: lunch foods (ie: turkey) make great breakfast foods since they’re low sugar and full of protein.

· Cranberry Canyon Crunch Muffin with a hard-boiled egg. Canyon’s Tip: hard-boil a bunch of eggs on Sunday for quicker prep each morning.

Plus Canyon Bakehouse gluten-free breads are great for lunch sandwiches, so kids can love PB&J again! At school about 2 students in each classroom have a food allergy. To help parents prepare for the school year, here’s our checklist for staying safe with food allergies:

Tips for Staying Safe at School With Food Allergies

· Keep teachers and staff in the know – Set up a meeting before the first day of school with your child’s teacher, the school nurse and principal to talk about your child’s allergies.

· Provide a list of safe and unsafe foods for your child – Especially with gluten allergies, many people don’t understand what it is or where it can be found. Creating a quick run-down of foods to avoid will eliminate fear or confusion on the school’s part.

· Make an allergy action plan – Provide the school staff with medical information, emergency contact info and a food allergy action plan in case your child has a reaction at school.

· Attitude is everything – Along with school staff, it’s important to talk to your child about the allergy so he/she understands it. If you don’t treat the allergy as something “weird” then they won’t feel embarrassed.

Buy It: You can purchase Canyon Bakehouse products for $5 each from the Canyon Bakehouse website.

* Thank you to Canyon Bakehouse for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Head to School with Rudi's Organic Bakery!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

It's school lunch time and if you are looking to send healthy, organic lunches with your children then check out all the awesome, organic, and healthy products from one of my favorite companies, Rudi's Organic Bakery!

They use ingredients that are simple and certified organic to bake better bread. They never use GMOs, high fructose corn syrup, chemical preservatives, or artificial ingredients. Bread should have ingredients you can pronounce!

Check out all of my favorite Rudi's Organic Bakery products that are great for back to school lunches this school year:

Organic Harvest Ancient Grains

The grains they use in the Ancient Grains bread are called “ancient” because they’ve stayed wholesome and unchange for thousands of years. But your very first bite will show you that even the most historic grains get a fresh new twist when Rudi’s gets a hold of ‘em.

Organic Mighty Grains

Jam-packed with the natural goodness of seven mighty grains including flax, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. This bread is USDA Certified Organic and free from artificial preservatives.

Their new super nutrition breads give you an unmatched combination of nutrition and flavor. Baking in the power of seeds and grains, our seeded breads are packed with whole grain goodness, protein and fiber. Their sprouted breads offer the nutrients you are looking for with the soft, tasty texture you’ve been hoping for.

Organic Harvest Seeded English Muffins

These whole grain English muffins blend wholesome flax, pumpkin and sunflowers seeds with rich wheat flour, rolled oats and cornmeal for a light variety of harvest tastes to complement a touch of jelly or a pat of butter.

These are great for making tuna melts, mini pizzas and so much more!

Organic Multigrain Wraps

Wrap up a hearty sandwich or these are great for tacos! Made with the finest organic ingredients in the delicious tradition of small-batch baking.

There is No High-Fructose Corn Syrup and these are Non-GMO!

Organic Wheat Hot Dog Rolls

These hearty rolls will be the perfect complement to your favorite hot dog – beef, turkey, or tofu. A great choice for barbecues in the summertime, or family dinners anytime.

These are perfect for your next grilling day!

Organic Whole Wheat Sandwich Flatz

New! Baked on the lighter side, but with all the organic yumminess you want. With 23 grams of whole grains and 5 grams of fiber, but only 90 calories per serving, it's a healthy option the whole family will love.

These are a great twist on the traditional sandwich bread and are fun for school lunches!

Buy It: You can purchase all Rudi's Organic Bakery products at your local retail store.

* Thank you to Rudi's for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Jen & Joe’s Cookie Dough

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Who doesn't like a warm, delicious cookie??!!! I have definitely learned my husband DOES because he won't stop asking me to make Jen & Joe’s Cookie Dough! And I am happy to oblige because they are SO EASY to make, they don’t use any artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or additives, nor any trans fats or hydrogenated fats or oils, and they are DELICIOUS!!!!

Jen & Joe’s Cookie Dough is unique because it is frozen, yet they don’t use any artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or additives, nor any trans fats or hydrogenated fats or oils - and they always use real eggs and butter. The cookie dough conveniently frozen into ready to bake in individual servings so you can bake one or the whole box. This is great for last minute parties or to satisfy a sweet tooth craving! It comes in six scrumptious flavors: Chocolate Chunk, Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Spice, Oatmeal Toffee, Lemon Drop, and—for the adventurous—White Chocolate Wasabi.

Chocolate Chunk
The Chocolate Chunk is an improvement on the classic chocolate chip. Extra brown sugar for a deeper, richer flavor. Lots of chocolate chunks to ensure chocolate in every bite. A dusting of sugar for a light crunch. And, of course, only real eggs and butter.

White Chocolate Wasabi
White Chocolate Wasabi? Why not? Sweet, creamy white chocolate balanced by the gentle heat of wasabi. Perfect with a cup of green tea—or a glass of sake. And, of course, only real eggs and butter.

Lemon Drop
The Lemon Drop is a bright burst of fruity citrus in a smooth dough. A dusting of sugar for a light crunch. And, of course, only real eggs and butter.

Chocolate Spice
The Chocolate Spice is one of my favorite inventions from Jen & Joe's. A rich chocolate cookie. A dusting of sugar for a light crunch. And, of course, only real eggs and butter.

Snickerdoodle
The Snickerdoodle is based on Grandma's old-time recipe. The intoxicating scent of warm cinnamon. An old fashioned tang. A dusting of sugar for a light crunch. And, of course, only real eggs and butter.

And the favorite in our house is the:

Oatmeal Toffee
The Oatmeal Toffee is based on Jen's secret family recipe. Chewy, whole rolled oats. Crisped rice. Brittle, melted toffee. And, of course, only real eggs and butter.

These cookies really are as good as they look and they are so easy to make and bake! Just turn the oven on, stick them on a baking pan and take out when done! They are so addictive and they don't last long in our house!

Buy It: You can purchase Jen & Joe’s Cookie Dough from the Jen & Joe's Cookie Dough online store.

* Thank you to Jen & Joe's Cookie Dough for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

The Protein Bakery & Giveaway

I am always looking for good, tasty and natural snacks but in our house the taste can sometimes outweigh the rest of the characteristics. My husband won't eat anything that tastes bad so I knew The Protein Bakery was a winner because my husband ate their goodies like crazy!

Baking since 1999, they've been creating the best-tasting cookies, brownies, and blondies ever—and they happen to be healthier! Their baked goods allow people to indulge their sweet tooth without overeating or feeling guilty all day long.

The Protein Bakery goodies are:

• Naturally Delicious: Your brain can appreciate how good they are, but your taste buds are the closer. They use the finest ingredients to bake up the best flavors possible.
• Higher In Muscle-Building Protein: Whey protein is more easily absorbed by the body. Preferred by most nutritionists and healthy living experts. Some of their baked goods have more protein than an egg or a glass of milk.
• Made in small batches No mass production in their kitchens. They find deliciousness in every detail. From their kitchen to the customers'.
• Higher in dietary fiber to satisfy your hunger. Some of the treats have as much fiber as a bowl of oatmeal. 
• No wheat flour used and very low in gluten: Many people have an intolerance for white flour and gluten. And for everyone else, it's just a healthier bite.
• Trans-fat free: No trans fats in any of the scrumptious cookies, brownies, and blondies.
• Easy to work with: They don’t use distributors and they work hard to get orders out immediately. 

And now you can enjoy some of your favorite Protein Bakery flavors in a delicious bite-size snack! They’ve taken their naturally delicious, protein-filled treats and made them pocket-sized for life on-the-go. Watching calories? No problem! At about 100 calories per serving, they're a no guilt pleasure. Packed with heart-healthy oats, powerful whey protein and zero trans fat, they think you’ll agree...our minis are major! I love to eat these little treats after a workout or when I need a little snack to keep me going through the day!

Check out these yummy varieties!

1. Mini Chocolate Chip Brownie-
Sometimes you gotta keep it short and sweet. At last, this gourmet classic fills you up in a handy bite! Experience the same rich delicious chocolate chip, protein-packed goodness in a size that fits your life, and your diet! It's decadence by the bite-full. Zero trans fat, wheat flour-free, no gluten and always natural... it’s no wonder good things come in small (fresh-baked) packages!

2. Mini Peanut Butter Brownie-
Looking for creamy layers of the richest peanut butter swirled into deep chocolate bounty? Of course you are. And here it is! We’ve taken two flavors people love and combined them into a bite-sized treat with big-sized taste. Naturally delicious, zero trans fat, wheat flour-free and gluten-free. It’s the guiltless workout your taste buds have been waiting for! Being on-the-go shouldn't mean going without.

3. Mini Black and White Blondie-
Polka dots. Newspapers. Zebras. Some things are just naturally black and white. But none are as delicious as the mini black and white blondies! They’ve combined the dynamic duo of dark and white chocolates into a decadent flavor sure to make your taste buds sing... and the person next to you very hungry. Packed with protein goodness, this bestseller will leave you seeing nothing but color. It is two too good.

4. Mini Peanut Butter Blondie-
Who doesn’t love a nutty blond(ie)? It's packed with major protein goodness, zero trans fat, wheat flour-free and gluten-free. This to-go snack is small in size but astronomical in taste. For when your time is limited, but your snack craving is not.

Buy It: You can purchase all The Protein Bakery goodies on the The Protein Bakery website.

Win It: The Protein Bakery is generously offering (1) An assortment of 10 mini brownies/blondies and 2 ginger cookie 2-packs ($45.00 value with shipping) to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) The Protein Bakery assortment of 10 mini brownies/blondies and TWO ginger cookie 2-packs
($45.00 value with shipping)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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* Thank you to The Protein Bakery for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Celebrate Cookie Month with Wholly Wholesome!

Did you know October is Cookie Month??? 

Well, it is and I couldn't be happier about that because I LOVE COOKIES! :) Big surprise, huh? :)

However, I still like to bake and eat cookies that are as healthy and organic as possible! And when I am feeling a little lazy and don't want to take the time to get the cookie ingredients, mix, and bake, I turn to one of my favorite organic and natural baked goods brands - Wholly Wholesome!

They have these great 70% Organic Bake at Home Cookie Dough varieties in Oatmeal Raisin and Chocolate Chip and I even will share a bite of these cookies with my son because they are so natural and organic!

These mouthwatering bake at home cookies give you all the taste without the mess. You get to choose from all time favorite flavors – Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin – and keep them stocked in your freezer for when you need a little treat for you and the kids (and their friends!).

These warm, soft, chewy cookies are baked in your oven and taste like homemade – (shhh I won’t tell...if you won't tell on me too!).

So next time you are feeling a little lazy or rushed, but don't want to sacrifice healthy, natural and organic ingredients for your baked goods and family, get these 70% Organic Bake at Home Cookie Doughs! You will feel great feeding them to your family (and eating them yourself!) and won't add a million extra steps and extra stress in your day!

Buy It: You can purchase these Wholly Wholesome Bake at Home cookie doughs in the freezer case in your local retailer.

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* Thank you to Wholly Wholesome for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*