Healthy, Natural and Organic Food & Drink Ideas

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

The holidays are here but it doesn't mean you have to throw away your natural and organic foods for ickier, more unhealthy foods! There are many great companies that have the perfect natural, organic and healthy gift or food and drink to serve at your holiday party! Check them out below:

LEGIT ORGANICS CANDY

One of the best All-Natural Candy out there is Legit Organics!!

Abandoning artificial chemicals and preservatives in favor of organic ingredients, Legit remixes candy classics to make them legitimately safer and totally natural. Legit's candy bars are available in two, Santa-approved flavors:

Shot Caller -- Decadent combination of rich milk chocolate, soft caramel, organic roasted peanuts and airy nougat. This tastes just like a Snickers but without the icky ingredients they put in theirs! My husband can't get enough of these!

Word. -- Divinely salted caramel and malted nougat covered in creamy milk chocolate. These are my personal favorite and I could seriously eat one after another (if m
y waistline could handle it!). I love that they are just as caramelly and chocolatey as other mainstream alternatives, but made with organic ingredients!! Yeah for Legit Organics!!!

Earthbound Farm

Delicious food is the centerpiece for holiday festivities, but can often tempt toward overindulge on once-a-year dishes and seasonal treats. Earthbound Farm, America’s leading grower of organic produce, has tips and ideas to balance bountiful bites while keeping your celebrations merry and bright.

For your next holiday party, bring a delectable, colorful and fresh salad to the forefront! An eye-catching salad will add a bit of unexpected vibrance to your spread and much-needed nutrients to the meal.

Earthbound Farm’s new frozen Smoothie Kickstarts include the perfect blend of fruits and veggies that make a nutritious meal or snack for in-between all the holiday indulgences and celebrations. These delightfully refreshing recipes make blending a breeze: All Hail Kale Smoothie and Beta Bright-Orange Smoothie. Nourishing yourself with a detoxifying antioxidant-packed smoothie makes for a healthier holiday, and if you drink it before leaving for a party, you can better pace yourself while still enjoying all the pleasures of party eats.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the foodie on your list, check out “Straight from the Earth,” , the latest cookbook from Earthbound Farm co-founder Myra Goodman and her daughter Marea. These irresistible vegan recipes were created with omnivores in-mind, and have garnered rave reviews, including from The Kitchn.com, whose reviewer said it took her “straight to my happy place.”

Finally, don’t forget, homemade foods make great inexpensive time-saving gifts, so consider whipping up any of your favorite recipes for family and friends while avoiding long store lines!

Not Your Sugar Mamas

Not Your Sugar Mamas are a Martha's Vineyard-based gourmet chocolatier who just launched their six amazing raw, organic, Non-GMO flavors to consumers across the nation.

For the millions of chocolate lovers in the U.S., there was a collective sigh of relief when dark chocolate was taken off the forbidden list of sweet treats in recent years. This month, Not Your Sugar Mamas, a new chocolatier based in Martha’s Vineyard, is taking the healthy chocolate movement one step further with its new line of certified organic, raw, certified gluten-free and certified vegan chocolate bars.

Not Your Sugar Mamas offers conscious chocolate consumers six unbelievably decadent and unexpectedly healthy chocolate bars with no refined sugar (only tasty and nutritious organic maple syrup and coconut nectar) ethically sourced, certified organic, non-GMO ingredients that offer the highest nutritional value and quality:

Salted Caramel: Almond butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla and sea salt mixed together to create a bar full of healthy fats; it is also coated with a decadent a ntioxidant-rich chocolate layer.

Rose & Maca: A potent combination, maca is widely known for hormone balancing & its nourishing effects on the endocrine system. The maca, combined with rose oil, helps calm overactive minds and cope with stress.

Lavender & Sea Salt: Using sea salt from the shores of Martha’s Vineyard, this popular bar combines the soothing vibes from lavender with the numerous essential trace minerals found in sea salt.

Ginger Pomegranate: The ginger in this bar is known to help relax the digestive system and acts as an anti-inflammatory. Pome granate is an antioxidant rich food that is known to offer protection against heart disease and cancer.

Coconut Crunch: This bar is sweetened with coconut nectar and sprinkled with coconut flakes and chunks of almond. People love the protein, fiber and iron boost provided by the almonds and coconut!

Pure & Simple Chocolate Bar: A delicious basic recipe bar packed with antioxidants and healthy fats with a highlight of Tahitian vanilla.

The bars retail for $5.99 for a single bar; the ladies from Not Your Sugar Mamas have also put together a special holiday gift pack for $34.99 available on the Not Your Sugar Mamas website.

And if you are looking for healthy, natural and organic beverages this holiday season, check out these great companies and their natural beverages!!!

Lo Fruit Beverage

LO Fruit Beverage, in your holiday gift guide. They have 4 low glycemic fruit drink flavors: Mango Mojito, Acai Blue, Pomegranate Mojito and Pomegranate.

Made from Real Fruit, Blue Organic Agave Nectar and Stevia, with Lo, making the healthy beverage choice is easy. Improve your life and enjoy four fantastic flavors! Taking care of yourself has never been so satisfying.

Get healthy with Lo as part of your low glycemic diet. Originally developed as a tool to help diabetics manage blood sugar control, the glycemic index has found its way into the mainstream weight loss market. The glycemic index is the basis for many popular diet plans, such as SouthBeach, The Zone, Sugar Busters, Glucose Revolution, and Ending the Food Fight.

Prices start at $11.99 for the 4 pack and are available at H-E-B, A&P, Meijer, Walgreens, and Rite Aid

Prairie Organic Spirits

Whether it’s for your parents, significant other or even your coworker, nothing shows someone you care quite like a gift that’s homemade.

Prairie Organic Spirits understands the importance of that personal touch. After all, Prairie is made with organic corn grown at three family-owned and operated Midwest farms and then crafted into some of the world’s best tasting gin and vodka.

Below, are a few DIY holiday infusion recipes that make for the perfect gift. You can even tailor it to be extra special by making an infusion with your loved one’s favorite ingredients.

DIY HOLIDAY INFUSIONS WITH PRAIRIE ORGANIC SPIRITS

 Espresso Cinnamon Infusion

1 bottle Prairie Organic Vodka

3 tablespoons of whole espresso beans

3 sticks of cinnamon

Directions: Displace 1/3 vodka of the bottle of Prairie Organic Vodka into another vessel to make room. Fill with ingredients, top off with reserved vodka and secure cap tightly. Store in refrigerator or a dark cool space for 3–4 days for optimal flavor. Be sure to try with a White Russian!


Classic Vanilla Infusion

1 bottle Prairie Organic Vodka

2 vanilla beans, each split down the middle

Directions: Displace 1/3 vodka of the bottle of Prairie Organic Vodka into another vessel to make room. Fill with ingredients, top off with reserved vodka and secure cap tightly. Store in refrigerator or a dark cool space for 7–10 days for optimal flavor. Try with a White Russian or your favorite cola!


Rosemary Gin Infusion

1 bottle Prairie Organic Gin

2 sprigs of rosemary

Directions: Displace 1/3 vodka of the bottle of Prairie Organic Vodka into another vessel to make room. Fill with ingredients, top off with reserved vodka and, secure cap tightly. Store in refrigerator or a dark cool space for 3-4 days for optimal flavor. Try with a classic Gin and Tonic!

Marley Organic Coffee

Who wouldn't want gourmet coffee to heat up those cold winter days and nights? 

Marley Coffee offers a delightful and delicious array of gourmet blends in ground bean, whole bean and RealCup single-serve formats. From its “One Love” medium roast and “Get Up, Stand Up” light roast to its “Simmer Down” decaf blend, Marley Coffee has something to suit every taste.

At Marley Coffee, they are committed to sourcing the finest quality 100% Arabica coffee that is sustainably grown, ethically farmed and artisan roasted. Theyproudly offer single origin Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, along with distinctive blends that present balance and complexity. Their coffees are small batch roasted to ensure the utmost quality. They are determined to deliver intoxicating aroma and rich smooth flavor into each cup that bears the Marley name.

I have really enjoyed my daily cup of Organic Marley Coffee made in my Keurig each morning! The flavor is smooth and I love that they are certified organic!!

Marley Coffee is available from Amazon.com

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Gifts for the Foodie and Entertainer

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

Whether you have a person who loves to entertain at their home with or without alcohol or loves unique, natural and healthy foods and drinks, then check out these two great gift ideas below:

For the Entertainer 

Mocktails Brand

Mocktails Brand’s first line of non-alcoholic cocktails were created to provide a premium beverage on par with bar selections. 

Made with the health conscious consumer in mind, they don’t contain high fructose corn syrup or preservatives and are allergen-free, gluten-free, and BPA-free. There are also no artificial flavors or colors and they come in re-usable shaker bottles! 

The idea is simple: Delicious party drinks made easy anytime.

Add alcohol or not without sacrificing taste, style, or the experience of a having wonderful drink in your hand. Because they are ready to serve straight from our unique shaker bottle, personally customize each one by the glass.

That’s not all, Mocktails Brand is made with the health-conscious consumer in mind so you can be proud to serve them to anyone anytime!

Pair them with your favorite food and savor every sip. Upscale any occasion, no matter how big or small.

Mocktails Brand: With or without alcohol, fun for all!

Buy It:  You can purchase Mocktails at your local store or online. 

For the Foodie 

Nature Nate’s

Nature Nate’s pure, raw unfiltered honey is as nature intended. A natural sweetener, it’s treated with very low heat, keeping all important enzymes intact. It’s also unfiltered, which means it still contains pollen and retains the best flavor, aroma and nutrition naturally. 

Most honey in your supermarket is pasteurized – “cooked” to over 180 degrees and filtered under high pressure - to give it a clear and golden appearance. While it may look pretty on the shelf, the extreme heat – along with the addition of diatomaceous earth then high-pressure filtering - actually destroy much of the good nutrients found naturally in honey. Many folks also say it also takes away from honey’s characteristically rich flavor and aroma. Nature Nate's honey is uniquely different: collected from local beekeepers, then gently warmed to 125 degrees, and strained before being bottled and boxed. It's a delicious, sweetener you can feel good about.

Lastly, Nature Nate’s is made from 100% American bees, helping to eliminate pesticides, and ensuring a high-quality product. Nature Nate’s also makes a great honey syrup. 

Their honey is delicious and nutritious! Nature Nate’s 100% Pure, Raw and Unfiltered Honey is proud to ship to your doorstep. You’ll discover an uncommonly rich flavor and aroma, not to mention a host of health benefits, in all shapes and sizes.

Their Honey Syrup is also really good on pancakes, waffles and so much more!

Nature Nate's Honey Syrup is all natural, gluten free, and contains no additives such as high fructose corn syrup.

Whether you are creating a delicious marinade, dressing a salad or topping a cheesecake, Nature Nate’s Honey Syrups is the perfect complement. The possibilities are truly endless…top, drizzle, baste, infuse, glaze and enjoy.

Buy It: You can purchase Nature Nate's products from Nature Nate's online store. 

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

NEW 8oz. POM Wonderful

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

School is starting around the country today for many children and I know one BIG stressor for parents is packing and having their children eat a healthy lunch everyday at school. One good way to incorporate fruit into your child's lunch is POM Wonderful’s new 8oz. sized bottle of 100% Pomegranate Juice, which is perfect for school lunches and moms on the go.

The new portable bottle is great for the healthy family, offering a single serving of fruit in one 8oz. bottle. Unlike other beverages, each 8oz. bottle contains the all-natural juice of two crushed California-grown POM Wonderful pomegranates—and nothing else. With the new 8oz size, you can enjoy POM wherever you go.

My husband loves to grab these 8 oz bottles of POM Wonderful when he gets home from work and is thirsty and I love that he is grabbing for 100% juice instead of 100% crap like pop or other sugary beverages!

These smaller 8 oz. bottles are really are the perfect size for any child or adult's lunch box or to grab and throw in my purse for on the go drinks! I love that they don't add any sugar or artificial ingredients - it is 100% juice!

Buy It: You can purchase the 8oz size of 100% Pomegranate Juice at grocery and convenience stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $1.99, joining POM Wonderful’s family of products that include 16oz, 24oz 48oz and 60oz sized bottles.

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

Rooibee Red Tea

The weather is warming up and with hot weather always comes a hearty thirst! When your thirst kicks in this spring and summer, turn to something NOT full of sugar, artificial flavors/preservatives, and harmful ingredients...turn to my family's new favorite thirst quencher: Rooibee Red Tea. My family LOVES the five different flavors of Rooibee Red Tea that we received for review and someone is always searching for one when they are thirsty!

Rooibee Red Tea is the only bottled, ready to drink USDA-organic rooibos tea on the market. The tea is naturally caffeine free, high in antioxidants, low in calories and comes in five delicious flavors: Watermelon Mint, Peach, Unsweetened, Cranberry Pomegranate and Vanilla Chai. This bottled tea is refreshing as the weather starts to warm up and a great non-alcoholic choice for BBQs that the whole family can enjoy.

For generations, South African families have known red tea made from the rooibos bush to be high in antioxidants and naturally caffeine-free. They’ve also enjoyed the tea for its medicinal uses, including its calming and rejuvenating properties.

But more than being good for you, rooibos has an inherently sweet character and simply tastes great. And a secret like that is just too good to keep!

Rooibee Red Tea, made from the South African rooibos bush and USDA-certified organic, offers all the benefits of red tea in five delicious flavors that can be enjoyed by the entire family – at home or on the go.

The favorite flavor in our house was the Peach. It was the perfect blend of sweetness and flavor and it was a great thirst quencher! We also love the Watermelon Mint and Cranberry Pomegranate but they were all great so it is really hard to pick a favorite!

I even felt great letting my son have some sips of this "special drink" because it is Certified USDA Organic and Naturally Caffeine Free plus Rich in Antioxidants and offers a Full Serving of Vitamin C! He asked for these to drink every day and enjoyed every sip!

So this summer as you spend time outside in the heat and sun, Refresh, revitalize and rejuvenate with Rooibee Red Tea!

Buy It: You can purchase Rooibee Red Tea in all 50 states at your favorite retail outlet, including the following Whole Foods Market, Woodman's, Kroger and many more.

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

R.W. Knudsen Celebratory Beverages Review

From tinsel to the glisten of new snow, this time of year has a way of taking life’s simple moments and making them sparkle. R.W. Knudsen Family Celebratory beverages are no different. With flavors like Sparkling Cranberry, Sparkling Kosher Grape and Sparkling Organic Pear, the eight festive flavors add the perfect amount of celebration to any event.

R.W. Knudsen Family® offers an orchard of organic and natural juices and specialty products for your table. For more than 50 years, the R.W. Knudsen Family brand has been synonymous with great tasting juices, made with uncompromising standards. Treat yourself to refreshment or offer a glass to someone you love today!

· Made with all-natural, 100% juice for a drink choice you can feel good about.
· No added sugars, artificial flavors or preservatives.
· Elegantly packaged in champagne-style bottles.
· A delicious, bubbly and non-alcoholic treat for any special occasion.

Open a bottle for a holiday or Valentine's Day toast that the whole family can enjoy, bring to a party as a host gift or add a splash of color to your table. Like the holiday season, R.W. Knudsen Family Celebratory beverages have a way of making any moment a bit more special.

My Opinion

I recently featured R.W. Knudsen and their amazing non-alcoholic beverages in my Holiday Gift Guide, but I wanted to take the time again to remind you how great these drinks are and that they even offer amazing organic options!

I am absolutely loving the R.W. Knudsen Family Celebratory beverages right now because I am pregnant and not drinking alcohol. When I want to still create a festive or romantic atmosphere for me and my husband, I crack open one of these bottles from R.W. Knudsen! They taste amazing and have just the right amount of bubbly!

I brought a couple bottles of R.W. Knudsen Family Celebratory beverages to my family's Christmas dinner and New Year's celebration and they were a HUGE hit! Everybody wanted more!

If you are looking for a great non-alcoholic drink or are pregnant like me, turn to R.W. Knudsen for all your celebrations and romantic dinners! They have so many amazing flavors to choose from - you are sure to find your favorite fruit flavor!

Buy It: You can purchase all the R.W. Knudsen Celebratory Beverages at local retail stores.

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