Posted by bassgiraffe in food | 0 Comments
Announcing Food Blogger Bake Sale
This year, Bloggers without Borders is working in partnership with Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale & Gaby Dalkin on this year’s National Food Blogger Bake Sale! With nearly 1 in 5 kids in America struggling with hunger, it has never been more important to increase access to feeding programs that can help kids connect with the food they need to thrive. For the last two years, this blogging community has shown its support for Share Our Strength, always raising more money than the year before.
This year, we have set a challenge: to raise $50,000!
With just $1 connecting a child to 10 meals, you can help Share Our Strength ensure that the more than 16 million kids facing hunger today never go hungry again.
Get Involved!
Here’s a list of bake sales that are already taking place. If you’re interested in participating in a bake sale, please reach out to the host. If there isn’t a bake sale taking place in your area, maybe you’d like to host one – more details on how to host a bake sale below!
Host a Bake Sale!
The first step in hosting a bake sale is registering at www.GreatAmericanBakeSale.org/signup. Registering will get you access to online fundraising tools and they’ll send you a poster and informational booklet. Additional tools and resources can be found in The Bake Sale Resources Center. They’ve got top 10 tips for your bake sale, flyers, stickers, pricing tips and much more!
Once you’ve done that, e-mail Gaby Dalkin (whatsgabycooking@gmail.com) & me (sarah@peppel.com – on behalf of Share Our Strength) with the following information:
Name
City/State
Blog
Preferred Email address
FAQs
General questions about Great American Bake Sale can be answered through our FAQs.
Posted by bassgiraffe in food, health | 0 Comments
Top 10 Fruits and Veggies of the Spring Season
When I was sent this email I just had to share it. It’s so important to get enough fruits and veggies in our lives. And it’s much healthier to eat fruits and veggies that are in season, this way we know they are fresh as they can be, not sitting somewhere for months. I also found Brenda’s tips very helpful for shopping for fruits/veggies and how to eat them.(Erica K)
The information below is from Meal Planning Expert and Produce for Kids POP (Parents on Produce) advisory board member, Brenda Thompson.
Top 10 Fruits and Veggies of the Spring Season
By Brenda Thompson, Meal Planning Expert & POP Board Member for Produce For Kids- www.produceforkids.com
FRUIT
Mango: Low in calories, high in fiber and vitamins like C and A, this is another fruit not to miss. The trick to cutting up this fruit is to learn how to work around the seed and cut the fleshy fruit around it. We like to use mango in smoothies on the go or in quesadillas with cream cheese and chopped roasted poblano peppers—a unique blend of flavors!
Pineapple: These sweet and juicy yellow fruits are enjoyed simply cut up as an after school snack or any time you need a sweet treat. When purchasing pineapple, look for green fruits that have a little orange or red on the bottom then allow it to fully ripen at home. It should be firm with no bruises or soft spot and have a sweet aroma. A fun way to serve this fruit is with other cut up fruit, threaded onto a stick for a fruit kebab!
Strawberries: Warmer climates begin to see these red beauties popping up in gardens and markets in early spring. Enjoyed on their own, this fruit travels well. This versatile fruit is delicious in baked goods, sliced onto salads, made into jam or even as a salsa. Keep strawberries from ripening by washing only right before you’re ready to eat them.
VEGGIES
Artichokes: Packing a powerful punch, this powerhouse vegetable contains many essential nutrients for a healthy body including Vitamins C and K, potassium, folate and magnesium. Not as difficult to prepare as they may seem, they do require a bit of prep time but have a delicious pay off. They can be enjoyed simply steamed and eaten plain or cooked and marinated and used in salads.
Asparagus: High in folate, an anti-inflammatory, and other vitamins this vegetable is one of my favorites of spring! The delicate stems can be prepared a variety of ways. Whether steamed, grilled or blanched, they make a great addition to any holiday plate or as great cold finger food on the go.
Broccoli: Another nutrition powerhouse full of Vitamin C and other essential nutrients, this vegetable can be prepared simply, roasting in a little olive oil and garlic is quick and easy. Or chop it up, add some sunflower seeds or toasted chopped nuts, raisins and a light dressing, and you’ve got a delicious side salad great for picnics.
Lettuce: Lettuces are often available year-round in most areas, but spring is their peak season and you can taste the difference. The tender leaves are perfect for fresh salads any time or use in wraps and sandwiches to take out to the ball fields. Lettuce provides essential fiber our bodies need to stay healthy. Choose lettuce with dark leaves for the most nutritional benefit.
Peas: The taste of fresh peas just out of the garden seems to shout spring! Their slightly sweet flavor and crunchiness are delicious. Filled with antioxidants, fresh peas can be tossed in salads, included in stir fries or steamed and enjoyed as a side for many meals.
Rhubarb: Often considered a fruit, rhubarb is actually a vegetable. Full of antioxidants it is naturally tart so is usually paired with sweet fruits like strawberries, apples or peaches, often in baked goods. Easy to grow and prepare, it’s a must-try for everyone!
Spinach: Spinach is such a versatile vegetable! Loaded with Vitamin K and high in many other vitamins plus fiber, this mild tasting green is easy to add to salads, soups or casseroles. We even like to add fresh spinach to our smoothies for an extra nutrition boost (and I promise, you probably won’t even taste it!)
About Brenda Thompson
After the birth of her first child, Brenda realized time in the kitchen was hard to come by and meal planning was a must. Brenda is a Meal Planning Expert and a member of the Produce for Kids, POP (Parent on Produce) Board. Brenda contributes tips on advice to family looking for quick, easy and healthy meals for their families. As a foodie at heart, Brenda is the creator of the Meal Planning Magic blog, designed to assist busy parents in healthy meal planning.
For more of Brenda’s tips and advice, go to: www.ProduceForKids.com.
About Produce for Kids
Produce for Kids® encourages healthy eating among families by providing simple, healthy meal solutions and resources for parents, while raising funds for local children’s non-profit organizations. Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $3.7 million to benefit kids. To learn more about Produce for Kids and healthy eating, visit
www.produceforkids.com, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
Posted by bassgiraffe in fitness, food, health | 0 Comments
10 Day Shakeology Challenge with Operation Fit
Today I am joining Crystal of Operation Fit in a 10 day Shakeology Challenge. We are to drink Shakeology for one meal and then follow a meal plan they they set up for us to follow for the next 10 days. I submitted my start weight(189.8lbs) and my start waist(35.25in) today. As part of the group I also had to agree to get at least 30 minutes of fitness 8 out of the 10 days. This will be easy as I usually workout 6 out of a 7 day week, taking Sunday off.
I’m hoping the loose more weight, I’ve been struggling the past few months to loose the last 15-20lbs I want to loose and I’m hoping the challenge will give me a boost.
Crystal has already been an amazing support to me and is easy to talk to when I have questions. I just “met’ her last month on facebook and I’ve really enjoy talking with her and being encouraged by her journey and her knowledge in weight loss and fitness.
I highly encourage you to join her team on Beachbody. She’s a great coach and doesn’t pressure you to buy anything, she just is there to support you and encourage you on your journey. (click ‘Join’ and set up either a free account or a Club Membership. She will send you a welcome email and help you get set up with what you need.)
I’m looking forward to these next 10 days and really hope to see some results. I plan on making a post 11 days from now with my results and opinion on the meals. I’m also going to be trying Strawberry Tropical Shakeology, I usually drink Chocolate Shakeology, so it will be nice for a change. I’ll let you know what I think of that too.
FIND her-
Operation Fit website
Operation Fit Facebook
Operation Fit Twitter
Crystal Chryst on Beachbody
Posted by bassgiraffe in baby, food, giveaway, review | 40 Comments
Baby Gourmet’s six new protein pouches- review & giveaway
ABOUT-
Baby Gourmet, Canada’s tastiest organic baby food brand is excited to add six new protein pouches to their repertoire of super portable foodie flavors for babies (past flavors include: Vanilla Banana Berry Risotto, Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp and Tropical Banana Berry).
Available in Canada only, the Protein Purees fill a critical need for babies between the ages of 7-12 months. They are growing rapidly and need this important building block for cell formation, function and health. And meat is the best source of this essential protein! Your baby can enjoy beef, chicken, turkey…even lentils!
-Chicken Minestrone Soup
-Hearty Vegetables with Turkey
-Simply Sweet Potato
-Sweet Potato, Apple & Chicken
-Vegetable Lentil Dahl
-Vegetable, Beef & Barley”
My Thoughts-
As a family we have loved using Baby Gourmet for over a year now. We love that Baby Gourmet is organic and that the company thinks of the environment with their packaging too. So to hear they have come out with six new protein pouches is exciting to us.
Moo is 2.5 years old and we have been having problems getting her to eat anything with protein in it. Usually she just wants bread or crackers. So I thought “why not try the new Baby Gourmet”.
We told Moo that is was soup, at first she didn’t want to try it but once she took one bite she wouldn’t stop. It was great to watch her enjoy it. She said “This is delicious”. So cute.
I’m glad to have been introduced to Baby Gourmet’s new protein foods. And even though they are for younger children it works for older kids too, especially ones that are picky eaters.
FIND it-
website
facebook
twitter
Posted by bassgiraffe in book-Movie, children, DVD, food, health, review | 11 Comments
“Copy-Kids eat fuits and vegetables” DVD- review & giveaway
ABOUT-
“Copy-Kids is a DVD series designed to get very young children excited about eating fruits and vegetables.
Simple. Adorable. It features kids having such a good time eating fruits and veggies, that when children watch it they want to join in.
Featuring well-known pediatrician, Dr. Jay Gordon, this product is a positive approach in the quest to get children eating healthy from the start.”
My Thoughts-
I previewed the Copy-Kids DVD before I showed it to my kids and fell in love with it. The kids on the DVD are so cute and it’s so sweet seeing them love eating fruits & veggies. There are 6 veggies videos and 6 fruit videos. Each video focuses on a specific fruit or veggie and just has footage of young kids enjoying the food. You hear all kinds of giggles, lip smacking and crunching as they eat. Some kids even have fun playing with their food while they eat it.
The next day I decided to have a red bell pepper on hand and turn on the video. I didn’t think my kids would eat the veggie. Moo started eating right away and said “like me mommy” and pointed to the video. Lee was a harder sell on trying it but once she had one taste she wouldn’t stop eating it either.
I love it, my girls love it and I’m sure your kids will love it. I would recommend Copy-Kids DVD to families with younger kids, ages 1-5, as the kids in the video are around that age. It worked with my kids and I can’t wait for more videos with more fruits & veggies.
FIND it-
website
facebook
twitter
———————-
Read MorePosted by bassgiraffe in fitness, food, giveaway, health, review | 13 Comments
My Body Shots- review & giveaway
ABOUT-
“Rehydration is a key to maintaining a healthy active lifestyle; and replacing essential electrolytes, minerals and vitamins is integral to maintaining this balance. MY BODY SHOTS® formulas provide concentrated amounts of electrolytes, vitamins and minerals packaged in a quick and convenient “shot”. MBS® formulas allow for quick absorption of nutrients without sacrificing taste or quality. MBS® formulas are free of preservatives, caffeine, empty calories, artificial colors and sweeteners that are typically found in other rehydration and vitamin beverages. MY BODY SHOTS® are specially formulated for both children and adults and designed to meet the needs of individuals who are on the go.”
My Thoughts-
Since I’ve started to focus on my health and fitness I’ve been looking for products to help me along the way. I was excited to discover MY BODY SHOTS®. I tried out “Immunity”, “Sport” and “Travel”.
I enjoyed trying out the sport one the most as it helps with re-hydration after a tough workout. I could tell it helped a lot as a lot of times after working out I’m drained and that comes from being dehydrated. My Body Shots helped me.
I tried two different flavors of these “shots, Orange Citrus & Citrus. The Orange Citrus tasted a lot like the orange drink they have pregnant women drink just before a blood glucose testing. It’s not too bad and because it’s just a shot of a drink you can drink it down quickly. The plan citrus tasted very well. I’m sure how to describe it but it was a nice taste.
The only problem I had with the MY BODY SHOTS® is how tight the lid is on them. It took a lot of strength to open them and after a workout it was even harder to open. But really it’s not too big of a deal, either open it before your workout or have someone help you out.
Over all I’m very impressed with My Body Shots and will be looking to getting more of the “Sport” drinks. I hope you’ll be able to check them out. Not only do they sell shots for adults, they have shots designed for kids too. You’ll be able to be healthy together as a family.
FIND it-
website
facebook
twitter
