Category: Eating

Sometimes, I think being a mom is synonymous with baking cupcakes. My son loves cupcakes! He would eat nothing but cupcakes all day if you let him. So, I jumped at the chance to receive a review copy of 150 Cupcake Recipes. This is an updated and enhanced version of Julie Hasson’s previous cookbook, 125 Best Cupcake Recipes.

Most of the recipes in 150 Best Cupcake Recipes are straightforward to make and sure to appeal to your kids. There are recipes for pink lemonade cupcakes, S’mores cupcakes, confetti cupcakes, cookies and cream cupcakes, chocolate peanut butter cupcakes, and the time-tested classic ice cream cone cupcakes. Read more…

I am always looking for healthy snacks that my kids will willingly eat. Normally, if it looks like anything good for them, like fruit or veggies, they want no part of it because they don’t consider those things snacks.

Since becoming a Charter Chiquita Mom for ChiquitaMoms.com, I have really been trying to come up with  fun and healthy snack ideas (make sure to watch my video of snacks you and your kids can make…they’ll love ‘em!). And when I came across the Crispy Green site, I knew the kids should try them. Read more…

My son is no longer a toddler, but I would be first in line to buy the So-Easy toddler cookbook and plate set if he was. Fresh Baby, a partner of the USDA, has created this set to help parents promote good eating habits.

The cookbook has healthy recipes made to appeal to tiny taste buds. The plate provides visual cues to make sure your child is getting enough food from each of the major food groups. The plate is based on the “Choose My Plate” icon that replaces the “Food Pyramid” you probably remember learning about in elementary and middle school. Read more…

My son seems to have inherited my tummy troubles. He’s very healthy overall, but complains of stomachaches on a regular basis. So, I was excited when we were invited to try samples of ProBugs. This is a product from Lifeway Foods that is a smoothie-type drink for kids on-the-go.

ProBugs is rich in “friendly bugs” and “probiotics” that help increase the level of good bacteria in children’s digestive systems and promote overall healthy digestion. It’s also high in protein and calcium, making it a nutritious snack choice. ProBugs is USDA Certified Organic as well as a gluten-free product. Read more…

Even though it’s not the healthiest food in the world, my family loves frozen pizza. But, when we received a Presto Pizzazz Pizza Oven for Christmas, I wasn’t initially as thrilled as you might expect. I figured a gadget for making pizza seemed kind of unnecessary since my regular method of throwing it on a pizza pan and sticking it in the oven worked just fine. But, after a few months of using the Presto Pizzazz, I’m hooked.

The Presto Pizzazz gives your pizza crisper crust and cooks the toppings evenly. It doesn’t seem to cook the pizza any faster than using your oven, but every pizza we’ve tried ends up tasting better when cooked using the Presto Pizzazz. Even the cheapest store brand pizzas end up tasting like delivery pizza when they are cooked with the Presto Pizzazz. Read more…

Everyone in my family loves applesauce! We’ve tried many different brands and flavors. We’ve even made our own applesauce using the apples on our trees in the backyard. Our favorite applesauce, however, is Mott’s Healthy Harvest.

Mott’s Healthy Harvest has 50% less calories than regular applesauce. It uses no artificial sweeteners and is low in sugar while still being a great source of vitamin C. It’s sold as six packs of four ounce cups that are great for portion control. Read more…

My husband, like many men, is kind of hit or miss with his gifts. Sometimes, he does really well. Other times, not so much. The Magic Bullet was my Mother’s Day present in 2006. At first, I thought it was incredibly lame. But, since I’ve used it at least once a week for almost six years, I suppose it now qualifies as a “hit” in the gift department.

I don’t make entire meals with the Magic Bullet like you see them do on the infomercial. Mostly, I use it to make quick smoothies to give my son for breakfast. I also like to use the Magic Bullet to make something that resembles low fat chocolate ice cream – frozen banana chunks blended with some chocolate syrup and a bit of milk. It does a pretty good job on making bread crumbs and blending pasta sauces as well. Read more…

I’ve heard there are children who enjoy eating vegetables. Sadly, I do not know any of them personally. Getting my son to eat vegetables requires a fair amount of coaxing. He does like pasta, however, which is why Schwan’s mini bow tie pasta and vegetable blend is a good compromise at our house.

Schwan’s mini bow tie pasta and vegetable blend has sweet corn, green peas, diced red bell peppers, and shoestring carrots combined with mini bow tie pasta. It’s sold in a 2 lb. resealable bag and if you order online, you can earn Schwan’s rewards points good for savings off a future purchase. Read more…

With two terrible-two-year-olds running around the house, there are lots of cups, spills, and messes as we try to transition them from sippy cups to “big girl” cups. It’s not fun. They tend not to pay attention to where they set their cups, and end up spilling cups of milk and water all the time. It’s frustrating, but they need to learn, right? Read more…

Packing lunch for your kids can be a great way to save money, but not if you’re constantly purchasing disposable bags and other throw-away containers for their lunchboxes. If you want to be a thrifty mama while doing your part to help protect the environment, you’ll need to invest in some sturdy reusable containers.

Instead of plastic sandwich bags, try ReSnackIt’s line of adorable reusable fabric snack bags. These eco-friendly products come in prints for both boys and girls, including peace signs, baseballs, smiley faces, bugs, cats, and skateboarders. Read more…

I’m always on the lookout for new snack ideas. Fresh fruit is a favorite in my house, but since we live fairly far from a good supermarket, it’s tough to keep on hand on a regular basis. So, we make a lot of frozen fruit smoothies and rely on snacks like Del Monte Fruit Chillers tubes to satisfy our fruit cravings. Read more…

I love Schwan’s! In my rural community, there are no restaurants that deliver. So, the Schwan’s service is absolute heaven for a busy mom who hates to cook. My family has tried several different Schwan’s products over the years, but one of our universal favorites is the six cheese tortellini.

Schwan’s tortellini is filled with a blend of ricotta, Swiss, fontina, asiago, Romano, and Parmesan cheeses. It can be served hot or cold with your favorite sauce. My son likes to have it hot with a bit of garlic butter. My husband likes it hot with marinara sauce. I like it as part of a cold pasta salad with tuna and vegetables. It’s always a favorite when I take it to potlucks, no matter how it is prepared. Read more…

Breast milk is best, but not all mothers are able to nurse their infants. If you’re formula feeding, consider using Parent’s Choice Premium Infant Formula. Parent’s Choice Premium Infant Formula is widely available at Walmart stores across the United States. It provides nutrition comparable to Enfamil Premium Infant Formula, but at a fraction of the price. In fact, Parent’s Choice estimates you can save up to $600 per year by choosing Parent’s Choice formula over the expensive national brands. Read more…

Granola bars are one of my favorite on-the-go snacks, but many of them are not nearly as healthy as they first appear. One of my favorite healthy picks is Kellogg’s FiberPlus bars.

These bars have 35% of your daily fiber requirement and provide seven grams of whole grains. They are a mere 130 calories per serving, which makes them perfect for a quick pick-me-up that won’t blow your diet. I like to keep one in my purse so I’m not tempted by fattening vending machine or convenience store snacks when I’m out running errands. Read more…

Cooking is something that has grown on me over time. I enjoy doing it when I don’t have a toddler underfoot and preferably with a glass of wine nearby.

Over the years, I have managed to collect a few tried and true recipes from friends and family. Whether it’s a dessert, a dip, a great salad or even a homemade seasoning – there are certain recipes that I like to use time and time again because they are always a big hit. Read more…

Tupperware is one of those products that has gotten a bad rap in some mommy circles. If you’ve ever had a casual acquaintance invite you to her home to try to force you to buy $300 worth of plastic containers, you know what I mean. However, if you can find a consultant who won’t pressure you into unnecessary purchases, many of the Tupperware products are actually quite nice. Read more…