Check this out!  Sounds pretty neat!

I keep running out of this product and can’t seem to buy enough of this wonderful pita bread!  The bag included four pitas, remember only a half pita is a serving size.  I use this every morning for my egg and my daughter has also made some wonderful homemade pizzas!  I personally like to divide the pita in two, for the one serving, then split that pita bread into two parts and toast.  Yes, it is thin but perfect to put anything on top!  Plus I make the most of the serving size and it seems very large!  I will post this with pictures next time!

Nutrition Facts: (1/2 pita) 100 calories, 0.5g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 170 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 4 g protein.

Ingredients:  WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, YEAST, MALT, SALT, CULTURED WHEAT FLOUR WITH ADDED VINEGAR (FOR ADDED FRESHNESS).

Oh and did I mention I bought the bag for only $1.49!  So filling, so satisfying, it is absolutely amazing!  I will share more pita creations soon! So many options!

Here are my kids favorites right now (I constantly have to keep changing the snacks because they get bored of the same thing).

Archer Farms Fruit Pull-Aparts

Way more fun than just the basic fruit strips!  They don’t care for the fruit strips anymore so I have to change it up and go for these yummy treats!  Great to stash in my bag for an emergency snack (especially at a restaurant when it takes forever for the food -ahhhh, keep my child quiet!).

Cashews

I never knew my kids love nuts so much!  Even my youngest (yes, as it can be a choking hazard and allergen) will eat these up, it is a great shelf-stable source or protein and minerals! 

Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Bagels

As we were driving, my daughter was hungry and asked if she could open these, surprisingly, both kids ate them.  They are super hearty but also very yummy AND not that expensive!  Only 110 calories with 3 grams of fiber.  Try toasting them with a little bit of cinnamon butter, heavenly!

Fruit & Vegetable Snack Packs

Apple with Grapes

Disney Foodles

I buy these for emergencies, aka, when I don’t pre-plan and pack them myself!  Kids do love them and great alternative to junk food.   I bought a 6 pack of the apple slices and grapes and they did not go to waste!  Sometimes they can be a bit pricy but totally worth it when they are eating junk!

Archer Farms Freeze-Dried Fruit

Love ‘em, love ‘em, love ‘em!   What can I say, these are wonderful!  My kids devour a pack within a day some times.  There was one shopping trip to Target where both kids were grabbing all the candy their little eyes could see in the check-out lane and I said “We have had enough not-so-good foods for us today, let’s try something else.”  Please note this is also after we just

finished sharing Pizza Hut breadsticks and an Icee (yikes!) My hormones must have been raging because I literally got out of line and went all the way to the back of the store and picked up two bags of the strawberries and went back into line.   Yes, I could have only spent a couple dollars on candy but I just had enough! Each bag is about $2.99, better than some places for freeze-dried fruit where it can be $5 or more for a small size.

I will share our next round of snacks the  kids are interested in on our next trip!  I try hard to load up on the fruit and veggie at every meal when we are traveling but again everything in moderation! 

CARROTS   

Rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene. Studies show those who eat one serving a day of carrots or other food rich in

beta-carotene decrease the risk of a heart attack by 60%.

BLACKBERRIES

Rich in fiber, especially a type of soluble fiber, that has the ability to lower total and LDL - or bad – cholesterol.

AVOCADOS

Rich in an abundance of heart-healthy nutrients – monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, folate, vitamin B6 and potassium

They also naturally contain cholesterol-lowering plant sterols.

SARDINES

Super-rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fats, which help prevent blood clotting, ease inflammation and help prevent abnormal heartbeats. In addition omega-3 fats have been linked to boosting mood and brain function.

TOMATO PRODUCTS

One of the highest sources of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may help prevent plaque from clogging arteries.

Studies show a high intake of lycopene is linked to a lower risk of heart attacks.

Yes, it is not homemade but this is every answer to a busy mom’s prayers for a healthy (EASY) protein source for your children!   Made with 100% chicken breast and even added omega-3’s!  I feel good about feeding these to my children, plus they love them!

I will have to say they taste wonderful and much better than any other chicken nugget I have tasted before.  My son, especially, will have to dip these little guys in a helping of ketchup or has he calls it “chi-chup!”  Well, ok but remember there are many concentrated nutrients in ketchup, yes there is always added sugar but keep in moderation!

(5 pieces) Nutrition Facts:  210 calories, 8 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 470 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrates, less than 1 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 11 g protein, 15% iron.

Ingredients: BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST WITH RIB MEAT, WATER, ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (NIACIN (VITAMIN B3), REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONOITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID) YELLOW CORN FLOUR, ISOLATED SOY PROTEIN, FOOD STARCH, SALT, DEXTROSE, VEGETABLE OIL, (CANOLA AND/OR SOYBEAN AND/OR SUNFLOWER), LEAVENING (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE), GUAR GUM, YEAST, NATURAL FLAVOR, IRON, FLAXMEAL, DOUGH CONDITIONER (ASCORBIC ACID, L-CYSTEIN MONOHYDROCHLORIDE), EXTRACTIE OF PAPRIKA.  ALLERGENS: SOY, WHEAT

Simply Asia’s general tso stir-fry sauce!

Serving size 2 tbsp; 90 calories; 2 g fat; 710 mg sodium; 17 g carbohydrates; 1 g fiber; 13 g sugar; 1 g protein.

Easy Chicken Stir-Fry

Ingredients

2.5 lb Just Bare chicken tenders (If you can’t find this brand look for chicken with no-salt-added, shoot for 100 milligrams or less)

1 bag (1lb) frozen stir-fry vegetables

1 packet Simply Asia general tso stir-fy sauce.

1 bunch green onions, chopped (optional)

Preparation

Spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray or coat with canola oil with a paper towel. Brown chicken tenders.  Once chicken is cooked add frozen vegetables until tender.   Add sauce and heat through.  Dish up entrée and top with chopped onions!

This tastes like real take-out food!  Yes, the sauce may be a bit on the higher side in sodium and sugar but if you use low-sodium chicken it will help keep the sodium at a decent level for the entire meal.   As for the sugar content, low carb veggies (broccoli, peppers, etc) help keep the carb count down; plus the added fiber in the veggies will out weigh the benefits!  This packet of sauce serves four and it definitely did that plus more for our family!

I thought it was totally worth and a fantastic go-to meal instead of ordering take-out.  This entire meal only cost us $6!  A healthy bargain for the dinner!

I have done this in my large crock-pot (4 qt)  but I never finish the entire batch, so I tried it in my small crock-pot (this crock-pot is also referred to as the “dip crock-pot” 1.5 qt)

Here is what I put in the crock-pot:

1 1/2 cups steel cut oats

1 1/2 cups water

1 container (6-oz) baby food (sweet potato/applesauce blend)

Put in the crock-pot for 1 1/2 to 2 hours (I like mine a bit chewier, so you can leave in longer if you like them softer)

Everyday I add different topping so I do not get bored with the same ole oats.  Here are some topping to try!

1-2 tsps chunky peanut butter

1/4 tsp apple pie spice seasoning

1/2 apple, chopped (or any fruit, strawberries, blueberries, banana, etc.)

1 tbsp ground flaxseed

This power breakfast really fills me up AND it takes me at least 20 minutes to eat – a great time to relax and start off the morning, ahh!  So if you are in a hurry take it to go and eat it at work if you don’t have time.  Just heat up and eat!

Steel cut oats are a great source of fiber, plus if you add some other toppings to pump up the nutritional value, a winning breakfast in hand!

1. Look at serving size!  Before you start looking at the nutrition profile and comparing calories, carbs, etc., consider the portion size.  Serving sizes can range from 1/4 cup to 1 1/4 cup – quite a big difference!
2. Fiber & Whole Grains:  Within the last couple of years it is almost becoming a norm for all cereals to contain whole grains, now let’s look at the grams of fiber!  Choose a cereal with 3 to 5 grams of fiber per serving!
3. Calories – I usually don’t get too excited about calories but just make sure it is nothing outrageous in comparison to the serving size, i.e., 1/2 cup serving for 230 calories.
4. Sugar -  Sometimes I feel people go to the extreme on sugar in regards to over loading and then I see other people thinking that 3 grams of sugar is too much.  Well, I like to stay under 10 grams of sugar per serving.  At my house, I usually buy three cereals: 2 cereals less than 8 grams and 1 cereal at that 10 gram range. 

You can consider many other nutrients in regards to cereals but here are the basics.  Here is a new cereal find for my house – tastes great too!  My kids even loved it!

Kashi Berry Blossom Cereal

And nutrition profile looks pretty good too!

With the the help from this “little guy”, I was able to make a fantastic meal, but added a couple more ingredients to make it a complete meal.

On the stove, I dumped the contents of the bag into a pot and added 3/4 can of no-salt-added black beans and one 8-oz container of fresh mushrooms.  Heated entire mixture until hot and topped with a little bit of fresh Parmesan cheese.  Delish!Many times I steer away from these types of meals because they are loaded with sodium and generally like to make meals from scratch but let’s face it, we all need a short cut every now and then.

You could also add any protein source or maybe next time I would use garbanzo beans, because it is a heartier bean (not as soft).

The flavors of the mix were fantastic (and my hubby even liked it!)!  As for nutritional content, the bag serves 2 in addition  to 220 calories; 5 g fat; 1.5 g saturated fat; 400 mg sodium; 35 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 7 g protein; 20% vitamin A; 25% vitamin C; 8% calcium; 10% iron (remember this does not include the beans, mushrooms or cheese).

Not too shabby . .  . one of the biggest factors to consider in a pre-made meal is sodium.  This packages does very well with only 400 mg sodium.  Goal is to keep frozen food meals under 800 milligrams (sometimes I like it a bit lower 650-700 range)!

Dinner was done in a snap and VERY satisfying! Enjoy!

As we were coming home from our family Christmas, we stopped at a gas station and I thought, hmm . . . in a couple weeks we will see ads at fast food restaurants saying “Only this many calories” . . . or “On the lighter side.”   I think January is the only month we see ads like those because everyone is in that mentality.   I actually had a dream Pizza Hut had a weight loss program.  (I know, I don’t know what is going on in my head, I will blame it on the pregnancy)  But think about it for a second, funny huh, but a great marketing program for the first of the year.

I would like to ask the question what are your dreams for yourself?  Have you always wanted to run your first road race?  Have you always wanted to get back into those skinny jeans from 10 year ago?

Now, let’s simplify!

For example if you want to rev up your eating habits, give yourself about a month of actually taking the action to make healthier food choices.  Don’t worry about calories, fat, etc.  Just write down your food choice so you become more aware of what is going into your body.  Hopefully there will be more fruits and vegetables!  

If you are interested in increasing your physical activity the goal is to get moving.  If you haven’t exercised in months or years, start slow.  Again give yourself a month of a short-term goal.  For example, walking for 30 minutes 3 days a week.  After a month, move up that goal to 4 to 5 days a week.

Keys to keep going!

Now to keep those resolutions lasting through the year here are some simple thing to do and think about.

Give yourself monthly goals.

Focus on each month and consider a small goal for yourself for that month. Goals can repeat from month to month but really consider your progress.  Maybe during the winter months you have a hard time wanting to exercise and just want to come home after work and watch TV.  Maybe this has become a big barrier and you realize if you exercise the first thing in the morning you can actually enjoy yourself in the evening.

Reward yourself (not with food, of course).

After you complete your small goals each month, reward yourself.   Maybe is it purchasing that new CD you have been wanting or maybe it is just setting up a coffee date with a long-time friend.  Whatever it is, take the time for yourself because you deserve it!

Here we come 2012!