We Started Seed-Snacking

Since I started on a milk-free diet, I noticed I have been eating a lot more healthy foods. I used to eat a lot of sweets, desserts and pastries but not anymore! Okay maybe less and those that do not contain dairy. LOL. But I tell you, I have never been this open in trying new foods and I think it's a blessing in disguise.

From time to time, I crave for sweet treats though and I guess it's just normal. I don't grab ice creams and cakes anymore, I am leaned towards eating fruits, nuts and seeds! Yes, seeds! Besides the pumpkin, squash and watermelon seeds, I've added something into my diet ~ chia seeds! I've heard a about how good it is for the body and you too can read about the chia magic. That's one reason I was curious in trying it out. Also, I never realized there's a lot of things that can be done with it. It even comes in a pouch now which is perfect for snacking.

Don't let the packaging fool you, I believe it's not just for kids. Those Chia Squeeze are also great for adults! Me and my husband tried them as well. And good thing they left me with a pouch. My 4-year old liked it so much that she ate three (3) pouches in one day! I hope it's not too much for her body to take. Oh well, it's done and nothing happened so I guess we're good.

I thought about the trick or treat approaching and we haven't been to the store to buy candies yet. Just the other day, I saw some oranges turned into pumpkin faces and I really loved the idea. I just don't love the fact that it looks cute but the the thing is, you are serving fruits which are a lot better than candies! So I thought, maybe it's better to give out snack pouches like the Mamma Chia Chia Squeeze! They come in six (6) different flavors [Cherry Beet, Blackberry Bliss, Green Magic, Mango Coconut, Strawberry Banana and Wild Raspberry] so the kids can choose their favorite! My daughter's favorite is the Strawberry Banana, I guess it's already a given.

 How about you, what do you plan to give this 31st? Have you tried chia seeds?

DISCLOSURE

I was provided samples of the product mentioned above but everything was based on my honest opinion.

Sweet Treats For Your Allergy!

When my daughter was pre-diagnosed with milk allergy, I was so worried I won't be able to eat sweet treats anymore! It's been almost two months since I stopped eating dairy because I am nursing her. I am so glad to have finally visited Wegmans last weekend. They have a gluten-free section and other allergy-specific foods. The best thing I discovered? A brand that makes baked goods without the eight (8) major allergens! Plus, they're also non-GMO certified! How awesome is that?

I know a friend who's daughter has peanut allergy, the other with shellfish and tree nuts, one with milk and soy and the others have milk intolerance. I never really knew how important it is to know and how serious these allergies can be. I never really paid attention to labels and what they really mean until I experienced it first-hand!

I read that's it's becoming more and more common these days and the reason is still unknown. Well, I am so glad I was able to get a few boxes for breakfast and snacks. With all honesty, I finished those six (6) boxes in 5 days! I am always hungry and I have a sweet tooth, that's why.

Chewy Bars
Choco Loco -  I thought it would taste like granola bars, but no. I love the texture of this bar which is semi-coarse. Plus, it contain chocolate morsels! Oh yes!
SunButter Crunch - It's not that sweet, really. From the four kinds I bought this has the less sweetness and I think I like that too. Too much sweet makes me thirsty and sleepy. LOL! But I guess I'm okay with that. Anyway, I am not into "peanut" butter, but this butter bar is an exception, maybe because it's not really made of nuts. LOL!

Soft Baked 
Chocolate Chip - You know what I told my husband? It tastes like an extra-soft Chips Ahoy! Seriously! I never thought it could be this delicious! I finished a dozen in one sitting. LOL!
Double Chocolate Brownie - This also tastes good. Like a fluffy cookie with chocolate morsels. The morsels tastes more like M&M's without the colorful shell.

DISCLOSURE

I was not paid in any way to do a review of the products mentioned above. Everything was based on my honest opinion.

Giveaway: Chewy Non-GMO and Gluten-Free Candies

I just got to tell everyone that I found my new favorite candies, actually not just me but my husband, daughter and mom too! I love the fact that it's GMO-free so I can allow my daughter to eat them too. For those of you who are into gluten-free diet, this is perfect for you too. Five out of six flavors are not as sweet as the regular candies, yes, impossible but true! Even my husband noticed it. Sharing more details below so read on. ;)

1. Superfruit Chews
Lovely Candy Co. offers two delicious fruit packs! Which by the way my daughter loves so much. The first is the Superfruit Pack which comes in blueberry, raspberry and cranberry flavors. Unlike the other similar chewy candies, this one is not as sweet! I swear it really tastes like real fruit and as you can see in the photo below, it even have seeds and crushed fruits.

2. Fruit Chews
This pack is also made with all natural real fruit. Very much alike with the Superfruit Chews above, with the same shape and packaging. The only difference is the flavor, this pack come in apple, cherry and blackberry.

3. Raspberry Fudge Rolls
I haven't tried raspberries ever, okay, maybe once which I forgot when, but I do not really like it. So, I bought this pack at a friend's house whom I know really love raspberries (and who are into gmo-free, gluten-free, natural stuff). When I arrived at their home, I opened like 3 pieces immediately so we can sample it. They of course loved it, especially when it was covered with chocolate. I ate one myself. And I really really loved it! This became my favorite flavor and now there's nothing left in the bag. LOL. I ate every single piece of what was left. I guess I finished more than a dozen in one sitting. ;) I love that it's not that sweet and the (very) subtle hint of sourness. I think I can now eat the real fruit itself.

4. Chocolaty Fudge Rolls
You'd think this is the sweetest due to the fact that it's chocolate, but no. I ate six pieces in less than 5 minutes and I didn't even need a glass of water. LOL! The inside part is more like a ganache, with rich, soft yet smooth feel. I think this everyone will like this Chocolaty Fudge Rolls!

5. Chewy Original Caramels
My husband loves caramel so he opened this pack first. He liked it so much that I was only able to taste one (good thing I was able to get a piece). He even brought tit to his office. I told him to share with his colleagues but I am not sure if he will or he did. He'll fight for the last piece. LOL!

6. Chocolate Swirl Caramels
Now among all the flavors, this I think is the sweetest! Chocolate and caramel is always a great combination. I actually like the swirl, I think it would be perfect to serve during playdates. I can imagine opening each and arranging them in the same swirly thing on a white plate. I bet it'll look tempting. I'll save the rest a get-together next week. :)

Now for the really sweet part, you can get a chance to sample the same (really really delicious) Lovely Candy Co. flavors I tasted. Enter via the Rafflecopter link below for a chance. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE

I was not paid in any way to do a review of the product/s mentioned above. I was given samples to facilitate my review. Everything was based on my honest opinion of the product/s.

Giveaway: Certified Gluten-Free, Non-GMO and Made in the USA Crackers

If you think crackers are for the not-so-young ones, then think again. There's a revolutionary creation of natural crackers perfect for your family as a snack or for your guests as appetizer! Here's a sample of what I did to stir up the taste and make it presentable to our guests.

I used Crunchmaster 7 Ancient Grains. Yes, 7 grains - Brown Rice, Sorghum, Quinoa, Sesame, Millet, Flax and Amaranth packed in one. I sure have tasted at least three of those grains and I am familiar with one. These crunchy square crackers tastes like rice crackers, only better because it has six other grains with it. I can also taste the sesame seeds and the sea salt which added a twist to the cracker's taste. You can do a lot more with it like the ones shown below though it's also great to eat it on it's own.

As for crackers your kids (and you too) will like, Crunchmaster has prepared two irresistible flavors you can try:

Crunchmaster Cheezy Crisps
These triangular-shaped Cheezy Crisps is my daughter's new favorite snack! She won't stop saying "It's yummy, mommy!" while eating them. I tried to see for myself why she liked it. Then I discovered the crunchiness and the right amount of cheddar cheese mixed with the cracker most probably is the reason she got addicted to it. The size was also perfect for one (little) bite. The "Lip-Smackin' Good" labeled on the package is right, it indeed is! :)

Little and big hands enjoying the Cheezy Crisps!

Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps 

I kind of started liking cinnamon but I haven't tasted it in crackers until I tried Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps. These crackers are, like the two mentioned above, oven-baked and low in sodium. Compared to the the Cheezy Crisps, this one is a bit more brown but still as crunchy, and it is powdered with cinnamon and sugar. I think this should also have the "Lip-Smackin' Good" label. One my my friends was able to try it too and she finished half of the pack! LOL! She really liked it and even asked me what Gluten-Free means. I told her I have been switching to these kind of food/diet. 

Dusted with sugar and cinnamon powder.

If you want to tray the delicious taste of the Crunchmaster flavors I reviewed, PLUS THREE OTHER FLAVORS, join the giveaway for a chance to win a sampler pack! Please click the Rafflecopter link below if it doesn't automatically show up. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE

I was not paid nor required to do a review of the products mentioned above. I was given free samples to taste-test but everything was based on my honest opinion. 

Delicious Non-GMO and USDA Organic Cereals

Since my daughter was born, I became extra careful when feeding her. It scares me now-a-days because almost everything is manufactured with chemicals. I am so glad that natural and organic foods are making it's way back to the grocery aisles!

Speaking of grocery aisles, I was able to find a cereal at Food Lion - Barbara's Organic Snackimals cereals! I was with my 3-year old and she got really excited upon seeing the animals. She pointed at the Panda and said, "I want that Teddy Bear!". LOL! Then she saw the other box and said, "Oh no, I want the Fox!", "Oh no, no, no, I want that one, what's that one?". It was a tiger, she might have thought it was a cat. Ha!

Barbara's Snackimal Cereals come in three different flavors - Cinnamon Crunch, Vanilla Blast and Chocolate Crisp. Before sharing them with my daughter's friends, we had to taste them first. So one breakfast, we decided to try each flavor. I tried to take a picture before pouring the milk so you'd see the difference in color and possibly the shape of the cereals (though it's kind of hard to focus on the shape using my camera).

 

I was surprised a 17-year old girl founded this delicious lineup of organic cereals! I am not a fan of cereals, I buy them only for my daughter. I guess this is the first time I actually liked a "puffed" one. Well it's like semi-puffed because when you bite it, it's crunchy but it's not as soft like the cheesy junk foods. Vanilla Blast is my favorite, I can even eat it on it's own. My daughter likes Chocolate Crisp which is not a surprise. My husband, doesn't really have to choose because he likes all the flavor! LOL! Maybe I should serve him Barbara's Organic Snackimals cereals again tomorrow. Haha!

By the way, I read the labels before opening the boxes and I was surprised to know that besides the healthy stuff they offer:

• Only 7g sugar and 8g whole grains
• Good source of Calcium and fiber
• Non-GMO
• USDA Organic
• The carton is made from 100% recycled materials
• Rainforest Alliance certified

Barbara's also give back to the society by helping non-profit organizations like National Audubon Society's Project Puffin.

Those are not the only products they offer. You can learn more about Barbara's via their website, Facebook page, Twitter profile, Instagram account or Pinterest boards.

DISCLAIMER

I was not required nor compensated in any way to do a review of the product/s mentioned above. I applied via Mom's Meet for a chance to share the product with my friends. Everything was based on my 100% honest opinion.