The Nutritionist Reviews

October 22, 2010

Giveaway: CTW Fashion Cardigan

 CTW Fashion is a line of clothing for petite women.  Although I am not petite (I am 5' 6.5"), I figured that these clothes might still work for me.  The company focuses on clothing for people who are 5'3" or less.  I chose the French Terry Hood Long Jacket to review which retails for $34.95.  I absolutely love it! It is like a big cozy sweatshirt that actually looks cute.  The quality is very nice and I would even be able to wear this to work which is awesome.  The company sells dresses, pants, jackets, tops, and even maternity clothing.  This is a great brand and if you are petite, you should check it out! Giveaway The giveaway will be for the cardigan pictured above from CTW Fashion to one lucky reader. The giveaway is open until Midnight on Saturday October 30th. Winner will be chosen on Sunday October 31st using Random.org. Mandatory: Visit  CTW Fashion  and let me know which product you would choose if you won. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT I CAN FIND YOUR EMAIL

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October 22, 2010

Lundberg Farms Couscous Review

  Lundberg Farms sent me four boxes of their new brown rice couscous.  I was excited to try this out because I had never really has couscous before and was looking to make a rice type dish for dinner.  I decided to make couscous jambalaya.  The flavors that I got to try were original, curry, savory herb, and roasted garlic and olive oil. Here is what the company has to say about their couscous : "It comes in 4 delicious flavors and cooks up in just 15 minutes making it so convenient for those of us with busy schedules. You can use it simply as a side dish or add protein and veggies to create a one dish meal. It also is made with our Whole Grain brown rice which means it is good for you & also gluten-free for those with food sensitivities." Couscous Jambalaya  Ingredients: 1 chopped onion 1 chopped pepper 1/2 package low fat chicken sausage 1/2 box Lundberg Farms Original Couscous 1 small can tomato sauce 2 tbsp BBQ sauce 1/2 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp garlic po

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October 22, 2010

eShakti Review

eShakti is a company that customizes sizes according to your body.  You can choose this option or choose standard sizes.  It is not very expensive and sells very cute clothing.  I love the great variety of dresses that they sell too.  I chose this Asymmetric Collar Felted Pea Coat to review.  I have been wanting a new coat since last year and finally found one that I liked.  The most amazing part is that the coat actually fits me.  Usually, coats are too loose and therefore, not warm enough.  It fits me perfectly and the quality is great! This coat retails for $99.95 and ships very quickly.  Here is a dress that I love that I almost chose to review!   This is a coat that I will be able to wear all through the winter! Thanks eShakti!

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October 21, 2010

Giveaway: $50 to Executive Gift Shoppe

Executive Gift Shoppe is a place that has everything that you would want to give as a gift.  They have stuff for men, women, anyone really.  They sell barware, clocks, travel alarm clocks , sports gifts, business card holders for men , etc.  They can make any of these gifts personalized and are aimed at young professionals. This brand is awesome! For my review, I chose to get the True time & Temp Wireless Weather Station and Clock .  I have been wanting one of these for YEARS.  It is really neat.  One part of the station goes outside and can tell the temp out there and the other part goes inside.  It also has a clock and an alarm clock.  It works really great too. This retails for $75 of their website. Giveaway: The giveaway will be for a $50 gift certificate to the Executive Gift Shoppe to one lucky reader with free shipping included. The giveaway is open until Midnight on Saturday October 30th. Winner will be chosen on Sunday October 31st using Random.org. Mandatory: Visi

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October 21, 2010

Zone Perfect Review

I was sent some of these delicious Zone Perfect bars for review.  I got to try the chocolate chip cookie dough, oatmeal raisin cookie dough, and the peanut butter cookie dough flavored. These are AMAZING! They truly have the consistency of cookie dough and taste great.  My favorites were the chocolate chip and the oatmeal raisin.  If you are a fan of cookie dough, I would highly recommend these. Also, according to the company, these bars are an " excellent source of protein, a good source of 17 vitamins and minerals , and rich in antioxidants (Vitamins C & E, and Selenium) for a soft, chewy snack with a cookie dough texture".  They have 170 calories and 10 grams of protein. One downside of these bars that I would change is that they have less than 1 gram of fiber which is very low and they have 16 grams of sugar.  Also, these bars came in  a super cute cookie jar!  Looks like my puppy Ava finally has a place for her doggie treats to go! Thanks Zone Perfect!

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October 16, 2010

Savvy Rest Shredded Latex Pillow Review

Savvy Rest is a company that sells organic mattresses, pillows, bedding, etc.  I was sent the shredded latex pillow for review and I love it! Here is a little bit of information about the pillow : "Soft, shredded latex (blended Dunlop and Talalay) conforms to your neck and shoulders for secure yet moveable support. These pillows are intentionally overstuffed so you can make your own perfect, personal fit. Just unzip the inner and outer casings and remove any amount of fill to create just-right height and density. Approximate height: 4-8”".  Miss Ava with "her" new pillow My Opinion :  I love this pillow.  It is very firm and heavy.  I like to use it when sitting on the couch as a back rest.  You can purchase it on the Savvy Rest website for $79.00.  The only thing that is a little weird is that the pillow does smell like latex gloves but that does not bother me.  Mom this is comfy!!

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October 16, 2010

Sockwa Dojo Review

Sockwa are known as the barefoot alternative.  I chose the Dojo shoe to review which are used for indoor activities.  They can be used for yoga, pilates, or for just relaxing.  They are breathable and very comfortable.  One downside of this shoe is that some of the colors only come in up to a size 8 and I am a size 9.  The company is working on making more sizes in the different colors.  I think that these are good for cold winter days if you don't want to wear socks also.  I did an exercise DVD this morning and these were great! Yes they are a little funny looking but I like them! Where to buy: You can purchase these on the Sockwa website for $30.

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October 16, 2010

Gobble Green Vegan Review

Gobble Green is a company that that delivers meals right to your door! They have vegetarian and vegan meals.  I have never tried delivered pre-made food like that before so I was excited to see what the food was like.  Last night, my husband and I made all of the food that I was sent and split it on two plates.  Here is what we thought about each item:   Black Bean Casserole: I liked this product.  It was similar to a meal that they made in my dorm cafeteria.  The beans maintained their firmness and the tomatoes tasted good. Black pepper steak with potatoes and vegetables: the "steak" was actually my favorite product that I tried.  It was sweet and had an Asian flavor to it.  I like the texture too.  Vegan Macaroni and Cheese: I have never tried vegan mac and cheese before and this one was impressive.  It tasted almost exactly like the real thing! Other products that I tried: seitan fiesta, gluten free fudge brownie, and chickpea salad. These were all okay.  The o

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October 14, 2010

Giveaway: Foxy Originals Jewelry

Foxy Originals sent me these cute bow earrings for review (mine are gold).  They retail for only $20 on the website.  I really like them! They look nice on and seem to be nice quality. The company also sells hair accessories, necklaces, bracelets, etc.  which are all inexpensive.  They have different collections of jewelry that the styles match each other.  This is a great line of jewelry! Giveaway: The giveaway will be for piece of jewelry from Foxy Originals of your choice. The giveaway is open until Midnight on Wednesday October 20th. Winner will be chosen on Thursday October 21st using Random.org. Also, this contest is open to US residents only! Mandatory: Visit the Foxy Originals Jewelry website and let me know which piece of jewelry that you would choose if you won! PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT I CAN FIND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SOMEWHERE. Also, extra entries must be left as a separate comment. Extra Entries: - In a comment, tell me what you would like to see on this b

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October 14, 2010

Giveaway: Tanka Buffalo Products

Tanka sent me a variety of their products for review.  I got the Tanka bites and the Tanka sticks.  I knew that this would be a product that my husband would love to I had him try it.  He went for the Tanka stick and loved it! He said that it tasted like a healthy Slim Jim but much better.  I tried it and liked it a lot too.  It was nice and filling which is what I look for in a snack. These products are 100% natural which is awesome.  The meat is buffalo with cranberry! They are gluten free, low in calories and high in protein.  As with any dried meat, it is high in sodium so that this something that you have to watch out for and limit.  Giveaway : The giveaway will be for one a variety pack of Tanka products for one lucky reader. The giveaway is open until Midnight on Wednesday October 20th. Winner will be chosen on Thursday October 21st using Random.org. Also, this contest is open to US residents only! Mandatory: Tell me what your favorite high protein snack is (be creative..

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October 14, 2010

GoGo Squeez Applesauce Review

GoGo Squeez sent me a bunch of flavors of their applesauce for review.  It comes in a little pouch that you can squeeze the sauce right into your mouth! It comes in the five great flavors pictured above. I tried the apple peach flavor first.  I did not look at the nutritionist facts first and just tried it.  My first impression is that the applesauce was very sweet.  I thought that there would be a lot of added sugar and then when I looked on the label, was shocked that there was actually no added sugar! Each pouch is equal to one serving of fruit and only has 60 calories.  My Opinion : Like I said, I thought that the sauce was very sweet but think that it would be great for children.  The flavor was great and the peach tasted fresh!  I would recommend these pouches!

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October 14, 2010

Garlic Gold Review

I have been wanting to try Garlic Gold since I started to read healthy living blogs.  Many of the bloggers love this product and have been raving about it so I knew I needed to try it.  They are crunchy pieces of garlic that are awesome on salads, pasta, and many more items! The garlic is organic too.  I really love the Garlic Gold original and the parmesan nuggets. These crunchy garlic pieces are everything that I was hoping that they would be! Another great thing about this garlic is that it is not super strong like raw garlic but still provides you with plenty of flavor. It is very inexpensive for only $4.45 a bottle too! I will be using up my bottles quickly and purchasing more ASAP! Thanks Garlic Gold !

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October 12, 2010

Oneida Culinaria Review

Oneida sent me a 16 piece set from their new Culinaria line of dishware.  I chose the pound cake color which is a light yellow. The set is on sale on their site right now for $79.95 from $160!  They are nice looking for a casual meal and are nice and heavy.  They are dishwasher safe and fit in there very easily. The bowls are nice and big and can fit a lot of food in them.  I of course love Oneida anyways but never had any of their everyday dinnerware and am very impressed. Here is what the company has to say about the Culinaria line : Bold and beautiful, the Culinaria line provides an elegant touch of color and long-lasting durability with its 3-year chip warranty. It’s full line-up of colors provide mix and matching opportunities to keep your table fresh and eye-catching all year long. I really like it and I think it would be great for anyone! Thanks Oneida!

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October 12, 2010

Giveaway: $30 Playful Threads Gift Card

Playful Threads sent me this beautiful dress for review.  When choosing a dress to get, it was so hard to decide because there are many cute choices! I chose this purple dress because it looked cute and a good choice to wear on my 21st birthday coming up in a month.  The dress is very cute on and has a tight fit.  I love it and can't wait to wear it! (I love this dress too!) Playful Threads is very affordable and this dress cost under $30! The company also sells lingerie , clubwear, sleepwear, etc.  They have many sexy options in all different sizes for different body types. ***The Playful Threads company generously has offered all of my readers a free shipping code to their site:  FREENR Giveaway: The giveaway will be for one $30 gift certificate from Playful Threads to one lucky reader.  The giveaway is open until Midnight on Wednesday October 20th. Winner will be chosen on Thursday October 21st using Random.org. Mandatory: Please visit the Playful Threads website and

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October 12, 2010

Spruced up Tomato Soup

Saturday night, I had half a can of Campbell's tomato soup left over and didn't feel like plain soup.  Here is a way to spruce it up and load it with veggies! Recipe -Half or one can of tomato soup -A handful of raw green beans -A handful of chopped raw broccoli -Small cut up chunks of extra sharp cheddar cheese -4 strips of bacon Steps 1. Chop up green beans and broccoli into little pieces 2. Add to tomato soup and microwave for three minutes. 3. I used precooked bacon so I just heated it for a few seconds and crumbled that and the cheese on top of the soup. 4. Add some spices such as black pepper, hot pepper flakes, etc. 5. Enjoy! It was so delicious that thinking about it at 9 AM makes me hungry for more!

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October 08, 2010

Giveaway: Green Mountain Mustard

Green Mountain Mustard sent me two of their mustards to try.  I got to try the sweet hot shot and the jalapeno mustards.  I really like the jalapeno but was not a huge fan of the other.  This mustard is 100% different from other mustards.  It is very creamy and more like a mix between mustard and thousand island dressing.  This mustard is made with eggs and other ingredients to make it creamy. It was great on a sandwich with turkey, tomato, spinach, and a pickle.  This mustard is higher than other mustards in calories and is 32 calories per tablespoon so that is something to consider.  I think that it would be awesome dipped with pretzels! Giveaway: The giveaway will be for one shot pack of Green Mountain Mustard to one lucky reader.  The kinds that you will receive are sweet hot shot, maple wholegrain, and sweet mild shot.  The giveaway is open until Midnight on Wednesday October 20th. Winner will be chosen on Thursday October 21st using Random.org. Here is how to enter: Manda

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October 08, 2010

George Foreman Evolve Grill Review

I was super excited to get to review this new George Foreman Healthy Cooking Grill.  I learned something new about the company.  They do not just sell grills.  They sell multi-cookers, skillets, ovens, and more.  Here is some info on the Evolve Grill that I was sent: • Patented slope for fat to drip away • Drip tray that is dishwasher safe for collecting grease drippings • 84 square-inch cooking surface • Precise Digital Time and Temperature Control • Removable dishwasher-safe plates This grill can cook many different products and has different grill plates that can be used: • Cross-hatch grill plates (2) – Steakhouse grill marks perfect for grilling chicken breasts, steaks and more. • Mini-Burger plate – Serve up to six sliders in minutes. • Griddle plate – Make breakfast without adding extra oil or butter for a healthy start. • Cupcake/muffin plate – Whipping up six muffins or cupcakes is a snap with this easy-to-use plate. • Top Panini plates – No need to butter

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October 07, 2010

Ask the Nutritionist: Potassium

A reader recently asked me to do a post on potassium because her husband needs more in his diet. Here is some information: Why does having enough potassium matter? Potassium (also known as K) helps to reduce the risk of stroke and hypertension (high blood pressure). It is necessary for the a body’s growth and maintanance. It helps to keep a normal water balance between the cells and body fluid. It also helps with the contraction of muscles and plays a role in the response of nerves. Source How much Potassium to have per day : You should get at least 4000 mg of potassium each day. Foods High in Potassium: -Orange juice -Potatoes -Bananas -Cantaloupe -Avacado -Tomatoes -Soybeans (AKA edamame) -Broccoli -Apricots -Garlic -Brown rice -Grapefruit -Prunes -Mushrooms -Spinach -Beans -Soy products -Turkey -Salmon Some Examples of High Potassium Meals: -Brown rice and beans with salsa and chopped avocado on top. -Salmon and brown rice with sautéed garlic, br

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October 06, 2010

Giveaway: Amazon Planet Acai Powder

Amazon Planet sent me some of their amazing acai supplements for review.  I got to try three kinds including immune power, energy power, and power powder. They are loaded with antioxidants and fiber.  It is organic too with different extracts added depending on which powder you use.  Here is some information about the benefits of acai : Açai provides essential nutritional support for your body's vital functions. Its principal macronutrients are omegas 6 and 9, unsaturated fatty acids that are crucial in lowering blood cholesterol levels and the associated risk of heart disease. Açai also contains a hefty amount of dietary fiber, important for regulating the gastro-intestinal function and for reducing the risk of type II diabetes. And, perhaps most importantly, açai is literally loaded with anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that protect us from the oxidizing action of free radicals thereby preventing damage to our cells and its potentially grave consequences, including cancer

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October 06, 2010

Coobie Bra Review

Coobie sent me two of their super cute bras to wear.  They are seamless, comfortable, and affordable. I love the colors of these two bras! These are stretchy and are one size fits all! I am not sure how they fit others but both fit me very well and are very comfy.  They could be worn out or for lounging around the house.  They fit sizes 32 A to 36D!! Where to buy and the cost: They cost between $18-$22 and can be purchased on the companies website.  They also sell a "belly button" which expands the waistband of your pants. I'm sure we could all use this at times! Thanks Coobie! I am loving your bras! ***PI Products has an awesome Vera Bradley Giveaway going on HERE ! Make your own banner at MyBannerMaker.com!

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October 06, 2010

Healthy Baked Fries

This fry recipe is super easy and tasty! I took three large potatoes and sliced them up.  I added black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and chili powder. I sprayed a pan with non-stick spray and baked in the oven at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.  You have to flip them over after about 15 so they don't stick and so that they can brown on both sides. They were amazing! They are way better for you than other fries because you are not deep frying them or adding any oil.

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October 06, 2010

Grilled Portobello Burgers and Balsamic Strawberry Salad

Grilled portobello burgers with balsamic strawberry salad Grilled Portobello Burgers I just got some great deals on huge portobella mushrooms.  That calls for portobello burgers! 1 large portobello per person Italian Dressing Hamburger buns Toppings: Dill havarti cheese, tomatoes, sliced onion, spinach leaves, etc. Condiments: Ketchup, mustard, etc. 1. Marinate portobellos for a few hours in Italian dressing 2. Grill for about 15 minutes while making sure to check often to prevent burning 3. Meanwhile, cut up any toppings for your burgers. 4. Toast buns, add toppings and condiments and burger. Enjoy! The "burgers" are very tasty! They have meaty flavor even though they are meat free and very low in calories! SO GOOD! Balsamic Strawberry Salad Use a mixture of greens with sliced strawberries on top. Add the dressing and let sit for a few minutes.  The greens will absorb some dressing and taste great! Dressing: Balsamic vinegar Ol

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October 03, 2010

Super Easy, Cheap, and Healthy Apple & Pear Sauce

Just got back from Meijer with some great deals.  I got a 3 lb bag of Jonathon apples reduced for 62 cents! What to do with them? Make applesauce of course! Step one : chop up apples with skins on and put into a large pot with some water in it.  Cook on high for about 10 minutes while stirring occasionally. Step two: I chose to puree my pears because I don't like the texture of pear chunks in applesauce.  I pureed about 10 pears in some green tea and added it to my pot. Step three: Continue stirring sauce and add more water as necessary. Simmer for about 20-30 more minutes depending on how fast it is cooking and how you like the consistency. Step four: Turn off apple/pear sauce and add desired flavors.  I add cinnamon to mine.  I highly recommend tasting it before you add any sugar because I think that it is tasty/sweet enough without it (sorry I am a nutritionist and gotta keep it healthy : ) ).   Also, if you do not like the chunks of apples or the skins in your sauce,

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October 02, 2010

Wedding Photos!

I love looking at other people's wedding photos so I thought that I would post some of my own! Troy and I were married on July 11, 2009!! It was a beautiful wedding!  Our wedding bands  Bridesmaids, sister, my, and my Mom  Our hair! My brother, mom, me, dad, and sister The dress!  My dad, brother and husband My dad walking me down the aisle Putting the rings on each other Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez So happy!  Jump! I love this picture!  The whole wedding party drove in red pick up trucks...no limo for this lady! Feeding each other the cake! Our first dance to our song "I Get Carried Away" by George Strait Dancing! Daddy daughter dance  Our Just Married sign that my mom made! It was a perfect day!

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