The Nutritionist Reviews

May 30, 2012

Mixbook Review and Giveaway

 Master Bedroom and Guest Bedroom Before and Afters As you might be able to tell from my blog, I enjoy taking pictures.  Since buying our house in November, we have put in a lot of work to paint, redo the kitchen, etc.  I have enjoyed taking before and after pictures of my house and when I found out from Mixbook that I was being given one of their photo books for review, I knew I would make a book of the house. This book was very fun to create. I chose my favorite pictures of the house, uploaded them, and started creating.  Mixbook had tons and tons of photo layouts to choose from. You could choose 1-5 or so pictures per page. Also, my favorite part about them compared to competitor companies is that they have amazing backgrounds for behind photos.  I was able to find some patterns that I really loved that went along well with the photos. Our Kitchen After The book can come in all different photo sizes and number of pages.  I am someone who is all about saving money

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May 29, 2012

Memorial Day Weekend

For Memorial Day weekend, my family and I went up to my parents farm and spent a lot of time outside (when it wasn't pouring rain that is!).  My dad and his best friend Ava  Troy and I on the John Deere It was a great weekend! Hope you all had a great weekend.

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May 28, 2012

Gnu Flavor and Fiber Bar Review

Gnu bars are a product that I first tried when I started my blog about 2 years ago.  It is a very high fiber bar (12 grams!!!) which contains both soluble and insoluble fibers.  They come in many different flavors and I was sent a couple of variety packs to try out. The company recently came out with 3 new flavors including blueberry cobbler, blondie, and carrot cake.  When I heard about the carrot cake bar, I knew that I would love it! These bars are very reasonable with calories (130-140 per bar) and are filling too. The bars are fairly low in sugar at about 8-10 grams.  It has 4 grams of protein which is not a ton but not too bad. I can say honestly that these are in my top few favorite bars that I have ever tried. My favorite one is the banana walnut.  It has the perfect amount of banana taste and is nice and moist. I also love the carrot cake, blueberry cobbler, and cinnamon raisin bars.  The only one that I did not like was the peanut butter because I thought that it had a

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May 25, 2012

Diana's Bananas Review

Diana's Bananas Are you a fan of frozen bananas? They are one of my favorite treats.  They freeze into a very nice creamy and chewy consistency. Even better then frozen bananas: chocolate covered frozen bananas. Recently, I had the opportunity to review some Diana's Bananas which are 1/2 of a banana covered in milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or chocolate and peanuts. Diana's Bananas Review I was sent the dark chocolate and milk chocolate ones to try. To be honest, typically I am not the biggest chocolate fan in the world. I do like a little bit and prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate. For a non-chocoholic, I quickly became addicted to these. Right when I got this package (which by the way, the bananas were still perfectly frozen thanks to dry ice), I opened a dark chocolate banana and dug in. These are so tasty! The chocolate does not really break off or crumble which makes it less messy to eat.  The banana and chocolate go really well together. I have been enj

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May 23, 2012

Reuseit Shopping Bags Review

Reuseit is a company that sells all different kind of reusable bottles, lunch bags, shopping bags , etc.  For my review, I chose this BlueAvocado Big Chil Large Insulated Reusable Shopping Bag in navy.  The reason that I chose it is because as summer is coming, it is difficult to keep your food cold with grocery shopping. I like this bag because it is insulated and can keep my food cold for a period of time. The bag can also be used to take to the beach.  It would be perfect because it has outer pockets to hold little things like your phone or keys. The huge interior can be filled with fun treats for the beach. Here is the bag in kiwi wildflower Here is some information about the bag:  Replaces plastic shopping bags and paper lunch bags Insulated – pvc-free liner keeps contents hot/cold for up to 3 hours Zip-top closure Holds 3 gallons Made from recycled materials 1% of sales donated to global women's micro-entrepreneurship This large insulated tote is easy-to

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May 22, 2012

May 2012

This has been a great first month of "summer". Here are some pictures of my family and I from Mother's Day and also from our first BBQ and bonfire party we threw at our new house.  Troy and I   The spread of food (minus the hotdogs): BBQ ranch potato salad, whole wheat pasta salad, veggies and dip, cole slaw, and fruit salad  My brother's girlfriend Olivia made jello fruit! My sister and I around the bonfire Hope that everyone is having a great month so far! I am glad to be living close to other people we know again!

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May 21, 2012

Oofos Review and Giveaway

Recently, I had the opportunity to review the most comfortable flip-flops ever called Oofos .  The material used is very squishy and comfortable. They come in different colors for both men and women.  You have the choice of the slide or thongs sandals. For my review, I chose a pair of hot pink Oofos.  I have been wearing them around for the last couple of weeks and cannot believe how comfortable they are. I have gone on 2 mile walks wearing these and have had no pain.  The "heel" on these is fairly high at about 1 1/2-2 inches which helps to give more support to your foot. Now I will be honest here and say that these are not extremely stylish. They are great for walks, being around your house, etc.  I would probably not wear these out on a date or anything like that though. Here is some information about Oofos: The shoe uses Oofoam. The patented foot-bed design delivers an unprecedented experience because of its unique energy absorption capabilities.  You may think

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May 19, 2012

Stonefire Quick Pizzas

I was recently sent some whole grain pitas and naan to review from Stonefire . I had tried these products awhile back and really liked them.  One night this past week, I pulled out a package of these from my freezer and made mini pizzas with them (see recipe below).  They were incredible.  The bread baked up really nicely and was perfectly chewy. My husband and I both really enjoyed these. This bread also has many other uses including pairing well with Indian food. Also, the pitas can be used for a Mediterranean pita with cucumbers, sour cream, tomatoes, chickpeas, etc. Stonefire Quick Pizzas Ingredients: 1 package of Stonefire Naan 1/2 can pizza sauce (I used Dei Fratelli sauce without added Italian spices) 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 10 slices Canadian bacon- chopped 1/2 fresh jalapeno-finely diced 1/2 larger tomato- chopped 1/4 green pepper- chopped 3/4 cup sharp white cheddar cheese- shredded Directions: 1. Chop all vegetables and Canadian bacon. 2. Take naan ou

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May 17, 2012

Willamette Valley Granola Chips Review

Willamette Valley is a company that makes granola chips that can be eaten plain or with milk. They come in 4 delicious flavors including butter pecan, wild berry, vanilla bean, and honey nut. I am a huge granola fan so I was interested in trying these. The first ones that I tried were the butter pecan flavor. These are delicious! They are big flakes that are great on their own.  They contain several whole grains including oats, barley, amarynth, and quinoa. Each serving is only 110 calories and 5 grams of sugar. I am impressed with the low amount of sugar since these taste quite sweet. They contain 3 grams of fiber but only 2 grams of protein.  These would also be awesome in milk or on top of yogurt. My mom who is not typically a sweets fan tried the vanilla bean ones.  She really loves them! She was shocked at how much she liked these and has been snacking on a few after meals. Also, I gave my brother a bag of the wild berry ones and he really liked those.  My favorite thing ab

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May 15, 2012

Aventura Clothing Review

  Aventura Clothing is a company that sells eco-friendly clothing. "Aventura Clothing has the mission to “help the earth… one garment at a time.” We want to provide our customers with fashionable “eco-friendly” products that will lower our ecologic footprint on the planet. Over 80% of this casual lifestyle clothing is made from environmentally friendly fabrics so you can feel good about looking great!". I found this company online when looking at different spring/summer clothing. I liked how casual the clothing looked, yet it was stylish. The company agreed to let me review a couple items and I chose the Celeste Bamboo Blend Dress and the Kyle Wrap Cardigan. The Celeste dress is the softest dress ever! When I took it out of the package, I had to let my family feel how soft it was because I could not believe it.  It also seemed to be very good quality. The dress is available in a grey or a blue color.  It is great because you really could wear it anywhere. It i

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May 14, 2012

5 Tasty Veggies Cooked 5 Different Ways

We could all stand to change our diet and make it a little healthier.   One great way to easily improve the nutrition you are receiving with each meal is to eat more vegetables.   Veggies are often the less popular choice for most as a side dish because other choices, such as fries, are “tastier.”   Are these fried sides that are not heart healthy really better on your palate than veggies or do most people just not know how to prepare these garden delicacies so they are living up to their mouthwatering potential?   I believe that when given the chance, these green options can prove just as crave worthy as the nearest garlic fry and at a fraction of the calories and damage to your heart. Asparagus Grilled - Spray your grill with non-stick cooking spray and place the asparagus spears directly on the grill surface.   Drizzle the spears with olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat when tender. Fire Roasted - When camping or grilling at home, you can wrap spear

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May 14, 2012

Yala Designs Review and Giveaway

Yala is a company that sells men and women's clothing, bedding, and accessories. Many of the items are organic. I had a fun time looking through all of the cute options. I loved some of the bedding that they sell and bath items including some grey towels that I really want. For my review, I was sent one of their new products called the BambooDreams Luna Pajama. It comes in three different colors: black, pink, or peach. I went with the peach ones because I loved the fun color for spring and summer.  The material is very soft and cozy.  I will definitely be enjoying wearing these pajamas through the spring and warm days of summer. Here is how Yala was created : Two teachers traveled in every type of vehicle and slept in challenging accommodations.  And that is when the idea came to us: a DreamSack for a clean, comfy, and nurturing night’s sleep. As people discovered our DreamSack and wanted one of their own, we realized we had the start of a company.  The DreamSack and it

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May 11, 2012

French Meadow Bakery Review

French Meadow Bakery is a company that sells tons of grain products.  They made breads, bagels, brownies, rolls, tortillas, and more.  They have a gluten free line which is great for those who need it. They have many organic and all-natural products. For my review, I was sent some sourdough rye bread, gluten free fudge brownies, pumpernickel rye bread, and spelt bread. I had not tried some of these varieties before and was excited to give them a try. I tried the fudge brownie first.  It is gluten free and extremely tasty.  Each brownie is pre-packaged into a small portion.  They are very chewy which I love.  I have been keeping them in the freezer and just pull one out when I want one. Sometimes I eat them frozen since they don't get super hard or I will let it defrost for about 10 minutes. Also, I like the sourdough rye bread.  With this bread, I made grilled cheese sandwiches.  I used goat cheddar cheese and grilled them up in my nonstick pan.  They turned out really w

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May 10, 2012

Glennys Low Calorie Snacks Review

Glennys is a company that makes all kinds of healthier snacks.  Some of the varieties include 100 calorie brownies, soy crisps, gluten free cookies, fruit & nut bars, and rice marshmallow treats. I love trying new snacks and was excited to try these. The first ones that I tried were the BBQ soy crisps.  These ended up being my favorite.  They were quite filling too since they are full of soy protein. One thing that can be deceiving is that the bag says that it contains 2 servings but I definitely think that it is 1.  Even if you eat the whole bag, it is only 140 calories. I like that they are made from soy because research shows that eating soy products may help to reduce the risk of heart disease. I also enjoyed the 100 calorie blondie.  It has chocolate chips in it which was very tasty.  To make it even better, smear a bit of peanut butter on it. Finally, the marshmallow treats are very tasty as well. They are also 100 calories. I like that they are portioned out to only 1

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May 10, 2012

#EclosBeauty Review and Giveaway

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of éclos Skin Care for SocialSpark . All opinions are 100% mine. Recently, I had the opportunity to try out a new to me skin care regimen.  It is called  éclos Skin Care and uses apple stem cells from a Swiss apple which has been shown to stimulate skin cells to behave like younger skin.  It also uses vitamins, anti-oxidants, and plant extracts to help get rid of fine lines, wrinkles, and tired skin. I started using this skin regimen about a week ago and can already see the difference.  My skin definitely looks more alive and awake.  This is great because a lot of times, I have dark circles under my eyes even if I sleep really well. Other products that use similar ingredients often are much more money.  This one is a fraction of the cost and retails for only $20 for a sample sized kit. These products are different from other anti-aging products because they use unique ingredient that help yo

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May 09, 2012

Planters Pistachios Review

I just professed my love for Planters peanut butter and now I have been sent some more Planters products.  I was sent 3 bags of their new pistachio blends and a bag of their almonds.  I love nuts as a snack because they are filling, quick to eat, contain dietary fibers, and heart healthy fats. Here is a descriptions of the new Planters products:  ·         Planters Sea Salt and Black Pepper In-Shell Pistachios: The combination of sea salt and black pepper enhances the flavor of the dry roasted pistachios ·         Planters Dry Roasted and Salted Almonds: All-natural, dry roasted wholesome California almonds ·         Planters Dry Roasted Pistachios: Dry-roasted in-shell pistachios ·         Planters Pistachio Blend: includes pistachios, peanuts, almonds and cashews My husband and I opened a bag of the pistachio blend one night for a snack.  It contains pistachios, peanuts, almonds and cashews.  The pistachios were definitely the tastiest part. They had a nice roa

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