The Nutritionist Reviews

June 30, 2012

Cool Gear Review

I am a big water water drinker and when I found Cool Gear last year, I knew that they would be a company that I really wanted to try out. Last year, I reviewed a big coffee travel mug which I usually use for tea and a salad cooler which has different compartments to keep your salad ingredients separated and cool.  I enjoyed both of these products and decided to contact the company again to do another review. This time, I chose the 64 ounce Cove water bottle and the 24 ounce Chiller. The Cove water bottle is shatter resistant, BPA free, dishwasher safe, and has a freezer stick in it to keep drinks cold. The Chiller is really neat and has a band on it so that your hand does not get too cold. I really like both of these and think it is neat that they come in different fun colors. On these super hot days, it is so important to stay hydrated and Cool Gear helps to keep your beverages cold as well as having stylish products to do so.  The products are very affordable. Both of these l

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June 29, 2012

Homemade Plum Jam

 There is nothing that I enjoy more than finding an amazing deal. I was at my favorite produce market called Randazzo and found a giant box of plums in the reduced section. It was about 15-20 pounds of plums and only cost $1.50!!! One of my favorite flavors is that of a cooked plum so the following morning, I started chopping all of my plums and put them into a pot. I ended up blending most of the sauce but kept some of it with chunks. Homemade Plum Jam Ingredients: 15-20 lbs chopped plums (can easily reduce this by how much plums you have) 1/2 cup tapioca mix Directions:  1. Chop plums into large bite sized pieces.  2. Throw into a large pot, add tapioca, add about a cup of water, and cook on high heat until it boils. 3. Once boiling, cover pot and reduce heat to low. Simmer plum mixture until it thickens and reduces. 4. Let sauce cool and then blend in a blender. If you like chunky sauce, it is excellent that way too. **Please note that this sau

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June 28, 2012

Christina Kaye Designs Review

I typically do not do reviews of too many Etsy products but when I saw Christina Kaye Designs , I became very interested. Christina sells a Michigan shirt which I think is awesome so I contacted her to review her products. I was sent a juniors size t-shirt with the state of Michigan on it. Recently, my husband and I moved across the state from Fennville, MI to Grosse Pointe Park, MI. We loved Fennville and although it is a great thing that we moved, we will also miss it very much. We loved going to Lake Michigan which was only a 10 minute drive and spent the first couple of years of our marriage there. When I saw that Christina Kaye Designs could put a heart on the area that you wanted on the shirt, I knew immediately that I wanted it to be on Fennville. This shirt is now a great reminder to me of all the wonderful times that we had there. This shirt is very high quality and is very soft. It fits well and I like the blue color with the red heart. This shirt is sold on Christina

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June 27, 2012

Glass with a Twist Review and Giveaway

For my husband and I's wedding, we got a set of engraved champagne glasses from my sister. Not only do we love the glasses but every time we use them, we have a great memory. Ever since then, I fell in love with engraved glasses. When I found Glass with a Twist , I knew that it was a company that I was very interested in. For my review, I chose two stemless glass wine glasses. I got my husbands and my name on them. The glasses turned out excellent and I am very happy with engraving. The best part about these glasses are that they are extremely affordable. For a set of two, it only costs $26.95 which includes the engraving!! Compared to any other company I have seen, this is an incredible deal. Normally, glasses like this would cost more like $80 elsewhere. Some other examples of custom glasses: I think that these would make an awesome gift for a couple for a wedding shower, wedding, anniversary, or anytime really. Besides the word on it, you can also choose the font which

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June 26, 2012

Bridgewater Candle Review

I first heard about Bridgewater Candles about a year and a half ago when I did my first review. Let me tell you something- these candles last FOREVER. Literally, I burned one of these almost every day and it lasted for months. They smell amazing and give out such a nice and cozy light. This time, I was sent the Sweet Summer Tea candle and the Special Edition candle. These both smell incredible. The Sweet Summer Tea one smells like strawberries to me.  The Special Edition candle is flowery and fresh. I plan to burn these when my husband and I sit outside in the summer and drink a glass of wine. Not only do these Bridgewater Candles smell great but they also help out a great cause called Light a Candle Feed a Child . Bridgewater donates a portion of each jar candle sale to Rice Bowls, a non-profit whose mission is to feed orphaned children worldwide. Each jar candle sold will feed a hungry child for one day. Since the program began we have been able to provide over 570,000 d

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June 26, 2012

Organized Living Review

My husband and I just moved into our first real home at the end of April. Since then, we have been trying to get organized as it makes life easier. Recently, I found a company called Organized Living that could help me get my kitchen and closet more organized. They are an affordable company with all different types of products. The first product that I chose was the Large Silverware Tray seen above. It retails for only $9.99 and is lined with silicon anti-bacterial to prevent bacterial growth. I chose this because it looked nice and is large for my big silverware drawer. As you can see in the picture above, it fits all my items very nicely and keeps my drawer organized for easy access to all items.   Large Silverware Tray and Utensil Tray The next item that I reviewed is called the Utensil Tray. This also retails for $9.99 and has the anti-bacterial silicon. This tray is sturdy and fits perfectly into my drawer. It may still look messy but I put like items together and th

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June 25, 2012

Eve Organics Makeup Review

I have done two reviews of Eve Organics products in the past. I loved them so much that I asked the company if I could do another review. The first review I did, I received a blush brush and an eyeshadow brush that I love. Two years later, I am still using it whenever I put on makeup. The second review was for a couple of mineral blushes. These are great colors and easy to use- just make sure not to get too much on the brush so you don't put too much on! Something I can't believe that I missed about this company the first two times that I reviewed them is that all products are made in Michigan!!!!!! Not only are they local to me by state but they are also made about 30-40 minutes from my new house. Considering that I love these products so much, this was very exciting to find out. If you don't have an excellent blush brush yet, you must try out this one from Eve Organics! This time around, I was sent black eyeliner and a peppermint chapstick. The chapstick is

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June 25, 2012

Revenge Is... Review

Revenge Is has been one of my favorite t-shirt brands for a long time now. I love what they stand for and I love the quality of their shirts. Their two main themes are endangered animals and eat your veggies. Of course as a soon to be dietitian, I especially love the veggie theme. For my review this time, I chose the "Eat Healthy" Broccoli shirt and the Exploited African Elephant shirt. Both of these shirts are extremely soft and great quality. I love that they are v-neck which is my favorite style. The shirts are both fitted and flattering. The elephant shirt shows a purple elephant and has some glitter on it. The shirts are made from 50% cotton and 50% recycled plastic bottles! Since I love nutrition, I thought I would share with you the description for the broccoli shirt: The health benefits of broccoli along with the easy availability of this super vegetable make it one of our most popular veggies. Broccoli provides a high amount of vitamin C and 3 grams of d

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June 24, 2012

SkinnyJeans Review and Giveaway

Colored jeans are all the latest rage this season. You can find them in every single color with all different sorts of outfits. SkinnyJeans is a company that sells all different colors of skinny jeans including colors, denim, white, etc.  I first reviewed this company last year when I was sent a pair of white jeans for my sister. She absolutely loves them and said that they are her favorite jeans and fit very well. Since colored jeans are so in and I did not have any yet, that is what I really wanted to review.  My favorite color is the light green (which looks kind of like aqua) but they were out of my size in those and I was sent the gold color.  These jeans are excellent quality! They are stretchy which makes them a bit more fitted. One thing to note is that this gold color is much darker and more intense in person which is not shown in the picture. Also to note is that these jeans are very, very long. I am 5'6" and these are probably at least 4 inches too long on m

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June 22, 2012

Spoonable Caramel Review

One of my favorite dessert type foods is caramel.  Dipping pretzels in it or drizzling on a banana are my favorite ways. When I found Spoonable - Brooklyn's Saucy Caramel, I knew I needed to try it.  I was sent three awesome flavors including just caramel, Brooklyn butterscotch, and sesame caramel. I think that the sesame is a really unique kind! I tried it and it had a nutty flavor which compliments the caramel really well. See the picture below for how many little sesame seeds are in it! Very neat. Also, "Spoonable is about using the best quality ingredients possible, never using any preservatives, and balancing the use of local and organic ingredients with fair pricing." I have to say that my favorite one is the just caramel.  At room temperature, it is liquid and drizzles well. In the fridge, it gets harder and I just heat some up when I want it.  It is sweet and salty. They use sea salt to make the perfect combination of salty and sweet. I love it! This cou

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June 21, 2012

Conte's Gluten Free Review

I've told you guys before how I like to try different gluten free products to share with clients that I see as an almost dietitian.  I saw Conte's products reviewed on a blog and was immediately interested in all of the delicious looking products.  All of the products are gluten free. For my review, I was sent a variety of products including ravioli, stuffed shells, pizza, and lasagna. One night for dinner, my husband and I heated up some stuffed shells and lasagna and split it.  The nutrition facts are not too bad. They do have quite a bit of sodium which is pretty standard for packaged food. The stuffed shells contain a good amount of protein because of the ricotta cheese which helped to keep us full. We served up the shells and lasagna with some roasted green beans. We both really loved both of the products.  My favorite part was definitely the tomato sauce. It was very fresh tasting.  The company gives a very generous portion of sauce which was great for dipping the

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June 19, 2012

Henri Lou Jewelry Review

Henri Lou is a company that sells women's jewelry.  They are nontraditional pieces and are edgy yet feminine.  Something great- the designer/owner of the company just had twin baby boys about a month ago! Their signature pieces are different leather bracelets. For my review, I was sent a couple pairs of earrings and a bracelet. My favorite thing is the gold leaf earrings.  They are nice because of course leaf earrings can be worn in the fall but they are actually appropriate for year round. They are 24k gold and also come in silver as well. The teardrop earrings are gold hammered. These are perfect for any occasion including a date, work, church, etc.  They are simple enough to go with anything yet can dress up an outfit as well. The bracelet that I was sent is a genuine leather bracelet. It is simple yet can be elegant. This one I would probably save for more casual occasions. The company also sells some mens jewelry.  All of the jewelry that  I reviewed seems to be

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June 18, 2012

JustFruit Bars Review and Giveaway

My whole life I have been a huge fan of fruit. I love fresh, frozen, dried, cooked, etc. When I found Gorge Delights JustFruit bars, I knew that I would instantly be a fan.  They are like a healthy fruit roll-up type of thing. They remind me of back when I was in 7th grade, I would watch Martha Stewart everyday and saw an episode where she made her own fruit roll-ups. I had to make my own and they came out tasting a lot like these JustFruit bars. These come in tons of flavors including apple, pear, pear blueberry, pear cranberry, apple raspberry, apple cherry, etc.  JustFruit bars are available in 2 sizes, 40 gram & 25 gram. The 40g bars are nutritionally equivalent to eating 2 servings of fruit while the 25g bars are equal to slightly more than 1 serving. The 25g bars weigh in at only 90 calories each too, making them a great under-100 calorie snack. I love that they have the 2 different sizes so you can have a little one if you just need a little snack or the

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June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my dad! He ran his first half marathon today and did great. Here are some pictures from the event in Ann Arbor, MI: Happy Father's Day to all of the special men in your lives!

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June 17, 2012

Wayfare Foods Review

I was recently contacted to try these Wayfare products which are soy free, gluten free, and vegan.  I love trying new to me foods so when this great package arrived at my door, I opened a couple products right away. I was sent three different puddings: chocolate, vanilla, and butterscotch. These are actually made with whole grains including millet, oats, rice, and lima beans.  I opened up the chocolate pudding and loved it! It tastes just like regular pudding and is thick and satisfying.  I put this in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes and loved the results. It firmed up and was very cold.  Each serving is 110 calories and 15% of your daily calcium.  I really enjoyed it! The other product that I tried and really liked was the cheddar spread. I was having guests over for a lunch party and combined this with a creamy ranch dip and served it with rosemary toasts.  It was delicious and a huge hit! It was gone by the end of the lunch!! My mom especially really liked it. This is m

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June 16, 2012

Melt Spread Review

I was lucky to try Melt organic spread last year when I was sent some for review.  I was contacted by the company again this year to see if I wanted some more. Last year, I really fell in love with this spread and couldn't wait to get my hands on some more since it is not sold in my area. The most noticeable thing about this spread that you notice the second you taste is it has a distinct coconut flavor.  I love coconut so the addition of this to anything is great.  Melt is a healthier fat and is made with coconut oil, palm fruit oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, and flaxseed oil.  This product is certified organic.  It has a bunch of Omega 3 fatty acids which are hard to get in foods that are not fish so it is great that this spread is full of them. It has 50% less saturated fat and calories than butter. One tablespoon of Melt has 80 calories. The last time that I was sent Melt, I made this gluten free macaroni and cheese Here are my favorite uses for Melt that I have be

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June 15, 2012

Ehrmann Bavarian Yogurt Review

I'm a big yogurt fan and love trying new kinds. When I heard about this Bavarian yogurt, I knew that I must see what it is like. Ehrmann yogurt comes separate from the fruit mixture which is attached on the side and can be dumped into the yogurt.  I was sent four flavors including: blackberry pomegranate, blueberry, cherry, and strawberry. The first yogurt that I tried was the cherry.  The consistency of the yogurt is quite loose. I found it to be like a mix between regular yogurt and a smoothie.  The flavor was quite good on its own and I only ended up mixing about 1/3 of the fruit mix in.  The cherry mixture had nice big chunks of cherries and was flavorful. Here is some information about this yogurt:  Europe’s latest addition to American dairy shelves, Ehrmann Yogurt provides a good source of vitamins A & D and each serving supplies 15% of the daily recommended calcium intake (based on a 2,000 calorie diet). Each 5.3 ounce cup packs seven grams of protein and onl

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June 13, 2012

What to Expect Giveaway

The What to Expect series of books have been known to be the "pregnancy bibles". They are now on the 4th version of the books with updated information. I have not read these books yet as I am not pregnant/do not have children but plan to one day in the future. Also, did you know about the What to Expect website which is the online version of the books? It is a site full of all kinds of information on pregnancy, babies, and toddlers. Why choose What to Expect? -They are the most trusted, best selling pregnancy guide and website; According to USA Today, 93% of all pregnant mothers who read a pregnancy guide read What To Expect When You're Expecting. The series has been described as the bible of American pregnancy. -Over 1.5 million monthly unique visitors to WhatToExpect.com: second-largest audience of moms-to-be online. There are three different What To Expect books: These would be great for a gift to someone who is expecting or for yourself if you are plan

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June 13, 2012

Melissa's Produce Review and Giveaway

Melissa's is a company that sells all sorts of fresh, cooked, and dried produce. They also sell different grains, beans, etc.  A year or so ago, I was sent Melissa's cookbook called Everyday Cooking with Organic Produce . It is a fantastic cookbook filled with tons and tons of recipes using different fruits and vegetables.  When it come to cooking, typically I am pretty creative but sometimes, you just don't know what to do with an odd vegetable. This book has recipes for everything that sound great! This time, I was sent some different grains, beets, potatoes, and lentils. I am a huge fan of beets but of course one of the major negatives is that it dyes your hands reddish and can be messy. These beets from Melissa's come pre-peeled, precooked, and ready to eat.  To make the salad below, I just opened the package, took out the beet, and sliced it up. Easy! It tasted just like when I make them fresh. Salad with romaine lettuce, tomato, Melissa's beets, and

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June 12, 2012

Vaska Detergent Review

Vaska is a company that sells laundry detergent, fabric softener, and stain remover. The products are designed to clean your clothes well but not hurt the environment, you, or your clothes. Clinical tests involving Vaska show that it removes 75% visible stains  and 100% of invisible stains (dyes, toxins, pollutants). I was excited to try Vaska after hearing good things about it. One of my favorite things about it is that it is very concentrated and requires much less per use. Each bottle that is not very large can do 28 loads! It is never tested on animals and contains natural ingredients. Some of the ingredients include: plant based surfactants, vegetable conditioner, water soluble degreasing agent. The bottles are also made out of recycled materials. There are two different kinds of the detergent: unscented and lavender. Since I like my clothes to have some scent, I prefer the lavender. The unscented would be perfect for hunting season when my dad and husband don't want a

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June 11, 2012

Manna Organics Review and Giveaway

  I am a  big fan of Manna Bread and have been for about 2 years now. You can take a look at my first and second raving reviews. I was able to choose 4 products to try so I chose some of my favorites along with the new to me organic trail mix. Now let me give you some information from the company on this bread so you know how it is different from other breads: It’s not really bread. It can be best described as a meal of whole sprouted grains, moist and denser than bread. Muffin- or cakelike in consistency. Baked at low temperatures for a short time – almost raw. Nothing like other sprouted breads out there! It doesn’t rise, has no yeast, no salt, no flour, no oils. Very delicious and different. My three favorite flavors of this bread is millet rice which is not very sweet, fruit and nut which has big crunchy chunks of nuts in it, and banana walnut which is sweeter and tasty.  These breads have amazing nutrition facts that I can eat knowing that I am putting good s

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June 10, 2012

Kettle Chips Review

  Kettle Chips have been a favorite chips of mine for a long time. I love how they are super crunchy, salty, and tasty. Also, they sell baked varieties as well as reduced fat. For my review, I chose 5 bags of chips including jalapeno, baked hickory honey BBQ, baked salt and vinegar, sweet onion, and reduced fat sea salt and vinegar chips. When the box came, my husband got super excited because the jalapeno and sweet onion are his favorite flavors ever.  He opened a bag of the sweet onion and dug in.  These are so amazing. They are covered in super oniony flavor and are great with any kind of dip too.   My bags are the salt and vinegar ones and the BBQ.  I really like the reduced fat salt and vinegar and had not tried the baked yet.  They baked ones are very tasty too! They have less of the greasy chip taste but still have all of the tangy flavor. Yes, I am going to be a dietitian but I still enjoy having some chips every now and again. Everything can be enjoyed in moder

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