The Nutritionist Reviews

August 31, 2013

Kia 2014 Soul and $25 iTunes Gift Card Giveaway

Troy and I have been talking about purchasing a new car in the next year or so (he wants sooner, I want later). I'm not sure exactly what I am going to be getting but I enjoy looking at the different options. My brother has a Kia and really likes it! He has had it for 4 years without any issues. Kia is introducing their new 2014 Kia Soul. This is a unique car that is square in shape looks different than many cars. Check out this video of the new car. Love the little hamsters! Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Kia Motors Giveaway   The giveaway will be for a $25 iTunes gift card to one lucky reader from Kia. The giveaway will end Thursday 9/5 at midnight! 1. To enter, you just have to let me know in a comment what you like best about the Kia Soul commercial. 2. For a second entry, you can tweet your favorite part of the commercial including @Kia and the hashtag #Hamsters 2014 Soul Shown. Expected Fall 2013.

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August 30, 2013

Pomegranate Peach Cocktail

Although I'm not a big mixed drink fan, I do love creating a fun beverage every once in awhile. I was recently sent a bottle of Starr African Rum to try and I decided to create a recipe with it. This cocktail is fun for summer while peaches are plentiful! Starr African Rum Pomegranate Peach Cocktail Ingredients: 1/2 cup pomegranate juice 2 medium-large fresh peaches 3 ounces Starr African Rum Handful of ice Directions:  Blend all ingredients together in blender. Now go outside and enjoy this fresh and fruity cocktail! I enjoyed the flavors of this Starr African Rum ! It went well with the peach flavors. The bottle is especially awesome. I love that it is red and a really neat shape. Thanks to Starr African Rum for providing a bottle of rum for my review.

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August 29, 2013

Zak! Designs Review and Giveaway

About 2 1/2 years ago, I reviewed some bowls from Zak! Designs z. I still use those bowls daily to this day. The heart shaped bowls that I received are used for condiments and other small servings of food. I serve my dogs food in two of the dishes and they have stood up to being outside for about 6 months now. I think that Zak! Designs makes high quality bowls that stand up to the elements including weather, being washed, dropping (whoops), etc. For my review this time, I was sent some of their new Moso Serving Bowls and Callaway plates. I requested to review the Callaway plates because as a blogger who often creates recipes, I have been wanting white plates that I can photograph food on. These are perfect because I love the square shape and they make food pop in photos.  By the way, these are my Dad's homegrown peaches! The Moso serving bowls are great for large salads, snack, mashed potatoes, etc. These products are eco-friendly. These Zak Design! bowls use 75% b

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August 28, 2013

Vitafusion Vitamins Review

Vitafusion gummies review including nutrition information and why these vitamins make a good choice. Vitafusion Gummies Review If your diet is not 100% like most of us, I think that taking vitamins can be a great way to supplement your intake to meet your nutrient needs. Vitafusion is the makers of many kinds of gummy vitamins which are both for children and adults. Keep reading for my Vitafusion gummies review. Many times when I take a regular multivitamin in pill form, it makes me feel sick. That is not the case with Vitafusion gummies. I have taken these for a few months but have never felt bad after taking them. They are squishy like gummy bears and have a fun, fruity flavor. Are Vitafusion gummies good for you? Yes, Vitafusion gummies have important nutrients! Vitafusion gummies have all different types of vitamins including multivitamins, omega 3, vitamin C, vitamin B12, prenatals, calcium and more. These are great for people who hate swallowing pills. They are also perfe

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August 27, 2013

The Republic of Tea Cuppa Cake Review

As you know, I love The Republic of Tea! Here are my past reviews: - The Republic of Tea Harvest of the Season Tea - The Republic of Tea Iced Teas - The Republic of Tea Be Active Teas - The Republic of Tea U Matcha - The Republic of Tea Teas -Another  The Republic of Tea review For now, this may be the last of my partnership with The Republic of Tea but I'm sure that I will be working with them again in the future. I was recently sent some awesome teas from their new Cuppa Cake teas line. They have three flavors: Lemon Chiffon, Blueberry Bundt and Caramel Vanilla. All three are awesome! Two of them (Lemon Chiffon and Blueberry Bundt) are caffeine free making them a good choice for evening sipping. In fact, as I write this post, I am drinking the Lemon Chiffon. Here is a description of each tea and my opinion of them: - Lemon Chiffon - This tea pleasantly surprised me! It did not have an artificial lemon flavor but had a flavorful dessert smell. It is lightly flavored an

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August 26, 2013

Bogart's Barkery Review and Giveaway

I have quite a story to go along with today's review. My mom took her dachshund to the vet about a month ago because she had all of these bumps over her stomach which seemed to have happened up north at my parent's farm. The vet said it was probably a staph infection and gave her an antibiotic. The vet stupidly said to my mom that if it does not get better, it could be cancer. Of course this was a long shot and he should not have even mentioned it because it only made my mom upset. She went to her car and was crying because she was so worried about the dog. A lady came up to her car, knocked on the window and asked if she was okay. They got to talking and the woman told my mom that she has a pet treat company. My mom told her about my blog and she recently contacted me to have my dogs try her dog treats. To me, this is a great company from the start because I know that the owner is so kind to have gone and check up on my mom! Bogart's Barkery is small, local Michig

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August 25, 2013

Teespring Review

Teespring is a company that lets you create and sell custom t-shirts. It is used for groups, causes and communities. The apparel is custom and you can create whatever you like on it. Anyone can design a shirt from Teespring and sell on Facebook, Twitter or through anywhere else online. The seller is able to keep all of the profit that the shirt earns.  Sample shirt that a family created who wanted to adopt. People are not just using this to make money for themselves but also as a fundraising tool. For example, a couple who wanted to adopt was selling shirts to help make money to go toward their adoption. Also, you could raise money for breast cancer by creating a shirt on this site as well. The shirts are not printed or shipped until the end date that is set by the seller comes. They do not have to pay anything upfront which makes it no risk since you will not be printing too many extra shirts. If you are trying to raise money for something, consider working with Teespring.

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August 25, 2013

Lucy's Granola Review

r I am quite particular with my granola. It has to have a certain tasty flavor, have real ingredients and not have too many calories. I only have had one true brand of granola that I liked before trying this one. I was sent some Lucy's Granola to try and review here on my blog. Lucy's Granola is a mix of whole grains and unprocessed ingredients. It contains oats, wheat, spelt, almonds, coconut, cranberries and raisins. They have kinds such as original, practically gluten-free, naughty chocolate cherry and really nutty pecan. I love every flavor of this granola! It is tasty and simple. It does not contain a whole bunch of unusual ingredients but keeps it simple with whole foods. The small size bags have 160 calories and I split that up over 2 days to eat over my morning Greek yogurt. Lucy's Granola is also very tasty eaten the typical way with milk. My favorite flavor would have to be the naughty chocolate cherry with dried cherries and chocolate. I enjoyed tryi

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August 24, 2013

Pajama Shoppe Review and Giveaway

Although it is not quite Fall yet, the cool weather will come sooner than we think. The Pajama Shoppe has many pajamas and robes to offer to keep you warm and comfortable. For my review, I was sent the Paddie Murphy softies pajama set. The set is very soft and comfortable. The size is my normal size but fits much larger than other pajamas in the same size. I am not able to wear the top because it is quite large. The pajamas are made of stretch jersey and is supposed to be looser fitting. For comfort, the pants have an elastic waistband. These PJs from The Pajama Shoppe are comfortable and will be great for the upcoming cooler weather. Here are a couple of my other favorite items from The Pajama Shoppe : Giveaway The giveaway will be for a $75 Pajama Shoppe gift certificate to one reader! a Rafflecopter giveaway

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August 23, 2013

Cool Gear Review

I have been a fan of Cool Gear products for some time now and have written a couple of blog reviews on them before. They are a company that creates products to keep your food and beverages the correct temperature whether that means hot or cold. I think that their products are good quality and last a long time. For my review, I was sent the 14 ounce Mason double wall insulated mug, 32 ounce water bottle, and Stay Fit lunch chiller to try out. When I received the Cool Gear purple insulated mug, I instantly fell in love with it. It became my new favorite travel mug and I have been using it at least twice per day for the last 3 weeks. It keeps your drinks hot for at least and hour and warm for at least 2 hours. It is great to have tea or coffee in. Because of the wall that is double insulated, heat does not escape too quickly letting you slowly drink your beverage. The Cool Gear 32 ounce water bottle is great too. It is BPA free so you don't have to worry about toxins leaking

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August 22, 2013

Cranberry Pecan Summer Squash Bread

I love creating uncommon baked goods and this time is no exception. My parent's grew a ton of zucchini and summer squash and gave my husband and I some to use. I decided to make something similar to a healthy zucchini bread and this is what I came up with. It turned out absolutely delicious and I will be making it again next year.  Cranberry Pecan Summer Squash Bread Servings : Makes 2 large loaves, 22 servings Ingredients: 12 ounce bag frozen cranberries 4 cup shredded summer squash (you can shred these in a food processor or by hand on the grater) 1 cup applesauce 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 cup canola oil 3 eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 cup sugar 3 cups whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon ground flax seed 1 tablespoon chia seeds 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 ripe banana, mashed 1/2 cup chopped walnuts Directions: 1. Mix all ingredients together well but do not overmix.  2. Pour batter into two bread pans

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August 21, 2013

Straw Propeller Oatmeal Review

I think that oatmeal is one of the most delicious foods! I eat oatmeal or Greek yogurt everyday for breakfast. I was recently sent some samples of oats to try from Straw Propeller. Straw Propeller makes a bunch of flavors of oats which are perfect for on the go. I was sent some great flavors including banana bread, strawberry jungle, cherry and chia, peaches and berry bramble, blueberry blitz and apple crisp. One morning for breakfast, my husband and I eat chose a flavor of oats to try. I chose the peaches and berry bramble and he chose the apple crisp. We both liked out selections a lot. I do wish that it was a little less sweet because I do not like to eat a lot of sugar in the morning. My oats were filled with freeze dried peaches and raspberries which were very tasty. One cup of these oats are very, very filling. Another day eating these oats, I could not even finish the entire container. The other flavor that I tried was the cherry and chia. Chia seeds are a good source of

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August 20, 2013

Teeki Review and Giveaway

Yep, yep, I'm a dork! You all know by now that I love cute workout clothing. There is something so motivating to put on stylish clothing to workout. I was recently sent a pair of Teeki hot pants for my review. What is unique about Teeki is that their clothing is made out of plastic recycled bottles. I love the idea of making clothing from recycled products! These pants are made out of 79% recycled plastic and 21% spandex. I love this fun pattern with black and white stripes and little yin and yangs on them. The material feels awesome and unlike anything I have had before. They are very soft, stretchy and just neat. These pants are breathable, chafe resistant and antibacterial. These retail for $66. I plan to use these for walking, running and indoor workouts. They will be perfect especially when the weather gets cooler. These Teeki pants are very unique and I love that they are made with recycled plastic bottles. Giveaway The giveaway will be for the Teeki Balan

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August 19, 2013

Career Update

Flowers from my co-workers on my last day- love them! Since I last shared that I received my Master's degree , I have a new update to share with you. I have been a dietitian at a nursing home in Southgate, MI for over a year now and have really enjoyed it. I have gotten alot of experience, learned more about the field of dietetics and met some amazing people. I love my coworkers which is rare in many jobs. However, I was recently hired at a new position at a larger nursing home in Detroit, MI for a new company. Today is my first day on the new job and I am pretty excited! I finally get my own office and the building is huge. They have two (two!!) kitchens and they have 24/7 meal service for the residents. I will be doing mostly clinical work like I do at my current job. I will be charting on residents with weight loss, wounds, dialysis, tube feeding, TPN and any other clinical issues. I complete all nutritional charting which I love. Wish my luck on my new job. I ho

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August 19, 2013

Hilary's Veggie Burgers Review and Giveaway

I love veggie burgers. I am not a vegetarian or anything but do not eat much meat. I was recently sent some free product coupons from Hilary's Eat Well vegetarian burgers and redeemed them at my new Whole Foods near my home. I purchased one of each kind of veggie burger to try. Since my husband loves flavors like chili and cumin, I made him the adzuki bean burgers. For me, I made the veggie burger. These are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and egg and corn free. Each burger is about 200 calories. I decided to grill these and they turned out very well! I just sprayed each frozen veggie burger with a bit of nonstick spray and placed them right on the grill. They held their shape well and we ate them on buns with tomato, lettuce and onions. Both burgers were very tasty. They are made with millet, quinoa, spinach, onion, garlic, coconut oil and other natural ingredients. No artificial ingredients or chemicals. I made extra of these Hilary's veggie burgers and had them f

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August 18, 2013

Sassimi Robe Review

To me, there is nothing like cute and comfortable clothing. I was recently sent this robe from Sassimi and I absolutely love it. Sassimi is a company that sells pajamas and robes. I was sent the Del Mar Midweight Spa Robe for my review. The robe is made of bamboo rayon and spandex making it very stretchy. The robe comes in black or the coral color that I chose. The sleeves are full length and the robe hits just above my knees. When I was sent this robe at the beginning of August, I honestly did not think that I would get too much use out of it until the weather got cooler in September. Boy, was I wrong! The mornings especially here in Michigan have been very cool and it has felt great to wear this robe to warm up. I think that it feels like excellent quality. I love the fit and the length of the robe. I know that I will get a ton of use out of this robe and I would definitely recommend this company and their products.

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August 17, 2013

Lenny and Larry's and Promax Protein Review

I was recently sent a couple kinds of protein bars to try. They both were higher in calories than the ones that I choose to eat so I had my husband try them since he is trying to gain weight and add muscle. He loved both brands! Lenny and Larry's Review My husband very much enjoyed the Lenny and Larry's high protein cookies and brownies. Each cookie has 15 grams of protein and over 400 calories. For someone trying to gain weight, this is good but for most people, we do not need that many calories at once. My husband described the peanut butter cookie as one of the most delicious ones that he has ever had! He ate two at once and was surprised that he was so full- haha, he just ate 800 calories worth of cookies. Troy enjoyed the caramel walnut brownie which is also high in calories and contains 20 grams of protein. Promax Review I was sent a few types of products to try from Promax including Fit 'n Crisp bars, Promax Pro Series, Promax Lower Sugar and regular Pro

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August 16, 2013

Every Man Jack Review and Giveaway

My husband loves to try different grooming products but he does have his favorites. Troy first reviewed Every Man Jack products two years ago and really liked the products. He thought that they were good quality and worked well. For his review this time, my husband was sent a variety of Every Man Jack products to try. He was sent some deodorants, face lotion, shave cream and face scrub. My husband is unable to use the deodorant since it is not an antiperspirant so we will give those to my brother to try. My husband likes the lotion which will help to keep his skin moisturized in the dry winter. The face scrub cleans your face well without being too harsh. Since he is Mexican, his facial hair grows very fast and he has to shave often. This Every Man Jack shave cream is sensitive enough that he can use it often. These facial products are fragrance free. My husband really likes the Every Man Jack products and says that he highly recommends them to all men. These products are

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August 15, 2013

Wholly Guacamole OMGuac Your Lunch

As you know, I am a huge fan of Wholly Guacamole and Wholly Salsa products. I wanted to let you know about the Wholly Guacamole contest going on right now. The OMGuac Your Lunch program is going on now for back to school to help make lunch for both you and your kids. Go to EatWholly.com/omg for ideas, a $1.00 of your purchase coupon and a chance to win a $100 gift card for free Wholly Guacamole products. Winners will be chosen 9/27. The One Lunch, Two Ways give you some great ideas how to create different lunches using the same ingredients to keep things interesting for you and your family. They even have shopping lists ready to go to make it easier on you and your family. To enter , all you have to do is enter your OMGuac lunch photo to win #100 and free Wholly Guacamole products.

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August 15, 2013

Strawberry Banana Spinach Protein Smoothie

I was recently sent some Gnarly Whey Protein to try and review here on my blog. I chose the vanilla flavor since vanilla can mix well into many different things. I have made about 5 recipes using Gnarly Whey so far and really like it. It leaves no gritty or chalky feel in the food. It mixes well without contributing too much to the flavor. The Gnarly Whey protein helps keep me full between meals. My favorite and new-to-me use for protein powder is in oatmeal. It mixes in very well and tastes great. Oatmeal is super healthy as it is rich in whole grains and fiber. It is a bit lacking in protein though and this whey protein adds the perfect amount of protein to my oatmeal. One scoop of this protein powder has 86 calories, 12.5 g protein, 2 g fiber and 2 g fat. The protein powder does contain stevia leaf and erythritol for sweetness. I also have created several different protein smoothies using the Gnarly Whey Protein. Here is one of my recipes: Strawberry Banana Spinach P

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August 14, 2013

Luigi's Italian Ice Review

Luigi's Italian Ice Review In the summer, I love to have a bunch of frozen treats on hand to eat on a hot day. I was recently sent some Luigi's Italian Ice to review. They have some new flavors and some classics including sour apple, mango, lemon, strawberry, blue raspberry, cherry and watermelon. My husband and I like frozen treats, but my siblings LOVE them. They can easily eat 5 popsicles in a day. Since I was on vacation the week that I received these, I was hanging out with my siblings a lot and brought a bunch of these Italian ices with me to share with them. Luigi's Italian Ice My husband loves the strawberry flavor. My sister liked the mango. I had to try the cotton candy because it was unique. We had my siblings over on a Sunday to play Mario Party and watch a movie and they had a couple of these each. Is Italian ice healthy? Although these are not particularly nutritious, they are not a bad treat option either. These Luigi's Real Italian Ice

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August 13, 2013

Caribou Coffee Quiche Review

A couple of months ago, I reviewed the new Caribou Coffee Sparkling Teas and Juices which I enjoyed. I was recently contacted to try the new Caribou Coffee quiches. They come in two different kinds: ham and cheddar and spinach and swiss. I had the week off work for vacation and since  we were not going on any major trips, Troy and I decided to live it up in our own area. We went out to eat a lot and decided to bike to Caribou Coffee to try these new quiches. I ordered one of each for us to split and a coffee with a shot of caramel. One thing that I love about Caribou Coffee is that they have real plates and cups for you to use if you are going to eat there. My husband and I chose to eat outside which was really nice. These are the two new Caribou Coffee quiche: Ham and Cheddar:  Filled with eggs whipped with sweet cream, country ham and a blend of cheeses are folded in and baked until golden brown, all wrapped into a flakey pastry crust. Spinach and Swiss:  Tender spi

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August 12, 2013

New Chobani Greek Yogurt Review

I'm a little embarrassed how excited I was to do this review. I had emailed Chobani to try their new flavors of Greek yogurt and when they said yes, I literally screamed I was so excited! These flavors have not come to stores near me yet and I could not wait to try them. I Facebooked about it, told my husband, told my family and told my coworkers. Moral of the story- I love Chobani ! I eat Greek yogurt at least 5 days per week. I love that it is high in protein and contains real ingredients. Most of the regular Chobani yogurts range from 140-160 calories.  Chobani is my favorite Greek yogurt and that is usually what I purchase (depending on if there are certain sales). When I heard that they were coming out with new flavors, I could not wait to get my hands on them. Here are some of the new Chobani flavors and my opinion of them: -Chobani 2% Apricot- this yogurt is thick and creamy. The flavor is similar to peach. Love the apricot chunks in it! -Chobani 0% Blackberry

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