The Nutritionist Reviews

June 30, 2017

The Best Products of 2017 Part 15 + Giveaway

1. Pacific Play Tents Adalyn was 9 months old by the time that it was her first summer. With Oliver being a newborn in the summer, I was worried about being able to keep him out of the sun. I found an awesome product that Adalyn loves as well- Pacific Play Tents. I was sent the One-Touch Beach Tent and we love it. We brought it to my parent's farm and put Oliver in it when we were hanging out by their pond. **Keep reading for a Field Trip Jerky giveaway!

Continue Reading »

June 29, 2017

Asian Roasted Vegetables

Asian Roasted Vegetables features a mix of bell peppers, zucchini, peapods, mushrooms and broccoli with a sesame-soy dressing that makes the perfect side dish! Sometimes, dinner is thought out ahead of time and I have plenty of time to make whatever I feel like. Then, there are nights where I need to get dinner made quickly. Maybe the baby needs me more than normal that day or we were out enjoying summer a little too long and forgot about dinner. These Asian Roasted Vegetables are super easy to make and delicious for the whole family. Try these Grilled Asian Steak Kebabs .

Continue Reading »

June 28, 2017

Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade is tart and full of strawberry and lemon flavors. The perfect refreshing beverage for a hot day! It is hot, hot, hot here in Michigan! We have been having temperatures in the 90's and cold and refreshing beverages sound amazing. When I saw this recipe for Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website , I knew I had to make it. I love a tart lemonade and adding strawberries to it sounded even better.

Continue Reading »

June 27, 2017

BBQ Roasted Chickpeas

BBQ Roasted Chickpeas are a quick and delicious healthy snack or appetizer that tastes like your favorite salty, crunchy, tangy barbecue chips! Who here loves BBQ chips? *Raises hands*. Barbecue chips are easily one of my favorite kinds of chips and it is easy for me to down a few servings at a time. I decided to figure out how to make a great BBQ seasoning and make BBQ roasted chickpeas which I think you're going to love that are a healthier fiber and protein packed snack! I know that you guys are a fan of my roasted chickpeas because my Salt and Vinegar Roasted Chickpeas and regular Roasted Chickpeas are some of my post popular recipes on the blog! Since they are one of my favorite snacks and great if you're feeling munchy, I decided to try to make some different flavors and these BBQ roasted chickpeas are right up there with my favorite salt and vinegar ones.

Continue Reading »

June 26, 2017

Strawberry Blueberry Dutch Baby

Strawberry Blueberry Dutch Baby makes the perfect breakfast or brunch dish! Made healthier with whole-wheat flour and loaded with fresh berries and ready in less than a half-hour. Whenever I see a Dutch baby on a restaurant menu, I automatically think of the place as a little bit fancy. The truth is, that making a Dutch baby is actually not very hard at all! They are quite simple and customizable where you can make them whatever flavor you like.

Continue Reading »

June 23, 2017

The Best Products of 2017 Part 14

1. Soul Sprout Snacks I've been a fan of these blueberry bars for years and was excited to try out some of the other products from Soul Sprout. I love the blueberry nut bars which are loaded with nuts, especially crunchy almonds. These are a great mid-morning snack. The big bite snacks are also great. I love loading these up in my diaper bag for healthy and filling snacks on the go. They are protein and fiber rich from the nuts and whole-grains. They use sprouted ingredients for easier digestion. A perfect snack! **Keep reading for a Soul Sprout giveaway!

Continue Reading »

June 22, 2017

Healthy Fruit Crisp

Healthy Fruit Crisp is the perfect, easy dessert with your choice of fresh fruit! Made lighter with whole-wheat flour, less sugar and coconut oil. Nothing screams summer like a homemade fruit crisp. Even better if it is a healthier one! I am so not a baker but fruit crisp is something that I can do! I made this version with less sugar than a typical crisp, used coconut oil instead of butter and swapped white whole-wheat flour for white flour for a healthier yet still delicious crisp. I hate to toot my own horn but this is the best crisp I've ever had! It tastes so indulgent but is quite light. Make sure you use ripe fruit for the best flavor and sweetness.

Continue Reading »

June 21, 2017

Strawberry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt

Strawberry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt  is a healthier treat with just 5 ingredients, is packed full of protein with Greek yogurt and tastes like an indulgent dessert with rich cream cheese, strawberries and graham crackers. When I was growing up, before my parents bought their farm, we would go to my dad's uncle's farm once or twice a year. That is where my dad got his love for having a farm and decided to buy his own years later. On the way to the farm in Bad Axe, Michigan, there is the best gas station ever that serves tons of flavors of ice cream. What is unique about this place is the amount of ice cream that they give you. If you order the smallest size which is the 1/2 baby, it is about the size of a large at another place. If you don't have the biggest appetite and make the mistake of ordering any other size, you will definitely not be able to finish your ice cream. We have gone for most of our lives and I cannot wait to introduce it to Adalyn.

Continue Reading »

June 20, 2017

25 Favorite Blog Recipes

My mom had a great idea for this blog post that she gave me accidentally. We were chatting one day and she asked me what my favorite Nutritionist Reviews recipes were and it had me a little stumped. There are so many that I love- I would never share something with you that I didn't think was great! Today, I want to roundup my top favorite recipes that I have shared on the blog. The ones that I taste and go OMG, my readers are going to love this. Hope you enjoy!

Continue Reading »

June 19, 2017

Bruschetta with Pesto Flatbread Chips

Bruschetta with Pesto Flatbread Chips make the perfect appetizer or snack with fresh tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan  cheese and basil! The flatbread chips are thin, crispy and loaded with flavorful pesto. I absolutely love bruschetta! I have made it several times myself and my sister makes a great version as well. What is crazy about it is that it only takes 5-10 minutes to make and tastes so fresh and delicious.  I was trying to think about what would make this recipe even more delicious and I thought of pesto flatbread chips. I took two thin flatbreads, spread one of them with a thin layer of fresh and flavorful pesto, cut them into pieces and baked them until they were crispy. The pesto flatbread chips tastes so good with the bruschetta! It is a perfect combination. 

Continue Reading »

June 16, 2017

The Best Products of 2017 Part 13

1. Juice from the Raw I love trying different fresh juices! Not as a cleanse or detox but to go along with the other foods that I eat. I was sent the 3 day believer cleanse with cashew milk and have been enjoying these with a snack or meal. My favorites are a tie between the Pineapple Mint and the Spicy Lemonade. 

Continue Reading »

June 15, 2017

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce take 20 minutes to make and is rich in delicious grilled flavors and a tangy peanut sauce! Chicken satay is a recipe that my mom has been making for many years. I believe that she found her recipe for it in a cookbook and my siblings and I have loved it since the first time that we tried it. This version is a little bit different as the only ingredients in that one are barbeque sauce, peanut butter and chicken- I figured that I needed to make a little more substantial recipe to share than that- though that one is incredible!

Continue Reading »

June 14, 2017

Cookie Dough Lactation Bites

Cookie Dough Lactation Bites take just 5 minutes to make and are the perfect healthy snack for the nursing mom featuring oats, flax and a secret protein and fiber packed ingredient! Lately, I can't get enough homemade, healthy cookie dough everything! Ever since I came up with my Healthy Cookie Dough Dip recipe, I've been testing out different things to make with the cookie dough. Stay tuned for a healthy cookie dough ice cream recipe coming soon!

Continue Reading »

June 13, 2017

Grilled Bratwurst Kebabs

Grilled Bratwurst Kebabs are simple to make and are loaded with flavorful beer brats, bell peppers, onions, potatoes and zucchini for the perfect meal! This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smithfield®. The opinions and text are all mine. During the summer months, we are constantly grilling. Some of my favorites are grilled chicken, grilled vegetables, grilled pizza and kebabs. I love experimenting with different kinds of kebabs.

Continue Reading »

June 12, 2017

Rainbow Roasted Vegetables

Rainbow Roasted Vegetables are simple to make and customizable with your choice of different red, orange, yellow, green and purple vegetables and 4 spice blends for the perfect side dish! One of my very favorite ways to eat vegetables is to roast them. It is so easy and very customizable. If you want Mexican flavored vegetables, it is simple to do that. You can make them have an Italian flair, or a tangy Dijon mustard sauce or even Mediterranean spices and feta cheese. The options are truly endless!

Continue Reading »

June 10, 2017

Culinary Council Cooking Event at Macy's June 17th-Troy, MI

Did you know that Macy's has many free cooking events? I love these types of events! There is a fun one coming up if you are a local Michigan resident. It is June 17th at Somerset Mall in Troy. It is featuring Tim Hollingsworth for a Culinary Council Cooking Demonstration !

Continue Reading »

June 09, 2017

Oliver Richard: 2 Month Update

Life is good at two months! We were blessed with the most chill baby that cries so much less than his sister so at this point, I say life with two kids is going pretty darn well. The only time that we really struggle is when Oliver won't stop crying and Adalyn is in meltdown/destruction mode at the same time. Then, I lose my mind a bit! Here is what is going on with Oliver at 2 months old.

Continue Reading »

June 08, 2017

Teaching Our Toddler to Swim

This post was sponsored by SwimWays as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. It is almost summer! I cannot wait. Adalyn and I have been talking about swimming for the last few months and we cannot wait until we get to jump into our local pool at our park, visit the different lakes around Michigan and swim at my parent's farm. My daughter is now 2 1/2 and I really want to focus on teaching her to be more confident in the water this year. Last year, Adalyn took swim lessons at our park pool. Troy took her to them since he is a teacher and is off work in the summer. Adalyn loved the classes which were only about 30 minutes long and it taught her to get used to the water more.

Continue Reading »

June 07, 2017

Coffee Smoothie

Coffee Smoothie is a 5-ingredient healthy smoothie that is ready in just 2 minutes and makes the perfect breakfast or snack! Like many of you, I can't wait for my morning cup of coffee. I just love it! Troy and I say that one of the happiest parts of our morning is having our coffee. Most days, I drink my coffee hot out of a travel mug that keeps my coffee hot for hours (as a busy mom, it takes forever to drink my coffee because I am always doing stuff for the kids). 

Continue Reading »

June 06, 2017

7 Time-Saving Tips for Parents

As a mom with a newborn and a 2 1/2 year old, life is busy! I try hard to get everything done that I want to but some days, it just doesn't happen. The baby is crying, the toddler is getting into all kinds of trouble all over the house and nothing gets done. Times like this are hard for me to accept because I have a type-A personality and thrive on getting things crossed off of my to-do list. Therefore, I have to make an effort to save time when I can so that I can get done the things that I need to do. Here are some of the things that I've been doing lately:

Continue Reading »

June 05, 2017

How to Host a Backyard Party

Troy and I love to entertain, especially in the summer. It is so much easier to setup your backyard for a party than it is to get your whole house picture perfect for a gathering. I like having people in an open space such as my yard than the house. The parties always turn out great and they have a low-key vibe that I really like. We recently threw a nice party with my family (parents and siblings) in our yard with some appetizers, drinks and spent time together hanging out and chatting. This summer, we will continue to entertain in our yard, especially since we have young kids and getting out of the house is a little bit more difficult with bedtimes and having to bring a million things everywhere we go. I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks for entertaining in your backyard including things we do to get ready for company.

Continue Reading »

June 03, 2017

Oliver's Newborn Photos

When Oliver was 6 days old, we had a photo shoot with local photographer Amanda Armitage . I heard great things about her work and had seen her photos over the last couple years and always loved them. When I was pregnant with Oliver, I contacted her first because I knew that she would do a great job.

Continue Reading »

June 02, 2017

7 Best Energy-Boosting Snacks

This blog post is part of a paid Megan Media and Health Warrior blogging program. All opinions are my own. #HealthWarriorWay I have written before about how I love snacking. I snack all day long and therefore, when choosing snacks, I try to choose ones that are both nutritious and tasty. Currently, I am home on maternity leave, which means I’m always busy with my toddler and newborn. I am also breastfeeding, so I am especially hungry all the time. Snacks need to be quick, and since I am not getting a lot of sleep, it helps if they are nutritious and energy-boosting.

Continue Reading »

June 01, 2017

10 Gift Ideas for the Guy in Your Life

This is a sponsored post. As always, all opinions are my own. With Father's Day coming up as well as Troy's birthday, I  have been thinking about what to get him. In a way, the guy has everything. There is nothing that he truly needs but of course, there are things that he/we want. I thought about it for awhile what are some of the things that Troy would love for a gift and this is what I came up with (with some guidance from him as well!).

Continue Reading »