The Nutritionist Reviews: August 2014

August 31, 2014

Our Baby Shower

My mom, sister and sister-in-law threw Troy and I a wonderful baby shower. Since the baby is due in September and I am obsessed with apples and fruit, the shower was apple themed! It was a really nice day and we blessed with so many gifts from family. Aww baby adirondeck chair The hosts of the shower and I Troy, my busia and I- it was her 86th birthday! Measuring how many pieces of toilet paper can go around me- haha! Big salad buffet Lots of presents It was a wonderful event and we are very thankful for all the people who spent the day celebrating with us!

August 30, 2014

Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport Review

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Sprint. I received a sample device to facilitate this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating. As part of my awesome partnership with Sprint, I was sent the Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport to review. This phone is aimed at people who love living an active life. It is dirt and water resistant. It has something called Sprint Fit Live which is an app that records fitness and activity from different apps including MapMyFitness and shows it in an easy to find place. I really thought that this was neat because I take my phone for my daily exercise every single day. Each morning when I wake up, I take my trusty 10 lb dachshund with me on a walk (the other dachshund goes straight back to bed after eating her breakfast). He has kept me accountable to walk daily during my pregnancy. We go 1-2 miles usually around my neighborhood. While I walk, I check my email, Facebook and read blog

August 29, 2014

New and Tasty Foods Review and Giveaway

1. Bare Crunchy Coconut Chips - I had the opportunity to try these Bare coconut chips and really liked them. They come in three flavors: toasted, honey and sweet 'n heat. My favorite were the simply toasted flavor which are small and crunchy coconut flakes. I ate them plain but also think that they would be awesome over Greek yogurt with some fruit. Watch your serving size though as 1/2 cup has 150 calories and it is easy to eat more than that. Ingredients are kept super simple with just coconut, sugar and sea salt on the simply toasted variety. 2. Bare Fruit Bake-Dried Mango Chunks - This snack is so addictive! I am snacking on these as I type. They are not actually chunks but dried mango strips. They are 100% organic and taste great. They are chewy and sweet. I think that this would be a good snack for kids who like fruit rollups and snacks like that. These are of course much healthier and the only ingredient is organic mango. I like the firm texture and eat this when I wa

August 28, 2014

Mamma Chia Review and Giveaway

I have seen Mamma Chia products on other blogs for some time but never had the chance to try them myself. I am a huge fan of chia seeds and eat them about 5 days per week in my oatmeal. I love to add a lot of chia seeds because they add a great texture to the oatmeal as well as being packed with nutrients. Chia seeds are rich in fiber, protein, calcium, magnesium and of course omega-3 fatty acids. They are little nutrition powerhouses. I think that if you do not eat foods such as fish often, you should incorporate either chia or ground flax into your diet to meet your omega-3 needs. Mamma Chia makes two great chia seed products: a chia squeeze and a chia drink. The chia squeeze comes in a pouch that is easy to eat on the go. It is great for busy moms or for kids for their lunches or after school snacks. With a baby due very soon, I know it will be harder to prepare meals and have ample time to eat my meals so Mamma Chia products will come in handy. I enjoyed trying these chia

August 27, 2014

15 Perfect Pasta Dishes

This is a sponsored opportunity with Foodie.com. All opinions are my own. I love pasta. It is easily my favorite go-to dinner option. Pasta is like a blank canvas where you can make it in so many different ways that it is hard to get bored of it. I love finding new pasta recipes, especially those that are healthy and include lots of fresh vegetables. This collection is full of a large variety of different pasta dishes. I know that I will be referencing back to it for some easy meals post baby. I've always wanted to try this recipe for one pot pasta dinner - how simple! Check out 15 Perfect Pasta Dishes by Amanda Hernandez at Foodie.com

August 27, 2014

Grilled Lemon & Rice Stuffed Tomatoes

This post is sponsored by Success ® Rice. All opinions are my own as always. There is something about the summer that makes tomatoes seem like the most perfect food. Our garden has been very plentiful this year and we have had a ton of tomatoes. I love grilled tomatoes and decided to do something a little different with them by incorporating them into a grilled stuffed tomato recipe. Grilled Lemon & Rice Stuffed Tomatoes Ingredients: 5 large fresh tomatoes 1 bag of Success ® boil-in-bag rice 1/4 cup feta cheese 1/2 diced red onion 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 minced garlic cloves Juice of 1/2 lemon 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Directions: 1. Cook rice according to directions. 2. Meanwhile, saute minced garlic and diced onion with olive oil over medium heat until soft. 3. Core and cut the insides out of each tomato to leave room for the rice mixture. Discard tomato seeds and core. 4. Once rice is cooked, combine onion and garlic mixture, feta cheese, lemon and

August 26, 2014

Michigan Awesome Review and Giveaway

As a lifelong Michigan resident, I am a big supporter of all things Michigan. I love Michigan clothing and accessories, local farmers markets and products made in Michigan. I recently found a company called Michigan Awesome that sells all things Michigan. For my review, I was sent a Michigan shirt and flask. My husband chose the Lake Effective shirt. As a science teacher in Michigan, he loved this! The shirt is incredibly soft and we liked the bright orange color. Michigan Awesome has so many wonderful shirts with different slogans for sale. It was hard to choose 1 because so many were perfect. One favorite is the shirt that says "Home is where the hand is". I'm going to be real honest here. As part of our supporting of all things Michigan, sometimes when we go to local MI events, we like to bring our own flask of alcohol. This Michigan Awesome flask is perfect for just that! My husband brought a flask to the Detroit Hoedown for example and this would be a grea

August 25, 2014

Girls Crochet Headbands Review and Giveaway

***Update, this post was updated to add a giveaway for these headbands to a reader! I've always known that if we were going to have a girl, that she would be dressed in tons of big bows. I just think that they are the cutest things ever and that babies look awesome in them. I was recently sent some adorable headbands from Girls Crochet Headbands to review. I received this package of 5 headbands and thought that they were all great. I packed the pink one in the top of the picture for my hospital bag so our baby can wear it in a few pictures. The headbands are affordable and are only about $10 for 5 headbands. These would be great to buy for your own child or for someone for a baby shower. These headbands are a lot more affordable than many other headbands. I have seen them each for about $8 at other places. Here, you can choose a package or buy them separately. Prices range from $0.79 to $2.99- what a great price! Since they are so affordable, you can buy

August 25, 2014

Get a Shot, Give a Shot at Walgreens

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GiveaShot #CollectiveBias 33 week ultrasound As I am in my last month of pregnancy with my first child, I have done tons of research on all things baby. My husband and I feel strongly about immunizations and the importance of them. We want our child to receive all of the immunizations that the physician recommends. I have been reading about how certain illnesses that have been virtually wiped out are now coming back due to parents not immunizing their children. We feel that people are actually going back on health care advances and choosing to do or not do things based on information that came out before research was done on the importance of vaccinations. Frankly, I am scared for those children that do not receive immunizations for the possible consequences of what can happen to them if they are not vaccinated. This takes a lot for my husband to say too because

August 24, 2014

Peek-a-Boo Nursing and Maternity Review

Peekaboo Maternity Reviews I am now at the end of my pregnancy and super close to meeting our baby girl!! I was excited to find the company Peek-a-Boo which sells 2-in-1 tops for both maternity and nursing. Peekaboo maternity clothing is The tops are very long so that they fit you during your pregnancy and then have an easy access slit for nursing. I was sent the black cap sleeve top which is very versatile. Since it is black, it matches with most things and fits me well now and I can tell will fit for after pregnancy too. The top is very stretchy and comfortable which is important. It will be nice to be able to wear this top for nursing as well in the fall and winter with a sweater over it. Peekaboo Maternity Clothing Reviews Peek-a-Boo sells short sleeved tops, long sleeved tops, skirts, dresses, loungewear and swimwear. If you are pregnant or nursing, check them out- the clothes are very cute! The company includes shipping in their prices so you do not have to pay ext

August 23, 2014

Homemade Spicy Salsa

This recipe is too easy and delicious not to share! Awhile ago, we ran out of salsa (the horror!!) and my husband and I both wanted some. I decided to make a quick spicy salsa and it turned out so good. We had enough to last all week and had many meals and snacks with it (tacos, chips and salsa, quesadillas). Homemade Spicy Salsa Ingredients: 1 28 oz can low-sodium tomatoes, drained (I used diced) 2 cloves garlic, peeled 1 small onion, chopped in quarters 1 medium green pepper, sliced 1 fresh jalapeno (or can use 2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos) 1/4 tsp cayenne powder Directions: Blend all ingredients together and serve. If you like it chunkier, blend only for a few seconds until just chopped. Once our fresh garden tomatoes are plentiful, I plan to make this salsa using the fresh tomatoes. I love that this recipe is super low in sodium but also very flavorful. My husband and I did not feel like it needed any additional salt.

August 22, 2014

Pregnancy Reflections

As I woke up this morning at 34 weeks pregnant (written 8/6/14), I had a lot on my mind (as I have my entire pregnancy). I realize that I am so close to having this baby and our lives are about to change forever. I wanted to share some thoughts as I come to the very end of my pregnancy journey. -I have really enjoyed being pregnant. I didn't know if I would be one of those people that love it or hate it but have enjoyed seeing my belly grow, feeling the baby kick and planning for all the changes to come. -My husband is amazing. I guess I already knew this but especially from 20 weeks pregnant and beyond, he has been incredible. He helps out with so much around the house, listens to my every little thought/concern/worry, etc. He is so excited to be a dad and has even been practicing swaddling, diaper changing and baby carrying- it is hilarious to watch. I am so, so thankful for his support and could not have done this without him. -Thoughts on weight gain- When I was fi

August 21, 2014

$250 prAna Giveaway for Fall!

Today, I have a giveaway that you are going to LOVE- $250 toward prAna fall and winter clothing! prAna is a company that makes exercise clothes, items for yoga, lifestyle accessories, etc. I have reviewed prAna in the past and really like their brand because the clothing looks nice and is really nice quality. I was offered to review items from the prAna fall line. Even though it is hot now, I still look forward to cozy fall clothing. I was sent a cute sweater, a couple of winter hats and a pair of yoga pants to review. The pants do not fit me right now with my 34 week pregnant belly so I plan to wear them postpartum. The prAna Angelica Duster seen in the picture above is so comfortable and cozy. It will be perfect for this winter. It comes in green, grey and the winter color that I was sent. I like the buttons and it has hidden snaps to close the sweater all the way. The Celestine beanie is very thick and warm for the super cold days. If this coming winter is anything like