Nutrisystem Review!

Spring is here, which means swimsuit season isn't too far behind! Time to get that body in shape for summer! Getting fit is a combo of eating right and working out! To take care of the healthy eating portion, try Nutrisystem! They offer healthy foods and meals to help you reach your fitness goals!

I was offered the chance to try out some of these foods from TVtopten.com!  I was excited to see how they tasted, as I have seen many other bloggers working with Nutrisystem. TVtopten.com is THE place to find info and reviews for all the stuff you see on TV! You can read or write reviews, browse the different products, or even order some goodies! There is a lot to see and do!

So, back to the foods! I was sent a pack of all sorts of things, from sweet and sour chicken to a chocolate chip cookie!  The food was ok, not anything I would regularly eat.  The sweet and sour chicken probably would have been better if I had cooked it myself from scratch.  I don't think that eating right means you have to sacrifice eating delicious food.  Learning to cook healthy is a much better alternative to pre-made meals.  Some of the things were okay, and most of the snack type foods were good.  I am a picky eater also, so I may just be too picky for the Nutrisystem foods!

I do like the ease of having pre-planned, pre-packaged meals delivered right to your door! Cooking for yourself might taste better, but chances are you will over eat!  Having pre-portioned meals ensures you are eating right and by balancing it with exercise, you are burning the calories you need to.  Nutrisystem is a great way to eat right, since you plan out your meals and know what you can and cannot eat.  It is easy to follow and if you stick to it, it will help you lose weight!

Nutrisystem offers different plans for different needs, so be sure to check out the website to find what is best for you! They even have plans for diabetics! There is a body assessment on the website, so you can find out where you're at and where you want to be!  And I love that if you don't need to lose weight, it will tell you that you are not over the required weight for your height.  I haven't seen anything tell you that before! Finally something that says don't lose weight if you don't need to! I am all about promoting a healthy body! To help find your healthy body, check out Nutrisystem today!

I was not compensated for this post. TVTopTen.com provided me with samples of Nutrisystem for the review.  All opinions are honest and 100% my own.  Photo from TVTopTen.com

Resolve to eat more Whole Grain in 2011

Did you know that 95 percent of Americans don't get enough whole grain in their diet? According to the 2010 Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, only five percent of Americans get the three full recommended daily servings - a shocking statistic.

It's never been easier to get the whole grain you want without sacrificing taste! Every Big G cereal contains at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving, with more than 20 General Mills cereals delivering 16 grams or more. (At least 48 grams of whole grain are recommended daily.) Big G cereals are America's number one source of whole grain at breakfast, providing America with more whole grain at breakfast than any other breakfast food from any other manufacturer.

Only whole grain gives you the vital nutrients from the complete grain. The health benefits of whole grains can't be pinpointed to one particular component of the grain. It's the "whole grain package" that makes the difference. In addition to fiber, whole grain contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients that help ensure a healthy diet. A diet high in whole grain has been found to help with diabetes and weight management, and it may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

Check out this video from Dr. Travis Stork, emergency-room physician and host of the "The Doctors" on CBS, for more about the health benefits of whole grain.

Click here or the image above to watch the video!
Get into the whole grain habit by just looking for the big white check on Big G cereals! Cereal is already one of the healthiest breakfast choices you can make, and the entire Big G cereal line is made with whole grain, making it a great choice. Big G cereals have the brands and flavor your family will love, including Cheerios®, Lucky Charms®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Honey Nut Cheerios®, Fiber One® and Total®.

To be sure the other foods you are choosing have the healthy whole grain you need, just follow these two easy rules:

1. Look for a whole grain symbol like the big white check on Big G cereals or the Whole Grain Stamp developed by the Whole Grains Council
2. Scan the ingredient list and choose foods that list a whole grain near the top of the list

Visit www.WholeGrainNation.com for more tips, additional information about the benefits of Whole Grain and how Big G cereals can be a convenient and tasty way to incorporate more whole grain into your day.

To learn more about the benefits of Whole Grain and how Big G cereals can be a convenient and tasty way to incorporate more whole grain into your day visit www.WholeGrainNation.com.

I chose to share this post from Psst! a partner of General Mills. I was not compensated for this post

Kick off a happy and healthy new year with Green Giant®!

With a new year comes a new you, and Green Giant® is here to cheer you on! Whether you´re already following a weight management plan or looking to start a new one, sometimes it´s the small changes that can make a huge difference.

Green Giant Boxed Vegetables can help you stay on track to achieve your weight management goals in 2011. Twenty-nine delicious varieties are now endorsed by Weight Watchers™, and most have only a 1 or 2 PointsPlus ™ value per serving! Packed with flavor and ready in minutes, Green Giant Boxed Vegetables are available in a wide variety of flavors, many featuring mouthwatering sauces and seasonings.



Adding Green Giant Boxed Vegetables to your meals can be a quick and delicious step to a healthier new you in 2011. Each Weight Watchers™ endorsed variety is:

• Nutritious. Picked at the peak of perfection, Green Giant Boxed Vegetables are frozen fast to lock in essential nutrients.
• Convenient. With ingredients that are cleaned, cut, and ready to go, it´s easier to meet the adult daily need of 2-4 cups of vegetables!
• Time-Saving. Getting more time to enjoy life, without sacrificing nutrition...now that´s a fresh idea! 

Visit http://greengiant.com/ for some great recipe ideas and more information. And, don´t forget to check out Green Giant on Facebook and Green Giant on Twitter and "Like" or "Follow" them to keep up with their latest and greatest products!

Information and photos from Psst!, a division of General Mills.  I am a member of an In the Know group with Psst! I was not compensated for this post.  I have chosen to share this with my readers.

I'm a Chiquita Mom! Plus Prizepack Giveaway!! (5 Winners!!)

With all the crazy schedules we moms deal with, sometimes we neglect to take care of our nutritional needs!! Foods like Chiquita Bananas are great healthy snacks that will give you the energy you need to be on the go! And the banana is so versatile, you can use it in all sorts of great recipes! Keep the foods new and fresh to make it easier to snack healthy! As a Chiquita Mom, I have all the inside scoop on the best ways to eat your bananas! 

So whats a Chiquita Mom? It is a mom who knows how important good nutrition is for her child.  From first foods to after school snacks, she knows that her child needs proper nutrition to grow and develop properly.  She wants to be sure she is giving her child the best foods possible.  And she is on the lookout for ways to bring her family closer together and spend quality time together!

I know that bananas are a great source of complex carbs, which are the best kind of energy to fuel your body! This is great for anyone of any age, and helps give you the energy you need!  This is especially a great way to start off the morning!  There is a significant amount of fiber in bananas, so you can be sure your child will be full and focused at school!

And bananas are one of the easiest fruits to eat! Simply peel and enjoy! And the best part is, they can be enjoyed at almost any point of ripeness! The greener the banana, the healthier the carbs and is higher in starch.  The riper the banana, the sweeter!!  I love bananas that get pretty brown for making banana bread! My secret is to use whole wheat flour to make it an even healthier snack! This is one treat that doesn't last long at all in my house!

Did you know you can save bananas in the freezer?  Peel the bananas, cut or break into 4-6 pieces, and place in a freezer bag, marked with the date you freeze it.  Store for up to 2 months!  They are easy to use in  your favorite recipe, simply let it thaw out! You can buy over ripe bananas (which are usually on sale) and save them for your favorite treat!

I was so excited to be selected as a Chiquita Mom! I think it is great to be recognized by such a great company, as a mom who loves to do my job! I am very proud to be a resource to other moms, and to help you out when it comes to your children! Nutrition is one of the most important things when it comes to our kids! It is up to us to be sure our little ones get the right foods!!


I was given a great gift pack for being a Chiquita Mom! And 5 of you can win your own pack too! Here is the loot you will score!:

• Chiquita Banana Recipe Cards
• Chiquita Moms Grocery Tote Bag
• Chiquita Moms Freezer Bags
• A coupon for FREE Chiquita Bananas
• Chiquita Mom’s Flip Book 
  

I love the resuable grocery bag, so cute and useful! The freezer bags are the perfect size to save some bananas for your next yummy snack!  And who doesn't love free stuff??  You will love this gift pack!!  Here is how to win!:


MANDATORY ENTRY 2 PARTS MUST BE DONE FOR THE ENTRY AND EXTRA ENTRIES TO COUNT:

PART 1:  Check out the chiquitabananas.com and tell me something you learned!  Leave your answer in your comment!

PART 2: Follow me via Google Friend Connect
You must put both parts in the SAME comment and include your GFC name for the entry to count. Also must include an email to contact you to win, unless it is visible on your blogger profile.
 No email=no prize!

For all other entries, leave a separate comment for each entry, and if it says more than entry for doing something, leave an individual comment for each of those entries and label them #1 #2 and so forth.
Have questions? Email Frugal Family Fun!

Extra Entries:

Like Frugal Family Fun on Facebook leave me your Facebook name in the Comment 1 extra entry


Like Chiquita on Facebook leave me your Facebook name in the Comment 1 extra entry

If you get a friend to like us on Facebook, you get an extra entry! One entry per friend that likes my page!  THIS IS AN UNLIMITED ENTRY  Just say in your comment that you got a person to like and what their name is! 1 extra entry each

Follow @ChiquitaChatter on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment 1 extra entry


Follow @FrugalFamilyFun on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment 1 extra entry


Tweet about this giveaway up to 5 times daily for entries. leave me the link to your tweet- Your Tweet Must include @FrugalFamilyFun @ChiquitaChatter and the link to this contest.  tweets must be at least 1 hour apart for entry. 1 extra entry for each tweet.

Subscribe to our email updates, via google reader, or via RSS feed , 1 extra entry for each


Put our button on your blog, leave me the link to the blog THIS WILL BE CHECKED. 3 extra entries

Blog about this contest, including a link back to this giveaway worth 5 extra entries. Leave me the link to the blog post in your comments

Enter any of our other giveaways! Gain an extra entry in this contest for each contest you enter! Leave the name of the contest in your comment!

Contest begins now and ends February 4,2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Winners will be selected via Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or forfeits prize.  Open to US Only!

Chiquita provided me with a Chiquita Mom pack in exchange for a review on my blog. I was not obligated to give a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. Photos from Chiquita

Ragú Feed Our Kids Well

If you're having trouble finding time to prepare nutritious meals for your family while adjusting to new back to school schedules, relax, you're not alone.  According to a recent "Feed our Kids Well" survey conducted by Ragú®, half of moms say that during the back-to-school season they have less time to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals for their kids.  Fear not, Mom; Help is on the way!

To help make sure your kids get the veggies they need (and the meals they love) Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce now has 2 servings of veggies in every half cup!   Available soon in major retailers nationwide, the healthy, great tasting Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional pasta sauce that is already a kitchen staple has a new, naturally thicker recipe.

Healthy, delicious and now with a naturally thicker taste the whole family will love, Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce is a perfect component to pulling together quick and tasty meals during this busy time. And Ragú® wants you to be among the first to try out their great new recipe! To be one of the first to taste Ragú® with 2 servings of veggies in every half-cup visit them on facebook.com/ragusauce for more details.

 "Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Ragú® prize package in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place."

Back to School Giveaway with Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies!

It’s hard to believe that it’s “back-to-school” time already!  Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies created a few tips to help you make sure your kids are getting enough healthy, fiber-rich foods each day!  I look at the school menu and honestly I would rather send her with a home lunch because not all of it seems so healthy. Plus I don't know how much of it she eats and if she just eats the main entree and not the veggies.  

Fiber is such a crucial part of our daily diets.  Fiber helps to keep us full and also keeps things moving in our digestive system!!

Going back-to-school can be a hectic time of year. Thanks to jam-packed schedules, making sure the kids are eating a healthy diet sometimes falls by the wayside. Not to mention, it’s not easy to monitor what the kids are eating off their school lunch plate.  Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies, a delicious, dentist-approved, daily fiber supplement for kids ages 2-11 and recent recipient of the PTPA Seal of Approval for excellence in family products, wants to offer a few tips to help you slip more, healthy, fiber-rich foods into your kid’s daily diet.  And if you need to shake things up a bit when it comes to packing lunches for your kids, the Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies website offers a few Brown Bag Boredom Buster ideas, too! http://www.pedia-lax.com/Brown-Bag-Boredom-Busters.php

SIX TRICKS FOR MORE FIBER

Reports Show 90% of Kids Don’t Get Enough Fiber*; Liz, Weiss, Top Dietitian, Offers Six Quick Mealtime Tricks at Six Grams of Fiber Each (36 Total Grams Daily!)

According to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, a four-year-old child should consume 25 grams of fiber daily, while an 11-year-old boy needs at least 31 grams.  In terms of numbers, it seems easy to accomplish, but a new survey conducted for Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies (www.fibergummies.com) , a tasty, daily fiber supplement for kids’ ages 2-11, finds that 52% of moms say their kids aren’t eating enough fruits, vegetables or fiber-rich foods, and a whopping 90% of children don’t get enough fiber daily.

“High-fiber foods aren’t the ones children typically gravitate to even when moms put them on the plate,” says Liz Weiss, registered dietitian and co-author of The Moms’ Guide to Meal Makeovers. “I suggest parents dress up fiber in appealing packages to make it a win-win for moms and kids.”

 Below, Weiss offers six tricks for adding extra fiber to kids’ diets. Each provides at least six grams of additional fiber:  

·        Go with Guacamole: Kids love to dunk foods, so introduce a new dip. Create a kid-friendly guacamole by combining at least ¾ of a mashed, ripe avocado with some coarsely chopped fresh cilantro and a dash of freshly-squeezed lime juice.  Offer sliced raw veggies or whole-grain tortilla chips on the side for even more fiber grams!

·        Fiberlicious French Toast: Many kids shy away from “brown bread,” but if you disguise it as something else, you can easily add more fiber at the start of the day.  Make French toast by switching from traditional white bread to 100% whole wheat bread, and top with ¼ cup of naturally-sweet fresh strawberries or try a sliced banana for a few more grams of fiber (complete recipe at www.mealmakeovermoms.com). 

·        Penguin Power: Boost your child’s fiber (age 2-11) with Pedia-Lax^® Fiber Gummies; just three delicious, penguin-shaped gummies add 6 grams of fiber to your child's daily diet. They can be taken together or given one per meal.

·        Makeover Delight: Meatloaf is a staple on most family dinner menus. Take your favorite meatloaf recipe and upgrade it with more fiber by adding 1/3 cup of ground flaxseed, one shredded carrot and a 15 oz. can of drained black beans (complete recipe at www.mealmakeovermoms.com). Your delicious meatloaf just got better!

·        An Apple a Day: Parents tend to peel apples, but leaving the skin on a medium sized apple and slicing it up for easy eating keeps it to five grams of fiber. Add a tablespoon of peanut butter on the edges (if kids balk at the peel) for an extra gram of fiber.

·        Smooth it Over:  Choose a fiber-rich yogurt with at least 5 grams of fiber and blend with your favorite fruit. The enriched yogurt alone is a great fiber source, but the fruit adds even more.

Pedia-Lax^® Fiber Gummies are a daily fiber supplement made just for kids by Fleet^®, a trusted brand for digestive health for more than 100 years. For more information and giveaways, find the brand on Facebook (www.facebook.com/fibergummies), or visit www.fibergummies.com for:

·        A fiber diary, where you can track daily fiber grams to get you started or see where your current menu nets out

·        Easy-to-make, fiber-rich recipes and snack ideas

·        Pedia-Lax^® Fiber Gummies product giveaways and other prizes that help keep kids “moving”

·        Money-saving coupons

*What We Eat In America National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006 see www.ars.usda.gov.

Since it can be hard to be sure what our kids are eating during the day, we can help make sure they get the fiber they need by adding this simple gummy supplement to their diet.  You can try out these great vitamins!

Suggested retail price is $7.99 for a bottle of 60 gummies; available at Target and Walgreens, also online and other supermarkets and retailers nationwide.

You can also visit www.fibergummies.com where you can get a $1.00 off coupon and use the “store locator” to see where the product is sold in your area. 

One of you will win your own bottle of Fiber Gummies!! Here is how to enter!!:MANDATORY ENTRY-THIS MUST BE DONE FOR EXTRA ENTRIES TO COUNT!

Go to Pedia-lax and tell me something else you learned from their site! Leave your answer in a comment below and be sure I have your email so I can contact you if you win! (If it's in your blogger profile that is fine.)

EXTRA ENTRIES-leave a separate comment for each entry.

Follow @FrugalFamilyFun on Twitter 1 extra entry, leave me your twitter name

Tweet about this giveaway up to 5 times daily for entries. leave me the link to your tweet- Must include  @FrugalFamilyFun and the link to this contest.  tweets must be at least 1 hour apart for entry. 1 extra entry for each tweet.

Subscribe to our email updates, via google reader, or via RSS feed , 1 extra entry for each

Put our button on your blog, leave me the link to the blog THIS WILL BE CHECKED. 3 extra entries

Follow via Google Friend connect, for 3 extra entries, and leave your name in comment from GFC

Blog about this contest, including a link back to this giveaway worth 5 extra entries. Leave me the link to the blog post in your comments

"Like" Pedia-Lax on Facebook, leave me your Facebook name in your comment.

Contest begins now and ends September 27, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be selected via Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or forfeits prize. Good luck!

Pedia-Lax provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease

Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies Product Review and Giveaway

My kids love to eat! The problem is that they don't always want to eat what is healthy!  That can lead to problems with regularity of their little digestive systems! I have especially noticed this in my littlest one! So I was thrilled to try out the new Fiber Gummies from Pedia-Lax!  These chewable gummy supplements give your child the needed fiber to help keep things moving! Great for daily use or those times they just need to get things going a bit! 

I love that they show you a breakdown of what your child is getting when they lack on veggies!  This chart is a gret way to be sure  your child gets the right amount of fiber, and how much they would need to get the same amount as in the recommended daily serving of the supplement!

Introduced in 2009, Pedia-Lax® Fiber Gummies, are a daily fiber supplement made just for kids by Fleet®, a trusted brand for digestive health for more than 100 years. So many kids lack the proper amount of fiber in their diets, but wrinkle their little noses at the kinds of foods that will add it in. Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies are a great, tasty and sugar-free way to get some much-needed fiber into your little ones’ diets. I’ve included some important info below and hope you will consider reviewing the product and telling your readers about it.


More product information:

In 2009 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) significantly increased the recommended daily fiber intake standards, far above the previous "age plus five" rule. In fact, today's updated guidelines recommend 25 grams of fiber per day for four-year-old children. But how do we meet these requirements and get our children to eat high in fiber foods?

Now there's a delicious daily fiber supplement to help kids ages 2-11 maintain better digestive health and stay regular.* The penguin-shaped, great tasting Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies are sugar-free, calorie-free, gluten-free and made with natural fruit flavors. With a recommended serving of three gummies every day, (equal to ½ cup of broccoli!), Fiber Gummies are a great way to supplement the fiber found in fruits, vegetables and other fiber-rich foods in your child’s daily diet. It’s a great solution to help bridge the gap between the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended amount of fiber and the fiber that kids actually consume in their daily diet.
 
I even tried one of these little things, to see how they taste. I figured if the kids always want them they must be good! Sure enough, the little gummies are tasty and good for you too!  Also, they are dentist approved!!
 
You can purchase Fiber Gummies at many stores, including Walmart, Safeway, Walgreens and more! Click here to find a store near you!

Click here to get a $1.00 off coupon!

 
Enter to win the "Keep Kids Moving" sweepstakes. Enter between May 5 and July 15 and you could win a Kid's Creations Circus 1 outdoor play set and an assortment of other prizes.


ONE GRAND PRIZE winner will receive:

•Kid's Creations Circus 1 outdoor play set, valued at $1,499

•A Nintendo® Wii and a $100 Target gift card for games

•Plus a Pedia-Lax Gift Set, including a one year supply of Pedia-Lax® Fiber Gummies and more.

TWO RUNNERS UP will receive:

•A Nintendo® Wii and a $100 Target gift card for games

•Plus a Pedia-Lax Gift Set, including a one year supply of Pedia-Lax® Fiber Gummies and more.

FIVE ADDITIONAL WINNERS will receive:

•A Pedia-Lax Gift Set, including a one year supply of Pedia-Lax® Fiber Gummies and more.

More information and Official Rules
 Click here to enter!

You can win your own bottle of Fiber-Lax Gummies here! Check out how to win!

MANDATORY ENTRY-THIS MUST BE DONE FOR EXTRA ENTRIES TO COUNT!


Go to Pedia-lax and tell me something else you learned from their site! Leave your answer in a comment below and be sure I have your email so I can contact you if you win! (If it's in your blogger profile that is fine.)

EXTRA ENTRIES-leave a seperate comment for each entry.


Follow @FrugalFamilyFun on Twitter 1 extra entry, leave me your twitter name

Tweet about this giveaway up to 5 times daily for entries. leave me the link to your tweet- Must include  @FrugalFamilyFun and the link to this contest.  tweets must be at least 1 hour apart for entry. 1 extra entry for each tweet.

You can use this sample tweet or makeup your own!
"Win Pedia-lax Fiber Gummies for your little one's tummy! From @frugalfamilyfun http://ow.ly/23jay"

Subscribe to our email updates, via google reader, or via RSS feed , 1 extra entry for each

Put our button on your blog, leave me the link to the blog THIS WILL BE CHECKED. 3 extra entries

Follow via Google Friend connect, for 3 extra entries, and leave your name in comment from GFC

Blog about this contest, including a link back to this giveaway worth 5 extra entries. Leave me the link to the blog post in your comments

"Like" Pedia-Lax on Facebook, leave me your Facebook name in your comment.

Contest begins now and ends July 28, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be selected via Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or forfeits prize. Good luck!

Pedia-Lax provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease

Vidazorb Belly Boost Review and Giveaway!

Sometimes it is hard to get all the things our bodies need to function properly. And it can be even harder to be sure your child is getting the proper things that he or she needs.  Vidazorb® chewable probiotic supplements are a new way to restore desirable gut microflora for optimal health. 

Building a Better Probiotic for you belly:

Vidazorb® heralds a new generation of probiotic formulations that make sense for today's busy lifestyle. Safe, effective, and easy to use, Vidazorb® probiotic supplements are a new way to restore desirable gut microflora for optimal health.

Vidazorb®, which delivers billions of live bacteria in chewable formulations that require absolutely no refrigeration, took more than seven years to develop. Why so long? Because Vidazorb® is not your ordinary probiotic. Combining those seven years of research and development with the research conducted on our ingredients, we can confidently say that Vidazorb® surpasses all other chewable probiotic formulations in testing before coming to the market.

Points of Difference: Treat Your Belly To The Best Each Vidazorb® chewable probiotic formulation is made with the same demanding quality to provide unparalleled potency and efficacy. People love Vidazorb® for its convenience, taste and effectiveness. Read testimonials HERE.

Probiotics for Health


■Probiotics means for life and that is not an over statement! They help protect against illness and are essential for life. Probiotics boost the immune system! Approximately eighty percent of our immune system originates in the gut and without the trillions of beneficial bacteria in our guts we could not survive!
What They Do
■Probiotic bacteria are essential for digestion, absorption and assimilation.

■Probiotics facilitate better absorption of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

■Probiotics are essential to maintaining the delicate gastrointestinal ecosystem and ensuring that enough friendly bacteria exist to offer health benefits.

■Probiotic therapy is modeled on an already established and highly efficient biological system within the human body.

■Probiotics are a proven, safe and natural aid for a variety of gastrointestinal ills.

"Rebellions of the belly are the worst."

- Francis Bacon, English philosopher,
statesman, and author

■Exclusive use of Chr. Hansen clinically substantiated probiotic strains. Chr. Hansen is the world leader in probiotic strains

■Superior ingredients, including Masquelier's® Original OPC for additional absorption

■Patent pending on all formulations

■Live bugs for two years, verified by stability testing at independent labs

■Chewable tablets with great taste in a variety of delicious flavors

■Live bugs of up to 10 billion per dose

■No refrigeration needed

■Manufactured at a quality assurance-tested, FDA approved facility, following cGMP and USP standards

■Formulated to be safe for diabetics and those who are lactose intolerant

■Zorbee® - a friendly character who makes probiotics fun for children

We tried out the
Belly  Boost Wildberry Flavor

FOR KIDS' EVERYDAY DIGESTIVE SUPPORT

Children's chewable probiotics in fun Zorbee™ character shapes, for healthy digestion and nutrient absorption in children aged 4 and up, with Bifidobacterium, BB-12® (5 billion CFU) and S. thermophilus, TH-4™ (5 billion CFU)

Address the digestive and immune system needs of children with Vidazorb® Belly Boost™. Clinically substantiated Bifidobacterium, BB-12® and S. thermophilus, TH-4™ are especially kid-friendly and work together to support the wellness needs of little ones. Beneficial probiotic bacteria are essential in helping maintain overall health.*

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 
 
My kids liked it and used it daily.  I have noticed they haven't been sick, and (I don't know if this is related) have been having better regularity of their digestion if you catch what I'm trying to say ☺.  They say they like the taste and take it regularly.  There is no fuss or fight and they have no idea that they are getting healthier by doing it! Yay for everyone!!
 
You can buy Belly Boost and other products in the Vidazorb Online store by clicking here!
 
5 of you will win your own bottle of Belly Boost! Here is how to win!!:
 
MANDATORY ENTRY-THIS MUST BE DONE FOR EXTRA ENTRIES TO COUNT!
Go to Vidazorb.com and tell me something else you learned about Probiotics! Leave your answer in a comment below and be sure I have your email so I can contact you if you win! (If it's in your blogger profile that is fine.)
 
EXTRA ENTRIES-leave a seperate comment for each entry.

Follow @FrugalFamilyFun on Twitter 1 extra entry, leave me your twitter name

Follow @Bellytweet on Twitter 1 extra entry, leave me your twitter name

 Tweet about this giveaway up to 5 times daily for entries. leave me the link to your tweet- Must include   @bellytweet and @FrugalFamilyFun tweets must be at least 1 hour apart for entry. 1 extra entry for each tweet.

Subscribe to our email updates, via google reader, or via RSS feed , 1 extra entry for each

You can use this tweet:
"Win Vidazorb Probiotics for your child from @bellytweet and @frugalfamilyfun http://ow.ly/22YeJ "

Put our button on your blog, leave me the link to the blog THIS WILL BE CHECKED. 3 extra entries

Sign up for Vidazorb's Newsletter subscription. Click  Leave me the email that  you used to subscribe in your comment and state that you subscribed.  (3 extra entries)

Blog about this contest, including a link back to this giveaway worth 5 extra entries.  Leave me the link to the blog post in your comments

"Like" Vidazorb on Facebook, leave me your Facebook name in your comment.

Contest begins now and ends July 26, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be selected via Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or forfeits prize. Good luck!

Vidazorb provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product

Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

I have been trying out my chef hat lately.  Like most things there are failures and successes.  I was really eager to try the  Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil

I had previously thought it was a skin product, so was very happy to learn it is for cooking!!  I have used it for chicken, stir fry, even sauteing vegetables!! It has a great aroma and the food is irresistible!! The best part is that you are getting great health benefits!!

Your source for research on the
health benefits of coconut oil.

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Coconut oil is an edible oil that has been consumed in tropical places for thousands of years. Studies done on native diets high in coconut consumption show that these populations are generally in good health, and don't suffer as much from many of the modern diseases of western nations.

Coconut oil was once prevalent in western countries like the United States as well. With a long shelf life and a melting point of 76 degrees, it was a favorite in the baking industry. But a negative campaign against saturated fats in general, and the tropical oils in particular, led to most food manufacturers abandoning coconut oil in recent years in favor of hydrogenated polyunsaturated oils that come from the main cash crops in the US, particularly soy, and contain trans fatty acids. These polyunsaturated oils were not a big part of the diet of previous generations, so how has the health of Americans changed now that polyunsaturated oils are for the most part all one finds on supermarket shelves across the US? We encourage you to take an honest look at the research presented on this website, and consider the "other side" of the story, whether it be coconut oil, saturated fats, or the new vegetable oils!

Roast Chicken with Coconut Oil

Roast Chicken with Coconut Oil

Prepared by Sarah Shilhavy, Photo by Jeremiah Shilhavy

• 1 whole chicken
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 small yellow onion, quartered
• 1 stalk celery
• 4 garlic cloves, cut in half
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 cup chicken stock or water (or combination)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons corn starch
• 2 tablespoons water

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Remove the giblets and wash the chicken in warm to hot tap water and dry thoroughly. Liberally season the cavity with salt and pepper. Stuff with the onion, celery, and garlic.

Brush melted butter and coconut oil all over chicken and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place in a roasting pan or a 9x13 glass baking pan.

Roast for 11 minutes at 425 degrees F. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and baste the chicken. Roast for 1 hour or until juices run clear when pricked between the leg and thigh. Baste chicken with pan juices every 10-15 minutes or so, but stop basting around the last 10 minutes. You can increase the temperature to 375 degrees F during the last 1/2 hour or so if you need to "hurry" it up.

Pour pan juices into a small saucepan and add chicken stock or water. Adjust richness by adding more or less stock/water. Make a slurry by adding the corn starch to the water and whisk into the gravy to reach the desired consistency. Add more if needed. Add more stock if needed and whisk and boil until gravy has thickened. Serve with the roasted chicken.

Recipe courtesy Sarah Shilhavy
There are more recipes here

For more information, see this blog post.

 

Check out the video: “How We Discovered Virgin Coconut Oil - An Interview with Brian Shilhavy, CEO Tropical Traditions ”

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Tropical Traditions  provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Get your kids to eat their veggies-and LIKE them!

Most kids turn their nose at veggies. "I don't like it" is the common excuse.  I have often felt like my kids aren't getting the proper nutrients they need.  So I started "sneaking" veggies into their diet.  Here are a few of my favorite tips to get the kids to love to eat veggies!!

1. Offer veggies with ranch.  Tried and true.  Offer a variety and see what they like! Keep offering it, as it can take 10 times to like a new food!

2. Offer drinks like V8 Splash, that have a serving of veggies in every serving.

3. Look for canned pasta (such as ravioli, spaghetti rings, etc.) that say "one serving of vegetables inside", these are usually the kinds of things kids will eat.  It is important to find the one that says there are veggies inside, because the others are not as healthy.

4. Make burgers with ground up veggies. We made some with green and red bell peppers, onions and garlic. We just cut them up, put them into a mini hand food processor until it was really chopped, then mixed by hand into the meat.  After making patties we cooked them and they were a HUGE hit!!  There was easily 1 if not 2 servings of veggies in those burgers!

5.The same can be done with treats!  Check out The Sneaky Chef for fabulously yummy treats with lots of veggies!!

Post any other veggie tricks you might have up your sleeves down below!!