Saturday, December 28, 2013

Little Duck Organics-Tiny Fruits

Baby time! I love babies so much.  I love kids too, but there is a special place in my heart that loves newborns and infants.  Really, I love watching kids grow.  I love seeing them learn and imitate you. I love how adventurous some are and cautious other kids tend to be.  Sure, I'm not a parent yet, but I still love babies and children... : ) The really make my day and as much as I am excited to keep learning new things about nutrition, owning a business, and then starting to work full time (or part time)...I will always have a dream to have my own family one day.  Whether those babies are my own or adopted, I look forward and hope to one day be a stay at home mom... I am good with waiting a least a little while though! : )
   
source

I was super excited to share this new product made just for kids by Little Duck Organics.  They sent me a lovely package with two of their Tiny Fruits products, Mango Pineapple and Apple Banana.  These snacks are great for kids to have for car trips, like so many of us do over the holidays, school snacks, or anything.

I tested these two flavors out when I offered them to three of my little friends I spend time with on a weekly basis.  E, R, and J loved them!  Giggles and smiles spread across their faces as they excitedly tried the new snacks.

These snacks are 100% fruit, gluten-free, and made in the USA! Here is a bit from the website:Pineapple Mango Tiny FruitsPineapple Mango Tiny Fruits


THE LITTLE DUCK ORGANICS STORY


Hi, I'm Zak - and I'm the Founder & CEO of Little Duck Organics. When I was a kid, I always had notebooks filled with doodles and sketches and things.  I always dreamed of building, creating and making wild + crazy things from those sketches.
So, when I became a grownup - with two young kiddos and one on the way - I continued to sketch. But this time, my wild + crazy sketches were of wild + crazy snacks.
What kind of snacks you ask?
Well… they were made from 100% organic fruit. They were non-GMO project verified. They had no added sugar. They were made of delicious blueberries + apples + bananas + mangoes + strawberries + pineapples.  They were in colorful packaging. They encompassed the ultimate snacktime trifecta {tasty + healthy + convenient}.
Now, with the LDO team, in the magical land of Brooklyn, I’m still sketching - every single day - to continue creating wild + snacks for that magical time of day… snacktime.
Apple Banana Tiny Fruits
This company offers great snacks for kids!  So many portable things made for kids are filled with ingredients that don't really fuel kids for good. It may make them feel good (or just happy) for a bit, but a snack like Tiny Fruits is (in my opinion) a great choice to support the building  blocks for healthy growth.  
Check out their website to learn more and order some today! http://www.littleduckorganics.com/collections/tiny-fruits/products/apple-banana-tiny-fruits

Can you tell I am on a smoothie kick?

So lately I have been really trying to increase my consumption of nutrient dense foods and even though many paleo people would probably gasp at the amount of fruit I am now allowing in my diet, I have a new feeling on fruit.  I feel that yes, fruit has a lot of sugar, but fruit also contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals.  It seems pretty nutrient dense to me! I found it helps me feel much less abnormal and allergic/intolerant when I enjoy it and so far...I feel pretty good when consuming most fruits (apple skins make me sick).  This has been extremely helpful as this past week as I have had to cut out eggs to see if they are the cause of my remaining digestion issues.  Anyone else intolerant or allergic to eggs?  How did the sensitivity manifest itself?

Since the reintroduction of fruit, I have been trying to balance the sugar content with some fats every time I eat fruit.  I think it helps with blood sugar management in addition to other things. The recipe below is what I had this morning with grapefruit on the side.


source
Chococado Smoothie

  • 1 whole Avocado (make sure it is ripe)
  • 2 cups Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
  • 2 cups ice 
  • Stevia (I used Nunaturals Quick Deissolve tabs...see review)
  • 3T cocoa powder
Blend ice until it looks like a plain snow cone.  Scoop out all that healthy fat from the Avocado, pour in the Almond Milk, Stevia, and cocoa powder (great antioxidants!).  Blend till very smooth and creamy.  I love how it tastes like pudding, while being so much healthier!

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Paleo Treats

Looking for a last minute gift for your gluten free, Paleo, or health conscious, treat loving friend?  Let me offer an idea... give them some Paleo Treats!

I think it is safe to say that (at least in my personal opinion), this company has created the best, "safe", premade treat. Free of gluten, dairy, grains, and refined sugar, Paleo Treats come wrapped up all ready to go in the sweetest little packages.
My mom loves the wrappers (and labels) so much that she has continued to collect them as she sampled each delicious flavors.  Here is a little about the team over at Paleo Treats:

The only Paleo dessert described

as a "Paleo-gasm"

We aim to make the best damn paleo desserts you can find.  If you're one of a handful of serious bakers on the planet, you can probably make a better dessert on a good day with a little luck and unicorn tears, otherwise, just relax and let us do the hard work.  There's a lot of crap our desserts don't have (no gluten, no grain, no dairy, no preservatives, no stabilitzers), and a few fine ingredients. 

100% Paleo approved. Satisfaction guaranteed.


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Paleo & taste great!

These are ingredients we’ve used and been really stoked with.  These are inarguably Paleo, are easy to find and use, and all are minimally processed.  You can feel totally safe using these.
  • almonds
  • cacao powder
  • coconut
  • eggs
  • flax meal
  • goji berries
  • honey
  • pecans
  • pistachios
  • pumpkin seeds
  • raisins
  • salt
  • vanilla
This is a lovely list of all the ingredients you will find in a Paleo Treat.  I love how simple and sumptuous this company does it.  It is real food ingredients at it's best or shall I say, at it's sweetest.

It had been great to bring on of the many delectable treats to have when we are out and about or on our way to church.  These treats are great fuel for busy families, young adults, working adults, teens, kids...anyone!

Right now Paleo Treats offers these great flavors: 
10 x Bandito
Bandito
Cacao Now! Profile
Cacao Now
Mac Attack with mint
Mac Attack
Brownie BombBrownie Bomb Split
Mustang BarMustang Bar Slices

Would you like to try some?  Head on over to http://www.paleotreats.com/store.html where you can learn more and buy some treats to try for yourself!

Hope your Christmas is both merry and bright!

Friday, December 20, 2013

Energy Bits and...A GIVEAWAY! Gryphwin is the winner!

Gryphwin you are the winner!  Please give your email address and I will contact you so I can send your samples to the right address!
Thanks!

Let me introduce to you the amazing, incredible, nutrient packed, gluten free, paleo, grain free, vegan, dairy free, portable food!  Think it can't be true?  It is! 

When I found out about these incredible little bits, which are bits of real food, I was shocked that something so tiny could hold so much nutrition, all while being portable and allergy friendly. 
Packed with tons of vitamins, minerals, and protein, these bits will keep you going and going.  Here is a little information on them from the website: http://www.energybits.com/index.php/energybits.html
"
Want more energy, more mental vitality, or a healthy high protein snack you can grab on the go? How about a quick way to boost your athletic performance, supercharge your run or crank up your endurance while working or working out? If so, ENERGYbits® are for you. Made from 100% organicallly grown spirulina algae and loaded with 40 nutrients, ENERGYbits® algae tabs have the highest concentration of protein in the world (64%) all for just one calorie per tab. Endorsed by the United Nations as the most nutritious food on earth, spirulina algae has been a favorite of Olympic gold medalists for decades and is a super food in every sense of the word, delivering instant and enduring energy to your brain and body.

Best used for:

  • Increasing Energy 
  • Increasing Endurance
  • Increasing Mental Vitality
  • High Protein Snack
  • Curbing Hunger 
  • Meal Replacement
  • Balancing Blood Sugar
  • Lowering Blood Pressure
  • Reducing Fatigue

How to take them:
For best results, swallow at least 30 ENERGYbits® (or more) before any workout, run, game or intense physical or mental activity. They will improve your energy and endurance. Also take whenever you are tired, hungry or don't have time to eat or cook. They are a terrific high protein, low calorie snack or meal on the go.  A favorite of Olympic athletes.Swallow with beverage (or chew them as you would a handful of nuts). Remember, they're "bits" of food (not pills)."

The health benefits that come from eating ENERGYbits or any of their "sub" bits is amazing.  From supporting weightloss, immunity, increasing performance, beauty, and so much more!  They really are tiny powerhouses of nutrition.

I love how this chart shows the depth of nutrition in the bits:
"
NUTRITIONAL DETAILS
Noted below are the nutritional details for each of our four algae tabs. The most important thing to remember is that ALL of our algae tabs contain just ONE ingredient. Algae. That's it. There is NOTHING else in them. They are 100% organically grown algae. All of our tabs contain at least 60% protein and 40 nutrient and just ONE calorie. The key difference between them is that RECOVERYbits® are100% chlorella,  an algae that builds your immune system and removes toxins while ENERGYbits® and SKINNYbits® are 100% spirulina,  an algae that energize you and fill you up. VITALITYbits® are a blend of the two algae so you get a little bit of both.  All of our BITS are the most nutritious food on earth (and that's not just our opinion, but is a statement backed by science, NASA, The World Bank, The United Nations and many other global health authorities) We hope you try our BITS and when you do, we are sure they will improve your health and energy, one BIT at a time ♥"-http://www.energybits.com/index.php/nutritional-info



Isn't that neat?!  

One thing that was noted when my sample of energybits arrived, was that it can take some time to get used to the taste of the great algae, spirulina, and chorella.  It is recommended that you swallow your first ones before trying to chew them.  I think of it as similar to the adjustment of eating vegetables or organ meats.  For many people, it takes hiding them in yummy dishes or introducing them daily so they can get used to the flavor and actually start enjoying them.  Also, I personally tried just a few bits my first time to get used to them instead of taking 30.  It may help you adjust to the flavor while getting some great nutrients into your body.

Would you like to win a sample energybits to try yourself? Well, now is your chance!  I'll be hosting a giveaway from today (12/20/13) thru (1/4/14).  All you need to do is comment here on my blog and you will be entered.  On 1/5/14 I will select a winner at random to receive the energybits.
Have fun!
http://www.energybits.com/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/o/four_small_tins_small_.jpg Want to learn more?  There is a ton of great information over at http://www.energybits.com/index.php/energybits.html# if you'd like to learn more. 

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Crio Bru

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Glutino Stuffing Mix

Thanksgiving is no long over and Christmas is already upon us, but I wanted to share a great stuffing mix we tried on Thanksgiving day.
muffins_us
flour_us

Baking Mixes

Macaroni Pasta"Oh yum. Your gluten free kitchen is going to smell sooooooooooo good. Your mouth is going to water. Neighbors you didn’t even know you had are going to come rapping at your door. Butter is going to kneel at your feet and melt in abject adoration. No kidding, these are some tasty, fresh-from-the-oven gluten free miracles.
Gluten free muffins, gluten free cookies, gluten free pancakes, gluten free brownies, gluten free baking flour: we call it our Gluten Free Pantry because you’ll need a pantry to hold all your gluten free creations.
All of our Gluten Free Pantry mixes are created by professional chef and fellow celiac Beth Hilson. Now there’s a girl with a gluten free knack."-glutino.com

This amazing company offers so many delicious gluten free options.  I was amazed to find so many gluten free creations of familiar favorite foods.

The stuffing mix arrived just in time before Thanksgiving and it was a great blessing to have a gluten free alternative to a favorite Thanksgiving dish.  It was thoroughly enjoyed on Thanksgiving and the days after too.

Need any gluten-free products?  Glutino offers a ton of options that would be great for Christmas!
Penne Alfredo 
 They even offer frozen meals to make super quick when you are in a pinch!
Sea Salt Crackers 
These look like yummy crackers.
Blueberry Breakfast Bars 
These bars are super tasty.  It was a perfect treat to have at music camp when I went a few years ago.
                               www.glutino.com
Favorite Sandwich Bread

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Paleo to Go!

Need some baked goods or nuts already packaged up?  Have a broken oven and can't bake?  Paleo to Go is a great resource for pre-made treats all ready to go (hence the name).

These treats don't contain any High Fructose Corn Syrup, but instead use honey as their sweetener.  I feel this is a much healthier option for those who can tolerate some sugar.  I even found this great digram on why we should limit high-fructose corn syrup.  Definitely a keeper!
http://healthygrocerygirl.com/sweet-not-so-sweet/




 Here are a few pictures I took  to try and capture the lovely Paleo to Go products.  Now, if only I can get my nails to look a bit prettier...and that lighting...hmm.  I'll keep working on it, but for now, here is some more on Paleo to Go, a company based in the Chicago area.

Based on the foundations of the Paleo Diet, Paleo to Go uses certified gluten-free ingredients like almond meal, flaxseeds, other nuts, honey, and egg as the base of their products. 
These Cookies were the perfect thing to send along with my bother when he left one Saturday morning for a special Church project.  His group, along with many other groups, raised a ton of money and helped so many people by raking bunches of leaves, buying food for a families in need, and enjoying time together while doing some old fashioned work.
Now, back to the Paleo to Go treats...I can't say this was our absolute favorite Paleo product, but for the overall healthfulness of the treats and pretty good taste overall, it is something I'd still highly recommend.  I think these types of products can be especially helpful for families who find themselves in the transition mode of trying to minimize grains, adapt their lifestyle for an allergic child, or just widen their food choices. 

Check out their website to order some today and learn more!
www.paleo-togo.com



Saturday, December 7, 2013

Nick's Sticks=Tasty!

Have you been searching and searching for an alternative to the unhealthy choices at the convenient store?  Do you have a Holiday trip coming up and find yourself worried if you'll be able to find healthy snacks at the store?  Well, this wonderful and tasty product called Nick's Sticks is just for you! 
Completely Grass-Fed, Paleo, Gluten, Grain, Dairy, and Sugar-free!  Whew...that is quite a list.
no-additives

Why the Fuss?

Because we only have the healthiest and tastiest snack sticks ever made… ever!

Just 100% grass-fed beef or free-range turkey
+
Redmond’s Organic Seasoning Salt. That’s it!



Less = More.

No Additives.
No Preservatives.
No MSG.
No Antibiotics.
No Hormones.
No Fillers.
No Red Dye #3 in our casings (nearly all traditional sticks use Red #3 — yuck!).





Grass-fed beef kicks corn-fed cows… in the COB!

    Nick's Sticks
  • Low saturated fat — like snacking on chicken or fish
  • High levels of “good fat” omega-3’s — hey, if you’re gonna eat fat… make it the good stuff!
  • High doses of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) — really hard to say and spell, but it kicks cancer where the sun don’t shine
  • 100% free-range bliss — our cows enjoy “outdoor recess” all day… everyday!
  • Eco-friendly? — Sure, our cows produce a bit of natural methane… but our tractors stay in the barn!"-http://www.nicks-sticks.com/a-healthy-snack/


I love knowing I can chose something healthy that is an excellent source of protein and nutrients for trips or busy days.  I mean I love sardines, but personally...I can't see myself eating that in front of my friends in a car full of people.  This is a great on the go snack that looks normal and tastes good!
Want to find out who Nick is?  Head on over to http://www.nicks-sticks.com/
to learn more.  I highly recommend this superior choice for meat sticks.  Perfect for kids, moms, dads, teens, grandmas, grandpas...anyone!  I don't think there is anything like it on the market today. 

Green Pasture's Fermented Cod Liver Oil and more...




          

About Us 


GP-ButterOil-4Products

"Green Pasture Products™ is a family owned business started by Dave and Barb Wetzel in 2000. Our business focus is to provide high-quality sacred-food oils just as they were made prior to the industrialized food and farming revolution.
High-Vitamin Butter Oil is our foundation product that all our work has blossomed through. Dr. Weston Price discovered High-Vitamin Butter Oil back in the 1930's but the pinnacle of his discovery was when he combined Cod Liver Oil with High-Vitamin Butter Oil.
Green Pasture Featured in Nebraska Farmer

Today we produce the High-Vitamin Butter Oil, and we ferment the historically sacred cod and skate liver oils.
Fermenting the livers of fish to extract the oil is an old world practice that may go back as far as biblical times. During the 1850s was the beginning of the industrial food revolution and the first time cod liver oil manufacturing changed from it's historical sacred roots to an industrialized food.
We've turned back the clock and restored these sacred foods to their roots. We Are proud to offer these historical sacred foods prepared with the same great care and concern for our generational health just as our ancestors.
Dr. Price traveled the world studying the traditional diets of many cultures. In every culture he discovered sacred foods that were carefully collected and prepared to ensure the strong mind, body, and spirit of its people."-greenpasture.org

I thin this is the absolute gold standard in Cod Liver Oil.  The fact that the Cod Liver Oil is fermented makes these great supplements all the more healthier.  Here is a bit on the benefits of cod liver oil from the Weston A. Price Foundation:
"Cod Liver Oil
Once a standard supplement in traditional European societies, cod liver oil provides fat-soluble vitamins A and D, which Dr. Price found present in the diet of "primitives" in amounts ten times higher than the typical American diet of his day. Cod liver oil supplements are a must for women and their male partners, to be taken for several months before conception, and for women during pregnancy. Growing children will also benefit greatly from a small daily dose.
Dr. Price always gave cod liver oil with butter oil, extracted by centrifuge from good quality spring or fall butter. He found that cod liver oil on its own was relatively ineffective but combined with butter oil produced excellent results. Your diet should include both good quality, organic butter and cod liver oil."-westonaprice.org

I love knowing that I am providing my body (and my families body's) with what I believe is the best form of Vitamin A and D.  Now, I personally haven't tried the Butter Oil blend because of my Diary Sensitivity/Allergy, but if you can handle dairy, this is a very nutrient rich supplement I highly recommend.  Perfect for taking everyday to support your health.  I think it is also a great thing to take if you feel you're getting sick or struggling to feel well.

Green Pasture's also offers some other amazing products that are also very nutrient rich:
 BLUE BREEZE™ Organic Coconut GHEE - 27 oz.
A perfect blend of non-heated butter wax extract and organic, virgin coconut oil will make this the family favorite for all your cooking, baking and nutritional fat needs. Casein and lactose free!

Product Info

Blend, Non-heated Butter Wax Extract,Organic, Virgin Coconut Oil, Casein and Lactose Free

Type: liquid
Weight (shipping): 2.50 lbs.
Volume: 25 oz
  BLUE BREEZE™ Organic Virgin Coconut Oil - 1 Gallon
 
 Organic, Virgin Coconut Oil processed in an old-world, cold-pressed method using only choice, fresh coconuts and packaged in a unique small batch process. The QA procedure ensures a consistent, creamy textured, fresh, mild flavored coconut oil. We are proud to bring you this exceptional quality coconut oil and believe you won't find a better coconut oil value any where.

Product Info

Organic, Cold Pressed, Virgin Coconut Oil

Type: liquid
Weight (shipping): 8.00 lbs.
Volume: 1 gal
 
 Organic, Virgin Coconut Oil-Blue Ice™, X-Factor™ Infused - Organic Caramel Flavoring.
Exciting new way to take all your nutritional oils in one easy, convenient, tasty product.
Introducing our new line of Blue Ice Infused Coconut oil. Each serving will be 65% min coconut oil, 2+/-ml of Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil, and .5ml +/- of X-Factor Gold High Vitamin Butter oil and / or Blue Ice Skate Liver Oil.
Product Info
Organic, Virgin Coconut Oil-Blue Ice™, X-Factor™ Infused - Organic Caramel Flavoring

 It is such a huge blessing to have access to these great nutrient rich foods.  I really appreciate the care and attention to detail that Green Pasture's puts into their products.  Check out their website to buy some today: www.greenpasture.org

Also, if you want to learn just a more, below is a part of their Purity Statement (the rest is located on the website).  THANKS GREEN PASTURE!


"Why do a growing number of Moms, Grandmothers, Athletes, Nutritionists, and Medical Professionals Choose Green Pasture Products Fermented Cod Liver Oil and High Vitamin Butter Oil?

  • Whole Food Form
  • Wild, as Provided by Nature
  • Real, Unsurpassed Nutrition
  • Unadulterated
  • Natural fatty acid complex, nothing removed or changed
  • Full, deep range of Vitamins A, D, E, K; CoQ enzymes; and other quinones
  • Deep, Rich, Historical Processing Methods
  • Non-industrialized Production
  • Clean, Pure, and Third Party Tested

Our Guarantee

  • The fish used in our Fermented Cod Liver oil and Skate Liver oil are exclusively wild caught in and around the Arctic region. A substantial amount of today's cod liver oil is produced from farmed fish.
  • Green Pastures is committed to providing our community with nothing but pure, unadulterated, non-industrialized fermented fish liver oils using traditional or sacred production methods that have been in use for thousands of years.
  • We guarantee we will not compromise our products' nutrient quality and integrity by any industrial means that will damage or remove flavors, odors, colors, textures and/or nutrients.
  • We exclusively use third party testing for our products."-greenpasture.org
 


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