‘The Grub’ Articles

Heads up!  We just got the scoop on yet another super-easy and deliciously healthy convenience food!  The team over at Zoe foods just came out with a line of granolas that are out of this world!!!  Flavors like Honey Almond, Cinnamon Raisin and Cranberry Currant are packed with bunches and bunches of all-natural good stuff like flax seed, soy, omega-3s, protein and fiber.  The clincher is even better:  this stuff tastes FAAAABulous!!  Throw some in a small container for a healthy snack at school,  sprinkle some on yogurt or serve it warm for a healthy start to those cool fall mornings.  How about sprinkling a little over some baked apples for a delicious and healthy (Shhhhhh!) dessert?  The possibilities are endless, people!  So go get in the game with some healthy Zoe’s granolas! 

P.S. Check out their super-cool website, too!  This is one with-it company you’ll feel good about supporting!

Hip, hip, hooray!  We’ve found more FAAAAAB-U-LOUS fruit snacks made of…..you guessed it, FRUIT! (what a concept!)  The folks at Fruitabu (cool name, too!) have come up with some s-s-stunningly delicous and totally portable fruit snacks you can feel good about tossing in lunches, snacks or sports bags.  They come in Smooshed Flats and Smooshed Rolls (a HUGE  improvement on the popular snack Fruit by the Foot)!  Recently, a very official Family  Fitness Coach tasting panel (AKA Ms. Esselman’s third grade class and Mrs. Gantner’s first grade class!) gave Fruitabu in all varieties rave reviews!  Good stuff that tastes great!  Winner, winner!!

p.s.  the flats make especially great Halloween treats, too!  BOO!

Oh, don’t worry~  this is STILL a family site!  I’m just all worked up over Stacy’s Simply Naked Baked Pita chips!  These babies are an awesome school snack or cold lunch side!  We’ve only tasted the most basic version ‘Simply Naked’ but they come in tons of other (and we’re sure equally DELISH!) flavors including Tuscan Herb, Hot & Spicy, Cinnamon Sugar and Parmesan Garlic & Herb- YUM!  This easy chip-type snack is a great healthy on the go choice!  It’s low in calories and fat (NO transfat, of course!), has a little fiber and protein and less than one gram of sugar PLUS it is super satisfying and the kids love it! Can you say WIN-WIN?! Serve it instead of tortilla or potato chips- your team will thank you & you will feel great knowing you’ve snuck in another awesome play!  Here are the stats on the ‘Simply Naked’ version per serving:

130 resonable calories; 5 g fat (NONE trans!); 2 lovely grams fiber; 3 adorable grams of protein and less than 1 gram of sugar- WOOHOO!  Go, Stacy, go!

For stats on the rest of Stacy’s Pita Chips, or to learn more about this awesome company, visit their nifty website .

OK, so most of us know that the ‘regular’ peanut butter on store shelves is loaded with artificial junk like trans fats, high fructose corn syrup and other flagrant fouls we’d never want to serve our kids.  But, in desperation, most of us serve it to them anyway after trying many soupy, oily and EXPENSIVE natural versions that just don’t fly with the troops!  Well, compromise no more!  Skippy has a natural brand that looks and tastes just like regular peanut butter, requires absolutely no stirring and is sure to fool your finickiest family member.  Better yet, Skippy makes their yummy natural peanut butter in creamy AND super chunk varieties!  You’ll find it right next to the regular Skippy in the peanut butter aisle at your grocery store.  YAY, Skippy!  We think choosey moms should choose YOU! 

Check out these stats:  (per 2 tablespoons) 180 calories, 17g fat, 2g fiber, 7 g protein and only 3g sugar!!!  Skip on down to the grocer and grab some!

Ok, this snack may not have the MOST appealing name, but you gotta trust us- it’s GREAT stuff!  Fruit leather comes in 10 amazing flavors, so you’re sure to find something for everyone on your team.  FFC can’t get enough of the Pineapple Cocnut Paradise or the Orchard Cherry~mmmmmmmmmmmm, yummy!  Plus, fruit leather from Stretch Island Fruit Co. scores bonus points for being super-convenient and ridiculously easy to take anywhere- lunch boxes, school snacks, sports practice, in a purse, anywhere!  I mean it!  Oh, and by the way, check out these amazing snack stats:  only 45 calories and no fat or artifical ingredients!  Take that high-sugar imitation ‘fruit’ snacks!

For more info, or to order online go to www.stretchislandfruit.com .  Snack away!

Check this out, mateys!  FFC has found another awesome backpack, lunch-bag friendly snack you can feel good about sending with your team!  Pirate’s Booty is a gluten-free, peanut-free snack that everyone will love.  It tastes just like cheese popcorn only without the gross sticky orange fingers and nutritional nightmare!  Pirate’s Booty is made from all natural ingredients, has no preservatives and tastes absolutely amazing!!  Check out these impressive snack food stats: Each 1 oz serving (the snack food standard) has just 130 calories and 5g fat plus 1g fiber and 2g protein!  WOOHOO!  Check out the super simple ingredient list, too!  We can’t wait to try the Caramel Booty and the BBQ Booty too!!  Booty on!    

We just had, had, had to write about Sargento’s great reduced fat cheeses!   Not just because we’re true cheeseheads from Wisconsin, but because we think Sargento’s cheese taste divine!  These great tasting, lower-fat cheeses come in a boatload of different shapes, cuts and flavors, but they all have one thing in common- they taste awesome!!!  Your team is sure to fall for this fake-out!  Sprinkle a little of the reduced fat mild cheddar shreds on eggs or pasta, or set out a dish of the reduced fat Mexican blend on taco night!  There’s even deli-style slices with around 60 calories- making them a safe bet for topping turkey burgers.  Fat free cheeses have gotten a bad rap in the past, but the Sargento team has whipped up the perfect recipe for a delicious AND reduced fat cheese we can all sink our teeth into.  And speaking of recipes, check out the website at www.sargento.com for some really great ways to use your favorite new reduced fat cheeses!  Mmmmmm, cheesey!

Heads up!  In case no one told you, today is Labor day and we’ve got an 11^th hour change to your grilling out gameplan!  The team over at Jennie-O makes a mean freezer to grill burger perfect for your Labor Day cookout!  Their Savory Seasoned Lean Turkey Burgers can be found in the frozen foods section, taken to your party and thrown right on the grill!  Easy, healthy, and unbelievable deeeeeLISHous!!  Serve these up on a healthy wheat burger roll (like our favorite from Village Hearth!) for a fabulous meal from the grill.  Beware of fake outs, though!  Jennie-O also sells a ‘Premium White turkey Burger’ which you might assume is even healthier, but actually has almost TWICE the fat!!  YOWZERS!  The stats on the ‘Savory Seasoned Turkey Burger’ are impressive at just 160 calories and 9g total fat per patty!  YUMMMMers!

Well, the team over at Kashi foods has done it again!  Their chewy peanut butter granola bar is absolutely out of this world!  Plus, it’s loaded with good stuff you’ll feel great about feeding your family!  These handy little snacks are an absolute first-stringer for school lunches and packable snacks!  The impressive stats: 140 calories, 5g fat (NO trans fat!) and 4 healthy grams of fiber!  Also noteworthy is that these bars unlike many of the other so-called healthy granola bars are free of any high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils.  Pay close attention to the labels when you’re stocking up on seemingly healthy snack bars as many contain loads of these flagrant fouls!  Stick with brands committed to using real ingredients (like Kashi!!) and you’re sure to find snacks you AND your family can love!!

Slam Dunk!  That’s what the team over at Thomas’ has created with their 100 calorie English muffins.  These deeeee-licious little superstars come in two varieties- original and multi-grain.  Now you know the coach does not normally endorse white bread, but this little muffin has some pretty impressive stats weighing in at 100 calories, 1g fat and 5g of fiber (and we can’t forget 4g protein, too)!  If your recruits are a little hesitant to go whole grain, this is a nice starter plan and it tastes JUST like a regular English muffin!!  The whole grain version takes the gold however with an extra 3 g of fiber per muffin!  YUMMERS!!  Spread with some natural peanut butter and banana slices for a filling and nutritious treat, or load it up with all natural fruit spread and light cream cheese for a great breakfast sweet treat!  You can even use em in place of hamburger buns or sandwich bread- or how about a base for healthier mini pizzas?!?  The gameplans are endless- pick some up and chow down!