Since Gabby is our last little one, every milestone seems to be bittersweet.  Don't get me wrong, I was excited to not have the expense of diapers over a year ago--but then it was sad to think we'll never have a tiny baby anymore.

Mmmm Monday: Strawberry Coconut Protein Pancakes #StonyfieldBlogger

I am a #StonyfieldBlogger and received product coupons.  All recipes and opinions are my own. 

Have you noticed the new Stonyfield Organic Protein OP  drinks in the dairy section?  Three flavors are available: chocolate, strawberry and vanilla.  Strawberry is hands down my favorite! Each drink has 15 grams of protein and NO GMOs, artificial sweeteners or hormones. The drinks alone are super tasty, especially after a workout, but they're great to cook with too!

Let's Talk Lunch + #RockTheLunchBox Giveaway!

This post was created in partnership with Stonyfield. All opinions are my own.

We've almost made it through our first week of kindergarten for the twins!  Woohoo!  The biggest challenge so far for the girls has been listening.  Go figure!  Also, I need to learn how to pack the perfect amount of food in their lunches so they have time to eat it all.  Since they're there from 8:55-3:55, I want to make sure their bellies are full!

I asked the girls to draw their ideal lunch on Monday before school started and it was interesting what they came up with.  I thought for sure there would be a cookie added to their list.

Maddie had an emphasis on fruit, since she is going through a "I don't like chicken" phase.  I wouldn't be shocked at all if she became an vegetarian when she gets older.  They are loving the Honest Kids juice boxes we found at Target. I just freeze them overnight and they are like a little ice pack in their lunchboxes!  Another item that is great to freeze: YoKids yogurt pouches.  One major plus is they are easy for the kids to open by themselves in the lunchroom.

Olivia had basically the same ideas with fruit, but she also wanted a BIG turkey sandwich.  She even said that she can eat Maddie's sandwich at lunch if she doesn't want it.  One request: Annie's Bunnies--any flavor. 

Every year, Stonyfield and other companies we love join together for #RockTheLunchbox.  They offer amazing lunchbox ideas and great coupons!  I don't know if I have time to be creative everyday, but I love the inspiration to think outside of the box while providing the twins with healthy lunch options!

I have a fun giveaway so YOU can also join in on the fun!  You can win a prize pack from Stonyfield, which includes FREE product coupons, a Bento box and other goodies to make your lunchboxes ROCK!  Just enter below!


Rock the Lunchbox

Stonyfield Yogurt Pouches {Road-Trip Friendly Snacks!} #Sponsored

DISCLAIMER: I participated in a Blogger Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Stonyfield. I received coupons to facilitate my shopping trip and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Next week we are headed on our first family roadtrip to Hilton Head Island, SC.  Just call us the Griswalds! 17 hours in the car with two 5 year olds and a 2 year old should be...interesting.  When we made this trip pre-kids, we would blast our favorite music and have a nice relaxing road trip.  Now, I have a feeling we will be stopping more and hearing quite a bit more chatter-- or "are we there yet?"   I'm trying to stay optimistic!

Since we are staying at my parent's condo, we can come prepared.  I'm planning on bringing cereal and other breakfast goodies, plus plenty of beach friendly snacks.  For the car ride, I want healthy, yet filling snacks for us to grab easily.  My go-to product so far has been from our beloved Stonyfield yogurt.

We are loving the new Stonyfield organic yogurt pouches and they are actually quite road-trip friendly! I'm freezing a bunch for our cooler. They will also double as ice packs!  These come in great flavors for everyone...not gonna lie, I have tried a few myself while driving.  Our favorite is the Strawberry Beet Berry.  They are perfect for healthy snacking and almost mess free. 

Aside from the yogurt pouches, I'm making up a few batches of Greek yogurt banana bread and muffins.  The protein will keep us full, without being stuffed.  I really don't want to have to stop for fast food.  Another snack I'll be packing is some veggie dip made with Stonyfield Greek yogurt, dill and lemon for some crudites.  I'm sure I'll get get some major eye-rolls from the Mr. for my healthy snacks...but he'll thank me when his stomach starts growling around hour 2.  His version of snacks are a case of sugar free Red Bull and Munchies snack mix. (Let's be honest, that Munchies snack mix is ah-mazing...but doesn't make you feel so hot a few hours later)

If you want more information about Stonyfield organic yogurt products, check out their website.  They have coupons to print too! 

Other ways to connect:

• Stonyfield Facebook
• Keep up on Instagram to watch their fun adventures!
• Twitter
• Pinterest

Do you have any fun trips planned this summer? What's your go-to snack?

New Stonyfield Yogurt Pouches! {Giveaway!!} #StonyfieldYoGetter

This post was created in partnership with Stonyfield. All opinions are my own.

Liv spent a few days at Grandmas...she missed the boat on this photo op (and yogurt!)!

My kids fly through yogurt.  We basically have a whole shelf in the fridge dedicated to yogurt of all types: tubes, quarts, cups and now pouches!  When Gabby was a baby, they just started coming out with the cool pouches of baby food and I LOVED them! So convenient and mess free.  I was always bummed they never made yogurt for older kids that way.  UNTIL NOW!  Stonyfield has yogurt pouches in all of their kids varieties: YoBaby, YoToddler and YoKids.  All of them are organic and made with whole milk, perfect for your growing kiddos!

I find the pouches at Meijer, Family Fare and Target has 4 packs!  With coupons, they are the same price as any other variety.  We like to pack them for the car after school or the Y.  When it gets warmer, I will love to freeze these for a tasty treat at the beach or pool.  Even when we are home we hand them out for lunch because our kids make a MESS with their yogurt, this keeps the tables clean!

Would you like to try the pouches?  I have a giveaway for you!  One lucky winner will get 10 coupons for FREE yogurt!  Horray! 

Enter on the Rafflecopter below.
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NOTE: I do monitor all entries...if you have failed to complete a certain step, I will remove that entry.  Once the winner is drawn, they have 48 hours to respond to the email so keep your eyes peeled!  If there is no response, another winner will be drawn.

Can't wait to try the new Stonyfield pouches?  Here's a printable coupon for you!

My Weight Loss Journey: Protein is Key!

Disclosure: I am part of the Stonyfield Yo-Getters.  I received coupons for Greek yogurt, but all opinions are my own!

I have some news!! I’m going to be in an upcoming issue of All You Magazine!  SO excited/nervous.  You would think I would be sharing money saving tips, but it's actually something very different! More details soon, but basically I’ve been testing a fitness app for the last month.  I have really been focusing on being more active after that loooong winter and it’s making me feel great!

Although I am trying to lose weight, I refuse to say that I’m on a diet.  I am ready to make lifelong changes!  One of my top priorities is getting enough healthy food, especially protein.  Before I just assumed protein was coming from meat and occasionally beans…now I make sure to fill up each plate with protein!  Bob Harper says that you should get half of your body weight in grams of protein (ex: if you weigh 160, you need 80 grams of protein a day).  While that may seem like a lot, it’s actually quite easy!  The main purpose of protein is to keep you full longer.

My go-to (and tastiest!) form of filling protein is Stonyfield Greek yogurt. I have the bad habit of standing at the counter to eat during the day and yogurt is a quick way to fill up!  Favorite flavors: Superfruit, Black Cherry with 1 teaspoon of mini chips or the blueberry!  Many people think they don’t like Greek yogurt, but when they try the smooth Stonyfield variety they are hooked. (*cough* Ricky!) I love that they are so flavorful!  This year, Stonyfield is the official yogurt of the Boston Marathon!  Good luck to everyone today!

Aside from snacks in cups, I buy a big tub of plain Stonyfield Greek yogurt for cooking.  I add it instead of sour cream or mayo to many recipes.  My new favorite lunch is a can of tuna, mixed with a bit of mustard, plain Greek yogurt and a hard-boiled egg on a bagel thin.  SO filling!!  On the side, if I’m not having a cup of yogurt, I have cottage cheese with a drizzle of honey.  That meal alone gets me almost half of my protein quota for the day!

Here are some other great (non meat!) sources of protein:

• Liquid Egg whites.  For only 25 calories you get 5 grams!

• Low Fat Cottage cheese. 12 grams per ½ cup!  Great toppings: honey, salsa, berries.
• Tuna.  1 can has 28 grams!
• Steel Cut Oats. 5 grams per serving.  Add some peanut butter and nuts for a great filling breakfast!
• Beans. Protein varies per bean, ex: black beans have 7 grams per ½ cup. I like to add them to salads, blend them up for dips.  Make sure to always rinse and seek out low sodium cans.
• Endamame. 17 grams per cup!  Roast in the oven, add to stir fries, make endamole.

The list is endless, but once you start keeping an eye out for protein, you’ll find some of the sources surprising. 



My weight loss journey is FAR from finished, but I feel like I've gotten a great start so far!  Maybe one day I'll be completing the Boston Marathon...or at least cheering on Ricky!

What's your go-to source of protein?

Banana + Nutella Pancakes with Stonyfield Yogurt!

Raise your hand if you're over this LONG winter! I am SO ready for sunshine and flip flops.

One thing that I associate with summer is Jack Johnson music.  Banana Pancakes is up there as one of my favorite songs.  His music is perfect for sitting on a patio, sipping a frosty drink.

Since we are still frozen here in Michigan, I'll make some banana pancakes and enjoy my day with the family.  I'm still sittin, waitin, wishin for summer though! (Like my Jack Johnson reference?!)

If you've never used quinoa before, it's a versatile grain alternative--gluten free for those of you who are intolerant!  You can substitute it for rice, bake with it or put it in your salads.  The possibilities are endless!  Another great thing about quinoa are the nutrients: high protein, as much calcium as milk, as well as high in fiber and iron . I love that it cooks in less than 15 minutes.  You can buy it anywhere these days, even Aldi!  At Costco they have a huge bag of it for under $10 that lasts for months.

The point is you should check out quinoa!  This pancake recipe is a perfect introduction for you!  Also in this recipe is Stonyfield yogurt.  A great way to start out your day...or end it if you want breakfast for dinner!

Here's what you'll need: 

• 1.5 cups flour (whole wheat, regular, 50/50...whatever floats your boat!)
• 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon flax seed
• 1.5 cups cooked quinoa, chilled
• 1.5 cups Stonyfield yogurt- 3/4 cup Banilla + 3/4 cup Vanilla Greek
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 3/4 cup Egg Beaters (or 3 eggs)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla 
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 banana--brown are best!
• 2 tablespoons Nutella + 1 teaspoon coconut oil for swirl

1. Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl.  Set aside. 
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, yogurt and almond milk.  Add vanilla and coconut oil.  Finally, add quinoa.
3. Slowly add dry ingredients.  Slice banana on top and fold in.
4. In a microwavable bowl, heat Nutella and coconut oil for 30 seconds...or until runny.
5. Heat a griddle or pan to medium heat.  Place 1/3 cup of pancake mix and drizzle the Nutella mixture on top.  Flip after 2-3 minutes.

Enjoy!

This makes a batch of 12 large pancakes.  I suggest making the whole recipe and freezing for later!

Even if you have a family of picky eaters, I think that you will like this healthified pancake recipe.  It's very versatile!  Instead of Nutella, you can use mini chocolate chips.  Take out the bananas and add blueberries!  The combinations are endless!

Stay warm if you're freezing here in the Midwest with us!  If you live in a warmer climate, crank some Jack Johnson in the sun for me!

Disclaimer: I am a Stonyfield YoGetter and I have was provided yogurt to make this recipe.  All recipes, opinions and Jack Johnson obsessions are my own. 

Healthified Green Bean Casserole with Stonyfield Yogurt!

Nothing makes me more excited than finding a healthy alternative for foods I'm cooking.  Even better when you can't tell the difference!  Yogurt has been my favorite substitute for a couple of years now.  Check out my awesome yogurt banana bread! 

With all of the cooking and baking coming up for the holidays, buying a big tub or two of yogurt will help you healthify so many things!  Making a spinach dip that uses mayo?  Use yogurt instead! On the Stonyfield website, they have a super handy guide for you!  For the most part, the substitution is a 1:1 ratio, and you can choose regular or Greek yogurt, plain and lowfat.

If you are hesitant to make the switch, try a 50/50 substitution to start with.  For sour cream, I prefer Greek yogurt, since it has that thick texture.

This green bean casserole takes maybe 5 minutes longer because you have to wash and chop the mushrooms, but the health benefits are worth it!  Adding yogurt instead of the can of soup makes the protein of the dish go way up and the sodium drops drastically!  Also, there is less fat.  I could continue to make the dish healthier by omitting the French fried onions, but it's really not green bean casserole without them!

 Here's what you'll need:

• 1 large bag of frozen green beans- Cut or French style
• 1 cup Stonyfield plain 0% Greek yogurt
• 8-12 oz package of fresh mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup skim milk
• Dash of soy sauce
• 1 container of fried onions 
• Salt & Pepper, to taste.  

1.  Clean and slice the mushrooms.  If you prefer to dice them, that works too!
2. Heat a pan over medium heat.  Add the mushrooms and a touch of EVOO.  Saute until cooked and softened.  Pepper and salt them as desired (I tend to go heavier on pepper).  Add a dash of soy sauce. 
3. Clear a hole in the middle of the pan for the butter to melt.  After melted, sprinkle with the flour.  Cook for 1 minute (the flour can mix in with the mushrooms).
4. Slowly add milk.  Mixture will be very thick.  Now slowly add yogurt.  If the mixture is too thick, add a splash of milk.  
5. Add green beans in the pan, frozen.  Cook for 2-3 minutes.
6. Place mixture into a casserole dish.  Top with fried onions!  

Here are some other ways you can healthify your holiday dishes:

• Cut back on the butter and add yogurt in your mashed potatoes.
• Make these tasty yogurt biscuits for breakfast or Thanksgiving meal! 
• For baking, check out the Stonyfield site for TONS of tasty ideas! Even snag a few coupons while you're there!

What healthy tips do you have for holiday cooking and baking? I'm all ears!

Healthy lunches with Weelicious {Giveaway!}

 I am a huge fan of Catherine McCord.  Her Instagram feed makes me drool daily.  She creates amazing, healthy recipes for kids (and adults!) using simple ingredients.  A few weeks ago, she was on The Chew and explained that her kids have never had the same lunch twice! 

This cookbook focuses on lunch and snack ideas, which the twins have loved.  They like to flip through and look at the photos to figure out what to make next.  How cool is it that they are excited to try new recipes?!

 

This easy PB&J recipe was a big hit.  Olivia likes her peanut butter sammies "Elvis style" and the other two ladies like theirs normal.  By toasting it up in the waffle maker, everyone can have their favorite sandwiches in a snap.  

We've tried over ten recipes in the last few weeks and we have so many favorites.  At the top of my list are the homemade granola bars.  They were so simple and I love knowing that there aren't any crazy extra ingredients in them.  We made them with strawberries the first time around and they reminded me of old school strawberry Pop tarts.

Catherine was nice enough to let the Stonyfield YoGetters share a recipe from the book!  For more great lunch ideas, you're going to have to enter the contest!

Whole Grain Granola Fruit Bars

• 1.5 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1.5 cups quick cooking oats (or rolled oats)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1.5 sticks of unsalted butter, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons of cold water
• 3/4 cup fruit preserves (we went through a small jar)

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. In a food processor, combine flour, oats, brown sugar and salt.  Pulse for 30-45 seconds.
3. Add butter and water.  Pulse until dough holds together when pressed.
4. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.  Line with parchment paper and spray with cooking oil.
5. Divide dough in half and press half onto the pan, using a spatula.
6. Spread the preserves on top of dough.  
7. Press the remaining dough on top.
8. Bake 45 minutes, or until brown.  Ours took about an hour.
9. Cut into bars.  Makes around 12-16 bars, depending cut.

*These can be stored at room temperature.  We put them in baggies, but they barely lasted 3 days.

Other great recipes inside:

• Fruit Leather
• Whole-wheat crackers
• Honey Cinnamon roasted chickpeas (So addicting!)
• Eggplant burgers
• Veg-wee dip (made with yogurt!)

This cookbook is a must for any family who cooks!

Enter the rafflecopter below to win: a copy of Weelicious Lunches and a packet of coupons for free Stonyfield products!


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Note: I will be verifying all entries.  Any invalid ones will be removed.  If you have any questions about how to use the Rafflecopter, please ask!

What creative lunch ideas do you have? 

On the MOOve with Stonyfield Smoothies! {Giveaway!}

Nice refreshing snack for the little ladies!

No matter what time it is, or how long ago they ate, my girls are always searching for a snack.  I'm lucky they gravitate towards healthy options.  I still cannot figure out where all of the food goes on their tiny bodies!

Did you know they always have great coupons available on their site? They are also now found in the Sunday paper. You know I'm all about coupons! To be able to get a great organic product for the same price as other non-organic yogurt is a great feeling!  Our favorite is the Banilla quart (Banana + Vanilla).

As a Mama trying to keep her kids healthy, I love how my kids can quickly get some great nutrients in their system with these smoothies.  Organic milk, puree of fruits & veggies PLUS 1/3 daily calcium serving all in one 3 oz smoothie.  Can't beat that!

This summer it seems we are always on the go.  I like to stick a straw in the smoothies and give them to the girls in their carseats.  I don't like to give them too much liquid before driving, as they aren't quite always the best at going potty when they need to.  (Anyone else have kids that LOVE public restrooms? Ew!)

Want a chance to WIN some Stonyfield goodies?  Enter in the Rafflecopter below to win 4 coupons for FREE packages of Stonyfield Smoothies & a fun deck of cards "52 Things to Do in the Car" (Hello summer road trips!).

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