Are you living GF? Or, do you have a loved one or friend who follows a gluten-free diet? If so, you may already know that May is National Celiac Awareness Month. I was recently asked if I’d like to help raise awareness and show support for those living with celiac disease and gluten intolerance by sharing a brand that offers certified gluten-free products.



Gluten Free Cookies that are Mightylicious!



Gluten Free Cookies and Milk

We are not a gluten free family, but several of my daughters friends who visit our home have dietary restrictions, so when I was asked to review the NoGii line of protein bars, why protein powder and The G Free Diet book by Elisabeth Hasselbeck for free as part of the MomsMeet blogger group, I happily agreed. My opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

My WAHM Plan tries gluten free products


I received a box full of goodies, much to the delight of my daughters, who live to try new protein bars. Created by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Gluten-Free Mom, Emmy Award-Winning Talk Show Host, and New York Times Best-Selling Author of “The G-Free Diet” and “Deliciously G-Free.


About NoGii Products:

NoGii is a line of certified gluten-free protein bars, protein powders, and paleo bars. Made from high quality and sustainably sourced premium ingredients, all products have an ideal balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates and do not contain high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, or hydrogenated oils. 

NoGii offers a variety of choices to provide you and your family with good, clean, certified gluten-free, and nutritional food choices that fit your active lifestyle.

We received boxes of high protein bars in:

  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Crisp- 30 g protein, 390 calories
  • Peanut butter & Chocolate- 20 g protein, 230 calories
  • Cocoa & Brownie- 20 g protein, 220 calories
  • Chocolate & Mint- 17 g protein, 230 calories
  • Chocolate Coconut- 17 g protein 240 calories


My Thoughts:

Even though my whole family enjoyed these high protein bars, and found them quite tasty and satisfying, I had to remind them that they each packed a pretty big calorie load and must be factored into our daily healthy living goals. 

Personally, I found the paleo bars a much better choice for my goals and dietary needs. All bars are free of dairy, soy, high fructose/corn syrup, gluten, trans fat and peanuts making them a perfect on the go snack for our busy schedules.  


My WAHM Plan tried Paleo bars

My favorite Paleo bar is Nuts and Berries, which has 4 grams of protein and just 180 calories. My daughters love the Paleo Nuts about Nuts bars, which have 5 grams of protein and 200 calories. Unfortunately none of us liked the flavor of the Nuts about Tropical fruit bars, which have 4 grams of protein and 190 calories. There was a hint of soapiness to the bar that we all found off putting.

The Vanilla Bean whey and quinoa protein powder made a delicious, satisfying after work out drink, with none of the bloating I felt using soy based products, so I’m thrilled with this product as well.


About the G Free Diet Book:

"For years, Elisabeth Hasselbeck couldn't figure out what was making her sick.  She asked doctors and consulted nutritionists, but no one seemed to have the answers. It wasn't until spending time in the Australian outback, living off the land, on the grueling TV Survivor show, that, ironically, her symptoms vanished.Returning home, she pinpointed the food that had been making her sick- gluten, the binding element in wheat."


My Thoughts:

Elisabeth starts chapter one My G-Free journey with this “I learned about gluten the hard way. I wrote this book so you don’t have to.” While I don’t subscribe to some of Elisabeth’s opinions on living gluten free whether you need to or not, I found The G free Diet book to be informative and helpful in navigating the gluten free lifestyle.  I now know to shop for and cook for company who come to our home.

If you are interested in learning more about Elisabeth’s journey from pain to loving what she eats, please visit nogii.com to learn more about her books and product line, or follow them Twitter, Instagram and Facebook where you can enter to win a trip to New York City, where you’ll meet and have lunch with Elisabeth Hasselbeck! To enter, visit facebook.com/nogiinogluten, look for the link for the contest, and complete the entry form. Hurry! Contest ends on July 31st, 2015.

Please share in comments: Do you or someone you know follow a gluten free lifestyle?



Disclosure: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.




Happy belated National Cookie Day! I hope you enjoyed baking and eating a variety of cookies yesterday, just like I did. Since we are in the beginning of the holiday baking season, I thought I’d try my hand at making some gluten-free cookies for my family and friends who need this option. While these cookies are semi-homemade; I was delighted with the way they turned out and so was my family. They couldn’t wait to try them when they got home since the heavenly scent of fresh baked treats greeted them at the door. 


Gluten-Free Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Chunk Cookies #ad #ImmaculateBaking


It’s the last Friday of August, and with Labor Day here, so I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite products I’ve tried recently with this Friday Faves, Labor Day Edition post. I love the idea  of sharing Friday favorites and hope to make it a weekly thing here on the blog.



Friday Faves Labor Day Edition!



Friday Faves Labor Day Edition

I like having snack options on hand for each member of my family, which has to include single serve, grab- and- go options. More often than not, these snacks have to fulfill more than one craving as well. For instance, I keep beef jerky on hand for my husband who loves a salty/chewy treat, while my daughters and I prefer sweet and salty snacks. Are you a fan of yummy sweet and salty snacks as well? I’ve got two you’ll want to try then!



Sweet and Salty Snacks



Sweet and Salty Snacks

My husband and I love to cook good, wholesome meals for our family of four, but lately, we’ve fallen into a bit of a mealtime rut.  We both agree that adding more fall vegetables and good for you grains was a must- but even those small changes didn’t feel like quite enough to get us back on a healthy eating track. While working online one day, a cookbook title caught my eye- Nourishing Meals by Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre (husband and wife) and I thought this would be a great way to add fresh ideas to our meal planning.



Read on to learn about Nourishing Meals 365 Whole foods, allergy free recipes for healing your family one meal at a time


Nourishing Meals book cover



Clearly this book was written for those who are trying to eat better, I expected that from the title. What I didn’t expect was that all those inviting meals I’d seen on the cover were really gluten-free, dairy-free and soy free dishes. Nobody in my family has a dietary restriction, so you may be wondering why I would select this type of cookbook. It was the promise to help me ditch the processed foods one allergy-free meal at a time that grabbed me and honestly, I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve learned so far.




Nourishing Meals offers 365 whole foods, allergy-free recipes for healing your family one meal at a time. I’m educating myself, or rather, re-educating myself while reading this cookbook, starting off with the preface-   7 steps to sustainable dietary change. These are do-able steps that aren’t meant to be hurried through, or done all at once. The author’s idea is restorative nourishment, which can gently and gradually nurture our systems until unhealthy foods and habits naturally fade away.



My family and I are spending more time on step one, which is Add more vegetables. We know we eating vegetables is good for us. Our parents told us to eat our vegetables when we were kids and chances are if you are a parent- you are saying it to your kids now. Sometimes though, it can be challenging to get kids to eat their veggies. Never fear, this book is loaded with tips- from pregnancy through childhood- on how to deal with and prevent picking eating behaviors. 



Chickpea curry recipe- Nourishing Meals
Source

You are invited into recipe chapters during the 7 steps. For instance, in step 1, there is a Smoothie chapter that can aide in getting kids to eat their veggies. look at the tasty Chickpea vegetable curry recipe highlighted in the photo above. Doesn't that look like a delightful way to eat more vegetables?


Step 2 talks about making your own salad dressings while step three- (where I am this week) discusses the importance of replacing processed grain foods with whole foods. In this step, the recipes I’d like to try are Fluffy Cashew Pancakes and Chicken Breakfast sausages.



Another chapter I’ve found very helpful and timely is Packing a healthy lunchbox. Now that my daughters are teenagers, they pack their own lunches. Keeping a variety of good for them lunch foods on hand can be daunting, so I’m thankful for the fresh ideas in this chapter. With their easy to read lunch and snack lists, I can just turn to this chapter and make my shopping list, choosing what I know my kids will eat. Same goes for my husband’s lunchbox. He’s always pleasantly surprised when I add celery stalks or pepper slices to his lunch, and now I’m armed with even more healthy lunchbox ideas.



If one of your goals is to feed your family healthy, nourishing, tasty meals, I am happy to suggest this all-inclusive book. I’ve learned so much already in the short time I’ve had it.  I’m educating myself on why living a gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free lifestyle is perfect for some and that it may not be perfect for me and mine- it is always good to know the WHY behind each choice. The next time I am hosting a dinner or sleep over and learn that one of our guests does have a food allergy, I will be better equipped to cook and serve them food that tastes good and is nourishing to them. 



Another great part of this book is how hands on it helps you become. Check out this cool DIY recipe for homemade herbed sea salt on the Nourishing Meals Facebook page. 


DIY homemade herbed sea salt Nourishing meals
Source

Learn More: 

I invite you to learn more about the authors by visiting their website and by following them on Facebook and Twitter.  



I highly recommend this book and will keep this book as an eating healthier recourse and may even gift a copy or two this holiday season. You can purchase a copy today on Amazon




Please share in comments- Do you or somebody in your family have a food allergy? How has that impacted the way you cook?


Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions stated are my own. 


Larabar 16 bar variety pack Giveaway

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, December 19, 2013

Who needs a quick, healthy snack? Are you a fan of Larabars? Recently we received a free 4 pack of Larabars to try in the hopes that I would share my honest opinions here and host a giveaway. All opinions are 100% my own and I’m happy to say- we are now fans of Larabars!



MyWAHMPlan.com


About LARABAR:

“LÄRABAR® is a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices. Made from whole food, each flavor contains no more than nine ingredients. Pure and simple, just as nature intended.

GLUTEN FREE/CELIACS LÄRABAR®, über®, Jŏcalat®, and ALT® bars are Gluten Free. They have no gluten-containing ingredients, and we have manufacturing controls in place to ensure that there are no cross-contact concerns. We also periodically verify our practices using Gliadin gluten testing.”




Our Review:

With wonderful flavors like Apple Pie (my personal favorite), Peanut Butter Cookie (my hubby’s favorite) and Banana’s Foster (my kids favorite) you are sure to find your favorite too, that is if you aren’t a Larabar fan already! 
Even though these bars are higher in calories than some others on the market, in my opinion they are worth it! They taste so fresh and good and they stay with you for a long time making them the perfect snack for busy days. I invite you to go here to see all their flavor options and to like Larabar on Facebook.




The Giveaway:

MyWAHMPlan.com


One lucky reader will win a 16 Larabar variety pack! Entering is easy using the Rafflecopter form below. No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents 18+. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for shipment of prize. See all terms on Rafflecopter form.


Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be a good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I struggle with having enough variety in my morning breakfast choices because I’m not a fan of traditional breakfast foods.  Eggs? No way. Waffles? I’ll be hungry again in ten minutes. I’ll admit, sometimes I’ve skipped breakfast altogether, powering through on coffee alone. We all know just how unhealthy that is and I didn’t want to continue this in 2018.
I’ve always liked Granola, so when I received an email about reviewing KitchFix Grain-Free Paleo Granola, I was intrigued. I thought perhaps incorporating more Paleo-friendly food into my morning routine would be just the thing I need to get me back in the habit of eating breakfast. 

Paleo Grain-Free Granola and fruit for breakfast #ad

This is a sponsored post for KitchFix. I received the products mentioned in today's post as a thank you for my time. No further compensation was given. All opinions are my own. 

About KitchFix and CEO Chef Josh:

I love trying new products, especially small businesses that got their start from a desire to help others and to serve their communities. That’s what I found when I visited the KitchFix website. I really liked what I learned. KitchFix CEO Chef Josh states that they are committed to using the best, most flavorful ingredients, and raising the standard on healthy snacks. 

I enjoyed reading how KitchFix got its start in Chicago when Chef Josh took his desire to help clients feed their bodies well.

Chef Josh has always loved making people’s lives healthier and happier with great-tasting food. As a personal chef to clients overcoming cancer, he began exploring the healing power of food. He followed an anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense cooking plan that avoided common allergens like dairy and gluten to ensure his clients’ bodies were thriving from the food they ate.”



About Grain-Free Paleo Granola:


 About Grain-Free Paleo Honey Pecan Granola:



According to their website, this is the combination that started it all - the original Grain-Free Paleo Granola.  They slow-roast a core blend of nuts and seeds to perfection in coconut oil with cinnamon, sea salt and just a touch of pure maple syrup.  Then, they top it off with plump Thompson raisins and coconut flakes to create our savory Original Mix. They left out Gluten, grain, dairy, and refined sugars, leaving only healthy, delicious, Paleo granola. 



Greek Yogurt topped with Grain-Free Paleo Granola #ad


I absolutely LOVE this blend on Greek yogurt. I add a piece of fruit and this tasty breakfast stays with me for hours. I’m not hungry for over 4 hours. My family loves it too, preferring to eat it by the handful as a quick snack. 


 About Grain-Free Paleo Honey Pecan Granola:


KitchFix Grain-Free Honey Pecan Granola #ad



KitchFix says when they came up with our Grain-Free Paleo Honey Pecan Granola; they wanted to make every bite taste like fresh pecan pie. With a mixture of crunchy pecans and other nuts and seeds sweetened with natural honey, pure maple syrup and just a touch of cinnamon, it truly does taste as good as a slice of pecan pie. This is a perfect on the go granola snack too. My husband loves it because it’s so full of nuts, it doesn’t feel or taste like any granola he’s ever had. 


Our Thoughts: 

We give these two Paleo Grain-Free Granola’s two thumbs up! Way, way up! I will definitely purchase them for us in the future. You can learn more about their granola ingredients, other flavors, and products and use their store locator by visiting KitchFix .




Win It:

Thanks to today’s sponsor, KitchFix, one lucky reader will win two bags of KitchFix Paleo Grain-Free Granola. Entering is easy using the entry form below. No purchase is necessary.



Win a Kitchfix Grain-Free Granola Bundle #14


Good luck!


Please share in comments: Which of these two granola flavors would you try first if you won? 
Loving your hair in any season can be tricky, but when the temperatures rise and the great outdoors beckons, our relationship with our hair can become quite complicated. Depending on your hair type you may be trying to control frizz, add volume, combat dryness,  keep your color longer, get your hair to grow,  all why having fun in the sun.  We all search for products to help us fix our most pressing hair concerns so when I was offered the opportunity to try 4 complimentary products I said yes, please! 


Summer Hair Care Products Reviews:


 #ad 4 hair care products to help you love your hair this summer

Happy Friday friends! We are slowly inching closer to the most wonderful time of the year! Today I'm sharing a list that was fun and easy to put together since I’m a mom of two daughters that are 22 and 18. By this point, I’m basically a professional daughter gift shopper!  I thought it would  helpful to share some of gift ideas for moms and daughters that have been a hit in the past or are on gift lists this year.


Gifts For Moms and Daughters!


Gift Ideas for Moms and Daughters

The Garden Patch Growbox Giveaway

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, May 03, 2013

During one of our recent family meetings, we all agreed that we grow our veggies in containers again this year. This frees up some of our summer and gives us a chance to bargain shop for a much needed rototiller and a few other gardening tools we're missing.

Do you container garden as well? Then you are going to love this giveaway! I've partnered with some great bloggers to bring you:


The Garden Patch Growbox Giveaway

grow box
Courtesy:TheGrowbox.com


My blogging buddy Colleen at My Vegan Gluten Free Life shares her experience with The Growbox below:


"Garden Patch was having a photo contest. I sent in a photo of the tomato plants that I grow using Garden Patch Growboxes. I put them in my south-facing windows of my home in Homer, AK. To my delight and surprise I was one of the photo winners in The Garden Patch Photo Contest, with your voting help! My picture is in their mailing flier.



 winner
Courtesy: My Vegan Gluten Free Life

I just love to Garden and since it's rather difficult in our Alaskan climate I love these Growboxes! I grow cucumbers and green beans also in my house! Of course these Growboxes are used outside but for those of us with challenging growing conditions it is so nice to have one of these inside to grow in! I now have 7 Growboxes & LOVE them!
I LOVE the fact that it has a water reservoir at the bottom of the Growbox. It is large and the access is through the easily seen pour spout. I can leave my home for a week after filling the reservoir, which I do frequently, and when I return the vegetables are in fine shape and condition! The roots grow through the planting media and into the water. It is a fantastic system.
When I received notice from The Garden Patch telling me I had won and they would send me a Growbox, I asked if they would give one as a giveaway instead of sending me one since I use them already. Again to my delight and surprise, The Garden Patch said they would gladly send one as a giveaway prize but also would send me one! Isn't the Garden Patch absolutely fabulous? So one lucky winner will get to have one of these great Growboxes!"


The Garden Patch Growbox Giveaway:

The Garden Patch Growbox comes complete with fertilizer, easy instructions and planting guide. It is made of Tough UV construction lasts a long time! You can see by my picture below. I just hosed off and cleaned my Growboxes getting them ready for use here shortly. Our Alaskan sunshine is lasting at least 12 hours already. All you have to do is just add plants and potting mix. They are a nice 28"L x 14"W x 12"H in size and green or terra-cotta in color. I have the terra-cotta ones. They are USA made.


This Garden Growbox giveaway is open to the US.

Giveaway closes May 31, 2013 at 12:00 AM EST . 

Enter on the Rafflecopter below and good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you Garden? 
Can you believe it’s the end of July already? Yikes! It is crazy hot and humid here in the south and back to school is looming large, so I really need to keep a healthy snack option for busy summer days on hand while I run errands with my girls. Thankfully, I’ve discovered the benefits of keeping a high protein snack bar in my purse at all times, so I was thrilled to work with Balance bare Bars and Walmart for today’s post.

My thanks to Balance bare Bars and Walmart for sponsoring today’s conversation. I did receive a gift card to thank me for my time, however all opinions and love of healthy snacks are my own. 

My WAHM Plan: Balance bare bars

Finding the Balance bare Bars at Walmart was easy.  They are right over by the vitamin section, which I walk past often on most shopping trips. 

Balance bare bars at Walmart

About Balance Bare Bars:

Balance Bars delicious bare bars, a nutritious, wholesome snack made with real nuts & fruit. Each bar is only 160 calories, non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free and vegetarian and comes in tasty flavors like Sea Salt Caramel and Mixed Berry Nut which is also dairy-free and vegan. 

I picked up several Sea Salt Caramel and Mixed berry nut Balance bare bars and couldn’t wait to try them.  While I really liked the Sea Salt Caramel bars, the Mixed berry nut was my favorite! This bar is full of yummy good fruit and nuts with just the right amount of sweetness. I ate this bar on the go the next day and was able to finish all my errands happy, not hangry! 

Doesn’t it look good?

My WAHM Plan: healthy snack option Balance Bare Bars

Walmart is offering an exclusive Balance Bare bar value pack! The 4+1 value pack includes an extra bar and a dollar off coupon inside each box as well making these bars and affordable healthy snack option for you and your family!


As I power through my busy summer days, having a healthy snack on hand is just one of the ways I stay active. I also make sure we have lots of water with us on every single errand we take. I freeze water bottles at night, then fill them and put in a small cooler to go with us. 

If you need some workout inspiration, I invite you to visit Gabby Reece’s site. She’s partnered with Balance Bare bars and created a quick and easy workout. 




Win it!

Thanks to the generosity of today’s post sponsors Balance Bars and Walmart, one lucky reader will receive a $15 Walmart gift card and a variety of Balance bare bars. 


Terms:
No purchase is necessary to enter using the Rafflecopter from below.  My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners will be notified by email used on entry form and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  This giveaway is not associated with nor endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social channel. 

Good Luck!



Disclosure: A special thank you to Gorton’s for sending me free product(s) to try to facilitate this review and giveaway. All opinions are my own.


September flew by in a blur of activities and to-do’s here at our house, making family dinner time a challenge. Eating dinner together every night is something we pride ourselves on, but on some nights, I need help getting a quick and wholesome meal on the table. Thank goodness I had some Gorton’s Seafood in the freezer.  


MyWAHMPlan.com

Last night I hit the easy button and made Gorton’s crispy fish sticks. They are so crispy and good! My hubby was grabbing them right off the cooking pan! No wonder, doesn’t that look good? 


MyWAHMPlan.com


About Gorton’s Seafood:

"Gorton's, America's leading seafood company, has a rich history of innovation that spans over 160 years. We provide consumers with innovative frozen seafood products through better independent and chain grocery stores across the United States and Canada. Our company offers employees the combination of an entrepreneurial environment often found in smaller organizations, along with the expertise of being a sophisticated consumer goods firm with global resources. Gorton's is committed to providing products and services that surpass expectations. The Gorton's brand in the U.S. (and the BlueWater brand in Canada) markets high quality, frozen seafood with innovative product lines such as Grilled FilletsSkillet Crisp and Simply Bake, along with traditional Fish Sticks and Fish Fillets. The Gorton's Fisherman and the "Trust the Gorton's Fisherman" jingle are among the best known brand equities with U.S. consumers."


I can feel good about serving Gorton’s too because they are loaded with Omega 3’s and other good for you nutrients, plus Gorton's Fish is Gluten free. You can learn more about Gorton’s products by visiting their website, where you can download coupons, find great recipes, even enter their Wicked Good Seafood sweepstakes to win a family trip to Boston! You can also connect with them on Facebook and Twitter


Our Review:

If you haven’t tried Gorton’s Seafood, I encourage you to give them a try! Even the pickiest eaters will LOVE Gorton’s crispy fish sticks. My family sure did and we give them 4 thumbs up! These really are wicked good seafood! Next up, I’m going to make Gorton's Tender Tacos.

MyWAHMPlan.com
Gorton's Tender Tacos


The Giveaway:

Gorton’s is going to give one lucky reader some Wicked Good Gorton’s gear:  three two dollar off coupons, a Gorton’s branded ship wheel keychain an assortment of Gorton’s recipe cards and their beautiful seaside/Gorton’s postcards.


MyWAHMPlan.com
This would make a perfect stocking stuffer.

No purchase is necessary to enter. Read complete terms on Rafflecopter entry form below. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for shipping of prize. Open to United States residents only.

Good luck!



Disclosure: A special thank you to Gorton’s for sending me free product(s) to try to facilitate this review and giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Happy Monday and happy middle of May, one of the busiest months of the year. There's so many celebrations and holidays to participate in! From Cinco de Mayo, to Mother's Day, Graduations, to Memorial Day.  Before we know it will be June with the Stanley Cup and Father's Day and vacations. To help you celebrate, I've teamed up with a fun group of bloggers for an Early Summer Giveaway. Read on for entry details.


Welcome to Early Summer Giveaway! 



Early Summer Giveaway


I'm back from a little unexpected spring break (hello spring allergies), to join in with some fab bloggers to welcome spring with an awesome giveaway! Winners can select a $100 Amazon or PayPal eGift Card. How cool is that? Join us in celebrating all things spring.  


Welcome Spring! 



Spring Flowers in frame

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