I participated in this program on behalf of Udi’s and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

While gluten free diets or lifestyles seem to new to many, our family has been aware of the struggles of eating gluten free for many years because some family members were diagnosed with Celiac disease before most people had even heard of it.  Back then the gluten free options of prepared products was very scarce and to be honest, NOT very good.  AT that time we quickly learned that gluten was in so many products you’d never even think of from spices to soda.  But the biggest issue was finding GOOD options for your typically gluten filled foods like bread products.  This past week, our family has gotten the chance to check out a variety of Udi’s Gluten Free products.  Although we aren’t aware of a direct need to eat gluten free, I have heard from many friends how they feel better when they have eliminated gluten from their diet.  And it’s also nice to know of some good tasting gluten free options that we can find to have in our home when gluten free friends or family come over.

Here’s a little more info on Udi’s and gluten free living:

In just a few years, Udi’s has become the #1 gluten-free brand in America. You can view Udi’s history here.

“Udi’s changed the way consumers think about gluten free. We made can’ts, cans. We removed the restrictions that made living gluten free a struggle and made the transition seamless. We created a community for folks to share, build and create. We brought joy. “

Understanding Gluten Free Eating

• 78% think others don’t understand what a burden it is to be gluten free
• Only 10% are medically diagnosed
• 37% are self-diagnosing
• They have an avid thirst for knowledge and look to multiple sources for information including friends/family, search engines, websites and stores
• 72% would go without or to another grocery store if they could not find Udi’s
• 87% say that Udi’s made them feel normal again

Understanding Gluten Free Consumers:

• 74% rely on friends & family for information and recommendations
• 70% use search engines or web portals
• 67% use websites
• 49% engage with social media sites
• 56% make their purchase decisions in-store
• 25% rely on cooking shows for food/nutritional information
• 36% think events or organizations are important

Gluten free defines their food choices, not who they are. They want to intersect with information in their everyday lives

What are the benefits of eating a gluten free diet?
Wheat in general is a natural inflammatory so when you eat a ton of wheat, you may feel a little bit bloated, so any reduction in wheat will help alleviate those symptoms. We find that with a lot of people are sticking with the brand or eating gluten free just because they feel better.

But if you have celiac disease, your body doesn’t have the ability to process gluten and you can’t actually absorb the nutrients. So that actually has very long term effects!  Udi’s is a real solution for those who have celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Will the benefits be seen if a family eliminates gluten products one at a time or do you have to completely go off of gluten to see the results?
If you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, then you absolutely have to go off of it all the way! That’s the only way your body is going to heal itself and stay healed. If you are choosing to eat gluten free for your own health reasons then that is up to the individual. Some people choose to start by adopting “Gluten Free Friday.”

Are there any tips for families who want to cut back on gluten but not go completely gluten free?
We make simple substitutions in my family. So when we have pizza nights, I started using gluten free pizza crust instead of a wheat-based crust. There are some great gluten free pastas out there, so you can substitute gluten free pasta on spaghetti night. A lot of the time, no one notices a difference!

Will going gluten free help my child who has the occasional stomach grumbles?
That may be up to the individual. Simply make those trade-outs for gluten free products and see how your child is feeling before deciding to stick with it. Make a simple substitution like using gluten free bread for their sandwiches.

Do you have suggestions for trying to accommodate everyone in the family, when not everyone is gluten intolerant?
We see all the time that it is so much easier when the whole household goes on a gluten free diet together, so that everyone feels they are part of the group. What we try to do on our website is create recipes that nobody in the house would know that they are gluten free and recipes that the whole family can come together and enjoy.

How has eating gluten free become a trend?
The way we eat is always evolving! Because we always are traveling and adapting to other types of eating, we as consumers continue to want more and more choices. Eating gluten free is the same; we are hearing more about how processed foods are unhealthy and now we just want another option for taking control of what they are eating and another option for eating healthier. It’s like eating vegetarian. Even non-vegetarians choose to be a vegetarian even if it’s only one day a week, just because it’s another healthy option.

Where can we find Udi’s products?
You can find us at national grocery stores. Sometimes it is in the bakery, sometimes it is in the frozen food section, depending on the product. Use our website store locator to find which grocery stores are carrying your products.

What new things are introduced to the Udi’s line?
We did just introduce a line of four frozen meals: a Classic Mac ’N’ Cheese with Penne Pasta, a Bacon Mac ‘N’ Cheese, a Sausage Lasagna and a Kale and Broccoli Lasagna! We really tried to make these taste homemade. For example, we used real cream and real ingredients so they would be tasty!

What is your best selling bread?
Our best sellers, by far, are two breads: the Whole Grain Bread and the White Sandwich Bread.

Are you in restaurants?
We have been working in the food service arena for the past two years. Our hamburger and hot dug buns are at stadiums, Red Robin and most other hamburger joints carry our hamburger buns and we are just starting to get traction with our pizza crust. We are really working hard to make sure that there are gluten free options for people in restaurants!

Our thoughts on Udi’s Gluten Free products:

I’ll be perfectly honest and say I really didn’t anticipate liking too many of the products.  The gluten free items I’d tasted years ago ranged from bland to plain gross.  But of all the things we’ve tried the boys have loved them all and the only one I didn’t love was the granola bar because it was just a little too crunchy for me.  (I have a serious texture issue and they were mostly soft and chewy but some bits would hit into a good crunch so it wasn’t something I’d get for me.)

But the soft and chewy Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites were A-mazing.  As were the Soft & Chewy Snicker Doodle cookies.  Seriously, none of these sweet treats left you feeling like something was missing or had the slightest hint of after taste or anything but sweet yumminess.

 

 

 

I was really not sure about the bread, especially how the kids would take to it.  We regularly do whole grain breads but these loaves just felt heavier when picking them up.  I was prepared for the boys to decline this one.  But they devoured both varieties.  We had sandwiches, toast and even some plain.  As I mentioned the loaves felt heavier but the bread its self wasn’t dry.  It was denser than a white bread obviously but I thought it was good and definitely wouldn’t mind using it regularly.

 

While I do know there are some regular chips on the market that are gluten free, some are a cross contamination risk, so be sure to do your research.  But Udi’s Gluten Free crips were a big hit here too.  They reminded me very much of something else I’ve had but I can’t for the life of me place it.  I was a big fan of the Simply Salt Ancient Grain Crisps and the boys loved the cheese varieties.

Find Udi’s Gluten Free products near you!

 

 

 

Crock Pot Cuisine introduces a line of all natural chef inspired meals designed specifically for your Crock Pot. As a busy, single mom I am in love with the concept.  And I was super excited to get to try them first hand.

 

Get 25% off of your order at CrockPotCuisine.com through March 31, 2014 with code: CPC25BLOGI

 

Rustic Beef Stew

Our home-cooked, rich and savory Rustic Beef Stew will warm you from the inside out. Made with fork-tender seasoned beef blended with chunky baker potatoes, baby carrots and sweet caramelized onions in a flavorful demi-glace sauce, our all-natural beef stew is a hearty, delicious meal that will leave you satisfied.

Ingredients: Potatoes, Carrots, Cooked Diced Beef (Beef, Water, Rice Starch, Salt, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Spice), Demi Glaze Sauce (Water, Beef Rib-eye Flavor Concentrate [Cooked Beef Rib-eye Including Juices, Corn Oil, Beef Fat, Yeast Extract, Beef Flavor, and Flavor], Corn Starch, Red Wine, Mushroom Base [Sautéed Mushrooms, Mushroom Extract, Salt, Flavoring, Canola Oil, Sugar, Potato Flour, Onion Powder], Mushrooms, Onions, Salt, Soybean Oil, Spices, Xanthan Gum, Yeast Extract, Onion Powder, Flavors), Caramelized Onions, Celery.

 

My Thoughts on the Rustic Beef Stew:

Our family loves beef stew so I didn’t have much doubt that this would be a hit. It was the perfect wintery day meal.  I wasn’t sure if it would be enough just as it was so I did make up some egg noddles that we topped with the Rustic Beef Stew but it probably would have been just the right amount without it as we did have leftovers.  Again, it’s so easy.  With the beef stew there wasn’t even anything additional to add once you started it. So you could truly just toss it in and wait until it was ready to serve.  Boys all gave it two thumbs up!

Step 1

Empty the ingredients into your Crock-Pot with 1/2 cup water.

 

Step 2

Wait

 

Step 3

ENJOY

 

 

Also Available in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and

Get 25% off of your order at CrockPotCuisine.com through March 31, 2014 with code: CPC25BLOGI

 

 

 

 

Crock Pot Cuisine introduces a line of all natural chef inspired meals designed specifically for your Crock Pot. As a busy, single mom I am in love with the concept.  And I was super excited to get to try them first hand.

 

Get 25% off of your order at CrockPotCuisine.com through March 31, 2014 with code: CPC25BLOGI

 

 

Creole-Style Andouille Sausage and Chicken

Bring a little taste of the bayou to your dinner table with our Creole-Style Andouille Sausage and Chicken. Made from a piquant blend of spicy andouille sausage and chunks of tender all white meat chicken breast blended with fluffy white rice in a rich, savory jambalaya sauce, this wholesome New Orleans classic makes you feel like you’re dining on Bourbon Street.

Ingredients: Rice, Andouille Sausage (Chicken Breast Meat And Thigh Meat, Water, Contains 2% or less of the following: Spices, Parsley, Crushed Red Pepper, Paprika, Flavor, Onions, Garlic, Salt, Sugar, Vinegar, Pork Casing), Jambalaya Sauce (Water, Tomatoes, Tomato Paste, Onions, Olive Oil, Chicken Broth, Hot Sauce [Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Vinegar, Salt, Garlic], Corn Starch, Sea Salt, Garlic, Smoked Paprika, Paprika, Thyme, Spices, Red Pepper), Tomatoes, Seasoned Diced White Meat Chicken (Chicken White Meat, Water Soy Sauce [Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt], Less Than 2% Rice Starch, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Vinegar, Salt, Spices), Green Bell Peppers, Celery, Onions, Scallions. Contains: Wheat, Soy.      

 

My Thoughts on the Creole-Style Andouille Sausage and Chicken:

First of all, it is super easy.  I did it with the 4 hour instructions (it also gives you 8 hour instructions).  I knew there was a good chance 2 of my boys wouldn’t eat it, and they didn’t even try it…which worked out fine because Timmy and I really really liked and apparently were really really hungry because we finished it all between the two of us.  It has a great kick to it and everything comes out a great texture/doneness.  This is one I’d definitely like to add to our dinner rotation. I normally don’t do things that require an alternative meal to be made but honestly this is so easy it’s not a huge deal to throw something else together.  But I’m pretty sure if they gave it a chance they’d actually like it, but I’m not sure I’m going to tell them that. MORE FOR ME!

Step 1

 Toss in your frozen meat and veggie packet.

 

Step 2

Add rice after several hours (depends on what setting you use).

Step 3

Enjoy

Also Available in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

and

Get 25% off of your order at CrockPotCuisine.com through March 31, 2014 with code: CPC25BLOGI

#spon: I’m required to disclose a relationship between our site and Jimmy Dean. This could include Jimmy Dean providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

Our family recently got to try the new Jimmy Dean Sausage Crumbles.

While Jimmy Dean tends to spark my taste for breakfast, it won’t take you long to find a ton of different ways that these fully cooked sausage crumbles can make recipes for any meal easier.  If you need help being inspired, check out the  the Jimmy Dean site.

The first thing I HAD to try from the site was the Cheesy Sausage Pinwheels! As I have admitted MANY times in the past, I am not a great cook.  I have come to realize my biggest issue in the kitchen is a lack of patience.  This recipe was fairly simple however my cheese spread wasn’t soft and I didn’t really want to wait for it to soften so after struggling through a  set of doing them the proper way and fighting with the dough to not tear apart, I decided to modify the recipe and make my own version, it required much less spreading and no cutting or rolling.

Instead I took one dough square and covered one half in spread and Jimmy Dean Sausage crumbles leaving a small edge all the way around the outside edge.  Then folded the dough over making my variation of a calzone.  Slightly less work and just as delicious.

 

I also saw and HAD to try this Easy Sausage Party Dip.  And let me just tell you, it WAS easy.  Like put-it-on-the-stove-sit-down-start-reading-a-book-and-totally-forget-about-it-for-about-an-hour-and-it-was-still-delicious easy!!!  Yeah that’s a total win in this mom’s book.  Boys each gave it two thumbs up.

 

Lastly, I decided to try Jimmy Deans sausage crumbles to spice up a meal I make regularly.  As a working mom without a lot of time in the kitchen, and who doesn’t really enjoy being there anyway, I turn to pasta often.  I usually use a jar of sauce and add a few spices to our tastes and call it a day.  But for a heartier more flavorful option, I used my favorite jar of spaghetti sauce, added my normal spices and then about half a bag of Jimmy Dean Sausage crumbles.  It made a huge difference in the quality of the meal without adding any additional prep time!!  This will definitely be something we will do again!

 

Jimmy Dean sausage crumbles are also available in these two other varieties as well:

This fall, Schwan’s and Feeding America will encourage consumers to share a few words for what they are thankful for. Schwan’s is making an initial 250,000 meal donation, and then each “thankful” that is shared will trigger a five-meal donation to Feeding America. We’re also promoting “Thankful Thursdays,” where meal donations to FA are doubled each Thursday for the length of program – a great way to help us in the fight against hunger.

 

 

I shared what I’m thankful for. Won’t you help Schwans feed America but simply sharing what YOU have to be thankful for?

 

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for belVita. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating

This week my kids go back to school…all three of them!  To say I’m struggling with sending my ‘baby’ off to school is a slight understatement so I’ll be needing all the help I can with reducing stress in other ways.  belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits is one way to do this.  Our house is often chaotic in the morning and we do as much as we can to reduce the morning stress by doing things the night before such as making lunches but finding a quick easy and nutritious breakfast that the boys will actually eat is a struggle.  I had previously heard of belVita but their original breakfast biscuits didn’t look like something my kids would go for.  But the new soft baked line is essentially like having cookies for breakfast (only more nutritious).  What kid doesn’t want cookies ANY time of  the day!?!?

belVita soft baked breakfast biscuits come in mixed berry and oats & chocolate and are currently available in your cookie/cracker aisle for approx $3.69 per box of 5 individually wrapped biscuits.  All the boys loved the Oats & Chocolate variety as did I!  And I was really surprised that it kept me as full as it did for as long as it did.  They are soft so they are a little crumbly but I would consider taking it on the road on those particularly hectic mornings!

If you, like me, could you all the help you can to cut back to school stress, check out this full list of tips:

 

Easing Stress during the Busy Back to School Season

Soon families everywhere will be getting back in the school year routine. Here are some tips to help parents get ready from the Lifestyle Mom, Dana Hilmer:

1. It’s important to schedule down time for you and your family. Before signing your kids up for this year’s after-school activities, think about your family’s priorities and the impact each activity will have on your schedules.

2. It’s just as important for you to have a tasty, healthy breakfast as it is for your kids. Perfect for eating on the go, belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits come in two varieties, Mixed Berry and Oats & Chocolate, grab a banana and a latte and you’re good to go with nutritious morning energy.

3. Take a little time each night to get organized for the following morning. By making lunches and selecting outfits before bed each night, you’ll free time each morning for other things.

4. Be sure to keep healthy snacks in the kitchen for after-school snacking. Nuts, crackers and fruit are great to give kids right when they walk in the door to keep them from grazing on unhealthy snacks, or spoiling their appetites for dinner.

5. Moms often complain about not having enough time for themselves, but when life gets busy, it’s even more important to carve out that time. Treat “me time” as a priority.

6. Start a to-do list with three sections: the priority of the day for yourself, the priority of the day for your family and the priority of the day for your work. Start with these items, and only move on to other less important items once they’re done.

7. Use Sunday nights to plan your dinners each week. If you take a few minutes to think about how you can creatively use the leftovers from one night to the next, you can create a full week’s worth of healthy, tasty dinners that your family will enjoy.

8. Give yourself the freedom to say no without guilt. Activities or commitments that may not be right for your family are okay to decline. Saying NO gives you the permission to say YES to things that are important to you.

9. Back-to-school season is also cold and flu season. You can keep your entire family healthy with these simple habits: eating well, getting enough rest and washing hands regularly.

10. Create a network of support for yourself. This network looks different for everyone. Consider asking your partner and kids for support. They can be a great help with tasks you feel comfortable handing over.

Getting your day off to a good start can really make all the difference in how you feel all day long, this includes what you eat for breakfast as well as how rushed/stressed you feel as you get ready.  We’ve all had those mornings when we’ve overslept and wake up with that panicky feeling. It’s hard to turn a day around when you start that way.  For me getting everyone to school WITH all the stuff they need is often half the battle but if we can do it without feeling crazy and rushed it really helps me have a much better day!

 

More about belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits

· 20% Daily Value of Fiber (contains 7 grams of fat per serving) · 11 grams of Whole Grain per 50 gram serving
· Good Source of Energy Releasing B-vitamins
· No High Fructose Corn Syrup
· No Partially Hydrogenated Oil
· No Artificial Colors, Flavors or Sweeteners