Banza Mac and Cheese Review + Giveaway! #DressUpYourMac

Mac & cheese is a kids’ classic and what could be more fun than eating it? Creating it!

Recently, Banza debuted their campaign, #DressUpYourMac, in partnership with Whole Foods, inviting mac & cheese lovers everywhere to add their own special twist and make a unique mac & cheese dish with personality – fun toppings, hot spices, and pops of color.  

What can you do with your Banza mac & cheese? 

Let the family get creative and crazy this whole year through, then share your mac-sterpiece pics with @eatbanza using #DressUpYourMac.   

Naturally nutritious – Banza has 2x the protein, 4x the fiber, and 40% fewer net carbs per serving than traditional pasta (it's also GF and non-GMO) – fans are taking this simple comfort food and adding their own extra health-ified flair – spinach, asparagus, cayenne pepper, sriracha … you name it!

My Thoughts: 

I was able to try the three of the varieties of mac and cheeses that Banza offers. Each was unique in it's own way, leaving a perfect match for whatever type of mac and cheese you desire. 

The first flavor I tried was the Deluxe Rich and Creamy Cheddar Elbows. The box contains a wrapper filled with soft cheese that you squeeze out and mix with the milk and butter. It came out extremely rich, thick and cheesy. Yum! The box said not to rinse the pasta after it was done, so the consistency was a little starchy for my taste. However, it had a wonderful flavor. The pasta was perfectly al dente. This would be a wonderful type of mac and cheese to bake in the oven with some bread crumbs as a topping! That's my personal favorite way to doctor up my cheesy pasta!  

The next variety I tried was the Classic Cheddar. Like traditional boxed mac and cheese, this comes with powered cheese. The flavor had a sharp and tangy taste. If you are a person who loves sharp cheddar, you will adore this! The cheese was nice and creamy. Like the previous Banza mac and cheese, the pasta was nice and al dente. I did rinse off this pasta to see how the consistency would be. It was much less starchy that the previous one. If I were to think of a way to dress this dish, I think some freshly shredded cheese and bacon would go perfectly, or some broccoli!    

My favorite out of the group has to be the White Cheddar! It was thick with a light cheddar flavor at first, while the after taste had a nice bite. The strong flavor of the chickpea pasta was outweighed a bit by the cheese flavor, making the mixture of both fantastic! I felt this one was probably the closest to traditional mac and cheese flavor. This variety would go great with almost anything to be honest. If you are a spicy lover, perhaps a little hot sauce on top, or for my seafood lovers some lump crab or lobster meat! 

If you are someone who enjoys chickpea pasta and/or are looking for a healthier alternative to a life long favorite, I would highly suggest giving Banza's variety a try! With it having 40% less cards than traditional pasta, as well as being gluten free and non-gmo, this is a great guilt free food for you and your family to enjoy! 

The Giveaway:   

Thanks to Banza, one lucky reader will have an opportunity to try these delicious varieties of mac and cheeses. Thank you so much Banza for this awesome opportunity and for also allowing me to try them!   

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Thrive GoMacro's New Line of Plant-Based Bars #GoMacro. @GoMacro #Giveaway

GoMacro is a family owned vegan company that was started by a mother-daughter team on their organic farm in Southwest Wisconsin. While you may be familiar with their original MacroBars, they have launched a delicious new line of plant-based bars called, Thrive. 

Thrive are made up of a superfood ancient grain blend, are all less than 200 calories, and provide plant-based protein, essential fatty acids, and prebiotic fiber to fuel your body and mind.

Like all GoMacro products, Thrive are USDA-Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, Gluten-Free certified, 100% Vegan, and soy-free. Thrive is currently available to purchase online and will become available to Whole Foods in October 2016.

***Discount Code***

Use code Thrive30 for 30% off of their purchase for Thrive at GoMacro's online store: http://gomacro.com/shop/product-category/thrive/. 

My Thoughts:

Thrive is a delicious way to enjoy the fuel your body needs on the go. As a working college student, I do not always have the time to make a nutritious meal or snack. That is why I am so grateful to GoMacro for creating a healthy alternative that packs all the goodness needed to keep your body balanced and happy. It is hard to find good, wholesome health food on the market now that is not packed with added sugars or fats. With Thrive, you can enjoy your food in confidence that it is organic, kosher, gluten free and vegan. It is also only 200 calories while still providing the proteins our body needs from plants on a daily basis.

There are a variety of flavors that Thrive provides such as Almond Apricot (pictured above), Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip, Blueberry Lavender, Caramel Coconut, Chocolate, Nuts and Sea Salt, as well as Ginger Lemon. Each were soft, chewy, packed with flavor and they had just enough crunch from the seed blend. Some like Caramel Coconut had nuts such as cashews and almonds. Each bar gave me a nice full feeling and a boost of energy after eating them. Knowing that all of the bars were made from real ingredients made it even more enjoyable. As a chocolate lover as well, it is always nice to know I can get my sweet fix without the guilt from the flavors like Chocolate, Nuts and Sea Salt, as well as Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip. Each flavor was a unique and tasty blend that always hit the spot!

If you are someone looking for a healthy treat on the go that is rich in flavor and still just as nutritious, I would highly recommend Thrive by GoMacro!

Connect with GoMacro: 

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The Giveaway:

GoMacro was kind enough to offer one lucky reader their own assorted box of Thrive! Each box will include their variety of delicious flavors. Thank you so much to GoMacro for this wonderful opportunity!

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Go Gluten Free with Pasta Lensi - #Giveaway #Recipe

I was raised in a very Italian household, so of course pasta has always been a big part of my life.  I remember when I was little my grandmother would make the sauce and even sometimes the pasta from scratch. It would take her all day, but the end result was worth the time.  But that's not something I will ever have the time or patience to do. So the next best thing is Pasta Lensi. It's quick and easy, but still tastes as good as homemade. Plus, it's a  gluten free and cholesterol free option. Each one is made with a single ingredient you can feel good about putting into your body. 

I received a few boxes of Lensi Pasta  including the Red Lentil Fusilli, Black Bean Sedani, and Chickpea Casarecce. While these names sounded intimidating at first, they actually taste pretty good and have a much better texture than some other gluten free pastas I've tried. They also cooked to perfection. It wasn't too hard or too soft. It was just right, and it tasted wonderful too. This pasta is perfect for Alfredo or red sauce. It's great for a main course or a side dish.  My whole family enjoyed eating it and it's so easy, my daughter was even able to cook it by herself. One of the things we decided to make together was a quick and simple pasta salad. Here are the instructions. 

Ingredients

1 Cup Each of Chickpea Casarecce, Black Bean Sedani, and Red Lentil Fusilli Pasta

1/4 Cup Sharp Provolone Cubes

1/4 Cup Salami Cubes

1/4 Cup Mixed Black and Green Olives

1 Bottle Italian Dressing of Choice

Instructions:

1) Boil pasta to desired texture

2) While Pasta is boiling slice your black and green olives.

3) Strain Pasta and place in bowl

4) Add in cheese cubes, sausage cubes, and olives

5) Add Salad dressing to taste and stir

Gluten-free, vegan,  and low in sodium, these pastas are a awesome way to switch up all your recipes. I especially love how pretty the different colors made this dish look.  Pasta Lensi Legume Pastas are an authentic Italian pasta brand made in the Lombardy region of Italy. They strive to keep mealtime peace, while inspiring delicious new ideas for dinner. Pasta Lensi Legume’s single ingredient pastas introduce contemporary flavors like chickpea, black bean and red lentil, and pack extra protein and fiber to round out the nutrition in your dish.  To see all they have to offer, be sure to visit their website.  For some fun and unique recipe ideas, check out their extensive recipe collection.

The Giveaway 

One lucky winner is going to receive a prize pack that includes three boxes of Pasta Lensi, a reusable tote bag, and a $50 Walmart gift card.  To enter, just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will end 11/3/16 and is open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to the sponsor for offering this great prize!

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Healthy Back-to-School Snack.

The school year is upon us, and once again, parents everywhere will be packing their children healthy and filling lunch bags to get them through the school day. Keep Healthy is the perfect, healthy snack to keep your kids fueled and focused all day long.

The base of these bars are made from dates- a superfood that is high in fiber, packed with antioxidants, and that has anti-inflammatory benefits. Other than dates there are a few additional ingredients, but don't worry, they are all ingredients that you're body will recognize and will be able to pronounce. Free of gluten, dairy, and Gmo's, Keep Healthy is proud to share these bars with you!

My Thoughts:

Dates are one of my favorite super foods! They're so filling, and give you that extra boost of energy and sweetness without any harm to your body. Hearing about Keep Healthy's line of bars made me excited to add them to my daily routine. With so many varieties, anyone can find a fit for them! Keep Healthy sent me a variety of flavors and also types of their delicious and nutritious bars.

I first tried their New York Date Bars. They have a awesome sweet taste with a variety of healthy options. My favorite had to be the Apple Walnut. It was sweet, savory, chewy with just the right amount of crunch from the walnuts. Keep Healthy also has a unique variety called, Fruitskies. It's like a healthy dessert for your cravings. On the back there is a quote that says "Have a fruitkie, not a cookie". I personally loved the Mango Almond one, but there were so many great choices! Some even have chocolate covering.

There are also a variety of Keep Healthy protein and low glycemic bars. Many of the original date bars that include raisins can be a bit high in sugar (although it is natural sugars). I actually loved the low glycemic bars just as much. The Sea Salt Brownie flavor tasted just like a traditional brownie with some added coconut. The sweeteners were organic coconut nectar and almond butter. The protein bars were alright, but not really my thing. I would have liked the consistency to be a little less chalky and the taste more flavorful. However, they give you a great boost of energy. I could see them being perfect for athletes on the go.

Thank you Keep Healthy for sending me so many wonderful products to try! I would highly recommend them.

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Back to School with Pirate's Booty

Pirate's Booty has big news for the school school year. They released a limited edition jumbo bag that is packed full of so much booty, you'll be set for weeks. These big bags each contain six mini bags that are the perfect size for kids to chow down. Each little bag is 1 oz. Drop them in a lunch box or save them for after school. Either way, kids will be thrilled.

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My little pirates LOVE Pirate's Booty. They come home from school "starving" - just ask them- and want a snack but by the time they get home from school dinner is only a hour away. With dinner being in a hour, I don't want them to have too much to eat because they will not eat if they have too much of a snack. These Pirate's Booty bags are the perfect thing to hold them over. These puffs of white cheddar fill them up just enough to get them through that hour. 

What I love, as a parent, most about these snacks is that they are baked, all natural and gluten free. I also love that they taste great and my guys love that they have their own little bag so there is no fighting over the bowls or who has more than the other. These also make great snacks to throw in their bag for during the school day or a snack to be sent when it's their special day to bring snack. With all the allergies that kids have to peanuts and other things, I have to say that these are a pretty safe bet as a classroom snack! We love Pirate's Booty in this house and think you will too! 

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Back to School with the September DegustaBox

With the kids  back in school, it's a great time to experiment with fun new foods to put in their lunchbox or to have on hand for a fun after school snack.  DegustaBox offers a unique subscription service that allows you to sample a variety of  delicious products each month. All these snacks are perfect for kids on the go or adults looking to spice up their meals. Some can be tossed in lunch bags or taken on road trips while others can add some zing to your dinner plans.  For the low price of only $19.99 a month including shipping, a new selection gets shipped to your door each month, allowing you to sample some of the best products on the market without breaking your budget.

I wasn't expecting to get another box in September, but it was a wonderful surprise. Everything was well packaged to ensure there was no damage to the contents.  There were a variety of delicious products in this package that my family and I gobbled up right away. Here is a little about each one.

popCorners- This are a fun alternative to regular potato chips. They are gluten-free, vegan, GMO-free, but still satisfy your craving for something salty.

BustaNut - These yummy peanuts come in a variety of unique flavors like Bourbon and Maple Bacon.

Nando's - Spice things up a little with this tangy hot sauce. It's gluten-free and all-natural.

Sparkling Bitter - This sparkling water has a touch of tonic bitters to give it a little zing.

English Provender - Personally, these aren't items that suite my personal taste, but I'm sure many  people will enjoy them.  You get lemon curd, onion chutney, and Sweet Tomato & Chili Chutney. I am going to pass mine on to a friend.

Toosum - These  healthy oatmeal bars are gluten-free and make a great after-school snack.

Entenmann's Little Bites-I just did a review for these! My kids love these yummy mini-muffins-They are perfect for mornings when you are short on time and want a quick breakfast.

Michael et Augustin- These are another awesome after-school snack. A few of these shortbread cookies will hold kids over until dinner time.  These mini boxes are also just the right size to put in a lunch box.

Hak's Paks - This is another thing I'll be passing on since I don't eat ratatouille. However, if you like it, these convenient packs makes it quick and easy to make a great deal.  

Sam Mills- I love pasta and love it even more when it's gluten-free. This full-blooded Italian girl approves of this for Sunday night dinner.

Zollipops-Kids will love these delicious sugar-free and gluten free candies. They are just busting with juice flavor.

This was another great box from Degusta and well-worth the purchase price. If you're looking to try out some new products for the back to school season and want to skip the guess work, you should definitely give DegustaBox a try. To learn more about this awesome company and all they have to offer, visit their website or follow them on their social media.

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The Perfect Summer Travel Snack- Walkers Shortbread Review and Giveaway!

Summer is meant for spending time in the sun, road trips and just enjoying the outdoors. Walkers Shortbread makes for the ideal addition to your packing list: The “World’s Finest Shortbread” comes in mini, re-sealable packs, perfect for on-the-go—especially when you have hungry kids in tow.

Made with just four simple, all-natural ingredients (flour, butter, sugar and salt), Walkers Minis will satisfy that sweet tooth craving without spoiling appetites. They’re also the perfect dessert addition to any picnic (for diners of all ages)! Walkers also offers a (truly delicious) new Gluten Free Shortbread portion pack that will satisfy any dietary needs for the road.

My Thoughts:

The smell and taste of a delicious shortbread is something that always brings back childhood memories. My grandparents loved them and we always enjoyed a few together, especially around the holidays. Walkers variety of shortbreads bring me right back to that place. Read my review below of the three flavors Walkers was so kind to share with me and for you all through a giveaway.

Gluten Free Pure Butter Chocolate Chip Shortbread: 

As a chocolate chip lover, these shortbreads hit the spot. There are two in each individual pack. The texture is soft yet with a light crisp. They may be gluten free, but going off of taste alone, you'd never know. The chocolate chips are always melty and rich, and in addition you get a nice hint of butter. These will make any day a little more sweet! 

Gluten Free Pure Butter Shortbread: 

A classic flavor with a gluten free twist, this treat will have you remembering the good old days when you had your very first shortbread. They are crunchy, thick and oh so buttery! You can enjoy them without the guilt.  

Pure Butter Mini Shortbread Fingers:

These may be mini but there is nothing small about their taste! These little shortbread fingers are delicious and addicting. You can never have just one. I was guilty of putting my hand in the resealable bag a couple times through the day. They have a light crisp and just the right amount of buttery flavor. 

I am now a true fan of Walkers Shortbreads! They are a fantastic treat to get you through the day! When they arrived, my family was quick to give them a try and each one of us enjoyed! My dad loved to take these to work for lunch and share with his coworkers. If you love shortbread treats as much as me, you will love these, whether you are choosing to go gluten free or not.

                            Connect with Walkers Shortbread: 
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The Giveaway:

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