A Few of My Favorite Things

I was reading Logzie's post about flaxseed, and I got to thinking. There are a lot of products out there that I have found through the last 10 years or so in my quest for eating more naturally and healthfully that have become staples around our house. And so, I was thinking maybe I would share some of my most favorite finds!

First off, we have Emergen-C drink. This stuff is awesome. It comes in a lot of different flavors, and is so easy to take with you, since it comes in a little packet. You just dump the packet in a small glass of water and it fizzes to life...tastes good too! Even the kiddos like it. We take this with us when we travel (especially on airplanes), and I keep it in my office. As soon as any of us start feeling run down or sick, the Emergen-C comes out.



Next up is Uncle Sam cereal. This cereal is soooo good for you. It is whole grain toasted oats and flaxseed, and comes plain or with dried mixed berries. You can eat it just as you would regular cereal, and it is also good to use in baking breads or cookies. No yucky sugary stuff in this box!












Stonyfield organic yogurts. YUM. We get the Yo-Baby whole milk yogurts for Noah and the large containers of plain yogurt for Barry and I. I also will buy boxes of the yogurt sticks to throw in the freezer and the kids will eat them like popsicles...no high-fructose corn syrup, and a healthier treat for sure!



Creamy Brown Rice Cereal. Oh my, this is the most wonderful breakfast. The kids ask for it nearly every morning, and it's a snap to make. If you don't know all the benefits of brown rice, you should check it out for sure. Brown rice is naturally sweet and is nearly a perfect food. This is sort of like oatmeal in consistentcy, but tastes so good. It takes about 6-8 minutes tops to cook and then we serve it with some milk, a bit of honey and some cinnamon on top. Mmmmmmmm!




Odwalla Superfood Drink. I used to pick these single-serving drinks up (a pound of fruit in each one!) when I didn't have time for a full meal at work. But, more importantly, when Noah was going through that rough time where he wouldn't eat any more than 3 specific foods, (and veggies were NOT in those 3), I decided to see if I could sneak them in some other way. So I started buying this superfood drink in a half-gallon jug (about $7). It has spinach, kelp, apples, pears and all kinds of good fruits and veggies in it. Yes, it is a dark green and looks a little yucky, but I just put it in a sippee cup that is not see-through and he sucked it right down. Now he requests "green juice" all the time. It is his favorite drink (besides milk) and I am happy to know he is getting some of the good leafy greens that he won't normally eat! And in case you're wondering...it IS good! The fruit makes it sweet!




Another of my sneaky ways to get Noah to eat green things. These snap-pea crisps are meant to go on salads, but we eat them for a snack. I don't like the Caesar ones...too weird tasting. But the regular ones are VERY TASTY. Noah will eat the whole bag!










Annie's Naturals Mac 'n Cheese. The kids like both the white cheddar and yellow cheddar varieties. And again, none of the crappy ingredients like the ones you find in Kraft. This we make with a 1/2 cup of plain yogurt instead of milk and butter. So creamy, and a healthier alternative! Also, I will add peas to the white cheddar to sneak in some green...and a can of white tuna into the yellow cheddar...it tastes so good and adds protein too!



This is my latest and greatest fave. Sheri turned me on to these tasty little numbers, darn her! All I need is another snack to obsess about. Anyway, these crackers are made with nut flour, so they are gluten free. They are crispy and light and oh-so-good. Barry and I will eat an entire box while watching The Office on Thursday nights. And at $2.49, they are a steal. They come in a variety of flavors, including Smokehouse Almond (my fave), Almond, Pecan, Hazelnut, Garden Ranch, and Cheddar Cheese. Try 'em...you'll like 'em!








Fisol. Enteric coated fish oil. Enteric coated means the coating won't break down until it hits your intestines...therefore you won't have a fish taste in your mouth or be burping up fish all day. Tasteless, good for your heart, joints and brain, and this brand is guaranteed mercury free. I was turned on to this at a seminar Sheri and I attended on pain. It was taught by a neurosurgeon who could not stop talking about it's benefits.







And last, but not least, Coconut Oil. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils you can use. I use it for baking and cooking. It has no taste, and a high amount of naturally occurring antioxidants as well as no trans fats. It is solid in the jar, which is actually really nice. Easy to measure, and not messy! Do a little Googling and you'll see that coconut oil is where it's at! So many health benefits...




That's it for today folks. I hope you've found this post interesting... and maybe, just MAYBE I've helped you to find some healthy alternatives that will end up being staples in YOUR pantry!