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Kellogg’s Apple Jacks and Froot Loops with Fiber

November 20, 2009 By

KidsCereals_185x185When I was a kid, my Mom rarely bought sweetened cereal. Because she was a diabetic, she couldn’t eat it, so she bought plain cereal like Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies. We were allowed to sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar on top, that was it.  Imagine how I felt when I went off to college, and on my first morning there, walked into the cafeteria and saw a table filled with boxes of sweetened cereal!  I spent the next couple of weeks trying different kinds, until I narrowed it down to a few favorites. One of those favorites, that I still love and buy regularly, is Kellogg’s Apple Jacks. LOVE THEM.

As a Mom, I want my kids to have a breakfast that will fill them up and give them energy to get through their morning before they have lunch.  Since they prefer to eat cereal for breakfast, I do try to find cereals with at least 2 or 3 grams of fiber per serving so they will digest it slower and feel full longer. It can be hard though, to find high fiber cereals that also appeal to kids’ tastes.

So, when I got the email from MomCentral about an opportunity to review new Apple Jacks and Kellogg’s Froot Loops with Fiber, I replied back right away! I was so happy when the package arrived, with TWO boxes of the new Apple Jacks with Fiber, a box of original Froot Loops, and  box of the new Froot Loops with Fiber. My kids were also very excited about helping me with this review :)

Both cereals now have 3 grams of fiber per serving, which moves them up from “treat” cereal to “okay to buy” in my book!  The best part is, the taste has not changed one bit!  Being very familiar with the taste of original Apple Jacks, I found no difference at all in either the taste or texture of Apple Jacks with Fiber.  I’m less familiar with the taste of Froot Loops, but I poured bowls of both and tasted each, and again, couldn’t taste any difference.  Way to go, Kellogg’s!

For more information on what fiber is, how it benefits the body, and how many grams a day to eat, check out Kellogg’s Nutrition. Look for Froot Loops and Apple Jacks with Fiber in stores now!

disclosure: This post is part of a blog tour for MomCentral and Kellogg’s. I received four boxes of cereal from Kellogg’s, and I will receive a gift certificate from MomCentral to thank me for taking the time to review the products.  All opinions are my own, no other compensation was received.

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Why We Choose Milk

August 5, 2009 By

banana_delight_largeWe have always been big milk drinkers in my family. My parents served milk with dinner, and now I serve milk with dinner. Even when Chris and I were broke college students, we bought milk (to make macaroni and cheese of course) and had at least a glass a day. When Nathan was a toddler, he wouldn’t drink milk. Until I saw a commercial for Ovaltine and bought some. THEN he would drink all the milk I would let him have!

The website Why Milk? has a ton of great information, and I was asked to check it out for a campaign with Mom Central. Here’s information from the site that I personally think is critical. In Michigan, we have months where the sun is so weak or hidden behind clouds, that our doctors advise us to take vitamin D supplements. And drink milk if we can. Here’s why:

Many Americans are missing out on vitamin D. In fact, vitamin D deficiency in this country is being called a silent epidemic.

Why is this so alarming? Well known for its role in keeping bones strong, vitamin D is now being hailed for so much more. There’s an abundance of new research suggesting vitamin D is a super nutrient, offering an array of health benefits.

New and emerging research reveals that vitamin D, nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin,” may help support a healthy heart, normal blood pressure, healthy aging and help regulate the immune system.

Even though vitamin D is basking in the limelight, Americans of all ages are still coming up short. Our bodies can make vitamin D from the sun, but you can’t always count on it to supply what you need — especially in the winter or if you wear sunscreen.

Milk is one of the few food sources of vitamin D – in fact, it’s the leading source of vitamin D in the diet. It’s practically Liquid Sunshine® !

A serving of milk is the same for everyone, eight ounces. To help kids (and adults) get the recommended three servings a day, try this yummy-sounding recipe from WhyMilk.com:

Banana Delight

Makes 4 servings, 4 ounces of milk per serving.

Ingredients:

2 cups fat free milk
1 cup fat free yogurt
4 diced bananas
6 tbsp. chocolate syrup

Directions: Blend ingredients well and portion into 4 servings.

Nutrition: 260 calories; 1 g fat; 0 g saturated fat; 10 g protein; 57 g carbohydrates; 4 g fiber; 5 mg cholesterol; 120 mg sodium.

Nutritional and Economical Value – A Single Serving costs less than 75 cents per glass.

Check WhyMilk? for more recipes including one I want to make ASAP, “Mom’s Mocha Indulgence Smoothie”. Yum!

this post is part of a campaign for WhyMilk? and Mom Central. All opinions are mine. I am receiving a blender as thanks for my participation.

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Snacktrition keeps busy bloggers going

July 23, 2008 By

Not only do busy bloggers need nutritious, filling snacks, but so do their kids, and Snacktrition has come up with a line of delicious roasted nuts that provide the nutrients you need in a delicious snack!
Snacktrition Nuts aren’t oil-roasted but rather are “Health Baked” in a proprietary process by which they sprinkle the nuts with calcium, fiber, or both, oven roast them, then sprinkle them with kosher sea salt.The results? DELICIOUS!!

Snacktrition nuts come in 9 ounce containers or handy 3 ounce packs; I received the five 9 ounce containers you see in the above photo for this review. I put them on the table and my husband and sons started circling like vultures. My husband claimed the Fiber Sea Salt Cashews, Ryan grabbed the Calcium Smoked Almonds, and I stashed the Calcium and Fiber Fruit and Nut mix for my trip to BlogHer (airplane snacks!).

I did, however, insist that everyone give me a taste of their chosen variety, so that I could give my opinion, which is, YUMMY. I took the Fruit and Nut mix in my carry-on bag, and when everyone else was paying $5.00 for a “snack box”, I was munching on almonds, cashews, dried cherries, and yogurt chips! Delicious, and filling.

The recommended daily amount of fiber is 20-30 grams, and a shocking 95% of Americans don’t get that much. A one ounce serving (23 nuts) of the Calcium Sea Salt almonds has 3 grams of fiber, along with 15% Daily Value of calcium per serving (Based on a 2,000 calorie diet), 135 mg of calcium, 6 mg of vitamin E, 80 mg of magnesium, and 5 grams of protein. Visit the Snacktrition website to get all the nutritional info and to order some Snacktrition nuts for yourself. You can buy the 3 ounce Bags ($2.99 each) or 9 ounce Tubs ($6.99 each and the Fruit and Nut tub is 8.5 ounces)-I recommend the tub if you want to ensure that you’ll get some for yourself!

While you’re on the website, scroll down the home page and enter to win a Total Gym or one of 50 $25 gift cards to Foot Locker. I’m naming Snacktrition Nuts a MomReviews Fabulous Find!

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