Del Monte FruitBurst review and #giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. DelMonte provided information for the post, a gift pack for my family and one for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

We recently had the chance to try a new product from Del Monte® - new Fruit Burst™ Squeezers. We tried Simply Fruit - Strawberry and Fruit + Veggie - Peach-Mango. As a mom, I really like the convenience of getting 1 1/2 servings of fruit or fruit and veggies in an easy to eat pouch. When we are enjoying them at home, we typically will have them right from the fridge, but when we are on the go, I like knowing that they are portable, easy to consume (no utensils required) and don't require refrigeration (unless you don't eat it all at once, then you should refrigerate the remaining product). I like that all of the sweetness in the product comes from fruit puree and juice concentrates. For me, the strangest part was the texture - it is a very smooth puree, but it has a great flavor. The kids consider them to be a treat (as a mom, I love when fruits and vegetables are a treat) and are excited when they are included in their lunch or as a snack. I have already been asked to buy more for them to have as snacks and in their lunches.

About Fruit Burst™ Squeezers

Made in the U.S.A., Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers contain 1 ½ servings of fruit or fruit and veggies and are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. In addition, Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers contain no artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup.

Fruit + Veggie Varieties:

- Peach-Mango: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, peach puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, carrot juice concentrate, carrot puree, mango puree concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

- Blueberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, carrot puree, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

Simply Fruit Varieties:

- Apple Cinnamon: Pear puree concentrate, water, apple puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), cinnamon, malic acid.

- Mixed Berry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, strawberry puree, red raspberry puree concentrate, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

- Strawberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, strawberry puree concentrate, natural flavors, carmine, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

Also to kick off the school year, Del Monte launched the “First Day of School Photo Contest” through Facebook (facebook.com/delmonte)! The contest is closed now, but everyone was invited to upload an original photo of your child on their first day of school or yourself on your own first day of school. The top 20 Finalist photos were posted to the Del Monte Fruit Squeezers website, and fans had the chance to vote for their favorite photo. The winning entry will receive a $10,000 donation to a school of their choice!



Giveaway!
Courtesy of DelMonte, I have the opportunity to share with one A Busy Mom of Two reader a gift pack like I received.

The Gift Pack will contain:
* Two boxes of Fruit Burst Squeezers™ (one Fruit + Veggies 4-pack and one Simply Fruit 4-pack)
* One Del Monte lunchbox
* One orange-shaped eco-friendly shopping tote
* One strawberry-shaped eco-friendly shopping tote
* One Del Monte magnetic frame

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through October 1st. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. DelMonte provided information for the post, a gift pack for my family and one for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

New Lunchtime options

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

I can absolutely not believe that my children start school in 3 weeks. That's right, there are only three weeks of summer left. Where does the time go? I remember how fast it seemed to go when I was a child, but as a parent, I think it goes even faster.

During the school year, my kids tend to pack their lunch a couple of times a week. Normally we know about it ahead of time and I am able to plan during my weekly shopping, but sometimes they decide in the morning that they just aren't in the mood for that day's option. For those times, I like to have options on hand that are easy to grab and go, for just those days.

A new option that we have available this year are REV Wraps from Hormel.

Just in time for back to school lunches and after school snacks, Hormel Foods is launching a brand new product: Hormel® REV® wraps. Hormel® REV® wraps are the perfect way to satisfy hunger because they’re ready to go with you wherever life takes you.

Hormel® REV® wraps have many benefits to your everyday life including:

*Endurance: protein-rich to provide real sustaining energy

*Nutrition: made with real meat and cheese, an excellent source of protein and a good

source of calcium and fiber

*Convenience: no preparation necessary, eaten hot or cold and designed to be hand-held

and portable; and

*Flavorful: classic deli combinations geared towards teens, as well as new, bold flavors for

variety

The new wraps are available in eight delicious varieties including:

o Ham and Cheese - ham, cheddar cheese & soft white wrap

o Pepperoni Pizza - pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese & soft white

wrap

o Peppered Turkey - peppered turkey, mozzarella cheese, Italian herb wrap

o Meat Lovers Pizza – pepperoni, spicy salami, Genoa salami, mozzarella cheese &

soft white wrap

o Italian Style Ham – smoked ham, mozzarella cheese & Italian herb wrap

o Hot Pepper Ham - ham, hot pepper cheese & soft white wrap

o Italian Style – pepperoni, Genoa salami, mozzarella cheese, Italian herb wrap

o Spicy Italian Style – spicy salami, mozzarella cheese & Italian herb wrap

REV Wraps were an instant hit with my kids. They loved the variety of options, although the pizza varieties are their favorite (go figure!). I liked that the wraps have 15 grams or more of protein and seem to range from about 200 - 300 calories each. It is a lunch box option that I feel will keep them fueled for their day. I also see them as a potential after school snack on game nights, where we sometimes have to wait until after sports to have a meal. Normally, I offer them a snack with a good protein level like string cheese or yogurt, so now there is another option. I also like that I can pick up varieties that each member of the family enjoys and don't have to pick up five different types of meat at the deli to meet each person's individual tastes.

You can get a $1 off of 2 coupon to try REV Wraps for yourself here.

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information for this post.

Lunch time options *

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

I don't know about you, but at my house one of the biggest challenges is the answer to the question - "what's for lunch?".

During the week, during the school year, it is of course easier, because we either buy or pack and packing is usually a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or luncheon meat. Then, when the weekend comes (and summer days not at daycare or camp), it seems that the kids (and my husband) are tired of sandwiches and are looking for other options. If we have leftovers, that of course is one option, but when our schedules are busy like they are right now, we tend to have a lot of meals from the freezer for dinner and I generally pack those without leftovers. So, we are usually left trying to find other options.

One option that we have enjoyed for years are Hormel Compleats. Ready to go, easy to microwave meals that are shelf stable. (Of course, we don't just enjoy them on the weekends, they also make great options for a packed lunch for my husband and I during the week.) I love that I can grab one and take it to work and keep it at my desk for lunch.

I was glad to learn that they have recently launched some new cheesy pasta varieties. I can't wait to try the Three Cheese Chicken Pasta and the Smoky Bacon Parmesan Rigatoni.

Hormel® Compleats® cheesy pasta varieties are perfect for today’s busy, on-the-go moms who are looking for convenient, protein-rich foods to power them [and their families] through their day.

Hormel® Compleats® cheesy pasta varieties are shelf-stable and ready to eat in just 60 seconds. These microwave meals fit perfectly into people’s busy everyday lives, while still providing consumers with the taste of comfort that they crave.

Made with real cheese, the new line offers a variety of satisfying flavor selections for consumers to choose from. The product is available in the following real cheese flavors:

• Mac and Cheese
• Italian Herb and Cheese Rigatoni
• Three Cheese Chicken Pasta
• Cheesy Ravioli
• Creamy Cheese and Basil Tortellini
• Smoky Bacon Parmesan Rigatoni

Aside from the new varieties, Hormel® Compleats® are available in over 40 different varieties so you will be sure to find a dish you love.

What is your greatest challenge at lunch time? Do you have a favorite, quick lunch dish? What is your favorite pasta variety?

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information for this post.

Changing up Lunches

As we got closer and closer to the end of the school year, my son seemed to be not only less interested in the daily lunch offered at school, but also less interested in the usual packing options. It seemed that no matter what I offered to include in his lunch, it was met with a resounding "No".

I totally get it, eating the same thing on a regular basis quickly leads to burnout. Sometimes, mixing it up just a little can make a huge difference in the appeal of a meal. I do this at dinner, turning pasta into Mexican dishes, pizza into a cheeseburger, and such - so why not try it at lunch?

There probably is more latitude for creative lunches for myself - since I have access to a microwave to warm up my meals. I have been known to pack myself an egg and cheese sandwich, when I need a change of pace. I simply pack an egg and a glass dish that I can microwave it in, a slice of cheese and an English muffin (I have access to a toaster too). It makes for a different and tasty lunch option.

I don't think that my son has easy access to a microwave at his school, although I am sure that the teachers would probably help him out by warming a meal in the teacher's lounge. As such, typically I rely on food that can be eaten cold from the lunch bag when I am packing a lunch.

Luncheon meat sandwiches are one item that we often will pack in a school lunch. Normally, my son prefers them plain. To mix it up, I prepared some recently using cheese - not normally a big fan of cheese, I found a Cheddar with Buffalo Sauce in it that he enjoyed. He loved the way that the cheese spiced up the sandwich and made it seem like something different.

packing the family a lunch for our recent amusement park trip

Another idea I have for mixing up the lunch is to cut up the turkey, ham or bologna and the cheese into small circles (use the top of a juice glass for the perfect shape and size). Pack your round turkey, ham and cheese, along with some round crackers (try the whole wheat varieties) that they can stack the meat and cheese on. This do it yourself 'sandwich' is a crowd-pleaser at my house.

Another packed lunch favorite at my house is peanut butter and jelly. To mix it up, try it with some new flavors of jelly - we have tried flavors like peach and blueberry, in addition to grape. Like the buffalo cheese, this is an easy way change up a familiar favorite.

There are also some meals that you can send the leftovers to school the next day for the kids to enjoy cold. So, look to your dinner for some other ideas of things to pack. I have done this with quiche and with pizza. They are both tasty, even when they are cold.

"Here are a few recipes from Hormel Foods Test Kitchen Director Joan Hanson that will be sure
to keep the kids happy and may even help you switch-up your own lunchtime routine! Joan has
recommended these recipes herself as fun ways to spice up end of the school year lunches.

Crisscross Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Three-Cheese Chili Pup Cups
Barbeque Chicken Tortilla Pizzas"

How do you mix it up to keep your family from becoming bored with the same lunch routine?


No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some of the information for this post.

Leftover Fish

I have always enjoyed eating fish (and other seafood for that matter).

Of course, when I was younger, my perspective on fish was more limited than it is today. Back then, it consisted of Long John's Silvers, McDonalds, canned tuna and battered Walleye that my uncles would bring for the family cookout.

Somewhere along the way, I have learned that fish is so much more. It is a meal that I enjoy eating when we go out. I even have gotten more adventurous in preparing it at home.

I'm not sure why preparing fish was always so scary to me, but it was. The kids are pretty good about eating most of the fish dishes that I make. I have several recipes for preparing fish inside, but I really think my favorite way to prepare it is to simply grill it. We do this with Marlin, Catfish, MahiMahi, Tuna and occasionally Salmon (although, my husband doesn't care for salmon, so this is when he has other plans).

One of my challenges has always been what to do with leftover fish. I have a memory in my head of my mom broiling fish when I was younger. All I remember is the smell. It is the same smell that results from microwaving the fish to reheat it. As a result, I usually try to only buy what I know we will eat and figure we can have a little more side if we are a little short.

Monday night, we grilled MahiMahi for dinner. It was delicious. I had bought the individually sealed fish bags in the grocers freezer (gives me more menu flexibility than fresh fish - which I only buy the day I am preparing), they each indicated that there were two servings. I didn't open the bags before thawing them and was surprised when I went to prepare the fish and found three filets in each pack. Of course, that meant that I wound up with two extra pieces of fish. I didn't want to throw away the fish, so I started thinking, what could I do with the leftovers?

Then, it occurred to me, why not eat like I would tuna. I didn't mix it up like I do tuna salad, instead, I toasted my bread added some mayo and pickle relish and the fish from the fridge. It was delicious and moist and a wonderful break from the typical packed lunch. I am not sure why it had never occurred to me before. Of course, other preparations beyond a simple season/marinade and grill might not work for a fish salad style sandwich, but this definitely worked.

I still will try to only buy what we need, but at least now I have a way to eat the leftovers and won't have to worry about wasting them.

This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday.

Sun Chips 6 Grain Medley Parmesan & Herb flavored multigrain snacks

I'll admit it, I love a nice crunchy snack. I have gotten in the habit of including a chip of some sort in my lunch, so that I can break up an otherwise mono-textured meal. Typically though, I will wait until mid-afternoon to snack on them. I count the Points up when I figure out my lunch so I have planned for them. Then, it gives me chance to break up my afternoon with a snack that I have already planned on (better that what I used to do where I would just add an unplanned snack). Since I eat them on their own, I prefer to have some different flavored chips.

SunChips have always been a favorite choice of mine. I have always enjoyed their Garden Salsa and even their Original. There is just something so appealing about the flavor that the multi-grain mixture provides - I might say it tastes a little nutty, but that would sound odd since I'm not much of a nut eater and yet find their flavor so appealing.

Recently, I had the chance the try the newest flavor for SunChips - SunChips 6 Grain Medley Parmesan & Herb flavored multigrain snacks. "This new member of the SunChips family packs 21 grams of whole grains and 4 grams of fiber per serving into a crunchy snack with a distinguished parmesan and herb flavor -- making them not only super scrumptious, but a snack you can feel better about eating. We think they’re the perfect complement to your grown-up lunch box." The 6 grains are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Brown Rice, Buckwheat and Quinoa.

I really enjoyed the smoothness of the Paremsan flavor coupled with the taste of basil, contrasted by the toasty, crunchy flavor of the chip. Unfortunately, my kids discovered them too and they seem to really enjoy them. It seems that as soon as a bag of them is opened, they are gone. I suppose though that since they are lower in fat than most chips and are made with whole grains, I should be glad that they choose these over others.

I stopped by their site today and saw another flavor that was new to me that I just have to try...Jalapeno Jack. That just sounds good. Pepper Jack is one of my favorite cheeses to snack on with crackers, and this flavor (and what I know from enjoying SunChips) makes me think of crackers and cheese - baked into a chip. I guess I know what flavor I will be trying this week.


No compensation was received for this post. Sample product and information was provided to me by Frito Lay. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.