Easy Lime Ginger Chicken Skewers

By Meg Hodson

This is a sponsored post for Foster Farms. i received compensation for my post, but all opinions

remain 100% my own. And you've got to try my awesome recipe below! 

Homemade dinners are very important to me. As crazy as schedules get, including my husband and I both working full time out of the house now, we still strive to have family dinners. Some nights, we have more time to cook and other nights time is tight. On top of all of that, I want meals to be as healthy as possible for my family. One menu staple I always turn to is fresh chicken. It's versatile, easy to fix, and my children love it! But I also want to select chickens that are raised without antibiotics, vegetarian fed and I also appreciate chicken that is grown on the West Coast, close to my home in Oregon. 

Foster Farms Simply Raised chicken is just that. It's a major evolution for the brand, 

partly in response to the demand from millennial parents wanting healthier chicken  options for their family. Foster Farms has been a family-owned business since 1939.  With this new line of chicken, they are undergoing a true evolution of their brand. 

That evolution includes no added sodium to the chicken, American Humane Certified, and is minimally processed with no added preservatives. 

The recipe I created with Foster Farms Simply Raised chicken is so easy to make! It's a 

skewer-style recipe.....just dice and stack the chicken on skewers, drizzle with the easy-

to-prepare sauce, grill and it's done.

Lime Ginger Chicken Skewers

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

Foster Farms Simply Raised thin sliced breast fillets

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon basil

1 1/2 teaspoon ginger

1 lime

Cut chicken into 1 inch thick cubes. Gently line on wood skewers. Mix all dry spices together (except the dry mustard) and evenly sprinkle on both sides of the chicken. Mix olive oil, maple syrup, and dry mustard. Blend well. 

Transfer skewers to grill heated to medium. Place on grill and brush both sides with the olive oil mixture. Cooking times will vary, but they should be done in 7-10 minutes. Baste 2-3 more times while the chicken cooks. 

Simple, easy, delicious. I hope you enjoy it!

This post is sponsored by Foster Farms®, the opinions expressed are my own.

Whole Foods Ready For Action Bag + Giveaway

By Meg Hodson

Good things come in small packages right? And when that "small package" is from one of my favorite stores, Whole Foods, then it's got to be good!

Each year, Whole Foods kicks off it's "Ready For Action Week". The week is celebrated June 24 through June 30th. It's a way to focus on healthy lifestyles and good, balanced nutrition. Whole Foods wants to emphasize that physical fitness can be fun, even when it's an everyday activity like walking or biking. 

Their Ready For Action bag commemorates the week-long event. Beginning June 27th, customers can buy this bag (a $50 retail) for just $12! So what do you get in the bag?

• Boiron Arnicare Gel (0.5 oz.). I have used this product myself. It is great for bumps and bruises and even minor muscle soreness.
• Goddess Garden Organics Everyday Natural OR Kids Sunscreen SPF 30. You can feel good about putting this sunscreen on your littles this summer; it's free of paraben and harsh chemicals.
• Aubrey Pure Aloe Vera (4 oz.). I always like to have pure aloe on hand for skin abrasions and rashes.
• Amazing Grass Amazing Meal in Vanilla Chai (0.88 oz.). I can't wait to put this in my smoothies!
• Garden of Life Perfect Food Raw Organic Green Super Food in Chocolate Cacao (0.34 oz.). I added this to one of my morning smoothies for an extra nutritional boost. 
• Spectrum Essentials Seed Blends (0.5 to 0.7 oz.).  Perfect to sprinkle in pancakes and smoothies, especially for my kids.
• Nuun Active Natural Electrolyte Enhanced Drink Tabs (10 tabs). Think of this as a healthy answer to sports drinks. Just add to water for a boost. 
• Toms of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant (2.25 oz.). One of my all-time favorite deodorants. You can't go wrong with this! And it's a full size container that you get with the bag!
• Spectrum Essential recipe book and three coupons (Amazing Grass, Aubrey and Cal Naturale Svelte.). Bonus!

I am definitely picking up a few of these to keep on hand for gift giving. What an amazing gift for $12, right?

I've also got one up for grabs here on the blog! Enter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you like what you're reading, I invite you to follow my blog.  Cheers!

Delicious Mocktail: Pineapple Fizz

By Meg Hodson

I received complimentary samples of Veri Soda from Moms Meet. My opinions are 100% my own and do not necessarily suggest the opinions of Veri Soda or Moms Meet.

Have you walked down a soda aisle lately? Sometimes I get dizzy from the sheer number of options, brands, and flavors. This is the case both for the traditional soda aisle and the "natural" soda aisle. If you are looking for alternative soda these days, you have a lot of options. In this day and age of consumers seeking out healthier options that are organic and non-GMO, brands have caught on and new brands have emerged. 

I am one of those consumers that prefers real ingredients in my food and even when choosing an option like soda, want to make the healthiest choice I can. Veri Soda uses only the best quality organic, non-GMO ingredients in their line of USDA NOP-certified organic soda. Veri Soda is sweetened with organic fruit juice, organic cane sugar, and organic stevia to deliver a refreshing soft drink with only 60 calories per can. The drinks are lightly carbonated, allowing you to really taste the flavor. Plus, there’s no harsh sweetness or lingering after-taste like most zero-calorie sodas. Veri Soda has a “low glycemic load,” meaning you won’t have a sugar spike (or the

dreaded crash after!). All Veri Sodas are caffeine free, even the cola flavor. 

Here's how the flavors break down:

Veri Ginger Ale harnesses the flavor of Asian ginger and finds the perfect balance of

spice, sweetness, and light carbonation.

Veri Orange is made with 12% real orange juice from oranges grown in Mexico and
Turkey.

Veri Cola delivers the subtle taste of cola with hints of cinnamon and real lemon juice.

Veri Lemon Lime is created with real juice from organic lemons and limes to deliver a
truly refreshing taste.

I decided to make a fun, very quick drink that is fancy without being fussy. It's perfect for kids and adults alike (but you could certainly make it an "adult beverage" by adding your favorite spirit!). I hope you enjoy it.

Pineapple Fizz

Serves 2

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

Lemon Lime Veri Soda

Pineapple juice (no sugar added)

Fresh lime

Sugar

Rim the edge of a glass with a slice of lime and dip in sugar to coat the edge of your glasses. Add the soda to your glass 3/4 full. Top off with pineapple juice. Enjoy! 

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Sugar Free Peppermint Mocha Smoothie With SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener

By Meg Hodson

I received complimentary samples of Sweet Leaf Sweet Drops and stevia packets to try. All delicious opinions remain 100% my own.

My family and I just got back from a whirlwind week long road trip to Disneyland (more on that later this week on the blog). Our trip was filled with lots of rides, lots of walking, fun shows, plenty of sunshine, and treats, too. I don't think we have eaten as much ice cream in one week as we did at Disneyland! 

That is definitely not the norm for us; I try to be conscious of the sugar intake for my family, so treats like ice cream are rare. But I also don't want them to feel left out, too. So, I was excited to try SweetLeaf Organic Stevia® Sweetener. SweetLeaf Organic Stevia® Sweetener is a certified organic, zero-calorie sweetener made from high-quality stevia leaves. With a delicious taste that is sweeter than sugar, SweetLeaf Organic Stevia® Sweetener is perfect for sweetening hot or cold beverages,cereals, baked goods, desserts, fresh fruit, yogurt, and more. In one of my most popular martini recipes on my blog, my Skinny Raspberry Lemon Drop, I used stevia to cut down on the sugar and calories. SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener is gluten free, and contains no artificial ingredients, calories, carbohydrates, or glycemic response, making it ideal for people managing their blood sugar or calorie intake.

I love making smoothies for my kids. It's an easy way for them to get a lot of nutrients in one snack. Most of the time, I make them fruit smoothies, but thought I would make a smoothie that is more of a "treat" using SweetLeaf Organic Stevia® Sweetener. In my sample pack, I received their popular Sweet Drops. They are easy to add to beverages for a sweet treat that is not full of sugar. 

Sugar Free Peppermint Mocha Smoothie

Prep time: 3 minutes
Cook time: 1 minute
Total time: 4 minutes

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk (or milk of your choice)
• 1 cup sugar free vanilla frozen yogurt
• 1/4 teaspooon vanilla extract
• Small handful of chocolate chips
• 8 drops SweetLeaf Peppermint Mocha Sweet Drops
• 1/2 cup ice cubes

Cooking Directions

1. Add all ingredients to blender and mix well. Serve immediately.

Need more inspiration on recipes and ideas on how to use SweetLeaf Organic Stevia® Sweetener? Connect with SweetLeaf online to see their latest products and get exclusive access to discounts and special offers!

Do you use stevia? What is your favorite way to use it?

Delightful Gluten Free Treats From ginnybakes

By Meg Hodson

I received complimentary samples & compensation for my post on ginnybakes. All delicious opinions remain 100% my own.

Isn't it nice to have a delicious treat that you can feel good about eating? These days, it seems that we are bombarded with every imaginable sweet with every possible option: sugar free, low fat, low carb, gluten free, high fiber....it goes on and on, right? How do you make a good choice?

I recently had the chance to sample and try some of the amazingly delicious products from Ginny Bakes. ginnybakes line of gluten free products was created by a holistic nutritionist, Ginny Simon, to help those with gluten-free diets enjoy freshly baked goods.  Her  products are organic, handmade with love in a gluten-free kitchen and free of artificial preservatives. ginnybakes is certified gluten free and the product does not contain GMO's. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that all these characteristics make me very happy! It's a treat I can definitely feel good about giving myself....and my children.

Of course, we need to talk about the taste! While the ingredients and production process of the ginnybakes treats are important to me, you've got to have something you are going to enjoy. 

I started with the chocolate chip love cookies. Who doesn't love a good, classic chocolate chip cookie? These did not disappoint. My experience with gluten free products in the past has been hit in miss, with my biggest complaint being how "heavy" they often taste. These delicious cookies were far from that! They were light, crisp, crunchy but not too crunchy, perfect. And with one cookie having only 60 calories, you can feel really good about indulging.

There are also great pre-packaged cookie snack bags that are perfect for tucking into school lunches. I tried the Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bliss. It's safe to say I am a fan of these. In fact, these will be handy for me to grab on my road trip with my family to Disneyland today!

The line from ginnybakes also has gluten free bake mixes. I really like this offering, because I often like to add a few healthful ingredients to pre-made mixes: it might be a little extra flax seed, some applesauce, a spoonful of yogurt. I haven't baked it yet, but I can't wait to try the Lovely Brownie Bliss mix. 

Ready to try ginnybakes gluten free treats? I've got a great giveaway to win FIVE boxes of the amazing cookies she offers. Enter below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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