Healthy Choices for Busy Families

Some days I feel like SUPER mom

kids are up on time
hot breakfast waiting for them
house gets cleaned
dinner is in the crock pot
work is completed
everyone gets where they need to be after school
and we meet up at the end of the day to a great meal.

and then there are MOST days

House is messy
laundry is piling up
kids are headed in 10 different directions which means I get to spend my entire afternoon in the car
and...
hubby left his keys somewhere his car is not
so off to work to pick him up.

It's 6:00
there is NO dinner waiting at home
and we are stuck in traffic.

This is when
Healthy Choice comes in REAL handy.
{and it's even more budget friendly with the coupon}

Honestly, we don't eat many frozen meals at all,
but for nights like these, it is SO convenient.

The kids each get a meal of their choice
{no whining at all}
with a huge selection of Healthy Choice Top Chef  Cafe Steamers,
there truly is something for everyone.

I was hoping to try the crustelss pot pie, but they were gone.
I chose Chicken Marsala instead, and it was delicious.
Stella decided to try the ravioli,

and before I even blinked, they had disappeared.

Charlie LOVED his BBQ steak SO much, he wanted one for his lunch:)

We even brought home  Healthy Choice Greek frozen yogurt for dessert.

Sure, stopping for fast food is "fast" as well,
but not really the healthiest of choices.

While the kids helped to
"steam"
the meals
I had time to prepare a strawberry salad.
{pretty much how I make sure the kids are getting their veggies}

In a matter of minutes we were sitting down to dinner
and dessert
and everyone was happy.


{you can see my Google + story here}

You're never too busy to make #healthychoices!

““I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and ConAgra Foods #cbias #SocialFabric”

Superbowl Pre-Party #deliciouspairings with Starbucks and Walmart

Whether you are a football fan
{we DEFINITELY are}
or not,
Superbowl Sunday  means LOTS of great food!

We're kickin' it off early this year, with a pre-party  breakfast party,
and breakfast would  not be complete without delicious coffee.

BC
{that is before children}
we were a go-out-for coffee couple.

Now, we are the brew at home type,
and Starbucks is our favorite brand.

Some people may find it a bit bold,
but luckily Walmart has a fantastic selection,
and there is something for every coffee lover.

This #deliciouspairings display was also conveniently located in the bakery section,
do you see that muffin,

I definitely need those for my buffet.

I decided on the Medium {Breakfast} Blend
breakfast in the title makes for an easy decision.
not too light and not too dark
just right

With citrus and fruit notes,
I bet you didn't know that coffee had these:)
blueberry muffins and fresh fruit should pair extremely well.

With all of the great items I picked up at Walmart

{I could not pass up these football doughnuts}

and my make the night before egg casserole
 game day is a breeze.

Of course, you need coffee to start the day right,
and this breakfast blend was perfect
even without food I could taste the "berry",
and honestly, I had never noticed this before.

With food, the coffee was even better,
and the Bakery at Walmart muffins were a BIG hit,

check out those berries - gorgeous

even for the non-blueberry eaters in the house.

It was the perfect way to get ready for the game,
and now we are

READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #cbias #SocialFabric “all opinions are my own"

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

I always try and feed my family meals that are not only delicious but healthy as well.

Of course, with the holidays and birthdays
{both of my kids' birthdays are around Christmas}
we got a little bit off track.

Now that Charlie's birthday is behind us,
{oh my goodness I am the mother of a teenager}
I can get back to my

New Year New You
     goal

Being a food blogger is SO much fun,
and very rewarding;
however, it has not been as kind to my waistline:)

My plan of attack -
meals that include more vegetables
{even if I have to sneak them in}
no processed foods
and of course great taste.

Classico caned tomatoes are a perfect fit for my New Years meal plan.


They are always 100% all natural,
packed fresh
without any preservatives,
and they taste like they are straight from the garden.
{not my garden though - I couldn't get anything to grow this year, unless you count weeds}

I cook with canned tomatoes all the time.
My family has a mild addiction to pasta,
and there is nothing easier than making a simple sauce with canned tomatoes.
It is probably the one item that I stock my pantry with the most.
{well, maybe flour and sugar too}

Lately, I have been focusing on slow cooker meals.
Our weeknights are very busy,
and while grabbing food on the go is SO easy,
it is NOT healthy.

Using a slow cooker allows me to get a healthy meal on the table,
even on the busiest of nights.

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
4 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts {season with salt and pepper}
2 cloves of garlic {minced}
1 large onion {thinly sliced}
2 zucchini {sliced}
8 oz mushrooms {sliced}
1 can of Classico Crushed Tomatoes
1 can of Classico Whole Pear Tomatoes with Fresh  Basil {the whole tomatoes will break down while cooking}

it's this easy - place everything in a slow cooker
cook on low for 6 - 8 hours
serve over whole wheat pasta {I chose capellini}

Seriously, this meal took me about 15 minutes to get together, tastes amazing {you'd never guess it was easy}, and it makes me feel good when my family can sit down and enjoy a nutritious meal together - even if it is a busy Wednesday night.

Thanks to #CookClassico and my trusty slow cooker, eating healthier in the new year is going to be a breeze.


I am a member of the Collective Bias, Social Fabric Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias  and Classico. #cbias #SocialFabric #CookClassico

Healthy New Year choices with Lean Cuisine Salad Additions

I try to be organized when it comes to meal preparation.

I make meal plans for the week.
Create a detailed shopping list.
Actually shop from said list.

It usually works well.
With my lunch being the exception.

I always have lunch box items for the kids.
My husband often will take dinner leftovers.
Then, there's me.

I'm usually scrounging around, and often will not make the best choices.
Unless I'm out.
Then, my choice is easy.
I LOVE salads.

I realize that most people splurge when they eat out.
Often ordering something that they wouldn't normally eat.

I'm just the opposite.
Because I don't normally stock specialty salad items,
{we will usually have tomatoes, carrots, cucumber}
I love getting salads.

Thai Noodle
Southwest Chicken
Beet and Goat Cheese

my favorite...
Asian Chicken salad.

So...I was beyond excited when I saw that lean Cuisine had a new line of salad additions.
The freezer section at my local Walmart was stocked, and I couldn't wait to get home to try them.

You steam the chicken and the veggies
add them to your lettuce
{I love spinach or arugula}
top with the dressing
and in the Asian - style
crispy noodles  {in my opinion the best part}

You get a fresh from your own home
{in less than 5 minutes}

restaurant quality salad
without having to leave the house,
and the price is TOO good to pass up.

I bought one of each variety,
you can check them out here,

for the price of an average restaurant salad.

You can't beat that!

I was so impressed with the taste, that I  know my New Years healthy lifestyle goal
will be easy to keep.

I've had a salad for lunch every day this week.

and because of that , I don't feel all that guilty when I have dessert:)

I am a member of the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insight study for Collective Bias and Nestle
#CBias #SocialFabric #BYOL

Coffee and Crazy Mornings

Mornings in my house are CRAZY,

and mornings during the holidays can be even worse.


ALWAYS rushing to get somewhere on time.
ALWAYS looking for some lost article of clothing.
ALWAYS chasing the dogs into the crate.

While we ADORE holiday time,
sometimes the running gets to be a bit much.

This is why I NEED my coffee.
If I could, I would have a coffee maker in my room upstairs.

This time of year, you will ALWAYS find Starbucks Holiday Blend coffee in our pantry.
I look forward to it ALL year.

The spicy hint of cinnamon is what I love most, so much that when Holiday Blend is not available, I will usually brew a pot of coffee with a dash of cinnamon.

I grab a cup of coffee, even before getting the kids up.
My second cup is with breakfast,
and what better way to "indulge" than by enjoying my coffee with a delicious cinnamon roll.

Lucky for me this  #DeliciousPairings display was in the Bakery at Walmart.

The rolls looked SO good, I grabbed a few packages:)
I'm hoping we have leftovers, because I have an AMAZING idea if we do.

Bakery fresh, these cinnamon rolls turn an ordinary, rushed morning, into something just a bit nicer.
They are not only delicious, but quick - which helps with my plan to have a more relaxed, less rushed morning.

Cup 3 for me is taken on the road,
as the chief chauffeur for my family,
I spend most of my mornings this way.

However, the carpool is that much better with my travel mug.

Finally it's home, and time to get to work,
usually with my coffee:)




I hope you have time this holiday season to enjoy a few of life's simple things.

I am a member of the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are completely my own
#CBias #SocialFabric