Healthy Bites | SoCal Savvy Mom

May 25
2016

a2 Milk to help with any tummy issues…try for free~!

This post was sponsored by a2 Milk® as part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

a2 Milk® is a fresh tasting and natural milk that helps with digestive issues you may have from ordinary cows milk. The difference is the A2 protein, the a2 Milk® cows only contain the A2 whereas regular milk contains both A1 and A2 proteins. I have struggled with tummy issues in regards to drinking milk my entire life. Currently our house has a different type of milk for every person under our roof! My son drinks regular cow milk, my husband drinks coconut milk and I drink almond milk. To say I’ve been looking for a one-milk-fits-all would be a huge understatement.

We didn’t know what to expect after purchasing the a2 Milk®, my son is pretty good about drinking any milk it was more about what my husband and I would think. Let me also say that I’ve never in my life poured myself a glass of milk to drink, it only goes in cereal or coffee. But even the amount I would have in my cereal would upset my stomach to no end! This morning I tried the a2 Milk® with my morning cereal and waited, I waited to see if I would have the usual stomach issues that I’ve known my entire life. To my surprise and delight I was fine! To be able to start my day with a normal bowl of cereal and not have to worry how upset my stomach may be changed my life! Because my family tried and love the a2 Milk® I thought you may want a chance to try it free too, simply click here and follow the directions for a chance to win a2 Milk® free (retail $4.99).

a2 Milk® also wants to send you on an all expense paid vacation to Australia! To enter the five (5) night trip for two (2) with round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, and over $750 towards food and other expenses click here.

Apr 24
2016

Say yes to Grass-Fed beef from Jones Creek

by Nicole Connerley

Eating a healthy diet is very important to my family, my husband and I rarely eat any meat that isn’t grass-fed, free range or organic. Which is why I was overjoyed when Jones Creek reached out to ask if I would review some of their steaks. First let me tell you what Jones Creek is about and that is grass-fed, 100% free range, and grass-finished premium beef. Jones Creek cows don’t ever seen the inside of a cage, and they are also fed grass their entire lives. All of the beef has no added hormones and no added steroids.

Jones Creek has a range of products including ground beef, roasts and a full line of steaks. The steaks offered are Top Sirloin, Filet Minion, Ribeye, and New York steaks. I was able to choose 5 steaks, I choose 3 New York steaks and 2 Ribeye steaks. My husband and I prepared and cooked the Ribeye steaks with just salt and pepper and cooked on the grill for a few minutes per side. We were both amazed at the flavor and how tender the steaks were, to say they were delicious would be a huge understatement.

The following week my mother in law was in town and I wanted to see if she could tell the difference between grass-fed and regular steaks. Her and my father in law live in Jacksonville and are big red meat fans. I was excited to see if she would like the steaks, my husband cooked the New York steaks for us which turned out to be perfection. My mother in law Carol loved the steak and asked where we got it and how we prepared it. She was shocked when I told her I picked it up from Walmart. And that Jones Creek Beef has an entire selection of beef to choose from at Walmart stores across the nation. It is sold in store only at very reasonable prices. For more information on Jones Creek Beef you may visit their website here. To find a store near you that has Jones Creek Beef click here for a store locator.

Mar 21
2016

Easter Savings at Food4Less

by Nicole Connerley

Food4Less has some amazing sales going on right now that will help you fill all those Easter baskets without breaking the bank! With some amazing specials on Hershey’s chocolate eggs, your kids will love for you to fill their baskets with these special treats.

The sale is for Hershey’s Reese’s Peanut butter eggs for only $2.99 each. Anything chocolate is my son’s favorite so I will be stopping by Food4Less to pick up a couple of these to fill his Easter basket with. We are hosting three different egg hunts on Sunday, one for toddlers, one for school aged children and per my brother’s girlfriends request an adult hunt as well. So needless to say I need to stock up on candy while I have the chance.

Another sale item you don’t want to miss is the raw shrimp for only $4.99 a pound! I am planning on making some delicious rosemary shrimp on the grill this week. It is so simple to make and always turns out delicious.

To find the specials in your area click here. All of the sale items for Southern California may be found below, happy shopping!

Offers: Green Cabbage $0.39

Great American Tilapia Filets $9.99 ea.

Pasila Peppers $079/lb.

Raw Shrimp $4.99/lb.

Pinto Beans 5 lb. bag $2.99 ea.

Los Altos Oaxaca or Cotija Cheese $3.49 lb.

Hershey’s or Reese’s Peanut Butter Easter Eggs $2.99 ea.

Doritos, Fritos, Cheetos or Bean Dip 3 for $5

Gatorade 32 oz. $0.69 ea.

Mar 3
2016

Crying over spilled a2 Milk!

by Nicole Connerley

This post was sponsored by a2 Milk® as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

Did you know that one in four people experience discomfort after drinking milk? My son, my husband and myself are all part of this group. In our house we have three different types of milk, that is not a joke. My son drinks organic whole milk, I drink almond milk and my husband drinks coconut milk. When this campaign came up I knew it was a perfect fit for my family, if I could buy one less type of milk it would make my life so much easier. I am so excited to share I have been chosen to be apart of the a2 Milk® Ambassador Program. What I like about a2 Milk® is it has all the proteins milk should have and none of the A1 which is the cause of most dairy discomfort.

I didn’t tell my son when I exchanged his regular whole milk for the A2 whole milk in his morning cereal. He asked if the milk was different, my husband told him it was and asked if he liked it. He said yes! Why is this so much better? We explained that ordinary cows’ milk contains a mix of both A1 and A2 proteins, yet only A2 Milk comes from cows selected to naturally produce only A2 protein. Which is what makes all the difference. I think we lost him on the last part because he is a little guy, however what he did understand is less chemicals is better for him.

I should also mention while my son was eating his morning cereal there was an incident. The horrible mother I am… I ran to grab my phone to capture this picture because it was pretty funny. But how could I not? Who knew while writing a blog post one of the funniest photos ever happened! (He was fine once I cleaned him up, and most important told him he could have a new bowl of cereal with the a2 Milk®)

a2 Milk® is available in half gallon cartons for $4.49 and include whole milk, reduced fat 2%, low fat 1% and fat free.

It is available for purchase nationally at Sprouts, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods – Mid Atlantic and throughout California in Whole Foods, Ralph’s, Sprouts, Gleson’s and many more. We purchased it at Sprouts located in Carlsbad, California.

Dec 18
2015

Organic Carrot Zucchini Bread

by Nicole Connerley

This is my favorite recipe for carrot zucchini bread, I made this today using all organic ingredients and it was great! I knew I had to share it for my fellow organic loving readers. I am always trying to make anything healthier, especially if it already contains sugar. One of the reasons this bread is a perfect healthier option is due to no oil. Vegetable oil for this recipe would normally be around a cup, which would amount to nearly 2,000 calories and 220 grams of fat! Apple sauce (especially organic) is an amazing substitute for oil while baking, saving calories and fat.

The next item we switch for a healthier version is whole wheat flour, while whole wheat flour and regular flower have the same calories the whole wheat is much better option. During the process of making white flour most of the nutrients and fiber naturally found in flour are lost. Sometimes the nutrients are added back into white flour but not in its natural form, which is another reason white flour is so over processed. Below are the ingredients and directions to our delicious Organic no oil Carrot Zucchini Bread.

Buying organic ingredients does cost a little bit more depending on where you shop, but it is the best choice you can make for your family. If a food label does not bear the USDA Organic label, it could still have organic ingredients but not enough to be approved for the seal. What the seal means is that it is produced and processed according to the USDA standards. The seal is voluntary, but many organic producers use it to prove that it is indeed organic.

Most food items that are completely organic — such as fruits, vegetables, eggs or other single-ingredient foods — are labeled 100 percent organic and can carry the USDA seal.

100 percent organic. To use this phrase, products must be either completely organic or made of all organic ingredients.
Organic. Products must be at least 95 percent organic to use this term.
Made with organic ingredients. Products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients may say “made with organic ingredients” on the label, but may not use the seal.
Less than 70%. Foods containing less than 70% organic ingredients can’t use the seal or the word “organic” on their product labels, even if it does include organic ingredients.

Below are the ingredients and directions to our delicious Organic no oil Carrot Zucchini Bread.

1 1/2 cups Organic Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/2 cups Organic Unbleached White Flour
1 ts Himalayan Sea Salt
1 ts Organic Baking Powder
1 ts Organic Baking Soda
2 ts Organic Cinnamon
1 ts Organic Nutmeg
1 cup Organic Sugar
1/2 cup Organic Brown Sugar
3 Free Range Eggs
1 cup Organic Apple Sauce
1 cup Grated Organic Carrot
1 cup Grated Organic Zucchini
1 1/2 cups Chopped Organic Walnuts

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together, whole wheat flour, white flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg in a Kitchen Aid mixer or mixing bowl and mix. Next add the sugar, eggs and apple sauce and mix together. Last add the carrots, zucchini and walnuts and mix.

Next put into greased (we used coconut oil spray from Traders) and put into bread pan, or into cupcake pan. Let bake for about 50 min. or until it is cooked throughout the center of the bread.

Organic carrot bread

Jul 15
2015

Avalon Bay Airfryer Review & Giveaway!

by Nicole Connerley

An air what? An air fryer? Yes, instead of frying with oil you can fry with air. Cooking has never been easier and healthier with the Avalon Bay Airfryer AB-AirFryer100R. Why use oil when you can use air and cut out half the calories in the process.

This product is great for making kids meals like french fries, chicken nuggets, grilled cheeses and many many more. My son helped me make chicken nuggets last night and he loved that he could make his own food. Today I was on Fox 5 San Diego and everyone flipped out over the Avalon Bay Air Fryer, and for good reason! They retail at Air & Water.com for $129.94 but are on sale right now for only $99. The airfryer comes in three different colors, red, white and black.

Air & Water is a great site, shipping is FREE! If you did need to send something back there is a money back guarantee, no restocking fee, and no return shipping fees.

Hassle free clean up with dishwasher safe parts
Mesh metal basket helps provide extra crispy results.
Rapid Air Circulation Technology which circulates hot air with speed and precision for perfect results
Safety Element: 30 minute timer
Stainless steel 304 heating element
Temperature control of 200-400°F
1 Year Limited Manufacturers Warranty

To see my full review see below: