Help YOP Help You!

Meet Alexandre – my oldest child who turned twelve this summer.  He is not a teen per say at this point in time but already you can see the teenage attitude showing up in him.   Don’t take me wrong, I love my son to bits and pieces but when something is not going as he has planned, we know it quite rapidly.   Alexandre is very useful at home and I think he has the gift of service in his body.   There are days when he wakes up the wrong side of the bed but generally speaking he is very engaged in the family and helps a lot around the house.    Being a soon-to-be teenager also means that he eats more than when he was younger.   To encourage his growing up and good eating habits I always try to have healthy snacks around the house for a mid-morning break from our homeschool.   Yogourt is also part of our regular diet for everyone in the family.  

Do I struggle with getting the kids out of the door sometimes – you bet.   Whether it is for bringing them to swimming lessons or to get to their Awana activities on Thursday evenings, I sometimes have to push them to make sure they are ready to go.   You see the drive to these activities are about 20-30 minutes and we have to make sure we do not forget anything before leaving…  Once someone in the house had forgotten to grab the bag with towels which meant we arrived late to the swimming lesson.  Other times, it’s the water bottles that are left in the entrance of the house.  So yes, even though I plan in advance it happens that we forget things every once in a while. This coming school year, we will also participate to a coop on the same day as the swimming lessons which means we need to be at the location early in the morning with lunches and all that is needed for swimming for nine in the morning.   So it will be interesting to see how we will manage the get out of the house with four kids and a ton of things to bring.  Nevertheless I think we will survive the Wednesdays.   The beauty of homeschooling our kids is that anytime we want we could decide to have a pajama day (though not on Wednesdays or Thursdays…) and we know our snacks will be fresh and cold when it’s time to eat them.

One such snack that it popular for school lunches and snacks is the first drinkable yogurt in Canada – YOP from Yoplait.   This yogurt is completely drinkable and on-the-go in a convenient packaging that will please moms and kids alike.   If you are my age you will recall that YOP has been around for a while and it makes lunch preparation a bit easier.   With the new school year around the corner, why not start it with some help? Help YOP Help You!   The drinkable  yogurt contains essential nutrients like calcium, vitamins D, B12 and B2 as well as magnesium.   It’s a great source of energy for your teen who need to stay awake in class and want to perform in sports as well as in their studies.

YOP is available in a wide variety of popular flavours - Strawberry, Raspeberry, Blueberry, Strawberry-Banana, Vanilla Tropixs, Banana Tropixs, Peach Tropix, and the new Orange Blast which will be coming soon – and sizes.  However, please note that not all merchants and grocers offer all flavours and sizes.

If your teen like to have something fruity as a snack or drink, I would encourage you – moms – to discover the possibilities that YOP can have for your teen.   Make wise choices this coming year when it comes to packing the lunches and the snacks for your kids.   Scratch the heavy sugary drink and chose something that will help your teen to growth healthy in the process – yogurt.   YOP can help your teen to become a high achievers or just a stay-awakers during the long days at school participating to sports, lessons, student council, volunteering and more.

Tomorrow – August 7th, 2013 – I encourage you to swing by the  Life Made Delicious Facebook Page in order to grab a free coupon (while supplies last) for your teen to try YOP at his/her earliest convenience.  

YOP is available at your favourite grocery store throughout Ontario (and Canada!).

Disclosure – I am participating in the Help YOP Help You Blogger Campaign by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

My Cold Cup

My Cold Cup
http://www.mycoldcup.com/

A friend of mine approached me one day with a suggestion of reviewing a new cup on the market that someone at her church had created.    I knew the person a bit and agreed in reviewing the product in question.   Gwenda hand delivered the My Cold Cup to me and I was immediately impressed with the design.

Gwenda Lindhorst-Ko is the Ottawa inventor of a new non-toxic, leak-proof cup designed to keep drinks cold -- dairy, soy, organic milk, smoothies, fruit juices, veggie drinks, ethnic drinks.    She is the engineer and inventor but most important of all she is a mother that saw a need and did something about it.

Watch Gwenda sharing her passion about the cup.

Gwenda wanted a cup that would keep the drinks cold for more than five hours and that could contain just enough liquid for a lunch.    It needed to be something that was wide enough to insert your hand when hand washing it.  At the same time it needed to be unbreakable inside and outside.  We know how kids can something be rough with their things and backpacks are often thrown on the ground in the school yard.  

I tested the My Cold Cup quite a few times since I received it.  The first thing I did was to put some water in it and insert the cold stick.   I left it on the counter for about 6 hours and the water was fresh and cold to drink.    The opening is wide and I love the fact that the cap stay attached to the cup as well.   That way the child don’t have to worry about loosing the top part of the cup.  It was indeed impressive.   Even my oldest son drank it and was in awe of it.  

You don’t have to insert the cold stick in it if you don’t want to.  But I most admit that this is an interesting concept that I haven’t seen in other kinds of bottles in the past.  The cup is also easy to hold no matter the age of the child.   Bottom line is this is the perfect cup for school lunches or to bring at a day camp.

I have a few disappointment that I want to share.   The first one is that there are only two colors available – green and blue.   I personally would love to have a red one and I know my little girl would love to have a pink or a purple one.    Having said this, I think that My Cold Cup should consider expanding the colors as soon as the product is getting known.   We are six people in our family and we like having cup of different colors so we know which one belongs to who.  My second disappointment is that there isn’t a bigger size for adults.   I love to bring water with me when I go somewhere but to be honest having to refill it constantly because I have drank all of it is not fun.   Recently I use the My Cold Cup to go to a writer’s workshop and I had to go in the bathroom to refill the bottle.   I wish there was a 1.5 liters size with the same idea.   Maybe a future product for the My Cold Cup line…

If you are looking for a great cup that will be sturdy and won’t leak in the lunch bag, I strongly recommend the My Cold Cup.   It is a product that was well thought and made by a Canadian mom who saw a need and acted on it.   Encourage Gwenda and get one today!

My Cold Cup can be purchased online or at retail stores in Ontario and BC for the price of 24.95$.  You can also purchase extra freeze sticks for the price of 2.50$ each.  I wish that it would be possible to get a bulk price for purchasing more than one.   With a family of six it’s always nice to have cold drink when we are going outside.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Gwenda for giving me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Keurig Elite Brewing System

On my birthday this year, my husband surprise me with a Keurig MINI Plus Brewing System.  He thought that this could help me to be more patient when I lacked sleep sometimes and still had to  homeschool the kids.  

It worked but we quickly realized that this model was not the best one for us.   We had issues with the water system in it so we decided to return it and purchase a bigger model – the Keurig Elite Brewing System!

About the Keurig Elite Brewing System

Always ready when you are, this single-cup home brewing system is ideal for that early morning cup or for when you are relaxing with family and friends. Includes a bonus 12 count K-Cup® variety box.

The Elite brewing system brews a perfect cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa or iced beverage in under one minute at the touch of a button. With the choice of two cup sizes, the Elite brewer offers a removable drip tray to accommodate travel mugs.

• Automatic
• Choice of 2 cup sizes: 240 ml et 300 ml (8 oz et 10 oz)
• Removable 1,42 L (48 oz) water reservoir
• Quiet-Brew Technology®
• Energy Savings Mode – Auto Off

My Thoughts

I have been debating for quite some time if I should get one of these.   My husband thought it would be ridiculous to get one since I only drink coffee occasionally.    But he surprised me for my 43rd birthday and got me one.    And since then I wouldn’t think of not having one in the house.   It is so easy to use that even my oldest can prepare my coffee if I ask him.

This particular model has a water reservoir of 48 oz which will last for a few cups of coffee.   You can have two different size of coffee as well depending if you want a small cup or a bigger one.

The kids also gave me a box of K-cups as well as a use-regular-coffee K-cup tool.    I usually alternate between a few regular coffee and using a K-cup.  That way I can savor different kind of coffee depending of my mood.   Since I received this marvelous machine, I also purchased a K-cup drawer to hold some of my flavours.

For the purpose of this review, I received two boxes of K-Cups.  One is a coffee flavour and the other one is to make my own iced tea.   I really like the iced-tea idea and every once in a while I make one.    The sweetness of the tea as well as the ice cubes in my mug makes it a refreshing drink to take on a warm day.

Since I received these, I realized that another flavour of iced-tea has come up in stores as well as an iced-coffee.   I am eyeing these every time I go to Wal-Mart and hope to be able to try them before the end of the summer.   The iced-tea I am considering has a lemonade flavour and the iced-coffee would be a different way to stay awake when I have one of these night where I wake up and have trouble going back to sleep.

If you are considering getting a Keurig, I highly recommend it.    I really love it’s design and the flexibility in having a different coffee.   I also appreciate the fact that there is a tool that will allow you to use your own coffee.    I also use the tool to put tea or herbal tea that I have in stock.  The way the machine brews the coffee or tea is fabulous and will bring out all the flavour in your cup.

Honestly I never thought that I would appreciate having one of these in my home.   I am an occasional coffee drinker but this machine is a must-have in any household.   Last month, I even had my father-in-law try out one of the coffee and he really enjoyed it.   

My only disappointment is that I don’t have space in our RV so I can bring my Keurig with us when we go on a long trip.   I wish I had more countertop to bring it with us….   But it was a pleasure to re-discover it when I got back from a month away from home last week.   

Disclaimer: Thanks to Gear Communications for sending me two K-cups boxes in exchange of a review for Keurig. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

SunRype

SunRype is a Canadian juice and fruit snack company based in Kelowna, BC.   More precisely their headquarters are located in the Okanagan Valley.    They are in operation since 1946.

Their products is made of 100% fruit.   The goal of SunRype is to help you fit fruit in your busy day.    

SunRype has numerous products that can be found at your local grocery store.

• 100% juices like apple juice, premium not from concentrate juices, 100% real fruit goodness as well as fruit plus juices products.
• Nutricious snacks like Fun on the Go, Squiggles, FunBites, FruitSource, Mini Bites, Apple Sauce or Just Fruit 7 Grains products.
• Refreshing beverages like the Light & Refreshing or the Coco Water.

Their plastic bottles are easy to open and to pour.   They contains 100% juice with no added sugar, no artificial flavours and no artificial colours.    And to top it off the plastic bottles are fully recyclable and contains no Bisphenol-A which has been in the new quite often the last couple of years.

For the purpose of this post, I have received coupons to purchase some of their juices.  While at the grocery store, I had trouble choosing which one we would try as a family.    So I opted for two flavours that we are not used to.

Tasting Wild Raspberry and Blueberry Harvest

Wild Raspberry reminds you of the delicious taste of summer freshness.  Blueberry Harvest, however, is perfectly balanced, fruity but not too sweet, just like a handful of fresh picked blueberries.

The taste is definitively different than regular juice that you would buy at the store.    You can taste the fact that there are no added flavour, no added sugar either.

The raspberry flavour was preferred by the kids since the juice was a little bit more sweet that the blueberry one according to them.   Personally I liked both as it was a different experience in itself.   My husband also preferred the raspberry flavour.    We wished we could have tried some of the mango products as we love the fruit.  In the end we enjoyed expanded our taste buds and trying new juices.   

SunRype has a ton of interesting blend like Banana Berry, Dragonfruit Melon, Mango Passionfruit, Mango Tangerine, Melon Mango, Starfruit Citrus, Watermelon Strawberry, Apple Pineapple, Banana, Apple Vanilla Pear, Apple Orange Passionfruit, Apple Orange Peach, Apple Green Tea Chai, Mango Pineapple, Raspberry Orange,Tangerine Kiwi – to name only a few.  Okay more than a few… but these names look appetizing don’t you think?   makes me want to pour a big glass of juice to quench my thirst!

My only disappointment is the price attached to these juices.   We find it expensive for a weekly purchase.    In the end, I am sure that these juices are better for our health but for a family of six people it can get expensive to purchase them.

Disclaimer: Thanks to SunRype for sending me the coupons so I can purchase the products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Aureeva

Recently I received an email from a company in my neighborhood which offer soymilk in a new innovative way.    Since I discovered soymilk can be beneficial for menopause women (yes I have entered this phase in my life since over a year ago which is quite early for my case as I am in my 40s), I am always willing to taste new products on the market.   So when I was offered to come and visit the place where the soymilk is made, I didn’t hesitate one second and decided to plan a field trip out of it.   

On November 11th, the whole family drove at the other end of the city to visit Prosoya which is the plant where the Aureeva soymilk is made.

We were able to see the equipment used for the soymilk production as well as learned more about the process involved.    The older kids were interested in it just because our family enjoys learning about how things are made.    Once we saw the equipment, my contact proceeded to present the different flavours they currently have – original and vanilla.   These two flavours are available at a grocery store near you.   But we were also privilege to taste the new flavours that will go on the market hopefully in 2012 – orange and strawberry smoothies.    Out of the flavours we tasted, the kids particularly liked the orange smoothie which they kept asking for more while we were there.

Soymilk is the perfect beverage for taste conscious/price conscious health conscious and lactose intolerant consumers in the Ottawa and Gatineau area.   It is high in calcium, lactose free, low in fat and contains no trans fat.   It is also an excellent source of Omega-3. 

Contrary to other soy beverage companies, the Aureeva soymilk is not sold in cardboard containers but instead in bags like the regular milk (yes dear readers from around the world, our milk is sold in bags in Canada…).   However, the bags for the Aureeva soymilk is non transparent and will help to extend the shelf life of the product.   

As I mentioned above, my kids loves the orange smoothie.  Unfortunately this specific product (as well as the strawberry one) is not available currently in store.  However, the original flavour and vanilla flavour can easily be found at numerous stores in the Ottawa area.  You can easily mixed you own chocolate syrup to add some taste to it.     I personally like the vanilla flavour as it has a bit more sweetness than the original one.    But different people would prefer the original flavour and that is perfect as well.

I was quite impressed with the quality of the product while we visited the place where the soymilk is made.   Everyone in the family enjoyed tasting it and gave their comments on it.   Generally speaking, the Aureeva soymilk has found a place of favor in our house.   Interestingly enough, my daughter – who had to take soymilk while she was younger due to a reaction to the milk protein in regular formula – was not keen in drinking much of it.    And as far as the strawberry smoothie is concerned my third son is the only one who loves it…   The rest of the family will drink it but we all find that it taste a bit too close to the Neapolitan ice cream which we don’t particularly enjoy. 

At this point in time, Aureeva is available at most of the YIGs and independent metro stores in Ottawa/Gatineau area.  I have learned from my contact that Loblaws and possibly Sobeys will also carry the products sometime in early 2012 (around March).  

Are you wondering about the price?   Well be at peace because I also learned while visiting Prosoya that the price attached to the 4 liters of soymilk is quite reasonable.    For a bag of 4 Liters, you will page 5.99$ which is very affordable when you think of the price that other soy beverage are sold in the size of 1.89 liters.   The purchase of Aureeva soymilk is definitively economical in the long run for families looking for lactose-free products.

Now that I have discovered this product, I am pleased to learned that it is available at the YIG in my area.    Looking forward to visit the store and find the Aureeva on the shelves!

Many thanks to Rashmi for giving us a tour and allowing us to taste the Aureeva products.

Almond Fresh

Almond Fresh
From Earth’s Own Food Company

About the product

Since the first century BC, when travelers on the silk road brought them from Asia to the Mediterranean, almonds have been prized as one of nature’s most nutritious foods. They quickly became a staple of the Mediterranean diet and almond groves flourished throughout the region.

When early Spanish settlers arrived in California in the mid-1700’s, they brought with them their cherished almond trees. Within 100 years, thriving almond groves had spread through much of California’s great Central Valley.

Today this Mediterranean staple is a suggested part of a healthy diet and is increasingly renowned as a nutrient dense whole food with rich taste and versatility.

Almond Fresh is high in calcium and also fortified with vitamins.  See the benefits of Almond fresh by yourself!

• Low in calories and one serve provides 45% of your daily recommended dose of vitamin D, 25% of Riboflavin, and 50% of B12

• Dairy-free and does not contain lactose or casein

• Fortified with calcium, vitamin A and vitamin D and contains naturally occurring vitamin E, riboflavin, vitamin B12, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc

• Almond Fresh Vanilla and Original have about half the calories per serving of 2% milk and is comparable in fat.

• The Unsweetened flavour contains only 30 calories per serving- that's  less than half of the calories found in skim milk

• Almond Fresh products are wheat and gluten free

• Certified kosher

• The brand is owned by Earth's Own

Find out more at http://www.almond-fresh.com/.

About Earth’s Own Food

Earth’s Own Food Company is a pioneering healthy food & beverage company dedicated to nutritional innovation and sustainability in order to actively improve people’s lives and wellbeing.   With a product line-up that includes leading non-dairy beverage brands So Good, So Nice, Almond Fresh and ryza, Earth’s Own Food Company is devoted to developing great tasting wholesome products that are good for their consumers, their families, the community and the planet.

http://www.earthsown.com/

My Thoughts

Did you know that almonds have many benefits for your health?   No wonder I prefer this kind of nut…   Almonds are low in fat and cholesterol free.  They are an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D as well as a source of vitamin E.   And the best of all, almonds are also known to be a source of antioxidants which protects cells from oxidation by removing free radicals which contribute to aging. 

I love almonds – either plain in a thai recipe, salty or robbed with chocolate (my favorite!).

So when I got offered the opportunity to review the Almond fresh beverage, I was curious.   Can this really taste as good as milk?

So when I got my vouchers, I drove to the store and checked out the Almond fresh products.  Imagine my delight when I saw that they had a DARK CHOCOLATE product.   Should I mentioned that it found its way in my cart? LOL  They also have an unsweetened version, the original version, and the vanilla version.  From past experience with non-dairy products, my family and I tend to prefer the kind that is flavoured.   

Just like a chocolate covered almond, Almond Fresh Chocolate brings together the delectable taste of milk chocolate and the powerful benefits of nutrient dense, real California almonds. This new & delicious flavour is a nutritious option for families looking for healthy beverage alternatives.

Once at home, I didn’t wait more and decided to pour myself of glass of freshness.   The taste was amazing and I just couldn’t have enough of it.   The night at supper time, the rest of the family tasted it.    The container was empty by the time supper ended.   The kids kept asking for more.   Even my husband tasted it and thought it was not bad (considering he doesn’t like chocolate I think it is pretty good!).   He mentioned that he would like to try the vanilla flavour next time which I bought the next time I went to the store.

You can also find some recipes to make with Almond fresh directly from their website.    We love Thai and while I was writing this post I realized that they had a recipe for Thai Chicken Curry.   I will definitively try it next time I purchase Almond fresh.   The container we have in our fridge right now is the Vanilla flavor which I guess I could use to do Pain Doré (french toast)…

But to give you an idea of the recipes included in the website, I thought you might like to see one. 

Almond Fresh Thai Almond Chicken Curry

Almond Fresh’s sweet creamy taste complements the flavors of Thai cooking beautifully. (Makes 4 servings)

1 cup Almond Fresh Original
1 tbsp fish sauce
4 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp Thai curry paste, green or red
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
1 large red or orange pepper, sliced into strips
1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks, about 1/4 of a fresh pineapple
1 cup green beans
1/2 cup chopped coriander
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1 tbsp lime juice
1/4 tsp salt

1. In a small bowl, whisk together Almond Fresh, fish sauce, cornstarch curry paste until smooth.
2. Heat oil in large fry-pan. Add chicken strips and stir fry until no longer pink. Add pepper strips, pineapple and green beans. Continue to stir fry until peppers are soft.
3. Add Almond Fresh mixture to chicken and stir continuously until mixture thickens.
4. Stir in coriander, cherry tomatoes, lime juice and salt to taste.
5. Serve with white or brown steamed rice.

I strongly encourage you to expand your taste buds and the ones of your family by purchase a different kind of drink full of calcium.  Almond Fresh would be a great choice next time you go to the grocery store!

CONTEST

The really exciting part is that Almond Fresh is running a contest through their Almond Fresh starting in September to win a trip for 2 to Napa, California. This is going to be a simple sweepstakes. Additionally, there is also a second component; a photo contest in which people will be able to upload "joyous" photos of themselves. These people have the chance to win one of 40 prize packs containing 10 Almond Fresh vouchers worth $50 each. That’s $500 of free milk alternatives! The contest runs from Sept 5 to Oct 30, 2011.

So visit Almond Fresh contest page and participate to have a chance to win!

 

The Almond Fresh products are available at your favourite grocery store.   Don’t forget to let your taste buds explore new flavours every once in  a while!

Disclaimer: I received vouchers to get the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

So Good Beverages

Recently I was contacted to see if I would be interested in reviewing the So Good Soy Milk Beverages.   I agreed even though we don’t have anyone in our family who has milk intolerance at this point in time.   When my daughter was younger she had some intolerance to regular formula and milk at one point.   We had to buy some soy beverage for her.  I figure that exploring new taste and discovering new products would help us to expand our taste buds.

The So Good products are produced by Earth’s Own Food Company.  Earth's Own Food Company is a Canadian company who is the #1 non-dairy beverage company in the country. Our recipe for success is fostering wellbeing in everything we do and making healthy products that are good for consumers, their families, the community and the planet. Earth's Own Food Company has 205 employees who are passionate and committed to the company's vision and continued growth.  Earth's Own Food Company's vision is to be a pioneering healthy food & beverage company, one that takes an ethical approach to championing nutritional innovation & high quality products and services in order to actively improve people's lives and well-being.

So Good is made from non-genetically modified soy protein by Identity Preservation. What this means is that a monitoring system has been put in place which controls each step of the manufacturing process -- from seed selection to planting and harvesting, transportation and processing -- to ensure no genetically modified soybeans enter the supply stream at any time.

So Good is 100% lactose free and a perfect alternative to milk. Lactose is the natural sugar found in dairy milk and lactase is the enzyme required to break down the lactose. Some people have little or no lactase in their body which means dairy milk and dairy milk products cannot be digested. The common symptoms of lactose intolerance are stomach pains, bloating, gas, diarrhea and nausea.    So Good is also 100% free of cholesterol and low in saturated fat. Vegetable oil is added to Original and Flavour varieties of So Good to provide appropriate fat levels for satisfying mouth feel and beverage smoothness (100% cholesterol free polyunsaturated sunflower oil or Canola oil is used).   The product is 100% free of animal products and suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets as well as 100% gluten-free and are suitable for people with Celiac Disease.   So Good is a participant in Health CheckTM - a food information program developed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.  So Good has factories on both the east and west coast of Canada, reducing its distance to market (unlike Silk soymilk, which is shipped up from the US).

I have receive coupons that I could exchange for the full product at the grocery store.   So far we tried the Strawberry and Chocolate flavours.

I have to admit that the So Good Strawberry didn’t win some fans in our household.   I would have thought that my kids would have liked it.   My daughter herself, age 3, has picked it because it was pink.    But somehow the taste didn’t stick with them.    Personally I thought I was drinking a milk made of chalk.    You could taste a bit of strawberry in it but not enough to remove the taste of the soy behind it.   I guess that with time the kids might get used to it…  if needed be that is.

So I didn’t know how the So Good Chocolate would be received when I open the container.

Well surprisingly the kids and I LOVED it (my husband doesn’t drink or eat anything chocolate except if it would be white chocolate!).    The taste of chocolate was rich and when you were done with it you just wanted more of it.    We drank this one in a record time (compared to the strawberry flavor that is…).  My sweet Jasmine kept asking for more even though there wasn’t any more as the container was…. empty!

I do have two other vouchers for So Good products.   I am looking for a Vanilla (requested by my husband) and a Chocolate one.  But somehow, the stores I went too didn’t have any in stock…   I did three stores yesterday and none had them – Wal-Mart (almost empty shelves), Metro and Shoppers Drug Mart.   Mmmm!   I still have to go check at Loblaws as well as Independent but haven’t had the time yet.  UPDATE:  This morning I went to a Loblaws who had the Chocolate and Vanilla Omega version.  These found their way to our house…   Looking forward to discover the Vanilla flavour but I will wait until my husband is back from his Daddy day with our 5 years old son!

All So Good products are made of natural flavours, are an excellent source of nutrition, contain calcium, are low in saturated fat and are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals!   And it is perfect for people who can’t drink milk because of issues like being lactose intolerant.

GREAT NEWS!

One of my readers will win 50$ worth of vouchers for So Good Products.

As a first entry, tell me which recipe you would like to do with a So Good product.  Include the link to that recipe from their website.

This entry is mandatory. Don’t forget to include your email address in the comment.

EXTRA ENTRIES

1) Like So Good Canada on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did.
2) Subscribe to my RSS feed on the right side of this blog and let me know about it.
3) Like Canadianladybug Reviews! on facebook and tell me about it.
4) Follow Canadianladybug Reviews! on twitter and like me you twitter name.
5) Follow Canadianladybug Reviews! with Google Friends on the right side of this blog and tell me about it.
6) Follow me via Networked Blogs on the right side of this blog and tell me about it.
7) Tweet about this contest and give me the link about it. (Daily Tweet) (1 entry per day)
8) Blog about this contest and give me you link (3 entries) – Give me your link and enter three times in the comment section.

Don’t forget to include your email for each steps. No email means I will have to pick someone else. I need to be able to contact you if you win! Random.org will be use to determine the winner. You will have 24 hours to contact me and give me your mailing address so I can send it to my contact which in turn will ship the prize to you!

Deadline: Aug 10th , 2011

Contest is open to Canadians, except Quebec residents.

Disclaimer: I received the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Drink your Greens and your Berries

About two months ago, a friend of mine posted on facebook that she was drinking her greens…   Curious I asked her why she wasn’t eating them instead.   She introduced me to the product she was using and told me one of the major benefit of doing so – boost of energy.   We both felt that we needed to try this to see if it would work.   We initially tried the product my friend was using but then after looking into a group sale deal for Popeye’s Supplements I discovered that there was other companies doing so.   I have contacted one in particular to see if I could review their products and they agreed. 

About the products

PhytoBerry

PhytoBerry is a highly concentrated berry based whole food supplement that is loaded with natural antioxidants.  We keep hearing how antioxidants are good for you and prevent sickness like cancer via the various media around us. 

Essentially the PhytoBerry has been designed to offer whole body antioxidant protection.    It contains no artificial ingredients and a single serving has the equivalent nutrient of 6 to 8 servings of fresh fruit.  

Benefits associated to the PhytoBerry are numerous like whole body antioxidant protection, slows the aging process, strengthens  immune function, supports cardiovascular health, stimulates and enhances brain function, promotes mental clarity and improves memory, boosts energy levels, protects eye health, balances blood sugar, improves digestive tract, speeds wound healing, supports liver function, lowers cholesterol, helps alleviate allergies.

VegeGreens

VegeGreens is a comprehensive combination of over 60 land, sea and cruciferous vegetables, as well as super green foods, EFAs, pre and probiotics, enzymes and herbal extracts.  It will supply your body with an amazing range of nutrients and each serving is equivalent to 6 to 8 servings of fresh vegetables.  

The benefits linked to this products are the following:  restores a healthy pH. detoxifies the body, cleanses the colon, increases energy and renews mental clarity, stimulates and enhances brain function, strengthens immune system, supports cardiovascular health, slows aging, balances blood sugar, boosts metabolism, protects eye health, lowers cholesterol, supports liver function, improves digestive tract, promotes a clearer complexion, acts as an anti-inflammatory, helps prevent osteoporosis, and relieves allergies.

Our Thoughts

Eating vegetables and fruits should be on everyone’s menu on a daily basis right?   But with work, kids, managing a home and a business, reviewing products, it is easy to forget and not eat what we are suppose to eat…  And eventually,health problems can arise, tiredness is your companion and you wonder why you don’t have the energy your kids have.   When we first heart about “drinking your green” we were curious.   So we decided to try it ou.

Both my husband and I have started to take our VegeGreens or PhytoBerry on a daily basis.  We usually alternate 3-4 VegeGreens before taking a PhytoBerry but within a week we have seen a difference in our level of energy.  While before we were tired in the afternoon and more likely to take a nap, now we have more energy and the nap is not needed.   We were both impressed with the results.

But as I continue taking these, I realize other benefits for me.   Stronger nails are one of them.   I used to have nails that would easily breaks.  There was no way I could ever think of getting my nails grow a bit and eventually get nail polish on them.  Well no anymore… In two weeks, I will be going to a SPA treatment (thanks to my husband) and get a manicure in the package deal – my first ever believe it or not!  

Another bonus for me would be my regularity.   Okay I don’t want to go into details but I have seen a difference in my digestive system and how it functions now.   

And to know that these products will boost my immune system at the same time, I am quite curious to see how my health will be next winter.   Winter time is always hazardous with four kids.   I usually get a few of bronchitis and so on.   I am hoping that my propensity of getting sick often during the cold season will be reduce quite a bit.

Like I said before, we are very impressed with the results we have seen so far while we took the VegeGreens or PhytoBerry in the morning.   We are already talking about it to family and friends.   And I have recently discovered and another friend of mine uses these products.   If you find you lack energy in your life and would see some changes I would like to suggest that you try the VegeGreens and PhytoBerry.   Give it a try and see the difference it will make in your life!

For more details on what ingredients can be found in the PhytoBerry and the VegeGreens, click on the images below.  You will be able to see where each ingredients target which body systems and organs.    I have received these flyers from the store where we will purchase the VegeGreens and PhytoBerry – Popeye’s Supplements.

The PhytoBerry comes in 450 and 900 grams and is priced around 34.99 – 79.99 depending of the size you will choose.   Also available is a product for kids – PhytoBerry for kids .

The VegeGreens comes in 265 and 510g or even in pill format.    The price range is from 34.99 to 79.99.  However, we have seen a sale at Popeye’s Supplements where we were able to get one for regular price and the second one for half price.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Progressive Nutritional for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

evian new glass bottle

In addition to the new evian’s lighter and easy to crush 1.5L bottle that I told you about earlier this week, evian  has also launched a lighter, premium glass bottle, which uses less glass.  The sleek bottle is exclusively available in evian partner hotels and restaurants across Canada. 

evian®’S NEW SIMPLE AND SLEEK GLASS BOTTLE HIGHLIGHTS THE BRAND’S PURITY

The brand’s new glass bottle doesn’t just look good, it uses less glass to reduce its carbon footprint with 75cl is 35.5% lighter than our previous 1L bottle and 33cl is 43.4% lighter than our 500ml and 6.5% lighter than the previous 33cl.  Also, cartons for all evian®’s bottles are made of 100% post-consumer recycled material.    The new bottle will begin rolling out throughout Canada as of early April 2011.  It will be available exclusively to evian’s hotel and restaurant partners. Prices will vary by evian’s partner accounts.

My Thoughts

I applause the initiative of evian in creating a new glass bottle.    I love the simplicity of this bottle and the fact that I can reuse it for either a vase or simply filling it with water during supper time.   

The new glass bottle has the word PURE written on the side of it and reminds us that water is pure and good for our body.    I also love the accent of the evian well known logo of the mountains on the bottle.   It gives a twists and personalize the bottle even more. The bottle’s design is simple yet straight to the point. Reminding the drinkers that evian serves quality water.

Between the two new designs, this one is my favourite.   For us, having another glass bottle to serve water on the table when we have multiple people is fantastic.   By reusing this bottle on a daily basis we also help the environment.

Disclaimer: I received a 750 mL evian glass bottle in exchange of a post on the new design.    I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinions expressed here are only my own.

evian new plastic bottle

On March 16th, Danone Waters of America, Inc announced the redesign of its classic 1.5L evian® bottle as part of the company’s ongoing effort to reduce its ecological impact. 

The new bottle, made of up to 50 percent recycled-PET, remains 100 percent recyclable while using 11 percent less plastic to weigh 3.4g less than the previous design (down to 28.6g per bottle), reducing its overall carbon footprint by 32 percent. The newly designed bottle represents an important step in evian®’s environmental policy, which targets a CO₂ emissions reduction of 40 percent between 2008 and end of 2011.

evian® encourages its consumers to Live young® in all aspects of their lives.  The new bottle suits the needs of a modern active lifestyle with a new grip which facilitates drinking on the go. And, 15 years after introducing its original compactable bottle, the new design is even easier to crush, taking up less space in recycling bins making it even easier for customers to make the right choice for the environment.

“evian® is committed not only to the quality and purity of our water, but also to the reduction of our impact on the environment,” said Jerome Goure, vice president of marketing for Danone Waters of America, Inc. “With the launch of our latest bottle which is lighter and more compactable, we hope that our consumers will feel good about purchasing evian, and feel encouraged to recycle..”

The new bottle will be available in Canada beginning middle of March and can be purchased at all major grocery stores retailing for $2.49-$2.99 CAD, and drug stores and convenience stores for $3.29-$3.99 CAD.   

For more information and to watch our “Baby and new evian bottle” video, visit www.facebook.com/evian.

 

About evian^®

evian^® is all natural and perfectly pure.

Every drop of evian^® is filtered naturally through layers of glacial sand during a 15+ year journey deep in the heart of the Northern Alps, giving it the purity and taste that nature intended.

More information can be found on www.evian.com, and www.facebook.com/evian.

My Thoughts

I like to see companies like evian taking a stand and trying to reduce the ecological impact.    When I received the bottle I immediately hold it in my hands to try to see how it would feel different.

The bottle is indeed lighter in weight but the plastic will constantly move under my grip.    Personally I didn’t like this but someone bringing a bottle in a backpack would not care much about it.   It is true that the bottle is easier to crush under your feet and easy to put in the recycling bin.   I am impressed with the fact that it will become flatter than the previous plastic bottle.   My only concern would be on windy days.   Since most people don’t take the time to crush their plastic containers on windy days, we regularly see things flying around or rolling down the street.   With a lighter plastic, chances are that the bottle will be picked up by the wind easier as well.  

Nevertheless, it is nice to see a new design and a company which is taking steps to become more environmentally friendly.  

The kids and I drank the water within a day.   My 2nd son said to me: “Mom, this water taste differently!”  “Really? How?”  “Well, it taste like melted snow…” Mmm!  Personally I don’t see a big difference between our regular water and the one that was contained in the water.   But apparently he did.   *grin*

Disclaimer: I received a 1.5 liters evian bottle in exchange of a post on the new design.    I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Evian New Limited Edition Bottle by Issey Miyake

EVIAN^® UNVEILS NEW LIMITED EDITION BOTTLE
BY ISSEY MIYAKE

New designer bottle celebrates evian’s “Live young^®” partnership
with fashion icon

evian^® Natural Spring Water has partnered with world-renowned fashion icon Issey Miyake, known for his innovative and minimalist style, to unveil its fourth annual limited edition designer bottle. Miyake joins an inventive and celebrated line-up who have unveiled designer bottles for the brand since 2008, including Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Paul Smith. 

This new bottle design is decorated with an imaginary, shimmering flower; a symbol of youth and the evian signature message, “Live young.” The inspiration for the bottle sprung from the Pleats Please line for which Issey Miyake is known, emoting a modern and functional design that has attracted the attention of the fashion-conscious public across the world. 

"evian encourages everyone to live life by seeking memorable experiences, trying new things, and seizing every moment.  The Issey Miyake bottle design, glowing with both optimism and freshness, is a perfect pairing with the brand," said Jerome Goure, vice president of marketing for Danone Waters of America, Inc.  "This simple yet vibrant creation uniquely decorates our all natural and perfectly pure evian water – we are thrilled to add it to our collection."

This 750mL bottle will be available at select Canadian restaurants and retailers in time for the holidays. For more information on the collaboration, including a special Issey Miyake animated movie, visit facebook.evian.com.

About evian^®

evian® is all natural and perfectly pure.

Every drop of evian is filtered naturally through layers of glacial sand during a 15+ year journey deep in the heart of the Northern Alps, giving it the purity and taste that nature intended.

Visit www.evian.ca, and facebook.evian.com for more details.

My Thoughts

This bottle is interesting.   Apparently it is perfect as the ideal present for your foodie, fashionista, designer or holiday hostess.  It is very nice to look at and once you have drank the water contained in it, you could easily turn it as a vase. 

Apparently, the annual evian designer bottle tradition began in 2008 with a limited edition bottle designed by Christian Lacroix, in 2009 by Jean Paul Gaultier, and followed in 2010 with Paul Smith.  Honestly, it is the first time I learn about this special promotion.   But the look of the bottle is so beautiful that I am participating in spreading the word about it.   

We are not a family who would buy water –especially not at restaurants.    This bottle is interesting but it would be nice if the whole idea of a limited edition bottle would be attached to a cause like building a well in a third-world country for people to have clean water.   I think this would motivate the people to participate more and feel good about spending 5$ on water.   Evian would have to post pictures of the building project and the people who beneficiate from it on their website.    Honestly, water is such an important aspect of life that it would be good for Evian to be associate to such a cause.

The limited edition bottle by Issey Miyake will be available at select Canadian restaurants and retailers in time for the holidays with the suggested retail price is $4.99 CAD per 750mL glass bottle.

This review was possible because I received a limited edition evian bottle in  exchange of a post to promote it..

underWAY and Smart for Life products

Recently, I receive 8 bottles of two popular underWAY flavors (Acai-Pomegranate and Grape) PLUS a variety pack of Smart for Life products.

This specific blog tour is mostly to spread the news about a underWAY which is a  supplement drink, infused with special HeroFiber and heart-healthy vitamins, that works to suppress your appetite and quench your thirst.   underWAY curbs your hunger two ways. Its special formulation not only takes longer to be absorbed by the stomach, it also slows the absorption of what's already there, making you feel fuller, longer. It contains no preservatives, sodium or caffeine, with only 10 calories and 2 grams of carbsper 8 oz. serving. HeroFiber, a soluble dietary fiber, helps maintain normal levels of cholesterol, glucose andinsulin that are already in the normal range and promotes slower absorption so we feel fuller longer.

As part of the blog tour, I also received a bunch of Smart for Life Product.  In the package, I found cereal, soup, shake, bagel, cruch, as well as the famous cookies and cupcakes on which the diet is apparently based on.

Invented by the same heart doctor as underWAY, Smart for Life all natural, 60% organic products offer great snacking on-the-go, containing necessary nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids and HeroFiber, with zero trans fat and making you feel fuller, quicker.

My Thoughts

I am overweight – I admit it.   And last  year, I lost almost 30 pounds and went down two sizes.   I have more to loose.   I am realistic and totally honest about it.   I would like to get another 20 pounds or so off.   So when I had the opportunity to discover new products to help me I decided I would give it a try.

The day after I received my box of products, I decided to try some of them.  

First I had the Chocolate Berry Cereal bowl.   It was tasty and very chocolaty but I found that it was a bit dry (even with the milk in it).    However, it did fill me up during the breakfast.

Later, I had a grape underWAY drink and I found it very tasty as well.   You could taste the grape inside your mouth and I felt refreshed afterward.   It would be a good drink to have after having done exercises.  What I particularly liked about it is that there isn’t any salt in it like other well known drinks recognize to help quench your thirst after exercises. 

During the day I also tried the smart crunch and one chocolate mountain cupcakes.   Again, you have the fullness sensation when you eat these but honestly I wish it would be not as dried in your mouth when you eat it.

To be totally honest with my readers, I find the Smart for Life diet a bit bizarre – based on eating cookies and/or cupcakes???   To me it is bizarre.   Besides, when reading the documentation, you learn that you are not supposed to eat fruits, specific meats and vegetables.   Personally, I prefer a weight control plan that will teach me how to limit the quantity of food I eat rather than limiting me in the kind of food I can have.  I understand that fruits have natural sugars and that eating too much of them can result in gaining weight.  But to stop me to eat some while I am trying to loose weight – no way especially during summer time where fruits are abundant.   Concerning the the underWAY drinks, I find them interesting and fun to have at hand when needed.  

I will leave to my readers to discover the prices of the products by themselves.   I can tell you though that I find the products quite expensive when you think that it is food and drinks.  

You can learn more about the Smart for Life and underWAYproducts, developed by physician Dr. Sasson Moulavi, at www.smartforlife.com and www.under-way.com.

To help spread the excitement, a rebate is also offered for whoever wants to order online - Get 10% off online purchases until August 30, when you use the code MCCAN10OFFUW at www.under-way.com and the code MCCAN10OFFSFL at www.smartforlife.com!

Great News!

I am excited to announce that with this review I also have free underWAY products for 10 lucky winners

Follow the “rules” to get a chance to win…

1) Leave me a comment telling me why you would like to try underWAY and/or Smart for Life products.

Details to pay attention to when entering contests at Canadianladybug Reviews! .  Required entry MUST be done to qualify, not following this entry will result in all entries being deleted.

1. Winner will be picked at random by Random.Org
2. You must include your email address in each comments you put.   No emails means I can’t let you know that you are a winner and then I will have to choose someone else.
3. Consequently, the winner will be emailed using the email they supplied to enter and will have 48 hours to respond or prize will be redrawn.

Open Canadians residents ONLY!  Readers may enter the contest on multiple blogs but are only eligible to win once as part of the underWAY blog tour contest.

DEADLINE: Aug 4th @ 12pm (EST)

Disclosure – I am participating in the underWAY program by Mom Central on behalf of Better Health Beverage, LLC.  I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

Danone Dan Active

I'm a buzzAgent and I am part of a Word-Of-Mouth campaign. Being a BzzAgent, I have the opportunity to try the product and then tell my family/friends what I think of it and give them some coupons.
I've decided to blog about the products I will campaign for as well. So the first campaign I was asked to participate to was the Dan Active probiotic drink by Danone.
My first thought when I saw the package was how small the container was. It is smaller that the other kind of drinkable yogourt you can find on the market. However, it is full of probiotics which will help you strengthen your natural defenses.
Not many people know about probiotics...Probiotics are friendly bacteria that helps your intestines. When you are sick and need to take anti-biotics, you should always take some probiotics to replenish your intestines. Each DanActive bottle contains 10 billion L casei Defensis. The bottles are in size of 93 mL and are available in three flavours; Cranberry Raspberry, Blueberry and Strawberry.
We enjoyed drinking the bottles and would consider taking them with us while camping or while driving. The bottles are easy to carry around and to drink from. Even a child could do it. I found them a bit more expensive than regular yogourt but the format is interesting since it's easy to put one in a purse and take it on the go. This probiotic drink is available in 4-packs (3.29$), 8-packs (5.99$) and 12-packs (8.99$). You can easily found them at all major drug stores and grocery stores in the refrigerated dairy aisle.
Try it out! You might be impressed...