Tag Archives: M&M’s

Salty ‘n Sweet

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As you guys know – I’m salt fiend. Give me pretzels dipped in chocolate or salted caramels over something just plain ole sweet any day of the week. I mean…if I could eat them with no consequences, Pretzel M&Ms and Trader Joe’s Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce would be staples of my diet…

Okay, sometimes they are – regardless of consequences :) .

Erin, from ZonePerfect, got in touch with me a little while and asked if I’d want to try their new Sweet & Salty nutrition bars.… obviously, my answer: Yes, please!!

I was kind of excited to see what would come my way because ZonePerfect has always sent such creative press kits in the past (remember the non-cookie cookie jars??).

Loved this one!

It included product info, the bars, flash drive and cute word magnets! These will be fun!!

The highlights:

Product Facts and Highlights  
ZonePerfect Sweet & Salty Bars:

  •  Are an excellent source of protein (10 grams)
  •  Are a good source of 19 vitamins and minerals
  •  Are rich in antioxidants (Vitamins C & E, and
  • Selenium)
  •  Contain 200 calories per serving
  •  Have a balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat for consumers that are looking for a great-tasting healthy snack alternative

I tried the Trail Mix bar first – mostly because I knew it wouldn’t be my absolute fave. I’m just usually not a “trail mix” bar girl. For me this one was a little more salty – perhaps, maybe because there wasn’t as much sweetness to it. It did have great crunch though – which I loved. It’s great for a snack and curbing cravings.

My favorite of the two was definitely the Cashew Pretzel. The cashew flavor was reminiscent of another bar or flavor – but I can’t pin what it was…probably just the nutty factor. I really enjoyed the salt factor of this one – it wasn’t as up front as the trail mix bar, but kind of just lingered at the end. I feel like that sounds strange in the description of the bar but I enjoyed it. My only wish is that it had more of a crunch factor – but that’s bascially because I’m pretzel and crunch obsesssssed. haha

While yes, the ingredient list is long, I’d definitely purchase if I was having a sweet and salty craving – especially the cashew pretzel. It’s a lower calorie and more nutrition-filled way to help me ignore the sweet and salty sweet nothings beckoning me to the candy aisle… :)

If you’re interested in these bars – you should definitely check out ZonePerfect’s Facebook page – they’re giving away a free Sweet & Salty bar. You just have to like the page and click on the “Free Bar” link!!

Comfort Food

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On a day filled with ridiculous amounts of snowfall…I really just wanted to curl up with comfort food.

Plus, being essentially quarantined in my apartment, until approximately 20 minutes ago, also gave me a lot of time to think about it. ;-)

Tonight I was thinking polenta. Again. I wanted a big, piping hot bowl of comforting polenta goodness.

Sooo I set out to do that.

2 servings of premade polenta (about 200g), about 3/4 c of spinach, a little milk and water, some dried garlic to taste(you could also use fresh or powdered), onion powder, some red pepper flakes, and about a 1/4 c of mozzarella cheese (at the very end) later….

It definitely met my expectations! Comforting and super filling!

Next time I would season it more while it was cooking – I didn’t want to add too much salt because I knew the cooked polenta had been pre-salted, but it could’ve used a bit more to my taste or Parmesan cheese instead of mozz could take care of that, too – also, fresh garlic would have been awesome – I just didn’t have it. It’s all about the fine-tuning in the future…

I will admit – this took a lot of elbow grease – I know that I splattered polenta into my hair trying to wisk it into submission (from block form back to soft form!). Nice lil’ workout.

I’ll probably be finding bits of polenta and spinach all over my kitchen for weeks…very remeniscent of my attempts to secretly make truffles in my dad’s kitchen when he was out of town, only to have him come back and find chocolate splattering in the most random places! However – in both cases – it was well worth it.

ooey, gooey goodness - but artificial light...not so good

 

Then came dessert – so good (though, I like my pretzel to chocolate ratio a little higher on the pretzel side – you know for the full impact of the salty/sweet).

In my head, the people at Mars/M&Ms made these juuuuuuuuuust for me. :-D

The Happy Diet

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Alright, so today I received the Jan 2011 issue of Glamour (I feel like my issue came really late…regardless.), and much of the issues is about being HAPPY! Which – well, I loved. I mean that’s the point of it all, isn’t it? I blog because is makes me happy, I cook, bake and eat what I eat because it makes me happy, I listen to Glee and Top 40 pop/dance/R&B as loud as it can go because…well, it makes me happy!

Within the mag, they had this section detailing a happy “checklist” – and while that’s kind definitely simplifying things, I totally agree with the majority of them (credit for all goes to Glamour):

  • Exercise – heck yeah! Get those endorphins going..plus, walking out of the gym after a workout, I always feel an extra spring in my step.
  • Eat breakfast - I am sooo bad at this (I’m the queen of gulping down coffee and the running out the door), but having an actual breakfast (when I do) always seems to create the best springboard for the day.
  • Speak up - I never would have thought about this one. It’s true though..boosting your confidence, and reducing your stress by getting something off your chest.
  • Do less – I think this is definitely an idyllic one. While having to do less (and stress less) would be wonderful – sometimes it’s just not in the cards – for me at least.
  • Focus on making memories – A sort of stopping to smell the roses thing…agreed.
  • Go outside – Yes! Cabin fever can be brutal!
  • Hug it out - I’m a hugger…I love this one!
  • Face your challenges - don’t put stuff off – I definitely agree. As someone who has dealt (and still deals) with anxiety, it’s true that the longer you put something off the more anxiety it produces.
  • Say something nice - spread the happiness around! Heck, a guy at Barnes & Noble told me he liked the buttons on my coat because they were “shiiny” – creepy, but it did bring me happiness…if only in the form of a good story!
  • Be grateful – so true…taking the time to realize how fortunate you are is a biggie!
  • Savor your snapshots – photos…inspiration boards!…love it.

What would you add to this ‘checklist’?

At the bottom of that page – they included what they’ve dubbed at the “Happy Diet”.

I agree..especially with the whole “no deprivation” thing…I don’t know a single person who is happy depriving themselves of something they love! I say,bring on the M&Ms! :-D

In my mind, the “Happy Diet” is all encompassing…not just what we eat or drink, but other aspects of our lives, too. I mean, after all, it all impacts us mentally and physically.

Mine?

The good stuff, of course – greens, grains, lean protein, spices, beans, all that goodness.

Chewy vitamins - again, embracing my inner child and love for Flintstone Vitamins, I love the chewy vitamin!

click for source

Coffee!! It seriously makes me happy. :)

Chex Mix. It may not be the healthiest..but I love it like no other.

Taking photos (of Chex Mix?). I never knew how much I love this until I started blogging. The good ole point and shoot is still goin’ strong.

Me time! - Getting a new nail polish, or going out and getting mani/pedis…so necessary!

Of course…laughing with friends…and not caring how ridiculous you look in the photos.

 

What’s in your happy life ‘diet’??

xoxo