Be Free For Me Blog

My, oh my! Helloooo Gorton’s Fisherman!  I was pleasantly surprised when I was strolling through the frozen food section of my local Target store and found Gorton Seafood’s Gluten-Free Grilled Haddock. The fisherman on the front of the box brought back flash-backs of dinner time when I was a kid, when my Mom would make me and my sisters fish sticks for supper. So, for nostalgias sake, I just had to give these gluten-free counterparts a try.

If you’re looking for a quick (cooks for only 14-16 minutes in your 350 degree oven) and tasty dinner these gluten-free fish fillets are perfect.

These fish fillets have only 80 calories per servings  (though I do admit… I ate two servings with my dinner.) They also have no MSG, artificial colors or flavors, and are made with 100% wild-caught haddock.

I tried the Signature Grilled, but there are also a ton more gluten-free flavors that Gorton’s makes. I’ll be trying these out these other flavors at a later date, and I also look forward to making myself a nice grilled fish sandwich on gluten-free bread with these!

For being a quick, easy, tasty and simple dinner idea, Gorton’s Seafood’s Gluten-Free Grilled Haddock is awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Congratulations!

We all know the drill. First thing in the morning you have high hopes of getting out of work on time, not hitting any traffic on your commute, and getting home in plenty of time to make a delicious home cooked dinner for your family.

But then reality strikes. We end up working late, sitting in a traffic jam and finally getting home to a hungry gang asking, “What’s for dinner?”

These are the nights that I count on Crystal Farms Simply Potatoes. These mashed potatoes are so quick and easy to make (less than 5 minutes in the microwave!) and taste just like homemade mashed potatoes (trust me… and I am picky when it comes to my mashed potatoes!).

My favorite variety is the Traditional Mashed Potatoes, but they also come in tons of other gluten-free varieties such as Country Style, Garlic Mashed, Sour Cream & Chive, and even a Mashed Sweet Potato.

For convenience, partnered with great homemade taste, this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Crystal Farms Simply Potatoes. Congratulations!

I like things simple… pure… natural… and no fuss. That is why I was thrilled to find the new Fruit Bars at my local Trader Joe’s.

Made with just fruit (my favorite the Apple & Mango has just that as ingredients… JUST apples and mangoes) these bars are not only gluten-free, but vegan and raw. They also have no additives, no preservatives, no synthetic colors or artificial flavors.

The other yummy flavors they come in are: Apple & Banana, Apple & Coconut, and Apple & Strawberry.

Best yet… they are only .99 cents per bar!

It’s kinda hard to lug around apples and mangoes in my teeny-tiny purse, so these Fruit Bars do the trick and let me have my fruits – and purse space too! Packed with 2-3 grams of fiber and only 90 calories per bar these are the perfect choice for BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite! Congratulations!

For this week’s Friday Favorite, we’re going to spice things up a bit! And that spice is organic, gluten free, salt free and non-GMO.

Say hello to Engage Organics Spice Blends! I love that these spice blends are SALT free, as well as gluten-free, since salt-free spice blends that are also gluten-free are very hard to find!

Engage Organics makes a whole bunch of  spice blends that are super-tasty and will put a zip into any and all of your gluten-free dishes. The flavors they have are unique and flavorsome. They include: It’s-A-Dilly (great on fish dishes and blended as a dip); Garlicsaltless (one ½ a teaspoon is worth a clove of garlic!); All Purpose (great on everything!); Go-Grill-A-Rub (perfect for grill-masters); Lemon-Pepper (my favorite on chicken); Mexi-Mix (great for tacos, nachos and more); Sweet Cinn (LOVE this sprinkled on top of my gluten-free muffins before baking!); and the Tuscan-Mix (which is scrumptious blended with olive oil for dipping your gluten-free bread).

All fabulous varieties, all gluten-free and all SALT free! For these reasons Engage Organics is awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com! Cheers!

I found a new snack! And I’m in love! Fresh cut fruit, slathered with Bonelli’s Fine Foods Simply Sesame spreads.

As simple as it sounds these spreads give your fruit an extra special kick that gives you (or your kids!) a reason to get excited about fruit!

The flavors that the Bonelli’s Sesame Spreads come in are awesome too: Pure Roasted Sesame, for the pure taste of sesame; Vanilla with Almond Bits, for a sweetness and crunch that makes a banana and apples extra special; Pistachio with a Hint of Cardamom, that is fantastic generously smeared over pear slices; and last, the Sugar-Free variety, for those that are watching their sugar intake.

These spreads are all gluten-free, all natural, vegan, have no preservatives or additives, no Trans Fat or cholesterol. They are also peanut free.

For all these delicious reasons Bonelli’s Simply Sesame has been awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeFore.com. Congratulations!

Want to buy on Amazon? Check out the link to Simply Sesame products here!

Back to school is here! And those lunches are being packed once again.

Along with the sandwiches, fruit, vegetables and snacks, sometimes a cookie is just what it takes to make a lunch box packed ever so sweet.

I discovered Nana’s Cookies earlier this year while at a trade show in California and I’ve been hooked ever since. I have always been a fan of Nana’s and have written a couple of blog posts in the past about their amazing Cookie Bars. So, I was more than thrilled to discover that they had a variety of delicious traditional gluten-free cookies too. The flavors are Chocolate, Chocolate Crunch, Ginger, and Lemon. All are delicious and worthy of a special lunchbox treat.

And best yet… all of Nana’s Gluten-Free Cookies are also free of corn, soy, dairy, eggs and casein.

All of these delicious reasons are why Nana’s Gluten-Free Cookies are awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Congratulations!

Dip into the goodness of this week’s Friday Favorite!

I love my chips, salsa and guacamole, but sometimes I just don’t have time to make my own guacamole. That is why I was so excited to find Calavo Guacamole…  it’s fresh homemade taste will have you reaching to buy a tray every time you shop.

I love  the creaminess (incorporated with chunks of fresh avocado!) and the just-enough spice of the Calavo guacamoles. They are made with fresh ingredients including 100% Hass avocados, and other ingredients such as onion, garlic, jalapeno peppers, tomatillo, serrano peppers and cilantro – depending on the variety of guacamole.

Found in refrigerated producet section of your supermarket, there are  no preservatives in the guacamole, and of course, they are gluten-free.

Congrats to Calavo Guacamole for being this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com! Break open a bag of chips and dip right in!

P.S. Want updates, news, deals, and recipes? Follow Calavo on Facebook and Twitter!

Looking for a quick on-the-run breakfast or snack for your children… or even yourself? If so, you need to check out Happy Squeeze Greek Yogurt.

No fuss, no bother, and no spoon required, this fast and easy pouch contains a fantastic source of calcium and Vitamin D.

The Happy Squeeze flavors are Peachy Keen, Razzleberry, and Super Strawberry. They are all gluten-free, and make sure you check out the allergen chart for all of Happy Family Brand products.

I’ve been a fan of Happy Family Brands for years. I love that they‘re socially responsible, and have sustainable products that are organic, healthy and affordable. And, on a side note, the company is run by a bunch of really cool and nice people who I have had the pleasure to meet at industry tradeshows. =)

In a nutshell, Happy Family Brands is a company that you can feel happy about. And for that reason, they have been awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com! Congrats!

When you want a salt and satisfying snack that is only 100 calories reach for a bag of Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten Free 100 Calorie Pack Pretzel Sticks.

These gluten-free pretzel sticks are perfect for lunchtime, a mid-day snack or for dipping into hummus or your other favorite dips. I love that Snyder’s of Hanover has a “snack size” bag of pretzels. They are great for when you’re on the go, or those times when you need some “portion-control”  (let’s face it… these pretzels are so good, it is easy to eat way to many!)

Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten-Free Pretzels are also low-fat, dairy-free, casein-free and egg-free. They are also Certified Gluten-Free.

All of these wonderful snacking reasons are why Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten Free Pretzels are this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com.  Congratulations!

Want to buy Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten Free 100 Calorie Pack Pretzels? Check out this link on Amazon.com!

It’s summertime, and it seems that every day I have at least one salad as a main course meal. But sometimes vegetables tossed with ho-hum dressing  is just so boring. That’s why I was so excited and couldn’t wait to try the Terrapin Ridge Farms gluten-free salad dressings & marinades (with awesome flavors!) that I found in my local grocery store today.

The flavors of Terrapin Ridge Dressings are pure joy: Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette; Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing; Creamy Italian White Balsamic Vinaigrette; Sweet Red Onion White Balsamic Dressing; Tangerine & Soy Gourmet Salad Dressing; and my favorite,  Toasted Sesame & Ginger Vinaigrette.

The dressings I listed are all gluten-free, and many are vegan, fat free and sweetened with agave. They are also perfect for marinades, dips and pasta salad mix-ins. I love that the ingredients are all items you can pronounce and these dressings do not contain any corn syrup. For all of these healthy and flavorful reasons this week’s Friday favorite is awarded to Terrapin Ridge Farms! Congratulations!