Be Free For Me Blog

It’s awesome when I find healthy snacks that are absolutely, positively, incredibly delicious. But it’s true love when the snacks are also low calorie, full of fruit, and contain all-natural ingredients.

That’s why it was true love when I tried Matt’s Munchies Premium Fruit Snacks.

I’ve tried a lot of fruit snacks, but Matt’s Munchies are different. These snacks are very, very much better in everyway possible. It’s almost like Matt’s Munchies are the Fruit Snack for the discerning adult (but are loved by kids too). These Fruit Snacks are for the folks that demand more from their fruit snacks than the typical corn-syrup ridden fruit pasted on a piece of plastic wrap.

I love the flavors too… they are exotic and tantalizing… Flavors made for adult taste-buds! Mango Acai; Apple Pie; Chili- Chocolate; Apple-Licious; Ginger Spice; Banana; Mango; Raspberry-Delight; Coco Nana; Tangy Apricot; and my favorite, Island Mango – packed with tiny coconut flakes that add a bit of “texture” and an unexpected burst of flavor.

I also like the way these fruit snacks are portioned into bite-sized squares, rather than rolled-out in one big piece; making snacking easy.

And if it couldn’t get any better these fruit snacks are also Certified Gluten-Free, Kosher, USDA Certified Organic (except for the three chocolate flavors), and free of peanuts, soy and preservatives, artificial colorings or flavorings.

These week’s BeFreeForMe Friday Favorite honor is bestowed upon Matt’s Munchies for creating a truly premium fruit snack… and showing us the way fruit snacks should be!  Congratulations!

Want to buy Matt’s Munchies Premium Fruit Snacks? Check them out on Amazon.com and take advantage of the FREE Super-Saver Shipping! Here is the link: Matt’s Munchies Premium Fruit Snacks

I usually eat “my bars”, as I fondly call my #1 go-to food item, as a snack… midway through the day, when I need a little pick-me-up, and when the stomach gets a growlin’.

But I recently found a bar that is perfect for breakfast. Quick, easy and portable. The name? BoBo’s Gluten-Free Oat Bars. They are filling, satisfying, tasty and absolutely perfect for that breakfast on the run.

BoBo’s Oat Bars is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado and founded by a gal named Beryl Stafford. She started the company due to her love for nutrition, wellness and life. What originally started out as super-tasty creation for her oldest daughter, whom she affectionately called “BoBo,” the BoBo products are now available nationwide and still are handmade with the same love and attention to quality that this Mom originally created for her daughter.

The gluten-free BoBo Bars come in some great flavors too: Chocolate Almond, Lemon Poppyseed, Peach and, my favorite, Maple Pecan. All these flavors are great any time of day… morning, mid-day and evening.

BoBo Bars can be found at retailers across the country, and also on Amazon.com.

Congratulations to BoBo Bars for being awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com … we love the way you are amazing people making some amazing products!

Buy BoBo Glute-Free Oat Bars on Amazon.com. Check out these links:
BoBo Gluten-Free Maple Pecan Bars

BoBo Gluten-Free Lemon Poppyseed Bars

BoBo Gluten-Free Chocolate Almond Bars

BoBo Gluten-Free Peach Bars

Ahhhh… there’s nothing like a tall, cold glass of water. But let’s face it… plain water can be just that… plain old boring.

That is why I snagged myself one of these pitchers on Amazon.com that lets you infuse your own real fruit, herbs and veggies – quickly and easily.

The concept is easy & inexpensive. You cut up your own fruit, veggies, herbs… creativeness at it’s best… and add them to the infuser section in the pitcher. Within a few hours (but it can take up to 24 hours for some fruits/veggies) you have crisp, flavored water that is super yummy, super healthy (since you have control over the ingredients you put in) and super cheap to make!

I can’t say enough about this pitcher and have been dreaming-up different flavor-concoctions since I got it. Some of my favorites so far? Apple & Mint; Basil-Cucumber; Lemon-Ginger; Strawberry-Kiwi; Green Tea & Tangerine; and Honeydew-Mint. In face, I like so many mixtures I think I might have to get a second pitchers to have two flavors going at the same time!

The fruit/veggies that I add to the infuser lasts for about 1-week, but I find it helpful to add more water to the pitcher every time I pour myself a glass, to keep the water continually infused and nicely flavored.

It’s not even the summertime yet, but I am already envisioning me and my girlfriends poolside… while they envy me and my super-cool pitcher!

This is also a perfect gift for Mother’s Day, and a great way to get kids to help in the kitchen and drink more water too!

I just checked and it is now (on 03/29/12) on sale on Amazon.com for $19.99 (Regular price is $25) and qualifies for free Super Saver Shipping.

It’s not too often I rave about something other than food on my Friday Favorite column, but this pitcher is must-have for anyone trying to drink more water! So this week I lift my glass of fruit infused water and congratulate Prodyne Fruit Infusion Pitcher for being this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com!
Want to buy on Amazon.com? Check out this link: Prodyne Fruit Infusion 93-Ounce Natural Fruit Flavor Pitcher

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is awarded to Enjoy Life Foods, Not Nuts! …Seeds and Fruit Mix.

These gluten-free portable snacks are also free of the eight (8) common allergens, and contain NO nuts… which are common in most trail mix varieties.

These kid-friendly and allergen-friendly snacks come in two great flavors Beach Bash, a combination of sunflower kernels, pumpkin seeds, dried pineapple, apricots and cranberries and Mountain Mambo, which is my favorite, a combination of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, fruit and chocolate chips (Yes! Chocolate Chips).

These tasty snacks are great for allergen-free classrooms or for those with multiple allergies. All these fabulous reasons are why this week’s Friday Favorite is happily awarded to Enjoy Life Food’s Seeds & Fruit Mix. Congrats!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com and take advantage of FREE Super-Saver Shipping!

Enjoy Life not nuts! Beach Bash Nut Free Trail Mix, Gluten, Dairy & Nut Free, 6-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)

Enjoy Life Foods Not Nuts! Mountain Mambo Trail Mix Gluten Free ( 6×6 OZ)

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe goes to Chimes Ginger Chews. These sweet, but spice chews are the perfect switch for those that like a fresh taste, without a minty flavor.

The Chimes Ginger Chews are gluten-free, individually wrapped, and contain only 3 grams of sugar per piece. The original flavor contains only three ingredients: Cane Sugar, Choice Ginger and Tapioca Starch. Simple goodness.

I love that these ginger chews contain no artificial flavors, and not only come in an Original ginger flavor, but also some other exciting ones such as Peppermint, Peanut Butter, Orange, and my favorite, Mango.

I like to carry a few of these chews in my purse. They are great for an afternoon pick-me-up, and even for soothing a troubled tummy.

All these reasons are why this week’s BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite goes to  Chime’s Ginger Chews. Cheers!

Want to buy this product now? Check out these links on Amazon.com and take advantage of Free Super-Saver Shipping!

To Purchase a single bag: Chimes Original Ginger Chews, 5-Ounce Bag

To Purchase a 5-pound box: Chimes Original Ginger Chews, 5-pound Box, 5-Pound Box

I love ice cream. By the dish, by the cone, or by the stick. But let’s face it… high-calorie ice cream every day isn’t something I really should be enjoying.  

That is why I was so excited when I stumbled across Philly Swirl Sweet Delites Bars as I was pining over the gallons of fat and sugar filled ice cream while shopping last week.

At only 14 calories these gluten-free frozen treat bars made with real fruit were calling out my name.  And yes… these bars say “gluten-free” right on the label. These frozen treat bars are also tree nut / peanut free, egg free, and soy free.

PhillySwirl Sweet Delites are a perfect dessert, when you need a little something sweet, but don’t need the calories that come along with most sweet indulgences.

And for those of you tracking your weight watcher points: These bars are only ¼ points per serving.

Each package has 10 bars that come in 3 flavors – Raspberry & Vanilla, Cherry & Vanilla and Orange & Vanilla. And for those of you that are Dairy-Free, PhillySwirl also makes SwirlPoppers – which are noted as dairy and gluten-free on their website.

Low calories, tasty and free of many allergens are the reasons are why PhillySwirl is awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe! Congrats!

This time of year, you can’t seem to get enough lip balm. The cold weather, wind, and chafing are enough to make your lips pucker into an exclamatory “OWWW!”

That is why I was super excited to find eos (evolution of smooth) lip balm that comes in a cool shaped dome and is available in some very fun flavors (how about Summer Fruit (my fav), Lemon Drop with SPF 15, Strawberry Sorbet, Medicated Tangerine, Sweet Mint and another one of my favorites, Honeysuckle Honeydew?)

This 100% natural and 95% organic lip balm is also gluten-free, contains shea butter and vitamin E and is free of paraban, petrolatum, and phthalate. It’s also long lasting (put it on and it last for hours) and has a screw on top, which means it can’t pop open in my purse (since my wallet and keys don’t need any lip balm, thank you!)

I also like the way it notes “gluten-free” right on the package.

After a few applications my lips were smiling from ear to ear – which is the biggest, simple and most perfect reason in the world that this Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe is awarded to eos lip balm.

Want to buy this lip balm? Check out these links on Amazon.com:

eos Limited Edition Twin Pack with Strawberry Sorbet and Passion Fruit Spheres

EOS Lip Balm Summer Fruit Smooth Sphere (Pack of eight)

EOS Tangerine Medicated Lip Balm Sphere, .25-Ounce (Pack of 3)

I love chocolate. But unfortunately chocolate is one of those things on my “only eat once in a while” list, especially when I am watching what I eat.

That is why I was so excited when NuGo came out with their Slim Bars. These bars that are made with real dark chocolate, have almost no sugar and contain no Maltitol or artificial sweeteners. Diabetic friendly, gluten-free and only 2-grams of sugar (which comes from the real dark chocolate) these bars are delicious and perfect for celiacs and diabetics.

NuGo Slim Bars, which are this week’s Friday Favorite pick on BeFreeForMe.com, are each packed with 15 grams of protein and 9-10 grams of fiber – so they are a perfect mid-day snack. They come in three great flavors – Brownie Crunch (my favorite), Raspberry Truffle and Roasted Peanut.

With NuGo Slim Bars I can have my chocolate… and enjoy every single delicious bite…. Guilt free!

Congrats!

Want to buy NuGo Slim Bars today? Check out this link on Amazon.com and take advantage of the SuperSaver Free Shipping: NuGO Slim Brownie Crunch, 1.59-Ounce (Pack of 12)

Thank you Bolthouse Farms for making my resolution of eating a salad, every day, for lunch so much easier… and also for tossing in tastiness too.

Because of Bolthouse Farms, I love lunch. I look forward to my salads.

And if you haven’t seen Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressings before you are probably looking in the wrong place. These dressings are found in the produce department. Yup – right above the lettuce, fresh veggies and other salad fixin’s.

All are delicious. All are gluten-free.

The Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressings are all between 35 and 45 calories per serving, so they are perfect for pouring, dipping and dressing. They come in a few varieties too: Chunky Blue Cheese, Classic Ranch, Zesty French, Thousand Island, Caesar Parmigiano, Honey Mustard and Salsa Ranch.

So on behalf of my salad, this week’s BeFreeforMe’s Friday favorite goes to Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressings. Congrats!

Sometimes days are too busy. So often my morning promise to prepare a recently found recipe for dinner goes by the wayside after car pooling, heavy traffic or work hours that extend oh-so-close to the dinner-hour.

This is when Caesar’s Stuffed Shells with Cheese in Marinara Sauce fits the bill.

This frozen meal, goes from freezer to plate in moments, and offers a generous sized portion, that can be shared along side a fresh garden salad.

Made with fresh, high quality and natural ingredients these stuffed shells are made from rice flour and stuffed with seasoned ricotta, and topped with a flavorful marinara sauce.

Convenience, great taste and busy days are all the reasons this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe goes to Caesar’s Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells with Cheese in Marinara Sauce. Congratulations and mangia!

Want to buy? Check out these links on Amazon.com (Note: One of the links is for the Caesar’s Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells with Cheese in Marinara Sauce,
and the other is for just the gluten-free stuffed shells…. you add your own sauce!)

Caesar’s Pasta Gluten Free Stuffed Shells with Marinara Sauce Entrée

Conte’s Gluten Free Stuffed Shells, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3)