Be Free For Me Blog

Everyone needs Vitamin D3 for healthy bones, good moods, and immune system functions, but many of us (including me!) have a deficiency when it comes to this much needed vitamin.

I was surprised when my doctor told me I had to start taking a Vitamin D3 each and every day. But after chatting with him I found out that wearing my sunblock religiously, being indoors for most of the day, and these cold, dark drab New England never-ending winters play a huge factor in my Vitamin D3 deficiency.

This is when I discovered Nordic Naturals Vitamin D3 Gummies. These gummies give me 1000 I.U. of the vitamin (the recommended daily amount), along with a great wild berry taste. These vitamins also contain no artificial coloring, flavoring, or preservatives and are pectin based and gelatin free. They are also manufactured in a facility certified to be free of allergens derived from milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts and soy. They are also gluten-free (in fact, all of the Nordic Natural vitamins are gluten-free!)

Plus these vitamins are so easy to remember to taste since they taste so good! It’s funny how they have actually become my mid-afternoon treat! =)

Nordic Naturals Vitamin D3 Gummies are this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com because they are good tasting, mood boosting, and help keep my bones and immune system strong! Cheers and congratulations Nordic Naturals!

Want to buy Nordic Naturals Vitamin D3 Gummies now? Check out this link on Amazon.com and take advantage of FREE SHIPPING on orders over $35.00!

If you’re a lover of the half popped kernels of popcorn at the bottom of a bucket of popcorn, fret no more – you can now enjoy these little curious and crunchy nuggets of joy… handfuls at a time.

HalfPops are fun little crunchy popcorn snacks that are full of flavor. Being the traditional gal that I am I love the  Butter and Pure Ocean Sea Salt flavor, but the cheesy-ness in me loves the Aged White Cheddar variety too.

HalfPops are also gluten-free, nut-free, and contain no corn syrup, Trans fat, artificial flavors, hydrogenated oils or preservatives. So they are good for you and full of fiber, as well.

All of these curiously & crunchy reasons are why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to HalfPops! Congratulations!

If you’re looking for a good old fashioned cookie you have to check out Pamela’s Product’s Figgies and Jammies.

Fashioned after the old standby cookie – the Fig Newton – this gluten-free version will knock your socks off. But with one difference… this cookie is far, far better. I love that the “cookie” portion of the Figgies & Jammies is soft, chewy and sweet. One bite and you’ll know what I am talking about!

I also am loving the size of this cookie. An extra-large version of a traditional fig cookie, you’ll need only one to satisfy that sweet tooth.

Figgies & Jammies (I just love the name… so cute!) come in four flavors: The traditional Mission Fig, Blueberry & Fig, Strawberry & Fig, and my favorite, Raspberry & Fig.

Super-sized cookie goodness, which brings you back to days long ago, are the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Pamela’s Figgies & Jammies. Congratulations!

Want to try a new spin on chips? Try Eatrageous baked chip! This all-natural, extra crunchy gluten-free snack is like no other.

How do I love these chips? Let me count the ways.

I love the shape of Eatrageous chips… which is a penne pasta like shape. It’s tube shaped, fun, quirky and packed with a big crunch which is perfect for snacking and dipping.

I also love that that these chips are baked, all-natural, non-GMO, vegan, and of course, gluten-free.

And the flavors! I really do have a hard time choosing my favorite since they are all so original and full of flavor: Wasabi Ranch, Crunchy Mac & Cheese, Sweet & Smokey BBQ , and the all-time favorite Original Sea Salt.

And the best part? These chips are only 100 CALORIES PER SERVING!

All these reasons are why I am so thrilled that this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Eatrageous chips. Crunch away…. And Congratulations!

I love peanut butter. But I don’t like all the fat and calories that come along with this super spread.

That is why I was so very, very excited to find PB2.

PB2 come in two flavors: the traditional peanut butter and, my favorite, peanut butter blended with premium chocolate (can you say yum?!) Both are gluten-free.

The product is made by slow roasting superior quality peanuts and then pressing them to remove 85% of the fat and oil… which produces a fine “peanut powder”. Next they add in a bit of sugar and salt (No preservatives or artificial sweeteners).

And… magically… when you blend PB2 with water (mix 2 tablespoons of PB2 with 1 tablespoon of water) it makes a super delicious, tasty and creamy peanut butter that is only 45 calories per serving with only 1 gram of fat!  This product is perfect for those on Weight Watchers or those concerned with calories.

And if the chocolate variety is your fancy, added into the peanuts are ground cocoa beans … which produces a chocolaty peanut butter deliciousness!!

I love to whip-up a batch to dip sliced apples and pears into… or put a tablespoon or two of the powder into my smoothies, or atop my ice cream. The possibilities are limitless!

85% less calories and fat… superior taste… and endless possibilities are all the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to PB2. Congratulations!

Want to buy now? Check out this link of Amazon.com! PB2 Premium Bundle: Powdered Peanut Butter + Powdered Chocolate Peanut Butter

With the Lenten season beginning next week (I know… Can you believe Easter will be here before we know it?) this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Bumble Bee SuperFresh Fresh Frozen seafood items.

These all-natural and gluten-free seafood items can be found in your grocer’s premium frozen seafood section or in the frozen food aisle. The fillets and shrimp comes all cleaned and cut, and it is fresh-frozen within hours.

They are delicious too! Here are the varieties: Salmon with Basil Pesto, Salmon with Garlicky Black Pepper & Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Tilapia with Garlic & Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Tilapia with Lemon Pepper & Herbs, Lemon Shrimp with Garlic & Herbs and Spicy Shrimp Romesco.

I love that this fresh frozen seafood is so convenient, and has some super tasty varieties.  Plus, it can go from freezer to table in 20 minutes or less! Check out their menu ideas too!

Congratulations to Bumble Bee SuperFresh for being this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com!

Looking for a quick gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free snack? Need a quick mid-morning pick-me-up that is vegan and high in Omega-3’s? If the answer is yes… you need to check out Chia Bars from Health Warrier.

These bars are small, about 2.5” x 2”, but don’t let the size fool you. Chia, you see, is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. So these little bars really pack a punch when it comes to nutrition and making you feel full and satisfied.

I love that these Health Warrior Chia Bars are also only 100 calories each, 100% natural and contain 1000 milligrams of Omeaga-3’s. They are also Certified Gluten-Free. The bars come in several  flavors too… Acai Berry, Coconut, Banana Nut, Coffee, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and my favorite, Apple Cinnamon.

Another bonus… Health Warrior also sells their own chia seeds so you can make your own chia-licious recipes. Some of my favorite recipes you need to try include this Chia Banana Breakfast Bowl and these Health Warrior Banana Nut Muffins.

For being a tasty and feel-good- about-yourself snack option is why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Health Warrior Chia Bars. Congratulations!

Note: Want to buy Health Warrior Chia Bars? Check out their link on where to buy on their website.

Making authentic Chinese dishes gluten-free use to be hard for me. Why? It seemed that there was always an ingredient that I couldn’t use in a dish since it wasn’t gluten-free. That’s why I was thrilled to find Joyce Chen’s Gluten Free Hoisin Sauce.

Hoisin Sauce is usually used in Chinese cooking as a glaze or a sauce to add a kick of flavor. This thick, powerful sauce is both sweet and salty. I love the way it adds a boost of flavor when added to homemade Chinese dishes.

Some of the recipes that I enjoy using this gluten-free hoisin sauce in include my Nutty Sesame Chicken Nuggets and my Cashew Chicken.

Joyce Chen gets this week’s Friday Favorite honors for making authentic Chinese cooking at home a snap! Congratulations!

The weather is chilly and it’s a perfect time of year to pop a casserole in the oven and enjoy a piping hot meal at the end of the day.

But many casserole recipes call for a condensed creamed soups… that in the past have been full of gluten and off-limits to those on a gluten-free diet.

But now, those on a gluten-free diet can make casseroles galore… thanks to Pacific Foods and their condensed Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken Soups.

And along with these creamy soups, Pacific Foods makes tons of other products that are gluten-free including gravies, broths, cranberry sauces; and almond, rice and hemp milks.

Need some casserole recipe inspiration? Check out these gluten-free creations: Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole or this King Ranch Casserole (Note: Just be sure that you double check labels and make sure all the ingredients you use in these recipes are gluten-free!)

The reason why Pacific Foods is being selected as this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is for finally making a product that those a gluten-free diet have been missing! Congratulations and thanks to Pacific Foods for thinking of us gluten-free folks and bringing casseroles back into our lives!

O.K…. I’m back on my popcorn kick! And once again, I am loving some crazy popcorn flavors that have your taste buds singing while crunching and munching one of my favorite all-time snacks.

A gluten-fre snack sensation, Rocky Mountain Jalapeno with White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn, has my heart and, as a result,  is also being recognized as this week’s Friday Favorite.

This all-natural gluten-free popcorn is also nut-free, non-GMO and a whole grain snack – so basically you can feel good snacking on these little gems!

Rocky Mountain Popcorn also comes in other delicious flavors such as Cinnamon Sugar, Southwest Cheddar, Caramel, Kettle Corn, White Cheddar, Naked and Butter… and of course, my all-time favorite, the Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese.

For being a whole grain snack that pops with flavor, this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is awarded to Rocky Mountain Popcorn. Congratulations!