Be Free For Me Blog

On a cool winter day I love a sweet cup of hot tea in the afternoon. And my favorite sweetener for my tea? Honey, of course!

But carrying around a container of honey to add to my tea while on the run can become one big sticky mess. That is why I was so very excited to find Melville Candy Honey Spoons to make sweetening my tea quick, easy and as sweet as can be. All I need to do is dunk the honey spoon into my hot tea, stir it up a bit and wait about one minute to enjoy my perfectly sweetened tea.

For this week’s Win-It-Wednesday I picked up two packages of the Melville Candy Honey Spoons for the two lucky winners of this contest! Each package contains five (5) Melville Candy Honey Spoons made with real honey on wooden ball sticks. The Honey Spoons are all natural and gluten-free.

One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win a bag from the entries received before Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win a bag from the entries received between Wednesday, March 1, 2017 and Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us something sweet in your life! (Me? All my friends and family!)

Good luck, be a sweetie, and, as always …

Be Free!

I love a good cup of piping hot tea on a cold winter day. There’s something medicinal about brewing the water, letting the tea bags seep and sitting back in my favorite easy chair to enjoy the aromas and tastes of the tea.

It’s a ritual to be savored and enjoyed.

That’s why I was more than thrilled to find Lifestyle Awareness Tea. Their specialty blends of teas are just perfect for those times you need to relax, or get a pick me up, or become more focused, relaxed or centered.  The Lifestyle Awareness Teas are Organic, Vegan, Kosher and Gluten-Free. They are also fair trade.

Some of the blends that Lifestyle Awareness offers are: Stress Balance (with calming rose petals), Chamomile (to ease tension and support digestion), Peppermint (to support healthy digestion) and Wake Up Now (to promote clarity and focus), plus many, many more varieties!

A total of two (2) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a package of the Stress Balance Tea and a package of the Chamomile Tea… two (2) packages for each winner!  One winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 16, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 17 and Tuesday, February 23, 2017 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and tell us what variety of the Lifestyle Awareness Tea look the best to you! (Is it the Refresh Now? The Serene Slumber? Or maybe the Organic Ginger Root? Check out all of the varieties here.)

Good luck, take time to sit and sip tea… and as always…

Be Free!

Gotta love a bar with a good crunch! And top that crunch off with a burst of fruit and you have yourself a 180 Degree Nut & Seed Crunch Bar.

I love that these gluten-free bars are full of nuts, seeds and fruit. They have a crunch that is surprisingly tasty and perfect for New Year Resolution’s healthy snack time treats.

These bars come in two varieties including, Cranberry Nut & Seed, and my favorite, Blueberry Nut & Seed Bars. 180 Degrees also makes other products including Clusters, Nutty Rice Bites and a Trail Mix Crunch.

180 Degree Snacks are 100% All-Natural, Gluten-Free, Cholesterol-Free, Kosher, Wheat-Free, 100% Vegan, Peanut-Free, and Dairy-Free. They are perfectly healthy, delicious, crispy and crunchy gluten-free bar!

A total of two (2) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a package of 180 Degrees Nut & Seed Crunch Bars.  One winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, January 4 and Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and tell us what flavor of the 180 Snacks Nut & Seed Crunch Bars look the best to you! (Is it the Blueberry? Or the Cranberry?)

Good luck, Have a great New Year… and as always,
Be Free!

This Win-It-Wednesday is so sweet! If you think that jelly beans are just for Easter time… think again! I found the best HOLIDAY jelly bean variety pack from Jelly Belly!

This Holiday favorite pack includes flavors such as Egg Nog, Candy Cane, Pumpkin Pie, Cranberry Sauce and Hot Chocolate! These are five inspired holiday flavors that have been retired but have been brought back for this Holiday Pack!

Plus these little gems of holiday sweetness are gluten, peanut and dairy free! But beware they are additive!

A total of two (2) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a pack of the Jelly Belly Holiday Favorites.  One winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, December 20, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, December 21 and Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and tell us what flavor of the Holiday Jelly Beans look the best to you! (Is it the traditional Candy Cane?? Or maybe the Hot Chocolate? Me?… I am digging the Egg Nog and Pumpkin Pie!)

Good luck, Have a Sweet Holiday… and as always,
Be Free!

Let’s face it … everyone loves pretzels! They’re fun for snacking, soup toppings, appetizers and even for desserts (Yes… Desserts! More on that later!)

And if you haven’t tried Gratify Foods Gluten-Free product line, you must!

They make tons of gluten-free items, including Pretzels, Pretzel Crackers, Pretzel Thins, Baked Crackers, Covered Pretzels (YAY to chocolate and yogurt covered pretzels!) and even some super-fun DESSERT holiday pretzels (YUM to White Chocolate & Peppermint Covered Pretzels or Dark Chocolate & Peppermint Covered Pretzels).

All of their items are certified gluten-free, and many are also egg-free, dairy-free and Non-GMO (Check out their website for more details).

A total of two (2) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a pack of the Gratify Gluten-Free Sea Salt Pretzel Thins.  One winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and tell us your favorite type of Gratify snack! (Is it the traditional Sea Salt Pretzels? Or maybe the Milk Chocolate Covered Twists? Or maybe the Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate Twists?)

Good luck, get snacking… and as always,
Be Free!

This week’s Win-It-Wednesday is sponsored by my new favorite salad dressings… Rhode Island Organics. Just one try of these super healthy and phenomenally tasty dressings, and you’ll see why they have quickly become my go-to for my dressings, marinades and dips.

How do I love Rhode Island Organic Dressings? Let me count the ways…

First, and most important, these dressings are made with only the highest-quality ingredients. The oil the use in the dressing is Olive Oil. No cheap filler-oils like canola, corn or soybean are used. Using quality ingredients delivers a superior taste! For an added bonus, they include the omega-3 fatty acids that are recommended for your heart and brain health.

The Rhode Island Organic dressings (with the exception of the Ginger Plum) are certified Gluten-Free. The dressing are also Certified Organic (with the exception of the Honey Mustard), and they are all non-GMO. And if you’re worried about added sugar or sweeteners, you need to check out the Caesar and Balsamic Vinaigrette dressings… Both have no sugar or any other sweetener added!

The variety of the gluten-free dressings is awesome too. The gluten-free flavors include Honey Mustard (I love this drizzled over wood planked grilled salmon), Balsamic Vinaigrette (great tossed over fresh salad greens), Raspberry Vinaigrette (Love this over a fresh strawberry salad) and Caesar (a refreshing & organic twist on a classic). The ways to use these dressings are endless!

You need to check out the Rhode Island organics website too. They have some great recipes like the Fall Fresh Green Salad with Dried Cranberries or the Shrimp Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing.

And how does the Rhode Island Organics dressings compare to your dressing? Check out this comparison chart below that I found on the Rhode Islands’ Organics Facebook page.

There are so many ways that Rhode Island Organics are far better than all other dressings. And as we New Englanders would say, “You’re wicked smaht if you try (and buy!) these dressings!”

And if your feeling lucky… A total of two (2) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a two-pack of Rhode Island Organics Dressings.  One winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know the two flavors of Rhode Island Organics Dressings you would select if chosen to win or how you would enjoy the dressings (Me? I love the Caesar and the Raspberry Vinaigrette. And I love the Raspberry Vinaigrette with fresh seasonal berries.)

Good luck, stay wicked smaht… and as always…
Be Free!

Follow Rhode Island Organics Dressings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandsOmega3Dressings/

Want to buy Rhode Island Organics Dressings? Take advantage of free Shipping (to the continental US) with an order of $25.00 more on their website.

This week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com is one of my favorite gluten-free cookie companies that is founded by one smart cookie herself, Dr. Lucy Gibney.

Lucy’s is founded by a doctor that got down to some serious medical research – in the kitchen – because her child had severe food allergies.  What began as a mother’s tasty recipe for her child has developed into a delicious alternative for people with (or even without!) special dietary considerations. Not only are Lucy’s Cookies gluten-free, they are also free of peanuts, tree nuts, milk and eggs. They are also vegan.

And even though Lucy’s Cookies are free of gluten and other common allergens, they aren’t missing out on flavor and tastiness. They are full of crunchy, airy cookie goodness, that makes them perfect for old-school milk dipping or classic ice cream sandwiches.

My most recent craveable dessert is sandwiching one of my favorite ice cream flavors, Black Raspberry, between two of Lucy’s Ginger Snap cookies. The spiciness of the cookies and the berry-creaminess of the ice cream is a match made in gluten-free heaven.

And with only 120 calorie for three (YES 3!) cookies, 0 mg cholesterol, and 0 g tans fat – my most recent favorite dessert is even sweeter!

The flavors of Lucy’s cookies goes beyond the ordinary too. As well as toting a bake sheet of traditional favorites, Lucy’s also offers some tantalizing flavors for the adult palate. Some include Ginger Snap, Maple Bliss, and Chocolate – as well as Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Thin and Sugar.

A total of two(2) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a two-pack of  Lucy’s Cookies.  One winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, October 26 and Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and share a tip, suggestion, hint, or recipe idea about being gluten-free and / or allergen free that makes you a smart-cookie (Me? Using my smartphone at the supermarket to take photos of (and to remember!) new gluten-free products I discover to research reviews online AND always making double of recipes to have extra for lunches!)

Good luck, remember always to be that one smart-cookie you just know you are… and as always,
Be Free!

Follow Lucy’s Cookies on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrLucys

Follow Lucy’s Cookies on Twitter @lucys_tweets

Want to buy Lucy’s Cookies? Check out this link on Amazon.com and take advantage of free SuperSaver Shipping:
Lucy’s Lemon Cookies

Halloween is almost here! And every time of year around this time I start thinking about my favorite candy. Ever since I was a little girl my favorite candy has been red licorice. But after getting diagnosed with celiac disease I had to forgo my favorite candy since most brands are laced with gluten. That’s why I was super thrilled to finally, finally, finally find gluten-free licorice!

If you love licorice as much as I do, you need to try Yum Earth Soft Eating Licorice. Besides the chewy texture and the real fruit juicy burst of strawberries, there is so much more to love about the Yum Earth brand of licorice.

For starters… it’s Certified Gluten-Free. On top of that it is vegan, non-GMO, peanut free, contains real fruit juice, is naturally flavored and has no synthetic dyes. Plus… it is soy free, egg free, dairy free and contains no high fructose corn syrup. Wheww! That’s a lot of “free of” stuff! (Note: it is also made in a dairy & peanut free facility.)

Yum Earth is the #1 brand that Mom’s & Dad’s trust when it comes to finding a candy that is free of most allergens. Check out what others are saying about the Yum Earth on their website.

And lucky for all of you there will be two winners of this Win-It-Wednesday. Each of the two winners will receive a bag of the Strawberry soft chewy licorice. What a yummy prize!

One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received before Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, October 12 and Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

How can you win? Easy! Reply to this blog and tell us what yummy flavor of the Yum Earth Licorice looks the best to you. Is it the Pomegranate? Peach? Or my favorite, the traditional Strawberry?

Good luck, Keep things yummy, and, as always …

Be Free!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com:

Strawberry Licorice

Mixed Variety Pack

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 I picked up a couple of containers for this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com. There will be two lucky winners. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, September 14 and Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us how you enjoy peanut butter (Me? As mentioned above, I love dipping apple and pear slices in mine!).

Remember it’s okay to be a little crazy and little peanuts… and as always, Be Free!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com: PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter

Summer is coming to a close and school days are right on our doorstep. It will be the time of busy mornings and making lunches before we know it!

And in every good lunch box should be a good snack. One of my go-to snacks are Glutino Pretzel Sticks. From the beginning Glutino has been one of my all-time favorite gluten-free brands!

Glutino Pretzels are always in my shopping basket. I love them! Not only are the Glutino products delicious, they are also a brand that I can count on. All the Glutino products are gluten-free and the most can be found in traditional grocery stores – which means less time running around to specialty or natural food stores! Glutino makes my life so much easier!

Besides the pretzels, Glutino also makes tons of other gluten-free products. The variety of products that Glutino offers is exceptional. They seem to make it all, from cookies, breads, bagels, pancake mixes, muffin mixes, frozen pizzas and convenient pasta dishes.

Glutino products can also be used as ingredients in favorite gluten-free recipes too. I use Glutino pretzels in my favorite Congo Bar recipe (check it out here!)

For this Win-It-Wednesday prize I picked up a couple extra bags of the “Sharing Sized” (that would be the jumbo 14.1 ounce bag) Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks for the prizes for this week’s Win-It-Wednesday.  There will be two lucky winners. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us your favorite snack… how easy is that!

Keep snacking, Be cool for school… and as always, Be Free!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com: Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks (Pack of 3)