Be Free For Me Blog

If you’re looking for a quick breakfast on-the-run check out Silk’s new Fruit & Protein drinks.

A juicy-creamy-fruity blend of goodness, these juice & soy based drinks are a great source of calcium and Vitamin D, contain a full day’s supply of Vitamin C and 5 grams of protein.

They are also certified non-GMO, are dairy-free, lactose-free, casein-free, gluten-free, egg-free, and free of MSG.

They come in three flavors: Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana and Mango Peach. My favorite is the Strawberry Banana and I like to blend it up for a smoothie and frothy breakfast drink. And for an added fruit bonus, I toss in a handful of sliced bananas and strawberries.

This week’s Friday Favorite goes to Silk Fruit & Protein Healthy Juice Blends because they make never having to miss breakfast again easy! Just grab yourself a glass… and you’re good to go! Congratulations!

This week’s Friday Favorite is for all of you that have a sweet tooth. It was love at first bite after trying my first Almond Roca. The kind of love that you want to tell the world about.

Almond Roca’s are bite sized crunchy chocolates that are to die for. So many toffees and crunchier chocolates are packed with gluten, but Almond Roca is gluten-free. So all of you gluten-free toffee lovers can rejoice!

My favorite flavor is the Almond Roca Buttercrunch Toffee, but other flavors of the  Buttercrunch Toffee include Cashew Roca, Mocha Roca and Candy Cane Roca.

All these sweet reasons are why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Brown & Haley’s Almond Roca Buttercrunch Toffees! Cheers!

Want to buy? Check out this link on Amazon.com and take advantage of FREE Shipping!

This week’s Friday Favorite is an all-natural bar that is made with fruits & nuts: Glenny’s Classic Fruit & Nut Bar. Made with only non-GMO, gluten free and dairy free ingredients this bar is packed with fiber & protein.

The ingredients are simple: Raisins, peanuts, honey, apricots, brown rice syrup, crisp brown rice, walnuts, dates, Brazil nuts and sunflower oil. That’s it. Nothing artificial.

I love that these bars are low-sodium and also contain no corn syrup. They are perfect for breakfast & snacking, and are just the right size for slipping into a backpack or purse. Other flavors include Cherry & Almond, Cranberry & Almond and for the real nut lovers, Cashew & Almonds.

Packed with nuts and fruits, and good for you ingredients are why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is awarded to Glenny’s Whole Fruit & Nut Bars. Congratulations, Glenny’s!

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

Glenny’s Whole Fruit & Nut Bars

I love unexpected surprises. Serendipity at its best.

And that is exactly what I got when I opened one of my Go Picnic Meals this week. What I found was a sweet, savory, crunchy, chewy, sassy and fun snack… Sweet Perry’s Fruit & Nut Mix.

The flavor that I tried that absolutely knocked my socks off was the Baja Blend. The habanera almonds, sweet & salty peanuts, and the mangos and cranberries packed an unexpected punch of flavor that had me begging for more.

All these tasty reasons are why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Sweet Perry Sweet & Nut Mix! Congratulations!

This week’s Friday Favorite is a product that I currently tried and absolutely love! Nasoya Pasta Zero Shirataki Noodles are a perfect way to enjoy any dish that calls for pasta without all the calories, carbs and fat.

Pasta Zero Noodles from Nasoya Foods are traditional Japanese noodles that are made from the Konjac plant root – which saves you about 200 calories per serving. They are almost tasteless, which allows them to “take on” any ingredients you mix them up with. I love mine with basil pesto tossed with steamed vegetables, or with traditional sauce and meatballs. They come in spaghetti & fettuccini varieties.

They are all-natural, vegan, dairy free and gluten free and they are fortified with iron. The great part about these noodles are that they really fill you up since Glucomannan, which is found in the Konjac plant root, is a water-soluble dietary fiber that helps you feel full.

Found in my Produce Department’s refrigerated section of my local grocer, the key to enjoying any Shirataki noodle is to make sure that you rinse and drain them a few times. Why? When you first open the package the smell of the Konjak plant root can take you by surprise (yes… it is an odd almost woodsy smell!) BUT it is perfectly normal and will go away one you rinse them a few times. =) For other tips on how to use Shirataki Noodles, check out this link on the Nasoya website.

No calories, gluten-free, no fat, so versatile and easy to prepare are the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is awarded to Nasoya’s Pasta Zero! Congratulations!

This week’s Friday Favorite is one of my quick & easy go-to dinners that is perfect when I don’t feel like “cooking” and I’m looking for a quick-fix meal that is both healthy… and tasty.

Harvestland Chicken Burgers are gluten-free and are made from chicken raised with no antibiotics and are fed an all-vegetarian diet.

These chicken burgers are minimally processed and combine all-natural chicken with other natural ingredients to make a delicious burger. They come in three delicious flavors: Cheddar Cheese w/ Jalapenos; Uncured Bacon & Cheddar; and my favorite, Florentine.

The best part is that these burgers are already fully-cooked, so all you need to do is heat-and-serve. I like to fire up the grill and heat mine up for a few minutes on each side. My favorite way to enjoy one is on toasted gluten-free bread that is piled high with avocado and arugula. Delicious!

All-natural good taste and convenience is why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Harvestland Chicken Burgers! Congratulations!

Sometimes a little fizziness is just what a girl needs. A little bit of fizz in your drink to add some sparkle to your day.

That is why I fell in love with the newest addition of the Honest Tea family – Honest Fizz… a zero calorie, naturally sweetened soda that has no caffeine and is sweetened with stevia. It’s no wonder it is described as “so-da-licious” on their website!

The flavors are great for adults and kids too: Old-time Root Beer, citrusy Lemon Limey, a cherry Professor Fizz and the classic Orange Pop.

Good taste, no sugar, free of calories & caffeine… and full of sparkle…  are why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Honest Fizz! Congrats on being so dazzling!

This week’s Friday Favorite is a repeat of a past Friday Favorite honoree. Why? Because it is truly one of my all-time favorite products that I really, really can’t live without! My fruit infusion pitcher.

When there is a heat wave and the temperature is pushing the 100 degree mark, 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 its 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 fact, I like so many mixtures I think I might have to get a second pitcher 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.

I just checked and it is now 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 Niagara Natural’s Simply Fruit Real Fruit Bites… the perfect grab-and-go snack that is made from 100% real fruit.

I love that these snacks have no corn syrup or sugars, are non-GMO and contain no artificial colors flavors or preservatives. They also have no trans fat or cholesterol.

These nut-free, gluten-free and vegetarian real fruit snacks are perfect for the beach, camp, or snack times.

Congrats to Niagara Natural’s Simply Fruit for being a guilt-free and tasty snack… and also for being awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com!

Today has been a long day. A crazy, hectic, irrational, nutty, chaotic, wacky day. One of those days that your brain just stops working… but unfortunately your stomach does not.

This is when eating gluten-free can become yet another task that I just don’t want to think about. Don’t get me wrong. I love my food, and I love to cook it. But sometimes I need something quick, easy and fast to eat. You know… no cooking or thinking required.  

That is why I was so thrilled to find Evol Food’s new gluten-free burritos.  Just pop these gluten-free and dairy-free burritos in the microwave for 2 minutes – and they are done. Pair one up with a handful of salad greens topped with chopped olives & salsa, and you have a meal. Just like that.

I’ve been a fan of Evol Food’s entrees (My favorite is the Fire Grilled Steak for a long time (read about that love-story here), and with the addition of the gluten-free burritos, they have created gluten-free goodness again. The gluten-free burritos come in three flavors – Shredded Beef, Chicken, and Chicken & Guacamole. All natural, packed with 10-11 grams of fiber and certified gluten-free – these burritos rock.

Quick, convenient, and tasty… this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is awarded to Evol Food’s Gluten-Free Burritos. Cheers & congratulations!