Back to School 2017, College Bound, Food, Gift Guides, Parenting

3 College Care Package Ideas For Your Student

I am a Premier Protein Ambassador and all feature ideas are my own

 

 
Do you have a child or children in college? If you do you know that bittersweet drop off moment where they are ready to run and you can’t let them go. Trust me! They won’t go far. They want food, laundry done, conversations on how to cook rice and many other needs that they will always still need your care. To make them feel even more comforted (and to comfort ourselves) we can send care packages. But what should you send? Let’s get creative based on my own experiences with some suggestions I will give you.

 

Premier Protein

 
The first 2 weeks were a lot of back and forth by phone making sure he is settling into classes and dorm life. At one point I get a call from him asking for some grocery money in his account. He wanted some cans of soup and protein bars. He said that because his first am class is on the other side of campus and he walks he needs breakfast that he can take and walk with.

 
He wanted protein bars and in our home we buy Premier Protein so I hopped online and ordered him some to be shipped. Premier Protein bars have no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners and are gluten free. Other brands out there may contain artificial ingredients and synthetic nutrients so we really do our homework and choose wisely.

 

 
On our son’s first few days in his dorm room we noticed a small issue. The outlets are never placed in the right spots. This means that by the time they plug in laptops, lights, a mini fridge, alarm clocks that leaves little left for all the chargers as well. Another thing I learned is how much their cell phones do get used. If they have a full day of classes all over campus and need to try and hit the cafe a few times that cell phone battery is done. We love using the MyCharge HubXtra. What is unique about this is that you don’t also have to remember to grab your charging cord like most power banks require. The charging cords are built in and contain a lightning and micro chargers. I carry one myself for travel. This will get used!

 

 
One of my favorite options are gift baskets and GourmetGiftBaskets has many care packages to choose from. Some are candy filled, some healthier. This is the Health Nut Care Package above. What is great is that you can choose a basket, enter there shipping address and attach a message that is typed in a card. It is a lot of fun when that gift box arrives and they know it is a collection of foods or beverages before they even open it.

 
You will be sending packages and they will be requesting (food) mostly so send them the goodies they will proudly pick up when the hall desk sends them that message that they have a package waiting. I assure you these ideas will go over real well.

 
Let’s get you started! I am giving away Premier Protein samples. If you win you can send your child’s dorm address and Premier Protein will send it their way. Or you can use your own address and try them for yourself. Enter below. Open to US and ends on 9/5. Good luck!

 
Premier Protein Giveaway

Food, Natural Foods, Recipes

Four Ingredient Protein Cookies with Premier Protein #TheDayIsYours

I am a Premier Protein Ambassador and have partnered for this sponsored feature. Recipe is my own

 

Four Ingredient Protein Cookies with Premier Protein #TheDayIsYours

I am writing this on August 1st and this was the date I gave myself to start back into a new regimen. The past month I have been to Las Vegas, NYC and moved to a new town into a new built home and am all unpacked. Now I wipe that sweat off my forehead and get back into healthy habits. While waiting for the home build to complete we lived in a hotel for 3 weeks. I had to learn to cook with simple ingredients because of the small space and lack of food I brought to eat off of until we can move into the house. These were a favorite and so easy to make. Just 4 ingredients and we had cookies with very low sugar and packed with protein.

I had found similar recipes online and just gathered a few, added the ingredients I liked and this was the result. It is so easy and often can whip these up quicker than a batch of french toast in the mornings. Then we can grab and eat them out the door or pack the in our lunches.

Four Ingredient Protein Cookies

  • 2 Ripe Bananas
  • 1.5 Cups Oats (I like to use organic oats)
  • 1/2 Scoop of Premier Vanilla Milkshake Powder
  • 1/3 Cup chocolate morsels ( or any addition that fits for you-raisins, nuts, etc)

Mix all together and spoon into 2″ drops onto a greased cookie sheet. bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Why do I recommend Premier Protein Powder? You get 30 grams of protein per scoop and only 3 grams of sugar. There are no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners and it is gluten free. Make sure the protein products you consume offer the best ingredients like Premier Protein. Other brands out there may contain artificial ingredients and synthetic nutrients so you really want to do your homework and choose wisely.

Back to School 2017, Food, Giveaways, Natural Foods

Busy Moms Meal – StarKist Tuna & Salmon Creations #Giveaway

Thank you StarKist for partnering for this feature and sending product

It will be here before we know it! Back to school 2017 will be just as busy and hectic to a new adjustment as the previous years. It is a bittersweet time of year. We enjoyed family time over the summer but long for them to be in school a few hours a day again where they are learning and growing with their peers.

In my home back to school also comes at soccer season. From days of running around the neighborhood until sun down late at night to school, practice and shorter days is an adjustment. Some nights we have very little time between school and practice so we need easy and quick meals. Although we still have warm weather in September we are not quick to go to hot soups and subs quite yet. We still want cold sandwiches and salads. Tuna is a great protein choice for those busy bodies.

StarKist Tuna and Salmon Creation pouches make dinner so easy. These are even flavored in some of the varieties so you don’t even have to open that spice cupboard. Just mix with your favorite sauce like mayo, mustard or I like to add a bit of dill pickle juice from the jar as well as some chopped pickle for a crunch. If I don’t have pickles I will use cashews because to me, a cold tuna sandwich is so much better with that crunch. Add fresh romaine lettuce and some fruit on the side and dinner is done.

[bctt tweet=”It’s an @starkistcharlie #giveaway. Enter to win some Tuna & salmon Creations pouches. Ends 7/24″ username=”3sonshavei”]

Want to try these for yourself? Look for them at most grocers or you can enter to try and win some. 1 lucky winner will be shipped a variety of StarKist Tuna and salmon Creations pouches. Ends 7/24 and open to US only. Enter below and good luck!

Back to School 2017, Brands with a Cause, Food, Healthy Living, Kids, Natural Foods, Parenting, Reviews by Anthony

Zap Cavity Monsters with Zollipops the Clean Teeth Pops

Thank you to Zollipops for partnering with us on the feature. Opinions and story if my own

Zap Cavity Monsters with Zollipops the Clean Teeth Pops

Now that you are done with dessert…have a lollipop! Because of a brilliant little girl who had a concept at age 7 to create a lollipop that is good for your teeth you can have some candy after dessert. And you should! Xylitol, Erythritol, Stevia-a triple threat to those nasty cavity monsters have come together in the form of lollipops, taffy and candy drops.

It was her little sister that came up with the name Zollipops! These are the suckers and now there are Zollidrops and ZaffiTaffy. Zollipops and Zollidrops are sugar free, non-GMO, gluten free, dairy-free, vegan, kosher and made with natural flavors and colors in the USA.

What is Xylitol?
 
Xylitol is an all-natural sugar alcohol that is in many fruits and vegetables. It is so natural we actually produce small amounts in our bodies. With over 40 years of studies and safe records, Xylitol is proven effective. Because Xylitol is absorbed by our body slowly and with only small amounts being absorbed, you get a sweetness with very little calories. It has a low glycemic index of about 7 (most sugars are over 80). It is so low that the body does not require insulin to metabolize it.
How can Xylitol help with dental care?
 
Did you know that chewing gum after each meal freshens your breath and can help fight acid reflux and heartburn symptoms. Consuming sugar-free chewing gums and candies manufactured with xylitol as the primary sweetener have already received official endorsements from six national dental associations. By reducing acidity, we can help take away the power from those little cavity monsters!
Erythritol is just like Xylitol only a tad smaller molecule size. And Stevia is also a plant with no added calories and sweet like sugar. So all 3 are natural sweeteners with the added benefit of not causing cavities and actually raises the pH in your mouth and reduces the acids that the cavity monsters need to grow the bacteria we don’t want.
So grab a Zollipop in your favorite flavor- strawberry, grape, orange, cherry, raspberry and pineapple. See Anthony hare a bit more about the brand below:

My BEWARE: Xylitol is easily fatal in dogs so always be careful your dogs or pets cannot access your xylitol foods.