Pea of Sweetness

Healthy Eating with IONutrition

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I have been working on getting back on track when it comes to eating healthy. I am always on the lookout for guidance and support. IONutrition offers healthy meals that take the guesswork out of eating healthy! Of course, convenience is also a big advantage particularly on those busy days!
IONutrition Logo
Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my IONutrition review. Regardless, all opinions are my own.
IONutrition offers 100% natural and organic meals. They want to ensure you get all the health benefits of the ingredients without the worry of pesticides, preservatives and other scary chemicals. In fact, research has shown that organic ingredients often contain more nutrients than non-organic ingredients. Plus without all the processed ingredients and no chemicals, our bodies can easily absorb the benefit of each ingredient.
For my IONutrition review I received 3 meals and 2 breakfasts from IONutrition delivered right to my door. They arrived with ice packs and require refrigeration immediately.
IONutrition Delivery
I truly appreciate the time IONutrition takes to prepare healthy meals with quality ingredients. A big part of eating healthy is making sure we’re not consuming artificial ingredients, and I feel comfortable knowing they offer meals without scary ingredients. They have NO preservatives, additives, dairy, gluten, GMOs, hormones, added sugar or soy.
The IONutrition meals taste good and are definitely filling. I don’t feel deprived or starving wishing I could eat more. These meals are very satisfying.
IONutrition Review
IONutrition meals are so easy to prepare and don’t require freezing. They should, of course, be consumed before the listed expiration date. I simply take a meal out and heat it up in the microwave or oven. Lately I’ve been choosing microwave because I’ve been so busy. I can have a complete meal in just a few minutes!
IONutrition is a great way to stay on track and eat healthy! The meals taste good, are filling and made with quality ingredients. It’s just what I love in healthy meals!

*Special Deal!*

IONutrition is offering my readers a 15% off promo code for Meal Plans on their IONutrition.com website (excludes ‘A la Carte’ menu). Simply use the code SWEETNESS to receive the discount. Shop their meal plans now!

For More Information

Visit the IONutrition Website and sign up for their newsletter
Connect with IONutrition on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest

*Giveaway!!*

Would you like to win meals from IONutrition? Two winners will each receive 5 Meals and 2 Breakfast Entrees ($90 value)! ENTER THE GIVEAWAY NOW!!
 

A Healthier Lifestyle with Trim Healthy Mama #THM #MomsMeet

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This past year I’ve had a lot of bumps on my road to better health. The doctors have been running more tests, finding a few more problems and changing around a few treatment options. It’s left me feeling tired and sluggish, and I’ve even gained a lot of weight. My year started out with great intentions, but the counting calories thing quickly flopped. I knew I needed a better option. I have heard so many wonderful things about Trim Healthy Mama, so when I was offered the chance to review it by Moms Meet, I couldn’t wait to check it out!
Trim Healthy Mama Review
Disclosure: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.
The Trim Healthy Mama Plan is the gentle and fun road to trim and healthy. It offers a unique way to lose weight and get healthy by eliminating sugar while still eating hearty, delicious food. I don’t know about you, but I tend to crave sugary foods – especially around my cycle and when I’m upset, and I really feel like this plan “gets me” and got that I couldn’t just jump in to something but rather needed to ease into it!
The book includes menu plans, a list of super foods, time-saving tips, and pantry stocking and lifestyle advice to help readers reach their goals. I am so impressed with the information included. I feel like it’s written for a busy mom like me who doesn’t have a lot of time but needs to provide healthy meals not just for myself but my whole family.
Really, though, the plan can be good for anyone whether you love to cook from scratch with the purest ingredients or you can barely boil water. It’s not just for crunchy, health food types, and you don’t have to be an exercise fanatic to make this work.
I can definitely see why Trim Healthy Mama comes so highly recommended. This is not a count the calories, eat “diet food” kind of plan. It is a realistic, healthy plan for an overall healthy lifestyle that is attainable for any mom. What I love most, is that I don’t have to make completely separate meals. Family meal time is important for us, and although we could obviously still sit together for meals if I was eating something different it usually went something like this – prepare dinner for the family, serve dinner, make my dinner and by the time I would sit down to eat they were practically finished!

Trim Healthy Mama Plan

Trim Healthy Mama has laid out everything in a way that is so simple to understand. I feel like I have a good grip on things when it comes to health and nutrition (though my follow-through is surely lacking). I feel I still learned a lot of helpful information when it comes to nutrition! I think it’s perfect for those who are unfamiliar with health and nutrition or those that know a lot. There is really a wealth of information!
Trim Healthy Mama focuses on what food really is – fuel. Our bodies need fuel and providing the right fuel is key. That’s what it’s all about. They break down everything into two types of major fuel types and go into details on how to build meals around them. Not only do they say how to do this, though, they also say why. So if you’re someone like me that wants to know the “why” behind things, it’s included!
Trim Healthy Mama has so much information about food in general – how it fits into the Trim Healthy Mama plan, how it can affect our bodies, foods that are obviously not good for us, foods that aren’t good for us (but we may think they are), beneficial foods and drinks, superfoods, specialty foods and more. Going out to eat? They have information on making good choices when dining out as well!
In addition to a wealth of nutrition information, the Trim Healthy Mama Plan has tips for overall healthier living. It talks about exercise and listening to your body. It is very realistic and positive. Plus, they discuss the personal care products we use because, as I have shared many times, what we use on our skin can be absorbed. This is why we only use (and why I promote) natural products. I was elated to read that chapter!

Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook

Although the Trim Healthy Mama Plan lays everything out so you can make the foods you love, I am so glad they offer an amazing cookbook as well with over 350 healthy recipes!
Recipes are broken up into six main categories. These categories include:

  • One-Pot Meals
  • Hearty Mains and Sides
  • Sunrise Eats
  • Sweet Treats
  • Beverages
  • All Things Smooth and Crunchy

Each of the main categories are then broken up into sub categories so recipes are easy to find. At the beginning of each main category it shows all of the recipes with a color (or colors) next to it to indicate what type of meal it is according to the THM plan.
On each recipe it notes directly under the title if it’s a Single Serve or Family Serve recipe. If it’s a Family Serve Recipe it notes how many it serves and by how much you need to cut the recipe if your family is smaller. We are a family of five and most recipes note to be for a family of 6-8. I still make the full recipe and save the leftovers (if there are any). It’s not uncommon for our family to eat it all – it’s food they will all eat!
What surprised me, though, is this isn’t just a book of recipes, though. It has a fantastic introduction that details serving sizes and portions, the plan, why there is no “dessert” category, tools for your kitchen, special mention foods and useful information like abbreviations and measurement terms.

Trim Healthy Mama Review

Overall, I think the Trim Healthy Mama Plan is fantastic! It is a realistic plan that any mom can follow. It’s not a diet plan but rather an eat smarter plan. It’s full of helpful information, and I am on my way to better overall health. I already feel better because I am fueling my body like I should and have started losing weight again. The cookbook definitely helped to jump start my new journey following the Trim Healthy Mama plan!

For More Information:

Visit the Trim Healthy Mama Website
Connect with Trim Healthy Mama on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest
 

*Giveaway!!!*

Would you like to win the Trim Healthy Mama Plan book and Cookbook? I’m even throwing in a $25 Whole Foods Gift Card to help you get started! This giveaway runs through 11/23/15 at 11pm Eastern Time and is open to US residents ages 18+. Enter the Giveaway Now!
 

Say Goodbye to MSG {Healthy Eating Challenge #2}

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It’s time for the next Healthy Eating Challenge! How did you do with the first healthy eating challenge? I already try to cut out artificial sweeteners due to how they make me feel, but I have been even more cautious and reading labels carefully.
Don’t forget: our goal is to slowly work our way to healthy eating, which means clean eating. That means natural, whole foods. So we’re slowly kicking out unnatural/artificial ingredients to make our way to our goal of clean eating and promoting overall better health!
And remember, once we remove it, we don’t add it back in later. The challenge won’t work unless you are continuing what we start with!

Healthy Eating Challenge #2 – Say Goodbye to MSG!

Healthy Eating Challenge 2 Say Goodbye to MSG
There is a lot of confusion with MSG. What is it really? The biggest confusion I have seen is that some foods naturally have various forms of the amino acid, glutamic acid, as does our body. These foods include: meat, milk, cheese, mushrooms, seaweed and peas.
The MSG (monosodium glutamate) to which I’m referring is the artificial flavor enhancer. Once again, we technically only need to know that it’s artificial. I found a great explanation about the myths and misconceptions of MSG on the Whole Foods site. Their mission is much like ours – artificial ingredients are not consistent with our goal of eating natural, whole foods.
Some people are sensitive to MSG. I know several people who can pinpoint MSG as a trigger to their headaches or other pains. Those that are sensitive to MSG may even be sensitive to the glutamic acid that naturally occur in the foods mentioned. The most noted problems, though, are with the MSG artificial flavor enhancer. It’s noted to be so strong that just a few drops can majorly change the flavor of foods. In fact, in many foods, it’s used in place of salt.
So what do we look for on labels? It’s important to specifically look for MSG: monosodium glutamate. There is confusion whether other ingredients are MSG “in disguise” as well. While these ingredients also contain glutamic acid (and therefore may require caution for those sensitive to glutamic acid) but are otherwise naturally and contain far less glutamic acid than MSG. The article I linked above has more detailed information on this as well.
Here are some red flags for which to look:

  • Products that are labeled as “Low Sodium” or “Now with Sea Salt.”
  • Fast Food. (I’m sure we’ll eventually rule out most fast food by the end of the challenge, but particularly look to rule out MSG {and artificial sweeteners from the previous challenge} by reading ingredients provided online). Friend Chicken is the most likely suspect though seasonings for fries may include it as well.
  • Meats. Particularly Beef Jerky, Sausage Products, Cold Cuts and Fish.
  • Soy Sauce.
  • Gravies and sauces.
  • Salty Chips – particularly products with cheese powder.
  • Soups.
  • Frozen Dinners.
  • Other Processed Foods

I know this list may seem daunting, but again, just take it one challenge at a time. You will naturally discover what has the ingredients we need to eliminate. In fact, I suggest keeping a list. I will work on making a printable to make the process easier. Don’t forget I have started Facebook Support Group!
Whether you feel MSG is safe or not, we, once again, just have to look at the main fact: it’s artificial and therefore doesn’t have a place in clean eating.
When shopping for groceries this week (or even dining out), be sure to choose products with no MSG (and no artificial sweeteners).
Did you miss the first challenge? No problem! You can start whenever! I’m posting a new challenge every two weeks, but you can start at any time and go at any pace you’d like! Check out all of the Healthy Eating Challenge Posts.
 

Say Goodbye to Artificial Sweeteners {Healthy Eating Challenge #1}

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It’s time to kick off the Healthy Eating Challenge! The Wellness Wednesday Link up will start up next week. What is the Healthy Eating Challenge? I will post a challenge every other week. Each challenge will recommend eliminating an ingredient (or set of ingredients) that aren’t healthy until we are closer to (ideally at) eating only whole, natural foods. This is ideal for a variety of reasons, so whether you are looking to lose weight, improve your overall health, and just overall eating better, this challenge is for you!
And remember, once we remove it, we don’t add it back in later. The challenge won’t work unless you are continuing what we start with!

Healthy Eating Challenge #1 – Say Goodbye to Artificial Sweeteners!

Healthy Eating Challenge 1 - Say Goodbye to Artificial Sweeteners
I wanted to ideally start with something that could be easy, but if you’re used to eating processed foods, having snacks, etc. like me nothing will really be easy. I might even venture to say eliminating artificial sweeteners is a little harder than you might expect! Why? Because they are used in products you may or may not expect like “diet” foods and drinks, liquid medications (particularly children’s), energy drinks, and even “health” products. Artificial sweeteners are unhealthy, though.
Now let me step up on my soapbox for a moment – health companies using artificial sweeteners like sucralose or aspartame (people now know the dangers of aspartame so sucralose is more typical) really irritate me. Anyone who knows (and cares) about health knows you should consume foods and drinks as natural as possible. There is no room for artificial anything in a healthy diet! We need to rid our body of chemicals, not consume them! What is even more worrisome to me is many of them will say they offer something like an energy drink that is “natural” yet it has sucralose. Isn’t the word “artificial” (as in artificial sweetener) the very opposite of “natural.” There are so many natural sweeteners available, I find it even more frustrating that they would choose to use artificial sweeteners.
OK, hopping back down. Please excuse my soapbox – I’m very passionate about this subject! Artificial sweeteners for me mean Fibromyalgia flare ups and major headaches. Sometimes I may consume something with an artificial sweetener (I recommend always reading labels), and I will know it had it based on how I feel. Sure enough, I confirm it and get upset with myself for not reading the ingredients first!
So, for me, just knowing they’re artificial and contain chemicals (and the side effects) are enough to be a no-brainer to eliminate them, but I don’t want to just say “remove this” without providing more information as well as healthy alternatives.
So why are they so popular? Because they have zero calories, but there are natural alternatives that do as well! Let’s start by taking a closer look at the two main artificial sweeteners – aspartame and sucralose.
Aspartame
Aspartame is an excitotoxin made up of a variety of artificial ingredients that can negatively affect a variety of our body systems including methanol which is a wood alcohol, which is know as a dangerous poison. Learn more about Aspartame including disorders to which it can be linked.
Sucralose
Sucralose, though a different compound, has its own set of health concerns including carcinogenic potential! My husband having had cancer twice, we try to stay far, far away from carcinogens! There are so many misunderstandings such as assuming it is safe for diabetics, which they have determined isn’t true at all. There are additional toxicology issues that have yet to be addressed.
Many of these “health companies” back it up with it being FDA Approved, but it is important to remember, FDA Approved doesn’t mean healthy! Learn more about sucralose.
Even if you feel artificial sweeteners are “safe,” there is still this simple point that you can’t deny – they’re artificial. They are chemical compounds made up of one or more chemicals. For Clean Eating, there is NO room for anything artificial. Period.

Alternatives to Artificial Sweeteners

Of course, the most obvious answer is pure sugar. We all know sugar should only be consumed in moderation, though, no matter how pure. The good news is – tere are many low-calorie to no calorie natural alternatives, though! Some examples include:

  • Honey. Local, raw honey is best, but if it isn’t available, look for natural honey. Read the ingredients to be sure there isn’t anything added.
  • Monk Fruit. Monk Fruit is available in packets like Monk Fruit in the Raw.
  • Stevia. Stevia is also available In the Raw.
  • Xylitol. Xylitol is really starting to be recognized by many different companies as a safe and even healthy alternative. Recently I reviewed Xlear Natural Dental Products with Xylitol, and they also offer the Xlear Xylosweet Bag.

Will you join me for this challenge? When shopping for groceries this week (or even dining out), be sure to choose products with no artificial sweeteners. If you’ve used them often, it may take longer to get them out of your system, but you can start now! Be sure to look for artificial sweeteners in particular in products that say “diet,” “sugar free,” “lite or light,” etc.
Need a little help? Be sure to join our Facebook Support Group!