Grab a Friend Giveaway!

When I started Freebie Friday, I didn't intend for it to be a weekly event.  There was a lot of interest from my vendor friends and some great support, however, so I kept with it on a weekly basis.  In order to make Freebie Friday more special and take off some of the pressure of preparing each week (I do have a full-time job and 2 side jobs, after all), I have decided to change Freebie Friday to Freebie First Friday.  So, we'll do a giveaway the first Friday of every month.  Stay tuned for the next Freebie First Friday to come on June 1st!

Image via Gourmet Live

Now, onto the good stuff!  I love sharing nutrition info and trying to teach people how to make any sort of change - no matter how small - that will help them become healthier and happier.  I'd love to share cooking, nutrition, and healthy living tips with your friends, family, and coworkers as well!  If you want a chance to win $25 Visa gift card for yourself AND a friend, do the following easy things:

1. Tell your friends about Nutrition Transitions on Facebook and ask them to "like" us between now and Tuesday, May 29th at 11:59 PM (Pacific).  Oh, and May 29th just happens to be my golden birthday, and for my birthday I want you to win!

2. Ask them to leave a comment on this blog post, telling who sent them to us.  Something like this is fine:

"Joe Smith sent me!"

  

You can send multiple people over to like our FB page and subsequently comment on the blog; each comment will be considered separately, so the more people you send, the better your odds!

3. On Monday we will randomly draw a commenter listed, and the person who left the post as well as the person who sent them there will each win a $25 Visa gift card!

Simple, right?  So engage your friends and family, and ask them to start posting for both of you! You might just win 25 buckaroos! 

*M*

Freebie Friday - $15 to North Scottsdale Farmers' Market!

If you haven't checked out the North Scottsdale Farmers' Market, a year-round market open every Saturday on Shea and 94th Street, then you are missing out!  I love checking out the local finds, from meat, veggies and honey to crafts, jewelry, tamales, and creme brulee.  They also have a fantastic delivery service that is only $3 if you're within 10 miles and a bit more if you're farther away.  There are no excuses for missing your farmers' market delivery!  Read more about NSFM and the benefits of shopping at your farmers' market here.

Remember, as the temps rise in AZ this summer and other markets close, the North Scottsdale Farmers' Market stays open and just moves inside to an air-conditioned space! Check out their website for hours, as they change slightly during the summer.  


This week's Freebie Friday is a $15 gift certificate to the North Scottsdale Farmers' Market, brought to you by Marketing Director Merissa Ramos!  Leave a comment below, telling us what you like to buy local, no matter where you live.  You have until midnight Friday night Pacific time to leave a comment.  A winner will be randomly chosen by Monday morning.  Good luck!


*M*

Freebie Friday - Amazon Gift Card

This Friday is a very special one - I'm heading on a mini vacation to Tucson to celebrate 10 years together with my hubby!  We met in college, so what better place to visit than where the "magic" started, right?  (If you know my husband, you will laugh when you picture him as the 19-year-old kid I fell for, wearing a Dodger hat, Hawaiian shirt, and gym shorts.  Don't forget the sunglasses with a built-in radio.)

I'm sharing the love by personally offering this week's Freebie Friday giveaway: a $10 gift card to Amazon.com!  Simply leave a comment below, telling me your favorite thing(s) to buy on Amazon, and you're eligible to win.  It's easy to do, and you just might be $10 richer!  You can enter once until midnight Pacific Time.  The winner will be drawn by Monday morning.

I love Amazon because I find great prices on health products I love, like Concentrace water remineralization drops, DermOrganic Daily Hydrating Conditioner (thanks Aly), awesome e-books for my Kindle, such as Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life, and my favorite probiotics, HMF Forte.  In fact, Amazon is amazing for supplement shopping - their prices are unparalleled.

Happy Friday!

*M*

Freebie Friday - Innocent Indulgence

Let's just cut to the chase: we all like dessert. Some of us eat it daily (or after each meal), while others only savor it on special occasions. Regardless of your sweet-eatin' style, you will love Innocent Indulgence. Owner Alisha Chasey, MS, RD, CNS (a fellow registered dietitian) has created some pretty magical stuff, and - get this - it's all good for you! Gluten-, dairy-, soy-, egg- and refined sugar-FREE, all Innocent Indulgence treats are packed with vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. They're also raw and vegan friendly and are wonderful for people with food sensitivities, or for those who just like yummy sweets without the less yummy additives.

I love making my own healthy desserts, but sometimes it's so nice to take the work out of it and have someone else do it for me! That's where Innocent Indulgence comes in. They are available for pick-up in the Phoenix area, but they ship these wholesome goodies all over the country in ice-packed containers. They are also now available (at new lower prices) at Whole Foods in Tempe and have come to WF in Tucson starting April 4th! For those of you who live in Scottsdale, Innocent Indulgence is also available at Nourish Restaurant.

I personally adore the Cocoa Nib Squares (tastes like raw cookie dough) and the Peanut Butter Squares (mmmm...peanut butter...), but they have so many awesome cheesecakes, cookies and bars to savor and enjoy.

Check out these Cocoa Nib Squares:


Here are the Peanut Butter Squares that my sister, who's allergic to nuts (but not peanuts) highly enjoys:


For today's Freebie Friday: leave a comment below, telling me about your favorite dessert! No judging here; all foods fit, remember? The winner will receive a free mini cheesecake from Innocent Indulgence, compliments of owner Alisha!

Enjoy!

*M*

Freebie Friday - Zing Bars

Photo courtesy of Cooking Light

This Freebie Friday is brought to the lovely Nutrition Transitions readers by Zing Bars. Zing has offered a free BOX of Chocolate Peanut Butter bars! ***To enter to win, simply leave a comment below, telling me your favorite snack!*** (Don't be afraid to comment...if you win, I will simply mail you the goods and you get to enjoy some delicious, FREE Zing Bars!) Zing Bars were created by registered dietitians who were looking for a healthy alternative for themselves, their clients and they're families. They are gluten-free and made with whole ingredients. Here's some more info straight from their website:

"Zing Bars are 100% natural with absolutely no artificial additives, sweeteners or flavors. We developed them for the health and well-being of our patients and from the kinds of ingredients we’d like our own kids to eat.

Each bar has a nut butter base—peanut, almond or cashew—with added protein, fiber, agave nectar and either fruit or organic free-trade dark chocolate. We chose the ingredients to provide the same complete nutrition that we recommend for all meals:

• Heart healthy fats
• High fiber
• High quality lean protein
• Low glycemic carbs"

Zing has both vegan and non-vegan (whey protein) options and comes in six flavors:
- Chocolate Coconut (vegan)*
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip (vegan)
- Cashew Cranberry Orange (vegan)
- Chocolate Peanut Butter (whey protein)*
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (whey protein)*
- Almond Blueberry (whey protein)
* Personal favorite flavors

If you want to compare Zing Bars to other brands, check out this site. You can buy Zing Bars online or at Whole Foods and other health food stores.

Enjoy!
*M*

Freebie Friday - Stevia

Today's Freebie Friday is one container of powdered stevia extract! To be eligible to win, leave a comment below this post and tell me how you like to use any of these natural sweeteners - stevia, honey, maple syrup, or sugar in the raw!

I love using stevia to sweeten iced tea, Teeccino, and baked goods or frozen desserts. It's not an artificial sweetener - it comes from the naturally sweet stevia leaf - but it's also sugar and calorie free. This means it does not cause your blood sugar and subsequent insulin levels to rise. High insulin levels over time may increase our risk for chronic disease, including heart disease and diabetes, so it's important to keep them as steady as we can. Using stevia helps me avoid a sugar spike while getting a small amount of sweetness.ase over time.
Hey stevia plant! Don't you look gawwwgeous!


I also use small amounts of honey, real maple syrup, and sugar in the raw as sweeteners. I avoid artificial sweeteners like saccharin (Sweet N Low), aspartame (Nutrasweet), acesulfame K (Sweet One), and sucralose (Splenda) because not only am I cautious of the risks, but because I feel terrible after consuming them. I can tell instantly if I accidentally ingest artificial sweeteners - a headache and stomachache usually ensue. Don't get me wrong; I used to love my Diet Dr. Pepper, but when I had my last diet soda five years ago, I didn't realize how much better I would feel without it.

Even if you don't drink diet soda, you might be getting artificial sweeteners in your gum, candy, or even dietary supplements (like Airborne! Bummer!). Check the label, and remember that many companies use the generic term (acesulfame K or acesulfame potassium are popular in gum) on the ingredient list.

You can purchase stevia at most grocery stores under the name Truvia, but I prefer to get it at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods because I get the extract without fillers or additives (like Truvia uses) and can use much less of it. It's also cropping up at barista stands, where you would also find sugar packets. Stevia is available in powdered and liquid forms, and many of the liquid varieties are flavored. Vanilla sweetness in your coffee? Mmm.

Enjoy!

*M*

Freebie Friday - The Health Foodie Kale Chips from North Scottsdale Farmers' Market

To enter to win this week's Freebie Friday - a container of spicy kale chips from The Health Foodie as sponsored by the North Scottsdale Farmers Market - leave a comment below telling me how you like to incorporate leafy greens into your diet! You must comment by 11:59 PM Pacific time on Friday, March 23rd to be eligible.

The North Scottsdale Farmers Market, my favorite spot for local, fresh produce, meats, eggs, and other goodies, has been so kind to sponsor one Freebie Friday per month! The market opened during the summer of 2010 and has been a go-to spot for me and many of my clients since then. Below are some images straight from the market. Don't these tomatoes look rockin'?

The North Scottsdale Farmers Market is a year round Saturday farmers market located at the Shops at 94 Hundred located at 9343 E Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 - just one mile east of the 101 on the south side of Shea Boulevard. Check their website for hours.

Local honey may help desensitize you to the pollen in your area if you start incorporating it into your diet!

Not only is this produce delicious and locally grown, it's grown without pesticides and is a great deal!

I take advantage of their awesome delivery service (only $3 delivery fee within a 10 mile radius!) when I can't make it to the market. The girl who delivers it comes into my house (if I'm there) and helps me put everything away! Plus, she often brings recipes based on what I purchased. Now that's full service. For delivery, simply go to their order form on their website and place your order before 1 pm on Fridays. Your order will be delivered to your front doorstep on Saturday. If you are not home for your pick up, they ask that you leave ice on your doorstep. Safety first!

Kale Chips

This first Freebie Friday from the NSFM is a container of spicy kale chips from the Health Foodie! You know how much I love kale - and I have even tried my hand at my own kale chips. Kale is packed with nutrients like vitamins K, A, C and fiber, and kale chips provide a nice balance of fat and protein to round out your snack. However, sometimes it's much easier to buy them then make them yourself, and I love to buy them from a local company who is really concerned about quality and ingredients.

Here's some more information, straight from their owner, Zack Funke:

"We are a local Phoenix based company that started in November 2009. We produce the greenest product on the planet, kale chips! We use hand selected kale from local farmers and batter the leaves in our proprietary blend of cashews and spices, then dehydrate these coated leaves to a crisp perfection. Our signature line consists of four flavors: Most Original, Extra Cheesy, Mucho Spicy, and Garlic Goody.

We package the chips in recyclable and reusable plastic containers that can be conveniently returned at farmers market for a credit. We distribute the chips at every major farmers market throughout the valley. These select local retailers also stock the chips: Luci's Healthy Marketplace, Tempe Farmers Market Store, Phoenix Public Market, Healthy Habit, and Tom's Thumb Market. Soon they will be available for purchase by April 1st at our website!

The owner, Zack Funke, is a beekeeper that maintains hives in South Phoenix at the Garden of Tomorrowland, at which community residents aid in growing veggies and fruits without the use of pesticides. He expects his first yield of honey this spring. Zack is connected to a network of beekeepers in Arizona and in surrounding states that work bees in the traditional way, without the use of treatments, fumigants, or other contaminants. The honeys are hand selected and judged on the basis of purity. All are raw and unfiltered to ensure the flavor profile and nutritional value of the honey is maintained."

By the way, they also have GRASS-FED BEEF JERKY! How cool is that?!?!

Enjoy!

*M*

Freebie Friday - Whole Foods Gift Card

I love Whole Foods. My best friend made fun of me last time we went there together, joking that I was in my happy place. They have so many fun and interesting products...but it can be pricey.

For that reason (and because I love all of you), today's Freebie Friday is a $20 gift card to Whole Foods! All you have to do is leave a comment below, telling me your favorite thing to buy at Whole Foods, and you will be entered in a drawing for the gift card. Nope, this is not sponsored by them...I just like to get new ideas :)

Happy Friday!

*M*