Trying to go more natural? ...

May 3, 2010

I am by NO means a health nut. However, after watching too many Oprah and Doctor Oz shows, I slowly stopped buying products with hydrogenated oils and dyes. I look for products that are more natural with less sugars. I was so shocked at all the crap that was in everyday things we ate. Especially in my kids snacks. After trial and error I have found products that my family and I love. My kids still enjoy the typical kids snacks, occasionally. I haven't banned anything, and when they are with friends or at other homes its inevitable. It's all about moderation, right?
Many of my girlfriends have asked me what I buy so here is a list of some of our favorites.

Here are our food staples that are dye free and have NO hydrogenated oils.

Cereals

Chex Cereal (rice or corn)

Kix or Kix with berries (target)

Peanut butter Bumpers (with organic cereals)

Kashi brown sugar oatmeal

Whole Grain Cheerios

Cascadian Farm Granolas

Bare Naked Granola Fit

Fruit Snacks

Fruit Leathers (Costco in bulk)

Cliff fruit twists

Annie fruit snacks

Snacks

Whole grain goldfish

Royal Gold Pretzels

Low fat popcorn

(CHECK POPCORN INGREDIENTS FOR COLORS (dyes) AND HYDROGENATED OILS

Newman's or natural are good brands. )

Sensible Portions Veggie Straws (at Costco like a chip)

Honey Sticks (Vitamin Cottage has fun flavors)

Annie bunny snacks

Grains

Ezekiel bread (I like the sesame one)

Udi breads (sunflower or sprouts)

Whole grain pastas

Rice pasta (target has them reasonable priced)

Brown Rice

Whole wheat tortillas ( check for hydrogenated oils on all tortillas)

Annie Boxed mac and cheese

Red Mill Pancake and waffle mix

Spaghetti Sauce

Classico tomato basil sauce

(least amount of sugar)

Spreads

Natural Almond Butter (Costco best price)

Natural Skippy Peanut Butter (target good price)

Honey

Fruit only jams

Bars

Cascadian Farm Granola bars(vanilla chip and choc chip YUM)

Nature Valley Oats and Honey granola bars

Cliff Bars

Frozen Meals

Mickey mouse chicken nuggets ( Costco)

Chicken veggie pot stickers ( Costco)

Alexia frozen french fries, sweet potatoes, tater tots

Kashi Frozen Waffles

Popsicles

"Just fruit" Popsicles

Natural Popsicles (sunflower)

Dairy

Blue Bell cheeses for snacks (Costco has bulk )

Organic String cheeses

Horizon Natural go-gurts

Greek Yogurts

( I eat plain Ones, kids love the honey flavored ones)

Organic Plain Milk

Juice

Only 100% dye free juice boxes

Meats

Jenni-o Ground turkey

Bare Chicken (target)

Ground Buffalo (Costco)

Sprouts, Sunflower, Target, Costco and Vitamin Cottage carry a lot of these products and when on sale they are really no more than products loaded with dyes, hydrogenated oils and sugars.  

I am always looking for good snacks for kiddos

and new healthy products.

Please Post your Favorites under comments!