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Mom’s Best Cereals: Healthier Versions of Your Childhood Favorites + Eco-Friendly Too!

February 21, 2013 5
On our way to our camping destination last weekend – we were chatting away when we realized that we forgotten to pack our go-to camping breakfast – cereal. Luckily, we happened to be passing a Target at the time – inside we headed for the natural and organic cereal section. I was immediately drawn to the the packaging of a brand that I had never heard of before, Mom’s Best Cereals.

After checking out the box, I asked the mister – how is it that I have never seen these before, the company has been around for ages? From what I could gather Mom’s Best Cereals makes healthier versions of the cereals from my childhood. You know, those cereals that always ran commercials during Saturday morning cartoons – the ones that are full of artificial colors, flavors and tons of sugar! This is absolutely NOT the case with Mom’s Best cereals. For example, when I picked up the Mallow Oats, I was surprised to find a healthier version (of that cereal with the Leprechaun) – here is what I saw:

  • free of artificial flavors or preservatives (instead they use blueberry, pumpkin and carrot)
  • no hydrogenated oils
  • no high fructose corn syrup
  • 14g of whole grain per serving
  • made with whole grain oats

So we picked up a box and headed on our merry way. We enjoyed our Mallow Oats with our organic Stonyfield yogurt and organic orange juice the next morning.  While Eben has never had this type of cereal before, he definitely approved and saved the marshmallows for last (just like I did as a kid!)

We don’t eat a lot of cereal in our house, however Mom’s Best will be on my radar when we do pick more up. I am looking forward to trying out the Honey Grahams and Blue PomWheat-Fuls. They also carry oatmeal – I definitely have to check that out!

Plus, Mom’s Best Cereals supports renewable energy development by purchasing wind energy credits to offset 100% of the electricity consumed by the production of their products. Their recycling and water reduction efforts help conserve natural resources and even their boxes are printed with vegetable-based inks on recycled paperboard.

The only thing that I would love to see in the future for Mom’s Best Cereals is the use of organic ingredients. 

Have you tried Mom’s Best Cereals?
Thoughts?

I was not compensated in any way for this post, I just bumped into an amazing new company with products that I enjoyed and thought you might be interested. 

Winter Camping: Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, Florida

February 21, 2013 5

I love three day weekends, they are just long enough to get away for a few days but not so long that there is a ton of planning, packing, and traveling involved. Over President’s Day weekend, I really wanted to reconnect with my family through a winter camping trip. So, we packed a bag, hooked up the R.V. and started a road trip to Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, Florida. While we expected that the weekend was going to be chilly – a crisp 65°, I knew that it would be the perfect weather for hiking, the farmer’s market and campfires!

Here is a little photo tour of our weekend:

Day 1: Old City Farmer’s Market + St. Augustine Beach
We were excited to hear that the St. Augustine Farmer’s Market was a nice, forested walk and just outside of the campground. Luckily, we had checked before to see if we could take Noodles (our Pug) because this was the first thing we saw when we entered the Farmer’s Market:

Isn’t that funny? The mister and Eben couldn’t get over it, because that is the face Noodles gives us whenever we tell her no. She stayed in the camper during the farmer’s market and took a nap – which I don’t think she minded. Ha!

I was super impressed with the amount of local and organic farmers and local artisans at the farmer’s market. I will be sharing my favorites in an upcoming post, so check back. Anytime we hit the farmer’s market Eben has to pick up his favorites, homemade cider donuts and fresh lemonade!

After the farmer’s market, we spent the day walking St. Augustine beach. It was cold – we were bundled up and didn’t see many other people. Anastasia State Park is a protected bird sanctuary consisting of 1,700 acres and five miles of sandy beaches. The wind was blowing sand into the foot prints ahead of us, it looks like spirits floating out to sea. Super cool. We sat on the beach, chatted, ate our lunches, admired the sand dunes and walked some more – it was so peaceful and calm.

We finished up the day as usual with a campfire and smores, it was perfect!

Day 2: Castillo de San Marco  + St. Augustine Tour

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States and is located in St. Augustine. We always enjoy touring historical sites when we camp – remember a couple of years ago when we visited Mesa Verde, Colorado? It is a great way for children to get hands-on experience about subjects they have learned in school. It was neat to hear the different tidbits that Eben knew about the history of the fort and St. Augustine and he even showed me the steps involved in using a cannon. 

After visiting the fort, we decided to do a little exploring of America’s Oldest City – naturally, our first stop was Bon Ami Confections – the sign alone begged me to enter! (I will share more of this sweet little shop in an upcoming post too.) We had to grab a couple of treats for our walk – we really enjoyed the ancient cemeteries, homes, and the history around every corner. 

My only complaint and this is with most old towns that I have visited, this sweet little town has become super commercialized, because of this, we always ask locals where the best places to eat, and the must see places are – and try to avoid any tourist traps. 

That is a little peek at our weekend, you can see more photos on my instagram.
 How did you spend President’s Day weekend?

12 Superfoods That Can Help You Live a Longer, Healthier Life

February 20, 2013 2

Many people feel that they are simply too busy to eat healthy meals made using fresh, whole ingredients. If you are among those people, it is super important that when you do eat, you are choosing foods that provide the maximum nutritional punch. Superfoods fit this bill, known to be the most nutritional, healthy food available superfoods pack a healthy punch that your body needs for optimal health. The best part, superfoods have been enjoyed by people of thousands of years, they amazing foods with even more amazing health benefits. Jump over to Persify to learn my 12 favorite superfoods and a quick tip on how to incorporate each into your daily meal plan.

p.s. Doesn’t this superfood detox salad look amazing?

Urbee: 3-D Printed Eco-Friendly Economy Cars

February 19, 2013 3

I am always impressed with the products that I hear are being produced using 3-D printing. One of my favorites so far, is the 3-D printed eco-friendly economy car Jim Kor of Kor Eco Logic is printing – he had 14 orders! 

Kor is an engineer from Winnipeg, Manitoba who has designed a small two-passenger hybrid car known as the Urbee. It has a meal internal combustion engine, electric motor and frame. The Urbee was manufactured using a Stratasys Fortus printer, which prints the Urbee in 50 large blocks.

So far, it looks as though cost is a concern with the Urbee, since printing the whole car takes 2,500 hours, or nearly 3 months. However, pricing should decrease once 3-D printing becomes more mainstream.

What do you think of the Urbee concept? Or the concept of printing cars in general?

via Twin Cities

Have a Lovely Green Weekend + A Few Green Things

February 15, 2013 1

Hello, Friends! How was your week? Did you have a nice Valentine’s Day? Our family decided to spend the weekend winter beach camping as our Valentine’s Day activity. And while camping in wintertime isn’t usually cold here in Florida – this weekend will be a little bit different. The temperature isn’t suppose to get over 65° the entire weekend, so we are going to do a lot of hiking, biking and smores eating!

While I pack up our jeans, coats and card game – here are a few green things to keep you entertained over the weekend:

– Envision plans to install 2,300 rotating solar tree shelters in South Carolina. We need these in sunny Florida!
– These images of the sun using a telescope are fantastic!
– Have you seen this footage from a meteor explosion in Russian. Terrifying.
– Looking to stock the perfect pantry – here are 15 tips to get you started.
– My friend Alyson’s interview with Erika from Style Activist shares 5 go to foods for living a healthy life.
– Who is making Trader Joe’s foods? Thoughts? 
– I love rainbow carrots – here are 2 new ways to enjoy them. Yum!

Have a lovely President’s Day weekend, I will see you back here on Monday!

xo,
Sweet Greens

 p.s. Don’t forget to enter to win 1 of 3 huge bags full of my favorite organic and all-natural beauty care products from Target!

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