Hello Good - IZZE Contest and Giveaway

**Giveaway is closed**

Hello friends, and happy Friday! I was given a head's up from IZZE Sparkling Juice yesterday about their ongoing contest, Hello Good, celebrating the good moments in life.

To enter, simply snap a picture of yourself enjoying your favorite IZZE beverage and submit it to the IZZE Facebook page. Upon submission, you'll receive a $1 off IZZE coupon, and you'll be entered to win free year's supply of IZZE! The contest runs through Sunday, with a winner picked everyday. You can enter everyday if you choose.

I'm also hosting a giveaway right here. One winner will receive a prize pack that includes -

2 10 Year Anniversary IZZE T-shirts
2 Royal Blue IZZE T-Shirts
1 4-Pack of IZZE Sparkling Juice

Pretty nifty! Simply leave a comment and tell me what which IZZE flavor is your favorite. If you've never tried it before, tell me which you'd like to try. Winner will be chosen at noon on Tuesday. Open to U.S. residents only.

Since I was in the mood for IZZE, I went to the store to pick up a pack (using my own money) to guzzle and to bake. That's right, I baked a sparkling cake. Unlike the last cake I made with IZZE, this one is much more simple. This hearty pound cake is perfectly snackable and doesn't have to be saved for dessert. I changed up the original recipe a bit, adjusting the sugar and leavening amounts as well as method of preparation, but it's mostly the same. Honestly, the apple IZZE isn't very pronounce. The cake does taste incredibly good, though. Recipe is after the jump.

(Full disclosure: I received a prize pack from IZZE in exchange for this post, but I was not otherwise compensated. Opinions are my own.)

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Print this recipe

IZZE Sparkling Pound Cake
Recipe adapted from Ostblog's Seltzer Cake

Ingredients -

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 2/3 cups flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2/3 cup IZZE Apple Sparkling Juice

Directions -

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9-inch loaf pan well; set aside. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.
2. Add eggs and sugar to a large mixing bowl. Using a mixer, beat on medium-high until mixture is pale and thickened, 2 minutes. Mix in vanilla extract. With mixer running, stream in vegetable oil until blended. Fold in dry ingredients, mixing just until a trace of flour remains. Pour in IZZE and fold into batter just until smooth.
3. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour; cover top of cake with a piece of foil and continue cooking for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife along the edges, then remove from pan. Let cool for another 10 minutes before slicing.

Progresso Light Creamy Soup Giveaway

A while back I received this pack from MyBlogPark and Progresso to review Progresso's new Light Creamy Soup. I wasn't too impressed by the soups, honestly, as I need a little more substance in my meals. The consistency was good, but the flavor was lacking. It wasn't bad for a pre-meal snack, or maybe alongside a more substantial entree.

In any case, if you guys want to try it out, you can win a prize pack of your very own that includes 2 cans of soup, a lunch pack, a soup mug with spoon, and a water bottle.

All you have to do to win is leave a comment with your favorite soup. Please include your email address if it's hidden.

Giveaway ends Friday, October 5, and is open to US residents only. Good luck!

G Series Prime Energy Chews Review + Giveaway

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a Gatorade rep who asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing Gatorade's new G Series Energy Chews. Having tried them before, I welcomed the opportunity and was looking forward to analyzing them a little more closely.

And then I wasn't able to run anymore and couldn't give them a good review, so I enlisted the help of my brother who was training for a 5k. (Don't worry, Gatorade rep knew all about it.)

If you aren't familiar with Gatorade's new products, they've created series to fit into every athlete's life. G Series is for athletes who need an edge during training and competition. This line includes the 01 Prime, which includes the carb and B vitamin energy chews that are taken prior to a workout or competition. The chews come in three different flavors and contain 25 grams of carbohydrates per serving, 90 mg of sodium, 30 mg potassium, and 20% of your daily value of B vitamins that help break down carbs into fuel (according to their website). B vitamins can help energize you, too, so that's another plus.

When I asked my brother, Martin, if he would help me out by reviewing the chews, he seemed rather excited and offered up this gem, "Most people would say that an athlete's goal is to win their most desired event; I say that an athlete's goal is to be sponsored by Gatorade so that they can use their products." I think he was happy to help. Here's what he had to say about the chews:

The G-Chews are an A+ product. They taste good, and right away I noticed the positive effect they had during my run. If you're curious about trying G Series Chews, I urge you to give them a try, at least for a few key workouts or competitions.

Each chew is a small square and come six to a pack. The directions say to take them 15 minutes before an activity. It's nice that an exact time is given since another company's equivalent product offers just a vague timeline.

Flavor-wise, it tasted a little salty-sweet, but neither taste is overly prominent. The consistency of the chews is thick and gummy, but not sticky to the touch. Don't make the mistake of refrigerating the chews, though; I did this by accident and it made them pretty difficult to chew.

Fifteen minutes before an evening 3-miler, I ate the fruit punch chews. At the halfway mark, I noticed the positive effect the chews had on my muscles. My legs didn't feel fatigued and had a sensation of wanting to run faster than I knew I should, so I reigned myself in.

I ate the remaining pack before my 5k on June 2nd. Again, I noticed a positive difference in my race. Instead of struggling to increase my pace during the end, I had enough energy remaining for a nice sprint across the finish line. Mark it down as another positive experience from the G Chews.

My only con was the blue dye in the cool blue flavor. After eating the cool blue chews, the dye had lightly coated my teeth and reminded me of Smeagol as he transitioned over to Gollum. I had a good laugh over that one. I'm not sure if the Fruit Punch Chews dyed my teeth at all because I didn't look in the mirror. But my guess is that even if it did, it wouldn't have been as noticeable. (If you're a blue fan like me, you probably won't care. It might even scare your opponents!)

Just like my brother (minus the blue teeth), I noticed that the chews staved off fatigue during the end of a challenging bike ride. It was windy, there were hills, but I didn't feel drained during the last few miles like I've felt during similar rides. If I ever start running again, I'd be interested in seeing how they work for me then.

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Giveaway Details

Want to try the chews for yourself? Gatorade is offering one of my readers the chance to win a full case of G Series Energy Chews! That's quite the prize, folks.

Here's how to enter:

• Leave a comment and tell me when you'd try the chews.


• Tweet this giveaway, including a link to this post and @runningfoodie. Leave a second comment to let me know.

The giveaway is open to US readers and ends Thursday, June 14th. Good luck!

Gnu Bar Review & Giveaway

Gnu Foods contacted me a week ago to ask if I would be interested in reviewing their bars. I haven't tried Gnu bars before so I was interested to see if I'd like them.

Gnu bar, made from natural ingredients, packs a whopping 12 grams of fiber per 130-140 calorie bar, which comes out to around 50% of the daily fiber. The bars come in nine different flavors, and three new dessert-inspired flavors (blueberry cobbler, blondie, and carrot cake) that were recently added to the line up.

What I liked the most was the chewy, moist, and dense texture of the baked bars. The flavors that I've tried were all delicious and weren't overwhelmed by any one ingredient. The sugar content of the bars ranges from 7-11 grams, while the fat ranges from 3-5 grams.

I admit that I was skeptical that these bars would actually keep me full; typically, I respond better to protein and fat for staying satiated than fiber. Fortunately, I'm glad to eat my words on this one. The bars do a great job keeping you full without feeling bloated.

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Giveaway Details

Up for grabs is a 16-pack of Gnu Bars, flavor of your choice, provided by Gnu Bar. Here's how to win:

• Visit the Gnu Bar website to see the flavor options. Leave a comment with the flavor you would most like to try.


• Like Gnu Foods on Facebook, then leave another comment to let me know.

Winner will be chosen on Friday, June 8th. This giveaway is open to US residents only.

If you're interested in trying Gnu Bars right away, you can buy a customized 5-pack for $7.95 with free shipping. The bars retail for $1.99 individually so that's a pretty good deal. Sampler pack info.

Good luck!

My Blog Spark - Yoplait Lactose Free Yogurt Review + Giveaway

**Giveaway Is Closed**

February was National Lactose Intolerance Awareness Month (yes, I know it's March), for which Yoplait announced their new lactose free yogurt, available in a variety of tasty flavors. Through MyBlogSpark, Yoplait provided me with a prize pack, including a coupon to try the new yogurt, and an additional prize pack to host a giveaway.

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Although I don't suffer from lactose intolerance, I am familiar with lactose free dairy as I've used it before to make lactose free desserts for family members. In case you can't eat regular dairy products, now you know of another option.

Yoplait's Lactose Free Yogurt comes in 6-ounce containers and tastes just like regular flavored yogurt. Besides being lactose free, it's also fat free, though it contains 170 calories, much of which is from sugar. The packaging mentioned that Yoplait Lactose Free Yogurt offers 50% of the daily value of calcium, compared to 25% from other brands. It had a good peachy flavor and probably would have tasted good frozen, too. If I recall correctly, the yogurt was 79¢, though price may vary based on location.

Instead of simply eating the yogurt, I used it to create peaches 'n cream oatmeal scones. They came out perfectly the first time! They're soft and tender with a subtle peach flavor enhanced by a light lemon glaze. I didn't have any peaches to use, but they would be excellent with a few chopped peaches mixed in. The recipe will be up tomorrow.

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Giveaway Info

Eager to try it out for yourself? Along with a VIP coupon for a free yogurt, the winner will also be getting a lunch tote, two freezable gel packs, a bowl, and a matching spoon.

There are two ways to enter:

• Comment on this post and tell me your favorite way to eat yogurt


• Tweet about this giveaway: Yoplait Lactose Free Giveaway from @RunningFoodie http://bit.ly/yEoCS9 #MyBlogSpark!
  Leave a second comment to let me know

Giveaway is eligible for US readers only and ends on Friday, the 9th, at 12 P.M.. Winner will be announced shortly after (please include your email I can't contact you).

SneekPeeq Giveaway

A sneeqpeek representative contacted me last week about hosting a giveaway for my readers. After reading up on it and looking around their site, I decided that it would be a great prize for you guys.

Sneekpeeq is a virtual boutique offering limited time products for a great value. You have the option of purchasing through three sub-store categories, living, style, and taste. Right now in the Taste boutique, I can decide between a selection of gourmet chocolates, cookies, and toffees. Each day you receive twenty "peeqs" to use throughout the store. To use them, simply click on an item's price tag to peeq at the discount price. If you like the item, add it to your cart.

For my readers, SneekPeeq is offering one lucky winner a chance to win a $10 discount to go shopping. It doesn't sound like much, but I can say with certainty that it goes a long way when combined with the marked down prices.
This offer is valid for new sneeqpeek members. Although only one person can win the $10 prize, SneekPeeq is offering a 20% discount for everyone who registers. Here's how:

- To register for SneekPeeq and be eligible for the giveaway, click this link and follow the instructions - http://bit.ly/wS0hO1
- Upon signing up, you'll receive your 20% discount

Criteria -

- SneekPeeq is currently limited to U.S., therefore the giveaway is only open to U.S. residents
- Remember, to be eligible for the giveaway and promotional discount, you must be a new sneekpeeq member
- Giveaway ends on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at 12 p.m.
- The winner will be announced on my blog. Please check on Wednesday or Thursday to see if you won

Good luck!

MyBlogSpark: Host A Chex Party Mix-Change - Recipes+Giveaway

**Giveaway is closed**

MyBlogSpark and Chex Cereal want to liven up your holiday cookie exchange by giving you tips on how to host a Chex Party Mix-Change. To help give you some ideas, I was given a variety of Chex Cereal, cute red and green take out boxes, and a $20 Visa gift card to purchase additional ingredients and packaging supplies. The premise was to host a party and show you guys how to create different Chex cereal treats for a holiday exchange, but that didn't quite work out so I made a few recipes myself.

Although cookies are sweet, no one can resist a savory Chex mix. This recipe for Easy Cheddar Chex Mix is simple to make and uses a cheddar cheese packet from a box of macaroni & cheese (the noodles can be added to soup or something). The flavor is boosted with garlic powder, dried mustard, and a pinch of cayenne pepper for heat. It tastes really amazing.

I packaged it in a cute Christmas tin I bought from the craft store, though you can find nice tins at the dollar store, too. For gift giving, the latter would be the economical choice and what I'd do if I packaged cookies in tins. Lining the tins in plastic wrap and wax paper keep the cereal secure and doesn't mess up the tin. Fold the excess paper on top before closing with a lid.

If you're serving the treats at a party, mini cupcake liners are the perfect way to portion out servings that are easy to hold and munch on. That's what I did with the White Chocolate & Peppermint Chex. It's made similarly to the favorite puppy chow, only instead of chocolate and peanut butter I just melted white chocolate chips. It's flavored with peppermint extract and made a little more festive with green and red nonpareil sprinkles. The sprinkles show up underneath the confectioners' sugar coating, looking like Christmas lights covered with snow! It's delicious and addictive.

Finally, we have Chocolate Caramel Cinnamon Chex. It's the most complicated recipe of the three, but it's also one of the best. The crunchy caramel-chocolate coating is made similarly to the coating for caramel corn. I adapted it from a recipe I found over at AllRecipes.com. Instead of using just regular Chex cereal, I used some of the Cinnamon Chex to give it even more flavor.

To giveaway, you can fill holiday baggies with the cooled caramel chex and package it in festive takeout containers.

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Giveaway Details

If you would like to host your own Chex Party Mix-Change (for what will most likely be for New Year's... Yeah, I suck), here's how you can win the neato prize pack consisting of five boxes of Chex cereal, a featured recipe booklet, takeout boxes, and a $20 Visa gift card.

1. Leave a comment on my blog telling me what your favorite Chex cereal creation is.

2. Tweet about this giveaway, including a link to this post and @runningfoodie. Leave a second comment to let me know.

The giveaway ends Monday, the 19th, at 12 noon. U.S. residents only, please. My apologies to my out of country readers, but it's the rules from the company.

Good luck!

Wayfair.Com Giveaway: BonJour Cafe Latte Frother

**Giveaway Closed**

It's my birthday today, and on this day I'd like to show my appreciation to my readers by giving you the chance to win a gift. The generous folks at Wayfair.Com have given me the opportunity not just to review a product, but to host a giveaway for my readers as well! While I typically only host giveaways for products I have tried first, I figure you can't go wrong with a basic milk frother.

The product that's being given away is the BonJour Cafe Latte Frother in Gray. What's so great about a milk frother and why do I think you need one? No one needs a milk frother, but it's a fun tool to have and it's not something you'd typically get for yourself. I use a milk plunger to create foam for coffee, hot chocolate, and other drinks of that nature. I enjoy doing it because it takes an ordinary hot drink and makes it something special. Isn't that partly why we enjoy lattes from cafes? Now, you can make special drinks at home!

According to the website's description:

This battery-operated frother whips milk into thick foam in seconds for creating a latte, cappuccino, or macchiato. It's also handy for sauces, hot chocolate, foamy cocktails, and even scrambles eggs. The soft-touch push down button and chrome stand make this easy to use and store. Powered by 4 "AA" batteries (not included).

It's the perfect tool for creating foam quickly during holiday parties, before enjoying hot chocolate during a Christmas movie, and you can even puree sauces and small batches of soup. I hope the lucky winner will enjoy it!

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You can enter up to three times for additional entries for the giveaway:

1. Comment on this post. Tell me what drink you'd like to top with milk foam.

2. Follow me on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway, including "@runningfoodie" and a link to this post. Comment again to let me know.

3. Like Wayfair on Facebook, leaving a comment on their wall with a link to this post, letting them know you entered the giveaway from She Runs, She Eats. Comment a third time to let me know.

And that's it! Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends Friday at noon, when I'll pick a winner. Good luck!

Seventh Generation Dish Soaps & Le Creuset Baking Dish Review + Giveaway

***Giveaway Closed***

Through MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation, I was given the opportunity to review their natural, plant-derived dish soaps. Included in the package were some plant-derived cleaning tools and a Le Creuset stoneware baking dish. I was asked to create a recipe based on the scents of the dish soaps in the baking dish and to clean it using the soaps. I'll talk about what I made in a moment, but first I'm going to review the benefits and potential drawbacks if the soaps.

(If you would like to skip to the giveaway information, scroll down to the bottom.)

So you want to help the environment in any way you can, right? You might spend a little more, but you walk away knowing that you aren't using petroleum-based dish soap. Everyone's happy and daisies bloom under the sunshine in lush fields of green grass where children happily trot barefoot.

But how well do these products really work when compared to their generic, oil-based counterpart? Throughout the week of washing dishes where I replaced my usual soap with 7th Gen, I fully expected the need to use more soap, but I surprisingly found that the suds lasted longer and the soap effectively cut through grease, especially on plastics. When I have a lot of greasy dishes to wash, I usually have to rewash a few dishes where grease remained, or refill the sink with more hot water and soap. I haven't had to do that yet. It also cuts through the stains on the stove vent hood, toaster oven, and other surfaces where grease stains tend to gather, so it's good for more than just dishes. As for it being cost-effective, starting at $3 and going up, a generic dish soap will probably save you more money in the long run, even if you have to use more of it. But given the envoronmental benefits, you might not mind.

The scent is great. I've been using the Fresh Citrus & Ginger, and it has the intoxicating effect of making you excited to wash dishes, so unless you're Anne of Green Gables, no one in their right mind looks forward to it, so the scent is another plus. The label says that their scents are derived from whole essential oils and botanical extracts. Seventh Generation is hosting a Nature Makes Perfect Sweepstakes, where you can enter for a chance to win a trip to visit France, Italy, or Vermont where they produce the ingredients for their scents.

Which made me think... Seventh Generation is made in the USA and manufactured in Vermont, but a few of their ingredients come from Italy and France? Are Sicilian lemons really better than Californian lemons? If, as they say on their bottles, "every household in the U.S. replaced just one 25 ounce bottle of petroleum-based dish liquid with a 25 ounce bottle of plant-derived dish liquid, we could save 127,000 barrels of oil", are we really just offsetting how much oil it takes to transport out-of-country ingredients to the manufacturing plant?

I then analyzed a few of the ingredients on their label more closely, which led my brother to point out that the two final ingredients, benzisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, are both synthetic preservatives commonly used in body care products, washing agents, and varnishes. Both are known to be irritants to skin, eyes, and possibly lungs, as well as being potentially toxic to the human immune system with continued exposure. I've also looked at a few other standard dish soap brands where these ingredients are not used. I'm not saying their synthetic ingredient lists are better over the long run, but they don't claim to be hypo-allergenic and toxic-free. I'm surprised that a company with that platform would use two synthetic preservatives that could be harmful to consumers, even if they use lower percentages of the preservatives.

As for the accompanying Twist dish tools, some are plant-derived and free from oil, others use 100% organic cotton and loofah material. So far, I've only used one of the cotton towels and the white scour pads. The scour pad doesn't seem like it's going to hold up as long as other scour pads I use. I like the cotton towel because it's bright, cheery, and works well on dishes that need a simple wipe off, or on hard surfaces.

Overall, I enjoyed the soaps and might buy them on my own, but had a few concerns about their claimed environmental benefits.

Click through for recipe info and giveaway details.

Now, on to dinner. I'm sure you're hungry by now if you've made it this far! Since I really enjoyed the fresh citrus and ginger scent, I incorporated those ingredients into dinner. Fresh green beans are roasted with fresh ginger and orange slices and served with blackened and seared tuna. The full recipe post will be up tomorrow since this post is wordy enough as it is. I'm excited about it because I used a tangerine rooibos tea from a local bistro in the tuna rub. Citrus and ginger are two ingredients that really liven up a meal, thanks to their vibrant flavor and aroma.

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Giveaway Details

So, how can you cook up a meal in a 12x9-inch Le Creuset stoneware baking dish and clean up after dinner with Seventh Generation Dish Liquid and Twist dish tools? Here's how!

• Leave a comment on this post telling me which scent of dish soap you like the most


• "Like" Seventh Generation on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall with a link to this giveaway. Comment here to let me know you did it.


• Tweet about this giveaway using the following comment: I entered the Seventh Generation dish soaps and Le Creuset baking dish giveaway from @RunningFoodie!
  http://bit.ly/szwtDM.
  Comment again to let me know.

Three chances to win! Please include your email address in the first comment if I won't be able to contact you myself. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Winner will be chosen on Friday.

Good luck!

This Evening's Run and A Larabar Giveaway

Thanks for your comments on Monday's post. It's easy to forget that running ruts are just that -- a rut that eventually goes away. It doesn't help when all of your running has been a rut, but I'm sure that's partly my own fault. Setting a tiny goal should help keep my focus, and eventually I'll figure one out. Any thoughts?

Day two of my week of 4 milers ended with success. I felt a tiny bit weird the first half mile, but settled into a nice rhythm ('rhythm' is an awkward word). My pace averaged out to 9:50 minute miles, which is just fine since I'm keeping an even intensity. I always speed up the last mile, but not to a sprint pace.

Splits:

1. 10:13
(Remember what I said about the first mile being slow? Well, it's slow. There were also dogs that jumped out at me, so I had to stand there for a few seconds to let them know who was boss before continuing on.)

2. 9:51
(I didn't just jump to a pace 20 seconds under my first split. Most of that happened gradually after the 1.5 mark. I also started getting some side stitches, so I made sure to focus on breathing deeply.)

3. 9:41
(I may have been getting a little tired at this point, but I always do.)

4. 9:25
(There was a downhill, the hill I ran up during the first mile. I also sped up a little by shortening my stride, but I didn't feel like I was forcing it. The dogs were inside this time, except for Fluffy, who I gently nudged with my foot on Monday. Because I win.)

Then I came home and drank a smoothie.

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I have a giveaway for you folks. I contacted the Larabar people and inquired about a review. They also offered to give 6 bars away to my readers. You've all heard about these, so I'm not going to explain the concept except to say it's like eating dried fruit and nuts, without all the chewing. The bars are flavored with natural ingredients, like unsweetened coconut and extra virgin coconut oil. I ate the coconut cream pie and declared it my favorite. The coconut flavor shone through and it reminded me of scooping the white layer of coconut from the can of coconut milk. They're not sticky or excessively chewy, and they're the perfect pre-run snack. I like that they're about 200 calories because that seems to keep me filled without being too much.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment and let me know what you like to eat before working out. I'll pick the winner on Friday. (US residents only, please.)

Nubs of coconut chunks!

Yoplait Smoothie Review + Prize Pack Giveaway

Everyone loves smoothies. Well, almost everyone. I like to drink them after a run, or on any day that's overwhelmingly hot and humid. They are refreshing, and better than eating fruit and yogurt alone. There is also so many ways to make them.

You've probably seen Yoplait yogurts. Unbeknownst to me, Yoplait also offers frozen smoothie packets. Each packet contains enough fruit for 2 servings and delivers 50% of the recommended daily value of calcium. Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Yoplait, I received a coupon to try the smoothies for myself. I was supposed to review the new Chocolate+Banana flavor, but I wasn't able to locate it at the store. Each pack retails for $3.59 and can be found at in the frozen fruit aisle in your grocery store.

Since chocolate+banana wasn't available, I got the Blueberry+Pomegranate. The packet contains mostly blueberries, and pomegranate juice concentrate-flavored yogurt cubes. Each drink totals out to around 150 calories per 8 ounces when made with skim milk, but I used whole because skim milk is disgusting. It came out really thick this way, so I had to add a little more milk.

The smoothie was good, but tasted a little on the sweet side. I was surprised, since the nutrition label stated that each serving has 12 grams of sugar. That's really not bad at all for a commercial smoothie. Perhaps it was the whole milk? Who knows. The texture was good, but separates when left to stand for a little. Flavor-wise, though, it was good and didn't just taste like blueberries.

If you'd like to try Yoplait Smoothies out, you can print a coupon out for $1 off.

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Giveaway Info

Along with a coupon to try out the smoothie, Yoplait has provided a pretty cool prize pack! If you're looking to rest up before the holiday season, this pack will really help you out. Along with a reusable Yoplait Smoothie tumbler, you will get a VIP coupon for a sample of Yoplait Chocolate Banana Smoothie, a neck pillow, and a lavender eye mask.

I think I'm going wear the eye mask (which smells great, and lavender supposedly helps you relax - perfect for dealing with morons this upcoming holiday season!) as a headband, and if I come across someone I want to ignore, I'll pull the mask down over my eyes and tell them that nobody's home. Good idea, right?!

So if you'd like to get your own prize pack, here's how:

• Comment on this post and tell me what your favorite smoothie is, or when you like to drink them


• Tweet: "@yoplaitsmoothie +Prize Pack Giveaway on She Runs, She Eats http://bit.ly/nMQPUt ". Leave a comment here to let me know you Tweeted


• Like Yoplait Smoothie on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall saying you were referred by me (include this link: http://bit.ly/nMQPUt). Comment again to let me know


• Like She Runs, She Eats on Facebook. Comment again to let me know.

Four separate entries to increase your chance to win! Giveaway ends Friday, October 14 at noon, and is open to US residents only.

Good luck!

New Fiber One 80 Calorie Honey Squares Cereal Review & Giveaway

I know, I know, I've been a bit crazy with the reviews lately (this may or may not be the last of them for a little bit). I don't normally review what I would call "diet foods", but when given the opportunity to review Fiber One's new 80 Calorie Honey Squares cereal, I took the offer so that I can highlight some issues I feel needs to be addressed in concerns to diet food. First, though, let me review the cereal.

(I was given the chance to review Fiber One's cereal on two separate occasions, one from MyBlogSpark.com, who is hosting the giveaway, and another was a representative who contacted me. Since it won't make any sense to blog about the same product twice, I'm mentioning it all in this post.)

Fiber One 80 Calorie Honey Squares cereal features lightly sweetened wheat and corn puffs. They're like the grown up version of Captain Crunch, but obviously with better ingredients. Fiber One cereals contain 10 grams of both soluble and insoluble fiber, or 40% of the Daily Value of fiber per serving. Since it contains both forms of fiber, it packs a double punch in terms of helping to keep you satiated, as well as offering more health benefits. The cereal, which tastes like pancakes, has a crispy crunch and a light texture.

Another interesting ingredient I haven't seen used as often is inulin, a starchy substance that's naturally occurring in many plants. It has many different health benefits, and since inulin isn't easily absorbed by the body it doesn't affect blood sugar the way other foods might, making it a good choice for diabetics who need to keep blood sugar illnesses at bay.

The sugar content comes it at a low 3 grams per serving, though that is due in part to sucralose. I'm not a fan of artificial sweeteners because of the after taste they leave, and in general I'm opposed to replacing sugar with sugar substitutes because it could possibly keep us from balancing those foods out due to the lower calories. Just because a cookie or cake has 75 less calories because of a sugar substitute, doesn't mean we need to eat it everyday. I also think it tastes too sweet and makes me crave more sugary foods in general.

Coming in at a mere 80 calories per serving, not including milk or any fruit added, it really is a light cereal. The price tag is a bit steep, $4.49 a box, though many cereals these days are around that price. Fiber One 80 Calorie Honey Squares can be found in major grocery stores nationwide.

Now, not pertaining to this product in particular, my issue with "diet" foods is that it gives us an unhealthy perspective on everyday eating. We really don't need special foods to lose weight or shape up, although they are convenient. It's important to learn how to tailor normal foods to fit into our lifestyle, which is how we'll be able to stick to our goal long-term. If we solely rely on weight loss products, we'll never be able to gain a strong foundation for healthy eating with regular, everyday items. Every now and again, these products are beneficial, but I make it a habit in my life not to rely on powders and supplements. Instead, I strive to eat a balanced diet that works well for my needs. I'm constantly having to adapt, though it's all in the name of learning. If I were trying to lose weight, cereal alone wouldn't do a good job of keeping me full. I last longer when I've had some protein, and I think that's true in general for most people. Maybe my body burns through fiber and carbs quickly, I don't know.

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Giveaway Info

If you'd like to try out the cereal for yourself, enter to win a box, and an armband with a pedometer. Fiber One is trying to help keep you moving, and a pedometer is a good way to track how many steps you take. Set up is simple and you can import data to your computer. The armband can fit a small phone, or your pedometer.

To enter:

• Leave a comment and let me know what your healthy breakfast is.


• Leave a comment on Fiber One's Facebook page, posting I entered @She Runs, She Eats giveaway for Fiber One 80 Calorie Cereal at http://bit.ly/p9w4gr for an additional entry. Leave a second comment to let me know.

Contest ends Saturday, August 6 at noon, and is open to US residents.

Good luck!

ZippEarz Earbuds Review & Giveaway

The ZippEarz folks sent me a pair of their earbuds to review and giveaway. They also gave me a hoodie that can be used along with the earbuds, and although it was a nice hoodie it was too big, so I gave it to my brother.

ZippEarz earbuds feature a 10mm speaker diameter, a conical fit (resting almost inside the ear canal vs resting in your ear like Apple earbuds), 3 sizes of soft ear cones for a perfect fit, detachable and adjustable ear loops to keep your ZippEarz in place during exercise, and a "zipper" feature to manage the cord.

At first, I wasn't sure how well these would work for me. The earbuds I use rest inside the ear instead of going deeper into the ear canal, so I didn't know how I'd like the fit and the fact that the sound would be a little more intense.

To begin, I fitted the earbuds with the smallest ear cones. I don't think my ears are very big, though perhaps the next size up would help keep them in place better.

I attached and adjusted the ear loops, then put them on. This wasn't easy; I needed to look in the mirror to see what I was doing since I had a hard time getting the loops to fit snugly over my ears.

The cord on the ZippEarz features a zipper to keep the cord from tangling. This is a really nice feature, as sometimes I forget to take my necklace off, resulting in a massive knot with the cord of my regular earbuds that I have to figure out post run. While the cord may seem long, the benefit is that everyone regardless of height can wear it.

I didn't want to run with excess cord flying around, so I tucked it under the waistband of my shorts and headed out for a run.

Unfortunately, my braid knocked off one of the ear loops. Once it fell off, I couldn't get it back on. For the first half mile it stayed in place, though. The sound was a little intense so I lowered the volume much more than I would with my regular earbuds. Had it not been for the braid incident, I think the earbuds would have stayed in place, but I'd have to try it again to be sure.

The pros for me: Despite the above, inconclusive incident, the sound quality is good. ZippEarz retail for $24.95 a pair and come in 3 colors (they sent me green, which works out nicely as its my favorite color!). For the price, you get good sound and a lot of extras, like the loops. I don't expect inexpensive earbuds or headphones to have the greatest sound, but when they do it's a nice surprise.

Update: After listening to tunes with Zippearz for the past few months, I've come to the conclusion that the sound quality is great. The music sounds deep, I can hear notes I never picked up as deeply with my standard Apple earbuds (cheap piece of crap). So if you're looking for quality with a good price, these are it.

The zipper feature is pretty neat. It keeps the cord near your neck together so it won't tangle or fly around.

I'm still unsure about the fit. I have stayed away from conical style earbuds because they push further into the ear. After listening to music with these for a little bit , the sound became more annoying earlier. In doses, I'd find these to work great, and they aren't uncomfortable to wear.

Second Update: I've been able to wear these earbuds while running without the attachable ear pieces by pushing the conical buds deep into my ear. This means I have to turn the volume down even lower than usual, but that's probably for the best.

Unfortunately, one of the cords somehow is partially sliced in half and that earbud went out. Luckily, my sweetie pie bought me a new pair. That's how much I've come to like these earbuds.

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ZippEarz Giveaway

Would you like to win a pair of ZippEarz? Enter for a chance to win! You'll get a pair of ZippEarz, a pouch, 3 sizes of soft ear cones, and ear loops. The value is $24.95.

To enter, follow these steps:

• Leave a comment. Tell me when you're most likely to listen to music - while you workout, during your commute, cooking in the kitchen?


• For an additional entry, Tweet the following: Win a pair of @zippearz from @RunningFoodie http://bit.ly/qsSspM. Leave a comment letting me know.


• Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post. Include the link in your next comment.

Three ways to enter!

Giveaway ends Friday, August 5, at noon. Good luck!

Fiber One 90 Calorie Brownie Prize Pack Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! The winner is commenter 12:

Sarah @ The Pajama Chef, 18 July, 2011 17:23

right now my fave healthy snack is fruit.

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Congrats, Sarah! I'll be contacting you shortly for your info. Stay tuned for another giveaway coming soon.

Fiber One 90 Calorie Brownie Review + Giveaway

If you're looking for a sweet snack that won't break the bank, Fiber One has come out with a new line of 90 calorie snacks, this time in brownie form. The premise of the Fiber One line is in the name. Fiber helps keep you feeling full longer while keeping snack attacks away, and with 5 grams of fiber per bar, you get 20% of your daily fiber in the form of a delicious brownie. Each bar contains 90 calories, 5 grams of fiber, 3 grams of fat, 17 carbohydrates, and just 7 grams of sugar. It's a light snack, for sure, but it is tasty.

I was sent two boxes of Fiber One brownies, along with a fitness pack, from MyBlogSpark to review.

The Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie is my favorite. The peanut butter flavor comes from peanut butter chips and icing, and "partially defatted peanut flour". The peanut butter didn't overpower the chocolate in the brownies, which I liked. At times, the peanut butter tasted almost like caramel. The texture surprised me. I figured, based on how it looked, that the brownie would be more cakey than fudgy, but it landed somewhere in the middle.

The Chocolate Fudge Brownie has a deep cocoa flavor that would be nice when eaten with a cup of coffee. Flavor wise, I like them both and while I typically stay away from reduced-calorie foods, in this case I'm happy because the sugar content has also been lowered.

I wouldn't call this a natural bar. While there aren't many additives, there are a few thickening ingredients and other stuff not normally present in homemade baked goods or brands that use whole ingredients. It does make for a good snack on the run, though, especially if you're a fan of chocolate and peanut butter.

Now, would you be interested in a giveaway? Along with the 90 calorie brownies, you'd also receive a fitness prize pack to aid your fitness goals. The prize pack contains a resuable water bottle, a jump rope, a headband, a fitness bag, a bracelet thing, and a nifty snack bowl with a freezable lid to keep foods chilled.

Isn't that cool? Pop the bowl (or just the lid) in the freezer, then fill the bowl with your snack and screw the lid on when you're ready to leave. The lid contains a freezer-safe gel that turns to ice when frozen. I like it.

Time for some giveaway rules! Here is how to enter the Fiber One 90 Calorie Brownie giveaway:

1. Leave a comment and tell me what your favorite healthy snack food is.


2. For a second entry, Tweet this giveaway and leave another comment with the link to your tweet.


3. For a third entry, like She Runs, She Eats on Facebook if you haven't already done so. Comment again to let me know.


4. And for one more chance to win, blog about this giveaway on your blog, linking to this post. Leave another comment.

This gives you up to four chances to be entered into the giveaway.

To be eligible, you must reside in the United States.

Giveaway ends Wednesday, July 20 at noon. Winner will be posted after noon. Good luck!

Giveaway Winners

Hello, and happy almost weekend! Two giveaways were running this week, and today I pick the winners.

For the first giveaway, which was for the Le Creuset Farm Fresh Steamer Pot, the winner is...

mmalavec, 23 May, 2011 22:01

I love, love lentils! and my favorite is definitely the cake!

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The winner of the Chicago Metallic Winged Baking Sheet & Cupcake Liners is...

Sharon, 26 May, 2011 09:52

Tweeted http://twitter.com/rusthawk/status/73748373009727489

Congrats, and thanks to everyone who entered! I'll be contacting you for your shipping info.

Stay tuned. Next week I decide which recipe to use as my final post, which you guys will vote for to hopefully help me win! The first 500 voters receive a free sample of lentils. I'll let you know more about that then, too.

Have a good weekend!