Here are some ideas for easy recipes for families with teens:

• Wraps – These are portable and can be filled with veggies as well as some meat if you like. You can use wheat tortillas and other healthy bread items as your “wrapping”.
• Smoothies – Make them with fresh or frozen fruits. Put them into a covered drink container to take along for practice or a day out with friends. Makes a healthy snack and helps your tween avoid soda.
• Homemade Trail Mix – Include raisins, nuts, dried fruit and less chocolate.
• Parfaits – Add fruit like blueberries, wheat germ or whole grain cereal to low fat yogurt for an on the go snack. Don’t forget the spoon!
• Fruit or Zucchini Muffins
• Wheat crackers, low fat cheese and fruit
• Frittatas and Casseroles with vegetables
• Sandwiches – same as wraps but use wheat bread and load up on the vegetables

Some suggestions to save time:

• Prepare a batch and freeze
• Have your children help with the cooking. They’re more likely to eat if they’ve cooked.
• Plan your meals and snacks in advance.
• Make a shopping list based on what you are going to cook.

Consider how the food looks:

• Color is important
• Make it fun! Put fruit or veggies on sticks, create a bowl of fruit around a bowl of peanut butter for dipping, etc.
• Disguise it. If your teen won’t eat celery for example, cut it up and add it to a soup. Then blend the broth.

Buy some unusual containers:

• Get a lunch box with separate compartments for hot and cold and a unique design
• What about a bento box?
• There’s no need for plastic sandwich bags any more, get fabric ones that are washable.

Share with friends, search on the web and ask your tween to help you come up with easy recipes for your family.

• Original Victory Cookie – the signature chocolate chip cookie
• Shuggah Browns – a sugar cookie made with brown sugar
• Mr. Wonderful – oatmeal raisin
• Beach Bum – made with pineapple chunks and macadamia nuts

My favorites were the Original and Shuggah Browns which tasted like they came fresh out of the oven. In fact, I put mine in the microwave for just a few seconds to warm up and dunked in milk to get the best out of them. A box would make a nice gift to bring along to a dinner party or as a treat for a play group.

Purchase from Victory Cookies online. You can also get a free sample cookie to taste. I’m sure you’ll be buying them after!

Disclosure: I received a box of cookies free of charge.

• CEREALS
• CHEWY GRANOLA BARS
• FROZEN FRUIT
• FROZEN VEGETABLES
• FROZEN POTATOES
• FRUIT SPREADS
• JUICE CONCENTRATES
• RELISH

Cascadian Farm wants to teach us to do all we can to stay healthy and be environmentally friendly. Recently they celebrated Earth Day and raised money for the Organic Farming Research Foundation on Facebook. They hold events online and all over the country to spread the news about being eco-friendly and eating organic foods.

Discount – Get a $1 coupon for any Cascadian Farm Product

Giveaway: Win a Live Green Together Gift Pack which includes a tote, a box of Fruitfull O’s Cereal, a box of Cinnamon Crunch Cereal, a box of Granola, a box of Dark Chocolate Almond Granola, a box of Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars and a box of Dark Chocolate Almond Chewy Granola Bars.

The Rules:

1. Contest starts now and ends May 5th at midnight EST.
2. Open to adults 18 and over in the US.
3. One entry per household.
4. Winner chosen by Random.org.
5. Winner has 2 days to claim prize.
6. Have fun and tell your friends.

How To Enter:
For One Entry For Each Below: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Leave a comment about what you do to be more environmentally friendly.
2. Leave a comment about one product from Cascadian Farm you like.
3. Leave a comment about something you feed your child to help him or her stay healthy.
4. Follow my blog on Facebook. (Please leave your Facebook ID)
5. Follow Cascadian Farm on Facebook. (Please leave your Facebook ID)
6. Follow me, ConnieFoggles, on Twitter. (Please leave your Twitter ID)
7. Sign up for my FriendFeed (Please leave your FriendFeed ID)
8. Use the Bookmark widget/button under this post and share this post on any of the sites listed. (Please comment with which site you shared this post on.)
9. Tweet this exactly (You can tweet daily) Please leave a link to your tweet:

Win a gift pack from Cascadian Farm from @ConnieFoggles http://bit.ly/9e3b6q
PL RT

Both my prize pack and the prize pack for the Giveaway was provided by Cascadian Farm through MyBlogSpark.

Giveaway Ended.

• Hug a Tree – protect and plan trees
• Carwashing – wash your car on the lawn
• Slow The Flow – install a low flow toilet
• Crusin on the Highway – drive slower
• Beware of Vampires – unplug electronics when not in use
• Seal the Ducks and Save Some Green – seal heating ducts
• Reuse Old Clothes – hold a clothing swap, donate or give away hand-me-downs
• Food Planner – check your fridge and cupboard before grocery shopping

It’s easy to make a pledge. So take part and help raise money for healthier foods through Cascadian Farms.

I was provided with this information by Blog Spark via a campaign for Cascadian Farm. I’ll be receiving products from Cascadian Farm shortly also.

1. Rainbows are popular for St. Patrick’s Day. Get out some crayons or markers and draw a colorful rainbow. If you’re lucky enough to see one, take some photos.
2. Going along with rainbows, make a batch of rainbow cookies. Use sugar cookies and add rainbow sprinkles or icing to make the shape and colors of your rainbow.
3. Leprechauns are easy to make out of paper lunch bags. You’ll need construction paper to add some extra touches like the hat and beard. Let your imagination guide you!



Image by bon_here via Flickr

4. Get a rock, paint it white and add a kiss from an ink stamp or paint to make the Blarney stone. You can even decorate it further with some glitter.
5. Make Irish Soda Bread with your child. Here’s a recipe from AllRecipes for Amazingly Easy Irish Soda Bread.
6. Make a Leprechaun box and watch your child’s eyes grow with excitement! You can use a cardboard box, covered with a paper bag or green construction paper. Decorate it as you see fit. Be sure there is a small opening. Leave it out the night of March 16th. Open it on March 17th at night to see what the Leprechauns have left to thank you for making them a place to stay for the day.
7. Look for clovers if weather permits. You’re sure to be lucky if you find a four leaf clover!
8. Eat a bowl of Lucky Charms for breakfast.
9. Here’s a video to teach you how to draw a shamrock:

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Be sure to spend some time with your children making some crafts and cooking some food. Maybe they’ll try Corned Beef and Cabbage this year.

• Roasted Potato Foccacia
• Cream of Rosemary Potato Soup
• Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Bacon
• Sweet Potato Corn Chowder
• Bistro Potato Salad
• And, the restaurant is even giving out the recipe for a guest favorite, Golden Yam Bisque, from February 15 – 28!

Great news about potatoes and your health -

• Low in calories
• Fat Free
• Cholesterol free
• Packed with potassium
• High in Vitamin C if eaten with the skin

The Sweet Tomatoes near me is one of my all time favorite places to eat with my family. I love their salads, bakery items, soups and desserts. There’s something for everyone including my picky daughter. We’ve made eating there a family tradition that we cherish. I love the new menu choices each month and February’s Potato Fest sounds like it will be top of the line for me.

Did you know that you can follow Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes on Twitter? Play games and win guest passes. Same for their Facebook page and there you can learn about new store openings and promos too.

Giveaway: 3 Winners! 2 Meal Passes to Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes

The Rules:

1. Contest starts now and ends Feb. 28th at midnight EST.
2. Open to adults 18 and over in the US.
3. Winners will be chosen by Random.org.
4. Winners have 2 days to claim prize.
5. Have fun and tell your friends.

How To Enter:
For One Entry For Each Below: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Leave a comment about your favorite way to eat potatoes.
2. Follow my blog on Facebook. (Please leave your Facebook ID)
3. Follow me, ConnieFoggles, on Twitter. (Please leave your Twitter ID)
4. Sign up for my FriendFeed (Please leave your FriendFeed ID)
5. Use the Bookmark widget/button under this post and share this post on any of the sites listed. (Please comment with which site you shared this post on.)
6. Follow Souplantation on Twitter. (Please leave your Twitter ID)
7. Tweet this exactly (You can tweet daily) Please leave a link to your tweet:

Win 2 Meal Passes Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes @ConnieFoggles  3 Winners! http://bit.ly/aask6h PL RT

This is not an compensated post. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

There are some recipes available from Cheerios for you to take a look at and use. Surprise your family!

My Review: This was a big hit in my house. Chocolate cereal is something that I use as a treat, but with the health benefits of Chocolate Cheerios, I have no problem serving this every day. Plus, I know my daughter will drink the excess milk in the bowl.

Savings Alert! Print a 50 cents off coupon for your next purchase of Chocolate Cheerios

Giveaway: Win a Chocolate Cheerios Gift Pack which includes One Box of Chocolate Cheerio, One Ceramic Cereal Bowl, Chocolate Scented bath items and One Bath Pouf.

The Rules:

1. Contest starts now and ends Feb. 15th at midnight EST.
2. Open to adults 18 and over in the US.
3. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.
4. Winner has 2 days to claim prize.
5. Have fun and tell your friends.

How To Enter:
For One Entry For Each Below: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Leave a comment about what is your favorite Cheerios cereal.
2. Follow my blog on Facebook. (Please leave your Facebook ID)
3. Follow me, ConnieFoggles, on Twitter. (Please leave your Twitter ID)
4. Sign up for my FriendFeed (Please leave your FriendFeed ID)
5. Use the Bookmark widget/button under this post and share this post on any of the sites listed. (Please comment with which site you shared this post on.)
6. Tweet this exactly:

Win A Chocolate Cheerios Gift Pack @ConnieFoggles http://bit.ly/aCopVQ Ends 2/15 PL RT

Disclosure: Product, information, prize pack, and giveaway have all been provided by Cheerios and My BlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

After this good result, I’ll be using Old El Paso Green Chiles in more dishes, especially those that my husband likes. There’s a lot of snacks that are made for special times like the Super Bowl. We like Nachos and Seven Layer Bean Dip but now I’ll be adding Green Chiles. My husband will want to give these Taco Nachos a try on the grill.

Old El Paso Green Chiles come in 4.5 and 7 oz cans. I was provided with a Tackle The Taste pack which included two free cans of Green Chiles, as well as a football-shaped ceramic serving platter, two sets of football-themed plates, cocktail napkins, and a themed table runner. This will make our Super Bowl party even more special. We always have a party, or attend a party, for any type of special event. Any excuse for family bonding is great!

Savings Alert! Save 55 cents on one can of Old El Paso Green Chiles with this printable coupon.

Giveaway: Win the Tackle The Taste Prize Pack

The Rules:

1. Contest starts now and ends January 15th at midnight EST.
2. Open to adults 18 and over in the US.
3. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.
4. Winner has 2 days to claim prize.
5. Have fun and tell your friends.

How To Enter:
For One Entry For Each Below: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Leave a comment about what type of foods you serve or eat on Super Bowl Sunday
2. Follow my blog on Facebook. (Please leave your Facebook ID)
3. Follow me, ConnieFoggles, on Twitter. (Please leave your Twitter ID)
4. Sign up for my FriendFeed (Please leave your FriendFeed ID)
5. Use the Bookmark widget/button under this post and share this post on any of the sites listed. (Please comment with which site you shared this post on.)

Disclosure: Product, information, prize pack, and giveaway have all been provided by Old El Paso and My BlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Giveaway ended. Winner selected.

For example I buy chicken wings in bulk when they are on sale. I compare shopping prices in advance to be sure that I am getting the best deal possible. Then I research recipes for chicken wings, print them out and make them to cook and use up the chicken wings. Some of the best places that I’ve found recipes is on food blogs. To make this process easier I need to buy one of those freezers to store my bulk grocery items. This way I won’t have to cook things quickly and I can buy even more groceries.

When I look for shopping deals I am sure to only buy what my family will eat. It’s not worth it to buy groceries on sale, even if the sale is the best deal around, if the food will go to waste. I’ve tried covering up chicken thighs with some great recipes but sauces and gravies will only go so far. Don’t get fooled into thinking you can trick your family. It will be a big waste of money.

The savings can go toward paying off bills or adding to a vacation fund. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when you cook frugally for your family.

This is a sponsored post. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more details.

I had the opportunity to taste Chicken Tuscany. Growing up eating real Italian food which included Chicken soup, I admit that was hesitant to give this a try. I really enjoyed it though and ate the whole can for dinner last night. It was delicious. The addition of Great Northern Beans was almost as good as Cannellini beans and I thought the spinach was escarole. Though not perfect, it is a very good substitute, especially when you can just open a can instead of having to prepare and cook it.

I usually don’t eat the celery from any canned soup, but this had the real taste of the vegetable I enjoy. Each spoonful was full of chicken, beans, carrots, tomatoes, etc. It wasn’t overly salty either and was hearty enough for a meal for me. (I did eat a late lunch, so maybe adding a salad will be better.)

Adding fiber to your diet is something we all need to do. Eating something delicious and easy to prepare like Progresso High Fiber Soup makes it something I don’t have to think about. Having soup as a meal is a fun family tradition to start. You can work together with your children on preparing fresh fruit for dessert and talk about good foods.

Purchase: Available in grocery stores and anywhere you can find soup. Coupons can be found at the Progresso soup site.

Giveaway: Win  2 branded soup mugs and 2 branded spoons seen below:

The Rules:

1. Contest starts now and ends Wed. Nov. 11th at midnight EST.
2. Open to US Residents only.
3. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.
4. Winner has 2 days to claim prize.
5. Have fun and tell your friends.

How To Enter:
Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment about one way you add fiber to your diet. If this is not done, all other entries will not count.

For One Entry For Each Below: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Leave a comment about one of  your favorite soups.
2. Write a blog post about this contest with a link to this post. (let me know the link to your post)
3. Join this blogs Facebook Networked Blogs page – found on the sidebar. (leave your Facebook name please).
4. Follow me, ConnieFoggles on Twitter. (leave your Twitter ID please)
5. Friend me ConnieFoggles on Facebook (leave your Facebook name please).
6. Tweet this exactly (leave your Twitter status please). You can tweet this daily:

Win Progresso High Fiber Soup Prize Pack @ConnieFoggles http://bit.ly/1AWpfh PL RT

I was provided with the Prize Pack, soup and information about the soup from MyBlogSpark. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

*CONTEST ENDED. WINNER ANNOUNCED.*