nature's path Archives

All About Nature’s Path Love Crunch

February 11, 2012 by Momstart 6 Comments

By Summer:

I enjoy food! I enjoy making it (as you may know from my Thursday Treats each week) and I enjoy eating it (which you also may know since I have reviewed some fitness products for Mom Start … I still have some pounds to go). I’m to the point in my life where I can choose I eat or chose to eat well; if I want a burger I want a fully loaded grass feed beef burger, for chocolate I don’t want a Hershey’s bar I’d prefer Fran’s or Theo’s, and I personally LOVE Nature’s Path granola over any other brand.

Nature’s Path Love Crunch premium granolas are top of the line – like Nordstrom’s, Café Vivace, Lexus. My family doesn’t buy cereal, but we do purchase Nature’s Path granolas. Nature’s Path Organic makes top of the line foods. They are a brand I stand behind for their food (AND their eco issues – species conservation and going green – and their company’s philanthropic nature, but those are other Mom Start articles).

Love Crunch will come not in the traditional box, but in a bag, to forgo excess cardboard. For each bag of Love Crunch sold, Nature’s Path will donate the equivalent in cereal or cash (up to $1 million) to food banks. Through the “Spread the Love Project” [or Bite4Bite is what you’ll find written on the bags], Nature’s Path will bundle the goodwill of all the consumers buying Love Crunch into what Nature’s Path Organics calls “love miracles” by helping to ease hunger for those who need it most.

Our first Nature’s Path Organic granola love was Ancient Grains which my family first discovered at Costco. At Costco we also would purchase Nature’s Path Organics toast pastries. Last year at Valentine’s, Nature’s Path asked me to try their new Love Crunch cereal which was only going to be at Whole Foods. YUM!

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Nature’s Path introduced the original Love Crunch – called Dark Chocolate & Red Berries – which was the perfect marriage of flax granola, strawberries, raspberries, coconut and dark chocolate chunks. Inspired by a true-life love story and philanthropic endeavor, it was created by Arjan Stephens, son of Nature’s Path’s founder Arran Stephens, and his wife, Rimjhim, as a wedding favor for those who helped celebrate their marriage. In lieu of wedding gifts, the two asked guests to volunteer in their communities and post photos on a project page which they aptly named “The Experience Giving Project.” Nature’s Path then actually created Love Crunch as a limited edition cereal with a portion or proceeds benefiting the Whole Planet Foundation.

Well, my Whole Foods location didn’t bring in Love Crunch, so I was out of luck as far as stocking up since it was a limited time release in 2011. In January this year I was so happy that Costco had a large 26.4 ounce bag of Love Crunch Dark Chocolate & Red Berries.

Then the best thing happened just recently, Nature’s Path Organic asked me to try their new Love Crunch varieties – Carrot Cake, Apple Crumble, and Aloha Blend! Each of these are so delish! Even though I was looking forward to Carrot Cake, wanted the Apple Crumble for my husband, and thought I won’t like the Aloha Blend … I’m here to report they’re ALL awesome! Though my favorite is still “the original” Love Crunch Dark Chocolate & Red Berries.

Here’s a look inside the cereals:

· Aloha Blend – Rolled oats*, evaporated cane juice*, soy oil*, dried coconut*, spelt*, dried coconut*, white chocolate chunks* (cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, whole milk powder*, soy lecithin [non-GMO], vanilla extract*, ground vanilla*), freeze-dried pineapple*, rice starch*, sea salt, natural pineapple flavor, cinnamon*, tocopherol (natural vitamin E).
Contains soy and dairy. Produced in a facility that uses wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts.

· Carrot Cake – Rolled Oats*, evaporated cane juice*, rolled spelt*, soy oil*, raisins* (coated with sunflower oil*), pecans*, yogurt chips* (sugar*, palm kernel oil*, non-fat milk*, lactic acid, soy lecithin*, salt, vanilla*), dried carrots*, freeze-dried pineapple*, rice starch*, sea salt, cinnamon*, natural vanilla flavor, cloves*, tocopherols (natural vitamin E).
Contains soy, tree nuts, and dairy. Produced in a facility that uses wheat and peanut.

· Apple Crumble – Rolled oats*, evaporated cane juice*, rolled spelt*, soy oil*, pecans*, freeze-dried apples*, chia seeds*, rice starch*, sea salt, molasses*, cinnamon*, natural vanilla flavor, tocopherols (natural vitamin E).
Contains soy and tree nuts. Produced in a facility that uses wheat and peanuts.

· Dark Chocolate & Red Berries – Rolled oats*, evaporated cane juice*, soy oil*, spelt*, dark chocolate chunks* (evaporated cane juice*, chocolate liquor*, cocoa butter*, soy lecithin*, vanilla*), flax seeds*, dried coconut*, cocoa*, freeze-dried berry blend* (freeze-dried strawberries*, freeze-dried raspberries*), rice starch*, sea salt, natural chocolate flavor, natural vanilla flavor, tocopherols (natural vitamin E).
Contains soy. Produced in a facility that uses dairy, peanuts, and tree nuts.

* Organic

If you want some Nature’s Path recipes, Mom Start has made SmartBran Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes and Diane Henderik’s Strawberry Cheesecake; only the strawberry cheesecake is made with Nature’s Path Organic’s Love Crunch Dark Chocolate & Red Berries. (However, there are many different Nature’s Path recipes both savory and sweet on their site). Mom Start has also featured Manna Organics Bavarian Style Sourdough loaves last year which are distributed by Nature’s Path Organics. BUT you should see the whole line of Nature’s Path Organic products!

Stay connected with Nature’s Path Organic on their website, via the Nature’s Path Organics blog, on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Add Love Crunch to your shopping … go ahead, we’ll wait; you won’t regret it!

We have received samples in the past but we truly love Nature’s Path

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm.

Season of Giving Day 29: Nature’s Path EnviroKidz Support Endangered Species

November 29, 2011 by Momstart 3 Comments

By Summer:

I love Nature’s Path Organic Foods. This should be no secret as I’ve shared with Mom Start readers Nature’s Path Organics Foods recipe s, how I love their organic healthy and ecofriendly company, and giving … which brings me to today’s Season of Giving post.

In my own home when I purchase cereal it’s Nature’s Path. My husband and I love to crunch Ancients Path in our yogurt. My kids love Nature’s Path Organic’s EnviroKidz Gorilla Munch. Nature’s Path donates 1% of the sales of EnviroKidz (their children’s line of gluten-free products) to projects that support endangered species, habitat conservation and environmental education for kids worldwide.

To date, they have raised over $1.4 million for the environment. This year, for the first time ever, they are offering grants of up to $20,000 to local charitable non-profits doing projects in communities across North America. Project submissions need to be non-profit organization that supports endangered species, habitat conservation and/or environmental education for kids. Nature’s Path EnviroKids needs Project Submissions and voters. When voting, find a project you’re passionate about that work to empower the children of today to change their present and future world and to protect endangered species and environments.

You will be responsible for local non-profits winning grants of up to $20,000 but only if you vote before the deadline of December 9^th.

All the Contest Details can be found on Facebook.

Thanks to Nature’s Path for continuing to be awesome in my book, and saving the environment.

About Summer:

Our Community Charity Project Matched By Nature’s Path: Box Out Hunger

July 2, 2011 by Momstart 4 Comments

My local MOMS Club chapter held our third annual Box Out Hunger cereal box drive to benefit our community food bank in Maltby, the Maltby Food Bank. From the MOMS, the club collected 44 boxes of cereal. Nature’s Path Organics (a smaller family run, but international, company from B.C. Canada) matched us box-for-box … in fact, they actually sent 48 boxes as each shipping box contained 12 boxes. The idea for the Box Out Hunger cereal drive was formed from the knowledge that free and reduced breakfasts and lunches are no longer offered to local children during the summertime as meals are a school district program, and cereal and other foods categorized as breakfast items are expensive to purchase and not highly donated to food banks in general.

A big THANK YOU to Nature’s Path for their generosity! In addition to finding Nature’s Path Organic on their website, you can find Nature’s Path on Facebook] and Twitter @NaturesPath. You can read more about Nature’s Path on Mom Start in our posts: Every Day is Earth Day, Hemp Plus Granola, SmartBran Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes Recipe, Manna Organics Bread, Love Crunch Cereal, and Ancient Grains Cereal.

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm.

Summer put this thank you piece together, but I wanted to take a moment to say thank you as well. It’s an amazing opportunity for us to provide high quality organic food to our food bank. Something I’m sure they don’t see very often. Thank you Nature’s Path!!!

Nature’s Path Hemp Plus Granola $250 Shopping Spree Giveaway

May 19, 2011 by Momstart 5 Comments

It’s really not a secret that we, at Mom Start, love Nature’s Path Organic Foods. So we’re very happy and proud to announce their Hemp Plus Granola has been nominated for the Best Granola in the Vegetarian Times Foodie Awards 2011.

Now Nature’s Path needs your help to have their Hemp Plus Granola win the Vegetarian Times BEST GRANOLA category. I’ve voted for them and some of my other favorites, and you can too. For simply voting you’re eligible to win a $250 grocery shopping spree.

If you haven’t tried Nature’s Path Hemp Plus Granola, go grab a box at your local retailer. Hemp is a green product (no pun intended) as it is sustainable resource. Hemp is very nutritious; the flax and hemp seeds enhance the Nature’s Path Hemp Plus Granola cereal nutrition with 600mg of Omega-3 fatty acids and 1800mg of Omega-6 fatty acids. Inside you’ll find –rolled oats*, evaporated cane juice*, soy oil*, brown rice flour*, flaxseeds*, hemp seeds* oat syrup solids* (oat syrup soilds*, topopherols), sea salt, molasses*. *organic

If you’re interested in the results then get a Vegetarian Time subscription or remember to pick up your copy of Vegetarian Times at newsstands when the Foodie Awards winners are announced in the October 2011 issue.

About Summer:

Tasty Treat Thursday Nature’s Path Organic SmartBran Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes Recipe

May 5, 2011 by Momstart 7 Comments

These don’t look healthy … but they aren’t as naughty for you as alternatives. These are supposed to be coated with chocolate on top, but I feel less guilty (though I use the same amount of chocolate) stirring in all the chocolate chips to make this cake look more muffin-like.

These cakes also aren’t very sweet. I really like them (and so does my husband and his colleagues). If you’re looking for a great little snack for you and some mommy friends, this is it! Nature’s Path Organic’s SmartBran can be eaten as a cereal or used in baking. I’ve used SmartBran in the Diane Hendrik’s Strawberry Cheesecake crust I made earlier this year, and I got this recipe off the box. You can find other SmartBran recipes on the Nature’s Path Recipes on their site, as well as other recipes using their other products.

I think using Nature’s Path in cooking is an easy way to make healthier choices if you enjoy baking.

Nature’s Path Organic SmartBran Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

¹/₃ cup vegetable oil, plus ½ tablespoon for greasing muffin liners
1 cup vanilla soymilk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 cups SmartBran Cereal
¾ cup unbleached white flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup chocolate chips, divided
½ cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder (optional)
12 walnut halves

DIRECTIONS:

1. Set the rack in the center and preheat the oven to 350^oF. Place paper liners in 12 muffin cups. Brush liners with oil.

2. Combine the soymilk and vinegar and set aside to curdle. Grind SmartBran cereal into flour in a food processor or spice grinder. (You should have a scant cup.)

3. In a large bowl, blend the ground cereal, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder (if using) baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in ½ cup of chocolate chips.

4. In a bowl, beat the sugar and 1/3 cup of oil together for 2 minutes. Add the soymilk-vinegar mixture and beat until well combined.

5. Fold the liquid into the dry ingredients just until blended. Do not over mix. Divide the batter among the prepared cups. Gently pat the tops with your fingers to smooth them off. Distribute the remaining chocolate chips on top.

6. Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pans back to front and continue baking until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 8 to 10 minutes longer. Transfer the cupcakes from the pan to a cooling rack.

7. Working quickly, use a spatula to spread the melted chips into an even coat on top of each cupcake. Gently press a walnut half into the middle.

8. Cool to room temperature. Store in a tightly sealed container in a cool place for up to 3 days.

MY CHANGES:

1. I didn’t use the extra ½ tablespoon for oil for the muffin liners. I didn’t seem to have a problem peeling the paper.

2. We don’t buy or use soy milk so I used fat-free cow’s milk. After the milk has curdled, I added 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

3. I didn’t divide the chocolate chips. I just poured them all into the batter and mixed. Like I’d said, this gives more of a muffin-feel than cupcake as there isn’t a “frosting”.

4. I didn’t add the espresso since I don’t like coffee, and instant is really in sin here in Seattle.

5. I didn’t add the nut to the top so that people with nut allergies could enjoy them too.

About Summer:

Every Day is Earth Day Nature’s Path Cereal Giveaway

April 28, 2011 by Momstart 127 Comments

At Nature’s Path every day is Earth Day! What’s so earthy about Nature’s Path?

Nature’s Path offers only organic products. It’s in their logo!

When you get Nature’s Path you get No GMOs. Nature’s Path products have passed a rigorous, independent verification process and have the Non-GMO Project Verified Seal. (GMOs are genetically modified organisms.)

Nature’s Path is in the community by helping put organic gardens across the US by partnering with Organic Gardening magazine on the “Gardens for Good Grants” contest. The Grant is an effort to “plant it forward” in which deserving communities are selected to receive $25,000. In addition, Nature’s Path donations products to help fill the panties of local food banks. Last year Vallejo People’s Garden in Vallejo, CA and Damayan Garden Project in Tallahassee, FL were awarded the “Gardens for Good Grants”. If you’re in a place that could benefit from this year’s grant stay posted to the Nature’s Path site.

Nature’s Path box and bags are sustainable packaging –Eco-Pacs and EnviroBoxes. Both the boxes and bags are recyclable. Eco-Pacs, which is a number four recyclable plastic, use 66% less packaging than traditional cereal brands and use no cardboard. EnviroBoxes which reduces the packaging by 10% by sizing wrappings better to the product.

Nature’s Path is having a contact about what people do to make everyday Earth Day. Join in and win. Starting to eat organic can be your new thing … And it’s as easy as winning the Nature’s Path Organics prize pack (featured above) — a box of each the Crunchy Maple Sunrise, Love Crunch and Pumpkin-n-Spice Granola Bars — here on Mom Start.

Enter to Win:

Crunchy Maple Sunrise delivers an organic blend of corn, rice, flax, quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth. It is a sweet and nutritious option for those avoiding gluten, but don’t worry, with yummy maple flavor, there’s plenty of great taste for everyone at the breakfast table!

Nature’s Path Love Crunch is the perfect marriage between the whole grain goodness of flax granola; the sweetness of strawberries and the tartness of raspberries; and the decadence of coconut and dark chocolate chunks. Inspired by a true-life love story and philanthropic endeavor, Love Crunch was created by Arjan Stephens, son of Nature’s Path’s founder, and his wife, Rimjhim as a wedding favor for those who helped celebrate their marriage. In lieu of wedding gifts, the two asked guests volunteer in their communities. Now a limited edition cereal sold at Whole Foods, for every box of Love Crunch sold, Nature’s Path will donate $1 – up to $25,000 – to the Whole Planet Foundation to help empower poor women around the world to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

Pumpkin-n-Spice Granola Bars are a flavorful organic snack option sure to satisfy any craving with mineral-rich roasted pumpkin seeds, Omega-3 rich flaxseeds and a dash of cinnamon. Proving good things really do come in small packages; the new bars are packaged in a more sustainable box with 36% less cardboard, saving 472,000 gallons of water and 46 tons of waste yearly.

To win:

Like the Nature’s Path Organic Foods company, tell us how you plan to celebrate Earth Day all year long in the comments section?

Extra Entries:

Enter the Nature’s Path Contest on THEIR website for a year’s worth of cereal

Like Nature’s Path on Facebook

Follow Nature’s Path on Twitter @NaturesPath

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Every Day is Earth Day with @NaturesPath & @momstart Win a Nature’s Path Cereal/Snack Package #Giveaway http://bit.ly/mztGkk

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This giveaway ends May 16th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Disclosure – Nature’s Path is continuing to fight hunger in my community. For the writing of this article Nature’s Path has graciously given my MOMS Club of Woodinville, WA chapter boxes of cereal for our “Box Out Hunger” cereal drive to end hunger for school kids not receiving school’s free or reduced meals during the summer months. The Nature’s Path donated boxes of cereal, boxes collected for the MOMS Club of Woodinville members and any boxes of cereal provided by the community will be donated to the Maltby Food Bank. However, any opinions expressed above are my own and are NOT influenced by compensation.

About Summer:

Love Crunch: It’s Natural To LOVE, Share It this February!

February 3, 2011 by Momstart 5 Comments

By Summer:

Can you believe it’s February? I can’t! Since the last month has just flown by I should mention that Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away! YIKES! Do you have plans for your sweetheart? How will you show your love?

Nature’s Path, same company that has brought us Ancient Grains through Costco, is partnering with Whole Foods to offer Love Crunch cereal, but only for a limited time so you’ll want to run out and get yourself a couple boxes!

When I got my box of Nature’s Path Organic Love Crunch I had to open it and try the dark chocolate chunks, raspberry, strawberry, coconut, and flax granola cereal. YUM! Really; this is an eat-from-the-box cereal. Even my 4 year old chose to have it for his snack today. His quote, “You’re right; this is yummy!” I feel confident giving Love Crunch as a snack because all of Nature’s Path products are made of 100% pronounceable ingredients that are natural and/or organic. Love Crunch is USDA certified organic and contain NO artificial preservatives, NO additives, NO genetically modified organism (GMOs) and NO synthetic pesticides.

Nature’s Path would love you to share your love at home and internationally. Love Crunch is not just for your family, but for each box your purchase $1 (up to $25,000; that’s 125 loans of $200) will be donated to the Whole Planet Foundation which lends microcredit — a small loan usually $200 or less, that requires no collateral or contract — to women in order to create or expand an at-home business in order to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. And for at home …

make Diane Henderik’s Strawberry Cheesecake for your sweetheart!

Diane Henderik is a Registered Dietitian, Personal Chef, Culinary Nutritionist, and blogger of Dietitian in the Kitchen.

Diane Henderik’s Strawberry Cheesecake

CRUST
1³/₄ cup Nature’s Path Love Crunch cereal
¹/₂ cup Nature’s Path Smart Bran cereal
1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
¹/₃ cup butter (melted)

CAKE
¹/₂ cup Lifeway Strawberry Greek Yogurt
4 oz. Lifeway Farmer’s cheese, room temperature
8 oz. low fat cream cheese
¹/₂ cup sugar
1¹/₂ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¹/₂ teaspoon nutmeg
¹/₄ teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoon whole wheat flour
2 cup pureed fresh strawberries

TOPPING
1 cup Nature’s Path Love Crunch cereal
12 fresh strawberries
fresh mint springs

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350^o.
2. Combine cereals and cocoa in blender, process until blended to fine crumbs. Reserve ¹/₄ cup of crumbs.
3. Return reserved ¹/₄ cup of crumbs to blender and grind to fine powder. Set aside for garnish when cake is complete.
4. Make the crust: Combine all ingredients for crust in a large bowl. Press into bottom of 9” springform of cake pan and set aside.
5. Make the cake: Combine yogurt, farmer’s cheese and cream cheese in a large bowl. With electric mixer, completely beat in sugar. Beat in vanilla, spices and flour. Stir in pureed strawberries. Pour into pan.
6. Bake for about 1¹/₂ hours or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Remove from oven and let stand 30 minutes.
8. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.
9. Dust entire top of cake with reserved finely ground cereal and sprinkle Nature Path’s Love Crunch cereal around the edges.
10. Fan slices strawberries in center of cake and place whole strawberry in the middle. Garnish with whole and sliced strawberries and mint sprigs.
11. ENJOY!

Serves 12

My changes (as you can see from the photo) were all about the final touches. I don’t use any mint to garnish and choose to use chocolate chips in between the strawberry slices as well as at the top of the middle, whole strawberry.

Be sure you keep in-the-know with Nature’s Path, Whole Foods Market and Diane Henderiks on their respective websites, Facebook and twitter:
Natures’s Path on Facebook and on Twitter @NaturesPath
Whole Foods Markets on Facebook and on Twitter @WholeFoods
Diane Henderiks on Facebook and on Twitter @dhenderiks

About Summer:

Understanding Organic and Nature’s Path Organic Ancient Grains with Almonds

December 27, 2010 by Momstart 135 Comments

By Summer:

The rage these days seems to center around organic and natural products including food. I’ve never heard a parent say, “I want my family to eat poorly.” You’d laugh, right? But our food has become more processed and a far stretch from its original form. If you’re getting hip on health in the New Year, you might think of streaming these movies on Netflix: Super Size Me (PG-13) (2004) and Food, Inc. (PG)(2008). Lunch Line is another health film I’d recommend and is now in select theaters. These flicks will help you become a dietary advocate for your family if you’re thinking of ways to improve your family’s health in 2011.

Remember, just because an item claims to be organic or natural on the packaging doesn’t mean it’s good for you or better for the environment. Watch out for trick phases and claims as “made with organic ingredients,” as these products are not organic products but may just contain two organic ingredients or may not be certified organic. Look for the USDA Organic seal! Organic foods with the USDA seal are grown and processed without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or GMOs — genetically modified organisms (an example of a GMO is seedless grapes).

One boxed food I’d recommend to help your family improve health and get the whole grains and fiber needed in a day is Kirkland Signature Nature’s Path Organic Ancient Grains with Almonds.

Kirkland Signature Nature’s Path Organic Ancient Grains with Almonds is a granola made from rolled oats, spelt, Kamut® Khorasan wheat, quinoa, and amaranth. No those are not a foreign language … well, they kind of are as these grains have their origins from around the world. These are the grains that make up the 6g of fiber and 31g of whole grain you’ll get in one serving (3/4 cup) of Ancient Grains. I needed to break it down so I could understand this product, and here’s what I found out (if you too need a lesson): Rolled oats are just like your standard oatmeal and originate from the “Near East”. Spelt is a type of wheat grown in Central Europe. Kamut® is a brand name; Khorasan is a region of land called Middle Persia, which was pieces of today’s Middle East; and like its name says it’s wheat. Quinoa pronounced KEEN-wah is a seed native of South America. Amaranth is an African weed which we use for its seeds. However, with all the information and knowledge we now possess in agriculture, these grains are not grown only in their native lands but have been brought to North America for growing and harvesting.

So as I look at the ingredients list the only other thing I was left scratching my head about was inulin. Inulin is an ingredient which is a natural preservative made from root. All the ingredients are natural and/or organic. I was so satisfied to find that I could read the Ancient Grains’ ingredient list! And since it’s only 15 ingredients long, you should have no problem deciding if Ancient Grains is right for your family too.

My husband and I have been using Kirkland Signature Nature’s Path Organic Ancient Grains with Almonds as an add-in to a snack of yogurt. We measure out ¼ cup and stir it into the yogurt. This is very satisfying as a snack; it rejuvenates my energy, sustains my appetite, and offers a sweet taste which I seem to constantly crave.

One last thing I’d like to mention is I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE independent companies. Many brands are owned by parent company and smaller brands sell out to these big corporations to go national, international, or just make the big bucks. Nature’s Path Organic is owned by themselves, Nature’s Path Foods Inc. They started in 1949 and have continued to be independent; their company’s vision since 1985 has been “To be a trusted name for quality organic food in every home; socially responsible, environmentally sustainable & financially viable.” Well, they’ve earned my trust and I hope yours too. Invite them into your home for a healthier 2011.

Kirkland Signature Nature’s Path Organic Ancient Grains with Almonds can only be found at Costco. Check the cereal aisle. Don’t see it? Ask your Costco customer service about it, item #526528. Costco also offers other great Nature’s Path Organic items: Pumpkin Flax Plus Granola, and Toaster Pastry combo boxes of Brown Sugar Cinnamon Frosted and Cherry Pomegran^TM Frosted.

You can also find Nature’s Path Organic on Facebook and Nature’s Path Twitter @naturespath.

Enter to Win:

A Box of Nature’s Path Ancient Grains with Almonds

To Enter:

Leave me a comment telling me what you think of Nature’s Path Organic and what you would like to try!

Extra Entries:

Become a fan of Nature’s Path Organic on Facebook
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Leave a comment for every entry, This giveaway ends January 10. Summer received products mentioned above to facilitate this review. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

I feel Inspired…Great Wolf Lodge Eco Moms Event

November 30, 2010 by Momstart 5 Comments

I can’t believe it’s almost been a full week since Kristin (Our Ordinay Life) organized and put on The Great Wolf Lodge Eco Moms Event. I’ve been working on a small local event and I’m not even the point person like Kristin was for the Eco Mom event and I can’t imagine how she stayed organized and on top of things. Yes, first I have to tell you how amazing Kristin is.

Kristin is a mother to two adorable girls, a wife to a husband that cares about her very much, a college student almost ready to graduate with a business degree, and a full time blogger making a business out of what she does. But on top of all of that she is Passionate, very passionate about everything organic and teaching others how to share in her passion. She took her passion and made a Mommy Blogger Event out of it, that just amazes me, She amazes me.

The first night there we went out to eat at a local restaurant and everything they served was organic. OMG, the chocolate dessert was to die for. I shared it with my son, and my husband shared his with our daughter and it was gone in seconds!

Day 2 we were mostly on our own. Great Wolf Lodge provided each of us with a Magic Quest adventure, I finished one quest. Yeah, it’s tough taking a two year old and a 3 your old up and down the stairs, but it was so much fun anyways. They got wands at the Howl O Ween event that we attend the month before and the great thing about Magic Quest is that once you have the wand you can just have them re-activated whenever you return. Little kids use demo mode and everything still interacts with the wands.

That night, Kristin had an organic wine tasting party. That was lots of fun too and she handed out door prizes and tons of organic swag. As I said before, I can’t imagine the hours she spent organizing this event.

It isn’t often that you can attend an event where the whole family can attend. It makes sense though, that organic companies and Great Wolf Lodge (a family resort) would be invested in families and I’m very grateful for the opportunity and relationship I gained at this event.

On Day 3 we had the actual conference. I wasn’t able to stay for very much of it. It started off with learning from Great Wolf Lodge about all of their efforts to go 100 percent green. It’s taking a lot of time because it is a lot easier to be 100 percent green when you start with building the building that way, but I’m still very impressed with everything they are doing to get there. The water park can not be green certified because there are no green certifications for water parks. Check out Project Green Wolf to learn more about Great Wolf Lodge and it’s efforts to be green.

There is no waste in their water park and all water in the resort, even the water in the hotel rooms is heated in the same location. The only water loss is splash out by guests and they are using as many LED lights as they can making it very cost efficient to have rides that light up!

Then came all of the fun stuff that I’m sad to say, I missed out on like making butter, eating Nature’s Path Samples.

Gardening 101

Making Home made soap

making home made cleaning supplies

Special Thanks to : Great Wolf Lodge, Nature’s Path, and Organic Valley. There were many other organizations that helped with the Great Wolf Lodge Eco Event, they are all listed on Kristin’s site.

I feel inspired to start being green around my house. I’m going to be taking baby steps but I invite you to take them with me. I have a friend that is going to be sharing a green tip with us once a day for the month of December.

Be red and Green this Holiday Season!