LilSugar

Delilicious: Tasty Baby

babysugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:00:52 PDT

Baby food sometimes gives me the heebie jeebies. Not one to venture out and test the foods myself, I was convinced by Tastybaby's packaging and website that the infant food would be desirable for adults, too. The company prides itself on blast–freezing their organic recipes at peak flavor - giving the fare farm freshness and nutritional value.

Giving it my best shot, I did a lil taste test of Life's a Peach (peach purée). After a quick zap in the microwave, I was shocked by the delicious flavors inside my mouth. Convinced I must have tried the cream of the crop, I also gave Sweetie Pie (organic sweet potato and apple purée with cinnamon) and Bangos (organic banana and mango purée with vanilla) a go.

To see what I thought of the iced entrées,

read more. After giving all the flavors a thumbs up from yours truly, I decided to let the real judge have a say. Though she's finished with "baby food," my daughter gobbled up the Sweetie Pie in one sitting. I was delighted to see recipes included on how to utilize them for adult pleasure. Toss a cup of Bangos in a blender with some apple juice, vanilla yogurt, ice, and banana and you've got yourself one mean Bango Smoothie. Moms can choose from nine frozen organic treats for their wee ones. When the youngster licks the last one clean, the containers can be recycled in a blue bin or right in your own kitchen as a keeper of other items. An eco–friendly company started by two moms, Tastybaby is sold in recyclable and biodegradable wrapping and available on–line with free shipping. Order a six pack of flavors (each including three packs) for $40 with free shipping!

13 Foods For Freaky Friday

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:55:19 PST

In honor of Freaky Friday (today's Friday the 13th!), I thought I'd pull together a list of 13 freaky foods. Even if you don't have triskaidekaphobia (the fear of the number 13), you may be afraid of some of the things on this list. I know there are a bunch of other freaky things out there (how about almost anything Andrew Zimmern eats on his show?), so if you think something's missing, we want to hear it.

#13: Bubble Tea
I personally love this stuff; however, I've known quite a few folks who are freaked out by the tapioca inside of the tea. Come to think of it, I know a lot of people freaked out by tapioca in general . . .
#12: Squid ink pasta
I don't have a problem with this lovely pasta dyed with squid ink, but some find eating black pasta to be just a bit too freaky.
Keep reading to see more freaky foods perfect for Friday the 13th.

Stock Up: 5 Snacks to Pack For Holiday Shopping and Travel

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:55:01 PST

You don't have to be a Boy Scout to be prepared. Whether simply stocking a bag for a trip to the grocery store, or packing for a cross-country flight, moms know a thing or two about preparing for the unexpected. And while mama's regular stash of goodies can tame a fussy and hungry tot on a good day, when airport delays and holiday shopping crowds are on the agenda, it's a good time to step it up a notch. Check out five snack-time picks that do more than occupy lil ones during the holiday madness!

Clif Mojo Dipped Bars ($15 for 12): Chocolate-covered peanuts? Yes, please! Available in a variety of flavor combinations, Clif's Mojo line of bars combine the sweet and salty by mixing fruits, nuts, and pretzels and then dipping them in sweet vanilla or chocolate. The kids will never know it isn't a candy bar!
Happy Baby Happy Munchies ($3): Happy Baby's allergy-free sticks are perfectly sized for toddler hands. Made with whole grain corn and packed with choline (to help with brain development), the snacks keep sodium to a minimum so your tot won't be begging for drinks as you try to pass through the airport security line!
Funky Monkey Snacks ($12 for 12): All-natural, freeze-dried fruit may sound boring, but with Funky Monkey's fun flavors (like Jivealime, a pineapple and lime combo), kids will love testing them out. Best of all, their satisfying crunch will have lil ones thinking they're eating chips!
That's It bars ($20 for 12): Made from just fruit, these bars are perfect pick-me-ups during a long day. They're nut-free, GMO-free, and just plain good!
Revolution Foods Fruit Shredz ($4): Think of these as the modern-day interpretation of the Fun Fruit. Made without high fructose corn syrup and glycerin, they're healthy, tasty, and unbelievably kid-friendly!

A Whole Lotta Lil in This Week's Links!

Rebecca M Gruber — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:24:09 PST

A look back at the best celeb maternity looks of the year.
We absolutely love this new clothing line that encourages lil girls - a change from the standard fare these days.
We've got 10 fabulous gifts for the new mom in the family.
We attended Baby Buggy's 10th anniversary celebration and spoke with celeb moms and dads about what's on their holiday lists this year!
These adorable cake pops are quite a tasty treat for tots (and their mamas!).
Hanukkah gifts to last each night of the holiday.
Photo props are a fun way to add some silliness to your holiday photos.
Angry Birds anyone? A look back at the biggest tot trends of the year.
See how much you really know about stretch marks.
Weigh in on the best new stroller of the year!
Don't forget the new dad on your list! We've got great ideas to spoil him!
How many of our favorite apps for parents are on your phone?

A Whole Lotta Lil in This Week's Links

Nancy Einhart — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 09:28:10 PST

Talk turkey with these crafty cute Thanksgiving finds from Etsy.
Gobble up 10 tasty Thanksgiving sweet treats.
Baby can celebrate Thanksgiving too with holiday-themed purees.
Real mom gift guide: Debra Messing tells us what she really wants this holiday season.
Planning to catch the new Muppets movie next weekend? First shop these Muppet-inspired styles for kids!
Gwen Stefani talks about her kids' style choices and her fashion line.
Go over the moon for this Goodnight Moon-themed baby shower.
A perfect pumpkin pie for tots with allergies.
Too cool for school: a gift guide for baby hipsters.
Victoria Beckham wasn't lying when she said she'd dress Harper in traditional (and adorable) clothes.

OnSugar Blog: Dr. Sears Creates More Yummies!

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:15:12 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud, and MiaFT is one of them. This is an excerpt from one of the latest posts on her Baby Love blog.

If you're a mother, then obviously you have heard of Dr. Sears. But did you know that he now makes snacks and supplements for kids? We were lucky enough to be able to try the Popumz. They are 100 percent natural whole grain crisps, and they have all of the important stuff like fiber, protein, and Omega 3. At first I was skeptical, because they look like those rice cakes for dieting. I wondered how they could be healthy and tasty? So of course I had to have a taste, and they really were yummy! Audrey inhaled the chocolate and vanilla flavors!

They also have BBQ, cheddar, and ranch, which are a great alternative to giving Audrey potato chips. She loves them just as much, and that's because they taste exactly like chips! They are really good, I could have eaten the whole bag myself!

Even though they are healthy, they are really delicious! Dr. Sears also makes snack bars, drink boxes, and even vitamins!

Want to see more? Start following Baby Love or start your own OnSugar blog. It's easy, it's free, and we just may feature your content on our site!

Lil Links: Gwen Stefani Gives a Peek of Her Kids Line For Target

LilSugar — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:10:24 PDT

First look at Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Mini collection for Target - Celebrity Baby Blog
10 ways to skip the princess costume - Momformation
Can a CIO mom be friends with someone who doesn't believe in it? - The Stir
5 tasty Fall apple recipes - Health
Halle Berry and Nahla enjoy a sweet treat - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Nearly half of fertility issues are linked to sperm - FitPregnancy
Amazon launches YoYo, a new toy store for kids - Child Mode
Can an amicable divorce exist? - Parenting
Ever feel like everyone's pregnant but you? - The Bump
The evolution of the stroller - Babble
RIP "Baked Potato Day"; it's the end of the road for the lil spud - Yahoo! Shine

Yogurt and Pregnancy: Two Opposing Studies Have Expectant Mamas Scratching Their Heads

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:11:41 PDT

That tub of yogurt sitting in your refrigerator has become quite the target of controversy if you're pregnant. Just last week, researchers at the Institute of Public Health in Oslo announced that eating milk and yogurt with "good" bacteria - probiotics - during pregnancy can reduce the chances of developing preeclampsia. According to the study, the tasty treat reduced the risk by 20 percent.

Now researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have linked the prenatal consumption of low-fat yogurt once a day with an increased risk of their children developing asthma and hay fever. Their study suggests that low-fat dairy yogurt doesn't contain the fatty acids unborn babies need to prevent allergies.

Conflicting studies are nothing new, but two out right on top of each other may make moms-to-be wonder whether they should be eating yogurt at all!

5 Simple Ways to Go Raw

Susi May — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:09:51 PDT

Raw foodies argue that heating your food past 115 degrees F destroys the important enzymes found in fruits and vegetables, and by killing these enzymes we're decreasing the nutritional value of our food. These fragile enzymes help us properly and thoroughly digest our foods so we can absorb the vitamins and minerals in our tasty vittles. While I don't think I have the discipline, or the burning desire really, to go raw, I do like taking advantage of the abundance of amazing produce available in the Summer to cook less. And well, go a little raw.

We all know that eating salads and snacking on fresh fruit are great ways to incorporate raw foods into our everyday diets, but let's think outside the box. There is more you can do with lettuce than eat it doused in dressing. Here are five ways to get more raw veggies into your diet.

We all know about snacking on carrots and celery, but try snacking on cherry or grape tomatoes. I know that technically tomatoes are a fruit, but we think of them as savory. Eat them raw in the Summer and chances are high you will begin to think of them as nature's candy. My favorite variety is Sun Gold; they're a vibrant orange and bursting with flavor.
I am a fan of adding roasted beets to my salads, but raw beets are great on greens too. Try shredding raw beets on your salad for extra color, fiber, and nutrients. I also enjoy a raw shredded carrot and beet salad with a ginger dressing. The beet juice stains the carrots a lovely hot pink - it's a vibrant dish.

Keep reading for three more ideas.

Alyson Hannigan Shares About Life on Set and Her Mommy Must Haves

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 05 May 2011 10:32:47 PDT

How I met Alyson Hannigan? At a StubHub luncheon for her new Mom's Night Out charity initiative where she urged the attendees to forgo the healthy wraps in favor of the tasty chicken fingers. The mama of one, and star of the hit series How I Met Your Mother, was there to talk about the importance of taking a night off from the kids, but it was quickly apparent that she loves spending time with 2-year-old Satyana, joking that the first night she'll spend away from her, "will be when she goes to college!"

While her HIMYM character has recently taken a break from trying to conceive a child, almost everything else in Alyson's life revolves around kids. The actress, who recently signed on to reprise her role as Michele in the fourth installment of the American Pie franchise, answered a few of my questions about work and motherhood.

LilSugar: Congratulations on American Reunion. So what's in store for Michele and Jim this time around?
Alyson Hannigan: They’re parents, they have a kid, so that will be a part of their life obviously – balancing the hecticness of having, I think a 2-year-old (but that could have changed at this point because of casting). I'm hoping it will be really good. I think it will!

LS: Lily seems so maternal. Will we see Lily and Marshall start trying for a baby again this season?
AH: You will definitely get more of that piece of the puzzle in the season finale! You will definitely have to stay tuned.

LS: How I Met Your Mother has become baby central over the past few years! Do you, Cobie Smulders, and Neil Patrick Harris all bring your kids on set?
AH: It’s really good! The majority has kids now, we rule! The baby babies have come by to say hi, but they don’t stay there. And Cobie and I bring our daughters to set – we try to time it out so that they can have playdates – they’re such good friends.

LS: How do you relax if you find 10 minutes for yourself during the day?
AH: I wind up surfing baby sites. It just feels real decadent to be on the computer without shutting it (when Satyana's in the room). We still don’t let her watch TV or play on the screen. So looking at the computer when she’s awake doesn’t really happen because instantly, she’s like, I want to see! If she’s napping, I can open the computer and not look around!

Keep reading to learn what Alyson has planned for Mother's Day and her answers to our four Lil Questions.