• Choosing the Healthiest Foods for Your Family

    Welcome! I am a mom of a busy 8 year old and an adventurous 6 year old. I also happen to work for a great company called NuVal. NuVal is a nutritional scoring system that rates foods on a scale of 1-100, based on how nutritious they are. We are implementing NuVal in grocery stores around the country.

    NuVal may not be in your area yet. But I see the scores while they are "hot off the press" and because of that I am able to make better decisions about what to feed my family.

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    I am not a registered dietitian. I am just a mom who happens to work for NuVal. I am also an AFAA-certified Group Exercise Instructor. NuVal is a system designed to lead customers to the most nutritious food choices. It is not a diet or weight-loss plan. Before starting a diet, you should always consult your personal physician. The opinions expressed in this blog are the opinions of the writer and not the opinions of NuVal LLC.

Trade-Up Tuesday: Groundhog Day GiveAway

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 06:11 AM

 GroundHog Day GiveAway

Happy Ground Hog Day!  And welcome to Trade Up Tuesday, a weekly feature here on A Better Bag of Groceries, where I tell you about a Trade-Up I’ve made and give away free stuff.  Today, in honor of Punxsutawney Phil, I’m giving away a Hot Cereal Round-Up.  It’s a collection of hot cereals I’ve been meaning to try before the winter is out. 

It seems like Punxsutawney Phil ‘most always sees his shadow.  And that means six more weeks of winter.  Here in New England, it’s six more weeks of winter, no matter what.  However, by February, it stays light a little later, you can hear a few more birds and there’s a glimmer of illumination at the end of the tunnel.  I brave the winter, embrace it at times, but like most New Englanders, I am oh-so-happy to see it go.  I even have a Spring Happy Dance that I like to do on the vernal equinox.  Still, at this point in the season, I begin to realize that there are only so many more weeks to squeeze in some of our favorite winter activities:  we still need to go sledding, we haven’t been downhill skiing yet, and my husband and I need a good snow and a babysitter for a couple of hours so that we can break out our cross-country skis.  And – I haven’t yet sampled all the hot cereal that I’d like to try.  I’ve got a lot to do these next few weeks!

So this week’s winner can help me out:

John McCann’s Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal:  NuVal score of 91

Cream of Wheat:  NuVal score of 25

Quaker Grits:  NuVal score of 70

These are the last of the remaining hot cereals I’ve been meaning to try this winter. 

Now, my dear husband and I did get around to cooking up the McCann’s this past weekend. 

McCanns

We’ve had a can of McCann’s in our cupboard for quite some time, but I’ve been too intimidated to try making it.  Must be something about that Certificate of Uniformity of Granulation.  Wow!  Impressive.  So, Saturday, when I had enough time for the thirty-plus minute cooking instructions, we tried it out. 

Bowl of McCann's

We topped it with some walnuts, raisins and a sprinkle of brown sugar.  Yum!

But I still need help in trying out the Cream of Wheat (which scored lower than I expected!) and grits (that one is at the insistence of my Southern co-worker, Laura).

Today’s GiveAway

One lucky winner will win all three hot cereals.  All you need to do is leave me a comment telling me one of the following:

  • what hot cereal you’d like to try
  • what you most like to put on your hot cereal
  • what you still want to do before the winter is out

You can tell me more than one, if you in the sharing mood!  The contest closes by midnight tonight Eastern time.  Good luck!

NuVal is giving away a $100 Gift Card!

If you haven’t checked it out yet, go to www.nuval.com and take our site improvement survey.  The direct link to the survey is here.

Posted by: Melissa 45 comments

Posted in: Hot Cereal, Trade-Up Tuesday

Tags: , ,

45 Comments on “Trade-Up Tuesday: Groundhog Day GiveAway”

  1. #1 Lily @ Lily's Health Pad
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 6:49 am

    I’d like to win the grits–YUM. I plan on topping mine with some cheddar cheese. :-)

  2. #2 Bill
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 7:33 am

    I want to win the grits, I live in the South and STILL Haven’t tried them. I’d top with reduced fat cheese, yum!

  3. #3 Marcie
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 8:04 am

    Cream of Wheat looks good, my grandma loves it and I definitely want to try it to warm up!

  4. #4 Food Makes Fun Fuel
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 8:32 am

    I want to try steel cut
    I want to try goji berries on my oats one of these days

  5. #5 Carol
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 8:34 am

    Definitely the Cream of Wheat for me, topped with frozen blueberries…it would be a small winter warm up!

  6. #6 Stasa
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 am

    I eat hot oatmeal almost every morning but have really wanted to try cream of wheat lately. Perfect timing :) I usually add peanut butter and banana to my oats so I’d probably to try that in cream of wheat as well. Before winter is over, I’d like to get my motivation back! These cold months make it tough to workout and stay fit.

  7. #7 JL
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 8:54 am

    I’ve never had McCann’s but after seeing that great NuVal score I would love to try it!

  8. #8 MB
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 9:11 am

    I think dried fruit is a great oatmeal topping, the fruit adds a ton of sweetness

  9. #9 Maria
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:04 am

    I would love the steel cut oats. I am hooked lately. I had them this morning. I make a big batch on the weekend and reheat during the week. I add vanilla, cinnamon, and a few raisins. Mmmm! I am SO sick of winter. I don’t want to do anything but hurry spring along:)

  10. #10 Jenny
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:13 am

    I’d like to try the grits…I’ve never had them before.

  11. #11 Anne @ the doctor takes a wife
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:14 am

    I’d love to try the Irish oatmeal, since I”m really IRISH!! I love cinnamon. I put it on every batch :)

  12. #12 Jessie C
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:15 am

    I’d like to try McCann’s!

  13. #13 Emily GG
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:23 am

    I have been wanted to try steel cut oats, and I would top it with my favorite oatmeal topping, nut butter and cinnamon.

  14. #14 Joy
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:31 am

    Cream of wheat is my favorite… And I like it totally plain! And before winter is out I really want to go sledding (I am supposed to next weekend).

  15. #15 Tiffany
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:36 am

    I’ve had both cream of wheat and steel cut oats before, and both are really good in different ways. I’ve never had the grits, but they sound interesting haha! I would top it with a banana and peanut butter! YUM!

    Oh, and I can’t WAIT for winter to be over… my toes froze this morning as I was waiting for the bus to go to work! Too bad the groundhog says 6 more weeks… ugh…

  16. #16 Michelle
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:38 am

    I would like to try the McCann’s Irish Oatmeal topped with some sliced bananas and brown sugar. And before spring hits, I would like to go snowboarding at least one more time.

  17. #17 Leena
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:49 am

    I love to top my oats with dried tart cherries and dark chocolate! It’s sooo good!

  18. #18 Marylea
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:51 am

    McCann’s Irish Oatmeal… I love raisin’s and pumpkin spice in my hot morning cereal, but lately I’ve I’ve been putting 1/2 cup of oatmeal in my banana smoothie!

  19. #19 Lindsay
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:56 am

    I would love to try the Irish Oats and top them with raisins and cinnamon and a little sugar!!
    I would love to ski before winter ends!!

  20. #20 Robin Abrahams
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 10:56 am

    If you’re cooking the oatmeal, you’re not stuck with a 30-minute prep time every day. Make a largish batch (and for extra zing and nutrients, throw a bag of frozen blueberries in it while it’s cooking). The leftover oatmeal will sort of congeal (I know that sounds gross) and the next day, you can scoop out as much as you want and heat it up stovetop or microwave with some water, milk, or soy milk added for moisture. I find one cup of dry oatmeal gives me 4-5 breakfasts.

  21. #21 Foy Update - Cook. Garden. Write. Repeat.
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:00 am

    I’m still working on liking hot porriage oatmeal. I usually bake with it. I have some awesome cookie recipes, not to mention this bread is awesome: http://foyupdate.blogspot.com/2010/01/oatmeal-molasses-bread-earth-to-table.html

  22. #22 Jen J
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:07 am

    grits, southern style – yum – with lots of salt and butter and I doubt that would rank well with Nuval !

  23. #23 Gabrielle
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:07 am

    I would love to try McCanns steel cut oatmeal…I heard its delicious!

  24. #24 Gabrielle
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:08 am

    I love adding orange zest and dried fruit to my oatmeal…its adds a great freshness to it!

  25. #25 Gabrielle
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:12 am

    I have never had grits and I would love to try them!

  26. #26 Jessie (Vegan-minded)
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:25 am

    I love dried fruit and nuts in my hot cereal. Yum!

  27. #27 dymphna
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:27 am

    i want to try the McCann’s oatmeal. I like my cereal with sugar and cinnamon only. and i want to go sledding or skiing before the end of winter.

  28. #28 MaryZ
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:35 am

    I would love to try the Steel cut oats. More than likely it will be topped with cinnamon and a bananna. I still have not had the chance to go ice skating this winter.

  29. #29 Ibu
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 am

    I want to try Muesli(I hope I’m spelling it right). I see it all the time and want to try it. I love to slice banana in my cereal.

  30. #30 Stacie
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 11:57 am

    I would love to try steel cut oats! And I can’t have hot cereal without nut butter – I need that protein to really hold my hunger at bay, especially on a work day. And I would like to go ice skating before the winter is over.

  31. #31 Meghann
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 12:06 pm

    My mum is always eating the McCann’s oats — I would love to try them.

    I love CRUNCH on my oats — granola, trail mix, plain nuts, anything with texture.

    I am really bummed I haven’t yet been ice skating this winter. I would LOVE to! :)

  32. #32 Gabrielle
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 12:06 pm

    I would love to try the McCanns oatmeal with cinnamon and fruit. I definitely want to go cross-country skiing before the winter ends!

  33. #33 Cellabella
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 12:25 pm

    I’d like to try the grits, I’ve never made them myself and I’ve always wanted to.

    I’d put brown sugar and honey on my cereals for sure :)

    And I really want to go skiing before winter is over!

  34. #34 Maura
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    I’d love to try the Cream of Wheat. I’ve actually never had it before! I love putting almond butter & banana on my hot cereal. Before, the winter is up I’d love to do some more skiing. I’m from Boston so I have plenty of access to ski mountains but limited time to do so! Anyway, thanks for the great giveaway & have an awesome week!

  35. #35 ashley
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    I want to try the grits!! I know I love cream of wheat, and I’m thinking they would be similar :-) . And I just want winter to be over!

  36. #36 Blair
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    I’d love to try McCann’s steel cut oats. I’ve tried his instant oats and they’re amazing for my weekday breakfasts, but I’d definitely be willing to spend the extra time on those steel cut oats on weekends!

  37. #37 Kimberly Lee
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    I would love to try the cream of wheat….it is the only hot cereal I have never tried. Normally, I am grits girl (maybe because I am southerner?). I love having my grits topped with butter (bad I know) or cheddar cheese.

  38. #38 Brandon
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    I like to put a little sea salt, and some golden blossom honey. Both just enough so you get a hint of the taste.

  39. #39 Alison Pletch
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 1:40 pm

    I eat my oatmeal with milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flax seed!

  40. #40 Laura
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    I am a grits girl from way back. I use Smart Balance Buttery Spread, a little sea salt, and LOTS of ground black pepper.

  41. #41 Gabrielle
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 2:09 pm

    Cinnamon and dried fruit are great toppings for oatmeal!

  42. #42 Ann
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 2:18 pm

    Oh I’m a Southern girl and love grits. But I’d love to try the Cream of Wheat…I never have! And maybe I’d top it with some brown sugar and apricots ;-) And before this winter is out, I’d love to go snowshoeing…Come on snow! Stay warm everyone!

  43. #43 Sami
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    I love adding canned pumpkin to my hot cereal! :)

  44. #44 Ambre
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    I love steel cut oats topped with honey, brown sugar, graham cracker bits and banana :) yummm!!!

    I tried to do the survey, and it said I had already done it before?! :(

  45. #45 Mallory
    on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 7:04 pm

    i lovvve steel cut oats!

    my fave way to cook oats (just the regular quaker) are stovetop with a spotty banana… then top it with some peanut butter or almond butter. yum :)

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