Trade Up Tuesday: Favorite Trade Ups Ever Giveaway
It’s Trade Up Tuesday! On these days, I blog about a trade up I’ve made since learning about NuVal scores and I give away something for free.
I’ve been feeling a little nostalgic about this blog lately. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been writing it for three and a half years! When I first started A Better Bag of Groceries, it wasn’t even called that. It was Nutrition By The Numbers Dot Blogspot Dot Com. It was a mouthful. I was so happy that my little idea for a Mom blog took off. We re-designed it with the help of a web designer who works at Harvard University and the blog you see today is the result of that work.
When I first got started at NuVal, I was intrigued by the scoring system, but I wasn’t really living it. It was through the blog that I started to truly live the NuVal way. Barilla Plus is one of those moments that I can remember. My husband and I were having dinner with our long-time friends, Pete and Heather. Pete is a marathoner who posts elite times and Heather is an amazing cook. They both had been reading my new-at-the-time blog, so Pete assumed that we had traded up to Barilla Plus or some other whole grain pasta. Um, no. We hadn’t. To be honest, I was afraid. I liked my pasta just the way it was. Even if it scored a 57 instead of a 91. After that dinner, we tried the Barilla Plus and we could not believe it. It tasted just like regular pasta. We never went back.
That pasta moment was the beginning of the Trade Ups for my family and me. I was no longer afraid to try new things. Why not try the highest scoring? Why not try Eden Garbanzo Beans that score a 100? They are delicious!
I rid my cart of some things that I was putting in there – just out of routine, or because I thought that Moms were supposed to. Like little Frozen pancakes, conventional boxed macaroni and cheese, and Rice-A-Roni. The Rice A Roni (NuVal score of 11) has been replaced by parboiled rice (NuVal score of 82) or by Lundberg’s amazing high-scoring rices, such as the brown rice you see pictured, NuVal score of 82.
And I saw how healthy my co-workers were too. Like Alison, who traded up from flour tortillas (NuVal score of 2) to corn tortillas (NuVal score of 91).
Sure, there have been some crazy mis-haps along the way. Like the time that I tried to roast almonds. I burnt them again and again. Best to stick with good old Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds, NuVal score of 81.
Writing A Better Bag of Groceries is a big part of my job. It is a ton of work, but I love it. It has changed my life – and my pantry. I hope that you pull a trade-up tip or two here on a regular basis.
Today’s Giveaway
One lucky reader will win all five of my all-time favorite trade-ups that you see pictured here. All you need to do is leave a comment below telling me one trade up you’ve made since coming over to read A Better Bag of Groceries. I’ll select one winner at random at 8 am Eastern on Wednesday January 16th. Good Luck!
Posted by: Melissa 57 comments
Posted in: Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: Trade-Up Tuesday
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 7:34 am
I’ve gone from reduced fat Jif to regular Jif.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 8:07 am
I think soups were our biggest discovery on what was best. My kids like to make soup after school so I like knowing we made a trade up there!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 8:09 am
i’ve traded flour tortillias for corn.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 8:37 am
Coconut flour!!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 8:44 am
I’ve made quite a few trade-ups since reading the blog. Corn tortillas instead of flour. Teddie PB instead of reduced fat Jiff. Plain greek yogurt instead of vanilla. Love reading your blog and love all the information you put out here!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 8:53 am
Greek yogurt instead of low-fat. Love the blog!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:07 am
My husband and I have switched from regular to greek yogurt…than from flavored to just plain to which we add in our own fruit!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:20 am
THE TYPE OF PASTA, LIKE BARILLA PLUS. GREEK YOGURT IS ANOTHER ONE.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:22 am
I have traded up to plain, fat free Greek yogurt instead of the flavored ones. I just add my own fruit!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:23 am
I’ve traded up my morning yogurt from regular to Greek.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:35 am
Peanut Butters – I try to buy teddy or any other brand that’s made from just peanuts. Yum.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:44 am
Great blog Melissa! I’m a fairly new reader and now look forward to starting my day with it. My trade up is bread – I look for the highest NuVal scoring breads and English muffins.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:48 am
Because of you I introduced my family to plain Greek yogurt versus the sweetened kind and we now use whole wheat pasta.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:50 am
I’m eating cereals with less sugar!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:55 am
I switched to Cheerios from Frosted Flakes
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:59 am
You gave me the courage to be rid of the Jif PB and try out other healthier PB’s and other nut butters. Another change has been with Kind bars…love them. Was afraid to try them and pay the higher price. But in my Nuval box for being mom of the month in October, there was a Kind bar. I tried it and love it. It’s the only brand of bars we now have in our house. : )
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 10:21 am
Going Greek! My yogurt that is!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 10:25 am
I traded up to unsweetened almond milk
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 10:32 am
Anything I buy in a can is low or no sodium!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 10:40 am
Regular yogurt to Greek yogurt
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 10:47 am
Greek yogurt all the way! At first, I wasn’t as much of a fan….. now…. love it!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 11:02 am
My now beloved Oikos greek yogurt is SO much better than the sugar laden and protein deficient normal store bought stuff….such an amazing tradeup!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 11:05 am
tortillas and rice have been a HUGE trade up for me. I always knew white rice wasn’t as good for me, but when I went out sometimes that’s all you get, but I have found asking for brown rice is usually an option and at home I no longer use white rice or flour tortillas. I have traded up to corn tortillas and organic brown rice. I actually found I like the taste and texture of both better!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 11:38 am
going to the greek yogurt instead of regular!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 11:49 am
I traded up to Teddie unsalted pb from Reese’s PB, and I don’t miss the extra sugar or salt
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
I made the switch to whole wheat bread and brown rice, trying to get more whole and less processed grains in my diet to increase my fiber.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
Greek yogurt and natural almond butters are nibs I switche to.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
We traded up to whole-wheat pasta!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 1:30 pm
Where do I start? Greek yogurt, Silk light chocolate milk, barilla and dreamfields pastas, parboiled rice, Special K protein plus, Who Nu cookies, almond flour. Maybe the biggest change is shopping at Festival Foods which uses NuVal – helps me every time I shop there.
Haven’t been able to break all habits, tho’, some things are hard to change at our house – like Jiff and Nutella.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
I have traded up to better cereal thanks to NuVal and your blog.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
ive traded up to bobs red mill muesli
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Regular nonfat yogurt to Greek nonfat yogurt…also switched to Unsweetened Almond Milk….
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
I’ve started using a lot more Bob’s Red Mill products, like coconut flour!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
I abandoned reduce fat peanut butter. In fact, I just switched to the more natural brands of peanut butter that have nothing but nuts.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
I’ve switched to plain Greek yogurt and ditched the artificial/sugar-loaded Yoplait.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
I have actually tried a lot of things that I never tried before. So instead of trading up I just started eating better things. Greek yogurt, many types of beans, making your butternut squash soup recipe. YUM!! I have learned SO much from this blog it would take too long to write it all.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 4:40 pm
I enjoy reading your trade ups on a better bag of groceries and have made changes for our family, like Greek yogurt and dairy milk alternatives.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 4:58 pm
Melissa- you’re the best! What an amazing blog! One trade up my family has made is from flour tortillas to corn. I’ve also stopped eating pretzels and replaced them with tortilla chips- now that’s an easy change to get used to!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 5:00 pm
Reduced fat peanut butter is one. Yogurt is another. We now eat lots of plain Greek yogurt instead. NuVal scores has helped me with nuts too. I used to think they are all about the same health-wise and like them equally. We eat lots of almonds!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
My husband has actually found whole grain hot dog buns, and I switched brands of bread (umm.. name not remembered as I’m not home, but I can picture the bag). We also only use corn tortillas now, whichever of us is shopping.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 5:10 pm
Yogurt has been my big trade up. I try many new items based on the NuVal and many become my favorites. Noosa yogurt is the main thing iI traded up from Activia and sugar loaded vanilla yogurt. Nu Val scores drive my grocery shopping decisions. We also make a game out of finding the lowest and highest in categories such as frozen pizza.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 5:40 pm
I’ve traded up to whole wheat pasta and changed from the reg. flavored yogurt to plain Greek, with my own additions for sweetness and flavor.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
I traded up to corn tortillas from flour tortillas and from lowfat fruit yogurt to greek vanilla and have never been happier.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
I have learned quite a bit from this blog. I have traded up many things, reg yogurt to greek yogurt, store bought salad dressing to homemade, instant oatmeal with brown sugar to red mill 5 grain with fresh fruit to name a few. My recent lab work from a routine physical confirmed that I am eating better with an improved triglyceride, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. Thank you for the info!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Anything whole wheat, no white at all! Love knowing what the NuVal scores are.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 7:25 pm
When I chose a Bloody Mary mix, I was surprised to see the higher score of zing zang, and it’s tasty. I also pick the highest scoring bread, whole grains, whole wheat, etc.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 7:47 pm
My trade up since reading your blog has been to rid my fridge of those low end flavored yogurts for some good, better flavored and better for you Greek yogurts!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 7:56 pm
The most important trade up I’ve made has definitely been going from eating flavored greek yogurt to eating the plain nonfat variety. I just sweeten it up naturally with fruit and some cinnamon!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 8:20 pm
I have traded up rice and oatmeal!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:47 pm
Traded up my regular peanut butter to Once Again Nut Butter.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 9:54 pm
I traded up snack bars to KIND bars Nut Delight (score of 65 for a snack bar is pretty amazing… and it tastes amazing too) Of course I always add an apple and appreciate the not so processed snack options. But, we all need an emergency snack bar – right?
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 10:26 pm
I’ve traded up my granola bars to some of the high scoring larabars!
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 10:45 pm
I had already made most of the trade ups. Makes me feel good that I was making the right choice. None of the stores I shop at have the Nuval scores.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 10:55 pm
I made trade ups with pasta sauce!
on Jan 16th, 2013 at 6:19 am
nuts for me also! I went from the roasted, flavored kind to unroasted, unsalted nuts!
on Jan 16th, 2013 at 11:52 am
I’ve made numerous changes, but just to name one…Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt with fruit.
on Jan 19th, 2013 at 6:42 pm
I traded instant oatmeal packets for steel cut oats. It is amazing how much better the steel cut oats are… especially with a bit of banana and honey.