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.
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.
Welcome to Trade-Up Tuesday, everyone’s favorite day here at A Better Bag of Groceries. Every Tuesday, I blog about a Trade-Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal scores and I give away something for free. Today, as I continue my adventure (not telling you where, just yet) it’s critical that I have some portable kid-friendly snacks packed with me.
One thing I’ve learned since coming to work for NuVal: there are snacks that score high and there are snacks that score low. And you know what – my kids like both. So I might as well try to steer them towards the higher-scoring stuff.
These are 3 of my favorites:
#1:
Chocolate Teddy Grahams: NuVal score of 26.
Why they stand out? The average for the category is a 7, so a 26 is a fantastic cookie score.
Compare them to: Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Bite Size Cookies, NuVal score of 11.
#2:
Pepperidge Farms Whole Grain Goldfish: NuVal score of 25
Why they stand out? The average for the category is a 17, so a 25 is a really good score, especially for a “kids” cracker.
Compare them to: Sunshine Cheez-It Reduced Fat Baked Snack Crackers White Cheddar, NuVal score of 6.
#3
Raisins: NuVal score of 87.
Why they stand out? They get a score of 87 and that is awfully close to the highest score you can get, a 100.
Compare them to: Ocean Spray Craisins, which score a 4.
Today’s Giveaway
One lucky reader will win my favorite Shelf-Stable Kids’ Snacks. Just leave a comment below telling me one of the following:
Where you’re taking your kids this Spring
Your favorite childhood Snack
Joyel, my colleague at NuVal, is manning this contest for me and she’ll be choosing the winner randomly at 8 am Eastern tomorrow tomorrow. So don’t delay. I’m throwing some of these snacks into my bag now – and we’re back on our journey…
Welcome to Trade Up Tuesday, everyone’s favorite day at A Better Bag of Groceries, because I blog about a Trade Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal scores and I give away something for free. Today’s trade-up is Flat Out Bread, because, hey, who isn’t “flat out” at this time of year!
I was having a very digitally-challenged day yesterday as I prepared for this giveaway – with one camera on the fritz and another camera missing (I left it at Saturday night’s very fun neighborhood cocktail party!) – all I had left was my Flip Video.
Flat Out Bread is one of my favorite trade ups. I very rarely eat a traditional sandwich on bread. Instead, I’m more likely to eat my sandwiches on flax pita or Flat Out Bread! The Original scores a 28 and check out the Multi-grain because it scores a fabulous 60! The average score for bread is a 26, so the 28 is above average and that 60 is just off the charts!
To Enter
One lucky commenter will win this Flat Out Bread today. Just leave a comment below telling me why you are “flat out” with just 10 days to go until Christmas Eve. Leave a 2nd comment telling me what you’d put on that Flat Out bread (a NuVal score for that item would be extra special!) and you can enter twice. I’ll choose one winner at 8 am Eastern time on Wednesday so don’t delay! I can’t wait to see all your comments!
Welcome to Trade Up Tuesday – everyone’s favorite day here at A Better Bag of Groceries because every Tuesday I rattle on about a Trade Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal and I give away something for free. Today, I’ve changed things up a bit. These two cereals are not my Trade-Ups. Rather, they are two varieties that I have noticed people just go crazy about – no matter what the NuVal score!
First, let’s talk about Kashi Autumn Wheat.
Back in March, you may remember that I spent the day out at Price Chopper’s Healthy U Open House. I had such a fun day, helping shoppers trade up for better nutrition using NuVal scores. Seriously, while my husband was back at home, single-handedly shuttling the kids through the Saturday routine of basketball, ballet, Cub Scouts and birthday parties, I was having a blast chatting it up with the Price Chopper Shoppers. That day, Price Chopper had a special coupons – I believe you had to buy 4 boxes of any Kashi cereal – and it was then that I noticed that people go crazy over Autumn Wheat. Really crazy! Every shopper who came down the aisle was looking for Autumn Wheat. Price Chopper could hardly keep it in stock. With a NuVal score of 40, it does pretty well for cereal. Cereal scores range from 2 to 100, and the average score is a 27. There are other Kashis that score better than Autumn Wheat, but I wonder if they are as popular?
Carrots N Cake fans remember when Tinacame on board with NuVal last October. One of the very first questions she asked me was how Peanut Butter Puffins scored on the NuVal scale.
Turns out – she’s a big fan. Tina has this Oprah-like effect. That means, if she likes it, so do her readers. So, I imagine that there are a whole lotta CNC fans out there munching on their PBPuffins as they get their daily dose of Tina. Unfortunately, these fav Puffins score a little under average. Boo! Add some skim milk (NuVal score of 91) and fresh blueberries (NuVal score of 100), and you’ll feel a whole lot better about that!
Today’s Giveaway
One lucky reader will win these Favorite Cereals. All you need to do is leave a comment below telling me your favorite cereal. You can leave a second comment (and enter twice) if you know the NuVal score for that cereal. I’ll choose one lucky winner at 7 am EDT on Wednesday. Good Luck!
Welcome to Trade-Up Tuesday! It’s the best day here on A Better Bag of Groceries because I tell you about a Trade-Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal scores and I give away something for free. Today, it’s some Winners from the Bread category. Since we’re in prime picnic and sandwich-making season, I’ve chosen some of my favorite high-scoring breads for Dads, Moms and the kids.
First, let’s talk about a great bread for Dads. My husband, who takes the train into Boston every day, tells me that he is not the only one who brown bags it on a daily basis. In this down economy, everyone is doing it. So we make a lot of sandwiches and Arnold Double Fiber bread is hearty and sustaining for my hubby’s healthy appetite and speedy metabolism. Plus, it gets a 40 on the NuVal scale.
40, by the way is well-above-average in the Bread Category. The average score for Bread is a 26.
This bread that I’ve chosen for Mom’s is high-scoring and low in calories too. Alvarado Street Bakery’s Essential Flax Seed Bread is only 50 calories per slice and it gets a 56 on the NuVal scale. Woo hoo!
As for the kids, mine love Freihofer’s 100% Whole Wheat and I do too, knowing that it scores a 34 on the NuVal scale. That is much better than Wonder 100% Whole Wheat, which scores a 26.
Wow, that’s a lot of dough (pun intended) for one family, isn’t it? It is. But as I said, whether we’re at work, at the pool, at the beach, or just having a picnic in our own backyard, we make a lot sandwiches in the summertime, so it doesn’t go to waste. Just to make sure it stays fresh, I store our bread in the freezer and make our sandwiches on frozen slices in the morning. This works well when spreading natural peanut butter, which tends to tear regular bread.
Today’s Giveaway
One lucky reader will win all three breads in today’s giveaway. Just leave a comment below, telling me what you like to put on your bread or in your sandwich. You can leave a second comment and enter twice by telling me the NuVal score for that sandwich item. You can find scores by searching this blog, Trading Up Downtown, or the NuValwebsite. You can also find scores on the shelf at the following grocery stores: Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, Meijer, United Supermarkets, Kroger (in Lexington, KY), Brookshire’s, and Festival Foods. I will choose one lucky winner at 7 am EDT Wednesday so don’t delay. Good Luck!
By the Way…
NuVal has been getting some awesome press lately. Check out what the Wall Street Journal had to say about NuVal. Or watch the clip about NuVal that was on Good Morning America on Monday!
Welcome to Trade-Up Tuesday, everyone’s favorite day here on A Better Bag of Groceries. Every Tuesday, I blog about a Trade-Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal scores and I give away free stuff. Today, I’ve chosen one of my favorite salty snacks and an amazing new hummus that I discovered.
First, Stacy’s Simply Naked Chips. Oh, how I love these chips. I have to admit, on most workdays, I indulge in a handful of these after I walk through the door. I think because I typically eat a pretty low-carb lunch, I am craving something that carb-y and salty as I get started on dinner and homework. I featured Stacy’s Simply Naked Chips as a Cart Confession some time back. I mean, they get the same score as Lay’s Potato Chips, so they are not really a Trade Up. But I do love them, and hey, they score better than pretzels, which hover in the 9 – 13 range.
But the real reason that I included the Stacy’s chips in today’s giveaway is because they go so nicely with this Wild Garden Hummus Dip that I discovered at Price Chopper. You might remember that I visited Price Chopper for their Healthy U Open House back in March. I love going out to our Retailer Partners, walking the aisles and checking out all the NuVal scores. I always find something new. This Wild Garden Hummus Dip gets a great score of 51! That is right up there with the refrigerated hummus dips:
Cedar’s Red Pepper scores a 61
Tribe Red Pepper scores a 51
Sabra Red Pepper Hummus only scores a 26. Boo! Too bad. I do love their hummus.
You know what I love most about today’s Giveaway? It is shelf-stable. No refrigeration required. Headed out for a picnic? You can bring both of these and not even worry about having a cooler. Invited to a party after the beach? This is a snack you can bring along and not fret about keeping cool. Headed to the pool with the kids? Throw this in your swim bag. Easy-peasy.
Today’s Giveaway
One lucky commenter will win today’s giveaway. Just leave a comment below telling me one of your favorite summer snacks. Leave a second comment with the NuVal score and you will be entered twice. You can find some scores at NuVal.com, on TradingUpDowntownor (of course) by shopping at one of our Retailer Partners if you are lucky enough to live near one of them. Right now, we have scores on shelf at Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, Meijer, United Texas and at 26 Kroger stores in Lexington, KY. More to come really soon, by the way.
I will choose one winner at random at 7 am EDT on Wednesday. Good Luck!
The NuVal Nutritional Scoring System gives nutritional guidance to consumers frustrated with complicated nutrition labels and misleading packaging promises. Under NuVal, all foods and beverages are rated on a scale between 1 to 100. The higher the score, the higher the overall nutrition.
Awards
A Better Bag of Groceries was recently named by Medical Assistant Colleges as a Top 50 Blog for Understanding and Preventing Childhood Obesity. Hooray!
