Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Earth’s Best Makes Breakfast Healthy and Delicious: GIVEAWAY!!!

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Breakfast at my house is almost never skipped. I feel super sluggish without it, myself, and since Darah faces 4 hours of school, I know her body really needs the fuel to power through the morning.

Darah loves oatmeal, so when I learned this month at Earth’s Best has an instant oatmeal option, I was really excited. And when Darah saw Elmo on the package, SHE was really excited. This is the only organic instant oatmeal I have seen in my local store. We usually just make our own, which takes a bit longer. But Earth’s Best Yummy Tummy Organic Instant Oatmeal is ready in about 90 seconds. That is so helpful for busy mornings (which is every morning!).  It is available in Maple & Brown Sugar as well as Apples & Cinnamon. Both options are absolutely perfect for a chilly school morning!

Layah also has a yummy breakfast option from Earth’s Best. We’ve been using their organic rice cereal for a few weeks now, but in the near future I will be introducing her to Earth’s Best Whole Grain Mixed Grain Cereal which contains oats, barley and spelt as well as apple and sweet potato. It sounds delicious, and I love that it is packed with all those fantastic whole grains. In my experience, starting babies off with these types of foods ensures that they will enjoy them longer. Darah regularly ate barley and other whole grains throughout her baby and toddlerhood! I usually make the majority of the baby food, but having this mixed grain cereal on hand will help speed things up quite a bit, which leaves me more time to work on other projects. And I don’t sacrifice nutrition in the process. Thanks, Earth’s Best!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win Earth’s Best Organic Yummy Tummy Instant Oatmeal and Earth’s Best Infant Cereal!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I am a blog ambassador for Earth’s Best, and as such, I have received complimentary products as a thank you for my time. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.



Getting my Kitchen Ready for Layah: Earth’s Best 1st and 2nd Foods (GIVEAWAY!!!)


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Over the past week, I’ve been extra busy in my kitchen. I’m getting my freezer stocked up for Layah. She’s already 4 1/2 months old. My intention is to start her on solids at 6 months, but I want to be prepared sooner just in case she can’t wait that long. I will make the majority of the food she eats using my baby food maker. I’m also using product from our CSA share and from our own little garden. These fruits and veggies are organic, and that’s what I aim to feed Layah, as much as possible. Plus, when you make it yourself, it really is quite affordable!


I also made Darah’s baby food, so I can tell you from experience that when you are going to be away from the house all day (running errands, going on a trip, etc.) it is challenging to bring your own food that might not be shelf-stable. Just like last time, I’ll be reaching for Earth’s Best for those moments! I can’t believe it is already time to start buying these cute little jars!



		
		
			
			
		
	


 


Earth’s Best can help you get your little ones to love their veggies from the start by exposing it to them early and often! They have some wonderful vegetables that are in season right now on the shelves, and every ingredient is organic.


As your little one tries a vegetable for the first time (such as sweet potato or green beans), keep in mind that a common response is to spit it out at first. Don’t be discouraged! Simply try again the next day and the next. In most cases, your baby will be willing and even happy to eat it by the end of the week! It takes time for their palates to get on board with a new flavor.


Earth’s Best also has some great resources online to help parents navigate introducing their little ones to solid foods and how to introduce new flavors and textures in a way that will maximize the chances of you having an adventurous eater! I loved this article on infants’ unpredictable palates.


Do you have a baby eating solids (or soon-to-be eating solids?). Then I have a great giveaway for you!


Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an assortment of Earth’s Best 1st and 2nd Foods – Seasonal Vegetables!

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Be sure to enter my other giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.


I am a blog ambassador for Earth’s Best, and as such, I have received complimentary products as a thank you for my time. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own


Ever Wonder Where Earth’s Best Food is Grown?


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When I first became an ambassador for Earth’s Best, I asked if anyone had any questions about the brand that I could ask the company. One reader wanted to know where the fruits and veggies in Earth’s Best products came from. I thought that was an excellent question, and I went back to the company to get the answer. And now I have it for you!


There are four main farms/growers that supply much of the food found in Earth’s Best products. I’d like to introduce them to you so that you can see where your child’s food is grown!



		
		
			
			
		
	



All of these farms are providing Certified Organic produce, which means they contain no GMOS, potentially harmful pesticides, fertilizers or herbicides.


I am so delighted that Earth’s Best not only discloses, but proudly showcases their growers on their website. It really makes you feel more connected to your food when you can see the people who grew it!


Disclosure: I am a blog ambassador for Earth’s Best, and as such, I have received complimentary products as a thank you for my time. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own




Proud to Be an Earth’s Best Blogger


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Earth's Best Blogger Program


The very first solid food we put in Darah’s mouth was from Earth’s Best. It was rice cereal. Ever since that day (New Year’s Eve 2009), we’ve been big fans and loyal customers to this brand. When I was offered the opportunity to become an ambassador for the brand for the next 6 months, I knew the partnership made perfect sense. I already love and respect Earth’s Best, and now I get to share my thoughts and experiences with you, and along the way, offer up some wonderful prizes to you, my readers.


This is going to be so much fun!


Did you know that Earth’s Best has been around since way before organic became trendy and cool? It has 25 years under its belt, and in that time, has grown tremendously, now offering more than 100 products, including organic infant formula, a really impressive line of infant and toddler foods, and baby care products.


Earth’s Best works hard to be the company of choice for parents who are hoping to provide organic options for their babies and children, and who seek out companies that only use the purest ingredients.


Earth’s Best aims to help make your life a little less hectic. For example, we don’t all have time to go to our local farmer’s market each week and then come home and turn those ingredients into delicious purees and snacks. Earth’s Best is happy to take that chore off your hands without you having to sacrifice the standard you’d like to set for your child’s nutrition and overall health.


Over the next 6 months, I’ll be bringing you news about great new Earth’s Best products, information from Earth’s Best nutrition and health experts, and of course, wonderful giveaways. I hope this series will inspire some good conversations among my readers, not only about this particular brand, but also about how we can strategically make choices to provide products that are free from nasty chemicals to our children.


I’ll be posting for Earth’s Best twice each month, and one post each month will have a giveaway. Folks who comment on the non-giveaway post each month will get a bonus entry into that month’s Earth’s Best giveaway! So here’s your chance to earn a bonus entry!


Do you have any questions for Earth’s Best, either about their products or about ways to cut out unhealthy chemicals in your home and in your child’s diet? I’d love to take your questions and comments back to the company!