Van's New Year Giveaway Event!

Van's Natural Foods recently contacted me about a giveaway they are having and I was happy to promote the contest.  In this, they'll be giving away a $100 Visa Gift Card, $25 in Free Van’s Coupons, Van’s tote and a water bottle, so it sounds promising.

Here's a few key notes about Van's Foods:

• Van’s, the leader in frozen, better-for-you waffles, brings great nutrition, whole grain goodness, non-GMO verified ingredients and gluten-free options to breakfast, lunch and snack time.
• With lines that include the popular 8 Whole Grains, Power Grains, Organic and Gluten-Free waffles, Van’s has creative ideas for wholesome breakfasts, lunches, snacks and appetizers perfect for the colder months ahead.
• Whether it’s a quick, warm, nutritious breakfast, an allergy-friendly stand-in for bread, or a delicious whole-grain dessert, Van’s waffles are popping up in all kinds of recipes that can be shared again and again.

So, if you'd like to participate, you can enter via the contest Rafflecopter widget here:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Van's Ultimate Cheddar Penne Gluten Free Pasta

A while back, Van's sent me a box of some of their new gluten free pastas.  I've reviewed one already, but I've been a little slow in getting around to reviewing the others.  The good news is that dried pastas have a long shelf life, so I was able to delay my review of this box of Van's Ultimate Cheddar Penne Gluten Free Pasta until now.  This box of gluten free pasta comes in at 7.0 ounces and within that are three individual servings.  Each one cup serving is 280 calories (prepared) and has a whopping (or so they say) 28 grams of whole grains in every serving.  So, with that, I was ready to dive into Van's take on the American classic dish, macaroni and cheese.

Review: Van's Blissfully Berry Gluten Free Cereals

So I mentioned in my previous Van's review that someone in their public relations firm (or perhaps department) was kind enough to ship me a couple of boxes of their gluten free cereals for review.  I already looked at one, so today's reviews leads me to take a look a the other box that was shipped to me as I examine this box of Van's Blissfully Berry Gluten Free Cereals.  This box has nine three-quarter cup servings contained within it and each serving comes in at 110 calories.  It's gluten free of course and also hits you up with all sorts of fiber and whole grains, so hooray for that if that is the way that you like to start your day.  The tagline says that you can start your day with a "Blissful Breakfast", so if you are in to fiber and whole grains like this has got, perhaps that is blissful for you.  I'm not really into starting my day at all as I'd rather stay in bed, but to each their own.

Review: Van's Cocoa Sensations Gluten Free Cereals

I am proud to say that I've never paid for a Van's product that I've reviewed on this blog.  Wait a minute...why am I proud of that?  I don't know that I should be ashamed of it, but I should be grateful that Van's has been so generous to me to keep sending me free samples to review.  Granted, they are getting some benefit by putting out word of mouth for their product, but they are also giving me content and saving me a few bucks.  Anyway, today's free sample is the first time I've tried one of their cereal products as I'll take a look at this ten ounce box of Van's Cocoa Sensations Gluten Free Cereals.  Not sure on the exact price, but I'm guessing each box could be priced anywhere from $3.00-$5.00 depending on the store.  Each of the nine servings in this box is three-quarters of a cup and comes in at 110 calories.  As the name would also point out, it's also gluten free.  The tagline states that this cereal is "Sweet Sensations by the Spoonful" but I think I'm going to have to be the judge of that!

Review: Van's Creamy Herb & Garlic Gluten Free Pasta

I wish I could say the life of a food review blogger is glamorous, but it really isn't.  Still, it does have some benefits and most of those benefits revolve around getting products for free.  The source of today's review is one of those instances and adds to my Van's review catalog, which incidentally is one that entirely consists of products that I've gotten for free.  So today's free product is a box of Van's Creamy Herb & Garlic Gluten Free Pasta.  The box is 7.2 ounces and each box contains three one-cup servings and as it is properly prepared, each serving is 320 calories.  The pasta is also whole grain and gluten free, so there's clearly some health benefits (or non-negatives if you choose to look at it that way) associated with this product.

Review: Van's Natural Foods PB&J Blueberry and Peanut Butter Sandwich Bars

I've mentioned in every previous Van's Natural Foods review that they were gracious enough to send me some free samples and in my very first review, I took a look at a product that emulated the chosen sandwich of my youth (and also maybe my adulthood as well).  They sent two different variations and today's review of this box of Van's Natural Foods PB&J Blueberry and Peanut Butter Sandwich Bars is the other variation.  There's five bars per box and each bar is 1.40 ounces and 160 calories with four grams of protein.

Review: Van's Natural Foods Gluten Free Say Cheese! Crackers

Do you ever get tired of free samples?  I hope the answer to that question was no.  If it was yes, I seriously question you.  Just kidding.  Anyway, I know that I love free samples and today's review is another Van's Natural Foods free sample with today's review of Van's Natural Foods Gluten Free Say Cheese! Crackers.  These came in a box with five snack sized portions of gluten free crackers.  Each bag is 1.0 ounces and comes in at 140 calories.

Review: Van's Natural Foods Mighty Good BBQ! Simply Awesome Baked Multigrain Chips

My run on Van's Natural Foods continues as my free sample parade leads me to another review of their multigrain chips with a look at another product with a "cute" marketing name with these Van's Natural Foods Mighty Good BBQ! Simply Awesome Baked Multigrain Chips.  Now, that name is being a bit presumptuous on two fronts, don't you think?  First, they claim that the chips are mighty good.  Then, they claim that they are simply awesome.  Also, don't you think that could be viewed as contradictory?  Are they mighty good or simply awesome?  To me, those are two different descriptions, but I take things too literal.  And yes, I've just wasted several sentences on something that is completely idiotic to discuss.  Anyway, this 5.5 ounce bag has about five servings of chips and each serving is 130 calories.

Review: Van's Natural Foods Nacho, Nacho, Man! Gluten Free Multigrain Chips

The Van's Natural Foods free sample gravy train continues (for me).  Today, in my second review, I'll be taking a look at something in an entirely different product line than the original review with my look at this bag of Van's Natural Foods Nacho, Nacho Man! Gluten Free Multigrain Chips.  Cute name, eh?  I'm not one that is a big fan of the Village People, but I do have a sense of humor (I think), so I can appreciate the play on words.  Anyway, this bag comes in at a total weight of 5.5 ounces and within that bag, there are five servings of multigrain chips that are about 130 calories per serving.

Review: Van's Natural Foods PB&J Strawberry and Peanut Butter Sandwich Bars

I've been on a hot streak with free samples recently and today's review continues that as a representative of Van's Natural Foods reached out to me and graciously sent me a box full of free samples.  As I was unpacking the box, I pulled this box of Van's Natural Foods PB&J Strawberry and Peanut Butter Sandwich Bars out of the box first and after seeing the name, I was like "uhh...YES!"  Anything that resembles the romantic sandwich of my youth automatically gets an instant review (much to my delight, there was another PB&J product in the box too, so that one will be forthcoming).  Anyway, this box consisted of five bars and each bar is 1.4 ounces and 160 calories and three grams of protein.  As you can see on the box, these are made with real peanut butter as well, so YUMMY!