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Start Your Weight Loss with the Jenny Craig Kit

October 14, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 17 Comments

If you ask anyone what’s the hardest part of losing weight, you’ll get a lot of answers:

“Getting started…”

“Prepping my meals.”

“Eating the same old thing day in and day out.”

“Portion control.”

“Keeping it off.”

“FOMO (Fear of Missing Out.)”

I know each one of those has crossed my lips as excuse. Hey, we’re all human and sometimes life happens.

But it’s that moment when you look at yourself, or your kids, the scales, or that special date on the calendar that reminds you that a healthier you is a better you. But then what’s next?

Jenny Craig has been a successful strategy for a countless number of men and women to lose weight…including me. I actually lost 16 pounds on Jenny Craig* in just about a month. During that time I had so many people I hadn’t seen me in several months or were following my journey online who were so excited to see the changes in me inside and out.

[*Results not typical. Members following the Jenny Craig program, on average, lose 1-2 lbs. per week.]

However, the one question I received over and over again was “Is Jenny Craig food really good?”

Next to offering one of my Peanut Butter Crunch Bars and sharing my sincere love for the Macaroni and Cheese and my obsession with the Lemon Cooler Cookies, there wasn’t much more I could do to help someone make the positive jump to try Jenny Craig except for them to walk in and sign up.

Are you one of those people who has always wondered if Jenny Craig could work for you? Recently Jenny Craig debuted a special three-day Jenny Craig kit exclusively at Walmart. With everything you need to jump start your weight loss including 23 menu items including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, tips for eating well-rounded meals, a certificate for a free personal consultation for any Jenny Craig center in the US or Jenny Craig Anywhere (a personal phone consultation), and even a $50 food credit when you sign up for Jenny Craig, this starter kit is the ideal way to “test drive” how Jenny Craig can work for you.

Opening up the box, I was thrilled to see some of my favorite meal items (in the same size, packaging and recipes you’ll find anywhere at Jenny Craig) including the Turkey Chili (19 grams of protein and 220 calories), the Almond-Cranberry Barscotti Bar (perfect breakfast for those on the go), and the oh, so perfect with 9 grams of protein, Lemon Cooler Cookies.

The full set of menu items in the Jenny Craig Starter Kit included:

Barscotti with Cranberries and Almonds
Cranberry Almond Cereal
Mixed Berry Bar
Creamy Chicken & Corn Chowder
Swedish Meatballs
Chicken Salad Kit
Rotini Pasta & Meat Sauce
Cheese Ravioli
Turkey Chili
Cheese Curls
White Cheddar Popcorn
Lemon Cooler Cookies
Chocolatey Peanut Butter Anytime Bar
Chocolate Dream Shake

With everything you need to get your health moving in the right direction, all in one box and all in one location at your nearby Walmart, you don’t have an excuse why you can’t try Jenny Craig.

Learn more about my Jenny Craig experience here.

“I was provided a free Jenny Craig Weight Loss Starter Kit. However, the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.”

7 New Ways to Use Paper Towels

October 12, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 24 Comments

Multi-tasking is my other middle name. Anytime I can combine, multiply or make use of anything for more than its initial purpose, I consider it a win-win. It’s like multi-tasking on a whole new level. If I can just create a way for my kitchen to move the food from the fridge to the oven and then to my table with the push of the button, I’d be rich.

Until then, I rely on my friends (online and off) to share with me what their best practices for making their family day-to-world work a little better, a little easier, and definitely in less steps. (Consider it like huddling up before the big game.) So when Viva® Vantage® invited a few of us mamas to a sponsored event to switch up our normal routine by using Viva® Vantage® instead of our normal paper towels in our normal way, we decided to put it through the wringer (pun intended.)

Besides, paper towels are made to clean up messes, right? What’s there to challenge? Just take a look at what we discovered.

How do you use your Viva® Vantage®? Need another hand in the kitchen? Actually you just may need a new paper towel! See how Viva® Towels has the advantage with these tips! 7daySwitchUp [ad]

Posted by Mama Challenge on Tuesday, October 6, 2015

You see these paper towels are the award-winning paper towels, so they don’t just clean up messes. Recently named a 2015 Product of the Year, Viva® Vantage® have the revolutionary V-Flex™ Weave that creates a sponge-like absorbency and takes scrubbing to a whole new level. And anytime a paper towel can also make creating a quality meal on the table a little bit easier than before, then I’m all for switching it up!

Using one of my favorite recipes for a Steak Salad I love, I was ready to do a little of my own homework. Made with tenderloin, tomatoes, olives, green beans, bleu cheese, red onions, romaine and balsamic vinaigrette, this salad is a full meal deal for everyone in the family and while not complicated, does enlist several prep steps.

So using what I learned, first off, I was able to wash off the lettuce using Viva® Vantage® as a colander to rinse the leaves.

Then to keep the remaining lettuce fresh longer, I wrapped it up it with the Viva® Vantage® to soak up the excess water.

There was no need to for a vegetable scrubber, I just tore off a sheet of a sheet of paper towel and using the great scrubbing power of Viva® Vantage® paper towels I was able to properly clean my potatoes, just like I had done with mushrooms here.

However, my favorite switch up was being able to use a damp paper towel under your cutting board to prevent it from shifting while slicing and dicing. I was easily able to slice the tenderloin with no issues or fear of moving on my granite countertop.

Now considering I never like cleanup, it was good to know that I could just use a the great scrubbing power of Viva® Vantage® paper towels to clean the toughest messes and get my stove top back to normal.

Viola with Viva® Vantage®!

But did you know you can also use Viva® Vantage® to:
* Hand wash and dry wine glasses and other stemware using the cloth-like texture of Viva® Vantage® paper towels for a sparkling finish

* Chill wine quickly by wrapping a damp paper towel around the bottle and put in the freezer to chill rapidly.

Never thought a paper towel could be so versatile, right? They are when they are Viva® Vantage®.

Take your own challenge by doing your own 7-Day Switch Up with Viva® Vantage® and see what Viva® can do to help you with your kitchen “mamachallenges.”

What 7-Day Switch Up with Viva® Vantage® tip really surprised you?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Viva® Vantage®.

20-Minute Spooky Halloween Party

October 12, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 26 Comments

Halloween is my primetime, so I’m always on the prowl for fun things to create the perfect Spooky Halloween Party like the limited edition . They asked what I would do with a bag of bones and I “dug” something fun up for this sponsored post!

I have a confession: I love to host parties.

HOWEVER, while I have the greatest intentions of trying to give the Pinterestable party mom a run for her money, I don’t have the time to put it together. But this Halloween I’m not letting a little thing like time get in the way of throwing a spooky fun-filled Halloween party even if I only have 20 minutes to put it together.

Does it sound like the candy corn has gone to my head? Nope, a few unique hacks here can make your party go from blah to boo-tiful!

For this Halloween party, I wanted the guests to play with their food, so we used the meal as the entertainment to set the spooky mood.

Not too bad for 15 minutes using just a few things you have around the house AND a quick pick up at the grocery store, the

Bag of Bones

Bag of Bones: The easiest item on the menu, I just opened up the 8 oz. bag (around $3.50) with four different white cheddar bone-shaped puffs and threw them in a cauldron and a few on the table for a little décor. Later the Cheetos snacks became entertainment too as we put together our skeletons and then snacked on them, one bone at a time.

Time: 30 seconds (maybe)

SeveredFingersBloddyEyeballs#CheetosHalloween#Ad

Severed Fingers & Bloody Fingers

Severed Fingers: Making these actually made me sick because they looked so real! Cut hot dog wienies in half and add a few horizontal cuts to look like fingers. Then cut a little “nick” out of the top of the dog to resemble a finger. Place them in a bowl of ketchup to keep them upright. Put them in the microwave to give them that mutilated look. Then add a little more ketchup on the tip (or sriracha sauce for kick.)

Time: This took around 5 minutes, but did it while my spaghetti and eggs boiled!

Bloody Eyes: My friend Dawn at The Frugal Mom actually had these on her Facebook recently, so I knew I wanted to use the idea. She breaks down all the steps on her blog.

Time: The longest time was the boiling and the decorating took 3 minutes maybe.

Bowl of Brains

Bowl of Brains: Nothing but your favorite pasta noodles and spaghetti sauce. I happen to find these eyeballs in the cookie decorating aisle and threw them in for a little effect.

Time: 10 minutes to boil, but the sauce and eyes took about 1 minute.

Gravestone Cups

Gravestone Cups: Chocolate pudding snack cup, crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, one oval cookie like a ladyfinger, gummies worms and a little package of writing icing make these the easiest and spookiest dessert you’ll ever make.

Time: It took only 4 minutes to make all of these!

As favors for the party, I also picked up the limited-edition glow in the dark Cheetos Crunchy treat snacks! With 30 in the pack for just $5, the snacks make a fun way to munch – in the light or dark!

And a bag of tasty bones isn’t the only thing Cheetos is brewing up this Halloween! There’s all kinds of ways to get into the “spirit” including:

Chester’s Project TP
Take on your arch nemesis by digitally TPing them with Chester’s Project TP. The online app uses Google Maps, Google Earth and Google Maps Street view to digitally prank neighbors virtually toilet paper any structure, anywhere in the world by just entering a street address into the Chester’s Project TP app. Last year, Cheetos fans draped more than 150 million feet of digital toilet paper around the world.

Win Prizes
Fans aged 13 and older have two opportunities on CheetosHalloween.com to enter a weekly sweepstakes where winners will be randomly-drawn to receive gift cards or cash up to $1,000. Fans can enter for a chance to win by completing a Project TP mission or by entering a unique code from their limited-edition product purchases.

Tiny Tales of Terror Twitter Challenge
Using the hashtag #Cheetales, Cheetos is hosting a Tiny Tales of Terror Twitter Challenge, where fans tweet their spookiest 140-character tales for a chance to have their stories made into short films narrated by Chester Cheetah himself and posted on the Cheetos Twitter page , YouTube channel and Facebook.

Who are you going to digitally TP with the Project TP mission app?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Cheetos brand.

Make Your List: Holiday Hot List 2015

October 9, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 23 Comments

Every year it seems Christmas sneaks up on me.

I scramble a few days before Santa comes in hopes to “help the big man” locate those special gift my kiddos have asked for before Rudolph hooves hit my roof.

Most the time I am not very successful, but this year I’m prepared…at least as much as a mama can be. A few months ago I attended the Walmart Chosen By You Expo, a three-day expo to check out the holiday hot list 2015 and best of all, give feedback on what we thought was cool – even including the kids! From TVs, laptops, video games, toys, apparel, and grocery – they had it (of course they do, it was Walmart!) While there were hundreds of ideas for every person on your list from techie, gamer, outdoorsperson, crafty or entertainer, I honed in on the two giftees that will expect the most from me this holiday – my kids.

And all I can say was WHOA mama. (If you know that reference you get two points!)

While there were lots of blasts from the pasts that I grew up with, there was such serious toy action happening that I even put a few on my Santa list. I mean a chocolate pen? That’s the kind of “office supplies” I want to use! And forget my oven…I want a Girl Scout Cookie Oven. Yes, you read that right. You can get your Thin Mint fix after you finish your last box with this easy bake oven. It’s family fun for everyone with learning how to read and follow instructions, cook your first treat, and of course, enjoy the taste of the caramel-coconut goodness when you get to enjoy the “cookies” of your labor.

Now that I’ve got your mouth watering, get out your pen, your list, your wallet and let’s get ready to shop!

And with Walmart’s new Shipping Pass pilot program, for just $50 a year you can get FREE SHIPPING in three or less days FOR A YEAR! So get to clickin’ and soon you’ll be done with your shopping for them, so you can do a little shopping for you while you’re at it!

And just in case you need a few suggestions for what else you need for your list, just check these other items I spotted at the Walmart Chosen by You event! (Just in case you were looking for a gift for me, any of these will work!)

Best of luck for your holidays shopping – make it easy and get everything you need at Walmart.

Being Sick Blows: Get Well Care Package {Printable}

October 7, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 20 Comments

When I hear the first sneeze, cough or sniffly nose in my house, I’ve learned not to wait for the first groan, moan or sad sound “I think I’m sick.”

I rush to Walmart to stock up on our must-haves for cold and flu season like cough drops, antibacterial and Kleenex facial tissue to prevent the “cycle.” So when Kleenex brand engaged me to share my most comforting things for a get well care package/feel better soon kit for others, I knew exactly what needed to be included to make a friend or loved one feel the warm and fuzzies you need when you aren’t feel so warm and fuzzy on the inside.

I remember once in college my roommate, Nicole, knew I wasn’t having a good day, so after her long day at work, she brought me a new soft blanket, a new pillow, the collector’s set of my favorite movie Gone with the Wind, a package of ramen noodles (I LOVE ramen), and a big box of Kleenex tissues. I’m pretty sure the moment she came in I didn’t feel bad any more because of the thought of her thinking of me made such a huge positive impact. It was one of the sweetest things that someone has ever done. And not to do too much math, but that was more than 10 years ago…

That moment of care made such a difference to me, I’ve tried to pay it forward with this quick and easy go-to care package (that can be dropped off or even sent in the mail) for when I hear a friend or loved one isn’t feeling quite up to par. It includes my essentials for making things not seem so bad when you aren’t feeling good. And it only takes about 5 minutes to put together with this printable to show someone you care.

Feel Better Get Well Care Package Kit

Requirement: Kleenex Brand Ultra Soft Tissues
There’s a reason this more than a must-have – it’s an absolute requirement…if you’ve been sick, you know the difference between a tissue and a Kleenex Ultra Soft tissue. The soothing softness is just the TLC you need when you’re going after the tenth tissue that hour. It’s kinda like a hug for your nose when face it, no one is getting in line to embrace you when you are cesspool of germs. And because Kleenex Facial Tissues are designed to shield a cough or sneeze, it’s just what you need to try to keep the germs off your hands and your friends.

Movie/Movie Gift Card
When you don’t feel good all you want to do is roll up in a ball. So to pass the time away, a movie is a great way to keep yourself entertained without much effort. However, don’t know their favorite movie or if they have it already? Right now with your Walmart purchase of a 4-pack of 75-count Kleenex Ultra soft Tissues or Kleenex Tissues with Lotion (love these), you’ll get a $5 VUDU credit. VUDU is Walmart’s online video streaming service, so your giftee can snag their favorite movie to watch from the comfort of their home.

KLEENEX TISSUE CARE PACKAGE $5 VUDU OFFER
Redeem by purchasing qualifying item and star/check the item(s) and the date of your receipt.

Snap a clear photo of the entire receipt with your phone.

Text CAREPACKAGE to 811811 for submission instructions.

Please allow 48 hours for processing.

* All Kleenex Lotion/Ultra Soft 4-packs are eligible for this promotion (with or without the special notation on the box.)

Chicken Soup
You can never go wrong with chicken soup…we’ll unless your loved one is a vegetarian which in that case a vegetable soup or ramen is a great alternative. In an ideal world, I’d whip up a homemade bowl to really share the love, but a lack of time and shipping issues make that a little more difficult. However, by using the prepackaged envelopes, all someone needs is a little hot water from the microwave or even the coffee pot to whip up a nice, warm cup of soup.

Menthol Vapor Rub
No matter the age, when you can’t breathe from sinuses, cold or flu, a little whiff of menthol rub goes a long way. And a container of this miracle goo can go along way, too for repeated uses throughout the season.

Bubbly Water
This is actually a term that my kids coined a few years ago for clear soda that fizzes. When your stomach is a little queasy, I crave for “bubbly water.” I often suggest water and Vitamin C and D enriched orange juice for fluid intake when you’re not feeling well, but the bubbly water can be a nice add to the rotation. Plus if you wanted, you can add a fun and creative label to the bottle as a small detail that can really make their day. (Think funny faces, drawings from the kids, or even a funny spoof on your “magic potion.”

Lip Balm
It’s the little things and this little package makes my world rock anytime. I constantly need to apply lip balm to keep my lips from painful cracking, but if you’ve been coughing and sneezing or crying even, your lips really go through the wringer. By adding moisture to your lips, like you do with your nose with Kleenex brand tissues, you’re preventing chapped lips from setting in – and “no one gots time for that, right?”

Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
This along, with your tissues, is your front line to keep from your little cough and cold to begin a three-month long chain between your family and friends. There’s a lot of things I’ll share with you, but if you really love me, let’s make sure your cold isn’t one of them.

Cough Drops
Oh, the power of a cough drop after you’ve been hacking away for hours or felt the consistent tickle in the back of your throat is a huge relief when you’re not feeling well. Try for their favorite flavor, but make sure you get the kind that include a little extra Vitamin C or menthol to also help the throat.

Printable
This prints as a 5 X 7 so you can print from your home printer on card stock or create a card from printing one on an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper and this as your front cover. There’s also space for a nice message in the middle to really show a personal touch. To print the high resolution, non-watermarked version, click here.

So you’re friend is sick but you’d like to send them something to pick up their spirits?

If you’re looking for a “Feel Better Box” that isn’t for someone that’s not feeling good, you can still use most of these items, but I’d trade out the Vapor Rub for a super scented hand lotion with a lavender or bergamot scent to uplift their spirits and remove the cough drops for their favorite candy treat.

Let’s just say it: Being sick blows, right? From the moment you feel it in the back of your throat, you know what’s about to happen. While I know as an adult about what’s about to happen, I still regress to feeling like a kid and resorting to the same things that helped me cope when I didn’t feel good and my mom was there to keep me comforted. Funny enough, those things don’t change…much. And even when you’re not feeling yourself and life’s got you down, the gesture of someone doing something thoughtful like a hug or sending a box of a few things goes a long way.

Remember someone always needs it, right?

Visit, the Kleenex brand Someone Always Needs One website to create your own personal Kleenex® Careboard message to send to your loved one and to find valuable coupons, too.

Dry Kids are Happy Parents with NEW Huggies Little Movers Diapers

October 7, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Parents in DFW were part of a special event with one of my favorite celebrity moms, Melissa Rycroft, Dancing With the Stars Winner, and the star of the show, the new Huggies Little Movers Diaper Pants.

This fun play date, sponsored by OK! Magazine, was complete with Melissa’s son, Beckett, was running around, playing, tumbling and jumping everywhere with all the other kiddos, while the parents learned about the new diaper that will keep your active child dry and happy.

New Huggies Little Movers Diaper Pants are specifically designed for babies on the move. They are slipped on like normal pants, but still have easy sides so that they can be changed quickly like a normal doctor. And the best part about these diapers – they are the first to provide more absorbency right when your baby needs it – upfront for your little man and right in the center for our princesses.

Because who wants a leaky diaper in the sand box. in the bed. or on your shirt. No fun anywhere or anytime.

After a fun afternoon of playing at Kidville, parents got to take home a gift bag complete with the new Huggies Little Movers Diaper Pants. And before you get your big kid panties in a wad, these new diapers will be available to the public only at Target beginning Wednesday, Oct. 7 in sizes 3 to 6.

The Multi-Cooker for the Multi-Tasking Mom

October 6, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 29 Comments

How many appliances do you own?

I mean, really? How many pots, pans and plugin pots does a gal gotta have to make a meal? Wouldn’t it be nice to have one appliance that steams, sautes, slow cook and even more?

While I may sound a little like the Genie from Aladdin…I feel like my dream has come true with the KitchenAid® Multi-Cooker! Yogurt, risotto, soup, steak and even a strawberry cheesecake, can all be made with this baby and in one pot! With over ten cooking methods and four step-by-step modes, simplify cooking anytime of the day with consistent Even- Heat™ technology.

I’ll admit I wasn’t sure exactly where to start with all the different ways I could use the multicooker, so it sat in a box for a few days. But when I did, the sleek design of the multicooker was just the right size to stay on my cabinet for easy, convenient and continued used. With so many options, it was almost overwhelming to figure out what to make, so I just started with the first setting and made my way down to the line from lowest temperature to the hottest.

While it looks like a crock pot, it is so much more because you can use it for so many purposes including taking the idea of one-pot wonders to a whole new level. And since cook methods can be programmed for up to 12 hours of cooking, you really can fix it and forget it – especially With EvenHeat™ technology monitoring the temperature of the cooking pot from 110° to 450° F.

The Kitchen Aid Multi-Cooker comes with a dual purpose steam basket/roasting rack, a specially developed lid with a soft rubber handle, for easy pouring and steam release, and a four-quart cooking pot. So you get everything you need to make a four-course meal with just the multi-cooker.

While I had fun making everything from yogurt to steaming my own vegetables, I eyed a recipe in the digital KitchenAid cookbook you receive after registration, a traditional french dish, Cassoulet with chicken. While it sounds rather impressive, cassoulet is actually a French peasant dish that includes a protein like duck, venison and sausage, beans and a flavorful broth comprised of onions, celery and whatever else you wanna throw in there . Best of all a little splash of wine in this dish gives you a reason to have a glass while you make the cassoulet as well! So while Americans might want to consider this a big pot of everything you got, I was happy to take on this dish and proudly announce it as its more impressive nomenclature cassoulet.

Hey if Julia Child took time to make it, so would I. However, I was thinking my steps were going to be much, much easier with the multi-cooker. Using one pot and several different settings – from saute, sear, slow cooker high and even boil – this dish was going to make preparation easy and cleanup even more since everything was made in one pot!

Chicken Cassoulet

Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

4 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
11⁄2 teaspoons salt, divided
1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13⁄4 pounds bone-in chicken pieces
2 chicken sausages (21⁄4 ounces each), cooked and cut into 1⁄4-inch pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
11⁄2 cups diced red and green bell peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1⁄2 cup dry white wine
2 cans (about 15 ounces each) cannellini or Great Northern beans,
rinsed and drained

Instructions

Preheat KitchenAid® Multi-Cooker on Sauté setting. Add bacon; cook 10 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally.
Transfer to paper towel-lined plate with slotted spoon.
Add olive oil to drippings in Multi-Cooker.
Combine flour, 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and black pepper in shallow bowl.
Coat chicken pieces with flour mixture; shake off excess.
Brown chicken in batches on Sear setting; reduce heat to Sauté setting if chicken begins to burn.
Transfer to plate.
Reduce heat to Sauté setting. Add sausages, onion, bell peppers,garlic, thyme and rosemary; sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon salt.
Cook 5 minutes or until softened, stirring occasionally and add additional olive oil as needed to prevent sticking.
Stir in wine, scraping up browned bits from bottom of Multi-Cooker with spatula. Top with chicken and bacon.
Cover and cook on Slow Cooker High setting 20 minutes; stir in beans.
Cover and cook 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (165°F), stirring gently twice.
Serve.

The KitchenAid Multicooker makes a super holiday gift for your loved ones, but mostly yourself. Get ready to take this baby for a spin with tons of dishes you’ll enjoy making from scratch with a lot of the recognition without all the cleanup. That’s my kinda cookin’.

Reclaim your kitchen with the KitchenAid Multicooker found at Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Four Fast Lowfat Chicken Recipes

September 28, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 8 Comments

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Remember that line at the end of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off where he said “Life Moves Pretty Fast?”

I had no idea then what that would really mean until I became a mom.

Every day after that has been a sprint, but unfortunately there are few too many rest spots and the race never ends.

That’s why no matter how much I try to meal plan healthy dishes for my family, there are some days “it ain’t happening.”

But I have learned a shortcut that doesn’t require going through the drive thru and take less time than getting online to look up the menu for your favorite delivery.

Using Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Chicken, I’m now able to create a quick lunch or dinner that I can make in less than five minutes (yes, 5), my kids will eat, the adults will like and doesn’t blow our calorie count for the week on one meal. That’s right, quick and lowfat chicken recipes.

Just like my normal grocery staple when I run to Walmart for bagged salad, milk ,and eggs in the refrigerated section, I’ve added Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Fajita Chicken Strips or Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Oven Roasted Diced Chicken Breast to the list. They are a quick and easy way to make a meal just for one or the whole family when the day goes fast than we can keep up with!

And since I’m always working to find a recipe that’s not just good to eat, but good for you to eat, these recipes with Tyson® aren’t just easy and quick to make, I’ve made them lowfat, too. And did I also mention most of these are made with less five ingredients! #everydayeffortless, right?

Lowfat Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

Favorite lowfat Wrap/Flat Pizza Crust (I like FlatOuts with Flax)
1 tablespoon Buffalo Wing Sauce
Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Fajita Chicken Strips
1 tablespoon Bleu Cheese, Crumbled
1 tablespoon lowfat Shredded Cheese
Lowfat Ranch Dressing (optional)

Instructions

Bake pizza as directed at 375 degrees.
Coat pizza crust with buffalo sauce.
Add cheese and chicken.
Bake for 2-3 more minutes until melted.
Drizzle with ranch (optional.)

Lowfat Chicken Caesar Wrap

Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

1 wheat tortilla or wrap
Shredded Romaine Lettuce
Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Oven Roasted Diced Chicken Breast
1 tablespoon Lowfat Caesar Dressing
1 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

On a tortilla, lay a few leaves of salad in the middle of the wrap.
Next add chicken strips.
Then add dressing.
Finish with cheese.
To enjoy, roll up tortilla and enjoy!

Notes

Use a bagged Lowfat Caesar Salad Mix to make this recipe even quicker and easier!

Chicken Pesto Pasta

Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Refrigerated Angel Hair pasta
Refrigerated Pesto (I love to make my own, but some days you need it quick!)
Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Oven Roasted Diced Chicken Breast
Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

Boil noodles as directed for 3-4 minutes.Drain.
Add chicken to warmed noodles.
Add pesto to noodles and mix thoroughly.
Garnish with cheese.
Serve.

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

Romaine Lettuce Leaves
Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Fajita Chicken Strips
1 tablespoon Lowfat Asian Ginger Dressing
Slivered almonds
Wonton strips

Instructions

In lettuce leaf, add chicken, dressing and garnishes as preferred.)
Wrap up and eat like a taco.

Notes

Keep salad mixins like wontons, almonds, etc. for quick ways to add to any dish!

What’s your favorite quick and easy chicken recipe?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson®. The opinions and text are all mine.

My Lone Star Love Story with Migas

September 26, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 10 Comments

My love story with migas is actually a real love story.

Actually, the night I met my husband we spent hours learning about each other over a plate of enchiladas and margaritas.

So when only a few months after we had dated he moved to Mexico for a study abroad program, I was devastated. However, during my first trip to visit him, I was destined to make him a Mexican dish that he was enjoy so much he’d wonder why he ever left Texas and would want to come home.

Not necessarily a practical idea, but at 22 and in love, you’re willing to do anything. Besides, there’s a southern saying that says the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And I was going to do whatever I could do to try to put that to the test.

So over a one-burner stove in a not-so-glamourous apartment in Monterrey, I found a skillet, a few things in the fridge including eggs, tortilla, and green chiles, and walked through the steps of my first skillet of migas.

…Whether it was the setting, the ingredients, or just the fact that anything with eggs are good, that plate of migas was buttery, spicy and just dang amazing. And apparently the dish worked since only three months into his study abroad program, he came home to stay.

I like to say it was the migas that brought him back to Texas. And even if it was a little more than that, that first attempt at migas has blossomed into our first of many family dishes.

So with a few tweaks, I share my love story with you in hopes you’ll be able to love someone over a plate of migas one day.

Tejas Migas

Author: Autumn Reo, mamachallenge.com
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 15
Total Time: 30 minutes

Print Recipe

Description

A love story of eggs, tortillas, and Mexican flavor come together for an easy breakfast dish that might make you crave it for lunch and dinner, too.

Ingredients

Scale

6 Lone Star eggs, beaten
1 onion, chopped
5 corn tortillas, chopped or torn into pieces
1 can green chiles, chopped
3 tablespoons butter
cheese, cojita or Mexican shredded cheese
pico de gallo , cilantro, etc. for garnish

Instructions

In a medium-hot skillet, melt butter.
Add onion and saute until soft.
Next add tortillas and brown slightly.
Stir in green chiles and cook 2-4 minutes.
Add eggs and cook 4 minutes until cooked, but do not allow to dry or overstir.
Garnish with cheese, pico, and salsa.

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Raise Smarter, Healthier and Happier Kids by Playing

September 22, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 16 Comments

Gone are the days of going outside to play, tossing a baseball or football in the cul de sac, and riding bikes for hours in the neighborhood. Scary stories about innocent children being abducted made us all nervous about the whereabouts of our kids, and the debut of fancy mobile devices and high-tech video games made outdoor fun seem a little lame.

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the technology. I rely on it to work and also enjoy my Pinterest time in bed after hours. However, there is something magical about simply playing with others, and discovering the world with just your imagination.

And that’s what the Genius of Play campaign is all about. Kids need a variety of play options to develop into well-rounded adults. From running around the yard to enjoying arts and crafts or enjoying group games, these day-to-day interactions are actually experiences children will take with them in life…even if THEY don’t realize that.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children spend at least 60 minutes of open-ended play. Experts agree by teaching kids lessons and important life skills, play has a profound impact on childhood development. It improves cognitive abilities, hones communication skills, increases creativity, helps children process and express emotions, develops physical skills and enhances social skill.

Kids who play with literacy materials, like pretending to read to stuffed animals, have better languages abilities in kindergarten. Playing make-believe games is actually essential for kids who to develop a sense of curiosity and learn how to respond to different situations. Talking, singing, reading and playing are the best ways to stimulate children’s brain development.

There are dozens of surveys and studies about excessive use of technology for small children, but so far, I’m not seeing any disadvantages to good old-fashioned play time. These games are actually a fun teaching tool and interactive way you can engage with your kids.

And it doesn’t take a lot to do some of these activities. Whether the sun is shining or it’s pouring down raining outside, any day is perfect for play. Plus, with the weather cooling off, or at least it should in a few weeks, now is a perfect time to try out these fun games.

The hardest part of is probably going to be convincing your children to try out a new kind of unstructured fun and honestly making time each week with everything else you have going on. But it’s something that could have a life-changing impact on your child. Maybe you won’t see it immediately, but there will be long-term positive results, even if it’s nothing more than spending quality time with your family.

I didn’t grow up with any of fancy devices children have today. The fanciest thing we had was Fisher Price’s brown tape player and a Snoopy Snow Cone Maker. Still, I would like to believe that my development as an adult is directly related to the imaginative free play I had growing up. I made the most memories playing with my friend Shana at my grandparents’ backyard all summer, making four-course meals out of mud, grass and pecans.

Funny enough not much has changed except now I’m old enough to use the stove.

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My Lone Star Love Story with Migas

Tejas Migas

Description

Ingredients

Instructions

Other Eggsellent Recipes You’ll Enjoy:

Raise Smarter, Healthier and Happier Kids by Playing

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