Eating with kids at Bravo Cucina

My family was recently invited to dine at Bravo Cucina to try out their new Farm to Table summer menu. I'll be honest, eating out at a sit down restaurant with four kids can give me real trepidation! What if the food takes forever to come? What if my kids start getting hangry?! :) But I didn't need to worry because, soon after our order was placed, out came a piece of dough for each of my kids to play, create and entertain themselves. It was truly brilliant! I've never seen them so occupied through our waiting time! 

Bravo also has a great kids menu with offerings such as lasagna, buttered noodles, ravioli pizza, grilled chicken, fresh fruit, veggies and more! 

Our food was delicious and everyone left the table full and satisfied!

Bravo makes both a fun family dinner out or a fantastic date night as well! 

Thank you, Bravo Cucina, for a delicious dinner and not being afraid to extend your invitation to a family of six! :) 

Although our dinner was provided in exchange for review, all opinions remain my own. 

Chick Fil A: new superfood side!

As a mom, there are two things that draw me in quickly: healthy and convenient. Fast food is often known for it's convenience....but healthy? Not so much! To walk into a fast food restaurant and see a plate of fresh fruit goodness is not a regular occurrence. Unless you're at a Chick Fil A, of course! 

I'm not a big proponent of fast food....in fact, I've turned down other fast food companies that wanted my promotion because I just couldn't in good conscience endorse their products. This past year I've had the chance to work with Chick Fil A and I've been amazed each step of the way! Their quality, customer service, restaurants and food stand far above any other chain in their competition.  

And Chick Fil A is listening to moms. They are listening when we say we want convenient AND healthy and they are paving the way to give us those options! I was recently invited to come check out the launch of their new superfood side: the new kale salad. This new salad includes: kale, broccolini and dried cherries, all tossed in a sweet maple vinaigrette dressing. Roasted nuts come separately packaged for those with allergy concerns. 

I'm not a huge fan of kale. To me it often has a bitter flavor and I'm more likely to throw it in a smoothie than to eat it raw. So with some trepidation, I was ready to try the kale salad! But it was awesome. Truly. Washington, PA operator, Kory Kaye, gave us a demonstration on how they make it (fresh daily in the store) and gave us the secret! It marinates in the sweet maple vinaigrette for 30 minutes before it is served. This seems to take any bitterness of the kale away and between the dressing, the sweet cherries and the nuts, it is so delicious!

 4 ingredients, made fresh. As food should be! Pair with their grilled nuggets for a (healthy) and (convenient) lunch on the go! You can also substitute it for fries on your next order.  The kale salad with an order of grilled nuggets is only 320 calories. And I can attest to the fact that it definitely fills you up. So next time you're feeling cooped up in the house and the Chick Fil A kid's play area is calling you out (it does that, right?!), you don't have to sacrifice eating something healthy!

Chick Fil A is also the only fast food restaurant that is now offering organic juice drink for their kid's meals. 

The Washington, PA store is brand new and is part of the new Heritage design. This design incorporates a variety of finishes and has unique custom features such as light fixtures make from recycled Coco-Cola bottles as a nod to their home base in Atlanta. It's interior is so warm and inviting!

If you've ever tried to stand in line to order with toddlers running in circles around you, then Chick Fil A is again thinking of you! Some CFA restaurants offer the option to order in the drive thru and have your food delivered to a table inside (varies by location) or you can place an order online and have it ready at the restaurant as well. I am excited and thankful to try those options! 

So, go, try the new kale salad, you won't be disappointed! And hey, that leaves more available calories for ice cream, right? :) 

#SuperFoodSide

#CFAPittMoms

This post is sponsored by ChickFilA and The Motherhood. All opinions remain my own as I don't endorse products that I don't love!

Chick-fil-A: Dinner Giveaway for 4 families

A common phrase used by Chick-fil-A is Where Good Meets Gracious. If you've ever stepped into one of their restaurants, you instantly know that they are effectively putting that into practice. Whether your thank you is met with a my pleasure, your table is cleared for you, a refill is offered without getting up, or they see your arms are full of kids and offer extra help, their customer service is outstanding. Their stores are incredibly kid-friendly with their indoor play areas. Did you know a parent with young children can even order through the drive-thru and they'll deliver it to a table inside for you? I've been there trying to order and corral multiple kids at the same time, so I love that option!

I was recently invited to gather with a few other Pittsburgh mommy bloggers, local Chick-fil-A restaurant owners, and friends from The Motherhood to learn more of what goes on behind the scenes at Chick-fil-A. Their hospitality was outstanding for the evening! We gathered at the Manchester Bidwell facility which was pretty amazing in itself. 

Chick-fil-A's culinary chefs, at their home base in Atlanta, continually work to bring new, nutritious and craveable food items to their menu. Some of the delectable new choices we'll see rolled out this next year will be their broccoli-kale salad (we tried it and it's awesome!), the southwest spicy chicken salad, egg white grilled breakfast sandwich, frosted coffee, and cranberry-lime lemonade. CFA has removed high fructose corn syrup from 2/3 of their menu, are working on a gluten-free bun option, and continually strive to create a more healthy and sustainable menu! Kid's meals offer healthier options such grilled nuggets, fruit, and organic apple juice. One mom shared with us that her child has a multitude of food allergies, including dairy/soy/oats, which greatly limits their family in eating out. But he can still enjoy the grilled nuggets and fruit at CFA!

Their new Greek yogurt parfait was so delicious and probably my favorite item of the night.  The new broccoli-kale salad includes roasted nuts and dried sour cherries. It was tasty as well!

Most Pittsburgh area CFA's host a a monthly family night where kids can do a special craft and get a free dessert - check with individual locations for details. They are also introducing a new kids club which will encourage character traits such as bravery and courage. Go here to sign up to be a part of it (currently only available in the South Hills, Waterfront & Greensburg locations, but hopefully expanding in our area very soon!)

Nicole and I had the chance to have a little contest to hand-squeeze lemons as that is exactly how their lemonade is made. We're still debating who won (wink, wink).  Lemons, water and sugar....can't beat that combo!

 If you are watching your calories, but still want to enjoy eating out, their grilled chicken sandwich and side salad is a great lunch or dinner!

Their new frozen lemonade is awesome! 

GIVEAWAY

Chick-fil-A's generosity is extending to YOU! They have graciously offered to provide 4 families a free meal (for your immediate family) at CFA. (Limited to Pittsburgh area locations). Click link below to enter.....please note that a blog post comment is required as part of your entry, TY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

We also were able to take a quick tour of the Manchester Bidwell facility. They create empowering educational environments for adults-in-transition as well as urban and at-risk youth which includes free art and culinary classes, greenhouse growth, exposure to world-class jazz musicians and much more. We loved hearing the ways they are fulfilling hopes and dreams for people here in our community. 

#CFAPITTMoms

This post was sponsored by Chick-fil-A. All opinions remain my own. 

The #SnackMob truck

Have you heard that the Bolthouse Farms #SnackMob truck is here in Pittsburgh? They are traveling around our city handing out FREE snacks that your kids don't want to miss. For those of us who will soon be packing school lunches, they have great healthy options to add to packed lunches. You can find the Bolthouse Farms Kids™ line in the Produce Section at your local Giant Eagle and they contain no added preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors. Their new kids line include smoothies, veggie snackers, and squeezable fruit tubes. 

Last week was National Night Out where neighborhoods across the country plan events to encourage greater community awareness. My church was hosting a kickball game for kids in the neighborhood and we were thrilled when we heard the #SnackMob truck was able to come by during the event. The Snack Mob truck is a happy and friendly crew and we enjoyed hanging out with them for the evening. 

They passed out smoothies and carrot snack packs. I loved seeing so many people walking around with healthy foods in hand!

Lots of happy customers! We had 125+ guests which included neighbors, church members, police officers and other officials. 

It was pretty cool to have the Bomb Squad + S.W.A.T. truck stop by as well!

The Snack Mob truck will be at a lot of venues over the next few weeks. A few to highlight are:

Sunday evenings through August: Citiparks Cinema in the Park Movie Nights (dusk)

August 15: "Kindergarten … here I come!” at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh ​ (9 a.m. – 10 a.m.)​​

August 30: First Responders Day at Kennywood Park(10:30 a.m.) ​

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September 19: Junior Great Race at Point State Park (8 a.m.) 

You can find the complete schedule for the Bolthouse Farms #SnackMob truck here. 

------->>>> Head here to print a coupon for $1 off any Bolthouse Farms Kids™ product!

But that's not all....YOU could have the #SnackMob truck to come to your party! 

Here are details to enter the #SnackMob #Contest:​

• WIN a visit from the Snack Mob by tweeting @BolthouseFarms for a chance to get the #SnackMob truck to deliver Bolthouse Farms Kids™ product for free at your next party! ​
• Be sure to use the hashtags #Snackmob and #Contest in your tweet, and include the date and type of event (e.g., soccer tournament, block party, etc.) in your entry. Contest ends Sept. 10, 2015 at 11:59pm. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Maximum of 100 people per event.​

Follow Bolthouse Farms Kids™ :

http://www.bolthouse.com/

http://www.bolthousefarmssnackmob.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bolthousefarms

https://twitter.com/bolthousefarms

https://instagram.com/bolthousefarms/

This post is brought to you by Bolthouse Farms Kids™ and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

Healthy Snacks for Kids #SnackMob

I don't know about you, but once that summer sun hits, we can't wait to be outside as much as possible! But wow, my kids are hungry nonstop. :) I am always looking for good options of healthy snacks to take on the go. With 4 kids, we go through a lot of snacks! We were all excited to receive a box of goodies from Bolthouse Farms Kids™ so we could try their new line of kid-friendly snacks. I think the overall vote was thumbs up all around!

Bolthouse Farms Kids™ is a refrigerated line of real fruit and veggie snacks for kids. They have smoothies, fruit tubes, and carrot packs. This mom loved the carrot pack! It comes with a delicious seasoning packet that gives the carrots an extra yummy kick.  If you have ever trouble making yourself eat veggies, this is an awesome option for moms as well. :) The fruit tubes are a great option for kids that might have a dairy allergy and wish they could have yogurt tubes. And my kids loved that there was a joke on every tube!

You can find the Bolthouse Farms Kids™ line in the Produce Section at your local Giant Eagle.​

• Contains no added preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors.​
• Perfect snack solution to get kids to eat more fruits and veggies.  

Smoothies are packaged in an individual serving "kid-size” bottle for on-the-go occasions in two fun flavors:  Strawberry Meets Banana, Peach Meets Mango​

• They’re packed with 1 ½ servings of fruit per 6-oz bottle and contain no dairy.​
• Smoothies contain no added preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors.​
• With 80-90 calories per bottle, these smoothies are full of flavor and easy to pack in any lunch box.​

Veggie Snackers: Skip the chips and grab some fresh veggies with these fun-ized baby carrot snacks. Two varieties available:  Carrot Meets Ranch, Carrot Meets Chili Lime​

• The individual sized bags unleash tremendous flavor with all-natural seasoning and just a pinch of salt.​
• These baby carrots pack a punch of crunch at just 25 calories per pack. Go ahead and shake your way to snack time fun!​

Fruit Tubes are squeezable, slim tubes of real fruit puree blends featuring three fun flavors: Mango Meets Banana & Pineapple, Strawberry Meets Banana, and Blueberry Meets Raspberry.​

• The fruit tubes can be served chilled or frozen.​
• At just 30-40 calories, and no added sugar or preservatives, these tubes are a delicious snack for your little one.​

So here is the cool thing! Bolthouse Farms Kids™ has chosen to send one of their #snackmob food trucks to Pittsburgh for 6 weeks. Everyone in Pittsburgh will have the opportunity to find them at an event and try their new snack line for free! With school right around the corner (sad face!), many of us are beginning to search out options for healthy foods for our kid's school lunches. The Bolthouse Farms Kids™ Snack Mob trucks are helping kids go back to school in a healthy way as these snacks are perfect for on-the-go lunches. Throughout six weeks in August and early September, the Snack Mob team will be stopping by select Giant Eagle stores and many community events throughout the region – sharing FREE samples of Bolthouse Farms Kids™ products with kids and parents alike.  Kids will be sampling Strawberry Meets Banana Smoothie and Carrot Meets Ranch Veggie Snackers​. You can also always find them in the produce section at your local Giant Eagle.​ Follow along with us as we welcome Bolthouse Farms Kids™ to the neighborhood!  ​

Here are some of the upcoming events to find a #snackmob truck.You can find the full list of events here: http://www.bolthousefarmssnackmob.com.

Sunday evenings throughout August: Citiparks Cinema in the Park Movie Nights (dusk)​

August 2: Snack Mob kickoff event at Settlers Ridge Market District (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)​

August 4: Three Rivers Grace Church Neighborhood Kickball Game. My church is hosting a neighborhood kickball game for National Night Out and the #snackmob truck will be stopping by. Bring your kids to play kickball and try some healthy snacks! Then head down a few blocks and catch the free evening movie at the West End Overlook. See more details and RSVP here. 

​

August 15: "Kindergarten … here I come!” at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh ​ (9 a.m. – 10 a.m.)​​

August 30: First Responders Day at Kennywood Park(10:30 a.m.) ​

​

September 19: Junior Great Race at Point State Park (8 a.m.) 

But hey, how would you like the #SnackMob truck to come to your party?! 

Enter the #SnackMob #Contest:​

• Have the Snack Mob truck crash your next party!​
• WIN a visit from the Snack Mob by tweeting @BolthouseFarms for a chance to get the #SnackMob truck to deliver Bolthouse Farms Kids™ product for free at your next party! ​
• Be sure to use the hashtags #Snackmob and #Contest in your tweet, and include the date and type of event (e.g., soccer tournament, block party, etc.) in your entry. Contest ends Sept. 10, 2015 at 11:59pm. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Maximum of 100 people per event.​

Follow Bolthouse Farms Kids™ :

http://www.bolthouse.com/

http://www.bolthousefarmssnackmob.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bolthousefarms

https://twitter.com/bolthousefarms

https://instagram.com/bolthousefarms/

This post is brought to you by Bolthouse Farms Kids™ and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.