Dinnertime is Happening (& It’s Not Takeout!)

It’s a new year guys, HAPPY 2023!  Hard to believe that we’ve now been doing the podcast for almost 4 years.  We’re 180+ episodes in and if you’ve been a longtime listener then you know we’re pretty discerning when it comes to who we partner with on the show.  From Day 1, we always wanted to share products and services that we really liked & felt good about supporting.  Which is why I’m excited to give you some additional details behind one of the many Beehive Meals I’ve made for my family over the past couple of weeks.

Beehive Meals is a service that prepares fresh, quality, freezer meals straight to your door.  The menus they have are family friendly and I’ve LOVED that this isn’t a microwaved meal or frozen dish I’m throwing in the oven.  The meals are all prepped & delivered raw in a vacuum sealed bag, allowing you to cook them whenever you’re ready in a slow cooker or Instapot.  Just grab a side or two and before you know it, your family will be eating a delicious family meal!  And all without making a huge mess in the kitchen (amen!).

I’m admittedly not the most comfortable mom in the kitchen… Recipes intimidate me, the messes frustrate me and to be honest – it’s just not something I’ve prioritized.  But that doesn’t mean I haven’t had all the guilt over the years for not being able to show up for my family at dinnertime the way I want to. I’ve gone in phases of cooking, sure. But inevitably, I’ll go to the grocery store and spend all the $$ just to have it sit there for days before I attempt to use it (again… intimidating!).

Cooking can also be an expensive endeavor on my part and I’ll forget the frustration after making a meal from scratch just to see 2 of my 3 kids sit there & not touch it. Seriously, let’s just say a little piece of my heart broke in those moments. And usually ends up with me looking to my husband with an eyeroll while saying “why do I even try!?”. Sound familiar? If so, then I really think freezer meals might be a great solution for you too! If I can do it, then you can too!

Beehive Meals

Today I prepped the BBQ Pork in the slow cooker for dinner.  I literally grabbed it out of the freezer at 10:30am, dumped all the contents of the bag into the Crockpot, set it to cook and left for work.  The kitchen was still clean and I was able to do it in 2 minutes on my way out the door. I ended up cooking this for 7 hours on LOW which worked out perfectly.

When I got home later that afternoon, little bellies were starting to get hungry. So, the timing worked out perfectly. Around 6:00pm, I prepped the pulled pork sliders. On each Hawaiian Roll I put a good helping of the pork, and topped it with a little slice of Colby Jack cheese. Leaving the sandwiches open-faced, I threw them on a cookie sheet and broiled them on LOW in our oven for about a minute. This just toasted the buns a little & melted the cheese for the kids. Then for my husband’s sandwich (and my own), I topped with some red onion and a little slaw from the grocery store. The sauce was sweet and I was SO HAPPY all 3 of my kids ate it! So, I’m counting this dinner as a win and one I know I’ll repeat in the future. The conversations had around the dinner-table really are priceless. So, here’s your reminder to make it a priority in 2023!

Learn more about Beehive Meals here & why they’re now over 1 Million meals served! Enter Promo Code THEMOMVOICE for 5% off your order.

xo – Sarah

The Design of This Treadmill is Pretty Amazing…

We’re excited to follow up on a brand that we talked about during Ep. 143 of The Mom Voice, Treadly! You can go listen to us chat about it here. Treadly is one of the newest treadmill’s on the market and we’re sort of blown away with its design! It has a really sleek look and is one of the smallest, most low-profile treadmills out there.

As you know, I’m training for a half marathon in February (yikes!), so I’ve taken note on all things in the running world. And being totally honest, I actually prefer to run on a treadmill. I think it keeps me at a consistent, good pace and I love seeing the calories I’m burning along with the distance ran. For me, these stats are big motivators and keeps me going on the run – not to mention, accountable!

Treadly is so cool you guys – at only 73 pounds and 3.7 inches thick, it’s never been easier to work out at home or the office. It can easily be stored under your bed, totally out of the way, which is huge! Sarah is always telling me how annoying it is that her treadmill takes up so much space in her room.

The Treadly also comes with an app that helps you set goals and track your runs, really allowing you to see the progress you’ve made. The app also has an awesome social aspect that allows you to connect with a community to help motivate you with tips and support (which is huge!) This all comes included when you purchase a Treadly treadmill. The deliver it to your door, pull it out of the box and then you’re ready to get going.

Running has seriously been one of the hardest things for me my whole life. Having the convenience to run in my home whenever I need to, during any time of the day, would be so helpful! Treadly makes it convenient and easy for every runner, even beginners like me. Running really is the best overall workout you can do. To be able to catch up on your favorite show and still have the kids around, the Treadly treadmill makes it possible for everyone.

Right now they’re having a great holiday sale, offering a $100 off plus free shipping. And if you’re not happy with Treadly, they have a 30-day return policy. So, if you’ve been wanting a treadmill but have never felt like you had enough room for one – make sure to checkout Treadly. It’s a great option for home or the office. So, go take a minute to look over all the special features Treadly has to offer here!

RECIPE: Lauren’s White Chicken Chili

Since the temps are starting to cool down a bit, we wanted to share a favorite recipe of ours that’s become a staple in our homes. Lauren’s been cooking this one for 10+ years now and it really is such a hit for anyone who tries it! And – it’s super easy and quick to throw together. So, when you’re in the mood for a cozy evening with a homemade soup, try this one. We promise you’ll love it!

Ingredients:
4 – cups shredded chicken
4 – (14.5 oz) cans white beans, drained
2 – (14.5 oz) cans of white corn, drained
3 – cups chicken broth
2 – (4 oz) can diced green chilies
2 – chicken bouillon cubes
2 – medium onions chopped
1 – Tablespoon garlic powder
1 – Tablespoon oregano
1 – Tablespoon cumin
1/2 – teaspoon cayenne
1 – 24 oz of sour cream

Instructions:
In a large pot over medium heat, combine chicken broth and chicken bouillon cubes. Add all spices and simmer for a few minutes. Add green chilis, corn, chicken, beans, & onions. Cook for 15 minutes. Add sour cream and stir. Cook for another 5 minutes making sure to stir (so it doesn’t stick!).

The Multivitamin We’re Using for our Kids

Hey guys it’s Lauren!  We recently teamed up with Hiya, the best-selling multivitamin for kids, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.  Every Fall, I get a little anxious going into the “sick” season, especially post-pandemic.  We all want our kids to stay healthy and best equip them to fight off all the germs, right?!  This children’s vitamin is packed with all the goodness.  Hiya is a super powered eco-friendly chewable made with a blend of 12 organic fruits and vegetables.  And, there’s zero grams of sugar in them, ZERO!!!  (You can’t find that in a kids vitamin anywhere else.)

The flavor is great (though my kids do prefer some colors over the others!) and I just love knowing that I’m not giving them “junk” fillers.  It’s sweetened with monk fruit and is still a chewable, which makes it totally doable for kids – and has 15 essential vitamins getting kids everything they need!  So, no need to stress when you feel like you aren’t hitting all the food groups in their diet, I’ve felt super confident that Hiya is filling in any gaps that we have.

Not only that, but Hiya’s a subscription.  So, you can have it at your front door before you even run out (#gamechanger with helping you keep up on healthier habits).  I’ve found this to be super helpful as a busy parent… I always have the best intentions but sometimes just forget to restock when we run out – which leaves gaps in our health regimen.  So, I’ve loved that it’s just done for me.

 

Another super cute feature I have to tell you about – my kids loved receiving their own sleek, glass bottle.  Each came with stickers to customize their bottles just the way they wanted!  The kids have had a lot of fun having their own bottle and even go as far to keep it in their own special spot (cute!).  It’s a fun way for them to remember their daily vitamin, and gives them a little bit of personal accountability which I’m all for!

Hiya was created by two parents looking for a better option for their kids.  When seeing so much sugar in each multivitamin on the market, they went to work creating their own. They partnered with the best pediatricians, scientists, and nutrition experts to deliver a nutrient-dense chewable that tastes great without all the junk found in other vitamins.  I love knowing parents are behind this product, with their best interest at heart.  Hiya’s a must try.  I’ll admit I have been lazy at times not keeping up on vitamins for my kids.  But I love that this product is a monthly subscription, affordable and best of all full of CLEAN ingredients for my kids.

Go check it out! Head over to www.hiyahealth.com –  Right now, Hiya is offering 50% off your first order to help support immunity.  And let us know what you think!  Thank goodness we’ve stayed healthy so far this season… knock on wood!  xo

My New Meal Plan for Weekday Lunches

Hey guys! Sarah here, excited to tell you about a new meal delivery service that I recently found (which I’ve been loving!). If you’ve listened to our show then you’ve probably heard me say more than once how much I struggle in the kitchen – and how I can feel very overwhelmed with everything from the grocery shopping to the actual execution of meals. You’ve also heard me say that I’m trying hard to make better decisions when it comes to my food intake and how I really do feel so much better when I’m eating less processed, cleaner ingredients. And let’s be real – it’s hard to find those things when you’re looking for a quick solution… hence, why I was falling back on takeout so often.

In our episode this week (ep. 138) you heard us chat about Freshly, but I wanted to expand on it a little here. And give you a little more info about the subscription service I’ve been using. For years now, I’ve tossed around the idea of using a delivery meal service… as a podcast listener myself I’ve heard countless ads over the years for other brands but for whatever reason I just never pulled the trigger.

Well, cut to about a month ago – I was feeling really frustrated and beat down with my own personal meal options. As a full-time working mom I was finding myself running to the local taco joint way too often to grab a quick bite for lunch. (And then regretting it shortly after). So, after researching a few different brands, I ended up going with Freshly to give me some healthier lunch options. And here’s why I chose them above the rest:
1.)  I loved that their meals were prepared FRESH and are never frozen. I was legit blown away to see the meals delivered on dry ice to my front door with the instructions to refrigerate and enjoy that week. And I have to say… HANDS DOWN the fresh (not frozen) option is the way to go. It tastes sooooo much better (go figure!).

2.)  The service is really flexible. The Freshly subscription service is super flexible which I’ve totally appreciated and their website is user-friendly. I’ve been able to do my weekly meal planning in 5 minutes on their website and it’s just been a gamechanger. Having the ability to make these healthier decisions ahead of time for my week has really helped.

3.)  And finally, I’ve totally saved money! OK, hear me out… I know what you’re saying… “it’s pricey”, “it’s so much cheaper to shop and do your own meal prep” – but guys, for me this has been such a more economical route. It’s stopped me from overbuying at the grocery store and more importantly wasting food! Because my Freshly meals are delivered ready to go and involve nothing on my end – you literally don’t need much more at the grocery store for the week. Both my husband and I have been eating them now and and it’s stopped our reliance on takeout for lunch (which has saved major $$$) and my waistline is totally thanking me. Ha! We still grocery shop for our weekday family dinners and like to eat together as a family then. But, if you work outside the home (or even for your husband) you should seriously consider this.

So, as we’re heading into the new year, maybe give this some consideration. We have a great deal going with Freshly right now where you can save $15 off any Freshly meal plan for the 1st four weeks using code MOMVOICE15AFF. So, go check it out here and tell us what you think! xo

SMOOTHIE: The Arizona Sunset

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
  • 1/2 cup frozen raspberries or strawberries
  • 1 large carrot, sliced and cooked
  • 1/2 cup coconut water or plain cold water
  • 1/2 cup orange juice (fresh juice from one medium orange)
  • 2 tablespoons hulled hemp seeds

DIRECTIONS:

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.  Add a little water if needed to make it easier to blend.