How Would You Build America's Better Sandwich + 2nd Annual Oroweat Contest

The coupons for product redemption, information, and gift card have been provided by Oroweat® Bread so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Oroweat®. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Oroweat® Bread.

How would you build your perfect sandwich creation?

Mine would be piled high with smoked turkey, colby jack slices, juicy fresh tomatoes and creamy slices of ripe avocado for some healthy fats and oils. It would all be served up on slices of Oroweat® Original Oatnut, one of my all-time favorites!

I don't think sandwiches ever have to be boring, you just need to find a good bread that you love and ingredients to keep you fueled for the day.

You will always find a nut or multi-grain option of bread in our home. My husband is a huge fan of the Oroweat® Country Potato Bread - It is perfect for a good old fashioned Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich.

As a child I liked to see just how much I could stuff between two slices of bread... sometimes My Mom must have suspected I was part snake, with my desire to unhinge my jaw for a serious sandwich creation!

Oroweat® Whole Grain Sliced Breads are my favorites, but I also like to switch things up with the Oroweat® Sandwich Thins® Rolls. I like the flavors available and the soft texture of their bread products. They are the perfect complement to my favorite fillings whether they are meats, cheeses, veggies or crisp bread and butter pickles! 

All of Oroweat® Whole Grain Sliced Breads and Oroweat® Sandwich Thins® Rolls contain:

o   3 to 4 grams of fiber per slice or thin

o   Zero grams of Trans Fat

o   No High Fructose Corn Syrup

o   Cholesterol free

Look for the Whole Grain Stamp found on all of Oroweat® Whole Grain Sliced Breads and Oroweat® Sandwich Thins® Rolls to see how this fits into the daily recommended 25-38 grams of fiber^[1] and 48 grams of whole grains per day^[2]. 

So all you have to add is the good stuff to make your sandwich your own.

My sandwhich is piled high with mayo, lettuce, tomato, colby jack cheese, smoked turkey, avocado slices and a thin smear of honey mustard. What do you think? I think my creation would fit in nicely with the "Fueling Good" category in America's Better Sandwich contest. If you haven't heard about the contest, see below for how to enter, what you can win and how with your entry Oroweat® will donate to Feeding America.

Oroweat® Bread is excited to launch the second annual “America’s Better Sandwich” Contest! The sandwich architect whose filling matches the goodness of Oroweat® Bread will win a grand prize of $25,000. You can choose to use any of the Oroweat® Whole Grain Sliced Breads, including the new Healthfull® bread varieties, or any of the Oroweat® Sandwich Thins® Rolls varieties for your entry.

There are 5 great categories to create for, and there will be one ($5,000 category prize) winner selected for each:

• “Creative Classics” (nutritious spins on sandwich creations that have stood the test of time, such as grandma’s club sandwich, BLT or other old-time favorites)
• “Fueling Good” (these sandwiches should incorporate ingredients that help boost your energy such as healthful fats, protein, fiber and iron)
• “Open-Face Artistry” (sandwiches are works of art for the world to see, and these snacks and meals announce their ingredients—like sharp cheddar or tasty tuna— sans second slice, highlighting bold colors and textures)
• “Breakfast in Bread” (these sandwiches, featuring nutritious breakfast favorites like eggs and yogurt, invoke images of cozy mornings in bed or boisterous brunches with friends)
• “Love, Healthfully” (celebrate our new Healthfull® Breads with innovative recipes that play off nuanced, foodie-approved ingredients like honey, flax and sunflower seeds)

Entries will be accepted June 15^th - August 23^rd, online consumer voting will take place September 21^st - October 18^th, and the winners will be announced on National Sandwich Day- November 3^rd.

Oroweat®  bread will donate one loaf of bread (up to 100,000 loaves) to Feeding America for each valid entry submission during the entry period and vote received during the online voting phase of the 2015 “America’s Better Sandwich” Contest

[1] http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6796

[2] http://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grain-stamp

So, what would be on your better sandwich creation?

Helping Children Like Ours - Pampers and Walmart Team Up to Help Children's Miracle Network

The Walmart gift cards and information have been provided by P&G. All opinions and experiences are my own. Children's Miracle Network Hospitals truly touched out lives.

It is hard to believe that it has been over 7 years since our first visit to a Children's Miracle Network Hospital. After having my first child, we were getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving when we got the call.

They needed us to take our newborn up to Doernbecher Hospital, 3 hours away, for more testing. Some of his newborn test results didn't look good. 

That call came out of the blue. Though I knew of the Children's Hospital, I had never been there. I didn't even know anyone who had needed to go there. I was in shock, frightened and full of so many questions as to why my healthy looking baby needed to be seen immediately.

You could say the bottom dropped out of our reality.

All that initial uncertainty and fear melted away once we arrived at the hospital. It was no uneventful trip either, it is no small feat traveling for 6 hours total with a newborn.

The atmosphere was child-friendly, the staff was helpful and welcoming and we were introduced to a new normal for us. 

My son was diagnosed with PKU (Phenylketonuria) as an infant. It is a metabolic condition caught after delivery when they perform the heel sticks in the hospital. We learned that my son was lacking an enzyme to break down phenylalanine in his blood. Without treatment, it can lead to dramatic and irrevocable brain damage, but with proper dietary therapy and regular blood tests he can lead a long and active life.

For the first year of Owen's life, we made the trek up to the children's hospital once a month so they could closely monitor his blood/phe levels and make sure he was developing normally. With the help of Owen's team, he hit his milestones early and we learned how to raise a child with PKU.

The doctors, dieticians and specialists we have met since that first visit have helped our son to meet his potential. We were taught how to count his exchanges and what foods and in what quantities he can enjoy. He also has a doctor prescribed medical beverage for his phenylalanine-free protein and other nutrients he lacks because he can't eat meat, dairy, nuts, most grains and legumes.

Our regular visits just became part of our new "normal" and our Doernbecher visits became a family event with the help of grandparents

Okay, not all fun... they did include necessary blood draws, but the phlebotomists there are the best and always had a stash of stuffed toys and other diversions to help kids with their fears.

So, when my daughter was born, 2 years later and was diagnosed with the same medical condition, there was no fear. We knew our Children's Miracle Network Hospital would take good care of the entire family and that she would be getting the best of care.

My kids looked forward to their visits, the waiting room which had lots of toys, books and saltwater fish tanks. They also enjoyed meeting other children there at the hospital.

Doernbecher Children's Hospital, our Children's Miracle Network Hospital here in Oregon is a big part of our life, and due to my children's ongoing condition, will be a part of our lives for life. I am so grateful for what these hospitals do to help families through the tough diagnosis period and all the questions that come with lifestyle changes.

But, my children are flourishing, and it would have never happened without the help from The Children's Miracle Network and the support they receive to help families like ours.

And along the way we have met so many others who have received help at Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, so many other children who received answers and the care they needed there. My husband and I always tell people that is where you can find answers and help. They take care of not just the kids and patients, but the whole family.

Did you know that one in 10 kids in North America is treated by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals each year?

Check out this infographic about why Children's Miracle Network Hospitals need our support:

The truth is, it is hard to know just when a child you know and love might need lifesaving treatment or a procedure at a Children's Miracle Network Hospital. The numbers above are eye-opening.

Luckily, Walmart and Pampers are donating $200,000 to CMNH in June of 2015! That is so exciting! Also, you can get in on the giving by purchasing Pamper's Swaddlers at your local Walmart. A portion of the  proceeds will go to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  

U.S. members hospitals provided $3.4 billion in charity care in 2012, so I am sure there is always a need for donations.  You can visit Walmart.com/cmnh for more information and to make your own donation. 

Do you have a personal story to share about how with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has touched your life? Or do you know of someone who has been helped by the hospitals?

Giveaway Time!!!

I have one (1) $25 Walmart Gift Card to give away to one lucky commenter here. 

Share your story in the comments below. Or help spread the word about Pampers, Walmart, and the Children's Miracle Network and this current promotion.  You can do both for 2 entries! Leave a comment for each entry (up to 2 entries per person). 

Giveaway ends 7/1 at midnight PST. Must be 18 or older to enter, US residents only. The gift card will be mailed directly to the winner. Make sure your email address is in your profile so I can reach you.

Dogs Make Us Smile, Care for Theirs with Milk-Bone® Brushing ChewsTM

The Milk-Bone® dog products, information and VISA gift cards have been provided by the Milk-Bone® brand. All opinions and experiences are my own.

I couldn't imagine our home without our family dog, Cooper. He is the perfect blend of high energy, gentle manners and outdoors man that fits in perfectly here. He is family.

That being said, I am not a fan of "dog breath". I try to feed Cooper well, care for him, etc. but the breath can be the difference between a welcomed dog hug and a "down boy". Here on the farm he gets into all sorts of things. Most of which I probably don't want the details on. Since we got Cooper from the shelter I wasn't able to condition him from a puppy for activities like tooth brushing.

Back as a 6th grader in Dog 4-H I remember learning about the importance of a dog's dental health. Some of my friends had AKC registered show dogs and would rub their teeth and gums to keep them clean and healthy. I, on the other hand, had a mutt... a gentle giant of a dog whose mouth I avoided. Instead we gave him treats that helped with his breath, but did nothing for his teeth.

So I was very intrigued when I heard that Milk-Bone® had a new product, Brushing ChewsTM. These are a clever and useful treat/ tool all-in-one.

The Milk-Bone® Brushing ChewsTM come in two sizes, mini or small/medium. Yes, they taste like a chicken-flavored treat, but act like a toothbrush... for your dog! Using daily, they are  are clinically proven to be as effective as brushing your dog’s teeth twice per week for reduction of tartar build-up and bad breath. Also,

• Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM were developed to transform at-home dental care for dogs, so that now your dog to brush his own teeth every day – just like you!
• *When fed daily, Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM are clinically proven to be as effective as brushing your dog’s teeth twice per week based on the reduction of tartar build-up and bad breath
• Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM feature a specially designed 75 degree twist that helps the brushing nubs reach down to the gum line, even cleaning hard-to-reach back teeth
• Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM are so effective that they have earned the trusted Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) Seal of Acceptance, similar to the American Dental Association (ADA) seal seen on human dental products

And what does Cooper think? Well, he loves them. He is pretty shy with treats, so I didn't want to interrupt his little toothbrushing moment for a close-up. Let's just say I haven't had to shy away from stinky dog breath recently.

I imagined he would just wolf it down in two bites and that would be it. Instead he sat down in the grass and proceeded to chew on the bone. This is a dog that will chew through just about anything in no time at all. He actually took his time to work on it.

Connect and share with Milk-Bone® on Facebook, Twitter and Instragram.

Could a dog in your life use Milk-Bone® Brushing ChewsTM?

Would you like to win your own Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM product and a gift card, just like I received? Well, one lucky reader here will.  Enter on the giveaway widget below:

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