Review: Customized Diet Meals from The GoodBoxph

The summer bikini season is over. These rainy days will definitely make you want to curl up on the couch, eat, and watch movies all day. You may be looking down at the bulging evidence of too much happiness around your waistline. For those people who are committed to make a positive lifestyle change and who are resolved to lose weight, you might be considering getting diet meal plans online. Meal plans are designed according to your needs, whether you intend to lose weight, gain weight, maintain weight, or have certain food intake restrictions due to health concerns.

However, the looming question still remains: Are these diet meal plans really worth your money?

To find out, I tried the Customized Diet Meals from The GoodBoxph. I got a good deal at Groupon where I got the 1200 Calorie Menu, 5-day program for only P1375 (P2750 value).  I received 5 meals a day for 5 days a week made by experienced chefs and a nutrition and fitness specialist.

The GoodBoxph serves up healthy meals with the calories in check. Worth the money? Yes. Here are some of the reasons why I think these customized diet meals from The GoodBoxph are totally worth your money;

Convenience:  The weekly or monthly trips to the grocery store may seem daunting and difficult to someone trying to shed pounds. So this program saves dieters from trips to the grocery store. As a way to lose weight worry-free, you get every meal delivered directly to your door. Each day, I got three portion-controlled meals, plus two snacks. Each meal is packed separately and properly labeled with its calorie count.

Time-Saving:  Meals are microwavable and are ready within two minutes. Perfect for busy people who don’t want to add stress or time to their already-hectic lives. Many people think eating healthy requires a lot of time and effort, and this meal plans seem like the solution.

Level of Effort: Low  The  GoodBoxph Diet is simple. You order the food online, and it arrives in pre-packaged containers ready to heat up in the microwave or oven. You won't have to do any shopping or cooking, since all of the food you need each day will be delivered right to your door. All the decisions are made for you right off the bat, so there's no impulse potato chip or ice cream buys. Sounds awesome, right?

Portion Control: With these meal plans, portion sizes are under control, without having to use measuring cups, count calories or think twice about how much you actually should eat. Most women get 1,200 to 1,400 calories a day, while men follow a 1,600- to-1,800-calorie plan. You can choose from any of the following meal plans: Southbeach Diet, Medical Diet or Calorie-based Diet (1200kCal, 1500 kCal, 1800kCal OR 2100kCal, 2400kCal, 2700kCal) with 5 meals a day for 5 days.

Healthy and Delicious : You get fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains served up in mouth-watering combinations. You can even eat desserts like panna cotta that is actually healthy and delicious. Also, I was happy to see that they didn't scrimp on the ingredients of each meal. Drinks like fresh fruit juice, milktea and brewed coffee are also part of the program.

Support: Before ordering your GoodBox, visit www.TheGoodBoxph.com and consult with their nutritionist on the recommended calorie plan for you--it is best to know your ideal calorie plan before ordering. They will help you choose nutritionally balanced foods that you'll like.

Cost:  It’s economical and reasonably priced. The cost of  5-day meal programs (5 meal for 5 days) ranges from Php2750 to PhP4000 a week.

Good Results:  How much can you expect to lose? You can lose up to 2-3 pounds per week. As for me, I lost 3 pounds in a week. Not bad, right?

Here are some of the diet meals I've tried from The GoodBoxph:

So if you’re thinking about trying one out, you should consider The GoodBoxph. Watch what you eat and achieve a leaner and healthier body in no time with these meal plans from The GoodBoxph.

Have you tried  The GoodBoxph or other diet food delivery services?  Let me know how it works out and what you think about these options.

Learn more about The GoodBoxph, their packages and how they keep their customers fit and healthy. For more details, visit The Goodbox PH Website and The Goodbox PH Facebook page. Instagram: @thegoodboxph Mobile: 0917-7111732 Email: thegoodboxph@gmail.com

 

Mandaue Foam Furniture Store: Get Cozy this Rainy Season

Rainy days are here and with the change in season, it would be a great idea to create a warm and comfortable atmosphere for your home, especially your bedroom. A few simple changes can easily transform your room into the perfect rainy day getaway.

Nothing beats spending the cool, wet days than snuggling up in a warm, cozy bed. A simple change in beddings and pillows can do the trick. Out with the light blankets and replace this with something fluffier and warmer. Comforters or fuzzy flannel blankets are your best bet, while body pillows would also make a welcome “bed buddy”.

Transform your bedroom into a cozy space with silk throws, shag carpets, and fluffy beddings.

Changing the color scheme of your bedroom is another way of adding warmth and comfort to your space. Go for rich, earthy shades like tan, rustic brown and terracotta, or warm colors like mocha or dusty peach and olive green. Highlight these colors with touches of accent colors like muted yellows, ochre or ecru to add a layer of brightness.

And just because the rain is pouring doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. Accessories will make a big difference in livening up place. A silk throw in jewel tones or a furry, shag carpet with geometric or animal print design will add a ton of personality, while lamps with printed shades with give a warm cheerful glow.
For more tips on how to transform your bedroom into a rainy day haven that is friendly on the budget, visit Mandaue Foam Furniture Store and choose from a wide selection of beds, pillows and mattresses, as well as home accessories and furniture that’s perfect for the season.

Transforming your bedroom into a cozy space need not be expensive. A few simple changes can easily turn your space into a rainy day haven that’s perfect for the sweater weather.

To know more about Mandaue Foam Furniture Store, visit www.mandauefoam.ph or their Facebook page Mandaue Foam.


 

Acer Ties up with NBA

Acer Philippines, Inc., the local subsidiary of global IT giant Acer, Inc., and the National Basketball Association (NBA), one of the world’s biggest professional sports leagues, recently entered into a promotional partnership.

Under this strategic collaboration between the two leading brands, Acer strengthens its ties with the NBA by acquiring rights to use the popular basketball league’s logo and other materials. As the country’s top IT brand, Acer explores beyond its limits to see what’s more to see under this tie-up.

And as part of the partnership, Acer launches a promo where every purchase of any qualified Acer laptop entitles customers to a free NBA laptop backpack. The promo runs until July 31, 2014.

“Acer Philippines is truly grateful for this milestone partnership with the NBA. Acer and NBA share the same relief on empowered stakeholders. Both have demonstrated its value by giving delightful experience to their customers, globally. It requires concrete passion and felt dedication to meet heightened standards, until it becomes part of our DNAs. These have made Acer to be the number one PC and Projector brand in the Philippines by volume and revenue for more than 6 years now; and the NBA as one of the Filipino household conversation centerpieces for many years,” according to Manuel Wong, General Manager of Acer Philippines.

He added that basketball and information technology remain to be topmost interests in the country, and would immediately take superior mindshare of every new market by leveraging on loyal affinity from acquired generations. And that will only be proven by sincere business ethics translating to giving the best products and services to customers. “I see this partnership of Acer Philippines with the NBA as a seal of recognition for our commitment to our customers.”

For his part, Ray Gozon, Acer Philippines Senior Marketing Manager, said that Acer Philippines is immensely excited on this partnership. “This union of two global influencers and industry leaders will provide a wider view on market reach and deepened affinity. To the everyday life of our most loved customers, this sends an assurance on the heightened scale of expertise that made his Acer gadget and an enhanced confidence that he or she carries a leading brand.”

If you want to know more about all of these Acer laptops visit Acer Philippines at www.acer.com.ph or www.Facebook.com/AcerPH.


 

Quick and Easy Carbonara Recipe Using Clara Ole's Cream-based Pasta Sauce

It's pretty easy to satisfy the occasional urge for a delicious plate of pasta by visiting good Italian restaurants in Manila. Even making it at home couldn't be easier with the help of quality cream-based sauces from Clara Olé.

Clara Olé, a leading name in pasta sauces, tomato sauce, marinades, syrups, jams & jelly, dips n’ dressings, introduced its newest line of cream-based sauces, also known as "the Cream Team," that will surely provide delight in every family meal.

There’s no doubt that this trifecta of sauces—Carbonara Pasta Sauce, Béchamel White Sauce, and Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce—from the Clara Olé line of products will make more moms and cooking enthusiasts head to the kitchen to whip up a non-stop bevy of delectable dishes using Clara Olé’s impeccable, quality sauces.

For tonight's dinner, I tried using Clara Ole's Carbonara Sauce for a super speedy supper (try saying that really fast) and guess what? My daughter loved it! Even my pasta-hating hubby loved it! It was immaculately rich and creamy, fused with the right amount of saltiness of smoked bacon and cheesy flavors that will lend your pasta a rockin’ and mind-blowing taste with flavorful creaminess.

Yep, you're looking at the newest member of Maia's best thing ever list of Mommy's dishes! Seeing how simple a good homemade carbonara is to make, I won't hesitate buying this pasta sauce too often. Here's the swift and easy carbonara recipe that I made;

Ingredients:
500 g. Spaghetti noodles
2 pouches of Clara Ole Carbonara pasta sauce (200 g)
250 grams ham/ bacon
2 Eggs
Minced garlic or garlic powder
Chopped fresh basil leaves (You can also use parsley or oregano)
Grated cheese
Olive oil or butter
Freshly ground black pepper

How to cook:
1. Pour the pasta into a pan of boiling water then set aside.
2. Saute minced garlic and ham/bacon in olive oil or butter until crisp and golden brown.
3. In a separate bowl, mix eggs, cheese and pepper, reserving a little cheese for the garnish. Tip: Warm eggs up in bowl of warm water before using so you don't start from fridge cold.
4. Pour in the Clara Ole carbonara sauce and simmer.
5. Top some grated cheese and garnish with chopped herbs like ground basil leaves or parsley.

Seems easy enough, right?

What I love: You can throw the theory that salt = flavor and more bacon=better out the window when it comes to this pasta sauce. No need to add more bacon (too fattening!) because it has a hint of smoked bacon flavor in it already! The plot thickens (or should I say the sauce thickens?) even further when you compare it to overall sugar and salt content with other brand of sauces. Yep, you guessed it: the cheaper sauces all contain far more sugar and salt!

Also, you will save a lot of time because there's no need to spend hours of cooking to make this. Indeed, life is made easier with Clara Ole pasta sauce.

This is a photo after Maia commandeered her plate of Carbonara. You know a Carbonara is good when it can make your eyes roll back in your head with pleasure. You look up, and it lurks there, batting its eyelashes then end up closing your eyes to savor its goodness.

You can also use the Carbonara Pasta Sauce as an exciting dip for nachos, fries, potato chips, topping for sausages, as burger sauce, sandwich spread, dressing for salads and veggie sticks.

Will definitely try the other sauces in the line-up soon. Béchamel seems like the perfect cream-based white sauce with a masterful blend of butter, cream and cheese, that I can use in making baked lasagna or baked macaroni. It can also serve as filling for rolled chicken meat dishes like cordon bleu, chicken a la kiev, meat pies, and even sandwiches.  Plus the Clara Olé Creamy Tomato is also next on my list. Truly, Clara Ole remains true to its commitment of offering value for money, convenience and excitingly delicious products for everybody’s everyday meal.

So make those pasta dishes come to life by using Clara Olé’s newest quality cream-based sauces. Head off now to your favorite supermarkets or grocery stores.

To know more about Clara Olé value offerings, visit www.claraole.com or “Like” www.Facebook.com/myclaraole or follow via Instagram @ClaraOlePH and share your unforgettable cooking encounters and dining experiences using Clara Olé Carbonara, Béchamel White Sauce and Creamy Tomato. You can even catch exciting Clara Olé “Pot Sessions: A Cook Without A Book” adventure webisode series via their Facebook app: https://www.facebook.com/myclaraole/app_566691690034303.

So, how do you make carbonara? Obviously there are many ways, but here is my way. Remember, the key to good carbonara, like any good piece of cooking, and especially this one, is the quality of the ingredients.

As always, leave your thoughts in the comments. Happy cooking!


 

Nickelodeon Takes Dora the Explorer and Nicksters on Their Biggest Adventure Yet in 'Dora's Best Friends Picnic'

Where do you find a rowdy crowd, loud upbeat music and a whole lot of Little Nicksters having fun? No, it’s not at a concert, but rather at Dora's Best Friends Picnic!

I guess that, in itself, is an amazing event where the Little Nicksters are sure to have a fun-tastic time learning and playing with their families and fellow Dora the Explorer fans. As Dora would say “Fantastico!”

My real life Dora the Explorer was far too excited for words. She wore her bright pink short-sleeved top, orange shorts and her yellow bobby socks with her hair styled in Dora's adorable bowl cut bangs. And of course, her traveling companion, a purple backpack with a huge smiling face! :)

Today, we attended Dora’s Best Friends Picnic that was held at the SM Megamall Event Center. It was an afternoon of fun and adventure jam-packed with exciting games and awesome surprises.



It is important to have good friends that we can rely on. Dora, Diego and Boots are the best of friends. They are good role models for young people demonstrating that friends stick together through good times and bad. This event truly entertained the kids and at the same time, the little ones learned important lessons about friendship.

There were different booths at the event. In the Dora & Boots Friendship Rings booth, friends of Dora and Boots challenged one another to a game of ring toss. Kids also had fun at Diego’s Face Painting corner, Benny’s Smart Art Balloons station and Isa’s BFF Looms factory for a more creative playtime with the loomband craze. Kids had loads of fun at the game booths while browsing through loads of Dora the Explorer merchandise!



Nicksters also  participated in the Kindermusik Philippines segment and were able to be a part of a one-of-a-kind musical play adventure.

Nick Jr. enthusiasts joined in the fun, while the little tots made new friends and brought home some cool prizes from the sponsors (Alaska NutriBuild 345, Purefoods Fun Stuff Nuggets and Zesto Juice Drink) and Nickelodeon by joining the following stage games;  Treasure Hunt, What's That Sound, Musical Sombreros, Chili Pepper Relay, Silly Sack Race, Limbo Rock Dance, Word Play and Backpack Relay.



In the Musical Sombreros game, Maia hopped and danced her little heart out almost the entire time!



Maia's favorite part was when everyone’s favorite explorers, Dora, Diego and Boots, made a special appearance and had everyone up and dancing. But mine was seeing the smiles on my daughter's and other kids' faces throughout the program. I wish I could show you a picture of Maia's face when she first saw Dora sneak across the stage, but it was too dark to get a photo. Her eyes were huge, and she wore the biggest grin I’ve ever seen! She couldn’t contain her excitement and sheer glee when Dora, Diego and Boots made their appearances.



She still hasn’t stopped talking about it. That being said, I'm thankful we got the chance to attend this exciting event. This was an unforgettable experience for the kids, and I wholeheartedly recommend taking your little Dora or Diego if you have the opportunity for another meet and greet with any of your kid's favorite Nickelodeon characters soon.

 If your kids are any kind of Nickelodeon fans and you take them to amazing events like this, you’ll be their hero for like forever! :)

For more details and latest events, visit http://www.nick-asia.com/ and follow @Nickjuniorasia on Twitter.