This giveaway has ended! Please check back for more fabulous giveaways coming soon!!
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I didn’t think things could get better after bringing home my new Vitamix from Costco.
But it did. Sitting at my doorstep when I arrived home was a package from NuNaturals with all kinds of goodies that I can’t WAIT to experiment with. My kitchen is going to turn laboratory. Muahahahaha!
Yesterday, I blogged about my first experiment using the Vitamix and NuNaturals stevia, which =’d success! In a BIG way!
I made THE best smoothie ever — up until that day anyhow!
I am posting the recipe again… you simply have to try this!!
Cocoa Bean Green Smoothie (gluten-free, vegan)
Making 2 servings
Ingredients
2 cups vanilla almond milk
1 frozen ripe banana
2 handfuls of baby spinach leaves
2 dates, pitted
1 Tbsp. chia seeds
dash of cinnamon
NuNaturals Cocoa Bean Extract, 20 drops OR NuNaturals liquid vanilla stevia, 7 drops
They must be good because my husband is taking one to work with him each morning instead of his usual coffee.
What is NuNaturals
NuNaturals is an Oregon based company that offers customers quality, all-natural products, including several non-bitter, stevia products.
What is Stevia?
Stevia is a sweet herb with leaves that are 30 to 45 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). Stevia extracts can have up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, which is incredible given that it has no calories. Trust me when I say, a little goes a long way!
Because stevia contains zero calories, it does not affect blood sugar levels, and is safe for diabetics.
Stevia has a long history of use in foods and beverages. It was used for centuries by the Indians of Paraguay and today it is used by millions of people around the world.
“Stevia first appeared as a dietary supplement in the United States in 1995 and rebaudioside A (an active ingredient of stevia) was approved for food usage in 2008 at a purity of 95 percent or above,” according this article by the Institute of Food Technologists.
The article also addresses safety concerns (important for me to read) and concludes that a vast body of research shows that consumers can use stevia with confidence.
I was highly skeptical of trying the stevia products at first because frankly my experience with stevia in the past was not good. I didn’t care for the bitter aftertaste that it left in my mouth.
But NuNaturals stevia lived up to their “non-bitter” claim. It was pleasantly sweet without the bitter aftertaste.
I went a little crazy in the kitchen trying out the different products sent from NuNaturals. I will post some of my fabulous creations with pictures tomorrow.
Now for the good stuff… 4 beeeautiful Healthful Sense readers will win:
(1) ONE box of NuStevia Packets, 50 ct. Box, AND
(1) ONE bottle of NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia Liquid, 2 oz. bottle.
Fun facts about the products you can win:
NuNaturals white Stevia Powder has 60% more Stevia extract than most other brands on the market. The cost to get the same sweet taste of other brands can be up to 2 1/2 times more expensive compared to NuNaturals. NuNaturals White Stevia Powder will save you money.
NuNaturals liquid vanilla stevia combines vanilla extract with Stevia, producing a superior tasting vanilla product. The vanilla used in this product is produced from premium vanilla beans made by Singing Dog Vanilla.
NuNaturals products are gluten-free and contain NO wheat, GMO’s, MSG, soy, yeast, milk, synthetics, artificial colors or flavors, preservatives, saccharine, aspartame, sucralose, or artificial sweeteners.
This is how to enter:
Step 1 is required
1. Check out the vanilla stevia on the NuNaturals website <– (click link) and Simply leave a comment telling me why you’re excited to use this product.
Steps 2 – 6 are optional Additional entries
2. “like” Healthful Sense on Facebook (<– click link) (1 additional entry – please leave a separate comment. If you have already liked facebook just leave a comment that you did).
3. “like” NuNaturals on Facebook (<– click link) (1 additional entry – please leave a separate comment).
4. “follow” Healthful Sense on Twitter (<– click link) and sent out a tweet about this giveaway (1 additional entry – please leave a separate comment).
5. “follow” NuNaturals on Twitter (<– click link) (1 additional entry – please leave a separate comment).
6. “subscribe” to Healthful Sense by a RSS feed reader or by email <– click link (1 additional entry – please leave a separate comment).
YOU MUST do step 1 or your entry will not count! Steps 2 through 6 are optional entries.
This giveaway is open to Continental U.S. residents only!
♥ Lisa @ Healthful Sense 
Subscribe to Healthful Sense, where healthy eating makes sense!
For disclosures and rules please click here. Giveaway will end on July 26, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Giveaway open to Continental U.S. residents ONLY. The winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Many thanks to NuNaturals for this giveaway opportunity!
No Purchase Necessary. Void where prohibited by law. NuNaturals provided products for this Giveaway.
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Tags: breakfast, dessert, giveaway, gluten-free, green, NuNaturals, product review, recipe, smoothie, snack, stevia, vegan
lol lol we are doing this giveaway on the same day!!!
that is too funny!
You weren’t kidding about the NuNaturals love! haha. You’re nice enough to do a giveaway though. I was like… hmmm… kinda lazy.
loving it… fun to read everyone’s experiences with it
This is the first I have read about NuNaturals and I think I am in LOVE! The vanilla stevia extract looks so yummy, I think adding it to my coffee in the morning would be fabulous!
ha I was wondering why I didn’t get very many nunaturals entries for my giveaway yesterday and it’s bc it seems like everyone has been hosting a contest! haha I will have to try this smoothie! Looks amazing!
That smoothie looks absolutely amazing. Everyone is busting out the green monsters and it’s giving me such envy!!
HI Lisa, I’m in Canada so can’t enter, but just have to say I’m STILL insanely jealous of your vitamix!!! (my love of kitchen ware is bordering on the unhealthy….I may need a support group!) Have a great day!!!! Happy Blending!!!!
This looks great. Good contest. This product looks like it would be very good for you. Like the natural part of it.
I just subscribed via e-mail.
I’m excited to use this product because I am absolutely obsessed with Truvia and would LOVE to try a replacement sweetener!
I also liked your Facebook & Twitter, by the way
must be a good smoothie
I subscribed to your blog via e-mail….I always come and visit your page anyways…might as well subscribe
I am excited to try this because I am diabetic, so not worrying about something raising my blood sugar is awesome!
I would LOVE to try this product because it sounds SO good – and with vanilla, you can’t go wrong!
Excited to try this because the blogosphere is abuzz with NuNaturals and I am obsessed with using it in my kitchen lab (love your description). Did I mention I’m a smoothieholic? Vitamixaddict? I think that your husband is drinking green smoothies is really astounding.
I like that it is not merely vanilla flavored but made with real vanilla extract.
It sounds healthy as well as smart – I want it!
I’ve used stevia before but never with vanilla. Sounds like a great idea. I’d really, really like to try it.
I’d love to add the vanilla stevia to iced coffee. Sounds yummy!
I am following NuNuturals on twitter.
I’m now following you on twitter and I tweeted about the giveaway.
so excited b/c I already use the packets in my tea, yogurt, et al I am going to now try the Chia Jam recipe! So easy!! And Vanilla is my absolutely FAVORITE flavor and scent!!
I’m excited to try this products because its a two in one, and it looks so simple. Instead of pouring vanilla and sprinkling sweetener into my coffee I can just drop a few drops in and I’m set. I’ve heard very good things about NuNaturals and have wanted to try for a while.
I’m excited to try this because I live a low-carb lifestyle and I steer clear of as much sugar as possible! I also try to stay away from the chemical based sugar alternatives. So I love stevia products. I had no idea that it came in vanilla flavor. How awesome!
I “like” Healthful Sense on Facebook
I “like” NuNaturals on Facebook
I “follow” Healthful Sense on Twitter
tweet… http://twitter.com/#!/lesamcma.....3293185024
I “follow” NuNaturals on Twitter
I’m excited to try NuNaturals because I can get the sweet without having to worry about anything being artificial or high in calories.
cause I want to try new and healthy things
I would love to try the Pure Liquid™ Vanilla Stevia because I already use Stevia powder in the individual packets for drinks and I like it very much. But I do not notice that it takes a lot more of some brands to get the same level of sweetness. I think the NuNaturals Liquid Vanilla Stevia would be delicious in hot cocoa.
chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow NuNaturals on Twitter. @chrisdeglen
chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com
Ahh I really want to try the vanilla stevia! Sounds like a delicious way to sooth my sweet tooth without the terrible chemicals in other sweeteners. Get in ma belly…or oatmeal or smoothie!
Just liked healthful sense on facebook!
Just liked nunaturals on facebook
subscribed to healthful sense on my google reader!
Following both you and NuNaturals on twitter!
I’ve never tried NuNaturals, but now I’m going to have to. I’ve used other Stevia products and I can’t stand that bitter aftertaste!! Plus vanilla non bitter stevia sounds great!! I definitely have to put your “no bitter” claim to the test!
I “Like” NuNaturals on Facebook!
I “like” Healthful Sense on Facebook. I found your blog because of your chia seed recipes! I love them, and have been really enjoying having chia seeds added to so many favorites!!
I just subscribed to Healthful Sense through google Reader. Thanks for all the great ideas!!!
I am excited to use this product because I have heard so much about it, and I love baking and this would help cut out some of the calories.
I like you on fb Jammie M
I like NuNaturals on fb Jammie M
I subscribe via email.
I am excited about this because I didn’t even know that Stevia had flavors!
macd9090 at gmail dot com
It’s going to make my low carb cheesecake better than ever!
I love love LOVE the Vanilla NuNaturals – I love adding a few drops to my oats and in my almond milk. So good!
I like you on Facebook!
I follow you on Twitter and Tweeted!
I follow NuNaturals on Twitter
I subscribe to your blog and love it
I love this product because a little goes a long way!
regular sugar and my thighs (and the rest of me) just dont get along so i am looking for a yummy alternative!
ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com
fb fan: xferriza2 (danielle b)
ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com
fb fan them: xferriza2 (Danielle b)
ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am excited to try this because I think it would be great in my coffee!
What a great way to get the flavor of vanilla in my recipes without having all the calories from sugar
I’m excited to try this because my husband and I are trying to use less white sugar.
I have been seeing NuNaturals everywhere lately. I have given myself a goal to try a few new things everytime I go to whole foods and this is on the list!!! I would love to try it in my green smoothies, protein shakes, baked goods and coffee to name a few. I liked NuNaturals and Healthful Sense on facebook.
I am excited because the buzz on this product has been phenomenal!
I’d like to try this vanilla stevia because it is a healthy way to flavor drinks.
I am an email subscriber.
I can’t wait to try the vanilla stevia to enhance the flavor of my coffee…sounds super!
Thank you.
I “like” Healthful Sense on Facebook.
(Jaque Richards)
I “like” NuNaturals on Facebook.
(Jaque Richards)
I’d love to try it because of the vanilla flavor!
I’m an email subscriber.
I got your email that I won the NuNaturals prize. I replied just now with my info. I am so happy to win because I use stevia every day in smoothies but I have not tried NuNaturals brand yet. Now I can. I especially want to try the vanilla flavored.