A breastfeeding mom's quest to eat well on the run…

Going back to work has been great for my sanity and emotional well being, it’s proving to be hard on my diet and nutrition though.

While I was pregnant I gained weight easily because my appetite really increased and also my activity level decreased as it was harder and harder for me to move around.

Now that baby Everly is here my appetite has gone back to what it normally was and my activity level has also increased. I am still eating healthy stuff, just burning it faster and eating less of it now.

This has resulted in me loosing all but 5 pounds of my “pregnancy weight” and contrary to what you might think this is NOT a good thing.

Since I am breastfeeding Everly and not supplementing with formula my diet and nutrition is especially important. Unfortunately finding time to eat well is a challenge for me, even more now that I’ve got a daughter to care for 24/7!

I am taking a long hard look at my diet and I am trying to squeeze in as many healthy foods as I can. I need to eat more! Problem is finding the time and free hands to do so.

Now that I am working several days a week it is important for me to have snacks on hand that I can keep in my diaper bag and enjoy duirng my breaks at work while I am also carrying Everly around.

I love me some cheese and peanut butter crackers, I’ve got my ensure drinks on hand and most recently I’ve added Dole fruit bowls to my snacking regiment. I love them because they do not require refrigeration so I can just toss one in the bag with a spoon and enjoy it even while it’s spent hours in my bag out in the hot sun.

What? We don’t get lunch break time and we’re all out in the hot sun perfecting the marching band show so our snacks and drinks need to be easy to enjoy and able to withstand the elements, lol.

Anyway I am really loving Dole fruit bows (so is N) and I am surprised because I was sure I wouldn’t like them, I am not a fan of preserved fruits. Now that N got me to try them I am loving them, especially since they are healthier for me than most other convenience foods that we have on hand (like chocolate or pop tarts).

Have you tried any of the DOLE fruit bowls and what did you think? We are enjoying several of the new flavors right now and N is even writing a witty review for Dole on some of them.

Turns out is Dole is challenging people to live healthier (and win prizes in doing so too). From now until October 2 you can sign up for the Dole Bowl-a-Day Challenge to win the weekly prize!

You know how much I love contests and prizes right? Well, we are now taking the Dole Bowl-a-Day Challenge and thought you might like to consider it also.

All you have to do is register to explore the Dole Kitchen at http://www.DoleChallenge.com, where you have 3 chances to win some great prizes:

* Share a tip on how YOU enjoy Dole Fruit Bowls for a chance to win $300!
* Challenge YOUR friends to play along for another chance to win $1000!
* Then, reward yourself and download a FREE coupon!

N’s Dole Fruit Bowls review*:

As an adult, opening up your lunch box or brown paper bag just doesn’t have the same excitement it once did as a child. I remember gathering at the lunch room table with my elementary school friends to see what surprises Mom had packed for each of us in our lunch box. We were also willing and ready to trade for something exotic and exciting that we never got in our own lunch.

Those days are long gone and so to has been the excitement of taking my lunch to work. The nifty insulated lunch bag my wife bought me sure has gone a long way though. Often it’s what I throw inside that I’m not too excited about, that is until I discovered the new Dole Fruit Bowls.

The plastic bowls are packed with several different varieties of fruit, fruit in gel and fruit parfait. The great thing about the fruit bowls is that they don’t need to be refrigerated. You can simply throw the plastic bowl into your lunch and forget about them. They taste better refrigerated but can also be eaten on the fly at room temperature if you’re in a hurry. They also sport an easy peel plastic lid so there’s not much to worry about when it comes to cleanup.

Nutritionally, Dole Fruit Bowls also make a good snack or lunch addition. They’re naturally free of fat and saturated fat. It’s a low sodium food and they’re naturally high in vitamin C.

While Dole Fruit Bowl are convenient and good for you, they also taste great too. One of my favorite flavors is the Peaches in Strawberry Gel. It’s just like if you were to throw a can of peaches into strawberry gelatin; light and refreshing. Mixed Fruit in Cherry Gel is another great flavor with a nice variety of preserved fruit waiting inside.

When it comes to just a quick fruit kick, I love the Diced Pears in Light Syrup, Mandarin Oranges and Diced Peaches. I wasn’t too excited about the Diced Pineapple but maybe that’s just because I’m a fresh pineapple snob.

If you’re wanting something that’s a little more like desert but without the sinful feeling later, try the Dole Fruit Bowl Parfaits. I really enjoyed the Peaches & Cream Parfait. It’s the perfect blend of fruit and creamy sweetness to make me feel satisfied and to top off my meal with a sweet treat. The Apples & Cream Parfait was also delicious.

Hopefully I can share my excitement over a new lunch box treat with other adults and help bring some fun back to the sack lunch!

* Dole provided us with a few free coupons so we could try out some of the different flavors in exchange for a review. We were not paid to write this.