Mixing It Up This Thanksgiving!

We're getting ready to head up to my parents' house for Thanksgiving this week. We all pitch in and help with the meal, but my mom is a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen! Her pies are legendary and I can't wait to over-indulge on Thursday (shhh - don't tell my doctor).  My favorite part of Thanksgiving though, even more than the eating, is actually the cooking and preparing part. Especially when there are a million people crammed in the kitchen and we're all joking and telling stories about Thanksgivings past. The best. :)

You can always count on the good ol' carbelicious, high-calorie standbys to be on our menu - turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole and homemade rolls - but we like to try different foods for the side dishes and veggies each year.

 photo IMG_6727.jpg

 photo IMG_6850.jpg

NatureBox, my favorite monthly snack subscription service, invited me to use some of their healthy and delicious snacks to make a few of our sides dishes. I made a kale salad with their Baked Sweet Potato fries and a roasted asparagus side dish with their Cheddar and Onion Sunflower Kernels. Both were super delicious and passed the Thanksgiving menu test! :)

 photo IMG_6766.jpg

I tweaked this recipe for the salad and this recipe for the asparagus. The NatureBox snacks added a little extra crunch to both! Those sweet potato fries were already on my NatureBox favorites list though, so I knew they'd be great in the salad. I seriously could have eaten this whole giant bowl-full myself. YUM.

 photo IMG_6830.jpg

 photo IMG_6815.jpg

Something that I really love about NatureBox is they have more than 100 snacks, so every month I can pick a few tried-and-true favorites and a couple new ones too. Having healthy snacks in new flavors at the ready has practically saved my life this pregnancy. For six months, just the idea of a hot meal made me queasy. I've been keeping a few bags in my car's center console, which has been a game-changer for both me and my kids. No more hangry Komendas!

 photo IMG_6704.jpg

Something new and exciting: If you are a US-based first time subscriber, NatureBox will send you a FREE trial box of their most popular snacks by signing up here!

ALSO, NatureBox is giving away TWO six-month subscriptions today! You can enter to win by clicking here, browsing the NatureBox snack list, and then commenting on this post with the snacks you'd love to try. 

Open to US readers only. Contest ends Monday, Dec 1. Good luck! And thank you to NatureBox for sponsoring this post and LGN!  :)

109 comments:

  1. How do you choose?! I would have to say the Wild Blueberry Flax Granola and the Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Seeds - but they all look amazing!

    Melia
    melia1127@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love that the snacks are in categories. I would want to try all the Nutritionist Picks but my children would insist on nom noms!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the figgy bars and dried apples, oh and the lentil loops. All delicious and my picky 2 year old will actually eat them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Coconut date energy bites. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Winning this contest would make my life! The cherry ganache granola is calling our name...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lemon Tea Bisvuits and Everything Bagel Stix?? Yes please!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Now I'm starving! The lemon pucker pistachios, yum.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love finding new gluten free options for my husband! I would get the baked sweet potato sticks and the coconut date energy bites! They all look great!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Chocolate quinoa granola?! Sign me up!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Peanut Butter Nom Noms... with a name like that, you know they'll be great!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Those roasted garlic pumpkin seeds sound amazing, and I know my kids would love the french toast granola. I love that all their snacks are surprising - everything has an unexpected touch (or two or three!) that keeps them exciting and interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have been wanting to get a subscription for my step daughter who doesn't get the healthiest snack choices when she's not at our house and I think she would love the garden tomato crunchies and the sriracha roasted cashews. Also, that kale salad looks AMAZING! Thanks Jenny!

    ReplyDelete
  13. NatureBox snacks look great! The dark cocoa nom-noms look delicious, so do the nut mixes and granola. Yum!! Its great not have to constantly search for healthy snacks and have them delivered to your door instead!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would love to try the pear praline crunch, strawberry crispy chews, & lentil loops!

    ReplyDelete
  15. My kids would like the strawberry crispy chews!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would gift this to my niece and nephews for Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  17. The honey nut medley and dried cherries seem so right for this time of year!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Praline pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate almonds from Nature Box.

    ReplyDelete
  19. All of these look so delicious but I would love to try the Antioxidant Boost and Toasted Sesame Stix!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Since I love all things spicy - the Sriracha Roasted Cashews and the Sriracha Rice Crackers!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Seeds sound amazing, I'd love to try them in a salad!

    ReplyDelete
  22. They all look SO good and there are lots of gluten free options! Gotta love that. Dates are my favorite pick!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Jenny,

    I've been a fan of your blog for a LONG time, and I have to say, it feels like more and more of your content is coming from sponsorship posts like this one. I might be wrong, but I'd guess that over 40% of all posts now are sponsored in some way. This saddens me and others who come to LittleGreenNotebook for your design work and DIY projects, not commercials!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seems to me Jenny shared a couple recipes with readers in this post....so the content of her post is certainly not just sponsored content.
      Also, I am sure so many of us readers fail to remember......her blog is part of her job. Sponsorships generate income. It makes perfect sense to me why this would be beneficial.......after all.........most of us don't work for free. :) I actually think it is rather selfish of readers to shame a Blogger for their sponsored posts. Not to mention, Jenny often does relate her sponsored posts to some awesome diy project.

      Delete
  24. So many wonderful options! The lemon pucker pistachios, dark cocoa non noms, dark cocoa almonds, and sourdough cheddar pretzels would be a great start!

    ReplyDelete
  25. OOh sour dough cheddar pretzels! But really anything sounds amazing. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. So hard to choose! For sweet, the dried pears, and the orange apple fruit chews. For savory, peppery pistachios and the garden tomato crunchies. Everything looks so tasty!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'd try the Orange Apple Fruit Chews. I need a replacement for fruit snacks, and this looks really close. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Lentil loops, kale chips, zesty noodle crunch. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  29. That cherry ganache granOla sounds amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Roasted garlic pumpkin seeds for the win!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Any of the Nom-Noms and the honey mustard dipping sticks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Almond cocoa bites and garlic pumpkin seeds sound yummy,,, as does it all!

    ReplyDelete
  33. dried fruit for me! I signed up for the trial

    ReplyDelete
  34. Salted Caramel Pretzel Pops sound delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Yum. Garden tomato crunchies sound like something we would all love in this fam

    ReplyDelete
  36. Praline Pumkin Seeds would be a must, but i'd love to try the Sweet Potaoe Fries, the lemon tea cookies, and quite a few more two! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  37. The honey nut medley looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi Jenny,

    I'd like to echo G's comments. I'm a long time fan who is disappointed by the number of sponsored posts - Nature Box, Blue Apron, Sonoma etc. have flooded the DIY blogs of late and I think it's a real shame and turn-off. I for one will be tuning into those blogs that are making the choice to stay true to their identity as design blogs, and will be regretfully leaving the sponsored-post-heavy blogs behind. I'll miss you!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Sourdough cheddar pretzels! Thanks, Jenny, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi - I agree with G and Anna. Love your DIY but it feels all sponsored content all the time these days - miss your projects and authentic content.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I would love to try the dried fruit snacks

    ReplyDelete
  42. That Cherry Pecan Granola looks delicious! So many fun snacks!

    ReplyDelete
  43. I'd love to try the lemon pucker pistachios, and any of the snacks with chocolate :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Those blueberry almonds would make our drive to Thanksgiving way more enjoyable! And guacamole bites! You had me at guacamole!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I understand that you're a busy bee, but please make a decision on the blog - it feels like a weird violation of my readership loyalty that all of the recent postings have been blatantly sponsored one - if you're just an advertising force in my blogroll, I'll be super sad to unsubscribe, but it feels manipulative to only make the time to post really sponsored posts.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hi Guys!

    Just wanted to chime in and say thanks for your feedback on the sponsored posts. Sponsorships are the way I can justify spending time away from my family and design business to post here. I would have had to stop writing LGN long ago if I didn't have the opportunity to work with these wonderful companies.

    Sponsorships are always a little more frequent around the holidays, so thanks for hanging in there with me (if you choose to do so!) :) I promise to do my best to keep these sponsorships honest, interesting and informative. I hope at the very least you can enjoy the pretty photos! :)

    Thank you for your continued support!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Everything bagel stix, what??! That sounds amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Sourdough Cheddar Pretzels and Lemon Tea Biscuits. Sweet and savory...

    ReplyDelete
  49. I love your blog and I'm going to keep reading it because I like watching what you do with your cool house. But I am going to scan posts before I really read them now and if they are for Nature Box or Blue Apron or that water carafe or anything that every other blogger has promoted over the last few months, I'm going to skip that particular post. I'm never going to pay a premium to have bags of snacks come to my door, nor bags of uncooked food with a Bigfoot-sized carbon footprint.

    I wish you and other bloggers would be a bit choosier about which sponsored content to pen.

    Like I said, I still love your design how-tos and information and that will keep me reading, but the sponsored posts really bring me down. And they aren't doing a service to those companies any more either.

    ReplyDelete
  50. p.s. I absolutely, 100% support your finding a way to make blogging a paid endeavor. You aren't required to entertain us for free.

    I just think perhaps some curation of which partnerships you choose would be helpful. Paint company sponsorships make sense to me, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Gonna have to agree with the others about the sponsorships. Also, why do these companies never space out the posts? It seems like every blog is doing Naturebox in the past week or so. Would love to see some of your design work on the blog! That's practically free content, since I assume you're charging clients, and you could use some of that stuff for a portfolio, etc. Keep up the good **DESIGN** work!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I'd love to try the everything bagel stix and the dark chocolate berry trail mix!

    ReplyDelete
  53. the lemon pucker pistachios look amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I'd love to try the nom noms! Any kind will do!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I want to try all the nom noms, especially those pumpkin ones. And I would love to eat some whole wheat blueberry figgy bars right now. They look amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Everything Bagel sticks and Dark Cocoa Nom Noms! Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Well, anything with granola would be my choose but those foggy bars sound yummy as well. thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Peppery pistachios and coconut date energy bites. These all look great!

    ReplyDelete
  59. I would love to try the Baked Sweet Potato Sticks

    jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  60. I'm totally intrigued w/ the baked sweet potato fries. The everything bagel strips look delish too!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Salted caramel pretzel pops are calling my name!

    ReplyDelete
  62. I would love the mini medjools, yellow curry peas, and garlic plantains!

    ReplyDelete
  63. You had me at Sriracha! Would love to try the smokey pumpkin seeds and Sriracha cashews!

    ReplyDelete
  64. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Cheddar pretzels and the spiced pistachios. Sound delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  66. I would love to try the pistachio power clusters and beef jerky!

    ReplyDelete
  67. I'm not sure what a Nom Nom is, but all those Nom Noms look SO amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  68. Sweet potato sticks and quinoa granola. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  69. We dont do thanksgiving here in the UK but the food looks so nice! Making me so excited for Christmas!

    http://rowanvictoria.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  70. Would love to try the roasted garlic pumpkin seeds!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Figgy bars are amazing, they are my favourite. Love that all snacks are separeted in different categories and is easier to choose.

    Carpet cleaners Fulham

    ReplyDelete
  72. You seriously want me to list a few? I would like to start at the top of the page and work my way down. They sound wonderful! I can't pick just one. But ok, Chile Lime Pistachios, Mocha Almond Bars, Lemon Tea Biscuits, etc. etc.

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  73. Those sunflower seeds above look great, but also the cashew power clusters or the antioxidant boost would be great at work!

    ReplyDelete
  74. I would love to try the salted caramel pretzel pops and kung pao pretzels. Your Thanksgiving sides look delicious, enjoy the holiday with you family!

    ReplyDelete
  75. I COMPLETELY agree with what Unknown said ^ and I'm dying to try the coconut date energy bites!

    ReplyDelete
  76. Thankfully there are a lot of choices that look delicious! :) I'm going to say that those Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Seeds and the Cherry Pecan Granola sound the best right now :)

    ReplyDelete
  77. I would try the blueberry nom noms and the honey dijon pretzels! I basically eat little snacks all day, so this would be perfect!!

    ReplyDelete
  78. Pumpkin spice nom noms and tart apple mango crispy chews look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  79. Nature Box has fun interesting snacks, but they are pricey and not cost-effective. I would love to enter the contest and try them out, but unfortunately, they don't pay much attention to food allergies or sensitivities. My son has celiac disease. He can't eat any food that has been processed along-side wheat/gluten. So while they offer great gluten-free options, they do so to give lip service to the fad-dieters, but not for the people who could really use safe gluten-free options to be healthy.

    ReplyDelete
  80. dark cocoa nom noms and sourdough cheddar pretzels, mmmm

    ReplyDelete
  81. Oh my! So many options....the Praline Pumpkin Seeds look amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  82. The praline pumpkin seeds look awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  83. I'd love to try the Tart Apple Mango Crispy Chews

    ReplyDelete
  84. Apple mango chews, chili lime pistachios and praline pumpkin seeds would be at the top of my list to try. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  85. Carrot Strawberry Fruit Chews. Yum Yum

    ReplyDelete
  86. I would love to try the Dark Cocoa Nom Noms, Garden Tomato Crunchies and the Toasted Cheddar Stix!

    ReplyDelete
  87. Sounds great. Easy and delicious, just for me :) Thanks for sharing!
    Carpet cleaners Clapham

    ReplyDelete
  88. Apple Pie Oat Clusters sound delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  89. Dried peaches and lemon pucker pistachios--please and thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  90. I would like to try the beef jerky and praline pumpkin seeds ;)

    ReplyDelete
  91. What's not to love about those snacks?! They all look fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  92. I love to add unique ingredients to turn around a bland salad. The Citrus Kick Almonds, Poppy Seed Sticks and Cranberry Medley would pair perfectly with spinach leaves and my favorite Poppy Seed Salad Dressing. YUMM!

    ReplyDelete
  93. I love to add unique ingredients to turn around a bland salad. The Citrus Kick Almonds, Poppy Seed Sticks and Cranberry Medley would pair perfectly with spinach leaves and my favorite Poppy Seed Salad Dressing. YUMM!

    ReplyDelete
  94. I love to add unique ingredients to turn around a bland salad. The Citrus Kick Almonds, Poppy Seed Sticks and Cranberry Medley would pair perfectly with spinach leaves and my favorite Poppy Seed Salad Dressing. YUMM!

    ReplyDelete
  95. they all look so good but i'd start with the pistachio power clusters, sourdough cheddar pretzels, jalapeno cashews and the sea salt sun crunches!

    ReplyDelete
  96. Yum! That Lone Star Snack Mix would disappear quickly in my house...and, of course, I never met a pistachio I didn't like!

    ReplyDelete
  97. Well said,I agree with your conclusions made on these topic which really very informative and the way you presented your information attracts visitors to read more informative blogs from your website.So i kindly look forward to see next updates.
    Concrete Floors Brisbane | Affordable Floor Sanding Brisbane

    ReplyDelete

I so appreciate hearing from you. Nice comments make my day! Thanks for keeping things light here, friends! :)