Mom Life

*Barilla Microwaveable Meals Review!

 

As a career woman, mommy of four (4), and wife to a very busy husband – our lives are constantly on the go. I’m tired! And let’s face it – feeding your family junk food, fast food, and foods with a ton of preservatives will definitely slow down your metabolism. 

Here’s a snapshot of my daily routine:

  • 6:00am-6:20am — my alarm clock goes off and it’s time to pray, read my bible, and write in my journal
  • 6:20am-7:15am — devoted to getting the tweens off to school, getting the babies ready for Grandma’s house, getting myself ready for work, and loading up the car for my husband and I to carpool on our commute to work.
  • 7:30am -12:30pm — the life of a Corporate Recruiter for a global technology company starts early since many of the departments I support live in different time zones.
  • 12:30pm — Eek! It’s lunchtime and between meetings and interviewing candidates, where has the time gone?!
  • 12:30-1:00pm — Run to the onsite bistro and then come back to my office to scarf down my lunch before my next meeting or candidate interview.
  • 1:00pm-6:00pm — Work, work, work!
  • 6:00pm-10:00pm — Family time, blog time, and bed time.

In an ideal world, this is really what my schedule SHOULD look like! But honestly, it’s way busier and much more hectic than I’ve made it seem. Does it look familiar to any of you? I am eating lunch on-the-go 85% of the time during the week, and I really need to rely on healthier food options that offer quick results. I’m often sacrificing taste and nutrition (either not enough or too much) because I am constantly running to get back to work and/or with personal obligations. I want a meal that is proportioned well, fresh, easy and quick to prepare, along with a higher nutritional value than greasy burger and fries.

Barilla introduces a new way to eat healthy while on-the-go. They offer 100% natural ingredients, no preservatives, relatively low calories (320 calories per meal), and there are even two different whole grain options! The qualities of Barilla Microwaveable Meals make them a healthier option for a quick-fix lunch! Don’t forget that your children watch everything you do — it’s important to set a good example for your family in terms of eating healthy. That means substantially healthier meals instead of fast food or other quick dining options.  Show them that eating healthy does not always mean sacrificing a ton of time in the kitchen, because Barilla can now bring you the high quality, all-natural meals your family has loved for generations and fits them into your fast paced lifestyle!

Check out the Barilla website where you can learn about the five varieties of Microwaveable Meals. You can also find a downloadable coupon to try Barilla Microwaveable Meals for yourself. You can also learn more about them on the Barilla facebook page .

Leave a comment on this blog post on how hectic your daily routine is like
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Barilla and received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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23 Comments

  • Reply
    amy e.
    September 10, 2012 at 10:25 PM

    Well I start out my day getting my kids up for school, and taking my dog out for the morning. I have to take one daughter to school so she is there by 730 am, my second daughter has to be to school by 830 on another side of town. After I get them both off to school, I come home and get ready for work, if I don’t have to drop the girls off on the way that day. After my first job, I get off work and have a half hour to eat lunch and get to my 2nd job. I usually get done with work by 5 and get home around 530. Once I get home I make supper, help the kids with homework, do dishes, laundry and any other cleaning that needs to be done. The good days I get to watch a little tv for about an hour. After that it is time to get the kids headed to bed, and then get myself to bed. The days when my kids have after school activities, I find myself hurrying to get them to their activities and holding off on some of the cleaning, because there is just never enough time in the day.

    • Reply
      Diana McDonald
      September 14, 2012 at 11:49 PM

      Boy! You need a vacation! My head is spinning just reading your story. You should win. I think your story is the best. Good luck!

  • Reply
    Rachel
    September 11, 2012 at 1:15 AM

    Wow I didn’t even know these existed! They look so good and would be great to have on hands for quick dinners/lunches!

  • Reply
    Martha Bunge
    September 12, 2012 at 10:20 AM

    my day is hectic with getting the kids off in the morning, trying to take care of myself by working out and than dinner, dishes, laundry, etc. I’m not complaining, wouldnt change anything of it for the world.

  • Reply
    Michele K
    September 12, 2012 at 11:55 AM

    I get up and get kids up for school, make lunches an find missing items needed for school, by then my 11 mnth old grandaughter is already here. Kids are off to the bus and it may be time to relax, but baby is still very busy. Then its time for her snack of cereal and fruit. Get her washed up an time to make lunch for husband, he’s off again and its time for me or maybe not if baby isnt napping yet. General cleaning, laundry, floors, dishes, and kids are getting home from school. Want snack, after that clean up kitchen for the 3rd time. Baby still here. Kids can keep her occupied for a little bit while I can squeeze me time in. Get baby ready to go home. Homework help a little later, make supper, clean up kitchen an try to relax for a little bit then reheat supper for husband and then I am pretty much done for the rest of the night, whatever is left of it.

  • Reply
    James B
    September 12, 2012 at 12:35 PM

    These would be a life saver.

    I have a 15 year old Daughter, and these would help

  • Reply
    rose melton
    September 12, 2012 at 12:39 PM

    I have a family to get ready in the morning and lunches to pack for the kids then its off to a shower and getting ready for school and then its off to my internship working in the lab at the hospital,then its home to cook dinner and check the kids homework and then I get to start mine.finally a kiss for my husband and it’s off to bed to start all over again tomarrow.

  • Reply
    Laura K
    September 12, 2012 at 5:32 PM

    Wow I didn’t even know they had these. I’m usually throwing something in the crockpot before I start my day. Can’t wait to try them.

  • Reply
    Patricia Centers
    September 12, 2012 at 5:42 PM

    I am retired and trying to take care of two households – mine andmy mothers (she is 84).

  • Reply
    Dawn Walsh
    September 12, 2012 at 6:09 PM

    my life isnt that hectic since my son has moved out Some days it can be with exerising and walking the dog and camping etc

  • Reply
    Dana
    September 12, 2012 at 10:44 PM

    With 2 girls (4 and 2), a husband who works 12 hour shifts, a baby on the way, and a part time job…my life can be pretty hectic. Typical days start around 7am, kids are up and want breakfast, then its time for the household chores, playing with the kids, breaking up fights, running errands (oh yea, I’m supposed to be on bed rest!ha), etc. Then cook dinner, if the hubby is working a day shift we wait for him to get home and then we eat around 7, get the kids in the bath, jammies, stories, and bed for the girls. Then I clean up dinner dishes, get the hubby’s lunch ready for the next day, and finally around 10pm usually get to sit down and relax for a little while. Long, crazy, busy days…but worth every second with my kids. Oh, and this is a typical day that I DON’T work…I work Friday-Sunday and then I just don’t get to do the play with kids and household stuff, but still do everything else!

  • Reply
    Christine
    September 12, 2012 at 11:19 PM

    Well, i have a pretty big spread of kids for 7…… from 15 to 1. Here’s how a prefect running day works for me. I get up around 6. dress and get the baby up who is standing talking in his crib. Walk down the hall and knock on doors and turn on lights of the school kids. About then the two preschoolers come out with their dad. kids dress, make beds, do chores wash face and hands and get bags ready for school while I make breakfast. kids brush teeth while I dress the baby and 2yr old… the 3yr old dresses herself. By 7:25 I have kisses my husband goodbye and am stand watch for the bus while the kids put on their coats and shoes. After the bus leaves i have my breakfast and start chores. My house is broken into cleaning zones. depending on the day I start that zone and the daily laundry. With no interruptions I can have my daily chores and zone clean by 11. Then it is lunch and nap time for the baby. tots rest watching tv. I take a break or read a book…. whatever. At 2, I finish any straightening I need to do and prepare for errands etc. bus comes at 3:30. I am starting supper about then… kids do homework and play. Supper is between 5 and 6. depending I might be running after a kid from sports or hubby is. showers after supper. Family time around 8 and all into bed around 8:30. Someday this works and some it doesn’t I don’t stress it. Thanks for the chance!

  • Reply
    Cheryl Messick
    September 13, 2012 at 5:36 PM

    My days are really hectic with two teenage boys to take care of, plus i work long hours on my feet, sometimes 9 and a half hour days, so it’s hard getting meals together. I’m all about quick, nutritious foods my whole family will love. We all love pasta. It’s quick, delicious and easy to prepare. Very important after a hectic day.

  • Reply
    Joni @ Six Cherries on Top
    September 13, 2012 at 6:59 PM

    we are a one car family with six children so our day starts pretty early…4:30 am monday-friday. at 4:30 we get up, get 3 three youngest dressed and drive daddy to work 45 minutes away. once we drive daddy to work, we have to drive 45 minutes back home. when we get home, we usually have only about 30 minutes to get the big kids out of bed and dressed, get breakfast made, lunchboxes made, and out to the bus stop by 6:30. once everyone is out the door and on the bus, i can usually get the baby back to sleep so i can grab a quick pre-workout bite and do my morning workout. once i workout, I take a shower and then i make 2 bowls of oatmeal, one for me, and one for the baby. once we eat, i start laundry for the day (usually have 3-4 loads a day to keep up with it all) and clean the kitchen for making lunches and breakfasts. Once that is done, I clean according to my cleaning schedule for the day and entertain the baby with activities in between it all. 12:00ish is lunch and then after lunch i work on my daily blog posts and check emails. Around 2:00 I feed the baby snack (and pack a snack for my youngest 2 daughters) and then we head out the door to go sit in the carpool line at the elementary school to pick up my youngest two daughters. we have to leave about an hour early so that we can be first in line when they get out at 2:45. we must be first so that we can head to their therapy appointment and be there at 3:00. at 4:00 we leave the therapists office and head back 45 minutes to pick up daddy for the day. On the way back home, we stop at the grocery store for any necessary items such as milk (we buy that A LOT), and then head home to my other children who took the bus home. Once we get home, it is usually around 6:00. The kids start homework, i start dinner, and daddy takes a shower from being at work all day. We eat dinner, then after dinner, daddy and i check homework for all kids, and then it is bath and shower time. Except for the oldest 3, the younger 3 are in bed by 8 to start the day over again the next day. Once everyone is in bed, i am able to do a second workout for the day ( sometimes i go for a run), and then take a second shower. finally, at the end of it all, i am able to sit down, watch some tv on the dvr, and blog or check email. i try to be in bed around 10:30. of course it isn’t always smooth sailing but it’s the life we live. 🙂

  • Reply
    Michelle Brinson
    September 13, 2012 at 11:10 PM

    I will start by saying I’m a blessed 43-year-old single mom to the most precious but precocious 3-year-old little boy who truly has two settings: on, full blast or dead asleep. I don’t get any support from his father…but occasionally a break with the help of family or my best friends. Let me also add I have a 4-year-old yorkie named Rudy who really needs to be on some type of anxiety medicine.

    I get up at 6 am, get ready, wake up my son at 7, try to leave by 7:30 but am seldom successful. Somewhere in there we walk the dog. Stop by Sonic to get my caffeine fix for the day. Drive in rush hour traffic. Drop son off at daycare between 8 and 8:15. Drive to work where I’m a writer and handle social media for a local nonprofit that helps the homeless. Get there by 8:30. Work nonstop rarely stopping for a lunch break til quarter to 5, leave, pick up my son, drive in rush hour traffic back home. Get home between 5:30 and 6. Walk the dog. Try to fix something for dinner while my son tears the house apart. After he eats a couple of bites of the meal I prepared, I clean up dishes and now am without a dishwasher other than my two hands. We play for a bit and then it’s time for bath, brushing teeth, reading books and going to bed. I crash too or try to read or check emails. Once asleep I inevitably wake up around midnight and am wide awake for about an hour. I will read emails, do laundry, let the dog out, check Facebook then eventually go back to bed only to start the routine again. Im worn out. Utterly exhausted. Would love to have some quick fix healthy meals. Oh and did I mention I’m 43 and as broke as can be so I think financial stress along with the stress of divorce from someone who has addiction issues which caused my hair to fall out and for me to lose close to 40 pounds over the last 3 years just adds to the chaos which is my “single-minded mom” life because single parenting isn’t for sissies!

  • Reply
    Holly W
    September 14, 2012 at 10:48 PM

    Well my family loves these and there’s 5 of us. It gets very busy around here during the day. I have 3 teens who are very active as I am we walk and play sports. My husband also just lost his job of 10 yrs. We’d love to have these. Thanks for reading this and having such a great giveaway.

  • Reply
    Laura Lambie
    September 14, 2012 at 11:06 PM

    I get up at 6 to be at work at 7:30. Work 10 hour days. Get home run the grand kids to cheerleading, scouts, football and soccer practice. Get home around 8pm that is when we eat as there is no time before games or practice. Help younger ones with homework. Then their mother picks them up from work and then it is my me time to do what I want to do or need to do.On my days off I run my mother to go shopping or to her doctor appointments or take her to see her boyfriend. Yes she is 82 and has an 84 year old boyfriend. The grand kids stay with us on Friday and Saturday nights and then we all go together to church on Sunday.

  • Reply
    Heather Wone
    September 15, 2012 at 6:33 AM

    I get up with my husband at 6. While he showers I get the coffee brewing and breakfast cooking. I get his outfit for the day and all his stuff gathered up for work. Once he leaves for the day I have 20 minutes to catch up on e-mails. Then I head back to the kitchen and pack my 6 year old daughters lunch and snack for school. I head upstairs to wake her up (which is like waking a very angry bear whom is hibernating.) After a 10 minute battle, she eventually slithers out of bed and attempts to get dressed. While she does that I wake up my 2 year old who will need a diaper change. After diaper change and more encouragement towards my daughter to GET DRESSED, I head back downstairs to start round two of breakfast. My son hates waiting for food to be cooked, so I entertain him by having him help me refill the cats food and water dish. I then get breakfast on the table for the kids while I refill my coffee cup. We head back upstairs to brush teeth and brush my daughters hair. Then we head back down to get shoes on and my son strapped into his stroller before we head off to the bus stop. Then I stand at the bus stop praying the bus gets here soon because my son wants out of his stroller and my daughter is bored and is running in the grass which is wet from the morning dew. There’s nothing like that sigh of relief that follows when you see that yellow school bus driving towards the bus stop 🙂 But that would just be my morning routine… I will spare you the details of the rest of my day lol

  • Reply
    Shawna Bennetts
    September 15, 2012 at 9:25 AM

    Hectic? I have 2 girls; 2 different schools. Both Hubby and I work full time. My commute is 45 minutes each way and I have to make 4 different lunches. Hmmm… yes.

  • Reply
    sandi h
    September 15, 2012 at 10:15 AM

    I am painting the entire interior of my house and babysitting 4.

  • Reply
    Nicole M
    September 15, 2012 at 8:07 PM

    Let’s start with Monday. I wake up to do grad school homework and throw dinner for my husband in the crock pot. Then I go to work at the hospital as a nurse (saving lives) from 3 pm- 11:30 pm (I’m supposed to get off at about 11:30, but I never actually get to leave until around 1 am). Then I come home, get to sleep at 1:30 and wake up at 6:30. I get ready for school and go to graduate school at 8 am (I’m in school to become a nurse practitioner). So I have class from 8 am until 12 pm. I get home at 12:30, eat lunch, and head BACK to work. I work again from 3-11:30 (or 1 am). I get to bed at 1:30 am and I wake up at 6:30 am. I leave to the clinic, where I work from 8:30 am until 6:45 pm. I come home, make dinner for my husband, and we eat when he gets home from graduate school at 8 pm. I then do some homework and go to sleep. I wake up Thursday morning around 8 am (this is my day to sleep in), and I go work at the school from 10 am until 8 pm. I then come home, eat dinner with my husband again (if we have time), and then I go to sleep. Friday, I spend the day doing graduate school homework, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, etc. Saturday, I go to work from 7 am and I stay at the hospital working until 11:30 pm (but again, I sometimes don’t get out until 1 am…..so I’m there for about 18 hours working). I come home, go to bed at 1:30 am, and then I wake up at 8:30 am. I get ready for church, and my husband and I go to church where we teach a children’s church class. We get home from church around 12:30, I make lunch and we eat. Finally, around 2:30 pm, I will either rest (or do homework, which is usually the case). Then I go to sleep to wake up on Monday and do it all over again!

  • Reply
    Cyndi
    September 15, 2012 at 8:23 PM

    My day isn’t hectic, but I am disable and I can’t stand very long at a time, so I usually just make a pb sandwich aa they are quick to make and I don’t have to stand too long, A hot meal would be good.

  • Reply
    Ronda
    September 15, 2012 at 9:01 PM

    My day starts between 5:00 – 5:30. I get up start breakfast for my family and make my husbands lunch. At 6:00 I wake up the family. After breakfast I get the kids ready for school and pack my husbands cooler. Once everyone is out the door I start dishes, laundry and and cleaning the house. By 8:15 I get ready for work. I work from 9:00 – 3:00. I then come home right before the kids get home. When the kids geme I give them a snack and start homework. By 4:30 – 5:00 I start supper. After supper I do dishes and more laundry. By 7:30 I get the kids in the shower and to bed by 8:00 – 8:30. After the kids and my husband are in be I finish anything that I did not get done earlier. By 12:00 – 12:30 I go to bed and start all over the next day.

    rrudnick@netnet.net

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