Review and Giveaway: Vermont Smoke and Cure RealSticks

As a Vermonter, I always love when I find something wonderful that I can put in lunches that is also from Vermont.  I've found just that in Vermont Smoke and Cure.

The wonderful folks over at Vermont Smoke and Cure were kind enough to send me a variety pack of their delicious RealSticks.

RealSticks are made with real meat, flavored with real spices.  There is nothing artificial added, and they have 50% less fat and 40% less salt than most other snack sticks.  That makes me pretty happy about packing them in lunches for the kids (and snacking on them myself).  If you are sensitive to gluten, you don't have to worry - these RealSticks are gluten free.

They have wonderful flavors, too - Chipotle Beef & Pork, BBQ Beef, Ancho Turkey, Uncured Turkey Pepperoni, Cracked Pepper Beef & Pork, and Honey Mustard Turkey.

The Chipotle was the only one that was a little spicy for the kids.  They like all of the other flavors.

My only wish was that they were a little smaller and could fit into the Easylunchbox without cutting them up, but that's a pretty minor complaint.

They would be great for a hiking snack, too.  I think I'll keep some on hand for extra energy during those hikes.

They ship, so you could order your own stock of the RealSticks, or you could also peruse some of Vermont Smoke and Cure's great other products - they have some phenomenal looking bacon, ham, sausages, and summer sausages, as well as gift boxes and even t-shirts and hats to show your love.  You could get some really great gifts for people on your list, and who doesn't love the gift of delicious food?

Now for the fun part - the good folks over at Vermont Smoke and Cure have offered to give one of my lucky readers their very own RealStick variety pack!  Enter on the Rafflecopter below, and good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lunches: 9.18.14

I have the day off, and The Hubby doesn't need a lunch, so it's just the kids for this Thursday.

Cornbread: 30g, apple snack stick: 4g, apple slices: 4g, meat stick: 2g, watermelon: 5g. goldfish: 12g

The Boy has some leftover pumpkin cornbread, apple snack sticks, a VT Smoke & Cure meat stick, apple slices, watermelon, and some Goldfish crackers.  He has a cereal bar for snack (not pictured, 27g)

The Girl has leftover pumpkin cornbread, apple snack sticks, a VT Smoke & Cure meat stick, apple slices, watermelon, and jackfruit crisps.  She also has a cereal bar for snack (not pictured).

Lunches: 9.17.14

I picked up some pumpkin corn bread mix from Trader Joe's, and it wasn't my favorite plain.. so I doctored it up some and it is pretty yummy the way I made it.

Doctored up pumpkin corn bread for dinner, with cowboy quinoa veggie burger and pineapple salsa

 I added pumpkin butter for half of the oil, and stirred in a cup of roasted corn and half a cup of roasted pumpkin seeds.  The kids loved it, so I packed some in their lunches.

Snack sticks: 8g, watermelon: 5g, cornbread: 30g, pepperoni & cheese: 2g, apple slices: 4g

The Boy has some pumpkin corn bread, turkey pepperoni from Vermont Smoke & Cure (review and giveaway coming soon!), a cheese stick, apple slices, watermelon, and apple cinnamon snack sticks.  His snack is a cereal bar (not pictured, 27g).

The Girl also has some pumpkin corn bread, cracked pepper beef and pork stick from Vermont Smoke & Cure, a cheese stick, apple slices, watermelon, apple slices. and apple cinnamon snack sticks.    Her snack is also a granola bar (not pictured).

Disclaimer: Though I used Trader Joe's products, this blog is not sponsored by Trader Joe's. All opinions are my own (or the kids')