![]() With bikini (or in my case, tankini...No one wants to see my stretch marks!) season coming more quickly than I'd like, I have been watching my diet extra closely and trying to lose that stubborn 15lbs that I cannot seem to shed no matter what I do. I know many of you are doing the same thing as the weather gets warmer. After all, we all want to look good and feel confident as we break out our bathing suits and cute little sundresses. In the winter, it's more acceptable to be frumpty-dumpty, since we're wearing sweaters and jeans, keeping our curves concealed. As summer approaches, there's that mad dash to get our bodies back. It's an annual ritual, at least for me. When trying to diet, it's important not to deprive yourself. After all, diet IS a 4-letter-word, and one that can be very destructive if not done in the right way. To me, dieting isn't about deprivation. It isn't about counting every little carb and calorie. It's about being active and making smarter lifestyle choices. Sensible meals and snacks can not only make you feel fulfilled, they can also help you reach your weight loss goals successfully. Did you know that 77% of women cannot get through a normal day without at least one snack? (According to a Dole Real Bites Fruit Survey that was conducted by Wakefield Research www.wakefieldresearch.com among 1,016 nationally representative American women, ages 18 and older.) I am definitely among the norm. I can't seem to function properly if I don't have at least one small snack throughout the day. Snacking doesn't have to be a bad thing. It's all about making better choices. Obviously chips, cookies, and ice cream aren't the best snacks for those trying to watch their waist-lines. More sensible choices include fruits and veggies, whole grains, and nuts. Recently, I got the opportunity to try DOLE Real Fruit Bites. These bite sized snacks are made from real DOLE dried fruits, including pineapple, apple, and mango, and come in convenient, super-portable little pouches, perfect for snacking on the go. Each pouch has between 80-90 calories, so you can snack away, guilt free. But what really makes DOLE Real Fruit Bites special is the unique taste. These snacks aren't simply fruit. They also include yogurt and toasted whole grain oats! They remind me of a certain cereal that had coated pieces of fig mixed in. You know the one I am talking about, right? I remember I used to fish out these tasty morsels, leaving none of them for anyone else. Yep, DOLE Real Fruit Bites are that good. Take a look at these sinfully delicious, yet nutritious snacks! Don't those look tasty? We love DOLE Real Fruit Bites. To me, they're a (not so) guilty pleasure. They definitely take care of any cravings for sweets without throwing my dieting efforts off track. My kids love them, too! I don't generally allow the kids to eat "junk" food, so with DOLE Real Fruit Bites, I can give them the sweet treats they love without worrying about giving them nothing but empty calories and a sugar overload. And since DOLE Real Fruit Bites are a good source of Vitamin C and are completely free of trans-fats, I feel good about serving these as a nutritious snack. HOW TO CONNECT: You can purchase these and other DOLE products at your local grocery store. You can also follow DOLE on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions! Speaking of promotions...DOLE has a GREAT one going on right now on their Facebook Fan Page! With their 3 Steps to True Bliss Facebook app, you can enter to win a dream vacation! In just three simple steps, you have the opportunity to enjoy a moment of bliss by choosing a dream escape, packing a virtual bag and sharing a postcard with friends. You can then enter for a chance win a dream destination getaway, making your virtual plans a reality! To enter, simply click the pretty photo below to visit the DOLE Facebook page. READER GIVEAWAY!
The awesome folks at DOLE are so sure you'll love Real Fruit Bites, they're offering one lucky reader a whole month's supply of these delicious treats! Enter on the easy Rafflecopter form below! This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ until 11:59PM on June 3, 2012. No PO Boxes. Winner will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. Thanks for entering, and Good Luck! ***Disclosure:I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided.As always, all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
82 Comments
cindy hemmerling
5/16/2012 12:58:01 am
Dream vacation..... hawaii or paris!
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Leslie B
5/16/2012 02:28:28 am
My dream vacation is to Australia!
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Marilyn Wons
5/16/2012 02:30:18 am
My dream vacation is to go to switzerland
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lisa
5/16/2012 02:45:31 am
Hawaii.
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Amber
5/16/2012 04:05:36 am
My dream vacation is a cruise to Alaska!
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Lindsay Ferrin
5/16/2012 05:25:47 am
My Dream Vacation is a nice beach house in California.
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Cali
5/16/2012 06:10:41 am
My dream vacation is to Cancun, Mexico!
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Calli Welsch
5/16/2012 06:21:54 am
Road trip in australia
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Margaret Smith
5/16/2012 06:48:00 am
My dream vacation is Hawaii!!!
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Sandy H
5/16/2012 09:46:31 am
Disneyland with the family!!
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Pamela Bice
5/16/2012 10:23:57 am
Ireland
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Kelly Nicholson
5/16/2012 10:51:43 am
What's your dream vacation? Let me know in the comments!
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Deborah Wallin
5/16/2012 12:32:07 pm
I would love to take my children to Disneyland.
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Nicole L.
5/16/2012 01:25:53 pm
My dream vacation is Italy.
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Ken Robinson
5/16/2012 01:36:11 pm
I prefer the staycation. A couch and TV. Please accept my entry. Thank you.
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debbie jackson
5/16/2012 08:53:43 pm
my dream vacation would be to austrailia to see the outback
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DeeAnn S
5/16/2012 10:53:10 pm
My dream vacation is two weeks on a tropical island with nothing to do but take in the sun, surf, and delicious meals! Thanks.
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Christine L
5/17/2012 12:35:04 am
Anywhere there is crystal clear water and white sand (and no people)!
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crystle tellerday
5/17/2012 01:10:16 am
disney world
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Ann Fantom
5/17/2012 01:30:12 am
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Denise B.
5/17/2012 07:05:27 am
I would like to go to Greece.
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Catie
5/17/2012 07:46:52 am
My dream vacation would be a Mediterranean cruise!
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Kimberly Schotz
5/17/2012 11:29:15 am
a Disney Cruise
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Richard Morris
5/17/2012 01:14:02 pm
a trip to england
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Jackie
5/17/2012 01:34:15 pm
I'd love an island vacation...like Bermuda.
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Sandy VanHoey
5/18/2012 02:05:44 am
I would love vacationing in Hawaii
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LOIS PAYTON
5/19/2012 12:50:42 am
my rea vacation would be any where with what little family I have left that was paid ree, GOD BLESS
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kyl neusch
5/20/2012 05:32:32 am
go to japan
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Kathy S
5/20/2012 08:16:29 am
Alaskan Cruise
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Julie Ghrist
5/21/2012 05:22:13 am
Hawaii!!!
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Jacob LaFountaine
5/21/2012 12:33:42 pm
Southern Italy probably
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Christine
5/22/2012 12:01:40 am
a cruise !!!!
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Wendy R
5/22/2012 02:46:48 am
going to Hawaii!
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Chavonne H
5/22/2012 07:34:34 pm
Staying at a fancy hotel anywhere.
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Nikole H.
5/23/2012 04:49:42 am
Dream vacation? I'd love to go back to Hawaii, with my daughter this time!
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Irene
5/23/2012 10:40:43 pm
A beach house in Sanibel / IRB in Fla
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Gianna
5/24/2012 04:16:24 pm
Australia and New Zealand.
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Tammy S
5/25/2012 12:07:56 am
My dream vacation would be to go to Greece. Just lay in the sun and take in the sites. :)
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Lisa
5/25/2012 05:30:09 am
I'd love to go to Hawaii
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Virginia Rowell
5/25/2012 06:41:34 am
I would love to go to the keys!
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ky2here
5/27/2012 04:57:27 am
greek islands
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Ashley Anderson
5/28/2012 09:45:01 am
An Alaskan cruise!
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Katie R
5/29/2012 07:07:16 am
My dream vacation is to go to Italy
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lisa lo
5/30/2012 05:58:45 am
ochi JM - dream, only a dream.
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mframe
5/30/2012 12:14:51 pm
I want to go to Ireland
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Molly Wallin
5/30/2012 03:13:45 pm
Hawaii!!!
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Caryn S
6/1/2012 02:14:04 am
A Mediterranean cruise
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Jan
6/1/2012 05:38:10 am
LOve to go to the Scandinavian Countries plus Scotland
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Debbie R
6/1/2012 10:48:43 am
Hawaii is on my Bucket List.
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Tim Stephens
6/1/2012 12:21:49 pm
My dream vacation is to go to the Atlantis resort and go down the water slides and hang out at the pools with my girls..
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Kendra
6/1/2012 02:49:23 pm
I'd love to go to the bahamas.
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tallcapp
6/2/2012 02:52:49 am
My dream vacation would be Hawaii.
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Paula Tavernie
6/2/2012 05:52:55 am
My dream vacation would be a week at the beach!
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Jessica Hays
6/2/2012 06:15:24 am
I would love to take my family on a disney cruise!
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Eileen Burke
6/2/2012 06:16:22 am
dream vacay is a cruise to alaska
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Ed Nemmers
6/2/2012 06:52:50 am
A family reunion in Kauai, Hawaii!
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Karen M
6/2/2012 07:32:20 am
My dream vacation would be sitting on a soft smooth sandy beach for about a month. That might relax me. lol
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dani marie
6/2/2012 08:53:58 am
i would love to go to pompeii.
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Debra f
6/2/2012 08:59:51 am
I would like to take my family on an all inclusive vacation to the Caribbean
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Barbara Montag
6/2/2012 10:14:08 am
Dream vacation - Alaska!
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Marissa Marinucci
6/2/2012 01:49:00 pm
Dream vacation is Italy!!!
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Seyma Shabbir
6/2/2012 01:51:07 pm
Maldives Island
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Shirley L Zolenski
6/2/2012 02:17:25 pm
I would love to go to Australia
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Marco
6/2/2012 02:19:49 pm
Hawaii would be nice.
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anthony ciofani
6/2/2012 09:36:10 pm
to go to italy my nationality
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Steve B
6/3/2012 12:07:34 am
Definitely the bahamas
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Nicole Moore
6/3/2012 01:21:41 am
I love having a pool and exploring a new city with lots to do.
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Betty Curran
6/3/2012 04:39:36 am
My dream vacation is Hawaii (or maybe Tahiti)
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Jessica A
6/3/2012 04:51:04 am
My dream vacation is a tour of Europe.
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mary gardner
6/3/2012 05:58:40 am
a trip to italy
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Nicole C.
6/3/2012 06:30:35 am
My dream vacation is London.
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Katie Smith
6/3/2012 07:22:18 am
my dream vacation is to go to Ireland,Scotland, and England to do my genealogy!
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Trevor Clinger
6/3/2012 09:01:19 am
Las Vegas, a week on non-stop casinos and a great spa treatment.
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AEKZ2
6/3/2012 10:41:19 am
I'd love to go back to Japan
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Monica Allen
6/3/2012 10:57:47 am
My dream vacation would be in Jamaica...I have always wanted to go sit in the sun with fruity drinks and braids in my hair.
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Christopher Brown
6/3/2012 11:43:23 am
My dream vacation would be to go to India!
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Marcy Strahan
6/3/2012 12:38:30 pm
I dream of Going to J. Paul Getty Museum, with locations at the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu. Then see all the Fancy homes...take in some site & great dinners...off to swim in the ocean. Yeah, I would need at least a month to do it all!
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jennifer j
6/3/2012 01:02:01 pm
i trip to Barcelona would be a dream come true!
Reply
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