product review

I’ve given birth to a healthy 3 kg baby boy via repeat caesarean section 2 months ago. After giving birth, I have three goals:

1. Lose weight and reach my target weight of 45kg. (You have to know, I am barely 5 feet so a few kilos gained can make a lot of obvious difference.)

2. Improve my family’s dietary habits by introducing organic and healthier foods in our meals (which eventually may result to my goal #1)

3.) Breastfeed my newborn until 1-year-old (so I hope I could produce more breastmilk this time with baby #2 compared to my firstborn where I only breastfeed him until 7 months old because I wasn’t producing much milk.)

I was happy to discover Garden Picks, an online company that delivers healthy grains and snacks. They offer a wide variety of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, oats, and granola. Their clientele includes renowed restaurants and hotels all across Singapore. They are proud of the high quality of their products with guranteed ‘factory-freshness’ delivered at your doorstep. It looks like that Garden Picks products would help me achieve the goals I set for myself. I got to try five of their products: Toasted Oats, Black Forest Granola, Organic Tri-Colour Quinoa, SuperFood Granola and Black Chia Seeds.

Toasted Oats

Oats have been one of the best go-to breakfast choices. It is a quick breakfast to make. It is healthy & packed with energy. It has also been most recommended galactagogue or milk-boosting food for breastfeeding moms. Most breastfeeding advocates swears by this. The toasted oats is one of the newer products of Garden Picks. It is an Australian rolled oats toasted with orange-pressed olive oil and honey. I made overnight oats with this one. I make it at night, put in the refrigerator and eat it in the morning. It saves me time in the morning because I have to rush to work. I get equal portions of oats, fresh milk & yogurt and I top it with either blueberries, strawberries or banana slices. It is a delicious breakfast and I love that it is different from the regular oats out there. I feel energized at work and it allows me to feel satiated until my lunch time.

SuperFood Granola

My toddler is a very picky eater. I have to force him and try many tricks just for him to eat. Garden Picks solved my problem with one of their product, SuperFood Granola. The SuperFood Granola contained chia seeds that provides you with fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids to power up the immune system. Now my son enjoys eating a healthy meal. I put it in his rice porridge to add texture and fun into his food. I would also sprinkle this in chilled fruit yogurt. He love it so much! He would swallow so fast, smile and shout “Am, Am!” which means more please. I also pack this in a small ziplock bag for a ready snacks when I am hungry at work or when we go out to the park.

Tri-Colour Quinoa

This pretty mix of three color quinoa: black, white and red. I have always been a fan of quinoa since I used to substitute my white rice with this when I was trying to lose weight for my wedding 3 years ago. And it works! It kept my tummy flat unlike when I eat white rice which makes my tummy bloat so bad. Quinoa is a great source of fiber, protein and essential amino acids. I enjoy Garden Picks Tri-Colour Quinoa apart from its attractive color scheme is its texture of soft with a bit of crunch. I don’t seem to miss rice when I have this. I bring it at work for my lunch and pair it with salmon or eggplant omelette. (FYI: Salmon also is a great milk-boosting food.)

Black Forest Granola

If I want an alternative for my oatmeal breakfast which is equally healthy, energy-giving and has milk-boosting power, I can go for granola. I am loving one of the newest products of Garden Picks, the Black Forest Granola. It contain chocolate buttons, coconut chips, tangy cranberries, honey and vanilla essence. Healthy indulgence! I would pair this with my favorite yogurt and the fruit for the day. Look at my beautiful breakfast granola above. I also tried making a granola bar by mixing it with melted Muscovado sugar for easy grab-to-go snacks. I asked my colleagues to try it and they liked it a lot.

Black Chia Seeds

I am aware of the wonderful power of chia seeds. This is another one of my usual pantry staple when I was trying to lose weight for my wedding. I would sprinkle this on my rice or put in my water. Or I make chia pudding but putting a small portion of water into a container of chia seeds with bit of honey. I would put it in the refrigerator overnight, the seeds will expand into a little jelly pearls. You can add coconut flakes on top and viola, a perfect meal replacement. I enjoy Garden Picks Black Chia Seeds and put it in almost every food I eat. I add it with my salad too.

I am so glad that with these 5 packs of healthy foods I got my breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. I am well on my way to losing my excess weight, improving my family’s dietary habits as well as my own and my breastmilk supply increases tremendously.

I am happy that I know now where to get my regular supply of quinoa and chia seeds without venturing out to various health stores looking for it. I also want to try their cashew nut butter and honey almond (another galactagogue). I am ecstatic that I am right on track on my post-pregnancy goals with Garden Picks.

For those who are shifting to a healthier dietary choices, those who are trying to lose weight, those who loves nuts & dried fruits and a breastfeeding momma trying to increase her milk supply, head over to Garden Picks Website to order their products. Garden Picks have an All Year Special of 3 packs for $10 only!

Garden Picks Food Manufacturing LLP
Business Registration No: T12LL0135F
8A Admiralty Street #06-05
FoodXChange@Admiralty, Singapore 757437
Tel: 66594859 (Office) | 65564460 (Fax)
Email: enquiries@gardenpicks.com.sg

Website: Garden Picks

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Garden Picks. We received the 5 packs of Garden Picks products for free. No monetary compensation is involved. All opinions are my own. Regardless, I only recommend products which I personally believe will be good for my readers.

I got acquainted with Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap when it was used as a base to make kitchen cleaning spray on the Havaroma Aromtherapy Workshop I attended last year.

Ever since I became a mother, I have been in a look out for organic and eco-friendly products to use at home. Dr. Bronner’s soap are certified organic by the USDA National Organic Program and certified Fair Trade as written on their label. The plastic bottles they use are 100% recycled.

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soaps have wide variety of soap. They have the Tea Tree Soap, Rose Soap, Peppermint Soap, Lavender Soap, Eucalyptus Soap, Citrus Orange Soap, Unscented Baby-Mild Soap and Almond Soap.

Castile soap is named after a region in Spain where soap are made with olive oil. Nowadays, castile soaps are made with vegetable oils and lye. The beauty of castile soap is that it is gentle to the skin and doesn’t strip off the skin’s natural oils.

At first glance, the packaging and label of Dr. Bronner’s Magic look generic,and simple. It looks too ‘serious’. But look closely & read the label and you would read fascinating and inspiring to almost manic soliloquy of a passionate man. The man behind their amazing soaps are far from generic nor simple. Dr. Emmanuel Bronner is an interesting man from a German-Jewish descent. He escaped Holocaust and migrated to the United States. He started a business in making homemade soaps. Dr. Bronner is also a moral philosopher with a strong belief in the goodness and unity of humanity. He use his product labels to promote his philosophy of “All-One-God-Faith” and “Moral ABC” which stems from Christian and Jewish scriptures. (Get a Dr. Bronner’s soap and read his long page full words of wisdom on its label.) So this makes Dr. Bronner’s soaps way more interesting and cooler than other soaps.

I wanted to try their Almond Soap and the Baby Unscented Soap.

I have been a sufferer of Keratosis Pilaris. It is this pesky skin condition that is unfortunately inherited whereby dry, rough, tiny bumps appear in upper arm, thighs and other parts of the body. It is also very very itchy that you can’t help but scratch causing bleeding skin, hyperpigmentation and more bumps. I have been searching for a mild but effective soap that can help me with my skin condition. Dr. Bronner’s Almond Pure Castile Soap is made for dry, itchy, wrinkled skin. It contains organic almond oils with virgin coconut, olive and jojoba oils. I am hoping this would be my Holy Grail body wash.

I just had my second baby and I wanted a bath soap for him that is non-irritating and non-drying. I made a mistake in bathing my first-born son before with this certain popular baby wash which gave my son rashes and dry flaky skin. So now, I prefer organic and hypoallergenic wash only for my kids. That is why I wanted to try the Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented Pure Castile Soap for my sons.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap claims that it is an 18-in-1 uses and I decided to try to put it into test with these two soaps.

SOAP BATH – I have been using the Almond Soap for a week now and I must say it left my skin soft and supple. I didn’t feel that it dried out my skin. It left a coat of moisturising oil in my skin which I like. I love its nutty smell. I feel that this somehow tamed my dry itchy skin. I also used the Baby Scented Soap to my two sons. I love that it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals so it wouldn’t trigger allergies to my son’s sensitive skin.
SHAVE – I diluted the Almond Soap with a bit of water and applied unto my legs before shaving. I like that my razor glided unto my legs and no razor burns or irritation were noted.
HAND CLEANSER – I made a little hand sanitiser on-the-go by using the Almond Soap with a drop of my lemon & tea tree essential oil.
MASSAGE OIL – I tried to use again my Almond Soap as a massage oil as added Ilang-Ilang essential oil. It can be a bit sticky but an alternative option for regular massage oils.
WASHING CLOTHES – I tried washing my clothes with the Baby Unscented. It removed some minor stain effectively, I was surprised. I prefer using this also for my delicate underwears.
CLEANING KITCHEN SURFACES – I have tried this before in the Havaroma Workshop by using the Baby Unscented Soap, water, white vinegar and essential oils. I used it for cleaning my kitchen tops and stove.
WASHING FRUITS and VEGETABLES – I would soak my fruits in a bowl of water and I would drop a bit of the Baby Unscented Soap into the bowl. Then I would rinse out and viola, clean fruits and vegetables for my toddler.
NO RASH NAPPY SOAP– I have been using the Baby Unscented Soap for my infant. I am happy that he hasn’t gotten any nappy rash. I would use it for cleaning his bottom also instead of baby wipes. I would fill a container with cotton ball, drop water & the Baby Unscented Soap and used this instead for wiping.
SHAMPOO – I used the Almond Soap as a shampoo. It didn’t irritate my sensitive scalp and it felt softer too. I have to follow it with a conditioner to detangle my hair.
DEODORANT – I applied a few drops of Almond Soap in my armpit. It felt a bit sticky though. But I think this is a good option for those who find regular deodorant to be too strong for their axillary area. And because Dr. Bronner’s soaps have no harsh chemicals, this is the answer for ‘no dark armpits’.
HOT TOWEL MASSAGE – I do my home facial scrub 2x weekly. After I rinsed off the scrub from my face, I drop a bit of Baby Unscented to a wet, warm towel, wring and applied on my face. I felt so relaxed that I took a nap.

There are several other uses of the magical Dr. Bronner’s soap which I didn’t try:

12. TOOTHPASTE /13. MOUTHWASH– I didn’t try it because I would the possibility that I will be ingesting a bit of soap and I think the Peppermint Soap is the better option.

14. DOUCHE – I don’t douche. As a medical professional, I educate my patients that intimate female parts should only be cleaned externally and that they should avoid douching as much as possible.

15. TO CLEAN PETS -we don’t have pets

16. TO COOL BODY IN HOT WEATHER – I believe this is best with the Peppermint Soap

17. PEST SPRAY – We are fortunate there are no pest at home

18. DENTURE CLEANER – I don’t have dentures.

I can add in a 19th use of the soap. I use it also as my makeup brush cleaner. I dilute it with water and my makeup brushes are clean and good as new. Dr. Bronner’s Soap are definitely magical.

Are you interested in getting these magic soaps? Where can you buy these amazing soaps? The Dr. Bronner’s Soaps are available at Nature’s Glory Store or you can order online at their e-shop. Another great news is that you can bring your own Dr. Bronner’s Soap old bottle to refill it and you get to enjoy rebates too. So cool, right?

Nature’s Glory Pte Ltd.
315 Outram Road #01-09
Tan Boon Liat Building
Singapore 169074
Co. Reg. No: 198303992E

Website: Nature’s Glory

Facebook: NaturesGlorySg

Business Hours :
Mon : 9.30am to 2.30pm
Tue – Sat : 9.30am to 6.30pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Nature’s Glory. We received the two Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap for free. No monetary compensation is involved. All opinions are my own. Regardless, I only recommend products which I personally believe will be good for my readers.

GARDEN PICKS FOR HEALTHY LIVING & BREASTMILK-BOOSTING POWERS

THE MAGIC OF DR. BRONNER’S PURE CASTILE SOAPS