Each bag of Spooners contains biscuits with flavored morsels baked into the middle. The biscuits are based on the MOM Brands award-winning, proprietary 12-layer biscuit, and are made with whole grain wheat. Most varieties also contain triticale – a cross between rye and wheat, with higher levels of essential amino acids. The new cereal is free of artificial flavors and preservatives, with no hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup. All varieties carry the Whole Grain Stamp from the Whole Grains Council and have at least five grams of fiber per serving. Spooners are available in the following flavors:

• Mixed Berry Multigrain Spooners: Made with blueberry morsels baked inside and a just-sweet-enough raspberry frosting
• Cinnamon Multigrain Spooners: Made with 43 grams of whole grains per serving and cinnamon morsels baked inside
• Original Multigrain Spooners: Each serving has 55 grams of whole grains and 7 grams of fiber for a no-nonsense breakfast
• Frosted Multigrain Spooners: A 12-layer biscuit with a touch of sweetness baked inside, along with 44 grams of whole grains
• Chocolate Spooners with Chocolate Chips: For the kid in all of us…a chocolate fix that’s good for you

“We’re committed to providing families with nutritious breakfast options, and we think this new line of cereal hits the sweet spot for people looking for a healthy option, with a touch of sweetness baked in,” said Linda Fisher, director of corporate communications for MOM Brands. “The new Spooners cereals give families a better breakfast at a better price, and that’s something we strive to do with all of our family favorite varieties.”

Spooners brand cereal delivers on MOM Brands’ commitment to high quality at an affordable price. One in 10 servings of breakfast cereal eaten every day is a MOM Brands cereal. The company’s brand portfolio includes a wide variety of cereals, ranging from Malt-O-Meal^® brand family-favorite ready-to-eat varieties to the 23 flavors of Better Oats^® instant oatmeal.

About MOM Brands

MOM Brands is the largest family owned cereal company in the U.S. The company has produced quality cereal products since 1919 and manufactures many varieties of oatmeal, family favorite ready-to-eat and natural cereals as well as its original, farina-based hot cereal. Today, one in 10 servings of breakfast cereal eaten every day is a MOM Brands cereal. Dedicated to finding better ways to make a better breakfast at a better price, MOM Brands is continually innovating to produce, package and transport its cereals in ways that reduce environmental impact. For more information about MOM Brands and its cereal products please visit www.MOMBrands.com.

These “Power Partners” are just that – exceptional partners for Duke Energy, and for their local communities. 

Some have taken on huge energy efficiency projects, reducing environmental emissions and saving thousands of dollars in energy costs, which allow for business growth that creates jobs and boosts the local economy.

Others are helping keep regional energy costs low by shifting their energy consumption away from peak hours.

And still others have partnered with Duke Energy to find creative energy solutions.

“These are businesses that have worked closely with us to find opportunities that are mutually beneficial,” says Joni Davis, vice president, large business customers at Duke Energy. “We’ve given these awards for 20 years now, and every year our Power Partner recipients continue to demonstrate the highest level of commitment to innovation and responsible energy use.”

The 2012 Duke Energy Power Partner Award winners are:

• BMW Manufacturing Company (Greer, S.C.)
• Columbus Regional Hospital (Columbus, Ind.)
• Crown Casting Inc. (Hodges, S.C.)
• Darden Restaurants Inc (Orlando, Fla.)
• Food Lion (Salisbury, N.C.)
• Glen Raven Inc (Burlington, N.C.)
• Grifols Therapeutics Inc. (Clayton, N.C.)
• LabCorp (Burlington, N.C.)
• MOM Brands (Asheboro, N.C.)
• Novant Health (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
• PaperWorks (Wabash, Ind.)
• JM Smucker LLC (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Starwood Vacation Ownership (Orlando, Fla.)
• Target (National)
• Thorntons Inc (National)
• University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Winston-Salem State University (Winston-Salem, N.C.)

These organizations will be recognized at individual award ceremonies this winter.

About Duke Energy
Duke Energy is the largest electric power holding company in the United States with more than $100 billion in total assets. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.1 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. Its commercial power and international business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at: www.duke-energy.com.

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Paige Layne

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Original Post Here.

Thanks for the memories!

We hope we’ve given you some thoughtful content here – from Dan Baker’s reflections on living a happier and healthier life to TerraCycle’s great ideas on upcycling for the greater good.

We’ve had some great fun, too. Before Bag The Box, did you know that you could recycle dentures and old sneakers? Did you realize that you could maintain a decent garden in the winter months just as well as in the summer? Think of the wonderful conversation starters you have in your arsenal because of our humble blog!

You’re not entirely rid of us, though! We encourage you to go back and read past posts, and maybe you’ll pick up a thing or two that you didn’t before. Tell your friends, and share on your Facebook pages. We’re sure to see you again, and many thanks for reading. Until next time, bag that box!

Just think of all the waste saved if you could eat all of this!

The owners of Bob’s have created an edible wrapper for their burgers. That’s right – you can eat the wrapper that surrounds your favorite chunk of meat!  It seems people are taking right to it; during a one-day promotion, the restaurant noticed that the trash was nearly empty. People were eating the wrapper!

Bob’s isn’t only company trying this concept. As we’ve written here before, advances in packaging are becoming a standard business practice. For example, MonoSol out of Indiana has created a water soluble package for liquids like tea and coffee. And Lavazza made a cookie cup – a treat for after you finish your drink.

We applaud Bob’s for taking a waste problem, and creating a delicious solution! Wonder if you can dip it in ketchup…

Even though it’s holiday time, we can still use the 3 Rs to make the holidays festive, bright, and just a little bit greener.

Reduce by Giving Gifts of Experience
Museum and health club memberships. Opera subscriptions. Movie, concert or ball game tickets. All of these provide intangible experiences, not material goods. By definition, they use less stuff. They also create the most lasting gifts of all: memories.

Got a digital camera? Use it to capture and save these experiences. Share the photos electronically with friends and relatives. There’s no need to print them anymore!

Don’t forget to pile the family into one car and visit your older relatives. That’s probably all they want – and need – most from you.

Reuse by Recharging, Re-Gifting, and Re-Thinking
Those cameras and other electronic devices need batteries. Make sure you purchase rechargeables, as the newest ones last longer and can be charged at any time, since they don’t suffer from “memory loss” like their predecessors did. When used up, they can even be recycled.

Did you receive something you don’t particularly like or need, but know someone who would? Go ahead and re-gift, but make sure that the person who gave the gift to you doesn’t know of your decision (or your recipient!).

Plus, re-think about what’s important at holiday times. Remember, The Christmas Song starts with chestnuts roasting, Jack Frost nipping and yuletide carols. While gifts are important, they’re not really the main event. It’s all about family, friends, and tradition.

Shop at stores that make goods from recyclables.

Recycle by Looking for Products Made from Post Consumer Recycled Materials
I started going to well-known stores in search of quality products made from recycled materials. I was very happy to find so many made from recycled plastics. I have long reminded plastics producers and users: Don’t just collect it, use it again!

A few of my favorites: check out the recycling trucks at Pottery Barn Kids, made from recycled milk jugs. I also found a line of soft sweatshirts and sweatpants at Whole Foods, made from a blend of organic cotton and recycled soda and water bottles. Bed, Bath & Beyond has cutting boards made from 100% recycled plastics. Macy’s has a handy little Totes umbrella made from old soda bottles.

Happy holidays from ULS!

* Bob was compensated for this blog post.

Embrace Mother Nature

• With evergreen trees aplenty, take a few small branches and tie the ends together with a red velvet bow.  Nothing says happy holidays like a little red and green! Cedar branches also look beautiful and add detailed texture, like on a mantel next to lit candles.
• Pinecones aren’t just for fall as they compliment many holiday arrangements.  Painting them silver or gold adds a classy touch to wreaths, this beautiful centerpiece with succulents and this DIY Pine Cone Garland.
• Before you stick the apples and pomegranates in a pie filling, enjoy their rich red colors in a centerpiece or on a coffee table next to some candles.
• Herbs like rosemary and sage look gorgeous tied with a gold ribbon or intertwined in a wreath.  This mini rosemary wreath takes less than 15 minutes to make and looks adorable on stockings.

Reuse burnt-out light bulbs in this easy DIY craft.

Recycle and Reuse

• Wine corks make great craft projects thanks to their versatility and colorful stained ends.  These Christmas ornaments and wreathes offer new twists to traditional favorite decorations.
• Many people buy bulb ornaments anyway, so why not just recycle a burnt-out one?  Glam and glitz it up like this one (pictured to the right).
• Cookie cutters aren’t just for baking anymore.  To make old cutters into ornaments, tie a ribbon around the top or add festive paper and jewels like these.
• Have old books or paper lying around?  Put them to good use by crafting these vintage inspired gift boxes and ornaments.

We applaud people who find uses for extra cardboard!

Bike enthusiast Gafni got the idea for making a cardboard bicycle after seeing a cardboard canoe. He immediately started building a bicycle out of the cardboard that people normally throw away—now that’s recycling!  Engineers told him that the concept was impossible because it would not be strong enough.  But, using something called “honeycomb” technology, Gafni figured out a way to make recycled cardboard sturdier by bending it a certain way.  After three years of continuously improving the design, Gafni now has a working bike called the Alfa that he says is as tough as carbon fiber.  Check out this video from CNN to see the bike in action.

Gafni’s team believes this new type of bike will change the face of the transportation industry. Weighing only about 20 pounds, the Alfa is 65% lighter than the average metal bike. The Alfa also costs about $9 to $12 to make, so the retail price could be as low as $20.  With this low price, more people could afford to ride bikes and hopefully use their cars less.  Think about the money you could save on gas and the good you could do for Mother Earth!  The Alfa team plans to make the bikes in larger quantities and bring one of the most sustainable and inexpensive bikes right to customers.

What do you think about the Alfa?  Do you think it will change the transportation industry?

Our friends at Earth911 have put together a quiz of five questions, the answers for which can be found throughout our Bag The Box website. Just by taking this eco-friendly test on the Malt-O-Meal Facebook page, you are entered to win a $100 VISA gift card and a year’s supply of MOM Brands cereal.

Here’s a little taste to whet your appetite:

1. By not driving cereal boxes to their plants, MOM Brands has saved enough fuel to do what?
2. 345 million pounds of paperboard is equivalent to what?
3. Since 2001, MOM Brands has saved enough paperboard to wrap around the moon how many times?

So click on this link to answer these green questions, and get some extra green in your pocket. See what we did there? Ha!

Editors’ Note: MOM Brands compensated Earth911 for creating this contest and its rules.

‘Tis the season to plan holiday parties! They can be wasteful, but they don’t have to be.  Here are a few ideas to keep your holiday gatherings green without breaking the bank.

Food
Local food can be tricky this time of year in much of the country, but many areas have year-round and indoor farmer’s markets available. Many offer greenhouse grown produce, root vegetables from a root cellar, local meats, and baked goods from local bakeries. Try to make as much from scratch as possible.  Avoid relying on premade food that comes with unnecessary packaging.  For any prepackaged food, support companies who make an effort to reduce waste.

Cheers to a green holiday party!

Drink
Serve filtered water, local wines or microbrews, and homemade juices or sodas.

Decorations
Think biodegradable! Find local farms offering real Christmas trees and wreaths, instead of artificial options. Pinecones and bouquets of fresh flowers also make excellent decorations.

Giftwrap
Skip the traditional wrapping paper, and consider reusable options such as canvas bags, unique fabric, or baskets. You can also upcycle an old t-shirt into a gift bag. Another fun idea is to wrap a gift with another gift! For example, for a baby’s gift, consider wrapping the present in a cute baby blanket instead of wrapping paper.

Encourage guests to walk, carpool, or take public transit.
If you don’t live in a walkable or public transit-friendly area, help set your guests up with a carpool.

Keen for Green has great ideas for a green holiday party.

Plates and utensils 
Remember to stick with reusable glasses, flatware, and plates. If your gathering is particularly large, seek out compostable alternatives instead of disposable.

Garbage
Carefully label your garbage can, compost bin, and recycling bin to let guests know what goes where.

Enjoy your holiday season and have a Happy New Year!

Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Frosted Mini Spooners 12 Layers of Happiness campaign and is from happiness expert Dan Baker, author of What Happy People Know.

Perspective is our personal window from which we come to understand ourselves and the world. Happy people know that they can manage perspective in ways that work for them, by being self-supportive, engendering understanding, even enlightenment and resilience. A poorly managed perspective is a double-edge sword limiting growth, putting them at odds with others and not infrequently with themselves. Poorly managed perceptions can lead to self-imposed imprisonment in the darkness of prolonged anger and depression.

Happy people manage their perspective because they intuitively understand that they can interpret anything that happens in a variety of ways. And it is the interpretation that really impacts one’s outlook on life.

I once met a woman who had lost her only child in a tragic auto accident 20 years earlier. After she told me her story, I sensed that her perspective had gotten bogged down in the anger that often comes after such a loss. Her perspective had never evolved past the early stages of her grief. Taking a calculated risk, I told her I understood her pain. That was all it took to bring out the anger full force.

Another layer of happiness – perspective

“How dare you say you understand, just because you are a psychologist!”

After allowing her to process that for a short while, I told her I was responding as a father who had lost a son. She was stunned, and that was where I believed she needed to be if ever she was going to help herself evolve her perspective on what will always be the most painful experience in her life. When I asked her to tell me what kind of person her daughter was and what she had done in her young life, her entire continence changed. She began to tell me how special her daughter was and how she met many people at the funeral touched by this extraordinary young woman. She still keeps in touch with several of them. Suddenly the anger was gone, and the abiding love for her daughter once again became core to her perspective.

There is no yardstick to measure the pain of loss, even of a child. But just as true is that those we lose are so much more than the tragic events that take them from us. I knew the woman would always grieve her daughter, but I also knew her perspective had shifted to where her grieving had gone from unhealthy to healthy grieving.

This time of year is difficult for many as their reflective perspective goes to holidays past and family and friends that are no longer present. Remember, the true essence of this time: love, renewal, generosity, and the celebration of miracles and life. There is nothing that helps one feel better than helping someone else who is less fortunate. By engaging in an act of kindness, we do something as a dedication to the legacy of lost loved ones. A loving act nurtures a healthy perspective.

This is my last blog, dear readers, and I want to thank the wonderful folks at MOM Brands for the opportunity and privilege of sharing with you over the past year. I thank you who have read and contributed to the work with comments and questions. And finally, I want to wish you all not only a happy new year, but a happy life.