Thursday, July 11, 2013

Smartfood and the SMARTest Cities in America {Culinary Prize Pack Giveaway!}

Smartfood logo
When you look around your city, what do you appreciate about it? The great school system? The comfortable homes? Your awesome friends and neighbors?

No matter why you think it is great, how would your city rate when it comes to being smart? And I don't just mean the average IQ or the highest standardized test scores, I mean a place that is filled with people who make it a goal to take care of themselves by living (and eating) well. Does your city measure up?

According to the Smartfood brand and SELF magazine, the top 10 smartest cities in America have now been named!

Smartfood

That's right, Smartfood, known for their delicious, fresh-tasting, light-textured popcorn, puffed corn and popped chip varieties (with no artificial colors or flavors), teamed up with SELF and expanded the definition of "smart" to include five specific criteria in terms of living and eating well: Savvy, Motivated, Accomplished, Responsible and Thoughtful.

So which cities rose to the top? The winners selected include:
  1. San Francisco
  2. Seattle
  3. Washington, D.C.
  4. Austin, Texas
  5. Minneapolis
  6. Portland, Ore.
  7. Denver
  8. Boston
  9. Honolulu
  10. San Jose, Calif.
Congratulations, San Francisco! Smartfood expanded on their top selection with reasons as to why this great city was named the most SMART in the country:

San Francisco

While I'm not living in one of the winning cities, I was happy to have a personalized video made for me by Chef Jody Denton, Executive Research Chef at Frito-Lay's Culinary Innovation Center, who expanded on the cities chosen, his recipes that can be part of a balanced lifestyle for summer, hot flavor and ingredient trends, and more!


Thanks, Chef Jody! Didn't all of his tasty summer dishes look delectable? YUM!

Chef Jody recipes

For an even easier way to sample some YUM, I was excited to have the chance to try out some of Smartfood's classic popcorn as well as three varieties of their new Smartfood Selects (which boast flavor combinations of real herbs and spices).

Smartfood review

How have I never tried these before?! While I appreciate that Smartfood makes their bags so easy to reseal to keep their snacks fresh, we've hardly had the chance to close a bag back up once we've opened it because they're so melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

Smartfood popcorn
Cinnamon Brown Sugar Popcorn, a HUGE hit!!

This summer and beyond, make the SMART choices when it comes to your family so that you can make the most of your city while you live and eat well! Be sure to check out all of the incredibly delicious Smartfood options that can help with this by visiting them at Smartfood.com and connecting with them on Facebook.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will be even more prepared to spice up their kitchen in a healthy way, because...

One lucky person will win a Culinary Prize Pack* from Smartfood!

*Prize Pack includes (8) bags of Smartfood snacks, t-shirt, spice rack, product coupons, magazines and a special surprise! Total ARV $100!


I am working with Frito-Lay for this giveaway, but I am the sole sponsor of the sweeps and Frito-Lay is only providing prizes.

262 comments:

  1. Probably Berkeley where I am from or Mill Valley.

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  2. I would like to think it would be Pensacola FL, but probably not, lol.

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  3. Sweden because of their healthcare, cleanliness and and it's a great place for women, very healthy.

    Christine Sutor

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  4. Definitely somewhere in flyover country, Lincoln, Nebraska, maybe. That's where all the common sense lives.

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  5. I would have to say somewhere in Washington-since I live there :)

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  6. silver spring, md because i'm from there

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  7. Louisville, KY - we're been named an International foodie destination, plus the city is focusing on health & fitness. They just converted one of our bridges that spans between Kentucky and Indiana to a walking pedestrian bridge. Lots of exercise!

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  8. I would choose San Francisco, Ca

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  9. Keep hearing great things about Portland, Oregon.

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  10. I'll go with New York... There's just too many people to believe they aren't at least a LIL smart on average... right?

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  11. Austin Texas is my smartest. Love visiting that city.

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  12. I would agree with Seattle, my brother lives there and he says that residents there are very environmentally consious.

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  13. Irvine ca top 5 safest city as well

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  14. After visitng my SIL in Portland, ME I see a lot of healthy and smart eating. Many health food stores and farmer's market as well as healthy foods in stores makes me feel this way.

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  15. I agree about San Francisco & Seattle .. I've never been to either but it seems like the residents of the west coast in general are healthier & more active ..

    melly66(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  16. I'm from Chicago, but I don't see huge strides in environmental changes for the better; nor much of a healthier living aspect, either..so I'll vote for Portland, where they seem to completely embrace that style of life.
    Gigi(rafflecopter)

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  17. Miami Florida lots of great places to eat

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  18. Before reading the list I was thinking Seattle for an American place. Worldwide I would pick Copenhagen.

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  19. I'd have to agree with Austin Tx. It's where I live and there are many health conscious people here and lots of healthy choices.

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  20. I am going to pick Seattle as the smartest city because they have so many pretty tree lined streets and nice places to go to!

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  21. Boston...because that's my hometown and it is the best.

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  22. New York City, NY.

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

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  23. would have to say delavan, wisconsin thankyou, ken pohl19@comcast.net

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  24. Little Rock, AR since thats where i live

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  25. I would name Concord, New Hampshire!

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  26. i would say san francisco or mill valley (north of san fran)

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  27. Philly! LOL...I am a South Jersey girl from just outside Philly.

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  28. I'd name New York. Thanks so much.

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  29. I've always heard that Denver was pretty health-conscious.

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  30. Des Moines, IA. Lots of great stuff there!

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  31. Portland Oregon has a lot of healthy traits.

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  32. As a native Coloradoan I have to say Boulder, Colorado is better than Denver (it just gets more publicity)
    Thanks for the contest.

    slehan at juno dot com

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  33. i would have to say portland, OR or seattle, WA

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  34. Simi Valley, California. It is safe and clean. Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
    Reneewalters3 at yahoo dot com

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  35. Readfield, Maine where my family lives. It's a nice little town out in the country where we recycle everything we can. The school systems are nice. There's a public and very nice private prep school. The community is inviting. Neighbors are respectful. The scenery is beautiful. There are local farms where we can buy vegetables, berries, pick pumpkins, an orchard to pick apples. A few miles from us there's a public beach and picnic area to go swimming or have a bbq. Our house may be a bit of a fixer-upper but we lucked out getting into such a nice area when we did.

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  36. I would say Santa Cruz, California.

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  37. I would name Philadelphia as the Smartest
    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

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  38. I'd go with Portland, Maine. It's small enough that it's not overwhelming, but it's large enough to provide thriving arts, food, and shopping opportunities.

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  39. I think that new york city is the smartest.

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  40. from that list I'd go with Honolulu -I'd love to live there

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  41. Anywhere except Washington DC.

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  42. I would pick Montpelier, Vermont, as it is the capital city, but it still feels like a small town..has a great deal of charm, and people are nice to one another.

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  43. Dallas is the smartest city.
    elysesw@aol.com

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  44. I would choose San Francisco, Ca

    agnesye@hotmail.com

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  45. I am actually originally from the bay area, I think it could use some work. but Ill just stick with SF. :)
    Alicia Whybra

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  46. I would pick San Francisco or Seattle

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  47. I would say the Japanese are better educated.

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  48. I would say NYC

    abfantom at yahoo dot com

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  49. G+ & GFC id: abfantom fantom

    abfantom at yahoo dot com

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  50. Definately New York!!

    Love3570@aol.com

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  51. I'd choose Austin, Texas.

    Leslie Galloway (LesGalloway //at// hotmail //dot// com) www.facebook.com/GallowayLeslie

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  52. I would think san fran...there's so much choices

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  53. Did not know there are this many flavors--am eager to try!

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  54. Tucson, because we ride a lot of bikes!

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  55. I'm not sure, but definitely either San Francisco or San Jose! California is an extremely health concious place to live!

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  56. I'd say Los Angeles, california.

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  57. not my city for sure (dayton, oh). i feel that the smartest city is portland, or! thanks for such a nice prize pack :)

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  58. I would love to say where I live, but really, we have a Golden Corral and then fast food. That's it. I think the NOVA/DC area was the chicest places I have lived and had great restaurants

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  59. Seattle, WA :)

    ktgonyea at gmail dot com

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  60. I would choose Austin, Texas as the SMARTest city in America!
    Fun contest!

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  61. I'd pick San Diego because it is beautiful and easy to get organic food there.

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  62. I would have to agree that it is San Francisco. It's a beautiful city with active people and an amazing array of restaurants. : )

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  63. Bellingham, Washington. Very healthy city :)

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  64. Since I live on the east coast, I'd have to say New York City.

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  65. I would say Beaufort SC, they strive to eat local, shop local, and eat only from local sources such as our own supply of shrimp and fish in the Beaufort River.

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  66. Sydney, Australia
    jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com

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  67. Ohh my I don't think there is a smartest state or city I'm sorry but I believe that smarts has to be based on an individual not a group.

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  68. I would name Portland, Oregon as one of the SMARTest cities.

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  69. I think Seattle is the #1 city.
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  70. I would say Pittsburgh Pa as that is where I am from.

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  71. I would have to nominate New Orleans.

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  72. Minneapolis mn glad to see we made the list

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  73. Homer, Alaska is by far the smartest city/town in the world.

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  74. I would have to nominate New Orleans.

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  75. New york city! We walk everywhere and now have citibike too!!
    Ttrockwood(at)yahoo(dot)com
    Ttrockwood

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  76. I have no clue, so I'll just name Joplin, MO. :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  77. I would agree with San Francisco.

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  78. Definitely not anywhere in my state (FL)! I would say maybe San Francisco.

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  79. Des Moines, because of all the sky walks!

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  80. I would have to go with Boston :)

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  81. Seattle, future home of a public park food forest!

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  82. I'd choose Boston as the smartest city
    Thanks for the chance

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  83. I would name Madison, WI

    cc_girly(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  84. I wish it was New Orleans where I live : )

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  85. My husband is pretty smart, and he lives in Palmdale, California!

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  86. How about Winter park, Fl?? Don't know.

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  87. I would say Portland or Seattle is the smartest.

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  88. It's already on the list, but I live in Portland OR and we are very smart (and pretty)!

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  89. I would say San Jose, Calif. since I am from California.

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  90. I think Santa Barbara is doing alright :)

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  91. I think it would be Portland, OR.

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  92. Id nominate Columbus Ohio. We always have fitness events.

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  93. atl ga
    jessicawedwards@gmail.com

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  94. Portland!

    jls_wss2003 at yahoo dot com

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  95. I would have to choose Denver.

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  96. i would have to say,,,, Janesville, Wisconsin

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  97. i would name milwaukee, wisconsin

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  98. Palo Alto Ca that is where a lot of the microchip cos and facebook and companies like that are housed

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  99. New York City

    sibabe64 at ptd dot net

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  100. I'd have to say Rochester NY - a mid-size city - lots of colleges here!

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  101. I would have to say Portland.

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  102. Boston! Lots of bicyclists (and a great bike-share program across the city and surrounding areas), free outdoor fitness classes at City Hall Plaza in the summer, and plenty of fabulous farmers markets and natural/co-op stores.

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  103. I think NYC, or at least parts of it.
    upstatemissy@gmail.com

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  104. Mc Connellsburg PA

    pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
    thank you

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  105. I would def pick Austin, TX :)

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  106. I live an hour from San Francisco so I was glad to see it on the list

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  107. Silicon Valley, CA

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  108. I honestly couldn't say. I live in Oregon, and Portland, where everything is organic, vegan, gluten free, locally farmed, sustainably farmed, blah blah blah, has the highest amount of human trafficking in the United States. I guess it depends on what "smart" is...

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  109. Traverse City, MI!!

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  110. I would say San Fransisco, CA.

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  111. I think maybe Portland. It's definitely not little old Plant City where I live.

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  112. I would have to agree with San Francisco and Seattle! It is definitely not here in Northern KY!

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  113. I would say Portland, Oregon.

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  114. I'd have to go with Seattle, WA.

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  115. I am going to say Bloomington, IN in the smartest town.

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  116. Syracuse NY! We're pretty healthy here! (Raine D. buzzyngabe(at)yahoo.com)

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