Inspiration, Ideas, Tips and Strategies, by Always Healthy Mom

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Blog Worthy: River Kids

BLOG WORTHY


Please come out and join us for the first annual River Kids event July 30th at Imagination Station.
This has been a labor of love and the best is yet to come!

River Kids is a celebration of healthy living focused on the family! The community has come together to inspire families to get fit and healthy together!

Tune in at 6am-10am on 101.5 The River, Friday July 29th to learn about who will be at the event and what you can expect! Always Healthy Mom will give you the inside scoop! 

I hope to see you there!

*Check back Monday, August 1st for pictures of the event!

Monday, July 25, 2011

The SKINNY on the NEW SKINNY

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The SKINNYon the NEW SKINNY

Standing in line at the grocery store can sometimes be stressful and tempting when it comes to the candy and chocolates displayed near by ( just my personal opinion). But my last trip to the store was a little less complicated with the help of Skinny Cow!

Their new chocolates have all the flavor and less calories
than the other chocolate treats.

My kids were thrilled when I told them they could get a treat at the check-out( usually I am a total stick in the mud when it comes to the candy aisle). Just ask my kids they would agree 100%! So here it is the new breed of chocolate treats. I really thought that Skinny could not top them elves with their splendid varieties of ice cream treats! But O they did ( yeah)!





These are the treats you are familiar with in the freezer section!

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These are the NEW Skinny Cow Chocolates!!
MOO MOOOOOARVOLOUS!!!!

Milk Chocolate FlavorMilk ChocolatePeanut Butter FlavorDark Chocolate



The heavenly CRISP was my favorite!!!!

Milk Chocolate Flavor



Milk Chocolate
The dreamy CLUSTERS were tasty as well,
the kids enjoyed these!

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Thanks Skinny!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Go Bananas!

2009 08 19 IceCream02 One Ingredient Ice Cream {Bananas}  Yes you heard me right! Now we can all go Bananas for YONANAS! Have you heard the buzz around town?There is a NEW product that magically makes ice cream out of bananas! I am serious! Your kids are going to love this! Now you can give them a healthy frozen treat anytime their little hearts desire.Check out the site http://yonanas.com/

Healthy New Trend In Frozen Treats
Yonanas Soft Serve Maker
The BUZZ:The Yonanas Maker is a revolutionary new kitchen appliance that takes frozen fruits and vegetables – such as ripe bananas, mangos, peaches, coconut, pumpkin, and strawberries – and creates a creamy frozen treat that looks, tastes, and feels just like soft-serve ice cream.
A major benefit of this new frozen treat-maker is that fruits and vegetables are waist-friendly, low calorie and loaded with nutrients and vitamins. Anyone can make this delicious summer snack in minutes from the convenience of their own kitchen.

Go to fullsize image It turns out that over ripe bananas
with brown spots are more useful than I thought!
( I guess my mom was right, Brown Bananas are good for something other than the trash can!)

Here is how to make your one ingredient Healthy Ice Creamy treat...
                                      
 •Peel your bananas first.
• Cut them into small pieces.
• Freeze for just 1-2 hours on a plate.
• Blend, blend, blend - scraping down the bowl when they stick.
• Enjoy the magic moment when they turn into ice cream!



If you are looking for the full scoop on this delicious snack check out the blog called The Kitchn .


Friday, July 15, 2011

Love my Dip

Roasted Garlic Veggie Dip
Just found a fabulous new dip!
Great with veggies!
Low calorie and made with Greek yogurt!
Have you tried it yet?
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Tip: Stay away from the traditional veggie dips
they can be high in calories and not very healthy!
Instead make your own.
Take plain Greek yogurt and add a ranch seasoning packet
or use hummus and salsa!
This way you can feel good about your veggies!

Monday, July 11, 2011

The 4th of July Tutorial!

The 4th of July Tutorial

Cottage on the lake! I love celebrating holidays with the family!





The Lake
Fun activities




Keeping the kids safe




 Fresh fruit
 Broccoli slaw with seasoned rice vinegar dressing

  Greek inspired salad

 A patriotic sweet treat!
  I had a chance to kick back and relax!




 There are endless possibilities of activities to do in and out of the water!
Everyone can find something they love to do!
   Fun in the sun
The End!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Toledo Area Parent - Are we there yet?

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Are you taking a summer vacation with your family? Do you need tips on healthy travel? Check out my article for The Toledo Area Parent !
Toledo Area Parent - Are we there yet?

Monday, July 4, 2011

Reshape the Nation guest blogger Michelle Rowe!!!!!!!!

This is my guest blog for Chris Powell's Reshape the Nation website!!! I am so excited about this great opportunity!!!

Why is it Hard to Raise a Healthy Family?

Posted by Elle Harting on 06/30 at 02:00 PM • (0) Comments - Be the first!
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Reshape the Nation guest blogger, Michelle Rowe, starts the conversation of the importance of raising a healthy family.

There are more challenges than ever today to raise a healthy family. We have become all too accustomed to quick and convenient leisure like fast food and take-out!  Maybe so much so that the traditional family routine of a healthy home cooked meal is near extinction.

Today, many families find it the norm to have a two parent working family. Often times, this signifies more obligations and less time for traditional family routine. Many parents find themselves over extended, and at the end of a long day the last thing on their mind is a healthy home cooked meal. I call this scenario “The 5 o’clock Frenzy”. We all know that dinner is a necessity every night but more often than not, 4:00 rolls around and panic sets in about the mealtime menu. “The 5 o’clock Frenzy explains the mind set of the average American today. We can now understand why many turn to drive-thru and fast food at that last minute to feed their families in a rush to get to the next scheduled event. The value and tradition of a home cooked meal has been replaced with a rushed, on the go and over committed family with a future of growing health concerns, childhood obesity being at the forefront.

I have many things in common with the average American family including a full- time career, two-parent working family with three children and many commitments. But because I understand and don’t want to give in to the 5 o’clock frenzy, I have made it my personal mission to make sure healthy home cooked family meals stay intact and a priority.

I am a Health Educator, Registered Nurse and Mom of three with an overwhelming passion for promoting health. I have worked with too many individuals who tell me that after years of raising a family and dedication to their career, that now it’s time to focus on their personal health! I am always intrigued by those situations. For me, my health is a priority not only personally but for my family as well. I know that by being a positive role model I am providing my family a solid health foundation for the future. I hope and believe that the healthy lifestyle behaviors I model each day to my family will help them understand the importance of their health and well being. By putting off your health until that “right time”, you are missing out on all the benefits that it has to offer. The truth is there is never a right or perfect time to focus on your health, the time is always now! Not after the kids are grown, or you have retired or after that vacation, but now!  I admit this way of living is not always easy. In fact, it’s harder to live healthy in today’s culture than to succumb to the unhealthy temptations and examples around us.

We have to find the time to live, eat and shop healthy. It takes planning and precision, but it’s worth it. With the growing concern of health issues in our children, we need to be the healthy role models to look to for guidance. So make the commitment today to being a healthy role model for your family and take on a new, improved healthy lifestyle. Your children may not always seem pleased, but they will be better off for the healthy foundations you instill in them.

Many parents today question why their children skip breakfast. They ask, “why do they not enjoy exercising”? Why are they gaining weight? Well, first start by looking in the mirror. Do you eat breakfast? Do you engage in physical activity everyday and encourage your children to do the same? Do you struggle with your weight and health? If so, it is vital that you see the importance of your healthy actions and how they will support your family’s health.

Never give up, keep trying and take baby steps toward the healthy future of your dreams! You can do it!


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If you enjoyed reading this article and want to learn more about raising a healthy happy family please visit Michelle Rowe’s blog: Always Healthy Mom