Always Healthy Mom: August 2011

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

GIVEAWAY time!!!

BROTHERS-ALL-NATURAL

GIVEAWAY

100% Fruit and Nothing else!

I am in love with these fun healthy snacks for my kids. They are 100% fruit and fun to eat.

Go to www.brothersallnatural.com/toledo

to get a 10% off coupon and free shipping!

We are also giving away a 24 pack

of fruit chips to one healthy fan!

Make sure you like

Always Healthy Mom

and

Brothers-All-Natural

on Facebook and Twitter

and you will have a chance to win!

Just LIKE us!

100% Fruit and nothing else in Disney Fruit Crisps - Freeze Dried Fruit - Healthy Snacks

Check back for the segment on healthy lunches with Always healthy mom on ch 13abc!

Scheduled to air Tuesday, August 30th on the 5:00 news.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

September Challenge

Here is our September challenge
to celebrate

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month!
Check back for updates regularly!
Remember this is unedited, and actual family footage.
Enjoy!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Gourmet Lessons

I recently was reading the Scholastic Child and Parent Magazine and found these fun new ways to get the kids in the kitchen. I absolutely love them.

Gourmet Lessons

The joy of cooking up teachable moments

in the kitchen

Search n Sort

Gather cans from the pantry and have your child sort or arrange by color or alphabetically.

Then they can come up with pattern that you identify.

Veggie Jigsaw

Cut up a carrot and invite your child to reassemble it.

Have an older child put together multiple veggies carved and cut into irregular shapes!

Super Market Sweep

Create a list of foods and products in your kitchen, and ask your child to find the objects.

Recipe Quiz

Pull a cookbook off the shelf and ask your child to search for simple words like- eggs, cups and milk. The older the child the more complex the ingredient.

All these ideas and activities get the kids in the kitchen having fun and learning. Don't forget the easiest way to get your kids involved is by simply asking them to help you cook dinner or put together a grocery list. Kids want to feel engaged and involved in their family and family decisions.

Make dinnertime fun with silly questions and scenarios. Take time to talk about the day and anything your child is excited about. Try to leave stressful adult topics off the table remember this is a "family friendly zone".

I find it helpful to set reasonable expectations before the meal begins. For example: please pick 2 new veggies from the stir-fry you would like to try tonight?

*Remember studies show you are your child's biggest influence through the age of 18 on attitudes and behaviors toward food.

Monday, August 22, 2011

I am going CHERRIES! Will you?

Cherry Republic

OK, by now you know I love my fruits and vegetables ( or at least I hope you do)! When vacationing at my favorite spot Up North you can usually find me frequenting this little quaint piece of heaven!

WARNING: Some of these images contain foods that are not all entirely healthy for you

but are sure good! So enjoy within moderation!

A bushel of background on this little fruit:
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium.
The name 'cherry', often as the compound term 'cherry tree', may also be applied to many other members of the genus Prunus, or to all members of the genus as a collective term. The fruits of many of these are not cherries, and have other common names, including plum, apricot, peach, and others. The name 'cherry' is also frequently used in reference to cherry blossom.

Cherry Jelly, Jam, Preserve and Cherry peanut butter!?!

My personal favorite cherry cookies!!!

( of course in moderation,

if there is such a thing when it comes to my favorite cookies)!

YEP!!!

Cherry Salsa!

Granola and Crunch!

Yes, There is more, trust me!

Chocolate covered cherries, and cherry candy!

And more Cherry candy!

And cherry nut mixes!

And more cherry candy!

At this point you are thinking SERIOUSLY?

Yes I am ,and yes there is more!

Cherry party mix!

Cherry Coffee!

Wine, pop and more!

Cherry cheese?!? Sure why not?

And cherry activities!

And a cute boy drinking a cherry lemonade!

I prefer the cherry tea myself!

Cherry soda shop next to the winery!

And a nice cherry red umbrella!

Not complete with out cherry BBQ!

Dried cherries, cherry ice cream, scones, pies,coffee cake,balsamic vinegar, shirts with cherries on them, quiche, sandwiches, yes the list goes on, and on and on. And that's why I love it!

Think I'm kidding?
http://www.cherryrepublic.com/
I'm Not!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Back To School Survival Guide Sponsored By CROCS

Healthy Back To School Survival Guide..

Thank you to Crocs for sponsoring this blog post.

Please click here http://bit.ly/bts0001click

I was selected for this sponsorship by the

http://www.clevergirlscollective.com/%22%3EClever Girls Collective.

All opinions expressed here are my own.

Summer has been here and now it's gone!

The store shelves are brimming with back to school supplies, lunches need to be packed and

new school shoes are on every kids list!

So where do you begin?

Check off the list of school supplies and get your little one off on the right foot.
Make sure to label all supplies with your child's name and or initials.
Check to see if your school has a meet the teacher day before school begins.

This will get your child off in the right direction.

Prepare for the big day:
Have a nutritiously complete breakfast! (like a superstar)

Then turn your focus on refueling during the day!

The school lunch!

Step one: choose a drink
Avoid high sugar drinks, soda, and chocolate milk.
Instead pack them a bottle of water, add some fresh citrus fruit to add flavor or reduced fat milk.

Step two: prepare some colorful fruits and veggies
Try to at least pack 2 veggies or fruits in your child lunch!
This will help them fill up and and get all the nutrition their growing bodies need.

Step three: choose a snack
Children need a healthy snack everyday to keep them focused.
Include a healthy, easy snack to re-energize your child.

Step four: protein power
Seek out the healthy protein options for your child lunch. Lean lunch meats, beans, hummus, peanut butter and yogurt are just a few. try to avoid fast food days and junk food.

Step five: get some Zzzzzzz's
My kids are still trying to adjust to this new school routine but make sure your little one ( school age) is getting at least 10 hours of sleep a night!

Step six: Shop shoes for active feet
Did you know many school are cutting gym class and recess for the school day? Our kids need the physical activity to stay healthy! Make sure to find them some New School Approved shoes to support their active feet! I am loving the look of the New School approved Crocs! Check them out for you active little ones!