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

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

A little piece of my healthy yet humorous life as Always Healthy Mom

My life as Always Healthy Mom is anything but dull and uneventful!  I have some of the best stories about the kids and drama, it also helps that I can find humor in just about anything. So here it is my life as Always Healthy Mom, uncut, uncensored and 100% authentic ( hey everyone says be yourself, (SO I AM)!
Enjoy!
A sneak peak into a family dinner at the ROWE house!

 


Monday, September 26, 2011

PDK ~ Healthy Giveaway!


Produce for Kids
BIG NEWS...
PDK is giving away a $50 Meijer grocery gift card  to a healthy fan!



About Produce for Kids
Produce for Kids® promotes healthy lifestyles for children by educating kids and parents about the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables while also supporting worthy children’s causes.  Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $3.1 million forchildren’s hospitals across the country and PBS KIDS® to educate kids, parents and teachers about healthy eating.

From Sunday, September 4 through Saturday, October 1, parents can help their families “Eat Smart for a Great Start” each time they visit the produce section of their local Meijer store. The grocer is partnering with Produce for Kids® (PFK) to encourage families to learn more about healthy eating with fresh produce and to raise money for PBS KIDS®. 

When shoppers purchase sponsored fruits and vegetables, a donation will be made to support PBS KIDS programming, which provides educational content, resources and outreach materials for families and educators to promote healthy lifestylesthrough healthy eating.

All stores will feature Produce For Kids Ideal Meals™ card displays as part of the promotion. Ideal Meals are chef-created, nutritionist-approved meals for breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. The featured Ideal Meal, Cheesy Potato Bites, will be demonstrated in all Meijer stores on September 10.


“We have been partnering with Produce for Kids for the past eight years, and together, we have helped educate our customers about the importance of healthy food choices,” said Brian Coates, Senior Produce Buyer Meijer, Inc., “By working with Produce for Kids, and helping support PBS KIDS’ healthy eating programming, we are helping parents teach their children how to eat in order to make their bodies strong and healthy.”

The purchase of the following items during the promotion at all Meijer Food Stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky will benefit PBS Kids: Chiquita® Bananas, NatureSweet® Vine Ripened Cherry Tomatoes, DOLE® Packaged Salads, SUNSET® Mini Cucumbers, Marzetti® Caramel Dip, Michigan Apples, Green Giant® Fresh Klondike Rose® & Red Potatoes, Stemilt Growers™ Pears and TopLine® Seedless Cucumbers. In addition, these foods are featured in the Ideal Meals™ recipes found in stores.

To learn more about Produce for Kids and healthy eating, visit http://www.produceforkids.org/

You can enter giveaway for Meijer $50 gift card  Monday, September 26th-29th. The winner will be announced on Friday, September 30th!

PRODUCE FOR KIDS® ENCOURAGES FAMILIES TO “EAT SMART FOR A GREAT START” IN LOCAL MEIJER GROCERY STORES

Shoppers’ fresh produce purchases will support PBS KIDS® nutrition programming

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Game plan!


Saturday a day with two kids with 2 soccer games! See what we did to make it a little healthier!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Healthy and Fun Lunch GIVEAWAY

Sandwich Wrap - Earth Stripe-Green alternative to plastic bags.Sandwich Bag - Owls-Sandwich Bag - Spring Stripe-Sandwich Wrap - Strawberries-Sandwich Bag - Blue Vines-Window Bags - Spring Stripe-


**GIVEAWAY**
Q:How do you make a healthy lunch FUN?!?

A: Now that is the question on everyone's mind come Monday morning! I have a few good suggestions up my sleeve and you can too when you visit Sweet Cheeks Pure Baby Boutique.
I fell in love with these ingenious Planet Wise snack bags! They are reusable and can make any healthy lunch 
FUN and EXCITING!

Pick you favorite print, and choose your style (sandwich wrap, snack bag or clear pocket bag). You definitely can't go wrong! What kid wouldn't love their lunch in style?

Here is how they work...




Wash, Rinse, Reuse!

So you, YES you! Could win these fabulous bags ( 1 sandwich wrap, 1 clear pocket, and 1 snack bag) when you "LIKE" Always Healthy Mom and Sweet Cheeks Pure Baby Boutique. Its that easy! One lucky fan will win a *fun* Planet Wise gift pack from Sweet Cheeks! WOW!!!!

So let's get packing healthy fun lunches today!


                     Here are some other cute feeding accessories that you can find at
Zoo Tableware ElephantZoo Tableware ZebraZoo Tableware BeeZoo Tableware DogZoo Tableware Zebra
SOOOOOO Cute!!! Great Gift idea!!!!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A Healthier Cookie

 This weekend we made some yummy "healthier" chocolate chip cookies! We changed a few ingredients around to make them as delicious and healthy as week could! I would give them 5 thumbs up because everyone in the family approved! I decided to make some mini versions for the boy's lunch boxes too! I simply followed the Nestle Toll House recipe and made Always Healthy Mom changes when needed.

So here is what we did...


Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup old fashion oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup earth balance
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
2 egg whites
1 cup chocolate chips




I mixed the dry ingredients  in one bowl and earth balance, egg, vanilla, and honey in a separate bowl.
Then combined both mixture.  Placed on cookie tray and bake at 350 F for 10 min depending on desired size of  cookie.

Remember the cookies will appear darker because of the whole wheat flour. I did not use regular sugar but instead used honey to sweeten them up. My family loved them and I hope yours does too. Remember these are still cookies despite being healthier so eat responsibly!

Enjoy!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Homemade Gronola Bars

 As promised here is my latest healthy experiment in the kitchen. I attempted to make my own granola bars. I have to say it worked out pretty well. And we all enjoyed a healthy treat! These are great for lunch boxes, breakfast on the go ( that never happens in my house) and road trips.

Granola bars

Ingredients

4 cups oats
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1tsp almond extract (optional)
1/2 cup honey

A personal touch
You can ADD...
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup cranrasins
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup marshmallows
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried fruit
or 1/4 cup nut of your choice
sunflower
walnut
almond
peanuts



I would try to pick two add ins that makes a hearty tasty treat!
This way everyone has a combination that they like.

Directions
  • Preheat oven 325 F
  • combine dry ingredients in bowl
  • in separate bowl mix oil, extracts and honey and whisk
  • pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir
  • place mixture on parchment paper or non-stick foil about 1 in thick
  • bake for 30 min
  • cool, cut, serve and enjoy

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

How are we holding up?

How are we holding up?
Check out the newest update with
Always Healthy Mom

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

And the winner is.....

Brothers-All-Natural Fruit Crisps are made with 100% fruit and nothing else!The Giveaway is over and I hope all you have run out to get your hands on Brothers-All-Natural fruit crisps or have taken advantage of the great discount offered by Brothers-All-Natural! They are a great healthy snack at home or on the go! I have really enjoyed blogging about them! Our winner for the Giveaway is Sarah Elizabeth Laskey! Congrats, I hope you and you family enjoy the healthy treats!

PSSS... For the record my favorite fruit crisp snack is definitely the pineapple and the strawberry- banana mix! YUM! Please let us know what your favorite is!


favaorite is!
100% Fruit and nothing else in Brothers-All-Natural Fruit Crisps - Freeze Dried Fruit - Healthy Snacks

Monday, September 12, 2011

Picky Eaters

PICKY EATERS

You have them, I have them, we all have them!
You are not alone!
But what do we do besides make multiple meals every evening?

After a long day at work and scrambling to make a healthy meal the last thing you are looking forward to are the picky eaters who don't approve of tonight's dinner! Inevitably it will happen now and then! Here are some tips that I use to introduce new foods to the family!


Picky Eater tips and tricks...
  •  DON'T GIVE UP! I know it sounds cliche but  it takes time for kids ( and adults) to try new things and accept them! Sometimes even love them!!!!
  • Go in with a POSITIVE attitude! I hear so many parents say "my kids will not eat that"! Guess what they will sometimes surprise you! But the defining factor is they won't like it if you don't offer it to them.
  • Don't preach the clean plate club, let them try it and let them have a preference. If my kids try the broccoli and don't like it why would I make them eat it? That's not to say I wont make it again or ask them to try it again in the future! CONSISTENCY!!!!!
  • Let them feel EMPOWERED! take them to the store and ask them to pick out a veggie they would like to try! Have them help you with the grocery list and ask them to pick out the fruits and veggies they want in their lunch!
  • VARIETY! If they don't like steamed broccoli, try it raw with low fat ranch dip or humus. Then try it in a stir-fry or casserole... you get the picture!!! Don't give up!
 I don't think there is a specific science to this dilemma, just get creative and for gosh sakes don't feed them Mac and Cheese  because that's all you think they will eat! Set the standard and role model these health behaviors for them. Trust me if you are not eating your veggies neither will they!

Remember they are watching you!


*Think back to your childhood! Did you like lots of fruits and veggies? Do you like more now? Have your tastes changed? Did your parents offer you a variety of fresh choices, did they eat healthy? Were you pressured to be a clean plate club member? These are just a few things to think about when working with your picky eater!!!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Food Fare

This weekend we went to the fair! 
We went to see the cows, horses and livestock, and enjoy a nice family outing, but what we got instead was a FOOD FARE! I understand that a fair is just not a fair without lemon shake ups, fresh cut fries and elephant ears. I have done my fair share of Fair going with my horses years ago! But I  never noticed how much attention was given to food until this year.

OK I don't live under a rock, I see the media calling attention to new items like deep fried butter and Twinkies but I never knew how hard it was to go to a fair and ignore it ALL! If you have been following my blog you know that my family with a little coaching and encouragement has taken on a challenge for the month of September!
NO Fast Food, Take Out, or Restaurants!
Why, you ask! BECAUSE! It's just too easy to eat out!



How many times do we really think before we order or call in an order? So we decided to take a break from The French Fried World as a fellow blogger would call it! And it has been hard!!! I prepared my kids for the fair, reminded them of our challenge and packed some healthy snacks! This did not help as much as I thought it would. Especially when there are rows and rows of midway to navigate through! It was definitely a challenging obstacle to take on! You can only appreciate a cow on so many levels before you want to move on! On a positive note they did offer sweet corn this year only $2.00 each! OUCH!
Follow our Challenge this September at www.alwayshealthymom.com
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