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51 positive things to do instead of eating!

51 positive things you can do instead of eating...

1. Take a walk
2. Ride your bike
3. Read
4. Read to you kids
5. Rake
6. Swim
7. Garden
8. Meditate
9. Decorate
10. Volunteer
11. Study
12. Crossword
13. Sew
14. Knit
15. Yoga
16. Jog
17. zumba
18. Play with your kids
19. Blog
20. Write
21. Shop
22. Mani
23. Pedi
24. Treadmill
25. Draw
26. Wii
27. Call a friend
28. Sweep
29. Dust
30. Clean
31. Pluck eye brows
32. Shave your legs
33. Organize your closet
34. Weed
35. Mow the lawn
36. Get the mail
37. Take pictures
38. Get your hair done
39. Get a message
40. Listen to music
41. Dance
42. Jump rope
43. Laugh
44. Lift weights
45. Journal
46. Shower
47. Scrapbook
48. Watch a movie
49. Tai chi
50. Do laundry
51. LIVE!

Love,
Always Healthy Mom

Not Your Mama's Pancakes

Warning: These are not your Mama's Pancakes!


Root Vegetable panckes


Feta Zuccini pancake from Taste of Home

Summer Veggie pancake from Eggs on Sunday

Vegetable pancake from taste.com

Corn Pancake from Food Thumbs

  Quinoa cakes from Annies-eats.com

Pumpkin spice pancakes

There are so many ways to make a healthy pancake!
Don't get stuck in the same routine, break out of your mold and try something NEW and Exciting!

Try this recipe http://weelicious.com/2012/01/17/green-veggie-pancakes/#_

Love,
Always Healthy Mom

This is KRAZY

Now this is KRAZY



OK before you read on go grab the bottle of ketchup in your pantry or fridge! I'm serious what are you waiting for?





Do you have it? Good! Now look at the back label. Where it says ingredients... What are the first 3 ingredients? (read)
Did you say HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP?
How did that get in there? Are you scratching your head as to why you have been dousing your child's meatloaf, hamburgers, hotdogs and potatoes in pure sugar food ? Well thankfully I'm here to get you on track! So throw that old bottle away and keep reading...

KRAZY KETCHUP

Check out these ingredients


Ingredients: Organic tomato puree (organic tomato paste, water, salt), organic agave* nectar, organic butternut squash puree, organic carrot puree, organic sweet potato puree, organic spices, and citric acid

You did not see any High Fructose corn Syrup, now did you? Only vegetables and a whole lot of goodness!

I can not wait to get my hands on this stuff and as for my kiddos they will have no idea they are eating butternut squash, sweet potato, carrots and tomato puree!
Gotta

Love,

Always Healthy Mom

A Few of My Favorite Things for 2011~ Check It Out!!!

A Few of My Favorite Things for 2011


I wanted to share a few of my favorite things for getting kids and moms excited about eating healthy in 2011! I can't wait to see what they come up with next! I hope you enjoy!


Food Face Plate
A delicious way to let your kids play with their food!

My Turn, My Turn Kitchen Turner
*****Too Cute!

Extreme Measure, Measuring Cup
*****Too fun!

Snacking Stackers
How creative is this, you might not get them to leave the table tonight!

Snack Ball
Now kids and adults can have a BALL with snack time!


Sandwich Cutters
Need I say more? They are genius!


To Every Meal There Is a Season
This can change up the mood at your table day or night!


Sent Packing Lunch Bin
This the best way to personalize and organize a healthy lunch fit for your kids!


Airfork One
OK Who is the smarty pant, they really took this literally! I love it!


And last but not least...
The Clean Plate Club by Land of Nod
Recipes, Ideas and more to get kids eating and living healthy!

All of these items can be found at http://www.landofnod.com/ under shop mealtime !
What are you waiting for? If you have a picky eater these can definitely make meals fun for all!

Love,
Always Healthy Mom

Resolutions

Tips on sticking to your New Years RESOLUTION

The Facts:

• If you make a resolution you are 10 xs more likely to make the change.
• 75% of people who make a new Years resolution will make it through the first wee but 6 months from now only about 40% will be sticking to their resolution.( John Norcross, physiology professor University of Scranton)

 

1. Start with one realistic resolution! If your goal is too big or over whelming you may give up and not accomplish anything. Many resolutions require multiple behavior changes.
2. Make your resolution very specific. Plan the how-tos! Focus on positive To-Do behaviors!
3. Challenging but manageable!
4. Enlist the support of friends and family. Bring others in on the resolution so you have a support group to help you accomplish your goals.
5. Don't let yourself quit. Even if you slip up once or twice, you shouldn't abandon your resolution.
6. Track your progress: Monitor your progress it will dramatically improve your success rate.
7. Get a new calendar and set your goals!
8. Focus on a positive behavior change. Ex. I will go to the gym 3 xs this week vs. I want to lose 10lbs this year.

Happy New Year,

Always Healthy Mom

I have one question for Pizza Hut!

I have one question for Pizza Hut...
WHERE ARE THE VEGGIES?

 

***And we wonder why we have an obesity epidemic!

 

As a mom on a mission to create healthier dinners and raise a generation of health conscious kids this is going in the wrong direction!

Here are a few suggestions...

• add a salad
• add veggies to pizza
• take out the fried wings
• skip the breadsticks
• offer some grilled veggies
• fruit salad

 

xoxo,
Always Healthy Mom

Dinner Time

Dinner Time

I wrote this post as a participant in the Eat Better, Eat Together Balancing Act blog carnival hosted by MealsMatter and Dairy Council of California to share ways families everywhere can make time for family meals that include foods from all the food groups. A list of other registered dietitians and moms who are participating in the Balancing Act blog carnival will be listed at the bottom of this post or can be found at MealsMatter.

As Blogger "Always Healthy Mom" I find healthy family meals to be especially important to my family's routine. But lets not be unreasonable sometimes this is no simple task. Besides a blogging mama and  a professional taxi driver for 3 adorable kiddos,  I also have a full time 40 hour per week job, to boot. So when 5:00 hits I better be on my "A" game- if you know what I mean. So you ask, how do I balance work and family life? If I told you I had it all figured out I would be the first to admit that I was misleading you! So I won't!  But I am telling the truth when I say that I do take a great deal of pride in the thought and dedication that goes into raising a healthy family today!
Yes, of course most days it might be easier to go through a drive through at 5:00 but that's not what I believe is best for my family or yours!  So here is what I do to pull off a healthy meal...

• Start on Saturday and Sunday by making a list. ( write dinner ideas and shopping list)  This is a must for me!
• Have a routine! I always go out on Sunday to gather the supplies. This way I am prepared for the week!!!
• I like to mix this up with crockpot favorites and stove top creations. I always try to include a variety of colors, vegetables and fruit selections in my meals. I even start my shopping trip at the front of the store and load up on fresh produce. 
• Get the family involved. ( my kids help me with the list and the shopping)

 Sometimes it does get difficult to always make sure my family enjoys a home cooked meal when I am not there. ( I work 2 evenings per week) But I always have a dinner ready to heat or in the crock pot ready to serve. The other five days of the week we make sure that we all sit down together. I was brought up with family dinners, and I want that for my children too.

So even when soccer practice and PTO meeting make it challenging, you will find me hard at work still trying my best to make our family dinners count!

Meals Do Matter!

Forget about the color of the plates or fancy napkins, don't worry if you can't cook a five course gourmet meal,

just make YOUR family dinner happen!

Some of my BEST memories are around the dinner table!

*WARNING: No fine china here!

Don't stop here! Other bloggers share their stories and tips on how they juggle the balancing act of getting a well-balanced meal on the table!

10 Commandments for Guilt-Free Feeding – Maryann Tomovich Jacobsen, MS, RD
Beating the Lunch Box Blues – Katie Sullivan Morford, MS, RD
Dinner Time – Michelle Rowe, RN and Health Educator
Eat Better, Eat Together– Jessica Fishman Levinson, MS, RD, CDN
Family Dinners Fuel Healthier Kids – Susan Weiner, RD, MS, CDE, CDN
Families that Cook Together Eat Together – Kia Robertson
Making Time for Family Meals: How I’ve Earned My “RDH” – Trina Robertson, MS, RD
Meal Planning: Taking the Stress Out of the ‘What’s for Dinner’– Laura Everage
Pressed for Time? Moms Know Best: Tips for Getting Food on the Table – FAST! – Samantha Lewandowski, MS, RD, LDN
Roasted Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal – Cheri Liefeld
Sunday Night Family Dinner, In the Dining Room – Jill Castle, MS, RD, LDN
The Balancing Act – Ann Dunaway Teh, MS, RD, LD
The Power of Family Meal Time & How to Squeeze It In! – Bridget Swinney MS, RD, LD
The Truth About Family Dinner – Sally Kuzemchak, MS, RD
Toughen up: Give Two Choices for Dinner – Take it or Leave it! – Glenda Gourley

P.A.C.K. Week

My children's school is participating in a national healthy eating initiative called P.A.C.K. week- Pack Assorted Colors for Kids week, October 10-14. This is a fun and educational program to encourage kids to eat more fruits and vegetable! O' Yeah... did I mention it gets the parents involved too!

So here is how you can get involved...

     

Monday, October 10th is pack purple day:

Did you know that only 3% of our current fruit and veggie consumption is from the purple/blue category? Yet, these fruits and veggies provide natural plant nutrients not found in other colors. Here are some great Purple ideas to pack:

• Plums
• Rasins
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Purple Grapes

Tuesday, October 11th is pack white day:


White, tan and brown fruits and veggies make up this color category, which accounts for 23%
of our fruit and vegetable consumption. The most common white fruit is the banana…and they're easy to pack. Here are some other fruits and veggies your kids might enjoy on Pack White Day:

• Pears
• White peaches
• Dates
• Cauliflower florets

Wednesday, October 12th is pack Red day:
Red fruits and vegetables account for 24% of our fruit and vegetable intake.
The most common red produce item is one that may take you back to your own school days: red apples. You could send your children to school with a red apple on Pack Red Day,
or consider any of the following:

• Cherries
• Strawberries
• Red pepper slices
• Tomato wedges

 

Thursday, October 13th is pack
Yellow/Orange day:


Yellow/Orange fruits and vegetables account for 24% of our fruit and vegetable intake.
The most common yellow/orange fruit is the orange, and there are many varieties to choose from. Your kids may also enjoy one of these fruits or veggies on Pack Yellow/Orange Day:

• Baby carrots
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Yellow pears

Friday, October 14th is pack Green day:

Green fruits and vegetables are the most commonly eaten, accounting for 26% of our fruit and vegetable consumption…but there's always room for more!
Green grapes and green apples are kid favorites, and they're easy to send to school on Pack Green Day. Here are some other delicious fruits and veggies to consider:

• Celery sticks
• Green pepper slices
• Snow peas

 There are many ways to be creative and pack more fruits and veggies in your child's lunch!

For more tips check out http://www.foodchamps.org/ , http://www.welchs.com/ or http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/



Here is a great tracking sheet to help you have a fun and colorful week... http://www.welchs.com/pack/Welchs_PACK_Tracking_Sheet.pdf

Please join my family as we celebrate
P.A.C.K. Week!
Share your thoughts and colorful lunches on my facebook page today!