Monthly Archives: February 2011

Feb 28Healthy Eating on a Budget for Families (+ Givea...

I know I'm not the only parent who struggles to feed my children a balanced diet, filled with a plethora of fruits and vegetables. And goodness knows, when we struggle, we aren't much fun. I am really excited to share a guest post from my friend, Kia, the founder of Today I Ate A Rainbow, an interactive tool that helps parents establish healthy eating habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day! Kia's tool makes it fun to feed kids a balanced meal - even...

Feb 253 Tips to Manage a Bouncy Youngster At The Table...

I am enamored with our Facebook Community. People share, offer support, and ask awesome questions. This post is dedicated to Jackie, who said she was frustrated that her daughter couldn't sit still for mealtimes - and acts like she has springs in her pants! Mealtimes can be a daily challenge, especially for families "blessed" with kids who don't like to stop moving (or who have ADD or ADHD!). You have seen it - whether in your own kids or in your local family friendly restaurant - kids flopping...

Feb 23Food Dyes – Do They Cause Hyperactivity?

As a former science teacher, I understand what it means to run a credible science experiment. One has to really control the situation, including all of the factors that might influence the result. It's hardly realistic to experiment on our children, especially since there are just too many dang variables to take into account. But since my scientist-brother-in-law likes to poke holes in all of the "theories" I propose on Facebook, I thought I'd offer this first paragraph as a disclaimer. ...

Feb 21Make Ahead Dinners: Grilled Turkey and Brie Sand...

Make Ahead Dinners: Grilled Turkey and Brie Sandwiches

The last thing I want to worry about when I am away all afternoon is what I will cook for dinner. These family friendly sandwiches are easy to make ahead and store in the refrigerator. All you have to do is grill them on the stove before serving. Not only are they easy and delicious, they are worth their weight in gold for solving the "what's for dinner" question!

Feb 185 Tips to Help Kids Accept New Foods

Little is more frustrating than trying to feed a child who is unwilling to try new foods. I have heard many stories from people in my Facebook Community who are worried about their children's limited food preferences and how it will affect their growth. Help your kids learn to accept new foods: Visually - see food and ingredients in different forms, at the farmer's market, in the grocery store and in the kitchen Scent - allow them to learn to tolerate the smell of different foods by cooking...

Feb 16Waste Free Lunches - School Lunch Ideas for Pare...

Waste Free Lunches – School Lunch Ideas for Parents

I'm pretty excited - I just got invited to a lunchtime workshop with students at our school about Waste Free Lunches. We'll play with our food, pack some sample lunches, and come up with some menu ideas for parents. Many thanks to Amy Allen, our amazing Green Team Leader, for coordinating the work that our students have been doing at lunchtime to reduce, reuse and recycle. Here's a little primer to get you started... What's a "Waste Free Lunch" and why should we care? A single student...

Feb 14Simple Homemade Treats-Chocolate Cranberry Crisp...

Simple Homemade Treats-Chocolate Cranberry Crisps

Sometimes we get the hankering for a homemade treat, and there is nothing better than discovering that we already have the ingredients we have to throw something together. We are feeling off-kilter with a virus, but I wanted to make my son a special treat because he is starting a new school tomorrow. Luckily, I had the idea for this simple treat, which didn't require too much concentration... First, I melted a bag of chocolate chips in the microwave. I zapped them for 30 second increments,...

Feb 11Training Toddlers to Become Better Eaters

If babies are lucky enough to be born with their instincts intact, they can suckle and ingest enough nutrition to grow. At around the age of 6 months, eating becomes a learned behavior. It's easier for some babies (and parents!) than it is for others. Imagine yourself as a new eater for a second - you don't like the feel or flavor of something in your mouth, so you spit it out. Your parent smiles at you, scrapes it off your face with the edge of a spoon and then shoves it right back...

Feb 9Beyond Bananas – Seasonal Fruits in Winter

Every day, I pack a boxed lunch for my children to bring to school. And as I try to navigate the waters of my eco-friendly conscience, I realize that I need to branch out and move away from serving so many bananas. Don't get me wrong, I love bananas. My kids love bananas. But bananas have to travel all the way from another country to get here - and that can't be that great for Mother Earth. The good news is that there are many options for winter fruits that don't require a passport. I...

Feb 74 Tips for Successful Family Mealtimes (+ Pan Fr...

4 Tips for Successful Family Mealtimes (+ Pan Fried Chicken)

It's been a long day and you have even managed to make dinner for your family. Good work. But why do you still dread sitting down to the table for mealtime? Is it because of the complaining or food fussiness? Or the zoning out in front of the television? Is it the texting teenagers? There is overwhelming research that shows that families who eat meals together are healthier - not just physically, but mentally too. There are lower rates for drug use, eating disorders, depression and sexual...