I’d like to write more posts on how to teach good nutrition to your children.  I’m currently preparing a presentation for 1st graders on fruits and vegetables, so this has really been on my mind.

My poor kids have been completely brainwashed by me. Especially Erica, my teacher at heart.  I came downstairs to find these signs on our cupboards:

I have always enjoyed finding books at the library that teach kids about healthy food in a fun way.  Recently, I was introduced to this adorable book of poems called:

POEM ON FRUITS & ODES TO VEGETABLES

One of the poems from the book:

CARROTS

by Judith Natelli McLaughlin

Carrots orange, long and bright

Make my snowman’s nose tonight

Carrots shredded thin and fair

Make lovely, layered orange hair

Carrots crunchy, cold and sweet

Make my favorite snack to eat

Isn’t it sweet! Simple and sweet.  And what a great forum to start a discussion about all the great things about carrot.  You can tell your kids that:

• Carrots help us to see better (especially at night!, like a spy!)
• Helps our blood move better through our bodies
• One carrot a day has been shown to reduce lung cancer by 50%!!!

Does your family love to read? Do you love poems? Do you love talking about healthy eating?  You can win a copy of this book by leaving a comment on this post.  And of course, tweet or blog about it for extra comments.  I’ll choose a winner Monday morning.

Or, visit the website of this gorgeous author, Judith McLaughlin, and purchase one if you aren’t lucky in the winning department

Other Teaching ideas from my blog:

• Teaching kids about carbs
• Watermelon homework

As I mentioned yesterday, my kids suffer from dry skin. We have hard water and a very dry climate, which adds to the problem.  We’ve tried many lotions, potions, and prescriptions over the last few years.  Some have given temporary relief, however, I fail to be consistent in applying anything to their skin and thus the problem always returns.  Currently ketchup boy has a bad case of eczema.

When the people fromSkinFreeoffered to send us some skincare products for sensitive skin, allergies, etc., I jumped at the chance.   We recieved soap and their After Shower Moisture Spritz.  Here is what I like:

• SkinFree has simple, recognizeable ingredients.  The moisture spritz contains:Olive seed oil, sweet almond oil, and Vitamin E.  The soap has coconut oil, palm oil, olive seed oil, shea butter fruit, cocoa seed butter, and vitamin E
• It did not sting or burn!! Almost every single lotion I have EVER used on my kids “BURNS” when I apply.  They are either very sensitive, or very dramatic.
• SkinFree is cruelty free and vegan.  Which actually did not matter to me until about 3 weeks ago when I started listening to the Compassionate cooks podcast, and now I think this is extremely important.
• They are available at CVS and Walgreens, not just online.
• They have a toxicity rating of 0! Did  you hear that ZERO.
• No colors, fragrances, petroleum products, or harmful chemicals.

I have been recieving tons of opportunities for product reviews and giveaways lately that I have turned down because their ingredients were not natural.  But SkinFree is a product that I hope does well in the stores because they are natural and my kids liked it. 

GIVEAWAY!! Hip hip hooray. SkinFree wants to giveaway 3 Eczema Relief Kits (valued at $25 each).  I know there are tons of you out there who’s kids suffer from Eczema and dry skin.  So comment below. (until Monday morning) You will not be disappointed.

Side note: If you have never commented before, your comment won’t be approved until tonight. I’ll be gone all day for the next two days.. but I promise I will get to it.  Thanks!

Springtime in our house means runny noses!   My poor kids are sneezing, coughing, and blowing their noses all night.  We haven’t really found a remedy that has worked. The poor kids just wait it out, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes and all.  However, a product we are about to try is Sinupret.  Here is what the company says about it.

“Sinupret for Kids, developed by Bionorica, is a safe, natural remedy that supports healthy sinus, respiratory and immune function. To our knowledge, no other clinically tested remedies are available today in the United States that support all three functions for children.

Sinupret for Kids is one of the world’s leading herbal remedies for upper respiratory health for children age 2 and up.  Sinupret has been Germany’s #1 most widely recommended and scientifically tested nasal and sinus supports formula for children and adults for more than 30 years.”

Want to try some too??  Sinupret is offering FIFTEEN , you heard me 15of my readers a Giveaway pack!  Each pack includes:

This is a fabulous giveaway, with an AWESOME book, and a great way for you to try a healthy, safe, treatment.  So leave a comment to be entered. I would love to hear how many of you have kids that suffer from Sinus or respiratory problems.  This contest will end Tuesday so they can get your kits out right away!

For more information, check out Sinupret for Kids Fact Sheet, or Press Release.

Congratulations to Emily C, Courtney H, Whitney, and Jackie.  Reply to the email I’ve sent you and I will send you your coupons.

Thanks everyone!!

WEDNESDAY: Legumes, nuts, and other Proteins

One of the main reasons I want a High powered blender, like a Vita-mix or Blendtec
(I’ll take either at this point, I just want one) is to blend my own nut butters.  My kids love nuts, so its not a matter of getting some healthy fats and protein into them, but it does offer variety to our diet.

Nuts are a great source of protein! They are even catagorized in the meat section of the food guide pyramid.  Nuts have the protein yet none of the cholesterol and saturated fat.   And Peanut butter can be a great source of nuts, until they start adding things like hydrogenated fats and sugar, such as what happens in your typical peanut butters.

Here, in order, is the way we like peanut butter (or other nut butters)

1. Peanut Butter Sandwiches  (We use whole wheat bread, All-Fruit Jams, and no sugar added nut butters)
2. Dipping apples or pretzels
3. Dip for celery
4. Peanut butter balls
5. Peanut Butter cookies
6. Straight off the spoon
7. Added to a smoothie

I know what you are saying, “But AMY!! I want to get some nut butters, but I don’t have a high powered blender, and in the store, I just don’t know what to buy! Plus they are ALL so expensive.”

OK, as far as price goes, of course its expensive.  If you bought your own nuts and ground it up, its still going to cost you a pretty penny, and the natural peanut butters are the same.  But lets look at the facts here: Do you shutter to fork out 4.99 per lb for cheese, or 2.99 per lb for chicken?  How many of you do that every shopping trip?  My best price for peanuts is 1.50 per lb, and Almonds 3.49 per lb.  Protein sources can eat up a lot of your food budget, but Nuts are a healthier source, and cheaper source of protein.

But what brand has all natural ingrediets?  Like you made it at home in your Vita-Mix?  MaraNatha nut butters is one!  They have organic, non-organic, salted, no-salt, stir, no-stir, creamy, crunchy, Almond, Peanut, and Cashew butters!   I purchased their Almond butter and it is purely delicious. Nothing artificial about it, just pure ground up, organic Almonds.   The great people at Maranatha Foods  have given me 4 coupons for 4 free jars and I want four of you to win one today.  Enter a comment for your chance to try (only Wed. and Thurs)

Side news for Super Healthy Kids readers:  #1 Natalie is having a FLAX giveaway… Hurry and enter. We love Flax!

Also, I must apologize for the runaway All-Bran ad if it got in your way.  At first I blamed the ad itself and I asked it to be taken down, but now I’m thinking it was my fault for coding it in the wrong place.  So don’t fear, and return to my site please!!

Thanks everyone for entering the Bear Naked Contest!!  Everyone had some great ideas for granola, and I enjoy finding out about your blogs as you leave your url.  

Today’s lucky winner is Alex (check out her site for bargain deals and other household ideas and tips) who said

I love granola, but can never splurge to purchase it as it always seems so expensive! I have a long list of recipes to try, but have yet to do so. I’d love to try some Bear Naked Granola

My next giveaway will be next Wednesday…hint: Its protein day and it has to do with nuts.

But in the meantime, you could enter my sister-in-law’s, sister-in-law’s crafty giveaway! Go Here

TUESDAY: Whole Grains

When your kids give you trouble about eating healthy food, the next alternative is to make it look/ taste/ feel different.

This is what I have to do with granola.  I love granola, but have never been able to get my kids to try some (out of the box that is).  My sister in law makes her own homemade granola that her kids eat for breakfast almost daily.  This is a great whole-grain way to start the day.

Although my kids won’t eat it like cereal, there are other ways they will eat it.  Here are some granola ideas.

• Mixed it with yogurt
• Use as a topping for a baked apple!!
• Add to muffins
• Bake it in bread
• Make granola bars
• Roll bananas in granola and freeze
• Top a salad with it.
• Toss it with oatmeal for a cruchy twist
• Add it to smoothies
• Soften it up with heated milk and let sit. Then eat.
• Use instead of bread crumbs for stuffing
• Crush and roll chicken in it before baking for some crispy chicken.
• Eat it straight with various nuts and seeds as add-ins.  Try sunflower seeds, almonds, raisins, craisins, pecans, m&m’s, cashews, dried apricots, dried apples, dried pineapple.
• Makes a great neighbor gift.  Pour granola in decorative cellophane bag and tie with ribbon.

What do you do with granola?

We recently tried  Bear Naked Granola.  If you don’t have time to make your own, this is the next best thing. With all natural ingredients, no preservatives, no HFCS, no hyrdrogenated oils, no trans fats, no cholesterol, and No artificial flavors.  Plus it tasted really good!  We  tried a recipe on their site for Pumpkin Muffins!! These were really great! Everyone loved them.

Do you want to try some Bear Naked Granola??  They are offering a blog reader two bags of granola. For your chance to be chosen, comment today. I’ll choose a winner on Thursday.

Great comments everyone! I loved hearing about how you limit screen time and love Subway. 

The winners of the gift cards are Janelle who said,

You are a lucky blogger being able to talk to celebrities like that! Thanks for the important information. You have some really great tips for keeping kids (and adults) healthy. Thanks for you’re efforts in keeping us informed!

and Michelle who said:

My kids LOVE Subway – it’s a treat to go there. I’m so glad that my kids enjoy being outside and playing. Don’t get me wrong, we spend time on the Wii, too, but we also get out and run, jump and spin. It’s all about balance.

Next giveaway is Tuesday!

On Monday I got a call from the famous Jared Fogle of Subway! I’m such a lucky blogger!  He has a new foundation for childhood obesity and a blog.  I asked him some questions about his weight loss journey as well as advice.

You say your weight gain began when you turned 8 years old. What started it?

When I turned 8, I begged my parents for a Nintendo!  And unfortunately, I got one.  Once I got it, it consumed my life.  Everything else fell by the wayside.  What started out as 30 minutes, grew to one hour, then two, then all day long.  I spent all my time trying to beat the game to show my friends that I beat it.  I’d play with my friends at my house, then if we couldn’t play there anymore, we’d go to another friends house so we could keep playing the video game, then another friends house etc.   I didn’t understand the concept of moderation.  The weight began to escalate.  A lack of activity, led me to eat more and more food. The less  I moved, the more bored I got, the more junk food I ate.  The more I ate, the heavier I got which led me to not want to move even more. It was a cycle.

What do you think the solution for childhood obesity is?

There is not one solution to childhood obesity.  Education is critical and to begin early in life.  Kids need to learn the importance of making good decisions for their own bodies.  The word moderation has been lost in our society.  Video games and Internet are fine, when used in moderation and in proper amounts. It can’t be a free for all.  Rules and boundaries need to be set by parents.

What motivated you to lose weight?

When I was 20 years old, I was a 400 pound college student.  After years of denying that I had a problem, I was faced with health issues such as sleep apnea and edema.  Health problems that should not be present in a 20 year old.  It scared me enough that I wanted to change.

What is your advice to kids? 

I have to live with the regret of missing out on my childhood.  There were lots of things I missed in high school and college due to my size.  Kids can take control of their lives and make better choices than I did so they don’t have to miss out on all the fun.

Why did you choose Subway as the means to your weight loss?

I tried cooking my own meals, but at 400 lbs it was too difficult to navigate around the kitchen.  Bending down to get something was difficult, shopping for the food was hard, and I didn’t like cleaning up either.  There was a Subway right next door to where I lived. I went in and picked up their nutrition guide.  A light bulb went on and I realized I could eat there, no clean up, low calories when I chose the right foods, and easy to do.  The first 3 months, I lost 94 lbs.  It was very exciting and motivating. I worked with a physician during the entire process and he checked that everything was fine.

What advice do you have for parents of kids who are already heavy?

1. Consult with a physician.. Identify any reasons for the weight gain.
2. Love and support your kids for who they are.
3. Lead by example
4. Work on prevention and be proactive, rather than reactive.
5. If you eat out, know you control the menu! Don’t let the menu control you. Ask for things prepared your way, or things that aren’t even on the menu. 

Subway is offering two readers of my blog a $15 gift card to Subway. Leave a comment to enter today only, and I’ll choose a winner tomorrow.

Thank you everyone who entered to win the Dole coupons and jacket.  The winning comment (chosen at random of course)  goes to Kelly who said,

We LOVE the mandarin oranges and I just bought the frozen bag of blueberries and strawberries to try for my infant and toddler. I bet they are good on cool whip too!

Come back tomorrow for a FAMOUS INTERVIEW AND ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!!  Topic: Childhood obesity!!!