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I'm Amy, and this blog encompasses my passion for healthy family living. My goal is to teach my children to love being healthy.

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Shop Taste of Home (Readers Digest)

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Please use your common sense and caution when feeding children new foods that may cause allergic reactions or be choking hazards. The information contained in this blog is my opinions only.


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  • New Meal Plan with Photos

    I’m excited about the menu this week!  I’ve got some great links to recipes I saw this week from some of the blogs I love. 

    As always, head over to the archive page for a printable version!  The photos aren’t as clear on the pdf, but I’ll figure something out for future menus.

      Breakfast Lunch Snack Dinner
    Monday Cottage Cheese Pancakes

    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

    Butterfly Sandwiches

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    Vegetable platter with Ranchclip_image006 Creamy Lemon Chicken and Rice

    Two Peas and Their Pod

    Tuesday Cereal with fruit and yogurtclip_image008 Black Bean Soup

    Hungry Homemaker

    Trail Mix with dried fruittrail-mix-ii Coq-Au-Vin with Chicken breasts

    Nana’s Kitchen

    Wednesday Smoothie

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    Peanut Butter and Jelly

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    Cottage cheese and fruit

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    Sloppy Janes with Green salad

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    Itzy’s Kitchen

    Thursday Apple-Cinnamon Pancakes

    Burnt Apple

    Turkey Wrap with avocado Fruit Saladclip_image018 Spinach and artichoke Heart Quiche

    Three Kid Circus

    Friday Egg Sandwichesclip_image020 Bagel Sandwiches with carrots Granola Barsclip_image022 Baked Vegetable Won-Tons

    clip_image024A Life Less Sweet

    Sunnyside Sailboats

    Awesome! Dana just left a comment that Batatas are also the Spanish word for Sweet Potatoes!! Thanks for making us all a little smarter today Dana!

    I’ve just had our protein lecture in Nutrition this week, and have been all about the eggs ever since!  We love our eggs over here!

    DSC_1069 So, try this super quick (I’m into quick these day’s!) way to hard boil some eggs.  Let your kids fill a microwave safe container full of water, and microwave for 10  minutes.  Add a little vinegar and salt to the water, so your eggs don’t crack being jostled around in the water.

    DSC_1062 After 10 minutes in the microwave, take out, and rinse with cold water.  Your eggs will be completely hard boiled. 

    For the sailboats, I sliced some colored paper, and let the kids decorate the sails. 

    For the filling, I mixed the yolk, with a tiny spoon of light mayo and a squirt of mustard.  Filled the shell, and put the sail on.

    Why should your kids eat eggs?

    EGGS ARE:

  • All 9 essential amino acids!
  • Helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system!
  • May help prevent strokes!
  • Is good for your eyes in preventing macular degeneration!
  • contains Naturally occurring vitamin D!  This one is HUGE right now!!  Many children are Vitamin D deficient, and they are finding loads of protective benefits from Vitamin D.
  • Promotes healthy hair and nails!
  • So, make some eggs today!

    Other Egg posts:

    Do your kids like eggs?  What’s your favorite way to eat them?

    Post edit: While our eggs turned out great, two of our readers had their eggs explode in the microwave.  Please use caution, or go traditional: Stove-top always works!

    Ipomoea Batatas

    That’s the scientific name for Sweet Potatoes.  My kids think its fun to call them BATATAS!   But aren’t they gorgeous?  Just like our carrots, you can’t make this beautiful color in a food lab!  Well, you probably could, but the Ipomoea Batatas taste better I’m sure.

    Sweet Potatoes This is such an easy, fast, and might I add FILLING snack!  I pop one of these beauties in the microwave for about 4-5 minutes, and wa-la!  Meal is ready.  I add a little salt and butter, mash it up really good.  I don’t even bother washing it, because I generally take the skin off.   My kids gave me a token taste with their little tiny cocktail forks.  TJ said he liked it “pretty much”.

    Why should you serve sweet potatoes to your kids? 

    • VITAMIN A!!  262% of the Daily Value in ONE small sweet potato!!
    • VITAMIN C!!  29% of the Daily Value in ONE small sweet potato!!
    • Beta – carotene 23,018 mcg!!  (I don’t think there is a Daily value for beta carotene, but 23 thousand mcg seems like plenty!

    • Twice as high in fiber as regular potatoes

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    What are you waiting for, pick up a bag of BATATAS and you can whip up a snack or lunch in under 5 minutes.

    Other posts with sweet potatoes: I posted more about sweet potatoes than I thought!  And I just realized, although I’ve served up sweet potatoes at least 4 times according to my blog… each time the kids think it’s the first time.  I guess I need to start offering certain things more often.

    What do you like best? Baked, mashed, or served up as fries?

    Snowy Citrus Trees- Broccoli with Orange Cream sauce

    I will never forget a study I read about the most “well adjusted” teenagers.  The teenagers who aren’t so self absorbed, follow the rules, and contribute to society.  The one common thread in these great teens were they all were involved in SERVICE!!  I love it!   Have you heard yet about the Free Disneyland tickets for contributing a few hours of service.  There are TON’S of opportunities from age 6 on up.  Click here to enter your zip code and find opportunities in your area.

    Anyway, let’s get down to delicious Vegetables!!  Luckily I made some broccoli with the creamy sauce, and kept some broccoli without. Because as always with picky children…. some will try it, and some just preferred it plain.

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    Take:

    • 6 oz light cream cheese
    • 1/4 cup reduced fat milk
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • Grated orange peel

    Stir in a small saucepan until smooth and melted..  Then add

    • 1/4 cup orange juice.

    Keep the sauce warm to drizzle over steamed broccoli, or bring to room temperature and use as a dip for raw broccoli. 

     DSC_0856 Well, I’m not going to lie here…. not ONE of my kids actually tried it.  I did! I liked it!  But there are very few foods I don’t like. :)

    Polka Dot Peas and Ribbons

    OK Mom’s and Dad’s! If the kids are going to eat their vegetables, we have to make them taste good!  Is the only way you’ve offered cooked carrots is chopped and sautéed?  I have actually never enjoyed my carrots that way.  If you are a “texture” person, like Erica (my 9 year old), cooked carrots are often too mushy, because of their size.  These carrots are cooked, yet have no mushiness about them!

    carrots and peas The easy part of this dish, Polka Dot Peas and Ribbons, is the children can peel the carrots.  They are way easier to peel than potatoes!

    So first, some frozen peas (thawed), and as many carrots as you want to peel.

    DSC_0811 Stir the carrots around with 1 TBL of butter till softened (about 5 minutes).  Then add the peas and keep cooking until the peas are heated through.

    DSC_0817 And serve up with a little salt and pepper.  My kids actually ate this without forks. 

    DSC_0825 So, go ahead and try it! You know you have all the ingredients on hand!

    New Meal Plan- Body for Life Week

    I’m in a Body For Life mood!  So, this week’s menu has a lot more protein than I normally cook for my family, but like I said, I’m just in the mood. :)

    Fun stuff for locals (which means Utah County):

    If you love photography, live in Northern Utah county, and have an SLR camera, my neighbor Natalie from Middle Gray Photography, just started the “Lehi Photography Guild”.  A club for emerging photographers who want to hone the craft.  Email her (middlegrayphotography@gmail.com)  if you are interested in joining.

    If you are looking to join a CSA and get fresh produce weekly, here is one that is just starting in Orem.

    If you love Alison’s Pantry, they are closing their store front!  But you can still buy their stuff, and the price hasn’t changed.  You just need to buy from a local rep.  For Northern Utah County, call Liz Kump.  (lizkump@yahoo.com)

      Breakfast Lunch Snack Dinner
    Moclip_image002nday Oat Pancakes with berries Ranch Chicken Salad Oranges and cashews Italian Chicken Wild Rice, broccoli
    Tuesday Omelet’s with salsa Chicken Pita Pizza’s Cottage cheese with berries Potato Soup (making soup for Blue and Gold banquet)
    Wednesday Egg Sandwich and banana Sub sandwich with veggies and turkey Apple and string cheese Enchilada soup with avocado
    Thursday Oatmeal with apples and cinnamon Egg Salad Sandwich Yogurt and strawberries Taco Soup (making soup for Primary Dinner)
    Friday Sunny Side- up eggs with whole wheat toast Chicken pita with grapes, tomato, lettuce, almonds Cinnamon apples with sliced cheese French Dip sandwiches, salad

    A tooth walked into a bar, then soaked himself in a glass of coke.

    We decided to do a science experiment at our house.  I was hoping by pouring some cola onto a tooth, that we would see the tooth disintegrate.  And maybe it would if we left it there for a very long time.  But after two weeks,  the teeth don’t disappear.  However, the results in my mind were equally disturbing:

    DSC_0759 Gross, huh?!?!?  Enough to scare your kids away from cola?  

    A friend (Doreen) picked up the following handouts from her dentist.  You will have to click on the images to see it full size, but basically, image #1 indicates enamel being destroyed after 14 days of exposure to various drinks.  Image #2 shows the pH value for different candies, as compared to battery acid).  Good talking points to have with your children tonight!

    scn0002 scn0001

    Other posts about dental health:

    Frozen Vegetables and $25 Giveaway!!

    Busy? Poor? Still want to eat healthy?  The best weapon I have is frozen vegetables!  When they go on sale, I fill my freezer with all kinds!  Stir-fry mixes, broccoli, peas and carrots, corn, etc!

    DSC_0698

    We add frozen vegetables to rice, noodles, soups, casseroles, pot pies, and as a side dish.  Here is what I like:

    • They last forever!  (in contrast to fresh veggies)
    • They don’t need to be washed
    • They don’t need to be chopped/ peeled/ cut.
    • They are generally cheaper.
    • They are usually picked at the peak of ripeness
    • We can eat them out of season and all year long!

    So, here is our favorite, fast, healthy, go- to meal.  I always have the ingredients on hand, and my kids will eat a ton of it!  It looks like a long recipe, but I promise it is QUICK!!!

    DSC_0193

    • 3 TBL butter
    • 3 TBL flour

    Melt butter in small saucepan and stir flour in until bubbly.  Then Add:

    • 1 cup of Chicken broth
    • 1/2 tsp oregeno
    • 1/2 tsp pepper.

    Bring to a boil and simmer. Stir occasionally. Then, in large skillet add:

    • 1 TBL butter and 1 TBL olive oil.  Then after butter melts, add:
    • 1 chopped onion
    • 3 cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped.

    Cook till browned then add:

    • 2 cups frozen cauliflower. (defrosted)
    • 2 cups frozen broccoli (defrosted)
    • 1 package frozen peas (defrosted)

    Cover and cook till heated through.  Then stir in:

    • 1/2 Cup chicken broth
    • 1 large fresh tomato (or canned tomatoes)

    Add 1/2 pound cooked whole wheat noodles (such  as spaghetti or linguini).  Mix everything together (vegetables, sauce, and noodles)  then top with parmesan cheese.

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    NEED SOME FROZEN VEGETABLES? AND PERHAPS A $25 TARGET GIFT CARD TO GO ALONG WITH IT?  HEAD OVER TO THE GIVEAWAY PAGE TO ENTER!!

    An Eating Exercise

    Today’s idea: Simple, but very effective!!

    According to Dr. Fuhrman, Enjoying the taste of healthy food is a SKILL!  For most people, a preference for healthy food needs to be developed.  In order to do this, he recommends (In the book Eat for Health) eating a bowl full of vegetables every single day, and eating it slowly. Without changing any other habits, you can begin to enjoy the flavors and textures of healthful food.

    So can the kids!  I wanted something measureable and specific to help them develop this skill.  Each day we wash and peel 5 carrots.  Each of us need to eat one carrot during the day (including me).  Simple, right?  I love simple.  If dinner comes and they haven’t eaten their carrot, they can eat it just before we sit down for dinner. 

    Although I send carrots to school, and I provide carrots for snacks, I can’t exactly say they are eating them! This way, I will know. The more consistent we are with this “exercise”, the tastier those carrots will begin to be.

    When I presented the idea to the kids, they willingly agreed to begin the exercise.  Although Erica did ask if she could make a chart and assign points, etc. etc…. but I told her, “I just want you to eat them! No incentives!”

    DSC_0746 DSC_0747 DSC_0744 The best way to get addicted to healthy food, is to start eating them… over and over and over.  Read Dr. Fuhrman’s blog post today “Are You a Food Addict?”.

    New Menu Plan for your Family!

    Here is a new menu plan… If you get a chance, go check out the cute sidebar image for the link to the printable menu’s!

    Breakfast

    Lunch

    Snack

    Dinner

    Monday

    Swiss Muesli (oats, yogurt, craisins, apples)

    Pasta salad with vegetables (chilled)

    Applesclip_image002auce

    Sesame Mandarin Quinoa Salad

    Tuesday

    Egg white omelet’s with mushrooms

    Mini Whole wheat bagels with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes

    Apple Chips

    Fritatta (with broccoli and potatoes)

    Wednesday

    Power Gold Smoothie

    Almond Butter and Jelly on Whole wheat bread

    Yogurt with Cottage cheese and berries

    Pioneer Woman’s White Chili

    Thursday

    Protein Pancakes

    “Toothpick lunch” (cubed veggies, cheese, and meat)

    Almonds and raisins

    Noodles with Mushroom and lemon ginger dressing.

    Friday

    Porridge (oats, rice, wheat germ, raisins, vanilla)

    Mini whole wheat bagel with cream cheese and cucumber

    Carrots and dip!

    Lasagna with salad

    Also, we need your help!

    This group; XX1st Century Kids 1st foundation is trying to win $50,000 to provide low income kids in the Chicago area with healthy food and lifestyle choices.  They just need your votes to win!!  Go here to vote!

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