Have you tried making yogurt cheese yet?  Basically it’s just draining the extra water out of yogurt until it’s more thick like a cream cheese consistency.

It’s a fabulous substitute to all things creamy.  We mostly use it as a sandwich spread (as you would with cream cheese), but it can also be used as a high protein, low-fat substitute for mayo, sour cream, dips, or you know what would be good… mixing some with peanut butter for a creamy spread.  MMM, If you could see me now, you would see me drooling.

Here is the super easy method:

• Scoop plain yogurt into cheese cloth (double layered), over a colander, over a bowl. My only colander is super huge, so I used the steam basket from my rice cooker.
• Put in fridge till desired consistency (the longer in the fridge, the thicker it will get)  But generally overnight at least!

  Can’t find cheesecloth?  I had been to several grocery stores and they either “were all out” or didn’t carry it, or I couldn’t figure out which aisle they would keep it.  I finally found some at Bed Bath and Beyond if anyone is looking.

This time we spread it on bagels.  Plain is good, but I had some strawberries, so we mixed them in.

Arranging it to look like a butterfly is always a fun way for breakfast or a snack for some kids..  My kids think they are too old for butterfly bagels..  When did that happen??

My kids have a certain devotion to plain old oatmeal with brown sugar.  Not super exciting, but they love it.  I don’t know why I even bother messing with a good thing, but I wanted to widen the possibilities here.   So, I came up with

Chocolate peanut butter cookie oatmeal

After I cooked the oatmeal with some low fat milk (according to oatmeal directions), I added:

• 2 tsp natural peanut butter
• 2 tsp agave (only because all my honey is completely crystallized.  You could use either I’m sure)
• 1 TBL semi sweet chocolate chips.

I thought it tasted yummy like those chocolate no – bake cookies!  My kids were super hesitant to try it.  But once they did, they gave it a thumbs up.

Thoughts about oatmeal:

We love oats so much we buy it in bulk. In fact, I know we have over 50lbs of oatmeal in our home.

Quick Oatmeal Tutorial:

Steel Cut Oats:  These are the whole oat grain (called a groat), but cut into smaller pieces by steel blades.  While it contains the same nutrients as rolled oats, some people prefer the taste and texture to rolled oats.

Rolled Oats: First, the groat is cut with the steel blade, but then they are rolled flat.  This helps to cut cooking time way down, and some people prefer this texture better.

Coach’s Oats: The people from Coach’s sent some of this oatmeal for us to try, and we thought it was super tasty too.  Here is the difference from their literature. “Our patented process begins with the groats and toasting them.  Toasting the groats brings the natural sugars to the surface.  Next the oats are cracked into small pieces.  This way they have the nuttiness and texture of steel cut oats, but cook quickly like rolled oats.

Today’s healthy meals idea is going to be a little different.  SHK reader Christine was looking for some toddler menu ideas and so, rather than a family meal plan, this week I’ve got a meal plan specifically for preschoolers!

A few weeks ago, Blue Mountain Organics sent me a treat to try!  It was the snack bar Coco Joy.  I did not share it with my kids! It was too delicious, and I needed a treat.  It’s raw, vegan, organic, and contains only the most simple ingredients, yet soooo yummy.  The only thing in these snack bars is:

Coconut, Cashews, Dates, Almonds, Agave, Cacao, Vanilla.  

So, if you are looking for some raw, vegan, organic, awesome food, check them out.

*Don’t forget the printable meal plans are here.

(Bringing our lunch at Disneyland)

This is how we garden at our house, and it actually works surprisingly well!

• Step 1: bury a few seeds (however deep we feel like)
• Step 2: Set up the automatic timer on the sprinklers
• Step 3: Wait for the harvest!!
• Note: We never weed after we plant.  We’ve weeded out too many vegetable plants that way, thinking they were weeds.  We also don’t thin our plants (too cumbersome) but this practice cost us our pear tree…dead after one season for having too many pears)

And that is how we have ended up, year after year with a run-away crop of CHIVES!   Despite our best efforts to dig it up every year, it keeps coming back in more and more abundance.  But I love the chive plant.  It makes a beautiful centerpiece, and delicious aroma, and they are good for you!!

This morning, we went out to cut a few for Omelets.

Trimmed with scissors (perfect job for the kids)

Chopped with help:

And mixed in with our Omelets.   (not how the Healthy Plate is intended of course)

Interestingly, you can eat any portion of the chive plant (including the flower).  With it’s light onion flavor, chives are perfect in many ways:

• Mixed with some light cream cheese or sour cream for a dip or a spread
• Add to your potato bar
• Add to potato salad or mashed potatoes
• Add to salsa
• Season cooked vegetables with chives, such as cooked carrots
• Make your own ranch dressing
• Add to potato soup

If you haven’t stopped by, I finally indexed my recipes!!  Head over to check it out.  In the coming weeks, I’ll try to add photos to the subpages.

Healthy Tip for the Day:  Stop using food to comfort your kids.  Usually it’s unintentional, nevertheless you should be mindful to know if you are doing it.  You are doing guilty if you’ve ever said, “You skinned your knee?” followed quickly by,  “Do you want a snack?”

Photo of the week:

Went to the zoo with TJ and the rest of the first graders from our Elementary School.  We had a blast of course!

My kids have been hard at work earning their tickets to Disneyland.  We have 15 fleece blankets to tie, and we get 5 free Disney tickets.  My mother in law gave us ALL the fleece.  My Grandma lives in So.Cal, so we’ll stay with her! I think I’m more excited than the kids!  The best part is that my semester will be over and I can finally relax!  (blurry pic, sorry)

New menu plan!

*The lettuce wrapped taco idea was provided by reader Chelsea. Here is what Chelsea said:

Here’s an idea you can share. I use the leaf of cabbage as a taco shell… Well it wasn’t a taco but it had a delightful chicken salad in it and we held it like a taco! One child holds it like a taco and eats it that way and they other just uses it like a bowl. I am sneaky though.. The cabbage was in the chicken salad too.

Thanks Chelsea!!  If you have a healthy meal idea that I share on the blog, I will send you a FREE Healthy Habits Plate for sending your ideas to me!  (Limited time only). So Chelsea, send me your address, and I’ll send you a plate!  Thanks!

This week I’ll share:

• Tofu Smoothie
• Applesauce bread
• Cottage cheese pancakes

If you’ve been in the yogurt section lately, you may have noticed Yoplait has Greek yogurt now for $0.99.  We like Greek Yogurt (extra protein, and extra creamy!).  Also, Yoplait’s flavored Greek Yogurt has regular sugar, as opposed to the High Fructose Corn Syrup.

I’m not aware if these coupons rotate or not, but currently there is a coupon for $0.30 off Yoplait Greek Yogurt on the coupons.com site!  So get it before it rotates away.Click Here

Post note: Dear Kim- We also like Dannon! We aren’t picky

I got a sweet note from a preschool teacher following my presentation on healthy eating several weeks ago.  Just goes to show you… kids are super teachable!

We are learning the letter Y this week.  Yesterday I put the words "Yum" and "Yuck" on the board and asked them to each name a thing that is yummy and yucky.  They named for our "Yum" list:  apples, strawberries, oranges, carrots, bananas, grapes, etc.  All good!:)  For our "Yuck" list they named a can, a piece of wood, carpet, etc.!  After a few weeks they still remember your lesson, especially the book about the goats and all the bad things they ate!  For 4 year olds that’s really good.  You made a great impression on them.

Thanks!

Heather

After every life event I have the same thoughts,

After my next test, I’ll spend more time in kitchen….

After TJ’s birthday, I’ll make more bread…

After the PTA fundraiser, I’ll soak my beans, rather than get them out of a can.” 

And what happens next: Another bigger and more time consuming thing!

So as a result, this menu plan is going to be Crockpot week or:

“I have no time to be in the kitchen” plan, but if possible, I’ll stick the kids in the kitchen in my place.”

If you have a healthy recipe you think our family would enjoy for future menu plans, feel free to email me a link, or the recipe, and I’ll be happy to link to your recipes in future meal plans! Thanks!!!

Disclaimer: All my children are in school, and I actually send them sandwiches in their lunch every day. These lunches are ideas if you need variety! 

Printable Meal Plans

If there is ever something in my menu that I didn’t post the recipe or link for (generally because its in one of my cookbooks), feel free to email me, and I’ll get it to you. amy@superhealthykids.com

What to look forward to this week: (subject to change if something doesn’t turn out right)

• Party/ Finger food
• Red Cabbage
• Coconut nests
• Crockpot recipe
• Indoor activity idea

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!

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!

I just finished watching Food, Inc.  Great Movie! The take home message is to buy local, and in season food! If you haven’t seen the movie yet, did you know you can download and “rent” the movie to watch from Amazon for $2.99!  I just realized this!  Right under “Buy”, you click WATCH IT NOW, $2.99 to rent.  

Although I’ve mentioned them before, after watching the movie, I was so glad we buy our meat local (beef and pork at least).  If you live in Utah and are looking for a local meat supplier, you must check out The Christiansens farm for well fed, well treated, organic, and super awesome meat!  Hollie Christiansen is my neighbors- sister.. which is how I found out about their farm. 

Last night, I pulled out our bag of frozen Edamame to snack on while I prepared dinner.  The kids devoured it! I forgot how much they liked this great snack the first time I bought it.  It’s definitely coming out more often this week.

As always, head over to the side bar, or Menu Archives to print the menu!

Don’t forget…. Monday is the last day to enter for Crest Pro-Health supplies,

and FRIDAY is the last day for the V8-V Fusion Visa $100 Gift card!