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!

With over 60 nutrients including a special fiber (beta-glucan) that helps to lower cholesterol, oats are a high quality source of whole grains.

I love oatmeal because it is so versatile. You can literally make a bowl of oatmeal, hundreds of different ways.  Here is one way my kids like it.

I prefer instant oats or quick oats (I think its less gummy and obviously quicker.  So, I use 1/2 cup quick oats, and approximately 3/4 cup water.

I cook the oatmeal with water in the microwave for one minute

Then I add a shake of cinnamon, and chopped apples.  Return to the microwave for 30 seconds to soften up the apples.

After mixed, I add applesauce and a tsp or two of brown sugar.

Then we eat!! This is so delicious and so filling.

Oats are

• inexpensive.
• You can always have some on hand since their shelf life is long.
• They are so satisfying on a cold fall morning.
• Kids love oatmeal if you start them young.  If they don’t like oatmeal because of the texture, try oat groats, rolled oats, or quick oats to see if it makes a difference with them.

Here is what cereal boy thought of it.

Other oatmeal posts:

Strawberry oatmeal

Oatmealpalooza

A proud moment:  Yesterday a friend from church gave us a package of microwave popcorn.  I didn’t realize how long its been since we bought microwave popcorn until one of my kids said, “You’ve got to be kidding! They put the butter IN the bag of popcorn!  Amazing!” Then the other child said, “Did they put salt in the bag too?”

Wednesday: Proteins

My husband does more than his share of household responsibilities.  What I love most (besides that he is totally hot) is the days I’m busy, he also makes dinner.   His meals are simple, fast, and always healthy.

Last night I came home to burritos.  He mixed one can kidney beans, one can black beans, salsa (Herdez is his favorite), and such a small amount of cheese I didn’t even notice it was in there.  (I told you we use beans a lot). He wrapped up tortilla’s with the filling.  Laid them in an 8 X 8 pan and baked in the oven to heat it all the way through and make the tortilla’s a bit crispy.  They were delicious.  I’d have taken a picture, but there are none left. 

I spread Avocado on mine because I love to spread avocado on anything.

My kids and I were very excited about getting products from the company GoPicnic.  We received 3 kids meals from their “Mighty Munch Kids Meal” collection.  Each box contains an entire Healthy lunch along with a prize.  I thought about keeping the lunch boxes in the car for those days we were just too busy to be home for lunch.  But then I remembered a day when I had to send my kids to my sisters for the whole day to be babysat. I always send food with my kids when someone babysits them, because my kids like to eat!  Although, everyday they saw the boxes in the pantry they asked if they could have them, they were thrilled when I let them each bring one to my sisters.  And they loved everything inside!

The more I think about this idea, the more I like it.  Here are some great features:

• First of all, it costs the same as if you were to purchase a kids meal from a fast food restaurant, but its healthier. They are quite reasonable if you are used to forking out money for fast food.  The price range seems to be $4-$6 per meal.
• I love that they are shelf stable.  You can add these meals to an emergency kit, keep them in your car for those busy days, keep them on a shelf for those “rainy” days, or just keep them in your food storage for when money is tight and you can’t get to the store.
• They are all-natural with organic ingredients.
• No trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup or MSG.
• They have vegetarian, kosher, or gluten-free options.
• 100% peanut free and contains no tree nut ingredients if that’s important to you.

Ready to get some?!?!  Here’s what we’ll do. First of all, they are offering a coupon code to all Super Healthy Kids readers.  For 25% off your first order enter GPTHANKS. Secondly, they are offering a Sample Pack  (which has 6 kids meals in it, a $27.99 value) to one lucky reader. Leave a comment to win. I promise you will not be disappointed!  But, don’t wait to be a winner, buy some today with the coupon code and keep them in your pantry for when you need them the most.  Contest deadline, Sunday night.