10 Reasons I Loved 100 Days of Real Food

10 Reasons I Loved 100 Days of Real Food

As I mentioned earlier this week, I’ve recently made some fairly significant changes to my diet.

Scratch that. The “I quit sugar” thing qualifies more in the CRAZY, RADICAL category for me.

I’ve always eaten fairly healthfully, having grown up with a mom who valued healthy living and taught us to love whole grains, real butter, and big salads. (Truth: we basically never bought white bread unless we were making croutons or feeding the ducks and I don’t recall a time we ever bought margarine. Yes, she was pretty hard core when it came to health!)

My husband wasn’t so keen on health food when we got married. In fact, he was more keen on McDonald’s and Vanilla Coke. ��

During our lean law school years, I just did the best I could do with the small budget we had while also making sure the food I cooked was stuff Jesse would actually eat. We didn’t eat terribly unhealthy, but I knew it could be improved upon.

As our financial situation bettered and my husband started becoming more interested in fitness, we’ve slowly made small changes in our diet. First, we eliminated artificial dyes. Next, it was corn syrup. Then, we stopped cooking with anything but olive oil, coconut oil, and butter. And then we stopped buying bleached flour and refined sugar.

This journey has been years in the making, but as we’ve made slow and steady changes, it’s not felt too drastic or difficult. So I think that’s why eliminating sugar and most gluten from my diet didn’t feel as CRAZY, RADICAL as I thought it would.

Yes, I have salivated as I’ve passed the doughnut shop and I have given in and eaten dessert a few times in the past three months, but for the most part, switching the way I eat hasn’t been painful.

You know what else? I’ve noticed that once I stripped out sugar and processed stuff and ate real, fresh foods, some cool things have happened. For instance:

• I savor my food more.
• I’m getting fewer headaches.
• I’m struggling less with my sinuses and allergies.
• I’ve lost a few pounds that had crept on in the last year.
• I’ve seen an improvement in my skin issues.
• I feel more energetic.
• I’ve stopped craving empty carbs and sugar (well, most of the time!).
• I need less sleep.
• I notice flavors that I never paid attention to before.
• My nails are stronger and can actually grow without breaking (well, it probably helps that I’ve mostly stopped biting them, too!)
• And even if I go a few days without getting enough sleep, I’m not at all as worn down as I would have been six months ago.

Yes, my experiment in dietary changes has paid off in much bigger dividends than I ever imagined. And the unexpected results are making me think this is going to be a lifelong lifestyle change not just a temporary experiment!

All this to say, I was really excited to read 100 Days of Real Food by Lisa Leake. I’ve watched her grow her blog over the past few years and have been so inspired by her family.

As I expected I loved the book. Here were 10 reasons I especially found it helpful:

1. It Feels Doable & Realistic

Truth be told, I was leery of starting this book because I was afraid I was going to be barraged with a lot of new information on why we needed to majorly overhaul our eating choices. Instead of guilt, I found the book dripping with grace… encouraging you to do the best you can, to not stress over treats and occasional cheats, and to figure out what works best for your family.

2. It Is Honest

Lisa readily admits that she tried making homemade versions of things like ketchup and mayo and didn’t like them at all. Instead, they’ve just chosen to not eat them very often (she says they eat mayo about once a month). I loved her honesty throughout the book.

3. It Gives You Step-By-Step Plans & Shopping Lists

If the idea of switching to more real foods feels daunting, you’ll love the step-by-step suggestions of how to make gradual changes that this book offers. You’ll probably also love that there are menu plans and shopping lists to help you get started, too.

4. It’s Packed With Real-Life Advice

Lisa doesn’t hold herself up as someone who has it all figured out. She’s right there learning and experimenting with you. I loved the pictures of her family sprinkled throughout the book, as well as her examples from their family on what worked and didn’t work.

5. It Has Loads of Lunchbox Ideas

If you pack a lot of lunches, you’ll find the lunchbox recipes, tips, and suggestions very helpful. I loved that this was a big part of the book, as I think probably this is an area that many families could use a lot of inspiration in — especially if you’re trying to pack healthful and wholesome lunches.

6. It Addresses the Inevitable Struggles

Making lifestyle changes is always a challenge and this book recognizes that from the get-go. If you’re feeling hesitant about taking the plunge or wondering if it will really work for your family, you’ll get a lot of encouragement here in your journey.

7. It Provides Lots of Delicious-Looking Recipes

The recipes are very down-to-earth, don’t have a lot of weird ingredients, and almost every single one of them looked very yummy. Score!

8. It Has Great Photos In It

If you’re going to write a book with lots of recipes, full-color photography is one of the best assets for your book. And 100 Days of Real Food does a fantastic job when it comes to photography. Not only is the food photography well done, but the pictures of real-life stuff make the book seem to come alive and make it more relatable.

9. It Shares Creative Tips on Dealing With Picky Eaters

One of the biggest fears a lot of parents might have with the concept of eating more real foods is that your children and spouse won’t be on board with it. This book spends a good amount of time giving you suggestions and ideas for how to address the picky and reluctant eaters.

10. It Gives Encouragement For How to Eat Well on a Budget

And finally, I loved that 100 Days of Real Food addresses how to eat well on a budget. Now, mind you, switching to more real foods is almost guaranteed to cause some increase in your budget. But Lisa encourages you that it doesn’t have to be a dramatic increase.

All in all, I found 100 Days of Real Food to be a very valuable book. I’m eager to try out some of the recipes and have a feeling I will be referring to it for my own family over and over again.

Want Step-By-Step Help To Start Eating Healthier?

Looking for more ideas, practical tips, recipes, and step-by-step help to live a healthy lifestyle? Through December 30, 2014 only, you can get The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle for just $29.97. This Bundle is packed with ebooks, e-courses, and some cool free bonuses.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll get for just $29.97:

And much, much more! See all the contents of this bundle here (it’s over $1,000 value!).

P.S. Lisa just emailed me today to let me know that she just found out that her book hit the New York Times list and will debut in the #2 spot for this week! That’s INCREDIBLE and I am just so very thrilled for her — especially because it makes me so happy to see a fellow blogger’s success!

Subscribe for free email updates from Money Saving Mom® and get my Guide to Freezer Cooking for free!

Original article and pictures take moneysavingmom.com site

10 Natural Ways to Prevent Colds and the Flu

10 Natural Ways to Prevent Colds and the Flu

This post brought to you by Fellowes . All opinions are 100% mine.

I’ve never been a big fan of conventional medicine–especially antibiotics. Even as a child I avoided Tylenol if I could!

And since learning more about natural living and healing, I’ve become even more wary of pumping our bodies full of laboratory-engineered “medications” in the name of “staying healthy.”

The first line of defense in avoiding medications is to stay well in the first place. My family has been following this illness prevention regime the past two winters. I hope these help you as well!

Natural Ways to Prevent Colds and the Flu

1. Vitamin C

Studies are inconsistent as to whether or not Vitamin C actually speeds the healing process; however, it is well-known that the vitamin is an antioxidant and can help prevent disease (source).

Obviously, your best bet is to consume foods naturally high in this vitamin. Citrus fruits, strawberries, spinach, kale, peppers, broccoli, papaya, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, pineapple, kiwi fruit and mangoes are all loaded with this vitamin!

If you are not able to get adequate Vitamin C via food sources, take a good Vitamin C supplement. We typically add in a supplement at the very first sign of illness.

2. Elderberry Syrup

Elderberries are a natural immunity booster.

You can find the berries made into a syrup at most health stores or online. Or, you can try making your own. Stacy over at Humorous Homemaking enhances the flavor of her homemade elderberry syrup by adding blueberries to it.

Some people love the taste of the syrup, but many hate it. We give our girls a children’s formula, and my husband and I take these elderberry capsules that we get from there. The capsules allow us the health benefits without having to taste it.

3. Garlic

Raw garlic is full of amazing health benefits–including being anti-viral. Consuming it helps boost the immune system and fight infections (source).

If eating it raw makes you squeamish, you can purchase odorless garlic capsules. But, first, check out these 7 ways to eat raw garlic. One of them might appeal to you!

4. Essential Oils

Essential oils have become my first line of defense against any ailment that has plagued our household over the past couple years. Some tests have shown that essential oils are so strong that viruses cannot live in their presence (source).

One of our favorites is a a super antibacterial blend of oils. When we were in a place where we could not afford to buy special blends of oils, we made our own.

You can diffuse the oils into the air, add some oils to a warm bath or rub the diluted oil on your feet. We use a homemade disinfectant spray made with essential oils–as well as a homemade hand soap (peppermint is our favorite this time of the year!).

5. Vitamin D3

The best source of Vitamin is the sun, but most people get very little natural sunshine during the winter. In fact, 50-70% Americans may be deficient in this vital vitamin!

According to Dr. Mercola, “Vitamin D fights infections, including colds and the flu, as it regulates the expression of genes that influence your immune system to attack and destroy bacteria and viruses.” (source)

My family takes a significant amount of Vitamin D3 supplements. We take them throughout the year but up the intake during the winter months.

I would consult with your trusted healthcare professional to determine the best amount of Vitamin D3 for you.

6. Echinacea

Studies have shown that taking this herb can help boost your immune system, but the results have been mixed as to whether or not it actually prevents or shortens the life of a cold (source).

I previously took echinacea drops daily during the cold and flu season until I discovered that it’s really best to use echinacea at the first sign of illness.

7. Air Purifier

Indoor air is up to five times more polluted than outdoor air, and our homes are teeming with airborne germs and viruses, the leading causes of cold and flu. Our family uses a Fellowes AeraMax™ DX-55 to “clear the air” and reduce the presence of germs and viruses.

I love that the air purifier has an automatic filter change indicator (because, let’s be honest–I would forget to change it!) as well as an automatic sensor that monitors the air quality and automatically adjusts the fan speed to keep our air purified.

Fellowes AeraMax™ DX-55 actually recommends a process to help prevent the flu:

1. Wash and sanitize hands regularly

2. Wipe down surfaces with powerful disinfectants

3. Purify the air indoors

8. Hand Washing

This is a no-brainer, but make sure you are washing your hands frequently with soap and water.

We do not use antibacterial soap in our home because we believe these can actually lower our natural immune responses. Instead, we use own own homemade foaming handsoap. We make sure to wash before meals and especially when we come home from being out in public!

9. Soup

Make some homemade chicken soup. Your grandma knew what she was doing when she made this a go-to cold and flu remedy!

10. Probiotics

We believe that good immunity begins in the gut, so we take a good probiotic daily. The healthy bacteria in probiotics help to fight bad bacteria that have taken up residence in our gut. The best choice for consuming probiotics would be to eat probiotic-rich foods (like yogurt, fermented veggies, etc.), but we are limited in this area because of food allergies.

What are your suggestions for natural ways to prevent colds and the flu?

Disclaimer: Although I am passionate about nutrition, natural living and alternative health issues, I am not a certified nutritionist, medical doctor or practitioners of any kind. I am not licensed to counsel anyone in medical matters, nor may we be held responsible for any course of action that you choose in regards to your own health or that of your family. Please remember that what I am sharing is the result of my own experiences, but may not necessarily be the right course of action for you. Please consult with your trusted healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health.

Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site

10 Must-Haves in My Natural Travel Medicine Kit

10 Must-Haves in My Natural Travel Medicine Kit

By contributing writer, Erin Long

Oh, the holidays. It’s the season of making merry and loving humanity and going the extra mile to show people we care. It’s the season that we share what we have with others and let our gifts multiply.

The only problem is that it’s not only the time for sharing gifts, but also sharing germs.

So we stock up on chicken broth and elderberry syrup and constantly run our essential oil diffusers.

We know what to do when sickness strikes when we’re at home, but what about when we’re traveling or staying with family or friends? Some of our go-to natural methods aren’t especially portable, especially if you’re traveling on a plane.

I’ve adapted my natural medicine kit to make it travel-friendly. I’ve taken just what my family needs and made adjustments to make everything portable.

I put all the supplements in plastic baggies (these will soon be replaces with reusable cloth baggies) and it all easily fits into a medium-sized toiletries bag, which makes my minimalist heart happy.

While I do think that most of the items in my natural travel medicine kit will be helpful for you and your family, some of them might not be as necessary for you or there might be something else that’s more essential for your family than for mine. So think of this as a foundation that you can adjust and customize to meet your family’s needs. It might take some adjustment (I’m still refining mine!) but over time you’ll figure out exactly what you do and don’t need.

1. High-Quality Probiotic

What’s better than having everything you need in your natural travel medicine kit to deal with whatever illness comes your way? Not needing it at all!

My number one priority when gathering my medicine kit is a high-quality probiotic. Probiotics boost the immune system by fighting bad bacteria and supporting white blood cells – it’s the perfect first line of defence against illness.

Probiotics are my number one priority when it comes to keeping us healthy.

2. Immune System Boosters

There are so many options that fall under this category! But here are my favorites:

Anti-bacterial/protective essential oil blend

These blends of essential oils pack a mighty punch in a small amount of space. These blends fight bacteria, boost the immune system and support all around health and that’s is definitely what I’m looking for when I travel!

The oil (properly diluted) also works as a hand and surface sanitizer.

Vitamin D3

Though it’s not widely known for it’s immune system support abilities, D3 plays an integral role in fighting infections. I take a daily multivitamin that has D3 and my husband and kids take a D3 supplement every day.

It also promotes stable moods (low vitamin D3 levels is linked to depression) which is an added bonus when we face the challenges of travel!

3. Elderberry Supplement

When my immune boosters fall short and someone does get sick, I reach for the elderberry supplement first. At home I make a syrup but when we travel I have to compromise and bring the benefits of elderberry along with us in pill form.

Elderberries are nature’s cold and flu fighting super weapon. If it ails you, elderberries can probably handle it.

Since my kids are young I have gummies for them, and pills for us grown ups. Another easy and portable option is to buy it in tincture form.

4. Natural Chest Rub

Both my boys have mild asthma so keeping their lungs clear is vital to their health, and a natural chest rub is an easy way to do it. The essential oils in the rub penetrate into their lungs and help break up the mucus so they can get better quicker.

When buying a chest rub, be sure to follow essential oil safety recommendations. (This is an excellent, unbiased source. Note: I don’t find the MLM companies to be reliable sources of this information.)

You could also make your own rub if you’d like to customize the ingredients in it. See this R&H post for a simple tutorial/recipe.

But even if your family doesn’t have severe lung issues as asthma, chest rub is still a highly beneficial tool in your medicine kit. I use the rub whenever I feel a minor cough coming on and it gives me the relief I need. And it smells amazing. Win-win.

5. Essential Oils and Portable Diffuser

Essential oils are a part of our wellness routine that I don’t want to leave at home. I have a portable diffuser and I pack these oils to diffuse:

• Eucalyptus for coughs (There is some controversy about whether or not eucalyptus is safe for kids. Fir needle is a kid-safe alternative.)
• Lavender for calming and all-around well being (safe for all ages)
• Antibacterial/protective blend to purify the air (Kid-safe version here)

Bring whatever oils you and your family can’t live without. Most essential oil bottles are carry on size so they’re highly portable even if you’re packing minimally.

6. Sleep-Supporting Essential Oils

Good sleep is an essential part of fighting illness and overall health. But when you’re not sleeping in your own bed or if you’re dealing with jet lag, sleep can be illusive.

I’ve found essential oils to be the best way to promote great sleep. I have a sleep blend that I rub on our feet before bed and it helps us all sleep better.

7. Activated Charcoal

This is my cure-all for any stomach and digestive issue. Whether it’s from an over-indulgent meal or an illness, activated charcoal can handle it.

Activated charcoal adsorbs (yes, adsorbs… it’s not a typo. It means “to gather”) toxins and gas and moves them out of the body, thus quickly removing whatever is causing the aggravation.

My husband and I take the capsules but for my kids I gently open the capsule and put it in a cup of water and have them drink it.

8. Natural Hand Sanitizer

When we travel we’re in some of the most germ-infested areas: airplanes, public transit, museums, and popular tourist sites.

I’m no germaphobe, but when I travel I carry hand sanitizer on my person at all times. I make this DIY hand sanitizer before I leave home. I bring just enough to be able to carry it on the plane with me so I’m sure to have it as we fly and make our way through airports. You can also pack an extra in your checked luggage.

9. Neti Pot/Saline Rinse

Oh runny noses. It’s no fun to constantly blow your nose, especially if you’re in a museum, concert hall or somewhere conspicuous.

Using a neti pot or saline rinse clears the mucus out of your nose in one fell swoop and drastically cuts back on the number of tissues you’ll go through.

I use a ceramic neti pot and larger container of salts at home but when I travel I have a light weight plastic neti pot and prepared saline packets.

If sinus issues aren’t something that plague your family, a small bottle of saline rinse should suffice for a minor runny nose.

10. A Shopping List

So many natural remedies are made from ingredients you can buy almost anywhere. Lemons, garlic, onions, raw honey, apple cider vinegar, and others are available at almost every grocery store, even if you’re traveling abroad.

Before you leave home, find out if there’s a natural health store where you’re visiting so you can stock up on more specialized products there, like elderberry syrup or real bone broth.

So look at what remedies you use the most and plan on buying whatever ingredients you can once you arrive.

There are so many things you could include in your natural travel medicine kit that I haven’t mentioned here: a variety of tinctures, teas, other supplements. So find what works for you and your family and keep refining your kit as you see fit.

I’m still trying to find the most-natural supplements and will make adjustments as my kids get older and as I learn more about natural methods. It’s a work in progress but it’s definitely heading in the right direction.

Here’s to happy travels and good health!

Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site

10 Moves for a Flat Stomach

10 Moves for a Flat Stomach

Weighted Bicycle

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According to a San Diego State University study, the bicycle is one of the most effective abs exercises you can do, and this weighted version will have your rectus abdominus working overtime.

How to do it: Start lying on your back with both knees bent. Extend your arms overhead, bending your left arm behind your head and holding onto your right arm, just above your elbow, with your left hand. Bend your right knee and press your right foot on the inside of your extended left leg (left leg should be off the floor and low). Lift your right shoulder off the floor and turn it in towards your left leg, while you lift both legs up about 45 degrees. Lower back to start position, that’s one rep. Perform 15 reps on each side.

Bonus tip: Exhale as you perform the movement, and think of drawing your belly button in deeper to your spine on the hardest part of the move.

Open Knee Tucks

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This move targets the lower portion of the abdominal wall (AKA the dreaded ‘pooch’ area).

How to do it: Start lying on your back, bend your knees into your chest, point your toes together, and open knees out to the sides, keeping toes touching. Extend both arms overhead on either side of your ears, palms facing up. Lift your hips off the floor and bring your knees up towards your armpits. Slowly lower your hips back down to start position.

Bonus tip: Think of engaging your pelvic floor muscles (the ones you use to stop the flow of urine) while you lift your hips off the floor. Repeat 20 times total.

Plank Pikes

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This move not only works your waistline, it also adds a cardio kick to your training to help you burn up more calories and slim down your abs.

How to do it: Start kneeling on your hands and knees, and then extend both legs straight behind you into a full plank position. Keeping your shoulders over your hands, pike your hips in the air as you jump both feet in towards your hands, bending your knees as you land on just the balls of your feet. Jump both feet back out to starting plank position. That’s one rep. Repeat 20 times total.

Bonus tip: The faster you go, the harder you’ll work. Pick up your pace (without losing your form) for a bigger calorie blast. (For an even better calorie burn, repeat this move again at the end of the circuit).

Plank Attitude Back and Side

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Target your obliques as well as your hips and thighs with this exercise!

How to do it: Start in a full plank and then lower your knees to the floor gently, keeping your weight in your hands and resting the tops of your feet on the floor. Extend your right leg out straight behind you at about hip level. Bend your right knee and bring it up towards your right shoulder, looking over your right shoulders as the leg comes in. Extend it back out behind you. That’s one rep. Repeat 15 time on each side.

Bonus tip: The further away from your hands your knees are, the more challenging this move gets.

X Abs

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Slightly changing the angle of your arms and legs can make a huge difference in the intensity of your abs work. Try this ‘X’ shaped move to feel the extra burn!

How to do it: Start lying on your back with your arms and legs extended straight up to the ceiling, head resting on the floor. Open your arms and legs into an ‘X’ shape, bringing the legs just above the floor, and your arms back by your ears. Next, bring legs and arms back together, lifting your head off the floor, looking toward your legs, pressing your arms just outside of hips (but not touching the floor), and lifting your hips off the ground as your legs come in toward your head. That’s one rep. Repeat 20 times total.

Bonus tip: Think about exhaling and drawing your belly in tighter as you lift your head and hips up to help control your movement and not use momentum.

Side Plank with Knee Circle

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This total-body move really zeros in on your core muscles, which not only include your abs, but also your back, hip flexors, and inner thighs.

How to do it: Start lying on your right side and bend your right elbow underneath your shoulder to prop up your body, reaching your left arm straight up to the ceiling. Bend your right knee and keep your left leg extended, with your foot flat on the floor. Press your hips off the ground and lift your right knee off the floor and bring the inside of your right foot to the left inner thigh. Next, turn your right knee up toward the ceiling (keeping your foot still pressed on inner thigh), tracing a ‘circle’ with your knee. Make 10 circles with your right knee, and then switch to the other side and repeat with your left.

Bonus tip: This move is tough, so if you need to, just work on holding your side plank position with your knee off the floor first and then build up to tracing the circles.

Seated Leg U's

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Who knew tracing a letter could be so difficult? You’ll feel your entire abdominal wall working during this abs exercise.

How to do it: Start seated, facing your bent knees. Place both hands on the floor just behind your hips, and lean back to pick both feet up off the floor, keeping knees bent. Next, lean further back, bending your elbows to the floor and extend your legs further away from your body, while tracing a letter ‘U’ with your bent knees. Try to lean back so that your elbows touch the floor at the bottom of your ‘U’, and then sit up as you finish it. That’s one rep. Repeat 20 times total.

Bonus tip: Focus on bracing your abs in to help support your back during this move. If you start to feel any strain your lower back, don’t recline as far back.

Chop Jacks

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This quick cardio burst helps work your waistline while burning up some body fat at the same time.

How to do it: Start standing with your feet together and your hands clasped. Bring both hands up to your right shoulder, bending elbows. Next, jump your feet apart and squat back into your hips as you chop your hands down to the outside of your left hip. Jump feet back together and bring hands back to right shoulder. That’s one rep. Repeat 10 times on one side, and 10 times on the other.

Bonus tip: The higher you jump during this move, the more intense this move gets. Add as much height as you can to boost your calorie-burning potential.

Cross Chop to Knee

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This exercise is also a balance challenge, which means you’ll engage your abs as well as the stabilizing muscles in your ankles, legs, and glutes.

How to do it: Stand on your right leg with your left leg extended out to your side, toe tapped on the floor. Clasp your hands together, bend your elbows, and bring both hands just above your right shoulder. Bend your left knee and raise it up and across toward your right shoulder as you ‘chop’ both clasped hands down to your left hip. Return to start position. That’s one rep. Repeat 10 times on one leg, 10 times on the other.

1-Arm Full Sit Ups

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This functional move targets your abs in a way that you use them every day--but sitting up was never so tough!

How to do it: Start lying on your back with your right knee bent, foot flat on the floor, and left leg extended straight out on the floor. Extend your right arm to the ceiling and reach your left arm toward your left foot. Sit all the way up, rolling through your back, keeping your right foot on the floor, and your right arm up over your shoulder and your left arm reaching in front of you all the way up. Slowly roll back down to the floor. That’s one rep. Repeat 15 times on one side, 15 times on the other.

Bonus tip: Hold a 3-5 pound dumbbell in your top hand to add even more of a challenge to this move.

Try this workout and more with SHAPE’s Pink Power: Flat Abs 5 Ways DVD, available now (a portion of the proceeds go to breast cancer research).

Original article and pictures take www.shape.com site

10 Kid-Phrases That Make Moms Cringe

10 Kid-Phrases That Make Moms Cringe

If you’ve been a parent to a toddler or older for any length of time, then you know that certain phrases that come out of a child’s mouth are, well…nerve-wracking. That is, they may signal that something is very, very wrong. Or, they may just be like nails on a chalkboard.

Either way, there are certain phrases that moms never, ever want to hear again. Because sanity is a good thing.

10 Kid-Phrases That Make Moms Cringe

1. “Uh-oh.”

This is the universal word for “something really bad has happened.” If you hear it from another room, you can be assured you will find a mess, something broken, or some other kind of problem. If you hear it, move fast — maybe there’s still time to save the situation.

2. “What would happen if we…”

This is a real problem with older kids. It means they’re scheming. They want to try something that may or may not be safe, just to see what will happen. If, for example, they’d like to find out if their Slinky really walks down stairs, that’s cool. If they want to see if the dog will take a bath in the washing machine…not so cool.

3. “Don’t tell mom.”

Secrets from mom are (almost) never good. (There’s the rare exception of a birthday secret that’s good, but usually there is another adult in on that. Or the kids are older.) Often, this means, “I know what we did here today was pretty much devastating, so we should never tell mom about it. Maybe we can get away with it.” Of course, when you find the mud in your bath tub and a frog in your closet, you will know.

4. “I didn’t do it, it was _____!”

It’s almost always to get out of trouble, and usually said by multiple children at once. Or, said by older children about the youngest child, who is not in a position to defend him or herself. My own kids usually blame my fourth child (the youngest who can walk — they know the 7-month-old didn’t do it). However, he is almost 3 and can also talk, and readily accepts blame when he did do something, so if he denies it — I know they’re lying. And yes, it is weird that my almost 3-year-old accepts the blame, but, he does.

5. “Mooooooooooom!”

The whine. (And not the good kind.) You can hear it now. It’s from the child who does not need anything, but cannot stop bugging you. Perhaps it is the tattler — “He looked at me again! He was thinking about touching me!” Or perhaps it is the overtired child who refuses to nap. Whatever it is, even if there is a good reason (perhaps they’re sick), it is grating to hear, over and over and over again….

6. “I wanted to see what would happen.”

Usually follows a little “experiment” gone wrong. I got a similar excuse from my 4-year-old when I caught him pouring mustard onto the living room carpet. It’s when kids try completely ridiculous stuff and really don’t have a reason why they did it. Well, they’ll grow up to be something really creative or amazing. Probably.

7. “So, don’t be mad, but…”

…this is absolutely going to make you mad. That’s what it means. They’re just preparing you for that right now.

8. “I didn’t do that.”

A complete, obvious, and ridiculous lie. This is the child who is holding empty chocolate wrappers, with chocolate smeared on their mouth, but when questioned, claims “It wasn’t me.” Sometimes, even when you point out the evidence, and the fact that it could not have been otherwise, they will still deny it. Future lawyer?

9. ::CRASH!::

When this happens, one hopes it is something simple…like a stainless steel water bottle falling to the ground (those are surprisingly loud, but no harm done). However, it may be a glass dish…or a broken window. Something expensive and unfortunate, that will take you hours to clean up properly and a lot of money to replace.

10. ::Silence::

Silence is golden…said no parent of a young child. If you’re sure that they are asleep, or watching TV, or putting together a puzzle (or some other quiet, harmless activity), then silence is good. But they might be silent because they are spreading your cocoa powder all over the living room floor (I had a 2-year-old do that once). They might be silent because they have gone upstairs and are trying to give themselves a bath. There are all kinds of bad reasons for silence — so you absolutely want to check on that, sooner rather than later.

Kids sure do keep you on your toes!

Which kid-phrases make you cringe?

Ready to get started living a healthier life? This complete, 50-page guide will walk you through the steps, product swaps, recipes, and more that you need to get started today!

Original article and pictures take modernalternativemama.com site

10 Healthy Toddler Snacks

10 Healthy Toddler Snacks

Nutritious and delicious, these healthy toddler snacks are easy to make and perfect for little kids and big kids too!

Hi Friends!

We’re talking snacks today! Specifically, healthy toddler snacks. Although I don’t have a toddler YET, at the rate time is flying, I will soon! And if Squish is anything like his mama, he’s going to love snacks!

So, I asked my friend and fellow mom, blogger & RD Katie to stop by today and share some of her toddler’s favorite snacks!

Hello! My name is Katie and I’m the registered dietitian, Mom, and blogger over at Mom to Mom Nutrition. When I’m not sharing healthy, family-friendly recipes, I’m talking all things toddler and baby— which naturally has ignited a friendship between Lindsay and myself. Lindsay and I might have kiddos at different ages and feeding stages, but we have one thing [ok, two things] in common: we love cooking for our babies and sharing what works and what doesn’t with one another. Strength in numbers—as most parents would agree!

So that’s why I’m here today. Sharing 10 healthy toddler snacks that my somewhat picky, food-throwing toddler can’t get enough of. The photos are real life: a look inside my somewhat chaotic kitchen at snack time!

The Classics

For the busier days— which seem to be every day when you have a toddler! The key here is to find brands for dips and spreads your family likes AND prep some fresh fruit and veggies at the beginning of the week. I took a hint from Lindsay on the food prep point!

Pictured: Cottage cheese parfait with avocado and banana, peanut butter banana berry bites, hummus with cheese and crackers, and Wheat Chex with berries and popcorn.

1. Cottage Cheese: This one might surprise you— it surprised me actually when my toddler wasn’t turned off by the texture of cottage cheese. I was thrilled when he asked for seconds of MY cup. Now I give him his own cottage cheese parfait that includes dry whole grain cereal + fresh or canned fruit.

2. Hummus: This is THE go-to snacking protein for my family, for the big and little kids alike. Whether it’s spread on crackers, used as a condiment for sandwiches, or “dipper” for cucumber slices, carrot sticks, and bell peppers, hummus is THE snack. It’s messy, though. Don’t say I didn’t warn you….

3. Avocado: A healthy fat and creamy-to-eat food, my toddler loves avocado cold and cut into slices. Eaten solo. But have you seen all the love for avocado toast lately?!

4. Nut Butter: There’s a lot to love about the classic “dipper” for apples, celery sticks, and bananas, and a protein-packed spread for whole grain toast, waffles, or pancakes.

5. Whole Grain Cereal: We eat cereal dry in this house with a side of fruit, but you can eat it any way you’d like. I’d recommend looking at the nutrition facts label and choosing a cereal that is low in sugar and has a few grams of protein and fiber.

Toddler Snacks Requiring TIME

For the days when your toddler decides to take a LONG nap and you find yourself wanting to cook or spend a little more time on recipes.

Pictured: Fresh fruit [washed and prepped] for a berry smoothie, Cheerios trail mix with berries and chocolate chips, smiley face oatmeal, and banana bread mini-muffins.

6. Muffins: What I love about making muffins for toddler snacks is that one batch lasts a few days OR weeks, if you decide to make a double batch and freeze them (which essentially works for any muffin recipe I’ve tried.) I recently made a recipe for Banana Bread Mini-Muffins [pictured with a clementine] that my toddler can’t get enough of! I also have become hooked on these Chocolate Strawberry Breakfast Muffins from Jenna at Make Healthy Easy!

7. Smoothies: Smoothies are a great way to get extra fruit and veggies into your toddler’s diet. Mix with a little milk and you have added protein and calcium, among other important nutrients. Our favorite is OF COURSE any smoothie involving peanut butter and chocolate, like my Chunky Monkey smoothie, or my husband’s favorite: greens! Click here for an all-star list of green smoothie recipes!

8. Oatmeal: From bars to bites, to plain old oatmeal with fresh berries, you can’t go wrong with the whole grain, fiber goodness found in oatmeal. My toddler’s favorite? Oatmeal made with a banana and blueberry smile, of course! I also make a weekly batch of these No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bites from Kristy at Chocolate Slopes.

9. Trail Mix: Homemade trail mix is SO easy and can be adapted based on your child’s favorite add-ins. Goldfish. Pretzels. Popcorn. Dried fruit. Nuts. And my favorite: chocolate chips. I’ve highlighted a few of our favorite trail mix combos in the pictures above!

10. Kabobs: This is my new favorite. I love taking a cubed cheese, cubed fruit, and alternating the two to make homemade kabobs! Joey loves pulling off the different kabob layers and talking about the food colors. I just tried a recipe from Liz at the Lemon Bowl for Fruit and Cheese Kabobs and it was a HIT in our house!

Here’s to snacks that are perfect for toddlers—- and just as delicious for parents. For you know, those moments when the kiddos want to share….

Thanks so much to Katie for all these great ideas. Be sure to check out her blog and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!

In case you need a few more, here are some Bean favorites!

Healthy snacks are a great thing to add to your weekly food prep sessions so you have them on hand during busy weeks. If you liked this post, you’ll love my ebook – The Ultimate Guide To Food Prep. It dives into even more detail about how to food prep, troubleshoots common problems and provides tons of tips to make it easier! Click the image below for more details!

Enjoy!

–Lindsay–

Original article and pictures take www.theleangreenbean.com site

10 Healthy Snacks Kids Will Eat (with a little fun)

10 Healthy Snacks Kids Will Eat (with a little fun)

Feeling Overwhelmed?

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Fruit Ladybugs

Cheesecake Yogurt Dip

Pita Chips

Berry Delicious Vegan Gummies

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Healthy Puffed Cereal Bars

Original article and pictures take www.awhimsiclelife.com site

10 Healthy School Lunches for Kids

10 Healthy School Lunches for Kids

Two weeks of healthy school lunches for kids! These are the lunches that my kids LOVE, and they are EASY to make!

I hate to say it, but back to school time will be here before we know it. My youngest goes back to preschool in less than two weeks, I start back to teaching in 3 weeks, and the week after that Julia starts 2nd grade. I’m not ready for this summer to be over, so I’m soaking up every last day while also getting organized for the busy back to school season!

Getting back into a routine after the relaxing days of summer helps us to make the back to school transition smoother. We’re already working on moving up our bedtime schedule. Planning for healthy breakfasts so we fuel our bodies right in the mornings also helps.

Back to school also means getting back into a routine of packing lunchboxes every day. It’s important to me to pack a healthy lunch for my kids, because I know that they learn better when their tummies are full from a balanced meal. I try to include a fruit, vegetable, grain (preferably whole grains), and a protein in their lunch each day. We usually pack our kids lunches the night before because our mornings are very busy on school days.

Sometimes when it comes to packing lunches, we feel like we’re packing the same thing day after day. That gets boring, fast. So I’ve done some brainstorming to create two weeks’ worth of healthy lunches. These are things that (for the most part) my kids like to eat. They do each have their own preferences when it comes to vegetables and fruits, and their favorite meals are often changing. One week, cheese roll ups may be my 7-year-old’s favorite, and the next she’s tired of them and wants something new. Keeping her lunchbox filled with a variety of foods each day helps.

My kids love to eat from their school lunch box, at home! They were so excited on the days when I photographed the lunchboxes for this post, since they got to eat the lunches when I was done. If your kids are picky about foods, I recommend letting them try new things in their lunchbox at home before sending those foods to school. And even if they don’t eat certain foods, keep offering them. My kids won’t eat snap peas, but they did try them when I put them in their lunchbox the other day. I’ll keep offering snap peas from time to time, and one day they just may surprise me. ��

I hope these healthy school lunches will spark some inspiration for you!

Two notes:

• If your child’s school is nut-free, sunbutter is a good alternative to peanut butter, almond butter, and other nuts butters.
• The lunchbox pictured in these photos is from Pottery Barn Kids, and is unfortunately no longer available. They currently offer this bento box, and I also recommend the PlanetBox as a similar alternative to the lunchbox pictured. Amazon offers many bento box options as well. We always include a cold pack in our kids’ lunchboxes, to keep cold foods fresh.

Our 10 Favorite Healthy School Lunches:

• 

  Cheese roll ups (whole grain tortilla, cream cheese, cheddar cheese slices), apple slices, peanut butter chocolate chip energy bite, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers and

  white bean dip.
• Bean and cheese burrito, peach slices, mini almond shortbread cookie, cherry tomatoes, pineapple.
• Whole wheat english muffin pizzas (Top english muffin halves with tomato sauce, a sprinkle of oregano, and grated mozzarella cheese. Melt cheese under broiler for 3-4 minutes.), bell pepper and carrot sticks, raw almonds and dark chocolate chips, black olives, apple slices.
• Cherry tomato, apple, and cheese skewers (cut sharp points off skewers), cantaloupe, mini chocolate chip banana muffin, bell peppers & snap peas, cucumber slices, white bean dip (made with a combo of cannellini beans and chickpeas).

• 

  salted cashew energy bite with cranberries

  Whole wheat pita bread, carrot sticks, white bean dip or hummus, (made with almonds instead of cashews due to Julia’s allergy), bell peppers, snap peas, strawberries.
• Whole grain waffle (from the freezer), cherry tomatoes, peanut butter chocolate chip energy bite, hard boiled egg, strawberries & blueberries.
• Almond butter banana roll-ups (whole grain tortilla, spread with almond butter, place banana in center, roll up and slice), strawberries, energy bite, cantaloupe, celery sticks, bell pepper.
• Sunbutter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat, raspberries with dark chocolate chips, cheddar cheese cubes, carrot sticks, blueberries & strawberries.

• Quick pasta salad (4 cups cooked mini farfalle pasta tossed with a mixture of 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1/4 teaspoon mild chili powder. Add 1 cup each of canned corn, black beans, and halved cherry tomatoes.), whole wheat toast sticks with butter, strawberries, hard boiled egg, cantaloupe.
• Cooked chicken, brown rice & ketchup, cucumber slices, mini chocolate chip oatmeal cookie, cantaloupe & strawberries, cherry tomatoes.

What are your kids’ favorite healthy school lunches? Please share your ideas in the comments. ��

More inspiration for planning for healthy eating:

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Original article and pictures take kristineskitchenblog.com site