Oatmeal Apple Pie Cookies

Who says healthy clean eatting needs do be boring? Check out thus snaking recipie from Amy's Healthy Baking blog. Oatmeal Apple Pie Cookies. 

http://amyshealthybaking.com/blog/2015/01/03/apple-pie-oatmeal-cookies/

February Challenge: Love Your Body by Eating Clean(er)

A year ago,  February 2014, I challenged myself and all of you to find something you loved every day. I managed to get 25 out of the 28 days with the chalkboard art graphic of something I loved.

This February I am going to kick off another challenge!

February is a shortest month of the year so why not use it as a trial for healthy living!?!

Last year I did a lot of exercise and I'm feeling great. This year I think it's time to challenge myself to make even more changes, specifically in the everyday foods I eat.

Despite all the exercise I've done and my overall daily healthy eating, haven't lost that last 10 pounds of baby weight that I want to get off of me. (Although I know some of that is gaining muscle and losing fat from running and all that kind of thing…)

But after lots of reading and investigation I've come to a realization that I've crossed that threshold into the mid 30 range and it's not just about exercise our calorie consumption (a.k.a. quantity). I really think it has to do a lot with quality. 

I'm really thinking at this point I need to seriously think about metabolism and hormones and overall healthy body balance. 

I've talked before about feeding our kids good food and organic versus healthy versus junk food I think it's time for me to really step up the game and see how much of a difference clean eating makes.

So here's what I'm going to do. I am going to take the month of February and challenge myself to gradually switch my family over to eating high(er)-quality food thought the entire month of February.

Over the next three weeks I'm going to do a series of posts about healthy eating geared towards moms who cook for kids and families. I will also setup a basic framework for the February healthy eating challenge.

I would love to challenge you to join me. No need to jump on the organic or vegan bandwagon, just make some small steps to making your families eating a little more healthy. 

Let's get together, share some tips, recipes, resources, and most importantly encouragement to love your body by eating cleaner and healthy.

Let's make February the eat healthy and love your body month! ❤️

Schools Closed! Snow Day Activities for Kids and Moms.

Schools closed in many of the midwest schools today due to the extreme cold.

Many working moms were scrambling last night to make day care plans for the day, I am very fortunate that I am home today. However, now the question is what do I do? We have plenty of Christmas toys but we might need to break up the day with a new activity or two.

With the weather so unpredictable here are a few ideas to keep in your arsenal for upcoming school closure days due to snow or cold.  I have tried to select easy things that won't require a trip to the store and that use everyday objects that you should have on hand.

Snow Day Activities for Kids (and Moms).

1. Indoor snowball toss game. Only requires cups, cotton balls, and a marker.

2. Snowman name Art Project. On a cold day an indoor snowman sounds much better than an outdoor snowman. This gives the added benefit of letter/writing practice for little ones as well.

3. If your child has several friends who live in the neighborhood from school who are also home (or if you hare that awesome mom helping out others by watching a few kids that day). Have some friends over and have a make your own hot coco party.

4. With a little shaving cream, glitter, and some glue you can make sparkly snow paint and paint your own snowman!

5. Want to stay away from the snow themed activities? How about a COLOR HUNT. Starting in the the living room and time your child (amount of time can vary depending on age and your child's skill level.) Give your child 5 minutes to find as many Red things as they can. Next start the timer again and do Orange. Repeat with Yellow, Green Blue, and Purple. Then at the end count up the number of things in each category. If you have multiple kids assign a different color to each child.

6. If you want to have some fun with food you can always create some snowman pancakes or snowman donuts for breakfast, you can get really creative and make a snowman pizza for lunch! Yum Yum!

Whatever you end up doing just have fun with your kiddos. Enjoy the day. They grow up fast and you'll look back and smile at the fun things you did on days like this.

Fall Party Mix Snack

I saw a Pinterest post for a Fall ChexMix but I didn't have the time to make it from scratch so I made my version of a quick and easy fall party mix recipie. 

Great for a get together with friends, a snack for the kids,  or to share with coworkers at the office. 

First pop two bags of kettlecorn and place in a big bowl.

 Add a bag of sweet and salty Chex mix. 

Finally, add 1/2 a bag of Brachs autumn  candy mix.

Quickly mix it up and you have a great big bowl of a sweet fall treat made in under ten minutes and for less than $10.

Pinned It, Nailed It! Fairy surprise sandwich.

Original pin:

http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/58069/make-a-fairy-sandwich

My attempt:

Verdict:  Nailed it!

Super easy and it thrilled my 5 year old!

Here's what you do:

First: Invest in a few basic mini cookie cutters. (I've used mine more times than I can count: Jello Jigglers, cutting bologna and cheese into fun shapes for lunches, shaped quesadillas, cutting fresh fruit....) 

Cut out a shape in the lower corner of ONE slice of bread.

Add peanut butter (and/or jelly) to the second slice:

Put the bread together.

Gently shake the sprinkles into the cut out shape.

Tip: if too much pours out (as it did for me) just shake off the extras into the sink. The base layer will stick to the peanut butter. 

This Little Piggy Lunch

I love all those cute and creative lunches that you see on Pinterest but usually when I attempt to make them they look nothing like the picture. 

Today is different. I found a djlple lunch that I knew even I couldn't mess up.

Pinned it. Nailed it!

I simply started with bread, put the bologna inbetween, and cut it into a circle.

Next I cut an oval nose and triangular ears and placed them on.

I used edible food markers and food gel to make the eyes and smile. 

I had one happy kid at lunch!

Natural VS Organic VS Healthy….. What is a mom to do?

After my little yogurt ordeal in the grocery store the other day I got to thinking about healthy eating and the challenges that moms face when having to provide their children with healthy foods in such a challenging time.

We all want to feed our kids the best. I know when my daughter was born I wanted to give her the most 'organic' and 'natural' foods I could. Especially when first introducing solid foods that first year. When we switched to milk I vowed to buy the good stuff (lets rephrase that, I bought the expensive stuff) so she wouldn't get hormones and all those other "terrible" things that I read about as a new mom…..

Here is a study from Stanford about organic vs regular produce…. I consider Stanford a pretty good source. I was surprised by this study. https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2012/09/03/research-shows-little-evidence-that-organic-foods-are-more-nutritious-than-conventional-ones/

Fast forward 4 years…. I am still trying to provide healthy foods for all of us but i feel like i am fighting a losing battle. Between living on a budget and the cleverness of the advertising companies along with limited time (I am a full time working mom) and a host of other things in life.

We are not the prime example for organic healthy eating……  However, we are not unhealthy either.

I'd say we fall right in the middle. I decided to do a bit of my own web research and share some tips on how I balance todays mass produced foods with some healthy choices for my family.

1. We decided to purchase our beef locally from a farmer who raises and slaughters his own cattle. The cattle are very well cared for. Raised in small numbers. Hormone free. Feed a primarily grass diet with supplementation of oats, hay, and other healthy materials during the winter months. Let me tell you, I have never liked red meat. This meat is phenomenal!

2. We garden during the summer. We have a 4'x8' raised garden bed and we grown lettuce, tomato, spinach, carrots, strawberries, lots of herbs and more. (we tried beans and peas but I can't seem to win the war against aphids.) Gardening is easy. Gardening is fun. Gardening is a great way to get your little ones outdoors and involved so they see where food comes from.

3. I read nutrition labels carefully at the store.

4. I cook as many meals as I can during the week
To me this means: We don't eat out often and don't microwave or heat up boxed dinners. I don't make everything from scratch, but I find ways to incorporate as many fresh and healthy ingredients as I can while still making it in a doable amount of time.

5. I balance my choices knowing that sometimes life isn't going to be perfect and we will occaisonally eat at a fast food restaurant, occasionally make boxed mac and cheese (see how i make mine a bit more healthy here), and yes, sometimes I will give in and buy a food because my daughter sees the cartoon character and begs for it and at the moment it makes my life easier.

I would love to be super mom and serve only the best but there is no such thing as 'supermom'. There is just me and I know that the decisions I make for my family in the moment are the best I can make at that moment. The older I get and the more life experience I have I realize how hard life is. I try not to judge other moms and I hope other moms don't judge me. If we all look into our hearts and know that we are doing the best we can for our families in the decision we make today then we are doing good.

In todays world, I feel like healthy isn't a place one can be but instead it has to be a goal that we strive for.

What choices do you make that make your families food choices a little healthier each day?

Some other resources for you to check out:

a great blog about a mom and her move from feeding her son all organic and her quest for knowledge about todays pesticides and todays foods. http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/the_kids/2014/01/organic_vs_conventional_produce_for_kids_you_don_t_need_to_fear_pesticides.html

http://www.stonyfield.com/blog/natural-and-organic/

here is a great ABC news piece on how labels can deceive:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2014/02/natural-vs-organic-how-food-labels-deceive/

In my mind Mayo Clinc is a pretty good place to get healthy and medical information. Here is a piece they wrote about foods:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880

Maragine vs Butter....

Piggy backing on the idea of misleading advertising....
Margarine is often marketed to be better than butter....
However, I only use it when making "real" pie crust (Simply because real butter just doesn't work. Although I do have a great gluten free pie crust recipe that doesn't use margarine.)

We went back to real butter for everything else several years ago!

Look at this picture about the process of manufacturing margarine and maybe do a little research. What do you think?

 

False Advertising Frustration

I went to the grocery store the other day to pick up a few things and I was going to get yogurt for my kid. Yogurt is good (aka healthy) snack for a kid, right? My daughter was with and asked (begged) for the yogurt 'tubes'. 

While glancing at the option she spots Miss Piggy.

 

Well played advertisers one for you none for me......  

 

Next to it was the Simply GoGurt and On the label it reads...

-No High Fructose Corn Syrup

-Good Source of Calcium & Vitamin D

-Natural Colors and Flavors

 

Look at all those amazing words making my mind tell me how much better this box of yogurt!

 

"Well shoot" my mind says, "it must be healthier than the other yogurt." 

"BUT MOM I want Miss Piggy Yogurt." says my daughter.

 

Ok time to investigate. Time to really read the labels.

Will it have less sugar since it has no high fructose corn syrup? 
Less calories or fat?

Nope, each have 9g of sugars, and all the other nutrition facts are exactly the same in both products.

So what makes the Simply GoGurt any healthier or better than the other yogurt. I am a mom that wants to make good healthy choices for my child.....

Keep reading the label.... We are now down to the fine print on the bottom half.
All the % of vitamins are the same in both products....

They both start with low fat milk and ingredient #2 in both is Sugar, then modified corn starch, gelatin, tricalcium phosphate*, vegetable juice (for color), Potassium sorbate** (for freshness) Carrageenan*** (for thickening) Vit A, and Vit D.

*Calcium phosphate is also a raising agent (food additive) E341. As a mineral salt found in rocks and bones, it is used in cheese products. It is also used as a nutritional supplement.

**Potassium sorbate is used to inhibit molds and yeasts in many foods, such as cheese, wine, yogurt, dried meats, apple cider, soft drinks and fruit drinks, and baked goods

***are a family of linear sulfated polysaccharides that are extracted from red edible seaweeds. They are widely used in the food industry, for their gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties. Their main application is in dairy and meat products, due to their strong binding to food proteins


THESE PRODUCTS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME THING. The only difference in the product is that the boxes are different! I was actually upset when I made this conclusion. The advertisers are making my think I am buying a simple healthy yogurt when in fact it is the same exact sugary yogurt as all the others.

Do you have stories about being "duped" by adverting?

Time to hunt for a new yogurt!
What yogurt do you buy?

Kids vitamins....

I am on the fence about making my daughter take a daily vitamin. Some days she takes a vitamin and some days she doesn't. I am blessed that she isn't too picky when it comes to eating and gets a good balanced diet so I'm not worried.

 

However, After reading an article titled, "Top Children’s Vitamins Full of Aspartame, GMOs & Harmful Chemicals" (published on July 18, 2013 by Arjun Walia) Link to article here

I had to stop and think. Do I really know what is in my child's vitamin? Can I trust that if I grab one of the shelf at the local store that everything in it is ok for my child to ingest?

 

 

 

I do recall the days as a child when I took a daily Flintstones vitamin. It didn't hurt me, at least that I can tell..... but maybe I need to reconsider what I buy for my child.

 

I'm not rushing to jump on the all 'natural holistic wagon'.... but I'm not in the 'nothing can hurt you' club either. I think a lot more studying and research need to be done to see what are the long term consequences of ingesting these various substances. Maybe in the mean time I will look more carefully at the ingredients in my child's vitamins and select something that I feel ok with until I can see long term studies on some of the ingredients.

 

Do you have your child take daily vitamins or supplements? 

What are your thoughts on this?

 

Click to link to my Facebook page and share your thoughts





Original article and materials related to  "Top Children’s Vitamins Full of Aspartame, GMOs & Harmful Chemicals" (published on July 18, 2013 by Arjun Walia) were found on the website: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/07/18/top-childrens-vitamins-full-of-aspartame-gmos-harmful-chemicals/

More sneaky veggies

I can post this only because my husband  probably will not read this and won't realize that I'm sneaking veggies into his food too, not just into my daughters. 

I always keep stage 2 puréed baby food veggie in the pantry not just to mix into Mac and cheese (check out this healthier Mac and cheese link) I also will occasionally sneak it into grownup meals.

Once the sauce and meatballs are in I added some seasonings and then toss I the container of puréed food.

Mix it up and let it simmer. You can't taste the veggie purée at all but you're getting extra veggies and nutrients in each bite!

Gluten Free Lasagna

I tried a new gluten free noodle today. A lasagna noodle!

The box says oven ready. I tried them the first time without cooking and it did not work!!! They were crunchy and over all not good. This time I cooked them for about 10 minutes and then drained them.

The only complaint I have it they really stuck together, both while cooking and when I drained them. I had to run water over them and carefully pull them apart one by one. Also, they a bit shorter than a traditional lasagna noodle so I had to cut (or use the ripped pieces) to fill the pan.

But after getting the lasagna assembled it cooked beautifully and tasted wonderful. 

I used my homemade ricotta with this (of course) and it made it absolutely delicious! 

I would say the noodles were a success.  It was so good that my husband had to double check with me that I used gluten free noodles, as he said, "This tastes so normal, are you sure you used gluten free noodles?"

BPA (not in your kids sippy cup but in your coffee?)

How many of 'us moms' drink coffee everyday? I know its a necessity to get me going in the morning…. 

Also, how many of you are concerned about BPA in your children's containers? 

Then take a moment to read this:
http://themommyilluminati.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/how-k-cups-might-damage-your-metabolism-reproductive-health-and-cause-cancer/

Although the doctor who wrote this article doesn't cite any scientific tests to backup his ideas, it is an interesting theory. 

I do not use disposable Kcups (except on rare occasion). I choose to use a reusable Keurig filter and use my own grounds. Much less expensive and more eco friendly! I hope that makes me a bit safer than the average person.

What are your thoughts on this?

Sneaky veggies....

I posted this on Pinterest before I had this blog so unthought I would share it here. This is a way I sneak a few extra veggies into my daughters favorite... Mac and Cheese.

Q is for Quinoa

Do you love Quinoa? Have you ever given it a try. I discovered it a few years ago after going gluten free. I was looking for an alternative to rice and was pleasantly surprised at how good Quinoa is and also the variety of flavors it offers. Plus, the nutritional value makes it well worth it!

History of Quinoa: Pronounced KEEN-wah, this seed has been called the "mother grain" and "the gold of the Incas." Cultivated in the Andes for over thousands of years, it is used in much the same way as other whole grains. White, red and black are the three types of quinoa most commonly found in grocery stores today.

Nutrition: Rich in iron, magnesium and fiber, quinoa is also unusually high in protein. One cup of cooked quinoa contains approximately eight grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per cup. Containing all nine essential amino acids needed by the body, it is considered to be a “complete” vegetarian protein. It has a pleasant, nutty taste that goes well in place of other healthy grains in recipes.

How to Cook Quinoa: Cooking Quinoa is much like cooking rice. Wash the seeds in a strainer to remove the seed’s outer coating and natural bitterness before cooking. Drain well.

Use 1 cup of dry quinoa and approximately 2 cups of water or broth. This will yield about 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Begin by heating a saucepan with a little olive oil. Add the quinoa and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute to toast the seeds, letting the water evaporate.

I love to add some chicken broth and or fresh spices like rosemary from my garden or add some other herbs for a little flavor. Add the water (or broth) and seasonings and bring to a full, rolling boil. Lower the heat to lowest setting, cover, and cook for about 15-20 minutes. Turn off cooktop, remove pot from heat and let stand five minutes. Fluff and serve!

Try this mango quinoa salad. It is phenomenal!