Easier Healthy Eating

a few parents have asked me for healthier alternatives for their kids especially but for themselves as well. in this house we're not total health nuts but we do believe in making as many healthy choices as possible to allow for fun splurges without doing much damage.

we also have to keep a tight budget so our wallets stay healthy too. which leads to my first tip: JUST BECAUSE IT'S SOLD AT WHOLE FOODS DOESN'T MAKE IT HEALTHY!! it probably makes it high quality and more than likely organic, but organic cane sugar is still sugar! sea salt is still salt! don't get me wrong WE LOVE WHOLE FOODS and shop there whenever we can for high quality meats and produce, but there are healthy options at your local market that are more budget friendly.

so let's start slow and easy, for today's 'smart & healthy kid' snacks and lunch:

instead of those SUGAR LOADED yogurt cups w/ cartoon characters on them we mix fruit chunks in plain low fat yogurt. plus you pack that in a rubbermaid, ziploc, glad etc container in your kid's lunch box/bag and it's cheaper & friendlier for the environment!

instead of a plain SUGAR LOADED peanut butter & jelly sandwich we use sugar & salt free peanut butter (or almond butter) and spreadable all-fruit (sometimes we use sugar-free all-natural applesauce instead) on whole wheat or multigrain bread.

and to drink, how about ditching the sugary flavored milks and make you and your kid smoothies!! a few strawberries or blueberries or a banana in a blender with low fat milk and a few tablespoons of yogurt make a delicious drink that's high in vitamins and healthier than boxed strawberry or chocolate milk!!

enjoy!

The Real Reason Being a Toddler is Hard

while taking a deep breath and counting to ten as my toddler screams 'NOOOOOOO!' in the background, i decide to check in with the rest of the world and come across this article. it's an absolutely delightful description of what it's like to be a toddler and why it's such a hard job for them! really! as the author says, 'What if you sat down to read the newspaper and drink your coffee when suddenly — out of nowhere — some giant swooped down and plopped you in front of a pile of plastic blocks? You bet you’d protest. You’d holler your tush off.'

The Real Reason Being a Toddler is Hard

Michelle Obama and USDA unveil nutritional plate icon

USDA's MyPlate

 The Department of Agriculture’s worst-kept secret was unveiled today in a semi-crowded Jefferson Auditorium at USDA headquarters: Michelle Obama announced the government was ditching the food pyramid in favor of the dinner plate. It was a long wait for the dishware to take center stage in the Department of Agriculture’s campaign to get America to eat better.

“We realized that we needed something that made sense not just in classrooms or laboratories, but at dinner tables and school cafeterias. We needed something useful, something simple,” the first lady said.

"And that’s why I like the MyPlate approach so much, because when it comes to eating, what’s more useful than a plate? What’s more simple than a plate? This is a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods that we’re eating."

Read more with a video of the First Lady's presentation on the Washington Post.