Forget Quaker Oatmeal or Cheerios Tomorrow Morning…
Usually we start our summer day with a smoothie in the morning… but, the weather up here has had trouble remembering that it is summer (well, until today). It seems to me that last year was the same way – we had a little bit of ‘normal’ summer weather here and there… and then before we knew it, summer was over and school was starting! I have waited for summer to come every since — and it finally looks like it came.
But, this isn’t a post about the weather… well, sort of.
When it is hot… even in the morning when you get up – smoothie’s are awesome!
But, if you have been having weird weather… and there is a bit of a chill in the morning – this is an amazing way to wake up 
Forget the Quaker Oatmeal!
Enjoy!
Fruit and Rice Warm Me Up
What You Need:
1 1/2 C brown rice, cooked
1 C almond milk
1 banana, sliced
1 (15 oz) can fruit cocktail
1/4 C water
2 T honey
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
How to Make It:
Place the water, honey and vanilla in a large saucepan over low heat.
Add the bananas and fruit cocktail stirring well to cover with liquid.
Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and allow to cook 8 minutes or until very tender but not mushy.
Stir in the rice.
Pour in the almond milk and stir well.
Return to a boil and cook 10 minutes.
Best if served warm.
Extreme Frozen Treats To Get You Through Summer
Frozen Watermelon
Aren’t these amazing!
I happen to stumble on this frozen treat and had to share right away! I can’t wait to try these with my kids – they LOVE watermelon and what a fun way to present it! Plus – these frozen watermelon pops have the health benefit of 100% fruit…
Excuse me while I go buy some watermelon to freeze 
Fight Boredom With Fun At Home This Summer
We are starting a series to help fight boredom this summer!
Tired of hearing, “I’m Bored Mom”? All it takes is a little bit of preparation and planning… and we are here to help!
Over the next week we will be highlighting some fun ways to keep your kids from being bored this summer. If you have something to add – please share, and I’ll feature it in a future post.
Boredom Buster #1
Backyard Camp Out: Set up your tent right in your backyard for an overnight stay… If camping outside is just a little too much for your little ones, you can still have a camp-out by having a fun campfire (check out this campfire in a box for your backyard – too cool!) and then you can make your own s’mores! If the camp fire in the box is a bit much – there are these little s’more grills you can get. We have one and it works great! The point is to get outside and have a great time creating yummy treats over a fire.
What you might need:
- Basic S’more Ingredients – graham crackers, chocolate squares, large marshmellows
- Skews for cooking marshmellows
- campfire in a box
- or, smaller s’more grill
- want something more gourmet? Check out this s’more cookbook!
Do you have a favorite Boredom Buster? Leave a comment sharing your tip and we’ll feature it later – giving you full credit, of course!
Now THIS is a cookie!
Kendra at My First Kitchen just posted the recipe to these cookies…
Oh. My.
Seriously… my mouth is watering and I’m tempted to stop at the store to pick up some ingredients on my way home so I can make me some of these…
They sound absolutely AMAZING! Of course, I’ll post a full review after I have actually tried them – but, honestly, there is no doubt in my mind that they will impress…
If you haven’t checked out My First Kitchen and you love to cook – you are in for a nice surprise… It’s one of my favorite stops each day.
Do you have a favorite cookie recipe? Please share…
Making Dinner With My 9, 6 and 3 year old
The other night we had so much fun making dinner as a family… I am LOVING getting my kids more involved in the kitchen! Not only are they learning great life skills (how to cook, nutrition, teamwork, etc.)… but, they are working together and also enjoy the responsibility! It is amazing to me how much better they eat when they play a part in creating what they are eating.
So – Friday night, we BBQ’d cheesburgers (I know – super healthy!) … My 6 year old was totally into making the patties. We added all sorts of spices and sauces – I don’t think we will every be able to recreate the wonderful taste of the final meal!! But, it is the memory that counts, right? What I remember… we added a little salt, pepper, garlic, onion, BBQ sauce and who knows what else… mixed it in a bowl with our bare hands (she loved this part!) and then made 6 patties. I should have known to buy more ground hamburger… lesson learned.
While she was helping me make the patties… hubby started up the grill, and I got my 3 year old putting a little bit of butter on the buns so we could toast them ever so slightly. He was too cute… my ‘little bit of butter’ and his ‘little bit of butter’ are quite different. So, my 6 year old helped him add some and spread it around… precious!
Add some KICK to your kid’s Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
We love grilled cheese sandwiches in our house… served along side sliced apples to dip in peanut butter or with a nice bowl of tomato soup… But, sometimes it becomes our stand by and the kids get bored with it. Christine, over at Kids Approved Meals has put together this great article on ways you can get out of the rut of grilled cheese and make it a new favorite for everyone!
Spicing Up Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Grilled cheese sandwiches are the least cumbersome meal to prepare. Kids can even learn to prepare it themselves. The ones I used to make contained regular cheese and white bread with margarine to cook it. Here are a few ways to make that grilled cheese sandwich healthier for your little ones.
First of all you need to slim the cheese. Full fat cheeses are a thing of the past. A slice of fat free cheese melts just the same with fewer calories and fat. If American cheese is too boring, try a slice of Swiss or cheddar cheese. Monterey Jack is good on a sandwich, also. One slice of cheese is plenty, but if you are using the fat free kind, you could probably get by with two slices for a creamier sandwich.
What about the bread? The bread is a key element. White bread contains too many sugars that are bad for you. Try whole wheat or seven grain bread. Sourdough bread would make a good substitution. What you want is bread with fewer calories and carbohydrates per serving.
Avoiding Packed Lunch Boredom
It’s not easy to keep coming up with healthy and fun school lunch ideas. No wonder most parents tend to pack the same foods over and over again. So just how do you avoid packed lunch boredom? Here are some simple ideas to spice up your child’s lunch box.
Change the Bread – Or don’t use bread at all. Kids can get bored with sandwiches so why not try the same fillings but make it a little more exciting by changing the bread. You can try pitta bread, bagels, tortilla wraps or even crackers or breadsticks. You can place the fillings on the side and your child can assemble the crackers or sandwiches themselves.
Try a Salad – Not your typical lettuce and tomato salad, what kid would get excited by that? But instead try a pasta salad or potato salad. Cook and drain the pasta or potatoes and mix with a little mayonnaise or olive oil, add some cut up veggies such as corn kernels, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots; add some sliced turkey, chicken or ham and place in a plastic travel container.
Fun, Fun, Fun – On the days where you go for the traditional sandwich try cutting the bread with fun shapes using cookie cutter. You can also cut slices of cheese or ham into fun shapes. Cookie cutters are something every mom should make good use of. You’ll be amazed at how a boring cheese sandwich will get gobbled up when shaped into a flower or dinosaur.
Fun Kid Snack Ideas
It’s no secret kids love to snack. In fact left to their own devices a lot of kids would rather snack all day than sit down to full meals, but with so many snack times how do you keep snacks exciting and fun? Here are a few healthy and fun ideas:
Fruit on a Stick – Cut up a bunch of different fruits such as apples, bananas, kiwis, mango and add a few grapes. Thread them onto a skewer for a delicious summer time treat. To make it a little more special add a few pieces of marshmallows between the fruit.
Quick Banana Ice – Take a few bananas and mash them in a bowl. Cover and place in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Remove from freezer, fluff up with fork for a healthy, ice cream like treat.
Pitta Pizza – Spread a little tomato sauce on a pitta bread and cut into small triangular pieces. Top with a little grated cheese and place in a moderately heated oven for about 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese melts and starts to bubble.
Sweet Tortilla Shapes – Using small fun shaped cookie cutters cut fun shapes out of a tortilla (wrap). Place on non stick cookie sheet and lightly brush with a little butter. Lightly sprinkle (you only need a little) with a mixture of 1 part cinnamon and 3 parts brown sugar and bake in a moderately hot oven for 10 minutes for a sweet and crispy treat.
Smoothies – A Great Way to get 5 a Day
Before the colder weather hits – get some smoothie action in with the kids…
We all know the importance of eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, with our busy lifestyles it’s not always so easy. That’s where smoothies come in. Delicious and nutritious smoothies can be a mom’s secret weapon to ensuring your kids get enough fruit in their diets.
Here are some yummy smoothie combinations that are great for breakfast or any time of the day. Simply throw all ingredients in the blender and blend on high for 1 to 2 minutes.
Bananarama – 1 banana, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, dash of milk
Mango Mania – 1 mango (cut and pitted), 1/4 cup orange juice
Peach Medley – 1 peach (cut and pitted), 1 banana, 1/4 cup orange juice
Berry Surprise – 1/2 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup raspberries, ¼ cup of milk
Strawberry Ice – 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup orange juice, I cup crushed ice
Honey melon – 1 cup chopped honey dew lemon pieces, 1/4 cup apple juice, tablespoon honey.
Banana Boost – 1 banana, 1/4 shredded wheat cereal (or other high fiber cereal), 1/4 cup milk. A great way to get extra fiber and vitamins into your child’s diet.
7 Quick and Easy Dinner Time Ideas
It’s 6:00 p.m. the kids are hungry, homework needs to be done, you’re stressed and then they ask… “Mom, what’s for dinner?”
It’s not easy juggling our busy lives while trying to feed our families a hot nutritious dinner everyday. These 7 quick and easy dinner ideas will help take the stress out of family meal times.
1 – Plan a Menu – This does take a little organizing ahead of time but it’s definitely worth the effort. Find a few minutes during the weekend and plan your meals for the upcoming week. Write a quick menu, do your shopping and stick the menu on your fridge. Every morning quickly glance at it and take out the foods that need thawing and plan ahead how much time you need to prepare the meal.
2 – Befriend the Crockpot – Okay, this little invention may not be the coolest kitchen gadget around but it can definitely be a lifesaver. With a little planning you can have a nutritious dinner ready before the kids can even say “mom…”
3 – The Casserole is Back – Similar to the crockpot but great for days when you forget to plan ahead. Casseroles work great with leftovers or just about any items you can find in your pantry. Throw together some pasta, tuna, corn kernels, peas and cream for a quick meal. Casseroles made with rice or potatoes are just as easy. Keep a few easy recipes on hand and add or omit ingredients according to what you have in your pantry.
Food Art… Encouraging Healthy Eating For Kids
When I was a kid – we always looked forward to pizza night… not because almost every kid loves pizza… but, because pizza night at our house meant we got to make our own. My mom would put different toppings in small bowls on the table and provide us each with an English Muffin open face on our plate. We would start with the sauce then go to town with the toppings. What was funny was that it didn’t matter what the toppings WERE… it only mattered what they LOOKED like.
Why?
Because this was ART!
I was poking around and came across an article about creating art with your food – or, rather, letting your kids create art with their food Hoping that the artwork would entice the children to eat healthier. Turns out you can make all sorts of cool art pieces with some great fruits and veggies… and what a great way to not only encourage artwork and creativity — but, encourage healthy eating too!
The article I read had a list of suggestions for these art pieces that included:Eyes and Noses: peas, corn niblets, carrot rounds, black olives, black beans, cereal, nuts, seeds, or raisins.
Hair: Broccoli or cauliflower florets, grapes, fresh dill or parsley, or cooked fusilli or other curly pasta.
Legs: Thin celery or carrot strips or pretzel sticks.
Glues: peanut butter, mayo, cream cheese, jelly, yogurt, catsup, mustard, pizza sauce or honey
Where Do Kids Eat Free?
With three children… and kids meals at $5-6 each at restaurants – it adds up… and quickly. That’s why a few weeks ago when I was browsing a local kids magazine and it featured restaurants where kids eat free – I had to stop and read!
And, now of course I can’t seem to find that list of restaurants… so I just googled (love google
Searching for “‘kids eat free’ Oregon” on google brought up great results and I was able to browse all sorts of restaurant lists that other bloggers and sites have… try it out for your own site — and if you know of a great resource or list of restaurants where kids eat free… let me know!
Another FREE resource – Meals Matter – A TIME Saver!
I’m noticing that if you poke around enough you can find almost any service for free on the internet…
Okay… I guess you can’t find a free maid or babysitter… but, there are amazing sites out there to help you not need a maid
At any rate… there are some excellent services available for meal planning online… in fact, a friend of mine, Christine, runs a great service like this called Dine Without Whine. I love it!
But, yesterday I came across a very cool online tool that is completely FREE and creates a shopping list for you… and more. It is packed with recipes, pantry planners, meal planners, suggestions, etc… a very comprehensive tool – I was shocked to find out it was free! Anyhow, check it out – and let me know what you think…
Enjoy!
Leftovers Turn Into AWESOME Spaghetti Sauce!!
Last week we had our usual family favorite… “Built Your Own Soft Taco/Burrito Night” – The kids love it… and I love it because they always seem to eat best when they make the food themselves
I made sure to cook some extra ground Turkey — that we spiced just enough to make it have a great mexican food flavor. (You can even use one of those Taco seasoning packets from the store!)… Two nights later, I pulled the leftover meat from the freezer – and heated it up along with a jar of spaghetti sauce. It simmered for about 30 minutes before we poured it over the noodles… YUMMY! Just enough kick… everyone loved it!
We did this a couple of years ago when we made dinner for a couple of nights while staying at my brother’s house… everyone wondered what my secret ingredients to the sauce (they knew we had used jar sauce). They couldn’t believe that it was the left over meat from the taco night that made it taste so great!
Do you have a secret way to make something ordinary have some zing?
Little Changes To Snacks For Kids Make a BIG Difference
Along the same lines of the Macademia and Cashew Butter change I made a few weeks back…
I was thinking about how I can make changes to other favorites my kids have. One favorite is yogurt… but, they get tired of it. So, I’ve been buying different varieties of yogurt… not flavors – but, for example… in one shopping trip I’ll get a bunch of regular yogurt cups, yogurt drinks and go-gurts to go. The kids love to ‘drink’ their yogurt… and I freeze the gogurts. They can either eat them out of the tube or I’ll put it in a bowl and my 3 year old still thinks he is getting ice cream
Of course another way to make little changes to regular favorites for kid snacks is with fruit. Try freezing, putting it in a smoothie, serving with yogurt – or even whipped cream for a little treat.
Something Different From Peanut Butter…
All year I have been trying to be creative as I plan my children’s lunches for school. My oldest is in 2nd grade and goes to a school where there are a few students with severe peanut allergies – so peanut butter isn’t allowed. The only problem is that my son absolutely loves peanut butter and jelly – and trying to get him to eat any other type of sandwich or creative alternative just seems to stay in his lunch box.
I don’t know why it took my so long… but, I finally decided to try Macademia and Cashew Butter from Trader Joes… he LOVES it! Finally – he is eating his sandwiches at school and enjoying it! Now, he doesn’t get it every day… I have found that it makes a huge difference to not get into a rut with lunches – but, every single time I’ve made a sandwich with this Macademia and Cashew Butter – he eats it! (too bad it’s $10 a jar!!)
Lesson to learn… we can go crazy trying to come up with something NEW for our children to eat – but, sometimes we just need to make a small change to one of their favorites to make it fresh.
Running Out Of Time For Breakfast?
Since my car accident in late February I have been going to the doctor almost 4 days a week… not an easy task when I need to shuffle three little ones around to accommodate these appointments.
So, I’ve been keeping an eye out for easy, healthy, on the go breakfast ideas… and just yesterday I heard some great suggestions on the radio.
If you are rushing out the door in the morning… and need to bring a healthy breakfast for your kids – check out these ideas.
- Pour cereal and milk into a zip lock bag. Bring along a straw and spoon and you have an instant breakfast without the bowl
- Fill an ice cream cone with yogurt, fruit and granola and eat the whole thing! You could even fill the cone the night before and put it in the freezer A HUGE hit with kids!
- Make a smoothie – throw frozen fruit, yogurt, apple juice in a blender and pour it in some take-along cups with straws for the kids!
Have anything to add? What is your secret to a quick, healthy breakfast for your little ones?
What is your STAPLE dinner you have when you didn’t plan ahead?
I’m curious… Do you have a favorite dinner staple you can pull out when dinner doesn’t turn out as planned (or never GOT planned)??
Here is mine…
Soft Tacos – Whenever I cook ground Turkey, I cook extra with Taco seasoning and stick it in the freezer for a quick ‘unplanned’ meal. We also make sure to always have these items on hand:
tortillas
cheese
beans
sourcream
salsa
tomatoes
If the meat is cooked ahead of time, this meal can be ready to eat in less than 10 minutes! We just heat up the meat and beans – then put everything on the table for a ‘build-it-yourself’ taco night! The kids love it… and I love it because it is so quick and easy!
What favorite meal do you fall back on in an emergency?
Have you Tried Apple Nachos?
I often sit and try to find new and different snacks for my kiddos to eat. While looking around one day I cane across this odd looking recipe, Yes at first I thought wow that does not look very good. However I was in a pinch for time so I decided to try it. After trying this is now a favorite here. I hope you enjoy.
Apple Nachos with Peanut Butter Sauce
Ingredients:
1 apple (diced)
1 banana (halved and sliced)
2 whole pita breads
1/4 cup butter, melted (1/2 stick)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Sauce Ingredients:
1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup of whole milk
1 tablespoon of honey
Instructions:
Cut the pitas in half so you have two half circles, then
cut in half again, creating 4 triangle shapes from each.
Separate and pull bread apart at the edge where it’s still attached. Brush pita chips with butter and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 400 degrees F for 5 – 7 minutes. While baking, prepare sauce by melting together peanut butter, honey and milk in a small saucepan. Serve chips drizzled with sauce and add sliced apples and banana to the plate for a fun lunch or after school snack.
Happy Snacking
Dipping Bananas
I am sure we have all heard about chocolate covered bananas and most probably enjoy them. One thing I am sure we can agree on is they are not the most healthy snack. After some trial and error one thing that I came across is a healthier alternative. One that my children just love.
We call them Dipped Bananas. A fun easy treat that your toddler can do by herself. The ingrediense are things that a lot of homes have already.
- Bananas
- Yogurt (We use Strawberry)
- Popsicle sticks
- Butter Knife
- Wax Paper
The rest are optional yummys, These are suggestions that we have used you can use other toppings that your child may prefer
- Sprinkles
- Granola
- Chocolate Chips
- Raisins
- Crushed Graham Crackers
Start by having your toddler slice the banana in half at the center, Put the popsicle stick in the flat end of the banana making it like a lolly pop. Dip the banana in the yogurt, sometimes spoon covering the top is necessary if the banana is too long. After you have dipped sprinkle your topping how little or how much its fun to mix and match the toppings. Place on wax paper then put in Freezer for about 30 minutes then enjoy.
We usually do this before making lunch that way after lunch is finished the bananas are ready to enjoy. If your making them for later use after about 30 minutes wrap them in wax paper and slip in a zip lock bag.
We love frozen grapes – the perfect kid snack!
I was thrilled to see grapes on sale at the grocery store this week! We bought a bunch… then I had my 8 and 5 year olds wash them and pull them off the stems and put them into little baggies for the freezer. MMMmmmm… They are like little popcycles for little mouths and my kids love them! In fact, on the menu today for lunch for my 3 year old…
Peanut Butter toast cut into triangles
Fiber Bar granola bar (doctor recommended) cut into little bite size rectangles
FROZEN grapes
Apple Juice
This is my picky eater… and he is EATING it UP!
What’s on your menu today?
Save money by storing your food properly
Storing your food properly can lengthen the time it stays fresh… saving you money on your grocery bill. I found a great resource filled with tips for storing food properly… print off the charts and keep them in your kitchen to know how long meat lasts in the refrigerator or freezer. Learn how long you can keep fruit and whether or not it is best stored in the refrigerator, freezer or pantry. Check it out - from The Household Helper – The Food Storage Guide.
More than your basic Mac n’ Cheese
Every once and a while we many kids’ favorite meal – Mac N’ Cheese… we hadn’t had it for months – but, the other day it was a very quick and easy fix. I prepared the mac n’ cheese and served it up in bowls for the kids. To my surprise (don’t know why it surprised me, it really shouldn’t have), my daughter said, “Mom… where are the green things? I want the green things!”… Okay, brace yourself… the ‘green things’ she is talking about is…
veggies!
Yep I was so proud of my daughter practically begging me for green veggies with her meal!
See, I always add a green veggie to mac n’ cheese… we’ve added peas, broccoli… but, their favorite? Green beans – sticking out like alien legs And that is what we call it in our house – ‘Alien Leg Mac N’ Cheese’
What about you? What do you put in your mac n’ cheese?
Need More Veggies?
Carrie over at Natural Moms Talk Radio has just released a new cook book – only this isn’t like any old cookbook! This is a must have for every kitchen… the entire book is recipes! In fact, there are 365 of them!! One for every day of the year – talk about an easy way to increase your veggies!
If your New Years resolution includes eating healthier… or adding more vegetables to your diet, 365 Salad Recipes CookBook is for YOU!
What did you’re kids have for lunch today??
One of my kids favorites… nachos and apples to dip in peanut butter
I’m glad this is a favorite because it is so easy to throw together – and all three of my children enjoy it too (ages almost 3, 5 and 8)… Here is what I do.
Throw a handful of chips on a glass plate and sprinkle shredded cheese on the top. While it cooks in the microwave for about 30 seconds, I cut up the apples. I get a small bowl out for each child and put about a tablespoon of peanut butter in the bottom of it. The kids like it when I stand the apple pieces up in the peanut butter. Serve with some water or juice and you have a nice little meal for your kids!
