August ~ Healthy Back to School

August 2, 2012 by
back to school2

We had so much fun with summer sports and the fall is already upon us!  August always brings an assortment of emotions.  Your children may be excited, curious, or nervous; parents may be relieved, hopeful, or concerned; teachers are hopefully motivated, rested, and inspired.  Whether or not the school year affects you, we encourage you to consider the impact of a healthy routine on your emotions and attitude towards any transition.  Children require opportunities for exercise, especially with school limitations of recess, free play, and lunch time.  Healthy balanced meals keep our brains … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child/Teen Exercise, Child/Teen Nutrition, Mindful Parents, Motivation

Back to School Food Tips for Teens

August 1, 2012 by
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Back to school is very exciting for kids of every age. Buying new school cloths and supplies but what we usually forget to plan for is how we eat! I interviewed several teens for this article to learn more about their habits and what they want to know about eating healthier. So for all you teens that are getting ready to head back to school don’t forget the most important school supply of all food! Fuel your brain and body right with good foods! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so don’t miss it. I was not surprised to hear that most teenagers miss breakfast during the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child/Teen Health, Child/Teen Nutrition, Family Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Mindful Parents, Nutrition Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Summer Snack ideas for kids

July 1, 2012 by
kids-healthy-eating

Summer typically means kids will be spending more time around the house. Idle time sometimes means kids will be poking around the kitchen in hopes of finding a quick and easy snack-often an unhealthy one.   To help keep kids healthy, be sure to keep the refrigerator and pantry stocked with nutritious snacks that kids will enjoy. Start with a wide range of choices from the milk, fruit, vegetable and grains food groups.   "Smart snacking is a great way to meet nutrient requirements that may be missed at mealtime," said Andrea Garen, a registered dietitian at Dairy Council … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child/Teen Nutrition, Family Nutrition, Nutrition

Healthy Tips & Recipes for School Lunches

June 20, 2012 by
girl with cooking bowl

Wow--the school lunch.  These have certainly been the topic of hot debate ever since Congress in its infinite wisdom declared that pizza counts as a 'vegetable' for school lunches.  (Ostensibly because it has a tablespoon of tomato sauce on it---Let's Get REAL!  In reality, it's because they get bribed with big bucks from big food manufacturers.) You're  a busy mother, & making breakfast for yourself & your children is already almost an impossibility.  Now, you add MORE time & effort in the crazy mornings?  No way, you think. Yes, there IS a way, with a little pre-planning, an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child/Teen Nutrition, Family Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Healthy Recipes, Nutrition