Join the Kids Nutrition Blog as we share news, tips and ideas on the ever changing world of health and nutrition for the entire family (without breaking the bank)!
Aug 27, 2010, Wole Foods Labor Day Bag Of Gotta Haves Giveaway
Head over to the Whole Foods blog and leave a comment about your best summer for a chance to win a great prize just in time for Labor Day:
"To celebrate the end of summer, we’re giving away a bag filled with all of the ingredients needed for these “gotta haves” – enough for a Labor Day party for 8 to 10. Fun! We’re also throwing in a $50 gift card so you can load up on your favorite condiments — think ketchup, mayo, mustard, pickles, relish — and any other gotta haves for a perfect end-of-summer party."
Check out their blog post for all the details. (oh, and you must be able to pick up your prize at a Whole Foods store. Sorry about taht for those of you that don't live near one.)
Aug 24, 2010, Yo Gabba Gabba! and Plum Organics Video Contest
Submit a video of a "Cool Trick" you can do and be eligible to win an an all-inclusive trip for four to a Palladium Hotels & Resorts property in Mexico, Jamaica, or the Dominican Republic!!
Many of you have voiced concern over my MONDAY MEAL PLANNER including eggs this week due to the massive recall going on all over the country.
I should have included that I only buy organic eggs or locally produced eggs. Neither of which are part of the recall.
Also, like any other animal product, I wash my eggs before I crack them open to be sure nothing from the egg shell gets into the egg and I NEVER allow my family to eat raw eggs (like in cookie dough).
I also cook my eggs throughly and wash everything down after I am finished cooking including utensils, countertops and my hands.
REMEMBER: TREAT EGGS AS YOU WOULD RAW MEAT!
Click on the link below for egg safety tips!
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This is not medical information or professional advice. Please consult a physican or other expert regarding the best ways to prevent food-born diseases in your family.
Wanted to pass along a few recipes for homemade cleaning products that not only are better for the environment and your health, but are much less expensive to make than buying traditional cleaners. (Remember, these products still neeed to be kept away from small children and pets)
Wanted to pass along this great website that allows you to check the ingredients in foods. This is an especially useful site if you have food allergies in your family!
It is also great for comparing brands and for seeign what is REALLY in your food!
I am adding this to the RESOURCES section as well...
Aug 20, 2010, It's WE TRIED IT! Friday. This Week: ALMAY Pure Blends
A few months ago I tried PHYSICIAN'S FORMULA Organic Tinted Moisturizer and thought it was ok. It didn't give me the coverage I needed, but it worked well for the summer months. But, it did receive a 4 from the Environmental Working Group's Searchable Database.
Well, this week I purchased ALMAY Pure Blends that said it was over 97% natural and had a SPF 20.
I went on the Environmental Working Group's Searchable Database (link below) when I got home and this product did receive a 3. (I am trying to move toward products that are only 1 or 2).
As far as coverage, this product did well for me. It gave me the coverage I needed for my "aging" skin and blended well.
I also like having a sunscreen in my foundation. One less step in the mornings!
Overall, ALMAY PURE BLENDS was a good choice for me. Not overly expensive, good coverage and only a 3 in the database.
However, I am still on the lookout for a affordable foundation in the 1 or 2 range. I'll keep you posted!
Click below for the link to the Environmental Working Group Searchable Database:
My daughter starts kindergarten next week and I found the CUTEST bento box at Whole Foods that is shaped like a frog!! Perfect for her to take to school.
(Yes, she and I both agreed that she wants to pack her lunch after we saw the first month's lunch menu. It was gross. French Fries should not count as a vegetable. Enough said.)
Anyway, here are a few ideas I found on Parenting.com for fun bento box lunches. I may make these for the hubby as well!! (LOL!)
Aug 17, 2010, REMINDER: Free Lunch Tote from Annie's
With so many good Annie's sales lately, just wanted to remind you about the FREE lunch tote giveaway going on until October 31. Buy any 2 Annie's Homegrown products and register for your free tote!
Aug 13, 2010, It's WE TRIED IT! Friday. This Week: 365 Organic Burritos
I normally am a big fan of the Amy's Organic burritos. (I do not eat microwaved meals on a regular basis, but sometimes it is the best option for me at work.)
I was at Whole Foods last week and needed to pick-up something for my lunch. So, I went to the freezer section to get an Amy's burrito. But, I ended-up grabbing the 365 brand burrito instead because they were nearly $1.00 cheaper!
I was planning on not liking it as much as the Amy's, but I thought it would be ok since I forgot my lunch and needed something quick to eat before a meeting.
I was very surprised to find that I loved the 365 brand even MORE than I do the Amy's!
Often the Amy's Burrito filling comes out all over the plate when you microwave it.
But, the 365 brand seemed to have a thicker burrito wrap and didn't leak at all.
I also thought the overall taste was great and the price was great too!
I have decided to only purchase the 365 brand from now on.
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This post is a personal opinion. There was no compensation for this review.
Aug 11, 2010, WHOLE FOODS Sales and Coupon Match-Ups Now Posted!
Here are this week's sales and coupon match-ups.
1. Barbara's Cereal is on sale this week for $2.50 a box. Pair it with the BOGOF from Facebook to make it $1.25 a box!
2. Stonyfield yogurt 6oz is on sale for $0.50 each. Use the $0.50 off 3 coupon from their site to make it $0.33 each when you buy 3.
I attended a Wellness Workshop on Saturday and an interesting question arouse:
What if you had to make the choice between local or organic?
We have do not have an organic peach or blueberry farm near us, so do we buy locally from these non-organic farmers or go and buy organically from the grocery store instead?
I would LOVE to know you thoughts! Click on the link below and join the conversation on Facebook!
Aug 8, 2010, MONDAY MEAL PLANNER and printable grocery list now posted!
Since we still do not have our internet problems fixed at home, I am posting my MONDAY MEAL PLANNER early to save myself stress tomorrow by having to drag the kiddos out to find a connection!
This week I tried to find meals that used the same ingredients to make shopping easier.
Aug 6, 2010, It's WE TRIED IT! Friday. This Week: INSANITY workout DVDs
Sorry this is posted so late! We still don't have an internet connection at our house. So, I once again had to wait until my husband came home to go find an internet connection!!
So, I spent my day instead freezing 20 lbs of peaches!! They were only $0.49/lb at my Whole Foods and they are delicious! Can't wait for peach cobbler come January!
Anyway, this week I received my INSANITY DVDs in the mail. In case you don't know much about INSANITY, it is like P90X. Only it doesn't require equipment, which is great for me since we have none at our house!
It also comes with a meal plan that I am planning to use. (Look for it during my MONDAY MEAL PLANNER)
I took the fitness test that comes with the program and took my "before" pictures. So, I am ready to start the first DVD Monday morning. It is a 5 day a week for 8 weeks program and I will post my results at the end for all of you to see.
Hopefully, I will look AWESOME!!!
Worries me a little that it says it the fitness test was difficult, then this workout may not be for you. It also says you MUST have an examination by a doctor before starting.
I workout regularly, but the fitness test was a little challenging! Guess we will see what happens!
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This is an independent review of INSANITY. Family Health and Nutrition was not compensated in any way for this review. This is purely personal opinion.
Aug 5, 2010, Wal-Mart Sales and Coupon Match-Ups Now Posted!
Mostly the same as last week except for $0.23 Muir Glen Tomato Paste...
Aug 3, 2010, Happy 30th Birthday To The Juice Box!
Today starts the 30th Anniversay celebration of the juice box!
If you are like me, you don't give your kids much juice. But, with my daughter starting kindergarten soon, I do plan on sending Hansen's juice boxes in her lunch.
Also, as part of the celebration Tetra Pak, leading carton packager and inventor of the juice box, and Hansen’s® Junior Juice are showcasing how the kid-friendly juice box has been meeting the nutritional and lifestyle needs of families for decades and why it remains a favorite of moms and children alike.
A commemorative website features a specially-commissioned song by family-friendly music group the Juice Box Heroes, and invites families to create and submit original “Celebrate the Juice Box” music videos themed around the song for a chance to win $2,500, a year’s supply of juice boxes and more.
The site includes family-friendly games, tips on packing healthy/green lunches, and also features a special message from actress and mother of three Candice Cameron-Bure (remember her from FULL HOUSE??).
Aug 3, 2010, MONDAY MEAL PLANNER and PRINTABLE GROCERY LIST now posted!
Sorry for the delay yesterday. The printable grocery list is now posted.
Remember, almost everything on my list this week is on sale at Kroger since I had to buy nearly everything this week!
Also, the best use of the grocery list is to print it off, go to the kitchen and see what you already have, make any changes for family preferences (like fruit options, etc), add anything else you are on the look out for, print coupons and shop!
So sorry this is late!! We are having internet issues at our house and I had to wait for my hubby to get home so I could run out and use Panera's internet!!
That being said, it is 7:30pm and my kiddos need to get to bed. So, the printable grocery list will be posted in the morning.