Words of inspiration

(Or in other words, I have no time to blog today!)

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme

"I saw few die of hunger; of eating, a hundred thousand." - Benjamin Franklin

"He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skill of the physician." - Chinese Proverb

"The wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings. Let food be your medicine." -Hippocrates 

"We never repent of having eaten too little�." -Thomas Jefferson

Reinventing the peanut butter & jelly sandwich

Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches are a staple in the average child's diet. My kids would gladly eat one every day! If made correctly, a PB&J sandwich can be an excellent part of a balanced diet. However, if you use white bread, sugary peanut butter, and sugary jelly, you're not doing yourself or your kids any favors.


Here's how we make a healthy PB&J:
-2 slices Nature's Own whole grain bread
-Smuckers Simply Fruit spread (thin layer)
-Smuckers Natural Peanut Butter

You can also change this sandwich up by using real fruit like sliced bananas or strawberries instead of jelly or using a whole wheat wrap or tortilla instead of bread. By making a few simple changes to a typical PB&J, you've increased the healthiness of a kid favorite! PLUS, young kids can easily make this sandwich on their own!

Banning toys in kids meals?

It is no secret that I'm not a fan of the Happy Meal or any other kid's meal at a fast food restaurant with a toy. Do my kids get them every now and then? Sure, but it is pretty rare. Would my kids like to get Happy Meals more often? Of course, they are normal kids who see commercials and here/see what other kids have. Do they know WHY we don't get Happy Meals often? ABSOLUTELY! And to me, this is the key.

Yesterday, a Santa Clara county in California voted to ban toys with fast food meals. While I appreciate the message that we shouldn't teach our kids to associate fattening foods with rewards, I don't like the government making more decisions for parents than they already do. Parents should be allowed to make their own decisions (within legal reason, of course) regarding their children and their diets. If the government starts controlling diets, where will the line be drawn? How will people ever learn what is good for them and what isn't?

If the government wants to get involved in the diets of our children, they should start with education. Teach children in school what is good for them and what isn't and why. Give parents resources to learn more about how to feed their children properly. Don't just start banning foods and business concepts.

There is my rant for the day. :)

Pet Peeve #1

I'll admit it - I cringe when I see adults giving soda to kids. I don't understand why anyone would give their kids liquid sugar and caffeine when it offers nothing redeeming and there are so many better choices out there. Shockingly, I see it a lot. Don't even get me started on how many folks I see putting soda in a bottle or sippy cup....

There are so many reasons why no one should drink soda, but even more so for kids:

1. Obesity - A 12 oz. can of soda is loaded with 10 teaspoons of sugar and about 150 calories.Would anyone let their kid sit down with a bowl of sugar and eat it? Empty calories with no nutritional value makes you gain weight.
2. Tooth decay - All of that sugar is horrible for a child's developing teeth. Cavities are no fun for anyone!
3. Caffeine - Most sodas have caffeine in them, which is stimulant that gets a child all wired up and hyper. I have heard many parents complain that they have a hard time getting their kids in bed at night while cracking open a Mountain Dew for them to drink. Plus, caffeine is addictive!
4. Calcium - If a child is drinking soda when they are thirsty, then they are probably missing out on calcium from milk. Soda also contains phosphoric acid which interferes with calcium absorption. That daily soda habit could be making your child's growing bones weak. 
5. Hydration - Soda is not a hydrating beverage. In fact, a caffeinated beverage is a diuretic and contributes to dehydration. If your child is thirsty, they need water.

There are plenty of other reasons for children not to drink soda.  It is a bad habit to start, and a hard habit to break. Keep your kids hydrated with water, milk, and a little bit of 100% juice to give them good habits to grow into healthy adults!

P.S. There are companies out there making healthier versions of carbonated drinks, like Juicy Juice. If your kids really love soda, perhaps you could offer these as an occasional option.

Popsicles!

As soon as the weather starts warming up, my kids get popsicles on the brain! I prefer to make my own homemade, but I don't always have the time. I like to keep some store-bought ones in the freezer to have when I haven't made my own. They also travel easier if you're taking them to someone else's home. (I'll blog on homemade ones the next time I make some!)

Edy's makes a good "real fruit" variety that the whole family loves. It does have added sugar, but it is real sugar instead of HFCS like most popsicles have. They also make a ton of other varieties that you can feel good about giving your kids on occasion, including smaller snack size portions.

What is your favorite "healthy" store-bought popsicle?

Annoying commercial #9

This KFC commerical is not specifically marketing children, but this sandwich is making so many headlines lately that there almost no way to avoid it! I don't see why anyone would find this sandwich appealing, but I'm sure KFC is selling a ton of them given all the attention it is receiving in the news. And now I'm giving it attention too...but more of a warning.



Even the grilled version is too  much! 

Sandwich	Calories	Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)
KFC Original Recipe® Double Down	540	32	1380
KFC Grilled Double Down	460	23	1430

Sloppy joes...slop, sloppy joes

My kids absolutely love sloppy joes. But really, who doesn't? As I've blogged about before, you don't have to rely on the canned sauce to enjoy a quick, easy, and healthy sandwich. This is my very rough recipe - I just throw stuff in. I don't use green peppers because we don't really care for them cooked, but here is a good "real" recipe that calls for them and may give you a better idea on exact measurements.

Sloppy Joes
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup diced onion
1 small can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
Chili powder, garlic, salt, pepper, etc. to taste

Brown ground beef with onion and drain any fat. Add in rest of ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve on whole wheat/grain buns. I served this meal with the leftover green peas from the night before and beets, which my kids love.

I can't help myself, so I will leave you with this (it is oddly relevant)...