Healthy Kids Day!!!

What: 2nd Annual Healthy Kids Day
When: Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 12-4 p.m.
Where: Mann Music Center 5201 Parkside Ave., Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: FREE
More details here.
Pre-register (required) for your tickets here.


Will you be going?

Thank you, Mamacheaps for the wonderful info!

Introducing: The Hulk

I've been keeping a secret from you all. I don't know why but I just wasn't ready to reveal it. I needed to make sure I was ready for an on-slaught of "ewwwwww", but I am finally ready.

I have been drinking smoothies, daily.
Green smoothies.
Smoothies that include 2 cups of...


SPINACH!

And yes, the smoothies are so very green. Wow, they are no joke.

"Great, whatever, green smoothies", you say. "But are the good?!"

How is this for proof? My husband likes them!!!!!!!!

We put all kinds of things in there but here are a few ways we have drunk (drank?) them:

2 cups spinach
1 banana
1 cup frozen peaches
1 spoonful natural peanut butter
1 cup water


2 cups spinach
1 banana
1 cup peaches
2 tbsp natural plain yogurt
1 cup water


2 cups spinach
1 banana
1 cup blueberries (can be frozen)
2 cups water


You need something liquid to add to make this blend well. You can use yogurt, water, and skim milk!  Easy-peasy and you can bang out several nutritional daily requirements in 1 drink!

If you use blueberries, it will turn the Hulk purple, so be prepared:)

Baby A loves these, she has them with a spoon.  They are very filling and very energizing, so go ahead, try one! Let me know what

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Whoops, I forgot to write about the last two weeks.  That being said, I'm sad to see the show end. I feel anxious that the "revolution" will stop in it's tracks. I am hearing rumors that the schools have gone back to their old ways (which we kind of saw in the last episode), but I hope that's not true. I shudder to think my daughter will be attending school and possibly be trading her friends her wholesome, healthy meals for cheap, processed chemical-crap. YUCK.


I think Jamie Oliver and all involved had great intentions, great ideas, and I do hope they have inspired people.  If nothing else, the show provided a great eye-opening experience for my husband and I and opened up many great conversations between us.

I really hope a follow up episode and possibly a spin-off tv show develop in the future!

Lunchables: Yay, or nay?

I knew they would have to be a nay, but love the way Jana Lynch broke it down over at Fed Up With Lunch.

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Lunchables were introduced by Oscar Meyer in 1988. Originally marketed as a convenience food, they have since become standard fare in many lunchboxes across the country, with varieties such as pizza, nachos, chicken nuggets and ham and cheese. At first glance, Lunchables seem an acceptable alternative to school lunches. After all, the rolls are made "with whole grains", there's a fair amount of protein in them and they seem like complete meals. And they are fun to put together; much more fun than a sandwich or soup. But upon further inspection, and while Lunchables appear fun to eat (as the slogans "Make fun of lunch" or "Lunch your tummy right" imply), there is actually very little nutritional value to the product. 

 

 

Read the full article here.

The Skinny Chef

I recently discovered a new book called Secrets of a Skinny Chef: 100 Decadent, Guilt-Free Recipes. I ordered it on Amazon, shipped it free with a trial of Amazon Prime and 2 days later read it cover-to-cover.

Author and Chef Jennifer Iserloh is a former private chef who has made it her mission to "clean up" traditional recipes without sacrificing taste.  Sounds like a plan, right?

Here's where you can find her book:

I'll be posting recipes I make to tell you how they are!

This book was purchased by me and I am not receiving any compensation for this review.

Make Your Own: Smashed Potatoes

Photo: © David Loftus 2009

This recipe is a new twist on an old family favorite. Leave the skins on the potatoes for added nutrition.

Ingredients:

Smashed Potatoes

• 2 1/4 pounds potatoes
• Splash of milk
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Sprig fresh rosemary
• Olive oil

Directions:

Scrub your potatoes clean, cut them in half, and put them into a pan of salted, boiling water. Boil for about 10 minutes until tender. Stick a knife into them to check they're soft all the way through. Drain in a colander and return them to the pan. Add the milk, butter, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mash until smooth and creamy, adding another splash of milk if necessary. Pick a rosemary leaves off the woody stalk and lightly push them into the potato. You can drizzle with a little olive oil, or use olive oil instead of butter.

This recipe is taken from Jamie's Food Revolution by Jamie Oliver (Hyperion). © Jamie Oliver, 2009

Thanks, Oprah.

The Eat Clean Diet...What is it?!

Tosca Reno was on Good Morning America this morning telling Robin Roberts all about the way she went from being 204lbs to being fit enough to enter bikini contests (the info about contests are on her site).


Check out the video here:


I am currently reading and LOVING this book:


It's PACKED with info and has some great recipes!!  Thank you to Jackie and Janet for introducing me to Tosca Reno!

The 10 Commandments of Healthy Eating for Parents

The 10 Commandments of Healthy Eating for Parents

It's as simple as counting to 10!

1. Thou shalt not force, bribe or coerce thy child to eat.
   
2. Thou shalt set a good example by eating at least five fruits and vegetables, three whole grain products, and three dairy servings per day thyself.
   
3. Thou shalt make mealtimes pleasant.
   
4. Thou shalt encourage thy child to help in meal planning, preparation, and cleanup.
   
5. Thou shalt back off when mealtime becomes a power struggle.
   
6. Thou shalt accept food "binges" as phases that will eventually pass.
   
7. Thou shalt accept the fact that thy child is an individual and thus will dislike certain foods (and there may be many).
   
8. Thou shalt not give up on introducing thy child to new foods. Thou shalt realize it sometimes takes 10 tries to get a child to accept a food.
   
9. Thou shalt use this division of responsibility for eating: As the parent, thou art responsible for deciding when and what to serve. Thy child is responsible for deciding how much (if any) will be eaten.
   
10. Thou shalt give thy child a multivitamin-mineral supplement if he is a picky eater. 

Thank you to our reader, Jen for sending this article along from Spark People!

Protect Your Children

I loved this article I read on blogher.  Here is the shortened version, be sure to follow the link at the end to read the whole article.


It is so important to make sure that while helping our kids get to a healthy weight, we do everything in our power to protect their fragile psyches.
But how can we do that?
Here are ten tips that might help...

1.  Become your child's Wellness Role Model.  

2.  Erase the word "diet" from your vocabulary. 
3.  Shop Together. 
4.  Keep your kitchen well stocked with healthy snacks. 
5.  Read Food Labels Together. 
6.  Cook Together. 
7.  Make mealtime a happy family time. 
8.  Get Moving. 
9.  Drink more water. 
10.  Most off all...Be Positive.

Read the full article here.

Make Your Own: Chicken Nuggets

I have two great chicken nugget recipes to share with you. Once comes from our awesome reader, Jacki.  The second is from Jamie Oliver.



"Crispy Chicken Bites"
From The Eat-Clean Diet for Family and Kids: Simple Strategies for Lasting Health and Fitness

Ingredients:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6 oz. each)
1/4 cup oat bran
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 Tbsp ground flax seed
1/4 cup ground almonds
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Pinch garlic powder
1/2 cup water or low-sodium chicken stock
1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Prep:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400
2. cut chicken into nugget-sized pieces (about 1 1/2 inch squares)
3. Combine all dry ingredients in a large container with a tight fitting lid (this is coating mixture)
4. Combine water/stock and egg in a medium bowl. Dip each chicken piece in water/stock/egg mixture then place in coating mixture
5. Be sure each piece is well coated
6. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 100    Cals from fat: 32  Fat: 3.5 g   Saturated fat: 0.5 g
Trans fat: 0g      Protein: 12g            Carbs: 7g       Dietary Fiber: 2g
Sodium: 370mg      Cholesterol: 0mg



Though this recipe is called crunchy garlic chicken, it was presented on Oprah as homemade chicken nuggets.  Basically the only difference is, you slice chicken into 1cm wide slices.

I don't recall him specifically using crackers on Oprah- he presented them as bread crumbs, so you could make your own or use what's in your pantry.

Crunchy Garlic Chicken

• 1 clove garlic
• 1 lemon
• 6 cream or plain crackers , such as Jacob's
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 4 sprigs fresh Italian parsley
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 heaping Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg , preferably free-range or organic
• 2 skinless chicken breast fillets , preferably free-range or organic
• Olive oil

Directions:

To prepare your chicken: Peel the garlic and zest the lemon. Put your crackers into a food processor with the butter, garlic, parsley sprigs, lemon zest and a pinch of salt and pepper. Whiz until the mixture is very fine, then pour these crumbs on to a plate. Sprinkle the flour on to a second plate. Crack the egg into a small bowl and beat with a fork. Lightly score the underside of the chicken breasts. Put a square of plastic wrap over each one and bash a few times with the bottom of a pan until the breasts flatten out a bit. Dip the chicken into the flour until both sides are completely coated, then dip into the egg and finally into the flavored crumbs. Push the crumbs on to the chicken breasts so they stick—you want the meat to be totally coated.


To cook your chicken: You can either bake or fry the chicken. If baking, preheat your oven to its highest temperature (475°), place your chicken on a sheet pan and cook for 15 minutes. If frying, put a frying pan on a medium heat, add a few good lugs of olive oil and cook the chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until cooked through, golden and crisp.

To serve your chicken: Either serve the chicken breasts whole, or cut them into strips and pile them on a plate. Beautiful and simple served with a lemon wedge for squeezing over, and a tiny sprinkling of salt. Great with a lovely fresh salad or simply dressed veggies.

This recipe is taken from Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals

Thanks Oprah.

Tip~ When in doubt, follow the rainbow

Sometimes, I am grilling/sauteing/whatevering veggies and I realize hmmm this needs SOMETHING. I'll add spices/herbs, but I always try to make sure it's visually appealing. 

Colorful. 

Balanced.

Make Your Own : Beef Barley Soup

Beef Barley Soup







Serves: 8 


Vegetables, barley, and beef make this soup a full meal in itself.

INGREDIENTS
4 cups water
2 beef boullion cubes
1 medium potato, cubed
1 medium onion, cubed
1/2 bag frozen mixed vegetables
1/2 teaspoon dried garlic powder
1/2 pound boneless beef cut into cubes
1 cup quick cooking barley
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
cracked pepper to taste 

DIRECTIONS
1. In large pot add water, beef bullion cubes (dissolved in a small amount of the water, heated in separate cup), and all the ingredients except the barley. Cook approximately 30 minutes at a minimum heat, or until meat is fully cooked and potatoes are soft.

2. Add the quick cooking barley and cook another 15 minutes. Serve hot. Add salt to taste.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 222
Fat: 3.4 g
Carbohydrates: 35.7 g
Protein: 13.8 g

My best friend is always telling me how good barley is and I had yet to try it until this recipe came down the pike.  The soup was easy to make and really made a ton!  I used a few frozen veggies and then threw in fresh carrots, broccoli, and potato.  I feel like there was something else, too, but maybe not. I thought about celery, but didn't end up putting it in.



http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/pregnancy-recipes.asp?id=80

Make Week

It's Make Week over at Simple Organic! Go check it out!

Make Your Own: Smoothie

For mama & baby!

This time around we used:

1 banana
About a cup of plain fat-free yogurt
3 clementines
Frozen berries (strawberries & blueberries)
3 ice cubes



Throw them all in a blender and let it run until it reaches desired consistency.  Baby A enjoyed hers on a spoon, and mommy enjoyed hers in a glass with a straw.

YUM!

Transitioning to Whole Milk

According to The Academy of American Pediatrics, it is appropriate to start the transition from breastfeeding/formula to whole milk sometime around the first birthday. We very slowly introduced Baby A to it and I am happy to say, BYE BYE formula! We are done!

Here are some tips to make the switch easier...

1.  If you are also switching from a bottle to sippy cup, the milk in the sippy cup.
2. If your baby drinks 5oz at a time, start with 1oz whole milk*, 4 oz formula/breastmilk.
3. After several days if she is tolerating well, increase to 2oz milk/3oz formula.
4. Continue with 3oz milk/ 2oz formula....4oz milk/ 1oz formula....
5. We continued this until we got to the last scoop (last week!) of formula- let's not waste that expensive powder, right? :)
6. When your baby is ready, voila, whole milk it is!  Bring on the milk mustaches!

*Please discard this information if your child has weight-gain issues, dairy intolerance, allergies, etc etc etc. Please consult your pediatrician instead.

U.S. Plans Drive to Limit Salt in Foods: Report

Did you watch GMA today? The FDA is planning to create a plan to reduce sodium in our foods.  The reporter said 77% of our sodium intake is through processed foods we consume, while 6% is added at the table.  I rarely add salt to meals, unless it's a pinch of sea salt, and we do not keep a salt shaker on the table, so I'm confident ours is less than 6%, but the staggering 77% is scary.  Notice I didn't say shocking...

:)

 

U.S. Plans Drive to Limit Salt in Foods: Report

Reuters

WASHINGTON

U.S. regulators are planning a push to gradually cut the amount of salt Americans consume, saying less sodium would reduce deaths from hypertension and heart disease, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

The effort would eventually lead to the first legal limits on the amount of salt allowed in processed foods, the newspaper reported. The plan is to be launched this year but officials have not set salt limits, the article said.

The government plans to work with the food industry and health experts to reduce sodium gradually over a period of years to ratchet down sodium consumption, the newspaper said, citing U.S. Food and Drug Administration sources.

U.S. researchers said in a recent study that working with the food industry to cut salt intake by nearly 10 percent could prevent hundreds of thousands of heart attacks and strokes over several decades and save the U.S. government $32 billion in healthcare costs.

Eating too much salt is a major cause of high blood pressure, which the Institute of Medicine, one of the National Academies of Sciences, last week declared a "neglected disease" that costs the U.S. health system $73 billion a year.

The Post said the FDA, which regulates most processed foods, and the U.S. Agriculture Department, which oversees meat and poultry, would work together on the effort to reduce Americans' sodium consumption.

Manufacturers can now use as much salt as they like in products but they are required to report the amount on nutrition labels.

Many food makers have already begun to cut salt content.

In March, PepsiCo Inc, which owns the Pepsi, Frito-Lay and Quaker brands, announced that it plans a reduction of 25 per cent in the average sodium per serving in major global food brands in key markets by 2015.

(Reporting by Joanne Allen, editing by Vicki Allen)

Copyright 2010 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © 2010 ABC News Internet Ventures


Leave a comment and tell me what you think about a government takeover regarding sodium.  Though we should be taking our health into our own hands, I do think (just like the transfat ban a few years ago) that we often just really have no idea how much is in that value meal or whatever.  I am looking forward to the day when all restaurants have nutritional info right on the menu, instead of having to request it, or instead of ordering and hoping it's not "that bad".



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Hassle-Free Mealtimes!

Feeding my child is very difficult. 

How can I make mealtimes less of a hassle?

 img source: momlogic

Here are 6 common unpleasant and unhealthy childhood eating situations and tips to handle them. Also, remember that food should be used as nourishment, not as a reward or punishment. In the long run, food rewards or bribes usually create more problems than they solve.

Thanks to HealthyChildren.org for this article...

Feeding Challenges and Solutions

1. Food Jags: Eats one and only one food, meal after meal

Solution: Let the child eat what he or she wants if the jag food is healthy. Make sure the child is hungry at mealtime and offer other foods at each meal before the jag food. Don’t remove the jag food, but offer it as long as the child wants it. After a few days, the child likely will try other foods. Food jags rarely last long enough to cause any harm.

2. Food Strikes: Refuses to eat what's served, which can lead to "short-order cook syndrome"

Solution: Make sure the child is hungry when mealtime comes. Do not offer juices, sweetened drinks, or snacks too close to mealtime. Have whole-grain bread and rolls as well as fruit available at each meal,so there are usually
choices that the child likes. Be supportive, set limits, and don’t be afraid to let the child go hungry if he or she won’t eat what is served.

3. "The TV Habit": Wants to watch TV at mealtime

Solution: Turn off the TV. Watching TV during mealtimes is a distraction that prevents family interaction and interferes with a child’s eating. Value the time spent together while eating. Often it is the only time during the day that families can be together.

4. The Complainer: Whines or complains about the food served

Solution: First ask the child to eat other foods offered at the meal. If the child refuses, have the child go to his or her room or sit quietly away from the table until the meal is finished. Don’t let him or her take food along, return for dessert, or eat until the next planned meal or snack time.

5. "The Great American White Food Diet": Eats only white bread, potatoes, macaroni and milk

Solution: Avoid pressuring the child to eat other foods. Giving more attention to finicky eating habits only reinforces a child’s demands to limit foods. Continue to offer a variety of foods from all the food groups. Encourage a taste of whole grains as well as red, orange, and green foods. Eventually the child will move on to other foods.

6. Fear of New Foods: Refuses to try new foods

Solution: Continue to introduce and reinforce new foods over time. It may take many tries before a child is ready to taste a new food…and a lot of tastes before a child likes it. A good starting point is to encourage the child to simply allow a small portion of the new food to sit on his or her plate. Don’t force the child to try new foods. Also, remember that you are a role model—make sure your child sees you enjoying the food.

So, what do you think? Are you currently experiencing any of these? Baby A is a little young for this still, but one thing I always try to avoid is having the TV on while eating. If we eat at the table (99%) of the time we do, then there is no TV in the dining room.  

Do you have any other tips?

Note: Do not feed children younger than 4 round, firm food unless it is chopped completely. The following foods are choking hazards: nuts and seeds; chunks of meat or cheese; hot dogs; whole grapes; fruit chunks (such as apples); popcorn; raw vegetables; hard, gooey, or sticky candy; and chewing gum. Peanut butter can be a choking hazard for children younger than 2.

Make Your Own : Mexican Pasta

I got this awesome recipe off of allrecipes.com.  Baby A loved it and so did my italian husband!

Mexican Pasta

Original Recipe Yield 4 servings

Ingredients 

• 1/2 pound seashell pasta

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped (I used frozen mixed peppers)
• 1/2 cup sweet corn kernels (I used canned)
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes (I used 1.5 fresh)
• 1/4 cup salsa
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives (sorry, I don't like these...)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

 

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. 
2. While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Cook onions and pepper in oil until lightly browned, 10 minutes. Stir in corn and heat through. Stir in black beans, tomatoes, salsa, olives, taco seasoning and salt and pepper and cook until thoroughly heated, 5 minutes. 
3. Toss sauce with cooked pasta and serve. 

 

 

 

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 358 | Total Fat: 9.4g | Cholesterol: 0mg

Tomato Tip: Gut Them!

I think you all probably know this by now, but just in case you don't, I want to make your lives easier! Ever make something that calls for diced tomatoes and you find yourself and your cutting board soaked in a juicy mess by the end? 

Gut it!

Just cut the top off the tomato and either squeeze or scoop out the seeds. Voila. Clean tomato, clean hands, clean board & knife.  This is perfect for sandwiches, fresh salsa, omelets, etc.

Food Revolution: Week Three

My favorite part: 
Okay, are you serious?! The flash mob dance scene was fabulous! If you don't know too much about me, I danced when I was young (tap & jazz) and also was on dance team in college (Go Griffins!).  I love dance, I love musicals, and you better bet your bottom dollar I love bollywood street dance scenes!!!

Jamie made a bet with the local dj~ he thought he could teach 1,000 people to cook in only five days.  In order to tap into a large amount of people in a short amount of time, Jamie decided to get students at Marshall University involved by creating a "flash mob" to spread the word.


Pure glorious-ness (yes, that's now a word, I have powers like that).

If you're in google reader, click over to the blog, you MUST see this.




I was surprised that:
Jamie took the radio DJ to a funeral home to see just how badly obesity can affect people, even after their lives have ended.  I had no idea caskets were made so large, and that you have to purchase two cemetery plots if you are that large.

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Go Jamie! Go Local Government!
I was impressed that the mayor and state governor showed up to support Jamie's Kitchen.  Let's hope the momentum sticks.

Looking forward:
Can't wait to watch tonight's episode, but playoff hockey is taking presidence;)





Tell me your thoughts, I'd love to hear them!



Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Most Sugary "Health" Foods

Ughhhhh. Sugar. This is something I try to limit but really have no idea how much I consume in a day.  Are you good at counting grams? At making sure you're not getting fooled by one of these "health" foods?

 

Read this article from Eco Salon, and let me know if any of these surprised you....

My New Year’s resolution? When the clock struck midnight, I vowed to cut my sugar intake by eliminating sweet treats like cookies, chocolate and soda from my diet.
On the first day of 2010, I ate strawberry yogurt for breakfast, snacked on a granola bar before lunch, sipped on vitamin water and enjoyed a savory serving of pasta for dinner. At the end of the day, I was feeling pretty good about my fresh start. That is, until I read the labels. As it turns out, I had consumed almost 100 grams of sugar (more than twice the recommended daily amount) in this so-called attempt at eating healthier.
This whole debacle prompted me to do some research on sugar-packed snacks that masquerade as health foods. Here are the most deceiving culprits:

Breakfast Bars
Sure, they may have less sugar than a glazed doughnut, but breakfast bars (shown above) aren’t nearly as healthy as you may think. Nature Valley’s Vanilla Yogurt Granola Bars and Nutri-Grain’s Cereal Bars cram 13 grams of sugar into a single serving. Being organic doesn’t make Health Valley’s Cereal Bars any better; they’ll even get you one gram closer to your daily sugar limit.

Vitamin Water
A bottle of vitamin water fuels your body with much more than just a dose of nutrients. That burst of energy you feel upon taking the last sip is just a sugar high in disguise. A 20-ounce bottle of Glaceu’s Vitamin Water or Snapple’s Antioxidant Water contains more than 30 grams of sugar. Take some vitamins and drink a glass of water, instead.

Cereal
Every time you walk down the cereal aisle, you say “no” to Tony the Tiger and refuse to go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. But even cereals that trade in a colorful mascot for wholesome claims can pack one sugary punch. Take Kellog’s Smart Start Strong Heart cereal. Despite its misleading name, one cup contains a whopping 14 grams of sugar.

Spaghetti Sauce
Just because you don’t taste the sweetness doesn’t mean there isn’t sugar lurking somewhere beneath the maters. Believe it or not, there are 14 grams of sugar in a half-cup of Newman’s Own Tomato and Basil Sauce and Bertolli’s Vineyard Marinara. Mama Mia!

Bran Muffins
You choke down every last bite of a bland bran muffin with your morning coffee and pat yourself on the back for making your fiber quota. Whoa there! Don’t be so quick to equate lack of flavor with nutritional value. There are over 20 grams of sugar in a bran muffin from Starbucks, and those from your local grocer probably aren’t very far behind.

Dried Fruit
Fruit is already naturally sweet, so why would dried fruit contain an excess of added sugar? Don’t turn to logic when debating what snacks to buy; just stick to the facts. There are 26 grams of sugar in a single serving of Ocean Spray’s Craisins and 30 grams of sugar in the same amount of Sun-Maid’s Natural California Raisins.

Juice
Tip of the day: although labels like “all natural” and “100% juice” sound healthy, it would be a wise choice to just ignore them. Despite the wholesome promise of such statements stamped on the carton in big, bold print, a serving of Langer’s Apple Juice contains 26 grams of sugar and the same amount of Minute Maid Orange Juice follows close behind with 24 grams of sugar. You are better off just eating the fruit and sipping water.

Flavored Yogurt
Yogurt is hailed as one of the healthiest foods you can eat. It’s known to boost your metabolism and even improve your immunity. On the other hand, it can also push you over the limit for your daily sugar intake. Just to put it in perspective, a 6-ounce container of Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt is crammed with 27 grams of sugar. Your best bet? Stick to plain yogurt and add slices of fruit for flavor.

Instant Oatmeal
There’s just not enough time in the morning to make it from scratch, it’s so convenient to have each serving prepackaged, it’s much more flavorful than plain oatmeal… Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ve heard (and used) every excuse in the book. But these justifications still don’t change that fact that a serving of Quaker’s Flavored Instant Oatmeal can contain as much as 14 grams of sugar. If you must do instant, hung for the natural, low sugar options.

Bottled Iced Tea
There are 26 grams of sugar in 8-ounces of Coca-Cola, while the same amount of Snapple Lemon Iced Tea contains 24 grams of sugar. Enough said.



Image Credits: Flickr: yujai, graciepoo, Deb’s Designs and Creations, disneymike, erincooks, Yes Becky, Rhadamon, vigilant20, Marni Molina, fred_fred

Belated Happy Birthday!!!

Yesterday was Baby A's first birthday!!!!  So, if you are reading in google reader, go ahead and click over to the blog, you'll want to see these photos!

Baby A's "big present" was not yours truly's idea, it was that of my husband's and I really almost didn't go for it! We got her a kitchen set.

I put it off, telling him that she wasn't ready, that she's too young, and that she won't be WOW'd by it.  I ended up finding a really cute "grow-with-me" kitchen by Fisher Price that is for ages 1 1/2-5 and was intrigued. A little research and I was hooked. Check it out here.

I know, SO cute!!!! So, was she wow'd? Actually, yes! Her mouth was wide open, and she kept repeating this noise that sounds like "uh" which we think is her "wow". She kept bending over and getting eye level with it and repeating the noise over and over, it was really cute!

I'm pleased to report, she's moved on to picking up the play phone and saying "dada", feeding her babies in the high chair, stirring in the pot, and taking out the sink so she can shove everything down the hole, which she promptly retrieves through the cabinets underneath!

Pretty cool, huh? Here's a few pictures~