I don’t know how this woman packs in so much information in 2-1/2 minutes, but she does. Check out Part 2. To learn more about Holly got to GetFitandYummy.com.
Sprouted grain bread is more alkaline for the body, which helps protect bone mass.
Today the kids are eating organic peanut butter and raw honey sandwiches on sprouted grain bread. They are enjoying cucumbers and organic applesauce with flax seed meal on the side. It’s Saturday, a good day to keep up with their nutrition. I’ll also make sure that they will continue taking their Juice Plus chewables. I’ve noticed that my little guy, Evan, is more accepting to eating vegetables since he’s been on this whole foods supplement (since September).
What are some simple, healthy meals you like to give your kids?
The earlier you integrate healthy foods into their diets, the easier it becomes over time.This little devil actually eats cucumbers since he 's been on Juice Plus.
Okay, this is a situation that I like to avoid when at all possible. It is the whiny, grumpy young complainer, who sees no joy in his parent’s suggestions. As soon as I see signs of this, I know that it’s low blood sugar and fatigue.
I refer to it as post-party syndrome, if it lands primarily after a busy, festive day (or a day with too much sugar and not enough real nutrition). Generally, I call it low-blood sugar and have not been afraid to name the grumpy parties as “Crabbelpot,” “Count Crabula” or “Crabby Diaper.” Let me stop here, aside from the occasional birthday party, we keep very little sugary treats in the house. When I feed them to my kids, it is done after they’ve consumed ample nutrition so as to not hit their blood stream immediately and cause crankiness. However, low-blood sugar happens to everyone, and when you know how to handle it, then it becomes an easy problem to bear.
Today I had two individual “cranksters” who dragged feet and could not get happy about anything, especially a couple hours after lunch. I discovered that my first grade daughter ate half her lunch (three and a half hours prior) and did not have a snack. My four-year-old son refused to eat his sandwich, and I knew he was going to be punchy a couple hours later.
Why do I tell you this? Well, you probably already know that kids need to eat frequently throughout the day. What is more, they need a balance of grains, proteins, fats, vegetables and fruits. Unfortunately, when they’re away at school, we cannot oversee how much of their packed lunch they eat (notice I did not say hot lunch!). What is more unfortunate, is that they are also less likely to drink water throughout the day. (I live for the day when schools will allow kids to sip water in class, but I will dream for the time being!)
Being low on fuel will lead to bad behavior. Who wants to cooperate when he or she is exhausted and hungry? So, what’s the solution? Feed the kid immediately (make sure you have dried fruits on hand for this very purpose and nuts or seeds for longer lasting effects on their metabolism).
Step 2: Get thee to the nearest healthy snack and feed (here eating a dried papaya stick)
Trust me, when my four-year-old asked me for a cucumber smoothie the other day, I just about died and went to heaven! Really? I made sure one more time that he wasn’t yanking my chain, after all he can be a jokester. Oh no, he really wanted one.
I already had out the Magic Bullet and whipped up this very simple, refreshing snack. Brodie was hovering around the kitchen waiting for it. He saw me making my own vegetable smoothie, which he had witnessed many times prior. This was the day he decided to ask for his favorite vegetable in smoothie form.
What a great way to model healthy eating habits in front of your kids. I encourage you to get out your chopped veggies and try some different combinations of raw fresh vegetable smoothies. You can always add apple to the equation to help with sweetness or avocado if you like a creamier texture. Encourage your children to taste your concoctions. Sure, they might not approve at first, but if you continue, then I guarantee that they’ll eventually be open to trying your creations. Let me know what kind of veggie shakes work for you.
For your information, cucumbers have a number of trace minerals from folate, vitamin C, vitamins B1, B2, B5 and B6 and healthy enzymes (when eaten raw) that will aid in digestion and the uptake of those minerals & vitamins. Try it with a little mint for an extra zing and palette cleansing.
For optimal results with your improved nutrition, be sure to factor in an effective cardiovascular and weight-bearing exercise program. For more details on the best Cleveland fitness bootcamp for busy parents, be sure to check out TrainingByLiz.com.
Now, check out this simple cucumber smoothie recipe and Brodie’s reaction to it below:
Begin with about eight slices of cucumber and 1/4 cup of water.
Begin the blending process.
The longer you blend, the smoother the consistency (it will have some little chunks).
It has been too long since my last post. I have been preparing my home for sale and finally have the sign in the ground. As I’ve been making improvements to my house, I am warmed by the bounty of my small urban garden.
August is blackberry month at my house. From about the first or second week of the month onward, we can pick very large (picture 2″) berries, dripping with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins C, K, A, folic acid and much more. Blackberries have a very high oxygen radical absorbant capacity (ORAC) value. If you’re not familiar with “free radicals,” they are not the anarchists who hang out at the corner picketing for chaos, rather they are the chemical byproducts that float around the body and either get eliminated by antioxidants in our food or they build up and cause more problems. Blackberries are one of the top antioxidant-rich foods. Blackberries help our bodies to eliminate those dangerous byproducts. Why go to the rain forest when you can grow a healthy, productive plant in your own yard, unless you have no yard of course?
What is not to like about the blackberry? Well, nothing really, unless you don’t want thorns. The variety I grow in my garden is thornless, which makes it safe around children. And, yes, they love to pick and these these tasty, nutrient-dense foods and leave dark stains on my porch. Sigh – all in the name of good health.
If you’re not blessed with an abundant garden, then pick up a container of antioxidant-rich blackberries and eliminate those chemical byproducts from your body. In the meantime, I wish you happy abundance wherever you live.
The seeds of a blackberry are high in Omega-3 and -6s.
My daughter just had to leave some for the robins. The sticks were empty the next day.
