The Love of Table Sugar! Do your kids love sugary foods and snacks? Do they go nuts for drinks that pack in the sugar? Do they expect a sweet cookie, cupcake or ice cream for dessert day-after-day? If you answered, yes, you are not alone. Sadly, sugar-rich treats are on the top of many kids' want-lists. But, table sugar isn’t what kids’ bodies need nor is it great for your dental bill. It's time to set kids up for a successful new school year, academically and nutritionally! Steering Away from Too Much Table Sugar! As a registered dietitian, I help caring parents steer their kids … [Read more...] about Back-To-School with Less Sugar and More Good Nutrition!
Back-To-School with a Healthier Macaroni & Cheese Recipe
A Home Recipe to Love I cannot imagine feeding a busy family without macaroni and cheese. It's just one of those comfort foods that everyone seems to love and it goes with everything. With the kids going back-to-school, wouldn't it be nice to find a less-processed solution than boxed mac and cheese? I hope you'll try my recipe and then teach your kids to make it, too! For other tips on making recipes healthier, click here. Super Duper Easy Mac & Cheese - Makes 8 servings Ingredients: 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2-1/2 Cups Macaroni or Spiral Pasta, … [Read more...] about Back-To-School with a Healthier Macaroni & Cheese Recipe
Back-to-School with a Healthier and Cheaper Sandwich!
Are you tired of sandwiches? After the first week of kindergarten, my son came home and said to me, "Mom, I'm tired of sandwiches." Oh boy, I thought, what else can I use as the anchor to his healthy bag lunch? I pulled out all my most creative thoughts and came up with things like whole grain crackers with cheese, bread sticks with peanut butter and honey to dip, and a rolled sandwich on a tortilla. Are you tired of the same old sandwich? Unlike my son, I have always been more-or-less a sandwich lover. But I get tired of the same old sandwich. I vary it between tuna salad, hummus and … [Read more...] about Back-to-School with a Healthier and Cheaper Sandwich!
A Healthy Dessert for Mother’s Day!
Mother's Day & Blueberries! A healthy dessert for Mother's Day reminds me of all the blueberries I've picked in my life. As a kid, along with my brother and sister, I picked blueberries as a summer yard chore in Washington state. As an adult, in North Carolina, I pick blueberries in my front yard - not so much a chore as a pleasure. Here's a picture of me with my blueberry bushes just for fun. Blueberry Crisp Recipe! As a mother and a lover of blueberries, I want to share this special recipe for Mother's Day. I have probably made it 100 times and every time it turns out the same … [Read more...] about A Healthy Dessert for Mother’s Day!
Healthy Tuna Salad for Lunch!
What's Your Idea of Healthy Tuna Salad? There are quite a few ways to make healthy tuna salad. From what I can tell, it all gets down to favorite mix-ins. In elementary school, for example, I used to crunch up potato chips and mix them with tuna salad - not so healthy, but it sure was fun. Healthy Tuna Salad Mix-Ins! Really, anything goes. Here are some mix-ins that I like and, when you comment, please add yours: celery, onion, olives, raisins, thyme, nonfat plain yogurt, lemon juice, spicy mustard, dried apricots, chopped fresh apple, water chestnuts, cucumber, coarse black … [Read more...] about Healthy Tuna Salad for Lunch!
Delicious and Cool ~ No Bake Desserts
This is a guest blog by Kaylie Chrismon. Delicious and Cool: No Bake Desserts Turning on the oven in the middle of summer is something that most of us try to avoid. Beat the heat with these 5 simple, no-bake dessert recipes! Summer Popsicles Fruit is a great way to add a healthy twist to a tasty dessert. For a crowd or kids who have been at the pool all day, popsicles are a great dessert that is full of nutritious ingredients. Add your favorite fruits to plain or vanilla Greek yogurt and pour into the popsicle mold. Also try coconut water with tropical fruit for a beachy … [Read more...] about Delicious and Cool ~ No Bake Desserts