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January 28, 2010
A few clicks = the perfect cereal
Ever wish you could create the perfect cereal with all your favorite ingredients? Mojamix.com lets you do just that! Start with a cereal base and add fruit, nuts and add-on ingredients to make your own special concoction.
You can even customize the box and give your cereal a name.
Also try elementbar.com to make your own granola bars! Choose a grain base and add in fruit, nuts, extras and create the perfect snack.
Posted by Lisa at 04:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 24, 2010
Get the Most Nutrition from Your Calories
One of the biggest nutrition problem for most Americans is posed by high-fat, high-sugar foods and drinks, such as snack foods, candies and soft drinks. Eating smarter does not mean you have to immediately go sugar-free and fat-free.
You can make a big difference in your calorie intake by just eating and drinking smaller portions and by making empty calorie choices less often.
The key is to moderate, not eliminate. Watching portion sizes is an easy way to cut back without cutting out. If you want to consume less sugar, limit your soft drink intake to one can a day and switch to sparkling water the rest of the time.
Posted by Lisa at 07:57 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 19, 2010
Fitness and Health is a Family Matter
•Set a schedule for meals to discourage all-day grazing. Always have fresh fruits and vegetables readily available as a snack.
•Eat at the table, as a family. Use the time to share news and tell stories.
•Don't eat in front of a television or computer. This leads to fast, mindless eating.
•If you're trying to undo unhealthy habits, either your own or your child's, start slow. Introduce a healthy, and possibly unfamiliar, food along with something familiar. And never focus on a child's weight.
Get moving
•Experts agree on the biggest deterrent to physical activity: screen time. Limit the number of hours your child watches TV or plays on the computer. If you want an active child, set a positive example by being active yourself. Find fun activities the family can do together. Exercise should never be a punishment or chore.
•Can't afford a gym or class? Emphasize activity, not exercise, especially among younger children. Free-play activities, such as playing hide-and-seek, tag or jump-rope, also burn calories and improve fitness.
•Celebrate a birthday, holiday or other special day with a physical activity — a trip to the zoo, arboretum or botanical garden — instead of a calorie-laden meal.
•Rally the families in your neighborhood for a game of touch football or tag at the local park. If it's too cold outside, crank up the stereo and dance around the living room with your kids.
Posted by Lisa at 10:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 12, 2010
Dip it! Snacks
• Dip baby carrots and cherry tomatoes in
low-fat ranch dressing.
• Dip strawberries or apple slices in low-fat
yogurt.
• Dip pretzels in mustard.
• Dip pita chips in hummus.
• Dip graham crackers in applesauce.
• Dip baked tortilla chips in bean dip.
• Dip animal crackers in low-fat pudding.
• Dip bread sticks in salsa.
• Dip a granola bar in low-fat yogurt.
• Dip mini-toaster waffles in cinnamon
applesauce.
Posted by Lisa at 05:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 06, 2010
Kids and Food Allergies
Early Feeding May Help Prevent Allergies
If your family has a history of food allergies, take special care during your child’s first years. While these feeding practices are not a guarantee a child will be food allergy-free, they have been shown to reduce the risk.
* Exclusive Breast Feeding for 4 to 6 Months: This means no formula or solid foods. Some experts also recommend mothers avoid the most common allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat) while breast feeding.
* Careful Introduction of Solids: Don’t give solid foods until after 6 months. Introduce single-source foods one at a time, watching carefully for reactions and waiting several days to add another item. Introduce in this order:
o Rice, oat, barley cereals (not wheat)
o Vegetables (no beans or soy)
o Non-citrus fruits
o Lamb, beef, chicken, turkey.
* Delayed Introduction of Common Food Allergens: Some allergists believe it may help to delay introduction of the common allergens as whole foods and ingredients. Start milk products, wheat, egg yolks or citrus fruits and juices between 1 to 2 years; egg whites and fish after age 2; and peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish after age 3. Do not give whole nuts to children under 4 due to choking risk.
Posted by Lisa at 08:39 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack