Healthy Fast Food Ideas Your Teen Will Love
When you think of “fast food,” it’s probably not in connection with healthy eating. However, it is possible to make healthy food quickly at home, and there are also healthy choices your teen can make at fast food restaurants. Here are some ideas and tips for fast food and your teen.
Pizza
Yes, pizza can be a healthy, fast meal. If you make your own crust, choose a healthy, whole wheat recipe and freeze the extra dough. Then you can thaw out the dough (or buy a ready-made whole wheat crust) and add healthy toppings – just leave off the fatty meats like pepperoni and sausage, and cut back on cheese. Pizzas only need to bake for 10 minutes or so at 500 degrees F, making them a pretty fast option. Some ideas for toppings include:
* Garlic, spinach, mozzarella and Parmesan
* Tomatoes, onions, olives and bell peppers
* Mushrooms, onions and banana pepper rings
* Green olives, garlic, onion, and bell pepper
* Fresh tomatoes, minced basil, and mozzarella
Veggie Burgers
You can make these patties ahead and freeze them (black bean burgers freeze well) or buy ready-made veggie burgers. Then you can pull them out of the freezer and heat them in a skillet with a little olive oil and they’re ready to eat in a matter of minutes. Serve these as you would traditional burgers, but make sure you use a whole grain bun (or no bun at all).
Fish Sticks
Pre-packaged, frozen fish sticks are notoriously high in fat and salt (and who knows what else). Keep some mild white fish, such as tilapia, on hand and slice the fillets into strips to make your own fish sticks. Toss the fish with lemon juice, then dip the pieces in whole wheat flour, a mixture of 1 beaten egg and 3/4 cup plain yogurt, and whole wheat bread crumbs or panko. Then bake on a parchment paper-covered cookie sheet for about 12 minutes at 425 degrees F.
When Your Teen Does Get Fast Food…
It’s inevitable that your teen is going to end up in a fast food restaurant at some point. Discuss healthy options with him or her, and share ideas on some ways that he or she can make the healthiest possible choices in such a restaurant. For example, they can order water or unsweetened iced tea instead of soda, or not combine a burger and fries, choosing to order one or the other. Smaller portions should be the rule, unless your teen wants to share a super-size meal with friends. Some other things to consider are:
* Grilled meats are usually lower in calories than fried and breaded items.
* Salads are usually available at many fast food restaurants, and they are usually healthy choices as long as they are not covered with fried, breaded meat and croutons.
Delicious Fruit Jelly and Jam Recipes
If you haven
Fruit Canning 101
It used to be a fairly common practice that is finding its way back into the mainstream. We are talking about fruit canning. You can save money and also have fresh fruits any time of the year that you want them.
Before refrigeration was common or widespread, people used to can foods to store food for the winter. The heating process of canning prevented spoilage. For fruit, canning was usually done for jams, jellies, relishes, fruit butters and marmalades. Preserving fresh fruit ensured that they were at their best when used
Beet and Potato Salad
Serves 4
Ingredients:
4 beets
4 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 small red onion, finely chopped
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
2 small dill pickles, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
Instructions:
In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil and cook the beets until almost tender – about 30 minutes. Remove the beets (while keeping the liquid), peel and cut into bite-size chunks. Place the beets, potatoes and onion into the liquid and boil for a further 10 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow to stand for a few minutes. Remove the vegetables and transfer them into a bowl. Then add some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Mix in the dill pickles and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with parsley and enjoy!
Freezing Your Vegetables and Fruit 101
Fresh fruits and vegetables have more nutrition than canned. But, many don
Fall Gardening Tips
While things are winding down in the fall, there are still some gardening tips and strategies that you can employ. You can add some color and life to your garden, and prepare it for winter. Depending on where you live, fall can be a busy time in the garden. Here are some tips.
Color
Fall is a colorful season, and you can add some of that color to your garden this time of year. Chrysanthemums (mums) come in a variety of yellows, bronzes, reds, and purples. Fall is the time to plant these and take advantage of the season’s colors. It’s worth noting, however, that mums will return each year – they’re perennials. So take that into consideration as you decide on their placement in your garden.
Get the Weeds before They Seed
Fall is the time when many weeds go to seed, sending the makings of next year’s invasion all over your yard. Thankfully, fall can be a rainy time, and wet soil is easier to pull or hoe weeds out of than dry soil. You’ll thank yourself next spring when the weeds are fewer.
Another word about weed control in the fall – you can lay down several layers of newspaper on your garden once the plants are spent. Anchor the newspapers with rocks or soil and, by the time spring arrives, the weeds will have been deprived of the light and air they need to sprout. The newspaper will decompose and can be tilled into the soil to enrich it, and another layer applied in the spring before planting (poke holes in the newspaper layer to plant).
Pests’ Hiding Places
Remove the dead leaves and spent plants from your garden before winter sets in. Many invasive and annoying pests overwinter beneath leaves, boards, tools, and anything else left lying on the ground.
However, some gardeners like to leave a layer of autumn leaves on their garden to act as a mulch and compost in one. So depending on what kind of pests you have in your area and how cold it gets, leaving the leaves may work for you.
Plant Bulbs
There are a variety of bulbs that need to be planted in the fall. If you grow garlic, it will need to be put into the garden in the fall. Flowers like hyacinths and daffodils are typically planted in the fall so they can complete their growth cycle in time to come up in spring.
Trees and Shrubs
Now is a good time to prune back trees and shrubs, including shrub roses. It’s also a good time to plant them. In the fall, trees and shrubs are in a dormant state, and the planting and pruning are less shocking to the plant.
Delicious Lunchbox Sandwich Wrap Ideas
Lunch is an important meal for kids. They get a pick-me-up in the middle of the day in order to keep going. One way to get them to eat a healthy lunch is with sandwich wraps.
Wraps are the newest trend in lunchbox sandwiches. They have put something interesting back into lunch. And, with so many other high-calorie foods to choose from in many lunch cafeterias, they are a way to keep kids eating well.
The Benefits of Wrap Sandwiches
Kids love to eat with their hands, even when they get older. A wrap sandwich is easy to make and even easier to eat. You can cut them small so they are more like pinwheel sandwiches. Or, keep them in two pieces for less mess.
There are a variety of breads to use with wrap sandwiches. One of the most common is tortillas. Choose from corn, flour or whole wheat.
If that doesn
Bacon and Potato Casserole
Serves 4
Ingredients:
4 medium potatoes, peeled (or unpeeled if you use organic) and cut into chunks
How to Choose Activities for your Son
When it comes to birthday parties, we get sweaty palms when we talk about activities. Kids love to be entertained and it is our job as hostess to give them what they want. Here are some ideas for activities to keep your son and his friends busy.
Before you decide on activities, consider the age of the child. When it comes to toddlers, entertainment will involve simple games that don
How to Choose Activities for your Daughter
One of the most special days in our lives is the birth day of our children. Celebrating that each year brings back many joyful memories. Make it memorable for your daughter and her friends as well.
Girls have a variety of interests. On your daughter’s birthday, the only thing that is important is that she has a good time. That may involve a lot of activities or just one. It all depends on the age of the child.
Let
Budgeting Tips for a Frugal Birthday Party
Birthdays come along once a year. If you have more than one child, that can be a financial nightmare. But, it doesn
After School Warm Apple Toast
Ingredients:
2 slices wholemeal bread
1 apple, cored and thinly sliced
1 tbsp peanut butter
Sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon
Instructions:
Spread the peanut butter on the bread and arrange apple slices on top. Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon. Place under the grill until the apples are beginning to soften.
This makes a lovely after school snack.
Top Tips for Creating a Baby Scrapbook
Making a baby scrapbook is a beautiful way to remember your child when he or she was so little. Scrapbooks are more personal, detailed, and elaborate than traditional photo albums. If you have more than one child, each one’s baby scrapbook can be a reflection of their unique personalities.
If you are inspired by the idea of creating a baby scrapbook, here are some tips.
Gather Your Supplies
For those totally new to scrapbooking it’s necessary to gather supplies, and you might not know where to begin. You really don’t need anything terribly elaborate to get started; just paper, photos, scissors, and glue. But as you work, you may want to add some other supplies, such as:
* 3-hole punch
* Yarn or ribbon to tie the scrapbook pages together
* A commercially available scrapbook
* Card stock
* Stickers
* Calendar (to mark down when certain things happen so you have that information when you put the scrapbook together)
Make It Personal
Of course, marking milestones like first steps and first haircuts is fun and important; but don’t forget to make your baby scrapbook personal and unique. Dancing, funny facial expressions, and amusing phrases are just some of the things you can watch out for and document.
Choose a Theme and/or Design
To give a sense of unity and cohesion, it’s nice to pick a scrapbook theme. You can create this yourself, or choose a theme and template online or from a commercial scrapbook. Here are some ideas for a baby scrapbook theme:
* Flower garden
* Dance
* Animals/Pets
* Cars and Trucks
* Sports
* Princess
* Family Tree
* Nature
* Zoo
* Circus
* Religious
Be Choosy
When putting together your baby scrapbook, you will undoubtedly have more keepsakes than you know what to do with. A scrapbook can easily look messy and cluttered if you try to cram everything into it. Choose the most important items – you don’t need to put in notations from every doctor visit; maybe include information from the 6-month check-up and the 1-year check-up.
If your baby had/has special challenges, such as requiring physical therapy or overcoming a medical event, you may want to make notes of his or her progress in this regard. But again, be choosy and include only key memorabilia and milestones.
Set Aside Time to Work on the Scrapbook
Many times, creating a baby scrapbook is something you intend to do, but never quite get around to. Because babies require a lot of time, this is bound to happen if you don’t make some time each day or week to work on the scrapbook. Regularly working on the scrapbook also means you will be able to note details before you forget.
How to Care For Baby’s Eczema Naturally
There are various medications for baby eczema, but some parents prefer more natural methods. There are, in fact, several ways you can care for your baby’s eczema naturally. Here are some ideas.
Not Just an External Problem
Eczema is not just a problem with the skin and its external environment. Many natural health practitioners emphasize the importance of diet and nutrition in the development and management of eczema. In fact, some sources say that eczema is a manifestation of food allergies.
Here is a partial list of those common food allergens that you might want to avoid if your baby suffers from eczema. If you are nursing, you can leave these foods out of your diet; if your baby is eating solid food, you can leave these out of his or her diet.
* Dairy products, particularly cow’s milk (if you are feeding formula to your baby, choose dairy and soy-free formula)
* Citrus fruits
* Soybean and soy products
* Wheat
* Strawberries and other berries
* Chocolate
* Peanuts
* Fish
* Eggs
* Pork
* Tomatoes
In addition, there are some foods that are said to be good for the management and relief of eczema symptoms. Nursing moms can eat more of these foods and/or feed them to baby.
* Flax oil
* Avocado
* Seeds (sunflower, chia, etc.)
* Olive oil
* Safflower oil
* Tahini (sesame seed butter)
* Breastmilk itself
* Oily fish like salmon and sardines (as long as allergies to fish are not present)
Topical Treatments
Treating the skin itself is also important. Skin with eczema needs fresh air, so loose clothing or no clothing over the affected areas may help. In addition, you can try some of these natural, topical treatments.
* Calendula cream (calendula is a type of marigold that is said to be beneficial to skin when infused into creams, lotions and ointments – choose calendula products with all-natural ingredients)
* Oatmeal baths (grind rolled oats into a flour in a blender and mix into baby’s bath water, or tie ground oats into a cheesecloth bag and steep in baby’s bath water)
* Aloe vera gel (fresh from the leaf is recommended)
* Unrefined olive oil in baby’s bath or applied right after
* Calendula-infused olive oil (heat olive oil very gently and stir in dried calendula flowers; steep overnight and strain)
* Apricot oil
Sources point out some potential environmental allergens to avoid as well:
* Heavily-scented or artificially-scented cleansers, soaps, creams, and lotions
* Synthetic clothing fiber (100% cotton clothing is usually recommended)
* Clothing that is dyed with synthetic dyes
Allergens in the Home
Household allergens may play a role in baby eczema. Dust mites, mold, pollen, and other common household allergens should be removed from the home as much as possible. To do this, try the following:
* Keep furnace and air conditioner filters clean – change them frequently, and use the type of filters that remove airborne allergens.
* Vacuum daily if possible.
* Wash bedding in hot water regularly.
* Pillows and stuffed animals can be put in the freezer for 24 hours to kill dust mites.
* Air purifiers can be stationed throughout the home.
Apple Recipes
Apples are a very nutritious fruit. They are full of antioxidants and fiber to help fill you up and keep you looking young. But, how can you use apples in your everyday recipes?
When we think of apples, most of us probably see ourselves eating them as is or in a dessert. While both of these are good, there are other ways to enjoy the great taste of apples. You can combine them in breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Know Your Apples
All apples are not the same. There are ones that are sweet and those that are tart. Baking apples are usually tart. Some examples are Granny Smith and McIntosh.
Baking apples are best when used in combination with sweeter apples. Some apples that are great for baking include Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Gala. They hold their shape and don
Cool Kids’ Parties : Guide to Planning and Hosting the Coolest Kid Parties
Kids are a bright spot in our lives. We strive to give them the best of everything: opportunities, our knowledge, a good home and yes, birthday parties. But many of us can get a bit overzealous with our presentations.
Does this sound like you? And how did your kid react to your hard work? We thought so. It
Warming Quinoa and Kidney Bean Chili
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 cups water
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 16oz cans kidney beans, drained
1 28oz can chopped tomatoes
1 cup celery, chopped
1 – 2 jalapeno peppers (depending on taste), seeded and finely minced
2 tomatoes, diced
1 cup carrots, chopped
1.5 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp Italian spices
2 tsp ground cumin
Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
Salt and pepper
Instructions:
Place quinoa and water into a saucepan, bring to a simmer, cover and allow to cook gently until all the water is absorbed (about 15 minutes). Allow to stand for about 10 minutes.
In the meantime, fry the onion, pepper, celery and jalapeno pepper in a large frying pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, until onion is soft. Then mix in the carrots and fresh tomatoes, stir well and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add the kidney beans, can of chopped tomatoes and the spices. Season well. Cook the chili for about 20 minutes on low heat, then add the cooked quinoa. Stir well and allow to cook for a further few minutes. Adjust the seasoning. Sprinkle with parsley/cilantro and serve immediately.
Reasons Why You Should Start Running
There are all kinds of reasons to start running, some of which may surprise you! There are, in fact, both health-related and non-health-related reasons to run. Here are some of them.
Weight Loss
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons people run is to lose weight. As long as you are burning more calories than you are consuming, weight loss usually results – and you can burn those extra calories running. In fact, studies have shown that running can burn up to 865 calories in an hour – that’s more than a stationary bike or a rowing machine!
Muscle Tone
Running builds muscle tone in your legs and lower body, and it also helps your bones stay strong. As long as you have normal joints, practice good form and have an OK from your doctor, you can expect running to boost your bone and joint strength.
Cardiovascular Health
Cardio workouts are considered an integral part of any fitness routine, and some say that running is the ultimate cardio workout. Your heart will, of course, beat harder and faster when you run. The heart is a muscle, and it needs a good workout, too! You may find that your resting heart rate decreases as your heart becomes more efficient.
Stamina and Energy
You build overall stamina with running, because it is a full-body, cardio workout. The stamina you build will serve you in other areas of life – parenting, energy at work, and in personal pursuits. Increased energy is also said to be a positive effect of running, and we can all use that!
Relationships
If you run with a group in your neighborhood, or with a coach, or otherwise out and about with other people, you will end up forming relationships with other runners. You already have a common interest – running – and you may find some truly deep friendships among other runners.
Role Model
You may not realize it, but as you commit to running and stick with it, others will see your progress and perhaps be inspired to run themselves. From family members to colleagues, a successful running routine can inspire others.
Low Cost
When many of us think of getting in shape, expensive gym memberships and equipment purchases come to mind. But running really doesn’t involve a lot of special equipment; shoes are the only thing you’ll need, and depending on your needs, they don’t have to be expensive.