healthy food – Page 2 – Happymomblogger

10 WAYS KIDS CAN ROCK IT HEALTHY – EVERY DAY TIPS

GARDEN ALSO (2)

As adults we tend to forget that what matters to kids is really a big deal to them. That’s why it’s so important for parents to teach their children to do good things and to make better choices. Since I was a young child, my mom tried to instill in me important lessons of life and one of them was to do what I could to keep the environment healthy and clean. I don’t think I fully grasped what all of it meant back then but recycling and reusing what I could became more of a habit for me. Long ago when resources weren’t as vast and many people could only use what nature gave them, saving and reusing were part of daily life. Now, we may tend to take advantage of all the conveniences and necessities and we lose track of the good things our parents may have taught us when we were younger.

Ever since advocating for healthier alternatives to the products we buy and use, my friends often ask me about which products to buy for home and personal use. Some friends heed my suggestions and gradually include natural and organic products into their lives while others are still skeptic. But for those who are still skeptical I tell them to look at the current news and review past information and compare to what they heard before. The natural and organic industry has been surely but vastly sweeping the nation and our world and people are getting wiser about the products they purchase and use and the food they buy and eat. This however, goes triple for our kids. Children are easily accessible to all the toxins found in food and every day products they use and because of their growing bodies, these toxins hit them even harder than an average adult.

I’ve come up with 10 ways we can teach our kids the importance of living a healthier and less toxic life and that all starts with appreciating what Earth gives us. Nature is all around us and it’s up to us and our future generations to prolong the beauty of nature.

Every week I will introduce a new idea to teach your kids about the importance of protecting the environment and how it’s a constant cycle. If our kids understand the importance of taking care of the environment they will naturally learn to eat better and to make wiser choices in what they do.

Let’s start off this week with Back to School lunch and snacks. I admit I fall for the glamorous photos on Instagram and Pinterest where parents painstakingly cut out adorable shapes and sizes of sandwiches and fruit and turn their children’s lunches into virtual works of art. I honestly wish I had the time to do that and it’s not for lack of talent, I personally just don’t think my son would make a big deal about how jazzed up his lunchbox may look like. But lunchboxes are important just the same no matter how you decorate it or how creative you make it. Our children eat lunch at school every day and if you’re going to be packing their lunches, let’s make sure the food is both nutritious and enticing enough for them to finish all of it.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

– Let your kids pick out a few of their favorite snacks (healthy of course) so they feel some control of what goes into their lunchboxes. For a nutritious and sweet snack, try this No Bake Chocolate Coconut Protein Bar. *

– It’s okay if you don’t always include fruits or vegetables in their lunchbox. As long as you provide enough during breakfast and dinner, lunch doesn’t have to be a battle with your kids.

– If you do feel inclined to include vegetables and fruits, include easy to eat fruits such as grapes, clementines, and thinly sliced organic apples. Great vegetables would be sweet and juicy grape tomatoes, kale chips, and cubed cucumbers. These “finger” foods make it easier for kids to eat with their hands.

– Make a picnic style lunch where you include healthy cold cuts, cheese, and crackers so your child can create his own meal.

– When you take your children grocery shopping, show them the difference in ingredients label. Let them know what junk food is and what healthier versions are.

– Always include water in your child’s lunch. Try to resist juice or soda!

– Always read food labels of what you buy. Especially for kids!

– Buy organic whenever possible. It’s better for your health and for the environment.

Lunch and snacks don’t have to be constant battles with kids. As long as they know the difference between better-for-you food and food that are just bad for you then you’ll have a healthier eater and a less pickier complainer.

* Recipe taken with permission from New Hope Network/Delicious Living magazine.

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

September 19, 2016

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Be a Food Superhero – Campaign and Giveaway

Stonyfield Farm likes to ask, “What’s a Food Superhero?” Food superheroes know their food and make food choices that protect their health, family farmers, animals, and the planet. So are you a food superhero and if not, how do you become one? One simple answer is to visit Stonyfield Farm’s latest campaign at: https://iwillknowmyfood.com. Through an ongoing campaign partnered with Food Corps ( http://foodcorps.org/), Stonyfield Farm will donate $1 to each superhero profile that’s created on their site, when you share through Facebook, Twitter, or email, and when you Tweet using hashtag #FoodSuperhero. Stonyfield Farm (http://www.stonyfield.com/), a leading organic and natural yogurt company in the US, has been making great food choices for their consumers – by providing the best possible yogurts and yogurt-based frozen desserts.

According to a report made by LetsMove, a government-sponsored health initiative, child obesity has tripled over three decades in the United States. Our children and possibly future generations may be in jeopardy of obesity if something isn’t done now. It’s crucial for parents, especially parents of young children to teach their kids to eat responsibly and make responsible food choices. When kids learn at an early age to eat the right kind of foods, then they’ll grow up to eat more healthily and make healthier choices. That’s why Stonyfield Farm and Food Corps has teamed up to help kids in America live a healthier lifestyle through their everyday food choices.

As an official Healthy Child Healthy World blogger, I was given the opportunity to become a “Food Superhero”. I created a Superhero profile and my profile is: “The Green Organics”. My food superpower is: Kapow! I use food choices to protect the little guy. And my Kryptonite: Nothing! It’s super easy and super fun to create your own Food Superhero on their site. Simply select from the choices given and you’re instantly transformed into a well-informed food superhero. Much easier than falling into toxic waste to gain superpowers! And what’s even better is that with each Superhero profile created, Stonyfield Farm will donate $1 to Food Corps for each activity performed (Create a Superhero profile, Tweet, and Like). So not only are you helping your little ones, but you’ll be able to help other little ones too. And the more activities you do on their site, the more money will be donated.

When I was given an unique opportunity to create my own Superhero profile, I was also the winner of a $50 Whole Foods Gift Card, a blue Superhero Cape, and a coupon for any Stonyfield Farm yogurt. As an official Healthy Child Healthy World blogger, I was also given the opportunity to offer 1 LUCKY reader of Happymomblogger the opportunity to win the Be a Food Superhero prize pack. The winner will receive a $50 Whole Foods Gift Card, a Superhero cape, and a Stonyfield Farm coupon. So how do you win this wonderful prize as well as help others? Read below to find out!

Here’s how to enter in the Stonyfield Farm Food Superhero giveaway:

(Please note, the rules have changed slightly. Please read carefully before entering)

ENTRIES:

#1 entry (2 tasks) – “Like” Stonyfield Farm on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stonyfieldfarm and write on their wall that you are entering the contest at Happymomblogger: http://www.happymomblogger.wordpress.com/. Please put Happymomblogger as the heading. Create your Superhero Profile on https://iwillknowmyfood.com and tell me what your profile is.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

#2 entry – Become a follower: http://twitter.com/#!/happymomblogger and “Tweet” me @happymomblogger that you are entering the Stonyfield Food Superhero giveaway. Become a follower of Stonyfield Farm: https://twitter.com/Stonyfield and “Tweet” that you are entering the Stonyfield Food Superhero contest at Happymomblogger.

#3 entry – Subscribe to my Blog.

#4 entry – Enter in my other contests.

#5 entry – Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs using the link provided below.

You can enter by telling me the 5 entries in the LEAVE A COMMENT box. Please be sure to give me your name and email address so that I may contact you if you win. Contest is open to residents of US only. 18 years and older please. Please be sure to provide a physical address and not a P.O. Box. Only 1 contestant per household please. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of prize. Any violation of the rules will deem your entry as disqualified. Happymomblogger is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged prizes but will do the best to ensure your prize gets there. In the event the winner can not be contacted within 3 days of email sent then another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibed by law.

Contest Start Date: October 19, 2012

Contest End Date: October 29, 2012 – Congratulations to Sara for winning the prize!

Only 1 winner will be chosen at random and I will post the winner’s name on my blog.

GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

*If you’re unsure about supplements, please be sure to consult your health practitioner before consuming any.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

October 20, 2012November 1, 2012

suzan33 Comments

Bob’s Red Mill – Products Worth Reviewing and Giveaway

When you’re seriously looking to eat better and live a healthier life, you must remember 3 important things: eat natural foods, exercise often, and reduce your stress. Sometimes it’s hard to find the balance between the 3 facts, but eating healthy is extremely important in maintaining and achieving a healthy lifestyle. One company who strives to bring you healthier food choices is a company called Bob’s Red Mill. At Bob’s Red Mill, they make a wonderful assortment of food products for people who strive to eat better and live healthier. In our home, we have countless products from Bob’s Red Mill ranging from their pancake mix to their cereal blends. Bob’s Red Mill makes wholesome, natural, and delicious food for everyone.

You may have seen and heard about Bob’s Red Mill. They’ve been around for over 30 years making natural products that are good for you and good for the planet. Bob’s Red Mill started humbly in a small town in Oregon by Bob Moore and his wife after his pursuit to find original stone-grinding flour mills. When by chance he came upon an old mill for sale one day, he took the opportunity to start his own business of stone-ground flours and cereals for his friends, family, and customers. From then on, Bob’s Red Mill products slowly but steadily became a popular trend in the health-conscious industry. Bob’s Red Mill started as a family-owned company but recently became an employee-owned company because of Bob’s dedication to his employees and his company. In fact, as the company stated, you might even meet Bob himself if you ever decide to visit his store and visitor center in Oregon.

Bob’s Red Mill truly has a great assortment of products to choose from for your everyday cooking needs. They make products ranging from 10 grain whole grain hot cereals to flaxseeds to dried fruit. In fact, you can probably make an entire meal out of Bob’s Red Mill products and be extremely happy and satisfied knowing that you made something healthy and wholesome for your family. I’ve used their whole wheat flour and oat flour to make cookies and on most mornings we like to eat their 10 Grain Hot Cereal. The 10 Grain Hot cereal is super delicious as it contains stone ground high protein hard red wheat, rye, triticale, oat bran, oats, corn, barley, soy beans, brown rice, millet, and flaxseed. Talk about a nutritional powerhouse! We love the 10 Grain Hot Cereal with a little bit of milk or soymilk and some organic brown sugar or honey – yummy! Bob’s Red Mill has so many great products to choose from, you’re bound to find something that you’ll like and stock up on.

Bob’s Red Mill’s philosophy in providing healthy, wholesome, and natural foods extends beyond other normal food companies. They do all the milling, testing, packaging, and distributing in house and they source their ingredients from responsible farmers and farms who abide by the organic standards and laws. Bob’s Red Mill believes in close relationships with their farmers to ensure quality control and they inspect every ingredient that comes into their facility. And Bob’s Red Mill’s belief that whole grains are better for you and for the planet is evident in the quality of their products. They don’t add any unnecessary ingredients like preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, or sulfites. Their products are pure and simple and you can use them in virtually any baking or cooking recipe you have. In fact, on their website, they even offer recipes using their own products: http://www.bobsredmill.com/recipes.php and they encourage you to submit your own recipes as well.

Bob’s Red Mill makes organic, natural, and even gluten-free products so there really is something for everyone. They care about their products, their customers, and the environment and you’ll even find biodegradable packing peanuts in their packaging. Their see-through bags are easy for customers to see what they’re purchasing and the friendly, familiar face of Bob himself is on every package. Simply put – Bob’s Red Mill products are healthy, wholesome, and can fill almost every cooking need you may have. Bob’s Red Mill was also interested in my review of a few of their products and to give away to 3 LUCKY readers of Happymomblogger! The products they sent me were the Date Pieces, Pecan Halves, and Raw Pumpkin Seeds. Imagine the things you can cook and bake with those! Bob’s Red Mill’s Date Pieces are little bite-sized pieces of real dates and coated with oat flour. They’re great by itself or mixed into your cereal or even in your trail mixes. The Pecan Halves are plump, dark brown pecans that has a nice crunchy bite in them. I like to bake them with some organic brown sugar and organic butter and they become incredibly tasty snacks! And the Raw Pumpkin Seeds are great for baking, stirred into soups, or eaten as a snack; just make sure to toast them first since they come raw. Whatever ways you want to enjoy these 3 delicious prizes from Bob’s Red Mill, make sure you enter the giveaway now! Read below to find out how:

Here’s how to enter in the Bob’s Red Mill giveaway:

(Please note, the rules have changed slightly. Please read carefully before entering)

ENTRIES:

#1 entry – “Like” Bob’s Red Mill on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BobsRedMillNaturalFoods and write on their wall that you are entering the contest at Happymomblogger: http://www.happymomblogger.wordpress.com/. Please put Happymomblogger as the heading.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

#2 entry – Become a follower: http://twitter.com/#!/happymomblogger and “Tweet” me @happymomblogger that you are entering the Bob’s Red Mill giveaway. Become a follower of Bob’s Red Mill: http://twitter.com/Bobs_Red_Mill and “Tweet” that you are entering the contest at Happymomblogger.

#3 entry – Subscribe to my Blog.

#4 entry – Enter in my other contests.

#5 entry – Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs using the link provided below.

You can enter by telling me the 5 entries in the LEAVE A COMMENT box. Please be sure to give me your name and email address so that I may contact you if you win. Contest is open to residents of US only. 18 years and older please. Please be sure to provide a physical address and not a P.O. Box. Only 1 contestant per household please. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of prize. Any violation of the rules will deem your entry as disqualified. Happymomblogger is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged prizes but will do the best to ensure your prize gets there. In the event the winner can not be contacted within 3 days of email sent then another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary to enter. Void where prohibed by law.

Contest Start Date: February 6, 2012

Contest End Date: February 20, 2012 – CONTEST CLOSED. WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED.

Only 3 winners will be chosen at random and I will post the winners names on my blog.

GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

February 7, 2012February 22, 2012

suzan56 Comments

You are what you eat – Foods that are rich in Vitamins

I look forward to Summer not because of the warmer weather, but mainly for the abundancy of sweet and delicious fruits that will be available. Watermelon, peaches, nectarines, corn, strawberries, and so forth. Sure, I can probably buy those fruits that have been shipped from other countries, but really, do I want to eat a piece of fruit that was sitting on a tree 10,000 miles away? No, I think I prefer fresher fruits and vegetables that were locally grown.

I was raised at an early age to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. My husband was not. So I try to teach my son to eat lots of fruits and vegetables so that when he gets older, hopefully he’ll continue with this good habit. Thankfully, he loves his fruits and vegetables. Now I’m not saying that we don’t indulge in the occassional “junk food” in our household, we just don’t eat them every day and I don’t buy them often so they’re not tempting us. And whenever possible, I try to buy healthier junk foods. Are there healthier junk foods you may ask? Well, they’re just not loaded with a lot of unnecssary ingredients like refined sugar, hydrogenated oils, trans fat, high fructose corn syrup, and other health-depleting ingredients.

Have you ever heard of the saying, ” You are what you eat”? Well, I find that mostly true, especially in the U.S. where food is so abundant and accessible. But, are we all in danger of eating too much processed food and food ladened with hydrogenated fat and toxic chemicals? I believe we still are since obesity is still on the rise, and more so in children nowadays. After all, if you teach your children to eat and live a healthy lifestyle at a young age, most likely they’ll carry that trait into their adult years. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not only a staple in our household, but it’s a necessity. Besides being a vegetarian, I find that fresh fruits are really delicious and sweet! Some of them more so than a piece of candy or cake. We always have at least one or two varieties of fruit in our house, and when the warmer season comes, I’ll be buying a lot more yummy fruits at the local farmers market or natural grocery store.

Since I was raised to eat healthy and to be more conscious of what I eat, I try to teach my son that same lesson. And being raised in a family of doctors and health experts, I’ve also done my own research as well as learned from my family members. But it’s no mystery to know that eating foods rich in important vitamins and minerals is the key to living a healthier lifestyle and in most cases, prevent certain diseases and disorders. And to add icing on the cake, so to speak, eating foods that are organically grown enhances your chances of living a healthier life. Organically-grown foods are grown without the use of toxic pesticides, they’re not genetically modified, and they’re also grown in organic soil. Thus, they are providing a healthier product for the consumer and for the planet. However, not everyone has the means to eat organic food all of the time. Yes, it’s important to do so, but if it’s not possible, then eat as much locally and fresh or “raw” foods as possible. Below, I’ve listed the important reasons to eat food that are rich in vitamins and minerals and how they can help you live a healthier lifestyle.

* Green food such as kale, broccoli, bok choy, spinach, collards, watercress, and arugula contain chlorophyll which helps eliminate environmental toxins in the body and protects the liver.

* Fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C such as lemon, oranges, tangerines, cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, kiwi, and red bell peppers help protect the cells from free radicals and is a natural detox vitamin.

*Garlic is excellent in antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal purposes and has been provent to prevent certain type of cancers. It’s also excellent in helping to reduce high cholesterol and high blood pressure as well as fight certain infections.

*Ginger is best known for its assistance with stomach and intestinal problems. It also helps in flushing out toxins in the liver and kidneys. It’s also been known to shorten the length of the common cold and flu.

*Whole Grains such as brown rice, barley, and quinoa are full of soluble fiber which soaks up toxins in the body so that they’re more easily flushed out. Fiber also promotes easier digestion further down the road.

Below is a list of 12 common foods that contain the most pesticide residue even after careful washing or peeling. These are crucial in buying and eating organic:

1- CELERY (THE WORST)

2- PEACHES (THE WORST)

3- STRAWBERRIES (THE WORST)

4- APPLES

5- BLUEBERRIES

6- NECTARINES

7- BELL PEPPERS

8- SPINACH

9 – CHERRIES

10 – KALE/COLLARD GREENS

11- POTATOES

12 – GRAPES (IMPORTED)

These are just guidelines on what is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The math is pretty simple – you eat well, then you’ll feel well. Of course as an individual, you should always do your own research before trying anything new or different.

Wishing you good health!

May 26, 2011

suzan1 Comment

Natural Products Expo West!

As a blogger of parenting and organic and natural products, I had the opportunity to attend the Natural Products Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center on March 11, 2011. The Natural Products Expo West is the largest expo of natural and organic products that is opened only to the natural products industry. At the Expo, virtually every company in the organic and natural products and food industry were presented and each had their own booth to showcase new products as well as introduce their flagship products to attendees.

I visited some of my favorite companies and wanted to touch base with them and meet some of the folks personally. Popchips, Stonyfield Farm, Earth Friendly Products, Seventh Generation, Organic Valley, Attune Foods, Honest Tea, Amy’s Kitchen, Earthbound Farm, and Snikiddy to name a few were all there and they had some really fun booths and samples to try. I was also excited to meet some new companies and see what they had to offer. Most of the companies at the show displayed all of their current products as well as any new products that they were introducing yet not out on the market. It was pretty exciting to see all of the newest products debuting at the show as well as talking first hand to the marketing and sales group about their latest gems. And let me just say, some of the companies were pretty generous with their samples – they were giving out full size samples as well as little gifts if you were lucky enough to be there when they were handing them out.

But as generous as some of the companies were with their samples and prizes, I saw way too many freeloaders grabbing up bagfuls and handfuls of free samples and gifts. By the time anyone else got to the booths, all of the samples were gone or the companies pulled them off the shelves for fear of losing their entire stock. A couple of instances I saw some ladies grab boxes full of cookies and bread off the shelves not even pondering if maybe those were just display items and NOT samples. I mean, hey, it’s okay to take one or two but if you’re grabbing them by the handfuls, I wonder – what are you planning on doing with all of those samples? Are they going to eat all of them, give them away, or sell them on the Black Market? Buyers beware: be on the lookout for illegally-obtained organic crackers and cookies.

And yet, it was still nice to see some of my favorite companies generously doling out full size products such as chips, drinks, tea, shampoo, etc. It made me believe in their motto – that they just wanted to spread the good word of their naturally-made products. Although I didn’t have time to visit every single booth(I was there with my son) and he and I had too much fun playing games at some of the booths set up at the hall entrances, it was definitely worth the time seeing all of the new products that will be out on the market in the coming months.

Some of the highlights of the show were a visit from some of the characters from Yo Gabba Gabba and a tossing game with gel-like balls from the folks at Revolution Foods. At the Revolution Foods game booth, if your ball landed on a point, you get a prize such as yogurt drops, beads, and my son got a big bouncy ball because he landed on a high number. There was also a 1978 Volkswagon Van (Transporter) that was fully decorated as Rudi’s Organic Bakery’s mascot. And at the Happy Family booth, a grown-up man dressed in a onesie went around passing out their snacks. That was a little disconcerting to see, but I was told that the owners of the company orginally had their young children as mascots but they were too tired from the day before so it was replaced by a grown up. At Stonyfield Farm, they were debuting their newest Greek yogurt and my son got a cute little bib and an Eric Carle growth chart. And then at the booth of Nana’s Cookie Company, perhaps my son’s favorite stop, was seeing “George” from Curious George. He and George spent a great amount of time shaking hands, high-fiving, and taking photos. In fact, they seemed almost inseperable, like long lost friends! It was indeed a fun and educational experience.

Perhaps one of the great things about the Natural Products Expo West is the fact that the companies who attended donated all of their remaining food and samples to the local food bank – Second Harvest Food Bank. So in light of that, it makes me even more disappointed that folks would greedily take the good stuff from other folks who are less fortunate than them and who probably very rarely have the chance to enjoy organic and natural foods.

However, on the last day of the show, as we were walking out, I did ask to take a full size bag of natural potato chip(from a company I just discovered and wanted to try) and I was told rather sternly, “just take one bag”. Perhaps the companies caught on to all the other folks sneaking away with their goods?

But overall, the Natural Products Expo is a wonderful opportunity for store owners, vendors, wholesalers, and anything relatable to learn about the organic and natural products and food industry. So for those of you who find joy in eating and purchasing organic and natural products, pay attention to your natural food stores and supermarkets as the newest products from some of your favorite companies will be out soon.