Healthy Habits :: Not So Average Mama

Archive for Healthy Habits

Sep
2

Making Healthy Eating Choices For Kids

by Brandy

looney I want to focus this post on starting a conversation with you guys about healthy eating choices for kids. I’m going to tell you to tell you what works for me and then I would love to hear what works for you.

At our house, I simply keep the junk out. Yes, I do buy some goodies. Trust me..the girls are not doing without. These are treats…not an every day occurrence. Some people add a desert to every meal they serve! This is not good for kids. It is teaching them very bad habits!

We also do not buy a lot of prepared convenience foods. We cook most of our meals together. Kids are much more interested in trying a new food if they helped prepare it. When we had a garden, the girls were also more interested in eating the foods they helped to grow and pick. It really does work.

Another way they try new and different healthy foods in Bento! Bento is so much fun to make and eat. If you have a picky eater this might be something you should give a try. It is basically turning food into edible art! It’s pretty awesome!

83671bb2a4_MediumBasket MomLogic has some great ideas posted on healthy lunch, snack and dinner ideas for your family. Be sure to check it out. Also check out the Grand Prize Gift Basket they are giving away.

As a reminder…as part of the program I am happy to announce that they will be providing one of my readers with a gift basket! The basket is a $100 value! It is filled with Looney Tunes products like DVDs, plush toys, green shopping bags and non-perishable Eating Right products.

To be eligible for the gift basket just comment and participate on this 5 week series. I have a conversation starter question below.

What works for you?

Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Safeway, Inc. have teamed up to create a better-for-you line of food products for children, uniting flavor and nutrition with the iconic Looney Tunes characters. The Eating Right Kids food line featuring Bugs Bunny, Marvin the Martian, Daffy Duck and others offers more than 60 items across 18 categories including breakfast foods, produce, portable meals, dairy, snacks, beverages and frozen entrees – making it easy for moms to spot healthier food and beverage items for their kids that taste great.

Items in the basket include:

Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1

Tweety T-shirt from Junk Food

Looney Tunes plush item

Looney Tunes stationary or home good

Eating Right Kids “green” shopping bag from Safeway

Eating Right Kids post card

Eating Right Kids Products (non perishable) in a branded lunch box

Canned Ravioli with Daffy or Microbowl with Tweety

Tri-color Wheat Rotini with Sylvester and Tweety

Apple juice with Taz

Chewy Bar with Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner

Please note: If an item listed in the giveaway prize is not available, it will be replaced it with a similar item of equal value.

13 Categories : Contests

Aug
25

Do Your Kids Eat Healthy?

by Brandy

looney I’m one of the lucky ones…my kids love healthy, good for you foods! They love fruits and vegetables. Of course, they love candy and junkie stuff too. Things like that are not an every day staple though. I try to keep a fresh choice of fruits and vegetables for the kids on hand at all times.

As things kick off with school and 4H more time is spent out of the home. This can cause some challenges in providing healthy foods. Unless of course I plan ahead. Sometimes things are in such a rush that I don’t have time to plan ahead. What am I supposed to do then?

For the next 5 weeks I will be working with the Warner Brothers “WB Word of Mouth Team” who have hired me to take part in the Looney Tunes Eating Right Kids program featured on Momlogic.com. You can visit the Eating Right Kids page on Momlogic.com. There you will find healthy recipes and more! 8bff8a9018_SnkPk_GrpsChz

Overview of Looney Tunes Eating Right Kids Program:

Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Safeway, Inc. have teamed up to create a better-for-you line of food products for children, uniting flavor and nutrition with the iconic Looney Tunes characters. The line includes categories such as breakfast foods, portable meals, dairy, snacks and beverages. Each product will feature such world-renowned Looney Tunes characters as Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Taz, Sylvester, Wile E. Coyote, Roadrunner, Marvin the Martian and Daffy Duck, who serve as ‘Mother’s Helper,’ making it easy for moms to spot better-for-you food and beverage items for their kids that taste great.

Be sure to head on over to Momlogic.com to check out the Eating Right blog from Haylie Pomroy. She will be posting healthy recipes, expert tips and Looney Tunes Eating Right product recommendations(available at Safeway stores**) to help us moms save time when creating healthy meals for our families.

As part of the program I am happy to announce that they will be providing one of my readers with a gift basket! The basket is a $100 value! It is filled with Looney Tunes products like DVDs, plush toys, green shopping bags and non-perishable Eating Right products. To be eligible for the gift basket just comment and participate on this 5 week series. I have a conversation starter question below.

Momlogic will also give away a grand prize basket valued at $500 which you can also enter to win. Please visit Momlogic.com for more info on that giveaway.

“Tasty Tip” I know that I can get my kids to eat anything if they can dip it!

What are your favorite ways to get kids to eat their fruits and veggies? I would love to hear some of your tips in the comments section!

**Safeway also owns Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Dominick

14 Categories : Contests

Jul
10

YogaBuddies Review and Giveaway

by Brandy

This Giveaway is Closed!

WINNER IS COMMENT #20!

As a parent of 3 kids, I want to make sure they create healthy habits. One way to do that is to make it fun! YogaBuddies is a great way to create healthy habits as well as getting your children to unwind and relax for a more restful sleep.

Here is a video of my youngest daughters, Lauren and Emma demonstrating the Yoga moves they are learning from the DVD. Please excuse the mess, we’re packing!

So, what do I think of the DVD? I think it is fantastic! It really held their attention and they wanted to do the stretches. They even ask for me to play the DVD for them in the evenings. It has now become part of our routine! It truly does help get them relaxed while entertaining them at the same time.

What do the girls think? Lauren (age 5) is really into it, Emma (age 3) likes to mimic Lauren. So even though Emma doesn’t get everything that they are doing, she is having fun copying Lauren.

YogaBuddies is dedicated to making a difference for kids health and well being through the practice of yoga. We are proud to say we have taught in more than 45 schools and organizations, and our products and class have reached more than 3,000 kids.

Our mission is to inspire each student physically, mentally, emotionally and socially through the practice of yoga. We strive to help children cultivate a sense of understanding and respect for themselves and for the world around them.

This DVD helps us as parents as well. A better nights rest for your children mean a better night for mom and dad!

You can buy it at www.yogabuddies.com for $14.99 + S&H.

Win it!

Main Entry: Visit YogaBuddies, then leave me a comment telling me what you like best about YogaBuddies.

Bonus Entries: You must complete the main entry before doing the bonus entries. Please leave a new comment for each entry!

Sign up for the YogaBuddies email list! Leave a comment letting me know you have done this. Honesty people, karma karma karma!
Sign up for my Enews and Updates located in the upper right sidebar.
Blog about this giveaway! Leave a comment linking me to it.
Tweet about this giveaway @stitchblade, comment with the tweet URL.

Giveaway ends August 26, 2009!

59 Categories : Contests

Jun
30

About Those Health Changes…

by Brandy

So today was the day…weigh in and measurements at Curves. Well, it’s that time of the month for me, so she said she would weigh me next week. Anyhow, she went ahead and measured me and I am going to share the changes so far with you.

Now keep in mind, I have only went 10 times. I planned to go at least 5 times a week…well this horrid pain and some other stress crap messed me up. But now, no more excuses. I feel better after I go anyhow! After dreamstimefree_2060244 working out I am in way less pain.

Here are the results of my first check after 10 workouts:

Bust: No Change…those girls are not gonna budge.
Waist: 3/4 inch lost
Abdomen: 1 inch lost
His: 1/4 inch lost
Thighs 1/2 inch lost each leg = 1 inch lost!
Arms: No change
Body Fat lost was 2lbs
Weight lost, not sure. I will know next week after Aunt Flo has went home.

I know it doesn’t seem like a lot, but after only 10 work outs seeing a change is a big boost! Who knows, my measurements may be different next week as well. I am always puffy during my period.

I really enjoy going to Curves. The owner Marnee is super nice and helpful. She is more than willing to give advice or a push!

8 Categories : Around Our House

Mar
2

Raw Fu Part 1 & Where Are The Cheap Raw Peeps?

by Brandy

Raw Food So awhile back I decided I wanted to go raw. Well I did it for a few weeks and I really felt awesome. I had more energy, better mood, dropped weight, no heartburn, etc etc… Well life got hard and things got hectic as I am sure you all can understand.

For some reason…. that is totally beyond me…… it can be so expensive to eat healthy! Raw foods, in the natural state can cost so much more than the junk processed foods. Someone please explain to me why that is?

I came across Raw Fu and decided to join in (late) on the 100 Day Raw Food Challenge. Today I headed to the store and picked up some stock. I mainly eat a vegetarian diet anyhow so going raw isn’t all that hard for me. I plan to go atleast 80% raw this time.
strawberry
In my previous run at raw I never tried making the green smoothies…honestly it sounded a little weird and well… uh….gross. Guess what? It isn’t gross and my green smoothie didn’t even turn out green. So here I sit, typing a blog and drinking a not so green, green smoothie..and it’s awesome tasting! Even the girls had some!

I know this is something I need to do to feel more healthy, and I am dedicated to doing it. To keep me on track though….I would like to have some tips at being raw on the cheap frugal side. I like a bargain! We made out alright today because we got to the grocery right when they were putting some discounted veggies out.

So… I am calling upon all of you frugal raw foodists to share your secrets here ! Your cheapo friends need your help!

2 Categories : Around Our House