Fruity Frozen Yogurt Pops!

Recipe and photo from The National Honey Board 

How awesome do these look? Mine did not come out as pretty or tri-colored! I made them with a refreshing after school snack in mind. The first few weeks back to school are hot and Chloe's school has no air conditioning- so I figured it would be nice for her to come home to something cold and tasty!

She absolutely loved them and ate two!

 These pops are super easy to make! A perfectly healthy after school snack for your little honey!

 

                

                   Fruity Frozen Yogurt Pops

Makes 8 servings

• 1 cup fresh, ripe nectarines, pineapple, or strawberries, chopped
• 1-1/2 cups plain yogurt
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 8 paper cups (3 oz.) and popsicle sticks or plastic spoons

In a blender, combine all ingredients; mix well. Pour into eight (3 oz.) paper cups; insert popsicle sticks or plastic spoon in center of each. Freeze 4 hours or until solidly frozen.

 

 

 

I should be embarrassed to even show mine! They tasted good- I swear!

 

 

Lunchbots- Love Packing Lunch!

 

One of my readers left a comment on my healthy back to school lunch post telling me to check out Lunchbots. I am so happy she left that comment! Thank you Rachel! I ordered two as soon as I did. These stainless steel containers come in divided sections of two, three or four. I went with the four knowing how Chloe and Max like to pick on a variety of foods. They aren't sandwich kids so I knew this would solve my problems! I absolutely love packing lunch now and love seeing a practically empty container come back home even more!

 

Sliced cucumbers, celery sticks, crackers, grapes, pretzels, trail mix, berries are all foods that fit perfectly into these smart containers and our schools request for healthy lunches. The dividers make the possibilities endless.

 

Lunchbots make packing a healthy lunch easier without all the plastic baggies for the kiddies to take out and fumble over. They fit right inside a standard lunch bag. I place Chloe's right in the pouch inside of her lunch bag.

 

 

 

 

 

Raising Humans: Growing Pains

 

 

 

Almost five years ago, I came home from the hospital with my baby girl. She was born the last day of September so it was early October when we came home. It was a beautiful 90 degree day- unusual for New York that time of year. If the day wasn't perfect enough, the sun shining on my face gave me a feeling of warmth and happiness that I never felt before. I felt like it was our special day and the sun was shining for us, lighting our path home.

 

 

To continue reading about the journey of my Kindergarten growing pains with Chloe, please read with me here.

 

When Tricia from Raising Humans asked me to write for her weekly series, Growing Together, not only was I honored- it was at a perfect time. Her blog focuses on growth. With my daughter starting Kindergarten this week, I am mixed with many emotions from sadness to excitement. We are at the beginning of her educational journey that I find bittersweet...so what better to write about?

 

Tricia, thank you for trusting in me with your blog and your readers. You are an amazing writer and mommy. You asking me to write for you is so gratifying. It validates that my voice is being heard! Thanks again Tricia- for hearing my voice...and sharing it with the world.

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins

                            
                             Peanut Butter & Jelly Muffins

 

I busted out the Sneaky chef to help get our healthy back on. All of our Summer activities kept us outdoors and me out of the kitchen!  With Fall quickly approaching, I wanted to start the new season on a good note.

 

As you may have noticed, peanut butter is a front runner in our home. I love it as much as the kids. As I was flipping through the pages of the Sneaky chef, I came across Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins and knew I had to make them. These are not your ordinary muffins.

                                                                                                                                                Hidden inside is an orange puree which consists of sweet potato and carrot. Sweet potatoes are filled with antioxidant vitamins C and E, carotene's,calcium, potassium, and iron. Carrots are the richest source of carotene and antioxidants among veggies. The flour blend which the muffins are made with contain 1 cup of wheat germ. Wheat germ is a powerhouse of nutrients that offers an excellent source of iron, protein, B vitamins, folic acid, and vitamin E. The B vitamins nourish the nervous system and may help prevent fatigue and migraines.

 

Like I said, these are not your ordinary muffins!

 

Missy Chase Lapine recommends pre -making the purees to lesson the workload of her recipes.

 

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins

 

Orange Puree

1 medium sweet potato peeled and roughly chopped

3 medium to large carrots, peeled and sliced into thick chunks

3-4 tablespoons of water

 

Boil about 20 minutes until veggies are tender.

Puree on high with 2 tablespoons of water- the less water the better (use more if need be)

This makes about 2 cups of puree.

You can freeze what you do not use.

 

Flour Blend

 

2 cups of whole grain pastry flour

1 cup of wheat germ, unsweetened

 

Ingredients

 

1 cup of the Flour Blend

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup canola oil

 

3/4 cup Orange Puree

3/4 smooth peanut butter

8 heaping teaspoons of your favorite jam

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with paper liners.

 

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the Flour Blend, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

 

In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until well combined, then whisk in the oil, Orange Puree, and peanut butter. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet and mix until flour is just moistened (don't over mix to avoid dense muffins).

 

Scoop about two tablespoons of batter into the large muffin cups until half full. Place a heaping teaspoon of jam in the center of each muffin. Cover the jam with another two tablespoons or so of batter, filling the cups just over the top.

 

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.

 

 

I made these muffins in the morning when the kiddies were just waking up. Chloe asked what the orange puree was and I told her I was making baby food for my godson! I was so excited for Chloe and Max to try them. I put my blood, sweat and tears into making them! I had to go to so many different stores for the various ingredients, make the Orange Puree...and lets not talk about the cleanup!

 

I give the kids the muffins and Max says "YUCK" and wont even attempt a bite. Chloe takes one bite and says shes full!

 

Chloe ate more of them and continued eating them in the days to follow! My parents enjoyed them, my brother loved the jam in the middle and my husband had his share as well...you couldn't taste a hint of veggies.

 

I am definitely sending these to school with Chloe for her A.M snack. She actually asked me to make them again today...so back at it tomorrow! (I already have the Orange Puree frozen)

 

I highly suggest skipping the minis and making all regular sized muffins- they were moister and tastier.

 

I hope all my fellow peanut butter fans make these muffins! They are worth all of the work-especially knowing you are filling your kiddies bellies with some good stuff.  

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Packing Healthy Lunches for Kids

You've got the school supplies ready to go, but what's your plan for packing healthy back to school lunches? I know this is on the mind of many a mommy- including me. Packing a healthy lunch at home can ensure kids get the nutrition they need without all the fat, calories and salt found on convenience foods and many school lunches. Too much salt, calories and fat can contribute to long term health issues like obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Among children today, obesity is causing health problems that previously weren't seen until adulthood- now that's scary.

Preparation is an important factor in helping your child eat healthily.

 Tips on Packing Healthy School Lunches

Plan ahead! Writing out a list helps me stay to focused on my purchases. Going rogue can be dangerous because your just grabbing at unnecessary stuff.  

Shop your local health store for pre-packaged snacks that are high in fiber and low in fat, sugar and calories. A couple of great options are nuts which are high in protein and pre-sliced apples in individual bags. 

  Write down ideas as you see them. Keep a pad out on the counter until your ready to get to the store. If you see a sandwich idea, jot down all ingredients needed for it.

                                                                                                                                                         Having a variety of containers helps me to pack healthier. My obsession? Lunchbots. They are stainless steel bento box style containers with dividers. I bought one for Chloe and Max. It will make sending in fresh fruits and veggies along with rolled up turkey and crackers a cinch. I bought the quad which has four sections- they also come in three, two or even one sectioned containers...and they are waste free so great for the environment!

Rinse and slice fruits and veggies Sunday night so they are easily accessible all week when your ready to pack lunches.

Cut fruit into shapes for greater acceptance. You can use cookie cutters.

Getting lunches made right after dinner can help the morning run more smoothly.

100% juice boxes with no added sugar (I like fruitables) in the freezer will keep lunches cool until lunchtime.

Watch your portions. Size does matter! Portion size has a lot to do with why our kids are gaining weight. Because there's too much of everything on their plates, our kids are getting far more calories than they need. You may be surprised to learn these are serving sizes:

• 1 slice of bread
• 1/2 cup of rice or pasta
• 1 small piece of fruit (super large apples are 2+ servings)
• 1 wedge of melon
• 1/2 cup of fruit juice
• 1 cup of milk or yogurt
• 2 to 3 ounces of meat, poultry or fish (approximately the size of a deck of cards)

                                                       Health on the Go!
                                                
Hummus now comes in individual snack packs! Send them to
school along with cut up pieces of whole grain pita bread, pretzels, celery, cucumber or carrots. Hummus is a low fat protein source and is high in iron and vitamin C.

Sandwiches can be made healthily on whole grain or wheat bread, pita, wraps or flatbreads. Choose lean meats in low sodium such as turkey or chicken. I love Boarshead low sodium chicken breast. Use reduced fat mayo or mustard to dress it up.

Peanut butter makes for a high protein lunch. I made a PB&H (honey) with apples that my kids loved. Substitute the peanut butter with soy nut butter if need be. I am healthy makes a great one.

Hard boiled eggs are great for lunch- my daughter refuses to take them because they smell! If your child doesn't mind- its a great option!

Low-fat or light yogurt with a side of granola and chopped fruit can make a great lunch or snack! Stay away from yogurts targeted at children because they are high in calories and sugar. My kids love Danon Oikos in Vanilla.

Cereal is great for lunch! Buy individual milk containers or pour some 2% milk into a spill proof container and freeze it the night before.

Look for granola bars that are low in fat and sugar. Choose ones that contain less than 1 gram of saturated fat per serving and no more than 35% sugar by weight. There should be at least 5 grams of protein as well....not all granola bars are created equal!

My peanut butter and yogurt dip is another great option that got rave reviews from not only my children, but most of my readers and their children as well. Click on the link for the quick and easy recipe to make it!



I hope I was able to help some. I know it is not easy- especially for those with picky eaters.

Do you have any healthy lunch ideas you can share? I would love to hear them.

Ways to ease school anxiety

 

Back to school time is filled with many emotions- excitement, anticipation, anxiety for both children and parents. Anxiety is the front runner in my house.  

 

 I am afraid of mentioning Kindergarten to Chloe in fear of the meltdown that follows. I was hopeful that the visit to her new classroom, meeting her new teacher and classmates would help some, but it didn't. Whenever we talk about returning, she cries and says she'll miss me.

 

  Chloe attended a three year old program. It was two days a week, two and a half hours per class. She was a little apprehensive leaving me at first, but to my surprise adjusted quickly. I made up a little song for her knowing how she liked them.

I always come back,
I always come back,
I always come back for you!

I never said it was a fantastic song! For being created on a whim, it worked! Every time I picked her up, she would sing "you always come back, you always come back, you always come back for me"!

The following year, Chloe attended Pre-K. This doubled in both days and hours. She went Monday- Thursday, 10am-2pm. She really liked it but complained of how long it felt to her from September all the way through June. I had trouble getting her there the last month. This came to a surprise to her teacher when I mentioned it. She was doing so well in school, never showing signs of anxiety.

She grew very attached to her Pre-K teacher and is having a hard time knowing she is not going to be her teacher again. To boot, not one student from her Pre-K class is in her Kindergarten class. On top of that, she will be in school for 2 hours longer than Pre-K. A lot of change for a little person.

My mom taught Kindergarten for 25 years and recommended some books to help ease her woes. My favorite is The Kissing Hand. When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him. Mrs. Raccoon teaches Chester that just because he is away from her doesn't mean that she cant be with him in other ways. She shows him the secret of the kissing hand so he doesn't feel lonely at school and knows his mother loves him. It comes with little heart stickers to place in your child's hand to remind them of how much you love them when they're away from home. So cute and Chloe loved the little stickers. She slept with one in the palm of her hand after reading it before bed.

We also read llama llama misses mama. I loved that this story went along with my little song of always coming back. Little llama wouldn't try anything new all day. He wouldnt play, read or eat with his classmates. He was so sad his mom left. When she returned to pick him up, he realized that she will always come back for him and that he does in fact like school.                                       
 
Reading has helped Chloe's anxieties some. We also went shopping for her supplies together- I read that this can help. I thought she would be apprehensive but she was excited to pick out her own lunch bag, backpack and folders...everything princess of course! This helped her realize that its not just talk- that it is in fact beginning soon. She didn't freak out- so I have that!

I also started getting back on a set schedule now- before school begins. Bed time gradually  returned to the 7:30 pm it was before Summer. This will help reduce Chloe's stress. Creating a daily routine has always been a huge part of our family life- it's what keeps me somewhat sane! I am going to create a morning checklist (will post!) to help our mornings run smoothly and organized. Daily things like brushing teeth, combing hair, getting dressed will be on the checklist. This will also allow Chloe to feel as though she is in control of her morning which will hopefully lead to less of us butting heads.

This is not easy! Knowing she is having anxiety is giving me anxiety!

Do you have any tips to help ease the transition from Summer to school? Please share!