Tag Archives: eat

Packing Lunches for Kids

August 4, 2014 Aubrey 3 Comments

It’s August and summer is winding down. Parents are thinking about sending the kids back to school and planning for the year ahead. Well, sure in that preparation the subject, idea and chore of what to feed, pack and give to the kids food-wise is in that equation. And, with kids they can be picky eaters, so trying to be creative, yet healthy can be a bit of a challenge. My boys aren’t quite school age yet, but packing snacks and a lunch are a must every time we head out the door.

I remember being a lunchbox toting child, and besides having to have the “right” lunchbox, I’m sure my parents struggled with how to get me to eat the right stuff for lunch. I wasn’t a cafeteria kid, so I always brought lunch with me to school. I do distinctly recall sifting through my lunch every day, picking out the treats, string cheese and juice…rather than eating the sandwich and healthier options my Mom would put in there for me.

Sure it’s easy to fall back on prepackaged foods and fun character-themed snacks, but if you can, there are some easy ways to try and make lunches look more appealing using nutritious ingredients! And yes,I know it can seem like a chore to have to plan and do the extra little things, just to get them to eat… BUT with a little planning and persistence, it’s doable!

Some of the tips I’ve read and seen include using a cookie cutter to turn sandwiches into fun shapes…I mean they’re going to ask you to cut the crust off anyway! Purchase baggies in fun colors and stuff them with fresh veggies like celery and carrot sticks. Use small plastic containers to pack some fresh cut fruit. If sandwich bread isn’t getting much play, try tortillas or pita bread as an alternative.

At my day job as a TV Host I got to interview Kelly Lester, the Mom behind easylunchboxes.com. Press play in the clip below and see what advice and ideas she offers when it comes to packing lunch for the kiddos! Happy packing!

News

Kid’s Eat FREE at Olive Garden on April 24

April 18, 2014 Aubrey Leave a comment

Olive Garden invites families to celebrate and enjoy a special meal together on Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on Thursday, April 24, and is offering one free children’s menu item (children under 12) for every adult entree purchased that day.

This year, more than 37 million youth and adults are expected to participate in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day at more than 3.5 million workplaces. Olive Garden has partnered with the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation since 2012, and last year more than 7,000 Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day participants visited Olive Garden restaurants nationwide.

“Olive Garden is proud to support the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day Foundation and all it does to create enriching educational experiences for children around the world,” said Jay Spenchian, Olive Garden’s executive vice president of marketing. “By offering free kids meals we hope to make the day a little more special for parents and their children, and encourage everyone to join us for a family meal together.”

The Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day free kid’s meal coupon will be available at OliveGarden.com. The coupon is valid for lunch and dinner with the purchase of any adult entree, including more than 20 new menu items recently introduced on Olive Garden’s menu as part of the most comprehensive update in the restaurant’s history.

I love that Olive Garden is so family-friendly, like when they did the “Parents’s Night Out” event with My Gym no too long ago! Make sure to print a coupon for this FREE offer.

To find the nearest Olive Garden restaurant, visit OliveGarden.com. Connect with them at Facebook.com/OliveGarden, Twitter.com/OliveGarden and Instagram.com/OfficialOliveGarden.

53 Weeks TV, Mommy 101, Product & Gear

Baby Food Mash Up

March 6, 2014 Aubrey 5 Comments

I have a couple girlfriend’s who I’ve known since childhood and we all happened to give birth within a six week span last year, so this year, as our babies grow, we are able to share and maneuver through some of the “baby steps” together! So, as our babies crossed the 6 months mark and began taking in “solids,” I get this random text with a photo and link attached to it for the NUK Mash & Serve Bowl. My friend went on to say how much she had already fallen in love with hers and how easy it is to use, clean and take with you on outings! Soon after my other girlfriend also acquired her own masher and then, singing its praises. Well, I still haven’t gotten one, and now I wish I had. I think I’m at the stage where it feels like I should’ve gotten it earlier, because now I don’t feel like I’ll get enough use out of it. I mean after all, I do have a Baby Bullet and to be honest, I’ve been buying ready made baby food – don’t judge me! However, I am pretty impressed with how much my friends seem to enjoy theirs and so, I figured I’d share this masher with you.

As you can see from the photos, this masher can smash and blend pretty much any food you’d like to serve to baby. Even without ever having used it, I love that you could easily take a small portion of your meal and quickly get it ready for baby. I have tried making larger quantities of baby food at one time to store, and if you’d rather mash as you go, this works! Plus, you can serve it right out of the bowl and clean up is nice and easy…no blender blades and parts to disassemble and wash. The other benefit of this NUK product that my friend pointed out is it’s portability. It’s small enough to toss in the bag and take with you, so if you’re on the go, this works!

If you watched the video, you’ll see how easy it is to mash up not only fruits and steamed veggies, but you can use it on meats like chicken and beef…it works with rice and oatmeal too. So if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make healthy & nutritious food for your tot, you may need to check out the NUK Mash & Serve Bowl…the price point isn’t bad either.

Food

Quinoa Ratatouille

November 9, 2013 Aubrey Leave a comment

Homemade Baby Food Recipe

One of the few pre-packaged baby foods my little one eats on a consistent basis is Happy Family’s organic Amaranth Ratatouille. It’s slightly textured with grains of quinoa and filled with yummy vegetables. I decided to make something similar at home and it tastes even better than the one in the store. This homemade baby food quinoa ratatouille is filled with zucchini, eggplant, sweet peppers, squash and tomato, with the addition of quinoa.

If you haven’t jumped on the quinoa train yet, making it for your baby is a good start. It cooks quickly and is full of protein, fiber, iron, antioxidants and other good-for-you stuff. The tiny seed is small enough for baby to eat, which is why you find it in many of my recipes, and in the store brands as well. Did you know The Food and Agriculture Organization of the Nations named 2013 “The International Year of the Quinoa?” I just found that out.

Back to the ratatouille. This is the same dish featured in the movie by the same name, and the baby food version is yummy. I tried some, my husband tried some. Grandma would have eaten the whole bowl if we let her. It’s really flavorful and healthy too!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ medium onion, diced
1 pinch garlic (powdered or fresh)
1 pinch dried thyme leaves
1 cup eggplant, diced
½ cup green or red bell pepper, diced
1 cup zucchini, diced
1 tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
¼ cup quinoa
1 cup vegetable broth
Fresh basil and/or parsley (optional)
1-2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Method

In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme, eggplant, sweet pepper, zucchini, tomato, tomato paste, quinoa and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer. Lower the heat and cover. Cook for 15-20 minutes, until the quinoa has “sprouted” and the vegetables are tender. Add more broth if necessary during cooking.

Remove from the heat and stir in fresh herbs and cheese. Puree in a food processor until you reach the desired consistency, adding additional vegetable broth or water if needed.

REPOST from: Love and Duck Fat

For more great homemade baby food recipes from Love and Duck Fat visit http://loveandduckfat.com

…and 2 babies later