Tips For Eating and Living Well
Last week my son was at camp, but my daughter Abby stayed home with me. At first she was super bummed that she didn’t have camp, but I told her we could have “Mommy Camp” and do fun things together instead. As a result, we had a great week together! We spent time at a local bookstore, went for a long hike at Hanging Rock, NC, cooked a delicious dinner together, and developed a fun new recipe — Sugar Cookie Granola! …
I don’t know about you guys, but this summer has been insanely busy for my family. In fact, this whole year has been crazy (hence the lack of blog posting, sorry!). But what really made me realize how quickly time has flown by is the fact that Luke is turning ONE next week. How did that happen???
In preparation for Luke’s first birthday party, I decided to develop a healthful chocolate cake for him to smash and enjoy by himself. For Abby I made a Strawberry Smash Cake, which was a huge hit. But I gotta say, this chocolate cake is a home run. I’ve even served the test runs to company! The cake is moist and flavorful, and the avocado frosting is rich and super chocolatey. You’d never guess that this chocolate smash cake is good for you!…
Can you believe it’s already December???
I used to roll my eyes whenever another mom bragged that all of her Christmas shopping was complete before most of us had even started, but I now realize that the only way to truly enjoy December in the midst of all of the American consumerism is to get it done early. I hate how Christmas gift giving has become an expectation rather than a pleasant surprise, but what can you do? I just try to get people gifts that are thoughtful and useful, then move on with my life.
For example, I love giving books and kitchen tools. They’re practical and equip people to cook for themselves, thus improving their health. And what better gift is there than good health?…
Ever since I posted my carrot dog recipe a few weeks ago, people have been raving about how much they taste like real hot dogs! I decided to use my carrot dog marinade on baby carrots to make a snack-sized, toddler-friendly version: mini corn dogs! …
As promised in my Feeding Toddlers article, here is the recipe for my Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies! Aren’t they cute? These babies are no-bake, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and oil-free. And yet, they’re mini PB & J sandwiches — like “Uncrustables” without the junk ingredients!…
In my previous post, Feeding Toddlers, I added a list of nutritious snacks for toddlers which included a new favorite in our household: mini cinnamon rolls!…
I can’t tell you how many strangers have come up to us in restaurants and told us they were amazed by what our toddler was eating — whether it was Brussels sprouts, broccoli, tofu, etc. Abby, now two years old, loves to eat. And even though I’d like to take all of the credit for her great diet, I know that parents have to work with the cards they are dealt. Some kids are naturally picky eaters, and there isn’t much parents can do about it….
If you’re not a parent who has caved and turned on the TV in a desperate search for sanity, you may not be familiar with the British cartoon, Peppa Pig. Since I am one of those parents, Abby has grown to love this cute cartoon character, and thus had a Peppa Pig-themed second birthday party. …
It’s an undisputed fact that vegetables in pancake form are more fun to eat than non-pancake veggies. Also, savory pancakes are great because you can top them with just about anything — hummus, salsa, stewed tomatoes, fajita veggies, sliced tomatoes, etc. — and BOOM, you have a delicious meal! …
If you switch to a plant-based diet, you will find that you love eating this way, yet there are a few foods you miss. For me, it’s my childhood favorite, macaroni and cheese. …
It’s quite common for young kids to be picky eaters, so it is important for us parents to find ways to get them to learn to appreciate vegetables. Many kids will eat anything if it is presented to them in a fun shape (unfortunately, this doesn’t work with picky husbands!), so I decided to use a bear cookie cutter to make portobello bears with bell pepper clothes and hummus “glue.” …
