by admin | Sep 1, 2018 | Grown Up, Healthy Food, Nutrition, Recipes
As we get ready to kickoff another college football season, we wanted to share a healthy snack idea … Tasty Trail Mix!
Snacking and healthful are two of a kind in this homemade trail mix recipe. As you’re cheering on your favorite football team(s), have this nutritious trail mix ready to go. In this recipe, we use nuts for good fats and dried fruit for vitamins and minerals to give you a sweet, salty and satisfying sideline snack for all you armchair quarterbacks! (more…)
by admin | Aug 31, 2018 | Grown Up, Health Exercise, Healthy Food
Labor Day … it’s the last official hurrah of the summer! Here are a few tips to make this one healthy and fun! (more…)
by admin | Oct 30, 2017 | Healthy Food, Kids, Uncategorized
Halloween is fast approaching and let’s face it … this day can be a nightmare for any family trying to make healthy choices! The good news is, a little planning and foresight can take the fright out of the night. So try on these Halloween hints for size!
Here are a few Halloween hints to make your day safe and healthy!
- Decide in advance what to do with the loot! A piece of candy isn’t a bad thing but a sugar coma from eating half a bag of candy is! How will you divvy up the goods? The danger isn’t just for the kids; it’s really easy for us adults to help ourselves to those treats as well.
- Go Trick or Treating. Sure, you’re filling your bag with candy but you’re also out walking the neighborhood. Map out your streets and take the whole family out for an hour or so. Challenge yourselves to walk a certain number of miles while you’re out!
- Make sure you wear reflective clothing or have flashlights on your family. Kids are excited and drivers are distracted, so do you best to make yourself visible.
- Remember it’s a school night! Start early enough that your kids still get a good night’s sleep and limit their sugar intake. Your child’s teacher will thank you!
- Lead by example. Find fun and healthy treats to give away at your house. We got some great ideas via facebook; from small bags of microwave popcorn, small boxes of whole grain cereal, fruit snacks, stickers and more! You’ll be glad when you don’t have left over candy lying around to tempt you too!
If you have any other Halloween hints, we’d love to hear them! Feel free to share on our facebook page!
by admin | Oct 26, 2017 | Educator, Healthy Food, Kids, Nutrition
Let’s do an Apple Taste Test for National Apple Month! Apples are also an OrganWise Guys Foods of the Month for October, and the perfect food for the fall season. Apples are such a versatile food that can be used in anything from salads to desserts and they come in so many delicious varieties!
Chew on this interesting apple trivia:
- Americans eat approximately 120 apples apiece each year!
- Apples are nutritious because they contain lots of fiber, vitamins C, B6, and A, and potassium, as well as antioxidants.
- 2500 known varieties are grown in the United States.
- 36 states grow them with Washington, New York, Michigan, California, Pennsylvania, and Virginia being the top production states.
- Apples are available all year round and are a perfect take-along snack anytime!
- Apples don’t require peeling so eat the skin because it contains healthy nutrients.
A taste test is a really fun way to encourage kids to try a small sample of a new food where they may typically be more close-minded about trying new things. This interactive apple taste testing worksheet will help you introduce several different apple varieties and let’s them provide feedback.
We would love to hear about your at-home taste tests! Share with us how it went and include any pictures of the finished worksheets on our Facebook page!
by admin | Sep 30, 2017 | Educator, Healthy Food, Nutrition, Recipes
Did you know that you can substitute whole wheat flour for white flour when baking? What better time that September, when whole grains are a Foods of the Month, to try this out?!
ICYMI, whole wheat is a subset of whole grain that strictly applies to wheat products. So when a product is labeled whole grain, it means that it includes the entire kernel of the grain – including the outer bran layer, the germ (the part that can sprout into a new plant), and the inner, starchy endosperm. Refined grains, on the other hand, only include the endosperm; that’s why whole grains generally take longer to cook.
One of our favorite ways to get more whole grains (organic is best) is by swapping out white flour for whole wheat flour in pizza dough. The great thing about making your own pizza dough is that you can make a big batch and store it in the fridge, to create various healthy dinners throughout the week. To make whole wheat pizza dough, we recommend using half whole wheat flour and half white flour in your favorite pizza dough recipe. By leaving some white flour, the dough is not too dense, but you still get the fiber benefits of whole wheat flour. Combine your flour with yeast, hot water, a little salt and sugar, some extra virgin olive oil and mix thoroughly.
Now, what to do with your healthy homemade pizza dough? Get a little more creative than a regular pizza and try making a calzone or Stromboli! To make these traditionally fatty dishes healthier, spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on the dough, add organic cheese, and then top with tons of veggies like tomatoes, peppers, onions and spinach. Carefully roll it up, and put in the oven at 375 degrees for 35 minutes. Enjoy!
by admin | Jul 25, 2017 | Grown Up, Healthy Food
Corn side dishes make any meal more delicious!
Corn is a July Foods of the Month! Health benefits of corn include fiber and antioxidants, which our OrganWise Guys love. Also, corn is tastiest in the summer because it is fresh. Be sure to pick up some fresh (non-GMO) corn, which is the best value, from your local grocery store this summer to make these tasty corn side dishes for your next get together: (more…)
