by admin | May 24, 2015 | Grown Up
It’s Memorial Day weekend! The “unofficial” kick off summer is here and certainly you have some sort of outdoor plans involving food, family, and friends. Are you looking for a tasty recipe to serve up at your get together? Try these festive Memorial Day popsicles for your perfect warm weather treat! Made with only three ingredients, not only are these desserts simple to create, they are also healthy and full of nutrition. The berries provide antioxidants and the Greek yogurt is packed with calcium and protein. Kids and adults alike will love these delicious and refreshing treats!
Memorial Day Popsicles
Ingredients
1 6 oz. package of fresh raspberries
1 6 oz. package of fresh blueberries
1 cup non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt
Directions
Wash the berries. Use a blender to blend the raspberries until smooth, then set aside. Next, use the lowest blender setting to crush the blueberries (large chunks should remain). Fill the popsicle mold with the berries and yogurt. To get a red white and blue effect, pour the raspberry mixture into the mold until it is one third full, then use a spoon to add the Greek yogurt to the next third, then pour the blueberry mixture into the last third. Freeze the popsicle molds for 4 hours. To remove the popsicles from their molds, run them under hot water for 10-15 seconds. Serve at your Memorial Day barbeque or by the pool!
Makes 4 popsicles
by admin | May 23, 2015 | Grown Up
We love having Produce for KidsBuild a Better Burger on our blog! Today they are here with a fun way to get kids involved in the burger-building process. Here’s to healthy burgers!
Summer is here and Memorial Day and Fourth of July is right around the corner! Grilling out burgers is a must for any summer cookout and definitely a family favorite in my household. Check out this handy infographic for building a better burger and let kids pick their own toppings! Or you can create a burger bar for a fun, themed cookout!
Don’t be afraid to get creative! One of my favorite things to do is to swap out some of the meat in our burgers for fresh veggies like mushrooms, onions and peppers. They keep burgers moist and add nutrition. Or try making homemade veggie burgers, like these Very Veggie Burgers!
This post originally appeared on the Produce for Kids Blog.
You May Also Like:
Build Your Own Smoothie
8 Healthy Recipes for Picnics
Produce for Kids is a cause marketing company that helps families eat healthier through its promotion of fresh produce, bank of 200+ recipes and blog full of healthy family living tips and advice. Through our partnerships with grocery stores and produce companies, we’ve raised more than $5 million for children’s charities since 2002. Follow Produce for Kids on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram and
by admin | May 22, 2015 | Grown Up
I love Memorial Day for so many different reasons. It gives us a dedicated day to remember those that gave their lives while serving our country. We have the opportunity to share our feeling, pride, respect and honor for those that gave it all.
How fitting is it that while celebrating our fallen soldiers, we are also celebrating the beginning of summer. The days where we are free to enjoy the sand between our toes, splashing around in the pool, and juicy watermelon during a summer picnic. It’s because of our soldiers that we have the freedom to enjoy such carefree and joy filled weeks during the time while school is out.
Like other holidays, I encourage you to use Memorial Day as another opportunity to promote healthy behaviors within your family. Look for ways to put a healthy spin on your favorite picnic foods. Revel in the delicious in-season fruits and vegetables. Initiate a backyard family game of kickball, tag, or catch. Bring out the sprinkler or the chalk and have kids create their own games in your driveway or yard. With the warm weather and the long days, the possibilities are almost endless.
And keep this is mind as we are talking about healthy behaviors during our Memorial Day festivities; excessive weight and body fat are now the number one reason potential new recruits are disqualified from serving in the military. With nearly one-quarter of applicants disqualified for this reason each year, obesity is officially our top national security threat. Military leaders emphasize that today’s high levels of obesity among children present challenges in recruiting tomorrow’s military.
So, in a sense, by ensuring your child has healthy role models, access to healthy food, and plenty of opportunities to be physically active this Memorial Day, you are doing your part to help guarantee our country has the best, brightest, and healthiest military possible.
Enjoy that Memorial Day Family Fun!
To
day we feature OWG guest blogger and childhood obesity consultant, Melodie Griffin. Melodie’s passion lies in the prevention of childhood obesity through the school and early learning settings. All programs Melodie promotes are fully approved by her home based lab rats, five year old son, Howie, and two year old daughter, Hope. You can connect with Melodie on her Facebook page, WellConnect LLC.
by admin | May 12, 2015 | Kids
Last time we visited, The Kidney Brothers had regretfully made a purchase for themselves with their money, rather than buying something special for their mom on Mother’s Day! When they realized they had made a mistake, they spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make it right. Sid and Kid share with us what they did for their mom and how it made her feel. Once Mom was appreciative and grateful for their meaningful gifts, they realized why doing the right thing feels so good.
Make sure and download the coloring sheet to find out the special things they did for Mother’s Day!
by admin | May 10, 2015 | Grown Up
Happy Mother’s Day! There’s nothing like being a mom and having the incredible responsibility of raising a child. We are all about raising a healthy child both inside and out! In honor of Mother’s Day we thought we would share some sentiments from our OrganWise moms to you.
What is your favorite thing about being a mom?
Enjoying being with my now adult children and feeling so very proud of the fine young men they have become. I love watching the way they interact with one another and love their sense of humor. They always keep me laughing (even if it’s often at my expense!) – Dr. Michelle Lombardo
It has taught me to happily accept that I am perfectly imperfect/imperfectly perfect, which I think is a great lesson for kids to learn early. – Karen McNamara
I have many favorites but most importantly that I (along with my husband) was entrusted by God to raise these precious gifts: Children are True Blessings from Heaven. Listening to kids giggle, sleep, sing and play and then watching them grow and learn about life whether it is hard or easy tops the list as well as getting all the hugs and thank yous and being able to play with your kids at any age they may be. – Julie Green
Knowing that I am one of two people in my kids’ lives that they love and trust the most. Feeling this unconditional love through hugs, smiles, tears and everything else is incredible. I love that I was given the responsibility and opportunity of raising my sweet blessings. – Maria White
What do you do as a mom to influence your children to make healthy choices in life?
I try to set an example through my own healthy life choices and remind them that being safe and healthy (being Organwise!) will keep them strong and happy. – Julie Green
I strive to be a good role model, but not too rigid. – Karen McNamara
We make healthy living a constant conversation and while we are not always perfect in our choices, they are learning which ones are the best ones to make. – Maria White
At this time all of them are out and on their own. They are all extremely conscious of what they eat as well as exercising on a regular basis. I guess growing up with Hardy and the gang really rubbed off on them. They all cook regularly (just like their mother) and choose organic when they can. – Dr. Michelle Lombardo
What has been your favorite Mother’s Day gift from you kids?
In different years, each of them has brought home from school a seedling in a makeshift Mother’s Day container. The message being something to the effect of, “Just like me, this seedling is destined to be so much more than it is now! Have fun watching it grow.” – Karen McNamara
Well this Mother’s Day I received a call (actually several days in advance) to come over to my oldest son’s house for a Mother’s Day brunch (which includes my youngest son – just missing my middle son who is on his honeymoon!). I honestly am one very happy and proud mom! – Dr. Michelle Lombardo
The best gift is being able to enjoy an event as a family. Last year, I was surprised with tickets to an Atlanta Braves Baseball game. It wasn’t tangible, but the memories are cherished. – Julie Green
My kids are young and so the homemade masterpieces that they excitedly bring home are so special and meaningful. – Maria White
Happy Mother’s Day! Enjoy your special days … we know they are well-deserved!
