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 Taking better care proves to be the best medicine for any mom, which can allow for her to be more effective at dealing with life’s ongoing challenges and be happier when interacting with the family. A mother has a natural instinct to want to spend most of her attention taking care of her brood. However, it is essential that she take care of herself, too. First, start by eating a well-balanced breakfast. If it means getting up a few minutes before the children awaken to eat, having a healthy breakfast will help provide the energy needed during the day. Ensure that breakfast is not just a cup of coffee or some leftover goldfish crackers, but a well-balanced meal. A sumptuous breakfast suggestion: steel-cut oatmeal with eggs and Greek yogurt. Instead of fueling the afternoon lull of energy with a large cup of coffee, try replacing one cup a day with a protein shake or smoothie. Try to avoid the caffeine roller coaster throughout the day. Drink plenty of water. Your skin will glow, your body will function better, and it will help eliminate toxins. Next, start to limit the amount of take-out meals that your family consumes. The use of meal planning can make getting dinner on the table an easier goal to achieve. Ask Dad to help out by occasionally preparing an evening meal. He might not be a gourmet chef, but he might be full of surprises with what he can accomplish in the kitchen. Encourage the children to help prepare dinner. They can have fun while helping in the kitchen, and it can be a terrific bonding experience. Young kids can easily help with stirring or measuring, while older children can read recipes. Those who begin cooking at a young age will have the tools they need to live a healthy lifestyle as they get older. These tips will help not only take better care of you, they’ll help your entire family. Shelby Barone writes all about food and family in her blog, “Eat Up!” ≈ ASK THE NUTRITIONIST ≈ Q: How influential is food advertising to children? A: A recent study suggested that eliminating kids’ exposure to TV advertisements featuring unhealthy foods and drinks could reduce childhood obesity by 18 percent, or about 2.8 million children in the U.S. Today, television is just one avenue for advertisers; consider the impact that could carry over to children and teens exposed to the Internet, cellphones, iPods, radio and in-store displays. Food and beverage companies spend about $2 billion each year to market their products to children and teens. healthierpackagedfoods.blogspot.com ≈ THE FACEBOOK RECIPE SWAP ≈ Turkey and pinto bean chili Recipe from The Wilson family of Orange This is a slightly modified version of a recipe we found a few years ago. With two adults and four kids to feed, we need healthy meals that are easy to prepare and taste good. This recipe makes enough for two meals for our family. We serve it over a bed of elbow macaroni to help one of our picky, pasta-loving eaters enjoy it. Ingredients Nonstick olive oil spray 1 large onion, diced into ½-inch pieces 2 medium-size red bell peppers, diced into ½-inch pieces 1 tbsp. pre-chopped garlic 2 lbs. ground turkey 3 tbsp. chili powder 1½ tsp. ground cumin 1½ tsp. dried oregano 3 15-oz. cans pinto beans, drained 1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes in juice 3 cups chicken broth 1 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped Directions Spray the bottom of a large, heavy pot with nonstick spray. Add the onion, bell peppers and garlic, and sauté over high heat until the vegetables begin to soften (about 8 minutes). While the vegetables cook, brown the turkey in a large frying pan (about 5 minutes). Break up large pieces. Add the turkey to the vegetables. Mix in the chili powder, cumin and oregano, and stir over high heat for 1 minute. Add the beans, tomatoes with juices, broth and chocolate. Bring the chili to boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer uncovered until the chili thickens, stirring occasionally for about one hour. Serve hot with sour cream and sharp cheddar cheese. Option: Serve over cooked elbow macaroni. Makes 12 servings |
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