There has been much talk in my house lately about eating better and living a healthier lifestyle.  I have never been one to spend too much time focusing on my eating and exercise habits (or lack-thereof) and in the past few years, my figure has spilled the beans on that big secret.  I’ve always been a fair weather fan of exercising and still sneak the occasional pack of peanut butter M&M’s.  It’s not that I make completely bad choices in the food that I eat, but I really don’t have a set regimen.  However, it’s becoming more apparent that since there are now children involved, I possibly need one.  Read on.

I was going to ask Eric to write a post here about healthy eating and exercising but that’s silly because, he’s got an entire blog about it.  My husband is determined and very passionate about eating healthy and exercising.  The proof is in his rapid weight loss over the past 6 months.  It’s also obvious how badly he wants me and the kids to join him on his journey of eating and living primal/paleo.  But you wouldn’t know it when he brings home a tub of cookie dough for us. (Enabler!)  However, he redeemed himself this summer with his deck container-garden.  I was able to make plenty of my favorite Caprese salads with garden fresh basil and tomatoes.

I don’t disagree that his idea of healthy eating and weight loss isn’t a good one (because it’s obviously working for him), but I’m just not one of those people who can follow a specific plan or go on a “diet”.  In fact, I kind of hate that word and the idea behind it, so I try not to use it.  I am more of a go with the flow, take it as it comes kind of person and believe that we can make conscious decisions about the food we eat without too many crazy restrictions.  Thinking about following a specific plan just gets me all sorts of out of whack.  Also, I love ice cream.

At the same time, I realize that I cannot just think of my own health anymore.  I have a family and it’s up to me to make sure my kids are learning about being healthy and that we act on what we know and preach to them.  Admittedly, I struggle with feeding my kids super healthy food on a daily basis.  I could give you a slew of excuses for why that is.  I’m a big fan of quick and easy (no, not fast food all of the time, rarely ever actually).  So, I go with what we have in our house on any given day.  Luckily, my kids like fruit and “some” vegetables.  It’s tough with the soon-t0-be five year old, because she’s picky, like her mother.  However, she will sit and munch on red peppers and carrots as a snack.  We can give the toddler anything and she’ll eat it.  That can be good and bad at times.  My goal with the “second child” was to only feed her very healthy foods right from the start, so we don’t have the pickiness problem later on.  (It’s going to work, right?  RIGHT?)

My main problem is that I’m not overly creative in the kitchen.  Not that I don’t want to be, but I don’t have time each day, so if I don’t plan meals ahead, say on a Sunday, we fly by the seat of our pants on the weekdays.  My kids eat a lot of chicken and fish (of the frozen variety).  My toddler is obsessed with apples (there is a debate on whether or not that was her first word).  We don’t stay completely away from “junk” food but we’re careful not to get super junky food.  Like, snacks are mainly graham crackers and baked goldfish snacks.  We totally nosh on trail mix (yes, the kind with M&M’s, sue me) and yogurt with granola sprinkled on top.  Want to know what my father-in-law ate for a snack when he was a kid?  LARD.  That’s right.  So, I don’t think we’re doing all that terribly here.

Most importantly, we are conscious of our eating habits.  We don’t eat bad all of the time but we leave room for improvement.  In my opinion, this is something that will come with time.  Our kids are watching us and it’s important that we at least talk about it and teach them what healthy eating habits are.  It’s a learning experience for us all.

Don’t stop reading here.  Please take a look at what my Yahoo! Mother Board sisters have to say about healthy eating.

Jamba All Natural Smoothies

Add 8 0z. of apple juice and blend away.  Each pack contains enough fruit for 2 – 8 oz. smoothies.

No artificial flavors, no artificial colors and no preservatives.  Just a full serving of fruit, non-fat yogurt and Jamba’s antioxidant boost.

I love ‘em.  The kids love ‘em.  You can get them at these places.

By the way, have you heard about the new cheeseburger chill smoothie at Jamba Juice?  Mmm. Mmm. Mmm!

Here is a run-down of some fantastic products that are perfect for traveling with kids.  Whether we were gifted with some of the items or if we purchased them, the following are our own, honest opinions.  We hope you’ll find these products just as useful as we have.

Plum Tots

On my mission to find travel-friendly food items for the baby, I discovered Plum Organics.  I purchased about a dozen packs of Plum Tots fruit “mish mash” blends for our 11 month old.  Little did I know how handy these travel-friendly packs would be.  I threw these into the diaper bag, along with a disposable spoon and whenever we were at the pool for the afternoon or a not-so-kid-friendly restaurant, I squeezed some of the organic fruit puree onto the spoon and voila, the baby was a happy camper.

MD Moms Baby Silk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes – 30 SPF

These soft, sweat-proof sunscreen towelettes are a must-have.  There were so many instances on our two sunny vacations when we didn’t have one of our bottles or sticks of sunscreen readily available and we wanted to re-apply sunscreen.  These baby silk babysafe sunscreen towelettes were a godsend.  There is enough sunscreen in one wipe to completely cover a baby or kid from head-to-toe.  A big pat on the back for the MD Moms for these indispensable sunscreen wipes.

FruitziO

We love, love, love the new FruitziO freeze-dried fruit snacks from Crispy Green.  We brought several packs of these 100-calorie healthy snacks with us on our vacations and both the kids and adults enjoyed them immensely.  It was nice to have a handy, healthy snack along where it was quite easy to indulge in treats that are not-so-good for you (like those all-you-can-eat 24 hour buffets).

ColourCollection from Goody (new!)

If you have girls, then you already know that Goody products are a staple.  We were sent Goody’s new ColourCollection hair accessories and have been making extremely good use of them.  When we were in the Dominican Republic, the ouchless hair ties, Ribbon Weave Gentle Elastics and snap clips helped tame our humidity-struck locks.  In Florida, the above Goody products helped keep our hair up and out of the way as we braved the 100+ degree heat.

Trunki

I can’t tell you how many glances, giggles and compliments we have gotten about Trunki (and how many adults wish they could have ride-on luggage, too!).  That’s not the only reason we like her, she’s been an incredible  travel companion for our preschooler.  Inside of this kid-friendly luggage, we tucked everything she needed to feel safe and entertained away from home and we were able to pull her while she rode on Trunki through the airport.  We couldn’t have made a better decision in a carry-on for our little one.

Bendaroos

We were gifted with a box of “Fun Food” Bendaroos and admittedly, when I opened the box, I was unimpressed with this product.  I had different expectations on the quality of these bendable, wax-covered pieces of yarn BUT my 4-1/2 yr old LOVES THEM.  That, to me, is more important than my initial disappointment.  I like activities that the kids can do with their hands and minds.  They provide hours of entertainment for the kids and make a great travel activity.

Pipila

The Pipila, a portable pacifier (and nipple) sanitizer was a product that I used religiously on our trip to The Dominican Republic.  There were signs right on the faucet in our suite that read, “don’t drink the water”.  So, the last thing I wanted to do was wash the baby’s pacifiers or nipples with it.  I rinsed them a bit with bottled water and then 6 minutes in the Pipila and they were 99.9% sterilized.  This product worked like a charm.

butt-ums up baby Diaper Changing Pad

Now that I’ve been there, done that (ie: traveling via flights with kids), I can attest to the use one gets out of this product.  I would have been lost without the butt-ums up baby diaper changing pad.  I used it on the plane (in the bathroom and while in my seat!), at the pool, in the stroller and in many baby changing stations around Walt Disney World.

Baby Banz

This company knows all about warm weather.   Baby Banz is an Australian based company that specializes in UV protection for babies and kids.  We were gifted with the items pictured above.  The one piece, UV Banz swimwear is for babies 0-24 months, UPF 50+.  There is a front zipper and zipper closure on the leg inseam for easy diaper changes.  Baby Banz is known for their baby and kid’s sunglasses (and accessories).  Do not pass up this company when you’re shopping for sun protection for your kids.  We highly recommend Baby Banz.

SecuraTrac

We took the SecuraPAL (Personal Automated Locator) along with us on our trip to Disney World.  I will soon post my detailed review of how we used this GPS tracking device with our preschooler as we braved the crowds at the parks.  SecuraTrac offers a very smart, tech-savvy way to keep those you love from getting lost.  We also very highly recommend this product (SecuraPal) and service (SecuraTrac).  Check out a demonstration of this service.

Little Honey Bug Repellent Bands

These things are freaking awesome. We were surrounded by flying, blood-sucking insects while we were out of the country and then when we came back into the country.  When they started to attack, we just set out one of these 100% Natural Bug Repellent Bands near us and suddenly, our blood was of no interest.  We have many more summer nights where we’ll be prime targets for those nasty mosquitoes, therefore, we will have plenty more bug bands on hand.  It’s a no brainer.

Vincent Shoes

We’re long time fans of Vincent Shoes.  I have trusted the quality and durability of their kid’s shoes and they have not let me down.  Tor (pictured above) proved to be worthy of keeping my preschooler on her feet on wet, stamped concrete walkways and while running to and fro around Walt Disney World.  Did I mention they have ridiculously awesome sales all of the time?  Well, they do.  So check out Vincent Shoes.

Britax Blink Stroller

I can’t say enough good things about this lightweight stroller.  We take our Britax Blink everywhere with us.  This stroller has been through airports, checked at gates, folded and unfolded to transport on and off trams, through security, on bumpy, stamped-cement walkways, in and out of elevators, all over Disney World, etc.  No complaints from the 11 month old.  No complaints from the parents.  This stroller is a must-have.

We received the Mutsy growup! seat for review and we like it.  It’s “cushy” for lack of a better descriptive word.  So, it’s softer and seems more comfortable than some of the other plastic booster seats on the market.

Hailey is modeling the growup! below.  She’s 3 1/2, so she’s really just about too big for the seat but kids up to age 4 can use it.

Luckily, we will still get a lot of use out of this seat with our next baby.  We were always big fans of using a booster right at the table with Hailey instead of a highchair.  It saved us a lot of space in our small dining area.  We’re an on-the-go family, so the growup! will travel with us when baby is ready to sit up in a chair to eat.

Mutsy has been in business since 1937.  The company started under the name of “Mutsaerts”.  They have always manufactured pushchairs (buggies and strollers).  I have been watching the timeline slideshow of the company’s history and it’s pretty cool to see those old fashioned buggies from then and now.

Check out their line of strollers and (s)eating when you have a chance!

*If you’re interested in purchasing a growup!, you can do so and receive a 10% discount at Goore’s online store.  Enter code psphmu at checkout.

It’s my turn now!  :)

This is Squirt.  As soon as the yet-to-be-born, nameless baby girl is ready to start “eating” more solid foods, Squirt will come in handy.  I’m a mama on the go.  It’s just a given that this all-in-one feeding spoon will be a staple in the diaper bag.

Next up: Benders.  Those tiny hands are really going to dig these “adaptable utensils”.  She’ll start gaining her eating independence with the use of Boon’s Benders.

We dig Boon products because they are fresh and modern.  Many retail stores have picked up the brand, so you can generally find their products on store shelves or online.

I will just start out by saying nursing my first child was a big, BIG disappointment for me and I have regretted that it didn’t work out for us ever since.  It’s been three and a half years.  With baby number two on the way, I’m about to get my do-over.

My main focus this entire pregnancy has been on how I can be completely successful nursing this baby.  I even took a breastfeeding class.  When I think of breastfeeding products, Medela is the first company that comes to mind.  I knew right after I had my first daughter that Medela products were top of the line, unfortunately, I did not give them a fair chance.  I purchased an Ameda breastpump that I was completely unhappy with.  My daughter was a preemie and spent the first week of her life in the hospital NICU.  Luckily, I was able to test the hospital grade Medela breastpumps there and swore that after I had another baby, I would stick with Medela.

I have heard so many good things about the Medela Freestyle breastpump and I’m about ready to make my purchase.  Of course, this time around, we’re going to establish a good nursing routine before anything else is introduced.  I can’t afford not to.  So, within the next month, I will be stocking up on my nurisng gear.  Who do I turn to first?  Medela, of course.  They have a line of intimate apparel, specifically for maternity and nursing.

Medela recently sent me their new Nursing Camisole for consideration.  I’m having a mid-summer baby, so you can bet this camisole will get some good use!

The feel of the Cami is very soft and stretchy (and sturdy).  It’s made of a bamboo/cotton blend.  It has a drop-cup design and has an extra layer of fabric, where it counts the most.  The camisole also works with the Freestyle breastpump, so hopefully I’ll get my chance to try them out together.

Next on the list, of course, are bottles.  There will come a point where daddy and big sister want to help feed the baby and I don’t want to take that away from them.  I will gladly give them the chance to bond with our newest family member.  I have several Medela Breastmilk Bottle Sets on hand, including a few 5 oz. and 8 oz. bottles.  It’s no secret, Medela has always been BPA-free and this is something that I do take quite seriously.

So, when the time is right, I will put these bottles to good use.

I still feel like I have much to learn and research about the world of breastfeeding but honestly, I’m not as concerned about it this time.  I am crossing all of my T’s and dotting all of my I’s before the little one arrives and I know that things will work out swimmingly this time.

We like juice.  We think that AquaJuice is a pretty cool idea.  We’ve given juice to our kiddo for a couple of years now and always dilute it with water.  AquaJuice saves that extra step.

Here are the 8 oz. glass facts:

Less sugar, no high fructose corn syrup, no added sugar, no artificial sweetners, full serving of fruit and Vitamin C.

Right now, AquaJuice comes in three flavors: Fruit Punch, Apple and Strawberry Kiwi.  We have tried the apple flavor and like it.

So, if you are juice drinkers, we definitely think it’s worth checking out.

We’d like to give one of our readers a free 52 oz. bottle.  Just leave us a comment on this post to enter.  We’ll contact the winner via email on Thursday the 12th (check your spam!)

*Pssst: you can also go and print out a buy one, get one free coupon via Welch’s website.

I’ve never been one to follow a weight-loss program. I suppose that could be why I have the weight concerns that I do today. Although, I have become increasingly more interested in the Weight Watchers program. I recently discovered that they have some pretty neat online tools to make balancing your eating habits a pretty simple task. I’m all about the simple.

Weight Watchers now has this “Snack Widget” that you can get for your desktop or embed into your website, which allows you to simply type in a snack food that you want and the widget will produce a variety of Weight Watchers snacks to choose from instead.

Check it out for yourself here:

You can get this widget HERE.

You can find Weight Watchers on Facebook (I just became a fan) where they offer free recipes and great weight watching tips. You can also find a lot of great healthy eating information on their website HERE.

Like I said, the closer we get to celebrating the holidays, the harder it is to eat sensibly when you’re faced with all of those fabulous goodies.  Keep Weight Watchers in mind when you head out to that next holiday party.  Know that they have a great online resource that you can turn to when you need a boost in confidence and some healthy eating tips.

With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away it is about time to determine just how you are gonna cook that tasty bird.  I’ve had deep-fried turkey (good), smoked turkey (even better), but my favorite way to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving (or even Christmas) is brined and roasted. Yes, I’ll admit that I borrowed the original recipe from the amazing Alton Brown a few years ago, but I’ve made some minor (and delicious) changes, oh yes.

Start with a 14 to 16 pound turkey.  You can use a smaller bird or a turkey breast, but be sure to reduce the other ingredients proportionally.  You’ll also need a 5 gallon bucket.

Brine stuff:
1 cup of salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tbsp whole black peppercorns
1/2 tbsp allspice berries
1/2 tablespoon candied ginger
1/2 cup cognac
1 gallon iced H20

Aromatics:
1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 sage leaves
canola oil

So what you want to do is combine all the brine stuff (except the iced water) in a pot and bring it to a boil.  Stir until the solids are dissolved, then remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until chilled. It is generally best to do this the night before. Save a little bit of the cognac for yourself and have a drink while you’re at it.

Early on the day of cooking, combine the brine (what you made above) and ice water in the clean 5 gallon bucket.  Mix it up and place the thawed turkey breast side down in the bucket, cover, and refrigerate or set it in a cool place for 6 hours. It is generally pretty chilly here around Thanksgiving so on the back porch works for me.

Just before you are ready to roast, heat your oven to 500 degrees.  Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and cup of water and microwave on high for about 5 minutes.  Once you get the aromatics in the microwave, remove the bird from the brine and rinse inside and out with cold water.  Discard the brine.

Place your turkey on a roasting rack inside a wide, low pan and pat dry with paper towels.  Add the aromatics you just microwaved to the cavity of the bird along with the rosemary and sage. Tuck back the wings and coat the bird liberally with canola oil.

Roast your bird on the lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F. for 30 minutes.  Remove the turkey from the oven and cover breast with a double layer of aluminum foil and return it to the oven, reducing temperature to 350 degrees F.  A 14 to 16 pound turkey should require 2 to 2-1/2 hours of roasting.  Use a probe thermometer if you’ve got one and set it for 161 degrees.  Let your bird rest, loosely covered for 15 minutes before carving.

Fruit Roll-ups have been around for as long as I can remember. You can quote me on that because I just checked my trusty fact-checker, Wikipedia and as always, they have confirmed my thoughts. Fruit Roll-ups have been around since 1981 and that, folks, would make my statement correct. I would have been about 4 years old and that is about as far back as my memory goes.

I’ve always loved their fruity, chewy goodness. Our toddler has just recently started enjoying them and I was thrilled to find out that now you can customize them. Yes, like everything these days, Fruit Roll-ups has an interactive website where you can create and place an order for a personalized batch of pectin-based sweetness. These would make a great birthday party treat. Order a box (or two) in advance and give them out as party favors.

Since we like Fruit Roll-ups so much, we thought we’d give you a chance to win a box for yourself. That’s right – a box of 30 personalized Fruit Roll-ups (MSRP $30). We have THREE “My Fruit Roll-ups” gift codes to give away to THREE winners.

TO ENTER:

Send and email to parentsphere [at] gmail [dot] com with “Fruit Roll-up” as the subject line. In the body of your email, tell us something like what your favorite flavor Fruit Roll-up is. Contest ends on Thursday, June 12th. The winner will be chosen randomly and notified via email.

Good luck!

a PS note: If you place an order with My Fruit Roll-ups by June 13th (Friday), enter code “GRAD08″ at checkout for $8 off of your order. Send your new grad off to school with a box of his or her own personalized Fruit Roll-ups!