Healthy Snacks for Healthy Kids

When your kids come home from school, do they make a beeline for the cookie jar? Kids need food between meals to nourish their growing bodies. But processed foods laden with sugar, extruded grains and fake fats are not the best choice for them. They need a snack that offers vitamins, minerals and other micro and macro nutrients.

Keeping healthy snack options on hand will help your child get the nutrition he needs while satisfying his hunger. Here are some ideas:

Healthy Snacks for Healthy Kids

* Raisins – Individual serving size boxes of raisins are great for snacking. They have that sweet taste that kids crave, and they provide nutrients such as iron, vitamin A, vitamin C and the B vitamins. It’s important that kids brush their teeth (no sooner than about 30 minutes after eating) when they eat raisins.

* Apples – Most kids love to eat apples. If possible, serve them with the peel on for the most vitamins and minerals. But if your child refuses to eat the peel, apples are still healthy without it. Top with peanut butter, cheese or yogurt for even more great taste and nutritional value.

* Yogurt with berries and homemade granola – If your child likes yogurt, he’ll probably like it even more with some berries and granola added. This snack provides healthy doses of protein and fiber, plenty of vitamins and very little fat.

* Trail mix – Nuts are great for an energy boost, and they provide much-needed protein for kids. Dried fruit provides vitamins and sweetness. Avoid dried fruits with preservatives like sulfites, many people are sensitive to these and they’re not necessary. Buy your dried fruit in bulk at the health grocers or make your own cheaply.

* Ants on a log – If your child is stubborn about eating healthy food, try this fun snack with visual appeal. Cut up some celery sticks, fill them with peanut butter, and top with raisins. Organic celery tastes sweeter than conventional too!

* Fruit and cheese kebabs – Here’s another idea that’s nice to look at and fun to eat. Spear pineapple chunks, grapes and cubes of cheese onto a toothpick or popsicle stick.

* Baby carrots – When it comes to vegetables, carrots are one of the most popular among the younger set. Keep some baby carrots on hand, and chances are they’ll be gone before you know it.

* Chewy fruit snacks – Kids who insist on eating nothing but junk food are often happy to eat pre-packaged fruit snacks. Little do they know that they’re actually good for them! Choose a brand with no added sugar and plenty of vitamin C. You can make these yourself, just google for a recipe. It’s easy enough to make them in the oven or dehydrator.

* Mini bagel pizzas – If your child is really hungry, a more filling snack might be in order. You can make bite-sized pizzas by topping mini whole grain bagels with a dollop of pizza sauce and a pinch of mozzarella cheese. Add some finely chopped sweet peppers for extra nutrition, and heat in the toaster oven until the cheese is melted.

Kids often crave sweets or greasy chips at snack time because their blood sugar is low, but there are far healthier options that taste great too. Fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and yogurt are good for our kids, and if they will give them a chance, they’ll find that they taste great too. So on your next trip to the grocery store, leave the cookies on the shelf and stock up on these healthy alternatives.

Healthy Lunch Box Ideas for Kids and Adults

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when packing lunches. When we can’t cook or even warm up our food, our options are somewhat limited. But the standard lunchmeat and cheese on bread with potato chips doesn’t do much for our health.

Sometimes we just need to think outside of the lunch box. With some creativity, we can pack healthy lunches for ourselves and our kids. Here are a few suggestions:

Healthy Lunch Box Ideas for Kids and Adults

Main Dish Lunch Box Ideas

* Make some pasta salad. You can find kits with everything you need in the grocery store, or you can make your own to suit your tastes. Include vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers and onions to add flavor and nutrition. For the kids, try using pasta in interesting shapes. Whole grain pasta is the best choice. You can even find gluten free corn, quinoa and other alternative pastas for variety.

* Roll up a fajita. Use leftover meat from dinner the night before, and add lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and some of your favorite dressing or sauce. These make a great change of pace for kids, too.

* Have a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. This is a nice change from lunch meat. Be sure to use pork from a sustainable, local organic farm.

* Toss up a grilled chicken salad. Grill some organic chicken breasts the night before, slice them up, and add them to some salad greens. Add some shredded cheese and cherry tomatoes to make a nutritious and filling dish.

* Put some homemade soup or chili in a thermos. It’s nice to have something warm for a change, especially in the winter.

* Make sandwiches with bagels instead of bread. Bagels are nutritious and filling, and they give you a break from plain old white or wheat bread.

Lunch Box Ideas: Side Dishes

* Pack some baby carrots, celery sticks or sliced cucumbers and a small container of hummus or cream cheese vegetable dip.

* Send some yogurt with fruit and homemade granola in your child’s lunch. It will provide protein, carbohydrates and vitamins that your child needs.

* Keep fresh fruit on hand. When you’re in a hurry, you can easily grab a piece and throw it in the lunchbox as a nutritious side dish.

* Whip up some fruit salad for an easy to make treat. Chop fruit and add some chopped walnuts, a little vanilla yogurt, and sliced bananas soaked in lemon juice (to keep them from turning brown).

* Make your own trail mix. Mix your favorite kinds of nuts, raisins, dried bananas and cranberries, and granola.

* Organic jerky. You can find organic beef and turkey jerky at health food grocers. Use these for a quick bit of protein with organic cheese and crackers.

Just because you eat your lunch out of a lunchbox, doesn’t mean it has to be boring and lack nutritional value. Using leftovers creatively and putting a new twist on your sandwiches will help kids and adults alike get over the packed lunch doldrums.

9 Simple Ways to Save Money on Your Groceries

It never fails, we budget for our groceries, but the bill always ends up being more. We underestimate, run out of things faster than expected and overall, everything is becoming just too darned expensive! To make things a little bit easier, here are 9 simple ways you can start saving money on your groceries.

1. Go with a List: Yes, I know…it’s a pretty obvious suggestion, but it’s amazing how effective it can be. You can purchase only what you need and avoid all the other yummy distractions of the grocery store.

2. Meal Planning: Planning your meals in advance makes it easier to get your list together and ensure you buy only exactly what you need. You can get help with your meal planning at <a href=”http://dinewithoutwhine.com/amember/go.php?r=XXX&i=l0 “>Dine Without Whine</a> AND they actually put your grocery list together for you too.

3. Eat Before You Go: Another classic tip. If you’re hungry, you’ll want to buy (and instantly eat) everything! Have a meal or good snack before you go to avoid impulse purchases.

4. Stock Up on Staple Items When They’re On Sale: If you see ketchup or your family’s favorite sauce on sale, stock up. Or if it’s a certain type of soup or frozen vegetable your family eats all the time, buy a bunch of it. As long as it doesn’t spoil and you have space to store it, you will save money in the long run. The nice thing about this is if you continue to stock up on a variety of items, you’ll have a nice pantry full of food at any given time.

5. Cook from Scratch More Often: Yeah, yeah…it sounds easier said than done, but it doesn’t have to be too complicated. It’s no secret that pre-packaged items and convenience foods come at a premium price. They save you time in preparation, but they eat up your budget and let’s face it, time IS money. Plus, if you’re using Tip #2 and planning your meals, cooking from scratch more often is a whole lot easier.

6. Comparison Shop Before You Leave Home: No, I’m definitely not suggesting you go from store-to-store looking for the best deal. That takes too much time. Check the flyers that come to your door and see who is offering the best deals on what you actually need. If you don’t have any flyers at your door, visit the store website as they generally post flyers online.

7. Use Coupons Sparingly: Sure, coupons offer a great deal, but most coupons you’ll find are for items you don’t really need or use. Resist the urge to think, “Wow, that’s a good deal” and search for coupons based on items you need to purchase instead.

8. Keep the Little Ones At Home: If you have young children that want everything that they see, it’s easy to get into the trap of buying items you don’t need, treats that aren’t healthy and become victim to other grocery store distractions. Keep the kids at home with Daddy (it’s a good bonding opportunity) or a relative. You can even swap grocery store shopping times with your neighbor. Not only will you save money, but you’ll save your sanity too!

9. Make Quick Stops for Fresh Ingredients: This may not be easy if you’re on a tight schedule, but if you can work it in, it can save you a bundle. One of the biggest culprits in grocery budgets gone bad is spoiled food. If your fruits, veggies and other perishable items are always going bad, consider shopping for them more frequently, but in smaller quantities and restrain yourself from buying items you don’t need. If you have any teenaged kids, this would be a great chore for them too.

There you go – 9 ways to save on groceries. But in order to make these tips work, you really need to have a plan in place. You need to know what your family needs and what you’ll be eating. To make your meal planning a whole lot easier, sign up for you 1 ¢ no-risk trial at Dine Without Whine. You and your grocery budget will be glad you did.

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