Getting Kids to Eat Healthy

We all know how hard it can be to get your kids to eat healthy. No matter how you try to sell it, sometimes they would rather go to bed early than eat their fruits and veggies. As a mom, this can become extremely frustrating. We all want our kids to eat right, but at times it seems impossible.

So what’s a mama to do?

Well, here are a few ways to get your kids on the right eating track:

1. Eat by Example

If junior doesn’t see you eat any fruits or vegetables, chances are he isn’t going to want to eat any either. When it’s snack time, encourage a fruit or veggie by sitting down and eating one with your little one. This will not only help them, but also help you eat healthier too!

2. Make it Look Good

If it doesn’t look good enough to eat, chances are your kids are not going to eat it. Sometimes making a smiley face out of apples and blueberries may make a fruit plate look more appetizing rather than just throwing it on the dish. Another idea is to find healthy foods in great packaging.

Chobani Tots

Chobani Tots

 

Chobani Greek Yogurt, which I love for smoothies, is also available for kids. Chobani Tots & Chobani Kids is one of those products that looks fun for kids. Many of the Chobani products for kids have fun characters and are good for on the go. This makes it a win-win for both moms and kids!

 

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Chobani Kids

3. Sticker Charts

When my daughter wasn’t eating enough fruits and veggies, her pediatrician suggested keeping track of exactly what she was eating everyday. Each time she ate a fruit or veggie, she got a sticker on her chart. My daughter loved seeing how many stickers should could rack up by the end of the week. Once and awhile I would reward her with something small like a coloring book. Sometimes a little incentive goes a long way!

4. Take Unhealthy Snacks Out

If your child opens a cabinet and only sees cookies and chips, you can pretty much expect that’s what they’re going to want to eat. Why not stock the fridge and pantry with healthier options? This way they have plenty of good food to choose from instead of just junk.

Besides these tips, get creative and see what works for you and your family. If you get them on a healthy eating track now, you’re setting the pace for a lifestyle full of good food and habits.

How do you get your kids to eat healthy?

Night Night Phone

I will be the first to admit that I am semi-obsessed with my iPhone. I used to roll my eyes at people who constantly scrolled, texted, and tweeted through their days. I sadly admit, I am now becoming one of those people. They say the first step to fixing a problem is to admit you have one. So, there. I’m not saying I’m going to give up my phone completely. Come on now, I may break out in hives. But, I think I have come up with a way to hang up on my obsession…a little.

I started to get the idea when I was on vacation last week. I didn’t unplug completely, but I did loosen the cord. I checked all my fave sites in the morning and again before I went to bed. But that’s it. I wasn’t constantly looking to see who liked my photo or who just tweeted they went to the bathroom. I didn’t catch an email just as it came in my inbox. Guess what? I survived! Shocker, I know. By tuning out my phone I noticed I was more tuned in to my surroundings. Granted, I was near a beach. But, you get the point. I started to remember the days before my smart phone began to transform me into an anti-social notification hungry nut.

So, now that I’m home in my not so picturesque surroundings, I’ve come up with a plan to control my phone frenzy. It starts with really making an effort to limit my phone usage during the day. That means resisting the urge to constantly check for updates. Instead, I can use that time to play with my kids or get more things done around the house. But, the big change is…drumroll please…saying goodnight to my phone so I’m not constantly on it before bed. My new rule is to put it to bed when I put my kids to bed. If I can do this, I will have a few hours to do things like have a real conversation with my husband or watch one of the dozens of shows in my DVR and read a book. I’ll admit, it’s hard to resist the urge, but I’m trying…baby steps…baby steps.

If you can relate to anything that I just wrote, how about trying to make the change too? Isn’t it times to say night night phone?

Starbucks Coffee Review

If you know me the least bit, you know I love my coffee. Morning, noon, and night, I rarely say no to a good brew. You could say I’m a bit of an addict, but with two little kids, can you blame me? Add all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and I’m really jolly for java 24/7! Having a nice hot cup of coffee really keeps me going, especially if it’s from Starbucks. Although I love my Hazelnut Macchiatos, I don’t have a barista just waiting to pop out of my cabinet like a jack in the box (what a great idea though!). That’s why brewing a pot of the Starbucks Holiday blend is the next best thing.

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Whether it’s a late night wrapping session two nights before Christmas (I know you’re doing it too), or getting goodies together Christmas Eve morning, it’s always great to have a cup of Starbucks Holiday Blend to keep you company while everyone either just fell asleep or hasn’t even woken up yet!

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I especially like this blend because of it’s mild taste. I like my coffee, but I don’t like to feel like an elf who’s going to fly off her shelf, if you know what I mean.  That’s why if I’m brewing a pot, it feels okay to go back for seconds…or even seconds and a half!

While I wouldn’t mind keeping the whole pot for myself, it is the season for sharing, so why not raise a mug with a friend!

So, if you want a chance to win a free pound of Holiday Blend to share, leave a comment below until December 30, 2013. I’ll pick a random winner on New Year’s Eve. Good Luck!

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Happy Holidays!

 

*This is a sponsored post