Trainer Momma November GIVEAWAY #1: 15 Healthy Kids Plates!

OK, guys...  It's time for a giveaway, but this time it is for the kids.  I just couldn't resist this one.

A fellow blogger and now online friend, Amy of the fantastico blog Super Healthy Kids, asked if I wanted to giveaway one of her plates on Trainer Momma.  Of course I would!  It goes hand in hand with what I believe.  She actually made a plate of exactly what I've been telling my clients.

Brilliant.

Well, just one plate isn't enough love to spread around, so I tweaked it Trainer Momma-style:

Trainer Momma 

November Giveaway #1:

Fifteen (15)

Healthy Kids Plates

(valued at $4.99)

to 

15 Trainer Momma readers!

RULES, RULES, RULES

This giveaway is short and simple.  It runs from today, Monday, November 1st until Thursday, November 4th at midnight.  Just fill out the brief form below and I'll randomly choose 15 winners and announce them on Friday of this week.

1.  One entry per person please.

2.  If you are a winner, please be in contact with me within 48 hours so we can get this goodie to your little one ASAP.

Like I always say, if I don't spoil your kids, who will? :)

Oh, and yes.  Giveaway #1 implies that there is a Giveaway #2.  Stay tuned!  Tell your friends and your friends' friends.  It's gonna be a fun week over here.


**  Full Disclosure:  Amy did send 3 complimentary plates for my children to learn from and enjoy.  And the 15 I'm giving away?  Those are provided by yours truly.  Once I find a good thing, I've got to pass it along.

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

Fit Momma Question: Kids and Halloween Candy?

I received a few emails this week inquiring what we'd be handing out at our door to the costume clad this Halloween.

Bags of baby carrots?
Homemade granola bars?
Jump ropes?
Sugar free gum?
Playdough?

Well, here's the truth:

We'll be giving out the real deal over here:  candy.

I remember as a kid going to this one house that gave out new toothbrushes and Colgate every year. You can bet after catching on, we skipped that house for good in the following Halloweens.

WE WANTED CANDY.  

Period.  

Case closed.

End of discussion.

It is my opinion that kids haven't changed much in this arena over the years.  As Seinfield masterly said, kids have one thing on the brain: Get candy. Get candy.  Get candy.  Wear that Superman costume with the underwear on the outside?  DONE.  Just give me the freakin' candy.

I just look at it for what it is:  a fun tradition for my kids to dress up, be together as a family.

And it is only one day a year.

Do I love all the candy involved?  Of course not.  You know by now that nutrition and healthy foods are HUGE in our house and a topic of discussion nearly daily.  But, I also want my kids to have a healthy, normal attitude about food and candy.

I was brought up in a home where all  candy was hidden and forbidden.  As a result, I had, and still have, a very well developed candy radar.  I could expertly hone in on it (plus I knew where my mom's hiding places were) and could gorge on Tootsie Rolls, 1000 Grand, and Twizzlers without coming up for air.

I really don't want my kids to have to do that.

So, I do let my kids go Trick-or-Treating (or in our case this year Trunk-or-Treating.  Whoever made that up is a genius.)

And I do let them come home and sort out all their sweet treasures.

And I do let them eat to their hearts' content on Halloween night.

And then I give them an option:  they can keep their remaining candy or leave it out for the "Candy Fairy".  The "Candy Fairy" (which they easily figured out last year is me) leaves some good money for all that candy.  Right now, my kids are VERY motivated by money, so the Candy Fairy has won out for about 5 years running.  Works like a charm.  Expensive, but at least I get to control that candy after Halloween.  Most of it gets dumped in the outside garbage can or frozen and used for our Christmas Candy Trains in a few months.

Yes, there is an influx of sugar this time of year and really doesn't stop until January 1st.  But, if we moderate it well and have a good sense of humor about it -- hopefully they will too as they grow older.

BTW -- If you aren't comfortable with handing out candy, stick to your guns.  There are are a growing number of non-food alternatives out there.  Check out this website for some fun ideas.

How about you, Fit Mommas?  Do you give out candy or have you found a better alternative that you feel better about?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!

Related Posts:
Helping Our Kids Overcome Food Issues
Sooooo Much Candy!
It's Here!


Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

Eat With the Kids: 10/27/10

Even though I haven't done an Eat With the Kids post in ages, I swear, I am feeding my children regularly.

We're back today following my nine-year-old girl.  Not a big eater.  Not a big snacker.  She's always been that way for whatever reason.  She just eats when she's hungry.  Huh, interesting concept.

She is a gal who sleeps, eats and breathes of ways to beat her dad in Monopoly.  They both are addicts.

7:15 AM

Breakfast:

Egg Sandwiches

(recipe coming soon!)

1/2 apple, sliced

water

12:00 PM

Lunch (made by her) eaten at school:

1 almond butter and apricot jam sandwich on whole wheat bread

1 string cheese

1 fruit cup, light

1 boiled egg

1 fruit leather, all natural

water

3:15

After school snack:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

I have no idea how many she ate.  I just left them out for the taking.

6:30 PM

Dinner:

Baked BBQ Chicken (recipe coming soon)

Rosemary Butternut Squash

Parmesan Whole Wheat Couscous (recipe coming soon)

cantaloupe

skim milk

One gingersnap from her dad while they were playing Monopoly for the 3rd hour in a row.

She wasn't a gingersnap fan.

Neither am I.

Find more "Eat With the Kids" and "Eat with Me" posts here.

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

Fit Momma Question: How To Help Your Family Make the BIG SWITCH?

Do you have any friends who you haven’t talked to in -- oh -- years and when you finally talk again it seems like the past 15 years never happened?  One of those, "So where did we leave off?" type of friends?

I had one of those conversations this week with a dear, lifelong friend. She brought up this issue and I’ve been thinking of it since:

How did your family handle “the big switch”? Meaning -- the switch from not so healthy food to healthy food?

I have to start by saying I made the "big switch" in my own life BEFORE I had kids. Prior to kids, I did not know how to cook. I literally had to look in the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook to learn how to bake a potato (page 522, if you need it). I even remember calling my SIL to ask her how to scramble eggs. It was bad. I was regularly buying bags of candy, half gallons of ice cream (that was when they actually sold ice cream in half gallons -- what is this 1.75 quarts?!?), chips, and pretty much TONS of processed food to feed my husband and I. Boxes and bags galore.

After the "big switch", our eating and grocery shopping changed dramatically. First of all the salt water taffies I bought week after week sat on our entryway table FOR ONE WHOLE YEAR. They got so hard we could have skipped them across the nearby lake. It didn’t take me long to realize he was never eating that junk food.  Only I was.  I was cleaning it out single-handedly. Or apparently double-fistedly :)

There were a few things the Doc refused to budge on: white rice and tortillas. So, for a while I bought both. Then, within a few months, I didn’t. And he didn’t say anything. Switch made. Success. Cha-ching!

So, you may be evaluating your family’s eating habits and have recognized there is some room for improvement. The last thing you need is a full blown revolt in your own home. Here are some simple ideas to making your own “big switch” without eliciting too much mutiny:

Make one small change at a time.
I do not recommend switching from Pringles and Pop-Tarts to arugula and avocados overnight. The more I work with clients as a personal trainer and nutrition consultant -- I realize small changes work best and are the most lasting. This especially is true for our kids and spouses. Remember the ruler analogy? Apply that here. Choose one healthy habit, such as drinking water or milk instead of soda at dinner. Do that for a week or so. Then move on. Nothing earth shattering, but steps in the right direction.

Try blending the old with the new.
An easy way to introduce healthier foods is to mix them with what you used to eat. Mix some brown rice in with the white rice. Throw some whole wheat pasta in with the enriched pasta. Bake with half whole white wheat flour mixed with the white flour for a while. Over time, you can start weening your family off the old stuff and they won’t know what hit them.

Experiment.
There is a whole wonderful world out there when it comes to healthy foods. Salads can be much more than the wedge of iceberg lettuce dumped with a half bottle of ranch on it. Dive into new vegetables, search the internet for delicious ways to prepare them for your family. Try new grains like quinoa, bulgur, and barley instead of always white rice. Try going meatless one day a week and discover the lovely land of legumes. Without sugar everywhere, fruits become sweeter and more of a dessert than ever before. Really, take it from a true convert:  it can be a very creative and enjoyable process.

Persevere!
I read somewhere once that kids needed to be introduced to a new food nearly 21 times before they would consider even tasting. Hello?!? If moms have anything it is staying power.  I say in this department STICK TO YOUR GUNS

You may be saying to yourself right now, “There is no way my kids/husband is going to eat this way.” Well, you are right. They will never eat healthily unless you as the mom, a.k.a. Food Police, make an effort to serve it to them and teach them these healthy habits.  Eating healthy foods just doesn't happen, it is taught.  With a commitment to a healthier kitchen you will create a healthier family. In the end, that's is what we all want.

Oh -- and I’m happy to report a dozen years later - minus olives and onions -  the Doc is 100% on board with the whole healthy eating/ healthy living thing.  He just called me and we doing a Friday night Salad Run for dinner.

Cha-ching!

Hey Fit Mommas, how have you helped your family eat healthier fare?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!

Thanks for the questions and emails, my friends!  I don't decorate cute cupcakes or make sassy aprons -- this is what I do!  Email me with any questions or feedback here.

Related Posts:
Who's the Parent?  Nutrition and Our Kids
Success One Inch at a Time
From Exercise Hater to Personal Trainer
More Fit Momma Question Posts

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

Bringing Snacks for the Class

Johnny Scott was the revered"Class Leader" yesterday for his Teddy Bear class at preschool. We've been counting down the days on his Teddy Bear calendar until the big day.  Be bounded out of the bed and got dressed in a flash (this boy was made for preschool).

He had four ultra important responsibilities as the Class Leader:

1.  Feed Swimmy (the class fish).
2.  Be the line leader.
3.  Hold the blue horse (I have no idea what this means...  I will have to ask the teacher about this one).
4.  Bring the snack for the class.

Now, typically, you will find me on mornings when I have to provide snacks doing one of two things:

Digging in the back of my pantry for something -- ANYTHING -- I have enough of to feed the class.

OR

Realizing I do not have enough snacks for the class and making an emergency run to the grocery store with all the kids before school starts.

However, since Johnny Scott had been reminding me of this day for about 3 weeks solid, I did not have a chance to forget this time.  Thank you, son.

This is our opportunity to fill these kid’s tummies with some real food that will help them get through the next few hours without having a melt down.

I try to send in a few things (usually 2) my kiddo really likes, has some kind of protein, and has some kind of fiber. Scooby Do Snacks, Doritos, and Fruit Snacks do not make the cut.

I have noticed more parents are making a concerted effort to bring healthier snacks.  It is a comfort to me to know other parents want the same thing for their kids I do.  Thank you, fellow parents.

Some of my simple, healthy class snacks I’ve been seeing are:

light fruit cups (Johnny Scott's top pick recently)

small apples

apple slices

mandarin oranges

grapes, sliced of course

raisin boxes

craisin boxes

string cheese

cheese cubes

baby carrots

snap peas

ranch dressing

hummus

Kashi cereal bars and granola bars

Clif ZBaRs

homemade granola bars

applesauce, unsweetened

yogurt

healthy cereals, Puffins and Shredded Oats are our current favorites

homemade muffins

One of the best developments in regards to class snacks I’ve seen over the past several years I’ve been involved with young children are these insulated bags. BRILLIANT!  This opens up a whole new world when it comes to sending in snacks. Just throw an ice pack in there and you can send in fruit, yogurts, cheeses, etc. Why didn’t we do this sooner?  These are about $2.00 at the local grocery store or found on Amazon, and are very durable.

** I'm sure I don't need to remind you there are all kinds of restrictions now a days. At our elementary school, we cannot bring in homemade snacks -- Heaven forbid I bring in a homemade muffin, but Chips Ahoy are fine. Go figure. Also, we have the whole peanut allergy issue that needs to be taken seriously.

So, just keep these boundaries in mind and go to town.

What are you favorite, healthy snacks to send with the kiddos to school?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!

Related Posts:
Summer Time Snacks for Kids
Lunch Ideas
Fruit Snacks

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

Edible Playdough

For those of you who have little ones, or even big ones, here's a recipe to help get you through the weekend.

Healthy?  Um, let's see...

We use our all natural, creamy PB and it has honey!  OK, it does have powdered sugar but there's no way I'm attempting to substitute stevia for that.  I mean, believe it or not, I do have my limits...

Edible Playdough
by www.trainermomma.com
source:  I did not make this one up.  It is all over the web.

1 cup peanut butter (we use our creamy all natural kind)
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powdered sugar

Just dump it all in a big bowl and and mix.  Towards the end, it works best to mix it with your hands.  Then you have to lick your fingers.  Darn.

Store in a zip lock bag or air-tight container.

Calories:  ??? Who the heck knows how many calories a playdough dinosaur, snake, or happy face have. I just pop a snowman head in my mouth and call it good.  The kids on the other hand...  WOW.  That's a different story!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

Chicken Nuggets

Chicken nuggets -- specifically Dino Nuggets -- used to be a staple in the Reading household.  Without thinking, I would just grab a huge bag, or two, at Costco, and throw them at the kids whenever I didn't feel like cooking.  

Well, over time, things have changed.  After I took  2 seconds to actually read the back of the Dino Nugget bag and couldn't pronounce a lot of the ingredients (what is methylcellulose?) -- I about croaked when I saw how many calories there were in just 5 nuggets:  260!  Holy cow!  And the Doc would easily eat triple that on a weekend afternoon.  I had to get rid of them ASAP.

We've been Dino Nugget free for several years now.

But my family never forgot.

I sent out a plea on the Trainer Momma Facebook page recently for some healthyChicken Nugget ideas with ingredients that were actually food -- and several of you came through.  I plan on trying all of them.

  This was my first attempt -- and my family loved them.

Chicken Nuggets


adapted from One More Moore by www.trainermomma.com
2 lbs chicken breasts, boneless, skinless cut into chunks
1 cup whole wheat flour
dash of Salt & Pepper
1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs (recipe coming soon!)
2 tsp Italian seasoning (find recipe here)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
2 eggs
2 Tb water
2-4 Tb olive oil

Preheat oven to 350. Roll up your sleeves for some fancy schmancy cookin':)

You will need 3 bowls OR 2 large zip lock bags and 1 bowl (think Shake 'N Bake. Since I'm always running behind schedule, this is my preferred method).

Bag/bowl #1:
Mix flour, salt and pepper.

Bowl #2:
Whisk eggs and water until combined.

Bag/bowl #3:
Mix cheese, bread crumbs, and Italian seasoning.

Take your chicken chunks and put them in Bag/bowl #1, the flour mixture, and coat.

Remove chicken and dunk them in bowl #2, the egg mixture, and coat.

Now put chicken in Bag/ bowl #3, the bread crumb and cheese mixture, and coat.

Heat a large pan on medium heat. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil. Add the nuggets and cook around 2 minutes per side until browned (work in batches if you have to). This part seals in some of the moisture and prevents them from drying out.

After browned, place on a cookie sheet that is lined with foil and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Cook in the oven for around 10-12 minutes.

Remove from oven -- Tada! Your very own chicken nuggets that your kids will love and you will even eat some too!

4 oz. (around 5 nuggets) is 160 calories.

For a printable version of this recipe, click here.

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

Fit Momma Question: Low-fat for Kids?

I appreciated this question from the beautiful Fit Momma Kate yesterday:

Why do you do so much low- or non-fat stuff for your kids? Everything we've ever heard and/or been told is that kids need a certain amount of fat in their diets to aid in brain development. 

Kate is right, kids do need certain amounts of fat in their diet for brain function and development.  We all do!

First of all, let's back up to about 20 years ago.  Low- and non-fat was all the rage, remember? I was in high school, was on a self-proclaimed exercise boycott (that lasted about 8 years) and ended up dating a Mr. Universe-Arnold Schwarzenegger-Look-Alike.  How that happened I will never know.  So, on our dates while I was downing gallon vats of Jamoca Almond Fudge ice cream, Mr. Universe was downing fat-free foods by the bucketload.  Wait a minute...  Now THAT fit right into my type of nutrition plan:  all you can eat fat-free ice cream, fat-free cookies, and fat-free pastries?!? And it was healthy??  It was like free food!  Heck, I thought I was losing weight by eating that stuff.   What we didn't understand was that fat-free didn't mean calorie free.  And guess what happened?  I got fatter (somehow Mr. Universe did not, however.  It must have been a gender thing.  Or perhaps the hours of workouts he did versus the hours of workouts I did not do).

We now understand, in our ultra-enlightened age (and now that America is a solid 20 lbs heavier thanks in part to the fat-free craze), there are many kinds of fats out there.  We also know that fat is hefty in the calorie department:

fat  = 9 calories per gram 

vs.

protein = 4 calories per gram 

carbs = 4 calories per gram
alcohol = 7 calories per gram

Despite their high calorie punch, some fats are our BFF's and others are pretty darn bad for you.  Let's review:

GOOD FATS:

-Monounsaturated fats-

Reduce cholesterol levels, 

Contribute to heart health, 

Help you control your weight.  

They make you feel fuller longer and helps you burn more fat.

sources:  

nuts, 

olives,

 peanuts, 

avocados,

 olive oil, 

canola oil

-Polyunsaturated fats-

Helps combat cardiovascular disease -- here's to more heart health!  

Helps you control your weight by burning more fat throughout the day.

sources:  

fish, 

flax seed, 

flaxseed oil

-------------------------------

BAD FATS:

-Trans fats-

Increases risk for heart disease

Raises cholesterol

Increased risk for diabetes

Increased risk for cancer

sources:  

anything with "hydrogenated oil" in the ingredients, 

commercially baked goods, 

fried foods, 

margarine

-Saturated fats-

Increase levels of belly fat

Increase risk for heart disease and cancer

sources: 

fatty cuts of red meat, 

whole milk dairy products

butter

Obviously, we clearly want to steer clear of the BAD FATS and darn tootin' need to be eating the GOOD FATS.  

OK, back to the kids --

It is true that before age 2 we should not be restricting their fat intake.  No, we aren't giving them lard-laden doughnuts (hopefully not), but we typically give them milk, yogurts and cheese made from whole milk.  This is for proper brain and tissue development.  At this age, their fat should make up around 50% of their calories.

AFTER age two, however the USDA and American Academy of Pediatricians recommend that we switch them to lower fat diets. Unfortunately, even at that young age, they join the rest of us in fighting obesity and heart disease.  After age two, their fat intake decreases should make up around 30% of their daily calories (just like ours).  As always, the science of nutrition is always expanding, but this is the best of our current understanding when it comes to feeding our kids.

Basically, in our family we try to have a healthy dose of the good fats.  This is why we try to eat fish regularly (OK, I need to get better at this), all-natural peanut butters, nuts, trail mix, and I cook and bake with either canola or olive oils.  

When it comes to limiting the BAD kind of fats (saturated), we always drink skim milk and have lower fat (and low sugar) yogurts and I often use low-fat cheeses.  As far as the meat goes, I steer towards lean cuts of beef, and plenty of chicken.  And of course, when it comes to the trans fats, any box with the term "partially hydrogenated oils" will have to engage in hand to hand combat with this mom.

Basically, my kids are at ages now where the amount of fat they consume matters.  I do not count their calories but I make a concerted effort daily that they get in plenty of exercise, try to keep the sugar levels low, and keep their diet low in the bad fats and enough of the good fats.

Hey, Fit Mommas, how do you juggle the good and bad fats in your house?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!

Related Posts:
Flax Facts

More "Fit Momma Questions" Posts

Some related articles that might help:

Dietary Fat and Toddlers

How To Reduce Fat and Cholesterol in Your Child's Diet

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

Packing School Lunches

Each day my school agers go a cafeteria where they are offered entrees like Chicken Fried Steak, Crispy Beef Tacos, Steak Fingers (?!?), and of course the all time favorite grease drippin' Cheese Pizza.  Not only do they pack 750+ calories and 23 grams of fat per day on those compartmentalized trays, the amounts of sugar and sodium aren't even listed in the nutritional info they provide parents.  Now that would be interesting (Or make me gag.  Probably the latter.)

Despite my 1st grader's grave disappointment,  my kids aren't eating school lunches.  So, every night the kids and I pack their lunches

If your kids are like mine, they really just want the same thing every day.  Frankly, if it is healthy, I don't stress about that.   I do, however, get bored packing the same thing day after day, so I do attempt to branch them out little by little.  Sometimes they like it, sometimes they don't.

Basically, I break their lunches into 6 areas:

Protein

Whole Grains

Fruit

Vegetable

Dairy

Treats

Foods often overlap categories, but I try to hit all of them daily.

PROTEIN
Lean Turkey (preferably low-sodium)

Lean Ham (preferably low sodium)
Peanut Butter, all-natural
Almond Butter
Homemade Meatballs (find recipe here)
Homemade Chicken Nuggets (recipe is on its way!)

Organic Beef or Turkey Dogs (preferably low sodium)

Tuna, in water

Chicken Salad

Beef Jerky
Boiled Eggs (TOP VOTE GETTER!)

Cottage Cheese, low fat

Cheese sticks

Cheese cubes

Trail Mix

Almonds

Walnuts

Protein Bars

Yogurt, low sugar
Hummus

DAIRY

Yogurt, low-sugar

Cottage Cheese,  low-fat

Cheese sticks

String Cheese

Milk, skim

FRUIT

Apples
Oranges
Strawberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Pineapple
Pears
Watermelon
Grapes

VEGETABLES
Carrots
Celery
Cherry Tomatos
Snap Peas
Red or Green Peppers, sliced
* They typically like to dip their veggies.  I give them a little hummus or Light Ranch dressing.



GRAINS
All of the grains are 100% whole grain:
Whole Wheat Bread
Homemade whole wheat bread
Tortillas
Flatout Flatbread
Hot Dog Buns
Hamburger Buns
Homemade baked goods
Whole grain cereals



TREATS
Dried fruit
Kashi cereal bars
Yogurt, low-sugar
Applesauce, unsweetened
Trail Mix
Protein Bars
Homemade Baked Goods
Fruit
Pirate Booty
Pretzels

DRINKS

WATER.  That's it.

Milk if they cross-their-heart-and-hope-to-die get the skim white milk.  

Nope, no chocolate or strawberry milk allowed.  

Not until I meet a chocolate or strawberry cow.

And their favorite treat...



Love notes from home.

Hey Fit Mommas, I know your kids have their healthy favorites to find in their lunch boxes.  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS for your family...

Related Posts:

The Case For Brown Baggin' It

Lunch Ideas

What Do The Kids Eat?

Eat With the Kids Posts

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

Eat With the Kids: 5/27/10

Today is the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!  Here's how Miss Tressa is going to end it:

7:00 AM

1 slice of banana bread (find recipe here)

1 orange

1 boiled egg

Lunch:

1 homemade wheat roll with turkey and cheddar cheese

1 boiled egg

baby carrots

light ranch dressing

low sugar yogurt

water

After-school snack:

1 homemade whole wheat roll (recipe is coming someday!)

Baked chicken

Sweet Potatoes (find recipe here)

Asian Slaw (find recipe here)

Yet another roll with reduced sugar jam

Skim milk

This kid is a repeat eater.  Do your kids do this?  Every time I turn around she has a roll or boiled egg in her mouth.  I really have to make sure she gets a variety of food groups in her body!  

Now, I have to pack, pack, and pack some more.  The wide road is calling my name...  Vacation here I come!

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

I Went to the Store and What Did I See?

Boxes of CHOCOLATE CEREAL lookin' at me:

I have much affection for chocolate and cereal.  

But for breakfast?  

For the kids?  

To start the day?  

I had no idea Chex and Honey Bunches of Oats jumped on board, too!

I could not walk by without snapping some pics.  

I'll stick with my oatmeal, thank you (however, now that I think about it, a few chocolate chips in there may be pretty tasty....  Hhhmmm :).

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!

Eat With the Kids: 4/14/10

Following Mr. Brian today.  This was the day before grocery shopping day, so I was a bit nervous to see if we could keep this kid fed who has a bottomless pit for a stomach.  

All is well.  He's alive.

7:00 AM

Breakfast:

1 whole wheat English muffin, toasted

All-natural PB

All fruit spread

1 low fat yogurt, the "green" kind only for this kid

1 apple (that I sliced up and made him take it to school in his pocket)

Lunch:

Turkey Roll Up:

1 Kidz Flatout bread

1 slice of deli turkey

1 string cheese

1 box of raisins

1 applesauce

1 Easter egg

1% milk at school 

(he collects milk bottle tops -- which I find dozen in the washer every laundry day)

4:00 PM

After school snack:

1 chocolate protein shake

5:30 PM

Dinner:

1 cup Vegetable Soup (recipe here)

1 pear, sliced

1 Fiber Bar (recipe here)

The soup is not his favorite (it is mine!), but he choked it down.  

After baseball practice:

2 bowls of Raisin Bran

There's the bottomless pit I love :)  With a frog to boot.

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!