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May 2008 - Posts
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Ahh… summer has finally arrived! I
realize that the “official” start of summer is still a few weeks off, but for
me Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. And by “my calendar” – we’re almost
a week into the summer season, which means it’s time to dust off the grill,
invite some friends and family over and have a cookout.
Now I’m sure you didn’t
need me to remind you that summer is a great time for a cookout. But I did want
to let you in on an idea a friend of mine gave me for my next cookout. The
concept is called Grilling for Change and the way it works is simple. You (the
host) provide a gathering place, a grill, meat and beverages (yeah… I know
nothing new yet, but wait… its coming).
Then select a charity
of your choice. When you send an invite to your guests let them know that you
are hosting a cookout to sponsor your favorite charity (e.g, Livestrong,
American Diabetes Association, American Lung Association or a local community
organization) and they donate any amount
they are comfortable with (maybe what they would have spent going out to dinner
one night). And if they can’t donate at this time – that’s fine too.
The friend who told me
about this idea set up her own website to track contributions and establish a
community of “grillers” looking to make a positive change on their community. (http://web.mac.com/michellemagan/iWeb/Grilling%20for%20Change/Welcome.html) I encourage you to check it out.
Feel free to submit your own Grilling for Change event or just use the site for
ideas on how to set up an event.
There are many charities out there and they all need our help. As one person you may not have the resources to make a meaningful contribution, but as a group the small donations we may hot have felt were worthwhile become larger and more meaningful.
Jason
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Want to make a month's supply of healthy Sneaky Chef purées quickly and easily, not to mention having a blast with your friends at the same time? Host a Sneaky Chef Puree Party! I did this recently with some friends in preparation for a school bake sale, and it was so much fun. This is the perfect excuse for a get- together with friends. Not only will you have fun, but you’ll have plenty of purees on hand to freeze and use to enhance your family’s meals quickly and easily.
Just invite your friends, put on some fun background music and set out your favorite munchies (Sneaky Chef recipes or otherwise).
Here are the three easy steps to hosting a really fun puree party:
1. GATHER TOOLS & INGREDIENTS
Ask each person to bring a raw ingredient or two (cauliflower, zucchini, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, peas and spinach), plus their 3-cup mini food processor (one for about every three people). Or, you can use one larger food processor for every 9 people. Have a few large pots with steamer baskets for cooking the veggies.
2. START PUREEING
Divide up the tasks: one person washes, one chops, one steams the veggies, a few people run the food processors. You should have an area to make White Puree, Orange Puree, Green Puree, and Purple Puree.
3. BAG ‘EM UP!
Put the purees into plastic zip-top baggies in one-half cup sized portions, mark the contents and date on the bag, and divide among your friends for refrigerating (up to 3 days) and freezing (up to 3 months). You can also store the finished purees in covered ice cube trays if you prefer to defrost individual portions rather than a whole baggie.
That's all there is to it! You'll each have a month's supply of healthy purees at your finger tips to nutritionally enhance all of your favorite Sneaky Chef recipes on a moment's notice, and you'll have had a great time doing it. It gives new meaning to the phrase, "Enjoy in good health."
With healthiest regards,
Missy (aka, The Sneaky Chef)
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Most people are not surprised to know that pretzels offer fewer calories per serving than potato chips. Even with today’s marketing of multigrain tortilla chips and baked potato chips, the pretzel still ends up being the lower calorie choice. Despite all the marketing, these types of snack foods don’t add any nutritional value to the diet. Let’s take a closer look at how big of a difference it can make if you choose pretzels over potato chips – take a look at the labels below.
When you choose pretzels over potato chips you save almost 50 calories per serving – this can really add up if you can’t stick with one serving. Chips have a high amount of fat at 10 grams per serving (equal to 15% of your fat for the day), compared to pretzels which have less than 1 gram of fat per serving. However, when it comes to sodium, pretzels don’t score so well. One serving of pretzels offers 384 mg of sodium compared to potato chips which are 180 mg per serving. As a reminder, the daily limit is 2400 mg per day.
While eating potato chips and pretzels you have to pay attention to the serving size – on the labels below, it’s just 1 ounce. Serving sizes vary depending on the type of pretzel or size of the chip. Snack foods are easy to overeat because you can eat them out of the bag. A tip for portion control is to pour what you want to eat into a bowl so you can monitor how much you are eating.
When deciding on your choice for a snack, remember it may be easier for you to control the portion of pretzels versus potato chips. So keep pretzels in the office or at home to snack on next time and remember to portion them out ahead of time. Of course, fruits and vegetables make better low calorie, high fiber snack choices so have them available as well.
 
Rebecca
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Chapter five of the Sneaky Chef book focuses on easy techniques that assist in the preparation of 'sneaky' foods. As the title suggests, "Make-Ahead" recipes are the key component to making the sneaky method accessible and efficient. We're all well aware that in our struggle to constantly focus on eating healthy, one of the biggest obstacles people face is the lack of time to prepare a meal from scratch. In this chapter the Missy suggests an easy fix -- save time by front-loading a little extra work (and by extra she means 30 minutes of time spent in prep) at the beginning of the week that allows you to eat healthy meals everyday.
The Make-Ahead recipes also focus on Superfoods. Wiki defines Superfood as a term sometimes used to describe food with high phytonutrient content (i.e. plant or fruit derived chemical compounds) that some may believe confers health benefits as a result. While most of the Make-Ahead recipes are purees of these Superfoods like blueberries, spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots; she also has other neat ideas like pre-mixed flour that includes whole wheat flour and wheat germ. Other recipes include one for frozen bananas (to be used in shakes, smoothies) and Bacon Bits made from lean turkey bacon.
While the Sneaky Chef's bag of tricks seems endless, they advocate a simple philosophy that with a little bit of creativity and imagination, healthy eating can be just a "puree" away.
The Sneaky Chef will be coming soon to Ignite for a Live Chat with us on June 10, at 3:00 p.m. ET. Inspired by her ideas, we're having a Sneaky Recipe Contest to see who has some of the best recipes that sneak in unexpected foods into popular dishes. If you have a recipe you think both creative and nutritious, then click this link and share it with us. The winner will be picked by the Sneaky Chef and Rebecca Mohning, registered dietitican and certified personal trainer and will receive a $50 gift card to a healthy food store. Good luck!
Reena
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The Memorial Day weekend is here! It’s the unofficial start of the summer season and an opportunity to celebrate the holiday with friends and family. It’s also an excellent time to shop for that perfect pair of sunglasses. Shades that are comfortable make you look hot and most importantly protect your eyes. Having a good pair of sunglasses is really important. The sun contains harmful rays, called UV rays, which contribute to many health problems. Exposure to UV rays causes irreversible damage to the eyes and over time, prolonged exposure to UV rays increases the chances of developing various diseases. These include cataracts, Pterygium, or cancer. So when you’re out shopping for new sunglasses, keep a few things in mind:
- Look for sunglasses that block 99-100% percent of UVA and UVB rays. This level will give you the best protection from the sun’s rays.
- Choose sunglass lenses a tint that blocks 80% or more of transmissible light. Those that block visible blue light are even better.
- Look for sunglasses that have polarized lenses. Polarized lenses contain polarized filters that reduce glare reflected off shiny surfaces. Polarized lenses relax your eyes and reduce eye tension.
- The larger lenses that fit close to the eyes are the best for protecting them. They block out sun from the front and sides.
Along with sunglasses, you can also protect your eyes by wearing a hat. Wide-brimmed hats that cover the sides of your face protect you the best.
So enjoy the holiday weekend. And good luck finding that perfect pair of shades!  Justin
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I’m pleased to share with you the foundation of The Sneaky Chef method – a couple of my sneaky “make-ahead purees.” They’re called “make-ahead” because I encourage my readers to make a few batches every week and freeze ¼ cup portions in plastic bags in the freezer for up to 3 months (or refrigerate for 3 days). Either way, you’ll be glad you put in the half hour a week – that way preparing healthy foods takes no extra effort or time – just grab some puree that you have on hand and mix it in!
Sneaky Chef Make-Ahead Recipe #2: Orange Puree 1 medium sweet potato or yam, peeled and coarsely chopped
3 medium to large carrots, peeled and sliced into thick chunks
2 to 3 tablespoons water
* Makes about 2 cups of puree; double it if you want to store another 2 cups.
In a medium-sized pot, cover the sweet potatoes and carrots with cold water and boil for about 20 minutes, until carrots are very tender. If the carrots aren’t thoroughly cooked, they’ll leave telltale little nuggets of vegetables in recipes, which will reveal their presence — a gigantic no-no for the Sneaky Chef.
Drain the sweet potatoes and carrots and put them in the food processor with two tablespoons of water. Puree on high until smooth; no pieces of carrots or potatoes should remain. Stop occasionally to push the contents to the bottom. If necessary, use another tablespoon of water to smooth out the puree, but the less water, the better.
Sneaky Chef Make-Ahead Recipe #4: White Puree 2 cups cauliflower florets (about 1⁄2 a small head)
2 small to medium zucchini, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1 to 2 tablespoons water, if necessary
* Makes about 2 cups of puree; double it if you want to store another 2 cups.
Pour about 2 inches of water into a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Put a vegetable steamer basket into the pot, add the cauliflower, and steam for 10 to 12 minutes or until very tender. Drain. Alternatively, place the cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl, cover the cauliflower with water, and microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes or until very tender. Drain.
While cauliflower steams, pulse the raw peeled zucchini with the lemon juice (no water at this point) in your food processor. Once the cauliflower is cooked and tender, working in batches if necessary, add 1 tablespoon of water and some of the cauliflower to the food processor with the pulsed zucchini. Puree on high until smooth. Stop occasionally to push the contents to the bottom. If necessary, use another tablespoon of water to smooth out the puree, but the less water, the better.
Using these two purees, you can boost the nutrition in a wide variety of meals. Here are just a few items you can fix quickly:
Store-Bought BBQ Sauce – grilling season is upon us, and we often use bottles of store-bought barbecue sauce. Take any bottle of barbecue sauce and simply mix in some Sneaky Chef Orange Puree (sweet potato/carrot) or White Puree (cauliflower/zucchini). No one will taste anything but delicious bbq sauce, but the addition of veggies will add a ton of nutrition to your meal!
Store-Bought Tomato Sauce – The same trick can apply to any bottle of store-bought tomato sauce. Simply mix in some Sneaky Chef Orange Puree (sweet potato/carrot) or White Puree (cauliflower/zucchini). No one will guess their pasta or pizza has the extra hidden nutrition!
Missy (The Sneaky Chef)
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Most of us have eaten, or at least have heard of couscous, a coarsely ground semolina pasta originally from northern Africa. Made from wheat, but easily mistaken as rice, couscous is a good source of B vitamins and the antioxidant selenium, which works together with vitamin E to maintain thyroid functioning and a healthy immune system. This “grain” is most often used in salads, mixed with fruit or vegetables, or as a side dish with meat, chicken, or fish. The whole wheat version of couscous is available in some grocery stores and most health food or specialty food stores, and makes a good choice nutritionally as it contains more than double the fiber and 20% more protein than the regular kind. It also contains more fat (mostly unsaturated—the good kind). Keep in mind to buy whole wheat couscous to get all the benefits of fiber and protein.
While couscous is a pretty standard food commodity, quinoa is a lesser known, recently rediscovered, grain-like seed. A close relative of green leafy vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard, quinoa contains all 9 essential amino acids making it a complete protein, so it’s perfect for vegetarians. (Couscous is not a complete protein.) Quinoa is also high in many minerals including potassium and manganese, a key player in the body’s absorption of nutrients. Once considered the “gold of the Incas,” quinoa is fluffy, creamy, and slightly crunchy, similar to couscous, and can be prepared in similar ways. When compared side by side, see for yourself how these 3 healthy options stack up.
  
Rebecca
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Last week we took a look at Chapters 1 and 2 of The Sneaky Chef’s second book, where Missy outlined the importance of a healthy home and why she decided to focus on men this time around. This week, we’re going to take a look at Chapters 3 and 4 of the book.
In Chapter 3 – The Lists – Missy helps us learn how to shop more effectively so we purchase healthier ingredients and save time and money. She also provides a fresh (pun intended) perspective on when to buy organic to limit pesticides (foods that have no skin or a thin skin, like strawberries, celery and imported grapes) and how to stock up on the least contaminated foods, such as sweet corn and pineapple. The chapter wraps up with a comprehensive list of Sneaky Chef staple foods, broken out by category, such as produce, frozen foods and spices. (Missy provided a short list of these staples in her Thursday blog.)
In Chapter 4 – The Sneaky Chef’s Bag of Tricks – we get a look at The Sneaky Chef’s ways to add health to all her recipes. The first method – pureeing ingredients and adding them to recipes – is what made The Sneaky Chef famous when she demonstrated it on TV shows like The Today Show. In addition to using this method to get ingredients that many don’t like into traditional foods (e.g., spinach in brownies), the book discusses how pureeing foods allows us to add a lot more vitamins, because they are more concentrated. The recipes in this book include everything from pureed broccoli to tofu as well as combinations most of us couldn’t dream up. Other methods she delves into include:
- Finding foods that are easy to hide, like cauliflower and oat bran (the list also includes sardines, so I’ll be interested to see how that works!)
- Substituting nutritious liquid for boiling water, such as green tea in rice
- Combining items that are nutritional complements, such as a puree of spinach and blueberries to boost iron absorption
- And 10 more!
If you have a method of sneaking healthy foods into your meals, we’d love to hear about it – you can respond to this blog or join the discussion in our Channels.
Next week, we’ll take a look at Chapter 5 with The Sneaky Chef’s make-ahead recipes and we’ll begin to dive into the recipes that have made Missy such a hit.
Happy Sneaking!
Kerry
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May is blood pressure awareness month. The American Heart Association reports that according to recent estimates, about one in three U.S. adults has
high blood pressure, but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of
these people don't know they have it. So the next time you go to our local pharmacy or grocery store - take advantage of the free blood pressure test available. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. According to the American Heart Association high blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure (the top number) of 140 or higher over a diastolic pressure (the bottom number of 90 or higher. Hypertension is treatable through exercise and eating a healthy diet and in some cases medication. But I recently came across a study that suggests you can also lower your blood pressure by listening to music. According to a research study presented at the American Hypertension meeting taking place in New Orleans - "listening to half an hour of music each day may significantly lower your blood pressure." Certainly this isn't a cure-all for hypertension, but researches found that over a month's time people with mild hypertenstion who listened to classical, Celtic, or Indian (raga) music for just 30 minutes a day had "significant reductions in their blood pressure." The study took a total of 48 adults ages 45 to 70 who were taking medication to control
mild hypertension. Of these, 28 listened to 30 minutes of
"rhythmically homogenous" classical, Celtic or raga music daily while
practicing slow, controlled breathing exercises. The remaining 20 participants,
serving as the control group, made no changes to their daily routine. Blood pressure readings obtained one and four
weeks later showed that systolic blood pressure - the top number in the blood
pressure reading - dropped significantly in the music listeners. In contrast,
the control group experienced only small, non-significant reductions in blood
pressure. Dr. Pietro A. Modesti, of the University of Florence in Italy and a study investigator noted in a written statement from the meeting that, "listening to music is soothing and has often been associated with controlling patient reported pain or anxiety and acutely reducing blood pressure. But for the first time, today's results clearly illustrate the impact daily music listening has on ambulatory blood pressure."
Dr. Modesti also states, "We are excited about the positive implications for both patients and
physicians, who can now confidently explore music listening as a safe,
effective, non-pharmacological treatment option or a complement to
therapy."
Jason
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It seems like just about everyone is talking about a cleaner, greener environment. From corporations to celebrities – people are on board the “green” wagon looking to be pioneers in this arena. One of the many encouraging outcomes of this positive trend is the influx of creative, new ideas being used to find ways to be energy efficient and to create less toxic waste. While corporations are inspired to build fuel efficient cars or energy saving appliances; individuals and small entrepreneurs are focusing on other creative ways to make an impact.
One such radical idea is fashion designers using trash to make bags. Fashion designers are using celebrities to promote accessories made from post-consumer waste. These eco-fashion labels are partnered with companies like Coca-Cola, Luna Bar and Aveda to create handbags made from misprinted labels, discontinued packaging and even repurposed movie billboards. With nearly 8 billion tons of waste being produced each year, it seems like raw materials will be in abundant supply! So if you’re like me, you’re probably wondering – can trash ever really be trendy? Check out one such website for yourself – it’s called Ecoist. I was amazed at the quality of the recycled products like purses, bags, jewelry and more.
Besides supporting these green organizations, the little things we do on a daily basis – switching off lights as we exit rooms, taking shorter showers can make a big impact to natural resources. And, when creativity meets a “green” idea, being environmentally responsible becomes fun.
Do you have a favorite “green” idea to share? Tell us, does your trash inspire you?
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Being a Sneaky Chef means thinking outside the box (the pizza and cookie box, that is!) Armed with a copy of my books and some simple sneaky staples on hand, you’ll find homemade meals are faster, healthier, and less expensive than convenience foods and take-out. Think of it as the new 6Ps: “Prior Planning Prevents Pizza delivery, Processed foods, and Pounds!” Some of the easiest and most popular recipes in The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on Your Man (in the Kitchen) include:
Stacked Pancakes – no flour added! These are high protein and fiber, low carb, delicious pancakes that’ll keep you energized all morning. They are a light, fluffy blend of low fat ricotta, egg whites, ground almonds and oat bran (chocolate chips or blueberries optional!).
Sinless Smoothies – toss some frozen strawberries or cherries in a blender with refreshing green tea, creamy avocado, pomegranate juice and ice!
Lunch – something as simple as a tuna sandwich or chicken salad can be easily made lower in fat and higher in fiber with a two-minute White Bean Puree – use this delicious, creamy puree in place of half the mayonnaise in the tuna or chicken salad.
I’d love to hear your ideas for slipping healthy foods in your family’s meals. Also, if you have any specific requests or favorite dishes you’d like me to make healthier, please post a comment on this blog!
Missy (The Sneaky Chef)
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Chili is a stew-like soup made entirely with meat, chilies, or chili powder (or both) and, depending on what region of the United States you live in, it can also include beans. There are many stories about where chili originated and it is generally thought by most historians, that the earliest versions of chili were made by the very poorest people dating back to the 16th century. There are many versions of chili out there, some healthier than others. We are going to compare a healthier version by The Sneaky Chef, called “Doctor’s Choice Chili” to a regular chili recipe.
When comparing chili, we want to take a look at fiber, fat, protein, and sodium which are very common nutrients found in any version of chili. To begin with, the Doctor’s Choice Chili recipe has about half the calories as the regular version per cup. (See labels below and note that the recipes are different sizes, with the Doctor’s Choice Chili serving size giving you nearly twice as much for the nutritional content listed.)
Next, comparing protein, the Doctor’s Choice Chili recipe shows 23.4 grams of protein compared to the regular version which shows 13.4 grams of protein. However, this is about the same amount of protein per serving since the food labels are dealing with different serving sizes. The Doctor’s Choice Chili may be similar in protein content, but the vegetable puree in the chili really boosts the fiber as well as vitamin/mineral content. The Doctor’s Choice Chili has more iron and vitamin A than the other version as well.
When it comes to soups, such as chili, they tend to be very high in sodium. The regular version has 3 times the amount of sodium as the Doctor’s Choice Chili! The Doctor’s Chili has less fat so it is a healthier choice there as well.
Based on this comparison, it is without a doubt a better choice to go with The Sneaky Chef’s Doctor’s Choice Chili recipe.
 
Rebecca
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We’re very excited to have Missy back with us on Ignite. This week we begin our review of her new book titled, The Sneaky Chef: How to cheat on your man (In the kitchen), which is a follow-up to her first book in the ‘Sneaky Chef’ series and is about creating healthy versions of meals that are typically considered “manly” foods. This book, like the first one, dispels a popular myth surrounding health and nutrition that if something tastes good then it must be bad for you. Her book is based on the premise that our diet is one of the most powerful weapons we have against heart disease and many other chronic conditions and ignoring this can set us up for failure in the long term
The first chapter in Missy’s book, Eat, Drink and Live To Tell About It, points to several arguments why she believes that women are the “health managers” of the family. As with kids, she cites personal challenges with the men in her life, particularly her husband and father, who avoid eating healthy meals due an innate reluctance to care for their own wellbeing. In her experience, she believes men (like kids) are more susceptible to making wrong food choices and seem to have irrational aversions that cannot be argued away with logical thought. So when lecturing and then nagging her husband about his food choices did not work, she decided to try the same Sneaky Chef approach that succeeded with her kids. In her words, “A disease of lifestyle means an illness that isn’t a random act of the universe, but caused by one’s own behavior”. In an effort to help men improve their diets without feeling like they need to compromise on taste or substance, women can spring into action using tips/tricks available in her book. Missy draws attention to an important fact that the book is focused on positive nutrition, i.e. specifically foods you can add to your diet and does not recommend complete elimination of target foods that some diet books consider unhealthy, such as fat or carbohydrates. The second chapter, Health and the Happy Home, reminds us that communication between men and women is a key factor when trying to persuade men on the benefits of eating right. While her first chapter works on establishing the notion that women lead men to better health, the second one warns about falling into communication traps like trying to lecture or nag men into listening to advice. The key is to recognize that men are driven by action, not words. She also suggests women stop trying to ‘fix’ their men. She urges women who are concerned about the food habits of their loved ones to take personal responsibility by making meals that look visually appealing and yet are nutritious like a casserole with bubbling cheese on top and broccoli hidden inside.
The ideas in the first two chapters make a very strong argument for why the book is focused on men and provide insights into the selection of recipes being more popular bar, ballpark or game-time foods or in other words – foods men enjoy. However the concept of avoiding diseases triggered by unhealthy lifestyles is universal and applies to everyone alike. If you already practice some of these ‘sneaky’ techniques or have your own ideas click here and share your thoughts and ideas with us.
Next week, we’ll discuss chapters 3 and 4 that take us one step closer to the tricks and tips that the book promises to reveal.
Reena
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Whether you decided to spend a nice day with your family or you just “took a
day off” – I hope that all Moms out there had a wonderful Mother’s Day. I think
that we all take (or have taken) our Mom’s for granted. They do so much for us
and our families – maintenance, kid scheduling, meal prepping, school
arranging, activity enabling, anything lost finding, pet caring and just plain
all around constant nagging, err… reminding, and sometimes that job gets a bit
overwhelming.
Dr. Nadine Kaslow, professor of psychiatry at Emory University
and chief psychologist for the Grady Health System, has an explanation for why
that might be. "As more and more women are in the workplace and are
working full time, and then they often come home and work full time, so they
often have two full-time jobs. I think as the pace of life has gotten even
faster with even more and more demands, children having more activities, cell
phones, text messaging, e-mailing. The demands have gotten greater."
And those greater demands aren't going anywhere. So what's a mom who's at
her wits end to do?
Well, experts such as Kaslow advise us to do something many mothers might
find difficult: We need to make ourselves a bigger priority.
Yikes! Another thing to do!
But this task just might have some real benefits.
"There are a number of reasons it's good for a woman to take care of
herself," Kaslow explained. "First of all it's really hard to take
care of other people if you are not taking care of yourself. If you think about
a car metaphor, if there's not enough fuel in the car, the car won't go,"
she said. "A second reason is when people aren't taking care of
themselves, they tend to get resentful of the other people they are taking care
of in their lives, so they may become short or irritable with them. A third
reason is that life is more meaningful and gratifying if we take care of
ourselves; we tend not to feel depressed," she added. "We feel less
anxious, and moms who are not depressed and less anxious are more able to be
effective mothers."
And who doesn't want to be a more effective mother?
But how do you know if you aren't getting enough self-renewal time?
Kaslow has some advice: "I would say if you say to yourself, 'Gosh I
wish I had time to read a book; I never get to exercise; I don't get any time
with my partner; I never see my friends,' and you find yourself spending time
just thinking about what you wish you were doing -- that would be a warning
sign to me."
"Certainly if you start to feel like you are a little depressed and a
little anxious because there is not much that is fun in your life, not much
that gives you pleasure, that would be another warning."
And don't get suckered into believing the only way to really get in time for
yourself is by spending a day at the spa or going on some major
credit-crunching shopping spree.
Experts in these matters say that when it comes to getting the most out of
your time, it's the little things that count. "Take a bath or read a book.
Make a list or think through what is really valuable to you," Kaslow
suggests. "Make sure these are things you will enjoy that are within your
budget," she said, so that you're not stressing out even more about the
money you're spending.
Because there really is nothing to be done about money stress... Everybody's got that.
Jason
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Rain rain go away, come again another day. While I am no big fan of rainy days, they are the perfect opportunity for engaging in a little family fun. Many recent studies have shown that parents and kids are so busy with work, school, and extra curricular activities that they rarely have the opportunity to enjoy spending quality time together. I don’t know about you, but this is definitely the case in my household. On days like today, try some of these popular rainy day activities with your kids. Quizzes
Depending upon the ages of your children, you can quiz them on some of the things they are learning in school and give them rewards for answering the questions correctly. I’ve done this myself and the kids actually love it. But keep in mind – it’s supposed to be fun. So be sure to ask the educational quiz questions in between other questions geared solely to FUN. Board Games
Set up teams – parents against the kids or the females against the males. Break out the games and enjoy endless laughter. Twister is one of our family’s all time favorites. Other great games to try are – Operation, Sorry, Trouble, Scattegories, Boggle, and Scrabble. Boggle and Scrabble are really great ways to build vocabulary while having fun. My kids pride themselves in trying to beat mommy at every game. I’m sure yours will too! Arts & Crafts
This category is probably the most suitable for families with toddlers. We all know how much they love to finger paint and scribble. A really popular activity for toddler boys is “Hot Rod Painting”. All you need is a piece of poster board, some matchbox cars or hot wheels, and some paint. Put the paint in a flat tray, let the kids roll the car’s wheels in the paint and then onto the poster board. Easy as 1-2-3 and they absolutely love it. A good activity to try with the toddler girls is bubble painting. Pour bubble liquid into a couple of different trays and add a little bit of powder paint. Dip the bubble wand into different colors and blow bubbles at the paper. The results are awesome. Rainy day activities are more than just fun; they really are great ways to spend time with your family. Devona
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