As a holistic mom, you strive to provide your children with nourishing and wholesome foods. Snack time doesn't have to be dull or unhealthy! In this blog post, we'll explore creative ways to transform fruits and veggies into fun and delicious treats that your kids will love. Get ready to add a burst of color, flavor, and nutrition to your snack repertoire!
Fruit Fun: Creative Ways to Serve Fruits as Snacks
Discover innovative and fun ways to turn fruits into delightful snacks that your kids will love. From fruit skewers to rainbow fruit salads, make snack time a colorful experience!
Unleashing the Rainbow: Create a vibrant rainbow fruit salad by combining a variety of colorful fruits. Let your kids help assemble the different fruit layers, adding a touch of creativity to their snacking experience.
Fruit Kebabs with a Twist: Make eating fruits exciting by threading bite-sized fruit pieces onto skewers. Encourage your little ones to create their own fruity kebabs, exploring different combinations and patterns.
Silly Fruit Faces: Transform ordinary fruits into whimsical characters by using edible markers or small fruit cutters. Engage your child's imagination while they enjoy a playful and nutritious snack.
Veggie Crunch: Turning Veggies into Tasty Nibbles
Learn how to transform veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers into crunchy, nutritious snacks. Explore dips, dressings, and seasoning ideas to make these treats irresistible.
Dippity-Doo Veggies: Pair crunchy veggies like carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and bell pepper strips with homemade dips such as hummus, guacamole, or yogurt-based (use plain greek or coconut yogurt) dressings. The combination of textures and flavors will keep your little ones coming back for more.
Seasoned to Perfection: Add a burst of flavor to your veggie snacks by experimenting with different seasonings and spices. Try sprinkling some nutritional yeast, garlic powder, or even a hint of cinnamon on roasted veggie chips for a delightful twist.
Smoothie Bowl Magic: Healthy and Fun Fruit & Veggie Treats
Dive into the world of smoothie bowls! Learn how to combine fruits, veggies, and toppings to create visually appealing, nutrient-dense treats that your kids will enjoy eating.
Blend and Beautify: Whip up delicious smoothie bowls by blending a variety of fruits, leafy greens, and healthy fats like avocado or nut butter. Top them off with a sprinkle of granola, chia seeds, or fresh fruit for added texture and visual appeal.
Sweet Green Surprise: Introduce your kids to the wonders of green smoothie bowls by adding a handful of spinach or kale to their favorite fruit blend. They'll be delighted by the vibrant color and won't even notice the hidden veggies!
Frozen Delights: Healthy Ice Pops from Fresh Fruits and Veggies
Beat the heat with homemade ice pops! Find out how to use fresh fruits and veggies to create refreshing, healthy frozen treats that are perfect for hot summer days.
Fruit Pop Extravaganza: Blend together your kids' favorite fruits with a splash of coconut water, then pour the mixture into popsicle molds. In just a few hours, you'll have nutritious and refreshing fruit popsicles that beat store-bought options.
Veggie Cool-Down: Experiment with veggie-infused popsicles by incorporating ingredients like cucumber, beetroot, or even sweet potato. The natural sweetness of fruits balances out the flavors, creating a unique and nutritious frozen treat.
Veggie Chips: A Healthy Twist on a Favorite Snack
Discover how to make homemade veggie chips, a healthier alternative to store-bought snacks. Learn about the best vegetables to use and how to season them for maximum flavor.
Baked Goodness: Swap out greasy potato chips with homemade baked veggie chips. Slice vegetables like zucchini, sweet potatoes, or kale into thin pieces, toss them in olive oil, and bake until crispy. These guilt-free chips are packed with nutrients and flavor.
Flavor Explosion: Elevate the taste of your veggie chips by experimenting with different seasonings. Sprinkle them with a combination of sea salt, paprika, or garlic powder, for a savory twist that will keep your kids reaching for more.
Fruity Desserts: Turning Fresh Fruits into Sweet Treats
Satisfy your kids' sweet tooth with desserts made from fresh fruits. Learn how to make fruit parfaits, baked fruit treats, and more that are both delicious and nutritious.
Parfait Paradise: Layer fresh fruits, Greek or coconut yogurt, and granola in a glass to create a tempting fruit parfait. Let your kids customize their parfaits with their favorite fruits and toppings for a delightful and healthy dessert.
Baked Fruit Delights: Experiment with baked fruit treats like apple or pear crisps. Slice the fruits, toss them with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a touch of honey, then bake until they become golden and crispy. Serve them warm with a dollop of Greek or coconut yogurt for a comforting and guilt-free dessert.
Snack time can be both nutritious and exciting by using fruits and veggies as the main ingredients. With these creative ideas, you can transform ordinary produce into fun and delicious treats that your kids will love. So, go ahead and unleash your creativity in the kitchen, and enjoy guilt-free snacking with your little ones!
Have picky eaters? Grab this guide: 7 Strategies to Help Picky Eaters Eat!
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A Breastfeeding Mom's Perspective
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A gym owner's perspective.
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Hey, moms! Tired of feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and like you'll never have time to take care of yourself? Well, it's time to debunk these common myths about motherhood once and for all! We often hear myths and stereotypes about motherhood that can leave us feeling discouraged. These myths can create unrealistic expectations and even prevent us from taking action to improve our well-being. It's important to recognize that these myths don't have to define our experiences as mothers. The truth is, you don't have to live with constant exhaustion, overwhelm, or neglecting your own self-care.
Let's look at 3 mom myths.
Myth 1: It is inevitable that you will be exhausted.
The truth is that while motherhood can be demanding, it doesn't mean that you're destined for constant exhaustion. Check your priorities! It's ok to leave the least important things by the wayside for a season. Obviously, your family is #1! But to take care of your family, you must have energy! And the go-to can't be energy drinks, coffee, or other stimulants which wreak havoc on your adrenals. Prioritize sleep (when you can), fresh whole foods, exercise, and water. Add in my favorite antioxidant drink that kept me from falling asleep at the dinner table when I was pregnant with my 7th child, and you will be set! These may seem simple, but they make a world of difference and you will feel vibrant and alive. You can do it all and still have energy.
Myth 2: You will be overwhelmed.
Although motherhood comes with its fair share of challenges, it doesn't mean you'll always feel overwhelmed. Learning effective time management strategies, setting boundaries, and asking for help when needed can significantly reduce feelings of overwhelm. Developing these skills goes a long way to help you better manage stress and maintain a sense of balance in your life. Keep yourself organized and stay on top of things so they don't pile up, delegate tasks, and take breaks to recharge. This will ensure that you can handle the demands of motherhood without feeling constantly overwhelmed. Overwhelm is a state of mind, and by staying organized and maintaining a structured approach to daily tasks, you can effectively prevent it from taking over your life.
Myth 3: You will never have time to take care of yourself.
Self-care is crucial for all moms, and it IS possible to make time for it despite a busy schedule. By intentionally carving out moments for yourself (even just 5 minutes at a time if that's all you can manage during certain seasons), and integrating self-care practices into your daily routine, you can not only support your own well-being but also be better equipped to care for your family. Join a book club, learn meditation, just relax and enjoy some music, exercise, or indulge in hobbies that bring joy and fulfillment. While some of these may require getting help so you can do them, many are possible on a day to day basis by carving out a little time.
I wish I had someone tell me these things when I was younger, I learned them little by little, many times the hard way - by crashing and burning. If you are ready to take some time for yourself, take control of your health and well-being both physically and mentally, join me for the Jumpstart. By participating in this program, you'll gain access to a meal plans, schedule, and recipes, exercise routines, mindset mastery, and a supportive community of like-minded moms who share your goals and aspirations. The Jumpstart program provides guidance on creating sustainable habits that lead to increased energy and overall well-being. It is all designed to help you feel more energetic and less stressed, while promoting better sleep and releasing chronic inflammation.
Don't let these myths hold you back from experiencing a fulfilling and balanced life as a mom. All you need are some tools, knowledge, and support to debunk these misconceptions and embrace a healthier, happier version of motherhood. With a little guidance and determination, you can overcome these myths and thrive as a mom, proving that it's possible to find balance, energy, and joy in motherhood.
Sign up for the Jumpstart program today and start your journey towards a more vibrant, resilient, and fulfilled life as a mom.
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Beans are an incredibly nutritious food that provide a variety of health benefits. They contain fiber, protein, resistant starch, and antioxidants. Beans also contain lectins—a type of carbohydrate-binding protein that can cause digestive issues in some people. Let's discuss how to prepare beans safely to remove lectins so you can enjoy all the health benefits without any of the unpleasant side effects.
Why are Lectins Problematic?
Lectins are a type of protein found in beans and other plant-based foods such as grains and vegetables. While lectins play an important role in defending plants from pests and disease, they can cause digestive upset in humans when eaten in high quantities or if not prepared properly. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain. For this reason, it's important to take steps to reduce the amount of lectins in your food.
How to Reduce Lectin Content
The first step is to soak your beans overnight before cooking them. This helps break down the outer layer of the bean which contains most of the lectin content. After soaking them overnight, rinse them thoroughly with cold water before cooking them in boiling water. Here is a chart with the soak and cook time for each bean. This will reduce the lectin content significantly so that it’s unlikely to cause any digestive issues. Additionally, adding spices such as turmeric or ginger while you cook your beans may help decrease their lectin content even further while also adding flavor!
Another way to reduce lectin content is by using a slow cooker when cooking you're beans as this method allow for longer cooking times at lower temperatures than regular stovetop cooking which helps further break down lectin proteins. Be aware that kidney beans must boil for at least 10 minutes at high before simmering. Using an Instapot reduces the lectin as well, and doesn't take such a long time. You can also buy pre-cooked canned versions of many types of beans which have already had their lectin content reduced through processing but be aware that these products often contain added sodium so always read labels carefully if you’re watching your sodium intake! Canned beans are also more expensive than dry beans, so if you are trying to watch your budget, dry beans are the way to go - and they taste better, too!
Beans are a nutrient-rich food that offer great health benefits but unfortunately they do contain some levels of lectins which can cause digestive problems for some people if eaten in large amounts or not prepared properly. To ensure that you get all the nutritional benefits from eating beans without any unpleasant side effects, follow the tips outlined above for reducing their lectin content before consuming them—soak overnight then boil & simmer or cook in an Instapot for quicker meals or a slow cooker for even longer periods at lower temperatures! Holistic moms should feel confident preparing delicious meals with beans knowing that they’re taking steps to reduce their family’s risk of experiencing unwanted side effects from eating them!
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