A Heathly, Fit Family: Breakfast Is Your Gasoline

A Nourishing Breakfast as Family Fuel

We have often heard the phrase “Breakfast if the most important meal of the day”, we as adults sometimes don’t always enforce this phrase and are guilty of skipping breakfast because of our busy lifestyles. This is where it becomes a problem in the eyes of our children.

When a child witnesses a parent skipping breakfast they are more than likely to skip the meal as well or bring up the “well, you didn’t eat it either” argument. Parents are role models and children learn by watching, so put two and two together. This is more relevant to older children who have schedules that are just as hectic as ours sometimes.

The key to enforcing the breakfast rule is educating our children in the importance of a healthy and nutritious breakfast for the entire family. Through sitting down to breakfast in the morning with the entire family we establish a set family time where not only are we getting the fuel to start our day, we are also creating a bonding time for the family to share the days plans.

The benefits of eating breakfast are:

  • Increased energy throughout the day
  • Concentration levels are elevated, which is important for everyone
  • Less likely to overindulge in a later meal in an unhealthy fashion
  • More likely to excel in school or work activities

If you find that you don’t have enough time in the morning to provide a full healthy breakfast, there are options that can help remedy this:

  • Peanut Butter spread on whole-wheat toast
  • A cup of yogurt and a piece of fruit
  • Cereal bars; preferably with fruit
  • Toasted whole wheat bagel with peanut butter or a slice of low fat cheese
  • A fruit smoothie

All of these items can be fixed quickly and eaten while on the run out the door or in the car.

Skipping breakfast can do a number of negative things to not only our bodies but to our minds. The following things have been associated with not eating a healthy nutritious breakfast.

  • Lack of energy
  • Poor concentration
  • Irritability
  • Headaches
  • Overeating or eating unhealthy foods at a later meal
  • Weight gain
  • Behavioral issues

These negative reactions hold true for both children and for adults. Just think about the way you feel when you are hungry. Most people who are hungry aren’t able to focus on the important things and will only focus more how hungry they are.

Planning breakfast time is the way to go, take care of things at night so you will have more time to focus on your family’s breakfast is one way to fit in a healthy breakfast. Make lunches, set out clothes, takes baths, etc. Whatever can free up your morning time to be able to sit down together.

If you find there just isn’t enough time in the morning, make sure you have food items that can easily be grabbed on the way out the door. Whichever way you choose, eating a healthy breakfast is the best way start to the day.A

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9 Simple Ways to Save Money on Your Groceries

SHPlaceOfBusGrocery4It 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 Dine Without Whine 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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Mother’s Intuition

What is it about moms? We just KNOW when something is wrong, when it just isn’t quite right. My mom could literally look at my face and tell what was wrong with me, or at least that something was wrong. There was NO hiding it from her. It was impossible. If I had a bad day at school, flunked a test, got hurt by a friend, broke up with a boyfriend, whatever the case she somehow knew about it before I said a word.

Sometimes, this was nice; we all crave that sympathetic ear right? Boy, did I ever do some ear bending to my mother. She got earfuls after school every single day of my life. She always seemed to have the “answers” or at least what I wanted to hear or even needed to hear. That’s what I call, “mother’s intuition”, that “knowing” of what to do, what to say, every mom has it.

I wondered when I became a parent if I’d have it, if I would be able to use it as well as my mom did. However, just as it was meant to be, it came out in me after becoming a parent. It happens for every mom. Very cool how we’re wired that way huh?

mother's kissSo, if you’re worried that you won’t have the abilities your mom did, never fear, every woman is wired to have them. From being able to fix a broken toy, to kissing a boo boo to make it feel better, to knowing that something is wrong, you’ll be able to fix it every time, or at least make it feel better for a moment or two, whatever it’s worth.

Were you surprised by the amount of mother’s intituation you began feeling after becoming a parent? Share your thoughts.

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