Tag Archives: advice

Food, Going Healthy

Healthy Sugar Cookie Protein Dip Recipe + Food Tips

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Hello there! Are you frantically running around trying to get everything ready for Thanksgiving or are you all set / not celebrating? Whatever the case, I have a couple healthy things to share.

Since I’m in the “frantically running around” department, today’s post comes directly from my old healthy foodie blog, Just Add Cayenne, with the help of my good friends Copy and Paste. Seriously, I’m even keeping my pre-parenthood talk as well as carrying over the same font from the original posts. Hey, these are my blogs, so why not?

This is from two posts, here’s the original for the squash dip recipe, and the original for my healthy food tips.

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Yeah, I know, plenty of you probably have to work today, the eve of Thanksgiving, but I’m complaining on behalf of all of us. Couldn’t you use the day before to prep food do a little extra exercise to prepare for tomorrow’s feast, and just be away from school or work? I’ll go ahead and answer for all of us again….YES!

I’ve seen so many healthy Thanksgiving feast recipes that I want to try but have no time before going to our family gathering. Most of the food is stuff I can’t (gluten reasons) or won’t (health/picky reasons) eat, and I like to bring things I know I will enjoy.
See? I’m ready for the pumpkin famine! Or maybe I just use it a lot.

Confession – I brought roasted brussels sprouts and mushrooms one year knowing that just one other person and myself would eat them. Sorry, but I don’t want premade mixes cooked from a box or food with poor ingredients for Thanksgiving….or ever for that matter!

So I prefer to make my own gluten free, non store bought bread (maybe just a personal Microwave Chocolate Protein Cake) and side dishes. I think I only end up eating an undressed salad and the turkey at most gatherings. Anyone else run into this issue? I don’t mean to complain (even though I am), or tell others what to eat, but I just want to have what I prefer and enjoy.

Not a bad “personal” Thanksgiving treat if you ask me!
If there was no work today, I’d be cooking all sorts of things I’ve wanted to try. Lately, sweet potato, pumpkin, and banana are all ingredients sticking out to me. And of course peanut butter would be in one or all of the creations. Maybe a spin on a no-cook pumpkin banana peanut butter pie? Hmmm, I’ll keep brainstorming and maybe have something to post on for the Christmas feast!
But really, a peanut butter pumpkin pie sounds pretty darn good any time. I have been using unflavored gelatin to make some easy and tasty dips lately, and suggest you try. Still need to get the recipe down before I post it, but here’s another quick, easy, and healthy dip for you to try in the meantime.

Delicata squash is my number one favorite squash (you can use any kind you’d like), and making it into a puree is simply delightful! Have you seen or tried Celestial Seasoning’s Sugar-Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea? It’s a good, caffeine free tea to drink, but throw it in with squash puree, vanilla protein powder, and a little stevia and you will be on Cloud 18. That’s Cloud 9…..squared; because it’s that good.

Delicata Sugar Cookie Protein Dip
(Sugar and Gluten Free)
Ingredients

2 medium delicata squashes, microwave steamed or roasted until the skin is soft
2 big scoops stevia sweetened vanilla protein powder; I used Vitol Vanilla Egg White Protein
1 T natural peanut butter
2 Celestial Seasoning’s Sugar-Cookie Sleigh Ride Teabags
Liquid or powder stevia to taste
1t pure vanilla extract

Directions
Once you have your cooked squash (I microwave steam mine), remove any really hard parts like the stem and throw everything else in a food processor. Yes, include the skin, it’s soft.
Add the rest of the ingredients (just cut the teabags and dump the contents) and process until really smooth. I let my processor run for 2 – 3 minutes. Let chill for the flavors to “intensify” and help everything firm up.
I love having a giant bowl of this to go to when my sweet tooth hits, which is every night. This recipe is very versatile and you can sub your favorite ingredients as you see fit. I think coconut flour or cocoa powder would make for some extremely delicious versions. Try it, eat it, enjoy!
Hello and welcome to WIAW in December! I saw another blogger mention how the first Home Alone movie is now 22 years old!  That hit me like a semi-hard brick.  Only semi-hard because I’m already a little aware of the aging process.  Anyway, who else is in awe at how time flies?
Sooo, I have little time to write today, so I want to share some of my past blog posts on Healthy Food Tips and Ideas.  As far as what I ate, it’s been nothing different from past weeks, so please forgive me for not posting.
Healthy Travel Tips – This is good info for those that are traveling for the holidays
Easy and Healthy Food Swaps – This was around Easter, but applies year round
How to Survive Vacation as a Health Food Fanatic – A follow up from my other vacation post; this lists things I ate while on vacation
Veggies Don’t Need Ranch Dressing! – The title says it all; just my views on Hidden Valley’s “healthy” advertising
5 Healthy Ways to Add Protein to Salad – This was a summertime post, but again, salads are great all year!
What’s the Next Fad Diet and Why? – In sum, fad diets are pointless, dumb, and, well….fads
Top 5 Healthy and Tasty Dip Substitutions – My favorite savory dips; good for any dip lover!
Pumped Up Protein Staples – A list of my favorite protein dips and baked items with a link to all of my recipes at the end. Trust me, making these are worth your while!
How well are you managing time for the holidays?  I’m already not a fan of going out to eat, but with social gatherings and whatnot, I’m not going to escape it.  Speaking of, I’m heading out for dinner at a nice seafood place with co-workers.  As a fan of seafood, I’ll get over my dislike of going out if there’s fresh crab on my plate!
Hope you all have a great week and get any shopping done soon; it’s only getting crazier!!

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There’s no post for Thanksgiving, and I’m not sure when the next one will come around, but hope you find value in the healthy food tip links and get to give the recipe a try. I’ve made it for Avery and she asks for more before finishing the first bite. Speaking of, she’s finally getting over her sickness and should be back to her old crazy toddler self just in time for our little family Thanksgiving gathering.

For more healthy recipes, check out the tab on the top appropriately named, *gasp* Healthy Recipes.

Do you plan on trying the recipe?

Were the links to my healthy food tips/thoughts of any help to you?

Life, New Life, Parenting

10 Tips From A Stay-At-Home Dad: Where I Stand

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At over a year and a half of being a stay-at-home dad, I know I still have a lot to learn and experience. That said, I’ve also come a long from the first days of my at-home life. So, when I read a recent post on the Baby Center Blog title You’ll Love these 10 genius tips from a stay-at-home dad, I was mostly able to understand and relate to them.

First off, I’d like to say the stay-at-home dad of three is spot on with his advice, and I think any parent currently or considering staying at home would benefit from heeding his tips. They’re easy to incorporate (for the most part) and simple to understand, so I thought I would share them here along with where I stand for each one. Let’s get started, shall we?

stay-at-home, dad, mom, parent, advice, tip

Bam! Right off the bat my gut was twisting in guilt after reading this. But then I realized she’s not even 2 yet and we do get out of the house everyday for a walk around the neighborhood; sometimes even going over to one of her peers’ house too. Plus, grocery shopping happens at least once a week, so there’s that.

My wife made me feel better after I exposed my guilty feelings by letting me know right now it’s okay just to have fun at home while she’s younger and as she gets older, we’ll go and do more things. I can’t explain how heavily this was wearing on me, so a million thanks to my lovely wife for easing my angst!

I’m fairly good with this one. I can’t stand to leave a dirty spoon in the sink, so dishes are always done. I almost always have several food options in the fridge that I prepared because yes, you really never know what tomorrow will throw at you. I do know, however, that Avery will most likely throw some sort of food and/or drink at me or the floor each and every day. So, leave a cloth lying around and ready in every room, you’ll need it!

So true, and a big reason on why I vacuum every day. I also started “making” (just pulling the sheets up to make them straight) the bed for this reason. When you’re around the house all day, you just feel better if it looks better. Try it, if you aren’t already.

We can count on our hands and toes the amount of times Avery has watched TV, but I do let her watch YouTube videos on the iPad when eating lunch most days. She enjoys Sid the Science Kid the most, and I won’t lie, I like it too. Hmmm, I bet Bill Nye the Science Guy would be fun…..

This is a good one, and I have no problem here. Food, fitness, cars, reading, watching shows on Netflix, and unsolicited advice giving; I’m able to hold a conversation with most people on a multitude of topics . Of course, as an introvert, it’s not on a frequent basis, but it’s good to know anyway.

TAKE THIS TIP SERIOUSLY! I have been very bad about this and only now have I improved (I hope. Have I, dear?) and still need to work on it. This is very hard to follow since the working parent obviously misses the kid(s) and wants to spend time with them before bedtime, and by then, it may not leave much time before needing to get to sleep to start the day over again.

We can make excuses all day, but just a simple hug can work wonders. The power of touch and a few loving words goes a long way in showing appreciation and acknowledging one another.

Holy crap, yes! Get two! Make a big batch of oatmeal for breakfast in one and some sort of dinner/lunch in the other. I used to only cook something in the slow cooker on the weekends, but now it’s a daily thing. We all have a healthy and tasty (most of the time) meal to eat together and usually enough left over for Kelley’s work lunch and Avery to eat too. This is not a panacea for stress, but it sure does knock it down a good deal.

Yeah, that 45 minutes used to be 2 hours what seems like a long, long time ago. This me time is usually when I blog or just zone out looking food or fitness sites. I also stay up late when everyone is in bed just because it’s quiet and I can be alone in my thoughts. Of course, my sleep suffers, but I feel I need it too much to give up.

Fact. I can be bad about not sending pics to Going Mom while she’s working, but she’ll make sure to ask demand a cute pic when I fall behind. To add to this, Mondays can be the hardest, so have a pic or 10 ready to launch through the airwaves to her phone/computer the beginning of each week.

Hell yeah! There should be ZERO shame as an at-home parent. If you have any, lose it now, and remember your emotions can speak volumes to those little eyes that constantly watch you. My wife and I have to remind ourselves and each other of this all the time, but it’s true.

Staying at home full time is hard work, but don’t confuse it with being a job, because it’s not. Parenting is quite possibly the most important thing any of us will ever do, and therefore should be done with vigor and pride! This goes for the working and at-home parent, we’re all parents, and we all have wondering eyes on us learning from our actions.

I won’t say that I go through my slump days worrying about what the future holds as far as jobs are concerned or just about how the food I made that day looks unappealing (or is), but for the most part, I maintain my pride in what I do and definitely have no regrets. If it wasn’t for my wife going to work for our family, I’d be lost, and I’m forever grateful for what she’s doing for us to make it all happen.

Again, this is great advice for any stay-at-home parent, and as you can see, advice I still need to work on in some areas. But hey, just like most things in life, this is a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s best to remain steady and learn as you go.

Be sure to go to the actual article and read the comments for more advice and just some funny things people say.

The author of the article, Carolyn Robertson, asked what additional advice readers would give to a stay-at-home parent, so I’ll pass that question on to you. Leave your wisdom in the comments below, maybe it’ll help someone else, like me!

Parenting

10 Tips to Get Your Toddler to Eat….Maybe

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Feeding Avery has never an easy task, and I assume that’s how it goes for any toddler. Unless it involves some of my healthy homemade bread or anything with NuttZo, feeding her is never a simple ordeal.

Each day brings a new attitude, so we’re never sure what we’ll get when we lift her out of the crib. As the day progresses, we usually go through all of the moods listed on a mood ring, some that aren’t, and by the end, we’re all on high alert for the next change. If you are or were a parent to a toddler (or baby or any kid probably), you’re probably nodding in agreement to at least part of this. If not, what’s your secret?

When first feeding her solids, we went the Baby-Led Weaning route and although difficult at first still, she’s actually really good at grabbing her food and feeding herself. But when it comes to things that need utensils, that’s still a work in progress.

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She does try, but most times it goes on the floor, her lap, our lap, on the cat (seriously), or just all over the highchair tray.

There is still plenty of time to go in this wishy-washy eating stage, but so far, we have 10 tried and true tips to get our little girl to eat with us. Don’t get me wrong, some days not even these will do the trick, but 8.45 times out of 10, one of them will work.

  1. Classic airplane – Yeah, it still works. She doesn’t even know what a plane is yet, but just making loud sounds and moving the spoon all around (tip – don’t do this with soup) takes their attention off the food and sometimes they’ll just open their mouth. Use that time to get a bite in!
  2. Let them hold the lid – If you have a container like a Tupperware that their food is in, rinse off the lid and let them hold it while feeding. Tell them they need to keep it safe since it covers the food and maybe they’ll buy into it. Or just have something to play with as they allow the fork/spoon to feed them.
  3. Watch out for the flies! – Avery is quite the fly catcher and loves clapping her hands in the air any time I mention the pests. This is usually good for one or two bites, but if I say she needs to finish her food before the flies get it, sometimes she gives in and that’s a win.
  4. Give them their own utensil – Preferably a spoon since a fork can get a little pokey (Going Mom and I both know), and a knife because, toddler. Having their own utensil is empowering, and they love having “control”. Or, again, something to play with. But this does allow you to at least try and teach them how to use a utensil. It worked for us before…. 

     

  5. Don’t offer, just do – Yes, this could be bad and result in spilled food as they quickly turn their head and shake their arms in refusal, but it can also work. I have found that when asked if she wants to take a bite, she usually shakes her head, but if we just bring the food to her mouth in silence, she’s more apt to take the bite.
  6. Read a book – This has been our go-to option during dinner every night lately. Kelley offers her food, she shakes her head and turns away, I open a Dr. Suess book to read a few lines and the magic gate (i.e. her mouth) opens. It has worked every time so far. Not sure how or why, but give it a try. Hey, I rhymed!
  7. Use sturdy produce to produce results – Something like an orange or small winter squash that can withstand toddler abuse (to a degree) keeps their attention off the task at hand, eating, and on the cool food in front of them. As they explore the food, take each chance you get to feed them. Plus, you can teach them about the food they are playing with and/or throwing on the floor.
  8. Wait for a yawn – Okay, so this one is not highly recommended, but I admit to doing it before and it works. Use it as a last resort and only on very soft food or liquids so the don’t choke. As they yawn, just sneak that spoon in there!
  9. Screen time – Again, not the best option as we have yet to really introduce her to watching TV, but she loves looking at the screen on our computer or phone. On those days you just don’t feel like dealing with a fussy eater, pull out your phone, turn on the TV, or bust out the computer and play something kid-friendly on YouTube or the like. I feel guilty for admitting it, but this works and it’s just so hard to quit!
  10. Make good food – Duh, make sure the food you’re giving them tastes good. I am by no means saying give them sugary and/or fatty processed food, but don’t expect them to take to that kim-chi right away. My wife has told me simple is better when I cook her dinner, and that approach works well for both of my girls. That, and adding goat cheese seems to work. Please, just keep it healthy too. It’s vital to how your kid grows!

Hopefully you’ll find at least one of these helpful. You can combine a few to increase your food-to-mouth chances too. Let them have their own spoon with an orange to play with as you read a book out loud. Yeah, it doesn’t make for a glamorous meal, but it can be fun and hey, they eat! Sometimes….

Have you developed any tricks to get your little one to eat?

Which one of the above tips will you try first?