Resolutions are great. We promise our selves to make changes that will benefit us (and our families) over time. Resolutions are fulfilled when we are able to carry them out. The best way to see our New Year Resolutions stick around is to adjust our routines for the long haul. Unless, we manage to change our habits, then even the best resolution will quickly fade away.

You’ll want to check out the following blogs which will help your family get on a healthy track in 2009. The place to begin is at the grocery store and in your kitchen.

The news for 2009 is mixed. First, the good news, gas prices are down (and so are lottery ticket sales). The rest of the news isn’t so good: The stock market fall was the worst in seven decades, the auto industry is in the tank along with our banks. During the evening news, I heard that grocery prices were up 13 percent. Even with that gray cloud, there is a sliver lining. You can improve your family’s diet and not go broke in the process.

Go Organic without Breaking the Bank
What does organic mean? To earn the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s organic certification, the land must be free from prohibited substances such as synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and other toxins for at least three years. For most, organic means less processed or unprocessed foods. The top reasons for organic usage are the absence of pesticides and growth hormones. Consuming fewer pesticides and growth hormones is a good idea, but, are organic foods any healthier than conventionally grown produce?
> CLICK HERE to find out how you can purchase organic foods without breaking the bank.

Whole Foods with Food Stamps
The Sunday Denver Post ran the article “Healthy Lessons,” about the cost of school lunches. Most of the article discusses the school lunch program. Some schools are now including salad bars, fresh fruit, and other healthy food options. A Big Nonna Hug to them! Regrettably, the article also reinforced the notion that preparing healthy foods at home is expensive. Interviewed were parents who stated that it wasn’t easy to prepare inexpensive healthy meals for their families.

Bridget, a single mom of four, struggles with making healthy meals. She admits to using Hamburger Helper, even though the family doesn’t like it. She told the Post, “If you want a meal to be healthy, it takes time and money.” Yes, preparing healthy meals may take a little time, especially in the beginning. It’s essential to shop for the best nutritional value and then have a resource of healthy easy-to-make recipes.
> CLICK HERE to find out how to purchase whole foods, even on a food stamp budget.

Do Your Veggies and Fruit Fight?
Did you hear that? Bang, Kaboom, Pow! It’s my fruit and veggies fighting again! You may think your kids fight a lot, but fruit and vegetables don’t like each other at all. They’re probably fighting right now in your refrigerator, too! The solution for happy produce is to keep fruit and veggies apart from one another. Manufacturers understand this; that’s why they construct refrigerators with separate bins for each. For a long time, I didn’t know that it was important to separate fruit from veggies, so I just shoved produce into which ever bin had the room. I was just asking for a fight to break out. >CLICK HERE to find out how you can save money by making your produce last longer.

As good-for-you as spinach is, often kids (especially picky eaters) refuse to eat it. But, Spinach is one of Try Rannosaurus’ favorite foods! Try is one of the two characters I created for my book, Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater. The two buddies engage young picky eaters in multi-sensory learning. Try is a green T-Rex, and green food is his favorite. Of course, that includes spinach. He often announces, “Green food is yummy!” Try isn’t always the smartest animal in the forest. Betty Baby Bites, his best friend and encourager, often comes to his rescue. She’s a lover of whole foods, as well.

(You and your child can read about the fun food adventures of the two best buddies in The Forest Feast.)

I found some interesting facts about spinach. Are you ready? Spinach is a good source of iron and essential nutrients such as vitamins A and C, and minerals, and fiber! I was surprised to learn that spinach also contains 3 grams of protein per serving. So Try is pretty smart after all.

Spinach grows in sandy soil, so wash it thoroughly to get rid of the grainy, sandy particles. Make sure to tear off the stems. Separate the leaves, and place them in a large bowl of water. Gently swish the leaves and let the sand drift to the bottom of the bowl. Remove leaves from the water, and repeat the process with fresh water until the leaves are clean. If you’re eating spinach raw in a salad, dry it completely by using a salad spinner or by blotting it with paper towels.

Shelby is thinking over the prospect
that green food might be yummy, after all!

Here’s another helpful tip for kids who resist eating spinach, use it as an ingredient in a casserole (especially with tomatoes) or in a soup. When cooked with other foods, spinach takes on the other flavors.

For info about the free Baby Bites Ezine, Click Here.

For a synopsis of Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater, Click Here.

Click Here for the Baby Bites Store.