Holiday Traditions

by jenkintown, November 11, 2009 | Permalink

This year a lot of us are thinking of ways to save a bit of money during the holidays but still enjoy a special day with the family. My brother and I started our own tradition a few years ago of having a post-Thanksgiving holiday potluck. We all make some of our favorite holiday dishes and come together to enjoy great food and quality time together. What are some of your favorite family traditions? Do you have some creative ideas for holidays on a budget?

What’s the Problem with School Lunches?

by jenkintown, October 14, 2009 | Permalink

Lately Whole Foods Market has been concentrating a lot of energy on an important issue facing many American families. The school lunch. Did you know that highly processed foods are standard fare in many school lunchrooms, and more than two-thirds of public schools serve lunches that exceed recommended limits for fat content? Right now at least 30% of kids are overweight, childhood obesity has more than doubled, and it is predicted that one in three will develop diabetes!

How did we get here and how can we make a difference in the lives of our kids? We want to know what changes you think need to be made in your child’s school? Let’s start a discussion and be part of the solution!

Natural Cold Remedies and Comfort Foods

by jenkintown, July 13, 2009 | Permalink

When my toddler comes down with a pesky cold  (stuffed nose, sore throat, sneezing, coughing) I’m always ways to make her feel better. We use Sambucus for Kids and her Udo’s Infant Probiotics to help boost her immune system. She usually just wants to eat soup, ice cream, and pudding! We us young coconut water to keep up her hydration. Are there any favorite natural cold remedies that you take when you’re feeling under the weather? What type of comfort foods make you and your family feel better when you’re not feeling your best?

Young Coconuts

by jenkintown, June 28, 2009 | Permalink

My family loves young coconuts. If you’ve never tried one, I highly recommend them.

A young coconut is just the immature version of the brown hairy coconut we all know. (If you’ve ever seen a coconut tree with the big green coconuts on it, that’s a young coconut.) When you get a young coconut at the market the green husk has usually been removed. It looks like a white bird house with a pointy top wrapped in plastic. We simply chop off the top and use a straw to drink the water. My toddler loves it! The water is very hydrating due to the high level of electrolytes and potassium. It’s a great replacement for sports drinks or those hydrating drinks we get when our kids are sick. After you drink the water you can use a spoon to scoop out the meat. It’s much softer than the meat in a mature coconut. You can even blend it into a smoothie for an ultra nutritious snack.

Try a young coconut and let me know what you think!

Packing a Lunch

by jenkintown, April 7, 2009 | Permalink

We know that packing a lunch can save money but sometimes we get sick of the same sandwich day in and day out. Do you have a fun lunch idea for kids or adults? Share it!