How to Eat More Vegetables

I was watching an episode of Dr. Oz recently and something he said caught my attention: in order to get all of the nutrients that we need from fresh produce, we need to intentionally make sure that half of every meal is made up of vegetables.  Yes, HALF. 

Here is the link to the whole list of top 10 things Dr. Oz recommended that we do every day to stay healthy: Dr. Oz's Top 10 Daily Essentials.  (If you watch the video, it's #8 in the part 2 video here)

The good news for me is that I eat a salad every day for lunch.  So yay for that meal!  And I tend to sneak veggies in where I can with dinner.  Often, we'll have obvious side dishes like steamed broccoli or green beans, but in order to use the veggies that aren't as easy to stomach, I chop them up and add them to soups and quiches or I puree them and add them to chilis, casseroles and spaghetti sauce.

So my big challenge has been to find a way to eat more fruits and vegetables with breakfast.  The easiest way to do that is with an omelet.  I soften a few chopped vegetables in a small amount of water (whatever I have from the co-op that might not otherwise get eaten - yellow squash, zucchini, red bell pepper, asparagus), then I spray the pan with olive oil spray and add one whole egg and two egg whites (that have been scrambled), and I sprinkle some cheese before folding it all in half.  It's a little bit of work, so I try to chop all of the vegetables at once so they're all ready to throw in the pan throughout the week. (BTW, I do that with my salad vegetables, too.  I'm all about prep once, eat twice...or thrice...)

My other go-to breakfast is oatmeal.  I slow cook it on the stove (whole oats, not quick oats...they break down slower in your system, keeping you full longer), and whisk in egg whites at the very end.  I also stir in ground flax seeds, cinnamon, some walnut bits and frozen blueberries.  Again, this breakfast is filling and really healthy.

Another way I get more vegetables into my kids is to keep a plate of fresh carrots, cucumbers and broccoli (washed, cut and ready to eat) in the fridge.  When they complain that they're hungry before dinner, I direct them to the vegetable tray.  If they're truly hungry and fill up on veggies, I don't mind that they "spoiled' their dinner. 

A few other things from that Dr. Oz show that I found helpful were #5: Get at least 7 hours of sleep, #3: Breath and stretch for 5 minutes a day and #1: Sit less and move more. He actually said that sitting is a "death wish" and that for every hour we spend sitting each day, we increase our chance of death by 11%. So get up and move!  Park farther from the grocery store entrance, take the stairs, walk around while you talk on the phone instead of plopping on the couch (or even better - dust or clean the bathroom while you're chatting!) - just try to find ways to get your body moving throughout the day.

I'm hoping to get back on a healthy track now that my kids and their chicken pox are on the mend.  I've been cooped up at home, stress eating and walking around all day in workout clothes but NOT working out...everything's getting a bit too jiggly for my taste.  Ah yes, just in time for swim suit season.  Awesome.

Anyway, I hope these tips were helpful.  Here's to eating more vegetables!

It's the Little Things

Yes, I just posted a picture of my family sitting in the van, shoving burgers into our mouths.  But you have to hear the story...

The chicken pox have had us cooped up in the house for almost three weeks now.  We don't go out to eat ALL that often, but it feels like ages since we've all been out to eat togehter.

So when we were swimming yesterday at 5:30, wondering what we'd have for dinner (with nothing planned because before the chicken pox arrived, we had plans to go to a friends' house for dinner) - Mike had an idea.  He suggested we go to In 'n' Out Burger and bring it home. 

Then I took it a step further.

We don't have an In 'n' Out very close to our house, so we all got into our PJs, piled into the car, went through the drive thru, and asked for separate "eat in the car" boxes for everyone.  Then we proceeded to sit in the parking lot to eat our dinner as a family. THIS is how you take your kids out to eat when their temporary appearance causes a public panic.

Jason eating his french fries.

For most families, this isn't a really big deal.  If we were on a road trip, this wouldn't have been a big deal.  But we don't normally eat in the car. We don't normally eat fast food.  And we certainly don't ever sit in the parking lot in our PJs to eat!

The kids thought this was the greatest thing ever.  And they're already asking when we're going to get to do this again.

Like I said, sometimes it's the little things!

That was awkward.

I have no idea who to credit for this billboard or even the photo of the billboard, but this is just about as funny as it gets.

(If you didn't hear about Harold Camping's prediction that Saturday, May 21st, 2011 was when Jesus would return, read about it here.)

#85 - Teach Ryan to make a full dinner all by himself

It seems that I've taken an unintentional break from my 101 Goals in 1001 Days list.  I have 27 items left to attempt and only 134 days left to complete them.  I need to get moving!

The other night, while I was planning dinner, Ryan asked to help.  I haven't quite figured out a hot meal that he could prepare without my assistance at the stove or with the oven, so I just guided him through the process of what I was making. 

We made your basic spaghetti and meatballs.  Simple and perfect for my almost 7 year old.

We read instructions together, discussed when boiling water is ready, I taught him how and why to add salt and a little olive oil to the water before adding the pasta, it was great. 

(Because I know I'll get asked these questions: adding salt to the boiling water adds flavor to the pasta and olive oil keeps it from getting slimy and keeps the water from boiling over the edges of the pot.  I learned that a few years ago from an Italian friend!  You'd think my Italian grandmother would have clued me in to that one, but NO.)

Ryan was so proud of himself.  SO PROUD, beyond words.  I have the kids help in the kitchen a lot, but something about reading the instructions and stirring the pots pushed him over the edge to bliss.

I might have to do this more often.  Note to self: the more recipes I teach my kids, the less I'll have to cook later...!!!

Meal Plan - 5/16/11

All I have to say is: it's about time!  I'm very ready to get back on track with meal planning.  The 4pm panic is so over rated.  Now I know what to take out of the freezer for the next few days!

Here's what's on our menu this week:

Monday - Bowties with Broccoli and Sausage
Tuesday - Chicken Enchilada Quiche
Wednesday - Chili with Whole Wheat Cornbread
Thursday - Whole chicken in the crock pot, veggies and Orange Rice
Friday - Rice, Bean and Cheese Casserole
Saturday - Crock Pot Chicken Burritos
Sunday - Dinner with friends

An Unexpected Bonus

Mike spends a lot of quality time with the kids these days.  My free time is occupied with Tastefully Simple parties 3-4 times per week, during pre-determined time slots on my calendar, and when I'm away, he is officially on duty. 

I have work-a-holic tendency, so I check in with him periodically to make sure he doesn't feel dumped on or abandoned, and every time, he assures me that I should "ride the wave" just in case the initial excitement  of these Tastefully Simple parties eventually fade.

When Mike and I decided that I would start this little business of mine, I was insistent that I would only stick with it as long as he supported me 100%.  I've jumped into things before (not direct sales companies, but volunteering and working part time for my mom, to name a couple) that each, slowly, became a strain on our marriage once Mike was no longer on board.

But this time seems to be different. Mike works in the construction industry, which is still fairly unstable in this part of the country, so he's not all that secure about his employment.  When I agreed to bring a little relief to his financial anxiety, I think the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders a bit.  I realize I'm only a couple months into my new venture, but so far, so good.  I'm having fun, he's excited that we're making extra money, all's well with the world.

In the meantime, as I mentioned, he's spending even more time with the kids than usual.  Each party that I hold seems to yield another 2-4 parties for other guests, so my calendar is packed with no end in sight.  I "work" (it sounds so funny to say that, because I basically get paid to party and feed people) 1-2 nights a week and often back-to-back all day on Saturday.

At first, I'd leave the house with a short list of to-dos and reminders, meals prepared in the fridge and my fingers crossed that I wouldn't have a pigsty to clean up when I returned home.  But last week, I realized something has begun to shift.  Mike is not only taking the initiative while I'm away, he's stepping up more when I'm home.  Spending so much time on his own with the kids has given him a new confidence in his role in our family. 

It's hard to explain, but it was even more apparent to me this weekend.  I came home last night, after doing two parties in a row and being away for six hours.  The kitchen was clean, most of the toys were put away, the house was quiet and everyone was asleep.  The house was in order...I loved it. 

Then after breakfast today, I realized that Mike and the kids had their own rhythm that I wasn't a part of.  They finished up a movie that they started last night, the kids were going to their dad with questions instead of asking me, Mike packed up the big kids to go to church (while I stayed home with non-contagious, but scary-looking Jason) without complaint or concern...I could have felt excluded and sad, but it really made me smile inside. 

They say "distance makes the heart grow fonder," and I agree...I'm enjoying my family even more on Family Day Sundays than before, because I've had a chance to miss them.  But what's cool is that Mike is no longer exasperated when I return home.  He's this new, confident dad who kisses boo boos, wipes noses and creates fun activities, all while cooking and cleaning meals and keeping the house in working order.

I find that many moms love feeling needed, but for me, I love feeling that I'm NOT needed all the time.  I love that I can step out of my life and things function smoothly in my absence.  Years ago, I had the "welcome to my world" mentality, wanting Mike to experience the chaos of my normal day, but anymore, I want him to enjoy his time with the kids while I'm away.  Because if things DON'T fall apart, he'll encourage me to leave more often instead of being unsure about how he'll cope without me running the ship.

And THAT is a very freeing feeling!

Mother's Day Memories, 2011

Chicken pox weren't going to damper our day around here, nosiree. 

Last night, a sweet friend agreed to babysit Jason while we went to church as a family .(it was a win:win - she wanted him to infect her kids and get chicken pox out of the way at her house, too) Before church, the kids showered me with balloons-on-a-stick, cards, flowers and gifts.

I don't want to ever forget my card from Ryan. Inside, was a $1 bill, likely because Mike's mom has been giving the kids money in holiday cards lately.  He was so proud to give me that dollar!  The flowers on the front were made from cupcake wrappers, folded in half twice, then tucked into a hand crafted stem.  Inside each wrapper was a written "coupon" for things like: help make a meal, clean my room, make breakfast and spend time together.  Adorable?  Oh yeah.

Inside the card was a note: "Dear Mom, Thank you for taking care of me.  Because if you did not, I would not live."  That's true gratitude right there.  According to my mom, I was dramatic like that, too.  Thank goodness that dramatic flare ended while I was young, right?

Ryan also completed a worksheet that was all about me:
- My mom is 34 years old. (he couldn't remember if it was 34 or 43...he guessed right)
- My mom weighs 100 pounds. (HAH!  I mean, he got that one right, too! He's wise beyond his years.)
- Her favorite color is blue.
- My favorite color is green.
- The best thing she cooks is spegety and metballs.
- I don't like it when she cooks rice. (when I asked about that, he said, "I should have put couscous, I forgot that I like rice.")
- Her favorite T.V. show is cooking.
- I'd rather watch Bubble Gubbys. (Bubble Guppies is a brand new favorite around here)
- If I could buy her anything in the whole world I would buy her a cook book.

Does my kid know me or what?  He must have peeked at the scale because 100 pounds is SPOT ON.  He also completed this acrostic...

"Most greatest, Often gives me chores, Thankful, Heart of love, Excellent, Ryan loves you." 

Be still my heart.

Kaylin wrapped her sweet gift at school.  The front said, "I love Mom because...you are nice to me and you play with me all the time."

Inside was a handmade, framed picture of us when she was polishing my nails at Mom's Night a couple of weeks ago.  She thought she picked out MOM stickers, but it actually reads MOA.  And the O really looks like a small Q turned upside down.  This is what I love about pre-school gifts!!!

Jason even scribbled colored me a picture.  I felt so loved today!  I got to go to lunch with my mom,  I took a huge, long nap, played around with pictures on the computer and didn't have to do a single dish or chore that I didn't want to do...it was just as Mother's Day should be.

My day ended with a nice oatmeal bath for my favorite, polka-dotted child.  When I wet his hair, I could see how many pox he has on his scalp.  He seriously looks like a speckled Easter egg, my poor boy!!!

Bu-Bye, Paci? The dilemma...

(This is a rare picture of Jason with his pacifier.  It was taken an hour past naptime at a neighborhood event...the paci held him off a bit so the big kids could play at the park longer.)

I have no problem with pacifiers.  Really, I don't.  I use them as a sleep prop, not necessarily to keep my kid's mouth occupied so he won't cry or express his needs throughout the day. 

With Ryan, I did bring it in public to help keep him quiet when he was fussy,  until I could get him home, feed him or pull over to change his diaper.  He loved the thing and it was very convenient, until  he was six months old, when it stopped being a helpful plug and he began playing with it.  So I took it away completely and he found his thumb at night.  Which he sucked until last year.  I completely regretted the decision to get rid of his pacifier.

Kaylin wouldn't take a pacifier, no matter how hard I tried.  Well, maybe I didn't try that hard, but she wasn't interested at all.  I decided not to push it, then she ended up finding her thumb anyway.  Again, only when she sleeps, but we are still dealing with this habit and will likely be paying for years of braces for, now, a second child.

When Jason came along, I was determined not to have another 6 year old thumb sucker, so I was adamant about him taking a pacifier.  Thankfully, he loved it from the beginning.  It was tough when he was an infant, because he freaked when it fell out of his mouth at night.  I celebrated the day when he was agile enough to find it and replace it all by himself.  Again, we kept it in his crib and only used the paci at night.  He absolutely loved. the. thing.

At his 18 month well-check last week, I was completely caught off guard when the doctor insisted that I get rid of Jason's pacifier. 

Um, excuse me?  He's still so little! 

I had planned on dealing with this issue sometime within the next year, hoping not to let it go past Jason's 3rd birthday, but now? Right now?  I don't think so, lady.  But I was determined to nod and smile as she made her case.

The pediatrician was initially worried that Jason has fluid in his ears and was thinking it's because he's laying on his back at night, sucking, that fluid is draining into his ears.  That sounded valid to me...so I allowed her to keep talking.

She also said something about pacifiers causing speech delays. (which clearly, Jason does NOT have...she mentioned a dozen times in the appointment how freaky it was to hear a child his age saying so much)  When she realized this didn't apply to Jason, she pointed out that the placement of the tongue while sucking on a pacifier can cause stuttering problems...and no one needs an additional reason to be bullied.

I wasn't thoroughly convinced, but she continued on.  She suggested that I take the pacifier away after he fell asleep that night, then never give it back.

That night. No warning.  At all...?  I wasn't emotionally ready for this.

She even went as far as to make a follow up appointment with us next month to check up on Jason's fluid in his ears. And probably to keep me accountable to taking away his pacifier before his 2nd birthday.

I left the appointment and called Mike.  The news surprised him too, but he was on board.  I was hoping he would be outraged, as I was. No luck there.

Then I called my BFF, who has a son a couple of weeks older than Jason, who also uses a pacifier and goes to our same pediatrician.  Sure enough, she got the same advice, but wasn't asked to make a follow up appointment for the fluid issue.  She was choosing to ignore the advice of taking away the paci.  I was starting to feel validated in my righteous indignation.

So what did I do?  I posted an update on Facebook to complain to everyone I know, asking if it would be totally oppositional to blow off the doctor's orders, cancel the follow up appointment and take the paci away before his 2-year check up.  After reading all 23 comments, I decided to do just that.

Until I chatted with one friend who recently took her 14 month old son's pacifier away with no problems.  He cried a little at bedtime the first day, then he didn't miss it.  Even when she tried to give it to him a couple of times to quiet him in the car during a meltdown - he wanted nothing to do with it.

This news gave me hope...although this was one of a ton of moms who commented, "It's your kid...do what you think is best!"

My decision was final.  I was going to ignore the doctor.

Then that night, I came home to a proud husband, announcing that he sneaked into Jason's room after he fell asleep and removed the pacifier.  !?!?!?!?  Somehow, I'd failed to mention my liberating decision to Mike as I struggled all day. (*sigh*)

I was so tempted to go back into his room and toss the paci onto the mattress.  But instead, I cut the tip off of his pacifier and put it back into the crib of my clueless, sleeping baby boy.

Notice the hole in the center...Jason wanted no part of this "broken" paci.

Sure enough, at 5am, he woke up asking for his paci.  Ryan wanted him to quiet down because he could go back to sleep, so he found a spare pacifier under the crib and gave it to him.  Which Jason was happily sucking when I went in to get him at 7am.  Grrr...

At naptime, I officially took it away.  Jason cried, but he was exhausted after waking at 5am, so he didn't cry for long.  He woke up mid-nap, crying again.  He didn't know how to put himself back to sleep, poor thing.  I went in to rock him, but he just cried, chanting, "Paci?  Paci, peese?  Ni-night?"  There was no consoling him. He was exhausted, I just put him back in bed, still crying.  It killed me. It was like he was in mourning...it was awful.  I couldn't take it, so I got in the shower.  Sometime before I emerged from my room, he cried himself back to sleep.

That night, he cried for less than 2 minutes and that was the end of it. He hasn't cried since, and it's been a full six days. He still asks for his paci at every nap and at nighttime, but accepts when I tell him, "We're all done with the paci.  It went bu-bye."  And he goes to sleep without a fuss.

I was not expecting this process to be so short and sweet, to be honest.  I wanted to wait until he was old enough to reason with.  Old enough to put the pacifiers in an envelope and leave them on the porch for the paci-fairy to take them to little babies who needed them. 

But, I guess it's over.  I'm still fairly unsettled about it all, probably because he still looks at me with longing eyes, twice each day, asking sweetly, "Paci, peese?"  Oh.  It breaks my heart.  Maybe, too, because he's officially grown out of a distinct phase of his childhood that he'll never return to. 

I'm sad just thinking about it.  My baby's not a baby anymore...!!!  But we're officially done with pacifiers in our house. Such a weird feeling.