Try, try again.

Yes, I know you hear/read this all the time, but do TRY, TRY AGAIN. Especially when introducing children to new foods or even getting adults to expand/improve their eating habits.

While on vacation this summer, I carried a fruit, nuts and water with us to the beach each day. We were camping there, but it kept us from running back and forth to the tent. Anyway, all the fruit was gone and my son was still hungry. I asked like I always do "how about some nuts?" No is always his automatic reply. I reminded him that Nutella is made partially from hazelnuts and that I'm nut sure which one is a hazelnut, but recommended we have a taste test. He was hungry, so he did. Turns out his favorite of all the nuts was a walnut! They aren't my favorites, so I hardly ever buy them except in mixed nuts or for recipes. So now, when I ask if he wants nuts he answers "yes, but just the walnuts." Win. Win.

My point is - just like adults, sometimes kids shun foods because they know there's something "better" if they keep saying no. Perhaps they haven't tried the food in a while and need a little reminder. Or their best friend at school said "I don't like (insert food) because it is dumb/stinky/for babies." Or maybe they're not even really hungry but bored or thirsty instead. So TRY, TRY AGAIN.


Action Item: You guessed it. Put those Brussels Sprouts back on the table. Pull out the hummus again. Or re-try any food that wasn't a hit the first time. Serve it with something your child really likes "to prime the pump" as my husband says. Our sons is more likely to try something new if there's other food on his plate that he enjoys eating.

Your thoughts?: How do you work news foods into your family members' diets?

For Further Reading: Six Food Mistakes Parents Make, How to Get Kids to Try New Foods,
Encouraging Children to Try New Foods, Kids and Food: 10 Tips for Parents

Put it where?

We've started a small experiment at our house.

A little background info first. In our family, we're conscious of reusing what we can, recycling, composting and not buying things with crazy amounts of packaging (or things we don't need). I was thinking one day - as the trash truck drove away — how easy it is to throw things in the trash, set the trash can out on pick-up day, and watch that magic truck gobble up the trash and make it disappear.

OK, so it doesn't disappear. We all know that. I think. But isn't it easier to throw things away when you don't have to deal with the end product? Where is "away" anyway as my good friend's bumper sticker asks.

Back to our little experiment. Instead of saying throw it "away" or "in the trash," in our family we've started saying "put it in the landfill." Try it. If you've ever seen a landfill in the middle of an otherwise beautiful landscape — or even if you haven't — I bet you'll stop and re-think your decision. Sometimes I'll forget and say "trash bin" and my son will ask "you mean put it in the landfill?" It stops me in my tracks every time. First because an image of an overflowing landfill enters my mind, but the simple question/statement also forces me to make a conscious decision for an otherwise mindless task.

I do understand that humans are going to create trash, that we need some landfills and that we can't re-use or re-purpose everything. I get it. I also know that I, and most people, can do a much better job of buying only what we need, creating less waste, re-using items and just being aware of our impact on this planet.

I know my Mom's generation and especially her parents' did this without question to conserve resources and to spend less money. Somewhere along the line our society starting over-consuming, overeating, over-doing about everything. Let's, together, reverse that trend. Try this small experiment and remember to put it in the landfill (but not really!)


Action Item: Try to reduce the size of your weekly trash collection. Try my experiment or create your own method. Just cut back a little each week. See if you can produce less trash (and recycling) week to week. I'm still working. I slip up and get lazy at times, but still pushing forward.

Your ideas?: How do you cut back on your waste? Buy less? Re-use, re-purpose, donate?

For Further Reading: How Much Trash Does America Produce?, Environment: Waste Production Must Peak this Century and Trim Your Waste.

Marshmallow Toasted Oat Treats

One proven fact is that my son loves marshmallows. I decided to surprise him with a marshmallow treat, but of course I had to make it as healthy as possible (in spite of all the sugar). Similar to Rice Crispy treats, but I used toasted oat cereal (similar to Cheerios) and with only 1 gram of sugar per serving.

In a bowl, I mixed together:

• 5 cups toasted oat cereal
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup hemp seeds
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Then, I melted 10.5 oz of marshmallows in 3 tablespoons of butter on the stove.

Mix the dry ingredients just before combining with the marshmallow mixture, because all of the small seeds and oatmeal fall to the bottom. Mix quickly. Press into a pan. Cool. Eat. Voila.

I must admit that I probably ate as many of these or more than my son did. The day I made them, I took him four when I picked him up at school thinking he might share with someone. He ate all four. Quickly. Wouldn't even share one with me :) The great thing is that you have so many choices of things to add: nuts, seeds, dried fruit, etc.

These remind me of the energy bars I mentioned a while back. Look at the two recipes and make your own creation! The energy bars, though full of calories, offer more nutrition, but it's the same idea of making these to suit your own taste preferences.

I didn't take a picture, so I'll just need to make another batch. The 1/2 cup of chocolate chips was just enough to melt nicely and hide any hint of oatmeal or hemp seeds from little prying eyes! Here's a photo I found online that looks similar though with a bit more chocolate...

Action Item: Next time you make a dessert, see what you can add/change/omit to make it a little healthier.

For Further Reading: Try this recipe for energy bars before your next hike, run or bike ride. The October issue of Runners World also includes some great granola bar recipes.