Search Results for: blog have a healthy picnic

Pete Thomas Talks About Healthy Wage

I had the pleasure of participating in a conference call yesterday with Pete Thomas who appeared on season two of the “Biggest Loser.” Pete Thomas is part of the Healthy Wage national weight loss competition where teams of 5 can participate in a challenge called Matchup. In this challenge “Biggest Loser” contestants motivate healthy wage members. Pete Thomas lost 83 pounds and lasted 62 days before he was voted off season two of the “Biggest Loser.” Since then he has lost a total of 185 pounds. But even more exciting is that he has kept the weight off. Keeping the … Continue reading →

Quick and Easy Fourth of July Picnic Foods

With the Fourth of July falling on a Saturday this year you can expect even more company than usual at your local park. Competition for prime fireworks viewing spots will be heated, to say the least, but even if you don’t snag the ultimate seat, you can still have a spectacular Independence Day picnic with the following patriotic recipes: PATRIOTIC PASTA SALAD Ingredients: 1 (16-ounce) package tri-colored spiral pasta, cooked al dente 2 cups fresh broccoli, cut into bite size pieces 2 cups fresh cauliflower, cut into bite size pieces 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced 1/2 cup red onion, … Continue reading →

Simple Steak Recipe and the World’s Easiest Healthy Dessert

I’ve been on a steak kick recently. Perhaps, it’s because I am planning to prepare the choice cut of meat for a get together my family has been invited to. Regardless, I am surprised by how many simple recipes exist for a piece of meat that I have long associated with a raise (or other financial windfall) and labor (hauling out the grill and carefully preparing individual steaks to everyone’s desired doneness is a sweaty process). The recipe I am planning to take to the weekend get together is clear cut and while I have yet to prepare it I … Continue reading →

Have A Healthy Picnic

I love picnics. The fresh air, the sunshine… but you have to be really careful with your food. And I don’t just mean protecting your meal from scavenging ants and dive-bombing birds. I mean temperature and bacteria. According to the American Dietetic Association, the amount of bacteria in food kept between 60 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit can double within an hour. So how do you keep your picnic feast safe? Try these healthy tips. Store your food at temperatures of forty degrees or less. Don’t have a ton of extra space in your cooler? Frozen water bottles serve double duty … Continue reading →

How To Pack A Healthy Cooler

No, I’m not going to give you a rundown on what low fat foods you should pack for your next picnic (you can click here for that). This blog gives tips on how to pack a cooler properly so you can avoid getting food poisoning. Take it from me; nothing dampers a summer picnic faster than a bad case of the runs. So we’ve established that picnics are no fun when they cause illness and you likely know that warm weather combined with a lack of refrigeration can increase your chance of getting a food borne illness. But how can … Continue reading →

Have Fun With Your Partner!

This past weekend my Husband and I took our two children, ages four and ten, to the snow. We live in California and the drive to Big Bear Mountain takes about two and a half hours. We got out of the car when we arrived and the wind was bone chilling, temperatures freezing. We all bundled up in our ski clothes and headed to tromp through the snow. The entire family got involved in snowball fights and it was a blast! Then we bought a sled that we could all use to travel down the slope. The kids had a … Continue reading →

The Sugar Rush Cometh

It’s Halloween in spring; otherwise known as Easter. Only, instead of going door-to-door to collect sweet treats, kids run around like decapitated chickens hunting for plastic eggs filled with chocolate goodness under bushes, in trees and behind rocks. If parents are lucky, their children will actually make it back to the hunt’s home base with at least a few pieces of uneaten candy to show for their efforts.  The unlucky moms and dads are left to pluck their kids from wherever it is they decide to plant their tiny tushes mid-hunt and picnic from a basket bulging with marshmallow chicks, … Continue reading →

Avoid a Summer Bummer

When you’re a kid, nothing ruins summer vacation faster than being sick. I speak from experience. When I was 10 years old I got chicken pox five days after school let out for summer break. Talk about a summer bummer. Then again, taking care of a sick kid during summer vacation is no picnic for a parent either. When you’re on summer break, staying up late, traveling to new and exciting places, and enjoying life minus a regular routine, it’s easy to forgo healthy eating habits, slack on regular hand washing and avoid other good habits. This, of course, can … Continue reading →

Summer Safety

Don’t let the extreme summer heat fry your brain; you’ll need it to help keep your kids safe. As a parent, there’s a lot to remember when prepping children for an outdoor play date. You’ve got to keep the kiddos hydrated, slathered with sunscreen and insect repellent, and dressed appropriately. In addition, in order to keep Junior out of the emergency clinic, you need to make sure he washes his hands regularly and be mindful of the types of snacks you pack for him. The latter often goes overlooked especially if you are in a hurry to get out the … Continue reading →

Anniversaries and Date Nights Part II

My husband and I are really horrible at taking the time to spend time together as a couple. The predominant rationalization that we make is that the cost involved with going on dates is too prohibitive. Getting a sitter, going to a moving, or going to a restaurant seem to be very cost prohibitive for our budget. It is especially hard for me to justifying eating out when we can make much higher quality and healthier foods (that in my opinion tastes much better) for a fraction of the cost than we can get at any of our local dining … Continue reading →