As busy moms we all want to provide healthy meals for our families. But sometimes we get so overwhelmed that by the time we hit the kitchen, we’re too stressed to think about changing our habits for the better. Setting a goal is great, but without a plan of action, it’s not going to happen. A plan can help you to meet your goal of eating healthier and won’t overwhelm you.

The following are some tips to help you baby step your way to a healthier diet:

Get out of your rut. Many times, we all decide we can’t stick to an eating plan because it limits us to certain foods or cuts out entire food groups, like carbohydrates or dairy products. Many diets are set up this way, but eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to go on a restricted diet. There is so much variety among fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. Try a new food like kefir or miso soup, or a new recipe from a healthy cookbook. You never know if you’ll find a new food you and your family will love.

Make it easier on yourself. Take advantage of cookbooks, ready to use foods, and meal planning options that you can find online to help you to create a plan that works for you. Don’t try to figure out what to cook for dinner when you’re starving, because your body will be crying out for sugar at that time. Be proactive and have a plan, and stock your pantry and fridge with healthier options.

Start with just one meal. Choosing one meal at a time to improve will help you stay focused and not feel overwhelmed. This does not mean you should eat junk or fast food the rest of the day, but focusing on one meal at a time can make the step to healthier eating a little easier. As an example, switch from cold breakfast cereals that may be high in sugars to a cooked whole grain like oatmeal, or even a yummy fruit salad for breakfast.

Taking each of these steps one at a time could really help to launch you onto a plan that will work for you. Remember it does not have to be difficult - and taking baby steps means the changes are more likely to stick!

Make healthy eating simpler with free whole foods recipes from www.NaturalMomsRecipes.com  

Summer Fun and Learning Can Co-Exist

Learning never ceases during the course of our lifetime.  So too, kids need to be motivated to learn as much as they can, even during summer recess.  Summer fun and learning can co-exist.  Here are some examples of how this can be achieved.

Word games, such as Scrabble, come in small sizes, which are suitable for beach and road trips.  Kids love it!  It stimulates their vocabulary and engages them in friendly competition.  It also enhances their math skills, as they have to add the points every round.  Boggle is another portable word game that kids love.  They can manipulate the letters, make words, and add up points.  This is a great game to take on a camping trip or to the beach.

There are board games that allow the kids to work on words and sentences.  There are computer games, which involve critical thinking.  These games can be competitive, and reinforce group work, and cooperative learning, as well.  Using these types of games keeps the stimulation of the kid’s minds at work.  It’s critical to keep the thought processes flowing, so they are prepared for the following school year.  In playing these games, they can also be taught to accept defeat gracefully.

Another board game, which involves critical thinking, is checkers.  The entire family can challenge each other.  This promotes social stimulation.  Suduko is a game involving math and numbers.  They have a kid’s version, which can be utilized on a rainy day or when there is some down time.

The advantage of utilizing and playing these games is learning, even though the kids do not realize it.  In this way, while they are having fun over the summer, they are actually preparing for the fall term.  Learning not only stimulates their minds, but also reinforces the skills they are taught throughout the school year.  In addition, there are some great sites for computer savvy kids you might want to look at.  They are funbrain.com, math.com, and abcteach.com.

Summer fun and learning can co-exist by utilizing these games and word play.  Without realizing it, your kids will be ready for the next phase in their school career, because time was taken to teach and have fun at the same time.

Top Five Summer Jobs for Teens

As summer approaches, it’s time for your teen to get a job.  This will be good preparation for their future role in the workplace.  Here are the top five summer jobs for teens you may want to consider:

1. If your teen is already in college, a great way to spend the summer is to intern in a company which incorporates the teen’s chosen field.  For example, if your teen is studying architecture at college, working for an architect will give them insight, and training, which will become invaluable to them later on.  They can use the company as a reference later on or they may even be offered a job after graduation.

2. If your teen is athletic, he or she may opt to work as a lifeguard at a beach, pool, or park.  This would not only be great training for them, but also teach them discipline, and a good work ethic, as well.

3. Perhaps your teen wants to become a veterinarian.  Working at a veterinary clinic can be an immeasurable source of knowledge.  Any practical experience they gain can only serve to increase their proficiency in this area.

4. Is your teen interested in becoming a computer programmer?  If so, your child can intern at IBM, or other top-notch companies, wherein, he or she will learn all of the latest computer technology, as well as the ins and outs of software applications.

5. Does your teen want to become a writer?  If he or she is majoring in journalism, any local or national newspaper would be happy to take him, or in as an intern for the summer.  Here, your teen can learn all about writing, publishing, editing, and news coverage.  This would be a wonderful experience to help catapult your teen into a successful career in journalism.

You may have read about the teen, who had an idea about selling beanie babies on eBay.  He is a millionaire today!  The possibilities for your teen are endless.  Having a summer job not only teaches about the specificity of the position at hand, but what companies expect; what jobs are more competitive than others; learning to work with others; developing a good, strong work ethic; taking criticism; and applying what was learned to their college and life experience.

Fourth of July Party Ideas for Kids
Children all over the United States look forward getting out of school and spending the summer having fun.  One activity many children look forward to is the Fourth of July and the fireworks that light up the sky.  However, younger children may not be able to stay awake until the fireworks begin.  These Fourth of July party ideas for kids may help them enjoy the day even if they do fall asleep prior to the evening’s light show.

A Fourth of July party can be so much fun, especially for little ones.  But how do you prepare a party that children, as well as adults, will enjoy?  Start early making plans and ask for your child’s input.  You may be surprised to find that they have some great ideas for decorations, games, and food.

Let your child help make decorations for the party.  Table toppers with a red, white, and blue glittered chenille stems, foil streamers, and balloons will be festive.  Paint a small coffee can and fill it with sand to help the decorations stand.  You may even want to place some sparklers in the can for later in the evening.

Plan a parade around your neighborhood or wherever you’re hosting your party.  Let the children bring their bikes, wagons, tricycles, or scooters and decorate them with patriotic themes.  Not only will the children have fun showing off their rides, they’ll also be showing off their artistic ability.  Consider having a prize for each age group.

Don’t forget the food!  Barbecue is the normal fare for the Fourth of July.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, and homemade ice cream are always a hit.  Have a watermelon, pie, or hot dog eating contest that everyone can join in.

What activities can children enjoy that only require adult supervision?  Perhaps you can allow the children to make decorated t-shirts with fabric paint.  See who can blow the biggest bubbles, have a water balloon war, and play patriotic music.

If the children in your life are water babies, consider having a pool party.  Be sure to have a small wading pool so even the youngest children can have fun in the water.  To keep children safe while in the pools, assign or hire someone to watch the children.  Use sunscreen to keep them from becoming sunburned.

Finish off your party by allowing the children to stay up late so they can enjoy the fireworks show.  Pack a light jacket just in case the night is cool, and arrive early to find the best seats.  Don’t forget to bring your own chairs, a blanket to sit on, and maybe even a snack.  Be prepared, however, for the children to nod off very quickly after the show is over.

Fourth of July party ideas for children don’t really need to be elaborate for them to be fun.  Decorations, party games, and food are always a safe bet to get children into the party mood.  Top the evening off with a night of fireworks, and the children will say your party was the best ever.

Delegating household chores between all the occupants of the house seems only fair. There are jobs around the house even the smallest child can do.

Stop by http://schmoozins.com/kids-chores/457 to learn more

I love getting my “tackle it” list onto by blog. There is something about writing it all down that really inspires to to get it all done.

Here is what I need to tackle today and during the entire week:

1. Continue on my mission to add at least 1 article a day to my Real Life Solutions site.

2. Connect with my VA and pass along some tasks for completion during this month.

3 . Keep working to get a sponsor for the Parenting My Teen Podcast and I am also on the lookout for a great guest.

4. Hit the Grocery store during lunch time - I find that Tuesdays are really great days for shopping - the stores are just about empty.

So, do you care to share what you have already tackled and/or still need to tackle today?

Menu Plan Monday ~ June 16th

Nothing fancy this week for us here:

Tonight:  Spaghetti

Tuesday: Baked Chicken, Scalloped potatoes, salad

Wednesday: Left Over Spaghetti, salad

Thursday:  Tacos

Friday: Pizza night

My weekly meal plans are needed to ensure that things run a bit smoother in the late afternoons when its time to get dinner on teh table for this busy family. It takes all of the guess work and most of the “fuss” out of cooking.

Stop by to read my article on Meal Planning if you are looking to take the “fuss” out of your mealtimes.

 Let us know what you have going on in your kitchen this week

Isaac my 8yo is a true gamer and loves hisWii.

During my nap he must have been interrupted by his sister and her friends because look at what I saw on the floor propped up against his door that was cracked.