I just booked my family's summer vacation! My toddler has been begging to go to Lancaster, PA because she loved the hotel we stayed in which had a mini indoor "waterpark." At only 2 1/2 I can't believe she still remembers details about last summer's vacation. Since she has such a great memory, I want to make this year's summer vacation even more memorable for her, so we booked a trip to Sesame Place. She loves the characters on Sesame Street, ...
Food/Beverage
Summer is Smoothie Season!
I've always been a huge fan of smoothies and my hubby raves about my healthy, vitamin packed smoothies. While they can be made all year long, my favorite smoothies include summer fruits, so this is the best time to start making them. With berries and melons in season, smoothies have made a comeback already and we have them a few times a week. When my little girl was about a year old, her pediatrician recommended serving her smoothies with yogurt ...
How much should your toddler eat?
I recently had an epiphany- I think I expect my toddler to eat too much. What made me realize this? I made her an almond butter sandwich and she didn't finish it. I thought she wasn't eating enough and then I realized I would eat the same size sandwich and feel full. I had to reassess her diet and how much she was eating, as well as how much I expected her to eat. Since she doesn't like to eat breakfast, I felt that she wasn't getting enough ...
Take the Healthy Snacking Challenge and Enter to Win OrvilleRedenbacher’s SmartPop! (10 Winners!)
I'm not a big-meal kinda girl. I'm more of a snacker and would prefer to snack throughout the day than to sit down and have a filling meal. I don't like the over-full feeling when I have big meals and I find my energy is better when I have smaller meals because I don't get slowed down by that heavy after-feeling of being stuffed! My only problem with snacking lately is that I haven't been reaching for the healthier snacks. Last summer my friend ...
How important is Iron in a Baby’s Diet?
I just found out I have very low iron as a result of my latest pregnancy. Having low iron means I get extremely lethargic and there are days I just don't feel like getting out of bed. Iron is also important in staying healthy, fighting infection, and clotting. Not only do adults need to make sure they are getting enough iron, but babies also need to get adequate iron- 11 milligrams to be exact. Cereals and breast milk are the best sources for ...
Encouraging Healthy Eating in Toddlers
I thought I was the luckiest mama in the world when my little girl was about a year old- she ate EVERYTHING! We crossed our fingers and counted our blessings when people told us stories about their picky eaters. Our pediatrician warned that her palette would soon change and she would no longer be interested in all foods and would start having food aversions. We scoffed at him and continued feeding her the healthiest foods. Within months of her ...
The Importance of Nutrition During Pregnancy
Even before you become pregnant, you hear of the importance of diet and exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you are actively trying to get pregnant, than a diet rich in iron and folic acid are ideal, and even better if you decide to start a prenatal vitamin before conception. The reason for this is that neural tube defects often happen during the first few weeks after conception, and even right before you know you are pregnant. Good ...
Biscotti Moments Sweepstakes – Win a trip to Hollywood!
Snacks in my home are usually a free-for-all and whether it is a toddler snack or a candy bar, first dibs goes to the person that wants it at that moment. There are very few snacks that I hide from my hubby and toddler, but the two big ones are dark chocolate and my Nonni's Almond Dark Chocolate. Now, it's not that I don't like to share. I find that when my hubby has a craving for something sweet he will go for whatever is in front of him and ...