Getting My Picky Eater to Eat Healthy

I am a fit focused mom and wife that struggles daily to get my family to see the importance of eating healthy. My friends would likely describe me as the Food Notzie, but I am trying to find a balance and thought I would share a few quick trendy tips that are helping me convince my family of fussy eaters that healthy can still taste good.

“Vegetables are disgusting”, “Spinach is grouse”, “French Fries are a vegetable”; do any of these sound familiar? I hear these comments daily and I am referring to my husband not my children.

Yup, it’s one thing to be dealing with a child when tricking a picky eater, but it’s another when trying to work on an adult, especially when little ears hear the complaints of disgust.

Below are some trendy tips on how to get your picky eater to eat healthy. While these tips helped my husband see the light, they can be applied to any picky eater at any age.

Get them involved:

I decided to do a fun taste test where I selected a group of veggies that were a little sweeter in taste that I thought would be a little easier for my picky eaters to handle. We played a little game where they would rate their most favorite to least favorite. I let them know that they had to taste them all and that they had to put them in order of which they liked most numbered 1 – 5

• If you know what they like, you can work with it. This gave me a better idea of what I might be able to introduce into meals that would be better received.
• I don’t know about your kids but in my house everything is a competition, so they found it fun to see which one they put as their favorite to least favorite compared to each other.

Keep healthier snacks easily accessible:

I have found that the easier it is to grab a healthy snack the more likely it is that they will eat it. Once I had a better feel for cold veggies, nuts and fruits that they would consider eating, I got to work.

• I found the SNACK size zip lock baggies and made ¼ cup portions that were perfect for last minute snacks and on the go. When you are hungry you want it NOW, so keeping healthy snacks at arms reach and ready to go was like magic.
• Kids hide their diaries, I hide snack food – The Food Nozzie in me still wants to avoid even having junk food in the house, but I have quickly realized that having these items available for a special surprise has worked to my advantage. Believe it or not they have stopped asking for the junky snack and it has made them less tempting when they are available.

This is a marathon not a sprint:

Making changes that can be introduced slowly will work best when you are helping your family see a long term change. Bit by bit have the junk food disappear and replace it with those easy to reach healthier options. If you do it just right, he may not even notice!

Being a little sneaky never hurt anyone:

I have to admit that I still have a few trendy tricks up my sleeves. Here’s a sneaky trick that works with kids and may work on the adult picky eater – add healthy foods to family favorites. Puree vegetables or chop them finely to disguise them in breads. Carrots, spinach, zucchini, pumpkin, and other squashes work very well. Using the food processor to make veggies unrecognizable and easy to hid in everyday favorites was a genius move if I do say so myself.

• Meatloaf withTurkey instead of Ground Beef/adding some bit size carrots or celery/ egg whites instead of full eggs. A Delightfully Healthy Substitute that they won’t even notice.
• Turning your kids fruit smoothies’ favorite into veggie / fruit smoothies is a quick way to get those veggies into their daily diet without them having a clue. This is also a great summer snack that can be frozen and turned into a veggie/fruit Popsicle that everyone will love. I secretly smile when the kids are raving about them and they have no idea.

Here’s to hoping that these Trendy Tips will one day help your picky eater “see the light.”

Popularity: 16% [?]

Technorati Tags: fruit, healthy, junk food, kids, Snacks, Vegetables, veggies

The Reality of Reality Entrepreneurs

Every day it seems like we see the next latest and greatest new product brought to us straight from another Reality Star hoping to turn their fame into a lucrative business opportunity. 

From Bethenny Frankel, and Snooki, to the Kardashian Sisters we can’t escape them.  Are these Reality Stars turned Entrepreneurs business savvy females that we should be looking up to or just flakes looking to exploit their 15 minutes of fame.   What ever they are their making money and you’re spending it.

Reality TV has completely changed our culture. We tune in every week to see what drama some housewife or sports/music groupie will bring. Some of those stars looked beyond their 15 minutes of fame to dream big and capitalized on branding themselves.

Kim Kardashian is the embodiment of cashing in on reality TV fame. Since her sex tape scandal with singer Ray J, she has spun her fame into a volume of spin-off ventures. From clothing (Dash and Sears), and web site endorsements (ShoeDazzl), to work out DVD’s and makeup lines she likely tops the list of Reality Stars turned Entrepreneur that is still climbing the ladder of success without an end in sight.

Bethenny Frankel – The unforgettable Frankel and her larger then life personality on Real Housewives of New York, quickly became the “IT GIRL” of Reality TV and Business Spin off Ventures.  This sassy house wife turned-mogul has signed lucrative endorsements for well known companies like Pampers, Bluefly, and Hanes and her Reality Mogul list of accolades don’t stop there.  Frankel’s multi-million dollar empire also includes work out DVD’s, a liquor deal and a successful publishing franchise.  Reality TV obviously agrees with Frankel and her pocket book.

Snooki – Likely my least favorite Reality Star; Snooki took the world by storm in 2009  when Jersey Shore and little Nicole from Long Island showed the world how to get drunk and make an ass out of yourself 24 hrs a day.  Well it just goes to show you that even the dumbest of Reality stars can spin a web of gold from their 15 minutes of fame.  Nail Polish, Perfume and Sun Glasses, Slippers and even Jewelry but the scariest reality of all is the fact that Snooki is a New York Times best selling author.  Ready to get even sicker to your stomach?  Snooki also gets paid over $30,000 for her speaking engagements, over $20,000 for her club appearances and an astonishing salary of between $30,000 – $100,000 per episode for Jersey Shore.

The Reality of Reality Entrepreneurs still remains that being a celebrity can get you only so far, lasting success in business depends on savvy and quality products or services. Just like regular entrepreneurs, many succeed and many do not.

For the time being these Reality Entrepreneurs can still say, “cha-ching”!

Popularity: 14% [?]

Technorati Tags: Bethenny Frankel, Entrepreneurs, Jersey Shore, Kardashian, Real Housewives, Reality, Snooki

This VALENTINES DAY – is an eCard enough to show someone you care????

Yes, it’s that special time of year when chocolate manufacturers and greetings card companies encourage you to express the extent of your love in cold, hard, cash. February 14th. is just around the corner and I pose the question, is an eCard enough to show someone you care????

Remember the days when there were no eCards. Everyone used to send printed or hand written cards on days such as Christmas, and Valentines day etc. Well times have changed, but is that a good thing?  Let’s look at the Advantages and Disadvantages of eCards to express your fondness for that significant other.   

Green Friendly Folks – An eCardmight be perfect for you.  Not only can you be assured that you aren’t wasting paper and ink but you also can be assured that your eCard is delivered on time, every time. 

Creative Folks – Animation is your friend with eCards.  That’s right it’s like the difference between a photo or video, you can bring your card to life and the difference is animation.

Last Minute Folks – The eCard is perfect for you.  Hard to believe but YES there are many folks out there that actually say, “Today is Valentines Day”????  With the click of a finger you can still show you care by sending the perfect expression of love online.

The question still posed is, IS IT ENOUGH????

The lack of personalization and time taken to send an eCard, might just be a FLOP with that special someone.   How do we find the right balance?

• Combine an eCard with a little something special, personally delivered by YOU.
• Combine an eCard with an nice Online Gift that can be delivered to display your LOVE for all to see. There are a tone of Online Gift options available from Flowers to Chocolates and anything in between.   Remember you don’t have to bust the bank, in this case Size doesn’t matter.

Hint: Send the eCard first. In the text section write something like – Darling, a surprise gift is on your way. Let the gift arrive after the eCard reaches with the message and creates a little mystery.

Remember Valentine’s Day is for love so what ever way you choose to express your love a little effort goes a long way and in this case, One Size Doesn’t Fit All.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Technorati Tags: Card, ecard, gift, green friendly, greetings, love, special someone, valentines

How to Pick the Best Baby Stroller 

Bringing home baby? You have a lot of big decisions to make, trying to Pick the Best Baby Stroller should be an easy one.  Have you been stroller shopping yet? It can be overwhelming to see all of the different styles, sizes, and types of strollers out there. Even the Graco brand has a wide verity of different types and styles.  How on earth do you sift through all the strollers and decide which to pick.  Here are a few trendy tips to help you filter through your options so you can pick the right Graco stroller for you and your baby.

Size – Size does matter….  Were talking strollers moms, so get your head out of the gutter. First, you have to consider the amount of room you have for storage in your home and your automobile. large strollers take up a lot of space but for teeny-tiny little ones, the umbrella strollers or lightweight strollers that are easier to store are just not appropriate until your new little one is sitting up on their own.

Then you have to choose between something like the Graco Duo Glider which is great if you have two wee little ones and the Graco Quattro Tour Stroller which is a stroller, carrier, and car seat system in one.  Both strollers have a lot to offer active parents with newborns but both call for a fair amount of storage space so keep this in mind before you make the purchase and make sure you have the appropriate space in your home and your car for the stroller to fit. 

Typical Use – The demand for jogging strollers has increased in popularity in recent years. The traditional jogging stroller has larger wheels that are better able to maneuver different types of landscape. Easily recognizable by the fact that they have three wheels; one in front and two in back, these strollers can be great for active parents. These strollers are designed to move a little faster than standard strollers but keep in mind that they often lack some of the conveniences that these other strollers have to offer.

If you plan to use your stroller to drop some of those post pregnancy pounds by taking walks around the neighborhood, the park, or out of doors then a jogging stroller might be the best choice for you. If most of your stroller usage is going to be conventional use like shopping malls and museums then you might want one of the more traditional strollers. Traditional doesn’t mean basic, keep in mind that you will likely want some of the extra like storage and tray options for holding things because mom always seems to get the  extra castoffs on these outings.

The bottom line when choosing a Graco stroller, or any other brand for that matter, is that you want to pick a stroller that will make life with baby easier and NOT a bigger hassle. With this in mind pick the Graco Quattro System Travel stroller or the Graco Duo Glider Stroller or whatever stroller will best fit within your busy lifestyle.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Technorati Tags: Baby Stroller, Graco, Graco Duo, Graco Quattro, jogging stroller, stroller

Gift Ideas for your Little Superman?

Don’t forget about Superman comic books and Superman comic collections. You can give the gift of a super hero in a three or four book collection.  With all the video games out there giving the gift of an action filled Superman Comic Collection of Books is one of the coolest gift ideas out there.  This fun filled collection of comic books can even help get your little man excited about reading.  You can choose from a vintage Superman comic collection, or even a collection of his newest hits on the comic book market. You can scoop up every Superman comic eBay has to offer or compare the Superman comic price from one online vendor to the next.  You may find some excellent deals. 

The challenge with some classic Superman comics is that many of them also happen to be rare Superman comics, which drives the price higher and higher with each passing year. The more these items become collector’s items, the greater the demand for them grows, the higher those prices will go.

In order to not bust the bank, there are several options that can still provide the excitement you’re looking for in this special Superman Themed Gift.   You can consider a downloadable superman comic where you can pay a fraction of the cost but still give your little man something special to read and get energized about. You can also think about giving the gift of a Superman comic DVD as well. This is perfect for the little man that will enjoy the story and want to see it all from start to finish. Rare comic book editions can get costly but these DVDs can also be found at a reasonable price for the enjoyment they provide true fans.

 Weather you choose a special vintage Superman edition for an extremely special gift or a more modern edition that is still going to blow his mind, the fact that you’ve given him a gift that comes from your heart will make it even more special. Your gift is sure to hit the spot and be one he’ll be talking about long after he receives it.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Technorati Tags: books, Comic Books, Comic Collection, dvd, gifts, reading, Superman, video