Kids Meal No Equal Chicken Nuggets

Today my husband handed me a coupon for our local grocery store, saying, "you might get a kick out of this."

It's a coupon for $1 off of a kid's meal from the deli.  I was cynical.  I expected to see processed meat and cheese on enriched crackers, sugar-soaked fruit, and artifically-sweetened cookies. 

I was pleasantly surprised.

It's pretty much what I pack my kiddo for lunch almost every day.  The picture shows a sandwich, yogurt, carrot sticks, and juice. The yogurt is YoKids by Stoneyfield Farms, which is a trusted brand for quality, and while carrots aren't exactly the most powerful veggie to eat mid-day, I don't really expect a grade-schooler to munch on asparagus or eggplant. (Healthy Heather tip: pack berries instead for brain power!)  Only real drawback is that bottle of juice, which is waaaay more juice than anyone needs in a day.  But the concept made me happy.  The sandwich is on actual wheat bread, the lunchmeat is Boar's Head (still lunchmeat, but no fillers), and it sends the message that lunch is just that: lunch.  Fuel to get through your day.  Thank you Publix for not being part of the "food is fun" movement.

So will I use the coupon?  I might.  I enjoy preparing healthy meals and have the time to do it, so a pre-made lunch is not really a necessity for me.  But, I think it would be a great alternative or picnic-type thing, and it is nice to know it's available.

Thanks Publix for giving parents a break!  Download coupons and check out other clean eating help in Publix's Greenwise section. 

Back to School Brain Food

It's back to school time!  Pretty soon my Facebook page will be filled with picture of my friends' kids, smiling on the front porch, backpack and lunch sack in hand.  At least, I hope they'll have a lunch sack!  Before you send your kids off to school to feed their little genius brains, stock them up with some food that will actually help them learn.

You know I love the concept of functional food.  When I was in school I would actually research what kinds of food would be best to eat before a test, following a hunch that there had to be a connection between the energy my brain had to work off of and the ability of it to function at high capacity.  It was also a good compensation for not studying.  I was a terrible student and needed all the test-taking help I could get!  My cringe-worthy PSA-style video on the same subject is probably now at the bottom of a dusty pile of VHS archives in my high school.  I still remember the manager of the local grocery store kicking me and a friend out for attempting to videotape her holding a piece of fish.  Fish is brain food, btw.

So I really enjoy putting together my son's lunch for school and include foods that are high in antioxidants like berries and spinach.  Yes, he eats the spinach. I also include mac and cheese or homemade pizza.  It makes me feel good that I'm doing something to create an environment condusive for learning, and since my child is a genius it is obviously working. HA! :)

But while I always knew that antioxidant-rich foods like dark-colored greens and fruits were healthy, I didn't really understand why that was.  This video really sums it up and drives home why a lunchable and pudding cup are more sabotage than treat for your little Einstein.

Good day!

Fingers Crossed for Fall

Not me, just so we're clear.

I don't want to jinx anything, but this morning when I opened my door to head out for my boxing workout, it didn't feel like a sauna. 

That was weird.  Really weird.

It felt...nice.  Almost cool.  Okay, cool for a southerner.

And then when I dropped my son off at school, it was breezy.  I wasn't sweating.  It is August, right?

I am hoping against hope that fall is on the way.  Running inside on a treadmill is messing with my head, man, and I can't wait for some lower temperatures to coax me out onto the pavement.  That back-to-school feeling is in the air and I for one am ready to start seeing some jack-o-lanterns on my morning run.

And, I am hoping for nice, non-humid, weather for my friend Edie, who is competing in her first triathlon this weekend!  GO GIRL!  You are going to be great!

Fingers crossed for fall!  I'm guessing this is just a tease on Mother Nature's part, but I'll take it.

What's your favorite outdoor workout for cooler weather?