Healthy Snacks

Healthy Snacks for Toddlers

A new year! New goals! New habits! Well, we try...

I write this article today as I am sure there are a lot of moms and dads out there that are confronted with the same daily "chores" as I am - making kids lunches for school, snacks for after sport or extra murals etc. (The same would apply to parents with toddlers that are on the move, out and about, going to Day-care etc.).

For me this has to be one of my frustrating tasks that I have to contend with on a daily basis. Not because I don't enjoy doing things for my kids but more that fact that I want to ensure I am preparing HEALTH meals / snacks for my little ones. And healthy snacks that I know they will in fact eat and want to eat.

I came across these tips on our website over the holidays and thought they would be great to try. They have helped me and so hopefully I can share them with you.

Planning healthy meals need not be a difficult task. It can in fact be fun, quick and easy… Here we give you some interesting ideas that you can use and adapt to your little one’s daily meals / lunches.

TIP:

• Always try and include one of each of the following…
• Portion of carbohydrate e.g. wholewheat bread, pasta, rice salad, Snacker bread.
• Fruit and or veggies.
• One portion dairy e.g. yogurt, cheese etc.
• Portion of protein e.g. egg, tuna, chicken, beef, lentil or beans.
• A drink – water, juice etc.

That way you know your little one is receiving a healthy well balanced meal.

Some meal ideas:

• Chicken pasta salad with mushrooms, sweetcorn and even some peas and baby tomatoes may be added.
• Mini pita pockets with a slice of cheese, some cucumber and even some hummus.
• Egg, lettuce and tomato roll.
• Salmon or tuna pasta salad – again you can add sweetcorn, tomato and peas.
• Wholewheat bread with a slice of ham or beef with tomato and cucumber.

Remember that if you are packing school lunches, some of these may be a bit "smelly" - like eggs or tuna - so maybe keep these ideas for at home.

Snacks for on the side:

Carrot or cucumber sticks Fruit – cubed. This can include apple, strawberries, pears, banana etc. (my kids simply LOVE this) Raisins Rice cakes / provitas Snacker bread

Hope this helps. Try keep it interesting for you and your little one.

Till next time. Happy snacking...

Are you prepared?

As much as we try not to think of all the things that could go wrong in and around the home, the fact remains, they can. The question is...How prepared are you?

Have you done a CPR course? What is CPR? CPR stands for - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency procedure which is attempted in an effort to return life to a person in cardiac arrest.
There are a number of places in and around the country that offer these courses both for you as the parent as well as your caregiver, domestic helper etc.
If I can give you some advise - book yourself on a course. You will not be sorry. Besides - it gives you peace of mind in knowing what to do in any given situation. Most CPR courses usually include general care i.e. cuts, sprains, nosebleeds etc.

My next question to you is...do you have a well kept and up to date First Aid Kit? Do you know where it is? Does it include burn shields, cream for cuts, bites, bleeds? Moms and dads I strongly suggest you make a plan to either get a First Aid Kit or make sure that your kit is well stocked and up to date. i.e. you don't want items in there that have dates that have already expired.

There is nothing worse than having a situation and you have nothing for it. This includes gastro, vomiting, hydration etc.

Where can you get a kit? Most pharmacies stock rather comprehensive kits.

Then for some additional info - why not visit the website where we give you hints and tips on insect bites and stings, cuts, grazes, nose bleeds, foreigh bodies in the eyes and soo much more.

Let's be well organised and prepared mom's and dad's!

Till next time!

Smoking...

Hi all

Here's hoping that the start of your day has been a good one?! Monday's are often dreaded I know, by most. For me, I always like to think of it as a fresh new week - a fresh new start.
"Fresh" being the key word here! So on this note, I would like to bring to your attention something that really got me worked up this past week and most definitely had nothing to do with the word "FRESH"...

What would normally take me half an hour from point A to point B, instead took me over 2 hours last week. So you can imagine how the "red mist" was rising within me. I think the real irtritation that actually sent me over the edge was not so much the bumper to bumper traffic caused by traffic lights not working, burt rather the sight of a young mom, all smartly dressed in her formal work attire, with what looked like 3 children no older than about 7 sitting in the back seat (so one good point for her - they were in the back seast and looked to have their seat belts on). To my shock, horror, she was puffing away on a cigarette.

Now, understanding one's frustration of sitting in traffic and the craving for nicotine to try and calm yourself(I myself was a smoker - so I can relate), BUT the fact that you have 3 little "healthy" bodies in the car, most certainly does NOT SIT RIGHT with me. Second hand smoke has been proven to be unbelievably harmful to one, especially when these little one's are kids. Secondly it simply LOOKS DISGUSTING!

Come on moms - think about what you are doing to your little ones. Besides poluting their lungs, you then drop them off at school, creche, daycare etc. with them smelling of smoke, you definitely do not look to be the responsible parent here...

If you are going to smoke - by all means do, just take into account what you are doing to your little ones!

So please - I urge you all....think FRESH! think HEALTHY! You can make a difference to your OWN CHILDS HEALTH!

Getting organised

If you're anything like me, I always like to start a new year by being organised.

Whether this be a tidy desk, an organised and up to date year planner / calendar and or diary (with all birthday's / holidays and special occassions marked), or simply making sure cupboards are neat and tidy.

Once these items are diaried, sorted and up to date, I feel like I can begin the new year - a great sense of achievement (even if small).

One area that I never quite seem to get on top of is all the "glorious artwork" created by my little ones (from daycare / aftercare/ school etc). I simply never have the heart to want to get rid of them. Besides, could you image the heartache I would cause if they saw me throwing anything of theirs away.

So on this note, you can simply imagine my shock and horror when doing my annual tidy up and planning for the new year. Not only was there glitter, beans, sand etc. all over the place, but I was greeted with a whole stack of fishmoths that had taken very lovingly to my kiddies beautiful artwork.

I then get to thinking of the huge mound of artwork I will be housing in a couple more years if based on the current status....plus the delightful (I think not) nest of fishmoths I would be breeding.

There is light at the end of the tunnel... Thank goodness for teachers and their great ideas - as mine simply gave me the wonderful idea of taking pictures of each and every piece of artwork. How simple and yet soo effective! Plus I can make this fun by including the kids - they can help take the picture, plus they then get to throw the "originals" away.

Let me tell you - I now have happy kiddies (we still have all their artwork, but the difference is that it is safely stored away - available to them at any time). At the end of the year we shall take all their artwork and create our own Photobook. For more info on how to do this visit www.picassophotobooks.co.za

We then end up with their own book of art. Plus I no longer have piles and piles of art with shelves covered in seeds / glitter / grass / wool and other exciting items they get to use to decorate their creations. And the cherry on top...NO FISHMOTHS!

So thanks "Teacher Natalie" - another brilliant idea!

New Beginnings

Wishing all our Babeeze Members a very happy New Year!

Whether you are expecting a new baby, have just been blessed with your new bundle or are enjoying the daily treats of having a toddler - may the year ahead be filled with special memories that you cherish in years to come.

My "tip" for the year....
Be sure to take lots of photo's - whether of your little cherubs, family holidays, or simply the beauty that surrounds you with each new day. Then at the end of the year - make yourself a photobook! That way you can capture all those special memories and not keep them stashed on a hard drive / disc or on your computer - where nobody sees them or they get lost or stollen.

It's lot's of fun making a photobook plus you have a point of reference to show friends and family.

Till next time...

Lynne

The new "Yummy Mummy"

Hi all

What a wonderful day! I simply have to share with all my readers...

One of the many wonderful pressies that I received for my "40th" (yes 40 and actually loving it) was a day with my own "wardrobe stylist" - Janine Carley-James. It sounds all so glam and decadent, and it was!

The first meeting Janine goes through your wardrobe and advises you on your existing clothing. She advises you on the type of clothing you "should" wear - the kind that compliments your shape, lifestyle and age. How to mix and match, accessorise and simply make YOU look amazing.

The second part (and definitely the fun part) of the styling is actually taking you shopping. Now I know you are all thinking "I can't afford this as it is going to be all boutique shopping..." Well, quite the opposite. Janine takes you to places that most of us frequent on a daily basis. She also insists that you work within your own budget so as NOT to spend more than you can afford.

So all in all - you spend two hours simply trying on beautiful clothes that she has selected for you (prior to you joining her) and if you "love" them, then you buy them, if not, then you move on to the next item or shop.

For me, it was an absolute treat and definitely something that I really needed. If nothing else - time spent focusing on myself. What bliss. As a mom - I am sure you can all relate.

I would definitely reckomend Janine. We had a stunning morning and I definitely feel like a new "Yummy Mummy".

I am very proud to say that Janine will soon be joining the site and will be posting some truly wonderful hints and tips for all to see and use. So - watch the space.

Getting ready for winter...

Hi all - yes long time no chat. Have to say that I have totally abused all the public holidays with my children, it has been simply glorious - so apologies for not paying enough time and attention to blog followers.

Hope the rain and cold has not got to you too much thus far. My gripe is that no washing gets dry and now our house is simply looking like a "washing tree" (as opposed to a Christmas tree).
Anyhow - moving on and something that I really want to share with you... I am sure that as a parent one of your big concerns is always "how do we keep our little ones from getting sick this winter?"
Please note that I am NO Dr or medical expert however I do consider myself to be a fairly good mom and as such seem to have managed to keep the winter cold bugs at bay last winter and hopefully this coming winter too...

Some of my household favourites that I have stocked up on and give to my little ones on almost a daily basis are the following:
Creche Guard Syrup - this can be taken from as little as 4 months old (Mon - Fri).
Viral Choice Syrup - this can only be given from the ages of 1 years old.
Then my old faithful - Colloidal Silver. This is excellent for sore throats (you can get it with a spray) or simply as a daily nutritional suppliment for the entire family.
Lastly - the minute one of my little ones start with a runny nose or cough I haul out the nebuliser and get them to nebulise for a couple of minutes as often as 3 - 4 times per day. And simply use saline solution which you can purchase at your local pharmacy.

Again I stress that I am NO CLINICAL Doctor or specialist - so if you find this does not work then best you opt for your own Dr or Clinic.

Gotta dash - see some sun peeping from the clouds - time to hang out washing, and dash off to fetch kiddies....