Kids Ain't Cheap

But They Sure Are Worth It

Archives for 2010

How to Choose the Perfect Pet for Your Family

| Leave a Comment

The old hound
Image on DeviantArt

Choosing the right pet for your family can be a tough decision and it should never be taken lightly. It’s not like going out to buy a sweater, or even a car; this is a commitment to take care of another living creature for the rest of its life. When you bring home a pet – you are making a promise – to provide it with whatever it needs to live a full, happy, and healthy life. You need to do a lot of research, ask yourselves some important questions, and really search your hearts to decide which pet is right for your family.

Here are just a few of the questions you should start to ask yourself – and your family – as you begin the search for your newest family member:

  • Why do we want a pet?
  • Who will take care of it?
  • Do we want a pet that will require a lot love and attention?
  • How will the pet impact our family life (traveling, cost, time)?
  • Do you have space for the pet?
  • Can you and will you provide everything your pet needs? They depend on you for almost everything.

There are so many types of pets available to suit just about anyone’s lifestyle. Let’s examine some of these, based on how much maintenance and care they require.

Low Maintenence Pets

These pets are perfect for a first time pet family. They will require minimal care. They aren’t the snuggly cuddly type of pet that will want to be touched or played with a lot. You can love them, you can care about them, but the less you mess with them, the happier they will be. Some examples of a low maintenance pets are:

  • Fish
  • Lizards
  • Hermit Crabs
  • Snakes

Remember, low maintenance, does not mean — no maintenance!!! You still have to care for these pets and provide them with the best environment possible, so they will thrive.

Medium maintenance pets

These pets require a little more maintenance as far as their care is concerned. Generally, you’ll want to dedicate around 30 minutes to cleaning and feeding them each day. Even though there isn’t a lot of care that goes into these pets, most of them still need your attention and most importantly your love. The more love you give them, the more they will love you back, and enrich your lives.

  • Cats
  • Small birds
  • Small animals (hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, guinea pigs, etc.)
  • Rabbits

High maintenance pets

Dogs are a high maintenance pet but to their owners, they are worth every single second of it. Dogs have many requirements and you have to be particularly diligent in educating yourselves, to find the breed (or mixed breed) that is right for your family. Far too many dogs end up in shelters or worse, because people don’t take the time to find out if they are capable of such a responsibility.

Some dogs are small and do well in small spaces, other dogs need to do a lot of running and some are happiest when they are working. You have to keep in mind how much time you can spend with them and the activity level of your family as well. Many dogs can suffer from separation anxiety and they can become destructive because they are bored or simply miss you. Their diet is also highly important, and you’ll need to give them the correct food such as Nature’s Blend by Dr. Marty, as well as treats when the moment is appropriate. With proper training, quality care, and lots of love, you will have a loyal family member, who values you more than you may ever know. If you can’t make them an important and highly cherished family member then you should probably find a different type of pet.

Dogs require:

  • Daily feeding, grooming and walking
  • Obedience training
  • Love, Love, Love
  • They need someone to take care of them when you go away on vacation
  • They need regular vet visits to keep them healthy

There is so much that goes into selecting the right pet. I urge you to go to your local library, surf the web, talk to your friends about their pets, go to pet stores, contact local rescues and humane societies to do research (volunteering is a fantastic way to help the animals and get a feel for what really goes into pet parenting), and obtain all the information you can before you add a pet to your family.

One more thing I’d like to add; there are so many pet rescues that have pets just waiting to go to their forever homes. They don’t just have dogs and cats; many have a variety of animals. Some pet stores will even have small animals, birds, fish or reptiles that have been relinquished by their owners, which are also for adoption. Open your heart, open your home and most of all love and enjoy your pets.

Do you have a pet? How did you choose which one to get for your family?

Five Family Dinners for Around Ten Dollars

| Leave a Comment

Chicken parm is just one easy recipe that can be made for under $10Are you getting bored with the same three or four meals on your dinner rotation each week? I know I am. With money tight and picky kids, I feel your pain. If you are looking for some fresh ideas to feed your family that cost around ten dollars, here are five ideas that have all passed the kid test in my household, yet don’t make my husband roll his eyes and say “that again?”

1) Easy Chicken Parm

I got this recipe off the back of a bag of Tyson’s Grilled and Ready Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Strips and modified it a bit to make it my own. It’s fast, easy, and nutritious.

Grocery List

  • One cup Tyson Grilled Chicken Breast Strips or use left-over cooked chicken from another night. A bag of pre-cooked grilled chicken costs about $7.00, but will make 3 or 4 meals. Approximate cost for tonight’s meal- $2.00.
  • One package shredded mozzarella (I use a low-fat variety)- about $2.50.
  • One jar spaghetti sauce- about $3.00.
  • One package fresh baby spinach-about $3.00.
  • Optional- one package of spaghetti- about $2.00.

Approximate Cost $10.00-$12.00.

Directions: Follow the recipe for Chicken Marinara on the back of the Tyson bag or at Tyson.com

After the chicken is sauteed and the sauce is simmering, add several cups of baby spinach leaves and cover. After the spinach is cooked to your taste, sprinkle dish with mozzarella cheese and cover again until melted. Serve over spaghetti or a pasta of your choice.

2) Chicken Fried Rice

This is a fan favorite in my house and my five-year-old loves to help scramble the eggs!

Grocery List

  • One cup Tyson Grilled Chicken Breast Strips (same as above)- around $2.00.
  • 3 eggs (out of a dozen, should run you about a dollar).
  • 3 cups instant brown rice (less than a dollar).
  • ½ cup frozen green peas (less than a dollar).
  • One bottle soy sauce- about $3.00.

Approximate Cost $8.00

Directions: Saute chicken in canola oil and then scramble three eggs in the same pan. While this is cooking, make your instant rice in a separate pot. When the rice is ready, drain and transfer to the chicken and egg mixture. Cook ingredients at high heat with a little more oil until it browns up. Add frozen peas and soy sauce last and cook over low heat until peas are cooked through.

3) Crock Pot Roast

Great for days when you know you come home late from kids’ activities, this dish smells great as soon as you walk through the door. There is no need to force the kids to eat a separate serving of vegetables… it’s in there! This recipe usually makes enough for left-overs, too.

Grocery List

  • Pot roast (enough for 4 servings)- $6.00
  • Pot roast seasoning packet- $1.00
  • 4 large potatoes- $2.00
  • 6 large carrots- $2.00

Approximate Cost– $11.00

Directions: Cut potatoes and carrots into large pieces and place on the bottom of the slow cooker. Place pot roast on top of vegetables. Add water to seasoning packet, mix and pour over the top. Cook around 4 hours on high, then cook on low for another 1-2 hours.

4) Baked Mac ‘n Cheese

If you are sick to death of the boxed kind, try this easy and inexpensive recipe for homemade mac ‘n cheese. It is a real comfort food that will fill up your kids’ bellies on chilly nights.

Grocery List

  • 1 (12 ounce) package macaroni- $2.00.
  • 1 egg- about 50 cents.
  • 2 cups milk- $1.00
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted- less than a dollar.
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese- $3.00
  • Salt and pepper to taste- pennies.

Approximate cost– $8.00

Optional: For variety, I like to add either diced ham with green peas or broccoli florets.

Directions: See allrecipes.com for complete directions. A four star recipe.

5) Bread Crumb Chicken or Chops

This recipe can be thrown together in about 10 minutes and it is a hit with my husband and both kids. When my son ate the recipe made with pork chops, instead of the usual chicken, he declared that it was the “best batch you have ever made.”

Grocery List

  • One package of chicken breasts (4) or Boneless Pork Chops- $6.00
  • ½ Cup Breadcrumbs- 50 cents
  • ½ cup milk- 50 cents.
  • Approximate cost- $8.00

P.S. I like to serve mine with rice pilaf and a veggie on the side.

Directions: Dip chicken or pork in milk and then roll in bread crumbs until covered. Saute in olive or canola oil, turning over frequently, until brown. Cover and cook at reduced heat until the meat is cooked completely through. Voila!

To save even more money at the grocery store, don’t forget to:

  • Buy on sale. Look in the fliers each week and plan your menu choices around what is on sale each week (cut out coupons too).
  • Buy fruits and vegetables in season, as they are always cheaper.

Do you have any favorite family dinners that cost less than $10 to make?

The Fox and the Grapes, an Aesop’s Fable

| Leave a Comment

“A hungry Fox saw some clusters of ripe grapes hanging from a trellised vine.  She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but she could not reach them and tired herself out. At last she turned away, muttering to herself, “Well, who cares? I’m sure the grapes are sour anyway”

This fable is actually where we get the often used term “sour grapes” from.  The fable is a popular example of Cognitive Dissonance, once of the most studied theories in social psychology.  I am no psychologist nor have I studied social psychology so my insight into this concept is limited but basically, what I believe it means, is the rationalization of something in order to deal with two conflicting ideas.  In this case the fox’s conflicting ideas are that he wants the grapes AND doesn’t want the grapes since they are probably sour anyway.

How often do you see this kind of activity in your life.  I know I have done it myself and I know that I see my kids react this way if they aren’t able to complete a task they were originally excited to tackle.  It seems almost like a natural defense mechanism, a way to convince yourself that it’s okay to not have accomplished what you set out to accomplish because it was never really worth while anyway.

The Fox and the Grapes
Found on Pixabay

How would you use this fable to teach your children?

Aesop’s Fables, a New Regular Feature on Kids Ain’t Cheap!

| Leave a Comment

Aesop's Fables make great teach tools for kidsI love the simplicity of Aesop’s Fables.  They tell a tale most of us can relate to in just a few sentences and typically feature the animal kingdom as the primary characters.  They are morality tales that were used to help teach children right from wrong.  They are very old which makes them even more special.  It’s amazing that no matter how advanced we become as a society, something from ancient Greece is alive and well and still being used to teach our children right from wrong.

The story behind Aesop and his fables

For me, the story behind these fables gets more and more impressive and increases my enjoyment of them.  Aesop was actually believed to be a slave when he wrote his fables, he lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BCE.   Aesop’s fables were a spoken tradition, handed down throughout the generations until years later when scholars collected the stories and put them down on paper.  There are some doubts as to whether Aesop was the originator of these fables and there are similarities and connections with both India and Ethiopia.

I am no expert on the subject, what I know about Aesop doesn’t extend any further than what I have just written but I am a big fan of his fables and do use them to try to teach morality to my children.

Every so often I am going to share one of these fables with you on this site and tell you what it means to me.  I would love to hear what the individual stories mean to you.

Do you like Aesop’s fables? Do you use them as a teach tool?

Teaching Volunteer Values to Your Children

| Leave a Comment

kids volunteering with dogAs the winter holidays approaches, it seems as though the entire world works itself into a frenzy of giving, both financially and in other ways. Regardless of your family’s traditions or spiritual beliefs, the winter holidays can be a great time of year to teach one of the most valuable lessons you can teach your children: how to love.

Set The Example

We constantly tell our children to be nice, to be polite, to share, to give, to be kind. But as with any other lesson, it is important to set the example you want your children to emulate. The winter holidays are a time for giving, loving and sharing; to teach this to your children, it’s important to get them involved with giving, loving and sharing with the community.

Unfortunately, it can be a lot harder to find ways to give when you are keeping a strict budget. Cold and wet weather are also seen as deterrents to volunteering, especially when dealing with small children. Yet, there are a lot of ways to get your kids in the mind frame of giving back without having to brave freezing temperatures or spend a fortune.

Here are a few key points to remember when seeking volunteer opportunities with your children:

  • Focus on the message. To start brain-storming ideas for your children, begin by zeroing in on exactly what you want to teach them. Why do you think that it is important to volunteer? How you answer that question will impact the activities you choose. For example, if your family is religious, you may want to choose an activity with a religious message. Look for an organization with religion-related events.
  • Find something fun! If you choose tedious, boring work for you children to partake in, you may be inadvertently teaching them that volunteering is tedious and boring. These jobs, such as sorting clothes or sitting at a booth, are still important; but you may want to start the experience with fun activities and gradually sprinkle in these less exciting opportunities.
  • Be prepared to field questions from your children. Helping out in a soup kitchen can be a lot of fun, but younger children won’t understand the concept of not having a home. Do some thinking before taking your children to places like this, and be prepared with answers in advance so you aren’t caught off guard. This also goes for domestic violence shelters, terminally-ill hospital wards, or any particularly heart-wrenching situation. These places are what make volunteering so special: but it is a heavy message to teach. Don’t necessarily shy away from it, but prepare yourself and your children as best as you can, which may mean waiting another year or so.
  • Make home-made holiday cards for residents of a nursing home or hospital.
  • Play with Animals.  Take your children to the local Humane Society and spend an hour playing with the animals.
  • Pick out a toy to take to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. All of these activities cost relatively little, but teach a clear and positive message.

If you do decide that you want to do an activity that costs more money, get your children involved in a family piggy bank dedicated to the holiday season. Even a dollar a week can buy Thanksgiving dinner for several families, a winter coat for a child in need, or mittens for dozens of children.

Do you volunteer with your children? How did you teach the value of giving back?

Affording Children’s Gifts and Toys

| Leave a Comment

Toys can be expensive if you don't shop smartFor us parents who take our children into any type of store that have toys we know just how expensive toys can be. I remember one time while out with my family I had to buy a birthday gift for a neighbor who was a little girl.

A family outing to the toy store

Having only one girl of my own who was older, I hadn’t shopped for “little girl” toys in a while. I decided I would look at the dolls. Now mind you, they have dolls now that can do more than I can get my boys here to do. They speak when they want something. And I mean speak! Not mumble and incoherently speak and point while pointing in a direction while watching a video game!

Okay, now that was a nice surprise seeing all of these dolls that can actually probably function to help me clean the house but I was in sticker shock! I needed to get a second job just to afford to buy this child a doll (albeit top of the line doll).

Is it more expensive buying for girls than boys? I take my boys and its “Hey Ma, can I get this bag-o-worms?” “Hey Ma, can I get this huge ball that only costs $5.00 pleeeeeeeze?” All the while I am convinced they just want to buy to the ball to test my theory of not throwing large objects around the house while “ma’s” back is turned. I have never heard them ask for a doll that could actually help me out around the house that costs over $50.00 though.

How to save money on toys

How do we parents do it? I mean how do we do it without working three jobs to afford one holiday? I have learned a huge lesson when buying toys.

BUY THEM ON SALE.

When I came back from my sticker-shocking family outing I made a list of all the children I buy for. Birthdays, holidays and anything else that may come up unannounced. I keep the list in a notebook that I know where it is (unless one of the boys grabs it, then you’ll hear someone calling for a list notebook).

When I am out shopping if I see something that is marked down and at a great savings I now buy it. I was always famous for convincing myself I would make a trip back to buy the item later. Another lesson, I cannot let myself do that.

With the holiday season coming up what are some ways you save when buying gifts and toys?

Fun and Inexpensive Outings with the Kids

| Leave a Comment

Enjoying the outdoors is a great free family activity
Found on Pixabay

Fun and inexpensive outings with the kids are not hard to find if you know where to look. With the prices of pretty much everything on the rise an outing can become very expensive if we are not careful. Of course doing new things with the kids that will not break the bank can be just as fun.

Using your imagination and being creative can find a lot of fun. Many times at the end of the most inexpensive outings the family will have spent quality time together and probably learned a few new things along the way.

Enjoy the Outdoors

Enjoying the outdoors is one of the things that many families enjoy and the wonders that can be found by a child’s eyes are endless. Nature walks can be a very rewarding outing. Enjoying the trails with the family and actually getting away from the rush of everyday life can be relaxing. Watching the little ones marvel at things they find along the trail can sometimes make us adults see things like they are new again. A child picking up a leaves and actually studying it is amazing. As adults we are often so busy that we miss a lot.

Visit the Library

The local library is also a great place to bring our children. Many libraries hold classes for the kids that are free of charge. Although the class may be once a week and only last an hour it is worth it. If your child is older the class is done without the parent. Again, it may only be an hour but an hour of free time at the library can be worth it for Mom and Dad!

To the Beach!

For those families that live near beaches but do not want to pay the parking or costs to enter the best time to go is at dusk. The beach is nearly empty and there is no charge to get in. Pack sandwiches and snacks and you are ready for a beach almost all to yourself.

Bus Station

Little boys (and some girls) love buses and trucks or pretty much any type of transportation for that matter. Imagine the little ones face when you roll into a bus station and go to see the buses. Pure delight, cost free.

Build Something Fun

Anyone have a builder on his or her hands? Many of the home improvement stores have free classes for the tikes and for the parents too (hate to have Dad feel left out). The classes may be held mainly on the weekends but again the cost can’t be beat.

Quality time with our families does not have to be expensive. The things that cost the least can be the best and smiles are flowing freely. How we spend our time with our children is not how much money we spend to have fun with them. Childhood memories are not made of how much money parents spent occupying us. Childhood memories consist of loving moments that were spent together knowing we were and are cherished.

What free and cheap family activities do you do with your family?

Year-round Money Saving and Fun Activites for Parents and Kids

| Leave a Comment

Arts & crafts are just one money saving family activityMore and more parents are having to work harder to make that extra buck so not only is saving money a concern but also making sure the time you have to spend with your family is maximized. As a parent, I am constantly challenged to find interesting and cost-effective ways to have fun with the kids. This can be tough considering how technology makes it tempting to spend and use expensive outlets for fun. All is not lost though as there are still lots of ways to spend qulity time with the kids and save at the same time

Here are some year-round activities you can engage in that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

For the indoors:

1. You can build your kids’ creativity and imagination by creating an art wall that can display artwork made all times of the year. First, allocate a part of the wall in your kids room for this. Mark it off by sticking letter cut-outs of thier names. You can make this from old magazines or use stencils to cut out handy art paper. Have your kids join the fun by having them sitck their names themselves. This can be educational too! Next, have them draw anything they want to display on the wall. It can be a drawing of your family, a cartoon character, a lesson in school, the ideas are limitless. And you can recycle these works of art to keep it fresh.

2. Have a rewards chart that you can make a household activity fun and a lesson at the same time. You can use old cardboard and markers to create a billboard that you can prop on the side, hang on the wall, or stick near your art center. Take a photo of each child and place it on the top and bottom or left and right side of the chart. Decorate the chart sides to match the personalities of each child. You can again use handy art material or old magazines. Every day, set aside times where you have them do easy chores like fixing their toys, or cleaning their room. Activities done successfully can be rewarded by a star or a picture tacked to the chart. At the end of the week you will have collected a number of markers. Set a limit and make this limit rewardable with a favorite snack or a favorite show or a favorite outdoor activity. Your kids learn how to be responsible, you have fun with them while doing chores, and you save money.

For the outdoors:

You can extend the rewards to the outside and make these money saving activities as well by choosing the places you visit.

1. You can have a picnic in the park on nice, sunny days. You have full control over what food you bring and the kids have access to a free playground.

2. You can visit the bookstore and take advantage of the kids section which allows free reading of kids books.

3. You can go to the local indoor pool for cold and overcast days and have a small swimming party.

4. And, if you really want to keep it simple, and multi-purpose, you can go grocery shopping and make it an adventure by having your kids help choose your grocery items. They will learn all about “good” food and how to budget as well. My kids love our Saturday afternoon grocery trips.

Remember that kids don’t mind simple activities as long as they are able to spend fun, quality-time with you. So saving and being with your kids need not be opposing activities.

Make the most of the simple things offered out there and you can’t go wrong!

What cheap and fun activities do you do with your kids?

How to Make the Most of Your Baby Registry

| Leave a Comment

Ideas for what to list on your baby shower registryOne of the most exciting things about having a new baby is preparing for their arrival. Suddenly, you have to prepare your home, as well as yourself and for family, for an extra person. The best tool that new parents have at their disposal is the baby registry.

Whether you have been looking forward to this moment since childhood or find it a tacky practice, a baby registry is an excellent way to get the things you need. People want to give you gifts, whether you like it or not. Think of a baby registry as if all the people who will buy you gifts got together and decided to get things that matched, things you wanted, and just enough of what you need.

A baby registry can be a lot of fun, but if you fill it with impractical things, you will get less of what you actually need. Here are some tips to make the most of your baby registry:

Figure out what you’ll actually need

There are lots of adorable and completely impractical things for sale in the baby aisle. These are things that you and your partner can buy the baby yourselves.

Furniture

You will need a place for the baby to sleep, for example. Don’t forget crib sheets and bumper sets. You will also need a car seat (you often can’t leave the hospital without one) and a safe place to set down your baby during the day.

Clothing

Only register for the bare minimum. Some people will not buy off of your registry. Those people will buy you clothes. If you register for as many clothes as you’ll actually need, you’ll end up with a lot more than you need.

Diapers

This includes wipes, diaper cream and other diapering aides. Decide on a brand, and register for a couple bags of each size.

Food

Whether you plan to breast feed or to bottle feed, you will need some stuff. Bottles, nipples and formula are basic for bottle-feeding, and breast feedings moms might need a pump and storage containers. Once the baby is used to eating solids, Hipp baby food and similar products are also something to look out for.

Start Researching Early

You’ll want to have your baby shower a month or longer before you are due. You’ll want to give your guests at least four weeks to buy a gift. And it might take you a month to decide on all the brands you want. So you should start this process as early into your pregnancy as possible.

When deciding on what store to register at, there are several things to keep in mind. You want a store that is accessible not only to you but to your loved ones as well. Online shopping is handy as well. A large chain store might be your best bet if your family is spread out.

Talk to Other People

Ask for suggestions

A pregnant woman is inundated with “helpful” tips by nearly every other woman on the planet. It becomes hard to keep track of who suggested what, but try to steer these conversations towards what you should register for. Fellow moms will help you remember the little things that you might not realize you need: like a bottle brush or gas relief medication.

Tell People

The whole purpose of having a registry is to tell people what you need for the baby. So you have to make sure you tell the people where it is! Have family and friends spread the word for you, post it on social media networks, and add the information to your baby shower invites.

Go Green and Save Money

| Leave a Comment

Go GreenMany folks mistakenly believe that going green around the home means having to buy expensive products and make costly conversions of electronics, appliances, etc.  However, there are many small things that you can do at home that really add up to a savings for you as well as for the environment. For starters, there are a few easy ways to be green and save money at the same time….

1) Charge It

And I don’t mean with a credit card. Cell phones, remote controls, hand held gaming systems, cordless phones, etc. all have their own chargers that eliminate the need for repeated battery replacements. After an initial investment, chargers pay for themselves while saving an infinite number of batteries. There is even a handy-dandy new contraption that will charge multiple items all at once (like your phone, iPod and Nintendo DS) on the same power pad. If you’d rather not buy a new charger, you can settle for rechargeable batteries instead that can be reused again and again. When it is time to get rid of old batteries, make sure to dispose of them properly and do not throw them in the trash as they contain toxic materials that are harmful to the environment. Usually, hardware stores, home improvement stores and even some libraries have receptacles for old batteries.

2) Take a Coffee (Filter) Break

Another small but meaningful change is switching to a reusable coffee filter. Many electric coffee makers come with their own permanent filters that replace the paper kind. You will save paper (and trees) and…you guessed it, you will also save money. Don’t forget to unplug your coffee maker when it is not being used because otherwise, it will still use energy, called “phantom electricity.”

3) A Light Bulb Moment

Switching to CFL bulbs is costlier at first than traditional bulbs, but they last considerably longer, which is better for your electric bill and the planet. Watch as your electric bill goes down after changing to CFL’s and you will also find yourself buying bulbs much less frequently.

4) Bottle Programs

Another way to save money while being green is to collect your bottles and cans and return them to a redemption facility or at the grocery store. If your state has a bottle bill, you will earn money back (up to 15 cents) on every bottle or can that you turn in. In my state, I can return my bottles and cans for a credit that I can use toward my grocery bill.

5) Plan Your Meals

When you plan your meals ahead of time and create a shopping list, you will actually spend less at the grocery store than if you buy on impulse or without a carefully thought-out plan. Menu planning will also cut down on the number of trips you have to make to the store each week, saving you money on gas while releasing less pollution into the atmosphere.

Making green lifestyle changes can be done in baby steps or big steps, depending on what works with you and your family. No change is too small, however, as when we all pitch in, it can really make a difference. You might be surprised how easy and affordable it can be.

Do you have any other environmentally and budget friendly tips to share?

Healthy Tips for Feeding Your Family

| 1 Comment

slow cooker recipes Today, we are all looking for ways to get our families to eat well. Given that obesity is at an all time high in the U.S. and with Type 2 diabetes on the rise, it is more important than ever to teach our children how to eat healthy. Being obese can put people at risk for other health issues such as; cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and much more. If you feel overwhelmed but know that you need to make a change, just keep reading. I will offer some simple changes to get you and your family on the fast track to eating right.

Meal Planning

I can not stress enough, how important it is to plan your meals in advance. If you sit down and construct a weekly menu and stick to it, you will be far less likely to make poor eating decisions. Shopping weekly is best because it ensures that you have a lot of fresh fruits and veggies on hand. Meal planning helps you save money as well. If you add up those panicked trips to the supermarket when you have no idea what you will serve for dinner, or the times you just gave up and decided to eat out, you’ll be amazed at how much money you are spending. A few more quick shopping tips: buy what’s in season, shop the farmer’s market when you can, and don’t load up on junk. One more suggestion I have is to become “best friends” with your slow cooker. It’s like having someone else cook dinner for you and unlike packaged and processed meals, you know exactly what’s in it. A great site for slow cooker recipes is http://slowandsimple.com/

Just Say “No” To White Stuff

A super simple and really healthy change you can make is to stop buying anything white — buy whole grain instead. I’m talking whole grain bread, flour, pasta, buns, etc. Maybe your kids would freak out if they saw their PB&J on deliciously nutty whole grain bread. We don’t want to send the little angels into shock for goodness sake, so just try to find the simplest looking whole grain bread you can. Nothing fancy, just be sure it’s not white. They might scoff at first but they’ll get used to it. The earlier you start, the easier it will be to make these changes.

Nothing But The Flax

Let me give it to you straight; flaxseed is incredibly healthy for you! If you aren’t eating it, you certainly should be. Flaxseed is rich is lignans which have been recognized to have anti-cancer properties. Flaxseed is packed with Omega 3 fatty acids, which help your brain, your skin and your hair. It assists your body in burning fat, keeps you healthy and is a great source of fiber. I buy milled flaxseed and store it in the fridge. However, I’m told buying flaxseed whole, then grinding right before you serve it, is best but I just don’t have that kind of time. It can be sprinkled in or on just about anything. Are you making muffins? Sprinkle some flax in the mix. Having some ice cream? Sprinkle flax on top. Making Chili? Add some flax in it. Your family probably won’t even notice this healthy addition.

One Fruit, One Veggie Rule

In our home, this has been a rule of mine since our boys could eat solid foods. I have always included at least one fruit and one veggie at lunch and dinner. For breakfast there is almost always a fruit and at least one of their snacks is a fruit or vegatable. My boys are really great about eating their fruits and veggies but sometimes one or both, will turn their nose up at something and that’s ok. I offered and that’s what’s important. You can always enforce the “no thank you bite” which means they need to at least try it. Even if your child says they don’t like something, keep offering it. It can take 15-20 times of offering a food before a child will decide they like it. With toddlers it’s even crazier, one day it’s their favorite thing and the next day it is the worst thing ever. Don’t give up, don’t lose hope, they won’t like everything but you’ll find a lot of things you may not have thought they would eat. It also works well if you offer at least one item that you know they will eat. One more tip is to avoid canned fruits and vegetables; always purchase fresh or frozen, there is less sodium, sugar and they retain most if not all of the magnificent vitamins and minerals that our bodies need.

Ask Your Kids For Help

You can teach your kids about eating healthy by including them in the meal planning. Let each child pick a day when they get to plan the dinner menu. Don’t forget to ask them to pick out the fruits and veggies too. It’s great to include them in on the shopping trip. If you can, you’ll find that it’s easier and makes the trip more special, if you can take just one child each week. Be sure to read lables and explain what makes certain items healthy and others not. In the produce aisle, show them all of the beautiful and colorful fresh fruits and vegetables there. Let them pick out something fun like an artichoke, star fruit or mango to try.

Last but not least, make it fun and keep it simple!

Do you have any additional healthy eating tips to share?

Holding Your Baby Close

| Leave a Comment

There is no feeling that compares with having a child, seeing that precious baby for the first time and eagerly anticipating all the time you will be spending together.  When I had my children, it was indescribable.  I wanted them with me all the time, everywhere I went.  But I couldn’t carry them for long periods without help because I had a Cesarean section when I had them.  There were two things that helped me out and which I recommend for any mommy or daddy when carrying your child.

When The Baby is Tiny

baby slingI used a baby sling when my children were newborns until they could sit easily on their own.  This made it so much easier for me to carry them because I didn’t have to use my core to carry the weight. Even a 6lb. baby is heavy when you’ve just had a C-section!  My baby never fussed because he felt like it was just me holding him. He was never aware of the fact that the sling was doing more than half of the carrying work. The sling also helped keep me private when I was breastfeeding.

From a vain perspective, a baby sling was also great in terms of style.  Becuase it looks like a long shawl and it comes in so many different designs, I was able to carry my baby around comfortably with some style.

Daddy’s can use the baby sling as well. It is very easy to use and is adjustable so anyone can use it. It helps give Dad’s who are not as confident yet with carrying their child on their own, that additional support. This gave my husband the opportunity to carry our child around a lot.  He told me that he felt more comfortable carrying our son with a little help from the baby sling. He was able to focus on our baby and not on whether he was carrying him the wrong way.

One really good thing as well was that the baby sling was not very expensive.

As Your Baby Grows Up

backpack baby carrierI chose to use the baby sling until my son was arougnd 8 months old.  You can use it for longer as long as your child still satys withing the recommended weight that the sling can handle.  But I prefered the baby backpack carrier at this time.

By this time I was up and about again and I was trying to get back into shape and lose the baby weight. The backpack carrier just made it really easy for me to take my son on long walks around the park with me. It had durable and adjustable straps, a lot of comfortable cushioning so he wasn’t squeezed in too tight, pinched uncomfortably anywhere, or unsafely belted in. I made sure the backpack carrier I got was ergo-checked as well so I was assured I wasn’t doing damage to me or my baby in using it. It cost more than the baby sling but I was able to set aside something for this by this time.

The question now is, what is the best baby carrier?

And the winner is?

The thing about this question for me is that it is all about the parent’s preference.  I loved the use of the baby sling and the backpack carrier both at different points of my baby’s development. For me, it was about answering my need for myself and my child at different times.  So the best thing to do is this:

1.  Know what you want and need for yourself and for your child when taking care of your precious baby.

2.  Research.  Look at reviews and testimonials from other parents who have used baby carriers. Ask the opinion of  your friends who are parents. Look at manufactures ratings as well. Look at the baby carriers you are eyeing and see what materials they are made of and if these are durable and safe.

3. Remember that there is no hard and fast rule except that you keep yourself and your child comfortable and safe.

So, good luck with the purchase. Have fun with it and enjoy every moment carrying your child!

 How did you carry your baby around? What would you do differently next time?

All content on Kids Ain’t Cheap is for entertainment purposes only. By reading this blog, you agree that Kids Ain’t Cheap is not responsible for any actions taken after reading this blog. For the full disclaimer, see our privacy policy.

Please note that Kids Ain’t Cheap has financial relationships with some of the merchants mentioned here. Kids Ain’t Cheap is funded by banner advertising, commission sales and search optimization consulting.

Copyright © 2006–2026 | District Media | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy