Hillbilly Housewife Club

If you’ve been a fan of The Hillbilly Housewife then you know what I’m talking about. If you’ve never had the pleasure, then let me be the first one to tell you about the frugal & nutritious goodness of the things that are shared on the site.

But now~ Susanne Myers, The Hillbilly Housewife has just opened the doors to a new part of the Hillbilly Housewife family.

The Hillbilly Housewife Club

The Hillbilly Housewife Club is a paid membership but, more than that it’s a place to find like-minded friends that share the same goals & values of frugal and simple living. “Low Cost Cooking From Scratch” is more than just a slogan. Susanne’s heart-felt mission is to share the nutritious, low cost recipes as well as money & time saving tips.

If you’ve ever wanted a place to go where you could find caring women on the same road as you and get step-by-step action plans, each month, that will help you toward your goals, then you owe it to yourself to take a look at the Hillbilly Housewife Club.

For more information? Visit http://tinyurl.com/q8lxds and sign up today. I’ll see you on the inside.

http://tinyurl.com/q8lxds

My Favorite Quick and Healthy Meal - Video

About the author:

Scott Tousignant, BHK, CFC is the creator of Unstoppable Fat Loss, "What separates the people who achieve fat loss success, from those who struggle to lose weight.”  http://ufl.rxsportz.com

Scott has also authored 2 books that are transforming the bodies of people around the world.  "The Fit Chic" and "The Fit Bastard" not only contain a FULL YEAR of workouts, they provide intense motivation to drive you to fat loss success.

You can grab a free month of workouts at the following sites:

Gals - http://fitchic.rxsportz.com

Guys - http://tfb.rxsportz.com

The Real Way to Stop Eating Fast Food

By Tom Venuto

“How could you eat that junk? It’s so bad for you!” (nag, nag). “Don’t you know those fries will give you a heart attack?” (nag, nag). “You have to stop eating all that fast food, it’s going to make you fat!” (nag nag). “You have to eat more healthy food like fruits and vegetables - they’re good for you!” (nag, nag). Your friends nag you, your family nags you, your doctor nags you, the health newsletters, websites and magazines - they all nag you, and of course, your personal trainer nags the heck out of you, to stop eating all those BAD FAST FOODS. But does all that nagging you and bad-mouthing the fast food industry really help anyone stop?

It doesn’t look that way. The fast food industry is thriving, even in the bad economy. The Chicago Tribune recently said that McDonalds is “recession proof.”

As one of only two companies to turn a major profit over the last year (the other being Wal Mart), McDonald’s is laughing its way to the bank. In fact, McDonalds plans to open 1,000 new stores this year.

I was driving down Route 95 a few weeks ago and pulled over to use the rest room at McDonalds on a Saturday morning (there’s a McDonalds conveniently located immediately off almost every exit up and down the full length of Interstate 95).

The parking lot was full, it was standing-room only inside and the lines snaked around into the seating area! You’d think Brad and Angelina were there signing autographs or something. Nope. Just a regular weekend at breakfast-time.

I was shopping in Wal Mart the same week and I almost passed out when I saw (smelled, actually) a McDonalds… INSIDE THE WAL- MART! Also, with lines.

Yep. It looks like your friends and family’s nagging you to stop eating fast food, and all the messages of the health and fitness industry to get people eating more “health food” are not working!

So what does work?

The results of a new survey from the behavior and psychology section of the journal, OBESITY (Feb 2009) provide some answers:

Researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public health surveyed 530 adults about their attitudes towards fast foods.

They found that people already know fast food is unhealthy. (like, no kidding!)

The primary reasons they eat it anyway are because of the perceived convenience and a dislike for cooking! (I’d add another: they think fast food is always cheaper than healthy food).

So, said the authors of this research paper, nagging people to eat more healthy food and warning them that “fast food is going to make us fat and kill us” is not the best approach.

What’s the right approach?

Focus on teaching people how to make healthy eating fast, convenient and easy, because those are the reasons people are choosing fast food in the first place.

So what’s holding us back from implementing or taking this advice?

Well, I think that most people can’t get over the ideas that they “just can’t cook” or that cooking is “too time consuming” or that healthy food “tastes like dirt” (as if McDonalds is gourmet food!)

That said, I’m not going to nag you, scold you or try to scare you out of eating fast food. I’m not going to lecture you about health food (not today, anyway). Nor am I going to bad-mouth the fast food restaurants.

I’m going to lead the new charge by showing you just how easy and convenient it is to eat healthy and nutritious food and make it delicious.

Here’s a few meal ideas (for starters) to prove my point.

3-MINUTE APPLE CINNAMON OATMEAL

* natural oatmeal (like Quaker old fashioned rolled oats)
* natural (unsweetened) applesauce
* cinnamon
* for protein, serve with scrambled eggs or egg whites on side or stir 1-2 scoops of vanilla protein powder into the oats

I eat this almost every morning. It’s faster, easier and cheaper than going to the donut place or getting sausage, cheese, bacon breakfast muffins at the fast food joint! (you don’t have to wait in line, either!)

10-MINUTE LAZY PERSON’S CHINESE STIR FRY

* Brown rice (I like basmati)
* frozen oriental vegetables
* chicken breast, grilled (try foreman grill)
* bragg’s “liquid aminos” (or light/lo-sodium soy sauce)

This takes 30 minutes, however, if you get a rice cooker and make a giant batch, you can have your rice on standby for instant eats and this will take less than 10 minutes.

It doesn’t get much easier than that. (I like those Chinese veggies that come with the little mini-corn-on-the-cobs… reminds me of that Tom Hanks Movie, BIG)

2-MINUTE BLACK BEANS AND SPICY SALSA

* black beans (15 oz can)
* Medium or hot salsa
* 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 2 cloves garlic or chopped garlic to taste
* salt and pepper to taste

This one takes you all of 2 minutes to make. No cooking required! And it’s good! It’s vegetarian as listed above, but if you’re a high-protein muscle-head like me, just add chicken breast or lean ground turkey.

Best part: this is all inexpensive food! Oats, rice, beans… doesn’t get much cheaper than that - buy your healthy staples in bulk and the cost per serving is probably less than mickey D’s! (yes, even the “Value” meals)

Every one of these recipes is compatible with my Burn The Fat program

This means that my way of eating makes you more muscular and leaner… so you can look hot wearing very little clothes this summer… and be healthier… and save money too.

Train Hard, Eat Right, and Expect Success!

Tom Venuto
www.BurnTheFat.com

About the Author:

Tom Venuto is a fat loss expert, lifetime natural (steroid-free) bodybuilder, independent nutrition researcher, freelance writer, and author of the #1 best selling diet e-book, Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle: Fat-Burning Secrets of The World’s Best Bodybuilders & Fitness Models (e-book) which teaches you how to get lean without drugs or supplements using secrets of the world's best bodybuilders and fitness models. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fat and increase your metabolism by visiting: http://burnthefat.rxsportz.com

Still stressing? There’s really no need…

A few days ago, I mentioned the lifesaving resource at Dine Without Whine. Have you had a chance to check it out yet?

I know what it can be like – trips through the drive-through more than we like to admit, not being able to get everyone to sit down at the dinner table and pure chaos all around. It’s no fun at all.

Seriously, it really doesn’t have to be like that when you’ve got a plan. But of course, who’s got time to plan? Well, you don’t have to – the folks at Dine Without Whine do it for you. They give you a weekly dinner menu, weekend brunch ideas and a couple of dessert recipes (don’t want to overdo it!) with a categorized grocery list. It’s a huge load off of a busy parent’s mind.

It’s important to keep the lines of communication open with our kids and mealtime is one of the easiest ways to do it…especially as kids get older and the last thing they want to do is hang out with their parents. Make getting the meal to your table a whole lot easier, so you can enjoy that precious time with your family.

Trying their service out will only cost you a penny. Now you can’t beat that deal. Have a look at: http://www.healthybiz2000.com/dinewithoutwhine.htm

No more wondering what’s for dinner – it’s taken care of.

To Healthy & Happy Families,
Arthur M.

Dinnertime got you stressed?

So what’s your day like? If it’s anything like my daughter’s, it’s always rush, rush, rush and there are more things to do in a day than there is possibly time for. Then dinnertime rolls around and you think, “Oh no…what are we going to have?”

The drive-thru is tempting. It’s fast and easy, but it’s also expensive and downright unhealthy. And although it’s a nice treat once in a while, we can’t do this every single
day…or at least we shouldn’t.

And here’s the thing. Mealtime IS important. It’s not only important for adequate nutrition, but it allows our families to bond, is good for our children’s development and allows us to keep up-to-date on what’s happening in our their lives. In fact, there are studies that show having frequent meals together is one of the biggest factors of vocabulary development in young children. And for older kids, it can actually help reduce the risk of smoking, drinking alcohol and other things we’d really like our kids to stay away from. But still, what do you do? Deciding to get the family together for dinners every day is often easier said than done. But there is help out there…thank goodness!

Make dinnertime easier, more enjoyable, healthier and save plenty of money with a unique menu planning service called “Dine Without Whine”. You receive a weekly menu with your kid-approved dinners planned for you and a categorized grocery shopping list to make it easy to zoom through the store. It even includes brunch ideas for the weekend and 2 weekly desert recipes. Take all the guesswork out of your weekly meal planning and grocery shopping by signing up. Everything is delivered directly to your email inbox each and every week. Just print and go!

All the details are here (including more information on the family mealtime studies I mentioned): http://www.healthybiz2000.com/dinewithoutwhine.htm

You can try the first week for only 1 cent…or choose a 3, 6, 12 or lifetime option to save tons of money on your membership. Forget the stress of getting dinner together and enjoy your time with your family instead.

To Healthy & Happy Families,

10 Reasons to Have Family Meals More Often

When was the last time your family had a meal together? I don't mean sitting in the car munching on burgers from the drive-through. I mean sitting down at the table and sharing a home-cooked meal.

If you can't remember when you last enjoyed a family dinner, make plans to have them more often. Experts have found – and continue to discover - plenty of benefits for both children and adults when families have dinner together at least three times a week.

I know...I know, it's not always easy, so click here if you need help with meal planning and grocery shopping.

Here are 10 reasons why you should have family meals more often:

Good For The Body

1. When families eat together, everyone tends to eat healthier. People who have frequent family meals consume more calcium, fiber, iron, and vitamins B6, B12, C and E. It could be because home-cooked meals are healthier than fast food and restaurant meals. (Source: Archives of Family Medicine)

2. Children tend to eat more fruits and vegetables when they frequently have dinner with their families. They also tend to eat fewer snack foods. (Source: American Dietetic Association)

3. Children in families who eat dinner together are less likely to be overweight (Source: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine). This makes sense, given the findings
in #1 and #2 above.

Good For The Brain

4. Children from families who eat meals together get better grades than their peers who don't have lots of family meal times (Source: Lou Harris-Reader's Digest National Poll). So family dinners are not only good for the body; they're also good for the brain.

5. When families eat together frequently, children have better language skills compared to kids from families who don't have family mealtimes often. (Source: Harvard
University)

Good For Emotional Health

6. Children of families who eat together report feeling happier and are more optimistic about the future, than their peers who have infrequent family meals. (Source: Lou Harris-Reader's Digest National Poll)

7. Teenagers are less likely to use drugs, smoke, and drink alcoholic drinks, when their families eat together regularly. (Source: Columbia University)

8. It may come as a surprise, but among Moms who work outside the home, those who have family mealtimes reported feeling less stress than those who had family dinners less often. (Source: Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal)

9. The more often teen girls had meals with their families, the less likely they were to have symptoms of depression and suicidal behaviors. (Source: University of Minnesota)

Good For Family Bonding

10. Eating together gives family members the chance to communicate and build relationships, something that both adults and children appreciate very much. (Source: Nutrition Education Network of Washington & Oprah Winfrey's "Family Dinner Experiment")

I hope these reasons motivate you and your family to try and eat together more often. We're all busy - even children have plenty of after-school activities. But as the list above shows, family meals are worth every effort we put into them. It helps to plan ahead so that we're not scrambling to get dinner ready or panicking because we don't have all the ingredients we need.

To make it easier to get the family around the table with a home-cooked meal, check out Dine Without Whine's menu planning service. It cost just a penny to try it out!

Cleanse the body of stubborn fat and cellulite

(Written by a Fat Loss & Women's Transformation Expert, Alex Eatly, NASM CPT)

http://complete.rxsportz.com

One of the things a majority of women find most challenging is understanding which foods should be eaten to cleanse the body of stubborn fat and cellulite.

To truly fight cellulite you should aim to include in your diet, foods that help power up your fat burning mechanisms.

These foods include:-

Fruits & Vegetables (complex carbohydrates)

Lean sources of protein

Essential Fatty Acids

Fruit & Vegetables

Organic fruits and vegetables are excellent foods for cleansing your body and helping eliminate stored toxins. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain multiple compounds like fiber, phytochemicals and minerals that help reduce the damage inflicted on our bodies by those free radicals (like those in smoke and alcohol).

Aim to eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day.

o Avocado: also vital for healthy skin – plus essential fats help you burn more body fat

o Blueberries, blackcurrants , raspberries, cranberries & strawberries: Among the highest sources of antioxidants out there

o Watermelon, cucumber, celery and asparagus: Diuretic foods that fight fluid retention

o Citrus fruit, pineapple, papaya: All high in vitamin C, vital for creating healthy collagen

o Bananas: Circulation boosting and good fluid-retention fighters

o Grapefruit, apples, Spinach, Tomatoes, Bell peppers, Carrots

Protein

Every tissue in your body is made up of protein. Proteins are the building blocks of lean muscle tissue. Without it, building muscle and burning fat efficiently would be impossible.

Additionally, protein has the greatest thermic effect of feeding (TEF) compared to fats and carbohydrates combined, which translates to more calories being burned during digestion. simply put, the body will burn more calories (upwards of 30%) assimilating and digesting protein than carbs (6%) and fats (3%). So, for every 100 calories of protein ingested, the body will burn 30 calories just digesting it. That means that eating protein is actually thermogenic and can lead to a higher metabolic rate. This means greater fat loss when dieting and less fat gain. Protein also takes longer to digest which will give you a greater feeling of satiety and prevent hunger pangs.

The best sources of protein are listed below:-

o White fish

o Chicken & Turkey

o Beans and pulses: these contain amino acids that fight fluid retention

o Oily fish: As well as being a good source of protein, this also contains essential fats that hydrate the skin (making cellulite less noticeable).

o Eggs: Incredibly high in detoxifying agents

o Low-fat dairy products: calcium in these increases the amount of body fat you lose while dieting

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are your main source of fuel or energy, and are the exclusive fuel source for the brain and nervous system. Carbohydrates are a very important part of a long-term fat loss plan. If you stick to whole, natural sources of carbohydrates you will keep your blood sugar levels more stable. These sources include vegetables, whole grains and fruit.Including such things as Bran or oat cereals can be very beneficial.Breakfast stokes the metabolism leading to easier weight loss – plus cereals contain high levels of antioxidants.

Essential Fatty Acids

People associate dietary fat intake with body fat, but certain fats are very important. A fat-free diet is not optimal in normal individuals.

According to nutrition experts, "eating a reasonable amount of fat in your diet promotes good health and physical performance, especially if the majority of your fat sources contain high amounts of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly referred to as "essential fats".

There are at least eleven important functions of EFA's in your diet:

• improved insulin sensitivity
• required for absorption of fat soluble vitamins
• essential for joint health
• required for energy production
• required for Oxygen transfer
• maintain cell membrane integrity
• suppress cortisol production (fat storage hormone)
• improve skin texture (dry skin is a classic symptom of EFA deficiency)
• growth promoting
• increase metabolic rate
• help burn fat

Good Sources of fat include:-

o Fish Oil

o Flax Oil

o Extra Virgin Olive Oil

o Natural Peanut Butter

Water

You all know the benefits of water but did you know water actually fights fluid retention. Areas of cellulite contain higher than average amounts of water-attracting cells: if you have excess fluid in the body this will gravitate to these cells swelling the boxes (a major cause of cellulite in thinner women). Cutting down on salt and drinking at least eight glasses of water a day helps fight this.

Foods that make it worse

Know I've shown you the foods that will help you, I think I should point out the foods that you want to avoid at all costs. Some foods may make cellulite appear worse. None of you want that so it's best you limit your intake of these foods or avoid them all together. The worst offenders include alcohol (which dehydrates your body), refined foods (including foods high in artificial additives and sweeteners) & calorie dense drinks.

o Anything high in saturated fat – high in calories and free-radical producing

o High sugar foods – sugar actually produces more free radicals than fat

o High GI carbohydrates (like white bread, rice and baked potatoes). Raise levels of fat storing insulin

o Coffee and other caffeinated beverages: These pressurise the lymphatic system

o Alcohol: increases free radicals and may boost fat storage

o High salt foods like peanuts, crisps, ready meals, canned soups etc

  ---------------------------------------------

Get your FREE report "Cellulite Reduction Plan" from Alex Eatly at

http://complete.rxsportz.com

Alex Eatly is a Certified Personal Fitness Coach and works with women just like you day in and day out and has mastered the art of fat loss and body transformations for women with extreme success.

Alex has developed an explosive new fat loss system called Look Great Naked: The Complete Body Makeover for Women, which was designed specifically to help busy women such as students, executives and parents with young children to get the most results in the least amount of time. For more info visit:
http://complete.rxsportz.com

It’s Mother’s Day – Where Ya Gonna Eat?

Your mother loves to eat and would like to have a special meal. There are many options available to you for your Mother’s Day meal and cooking for your mother is only one of the options. If you dread the cooking and clean up associated with well, cooking and cleaning up a meal then you might enjoy taking mom out to eat. The restaurants might be crowded but should be able to find somewhere to enjoy a good meal with a little planning.

If you have decided that this year you are going to take your mother out to eat for Mother’s Day then your next step is to find out which of your mom’s favorite restaurants in your area are open and if you need reservations. Mother’s Day is one of the most popular days of the year to eat out so make your reservations well in advance. The closer you get to Mother’s Day the harder it will be to get a reservation. Make them early your mom is not disappointed when you arrive at the restaurant. Websites like OpenTable.com or Gayot.com can help you with restaurant reservations in some of the bigger cities across the United States.

If you are going to try to get a table at a restaurant that doesn’t accept reservations think about having brunch –a popular choice- or eating during the off hours between lunch and dinner – usually 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to avoid larger crowds.

Of course, deciding on what type of restaurant to visit in another choice to be made. Do you think your mother would enjoy a buffet style restaurant, one with a limited menu or a restaurant serving their full menu for the day? Once you have figured that out you can move on to the cuisine your mom would like. Is she a fan of Mexican, Italian, German or French cooking? Perhaps she would prefer steak, seafood or sushi instead. When you have the answers to these questions then you can take steps to deciding where and when you will take your mother to her special Mother’s Day meal.

Of course, if your mother would really rather have a quiet meal at home with her family then it is possible that you just might have to go ahead and cook this Mother’s Day anyway.

--------------------------
Visit www.ebotek.com/recipes/MothersDay to find Mother’s Day Recipes and articles that will help you Celebrate Mother’s Day

 

Let's Get Ready For Mother's Day (Free PDF Download eBook)

30 Power Foods for More Fat Loss

by Mike Roussell PhD(c)

Good food is an extremely important part of any fat loss diet. The food you eat is actually going to drive (or inhibit) your fat loss. I have put together a list o 30 Powerfoods are the kings of 'healthy foods'. They will get your body primed not only for rapid weight loss but greatly improved health.

These 30 Foods (if not all then most) should be the center pieces of your nutrition as they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, essential fatty acids, fiber, essential amino acids, and all kinds of other good stuff that we don’t fully understand (we just know it is good for you).

I wanted to use this list to supercharge your nutrition - hopefully you’re eating lots of these already. They are chunked into 5 groups: Starches (faster acting carbs), Fruits & Vegetables (and non starch carbohydrates), Proteins, Fats, and the Powerfood Outsiders (these don’t really fit into any of the previous categories but that doesn’t take away from their nutritional power).

Starches
    * Amaranth
    * Quinoa
    * Oats
    * Yams

Fruits & Vegetables
    * Apples
    * Blueberries
    * Broccoli
    * Onions
    * Oranges
    * Pomegranates
    * Pumpkin
    * Raspberries
    * Spinach
    * Tomatoes
    * Beans

Fats
    * Avocado
    * Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    * Flaxseed/flaxseed oil
    * Walnuts

Proteins
    * Lean Poultry
    * Salmon
    * Lean red meat
    * Omega-3 Eggs
    * Cottage Cheese (with Live Cultures)
    * Milk Protein Powder Blend

Power Foods Outsiders
    * Green Tea
    * Cinnamon
    * Garlic
    * Hot peppers

Which ones are you eating? Which ones aren't you eating? Make note of the ones you aren't eating and make sure you pick them up next time you go shopping.

About the Author/More Info:
Warp Speed Fat Loss is a complete 28 day diet and training system crafted to help you lose 10,15, or 20lbs of body fat in just 28 day. To start losing weight fast visit Warp Speed Fat Loss. Mike Roussell is a nutrition doctoral student at Pennsylvania State University. Mike's writings can be found in magazines such as Men's Health, Men's Fitness, and Testosterone Nation. Mike specializes in fat loss nutrition and diets for busy men and women who need to lose weight fast without it interfering with their lives. Warp Speed Fat Loss  is a complete Done-for-You A-Z Fat Loss Blueprint that gives you exactly everything you need to eat to lose weight in record time.

Things to Remember When Cooking

By : Christine Steendahl

The difference between a good cook and a great cook can generally be as simple as a couple good cooking tips. Cooking ideas can help us make cooking dishes much simpler and avoid the many obstacles in food preparation. While it is true that experience, patience and knowledge are key when cooking, a few practical cooking ideas can definitely make many good cooks look like master chefs. Following are just a few cooking ideas that will ultimately help you in the kitchen.

Food Safety Tips
First off, the best way to make sure that your food tastes the very best that it can is to use fresh ingredients. When shopping in the grocery store or produce market make sure you view each item that you purchase, checking it for freshness or ripeness. While most packaged foods include an expiration date located on the container, most foods such as fresh produce must be looked over individually. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with general produce and the art of spotting top quality produce in your local supermarket.

As far as meats go, make sure that the meats (beef, poultry and fish) you purchase are fresh. In addition, when using meat for a meal keep all meats refrigerated until using, any utensils you use with the meat or that come into contact with the meat should be cleaned with soap and water. Regarding serving, make sure that meats are cooked thoroughly and reach a safe temperature. Cooked foods should reach at least 140 degrees F. Use a cooking thermometer to measure the temperature. It should be noted that while cooked foods should reach 140 degrees F., foods that are chilled such as dairy products should always be stored refrigerated less than 40 degrees F.

Tools of the Trade
Just like a good car mechanic has the proper tools to fix a car, make sure your kitchen is stocked with items that will help you create dishes easily and properly. This includes a good set of knives, pots, pans and measuring cups. You might also want to have on hand a good blender and food processor.

Low Fat Cooking
Many people make the mistake of associating low fat cooking with bland, tasteless cooking. This is absolutely false. In fact, low fat cooking can be colorful, vibrant and extremely flavorful. The key is to incorporate a variety of fresh spices, herbs, olive oil and put some thought into the dishes you select. For instance, you can make almost any dish a low fact dish just by ensuring the least amount of oil is used, and opting for lean cuts of beef and pork. In general, chicken and turkey are almost always low in fat and fish is also a great choice for any reduced fat dish.

Beverage Selection
Keep in mind that a meal includes not only the food, but the beverage as well. You can enhance a meal by pairing it with a quality beverage. Whether it is a nice wine, flavorful sparkling mineral water or a top notch cocktail, a beverage can easily make a ho hum meal outstanding. 

Author Resource - For more great cooking tips and family friendly recipes visit http://www.healthybiz2000.com/dinewithoutwhine.htm

9 Simple Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat More Veggies

More Help Can Be Found At Dine Without Whine

It seems like a never-ending battle with the kids. Although you and I know veggies are delicious and they’re also good for you, they act like vegetables are a plague they want to avoid at all costs.

If you need creative ways to get your kids to eat more vegetables, here are 9 ideas to incorporate into your daily meals right away:

1. Make healthy choices readily available and put the sugary and greasy snacks away. This doesn’t mean totally deprive yourselves of these delightful treats, but making healthy eating a normal part of your day goes a long way to helping kids develop better eating habits.

2. Add veggies like carrots or even asparagus to smoothies. Kids love fruit smoothies and they’ll never know you put in a little of those dreaded vegetables in.

3. Sneak vegetables into other foods. For example: Add grated carrots into spaghetti sauce or make a zucchini chocolate cake.

4. Try dip. You know kids love to dip everything. Just make sure they know they have to eat the dip stick and not just lick it!

5. Take your kids shopping with you. Let your child pick out a new vegetable in the grocery store that they’ve never tried. Then prepare the vegetable together.

6. Be patient and consistent. Avoid having a tantrum yourself when your child has a tantrum about vegetables on their plate. Sometimes it will take several times of serving the same food before your child is even willing to try it.

7. Make it artistic and fun. Place veggies into a smiley face on your child’s plate or decorate a pizza with them.

8. Let them choose: raw or cooked. Some children may have a definite preference as to whether their veggies are cooked or raw.

9. Plan your meals. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the veggies when you don’t have a plan…allowing your kids to get into the habit of veggie-free meals. Plan your meals and grocery lists in advance, so you won’t come up short on the greenery.

To make your meal planning a whole lot easier, sign up for you 1 ¢ no-risk trial at Dine Without Whine. They put together your weekly dinner plan and even make a quick and easy printable grocery list for you. Click here to get started