Cooking with Kids without Losing Your Mind

By Jennifer Ascher of Organizing without Limits

Do your children constantly bother you in the kitchen wanting to help you cook, but you just want them to leave you alone because it is quicker and easier to do it yourself?  I know what you’re thinking; cooking with my kids will create a bigger mess in the kitchen, it will take longer to prepare the meal, and I don’t have the time or patience. Well I am here to tell you that the benefits of learning, fun and family time outweigh the mess and extra time it takes. Let’s look at some of the benefits and learning that occurs when you cook with your children and then I will share how with some planning and organization you too can involve your children in the kitchen without losing your mind.

The benefits of cooking with children:

• Creates family time and bonding
• If your child is a picky eater. By getting them involved they are more likely to try new foods because they helped create it.
• Teaches them concepts such as math skills, following directions, thinking, planning, sequence and so on.
• Boosts self esteem, confidence and gives them a sense accomplishment.
• Encourages creativity
• Teaches them the art of giving for other’s enjoyment.
• Promotes fine motor skills.
• They are learning skills that will be invaluable later in life.

Some steps to take to make this an enjoyable experience for both of you:

• Cook with your kids when you are not pressed for time and can devote the time to it. A good way to plan for this is to incorporate a day during the week in your schedule where they will be chef for the day. This will let them know that they will be in charge of preparing or helping with the meal(s) that day. My boys love this because not only does it let them decide what is for dinner but gives them a true sense of accomplishment knowing they helped prepare the meal. My oldest who is a picky eater has become less of one since I started doing this.
• Start small let them help you with something very simple but provides immediate success for them.
• Provide them with their own equipment (small rolling pin, apron, etc) make sure that it is age appropriate and safe.
• For younger kids set up a work area at a lower height.
• Be generous with praise. Everybody likes to be acknowledged for a job well done.
• Model the behavior you want them to follow (washing your hands, cleaning up as you go)
• Be clear on what is expected of them in the kitchen (safety, listening, following directions, cleaning up etc)
• Lower your expectations. Don’t expect perfection and stay calm.

The most important tip I can give you is enjoy the time with your kids and know that you are teaching them valuable life lessons and creating family memories that they will cherish when they grow up. What better time to start than the holidays!

Jennifer Ascher is an Organizing Coach and owner of Organizing Without Limits. It is her belief that organizing goes beyond pantries, closets or even time management. It’s about taking control of your WHOLE LIFE.

Organizing Without Limits provides organizing solutions to transform your life and offers both hands-on and virtual organizing services. You can reach Jennifer at http://www.organizingwithoutlimits.com

Planning Meals When You Hate Planning

Laura Rolands of My Attention Coach

How often have you heard us say it?  Plan your meals ahead of time and it will make your evenings easier.  Easier said than done isn’t it?  When I work with my clients who have ADHD, I help them simplify steps to accomplish their goals.  Healthy eating and meal planning are frequently topics of discussion.

What if there is a better way?

How would it help you if we could find a better, less complex way to meal planning?  I propose that we can find ways to make meal planning quicker and easier.

Stocking Up on Basics

Whether you eat meat, are vegetarian or fall somewhere in between, identify the basics that you and your family tend to eat.  List at least fifteen items that you can buy in advance to have in the freezer or pantry.  This list might include different types of meat, pastas, lentils, snacks and breakfast foods.  In addition, list 5 spices that your family loves to use.  Having your favorite spices on hand can ensure that you actually have a way to use what you have available.

Weekly Planning

Personally, I hate spending a lot of time on meal planning.  In my book, if we make the process quick and easy, you are more likely to do the planning.  You do have to spend some time planning to make this process work though.  My suggestion here is to spend 15 minutes over the weekend planning your meals for the week using what you have available in your freezer and pantry.  You might need to buy a few things at the store, but if you have stocked up on the basics the planning and shopping should go quickly.  Finding a favorite cookbook has helped me in my planning.  I have found The Best 30-Minute Recipe cookbook from the Cook’s Illustrated editors to be a great help.  There are wonderful recipes and most really can be made in 30 minutes!

Planning a Break

If you don’t plan your meals, chances are that you end up getting carry out more often than you would like.  By planning one or two nights for carry out or eating out, you can be more mindful of your decisions.  In addition, I find that you have a better chance of finding coupons and even making more healthy choices when you plan to eat out rather than realizing at 6pm that you need to eat.  Unhealthy choices always seem to be the closest when that happens to me!

What do you do?

Share your meal planning tips with everyone below!

Laura Rolands is the founder of LSR Coaching and Consulting, LLC. She is a coach whose passion is to support, lead and inspire independence and success for people who have either been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD or who are facing other attention-related challenges. Her clients include individuals with attention-related challenges and/or their parents. If you have any questions or more suggestions to add, please visit her website at www.MyAttentionCoach.com.

Putting the FAST in BREAKFAST

By Beth Engelman and Jenna Riggs of Mommy on a Shoestring

Back to school means back to busy mornings.  Alarm clocks, school lunches and a 5-year-old who insists on wearing shorts year round (despite the fact we live in Chicago), breakfast often consists of cereal on the go.  Luckily we have a few recipes up our sleeve that are fast and easy to make in the morning…that’s right we are putting the fast back into breakfast!

“Make Ahead Burritos”

Makes 4 Servings

These burritos can stay in the freezer up to 2 weeks allowing you to just pop them into the microwave on busy mornings.

Ingredients

8 eggs

4 links pre-cooked turkey or chicken sausage

1/2 package frozen hash browns

1cup cheddar cheese (shredded)

½ cup salsa (optional)

4 whole wheat tortillas

Directions

• In a skillet scramble eggs until they are almost cooked.
• Add sausage and hash browns to egg mixture and continue cooking until everything is well done.
• Divide mixture between 4 tortillas top with shredded cheese.
• Wrap tortillas into Burritos by folding up the sides.
• Wrap with parchment paper inside a zippered freezer bag and place in the freezer.
• When you are ready to eat a burrito, take one out of the freezer and place it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until warm and cheese is melted.  Serve with salsa if desired.
• Burritos can be stored up to 2 weeks in the freezer.

Soy Butter and Jelly Smoothie

Makes 1 Serving

Perfect to make for a nutritious on-the-go treat. You can even have your kids drink it on the way to the bus stop.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons peanut butter

2 tablespoons jelly (any flavor)

1 Frozen banana

1 ½ cup of low-fat milk

Crushed ice

Directions

• Place ingredients (in a blender) until smooth.
• Serve immediately

Breakfast Sundaes for Mondays

Makes 1 Serving

This recipe is super easy to make!  In fact your kids can help you pour the cereal and spoon on the fruit and yogurt

Ingredients

1 cup of Cinnamon Oat cereal

1 cup of Plain low-fat Greek yogurt sweetened to taste with syrup, honey or agave.

½ apple (pre-cut into bite-sized cubes)

1/2 pear (pre-cut into bite-sized cubes)

Crushed walnuts

Maraschino Cherry

Directions

• In parfait glass or cute ice cream bowl, layer the ingredients in the following order:  cereal, fruit, yogurt, fruit, cereal, and yogurt.
• Add crushed walnuts to the top layer of yogurt.
• Add a cherry on top (if desired)

Orange Cinnamon Rolls

Makes 4 Servings

Okay, this recipe is a little more of a treat, but let’s face it sometimes we just need a cinnamon roll in our life!

Ingredients

1 small can of pre-made cinnamon rolls.

2 oranges

Directions

• Slice oranges in half.
• Open icing packet and place icing in a bowl.
• Squeeze 2-3 tablespoons of oranges juice into the icing and mix.  Set aside.
• Make orange cups by scooping the fruit out of each orange half.
• Place a pre-cooked cinnamon roll in each orange cup.
• Place orange cup on cookie sheet. Note:  If the oranges are wobbly, slice a small amount of peel off the bottom of each cup to help make the surface flat.
• Bake rolls according to directions on the package.
• When the rolls have cooled, top with orange flavored icing and some orange zest.

Thanks to Mandy Heaston and www.gourmetmomonthego.com for inspiring the sundaes and cinnamon roll ideas!  For more information about Mandy and to find more yummy recipes visit www.mandayheaston.com.

Jenna Riggs and Beth Engelman are the creative talents and owners of Mommy on a Shoestring, a website and weekly radio show chock full of ideas on how families can live creatively and large on a small budget.

Tips for Grocery Shopping

By Jennifer Ascher of Organizing without Limits

Love it or hate if you want to eat, you need to go grocery shopping.  Here are some tips to make this time consuming task more organized and efficient.

Keep a running list on your refrigerator. Write items down when you are running low; don’t wait till you are completely out. To speed things up at the grocery store I recommend grouping like items together. You can search on line for grocery list templates or make your own.

Before going to the grocery store make sure to do the following:

1. Check your menu plan and add any ingredients you don’t have to your list.
2. Go through the sales flyers and coupons to ensure you are maximizing your savings.
3. Clean out and organize your refrigerator and freezer.
4. Eat. If you go shopping on an empty stomach you will spend more money.
5. Decide what you budget is going to be. Allow for a little bit extra in case you discover a great deal and want to stock up.

Try to go grocery shopping during slower times of the day. Avoid the grocery store during the 5 o’clock rush.

While shopping stick to your list and budget. Keep a rough running total in your head.

If an item is on sale and it is not available. Make sure to ask for a rain check so you can get the sale price next time you go grocery shopping.

By planning ahead grocery shopping will no longer be a sometimes dreaded task, but something you might enjoy.

Jennifer Ascher(better known as an Organizing Geek) is a professional organizer and the owner of Organizing Without Limits in  Oakland County, MI. She began this business because of her  passion for organizing and helping others. Being a busy mom and business owner, Jennifer understands the importance of getting and staying organized.  You can reach Jennifer at http://www.organizingwithoutlimits.com or at http://organizingwithoutlimits.typepad.com. You can also find her on twitter @Organizing_Geek or on Facebook.

Menu Planning for the Busy Mom

By Jennifer Ascher of Organizing without Limits

When working with moms one of the biggest organizational challenges they have is the age old question. What’s for dinner? With crazy busy schedules, we all know there are days when you simply don’t have time to cook or the dinner hour snuck up upon you catching you unaware and you end up going through the drive – thru or order carry out. There is a simple solution for this called menu planning. Let’s first look at all the benefits of menu planning and then explore simple steps you can take to make it easier.

Benefits of Menu Planning:

• Saves you time, energy and headaches
• Having taken the time to plan you avoid going through the drive –thru
• Your meals are healthier and more balanced.
• You know what to take out the night before to defrost
• You always have the ingredients on hand, avoiding trips to the grocery store in the middle of the week. Huge money saver there.
• Your family knows what meals are coming up and will stop asking you what’s for dinner. Simple refer them to the posted menu on the fridge.
• It will increase and improve your family time. When you plan ahead it is a lot easier to get the kids involved in helping you cook. Which in turn also teaches them valuable life skills?

Initially when you first begin you will need to do some prep work before you even get to the menu planning part. However after that is done and you have been menu planning for a while you will wonder how you ever survived with out it.

Here are some helpful tips and tricks:

• Don’t overcomplicate the process. (Think simple meals)
• Take inventory of what you already have in your freezer, pantry and fridge.

Make sure to throw out what is expired and organize the rest.

Start a list of staple items you may need to get next time you go grocery shopping.

• Plan your meals according to your weekly schedule.

On days when you know you simple will not have time to cook because you

have a million things to do during the day and the kids have extra curricular

Activities after school those are the days where you plan to eat leftovers (a lot

healthier and cheaper than the drive-thru)

• When you cook double and triple the recipe so you can freeze the extra. Another huge time save for those busy days.
• When planning your meals don’t forget to plan for the lunches the kids take to school. No more last minute grocery trips the night before because you don’t have enough snacks, juice boxes etc.
• Make sure to plan around the weekly sales ads and utilize coupons. Stock up on items you use often. Just make sure to rotate your freezer and pantry stock and add the items to your inventory sheet.
• Start a folder or binder where you keep your menus from previous weeks. After a while you will have a good stock pile and all you need to do is rotate the various menus.

I hope some of these tips are helpful to get you started with menu planning. Next time we will explore the art of grocery shopping and ways to make it more efficient and less time consuming.

Jennifer Ascher(better known as an Organizing Geek) is a professional organizer and the owner of Organizing Without Limits in  Oakland County, MI. She began this business because of her  passion for organizing and helping others. Being a busy mom and business owner, Jennifer understands the importance of getting and staying organized.

She most enjoys showing other moms and dads how to set up and run an efficient household. Jennifer is currently the Oakland County Organizing Examiner as  well as a regular contributor on various other sites. . Her articles focus on organizing and local resources. It is her belief that organizing goes beyond pantries, closets or even time management. It’s about creating happier and healthier parents and families.

Organizing Without Limits helps organize every aspect of your life and offers both hands-on and virtual organizing services. Short term and long term help can be secured for an affordable rate.

You can reach Jennifer at http://www.organizingwithoutlimits.com or at http://organizingwithoutlimits.typepad.comFacebook You can also find her on twitter @Organizing_Geek or on

Got Dinner?

By: Susan Heid of The Confident Mom

“We are so busy!” Sound familiar?  This is the most common excuse for families eating on the go and eating apart.  Now, I know for me, the last few weeks have been just the beginning of things to come.  We have two boys in baseball and it means baseball nearly 6 days a week! I can honestly say that I am thankful my high school daughter did not make the softball team this year; we would never have all the children home at the same time!  But with just the boys in baseball, we will be lucky to have one evening off to enjoy a leisurely dinner together as a family, and I am dreading it.

With the burst of spring also comes the flood of activities for families and the reality that dinner around the table is more like dinner in the mini-van.  But it doesn’t have to be and I think I have come up with some creative ideas that can help busy Family Managers tame the fast-food drive thru temptation and keep the focus on family and time together – even in the midst of some crazy schedules.

· Creativity is key

So, it may be reality that dinner at 6 PM will no longer be possible.  But how about an earlier dinner?  Does your family have a flexible schedule?  Can you eat right when kids get home from school rather than later?  Skipping the snack after school and having dinner right away has worked well for us at different times depending on the various activities our kids are in.  You can just swap snack time and do snack later in the evening while you are at an activity or coming home from an activity.  Or, have a family breakfast in place of the dinner hour.  Nothing says that you have to have “dinner” together, why not make a breakfast casserole and share that as a family in the morning before everyone leaves?  Figure out what other alternatives may work for your family to eat together, it is extremely important, research has shown – so make the effort rather than just throwing in the towel.

· Picnic anyone?

This is another “creative” idea that tends to get sidelined when you are not planning for a special outing.  When I know ahead of time that our family will be at a baseball game at 7 PM that evening, I plan to pack a dinner for us all to share while watching the game.  Are we all together?  Well, not exactly, one child is always playing or practicing, but the feel of ‘most’ of us eating together makes a difference.  It also cuts down on the expense if I have taken the time to make sandwiches or a big pasta salad to enjoy together rather than stopping off for fast food or another unhealthy alternative.  Although I will say, Subway has a great deal on those $5 foot longs and sometimes a mom just has to do it – sanity is important!  But we always just buy sandwiches and bring veggies, drinks and other small snacks from home.

· ‘To Go’ Snack Bin

We have a bin in our big suburban that contains snacks and bottles of water.  It is always someone’s job to keep it filled with granola bars, beef jerky, nuts, and other non-perishable snacks that will help ward off the grouchiness of hunger for everyone – even mom! Now, before I get any bad comments, we always try to put an emphasis on bringing along drinks in re-useable containers, but when we have rushed out or have unforeseen “thirst” these bottles of water are there. Now, whether we are at a baseball game, going to practice or just out doing errands there is always a healthy snack and drink available and I am not tempted to stop or do I have to listen to the often accompanying whining that occurs when a child is on the verge of starvation.  You know the one…..long and drawn out.  This bin is also filled with gum and a few other treats which are often “desired” when you are at sporting events. Don’t get me wrong, it is not like we never support to Little League Snack Shack, but we do not do it every game!  It is a special treat and much easier on the budget.

· When things get back to normal

So, when things calm down again and you find time to enjoy dinner at home – maybe sometime around mid June, I want to share with you my sanity keeper! As busy moms, dinner preparation and planning is a big thorn in our side. I can totally relate and was getting rather frustrated with the whole process; picking recipes that my family liked, shopping, preparing and staying within our budget. For those who have followed me awhile, you know my secret weapon: EMealz. Since I have been using this service for menu planning my life has been changed and I am a much happier person when the dinner hour approaches! I get a menu with 7 meals and recipes on it each Wednesday – including a shopping list. I can easily get all the ingredients I need and then I am not running to the store at the last minute because I need something for a recipe. I can know each morning what is for dinner and each recipe is quick, easy and very tasty! A little bit of planning has saved my sanity, produced better meals for my family and reduced our food budget. If you haven’t check it out, please do not let another day go by, you will not be sorry!

Hopefully a few ideas were new to you on how you can plan dinner with more ease whether you are eating in or eating on the go.  I know as your children get older more things creep into the sacred family dinner hour.  It is hard to put your foot down.  More often than not, just as most moms do so well, we tweak things just a bit in order to work with what we have and make the best of things!  I would love to hear if you have additional ideas from you on this topic – please share.

Susan Heid helps moms get the BIG picture on how their home is functioning and then helps them gain relief with a personalized plan of action to give life changing results.  Susan’s training as a PCI Certified Parent Coach. a Certified Family Manager Coach and a ScreamFree Certified Leader gives her a unique combination to encourage and support busy moms in the art of Home and Family Management.  Empowering Moms and Strengthening Families is her passion.  Are you ready to make positive changes that will impact your family for generations?  You can start by visiting The Confident Mom and requesting her FREE ebook, “Getting Kids to Cooperate and Become Team Players – 10 Essential Strategies and Solutions”.

Top Eight Healthy New Year Habits for Families

As the New Year begins, many families try to begin with a clean slate and resolve to create healthier habits.  The holidays are often a time when unhealthy habits are created by indulging in sugary treats and fattening foods and drinks, which are plentiful between Thanksgiving and the New Year.  Everyone can benefit from a fresh start in the New Year whether the goal is to lose weight, improve health, or just to live a healthy lifestyle.  Here are the top eight ways to create healthier family habits in the New Year.

1. Make it a group effort: Involve everyone in the healthy New Year plan to prevent “a new sherriff in town” scenario.  Sit down as a family, decide which foods need to be banned from the house, and establish which healthy foods would be suitable alternatives.  Clean out the refrigerator and pantry together as a team effort, eliminating sugar laden and processed foods.  Go to the grocery store as a family to choose fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to restock the kitchen with the agreed upon healthy choices.
2. Create a meal plan: All successful endeavors begin with a carefully formulated plan.  Decide ahead of time what type of healthy meals will work for your family, and request meal suggestions from everyone.  Consider having a regular routine, such as Sunday leftovers on Monday, Taco Tuesdays, crock-pot Wednesdays, stir-fry Thursdays, etc.  Be sure to plan for snacks as well, such as fruit and veggies at predetermined times like after school or in the afternoons on weekends.
3. Cook more often: By making meals at home, it’s possible to choose the leanest cuts of meat and fresh vegetables.  Restaurants often use too much salt and sugar and rely on canned and processed foods, which have a negative impact on health.  Kids are more likely to eat foods that they have had an opportunity to choose and prepare, so include everyone in the meal preparation.
4. Start each day with breakfast: Eating breakfast every day is important for many health reasons.  Many studies have shown benefits to eating a morning meal, such as better mental performance, eating less over the course of the day, and improved weight control.  If time is an issue, make breakfast simple with a delicious protein shake, or a serving of fruit and a protein source such as eggs or nuts.
5. Watch portion sizes: A healthy plate should be made up primarily of salad, vegetables, fruit, and whole grains.  The smallest portion should be a lean protein choice, which should be around three ounces.  Experiment with using smaller plates and eating the healthiest foods at a meal first.
6. Eat together: Sitting down to dinner as a family is an important way to model healthy eating behaviors to children.  Family meals are an opportunity to bond and connect.
7. Include exercise: Physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.  Be sure to include an exercise plan into your family health plan.  Suggestions include daily walks together, bike riding if the weather allows, or possibly doing a workout class on the television.
8. Keep everyone motivated: Rewards are a powerful source of motivation, so choose a reward that everyone will look forward to with excitement.  Choose a few small rewards that can be earned on a more frequent basis, such as a family trip to the movies, iTunes cards, or an activity such as bowling.  A more substantial reward such as a weekend trip or a family health club membership should be determined to keep everyone inspired for a six to eight week time period, which is long enough to create healthy habits.

There may be some resistance initially to revamping unhealthy habits.  By including everyone in the decision, planning, and execution of a healthier routine, it will be more likely to have cooperation from everyone.  Remember to create a plan and involve the kids in creating menus and meal plans.  Fun rewards will keep everyone motivated and inspired to have a healthy New Year.

Cheryl Heppard of www.MichiganHealthCoach.com is a board certified health counselor who assists clients who are struggling with weight loss or health issues.  Her website has free resources such as printable recipes, menus, and meal plans, as well as free monthly health tips to subscribers.

All New Dry Erase Boards, Weekly.agenda, and SchoolPriorities.pad

Get ready for the start of back to school with our new dry erase boards, the Weekly.agenda, and the SchoolPriorities.pad.

Dry erase boards are a great way to leave family messages or keep track of lists, chores, and daily routines.  Available in 5 great designs and a lot of great colors, these dry erase boards can be used in the kitchen, library, or on the backs of your kids’ bedroom doors. Read more

Mom Essentials and Mom’s Ultimate Family Organizer

All new!  The Mom’s Ultimate Family Organizer and Mom Essenstials organizer are yet another possible solution to help busy mom’s get it all done with their sanity in check.  Save 15% off these great new products and others with the coupon code earlybird. Offer expires 7/31/2009.

The latest addition to our collection of mom planners, the Mom Essentials organizer has it all.  This planner keeps track of your family schedule, do lists, important contacts, menus, grocery lists, notes, and much more all in a handy compact uncomplicated place.

The Mom’s Ultimate Family Organizer is the latest addition to our collection of family organizers.  This comprehensive one stop family organizer keeps track of your family’s schedule, household contacts and friends, menu planning, party planning, travel planning ,lists and notes, and includes many helpful tips and resources as well. This 128 page family organizer measures 11″ x 11-5/8″, comes in a sturdy 3-ring binder, with 5 tabbed pocket dividers, and 1 sheet of 4 sticky-note pads.

Laptop Lunch Boxes

Over the next few weeks we will be adding a whole new line of earth friendly products.  Our first product in the launch of our new line is the Laptop Lunch Box.  The Laptop Lunch Box is the perfect way to offer your kids nutritious fun lunch choices while greatly reducing the use of paper and plastic bags.  Available in 5 great colors, the Laptop Lunch Box is the perfect solution for busy families on the go who are looking for eco-friendly healthy meal alternatives.

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