Showing posts sorted by date for query healthy recipe. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query healthy recipe. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query healthy recipe. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query healthy recipe. Sort by relevance Show all posts

A BMI Calculator Can Give You the Motivation to Lose Weight

Online BMI Calculator

Been indoors packing on the pounds? It's time to shed the layers of clothing and get outside and play. Growing up, I was chronically skinny except for a brief time in 5th and 6th grade. Due to health issues and medication, as I got older, the weight crept up every couple of years. When motivated, it's easy to get the weight off and drop pounds. Now, as the aging mommy of two kids, the motivation rarely comes and the weight sticks around. I did find a little motivation by plugging my numbers into a BMI calculator. Scroll down to use it, the first BMI Calculator picture is a just pinnable image for Pinterest.  Enjoy! 

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.


BMI Calculator Weightloss Tracker App




BMI CALCULATOR
Pin this image to save to Pinterest.

Below is the actual, interactive, online BMI CALCULATOR.

 
Free Online BMI Calculator.


Online Weight Loss Tracker


Ditch the The Food Pyramid?
Motivation. I've worked on upping my food intake. Yes, upping. I never ate more than once a day. Now, I try to eat three times a day with snacks. I've reinvented meals. I rarely sit down to eat, and I don't fill my plate in a food pyramid with one "meal." For me, that means a yogurt here, a banana there, a peanut butter sandwich, or veggies with dip spread throughout the day. I do eat everything in the food pyramid, but not in one sitting.  Should you eat dairy? at 45, I found out I was allergic to milk (not lactose intolerant.) I ditched milk and rarely eat ice cream. Yogurt and cheese don't cause me problems, so I'm able to fulfill my dairy needs. I also discovered a had hyperparathyroidism, so now I take vitamin D softgels every day.

I tried to ditch the pop, but that didn't work. However, I've made little changes. Food before pop in the morning. One soda or less per day. You'd think I'd gain weight, but I didn't gain a pound. In fact, I lost a few. I tried to find a picture to share, but I run from the camera.  Below, is the best I can do for a before picture. On the positive side, the weight always seemed to keep me looking younger. These days, aside from being old, I'm fairly healthy. Unfortunately, the BMI calculator doesn't agree. Another option is to find a good Weight Tracker App. With an app on your phone, you can track everything on the go.

**UPDATE (2016) 
I've lost over 30 lbs. and kept it off. My biggest tip is to stop eating bread (any sort of gluten). Also, take a daily probiotic. I've ditched the pop! Started by swapping Mountain Dew for Sierra Mist (natural sugars and sweeteners) and then I switched to Coca-Cola Zero. I'm working on swapping this for Propel. I drink a lot of Propel, but I want my caffeine. My go to snack is Vanilla Oikos Triple Zero try it in a Strawberry Smoothie. In the past, I was too sick to exercise. The weight loss was all diet related. Bread, cereal, cake, cupcakes, doughnuts, bagels, pizza, pasta- all gone from my diet during the weight loss. Since I've been able to exercise, I do eat them occasionally. I plan to lose 20 more lbs. this year, by adding exercise.


*I'm not a doctor. These are what worked for me. No health advice is implied.

BMI Calculator for weight loss struggle
2010
2016
What do you wish you could do differently to improve your health?




Positive Weight Loss Goals


**UPDATE (2019)
I'm 50 now and look better than I've looked in years! Still eating while on the move and using resistance bands for stretching every day. Working on losing 10 more pounds. I'm able to walk, do squats, bike ride, etc. I've even started kayaking! If you told me 10 years ago that I'd be kayaking, I would've laughed in your face! Getting fit allowed me to get healthy. So many health issues have disappeared. I'm thinking about running marathons. Not sure my knees can take it. We'll see.
What are you waiting for?


2019
Weight loss story photos
2019

Recommended:

Healthier Recipes that helped me. 
Keep up with me on Instagram.


How to Make Snow Cones or Sno Cones or Ice Cones or Shaved Ice Slushy Slush Puppy

Make a Snow Cone with Shaved Ice


So how do you make an Ice Cone? I mean it's just ice and syrup, right? Isn't a slushy the same thing?  What is a Sno-cone; is it really made out of snow?  Well, we made one from real snow.  It's springtime in Indiana, so anything goes.  Here's a list of everything you never wanted to know about the tasty shaved ice treat.


How to make a rainbow slush for a kids party Pinterest
Rainbow Slushy Popsicle Ice.

Wikipedia defines snow cones as a North American variation of shaved ice commonly served in paper cups. Shaved ice is finely crushed ice. Hawaiian's call it Shave Ice. Baltimorians call them Snowballs.


Slushies are all about freezing water. Snow is frozen water, right?



Homemade Snow Cones from Snow how do you make syrup?
Authentic Snow Cones.
We cheated. We scooped up some Indiana snow and added the Hawaiian Punch syrup we found on clearance at Walmart. They put it on clearance when snow is in season, go figure. This was the easiest snow cone recipe ever. Start with clean snow. 

Mayhem leaves out collecting bowls whenever they are predicting snow. Was it good? Um... yes. It is softer than shaved ice, and oh so perfect for a snow cone. Just like the real thing, if you live in Baltimore.


Snow cone syrup: Get this, the first flavor of syrup for shaved ice was EGG CUSTARD. Apparently, during the American Industrial Revolution  New York ice houses started selling ice to Florida. When the truck passed through Baltimore, kids started asking for free samples. Each time the truck came through they got their wish. The mothers decided to flavor the ice. Since eggs, butter, and sugar were readily on hand, they made egg custard flavor shaved ice. Of course they did. Yep, Baltimorians invented this tasty treat. Later during the Great Depression, it was an inexpensive snack earning the Baltimore Snowball the name "Hard Times Sundae".


The Hawaiian's added a scoop of ice cream at the bottom of a cup and poured a little milk on top. Thank Hawaii for the rainbow colors too. Thank India for Salt and Pepper flavored shaved ice popsicles known as Kala Khatta. Hmm... I'll just stick to the colored, sugary syrup.




When I was a kid, growing up in Indiana the Slush Puppie was the cat's meow. What a treat to get a $1.00 from Grandpa and head into the corner store for a Slush Puppie.



Slush Puppie Snow Cones Sno Cones Shaved Ice Shaved Recipes
Slush Puppies.

Snow Cone Syrup Recipes (How to Make)


You need Sugar, lots of it, for a healthier alternative you could try Clear Corn Syrup or Light Maple Syrup. That's funny right there. For a healthy alternative how about ice and food coloring.


2 C. Sugar, 1 packet Kool-aid Drink Mix, 1 C. Water


Stir sugar and water together in a saucepan (or substitute one of the syrups above). Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in Kool-aid. Cool and store in a recycled glass bottle. Wait for a snow storm or use one of those nifty ice shaving contraptions or use the crushed ice from your fridge dispenser. Now pour the syrup over the ice. Tada! You should start your own snow cone biz 'cause you are officially a pro.




Recommended Reading:


Snowmen at Night*


Kids Creative Chaos Cooks: Kitchen Kids Series: Holiday Recipes*


What are Carrots good for? Here are Simple Carrot Snack Recipes and Edible Crafts perfect for Easter

Easter: Things to do with Carrots for Snacks

Carrots. Bunnies eat them. They are rumored good for eyesight. What else are carrots good for? Here are some simple, easy, snack carrot recipes your kids will enjoy- just in time for Easter.
Simple Carrot Snack Recipes and Edible Crafts
Yummy, Easy Carrot Recipes: No Bunnies Allowed.
Carrots are good in lots of recipes, not just carrot cake. We found Carrot Pancakes from Iowa Girl Eats blog, adorable Bird's Nest Carrot Cupcakes from How Sweet Treats blog, and an Apple Carrot Smoothie from Akers of Love blog. Click the links below to visit their pages.

Recommended Reading:

Easter Knock Knock Jokes

Holiday Edible Art and Snack Crafts



Sign up for our free newsletter!

Kitchen Kids: New Year's Day Bagel Breakfast Recipe Pre School Snack

This easy, edible craft is perfect for preschool birthday parties or as a New Year fun snack for preschoolers

The Bagel Breakfast is a somewhat healthy alternative to the cupcake with bagels, cream cheese, banana, and pineapple.


Bagel Breakfast Recipe Pre School Ktichen Kids Edible Snack for New Years
New Year's Eve ~ Bagel Surprise Treat for Kids.

You need:

Bagels
Bananas
Can of Pineapple
Strawberries
Cream Cheese


To make:

Toast bagel.

Spread Cream Cheese onto one bagel half.
Place Pineapple ring on top of cream cheese.
Cut Banana in half and insert in center of bagel/pineapple.
(Add a dab of cream cheese banana's base to help it stand on end.)
Slice Strawberry and insert the slice around banana.

Now you have a candle in a votive cup.



Happy New Year!


Recommended Reading:

Kitchen Kids Series: Holiday Recipes

Happy New Year, Mallory!

Make a New Year's Time Capsule

The Night Before New Year's

New Year's Activities for Kids

Make a Monkey Mask, Treat, and Read Companion Story Preschool Activity

Do Monkey Around... with this monkey theme Preschool Activity

We made a mask, yummy treat, and had fun with preschoolers pretending to be monkeys. Pretend play is a great way to incorporate many elements of sensory play. Enjoy!

Make a Monkey Mask, Treat, and Read Companion Story Preschool Activity
Our Messy Preschool Class had a blast making 
paper monkey masks and you can too.




One Tricky Monkey Book and Companion Craft
One Tricky Monkey up on top.
How to make a monkey mask and eat a monkey treat.
                      Knives and Spoons make great sticks for the mask,
                            just tape it to the back and use as a handle.

Graham Cracker Banana Recipe on a Stick
How to make healthy monkey treat snacks for kids.


Banana Treats, cover in vanilla yogurt or p.b. and dip in your favorite  toppings.

How to make a paper monkey mask.

Recommended Reading:

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed*

Bananas and Chocolate Chips on a Stick Recipe for Kids

One Tricky Monkey Up On Top *
ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Organic Strawberry Raspberry Smoothie Recipe

Healthy Organic Strawberry Smoothie Recipe Kids Like

Kids like shakes. If only they knew healthy yogurt smoothies are just as good. This healthy, organic, strawberry-raspberry smoothie recipe is fun to make at home and delicious too. Enjoy!


Healthy Kid-friendly Strawberry Smoothie Recipe
Healthy Kid-friendly Strawberry Smoothie Recipe.



Healthy Kid-friendly Strawberry Smoothie Recipe
Cascadian Farm sent us coupons and a little book of 
recipes to made our Strawberry Smoothie.

Blend the Strawberry Smoothie.
Blend the Strawberry Smoothie.

To Make a Strawberry Smoothie at Home you will need:

Fresh or Frozen Strawberries and Raspberries
Crushed Ice (We tweaked the recipe.)
Plain or Vanilla Yogurt.
Whip Topping (Added that too...)

Cascadian Farm Spa Smoothie Recipe 



So good, kids will love to drink smoothies.

Fun Try It:

We also made a Smoothie with Frozen Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri Mixer, Frozen Strawberries, and Vanilla Yogurt. Tastes great, but the Mixer is sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup. Grown-ups can add the rum for a little extra kick. :)




Recommended Reading:

Kids' Fun and Healthy Cookbook*

Kids Creative Chaos Cooks (Kitchen Kids Book 1)*


















ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)


Celebrate Earth Day Organically with these Activities: Grilled Chicken and Raspberry Salad Recipe

Raspberry and Grilled Chicken Recipe for Earth Day

This Earth Day, celebrate with organic and green friendly recipes. Let the kids help make dinner with this easy grilled chicken and raspberry salad recipe. Enjoy!




Grilled Chicken Raspberry Salad Organic Recipe for Earth Day activities
Click Photo for Free Printable Recipe from Cascadian Farm.

Earth Day. What a fabulous day to celebrate life. This year, Cascadian Farm sent us an awesome gift pack to help us celebrate organically. The main thing I want to say is, YUM!



Earth Day: Celebrate with a Cooking Lesson for kids.

I love the honey granola cereal, chocolate chip granola bars, and the to die for raspberry fruit spread.

They sent us a picnic basket with water bottles and yummy recipes to try. We chose to make the Grilled Chicken and Raspberry Salad with Spa Smoothies and Spinach Manicotti




Marinate Chicken in Pomegranate Red Wine Vinegar
 and Raspberry Fruit Spread.



Arrange on plate. Why, yes, that is a styro-foam plate. Not Earth friendly you say?  I use them, wash them, and re-use them for lots of craft projects. We try...


Happy Earth Day!  Note the Earth Friendly Tickle Me Crown and Necklace.

This weekend, we moved into our new home on five, amazing acres (in which I have high hopes for self-sustainable farming) we'll have a picnic next to the pond with the awesome basket they sent.






Recommended Reading: 

I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (Little Green Books)*

Hip Moms Go Green
Very Berry Smoothie Recipe and Organic Garden Party  

For Such a Time as ThisEarth Day Picnic  

In the Kitchen with AudreyWhat's for lunch? 

Cascadian Farms and Snack Girl's:  Healthy Blueberry Muffins














ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)


Homemade Microwave Healthy Popcorn Recipe and Clip Art

How to Make Homemade Microwave Popcorn in a Brown Bag

Have you ever wanted some popcorn, but weren't in the mood for all the hassle? Learn how to Make HOMEMADE Movie Style POPCORN in your MICROWAVE with a BROWN PAPER LUNCH BAG. We added a cartoon bucket of popcorn for those of you searching for clip art images. Enjoy!

Angie says:

Cartoon Clipart bucket of popcorn and microwave healthy popcorn recipe
Easy Homemade Popcorn.
"I saw this in a blog somewhere and just had to try it, mainly to see if it really worked and it did. What I liked most about it, is that it required no oil, and after it is done you can flavor it up however you like. Of course, you can use the very good butter and salt but did you know, you can look through your spice cabinet and use some of your seasonings as well?"


I love using my Buffalo Rub for nighttime snacking. I am looking for something with a little heat, and I also like using my Smoky Applewood Rub.




All you need is the following:

1 lunch size brown paper bag
1/4 C.  popcorn kernels

After putting the popcorn in the bag fold over the bag several times and lay bag flat in microwave and set microwave for between 2 to 3 min. (you will just need to adjust to your microwave, it takes mine about 2 1/2 min.) then when it has finished popping, season to taste.


Recommended Reading:

The Popcorn Book*

More of Angie's Recipes from Pampered Chef






ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)


Edible Art: Sensory Play Paint with Spaghetti with Toddlers and Preschoolers

From our Sensory Play Messy Class for Preschoolers and Toddlers: Worm Painting with Spaghetti and Edible Paint Art

Sensory Play is a great way to help preschoolers learn. It also helps with disorders of the Autism spectrum when the child is allowed to explore the subject matter on their own without being pushed. This activity is messy, squishy, fun, and even edible! Enjoy!


Sensory Spaghetti game for kids and preschoolers.
Getting Started with Cooked Spaghetti
Spaghetti Painting or Worm painting
Inspired Modern Art. Worm Painting?


Sensory Play Edible Art Painting with Spaghetti for Preschool and Toddlers

Spaghetti Painting for Edible Art and Sensory Play.
Spaghetti Painting for Edible Art and Sensory Play feels like worms.

How to Make Spaghetti for Sensory Paint Play

  • Cook up a batch of Spaghetti
  • Strain it and pat it dry
  • Mix some Edible Paint (Vanilla Pudding Paint with Gel food coloring works best with the Noodles but you can also try kool-aid paint and  milk paint for other projects.)
  • Prepare to get Messy!
  • Swirl the Spaghetti in the paint, then onto your paper.
Since most in the class are toddlers, I paraphrase the words to get thru it quickly, paying a lot of attention to the photos and asking, "What is that?".  We paired this with the Children's Book, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs



Next, I gave each child a spaghetti noodle to study. Then, we stood up pretending we were squigly spaghetti noodles. Oops, spaghetti can't stand up, so we fell to the floor and squirmed like worms. We finished up with a game of Duck, Duck, Goose but why not try Worm, Worm, Catepillar?

Painting was a huge success. The sticky spaghetti is so fun, enjoy!

Recommended Reading:

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Worm Birthday Party Favors

Healthy Spaghetti Recipe

Worm Birthday Party Activity

Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe: Quick Dinner Ideas

Make this Easy Weeknight Dinner Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe

Angie shares her Tzatziki Pasta and Grilled Chicken Salad from The Pampered Chef. This Healthy, Heart Friendly Recipe is an quickeasy weeknighy dinner to make. Below, find out how to make this awesome easy grilled Chicken Salad Recipe. Enjoy!


Quick Easy Weeknight Dinner Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe
Quick Easy Weeknight Dinner Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe.


How to Make Grilled Chicken Salad


Salad and Chicken:
8 oz uncooked pasta of choice
1tsp Olive Oil
4 boneless chicken breasts (4 to 6 oz each)
2 T of Greek Rub
1 seedless cucumber
1/2 of a small red onion

Dressing:
1 C Greek yogurt
1/4 C mayo
2 garlic gloves, pressed
2T lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Pampered Chef Square Grill Pan
Pampered Chef Square Grill Pan.


Cook pasta according to directions, drain and run under cold water 'til cool. Meanwhile, heat Square Grill Pan* over medium-high heat for 5 min. Then, brush with oil. Season chicken with rub, cook for 3-5 min or until grill marks appear. Turn chicken over and cook 3-5 min or until center of chicken is no longer pink. Remove from pan and cool 5 min., then thinly slice.

Meanwhile combine dressing ingredients and mix til smooth.  Set aside 1/2 C of dressing.  Add pasta to remaining dressing in bowl and toss.

Cut cucumber into julienne strips using the Julienne Peeler.  Thinly slice onion.  Divide cucumber among plates, top with pasta, onion and chicken.  Then drizzle remaining dressing over top.

Makes 4 servings.

Want one of these pans? I do! Leave a comment and Angie can tell you how to order or earn it. She can also sign you up to sell Pampered Chef products. I don't know anyone who doesn't like to be invited to a Pampered Chef Party! Yum!


Recommended Reading:

Chicken Jokes

Angie's Recipes

365 Ways to Cook Chicken*

Raspberry Grilled Chicken Recipe













ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)