Hydration Reminder - Applies to parents and kids!

Yes, it is heading towards getting cold outside again; however, that doesn't mean you can forget everything you know about hydration! 

Let's get into some Good Hydration Tips:

Practicing good hydration tips is vital whether you are in the backyard relaxing or at the park jogging. Paying attention to hydration lets you enjoy life without feeling fatigued and while you receive some water from foods such as fruits and vegetables, the reality is eighty percent of your hydration is from water as well as other liquids.

It is a bad idea to let your thirst guide you as to how much to drink. If you get thirsty then you are in fact already slightly dehydrated! The best thing to do is to outpace your thirst, so it is a good idea to keep a water bottle on hand at all times.

Eight glasses of water (about eight ounces each) should be the bare minimum you consume in a day, not the end point. Nine glasses for women and twelve for men is the best suggestion.

It is important to keep in mind that some drinks will hydrate more than others. Water is the best option for hydration. Caffeinated beverages are actually better than commonly thought but alcohol can actually dehydrate you so is best avoided, particularly in large quantities.

Steering clear of alcohol and always having a bottle of water on-hand are best practices.
Also, teach your kids that water is essential! 

Water helps digestion regulation. It helps keep skin looking good. It helps energize muscles.
It helps keep immune system stronger to fight sickness. Oh, the many roles of water. 

Below are the links for water wonder-ers.

WebMD

FitDay

Nutrition (with some misconceptions)

Nutrition

Avoiding Shopping Mistakes

Even with the best of intentions about healthy food and nutrition, we can still make mistakes when we actually go out to shop. There are a number of common mistakes and misconceptions that even people who thought they were well-informed can make.

One common mistake is people paying more for brown eggs rather than white in the belief that the brown eggs are better for you. The reality is there is no truth to this whatsoever. The color of the egg is irrelevant to its nutritional content or its taste. The only thing that makes a shell a certain color is the breed of the chicken.

Another mistake is purchasing low-fat peanut butter to save on fat and calories. The irony here is that the fat in peanut butter is actually good for you so there is no point in avoiding it. Low-fat peanut butter also actually has higher sugar content in order to make up for less fat, with little if any difference in calories. When buying peanut butter, choose the one with the least ingredients, preferably with nothing more than peanuts and a small amount of added salt or sugar. 

Some confusion also comes along with the multi-grain vs. whole grain conversation. Which is healthier? According to http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/multigrain/faq-20057867:

"Whole-grain foods are a healthy choice because they contain nutrients, fiber and other healthy plant compounds found naturally in the grain. Look for products that list the first ingredient as "whole wheat," "whole oats" or a similar whole grain. While "whole grains" may signify one of many types of healthy grains, "whole wheat" labels the specific grain used. Either term may identify a food that's a good source of fiber, several B vitamins and minerals."

Hopefully that helps!

Is there anything else you'd like to share? Anything you think we should discuss in our blogs?
Let us know on our facebook or twitter! 

Help Toddler, Help Themselves

Help your toddler gain some independence going to sleep at night.

Read about it here:

http://www.ahaparenting.com/ages-stages/toddlers/helping-your-toddler-learn-to-put-himself-to-sleep

Sound like a good idea? Let us know what you think and what works for you!

Fun Fall Family Activities

Now that it is officially Fall, your family can start doing fun Fall activities together!

Family activities teach kids fine motor skills, stimulate thinking, and create a closer bond within the family. 

Let's get to creating, shall we?!

There a dozens of websites with great Fall/Halloween activities but here are a few of our favorite!:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/541628292659569226/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/541628292659569225/

http://family.disney.com/autumn

http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2012/08/www.growingajeweledrose.com.fallactivitiesandcraftsforkids.html

Keep The Home Fires Burning

As parents with a small child or children it can be difficult to find time to spend together the way that you could before the kids arrived. This often translates, in practical terms, in a definite plunge in your ability to find those romantic interludes that were just a part of life before kids.

However, staying strong as a couple by finding time keep that romance alive is not just important for your relationship, it is also important for your comfort and security as a couple. Couples that routinely find time to spend with each other and enjoying being together are happier, more secure in their relationships and more likely to feel important and valued in the eyes of their spouse.

To keep romance alive with young children in the home try the following:

• Ask a family member you trust to take the kids for the weekend or a night and either plan a getaway or have a romantic stay-cation in your own home.
• Do something special that you know your partner enjoys as a planned but surprise activity. Maybe this is going bowling or visiting a local park, but add a touch of romance by focusing on them and not on the kids or the bills.
• Make it a point to enjoy each other’s company by holding hands when you walk, sit together to watch a movie and giving more than just a peck on the cheek as a greeting.
• Add romance by sending a loving text message, putting a romantic note in a pocket, purse or briefcase or calling at a break to just say you were thinking of them.
• Have fun. Laughing and sharing wonderful experiences, even funny little things at the grocery store, build up a relationship.

The more little things that you do to show you partner you are in love and you want to be with them the greater the response will be and the more romance you will enjoy throughout your life together. 

Plan A Family Game Night On A Budget

Spending a fun night at home with the kids playing different games and having a family favorite meal is a wonderful way to stretch your entertainment dollar. Often cash strapped Moms and Dads can’t afford a night at the movies for the family or simply wish they could attend a major sporting event with the kids.

The reality is that yes, children would like to do those things, but spending time as a family is just as much fun. Once your kids are old enough encouraging them to get involved in helping you with planning a family game night is a great way to be very inclusive and ensure that you are doing things that everyone will enjoy.

Some low cost ideas for a family game night include:

• Make snacks or meals at home that are favorites for the family. Kids will love a “make it yourself pizza night” or making their own treats and healthy snacks.
• Use a spinner or numbered dice to allow each child to roll to choose a game. Each game is numbered to correspond with a number on the dice, which avoids issues about who gets to choose.
• Consider a game swap night with the neighbors. You can swamp board games or other games that you have in your house with theirs, giving everyone a new set of games to play without the need to buy anything.
• Go unplugged and limit games to those that don’t include technology. This avoids the additional costs of renting games and encourages interaction and conversation between the entire family.
• Try playing old school games like jacks, marbles, charades, or even go outside and have a family game of soccer, basketball or football in the back yard. You can always make up your own game using different toys and items that you have around the house.

The biggest benefit to being on a budget is that you can really get creative. Encourage your kids to come up with ideas for family game nights; you may be surprised at what they enjoy. 

Teaching Kids To Be Organized

Although some children appear to be born with a natural inclination for routine and order, others are free spirits and need some assistance in order to discover ways to make their life run more smoothly. Teaching children organizational skills can make family life run a lot more efficiently and cut down friction when children have to keep their rooms clean and do homework and there are some good tips that can help with this learning process.

One smart idea is to track all of the family activities on a calendar that is accessible to everyone. Every night get together and discuss the activities that are scheduled for the following day and encourage kids to check the calendar before adding any other activity.

Daily checklists are also a good idea to help keep track of homework, instrument practice or household chores. This also teaches children how to prioritize. Teach children to prepare their clothes for the following day the night before and have everything laid out for the morning, including making lunches and packing their backpack.

Another way to teach children organization is to encourage them to have some kind of collection that can be classified, sorted and organized.