All posts in category Motivation

Food Network’s “Chopped” in My Kitchen

Kid-Created Salads- Eat at Your Own Risk!

Yesterday at lunchtime, our kitchen was transformed into the set from Food Network’s “Chopped.” If you’ve never seen this show before, several chefs are given a basket with several ingredients. They must use all these items to create a dish. They can use additional ingredients as well, but the main (usually odd flavor combinations) foods from the basket need to be the “stars” of the finished dish.

My girls love this show, so yesterday for lunch I gave them each a bag of ingredients. The bags included:

Cooked penne pasta
Carrot sticks
A cheesestick
Dried cranberries

The results were interesting to say the least! Here are the completed dishes…
Aleyah –

Pasta Salad-Penne pasta with cheesestick cubes, chopped carrots, and parmesean cheese
Parfait- Strawberry yogurt, applesauce, blueberries, cranberries, apples, cinnamon, and agave nectar
Salad- Spinach leaves, carrots, cheesestick cubes, and ranch dressing

Anna-

Parfait- Applesauce, strawberry yogurt, apple slices, carrots, and parmesean cheese
Pasta salad- Penne pasta with cranberries, applesauce, cheesestick cubes, bunny grahams, and cinnamon

While I told them they must eat whatever they created, Anna did resort to asking for something else for lunch! She was very adventurous and tried several bites of each of her dishes yet they ended up in the trash. I guess this was a learning experience for her! Aleyah ate almost everything she made, leaving only a few bites left. They truly had a blast and so This will become a weekly summertime “game”.

Anna's Creation

Aleyah's Creation

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by M. Terry on June 21, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Motivation, Recipes

Posted by M. Terry on June 21, 2011

https://wholetothecore.com/2011/06/21/food-networks-chopped-in-my-kitchen/

Raising a Healthy Child

1. Breastfeed – Infants who nursed are able to self-regulate their feedings better than those who are bottle-fed, leading to a lower obesity rate within this group.

2. Eat Together as a Family – According to HealthDay , “those who ate three or more meals a week with their families were 12 percent less likely to be overweight than those who ate few or no meals with their families, and 20 percent less likely to eat sweets, fried foods, soda, and other unhealthy foods.”

3. Encourage Good Eating and Exercise Habits – We need to teach our children the right foods to eat and encourage them to get moving!

4.Get Enough Sleep! – Obese children tend to have shorter sleep periods and more variable sleep patterns than their healthy counterparts who maintain a regular, sustained night’s rest.

5. Be an Example! – If parents eat high-fat, sugary, and salty foods, than their kids are exposed to those foods and are likely to follow suit. In the same way, those parents who eat fruits and vegetables have children who will do just as their parents do- consume more healthy foods. Click here for some kid-friendly and fun snacks.

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by M. Terry on June 15, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Fitness, Motivation, Nutrition

Tagged childhood obesity, healthy habits in children

Posted by M. Terry on June 15, 2011

https://wholetothecore.com/2011/06/15/raising-a-healthy-child/

Childhood Obesity – Our Responsibility

Last week, I worked the volunteer cafe at VBS. Our job was to keep the refreshments flowing for the 100 or so volunteers that came to help. The tables were stocked with traditional goodies- cookies, brownies, donuts, and the like, but I also made sure there were healthy choices too- hummus and pita chips, vegetables, fruit, and whole grain pastas and breads.

I was saddened by how many overweight youth came through that room. And even those that weren’t overweight still loaded their plates with high sugar and high fat items. I’m talking about 4-6 cookies, a brownie, chips, and lemonade. May I will be brazen enough to say that overfeeding a child is just as much a form of abuse as is starving a child in the name of punishment? We think nothing of it when a parent placates their child with food. We even think it’s cute for a child to be called “chubby” or we say, “There’s just more of him to love”. Allowing food to be a satisfier in times of emotional need leads to a cycle that is truly difficult to break. In the same way, if we fail to educate our children in nutrition, be it due to “ignorance” or apathy, we have also failed to steer them down the path that will keep them healthy and strong in the life God has given them.

According to the Florida Hospital, the number of children in the United States who are considered overweight or obese has doubled, from 15 percent in the 1970s to nearly 30 percent today. An overweight child can face numerous health conditions including…

*high blood pressure

*high cholesterol

*diabetes

*asthma

*heart disease

*depression

*low self-esteem

My heart breaks for those youth and children that I saw who are already struggling with weight. Their precious bodies must begin now to work harder, putting strain on their hearts, lungs, liver, kidneys, and their emotional well-being. As a mom, I encourage you to educate yourself and help your child, your grandchild, niece, nephew, or your students to make wise choices now so they have the best opportunity to live a full and abundant life! This week is dedicated to our children and the many ways to help them make the best choices possible.

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by M. Terry on June 13, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Motivation, Nutrition

Tagged childhood diseases, childhood obesity, overweight children

Posted by M. Terry on June 13, 2011

https://wholetothecore.com/2011/06/13/childhood-obesity-our-responsibility/

A Couple of Smiles During Bathtime

My girls were taking a shower this evening while I sat tub side as Joel played in the bath. Between verbal commands of “Don’t drink the bath water.” and “Sit on your hiny.”, I was reading (still reading- I have ADD when it comes to completing books) Mile Markers. In her post, “Giving It Up”, my heart smiled as I read Kristin’s concluding sentence on runners: “Our passion to hit the ground running is the very thing that keeps us grounded.” Couldn’t have said it better myself!

Then, I get to “Working It Out” where she writes about other hobbies that she enjoys. One of them she describes as “grocery shopping (with no list, rush, or children, at Whole Foods)”. It was at this point that I burst out laughing to the point that my husband inquired “What’s was so funny?” Now that statement is just as true as the former quote!

I am thankful for these little heart-warming moments in my Saturday evening. These shared passions help me to realize that I am indeed sane.

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by M. Terry on June 4, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Motivation

Posted by M. Terry on June 4, 2011

https://wholetothecore.com/2011/06/04/a-couple-of-smiles-during-bathtime/

National Running Day – Why I Love to Run

Today is National Running Day! Why do I love running?

When I run, I feel…

FREE
ALIVE
ENERGIZED
STRONG
EMPOWERED
HEALTHY

When I run, my mind focuses. I…

THINK OF NOTHING (By far, one of my favorites!)
SOLVE PROBLEMS (both mine and the world’s- now only if the world would listen…)
STRATEGIZE
PLAN
PRAY
REMINISCE
DREAM

Happy National Running Day to all my fellow runners!

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by M. Terry on June 1, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Fitness, Motivation

Posted by M. Terry on June 1, 2011

https://wholetothecore.com/2011/06/01/national-running-day-why-i-love-to-run/

Running Around in Circles

I normally do not look forward to running laps around my neighborhood. It gets rather dull seeing the same thing over and over. However, after a wild and crazy week of school activities and a golf tournament fundraiser, I actually couldn’t wait to get out of bed this morning and hit the pavement. I crept out of the house before my husband and kids awoke, and began a much needed run. It was just me and the half moon, and I thought of nothing of significance. I enjoyed the stillness around me and knew I had nothing too pressing on me as I face this week. Running is my outlet.

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by M. Terry on May 22, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Motivation

Posted by M. Terry on May 22, 2011

https://wholetothecore.com/2011/05/22/running-around-in-circles/

Whole Foods Field Trip Recap

Today was our “field trip” to Whole Foods. It was a great time with great friends! Our day began with lunch at Seasons 52. Our table was arrayed with garlic chicken flatbread, buffalo- in the form of a burger and in a bowl of chili, and spinach salad with raspberries, pine nuts, and gorgonzola. Lunch was finished with mini indulgences of chocolate peanut butter mousse and rocky road.

After a shopping opportunity at IKEA, we headed over to Whole Foods. It is a much more productive and enjoyable experience when you are childless for the day! I was able to pick up some old favorites like Pirate’s Booty, Larabars, and, my personal addiction, cornbread from their bakery (see picture below- ahhhhh!). I also picked up some new items to try including Kashi’s latest additions, Indigo Morning cereal and Simply Maize cereal. I bought a box of 365 mac and cheese. This must be tested and approved by the kids before I purchase it again. Tonight we tried Stonyfield Farms’ Minty Chocolate Chip frozen yogurt- yummy!! Because this day was such a success, trip #2 is already in the works. So if you missed this one, we will be heading back over sometime this summer.

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by M. Terry on May 14, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Motivation

Posted by M. Terry on May 14, 2011

https://wholetothecore.com/2011/05/14/whole-foods-field-trip-recap/

Squeezing It All In

It’s been a very hectic week and will continue to be crazy around our house for the next week and a half. I have every excuse not to exercise, but have even more reasons why I will NOT miss my workouts. It’s hard to drag my tired body out and get it running. When I’m feeling sluggish, it takes several minutes for my legs to find their pace and for my breathing to find its rhythm, but once everything is working together, my energy picks up and the world is gone for the rest of my run. I am unconcerned with what is to be done. Rather, I am focused on the brief escape I have from my responsibilities. And when I am finished, there is a sense of accomplishment and a renewed energy to face the rest of the day. So the sanity I gain from squeezing in a workout actually enables me to tackle all that awaits me rather than keeping me from completing my “to do” list. Give yourself a 20-30 minute break from life and get out and move. I promise that you won’t regret it!

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by M. Terry on May 11, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Fitness, Motivation

Tagged energy from exercise, running when tired

Posted by M. Terry on May 11, 2011

https://wholetothecore.com/2011/05/11/1226/

The Beginning and Ending of My Mother’s Day

Last Wednesday, Aleyah announced (didn’t ask, just strongly stated as she often does) that she wanted to run the art festival 5K with me next time. We are planning on getting in a little practice between now and then, and that began this morning. I started off my Mother’s Day with a half lap (just about 1/2 of a mile) around my neighborhood with Anna. I dropped off Anna and picked up Aleyah to do a full loop (about 1 mile). I was proud of both girls- no whining and just a few, short walking breaks. Their favorite part was jumping over Sunday morning newspapers that had yet to be picked up. My favorite part- the smiles, laughter, and elephant -sounding feet pounding on the pavement.

I ended my day with a wonderful walk with my mom. God has blessed me with a mom that I admire more than anyone. I still long to have her patience, kindness, and strength.

Happy Mother’s Day to all! Back to the grind tomorrow 🙂

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by M. Terry on May 8, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Motivation

Posted by M. Terry on May 8, 2011

https://wholetothecore.com/2011/05/08/the-beginning-and-ending-of-my-mothers-day/

Hey Mom! You’re Worth $115,431 a Year!

Moms wear many hats throughout the day, and those hats sure can be hard to balance as your life’s activities are flying past you. Salary.com has figured out just how much a stay-at-home mom would make if she were paid for all her services. So take heart mom! You would be bringing home the bacon (if you actually received a paycheck for all that you do!) with a whopping $115,431 a year! Take a look at all the jobs that were considered as they determined your value in the workforce. I, however, know something they don’t- you are priceless! Have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend- you deserve it!!