Thanksgiving is a time of feasting with family and friends, of gratitude for our blessings, and – if you’re hosting dinner – of planning, prepping and preparing.
Fear not! While pulling off Thanksgiving dinner probably won’t ever be stress-free, it can be easier and more relaxed with a little help.
- Did you know you can order a Personalized Holiday Meal from Dream Dinners? We’ve got everything from golden-roasted turkey to delicious side dishes like savory stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and more. Just pick your favorites! See menu here.
- If you love cooking yourself, check out our Entertainment Page for ideas on planning, timelines, and how to calculate essentials like paper products and beverages for guests.
Need more help? This CNN.com article by the editors of Cooking Light is brimming with tips on shopping, planning, cooking and serving. It’s one of the most informative ones we’ve found. Enjoy!
Healthy Thanksgiving tips, from market to table
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a season where eating is central to the festivities. While it’s also the season of indulgence, it’s easy to plan a holiday meal that’s delicious and healthful. Whether you’re serving two or 20, these guidelines will help make sure your big dinner is a success. Follow our tips for making smart choices at the market, in the kitchen, and at the table.
Over 90% of the pumpkins grown in the US are used to make jack o-lanterns – we do that, too, of course, but last year’s bumper crop made us get a little creative in the kitchen: delicious pumpkin pies, pumpkin soup and an amazing pumpkin butter that is incredible when spread on homemade bread.
Pumpkins are rich in carotenoid phytonutrients which give them their beautiful orange color and many of their health benefits.
Canned pumpkin has pretty much the same nutritional value as that which you pluck out of the garden, but there’s one thing they won’t have – the seeds.
Pumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc which is important for a healthy immune system. They also contain a phytonutrient called cucurbitacins which may prevent prostate enlargement.
And if all of this work out in the garden had made your joints ache a bit, adding pumpkin seeds into the diet may be just as effective at reducing joint inflammation as some over the counter pain medications.
To learn more about eating well and living the good life, visit www.beekman1802.com
In a nation battling obesity, your kids may be getting more than reading, writing and arithmetic at school. Soda pop, ice cream and cookies just might be in the mix.
For a number of years, junk food in school cafeterias and vending machines has been a concern. Now, some states are taking the lead to provide healthier options as well as encouraging students to be more physically active.
Studies reveal how schools are faring in this HealthDay News article, written by Randy Dotinga.
Nutrition Still Not ‘A’ Grade in U.S. Schools: Studies Schools in the United States are becoming healthier places thanks to more nutritious food and an increased focus on exercise, but still more is needed to combat teen obesity, a series of studies concludes.
Click here to read full article.
When I was a child (and much less concerned about how my breath smelled), I used to eat sandwiches all the time made of sliced onions and mayonnaise. I still do this some weekends at the farm when I know it’s just going to be me and the goats. They don’t mind.
Onions are loaded with phytonutrients which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. Their sulfur-containing phytonutrients (which cause the bad breath and the watery eyes) and the high level of chromium are also important in helping control blood glucose levels. The same sulfur-containing nutrients are also anti-inflammatory and can serve as a natural antibiotic.
To learn more about eating well and living the good life, visit www.beekman1802.com
From Stacey Seybold Hiller, M.S.,CCC-SLP, Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist and Owner, Dream Dinners of Indianapolis, IN
In previous articles, we have discussed offering a variety of foods, using a variety of dips, and not broadcasting our food likes and dislikes onto our toddlers. But are there other practical tips that can get healthy foods into a toddler’s mouth? You bet! Try these:
- When your child is in a high chair and being spoon fed, use two spoons; one for the adult, one for the child. That way the child can begin to learn to feed himself, and he won’t be grabbing the spoon you are using. Avoid force feeding your child.
- Forks are your friend! A blunt tipped toddler fork is much easier for children to use with solid foods than a spoon. Messes happen-put a shower curtain under their high chair and let them eat away!
- While you don’t want to limit choices, you do want to limit portion size. If a small toddler has huge amounts of food on her plate, it can be overwhelming, and cause her not to eat. Start with small portions of three to four things, and offer more if desired.
- Offer an old favorite next to a new offering. Try to also give at least one finger food along with a food that requires a spoon. Remember, most children will need to see a new food at least 8-10 times before they will try it. Don’t give up! Picky eaters are made, not born.
Happy Eating!
Stacey Seybold Hiller has practiced pediatric speech pathology for more than 18 years. Both she and her husband felt they were ready for a career change, so they opened Dream Dinners in Indianapolis with a partner. Now she can further her passion for healthy family meals around the table at home!
From Stacey Seybold Hiller, M.S.,CCC-SLP, Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist and Owner, Dream Dinners of Indianapolis, IN
The previous article discussed how it is important it is to offer toddlers a wide variety of foods from an early age, and to have them eating (in a safe form) the same foods we are eating. But that can be easier said than done. What are some easy ways to encourage toddlers to try new foods? Try some of these:
- Dips are your friends! Give you child a cracker, or pretzel rod, or banana, and let them dip away. Offer them a variety of things to try to dip, not just ketchup or chocolate. Don’t be afraid of bold tastes like salsa, mustards, different kinds of jellies, or even horseradish!
- Don’t tell you child before they try something that they won’t like it. For example, the child reaches for a piece of red pepper, you hand to them while saying, “OK, you can try it, but you probably won’t like it.” Your children’s food choices can be affected by what you tell them. Don’t let your dislikes automatically become their dislikes.
- Let your toddler make a few (healthy) choices at the grocery store. For example, in the produce section, ask them what they would like to try. Then take it home, cut it up (into safely sized pieces) and let them dig in! They will feel more motivated to eat a food they chose, or even better yet, helped prepare.
Stay positive and upbeat about your child’s eating. Children will usually try almost anything if given time. Be patient and positive and watch your child’s palate develop!
Stacey Seybold Hiller has practiced pediatric speech pathology for more than 18 years. Both she and her husband felt they were ready for a career change, so they opened Dream Dinners in Indianapolis with a partner. Now she can further her passion for healthy family meals around the table at home!
Chard, like all leafy greens, has a wealth of valuable nutrients. It promotes digestive health (high in fiber), bone health (high in magnesium), and vision health (high in beta-carotene).
But swiss chard is most important because it is so darn pretty. Adding it to an otherwise boring salad is sure to please even the most steadfast carnivore in your family.
To learn more about eating well and living the good life, visit www.beekman1802.com
From Stacey Seybold Hiller, M.S.,CCC-SLP, Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist and Owner, Dream Dinners of Indianapolis, IN.
Once your child has developed enough motor skills to sit by themselves in a high chair, it is time for solid foods! This is an exciting time in a child’s life. This is also the best time to introduce your child to a wide variety of tastes and textures. Even though it makes more work for parents, a messy (toddler) eater will be a good eater later on. The more children get to see, touch, smell, and taste a variety of foods, the less picky they will become later in life. Experimenting with food in this way during the toddler stages is a very important sensory experience. Children that are exposed to many food textures will be more comfortable with things such as finger paints and sand castles later in life. Even very young infants benefit from being around the family while the meal is being prepared and eaten. Babies will become comfortable with the food smells, and then by the time they have foods in front of them, those smells won’t be unfamiliar or scary to them. In addition, the language stimulation at meal time is extremely valuable for baby!
Remember: most children won’t accept new foods the first time you offer them. It takes multiple exposures to food for children to become brave enough to actually taste. Sometimes it takes up to ten offerings before a child will begin to eat something new. Don’t give up when your child refuses a new food. Keep offering it on a regular basis-eating will be a positive experience for everyone! Picky eaters are made, not born.
Stacey Seybold Hiller has practiced pediatric speech pathology for more than 18 years. Both she and her husband felt they were ready for a career change, so they opened Dream Dinners in Indianapolis with a partner. Now she can further her passion for healthy family meals around the table at home!
The fall season always brings changes and new routines, and a period of adjustment is common. But are half of you running here, while the other half runs there? Are times of family fun falling by the wayside?
Don’t let hectic schedules rule your reality. Here, writer Hannah Keeley offers a few tips to help you enjoy playful, relaxing time with your family, so your relationships can stay strong and healthy.
Play Together, Stay Together: Five Tips for Family Fun
Tell me if this sounds a little too true for your family—the younger kids are glued to the television, teens are texting on their phones or chatting on the computer, dad is taking a business call, and there’s mom surfing the net. This is a picture of a family living separate lives and it is a disaster in the making. Don’t be fooled. Just because the vast majority of families live this way DOES NOT make it right. Families were meant to grow together and one way to ensure that unity is to make fun a family event.Click here to get the Five Tips for Family Fun.
RSS - Posts