Packing Healthy Foods and Meals for Your Family Vacation (Corrina Kuhar)

Summer is the perfect time for traveling. There is nothing quite like getting your family all packed up and hitting the open road on your way to a fun and relaxing destination. Traveling by car to get to your destination has many advantages: it's cheaper and it's less complicated than flying, you get to see the sights out of your window, and you can use that time to really bond with your family. There are some downsides though. If the drive is going to be a long one, you will need to stop somewhere to eat. This can get quite expensive after a while, and eating in restaurants can get tiresome, and there aren't always options for healthy foods and meals. A great alternative to stopping at fast food joints along the way is to pack your own lunch and stop for a picnic on the way. Vacations in general can take a toll on your health and diet. The temptation is always to eat t restaurants and indulge in treats. Packing your own healthy foods and meals is a great way to avoid this problem. This might sound inconvenient, but with a little preparation, it won't be so bad, especially if the whole family pitches in and helps pack healthy foods and meals. Sandwiches are always an easy choice, along with fruit, raw vegetables, and snacks such as trail mix. Set some time aside the night before you leave to put your picnic lunch together, and once you start preparing it, you'll see that's really not so bad.

Of course kids always look forward to eating out on trips. It's part of what makes vacations so fun for them. If you want them to eat healthy foods and meals on the way, but don't want to take their fun away, you can make your picnic lunch more interesting. Instead of standard sandwiches, pack some wraps. Even though they might contain the same ingredients as sandwiches, kids think of them as more fun. As a treat, bake some cookies for your trip, but use healthy ingredients. Try making banana oat cookies, or multi-grain cookies. If you throw in some chocolate chips, your kids will never know that the cookie is otherwise a healthy choice! They will still be having fun without having to compromise their health. For healthy drinks, pack some water lemon, strawberry, or another kind of fruit sliced into it. This will add flavor and sweetness without all of the added sugar and artificial flavors you see in most juices and soft drinks.

Going on a road trip can be such a fun family experience, and you shouldn't have to ruin your fun by constantly worrying that you are spending too much money on food or putting unhealthy food into your children's bodies. Packing your own healthy foods and meals will allow you to save money and avoid greasy, unhealthy fast food. Preparing your picnic lunch together as a family is also a great way to kick start your vacation!

If you are looking for healthy foods and meals to begin serving yourself and your family a healthier future- explore our selection of recipes ( http://www.jennycancook.com/ ) from appetizers to desserts. To know about the best way to get healthy, you may visit Wisegeek.com.

Packing Healthy Foods and Meals for Your Family Vacation (Corrina Kuhar)

Summer is the perfect time for traveling. There is nothing quite like getting your family all packed up and hitting the open road on your way to a fun and relaxing destination. Traveling by car to get to your destination has many advantages: it's cheaper and it's less complicated than flying, you get to see the sights out of your window, and you can use that time to really bond with your family. There are some downsides though. If the drive is going to be a long one, you will need to stop somewhere to eat. This can get quite expensive after a while, and eating in restaurants can get tiresome, and there aren't always options for healthy foods and meals. A great alternative to stopping at fast food joints along the way is to pack your own lunch and stop for a picnic on the way. Vacations in general can take a toll on your health and diet. The temptation is always to eat t restaurants and indulge in treats. Packing your own healthy foods and meals is a great way to avoid this problem. This might sound inconvenient, but with a little preparation, it won't be so bad, especially if the whole family pitches in and helps pack healthy foods and meals. Sandwiches are always an easy choice, along with fruit, raw vegetables, and snacks such as trail mix. Set some time aside the night before you leave to put your picnic lunch together, and once you start preparing it, you'll see that's really not so bad.

Of course kids always look forward to eating out on trips. It's part of what makes vacations so fun for them. If you want them to eat healthy foods and meals on the way, but don't want to take their fun away, you can make your picnic lunch more interesting. Instead of standard sandwiches, pack some wraps. Even though they might contain the same ingredients as sandwiches, kids think of them as more fun. As a treat, bake some cookies for your trip, but use healthy ingredients. Try making banana oat cookies, or multi-grain cookies. If you throw in some chocolate chips, your kids will never know that the cookie is otherwise a healthy choice! They will still be having fun without having to compromise their health. For healthy drinks, pack some water lemon, strawberry, or another kind of fruit sliced into it. This will add flavor and sweetness without all of the added sugar and artificial flavors you see in most juices and soft drinks.

Going on a road trip can be such a fun family experience, and you shouldn't have to ruin your fun by constantly worrying that you are spending too much money on food or putting unhealthy food into your children's bodies. Packing your own healthy foods and meals will allow you to save money and avoid greasy, unhealthy fast food. Preparing your picnic lunch together as a family is also a great way to kick start your vacation!

If you are looking for healthy foods and meals to begin serving yourself and your family a healthier future- explore our selection of recipes ( http://www.jennycancook.com/ ) from appetizers to desserts. To know about the best way to get healthy, you may visit Wisegeek.com.

3 Easy Ways to Fool Them with Healthy Recipes for the Family (Twistson Snacks)

We set aside an entire day each year that is devoted to fooling people. For some people, being sneaky has to become a daily endeavor when it comes to making recipes for the family. Getting kids and sometimes even adults to eat healthy snacks food can be a challenge. But what if we tell you there are some simple tricks to feeding healthy food to the unsuspecting?

No fooling, there's more to sneaking in the good stuff than just putting veggies in a blender and mixing it with tomato sauce. Since so many picky eaters develop more of a mental aversion to certain foods than a true taste aversion, it is possible to promote change.

You've probably experienced the scenario where kids scoff at the mere sight of certain foods before they've ever even allowed it to cross their lips. Perhaps you know an adult who so strongly dislikes a food they haven't eaten since they were five years old. Taste buds change, and so can most people.

But what's the best way to prompt that change? Force feeding is not the best idea. But with 3 simple strategies to fool people with healthy food, you can soon have them eating their former "food nemesis" with a smile.

Disguise
Sometimes, the best plan is a sneak attack. Disguising foods and feeding them to the unsuspecting is the simplest way to keep them healthy. While we don't advocate dishonesty, a little slight- of- hand is akin to keeping the secret ingredient of an old family recipe. It sort of follows the "what they don't know won't hurt them" strategy.

-Put greens like spinach into smoothies. Just make sure that no one sees you do it!
-Grate Carrots and slip them into muffin mixes, or even brownie recipes. It makes them moist and provides healthy beta-carotene.

Blend
This is the middle ground of sneaking in something healthy to any recipes for the family. It's not necessarily hidden, but is not an all out swap.

-Steam and mash some cauliflower in with mashed potatoes.
-Mix some healthy cereal in with the sugary kid stuff.
-Combine tofu with chicken and veggies in a stir fry.

Ween/Substitute
If you think your family is ready to try a healthier version, but not quite up for the full switch, try slowly introducing something new mixed with their favorites. Gradually increase the portion of the healthier food until you reach the point where it is all they get.

-Use a bit of soy-protein crumbles with ground beef when preparing tacos, burritos, or even spaghetti with meat sauce. As you increase the proportion of soy, your family will get used to the slightly different flavor and texture.
-Combine whole wheat pasta with regular pasta and gradually increase the amount. Over time, they will come to accept the new dish.
-Substitute flaxseed oil for butter. While it is still has a high fat content, it is a healthy fat that is better than butter. Be careful about using too much, this is a true quantity for quantity swap. It is good on breads, veggies, even snack food like popcorn.

If you want some more ideas, check out these 15 tips for sneaking superfoods into your diet from WebMD.

So don't stress over keeping your kids and any other picky eaters healthy and happy. Get a little creative, and yes, a bit sneaky with your recipes for the family, and Happy April Fools Day!

In spite of the April first posting date, this blog is no joke!

We are the best source on the web for delicious, entertaining easy snack recipes ideas. Twists on Snacks are sponsored by John Wm. Macy's Cheese Sticks. They're known for our award winning, twice-baked and hand rolled gourmet snacks.

3 Easy Ways to Fool Them with Healthy Recipes for the Family (Twistson Snacks)

We set aside an entire day each year that is devoted to fooling people. For some people, being sneaky has to become a daily endeavor when it comes to making recipes for the family. Getting kids and sometimes even adults to eat healthy snacks food can be a challenge. But what if we tell you there are some simple tricks to feeding healthy food to the unsuspecting?

No fooling, there's more to sneaking in the good stuff than just putting veggies in a blender and mixing it with tomato sauce. Since so many picky eaters develop more of a mental aversion to certain foods than a true taste aversion, it is possible to promote change.

You've probably experienced the scenario where kids scoff at the mere sight of certain foods before they've ever even allowed it to cross their lips. Perhaps you know an adult who so strongly dislikes a food they haven't eaten since they were five years old. Taste buds change, and so can most people.

But what's the best way to prompt that change? Force feeding is not the best idea. But with 3 simple strategies to fool people with healthy food, you can soon have them eating their former "food nemesis" with a smile.

Disguise
Sometimes, the best plan is a sneak attack. Disguising foods and feeding them to the unsuspecting is the simplest way to keep them healthy. While we don't advocate dishonesty, a little slight- of- hand is akin to keeping the secret ingredient of an old family recipe. It sort of follows the "what they don't know won't hurt them" strategy.

-Put greens like spinach into smoothies. Just make sure that no one sees you do it!
-Grate Carrots and slip them into muffin mixes, or even brownie recipes. It makes them moist and provides healthy beta-carotene.

Blend
This is the middle ground of sneaking in something healthy to any recipes for the family. It's not necessarily hidden, but is not an all out swap.

-Steam and mash some cauliflower in with mashed potatoes.
-Mix some healthy cereal in with the sugary kid stuff.
-Combine tofu with chicken and veggies in a stir fry.

Ween/Substitute
If you think your family is ready to try a healthier version, but not quite up for the full switch, try slowly introducing something new mixed with their favorites. Gradually increase the portion of the healthier food until you reach the point where it is all they get.

-Use a bit of soy-protein crumbles with ground beef when preparing tacos, burritos, or even spaghetti with meat sauce. As you increase the proportion of soy, your family will get used to the slightly different flavor and texture.
-Combine whole wheat pasta with regular pasta and gradually increase the amount. Over time, they will come to accept the new dish.
-Substitute flaxseed oil for butter. While it is still has a high fat content, it is a healthy fat that is better than butter. Be careful about using too much, this is a true quantity for quantity swap. It is good on breads, veggies, even snack food like popcorn.

If you want some more ideas, check out these 15 tips for sneaking superfoods into your diet from WebMD.

So don't stress over keeping your kids and any other picky eaters healthy and happy. Get a little creative, and yes, a bit sneaky with your recipes for the family, and Happy April Fools Day!

In spite of the April first posting date, this blog is no joke!

We are the best source on the web for delicious, entertaining easy snack recipes ideas. Twists on Snacks are sponsored by John Wm. Macy's Cheese Sticks. They're known for our award winning, twice-baked and hand rolled gourmet snacks.