Eating healthier can be fun!

As a parent I'm always looking for fun things to do with my kids. About 2 years ago, my husband and I found a farm online that grows organic produce. We decided that it would be fun to take the kids so that they can see how the foods that they eat are grown. Our first trip consisted of a strawberry tour which we traveled by a wooden wagon that was pulled by a tractor.

On our tour a farmer informed us about the different crops that were in season and we tasted carrots, sweet maui onions, and green beans straight from the soil. The best part of the tour consisted of the farmer allowing us to pick our own strawberries to indulge in while standing in the field! Our sons loved the fact that they could pick the strawberries, and they even received a basket full of them at the end of the tour.


Overall we had an amazing day that was educational for all of us. Since then we have gone on the watermelon tour, and attended the pumpkin patch where you pick your own pumpkins straight from the vine. Our sons love making pumpkin pie from the pumpkins that we purchase from the farm. In fact we won second place this year at my oldest sons harvest festival! We love going on the farm tours to see what's in season. My kids developed a new love for the garden that we now started one at home as well. Eating healthier can be fun! Here's where we went on our tours.

Tanaka Farms 5380 3/4 University Dr Irvine, CA 92612-2944 (949) 653-2100

 

List of Tours

~ Cookout Tours are from March - August and starting March 19, 2011 - August 28, 2011

~ Strawberry Tours are from March - June and starting March 17, 2011 - June 26, 2011

~ Watermelon Tours are from July - August and starting July 2, 2011 - August 28, 2011

~  Pumpkin Patch Toursare from the end of September to end of October. Starting Sept. 26, 2011 - Oct. 31, 2011

Love this Rockin Melon!

When I was pregnant with my little guy, I found that I often craved cantaloupe.I could have this tasty treat any time of the day, and often enjoyed it juiced from a local farmers market. 

Cantaloupe was a favorite in our household that stayed on the grocery list. Although cantaloupe satisfied my sweet tooth, I was not aware of all of the benefits that this sweet fruit offered. 

While researching I found that cantaloupe is high in folic acid, vitamins A, and C.Folic acid is necessary for our body to improve new cells as vitamin A promotes strong bones, helps our vision and  guards us against bacterial, viral, parasitic infections. Vitamin C has been proven to fight against heart disease, cancer, and cataracts. 

Wow, who would have thought that this delicious fruit that I craved carried so many nutrients. This is a great fruit for babies, and children to enjoy.I believe that this fruit is a keeper!

Picky Eaters

Do you have picky eaters in your household? As a mother of three boys, I encounter days where my kids refuse to eat healthy foods. Although they may decline nutritious treats, I have found a way to sneak them into the foods that they love to eat.

 Last week my husband and I made pizza and hid our Bare Blendz carrot puree into the pizza sauce and they didn't have a clue. They loved it so much that they wanted seconds! Our variety of baby food can be used even for the pickiest eaters, and they will never know how nutritious the meal really is.