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Houston's premier web resource for moms!
Bridget Leigh Pugh is a wife, Stay-at-Home
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
"The trick is to know where the
Healthy Houston Hot Spots are and
what to get when you are there."
Healthy Houston Hot Spots are and
what to get when you are there."
Want to cook healthy for your family but you're
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
To Snack or Not to Snack?
That sure is the question! According to recent surveys, the number one
snack food in America is the potato chip and the number one snack from a
vending machine is the Snickers bar. While Americans have expressed
interest in healthier snacks, the results show that few people actually
choose healthy snack alternatives. Moms can relate to their own personal
post-snack guilt as well as difficultly steering kids in a healthy direction
during snack time.
But is snacking a bad thing? Not really! It is known that infants and toddlers
need to snack because of their high energy demands and small tummies.
Teens in the middle of growth spurts also need healthy snack options due to
the high amount of calories burned in their rapidly growing bodies. Pregnant
women sometimes need to snack or even eat frequent small meals to feel
more comfortable when full. Healthy women and men with normal activity
levels and weight might need a snack or two throughout the day as well - if it
includes healthy, whole foods that are low in calories and fat. The keys to
healthy snacking are to plan ahead, change habits associated with
unhealthy eating, always include protein, and to create healthy substitutes.
Plan Ahead: As a mom, you barely have time to do a load of laundry before
heading out the door, much less time to plan ahead when it comes to food.
But this step is vital to eating healthy- either during meals or snacks.
Families can not only eat healthier but also save money by simply eating
lunch or a snack at home before going out for the day. Making the extra effort
to be proactive about the food that you and your family consume isn’t hard!
An easy way to plan ahead is to buy healthy snacks and stash a few in
purses, backpacks, and cars- fresh fruit is a fabulous portable snack with no
fat and low calories! If you have a few free minutes, raid the pantry and put
single-serving sized healthy snacks in Ziploc baggies to grab and go
throughout the week.
Change Habits: Many moms find themselves watching Dr. Phil in the late
afternoon with a bag of pretzels and a can of soda in their hands. TV is a
universal snacking trigger, and you need to name your personal triggers in
order to change those unhealthy habits- for both yourself as well as your
children. If mid-afternoon finds you ravenous and bored, turn that trigger
time into an afternoon walk to the park- and bring a planned snack for the
family! If late nights trigger munchies, try a self-help book or even an
evening meditation. Instead of turning on the TV to drown out a talking
tummy, finally tackle that scrap-booking project! Changing habits is not
about willpower; it is about substituting healthy new habits for the unhealthy
old habits.
Include Protein: Women and children seem to be protein-phobic, but
proteins are the building blocks for the human body in the form of amino
acids! Protein isn’t just about eating meats, however. Including dairy, eggs,
and even beans, grains and nuts into each meal and snack ensures that
you and your family are getting the required building blocks to be healthy,
efficient, and lean. Protein doesn’t get stored long-term the way that
carbohydrates and fats do, so higher-protein, balanced diets can help you
stay trim. Soy is a great way to sneak protein into kids’ foods, as well as
those seeking a vegetarian lifestyle. Soy is also linked to lower the risk of
tons of diseases, including breast cancer, Mom! Adding protein in any form
into a low-calorie snack is a great way to make sure it is balanced and
satisfying.
Create Healthy Substitutes: While kids might have their heart set on the
gummy snacks they love instead of a Fruitabu strip, it is usually a mom’s
decision what gets bought and brought into the home to snack on. So, get
creative and read those labels! If you’re clueless on how to get started with
substituting their high-calorie, processed snacks, here is a chart of a few
suggestions:
That sure is the question! According to recent surveys, the number one
snack food in America is the potato chip and the number one snack from a
vending machine is the Snickers bar. While Americans have expressed
interest in healthier snacks, the results show that few people actually
choose healthy snack alternatives. Moms can relate to their own personal
post-snack guilt as well as difficultly steering kids in a healthy direction
during snack time.
But is snacking a bad thing? Not really! It is known that infants and toddlers
need to snack because of their high energy demands and small tummies.
Teens in the middle of growth spurts also need healthy snack options due to
the high amount of calories burned in their rapidly growing bodies. Pregnant
women sometimes need to snack or even eat frequent small meals to feel
more comfortable when full. Healthy women and men with normal activity
levels and weight might need a snack or two throughout the day as well - if it
includes healthy, whole foods that are low in calories and fat. The keys to
healthy snacking are to plan ahead, change habits associated with
unhealthy eating, always include protein, and to create healthy substitutes.
Plan Ahead: As a mom, you barely have time to do a load of laundry before
heading out the door, much less time to plan ahead when it comes to food.
But this step is vital to eating healthy- either during meals or snacks.
Families can not only eat healthier but also save money by simply eating
lunch or a snack at home before going out for the day. Making the extra effort
to be proactive about the food that you and your family consume isn’t hard!
An easy way to plan ahead is to buy healthy snacks and stash a few in
purses, backpacks, and cars- fresh fruit is a fabulous portable snack with no
fat and low calories! If you have a few free minutes, raid the pantry and put
single-serving sized healthy snacks in Ziploc baggies to grab and go
throughout the week.
Change Habits: Many moms find themselves watching Dr. Phil in the late
afternoon with a bag of pretzels and a can of soda in their hands. TV is a
universal snacking trigger, and you need to name your personal triggers in
order to change those unhealthy habits- for both yourself as well as your
children. If mid-afternoon finds you ravenous and bored, turn that trigger
time into an afternoon walk to the park- and bring a planned snack for the
family! If late nights trigger munchies, try a self-help book or even an
evening meditation. Instead of turning on the TV to drown out a talking
tummy, finally tackle that scrap-booking project! Changing habits is not
about willpower; it is about substituting healthy new habits for the unhealthy
old habits.
Include Protein: Women and children seem to be protein-phobic, but
proteins are the building blocks for the human body in the form of amino
acids! Protein isn’t just about eating meats, however. Including dairy, eggs,
and even beans, grains and nuts into each meal and snack ensures that
you and your family are getting the required building blocks to be healthy,
efficient, and lean. Protein doesn’t get stored long-term the way that
carbohydrates and fats do, so higher-protein, balanced diets can help you
stay trim. Soy is a great way to sneak protein into kids’ foods, as well as
those seeking a vegetarian lifestyle. Soy is also linked to lower the risk of
tons of diseases, including breast cancer, Mom! Adding protein in any form
into a low-calorie snack is a great way to make sure it is balanced and
satisfying.
Create Healthy Substitutes: While kids might have their heart set on the
gummy snacks they love instead of a Fruitabu strip, it is usually a mom’s
decision what gets bought and brought into the home to snack on. So, get
creative and read those labels! If you’re clueless on how to get started with
substituting their high-calorie, processed snacks, here is a chart of a few
suggestions: