My family and I do our best to eat the good stuff and avoid the bad stuff. We are not vigilant about it, but try to make the right choices when possible. For example, when buying produce, we focus on the “dirty dozen” when deciding whether to purchase organic. We look for shorter ingredient lists, because they tend to be more natural. But, like many of you, we are a busy family and sometimes rely on processed foods, which often contain more chemicals.
I recently came across an article about BHT, which is a food preservative used in many cereals (among other things) that has been shown to cause cancer in animal research. As there are many safe alternatives, I figured it wouldn’t be too hard to avoid this one now that I was aware of it. Boy was I wrong! All of my family’s favorite cereals contain BHT. I have spent a ridiculous amount of time in the cereal aisle at the grocery store in search of a cereal that my family would enjoy that doesn’t contain BHT. I have come to realize that if I want to avoid BHT, I will most likely need to buy only organic cereal.
What are your hot buttons when shopping for food for your family? Do you pay attention to what chemicals have been added? Are you concerned about items containing GMOs? How do you prioritize which items must be avoided, which items must be organic, etc? Let me know on our Facebook page!
I recently joined a gym. For a long time, I resisted, feeling I just wouldn’t have time to make it worth the investment. I thought by staying active at home, playing with my kids, taking walks around the neighborhood, etc., I was doing enough. I finally realized that I needed to make my health a bigger priority.
Rather than just trying to fit in a workout here and there whenever I have a little extra time, I have built it into my schedule. I have found a time that works for me and I don’t schedule anything else during that time unless I absolutely have to. I was concerned that it would interfere with my work and family activities, but I have been pleasantly surprised at how well this has worked.
I have been even more surprised at how much I look forward to this part of my day. It is a great chance to clear my head and certainly the health benefits are terrific. I feel good knowing that I am taking a more active role in staying healthy, and I enjoy the extra energy I have since I have begun exercising more consistently.
I’d love to hear what works for you in terms of making healthy choices in your daily life… please post something on our Facebook page!
It’s back to school time, which is always an exciting time in my house. While our family is disappointed to give up the more relaxing pace of summer, we are all looking forward to a little more structure. My kids have been in school for 2 weeks, and couldn’t be happier. They have such a great time being around other kids, playing on the playground, and learning new and exciting things each day.
I was also happy to see that our school district has made some great changes in their lunch program. Their offerings are healthier, including more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and less flavored milk and french fries. My kids choose to bring their lunches to school, but if they wanted to check out the offerings in the cafeteria, I would feel better about it this year than I would have been in the past. My kids like to have some say over what’s in their lunchboxes, so we work together to pack something that is tasty and good for them… this gives me the confidence that they will actually eat their lunch along with the knowledge that they getting the nutrition they need to pay attention in class.
I’d love to hear what lunch is like for your kids. Do they bring their lunch from home or purchase from the cafeteria? Are you pleased with what your child’s school offers? What are you doing to strike the right balance between providing a nutritious lunch and providing a lunch that your children enjoy eating? Visit our Facebook page and let me know what you think.
After the horrible tsunami in Japan and the rash of tornados across the US, particularly in Joplin, MO, weather disasters have been a topic of discussion in my family. Soon after, I had some problems in my own home, albeit on a much smaller scale. Our family was without water for a weekend… I hadn’t fully realized how often we use water on a daily basis until we didn’t have any! Should something more serious and long term impact my family, I want to be prepared. Here are some basic supplies the Red Cross recommends keeping in an easy to carry emergency preparedness kit:
Consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to your kit as needed. Don’t forget about your pets! In addition, your family should work together to develop an escape plan in case of fire.
I wish you a happy and safe summer!
I don’t know about you, but the beginning of Spring always inspires me to create a big to-do list. After spending so many months indoors during the cold winter months, I’ve noticed a number of things that need attention outside. From cleaning the house to washing the windows to getting the yard in tip-top shape, it seems there’s an endless list of things to do.
But, I don’t really mind - it’s so nice to be able to finally spend some time outside, without having to be all bundled up. The fresh air, the colorful flowers, and the smell of freshly cut grass all put me in a good mood. Plus, it’s a great sense of accomplishment to be able cross things off my list.
And, my kids are starting to be old enough to pitch in. So, our spring cleaning can be a family affair! Everyone gets a job to do, and we get our work done more quickly while working together as a team. After flying through our to-do list, we have time left over to go for a bike ride or play a game of freeze tag or soccer.
Best of luck to you as you tackle your Spring to-do list!
Many of you are probably aware that February is National Heart Health Month. Because heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, it’s something we all need to pay attention to. In addition, stroke is the second leading cause of death in the United States. That means that cardiovascular disease causes more deaths than the next seven top causes combined! Clearly this is something that requires our attention.
Heart disease is often known as the silent killer. Many people feel great, without realizing that they have heart disease. Do you know your blood pressure? Hypertension is the single most significant risk factor for heart disease, and it has no symptoms. If you don’t know what yours is, talk to your health care provider and find out!
The American Heart Association has Life’s Simple 7… things we should do to lower our risk. These are Get Active, Control Cholesterol, Eat Better, Manage Blood Pressure, Lose Weight, Reduce Blood Sugar, and Stop Smoking.
Certainly most of us know some of the obvious ways to improve our chances of lowering our risk of heart disease. We need to be more active, and we need to eat healthier. Unfortunately, it seems that knowing what to do and actually doing it are two different things. I suggest starting small… maybe add ten minutes of exercise each day and eat a couple extra servings of fruits and vegetables, while cutting out some of the sweets.
Happy New Year! My family enjoyed some needed time off and a more relaxing pace. It was wonderful to spend time with family from near and far; I hope you were able to spend some time doing things you enjoy. After a decadent holiday season, I am ready to return to making healthier choices. All of those holiday cookies and other delicious treats were hard to pass up, but with a new year comes a renewed focus!
I am finding it difficult to stay active during these cold winter months, so I will have to work harder to make it happen. It is definitely harder to get outside to play with my kids, which is my favorite way to get exercise. We have had to get a little creative to find indoor activities that keep us moving, in addition to bundling up and heading outside to play in the snow every once in a while.
Passing on the cookies and other treats won’t be as hard… keeping the sweet treats out of the house and surrounding myself with healthier options makes it easier to make better choices. Fresh produce is harder to come by this time of year, but there are lots of great alternatives… winter squash, frozen vegetables, and of course, Funky Monkey Snacks are all delicious and readily available options.
Have you made any New Year’s resolutions for 2011? I’d love to hear about them, as well as what you are doing to make healthy choices this time of year!
Trick or treat! My kids are putting the finishing touches on their Halloween costumes. It is fun to see their imaginations at work - no store bought costumes for us! To be honest, Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I am disappointed in the increasing focus on candy… there don’t seem to be any tricks these days, just more and more treats. I like candy as much as the next person, but it’s starting to feel like kids are just looking for a means to an end - some of them barely dress up, and many of them just hold out their treat bag without saying trick or treat, ready to rush of to the next house to get more candy.
In addition, my son has food allergies; he won’t be able to eat most of the candy he brings home. And yet, he is looking forward to trick-or-treating more than anyone I know! He’s in it for the experience… he’s had a blast designing his costume and he can’t wait to show it off! The candy is really just icing on the cake for him. I am trying to follow my son’s lead and look beyond all of the unhealthy treats to focus on fun, creativity, catching up with neighborhood friends and enjoying a nice walk around the block.
Now that school is back in full swing, things are back to being a little crazy in my house! Between work, school, homework, sports, and other activities, we are finding ourselves busier than ever. Making sure my kids get to each of their activities is a project unto itself, but we also need to make sure they have time to do their homework, as well as some time to unwind and just have fun. We have tried not to overschedule our kids, but even with just a couple of activities for each of them, our calendar fills up quickly. Luckily, they have chosen activities that they enjoy, so it’s not a chore to get them to go.
We try to have dinner together as a family each night, although this is easier some nights than others! So far, we have been able to keep one night open each week… this is the one weeknight where we don’t have to go anywhere or do anything. It’s a great chance for us to linger over dinner rather than rushing out the door, and there’s time to take a family walk or play a game together. We have really come to appreciate this one “lazy” day in our week, as the other nights of the week and our weekends can get pretty crazy.
I’d love to hear what you do to strike the right balance between activities and family time!
I love this time of year! The weather is starting to cool off, the leaves are turning beautiful colors, and football season has started. My family and I have lots of fun watching football together, cheering on our favorite teams. I’ve realized, though, that while it’s a great family activity, too much football can really take over. Instead of enjoying the crisp fall weather outside, it’s all too easy to end up sitting inside for most of the weekend watching game after game. And, don’t forget all those delicious (and unhealthy) gameday snacks!
To counteract some of the slothiness, we try to watch just one game each day, taking a break during half time to play our own game of football outside. It always feels good to get some fresh air and exercise after sitting on the couch for a couple of hours! We’re careful on the snacks, too… instead of ordering pizza, we make our own with healthier ingredients. And, instead of chips, we enjoy crunchy Funky Monkey Snacks!
Last weekend, my family went on a weekend road trip. We enjoyed some quality family time together, but I was feeling pretty sluggish when I got back home… it’s just so much harder to eat healthy when you’re not at home. There aren’t too many healthy snacks that are well suited to eating in the car!
Plus, while restaurants are making great strides toward healthier options, the choices are still pretty limited for kids, especially if you have picky eaters. My kids ate enough fried foods in one weekend to last them a month or two! Even the kids started to tire of the same burgers, chicken strips, and pizza after a few days… by the last day, my daughter decided that she didn’t even like fries anymore and stopped ordering them!
Probably like many of you, when we travel as a family, we relax the rules quite a bit… bedtime is later, we eat more treats, etc. It’s fun to be footloose and fancy free and to escape the routines of home, but if we don’t make an effort to make healthy choices, we just don’t feel that great by the end of the trip. Having plenty of water and healthy snacks (like Funky Monkey!) are must-haves when taking a road trip.
My kids have just finished their first week of summer vacation. While we are all enjoying a slower pace, we’re struggling a little to find a new routine. We no longer rush around in the morning, but sometimes that means the kids are still in their pjs at lunch time. I’m glad my kids have more time to be active and play outside, whether they’re going for a bike ride or running through the sprinkler… it’s something we really miss during the hectic school year.
Of course, it’s also harder to keep up healthy eating habits now that school is out. During the school year, they bring their lunch to school - the only option they have is the healthy items packed in their lunch boxes, they either eat the healthy stuff or they don’t eat. With school out, there is less structure, more food options, and more snacking decisions. It’s a good opportunity to practice making healthy choices. I’m trying to help them navigate through the options and find the right balance between healthy foods and treats. I have noticed that when my son wants chips with his lunch, he makes sure to include fruit to balance out his unhealthy choice. It’s a good start!
I’d love to hear what you and your family do to adjust to the summer pace! What unexpected challenges have you encountered during the lazy days of summer? What are some things you do to maintain a healthy balance?
If you’ve been keeping up with Funky Monkey lately, you may have seen information about our summer sampling tour in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. I am so excited this has finally kicked off! We have been working hard to create an engaging experience centered on trying our snacks and having fun, including playing games and handing out Funky Monkey prizes. We know that when people try our delicious, healthy, and convenient snacks, they become fans.
I have especially enjoyed watching the Funky Monkey Mobile come to life. What started as a run of the mill Ford Flex has turned into a custom sampling station with an eye-catching paint scheme, terrific sound system, and a sampling table to help us hand out all those snacks.
If you will be in New York City, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, be sure to check our tour schedule on Facebook… we’d love to meet you and share some of our snacks with you. For everyone, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter - we’re running contests and give-aways, as well as offering coupons exclusively for our fans. Who knows, the next winner could be you!
My daughter’s soccer season has started up for Spring, and with that comes the inevitable snack schedule. I wonder sometimes how important this after game or practice snack really is. For example, my daughter practices at 6pm… that means that she eats dinner right before she goes to practice and she goes to bed soon after she gets home. There’s hardly even time for a snack, and she wouldn’t normally have anything to eat at this time any other night of the week.
Why do we feel it’s so important to have snacks associated with sports activities? Are we trying to bribe our kids to participate in healthy activities? When it’s our turn to bring the snack, my family tries to bring something healthy (Funky Monkey is a great option!), but many of the other families bring cookies and sugary snacks that don’t really seem to go hand in hand with the health aspect of sports. I want my kids to have a positive association with exercise and sports, but I don’t want them to come to expect that the reward for doing something good for your body is eating something that’s not so good for your body. I want them to participate because it’s fun and because it makes you feel good, not because there will be a treat waiting for them when they’re finished.
With Earth Day upon us, I thought I’d talk a little about what we at Funky Monkey Snacks are doing to be eco-friendly. When people think of snacks, the first word that comes to mind isn‘t usually “responsible”. But we feel that snacking can be not only nutritious and fun, but also respectful to the environment.
Our production and manufacturing operation is based in Brazil and uses all local fruits. Not only does this ensure the best quality and taste, but it also reduces the shipping weight (freeze-dried weighs substantially less than fresh given all of the water we remove)… reducing our carbon footprint. Conversely, freeze-drying tropical fruits like ours in the U.S. or China would negatively impact both the quality and carbon footprint.
Another way we try to be eco-friendly is how we operate our manufacturing facility and freeze-dry our fruits. Our unique freeze-drying process does not use damaging fluorocarbons, liquid nitrogen, or gas-powered motors. Rather, our freeze-drying uses thermodynamics and equipment powered by cashew shells, a renewable resource in Brazil. Even our fruit waste, such as peels and cores, are reused as either all-natural fertilizer or as animal feed.
Those are some of the bigger ways we work to be green, but we also do many of the things you do on a daily basis… we recycle paper in our office, we turn off the lights when we leave our office, and we work to reduce waste as much as we can. Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest impact. Happy Earth Day!
There’s been a lot of talk recently about school nutrition. Like many of you, I have been caught up in watching Jamie Oliver’s attempt to improve school lunches in Huntington, WV. It’s hard enough to eat healthy as it is, but with schools’ limited budgets, it’s a real challenge to find healthy, easy to prepare foods that kids will actually eat.
I was at my son’s elementary school recently and was disappointed to see that tator tots were the vegetable offered in that day’s school lunch. We can do better! Schools should be soda and junk-food-free zones and serve food that complements and furthers parents’ efforts to feed their children healthfully. While many of the school lunch programs have improved there is still more to be done to provide healthy and nutritious meals for our growing children and work towards ending our national epidemic of childhood obesity.
The Child Nutrition Reauthorization is a step in the right direction. Millions of children benefit from the food provided by federal child nutrition programs. This legislation has the potential to increase access to nutritious food, both during the school day and when school is out.
I was encouraged to read the annual survey of the School Nutrition Association, which found that “although rising food, labor and indirect costs are significant challenges for school nutrition programs, healthy food and beverage items continue to increase in popularity and participation is increasing.”
Our nation’s children are getting the message - now it’s up to us to provide them with the healthy options they are seeking!
The largest groups of snacks kids are choosing? Sweets like cookies, candy, cereal bars, granola bars, etc. Meanwhile, calories from salty snacks doubled from 1977 to 2006, according to a study from the
My kids are always on the go and I know how important convenient snacks are to them and me. But, instead of empty calories and processed junk foods, I think we are all better served by making healthy choices and ensuring we all get enough fruits and vegetables every day. Replacing unhealthy snacks with better options can make a big difference… not just by adding good stuff to their diets, but by reducing or eliminating the bad stuff, too.
Not surprisingly, if we model healthy eating as parents and get our kids started down the path of good nutrition, they are more likely to stay on it as adults.
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