Healthy After School Snacks for Kids

02/25/2014 By Military Shoppers

As a mom, you are always looking for healthy foods for your children. Finding healthy after school snacks that your children enjoy can sometimes be a challenge. You want to find healthy snacks that they will actually look forward to eating. You just need something to fill them up enough to get through until dinnertime without making them too full to not want to eat the dinner.

You might want to try homemade granola bars to start. You can put what you want in them and can create a yummy snack. You can get really creative with your ingredients.

If you can create fun snacks, your kids will be more likely to eat them. Ants on a log is a great choice. Take some celery sticks and put peanut butter on them. Add raisins for the ants and you have a cute little snack.

Another great idea is to make muffins that your kids will enjoy. You can find a healthy recipe and make up a bunch of them to freeze. You can create a variety of different types. Blueberry, cranberry and banana bread are great choices.

Take a plate and make it colorful. Add fruits, veggies and something they enjoy. You can make the plate before they get home from school so it is easy to give it to them right away. You can also have your children help you in preparing their snacks. Children are more likely to eat what they help make themselves.

Other great ideas for healthy snacks for kids are carrot sticks, apple slices, whole-grain bread, grapes, orange slices, cherries, graham crackers and milk, and homemade potato chips.

If you are looking to replace more sugary snacks you can make healthy peanut butter cookies, homemade jello out of juice, yogurt or homemade popsicles made out of fruit and yogurt. These snacks would be great for your little sweet tooth.

As you can see, there are a lot of great foods to choose from when it comes to finding healthy foods to serve to your children.

Do you have any healthy after school snacks that you love to serve your kids?

First image courtesy of Michal Marcol/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

7 Macaroni Crafts To Do During Snow Days

02/24/2014 By Military Shoppers

There is still snow on the ground, and hopefully it is the last of it! If you’re stuck in base housing, or out in town and the kids are making your brains feel a bit like overdone noodles, then take me up on this fun Pinterest post of ideas you can do with your noodley brain.

The Gold Medal Goes to You!

Kraft Macaroni Snowflakes are Far Easier to Drive Through

Its Never Too Late To Make a Valentine

Perhaps Van Gough Also Got Inspiration From Being Locked up Indoors

If You’re REALLY Feeling OCD Inspired

Create Your Own Bling!

The Dangers of Driving Distracted

02/13/2014 By Military Shoppers

You’re excited…or you’re not. You’re moving to a new duty station. The goods are packed, the family is ready, your mail is forwarded and now all that is between you and your new life for the next 2-4 years is the road that will take you there. How many times have you gotten behind the wheel, zoned out, and had difficulty remembering the last 10 miles? This is so easy to do, especially when going long distances, or when driving a stretch of road you are very familiar with. Never take your mind off of driving – even if you think that you won’t be the cause of an accident, someone else that is driving and distracted might not be so lucky.

It doesn’t matter whether you are going 100 miles or 3,000 – you need to be mentally engaged in the drive. Geico.com states that Distracted Driving is any activity that takes your primary attention away from the task of driving. The three types of distractions Geico identifies are in their report on The Distracted Brain- The Dangers of Driving Distracted are:

Visual
Manual
Cognitive

That split second it takes to reach for a french fry in a greasy bag. The time it takes to push play on the DVD player strapped to the back of the passenger head rest. The agonizing torture of knowing your phone has slid between the seat and you need to get it – All of these are split instances that are just long enough to take your eye off of the road and get into an accident.

If you really need those french fries, tell the passenger to feed them to you – think of it as strengthening the marital bond if it is your spouse, or building a trusting friendship.

Teach the kids that patience is a virtue and that you want teach them to fish, not just hand them the fish. Either they can learn to push play themselves, or they have to wait until you or the passenger can do so safely. Don’t give into their demands and satisfy their incessant groveling. You’ll be rewarding the wrong quality – you want them to wait patiently and arrive alive to the destination. They’ll live…during the drive. What happens after the drive is completely up to you as a parent.

Now, the phone. Ask yourself this. Will the phone still be there if you leave it where it is or will it be lost forever? A little distance from your cell phone never hurt you – just think about the 80’s or early 90’s when cell phones were a luxury. You lived right? You’ll continue to live – trust me. Plus, the fact that you are obsessing over your phone already shows that you are not cognitively focused on the drive. Forget the phone, not the rules of the road.

It is very possible that you will never get into a car accident your entire life and you have made ALL of the errors above – you’re lucky – because the odds are against you if you do just one of these.

Above all, think about the destination, not the journey. Arrive alive, and ensure your safety, your passenger’s safety, and filling that billet that so eagerly awaits you at your new duty station.

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How To Go Gluten Free

01/31/2014 By Military Shoppers

You’ll be surprised at how much food you CAN eat on a Gluten Free diet thanks to Heinz.

Is being more health conscious one of your New Year’s resolutions? Did you know that the commissary is equipped to feed any diet?

Going gluten free in 2014 doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. No need to break the bank or even shop out in town. Your local commissary is filled with Gluten Free products to help you make the healthy switch.

How do you start to implement a gluten free diet? Here are a few tips on going gluten free from Heinz nutrition website and some great tricks from gluten free families.

What ingredients and foods contain gluten?

Gluten Free Food Marinade In A Bag Heinz Military Friendly

Make anything instantly better with this Gluten Free marinade.

These are foods and ingredients that you need to avoid while maintaining a gluten free diet.
• Barley
• Bulgur
• Couscous
• Durum
• Farina
• Flour
• Graham flour
• Matzo
• Rye
• Semolina
• Spelt
• Triticale
• Wheat

What are safe grains and foods for Gluten Free diets?

Get more information on Heinz gluten free foods!

These are grains and foods that are gluten free and can be included in your new diet.
Safe Grains
• Amaranth
• Arrowroot
• Bean flours
• Buckwheat
• Cassava
• Chickpea flour
• Corn
• Corn grits, cornmeal, corn flour, cornstarch, corn bran, corn on the cob
• Flax seed
• Millet
• Nut flours
• Oats (pure, uncontaminated)
• Popcorn
• Potato flour, potato starch
• Quinoa
• Rice (flour, brown rice, white rice, wild rice, rice bran)
• Sorghum
• Soy (flour, soybean)
• Tapioca (pearls, flour, starch)
• Yucca

Safe Gluten Free Food Groups

Find out more about Gluten Free lifestyles and health with Heinz.

When looking at meal planning these are great guidelines to plan meals based on the basic food groups.
• Fruits and vegetables (in their natural state, fresh, canned or frozen), fruit juices
• Meat, poultry, eggs, nuts, legumes (in their natural state), nut butters
• Milk, most plain or fruit yogurt (with no granola), cheese, ice cream/puddings with no cookies or brownies
• Fats: oils, butter, margarine, mayonnaise

Packaged Foods: Look for “Gluten-Free” next to or below the ingredient list. There is no one tip to choosing gluten free packaged foods. Be informed, read packages and do research before shopping and meal planning.

Does a gluten free diet have to be bland? No, absolutely not! Some spices and condiments (like Heinz Ketchup) do not include gluten. Other additions to meals include some vinegars, lemon/orange zest, etc. that can add flavor to any family meal.
Is eating out a no-no? Of course not!

Many restaurants are becoming more flexible and offering gluten and allergen free options to guests. Check the menu online ahead of time and call ahead if needed.

When in doubt go for plain foods (no gravy, sauce or breading) and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Make sure that the food you order isn’t cooked in the same area or cookware with non-gluten-free foods.

Quick Gluten Free Snack Ideas

Here are a few quick snacks for mom, dad or kids’ after school ideas.
• Turkey and cheese rollups
• Fruit tray
• Veggie tray

Gluten Free Tricks of the Trade

A Gluten Free product you can always rely on.

Are you making these mistakes and affecting your Gluten Free diet?

• Have 2 of any food that may be “double dipped” (dressing, peanut butter, etc.) because cross-contamination can occur from bread crumbs/crackers that may be on utensils.
• Create a “self-serve snack area” where kids (or adults) can quickly grab gluten-free options. For kids, a low shelf or cabinet works great.
• Have a separate set of cookware for gluten free items if your family is planning on preparing meals with gluten as well. Food should be cooked in pots and pans that have not been used for gluten filled ingredients to prevent cross-contamination.
• Be the “snack mom”! For kids’ sports and activities it might be a good idea to volunteer to bring snacks or provide a list of gluten free foods.

How Heinz is making going gluten free a breeze:

• A variety of Heinz Ketchup, Condiments and Sauces do not contain gluten.
• Heinz also offers convenient options for gluten-restricted diets, including; Ore-Ida® frozen potatoes, and Smart Ones® Frozen Entrees.
• For people who follow a gluten-free diet, Heinz is making it easier to make the right choices by clearly labeling all ingredients in their products.
• Heinz also offers designated “Gluten-Free” products for peace of mind and easy shopping.

Learn more:

• Heinz Nutrition Website
• Heinz gluten free products
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• American Celiac Society
• Celiac Disease Foundation
• Gluten Intolerance Group

Gluten Free Options at the Commissary

FRITOS® Chili Pie In A Scoop!

01/30/2014 By Military Shoppers

The Original now made bite sized!

Any red-blooded American will tell you that Superbowl Sunday is about three things: football, family, and, last but definitely not least, snacks- it’s no coincidence that “football” and “Frito-pie” both start with the letter “F” No Superbowl Party is complete without a stellar snack spread, and you definitely don’t want to miss having this awesome bite-sized spin on the classic FRITOS® Chili Pie using FRITOS® SCOOPS!®!

FRITOS® Bite Sized Chili Pie Recipe

Shopping List

1 large bag of FRITOS® SCOOPS!®
1 15-ounce can of chili with beef (with or without beans), heated
1 8-ounce bag of shredded cheese

Optional Toppings:

Tomatoes
Onions
Jalapeños
Guacamole
Sour Cream

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. On a baking sheet, place individual SCOOPS! in rows like little bowls.

3. Heat chili and place a spoonful of chili in each SCOOPS!.

4. Garnish each bite-sized Chili Pie SCOOPS! with ingredients like onion, tomato, and jalapeño as desired.

5. Sprinkle cheese all over and pop into the oven at 350 degrees till the cheese is a little melted.

6. Optional: Top each Frito Pie Scoop with a dollop of guacamole and/or sour cream

Serve and enjoy!

See the original FRITOS® Chili Pie Recipe and more on the FritoLay Website!

7 Warning Signs That You Could Be Anemic

01/28/2014 By Military Shoppers

What is the “hidden hunger”? Did you know that you or your child could have it and never know? Here are 7 warning signs of iron deficiency anemia and how to easily add iron to your diet with everyday foods.

Surprisingly, the World Health Organization estimates 2 billion people worldwide are anemic and the number soars when you include those who are mildly iron deficient. It is easily diagnosed and treated but the symptoms are often disregarded or even invisible and are most common in infants 9-24 months of age.

Symptoms of Anemia

Weakness, fatigue, or lack of stamina.
Shortness of breath during exercise.
Headache.
Decreased appetite (especially in children).
Irritability.
Dizziness.
Pale skin.

Other signs may include:

Rapid heartbeat.
Cracked lips.
Muscle pain during exercise.
Trouble swallowing.
Brittle nails.
Sore tongue.
Unusual food cravings (called pica).

In small children, it is so important to diagnosis and treat iron deficiency anemia. Long term problems include growth delays, development delays and mental or behavior problems. Irritability and short attention span can also be a result. Some of these may become permanent if not treated but usually fade away when the deficiency is successfully treated.

Personally, my youngest daughter was diagnosed with iron deficiency at 2 years old. Her pediatrician and I thought her symptoms were from a recent virus plus dehydration. However, they became progressively worse and she was admitted to the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit). The doctors and lab work indicated leukemia and the beginning of organ failure. She had several blood transfusions and was scheduled for more bone marrow testing. We met with her team of oncologists as we prepared for the worst.

After the transfusion, her blood work started to come back to normal levels and over a week’s hospitalization she was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. The speed and overall effect of iron deficiency shocked me as a parent. Also, when we PCS’d (permanent change of station) from Texas to Virginia, the vital testing at 12 months for iron levels was somehow missed.

After the week in the hospital she was seen by a hematologist/oncologist for 6 months before she was released. After 6 months of iron supplements, blood work, and change in diet, she was healthy, gained weight and happy again. To this day, we have to focus on enriching her diet with iron strong food and adding iron supplements. Her PCM tests her blood with every illness just to make sure her levels are within a normal range to prevent another relapse.

My daughter recovering after blood transfusion

In my daughter’s case (as in many cases in small children), drinking too much cow’s milk was the core cause of iron deficiency. It contains less iron than many other foods and also makes it more difficult for the body to absorb iron from other foods. Cow’s milk also can cause the intestines to lose small amounts of blood.

How Can You Prevent Anemia?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants be fed breast milk or iron-fortified formula for at least 12 months.
The AAP does NOT recommend giving cow’s milk to children under 1 year old.
Including iron-rich foods in your diet is the best way to prevent and treat iron deficiency.

Everyday Foods with iron

Foods that are good sources

Oatmeal
Kale & other greens
Prunes
Raisins
Spinach
Tuna

Foods that are better sources

Chicken and other meats
Dried beans and lentils
Eggs
Fish
Molasses
Peanut butter
Soybeans
Turkey

Foods that are the BEST sources

Baby formula with iron
Breast milk
Infant cereals and other iron-fortified cereals
Liver
Prune juice

Did You Know?

The Heinz Micronutrient Campaign fights “hidden hunger” in millions of children worldwide. Children who appear well-fed could have iron-deficiency anemia. This is caused by a lack of essential vitamins and minerals, which can weaken the immune system and impair physical and mental development.

The Heinz Micronutrient Campaign HMC is the signature global social responsibility program of the H.J. Heinz Company and its Foundation. Since its inception in 2001, the HMC has reached 3.5 million children in 15 developing world nations with life enhancing vitamin and mineral powders. The primary aim of the HMC is to reach children who cannot access or afford commercial fortiﬁed foods to combat the global health challenge of malnutrition, especially the “hidden hunger” of vitamin and mineral deﬁciency.

Learn More:

Pick Up a New Hobby in 2014 with Fretlight

01/27/2014 By Amiyrah Martin

The beginning of a new year means lots of reflection, planning and creation of new routines. This is the best time to start a new lifestyle. We all strive to be healthier, work out, save more money, but how many of us really go through with our promises? Well, taking up a new hobby is one of the easiest ways to ensure that you’ll have a productive and exciting new year. A great hobby to take up is learning to play the guitar.

Musical hobbies create a great backdrop for boosting your brain’s power. There are many advantages to learning a new musical instrument like the guitar:

It increases your brain’s memory capacity, and helps you concentrate.
It can help you improve your math skills.
It helps to relieve stress.
It incases your ability to manage time.
Teaches you to be disciplined.

There are so many more benefits to learning to play the guitar, but I think the most important one is that you will add to your life quality, which will make you happier. To learn a complex and interesting instrument like the guitar will immediately make you feel accomplished. It will also give you some “bragging rights” at the end of the year. How great would it be to have someone ask what you accomplished in 2014, and you can not only tell them you learned the guitar, but play them your favorite riff? I’ll answer that for you: it will be pretty freaking awesome!

Fretlight guitars are the best to use when learning to play the guitar. Not only does Fretlight have beautiful guitars for beginner, intermediate, or advanced musicians, they also offer great programs to make learning as easy as possible. When it comes to a new year’s hobby, you can’t beat learning it in a relaxed and easy environment. Check out the great products that Fretlight offers, some of their great military discounts, and get started on your new adventure. I’m pretty sure you’ll be shredding in no time.

The Shocking Truth About Grains In Pet Food

01/23/2014 By Military Shoppers

Click for more Purina products

I love my dogs. They are just as dear to me as my real children. They have successfully survived two cross country PCS moves from Virginia to San Diego and back again. Our puppy even made the long trip from Afghanistan to the U.S. after my husband fell in love with him during deployment. The 4lb puppy is now 90lbs and still growing – God help us and our wallets!

We want the absolute best for our four legged loves. With all of this grain free propaganda flying around we had to really stop and think whether we were going to buy into it, or if our dogs, like us, have evolved since caveman/wolf times and are now able to process grains in their guts…

So, are grains essentially bad for dogs?

Do I really need to cut grains from my dog’s diet all together?

We have a pretty unique perspective on the topic. My husband said that all the dogs in Afghanistan would eat was bread from their owners, and whatever they could hunt down. In fact, bread was the bulk of their diet.

Luckily, there is also a lot of real research to turn to when it comes down to answering this question, and not just our own personal observations. First of all dogs are different from wolves. According to research done for Purina, in order to ensure that their formulas are still the best for dogs, a starch-rich diet was key to the evolution from wolf to dog. This challenges the idea that dogs should not eat food like wheat and corn. This is a major breakthrough that has come about from comparing the two types of animals.

This challenges the idea that dogs should not eat food like wheat and corn.

Ultimately, what works best for your pet depends on their needs, however there is no reason to cut grain from your dogs food unless there is a medical reason – like allergies for instance. You want to be able to make the best choices available for your dog and make sure that the all-American pup makes many more PCS moves. I don’t know where I would be without my dogs – Kali is the best deployment buddy and always knows when I need an extra snuggle, and Ghost – well, the story is that we saved him from Afghanistan, but really, he saved my husband.

Purina offers you a variety of pet food for your animals. When it comes to making the formula for the food, Purina will study what nutrients each type of pet might need and then look and see what ingredients can provide that. Grains have antioxidants, energy-rich carbohydrates and fiber to help promote optimal digestion. They can also help dogs digest other nutrients in their foods. Grains like corn deliver more complete nutrition than the ingredients that brands typically use to substitute for grains, like potatoes. It should make you feel good to know your dog is getting the best type of food for what he or she actually needs.

Click the picture below to find coupons on Purina products.

Click to find information on Purina products and coupons!

Travel Destination of the Week – South Padre Island, TX

01/22/2014 By Amiyrah Martin

Deep in the heart of Texas is one of the most beautiful places to vacation. Well, technically South Padre Island is located in the Gulf of Mexico, but being part of one of the biggest states in the country makes it a must-see relaxation spot. Family vacation destinations that are not only in the continental United States, but provide lots of activities for all to enjoy, should be at the top of your list. South Padre Island provides all of this and more.

Fort Brown Condo Shares is located just a short distance from Mexico in Rio Grande Valley. Not only does this destination spot have an outdoor heated pool, but also an on-site lake. There’s an amazingly long list of activities for guests, like horseback riding, scuba diving and golf. For History buffs, this space right on the tip of Texas is located on the grounds of a Mexican-American War battlefield. The exotic, tropical setting will cause you to forget all of your troubles and take in all the beauty around you.

The Fort Brown Condo Shares is a part of the Armed Forces Vacation Club. Sign up for their newsletter to receive updates on their new listings, deals and beautiful accommodations across the world.

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5 Shopping Mistakes to Stop This Year

01/17/2014 By Military Shoppers

Are you making it a goal to save money in 2014? Are you new to budgeting? If you said yes, this is your 2014 Guide to saving money!

Broad resolutions are often the easiest to break each year. Start off the New Year by changing specific personal habits to avoid spending money. You can amaze yourself by the amount of money you save by cutting out extras, spontaneous purchases and other small expenses that might not be noticeable. Planning before you spend a cent is a great way to start tightening those purse strings.

Are You Making These 5 Money Wasting Mistakes?

Not using Coupons & store loyalty cards– This is a big way to save money on things you buy anyway. Learn the basics of couponing and sign up for your favorite store’s reward card.
- Commissary Sales – Plan your grocery list based on current sales
- Online Coupons – Print out coupons from a wide selection of sources
- Register for MilitaryShoppers.com– Register to save, find coupons and more
- Order groceries online- from local store for delivery or participating commissary (Click2Go) for pickup. This will save time AND money by stopping those extra purchases.
Making payments instead of managing debt– Determine your existing debt and make a plan to manage payments in order to pay it down.
Paying “what you are given” interest rates: Active duty members can lower interest rates during deployments under the SCRA. A lot of companies are willing to negotiate rates and payment due dates for anyone.
Making a budget but not budgeting – Planning is the biggest step in successful money management. Create a family budget to see how much income you have, how much money you can spend, and how much, if any, will be left over. The key is to actually live on the budget you create.
Fast food and restaurants– Fast food and restaurants are a luxury some of us can’t cut out completely. Search for daily deals, kids eat free nights, coupons and other specials. Make it a point not to eat out unless it is with a coupon or a special discount.

Small moves to make during 2014:

Use online banking (auto bill pay, saving gas or taking advantage of USAA’s exclusive member discounts can help you get ahead)
Find out your credit score and start to take steps to improve
Ask for discounts (military or otherwise)
Set up an emergency fund

Start with changing these 5 habits and add the smaller moves as the year progresses. You will see what is working, and what is not, for you. Plus, the motivation from seeing the savings add up is priceless! Use one or use all of these tips, but make this THE year that you start spending wisely.

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