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10 Strategies to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

11/28/2014 By Julie Provost

‘Tis the season to add a few extra pounds. This time of year is the hardest to stick to your diet and exercise routines. From the yummy foods and pies to the cookie exchanges and parties; from military spouse socials to mom’s home cooking, it is so hard to resist. There is always something to eat and most of the time the foods that are most appealing have the most calories.

Here are 10 strategies for not gaining holiday weight between now and New Year’s Day.

1) Start walking. This is a great way to keep moving. If you can’t exercise in any other way, walking is the way to go. You can also do this with family and friends and make it a group event. Even a simple 15 minute walk around your neighborhood each day will help.

2) Keep your workout routine. If you work out Monday, Wednesday and Friday, keep at that. It might be harder to do if you are traveling but you can adjust. If you don’t have access to a gym, go for a run or find a workout video. There is always something you can do. Make this a priority during the holidays.

3) Stick to 1 serving. On Christmas you will see a lot of food in front of you. You should stick to only 1 serving of everything. That means not going back for seconds or thirds even if other people are. Tell yourself ahead of time that you are only going to fill your plate once.

4) Stay away from the cookies. This is a hard one. Holiday sweets add up and that is definitely my own downfall. Try to stick to only eating them on occasion and not every single day. If you bake, try to give away a lot of your goodies before you have a chance to eat them.

5) Stay active. Plan events that get you moving. Go to a museum or even a mall. Anywhere you can walk around will work. You can even plan a lot of outside events if you live in a warmer climate.

6) Stay away from fast food. It is always a good idea to eat fast food in moderation but staying away from it all together during the holidays is a great way to stay healthy. You want to save the calories you will be eating for Grandma’s homemade pie instead of a burger and fries.

7) Know your calories. If you know you will be going to a lot of potlucks, do some research about common holiday foods and how many calories are in each dish. Know what would be the better choices before you get there. That will make it easier for you to pick the healthy choices.

8) Eat before you go. If you have plans to go to a potluck and you know there will only be foods there you shouldn’t eat, make a healthy meal beforehand and go to the party to socialize. Make sure you are full and won’t want to eat too much.

9) Watch the alcohol. Alcoholic drinks can have a lot of calories. Limit yourself and remember that every drink you have will add to your calorie intake.

10) Don’t beat yourself up. It can be hard to stick to a strict diet this time of year. Do the best that you can with each day.

What are your tips for eating healthy and sticking with your fitness routine during the holiday season?

More Than a Sauce: Why You Should Eat Cranberries Daily

11/14/2014 By Kimber Green

When choosing cranberries, look for plump ones that are deep red and firm to the touch.

Many Americans consider cranberry sauce one of the key components to a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner. Whether you serve it whole berry or jellied, made from grandma’s secret recipe or simply opened from a can, it is sure to grace your table this holiday season.

For some, this is the only time of the year they eat cranberries. Why? This superfood doesn’t get the praise and attention that it should. It is more than just a delicious side dish. Cranberries are loaded with health-promoting antioxidants.

Numerous studies have shown the benefits of eating cranberries. These include protection against UTIs, anti-inflammatory benefits, immune support, cardiovascular benefits, antioxidant protection, anti-cancer benefits and digestive tract benefits. The key to getting as much nutrients as possible is eating the entire berry.

The most common reason Americans eat cranberries and drink cranberry juice is to fight and prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), but did you know the anti-inflammatory properties of cranberries can help lower your risk of periodontal disease? If you are the type of person that hates going to the dentist then you might want to consider adding cranberries to your diet to help lower your risk of periodontal disease and those dreaded dental procedures.

The benefits of cranberries don’t stop there. Antioxidant components of cranberries also hold the key to cardiovascular benefits. This includes a decreased risk of high blood pressure and the lowering of LDL-cholesterol while increasing the levels of HDL-cholesterol.

The biggest studies in the last 10 years show cancer-preventive benefits of cranberries in breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer. It is the phytochemicals in the berries that inhibit the growth and proliferation of several types of tumors.

Fresh cranberries have the highest levels of nutrients. They are harvested in September and October and can mainly be found in grocery stores between October and December. This is perfect timing to add nutrients to holiday meals in a delicious fashion. November 23 is National Eat a Cranberry Day which gives you the perfect opportunity to try out new cranberry recipes before Thanksgiving.

Numerous studies have shown the benefits of eating cranberries.

For some great cranberry recipes including Cranberry Delight, Sherried Acorn Squash & Cranberries and Sweet and Salty Cranberry Clusters, visit MilitaryShoppers Recipes page. Or try this cranberry pound cake with orange glaze by jen miller here.

When choosing the perfect cranberries for these recipes, make sure to look for plump ones that are deep red and firm to the touch. These optimal berries are more highly concentrated with anthocyanin compounds which give you the most benefits. While many fresh fruits and vegetables have a short shelf life, cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator for around 3 weeks. If you want to try out a few more recipes before the big family dinner, the long shelf life will allow you to keep batches longer.

Cranberry season is very short so you may want to stock up and freeze them in groups. You can find dried and frozen cranberries year-round as well as cranberry juice. Remember that most benefits come from eating the whole berry so while drinking cranberry juice will provide nutrients, you won’t be getting all the benefits of this superfood.

Try a new cranberry recipe and leave the jelly in the can this year.

Try a new cranberry recipe and leave the jelly in the can this Thanksgiving.

Make the most of this season and eat fresh cranberries while they are at their peak. You can simply pop a few on top of your morning oatmeal or pack a small bag with your children’s lunch to add a few more into your diet. If you’ve always been the “open a can of cranberry sauce” kind of person, hopefully this information on cranberry health benefits will motivate you to try a new recipe or at least add a few more cranberries to your day.

The George Mateljan Foundation’s website says it best: adding cranberries to your diet can “help make every day throughout the year a holiday from disease.”

How do you plan on adding cranberries to your diet? Share your favorite recipes with MilitaryShoppers.

MilitaryShoppers Halloween Photo Contest Winner!

11/10/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

MilitaryShoppers congratulates Coast Guard wife Angela Osorio of Seattle for winning a $100 Toys R Us e-gift card through our Military Kid Photo Contest.

Angela’s photo of her children, Spiderman also known as Nicholas, 4 years old and Minnie Mouse also known as Isabella, 8 years old, was selected at random among the hundreds of entries of adorable children in costume emailed to MilitaryShoppers.

Congratulations to Angela Osorio!

You have more chances to win with MilitaryShoppers this month. Submit a photo for the monthly photo contest today. The winner of $50 prize will be selected on November 30.

Good luck!

How to Teach Your Children About Veterans Day

11/05/2014 By Julie Provost

You want to teach your children about any holiday throughout the year and as a military family teaching them about Veterans Day is a must. What your child understands about the day might depend on the age of your child and their personality. Some will be a lot more interested in it than others.

Here are a few ideas on how to recognize Veterans Day with your children.

One idea is to tell them about the veterans in their family. If you are a military family this will of course include Mom or Dad but they might not know who else in your family served. Get out all the photographs you can find of family members in uniform over the years. Sit down together and show them each person and let them know when they served. Your children will enjoy seeing the photos and will be able to put a face alongside periods of history in our country.

If there are any Veterans Day parades in your area, you should plan to take your children. They can really learn a lot about the day by doing this. They can see the veterans in your community and learn a little bit more about the history of when people served. It is also a great way to participate in your community.

You can also host a Veterans Day craft party at your home. Invite some other families and find some fun crafts on Pinterest. You can find different cutouts and puzzles for them to do. You can also do this before a parade and make banners to hold when you go to it. Just getting the children thinking about what November 11 stands for is very important.

If you have older children that would be interested, you can show them a documentary on what it means to be a veteran. You can find these at your local library, on television or even online. After it airs, make sure to discuss it with your children. Let them ask you any questions they might have. Have them write down what they learned from watching the documentary.

A great way to give back is to have your children write letters to veterans in your community. They can be something as simple as a card with a picture on it. Anything they can do to show their appreciation would be a good thing. You can look in your community about different events that help veterans and see if there is anything you and your children can do to help them out. Doing so will be good for those who have served and will teach your children tangible ways of saying thank you to the military.

Even if you do not live in a military town you should be able to find something going on that you can take your kids to. Make it a habit to go somewhere every year so your kids will know the importance of that day. They will grow up learning what it means to serve and how we as Americans should treat those who have done so.

What are your plans for Veterans Day? Tell us in the comments below.

Creative Deployment Activities for Military Kids

10/29/2014 By Julie Provost

Deployments can be difficult for anyone, especially the kids. They look at time differently than we do which is why it is so important to keep them busy during a deployment. There might be a lot going on in your community so it is a good idea to fill your calendar with fun events as you find out about them. You should also plan some activities you can do with your kids that will help pass the time.

Here are some creative activities you can do with your kids during a deployment.

Plan to send a monthly care package and have your kids participate in it. Let them go with you to the store to pick out what you will send. When it comes time to package it all up, let them help with that too. They can put the items in it or they can draw inside the box. It is a great way to keep them connected to their deployed parent. It would be fun to do a holiday or seasonal themed box every month.

Another great thing you can do is create a countdown chain. Create enough links based on when you think the deployment will be over. Have your kids take turns tearing off a new link each day. If you need to add links later, that’s alright. Just try to explain to your kids why you have to do that. If they are young enough, you might not have to explain at all and can just add links as you need to when they are asleep.

Taking a lot of photos during a deployment is also a great idea. You can print them out and have your kids work on scrapbooks of all the fun activities you have done. The kids can decorate with stickers and markers and make the pages their own. It can be a great thing to show their mom or dad when they get home from deployment.

Weekly get-togethers are another great thing to do. This is especially true for the younger kids who are not in school yet. It is good for the parent at home as they will be able to spend some time with other children going through the same thing that they are. Find a group of other deployed spouses with young children and ask to see if anyone wants to set up a play date. You might be surprised at how many others would love to do something like that to pass the time.

For older children, you can have them make a deployment bucket list. They can add any parent approved activity they would like to do during the deployment. You can have them paint and then write it on a Popsicle stick and put them in a mason jar. As the months go on, you can do each of the activities that they have picked and make a record of it. This would go along well with the scrapbook.

Deployments are stressful but they don’t have to be boring. There is a lot you can do to help your kids have fun, even when a parent is far away.

What creative activities do you and your kids do to pass the time during a deployment?

Donate Your Halloween Candy to Troops Overseas

10/24/2014 By Julie Provost

Halloween is THIS week. This mean lots and lots of candy. At least in our house. Too much candy. More than my kids need or should even be eating. Usually my kids enjoy the candy for a few weeks and then forget about it. I know in a lot of homes this is the case. There is just too much candy.

What can you do with your excess Halloween candy?

Donate Your Halloween Candy to Troops Overseas

Do you know of any another organizations that will send candy to the troops?

You could always throw the candy away but how about donating it to the troops? This can be a great way to give back and a great solution to what you should do with excess Halloween candy. While you can always just package up the candy and send it to someone you know that is overseas, you can also work with these 3 organizations. They will make sure the candy gets out of your children’s hands and into the mouths of service members around the world.

Halloween Candy Buyback is a great program where kids can give their candy to a local dentist. The kids will then receive a prize such as little toys, toothbrushes or foods and services. It just depends on the dentist. The dentist will then send the candy to Operation Gratitude. You can find a dentist who participates on the Halloween Candy Buyback website.
Soldier’s Angels is also another place you can send your candy. They have a limit of 10 pounds and would like the candy you normally love to be sent to the soldiers.
Operation Stars and Stripes encourage you and your children to let the houses you go trick or treating at know that they can donate to the troops as well. The candy is used to fill stockings for their Operation Holiday Stockings Campaign.

It might just be candy but it is worth a lot more than that to the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors living far from home. When the troops know that they are being supported, it is a great boost for morale. It is a great way to tell them that we care and that we support them. It makes their jobs a little bit easier.

Candy from home means they don’t have to skip Halloween. They can celebrate in their own way from overseas. When the candy gets to them, they can share it with everyone, pick out the pieces they love and trade for other ones. It is like what they used to do with their friends growing up. It can be a great way to make their time over there a little better.

Related: Celebrate Halloween with MilitaryShoppers Military Kid Photo Contest

Giving candy to troops can also teach children about how to be generous with what they have received. By helping package up the candy, they can see that it is going to a good place. They will be able to learn what it means to give of yourself to help someone else. That is a very good thing and will help your kids be a little more generous and will teach them the importance of charity. It is also very important for kids to know how they can help the men and women in the military.

Donate Halloween Candy to Troops Overseas

You could always throw away the extra candy but how about donating it to the troops?

Do you know of any another organizations that will send candy to the troops? Have you donated your Halloween candy to these organizations in the past? Tell us about your experience.

10 Inspirations for a Military Fall Photo Session

10/17/2014 By Kimber Green

Autumn is a photogenic season. The vibrant reds, oranges and yellows of the changing leaves transforms any military post from blah to beautiful. Perhaps you’ve decided to take fall family photos but don’t want to go the usual sit on the front porch with a pumpkin and smile route.

Not sure how to start? Need inspiration? Looking for ideas? Try to take more creative family photos this autumn with 10 tips from a military spouse. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to capture beautiful moments. You don’t need to hire a professional photographer to take pictures of your family. Practice your photography skills and maybe this year you can save money by taking your own Christmas pictures.

Here are 10 ways to photograph the autumn season with your military family.

Choose a Memorable Place. Are you near the location your spouse proposed to you? If you are within driving distance of the place you took your wedding photos or newborn pictures, those could be great locations. Shooting in a previously used location can bring back great memories and show how your family has grown and changed since those original photos were taken.
Invite the Neighborhood. Fall photos don’t have to be specifically immediate family. Consider asking your friends if they would like to join the fun and capture some great moments too. It can be tough on friendships when the military requires you to move. Make it a priority to take pictures with your friends and your children’s friends at each military installation.
Use Photo Props. What sentiment are you trying to convey? Do you want specifically Halloween pictures or more autumn and harvest-type settings? If you choose to create your own photo set, think about potential props first. Are the supplies you want readily available or will you make them? Do you have the time and patience to make special backgrounds or should you simply make a quick trip to the local garden supply center or local farm stand?
Show Your Silly Face. Don’t be too serious. Let your kids have fun. Watch them as they throw leaves at each other or search for the perfect pumpkin. Great photography doesn’t have to be planned. The best pictures are those you never expected to get.
Snap It with Your Smartphone. You don’t have to have expensive camera equipment. Take pictures with your smartphone. You’ll be surprised how beautiful pictures can turn out these days with advanced technology.
Keep the Camouflage. If your spouse is deployed, take something special of theirs to the photo session so that they will be part of the family pictures. Many friends have used part of their spouse’s uniform: boots, dog tags or cover. You could even have your children or family pet dress in military style to portray the pride your family has in the military.
Stay on Post. Why not take some snapshots at your current military installation? It could be a park, a bridge, the lake or ocean, a forest or even a meadow. The photos don’t need to scream I’m on a military base, so don’t limit your thoughts to a picture in front of the base sign. There are beautiful locations just waiting to be discovered.
Showcase Your Family’s Personality. If you are a close affectionate family, let it show with hugs and kisses. If you spend your days giggling and having fun, let it shine through in the pictures. Think beyond the standard sit up straight and smile directly at the camera routine. Laugh, hug and throw leaves at each other. Be yourself.
Go Beyond Pumpkins. Yes, when most people think of taking fall photos they picture autumn leaves, pumpkins and haystacks. What about flannel lumberjacks shirts or football jerseys?
Let Your Kids Lead. Ask them for ideas. You don’t have to create some magical and amazing setting. Don’t over think it. Less is more. Go to a pumpkin patch and have fun or pick up a few fall items and decorate your home. Remember, this is supposed to be fun. You are capturing family moments not creating stress. Enjoy the fall season and enjoy your family.

What ideas do you have for military fall family photos?

Don’t forget to submit your Halloween photos to MilitaryShoppers’ Military Kid Photo Contest. You will be entered to win a $100 Toys R Us e-gift card.

Early Detection Saves Lives

10/14/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

With deployments, PCSing, constant employment searches, financial instability, your kids’ homework and all of the chaos that comes with military life, it’s easy for you– the military spouse– to forget about your health.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while we are bombarded with pink items available for purchase at our favorite stores, this month is the perfect reminder that women need to take time for our health needs. We must do our monthly breast self-exams. It’s non-negotiable. It’s a necessity for our health and wellness.

Early detection is the key to conquering breast cancer.

Early detection is a combination of 2 regular screenings. First, women are advised to do monthly breast self-exams. Every. Single. Month. Not once in a while. Not when they think about. Not the day before a doctor’s appointment. Every month. Secondly, women are advised to have a clinical exam every 3 years during their 20s and 30s. Starting in your 40s, women are recommend to have an annual mammogram. For women who have a 15 percent higher risk, Tricare covers mammograms beginning at age 30. These basic screenings– clinical exams and mammograms– are covered by Tricare.

Breast cancer research conducted at Johns Hopkins Medical center states that “40 percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.” With early detection the survival rate for breast cancer is 98 percent. That statistic alone should make breast self-exams a priority in your life.

When was the last time you did your self-exam? More than 31 days ago?

Here are 4 ways to remind yourself to do a monthly breast self-exam:

Create an account with Early Detection Plan. It takes 5 minutes to set up reminders for monthly breast self-exams and routine clinical check-ups. Besides the website, smartphone users can download the Early Detection Plan app for either iPhone or Android.
Pick 1 day each month that’s your self-exam day. Make this date easy to remember. Many women choose either the first day or last day of the month. Or you can choose the same date as your birthday. For example if your birthday is July 23, you simply make it a routine to do your self-exams in the shower on the 23rd of every month.
Schedule a reminder. Do your breast self-exam today and then schedule a reminder on your electronic calendar. It will send you a text message alert every month. Have the reminder say that “40 percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump.”
Choose an BSE accountability buddy. Ask a sister, aunt, mother or close friend to be your breast self-exam (BSE) accountability buddy. We have friends who kindly remind us to exercise or eat healthy. Breast self-exams are necessary for healthy lives for women.

Want more information about breast self-exams?

Visit Susan G. Komen’s website, American Cancer Society’s website or National Breast Cancer organization’s website. These websites, along with many others, explain in detail how to conduct monthly breast self-exams.

Apples, Apples and More Apples in October

10/06/2014 By Julie Provost

Apples are an American favorite. As they say, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” The reason for this saying came because of all the health benefits you can get when you eat apples. Apples contain vitamin C which is an immune booster. They are also really good for your teeth.

You can easily grab an apple for a snack, put one into a lunch box or serve them at your parties. They are a healthy food that are easy to keep around the house. Even my very picky 7-year old loves them.

In addition to eating them, many people also love using apples in their decorations. From pictures of apples to putting artificial apples around the home, there is something really comfortable and warm about apples.

Do you like to bake with apples? Celebrate National Apple Month by trying these tasty recipes shared by military spouses.

October is National Apple Month! To celebrate National Apple Month, here are some fun facts about this favorite fruit.

Did you know that there are thousands of different types of apples? From Fuji to Granny Smith to Pink Lady, each one has its own look and taste to it. A whooping 2,500 different types are grown in the United States. But less than 20 varieties comprise 90 percent of apple production in the United States.

The largest apple ever picked weighed 3 pounds.

Apple trees take 4 to 5 years to produce their first fruit.

Apples are members of the rose family.

It takes 36 apples to make 1 gallon of cider.

Some types of apples are best for eating; others are better for cooking.

October is National Apple Month.

Did you also know that it is possible to grow an apple tree from the seeds of your apple? It can be a fun project to do with your kids.

Do you like to bake or cook with apples? Celebrate National Apple Month with these great apple recipes from MilitaryShoppers readers.

Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to enjoy apple pie. Bake a pie today.

Hot Ginger Apple Cider With Applejack– This would be perfect for a cool fall night!

Baked Apple French Toast– Yum! You can start your mornings with this yummy apple breakfast.

Apple Stuffed Chicken Breast– If you want to include apples into your main meal, you should try this one.

Apple Cream Cheese Coffee Cake– This would be great for a playdate or a get-together with some friends.

There is just something about an apple that makes you want to bake or use it to create a yummy meal! Which recipe do you want to try?

Did you know that apples are actually members of the rose family?

Don’t forget to enter the MilitaryShoppers recipe contest with your own yummy recipe! You will have a chance to win a $50 commissary shopping spree. Enter today!

Celebrate Halloween with Our Military Kid Photo Contest

10/01/2014 By Julie Provost

Halloween is almost here! Such a fun time to dress up the kids in costume and maybe even yourself and your significant other.

I have always enjoyed Halloween and trying to help my kids decide what they want to be each year. Sometimes they can’t decide and they might wear a couple of different costumes to various events at the end of October. Some years the kids have been super heroes or characters from popular children’s movies, other years it was something more simple like a pirate or a monkey. They are now at the age where they really want to decide which costume they will wear for Halloween each year. I love hearing what they want to dress up as because it is usually based on what they are into at that moment.

Do your kids like to dress up for Halloween? Do you like to get creative when it comes time to figure out what costume they will wear? Do you buy their costumes? Or do you make them? How many photos do you take of your little one trick or treating? 10? 20?

Instead of simply sharing those adorable costume photos with your family and friends, take 1 minute to share 1 photo with MilitaryShoppers this month and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a $100 Toys R Us e-gift card.

Celebrate Halloween with MilitaryShoppers’ Military Kid Photo Contest

Submissions need to include:

Name of person submitting photo
Installation
Branch of service
Age(s) of child(ren)

Rules:

Image must be submitted as .pdf, .jpg or .gif via email to bschmalz@militarymedia.com by November 3, 2014.
Entrant’s email address will be added to MilitaryShoppers.com registration email list and therefore will receive future communications from MilitaryShoppers exclusively for military families via email.
One winner will be selected on November 6, 2014. Winner will be posted to MilitaryShoppers Facebook page, MilitaryShoppers on Pinterest and MilitaryShoppers.com.
One entry per email address.
Image must be submitted by entrant who possesses a valid military ID card (Active Duty, Veteran, Retiree, Reserve, Guard or family member of the aforementioned categories.)
Entrant must be 18 years of age or older.
Winner will be notified via e-mail.
No purchase necessary to win.

Good luck and have fun getting the costumes together! We can’t wait to see all the cute kids in their costumes.

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