I like to save time. Doesn’t every Mom? With a focus on healthy this year, I started making smoothie freezer packs. Perhaps it’s also because I bought a Vitamix and am determined to have my family eat whole, healthy foods. You can reuse the ziplock bags and keep a stash of smoothie mixes in the freezer. Keep coconut water or almond milk on hand and add 1/2 cup to your smoothie packet. Hint: Using dark berries allows you to camouflage kale or spinach without the kids thinking there is anything green in their smoothie.Smart like a fox.
Sometimes on those hot spring and summer mornings, the kids need a chilled treat. This frozen yogurt breakfast bark is not only filled with fruit and protein but the granola gives it some sweet crunch.
MMMMMM! French Toast for Kids. Try this one with cinnamon raisin bread for a fun twist to the traditional. Changing things is a great way for kids to ‘rediscover’ foods that they may not have liked the first time. You can also create variations on this one by using basic store-bought waffles. With either option, popping them into an air fryer is a great alternative to using oil and saves more time.
Smoothies are the best ever way to start your day. We stick protein powders and vitamins in them, and then as a mom I don’t have to stress for the rest of the day.
It’s always a great idea for your health to take a break from the alcohol, even for a bit. Bartender Bobbi Kay, formerly of the Fairmont Pacific Rim Vancouver’s Boneta is a mocktail wizard. If you love the Mojito but desire not to drink alcohol or have a bun in the oven, so to speak… here’s a special recipe.
Seeing as we are all still stuck at home with extra time on our hands, here is a recipe that is not only delicious but also nutritious and low fat with no added sugar. Homemade low fat granola is a great way to start your day and perfect for a mid day munch. With the kids learning from home, I tend to deliver mid-morning snacks to keep their attention focused on the virtual learning. (Sometimes I make it with some dark chocolate chunks to brighten the day – of course…) You can add goji berries, dried fruit, chia seeds or coconut. Whatever you have in the cupboard that can add some interest to your pandemic cooking!
Kids adore chicken fingers and nuggets, but the deep-fried versions are terribly unhealthy. The pre-made options that you grab in the grocery store may be easy, but the expense and lack of nutrition in most brands makes this quick dinner a poor choice. Why not make a huge, heart-healthy batch yourself and freeze half, ensuring that you always have a quick and healthy option available?
One of the most glorious childhood memories has to be sitting in front of the oven, watching cookies bake. And who can forget that smell? It smells like love. The warm, gooey taste that follows is decadent. I love breaking out my trusty stand mixer and making batches of cookies with my sweet boys. Working the dough to form the cookies is such a fun sensory experience; letting them feel the squishy sensations between their fingers is so fun. It’s like play dough with culinary potential. Who says you can’t play with your food? As long as it’s not at the table, it’s fine with me. This one is Hudson’s favourite.
I’m starting to share with you some of the recipes from my self-published cookbook which was really a labour of love. I assembled our family recipes for my mother and I’m making them available on Urbanmommies moving forward. I made the banana bread from my cookbook on the first instalment of my new Facebook Live feature “Let’s Be Honest” which will be running on Mondays at 12 p.m. Pacific time. It won’t always be me cooking, it’s just a chance to chat about what’s been going on while I do things in my mom life.
Raise your hand if you’ve watched a weather report and gone back to bed. Or abandoned plans to leave the house when snow began to fall. Canadian winters can be brutal and many of us fall into the trap of staying inside to avoid the elements. Unfortunately, this can result in more screen time and less memory-making family moments.