Cool Treats Minus the Artificial Stuff

Try these foods without food colorings and high fructose corn syrup!

Kozy Shack SmartGels:  These tasty gelatin snacks are free from high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and food colorings!  I’ve been searching for a long time for something like this and finally happened upon them at Wal-mart on Hwy. 20 in Madison,AL.  I had previously seen something similar at another specialty store, but they were outrageously expensive.  These are actually cheaper than the jello brands.  While these aren’t the most eco-friendly since they are individually packaged, sometimes it’s nice to have a jello or pudding cup!  It reminds me of being a kid!  They also have pudding cups, CowRageous Pudding as they call it!

Edy’s Strawberry Fruit  Bars:  These have real strawberries in them, not the artificial flavors!  As a preggo lady, they are a great alternative to a strawberry daiquiri (okay, sort of!).  But really, they are quite yummy with no red food coloring!  These are easy to find at various grocery stores in the Huntsville and Madison areas.

Good Sport Natural Sports Drink:  I’m days away from having our second child and my OB is allowing me to have sips of gatorade and/or juice while I’m in labor.  Of course I don’t really want the standard Gatorade with food colorings and HFCS since it’s not something I typically consume.  In my search to find a more natural alternative, I found Good Sport at Kroger on Hughes Rd. in Madison, AL.  It’s made by company called OWater and is free from artificial flavors, preservatives and colors.  Score!  The orange flavor is my favorite right now!

I am a bit confused since the OWater website does not list Good Sport as a product.  I kinda think that Good Sport has changed names into Sport OWater and maybe Kroger hasn’t gotten the new product in yet.  That’s just my guess anyway.

While these aren’t foods we eat all the time at our house, it’s nice to have some special treats in the summer!  Do you have any natural products you’ve found that are better than the artificial popular items?  We’d love to hear from you in the comments section!

Zero Waste Grocery Store

Precycling Grocery Store

An upcoming grocery store in Austin, TX plans to promote precycling by having consumers bring their own packaging to the store!  How does it work?  Check out the diagram below and click here to watch the video.  Sounds very innovative to me; too bad we don’t live closer!

Little Bits of Exercise Add Up

Just move it; even if it’s a little bit!

We’ve all heard the recommendations for being active:  30 minutes on most days of the week!  However, over half of adult Americans aren’t reaching this goal.  In my work as a health educator, I run into lots of people that think if they can’t reach the recommendations, they might as well not try…WRONG!  Every little bit adds up to increase your health benefits.  It’s like putting coins in your piggy bank; it might not seem like much, but over time it adds up!  The other great thing is you can break your physical activity into 10 minute bouts:  10 minute walk before breakfast, 10 minutes at lunch and another 10 minutes in the evening.

Also, new research is not only based on your exercise and physical activity times, but rather your amount of sedentary time!  So, the more you are sedentary (think facebook, TV, desk job, etc.) the more it affects your disease risk.  Even if you aren’t meant to be a gym rat, there are several ways in incorporate physical activity into your day:  go dancing, walk in your neighborhood, join a sports team, try a fitness video game, play chase with your kids, push-mow your yard, the list goes on!  The main thing is to find something you enjoy and just move it!

Since becoming a Mom, I have struggled with the guilt of wanting time to exercise and focus on myself.  What I’ve learned is, I’m a much better Mom, Wife and friend when I get to exercise.  Even if it’s just a quick walk or jog around the neighborhood.  It’s like a magic pill to help me stay strong, happy, healthy and ready to tackle life’s demands!  And my daughter is seeing me as a healthy role-model, which is important to me.

As for me, I love group fitness classes, exercising outdoors and training with friends!  Also, it always seems easier if I’ve got someone counting on me to be there.  And it makes the hard days bearable when you can chat with a girlfriend or two.  On days when my exercise routine gets put on the back-burner, I try to incorporate calisthenics at home such as:  squats, lunges, push ups and crunches.

Do you have a favorite way to increase your exercise and physical activity?  We’d love to hear how our busy Moms make time to just move it!

Scoffing at “Healthy” Snacks

I’m trying not to scoff so much lately lest my nearly 3-year-old develop a displeasing, cynical demeanor.  But despite my best intentions this “13 Healthiest Snack Foods” feature on Yahoo’s Shine had me scoffing, snorting, and forwarding to my sister in Texas.  Don’t get me wrong I’m always on the lookout for healthy snacks, but number three’s entry of ”Wild Boar Salami” is hilarious.  Pork salami as a health food is almost as funny as the write up: 

Play Days at Hays!

Explore and learn about the great outdoors at Hays Nature Preserve in Huntsville, Alabama.

Operation Green Team Presents Play Days at Hays!  “Play Days at Hays” will be held in June and July each Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the new Terrame Natural Playground at Hays Nature Preserve.

Sessions are FREE and promise to be fun and educational as children, with an adult, explore and learn about the great outdoors.

Space is limited; call 256-532-5326 to reserve your spot and to get more information.

NOTE:  For all these events, children should wear old comfortable shoes and play clothes that can get a bit dirty. Don’t forget a bottle of water.  Parents please apply your preferred insect repellant on you and your child especially on the lower legs to fend off unwanted insect bites.

Children must be accompanied by an adult during the sessions.

June Schedule of events after the jump. Read more

Cell Phones as Possible Carcinogens

Cell Phones Pose Health-Risk?

The World Health Organization recently classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans.  While it doesn’t say “absolutely” carcinogenic, the group of 31 scientists believe there is enough of a risk that further research is needed!  The possible risks associated with cell phone usage:  “brain cancer…developmental problems in kids, ringing in the ears, bone loss, concentration problems, and unsightly rashes.”

As an expectant Mom, this worries me since I am carrying an unborn child!  And, I will think more about letting my child play with my phone.  Not realistic to ditch your celly for good?  There are several ways to reduce your exposure, according to Rodale News:

1.) Text instead of talking (not while driving though!)

2.) Use speaker-phone

3.) Tap call-forwarding

For more information about this recent announcement, check out these articles at WebMD and Rodale News.  As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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