Healthy Food Series: Kids Love Pasta Salad

About a year ago, I was going through a hard time in the kitchen where it didn't matter what I made, or how good it was, someone in the house complained about it. So, I made up this recipe in my efforts to get out of my cooking "slump". This is one of my all time favorite summer dishes to make because it is quick and easy, is loaded with a ton of great veggies, is hearty enough for my husband to eat it as a meal with a glass of milk, and everyone in my family likes it... a lot! My four year old has told me on more than one occasion, "This is my favorite food, better than pizza." Anyway, I hope you like it!

Keep it healthy!
Kristin

Salad:

1/2 package high-fiber whole wheat noodles any medium sized shape
2 cups frozen peas
1/2 a red, orange or yellow bell pepper
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
(add more veggies that your kids like)
4 oz feta cheese well crumbled
20 (or so)kalamata olives chopped
chopped walnuts

Vinaigrette:
1/2 tsp each dried basil and oregano
pinch of garlic granules (or powder)
2 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
5 Tbsp Olive oil*
plenty of salt and pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package directions, drain and put back in the cooking pot. Meanwhile make the vinaigrette and set aside until the noodles are done then pour over noodles. Add the peas and mix until the noodles cool off a bit. Then chop and add the rest of your veggies, olives and cheese. You can serve it right away, but it does taste better after the flavors have a chance to meld for an hour or so in the fridge. Taste to check for seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed. Dish it up and top with nuts right before serving. Complete your protiens with a glass of milk and enjoy. :) YUM!

*{I know this sounds like a lot of oil, but the salad needs it to keep the vinegar from destroying the pasta and it really doesn't taste greasy, I promise... and I could go on with the fat isn't bad thing, but you all watched Dr. Lustig's video... right?} ;)

Connecting Kids with Nature...

I take my sons to a co-op style preschool and today we had a discussion about connecting kids with the great outdoors.  I picked up a few valuable insights that I thought I'd share with all of you...

• They can grow artistically by enjoying the beauty around them and gleaning the details of how natural things look and feel
• They can grow creatively and intellectually by having some time to be bored because they WILL invent things to do
• They can grow emotionally by accomplishing physical tasks like climbing a big hill.  This produces real self-esteem because they know that even though it was hard, or it took a long time they did it; and it wasn't just mom or dad saying they did a good job for the millionth time. (Praising your kids is still important, but sometimes letting them just come to the understanding that they can  do _________ is more valuable)
• They can grow physically, emotionally and maybe even socially (if they are with friends, siblings or you) by playing ball, riding bikes, climbing trees, digging in the dirt, hiking, swiming, climbing and just plain running around.  Letting your kids outside to move is so good because it not only challenges their bodies, but it helps their brains to release endorphins (chemicals that help us to feel good) as well.
• They can grow intellectually by learning about plants, animals, different environments, counting, sorting, helping you plant and tend a garden, and so much more!
• One mom in our class sends her boys out in their back yard on scavengar hunts regularly to find things like a seed, a small rock, a leaf, a feather, 3 pieces of trash, and a stick.  Depending on your area, you could have them find different things.  The sky's the limit!

Looking for shells on the beach, talking about the pictures we see in the clouds, hiking, hunting for bugs, climbing trees, and gardening are some things I enjoy doing with my own kids.  These are just a few ideas for how/what your kids can learn outside.  I'm sure you can think of more.  Feel free to post them in the comments section below.  I'd love to see what you have to say...

Live it up!
Kristin

Unexpected Blessings...

     The other day, I was out in the front yard and I noticed something strange.  In the middle of a patch of flowering onion was a lone bright yellow daffodil.  I didn't plant it there on purpose, and it had never bloomed before, or maybe I had just never seen it... but there it was: a beautiful reminder that in the midst of the business of everyday life a surprise is sometimes just what we need.  It may come in the form of a flower cropping up in an unexpected place.  Other times people go out of their way to do something unexpected that brightens a dull or upset day.  My daughter is notorious for doing this when I'm having a bad day.  She drops me a note that lets me know I'm loved.  It has the power to melt my heart and can turn my attitude completely around.      
     I notice it works with husbands too... Last weekend, my hubby worked so hard cleaning the house so I could spend some time preparing for a craft show.  Later, when he was out I cleaned up the kitchen and he mentioned to me how that made him feel like all the time he had spent cleaning was so appreciated!
     I think the world could use a little more of this going around... What will you do today to bless someone who isn't expecting it?

Live it up!
Kristin