Fuel Strong Muscles with Healthy Foods

Your body is like a superhero, and your muscles are the muscles that help you run, jump, and play!
  Just like superheroes need fuel to keep fighting bad guys, your muscles need healthy food to stay strong and help you be your best self.

One of the best ways to feed your muscles is by eating vegetables, seeds, nuts, and fruits. These foods are packed with vitamins and minerals that help your muscles grow and stay healthy.

Here are two kid-friendly recipes that will help feed your muscles:

Super Salad: Start with a bed of leafy greens like spinach or kale, add chopped carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Top with a sprinkle of sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds for some extra muscle-building power. Add your favorite dressing and enjoy!

Super Smoothie: In a blender, mix together 1 banana, 1 cup of frozen berries, and 1 cup of spinach. Add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and blend until smooth. Pour into a cup and enjoy your delicious and healthy smoothie!

Remember, eating healthy foods like vegetables, seeds, nuts, and fruits is important for keeping your muscles strong and healthy. So next time you're looking for a snack, reach for something that will give your muscles the fuel they need to keep you feeling like a superhero!

~ Contact Me ~ I'm blessed to have the time and ability to express myself through these creations and expand my talents with each new project. ~ Thanks and Glory to God!

Why Eating Healthy is Super Cool: A Guide for Kids!

Hey there! Did you know that eating healthy food is really important for your body? When we eat good stuff, it can help different parts of our body work better, like our tummy and heart. Eating healthy is also important for our minds and bodies in general, like exercising, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress.

Eating healthy can also prevent many diseases and illnesses. By incorporating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into our diets, we give our bodies the nutrients they need to function at their best. For example, foods high in vitamin C like oranges and strawberries can help support our immune system, while leafy greens like spinach can help keep our bones strong.

To keep our hearts healthy, we should eat foods that are good for them. These include fruits and vegetables like berries, citrus fruits, leafy greens, and sweet potatoes. Nuts like almonds and walnuts are also good for our hearts. It's important to choose lean meats like chicken and fish instead of fatty ones, and to limit our intake of sugary and processed foods. Drinking water instead of sugary drinks can also help our heart stay healthy.

Understanding which foods best support the organs that make up the digestion system can help us maintain good gut health. Consuming foods rich in probiotics like yogurt or kefir can help maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria, while fiber-rich foods like beans and berries can help promote regularity and prevent constipation. 

Detoxifying our body is also important. Drinking plenty of water can help flush out toxins, while consuming foods like garlic, broccoli, and beets can help support our liver, which is responsible for removing toxins from the body.

Here are three kid-friendly recipes that are packed with fruits and vegetables and free of dairy and meat:

Fruit Salad: Cut up your favorite fruits like strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and kiwis, and mix them all together for a colorful and healthy snack.


Veggie Pita Pockets: Stuff whole grain pita pockets with sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, and lettuce. Add a dollop of hummus for flavor.


Rainbow Veggie Skewers: Cut up your favorite veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, squash, and onions, and skewer them. Brush with olive oil and grill or bake until tender.



~ Contact Me ~ I'm blessed to have the time and ability to express myself through these creations and expand my talents with each new project. ~ Thanks and Glory to God!

Water and hydration

Water is an essential nutrient for the human body and plays a vital role in maintaining good health. Our bodies are made up of 60-70% water, which means that we need to replenish our water supply daily to keep our organs functioning properly. 

Water helps to regulate body temperature, transport nutrients and oxygen to cells, and remove waste products. It also supports digestion, joint lubrication, and skin health.

Children, in particular, need to stay hydrated because they are still growing and developing. Drinking water is a simple and easy way to support overall nutrition and promote good health for kids and adults alike.

Here's a hydration challenge based on the DIY fruit-infused water activity:

Challenge: Create and drink a new fruit-infused water recipe every day for a week!

Instructions:

1. Choose 7 different fruits or combinations of fruits, such as strawberries, lemons, cucumbers, and mint leaves. (Yes, cucumbers are fruits.)
2. Cut the fruits into small pieces and place them in a large pitcher of water.
3. Let the mixture sit in the fridge for a few hours to infuse the flavors.
4. Pour the infused water into a reusable water bottle and enjoy!

~ Contact Me ~ I'm blessed to have the time and ability to express myself through these creations and expand my talents with each new project. ~ Thanks and Glory to God!

Healthy Eating Activity: Carrots

Tasty and Nutritious: Unlock the Health Power of Carrots and Boost Flavor in Your Meals

by JeNay

Carrots are not only tasty, but they are also packed with essential vitamins and minerals that can benefit your health. Incorporating carrots into your diet is a great way to add a nutritional punch to your meals while also boosting the flavor.

Carrots are an excellent source of various vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health. They are particularly rich in vitamin A, with just one medium-sized carrot providing more than 200% of the daily recommended intake. Vitamin A is important for maintaining healthy eyesight, as well as promoting healthy skin and immune function.

Carrots also contain vitamin C, an antioxidant that plays a crucial role in immune function and wound healing. In addition, they are a good source of potassium, which is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure and heart function. Other important minerals found in carrots include calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus

One delicious way to enjoy carrots is by making a simple and healthy carrot salad. To make this recipe, you will need:

Ingredients:

• 4 large carrots, peeled and grated
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the grated carrots, raisins, and walnuts.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
3. Pour the dressing over the carrot mixture and toss to combine.
4. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

This carrot salad is not only tasty and nutritious, but it is also incredibly easy to make. The sweet and savory flavors of the dressing perfectly complement the natural sweetness of the carrots, making it a perfect side dish for any meal.

Another delicious and kid-friendly recipe idea is carrot cake bites. To make this snack, you will need:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup raw almonds
• 1/2 cup pitted dates
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of salt
• Optional: additional shredded coconut or chopped nuts, for rolling

Instructions:

1. Place the shredded carrots, shredded coconut, almonds, dates, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a food processor.
2. Process until the mixture comes together into a sticky dough.
3. Roll the mixture into bite-sized balls.
4. If desired, roll the balls in additional shredded coconut or chopped nuts to coat.
5. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Experiment with different recipes and cooking methods to discover your favorite ways to enjoy this versatile and nutrient-rich vegetable.

Overall, incorporating carrots into your diet is an easy way to boost your health and add some delicious flavor to your meals. Try incorporating carrots into your meals today and discover the many benefits they have to offer.

Gina's Garden: Week 3

Gina was a great friend to me. Actually, she was more like another mother and a person that could stand for me whenever I was too weak to stand for myself. We lost her three weeks ago to a heart attack. I guess God said it was time to give her the rest and peace she very much deserves. 

Some years ago, while both of us was in NC, Gina and I grew a passion for mint plants and started a container garden together with just a handful of plants. We had fun learning how to grow our plants and challenging who's plants would do best. Once Gina moved to MD we didn't continue to container garden but vowed we both would again and continue to learn together. 

Eventually, Gina did get back to it and started a container garden on her balcony. The evening of her passing I drove to her home to face the reality that my friend was gone. Her daughter and husband was gracious to allow me to collect her plants and bring them home with me. 

Since then, I've been DIY crafting and gardening a section of my balcony, dedicated to Gina.... 'Gina's Garden'.

I have many plans for Gina's Garden. I  have a few things started already, such as the trellis divider and a few solar lights. I've picked up a few more herb and vegetable plants to add to the garden. This time of year they are going on sale which is great for me.

This week however, I'm focused on the quality of the plant soil and getting rid of plant mites. I'm starting to see them in some of the pots and a few browning plant leaves. I figure I need to make this top priority for the garden right now and get a handle on it before it gets to be a problem.

 

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Gina, I don't really know what I'm doing but you know me, I've been all over the internet and picked up a few things from the store as a result. We'll figure it out....

Love, Jenay

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"I'm checking soil, treating for mites and fungus, and feeding the plants. This is going to be interesting. " 

~ Contact Me ~ I'm blessed to have the time and ability to express myself through these creations and expand my talents with each new project. ~ Thanks to God!

Wedding dress, final fitting

Here comes the Bride! My dress is finally done.

Wedding dress, almost done

I'm down to the wire now, with my wedding 8 days away. The dress is mostly done with only the waist ribbon to make and more sequins to add to the bottom.  I will be so happy to finally start my vail.