If you’ve been snagging ham or pepperoni for easy meals during the holiday season, you’ll want to take a look at this recall. Alexander & Hornung, the business unit of Perdue Premium Meat Company, Inc. recently recalled 234,391 pounds of the fully cooked meat products due to potential listeria contamination. But in an important update, the recall has now expanded to 2,320,774 pounds of products.

The recall affects many different brands of ham, including lunch meat from Wellshire, spiral sliced ham from Garrett Valley Farms and Niman Ranch uncured ham. It also affects Five Star pepperoni and pepperoni sticks. You can see the full list of products and the associated dates here.

There have been no reports of associated illness but Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that mostly affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women and newborns. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, stiff neck and convulsions and the infection spreads from the gastrointestinal tract.

The original recall listed an establishment number of “EST. M10125” inside the USDA mark of inspection but check the updated info to see if a ham product in your fridge is now included.

Check your refrigerator or freezer if you think you might have purchased one of these products and throw it away if you find it. If you have more questions about this recall and the affected products you can visit www.alexanderhornung.com or call the Alexander & Hornung Consumer Hotline at 1-866-866-3703.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Сергей Орловский via Unsplash

 

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Jazz up your little one’s lunch this Halloween season with some kid-friendly jokes about vampires, witches and pumpkins. Click here or on the image below to print them up—we know your little ghouls and goblins will love sharing these Halloween jokes with their school friends!

—Kate Loweth & Sarah Shebek

Featured image: iStock

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Photo: iStock

As children grow in the world, they start to slowly look out, and realize that there are other people besides themselves. As the selfish toddler years subside, you can slowly see children start to share, to worry over other’s pains and to think about what people around them would want or need. As a parent, teacher, or guardian, you want to help usher them into being compassionate people. You try to instil some values, some insights, and some moral understanding; but you are also just hoping for the best. Things like TV, school, other children and external stresses can set the wrong example for kids or lead them in a direction you’d rather help them turn from.

Chris Parson’s book, “A Little Spark” helps us realize the kind of resources we have on our side. The story follows the adventures of a little mouse (Spark), and through his diverse trials and tribulations, he learns the importance of believing in himself, not judging others without knowing where they’re coming from, the value of friendship and the essential nature of forgiveness.

It is this cast of lively characters that can help further your discussions of empathy with the children in your life. Telling a child about the importance of sharing is one thing, but it is far more effective to illustrate this lesson through engaging storytelling. This is what “A Little Spark” is all about. The compelling story, hilarious, warm-hearted, or challenging characters and relatable scenarios make the book a great jumping-off point for framing talking points with your young listeners.

In fact, the book is great for entertainment and instruction between parents and children, but it’s actually suited for a lot more than that. Parsons’ vision for the future of his book is to see it used in classrooms and reading groups, to help foster conversations with children about topics of interest and worked with a first-grade class in Texas, in order to explore the applications of the book and its themes. He goes on to explain a little about their experience, “The teacher read the book, and the students listened to the music and discussed the lessons—the teacher, parents, and the kids loved it. Our goal moving forward is to develop a “Be That Spark” program for schools/caregivers focused on helping develop positive character traits in kids.”

How to Discuss Empathy with Children
If you would like to use the book as a way to broach the topic of empathy with your kids, there are some strategies to keep in mind. Try taking a situation from the book and asking how your child would have acted. Or choose a scenario from the book and apply it to the child’s life: how would the child deal with someone who needed help or could benefit from sharing? Ask the child to explain the character’s motivations for being sympathetic or empathetic. And you can also discuss what the word means to you and to them.

During the Discussion, Identify & Reflect on People’s Empathy
Children gain a better understanding of a topic by identifying an action of someone they know during a discussion. While teaching them about empathy, show them an act of kindness and selflessness performed by someone they had seen before, emphasizing both the immediate and long-term benefits of such activity. Furthermore, by appreciating such acts of empathy, the children learn to accept and imbibe the virtue quite easily.

Ask Them to Describe How They Feel When They Show Kindness to Their Friends
Discussing empathy with children should begin with obtaining their understanding of acts of kindness demonstrated between them and their peers. This should be accomplished through the use of subtle questions designed to elicit their natural perspective on empathy. You can ask them how they feel if a classmate is having lunch and has enough of it to spare but refuses to share it with another classmate who has nothing. Make them understand that even the smallest act of kindness, if shown to the classmate without lunch, can go a long way towards relieving his or her hunger and ensuring he/she feels the company of his/her classmates. In a variety of other situations, the emphasis should be on the fact that it is humane to show empathy.

Being aware of and caring about the feelings of others is a quality that everyone should strive for, and it is best instilled in children. Making them aware of this feeling and demonstrating it necessitates a thoughtful discussion. The focus of all discussions with the children should be on identifying the attributes of empathy as it manifests itself in the various situations brought to the children’s attention.

Chris Parsons grew up in Flatrock, Newfoundland. After many years of telling his stories, he published his first book "A Little Spark" in October 2020. The book is a fully illustrated chapter book - complete with a Soundtrack and Audiobook. The book recently received the Mom's Choice Gold Medal. He resides in Dallas.

Have a meal al fresco with rolling restaurants that are delicious with no clean-up needed. These awesome neighborhood food trucks around the Bay Area not only serve gourmet food of all cuisines but are a great way to get the family together and hang outside. Many are open with COVID-19 precautions and pre-ordering in place, so get ready to dine out!

San Francisco

Off the Grid Levi's Plaza

Curry Up Now

Take a break during the week and enjoy lunch outside from some of the best rolling trucks in town. Chow down on @senorsisig, @curryupnow, @bowldacai and others on a rotating schedule. 

1155 Battery Street
S
an Francisco, CA
When: Tues.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Online: offthegrid.com

SPARK Social SF

William J Simpson Photography

A community garden space in the heart of Mission Bay, this food truck park is also a beer and sangria garden as well as an event space. They work with over 150 food trucks that rotate for lunch and dinner, so there is truly something for everyone. The lineup is posted every day at 10 a.m!

601 Mission Bay Blvd. North
San Francisco, CA
When
: Weekdays 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (with trucks rotating 3-5 p.m.), Saturdays 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Online: sparksocialsf.com

Parklab Gardens

Mini golf and dinner? Head over to Parkland Gardens for tee time and food. @hooktdoughnuts is there with mini and mochi donuts if you are looking for something sweet, or make it a Taco Tuesday with @domingosinternational! Check out the bar for Happy Hour specials every day.

1379 4th St.
San Francisco, CA
When: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
Online: parklabgardens.com

East Bay

Off the Grid—South Shore Center, Alameda

Off the Grid

Check out this pop-up lunch event, open every Saturday with food trucks and live music! They set up shop in the parking lot of South Shore Center, a 594,000 square-foot open-air shopping destination featuring a variety of nationally known retailers and restaurants to serve the residents of Alameda. A nice food break before or after some shopping! 

535 South Shore Center
Alameda, CA
When: Saturdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Online: offthegrid.com

Tacos Sinaloa

Family-owned and operated, this Oakland taco truck is your best bet for authentic tacos in the East Bay. Meat, veggie and seafood lovers can munch on tacos, burritos, quesadillas and tortas. Don't forget a seasonal agua fresca or strawberry horchata! 

2138 International Blvd
Oakland, CA
When: 9 a.m. Sun.-Mon. 
Onlinetacossinaloaoakland.com

Peninsula/South Bay

Kona Ice West San Jose—South Bay

Murissa M. via Yelp

Follow the Kona Ice West San Jose Facebook page to get all the intel on when they'll be delivering to your neighborhood. You’ll place your order in advance and we definitely recommend you go for the color-changing cups as the kids will love them.

Online: facebook.com

Tasty Mob Market
A food concept with food trucks and pop-up stores, Tasty Mob Market aims to connect small business owners with the community. From tacos to momos, there is something for everyone! Be sure to stop by Calif Caracas for the Bay's best empanadas! 

Online: Redtri.com 

Off the Grid—Serramonte Center

Off the Grid

Serramonte is your Tuesday night dinner spot in Daly City. Enjoy street food from a rotating list of food trucks right outside Serramonte Shopping Center like @capelosbarbecue and @curveballmobile for some awesome sliders.

39 Serramonte Center
Daly City, CA
When: Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m.
Online: offthegrid.com

The Momo Everest

Authentic Chinese and Nepalese food is served up including their namesake Momo, which is a delectable meat or veggie filled dumpling. Their chili chicken is to die for and quite spicy so make sure to wash it all down with the best Masala Chai you will find outside of Kathmandu!

Multiple locations (yes, they're that good):

205 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale
425 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose
81 S Main St, Milpitas
1593 Monterey Rd, San Jose
39233 Fremont Blvd, Fremont

Online: https://everestmomo.us/find-us

Marin

Marin Country Mart

Marin Country Mart is the place to be for Sunday lunch! Food trucks are there serving up delicious sweet and savory snacks for the whole family. Afterward, stroll over to the shopping village and support local businesses. 

2257 Larkspur Landing Circle
Larkspur, CA
When: Sundays 11 a.m-3 p.m
Online: facebook.com/marincountrymart

Casablanca Moroccan and Mediterranean

Looking for some healthy and delicious Mediterranean food? Casablanca's been cooking up gourmet favorites like falafel, shwarma sandwiches and kabob wraps for 17 years. Follow them on social to see what farmer's market they'll be at next! 

Online: casablancamoroccanfood.com

—Sandra Lee & Kate Loweth

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Healdsburg, a beautiful town nestled between small wineries and green rolling hills is just an hour and a half north of San Francisco, but feels like a world away. You and your family will fall in love with the quaint and picturesque downtown, filled with farm-to-table restaurants, family-owned shop, and of course tasting rooms of locally-produced wine. Here are a few of our favorite Healdsburg destinations, hope you like them as much as we do!

Stay

Kate Loweth

Wildhaven Sonoma
This spot right on the Russian River opened last summer and you are going to love it! Safari tents with actual beds are available for families with communal BBQs on site. Walk a few steps down to the river and spend the whole day tubing, catching fish and enjoying the sun. This summer they added fun events like summer concerts and yoga. Read all about Wildhaven here.

Tip: Bring water shoes and river tubes for your day on the water!

2411 Alexander Valley Rd.
Healdsburg, CA
Onlinewildhavensonoma.com

The Dry Creek Inn
This hotel feels like a Tuscan-inspired villa, filled with lovely gardens and courtyards, two new heated pools, a large hot tub and a modern gym. Enjoy the complimentary breakfast inside the cafe or by the fire pit or courtyard, and don’t forget to check out the complimentary wine tasting after you check in. The Dry Creek Inn is not only super kid friendly, but you can also bring your pets, making it easy for all members of your family to enjoy their stay.

Tip: Bring bathing suits as their heated pools are open year round and ask about the complimentary yoga classes!

198 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA
800-222-5784
Online: drycreekinn.com

Two Thirty-Five Luxury Suites
Right on the main drag, this hotel's massive suites have all the comforts of home and more. Each suite has three bedrooms each with its own bathroom. Hang out in the living room enjoying the fireplace and balcony. Families will love the full kitchen with dining table for when you want to enjoy a relaxed meal. There's even a washer/dryer for life's messes (that even happen when you are on vacation). Plan your family reunion here—they've got four suites (each with three bedrooms, three bathrooms) and gathering space available for your family shin digs. Bonus: the La Crema tasting room is downstairs!

235 Healdsburg Ave.
Healdsburg, CA
Online: twothirty-five.com

Kate Loweth

Hipcamp's Meadow Glampsite at Sindisa Sanctuary
Got kids who love animals? This is the glamping spot for you! Drive up to the hills above Healdsburg's vineyards and you'll find this animal sanctuary that is the perfect spot to spend a night or two under the stars. The safari tent has beds that sleep five and there's an overflow tent for two if you need it. The outdoor kitchen has literally everything you need to grill up some burgers and make some French press coffee in the morning. 

Take the ranch tour and you can meet the alpacas, pigs, donkeys, horses and cattle that make their home at this animal sanctuary. They also offer trail rides for those who want to spend more time with the horses. 

Another property highlight is the rustic pool that is yours for the duration of your stay. It's the perfect spot for cooling off after a hot day in wine country. 

Online: hipcamp.com

Play

Kate Loweth

Russian River Adventures
Looking for the perfect family activity in Healdsburg? Paddle down the Russian River and enjoy all the peaceful tranquility that the river provides. Opt for the half-day paddle if you have little ones or the full-day for older kids (full-day is 9 miles and takes you about 5-6 hours). You walk from the office in Healdsburg to the launch location and Russian River Adventures drops your car off at the final destination so you can jet when you are done. The summer of 2021 provided water levels that were totally fine for paddling with just a few short distances where you needed to push your canoe over shallow spots. Russian River Adventures does a great job of marking areas to avoid on the river. 

Insider tips: Pack more food and drinks than you think you'll need and reapply sunscreen at regular intervals so nobody gets fried.

20 Healdsburg Ave.
Healdsburg, CA
Online: russianriveradventures.com

Wine Country Bikes
There's no better way to see this gorgeous area of wine country than on two wheels. Wine Country Bikes can hook you up with tandems for the crew and even electric-assist bikes for when the going gets tough. Book a tour and one of their friendly guides will take you to local wineries where you can taste the area's pinots and enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.

61 Front St.
Healdsburg, CA
Online: winecountrybikes.com

Spa Hotel Healdsburg
If mom is looking for an afternoon of relaxation, book her a massage at Hotel Healdsburg. Choose from wine country specials like the aromatic Meyer lemon and sage massage that will send her into total relaxation mode immediately. Treatments include access to the Jacuzzi and pool nestled out back under the olive trees.

25 Matheson St.
Healdsburg, CA
Online: hotelhealdsburg.com/spa/

Visit

Paige Green

DaVero Farms & Winery
This beautiful, certified biodynamic farm and winery is home to olive groves, a vineyard, fruit trees, an expansive vegetable garden, as well as chickens, sheep and pigs. Vero focuses exclusively on Italian grape and olive varietals that are best suited for California's Mediterranean climate and the results are delicious. Stop over for a wine and olive oil tasting and bring your kids along as they can play in the garden or check out the animals while you sip on some of the best wines of the region.

1766 Westside Road
Healdsburg, CA
Online: davero.com

Preston Farm and Winery
As the name implies, this winery is also home to animals like sheep, hens and occasionally pigs. Kids will love the many cats that roam the property (but leave Fido at home for this visit). Grab one of Preston's famed Rhône varietal wines and enjoy it with a picnic lunch on the grass. Grab some pastured eggs and ground lamb in the shop to take home with you (along with your vino, of course).

9282 West Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA
Onlineprestonfarmandwinery.com

Eat & Drink

Kate Loweth

The Wurst Restaurant
The Wurst has some of the best sausages in the region and there’s one (or two) for every member of the family—even the veggie-only eaters. They are served with fresh-cut fries, sweet potato fries or onion rings. They also make amazing burgers and salads if you are not in a sausage mood.

Tip: Check out their extensive mustard selection before heading to your table!

22 Matheson St
Healdsburg, CA
Online: wurstrestaurant.com

PizZando
Right in the middle of downtown, PizZando is a great option for families. Snag a spot and dine al fresco or order your wood-fired pizzas to go. We love the Pizza, Pizza, Pizza meal that comes with three pizzas, a salad and focaccia bread for $75.  

301 Healdsburg Ave. 
Healdsburg, CA
Online: pizzandohealdsburg.com

Barndiva
If you need a spot to celebrate a special occasion, head to Barndiva. This gorgeous restaurant has outdoor dining in the massive back garden as well as large tables in the restaurant. Quirky decor pairs well with the delicious options like seared king salmon and pan-roasted halibut. They are open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

231 Cedar St.
Healdsburg, CA
Online: barndiva.com

Bravas Bar de Tapas
Bravas has consistently been rated as one of the best tapas restaurants in the country (even those hailing from Spain will agree). The restaurant features a stunning patio (for lunch or dinner) and a beautiful menu featuring tapas and other Spanish-typical dishes like tortilla de patata (Spanish potato omelette) and Paella.

Tip: The kids will love the jamón serrano and manchego cheese sandwich and you will fall in love with the Barcelona martini.

420 Center St
Healdsburg, CA
707-433-7700
Online: starkrestaurants.com

—Kate Loweth & Sonia Gandiaga

 

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Summer is full of late nights, cool treats, and hopefully some bonding time camping, glamping or just chilling in the yard with the kiddie pool. But even the most relaxed parent will admit there’s more than one reason we are looking forward to these lazy, hazy days of summer coming to an end. Here are a few of ours.

1. Two words: earlier bedtime

JESHOOTS.COM via Unsplash

Now that the kids are actually asleep BEFORE 10 p.m. (8 if you’re lucky) you get a little me time. And by me time, we mean binge-watching all those abandoned shows in your Netflix queue.

2. School lunches, baby.

iStock

For the first time in almost three months, someone else will be responsible for feeding your constantly hungry pack. If you’re the lunch maker in the house, take heart. After a summer of being eaten out of house and home, making a lunch per kid will seem like a treat. At least at first.

3. We can stop worrying about “summer slide” and “brain drain.”

Henry Bloomfield via Flickr

And get back to worrying about our kids' homework! Oh, and enforcing those earlier bedtimes. 

4. We get the pool to ourselves.

Marion Michele via Unsplash

What? It’s still hot out (Your pool looks just like this, right?). 

5. We get to do things uninterrupted without kids.

Kinga Cichewicz via Unsplash

Not everything. But some things. Like not have to use your lunch break to shuttle kids from camp to sitter. Or getting in and out of the grocery store in less than 20 minutes (and not having to say “no” 25 times per child). Or actually reading a book in silence without having to lock yourself in the bathroom.

6. We get to hang out with other parent-friends at school drop off.

Because if you don’t actually get to talk to a grown-up person who isn’t explaining Minecraft or LOL Surprise dolls for hours on end, you just might forget how to speak in complete sentences.

7. And, conversely, you get to chill in the pick-up line.

rawpixel via Unsplash

You’ll have plenty of time to catch up on your social media feeds while waiting for the final bell to ring. Or maybe listen to your favorite NPR show or podcast. It’s okay to admit this is why we all get there 10 minutes early and sit in our cars. After all, we said hi and arranged playdates at drop-off.

8. Speaking of which, playdate season is back!

iStock

Despite your best intentions, most of those end-of-the-year promises for epic playdates all summer long probably went unrealized. But now that you see your parent BFFs (and the kids see theirs) more often, it’s just easier to coordinate.

9. We get to return to our “regular” routines.

Nothing's better than getting back from vacation and restarting regular routines—and dressing appropriately for the appropriate task. And we’re not saying yoga pants aren’t appropriate for most of those. But if you want to wear pants with pockets, you go girl!

10. There’s a good reason to drink more coffee.

pexels.com

Early morning wake-up calls mean you don’t have to explain that second (or third or fifth) cup of coffee. To anyone (that includes yourself). 

11. The school bus reappears.

macdeedle via Pixabay

Like a golden beacon, the school bus arrives. If your kid takes the bus, heading back to the classroom means you won’t spend precious minutes going the opposite direction of your work each morning. Save that for the after-school activities.

12. Your kids start bathing again.

Bernard Hermant via Unsplash

Missing the bath or shower was adorable when summer started. But you’re ready to see what your kid actually looks like under all the grime. And glitter. And paint.

13. You don't have to volunteer (yet).

Of course, you'll help out in the coming months (ahem), but because the year just started, you get to cut yourself some slack. No judgments.

14. We get to spend our daylight hours (or minutes) doing stuff that doesn't involve occupying a kid.

Todd Dwyer via Flickr

Yes, there’s housework and office work to be done. But, as we mentioned, you also get the pool to yourself, right?

15. We get to remind our kids how bored they said they were all summer.

Sorry, not sorry.

—Kipp Jarecke-Cheng with Gabby Cullen & Amber Guetebier
Memes created by Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

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Feature photo: iStock 

School supply shopping doesn’t have to be all about those bland No. 2 pencils and socks! Whether you’ve got a unicorn lover or a kid who just loves to be colorful, add a little flair to their day with some rainbow swag. Here are our favorite rainbow school supplies you can buy right now on Amazon.

Wildkin 15 Inch Backpack, Rainbow Hearts

Amazon

Perfect for school, this rainbow heart-patterned backpack is not only stylish, but functional too. Padded shoulder straps, a heavy-duty top loop, polyester exterior and a moisture-resistant interior lining mean this tote will hold up the entire school year. Even if the first day looks a little "different" this year, a new backpack can give kids the back-to-school feeling. 

Find this bag that's perfect for your rainbow lover on Amazon for $29.99.

Pilor 7mm Rainbow Mechanical Pencil Set

Amazon

Taking notes and doing homework usually requires the standard No. 2 pencil, but for kids at home, writing their answers in purple feel like a perk of being home. For your little artists who love to draw with fine points, they array of colors will cover all the bases. 

Find a set here for just under $12.

ZIPIT Fresh Colorz Pencil Box

Amazon

You've got to have a cool place to store those pencils! At just $8.99, you'll want one of these for every study station or kiddo in your household. 

Shop it here

Rainbow Set of Washi Tape

Amazon

Use for calendaring, making notes and cool designs on notebooks, you can never go wrong with a set of rainbow washi tape! For under $14, this 20-pack of decorative tape comes in unique patterns, all in the colors of ROY G BIV. This sticky yet removable tape is great for kids (and parents) of all ages.

Snag this pack for $14.99 on Amazon!

Gamenote Wooden Pen Holder & Pencil Holder Set

Amazon

For a homework or homeschool, there's nothing like a bright spot on your desk or study station. This rainbow pencil holder will house all those little things you need, including scissors, pens, pencils and more. 

Shop it today on Amazon, $19.99

Rainbow Unicorn Memo Tab

Amazon

Take notes in style with these magical unicorn memo pads! This three-pack of notepads comes with multi-colored unicorns and flowing rainbow manes. Looks like you CAN buy happiness.

Buy yours on Amazon for under $7.

Rainbow Composition Books

Amazon

Forget those boring black and white composition books––this rainbow version rocks! While they will definitely set you back a penny more than the traditional books, this high-quality set comes with an elastic band to hold your book closed. 

Get the entire four-pack for around $25 on Amazon.

 

Simple Modern Wave Water Rainbow Bottle

Amazon

Taste the rainbow! This vacuum insulated and double-walled bottle is made from premium gauge, rust resistant 18/8 stainless steel. It's also leak proof and made with a narrow mouth for easy drinking.

The 9 oz. size (perfect for school lunches) starts at just $12.99 on Amazon.

Wildkin Lunch Bag

Amazon

Enjoy lunch from this rainbow lunch bag (even if you're eating it at home) and do your part for saving the environment by not using brown bags, too. Premium fabric means this bag will last the whole school year, and the insulated lining will keep your kiddos food nice and chilly. This product is PVC, BPA and Phthalate-free and Wildkin products come with a reliable replacement warranty.

Snag this rainbow pattern or choose from over 20 others on Amazon. $16.99

Book Sox Stretchable Book Covers

Amazon

No cutting, taping or gluing book covers on this year! Keep those books clean whether the kids are hauling them to class and stacking them up around the house. These stretchy, fabric Book Sox come in tons of vibrant colors to show off your personality. They are reusable and washable and can fit most textbooks––even jumbo sizes!

Choose from several design sets starting at $17 for a pack of six on Amazon.

Umbrella

Amazon

You can't have rainbows without the rain. This adorable bubble umbrella in rainbow colors is windproof, made with rounded tips and pinch-proof when opening.

Snag one before the rainy season hits for just under $20 at Amazon.

––Karly Wood & Amber Guetebier

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Struggling to get a little green on your kid’s plate? You’re not alone! Researchers at Penn State studied tactics to promote increased vegetable consumption—and what they found was surprising.

The trick? Doubling the portion of vegetables on the plate. That tactic increased veggie intake by 68%! The study involved lunch servings at childcare centers once a week for four weeks. 67 children from ages three to five participated and received broccoli and corn, along with classic preschool favorites like fish sticks, rice and ketchup. Researchers weighed the meals to determine intake and served the vegetables plain, or enhanced with butter and salt. They also varied the veggie portion to be a regular size or double size.

Surprisingly, adding “enhancements” did nothing to affect vegetable consumption. When asked to rate the taste, preschoolers had a similar liking for both plain and enhanced versions of the broccoli and corn. They also ate just as much of the rest of their meal with a double veggie portion, as opposed to a regular portion.

“It’s important to serve your kids a lot of vegetables, but it’s also important to serve them ones they like because they have to compete with the other foods on the plate,” said Barbara Rolls, Helen A. Guthrie Chair and director of the Laboratory for the Study of Human Ingestive Behavior at Penn State. “Parents can ease into this by gradually exposing kids to new vegetables, cooking them in a way their child enjoys, and experimenting with different flavors and seasonings as you familiarize them.”

So the next time you’re cooking dinner, put a little extra scoop of the vegetable on your kid’s plate and see what happens!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Naomi Shi/Pexels

 

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It’s National Bike Month, and there’s still the long holiday weekend to get out and explore some bike trails! The metroplex has hundreds of miles of paths perfect for families, from the popular White Lake Park Trail to Trinity Trails in Fort Worth. Keep reading to see some of our favorites, and then hit the road!

Trinity Skyline Trail & the Trinity Strand Trail - Dallas 

The Skyline Trail is a 4.6-mile trail that meanders along the Trinity River in the Dallas Floodway. Soon, the Trinity Strand Trail, which is a 2.5-mile trail through the Design District, will connect to the Skyline Trail and over 70 miles of other trails in Dallas. 

Find out more about the Skyline Trail here

Find out more about the Trinity Strand Trail here.

 

Trinity Trails - Fort Worth

With over 100 miles of trails, where do we begin? Maybe Trinity Park or perhaps Airhead Falls Trailhead? There are so many places to explore, you might want to take the whole weekend to bike this trail. There are even restaurants along Trinity Trails to stop at when the crew gets hungry! 

Find out more here

White Lake Park Trail - Dallas

This is one of Dallas’ most popular trails and for good reason. Circling the beauty of White Lake Rock, this 9.3-mile trail is great for families; there are several playgrounds along the way, as well as Mockingbird Point Dog Park. 

Find out more here

 

Rowlett Creek Preserve - Rowlett

This incredible nature preserve boasts 15+ miles of dirt trails, but don’t be scared! Much of it is very flat, so take your budding mountain bike rider out for a day of exploring. There are also picnic tables, so pack a lunch!

Find out more here

 

Allen Parkway Loop - Allen 

This paved trail is 14 miles long and wanders through Rowlett Creek and Cottonwood Creek. Part of a greater trail system, this is a fun bike path to ride with the kids. 

Find out more here.

 

Santa Fe Trail - Dallas

One of the newer paved trails in Dallas, this 5-mile trek connects White Rock Lake to Deep Ellum, Fair Park and downtown Dallas.

Find out more here.

—Gabby Cullen

Feature photo: iStock

 

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Whether you’re tired of the clutter or just getting the house in shape while you’re home so much, it doesn’t have to be an expensive task. From organizing kid toy chaos to purging your pantry, these dollar store organization hacks won’t break the bank and will give you all the Marie Kondo vibes. Keep scrolling to see some simple ways to stretch a dollar and clean the house at the same time.

Pin these amazing dollar store hacks!

Small Bins for Bathroom Drawers

Bathroom drawers driving you crazy? Pick up a few smaller bins and boxes to get everything in check. Most of the time, small organizers like these are two or three for one dollar, a major score! Use for hair ties, floss, and anything else that is rolling around in those drawers.

Organize Purses with Lid Racks

The Organized Mama

Lots of small bags and clutches lying around? Gran a $1 lid holder the next time you're in the kitchen aisle at the dollar store like The Organized Mama did, and you have instant organization! The simple and versatile holder will keep your purses neat and tidy. 

Create a School Lunch Station

Design Improvised

Keep the kids (and yourself) organized when it comes to school lunches. The brilliant minds at Design Improvised created a lunch station that includes simple bins to keep lunchboxes, snacks and containers neat and tidy. We love this idea because it give kids the autonomy to get themselves ready for school.

Spice Rack for Nail Polish

Liz Marie

Nail polish piling up in a box somewhere? Now you can put it on display easily with a dollar store spice rack. Liz Marie shares this simple idea which not only organizes your polish, but prevents you from buying the same shade of pink over and over.

Under the Sink Clean Up

By Lauren M

Raise your hand if your bathroom or kitchen sink cabinets are a mess! By Lauren M shows how easy it can be with a few baskets to get all the cleaning supplies and necessities under control.

Perfect Pantry

The Social Home

Pantry a disaster? Whip into shape with dollar store bins like The Social Home! With some careful planning and neutral products, you can store dry goods in both plastic and glass containers that will have your pantry looking like something out of a magazine shoot, no matter how big or small.

Tidy Linen Closet

Today's Creative Life

Are you scared to open the linen closet because of the overflow of sheets and towels? Kim at Today's Creative Life has put dollar store bins to good use and the result is an organized linen closet. Add in some labels and you'll never end up with a mouthful of falling towels again!

Simple Toy Bins

Easily corral toys with dollar store bins. Choose from a variety of shapes, sizes and colors and simply label to keep multi-part toys like LEGO bricks, marble runs, dolls clothes, cars and more.

Car Caddy

The Castro Family Happynings

Keep your mom mobile in ship shape by using simple plastic shower caddies! They are perfect for storing all your car essentials, like changes of clothes, snacks, wipes, diapers and pretty much anything a mama on the go needs. Castro Family Happynings came up with this idea and it has served her road-tripping fam perfectly!

Tangle-Free Jewelry

Smile & Wave DIY

Want a stylish yet functional way to keep your jewelry tangle free? Use a dollar store wire basket like this one from Smile & Wave DIY and you have instant organization. 

Clean Up Craft Supplies

Clutter Bug via YouTube

Whether you're a creative crafter or your kids love to keep a huge art supply stash, getting organized with dollar store bins is a breeze. Clutter Bug uses inexpensive bins and DIY labels to get her must-have supplies in tip top shape.

––Karly Wood

Featured image: Karly Wood 

 

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