ML Interest Tag: smoothie

These Food Products Literally Require No Effort to Prepare (& Moms Everywhere Rejoice)

by Erica Loop

Convenience rules. Between work, carpool, preschool pick-up, soccer, dance class, karate, story-time, grocery shopping, finding your toddler’s other shoe and everything else that happens daily, you just don’t have time for those little extras. Don’t stress mama. With these creative solutions it looks like a few major brands want to make every parents life easier—in the kitchen.

So forget about the hard work (or any work at all, for that matter) and check out these not-so-much-effort-required products.

Mac & Cheese in a Can

No time to boil water? Heinz’s Mac & Cheese in a can is here to take the sting out of that obnoxious wait time. While the product isn’t exactly new, you can stock up on the dinnertime essential on Amazon that boasts a creamy cheese sauce, and would likely make a great camping meal.

Stuffed Puffs

Is stacking a marshmallow, one piece of chocolate and two graham crackers together just way too much work? While sandwiching the sweetest part of a s’more may seem like child’s play (pretty literally), it looks like the makers of Stuffed Puffs chocolate-in-the-middle marshmallows might not agree.

Dessert Toppers

Forget about crinkling up your own candy bar to top your kiddo’s ice cream sundae. With Butterfinger Bits and Buncha Crunch, you can add extra sweetness with a simple pour. Add if opening a box of Nerds is too much of a time-suck, you can simply pour out the dessert toppers!

Spoonable Smoothies

Yum in a bowl! Dole’s Spoonable Smoothies are here and they make breakfast (or a snack) super-crazy-easy. With Strawberry Banana and Pineapple Banana flavors, now you can make your very own on-trend smoothie bowl—without having to mix, blend or do anything more than lift a spoon.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Sara Dubler via Unsplash

 

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6 Easy Recipes Your Kids Can Help Make

By The Anti-Cookbook Easy, Thrifty Recipes for Food-Smart Living

photo: Agnes Hsu via Hello Wonderful

Let’s be honest—one of your main parenting responsibilities is feeding little humans and sometimes it can be exasperating. Picky eaters, different preferences, early morning and end-of-the-day pressures are just a few things that can turn a family meal into something other than fun. Wishing you had a sous chef? Someone invested in liking the food instead of rejecting it?

There’s a way to outsource some of the cooking without paying someone else to cut the broccoli—and it’s right there under your feet asking what’s for dinner anyway. Here’s the thing: they have to learn to do it themselves sometime. What if sometime could start now?

Here’s how you get there: create your own catalog of easy recipes that kids can actually help with. If you’re working on your PhD in parenting you are likely long on common sense—you want them away from open flames and butcher knives, obviously, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cook. Want some examples? We thought you’d never ask!

  1. Standard Smoothie. Got a blender? Great. Nobody’s allowed to stick their hands in the bottom of it. You knew that. But putting half a banana, 1 cup of fruit, ½ cup of milk (or soy or almond), ½ cup of yogurt, ½ cup of juice, handful of nuts, 1 tbsp. of seeds is pretty darn doable and involves some fun measuring and math. And what do you do? Make sure the top of the blender is on securely. You have one job.
  2. Easy Pan-Toasted Gnocchi. Pasta, without the boiling water. Nice! A pan and low followed by medium heat. You can let go of this one with just a small bit of supervision. Half a minced shallot and a minced clove of garlic. You can even do some minced garlic from a jar to avoid knife work. Heat it lightly until you can smell it. Add fresh gnocchi and turn up the heat to medium. Quick-stir until golden-brown.  Serve with sauce and a veggie of choice. Or don’t!
  3. Antipasto. Just get a big platter or a pretty cutting board and get out of the way. Have your culinary artists lay out an appetizing amount of buffalo mozzarella, olives, salami, roasted peppers, breadsticks, fancy crackers or whatever you’ve got.
  4. Basic pancake batter. Why did you ever think you had to do this alone? One egg gets cracked. Then it’s easy measuring of 1 cup of milk (or soy/almond milk), 1 cup of flour, ½ tsp. of baking powder, ¼ tsp. salt. Whisk it up! Fun adds: mashed banana, chopped pecans, chocolate chips or blueberries. Pro-tip: If you’re freaking out about what’s going to spill where, put them on a step ladder and have them measure in the sink.
  5. Smashed or mashed potatoes. You can deal with the boiling. Then let them do the rest. You can go with butter and milk or just olive oil. Salt and pepper. Someone have some excess energy? Get out the masher.
  6. Guacamole. You can cut and pit them and chop up some garlic, onion and cilantro and/or jalapeno. Cut a lime in half. That’s all you have to do. Let them scoop the avocado into a bowl, add the ingredients and mash it altogether. Couldn’t be easier.

Top Chef Jr., here you come!  Or at least you’re on your way to some less stressful family meals.

The Anti-Cookbook Easy, Thrifty Recipes for Food-Smart Living
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

We're Shelley Onderdonk and Rebecca Bloom. A veterinarian and a lawyer-turned-writer walk into a kitchen… We aren’t chefs and that’s exactly the point. We have a lot to share about food-smart living with our own young-adult children and other people and their children, too. Together, we wrote The Anti-Cookbook: Easy, Thrifty Recipes for Food-Smart Living.

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Best Plant-Based Cookbooks to Hit Shelves This Year (So Far)

by Erin Lem

Going vegetarian—or even vegan—is no longer just a fad. Plant-based diets are here to stay, evidenced by the many new cookbooks debuting in 2019 on this very topic. So whether your family is already vegetarian or you’re looking to incorporate more vegetables into your routine, check out these cookbooks that make it doable and delicious, even for families not accustomed to going meatless. Scroll down for the best plant-based cookbooks to hit shelves this year.

30-Minute Vegan Dinners by Megan Sadd
Hits shelves February 2019

Leave it to a busy mom to come up with 30-minute, approachable dinner ideas. New mama Sadd, the creator of Carrots & Flowers, breaks down recipes like Chipotle Black Bean and Plantain Quesadillas, Crispy Eggplant Parmesan Stacks, and Sticky Orange Cauliflower into easy-to-follow steps with fresh tips like ways to make the dish healthier or substitutions you can swap in. You’ll love the intro. where Sadd outlines tips for multi-tasking, like how she stays organized and ideas for streamlining dinner prep. Couple this all with full-page photos and this book is a clear winner.

Available now on Amazon.com

The Ultimate Age-Defying Plan: The Plant-Based Way to Stay Mentally Sharp and Physically Fit by Mark Reinfeld and Ashley Boudet
Hits shelves February 2019

Staying mentally sharp and physically fit as a parent is no easy feat, and in their new book authors Mark Reinfeld and Ashley Boudet try to convince us tired parents otherwise. The dynamic duo are husband and wife with kids so they know the deal of parenthood, and in this monster 350+ page book they provide practical tools to make smarter diet choices. From explaining the health benefits of a plant-based diet to providing 175 recipes all with seven ingredients or less, this is one cookbook you’ll refer to again and again for both the recipes, and health and wellness advice.

Available now on amazon.com

Recipes for Your Perfectly Imperfect Life by Kimberly Snyder C.N.
Hits shelves February 2019

Half life lessons about embracing your perfectly imperfect life, and half cookbook, this new plant-based release from Kimberly Snyder of the Beauty Detox series toes the line between advice column and pragmatic recipes. If you’re looking for the latter, hop a third of the way through the book to the recipes, which are laid out in chapters from mains to sides and starters to kid eats where you’ll find dishes like chicken-less nuggets and I love you flatbread pizza.

Available on Amazon.com

Deliciously Ella: The Plant-Based Cookbook by Ella Mills Woodward
Hits shelves April 2019

Don’t let the fancy names of the recipes like Sweet Potato and Courgette Stew or Smoky Aubergine Dip fool you. This cookbook is full of accessible recipes for the busy homecook (that’s you!). With 100 brand-new plant-based dishes sorted into six chapters—from breakfast to warming soups to sweets—Deliciously Ella will win you over with its gorgeous full-page color photos, easy-to-follow directions and tasty dishes.

Good to know: many of the ingredient lists are measured in the metric system or weight in grams. While there’s a conversion table at the end of the book, you’ll want to read the recipe in-full and measure out your ingredients before getting started.

Available for preorder now on Amazon.com

The Art of the Smoothie Bowl by Nicole Gaffney
Hits shelves April 2019

Even if you have a kid who will eat anything, with three meals plus snacks to serve up every day, sometimes you have to break out of your cooking mold and get creative. So whether you want to ditch your green juice routine or need a savvy way to sneak in those vitamins to junior’s diet, The Art of the Smoothie Bowl has you covered. Recipe highlights include classic acai, watermelon creamsicle and pom-berry yogurt. With enticing names like those, what kid could resist?

Available for preorder now on Amazon.com

Love & Lemons Everyday: More Than 100 Bright, Plant-Forward Recipes for Every Meal by Jeanine Donofrio
Hits shelves April 2019

You may know Jeanine of Love & Lemons from her impeccably curated Instagram feed or her equally as gorgeous blog also dubbed Love & Lemons. And just like her blog, this new cookbook boasts plant-based recipes that are actually easy to pull off. The book is full of cooking tips, ideas for using common vegetable scraps and alternatives for dietary restrictions. Plus, it’s packed with over 100 totally fresh plant-based recipes. As one reviewer wrote on Amazon, Donofrio’s recipes are “vegetarian without sacrificing anything,” and we couldn’t agree more.

Available for preorder now on Amazon.com

Got a tip for a new plant-based cookbook you can’t wait to get your hands on? Send us an email with your tip to Editor@tinybeans.go-vip.net.

Copy by Erin Lem

 

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Ayesha Curry Shares the Parenting Rule She & Steph Curry Just Can’t Follow

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Even celeb parents, like Ayesha and Steph Curry, have those moments when they just have to let go and accept that parenting isn’t always perfect. In a cover-story for the March issue of Parents magazine, Ayesha Curry shares her experiences as a mom of three.

She revealed that in their house there are definitely rules that the family has to follow, and yet there are times when those rules get broken—especially one in particular.

“The toughest one for us to follow is no phones at the table,” Ayesha explains. “Of course, there are those moments when the kids do something super cute and you just have to record it, but we really try to implement the no-phones rule. Our kids love being at the table together, talking about their day, singing songs and telling jokes. It’s a special time.”

The cookbook author and host of the upcoming ABC series Family Food Fight also revealed that, despite her culinary expertise, not all mealtimes are picture perfect in the Curry household. “I’m not going to sugarcoat it—weekday breakfasts are tough,” Curry admits. “Sometimes it’s a kids’ protein bar or handfuls of fruit served up on paper towels and eaten in the car.”

She does also share her tips for getting her kids to be healthy eaters. “I try to make vegetables fun for the kids by getting them involved with cooking,” Curry told Parents. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, the girls are willing to try whatever it is they helped me make, whether it’s salads, curries or a kale smoothie.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Ayesha Curry via Instagram

 

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Superfoods That Should Be in Every Mom’s Diet

by Abigail Matsumoto

Are you a super mom looking to amp up your daily dose of superfoods? Never fear—we’ve created a list of superfood recipes that are as healthy as they are delicious. From an acai smoothie bowl and homemade kale chips to a divine dark chocolate bark, comb through the ideas below for some super inspiration.

Guacamole Bruschetta

The View from Great Island

With perks like vitamin E, vitamin B6 and “good” fats, it’s no wonder avocado gets so much attention. We like how this idea goes beyond the standard avocado toast—you can even use other superfoods as toppings for an extra healthy kick. Learn more over at The View from Great Island.

Crispy Kale Chips

Abi Porter via Flickr

Kale sports a ton of antioxidants, like vitamin C and beta-carotene, that will help keep you in tip-top shape and may even give your skin a beauty boost. The easiest way to get your fix? Kale chips! Go for homemade instead of store-bought with this recipe from A Little Yumminess.

Brie with Warm Honey and Toasted Walnuts

Inspired Taste

Psst! Eating just a handful of walnuts a day can help you lower cholesterol, boost brain power, sleep better, prevent heart disease and more. Sounds pretty good, right? We recommend this ultra-classy way to eat walnuts—complete with brie and drizzled honey. For the how-to, head over to Inspired Taste.

Superfood Chocolate Bark

Choosing Chia

This chocolate’s just for Mama! Not only does it give you a dark chocolate fix, it’s also topped with healthy nuts, seeds and goji berries, which offer beta-carotene, antioxidants and other immune-boosting perks. See? It’s your healthy duty to break off a piece of this bark. For the recipe, visit Choosing Chia.

Blueberry and Broccoli Pasta Salad

The View from Great Island

Ready for a superfood double whammy? Blueberries are a great source of antioxidants, phytoflavinoids, potassium and vitamin C. Broccoli is a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Combine ‘em both in this irresistible salad, and you’ve got a real winner of a dinner. Get the recipe from The View from Great Island.

Coffee Chia Pudding

Nutritionist Meets Chef

Heads up, coffee lovers! This pudding fulfills your coffee craving and is positively filled with chia seeds. Those little black specks have an abundance of fatty acids, magnesium, iron and more. It’s the perfect reason to grab a spoon and dig in! You can nab the recipe from Nutritionist Meets Chef.

Brown Sugar & Bourbon Glazed Salmon

A Healthy Slice of Life

Oh my, omega-3s! Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which means you should definitely bookmark this recipe from A Healthy Slice of Life. The bourbon glaze adds a little something special, and the whole thing cooks up in about 10 minutes. Ready to try it? Get the recipe here.

5 Minute Spicy Chili Almonds

Chef Savvy

Almonds are the most nutritionally dense nut, with a high amount of fiber, potassium, iron, protein and more. The best way to much on this super snack? By tossing them with fresh cilantro and spices! Get the easy how-to over at Chef Savvy.

Creamy Avocado Garlic Quinoa Bowls

Spirited and Then Some

In addition to avocado benefits, these tasty bowls also offer all the perks of garlic. (Think: vitamins C and B6, manganese, antioxidants and more.) Combine all that with quinoa, and you’ve got a healthy meal filled with get-up-and-go. Find the recipe at Spirited and Then Some.

Spicy Seaweed (or Kale!) Popcorn

Food to Glow

Seaweed is definitely worth eating for its antioxidants, calcium, and a wide range of vitamins—but if you’re looking to branch out from sushi rolls, why not use it to amp up your popcorn? This idea from Food to Glow has a little spice, sesame seeds, and seaweed flakes. You can also sub in kale! Learn more here.

Beet, Arugula & Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese

BS' in the Kitchen

You can’t beat the benefits of beets! They offer vitamins A, B, and C, potassium and fiber—among other things. For an extra elevated sandwich, try combining beets and goat cheese—we guarantee it’ll be the tastiest, most grown-up grilled cheese you’ve ever had. Get the recipe from BS’ in the Kitchen.

Green Goblin Smoothie

Lindsey Johnson

What’s the perfect smoothie for a mom-on-the-go? This green concoction, which includes a whole lot of fruit (hello, vitamins!) and iron and calcium-rich spinach. The creamy and lightly sweet flavor will even please the kids—if you feel like sharing. Get the recipe here.

Grilled Lentil Quesadillas

Taylor from Food Faith Fitness

Love lentils? You should! They’re cheap, versatile and high in protein—not to mention, an excellent source of folate, potassium, and a bunch of antioxidants. Lentils make these quesadillas especially yummy, and since they’re pureed and mixed with salsa, they taste like refried beans. Get the recipe from Food Faith Fitness.

Kiwi Popsicles

Weelicious

Did you know that just one kiwi packs 107% of your daily vitamin C? And one cup provides more potassium than the same amount of sliced bananas, but with less sugar and calories. That means that these popsicles are a real healthy treat—they even include some sneaky frozen peas! Get the recipe by clicking here.

Blueberry, Peach & Pecan Smoothie Bowl

Sophia DeSantis of Veggies Don’t Bite

Is this easy smoothie bowl the perfect dessert? You tell us—it’s packed with fruit, almond milk and pecans and all the vitamins and minerals that come with those awesomely healthy ingredients. You can use a combo of fresh and frozen fruit and even customize with other add-ins. Get the recipe from Veggies Don’t Bite.

What’s your favorite superfood recipe? Share with us in a comment below.

—Abigail Matsumoto

 

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10 Spectacular Scenic Views in San Diego

by Nikki Walsh

San Diego is full of awe-inspiring views, from the ocean to the mountains to the bay––so whether you want to treat out-of-town guests to stunning vistas or you and the fam want to appreciate the beauty in your own backyard or find the perfect photo backdrop, we’ve got a sight for you. Click through our slideshow to feast your eyes on vantage points around the city that are nothing short of spectacular.

Carlsbad Sea Wall

Exercise with the tots in tow with an expansive view of Carlsbad Beach below–– or take a morning or evening stroll. (Mr. Bow-Wow is welcome too). Grab the stroller or small scooter for the littles to navigate this two-mile stretch of coastline. When you're finished, stop by Choice Juicery for a cold pressed juice and a healthy Orange Dreamsicle smoothie for the littles and let them play in the grass area.

See a list of our favorite juice and smoothie bars in San Diego (including Choice Juicery) here.

Carlsbad Sea Wall
Carlsbad Blvd.
Between Pine St. and Tamarack Ave.
Carlsbad, Ca
Online: carlsbadca.gov/seawall

Choice Juicery
430 Carlsbad Village Dr.
Carlsbad, Ca

photo: Jeremy Ricketts

Where do you go for breathtaking views? Share with us in the comments below.

—Nikki Walsh

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Under the Wire: 20 Summer’s Last Splash To-Dos!

by Mimi O'Connor

We know: The summer’s almost over? How did that happen? It’s true, the unofficial end of the season of sun and fun, Labor Day, is around the corner. (It’s September 5 this year.) While we don’t doubt you packed a lot in, there’s always room for more. Squeeze the last bit of fab family fun out of summer with our top picks from the best happenings and hot spots since Memorial Day. Go get ’em!

photo: CMOM

1. Get wet and wild at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan‘s H2O installation.

2. See real crocs at the American Museum of Natural History.

photo: via Splish SplashFacebook page

3. Slip and slide at an area water park.

4. Knock back a cold one at a kid-friendly beer garden, old or new.

photo: via Sesame Place

5. Hang with Elmo at Sesame Place.

6. Raise a cone to summer at one of NYC’s best ice cream spots.

7. Venture to one of Manhattan’s best playgrounds for an afternoon of fun.

8. Enjoy a meal outside at a kid-friendly spot.

9. Squint, eat some seafood by the water and pretend you’re in New England  with a day trip to City Island.

10. Go boldly where, OK, probably lots of people have gone before but you haven’t yet at the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Experience at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

11. Plan a last-minute glamping getaway.

12. Make like every New Yorker ever before you and visit Coney Island (where there’s lots of new stuff to take in, in addition to the old.)

13. Swoop down the longest slide in New York City (and take in some cool art and amazing views while you’re at it.)

14. Do some carb-loading (or smoothie drinking, or pizza eating) at the brand new bread-themed Eataly Downtown.

15. Get away from it all at a low-tech but cozy Adirondack retreat.

16. Head to the Sugar Hill Museum of Art & Storytelling in Harlem and wear a crown like the king or queen that you are!

17. Swing from the trees via one of NYC’s area ziplines!

18. Beat the heat at a kid-friendly indoor spot with A/C.

19. Pick one of summer’s final blooms at an area farm. 

20. Make a big last splash at one of our favorite NYC water playgrounds.

What are you doing in the dog days of summer? Tell us in the comments below! 

— Mimi O’Connor

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Pinky Pie Punch

by Erin Lem

This sweet knockout smoothie is sure to please with its healthy one, two, three punch of potassium, fiber and protein. Jen Hansard and Jadah Sellner, the brains behind this recipe and Simple Green Smoothies, tell us that beets are great to add to smoothies for kids because this versatile vegetable adds a vibrant pink color without overpowering the taste of the recipe’s sweet fruits.

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 cup spinach
2 cups unsweetened coconut milk
2 clementines, peeled
1 banana
1 cup strawberries
2 tablespoons peeled and chopped raw beet

Method:
1. Blend the spinach and coconut milk until smooth.

2. Add the clementines, banana, strawberries, and beet and blend again. Pour into 2 glasses and top each with a dollop of coconut whipped cream, if using.

What type of smoothies do your kids love? Do you serve up veggie- and fruit-packed smoothies? Leave a comment below!

Reprinted from SIMPLE GREEN SMOOTHIES by Jen Hansard & Jadah Sellner. Copyright (c) 2015 by Jen Hansard and Jadah Sellner. By permission of Rodale Books. Available wherever books are sold.

Photo credit: Lindsey Johnson

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