Family Reading: Not just boooks

My children do a great job of humbling me.  I teach teachers how to teach reading.  My own biological children really really like possessing books.  Reading them, not so much.  Today, Tighe (7) said,

“Reading isn't fun. All you do is have to lay down and read. All I like about reading is looking at the pictures."  I would love if he would let me sit and read!!

We do family reading nights.  Everyone is in a book, Dad, Mom, and our two sons.  Sometimes we all have the same book and take turns reading out loud.To grab a book on their own is completely different. I'm left with the task of emphasizing literacy to my outdoorsy children.  

Since books are on the top of the list, we read EVERYTHING else.  They write and read back grocery lists. They read recipes and do measurement conversions.  They read food labels nutritional content and ingredients. They read directions to their friends house.

These videos share a few more ideas to help get more reading into your day.

Make EVERY Meal Healthier!

 

You can make every meal healthier with volumetrics.  Volumetrics is the idea of adding volume to your food by adding vegetables.  Add any combination of vegetables to any meal and poof; it is healthier for you and your whole family.  When cooking any protein: hamburger, chicken, or eggs, adding vegetables during the cooking process allows the vegetable to take on some of the flavor.  Think of the texture you want your meal to have.  Onions and celery can provide a tongue pleasing crunch.  The more they are cooked, they softer they get.  Some vegetables blend better than others.  Spinach can go in anything and be virtually undetectable, even in smoothies!  Broccoli, on the other hand has a very strong taste.  Onions and bell peppers are the veggies I most frequently add.  Play around in the kitchen and see what you and your family like.

 

Healthier Recipe Makeover

Original Recipe

Found in the deli section

 

 

12 oz Chorizo

1/2 c bell pepper

1 package Simply Potatoes Southwest Style Hash Browns

2 c. shredded cheese

4 eggs

1 c. milk

1 tomato, diced

 

Makeover recipe

Chorizo

1/2 Onion

1 bunch Celery

1 red bell pepper

1 package Simply Potatoes Southwest Style Hash Browns 

1 c. shredded cheese

6 eggs

1 c. milk

2 eggs

1 tomato, diced

 

If you want the dish spicier, add cumin and Cajun to egg mixture.

Heat oven to 350. Spray 9x13 casorol dish.  Cook chorizo onion and celery till Chorizo is done.  Add red bell pepper. In a bowl, beat eggs and milk. Place half bag of hashbrowns in dish. Top with half chorizo mix and 1/2 cup cheese.  Repeat.  Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes.  Uncover, add tomato, and cook an additional 15 minutes.

My son requested this for his special birthday breakfast. Yummm!

Summer Dinner Survival

The great thing about summer is the extra sunlight.  More time to play for everyone.  Hunger sets in, and it’s 8:00!  There is no way I want to cook a meal that late.  Getting fast food isn’t what I want my boys putting in their bodies.  New house rule:  If dinner isn’t started by 6:00, it’s shakes for everyone.  Not ice cream milk shakes -  healthy, all natural meal replacement shakes.  The boys pick their flavor, add in some fruit since we were playing hard, and they are good to go.  Not only do I get to fill their bellies with primo nutrition far surpassing a supper sized #5, but I also enjoy minimal cleanup.  Wash the blender and four cups.  Then right back outside to enjoy the last of summer sunshine for the day.

Family Unplugged

Technology has been wonderful for medical advancements. Yet, I cringe when I hear people say they have to catch up on their facebook.  What about catching up with your family?  We have all seen the posts saying how good family time is going.  I have to ask:  If family time is going so well, how do you have time to post it?  Tell us how great it was after the kidos are asleep.  I've found my family together in the same room, but we aren't together.  Tighe is in his DS, Patrick is in his phone, Dad is in his phone, I'm in my laptop.  I want my family to be into each other.  In the past, we have done 1 week technology free a few times.  It helps us focus on each other, but once the week is up, we go right back to our old habits. I'm currently taking a technology class that has me in my laptop most of my day. I miss my family.  I choose to marry a man I liked! This summer we are making a technology challenge that we can actually continue.  One day  of the week we will be free of facebook, Candy Crush, Bejeweled, Zinga Poker, internet surfing, game consoles, and TV.  My guys picked Thursday. What day will you choose?