Blog
A Funny Story About Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Nine years ago, when my son was six and my daughter was two, my co-worker and friend Katy Moscoso came over to watch my kids. I made the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. Chicken Alfredo Pasta recipe ahead of time for them to have for supper. I had made the recipe before, and my daughter liked it. I knew it wasn’t Parker’s favorite, but I figured he might eat some of the pasta. Later that evening, when I returned, guess what Parker told me, “Mom, Katy made this really good pasta, and I loved it!” It turns out he had more than one helping of it. That little stinker didn’t know that I had made the pasta ahead of time, so he thought Katy had made it and therefore thought it was delicious!
Protein Needs at Different Stages of Life
In last week’s blog, Justine shared all about protein, including why we need it, how to determine how much we need, and what foods contain protein. Today I’m sharing a sample one-day meal plan for a 15-year-old male, a 40-year-old female, and a 65-year-old female who all get 30-60 minutes a day of physical activity. This meal plan is an outline of the protein and some of the other food groups people may need in a day.
Meal Plan Inspiration: How to Find Ideas When You’re Stuck
Does anyone else’s mind go blank when you start to make a meal plan, and you can’t think of anything to write down? Or is it just me? Some weeks the ideas just pop into my head. Other weeks I struggle with deciding what to make. Here are four things I do to help me think of ideas for my meal plan.
The Truth About Seed Oils: Friend or Foe?
Seed oils have become a hot topic in the world of nutrition, with opinions ranging from them being a dietary villain to a misunderstood hero. Let’s dive into what seed oils are, their health effects, and how to make informed choices about consuming them.
Recipe of the Month- Lentil Tacos
This month I’d like to highlight our recipe for Lentil Tacos. Tacos are a go-to meal in our house and occasionally I like to make Lentil Tacos.
Upper Body and Lower Body Strength Workouts with Iowa State Athletes
Last week I shared about our new Cardio Workout video on Spend Smart. Eat Smart. This week I’m sharing about the new Upper Body and Lower Body workouts led by Iowa State athletes.
Cardio Workout with Iowa State Athletes
We’ve added new physical activity videos to the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. website and this time we partnered with Iowa State Athletics to have Cyclone athletes in the videos. How fun! Arianna, Maya and Morgan did a great job leading the videos.
Spend Smart. Eat Smart. with Family – Holiday Edition
Over the next few weeks Christine, Justine, Katy and I are going to share the interviews we did with a few of our family members about the holidays. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed talking with our family members. Today I’m going to share with you the interview I did with my 11-year-old daughter Paige. She likes to bake and be creative in the kitchen. I think you’ll notice a theme to her answers😊
MyPlate Series – Jody
The past two weeks Christine and Katy have shared how they use MyPlate at home when thinking about meals and snacks. Today it’s my turn!
Granola
This summer I’m enjoying yogurt parfaits for breakfast. My favorite combination is vanilla yogurt, granola, and a fresh, chopped peach. Our Spend Smart. Eat Smart. granola recipe works great in my parfaits. Here are a few things I like about this recipe:
I Need Energy (Drinks)!
Recently my 14-year-old son asked me to buy him energy drinks to give him an extra boost of energy for school and football practice. This didn’t surprise me since nearly one-third of teens aged 12-17 regularly consume energy drinks. These beverages promise enhanced focus and athletic performance, making them appealing to teens facing the challenges of school and extracurricular activities.
How Much Water Do You Need?
When it’s hot outside, it’s important to stay hydrated. I’ve been especially mindful of this during the summer. My daughter spends her days outside at camp and my son has workouts for football a few times each week, often coming home very sweaty. It got me thinking about keeping them hydrated.
