Can We Celebrate Easter without Loads of Candy?

Except for my husband's undying affection for jelly beans, I would love to escape the holiday with little to no Easter candy.   This means I will need to avoid the candy aisle and encourage grandparents to do the same.  Instead, we can offer Easter treats that spare my children's bodies from unhealthy sugar.   Here are twelve ideas for consideration, all of which aim to enrich their bodies, minds, and spirits.

For the body:

1. Fresh fruits and fruit juice
What could be healthier than a colorful medley of fresh fruit favorites?

2. Fruit and nut bars
I like to give snack bars that are naturally sweetened with dates (versus corn syrup). Larabar offers fun flavors like apple pie and gingerbread cookie, which are healthier alternatives to candy bars.

3. Whole wheat cheddar bunnies and chicks
No sugar is necessary to enjoy cute bunnies if I opt for whole grain snack crackers by Annie's. I recently also found some adorable Market Pantry brand chickadee crackers at Target.  Making and cutting out our own crackers is another option.


4. Flying disk (a.k.a. Frisbee)
Why not encourage the kids to get moving and have fun throwing, chasing, and catching a flying disc?

5. Jump rope
I could tuck in a traditional rope with handles, or give an elastic Chinese jump rope, which can be used outside or indoors on rainy days.

6. Binoculars
These could help spark a love of the outdoors when my kids are in the backyard or we could take the binoculars along on a nature walk.

For the mind:

7. Puppets
Puppets are great for imaginative play and for adding an interactive element to stories. Buying or making finger or hand puppets can provide hours of fun storytelling.

8. Magnifying glass
My kids are always excited to study the natural specimens they find outdoors; rocks, bugs, leaves, flowers, and more natural treasures await their inquisitive eyes.

9. Craft kit
We love to do crafts in our house.  I am all for encouraging creativity and the development of fine motor skills with an appealing project kit appropriate each child's age.

10. Markers or paint set
From oldest to youngest, I know my children will enjoy a fresh infusion of art supplies.

For the spirit:

11. Bible or Bible story book
What better occasion than Easter go to the Book and find the story of the first Resurrection Sunday?

12. Resurrection eggs
My children are always captivated by the 12 object lessons that illustrate the story of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus.

There are a few more ideas for holiday gift and candy alternatives in these articles:

Simple Holiday Gift Ideas for Families with Kids
Beyond Candy...

Menu Plan for the Week (with Angel Food)

Keeping our food expenses low while my husband labors as a graduate student is a high priority for me.  A few years ago, a friend suggested I try Angel Food as a way to save money.  Before ordering though, I calculate what I would likely pay at the store for each item.  Most times, buying similar items on sale at the grocery store ends up being a little cheaper.  However, this month Angel Food was a better value.  Also, perhaps because of Lent, there was more chicken and seafood (and less beef) in the March signature box, which was a plus.

This week's menu includes ideas for five dinners made from the pork, chicken, ground beef, ground chicken, fish, and frozen vegetables in the $31 signature box.

• Pork noodle stir fry
• Chicken pot pie
• Meatloaf, green beans, rice
• Chicken tacos, rice
• Fish, corn muffins, pea salad 
• Venison steaks (not Angel food; from our freezer stash), tossed salad  

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Have you heard of Angel Food or tried it before?

Low Drama Haircut

The last time I cut my boy's hair, he wailed so much that my husband could not bear to let me try again.  Apparently my son is not alone in his aversion to clippers. My friend's son seems to hate haircuts almost as much as mine does (-- you can see some of their ordeal here).

To change things up, we decided to take our little guy to the same place Daddy goes for haircuts. My daughters went along and got haircuts to show their brother how smoothly getting one's locks trimmed can go. And then it was his turn.

He started out quite calm. Though he squirmed away from the clippers, he stayed quiet for the most part. Toward the end he got irritated with the little hair pieces that fell on his face and neck. Still, it was far less drama than when Mama has cut his hair. So now we're wondering if we should keep taking him out for $5 haircuts. Or maybe we could invest in a wrap-around apron to mimic the recent lower-stress haircut experience.  In either case, he will now expect a lollipop at the end.

What would you do?

Seven Simple Swaps to Green Your Home

Some days I long for the simple choices that my grandparents probably had at the general store on the Canadian prairie. These days, something as straightforward as a buying groceries means I could be bringing home items that may harm our health or the environment.  Certain chemicals pose risks to the very air we breathe.  Other compounds lurk in products we might put on our skin and into our bodies.  Fortunately, it is fairly simple to make the switch to more wholesome alternatives.

• Replace ultra soft bathroom tissue with recycled toilet tissue.

The revelation that ultra soft luxury comes at the expense of old-growth trees was very troubling to me.  I now prefer to buy recycled toilet paper to lessen our environmental impact. Admittedly, some green brands perform better than others.

• Instead of anti-bacterial soap, use plain soap.
  

Regular liquid soap works just as well and doesn't dry out our skin as much.  Also, I don't have to fret about washing my hands with triclosan, which is considered by the EPA to be a pesticide.

• Ditch fabric softener for natural softeners.

Adding borax to the wash cycle and vinegar in the rinse cycle is a fine alternative for us.  Some people make their own dryer sheets as well.

• Leave artificial colors out; put natural tints in. 

My son seems to have noticeable reactions to Red No. 40.  Now we try to use natural coloring sources like beets.  And encouragingly, an increasing number of ready-to-eat foods, like yogurt and goldfish crackers, are being colored with vegetable extracts instead of artificial dyes.

Cupcake with Beet-Tinted Frosting

• Instead of high VOC paint and sealers, buy low-VOC equivalents

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are bad news for indoor air quality, according to the EPA.

• Avoid PVC products and opt for eco-friendly polymers instead 

There are good reasons why new shower curtains give people headaches --VOCs. Fortunately, there are now several less toxic alternatives, like PEVA and nylon.

• Don't use chemical air fresheners; use natural fragrances.

 Instead of buying expensive air fresheners that contain harmful phthalates (see this report from the NRDC), we create own aromas from edible ingredients.

Were any of these concerns new to you?  
 

 Join us at Heavenly Homemakers for the little Green Project! 

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You can also learn more about Eco-Friendly Alternatives to 10 Common but Dangerous Products in the Home at Associated Content.

Green Mashed Potatoes

I like to add color to my potatoes.  To potato salad, I often add peas and carrots.  More color means more nutrients.  So why not add peas to mashed potatoes?  I did.  My husband and I liked it.  Our kids ate their servings with the help of some ranch dressing.

This side dish was fairly simple to make.  Basically it involved combining mashed potatoes and cooked peas.  I smashed the peas with a potato masher (or a fork would also work) and then placed about half of the peas into the blender to puree.  Then I mixed the pea puree and smashed peas into the mashed potatoes until an even green color was achieved.

Whatever you are celebrating--Spring, St. Patrick's Day, or healthier eating--peas make a lovely addition to the plate.  So tell me, are you a fan of peas?

I'm adding this idea to the list at WFMW.
Also, join us at Heavenly Homemakers for the little Green Project!

DIY Grape Lollipops

After-school snacks are a regular part of our week. Freshly baked cookies and muffins would be nice, but I am not prepared to bake that often.  Yesterday, my seven-year-old washed some grapes for everyone to share. I also offered her some honey wheat sticks (a new product by Nabisco). She soon came up with the grape lollipop combination, which was a big hit!

These lollipops are fun to assemble, filling, and healthier than their corn syrup-laced predecessors.  A new tradition is born.  (And if you don't have honey wheat sticks, you could use pretzel sticks, so long as they
are thin enough to poke the grape.)

A preschooler-approved..

...easy-to-make snack!

I'll be linking this idea to AP Tuesdays and WFMW.

Green Snacks for St. Pat's, Plus a Menu Plan

Green Grape Crostini with Ricotta

Last year in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day, we made our pudding green by mixing it with candy.  Since I am trying to phase out artificial colors from our food, I am opting for a natural approach this year.  I am finding that there are still ways to eat green without resorting to food dye.  Green grapes, pesto, peas, avocados and other wholesome ingredients provide healthy options for making food that looks green and tastes great.

You can find a slideshow with more green food ideas at Associated Content.


This Week's Menu Plan:

• Fish & Green Mashed Potatoes (recipe to come)

• Chicken Fajitas

• Waffles

• Chili (at school)

•  Noodle Stir Fry with Chicken

• Venison Burgers

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Do you plan to eat anything green this week 
to celebrate the Emerald Isle?

Find more menu ideas at Menu Plan Monday.

Amen-Worthy Posts

Our whole family has been occupied with resting and visiting the doctor this week, so I will point you in the direction of what others have said so well.

• Why It's Really Okay: You Need to Slow Down @ A Holy Experience

• How to Be a More Patient Mom in Just 24 Hours @ Inspired to Action

• Time Management without a Schedule @ Life as Mom

• Bono Interview: Grace over Karma @ The Poached Egg

My accomplishments this week are few, but pondering these truths and ideas has left me inspired for when my energy returns.  And it shall; Spring is nearly here!

I'm linking this list of favorite posts to Saturday Stumbles this week.

Gumball Bracelets

When I saw the idea to make gumball jewelry earlier this year, my middle daughter latched onto it and asked for many weeks if we could make our own.  It took a while to locate gumballs in a box, but I found some at Target for $1.00.  Today I finally collected the rest of the components and tools.  We certainly enjoyed putting together these colorful bracelets at last!

Piercing tools

Assembling color patterns

Our cheerful results

 I'm linking this project to Saturday is Crafty Day.

10 Ways to Celebrate Dr. Seuss this Month

1.  Make green eggs and ham.

2.  Read several Dr. Seuss stories.
     Some of my favorites are:




3.  Download a free, fun Seuss unit.
     Choose your favorite age-appropriate activities to do.

4.  See if you can find a local production of the musical Seussical.
     My daughter and I enjoyed a high school production of this a couple of years ago.

5.  Dress up as a character from one of the Seuss books.

6.  Watch one of the vintage Dr. Seuss story cartoons on video. 
     [Sorry, I'm not a fan of the new TV spinoff series.]

7.  Count up how many of the Dr. Seuss books you have ever read.

8.  Do a favorite Seuss book roundtable.
     Each person shares which is their favorite book and why.

9.  Color and cut out Seuss characters to decorate a door or other area.

10.  Create your own puzzle from a Seussville printable.

How about you?

What's your favorite book by Seuss?

Which of these 10 ideas would you like to try?