Tips

Back-To-School: ACT and SAT Test-Prep Tips For Your Teen

Posted on August 25, 2017

Even though there is a heavy focus on first- time parents-to-be on this blog, a lot of our readers have children and relatives in high school so once in a while, we like to share tips for that demographic.

Because or that, we want to highlight some great tips from Andrea Catsicas, Founder of Mindworks Prep, who has expert insight to help parents and students prepare for College Admission Testing

Few high school students look forward to the SAT and ACT test. It’s not exactly sunshine for parents either who feel the strain and pressure to help their child earn the best score possible to help pave the way to their college education.

Catsicas developed an SAT/ACT Bootcamp program that is designed for an immediate 200 point boost in scores with material and instruction that gets right to the point.

Her tips include:

Distraction Action – It’s harder and harder for children to study for college prep tests in the digital age, with all of the added distractions. There’s nothing wrong with taking their phone away and having them study out of an SAT book for an hour, in a place where you can visually monitor that your child is not allowing distractions to take over.

Read to Succeed – The redesigned SAT is more focused on reading comprehension than ever before. Now, more than ever, pleasure reading is a way to study for the SAT.

Review and Improve – You can order a copy of the actual test your child took (depends on the time of year); for other tests, you will receive stats on how your child did, but not copies of the specific questions that were missed.

ACT or SAT – Find out which test is preferred by your child’s dream school ACT or SAT. If you’re prepping for one test and the school prefers the other, you might be wasting time, energy and money.

How’s it Coming? – Sign your child up for Khan Academy and monitor how quickly your child progresses through its lessons. Khan Academy has exclusive rights to information about testing content, and its questions mirror College Board questions more than any prep book (besides the actual College Board SAT book).

MISCONCEPTION: The ACT and the new SAT are similar: they’re more similar, but their essays are totally different, and their math content covers entirely different classes (the ACT delves into pre-calculus a great deal more).

MISCONCEPTION: It isn’t easy to study for the SAT’s during the school year: juggling school and test prep work is extremely challenging. Starting your student with a test prep program as early in their education process as possible is one of the best ways around this challenge.”

To learn more, Visit: http://www.mindworksprep.com/courses.html

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Celebrity

We Love Kristen Bell’s Comments on De-Stigmatizing Mental Health Treatment for Moms

Posted on August 19, 2017

The Good Place‘s Kristen Bell was on The Real daytime panel show this week and we love what she said about the importance of treating anxiety and depression with any other disease or condition that has less stigma.

While visiting the ladies which include our bumpwatch alum Tamera Mowry-Housley and our other alum as a guest panelist, Melanie Brown, Bell shared her feelings about feeling inadequate about being a parent.

Actually, the Veronica Mars alum speaks often about destimatizing mental health problems by sharing her own experiences.

“I talk to someone and we have a check in once a year,” Bell opened up. “I take a pill if I need to. I make sure to exercise. I basically know my issue.”

Perhaps to counter the shame that is associated with seeing a therapist and taking psychosomatic drugs, Bell said, “It’s like for me, knowing if you have Diabetes. You wouldn’t deny a diabetic medicine.”

She also expressed what I think is beautiful about her union with hubby Dax Shepard who is a super supportive husband.

“If I have spent four days on the couch, my husband goes, ‘hey you want to go for a hike or do you want to go out with your girlfriend?,'” Bell shared, before adding, “You have to stay aware and take care of yourself.”

Watch:

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News

Control What Your Future Child Likes to Eat; Hint: It Happens Before They’re Born

Posted on August 16, 2017

Want your child to love veggies? Start early. Very early. Research shows that what a woman eats during pregnancy not only nourishes her baby in the womb, but may shape food preferences later in life.

At 21 weeks after conception, a developing baby weighs about as much as a can of Coke — and he or she can taste it, too. Still in the womb, the growing baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid daily. That fluid surrounding the baby is actually flavored by the foods and beverages the mother has eaten in the last few hours.

“Things like vanilla, carrot, garlic, anise, mint — these are some of the flavors that have been shown to be transmitted to amniotic fluid or mother’s milk,” says Julie Mennella, who studies taste in infants at the Monell Chemical Senses Center. In fact, Mennella says there isn’t a single flavor they have found that doesn’t show up in utero. Her work has been published in the journal Pediatrics.

The Scent Of Amniotic Fluid

To determine if flavors are passed from the mother to the the baby via the amniotic fluid, researchers gave women garlic capsules or sugar capsules before taking a routine sample of their amniotic fluid — and then asked a panel of people to smell the samples.

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Train Your Baby from the Crib to A Toddler Bed With These Tips

Posted on August 5, 2017

Transitioning your child from a crib to her big-girl toddler bed can be a bittersweet time. Between the excitement of reaching new milestones and the hint of sadness that comes with watching her grow up and get one step closer to independence, actually figuring out when she’s ready to make the big switch can be a bit confusing.

Work on Your Child’s Timeline

If your child has physically outgrown her crib, then it’s probably time to start transitioning to a toddler bed. Before then, there’s no hard and fast rule dictating when you have to move her out of the crib, although most children are ready to be moved by the time they reach 37 inches. If your eighteen-month-old is ready to move and eager about the prospect of a big-girl bed, or if she’s pushing three and still seems reluctant, you can and probably should work on her schedule. If you’re worried that an active little one is showing signs of attempting to climb or even jump out of her crib, then you should take that into account for safety reasons. You should also take into consideration, however, that toddler beds are designed to allow her to get in and out independently. She will be able to crawl out of her new bed when you’re fast asleep, meaning she could potentially get into a dangerous situation. If sleeping through the night is still an iffy proposition, lowering the crib mattress as much as possible will make it harder for her to climb over the sides. It is worth noting that some children can become even more attached to their cribs the longer they sleep there. Weighing the benefits and drawbacks of the switch and paying close attention to your child’s reactions can help you determine when you’re both ready to move her out of the crib.

New Additions

One common reason for parents to begin a transition from the crib to a toddler bed is to prepare for the impending arrival of a new baby. If this is the case in your situation, you’ll want to shoot for having your child totally accustomed to sleeping in her new bed at least six to eight weeks before your due date. If she’s still attached to the crib and considers it “hers,” her perception after the baby’s arrival may be that the new sibling is taking over a place that still belongs to her. One solution to easing the transition when there’s a new baby involved is to keep your newborn in a bassinet in your room for the first few months, that way your older child has more time to get used to the idea and you’re better able to tend to a new baby’s needs in the middle of the night.

Generating Excitement

As with so many milestones in childhood, the key to success often lies in your ability to create a sense of excitement and anticipation surrounding the big event. Letting your child pick out her own bedding and accompany you to purchase her new bed are both great ways of helping her feel more excited and like she has a role in the transition, rather than like she’s simply having a change forced upon her.

Establishing a Routine

Making sure that you begin your child’s transition when she’s not facing any other major lifestyle changes is another way you can help ease the process a bit. Establishing a bedtime routine is a key part of helping things run smoothly. Picking out pajamas, brushing her teeth and reading a bedtime story every night before bed, for instance, can help your child understand that the bedtime ritual is part of going to sleep each night.

Patience is a Virtue

For some children, the transition to a toddler bed is quick and painless. For others, it can be a bit more difficult to manage. If your child falls into the latter camp, the best thing you can do is simply be patient with her and continue providing her reassurance until she becomes accustomed to her new bed and no longer feels anxious about making the change. More often than not, younger siblings have an easier time moving to a big-kid bed because they’re anxious to emulate the older siblings that they look up to. As a result, the most difficult transition will probably be with your first child. Just keep in mind that, like adults, some kids respond better to change than others, and do your best to make her feel as secure as possible along the way.

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Parenting

Tackle Procrastination in Kids By Understanding What Motivates Them to Get Things Done

Posted on July 21, 2017

Mary Lamia, Ph.D.*

Melissa always gets things done ahead of time and enjoys the relief she feels as she crosses tasks off her list. This was the case, she recalls, as far back as grammar school where she didn’t feel good about going out to play until her homework was finished. In contrast, her older son, Tyler, seems to have a very different way of doing things. Similar to how his dad recalls how he got things done in school, Tyler plays first and does homework later, often finishing minutes before his strict bedtime. Much to Melissa’s displeasure, Tyler uses their short commute to school as time to study for various tests. She gave up lecturing him on time management since, as Tyler’s dad constantly reminds her, Tyler’s grades are excellent. Melissa can easily identify with the way her younger son, Anthony, gets things done—he has an urgency to do things right away, whether it is his homework or packing for a trip. But Anthony’s way of doing things leads to occasional conflict with his dad, such as the time he insisted on finishing a project before going on an outing.

Motivational styles generally develop at a young age, and many people can link their particular style to memories of completing school assignments or everyday tasks. Where some people put things off until a deadline looms, others seem compelled to complete tasks immediately. Does procrastination interfere with success? Definitely not. Those who wait are just as likely to be successful as people who complete tasks ahead of time. The ultimate goals to keep in mind have to do with consistently meeting deadlines and using one’s best efforts.

The different timing of procrastinators and non-procrastinators to complete tasks has to do with when their emotions are activated and what activates them. Procrastinators who consistently complete tasks on time—even if it’s at the last moment—are motivated by emotions that are activated when a deadline is imminent. They are deadline driven. In contrast to procrastinators, task-driven people faced with uncompleted tasks are compelled to take action right away. Motivated by their emotions to complete a task ahead of schedule and put it behind them, those who are successful attend to the quality of their work prior to scratching the task off their list.

Early childhood response patterns to emotion—such as when emotion was activated that motivated you to complete your homework or clean your room—continue to influence how you tend to get things done throughout your life. You might assume you did these things just because you were supposed to do them. Although you may not have been aware of feeling a particular emotion but instead only thoughts such as, “I should do my homework,” I can assure you that emotion was present that motivated you to do it or not. These early life experiences, at some point, solidify into characteristic emotional responses to tasks and lead to a particular style of getting things done.

Both children and the adults in their lives can benefit from understanding the source of what motivates them. Mistakenly, many parents and teachers believe only positive emotions motivate children in a healthy way. Yet how many children have a motivational system that will trigger the emotion of excitement, for example, in response to several pages of math problems or taking out the garbage? Although children can be motivated by anticipating they will feel positive emotions that result in pride, often what motivates a child to get something done also has to do with their response to negative emotions, such as the avoidance of shame or guilt, or relief from distress (often experienced as a fear of failure or a fear of forgetting).

Just because we experience a negative emotion about a task to complete does not mean we should avoid getting something done or be punished for what is felt. Moreover, many children are confused when they do not feel any positive emotion about a task that is before them, as though that’s always how they should always feel. Instead, caregivers who can be playful with their awareness of how the human motivational system works can activate interest or excitement about the relief that will be felt in completing a dreaded task, along with pride in the outcome.

*Author of What Motivates Getting Things Done: Procrastination, Emotions, and Success (Rowman and Littlefield). Website: http://www.marylamia.com

what-motivates-getting-things-done-cover

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Tips

These are the Key Tests You Can’t Cut When Downsizing Health Insurnce

Posted on July 19, 2017

Nurse talking to patient in hospital room

With the healthcare system is crisis, tons of red tape and fewer doctors accepting insurance, managing one’s health has become a major challenge.

More and more women are skipping key exams simply because getting appointments are a hassle and obtaining coverage isn’t always guaranteed. That said, there are some key tests and exams that ever woman must have at various times of her life.

If you’re going to put a preventative care plan together for yourself it’s important to know which tests are necessary to maintain optimal health. Dr. Christopher Calapai, a NYC board certified expert in osteopathic medicine specializing in longevity, recommends these tests.

Blood and blood pressure screening: Starting at age 18, every woman needs to have her blood pressure checked at least every two years. Having annual bloodwork done is the way to tell if organs are functioning properly. Doing the basic blood panel between age 18 and 39 is a great start. After age 40 additional testing for things like fibrinogen which impacts blood clotting and C-Reative Protein which looks at inflammation in the body are key tests to consider. “As a longevity specialist, bloodwork tells a detailed story about health patterns and future predictions that can then be addressed and even reversed with early care,” says Dr. Calapai.

Cholesterol screening/lipid profile:

Cholesterol is a type of fatty protein in your blood that can build up in your arteries, so knowing how much cholesterol is present is a good predictor of your risk for heart disease. It’s important to start monitoring cholesterol starting at age 20 to establish a history. As women age cholesterol levels tend to rise so having a solid basis of comparison decade to decade is helpful in preventing heart disease down the road, explains Dr. Calapai.

Pap smear:

A pap smear is an important test for women to get annually if they are sexually active and over age 21. The test is designed to detect infection, inflammation or cellular abnormalities in the cervix which may lead to cervical cancer. “This is certainly one of those tests that must be done every year. Some women diagnosed with HPV who may have had abnormal results are often monitored even more closely. The more a woman knows about the health of her reproductive organs the better she can integrate foods, vitamins and minerals to keep herself healthy,” advises Dr. Calapai.

Mammograms and breast exams:

Women should begin administering monthly self-breast exams monthly as early as age 18. “It’s so important for women to understand that breast tissue changes during the month. They want to do the self-check in their shower or lying down just after their period ends when breasts are less tender, sore or swollen. This is when to feel around for any lumps, pain, tenderness, inflamed skin, and any issues with the nipple such as blockages or discharge. A mammography is an x-ray of the breasts. As of 2017, the American Cancer Society screening guidelines advises women to begin getting annual mammograms by age 45 and then can go to every other year by age 55. This guideline is for a woman of average risk. Women with a family history of breast cancer or with had cystic breasts with benign cysts should obviously have mammograms at an earlier age. “The self-exam is so important because early detection is key. If a woman is in her 20’s or 30’s and feels a lump she can follow through with her doctor for a closer look. When a woman goes in for a pap smear a breast exam is often done as well. However, you can’t hold off and skip the self-exam, cautions Dr. Calapai.

Skin cancer screening:

Skin cancer, while less deadly than other kinds of cancers, is the number-one cancer diagnosed among Americans; and one type of skin cancer, melanoma, is deadly. The number of women under age 40 with basal cell carcinoma, one type of skin cancer, has more than doubled in the last 30 years and women under 39 are almost twice as likely to develop melanoma as men.

A skin cancer screening involves a full examination of the skin with focused attention on any moles, skin lesions or any other changes to the skin. It is advised to begin skin cancer screenings at any age and the fairer the complexion the more vigilant one must be. Annual screenings are normal and doctors may recommend twice annually if there are more moles and you’re on hypertension medication. “The skin is the largest organ in the body and a great indicator of overall health. Even if you have darker skin any rash, growth or skin issue should be taken seriously so the underlying cause can be determined quickly,” adds Dr. Calapai.

Eye exam and vision screening:

According to the American Optometric Association people with normal, good vision should have their eyes examined every 3 years. For people who needed glasses or contacts at an earlier age an annual exam is recommended. By age 40 those with healthy, strong eyesight will begin to see changes either when driving, reading or watching TV. Women are at a slightly higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, one of the most common eye health problems. A vision screening tests how well you can see; an eye exam checks for glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinopathy, and other eye diseases. Make sure you’re having both kinds of exams. If you have diabetes, you’re at much higher risk for eye problems and should be checked more often. “When you get an eye exam and a prescription for glasses is give follow through and get the glasses. It’s amazing how many people put this off which only leads to further eye strain and headaches. Besides, glasses these days are a stylish accessory. There’s no need to compromise eye health for vanity,” says Dr. Calapai.

About the doctor:

Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. is an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine, and anti-aging medicine. Proclaimed the “The Stem Cell Guru” by the New York Daily News, Dr. Calapai is a leader in the field of stem cell therapy in the U.S. His stem cell treatments have achieved remarkable results in clinical trials on patients with conditions as varied as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, frailty syndrome, heart, kidney and liver failure, lupus, MS and Parkinson’s. He has worked with Mike Tyson, Mickey Rourke, Steven Seagal, and Gotham’s, Donal Logue; and as a medical consultant for the New York Rangers. Connect with him via twitter @drcalapai or at www.drcal.net

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News

Meet the 12-Year Old Entrepreneur with Multi-Million Dollar Deals with WholeFoods, Wegmans & NFL Players

Posted on July 19, 2017

One Texan Pre-Teen has turned a lemonade stand into a profitable business with multi-million dollar chain grocery storedeals and powerful investors, including 10 NFL Players.

Mikaila Ulmber’s stint pitching her home-made nationally distributed lemonade to the sharks on ABC‘s Shark Tank back in 2015 got her lots of attention. While she was on the show, shark Daymond John offered to invest $60,000 in the company in exchange for a 25% stake in it. Ulmer accepted his offer.

After the exposure, sales grew by 231%, she told CNBC.

The 7th grader has since met and introduced on stage then President Obama at a big event, was invited to the White House twice and more recently, she caught the eye of 10 National Football League (NFL) players who chose to invest in the succesful entrepreneur.

According to NBC Sports, Arian Foster, Glover Quin, Duane Brown, Jonathan Grimes, Omar Bolden, Bobby Wagner, Darius Slay, Sherrick McManis, EJ Manuel and Malik Jackson recently agreed to invest $810,000 collectively in capital to Ulmer’s Austin-Texas based family business.

Hey everybody!! Soo excited that I was on shark tank. Thank you! What a show???
A post shared by Me & the Bees Lemonade (@mikailasbees) on Mar 21, 2015 at 8:02am PDT

“We look for companies that match our main focus of developing a good product, but are also good people and do it for the right reasons,” former Houston Texan running back Arian Foster told the Houston Chronicle about the importance of backing businesses like Mikaila’s. “It’s more than about money to us. We believe that investing in small black businesses is extremely important.”

Ulmber’s personality sells the business and she has been in charge for the 9 years of being in business.

The middle school counts on her mom to assist with marketing and her dad to manage the finance operations.

Ulmer’s business responsibilities include doing trade show demos, media interviews, business presentations, workshops about bees and about entrepreneurship, depositing her money in the bank, putting in money orders, depositing checks, checking the business email and posting on social media.

Meanwhile, she maintains all As and goes to school full time.

Amazing, right? Her most investors think so.

“She’s very special. Obviously, she has a bright future,” Detroit Lions safety Quin said. “Hopefully, I can be a part of it and nourish it and watch her grow. The sky is the limit.”

How did a 12 year old become a 9 year old CEO vet in the first place?

It all started when Ulmer got stung by two bees in one week when she was just 4-years old. Her parents encouraged her to learn more about bees to lessen her fear of them and to do some research about them. It coincided with the receipt of a family recipe book her grand mom sent her which contained her great-grandmother Helen’s 1940s flaxseed lemonade recipe.

While looking for ideas of what to organize for a community showcase and competition to encourage entrepreneurship in children, Ulmer, with the help of her parents, of course, decided to set up a lemonade stand. Her great-grandmom’s recipe came in handy.

It eventually became her signature product, a popular drink called “Me & The Bees.”

Ulmer eventually tweaked the recipe to use locally sourced honey as a sweetener. Sales went through the roof.

Today, Ulmer is the CEO of the company, BeeSweet Lemonade. The company’s motto is “Buy a bottle, save the bees!”

Lemonade sales were good, so Ulmer continued to sell her drinks at youth entrepreneurial events until one year, the owner of East Side Pies, an Austin-based pizza company suggested she bottle it. Ulmer agreed and moved the lemonade production from her family’s kitchen to a small commercial kitchen.

Now BeeSweet Lemonade is sold in 12-ounce bottles of freshly squeezed lemonade with flavors such as original mint, ginger, prickly pear and iced tea. They can be found in Whole Foods Market and several stores and currently are in 20 states.

Photo: Ian Kasnoff.

In 2016, BeeSweet sold more than 300,000 bottles of lemonade. She scored an $11M deal with 55 Whole Foods stores that year too, per the Daily Mail and she also recently closed to get her products into Wegman’s grocery chain.

“I want a BeeSweet Lemonade line, like the Hello Kitty line,” Mikaila said a few years back. “I want BeeSweet everything.” She’s getting close to her wishes.

Since launching in 2015, Ulmer has spoken at Google, and appeared in numerous outlets including CNBC, Essence, Microsoft and has appeared on The Real and other TV and radio shows.

photo: Ian Kasnoff.

While not being an all A student, Ulmer has speaking engagements that take her world-wide. Her family travel with her and turn the gigs into mini -vacations, one report on Microsoft’s blog noted given they all make biz work and have little downtime.

Ulmer wants to become a serial entrepreneur and become a coder.

Wow! This little girl is inspirational and is certainly going places. So many lessons to be learned by her success!

Lead Photo: courtesy Houston Texan/Charlotte Carpenter

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Celebrity

Rumi and Sir Carter Confirmed: And Now Us Peons Try Decoding Their Sex (An Exercise)

Posted on July 14, 2017

Just because Beyonce has revealed the names of her twins, Rumi and Sir Carter, early this morning doesn’t mean she is done dangling Swarovski –encrusted carrots in our faces.

We still don’t know the sex of the babies.

Now when TMZ revealed earlier this month that Beyonce’s trademark holding company BGK Trademark Holdings (Beyonce Gisele Knowles) sought to claim Rumi and Sir Carter, TMZ also assumed then the babies were a girl and boy.

Perhaps they jumped the shark and we all joined in! Hmmmm. * side eye emoji *

The name Rumi appears to be homage to a 13th century Persian poet by that name — and Sir happens to be referenced in one of his most famous poems:

“Bring the pure wine of

love and freedom.

But sir, a tornado is coming.

More wine, we’ll teach this storm

A thing or two about whirling.”

Sir is a very masculine name as knighted men are called Sir and as we know in formal chatter men are called sir and women are called madame.

The trademarks are for fragrances, cosmetics, key chains, baby teething rings, strollers, mugs, water bottles, hair ribbons, playing cards, tote bags, sports balls, rattles and novelty items.

Hair ribbons?! Girl no?!

Thus Boy & Girl. Right!?

It is still not clear and apparently, people are fighting about it in social media.

A friend of mine and I had a lengthy convo this morning about this very subject when she asked me to confirm the sex of the babies.

She pointed out the fact that it looks like the emoji’s on her caption are two boys.

But the baby emoji is gender neutral.

And she pointed out that Bey is wearing a purple and blue robe and purple is a color often associated with girls as well, so there is that also.

And I learn from the Internet that the clothing is from a Spanish designer Paloma Spain who is known for androgynous clothing

Is this an ode to the late great Prince or something?

Hrmph!!!

Long story short, no, Bey is not done messing with us.

I agree with Sarran at this point:

And here, take my hashtags to commemorate and celebrate this moment. Feel free to grab any to accompany your photos sharing the occasion today.

#SirCarter #RumiCarter #shedoneitagain #TheCarterEmpire #Beyhive #IWantABoyAndGirlToFightForTruth #BabiesOfInstagram #BabiesThatSlay #TheCarterThrone #HeirToTheThrone #Teambeyonce #QueenBeyonce #MrsCarter #BGKC #444 #ShawnCartersSpawns #SpawnOfShawnCarter #BeyoncegGselleKnowlesCarter #Beyhydration #Beystan #Kingbey #HoneyBey #Slayoncé #Beyinspired #Bowdown #BeyoncéKnowles #Flawless #Fierce

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Tips

10 Healthy Snacks For The Family

Posted on July 8, 2017

During the long, hot days of summer, heavy snacks can leave kids feeling sluggish and unmotivated.

Pre-packaged snacks can be filled with additives, coloring agents, and preservatives, not to mention they’re more expensive than their wholesome, homemade counterparts.

Also, during hectic days, parents and caregivers may not have much time to devote to concocting elaborate snacks, but that doesn’t mean you have to go the pre-packaged route.

Here are ten warm-weather treats that are sure to be a hit with your little ones during the hottest of summer days.

1. Fruit Kabobs – Spearing fruit and cheese cubes onto skewers makes for a wholesome snack thats assembled in a snap; this recipe works with any seasonal fruit you have on hand. Apples and cheese are always a favorite pairing; tart, sweet apples and calcium-rich cheese satisfy little ones and parents alike.

2. Parfaits – Layering yogurt, fresh fruit, and granola into glasses requires next to no time, and makes for a light, healthy snack on a hot summer day. Kids love the pretty layered effect, but may not be coordinated enough to keep glass intact; if your little ones are on the clumsy side, opt for unbreakable, transparent plastic. Dont forget the long-handled spoons!

3. Frozen Yogurt Pops – Frozen yogurt pops are readily available in the freezer section of any grocery store; however, they can be laden with preservatives and artificial flavorings. Springing for an inexpensive Popsicle mold is one of the smartest summer-snack investments you can make; simply mix your kids favorite flavor of yogurt with roughly chopped, lightly mashed fruit, pour into molds, and freeze overnight. Enjoy all-natural frozen yogurt pops, naturally sweetened by the fruit and free of preservatives and chemicals.

4. Coconut Water Popsicles – High in potassium and minerals, coconut water is the liquid found inside young coconuts. The coconut flavor is mild and understated, and very low in sugar; to make these coconut water popsicles palatable to kids, mix with chopped fruit and pour into your trusty Popsicle molds.

5. Fruit Pizza – While traditional recipes for fruit pizza call for a sugar cookie crust, parents looking to keep sugar content to a minimum may prefer a traditional pizza crust sweetened with a pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon. Bake crust according to package instructions, and allow it to cool. Spread with a fruit-flavored cream cheese such as strawberry or pineapple, then top with sliced fruit. Drizzle with a puree of strawberries or raspberries, slice, and serve.

6. Graham Cracker Sandwiches – Potassium-rich bananas and peanut butter are a classic pairing; adding graham crackers creates a kid-favorite snack in the blink of an eye. Simply mash a sliced banana with a fork, and mix with a heaping spoonful of peanut butter. Spread the gooey mixture between two graham crackers and serve.

7. Ants on a Log – Crisp, cool celery pairs so beautifully with peanut butter that this classic snack is the stuff of legend. Quickly assembled and loved by kids, Ants on a Log are one of the greatest summertime snacks; just spread a healthy layer of peanut butter onto a celery stick and top with raisins.

8. Smoothies – Frozen fruit, milk, and yogurt can be thrown into a blender to create a snack thats high in calcium and full of fruity goodness. For ultimate kid approval, serve with a whimsical twisty straw in a colorful cup. Experiment with fruits and yogurt flavors; there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to delightful combinations.

9. Watermelon “Cookies” – Nothing says “summer” quite like the red, juicy flesh of a watermelon. To make these watermelon “cookies,” slice a watermelon into one inch slabs, and then use cookie cutters to make interesting shapes. For those that feel like icing is an essential part of a cookies makeup, a layer of thick vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt provides a calcium and protein boost while maintaining its consistency against the juice of the watermelon.

10. Trail Mix – Bagged trail mix can be full of unnecessary calories and fat, while the all-natural, preservative-free variety gets quite pricey. To make your own healthy mix without breaking the bank, mix any dried fruit, like cranberries or raisins, with assorted nuts and pretzel sticks. For the highest kid approval rating, let them join in the fun. Because it contains no dairy or perishable items, this trail mix can be tucked into a beach bag for poolside snacking, tossed in a backpack to provide sustenance on a long hike, or stuck in a pocket for portable munching at the park.

Fresh fruit is the cornerstone of healthy summer snacks, so be sure to keep as much on hand as possible.

Local farmers markets can be less expensive than chain grocery store produce, so keep your eyes peeled for such facilities. These markets also tend to be fun for kids, so dont hesitate to bring them along for the fruit shopping adventure!

Hope your kids enjoy these healthy alternatives!

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BumpNews

Get Jennifer Lopez’s $7,000 Weekend in Paris Look for $200!

Posted on June 18, 2017

Jennifer Lopez and her boyfriend ex MLB player Alex Rodriguez was spotted in Paris yesterday arriving at the Meurice Hotel on Saturday, June 17 , 2017. Our sleuths figured out that her really cute Saturday afternoon look was worth $7,000.

She sported a tea-length Silk Shirt with Web Kisses Print dress by Gucci that is $1,300.00, a sexy pair of tan strappy Giuseppe Zanotti Coline Patent Triple-Strap sandals which cost $845.00, and carried one of her fave purses, a $2,895 Valentino “My Rockstud” large leather tote and accented the look with a $1,998.89 Hermes crocodile cuff.

Our fashion team checked out the web and using tools from our partners at Shopstyle came up with a similar look for under $200! Yup!

You’re gonna have to skip the monogram Gucci for QED London Flower Patterned Chiffon Maxi Dress for $45. A tan pair of Mossimo Pamela Ankle Strap Sandals will only set you back $29.99. We found a very similar looking cuff bracelett by BaubleBar Delfina Cuff Bracelet for $30; and Guess has its Korry Girlfriend Shopper Tote for $82.60.

Get the celeb look for less!

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