back to school

Packing a healthy school lunch

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Packing a healthy school lunch is easy. Getting your kids to eat it is another issue entirely.  Since the advent of the doughnut, parents have struggled to convince their kids to eat the nutritious foods they prepare for them.

The following are a few tips along with sample cold lunches that may help get your kids to finally eat those veggie sticks while they’re at school.

Make lunches fun!

At first glance, the look and taste of Lunchables® isn’t anything special. Contrary to appearances, however, Lunchables quickly became one of Oscar Meyer’s most successful products, partly due to the fun kids have eating them. Consider making your own healthy alternative. Pack some whole grain crackers, lean meat, cubed or sliced cheese, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, celery sticks, etc. and allow kids to build their own sandwiches. Consider using cookie cutters to cut the meat into fun shapes. Use the leftover scraps of meat on a chef salad you can take for your own lunch.

Add in tasty dips.

With a tasty dip, veggies can appear a bit more appealing to kids. Various dip options can be just as healthy as the veggies; but your kids will never know. Cheeses or creams are often the base of dips. Avocados contain healthy fats, which still provide a lot of flavor. As an added bonus, the fat in the dip will actually help enhance the absorption of carotenoids and fat soluble vitamins, as well.  Fat doesn’t need to be the principle ingredient in dips. Recipes using yogurt can be full of flavor, and hummus is mostly made of beans, which pack a fiber- and protein-laden nutritional punch.

Involve kids in the purchasing and preparation process.

Letting your kids help choose foods for their lunch at the grocery store makes them feel like they have some control, which may increase their willingness to eat them. Make sure you’re comfortable with all the options presented. Kids may enjoy preparing their own foods, with help from you, depending on their age. As kids prepare the food, they become more comfortable with the ingredients and the dish as a whole, and may be more likely to eat it.

Make it sweet.

Kids love sweet foods. While it is still advisable to limit the amount of sweetener used in the preparation of their foods, consider adding a little fruit puree, agave, dark chocolate chips, honey or maple syrup to enhance their appeal. Purchase meats and nuts with a honey glaze. Add fresh fruit to a vegetable smoothie. Incorporate fruits into whole-grain baked goods like breads, muffins or cookies.

Mila by PURE is a whole food that is great for children and adults alike. Each serving contains 3g of ALA omega-3 fatty acid which play a crucial role in normal growth and development and brain function.* Mila can be consumed on its own or incorporated into your favorite dishes, yogurt and smoothies. Learn more.

Share with us your tips and tricks on making healthier school lunches for your children.

This article is for nutrition information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any health or nutrition concerns you may have. The information in this article is not intended to promote any specific product, or for the prevention or treatment of any disease.

 

Back to school with Mila

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With summer almost over, you’ve likely started to shop for back-to-school items, including supplies, clothes, and backpacks. Healthy snacks should be part of those items. Although you and your kids may celebrate (or groan) the thought of returning to school, there are many ways to get your kids into a healthy routine before that bus comes around the corner.

In my opinion, there’s one place where you can alleviate the back-to-school blues and that’s in the kitchen. While your kids may balk at the idea of eating something new or different, getting their input on food choices, and allowing them to get their hands a bit messy, gives them power over their choices. So, get them involved in the meal planning.

Mila plays well with others

As a prized superfood, Mila® micro-sliced chia seeds can be easily added into their favorite foods or recipes.  As a staple in the Mayan and Aztec cultures, this gluten-free, trans fat-free, sugar-free, and plant-based source of protein and fiber can be a staple in your kitchen.

  • What could be more fun and kid friendly than chicken strips? Skip the fried chicken and make chicken tenders with a twist. Have your kids mix about a quarter cup of Mila to the breading mixture and you’ll have a crunchy alternative to the popular fried chicken.
  • Add chia seeds to your whole wheat muffin batter for a quick, last minute breakfast or afternoon snack. Using fresh or frozen berries, you can freeze these muffins and then put them into your kid’s lunch bags to thaw. They are a great alternative to a traditional high-fat muffin.
  • Create a more fiber- and protein-rich breakfast by adding a scoop of Mila to homemade granola. Most pre-made granolas are high in sugar and calories and low in fiber. Create your own with dried fruit, nuts, oats, a dash of sweetener, like honey, and Mila!
  • Spaghetti and meatballs were a weekly staple in my youth. Mila gels and expands when added to liquid, so it’s a great binder in place of eggs in your homemade meatball recipes.
  • Frozen fruit and spinach are great to have on hand for morning smoothies. Combine your favorite fruits, such as strawberries, bananas, and peaches for a taste of summer! Add in a tablespoon of Mila to boost the nutrient content.
  • For dessert, make some healthy ice pops with Mila to beat the summer heat! Your child will never know they’re healthy! Try using fresh mango, soaked Mila and coconut milk. Let two tablespoons of Mila soak in ¼ cup of water overnight so they are ready to go! The next day, blend the mixture with one can of coconut milk and fresh mango (frozen works fine too).  Pour into your ice pop mold or ice cube tray and freeze!
  • Create a healthy, high fiber dessert! Combine five tablespoons of Mila with two cups almond, soy, or other milk, and ½ tsp. vanilla extract in a sealed container and let the Mila go to work! Let it sit in the fridge for at least two hours. Once it gels, top with your favorite nuts and fruit! Again, let your kids create their own healthy masterpiece!

You can top just about anything with Mila — yogurt, oatmeal, eggs, salad, pasta, cereal — the options are endless! Just remember to start your child with a ½ tablespoon.

With three grams of protein, five grams of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and calcium, Mila is definitely a super food for super kids!

Read more about Mila here: https://shop.livepure.com/mila/dt/GP00231. Order yours today by visiting livepure.com.

Let us know on Facebook how you  consume your Mila for!

Get ahead of the class, and the germs

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New classes and fresh faces mean exposure to germs — a lot of them. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, elementary school children get 8 to 12 colds, or cases of the flu, each school year. For older kids, it is about half that.

It’s not only kids who get sick, teachers get sneezed on and parents miss work when kids have to stay home. What’s the solution?

Hand washing is the number one preventive step children and adults can take to avoid getting sick when going back to school. But there are other ways to keep germs at bay. The following products by PURE contain unique ingredients that help fight internal and external aggressors to keep the immune system functioning at its peak.*

Our best defense is intact healthy skin

Skin Defense by PURE is a unique spray that helps defend from the outside in against unpredictable elements in our environment. Just a few squirts onto your hands cleans the skin and helps the body manage minor wounds, including scrapes and cuts, minor burns, rashes, insect bites, dry skin and other skin conditions. Be sure to add a bottle to your supply list this year. Put a bottle in their backpack and give one to a new teacher!

Now through August 31, you can buy a bundle of three 2 oz. bottles of Skin Defense for only $24.95; 10 PV.*  Contact Sales Support at livepure.com or 866-535-5888 to order.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCI), the ingredient in Skin Defense, is a naturally occurring chemical that our white blood cells produce every day.

What’s really nice is that, unlike alcohol-based hand sanitizers that dry your skin, Skin Defense hydrates. It’s natural, environmentally safe and non-toxic. It is also antibiotic-, steroid- and alcohol-free. It will not irritate sensitive skin and it does not burn. Use frequently on children, especially those who are active in sports, or who come into contact with dirty surfaces.

  • Higher concentration of HOCI than similar products
  • FDA cleared

The next generation in silver technology

Silver is another product by PURE that is safe for kids age 12 years and up. This liquid spray contains  a patented SilverSol, nano-particle formulation, meaning that the particles are even smaller than colloidal particles.

Silver has been extensively used throughout history. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Romans and Macedonians all used silver to help keep them well. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, taught that silver supports health and well-being. Herodotus, the Father of History, believed that no Persian king would drink water that was not transported in silver containers. Throughout the Middle Ages, the upper class in Europe would use silver utensils and goblets to ensure safe food and drinking water. In America’s West, it was common practice to drop silver coins into drinking water barrels to ensure the water’s safety.

  • Mix 1 teaspoon (5 pumps) in water and consume up to three times daily.
  • Silver contains 10 parts per million of elemental silver and the only other additional ingredient is purified water.

Help keep that rundown feeling at bay

Immune6 is another product by PURE that is safe for kids age 12 and up. It works by providing vitamins and fortification needed to sustain health and well-being.* It can be taken daily throughout the year. One of the key ingredients, Inositol Hexaphosphate (IP-6), is a plant antioxidant that may boost the immune system.*

  • Excellent source of antioxidant vitamin C, an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and may contribute to healthy immune function.* Vitamin C also helps the body absorb iron, in addition to being important for skin, bones and connective tissue.*
  • Excellent source of vitamin D3 that helps the body regulate calcium and phosphorous which contributes to maintaining bone health.* Research shows benefits beyond bone support including helping with immune system support and aiding in muscle strength.*
  • Excellent source of selenium, a mineral found in soil, which neutralizes free radicals and supports a healthy immune system.*

I hear the bell ringing. Are you ready for school? Don’t let the bugs get you down. Learn more about these products by PURE at livepure.com.

 

**Offer valid from August 13-31, 2018, while supplies last. Shop online or mobile only. Not eligible for Autoship orders. U.S. and Canada only.