We tried this out during spring  break and it was amazing so we are revisiting it during summer break.

It is so easy to let the tv and technology distract our kids and keep them busy. It is so annoying to hear the kids ask over and over again if they can watch tv. My 6 year old can honestly ask every 5 minutes.

I am a strong believe in having the kids be kids running around outside, playing, being creative, and being active!

I also think it is ok for kids to be on tech learning and having some down time in front of the tv.

I run a business on line and love to unwind to some mindless tv myself so I get it!

So here is the challenge that works for us and that the kids love.

Each of the kids have a type of fit bit. Tate has a Garmin Jr which is great for the little kids. It tracks his activity and also chores. He is so motivated by the tracking and to reach his goal!

The girls have regular fit bits that track their activity and steps.

So get up early, get a start to the day, get your chores done, and some playing outside! Those goals need to be reached before any screen time is allowed. They know this, are motivated by it, and it works. Half the time, they lose track of their steps and go way over because they end up having fun!

Nina Pears

Make Your Food Last Longer

We’ve all been there before — tossing fuzzy raspberries, wilted parsley, and mushy apples into the trash bin with a heavy heart thanks to subpar food storage.

It’s all too easy to forget about your groceries until they start stinking up your kitchen, but here’s the good news: knowing how to store them properly isn’t rocket science.

Not only does proper food storage prevent unnecessary waste (and sudden bouts of frustration), but it also lessens your grocery bill and minimizes the risk of a contracting a food-borne illness.

12 Food Storage Tips to Help Your Food Last Longer

These 12 simple food storage tips will help ensure your food stays fresh as long as possible.

Store dairy products at the back of the fridgeTake your jug of two-percent out of the fridge door. That location might make it easy to grab quickly for your bowl of cereal, but it might make it spoil faster because of the temperature. Ani Aratounians, R.D., says it’s crucial to keep your dairy products at the back of the fridge where it’s coldest.

Put meat on the bottom shelfNothing ruins a container of broccoli faster than a soak in pork juice. “Meats should be on the bottom shelf so juices don’t drip on other foods,” Aratounians says. If you’re out of precious lower shelf space, put the meat in a tray with a raised lip to catch any liquid that might try to escape. She also advises keeping cold cuts separate from other raw meat to prevent cross-contamination.

Treat herbs like flowersFresh herbs, asparagus, and green onions can all be stored upright in a tall glass of fresh water. Just trim the stems, cover them with a bit of plastic wrap, and place them in the fridge.

Know where to store fruits and vegetablesNot all fruits and veggies need to live in the fridge. Avocados, citrus, bananas, nectarines, pears, peaches, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes can all be stored at room temperature or in a cool pantry. But don’t store onions and potatoes together. Because of ethylene gas that some kinds of produce release, they cause each other to spoil faster.

Wrap your greens in paper towelsTo prevent slimy residue from accumulating in your bag of lettuce, spinach, or other leafy greens, stick paper towels inside to soak up excess moisture. You can do the same with leftover salad greens in food storage containers.

Use plastic wrap on bananasCover the crown of a bunch of bananas in plastic wrap to slow the release of ethylene gas. This will prevent them from ripening too quickly if you’re not going to use the whole bunch right away. But even if you find yourself with some bananas that are past their prime, that doesn’t mean you have to toss them into the trash. There are a number of tasty recipes that call for overripe bananas.

Wrap celery in foilWrapping the entire bunch of celery in foil helps it stay fresh and crunchy for up to four weeks in your crisper drawer. The foil helps to keep just the right amount of moisture in, and the ethylene gas out.

Wash produce as you goIf washing fruits and veggies is the first thing you do when you come home from the grocery store, you might want to switch up your routine. Unless you plan on freezing your food, Aratounians advises only washing things you’re ready to eat right away or soon after. That lessens the chance of mold growing on damp produce. And if you’re going to chop up your food in advance to save time, just wait to wash it right before you eat it.

Soak berries in vinegarIf you don’t eat all the berri quick soak in a three-parts water, one-part vinegar solution will kill bacteria and prevent molding. Rinse the berries thoroughly then pat dry once you’re done.

Roast veggiesNutritionist Jodi Geigle recommends roasting vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower to extend their shelf life. “It’s also a great meal prep tip to have cooked veggies on hand that you can quickly throw in as an addition to any meal,” Geigle says.

Store grains in air-tight containersBuying in bulk is a great way to save money when grocery shopping, but you want to store it correctly so the extra food doesn’t go to waste. “If you buy grains in bulk, be sure to transfer them to an airtight container to maintain freshness, as well as keep bugs away,” says Aratounians.

Go a step further and label your containers with the purchase dates so you know how long you’ve had your grains.

Double-check your fridge’s temperatureFinally, after you’ve wrapped and placed all your perishables in the refrigerator, be sure that it’s set at the right temperature. “Make sure your fridge thermometer is working correctly to prevent spoilage and reduce the risk of food-borne illness,” says Geigle. The temperature should be set to at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit (five degrees Celsius), or a few degrees lower.

BeachBody Blog 

April 17, 2017 | BY: Paige Smith

Nina Pears

Sweet Potato Hash

Breakfast is my favorite meal ever! It can easily be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner too! This is an easy one pan meal that satisfies your hunger! 

Sheet Pan Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs

Total Time: 50 min.
Prep Time: 20 min.
Cooking Time: 30 min.
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:
Parchment paper
2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup black beans, drained, rinsed
1 cup corn kernels
1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. olive oil
1½ tsp. chili powder
¼ tsp. ground cumin
¼ tsp. ground smoked paprika
½ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt), divided use
½ tsp. ground black pepper, divided use
8 large eggs
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400º F.
2. Line large sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
3. Combine sweet potatoes, onion, garlic, bell pepper, beans, corn, oil, chili powder, cumin, paprika, ¼ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. pepper in a large bowl; toss gently to blend.
4. Place sweet potato mixture on pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes.
5. Create eight wells in sweet potato mixture. Gently crack an egg into each well. Season eggs with remaining ¼ tsp. salt and remaining ¼ tsp. pepper. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until eggs are set.
6. Garnish with cilantro; serve immediately.

Nina Pears

weight loss and management in not 1 size fits all

Is Your Weight-Loss Plan Failing You?

We often look at unfortunate situations through a pessimistic lens, such as: “I want to lose 20 pounds (or more), but I haven’t been able to do it in the past and keep the weight off. Should I even bother?”

But what does this negative perspective really do for us? Instead of fixating on “coulda, woulda, shoulda,” maybe it’s more beneficial to set your mind on moving forward. A good way to do this is by focusing on possible solutions for the future rather than the problems of the past.

“When people are obsessed over a problem, they may be discouraged by the lack of progress and by the fact that they have repeatedly failed to achieve their goals,” says Hengchen Dai, assistant professor of Organizational Behavior at Olin Business School.

Dai explains that this can lead to what researchers call the “what-the-hell” effect. Think about a situation, such as slipping up on your diet by eating a slice of cake. Since you’ve already failed, you continue to indulge and binge on even more junk food, because “what the hell,” why not? But all of this drives you further and further away from your original objectives. Instead, forget about that one little slip up and shift your focus toward fixing it for the future. Then you can more quickly get back on track.Finally, it’s uber-important to identify the signs that the weight-loss plan you picked just isn’t working for you.

“A weight-loss plan should enhance your life,” says Isaman. “You should feel capable, accomplished, and energized by your food and fitness plans. There might be hard choices to make, but they should not feel like a punishment.”

So, how do you know if you haven’t picked the right weight-loss plan? Isaman outlined the following red flags to watch for:

• You are hopelessly tired.
• You are insanely grumpy.
• You are sneaking into the pantry at night and binging.
• You’ve adopted an all-or-nothing mentality.
• You stop socializing or isolate yourself.
• You are dreaming about foods that you can’t eat.
• You are obsessed with tracking devices of any kind.
• You are frustrated to the point of anger, despair, or tears.

And, of course, there’s the classic marker: The amount of weight and inches you’re actually losing.

“Men can expect a healthy rate of weight loss to be 0.75 to 1.25 pounds per week, and women from 0.5 to 1 pound per week. You should also see a fat-loss trend around the hips, waist, and thighs,” says Walrath.

If you see zero progress after a few weeks, then it’s likely time to reconsider your plan. Which, experts stress, is not a mark of complete failure. Says Isaman: “Ask yourself, truly, what changes and modifications would make a plan or program [perhaps even your current ‘non-working’ one] more sustainable [and effective] for you?”

Written by Sarah Wassner-Flynn Beachbody Blog

Nina Pears