How to manage sugar overload? On Halloween? Yes, my title is sarcastic I’m sure there are way better parents out there than me … but I just don’t think managing sugar on Halloween is something that is worth the effort. Sure, I will try to get some non-sugary foods in them before we head out through the neighborhood trick or treating, but beyond that I plan to just let it go. Yes, the end result may be a couple of not fun sugar lows… but for us our plan is to basically have a Halloween candy free for all and try to enjoy the fun of the holiday.
click here to read more >>

Now that a generation of people is a bit on the hefty side, schools have started to change their menus towards more healthy options.  I’m sure some school zones are more on the way towards healthy school lunches than others, but at least as a nation we seem to be headed in the right direction. To promote the move towards healthier lunches at school, the USDA created an ad emphasizing the changes they are making in the public school lunch program.
click here to read more >>

I am one of those people who much prefers hot weather over cold. Pretty much the only time I appreciate being cold is when I have booked a trip to Utah or Tahoe to snowboard, and I am ashamed to say that I have not done that since before our first kid was born 9 years ago. This summer, while visiting my sister in Alexandria, VA, on a hot summer day, they broke out their snow cone maker to create cold, refreshing treats.  My kids were so excited to make their own snow cones that when we got home, we decided to buy a snow cone maker, too.  But, beware: not all snow cone makers are created equal!
click here to read more >>

Time to plant those nursery six packs and throw seeds in your garden!  By the end of the school year for most of us, we will be able to throw in some home grown veggies into our lunch boxes.  Even if you are very limited on space, you can select 2 or 3 favorite items to grow.  If you kid is a picky eater when it comes to vegetables, this is a golden opportunity to let them select the vegetable to grow and nurture.  Once their chosen veggie hits their lunchbox they will feel great pride in showing and sharing their home grown vegetables to buddies at school.  They may even branch out and try growing vegetables they’ve never tried or thought they didn’t like!  In fact, gardening may help kids developmentally and make them happier… For real! Check out the article here.
click here to read more >>

*****USE COUPON CODE: BBLB10 FOR 10% OFF AT BHOLD BAGS*****

Canadian company Sew in Demand Designs has recently launched a line of Bhold bags great for shopping and travel. Designed and made in Canada using Japanese imported fabric, their line of reusable bags are high quality, fashionable, and fold into handy little bundles. Bhold bags have two distinct lines of bags: larger reusable shopping bags and protective shoe bags for travel and storage. They are equally appealing and useful and would make great eco friendly gifts, too!
click here to read more >>

One of my readers recommended their favorite new lunchbox: ThermaPod. Luckily, ThermaPod was willing to send me a sample and after using it for a couple of months I am happy to recommend it as a great bento-style lunchbox! ThermaPod is a Canadian based company whose goal was to create a lunchbox that would: reduce waste and improve the environment, improve nutrition and healthy eating, be convenient to use, save time and money, be a quality product, be “cool” in its design and look.  On all accounts it has met these goals and allows users to conveniently pack lunches in a cleverly designed, waste-free lunch box!
click here to read more >>

Good design was definitely in place when London design firm black + blum created their box appetit lunch box.  Best for college students and working professionals, their sleek new lunchbox is cool enough to be in New York’s Museum of Modern Art catalog (visit momastore). The lunch box has two main compartments and a sauce container, although the inner container may be removed if your lunch of the day consists of a main dish alone. The thing I love most about this lunchbox?  It is leak-proof… so you don’t run the risk of frying your computer hard drive with the soy sauce you brought for your lunchtime sushi
click here to read more >>