Friday, September 5, 2008

DELICIOUS WAY TO SERVE DAIRY TO YOUR FAMILY!



Our family has discovered how delicious and nutritious Horizon Organic Milk is! As all the crazy weather conditions and threatening hurricane activities have come into focus down south here in Florida, we've been gathering a variety of hurricane and emergency supplies for "JUST IN CASE"! An important element to our Kit is Horizon Organic and Flavored Milks. It gives me peace of mind to have our kit ready as need arises - hopefully never, but better to be safe than sorry...

Horizon milks are shelf-stable, which makes them great for anytime! Available in drink packs and a variety of flavors. We enjoy them with snacks and meals - they're perfect for on-the-go families. My daugher, Kristen, enjoys them in her lunch box now that school has started, too. She loves the Vanilla or Chocolate flavored milks.

School lunches and on-the-go snacks are not notoriously healthy and to add to that, there is a growing awareness about the dangers of growth hormones and pesticides in the foods our kids consume. So with the flurry of activities starting with the new school year it can be tough as Moms to make the right food choices to ensure our families are getting the nutrients they need.

There are, however, products out there that make it a little easier for us to attack busy schedules and stay healthy. I prefer Horizon Organic because it's one of those brands we can trust-they provide essential nutrients without the dangers of antibiotics, pesticides, or growth hormones-making school lunches and after-school snacks something we can feel good about.


Here is a link to the Horizon Organic website (http://horizonorganic.com/)—it’s a really great website for both parents and kids alike!

I really like their "Seven Simple Steps to an Organic Lifestyle" http://horizonorganic.com/raising/7steps.html :


7 Simple Steps to an Organic Lifestyle


At Horizon Organic we know how important it is to give your family a healthy, organic diet, but we also know how overwhelming it can sometimes seem. Here are some tips or ideas on how to make the process of Raising Organic Kids a little easier.
1. Take Inventory and Read Labels

Look inside your family's refrigerator and pantry. Be sure to look beyond the nutritional panel to the ingredient list. Do the labels include many ingredients you've never heard of? Steer clear of added chemicals by adding organic foods to your grocery lists.

2. Start with Items with the Most Impact

See Dr. Alan Greene's Organic Prescription.

3. Refuel with Snacks

Going too long without eating can make you feel tired and cranky. Healthy organic snacks that include protein and carbohydrates, like organic cheese sticks or apples, will help keep your energy levels high throughout the day, and they're easy grab-and-go snacks kids will love!

Try these convenient, high-energy organic snacks
1. Low-fat Horizon Organic cottage cheese (1/2 cup) and a pear
2. A Horizon Organic yogurt smoothie (12 ounces)
3. Half of a peanut butter and banana sandwich (1 tablespoon peanut butter)
4. A Horizon Organic hard-boiled egg and an organic apple
5. Baked sweet potato (1/2 potato) with low-fat Horizon Organic cottage cheese (1/2 cup)
6. A Horizon Organic cheese stick (1 stick)
7. Reduced-fat Horizon Organic cheese (1 1/2 ounces) and whole-grain crackers (5)
8. Low-fat Horizon Organic yogurt (1 cup) and fresh organic strawberries (1 cup)


4. Make Lunched Fun to Educate Kids on Organic

Eating habits are formed during childhood, so it's important to consider what's in your kids' lunchboxes, and to make preparation fun by involving your kids. Provide them with several organic choices and let them choose what they eat for lunch. One of the easiest ways to increase school-lunch nutrition is to pack some of your kids' favorite foods while opting for organic alternatives where you can.

5. Look for the Organic Seal

USDA Certified OrganicProducts that have not been certified cannot be labeled "organic." You should look for the USDA seal on products to determine if the products are organic.
6. Experiment with Organic Recipes

Once you have taken the step to add organic foods to your refrigerator and pantry, use organic in your everyday recipes to show your family that organic foods taste good! One idea: Add some blended butternut squash to organic macaroni and cheese — it provides your family with a vegetable and adds fun, natural coloring to the meal. This is also a great way to get your kids excited about healthy eating and teach them about the environment at the same time. Try these great kid-friendly recipes you can make together!

Get more organic recipes now >

7. Be a Role Model

If you lead by example and feed yourself nutritious organic foods, your kids will develop similar healthy eating patterns. Teach your kids valuable lessons in nutrition and good eating habits that they'll carry with them throughout their lives.

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