4 Easy, Affordable, Healthy, and Fun Summer Recipes for Kids

 
Is your kid a picky eater?

Try these 4 easy, affordable, healthy, and fun summer recipes to get your children enjoy veggies

For kids, summer means having adventures outdoors but quarantine restrictions have put a pause to that. Parents have to get extra creative in ensuring their children still have fun and lead healthy lifestyles even if they’re mostly indoors. Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation is helping parents this summer by sharing creative, affordable and delicious, yet easy and nutritious gulay recipes that will add colors and adventure to their kids’ plates at home.

“We understand the challenge parents have in making meals for their kids, especially in encouraging them to eat vegetables,” says Ajinomoto’s Science Communication Executive, Deborah S. Fajarda, RND. “Through these veggie recipes, we want to address this concern and provide creative ways on how parents can make nutritious dishes enjoyable and fun for their kids. We want to show that mealtimes can be both a healthy and adventurous journey for parents and their children.”

Here are 4 easy, affordable, healthy, and fun veggie recipes that Ajinomoto developed for parents to enjoy with their kids at home: 

Crispy Fry® Cauliflower Bites

Add a satisfying crunch to your kid’s meryenda with the easy-to-make Crispy Fry Cauliflower Bites. This could be an alternative to snacks like chicken nuggets. Cauliflower is high in potassium. Potassium, in right amount together with sodium, helps maintain fluid balance in the body which is important during the hot weather. CRISPY FRY® Breading Mix gives the crunch that kids love, while the SARSAYA® Sweet and Sour sauce offers a tangy flavor to make this snack even more special. Read the full recipe here.

Mini Spinach and Cheese Pizza

Make pizza healthier with this variant that uses spinach. Spinach is rich in calcium, iron, and vitamin A, which help in strong bone and muscle development, maintaining good eye sight, healthy red blood cells and strong immune system for growing boys and girls. This recipe uses PORKSAVOR® All-in-One Seasoning Mix, which adds a meaty taste that children will enjoy. They can also join in preparing the pizza by adding the toppings all over the dough. Copy the recipe here.

Mixed Veggie Kiddie Patties

These patties can be enjoyed as an ulam or as a snack between hamburger buns. These are made from chicken breast, which contains more lean protein and less saturated fat and cholesterol. The ingredients also include cucumber, broccoli florets, and bell pepper, which are also filled with important nutrients. Not only is it healthy, but also simple. You can make this in 4 easy steps. Make the patties crunchier with the CRISPY FRY® Seasoned Crumbs. See the recipe here.

Fun Camote and Carrot Fries

Squeeze in that extra beta carotene into your kid’s meals by turning carrot sticks into “fun” fries. This bright and naturally sweet veggie is a great way to entice picky eaters. To make it more appealing, you can also mix it up with sweet potatoes or camote. Here’s a fun fact too! Did you know that camote, or sweet potato, is rich in potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and fiber to keep bodies healthy. Adding AJI-GINISA® Flavor Seasoning Mix will also bring a meaty stir-fry deliciousness that will elevate this snack. This Fun Camote and Carrot Fries only takes 15 minutes to cook, so kids have something to eat right away when feeling hungry. You may also opt to use an air fryer to lessen fat content. Follow the recipe here.

With these recipes, Fajarda also reminds parents to know the recommended amount of vegetables needed by their children to ensure a balanced diet. For ages 3 to 5, 1/2 cup is ideal, 3/4 cup for ages 6 to 9, and 3/4 to 1 cup for ages 10 to 12. 

“These recipes are clever and fun ways of adding vegetables to kids’ daily menu---and making them can even help parents encourage healthy routines and strengthen their bonds with their young ones. Involving our children into meal planning and cooking, such as reading recipes and learning about veggies can likewise help them know about proper nutrition in a fun and tasty way,” says Fajarda. 

These healthy and creative recipes are part of Ajinomoto’s Eat Well, Live Well commitment. Ajinomoto has dedicated itself to developing ideas and creating products and services that aim to improve the wellness of Filipino households.

For more creative and nutritious recipes, visit ajinomoto.com.ph.

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How to Choose the Right Daycare

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Choosing a daycare is a tough process. Everyone wants what is best for his or her child, but there are also budgets to consider. Here are some tips for choosing affordable daycare Batavia OH.

Start Early

If you are currently pregnant and know that you’ll need daycare, start looking now. Depending on the area you live in, there could be long waiting lists, especially for popular centers. You don’t want to end up urgently needing daycare but having limited options. You will also need time to tour multiple daycares to check for cleanliness, safety and staff competency.

Consider Different Types

The main categories of daycare are church-based, in-home and daycare centers. There are benefits and downfalls to every option. For example, in-home daycares might provide a more intimate setting that mimics your home, but will have limited staff and fewer opportunities for socialization. Larger centers will have lots of kids to help your little one get adjusted and may be able to do more field trips and excursions. However, they can cost twice or three times the amount of a daycare in a church or home setting. You’ll also want to determine if you need full-time or part-time care. Not every daycare will offer part-time care, so if that’s something you need, your options will be decreased

Check the Reviews

To get an idea of customer satisfaction, you can check reviews via community apps. Also, ask for recommendations from family and friends. You will need to prioritize the most important elements, as some factors might be a deal-breaker for someone else, but not for you. For example, some parents consider a video feed of the center a non-negotiable. If that’s not a selling point for you, dismiss it and make a note of the qualities you love.

Selecting a daycare can be stressful, and no center is going to be perfect. If you are prepared and focused on the must-haves, the details that aren’t important to your family won’t bog you down.

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3 Childcare Options for Working Mothers

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It used to be that if a woman had a child and was financially secure, they automatically left the workforce to become a stay-at-home mom. These days, women can choose to keep working, staying active in their fields and contributing to their family's income. However, they do need to find childcare. If you are a working mother and are looking into childcare options for your children, read on. We have three suggestions for you that might work for you and your family.

1. Daycare

Many families choose to send their children to a daycare center Fairport NY. There are several different kinds of daycare, from in-home settings with a few other children to larger centers with different teachers and classes. Prices can vary but daycare is a great option if you are looking for childcare that allows your child to socialize with other children.

2. Nanny or Nanny-Share

If you prefer to keep your child at home and have individualized attention, you can hire a nanny. Nannies can be daytime employees or live in your home depending on what your needs are. Keep in mind though that hiring a nanny can be quite expensive. If you can't cover the cost yourself, see if you can do a nanny-share with another family to split the cost.

3. Au Pair

Having an au pair is similar to having a nanny. These caretakers come from countries around the world and live with your family while learning English and gaining cultural knowledge. There are restrictions to how long the au pair can work and they will eventually return to their home country, but if you want to expose your child to another culture, an au pair might be right for you.

Leaving your child in the care of other people can be stressful. Hopefully one of these options will be the right choice for you and your child.

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How To Find a Bra That Fits Well

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Many women put up with ill-fitting bras because they don't know how to find one that fits correctly. There is no reason you need to put up with a bra that digs into your skin, cups that don't fit your breasts or straps that slip off your shoulders. Here are some tips to help you find that perfect bra.

Let the Band Provide Support

The straps of the bra are just there to hold the bra against your body and help shape your breasts. If the bra fits correctly, the actual support comes mostly from the band. For this reason, you need to find the correct size band first. Measure around your body underneath your breasts to find your band size. Then start trying that size band to see if it fits. The band should feel snug around your body with room for one finger underneath, or about an inch of room. You should start out wearing your bra with the hooks at the loosest size. The other hooks are supposed to be used to adjust the bra after it stretches as it gets older.

Find the Right Size Cup

It is hard to measure your breasts to find the right size cup. You may have to use some trial and error when finding the correct size. If your bra straps are hurting your shoulders and your breasts are trying to spill out of the cups, try a larger size cup. If your straps are slipping and your bra feels too loose, try a smaller cup. Remember that cup size is not standard. Rather, cup size varies in relation to the size of the band. So, if you go up a band size, you may need to go down a cup size, or vice versa. If your breasts are very small or large, you may want to seek out a brand that specializes in your size, like Lulalu for small breasts.

Choose Different Bras for Different Purposes

For physical activities, you should choose a sports bra that will keep your breasts from bouncing too much while you exercise. This may be a compression bra, which keeps your breasts close to your body. Compression bras are best for small cup sizes. For larger sizes, an encapsulation bra is better. This type of bra has support surrounding each breast, so it gives more support to larger cup sizes. Consider more than one sports bra if you exercise a lot.

You should, of course, have a couple of well-fitting bras for regular everyday wear. You will wear these the most, so be sure you find a good fit. Buy one in black and one to match your skin tone for the most versatility.

Certain clothes, such as plunging necklines or backless gowns, will need a special bra. Plunging bra cups will not be visible under low-cut tops, but they may not be supportive enough for everyday wear. You can also buy convertible bras, on which you can change the configuration of the straps to accommodate strapless, backless, halter or criss-cross tops.

These suggestions should help you to find a bra that fits well. You don't need to suffer from wearing an uncomfortable bra any longer.

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What to Expect From Your First Physical Therapy Appointment

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Injuries from car accidents, sports, or slips and falls would usually be the reason why people seek out physical therapy treatment. Sometimes, it’s chronic or acute pain that brings a patient to the session. Regardless of what the reasons could be behind your need for physical therapy, what’s important is that you get the treatment you need as soon as possible.

If this is your first time setting a physical therapy Edgewater appointment, don’t worry. Here are things that you can expect from your first visit.

Assessment

On your first appointment with your physical therapist, expect to undergo a comprehensive assessment of your condition. This entails answering questions about the degree of pain and discomfort you’re currently experiencing versus your previous condition prior to the injury.

The source of injury will also be factored in, so be ready to share any findings from medical exams like X-ray results so your therapist can have a clearer view of your injury’s background. If it’s chronic pain-related, try to identify what conditions usually trigger the pain, what makes it worse, and, conversely, what seems to relieve it.

No detail is too small or irrelevant. The more complete the picture is, the better your physical therapist can formulate a treatment program that will work best for you.

Test Movements

As part of your evaluation, you can also expect to be tested for your mobility, particularly in the affected area. Come in comfortable clothing that will let you move around easily. Your physical therapist may apply pressure on the affected area as well, to see the trigger and threshold of the pain.

If the impacted area covers the lower part of the body, including hip pain, knee pain, or leg and ankle pain, wear shorts or loose pants that you can roll up. You should be able to move or flex your joints to see your range of motion.

Additional Tests

There are other physiological tests that you can expect to undergo during this first appointment. Apart from the range of motion measurements, there will also be strength tests, balance, and even cardiovascular health tests. More specifically, they will check if you get palpitations, and by how much, during strenuous physical activity. Neurological screening tests will also be completed.

Setting a Treatment Program

Last but not least, your physical therapist will explain to you their recommendations for an effective treatment plan. It may include other modalities for treatment, such as electrical stimulation, to improve your progress faster.

You may also be given homework exercises, so you can continue with the program even from your home. That said, agree upon a schedule that’s most convenient to you, and stick to it. The success of any physical therapy program largely rests on consistency, so make sure to commit to it.

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