Gardening May Be the Nugget Your Family Needs

Many of our families are being affected by the poor economic conditions. Sadly, many families spend less time together just trying to make ends meet. Why not kill two birds with one stone--or should we say nugget in this case. Starting a garden together as a family allows parents to spend more time with their children while saving money and eating healthier. Here are a few reasons why gardening can work for you:

• Reduce Stress - Working harder than ever to find work and in some cases just to keep your job is stressful. Our children also are stressed in school and at times just growing up in this world. Being outside doing something you enjoy can greatly reduce your stress. Make it fun for everyone -- even if the kids aren't perfect gardeners. Don't sweat the small stuff.
• Cuts Family Recreational Costs & Saves Money - A new movie and a few bags of popcorn can cost you an arm and a leg for a weekend treat. However, with just a small investment of initial seeds, fertilizers and some equipment, you will be able to keep your family busy throughout an entire season. For every $100 invested into gardening, you can reap $1,000 --$1,700 worth of produce. What a savings!
• Vitamin D - Our families are not getting enough vitamin D; 17 different cancers can now be linked to vitmain D deficiencies. Being outside in the sunshine for a limited time will build your family's immunities. Go to http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/ to learn more about this important vitamin.
• Fresh Vegetables--Perhaps Organically Grown - Yes, there's nothing like a freshly picked tomato to go with your dinner. Coming straight from your garden teaming with vitamins, and above all the flavor may even cause the kids to "want to eat their vegetables." If you decide to go "organic" less chemical exposure.

If you don't have the room for a garden, why not plant some herbs on your porch, patio, or even in window boxes. Spending time together and learning how to grow plants will bring you closer together as a family. Believe it or not--this may be some of the best quality time you may ever spend with the kids. That's your golden nugget!

If you are not sure how to start, there great books that can help you out. They are easy to follow and loaded with a step-by-step guides. 

To learn more about gardening you can also visit my website and see the outcome of Michelle Obama's garden last year. I also have great tips on living healthier for you and your pets! Come visit me at: http://www.tidbitsforhealthyliving.com/

Learning About Vegetables Can Be Fun

For most of us growing up in the city, it may be difficult identifying all the various veggies and fruits at the supermarket.
Some kids haven't a clue where corn comes from.  I 've actually heard one youngster say out of the can!   However, it is not too late to help our kids learn so that they can appreciate these gems before they reach adulthood.  Here are a few suggestions to make it fun while learning:

1. If the kids can't read yet, you can cut vegetable pictures (fruit too can be fun) out of magazines.  Mix the pictures up, and have the kids match the pictures with their correct names.  You can follow up by having the kids see if they can find any of the same veggies they identified somewhere in the produce section of your local supermarket.  Have them take one of the pictures with them to the store. 
2. With the older kids you can pick out a more difficult vegetable to identify.  When they go shopping with you have them locate the vegetable.  Purchase that vegetable.  Later when home, have the kids "google" the vegetable and find out how it grows, where it grows, and the nutritional benefits from eating it.  Their report should be given at dinner for all to hear. 
3. The next challenge is getting your older teenagers involved. Why not have your teen make a new dish with the newly acquainted vegetable under discussion.  All family members should comment whether they like it or not. Take a family vote to see if this vegetable should or should not be a regular at your dinner table. 

So Mom or Dad, get started.   No doubt you'll discover some great new vegetables to delight everyones palate!

How Many Different Vegetables Can Your Kids Identify?

So how many vegetables can your kids name?  Just important, how many vegetables can you as a parent identify?  Both good questions.  Many of us growing up in the city have been use to our vegetables coming out of a can.  Of course, others who were exposed to gardening at an early age are one up.  Several years ago while checking out of a local grocery store, the cashier could not identify the turnips I was purchasing.  She was about 17 years old and needed to ask the neighboring cashier what the small knobby-shaped items were.  This made me wonder--how many of us can  recognize vegetables native to our country or those locally grown? 

Be honest, would you recognize a turnip if you saw it?   The first time I looked  for turnips, I had to look at the categories above the vegetable bins.

My next post will deal with some ways your family can have fun learning the names of those luscious veggies so delightfully created for all of us to eat!

What Are You Doing With All Those Great Fresh Vegetables?

By now your garden has been well on its way to sprouting and at least partial picking depending on what area of the country you live in.  By this time your family has no doubt begun to enjoy the fruits of their labor--or more correctly "the vegetables of their labor."  Fun in the sun, some hard work, and healthy eating--who could ask for more? 

No doubt you have found ways to use your newly grown produce.  Hopefully, you have shared some with your neighbors and those in need.  Another great way to use those veggies is to start juicing.  Juicing is a  jewel in itself.  Obviously juicing is packed with vitamins; but,  the fiber for many people is the greater benefit.  Even if you don't juice, eating the vegetables raw will also increase your daily fiber intake.   Please read my article, 6 Tips For Getting in Shape While Unemployed, which contains good suggestions for all of us to get in shape.