July is National Ice Cream Month. This probably makes your kids very happy and your waistline a little concerned. It’s hot, and eating the cool treat sounds like a fun way to turn the temperature down. However, one cup of the dessert has about 260 calories and 14 grams of fat. How do you celebrate National Ice Cream Month and stay healthy at the same time? Chill out. It’s possible.

1. Try Low Calorie Ice Cream

You don’t have to pack on the calories to enjoy your favorite icy delight. Many brands offer low-calorie versions of your favorite flavors. These alternatives aren’t always so healthy, though. They’re often loaded with artificial sweeteners and preservatives. After all, you have to replace the fat and calories with something else, right?

Eat This, Not That ranked Halo Top Vanilla as the best diet option out there. One pint contains 240 calories. You don’t have to challenge yourself to stop when you’re halfway through. Plus, it contains healthy fats, has no fake sweeteners and is low in sugar. Your kids won’t know the difference. Neither will you.

2. Go For Low Sugar Ice Cream

When you cut back on sugar, you may end up consuming fewer calories. Plus, keeping sugar away from your kiddos can prevent them from turning into hyper little monsters.

So Delicious No Sugar Added Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is sweetened with natural stevia. It contains healthy fats from coconuts. You can feel good about feeding this to your family.

3. Make Your Own

When you make your own frozen treats, you can control the ingredients that go into it. A quick internet search will deliver lots of options for homemade recipes.

Here’s one to try:

Ingredients 3 ripe peaches, diced ¼ cup cream or coconut cream ¼ tsp vanilla extract Stevia to taste

Directions

• Freeze the peaches for four hours.
• Blend the peaches with the cream in a high-powered blender.
• Add the stevia if you want more sweetness. You might not need it.

This produces a soft dessert that you can eat right away. Stick it in the freezer for another hour if you want a harder treat.

4. Turn Bananas Into Frozen Deliciousness

Did you know that frozen bananas can be whipped up into a creamy snack or dessert? Slice bananas and freeze them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Transfer them to plastic bags or an airtight container, and store them in the freezer. Whenever you want some frozen goodness, place some bananas in a high-powered blender. Add cocoa or peanut butter for an added punch. Blend them until they become smooth.

5. Try Strawberry Banana Frozen Lemonade

Ditch the dairy altogether. Make a refreshing indulgence without using milk or yogurt. In a blender, combine strawberries and bananas. Mix them until they’re smooth. Add them to your ice cream maker along with some lemonade. After about 30 minutes, you’ll have a combination that tastes like a snow cone. You can also make these into frozen treats using molds.

6. Make Themed Play Clay

Purchase or make dough for your kids to play with. Provide utensils and options for them to pretend that they have their own sweet shop. Make your own ice cream play clay by mixing one can of pre-made frosting with one cup of cornstarch. This recipe is great for toddlers. It’s edible, and it won’t harm your child if he or she makes the mistake of eating it. However, it won’t taste as good as the real thing.

Materials you need to make your own faux sundaes:

• Play clay or dough
• Small bowls
• Cones made of paper or cardstock
• Large scoops and spoons
• Small spoons
• Glitter or confetti for sprinkles
• Beads, pebbles and buttons for chips and cherries
• Straws
• Wooden sticks for making “frozen” dessert bars

7. Print Out Some Coolness

Use paper and scissors to celebrate the month without making your kids crazy or worrying about your weight. Print out images of cones and scoops, and have kids glue them onto paper to make their own creations. You can also make 3-D popsicles and other colorful delicacies. The best part is that these won’t melt in the summer heat.

You don’t have to fill up on fat and calories to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. Get creative. Buy something new from the store. Purchase fresh ingredients to whip up healthier options at home. Use your art supplies to make a cool dessert that won’t melt.

It’s hard to believe that summer 2017 is nearly winding down! Summer fun is at an all time high, and we’re maybe a little tired or even looking forward to the more structured day that school brings.  I’ve always been a person who craves routine and structure, and school provided that for me, so as a kid I always looked forward to going back to school to see my friends and continue learning!

However, there was one thing I didn’t look forward to…school lunch! I definitely preferred a homemade lunch box full of goodies than cafeteria food, but I also didn’t want a plain ol’ PB&J with fruit snacks each day! In fact, it wouldn’t have been healthy nor beneficial intellectually to eat such a limited diet.

According to David Just, a doctor for behavioral economics in child nutrition programs, proper nutrition effects more than body composition. “For example, iron deficiency, even in early stages, can decrease dopamine transmission, thus negatively impacting cognition” (Just, 2014).

Additionally, many different vitamins and minerals provide the brain with the ability to reason, concentrate, and perceive information. These are all necessary cognition skills needed to perform positively in the classroom! It’s also no secret that malnutrition, or a poor diet, can lead to different behavioral problems.

Have you ever experienced being “hangry” (hungry/angry)? I know I have! Now imagine your school aged child feeling that way in the middle of class, but maybe not understanding that she may just be hungry! Being hungry can create a wave of emotions that young children may not be able to fully grasp. So what kind of foods can we provide our kids with that will benefit them the most? A lunch box should always contain a good source of protein, a healthy fat, fruits and veggies, fiber, and a complex carbohydrate.

That’s a lot of information, and possibly overwhelming, but don’t let that scare you! You can provide healthy, and interesting, lunches a lot easier than you think! There are many great resources for parents out there on how to do so, but a personal favorite of mine is www.rockthelunchbox.com.

Four different organic food companies have teamed up to provide you with information on how to keep the lunch box simple, creative, and most importantly, HEALTHY! They offer some great advice from experts around the nation- other parents.

So, as we’re wrapping up summer fun and thinking about back-to-school shopping soon, I encourage you to go ahead and start practicing making lunch! By the time school starts, you’ll be a pro at rocking the lunch box, and you could even share your ideas at rockthelunchbox.com. Remember, it’s more than a meal, it’s fuel for your child’s growing brain! Have fun and good luck!

Health is one of the most important tasks ever. This can be mental, physical, all of it, it just matters. How are we to be successful moms, dads, spouses if we let the little things that matter to us slip through the cracks?

First for us to take care of others, we must take care of ourselves then others, I’ve compiled a couple hacks you can easily implement in your day-to-day actions:

• Inspired and Motivate yourself each time you look in the mirror! Super easy right? The often things i see happening are parents who have children and are exhausted (not saying its not exhausting to have children, believe me I know!)
• “I did my hair today, packed lunch and my kid doesn’t look homeless today- #momwin!” Something as easy as this, gives credit to yourself and the thousand things you are juggling each day.
• If you can financially, find a babysitter not just for your weekly date night, but for Mom Night. Go and get yourself a great workout in, go to Target by yourself and maybe get a new outfit, all things that don’t seem like a lot but reassure you that you are more than just a mom.

You have enough mom worries:

• Am I doing it right?
• Did I do something wrong?
• When we should be giving ourselves credit like, HONESTLY!! Let’s chill a second and think about it.
• How often do we get enough sleep?
• How often do we get to eat in peace? Or even to relax without you hearing “you’re needed” somewhere around the house??

So I write this just to encourage you to assess yourself and where you are placing yourself on the totem pole, it’s that important. Your spouse, kids, coworkers will all thank you for it.

Focus more on positivity: how great of a parent you ALREADY are.

Humor: If you change 7 poop diapers, think about how funny his/ her face is when pooping, and laugh about it.

” At the end of the day, life isn’t about being pretty and popular. Its about being healthy and happy”
Unknown Author

~Ms. Tenesha
Health & Safety Coordinator
Young Scholars Academy