Our family watched a documentary last year that really inspired us to want to try juicing, that documentary by Joe Cross, is called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.  So we started saving up to buy a juicer and this January it arrived and with it a whole new world of juicing!  Our daughter wasn’t too thrilled with our first attempts but we kept trying new combinations and added more sweet produce like beets, carrots and apples and now she can’t get enough of our juice.  We also make them into popsicles which she loves.

This was my breakfast this morning…mmmm it was delicious and quite filling! As much as we strive to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables there’s no way I’d eat this many in one meal!

This particular combo had apples, carrots, beats, kale, celery, cucumber, baby spinach and red lettuce.

We’re really excited for all the new combinations that we can try this summer when we are once again surrounded by a bountiful supply of fresh produce!

Happy Healthy Eating,

Kia Robertson

Kia Robertson is a mom and the creator of the Today I Ate A Rainbow kit; a game that helps parents establish healthy habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day. Kia is passionate about creating tools that help parents raise healthy kids

It’s getting close to Valentine’s Day so we thought we’d share a favorite treat we like to make for our daughters class for their Valentine’s party. Her teacher asks that 3 families supply goodies and 3 families supply healthy treats in order to ensure the kids aren’t going to end up full of sugar by the end of the day. These lovable little ladybugs make a great treat and they’re really cute!

What you need: Adapted from Batter Up Kids: Delicious Desserts ~ Makes 16 ladybugs

16 seedless Green or Red Grapes

16 (6 inch) wooden skewers or toothpicks

16 whole strawberries

32 mini chocolate chips or dried black currents

Directions:

Step 1.  Wash your grapes and strawberries

Step 2.  Cut the grapes in half

Step 3.  Slice off a strip on one side of the strawberries (this will help them to sit flat on the plate)

Step 4.  Place a grape on a toothpick sliding it all the way to the end

Step 5.  Next place the strawberry on the toothpick and slide it down to touch the grape

Step 6.  Gently score a line at the top of the strawberry to create the appearance of wings

Step 7.  Finally, carefully push the pointed ends of the mini chocolate chips (or dried currants) into the strawberry to make the ladybug’s spots.

Happy Healthy Eating
Kia

Kia Robertson is a mom and the creator of the Today I Ate A Rainbow kit; a tool that helps parents establish healthy habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day. Kia is passionate about creating tools that help parents raise healthy kids!

Now that we’ve gotten half way through the school year it can sometimes be challenging to come up with creative lunch ideas. I find it helpful to mix up the lunch gear, bags and foods I use in order to keep things interesting.

In this lunch we’ve put together some California rolls, veggies, grapes and a side bag with rice crackers. I find that kids really enjoy the bento style when it comes to their lunches because it’s visually appealing, it keeps foods from touching and it just makes it more fun!  There are all kinds of great lunch gear these days…I love using re-useable cloth bags instead of clear plastic bags…especially ones with fruit and veggie graphics!!

We also always do our best to include at least two colors of produce into every lunch we prepare as we’re always striving to eat a rainbow of colorful fruit and veggies everyday!

Happy Healthy Eating
Kia

Kia Robertson is a mom, children’s book author and the creator of the Today I Ate A Rainbow kit; a tool that helps parents establish healthy habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day. Kia is passionate about creating tools that help parents raise healthy kids!

This weekend we made some delicious borsht! I’m half Ukrainian so I enjoy a good bowl of borscht  I’m also half Spanish so I also enjoy a hot handmade tortilla too! But this weekend was all about the borscht! This takes a lot of veggies which means lots of washing, peeling and cutting…the perfect job for my daughter Hannah.

We love making stews and soups at this time of year as it really helps to keep you feeling warm and cozy! Being able to use a bunch of colorful veggies makes it all the more better!

Happy Healthy Eating
Kia

Kia Robertson is a mom and the creator of the Today I Ate A Rainbow kit; a tool that helps parents establish healthy habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day. Kia is passionate about creating tools that help parents raise healthy kids!

In our ongoing quest to be food adventurers we decided to try Longans.  They are a cousin to the more popular Lychee. Their light brown skin encloses a delicious translucent, juicy soft flesh that is similar to a peeled grape.  They have a large black inedible seed in the middle so you just eat the flesh around the seed.  It has a very nice sweet taste that we all enjoyed!

If you’re going to give these a try, buy longans that are still attached to the branches if possible. The fruit should be plump and having a slightly pliable shell. You can store longans in a breathable container or bag in the fridge for around 5-7 days.

Happy Healthy Eating
Kia

Kia Robertson is a mom and the creator of the Today I Ate A Rainbow kit; a tool that helps parents establish healthy habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day. Kia is passionate about creating tools that help parents raise healthy kids!