Back to School with Food Borne Illnesses? Oh My! In Hampton Roads, Tidewater, Virginia, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, & Williamsburg

Do you send your children to school with their lunch?  I do.

My children have never bought lunch at school.  I think they are a little intimidated about walking through the line and they would rather talk to their friends at the table than spend time waiting in line.  Lunch is all about "friend" time for them.

I don't mind because I like knowing what they are eating even if it means creative shopping to keep a variety of food in the house for lunches every day.

Lately, I have seen many articles about the unsafe temperature of children's lunches.  I always thought I was doing enough by throwing in an ice pack before I zipped their bag closed.




Recently, the journal Pediatrics released a study looking at the temperature of 705 lunches containing at least one perishable item belonging to 3-5 year olds.  The temperatures found were not good and many of those lunches were at risk for food borne illnesses. 

Fortunately, there are ways to improve the temperature in packed lunches and reduce the risk of your child becoming ill.

• Pack lunches in highly insulated bags.
• Pack multiple cold packs.
• Pack foods less likely to cause food borne illnesses such as applesauce cups, trail mix, whole grain crackers and hummus.
• If possible, store the lunch sacks in a refrigerator.  Ask your child's school if this is possible.

If you have ideas for packing lunches, please share them.  I am always eager to hear other parents' ideas.

Hampton Roads, Tidewater, Virginia, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, nanny, childcare, babysitter, sitter, live-in, au pair, provider, AuPairCare, nannies, children, child, kids, multiples, twins, triplets

Where are we eating tonight? in Hampton Roads, Tidewater, Virginia, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg.

 

"What are we having for dinner tonight?" is the most popular question in my house.  The second most popular is, "Where are we eating tonight"?

We vary where we eat almost every night.  Sometimes we eat at the bar in the kitchen.  Sometimes we eat at our kitchen table. Other times we eat on the screen porch, in the dining room, or we have a picnic.

Picnics are a wonderful way for families to have fun eating.  Bonding and sharing can happen anywhere.  In the winter, often our picnics consist of a blanket on the floor of our living room. 

In the summer, after work, having the whole family meet at a park for a picnic is great way to begin a relaxing evening of family time.  It is also an excellent way to get in some physical activity while the day cools off.

When packing for your picnic, here are some great ideas that are simple and make for maximum fun:

• Put your food in Mason jars for quick and easy containers.  Layer a summer salad of basil, Italian dressing, tomatoes, and cubed mozzarella.  Or, use Mason jars to store chips, cubed fruit, or other snacks.

• Bring a ball or Frisbee to roll or catch, bubbles to blow, or nets to catch fireflies.
• After you are finished with the snacks, use a clean Mason jar for the fireflies you have caught.  Just make sure to let the little guys out before they die.
• For good picnic recipes, visit websites like www.allrecipes.com or www.food.com
• Finish your evening of fun, games, and eating with a nice book on the blanket.  It will wind everyone down and get the children ready to head home for bedtime.
• My number one piece of advice for picnics is--keep it simple so it will be fun for everyone.

Do you have favorite picnic activity, food, or idea?  Share it with us so other families can benefit.

Hampton Roads, Tidewater, Virginia, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, nanny, childcare, babysitter, sitter, live-in, au pair, provider, AuPairCare, nannies, children, child, kids, multiples, twins, triplets

Baby, It's Hot Outside

Have you heard of the latest craze as the summer heat continues?  It is very retro and involves things that are cold and wiggly--perfect fun for you and the little ones.

The craze is Jell-O, yes, Jell-O.  My children are delighted with the cool treat of a yummy dessert in strange and wiggly shapes.  People all across the nation are having a blast with the concoctions and Kraft is starting a marketing campaign this fall called, "Mold Mania".  There are even Jell-O artists and contests.  Recently, a replica of Walt Disney's head won the creativity prize in a Brooklyn, NY Jell-O contest.

There are so many great ideas for Jell-O and I have compiled some of my favorites for you to try.  If you are an au pair or parent, try these for some fun in the afternoon.


You can put anything edible in Jell-O for fun themes


Stain Glass Jell-O is pretty and fun


Clouds in the Sky


My favorite retro look

For more information and other ideas, visit the Kraft website.

I hope you experiment with Jell-O this summer and post your comments.  We would love to hear about what you have created!