10 Tips to Make Family Dinners a Success

Sitting together and enjoying a meal together is important for families.

Anne Fishel, the executive director of the Family Dinner Project, tells Harvard EdCast, “I'm a family therapist, and I sort of half joke that I could be out of business if more families had regular family dinners because so many of the things that I try to do in family therapy actually get accomplished by regular dinners. There have been more than 20 years of dozens of studies that document that family dinners are great for the body, the physical health, the brains and academic performance, and the spirit or the mental health […].”

But, even though we know family dinners are beneficial, it doesn’t mean that they are always easy to pull off.

Life is busy, kids are picky, and sometimes conversations are awkward.

Here are ten tips to make family dinners a success.

1. Choose Quality Over Quantity

First, let go of the pressure to have a perfect family dinner every night of the week. As kids get more involved in extracurriculars, that just isn’t possible. Plus, if you attempt to do it every night, it loses some special glow. So instead, pick out a couple of nights of the week where you are going to go all-in for family dinner instead of making it something to check off your to-do list every night.

2. Plan Ahead

If you want your family dinners to be successful, you gotta plan for them to be successful. That means sitting down and looking at the calendar and seeing which evenings you actually have the time to do a real family dinner. Then, make it a priority. Put it on the calendar.

3. Order Meal Services

If grocery shopping and cooking stress you out (or you just don’t have time), sign up for meal delivery services. There are so many different options. You can choose to make your own grocery list and have groceries delivered, or you can order a meal kit that comes with all the supplies needed to cook an entire meal.

4. Get Kids Involved

Make dinner a family affair. Allow the kids to help you choose which meals. Let the kids help you cook. Have them set the table before and do the dishes after.

5. Encourage Conversations

Sometimes conversation doesn’t come naturally. If you are in a season when kids are less talkative, have an idea of some things to talk about during dinner. One idea is to go around and ask everyone to share the rose (the good) and thorn (the bad) of their day.

6. Cook Quick and Eat Slow

Remember, the idea of a family dinner is quality over quantity. You aren’t going to have quality time together or quality conversations if you are rushing. Instead, choose to spend less time in the kitchen and more time around the table. Sometimes this means just ordering pizza.

7. Include Yourself in the Conversation

One of the best things for your kids to see is you being a real person and not just a mom. You can do this by including yourself in the dinner time conversation. Share about your day, express your joys, fears, and frustrations. Let the table be the place where kids see you be the real you.

8. Turn Off Distractions

Make the table a distraction-free zone. Instead of looking at a screen, look across the table into each other’s eyes.

9. Celebrate Special Events

Make it normal and expected to celebrate special events with a family dinner. Whether it is a birthday, job promotion, or a school award, celebrate it together with dinner around the table.

10. Enjoy One Another’s Company

Last but not least, family dinners shouldn’t feel forced. They should be times when you get to laugh, relax, and enjoy one another’s company. Make it something you all look forward to rather than something you have to do.

How to Have the Perfect Picnic

The movies make outdoor picnics look so easy, fun, and romantic. But, if you don’t know how to plan the perfect picnic, you will discover it is much harder than it looks. Unless you are planning to just take a blanket and grab a pizza and some bottled drinks, you need to do some planning to pull it off. (Note – pizza, drinks, and a blanket is one of my family’s favorite types of picnics.) If you want the kind of picnic spread you see in the movies, here’s what you need to do.  

Find the Right Location

During the pandemic, location is more important than ever (if you want to go beyond having a fancy picnic in your backyard). For example, some state parks are restricted and other public parks are overcrowded. Bathrooms may also be closed.

Beyond these pandemic-related issues, there are other things you need to consider about your picnic location, such as distance. Yes, a hike to a beautiful lookout point sounds lovely, but is it realistic? How far will you have to carry your picnic supplies from your car to the picnic spot? Are there tables at the location? Will you need to bring your own or take a blanket?

Invest in the Right Picnic Gear

If you want to have a perfect picnic, then you need to invest in the right picnic gear. It will be much easier if you have separate picnic supplies rather than having to assemble an assortment from your kitchen. For example, a picnic basket or an insulated picnic backpack that includes plastic plates, utensils, and glasses is great to have on hand. If you do not have a picnic basket, a cooler is a good idea since you can keep food insulated and they have handles for carrying or pulling.

Additionally, you need to have multiple storage containers for the food you take on your picnic. If you are taking any food that needs to remain chilled, invest in food containers with attachable ice packs. These also work great for kids’ school lunches or work lunches.

Hydration Tips

In addition to having the right gear to transport your food, you need the right gear for hydration. Insulated water bottles are always a great idea – especially if you plan to hike to your picnic spot. If you plan on enjoying some adult beverages during your picnic, consider purchasing an insulated wine canteen. There are canteens available that will hold an entire bottle and retain the temperature for 24 hours.

Plan the Picnic Menu

When planning a picnic menu, you want to aim for as many finger foods as possible. That’s why sandwiches and charcuterie boards are popular for picnics. However, you want to avoid anything sticky or messy because you are eating with your hands.

You should also plan for how many. If you pack too much food for the picnic, it is going to be harder to carry to the picnic spot (and you will have more wasted food to throw away and carry back home).

Speaking of packing your picnic, this is great advice from Taste of Home: “Pack your basket in reverse order to make it easy to get at the items you need when you arrive at your picnic site. Place nonperishable food on the bottom, then serving items and tableware, and finally the tablecloth on top.”

Also, check out this list of 101 Delightful Picnic Food Ideas.

Must-Haves for Outdoor Picnics

• A large, waterproof blanket

• A basket, cooler, or tote

• Food and drinks

• Hand sanitizer

• Napkins or paper towels

• A trash bag

• Bug spray

• Sunscreen

• Bottle opener or corkscrew

• Extra cutlery (especially a knife for opening stuff and spreading on condiments)

• Wireless Bluetooth speaker

• First aid kit

Do Your Kids Ask for Snacks All Day Long? Here’s What to Do.

Whenever the kids are home from school during the summer, it feels like a constant battle over snacks. They seem to want to eat all day long! They will literally ask for a snack thirty minutes after breakfast. First, they can’t possibly be hungry. Second, they will eat me out of house and home if I let them eat snacks every time they ask.

Since they have been home for longer than normal due to COVID-19, I realize something has got to change. My overall goal is to buy the right snacks (more healthy snacks and less junk) and teach them to be more self-sufficient. With those two ideas in mind, I did some research about the kid snacking dilemma. What I discovered is that, like all parenting methods, snack plans are all over the place! I’m sharing the main principals I found, but it’s up to you to choose which snack method works best for your family.

Set a Daily Snack Limit

Some parents choose to set a daily snack limit. What this means is the parent decides a set number of snacks the child can have during the day. In some cases, the parents actually set out the snacks for the day in a bowl so that the kid can see what is available. Then, throughout the day, the child can select snacks from the bowl. Once the snacks are gone, they are out of snacks for the rest of the day. Once kids get used to this routine, they will stop asking mom for snacks every hour. * Fingers crossed. *

Make Them Earn It

Other parents use a system where children have to earn snacks. For example, some parents require kids to complete their schoolwork before they get a snack. Others have turned snacking into math lessons where kids have to “buy” their snacks throughout the day, with unhealthy snacks costing more than healthy snacks.

Opt for a Snack Schedule

One of the more common methods is to maintain a snack schedule. Our kids do not get snacks throughout the school day. There are set times when they get snacks. That’s why some parents choose to continue to have set times for snacks, such as once before lunch and once before dinner. It may be helpful to reach out to their teacher and ask when they get snack time at school.

Let Them Eat What They Want When They Want

Finally, some parents simply let their kids eat what they want when they want – as long as its in the house. In this case, kids can go to the pantry or the fridge and choose healthy snacks all day long. To make this work, parents will have to do prep work, such as chopping veggies and washing fruit, so that it is ready and available for kids to munch on.

I want to know what you do for snacking at your house. Let me know in the comments!

Are You Getting Enough Protein? Here’s Why It Matters (+ A Giveaway!)

As a busy working mom, I am not ashamed to admit I need all the extra help I can get. Fortunately, I have discovered that I can get a huge amount of help from boosting the amount of protein I get each day. If you need more proof, read on!

How Much Protein You Need Each Day?

According to Healthline, “The DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound. This amounts to:

• 56 grams per day for the average sedentary man.

• 46 grams per day for the average sedentary woman.

Though this meager amount may be enough to prevent downright deficiency, studies show that it’s far from sufficient to ensure optimal health and body composition.”

This is just one of the reasons I love Premier Protein! Just one 11.5 oz bottle packs 30 grams of protein, meaning I almost reach the required minimum with just one drink!

Protein Reduces Hunger Cravings

You can hear you need protein all day long, but if you don’t know why you won’t feel the need to add more protein to your diet. But DIET is the keyword here. Did you know by increasing your protein intake you decrease your hunger cravings? Protein is filling; therefore, it reduces your appetite. Healthline reports, “In one study, increasing protein intake from 15% to 30% of calories made overweight women eat 441 fewer calories each day without intentionally restricting anything.”

Protein is the Muscle’s Building Blocks

Plus, protein is excellent for post-workout recovery. In the same report, Healthline explains, “eating adequate amounts of protein helps you maintain your muscle mass and promotes muscle growth when you do strength training.” This is why I also have Premier Protein with me when I go for a hike or to the gym.

Protein Gives You Longer-Lasting Energy

But, as a busy working mom, what I really need is energy – another thing you can get from increasing your protein intake. CNN explains, “Not consuming enough protein during the day can be a primary reason for fatigue. Protein-based foods provide the body with fuel to repair and build tissues. Protein takes longer than carbohydrates to break down in the body, providing a longer-lasting energy source.”

Premier Protein Makes It Super Easy to Get What You Need

This is why I have come to rely on Premier Protein shakes and bars. Premier Protein makes it super easy and convenient to get enough protein in my diet. Their protein shakes come in 11.5 oz bottles with closed lids so you can toss them in your bag and take them with you anywhere you go. This makes it much easier than mixing your own protein shake at home and transporting it - and no cleaning! Plus, they offer delicious flavors like Pumpkin Spice and Cookies and Cream, so I enjoy drinking them.

GIVEAWAY – Win a 4-Pack of Café Latte

Mixing a Protein Shake with added caffeine is a wonderful idea, like a delicious coffee with protein, to get my day going! Premier Protein just released their new product with added caffeine (equivalent to 1 cup of coffee) with the same 30g protein, 160 calories, 1g sugar, and 24 Vitamins and Minerals that gives my daily routine that extra spark. We're also giving away one 4-pack of Café Latte for you to enjoy too!

Hop over to my Instagram to get all the giveaway details! Hurry – it ends October 31st.

Exploring and Eating Your Way Around Singapore

Recently, my husband and I went on the trip of a lifetime. We visited several countries in Asia over a few weeks (kid-free!), and it was an experience I will never forget. Because I know traveling abroad can seem overwhelming to some of my readers, I want to share my experience with you. Over the next few blogs, I will be telling you all about my great adventure. I’m hoping my trip will inspire you to take your own!

We are starting with our visit to Singapore where we did the touristy things but where we mostly ate, ate, ate.

Must See Places to Visit

Singapore is an amazing place with a mesh of cultures and is a beautifully planned city with tropical temperatures year-round. While there is plenty to see and do in Singapore, I want to highlight two of the places we visited in Singapore on our trip that I believe are must-sees for other travelers.

Flower Dome and Cloud Forest

A major tourist attraction and a part of the city’s initiative to turn Singapore into “City in a Garden,” Gardens by the Bay is home to the amazing Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest. The Flower Dome is the world’s largest glass greenhouse offering visitors the opportunity to view several different gardens, including an olive grove and a beautiful floral display that changes periodically. It also has a bistro where guests can sit and enjoy the beauty surrounding them. The Cloud Forest is a higher elevation offering mountain views and gardens that will traditionally be found in tropical temperatures. It also features the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Guests get to walk through the mist-filled Cloud Walk on their journey.

The New Jewel Changi Airport Expansion

We also visited the newly opened expansion at the Changi Airport called the Jewel. It is a major lifestyle hub with outstanding shopping and dining options. On top of the shopping and dining fun, the Jewel also follows Singapore garden concepts by including a lush forest valley and a waterfall. Get your camera ready when you visit because experts are predicting this will be one of the most Instagrammed spots in the world.

Eat and Eat Some More at Singapore Hawker Centres

One of the main reasons to visit Singapore is to eat. Singapore is foodie heaven. As a tourist, you absolutely must visit the Singapore Hawker Centres, such as the popular Maxwell Food Hawker Centre Market, which are basically like food courts offering guests tons of food options at decent prices. My husband and I pretty much spent our entire time in Singapore eating and talking about food. It was wonderful!

When you visit, be sure to try:

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken - Be prepared to wait to eat here as it is Michelin star-rated. Worth the wait!

Rojak, Popiah & Cockle – A popular stall offering popiah (fresh spring rolls) and rojak (a crazy delicious tropical fruit and vegetable salad)

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup – If you choose to try one of the most popular dishes in Singapore (pig organ soup), you must get it from here!

Nan Hwa Chang Fish Head Steamboat – One of the oldest fish head steamboat shops in Singapore is another must-visit on your eat-your-way-around-Singapore adventure.

Kams Roast Goose – When we visited the Jewel at the Changi Airport, we tried the roast goose, and it was amazing! It is a Michelin Star restaurant for a reason!

Ah Chew Dessert – No trip to Singapore is complete without a visit to Ah Chew Dessert. Yum!

The Must-Have Dish While Visiting Singapore

While we ate and ate and ate, I have to say the best Singapore dish we had was the classic chili crab at Long Beach Seafood. This seafood dish is stir-fried crab coated in a delicious and savory chili sauce. I’m still thinking about it.

Have I made you hungry? Sorry! Now, I’m off to start finding NYC spots where I can find similar tasting dishes. Wish me luck!

Stay Tuned for Even More Details About My Visit to Singapore!

Deets on How to Score FREE Donuts This Week!

How we feel about free donuts!

You guys, June is quickly becoming one of my favorite months of the year. Not only is it the official start to summer, but it is also the month that hosts National Donut Day! Why have we not been making a bigger deal of this holiday? Carbs plus sugar = so wrong its right!

What is National Donut Day?

If you think I am just messing around, I can assure you National Donut Day is a real thing with real historical merit. The holiday is always celebrated on the first Friday of June, so this year we will celebrate it on June 7, 2019. The holiday officially began in 1938 as a way to honor the Salvation Army workers who served donuts to soldiers during the war. These “donut lassies” uplifted spirits during a difficult time.

When the Great Depression hit, the holiday was created as to fundraise by giving people paper donuts in exchange for a donation. Today, we celebrate with the real thing. While not every donut shop will give back to the Salvation Army, many will give a percentage of the profits they earn on National Donut Day to the Salvation Army.  

Major Franchises That are Participating

Two of the most popular national donut franchises have already announced they are participating in National Donut Day and will be giving out free donuts this Friday.

Dunkin (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts) is participating. Customers will get a free donut with the purchase of a beverage. You can RSVP to the event on their Facebook page.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is giving customers one free doughnut – no purchase necessary! Plus, to sweeten the day, they are encouraging people to tell everyone they know so they can give away 1 million doughnuts. If they hit a million, then they will do another donut giveaway this month!

Don’t Forget to Check Out Your Favorite NYC Donut Shops

While franchises are great, don’t fret if you don’t have a Krispy Kreme or Dunkin near you. Many local donut shops will likely participate. The best way to find out if your favorite NYC donut shop is participating is to follow the shop on social media. Local businesses frequently post their best deals and promotions on social media before they post them elsewhere.

Speaking of your favorite NYC donut shops, I’m always on the hunt for a new place to visit. Let me know in the comments which donut shop I should take my girls to first – bonus points for free donuts on National Donut Day!

Don’t Worries, Bagels; We Haven’t Forgotten You

Being a New Yorker means embracing the more savory circular breakfast food – the bagel. Fortunately, we don’t have to leave bagels out of all the holiday fun! Bagels have their own special day! National Bagel Day is celebrated February 9th. Just like National Donut Day, when this special breakfast food holiday rolls around, you can expect to find deals celebrating this festive occasion. Check out this past year’s National Bagel Day Deals.

Go Ahead, Eat Dessert First

I love a good dessert, and I am all about indulging now and then. But, I recently came across some new information about desserts that has radically changed things for me as a woman and a mom. I bet you are going to feel the same way.

Have you ever found yourself forcing your way through a meal just because you are anxious to get to the dessert? Have you ever told your kid they had to eat all that is on their plate before they get dessert? Have you ever treated dessert like a prize?

Guess what? When you view dessert this way, you run the risk over actually overeating (or making your kids overeat). When you stop forcing yourself to say “no” to sweets, you will be surprised to find you don’t binge eat the way you did before. It’s true!

Eat Like a European

Did you know that it is common to start your meal with a pastry or tart in European countries? Since Europeans are not quite as obese as Americans, this is an interesting tidbit. They treat desserts differently than we do.

Stop Treating Dessert Like a Reward

What would happen if you stopped treated dessert like a reward and treated it more like a normal part of a balanced diet? When we treat desserts like an indulgence, it makes it easier to overindulge. Think about it. We always want more of the things we aren’t supposed to have. If we took the danger out of desserts, maybe we wouldn’t allow them to put us in the danger zone.

Even Science Agrees

The American Psychological Association has studied it, and even they say eat dessert first! In their report aptly titled If I Indulge First, I Will Eat Less Overall: The Unexpected Interaction Effect of Indulgence and Presentation Order on Consumption, they found that individuals who started their meal with their highest-calorie dish first tend to eat less calories overall.

From the report: “The results of four experiments consistently showed that when the first item in a sequence is indulgent, individuals subsequently choose healthier foods and consume fewer calories.” It makes sense to me. If I choose to begin with a dessert, I will likely not stuff myself with other high-calorie foods after.

Moderation is Key

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.” - Charles M. Schulz

Like all things in life, moderation is key. While Europeans and scientists may agree that dessert comes first, I don’t think it means dessert comes first at every meal. Or that every dessert should be super indulgent. Some desserts are better than others.

Ultimately, the key is to let go of dessert guilt. When you eat what you want when you want it, you are less likely to overindulge. By taking away the prize of dessert and treating it like a regular part of a balanced diet, we are less likely to feel like we “need” a dessert to satisfy us.

What do you think? Are desserts worth it?

These Small Changes Changed Everything About the Way I Eat

At the start of a new year, there is always so much pressure to lose more weight and get healthier. For most women, this turns into a cycle of dieting where we lose weight, gain weight, and feel less than. I’m over it.

Being healthy matters. But eating well and living a life you enjoy matters just as much. If we are not careful, we can develop a negative attitude towards food, which will make life harder and less enjoyable. This is why it is so important to have a positive attitude toward food.

Today, I’m sharing some of the small changes I made regarding the way I view food and dieting. These small changes have made such a big difference in my life. I bet you’ll notice a positive change when you change your attitude about food, too.

Dieting for the Sake of Dieting – No Thank You!

If you are dieting to get healthy, good for you! If you are dieting simply because everyone around you is dieting, just stop. While it is important to eat healthy, there is no reason to go overboard with juice cleanses and diets.

Let Go of Food Guilt

Please, once and for all, can we get over food guilt? There is already so much pressure on women to look the right way that we don’t need to feel pressure to eat the right way all the time. If you eat something not on the health menu, don’t beat yourself up. Tomorrow is a new day.

Stop Saying Never – Eat Some Treats!

Along with the above attitude, stop telling yourself you can “never” eat certain things. This will only make you want them more. It is perfectly fine to indulge in the occasional treats. Many nutritionists recommend following the 80/20 rule – try to eat healthy 80% of the time with a 20% cushion.

Eat When You are Hungry – Not for the Sake of Staying Busy

Many women fall into the habit of eating just to stay busy. Women get bored, and it feels better to be doing something – even something as simple as snacking. Instead, aim to eat when you are hungry. Before you pull a snack out of the pantry, ask yourself if you are actually hungry.

Enjoy Eating and Engage Your Senses

The more you enjoy eating, the better your relationship with food will become. For instance, take time to taste your food rather than rushing through a meal. Engage your senses. Notice the aromas and taste the different flavors. Marvel at the beautiful display on the plate before you at the restaurant – isn’t that half the pics on Insta? We love looking at beautiful food. Now, take the time to enjoy eating it!

Be a Positive Food Role Model

As a mom, it is important that I am a positive food role model for my daughters. Bad food habits can cause big problems like obesity and eating disorders. That’s why I believe it is important to teach them to eat well and enjoy every bite.