• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

August 21, 2012

$1,000 Visa Gift Card Giveaway from Kraft!

I’ll never forget the first time I tried to sneak extra vegetables into my son’s food.

We were at that stage where the only veggies he would willingly eat were carrots and tomatoes.
I was watching his skin closely to look for signs that he might be turning an orangey-red hue.
So in my desperate attempt to add a bit of variety to his meal-time experience (and let’s face it, to make myself feel better about my parenting), I decided to add pureed butternut squash to his Mac-n-Cheese.
I watched. I waited. I timed it just right.
He left the kitchen for a minute and into the pot went that glob of squash-y goodness.
It felt so wrong…and yet…so right!

But, do you know what happens when you add butternut squash to Mac-n-Cheese?

Let’s just say that your kid will notice the lack of neon orange coloring and will be immediately suspicious!
OK, so my first foray into the dark side of mommy-hood might not have gone so well, but that hasn’t kept me from continuing in my effort to have healthy kids with healthy eating habits!

It didn’t take long for me to realize that, for our family, a 2-pronged approach would be our best bet for having happy meal times, happy, healthy kids and a happy mommy who didn’t need to lie awake at night anymore worrying about the long-term affects of too many carrots!
The combination of sneaking in vegetables along with having them on their plate gave us the best option of knowing that somehow, someway those wonderful vitamins and nutrients were going to make it into their little bodies.
Do you want to know what I have found to be the easiest meals for sneaking in vegetables?
Spaghetti and pizza.
Why?
It’s all in the sauce my friend!

Take your favorite marinara sauce and add in some pureed spinach or squash or carrots and you have just upped the ante on healthy dinners.

Use it to smother noodles or spread it out on pizza dough and you can just pat yourself on the back and smugly sit at the dinner table while the sounds of, “Yum! This is so great Mom,” fill your ears!
The other part of my approach has been continuing to put vegetables on their actual plates and not just sneaking it into the main dish. And the fact that we have a garden every summer has helped tremendously in getting my children excited about their veggies. There is nothing quite like pulling up a carrot and then finding that same carrot, all nicely peeled, on your plate that night at dinner.

I even leave the stem on so that they can pretend they’re bunnies!
Now, while my 2 pronged approach to healthy eating has been a success at dinner time, it hasn’t translated so easily to lunch time.
You see, my kids LOVE breakfast and lunch!

And, I’m pretty sure the reason for that is because there are usually no vegetables involved (I reserved my veggie battles for only one meal a day) and sometimes they get a fun drink. Fun meaning something other than water or milk.
At our house, Capri Suns have always been the favorite. Especially in the summertime!

Maybe it’s the challenge of finding just the right angle to get the pointy straw into the hole on the first try.
Maybe it’s the silvery pouch which makes it so much easier to get every last drop.
Maybe it’s the fact that the same silvery pouch, once empty, can provide endless entertainment in the form of blowing back into it and finding some unsuspecting soul to go up to and say, “Hey, look at how full this is!” and then squeeze it so that poor unsuspecting soul thinks they are going to get sprayed with juice and then they can laugh hysterically!
Not that this has ever been done to me.

But, now that Kraft has come out with their Capri Sun Super V, those silvery pouches just became even more exciting. Especially for this mom! This has solved my “should I feel guilty because my children don’t eat vegetables at lunch?” dilemma. With one combined serving of fruits and vegetables, it is a wonderful source of antioxidant vitamins and fiber, not to mention that the flavoring is all-natural and there are no preservatives.
That is a win-win in my book!

Don’t believe me? Well, here are some testimonials from actual children actually drinking the Capri Sun Super V!
Somehow I managed to find a 9 year old boy and a 5 year old girl willing to try this out and let me interview them. Wink, wink.
“So, what do you guys think about this new Capri Sun?”
5 year old girl replied, “Yummy!”

9 year old boy replied, “I think the guy surfing on the front looks cool!”

Both children ask, “Mommy, why are you taking pictures of us and asking us so many questions?”
To which I reply, “Because you are both just so cute and I want to record every moment of your lives!”
To which 2 pairs of eyes rolled.
But it doesn’t matter! Because I know what they don’t.

While they were innocently enjoying a new yummy drink, I was feeling reassured that they were getting an extra serving of fruits and vegetables!
Now if we can just keep it a secret.
Thankfully they don’t read this blog…yet!!

Learn more about the new Capri Sun Super V on Facebook and check out BlogHer.com to find more Capri Sun Super V reviews!

AND, do you want to know how you can enter to win the Sweepstakes for the

Grand Prize $1,000 Visa Gift Card
and
$500 (runner up) Gift Cards??
Here’s how:

Share a healthy snack tip as a comment below!

Rules:
No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
Entries from all participating blogs will be pooled for winner selection; only two entries per household. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 8/16/2012-9/16/2012.

UPDATE!!! 9 year old boy was asked at lunch if he would like a Capri Sun. A different flavor was pulled out of the fridge and he looked at it and said, “Oh, I wanted the other one with the cool guy on the front!“

No problem buddy!
Thanks so much for joining me today at the Fence,
1553F4F30A9801A6AFB3E9C624118E7B
I was compensated for my time in conducting this review, but the opinions are my own. Please see our Disclosure Policy for more information.

Email Updates

Facebook Page
Pinterest

118 Comments Filed Under: Giveaways, Kids, Recipes, Reviews

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Talking Shop with…Red Bird Cottage Art!
Next Post: Lunchbox Notes »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stuff and Nonsense says

    August 20, 2012 at 1:16 PM

    my healthy snack tip
    is to core ans slice apples
    and serve with a little Nutella
    or peanut butter

    thanks for the chance!

    alison

    Reply
  2. Stuff and Nonsense says

    August 20, 2012 at 1:18 PM

    just tweeted!
    https://twitter.com/mrsstuffandnon

    Reply
  3. thistlewoodfarm says

    August 20, 2012 at 1:57 PM

    Brilliant, Vanessa 🙂 I will remember this for my next pot of spaghetti (or hot dog pot pie)! LOL 🙂

    Ok…..I don’t think hot dog pot pie is a healthy snack tip…..hmmmm……how about cutting up the celery into pieces and putting them into a tupperware container to grab and go!

    Thanks rock star!

    Have a blessed and wonderful day!
    karianne

    Reply
  4. Michelle says

    August 20, 2012 at 3:05 PM

    Healthy snack tip: My kiddo enjoys his veggies much better if he can play with them! Arrange them to look like something different, or add a healthy dip (I like to mix PB2 with water to make real PB). Make it fun!!

    Reply
  5. Pam - @diy Design Fanatic says

    August 20, 2012 at 3:39 PM

    My healthy snack tip is…never leave home without some type of snack so you aren’t tempted to go through the drive thru when you’re out doing errands. I usually bring a some almonds or pumpkin seeds and something to drink for everyone in the car.

    Reply
  6. Vicki Shead says

    August 20, 2012 at 3:51 PM

    Healthy snack tip: veggie kabobs with ranch or fruit kabobs with light cream cheese and 1 tbsp of cocoa mixed for dipping. Then if you have boys like I do, you race! And it all ends up with full tummies and lots of laughter and some mouths to wipe! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Betsy@ coastal-colors says

    August 20, 2012 at 4:01 PM

    Great stuff! I’m with the children- I liked veggies sneaked in to my drink too! Thanks for hosting! This is amazing!

    Reply
  8. Betsy@ coastal-colors says

    August 20, 2012 at 4:05 PM

    Just twitted- Betsy@Coastal-Colors ‏@Betsy07046862 Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  9. Vanessa says

    August 20, 2012 at 4:08 PM

    Hi, Vanessa

    You kiddos are sweet! Great pics! Are you not going to the Southerner Conference in Oct? I am hoping to go and if I do I hope to me you too. We do share something in common, we both have great first name. : )

    Have a great week.

    Vanessa

    Reply
  10. Vanessa says

    August 20, 2012 at 4:10 PM

    Hi, Vanessa

    Tweeted your giveaway!
    https://twitter.com/homesbutterfly/status/237582098557460480

    Reply
  11. Honey at 2805 says

    August 20, 2012 at 4:42 PM

    My healthy snack tip: grapes! Your children are so adorable, Vanessa!

    Reply
  12. boxedb says

    August 20, 2012 at 5:08 PM

    I think this is a great concept. Adults have been taking advantage of this for yours, why didn’t they do this sooner! And the packaging is targeted correctly. Congratulations! Our grandkids think the little tomatoes are candy. I keep them washhed in the refrigerator and they help themselves!

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    August 20, 2012 at 7:15 PM

    Even now that my kids are adults they still love for me to make celery stuffed with peanut butter for them & the grands when they visit. I always use the carrot peeler and run it against the very spine of the celery first to peel out the toughest strings. I think that’s why they never objected. Suzi pblapere@att.net

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    August 20, 2012 at 7:39 PM

    Can’t wait to try this new Capri Sun with my girls! They love to spread Laughing Cow Strawberry Creamcheese on toast with sliced strawberries on top. They also love almond milk smoothies with chocolate PB2 & bananas. kwillo@sbcglobal.net

    Reply
  15. Posie Plank says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:06 PM

    grp18 my favorite healthy summer snack tip is frozen grapes. I love to grab a handful out of the freezer to take along during the day. Sometimes I will throw a handful in to my drinks also.

    Reply
  16. Beth@UnskinnyBoppy says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:08 PM

    Oh, this would be a good way to get some veggies in at school lunch! Thanks for sharing! And what a generous giveaway!! 😀

    Reply
  17. Amy Renea says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:10 PM

    The packaging is great! My kids love them already and probably wouldn’t notice if I switched out the variety on them – sweet!

    Reply
  18. Serendipity Refined says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:16 PM

    Anything to get them to eat veggies! I can still remember putting peas in peanut butter sandwiches! My sons always loved cheese cubes and apple slices for a snack after school.

    Reply
  19. Beth@UnskinnyBoppy says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:17 PM

    https://twitter.com/BethBryan

    Tweeted and facebooked! 🙂

    Reply
  20. Amanda @ Serenity Now says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:19 PM

    Great post! Something I do (I guess a tip?) is to offer a fruit and vegetable at lunch and dinner. And sometimes another fruit at breakfast. They’re pretty picky about veggies, so I’m trying to expand their repertoire. 😉 Great Giveaway!!!

    Reply
  21. Amanda @ Serenity Now says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:21 PM

    I Tweeted! Fingers crossed. 😉 https://twitter.com/SerenityNowGirl/status/237675620065222656

    Reply
  22. Nova says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:51 PM

    I try to always keep fruit and vegetables cut up and in snack size bags so they /I can grab and go.

    Reply
  23. Nova says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:54 PM

    I try to always keep fruit and vegetables cut up and in snack size bags so they /I can grab and go.

    Reply
  24. NanaDiana says

    August 20, 2012 at 11:13 PM

    Great post! I think you already know my trick of “octopus on the rocks surrounded by seaweed”- (a hot dog cut into a head with tentacles atop a mound of shell shaped mac and cheese surrounded by spinach or green beans or broccoli. The kids all love it -even the older ones- Have a wonderful night- xo Diana

    Reply
  25. Paula says

    August 20, 2012 at 11:29 PM

    I pack grapes as an after school snack. I eat these on the way home so that I’m not so hungry when I get home and am less likely to eat something unhealthy.

    Reply
  26. Paula says

    August 20, 2012 at 11:32 PM

    I tweeted.

    https://twitter.com/PaulaVirginiaSP/status/237693361329426432

    Reply
  27. Robyn ~ Everyday a la Mode says

    August 20, 2012 at 11:33 PM

    I sometimes put cauliflower in mashed potatoes (awesome trick since they don’t taste i!). The kids also love a fruity vege drink (I think it’s V8 Splash, sorry that it’s not the same sponsor, but the kids love the different flavors!). I also keep a drawer in the frig full of fresh fruits like grapes and cutey oranges and apples.

    Reply
  28. Kris E. says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:07 AM

    My heathy snack tip – if I save the pulp from my homemade juice and I add it to my recipie for whole wheat blueberry muffins – it makes them super moist, and my daughter is eating an additional serving of pulped carrots or zucchini and she doesn’t know it!

    Reply
  29. Jenn "Rook No. 17" says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:07 AM

    Tweeted! https://twitter.com/rookno17/status/237702263450255360

    Reply
  30. Becky W says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:40 AM

    My healthy snack tip is to keep a plastic bin in the fridge stocked with cheese sticks, drinkable yogurt, grapes, carrots, etc. so that something health is ready when the kids are hungry.

    Reply
  31. Becky W says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:42 AM

    I tweeted…
    https://twitter.com/bbwoods68/status/237710883961311233

    Reply
  32. Mdegraeve says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:48 AM

    Wow, this is a big giveaway!
    Me and my kids love bananas with peanut butter! potassium and protein 🙂
    Hope I’m lucky 😉

    Reply
  33. Evelyn says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:52 AM

    Healthy tip – DARK chocolate! Hey, they say it’s good for you…

    Reply
  34. Connie says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:56 AM

    I just have what they like….Grapes,Strawberries, Blueberries, Watermelon, Cantelope, Cucumbers, Salad, Cheese, Brocolli. They eat all of these without a fuss. As they have gotten older they then tried green pepper, squash, beans,

    Reply
  35. Kelly says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:57 AM

    I buy Capri Sun for my 11 yr old son and he loves it. I didn’t know that they started making one with vegetable juice added to it. It reminds me of V8 Fusion drinks. I’m going to definitely buy these new drinks! My son is the pickiest eater of anyone I know. My healthy snack tip is to substitute Carnation instant breakfast in his milk instead of Hershey’s syrup for chocolate milk. He loves it and it is full of nutrition.

    Reply
  36. Connie says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:57 AM

    https://twitter.com/C48444/status/237714810928762880 I TWEETED

    Reply
  37. The Blessed Wife says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:59 AM

    Healthy tip: bananas and nutella pureed and poured into an ice cream maker!

    Reply
  38. Melissa@TheHappierHomemaker says

    August 21, 2012 at 1:08 AM

    For my one year old I like to crush cheerios then toss with banana slices-adds whole grains and makes the bananas less slippery!

    Reply
  39. Debby says

    August 21, 2012 at 1:08 AM

    I love bananas and peanut butter. I don’t know what it is called but you freeze bananas and add other fruit and put in this machine and it tastes like ice cream… The machine can be found at Bed Bath and Beyond.

    Reply
  40. Susan @ Our Family Eats says

    August 21, 2012 at 1:27 AM

    Our healthy snack is a smoothie – pretty much anything can go into the blender and the kids will eat it up. I also make smoothie pops in the freezer.

    Reply
  41. Annie says

    August 21, 2012 at 1:37 AM

    fresh, then frozen blueberries- they taste like candy if you eat them while they are still frozen!

    Reply
  42. Carolyn says

    August 21, 2012 at 2:00 AM

    Fruit for dessert. Apple slices with caramel dip, pineapple sprinkled with powdered sugar, smoothies etc.

    Reply
  43. Sandy A says

    August 21, 2012 at 2:52 AM

    Our daughters cut fruit and veggies in different shapes and the children think they are more fun to eat. They love to come up with different ideas for shapes to use…

    Reply
  44. Kathleen says

    August 21, 2012 at 3:02 AM

    Great tips! Thank you for sharing. My hubby and daughter were not fans of zucchini, that is, until I disguised it as a “pasta” roll up. First, you slice the zucchini into thin sheets and quickly boil them in salted water. Make the filling (a mixture of ricotta, parmesan, spices, etc.) Similar to lasagna filling. You can also add additional veggies here, like chopped red peppers. Spread the mixture on the zucchini sheets and roll them. Line them up in a baking dish, cover in marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese and bake. Yummy!

    Reply
  45. f0574e82-a5e0-11e1-b2de-000bcdcb5194 says

    August 21, 2012 at 3:57 AM

    My favorite way to get veggies into a meal is in a 1-dish meal, like a stirfry. I’m not very fond of the more bitter taste of vegetables like broccoli, so adding a little spice along with items I *do* like makes me more likely to eat more veggies than usual. For kids, I think adding visual appeal can help. Use different colored vegetables to make a rainbow, or cut them into fun shapes.

    Reply
  46. Tammi sutton says

    August 21, 2012 at 4:13 AM

    My healthy tip is to let my children use toothpicks for spearing their soft cooked veggies and
    Fruit! They love popping them in their mouths and it makes it healthy fun!

    Reply
  47. vikki says

    August 21, 2012 at 4:30 AM

    My healthy tip is shredding zucchini and adding it to my spaghetti sauce. Also I now make smoothies with spinach in them, no one even knows and this is for my husband who hates veggies. Hee Hee. Thanks for the chance to win.

    Reply
  48. elizabeth says

    August 21, 2012 at 5:34 AM

    My kiddos and now grandkids love to help “cook” and are enthusiastic to eat what they’ve made, whether it be a cucumber they helped peel, some celery they filled with peanut butter, or the green salad they helped tear the lettuce up for.

    Reply
  49. A-kasse says

    August 21, 2012 at 6:27 AM

    Extremely in receiving children keyed up about their veggies. There is not anything quite like pulling up a carrot and then finding that same carrot, all nicely peeled, on your cover that night at dinner.

    Reply
  50. Louise says

    August 21, 2012 at 11:34 AM

    My healthy tip is to keep fruits available for the kids. They like the “self-serve” option of grapes, bananas, strawberries. Really they’re up for any kind of fruit except peaches…haven’t figured that one out yet. We’re working on veggies, a bit at a time.

    Reply
  51. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    August 21, 2012 at 2:10 PM

    Great post Vanessa, my kids love the new Capri Suns too!

    Reply
  52. Stacy says

    August 21, 2012 at 2:11 PM

    I blend fresh fruit and yogurt and make freezer pops and the kids ask for them all the time.

    Reply
  53. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    August 21, 2012 at 2:17 PM

    My two girls eat absolutely everything! My son on the other hand is VERY picky!! So what I do for him every night right before dinner is cut up carrots, celery, cucumbers and red peppers served with some ranch dressing and he eats it right up! That makes for one happy mom 🙂

    Reply
  54. Jessica @ Stay at Home-ista says

    August 21, 2012 at 3:42 PM

    My kids don’t eat sauce, so the spagetti and pizza trick doesn’t work for me!

    I offer them a dipping sauce or something fun to dip in. This only works for one of them. the other one gets “sprinkle cheese” which is just some fancy parmesan that I grate with a micro-plane. Boom, broccoli is now fun:) Or almost!

    Jessica

    Reply
  55. Paula says

    August 21, 2012 at 4:27 PM

    Frozen raspberries in a bowl – better than a popsicle and fun to eat!

    Reply
  56. Brittany @ The Pistachio Project says

    August 21, 2012 at 9:08 PM

    tweeted:https://twitter.com/spritzey/status/238019621809176576

    Reply
  57. Destiny says

    August 21, 2012 at 10:24 PM

    Ants on a log is one of my personal favorites! (Celery with peanut butter & raisins.)

    Reply
  58. Julianne says

    August 22, 2012 at 1:16 AM

    My snack tip is to keep junk food out of the house. If it’s here, that’s all she wants. If it’s not, suddenly fruits (and sometimes CERTAIN veggies–and ONLY with ranch dressing) look good when she’s hungry. It’s magic! Can’t wait to try the Capri Sun V!

    Reply
  59. Julianne says

    August 22, 2012 at 1:28 AM

    Tweeted to my clients:

    https://twitter.com/KnotworksMN/status/238084642744442880

    Reply
  60. Jennifer says

    August 22, 2012 at 2:37 AM

    I cut up different melons into bite sized pieces and put it in the refrigerator. The kids love to be able to get a bowl of fresh fruit that is easy to hold and eat.

    Reply
  61. ms-texas says

    August 22, 2012 at 2:41 AM

    i tweeted here:

    https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/238103210794033152

    debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com

    Reply
  62. Jennifer says

    August 22, 2012 at 2:43 AM

    I just tweeted the giveaway.
    https://twitter.com/firefly0407/status/238103708708245504

    Reply
  63. ashley says

    August 22, 2012 at 6:37 AM

    hmmm… i’ve tried several things.

    My preschooler has always liked peas BUT only if they’re still frozen. (they’re sweeter that way)

    She sometimes eats “green leaves” (spinach) like her older cousin who likes to pretend he’s a dinosaur.

    Lately I’ve blended spinach in milk for dunking cookies. Too bad my kiddo won’t touch anything that comes from a blender. It’s how I sneak more green into my diet though 🙂

    oh! and we love cauliflower so i’ve been wanting to make “cauliflower poppers” (break into small peices, toss with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake)

    Reply
  64. ashley says

    August 22, 2012 at 6:59 AM

    blogged here: https://velez-awesomeness.blogspot.com/2012/08/found-new-blog-today.html

    Thanks for the chance 🙂

    Reply
  65. Debbie says

    August 22, 2012 at 9:35 AM

    Since we were a huge Capri Sun family too, I’m really jazzed about this new addition to their line. Any extra veggies added to the fruit is a plus in my book.

    Veggies at dinner weren’t a huge problem here because my girls liked the ones I served. I’m pretty sure that’s because we always used fresh veggies and steamed or grilled them rather than cook them to death. It’s all in the color, IMO. Fresh, steamed veggies have bolder colors and more crunch, even after steaming. Additionally, the girls learned to love salads very early because we had one at nearly every meal. I regularly let them concoct the toppings du jour and be creative about what we were going to try. Letting them name the concocted salad is fun too. They are huge salad fans to this day.

    I’m trying to think of a SNACK tip that hasn’t already been said. Like others, I always kept fruit and veggies handy for them. I always kept pretzels in little baggies so they could grab and go with that too. I made my own trail mix for them using the dried fruits, cereals, etc. that they wanted, and we kept that in little baggies as well.

    Maybe it’s because I had girls, but for us presentation was always “everything”. We had certain little dishes and bowls that we used for certain snacks. I think they loved the bowls as much as the snacks. Apples and cheese off a Disney princess plate was an snack adventure.

    Reply
  66. Lisabeth R says

    August 22, 2012 at 10:18 AM

    I just want to simply say thank you for the precious story. Many Blessings.

    Reply
  67. Linda @ it all started with paint says

    August 22, 2012 at 2:13 PM

    Sometimes it’s the presentation that makes the difference. Grilled chicken with a side of rice? Boring and colorless … but grilled chicken cut up into bit size pieces and service in a bowl with rice, all mixed in together? They can’t get enough of it! Go figure. Also, I find variety. When I get in a rut with dinner they get bored …

    🙂

    Linda

    Reply
  68. Linda @ it all started with paint says

    August 22, 2012 at 2:20 PM

    I tweeted too!

    https://twitter.com/paintschips/status/238278749165084673

    🙂

    Linda

    P.S. My odds of winning this are next to nil. Okay, exactly nil. We bought two Powerball tickets while in FL because it was up to $320 million. And we did not match a single number. Not. One. Single. Number. So very sad indeed …

    Reply
  69. kellyr78 says

    August 22, 2012 at 5:18 PM

    My healthy snack tip is to provide a little travel container of peanut butter with their favorite crunchy snack- apples, pretzels or whole wheat crackers for dipping.
    KellywcuATyahooDOTcom

    Reply
  70. kellyr78 says

    August 22, 2012 at 5:19 PM

    tweet
    https://twitter.com/Kellydinpa/status/238324401119059968

    kellywcuATyahooDOTcom

    Reply
  71. Angie CountryChicCottage says

    August 22, 2012 at 8:17 PM

    Our fave healthy snack is string cheese!

    Reply
  72. Sally says

    August 23, 2012 at 12:21 AM

    Raw veggies are my healthy snack 🙂

    sally.puckett@yahoo.com

    Reply
  73. Buttercup Bliss says

    August 23, 2012 at 12:50 AM

    My son’t favorite healthy snack is baby carrots dipped in peanut butter! He loves this and I know he is getting vegetables! I also send baggies of chilled cherry tomatoes in his lunch box for a healthy “side” in his lunch box.

    Reply
  74. Brooke says

    August 23, 2012 at 2:30 AM

    Natural almonds with vanilla Greek yogurt …yummy! Frozen fruit smoothies with Greek yogurt are my kiddos’ favorite.

    Reply
  75. Sweep Nets says

    August 24, 2012 at 5:59 AM

    tweet: https://twitter.com/SWEEPNETS/status/238878096764325889

    Reply
  76. Erik says

    August 25, 2012 at 5:03 AM

    I let my daughter help my wife and I prepare the snacks. This is our favorite snack.

    Plain yogurt
    Your favorite fruit: ours is mango (diced)
    2 tablespoons of maple syrup or agave (or any other you prefer to use)
    granola

    Mix everything in a bowl or cup and you got yourself a great tasting snack!

    Reply
  77. Erik says

    August 25, 2012 at 5:05 AM

    https://twitter.com/Ebiker85/status/239226656785580032

    Reply
  78. Tiffany Winner says

    August 25, 2012 at 6:52 PM

    my fave healthy snack: blend a banana, spinach, pb, cocoa powder, and yogurt/milk for a delicious chocolate peanut butter smoothie with hidden greens!
    thismomwins@gmail.com

    Reply
  79. Tiffany Winner says

    August 25, 2012 at 6:53 PM

    tweet: https://twitter.com/thismomwins/status/239428696061140992
    thismomwins@gmail.com

    Reply
  80. Tina says

    August 26, 2012 at 8:48 PM

    I add veggies and fruits to smoothies
    merleandtina@Yahoo.com

    Reply
  81. Tina says

    August 26, 2012 at 8:49 PM

    https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/239826724660068352
    merleandtina@Yahoo.com

    Reply
  82. Carolyn G says

    August 27, 2012 at 2:11 AM

    Cut fruits and veggies into fun shapes

    Reply
  83. Lauren @ Hobo Mama says

    August 28, 2012 at 7:30 AM

    Making muffin tin meals works well. Cutting food into little bits and putting it in little containers (with toothpicks, if possible!) makes it seem so much more fun.

    mail {at} HoboMama.com

    Reply
  84. Linh C. says

    August 29, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    My kids want me to use spinach instead of regular lettuce in their sandwiches, and they want me to use spinach in their smoothies!

    Reply
  85. Grace says

    August 30, 2012 at 7:07 PM

    My nieces taught me this one:

    Ritz cracker
    Philadelphia Cream Cheese
    Slice of fresh cucumber (no peel for them)

    They could eat these all afternoon, and I’ve actually enjoyed them!

    Reply
  86. marcia goss says

    September 3, 2012 at 11:16 PM

    For a healthy snack, my granddaughter loves a bowl of cottage cheese with peaches or bananas.
    marcia.goss@gmail.com

    Reply
  87. marcia goss says

    September 3, 2012 at 11:17 PM

    Tweet.
    https://twitter.com/mgoss123/status/242763035490525186
    marcia.goss@gmail.com

    Reply
  88. B. Edge says

    September 4, 2012 at 2:51 PM

    Cut veggies and fruits in fun shapes with peanut butter and other simple dips. Fancy cocktail toothpicks with colorful crinkly tops make it even more fun to dip and munch!

    Reply
  89. jenspurg says

    September 4, 2012 at 3:28 PM

    Keep fruits and veggies washed and ready to eat in the fridge so they can get them easily.
    huntandride@hotmail.com

    Reply
  90. jenspurg says

    September 4, 2012 at 3:28 PM

    https://twitter.com/jen_r_horn/status/243007220218998784
    huntandride@hotmail.com

    Reply
  91. missreneer says

    September 6, 2012 at 3:04 AM

    My healthy tip is dressing up my childrens plates. They love how it feels like they are in a restaurant which makes them more willing to eat their fruits and veggies. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway 🙂

    Renee
    fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  92. wigget says

    September 6, 2012 at 1:28 PM

    i try to buy fruit snacks and juices with “hidden” fruits and vegetables

    Reply
  93. Laurel Stephens says

    September 6, 2012 at 8:51 PM

    Healthy snack tip: Cucumber slices and skinny ranch dip. Better than chips!

    Reply
  94. Sherry says

    September 6, 2012 at 11:56 PM

    My kids healthy snack is “ants on a log” AKA: celery, with peanut butter down the middle and raisins perched in the peanut butter.

    Thanks for the chance!
    Sherry

    Reply
  95. Sherry says

    September 6, 2012 at 11:58 PM

    Just tweeted!
    https://twitter.com/SherryTCOH

    Reply
  96. Mary @ A Happy Wife In NOLA says

    September 7, 2012 at 6:19 PM

    Tweeted about this incredible giveaway!!! https://twitter.com/HappyWifeinNOLA/status/244137544462245889
    Mary @ http://www.ahappywifeinnola.com

    Reply
  97. LAMusing says

    September 7, 2012 at 11:42 PM

    Don’t keep junk food around the house. Start with the fruits and veggies they like and slip in a few ones a bit at a time.
    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  98. tara1965 says

    September 8, 2012 at 2:48 AM

    tweeted https://twitter.com/kj20082006/status/244265713592827904

    Reply
  99. tara1965 says

    September 8, 2012 at 2:49 AM

    my kids love apples and peanut butter

    Reply
  100. Lisa Brown says

    September 8, 2012 at 8:42 PM

    Healthy snake tip: give them apples with peanut butter or celery with peanut butter.
    jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  101. Lisa Brown says

    September 8, 2012 at 8:43 PM

    https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/244536340102922240
    jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  102. Donna McMorrow says

    September 9, 2012 at 12:43 PM

    I put some fruit on the table as the kids are coming down for breakfast. If they can just reach out and plop it in their mouths they will eat it. I core and slice an apple. Slice oranges. Wash strawberries, blueberries, even cherry tomatoes.

    Reply
  103. Kerry says

    September 9, 2012 at 9:10 PM

    My kids love just about any vegetable if they can dip it in veggie dip – so, veggie dip it is!
    nuthouse(at)centurytel.net

    Reply
  104. Kerry says

    September 9, 2012 at 9:10 PM

    tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/244898788458770432
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

    Reply
  105. Kelly Massman says

    September 10, 2012 at 2:20 AM

    I always offer dip when giving veggies to kids.. Thanks kmassman gmail

    Reply
  106. brendavr says

    September 12, 2012 at 1:14 AM

    This is a awesome giveaway I sure could use a gift card and my grand daughter LOVES Capri Sun’s thank you
    Brenda

    Reply
  107. Danielle Meek says

    September 14, 2012 at 12:59 PM

    My healthy snack tip: Always keep fresh fruits and veggies on hand!

    Reply
    • Danielle Meek says

      September 14, 2012 at 12:59 PM

      Oops forgot my email… dgoodridge84@yahoo.com Thanks!

      Reply
  108. Karina says

    September 14, 2012 at 9:20 PM

    we make smoothies

    karinaroselee at gmail dot com

    Reply
  109. Karina says

    September 14, 2012 at 9:21 PM

    https://twitter.com/karinaroselee/status/246720140652187648

    karinaroselee at gmail dot com

    Reply
  110. Daniel M says

    September 14, 2012 at 9:37 PM

    love apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

    Reply
  111. wizardewu says

    September 15, 2012 at 10:13 AM

    make your own healthy snack mix w. dried fruit and nuts.

    eugeniewu at gmail dot com

    Reply
  112. Howell says

    September 15, 2012 at 10:57 AM

    my healthy snack tip: make your own snack mix from dried fruit and nuts.

    hlee99 (at) gmail (dot) com

    Reply
  113. Howell says

    September 15, 2012 at 10:59 AM

    tweet
    https://twitter.com/leedhowell/status/246925754171015168

    hlee99 (at) gmail (dot) com

    Reply
  114. jakiesmom says

    September 16, 2012 at 1:43 AM

    my tip is to make it into a fun shape, my son is actually willing to try foods like carrots which he’d never eat on their own when they are made to look like a bords beak
    nannypanpan@gmail.com

    Reply
  115. Melanie says

    September 20, 2012 at 1:53 AM

    I mix them into mac and cheese.

    melduke26 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  116. kik for computer says

    July 8, 2013 at 9:49 AM

    Hi are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying
    to get started and create my own. Do you need any coding
    expertise to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. New Contributor to the Fence & Back to School Ideas says:
    January 29, 2013 at 4:21 PM

    […] us in the future!Don’t forget that there is still plenty of time to enter the Kraft Capri Sun$1,000 Visa Gift Card Sweepstakes!! Thanks so much for joining us (and Julie!) at the Fence […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Decorating a Sofa Table May 31, 2023
  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’ Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’s your favorite thing about this month? Mind can be summed up in this quote…

“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.” John Steinbeck
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence