Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Washington, DC

Tuesday List: Math Themed Meals

by Leticia

July 07, 2009

Sometimes meal time can be a little mundane.  Spice things up a little bit with a themed meal that integrates some beginning math concepts into the food you are serving.  Here are some ideas for a meal featuring wedge shaped foods, cylindrical food items, or ones that are round.  If anything, your kids will love the novelty of having everything on their plate being the same shape!  My kids had fun brainstorming the foods on these lists!

Wedges- apple slices, pizza, quiche, watermelon slices, orange slices, pie, brie wedge, and spankopita

Cylinders- hot dogs, mini carrots, bananas, string cheese, corn on the cob, asparagus, breadsticks, baguette, and pickles

Round- meatballs, Bonbel cheese, grapes, Ritz or water crackers, sushi, whole oranges, blueberries, bagels, tortillas, pot pies, cucumber slices, scoop of ice cream, hamburgers, and cherry tomatoes

Happy eating!

Cool Off With Ice Cube Popsicles!

by Leticia

July 03, 2009

Tuesday List: Favorite Farmers? Markets

by Leticia

June 16, 2009

If you read yesterday’s post, you know we love summer for farmers’ markets.  The farm fresh produce, ability to support local farmers, and instant gratification are some of the things we love about spending a morning at the market.  Don’t forget to try to get there early and be sure to bring plenty of cash and a reusable bag or two to haul home your goodies!

Here’s a list of some of my favorite farmers’ markets in the DC Metro Area:

Downtown Silver Spring- If you arrive before 9 am on Saturday mornings, you will find shoppers walking from stall to stall scoping out the day’s offerings.  When the clock hits 9, the sound of the ringing bell signifies the opening of the market and patrons make a dash for the things that look the best.  This is a great place to get all the things you need for a weekend since you can pick up missing ingredients for your meal at the nearby Whole Foods or grab a bite to eat at the many adjacent restaurants if you want to save your produce for dinner.  Saturdays, 9-1 pm.

Dupont Circle- This is one of DC’s standout farmer’s markets because of the many vendors and the fact that it is located in the heart of the city.  Don’t miss Dolcezza Gelato & Sorbet which is made with fresh organic ingredients and is to die for! Sundays, 9 am- 1 pm.

Takoma Park- This family friendly market is always full of strollers and dogs on the perimeter of the market. Sometimes Banjo Man, Frank Cassel, is there to provide entertainment if you don’t want to frequent the stalls for the many samples.  Despite always being busy, there is always a great selection of produce, plants, and baked goods especially if you arrive early.  And this market now accepts credit cards so you never have to fear running out of cash!  Sundays, 10-2 pm

Eastern Market in Capitol Hill- It was truly tragic when the historic Eastern Market building burned down a couple of years ago but the market is back and is as popular as ever.  I find that we can make a day of a trip to Eastern Market between shopping for ingredients for our week’s meals and browsing the craft stalls and flea market.  With over 175 exhibitors on the weekend, it is a great place to go!  Saturdays and Sundays, 9-4 pm.

Crossroads Farmers’ Market in Langley Park- Located at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard in Maryland, this farmers’ market is on my list to visit.  Everyone tells me that it is spectacular because of the international produce that is offered.  The Washington Post reports that you can find sugar cane and other ingredients that appeal to local immigrant families while The Gazette wrote of treasures like okra, habaneros, and cassava.  Wednesdays, 3- 7pm rain or shine.

For comprehensive list of all farmers’ markets in the DC Metro area, click on the links below for listings with locations, dates, and times:

• Maryland- Use the links on the top of the page to find farmers’ markets in your county.
• Virginia
• Washington, D.C.

Herndon Festival 2009

by Beth Hoffman

May 21, 2009

The Herndon Festival is coming!  Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 28 - Sunday, May 31.  This year, the festival will feature:

• Live Entertainment on Three Stages
• Carnival Rides and Games
• Fireworks Displays on Thursday and Saturday
• Arts & Crafts Show including a Fine Arts Division
• Children's Entertainment
• Children's Hands-On Art Activities
• Business Exposition
• 10k & 5k Races (at the Herndon Community Center)
• K9 2-K & Doggie Expo (at the Herndon Community Center)
• Model Railway Exhibit
• International Foods

Thursday -The Legwarmers, Ruthie Foster, and Eric Scott

Friday - Lenka, Luke Brindley, and Leaving Texas

Saturday Night - Glen Burtnik and Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

Sunday - Fat Ammons Band and Still Surfin'

and on Saturday & Sunday family-friendly entertainers during the day.

Now, the first time I went to the Herndon Festival was many years ago by pure accident, when we ordered a pizza to pick up from the middle of Herndon and didn't realize the festival would make getting there and back almostimpossible.  In the hours it took us to retrieve dinner, I got a good look at all the goings-on.  Lots fun for the whole family , even the littlest ones.  Be sure to park and take advantage of the shuttles so you don't repeat my pizza debacle.  Shuttles stop at Worldgate Shopping Center and Herndon High School.

Ice Cream and Entertainment

by Beth Hoffman

May 20, 2009

Now that the weather is occasionally warmer, a lot of preschooler energy in my house has been directed to two things: when the neighborhood pool will open, and when we can go out for ice cream.  Really, my daughter prefers the ice cream man to heading out to an ice cream parlor, but the ice cream man who cruises our neighborhood has a truck that plays "La Cucaracha," and I have a hard time buying food from any place that so blatantly advertises cockroaches.  So during the summer, we sometimes venture out to one of the many local ice cream shops.  Now, when I was a kid growing up in Northern Virginia, you had Baskin Robbins and you liked it.  There were none of this Ben and Jerry's, Cold Stone, Milwaukee Frozen Custard, etc., options.  We've tried them all, and we always end up at the same place. 

We go to the Baskin Robbins at North Point in Reston.  Not because if the ice cream, which is fine, always makes the kids happy, whatever, but because of the entertainment.  When the weather is warm, the plaza in front of the store is the frequent haunt of a man with a friendly dog and a bird (I think it is a cockatoo) who wears a cape and a helmet and rides around the shopping center on an RC car.  My daughter is mad for both the dog and the bird and always holds long conversations with both whenever she sees them.  We get to have all sorts of interesting conversations with her, starting with why she should avoid strange animals, of course, but then touching on animal training and positive reinforcement and the sometimes very subtle differences between pets and wild animals.

So the next time you are in the market for a family ice cream outing, stop by Reston and check out the floor show.  And if you see me, be sure to say hello.  I'll be the one with strawberry ice cream in my hair.  (Neither child has mastered the concept of a napkin.)  Read more...

Tuesday List: Bethesda Dinner Time Destinations

by Leticia

May 12, 2009

As I mentioned yesterday, Bethesda has an impressive list of restaurants that can delight foodie parents and are also places where moms and dads can feel comfortable taking their children for a nice meal that won’t break the bank.  After all, sometimes it is nice to use real linens and practice proper table manners while educating your offspring children about why they have two forks.

Bethesda Row has a high concentration of restaurants in a small area that makes it easy to decide where to go when hunger strikes.  I love the abundance of ethnic restaurants and being able to dine al fresco with my family.

Here are some of our favorites:

For American food with a bistro feel, you can’t go wrong with Café Deluxe.* Choose from traditional comfort foods and innovative fare in this bistro style restaurant.  A favorite of ours even before we had children, we now appreciate their kids menu which features classics like spaghetti, mac and cheese, pizza, chicken fingers, buttered penne, and cheese quesadillas.  Don’t forget to order a kid’s ice cream sundae with chocolate sauce for a bargain $2.95.  If you like Café Deluxe, you also might want to try Mon Ami Gabi* and Le Pain Quoitidien.*

For Asian food, right in Bethesda Row you can’t go wrong with local chain Tara Thai for classic dishes like Penang curry and Pad Thai or the variety from Raku* which helps to satisfy a family who wants a little sushi with their   But if you want something a little different, cross Arlington Road where you will find Penang.  Penang serves Malaysian food which I can only describe as being a delicious combination of Chinese, Thai, and Indian.  Pan fried noodles with bean sprouts and spiced with a little curry is what you will find in their Mee Goreng.  Our kids like getting the Roti Canai- a pancake made up of many flaky layers that is served with a mild curry sauce with potato and chicken.  We’ve been eating at Penang for years and have never had a bad meal!  The next Asian restaurant in Bethesda we want to try is Green Papaya for Vietnamese.

We love Indian food but tend to prefer buffet lunches rather than selecting dishes from the menu.  Delhi Dhaba* serves a buffet lunch all week long and rotates the dishes so no trip is ever the same.  Our children love to feast on naan, cubes of paneer (cheese), and enjoy tandoori chicken.  We prefer to eat outside as much as possible so our rice lovers help to feed the hungry birds rather than make a mess on the restaurant’s floor.

We are big fans of Middle Eastern Food.  We frequent Lebanese Taverna’s Cafes and a recent trip to the new Lebanese Taverna* restaurant did not disappoint.  While some of the dishes are the same on both the café and restaurant menus, the restaurant offers an impressive selection of mezze.  A trio of vegetarian, meat, and seafood mezza served as a great substitution for a main dish and provided a tasty variety to my husband’s Ouzi- chunks of stewed lamb on a bed of spiced rice with almonds and pine nuts accompanied by a thick yogurt salad.  I love that the kids’ menu includes the shawarma we love but in the form as a pizza topping on their pita pizzas.  Our kids devoured their chicken shawarma pita pizza and next time we are getting an order of kafta burgers for them too!  If you like Lebanese Taverna, head to the other side of the block to eat at Levante’s.  They have classic entrees like moussaka and pasticcios but I like their Turkish Pides (pizza boats) and the Adana sandwich.

If you haven’t already stuffed yourself, don’t forget dessert!  There are many choices on Bethesda Row including:

• Cacao Fine European Chocolates and Pastries- This tiny shop features stunning desserts by a world reknowned pastry chef, Jacques Poulain.  You can’t go wrong with a single artisanal chocolate or sculptural pastry in a to go box.
• Dolcezza Gelato- If your family can’t decide what to get for dessert, Dolcezza Gelato not only serves delectable gelato made in small batches.  I read a rave review about Dolcezza from Georgetown and DC farmer’s markets long before its Bethesda location opened and must say that their hand crafted gelato made with the freshest ingredients is worth every penny!
• Fancy Cakes by Leslie- If you love a good cupcake, you must stop and browse at Fancy Cakes by Leslie.  Moist cupcakes are topped with melt in your mouth buttercream and then decorated with a fondant flower, butterfly, or heart and sprinkled with edible glitter.  A rich and delicious way to end your meal! 
• Gifford’s Ice Cream serves up the classic scoop on a cake or sugar cone and mouth-watering sundaes.  This Montgomery County institution never disappoints!

Bethesda Row is west of Wisconsin Avenue, between Bradley Boulevard and Old Georgetown Road.  Click here for directions.

Come back on Friday for a list of the best places to run in Bethesda to work out those pre and post meal wiggles.

Child Friendly Bethesda Row is Fun for the Whole Family

by Leticia

May 11, 2009

Looking for a place that has stylish shopping, great dining options, and boasts child friendly spaces with room to run can be a tall order.  Recently we’ve found that Bethesda Row delivers all of the above.

With an impressive list of restaurants that can delight foodies, Bethesda Row’s restaurants are also places where parents with children can feel comfortable going with their kids for a nice evening out.  Most restaurants, including Austin Grill, Levante’s, Mon Ami Gabi, Café Deluxe, Cosi, Le Pain Quoitdien, Lebanese Taverna, and Raku feature outdoor seating.  We love being able to eat al fresco not only for the fresh air, but also because minimizes parental embarrassment since the birds tend to clean up puddle of rice or pile of crumbs left underneath our kids’ seats.

With no shortage of stroller traffic on Bethesda Row streets, store owners are used to parents who bring their kids in to browse while they shop.  The newly expanded Apple Store has 4 computers on a low table with round seats for children to test outkid friendly software titles while mom and dad browse.  Out of all the large bookstores, I’ve found that the Bethesda Barnes and Noble has the most knowledgeable staff in the children’s section and the most organized collection of books. The enticing window displays of Tugooh Toys/Yiro Children’s Clothing on Bethesda Avenue reveals a children’s paradise upon setting foot inside.

The collection of shops and restaurants may be called Bethesda Row but include an area larger than a city block which allows for plenty of walking and running between stores.  The uneven cobblestone walkway that passes by stores like Lucy, Cacao, Le Creuset and Redwood Restaurant and Bar is a safe place for kids to run since it is protected from traffic.  Just watch the windows at Redwood if they are open since the bottom corners of the many windows stick out and are about the height of a three year old’s forehead!  There’s also a great park kitty-corner from Lebanese Taverna and across the street from the newly renovated Giant Food Store

There are also many other kid-friendly stops along the way.  Barnes and Noble boosts a stage with weekly story times, plentiful floor space for cuddling up with a book, and a train set which is always popular.  The fountain outside the Barnes and Noble is perfect for exploring the properties of water or watching birds dust off their feathers.  Or run to the other side of the block to find a fountain where water runs over cups and plates with a Winnie the Pooh quote encircling it.

Bethesda Row is west of Wisconsin Avenue, between Bradley Boulevard and Old Georgetown Road.  Click here for directions.

For a list of child friendly dinner time destinations, come back tomorrow for my Tuesday List which will give a rundown of the many ethnic eateries in Bethesda. Friday’s post will feature the best places to roam in Bethesda to work out those pre and post meal wiggles.

Savvy Guest: Amy Peck Demystifies Getting Started With Organics

by Leticia

April 24, 2009

Today's Savvy Guest post comes courtesy of Being Savvy Denver and Amy Peck.  Amy is The Denver Examiner's organic gardening columnist and is here to share how to get started with organics in honor of Earth Week. 

Getting Started With Organics
by Amy Peck

Talking about organics can sometimes stir up as much controversy in a conversation as bringing up religion or politics. It's a topic with fervent followers and stoic skeptics, and after my children were born, I started leaning more toward the fervent follower side of things. Over the past few years my interest in organics has grown to the point where not only do I try to feed my family organics as much as possible, but I've started a business delivering organic fruits and vegetables to people's homes and offices, plus I write a regular organic gardening column for the Denver Examiner.

The decision of "going organic" is understandably not an easy one to make. There are so many choices about organics out there that it can seem overwhelming. And what does it mean to be organic anyway? The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:

"Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards."

What Does That Mean For Us? 
Does the benefit to the animals, plants and their caretakers translate to the consumer and our children in some sort of measurable context other than making a bigger dent in our wallets? In the April 2008 issue of Organic Gardening magazine a study from the University of Newcastle on Tyne was reported to have found that, "Organic fruits and vegetables contain up to 40 percent more antioxidants than non-organic produce." Project coordinator Carol Leifert told the BBC News that the ongoing study found that, "there are more of certain nutritionally desirable compounds and less of the baddies in organic foods, or improved amounts of the fatty acids you want and less of those you don't."

In the organic vs. conventional buying decision then there is always the "list" that people talk about when choosing which produce to buy. According to the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit research group, the top ten foods that retain the most pesticides are strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, peaches, Mexican cantaloupe, celery, apples, apricots, and green beans. While a good starting point for sure when talking about the best organics to buy based on our own consumption, I like to think of the bigger picture. For me it's important to teach my children how buying organics is not only good for us, but for the farmers that grew our food and the environment.

Buying organic has broadened for our family. In addition to the organic certification, we consider the small farmers who practice organics but don't have the capital to get the certification necessary to label their food as such. We consider where our food is grown and like to make choices that are as local to where we live as possible. I consider this thinking "beyond organic."

Getting Started
When people ask me about organics or how to get started, I recommend starting wherever they can. In Denver, shopping for your produce at Vitamin Cottage, which carries only organic produce, is a good place to start in the winter months. Visiting farmers' markets in the spring through fall months gives you the opportunity to meet the farmers themselves. Not all farmers' markets participants are organic growers so be sure to ask if it's not clearly posted. Growing our own organic food is by far the least expensive way to bring organics into our homes, and a highly rewarding experience that the whole family can take part in. I don't think there are any hard and fast answers to this question.

The Bottom Line
As with anything that is good for us and the environment, making any organic choice, however small, will make an impact. We need look no further than our own children to know how small successes lead to big milestones. Perhaps someday, our children won't have to make this decision, because all of their options will be safe for them and the environment.

Savvy Guest Gina von Esmarch Explains Why Cooking At Home is the New Chic

by Leticia

April 06, 2009

Today's Savvy Guest is Gina von Esmarch.  Gina was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a fourth generation San Franciscian, whose family has successfully run one of the City’s oldest fine dining restaurants at Fisherman’s Wharf -- Alioto’s #8, founded in 1925.  Gina is also a mom whose new cookbook, Taste This!, has quickly become one of my favorite go-to guides for meal planning in our home.  (Click here to read my review!) Today Gina is here to share why cooking at home is the new chic during these difficult economic times.

There is nothing like a good recession to bring out the fighting cook in the American home kitchen. This is not to imply that our economic situation (AKA recession) is by any means, ‘good’ but as Americans we are told time and time again that we L-O-V-E a big challenge, ergo – a good recession = a big recession = a big challenge.

The simple economics of it all are that people seem to be trying to find ways to cut back on their food budgets during these times. As people embrace the challenge of the recession, dining at home is once again chic. It was even rumored in a women’s magazine that the recession might help us lose weight because we would categorically spend less money on expensively packaged processed junk foods like cookies, chips and cakes. While I don’t know that I can throw my flag down and say that agree 100%, I can tell you that I agree that if people prepare more foods from home there will be a healthy upside – perhaps even stealth health benefits (def: stealth health is the term for people who want to eat healthy but don’t want to be reminded of it). I am a believer that the population that cooks more, consumes less calories, intakes less salt and may turn this prediction into reality.

So how do we get the most out of our limited available time to maximize our effort and food dollars to recover from this economic hangover? I do have a few recipes up my sleeve that may help get your fight and/or creative juices flowing in the spirit of the Credit Crunch Healthy – Economic Hangover thread.

Let’s take chicken as an example. With either home roasted or store purchased roasted (could even be boiled) chicken, you can make numerous recipes that make eating at home both fun and delicious without taking a lot of time. No one I know wants to eat the same leftovers again the next night so I would suggest that if that is your plan that you skip a night between when you eat your leftovers the first time and when you repeat them. I’ve known many self proclaimed “I don’t DO leftover types,” and well I can be honest and tell you that I have tricked many of them into eating leftovers, because like all things American, we like presentation and packaging. Here are a few recipe ideas from Taste This! that can be incorporated to make chicken dishes that don’t feel like repeats –

-       Pulled Chickey (can be turkey or chicken) Tacos

-       Greek Chicken Salad

-       Divine Chicken Curry

These are three totally different dishes, all of which could be made with shredded chicken but one dish is tacos, the next a salad and the third a casserole. With planning you could buy all of the ingredients at once and keep it on hand and depending on how much company you have over or how many people you are serving, you could make two or three of these dishes to keep on hand. If you DO like leftovers, make all three!

I like to plan my meals for the week by allowing myself a few nights to take it easy and visit with my family so I will often do a meal plan that allows me to cook two nights in a row and then take the next two nights off. Perhaps I can share that strategy with you next time. Until then, remember to keep it fresh and save those dollars for that special night out or an upcoming celebration. Stay-cations are all the rage why not coin Eat-overs (inviting guests to dinner) as the next stage of our Phrase-O-Lution.

Gina now lives North of the Golden Gate Bridge with her husband, two children and dog. To get a copy of her book, Taste This!, go to www.bowllicker.com.

Tuesday List: Harmless Fun for April Fools' Day

by Leticia

March 31, 2009

Tomorrow is April 1, otherwise known as April’s Fools’ Day.  Do you enjoy being the prankster, planning jokes on  your children, or will you be more likely to get pranked by them tomorrow?  Jenny Meade from Being Savvy Kansas City was a jokester.  She and her brother loved getting into shenanigans on April Fool’s Day.  Today she shares some of her favorite ways of getting into the spirit of the day.

As a kid, my brother and I played lots of April Fools’ Day jokes on my mother. We taped the kitchen sink sprayer handle down so it would come on when she turned on the faucet. We left fake plastic cat poop in her vanity chair. We changed the time on her alarm clock.

You can see why she tells me she's glad I have a couple of little monsters of my own to contend with.

But there are certainly fun and silly ways to make April Fools’ Day a good time with your little ones, all the while reinforcing that this is the silly way, not the right way:

1. Wear mismatched socks or shoes to school - or shirts or pants on backwards
2. Do silly hair styles - crazy pigtails for or faux-hawks for boys
3. Add a couple of drops of food coloring to the milk in their breakfast cereal -blue, red, green!
4. Have them think of a silly story to tell or write for their teacher at school (an email to the teacher ahead of time is probably a good idea, too)
5. Serve dinner backwards - dessert first, then the entree (make it a favorite dinner so you'll know they'll eat it even after the promise of dessert is already gone)

So you may not want to give your kids any ideas for future jokes they can play on you. But since I'm already probably doomed in that way, I might as well get in on the fun, right?

Tuesday List: Best Places to Picnic

by Leticia

March 24, 2009

With the weather turning warmer, our thoughts turn from being inside to spending as much time as humanly possible outside.  One thing we love to do is to picnic.  On the weekends we take our cooler stuffed with food with us on outings for an al fresco lunch.  Picnics are great not only because we are spending more time outside but the crumbs that drive me crazy at the kitchen table help the local ecosystem.

Here are our favorite places to picnic:

National Zoo (DC)- We’ve picnicked all over the Zoo.  Outside the Bird House, in the giant meadow between the Ape House and Reptile Discovery Center, on Lion and Tiger Hill, while watching the seals, and off the path leading behind the Ape House.  In our opinion, there aren’t any truly bad places to picnic at the zoo and often times our picnic location is determined by when hunger strikes!   

Smithsonian Castle (DC)- Behind the Smithsonian Castle is a picnic oasis.  Bubbling fountains, beautifully manicured grounds, shady trees, and benches make this a perfect spot to grab a bite between museums.  And it’s not too far from the carousel in case a post-lunch carousel ride is in order.

Wheaton Regional Park(Wheaton, MD)- With plenty of room to run, tons of climbing structures, the miniature train, and carousel, Wheaton Regional Park becomes not just a picnic spot but a day trip.  With plenty of parking, you can keep your lunch in the car until the kids are worn out and need a bite to eat before it is off to play again.

Gravelly Point Park (end of National Airport runway)- What can be better than eating lunch while watching boats on the river, an endless stream of bicycles, and planes take off or land overhead during your picnic?  Gravelly Point Park has free parking and endless entertainment.  There’s also lots of grass so on a windy day, it makes a great place to fly a kite.

Butler’s Orchard (Germantown, MD)- When summer comes and we head out berry picking, we supplement our berry eating with an actual lunch.  While shade can sometimes be hard to find, we like eating our lunch between the boysenberry bushes or down by the farm stand under the shady trees you pass as you drive in.

Great Falls (the Maryland side)- Something about being surrounded by water always makes it seem much cooler at Great Falls, even in the hot steamy summer months.  We like to go for walks and pack lunch in a backpack so we can eat whenever we get hungry.  A rock usually does just fine as a seat or if you’d like, there are picnic tables by the Visitor Center.  If you don’t pack a lunch or grab something on your way, you can always get a bite to eat at the snack bar between the months of March and November.

Quiet Waters Park (Anne Arundel County, MD)- For a day trip away from the city, head to Quiet Waters Park, just south of Annapolis.  There you can easily spend the day between playing on the playground, visiting the gardens, or renting a canoe or kayak for a couple of hours.  With all that activity, you have to eat and luckily, there are plenty of places to do so.

Federal Hill Park (Baltimore)- Whenever we are in Baltimore, we love to head to Cross Street Market to select our eats among a variety of different food stalls (sushi and the fried chicken are my faves!) before heading to Federal Hill Park.  The park overlooks the Harbor on one side and off in the distance you can see a huge white mountain of salt not too far away from the large Domino Sugar sign and plant.  The fenced in area with the playground is dog-free and has a climbing structure, plenty of grass, and swings that are hugely popular.  And sometimes it is just fun to lie in the grass and watch the huge flag blow in the breeze overhead.

Savvy Guests Share 5 Basic Boosts for Busy Parents From Two Spicy Moms

by Leticia

March 09, 2009

I know, I know, being a parent is tough.  We're so focused on taking care of our children that sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves.  Nutrition-wise, we often take the quick and easy way out -- a cookie here, a bag of chips there, a cup of coffee for breakfast, half of our children's mac-n-cheese at dinnertime .  I'm as guilty as anyone.  But what's a busy parent to do?

Today's guest posters, Bonnie Johnson and Deanna Segrave-Daly, serve up five great ways parents can maintain a healthy lifestyle even in the midst of all the childhood chaos.  As registered dieticians, they know the ins and outs of good nutrition.  Even more important, they are moms who understand that our busy, crazy schedules means we need quick, manageable solutions – and all the help we can get.

Kick Up Your Heels - Don't make exercise a daunting chore. Have a 20-minute dance party with the kids. Everyone gets to pick one song. Try out different rhythms or steps like hula, cha-cha, the twist or the oldie-but-goodie chicken dance.

Faster Fruits- Often, we are so focused on getting our children to eat healthy, we forget about ourselves (sound familiar?) And most of us need to at least double our daily dose of fruit. So, instead of trying to count that strawberry cheesecake as a serving, try:

• 1/2 cup applesauce - Add a dash of cinnamon and/or nutmeg
•  1 can of trim® Juice drink - New from Tree Top, one can counts as a 1/2 cup of fruit serving and comes in yum flavors like Mango Peach and Strawberry Kiwi)
•  1/4 cup dried fruit - Try tossed into cereal, over a salad or eaten on the go

Satiety is the new buzzword in healthy eating-it's that feeling of satisfaction after a meal or snack. It makes sense - if you are satisfied longer, you won't scarf down those extra calories you really don't need (like the remnants of junior's PB&J.) Fiber has great satiating power.  Shoot for getting more fiber by choosing cereals with five grams or more fiber per serving, tossing a can of beans into a pasta dish, having a small bowl of popcorn  or enjoying a single serve can of trim® which has three grams of fiber per serving.

Get Some Extra Zs - That's sounds dreamy but how do you get your head on the pillow when  you are multitasking long after the kids are in bed? Research shows that a good night sleep can reduce stress, improve your memory and even increase your success at weight loss. While experts recommend at least 8 hours a night, start by going to bed just 15 minutes early. Do that every night for a month - and see how you feel (and if you can up it another 15 minutes.) And yes, this is one of Deanna's New Year's resolutions.

Cover Your Bases - As dietitians, we recommend getting your vitamins and minerals from food first. But as moms, we know you can't have it all. Add a basic multivitamin to your morning routine just to be sure. But remember, it's called a supplement because it SUPPLEMENTS your diet (rather than replaces food) - and really, we're all about keeping as much tasty and healthy food in your diet as possible!)
 

Definitely Taste This!

by Leticia

March 06, 2009

Simple tasty food with fresh ingredients is the mantra in our house so I’m always on the lookout for wonderful new cookbooks that will meet my criteria.  One new cookbook I adore is Taste This!  Author Gina Von Esmarch’s new book is filled with delicious easy to follow recipes whose everyday ingredients are probably pantry staples.

I love that none of the ingredient lists for Gina’s 65 recipes are long.  Being able to assemble my ingredients quickly makes it easy for the kids and me to cook up something delectable and fresh even when we are short on time. 

We love popping the Parmesan Crisps in the oven to accompany a pot of soup like the Hearty Black Bean Soup made the day before.  We keep frozen raw shrimp on hand so we can put together Gina’s Shrimp Scampi as an emergency dinner.  Next on our list to try is the Italian Picnic Chicken which comes highly recommended by Being Savvy Newark City Editor, Vanessa.  

I enjoy thumbing through Taste This!  The layout is very friendly with the recipes on the right side and a gorgeous picture of the dish on the left.  The pictures certainly are fun for my children to see and serve as great visuals for the finished product. 

Other great features of Taste This! include:

• guide to bring good flavors back to the table
• short ingredient lists using every day ingredients
• simple and easy to follow cooking techniques
• ideal for those who don’t have a lot of time to spend preparing but want to make something nice for their guests/family
• many make ahead recipes and pantry dishes
• inspiration for working individuals and parents who don’t know much about cooking but want to try to expand their cooking knowledge

So if you are looking for a wonderful cookbook full of family friendly meals that you can make quickly even with help from your little ones, I highly recommend Taste This! 

Win your own copy of Taste This!  Click on over to Jersey Bites to enter to win one of two copies being given away!

Savvy Guest Andrea Astrachan from Giant Food Provides Tips for a Stay-At-Home Valentine

by Leticia

February 12, 2009

As you know, Saturday is Valentine's Day.  Today's Being Savvy Washington DC Savvy Guest, Andrea Astrachan from Giant Food, shares some wonderful tips to ensure that you have a wonderful time celebrating as a family without breaking the bank.   

There’s no better day to show your family how much you care than on Valentine’s Day. Since this year Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday, you can have a family fun day and then have a romantic evening with your significant other – all while staying in the comfort of your home! There’s no need to pay for a babysitter while you eat at an expensive restaurant.  I have tips below to show you how.

Fun with the Kids

Of course kids love Valentine’s Day for the candy, fun cards and little gifts.  But you don’t need to shower them with sugar and stuffed toys. Instead, show them you care by spending quality time with them during the day on Saturday.

Encourage your children to invite a few friends over for a Valentine’s Day movie night sleepover.  Let them know that during the day they will help you prepare for their party by decorating, cooking and baking.  Together, you can use creativity to make the house a Valentine’s Day wonderland with pink, red, and white decorations. 

Help them with the crafts below and by decorating the house.

• Kaboose.com lists fun Valentine’s crafts such as Valentines’ Day Heart Box or a Valentine’s Day Piñata 
• SisterlySavings.com has some easy ways to decorate the house

The kids can also help make snacks to munch on during the movies.  Cereal Snack Mix is always a favorite and is easy to make with the family:

Cereal Snack Mix 

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. margarine
• 1/2 Tbsp. garlic seasoning (salt less or low-salt)
• 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup toasted oats cereal
• 1 cup small unsalted pretzels
• 1 cup of chex type cereal
• 1 cup peanuts or raisins

Add all the above ingredients 

Steps:

1. Adult: In large skillet, melt margarine and blend in seasonings.
2. Child: measure remaining ingredients and add to skillet with help of adult
3. Adult: Remove from stove and mix well.

Romantic Evening

After the kids are all settled in with their friends, movies and snacks, it’s time for you to relax with your sweetie! You can have a romantic Valentine’s Day evening cooking in the kitchen, eating together and sharing a bottle of wine and sweet dessert. Light some candles and bring out the nice linen. No need for a babysitter, the kids are safe and are entertained.

Treat your honey - or have your honey treat you - to this Honey Mustard-Glazed Steak with Grilled Onions.  And then top it off with a Cherry Heart Cheesecake.

Honey Mustard-Glazed Steak with Onions 

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup coarse-grain or regular Dijon-style mustard
• 1 Tbsp. chopped parsley (optional)
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. honey
• 1 Tbsp. each cider vinegar and water
• 1/4 tsp. hot red pepper sauce
• 1/8 tsp. coarse grind black pepper
• 1 lb. boneless top sirloin steak
• 4 Vidalia onions, cut into 1/2" thick slices

Steps:

Combine glaze ingredients. Place steak and onion slices on grill (a grilling basket or tray works well for the onions) over medium coals, brush both sides liberally with glaze. Grill steaks and onions 15-20 minutes for medium rare (145° F) to medium (160° F) or to desired doneness, turning once and again brushing with glaze.

Cherry Heart Cheesecake

Ingredients:

Cheesecake:

• 1 9" prepared chocolate crumb pie shell
• 2 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened (reduced fat can be substituted)
• 3 heaping Tbsp. (out of 1/2 pint container) sour cream (reduced fat can be substituted)
• 2 eggs
• Dash of salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Topping:

• rest of 1/2 pint container sour cream
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• Sprinkle of lemon juice

Cherry Sauce:

• 1 can 21 oz. cherry pie filing
• 3 Tbsp. cherry flavored liqueur or cream sherry
• Add all the above ingredients

Steps:

Beat all ingredients for cheesecake in large mixer bowl until smooth. Place in pie shell and bake at 375°F for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and pour over it mixed topping ingredients. Decorate the top with cherry hearts by spooning 2-3 Tbsp. of cherry sauce from pie filling into small dish, drop by teaspoonfuls in a circle on top of cheesecake. Carefully pull knife or spatula through cherry sauce forming hearts. Return to oven and bake at 425 °F for 5 minutes. Cool, Refrigerate overnight. In medium bowl, stir together remaining pie filling and liqueur. Serve over slices of cheesecake. Store refrigerated. 

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Andrea Astrachan is the Consumer Advisor for Giant Food and a busy mom who lives in the DC Metro Area.   

Teaching Beginning Concepts with Jello

by Leticia

February 02, 2009

I hardly ever buy Jello but in a weak moment at the grocery store, Little Miss Techie and Captain Computer won me over. We came home with one of the red flavors and as we were making it I realized that while Jello may not have tons of nutritional properties, it was full of teachable moments. Now before you think Iâ??ve gone off the deep end, here are some things that can be learned by making  Read more...

Flour Power Desserts- Delectable treats for those with food allergies & sensitivities

by Leticia

January 22, 2009

With the plethora of food allergies and sensitivities, it can be difficult to plan food to meet each party-goers need let alone bake a delicious cake that is dairy, gluten, egg, or peanut free. New to the DC Metro baking scene is Flour Power Desserts , the brainchild of Jane Brophy. Jane is a mother of 3, the oldest who has a peanut allergy. After years of creating cakes for her son, she was  Read more...

Cooking up Inauguration Goodness at Young Chef's Academy

by Leticia

January 16, 2009

With the Inauguration less than a week away, the Nation's Capital is abuzz with happenings geared at turning DC into a city-wide welcoming committee. Unfortunately, not all of the events are family-friendly, but if you want to get your kids literally stirring about the new president, check out http://www.youngchefsacademy.com/stores/store_page.php?franchise_id=220">Young Chefs Academy's  Read more...

Book Review: Showdown at the Food Pyramid by Rex Barron

by Beth Hoffman

January 09, 2009

My preschooler isn't much of an eater, and never has been. She could live happily on pasta, crackers and grapes and has mastered a look of abject horror that she breaks out whenever someone suggests that she sample a food outside her comfort zone. In looking for ways to gently help her expand her dining repertoire, I recently picked up a copy of Showdown at the Food Pyramid by Rex Barron.  Read more...

Traditions at the Table: Holiday Cookies

by Leticia

December 24, 2008

Ah, the night before Christmas. Presents are wrapped, stockings are stuffed, and the cookies baked for Santa are waiting by the fireplace for good old St. Nick. If your cookie supply has run a little short like ours has, or if you didn�??t have time to bake, why not engage in some post-Christmas baking. Here are my favorite resources that have resuscitated my list of Christmas cookies with  Read more...

Musical Holiday Traditions

by Beth Hoffman

December 19, 2008

We are a musical family. My husband is happiest with a guitar in his hands and I tend to sing all day long without even noticing that I am doing it. The children seem to be taking after us. They both love their father's guitars and the piano, my three year old daughter sings and dances from the moment she wakes up in the morning until she falls asleep at night, and even the baby is starting  Read more...

Holiday Timesaver: Meals by Savvy Guest Andrea Astrachan

by Leticia

December 17, 2008

Tick tock tick tock...Do you hear the sound of the clock ticking down towards the holidays? If you are worried about having too much to do and not enough time, today's Being Savvy Washington DC Savvy Guest is a lifesaver. Andrea Astrachan is the Giant Food Consumer Advisor and a busy mom who lives in the DC Metro Area. Today Andrea shares some wonderful timesaving tips to help your holidays  Read more...

Cooking up some holiday memories in the kitchen

by Leticia

December 12, 2008

I come from a family that loves to cook. Holidays are an especially memorable time because of the favorite dishes that I've come to associate with each occasion and Christmas is all about cookies. Each year we made many different kinds of Christmas cookies that filled the house with the warmsmell of baking. Snickerdoodles rolled in red and green sugar, white powdered Russian tea cakes, brown  Read more...

Spicing up Early Literacy

by Beth Hoffman

December 09, 2008

I don't know about you, but I have a heck of a time keeping a three year old and a nine month old entertained long enough to get dinner on the table every night. At least I did, until I turned my spice rack over to the kids. Now, my spice rack is really a low shelf in a cabinet, so when I need to get dinner started I just open up the door and point the kids in that direction. The baby  Read more...

Savvy Guest: Corina DuBois Shares Tips on Remaining Healthy Over the Holidays

by Leticia

December 08, 2008

December is usually synonymous with both an abundance of eating and a lack of exercise. Today's Being Savvy guest contributor, Corina DuBois, wants to encourage you to start this New Year on the right foot. Corina is a mother of three children under the age of 5, founder of Celebrate Mama! , a franchise owner of Montgomery County Stroller Strides , and the only finalist for Military Spouse  Read more...

Childrens' Cookbooks

by Leticia

November 26, 2008

My love of cooking is being handed down to Little Miss Techie and Captain Computer. Captain Computer comes running from whatever corner of the house he is in when he hears me start my KitchenAid mixer. Little Miss Techie can crack eggs like a pro. Both have assigned spots in the kitchen to help with cooking projects and recently helped me make a great dinner of lentil soup and cornbread. While I  Read more...

Tuesday List: 5 Favorite September Posts

by Leticia

September 30, 2008

Today it's goodbye September so in honor of the end of the month, I thought Id share my favorite posts of the month. A month of school has passed and are you already tired of packing lunch? If so, Andrea Astrachan from Giant Foods helps parents think outside the lunchbox with great new lunch ideas . If your kids have a favorite babysitter, enlist their help so you can resurrect dates for you  Read more...

Savvy Guest: Giant Foods' Andrea Astrachan helps you Think Outside the Lunchbox

by Leticia

September 17, 2008

Today's Being Savvy Washington DC guest post comes from Andrea Astrachan. Andrea is a busy mom who lives in the DC Metro Area and is also a consumer advisor for Giant Food . Today Andrea shares some tips to inspire parents to think of different lunch solutions for school. School bells around the country are ringing, signaling the end of summer and the start of the new school year. Once again  Read more...

Cooking Classes for Budding Chefs at Young Chefs Academy

by Leticia

August 18, 2008

I love to cook and my children do too. Little Miss Techie is getting quite good at cracking eggs and when Captain Computer hears the sound of our KitchenAid mixer, he comes from whatever remote corner of the house he is playing in to come and help. My love of cooking and background in teaching always made me dream of starting a cooking school for kids. I never got farther than the dream but if I  Read more...

Dinner Table Destinations: Dim Sum

by Leticia

August 09, 2008

One of our favorite things to do on a weekend is to go out to dim sum. Dim sum is like the Chinese version of Spanish tapas with a meal comprised of a collection of small dishes. The only difference is that the dishes roll by your table on carts and you can select whatever suits your appetite. A dazzling array of treats awaits as dim sum servers lift the lids off metal steam baskets. One of the  Read more...

Savvy Pick: Favorite Being Savvy Posts from Around the Country (Part 3)

by Leticia

August 02, 2008

Over the last 2 days I covered 16 cities around the country in Parts 1 and 2 of my favorite Being Savvy posts. Today I continue my virtual journey and also head to Canada to bring you my favorite posts written by my fellow Being Savvy City Editors. If you are looking for ways to spruce up your car's playlist with more adult music, check out Kim Tracey Prince's Sneaky DJ: Essential Summer  Read more...

Savvy Pick: Favorite Being Savvy Posts from Around the Country (Part 2)

by Leticia

August 01, 2008

Yesterday I covered the first 10 Being Savvy sites from across the country and picked my favorite post by my fellow City Editors. Today I'm back to give you more! the best of the rest. My favorite posts by my fellow Being Savvy City Editors include parenting anecdotes that we can all relate to, tips for exploring their cities with your children, and fabulous activities for your 2-6 year old that  Read more...

Savvy Pick: Favorite Being Savvy Posts from Around the Country (Part 1)

by Leticia

July 30, 2008

Since we are heading into the final days of July, I thought I'd pay my fellow Being Savvy City Editors a visit to see what great things they were writing about on their sites. As City Editors we write about local activities that strike our fancy and give them an educational twist but our posts also have national interest beyond our local areas. Here are some of my favorite posts by my fellow  Read more...

Baseball: Tasty Fare at Camden Yards

by Leticia

July 29, 2008

Heading into August, thoughts of summer may be winding down as you look towards sending your children back to school but there is still one summer pastime that will continue into the fall. Baseball season is long from being over and if you are like us and haven't gotten to a game yet this season, you still have plenty of time! The Orioles play their last home game of the 2008 season at Camden  Read more...

Best Ice Cream and Frozen Goodness

by Leticia

July 24, 2008

One of our favorite activities is walking to our neighborhood ice cream store. While we enjoy the walk all year round, it is especially nice to have a cool treat in the air conditioned space on a hot, humid summer day. With the help of some local moms (and lots of taste testing by yours truly!), here's an alphabetical list of local places that serve up some of the best frozen treats to provide  Read more...

Dinner Table Destinations: Mexico

by Leticia

July 22, 2008

As a native Californian, I love good Mexican food and with the wealth of cultures in our area, it isn't hard to find the necessary ingredients to conjure up some delicious South of the Border grub that the whole family will enjoy. I think Mexican food is some of the most kid friendly fare around. Hand held treats like tortas (Mexican sandwiches), burritos, quesadillas, and flautas are perfect  Read more...

Smithsonian Folklife Festival Children's Activities- Texas

by Leticia

June 23, 2008

Today is the third day in a row that I've devoted Being Savvy DC to the ways the Smithsonian Folklife Festiva l can be enjoyed by the whole family. I covered Bhutan , wrote about NASA, and am highlighting Texas today. My goal through this series is to provide you with a kid-friendly guide to enjoying each part of the Folklife Festival when it opens this Wednesday. After learning about space  Read more...

Grandparent tradition- picnics and carousels

by Leticia

June 16, 2008

Whenever my parents come to visit from California, there are always three items on the agenda: milkshakes, the National Zoo, and taking a spin on a carousel before picnicking at our favorite parks. Over the years, Little Miss Techie and Captain Computer have taken many rides on the DC area carousels. The carousel at Glen Echo Park is probably my favorite in the DC Metro Area. Housed in a  Read more...

Downtown Silver Spring's Little Tots Summer Fun Series

by Leticia

June 11, 2008

Happy Wednesday! If you are reading this with nothing on the agenda this morning and happen to be close to Downtown Silver Spring , today is the start of Little Tots Summer Fun Series . Beginning at 10:30 am every other Wednesday there will be children's performances, in-store activities, specials at the stores, arts and crafts, and more! Here's the summer lineup: June 11- Flumpa and Friends  Read more...

Love and Appreciate Dad with Great Food on Father's Day

by Leticia

June 10, 2008

Father's Day has always been special. Whether celebrating my own Dad as a child or now with my own children, my husband, and grandfathers, it is a day to show the men in our lives how much we love and appreciate them. And I like to show love and appreciation in the form of food. If you aren't much of a gourmet, there are plenty of places to help you prepare a great meal for Dad. Here's my pick  Read more...

Best Ice Cream Birthday Party Venues

by Leticia

June 03, 2008

As spring turns to summer, two things are on our mind- upcoming birthdays in July and beating the heat with our favorite treat- ice cream! This year we will be combining the two for an ice cream party! Here's a list of local places where you can go if you aren't feeling ambitious enough to about hosting your own ice cream party in your yard. Moorenko's not only has fabulous ice cream flavors  Read more...

The Educational Value of Cooking

by Leticia

May 23, 2008

We love to cook in our house. The sound of the mixer stops our toddler dead in his tracks and causes him to carry a chair over to the counter to help. Our preschooler used to love watching us make anything that needed to be flipped over (pancakes, French toast, grilled cheese) and had a little dance that we called the Flip It Over Dance. Now she and her brother spend hours in their pretend  Read more...