Fun Ideas for St. Patricks Day

·         Serve green food and drinks. A little food coloring can go a long way to make green eggs, green cookies, green biscuits, pancakes and sodas.

·         Read together the story about St. Patrick.  He was a godly man who brought the gospel to Ireland. His story is amazing. Go to my website to read more about him.  www.karolladd.com

·         Eat green lollipops and have a contest to see who has the greenest tongue.

·         Hunt for clovers. The story is told that St. Patrick used the three leaves of a Shamrock to teach the heathens about the truths of the Trinity.  

·         Write a favorite Bible verse on a green card and set them out at every place setting around the dinner table.

·         Give your kids a green bracelet or ring to wear on St. Patrick’s day. Put it in a green box and bring it out only once a year.

Fit Mom

Last month we looked at four principles for healthy eating, now here’s a few more tips for eating well and staying fit as a mom.  

5.  Think Before You Eat

When you are about to put that delicious morsel in your mouth, stop and ask yourself, are you really hungry, or are you:

                ·              bored and just want to munch on something?

                ·              stressed and need something to calm you down?

                ·              upset or depressed and feel that you need food for consolation?

We need to train ourselves to eat for hunger, not for other reasons.   When we stop to think before we eat, we not only examine why we are eating, but what we are eating.  Let’s say you’re tempted to eat a slice of thick, rich chocolate cake because it looks so good and you love chocolate.  First stop and think, You may stop and think to yourself, “I want that cake because I love chocolate, but I’m really not very hungry and am trying to cut down on sweets.”   Then After consideration, if you really want to try some of the cake, take a few slow bites.  Enjoy the taste and leave the rest.  You don’t have to finish the whole thing to have enjoyed it.  Thinking before you eat will not only help you with snacks and desserts; it will make it easier for you to choose smaller portions at meal times.  I’m not saying we shouldn’t enjoy the food we eat, I simply suggesting that we  So think, examine your our motivation, and apply self-control to your our response.

6.  Snack Smart 

Snacking is okay.  In fact, it’s a good thing—if we do it wisely.  As we said earlier, smaller quantities of food eaten more frequently is the best way to increase our metabolism and keep our moods in balance.  How can you eat healthier snacks?  You begin at the grocery store.  Don’t buy junk food.  Decide on several healthy snacks that you know you will enjoy, and keep a plentiful supply on hand.  Nuts, low-fat cheese, fruits, vegetables, whole wheat toast or cheese toast, yogurt, and whole grain cereal are all good choices. 

Consider bringing healthy snacks with you if you are going to be on the run all day or at work.  For me, there have been times when I’ve been out or busy and haven’t had a chance to grab something to eat.  When my blood sugar level drops I start to feel a little shakey or get a little irritable or stressed.  It’s amazing how a little snack of fruit or nuts or cheese can help me make it through to the next meal, and then I’m not ravenously hungry at that meal!

7. Use Wisdom When Eating Out

Almost fifty cents of every dollar spent on food in America is spent in restaurants, fast food or quick-serve restaurants, or take-outs.  Our society is fast becoming a dining- out instead of dining-in culture.  I don’t know about you, but it’s easier for me to make poor eating choices when I’m eating out.  I eat more, and I don’t eat the right stuff.  So what’s the solution?  I doubt if any of us are going to stop eating out altogether.  So here are a few suggestions: 

                ·              Order a starter such as soup or salad (ask for fat-free salad dressing or dressing on the side)

                ·              Stay away from all-you-can-eat buffets

                ·              Choose a lean meat for your main course and try to avoid sauces with oil, cheese, or mayonnaise

                ·              Ask for vegetables without added butter or oil

                ·              Replace fries with vegetables or fruit

                ·              If you must have a potato, choose a sweet potato; it’s more nutritious

                ·              Choose only low-fat desserts, or simply order decaf coffee

Now about fast food.  I’m a busy mom too, so I know there are times when fast food is unavoidable.  Thankfully, many of the national chains are now offering healthier choices, such as fruit or salad instead of fries and low-fat milk instead of soda.  Many of them are also posting the nutritional content of their menu selections on their Web sites.  You may want to visit the sites of some of your favorite fast food restaurants and make a list of their less fatty choices. 

We’ve looked at seven general principles for eating, so next week we’ll look more specifically at what to eat.  For more info on healthy living take a look at the rest of my book A Positive Plan for Creating More Calm and Less Stress. 

Doable Diet

Last week we talked about the importance of eating right in order to fuel our bodies and have more energy. This week I wanted to talk about the first four of the seven principles to healthy eating for moms.

1. Eat Smaller Portions

Our stomachs are approximately the size of a large fist.  Stop right now and make a fist.  Take a good, long look at it.  Now keep that size in mind as you eat!  You don’t have to limit yourself to fist-sized portions, but use your fist to gauge the amount of food you eat in order to satisfy yourself.  Recognizing that you only need small quantities to fill your stomach will prevent binge eating and help you eat smaller meals more frequently.  Eating small quantities of healthy food every few hours will not only fire up your metabolism, it will keep your blood sugar elevated, so you experience fewer mood swings and energy dips.¹

Let me give you two hints that will increase your chances for success with this principle.  First, only place smaller portions on your plate to begin with.  This is relatively easy to do at home.  At a restaurant, where giant portions are the norm, it’s a little harder.  When your waiter brings you a large quantity, take your knife and cut the portion down.  Scoot the excess over to the side or onto another plate, or immediately put it in a doggie bag to take home later. 

Second, eat slowly.  If you take more time to chew your food, your small portion will last longer, and you’ll assist in the digestion process.  Also, the slower you eat, the more time you will give your stomach to signal your brain that you are satisfied.  When we wolf down our food, we often ignore or miss that feeling of fullness and end up eating too much.

2.  Drink More Water 

 Sometimes we think we are hungry when we are actually dehydrated.  Drink a glass of water before eating and allow it to hydrate your system. I have found that if I drink water throughout the day, I don’t feel quite as hungry.  Soft drinks don’t have the same effect; they tend to dehydrate our systems and increase our desire for other foods.  I know that when I have a diet Coke, I want chips or pop corn to go with it.  When I choose water, however, I tend to eat healthier snacks.  I’m not telling you to restrict your beverage intake to water only.  But I am saying the more water you drink, the more satisfied your body will be.  There are numerous health benefits to drinking water as it helps flush toxins out of your system.

3. Don’t Eat Late At Night

Nocturnal eating is tempting, but it isn’t good for us weight-wise. Debra Waterhouse, a registered dietician and author of Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell, says, “Your metabolism and caloric needs are lower at night than at any other time during the day.  Your metabolism is fastest in the morning and afternoon, then begins to slow down, with the lowest level at night.  When your metabolism is low, your fat cells are most active.  So, at night, when your metabolism is low and your caloric intake is high, you are more likely to turn fat cells on for storage and gain weight.”²

If you must eat dinner late, eat less.  When that nighttime urge to snack arises, replace the urge with an activity such as calling a friend, writing a note to someone, or walking the dog.  Too much late-night eating will not only pack on the pounds, it will make you less hungry in the morning and perhaps lead you to skip breakfast—which, as we’ll learn in the next principle, isn’t a good idea. 

4.  Eat Breakfast

Charles Stuart Platkin, author of Breaking the Pattern, writes that “throughout countless interviews with experts, they all agree on one strategy for keeping your mood in tip-top form:  Eat breakfast!”When we skip breakfast, we are running our bodies on empty—or on the sludge left over from the day before.  No wonder our moods are affected!  We need good fuel to start our day: protein to make us alert and healthy carbohydrates to satisfy our hunger and help us keep our cool.

Skipping breakfast has another disadvantage.  When we don’t start taking in our day’s calories until noon, we are starving by lunchtime and tempted to overeat.  You may be thinking, But I’m simply not hungry in the morning.  Well, if you’re eating at night, you may not feel hungry, because very little digestion occurs while you are sleeping.  “As soon as you start matching your eating to your metabolism and eat less at night, you’ll find that you are hungry in the morning and want to eat,” explains Debra Waterhouse.

Next week we will deal with the other three principles to eating well as a mom.  These can be found in my book A Positive Plan for Creating Less Stress and More Calm.

The Lowdown on our Intake

As moms, we need energy to maintain the pace of our busy lives.  The fuel that we put into our bodies makes a difference in not only our energy  and stress levels, but it also our self-esteem and how we feel about ourselves and our bodies.  There are a million diet plans circulating today. Are you low carb, no carb, South Beach, Atkins, or French Diet?  Take your pick!  Diet plans and weight loss programs abound.  Still there are some non-negotiable basic truths concerning healthy eating.  A healthy diet is generally considered to be:

                ·              A balanced diet containing foods from all the food groups

                ·              Low in saturated fats and refined sugar

                ·              Rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber

Now that’s not too complicated, is it?  If it’s so simple, then why do you and I (and almost everyone else, for that matter) struggle to eat wisely?  The truth is, we like food!  We like delicious, tasty food—which often means food that is sugary, fried, fattening, and unhealthy.  We also live fast-paced lives that leave us little time to cook, so we end up driving through or ordering out way too much.  Some of us eat for reasons other than hunger.  Some of us struggle with issues such as self-control.  And some of us just love snacks! 

Stop for a moment and think about your own situation. What keeps you from healthy eating?  Which of the following statements apply to you:

                ·              I enjoy eating, and I don’t seem to have the willpower to stop.

                ·              I love the wrong types of foods.

                ·              I eat for comfort when I’m down or lonely or stressed.

                ·              I’m a habitual snacker.

                ·              I don’t have time to eat right, so I eat a lot of fast food.

                ·              I eat at restaurants frequently, and I end up eating large portions.

                ·              I eat at restaurants frequently, and I make unhealthy menu choices.

                ·              I’m hooked on sweets.

                ·              I just don’t know which foods are good for me.

                ·              I __________ (you fill in the blank).

We all have slightly different reasons for why we don’t eat well.  A fad diet that works for millions of other women may not work for us, because we have our own personal motivations for eating the way we do.   That’s why we need a new approach and a practical plan to change our habits. 

If we want more permanent results, we need to make changes in our eating patterns that will last a lifetime.  We didn’t form bad eating habits overnight, and it is highly unlikely that a quick fix will not solve all of our eating challenges. Changing our habits and the way we deal with food may take a little longer period of time, yet the time we put into establishing new eating patterns will be well worth it.  Let’s establish healthy lifestyle choices, so we will have more strength and endurance and we will also be a positive example to our children as well. We certainly want to establish habits early on for our kids in order for them to eat and live in a healthy way for the rest of their lives.

Here are the seven principles which we can easily incorporate into our lives and establish new eating patterns with lovely results. 

                1.            Eat smaller portions

                2.            Drink more water

                3.            Don’t eat late at night

                4.            Eat breakfast

                5.            Think before you eat 

                6.            Snack smart

                7.            Use wisdom when eating out 

Next week we will open up and talk about each of these positive lifestyle changes. This blog is an excerpt from my book A Positive Plan for Creating More Calm, Less Stress.

Relishing Family Relationships

                Our relationships with each other as family members are top priority, second only to our relationship with the Lord.  It’s easy in the hustle bustle of our lives to become complacent about celebrating each other and the blessing of each family member.  In the month of February as we think about love, let’s consider ways that we can deliberately show our love and appreciation to our kids. Here are a few ideas to consider:

• Dates with Dad or Mom:  Each birthday my dad took me out for a special dinner date, just him and me.  I chose the restaurant.  It was a great time to talk, practice manners, and feel special.  Moms can take their sons out for a special evening as well.  It doesn’t have to be expensive, even a picnic will do.  Now and then we just need a date with our child to hear them and find out what’s really going on in their hearts.
• Welcome Home:  Whenever my kids went to camp or on a mission trip, I would decorate their room and door with signs to celebrate their return.  They were simple and just said phrases like, “We missed you! We love you!  Glad you are home.” Why not make your kids feel special now and then when they come home from a long day of school and extra activities? Now and then, make them their favorite dessert, smile and hug them when they walk in the door.
• Notes and Emails:  Write your kids often, even when they are young.  Write them little notes and put them under their pillow, send them an email to let them know you are praying for them, put a note on their mirror with temporary wipe-off marker.  Use wipe off boards and bulletin boards to convey messages as well as encouragement.
• Surprise visits:  When your kids are in elementary school, surprise them with a visit during their school lunch, bringing one of their favorite meals.  Look for other opportunities they would enjoy a little surprise visit from you.  If they usually ride the bus, surprise them and pick them up on occasion.  As your kids are older you can do a surprise visit to their work just for a moment to say hello and let them know you are thinking about them.
• Quality Play Time:  Make sure your husband gets special time with the kids.  Perhaps after dinner can be declared “Daddy Play time.”   In my family growing up, we used to rough house and jump all over my dad.   He’d pick us up and put us on his shoulders (watch out for ceiling fans) or hold our hands and swing us around.  He would get on his hands and knees and allow us to climb all over him.

These ideas are from A Positive Plan for Creating More Fun, Less Whining.

You are Not Alone

Do you feel alone sometimes? I believe as moms we all go through times when we think no one understands what our life is like.  The good news is that God does know what our life is like.  He is the God who sees all, and He is with us.

It may feel like God is far away when things go wrong and we become discouraged.  But these can be the very times when our faith grows as we trust God and pour out our hearts toward him even when we don’t understand.  I like what Sinclair Ferguson said, “Appearances can be deceptive. The fact that we cannot see what God is doing does not mean that he is doing nothing.”

One time when I was taking my mastiff to the vet, we met up with a beagle wearing a lamp shade.  It wasn’t a real lampshade of course; it was one of those silly plastic collars that dogs have to wear so they won’t scratch something on their head.  The beagle was miserable and I wasn’t sure how it was going to make it through the day, much less a week of wearing the lamp shade.   The owner said to me, “If only my dog knew this is here to help her and protect her.”  I thought to myself, how easy it is to doubt our master because we can’t understand why He is allowing something in our lives.  Like the beagle, we can either fight against what God is doing in our lives, or trust the love of the master even when we can’t understand the process. 

In the same way, I want to encourage you today, trust God’s care for you.  You may not be able to see all the reasons why, but you can trust a God who loves you and sees your situation.  He is with you. He has a good purpose and a kind intention for your life.

Teaching Your Kids about Compassion in the New Year

Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”[i] 

Perhaps you have heard this passage used in a sermon concerning financial giving, but Jesus wasn’t talking about finances here.  If we look at the context he was talking about love, mercy and forgiveness.  As we pour the beautiful qualities of love and compassion out toward others, certainly we will receive a great joy in the process.

Now I’m not saying we should reach out in compassion only because it makes us feel good.  I’m simply saying there is a blessing and a benefit to our reaching out, and it is important for our kids to taste and see it for themselves.  As they experience the joy of touching others lives, their love for others grows.  Certainly life looks a little different and we learn to be content with what we have when we are around those who are in need.  Serving others changes our heart, our perspective and our way of interacting with others.  The bottom line is we are acting out of obedience to Christ who encouraged us to give a cup of cold water to those in need.

What can you do?  Begin by considering your own gifts and talents.  If you enjoy cooking, look for opportunities to bring meals to others in need.  As a family you can prepare the meal and deliver it together.  If you enjoy singing, offer to visit a nursing home or an organization that needs to hear your uplifting music.  If you love helping and cheering people on, then the Special Olympics or volunteering at a local school can be just the right thing for you and your family.  Maybe your boys need the opportunity to help build a house or paint a room, so Habitat for Humanity may be the thing for you. Don’t just look for ways to do what you like, allow yourself to be stretched as well.  Service often demands sacrifice and is not always easy or fun.

You may want to schedule a day once a month or once a quarter designated for service.  Our lives tend to get too busy, so if we don’t schedule a service day on the calendar it may not happen.  We all want to serve and we have good intentions of serving, but the key is to be deliberate about it and make it happen even if it is just once or twice a year.  Perhaps there is an opportunity for a mission trip either here in the United States or abroad which you and your family could go on together.

Here’s a list of possible ways to serve:

Meals On Wheels  www.mowaa.org

Ronald McDonald House:  www.rmhc.com

Salvation Army:   www.salvationarmyusa.org

Habitat for Humanity:  www. Habitat.org

Special Olympics:  www.specialolympics.org

Joni and Friends: www.joniandfriends.org

International Missions Board:  www.imb.org

Adventures in Missions (AIM):  www.adventures.org

Please don’t force your children to serve under obligation or duress.  There is a happy balance between loving encouragement and forcing them to do acts of service.  Pray for God’s direction and gently, lovingly stretch your kids to join you in service.  Bring their friends along if it would help.  Their friends will experience a blessing as well. As your kids get older allow them to choose the place they want to serve and go along with them.  There’s no greater bond for a family than serving together.

 

This blog is an excerpt from my book: Defuse; A Positive Plan for More Love, Less Anger

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[i] Luke 6:38,39 NKJV