Wish your kids did more around the house? Simplify your system. These chore sticks get your kids pitching in–and make it a lot easier on you. Does getting your kids to do chores feel like, well, a chore? That was my problem. I was intent on having kids who understood what it took to keep a...

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The challenges of being homebound are many: bickering kids, feelings of isolation, and alternating bouts of stress and boredom. If you need a much-needed mental escape or a project to pass the time, I hope you’ll find some things here to help: Ideas for Books Books For Kids: Books My Kids Couldn’t Put Down Part...

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These crispy breaded tofu nuggets are crunchy, dunkable, and kid-friendly. They cook in the air fryer in just 15 minutes. If you’d like to serve more plant-based proteins to your family, but tofu seems like a weird, squishy bridge too far, I’ve got the recipe for you! Because yes, tofu is squishy–and, let’s face it,...

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This basic guacamole recipe couldn’t be easier with just four simple ingredients. Make this easy guacamole and wait for the compliments to roll in! You know when someone gushes over your new skirt and you feel obligated to confess that you got it for $3.99 on the clearance rack at Target like you got away...

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Got a teenager who is constantly hungry? Check out this mega list of healthy snacks for teens (and tweens) for ideas they’ll love. “I’m basically always hungry.” That’s what my 15 year old said to me the other night as he stood in front of the open refrigerator searching for something to eat–approximately 10 minutes after...

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Kid athletes need good fuel between meals! Here are 21 ideas for easy sports snacks they’ll love. Thank you to CLIF Kid for sponsoring this post! Sports snacks can be maddening for parents–when it’s donuts, cookies, chips, and punch that often crop up on the sidelines of pee-wee sports. Those snacks feel more like a...

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These easy and healthy Make Ahead Green Smoothie Packs will simplify your morning–and they’re packaged in reusable bags for less waste. I’d seen these make ahead smoothie packs all over Pinterest. When I finally made them, I realized they solved two of my pressing smoothie problems: Pre-washed spinach that goes bad before I can use...

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This recipe for easy sushi rolls is perfect for beginners! Includes step-by-step instructions for making cucumber sushi rolls.  I spent a lot of money at the sushi counter of my store before I realized how easy they are to make myself. This is also a great project for kids and a nice way of fitting in...

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Coconut sugar is billed as a wholesome, healthy alternative to regular sugar. But is that true? Here are the facts! Coconut sugar is trendy right now, billed as a wholesome alternative to sugar and cropping up in recipes for “healthier” baked goods. It’s even been dubbed a “superfood”. It’s also a lot pricier than sugar. At...

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Crepes feel fancy but are actually easy to make! Here’s a quick crepe recipe that makes a fun breakfast your family will enjoy. Crepes are not something you have to save for fancy brunch restaurants or even special occasions. I used to save crepes for Christmas morning. But they’re so fast and simple to make that...

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I tend to break all the classic rules when it comes to attending holiday parties. I don’t eat a healthy snack before I go. I don’t fill half my plate with vegetables. I don’t position myself at the opposite side of the room from the buffet. Instead, I usually arrive hungry, eat my very favorites,...

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Is your new Instant Pot still in the box? Have no fear! Here are three beginner Instant Pot recipes to get you started. If you have an Instant Pot but are afraid to use it, I feel your pain. I’m embarrassed to say that mine sat in the box for a solid two months before...

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If you need a good book for yourself or as a gift for someone you love, here are 11 books I read and loved this year. I read a lot of books this year, but these are the ones I enjoyed the most. I hope you’ll find some new ideas for yourself–or holiday gifts for...

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A lot has changed when it comes to feeding babies. Here are some of the biggest changes to know about (or pass along to family and caregivers)! Maybe you’re having your first baby and feel a little lost about feeding–or your third, but want to do things differently. Maybe your mother or well-meaning auntie is...

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This Make Ahead Slow Cooker Taco Meat recipe lets you cook once and have four meals in the freezer for busy nights. Thank you to the Ohio Beef Council for sponsoring this post!  My teenager’s favorite meal is beef tacos, so we eat them regularly. And I finally got smart this Fall and started batch-cooking...

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These Make Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches are a quick and energizing meal for kids and grown-ups. Easy to assemble and perfect for busy mornings. You know those ideas you keep spotting online, the ones that look awfully smart but also like Pinterest Fails waiting to happen? I kept seeing versions of these freezer breakfast sandwiches. They...

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These Homemade Pierogi with Potato & Cheese Filling are chewy and hearty–the ultimate family-friendly comfort food! I was asked to participate in this campaign with Cabot Creamery as a member of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network. I was compensated for my time. If you were lucky enough to have a grandma from Eastern Europe, your...

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Why are cattle given hormones? Are cattle treated humanely? Answers to your biggest questions–so you can make decisions that are right for your family. Thank you to the Ohio Beef Council for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.  As a dietitian who gives advice about feeding families, I’ve made it my goal to...

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Wellness Week is an easy, low cost program for students that encourages activity and healthy eating. Here are free printables to make it easy! For many years, my sons’ school held a Health Challenge every spring. It was created by one of the parents and was a hugely popular program. Kids tracked habits like how...

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What are healthy drinks for kids–and which ones should you limit or avoid? Here are some guidelines. Thanks to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own. There’s a lot of focus on what kids eat (or won’t eat!). But drinks deserve attention too– especially right now, because they’ve...

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There’s a lot of confusion and rumor surrounding natural flavors. Here are the facts so you can be more informed about this common ingredient. I wrote a shorter version of this post that appears on WebMD’s Food & Fitness Blog. Natural flavors are found in a lot of place: in your can of lime sparkling...

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Needing protein ideas for lunch boxes that aren’t meat? I’ve got 50 of them that your kids will love! One of the questions I’m asked most about lunch packing: What can I pack that has protein in it? Meat and poultry is a no-brainer source. But some kids don’t like meat or are vegetarian or...

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Need easy, kid-friendly ideas for lunch boxes? Check out these simple, nourishing recipes your kids will love having in their lunch. You’ll never catch me dissing a simple sandwich (read: In Praise of Boring Packed Lunches). But if you’re looking for something a little different, consider these lunchbox-ready recipes. You can make one or two...

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To celebrate the back-to-school season, I’m hosting a giveaway with some of my favorite lunch box gear and snacks! Here’s what one lucky Real Mom Nutrition reader will get: 1. One set of four EasyLunchboxes. These are our go-to lunch boxes because they’re durable, dishwasher-safe, and come in a set of four so there’s always a...

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Planning a national parks road trip to Utah and Arizona? Here’s our day-to-day itinerary with hotels, restaurants, and activities.  This summer our family visited seven parks in Utah and Arizona–in just six days. And we had a fantastic time!  We took this trip with my high school French exchange student and her family (yes, we’ve...

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No more wasted food and soggy sandwiches! Here are five common lunch box mistakes and how to fix them. Thank you to Produce For Kids for sponsoring this post. I’m honored to be their new official registered dietitian! If I’ve learned anything after packing approximately 2,300 lunch boxes, it’s that we all make mistakes. I’ve...

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A girl’s body image can really suffer during puberty. Here’s how you can help your daughter. This is a guest post by Maryann Jacobsen, MS, RD. Maryann is an author and family nutrition expert who empowers families to create a healthy relationship with food. She recently published My Body’s Superpower: The Girls’ Guide to Growing...

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The Snack Board is an easy, nutritious, and crowd-pleasing solution for summer! Here’s how to make an affordable one with ALDI. Thank you to ALDI for sponsoring this post! Summertime: when life gets a bit more laid-back, schedules get a little looser, and meals get a whole lot simpler. Nobody wants to be spending time...

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Your kids will love baking (and eating!) these soft, chewy Chocolate Granola Bars, from the cookbook Super Simple Baking For Kids. Are boxed granola bars in heavy rotation at your house? Wish you could replace some of those with a simple, homemade version–and even better, with a recipe your kids could make themselves? Charity Matthews...

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A chest freezer can easily turn into a black hole of cold food. Here’s how to organize a chest freezer cheaply and simply! If I go missing, I may have fallen into the chest freezer. That’s how it used to feel every time I dug though the contents to find the elusive package of bacon...

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