LiveSmart: Heart Health Meal Plan

Good Morning friends!

I’m very excited to share with you a new program from Schwan’s Home Service called “EAT FOR FREE”(tm). I love SCHWAN’S(r) products, quality and convenience and want to share this incredible new program with all of my friends! You probably know Schwan’s Home Service from the delicious foods they deliver right to your front door in their famous INCA GOLD trucks.

The “EAT FOR FREE”(tm) Program is a rewards and loyalty program where you refer friends and family and earn back rewards on their online purchases – and with enough referrals and their online purchases can begin to eat for free! I am excited about the opportunity to start receiving free food each month by referring friends and family… it’s so easy there’s no reason not to. Enrollment is fast, simple and free, click the link to learn more. Click Here

Rewards are simple to earn and delicious to redeem. So start referring, redeeming and eating for free today!

To give you an idea of some of the great things Schwan’s has to offer: Specials.

Enjoy

Cornbread Southern Style

Ingredients:

2 cups cornmeal
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted shortening

Instructions:

Mix dry ingredients together in mixing bowl. Stir in buttermilk and egg. Grease muffin tin or loaf mold with shoretning or oil. Pour batter. (fill muffin tins about half full each) Bake 15 minutes at 450 degrees F.

Apple Nachos with Peanut Butter Sauce

Ingredients:

1 apple (diced)
1 banana (halved and sliced)
2 whole pita breads
1/4 cup butter, melted (1/2 stick)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Sauce Ingredients:

1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup of whole milk
1 tablespoon of honey

Instructions:

Cut the pitas in half so you have two half circles, then

cut in half again, creating 4 triangle shapes from each.

Separate and pull bread apart at the edge where it’s still attached. Brush pita chips with butter and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 400 degrees F for 5 – 7 minutes. While baking, prepare sauce by melting together peanut butter, honey and milk in a small saucepan. Serve chips drizzled with sauce and add sliced apples and banana to the plate for a fun lunch or after school snack.

Chunky Chicken Salad Lunch Idea

Ingredients:

2 chicken breast halves, cooked and diced.
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup grated carrots
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

Instructions:

Bake the chicken for 20 minutes at 350 degrees or just use leftover chicken. Cook frozen peas according to package directions. (you can substitute a drained can of peas but the flavor isn’t as good and the peas aren’t as “green”) Chop and shred chicken. Mix with cooked peas, mayo, grated carrot, and parsley. Spread on crackers, bagels, pita shells, etc. Add cheese and a salad for a complete lunch.

*TIP: Create your own homemade version of a Lunchable and send with your kids to school.

Dogs in a Cheese Blanket

Easy and fun, the kids can help make these.

Ingredients:

8 of your favorite brand of hot dogs
8 slices american cheese
1 tube of refrigerated crescent rolls

Instructions:

Wrap cheese around hot dog. Wrap crescent dough around hot dog and cheese. Place on non stick or lightly sprayed with cooking spray cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 – 10 minutes until golden brown (refer to crescent roll package to get a rough idea on cooking time)

24 Reasons to Gather Around the Dinner Table

How often does your family have dinner together? If you’re like most families nowadays, the answer is probably, “Not very often.”

It’s understandable. Modern families are busy. Both parents work and sometimes get home at different times. Children have activities to go to, and Mom’s got to drive them all over the place. Really, who’s got the time and energy to even cook dinner every single night?

You, that’s who! Eating together is good for you and your family. So you better make time and find the energy to make home-cooked meals and sit down and eat together more often.

Researchers have found many benefits to home-cooked meals. Watch this video to learn about some of them. In my own experience, though, there are many more. Here are 24 reasons I have found to share family meals more often:

1. Families who eat together eat healthier, because home-cooked food is healthier than fast food.

2. Family meals allow busy families to catch up with each other.

3. Young children learn a lot of verbal skills just by eating with their family members.

4. It gives everyone a chance to unwind after a busy day.

5. Having family meals more often forces you to end your working day and other obligations in time for dinner.

6. Home cooked meals are not only healthier, they’re also cheaper than takeout food or eating out.

7. Eating together forces everybody to tell stories.

8. Cooking at home motivates you to be creative with your meal planning and cooking.

9. Children can get involved in cooking meals.

10. Cooking and eating together creates happy childhood memories.

11. Eating together is an opportunity to explore different cuisines.

12. Eating with your family is more fun than eating in front of the television (or the computer).

13. Eating together gives parents a chance to talk about current events from their point of view, injecting their personal values without giving a lecture.

14. Eating together helps family members bond and get to know each other better.

15. You’ll be surprised what your kids reveal when you’re in a relaxed environment, such as a family meal.

16. Kids are less likely to roll their eyes when you reminisce and tell stories from your childhood while eating a meal together.

17. Family meals can be good teaching moments, even for small children. My toddler learned how to count by counting after-meal treats on his high chair.

18. Eating together is a good opportunity to teach and model good manners.

19. Family meals give a good transition from work or school to home life.

20. Family meals are also good times to share music together.

21. Family meals teach everyone valuable life skills, such as sharing and taking turns.

22. Stopping and sitting down to a meal gives everyone a chance to quiet down and regroup.

23. Family meals provide an additional occasion for family members to pray together.

24. Eating home is more eco-friendly than eating out or ordering food – less waste!

If you think having family meals is too much work, don’t despair. You can get help for everything from meal planning to putting your weekly grocery shopping list together. Check out Dine Without Whine for kid-tested, quick recipes that will help you put together family meals with less effort. Dine Without Whine’s weekly shopping lists will also help you get food shopping done much faster, and even save money on groceries.

As you can see from the list above, the extra time and effort you spend to have family meals more often are worthwhile.

Made with Love Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
1 small onion, finely diced
1/2 cup diced carrots
2 stalks celery, sliced (leaves included)
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 cups water
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1-1/2 cups uncooked no yolk egg noodles

Instructions:

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, combine everything except the noodles. Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat and stir occasionally.

Cook until chicken is no longer pink. At this point bring back to a boil and stir in the noodles. Cook for 10 minutes or until noodles are tender. Stir frequently.

Pita-rific Turkey and Veggies

Something about a round sandwich makes kids happy!

Ingredients:

4 ounces cooked turkey breast (sliced, cubes, ground … etc… whatever is on hand)
Lettuce shreds
1 tomato, sliced
1 green pepper, chopped up
1 cup shredded or cubed cheddar cheese
Low fat ranch dressing
4 pita rounds

Instructions:

Divide turkey into 4 portions and fill bottom of pita shells. Mix tomato, peppers and cheese in a bowl and toss with the ranch dressing until well coated. Use this mixture to finish filling each pita.

Wake Me Up Tacos

Ingredients:

6 ounces of breakfast sausage
1 can refried beans
1 tablespoon butter or margerine
8 eggs, beaten
12 taco shells (crunchy or soft whichever you prefer)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups diced tomatoes
2 cups green pepper
2 cups favorite salsa

Instructions:

Brown sausage in skillet, drain as usual. Mix sausage and refried beans together in a large bowl. Melt butter in skillet, add eggs and scramble as you usually would. Fill taco shells by layering meat/bean mix, scrambled egg, cheese, tomato, pepper and salsa.

No Bread Ham & Cheese Pinwheels

Ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 dill pickles, chopped
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
5 slices ham

Instructions:

Combine cream cheese with pickles, mustard and chives. Spread mixture on ham slices and roll them up. Wrap each rolled up slice in foil. Put rolls into fridge and and chill overnight or for at least 2 hours. Unwrap and slice. Great in place of a sandwich at lunchtime.

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