3 Family Meals under $10.00

I wanted to give families three healthy meals they could make over the holidays that each cost less than $10.00. I know a lot of us have company coming and can't afford to spend hundreds of extra dollars for food! These meals are for a family of four, but there will be left-over bread, eggs and chili. Registered Dietitian Hannah Lee from Methodist Medical Center came up with these options. I am thrilled with her suggestions. They are easy, affordable, healthy and my kids will actually eat them!

Meal #1

Chili
1. Lean ground beef-drain the fat before cooking (I use turkey)
2. Onion
3. 1/2 green pepper
4. 2 cans crushed tomatoes
5. 1 can tomato puree
6. 1 can kidney beans
7. 2 cans hot kidney beans

Corn Bread
1. 1 can corn

Pears
1. 2 cans of light pears

Meal #2

Pasta
1. Whole wheat rotini
2. Marinara sauce
3. Mozzarella cheese

Fresh Green Beans
(or another vegetable that is on sale)

Garlic Bread
1. Whole wheat loaf
2. Butter
3. Garlic powder
4. Mozzarella cheese

Applesauce
(the unsweetened generic brand)

Meal #3

Egg Casserole
1. Eggs
2. Hash brown potatoes
3. Shredded cheddar cheese
4. 1/2 green pepper
5. Broccoli
(you can substitute egg whites for less cholesterol)

Fruit Salad
1. Oranges
2. Bananas

I hope this makes your week a little easier! We used all generic items when shopping. Hannah says there really isn't much of a difference with these particular products.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Macy's Santa Letters

If you're headed to the mall this week, here's an easy way to get kids excited about giving back this holiday season!

This holiday season, Macy's wants everyone - from the most enthusiastic to the most cynical- to Believe in and embrace the holiday spirit of love and charity. As a parenting site, the Believe project may be of interest to you and your readers.

Writing letters to Santa Claus is an age-old tradition for children all over the world. Macy's is collecting these letters in a special Santa letterbox at all Macy's stores. For each letter received, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Believe Meter will measure America's belief, based on our collective spirit – including the amount of letters received and other current events that reflect the season's generosity.

I also wanted to let you know about how you can e-mail Santa and get a response! Just go to the EMAIL SANTA website and follow the prompts.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Strange way to prevent tooth decay!

New research finds there's a huge problem with our children's teeth and it's not cavities. It's a slow, silent process that's eating away at a tooth's enamel. I was surprised by some advice in this study. I always thought kids should brush their teeth right after they eat something with sugar! I guess I was wrong!

From Medstar: Finding out your child has a cavity is the last thing parents want to hear after a dental exam. but now there's something else to worry about. A first of its kind study finds that 30-percent of 10-to 14-year-olds have dental erosion. It's the loss of enamel caused by acids found in certain foods and drinks.

Dr.Bennett Amaechi said, "The thing is that at the early stage, dental erosion, the surface looks very shiny." So shiny, people don't usually notice a problem. Anna Vega enrolled three of her children in the study. Her 11-year-old's teeth had trouble spots. Anna Vega said, "I really didn't think it was doing any damage to them. I figured they ate it, they would brush and it turned out that stuff was doing harm to them."

Researchers focused on acidic products that cause dental erosion like: soda, sports drinks, herbal teas, fruit juices and some candies. and while you don't have to avoid them completely - moderation is key. Like cavities, catching erosion at its earliest can help prevent problems.
Dr. Bennett Amaechi said, "The key thing is that dentists should capture it at the early stage because if you leave it to get advanced, the patient will suffer by sensitivity."

Anna says her kids only have soda or candy on special occasions, because now they know the damage it can do. Experts also say don't have your children brush their teeth immediately after candy or soda. Have them rinse with milk first. it apparently helps break up the acid on their teeth before they brush.

FAST FACTS:
-Tooth erosion is the loss of enamel caused by exposure to acids.
-In a recent study, about 30 percent of middle school students were found to have some degree of tooth erosion.
-High acid foods and beverages, like colas and some citrus fruits, are more likely to cause tooth erosion.
-Patients can take steps to reduce the risk for tooth erosion.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Starting School Later

Would your kids be less likely to be in a traffic accident if school started later? New research says yes! I have been in several car accidents, but only one was my fault. I was 16-years old and driving my red three-speed 1965 Mustang. I left it in neutral at a stop light and hit the car in front of me.

Another time a car hit me head on in California and the car was totalled! I had to fly back home!

Then, I was hit by a semi from behind and smashed in between two other vehicles on I-80 in Chicago and totalled that car!

So, it would be nice if I could do something to avoid the same thing happening to my kids. I don't think the study really makes sense for my situation, but I have two boys who are bound to drive when they are tired at some point!

From ABC: Moving school start times ahead one hour can help teenagers catch up on much-needed sleep. One school district in Kansas conducted a county-wide experiment in which both middle-school and high school start times advanced by one hour. Not only did more kids start getting 8 hours of sleep per night, but teenage car crash rates decreased for the county.

Research shows that adolescents typically need 9 hours of sleep per night for optimal functioning, but in surveys, teens say they average around 7 hours - especially on school nights.
An experiment in one Kansas county suggests that shifting school start times by one hour results in more sleep for teens - and fewer automobile crashes as well.

Researchers from the University of Kentucky surveyed thousands of middle school and high school students both before and after a 1-hour shift in start times. Middle school began at 9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m., and high school started at 8:30 a.m. rather than 7:30 a.m. Results showed that the percentage of kids reporting 8 hours of sleep on weeknights rose from 36 percent to 50 percent.

The amount of "catch up" sleep teens needed on the weekend dropped by close to an hour. But perhaps most importantly, teen car crash rates declined 16.5% in the 2 years after the change - whereas elsewhere in the state, adolescent crash rates increased by nearly 8%.

Source: published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Autism Study

Parents of children with autism are terrified about what would happen to their kids if they weren't around. Will they be able to hold a job as adults? A new survey of around 1600 parents of children with autism shows which topics parents are most concerned about.

The Easter Seals "Living with Autism Study" will be used to prioritize the needs of our local families. Teaching kids with autism basic life skills like how to answer a phone or how to respond appropriately to basic questions is key.

Parents want their kids to be financially and socially independent. The President of the Peoria Chapter of the Autism Society of America said, "The thought of us not being there to take care of them and know what's best for them, terrifies us. And that's why it is so important for us to get the services for our children that we need to teach them the skills they need to survive."

Just last week, Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the Autism Insurance Bill into law. Families are grateful, but say it's not enough.

You can find more information about this study by going to CI.EasterSeals.com:

These are just a sampling of the powerful sentiments parents of children with autism shared with Easter Seals through its new nationwide Living with Autism Study. As one of the nation’s largest providers of autism treatment and services, the one consistent message Easter Seals hears from families – after the initial anxiety of learning their child has autism – is an overwhelming concern about the life-long supports their child with autism will need.

For example, when it comes to parents of children with autism:

-Nearly 80% are extremely or very concerned about their child’s independence as an adult, compared to only 32% of parents of typically-developing children.
-They’re worried their child won’t fit into society, with few feeling their child will:
Make his own life decisions (14% vs. 65% of parents of typically-developing children)
Have friends (17% vs. 57%)
Have a spouse/life partner (9% vs. 51%)
Participate in recreational activities (20% vs. 50%)
-They report they’re “financially drowning,” with concerns for their child’s financial future seeming to far surpass the worries of parents with typically-developing children.
-74% fear their child will not have enough financial support after they die, while only 18% of parents with typically-developing children share this same fear.

Easter Seals will use the findings to shed new light on the ongoing challenges facing people living with autism, raising awareness of and advocating for the life-long services millions of families living with autism desperately need. We hope you find this intimate information from families living with autism helpful as you craft current and future autism-related stories. Easter Seals has an array of autism experts available to speak to you, as well as an eager group of families willing to share their personal experiences as they navigate their day-to-day lives – with autism.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Cubs Vacation Pictures!

Wow! All I have to say is amazing!  It was an unbelievable vacation! If you haven't been following this blog, I was part of the AAA/Cubs/Universal trip! Players like Aramis Ramirez, Giovanni Soto, Mark DeRosa, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins, Gary Mathews, Lee Smith, and Jodi Davis. There is so much to share about the trip. My husband is a HUGE Cubs fan and we would have never guessed how approachable and friendly the players were. It was literally like we were on vacation with the Cubs!  From the first day at the breakfast and autograph session we got to meet every player there and they were absolutely perfect with my three boys (I'm including my husband).  

The next day we took a bus ride to Jackie Robinson ball park in Daytona--where on the bus Jodi Davis and Gary Matthews sat with the group and commented as we watched the 84 Playoffs (Game 1 where they won). Gary Matthews even did a little dance when they showed him hitting a home run in the first inning.  When we got to the field, there were five baseball stations where the players taught the group different tips on the game. For example, Bill Williams taught you how to swing and watched you take a couple of swings in the cage, while Giovanni Soto taught you how to throw form the mound and Aramis Ramirez hit ground balls to everyone after he gave a few tips on how to field the hot corner. 

The event ended with a special "Fear Factor Live" session where some of the group participants went up against the players. One fan actually beat Aramis in the finals!  Then after that there was a reception/party with the players and a band and the players went from table to table and chatted with all the guests. The players brought there families and you really were able to get to know them and they were very friendly. The trip was way beyond our expectations! For my little 5 year old (who was so shy), the players were so accommodating. Mark DeRosa and Geo Soto somehow got him to take take a picture with them and Aramis was able to get him to spell his name as he signed his brand new Ramirez jersey-which my husband says will now be framed and never worn!  

That's what my husband loved about the trip. My little boys say there favorite part was meeting Scooby Doo and Spiderman! Go figure! They really did have a great time meeting all the characters and going on the rides. The Dr. Seuss area was a blast. My 22 month old got to ride on the train there this year and he was bursting with excitement about that. It was so cute! And the four star hotel were we stayed--I have never stayed anywhere so nice. It was fabulous! 

Thanks to AAA for a great event! I hope they do it again next year!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Baby's birth and Asthma

From ABC: Could the month of your baby's birth influence his or her later risk for asthma? New research suggests that babies born in the fall might have greater chance for developing childhood asthma. Doctors speculate that young infants' exposure to winter viruses might be the reason for the increased risk.

Today, approximately 6 percent of children develop asthma - a rate that has doubled since the early 80s. Doctors say there are many reasons why one child develops asthma while another remains healthy, including genetic differences, body weight, and exposure to pollution.

But new findings suggest there may be another trigger - winter viruses. Researchers from Vanderbilt University studied more than 95,000 babies and found those born in the fall had a higher risk for childhood asthma. When they took a closer look, they discovered that the peak of winter virus activity was really to blame.

Babies born about 4 months before the winter peak had the highest risk of asthma, around 30% greater than babies born at other times. Researchers theorize that respiratory infections in young infants - who still have immature immune systems - may help trigger the asthma.

Parents should wash their hands frequently to help reduce the spread of viruses to babies and young children, and keep infants away from people who are actively sick.

Source: published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

My oldest child was born in the fall. He does not have asthma, but does have allergies. I think they're significant, but I have no idea if that's related to when he was born. Do your kids have asthma?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Holiday Letters

Do you write holiday letters letting people know what is happening with your family? I have never done this, but I do enjoy getting them. I know, I know, I have heard many people poke fun at those letters. But I really enjoy them. I always take a family picture. I put the ones I get from friends up at our house-usually until April! My husband laughs at me because I leave them up so long, but they make me happy!

Do you write holiday letters? Do you enjoy getting them?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.