Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Is anyone else as excited as I am about the impending weather?!?  Super Snack Lady LOVES snow.  Super Snack Lady LOVES a white holiday season.  As a teacher Super Snack Lady still gets giddy about snow storms and the possibility of a snow day just as much as kids do.  

If you haven't heard- TONIGHT and tomorrow (Wednesday and Thursday) there is a HUGE snowstorm and blizzard heading our way here in Cedar Rapids.  Look below to see how much snow they are predicting:

 

As you can see, we are going to get dumped on in a major way with snow, snow, and snow.

This brings up three thing:
1) PLEASE BE SAFE. With this storm there is supposed to be very high winds and we are currently under a blizzard warning starting Wednesday night.  Stay inside, bundled up.  Enjoy the falling and blowing snow from a warm place.
2)  Get bundled up when you are going outside. With the wind chills and strong winds it will be very chilly.  While playing outside in the winter and snow is a ton of fun it is also important to remember that you have all of your snow gear on:  Heavy winter jacket, snow pants, boots, thick socks, sweat shirt, gloves/mittens, and stocking cap are all needed to stay warm in this weather.

3) Shoveling snow is GREAT exercise! You can burn a ton of calories in just an hour from shoveling snow, not to mention that it can be quite fun.  So while some people dread shoveling the snow, remember you are getting great physical activity in for the week. 

Stay safe during this winter weather!!! You can look forward to seeing Super Snack Lady at your school after the winter break.  Happy Holidays to your family and Happy New Year!

 

How to Eat Yourself Healthy This Cold and Flu Season

Everyone that Super Snack Lady knows is getting sick.  Colds, flu, coughing, sneezing- you name it and someone has it!  There are a couple things you can do to stay healthy this holiday and winter season.

1) WASH YOUR HANDS.  I know, it seems simple and like common sense.  I've heard statistics that say that classrooms that deliberately washed their hands thoroughly 2 times a day (mid morning and mid afternoon) had far less students out sick as compared to other classrooms in the same school building.  Wash your hands even when you haven't used the rest room or are going to eat.  Germs are everywhere and combat them by washing your hands frequently!

2) Eat fruits and vegetables that are high in Vitamin C.  Vitamin C is great for helping your immune system function at the best possible rate.  The following fruits and vegetables are very high in Vitamin C (and some of them might surprise you!). 

• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Grapefruits
• Lemon
• Limes
• Papaya
• Kiwi (the fruit of the month for December!)
• Bell Peppers
• Brussel Sprouts
• Watermelon
• Cantaloupe
• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli (the vegetable of the month for December!)
• Cauliflower
• Tomatoes
• Pineapple
• Butternut Squash
• Herbs such as Cilantro, Chives, Thyme, Basil, and Parsley.

Who knew that there were so many tasty ways to stay healthy?

3)  Avoid or limit exposure to other sick people.  If you are sick, don't go out in public or go to work.  If your child is sick don't do play dates or send them to school.  Also, make sure to wash your hands frequently when you are in public places as people might be sick and you are being exposed unknowingly.

4)  Get your rest. The easiest way for Super Snack Lady to get sick is always being on the go and being stressed out.  My doctor once told me a good piece of advice- if you are tired, then rest.  A cat nap after work or a quick snooze when a kid gets home from school might just be what the body is craving in order to fight off illness.  This is an especially challenging one to try to do during the holiday times when things get so hectic; it is also the perfect excuse to fall asleep on the couch to a classic holiday movie!

5) Sanitize your home!  Once a week Super Snack Lady and her husband use disinfecting wipes and sanitize surfaces in our home such as door knobs, computer keyboards and mice, counter tops, knobs on sinks, and refrigerator handles.  When sick, Super Snack Lady goes the extra mile and disinfects everything- pencils, pens, remote control, cell phone, blankets, pillows, and anything else that I come in contact with on a regular basis.

I hope this blog post finds you feeling well and if it doesn't- use some of the tips above to make yourself feel better and help your body fight off whatever you have going on.

Introducing.... FLAT SUPER SNACK LADY!

Have you ever heard of Flat Stanley?  It's a wonderful children's book about a normal, average boy named Stanley.  One day a bulletin board falls on Stanley and makes him, "as flat as a pancake"!!  While it is an adjustment he gets used to being flat and enjoys sliding under doors and even being flat enough to be put into an envelope and shipped to California! You can find out more about the book here: Flat Stanley books on Amazon

Many schools use a Flat Stanley activity on geography and often send their own version of Flat Stanley to relatives and friends and talk about how far Flat Stanley traveled.  Well, Super Snack Lady decided to make her own version of this fun activity.  So, I introduce to you:

FLAT SUPER SNACK LADY!!!!



It looks just like me, right?!  :)    There are a couple different Flat Super Snack Ladies being sent around the country.  The first one got sent out to Utah to Super Snack Lady's aunt and uncle. Flat Super Snack Lady will be showing how people are staying active and eating awesome, healthy foods from all of the United States.  Check back soon for more on the Adventure of FLAT Super Snack Lady!!!

How to make Fruits and Veggies EXCITING!

I have received word from some parents, teachers, and other staff at the surprise of what I've been able to get kids to eat while I've been visiting the schools.  I often get something like, "My kid would never eat   _______ (fill in the blank with a fruit or veggie) before you visited their classroom.  How did you get them to eat it?!?"

Well, I'll let you in on my secrets! 
1) I try to make new fruits and veggies FUN to try. I do this by having the kids close their eyes and I'll describe the produce.  They then guess what it is once they think they know.  This mystery of getting to guess really gets them excited.  I have done it before when they close their eyes and feels the produce too- this doesn't work so well with so many kids but at home it would be perfect.
2) We closely inspect the fruits and veggies before we try them and pretend we are scientist making new discoveries about our produce.  We use our five senses- how does the produce look?  What does it feel like?  Does it smell like anything we've smelled before? When we bite into it does it make a sound?  And lastly, what does it taste like? 
3) We do fun tests- like the "squishy test" (where we see if the fruit or veggies are hard or soft) or the "rub test" where we rub the produce to see how it feels.
4)  We ALL try the fruits and veggies.  In the month of November the fruit was pears and Super Snack Lady strongly dislikes pears.  However, I did try the pears at every single visit to show the kids how to be brave.  It's also noteworthy that I've had some AMAZING teachers who have "taken one for the team" and try fruits and veggies that they don't like at all just to show the kids that they should be brave and try it too.  Setting a good example for kids is key. If you don't eat it, how can you expect them to want to try it?

Want to be creative with the produce at your house?  I'd check out the book I'll Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (you can find it on Amazon through this link).  Charlie and Lola get creative with the names of their fruits and veggies and then are surprised at how good they taste once they just give them a little try!

Happy Tasting! (As a family of course)

Keeping Active in Colder Weather

Now that it's colder out and the sun goes down shortly after school lets out it is getting harder and harder to find time to keep physically active.  The cold weather is also making me want to cuddle up on the couch with a good book or to catch the latest TV program.  HOWEVER as Super Snack Lady I know it is very important to stay active.  Check out the pictures below to see what I did on a recent Tuesday afternoon when I didn't have a school visit:



Super Snack Lady was all geared up for skating- mittens,
long sleeved shirt, hat are all recommended.  For
really young skaters I would also recommend
a helmet (I've seen bike helmets used, but a skating
helmet would probably be best).



Woosh!  There I go- Super Fast around the rink, while
being careful about my safety and keeping my balance.



Since I went in the middle of the afternoon when all
kids are in school I was the only one there.  I had a
blast though and enjoyed the music blaring
through the speakers! 

















If you want to ice skate the is one main option in the Cedar Rapids area.  I went to skate at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena (Ice Arena website) which was affordably priced at $5 for skate rental and skating.  Not to mention that since it's inside then it doesn't matter what it's doing outside (hot or cold!) it's the same temperature inside!  Check it out on the weekends or even over winter break!

Fruit Pizza (A Favorite of Super Snack Lady!)

Your healthy recipe of the month is MMMMM Good Fruit Pizza!!! :)

Super Snack Lady struggles with eating healthy in the month of December truthfully.  There are holiday parties, work parties, family gatherings with sweet treats, stress (which makes Super Snack Lady crave unhealthy things that shouldn't be eaten too often), and other factors like family coming from out of town for special visits. 

On top of that Super Snack Lady will admit that she isn't the best about eating fruits when it's not summer time.  Have you ever noticed that about yourself?  When fruits are in season in the summer and it's hot out it's so easy to grab a juicy grape or yummy watermelon and just devour it.  However in the winter months when your body craves other foods it's hard to keep up the healthy habit of eating good fruits (though they are out of season).  That is why Super Snack Lady picked this recipe for the month of December.  As a reminder of healthy, yummy fruits that can be eaten all year around. Not to mention with the end product looking so fancy it would be perfect to take to a holiday party or family gathering!

Follow this link to get the recipe from the ISU Extension Office's Spend Smart. Eat Smart. website : MMMM Good Fruit Pizza 

Where did November go? HELLO December!

Am I the only one who finds it hard to believe that November is done at the end of this week?  Between the Thanksgiving holiday and lots and lots of school visits Super Snack Lady has been very busy!

November was filled with delicious smashed up sweet potatoes and yummy pear sauce.  December will feature a brand new fruit and vegetable.  Most of you will experience the fruit below but due to food allergies some of you will get something different (how mysterious is that?!).  So, check out the photos below and be ready to guess what the produce of the month is when Super Snack Lady visits YOUR classroom in December!

Can you guess this hairy looking fruit?  Only about
half of it is shown in this picture.



Here is the vegetable!  However, this is the stem
of the vegetable and traditionally you don't
eat this part.  Super Snack Lady is getting
tricky this month kids!! 



Post Thanksgiving Work Outs

If you are anything like me, Super Snack Lady, then you might have had a little too much fun over Thanksgiving break! I found myself snacking on things like cookies and soda pop.  Yep, even Super Snack Lady eats foods that aren't the best for you sometimes.  Now that Thanksgiving is over it's time for me (and you!) to get back on board with being healthy!  Below are some video clips that show short little work outs to get your bodies moving (teachers- they make great brain breaks in the classroom too!).  So, let's get off the couch and get back to being healthy!!

Exercise like a Rock Star 

Exercise like a Surfer 

Exercise like You're Camping 

Exercise like a Dinosaur! 

Exercise like You're at a Party 

Also- on Wednesday I'll be posting the foods for the month of December so check back to get a sneak preview!

JSA's Healthy Families Night!

Last week Super Snack Lady hosted a Healthy Families Night at Johnson School of the Arts!  It coinsided with their conference night and the school's pancake dinner.  It featured a super awesome Zumba instructor from the YMCA (Brenda), a Healthy Topping Bar to add to the pancakes, the ISU Extension Office's own EFNEP (Extended Food and Nutrition Education Program) staff, and Betty and Bobo's Better Breads from the NewBo Market!  Check out the photos below to see some of the fun and look for posters at your school in the coming months to see when Super Snack Lady will be putting on a Healthy Families Night at your school!








Super Snack Lady was ready to greet
families as they came to Healthy
Families Night.  There was a
Produce Prize given to one lucky
student!





A JSA student stands next to her fruit and veggie
artwork that she created for this event!
It is hanging in the hallway next to the cafe.





The yummy toppings of granola (provided by
New Pioneer Coop in Iowa City) and fruit
(provided by Johnson Avenue Hy-Vee) that
families put on top of their pancakes!




The EFNEP staff all ready to help families
make oatmeal and salsa!  They also give
free nutrition lessons to families.




Mr. Uhde (Johnson's principal) was excited to
be the first person to use the Pledge Wall. 
He pledged to do one more hour of physical
activity a week.  Thanks for being a great example!





Peter and Jerry from Betty and Bobo's
Better Breads were handing out samples
at Healthy Families Night and talking
about how they make their bread.
You can find them inside of the NewBo Market!





Super Snack Lady was trying her hardest
to Zumba!  Super Snack Lady used to play
sports, but she's not much of dancer.  She had fun

trying it out though!



Schools Are On Board with Super Snack Lady

Super Snack Lady has been very busy the last month or so going around to schools, meeting with principals, meeting with teachers, and even going to PTA meetings. 



Did you know that Super Snack Lady is currently visiting 5 schools a month?  Not to mention that she's working on scheduling even another school.  Super Snack Lady sees almost 800 students per month! That means that Super Snack Lady is one VERY busy lady (please forgive me if I see you in public and can't remember what school you go to or your name.  I try my best!). 

Though Super Snack Lady has been busy she can tell you that all of the schools have been busy encouraging students to eat healthier.  Teachers have been teaching lessons when Super Snack Lady hasn't been there, cafeterias have been putting up posters to inform students how easy it is to eat yummy fruits and veggies, and students have been staying active (thanks for saying hi to me as I run the track at the downtown YMCA!). 

It's a group effort to get kids to try new, healthy foods.  That's where YOU (the parent, guardian, role model) comes into play.  Please ask your student if Super Snack Lady has been to their school recently.  Please ask them what foods were brought.  Please ask them if they liked the food their tried.  Lastly, if they liked the foods please attempt to purchase the food again for them to reinforce the good behavior of eating healthy!  It's a team effort to get children to eat healthy and you are a VERY important player on our team!!!!

Below are ways the schools are supporting and reinforcing Super Snack Lady's message!

This is an example of a poster that
teachers can hang in their classrooms.

These window clings show two of the new menu items
for this school year: spinach and melon.  It's always
a healthy pick of the day!

This window cling was placed on a "sneeze shield" at
a salad bar area at a school. 
YUM KIWI!  :)

 

One cafeteria put their signs all along the wall where
students wait to go through line.
It's a great daily reminder of the awesome foods
that they can eat! 

Did you Know?

Did you know that whoever the First Lady (the President of the United States' wife) is traditionally take on an "issue" that they care about and then make it their focus while their husband is in office?

Michelle Obama decided to take on childhood obesity while her husband, Barack Obama, is in office. She started a campaign to get kids off the couch.  She called the campaign "Let's Move!" It all about healthy eating for kids along with getting more physically active.  On the website for Let's Move! (http://www.letsmove.gov/) they provide practical advice on getting healthy.

Back in 2009 Mrs. Obama decided that the White House was missing something.... A GARDEN!!!   They started out small and now they have a huge garden that produces hundreds of pounds of produce (fruits and veggies) a year!!!  The produce is used in the White House kitchen and is eaten by the President, First Lady, their daughters, along with many different official personnel and guests to the White House.  

No matter what your political views are I think we can all agree that the focus on getting our children healthy, eating more natural foods, and stopping childhood obesity is a great thing.  I am happy that Mrs. Obama has not only taken on this goal, but is also setting a great example for families all across the country.

Mrs. Obama and local school children breaking ground on the White House Kitchen Garden, Spring 2009.

Mrs. Obama and local school children harvesting the produce from the White House Kitchen Garden.

Mrs. Obama and the Obama's dog, Bo, enjoying the view in the White House Kitchen Garden.

 Want to know more about the White House Kitchen Garden?  Visit this official video to see how the garden got started and what they use the produce for! - The Kitchen Garden at the White House

What to Do in November?

Notice anything different outside?  With the ending of Daylight Savings Time we've seen the start of early, early nights with the sun setting by 5pm.  It seems like it has gotten colder instantly with the month changing to November too.  Even this major change can't get Super Snack Lady down!

November is still a good time to be outside and enjoying the "nice" weather (it is still above zero degrees so that's considered good weather, right?).  It's important to remember to wear the right clothing as it continues to get colder outside.  Long sleeve shirts, sweat shirts, sweat pants, heavy winter jackets, mittens, and stocking hats are all appropriate for enjoying the great outdoors this month.  Remember, if your body is moving it will help you keep warm so head outside to play at the local playground, throw around a football, or just play a game of tag with some neighbor friends.  Soon it'll be too cold to spend a lot of time outside so get out and enjoy it while you can!

Need some ideas on some inside fun?  For relatively inexpensive amounts you can go to the following places:



Super Skate- They have many different sessions depending on the day of the week.  The weekend is the most popular time to go and get your roller skating and roller blading on!  Average cost is under $10 per person to rent skates and enjoy the music and friends.


The Playstation- They are open every day until at least 7pm if not 8pm or even 9pm.  It costs $7 per child and your child can run around and play all day if you want!  The enormous indoor play center is a great way for your child to get some physical activity as the weather turns chillier.


Playtime Poppy-  Come and check out one of the Playtime Poppy shows that is going on this year.  Disney's Little Mermaid Jr. The Musical is playing at Kennedy High School on November 29th and 30th and December 1st.  On November 29th and 30th (Thursday and Friday) the show times are 4:30pm and 7pm.  On December 1st the show times are 2pm and 4:30pm.  Tickets are $3 and the show last about an hour.

Yummy Roasted Veggies- Just in Time for Thanksgiving!

The recipe for the month of November comes from the ISU Extension website titled "Spend Smart, Eat Smart" which has low cost, nutritional meals.  It is some yummy roasted veggies which would be perfect for any Thanksgiving table or on a chilly fall night. You could easily double or triple the recipe so you have enough for all of your family at a large gathering (like the upcoming holidays).

This link has the recipe:  Easy Roasted Veggies

ENJOY!!!

November Preview- New Fruit and New Veggie!

First- HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  Please be safe tonight as you go trick and treating.  Also, try not to eat all of your candy in one sitting.  It's not the healthiest choice and will give you a tummy ache!

Secondly, tomorrow is November 1st!  That means another round of school visits and Super Snack Lady will be unveiling 1 new fruit and 1 new vegetable!  Below you'll find pictures that are hints at the new produce.  What do you think they are?  I can't wait to hear your ideas when I come to your school in November.  See you soon!

This is the vegetable for the month of November.
You are up close and personal with it.
Any guesses on what it is?

This is the top of the fruit for November. 
This fruit comes in different colors, though
the color pictured is most common.
What fruit is this?

 If you- or your class- has a guess, just submit a comment on this post!  Perhaps there will be a prize for the class or person with the correct guess! (If you are a student submitting an answer, make sure to put your school please so that I know where to take your prize)


Last thing-  On the right hand side of your screen is a "SUBSCRIBE" button.  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG! It will send you a little email everytime I updatethis blog so that you know to check out what cool things Super Snack Lady is up to, along with healthy tips, free or inexpensive activities in the community, and fun physical activities.

1 Month Under Super Snack Lady's Belt

It's hard to believe that it's already been a month since Super Snack Lady has undergone training to become a super hero of healthy foods! It's been a very busy October for Super Snack Lady with visiting 4 schools, preparing yummy foods, and meeting with teachers and principals to set up more fun visits for the whole school year.  Hopefully by November I'll be in all 6 schools and will literally be teaching almost 1,000 kids a month about healthy, nutritious, delicious fruits and vegetables!

Super Snack Lady with a quick minute before her class comes back from specials.  They were pretty surprised to see a Healthy Super Hero waiting for them with a tasty treat!

Super Snack Lady (Ms. Sarah) at Garfield Elementary on her very first day of visits to schools.  Garfield students were VERY brave about trying the black grapes, red grapes, and green grapes.  Though they wish that Super Snack Lady would have brought ranch, they loved the carrots in their natural, yummy, crunchy state!







Super Snack Lady wants to know:  What did YOU learn in October?  Are you being braver like a super hero and trying new fruits and vegetables?  Did you ask your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunt, or uncle to buy you yummy black grapes?  Or what about the juicy red grapes?  Or did you prefer the sour green grapes?  Have you tried your carrots with no ranch or dipping sauce and instead just ate them like Bugs Bunny? Hopefully you enjoyed the fruit and vegetable of October and Super Snack Lady can't wait to introduce you to 2 new foods in November.  

Check back on Wednesday (Halloween) to get two photos that will be hints to what I'm serving up in November!

Until Wednesday, please have a safe Halloween.  Remember, eating candy is alright- as long as you don't eat too much at once.  Perhaps you should have a rule at your house that you have to do a short burst of physical activity before you eat a piece of candy.  For example: 10 jumping jacks, 1 lap around the outside of your house, or playing fetch with the dog. Just a healthy idea for some junk food treats.  :)

Let's Dance?!

How are you staying active in October?  The weather has been up and down, warm and cold, sunny and rainy, and everything in between! I've been struggling to find things to do inside during days and days of rain!  You too?  Some days I've taken my dog for a walk, other days I've raked the yard (many, many times due to the wind!), and still other days I've found myself at the local YMCA going for a jog and lifting some weights. 

As I get to the Y my attention is always drawn to the studio room where I can see people smiling, laughing, and DANCING to loud, fun music.  I must admit that some days I go home and pull up You Tube (kids- you should ALWAYS have parent permission before you go to any website, especially You Tube) and find Zumba or hip hop dances on there that teach you how to dance, step-by-step. 

Below you will find some kid friendly dances that I found on You Tube.  Click away and dance with your kids in the living room- even if the dog looks at you funny (like mine does!).

A step, by step, dance how to for kids! (Hip hop themed!)

Let's Move! Interlude dance with Michelle Obama and Govenor Branstad (and 14,000 Iowan kids!)

Just Dance for Kids- Despicable Me song 

Other good dance songs- The Cha Cha Slide, the YMCA, The Hokey Pokey, and Cupid Shuffle, just to name a few.

If you don't want your kids on You Tube, then just turn on the radio and make up your own dance!  Each station will give you a different type of music and then you can create your own line dance, hip hop dance, slow dance and everything in between!

Remember, being "good" at dancing isn't important- it's important that you TRY YOUR BEST and HAVE FUN!!!!

(P.S.  Just so you know- I am human too.  In fact I am writing this blog from my couch today due to walking phenomena.  Staying active is important, but eating healthy and getting enough rest is just as important.  So, as colds are passed around make sure you wash your hands, eat fruits and veggies, stay active, and REST!)

Carving Pumpkins Can Create a Wonderful Snack

What do you do when you carve your pumpkins around Halloween time?  The first thing I do is cut the top of the pumpkin and start scooping out all of the gooey, gross seeds and stringy guts out.  I always have a big trash can and just scoop the inside out and put it in the trash.  Well... NOT THIS YEAR!

This year I saved the seeds and decided to make a yummy, crunchy snack.  Let me tell you, it is pretty easy too!  This is what you need to do:

1) Scoop out the "guts" of the pumpkin but sit aside the seeds.  (A colander to wash the seeds would be ideal, though any container would be fine.)  



 








2) Wash the seeds.
3) Dry the seeds by patting them dry with paper towels.

 









4)  Using a teaspoon of Olive Oil toss the seeds (about 1-2 cups of seeds) until they are lightly coated .
5) Sprinkle on the seasoning of choice such as:  cayenne, lightly salted, curry, barbeque seasoning, cinnamon and sugar, or even red pepper flakes. 
6)  Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes, stirring/flipping the seeds occasionally.
7) Let the seeds cool down and enjoy!

Leave a comment on your favorite flavor combination!

First Day of School Visits was a ..... TOTAL SUCCESS!!!

Though Super Snack Lady is actually a licensed teacher she will admit that she still gets nervous before meeting new groups of kids.  S.S.L. (Super Snack Lady for short) woke up early this morning eager to start her first day of school visits and once she got the Garfield Elementary the excitement only grew!  SSL must say that all of the students listened very well and we got to try a pretty awesome fresh fruit and a fresh veggie both!  Some older classes even got a surprise, mystery veggie that some kids had never had before!

Stay tuned for photos once teachers send them to SSL (because she can't teach and take photos at the same time!).  In the mean time, SSL will say that she had a FABULOUS first day of teaching kiddos about fresh produce, where it comes from, and how to prepare it. 

Thank you to the wonderful principal, teachers, and students at Garfield for making my first day so amazing! I can't wait to get into the other schools!! (PS- do you see the wonderfully colored tree in the picture.  I LOVE FALL!)

Prepping for School Visits :)

This week I officially start my school visits to some of the schools!  This is a very exciting time for me as I've been prepping for a long time to get things ready to make this an awesome year of exposing children to fresh produce and fun physical activities.

Garfield and Van Buren schools- I'll see you this week!!!!

Here I am getting goody bags ready for teachers at Garfield Elementary, which I visit tomorrow.  Every teacher gets books for their classroom along with fun physical activity cards.  Students will also get some goodies on my first visit (but I don't want to ruin that secret so you'll just have to ask your child what they got!)

Good Deals at Your Grocery Store

Let me start off by saying that we have NO affiliation or connection to ANY grocery stores in the Cedar Rapids area.  I have personal preferences for where I shop for my groceries and truthfully it depends on what I'm buying (I go different places for produce then I do for meat for example). 

That being said, the mission of this blog is to give you the tools to make good food decisions and I'm always trying to get good deals.  I know fresh produce is expensive and that it deters people from buying it. A hint I can give you when buying fresh produce is to buy what's in season because not only will it be cheaper but it will also taste better. So this blog post is dedicated to some good deals on some healthy foods, especially ones that are currently in season!


Target: (Their ad runs from Sunday October 7th-Saturday October 13th)
- Honey Crisp Apples: $4.99 for 3 pounds of apples (which is approximently 9 apples)
- Red Seedless Grapes: $1.69 per pound
http://weeklyad.target.com/cedar-rapids-ia-52402/pages#1

Walmart: (Their ad is from Sunday October 7th- Saturday October 13th too)
- Nature's Own Whole Grain Bread: $1.98 per loaf
http://localad.walmart.com/Walmart/Entry/Flash?storeref=2716&forceview=y

Hy Vee: (Their ad runs from Tuesday October 9th- Monday October 15th)

- Washington Royal Gala apples: $1.28 per pound (approximently 2-3 apples depending on size)
-Sweet Midnight Oranges: $1.28 per pound
-Avocados: $1 per avocado
-Kandy Cantaloupe: $2.48 per cantaloupe
-Baby Carrots: 99 cents per pound
-Cauliflower: $1.99 per bunch
-Hy Vee Greek Yogurt: 10 yogurts for $9.00
-Hy Vee Soup: 4 cans of soup for $5.00
- Hy Vee frozen veggies: 77 cents a bag
- Red Seedless Grapes: $1.98 per pound

http://www.hy-vee.com/shop/WeeklyAd.aspx 

Super Snack Lady LOVES October (and Leaves)!!!

Super Snack Lady Sarah LOVES fall.  The changing leaves, the beautiful sunsets, the cooler weather, taking her puppy on walks in parks- it is all just so pretty! Super Snack Lady stays active in this wonderful weather by raking leaves in her own lawn along with her elderly neighbor's lawns.  Raking leaves are a great work out for your arms and upper body.  Make sure that after you make an awesome pile of leaves that you enjoy it by jumping into it!!!

Check out the pictures below that show Super Snack Lady enjoying a fall night!

Raking as the sun is setting.  This is my neighbor's lawn and they are 85 years old and appreciated my help.

The pile is quite big and I wasn't even done with the lawn!





 



Action shot of Super Snack Lady jumping in the leaf pile!  Make sure you don't have sticks in the pile before you jump so you don't get hurt.  And as always, the bigger the pile the better!

What Can You do In October?

October is a GREAT month to get outside and enjoy the wonderful weather.  The leaves are changing and falling from the trees, the weather is cooler, and there are plenty of activities going on in our community that you can take part in!  Below there are some specific events that you could attend as a family:

October 6th (10:30am)- Wandering Adventure Club at Wickiup Hill (north of Cedar Rapids by Toddville).  There is no registration and it's free!  You get to walk the trails of Wickiup Hill and explore what the park has to offer.  Please go to http://www.mycountyparks.com/county/Linn/Park/Wickiup-Hill-Learning-Center-Area.aspx for directions and more information on this wonderful Nature Center!

October 6th (10am-11am)- Youth Photo Scavenger Hunt at Wickiup Hill.  There is registration but it's free!  With the help of the Linn Area Photo Club kids (under the age of 17) explore the park and trails and take pictures of nature in a photo scavenger hunt setting.  Visit the website listed above to register for this event.

October 19th (6:30pm-8:30pm)- Monter Mash Halloween Party at the Stoney Point YMCA.  There is registration and it costs $5 per child. Costumes are welcome and there will be crafts, physical activities/games, and even swimming.  Parents need to stay if their child is swimming.  Register and get more information at www.crmetroymca.org.

October 20th (10:30am-noon)- Wicked Wickiup Fall Fest at Wickiup Hill.  There is registration and it costs $5 per family.  Costumes are encouraged and welcomed!  There will be crafts, pictures taken with fall themed items, trick or treating, and other activities.  Please see the Wickiup Hill link above to register.

October 21st (1pm-4pm)- Safe Halloween For Kids at Usher's Ferry Historic Village in Cedar Rapids. Costumes are a must for this fun event!  There will be trick or treating, costume contest, and games.  There is no registration but it costs $6 per child.

October 27th and 28th (all day)- NewBo City Market Grand Opening in the historic NewBo district of Cedar Rapids.  It's a free event, though there are over 20 vendors that will be on hand with fresh produce, fresh meat, and other goodies that you can purchase.  Support this year round market on it's opening weekend!

Other activities you could do as a family to keep active are:

• Rake leaves
• Walk to a local park (if there is a safe route) and play
• Take your dog on a walk before it gets too cold for them to be outside for any length of time.
• Go to a pumpkin patch (like Bloomsbury Farm http://www.bloomsburyfarm.com/) and walk the fields to find the perfect pumpkin.  You get an added work out if you pull a wagon behind you or carry your pumpkin!