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Tips for Keeping Holiday Stress at Bay
Wherever I am these days, I hear fellow moms complain about the lack of available time to prepare for the upcoming holidays. “I haven’t even had a chance to get to the first item on my to-do list yet,” one mom recently said at a luncheon while another chimed in with “I haven’t even had time to write my list yet.”
Well, I’m bound and determined to not join in the race for busiest mom. From internet shopping (for both groceries and gifts) to teenage manpower, I’m taking advantage of all the help I can get!
I have slowly reached this level of zen as I’m fully realizing that my kids are growing up fast (too fast) and that I don’t want to wish away these awesome and precious family moments. Here’s how I’ve learned to keep holiday stress to a minimum:
- Delegate Chores:
- All holiday decorating is done together as a family or it won’t be done at all. From the outside hanging of lights to the inside primping and grooming, everyone is responsible for their share. If we lived in a perfect world, we’d accomplish assigned tasks together while humming Christmas songs. In my imperfect world, we decorated the tree to the roar of the Vikings game, but nevertheless, the tree is done and it looks as serene as I feel on the inside.
Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain
I had not one but two delicious, fabulous, mouth-watering Thanksgiving Day feasts. Turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, oh my! And this is just the beginning. As I look at the calendar, the next four weeks are full of holiday parties, dinners out, family gatherings, and other events that will be teeming with scrumptious spreads. It’s no wonder that so many Americans struggle with weight gain over the holidays.
Despite the temptations that surround us, there are strategies we can implement to prevent weight gain while enjoying the festivities:
- Eat a healthy breakfast. Be sure to start your day off with a nutritious breakfast—preferably one that includes protein and whole grains (such as peanut butter on whole wheat toast) as well as some fruit and dairy. Be sure to eat healthy snacks throughout the day. The last thing you want to do is arrive at a party feeling famished and then eat everything in sight.
- Carefully select food choices. Think about what you want to “spend” your calories on. Skip the “ho-hum” dishes and enjoy your favorites, considering which ones are healthier and keeping portion sizes in mind. You may opt to skip gravy and other high-calorie condiments. Remember that old habits die hard. Are you truly hungry enough for seconds, or are you heading back for more just because that’s what you usually do?
CobornsDelivers Serves Northstar Commuter Train Travelers
It’s official! Starting tomorrow, Dec. 1, we’ll be delivering groceries directly to Northstar Commuter Rail travelers at the Coon Rapids-Riverdale station.
We’ll deliver between 4 - 7 p.m. on weekdays, so you can pick up your groceries on the way home from work. Orders placed by 10 a.m. can be picked up the same day - which means that you can order the ingredients you forgot for dinner and pick them up on your way home without having to run to the store! Delivery will be free on any order of $25 or more.
For more information, click here.
Holiday Grocery Shopping Tips
Throughout the year, the one thing that usually gives me comfort is planning meals and entertaining dear friends. I know, it sounds absurd but true – hosting gives me a great sense of joy! However, for some reason, this year the thought of all that entertaining makes me feel slightly stressed out. Instead of giving myself a headache worrying, I’m going to try something new this year.
For the first time, I’m going to focus on creating memories while being relaxed! Sounds impossible? Not with these helpful hints in place:
- Order all groceries online: Nothing makes me more stressed out than visiting my local grocery store along with 1,000 of my neighbors. My blood pressure (already high) rises to levels that can possibly send me to a much-early grave.
- Buy as many dishes ready-made as possible: Here’s the deal: whether you’re entertaining family, friends or neighbors, as long as you put the ready-made dishes into a gorgeous serving platter and place on a pretty table (table cloth, napkins, flowers and candles) no one will know the difference. And the selection of delicious pre-prepared side dishes has grown exponentially over the last few years.
- Have friends and family bring a dish or appetizer to pass: I usually hesitate to have people bring food to my home since I want to make it easy and fun for my guests to plan an evening out. But not this season. I’m getting past my hesitation to inconvenience my friends and family (and I’m sure they won’t mind bringing a little something to share).
It is hard for me to “just make it easy” because I enjoy the ceremony around gatherings at my home: the food, the table and the ambiance. So, even as I’m focusing on making things easier on myself this year, I still want to host memorable holiday evenings that feel welcoming and elegant.
Advice for Dealing With Your Picky Eater
My two-year-old did not eat dinner last night. She wouldn’t try the chicken. She refused to taste the carrots. For some reason she kept demanding rice, but my in-laws were serving mashed potatoes and she would not allow those spuds to even touch her little plate. Of course she wanted the key lime pie for dessert—but, cruel mother that she has, she was denied the pleasure. (She was re-offered chicken, carrots and potatoes, but didn’t take the bait.)
The “picky eater” stage has apparently settled in at our house. Where do I go from here?
Whether your picky eater is 2 or 12, there are fun, creative ways to get your kiddos to try new foods and broaden their view of what’s allowed on their plates:
- Preparation is Key: Try preparing foods in different ways. Apparently my little one won’t eat cooked carrots, but she might be willing to try thinly sliced raw carrots if I offer them with one of her favorite dips, roasted red pepper hummus. You can try veggies steamed, raw, cooked, topped with cheese sauce, or alongside a dip – one of these just might appeal to your child and get him or her to try a new food.
- Be a Good Example: Kids are more likely to eat something that you eat as well. One day I was enjoying a salad when my picky eater wanted to try a slice of red bell pepper. To my surprise, she loved it. I spent the rest of my meal picking out peppers and happily handing them over.
Holiday Tips: Create a Thanksgiving Planning Calendar
Thanksgiving is “my holiday.” It was a great holiday for me to claim because typically there isn’t snow yet to make the trip more stressful for my parents and siblings who live in Chicago. With the seven-hour drive to Minnesota, they usually arrive a day or two before Thanksgiving and stay through the weekend, so planning for this wonderful occasion also means planning for a houseful of guests for four days.
Each year I reflect on what has and hasn’t worked in the past and try to improve upon previous years’ plans. The goal for me is to have my house clean, all food and beverages purchased, Wednesday’s dinner in the freezer, some bars and sweets baked for the kids and some type of special game or discussion prompter for Thanksgiving dinner — all ready to go before the first guest arrives on Tuesday evening.
This year I decided to devise a calendar for the week preceding Thanksgiving. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s better to clean a few days before so I don’t get too tired; nor do I get as uptight as the house unravels. I start by breaking down the chores to spread them out from Friday – Tuesday:
- Friday: I start with the areas of the house where the kids will spend most of the time - like the basement - so it doesn’t have to look perfect when everyone gets here — just no cobwebs! I then move to smaller tasks like dusting my entryway chandelier, wiping down the wood steps of the staircase, washing 1st floor windows and cleaning out my refrigerator.
Holiday Tips: Create a Thanksgiving Planning Calendar
Thanksgiving is “my holiday.” It was a great holiday for me to claim because typically there isn’t snow yet to make the trip more stressful for my parents and siblings who live in Chicago. With the seven-hour drive to Minnesota, they usually arrive a day or two before Thanksgiving and stay through the weekend, so planning for this wonderful occasion also means planning for a houseful of guests for four days.
Each year I reflect on what has and hasn’t worked in the past and try to improve upon previous years’ plans. The goal for me is to have my house clean, all food and beverages purchased, Wednesday’s dinner in the freezer, some bars and sweets baked for the kids and some type of special game or discussion prompter for Thanksgiving dinner — all ready to go before the first guest arrives on Tuesday evening.
This year I decided to devise a calendar for the week preceding Thanksgiving. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s better to clean a few days before so I don’t get too tired; nor do I get as uptight as the house unravels. I start by breaking down the chores to spread them out from Friday – Tuesday:
- Friday: I start with the areas of the house where the kids will spend most of the time - like the basement - so it doesn’t have to look perfect when everyone gets here — just no cobwebs! I then move to smaller tasks like dusting my entryway chandelier, wiping down the wood steps of the staircase, washing 1st floor windows and cleaning out my refrigerator.
Best Post-Illness Recovery Foods
We don’t have to worry about mosquitoes this season, but now those other dreaded bugs abound—flu, cold, rotavirus—oh dear!
When you or a member of your family comes down with a nasty virus, it can be hard on everyone. Recovery may also take some time. Once you’re on the mend, how can you help your body recuperate more quickly? The Mayo Clinic and WebMD recommends these steps:
- Eat Simple Foods: If you’ve suffered from the stomach flu or rotavirus, many physicians recommend following the BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast. The idea is to eat foods that are easy to digest, so soda crackers, potatoes, and gelatin are also suitable choices.
- Avoid Dairy: Avoid dairy foods (other than yogurt) because the virus that causes the stomach flu can knock out your body’s lactose-absorbing cells that digest milk enzymes. This effectively makes you temporarily lactose intolerant and can lengthen the time your digestive system takes to recover. Also avoid soda, caffeine, alcohol, sugary sports drinks, nicotine, fatty foods, and highly seasoned foods.
- Stay Hydrated: It’s extremely important to stay hydrated. Children can be given rehydration solutions to replace lost electrolytes. Infants should be given plenty of formula or breast milk (you can also talk to your pediatrician for more information).
Creative Ways to Cook With Pumpkin
My boyfriend’s mom is a great cook. I’m a picky eater, and even I know that she’s a genius in the kitchen, so when I heard that she was going to use a pumpkin to create a feast of fall dishes, I was intrigued. As it turns out, you can make a lot more than just pies with your jack-o-lantern guts: her 30-lb pumpkin produced 12 small loaves of pumpkin bread, a dozen pumpkin muffins, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin black bean soup plus a traditional pumpkin pie.
If you’ve been wondering what to do with the pumpkins you bought but never got around to carving before Halloween, try out one of these recipes!
Fresh Pumpkin Risotto: Serves 4
- 1 ¾ pound fresh pumpkin
- 2 cans low-salt chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup chopped shallots (about 2 large)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 cup Arborio rice
- ½ cup dry white wine
Halloween Hints: What to do if You Run Out of Candy
The Jack-O-Lanterns are carved. The Halloween decorations are up. The treats have been bought. We’re all set! Or are we?
Every year, I stress about whether or not I’ve purchased enough candy. I don’t want to buy too much (inevitably I end up eating the leftovers) but I would also be disappointed if we ran out before the night’s end.
So what do you do if you run out of treats on October 31? › Continue reading
