Kool for Momz N Dadz

The NBA Teams up With Body by Milk to Challenge Teenagers to ‘Get Fit by Finals’

WNBA All-Star Diana Taurasi and NBA All-Star Chris Paul are teaming up to help get teenagers into the fitness game through a new national campaign called Get Fit by Finals. The program, which launched today at an event at NBA All-Star 2009 in Phoenix, Ariz., is part of a new partnership between the “got milk?” Body By Milk(R) Campaign and NBA FIT, the NBA’s comprehensive health and wellness initiative that promotes healthy lifestyles for children, teens and adults through fitness and nutrition.

Adolescent obesity has tripled over the last two decades, so “it’s never been more important for teenagers to make better food and physical activity choices,” according to certified sports dietitian Tara Gidus, RD, a nutrition consultant to the Orlando Magic NBA team. That’s why Get Fit By Finals will call on teens of all activity levels to take simple steps to help improve physical fitness and nutrition — such as being active for at least 60 minutes a day and drinking 3 glasses of lowfat or fat free milk each day. [Read more →]

Faster than bunny rabbits, the all-natural and organic Jelly Bean options have multiplied this spring. Parents are worried about letting their children consume candy and now options are available online, this easter holiday season for a healthier alternative.

All-Natural Jelly Beans
Like most candy, regular Easter jelly beans contain a multitude of artificial flavors and colors, which are derived from petrochemicals and coal tar. Until recently there were few options for candy lovers who wanted to avoid artificial ingredients for health or environmental reasons. Thanks to the growth of the natural and organic products industry, consumers can now enjoy healthier, all-natural versions of their favorite candies. [Read more →]

Creative Ways to Weather the Economy

A Michaels customer survey says families want to save money and spend more time together doing arts and crafts. Michaels survey says consumers find positives in getting back to basics. They have a website with ideas and information: Where Creativity Happens

IRVING, Texas, Feb. 19 — A new customer survey from Michaels, the world’s largest arts and crafts specialty retailer, says that the economy is changing many people’s perceptions about what is important in life. Consumers say that in the face of difficult economic times and much uncertainty, they are getting back to basics by returning to handmade items and by spending more time with their families.

In the survey of 500 customer households, conducted in early February, 84 percent of respondents said they would like to spend more time on arts and crafts activities and 83 percent think making homemade gifts and spending time with their families are two of the “bright spots” that have emerged during this rough economy.
[Read more →]

If you live in new New York City or Westchester County, you have to spend a few hours biking, jogging, roller blading or just plain walking, the North County Trailway. It runs mainly uninterrupted from Elmsford, north to the town of Somers, in Westchester County (in New York).

The trail was once a rail road that carried New Yorkers to summer cottages around the many lakes in Westchester and Putnam Counties. Today you can enjoy more than 20 miles of paved fitness and bicycle trail. More than 40 miles, if you include the South County Trailway.

The railway was abandoned for many years, then paved, marked and is now well maintained by Westchester County. Wikipedia has a detailed description of the now defunct New York and Putnam Railroad.

If you don’t have a bike, rent one. Closest to me, in Yorktown, is Yorktown Cycles @ (914) 245-5504. They service, sell, and rent bikes. Besides having a very thorough website, they carry just about all the bicycle gear you’ll need.

Here are some great bicycle route and biking trail map resources to get you started…

New York City Bike Maps. Nice because they use Google Maps to show you convenient access points to the biking trails.
Bikely. This site also uses Google Maps and is interactive.
Westchester.gov Maps The “official” source of the North County Trailway bicycling maps (PDF).

Take a trip to the farm…

Fall is such a great opportunity to get together with family and friends for a little family fun.  One of our favorite activities is an annual trip to a local farm for pumpkin and apple picking.  We have a few favorite spots located in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties in New York State… [Ed. ~1 hour from NYC]

Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm
1335 White Hill Road
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Website: http://www.wilkensfarm.com/
Directions
This is a great family-run and friendly place in Northern Westchester.  My daughter and I went on an elementary school trip there several years ago and we really enjoyed it.  The visit included a short lesson on growing apples and a discussion about the many different types.  Each child had the opportunity to pick apples and take one home with them.

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Outhouse Orchard
Hardscrabble Road
Croton Falls, NY 10519
Directions
Located in Putnam County, this farm is also a great spot for kids.  Ours have always enjoyed the pony and hay rides they offer.  We have also taken some great pictures in front of an enormous blow up pumpkin set up in the field.  They also have a terrific country shop featuring an assortment of jellies, jams, and pies.

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Barton Orchards
63 Apple Tree Lane
Poughquag, NY 12570
Website: www.bartonorchards.com
Directions
A little further north, in Dutchess County, Barton Orchards offers a wide variety of fun farm activites for the entire family.  This place is huge, with expansive grounds.  In addition to apple orchards and pumpkin patches, they also grow several other types of seasonal fruits.  Additionally, they have pony and hay rides, a bouncy castle/recreation area for kids, a haunted house, petting zoo and lots of yummy goodies for sale.  I seem to remember fresh donuts and lemonade being the big favorites.

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At-home fun for after the farm visit…After picking the fresh apples and an assortment of pumpkins varying in size, we look forward to plenty of activities at home.  There are so many things that can be done with the harvest!  But first, we like to pop some spooky Halloween music into our CD player to set the mood.

Pumpkin Fun

It is always fun to use pumpkins that vary in size.  We’ve come up with some fun ideas for activities though the possibilities are endless here.

• Predict which ones will weigh more or less.
• Guess the weights, weigh them and compare results.
• Make charts representing the difference in guessed and actual weights.
• Paint the pumpkins.
• Carve the pumpkins and make jack-o-lanterns.
• Play hot potato with the small pumpkins.

Apple Fun

• Go Apple Bobbing: Set up a shallow bowl or tub with water on the bottom.  Everyone takes a turn trying to bite into an apple to pick it up – No hands allowed!
• Pass the Apple: Here’s the tricky part.  Place the apple between your chin and neck.  Then, pass it to the next person in between his/her chin and neck.  Try setting up teams and see which team can finish passing the apple to each of its players first.
• Try a great and easy applesauce recipe.

12 apples

(I like MacIntosh but you can substitute Gala, Empire or Romes if you like.)

Steam the apples for about 10-12 minutes.  When they pierce easily, they are cooked.  Set apples aside and reserve liquid to cool.  Once cooled, peel off skin, remove seeds and core, and chop the apple.  Puree the fruit, adding reserve liquid as needed to adjust consistency.  Enjoy!

By: Toni Ann Malandruccolo