I really appreciate the work Hearts at Home does… therefore, I am asking for your help for them.  All you need to do is really quick click on the link below and vote - it only takes 15-30 seconds.  THANKS!

Hearts At Home Needs Your Help - But Don’t Send Money!We are participating in a “Make My Non-Profit Run Better” contest for a chance to win an office technology makeover valued at $30,000 from RK Dixon, a Midwest office technology company. This is a great opportunity for Hearts at Home, as it would take years for us to raise this amount of money to update our office computers and copiers. This makeover is something we desperately need, and it would allow us to be more efficient and effective and ultimately serve you and thousands of other moms better.How can you help? Simply by voting online–no financial donations are necessary! The more votes we receive, the better chance we have to win. Here’s how: Go to http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tlre7dcab.0.cegs6dcab.yxexoxbab.17987&ts=S0276&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rkdixon.com%2FNonProfit2007%2FMain.aspand vote for Hearts at Home beginning August 27. You can vote once per day until September 5. The first round of voting will determine the top 5 organizations. If we make it in the top 5, we’ll let you know about the second round of voting that will take place September 17-September 24. Please forward this to your friends and family who would be willing to vote for us too. Every vote counts! Happy voting and thank you for your support!Lisa Reilly
Mother of 3 

I just read an article in our newspaper that I had to post on. 

Recently children were asked to taste test foods wrapped in McDonalds wrappers and those not wrapped in McDonalds wrappers.  They were both the exact same foods and I’m sure you can guess what the kids usually chose.  Here is the article. 

Conducted at Stanford University, the taste test had kids ages 3 to 5 enrolled in Head Start programs sample various foods. Some were packaged in McDonald’s wrappers some were not. Nearly anything that the kids thought was made by McDonald’s – even carrots or apple juice – was deemed tastier by the kids than the non-McDonalds sample.

The study findings come out just about a month after many major food corporations announced that they were backing off on their marketing efforts to kids. Still, researchers comment, the sales pitches of the past have had a huge impact on little consumers.

Here’s how the study worked: A group of 63 kids sampled three McDonald’s menu items — hamburgers, chicken nuggets and French fries — and store-bought milk or juice and carrots. Children got two identical samples of each food on a tray, one in McDonald’s wrappers or cups and the other in plain, unmarked packaging. The kids were asked if they tasted the same or if one was better. (Some children didn’t taste all the foods.)

McDonald’s-labeled samples were the clear favorites. French fries were the biggest winner; almost 77% said the labeled fries tasted best while only 13% preferred the others.

Fifty-four percent preferred McDonald’s-wrapped carrots versus 23% who liked the plain-wrapped sample.

The only results not statistically clear-cut involved the hamburgers, with 29 kids choosing McDonald’s-wrapped burgers and 22 choosing the unmarked ones.

McDonald’s recently announced that it will begin promoting Happy Meals to kids that contain fruit and have lower calories and fat.

An independent critic of the study pointed out that a different comparison should have been made on kids’ brand-name product identification.

A better comparison might have been to gauge kids’ preferences for McDonald’s items vs. Disney products or some other kid-friendly brand, said Pradeep Chintagunta of the University of Chicago. “I don’t think you can necessarily hold this against McDonald’s,” he said, since the goal of marketing is to build familiarity and sell products, adding that parents play a large role in the food choices kids make at that age.

What do you think? Is this evidence that McDonald’s and other fast-food franchises are exploiting kids? Will a new self-monitored marketing emphasis by fast-food outlets make a difference? Share your thoughts here in the comments section.

Personally, I am glad to see that many fast food restaurants are beginning to realize the importance of promoting healthier food choices in their kids meals.  I would rather that be the only choice…  but at least it is an option.  Ultimately our kids learn at a young age eating habits that will effect them the rest of their lives, so I think this is one step in the right direction.  If companies our kids look up to promote healthy food, that helps us as parents reinforce health just a tad bit more. 

My friend Nell, over at Casual Friday Everyday http://casualfridayeveryday.com/meal-planning-made-easy-contest/ is sponsoring a contest to give away an entire year over at Menu Planning Central!  Do head on over, read the rules (they’re simple!) and enter!

Good Luck!

C-

Hello!

Christine is out of town this week (hope you’re having fun Christine!) so I’m blogging here today in her absence. My name is Carrie Lauth and I’m host of Natural Moms Talk Radio.

I don’t know about you, but it seems that I can never quite cook just the right amount of oatmeal, even when I measure it! I almost always cook too much, and I hate throwing it out. I’ve heard other cheapskate cooks say they save leftover oatmeal and put it in muffin recipes, bread recipes, cookie recipes or even soup.

I wanted to share today what I did with leftover oatmeal.

I got a hankerin’ (that’s Southern for “craving”) for a little something sweet to go with my afternoon coffee, and threw this together. I didn’t measure it so you’ll have to just eye it to see if it looks right.

My kids loved these, they’re high in protein, have whole grains and nuts and are also wheat free if you have issues there (I do.)

Carrie’s Peanut Buttery Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

Preheat the oven to 350.

• 1 cup leftover cooked oatmeal
• 1 cup all natural peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup walnuts or peanuts

Mix all ingredients well, then spread into a greased pan. I think these cooked for about 20 minutes.

We cut them into bars and they were quite good as an afternoon snack. If you like you could get adventurous and melt some chocolate to spread on top.

Enjoy!