Mom confession: My kids didn’t eat carrot sticks for the first six or so years of their lives. I vividly recall when my first daughter was in preschool, I would notice all the kids who were happily crunching away on their fresh veggies when it was all I could do to get mine to eat a peanut butter sandwich. And that’s if I was lucky. It’s not that I didn’t pack them healthy snacks and foods, they were just never interested in them. They wouldn’t even touch apples - apples, of all things! “Too crunchy”, Kylie would say.

Time to get out of the kitchen and move to cooking outdoors on the grill. Otherwise known as time to turn the cooking duties over to my husband while I sit back and enjoy a cold beverage. As much as I enjoy having burgers or turkey sausage hot off the grill, sometimes I want something a little lighter and more colorful on my plate.

Researchers in Sweden followed 71,706 adult individuals between the age of 45 and 83 over a 13-year period in an effort to determine the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables every day. They found that eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day contributes to a longer life. And it seems that five servings is the right number. Those who ate more didn’t show any greater health benefit. But those who ate less showed less. The researchers found that those with limited fruit and vegetable consumption had “shorter survival and higher mortality rates.”

Over the weekend, my hubby and I had some friends over for a little BBQ cookout, fellowship and an unintentional playdate.  When it came time for dinner, my 4-year-old proceeded to eat his turkey burger, in hopes of garnering that special treat for his after-meal dessert.  His best buddy looked over at how my son was happily consuming his burger, and curiosity got the better of him.  The next thing we knew, he was shouting, “Mama, I want a sandwich burger too.” 

It’s been said, repeatedly, that a mom’s life is a busy life.  Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, driving all over town, involved full-time with kid stuff; or, a career mother, battling rush-hour traffic, sprinkled with adolescent activities in between, most of us spend more time than we want to in our cars, and if you’re like me somewhere along your daily route, the hunger pangs will strike. 

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Incompatible, irreconcilable differences, parting of ways…it doesn’t matter how you phrase it, but a long-term relationship has ended for me. I’ve known him a decade longer than I’ve known my husband, and he has outlasted any girlfriend I’ve ever had. Joe has been present in times of tremendous joy, pain, sorrow-he has seen it all, and he sat and listened without judging. That’s hard to come by these days. And the relationship ended so abruptly that I haven’t had much time to process my emotions until now.

Happy Hump Day, Moms!  It’s the middle of the work week, and if you can make it through today, then you’re more than half way through to your much deserved weekend. 

So, to help you get over the hump I thought I’d share a health tip that I think most of you will enjoy.  Eat some chocolate!

I had the pleasure of joining this amazing social networking site just a couple of months ago, and I must say, I love it!  Pinterest is an online, photo-sharing board, where you can collect any and all things that you love, whether it be favorite recipes, hairstyles, clothes, fashion, health advice, kids crafts or fitness tips.  Basically, you collect data for your specified, self-created, board and you “pin”, or share it.  It’s really that simple.

I'm sure you've heard of kale, and know it's super healthy, but are you a little bit confused about how to use this superfood?

(I know I was, that's why I wrote this post  ;-) )