Can Alix give us her take on granola/protein bars marketed toward kids? Which are the most nutritious packed, lowest in sugar and least amount of preservatives? Should our kids even being really having snacks?
Many popular brands like Clif and Rx are making a “Jr.” version for the kiddos. Ideally, a kid’s snack bar is low in added sugars (<10 grams total sugar) and has some fiber and protein (~2-3 grams each) to keep them full. I do think bars make a great snack option for kids because they are just so easy to grab and go. My favs on the market are the kids Rx bar obviously (fyi Quinn didn’t like these so I ate them and they are actually the perfect snack size for an adult), Clif Kid Z Bar Protein, Kashi chewy granola and seed bars, these Ella’s bars for the younger kids are great, and Annie’s chewy bars. Quinn also loves to eat my Perfect bars (I cut these up into little squares for her, but these mini’s are the perfect size) and Lara bars.
As for your question about kids having snacks… I don’t think there is anything wrong this. Let’s be honest snacks help keep them happy and occupied if we need to run a few errands (like how many bags of goldfish have you bought to buy yourself 5 more minutes in Target…cue meltdown) Anyways, I think it’s a personal choice for parents to make and what works best for them. I’ve honestly started cutting back on Quinn’s snacking between meals because she wasn’t eating very much at meal times and I felt like she was just grazing all day (some days we are just on the go and this is what works- no biggie). She seems to have a better appetite and get excited when it’s time to eat her meals which are usually much more balanced than her snack foods. She can also be less picky if she’s actually hungry going into the meal which helps.
Can you give us an idea of a healthy meal plan for a tot?
Kids should be eating 3 meals a day with 1-2 snacks in between. Ideally meals are balanced, offer variety and are similar foods to what the rest of the family is eating. There should to be a protein source, whole grains, fruits, veggies and healthy fats. Don’t stress too much about portion sizes and what not…your job as the parents is to serve nutritious balances meals consistently and your kiddos job is to eat…don’t get into a battle (I have to remind myself of this daily). Ellyn Satter is a great resource about children and nutrition. I love all her books…this, this, and this are my good reads for all parents. This is also a great resource. I can also do a “Day in The Life” post on what Quinn eats if interested let me know!
I know you girls are from OC and my husband and I are visiting Dana Point next week sans kids. Any local spots we have to hit?
First and foremost: JEALOUS. Dana Point is stunning and located smack dab between Laguna Beach and San Clemente so the world is your oyster down there. For local cuisine, you have to try: Coastal Kitchen, Gen Kai Sushi, and for a spot after hitting the beach, Chronic Tacos because there’s nothing like Mexican food in SoCal… I miss it so much. For juice, hit up Organic Tree Juice Bar, which is reopening this weekend after being closed for renovation. All of these spots are located near Dana Point harbor, which is a great spot to walk around and take in the ocean and beautiful sunny skies. If you’re near Monarch Beach, there’s a Japanese restaurant called Ichibiri that my friend used to work at in high school and her family still goes there to this day.. so it’s gotta be good 🙂
If you can venture up to Laguna The Deck or The Rooftop are great spots for a drink and app and this is a good spot for sushi. I always make the drive to Newport when in So Cal to go to True Food Kitchen…my fav!
How often should I be cleaning my makeup brushes and what do you use?
I’ve heard you should be washing your brushes at least once a week to remove bacteria build up #gross. I’ll be honest, I’m really bad about cleaning my brushes but when I do, I swear I see an improvement in my skin. So it’s worth it to take the time and DO IT. I use this Sephora version but also heard good things about this one. If you want an at home, DIY, all natural way to clean your brushes, you can find a recipe here.
What are your views on Xanthan Gum? There is such conflicting info on the internet and I can’t seem to find any credible sources.
Heather thought Xanthan gum was a type of chewing gum lol, so let me first explain what it is. It is a popular food additive found in packaged foods including many foods that are thought of as healthy (ex. Siete tortillas). Basically, it is made by fermenting sugar with specific bacteria. It’s popular because it’s a great thickener and stabilizer. As for safety… it is considered safe when up to 15 grams per day are taken. Most people are likely taking in much less than they might think…only very tiny amounts are added to foods. So, if products you eat do contain this ingredient you’re likely only consuming ~1 gram a day. However, since it is used as a bulking agent it can can some side effects such as intestinal gas and bloating…so don’t over do it 😉
How do you make frozen sweet potato fries turn out crispy? Mine are always mushy! Also how do you cook fresh asparagus so it’s crispy and not mush…help!
I’m not an expert by any means, but I think my husband and I have finally figured out how to bake sweet potato fries so they turn out crispy. We place the sweet potatoes on a cooling rack like this and place this on top of a cookie sheet. We bake per the packaged directions then broil for the last 2-5 minutes (keep a close eye so they don’t burn) this will help crisp them. As for asparagus don’t choose super skinny ones and fresh will be ideal to avoid the mush. I will usually roast them at 400-425 for about 12-15 minutes with avocado oil, salt, and pepper (maybe even garlic powder or parm cheese). This recipe looks really good!
I need a cute new case for my iPhone but I don’t want something sparkly/flashy or super branded. Where do you buy your cases?
Glitter and logos give me anxiety (Heather) so I avoid, avoid, avoid. But some people love it so if it’s your thing, go for it! But I’ll give you some sleek designs and places to purchase: I buy all of my cases from Revolve, Shopbop, Nordstrom or Sonix website directly (pricier but they last). My go to cases are from Richmond and Finch.. I have this one, this one and this one (clearly have a thing for marble). For a more budget friendly version, Nordstrom has this one. If you want something sans design, I love these Sonix cases. Love the pink version for Spring. And for my flashy girls, Sonix does have some really funky and fun designs like this, this and this.
My girlfriend just had a baby and I want to send her something as a “congrats” but not sure what to send (other than flowers). What did you enjoy getting after you gave birth and what was actually practical?
Heather here.. I will never forget after I had my first son, my girlfriend Liz sent me an Edible Arrangement full of fruit and chocolate. Hands down the best gift I ever received after baby and here’s why: I didn’t have any time to feed myself or even think about making food. I was a starving zombie and I needed to reach for something right in front of my face. Some say chocolate can make your baby gassy but it didn’t seem to have an effect on Jackson so I went for it. She sent me the largest size and it lasted me all week.. it was a God send. As for gifts I’ve given, I just sent that same girlfriend a gift certificate to her favorite coffee shop, Dutch Bros. Mama’s gonna need her coffee so a gift card to Starbucks, Coffee Bean, etc will never be frowned upon. I’ve also sent my friends pre-made food.. something they literally have to put in the microwave and voila, dinner is ready. Avoid sending a Sun Basket/Blue Apron type meal because they have SO many steps/chopping/prepping that it will go to waste. Ain’t nobody got time for that with a newborn. When in doubt, just send coffee 😉
Thanks for sending in your questions! Email us at champagnetheory@gmail.com with subject Happy Hour for next week’s round of Q&A. xx
