Outsmart the Grocery Monster | Theresa Albert

Back to school means back to the grocery store where the time and money you spend are being manipulated on both subtle and blatant levels.  Once you know the magician’s tricks, you will find that you have only the items you want in your cart and a little more money in your pocket. Know that everything that happens from the moment you walk in the door is designed for your comfort (aka, to make you feel happy so you slow down and buy more).

Behind the curtain:

·         Know what things cost! A sale isn’t always a sale if you don’t know how much your favourite eggs cost next door.  Use online flyers or spend a few minutes with the ones delivered to your door.  Is $4.99 per pound a good price for eye of the round or is this sale tag enticing you to believe so?  You need a point of reference before you even enter.

·         Read coupons carefully!  Here’s the scenario:  you picked up the 16 ounce can of tomatoes you thought the coupon was promoting only to find that it was the 28 ounce can? You find out your error at the register and what do you do? Buy the wrong one anyway that cost more than the brand you usually buy.

·         Choose your store wisely! Store marketers regularly monitor your habits and behaviours in while in the store.  They lay out the store to maximize time spent and items purchase (and renovate “to serve you better” when they spot a dead zone that doesn’t get much action).  Frequenting one store will mean that you can put your fingers on exactly what you need and be able to compare from week to week how your grocery bill is adding up. 

·         Take a list! Some online flyers have wonderful email-able lists that can be built and sent to your own mobile (or someone else’s!) It helps to have a list that includes all of your items sorted by store aisle.  Nothing slows you down more than having to criss cross the store in search of one forgotten tin. 

·         Don’t smell the baked goods! You know that isn’t just a mistake, right? The smell from the in store bakery is purposely pumped back in to tickle all of your sense.  Ok, so you can’t stop smelling but you can prevent it from enticing you by eating before you go.  Or pick up a package of chopped fresh veggies and munch on them while you stroll.  You didn’t get enough veggies today anyway, you may as well make it work for you.

·         Don’t listen! The music is carefully chosen to suit the likely person in the store at a given time. Folksy romance tunes in major chords? Must be Friday night when the young couples or singles are shopping. This helps them feel all mushy and needy so that they seek comfort in the form of food.  Do yourself a favour, plug in your headset and listen to something angry to pick up the pace and knock out that sentimental drivel.

·         Look up and down, not just straight ahead. The priciest items are set at eye level and the ones enticing the kids are down around your knees. Do look for in store signs that signal a price reduction (and go back to step 1) or house brands that may cost less and be the same darned thing that is in the name brand anyway.

·         Halloween is 2 months away! You will see all the displays for this candy-fest now and you may think “hmm, if I buy them now, I won’t need to go searching later”. It’s a trick. You will (or some other little gremlin will) eat them now and still need to find them later. 

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Theresa Albert takes on the challenge of demystifying myths surrounding food and health. Millions learned just how smart and funny she is through her Food Network Canada Show called Just One Bite! She has authored two books published in both Canada and in the US: Cook Once a Week, Eat Well Every Day and Ace Your Health, 52 Ways to Stack Your Deck.

For more tips and tricks on how to eat well sign up for Theresa’s newsletter at www.myfriendinfood.com

Parent Club Review: EZ Freeze

THE WHAT: EZ-Freeze StayFit Deluxe Cereal Kit

THE HOW:

No bisphenol A (BPA)

Freezer gel keeps milk cold

Folding spoon included

Non-toxic freezer gel

EZ pour spout

THE WHY: An alternative to the sandwich for school lunch (or office snack)

Available at: Solutions stores - Your Organized Living Store is a Canadian Retailer

Lunch ideas - Parent Club interviews Lisa Weinberg

Back to School and back to packing school lunches. We interviewed registered dietician Lisa Weinberg about packing healthy lunches, how to incorporate fruit - including dried fruit - into kids' meals as well as easy to make recipes (to come!)

PARENT CLUB: What are your tips for packing fruit in a lunch box (we know those apples turn brown)?

Lisa Weinberg: I, of course, love kids taking fruit to school. It is really important if you want your child to actually eat the fruit that you send to ask them what they will eat and what is convenient. An unpeeled orange can be complicated and time consuming to peel as well as messy, however if the orange is cut up it may be well received. Some kids will turn away from the apple if it starts to brown while others welcome the convenience of it being cut, so a discussion with your child about their preferences is a great place to start.

PC: Any suggestions for yummy yet healthy school lunch?

LW: A yummy lunch is in the eye of the beholder - all kids are different and it’s important that we sometimes think outside "the box" - not all kids like traditional sandwiches! I see many kids loving leftovers from dinner, stir fries, pasta, cold chicken and rice dishes. Many kids enjoy soup or salads, plain deli meat (not in a sandwich) sushi, pizza, yogurt and fruit, hummus and pita, wraps and pasta salads.

PC: What is the worst thing to pack in a school lunch box (high sugars?)

LW: The worst thing to pack is all empty calories as well as a lunch that your child will not eat, causing them to lack fuel for the day.

Empty calories are contained in foods with white sugar/white flour foods that do not fill us up. They instead make us hungry, tired and lack focus or concentration. Include protein, whole grains and fruits and vegetables in your child’s lunch to give them fuel.

PC: How do you recommend incorporating fruit into school lunches?

LW: The best way to incorporate fruit is in a way your child likes it and with the fruit they like. This may mean a green apple, every single day, which is totally fine if it’s getting eaten, or it may be cut up melon, fruit salad or a handful of fresh grapes or cherries (cut up for younger kids) or even some vitamin-rich dried fruit like dried tart cherries.

Wholesome Granola Bars

Munch these bars to your heart's delight. They contain less than half the fat of regular granola bars.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 (375 mL) cups low-fat granola
1 cup (250 mL) quick oats uncooked
3/4 cup (175 mL) dried tart cherries
1/2 cup (125 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon
2 egg whites, slightly beaten
1/3 (80 mL) cup honey
1/4 cup (60 mL) firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons (30 mL) vegetable oil

Directions:
Line bottom and sides of an 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking pan with foil. Lightly spray the foil with nonstick spray. Set aside. Combine granola, oatmeal, cherries, flour and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Stir together egg whites, honey, brown sugar and oil. Stir into the cereal mixture, stirring until all is coated. Press mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake in a preheated 350⁰ Celsius oven 20 to 25 minutes, or until bars are light brown. Let cool on a wire rack. Use foil to remove bars from pan. Let cool completely. Cut into bars.

(recipe courtesy of choosecherries.com)

Back to School Interviews - with Caroline

Tune into Real Moms on RealityRadio101.com tonight at 7pm where I will be discussing "Making Back to School Easier" with Alanna Cushnan-Szewczyk and co-host Jane.


And on the subject of Back to School - surf over to CityLine where I was the expert parenting source for their article on "Your School Lunch Dilemmas Solved!"

Stuck On You Review & Giveaway

THE WHAT: In time for Back to School 2010 Stuck on You has just launched a new "Designer Collection". Organize school supplies, belongings and everyday-life stuff with personalized labels. On-line ordering makes life easier and delivery to your door means you aren't in a line up with tired children at the mall.

THE HOW: Personalized backpacks, lunch bags, book labels and more.

THE REVIEW: Parent Club had the opportunity to review some personalized library bags (which are available in 13 different themes and 5 different colour combinations). Kids LOVED seeing their names on their own bags! Just the right size and practical - I can see these bags being used for swim lessons, overnights with grandparents as well book carry-alls.

We also received Clothing Dots (which are iron-on permanent clothing labels that adhere to fabric). Vinyl labels (goes on everything non-fabric - from water bottles to sports equipment. Microwave and dishwasher safe too!). Plus some groovy Vinyl Book labels.

All of the Stuck on You products are easy-to-use, friendly and kid-loved. Pre-readers can use the fun colours & images to recognize their belongings while readers can easily spot their names.

THE GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate the Designer Collection launch Stuck On You is offering a lucky Parent Club reader: a personalized lunch and label pack - value is $57.00.


TO ENTER:
Surf over to Stuck On You and have a look around - then come back to Parent Club and comment to this post - which Stuck On You product attracts you the most and why.






THE RULES (because life has rules)

• One entry per day
  
• Tweet the giveaway and mention @StuckOnYouCA (and comment here that you did so) = an extra entry
  
• Giveaway closes Sept. 3rd (just in time for school!)

*winner will be randomly chosen

Lunch Box List

Below is the essential Parent Club Lunch Box List - feel free to bookmark, print, comment or share with the club!

Crunchy Category

• cut vegtables: carots, celery, broccoli, cucumber, peppers
  
• pretzels, fish crackers, rice crackers, popcorn, crackers
  
• dry cereal
  
• cereal bar
  
• crunchy fruit: apples, grapes

Soft Category

• yogurt, cheese
  
• soft fruits: pears, banana, clementines, orange slices, raisons

Wet Category

• apple sauce, fruit cups, drinkable yogurt, juice
  
• pudding
  
• wet fruits: watermelon slices, cantalope

Treat Category

• brownie, cookie, muffin

LUNCH

• sandwich
  
• room tempreture pizza
  
• thermos with spaghetti
  
• bagel and cheese (or just butter)
  
• pita with filling (call it a wrap)
  
• crepe
  
• thermos with egg or tuna salad
  
• green salad and vingrette
  
• cereal and milk

*Kids relate to textures. Kids who have wobbly teeth might prefer softer foods until the Tooth Fairy comes. Hot kids might appreciate some wet snacks to help cool them off.

Back to School Tips

I, for one, am fairly excited it's back to school season. It's been a great summer. It's been fun. But it's time to move on (seriously...let's move on).

And I have been busy writing back to school themed articles...

These were for the good folks at everythingmom.com

Building Homework Habits

Tips on How to Organize the Night Before

Fit to be Tied: Tips On Tying Shoes

If you care to share back to school tips for fellow Parent Club peeps - send me an e-mail or put it in a comment here...Next week I'll be running a series of back to school posts - which include lunch box tips, getting school ready and why does your school bag smell?...