Being a vegetarian is not all about eating tofu and raw vegetables all the time; it’s a choice that my family has made to be healthier and kinder to the world around us! Everyone has their own reasons to be or not to be vegetarian and it is a personal choice. I am not here to judge — I am here to give you some tips and tricks if you would like to cut some meat from your diet in the new year!

How To Become a Healthy Vegetarian

Educate Yourself

You first need to educate yourself and know that often times vegetarians may become deficient in vitamin D, protein, Vitamin B12, Zinc, Iron, and Calicum when they remove meat, fish, dairy products, and eggs from their diet. This statement shouldn’t discourage you, but empower you to learn more about what’s in the food that you are eating. Those deficiencies can easily be resolved by eating more green and leafy vegetables,  drinking calcium fortified orange juice, and eating more beans/seeds/nuts/grains/etc. Simply put: It’s eating more of “whole” foods. Foods that don’t have preservatives in them or foods that haven’t been cooked, recooked, and cooked again before packaging.

Set Goals

You need to set some goals for yourself, but at the same time be realistic. Becoming a vegetarian is a huge lifestyle style change and it will take time. I found that it was easier for my family to take baby steps during the process.

A simple goal might be to have one family dinner a week that is meatless. I know, I know, that is not very much but if you are coming from a strict meat and potatoes type of family, one night a week is a huge change.

Another small step you can take is to eliminate meat products from breakfasts and lunches before moving to an all meatless dinner plan. I have many friends who have first eliminated red meat from their diets and then moved to removing poultry products.

Find Recipes

You need to find some fun and exciting recipes. Take your favorite recipe and make it without meat. We did that with our favorite stir fry and loved it! My advice would be to not try meat replacement products at first when you are trying to make the switch to a non meat diet. When we first switched over to being vegetarian, we tried many meatless products and they did not taste good. After being vegetarian now for several years, most of those products taste good.

A lot of people ask if we miss meat. Honestly, I don’t miss it. I did think that I would miss hamburgers and steak. Nope, no way, I don’t. It was a pretty big adjustment for our extended family though. It took several years before my husband’s father quit asking us if we wanted turkey at Thanksgiving, after all it was white meat. Again, it’s about education and patience.

Own It

So my advice to you is to explore and educate yourself. There are no rules to this game. I am a vegetarian who eats very little dairy, my husband is a vegetarian who eats fish and dairy, my older son is a vegetarian who eats dairy, and my younger son is a vegetarian who is dairy free but eats eggs. So you can see how diverse it can be. You make your own plan, follow it, and own it! You can do it!

What is your favorite healthy meal? How do make sure you are eating fruits and veggies in your diet?

Pictures courtesy of flickr.

Cindy Gordon, founder of the blog, Vegetarian Mamma, is a wife and mamma of two energetic boys! Cindy loves to dish about recipes, vegetarianism, saving money, home schooling and her new life as a mamma to a child with life threatening allergies. Be sure to  follow “Vegetarian Mamma” on Facebook and Twitter @Vegetarianmamma

A proven part of cancer prevention is healthier diets. The USDA MyPlate already recommends half a plate of fruits and vegetables. So if you’re looking to pile on the veggies, consider that leading cancer research center, City of Hope, has reported about mushrooms’ cancer fighting abilities. Also, mushrooms help lower cholesterol, and improve immune system with vitamin B complex, Vitamin D, and Vitamin C. Who knew mushrooms can do so much besides add more flavor!

To support important research on mushrooms and cancer, the Mushroom Council has invested $750,000 in grants to the City of Hope since 2002. This fall, the Mushroom Council is providing an additional $50,000 and will sell mushrooms in pink containers in recognition of breast cancer research and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

If you visit the Mushroom Channel Facebook page you will see that they are also sharing lots of mouth watering recipes that will help us find new and fun ways to add mushrooms to our diets. Whether you are trying to  incorporate cancer fighting foods in your diet or just improve your overall health, you will want to join our #gno twitter party on October 4 to learn how.

Party Topic

Join Mushroom Council and our panel of experts as we discuss health,wellness and breast cancer awareness. The party will be held on Tuesday, October 4 from 9-11 ET (8CT, 7MT, 6PT). Click here to see details about the giveaway and enter for a chance to win.

Party Details

• What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
• When: Tuesday, October 4 from 9-11 p.m. EST (8 CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
• Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtags #gno and #Mushrooms)
• Topic: Health,wellness, and breast cancer awareness
• Who: Brand Panelist: @MushroomChannel, Community Panelists: @doughmesstic @FoodforMyFamily @fujimama @goodLifeEats @alisonlewis @aggieskitchen @cookincanuck @bellalimento @RealMomKitchen @cookinlean, Moderators: @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee @MomItForward
• Party Favors: Click here to enter the giveaway.
• RSVP: Use Mr. Linky below (enter the twitter URL and your twitter ID (e.g., http://twitter.com/jylmomIF).

RT @MomItForward Join @MushroomChannel #gno party 10/4 (9-11 ET) on Health & Breast Cancer Awareness http://bit.ly/ocf23i #Mushrooms PLS RT

Note: Mom It Forward accepts paid sponsorships for most #gno Twitter parties. During the parties, brand sponsors provide tips, techniques, expert advice, and information on party topics. Mom It Forward is grateful for the giveaway prizes, coupons, and discounts that sponsors also provide to the Mom It Forward community in conjunction with #gno Twitter parties.

Simple Ways to Eat Local Food

1. Go to a U-Pick Farm

Take a field trip to a u-pick farm where you can spend a summer afternoon picking ripened fruit or veggies right off the land. Bring containers for carrying your picked goods, wear some comfortable sneakers, slap on some sunscreen, and get pickin’! The types of fruits of vegetables vary from region to region and season to season, but you can find u-pick farms and seasonal lists on the Pick-Your-Own website.

2. Visit a Farmers’ Markets

Going to a farmers’ market is an event. The people watching, the hustle n’ bustle, the aisles of fresh and vibrant food – there is no better way to spend an afternoon for a true foodie. Not only do you feel closer to the food you’re buying, you feel closer to those selling it to you. Find a farmers’ market in your area on the Local Harvest website.

3. Grow a Garden

The cheapest way to go ultra-local? Build a mini-farm in your own backyard! Believe it or not, gardening is therapeutic. According to Eva Shaw, PhD, “hospitalized patients’ wounds heal faster and they require fewer pain killers and antidepressants when they are merely looking at a painting of a garden.” Additionally, “gardening is one of the non-prescription interventions that has the ability to slow the rate of cognitive decline,” says David Carr, MD.

So what if you don’t exactly have a green thumb? Don’t worry, not many of us do. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables out there that are fairly easy to manage. Carrots, cilantro, basil, chives, peppers, and strawberries are among the easiest to grow. Spend your Sunday afternoons digging up fresh earth and feel the therapeutic effects of building your own local food garden.

So there they are, three ways to put your local eating into action. So what are you waiting for? Start eating local today.

How do you eat local? What do you love most about eating locally grown foods?

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

James Kim is a writer for foodonthetable.com.  Food on the Table is a company that provides online budget meal planning services.  Their goal is to help families eat better and save money.

Maybe she did not have the time (my mom spent time on useless chores like ironing – blech) or maybe she did not feel the need to explain herself. I just found it hard to see so much good advice getting thrown out. I have my fair share of mess-ups as a mom but I really wanted to make an effort to educate rather than lecture (except I have my moments too). So when I got over my shock that my 2-year-old could read (I simply cannot take the credit for that), I decided to make sure she looked at food with education.

We spoke of calcium when we spoke of milk, and spoke about strong bones, we spoke of vitamins and fighting being sick as we looked at fruits. They knew protein was going to build muscles to make them strong so they ate up their beans. And fiber, well I called fiber the washing machine for their insides, making it all smacking clean. It was pretty close to the truth and I wanted to keep it free from poop talk. Well, not that we did not even discuss that. They know when they are lacking in water based on their stools too. OK, I confess, I lie a little – I do say broccoli helps hair grow longer but let’s keep that between you and me.

When my daughter was diagnosed with Autism, I started taking a finer look at ingredients and checked out food coloring. I found that those artificial colors were bad and have an even worse impact on Autistic kids. I explained to her that eating artificial colors was like eating paint. So now she reads for FDC color red #40 and understands that it is not good for her. She may have it on occasion at a party but it is not the norm and I don’t keep them in my home.

She may scream out someday that “I don’t want strong bones so I don’t want my milk!” but I doubt I will ever hear “Because my mom said drink my milk!”

How do you educate your kids on healthy eating? How does that differ from the way that you were taught?

Niri blogs at www.MommyNiri.com where features news, views, reviews and interviews. Read along to learn more about The World according to Mommy Niri. Follow her on twitter @mommyniri.

The Prizes

This week’s giveaway is all about family health goals. One lucky winner will receive a $250 Amazon Gift Card.

Entry Requirements

For a chance to enter and win, please complete the following requirements and leave a separate comment for each on this post, including links to your original tweets.

1. Follow @BeShareworthy on Twitter.
2. Visit the website beshareworthy.com, check out what brands they think are Shareworthy, and leave a comment on Mom It Forward about which Shareworthy post you like best.
3. Tweet the following:

• RT @MomItForward Join @BeShareworthy #gno Twitter party on Tue 12/14 (9-11 ET) 2 chat family health goals http://bit.ly/g5OpLw PLS RT

• RT @MomItForward GIVEAWAY! Enter 4 chance 2 win a $250 Amazon Gift Card http://bit.ly/ejilej #gno #Shop4Health PLS RT

Terms and Conditions

Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway ends at midnight ET Wednesday, December 15. See all terms and conditions here.

Due to cost and availability, people tend to divide purchases between drugstores, supermarket and specialty stores to get the most bang for their buck. In order to make this process easier on your wallet and time, it’s important to discuss ways to improve the entire experience in order to help you reach your family’s health goals.

Party Topic

Join Pink Tank and our panel of experts as we discuss how grocery stores, and brands sold there, can help people meet more family health goals than food alone. The party will be held on Tuesday, December 14 from 9-11 ET (8CT, 7MT, 6PT). Click here to see details about the giveaway and enter for a chance to win.

Party Details

• What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
• When: Tuesday, December 14 from 9-11 p.m. EST (8CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
• Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtags #gno and #Shop4Health)
• Topic: Family Health Goals
• Who: Brand Panelists: @beshareworthy, Community Panelists: @savings_steward @alisonlewis @fujimama @JoyceHarrellRN @banteringblonde @DuongSheahan @CarissaRogers, Moderators: @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee and @MomItForward
• Party Favors: Click here to enter for a chance to win a $250 Amazon Gift Card
• RSVP: Use Mr. Linky below (enter the twitter URL and your twitter ID (e.g., http://twitter.com/jylmomIF).

RT @MomItForward Join @BeShareworthy #gno Twitter party Tue 12/14 (9-11 ET) 2 chat family health goals http://bit.ly/g5OpLw PLS RT

Note: Mom It Forward accepts paid sponsorships for most #gno Twitter parties. During the parties, brand sponsors provide tips, techniques, expert advice, and information on party topics. Mom It Forward is grateful for the giveaway prizes, coupons, and discounts that sponsors also provide to the Mom It Forward community in conjunction with #gno Twitter parties.

Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn has several advantages over other snacks, including the fact that it is 100 percent whole grain, a good source of fiber, low in fat and it has zero grams of trans-fat. Cook some Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn and enjoy healthy snacking during the holiday season.

The Prizes

This week’s giveaway is all about healthy snacking during the holiday season. There will be one grand prize winner and four runner-ups who will receive the following prizes:

One Grand Prize Winner will receive:

• Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn varieties (a mix of Light Butter, Lime and Salt, Cheddar and Kettle Korn)
• Popcorn bowl and cups from Crate&Barrel
• $50 Visa Gift Card
• Healthy Snack Recipe Mix-ins (A mix of nuts, raisins, chocolates, dried cranberries, honey and recipes from the Orville Redenbacher’s website)

Four runner-ups will receive:

• Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn varieties (a mix of Light Butter, Lime and Salt, Cheddar and Kettle Korn)
• Popcorn bowl from Crate&Barrel
• $20 Visa Gift Card

Entry Requirements

For a chance to enter and win, please complete the following requirements and leave a separate comment for each on this post, including links to your original tweets.

1. Visit the Orville Redenbacher’s website and leave a comment on this post about what dish you would most like to prepare during the holidays.
2. Tweet the following:

• RT @MomItForward – Join #Orville #gno Twitter party Mon 12/6 (9-11 pm ET) 2 chat healthy snacking http://bit.ly/hVi6fA PLS RT

• RT @MomItForward- GIVEAWAY! Enter 2 win #Orville popcorn, popcorn bowl and Visa gift card (5 winners) http://bit.ly/g1y4PR #gno PLS RT

Optional Entry

The following extra entry is completely optional and will earn you one extra entry for this giveaway. Leave a separate comment on this post for the completed entry.

Like the Orville Redenbacher’s page on Facebook

Terms and Conditions

Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. No purchase necessary to enter. Giveaway ends at midnight ET Tuesday, December 7. See all terms and conditions here.

Huge dinners, dinner parties and other festivities during the holiday season make it difficult to be health-conscious during the most wonderful time of the year. However, being health-conscious doesn’t have to mean that you can’t enjoy the holidays to the fullest. There are plenty of ways to enjoy food, especially snacks, in a healthy and beneficial way.

Party Topic

Join Orville Redenbacher’s and our panel of experts as we discuss healthy snacking during the holiday season. The party will be held on Monday, December 6 from 9-11 ET (8CT, 7MT, 6PT). Click here to see details about Orville Redenbacher’s giveaway and enter for a chance to win.

Party Details

• What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
• When: Monday, December 6 from 9-11 p.m. EST (8CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
• Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! (Use hashtags #gno and #Orville)
• Topic: Healthy snacking during the holiday season
• Who: Brand Panelists: @GenaMazzeo @bayjb @skpagel, Community Panelists: @DineandDish @goodLifeEats @themommyfiles @TwoPeasandPod @HowToSimplify @7clowncircus @TonyaStaab @Girlfriendology @mommyniri @SeeryusMama, Moderator(s): @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee and @MomItForward
• Party Favors: Click here enter for a chance to win Orville Redenbacher’s giveaway.
• RSVP: Use Mr. Linky below (enter the twitter URL and your twitter ID (e.g., http://twitter.com/jylmomIF).

RT @MomItForward – Join #Orville #gno Twitter party Mon 12/6 (9-11 pm ET) 2 chat healthy snacking http://bit.ly/hVi6fA PLS RT

Note: Mom It Forward accepts paid sponsorships for most #gno Twitter parties. During the parties, brand sponsors provide tips, techniques, expert advice, and information on party topics. Mom It Forward is grateful for the giveaway prizes, coupons, and discounts that sponsors also provide to the Mom It Forward community in conjunction with #gno Twitter parties.

I mean, kids want to have some yummy, scary treats and healthy does not mean tasteless and boring.  Look at some of these ideas and then get into the kitchen and create some healthy Halloween Treats.

First up is what I call ‘Bread Bones’.  Try to find a whole wheat dough or any dough that does not  contain hydrogenated oils or other less desirable ingredients. Simply shape the dough prior to  baking. I am showing two different options and on some of the ‘bones’ I used grated Parmesan cheese some to create more bone marrow-like texture. I served them with some warm marinara sauce as an easy way to get some good nutrients into the kids.

All you need to do is prior to baking the bread (per manufacturer’s instructions)is to either tie a knot in either end of the bread sticks or shape the ends of each ‘bone’. Sprinkle on the cheese if you wish and heat up some marinara while the bread sticks are cooling.

Next up, are the Cheesy Fingers. These are so quick and easy to make. Simply cut a cheese stick in half and adhere (with cream cheese) a piece of fingernail shaped red pepper. For the final step, I used the  back of a knife to create indentations to simulate the knuckle area of a finger.

I hope you enjoyed these healthier Halloween treat options. I also have another healthy Halloween treat called ‘Scary Bananas‘.

This mother of two is the owner of the food and family blog Savor the Thyme. She obtained a MS in Immunology and worked for a large pharmaceutical company in CT before starting her family. Currently, she works from home writing for Savor the Thyme, a daily post for Babble’s The Family Kitchen, and weekly as Rhode Island Traveling Mom on Travelingmom.com. Jennifer also writes as a freelance writer and social media consultant.

So, when I received an offer to review Ella’s Kitchen Smoothie Fruits, I was intrigued. The pouch had a twist off top. No straw. No stabbing. No gurgling. No stickiness. And the crushed fruit snacks were, get this, 100% organic with all sorts of free—gluten free, dairy free, egg free, wheat free, allergen free, spoon free. Seriously! What would be in it? Oh! Fruit! OK! Sign me up.

I shared the ages of my boys—9 and 6 1/2—and waited for the box of goodies to arrive. When it showed up on my doorstep a couple of days later, I found two Smoothie Fruit pouches for toddlers and kids (perfect for my boys, even though my 9-year-old tells me he’s now a teenager). But, I also found six, count them six, pouches of Stage 1 Baby Food. What would I do with those and why didn’t they send more product for my boys to try?

Connor tried the Red One with strawberries, grapes, green apples, and bananas. He downed it in about two seconds and wanted another one. Score! I tried it too and loved it. I’m all about fruit and smoothies and gurgle-free pouches. It passed my test with high scores.

Chase tried the Yellow One, which had bananas, cantaloupe, oranges, and green apples in it. Although cantaloupe is his favorite fruit, he didn’t care for this variety. Bummer!

We snapped some pics and called it good! I had arranged with my friend to have her baby test the Stage 1 Baby Food and was going to deliver it the next day.

Think again!

The next morning, I woke up to six empty or half-empty packages. My boys, thinking the pouches all contained Smoothie Fruit mixes, tried every single flavor and moved on if they didn’t like one. Carrots, Apples, and Parsnips? Gone! Apples and Bananas? Check! Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, apples, and blueberries? Half gone! Strawberries and applies? Sucked dry! Broccoli, pears, and peas. Half gone! Peaches and bananas? Gone and then some!

When Ella’s Kitchen says “Great taste, kids love it!”, they know exactly what they’re talking about. Apparently Stage 1 Baby Food isn’t just for babies anymore!