The Growing Healthy Kids' Recipe for Success

Paradise Greetings,

Is it hot where you are? It's hot where I am, but last week it was hotter where I was: 115 degrees with 15% humidity.

Tomorrow, I get to teach 800 kids the Recipe for Success. Success SNACKS, that is. Growing Healthy Kids was invited by my friend, Officer Roberta with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office, to participate in the Back to School Bash. I can't wait!! We will be showing kids and their parents about simple ways to change what kids are eating so they get more of the good stuff and less of the bad stuff. We will be giving out our Success Snack recipe (with samples!) from the Growing Healthy Kids Recipe Collection and teaching the Growing Healthy Kids pledge to make healthy eating and regular physical activity not just the best choice but the ONLY CHOICE!

Right now, go get your sunscreen, a water bottle and your smile, set your alarm, and join me at the Indian River County Sheriff's Office, 4055 41st Street in Vero Beach. The Back to School Bash begins at 9:45 AM. See you there!!

Here's your tip: Drink a glass of water about a half hour before you eat a meal. The water will help fill you up so you don't overeat.

Growing Healthy Kids - improving the health - and lives - of America's children, one child and one garden at a time.

To your perfect health.

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids

PS-Thanks to Kiwanis Club for introducing me to Officer Roberta!

Growing Healthy Kids makes Fresh Garden Salsa

Paradise greetings,

What a week! We had lots of liquid sunshine to water the gardens. The gardens we planted on October 13 are full of tomatoes and fresh basil.

At the Sebastian Boys and Girls Club there was a Christmas party for the kids. Growing Healthy Kids made Fresh Garden Salsa to go with corn chips. Let me know if you want the recipe!

The kids who have been taking care of the gardens and going kayaking signed their names on the Growing Healthy Kids mini-herb garden container that we presented to the club director at the party. The minigarden was filled with parsley, basil, and rosemary. He told us that every Sunday he makes a dish with rosemary, so we know his new minigarden will be well taken care of and put to good - and tasty - use! Several of the kids who took home their new minigardens last week told me that the seeds are sprouting already! I love living in the tropics and growing fun stuff to eat!

At the south county clubhouse this week, we finished the minigardens (after painting clay pots last week) and planted them with basil, parsley, and cilantro seeds. The kids took them home with instructions for taking care of their new gardens. We had some healthy snacks - almond butter on whole grain crackers and yellow delicious apple slices. One girl bypassed the crackers and created her own healthy treat by putting the almond butter on the apple slices. Yum!

My observation from bringing healthy snacks to each week's Growing Healthy Kids program to the Boys and Girls Clubs is that kids LOVE to eat healthy - when given the choice. Problem is, they don't always get to choose. That's one thing that Growing Healthy Kids is doing - giving kids healthier choices that are economical and easy.

What's YOUR favorite snack that includes a fruit or vegetable?? Send me your snack idea and we'll "kick the tires" at the next Growing Healthy Kids class.

Today's picture: Fresh Garden Salsa. Pretty good choice of colors for the season, don't you agree?

Thank you to the Vero Beach Kiwanis Club and to the Florida Kiwanis Foundation for your support of Growing Healthy Kids. Together, we are making a difference - and having fun!

Growing Healthy Kids - improving the healthy - and lives - of children, one garden and one child at a time.

To your perfect health,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids